Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/9213695.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      F/M
  Fandom:
      The_Hobbit_-_All_Media_Types
  Relationship:
      Kíli_(Tolkien)/Tauriel_(Hobbit_Movies), Bilbo_Baggins/Thorin_Oakenshield,
      Fíli_(Tolkien)/Sigrid_(Hobbit_Movies), Dwalin/OFC, Bombur/OFC
  Character:
      Bilbo_Baggins, Tauriel, Fíli, Kíli, Thorin_Oakenshield, Dwalin_(Tolkien),
      Balin_(Tolkien), Ori_-_Character, Dori, Nori, Óin, Glóin, Gimli, Bifur,
      Bofur, Bombur, Dís, Smaug
  Additional Tags:
      Female_Bilbo_Baggins/Thorin_Oakenshield, Female_Bilbo, Alternate_Universe
      -_Vikings, Sex, Love, Violence, Angst, All_Human, Gore, Revenge
  Stats:
      Published: 2017-01-05 Updated: 2018-03-17 Chapters: 34/? Words: 231225
****** Capture The Queen ******
by ValkyrieM
Summary
     Queen Belledonna Baggins II, wife of the bastard King Smaug, has been
     taken by the heathen longships. She has been ripped from one
     nightmare of a life and thrust into another. Follow her and others as
     they battle for survival, revenge and, if the Gods allow it, love.
***** Belle *****
Chapter Notes
     This is a fic I have been wanting to write for a while now but have
     not been able to until now.
     As some of you may know I am a huge history nerd so I will try to
     keep this historically accurate as far as Viking era culture goes
     while still intertwining some of the characteristics of characters in
     The Hobbit.
     The language of the Vikings or Norse people I have heard is closest
     to modern day Icelandic. I do not speak much Icelandic so most of the
     translations are thanks to the internet and friends. If the grammar
     is atrocious I do apologize and please forgive me! :)
     Eventually, everything will be in English once all of the characters
     understand the same language.
     I am unsure as to how often I will updating this, it could be every
     few days, every week or every month.
     I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing
     it.
     Comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.
     *I do not own any of the characters from The Hobbit, I simply enjoy
     playing with them*
Belledonna’s life had gone from bad to worse in the matter of a few weeks time.
‘How had this happened?’she grumbled internally.
She had once lived a perfectly charmed life. Sure, she was a bit of an outcast,
constantly looked down upon for not being a proper lady but who could blame her
for not wanting to be a perfect noblewoman when the life of a lady was so
utterly mundane? She preferred to run through the woods and climb the trees or
steal wooden swords from the servant boys and have imaginary sword fights.
Well, that hadn’t happened for quite some time. Lately, her life had
been...constricting.
Belledonna was the only child of Bungo son of Mungo. Belle’s mother died in
childbirth delivering her brother and heir to the throne, Bilbo, neither
survived. Father was a good king. He died alongside his men in the Battle of
Bree. Those had been tough years living without her father. She was not given
rule being a female, so her cousin Otho was given her father’s Kingdom. He was
indifferent towards her mostly, but she was important to him for one thing and
one thing only; she could be married off. Father would have convened with her
on her choices for marriage, but Father was no more, god rest his soul. Belle’s
cousin was now in charge of her marrying fate with her coming of age that
previous spring. She was sold for the highest price, like precious cattle.
Her new husband, King Smaug, was an old man. He also happened to be her
father’s estranged first cousin once removed and the King with which her
cousin, Ootho, desperately wanted an alliance. She thought that had been the
worst day of my life, the day she was married off to the cruel old King. But
nay, that had not been it, for here she sits tied to the bench of a Norseman
boat, headed to a fate worse than death. She wished they had killed her, oh how
she wish it, they had slaughtered plenty of others, why not her too?
‘Oh yes that is right I have a pretty face’ 
She had never cursed it more in her entire life than she did at this moment.
She had hoped that when she had fought back against the Norsemen that had piled
into the castle, that they would not deem her worth their time to take but they
found it...exciting which horrified her beyond belief.
Her day had started like it had the past moon she had been in this wretched
castle. Belle awoke in a bed she was usually forced to share with the old
bastard that was called her husband. A smile had graced her lips when she
remembered he was not here. This was his leisure castle, he had duties to
attend to in the heart of his kingdom. The wretched old bastard king had left
two days previous and would not be returning for many weeks. The day Belle had
heard the news she had locked herself in her personal study and jumped for joy.
She had freedom, at least for a little while, from the constant hungry eyes,
groping hands and evil deeds of King Smaug. A break from the “Belledonna, you
will submit to my will” or pulling of her long curly locks. A break from having
to set her jaw and attempt to shake him off every day. A break from attempting
to drown him in enough liquor to leave her body be for at least one night more.
She was quite proud of herself for keeping him from her more often than not.
Belle was getting a break from watching him shove disturbing amounts of greasy
cooked bird into his gullet and wiping his fingers on his silk clothing or her
nice dresses. She could not be happier about him being absent.   
On the morning the Norsemen came Belle had awoken with the light of the sun as
usual and went about the duties of a noble woman. She had went to prayer, then
breakfast then performed her duties at court and was about to take a walk
through the halls to avoid the high-born men and women that she never quite fit
in with, even if she was their queen, when the horn was blown signaling the
Norsemen had come. Many things ran through her mind at once:
‘Is this my chance at true freedom from this god forsaken place? Freedom by the
blade of a Norseman ax? Do I lock myself in the main hall with all the other
women, children and weak noblemen? Or do I take up arms and fight, fight like I
had when I was a child playing with wooden swords?”
Her decision was made for her when a Norseman arrow shot through the window and
pierced the neck of the soldier attempting to corral her and a few other women
towards the main hall. She grabbed the fallen soldiers sword and finished his
work by pushing the other women towards the main hall. Belle stood in front of
the doors and waited for the Norsemen to come. No armor on her body, wearing
the tight corset and silk dress she absolutely despised. Belle much preferred
her cotton dresses that could stretch, she could actually move in those and
right about now she would kill to be wearing one of those. She had little time
to even get a good grip on the sword before the Norsemen broke down the door
and flooded inside. They were far bigger than even the tales from neighboring
villages and kingdoms had spoken of. Her small frame was positively dwarfed by
their large size. The sword in her hands no longer seemed sufficient against
these men. The few guards that were ahead of Belle were cut down with little
resistance. The large man at the front stepped towards her and went to poke at
her with his broadsword, not in a way to kill her but to test her. She swung
her blade at his sword and knocked it away from her person. A large smile
spread onto his bearded face making him look younger in a way but no less
frightening. The tiny woman snarled at him and dodged another prod from his
weapon.
“Hinn munu skemtiligr, já? (this one will be entertaining, yes?)”He chuckled to
those behind him.
She did not understand his words but Belle could tell they were none too lovely
by the chuckles and sneers on the others faces.
“Fagr til (pretty too).”another said and reached out to touch her curly hair.
Belle brought the sword down onto his arm hoping to cut it off. It cut into his
leather bracer causing him to retract his hand with a hiss.
“Don’t touch me...please.” her tone was menacing but her words were polite. She
was so focused on the Norsemen in front of her that she did not notice the one
creeping behind her short frame. A sharp cracking noise sounded and then deep
darkness engulfed her.
===============================================================================
 
That is how she awoke, hands and feet bound propped up against the side of the
Norseman ship tumbling through the seas. Her head ached horribly, as did her
entire body. She cautiously took in her surroundings, it was near dusk meaning
the tiny woman had at least been out a few hours if not an entire day. There
was no land in sight. Meaning Belle’s fears were confirmed, they were taking
her back with them. Many of the monsters were asleep, a few remained alert
watching over the boat. She wondered why she was the only one taken. The
Norsemen were notorious for ripping good Christians from their lands and
selling them as slaves, at least that is what she had been told.
Belle thought of the tales her people frequently spoke of regarding the
Norsemen. She knew she was headed towards slavery or servitude. The Norsemen
did not treat their slaves like the English did, they were crueler and used
them for more than laboring in the fields or in their homes...they used them in
their beds as well. Belle involuntarily shuddered at the thought. These beings
were so much bigger than her, they were bigger than most of the males of her
people as well. The thought of being another bed slave, especially for people
this large, is what caused her next action.
She had been working the knots that had kept her small hands tied until it was
loose enough to squeeze her hands out of. Belle had to suppress a hiss of pain
when the rope rubbed harshly against her already chafed wrists. By the time she
had loosened the knots on her hands she was having a hard time seeing due to
the lack of sunlight. The only guide for her actions was the light of the moon.
Belle’s green eyes darted around looking at the Norsemen, none seemed to be
paying any attention to her. She quickly shed the last of the ropes around her
bare feet and jumped over the side of the boat trying to make as little splash
as possible. Her skirts were rapidly filling with water and dragging her down
deeper into the chilly water. She fought her body's instincts to swim to the
top of the water. She had never been swimming in her life, she had no idea how,
but her legs practically begged her to kick to the surface. She ignored them as
well as the burning beginning in her lungs as she sank towards the bottom of
the ocean. Belle had heard of fishermen drowning to death and had always
thought of it as a horrible and violent way to die. But now that she was
experiencing it, she found it rather...peaceful. The movement of the water
rocked her like babe being rocked against her mother's breast.
She thought of her mother and father as she sank deeper into the black waters.
Her father, the short, slightly rotund king that had been so loving and kind to
her. He had put up with her wild ways because her mother enjoyed it so. Belle’s
mother also named Belledonna, was a wild woman in her days as was her daughter.
She had been known to traipse through the forest wearing trousers under her
skirts while gathering all kinds of forest goods to eat along the way. She was
frequently referred to as a savage due to her familiarity with the forest and
all its bounty. The blonde haired woman had eventually tucked away her trousers
when Bungo had begun to show attention to her. The two were a comical sight for
many with Belledonna being of equal height if not taller than Bungo. But he
loved her dearly and she him. At the time Bungo was only a prince and the
youngest prince, all thought he would not even come to bear the crown, but they
were wrong. After Bungo had put it all on the line to marry Belledonna the
first, a sickness rushed through Yorkshire or just “the shire” as most called
it, leaving Bungo as King and the wild, tall Belledonna as Queen. Belle
recalled her loving mother and father. She closed her eyes and attempted to
remember what they looked like for she would be seeing them soon no doubt.
Strong hands gripped her arms, she felt like she was being pushed towards the
surface but she was far too gone to care. Belle had drifted into semi-
unconsciousness long before the hands had gripped her. She saw the kind smile
of her mother with her emerald green eyes and blonde hair. Belle looked towards
her father next, he looked angry, his ice blue eyes pulled into a deep
murderous gaze.
‘Fa ther didn’t have blue eyes…’Belle thought.
Then her vision cleared and her fuzzy mind plummeted to earth. She squeezed her
eyes shut once again to try to will herself to death's embrace.
“Hví eigi fararleyfi inn heimskr fljóð við Ægir? (Why not leave the foolish
woman to Ægir)” Belle cursed her luck when she heard the harsh Norse tongue
spoken above her.
“Gothi Grey segja Inn heimskr fljóð tilkváma, Dwalin. (Priest Grey says the
foolish woman is important, Dwalin)”A deep rumbling voice answered very near
her face.
She was afraid to open her eyes again and hoping she wouldn’t have to until a
sharp slap to the side of her face awoke her. It was not a malicious move, just
one to rouse her, but she could tell he had not expected it to throw her head
to the side the way it had. Nor did he expect her bright green eyes to flash
open wide while she answered with a slap of her own. Her hand connected sharply
with his bearded cheek but he did not move nor make a noise of any kind. He
only narrowed his eyes at her and grasp her wrist roughly.
“Oh dear. I am so sorry. It was a reflex, and you did slap me first. But I
should have used words instead of lashing out.” Belle mumbled.
The raven-haired Norseman stared at her with those icy eyes as if trying to
figure her out. Her hand was yanked out of his by the heavily tattooed Norseman
beside him. The action ripped a scream out of her throat, which was quickly cut
off by his large hand over her small mouth.
He looked strangely down at her neck and began to pull at the chain fastened
there. The silver pendant was something her grandmother had passed down to her
through her mother. It was a simple piece of silver that had been bent into a
circular shape with curled ends. Her grandmother, Adamanta, had sworn it was a
symbol of protection, she called it a Troll Cross. Belle had always scoffed at
the notion but wore it nonetheless. It made her think of her loving, vivacious
grandmother. She missed the woman with the deep wrinkles and far away stare as
if always looking for a ship upon the horizon.
“Hvar gerði yð ná sási (where did you get this)? Stal henni (stole it)?”the
dark-haired Norseman growled with narrowed eyes.
Belle raised an eyebrow at his accusatory tone. She didn’t know what he had
said but she was not entirely thrilled by his tone.
“Fjarri er hun verða háski, Dwalin. Gothi Grey bjóða det. Fá hana í þurr föt
(By no means is she to be harmed, Dwalin. Gothi Grey commanded it. Get her into
dry clothes)” the voice of the raven haired Norseman called out when he
realized she did not understand his previous question.
The tattooed Norseman sounded superbly annoyed by whatever he said making Belle
shiver. She was not sure if the shiver was caused by his words or because of
the ice cold swim she had just taken in the north sea. The large tattooed
warrior looked at her with impatience and began to pull at her silk dress. She
backed away from him as much as possible. He shook his head and rolled his eyes
before grabbing both her wrists with one large hand and began to pull the hem
of her dress up.
“Uh. No! No, thank you!” She screeched and kicked at him. He grunted but found
her fighting back slightly humorous, the evidence was the smirk on his face. “I
said no!” She screamed when he once again grabbed the hem of her dress and
began to pull it up exposing her legs and bare feet.
Another hand slapped over her mouth. “Hljóðr (quiet)”The raven-haired Norseman
was back. But was wearing far less clothing than he was when he pulled her out
of the water. He must have been in the middle of changing out of his sea soaked
clothing when he came over to shut her up. She shook her head in defiance and
scowled heavily at him. While still kicking her legs at the large tattooed
norseman. The raven-haired man rolled his eyes and then barked sharply to
someone at the front of the longboat. “Ori! Fili!”
A redheaded gangly norseman came stumbling from the front of the boat at the
raven-haired man's call, he was followed by a significantly bulkier Norseman
with golden blonde braided hair and bright blue eyes.
“Frændi Thorin (Uncle Thorin)” The blonde spoke with obvious annoyance at being
awoken.
“Segja at hende (Speak to her).”The raven-haired man demanded while waving a
hand in her general direction with an annoyed flair.
The redhead looked almost...shy? Belle was extremely confused by that but did
not have long to dwell on it before the blonde with the braids had caught her
attention by opening his mouth.
“Er...Dwalin...take…cloth?” the words were obviously foreign on his tongue but
he knew some words.
The redhead caught her eyes and nodded ever so slightly to keep her attention.
He placed his hand over his chest and patted it. “Ori.” his voice was
distinctly male but not too deep and heavily accented.
Belle nodded in acceptance of his words. Her eyes did not stay on him for long
because her wrists were still in the tight hold of the giant in front of her.
She looked like a small child compared to him.
Ori’s brown eyes were surprisingly kind, and Belle was momentarily lost in the
small comfort. He reached out a hand and patted the blonde on the chest.
“Fili.” The blonde didn’t seem too thrilled with the Ori giving her his name
but he didn’t voice his disapproval. Ori next patted the large tattooed
Norseman on the shoulder. “Dwalin.”
The large bald warrior shook his head in annoyance and huffed. “rás. ek gera
eigi ráð verða hér allr nótt, vitskertr. (hurry, I do not wish to be out here
all night, shortwit)”
Fili smirked at whatever the bald warrior said, Ori looked slightly scared and
uneasy speaking with the large warrior. The redhead looked around and found a
creme garment on the rowing bench behind him and held it up for her to see. It
looked like a wool dress, a blessedly dry wool dress.
“Dry cloth.” Ori said in English holding it up for her to see. “Dwalin help
with wet cloth.” He said pointing to her dress she was currently wearing and
shivering in.
“Well, why didn’t he just say that. For goodness sake.” Belle grumbled. “I can
do it myself.” She pinned Dwalin with a look that clearly demanded he release
her hands.
Ori smiled at her, it seemed he understood at least some of her words and he
translated them for the hulking warrior still holding her. “Will he please
release my hands?” Belle asked politely.
This time Fili was the one to translate to the bald warrior, it seemed the
blonde understood just didn’t know how to speak? Dwalin reluctantly released
her hands but seemed to be prepared to grasp her if she tried another drowning
stunt.
“Can you please turn around?” She asked and made a circular motion with her
pointer finger. Ori reddened slightly in the cheeks and translated to Fili and
Dwalin. Both looked at her and shook their heads, never taking their eyes off
of her.
“Yð er nakkvarr fangil. Fangi ikke eignask privatliv. (you are a prisoner.
