Balin had entered the house first, with Thorin following. The older woman seemed to follow Thorin and shut the door behind them as the younger woman lit several lamps.
The house was dark, even with the lamps, but dusk had seemingly descended outside unnaturally fast.
"Sit good Sirs, while I light the fire to warm up some stew," the young woman said quietly as she began to light the kindling and set some logs on the fire.
Balin smiled as he looked around and moved towards a large armchair set before the fireplace. He seemed entirely comfortable. Where as Thorin did not. Something about the darkness inside the house seemed to draw the very life out of him and weigh heavy on his chest as if to restrict his breathing.
"Let me gather the bread and sausages from the larder...get the pan on the fire will you lass," the older woman muttered as she moved towards another door.
"Come sit, my lord...you must be tired from your travels." The young woman urged Thorin.
While everything about it all screamed out at him, he felt no choice but to obey her as he reluctantly sat in the other chair by the fire.
Sitting there but the crackling fire, Thorin turned to spot Balin as he began to doze off much to his surprise.
"Here, my Lord Dwarf. A warm brew to help your weary soul," the younger woman handed a mug to him and paused. "Oh...you are very tired. I think you should...just...rest..."
Thorin wanted to fight, but his body seemed to refuse any instructions.
"That's it...allow your eyes to drift...sleep..."
He wanted to shout at Balin but his lips and tongue failed to work.
"There is little that you can do...let alone fight..."
...
The water was choppier than usual in a way that stopped her from going for a swim. She contemplated Manwe's words again but still had so many questions.
So she was glad to have found herself on Ulmos beach, except he wasnt there.
There was something about the haven that she found usually calming. A stirring in the air that made her sense Ulmo even though she could not see him.
"I know you are here," she called out at the sea as the waves crashed onto the shore at her feet. "I can feel you...your anger..."
The sea foam surrounded her ankles as the tide continued to come in, but she did not move. If he was angry enough to change the seas then she was happy to be washed away by it.
"If you want to be angry - then be angry. But don't cut me out... Please..." She called out again. "Is it true that you are keeping me here...when you were the reason I came...?"
"Yes. It's true. But it is not something that I have been aware of." His voice sounded calm, despite the anger that she could feel from him.
She spun around to face him as he stood close behind her, his towering form like a rock and his sea green eyes looking darker than she had ever seen.
"Manwe and I do not see eye to eye when it comes to mortals, or you for that matter. And Valar do not know the answers to everything so do not allow my brother to manipulate you into believing that," he turned and began to walk back towards a shady spot under the trees nearby where they often sat and she didn't hesitate to follow. "Eru has plans for us in ways we do not understand...and what I said before stands. I did not bring you here because I had some ulterior design for you. But I will not pretend that I did not find myself drawn to you. It was in fact rather difficult not to notice your actions."
He sat gracefully looking out at the ocean before his gaze drifted over to her. It was hard to tell what he was thinking.
"Every so often, we see during times of difficulty the actions of a few...often mortals - who would be considered weak by many...but whose actions have impact for many centuries to come. You may not believe it, but you are such a mortal..." As he finished what he wished to say he looked over at her. "But in truth it's not about the actions exactly. Rather...it's about the choices you make..."
She studied his face as he continued to look out. His expression was unreadable, like the first day she had ever met him, with chiseled features like some beautiful marbled statue come to life.
Godly.
"We have no control over what led us to those points or where we began our journey. But we have can control the choices we make." In that moment he turned to meet her gaze. His strange ocean eyes, neither green, nor blue, but something in-between meeting hers that made her suddenly feel exposed. "The choices you make, reveal what sort of person you are... particularly the difficult ones. And that is what drew me to you..."
She held his gaze. They had spoken so many times. She had unburdened herself so many times here on this very beach. But this was different.
It was his confession today.
"These were also my choices...to choose you. Knowing your feelings for him..." He looked away this time, wishing to hide the flash of guilt that crept into his eyes. "Knowing I held your trust. And it was MY choice to have you carry my child...knowing that you were his at that point...and for that I ask your forgiveness..."
