Quickly she got dressed, and then tutted at her reflection in the mirror. Parts of her hair was still damp, preventing her from effectively pinning it up but it wasn't going to delay her from finding out what was happening. It had been an odd ask from Thorin, that she pin her hair up, since she often wore it loose even at home!

Hurrying out into the corridor, she carried on, ignoring Karan and Amit's warning to stay in.

And so with the two large men following her closely, she had finally joined everyone on the battlements above the main entrance to the Mountain.

Below stood a small sea of elves in shiny gold armour and strange helmets. They were lined up, almost like the toy soldiers she recalled her brothers playing with, in perfect lines.

Then they all took a step away, in such perfect unison, that it was almost like they were connected of one mind.

As she watched on, a fair haired elf, rode through the centre, on a large elk, the colour of freshly fallen snow. He wore no helmet, but a circlet instead, and a haughty expression, that made her want to slap him.

Behind him, rode Bard on his horse.

She could see Thorin and many of the other dwarves bristle at the sight of the elves.

"King Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King under the Mountain," the elf called out.

"King Thranduil." Thorin called back in a half hearted acknowledgement.

"We see that you have reclaimed what was once yours," the elf spoke, as he rode forward. "Now we come forth to ask for what is ours..."

"There is nothing here that belongs to you!" Thorin called out. He was dressed again in his grand fur cape and wore the golden crown bearing two ravens. "This is my grandfather's mountain, passed down to me, its rightful heir -"

"And yet you hide behind walls built up high, like a thief..." The elf called out, with the faintest smirk on his face. She didn't know him well, and was sure Thorin probably deserved chastising, but all the same she found him quite repulsive!

She came to stand beside the hobbit on one corner of the ramparts.

"Who IS he?" She whispered to Bilbo.

"The King of Mirkwood, my lady," Bilbo whispered back.

She thought back to her encounter with the elves, realising he was the father of the other elf who had helped them that day in Esgaroth.

"Perhaps that is because you come marching here with an army, like a gang of bandits looking to plunder what is ours!" Thorin called out.

"We do not ask for more than what you promised us, King Thorin!" Bard called out suddenly from behind. "Our people have lost their homes and all that they had. Our bairns are starving. Please will you not hear our plea?"

"Be gone I tell you!" Thorin called out again.

"We have nowhere else to go!" Bard called out again.

This time her thoughts immediately found themselves back at that day, when the devastation of the town had occurred. And worst of all she remembered hearing the cries of the hungry children and babies, as they waited for the food her brother's army could share with them.

"I don't know about that silly elf - but those poor people need help!" She whispered to Bilbo.

"We agreed to help bring you better trade and wealth through craft and industry." Thorin called out. "The weapons you gave us were too few and useless. And we paid for what little supplies we received with the only valuables we carried. They were personal treasures too... I suggest you find your master who had several chests filled deep with coin!"

She couldnt understand why he refused to help. At least she could help, by giving what gold and jewels she owned. It would certainly be enough to help them buy food and rebuild some shelter.

"Why doesn't he help them?" She clutched at Bilbos arm. But the hobbit could not answer either.

Finding herself unable to bear the thought of all those poor people dying of cold and hunger, she rushed towards Thorin.

Karan, Amit and Bilbo who had all clutched at her attempting to hold her back had missed entirely again, as she hurried over to him.

"Please, Thorin, those poor people will not survive such a winter, if you do not help them!" She half sobbed, as she clutched onto him. "There are babes in arms, and very young children who will surely perish..."

"Then they should not have taken such risks without considering all this." He hissed at her angrily grabbing her wrists and pulling her off himself. "They signed no contractual agreement. Unlike what you have with me! The agreements which you are currently in breach of!"

"If you will not help them then please let me..?" She pleaded, as he pulled her away from view. "Please, my Lord, I am begging you... Let me give my jewels to them. The ones that I brought from home...?"

"Be gone!" Thorin shouted back down at them holding her aside with one arm wrapped around her waist. "Kili fire a warning shot at them! And Balin - get this woman away from here!"

"Come on lassie...this is not the place for you..." Balin spoke to her soothingly as he attempted to coax her away.

"No please, Balin. It would not affect anything - my father would send more if I told him of this... Please?"

