After Ila's most unforgettable experience of her first bath in Erebor, she and Dwala returned to her room to prepare her for the day. Ila felt remarkably different from when she had first awakened. Her anxiety had been joined by excitement. Whereas when she had left her room she had no care for what she would wear that day, now she was consumed by picking just the right ensemble. Despite having had two carriages filled with her luggage she felt as she had nothing to wear.

"What about this one?" Dwala asked holding up a light blue dress.

Ila all but turned her nose up at it. "He has already seen me in blue…" she remarked and continued digging through her trunks, unsatisfied with everything she came across. The dress she had arrived in had been very modest with respect to the neckline, and Ila wanted something a little more plunging. Not too much, but, Thorin had seen her bare back and nearly everything else that morning. Ila blushed thinking about it, tried to not think about it, but it was almost all she could think about.

"How about something in red then? It's a nice contrast with your dark hair." Dwala suggested.

Ila went to another trunk to search for something red, thinking that wasn't a bad idea. She pulled a fiery red dress out, with gold accents and trimmings, and a neckline that was almost too revealing. Ila loved this choice, but it was too over the top for what would be a casual day. She would save this for a special event when she wanted to monopolize the king's attention. Assuming that was possible, Ila thought. But she felt much more confident after their brief exchange in the baths that she would be able to hold his attention with greater ease in the future.

Ila laid that dress aside and continued rummaging. "This one?" Dwala asked and Ila turned to look at the gown she held.

It was a darker red, a crimson with less accents but still very pretty. It would do for today, Ila thought. And it would provide a tasteful peak at her chest, which Ila thought would make up for anything the dress might lack. Ila smiled as she was pleased with the selection and Dwala helped her into it. Ila then affixed her veil and added some simple but glittering onyx earrings to top it off. Just as she was giving herself one last look in the mirror, a knock came at her door. Dwala went to receive whoever was there, and Ila realized that she had most likely missed breakfast by now. Would she be in trouble, she wondered? She had a moment of frustration sweep over her as she realized that she largely had no idea what she was supposed to do with herself the majority of the time, she was just waiting for the instruction of others and she hated that. Would it be different when she was a queen? Would she have any say in the activities of her day? Or would she just have queenly duties to attend to and then be left to her own devices when she was not needed? Which she imagined would be most of the time….

That thought was interrupted as a servant entered the room with a tray laden with a delicious looking breakfast. The dwarf sat it on the nearest table and then bowed lowly to Ila who still sat at her vanity.

"Princess Ila, King Thorin advised that you would most likely not make it to breakfast and so breakfast must be brought to you."

Ila smiled broadly under her veil and again found that she was happy for having to wear it after all. The veil could not completely hide the fact that she was blushing furiously however which Dwala noticed and smiled herself.

"The king also says that once you are done eating, he would like for you to meet him in in front of the royal staircase." The servant continued.

Ila stopped smiling. He wanted to see her? So soon? She felt her stomach clench and suddenly wanted none of the breakfast that a moment ago had looked irresistible.

When Ila did not answer immediately, Dwala did so for her. "Thank you, my lady will be there as instructed."

The servant bowed to Ila once more and excused himself. Dwala eyed the food and spoke when it was clear that Ila would not. "I know you are nervous but you must eat something. You barely ate at all last night."

"I can't, not when I must see him again so soon!" Ila said, excited and anxious all over.

"My lady…..you knew you would see him again sometime today….what with all the fuss about picking out a dress?" Dwala said confusedly.

"I know, I know but I expected to see him in passing, perhaps at supper, not to be summoned by him presently!" Ila said standing up to pace about the room.

"Ila please. This is a good thing, don't you think? He wouldn't want to see you again so soon if he did not find you pleasing." Dwala pointed out.

Dwala was right, about everything. She did need to eat. She walked over to the table and after studying it for a moment forced herself to eat some strawberries, but then insisted that Dwala enjoy the rest. Dwala, the quintessential dwarven female, did not need to be told twice.

Ila twisted her fingers a bit as she paced again. Should she go downstairs now? He would likely be angry if made to wait, as a king that is not something he would be used to or have to tolerate, but perhaps she should make him wait….just a little bit. Her mother's counsel regarding how to handle a husband had not made any real sense to her. Her advice had been to make him think that something was his idea, when in fact it was her own, and to always obey him but not too quickly or too willingly. And when it came to…her most important wifely duties and the only ones that really mattered, she was to simply lie still and let her husband do as he pleased. Whatever that was, Ila thought a bit unsettled.

