This is the chapter where their interactions get a little more interesting ;P
Enjoy!
** Thank you LadyHuggins for your reviews and support. I hope you like this chapter.
Chapter 8
"Wha' do you call this stuff again?" Mistlynn hiccupped as she took another big gulp of her fizzy beverage.
"That would be apple cider my sweet friend." Kili grinned. "I figured you would appreciate that more so than the stout ale."
"It'll git er tipsy quicker too ya jackanape!" Mistlynn and the prince's jumped in surprise at the sound of Dwalin's rough brogue.
There beside him stood some of the other dwarves she had met, though briefly, in the rather uncomfortable scene in the throne room. She tried to wipe that memory from her mind, and now they were here to ruin her attempt of doing so.
"I am a fully grown dam, Master Dwalin." Mistlynn sniffed contemptuously, raising her eyebrows challengingly. "I can drink whatever I damn well please."
Dwalin snorted through his nose as he looked down at her, returning her challenging glare. Bofur, Bifur, Gloin and Nori looked amongst themselves while snickering, not hiding the fact they were all in on some joke well known amongst them.
"Fiery lass aren't ya?" The one with the winged hat laughed jovially. "I apologize we have not been properly introduced for you were too busy wreaking havoc the last time we saw each other. I am Bofur, and this is my dear cousin Bifur. He only speaks our tongue, battle injury and all. And these charming fellows with me are Gloin, Nori and last but not least Dwalin."
Mistlynn smirked, liking the dwarf immediately. No one could have a smile like that and be untrustworthy. She took his offered hand and shook it heartily, while nodding respectfully to the other Dwarrow's, that were still looking at her with ill-concealed mirth. "The pleasure is all mine, master dwarves. Will you be joining our table?"
"Of course, they will be." Kili grinned. "Our esteemed comrades would be daft to forfeit the fun table."
Nori snorted "Oh I wouldn't be too sure of that my darling princeling. It all depends on the drink!"
"Ignore him lass." Bofur grinned as he took a seat directly across from Mistlynn. "What are you enjoying there if you don't mind me asking?"
MIstlynn smiled. "Apple cider." She took another drink then smacked her lips. "Nice and fuzzy."
"Fuzzy?" Dwalin grunted, looking at her with an odd expression.
"She's never had spirits before this!" Fili smirked. "You should've seen her expression after her first sip of ale. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head. So, we figured she would enjoy the cider more."
Gloin and Nori chuckled, picking up their mugs that were placed in front of them and raising them in Mistlynn's direction. "To the lass's first drink!" Nori winked.
"May it be the first of many in our charming company." Bofur cheered, holding his up as well, cueing them all to down the contents of their tankards in one go, much to Mistlynn's delight. Her eyes sparkled merrily as she returned their salute and finished off hers.
A few hours passed, conversation and drink flowed effortlessly. Mistlynn had warmed up significantly with the new members of their table, even Dwalin cracked a smile with her quick and witty comebacks to Bofur and the prince's nonstop teasing.
"Tell me, if it is constant winter and you all don't possess one drop of alcohol between the lots of you how do you stay warm at night?" Bofur's eyes sparkled with mischief, grinning over the top of his tankard.
Mistlynn snorted in her own tankard "Oh we have ways Master Bofur that don't require any help other than stamina, a hearty intake of water and some nice furs."
The table was filled with snorts and loud guffaws as Bofur slapped the table, grinning wildly.
"Spitfire lass." Gloin roared merrily while slapping Dwalin on the back while he snickered, his shoulders shaking with silent mirth.
Mistlynn giggled, pleased with the outcome of her somewhat tipsy shenanigans. She liked being tipsy, or fuzzy as she so fondly described it. These dwarves she originally found intimidating, amused her thoroughly as she now greatly enjoyed their company. All previous worries of the past few weeks were forgotten; she found herself in the company of friends she had never thought capable of having.
"Aww you are a breath of fresh air, am I right cousin?" Bofur chuckled, as he looked at Bifur. Bifur nodded eagerly and grunted animatedly as he spoke through signing.
Mistlynn, not catching on sooner that he signed, gasped with delight, and pushed her tankard away. She began signing towards Bifur, who's eyes in turn grew wide with excitement and signed quicky with a response. Mistlynn's laugh was a beautiful sound to all of them as she held a very lively conversation with Bifur. The others looked at her with even more fondness and respect, they had never seen a dwarrowdam communicate with Bifur before, let alone not even seem to notice the axe blade that was still lodged in his skull, partially covered with his greying hair.
"I didn't know you could communicate with signing so well." Fili smiled at her, speaking for the rest of the table.
"It is taught to us as dwarflings. It is imperative for us to communicate effectively and silently at times, especially when we are hunting. Is it not taught amongst your clans?"
