THank you for your reviews LadyHuggins and MrsTChrist! Things are starting to ramp up! Hope this chapter doesnt disappoint.

Happy reading!

Chapter 10

Dis found her brother in the courtyard, sitting on the bench underneath the blossoming apple tree that their grandmother planted shortly after her and Thror had married. He was lost in his own thoughts, as he fidgeted with something small in his hands.

She approached silently, observing him. He looked pained, fighting some internal war with himself.

"It pains me to see you this way, especially after seeing how you two danced together. I haven't seen you smile or laugh this much since before Smaug, when our parents and Frerin were still alive." Her voice was gentle yet firm, breaking him from his trance.

He glanced up at her as she approached, but quickly looked away, unable to respond. It was just too painful to let it fully resurface.

She sat next to him, her shoulder touching his. "When I met Vili in that market, I knew he was my One. He knew as well, the moment he looked into my eyes, He was charming, over the moon he had found me. I wasn't so sure; I was afraid of such a momentous commitment. So, I ran. And I avoided him for months, until I couldn't bear to be apart from him any longer. It felt like my very soul was being ripped in two."

Thorin looked over at her in surprise. "I had no idea. I just thought you guys met and that was that."

Dis laughed softly, her smile was bittersweet as her eyes momentarily focused on that past time. "No. And now looking back I'm angry with myself for wasting that precious time. For fighting something that I should have just embraced. We are mortal Thorin, we don't have the luxury of forever. We must grab on tightly to our happiness and enjoy it until the very last."

Thorin shook his head, looking away from her and looking out into the night, feeling that long seeded guilt stab at him that always accompanied a memory of Vili. "I'm not as strong as you Dis." He spoke softly. If she hadn't been studying his face, she wouldn't have been able to hear him. "I saw what losing Vili did to you, the pain you went through. I also remember what it did to Adad, losing Amad the way he did. I couldn't survive that. I would beg for death."

Dis put her arm around her brother's shoulders. "I can see how it would look like that from the outside, but I can tell you that I wouldn't trade one second with him despite all that pain. I'd rather treasure the love and memories I have of him than to have never loved him at all. And I know that if Adad were here, he would tell you the same thing."

"Mistlynn*

She needed air. The feasting hall had grown hot and thick, and she had found herself becoming lightheaded. The emotional whiplash she had received throughout the evening hadn't helped either. She found herself on the top of an intricately carved stone staircase that led down into a beautiful courtyard. The moon was shining brightly in the sky, making the water spewing from the fountains sparkle. There was a cloud of light pink blossoms floating above a thick gnarled trunk. At its base she saw Thorin and Dis. She was hugging her brother, their heads dipped towards each other in a private conversation.

She flushed, angry with herself for imposing on such a private moment. She turned abruptly to leave, but in her haste the many layers of her dress twisted about her ankles. She was already unstable wearing the new heeled slippers, with an undignified yelp, she found herself falling and rolling down the steps, landing in a heap of silk and tulle.

She lay there, gasping as she stared up at the night sky, not quite believing the fact she just fell down the flight of stairs, in front of Thorin and Dis no less, "There is no possible way that just happened." She whispered to herself as the gravity of it started to sink in.

She turned slightly, hoping that they had not noticed but instead found that she had landed right next to the bench, both Thorin and Dis looking directly at her with a mix of concern and amusement on their faces. "This…is not…happening." She whined as she grabbed the top layer of her skirt and slowly pulled it up to cover her burning face.

Dis chuckled and patted her brother on his knee. "And on that note, I'll leave you to it." She stood up, brushing out her skirt and walking gracefully away. "I shall see you tomorrow for tea Mistlynn." She called over her shoulder as she made her way back to the feasting hall, the sounds of the gathering still echoing out into the night.

Her face remained hidden from Thorin as she continued to lay there unmoving. She heard him chuckle. "Are you alright? Do you need assistance in getting up?"

"No, I am right where I intended to be. Stargazing and all that implies."

"Through the skirt of your dress? I've never seen one stargaze in such a manner."

"You should try it sometime."

"I'm not one for dresses so I will take your word for it." Thorin slowly pulled the fabric from Mistlynn's tight clutches, chuckling to himself silently, "Mistlynn let me help you up, I promise the bench is much better for stargazing."

