Chapter Fourteen

Making Up Is Hard To Do

~~Thorin's POV~~

As I watched Elaina, I was surprised at my hearts harsh words, I watch her closely before I look up at my nephews then at Gandalf who was watching me.

"I can not be certain," began Gandalf leaning on his staff "but I do believe Elaina is speaking the truth!"

"Elaina did say she had this strange feeling." scorned Loki, giving me a glare.

"She will be alright, won't she Gandalf?" asked Bilbo.

"She'll be fine Bilbo." Gandalf reassured him.

I glanced up at my nephews again.

"Just what did happen before this got out of hand?" I asked Fili and Kili.

"We were looking after the ponies like you asked Uncle," began Kili and I roll my eyes "Only we um, got distracted."

"What do you mean?"

"I, er decided to climb on the trees as there were apples on the branches and they looked-,"

"Do you mean to tell me," I interrupted Kili "that instead of guarding the ponies like you were surpossed to do, you were both thinking about your stomachs?"

The silence explained it all.

"So it wasn't the halfings fault at all, was it?" I shouted at them both, especially when they continue to do the mute game "You could have had us killed. Just what goes through those heads of yours. Stay out of my way!"

~~Elaina's POV~~

I woke up but keep my eyes closed as I quietly listen in to what Thorin was talking about. So he finally realised I was speaking the truth did he? So I should think! I was sick of Thorin's prejudice towards Bilbo. One day Bilbo would show everyone what a remarkable hobbit he truly is.

"Your lucky Elaina will be alright!" I heard Thorin say.

"Bilbo had the nous to play for time. None of the rest of you thought of that. Yes, even Elaina stepped in as well." smiled Gandalf.

"Uncle!" Kili more than whispered.

"I said, stay away from me!" roared Thorin.

I slowly open my eyes and move slightly and felt that pain again. not as bad as it was, but still noticeable.

"Elaina!" said Hetti coming towards me "Am I glad to see you awake."

I slowly get up and walk away, I needed to clear my head for a while.

"Hey, where are you going?"

I wanted to be alone. Fainting was embarrassing for me and I knew every eye was on me, which I hated.

"Elaina, do you think it's wise to walk of?" said Gandalf but I continue walking of.

Unaware that Thorin nodded to Gandalf and went after me.

I continue walking until I find a little stream and slowly sit on the grass, taking in what had recently happened. That voice I had heard, sounded just like that man on a cloud. Does that mean he is watching everything that I am doing? That thought alone, sent chills down my spine.

I heard a twig snap but I can not be bothered to see what or who it was. I close my eyes, hoping nothing else could go wrong. I felt a presence sitting besides me, who then gently traces my face with their fingers.

"Leave me alone Hetti, I'm not in the mood for one of your games today!" I remark, trying to swot her finger away.

"I'm not Hetti, Elaina." whispered Thorin.

My eyes snap open and see Thorin mere inches from me.

"I'm sorry, I thought you were-," I trail of, remembering I was angry at him.

"Indeed!" smiled Thorin.

"Wait, why am I apologising to you? I'm angry at you and your nephews! I scoffed at him trying to get back up.

"Elaina!" said Thorin, softly "We need to talk."

"No we don't. I've said all what I have to say, now if you'll excuse me!" I reply getting up slowly and walked away from him.

"Where do you think your going?" asked Thorin getting up and watching me.

"Where am I going?" I snapped at him "Away from you for a start. I am sick of your constant distrust of Bilbo," I dab my finger at Thorin's chest, prodding him with it "when he hasn't said one bad word about you. I am sick of this male voice in my head and I'm sick of-,"

My rant was quashed as I felt Thorin's skillful mouth over mine. I should be pushing him of but his kisses were very drugging and made me crave for more. I felt his beard tickle my face as he kissed me ardently. Very slowly, we both broke the kiss and I watch him look back with a smirk on his face which only returned my anger.

"That will never happen again." I decided as I began walking of again.

