Thorin's Consort 10
Thorongil lifted his training sword wincing in pain from his fresh scars, and smiled as the two princes copied him.
"Those are excellent formations, my princes." He chuckled, genuinely enjoying how the young boys copied him perfectly, when Shobha intervened.
"Right boys, I think that's enough now. Let's leave Lord Thorongil alone... he really shouldn't be doing this so early…"
"It's quite alright, my lady. I must confess I enjoyed that," he smiled, rubbing the side of his chest before handing her the training sword.
"Oh good! So long as you enjoyed it - it won't matter if your wound opens up again and needs resuturing..." She gently chastised him.
"Well then if you stich it - perhaps it might heal faster..." He huffed unhappy about how long it took his wounds to heal.
"Of course, tear open my old scar that had lots of infection and then restitch it… said anyone who clearly hated the other person!" She began to walk back to the royal wing from where they had been practising.
"Well I am sorry my lady." He bowed clutching his chest again.
"You don't need to bow to me, Lord Thorongil." She laughed as the twins skipped ahead of them.
"But you are King Thorins Queen are you not?"
"Huh!" She scoffed thinking of her old life when things were simple. "Nope - I'm just a normal person."
Thorongil frowned as he listened to her, briefly glancing at the small woman, before keeping to her pace again. In his eyes she was certainly not normal, for having endured the quest with the dwarves and for the strange foresight and knowledge she seemed to hold. He might have even imagined she was an elf with the gift of sight, if not for her stature.
He was certain she knew of his heritage although she kept it quiet.
"My lady, I am grateful for your hospitality. I know the King under the Mountain is less happy about my stay here with your people, but you have convinced him... "
"They are not as bad as they seem. Just really grumpy and suspicious. But once they know you, they can be caring and even loyal to a fault..." She smiled, remembering her old memories of when she met him first, and the rest of the company. "Just don't have a secret baby with a Valar and tell them about it later…"
He gave her a confused look as she muttered under her breath.
"Did you ever wonder whether you would manage being married to a dwarf although you are a child of man?" He asked out loud. "I mean there are differences in your life span… and customs…."
"Oh I see! You have met the most beautiful, elleth ever huh? Your very own Luthien? And you are wondering whether you are sort of punching well above your own weight…?" She smiled at him, which made him halt in his tracks.
The words she used, so casually, were so precise, as though she had reached into his very heart and pulled out his very memories and feelings.
"How could you possibly know?"
"Oh sorry. I..." She sighed feeling like an idiot for being so careless with her revelations after being so preoccupied again by her 'Thorin-predicament'. "I didn't mean to -"
"Are you... Able to read my thoughts..." He observed her with suspicion, and then his face fell. His feeling for her were hopeless anyway. She shone with the light of the Evenstar, and her fate was to live in the undying lands with her Kin. Not to walk the earth hopeless and awaiting death.
"No... " She sighed again, not wishing to talk about the Tolkien books anymore, when none of this even existed in the pages. And then she noticed his crestfallen look. "You will lose hope over the years, but your love for each other will endure. And one day your love story will be one of the most beautiful. One of legend."
He watched her, still unbelieving, before turning to carry on walking, and catching up to her once more.
They had continued some distance like this, returning from a quiet courtyard, that although existed, was not favoured by most residents of Erebor, until they reached the large royal corridor. They passed several sets of Kings guardsmen who always stood at either end of the long, and grand hallway on which most of the royal apparments were housed, including that of Dis, Fili, Thorin, Dwalin, Balin, Kili (whenever he stayed in Erebor) and several guest suites. Gloin, Mara and Oin were also closely related to Thorin, but they had opted for their own quiet corridor with even larger apartments together on a level below.
The corridor was a favourite haunt for the twins, who enjoyed playing loudly, despite Thorins study and library being located there too.
Suddenly the door to Thorins study ahead swung open and into the corridor, wheeled through Aida's wheelchair.
Shobha suddenly hesitated, her heart leaping into her mouth. This would be the first time in some weeks that she would meet Thorin. She had always expected the next time they met that he would tell at her, or officially tell her they were done. And she didn't want that moment to be in front of this horrid witch of a dam.
She spun around, trying to think what the best course of action would be.
"My lady...?" Thorongil asked her raising an eyebrow. "Is everything well?"