Prisoners don’t get privacy)”  Dwalin growled at her but that frown then turned
into a smirk as he spoke to his friends. “ Det har været útarliga oflængi þar
ek eiga nakkvarr par af brjóst (besides it has been far too long since I have
seen a pair of breasts)”
Belle watched Ori turn a bright shade of pink, Fili chortle loudly and slapped
Dwalin on the back in agreement, she didn’t know for sure but she figured it
meant something inappropriate. Belle crossed her arms in front of her chest,
shook her head and pouted in defiance. A prisoner she may be, but she had not
changed into some wanton woman as soon as the Norsemen got their hands on her.
She was not prepared for the glinting of knives appearing in the blonde’s
hands. Dwalin grabbed her wrists with one hand again, covered her mouth with
the other while Fili moved behind her. She thought for sure she was going to
die, ‘He is going to slit my throat and there goes Belledonna Baggins’ she
squeezed her eyes shut as a ripping noise sounded. She had expected pain, but
no pain came. Her eyes popped open in surprise when she finally realized what
was happening. The blonde barbarian was cutting her silk dress off of her body.
Dwalin smirked at his foresight of covering the small woman’s mouth. She began
to scream and fight back.
“No fight. Cuts hurt.” Fili’s deep voice said from behind her.
She stilled slightly and then began to cry. The tears slipped down her face
spilling onto the tattooed hand of Dwalin. She was shaking, crying and
simultaneously wailing under the large man's hand.
“We won’t...hurt you.” Ori said in a thick accent, looking at her like he felt
horribly bad for her plight.
Fili finished cutting the dress and threw it down onto the bow of the longboat.
Next went her corset. The men had stared at it for an uncomfortable minute as
if wondering what in the world was around her body before Fili’s blade cut the
laces and it fell to the wooden floor. Then her chemise was next. She turned
her head down in shame and felt more tears flow. Belle waited for what was to
come next. She was sure the big one was going to rape her, bend her over the
boat and take her like a savage would. But he didn’t. He released her hands and
pushed the new dry rough garment into her hands before walking away. She peeked
open her eyes and saw Fili and Ori looking at her confused and slightly
worried. Belle quickly pulled the wool dress over her head and tried her best
to disappear within herself.
The raven-haired Norseman was back and speaking rapidly with the blonde one.
She absently wondered if they were related, they had a similar look about them
and seemed very familiar with one another. Belle assumed this one was the
leader of their venture, by the way the other Norsemen spoke to him and looked
at him with respect. He came up to her and eyed her critically, then quick as a
snake grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the center of the boat. Belle
attempted to fight his grasp, she truly did, but she was no match for the
muscled warrior. He was at least twice her size if not more.
‘How do they get so large?’ She wondered offhandedly.
The leader of the longboat practically threw her beside a dark haired viking
that looked extremely similar to the blonde Fili she had seen earlier and
barked words she didn't understand at him. She guessed he was telling the
younger Norseman to watch after her, at least she hoped that was it and nothing
malicious. He looked fearsome until he turned to look at her fully. His face
split into a large grin that had her practically swooning in her space.
“It should be a crime to be that attractive” Belle had not realized she had
spoken until the Norsemen gave her a confused look and said something in Norse.
She shook her head indicating she didn't understand him. He smiled again and
tapped his chest.
“Kili” his voice was deep, not as deep as the leaders but near it. His smile
was boyish but the rest of him looked like a seasoned warrior not truly giving
her a good estimate on age.
“Belledonna of Yorkshire, House of Baggins.” She answered formally. She was
nervous, scared out of her skull as to what they would do to her if they knew
she was a Queen. Death would be better than going back to Smaug she decided. So
she would keep her true status a secret.
Kili broke out into a large smile and tapped her on her chest harder than
necessary “Boggins” he seemed proud of himself.
“No, no, no. BAGGINS” she over enunciated the words hoping that would help.
The  Norseman made an “O” with his mouth as if coming to a great realization.
He placed a large hand on her shoulder; the hand practically engulfed her
shoulder entirely with its enormity compared to her small frame.
“Boggins” he nodded his head as if there was no way he got it wrong that time.
“B-aaaa-ggins” she corrected again.
“Ahhhhh Boggins!” He looked like an overly proud child. She thought perhaps he
was being serious until she heard snickers behind her and turned to see Fili
and another Norseman wearing a funny fur hat attempting to control their
chortles.
She frowned and crossed her arms in front of her in embarrassment. Belle never
did like being laughed at. When she looked back at Kili he was hiding laughter
behind his hand. She scowled darkly at him and attempted to shrink into
herself.
===============================================================================
 
It seemed like days later when the sun finally rose, Belle blinked into the
light that was rising. Her head was cushioned upon something soft and she felt
ridiculously warm. She opened her eyes in surprise and fear. Belle had thought
she was too afraid to sleep, but apparently not. She abruptly pulled away from
the being beside her but was anchored down by a large arm around her waist like
a vice grip. When she looked down she saw a hairy arm holding her in place.
Belle attempted to release the hold this Norseman had on her body but every
time she attempted to release his hold he held her tighter and mumbled
something in Norse. She blushed brightly when she realized he had her curled
against his front in a very intimate manner, at least it felt intimate to her.
She had never had anyone hold her this way, it was strange and embarrassing.
But there was no way she was going to get away with him holding onto her as
tight as he was. She decided to use this time to take in her surroundings.
She deduced she was on the thin floor of the boat, how she had gotten there was
a mystery to her. There were three Norsemen standing at the hull of the
longboat, the one in the middle was the leader, she still had not caught his
name. He was holding a piece of stone above his head. it was white in color but
more translucent than the opals she was used to seeing. To his left the young
blonde Norseman, Fili, was pointing towards the clouded sky. Dwalin was to the
right of the leader looking all around unimpressed and angry. She wasn’t sure
if that was just how he looked always or if he was truly angry. Movement out of
the corner of her eye caught her attention. She spotted Ori and another
redheaded Norseman speaking rapidly when a third man with hair so pale it
almost appeared gray came up to them and cut the conversation short. Ori
noticed her staring and gave her an apologetic smile. She found it strange, all
the tales of Norsemen had painted them as angry monsters without feelings and
it definitely did not make mentions of them being…’cuddlers’. Thinking of the
arms wrapped around her waist, she attempted to get away once again. Ori saw
her struggles and walked slowly up to her crouching down. He picked up the arm
holding her hostage and lifted it so she could wiggle out of the grasp of the
warm body behind her. When she finally stood and looked down she saw that it
was in fact Kili that had been holding her hostage for warmth. Ori quickly
shoved a bundle of furs into sleeping Kili’s arms to make up for the loss of
her body. The dark haired Norseman nuzzled his nose into the furs and curled
into a tighter ball.
‘That is sweet’Belle was immediately shaking her head at the ludicrous thought
that a Norseman, a heathen, could be sweet.
Belle stood awkwardly not sure what she should do with herself. There were many
pressing issues currently on her mind. The first being her rumbling stomach.
She covered it and winced at the extremely unladylike sound it made in its cry
for sustenance. A chuckle behind her had her turning around slowly afraid of
what she would find. On one of the rowing benches behind her was a large
redhead with a long braided beard. He had a kind smile, but she did not trust
it, he was a Norseman after all. He reached into a clay pot beside him and
pulled out a piece of dried fish. He extended it out to her and nodded.
Belle looked down at her feet, she did not want to take their food. She had
thought of starving herself to death if they would let her. She had a feeling
they wanted her for something and she was not too keen on finding out what. She
stepped away from him with her head down and shook it slightly. A hand grabbed
her wrist tightly, it was the dark-haired leader.
“Yð munu eta (you will eat)” He growled menacingly and took the food from the
large redhead and shoved it into her hands. “ Eða ek munu efla yð, fljóð (or I
will make you, woman)”. Belle  was not sure what he said but she wasn’t
entirely sure she wanted to find out. “ Tala henni, Ori (tell her, Ori)” The
raven-haired leader jerked her wrist again as if for emphasis when speaking to
the young redheaded Norseman.
“Thorin say, you must eat” Ori began and seemed ready to end it there but Fili
strutted up with a wicked smirk and added on. “Or he will make you.” he winked
at her making her shiver.
She nodded and shrunk away from the leader, Thorin. He let out a noise similar
to a growl and a disgusted grunt before throwing her arm down and walking back
to the front of the boat mumbling under his breath. BelleS thought about
dropping the food back into the pot once his back was turned but as she was
about to do just that a tentative hand grasped hers. Her eyes flashed to Ori’s
brown ones.
“No.” He swallowed audibly as if afraid to alert anyone to what she was doing.
“Eat...please”
Belle was physically stunned silent. A Norseman had said please. She nodded and
sat down on one of the benches to eat. She was nibbling on the dry salted fish
not sure what to do next when a warm arm wrapped around her. She winced heavily
and pulled away slightly, afraid they would strike her or rape her. Belle
peeked out the side of her eyes and saw it was her sleeping partner from
earlier. He had an arm wrapped snuggly around her and was eating his own bit of
dried meat.
“Ori, segðu henni hún fagr inn órr liónar váð (Ori, tell her she looks pretty
in our people’s cloth).”The dark-haired Norseman said with a cocky smile.
Belle looked towards where Ori was pinching the bridge of his nose. “Ori” Kili
prodded.
“Kili say...you look pretty in our people’s cloth” Ori said quietly.
The tawny haired English girl wasn’t sure what to feel. It had been a long time
since anyone had called her pretty and actually meant it. But she was
terrified. She did not want attention from any of the men aboard this boat. She
didn’t want any attention from any Norseman ever. Being a prisoner and all was
probably going to be better off if she remained unnoticed. But she had been
taught manners, her father had practically ingrained them into her very soul.
“Thank you.” She said quietly and took another bite of her food, shoving it all
in her mouth so she did not have to speak again. When Ori didn’t translate for
her she looked up at him and saw him glaring heavily at Kili.
“Master Ori. How do I say thank you in your tongue?” She asked quietly.
The redheaded Norseman was surprised by her request, it was evident in his
raised eyebrows. “Þakka þér”.
“Well then...Þakka þér” Belle said to him and then turned towards Kili
awkwardly, his arm still around her shoulders. “ Þakka þér”She gave him a timid
smile.
His answering grin she was sure would knock the wind out of a lesser woman, it
was a beautiful sight. He winked and nodded to her. “Ek njóta órr hǫfgi (I
enjoyed our sleep).”Kili said with a secret grin. He clearly enjoyed her deep
blush she now sported because he barked out a loud laugh. A slap to the back of
his head had him whipping around and shoving whoever it was backward.
“Fararleyfi henni missa, bróðir. Frændi lysta ætla mæla með yð. Fararleyfi
okkur” (Leave her be, brother. Uncle wishes to speak with you. Leave us.).”Fili
was shoving his brother out of the way and taking his seat beside Belle before
Kili could say anything.
The dark haired Norseman trudged up to the front of the boat and stood beside
his uncle as they spoke quietly. Belle desperately wished she could understand
them, she had always had a knack for languages and all things academic, it near
killed her not to be able to understand these giant men.
“Eat. Too small.” Fili said in his rough English and handed her some more fish
and a piece of some type of flat bread.
Belle begrudgingly ate the food and sat as quietly as possible watching all of
her capturers on the boat. There was the large redhead that seemed to be over
dispersing the food, he was interesting in his size because he was as wide as
he was tall, it was truly fascinating to her, she learned his name was Bombur.
The hatted dwarf that had been laughing at her and Kili’s “Boggins” exchange
was always found near Bombur. He had a dimpled smile and dark braids peeking
out under his fur hat. Belle thought his name was Bofur but she was not sure.
There was a copper-haired dwarf that looked similar to Ori but older. The only
words she thought that would describe him was..fidgety. His coal lined eyes
were constantly bouncing around the ship as well as the waters. His hands were
always twitching, making Belle nervous. The pale headed Norseman that had not
left Ori’s side was named Dori. He did not like Ori near Belle, she could tell
by the disapproving looks he kept shooting her. There were two older looking
men that had not come near her at all. They stayed at the opposite end of the
boat playing a game of what she thought was some sort of chess, but they were
playing with stones. One of the large men had auburn hair with beads in his
long beard. The other man had pale blonde hair that was littered with gray and
a completely gray beard. She idly wondered how old he was. No matter how old
any of them were they were entirely too large, too muscled and too loud for her
to relax even a little. Belle wondered what was the meaning behind their chosen
hairstyles if there was any. They all had some sort of braiding or beads in
their long hair.
The English girl wanted desperately to ask Ori what was going to happen to her,
but he always seemed corralled away by the pale blonde one. Fili sat dutifully
beside her and when she needed to use the latrine (bucket) in the back of the
boat he followed her. He had been kind enough to turn his back to her and block
her from view without being asked. She supposed that was a blessing from above.
The next two days passed in the same manner, she stayed silent, trying to find
a way out of this mess even if it meant taking her own life. It seemed they all
knew her thoughts because she was not allowed near the sides of the boat or any
sharp objects. She was given food she had to eat or Thorin, the leader,
threatened her. At night she shivered under the wool dress she was given until
her audible teeth chattering would cause Kili to pull her into his side. She
had attempted to protest and even fight back. He laughed and pulled her against
his body as if he could not even feel her shoving and clawing at his skin. He
would just hold her tight until she stopped squirming, murmur something in
Norse and close his eyes. Belle tried to wait until he fell asleep to wiggle
out of his grasp but it appeared he had an even tighter grip when he was
sleeping. She had thought at first he was going to grope her, rape her, or do
whatever he pleased to her body but he didn’t do any of that. He held her
against him for warmth and that was it. His hands stayed around her stomach
never venturing below or above. This confused her greatly but a lot of things
about the Norsemen confused her.
The first being they were not like Christians in their modesty. The Norsemen
had no modesty to speak of. Nudity was not an issue for them, this was proven
by them stripping down naked not caring about who may see them. Belle had been
attempting to disappear into thin air when Fili and Kili began arguing about
something and then proceeded to remove their clothes down to their skins and
jump into the sea to swim beside the boat. Belle had squawked loudly at seeing
their dangly bits so close to her face. That had caused an uproar throughout
the longboat. She hid her red face and kept her eyes trained on the wooden
floor of the boat. When she peeked up there was still laughter, even the leader
Thorin was laughing. Belle felt shame for the desire that this laughter caused
to course through her.
‘No, Belle girl. This is an evil heathen. They are going to sell you, hurt you
or kill you. He is not attractive even if his smile steals your breath from
your lungs...no! Get it together’she chastised herself.
At one point or another the Norsemen stripped down naked and jumped into the
waters to bathe or swim, which baffled the English girl who had heard how dirty
the heathens were. When Kili began to comb out his hair she was transfixed.
Each of them took turns with the comb or had a comb of their own and combed
through their long locks. These heathens were...surprising, to say the least.
They were not what she had been told they were…well that is not entirely true.
They were violent, rude and crass, even if she could not understand their words
she could tell by their hand gestures they were crude. She could still see her
guards being gutted or shot by these men when she closed her emerald eyes. So
she knew they were violent and willing to do whatever they needed to to get
what they wanted. Belle just didn’t know what they wanted with her. It was high
time she found out.
Fili was sitting closest to her on one of the rowing benches, he was sitting
closer than necessary, if she thought highly of him, which she didn't, she
would think he was sharing his warmth with her without being too intrusive.
“Fili?” She said quietly.
“What Baggins?” He asked her in a thick accent and turned his ice blue eyes on
her.
“ My name is Belle.” ‘ Queen Belle’she thought. She didn’t want to say it aloud
because what if they didn’t already know that? They would sell her back to
Smaug and she would rather die than go back. One way or another she would find
a way to escape from the heathens, whether into the woods or into the arms of
Jesus Christ.
Fili rolled his eyes “What, Belle?”
She swallowed harshly and tried to ignore the eyes from the other Norsemen
members around her. “What are you going to do to me?”
The blonde Norseman wrinkled his nose in confusion and looked towards a nearby
Ori who must have explained it to him in their tongue. Fili looked at her
critically before answering. “I don’t know.”
“I don’t know.”
Belle had not been expecting that answer. “You don’t know?”
“Gothi Grey will tell us.” He answered with a shrug of his shoulders and turned
his eyes back towards the foggy waters.
“Gothi Grey?” ‘what is a gothi grey? One of the heathen gods?’  she wondered.
Her questions were not answered because the fog had begun to clear like stage
curtains being pulled away from the water to showcase the homeland of the
Norsemen. They were entering a fjord. Belle felt her breakfast of dried meat
and flat bread creeping up her throat.
“Fjöll Blár (Blue Mountains)”Fili said reverently as they began to pull into
the port of their home.
***** Kili *****
Chapter Notes
     Some things to remember while reading this chapter:
     -Norse/Viking culture was different than English or Christian
     cultures. They raped and pillaged their way through many countries.
     It would be quite strange for a raider/Viking to not rape the women
     of the country they were currently invading. In multiple accounts
     from monks, scholars and religious figures they talk profusely about
     how violent and hostile the Viking people were.
     -As much as they were known for stealing women's virtue forcefully
     they also were known for stealing the hearts of women in other
     countries. There are multiple writings speaking of the Vikings
     attracting women with husbands and taking them back with them
     willingly as their own wives. There is archeological evidence
     supporting the assumption that Viking raiders were not necessarily
     racist when it came to taking wives. Meaning they had no qualms
     taking a wife from say France, England or Ireland instead of marrying
     a woman of Norse descent.