"No please, I already feel like dying, just leave me here. I will melt into the earth much easier this way."

Thorin laughed uproariously, his eyes twinkling with mirth with her unhindered honesty. It was just as refreshing as her very presence was.

"Laughing at me will not improve this situation or cause me to join you on the bench any sooner." Came her petulant retort, her voice wavering with ill-concealed embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, I truly don't mean to laugh. Will you please join me? If you don't, I will be forced to join you on the ground."

Mistlynn let out a huff but didn't move, she didn't know how at this point. Tulle was so entwined around her feet she knew it would be impossible to unravel on her own.

"Alright then I guess I am joining you!" Thorin let out a grunt as he rose from the bench and then, much to her surprise, he laid on the ground with his head next to hers, clasping his hands over his stomach "I'm not sure the view is much better from the ground, but I do say it is cooler down here after the heat from the feasting hall."

"My feet are tangled and my arse hurts, I can't get up." She finally confessed after a brief silence; her voice contrite.

"I know." Was his simple responsible. She felt some of her wall's crumble as they lay there next to each other, listening to each other's breaths and their heartbeats harmonize as one.

"Would you like help?" The low timbre of his voice washed over her, drawing her in like a moth to an irresistible flame.

"Yes…if it is not too much trouble?" She whispered, trying to disguise the fact she was near tears.

"I am known to be quite agreeable…when one is not screaming at me, that is." His lips twisted up into a playful smirk. It felt good, to allow this side of him to reveal itself after lying dormant for so long.

Mistlynn let out a truly genuine laugh, her embarrassment slowly washing away and being replaced with the intense attraction that pushed her to gravitate towards him. She liked this side of him, and she was hungry for more. "A girl does not like being chased, she may like being pursued but chased is completely unwarranted."

"What do you call it when she leaps off a 12 story balcony slicing through a banner, running through the halls wreaking havoc and holding dwarves at knife point? Just a typical midweek day for you?"

"I apologized for that, I'll have you know! I had just been attacked by a band of Orcs, creatures I've not once encountered, and was in a strange place if you remember correctly. I feel a little grace should be given to that situation." She sniffed delicately, desperately wanting that tense day of their meeting to be a distant memory.

"Well, I guess I could be persuaded if I was given the proper motivation." His voice deepened as he baited her further, truly enjoying their easy flowing banter.

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm not very good at being a female. Dresses and heels are death traps. My table manners are atrocious. And I never say the right thing! What makes you think I know how to properly motivate anyone?"

He turned his head to look at her, his gaze softening. He reached his hand over and touched hers gently before threading his fingers through hers. Her hand fit perfectly into his, and he felt another missing piece of his soul slide into place. She turned to face him, her eyes wide both in surprise and nervousness.

"I have the distinct feeling you can do whatever you put your mind to." He breathed, his words earnest.

Before she could come up with a response he rolled onto his side and pushed himself up. He placed her hand he held over his shoulder before scooping her up effortlessly. She gasped at the sensation, looking up at his face as he gently cradled her in his arms. A fuzzy memory of him holding her the same way the night he had rescued her, his enticing eyes boring into hers. She had felt it, even then, this gut-wrenching pull to him.

He sat her down tenderly on the bench, leaving his hand on the curve of her low back as he helped straighten out the voluminous skirt of her dress. She sighed in relief once her legs were free and kicked the infernal shoes off for good measure.

Her heart was once again racing at his proximity, his hand burning her skin as it rested on her. She looked up at him, to see that he hadn't taken his eyes off her. Azure again crashing with jade.

"You asked me earlier what was happening." His voice was thick with heady emotion, making her tremble against his touch. She nodded, unable to find her voice.

"I've been trying to fight this." He rumbled, holding her gaze captive. "But now I just find myself falling into you with all that I am. You are who I've been waiting for my entire life." His other hand came up to cup her jaw, making her eyes flutter as she leaned in closer to him.

"Are you saying that you think I am your One?" She breathed, still unable to look away from him, so lost in the endless sea that were his eyes.