"I..." She involuntarily clutched onto his arm as a little panic set in. "Er…"
"You are a Queen, my lady." He reminded her gently, and the twins too pretended to stand against the wall as if hiding from some great foe, with their training swords poised and ready to strike. "You have faced so many true dangers, and stood, in my opinion, equal beside your King on his quest. Stand tall, my lady and walk proud... I for one, would be honoured to serve you, just as equally as I would King Thengel or Lord Ecthelion."
Energised by his pep talk she didn't slink away as she had originally planned, but she didn't hurry towards them either.
It looked at though she was having trouble with her chair, because soon Thorin emerged opening the second of the grand double doors that led to his study.
He held the doors open as Aida was slowly pushed out with some difficulty. When the old dam emerged further, it became apparent that pushing her wheelchair was none other than Lana.
She wore a dress with a very low cut neck, and a tightly fitted corset, which made her look as though her bosoms would surely fall out of her dress with the slightest of movements.
"Thank you. You ARE such a good lad, Thorin. Your mother was always so proud of you..." Aida spoke as Lana carried on pushing her wheelchair, this time with a bit of difficulty as she jiggled past Thorin, apparently pretending to fit the chair through the gap with some difficulty controlling it, which could only be an act, since Shobha and Dori and tested that chair on Bombur, and it had taken his weight while still maintaining excellent steering control!
"Forgive me, my Lord." She giggled this time with clear seductive intent, brushing past him, and Thorin seemed to back up against the door, before extending a boot to give the chair she was steering towards him a firm kick in the opposite direction.
As they both spilled out into the corridor, they glanced over at Shobha and Thorongil, prompted by Thorins cold stare in their direction.
Initially, he glared daggers at the young Lord she was with, before standing up and crossing his arms behind his back to assume his usual stony mask-like face. This was warfare, albeit in a passive way. And he had always been taught by his father and grandfather that emotion must not be revealed on the battlefield, regardless of how pained, angry or horrified one felt!
"Lord Thorongil..." He bowed his head, watching the two of them closely, still attempting to fathom what sort of relationship she had with the tall man.
"King Thorin," Thorongil smiled at him approaching with a quicker step.
"Adad!" The boys too followed excited to see their father.
Suddenly Aida, who had turned away seemed to tap Lana's hand and she turned the chair back around to join them. It was a heart sinking moment for many.
"Ah! It's Shobha!" She pulled her teeth into a false smile as they both turned to join the gathering group. "And the children..."
"My King," Thorongil bowed, wincing again as he clutched his side.
"I have heard from King Thengel, who is glad to hear you are safe. He had sent search parties for you. Apparently you are a most valued and trusted Lord amongst his council," Thorin spoke, looking up at him and ignoring Shobha at first as she joined the group. "I have let him know that you will send a raven directly, to let him know of your progress, but that you were lucky indeed to have survived such as attack and recovering well."
"My King, I do not believe fortune had anything to do with it, other than to bring me here," Thorongil placed a hand across his chest in silent thanks. "But it is most certainly the skill of your Queen that has cured me. I am in your debt and offer you my service."
"It is certainly at the request of my wife, that you remain here, our royal guest, and as a mark of my respect to King Thengel," Thorin corrected him, with a neutral tone. "But I see that you also keep my sons company.. and give them training…"
"The young Princes are extraordinarily talented." Thorongil smiled at the twins who beamed up at him with equal delight and pride. "They have been showing me their training lessons with both sword and axe. And even helping me train. I am in your debt. And your Queen is most generous to welcome me into your kingdom in such a manner..."
"Well, she was raised as a child of man, Lord Thorongil, you must not hold her lack of proper etiquette against her. She does not understand our proper customs, so you must not think that she considers you precious, just because she opens her arms to you. She does that with many other males too, like the men of Dale, the Woodland elves, even our petty dwarves," Aida explained as if she was trying to reason away a terrible stain of some sort. "She had many males at her disposal, and you are merely another."
Aida glanced up at Thorin briefly, expecting some sort of rebuke for her clear attack on Shobha, but when it never came immediately shot her a look of smug satisfaction.
"Come on, boys, we have to see the tailor," Shobha ushered them close to her, ignoring the old woman.
