Shobha stood watching as Thrain and Arun played on the great stone bridge along with the other younglings in their class. Hal had earned his place amongst the Queen's Guard following his recent trip to Greenwood, and Thorin had gladly agreed to it when she had asked that he was employed to guard the twins.

The weather had begun to warm up in the last few weeks, with the last of the snow thawing, and so at the first opportunity she had suggested to the twins tutor that the whole class might be allowed outside.

Of course the tutor, a kindly young dwarf had been very happy to oblige.

And so Shobha had joined the children to watch as they ran about with wild abandon in the morning sunshine enjoying the freedom and fresh air after nearly a month of being kept in the mountain after heavy snow.

While watching on, she found herself lost in thought over her husband. They had somehow managed to make love almost every night, despite how tired each had felt. And each night had been more pleasurable than the nigh before. It had also meant she had hardly thought of Ered Mithrin, Ulmo or any of the problems around Erebor that had plagued her.

It almost made her wonder whether Thorin had been keeping her in a sex-blinded haze on purpose to keep her distracted, or even worse, hoping that she might get pregnant...

"Shobha..." Her thoughts were interrupted by the gentle voice of Lola as she approached.

"Lola!" She turned to their nanny, who carried Seraeya down from the grand entrance, moving through a group of noble dwarrowdam that had gathered outside after a walk from Dale's markets.

"Mama!" Seraeya gave her a toothy grin, reaching out with both arms.

"Oh my little darling!" Shobha beamed back as she picked up their baby daughter from Lola. "Thank you for bringing her down... I thought we could all do with some fresh air."

"Aye," Lola chuckled as she pulled her thick shawl tightly around her shoulders. "It's not a warm as it looks though."

"No... I guess not... But I know a class load of younglings that will love to play a game of tag..." Shobha laughed. "Seraeya and I will join you too..."

"I'm just thrilled, milady." Lola replied sarcastically as they both walked over the stone bridge to join the children again. "I love the thought of getting my skirts muddy."

"How is Lord Imli?" Shobha grinned ignoring her complaint, knowing secretly the young dam loved to play games with the little ones.

"He is well. Grumpy, but well." Lola stifled a laugh at his expense. He had become trapped in their guest appartment until sufficient time had passed to make it appear that he had healed. It meant he spent much of his day pacing, training, completing his paperwork and reading on his own. Of course he joined Lola, Shobha, Thorin and the children for breakfast and dinner each day, and often spent time with them when they gathered together at other times too, but those were the only time he appeared remotely happy.

"Perhaps you could keep him company if you are too cold out here...?" Shobha suggesting keeping her tone casual. She had been secretly hoping Imli and Lola, whom she both cared for may have taken a romantic interest in one another while he spent time with them.

"Ugh... I don't think he cares much for my company - nor I for his..." Lola rolled her eyes and tutted. "Besides which, I have no desire to move to the iron Hills - in fact, I can say with utter certainty that the thought fills me complete dread! So please stop trying to set us up."

"Oh... Obvious then...?"

"Aye. Poor Lord Imli can barely look me in the eye now for his embarrassement." She laughed heartily again. "And he is quite a bit older than me you know."

"Oh dear... I am sorry." Shobha apologised half sincerely as they joined the class. In truth, she had invited Lola down because she wanted to introduce her to Master Gil, the young class tutor as well, just in case there might have been some attraction there. He seemed a very decent, educated dwarf, and was also rather handsome with his warm hazel eyes and his honey blonde hair. "I just think you are so wonderful with the children and such a beautiful and brilliant young dam..."

"You and Mara plot and scheme, and never stop searching for suitors do you...?!"

Shobha grimaced as Gil walked over to them before bowing.

"Your highness, what an honour to have you join us. And such a brilliant suggestion." He smiled genuinely. "It is fine weather indeed!"

"Master Gil, its such a pleasure to be out in this early spring sunshine after our long winter." Shobha bowed her head before turning to Lola. "May I introduce you to Lady Lola... This is Master Gil."

"My Lady," Gil smiled at her before bowing. "At your service. The princes hold you in such high regard, and speak of you so often - I feel as though I have already made your acquaintance."

"Nice to make your acquaintance, Master Gil." Lola bowed her head and smiled back politely, before shooting an angry look at Shobha. "Now... This game of tag..."

"Aye my lady.. they were warming up..." Gil began walking back to the field with Lola as he explained some of the additional rules they had created to make it more enjoyable.

"He is not suited to her, my Queen.." an interruption cane from behind them, and as Shobha turned she found Hal standing close. "Lady Lola has far more life in her than that stuffy teacher..."