"Oh yes it will." laughed Thorin grabbing me and crashing his lips back on mine.

This time I place my hands around his neck as the kiss deepened and I could feel his beating heart. Thorin gently bit into my bottom lip causing me to moan into his mouth. Just when things were getting interesting, Thorin broke the kiss off and stepped back.

"Lost for words?" asked Thorin, watching me intently.

That did it. I watch him and slapped him hard across the face before walking of again completely vexed. Only for Thorin to grab and pull me towards him again.

"Look you-,"

"No one dares strikes me, you do," began Thorin, talking in his normal baritone voice, cupping my face "Your temper matches mine, you intrigue me...I can't stop thinking about you...Then, when I saw you collapse, I felt my heart nearly stop beating." he whispered looking at me and my mouth.

For once in my life, no words came out of my mouth as we watch one another. Thorin gently cups my other cheek.

"You really have no idea, do you?" Thorin whispers, watching me intently.

"Thorin I-,"

"I never thought I would find my one while on this quest and yet," Thorin leans closer to me "here you are, by my side...Men lananubukhs menu."

I heard some gasps but I was looking at Thorin. He had said something in a different language and the way he said it, so lovingly, made me want to know what he said.

"What does that mean?" I ask him, hoping he would tell me.

Thorin smiles lovingly at me again.

"Men lananubukhs menu means I love you in Khuzdul, my native tongue." Thorin whispered.

I suddenly felt lightheaded. No one has ever said they loved me before, well except Bilbo and Hetti but that was a family love. What Thorin had said was completely different and I felt butterflies swimming in my stomach.

"You do not return my feelings?" asked Thorin, breaking me out of my thoughts.

We watch each other and even though we started on the wrong foot, I could see a loyal, proud man but it was his eyes that had always caught my attention. The way he was looking at me, it felt like he was reaching out to my soul and I realised, I wanted him to reach out.

Suddenly feeling a little shy, I slowly let my hand go from around Thorin's neck and placed it on his cheek, who leans into my touch, which I smile at.

"You had me when you spoke Khuzdul." I whispered.

"You do return my-,"

"Yes," I interrupted him "I do return your feelings."

~~Thorin's POV~~

When I told Elaina of my love for her in Khuzdul, I did hear the gasps but saying 'I love you' in my native tongue meant that she was the love of my life. When she didn't say anything though, I thought she was repulsed by me. Then I saw her small smile and she reciprocated my feelings for her.

I pulled her gently towards me once more, careful not to hurt her ribs. I then kissed her slowly and deeply, taking no notice of the wolf whistles we were both receiving.

"Hand over the coins Dori," I heard Bofur say "I knew there was something between these two."

"Aye as did I," remarked Balin smiling at Elaina and I "I accidentally saw Thorin and Elaina growing closer in the shadow of the farmhouse earlier on."

Holding Elaina gently round the waist, I look at my men with shock.

"You placed bets on us?"

"Oh aye," grinned Bofur, catching his bag of coins. "It gave us something to do."

I glared at each of them. Money bags were flying everywhere.

"What are you doing here anyway?" I asked them all.

"Well," began Gandalf coming forward "Seeing as the trolls are no more, I would think their hideout was nearby."

"A troll cave!" I muse, feeling a small smile form around my face as I return my attention back on Elania "Are you ready Elaina?"

"Sure."

My right hand wraps around Elaina's left small hand and we began walking with the others in search of this troll cave.

"Where did those trolls come from anyway?" asked Elaina.

"They must have come down from the Ettenmoors." replied Gandalf.

I frowned and looked at Gandalf.

"Since when do mountain trolls venture this far south?" I asked him.

"Oh, not for an age, not since a darker power ruled these lands," replied Gandalf giving me a knowing look. "They could not have moved in daylight."

We walk near a stream and the burglar kneeled down and scrubbed his face. I did wonder what was on his face, hair and clothes but I was still very weary of him to start up a conversation. Many of my men were restocking their water supply as the hobbit finally got up.