"Of course, these trips to the tailor must be expensive. It is a good thing you are married to the King," Aida sniped again.
"Oh no, Aida, I don't use the King's money for these things - I pay for my own - it's really rather satisfying," she gave the old crow a smile. "But then I guess if you have never worked, you wouldn't understand."
Thorongil suddenly burst into brief fit of coughing, in order to cover up his laughter, while Thorin too immediately covered his mouth with his hand to disguise a wry smile. Lana and Aida were far less impressed.
"I am a dam of royal lineage! It is not proper to call me by my name without my title!" She grumbled.
"Oh Aida, there is no need to bother with titles amongst friends right?" Shobha smiled again, watching the two women turn back on their way with a quick curtsey to the King. And the twins began to follow their mother to the tailor.
"Lord Thorongil, I would like to send King Thengel a token of our support, although we cannot spare any soldiers. Perhaps you might step into my study to discuss this?" Thorin gestured to their guest.
"Of course, your majesty."
...
Thorin quietly walked through their parlour. The lights were all out, but it didn't bother him. Like most dwarves, born to the caves and mountains, they possessed keen eye sight, particularly in the dark. It made him wonder if his sons had inherited this trait. They had always enjoyed spotting which traits of man and dwarf their children had inherited, and he missed seeing how the smile on her face had crept up to her eyes when they had reminisced about her parents.
Almost two months had passed since they last spoke on the stone bridge, and they had neither spoken nor even looked at one another since.
He flew into a jealous rage each time he saw her with Thorongil, or Imli, who had each taken it upon themselves to spend more time in her company. The latter he knew harboured unrequited feelings but the former he was less certain of. Nonetheless, it made things worse.
Part of him knew she was not to blame, but he simply couldn't forgive her for keeping the secret for so long. And since they had gone on for so long like this, he now felt crawling back to her, would be akin to him asking her for forgiveness and giving in, when he was the one wronged.
No, he wanted HER to come crawling to him, and it wouldn't matter how long he waited. He was certain she would eventually need him.
But tonight, after so long, he would sleep in their bed, for it was killing his back to sleep on the couch in his study now. He had taken a few nights in their guest room, but it was dusty and unused.
Carefully, aware of how late it was he pushed open the door to their bedroom expecting his wife to be fast asleep.
He had a plan, he would slip into bed late and wake early before her. Then all he had to do was to control his usual desire for her, his body would give him away, but he didn't need to act upon it.
Slipping off his boots without a noise, he undressed with familiar speed, before approaching the bed, only to find, their bed entirely unslept in!
He found his anger bubbling within him like, the winds that arose around the mountain in winter.
She was not at her desk, nor asleep in the parlour, as he walked through, so the only other place he could think of was her sleeping in the children's room.
He pulled on a night tunic before quietly opening the doors to their children's room.
The twins slept soundly in their beds, and their daughter too in her large cot. The large couch in the room however, was occupied by Lola, who was also fast asleep.
He hesitated, half wishing to wake their nanny to inquire of her whereabouts, but thought better of it.
And so turning, he moved quietly to the connecting door.
"My Lord...?" Lola spoke quietly, clearly quite surprised at his presence.
"I am sorry to wake you, Lola, I thought my wife was here..."
"Oh. Did she not say, my Lord,? Our Queen is on night duty at the infirmary." Lola sounded half asleep.
He paused, but hid his surprise. She had always expressed her displeasure of working at night, and could only wonder what had driven her to do so.
"Very well," he paused,wanting to question her further but holding his tongue anyway, before walking out of the room. "Goodnight Lola."
...
She stood breathing in the cool night air on the quiet battlement above the infirmary. Almost none knew of it. It certainly made an excellent thinking place.
"My lady..."
The quiet voice startled her, forcing her to scan the darkness behind her, until a hooded figure came into view. As he moved closer slowly, she recognised him as her once anonymous guardian, but this time his face was clearer.
"Lord Imli!" She sighed quietly. "You gave me a shock."
"Forgive me, my lady," he bowed his head. "I wished to speak with you - alone. I will be leaving for the Iron Hills, soon after your spring festival and I feared that I would not have this chance to speak with you, for how busy you are."
She smiled, not knowing what to say. Holi was in a few days, and the Erebor spring celebration was a week later. At the rate things were going, and with the warning she received from Ulmo, she wasnt sure what the future held for her marriage with Thorin.