"Well, for the most part we are though it is not required of the dwarrowdam's and most do not show interest in learning it. They focus on other things more driven towards running a household or profession."
Mistlynn's smile faded slightly, as she signed something that looked like a question to Bifur. He smiled with a touch of melancholy and shook his head and signing a simple reply. Mistlynn shook her head and stood up, abruptly pushing her chair back. She steadied herself for a moment, the room slightly moving about as she stood on tingling legs and she walked over to Bifur, much to everyone's surprise.
"Well, I'll announce to everyone in this pub that I think you are a handsome warrior of a dwarf, and any dam should feel honored to have you as their partner in life." She grabbed his face and gave him an energetic peck on his cheek. "You should be proud you carry with you the signs of your strength and bravery. Any dam to say otherwise is not worth your time or effort."
Tears formed in his eyes, and he patted her hand that was still on his cheek fondly. The friends all cheered, raising their tankards in agreement. "Well said lass! A worthy warrior of any lass indeed." Dwalin, much to her surprise spoke in agreement, obviously moved by seeing his dear friend, usually so strong yet quiet about his injury, moved nearly to tears.
Mistlynn moved back to her seat, using the table to steady her until she sat back down. "In my clan, it is the warriors our women fight over, the more scars and battle wounds the better! Otherwise, you're not seen as ready to be wed and have a family. One must be strong to ensure a family's survival. You would be fought over Bifur, I would even wager several would fight for the honor of being your wife." Bifur's eyes twinkled, as he looked down shyly at his tankard before taking a drink.
"It's strange how similar yet different our clans are." Kili mused. "You're so secretive about your people, yet with each little piece of insight you give makes me eager to learn more."
Mistlynn raised her eyebrow as she held up her tankard to the maiden tasked with refilling drinks. "I am selective of the information I give for I do not trust you and your brother to not be agents seeking information for the benefit of your king, my dear princely friend."
Kili gasped, as if hurt while Fili stuck out his bottom lip petulantly. "You wound us Mist. We are your friends first and foremost."
Nori laughed. "If our dear king wanted to know about your kingdom, he would be asking you himself."
"Speaking of our King, when is he to be joining us?" Gloin asked nonchalantly.
No one missed it when Mistlynn, mid gulp sputtered into her cup, coughing as she choked on her fizzy drink. They all smirked, looking at each other knowingly.
"Well, 'e informed me tha 'e would be join'n us 'ere after 'is last council meetin. Trade routes an the like." Dwalin drawled, hiding his smirk in his tankard.
Mistlynn composed herself, wiping the tears from her eyes and she struggled to regain her breathing as close to normal before standing up abruptly. "Well Master Dwarves, looks like the hour has come for me to bid you a good evening. I must be on my way to see Luna; she will be expecting me."
"Oi, not so fast there! We have to walk you back." Fili protested, setting his tankard down with a heavy 'clunk'.
"Yeah, Uncle will have our hides if you walk back unaccompanied at this hour." Kili added, looking incredulous at her suggestion of leaving alone.
"Well, I've been unaccompanied for the past several weeks, so I don't see the need for such adjustments now." She groused, adjusting herself before standing up taller. "I bid you a good night. Thank you for the pleasantries of your company." With that she promptly turned on her heel and walked, focused on walking with a confident, steady air and not to give in to the swaying stagger her body felt like exhibiting.
As she approached the door, another patron sitting at the bar near the door leered at her. "Hey there darlin, leaving so soon?" he crooned, while reaching out and grabbing her arm and pulling her closer to him.
Mistlynn looked at him shocked. "What gives you the impression that you can put your hands on me?"
His hand moved quickly from the small of her back to her butt, squeezing her roughly. "Oh, don't play so hard to get, I can tell your the type who wants a real man to show her who her master is."
Mistlynn didn't hear the sound of chairs being tossed back as her companions jumped to their feet. She grinned broadly, fluttering her eyelashes demurely as she leaned closer to him. "Let me tell you a little secret." She purred, making him lean in eagerly. Her fist met his jaw with a loud crack of flesh and bone, and he found himself rocketing backwards, hitting the bar as he caught himself with his arms before he could crash to the ground.
Mistlynn growled, glaring down at the man as her dwarven companions where instantly at her side, fuming at the audacity of the drunken man.
"Your fortunate she got to you before we did!" Fili spat, his eyes flashing with rage. The man spat out blood onto the floor and slowly stood up, bringing himself and his comrades to their full height. Mistlynn and the dwarves found themselves looking up at 5 enraged men who towered over them, clenching their teeth and fists ready and eager for a fight.
"Well, I'll hand it to ya lass, ya sure know how ta pick em." Dwalin growled as he rolled his shoulders and neck, preparing himself for the inevitable brawl.
"No kidding Mist. They are the biggest men in here." Kili grumbled as he and Fili tried to grab and pull her behind their group.