We now go in search of this cave, which wasn't far away. Elaina let go of my hand and I raised my eyebrows.

"I'll wait outside."

I gently kiss her forehead and stepped inside the cave.

~~Hetti's POV~~

Walking with Bilbo, I was relieved that everyone was alright. Truth of the matter was, I was scared those trolls would have eaten us. This should never have happened in the first place. Fili and Kili were irresponsible towards others, that was for sure.

"Hetti!" I heard someone call my name and turned my head and scowled, coming towards me was Fili.

"Leave me alone!" I hiss trying to get away from him and noticed his brother Kili walk towards me too.

Fili gently grabs my arm.

"I am sorry for what happened back there."

"Your saying sorry to the wrong person," I spat "It's Bilbo you should apologise too!"

"We have," replied Kili.

I glance at Bilbo who was watching the three us and saw him nod his head.

"Well, I am not Bilbo," I began watching Fili and Kili once more "What you both did was despicable. Bilbo is to trusting towards the pair of you. Things could have turned out quite differently if Bilbo and Elaina didn't stall those trolls."

I catch Bilbo blushing.

"I am sorry Hetti" said Kili quitely.

"As am I."

"To little, to late!"

I then walk of and catch up to Balin, Dori and Dwalin. Not noticing the sadness in Kili's eyes, but Bilbo did.

o0o

~~Elaina's POV~~

Many went in the troll cave including Hetti. I on the other hand stayed outside. Few stayed outside too, Bilbo was sitting on the ground and I sat with him.

"How are you really feeling?" asked Bilbo, watching me carefully.

"A little sore but other than that, I'm fine," I reassured him "I didn't mean to worry you."

Bilbo smiles and I could see the relief on his face.

"Although it is partly my fault," I confessed "I never realised how quick those trolls were. I wasn't expecting one of them to pick me up."

"And say he wanted to marry you!" grinned Bilbo, then burst out laughing.

"I'm thankful that fell through." I snorted.

I heard footsteps and watch as Nori grabs a shovel from his bag.

"There's gold in there," pointed out Nori, "It smells in there though."

Nori went back inside the cave while I smirked at his remark. I knew that caves always have there own smell to them. If this cave was where the trolls used to live, I'd imagine the smell would be terrible.

I got up and went by a rock and leaned against it. I was thinking about that man, Zeus and the way he mentioned 'power' I had no power. For the first time ever, I felt lost and a little confused.

I heard footsteps coming near to me and I turn my head and see Thorin walking up to me with a sword in his right hand.

"Looks like you've found something of interest." I say to him

"Aye, a finely crafted sword. Though elves did make this."

Thorin frowned as he stepped near me.

"Might I ask, what is troubling you Elaina?" asked Thorin, softly, placing his new sword on his belt.

"There is nothing troubling me Thorin!"

"Elaina, I'm not daft to know something is clearly troubling you," said Thorin "Has it something to do with that man you mentioned earlier?"

The silence that followed confirmed it.

"What exactly happened?"

I watch Thorin and I took a deep breath, before explaining everything that had happened about those trolls.

"I have not got any power."

Thorin had a thoughtful look on his face.

"You did do something to those trolls, they could not move after you sung that song."

"Gandalf was nearby, he could have done that!"

~~Thorin's POV~~

I knew Gandalf had power but he turned up a little while later, when Elaina had stopped singing. I was about to ask her this when I saw her look around. I had seen this look before.

"What is it?" I asked her.

"I'm not sure," she admitted, her brown eyes glancing at everything "I just hear a strange noise. Can you not hear it?"

When she asked me that, I at first could not hear anything and was about to say that when suddenly. I did hear something.

"Something's coming!" I shouted out, catching Elaina's brown eyes.

'How could she have heard that?' I wondered. 'She's a mystery.'

We quickly gather our stuff and run towards the woods, hoping whatever was coming, was not a bad omen.