"I will be sorry to see you leave, Imli. But I am glad you are healed." They were the only words that came out for now, as she bit back the sadness. She had fewer friends that she could trust with each passing day it seemed.
"My Lady, I fear for your health here. The servants all keep a close watch over you, and those around. But I can see the serpents creep and slither from within." He almost pleaded. "Come away with me. As my guest... bring the children and stay a few weeks."
She sighed.
"That is a kind offer but I can't. I have already upset Thorin, and I am worried that tongues will start wagging if I leave." She admitted, feeling a little trapped by the whole situation. She loved Thorin, still with all her heart, and wanted to make it right. But he asked for time, and judging by how their bed remained unslept in, she imagined he wanted space from her too. It had initially upset her, and she wanted to know where he slept, her mind even creeping towards the possibility of who may have kept him company. But there was only so much she could worry about anymore. "But thank you for the offer, and perhaps I can take this up another time.."
He stood in silence beside her for a little while.
"There is a favour I would like to ask from you though..." She hesitated at first, hoping it may have not come to this.
"Ask anything of me, my Queen, for there is nothing I would not grant you." He glanced at her surprised by her request.
"Please could you hold on to a couple of sealed documents for me. But they have to be hidden with your important documents," she explained. "I have been sitting down with Balin twice a week, I have drawn out a detailed plan for what should happen to my children in the event something happened to me. "
"This would never happen if you let me take you away."
"In the iron Hills, I may be at greater risk."
"Then let me take you elsewhere. Anywhere you choose."
"Please, Imli. I can't offer you my love." She sighed. "My... Heart belongs to Thorin..."
"I know. And I would never ask you for that. I simply cannot bear to see you mistreated this way."
"Then help me, as I ask." She held his gaze for a moment. "I have savings in gold held within Gloin and Mara's personal funds. There is a signed witnessed document for this. There should be enough there to arrange for safe travel for my children to the shire, where Bilbo, has kindly agreed to adopt them as family. This will keep them away from harm's way, unlike if they remained within any dwarf kingdom. With or without Thorins protection. I would ask that you might oversee their safe passage to Bagend. And Kili and Tauriel will accompany them. Most likely so will Dwalin. But I have drawn the papers up formally with Balin so they are legally binding and irriversible even for Thorin."
"If this is what you ask for, then I will accompany them myself and guard them with my lifem." He bowed his head. "As for the gold, I will match it myself several fold, so that they have enough to be comfortable for the rest of their lives."
"Thank you, but honestly safe passage will be the greatest help," She finally breathed out in relief, clutching his arm. "There is also something else..."
"Anything my lady." He nodded already in agreement.
"You have close links with Ered Mithrin..." She began, watching him listen to her patiently. "They need to mine as much of the mithril as they can as fast as they can and then block the tunnels back up before they leave for the Blue Mountains. There they can clean and craft what they need. And trade under the Blue Mountains."
He smiled, understanding what she meant.
"I will asked that the families are moved first. This will allow time to carry on mining." He agreed. "But Thorin has left control over the colony to me. Truly I was surprised, since I imagined you would have a personal interest. He mentioned something about how busy you were."
"Yes well, now I have told you. In fact I would ask them to block all their mines. Because I bet you there will be those who will try to take over the land altogether." She crossed her hands over her chest annoyed at how it had all happened.
"At least the deeds to the mines have been written to them, and signed for by our King."
"I wouldn't hold my breath. You never know what the future holds for us all."
"My lady...?" He watched her worried again.
"For what it's worth, I want to thank you for everything you have done to help me," she turned to him and taking a measured step closer gave him a gentle hug. It took him by surprise, but he immediately wrapped his large arms around her in a big bear hug. But her talk worried him. "Lord Imli, things are changing and the balance is shifting. I can feel it in my bones..."
...
Thorin quietly marched along the dark corridors towards the infirmary. It was nearing two in the morning, but he cared not about the time. After laying in their bed alone for the first time in weeks, he had found himself unable to sleep for missing her.
It had wound him up, since he had spent almost every night sleeping alone (almost) for over one and a half centuries without ever feeling such loneliness! In fact he felt lonelier now than he had ever felt before!
