Chapter 10: Clashing

WARNING! Mature content in this chapter. Please be respectful.

The next morning when Lily awoke, she found laid out neatly on the chair beside her a new dress. Thorin and the others had already begun work on breakfast, and Beorn made his way in and out of the room. She picked up the dress and held it to her, a perfect fit, she looked up to see where it had come from, only to meet Beorn's eyes, to which he gave a silent nod. Lily nodded in return and gave a small smile of appreciation.

Thorin came over a moment later with some breakfast in hand. He smiled at her in a devilish way, and asked her,

"How did you sleep?"

"Like a baby." She replied with a satisfied smile, lowering her eyes in a coy blush. She then quickly went into a side room to change into the new dress and discard the old torn one. As she returned Thorin had a place saved for her to eat. She sat down beside him and ate happily. It had been a while since they had received such good food. Beorn was not around much that day, and neither was Gandalf for that matter. After they had had their fill the couple decided to take a walk in Beorn's garden.

Lily took in all the fresh fragrances of flowers and enjoyed the constant buzzing of the bees. She even noticed Thorin relaxing slightly, casting an appreciative eye around at the beauty. Lily then began to speak of their child, and never expected what would follow.

"Do you think it will be a boy or a girl?" She asked musingly.

"A boy." Thorin said in an assured tone.

"What if it's a girl?" Lily asked, a little taken aback by the way he simply brushed off the idea of a girl.

"It won't be. My line has always borne males first. It is the right way, it provides a male heir to the throne." He said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Lily frowned at this answer, feeling he was disregarding the chance of a daughter, if not laughing at it. Was she worth less because she was female? Would a daughter not be a good enough heir to the throne?

"You can't be so sure. Remember, my blood is also in the mix now, and my house is famous for bearing women first." Lily warned in a somewhat edgy tone.

"No, my line has never failed in producing a male first, nor shall it this time." Thorin said, turning to face her full on, a slight anger building in his tone.

"You cannot guarantee that!" Lily began to raise her voice.

"Listen to me woman, I know the unfailing strength in my bloodline, and it will continue to be unfailing!" He barked.

"And I know the potency of my blood!" Lily spat, "What if it is a girl? Will you be shamed to death of her? No male heir? What if we never have a male?" Lily yelled at the now fuming Thorin.

"That will never be possible, we will have male heirs, many." He growled at her.

"You did not answer me. What if it is a girl?" Lily asked in a more calm tone, a tinge of what Thorin could only read as disappointment evident in her voice.

"It won't be." Thorin blurted, but seeing the fury build in Lily's eyes he quickly added, "But if we have a daughter second, she will be as dearly loved as her older brother." Thorin said in a voice meaning to add comfort.

Tears began to well in Lily's eyes. How could be be so insensitive? What would he do if the first born was female when he is so sure it is male? Will he reject her? His stubbornness on the matter only wounded her more. In but a small conversation he made it clear that a girl meant less to him than a boy.

Thorin was watching Lily's face with a tense anticipation, but she did not answer him, her eyes became shielded as they were when they first met, and she turned away from him, walking out of the garden and into the surrounding woods.

"Lily!" Thorin called after her, "Where are you going? Come back! It's dangerous, you do not know these woods!" Thorin's voice said with a slight edge.

She did not turn around, she kept on going. Thorin realized his actions were a bit too brazen, and now she thought him to be a pig. He silently cursed himself, but he was so sure it would be a male, if only she could understand that. It was not that he would not love a daughter, it was just that his family had never had a daughter first. He paced around the garden restlessly. Curse that woman, he thought.

Lily went in a way into the woods and found a fallen log to sit on. She sat under the shade of the trees which made puzzle pieces of light all over the grass. She enjoyed the breeze and the song of the birds. She tried to calm her nerves and take a deep breath. She soon felt eyes on her and it left her feeling uneasy. She searched the mild darkness of the woods to find the source of her discomfort, only to land on the form of a bear, not too far from where she sat. It was watching her. She stood up, unsure if the bear was Beorn or just a wild bear, and began to slowly back away.

The bear stepped forward into the clearing and sat down before speaking,

"Do not fear me, Lady of the House of Winters." Beorn's voice vibrated out.

"Beorn." Lily said with a sigh of relief.

"Indeed. Is all well with you and the dwarf king?" Beorn asked curiously.

"No, it is not." Lily said in a shaky tone, looking down at her hands.

"What is the matter?" He asked calmly.

"He...he just...it's personal. Beorn, if I might ask, may I have a separate bed tonight, across the great hall from him?" Lily asked looking pleadingly at the bear.