"You are my One. I knew the moment I first looked into your eyes; I was just too stubborn to accept it. " There was no doubt in his strong voice. His thumb traced her cheekbone, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

"We were told that having a 'One' was a thing lost and buried with our ancestors." She swallowed thickly. A flash of panic crossed his eyes, fearing this was a rejection. That was not what she wanted; not what she was trying to convey. She brought her hand up and ran her fingers into his well-groomed beard. "All I know is that you are the only one to have ever set my soul on fire. I cannot fathom living a life without you in it. That's why I've stayed. I can't bring myself to leave you."

"M'eudail." He breathed, a small smile played across his lips as he nuzzled her nose with his while pulling her head closer, his hand moving to the back of her head, finally sinking his fingers into her silky curls. He kissed her gently at first, a sharp contrast to their first kiss before he slid his tongue along her bottom lip, as if seeking permission.

She obliged eagerly, one hand grasping his hair tightly while using the other to move onto his lap, anchoring herself firmly to his chest. "Damned dress." She growled into his mouth as she struggled to sit fully on his lap, the layered skirt was preventing her from getting the closeness she had been craving since their first kiss.

Thorin's chest rumbled with a chuckle as she tried to squirm closer to him. "I am quite partial to this dress." His voice was husky as he peppered kisses along her jaw and down her neck.

Her eyes rolled back as she hummed, enjoying the chills he sent through her body with just his lips. "It allows me to pay certain parts of your body special attention."

She never realized how sensitive her breasts could be until he started to lavish attention upon them. She gasped, a jolt of fire shooting to that deep place between her thighs, his hand grasping her breast through her dress. Her chest heaved as he licked and nipped back up her neck.

Her grip tightened in his hair, making him growl and lunge for her lips. His blood was boiling with lust. He knew he had to slow it down, they had a lot to talk about, no matter how badly he craved her. He brought his hands up to cup her face, and slowed down their kiss, softening it.

"Even though this pains me…" he whispered against her lips, "We should probably discuss some things before we get too ahead of ourselves."

Mistlynn breathed deeply through her nose in resignation as she rested her forehead against his. She was on her knees, since her dress wouldn't let her sit fully in his lap, making it to where he had to look up at her. Not that either was complaining. His hands slid down to her lower back, his thumb teasing the dimples at the base of her spine where the curve of her butt was evident.

"I suppose your right." She sighed, "Even though I do prefer kissing you over talking. I feel like we would agree more if we did nothing but kiss."

"So much progress made, then you say things like that." He cocked his eyebrow, his stern tone not reaching his laughing eyes. "What should we do about that?"

She started to massage her fingers across the back the of head and neck, making him groan and rest his head against her chest. "Minx." He grumbled while tightening his arms around her middle, pulling her closer against him. "You don't play fair."

"Never said I did." She giggled. He could only imagine the cat like grin that shaped her mouth.

"I'm going to have my hands full with you, I can already tell." He mumbled into her chest, before playfully nipping the top of her breast, making her squeak in mock indignation.

"Two can play at that game." He grinned at the sound of her laugh, his hands quickly grabbing her butt and squeezing, making her arch up into him in surprise before laughing and smacking him playfully on the shoulder. If he was fortunate enough to spend the rest of his days making her laugh, like he was now, he would never want for anything.

He reached one hand into his pocket, pulling out the small item he had been fidgeting with earlier when Dis had found him. He held it up, so that Mistlynn could see. Her eyes widened when she recognized what it was. He smiled, relieved that she knew the significance of this hair bead.

"This was my mother's." His voice was soft. "My father crafted it for her when they announced their betrothal. It is mithril and sapphire with the runes of my house, of the line of Durin."

Mistlynn swallowed thickly, tears gathering in her eyes.

"I am almost 200 years old, and I have done nothing but fight my way through life. And now that I have found you, I know that all that fighting was meant to lead me to you." He paused and wiped away a tear that escaped and slid down her cheek. "Will you do me the honor of letting me braid this in your hair? So that the world can see that it has always been you that was meant to be my Queen?"

She laughed breathlessly before leaning down and kissing him passionately. "Only if you wear one of mine." She whispered in-between kisses. She abruptly pulled back, biting her bottom lip nervously. "It isn't made of anything special." She stammered. "It's made of ivory and mother of pearl. They were made for my mother by my father when they were betrothed as well."

Thorin kissed her gently. "I would be honored to wear it, and I will treasure it above all other jewelry I own."