Mistlynn growled, pulling her arm free of Kili's grasp. "You know what they say the bigger they are the harder they fall."
*Thorin*
It had been a peaceful, uneventful walk. The council meeting had dragged on for hours, not that he had paid attention to the insufferable bickering of the counselors. When Dwalin told him they were meeting up for drinks later that evening he agreed to go. It would be good to get out and away from his duties. He needed some perspective from outside the mountain.
As he neared the pub, he heard the faint sound of yelling and wood splintering and glass shattering. The heavy door flew open, and some drunk men stumbled out, eager for escape. "Damn dwarves." One of them slurred drunkenly as he stumbles off into the darkened streets.
Alarmed, he rushed towards the door and yanked it open. Inside was complete mayhem. His friends were in the middle of a full throwdown, with four of the tallest men he had seen here in Dale. His nephews were brawling with an even bigger brute. He watched in shock as Fili was thrown across the room while with his other arm pinned Kili to the top of the table.
He hears a fierce cry "Let go of him you lummox!" Mistlynn jumped from the top of the bar counter and onto the back of the man, gripping him into a lethal chokehold. Kili lasheed out, kicking the guy in the gut making him stumble back. The man let out a choked growl and managed to get enough force to throw her over his shoulders and into a charging Fili, making them crash into a table and breaking it.
"ENOUGH" Thorin roared across the bar. Instantly the bar fell silent except for the few remaining tankards falling to the ground and shattering. "Sar em Gabura! What do you think you are doing? Dwarves! We are leaving! Master Barkeep, I apologize for the imposition. Take this as a token of my apologies." Thorin threw a satchel of coins larger than Mistlynn had ever seen on the closest table, while giving all in their party a deep glowering look of anger. "Let's go. NOW!"
Searing satisfaction flashed across Mistlynn's face as she saw the face of the man who groped her, broken and bruising. "That will be painful for weeks." She thought smugly to herself as she sauntered past him, a smirk on her lips, looking him up and down while walking past.
Thorin is the last to leave, slamming the pub door closed. He gestures sharply for them to walk a ways down the street, following behind them like a thunderous raincloud. Mistlynn and his friends look at each other before they hear Thorin cursing under his breath. "Makk an E ha'ak!" he seethed before stopping and looking at them expectantly. "What was that in there? Are you trying to undo months of treaties I've fought to secure?! I would have never expected this behavior from the lot of you! Especially you Dwalin! Gloin?!"
It was Dwalin who stepped forward before Gloin could fire back his retort. "We 'ad no choice! Tha beardless sack of warg shite grabbed er ass! So we put em in their place!"
Thorin froze, his posture turning rigid while his eyes darkened with a deep running ire. "He did what?" His tone quiet yet deadly.
Kili wiped blood away from his busted lip with the back of his hand. "Bastard tried to proposition her and when she said no, he grabbed her." Kili growled.
Thorin looked at his comrades, all of them nodding their heads while cursing under their breath about Mistlynn's honor being fought for. He looked over at her, seeing her face flushed a deep red. If it was from the adrenaline of the fight or from embarrassment of being handled inappropriately, it didn't matter to him, that man deserved to have his hand removed for even daring to touch her. A rage welled up deep within, a feeling he hadn't felt since his battle with Azog when he had watched him attempt to run Fili through and throw his from the cliff to his death.
He turned abruptly and started to stalk back towards the pub. Mistlynn gasped and jumped in front of him, placing her hands firmly on his chest. "No! There is no need! You took care of him already!"
"No need? He dared lay his hand on you!" He seethed.
Mistlynn couldn't hide the frustration and confusion that flashed across her face. "I defended myself, I don't need you to step in!"
Thorin's nostrils flared with surging anger, her nonchalant attitude about being groped by a filthy barfly infuriated him. It was as if it was a daily occurrence, something to shrug away and dismiss. The audacity this dam possessed, not letting him defend her honor was driving him mad. "You were supposed to be making sure she was alright, not taking her to unsavory pubs." He spat as he turned to his nephews, needing to project his ire on someone other than the vixen standing resolutely before him.
"It was hardly an unsavory pub." Kili argued irritably. "We were having a grand time until he stepped out of line."
"Who do you think you are? Telling me where I can and cannot go?" Mistlynn seethed.
He pointedly ignored her and tried to storm off, angering her even more as she rushed to keep up with him, baiting him with more demands.
Fili and Kili looked uncertain as they watched her run off after their uncle. They look back at their friends, who were merely shaking their heads.
"Worry not lads. It's all part of it. Figuring one another out. Laying out the boundaries." Gloin assured them. "You should've seen Gemlinn and I when we first started courtin."
"They are not courting yet!" Fili objected. Bofur, Bifur and Nori all laugh as Gloin patted Fili on the shoulders.