Shobha smiled as she gave her guard a sidelong glance.

"That's a very bold statement, Master Hal..?"

"Oh... I am sorry, perhaps I spoke out of turn.." Hal blushed as she appraised his expression better.

"Hmmm... Could you possibly have feelings for our Lady Lola...?"

The young dwarf who suddenly found himself under the scrutiny of both Thorins Consort and Daughter, suddenly found his face heating up uncomfortably like a furnace.

"Oh I see!" Shobha grinned. "Well then perhaps you should ask her to court you..."

"A lady like Lola would have no interest in me, my lady..."

"You may be pleasantly surprised." Shobha winked at him. "Besides, you have ventured into Greenwood, faced spiders, ridden on a giant, super-fast, elf-horse - so what's a little courting to you huh?"

Hal winced at the thought of picking up his courage to ask for her permission to court. It led to an expression that stood somewhere between nervousness and utter constipation, which instantly prompted the little toddler to blink, making a face of her own before bursting out into a fit of laughter.

"What are you two laughing about?!" Lola called out running over, flushed and out of breath. "It better not be at how these younglings are running circles around me?!"

She ran over to the young guard and punched him hard in the arm, where his hard armour plating was lacking and his only protection was a shiny mail vest.

"Ouch!" He cried out in surprise, more at how hard she was able to render a blow with her bare fists than at the behaviour itself. "That is most uncouth, for a fine lady such as yourself -"

"Oh! Yack-yack!" Lola continued to taunt him from afar. "You insult me - but you are meant to be a guard are you not? And yet you spend your time moaning at me like a dowdy, fat, noble-dam! Pick your skirts up and put your money where your mouth is! You're it!"

Shobha smiled as Hal had no choice but to rush in after her. All the younglings running about immediately scattered with squeals of delight as the Queen's Guard rushed growling at them like a strange bear.

"Well... Seraeya... I think that was worth us dragging you and Lola out into the brisk spring air, don't you?" She gave her toddler a squeeze as she wrapped them both up warmer in the thick shawl she had brought out.

She had watched the children running about frantically as they were chased by Lola, or Hal, until another guard arrived beside her. He was an older dwarf, with a far more serious expression, not dissimilar to Dwalin. It was a sort of battle-readiness than should have made any normal person feel safe but only made her feel uneasy.

"My Queen, a lone rider approaches us from the south." He spoke after saluting her with a fist to his breastplate. It was a very robust sort of salute, rather a lot like the clashing of heads that dwarves seemed to do, which she found difficult to get used to even after all there years of living here in Erebor. "With your permission I would like to send the younglings back in -"

"Yes please..." She looked over at Lola, who had stopped running and stood watching her carefully. "Master Gil! We are all to go in right away please. It's time for the younglings to have lunch..."

Gil, much like Lola and Hal were all perceptive young dwarves. He didn't require too much prompting as he saw one of the Watchmen beside Shobha.

"Has the King been informed?"

"Aye, my lady. And Lord Dwalin." The guard explained. "I imagine there will be a full guard here by the gates in no time now."

"Lola...? Please could you take the children up to the apartments?"

"Aye, my lady," Lola nodded, still out of breath as she reached out to take Seraeya, who was somewhat reluctant to leave her mother and began to complain angrily in her own language. "Will you not come with us?"

"No. I am going to wait here." Shobha confirmed stroking her baby daughters back to settle her. "Its obviously a man we didn't expect a visit from... So I can only think it's something urgent."

"But my lady, you are unarmed." Hal spoke up having joined them also. Ever since he accompanied her to see the elves, he had appointed himself her body-guard of sorts.

"I am never armed Hal." She snapped at the young guard. "Besides swords are of little use for any of the danger I have faced so far in Arda anyway."

"My Queen, we are under direct orders to always bring you in under such circumstances -" the Watchman began but she interrupted.

"I am staying here. And that is final." Shobha turned quickly to Lola. "No go Lola. Arun! Thrain! Inside!"

Hal and the other guard looked at one another for a moment before following their Kings consort to the great Gates of Erebor, that stood in all their might and grandiosity at the entrance to the great dwarven kingdom.

It hadn't taken long for the rider to come into view in the distance. Nor did it take long for the pounding footfall of a dozen dwarven guard to arrive at the entrance.

Hal and the other older guard from the watchtower stood flanking her, their weapons drawn.

"It's one man, on a horse..." Shobha whispered. "Its probably just a messenger of some sort.."

"We do not trust men." The older guard growled angrily.