Eventually after tossing and turning he had given in to his own mad jealousy, and casting all better judgement aside, got dressed again before storming over to the infirmary, demanding to see her as he reached Oins small study attached to the sick rooms.
"Whatevers the matter with ya?!" The old healer grumbled. "I told you she is on a shift and that's it."
"She is not out with any patients. So where is she?! I demand that you show me immediately." Thorin barked again. "She is my wife."
"Laddie, she is having a rest after doin the rounds. Now off with ye - because I am not waking her up for anything. She works hard, and juggles too many obligations. Yer not waking her on my watch, since I imagine she'll be with the bairns all day tomorrow too."
"I do not care what you think, Master Oin." Thorin snarled, and then standing back clenching and unclenching his fists by his side suddenly added. "Very well, if it will ease your conscience, then I give you my word that I will not wake her, just show her to me."
Oin frowned, then tutted, and fiddled with his ear trumpted, only to frown and tut again, before finally sighing. He didn't like all this; there was clearly something not right between them, even if it was only subtle for now.
But all things measured, there was no need for him to fuel Thorins jealousy further. So reluctantly he stood and led the dwarf King to a dimly lit empty bay.
"Now be quiet." Oin warned as he walked to the end and silently drew the curtain. "Happy?"
Oin stood back to allow Thorin a better look but remained there, like an old dog guarding his mistress.
Thorin took another step closer, but it was clearly her, tucked into a cot, wrapped in several blankets, her to po Ng dark hair cascading across the pillow.
Despite how much anger he had towards her for his own injured pride, seeing her looking so small and vulnerable immediately abated his anger.
"I do not like her working nights" he admitted quietly.
"Aye, well, she had taken up a lot of night shifts, laddie." Oin replied, patting his shoulder. "I know what happens within yer marriage is only yer business, but I can sense something about her changed. Perhaps ye should both take some time off, and ye treat her ter something."
Thorin stared at her for a while before tuning back, his eyes dark.
"Aye, Master Oin. You are correct," he snapped back. "What happens in our marriage IS none of your business."
...
She stood under the trickling shower in the morning, eyes shut tight and letting the water ease her turbulent mind.
She had not worked any night shifts since the very early days of being in Erebor. So there was an element of being unused to it all right now. But it took her away from their lonely marriage bed, so she was grateful in that way.
Their royal apartment was quiet at the moment with the twins in school for the day and Lola out for a walk in the baby buggy-style device that was built together by Dori, Ori and Bifur.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a firm knock on the stone walls of the shower.
Slowly she moved a hand to the handle but didn't turn off the water. She could feel his eyes firmly on her.
It was the first time in months he had sought her out, which made her nervous, and frankly a little annoyed that he didn't want to allow her twenty minutes for a shower! Or was he merely after her body?
He had not considered how much he had missed her, as he barged angrily into their bathroom that morning after an inspection he had carried out of the smithing halls. The thought may have crossed his mind that he would find her nude, but he hadn't quite anticipated his own reaction to seeing her like this.
"Could you pass me a towel please?" She broke the heavy silence.
She stood under the still trickling shower, the rivulets of water caressing her skin, and dancing along her gentle curves choosing their own paths down to the stone below.
It was hard not to stand there agog, as far as he was concerned, when she looked like a goddess her brown skin covered in liquid crystals! She looked like Yavanna herself in his eyes!
"Thorin...?"
He had also forgotten just how long ago it was that he had touched and tasted her. It was as though every craving in his body had been awakened once more.
Shaking his head, and ignoring his desperate erection, he took a towel hanging from a hook and held it up habitually expecting her to present her body, so he could wrap her up.
But she turned off the water, and took the large towel from him.
"You have the most comfortable bed in Erebor, and most likely even middle earth, and yet you sleep in a horrid cot, in the infirmary?!" He began angrily again, although his anger had been more towards his own body as it betrayed his desire for her.
"I have to work Thorin." She wrapped the towel around her quickly, still dripping wet. "What does it matter to you anyway - you don't sleep here anymore either?"
"It matters because I do not wish for gossip." He ground out through gritted teeth. "It undermines me as a King, if I cannot control my woman."
"I think you will find that your noble dwarves are already gossiping," she sighed halting briefly on her way to their dressing room. "And yes I am aware that I am an embarrassment to you. So it is better that I just stick to working in the infirmary for now."
