I will be going to see the movie in an hour! soooooooo excited! ok breathe, breathe...

I decided that the ranger does not deserve a name, so he will stay "the ranger" in my story.

Thorin and Brann woke up the next morning, freezing and stiff. They had fallen asleep in front of the fire the last night, wrapped into the arms of the other. Now, the fire had gone out and the night on the hard floor made their backs and necks hurt.

'Durin.' Thorin groaned and stretched his aching back. Some of his bones cracked as he stood up, prompting Brann to chuckle.

'It seems that I married an old dwarf.' she joked and cocked an eyebrow at Thorin who smirked at her comment.

'You are calling me old? I will show you how old I am!' Thorin called out, leaped back down and grabbed Brann by her waist, lifting her back up with him. He threw her over his shoulder and smiled at her halfheartly attempts to fight him. Brann laughed as Thorin grabbed her behind to steady her on his shoulder and walked to their bedroom.

Thorin lowered his wife onto the soft mattress and leaned over her, capturing her wrists in his hands. He pinned her to the bed with his weight and started trailing wet kisses down the side of her neck, down to her breasts. Branns chuckles turned to moans and she arched her back to press herself into the warm body of her husband. She felt Thorins hard member on her thigh and wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him close. Feeling her thighs on his sides Thorin moved his hands down to caress the soft skin of his wifes legs and relished in her moans. His hand was about to move to the warmth between her legs as someone knocked on the door.

Groaning irritatedly Thorin pulled back and Brann tried to cover herself with the sheet.

'Master dwarf!' it was the rangers voice. 'Master dwarf, your presence is required before the town´s council! Open the door!'

'What does he want?' Brann frowned at her husband who was already getting dressed.

'I'll find that out. Stay here.' Thorin told her. Before he turned away he captured Branns lips in another passionate kiss and groaned as the ranger hammered his fist against the door repeatedly. Ripping himself away from from his wife Thorin left their bedroom and closed the door. Straightening his aching back Thorin walked to the door and collected Branns dress in the way. As he opened he looked right into the rangers smug face.

'What do you want?' Thorin snarled and noticed that the rangers gaze drifted to Branns dress in Thorins hands. The rangers expression darkened and now it was Thorins turn to look smug.

'The council awaits you.' the ranger informed him. 'They have an offer to make to you.'

Thorin nodded and looked back at the bedroom door before he followed the ranger out.

'Don´t worry, I am sure that your lovely wife will managed a few moments without you.' the ranger stated with a acid voice which made Thorin clench his hands into fists. But for peace´s sake he refrained from giving a comment.

Brann had listened at the door and sneaked back to the bed as she heard the door close and Thorins heavy footsteps leading away from their home. She hoped that everything was alright and started to get dressed with shaky hands. After a quick meal she paid a quick visit to the carpenters family and learned that the town was in tizzy. Orcs had been detected on the roads and reports had come in informing about raids in the nearby villages. The councilmen of Bree had asked some rangers to support the armed forces of Bree and would ask Thorin to forge new weapons. Thorin had to thank the ranger for the flood of orders coming in, since the man had bragged with his new sword from the dwarven blacksmith. Brann felt a shiver run down her spine. She honestly hoped that the ranger would not get Thorin into trouble.

'Brann, your husband is returning home.' Elsa told her and smiled as Brann rushed out with a quick goodbye.

Brann hurried to catch up with Thorin who turned around as he heard his wife call out for him. As he saw her running towards him his frown vanished and a smile greeted Brann as she landed in his arms.

'Careful, woman.' Thorin murmured although his heart jumped at Branns contact.

'I heard why the council called you in. Will you do it? Will you forge the weapons for Bree?' Brann asked curiously.

Thorin cocked an eyebrow at his young wife and laid an arm around her waist. 'I think its an honorable thing. The men of Bree need those weapons.'

'It will take alot of time.' Brann stated as a matter of fact and felt her heart grow heavy. They would have less time for themselves, then.

'Yes, it probably will.' Thorin did not notice his wifes trouble, he was still thinking about the meeting. As a warrior, the chance of battle and combat excited him and he was happy to have a meaningful task appointed to him.

Brann saw the fire in her husbands eyes and sighed deeply. Thorin did not only have to do this, he wanted to do this. And she would not stop him.

But suddenly Brann had an idea. 'You will need help, won't you?'

'Help with what?' Thorin was wondering where she was going with this.

'If you had a second smith you would be able to work faster?' Brann spoke out loud what she was thinking.

'Yes, of course. A dwarf from the Blue Mountains would be prefect.' Thorin slowly realised where Brann was going.