"We do not like horses." Hal hissed with equal venom.

The man on his large chestnut mare was clearly very tall, perhaps almost as tall as an elf. And as he rode closer it became clear that he was somewhat injured. His clothes looked dishevelled and dirty with mud, but there was still something quite regal about him.

Just then the guards stepped aside in unison to create a path through their troop in one smooth movement.

Thorin appeared, walking through the path looking every bit King under the Mountain, flanked by Dwalin and Balin.

"My Lady." He didn't look surprised, but rather irritated. "It is not safe for you here -"

"Because of a potential messenger? Who may be injured?" She raised her eyebrows at him.

"Aye." He complained as he came to stand by her side, with one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. It was a natural stance he had become accustomed to over the many years he had served Erebor as Prince under his Grandfather's rule. He held his free left hand out to his wife, who had attempted to look unimpressed at first, but she had soon placed her small hand in his as he leant over to her momentarily to speak quietly in her ear. "Your insolence is best dealt with in our marriage bed... Something I fully intend to do tonight, my lady."

She had stood beside him, in the way that she would when they were receiving visitors of great importance in the past. Balin, Mara and Gloin had spent time watching her and giving her pointers, since they were the dwarves most verses in etiquette of that manner. But hearing his words she couldn't help but glance at him, and the heated look she received from those azure eyes of his suddenly made her want to bed in that bed right away.

He watched her for a few moments, as those big, brown doe eyes of hers widened for a moment before looking forward again in an attempt to maintain her formal appearance.

"I think I shall make you bend over in front of your dressing table mirror, and take you from behind, and make you watch... Do not think I have forgotten just how much of a cock tease you have been at times recently..."

The corners of his lips twitched into a subtle smirk revelling in the effect he seemed to have, spotting her cheeks flush. He had often attempted to whisper the sauciest thing that came to his head whenever they stood like this, on formal occasions in the past and found himself thrilled that it still worked on her after all these years!

"State your business!" One of the guards in front called out as the man drew closer to the stone bridge.

"I come in peace..." He called out, still clutching his chest, face twisted in pain. "I serve King Thengel of Rohan."

"He's hurt, Thorin..." Shobha whispered, but her natural desire to move forwards was stilled by his hand as it held hers close to himself.

"What is your name, servant of King Thengel..?" Balin called out. "We were not aware that Rohan would send us an emissary."

"No my Lord. I headed a group of Rohirrim to drive off a raid of wild men attacking from the eastern borders, but we found there were too many. Our men fought near the Anduin, driving them further into the wilderlands but more ambushed us. I must have been knocked out and my horse fled, carrying me, because when I came to she had continued north, reaching the Celdiun and following it further..." He slumped over his horse briefly before landing beside the large creature a little unsteady. "My name is Thorongil, my Lord. Please accept my sincerest apologies for my arrival unannounced..."

The name sounded familiar to her, but it had been so long since she has read the books now.

"Thorongil..." She repeated the name hoping her lips would reming her memories. And then suddenly it came to her! "Oh my God! We have to help him Thorin! Please! I know who he is... I just can't say anything out loud yet -"

"We cannae just let him stay here Princess!" Dwalin grumbled.

The man stumbled a little where he stood, before suddenly collapsing.

This time she pulled her hand out from Thorins grasp.

"He's hurt! Its basic decency and kindness!" She chastised as several pairs of guards stood in her way stopping her from passing including Hal an the other older watchman. "Besides I know who this is...Thorin? ...Let me pass!"

He hesitated briefly before calling out gruffly in khuzdul that led to the guards standing back to let her through.

Of course Thorin followed as she hurried on and much to everyone else's surprise so did Hal and the other guard.

The horse nuzzled at her rider on the floor uneasily, and as they approached it pawed at the ground as though in warning.

But Thorin was quick to reach out and hush the animal patting its neck and stroking it reassuringly, which seemed to calm it down.

"Send for one of the stable hands." He barked out. "This animal needs food and water."

As he gently led the horse aside, she knelt by the young man to examine him more carefully. His face, hair and clothes were dirty with mud, blood and grass. Reaching out she gently pushed the dark hair back from his face.

His skin was clammy and his face pale under the grime. But his features were clearly recognisable, even if he was younger than she had always imagined him. Then she spotted the arrow lodged in his chest.

"Quick we need to get him to the infirmary." She instructed as several guards rushed forwards at her instructions.

And between a few they had lifted him up and transported him to a longer cot clearly designed for a man rather than a dwarf.

"Who is this lassie...?" Oin asked as he wheeled in a troller filled with surgical equipment.