"...Very well. It will be arranged." The bear said before turning and disappearing into the woods.

Lily sank back down onto the fallen log and sighed deeply. Everything he had said made her question if he would be a good father, a good husband? Perhaps she should stay behind here with Beorn, use the baby as an excuse not to go with. Then she would have time to contemplate what to do next, and if she would ever see Thorin again. Her heart stung at the last thought, but it stung even more at the thought that he might play favoritism with her children based on their sex.

She sat quietly for a while with her thoughts, going back and forth. She did feel love for him, she had never felt anything so powerful in her life, yet she also knew that she was only beginning to learn about Thorin Oakenshield. There was so much she didn't know, he had, after all, been alive for centuries. She would spend a lifetime or two trying to know all there is about him. She on the other hand was a far less complicated story. She could sum it up in less than a few hours. Were they a mismatch?

Her thoughts carried on in that fashion for hours. Soon it was becoming dark and she returned to the hall, knowing she should not be out by herself in the night. As she entered the hall she saw Thorin sitting at the table with his food before him. Gandalf and Beorn were in deep conversation and the other dwarves were laughing and joking about. Thorin had kept her seat for her, expectantly. They all looked at her as she entered before continuing on with their evening. Thorin looked at her, his eyes never breaking contact.

Lily approached him and sat down silently. She took her food and began to eat in silence. Thorin kept glancing at her sideways, but she did not look at him. He would make noises of frustration and look around the room irritably, but she did not ease his discomfort. The meal finally ended and Beorn made his excuses and left for the night. Everyone else made for the beds, including Thorin, he rose up from his place, extending his arm to guide his lady to their bed, when she rose up and made for another bed that was across the hall. Thorin was utterly shocked. He stood for a moment dumbfounded.

He made a quick count of the beds, and indeed, one extra had been added. He shot fiery stares her way, displeased with the arrangement, but unable to do or say anything as the others were not yet asleep. He made grunts of frustration then marched to his own bed, throwing himself down onto it.

"If she wants to play games with me, so be it. She will not escape me tonight, no matter how angry she is. She is now mine and she cannot deny me." Thorin thought to himself.

The other dwarves and Bilbo had all noticed the change in sleeping arrangements, but none dared to say a word. They were all too tired to think on it too long anyway, and all soon drifted into blissful sleep. Thorin waited patiently for the deep snores of the dwarves. Lily too lay in wait of that sound, fearful of what Thorin had in mind. She knew she didn't have the strength to deny him if he wanted to bed her, she didn't want to deny him, but she also could not let him win this battle.

As the snores were rhythmic and deep, Thorin made his move. He swiftly leaped up from the bed and made for Lily. She could hear those loud footsteps as he came towards her, she sat up and looked at him with a mixture of fear and desire. The look in his eyes was dark with anger, and desire. The way he marched towards her told her what he intended, and she feared she could not resist. The fight had both angered her, and stirred something in her that made her want him to dominate her. She tried to push the thoughts away, but she wanted to hear him command her, make her blush under the things he'd say, but she also did not want to submit to him, her pride, and the dignity of being a woman were at stake.

He was soon upon her and grabbed her by the shoulders. His mouth captured hers before she could protest and his tongue demanded entry, to which she gave way. Despite herself she moaned with pleasure. He knew how to work her, he knew she couldn't resist him, any more than he could resist her. She was ready to submit to him, when suddenly their conversation began in her head again.

"No! Stop!" Lily said, breaking the kiss and pushing Thorin away.

"What is it?" Thorin's voice said, breathless and thick with lust.

"What you said today, it was not right." Lily said, hurt returning to her voice.

"Damn you woman! Must you bring that up now?" Thorin groaned, his eyes hungrily searching her body.

"You cannot always ignore what I say, you cannot brush me off and think that by making love to me you will resolve the issue." Lily said in a tone of protest.

"That is not what I am doing!" Thorin almost roared, "I want to make love to you because you are mine." Thorin said. As the words left his lips he realized that under the current circumstances they were a poor choice.

He saw Lily's expression darken. His eyes searched her face for an answer, a way to make amends, but she was shielding herself again.

"Yours." She said flatly. Hearing the words come out of Lily in such a manner made Thorin wince, he closed his eyes and looked down. He had turned her into a possession.

With a quick movement Lily pushed him aside and made for the great doors. Thorin sat with his head low thinking of how stupidly he had handled that moment before realizing where Lily was going. The sound of the door opening made him spin around.

"Lily, no!" Thorin yelled loudly.

It was too late, as the door opened Lily found herself face to face with a large brown bear, it reared itself up and towered over her. It's great jaws opened and gave a mighty roar, causing everyone inside to wake with a start. Lily had forgotten Beorn's warning in her anger. Do not go outside at night.