'We could invite Dis and the little ones. Dwalin could escort her here and help you in the forge.' Brann suggested and saw Thorins face lighten up. 'I am sure that Dwalin can rely his duties as the Mountains captain of the guards to another dwarf for a while.'

Thorin did think about it one moment. Dis, Balin and Dwalin were his loyal support in the Blue Mountains. He hoped that Balin could stand his ground alone, but there was no reason he should not be able to. Thorin missed his family and friends and he did not have to think about his wifes suggestion longer than a brief moment.

'We could ask the towns council if we could build an additionals rooms to our house. It should be quite simple.' Thorin mused. Their house was barely big enough for both of them. Stopping in his tracks he grabbed Branns hand and turned around again, heading for the towns town hall.

'Where are we going?' Brann asked amused, following Thorin who nearly ran back up the street.

'To the town hall. Lets get that settled out.' Thorin told her and rushed back, hoping the councilman he had been talking to about the forging of the weapons was still there.

He was, as were several other councilmen. They listened to Thorins suggestion, but most frowned at his request to enlarge the smiths house.

'More dwarves in our town? What if even more will follow?' one of the older councilmen frowned at Thorin.

Enraged by his comment Brann stepped forward. 'So the dwarves are good enough to forge the weapons that will help protect this city from its enemies, but yet you deny them hospitality? The dwarves of Erebor are honorable citizens of Middle Earth and you have no right to judge them!'

Thorin looked at his young wife in surprise and the councilman frowned. 'I would suggest that you teach your wife some manners, master dwarf. She speaks her mind way to freely.'

Brann was about to give the man a piece of her mind as she felt Thorins hand on her arm. 'My wife speaks her mind whenever and wherever she wishes.' pausing to concentrate on the eldest councilman Thorin took another deep breath. 'And four more dwarves, all of them my kin, will surely not do any harm.'

The eldest councilman still thought about Thorins reqeust as Dorn made an entry. The carpenter stood aside of Thorin and Brann and adressed the councilmen.

'I am the carpenter of the town. I offer to expand the smithy and the house for master Thorin and his family.' he said determinately. 'The smith and his wife have already done alot of good and you will find no one in Bree who will talk ill about them. They are a real profit for Bree as well as the other dwarves will be.'

'I see that I do not have a choice.' the eldest councilman smirked. He had never been opposed to the idea from the start, but he could not override his collegues objections without a blink of his eye. 'Master dwarf, you will start with the forging of the weapons immediately. As soon as your kin will arrive the carpenter will have your home ready.'

'Thank you.' Thorin bowed his head slightly and walked back out with Brann and Dorn. Before he could say anything Dorn held up his hands.

'I know what you want to say, but hear me out.' Dorn asked. 'You and your wife have helped me and my family when we had no hope left. Your wife healed me and you opened your door to my wife and daughters. There is no way I can ever repay this, but at least I want to help you by expanding your home, so that your family has a nice place to stay.'

Brann looked at Thorin with an assuring smile and Thorin could not help but nod gratefully. 'Thank you, master Dorn.'

'You´re welcome.' Dorn smiled as they walked back to their homes.

Neither of them noticed the threatening shadow watching them from the corner of the Tavern.

Back at their home Thorin started working in the forge and Brann wrote a letter to the Blue Mountains, eager to have it delivered within the week. As she rushed out of the house and struggled with her coat she ran right into the ranger, who stood at their door with a satisfied smirk.

'Whats the rush, my beauty?' the ranger smiled at Brann and a cold shiver ran down her spine.

'I am not your beauty.' Brann tried to struggle against his grip on her, but the tall man was stronger than her.

'Why so offensive?' the ranger cocked his eyebrows at her in played hurt. 'I just got your husband a respectable job in this town. Don´t I deserve a bit of gratitude?'

'That depends of your understanding of gratitude. Get your hands off me!' Brann hissed and felt pure relief as the ranger let go of her arms.

'A little wildcat, I see what the dwarf sees in you.' the ranger glared at her with lustful eyes. 'Remember who gave him the opportunity to work for your sake in this town. If the errands grow less you can find yourselves on the road again, threatened by orcs and other foul creatures. It would be a shame if a beauty like you would be captured by raiders. Awful folk, they are not demure with women. Although I have heard the same about dwarves. Say, does your husband treat you well?'

Brann felt her heart race at his words. The obvious threat did not bother her, if they would be thrown out of Bree they would return to the Blue Mountains. But she would never let that ranger threat her husband.