     -The characters in this story are extremely flawed as well as messy
     because humans and history are quite messy. So please understand
     while reading this that I am sticking as closely as possible with
     history's version of the Norse/Viking culture (Well as much as we
     know or can deduce).
     -Tauriel, I envision, is of Celtic descent. She is a little more
     vicious in this tale than in my other stories regarding her
     character. I hope you all like her or can learn to like her.
     -Tauriel is from the "Southern Islands" or Ireland. So she speaks
     modern Irish Gaelic. Again the translations are thanks to the
     internet and friends. So please excuse any grammatical errors and
     what not.
     I hope you enjoy this chapter.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Kili hopped from the longboat as they pulled into port. It felt good to be
home. He would never admit it because he was now a seasoned raider, but he had
missed his mother. She had stayed behind to rule in Thorin’s stead lest his
jarldom be overthrown and snatched up by those too afraid to kill him for his
throne. Kili stretched fully, pushing his fists towards the heavens. He heard a
satisfying pop as his shoulders and back released their tension. He would be
lying if he said this wasn’t by far the best raid he had been on. They did not
go after the gold, ‘well not that much gold’Kili amended when he thought of the
small bounty they had taken on their way out of the castle with an unconscious
Belle slung over Thorin’s shoulder. Gothi Grey had been adamant that Thorin
needed the Belle woman to exact his revenge on his enemies. The question was
what exactly was she going to do? Belle was short, impossibly so. At first
glance, he believed her to be a child. On closer inspection, she was definitely
NOT a child. She had large breasts and hips with a tiny waist. There was little
to no muscle upon her small frame meaning she did not need to work or refused
to do so.
‘Very different from our women, they work, many are shieldmaidens, warriors
bathed in the blood of enemies. Our women are tall and strong, very different
from the Belle woman.’ he mused.
Belle was brave in her own way, Kili supposed. She very obviously did not fear
death or did not fear it as much as she feared them. When she had dove head
first into the waters of the north sea they at first did not believe it. Kili
very distinctly remembered Nori beginning to laugh hysterically. His coal
markings smudged by the killing they had done earlier that day.
“She jumped! The bitch jumped.” Nori cried out in laughter and awe.
Thorin had growled loudly and jumped in after her. The little woman had fought
him when she finally came to and hit him. Kili smirked, he knew his uncle would
hate that. It took Kili by surprise when his uncle did nothing but grasp her
wrist harshly then inspect her necklace before barking out orders.
Kili was brought out of his memory by a sack of gold being tossed into his
stomach.
“Ughnnng.” He grunted and rubbed at his stomach while balancing the bag.
“Help before running off to your mother,” Dwalin growled out.
“Fuck off,” Kili grumbled under his breath and began to help unload the
longboat.
It seemed Fili was tasked with watching after the Belle woman. Kili was envious
of that, he rather liked her. He couldn’t understand a word she said, but she
was warm and had been a great pillow on the journey. He chuckled to himself
when he remembered her feeble attempts at getting away from him when he pulled
her down to sleep. He could tell she believed he would rape her, which he had
no intention of doing. Sure the Belle woman was pretty with her large green
eyes, curly hair the color of dried leaves, and tiny soft body. But they were
not to harm her in any way, Gothi Grey had been very insistent in this fact.
Kili had never been one for forcing foreign women, he had done it once and had
thrown up after. It was not fun for him, the challenge appealed to many, but
not to him. He could not even finish when he had been impaling the Frankish
woman. Her screams and cries hurt his ears, when the battle blood had subsided
from his brain and he could once again see without his vision tainted in red,
could hear without a muted tone, he had pulled out of her quickly, tying up his
trousers as he stumbled away. He leaned beside the house and emptied his
stomach violently. He knew many did not mind such a thing, his brother had
indulged himself more than once, as had his uncle. It was a way of life for his
people, but he had always been slightly strange for his people.
Kili finished unloading the longboat with the others and was greeted with the
sight of their bustling home. The markets were open, people from far and wide
coming to trade. There were many waiting further up upon the shore to welcome
them home. Kili could easily pick out his mother, her dark hair tumbling in the
breeze. He smiled happily at her as they all began to move towards the
welcomers.
“I missed you, my son,” Dis said against her son’s shoulder. Kili was the
taller out of Fili and himself. Kili took after his mother’s family in height
and color. Fili took after their father, shorter only slightly, stockier and
blonde. “Did you get her?”
Kili nodded towards Fili where he was leading Belle, hand clamped roughly on
her wrist. They decided not to rope her as they would a slave because they
truly were not sure if that was her intended purpose. Dis stepped forward and
pressed a kiss to her blonde son's forehead before reaching out and grasping
the chin of the much smaller female.
“She is small. No good for much work.” Dis continued her assessment of Belle.
“But we will find something. If nothing else she may be a bedwarmer.”
Belle must have understood some of what his mother said or maybe it was the
snickers of the men nearby but she pulled roughly away and growled in her
native tongue. “Keepyourhandstoyourself...please”
Kili would have to ask Ori what she said, or perhaps his brother knew. Fili had
taken it upon himself to begin learning the language of the lands of their
raids. He believed that if they could speak with the people they could get more
from them and the work would be easier, less bloodshed and whatnot. 
“Do not touch her Dis. She must remain unharmed until after the feast.”
Thorin’s thunderous voice boomed behind them. Kili noticed that Belle winced
heavily and instinctively shuffled away from the noise.
“It is not as if I was going to hurt her, halfwit.” Dis rolled her eyes at her
brother.
She pulled him into a tight hug before taking his arm and leading towards the
longhouse of the Jarl. As Kili followed he saw Dwalin with arms full of curly
auburn hair and a tiny body. Gyda was practically humping him in the open, it
wouldn’t be the first time that happened either nor the last. Kili saw many of
their fellow raiders being greeted by their women or friends. Kili followed
dutifully along his family. He was attempting to push down his jealousy at the
love his brothers in arms had in their lives. Sure, Kili could have that too,
but he did not want to settle for any woman. There had been many women that
would gladly marry him for his status alone, he was the Jarl’s nephew and
second heir. Without that he was a wealthy man with land, craftsmanship and
skill in battle that women still flocked to. These women were never for him,
some too plain and meek, others barely recognizable as female. Kili pushed
aside his woeful thoughts and trudged after his family.
===============================================================================
 
After a quick nap, a long bath and changing into new clothing it was time for
the feast celebrating the return of the raiders. Kili had wondered where the
Belle woman had gone but he did not have long to think on it. Thorin had taken
his seat upon his throne covered in furs with Dis seated to his right and Fili
standing on his left. Kili stood to his mother’s right and watched as the
summer raiders brought in their goods. Thorin was the Jarl, meaning he was one
of the richest men in the area for many miles. He had many boats that were
taken out on raids. When the raiders returned they presented their goods to the
Jarl (Thorin) and allowed him to take his share of the profits.
Kili watched as each of the raiding parties came forward with slaves, gold and
other strange relics from the lands they raided. This process dragged by for
Kili, he was anxiously awaiting when he could have a tankard of ale in hand and
food heavy in his belly. The last of the raiders entered slowly. There were
near twenty of them as they entered. The front few carried chests of gold while
the others appeared to be corralling a plethora of slaves. At the very back
Kili saw a flash of red hair, then heard the grunt of Canute as he struggled to
contain the redhead. It took two of the raiders to subdue this person. Kili
chuckled and thanked the gods that they did not have to deal with the Belle
woman struggling. Yes, she had tried to kill herself but she did not attempt to
kill them. He just knew by the look on Canute’s face that he was fed up with
whoever was fighting him, meaning the mystery redhead had attempted to kill him
more than once. Canute was a very jovial man that had patience in spades,
except right now from the look of it.
“Jarl Thorin Thrainson.” Sigurd, who had led the raid of the island’s south,
spoke with respect.
“Sigurd. It appears you have been successful.” Thorin gave the man a nod.
“Yes, though we did lose Arvid, Dagfinn and Eerika.” He closed his eyes and
bowed his head in respect for his fallen friends.
“May they feast in Valhalla!” Thorin called out. The entire hall erupted
speaking the same words as their Jarl.
When all had quieted Sigurd gestured to his men to bring forward their bounty.
There chests full of gold and golden relics, armor and weapons, as well as
slaves; eight in total stepped forward. Kili felt as if he had been punched in
the gut when the redhead he had seen earlier was thrown forwards onto her
knees. Her hands were tied tightly in ropes, as well as her feet and a leather
collar around her neck. She was the most beautiful creature Kili had seen in
all his time. If he had known such a beautiful creature had existed in the
islands he would have joined Sigurd's raids and taken a few for himself. She
had bright blue war paint upon the sides of her face in swirling patterns and
some more on her bare arms. Kili could see she was a warrior, and a fine one
too. She was wearing leather trousers, leather bracers that had metal scales
upon it. Her top is what caught his eyes. She had probably once had a fine
tunic upon her torso, but the one she was wearing was spattered with blood and
was ripped down the middle giving a tantalizing view of her leather armor
beneath. It was fascinating to Kili, he had never seen armor such as this. It
was braided leather in intricate designs that he could tell barely covered her
ample chest. When his eyes moved up to her face, he felt heat flood to his
groin. She had the fiercest scowl he had ever seen upon such a beautiful face.
She had entrancing eyes that appeared to be in a battle on whether they wanted
to be green or brown. Those same eyes were narrowed now at Thorin. She looked
up at him disgusted. It did not take much to determine that this woman wished
to kill all in attendance. Her defined jaw was set and her plump bruised mouth
was at this moment sneering heavily.  
“míduallI! (I shall cause horror!)” The voice was like music to my ears, even
if it did sound cold as ice. “ Beidh mé tú a mharú go léir. (I will kill you
all!)”
Sigurd came behind her and pushed her into the dirt floor to shut her up. She
struggled back up to her knees and growled at him. The sound had Kili’s manhood
rock hard, but he also felt the strange feeling of protectiveness over her. He
wanted to gut Sigurd for pushing her so hard, Hel, for even laying a hand on
her.
Thorin ignored the woman’s outburst and began to take what he wished. Kili
could not help himself and walked towards his Uncle’s back. He leaned in close
to his ear and whispered.
“I want her. The redheaded warrior”
Thorin turned back towards him with disbelief on his face, shaking his head
slightly. “No. Why would you wish for her?”
“I need her,” Kili growled. He could not understand how his uncle could not see
the appeal of the woman.
“Kili. You may get your prick wet other ways...easier ways.” Thorin said while
shifting his eyes towards Gull.
“No. I want her, the redhead” Kili stood firm.
His uncle’s ice blue eyes bore into the soft brown ones of his youngest nephew.
The square jaw of the Jarl flexed and his nostrils flared in anger. “You may
buy her off of Sigurd.”
Kili shook his head and felt his anger rise. “He will not give her to me. You
know he enjoys breaking a strong woman.”
Thorin growled under his breath and looked out at everyone watching them. Kili
was nervous to see what his uncle had decided.
“We will take two of the slaves. The redhead woman and that one there.”
Pointing towards a brown headed male slave. Thorin’s voice was obviously
annoyed but Kili could not bring himself to care; He was going to get the
magnificent redhead woman.
Sigurd was obviously unhappy about his jarl’s choice. “The redhead? She is
trouble, Jarl. A fierce warrioress with a taste for blood.”
Thorin looked back at Kili with eyebrows raised as if to see if he had changed
his mind. Kili gave hard eyes back at his uncle as if to say “I still want
her”. Thorin’s mouth pressed into a hard line of irritation but turned back to
Sigurd. “We will still take her.”
“beidh mé a bheith aon duine ar gentib daor (I will be no one’s slave,
heathens)!” the woman screamed and spit towards Thorin’s feet.
“You see? She is not worth your time, Jarl. You do not want her, more trouble
than she will be worth. I am sure.” Sigurd had a smirk upon his face. Kili
clenched his fists at the thought of what Sigurd had in store for this woman.
Thorin sent one more angry glare towards Kili before standing “I said I want
her. I am your Jarl. I am going to take her as part of my share. She is not
worth more than any of the others. Therefore I will take her along with the
rest of my share for the use of my ship.” His deep voice boomed throughout the
hall. Sigurd bowed his head in defeat and pushed the redheaded woman once again
to the ground with a boot between her shoulder blades. The large blonde Sigurd
handed her leash off to Dwalin, he barked orders to his men and they took their
share from the hall. With business finished, the hall began to be transformed
into a feast. Tables were set up, with bench seating, and tankards began to
fill hands.
Thorin marched towards Kili and grabbed him harshly by the shoulder. “You will
pay me full price for her.” He growled. “She is your responsibility, no others.
Keep her in line, Kili, or so help me I will not hesitate to send her to Hel.”
Thorin’s threat was clear, if she gets out of line he will kill her.
Kili set his jaw to keep from gulping audibly and gave his uncle a curt nod.
“Good.” Thorin’s face softened and he clapped his nephew on the shoulder before
walking away. The Jarl’s share was quickly moved to his guarded longhouse and
locked away before the feast began.
Kili grabbed a tankard and felt at ease knowing Bifur was guarding the
redheaded goddess and the Belle woman. The old warrior had taken a broadsword
to the skull and lived, some said he was loved by Valkyrie and that is why he
lived, others said because he was kept alive by Odin himself for reasons
unknown, whatever the reason, Bifur was alive. He was the brother of Bofur and
Bombur. Bifur no longer went on raids, he stayed behind and guarded the Jarl’s
land and family. The warrior had lost his ability to speak clearly, he was also
plagued by horrible headaches from his wound that were amplified when in big
crowds. He preferred being away from feasts for that reason. He was paid well
to watch over the bounty of the Jarl making it a win-win situation.
Kili looked over his ale towards where his brother was speaking lowly with
Thorin. The dark haired brother did not have to guess what they were talking
about. Fili nodded to his uncle and then made his way towards Kili across
crowded hall.
“Thorin ask you to speak with me?” Kili spoke when his brother was standing
beside him looking out at the celebration ensuing. In the center of the hall
were three large fires, all had meat roasting upon them filling the large
structure with mouth-watering smells. The ale was also strong making all in
attendance happy. There was little to worry about as of now.
“Yes. He worries.” Fili said without looking at his brother. His eyes were
stuck on one blonde woman Kili had seen many times.
“Who is that?” the younger brother asked.
“Sigrid daughter of Bard.” Fili coughed after answering his brothers question
hoping to rid his voice of the wanting tone hidden within.
“Pretty.” Kili said around his tankard.
“Prettier than most” Fili had a slight blush on his cheeks.
The two brothers watched the celebration ensue for some time until a tap on
Kili’s shoulder had him whirling around. It was Gyda, Dwalin’s wife. The woman
was one of the fiercest shieldmaidens Kili had ever met. She had zero fear
which made her even scarier. She was known to join the ranks of the berserkers
on occasion; her bloodlust was one of legend.
“Your woman is causing problems” She growled out in annoyance.
Kili wondered how Gyda would know of such things and voiced his thoughts.
“Gothi Grey asked me to speak to the English woman. They are being kept in your
home.” Gyda took a moment to compose herself due to her anger before
continuing. “She took a knife off of someone and attempted to kill Bifur then
tried to stab me.”
Kili groaned loudly. If this woman had tried to kill Gyda she had possibly just
made a very powerful enemy. Dwalin's wife was not known for her forgiveness or
patience. On more than one occasion the little woman was known to beat her
husband into unconsciousness for having his cock in foreign women. They may
fight hard but they fucked harder meaning after those fights ended both their
pleasure screams could be heard in the night.
“You need to go deal with it. She is scaring the English woman. Gothi Grey will
not be pleased by that.” Gyda said as she rose up onto her tiptoes to flick
Kili between the brows. He slapped her hand away before downing his tankard and
stomping toward their longhouse with her behind him.
When Kili neared the wooden home he heard screams of fury and clay being
broken. He ripped open the door to find his red headed warrioress screaming in
her native tongue and throwing their storage pots about the room. Bifur was
attempting to subdue her as was Nori. Kili looked to see the Belle woman
huddled in a corner hugging her bent legs with one arm and covering her head
with the other.
The thralls were all placed in the slave quarters behind the house near the
fields. But the redheaded goddess had been special, he did not want her for a
thrall he wanted her for a wife, so he had asked Dwalin to bring her to the
longhouse and have Bifur and Nori guard her alongside Belle. When the redheaded
woman threw a clay pot towards the wall Belle was huddled against it shattered,
sending shards of sharp pottery at the tiny woman. Belle cried out as shards
cut into her bare hands and arms that were protecting her head. As soon as the
pained cry of the English woman rang out, Kili’s goddess stilled then her
shoulders slumped in shame. She felt bad for hurting the small woman, Kili was
confused as to why. He did not think the two females knew each other, and he
certainly did not think his warrioress would care much for causing pain to
another if it meant her freedom but apparently he was wrong. The goddess walked
towards Belle and crouched down in front of her. Kili locked eyes with Bifur
and Nori in silent question.