Why could she not stop thinking about that?! She had to stop herself, there was enough to worry about presently. Perhaps she should go out and peek down the stairs to see if Thorin had arrived at the bottom yet, she thought.

"I think I will just step out and take a peek at the bottom of the staircase…..I don't want him to wait too long for me…" Ila said as Dwala was still eating. She had a mouth full at the moment and couldn't answer and Ila moved quickly to the antechamber and out of the door. She quietly moved around the corner to peer down at the stairs. There was no one there yet, and Ila was secretly relieved as it bought her a moment longer to contemplate what she would say to him. It also gave her a moment longer to contemplate what he wanted with her, which excited and scared her.

As she was thinking on this, Thorin slowly approached the base of the staircase. Ila caught her breath as she watched him. He wore a dark blue tunic, similar to the one from yesterday, and Ila thought it must be a staple of his. A heavy and ornate silver belt was sitting on his hips that matched his enormous boots. They made his feet look huge but she knew from seeing them bare that morning they were proportional-though that still meant they were rather large. She tried to force the image of the rest of his perfect naked form from her mind, which was immensely difficult to do.

As she regarded Thorin, he thinking that he was alone, she noticed his demeanor was different than when he was in public. This morning he had not been expecting to see her, but now that he was waiting on her, and knew that she would be there any second, he looked…..nervous? He was looking around, flexing his fingers, and even smoothed his hair down to part and make sure it was falling around his face just the way he wanted. Ila felt a billion butterflies take flight in her stomach. He was so…adorable.

She smiled, and almost giggled out loud as she inhaled, which was enough for Thorin's owl ears to hear. He immediately looked up towards where she was peeking around the corner. She receded a tiny bit but she was caught, just as she had been caught that morning. Their eyes locked, her hazel ones with his blue, and she had to come forth from the shadow.

Thorin swallowed hard and stood up straight, trying to regain some of his regal airs. Ila came around the corner slowly and walked to the landing where the two staircases to the male and female quarters separated. They faced each other silently and Ila curtsied to him slowly.

"Your majesty," she said reverently and could feel her face growing hot. Thorin bowed in return. "Princess," came the baritone that again sent shivers down her spine.

"You wished to see me?" Ila asked, still atop the stairs.

Thorin cleared his throat. "Yes, if you are not otherwise engaged." Thorin answered, his tone unreadable, a thing that she hated about him. And how else would she be engaged? What could she possibly have to do she wondered? She reminded herself that he admitted to not being good at speaking to females, and dismissed the comment.

Ila answered, "Of course not my lord, I am at your command." She said sweetly and saw Thorin's eyes grow little wide which he immediately corrected. Thorin spent a second pondering the many things he would like to command her to do, and then was trying desperately not to look at her neckline which was lower than yesterday, though tasteful. He had of course noticed that morning that her hair shielded her bust from him, which he was both thankful and disappointed for. There was no hiding the fact that her bosom was plentiful and she was fortunate that she had so much hair to have covered it.

Thorin forced his eyes to remain on hers as she descended the stairs. She daintily held her crimson dress up to aid her in doing so. The color suited her marvelously, but Thorin figured she would be radiant in any color. As she was about to take her last step and be even with him, he held out his hand for her to take. Ila did so and was consumed by the sensation of their first touch. Last night she had gripped his arm through the thick material of his tunic, and this morning he had grabbed her ankle under the water, neither of which Ila counted as their first touch. The feel of his strong hand under hers made something deep in her stomach tighten. His palms were rough and calloused, no doubt from years of brandishing swords and even more so a blacksmith's hammer. Her father had told her how Thorin had gone back to the anvil when his people were exiled, in order to provide for them and build them a new home in the Blue Mountains. That was enough to earn his respect from Ila, but it was his love that she wanted, even if she did not fully realize that yet.

Thorin felt Ila's soft skin and wondered what the rest of her would feel like. He felt butterflies of his own take flight and he considered bringing her hand to his lips to place a gentle kiss there, but hesitated too long as he reveled in the feel of her and her closeness that he thought it would be awkward. He cursed her veil, wanting to look upon the divine beauty that he had got to behold for only a brief moment that morning. He had to break the silence now, and finally noticed that her handmaiden was absent.