"Hold her!" Thorin barked, as Dwalin helped his brother pull her away. This allowed Thorin to grab Kilis bow and arrows, where the young dwarf had hesitated. He aimed at the two attempting to bargain below, but last minute he lowered his aim. The two arrows he had fired, struck in quick succession at the feet of both animals the elf and man were riding, making them both jolt back. "That was a warning! The next one will land between your eyes!"

"Very well! But we shall not leave without what we are owed..."

But Thorin had already turned away. This time he grabbed her wrist tightly and dragged her away to an empty corridor. There he pinned her against the stone wall staring at her with murderous blue eyes.

"Never interrupt me, when I speak to others! Do you hear me woman?! I am King!" He grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her to look at him when she turned her head away. "Those people are not your responsibility! Your duty is to ME! Remember, however beautiful, and kind you are, disloyalty and treason are punishable offences!"

She felt terrified by him now, as he barked at her.

"They shared no shelter or food with us, when the dragon first came and we were left with nothing!" He spoke angrily. "And yet we too had babes and children. Many who DID perish for lack of food and shelter!"

"But you are better than them Thorin! And we are able to help..." She pleaded again weakly. "Please, my Lord...?"

Having watched her all the while, he suddenly felt a yearning for her again. Slowly he trailed his index finger between her breasts and down to her waist.

"And what would you give me, if I granted you permission . .." he smirked. "Since you are so good at, bargaining, let us see whether you might convince me...?"

He pulled at the ties on her winter blouse, opening the neckline. Then he slipped a hand in roughly, grabbing a beast hard, while he began to unlace his trousers with his free right hand.

"I...can't...what if...someone sees..."

But he pushed her back against the wall, biting her lip in a fierce kiss.

"It matters not. Remember their lives depend on how well you convince me... And perhaps I shall send them some coin..."

She shut her eyes, realising what he expected from her this very moment.

Then he slipped one hand down her trousers making her gasp.

"I am going to have your tight little cunt right now." He growled as he turned her around to face the wall, pulled her pantaloons down and spread her legs apart. "And I do not care for your pleasure today. Is that understood?"

She shut her eyes as she awaited what was to come realising she had little choice in the matter...

...

She lay on the large bed crying, precisely where he had left her.

After having his fill of her in the corridor he had momentarily felt sorry for the way he had selfishly used her body, so roughly for his own pleasure. And so he had carried her back to his chambers, placing her on their bed.

But seeing her laying there sobbing silently, her clothes still partially undone and looking so vulnerable, he had found himself very aroused again.

And so he had taken her again, this time, stripping her completely bare. He had enjoyed the power of watching her beautiful face, as tears trickled down her soft cheeks.

In the end she had fallen asleep in his arms out of sheer exhaustion, after he was done.

And so he had silently got dressed and left her to rest.

She had not expected marriage to be like this, not that she truly had any expectations of marriage at all.

But now she was in this predicament. If she did not fulfill her marriage then her people would lose what gold Thorin had promised. And she was sure if not for her brother and his army, that the men of Lake Town would have suffered greater losses.

There was a knock on the door just then which interrupted her thoughts.

Her heart began to beat, as she feared it was Thorin again, for his sexual appetite appeared to be insatiable!

At first she cursed herself for not having dresses sooner. But then she accepted the reality that if it was Thorin, the state of her clothing would be immaterial, since he would undress her as he pleased anyway. Besides, he would probably not knock anyway.

The knocking came again.

And so she quickly wrapped the blankets around herself, just in time as the door opened very slightly.

"My lady...?"

She could hear Bilbo speaking quietly.

"I... I just wanted to check up on you..." Bilbo asked, as he peeped into the room nervously.

"I'm here..." She replied quietly, clutching onto the blankets.

"My lady...?" He followed her voice in the large room, but turned a bright shade of pink when he spotted her. "Oh my! Is Thorin...coming back?"

He gulped nervously. All that covered her nudity was a blanket that she had wrapped around herself. And while he felt terrible for this young woman, he had no intention of being caught on Thorins bad side.

And this in particular would be very bad indeed!

"I'm sorry...I'm not dressed..." She apologized, adding quickly. "He left, and I suspect may not come back for a little while at least..."

Bilbo looked at the door nervously pondering whether he should leave.