‘Should we stop her? Is she going to harm the Belle woman?’ The two shrugged in
response with curious looks upon their faces as if to say ‘I don’t know’.
“Tá brón orm de bharr mé leat pian (I am sorry I caused you pain).”
Kili did not understand her words but her tone was soft and apologetic. She
went to reach out and touch the tawny hair of the bleeding woman but Kili was
quicker. He grasped her by the wrist before it could touch Belle, he was unsure
of her motives towards the woman and he was not about to allow their prize to
be harmed. The redheaded goddess stood to her full height and spun to face him
with impressive speed, much faster than he had ever seen someone move before.
Kili felt a prick of something sharp at his throat and realized she had grasped
a shard of clay in her hands and was wielding it as a weapon against the flesh
of his neck. He was so surprised that he began to laugh. Her eyes narrowed,
showing her intent. Kili was quick though and grasped her wrist before she
could plunge the weapon into his jugular. He increased the pressure he had on
her wrist until she could no longer hold the weapon. She cried out slightly at
the pain causing him to reduce his grip ever so slightly. She used this to her
advantage when she jerked her wrist completely out of his grasp and sent her
fist flying towards his face.
“Ughhh.” He groaned in pain and rubbed at his cheek where she had punched him.
When he looked up at her she was being held back by Bifur and Nori.
“Fierce as fire, that one.” Gyda’s chuckling voice said from beside him.
Kili looked into her eyes and did indeed see the fire Gyda spoke of. She was
laughing ever so slightly at being able to land a hit, her red hair was wild
around her and flinging everywhere as she fought against his shield brothers
hold. Her ripped tunic had been removed leaving her in only her strange leather
bindings, trousers and boots. She was beautiful, stunning, a warrior goddess in
the flesh.
“I think I am in love,” Kili said in awe.
Gyda chuckled beside him and swatted his behind before walking towards where
Belle was still huddled in the corner. When Kili’s eyes rose he noticed
something glinting in her hand. Gyda must have seen it at the same time because
she darted forwards and ripped it out of the English girl’s hand with a few
creative swear words thrown in.
“Whatareyoudoing? Tryingtokillyourself?”Gyda growled down at the tawny haired
woman.
Kili did not understand what she had said but he assumed it was a chastisement.
The dark haired Norseman had not known that Gyda could speak English, though he
was not surprised. Her mother was from England; long ago brought back as a wife
for Ulrich by the man himself. Kili should have known her mother would have
taught Gyda her native tongue.
“Iwillnotbeanotherbedslave”Belle growled back at Gyda with a fierceness that
surprised all within the home. Even his lovely goddess was staring at the girl
with surprise on her face. Her hands had been bound by Bifur and she was being
forcibly held down in a seat position by the large man.
“Whohastoldyouthatyouaredestinedtobeabedslave?”Gyda asked her back in a
surprised tone. Kili really wished he could understand now. It sounded like
this was an interesting conversation.
“Thatiswhatyouheathensdo!” the little Belle woman screeched. “
Iwouldratherdiethanberapedagain”
“Youarenotwrong, thatisnormallywhatwedo. Butyouarespecial.
GothiGreyhasforseenit.”Gyda’s tone was soft, the softest Kili had ever heard
from the shieldmaiden. He did not know she had a soft tone within her fierce
self.
“Theywillnotrapeme?”The Belle woman held so much hope in her eyes Kili felt his
chest ache.
‘What did she want?’ he wondered. ‘ Was she hoping to go home? That was not
going to happen.’ Gyda was filling her with a false sense of hope if that was
true and to Kili that was crueler than anything else.
“Do not give her hope to leave when there is none.” Kili growled to Gyda.
“That is not what we are speaking of, you dumb bastard.”The shieldmaiden turned
with fury in her eyes. “She does not wish to be a bed slave. She said she would
rather die than be raped again.”
Kili’s eyes shot between his redheaded goddess tied up beside Bifur and the
English woman cowering in the corner. That is what both of these women feared
he realized. He truly did not know the fate of the Belle woman so he would not
make her promises he could not keep. But his goddess, he could make promises
to. He stood in front of her and caught her face between his hands.
“I will not force myself onto you, nor will anyone else.” He knew she did not
understand him. So he did the only thing he could think of. He leaned forward
and kissed her forehead. When he pulled back he saw confusion in her eyes. He
had shocked her that was for certain, he also saw something else, exhaustion.
She was tired, horribly so. Kili pulled her up and took her towards his room.
“I will watch over her.” He told Bifur and Nori over his shoulder.
Both of them smirked thinking they knew exactly what kind of “watching over
her” he was going to be doing. He rolled his eyes and pulled his woman through
his doorway. He felt her stiffen when she saw the bed and then began to fight
as much as possible in the small space with her hands tied. He shed his boots,
while still holding onto her, then his coat and tunic leaving him shirtless. He
saw her marveling at his tattooed skin and smirked when he saw the flash of awe
that flitted across her eyes before she mastered it back to its scowl.
Kili picked her up and put her on the bed all the while she fought him. He was
stronger than her, he only had to use a portion of his strength to subdue her
enough to pull her boots off. She had tiny little feet that he found humorous.
He smiled at her while she eyed him warily. He laid down behind her and pulled
her against his chest. She began to struggle once again but with his arms
around her like thick heavy ropes she would not be going anywhere. He kept one
arm around her body with her arms pinned while he worked the ropes off her tied
hands. When they were finally free she gave him another questioning glance that
he smiled sweetly at. He laid his head back upon his feather pillow and pulled
her tight against his chest. He could feel his groin touching her arse and felt
the blood beginning to pool. He thought of anything that would make it go away.
He didn’t want her to be more scared than she already was. Kili wanted her to
get to know him, to trust him and eventually love him. He settled back into his
pillow allowing her head to share the pillow as well. He kept his grip on her
tight with her hands pinned just in case she decided to try to kill him during
the night. She slightly relaxed into his arms when his breathing evened out and
he felt his heart beginning to soar.
‘I think I’m in love’He thought again before he fell into slumber.
Chapter End Notes
     The inspiration for what Tauriel looked like to me came from the
     beautiful digital artwork of Ramah-Palmer.
     "Still Alive" by Ramah-Palmer
     http://ramah-palmer.deviantart.com/art/Still-Alive-
     216107252?q=favby%253Adragonbr%252F38591393&qo=11
***** Belle *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Belle had been crouched in the corner when the other woman had begun her
rampage. Belle huddled further into the corner and tried to think of a way to
escape. The two guards inside were focused on the woman causing a ruckus. The
English woman had begun to creep towards a long hallway that she hoped led to a
door when the Norseman named Kili burst into the room followed by the Norse-
woman with auburn hair that the other woman had tried to stab earlier.
Belle had been so focused on the newcomers that she did not notice the clay pot
being thrown towards the wall she was against. The shards of the clay rained
down on her spreading cuts throughout the arm and hand she had shielded her
head with. Belle cried out in pain and surprise. The large room was silent
after she had cried out and then she heard movement in front of her. When Belle
peeked out from under her bleeding arm she was looking into the hazel eyes of
the redheaded woman.
“ Tá brón orm de bharr mé leat pian (I am sorry I caused you pain).”  The
woman’s voice was beautiful, even more beautiful than her face which had made
Belle fill with envy upon first seeing her. Belle could not say anything, she
was still afraid of this woman but she did consider it a win when she realized
she understood most of what the woman said. Belle saw her reach out her left
hand to touch Belle’s hurt arm while the woman’s right hand gathered a sharp
piece of shattered pottery. Belle winced heavily thinking the woman was going
to hurt her, but Kili was quick, he grabbed the woman’s hand that was about to
touch Belle and spun her towards him.
The redheaded woman brought the weapon up to Kili’s throat and was about to
slit it open. Belle felt her heart lurch for some reason, she did not want Kili
dead. He had been kind to her in his own way and she had never been one for
killing or blood for that matter.
Belle looked away afraid to see the scene unfold before her. There was a gasp
then the sound of knuckles hitting flesh and then Kili growling. Belle looked
up and to her surprise, there was no blood, just Kili rubbing at his cheek and
the redheaded woman being subdued by the two guards. The English girl let out a
sigh of involuntary relief.
“Grimmr nakkvarr aldrnari, at einn (Fierce as fire, that one).”  The auburn-
haired woman said with a chuckle beside Kili.
Belle was surprised to see an awestruck look on Kili’s face. He did not look
angry, he looked the furthest thing from that. He wore a face of adoration.
Belle blinked many times thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her. But no,
there the dark haired Norseman stood eyes wide and mouth slightly open and
turned up on the ends. “ Ek ætla ek er inn ást  (I think I am in love).” Belle
did not need to know how to speak horse to understand that. She could tell by
the look on Kili’s face that his words were some form of declaration of love.
‘ These heathens are strange’  Belle thought. When she looked down she saw a
shard of pottery that looked sharp enough to help her take her life. She used
the distraction the redheaded woman had cause and began to bring the makeshift
knife to her throat. ‘ You can do this Belle girl. Do not think of it much.
Just one quick slice, just like that boar mama had taught you to kill. Right
across the throat in one...two…’  She never made it to three. A hand wrapped
around her wrist and yanked harshly making her drop the weapon and her hope.
“What are you doing? Trying to kill yourself?” The auburn haired Norse woman
growled at Belle. Her gray eyes were fierce and angry.
Belle felt her anger rise at the fact this woman had taken away her chance to
escape, even if it was through death. “I will not be another bed slave”. Images
of Smaug forcing himself on her had bile rising into her throat. She could feel
the anger and shame as well as the pain so fiercely she could have sworn the
rape was happening again at this moment.
“Who has told you that you are destined to be a bed slave?” the auburn-haired
woman asked in a surprised tone.
“That is what you heathens do!” Belle screamed in anger. All the tales of these
heathen people said so. They violently raped the women that they held captive.
“You are not wrong, that does happen. But you are special. Gothi Grey has
foreseen it.” The Norse-woman's tone was soft. It soothed some of the sores
that resided in Belle’s soul.
“They will not rape me?” Belle could not stop the hope that laced her tone.
The auburn-haired woman was about to answer when she was cut off by Kili
speaking gruffly to her.  “Gera ekki veita henni ván við fararleyfi nær þar er
neinn (Do not give her hope to leave when there is none).”  Kili sounded angry,
impossibly so. Belle shrunk back slightly in fear.
“At er ekki hvat vér eru mælat af, skreyja oskilgetinn(That is not what we are
speaking of, you dumb bastard)”.   The woman growled menacingly at Kili as she
looked over her shoulder at him.  “Henni gerir ekki ráð  að nakkvarr beðr
þræll. Henni  sagði henni myndi heldr andask þan vera nauðgað endr (She does
not wish to be a bed slave. She said she would rather die than be raped
again).”
Belle watched as Kili blinked rapidly in surprise then his brown eyes shifted
between her and the redheaded woman that was bound against the same wall as she
only many feet away and seated on a wooden bench of sorts. He walked slowly to
the woman of the islands and then cupped her face tenderly and said something
low that Belle didn’t catch nor would she have understood anyway. Then he did
something that truly surprised her, he kissed the woman’s forehead.
‘ What in heaven’s name is going on here?’  Belle was so confused she did not
register the auburn haired Norse-woman sitting down in front of her. Belle kept
her eyes on Kili as he led the redhead out of the large room they were sitting
in and down the dark hall.
“Where is he taking her?” Belle had not meant to say that aloud but the words
tumbled out.
“To bed.” The auburn-haired woman said with a shrug. “He will not hurt her. He
just promised not to. Kili keeps to his word...always.”
“You’re speaking English” Belle said in wonder. For the first time since she
had begun conversing with the woman, she realized that she could actually
communicate with her fully.
The woman let out a husky laugh and nodded. “You have just noticed?”
“I am tired… and scared” Belle said in way of explanation.
The auburn-haired woman nodded her head in acceptance of the woman’s words.
“Am I going to be a bed slave?” Belle asked quietly.
The auburn haired woman shook her head and shrugged her shoulders slightly. “I
do not know what the gods have written as your fate. Gothi Grey will see you
tomorrow and he will now.”
Belle let that answer sink in. There was still hope that she could escape.
“What is your name?” The woman asked Belle as she began to clean Belle’s wounds
with some water and bandages.
“Belledonna of the Shire, house of Baggins.” she answered without thought.
“My name is Gyda, wife of Dwalin.” Her gray eyes were kind, kinder than Belle
had seen in a very long time.
“It is nice to meet you Gyda.” Belle responded politely.
Gyda laughed lightly at her polite half curtsy as she was still sitting. “Same
Belledonna.”
“Oh just Belle, please. Belledonna was my mother.” Gyda nodded politely at her
request. “How do you speak English?” Belle asked.
“My mother was English.” Gyda said with a wistful smile. “Ulrich, my father,
saw her on one of his first raids and brought her back here as a wife.”
Belle was surprised by that. She did not know they took foreign wives, she
thought they only took slaves. Surprise must have been evident on her face
because Gyda began to chuckle. “Yes, my people take wives from other lands,
have babies with them, keep them safe, love them. That is what my father did
for my mother. He took her from an angry father and dead mother. She had not
had her first bleed yet so she worked for his family until she was old enough
to marry. Then they began having children immediately.” Gyda laughed at Belle’s
surprised expression.
“You are all very different than I thought.”
Gyda was about to answer when Fili came stumbling into the room. “Gyda.” his
speech was slurred. The auburn-haired woman rolled her eyes in response.
Fili moved towards them and extended his hand to Belle. “Bed. Now” Belle shook
her head and refused to give him her hand. “I will make you.” He was obviously
bored with her response and did not wish to argue.
“He will not harm you, at least until you speak with Gothi Grey tomorrow. None
of them are to harm you in any way until you speak with him.”  Gyda told her
with a small smile.
Belle was shocked by that, shocked enough to not put up much of a fight when
Fili pulled her up by her arm and stumbled towards his rooms. “Will you be
there tomorrow?” Belle asked over her shoulder. She heard Gyda’s reply of “yes”
just as Fili pulled her through a curtained doorway leading into another room.
Belle stood to the side as Fili shed all of his clothing except for his
underclothes making Belle blush brightly and turn away.
“Sleep” He spoke gruffly pointing towards the bed.
 When she did not move Fili rolled his eyes and picked her up and threw her
onto the bed. She shrieked a little and eyed him warily. He climbed into the
bed with her and turned her onto her side so her back was facing him. He put
one of his arms under her head as a pillow and the other around her waist in a
tight hold. Her breathing was rapid as she felt his arm flex around her body
pulling her ever closer. His groin was tightly against her rear end making her
blush brightly and try to squirm away. Fili was not having any of that and
pulled her even tighter against his body.
“Sleep. Now.” He growled.
Belle stopped squirming and laid completely still, within moments the Norseman
had fallen asleep. Belle attempted to get away from his hold but it seemed the
two brothers shared the same trait of extremely tight holds even in their
sleep. She knew she could not get away and there was nothing else to do tonight
so she allowed herself to succumb to the exhaustion she felt within.
===============================================================================
 
When Belle awoke it was to something poking her in the back with great force.
She attempted to get away from it only to have her pulled more firmly against
it. Belle’s green eyes opened abruptly and she went completely stiff. She could
still hear the even breathing of the Norseman behind her. He was still asleep,
not trying to rape her. She relaxed slightly but could not get her cheeks to
cool from the embarrassment and unease of this situation. Thankfully it did not
last long when a battle cry was heard within the large home. Fili shot up from
the bed releasing his hold on her, he grasped one of his swords that
was propped against the wall and pushed Belle behind him further. That had
surprised her, to say the least.
“Stay.” He growled and stepped towards the doorway. He pulled back the curtain
in the doorway and then immediately burst into laughter. Belle crept to his
side and put a hand on his back as she peeked around his large form. If ever
asked she would never tell the truth about what she did in that next moment.
She saw Kili wrestling the redheaded woman for some type of weapon while Fili
looked on and laughed. The weapon came shooting towards Fili and Belle, barely
missing the practically nude Norseman by mere inches. Belle shrieked loudly and
jumped onto Fili’s back in fear, burying her face in between his muscular
shoulder blades. That only caused the blonde man to laugh even harder. Belle
realized what she had done and carefully lowered herself back onto the packed
earth and stood sheepishly to the side. It sounded as if Kili had finally
subdued the redheaded woman because all there was was harsh breathing across
the hall. Fili was still laughing but had now pulled Belle into his side and
had an arm around her shoulders as they both looked across the hall. Kili had
Tauriel sprawled on the bed beneath him, both of their chests heaving, though
his was naked and covered in tattoo’s similar to Fili’s bare chest now. Belle
backed away from them and moved back towards the bed when she saw the weapon
that had flown by. It was a small dagger. She crept towards it and was about to
pick it up when large hands were on her hips and launching her onto the soft
bed beside her.
