Thorin woke what seemed a short time later from when he had finally fallen asleep. As he gained consciousness he noted with some dread that today he would have to emerge from his chambers and return to his daily routine of ruling. Not that he didn't love being king, he had yearned for it and fought for it more than half his life. But he also wanted to remain sequestered with his beloved for a little longer. He looked over at her, sleeping deeply and lying over his right arm. He probably had time for a quick love making session, he thought, but she was so happily sleeping that he didn't want to wake her. He needed to do some exercising of another sort anyway. He hadn't been to the training arena since the morning of their wedding. Carefully, he slipped his arm from under Ila and rolled her over to lay on her side, never waking as she did. Thorin just as carefully got up and padded across the floor and to his wardrobe for something to train in. He quietly left the room and then their chambers, instructing his servant that she was not to be disturbed until she emerged on her own accord.

As Thorin made his way down the stairs and through the palace to the training arena he barely met anyone, as it was still very early. He contemplated turning around and slipping back into bed with Ila, but he was half way there now and knew he needed the exercise. So instead, he took the time to enjoy Erebor in the peace and quiet of the early morning. He had missed his home bitterly during the exile, and its beauty and majesty had never worn off on him. And now that he had Ila, now that she had filled a void in him that he hadn't even known was there, now that she was here it felt even more like home. She had given him new dreams, whereas before it had only been to reclaim his homeland, now it was to see his sons running and playing in the great corridors, their beautiful mother chasing after them. To train with them, teach them how to fight, and ultimately how to rule. Surely Ila would be with child soon, if she was not already. He could not wait for her to give him the news.

Thorin reached the arena then to see only a few dwarves sparring this early, his nephews included. Dwalin was there too, having just arrived and getting ready to begin himself.

"There he is….." Dwalin called and Fili and Kili stopped to look towards their uncle.

"Good to see that you all haven't burned down the mountain in my absence," Thorin said.

"Like you would have noticed anyway," Dwalin said. Thorin could not stop himself from getting a little red in the face at that comment. He chose not to comment but grabbed a practice sword.

"Come on then, I need some exercise," he said to Dwalin as he stood waiting for him to attack.

"Really? I thought you'd been exercising for a week straight." Dwalin said.

Fili chuckled at that but Kili did not.

"That is enough." Thorin replied but not angrily. Dwalin smiled widely as he laughed but let his teasing end there. He instead beset Thorin as he had urged. Fili and Kili returned to fighting too and the four of them continued so for nearly two hours before going down to breakfast. As they did, those who passed Thorin gave him polite nods but with barely suppressed smiles and giggles which he heard as soon as he passed them. No one had expected their king to lock himself away for an entire week with his new bride, but they did of course know what he had been doing all that time.

Thorin did not mind their smiles and giggles. At one time in his life, when he was younger he might have, but he was too happy now to let such little things bother him. He wondered if Ila would join them for breakfast, but as tired as she had been last night when they finally fell asleep he doubted it. His pulse quickened just thinking about her, and he hoped she made an appearance soon, for it was too dangerous to visit their rooms just yet, lest he find himself there for another seven days straight.

Dwala had risen early that day, expecting to tend to Ila first thing that morning. But instead, when she approached the royal chambers she was informed by the king's servant that Ila was not to be disturbed until she emerged on her own. As such, Dwala was sitting outside the royal bedchambers waiting for Ila to wake. It was past time for breakfast and she was hungry. But she could not call for breakfast until the queen had risen. Dwala was so excited and anxious to see her friend. She missed her, wanted to hear everything that had happened in the last week, to make sure that she was alright, and of course to tell her about Dwalin. If she could drum up the courage to do so.

As Dwala leaned her head on the wall behind her, fidgeting in boredom, she heard the door open next to her. Shooting up from her seat, she saw Ila tentatively peeking out from around the open door. Ila was not sure who she expected to see, she only knew she had awoken to a lonely bed. She knew that the honeymoon was over and Thorin must return to his duties, but she was sad nonetheless to wake without him next to her. She was especially sad not to make love this morning, which she had come accustomed to these past seven days. But she forgot most of that when she saw her companion.

"Dwala!" she shouted and opened her arms to receive her friend who rushed to embrace her. They hugged each other tightly and proclaimed how much they had missed each other. Dwala called for breakfast to be served to them quickly before Ila pulled her into the bedchamber and closed the doors behind them. Dwala looked around briefly, admiring the lavish room before sitting down on the great bed with Ila. Ila was wearing a thin, white sleeping gown and her long hair was tousled like mad. She obviously had just woken up. She was also smiling, practically glowing, and Dwala felt reassured that she had not been mistreated this past week.