"That will be worse! Your stepping down from your duties -"
"Thorin. Let's face it, we haven't been seen together for the last few months. That's a long time. People are starting to suspect things anyway," she pulled out fresh underwear and a dress, only to find his hand wrap around her wrist as he stood close to her, icy blue eyes fixed on her. "Thorin?"
He remained there, dangerously close, hand still firmly around her wrist, as she stood there cold and wet, in nothing but her towel. His body screamed at him in desperation.
"Thorin...?" Her voice was now a whisper as she could feel a fluttering inside her as her own desperation to have him hold her began to grow. She could feel his breathing, now heavy as he stood so close.
"I forbid you to sleep anywhere but in our bed," he suddenly closed in on her, every single cell of his body wanted her now.
"But, it's not our bed, if it's just me," she replied back quietly reaching out to touch him, but halting her hand in mid air. "And you can't forbid me from doing anything."
Those last words seemed to truly rile him. His body stiffened, letting go of her, clenching his fists either side of him, because he simply wanted to grab her.
"You are infuriating woman! Why can't you just do as you are told?!"
"That was never me, Thorin," she too stiffened at his words, pulling away from him. "You knew that from the start. If you wanted some perfect dam to fit with your idea of a wife, then you had plenty of choice - you didn't need me!"
She turned away and began to arrange her things so that she could get dressed instead of sitting there in a towel.
"Don't turn away when I am talking to you, for Mahals sake!" He took a step closer again, inhaling the wonderful smell of the cleansing oil she used.
"We are not really talking though are we? You are here to make some sort of complaint." She sighed again. "How do you know where I slept last night anyway...?"
Suddenly the realisation dawned on her that he must have checked up on her whereabouts! Even though he had made it clear he wanted nothing to do with her! Spinning around to face him, she searched his face for some better understanding.
But he merely stood there stony faced, watching her coldly.
"What am I? Your possession?" She frowned moving out of the dressing room and into the bedroom, with him following closely behind. "We are not really talking, and if you were suspicious of me last night then you know that I didn't spend the night in someone else's bed. And nor have I ever done that since I met you Thorin - since I met you in my own world, all of which I left, to be with you!"
Turning aound she found him still standing there watching her like a hawk, although it was clear now that he wanted her.
So she removed her towel completely and threw it on their bed, the cold Spring air within the mountain, making her skin prickle with goosebumps and her nipples stiffen. Then she pressed her body to his, and as he didn't move away ran a hand down to trace the outline of his erection straining within his trousers.
"Is this what you want?" She moved him to the bed, and pushed him down onto it, before crawling over him and sitting on top of his bulging groin. "Because I am wet..."
He suddenly flipped her under him, pressing his need against her heat, and pinning both her hands above her head firmly. How he cursed his clothing in that moment.
"Don't play with fire." He warned, running his free hand down the soft skin of her body, and her once familiar contours that had clearly lost more weight over the months they had been apart. Still staring into her big brown eyes, he let his hand slip between her legs gently, groaning as he found his fingers slick with her desire indeed. Clearly her body too wanted his. It would be so easy to slip inside her now. To bury himself deep and forget all his anger, and frustration. "The marriage contract you once signed states that your duty includes serving my needs as well as my bed... even if you have betrayed me."
"We are both consenting adults - so sure let's have hot hate sex," she spread her legs wider, finding his hands had not forgotten what she enjoyed even after so many months of absence. Unable to hold back a moan as she arched her back feeling his finger slip inside her, she quickly spoke the words she needed to get out before she lost her head in pleasure entirely."I have always belonged to you, Thorin, ONLY you. But I am NOT your possession. So until you are truly ready to talk and treat me as your equal, which you know I deserve, you can't dictate what I do. Not now, not ever."
He immediately pulled back to survey her face, as she lay there, her breathing raggedly from his previous stimulation. Having hoped to have achieved her submission in bed, in a way that they had both used to negotiate issues in the past, he realised this time was different. Apparently, she was capable of being just as obstinate as he was, and would not be yeilding over the matters he needed her begging him on this time.
And he wanted her to beg him. He was certain it would only be a matter of time. Usually he was an impatient dwarf, but on this matter he could wait. His pride was at stake. And he could rely upon their love for one another, even through such times to see them through in the end.