"He has...had me at least four times today... And believe it or not he is almost two hundred years old," she frowned at the thought, almost in disbelief. "I cannot imagine he still has the energy for more..."

Of course this time they both glanced at the door briefly, uncertain of what to expect any more.

"My lady...I am..." He felt sympathetic towards everything he imagined the woman had gone through. When he had tried to follow her earlier, after Thorin had taken her away, the two large guards who usually guarded her had blocked his way. They had both worn saddened expressions and Balin had ushered both him and Dwalin away at that point. They had overheard their voices in the distance, but nothing that was intelligible.

Bilbo wondered how he had treated her, for Thorin was certainly changed now. Even he could see it as clear as daylight.

"I cannot stay like this anymore." She spoke, slowly getting down from the bed, still keeping the blanket wrapped around her. "I know he is changed. So I have to do something. Those people need to rebuilt their settlement soon before winter truly sets in. And I do not know what that elf is after, but I do not like it..."

"My lady...I..."

"Any war the elf wages will be fought by my brother!" She thought out loud. "They are immortal, so surely they have waged many wars over centuries..."

"I think..the Elven King wants some precious jewels...rare gems..." Bilbo thought again carefully, tapping his finger on his lips attempting to jog his memory. "I think he mentioned something like...gems of starlight...white light...pure starlight -"

She frowned thinking over his words, as slowly realisation set in. Keeping her blanket together with one arm she tiptoed over to the wooden chest Thorin had gifted her and carefully opened the latch, lifting the lid.

"Like this...?"

The hobbits eyes widened as he peered inside the small chest noticing it's contents.

"Yes..." He nodded stuttering again. "I..think...that...that may be it..."

"Good. I will need to put together a plan -"

There was a knock on the door again.

It made them both jump. Except this time, Karan opened the door partially.

"King Thorin is coming down the corridor." He looked pointedly at the hobbit and then disapprovingly at her. It would have made her laugh, had she not feared Thorin.

"Oh gods!" She quickly shut the chest. "You need to hide!"

They both looked around the room desperately. But the only wardrobe there contained mostly Thorins clothes.

"There is no time! Quick! Under the bed!" She hurried him, almost physically pushing him underneath herself. Then she quickly adjusted the sheets again to hide him, before looking for her own clothes scattered all over the floor where Thorin had discarded them.

As she picked up her top and pantaloons, she noticed that her blouse had been torn, which made her heart sink. She had given away some clothes to some of the women who were unable to carry anything more than what they had for their children. And some of her old clothes were irreparably damaged. Which meant that this was one of three suits she had left.

The door opened, and Thorin marched in, pausing for a moment to assess her.

"You are awake..." He shut the door behind him, sounding pleased and moved towards her.

"Yes, Thorin...sorry - I was just about to get dressed..." She once again ran one hand over the torn blouse. She was not sure she could mend this. The material was an ornately embroidered silk. And he had somehow managed to tear the material rather than one of the seams.

He moved closer to follow her gaze at what she was looking at.

"Did that happen by my hand?" He thought out loud before dismissing it himself. "Well...we can find something equally beautiful that will fit you here, I am certain.. perhaps a dress again, so that I may take you while lifting your skirts with ease...do not despair over such a trivial matter..."

She didn't dare look at him, as he stood very close by.

"In any case, there is no need to get dressed right now," he smirked, pulling the blanket out of her hand and unwrapping it from her body. "I would even say that there would be no need for you to wear clothes at all when you are in this room..."

"Again..?" She looked worried.

"Hmmmm..." He took off his jacket and threw it on the end of the bed, running his hand over her abdomen almost lovingly. It was a strange contrast to how roughly he could treat her at times. "I must have an heir...it is now more important than ever. So I must fill you with my seed...regularly."

That was his reasoning. But the truth was he couldn't get enough of her. He wanted her in every possible way.

"Need I remind you that, you have an obligation also..." He spoke into her ear, as he ran his hand between her legs.

"But you have...filled me...a lot...today..." She was careful not to sound as though she was complaining. The last two occasions had been rushed, and it had been very painful for her. But he had neither cared nor taken his time. It was as though something had come over him.

"Your...wild pet is here..." He added. "I imagine you have not forgotten our agreement..."

His fingers moved in tiny circles. It was unexpected pleasure, given how brutally he had treated her earlier.