He turned back to her, grateful to find she hadn't looked away, even though he was the reason her relationship with Thorin had now soured.
All these eons, he had been the 'pure one', the 'compassionate one'. The one who was closest to Eru, while all the other Valar were petty, quarrelsome and fickle. But he had succumbed to his own weakness and it had led her to trouble. It made him feel ashamed.
"I am glad you chose me..." She finally spoke moving to kneel up so that she was taller. "They were also my choices to leave Thorin. And my choices to act upon my feelings for you. If anything I should thank you for being here for me. As my confidante. And for sharing this safe space with me..."
She carefully reached out and touched his face. There was something sacred about that moment.
Of course it was clear to her that she was still undeniably in love with Thorin, even if she wasn't certain that he returned her affections.
But it was not as simple as that.
"Do you think it's possible to be in love with two people at the same time...?" She watched his strange eyes as they seemed to twinkle in that moment.
"My understanding of love is that it comes in various forms." His lips slowly pulled into a soft smile. His features were filled with genuine kindness and understanding as if he had no control. "And even if you choose never to see me again, and return back to Thorin, I would honour your wishes, but I would still love you. Always..."
He had always been the kindest of the Valar for her and certainly one with the most understanding of life.
It still felt strange to her - like she had grown feelings for a made up person. But she was completely sure of those feelings all the same.
"I want you in my life always...and I want Arun to have you in his life always..." She hesitated trying to find the words she needed to say.
"But you are still also very much in love with Thorin." He finished her sentence, understanding filling his strange green eyes perhaps even with a tinge of sadness.
"Actually I just haven't quite figured out what to do yet." She concluded. Although perhaps Thorin had made things easier for her, particularly if he had moved on. "But I know I want him safe and happy. I mean, that is kind of the reason I came to Arda. To change his fate..."
For a brief moment she tried to stop herself from recalling that image of Thorin, broad and shirtless as the amply-breasted and scantily clad Lana kissed him.
But then she oddly didn't feel quite as jealous as she expected to be.
"Why do you feel that way...?" Ulmo inquired, studying her face and quite clearly intrigued.
"Running Erebor is not easy. And towards the last of my days there it was painfully clear that he no longer trusted me...or even wanted my company..." She remained surprised by how clear her thoughts were. "And I am still in love with him...so I want him to be happy. If that means he needs to find that with someone else then I would never stand in his way. Particularly if he doesn't love me."
And then she smiled at him, realizing that was exactly how Ulmo felt for her, after everything they had been through together.
Her relationship with Thorin was different. It was visceral. He was a dwarf of deed. They didn't always need to speak to connect. Where as Ulmo was different. His connection to her was entirely cerebral. He was patient and always there for her when things were tough. His shores were more than just a chance to unburden her troubles - they were so calming and healing. It was no wonder that she had orgasmed twice just from kissing him!
Kneeling up again, she pulled the soft nightdress she always wore here up over her head and completely off. The warmth and the gentle sea breeze felt so real against her naked skin, this was much more than a dream.
That usual loneliness on his face was gone now, replaced by something she couldn't read as he turned to face her and allowed his gaze to drift down past her face and carry on.
He didn't make a move to touch her but his eyes lingered over body.
The previously calm air surrounding them now felt charged. She didn't want to think anymore.
She moved to straddle him feeling the contact of her bare skin with his and pressed her lips to his.
...
Thorin stood in their bedchambers watching with an interest that surprised him.
He had shared enough women and dams as a young prince during his wilder days, but he couldn't have honestly claimed that he had ever been comfortable with the idea of sharing her.
And yet there she lay, under the unnaturally large figure.
He too was nothing like any other race he had ever seen. His skin looked shiny as though he had just emerged out of water. Perhaps there was even a tinge of blue, or iridescence to it almost like fish scales, and yet not quite. It was indescribable.