Thorin was suddenly on his feet and running towards the door, only to see Gandalf leaping in front of him, staff raised.

In a moment that seemed to drag slowly by, Thorin watched the bear begin to lunge forward at Lily, and her trying to back away, not fast enough. A bright flash of light shot through the room and Gandalf's incantation could be heard booming about the rafters. The bear stumbled backwards just as another bear came from behind and dragged it off. Thorin reached Lily and pulled her back into the hall from behind, as Gandalf barred the door shut once more.

"You foolish girl!" Gandalf turned and bellowed at Lily, "You almost got yourself killed! What were you thinking? Did you not remember Beorn's warning?" Gandalf demanded, looming over Lily who was evidently shaken.

Thorin did not like seeing Gandalf yelling at Lily and found himself stepping in front of her and yelling back at the wizened old man,

"ENOUGH! Do you not think that she has experienced enough shock from that?!" Thorin roared. His eyes pierced Gandalf as he stood protectively before Lily.

"She is faultless. I caused her to want to run out." Thorin said in a deep, gravely tone.

"Master dwarf, I must ask you to contain your quarrels. We shall have no further disturbances tonight, tomorrow we make for Mirkwood." Gandalf ordered.

As Gandalf walked past Thorin to return to his bed, Thorin's breathing was heavy, and his anger was radiating. Lily stepped back from him slowly, thinking she was the cause of his rage. Instead, Thorin was blaming himself for being so stubborn and foolish, for always putting Lily at risk. He turned to see her back away from him, not wanting to make eye contact, and shock went through him. Was she afraid of him?

"Lily..." He began, reaching a hand out to her, "Please, we must talk." Thorin pleaded in a gentle tone.

Lily looked up at him, and saw his out-stretched hand. Everything in her said to take it, to go into one of the other rooms of the hall and speak privately, clear the air, then return together to the same bed. Her hesitation lasted only a moment before she gave in.

As they entered the room together Thorin quietly closed the door. He remained standing there with his back towards Lily as he began to speak,

"Lily, I have been thinking...perhaps this is where your journey ends." Thorin said in a tone tinged with melancholy.

"What...? Thorin-" Lily began but was cut off abruptly as Thorin turned to face her.

"I have put you in so much danger. I should have left you in Rivendell with the elves. There have been too many times where I have almost lost you, and it burdens my heart to think of any harm coming to you or our child." Thorin admitted, his expression pained.

"Thorin, you can't make that decis-" Lily started rushing forward.

"Stop. I have made my decision. Beorn will take you back to Rivendell and you will wait there for word to come to Erebor when we are ready for you." Thorin went on, his eyes now on the floor.

Lily did not know what to say, part of her knew that would be wiser and safer, not only for her and their child, but also for him, so he could focus on what he was doing, not on always saving her. Her bottom lip quivered, and her eyes searched his face as he stared helplessly at the floor. Her king had never looked so defeated. He then slowly opened his mouth again and began,

"I also... Lily, it does not matter to me the sex of our first child." He said, turning to her and taking her hand in his, his eyes looking deeply into her, his love for her pouring through them, "I will love it no matter what it is, because it is ours." He said in a voice thick with emotion.

"Oh Thorin!" Lily finally said in a voice of love, "You foolish, stubborn old goat!" She said in a raised tone, kissing him on his forehead many times and embracing his strong frame.

"You cannot get rid of me so easily." She said into his hair.

Lily then reached behind and began to undo her dress, letting it slide to the floor. She stood before him pale in the light of the moon from the window. Thorin's eyes raked over her figure, groaning with pleasure. Lily then moved forward and began to kiss her king deeply, pressing herself into his body, feeling his manhood stiffen against her thigh. His strong hands wrapped around her and held her firm as they kissed and moaned with enjoyment of each other's tastes.

The need Thorin had had earlier in the evening returned and he pushed Lily back onto a table nearby. In a flash his clothes were on the floor on top of Lily's dress, and his body, pale in the moonlight, seemed to be tense in every muscle, making Lily ache for those strong muscles to press themselves into her. He stood for a moment enjoying her vision in the moonlight, and she too enjoyed his. The soft dusting of hair on his mighty chest, his beautiful, curly black hair falling around his strong shoulders, every muscle in his body ready to assault her, and his deep blue eyes fixated on her with a hunger.