And as he moved her fully into the bed, stripping down to follow, there was a small squeak.

At first Thorin seemed to pause, as though he had heard the noise.

Her heart now beat wildly, between the stimulation he was giving her, the fear of him discovering Bilbo, and attempting to think of how to distract him as fast as she possibly could.

Suddenly she remembered the advice Balin had given her.

She reached down and ran her hands over his very erect manhood as boldly as she could. It looked like some sort of weapon, in this state, as far as she was concerned. And he did wield it like one against her at times. But she pushed these thoughts aside.

Her movements seemed to pique his attention. He had never seen her so wanton other than the first night, when she had become intoxicated.

"Has Rajah arrived then...?"

"Hmmmm..." He growled.

"You are not concentrating..." She teased him this time, opening up her legs wider as he knelt between them. "I want your full attention..."

"I thought you were sore...?" He teased her with his fingers watching her flinch several times.

She was sore. But she was more worried about Bilbo being discovered.

"Well...I wanted to try something..."

Her words seemed to interest him further.

"I am most intrigued..." He raised an eyebrow, while positioning himself happily between her legs, paying greater attention to drawing pleasurable circles over her sensitive skin.

But she pushed at his chest hard, until he played along rolling into his back. Of course, she would never have overpowered him, unless he was happy to allow it.

Curious he watched her with his cold blue eyes, as she carefully climbed on top of him, placing her hands on his chest.

His muscular body was broad, forcing her to spread her legs much wider than she anticipated. She had not planned to sit directly on him, but now had no choice, and the hair on his body scratched at her most sensitive skin that was very much exposed.

She didn't like it. But the thrill of it all made her heart pound. She had never attempted to seduce a man before!

"You are very wet." He ghosted his fingers over her with smug satisfaction. There was no need, he could feel her arousal where she was splayed open against his abdomen. And it was now driving him wild. He had never had a dam or woman like this.

His eagerness was clear as he moved his calloused hands onto her waist, desperate to position her as he pleased and begin her movement.

"I approve of this very much," he openly let his eyes move up and down her body. "Now...why don't you show me just how much you wish to see your... 'pet'..."

...

Carefully she snuck along the dark corridors, feeling her way, to the stables. She had kept some of the meat from her dinner plate, which she had wrapped in a handkerchief.

Thorin had very much enjoyed her attempt at seducing him. It had worked out well for her. Their last coupling had been far less painful for her, even though he had taken more control as he neared his climax.

But most crucially, while Thorin had refused to allow the animal in the mountain, he had offered to house it in the large and entirely unoccupied stables.

She had been heartbroken to see Rajah, who looked thinner and more tired for his long journey.

Thorin himself had escorted her to see her jaguar when it first arrived. It had also been lovely for her to meet Arvind then. And she had noticed that the her favourite brother and her husband happened to speak fondly to one another then too, which had been very important to her.

Slowly she opened the gate and walked in.

"Rajah? Where are you...?" She whispered.

There was a quiet growl, and the beast appeared.

He lowered his head as he emerged from the shadows, and made a deep rumbling noise, almost like a purring and came padding over to her silently.

"Here...my precious one..." She set out her handkerchief on the floor. And when Rajah moved over and sniffed the food she knelt down and stroked his head. "Come on poor baby...this is all the meat I have. Arvind said he will send more tomorrow. But his will be hunted meat. Like what you aren't used to eating! I mean I can't really cook it here. But we will figure something out soon... I promise..."

Rajah quickly ate the pieces of meat from her own dinner before moving over to nudge her again.

She knelt down and stroked his beautiful white, spotted coat again.

The jaguar himself leant into her.

"You poor baby..." She stroked his neck as he lay out now on the dry straw. "I will bring you a blanket next time. Good boy, you lie down now and sleep..."

But when she stood up to leave, the large cat was quick to nudge her back down again.

"I know you don't like it," she stroked his head again as he lay it in her lap. "But we have to be good... Because this isn't home you know."

But when Rajah refused to get up, she gave in.

"Come on then, I shall lay down here..." She piled up some of the very dry hay into a mound, and then tutted. "We need to get something better for you..."

She stood up, as Rajah wrapped himself around her legs in protest.

"You can't sleep on this...thousand year old hay!" She stroked his coat softly again. "And you need a brush - well I have two!"