And he was enormous. Like a statue that had come alive. A god no less.
Then he realised - it was the Lord of Water himself.
But his movements were far from it. He thrust into her with a hunger that seemed to push any jealousy Thorin harboured aside.
And her face...her beautiful face, which he would have wished to mark had it been with any other male, was filled with pleasure as if she were in a perpetual climax.
He knew he could quite often be rough with her slender body. It was a fine balance between his own desires, pain and pleasure for her. But this too was different. Each hungry thrust was pleasure for her. Even though he was clearly enormous considering his overall size.
Thorin found it odd that he didn't feel even the slightest bit jealous.
Instead to his great surprise he found his trousers tighten with a familiar need. He hadn't had her for so long and there she lay open, and aroused.
And while he as King would have never accepted second place, for the first time he wanted to watch!
Removing his heavy jacket and boots he moved to take a seat on a nearby chair with a good view.
Thorin wanted to hate the Vala. And his wife.
But he could not.
He certainly would have never lasted this long himself. His arousal was painful now against the restraint of his trousers.
And then the large being grasped her hands and lifted them above her head, pinning them into the mattress beneath. His thrusts were deeper now and she moaned in a way that he imagined might make even a eunuch hard.
He could no longer resist.
Quietly he unbuckled his belt and slid his hand in to find he was painfully hard and already oozing.
He was sure he would come to completion just watching them now.
Then the Vala seemed to look over at him. His chiseled face and strange eyes were unearthly.
"Awake! Thorin, son of Thrain, King under the Mountain...you are in grave danger...awake now..."
...
The woman watched as a trickle of what seemed to be water appeared out of thin air and on the dwarfs face.
It did not behave like sweat, running into his eyes and mouth before she could wipe it away.
"Do we have a leak?" She briefly looked up at the ceiling of their small cottage but it was neither leaking nor was there any rain outside.
"No. Just hurry up and make him aroused while the potion works..." The other woman called out in the dark.
The young woman turned and lit all the candles around them both in a circle. She wore a gauzy shift that was so thin the form was entirely visible beneath.
He slowly opened his eyes in a dream like state.
Her alabaster skin, visible through the material was pale in the candle light and her full breasts partially covered with her loose chestnut curls as she stroked his cock in her hands.
"This batch of the concoction is good...it seems to be working. But do you think it is too much...?" Sha called again watching his cock stiffen a little in her hands.
"You need to work a bit harder. They are not men. They are old but they are strong. And we haven't had dwarves in a while. So hurry up and get their essence. It will feed our magic for a while!" The older woman instructed.
So she lowered her mouth over him, sucking as she stroked.
It seemed to stiffen him a little more to her delight but he also seemed to awake with a start.
"What...? Is this...?" He suddenly looked up at her confused. "You are not Shobha -"
She smiled at him and waved her hand over his face and the hers.
"Yes I am, my lord...and I know you need this..." She spoke looking up at him. "Now let me take good care of you..."
But he seemed to struggle again. It was not what she expected. Normally the men saw what they wanted to see when she cast her enchantment.
"What is this...?" Thorin tried to sit up and push her off but to no avail.
As he began to regain his bearings he realised that he lay there naked with his arms and legs bound.
"Get off!" Thorin groaned. It was hard not to feel good. But it also felt unnatural.
It was some sort of witchcraft. He had heard of enchantresses living alone in woods or at the edge of villages performing strange rituals involving male folk and odd types of fornication.
He understood it now - Lord Ulmo was attempting to save him.
More water droplets appeared on his face as if dripping from above but it was neither raining nor could he see any drips falling from above.
The drops trickled from his forehead to his eyes, while some others continued into his ears and mouth. Each drop seemed to make him more alert from this strange drowsy state he found himself in.
The drinks they were offered earlier in the evening...he realised they must have been tainted with some potion.
"Balin..." He groaned turning to look.