Not that he minded, she was a somewhat clumsy dwarf with poor timing. But she was necessary. The two of them could not be alone as of yet. It was not proper, even though they were betrothed. He did not want whispers floating around Erebor that his bride was not intact on their wedding night.

"Your handmaiden….she—"

"Dwala, my lord. Her name is Dwala." Ila finished for him.

"Where is she?"

"Oh, she is just finishing up with breakfast, she should be along," Ila said casting a glance back towards her room.

"And how did you find breakfast?" Thorin asked.

"Oh, it was wonderful. Thank you, I-I apologize that I did not make it down to breakfast as I should have..."

"Oh, I did not think you would make it after….after you were interrupted this morning. You know you are permitted to take your breakfast privately in your rooms if you so choose. Though….when we are married…..you will be expected to dine with me." Thorin said but not in a commanding tone, rather a hopeful one. Ila smiled, then realized he had no idea that she did so, and replied.

"I am sure I would like that," Ila said kindly and they both then realized that he was still holding her hand. He blushed a bit which all but slayed Ila as he gently lowered her hand.

Thorin looked at her a bit more seriously now. "I called upon you so early in the day because I thought that you might like a tour of your new home. Erebor is of course quite large and you cannot see everything in a single day, but I should be able to show you enough to prevent your ever getting lost."

A private tour, from the king himself? Ila couldn't believe she was that important, not even as his intended. Anyone could have performed such a perfunctory task, she was actually surprised that the job had not fallen to Lord Balin. As king Thorin was required to do nothing, especially not of this sort, and Ila felt special indeed. Thorin could see her breathing speed up as her breasts heaved a little in her corseted gown as he waited for her response.

"I am honored, your majesty, that you would take on such a menial task yourself. Surely you have much greater matters to attend to." Ila replied, barely able to suppress how pleased she was. Thorin noted this and was equally pleased.

"On the contrary, I can think of nothing more important to devote my attention to today," He replied, becoming emboldened by her behavior which was more and more favorable towards him.

He caught himself staring again and knew he must compliment her to make up for his shoddy attempt at it last night at supper. He was no good at such however.

"You look well rested this morning…..in fact you look positively—"

"My lady!" Came Dwala's voice, loudly echoing from the landing where she stood as she was presently and hastily making her way down the stairs.

Thorin turned his head to roll his eyes. That dwarf had the worst timing of any creature he had ever been forced to bear.

"Your majesty! I apologize for my tardiness." She said quickly as she bowed to him and took her place behind her lady.

"It is no matter," he said gruffly. "Shall we?" he said less gruffly to Ila as he offered her his arm.

As before, she took it, but this time with much different emotions. She remembered how his bare arms looked from that morning. Large and muscular, veins popping out below his elbows. She was overwhelmed by the desire to be firmly held in the grasp of those bare arms. Those large and powerful hands that had held hers but a moment ago. Thick fingers that were nearly double the width of hers. She wondered that she could fit two fingers in one of his rings that he wore.

His long hair was extremely close to her as she was at his side. She gazed momentarily at the grey streaks that she kept forgetting were there at all. She laughed at herself that she had feared he would be an old dwarf. She was also surprised that his beard was so short. Though she had heard that he kept it short purposely in exile, in remembrance of those who had been lost. And Thorin had lost many near and dear to him. Father had said that the dwarves fled Erebor with singed beards when Smaug attacked, and Thorin had supposedly vowed to keep his short until he reclaimed the mountain. That had not been long ago at all, and Ila thought she could see it growing a little past his chin. Durin's folk were after all called the longbeards. She tried to picture him with a long, black beard down to his belt. She could not imagine it yet.

Ila was so close that she could also smell his scent. It was earthy, with a bit of leather as well. It was masculine and arousing. Not that Ila really knew what arousal was. She only knew she wanted to lean in to breathe more of him in. She resisted however. She reminded herself to keep her eyes forward as he was doing, for when they entered the main part of the palace as they were about to do, she did not want to been seen ogling at him.

That was going to be a nearly impossible task however as they would be spending the entire day together.

AN: Thank you to everyone for the kind feedback! I am glad that you are enjoying it so far. On an unrelated note, is anyone going to Dragon*Con this year? It's in two weeks and I have a photo op with Graham McTavish! So excited.