Alright, it's going on...
/
„Kate? Thorin?", the soft voice of Lindsey spoke up after knocking on the door. Thorin was asleep, his head snuggled in the crook of her neck. A smile curled Kates lips as she shifted slightly to get up. He mumbled something and turned around to continue sleeping.
She put her bra and panties on and opened the door.
"Shhh...what's the matter?", Kate whispered and she could see Lindsey peeking into the room with a smirk.
"I just wanted to tell you that the Master of the city was here...He wants to see Thorin later."
"Alright, I'm going to tell him..."
Lindsey watched her sister still that smile on her face.
"Anything else you want to tell me?"
The young one chuckled quietly and whispered:"No...don't worry...no one heard you"
"What...?"
"No one except Fili and me..."
Kate was confused but suddenly she was aware what her sister was talking about and she blushed a bit.
Now Lindsey had to bit back a loud laugh. They could hear Thorin grumbling and mumbling.
"Shhh...", Kate placed a finger on her lips. "Were we that loud?"
"Loud enough to hear you two rooms down the hallway, but like I said don't worry. The Company is outside in the city. And Fili and I don't mind."
"It's still embarrassing..."
"Though everyone knows that the two of you...well, you know...that baby didn't appear magically inside you"
Now Kate had to chuckle as well. "Yeah, but I prefer to do these things without everyone listening to it"
Lindsey gave her a smile and placed a kiss on Kates cheek.
"Don't worry about that..."
And with that she left to meet Fili downstairs in the living room.
Kate closed the door and leaned against it, watched the sleeping figure of Thorin. A warm smile curled her lips and she could feel her heart beat faster. 'Thorin Oakenshield...what have you done to me?', she thought and chuckled as she crawled back to bed, leaning over him. Her lips hoovered above his for a second and suddenly she saw a slight smile on his lips as well. She placed a deep kiss on his lips and let herself roll on her side again, watching him as he turned on his side and opened his eyes.
"One look into your eyes and all evil in this world is forgotten...", she whispered while playing with one of his braidings.
He smiled at her even more and kissed her again before leaning his forehead against hers. They stayed like this for a while until Kate said:"Lindsey was here...she said the Master wants to see you later..."
He shifted slightly. "I guess he wants to know when we'll leave...", he replied.
"And when do you plan to leave?"
"Tomorrow maybe..."
She nodded slowly.
"I know you still have doubts, but I will say it again: I'm going with you!", she said and could see him hesitating again.
Finally he sighed. "Fine, but...I want you to stay at my side the whole time."
"There's nothing I'd like to do more...", she smiled and kissed him.
He chuckled and stroked her belly with that warm look in his eyes.
/
Bilbo walked through the streets and took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. His fingers played with the golden ring in his pocket, the ring he found in the caves down in the Misty Mountains. Though Lindsey had found it, he just took it to take care of it.
He soon reached the stables of the city and he stopped to watch the stable boys doing their work.
"Hello, good morning Master Hobbit", one of them said with a smile. It was a gawky, tall boy. Bilbo guessed he might be in his young twenties. He had long, darkblonde hair and his skin was surprisingly clean for a boy working in the stables.
"Good morning, a wonderful morning I'd say", Bilbo replied and watched the horses while he stepped a bit closer.
"Your group is very interesting.", the boy said causing Bilbo to nod in agreement.
"Yes, they are. Though we all had a hard start..."
"What about those girls? How come two such beautiful ladies are on a journey with dwarves and a hobbit? No offense, of course..."
Bilbo chuckled slightly.
"That's a good question...They just appeared on my doorstep the night those dwarves invaded my house. They had no other choice...but I'm certain they don't regret it."
The boy laughed. "No doubt, I mean the blonde one...what's her name?"
"Kate?"
"Yes, Kate...I heard she's pregnant?"
Bilbo nodded again. "Yes, she's carrying Thorin Oakenshields child."
"A new heir to the throne...that's wonderful", the boy said exchanging a look with someone Bilbo could not see.
"Yes, that's wonderful indeed. Listen, I should go back to our house. The Company is outside at the rivershore and Thorin is with your Master so...Kate is alone, I guess it would be better if someone is around just in case something's wrong with the baby."
"She's alone you say? But I thought she's not that far with her pregnancy. I don't think there'll be any complications by now. She seems to be a tough and strong woman."
"You might be right, but maybe..."
"I let you go but first I'd like to show you something. Do you like horses?"
Bilbo was surprised. "Uhm...yes, I grew to like ponies and horses during our journey. Why?"
"We have a very lovely one. It's a filly, born around a week ago. She's such a beautiful little thing. Come on, she's in the stable."
Bilbo thought a moment, then he smiled. "Fine, I can give you some then I'll go back"
The boy just nodded and Bilbo followed him. He missed the gesture the boy was giving someone hiding behind the stables.
/
"No no no no! Fili please!", Lindsey laughed and ran along the shore, being chased by Fili. The company laughed about them as Fili finally managed to catch his love and threw her into the warm water. She grabbed him and pulled him into the water as well.
"You're a beast!", he chuckled and her blue eyes shone bright in the sunlight before she kissed him softly.
They could hear Kili doing a wolf whistle causing the group to laugh again.
"This might be the last day in the city before we head on", Dwalin suddenly said and Balin nodded.
"Do you think Thorin will take Kate with us?", Ori asked.
"Of course he will", Lindsey replied. "And if not, I will give him hell! I won't go anywhere without my sister!"
Her eyes found Filis and she added:"And not without you, my love", she gently stroked his cheek.
"This journey won't get easier...I guess the upcoming part will be the most dangerous and she is carrying a child.", Dori said.
