OK, some of you guessed what might come next but plot twist warning! Let me know what you think and what the implications are. Thorin unravels a bit, and it gets a bit steamy, but I thought it appropriate since this is a new experience for him. And once again thank you for your amazing response! It warms my heart to see so many having as much fun with this as I am. Congrats also to Skywolf42 for being the 100th follower! Any more takers?

Chapter 13

Members of the company walked back slowly, each looking behind him and squinting to see Thorin and the maid. When they didn't appear in the distance, they chuckled and speculated.

"So," Dwalin started, "she's the one, eh?'

Balin shot him a relieved and thoroughly amused look while they trudged along.

"Keep walking, brother," he said. Then he paused. "Well, if she's not, Thorin will come back with his tail between his legs, but I think she is."

Dwalin glanced sideways at him. They had all been walking for some time lugging weapons that they never got a chance to use. Muttering to himself, he grumbled until Balin told him to stuff it.

"Because?"

"Because she was the only one who didn't speak to any of us," he reasoned, "and did you see that mound of honeysuckle flowers next to Princess Onkra?"

Dwalin's lip curled.

"I try not to think of anything having to do with The Oinker."

His older brother rolled his eyes and kept talking.

"Her lady-in-waiting gathered them for her," he said. Frowning, he hit Dwalin on the arm. "Are you really that dull of a blade? Obviously, she gathered the blossoms before giving them to the princess. That's why she smelled like honeysuckle at times."

"Could be," Dwalin said. "She didn't pick them every day, so maybe we walked right by her."

On the other side of him, Fili and Kili had their own conversation.

"Did you see what she looked like?" Kili asked.

Fili shook his head.

"They were all veiled, but that has its own charms, don't you think, brother?"

Kili nodded. The mystique of the maids led him to dally at the gathering probably more than he should have. Distracted by their soft voices, he sometimes forgot his reason for being there. They laughingly scolded him when he tried to lift their veils, with some maids slapping his hands away and others leaning teasingly close and whispering in his ear.

"Aye, but what if they're veiled for a reason?" he asked with some concern.

Fili scoffed and punched him lightly in the shoulder.

"More like they're better looking than some of those trolls uncle had to meet with," he replied.

"Lady Wogren wasn't so bad," Kili joked. "She certainly had assets." He cocked his head toward Gloin. "Now that's something he never stops talking about."

"Aye," Fili added, "maybe uncle's back there making a long-term deposit!" They both chuckled under their breath while looking around to see if anyone heard.

Dwalin immediately broke his stride to walk over and cuff them on their heads. He shot them a look that had them staring intently at their feet. Balin scowled and ordered the others to go ahead.

"Now none of that!" he said after he and Dwalin remained behind. "Your uncle would take a twitch to your backsides, no matter your age, if he heard your disrespect. Besides, he would be livid and rightly so if our future queen's honor and dignity were compromised by such talk. You know what a store he sets by those."

In point of fact, Thorin was having a very difficult time not compromising Relianna's honor and dignity. Dwarves were by nature a passionate people, but all did not have the same passions. Thorin rarely debauched with food or drink, preferring instead to keep in control in all circumstances. His great passions, his family, his people, and his mountain, were like fires at the forges—white-hot but contained by duty and discipline. His feelings for Relianna, however, had no such fire-breaks. They blazed into life without the benefit of counsel or training and scorched everything in their path—including his self-control. He had managed—barely—to keep his composure when they kissed, but then she asked him to turn around while she attended to something. He did as she bid until he heard her unclasping a hook on her green velvet gown. Reaching up, she picked the largest and most fragrant blossoms and pushed them down under her neckline. He realized then that her delightful scent came from placing flowers in her bodice. Moaning softly, he turned and saw a hint of her full cleavage, and his desire seared through his last frayed thread of restraint. She had just hooked her bodice when she felt him behind her. Breathing hard, he scooped her hair from around the back of her neck and kissed it. He placed one arm around her middle, splaying his hand firmly on her abdomen, and reached to cup her breast with the other. She grabbed his hands and pulled them away.

"No," she said. He stilled immediately and then wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

"I must make you mine," he whispered. He kissed her ear and down her neck while molding his broad hands to her hips and stroking firmly. A primal urge to claim her and mark her as his own obliterated all thoughts of honor and safety.

"I want you with child, our child. Do not deny my love, sweet Relianna."

He turned her around, and she gasped at the heat in his eyes. His nostrils flared while his fierce gaze roamed over her face and body. Holding her by her sides, his thumbs rubbed lightly underneath her breasts.