"So….you must tell me everything." Dwala said and Ila burst into giggles.

"Oh Dwala, I do not think you would believe me…." Ila said, smiling from ear to ear.

"Oh Ila you must tell me! Do you know how worried I've been about you? Wondering what was going on in here…"

Ila laughed some more at that. "Oh Dwala, I'm sure you had some idea…."

"Well of course you would be doing that, but you could not have done that for that entire time you were—"

Dwala stopped talking at the face Ila was making, slowly understanding as she spoke what her expression meant. Dwala's jaw dropped and she quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

Ila blushed and laughed at Dwala's reaction. "Well, it wasn't the only thing we did. But, it was a rather significant portion." Ila said.

"Was it….was it….good?" Dwala asked tentatively.

"Oh Dwala," Ila said and fell back onto the bed, her arms thrown outward. "Good doesn't even begin to describe it."

Dwala exhaled heavily at that proclamation. She thought of Dwalin then, and what something that good would be like with him. Luckily she was already blushing.

"You wouldn't even believe some of the things we did. I never imagined males and females did some of them….and that such things could feel so, incomparably and unbelievably….amazing."

"What did you do exactly? Hang from the ceiling while joined?" Dwala asked incredulously.

"Ha!" Ila laughed. "No….but I will suggest it to Thorin." She said with a mischievous smile.

"Ila!" Dwala cried. "Marriage has had quite the effect on you!" she said. Dwala had not imagined to find Ila still basking in the after effects of days upon days of lovemaking. But she was happy to see that Ila was well and happy.

"I know…..it is strange to me too. But I am so happy Dwala, I don't even have the words to tell you." Ila said, serious now and Dwala could see the sincerity in her eyes and hear it in her voice.

"Thorin is sweet, and caring, funny, loving, and so passionate Dwala. He is so much more than he seems…if only there was such a dwarf for you. And I'm sure there is." Ila said and Dwala immediately reddened.

Ila gasped. "There is someone! Oh Dwala, is it one of the princes?! Is that what you have been doing with all your free time?"

"No! No I have been a perfect lady in your absence—"

"That's not what I meant—"

"And there isn't anyone—"

"I was only teasing—"

"…certainly not the princes—"

"You are protesting very much….are you sure someone hasn't caught your eye?" Ila asked.

Dwala sputtered. "Ah…well…..not really….."

"Dwala…." Ila goaded her.

Dwala was caught, and she wanted to tell Ila anyway. She was just worried about what she would think of her choice. And she was bashful about it, since she had never had feelings for any dwarf before.

"Oh, oh alright. But you must promise not to tease me." Dwala said.

"Of course I will not tease you! Who is it? Fili? Kili? Some other young warrior I have not yet met?" Ila questioned her excitedly.

"Oh, no….you've met him." Dwala said cryptically.

"So! Who is he?!" Ila asked about to burst.

Dwala looked at her sheepishly. "Dwalin." She said barely above a whisper.

Ila's eyes were like saucers. When she didn't say anything, Dwala began to defend herself.

"I mean, it doesn't matter anyway because I am sure that he would not court me –"

"Dwala! No, no, no. Why would I tease about that? He is honorable and a legendary fighter, and as close to Thorin as a brother. I will speak to him about it—"

"Oh no! Ila please no. I don't want him to know irrefutably of my feelings through the king!" Dwala protested.

"But why not? Thorin could arrange for something between you two. By Mahal, he could arrange your marriage if you wanted it. He would do it if I asked him." Ila said.

"Oh Ila no! I do not want anyone to be forced to marry me!"

"Dwala, Thorin was forced to marry me and its turned out wonderfully. I could not imagine being happier. And besides, he would be blessed to have you as a bride. I'm sure if he knew of your feelings you would not be able to keep him away."

Dwala looked down at her hands. "I don't know about that…I try to send him subtle hints but he doesn't seem to get them."

"Dwarf men have dense heads, they do not see what is right in front of them." Ila said, reaching over and taking Dwala's hands. "But we will get the message across to him." Ila said smiling broadly at her friend, who soon broke into a wide smile herself. Then they giggled like the young girls they still were, catching up some more until breakfast came. As they ate, Ila gave Dwala a more detailed account of the past week, and Dwala barely knew what to make of the revelations. She barely said anything but hung on every detail, finding herself wanting to be married more and more these days.

