Author's Note –

Khuz-Dul Translations –

Gimlelul – my brightest star

Elvish Translations –

Amin mela lle – I love you

Marissa and her cousins stopped suddenly, causing the dwarves to skid to a stop as well. Thorin stepped forward, glancing up at his one in confusion.

"Mari, why have we stopped?"

"We're at one of the entrances to the Hidden Valley," she explained with an eager smile before she left his side, darting ahead of the group towards a tall tree with branches that stretched up towards the sky.

The rest of the group followed after her at a steady pace, the dwarves watching, intrigued, as the elf maid ducked behind the large tree and brushed aside a few handfuls of leaves and twigs to reveal a set of medium sized brown doors. She opened them and stepped back so the dwarves could see the stairs that led down into the darkness.

"After you," she said, gesturing to the darkness with her right hand.

"Not a chance, lassie," Dwalin growled, glaring daggers at her. "You first."

Marissa bit her tongue in an attempt to keep a few choice words back and she nodded begrudgingly. She stepped over the entrance and lowered herself down onto the top step.

"Follow me, if you can see," she returned sweetly before spinning away with a smirk. Thorin shook his head in amusement and was the first to follow Marissa.

"Come on, stop being so stubborn," Frerin snorted, jostling Dwalin and Balin with his elbows as he headed after his brother.

"You can stay here if you like, but I can promise you that you'll be attacked by orcs come nightfall," Marissa called back. Arwen and Elrohir slipped past the dwarves and into the passageway.

"Let's go, brother," Balin sighed in defeat and trudged after the elves. Dwalin grumbled but did as his said.

Elladan grinned at the dwarves' discomfort and sealed up the entrance again. He clucked his tongue and the horses walked slowly down the wide staircase after him.

"Welcome, master dwarves, to the Hidden Valley," Marissa smiled widely, staring around her surroundings in awe—she doubted she would ever get used to the beauty of Imladris.

"This is incredible," Frerin uttered, glancing up at his brother's one.

"I've been here many time throughout my life and yet the beauty of this place never ceases to amaze me," she replied honestly, returning his bright smile.

"Come on, I want to see more!" Frerin said boisterously, grabbing Marissa's hand and dragging her away from the group along one of the nearby bridges. Marissa sent a flabbergasted look back at her dwarf partner—Thorin just raised an eyebrow and grinned, making no attempt to rescue her from the hands of his hyperactive younger brother.

"You walk fast for someone with such short legs," Marissa teased as she increased her pace.

"It's a gift," Frerin replied. "You know, it's a wonder you elves can make it through each day without tripping over your too-long legs."

Marissa chuckled immediately. "It's called being graceful," she explained. "Something which dwarves seem to clearly lack."

"I'll have you know that dwarves are above being graceful. We are far more skilled at weapons making and fighting than elves," he retorted, sticking his nose up in a joking manner. "Being graceful is for pansies."

"Are you calling me a pansy?" Marissa asked, her brow raising.

"If the shoe fits," he snorted.

"Oh, I'll show you," she whispered, right before she swung out with her sheathed sword—it hit the back of Frerin's knees and knocked his feet out from under him, he hit the ground with a startled yell. "You were saying?" she asked mockingly as she tied her sword back around her waist.

Frerin groaned, completely winded from the sudden attack. "T-that you're not a pansy and your gracefulness comes in handy."

"That's what I thought," Marissa nodded smugly and made no attempt to help the golden haired dwarf up. Thorin approached seconds later and glanced between his fallen brother and Marissa in confusion.

"What happened here?"

"Your brother questioned my skills as a warrior, so I taught him a lesson," Marissa explained, everything about her screaming smug. "I don't think he'll forget it, will you, Frerin?"

Frerin shook his head quickly. "Nope. Definitely not."

"Honestly brother," Thorin shook his head. He held a hand out and helped his brother up. "Why did you think it was a good idea to challenge her?"

"I'll not do it again, I assure you," Frerin promised, bowing to Marissa. She grinned and ruffled his hair in response.

"We should go now. I have to let my uncle know we've arrived," she said and set her hands on their shoulders, guiding them forward.

Arwen, her brothers and the other two dwarves caught up to them eventually and the group continued on to greet Lord Elrond and get settled in in their lodgings for the next few weeks.

A few days later—after explaining to Elrond why the dwarves were with them, they'd shown their guests to their rooms before retiring to their own rooms—Marissa was in her room, lying on her bed and mending a hole in her favourite silver tunic. A knock sounded at the door and she looked up quickly, a curious glint in her eyes.

"Come in," she called out.

"Hello, Mari," Thorin greeted, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

"Thorin," she smiled happily as she set her stuff down and swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat up. Thorin walked over to her and set his hands on her knees. Marissa cupped his cheeks and sealed their lips together. One of Thorin's large hands strayed to arm and down to her waist, he curled his fingers around her side and pulled her closer. Marissa went willingly, moving her knees apart so Thorin could take a step closer.

Thorin's grip on her tightened, gaining a gasp of surprise from the elf, Thorin took the chance slip his tongue into her mouth and engage hers in a battle for dominance that he won quite quickly. Marissa slipped back on the bed, moving to give Thorin space to climb up beside her.

"W-we shouldn't do this," Marissa whispered, moaning softly as Thorin straddled her, his lips trailing down to the sensitive skin of her neck. The dwarf paused briefly before he pulled back to look at her.

"Tell me to stop and I will," he replied quietly, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I won't rush you or push you into anything that makes you uncomfortable."