"I cannot wait," he said, his voice deep and hungry, but she pushed away and broke out of his embrace.

He reached for her, but she held out her hands.

"I said no!"

He staggered, blinked hard, and tossed his head as though trying to throw something off.

"No?" he rasped.

She took a step back. Her hair fell around her in a glorious cascade of curls, and he almost charged her, but she clasped her veil to her chest and shook her head.

"You'll never forgive yourself if it happens this way," she said strongly. "You'll despise yourself and me in time for allowing it." Then she lifted her chin and stared him down with all the pride and self-possession of a royal princess. "I cherish my honor as much as you do yours, and I value myself too highly to give myself away like this. I am no tumble in the hedgerows!"

He turned his back on her, his chest heaving, and put his fist to his mouth while he tried to calm his instinctive drive. She was right, of course, and already he felt a potent dose of shame running through his veins. Closing his eyes in remorse, he feared that his behavior may have cost him her regard.

"If it helps any, just think of Princess Onkra eating three mince pies without a fork," came her husky voice.

Her unexpected jest forced a pained laugh from him. He turned back to her, worried that he had ruined his hopes, but the affection in her eyes soothed some of his fears. His respect and esteem for her grew, and he bowed deeply.

"You must think me a cur for even suggesting such a thing," he said while looking down at the ground. "I am king, yet I act no better than a debauched dwarf behind a shed."

She saw tears of shame in his eyes, and she softened.

"I think no such thing," she said. "I never believed that of you."

He exhaled in relief and stepped forward with a sincere apology that she accepted quietly. Her merciful heart humbled him, and he silently thanked Mahal. Walking away, he sat on a flat rock, and waited with his head bowed for her to come to him. He knew that she needed to decide what happened next, and he prayed that she wouldn't retreat into polite refusal. After a few minutes, she walked over and stood in front of him, watching his face intently. Gently, and asking her permission first, he wrapped one of her curls around a finger and kissed the silky strands. She smiled warmly and leaned down to kiss his cheek. He took a deep breath and relaxed. All was well again. They sat in peaceful contentment before he asked her what he had been wanting to for some time.

"What did my mother tell you about me?" he asked. "When did you meet her?"

It was her turn for tears to form, and she fidgeted uncomfortably. He took her hand, his passion transformed to tender concern. She leaned against him, and he laced his fingers through hers.

"My mother, Tamra, and my grandfather were traveling healers," she began, "They had traveled to Fornost where they stayed to help during a terrible pox that spring. Mother was a specialist in infectious diseases, and grandfather was an expert in poisons and antidotes."

His brows rose. Such knowledge was unusual and more suited for a lord's court than a traveling healer. He rubbed his mouth with his hand and motioned for her to continue. She was silent, and he wiped a tear off her cheek.

"You don't need to tell me if it's painful," he said softly, and he kissed her hand.

"No," she said, "I want to tell you, to share this with you."

Taking a deep breath, she tried to smile, and his heart swelled at her courage.

"My mother was pregnant with me … and she despaired since my father had died some months before."

"What do you know of your father, Relianna?"

She shook her head in confusion.

"Almost nothing. Grandfather said once that I had my father's coloring, but I had no engraving or painting to go by, and he wouldn't ever tell me his name or even where he was from. I think it hurt him too much. Mother died when I was little. She traveled away somewhere and never came back. Grandfather got word later, and it almost killed him. He was never the same after that and kept me close."

He nodded and stroked her hair, unconvinced at her reasoning.

More likely she was taken advantage of and he didn't want Relianna to know.

A dwarrowdam of uncertain parentage would certainly not be anyone's choice for queen, but he put that behind him. He was sure that his people would warm to her when give the chance. What the council thought mattered not a whit.

"You know from my letter what mother tried to do and how Aunt Relia saved her. After that, she said she considered us family. When I was old enough, she gave me this pin. She used to call me Blossom."

Thorin took the pin from her hand and put it in her hair himself where it sparkled even in the dim light of shadows and rain clouds. His mother's pet name for her was apt, and he remembered that he had said the same that night in the dark. She was a blossom that he wanted to savor, but sifting through what she said only brought more questions. Clearly, she was at ease with his mother and even called her Aunt Relia—something that the queen never allowed anyone else to do. But why did his mother allow them the protection of the Longbeards?

"What is your clan, Relianna?"

