Her eyes grew wide and she tried to crawl back, away from that elf-prince.
"You! You're the son of that...that...", she stammered and her voice was filled with anger and slight fear.
Legolas raised his hands, tried to make her feel safe.
"I know what my father is doing is wrong. And that's why I'm here. I want to help you, like I said."
"Why would you help me?"
He sighed and got up. She watched him carefully while he walked up and down the room. It was as if he was searching for the right words to come up.
Finally he stopped and turned to look at her.
"I'm not like him. I know the dwarves hate us elves and I must say I'm not that much into dwarves as well..."
"Have you ever met one?"
That caused him to lower his eyes before looking back at her.
"No..."
"So how is it possible that you hate them? Just because your father told you so?"
He had to admit, she got a point. He sighed and walked closer to her again.
"You're pregnant...", he simply said and Kate nodded slowly. She wrapped her arms around herself, pressing Thorins coat closer.
His eyes rested on her for a while.
"Do you trust me?"
She huffed. "I don't think so..."
He smiled and she could feel her heart warm up.
"To be honest, I did not expect it at all. Just listen to my plan, alright?"
She gestured him to go on and he sat down on the edge of the bed again. His light-blue eyes shone bright in the dim light of the room.
"My father plans to take you to Erebor..."
Her eyes lit up and she opened her mouth to reply but he cut her off.
"...you are like a deposit...Thorin Oakenshield has something in his mountain that my father wants. And he is going to blackmail him with you."
Kate frowned. She did not quite understand.
"What does Thorin have?"
"I guess you might know it. What do you think is the most precious thing he owns?"
Her eyes lowered and she thought about it for a while. Suddenly her eyes shot up.
"The Kings Jewel...He wants the Arkenstone!"
Legolas gave her a short nod.
/
The Company rode on through dark and gloomy wasteland. Though Thorins thoughts were still with Kate he told Lindsey how this land was like before Smaug had destroyed it.
"The grass was green and the flowers had been colorful. The sun was shining a lot and the birds and deer populated through these woods. The river was warm and...and...I guess you would like it. Kate would like it...", his words faded and he kept silent again.
They could all see the immense sorrow in his eyes. Lindsey had the same sorrow in hers but she was the lucky one having Fili at her side. He gave her security and held her close every night when she cried herself to sleep.
The mountain laid dark and silent before them and they made their first camp on the western side of the great southern spur.
"Balin, Fili, Kili, Bilbo...I want you to observe the land in the south. Take a look at the front gate. But be careful!", Thorin commanded and the rest of them spread their bedrolls and Bombur made a little dinner.
While the four members went out to observe the land, Thorin sank down on his bedroll, his back against a rock. His eyes drifted along the wasteland around them, his mind wandered again and he saw all this green and colorful again with Kate and their little boy or girl playing in the grass, swim in the river or taking a stroll through the city of Dale. Tears formed in his eyes and he looked up at the sky, the sun was already setting and its golden color reminded him of Kates golden hair. The first tear dropped down and he turned away from his men and Lindsey, trying to hide his inner fight.
After a while he could feel someone sitting down next to him.
"You don't need to hide what you feel"
He looked up to see Dwalin giving him a slight smile.
"Dwalin, I'm trying my best to keep all of you safe. But I promised her that...that nothing will harm her. And I leave the house for just half an hour and she's gone! Taken by that filth of elf-scum! She trusted me and I failed her."
Dwalin placed his arm around the kings shoulder. "She loves you and she still trusts you. Hey...she got your coat, she took it to have something that gives her some security. Something that makes her feel as if you would be with her. Do you think she would do this if she's mad with you? That girl is so much in love with you and, damn laddie, it took a whole lot of time for both of you to realise your feelings!"
Thorin nodded slowly. "I...I asked her to become my wife. To be my Queen under the mountain..."
"And she said yes?"
He nodded again, a slight smile appeared on his face.