Lily knew in that moment that no man would ever love her as much as he did. His love bordered on obsession, and she enjoyed basking in it. She also knew, that no matter what, she would never take another man again. He was the farther of her child, and the man that looked at her as the lady of the House of Winters, not the street rat she had been for many years. He stepped forward between her legs, leaning down slowly, his hands caressing her body upwards towards her shoulders, where he finally came in for a sensual kiss. As she felt his tongue teasing hers, he slipped inside her hot core, and began his firm rhythm. It was not wild, but it was intense, his every move seemed planned and deliberate, massaging her slick folds and interior just so.

Thorin took all of Lily's moans into his mouth, and rewarded her with groans of pleasure and desire. His one hand went down to hold her hip as he ground into her, his lover, the mother of his child. The thought of her being his drove him mad, he could not get deep enough, he could not kiss passionately enough, he simply wanted to take all of her.

Lily remembered her desire for him to dominate from earlier, and she whispered into his ear,

"Dominate me, my king, I am yours to command." Her voice but a breath. She was answered by a grunt of pure need.

Thorin loved that she was so willing to let him take control. He had always wanted a submissive lover in the bedroom who had extreme fire outside of it. He knew if he worked her the right way that fire would engulf him and give him the best sex of his life. Lily did just that.

"You will never walk away from your king again when he calls you back." Thorin growled into her ear as his pounding picked up speed, "You will never deny your king when he comes to bed you." Thorin said as his groans became more desperate. He could feel her becoming more wet, and her moans told him he was striking the right nerve, "And you will never give yourself to anyone else, ever. You are mine." This time Thorin knew those words were allowed, and loved the reaction he got from Lily, her sighs and moans and the tightening of her warmth around him was what he wanted most.

He began his favorite game with her, a devilish smile crossed his lips as he watched her head arching back and her hips bucking up against him,

"Beg me." He growled, his rhythm slowing enough for her to feel frustrated.

She did as she had before, she looked deeply into his eyes, allowing him to see what he was doing to her, her eyes glazed with lust for him.

"Beg me!" He growled louder this time, giving her a deep thrust, causing her to gasp.

Lily had also enjoyed this game before, and she wanted to get better at it to please Thorin more,

"Please, my king, take me mercilessly, bed your wife!" She cried out. As the last few words left her lips she realized she had misspoken, she gasped at the error, her eyes locked on his to see his reaction, but what met her was something quite different from what she expected.

Thorin's eyes glazed over with pleasure, as he looked at her with a new longing, he released a deep, groaning sigh and then began a violent assault. His pounding was mind-blowing, Lily struggled not to scream out in pleasure, she could hear the slickness of her core slipping against her king, and she leaned her head back with a cry of such pleasure.

Without slowing his pace, Thorin leaned forward, centimeters away from her ear and growled,

"My wife? I do not believe I have given you that title yet." His lips brushing her ear, and the deep vibrations teasing her.

Lily blushed, realizing he had caught the mistake, she turned her head away, to which Thorin took a hand and turned it back to face him. His eyes locked onto hers as his rhythm continued,

"Is that what you want, Lily?" Thorin asked, searching her eyes with his, "Do you wish to be my wife?" His voice was probing and low, as though he already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it from her.

"Tell me you want to be my wife." Thorin commanded in a sensual tone, his lips hovering above hers.

Lily closed her eyes and moaned, she was so close to the edge, she could feel it coming like a wave, her muscles beginning to contract.

"Tell me." Thorin commanded again, in just a whisper, the air from his breath brushing on her lips.

"I want to be your wife, Thorin Oakenshield..." Lily cried out softly, her eyes locked with his. The second the last word left her lips he closed in on her mouth, capturing her in another passionate kiss. She caved in to her completion, her core contracting tightly around Thorin's rhythmic pounding. Feeling her release, Thorin gave into his, with an almighty groan into her mouth, the muscles of his body tightening against her. Lily loved running her fingers over them when he did this, it sent shivers up her spine.

As they both rode out the waves together, they lay silently panting for a moment, Thorin leaning over her, close to her face just looking into her eyes. Lily gently touched his cheek, and he closed his eyes and leaned into her. He then opened his eyes and took her hand, pulling her up. He then gently pulled out and began to get his clothes, handing Lily her new, fine dress. They dressed in silence, stealing glances at one another, smiling coyly. Once they were dressed, Thorin came to Lily, taking her chin in his thumb and forefinger, and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. He then took her hand and led her back to their bed. As she lay down, he came behind her again, pressed against her back, and his hand once again rested on her belly protectively.

There they lay together, listening to each other breathe, as they both drifted off into sleep. Thorin said nothing more of Lily's request, and Lily could only guess what he made of it. For now she was too tired to think on it, and just enjoyed the feeling of her king's body beside her. She too was soon fast asleep.