DISCLAIMER: Let's get this out of the way. I do not own or have any hope of ever owning the characters or happenings of middle earth. They belong to Tolkien and as far as I'm concerned he can keep them. For now. I do however, own my OC, Kidhuzel! So don't steal her. Please, feel free to leave any comments and/or questions that you may have. Follow the story in which ever way you would like, but make your thoughts known but be polite while you do it. Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~
*AN: Unsafe alternative chapter on AO3*
"Things of that nature should be done in private. Do you understand, Kidhuzel?"
"Yes, sir."
"Return to breakfast."
"That's it?!"
Thorin does not stop patting Kidhuzel's head even at Dwalin's indignant question. Having found the two in such an intimate position, it was imperative that he have a talk with the girl about etiquette. It would not do to have his closest friend and warrior caught with his pants literally down in the elvish pavilion. Dismissing the half drake, Thorin turns his attention to his seething ally. Dwalin's ruddy face is crumpled into an expression of mixed incredulity, fury, and mortification. Had the wizard or elf lord still been present, Thorin would not have to worry about Dwalin's tongue but with just the two of them…
"Dwalin-"
"'Done in private'? I want nothin' to do with her!" Glaring at El's back as she exits the room, the dwarrow gnashes his teeth at the very idea "Nothin'! Not in public and definitely not in private!"
"Dwalin, she is-"
"I know who she is, Thorin!" raising his head towards the ceiling, Dwalin runs his hands over the top of his half bald head. Breathing deeply, he exhales in near defeat "Even more so, I know WHAT she is."
Kidhuzel is half dragon. Half of her is the spawn of creatures made only to cause agony and rain devastation. When Erebor fell, Dwalin was there. He remembers the frantic voices; the collapsing architecture; the odor of scorched flesh. The smell was the worst. As if someone left a roast too long in the oven and it loses its appeal in a cloud of smoke. That smell. The smell of, for just an outrageous moment, mistaking his mother for a roast. Dwalin remembers searching for his female kin only to find them engulfed in flames. His mother was so much taller than his precious little sister and that was the only thing that aided in telling them apart. Emerald eyes that had looked up at him so often in wonder were empty sockets. Sparkling teeth that used to flash as her mouth sang to him as a child, were covered in blackened soot and skin. And their hair, bright copper tresses so different than his and Balin's, were alight with the flames of death.
He tried. No one could ever say he didn't try. The dwarrow tried devastatingly hard to rescue the two most important women in his life: his mother and sister. Yet they were long gone before he even arrived and his exertions nearly cost him his life. Had Balin not torn him away from their corpses, the burly dwarf would have suffered more than losing the hair on the crown of his head. Thorin cuts his beard low to show empathy for those who were lost and those left behind; swearing not to grow it back until he regains his lost homeland. But Dwalin cuts his out of mourning. Never will he allow his lost hair to grow back, for never shall his mother or sister return. And now, in some twisted curse of fate, Mahal would have him take the thrice damned creature who murdered his family as his bride.
"Kidhuzel did not kill Calla or Funna." Having grown up nearly in the same cradle, Thorin can easily read the despair on Dwalin's face. He too felt the loss of many he called kin that day "You cannot place fault on her for that."
"Indeed?" he scoffs openly; knowing he would never be so bold with his long time friend and King in front of others "Just as ye cannot place responsibility on all elves for the choices of a few?"
Working his jaw in agitation, Thorin scowls at his companions. It is true; He cannot request that his cousin exonerate Kidhuzel for the death of his kin any more than he could rid himself of his resentment towards all elves for the transgressions of one king. Conceivably it is a flaw in the line of Durin, that they can easily spread fault evenly among races. Still, Thorin feels that he has the slightest edge in the argument being that his One, should he have one, is not an elf.
"Kidhuzel is an asset to not only this quest, but Erebor as a whole. With your union as well as your portion of the gold, your name will be unable to be uttered without awe." trying to make an unreasonable dwarrow see reason around an unreasonable situation, is not an impossible feat for the king. Nor is it a simple one. While Thorin could order Dwalin to bed the girl, he would much rather he make the choice relatively on his own. Or her own; whichever comes first "Warriors and traders alike will flock to the mountain and it will flourish in riches and safety. None will think to stand against us while a dragon protects the mountain."
"Ye forget. A dragon protects it already."
"You do not fear her in that way, be honest with yourself if not me." placing a scarred hand on the door, Thorin decides that there is nothing he can say to change the dwarrow's mind. Only time will see the two together. They simply need time. With that in mind, he gives his guard a departing command "From hence forth her presence shall be a constant by your side."
"She has already sworn to be by yer side." Dwalin watches in suspicion at Thorin smirking smugly "She is yer 'weapon' from what I have heard."
"Aye, she is and it is quite literal. Yet, a weapon is meant to be wielded and Mahal has already destined you to wield her in both body and mind." Dwalin visibly recoils at the prospect. It is not rare for a king to give his warriors weapons for various reasons yet this is one he wishes to reject. "I give to you, Dwalin son of Fundin, my most dangerous weapon."
"Thorin, if ye think-"
"You would reject a gift from your king?"
He cannot. To reject a gift from one's king is to reject their rule all together. Thorin knows this of course, and presents the statement purposefully in this way. While giving women as gifts is more of a mannish way of presenting rewards, Thorin makes the exception in this instance. Had he not dismissed Kidhuzel already, he would have literally placed the girl in Dwalin's arms. While a spur of the moment decision, Thorin trusts that handing the reigns of El to Dwalin is the right choice. Seeing no way out of the situation, Dwalin bows his head in acknowledgment.
"Ye are too gracious, my liege."
"Hm... She needs training; I'll not have her harming any of our own because of her lack of control." Pulling open the door and begins stepping through it, Thorin gives a remark "This way, when you seek her out you may blame it on duty."