But apparently his advisor too lay tied up, while the older woman from earlier bounced on top of him. The other woman was entirely unclothed, her greying hair wild around her.
And Balin looked up at her his face smiling, his eyes distant as if he were in a strange dream while being awake.
He surveyed down his own body now and noted to his horror that he was entirely unclothed and his hands restrained above him and his legs also tied in place and spread apart.
"Balin wake up!" He called out hearing the panic in his own voice.
"Do not trouble him, he is happy..." The young woman dragged her hands up his torso gently.
Her touch had a distant feeling akin to his One and some moons ago he would have paid to have another touch him like this. But now he was certain is was all part of this enchantresses thrall that he was now waking from himself.
She stood up in front of him and removed the thin covering to reveal her naked form. Her smooth pale skin, the curve of her hips, her full breasts would have been attractive to any male.
For a moment he thought of the images he had seen of Ulmo and his One. She had left. Of her own choice. Perhaps she was in love with the Vala now. We wasn't sure whether what he saw was a conjuring or a dream...like the shared dreams he once had with her.
He closed his eyes attempting to gather his strength again for a few long moments and pulled at his restraints.
"Oh don't be so hasty my Lord..." the woman spoke coyly even her voice was strange. Like a Siren.
She came to straddle over him and took his cock in her mouth now.
Perhaps he should do this...? Perhaps it might make him forget his One...?
"Stop playing with him and bring him to a finish...the potions are wearing off..." The older woman called out as Balin let out an unnatural groan.
The younger woman now dragged her tongue over his steadily hardening cock and sucked hard. The pleasure was odd but building.
Suddenly he found more water droplets trickling down his forehead as he heard another strange groan from Balin. This time he wondered whether it was in pleasure or pain?!
He didn't like it.
Thorin had enjoyed a courtesan or two with Dwalin before during his wilder youth. But never the older Fundin. And frankly until now he had been sure that Balin preferred the company other males to dams or women.
"Balin...wake up..." He called out struggling as he felt her hands snake down to grasp his balls. "What will you do with me..."
"Take your essence...it keeps us young..." She spoke, her voice now sounding much rougher. And suddenly candle flames that surrounded them in a large circle seemed to flicker at her words. "So just relax and allow me to bring you to pleasure...you will not miss the seed you spill within me...but I cannot untie those strong hands until you have filled me. Once you release yourself you will be a little weaker but I promise to feed you and return your strength...I just can't promise that you will ever wish to return back to your home..."
She moved her hands and mouth around him now, looking up at him seductively. Her chestnut hair surrounding her.
It was slowly making him feel weak as his disgust turned to pleasure.
"Just a little harder..." She lifted her head to survey him and pumped her hands over him again. "And then I shall clamber on top, my Lord..."
She stopped briefly to sit up and squeeze her own breasts hard and run one of her hands down her body and between her legs to touch herself.
After she left, he attempted to seek different entertainment to help him forget. He enjoyed watching and would sometimes request it from her. He would now give anything to watch her again.
"Can I not give you it myself...? Perhaps if you free my hands...?"
"Oh no my lord...you must spill yourself inside me or the ritual would not be complete..." She moaned as she touched herself, straddling him. The patch of curls between her pale legs now glistened as her hand moved back and forth.
He didn't want to watch but he also couldn't seem to stop!
Then to his horror he realised that he was sickeningly aroused.
"Oh I see...you enjoy watching my lord..." She smiled down at him before shifting both hands up to her breasts to jiggle the flesh.
Thorin felt his energy draining. All he wanted was to submit to the pleasure.
He wondered whether it was futile to resist. Balin was apparently being drained somewhere nearby in the darkness and he seemed unable to escape his bonds anyway.
Looking around him he noted how the ropes disappeared into the darkness past the candles. They were clearly tethered to something firm.
Perhaps he was not fated to meet his end facing Smaug or an orc army after all...but rather at the hands of some enchantress...?
And maybe it would not be such a terrible end. Maybe he had little choice in the matter.
...