She landed with a “hmph” and watched as Fili picked up the dagger and shook his
head. “No death for you.” He growled. Belle  shrunk away from him as he stabbed
the dagger above the wooden doorframe well out of her reach. He then lumbered
back to bed and pulled her against his chest once more. “Sleep. There is time.”
Belle could definitely not sleep any longer. For one she had warm, mostly naked
body wrapped around hers. For two there was the fear of what would happen to
her when she slept. Though no one had hurt her, yet, she knew what these men
were capable of. She had seen it with her own eyes. She had seen them run their
sharp blades into the stomach’s of her guards, or run an ax over the throat of
men who attempted to fight back against them. They were not kind and gentle.
They were the enemy.
A harsh tug around her middle had her snapping out of her thoughts. Fili
nuzzled his nose into her curls and pulled her tighter against him.
“Sleep” He growled out as if her thoughts were echoing throughout the room.
Belle fought sleep as much as she could, but soon her eyelids grew heavy and
she fell into a light slumber.
When she awoke next it was to the dark-haired woman that had grabbed her face
on the shore the previous day. The woman was standing at the foot of the bed
watching her son use the English girl as a pillow. His arms were tight around
her middle and his long legs were intertwined with her thin ones.  Belle was
startled by the woman’s presence and thought that perhaps she was there to kill
her. An involuntary shriek left the girl as she struggled to get further away
from the woman. Fili jerked awake looking for a weapon before he realized it
was just his mother in the room.
“Hvat móðir (what mother)?”   Fili’s voice was thick with sleep.
The dark haired woman cocked her head to the side looking at Belle. Before
speaking back to her son.  “Gerði yð hvíla henni (did you bed her)?”
Belle did not understand this exchange but what she could deduce from the
woman’s deep scowl was that she was not happy about the position she had found
her son in.
“Neinn móðir! (no mother!)”Fili stepped out of the bed and crossed his arms
across his broad tattooed chest.
“Ó? Eða hvat er at (oh? And what is that)?”  The woman’s ice blue eyes flashed
down to the tented undershorts of the blonde Norseman.
Belle blushed brightly because though she did not understand the exact words
spoken, the body language was enough to give everything away.
Fili huffed a breath and shrugged his shoulders.  “morginn skógr (morning
wood)?”
His mother rolled her eyes and pointed a threatening finger at him. “Sem
hafðibeturvera það (that had better be it).” She looked Belle up and down then
beckoned her to her side.
Belle hated herself for it but she knew Fili better than she knew this woman.
Belle stepped behind Fili and clung to his waist, which startled a laugh out of
the blonde Norseman. He pulled her around to the front of his body and placed
both hands on her shoulders.
“Safe” He said as he pointed to the dark haired woman.
Belle shook her head in response, grabbing desperately onto his body. “No.
Please don’t make me. What if she sells me? Or kills me?”
Fili shook his head and patted her shoulders once again. “Safe.”
The English girl once again shook her head and clung to him. She felt hands
grab her upper arms roughly and pull her towards the doorway. Fili removed her
hands from him so her grip was only met with thin air. She wanted to scream,
she truly did, but she couldn’t make her vocal chords work.
===============================================================================
 
Belle stopped struggling when they reached the light of day. The woman behind
her huffed and only grasped her with one hand now as she pulled her through the
trees. After walking a short distance they came upon what appeared to be small
pools of water. Steam was rising from them truly confusing the English girl.
She stared blankly at the water thinking it was a mind trick. Belle could hear
giggling and laughing as they came upon the water.
“Belle!” A voice called out.
Belle turned her head and caught sight of a wet mop of auburn hair. A squeak
came out of the English girl when she caught a better sight of Gyda.
“You are naked!” Belle cried out and covered her eyes with her free hand.
Laughter sounded out among those in the waters, the loudest being from Gyda. “I
am! Do you not bathe naked?”
Belle nodded her head but couldn’t answer. She knew if she spoke her voice
would be pitched too high with embarrassment. She kept her emerald green eyes
pinned on her bare feet. A soft snort from behind her had Belle freezing in
fear. She had forgotten the woman that had dragged her through the trees
barefooted.
Fili's mother, at least she assumed it was his mother, said something to her
quickly in Norse that Belle did not understand, then began pulling at her
dress.
“Um. No, thank you.” Belle took a step away from her but the woman to follow.
“Why must everyone attempt to get me in the nude? Have you no modesty?” Belle
grumbled when the woman pulled Belle's skirts up.
“Dis is helping you get undressed so you may bathe. You need be clean to meet
with Gothi Grey.” Gyda explained as she stepped out of the water naked as the
day she was born.
Belle shut her eyes quickly but not quick enough. Her mind was forever burned
with the image of Gyda's naked body stepping towards her. The woman was taller
than Belle herself but shorter than the woman behind her. ‘ Her name is Dis’
Belle reminded herself. Gyda had perky breast with dusky nipples and a small
thatch of dark hair nestled at the junction of her thighs. Her stomach was flat
with scarring dancing on her skin.
Belle attempted to will the sight of the woman from her mind but it seemed to
cling to her brain with impressive force.
Her dress was then pulled over her head as she was busy willing her mind to rid
itself of the images. Belle squawked loudly when the dress was removed from her
body. She tried to cover her intimate parts as best she could.
‘ Will this humiliation ever end?’   She asked herself. She felt as if she were
constantly on display with these people, specifically, her nude body was on
display at the moment and that truly worried her.
Dis stood proudly with Belle's dress in her hands while Gyda stood back and
smirked at her. The auburn haired woman held out a hand to Belle and beckoned
her to grab it. But to do so Belle would need to unveil an intimate body part,
and that she was not too keen on. Gyda rolled her eyes and latched a hand onto
the woman's wrist covering her breasts, yanking it away and allowing Belle's
round breast to get pelted by the chilled air around them.
“The sooner you get into the water the sooner you are no longer on display”
Gyda said and yanked Belle toward one of the pools.
There were three other women in the waters but none in the same pool she was
about to enter, she thanked God above for that. Gyda stepped onto the rocks
that made a natural ladder and waded into the water. Belle followed suit and
was blessedly covered by water in mere moments. The water was deliciously hot
against her skin, almost too hot.
“It is so warm.” Belle said in awe. She had never seen anything like it.
Gyda chuckled and nodded her head. “We call it the hot springs.”
Belle was about to ask more questions when liquid fell upon her head, she
stilled in fear and looked to Gyda for help. The woman only laughed at her
expression and looked above Belle's head.
Belle slowly turned to see Dis on her knees behind her putting the cork back
into a bottle.
“ segja henni að þvo ( Tell her to wash)”  Dis growled towards Gyda.
“She wants you to wash your hair. Rub that in, then rinse it.” Gyda explained.
Belle, afraid of what would happen to her if she disobeyed, did as she was
told. Whatever Dis had put into her hair smelled strangely, good, but still
strange. It smelled like citrus and vinegar and made her scalp tingle. When
that was finished she was handed a woven cloth with a bar of soap. She
understood what Dis was miming to her and washed her body, scrubbing it until
it was pink. Every few seconds she glanced nervously at the people surrounding
her. None were paying much attention to her. Gyda and Dis were speaking rapidly
in their native tongue, in the other hot springs were three other women, who
were splashing and laughing with one another. She couldn’t remember the last
time she saw the women back home playing or laughing loudly with one another.
All her memory could drudge up was boring tea sessions and walks about the
castle. She missed the fun she had in her youth, running through the forest
with her mother and playing wooden swords.
“Belle.” Gyda’s voice cut through her memory of her blonde haired mother and
her excited green eyes.
“Hmm?” Belle asked shaking the memory off.
“It is time to dress.” Gyda stood on the natural ledge within the water and
made her way out of the hot springs completely nude. Belle squeaked and covered
her eyes once again.   She could hear Gyda scoffing behind her.
“We have no time for you to be this way. Get out.” There was an edge of
impatience in her tone making Belle fight all instincts to cover her body.
The English woman climbed out of the water quickly, hoping she could cover
herself with her hands before anyone would see her. But before she could cover
herself there were hands on her breasts.
“These are nice. Bigger than mine. You will make a man very happy one day.”
Gyda said while waggling her eyebrows.
Belle gave her a horrified look and was about to ask her to remove her hands
when Dis pushed the auburn haired woman aside and wrapped Belle in a cloth. Dis
rolled her eyes at Gyda and shook her head. Gyda only laughed and stretched her
arms above her curly head. 
Dis turned and pulled a bundle of fabrics out of the basket at her feet and
began to yank one such fabric over Belle's head, stopping when it covered her
breasts. Dis made quick work out of the laces in the back of the strange breast
binder before moving on to underclothes. In a matter of minutes, Belle was
dressed in a simple wool dress with a strange apron over top. Her grandmother's
necklace was pulled out from between her breasts to be displayed against the
Norse cloth adorning her body.
“Where did you get this?” Gyda asked in awe as she held the silver pendant in
her hands.
“It was my grandmother's” Belle whispered. She was silently praying they did
not take it from her. It was all she had left.
“Was your grandmother Norse?” Gyda asked. Dis had come closer and was eyeing
the pendant as well with confusion.
Belle shook her head. “No. she was English. She grew up near the Norse
settlement on the coast of my homeland. She told me stories of it.” Belle
sighed wistfully at the memory of her grandmother's tales.
Gyda and Dis shared a look before a rustling in the bushes caught their
attention.
“Mother. He is ready.” Fili yelled out careful not to invade the women's
bathing times. It was a lesson that had been physically beaten into him when he
was a young cheeky child.
===============================================================================
 
Belle stepped into the wooden house slowly. She was afraid of what awaited her.
Thorin had met them near the house and had been speaking rapidly with Dis as
they neared the door. Fili held tight to Belle's arm while Gyda held the other
side. Dwalin trailed behind ready for the squirrely woman to attempt a half-
assed escape.
Belle's nostrils filled with the scent of blended spices and smoke, the smell
was quite pleasant to her heightened senses. What was not pleasant was the fear
churning within her. The home was dark except for a small fire in the center
pit. A dark figure was sitting on the floor cross-legged with his back turned
to them. It took a moment for Belle's eyes to adjust but when they finally did
she stopped in her tracks. There was no way in heaven or hell she was going to
willingly get any nearer to the cloaked figure. Fili jerked her arm pulling her
around to face the cloaked figure.  When he raised his head and finally removed
his hood Belle took a step back. She wanted to hide behind the human mountain
named Fili, but he held her tightly where she stood.
The cloaked figure stood in one fluid motion and stepped around the fire
towards Belle. Her knees began to shake when he was only a foot away from her.
Slowly his gray hood was pulled back revealing his wrinkled face. He had a long
white beard with long gray and white hair. Belle gasped loudly when she looked
into his eyes...well eye.   He had one eye that was milky white and the other
she could not see because it was covered in mottled flesh that looked like it
had melted down and poured over his eye socket.
“ Kanína (bunny) ?” his voice was gravely and rang with wonder. He reached out
a shaking hand and grabbed one of her tawny curls, wrapping it around his index
finger.
Belle winced heavily at his touch but was too shocked at his words to stay
silent. “How did you know that name? Only my grandmother called me that.” Fili
tightened his grip on her shoulders, fearing she may run.
“þú líturbara eins og henni(you look just like her).” He said softly. He
studied her face with his milky eye, mouth hanging slightly open. Belle looked
to Gyda for an explanation but she was staring at the man in heavy confusion as
well.
“ lítur út eins og hver? (Looks like who?)”  Thorin whispered to Gyda. She
waved at him to shut his mouth while in the presence of the seer/priest.
Thorin’s whisper shook the stupor off of the old seer, he took a step back from
her, dropping his hand and walked slowly towards one of the platforms littered
with pillows and furs. He sat upon it and waved for her to sit across from him.
She put on the brakes when Fili and Gyda both began to drag her forward. Fili
huffed out an annoyed breath before picking her completely up and setting her
down across from the old man. She shrunk away from him as much as possible when
he began to speak.
“Goðin hafa áætlanir um þennan listamann (the gods have plans for this one).
Hún mun koma þér mikinn auð  eða mikill sorg  (she will bring you great wealth
or great sorrow).”  He said in his gravelly voice staring straight ahead into
her face.
“hvað erum við að gera við hana (what are we to do with her)?”  Thorin asked
with thinly veiled contempt for the woman.
The old gray man did not answer for some time. He continued looking at Belle as
if studying every aspect of her face. She fidgeted with her grandmother’s
necklace, a habit she had developed as a child. The old man reached out with
his long fingers and grasped the necklace turning it over in his hands.
“Where did you get this?” He asked her. She was slightly amazed he spoke her
native tongue so well but did not have long to dwell on it.  She was about to
answer when she was cut off my Thorin
“Sennilega stal því (probably stole it).” Thorin growled after Gyda whispered
the translation to him.
“Hún er ekki þjófur, en burglar hún kann að vera (She is no thief, but a
burglar she may be).”  Gothi Grey answered Thorin quietly.
“þeir eru hinir sömu (they are the same).” Thorin argued.
The seer shook his head and released the necklace from his grasp. Belle
released a nervous breath, she had not realized she had been holding it in
while he was touching her.
“ hrafnar eru ekkert eins refi (ravens are nothing like foxes).”  The older man
said sharply, halting any reply Thorin might have made.
The Seer ran his hand in the air in front of Belle’s face. She squeaked at the
action but she was quickly silenced by Gyda putting a hand over her mouth.
“Goðin segja að hún verður áfram (The gods say she is to stay).”  He spoke,
milky white eye still closed.  “það er að vera ákveðið af þeim, ef hún er að
vera meðal vor eður koma aftur til síns fólks fyrir næsta haust (It is to be
decided by them if she is to remain among us forever or return to her people by
the next autumn) .” There was some grumbling over his words and Belle was not
sure if she should be grateful for that or terribly scared. She made a mental
note to ask Gyda to teach her the language, that is if she was going to live
long enough to learn.
“Hermoth mun senda orð örlög hennar fyrir land þíða  (Hermoth will send word of
her fate before the land thaws).”   The milky eye of the old man popped open as
he finished his speech. He looked at Belle for another long moment before
gathering himself up and moving towards the back of the home.
Belle looked around wondering what in the world just happened. She had never
gotten an answer to her question about her grandmother. She was about to say
more when Fili pulled her up from her seat and walked her towards the exit.
“What is happening? Where are we going? Someone tell me what just happened!”
Belle asked frantically. She wanted to know what her fate was, apparently the
old man held it in his hands.
No one answered her, only filed towards the light of day.
“Thorin.” The voice of the priest called the dark haired leader back. Belle
looked over her shoulder trying to ascertain what was going to happen to her.
Perhaps she could get a sign from the old man. “Hún erekkiað skaðast (she is
not to be harmed). Goðinvilja ekki takavel á það (the gods will not take kindly
to it).” Belle was ushered out before she could see the two speaking but she
could hear the old man’s words loud and clear from outside, she only wished she
could understand them. “Hún mun vera mikill nota til þín. Halda henni nálægt
hlið (She will be of great use to you. Keep her near your side).”
Chapter End Notes
     Hermoth is the Norse messenger god. When Gothi Grey says "Hermoth
     will send word of her fate before the land thaws", he is essentially
     saying that a messenger will be visiting them before next spring to
     decide her fate.
     I know this chapter was probably confusing but it all gets explained
     soon.
     Stick with me, it will get better. :)
***** Tauriel *****
Chapter Notes
     Whoohoo! A new chapter.
     This chapter is in Tauriel's point of view.
     Again she is from Ireland so the language her and Belle are speaking
     to one another is Irish Gaelic.
     Each chapter I post will be focused on one character and their view
     of things. Soon all the characters will be speaking the same language
     so bear with me until that point in time. Once Tauriel and Belle have
     learned Norse there will be fewer translations.
     Thank you for your patience and for reading my work.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Tauriel glared at the thought of the man asleep behind her. His arms were
around her in a vice grip. She wanted to cut his large hands off, and possibly
his manhood while she was at it. Tauriel could feel it digging into her
backside. Her snarl was audible as she thought of the pain that muscle could
cause her. The man behind her jerked slightly in his sleep at her snarl but
didn’t wake. He achieved what she thought was the impossible by holding her
even tighter after her noise.
For once in her life, she actually wanted to be home, stuck in her husband’s
kingdom.
Tauriel had not been married long, a mere two years, to the Prince of the
Greenwoods. His father was currently the High King over the land. Tauriel was
given to his son Legolas when she came of age. She had known she would be
Legolas' wife since she was old enough to know what that meant. Her family had
arranged it and she had no choice in the matter. When the Norsemen attacked her
father’s kingdom she had been barely ten years old. Her mother hid her in a
wooden chest in her room and stood guard over it while her father and his army
attempted to fight them back. But her father fell on the bloody battlefield and
her mother fell within the castle, in front of her daughter's eyes.
===============================================================================
 
Tauriel had been playing with her dolls when the bells began to ring. Her head
whipped around towards the sound, then her feet followed as she stumbled to the
window. Bursting through the tree line were men, terrifying men, covered in
furs and tattoos, with long unruly hair and flashing weapons. The leader was
pale with white blonde hair and angry scars upon his face. His voice was
menacing as he ordered his men forwards. The first screams of her people
reached her ears as she ran to her mother’s quarters. She ran down the stone
hallway as quickly as her feet would carry her. When she rounded the last
corner she ran head first into her father's armor-clad chest.