There was even a surety, perhaps foolishly so, given how many male admirers she unwittingly had, that she would not find comfort in the arms of another.
"None of this would have occurred had you kept no secrets from me, woman." He snapped, frustrated, but still kept her naked, wet body, pinned underneath him. Part of him simply wanted to give in to the desperate wanton screams of his own body and have her right now. It would ease the ache he had grown for craving her over the many months he had shut her our for.
"Because you handled this well didn't you?" She writhed, with her hands pinned escape was almost impossible. He was strong, although his grip was gentle enough not to hurt, it was also too firm to escape. "Anyway, I kept Melthoron's egg a secret, and you were mad, but not like this. And you know this is not my fault, no one else has touched me - this is about you and you know it!"
She writhed harder against him, grinding against his hardness to abate her own aching need for friction, which soon led to his own involuntary thrusts against her. His own breathing had now grown erratic, pupils dilated, as he watched her greedily.
Then abruptly he stopped, staring at her for a while stilling himself, his whole being torn, with his heart still bearing a grudge against her, while his body begged him to give in and his head lay somewhere in between.
"You don't sleep anywhere but in MY bed, woman." He commanded, letting her go and moving off the bed, concentrating to keep his expression neutral even if he did enjoy seeing her laying there completely naked and splayed out on the bed. It almost made him regret his decision to get off entirely. But he willed himself to remain firm in his decision. "And henceforth you shall have a guard with you at all times when you leave the apartment. Hal, Athol, Ega, Thul, pick any you like. But they will report to me each day."
He took one last long look at her as she lay there, small breasts heaving with brown tipped peaks narrowing to her small waist, and widening at her hips where her legs were still spread apart, her core deliciously exposed and wet, begging to be filled. He would memorise the way she looked now, and take full advantage tonight to relieve himself when he bathed alone.
There was clear surprise on her face, at his hesitation to take advantage of her full invitation. And so he felt suitably victorious in his battle of will-power over her, even if it was only by the narrowest of margins.
Hurrying, before he could change his mind, he marched straight out and into the corridor, to find Dwalin waiting for him.
"Well... Ye certainly set the Princess straight eh?!" He cackled pointing at Thorins trousers which were tented and wet from both their acts of desperation. "So what did ye do? Sit her on yer -"
"Dwalin!" Thorin grumbled adjusting his jacket in an attempt to cover himself.
"Och I was only going to say lap! It certainly looks it..." Dwalin hooted.
"Let's get going -"
"Och no Thorin. Yer not going anywhere like ye were pulled outa the bedroom mid way through the act-o -"
"Dwalin!"
"I was only gonna say an act-o passion!" He waggled his bushy eye brows at the very serious King, who in truth had been most grumpy and sour over the past two moons, and so his brief smile had been a moment worthy of celebration. "Nah ye gonnae have ter change."
"Very well. I have a spare suit in my study, I can get changed there." Thorin ushered.
"Are ye certain it's only a change yer need? That is not gonnae deflate on its own - it's as if ye haven't mined fer gold in quite some time!" Dwalin gave Thorins crotch a sidelong glance as they walked along. "Aye that's a raging -"
"Dwalin!" Thorin interrupted his closest friend again before he uttered some other profanity.
"Och relax! I was only gonnae say a raging tent-pole!" Dwalin chuckled again. "No need ter be embarrassed: We've all been there when we were adolescent dwarves... but apparently the Princess makes ye feel like a youn-un again eh?"
Thorin walked on silently, deep in thought still.
"See... So it's true eh?"
"Hmmm?"
"It's not how old yer feelin... But how old the lassie yer feelin is that counts!" He hooted out in laughter as they reached Thorins study.
...
Dear All,
I am guessing you have all worked out who Thorongil is… and as for these two - there's a lot of making up to be done… just hadn't figured out how they will get there yet.
Let me know your thoughts
Special thank you to
Xiaiel - its bad… I don't know how they will make up….
AcquaJMG - you totally read my mind! ❤️ That Gandalf quote was exactly what I was thinking about with Thorin! This story has taken a bigger turn than I kind of expected as I was writing… so hang on for a bit of a bumpy ride (eek!)