She ducked her head and fell silent. Taking her by the chin, he looked into her eyes and saw uncertainty. He drew breath at her unspoken admission and understood why she kept her identity a secret for so long. No one was clanless unless they were banished for some terrible crime or cast out for being unfit.

"I don't know," she said, her voice now shaky. "Grandfather wouldn't tell even after I begged."

He squeezed her hand.

"If my mother said you are a Longbeard, then you are," he said, "and I will decree it so if necessary."

She leaned her head on his shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her.

"She wrote a letter to me to open when I was grown," she said. "The first page was an official adoption notice into the Longbeard clan and signed with her signature and the Durin seal. By that time, I was alone, and I made my way with another traveling healer using what I learned from my grandfather."

Thorin was surprised, and his curiosity grew. His mother would never undertake something like that without his father knowing. Something more was afoot here, but he couldn't put the pieces together.

"What was the second page?" he asked.

She sighed and was silent, and he stroked her arm and tried to see her face, but her long curls hid her from him.

"Relianna?"

Her breath came out in a rush.

"She wrote that she loved me and that mother was a dear friend of hers. She told me to … to …"

"To?" he prodded.

She put her hands over her face and turned as red as her hair.

"To seek you out for protection. Oh! Not the kind of protection a, a …"

"mistress has from her lover," he finished. "I understand. Why did she ask that of you?"

She picked her face up and hid again behind her hair. He took her curls in one hand and lovingly swept them over her shoulder.

"I don't know, but I couldn't do it. I felt so ashamed and didn't want to take advantage of her kindness."

He frowned. The answer to all of this seemed to be sitting right in front of him but hovered just out of reach. He tried to puzzle it out, but the most important piece was missing. However, there was one thing he knew for certain.

"I will stand by you no matter what comes," he said. "I will love and protect you always."

She nodded and hugged him about his waist. There they stayed, holding each other, until she sat up and shook herself.

"Your mother told me about Frerin and his warm smile and reckless ways," she continued, "about Dis and her sweetness, but mostly, she talked about you."

He chuckled. "I pray that she was merciful."

She laughed.

"Aunt Relia worried for you most, I think, because she saw how much you loved your people and how hard you worked to see them prosper. She said that you stood up to men who tried to cheat them and fought off men who raided the camp. Once I pretended to fight by your side using a wooden stick."

"What happened?" he asked amused.

"I poked a dog, playing that it was an orc, and got in trouble."

"How old are you?"

She looked up with an incredulous expression.

"Dwarves should never ask that of their women folk," she said, "but I honestly don't know. I would guess that I'm about 15 years older than Prince Fili."

Thorin was shocked. Everyone knew how old they were. Long life was a matter of pride among the dwarves, and birthdays were celebrated with the best food and ale that could be found. He, himself, often worked through his birthdays, but Balin still tried every year to drag him off for a celebration somewhere.

She saw his expression and wrung her hands.

"Grandfather never celebrated it," she said. "I don't know why, but I think we were in trouble. I remember having to play inside at times and moving often. Grandfather never stopped looking over his shoulder when we were in the market, and we always wore cloaks with hoods when we went out. I had heard from others that mother would bind her hair so none of it could be seen."

"Why, what color was it?"

Relianna lowered her voice and looked around to make sure they were alone. Thorin noticed that she had done that several times during the outing and once before with him. He didn't know if it was it out of habit or something else.

"Mother's hair looked like spun gold," she said, "very unusual for a dwarf, and anyone who saw her would remember. She was so beautiful with large, blue eyes. If not for the hood, she would have attracted a crowd wherever she went."

A face appeared in Thorin's mind of an exceptionally beautiful dwarrowdam leaning over him with a sad smile on her face, but he couldn't remember where. She had Relianna's heart-shaped face and curling mane of hair. He tried harder to remember, but the face faded away.

"Did she treat any of my people?"

Relianna looked down and nodded.

"Aye, they both did, and she treated you once, but though I made grandfather tell me her story about you, I don't recall where you were."

Thorin smiled and imagined what her childhood memories of him were like. He dearly wanted to know if she cared for him even before their meeting but didn't want to ask.

"So he and my mother told you all about me."

She blushed deeply, and he knew then that she did feel something for him early on.

"I thought you very handsome from their descriptions," she said softly, "but more than that I thought you honorable and kind—everything a prince should be—and I daydreamed at times that I was, that we were … uh, oh bother!"

She crossed her arms over her chest, and sat with her brows pinched together. He laughed and pulled her to him. She tried to lean away, but he kissed her temple.