"Shall we get started then?" had Thorin been a lesser dwarf, he would have jumped at coming face to face with Kidhuzel. Instead, he raises an eyebrow at her presence. Sensing his unasked question, she smiles brightly "Breakfast is over."
"So ye spied on us while we conducted our business, wyrm?"
"At best it could be called eaves dropping, not spying; as despite my many gifts, I cannot see through doors." tilting her head to gaze at her soon to be mate, El shrugs her shoulders the way she has seen Kili do many times "Besides, the conversation pertained to me, meaning I was simply minding my own business."
"Ye-"
"I would be glad to get started on my training." she says, cutting Dwalin off as she often does. Giving a blinding grin to her bearer, she turns and flies down the hallway "I'll meet you at the training grounds in 10 minutes. Please arrive on time, or I'll have to come and fetch you."
Dwalin growls in frustration while Thorin just chuckles. He is no fool; he knows Dwalin is immensely unhappy with the situation and that El is only so willing because he has ordered it. It must be done. Their union will work in the favor of Erebor and that has always been Thorin's top priority. Still, as he looks after the giggling maiden and his raging best friend, the king can not help but hope that they find some semblance of companionship.
~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~
Durin's day approaches swiftly. The dwarves of Erebor have until the last day of fall to reach their mountain or be forced to wait another year IF given the chance. Dwalin stands in the common area in relief as Balin relays the happenings of the meeting. Now that the elf has read the map, they may leave this place. Even better than that, he can be free of Kidhuzel's constant advances on his person. As per Thorin's orders, she is careful not to try anything in the company of others, but it makes little difference as they are always together regardless. With her daily training, Dwalin can admit that the girl is very powerful. He was amazed when she learned to control her cold fire right up to the point where she chillingly burned the clothes off his back. He had to have all his clothing replaced with elvish ones multiple times, much to his annoyance. Thankfully that will all end, as the group leaves early tomorrow morning.
"Rest while you can, we leave before dawn." Dwalin waits for his brother to finish speaking with the others before approaching him "Ah, lad. Afraid your suitor will disturb your rest again?"
"She has done so 6 times so far." rolling his eyes, Dwalin sighs at what has become of him. He is now so used to Kidhuzel slipping into his bed that he is more surprised when she doesn't "Find your rest, brother. I will finish packing our things."
"... I shall see you in a few hours, nadad."
Watching the group depart, the half bald dwarf feels a twinge of annoyance at being unable to join them in rest. Although El is currently acquiring sewing skills from the elf lord's daughter, to compensate for his many shredded clothing, he has no doubt she would finish and interrupt his sleep. She is a quick learn and even when busy, she makes more than enough time to find him. Shoving a few items into his pack, the dwarf is caught off guard when something smashes into his side, knocking him clear off his feet. Reaching behind him to grab his ax, he finds both it and his brass knuckles frozen to the floor. Closing his eyes in exasperation, he knows who has found him.
"Hello, Kidhuzel." he greets tiredly. Feeling the warm ice solidify around his hands, as she surrounded his other while his eyes were closed, the guard knows he is caught
"Hello there."
It is not the first time she has caught him in such a position. In fact, as soon as she learned to control her powers, she began trying ways to capture the dwarf. At first her ice had been too cold, cutting off his circulation in its icy depths. Then it became too hot, nearly giving him freezer burn. Even after she had learned to make the ice warm enough not to freeze but cool enough not to melt, it was impossible for her to make a strong enough shackle to hold him. Wiggling his fingers in the liquid fire, Dwalin can not help silently acknowledging El for her ingenuity. She surrounded his hand twice with varying degrees. The surface is hard enough to restrict him, while the internal is a liquid that keeps him from being harmed. Had she not been trying to strip him of his pants, the dwarrow would have commended her on her advancement.
"I have told ye once if I have told ye a thousand times..." Kicking out his foot to escape her claws, Dwalin huffs in annoyance "I will not mate with ye!"
"Three hundred twenty six."
"What?"
"You've told me three hundred and twenty six times that you would not mate me." glancing up from pulling his boot off, El blinks up at the dwarf in boredom "I have told you three hundred and twenty seven times that you would."
"... This is a common room." As the half dwarf snatches off his boot and works on the other one, Dwalin decides not to argue the particular point of who will be correct in the end "Anyone could walk in."
"They are all asleep. I made sure." Freeing his other boot, El stands at his feet. Looking down at the struggling dwarf, she can't help but feel a rush of power roll over her "Would you like to remove your trousers or should I?"
"I am not- !" hearing the negative, El pins the dwarf's legs between her knees and unties the strings. She has learned to be more gentle in this way of things, but will not allow the dwarrow to escape. Not tonight "Release me!"
"Soon." she says blandly "But not yet."
Pulling the dwarf free of his clothing, El ignores his struggles to marvel at his erection. She has seen it often within a short span of time but tonight she will be sure to bind the dwarf to her with it. Reaching into her small satchel, she retracts a small vial of oil. Having heard of Dwalin's plight, the less stiff company members have been giving the girl more advice than she can handle. She often takes it back to Arwen for confirmation with the blushing beauty and thus thought to bring oil for her mission.
"This usually goes on cold but I have heated it slightly to ease your discomfort." pouring the liquid liberally into the palm of her hand, El raises her eyes to Dwalin's "Pardon my intrusion."
~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~
Yo yo yo! My uncle is getting married today! Hurray! There is an extension to this chapter. About an extra page in length. Like I said, find it on AO3(archive...of...ourown) for the uncencored part. Its not bad, but its more than last time. Also, not for the faint of heart. Like always, people have to work for a happy ending. Thank you all for the reviews! ~Shishi