Marissa hesitated, staring up at him with an unsure glint in her light eyes. The only thing she saw in his gaze was genuine honesty and respect.

"I don't want you to stop," she admitted and felt surprised at her own words. "I only want you."

"Let me give myself to you."

Marissa nodded, unable to hide her eagerness. "Yes."

Thorin moved back in immediately, bringing their lips together in a rough kiss. Marissa's fingers slid down to his tunic and she slowly pulled it up his chest before helping him tug it up and over his head, the article of clothing was thrown haphazardly to the floor. Thorin broke their kiss in favour of getting to work on removing the top layer of Marissa's dress to reveal her thick, white underdress.

He then untied the lacing on her underdress and started to tug it open, exposing small patches of her pale skin with each tug. Marissa tugged him back up and kissed him deeply. Thorin returned it quickly, though his fingers didn't stray from their task of ridding her of her white dress.

A gasp of pure pleasure tumbled from Marissa's lips, her undeniable need filling the air. Her thin fingers clutched the bedsheets so tightly she was afraid of ripping them in half. "T-Thorin," she whimpered desperately. Her chest was heaving with every deep breath she drew in and then let out roughly. "Please. I-I need you. I want you."

Thorin froze, his beard scratching her skin as he looked up from where he was kissing and sucking marks into her stomach. His stormy eyes locked on hers and he could immediately see the desperation in her pale green orbs.

"Are you sure?" he asked in a rough voice. Marissa's head bobbed up and down in the form of a nod and Thorin wasted no time, he surged upwards and occupied her mouth with a rough, lingering kiss.

"Please," she pleaded again. Thorin stroked her cheek softly, reassuringly and then moved his hand down towards her entrance. A hiss of discomfort slipped out as Thorin gently pushed his thick fingers inside her and he immediately stilled, looking at her carefully, waiting for the go-ahead. She bit her lip and nodded once. Thorin slowly pushed his fingers in deeper and moved them apart bit by bit, stretching her open in preparation. Marissa winced every so often, wrapping her fingers around his thick shoulders. She had to stifle a moan as the discomfort swiftly turned to pleasure.

"Are you alright?" Thorin questioned softly. He stared down at her in worry, taking in her parted lips and her squeezed-shut eyes.

"I-I'm fine," she whispered as she forced her eyes open. Thorin hesitated before continuing what he was doing, he stared at her intently, looking for any sign that she wanted to stop. Thorin smiled in relief when he didn't see any. He found his own pleasure in watching his elf maid moan and writhe beneath him without restraint.

"Marissa… Mari," Thorin said, gaining Marissa's attention. She looked up at him curiously. "If you need to take a break or you want me to stop, just tell me."

"I will. I promise," she agreed. Thorin removed his fingers and lined himself up at her entrance. Marissa raised her hand, biting down on her fist at the pain that tore through her, tears sprung to her eyes as Thorin slowly pushed in.

"Mari, it's alright. Just breathe," he encouraged lightly, moving his hands up to clutch hers. Marissa tried desperately to do as he said, she tried to get her body to relax, to welcome the intrusion of Thorin's large shaft. "I won't do anything until you say so."

"I-it hurts," she whimpered. Every time she moved her body, a new wave of pain shot through her.

"I know," Thorin told her soothingly. His forehead came to rest on hers and he gazed into her tear-filled eyes. "I'm sorry." Thorin kept his word, remaining absolutely still until, slowly but surely, the pain started to lessen and Marissa found she could move without feeling like she was being stabbed. She pulled one hand free and curled her fingers around his side, telling him without words that she was ready. "Are you sure?"

"Please," she replied almost inaudibly. Thorin gently eased his hips forward, pushing deeper into her. Marissa's body tensed up briefly at the discomfort before she forced herself to relax, she leaned up and locked her lips with Thorin's, engaging him in a long, steamy kiss as he started thrusting into her, the pain she felt morphed into pleasure. A sharp moan escaped as he hit the same spot as before and heat filled her entire body. "T-Thorin!" she moaned, moving her head aside to give him more room as he latched onto her neck and began biting and sucking at her smooth, porcelain skin.

"I love you, Gimlelul," Thorin whispered against her neck. His rough voice sent a jolt of pleasure shooting through her and she moved her hips down to meet his thrusts.

"Amin mela lle," Marissa sighed in response.

A few more thrusts and Marissa was sent over the edge, her body arching up into Thorin's as white covered her vision. She let out a strangled moan at the sensation that overwhelmed her. Thorin followed her over the edge moments later, finding his release with a roar and a jerk of his hips.

The dwarf prince slumped against her, and when her vision cleared, she locked her gaze on him and smiled softly as she raised a hand and cupped the back of his head. Thorin raised his head after a few minutes and smiled down at her.

"Are you all right?"

"Never better," she replied shyly, cheeks flushing. "What about you? Was it… was I… satisfactory?"

"You were wonderful." Thorin leaned in and kissed her gently. Marissa's lips curved up into a smile at his words and she returned the kiss eagerly. A quiet whimper slipped from her lips as he nipped at her jawline and trailed a couple of kisses down to her collarbone.

"Thorin…" She curled a few strands of his hair around her fingers and gently tugged on them. He winced and pulled back to look at her.

"What?"

"We can do this again, another day," she said firmly. Thorin nodded and moved away, flopping over onto his back. Marissa curled up beside him and rested her cheek on his chest. Thorin slipped an arm around her and began trailing his fingers up and down her side. "Can you stay here, with me?"

"I'll never leave your side, if that's what you need," he assured her softly.

"I love you," she said in reply, closing her eyes and relaxing against him.

"I love you too."