"One of King Thengel's Lords."

"King Thengel?!" Oin pulled his Trumpet to his ear as if he hadn't heard correctly before. "Of the Riddermark?! I think I misheard ye..."

"Nope you've got it right."

"He's a bit far off the mark then ain't he?" Oin began cutting away his armour at the leather straps.

"He was ambushed in the Wild... Lands?"

"Wilderlands!" Oin glanced at herbriefly, still surprised. "The wild men do not usually co-ordinate so well.. it is a most unusual story. And ye say ye know the lad? He looks more like an elf ter me..."

"Yes well, he is a man. Just a tall one... And I trust him." She pulled on her apron and helped Oin pull off his chainmail suit. Before cutting open his tunic. "The arrow is in his chest wall. He was injured for some days. Maybe it is infected."

She thought out load as she assessed his arrow wound with the arrow still sticking out.

"Aye, it looks shallow - the Valar have smiled upon him..."

"And he did say he passed out..." She quickly moved to his head where she felt around to find a soft lump where he had most likely been knocked on the head. "He said the horse must have carried him while he was unconscious..."

"That sounds possible lass, the Rohirrrim have harnesses that often hold the rider in." Oin added as he prepared several bandaged and scalpals. "They are after all horsemen."

"Can you hear me?" She gently rubbed his shoulder and then his forehead hoping for a reaction but only received several groans and unintelligible noises.

"Lass, he's out cold..." Oin said setting the vial of analgesic liquid aside, that he normally administered to patients like a sedative before any invasive procedures. "Just pull that arrow out and let's get going. Who knows it may even be an infection from the arrow -"

He set a tray on the man's chest with everything she needed and turned back to the troller to set up the sutures for after she had pulled it out.

"I won't stitch it if there is any chance of infection." She said pulling the arrow out before inspecting the tip to make sure it had been pulled out without any remnants left within and then slipping a finger in to feel for the depth of the wound. "Right, I had better pack this wound..."

...

Annoyed at herself, she pushed the door to their room open muttering her own thoughts under her breath as she approached the dressing area she shared with Thorin that led to their ensuite.

Their young visitor had still not broken his fever, despite everything she had tried on him, and it was driving her crazy. If she had been at home, she would have ordered a full panel of bloods and a scan by now to figure it out, but here she had nothing!

And she was certain she had no recollection of reading about their guest in Erebor in the books! It worried her, thinking of how her presence had already changed the history of Arda, whether it meant that the young warriors future was at risk now?!

"Stop where you are, right now." Thorin commanded in that deep, velvety smooth voice of his.

She looked back at him, where he had walked in from the bathroom after a wash. He initially wore his towel around his waist, his body still glistening with moisture and bath oils.

It was enough of a sight to make her forget about all her other worries.

"Do you know how late you are woman?" He growled stalking over. "I had to put our children to bed. And Arun kept asking for more bedtime stories! I mean where on Mahals earth is Lola -"

"I told you she has a few nights off, Thorin... And... maybe it is good that you tucked them in for a change." She replied a little annoyed, since she had specifically let him know she would be late.

"There you go with your smart, pretty little mouth of yours..." He was there by her in no time, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her in for a rough and demanding kiss, pressing her body to his as he grabbed the back of her neck.

She could feel the hand he had initially placed around her waist moving up her body, grabbing roughly at her breasts through her dress before stopping at her neckline.

And then suddenly he pulled away, only to tear her dress open from where he had pulled at the neckline.

Although the material was still a heavy velvet with a stiffened corset around the waist, it gave way as if it was nothing but thin rags in his strong hands.

"I liked that dress, Thorin!" She protested, but received yet several more yanks that left all her clothing falling on the floor at her feet.

A gasp escaped her lips as the sudden, violent nature in which he had unclothed her made his intent clear. His towel had now fallen to the floor also, leaving his erection proudly visible as she stood there in nothing but her bloomers.

"Turn around." He barked roughly at her, but when she hesitated even for a moment he grasped her hips and spun her around to face her dressing table that stood at the end of the dressing area with its grand mirror, framed with ornate wood carving, demonstrating just how strong dwarven hands could also be turned to creating intricate and fine crafts too. "I said turn around, woman. You really are testing my patience tonight."

"But... I haven't even washed -"

"Oh you are going to get very dirty anyway," he growled in her ear as he pressed himself to her, one hand snaking around her waist and the other caressing her nipples as he watched her in the mirror. He kissed her neck before biting the same skin, make her shudder with pleasure. "Your beautiful brown skin has paled for so many years of spending winter within the mountain. Perhaps this summer I should make love to you outside in the fields under the hot sun..."