“Stay with your mother. Do not leave her side!” her father barked. He dropped a
single kiss to her forehead and charged out of the castle yelling for his men
to take up arms and fight.
“Mama!” Tauriel had cried out as she flew into the room and shut the door
behind her.
“Tauriel. It will be alright. Our people are strong. They will not fall to the
savages.” Her mother cupped her cheeks and put on a brave face. But Tauriel
could see the fear beneath her mother’s soft features. They held tight to one
another as they listened to the battle raging outside. Time passed quickly and
soon the battle drew closer and then closer still until it reached the doors of
the castle.
“They are coming, my little star.” Her mother whispered. “Get in the trunk. Do
not open it, no matter what you hear! Do you understand?”
“But mama!” The tears poured down her cheeks as she protested her mother.
“No! Do not disobey me on this, Tauriel. I love you too much to see you in the
hands of these animals. Stay in the trunk, promise me?”
 Tauriel couldn’t say anything, she could only nod. She opened the lid of the
oversized trunk filled with linens and buried herself beneath. She could hear
her mother pulling a sword from over the fireplace and stepping in front of the
trunk. Tauriel could see her mother's feet through the cracks in the trunk. Her
mother stood as a sentinel over Tauriel's hiding place.
“Remember your promise Tauriel.” Her mother whispered as they heard feet
pounding up the stairs. “I love you, my little star”
===============================================================================
 
Tauriel shook off the horrible memory of her parent's deaths. She had been
stuck in that trunk for what felt like days until she heard no sounds for many,
many hours. When she finally climbed out she was greeted by the sight of her
dead mother. She sprinted from the halls that ran red with the blood of her
people. There were no survivors within the castle. Tauriel had gone back to the
linen trunk and covered her mother with a white sheet. It was three days from
that time when King Thranduil and his son Prince Legolas came with their army.
When all the dead had been buried and her parents were given respectful burials
she was dragged back to King Thranduil’s kingdom.
Before her parent's death Tauriel had been a carefree happy child, but with
their spirits no longer walking the earth she retreated into herself. The only
person able to get her to speak was the Lord Elrond and at times Legolas.
Legolas had begun to see her differently after her parents passing, he said he
found her more mature. When he had uttered those words aloud she stared at him
blankly until he apologized and left her side. He was older than her, eleven
years older to be exact. He was a warrior in his own right, having stepped onto
the battlefield at the tender age of sixteen. One day Tauriel had found him
training in a clearing in the woods. That was the day Tauriel had fallen in
love. Not with the blonde man in front of her, but with his weapons,
specifically his bow. After much begging, she persuaded him to allow her to
train beside him, as long as the secret was kept from his father.
Tauriel had never entered battle, but she always craved it. When the Norsemen
raided King Thranduil’s kingdom, Tauriel donned her trousers, binders, warpaint
and weapons. She rode out to the front line of the fight. Legolas had begged
her to stay behind but she could not, she thirsted for their heathen blood. She
lost sight of her husband during the fighting. She had killed two Norsemen
before a third snuck up on her and knocked her out. She awoke in the middle of
the sea and fought like hell until she had to be knocked out again. She awoke
when they were approaching the shore of this horrid place.
The sound of a throat clearing behind her brought her back to the present.
‘ Great. The bastard is awake.’  she growled internally.
“ Góðan daginn (good morning)”  His voice was gruff with sleep as he spoke
behind her.
She didn’t understand his words so she chose not to answer, because what was
the point, neither understood one another. A part of her wished she did
understand him, his actions confused her greatly. He showed no fear both times
she attempted to kill him. He had laughed when she pressed the shard of pottery
against his jugular. Then when she spotted a dagger resting on one of his
shelves she had lunged for it while he still slept. He wrestled it from her
proving his great strength, she cursed herself for being impressed with his
quick reflexes and thick muscles. He had fallen back asleep after she had tried
to kill him the second time as if her threats meant nothing to him. He did not
punish her for trying to kill him, he just tugged her back onto the bed and
tightened his hold on her. When he had kissed the shell of her ear she had
begun to fight against his hold once more but he just held her tight until she
grew tired then fell asleep. This Norseman was confusing. He held kindness in
his eyes and she was not sure if she should believe those eyes or not.
“Ertu svangur (are you hungry)? ” he asked her.
Tauriel rolled her hazel eyes from where she was laying in front of him. She
wanted to scream at him that she couldn’t understand him. He must have heard
her thoughts because at that moment he turned her body swiftly so now she was
facing him in the bed of furs. He rubbed his stomach and made an eating motion
with his hands and mouth.
“Svangur?”  He asked again.
She refused to answer him but her body had other plans when her stomach growled
loudly. ‘ Traitor’  she thought.
The Norseman chuckled and sat up pulling her with him. He quickly pulled on his
boots motioning for her to do the same. She did it slowly without taking her
eyes off of him. He was being far too kind to her for her comfort. Tauriel did
not think slaves were given such privileges. She wondered what his goal was. If
he had wanted to rape her he could have tried at any moment last night or this
morning. But he had not tried, he had not touched her inappropriately apart
from the strange soft kisses he had dropped onto her forehead and ear. Well,
and the whole close sleeping arrangement.
He stood and held out his large hand towards her. She glared at him heavily
making him chuckle and go to grab her hand anyway. She slapped his hand away
from her and stood on her own. He chuckled lightly and wrapped his gigantic
hand around her wrist clamping down like a fleshy shackle. He stopped at the
doorway and looked at her body from top to bottom before shaking his head and
turning them both around. He went towards a wicker basket against the wall and
pulled out a tunic.
“settu það á (put it on).” His tone was kind but strong as he thrust the fabric
into her hands.
Just to test her limits Tauriel set her jaw and shook her head defiantly, she
did not need words to understand what he wanted. He rolled his eyes and took
the tunic back. He pulled it over her head, dressing her like a child. She
wanted to fight him, but she truly did need a covering. All she was wearing on
her upper body was her leather binders, she did not need more Norsemen leering
at her than there already were. When the dark haired Norseman was done dressing
her he grabbed her wrist once more and pulled her out towards the light of day.
Tauriel took in her surroundings as they walked, she would need to know which
direction to run when she found a good time to make her escape. They stepped
out of the home to the sound a bustling village.
 The home she had been in was large and made of wood. Much different from the
homes of her native land, the homes here were long, much longer than any other
homes she had seen. The dark haired Norseman attached to her wrist pulled her
forwards into the back door of another building. It appeared they were in the
kitchens of the banquet hall she had been purchased in. The dark haired
Norseman walked towards a plump, tall blonde haired woman working at the
countertop rolling out bread. He dropped a kiss to her round cheek earning him
a laugh from the older woman.
“Kili!” The woman’s voice was cheerful as she pulled the Norseman down by his
cheeks to plant a kiss on the corner of his mouth in a motherly gesture.
Tauriel wondered who this woman was and if “Kili” was the name of the man
beside her.
While the cooking woman and the Norseman were speaking rapidly Tauriel’s eyes
darted around the room looking for a weapon. She spotted a long fillet knife
resting on the table by the plump woman’s hip. Tauriel looked around once more
to make sure no one was watching as prepared to jump for the knife. A sharp tug
on her wrist had her attention diverted. It was the dark haired Norseman
smiling widely at her.
He placed a hand on the plump woman’s shoulder and said “Vinna.” in his deep
voice. Tauriel figured that was the woman’s name not the translation for “cook”
or “baker”. Tauriel bent her head slightly in recognition. Then the dark haired
Norseman seemed to remember something and patted his own chest. “Kili.”
‘ So that is this arsehole’s name.’  she thought.
Kili nodded at her as if to ask her to introduce herself but she did no such
thing. She just continued to stare at him with a single eyebrow raised. His
smile faltered for a second but did not drop. He pulled her towards another
doorway quickly, but a hand on her other wrist had her halting his movements.
She wrenched her hand back from however had just touched her. She saw the kind
blue eyes of the cook woman, Vinna. She placed some flat bread into Tauriel's
hand and smiled kindly at her.
“Of horaður (too skinny) .” The woman said in way of answer before turning back
to her stove.
Kili tugged on Tauriel’s arm again pulling her through the doorway.
‘ Why was she nice to me? What did she say? Am I a slave? What am I to these
people?’  Her mind swirled with questions.
Kili made an excited noise in the back of his throat when he saw a group of
people sitting at a banquet table down the way. He picked up the pace dragging
her faster behind him. Tauriel had had enough of being pulled along like an
animal. She planted her feet and refused to move another step.  Kili turned
back to her in slight surprise. When he detected the defiant set of her jaw he
smirked at her before ducking, pushing his shoulder gently into her midsection
while wrapping his arms around her thighs. He hoisted her up over his shoulder
and carried on his merry way. Tauriel growled loudly at him and hit his wide
muscular back with her fists.
When they reached the others he set her down and smirked at her. She went to
throw a punch at him but he caught her fist mid throw.
“Tsk tsk” he clicked and winked at her. She hated that in that moment she found
him attractive, absolutely hated herself for it.
Tauriel was deep in her self-loathing when Kili forced her to sit at the table
beside the English woman who was staring into a bowl of what Tauriel thought
looked like boiled oats. The English woman looked confused like the oats had
given her a puzzle she could not figure out.  The other men within the meal
hall were greeting Kili with great enthusiasm and speaking rapidly. Tauriel
looked for a chance to run. She knew she could outrun many of these men and
women, Kili was the wild card she was not sure of. He had quick reflexes that
rivaled hers.
“What is your name? ”  The high voice of the woman beside her had Tauriel
jumping slightly. She had not expected the woman to know her people's language.
They had some dealings with the English but that was mostly through the
Christian monks that came to seek solitude along their isles.
“Tauriel.” She answered quietly, shock lacing her tone.
“Your name is pretty.” The English woman told her, peeking up at her through
thick lashes. Tauriel couldn't help but stare at the small beautiful woman. She
resembled a child in so many ways, Tauriel mused that this woman was younger
than her, she must be. Tauriel felt the overwhelming urge to protect this tiny
woman course through her body.
“What is yours?” Tauriel asked when she finally had control of her voice.
“Belledonna. I prefer to be called Belle, though.” The tawny haired woman said.
Tauriel was about to comment when a bowl of food was placed in front of her.
She looked up to her left to see Kili had placed the food in front of her then
moved to sit beside her straddling the wooden bench they all sat upon. He
smiled warmly at her and began to shovel the food into his mouth. He had no
semblance of manners as he ate. He just shoveled the food in sloppily. Some of
it dripped down into his stubble and plump bottom lip before he scooped it up
with his fingers then proceeded to lick it off.  She grimaced at him, he only
winked in return. Tauriel decided her best course of action was to ignore the
man. She looked at Belle eating slowly and properly, much too proper for
Tauriel’s comfort but at least the tiny woman had manners.
“Are you sure it is not poison?” Tauriel asked Belle. She did not trust any
aspect of these savage people.
Belle looked up at her and shrugged slightly with a sad smile on her face. “If
it is, it would be a blessing. But it is not. They won’t let me kill myself, I
doubt they are going to do it themselves.”
Tauriel was shocked by the woman’s admission. Tauriel had never thought to take
her own life when she came here, all she could think of was fighting her way
out, life still intact.  The two ate quietly as those around them were
boisterous. When a thin but muscular auburn haired woman sat across from Belle
and began to speak to her rapidly Tauriel became nervous. The woman was the one
Tauriel had tried to stab. Tauriel recognized the warrior in the other woman,
she was a fighter and a fierce opponent.
‘ I could beat her’  Tauriel mused looking at the auburn haired woman.
Tauriel was surprised when Belle burst into tears. Tauriel stared at her for a
moment before putting her arms around her and pulling her into her side to cry.
“What is it?” Tauriel asked her softly. She knew they were being watched, by
all within the banquet hall.
“They are keeping me or they will sell me back to Smaug.” Belle cried. A blonde
Norseman went to pull Belle away from Tauriel but a fierce growl from the
redheaded woman had him questioning his actions. Kili said something to the man
and he backed off but still hovered.
“Who is Smaug?” Tauriel wondered aloud.
“A horrible man, a deplorable king.” Belle sniffled loudly. “And my husband.”
Tauriel sat back in shock. She knew many women were forced into horrible
marriages, but these women were normally nobles of high standing. Which meant
that Belle was not only a noble but was a Queen. Tauriel herself was in line to
be a queen but her marriage was not horrible, it just lacked romantic love and
passion. Legolas had been indifferent towards her until she was twelve, then he
acted as more of a friend or brother. When they married it had taken everything
in her to consummate the marriage. She had felt like she was being forced to
sleep with her brother and that was truly disturbing. Legolas did not mind it
as much, when they were forced to begin trying for an heir she would imagine
herself anywhere but in that bed. It was not that she hated him or he was mean
to her, but it was awkward and slightly nauseating. She preferred being
friends, without the physicality.
“No one will answer my questions. I am terribly frustrated.” Belle whimpered.
Tauriel nodded, she had not asked any questions because she knew no one
understood her, until now.
“How do you speak my native tongue, Queen Belle?” Tauriel asked.
“Please do not call me that,” Belle asked softly. “Just Belle.” The green eyes
of the woman flitted around the room as if they were scared of who had heard
her. “I read a lot when I was younger. I learned many languages. There were
monks that visited your lands and came back with texts of your language. My
mother and father allowed me to learn it.”
Tauriel was surprised, women were not regularly allowed to obtain that much
knowledge. “I am glad they did.” She told the small woman sincerely.
Belle looked up at her with a shy smile “Me too.”
A tug on Tauriel’s wrist had her tensing for a fight. It was Kili attempting to
get her attention. She glared heavily at him hoping it would wipe the smile off
of his face. But her scowl did nothing to deter him. He smiled wider and pulled
her closer to him. She wrenched her body back away from him and back towards
Belle. The action pushed the little woman to the floor with a loud squeak. In a
flurry of activity, Tauriel rose to help the woman up but there were already
hands there, large scarred hands. He picked Belle up and pulled her behind him.
Tauriel saw his hand rise to strike her hard across the face, she squeezed her
eyes shut in preparation but the hit never came. There was a body in front of
hers, a large body that acted as a fleshy wall.
“Það var slys, frændi. (it was an accident, Uncle)”  Kili said to the raven
haired man in a soothing tone.  “ Hún ætlaði ekki skaða (she did not mean any
harm)".
 
Tauriel had no idea what he said but she wanted to slap him for trying to
protect her. She was strong! She could take a slap from this man. She did not
need Kili to protect her, she did not need anyone to protect her.
Kili’s words seemed to soothe the large raven haired man. He lowered his hand
but did not drop his fierce glare.
“ Halda henni í línu, Kili (Keep her in line, Kili). Ég get samt gefa hana
aftur til Sigurd (I can still give her back to, Sigurd).”  The man’s voice
dripped with fury and authority. Tauriel felt slight fear rise within her when
his voice reached her ears.
Kili nodded once and turned back towards her. He turned her shoulders and sat
her back down on the wooden bench.
“I am sorry Belle,” Tauriel said to the woman who was now being led away by the
tall raven-haired leader.
“I am fine. Just fine.” Belle said quickly. Tauriel was not sure if she was
reassuring Tauriel or herself.
The red headed woman watched as Belle was led out of the large wooden
structure. Belle looked back at Tauriel, her green eyes wide with fear before
she was pulled out of view.
“Where are they taking her?” Tauriel asked in alarm. She turned her eyes
towards Kili wishing for once he could understand her.
His dark brows were knitted in confusion as he tried to decipher what she had
said. Tauriel pointed towards where Belle had just gone. “Where. Are. They.
Taking. Belle?” She said the words slow and louder hoping that they would
convey anything.
Kili followed her finger that was pointing towards the door.
“Hún er örugg (she is safe)”  his deep voice answered.
Tauriel was so frustrated and scared, not that she would admit it. Tauriel
wanted to strike him, first for protecting her when she didn't need it and
second for looking at her like she hung the moon. She could see the softness in
his eyes when he looked at her, it made her want to cut out those large brown
eyes with a sharp knife. Instead, she settled for trying to follow Belle.
Tauriel made it as far as the door before Kili caught her. His large hands
clamped harshly on her upper arms, wrapping almost completely around. Tauriel
attempted to fight him but he overpowered her easily, once again.
“Belle!” Tauriel screamed loudly. “Belle!!!!” she felt strange for being so
attached to a woman she had just met but there was something comforting about
someone in the same situation as you that also happened to be the only one that
understood your language.
“ Hættu (Stop)! ” Kili bellowed in a voice loud enough to wake the dead.
Tauriel ceased her screaming and struggling in shock at how loud he was. He
took a deep breath and shook his head. “ Ég mun taka þig til hennar (I will
take you to her). " She understood his words when he nodded his head towards
the door. He held on to her hand like a lover would when they stepped out of
the wooden building.