"She is strong. And we won't let anything happen that would harm her or the baby!", Kili called and they agreed.
"Where is Bilbo?", Ori suddenly spoke up.
"He wanted to take a stroll through the city...I've seen him walking towards the stables earlier", Bofur replied taking a puff from his pipe.
"And Thorin is with the Master...so Kate is alone in the house?", Dwalin asked.
"Yes, but that's fine. She needs her rest..", Lindsey replied to calm him down.
/
Kate had just dressed herself and prepared some breakfast for herself. The whole house was amazingly quiet. No one was there, and she enjoyed that little moments of took the wooden plate and walked up to her room again, sat down on the soft bed and started to eat. A smile curled her lips as her eyes drifted to the chair at the window. The chair she had seduced Thorin days ago. His fur coat was hanging over the chair back, she got up and let her hands gently slide over the soft fur before taking the coat and putting it on. It was still warm and it smelled so much like him. She wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes. A smile curled her lips but it faded immediately as she opened her eyes just to see the reflection of a stranger in the window. She turned around.
"Who are you?", she asked trying to back away.
"You shouldn't be alone", the man said. Kate could see it was an elf. She knew him, he was with them in Mirkwood in the elf-kings palace. Another man entered the room, also an elf. The two soldiers watched her.
"What are you doing here?", she asked now with slight fear in her voice. She saw that the second soldier pulled out a dagger.
"No..what?", she cried out and the elf grabbed her, the dagger close at her throat. Kate struggled against him, wanted to scream but the other elf placed his hand on her mouth.
"Shhhh...you better stay silent or we'll cut that bastard out of you...", he hissed holding his own dagger in front of her belly. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
"Will you be quiet?", he asked now in a softer voice. She nodded hesitantly and he put the dagger away.
"Put her hand in chains", he commanded the second one and walked towards the window.
The one holding her put his dagger away from her throat and started to bind her hands with an elvish rope.
"Why are you doing this?", she whispered with teary-eyes.
"Because you're carrying something from high value for our king..."
"Thranduil? What does he want from me? What am I ca...", she fell silent as she was aware what they were talking about.
"NO! Not my child!", she wanted to struggle again causing the second elf to cut her cheek with the dagger. It was just an accident and the cut was not that bad but a bit of blood dropped down on the wooden floor.
"She's making too much noise. Make her sleep for a while...", the one on the window commanded and the other elf forced her to drink a disgusting juice. She wanted to struggle once more but she could feel her body slowly giving in and suddenly everything went black.
/
Thorin walked back from his meeting with the Master. As he approached the house he could sense something was different. The door was open and he slowly pulled his sword and entered the house. Everything was quiet. Too quiet. He searched every room downstairs before quietly walking up the stairs. He approached his bedroom to find its door open as well. He pushed it a bit more open and peeked inside. No one was in there. He frowned and put his sword away.
"Kate? Are you in here?", he called out loud. There was no answer.
He stepped into the room and it hit him with one look around the room. Unfinished breakfast on the bed, his coat was missing and there was some blood on the floor.
"No...KATE?!", he called out once more.
Still no answer.
He could not thing straight anymore. He rushed out of the house and ran down out of the city towards the shore. He could hear his Company laughing.
"Oy, Thorin, what's the matter?", Dwalin called and he could see the immense panic in his friends eyes.
"Kate, is she here?!", he asked, his eyes frantically searching along the group.
"No, she's in the house...", Lindsey said.
He looked at her and she could see sorrow in his eyes. Sorrow and fear.
"She's not in there...she's gone. Kate is gone!", he said and could feel his knees giving in. Dwalin rushed up to him, backed him.
"Calm down, maybe she's taking a stroll just like Bilbo", he whispered.
"NO! She's gone! My coat is gone and there's some blood on the floor..."
"WHAT?!", Lindsey got up with tears in her eyes. Fili embraced her, holding her tight.
"What's the matter?", the voice of Bilbo spoke up from behind.
Thorin turned around to look at the hobbit.
"Do you know where Kate is?", Lindsey cried out.
The hobbit was confused. "N-no I thought she's taking a rest? I was down at the stables and was going to walk back to the house but I somehow forgot the time. The stable boy was holding me back and asked me a lot about Kate, then he showed me a filly...why?"
That caused Thorin to get up on his feet, he walked towards the hobbit.
"The stable boy did what?"
"He...showed me a filly?"
"No! He asked you what about her?"
"Uhm...how come she and Lindsey are with us. And about the pregnancy."
"What did you tell him?"
"Nothing...I mean, what's there to say? He was happy to hear she's carrying a new heir to the throne, why?"
Thorins face went blank.
"I want to see that boy! Right now!"
The whole Company followed Bilbo toward the stables.
"He must be here somewhere...", he said searching the whole stable but there was no sign of the boy.
An older man walked up to them, he was smelling like horses. "Can I help you?"
"Uhm...yes, we're looking for one of your stable boys. Gawky, darkblonde hair, spotless skin...I talked to him not long ago"
The man watched Bilbo then shook his head. "No, we only have one stable boy and he has black hair and is rather fat."
They all exchanged a look.
"But...there had been two tall blonde soldiers. I've seen them around half n hour ago walking up the street."
"Soldiers? What soldiers?", Kili asked.
"Well, elves. Elf soldiers from Mirkwood...", and with that the man walked back into the stable.
All watched Thorin as he slowly turned around, his eyes wide in shock.
"He has her...he has my child..."
"What? Who?", Lindsey asked confused. She was still shocked and did not fully understand what was going on.
Thorins eyes narrowed, immense hate and fear mixed up inside of him as he growled:
"Thranduil"
/
I said it'll be dark...well, that's the first step into the darkness.
Stay tuned!