"I shamed myself completely a few minutes ago," he said, "so there's nothing you can say that's worse."

She looked at him under her lashes and then threw her hands up.

"Very well," she said with a huff. "I thought I was in love with you, and I used to imagine being your wife and a princess. So there! Are you satisfied now? I could have stayed away, but I wanted to see you in person. I never thought that we would meet."

He grinned and kissed her quickly. He was more than satisfied. She frowned in frustration at the smug smile on his face and poked him in the chest.

"However, I did not find you the same prince of my dreams when I entered your gates, if you recall."

His mouth turned down at her even more smug expression.

"I'm sorry I disappointed your expectations of me, Relianna," he said seriously. "I was angry, but I never should have treated anyone disrespectfully. I hope I restored your faith in me,

Her expression changed immediately, and she placed her hand on the side of his face.

"That's who I imagined you to be," she said triumphantly. "I was furious when I saw how you acted at first. That's why I wrote the note, but of course you have, else I'd not let you find me."

At once, he pushed off the rock and took her in his arms.

"You should know that I would find and claim you regardless."

She looked around before letting him kiss her nose. He frowned at her obvious fear that someone was watching and resolved to start back. Several drops had fallen, but no downpour as yet. Still, the others would be reaching the stables soon, and it would not help Relianna's reputation to arrive too much later. She nodded at his unspoken decision and replaced her veil. He wanted to rip it off, but he knew that should anyone see them approaching, all needed to look correct.

Walking over, he grabbed Ruby's reins. The pony had munched contentedly and whinnied at the interruption. Relianna grabbed a handful of tall grass and led the pony's nose with it.

"Come on, girl," she coaxed. "You won't lose your feast, I promise."

Thorin watched with both amusement and pride. He started walking, and she fell in five paces behind him.

"I'll have you know that as soon as I announce our betrothal I'm changing this arrangement," he grumbled. Then he thought a moment and chuckled. "Or perhaps I should keep it the same to keep you in your place."

He heard her growl behind him and smirked.

"And I will commission pointy, steel-tipped shoes so I can kick you in your arrogant backside anytime it's needed, my lord," she said between her teeth, "so prepare to have a continually sore behind."

He laughed at that, and she joined him.

"You must call me Thorin now," he called back. "At least in private. I don't want formalities between us."

She nodded but realized he didn't see it.

"Very well, but that will take some getting used to."

He thought a moment and turned around.

"What did you call me when you pretended we were wed?" he asked with his brows raised.

She clenched her fists and looked around for something to throw. He narrowly dodged a chunk of wood.

"You're not going to let that go, are you?"

"No," he replied with a wide smile.

They kept walking, and he outlined his plans to keep her safe, but she fell silent and then begged him not to do anything just yet.

"We can't be seen together or let anyone know," she said anxiously. "Princess Onkra is angry enough with me as it is for having her time alone with you."

He stopped immediately and walked back to her.

"Has she harmed you?"

She looked down and didn't answer him.

"By Durin," he swore, "I will banish her from our clan if she beats you again."

"She will as soon as I get back. She hurts me for everyone's offenses, but it spares the younger maids, so I take it."

He gripped her by her shoulders and bared his teeth as his eyes bored into hers.

"Never again," he said. "I will assign one of my own people to watch over you as soon as we get back."

He shook her slightly, and she nodded with her face down. The rain clouds passed, and the sun shone brightly as if the darkness had never come. They walked the rest of the way in silence until they reached the stables. No one said anything about them since Balin explained what had happened. The grooms looked at Ruby's hoof while Thorin took Relianna behind the stable where no one could see.

"Go to Oin and tell him you're sick. He will keep you there until I come and explain."

She took a deep breath and nodded. He reached for her and touched her face through her veil.

"I need to see you once more before we go in, my sweet Relianna."

She looked over his shoulder and all around her before she lifted her veil. He had only seen her in the shadows and under dark clouds, but now in the bright sunlight her red hair blazed like fire with copper and gold highlights, and her pupils contracted to reveal peridot green. She looked like a goddess of spring, and he stood transfixed until he saw her eyes. Then all the blood drained from his face, and she cried out in fear.

"What is it? What is it?"

He stared with wide eyes into her frightened face and began to shake with suppressed rage.

"I will kill him! I will kill him!"

"Who?" she cried.

He clenched his fists and then touched his belt to make sure he had his dagger.

"Your father!"

Woo-hoo! Confrontation coming, and please review!