Dwalin just rolled his eyes. "Young pups."
"Oh, don't you worry, Auntie and Uncle are just having a little spat. They will work it out soon!" Bofur snickered as he wiggled his brows suggestively.
*Mistlynn*
Mistlynn stepped in front of him. "What gives you the right to dictate what I can and cannot do?! Why do you keep ignoring me!" She hissed, cutting him off his escape path.
Thorin's eyes darkened as he looked down at her, his chest heaving as he leaned down closer to her. "I have every right. Including not having to acknowledge your questions." He growled, his voice deep and dark, making her shiver at his tone.
"I am not one of your subjects you can boss around!" She stomped her foot forcefully into a shallow puddle while poking him in the chest with her finger for emphasis.
"If I say you are not to go out then you are forbidden to do so!" He stepped forward, as if daring her to push her finger in even deeper into his muscular chest.
"I will do as I please!" she shrieked while trying to ignore the involuntary shudder that ran down her spine at his predatory glare that held her in place.
She didn't have a chance to react as he grabbed her arms quickly, picking her up and slamming her against the back of the building as if she weighed nothing. She felt the rough, damp stone of the wall seep through her shirt, making her body tremble. It took her a second to realize just how close he was to her. His chest pressed firmly against her, his body heat seeping into her chest and belly making her heart pound rapidly in complete synchronization with his.
His scent was distinctive and intoxicating, mixed notes of heady warmth, earthy tobacco, and the smoking embers of a fire; along with something unknown to her, masculine was the only word that she could think of.
Her eyes trailed from his slightly parted lips to his eyes, stormy and dark with anger and something she couldn't name. She had seen what lust does to the eyes, she saw the effects of it in the eyes of the brute from the pub, but this was something akin to deep emotion, raw and powerful.
She found it hard to swallow, her breath catching at the intensity of his gaze and aura. His hands gripped her wrists firmly, holding her steady, as if she would be capable of walking away from him in this moment, when she couldn't even form a single cohesive thought.
"You're so bloody infuriating." He rumbled through his chest, his tone deeper than she thought possible.
She raised her chin higher, trying to maintain a defiant air; truthfully, she was struggling to keep her wits about her. "Only for you." It was a hushed whisper, her eyes fluttering closed as she felt his nose brush hers, their lips hovering.
He let out a distraught growl before he crashed his lips upon hers, demanding and passionate as he stole her breath away from her. One hand moved from her wrist to her face, his thick fingers tangling into her wild silvery locks, forcing her head to tilt and allow him to deepen their kiss.
This kiss was unlike anything she had ever experienced, making fire sear through her body to create a molten pool between her legs as he devoured her, her knees threatening to buckle at any moment as she whimpered with pleasure and need. Her free hand slipped over his muscular shoulders and into his thick wavy mane, pulling and grounding herself closer wantonly. It was overwhelming, the ravenous intensity of craving to claim all of him, as if she was intoxicated with his very heady essence.
In an instant, his hands were gripping her hips and raising her up, causing her legs to instinctively part and wrap around his waist. Their kisses became frantic, knowing that time stood against them. Thorin's strong hands caressed her hips, then slid up under her shirt to cup the curve of her breasts, making Mistlynn shamelessly moan into his mouth as if begging him to give her more. Her fingers clench around his neck while moving her wet kisses down his throat and back up to his lips, encouraging Thorin to rock her into the wall, triggering her back to arch into his hard erection where she so desperately needed him most.
Suddenly, Thorin pulled back to rest his forehead against hers. Her eyes flutter open to see that his are still shut tightly. "Thorin." She whispered softly, moving her hand to cup his jaw while she nuzzled her nose against his. He slowly opened his hypnotic eyes, and she was caught off-guard with the intensity of affection and terror that was a tempest in his crystal blue depths.
He leaned into her palm as he let out a few ragged breaths, savoring the feeling of her warm fingers brushing against his tingling skin, stroking his bearded cheek with the most intimate touch he had ever felt. He swallowed thickly as he gently lowered her back onto unsteady legs He raised a hand to cup the back of hers, grasping it gently to remove it from his face and back to her side. He squeezed her hand, as if desperately trying to ground himself before letting out a low growl as his eyes snapped shut, effectively closing her off from seeing his inner demons that were threatening to pull him under. He pulled back swiftly as he turned quickly on his heel and stormed off into the night before Mistlynn could register what had happened.
She was left reeling and trembling against the cold stone of the wall. Her senses became heightened to the point of dizzying clarity. The sound of water dripping into the puddles gathered along the cobblestone alleyway echoed deafeningly around her as his intoxicating smell faded, overtaken by the smell of rain, damp earth, and stale ale mixed with other vile liquids that flooded her nostrils. It made it seem as if he had been a ghost, that he had never been there at all.