'You will leave right now or I will scream.' Brann snarled and glared daggers at the ranger who backed away with his hands held up.

'One day, you will remember my words, my beauty.' he promised and left with a smug smirk on his face.

With a shiver Brann turned to the smithy and quietly opened the door. Thorin was already hammering on a sword and did not notice his wife standing in the door. Brann leaned into the frame and watched her husband work, suddenly feeling safe and in peace. As long as he was at her side nothing could happen to her. And she would see to it that as long as she was at his side he would be safe from any perils that might befall them.

The following days Thorin and Brann had no time for each other. Thorin was working in the smithy all day and a decease had struck Bree which made children and old die of fever. Brann asked Thorin to stay in the smithy for a few days, so that she could care for the sick in the house and not infect the dwarf. Thorin objected at first, but this time Brann won the argument with reason and patience. After three days nobody died of fever anymore and things calmed down. The carpenter and some craftsmen came and expanded the house with two more rooms, only taking a few days. After two weeks the house had expanded and Brann felt exhausted. She still had to buy two beds and some furniture. She chose a bigger bed for the room she would give to Dis and her sons and a smaller bed for Dwalin. Two cupboards and two chests filled the rooms perfectly and there was still space for some extra decoration. Dorn and Elsa helped her out with the furniture and Brann was happy about their presence. As long as the carpenters family was with her and Thorin the ranger would refrain from visiting too often. One day Dorn spoke to Brann in private.

'Be careful, Brann.' he told her quietly. 'That ranger has set eyes on you for a long time now. When he is drunk he tells his friends about how he is sure that you will succumb to his advances sooner or later. I know you won´t, but I am afraid that he might make you. Especially when he is drunk. He is a dangerous man, Brann.'

Brann nodded in gratefulness. 'Thank you for your warning, Dorn. But I can´t stay in my house all day long. I have customers and I have to go to the market. And I will not hide in fear for the rest of my life.'

Dorn nodded at Branns fire. 'I know that, but maybe you should at least take Elsa and the girls with you when you visit the market. You mostly do that anyway. The girls adore you and Elsa has found a friend in you. We are there for you, Brann. For you and Thorin.'

'Thank you, Dorn.' Branns voice was throaty. 'I really appreciate that.'

With a last nod Dorn bid goodbye and Brann walked back to the house. Brann had not told Thorin about the incident with the rangers a few weeks back, for she did not want to worry him. Her husband would also not accept the rough treatment of his wife by the ranger and would probably have beaten him into mulch. For peace´s sake Brann stayed quiet.

Thorin was already waiting in the kitchen and looked up to smile at his wife.

'The house looks great, homely and neat.' Thorin stated. 'I never thought that I would have that feeling ever again.'

'What feeling?' Brann asked and laid her arms around her husbands shoulders.

'The feeling of home.' Thorin said quietly and he really meant it. Soon, Dis, his nephews and Dwalin would be here and Brann had turned the small house into a warm and welcoming home for all of them.

'Its not a mountain.' Brann stated quietly and Thorin nodded.

'No it is not. But don´t men say "Home is where the heart is"?' Thorin pulled Brann down onto his lap. 'Soon, all people precious to me will be here. This will be our home, Brann.'

Although Branns heart reached out for the loving words of her husband, she still had doubts. 'We will have to return to the Blue Mountains one day.'

'Yes, we will.' Thorin laid his forehead against hers. 'But until then our home will be here.'

They sat together for a while until Brann remembered that a letter had been delivered today. 'My goodness, I nearly forgot. This letter came in today. Dis and her boys will arrive in a few days, along with Dwalin. Balin sends us his love and assures you that everything is going great in the Blue Mountains. More from Dwalin when he arrives.'

Thorin took the letter out of his wifes hands and read it slowly. He was thankful for Balins support and felt a slight sting about the missing of his closest advisor. But here he had Brann, who had proven to be as much a good advisor as the older dwarf. He put the letter aside and turned Brann face towards him. As his lips met Branns they realised that they had not been close for three weeks. Every inch of Thorins body longed for his wife and this time he was afraid that he could not stop himself. But as he looked into Branns eyes he saw that she did not want to wait anymore either. There was a fiery determination in the young womans eyes and Thorin burned in the flames her eyes were radiating. Lifting her up bridal style Thorin walked to their bedroom and laid her down onto the mattress.

'I am sorry that I did not do this in our wedding night.' he whispered and leaned over her.

'You can make it up to me anytime now.' Brann smiled shyly and pulled him down for a kiss. As her tongue entered his mouth Thorin stopped thinking.

I am so sorry for the cliffhanger. ;)