She quickly scurried back to her room collecting a couple of old looking blankets and a brush. It didn't take too long for her to return and make up a soft bed for the jaguar.

He too seemed to quickly snuggle into it after giving it a quick prod or two with his paw.

So she lay down against the back of the large beast. It was chilly, but the blankets helped even if they didn't cover her.

And soon rocked by the rise and fall of the large animal's torso, as it inhaled and exhaled, she fell asleep.

She woke up with a jolt, feeling disoriented.

Blinking she looked around in the dip light of the small lamp she had brought earlier and looked about.

There covering her body, was the grand cape he wore. It truly was made of the softest velvet. The edging was broad and decorated in gold embroidery, while the shoulders closest to her face were covered in a soft fur.

She had seen men wear furs before. They were often warriors and trappers from Rhun. But their furs were never as soft as this.

She couldn't help bring the fur closer to her face, it was truly as soft as Rajahs coat.

And she could smell him. It was a mix of pine, and cloves and tobacco. Perhaps she could even smell the faintest hint of his sweat. But this time it seemed to surround and engulf her.

She had smelled him, when they were together, but there were often other distractions and assaults on her senses too, so it never felt like this.

This was a strangely heady sensation.

Then her thoughts immediately snapped out of her half sleepy daze.

If his cape was here, it meant he had seen her here!

Her heart began beating faster.

He was not her gentle lover. He was the husband she had no choice but to marry. He was not kind.

And worst of all, he had warned her that she had set times to spent with Rajah - specifically meals, and exercise.

Surely if he had seen her like this, he would be livid!

She sat bolt upright, her heart now beating out of her chest.

Careful not to wake the creature sleeping soundly, she gathered his cape and got to her feet quickly.

Hurrying along the dark corridors, she finally arrived at his room, and paused.

Everything seemed quiet and dark.

Perhaps he had not been there.

Heart still pounding, she opened the door as quietly as she could, and slipped inside. Closing it carefully behind her.

Then she paused again, scanning the room in the dark in case he was here.

It was genuinely difficult to see. And so she attempted to quietly move closer to the bed.

"So you finally return to our bed..."

She nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of his voice.

It came from the near end of the room, where she knew by memory that there was a large armchair.

But it was hard to see, for the only source of light was the fireplace on the far side or the room.

"My - Thorin...I...fell asleep..." She panicked at first until she realised the strangely thoughtful action. "Thank you..."

"You may take more blankets for your beast tomorrow."

"Thank you..." She said, still clutching onto his cape. "I didn't mean to wake you...it's late I imagine..."

Then suddenly out of the darkness, like a flash, he was beside her.

"I cannot rest. They are all after the treasure..." He grumbled, putting his hands on her waist. "And you looked so...beautiful sleeping there..."

"Why don't you get some sleep, Thorin? You need to relax to clear your head..."

And then, he was tugging at the skirts on her dress again. But she would be damned if she let him ruin this dress too, which she had spent several good hours searching through various wardrobes to acquire.

"I need to be inside you...that is when I am truly relaxed..." He whispered in her ear. It made her skin prickle with goosebumps.

"I think you need some sleep..." She continued to move him to the bed. She could see the dark circles under his eyes, and she wondered whether he had slept at all for the past few days.

"I will fall asleep if you let me have you..."

So she sat him down on the bed this time, taking his boots off herself before he could get angry, and removing his jacket.

"Just lay with me here. For a moment." She urged gently. If she had settled an agitated Rajah, she was sure she could coax this apparently mad dwarf to sleep too. And so she pushed him onto the bed carefully.

He seemed to comply, watching her greedily in the dark all the while.

But as he lay down he grabbed her too, pulling her down with him in a partially tangled heap.

He chuckled as he pulled her down, catching her on his arms. It was a deep rumbling sound and not altogether unpleasant. But she was not ready to overlook his rough treatment of her yet.

After a little while of shuffling around she was able to make herself comfortable laying against his chest.

But soon his deep breathing sounds were replaced by the sounds of soft snoring.

And so she lay there thinking in the near darkness, listening to the sound of the crackling, dying fire.

A lot of people would die if someone didn't do something. And perhaps that someone was her.

It would be dangerous, but maybe it might prevent her brother and his men waging war with the elves...