Thorin had finished his breakfast, a little disappointed by the fact that Ila had not shown up in the great hall, but then he had not expected her to. He didn't see Dwala either so he assumed she was tending to her, if she was even awake yet. The two of them had slept late most of the mornings during their honeymoon as the schedules they'd kept had been irregular to say the least.

He needed to go to the throne room. He had a laundry list of items to attend to, though Fili had done a good job with handling what he could while ruling in his stead. It was still early though, he thought. He could still sneak away for a brief cuddle with his love, just a kiss or two before he had to fully resume the mantle of ruling. He looked around. No one was vying for his attention at the moment. He could sneak away, just for a few minutes….

"Where are you off to?" Dwalin asked in between mouth fulls of sausage.

Thorin didn't reply, only gave a look like a little dwarf caught trying to steal a cookie.

Dwalin gave him an incredulous look. "Ah lad, you've only been away for three hours!"

"You need a maid in your life, you know that?" Thorin shot back at him.

"Right," Dwalin said dryly. "But don't worry, I won't tell anyone where you've run off too, and so soon." Dwalin said and returned to his second serving of breakfast.

Thorin quickly left the room, hoping that the urgency he moved with would indicate to any who would stop him that he was not in the mood. He made his way to the royal chambers as hastily as he could while still looking dignified. Just a kiss or two, he told himself, then he would return to his throne.

Thorin entered their chambers and as he approached the door of their bedroom, heard laughter coming from inside. He stopped, not wanting to barge in and frighten the handmaid—Dwala—he corrected himself. So instead, he knocked at his own bedroom door.

He heard the laughter inside silence and footsteps coming towards the door. When it opened, Thorin saw Dwala's surprised face.

"Oh, my king," she said bowing her head. "We were not expecting you. My lady is not dressed yet—"

"It is fine Dwala," Ila called from inside the room. Her gown was practically the most Thorin had seen her in for the past week anyway.

"May I have but a moment alone with the queen?" Thorin asked out of courtesy and the promise he reminded himself he had made to be nicer to the dwarf. She nodded and quickly stepped out of his way to close the door behind him.

Thorin saw Ila rise from the small breakfast table that had been brought in so she could eat in privacy that morning. Her thin white sleeping gown was practically see through and left little to the imagination. Getting away with just a kiss or two suddenly became an impossibility.

Thorin smiled lasciviously at Ila but she pouted back at him. He frowned as she slowly made her way towards him.

"Why the sad face my love?" Thorin asked as she reached him and he pulled her into his embrace.

"I woke this morning alone. I am not used to that anymore." She said looking up at him and running her hands slowly over his chest and collarbone. "I was denied our morning love making…" she said lowly and pouting even more.

"Oh my love," Thorin returned. "I had to rise early and wanted to let you sleep. I thought I kept you up with enough love making last night to at least get you through breakfast," he said, half teasing, half not.

"Breakfast is over now," Ila replied with a lust laden eyes.

A low rumble came from Thorin's throat and his expression darkened. He looked angry, but Ila knew better. She'd seen that look numerous times in the preceding week.

"I only came for a kiss," he said low and dangerously. "However…"

Ila hummed up at him as he ran his hands down her back and she felt their heat through her thin gown. Her thighs were quivering and she knew he could feel it.

"…I believe I have time for just a little something more," he finished and grabbed her bottom to quickly lift her up and sit her on the table, dishes clanging and some falling to the floor. He pushed up her gown up to her hips and she wrapped her legs around his thick waist. Deftly undoing his trousers, Thorin let them fall down his legs as he quickly brought his member to his wife's entrance. She wove her hands in his mane and he plunged into her, Ila throwing her head back and letting a loud moan echo through the room. With that Thorin began to take her mercilessly, as he only had a short time. Ila didn't even bother to quiet herself, what with Dwala just on the other side of the door.

As Dwala sat patiently in the other room, it wasn't that she wasn't trying to hear what was going on (which was fortunate since it was so loud and obvious), rather she was trying not to think of Dwalin committing all the desperate acts of passion on her that Ila had described just a few minutes earlier. But that was nearly impossible too, as Ila's screams only intensified, Dwala couldn't help but think she was missing out.

A/N: I'm back! Masters exam over! As a treat I got the Hobbit Extended Edition and typed a good bit of this with it on in the background. Only about a month till DoS! I. Can. Not. Wait.