"I... Didn't really think..." She lost her thoughts entirely as he slipped the hand he pressed against her belly down into her bloomers. "I am still quite brown... I.. hope..."

"There you go again. Contradicting your King." He growled in her ear as he nipped her lobe briefly before withdrawing his hand and this time tearing her knickers off completely too. "Do you not realise, all this... Even the gold you earn... Even all of your body... Belongs to me..."

He bent her down onto the dressing table in front of the mirror, where she could see the sheer list in his eyes.

"You belong to me!" He growled as he entered her firmly and watched her in the mirror, as though admiring an artistic masterpiece.

Her nipples pressed against the smooth, cool marble countertop of her dressing table, only to have his rough hands in contrast run up her sides and cup both her breasts as he enjoyed the feel of her gripping his length. Where normally he would have spent time with foreplay, today his entry was quick and possessive, and where she had been thinking about work before, she wasn't as wet as she would have been, which meant she felt his intrusion much more.

"You can treat all the men, and dwarves all you like," he suddenly pulled out almost completely, before slamming in again, and while a little uncomfortable, the heightened sensation meant it was paradoxically also more pleasurable. "But YOU belong to me: This beautiful body, belongs to ME!"

He pulled out again and slammed into her again, grabbing the back of her neck with one hand and her hip with the other.

Her hands gripped the marble as she let her face fall against the cold stone, but her yanked her hair, making her pull her head up again.

"No, woman. I will tell you when you can put your head down." He pinched her nipples pulling her chest up from the counter, so that when he pulled out and slammed into her again hard, it made her moan from the new sensation of a different angle of entry. "You have always begged me to be fucked... Perhaps one day I will just fuck you... But tonight you need to know who you belong to."

This time it sent her over the edge, and she could see his face in the mirror. His eyes closed briefly and his head fell back as she undulated around his length, gripping at him with her body overcome by pleasure.

But he held her up, even as her legs turned to jelly.

"And I am the master of even your pleasure, my beautiful wife." He growled again through gritted teeth as he began pounding into her, a slave to his own sensations this time, without giving her any time to recover from her orgasm. "I am your King.."

...

He set a tray down by their bed, and admired the soundly sleeping form of his wife. Her dark hair spread out across their soft pillows and her warm brown skin, like dark honey was visible between the blankets and furs.

Leaning across the bed, he brushed her cheek with the back of his finger and watched her soft lips part as she sighed in her sleep. She was naked under the blankets, and thinking of how he had claimed her body so many times last night began to stir a fire in him again. They couldn't make love as often since the children had come along, so when they did, it was usually monumental.

But last night was a without a doubt his night. It was hard to say what had come over him, perhaps it was the way he had to tolerate Imli's presence, knowing the young Lord harboured feelings for his wife, or perhaps it was the particular concern she had shown towards this mysterious man from Rohan who had arrived, that she had claimed to know, but spoken little of to him. Or perhaps it was the way in which she had defied his instructions to stay back yesterday when a possible intruder to the kingdom had been spotted from afar. It could have been a sorcerer or a true enemy, and he had been right to react in that way, particularly since she almost never armed herself.

Either way, his jealousy had got the better of him last night and he had claimed her body to his heart's content. She would be undoubtedly sore this morning and for that he was sorry. He could only hope the repeated climaxes he had brought her to would have compensated for his weakness.

He kissed her again gently. Watching her sleep was one of the few guilty pleasures he enjoyed, particularly after she had been made love to so vigorously.

Stealing another kiss, but not wishing to wake her so early, he stood to leave when she murmured in her sleep.

"Thorin... I love you..."

"Go back to sleep my beauty, it's still early," he whispered, brushing a few strands of hair off her face. "You must be tired. Are you sore...?"

"Yes I am sore, as you would expect if you fucked me like there was no tomorrow..." She mumbled, and then smiled sleepily at him. "But what are you going to do about it?"

He groaned, unable to resist her invitation, moving the blanket aside and trailing his hand down her body, brushing past her nipples and down her abdomen until he reached his desired destination.

"I guess I will have to kiss you better then my love..." He whispered settling himself between her legs and revelling in his task. "Is this better?"

Her eyes shut tight, and she gripped the sheets in her hands in reply, only pants, gasps and soft moans escaping her lips.

He would be late for his meetings that morning but this was a worthy reason.

...

Sorry for any typos. It's a shorter chapter but I am hoping for more regular updates.

Let me know your thoughts xx