‘ What is he doing? What makes him think he can hold onto me in this manner? I
didn’t even let my husband hold my hand!’  Tauriel raged internally and tried
to yank her hand away. The harder she tried to pull away the tighter he held
on. Her fingers were turning bright red by the time she gave in. Every few
steps they took he would loosen his hold ever so slightly until he stopped at a
comfortable compromise. Still too tight for her to be comfortable but he was
still attached to her hand so he was happy. She felt a thrill run through her
when he began running his calloused thumb over her knuckles and looking at her
out of the corner of his eye with a large smile on his face; it made her hate
him even more. They were walking around a marketplace of sorts while she looked
everywhere for Belle. The tiny woman was nowhere to be found.
“Belle?” Tauriel asked in a demanding tone.
The Norseman nodded and held up a finger as if to say "give me a moment". She
tugged at her hand again trying to get away but then the pressure was back. She
rolled her eyes and huffed loudly while waiting.
“föstnuð mín”  she heard Kili speaking and looked to see him gesturing to her
while speaking rapidly in his strange tongue to a young looking man with copper
hair. She growled in response eliciting a startled look from the teenager and a
laugh from Kili.
“Ori” Kili said and patted the chest of the copper haired man. Tauriel gave him
a look of pure boredom saying nothing in response. He repeated the action
multiple times looking for any response from the woman. After five repeats of
the same scene, she rolled her eyes and gave the two men a fake smile that
resembled more of a grimace. Kili laughed loudly at her display as if she
amused him greatly, the other man looked scared out of his mind. It made
Tauriel smile a truly genuine smile. She cursed herself for it a moment later
when the blindingly beautiful smile of Kili broke out. It appeared he liked
when she smiled.
“Belle.” She said and glared at him. “Take me to Belle. Now.” She growled
knowing full well he wouldn’t understand her. It was frustrating, to say the
least. He did understand the English woman’s name so she considered that a
success.
“Hún veit Belle (She knows Belle)? ” The copper haired man asked in shock. ‘
His name is Ori’  she told herself. Like she could forget after the
ridiculously repetitive nonsense Kili subjected her to seconds ago.
“Belle talar tungumál eyjanna (Belle speaks the language of the islands).”     
Whatever Kili had said to the teenager made him extremely excited, Tauriel
noticed. The copper-haired young man in that moment reminded her of a young
child that was getting a sweet treat. It would have been cute if he had not
been one of the savages.
“Má ég ganga með þér? Mig langar til að tala við Belle (May I walk with you? I
would like to speak with Belle).”
Tauriel watched the two of them with contempt. Kili nodded at whatever the man
said and then began to lead them back in the direction of the home she had
slept in. ‘ where was he taking me before? Why the markets?’  she wondered
angrily.
When they approached the home Tauriel was able to see the pure enormity of it.
It was absolutely huge and boasted beautiful carvings along the roof overhang.
Back home their houses were mostly made of stone, straw, and mud with some
lumber, but here the home looked to be made almost entirely out of lumber with
mud in the free space to keep the heat it. The home was much longer than it was
tall, it was truly astounding.  Tauriel had not realized she had been stopped
the entire time she was staring at the home.
“Ég mun reisa þér upphefja heimili ef það myndi þóknast þér (I will build you
an even grander home if it would please you) ” Kili whispered to her. Before
she could react he placed a soft kiss on her cheek. She turned and scowled at
him heavily while using the other hand to wipe at the invisible kiss causing
him to chuckle once again.
He tugged her along once more towards the back of the longhouse. When they
reached the other side she saw farmland, lots of it. There were smaller houses
spread out around the land in what looked like a protective ring. She could
barely see the other houses for the land was immense. There were crops of every
kind in the fields. She saw multiple slaves working in the fields. They
appeared to be well fed and surprisingly clean. The only reason she could tell
they were slaves was because of the leather collars around their necks.
Absently she rubbed at her own neck remembering the way that collar had felt
when she was brought to this god forsaken place. She was surveying the land
when she caught sight of Belle sitting in front of a large loom with the auburn
haired woman Tauriel had tried to kill yesterday.
Tauriel tried once again unsuccessfully to pull away from large Norseman
attached to her hand. She growled in frustration at him and tried a different
tactic. She tightened her hold on his hand and began to drag him towards the
loom. Kili's chuckling followed as she huffed and puffed pulling his large body
towards Belle. When he had gotten his fun he began to walk normally, no longer
putting up resistance, making the trip quicker.
Tauriel ground her teeth together in an attempt to hold back her scream of
frustration.
“Tauriel. I'm glad you are here.” Belle told her softly from where she was
sitting in front of the loom.
“Me too. Are you okay? Did they hurt you?” Tauriel asked her quietly not that
she needed to. No one understood them, as far as she knew.
“No, they didn't harm me. Just...a little rougher than I'm used to.” Belle said
quietly as she rubbed at her arms.
Tauriel nodded her head feeling the hand tightly clamped on her wrist. She
would no doubt have bruises on her pale skin because of this Norseman's large
hands.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a woman with raven hair and shockingly
blue eyes walk up to them. She was tall in stature, taller than Tauriel, and
quite muscular for a woman.
“móðir (mother)” Kili smiled warmly at the woman. Tauriel turned to face her
fully and recognized who she was immediately. This was the woman sitting beside
the man that purchased her. She also bore a strong resemblance to Kili. ' His
mother perhaps? Or an aunt?’
“Ef hún er að lifa á meðal okkar hún verður að vinna. sitja hana á útlit með
enska einn (If she is to live among us she must work. Sit her at the loom with
the English one)”  the woman's voice was deeper than Tauriel was accustomed to.
Kili agreed with whatever the woman said but clearly was not thrilled with it.
He walked Tauriel towards the loom and attempted to make her sit beside Belle.
She refused to sit instead standing ramrod straight absolutely immovable.
Lessons on survival from Legolas came to her mind.
“ Never give your back to your opponent.”, “stay on your feet.” , “always have
an escape plan”,  he had told her constantly. She could almost hear his voice
now screaming at her to resist.
If she sat, there was no way she would be able to protect herself properly.
Tauriel  didn't have long to think on it when a blow to the back of her knees
had her falling forward. She landed on her knees and prepared for a fight but
there was no need because Kili was screaming at the auburn haired woman that
had just knocked Tauriel to her knees with a piece of wood. The auburn haired
woman smirked at Kili then turned to Belle speaking rapidly in another tongue.
Tauriel was so confused by the ruckus that she did not think much on Kili
attempting to protect her. Her heart did a funny thump when she saw how enraged
he was for her.
“Gyda says, ‘ we are even now’”  Belle translated awkwardly.
Tauriel nodded at the smirking auburn haired woman. She  had  tried to stab the
woman to death, Tauriel appreciated the woman’s gusto. Her legs stung like a
hundred bees, but she could not deny that she had a type of understanding with
this woman and even respected her some.
The raven haired woman put a stop to all of the fuss around them and began to
mime what they wanted Belle and her to do with the loom in front of them.
Belle, being a good noble woman, knew how to sew and use a loom but Tauriel did
not. She preferred archery, horseback riding, and sunshine. Belle took to the
loom work much quicker than Tauriel did. It was busy work for Tauriel, she used
this time to look for an escape route. She took note of where certain homes
were, climbable trees she could hide in if necessary and what plants grew in
the vicinity.
While they sat there for hours working Belle and Tauriel spoke little. Mostly
because the copper haired Ori took up hours of Belle's time asking her
questions, from the sound of it. Kili stayed nearby at all times. Tauriel could
see him checking on her from the corner of his eyes as he worked. She almost
convinced herself he was worried about keeping her safe rather than worried
about keeping her prisoner. Tauriel chastised herself when she felt desire
bloom between her legs at the sight of the dark-haired Norseman. He had removed
his shirt and was working in the field near her, using a scythe to harvest the
wheat growing almost hip high. His muscles rippled with the movement, while
sweat made tracks down his back. She had not realized she was staring until a
sharp cough beside her had shifting her eyes away quickly. When she was sure
her blush had subsided she looked up to see Belle smiling softly at her.
“They are built much different than your people too?”
Tauriel shrugged nonchalantly while her mind screamed  ‘Yes! No man back home
looks like that!’
===============================================================================
 
When the sun began to make its descent out of the sky everyone started to wrap
up their projects. Ori had left with what Tauriel guessed had been a promise to
speak more to Belle. He bid Tauriel a skittish goodbye with her glaring in
return making the man scurry away quickly. Belle had chastised her about that
being “rude”, Tauriel could not bring herself to care.
“Rude is ripping people from their homes and killing their loved ones.” she had
countered back effectively shutting up the tawny-hairedEnglishh woman.
“ Svangur (hungry)?” Kili’s deep voice sounded behind her. She chose to ignore
him completely and follow after where Belle was being led by the blonde
norseman she had seen Belle beside many times. Tauriel absently wondered if
perhaps the blonde had an infatuation with the woman, he was awfully touchy
with her. Always checking her over for wounds, touching her hair and even
holding her tiny hands on occasion. Speaking of holding hands Tauriel felt a
hand grasp hers. She stopped in her tracks and threw her head back in
frustration.
“I am not your lover, stop treating me as such!” She practically screamed.
Kili grinned at her widely giving her hand an extra squeeze as if he did not
notice her anger at all. Tauriel absently heard the blonde norseman asking
Belle a question in what she assumed was choppy english, but she could not be
sure. It all blended together for her. Then the blonde Norseman laughed loudly
before gazing over his shoulder at Kili.
“ Hún sagði að hún er ekki elskhugi, litli bróðir þinn (She said she is not
your lover, little brother)!” His deep voice bounced off the surrounding trees.
Kili frowned momentarily at whatever the wide Norseman said and turned to look
at Tauriel with a loving look. “kannski ekki enn, en einhvern tíma ... bráðum.
(perhaps not yet, but someday...soon)”  He pressed one of those strange kisses
to her forehead that made her confused and received an elbow to the stomach for
his trouble. He made a small whooshing sound as air left his lungs in surprise
then broke out in a chuckle. He threw his arm over her shoulders and pulled her
towards where the others had walked ahead.
===============================================================================
 
Dinner was a frightening affair for Tauriel and she was sure it was for Belle
as well. Belle was pulled up next to the large raven-haired leader while
Tauriel was left beside Kili and the blonde. She figured out his name was Fili
and he was indeed Kili’s brother as she suspected by their near identical
names. There were many more people in the dining hall than Tauriel found
comfortable. She noticed that most of them were workers from the fields that
day. She saw the auburn haired woman named Gyda, sitting on the lap of a large
tattooed man’s lap. The two were overt in their affections towards each other,
latching mouths and groping one another in the open.
There was the cook she had met that morning that had been kind to her, Vinna
her name was, sitting with an equally robust man. He had bright red hair with a
braided beard, his name was Bombur. They had little children with them that
Tauriel found cute against her better judgement. There were two men sitting
with Vinna and the redheaded man. Both dark haired with braids, one with more
gray in his long hair but both had equally scared faces, Bifur and Bofur.
Two gray haired men sat at the long table one near the leader, his name was
Balin, the other named Oin at the opposite end beside a ginger haired man with
a blonde haired woman and a ginger haired young man. She heard the young boy
called “Gimli” she believed it was a name not a word for “little boy” as the
other children in attendance were not called as such. 
Tauriel spotted Ori beside another copper haired Norseman that was wearing some
sort of black face paint over his eyes and was eating with his daggers instead
of a fork, she would give anything for one of those daggers at this moment.
Kili had told her his name was Nori. On Ori’s opposite side was a pale blonde
haired man, named Dori, that was staring at her and Belle’s as if they were the
ones who had forced themselves into this situation. She rolled her eyes at him
when he tried to glare at her. That had earned her a laugh from Kili who was
running his large hand up and down her back as they ate their meal of chicken,
cheese and bread. Tauriel had tried multiple times to get him to stop touching
her, but he only smiled at her and nodded at whatever she said before going
back to doing whatever he wanted. It made her ridiculously angry, but all she
could do is be thankful he was not raping her...yet.
When dinner was over Tauriel breathed a sigh of relief until she realized she
and Belle were being led back into the longhouse they had slept in the night
before. She dreaded what was to come, thinking that this was truly going to be
the time he forced himself upon her.
But she was proven wrong yet again.
Kili held on tight to her hand as he pulled her through the curtain of his
room. Tauriel watched Belle being led across the hall by the blonde savage. He
had his large arm wrapped around her shoulders and was speaking that same
broken tongue he had talked to her in earlier. Once he led Belle inside he
turned back to close the curtain fully. Fili caught Tauriel’s worried eyes, she
was only worried for Belle (at least that is what she told herself), and winked
at her. She scowled darkly at him making him chuckle once again before
disappearing.
Warm hands settled on her shoulders as she was thinking of the many ways to
maim the blonde man. Tauriel growled in frustration when the warm hands refused
to leave her body. She braced herself for Kili’s hands to drift lower into
inappropriate areas but they never did. They stayed on her waist and pulled her
towards the bed. He handed her a bundle of fabric to change into and purposely
turned his back for her to have privacy.
“No.” She said angrily. Tauriel knew she desperately needed to change but she
did not want to give him an even easier time of raping her. “A dress? Why would
I put this on? Why would I make this easier for you?” she screeched.
Kili turned around at her angry tone and cocked his head to the side trying to
understand her. She held up the dress and shook her head angrily. “No.” the
redhead said again.
His dark brows pulled together in confusion and he stepped towards her. He went
to pull at the bottom of her borrowed tunic but she stepped back from him. He
followed her steps doing a strange evasive dance. He caught her when she was
against the wall and was able to get her shirt over her head. But he was not
expecting her fist to make contact with his jaw or her knee with his stomach.
“NO!” She screamed and pushed against him once more. She threw the dress on the
bed and prepared for another fight.
Kili’s shoulders slumped ever so slightly making Tauriel want to simultaneously
jump for joy and chastise herself for making him sad. He turned and rummaged
through another basket pulling out a long tunic and a pair of trousers. Both
would be swimming on her but she was grateful it was not a dress. She nodded at
him when he handed them to her. He turned away from her, rubbing his jaw as he
waited for her. She pulled on the tunic and trousers finding that she was
indeed right, they were swimming on her. Tauriel thought of running, she tensed
her muscle ready to run, even if it was barefooted, but that was the moment
Kili chose to face her again.
Kili smiled at her, though it did not reach his eyes; he pulled her to the bed
covered in furs and blankets. She was stiff as a board, tensed for another
fight but there was none. He rolled her onto her side and pulled her against
his warm naked chest. She was grateful he at least kept his trousers on.
Tauriel stayed awake until she was sure he was in a deep slumber before finally
allowing herself to fall into her exhaustion.
‘ Maybe I will be able to escape tomorrow…’
Chapter End Notes
     I got the idea for the scene with Kili and the scythe from Poldark,
     if any of you watch that show. :)
     Comments and suggestions are always welcome!
***** Belle *****
Chapter Notes
     Fili and Belle's relationship will be further explained soon but for
     now, enjoy. :)
The next two weeks passed in a blur for Belle. She woke up in Fili’s bed (which
was still extremely uncomfortable for her), sat beside Tauriel at breakfast,
worked at the loom or within the home with the raven-haired woman of the
household. She assumed the woman named, Dis was Thorin’s wife but she couldn’t
be sure. They were loving but not overly so, they never touched intimately in
public making her unsure of her conclusion.
‘You never touched your husband either unless absolutely necessary’  A small
voice spoke within her.
Belle shuttered at the memory of Smaug. She prayed he had thought her long
dead, Belle could not imagine a worse fate than going back with him. Even being
among the Norsemen had not been as bad as it was within the chilly stone halls
of Smaug’s castle. Among the Norsemen she was afraid at every turn, worried
about what was to come next and confusion blanketed every other emotion in
between. But one thing she had with the Norsemen that she did not have back in
England was a sense of hope. She had hope that she could escape the Norsemen,
she had hope that someday she would be free and she had hope that one day she
could live for herself, not having to worry about a domineering husband or the
need to produce an old bastard king’s heirs.
Belle had begun to make friends among the Norseman, surprising herself. She had
already reached a sisterly like friendship with the redheaded woman named
Tauriel. Their friendship was born out of mutual fear, distrust, and anger
towards the Norsemen. But Belle did not consider just Tauriel as her friend,
Belle was beginning to find a strange type of kinship with the auburn-haired
Gyda and even a mutual scholarly comradery with the copper-headed Ori. During
breaks, meals and even downtimes before Belle was dragged to bed, the gangly
Norseman, named Ori, was peppering Belle with questions about her language and
answering questions of her own in turn. She had started learning simple things,
like items they were working with. For example;ull (wool), hvernig (hoe), hnif
(knife), vatn (water).Next came their lessons on how to converse. Belle had
shocked Ori with her will to learn as well as the speed at which she obtained
knowledge. She was a sponge that continued to soak up whatever knowledge he
offered and did not need to be told twice before mastering it completely, she
had called it "near perfect recall". It was truly astounding to him. He had
shared his excitement with Balin who had let it slip to Thorin.