Dwalin patted his shoulder and squeazed it gently. "See? You're going to get her back and then we'll rebuild all this to celebrate the most wonderful royal wedding. And who knows, maybe we have two weddings?"
Their eyes drifted to Lindsey, she was sitting at the fire listening to Bofur telling her some old dwarf stories.
"I'd be happy if Fili and her marry as well. But they are both too young. But someday...yes, that would be great"
Dwalin got up again. "Try catch some sleep. No matter what...there's still a dragon inside to handle with"
Thorin nodded and watched his best friend to walk over to the fire as well.
Soon Balin, Fili, Kili and Bilbo returned but they had not much to tell. The city of Dale was destroyed, the land around the south and the front gate was dark and dusty and Bilbo told them about the fume coming out of the mountain.
"I guess the dragon is still inside..." he mumbled and could feel his heart sink and his knees became weak.
"Take some rest. We will go on searching for that door tomorrow", Thorin said and laid down on his bedroll.
His left hand started playing with his braidings. He drifted to sleep with a smile on his lips.
He would get her back.
Soon.
/
"Legolas! What are you doing in here?"
Tauriel entered the room and saw the young elf prince with Kate. Her eyes narrowed and it seemed to Kate that she was slightly jealous.
"Don't worry, my heart belongs to Thorin.", she said with a smirk causing Tauriels cheeks to flush and the elf-woman was trying not to slap that blonde woman in her face or beat that child out of her body.
"Your father wants to see you.", she said instead and ignored Kate.
Legolas got up and gave Kate a look that only she could see. He winked and smiled at her and left the room.
As soon as Tauriel was certain he was gone she stepped closer to the bed.
"You messy girl, I want you to clean this up!"
"I..am pregnant! I can't do anything against it. Sometimes I have to throw up. Maybe you could..."
"I could end this childs life if you dare talking to me like this.", the elf-guard hissed and turned around, left the room.
Kate sighed and got up, slowly walked to the bathroom. At least she had a bathroom for her own. She hadn't take a bath for days and she let herself sink down in the lukewarm water. She rubbed her skin and leaned back, washed her hair and enjoyed the warmth of the water. Her hands gently stroked her belly which was grown a little. A smile curled her lips.
"You're going to become the most precious thing in my life. Your daddy is a wonderful, amazing man and you will become a prince...or princess under a Mountain."
A tear rolled down her cheek but it was a tear of joy. Though she was still afraid and missed Lindsey and Thorin and the rest of the Company a lot...the thought of having a child, Thorins child, made her feel a little happy.
She continued stroking her belly and softly started singing:
'Hush, little baby, don't say a word,
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird.
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna make you a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass.
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat,
and if that billy goat don't pull,
Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull.
And if that cart and bull turn over,
Papa's gonna buy you a dog named Rover.
And if that dog named Rover won't bark,
Papa's gonna buy you a horse and cart.
And if that horse and cart fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.'
She got out of the bath-tub and dried herself. She brushed her wet hair and put on some new clothes. There had been some white dresses in the cupboard and she was thankful for that. Looking out of the window she just saw a lot of green treetops. The sun was nearly setting and she started playing with the braiding Thorin had made for her.
Sitting down on the bed again she frowned. There was a small piece of paper under her glass of water.
She picked it up and unfolded it. In a wonderful handwriting there was a small message.
'Be ready to leave. Tomorrow night. I'll get you back to Erebor'
Her heart bumped faster. How? How could this prince get her out of this place without his fathers knowledge. And what about Tauriel, she would hunt them down.
But all these dark thoughts got pushed aside as her hand stroked the soft fur of Thorins coat. She picked it up and brought it to her nose, inhaled that wonderful scent of him, could see his face in front of her.
And Lindsey, she would see her sister again.
She laid back, covered herself with Thorins coat instead of the blanket, snuggled her face into the fur.
"I will survive this! We all will survive this!", she said into the darkness.