This had caused quite a ruckus one evening.
The dark-haired Norseman leader stormed into the large dining room where the
normal group was converged eating their nighttime meal. Ori was speaking
rapidly with Belle about the food sitting in front of them when Thorin stormed
into the building barking for Ori.
“Hvers vegna ert þú að kenna henni tunguna okkar, Ori? (Why are you teaching
her our tongue, Ori?)”
The room went utterly silent, Belle could practically hear the sweat beginning
to drip from Ori’s face.
Thorin began to stomp closer to Ori and picked the gangly young man up by his
collar, bringing him to a standing position.
“ Ég-ég-ég  hélt að það gæti veriðgagnlegt fyrir hanaaðvitat. (I-I-I thought it
could be helpful for her to know)” the young man stuttered.
“ hvernig gat "sem einn" að vera í notkun vita tungumál okkar ? (How could
"that one" be of use knowing our language?)” Thorin growled menacingly.
Belle felt her hackles rise. She knew they were speaking of her and it hurt
worse than she cared to admit how he refused to acknowledge her by her name.
Her sword-like tongue came slashing out before she could stop herself.
“þetta hefur nafn, það er Belle ! (This one has a name, it is Belle, in case
you forgot!)”  Belle growled in near perfect Norse stunning all of those around
her.
There was cackling towards the back of the room, a quick shift of her eyes
showed that it was the face painted Nori laughing at her antics. The man was
mad as a hatter.
Thorin released Ori’s collar and stepped closer to Belle, rage written all over
his face.  “Égmun hringjaí þig það sem égvil! Ég er Jarl,ogþú ert lítillátur
þræll (I will call you what I wish! I am the Jarl and you are nothing but a
lowly slave).” He growled.
Belle’s self-preservation had not kicked in yet apparently because her next
words shocked even herself. “ Er ég (am I)?  VegnaGothi Grey sagðiekkert sem
heitir(because Gothi Grey said no such thing).”
“Mér eralveg sama umfanciful orðum sjáanda. (I do not care for the fanciful
words of the seer)” Thorin roared at her.
“þú lýgur! ( you lie!)” Belle screamed back. Her entire body was practically
shaking.
There was a collective gasp that rushed through the room at her words. It was
then that Belle’s self-preservation decided to make a very late entrance. She
shrunk backward as Thorin raised a hand to strike her. A flash of auburn hair
was in front of her and she was being pulled backward by thin arms around her
waist. The sound of the slap was the only thing heard throughout the dining
hall. Belle didn’t feel it because the slap had not actually landed on her.
Jarl Thorin had hit the wife of Dwalin. Gyda ran the back of her hand over her
bloodied lip and snarled up at the significantly taller ruler. Belle stared in
shock as everything stood still in time then sped up. Thorin looked down at
Gyda in shock just as Dwalin jumped over the large table to defend his wife’s
honor. Fili and Kili had grasped Thorin by his muscled arms and pulled him away
from the woman he had just stuck as well as the angry husband that was as
furious as an enraged bear. Dis had stepped in between the two while the rest
of the dining hall watched in utter shock.
“ Þú gætir þakka mér núna. Égspara bara rassúrheimimeiða! (You may thank me
now. I just saved your ass from a world of hurt.)” Gyda sneered at Thorin.
Belle could barely understand everything that was being said. They were
screaming and speaking so swiftly she was having a hard time catching any of
the words being hurled back and forth. The arms around her waist tightened
around her causing her to look back. She saw the pale freckles across the
bridge of Tauriel’s nose first then her angry hazel eyes. The eyes were not
directed at Belle herself, they were staring daggers at the raven-haired Jarl.
“What have I done…” Belle whispered to herself as the room completely exploded
in loud shouts from every side. She felt herself moving before she registered
that she was, in fact, being carried from the room. Belle had been so engrossed
in the fighting that she had not realized Tauriel was carrying her through a
back door.
“Where are we going?” Belle asked Tauriel in the language of the islands.
“We are using their distraction to our advantage,” Tauriel said simply and
rushed out into the fresh air.
“They will kill us if they find us, and they will find us Tauriel. I am not as
fast as you. I am not meant to survive out here without provisions. Go without
me. You will get caught if you try to bring me.”Belle begged her friend.
“I will not leave you with these monsters!” Tauriel growled and continued
towards the fields.
The sun had set and they stumbled in the dark, well Belle stumbled and Tauriel
continued on as if she floated on air. They had just made their way through the
treeline when a dark figure stepped out from behind a large tree.  Belle wished
she had been able to control herself but she couldn’t, she let out an ear-
piercing scream. Tauriel jumped near out of her skin at the noise but managed
to fare far better than Belle. She stepped in front of the smaller English
woman and raised her fists ready to defend them both from the hooded stranger.
“Kanîna (bunny) ? What are you doing out here?” The gravely voice of the one-
eyed seer did nothing to soothe either of the women’s nerves. Once again the
tall old man was speaking English to her. She was about to answer him or run
from him when they heard shouting voices and running feet approaching from
behind. Belle could feel the shoulders of her taller redheaded companion
stiffen when she heard Kili yelling her name.
“Go Tauriel. Go!” Belle whispered to her friend. The redhead shook her head
letting it hang ever so slightly in disappointment.
“I can’t go without you,” Tauriel whispered as she turned towards her with sad
eyes.
“Ég fann þá! (I found them!)” Kili reached them first, him being the quickest
of all of the Norsemen.
Belle gripped Tauriel’s hand desperately afraid of what was to come. Just as
the others broke through the trees carrying torches, with a very terrifying
looking Thorin in the lead.
“ Ah, Thorin.” The seer called out to the Jarl. “ The Gods hefur verið að
hvísla að mér allt kvöldið um þig. (The Gods have been whispering to me all
evening about you.)”
Belle shivered at the angry tone the seer used when addressing the Jarl. Thorin
had the good grace to look slightly ashamed by Gothi Grey’s words.
“Hvað ertu aðgerahér, Gothi? (what are you doing here, Gothi?)” Thorin asked.
“Ganga þessi snyrtifræðingur í fersku lofti. Ég hélt að það myndi gera þeim
gott. (Walking these beauties in the fresh air. I thought it would do them
good.)” He answered without hesitation.
Belle looked at him sharply wondering why he would lie for them. He turned his
hooded head towards her, in the moonlight, she could see him wink his one milky
eye at her as a small smirk flashed on his lips, then it was gone before she
could blink.
Thorin glared at the seer with suspicion ringing in his eyes. “Þeir vildu ekki
hlaupa? (they didn’t run?)”
Gothi pursed his lips and shook his head. “Nei ég hringdi til þeirra frá
afturvirkt máltíðina sal. (No. I called to them from the back door of the meal
hall.)”
He lied so seamlessly Belle thought he might be telling the truth.
“What is he saying?” Tauriel whispered.
“He is lying for us,” Belle whispered back quietly.
“Why?” Tauriel asked in a shocked tone.
“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. Belle wished she knew. The old man was
shrouded in mystery. She wondered many things about Gothi Grey. She wondered
how he had lost his eye. How he knew of her grandmother’s nickname for Belle
and the most present question currently, why was he protecting her and Tauriel?
Thorin made a “hmph” sound at Gothi’s words but chose wisely not to question
them.  “Fili, Kili,” Thorin called. The two young men stepped forward. “ taka
þá í hús (take them to the house.)”
Fili grasped Belle tightly on her upper arm as Kili grasped Tauriel’s hand and
the two were led towards the Longhouse. Belle looked over her shoulder and saw
a pained expression cross Gothi Grey’s eyes as he saw her being walked
away, bringing even more questions to her mind.
===============================================================================
 
Belle settled into the large bed and stared up at the wooden ceiling. Fili
quickly undressed and crawled under the covers beside her.
“Will I ever get to sleep alone?” Belle grumbled mostly to herself. The quiet
laugh beside her made her realize she spoke louder than intended.
“Someday,” Fili told her. Belle and Fili had been using a few minutes every
night before bed to go over his English. He had improved greatly in the last
two weeks.
“Ori is not to teach you more,” Fili spoke suddenly after a few moments.
Belle sat up on her elbows and looked over at the blond Norseman. He was
shirtless with both hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling as she was
doing moments ago.
“What do you mean?”
“No more Norse for you,” he told her in his heavy accent. His ice blue eyes
flicked towards hers in the darkness.
Belle felt like she might just cry. She wanted to understand what was being
said around her. She had learned so much and Ori was such a great teacher. It
was one of the main things that had kept her busy enough not to slip into
complete and utter despair.  
“Well from Ori.” Fili amended. He turned onto his side with his head propped up
on one of his hands.
Belle gave him a confused look and he chuckled in return. “I do not fear
Thorin. I will teach you.” He told her softly and brushed an errant tawny curl
from her forehead. It was not a romantic gesture, it was almost...brotherly.
“Truly?”
Fili nodded. He grunted in surprise a second later when her body slammed into
his. She had her arms wrapped around him and was attempting to squeeze him to
death. His laughter ran through the entire house at the actions of the little
woman.
“Thank you,” Belle told him softly as she attempted to hold back her tears of
gratitude.
Fili nodded once again. “You must do something for me in return.”
“Anything.” She spoke rapidly without much thought. Now the horrible things he
could ask her to do drifted through her mind making her cringe.
“Tell me…” He began. “Why did Gothi Grey lie for you? And why does he name you
after the furry animal of the forest floor?”
Belle thought for a moment. “Furry animal of the forest floor?” She had no idea
what he meant by that. She had never truly known the meaning of  Kanîna . Her
grandmother had never told her.
Fili seemed to concentrate for a moment before he rose from the bed and walked
towards one of the baskets in the corner. She heard some ruffling before he
came back to her carrying some sort of fur. He sat with his back against the
woven headboard while she examined the fur in her hands.
“Is this rabbit?” She quietly asked herself. Belle looked up at Fili with a
questioning glance. He shrugged his shoulders in response. “Is it rabbit?” she
asked him this time.
“Rabbit?” He played with the words in his mouth. Belle watched as he brought
his hands up to his head and raised his pointer fingers, miming out long ears
of a rabbit.
Belle couldn’t help herself, the vision of the large menacing Norseman
pretending to be a rabbit made her break out in loud chortles. His answering
deep chuckles made her feel a sense of safety she could not quite explain, even
to herself. When the two had finally calmed down slightly they laid back in the
bed both staring at the ceiling.
“So  Kanîna  means rabbit?” Belle asked again.
“Yes. But it is a…” He was having a hard time explaining what he had in his
mind. “It is a name you give a child or one you have heart for.”
“Oh! Little Bunny!” She felt her confusion grow even more with the true meaning
of the nickname.
“Why does Gothi name you  Kanîna ?” Fili asked once again.
Belle sighed loudly before answering. “I do not know why he does. It is a name
my grandmother Adamanta called me when she was alive.”
Fili rolled onto his side and gazed at the green eyed girl in front of him.
“She was one of my people?”
“No. She was one of my people. Why do you ask?”
Fili reached out and grasped the pendant that Belle kept between her breasts at
all times. She shrunk away from him ever so slightly, her fear of him touching
her inappropriately rising to the front of her mind once again. His hands did
not stray farther, they only held her grandmother’s pendant softly, well as
softly as a man his size was able.
“This is a pendant of my people. She called you a name of my people.” He
explained brokenly.
“Huh. Well, she lived in Wessex near the Norse settlement, she must have picked
those up there.” She answered more to herself than Fili.
The blonde Norsemen jerked slightly at the town name of Wessex. She was about
to ask him if he knew of it but she was afraid of the answer. Wessex was
constantly raided by the Norsemen, she did not want to know if he had been
there or what he had done there.
“Why did Gothi lie for you?” He changed the subject before she could decide if
she wanted to ask him about Wessex or not.
“He didn’t lie for me.” She whispered into the darkness.
Fili snorted and rolled his eyes. “You lie bad.”
Belle knew that was the truth, she had never truly been able to lie well. Her
brightly blushing cheeks normally gave her away or a cracking in her voice did
the trick. She had been told more than once that her eyes twitched when she
lied, but she was not sure what gave her away this time. She thanked god above
when Fili did not press her. He only closed his eyes and began to drift to
sleep. Her eyes slowly closed as well at the gentle sounds of his soft snores
rocked her to sleep.
===============================================================================
 
Belle awoke cold for the first time since being ripped away from her homeland.
She attempted to snuggle deeper into the furs but it made her no warmer.
Belle’s eyes popped open when she realized that the reason she was so cold was
because she was alone. Fili was not curled around her like he normally was when
she awoke. It confused her a great deal more than she would like to admit. She
pulled back the covers and slipped out of bed barefoot. The home was quiet
making her think perhaps she was alone in the entire home. Belle stuck her
tawny head out of the doorway pulling aside the fabric curtain that granted her
some privacy on some occasions. There was not a sound out of the doorway. She
crept into the hallway on silent feet and debated with herself for quite a time
on whether or not she should look into Kili’s room. She gathered her courage
and pulled aside their curtain to see Kili wrapped around Tauriel tightly, both
of them in a heavy slumber. What surprised her was the serene look on the
beautiful redheaded woman’s face.
Kili had his body tightly curved against Tauriel’s back, almost like two
identical spoons. He had one arm tucked around her stomach while the other arm
was under her red head acting as a pillow. Tauriel had a hand on top of Kili’s
around her stomach with her face rested in a small sleepy smile. Belle felt as
if she were intruding and stepped back from the room just as silently as she
had come.
She was deep in her thoughts on Tauriel’s serene smile when she crept towards
the front of the house. It was still dark outside making her think that perhaps
it was very early in the morning. Belle stepped into the large front room. The
front doors were slightly open and a fire burned low in the center fire pit
emitting very little heat. She walked towards the doors to peek out and see if
she could find Fili but just as she was about to peek her head out a hand
slammed down over her mouth while an arm wrapped around her stomach. She let
out a piercing scream that was now soundless due to the large hand over the
lower half of her face. Belle tried to fight against the arm around her waist
but no matter how much she clawed and tugged at it, it refused to move. She was
whipped around like a ragdoll and shoved against the wall.
Belle’s emerald eyes widened as she took in her assailant. Ice blue eyes peered
back at her menacingly. She shrunk back in fear at Jarl Thorin’s angry sneer.
“Reyna að flýja (trying to escape)?” He growled.
She shook her head quickly, too afraid to concentrate on what he was saying.
“Fili” She whimpered hoping the blonde would hear her, as Thorin stepped
impossibly closer to her, his body touching every bit of hers. She could smell
the white liquor these men preferred, lingering on his breath. The dark-haired
Norseman towered over her, her head barely reaching his chest. Her neck was
kinked as she stared frightfully into his eyes.
“Fili?” He asked her as if wondering why she would be saying the blonde
Norseman’s name.
Belle watched as his eyes turned from suspicion to something resembling
jealousy, which confused her to no end. They were locked at the eyes, Belle too
afraid to look away and Thorin mesmerized by her emerald depths. When their
gaze did break it was for the dark haired Norseman's eyes to dart to Belle’s
lips and then back up again. Confusion and something else ran through her, it
felt strange like butterflies fluttering within her. When he began to lean in
towards her lips Belle thought of how she could dodge his oncoming lips. Before
Thorin could get any closer to her the hinges of the front door squeaked as the
door opened abruptly and a familiar blonde head of hair popped back in.
“ Frændi (uncle)?” Fili’s sleep heavy voice broke both of the figures out of
their strange dance.
Thorin jerked away from the tawny haired woman and turned his fiery gaze upon
his nephew. “Hvarvarstu(where were you)?! ” The dark-haired Norseman jabbed a
large finger into his blonde nephew’s chest. Belle attempted to inch her way
away from the angry man but was too slow. The large man shot out a hand without
taking his eyes off of his nephew and clamped it tightly onto her slender arm.
His hands were so large that his thumb and fingertips were touching while
wrapped around.
“Ég var að taka pissa (I was taking a piss),” Fili grumbled in response to his
uncle’s question.
“Hún reyndi að flýja á meðan þú varst farinn (She tried to escape while you
were gone)!” Thorin roared.
Fili looked at Belle confused as if looking for an answer. “I was looking for
you. I wasn’t trying to escape, I promise.” She whispered, her eyes begged him
to believe her.
He nodded to her minutely then turned his gaze back to his uncle.  “Hún var
ekki að reyna að flýja, hún var að leita að mér (She wasn’t trying to escape,
she was looking for me).”
Thorin growled loudly and swung Belle in front of his body shaking her at Fili
slightly. The action caused her teeth to rattle.  “ Þú trúir lygum hennar (You
believe her lies)?”
Belle’s self-preservation stayed intact for the moment being and she resisted
the urge to tell him that she did not lie. Fili did it for her. “ Ef hún lá þú
vildi vita, frænda. Hún er hræðileg á það (If she was lying you would know it,
uncle. She is terrible at it). ”
Thorin snarled angrily at Fili’s words. Belle only caught pieces of what Fili
said but whatever it was Thorin was not happy about it. She assumed he had
stuck up for her, but she couldn’t be sure.
“ Hvert er hún að fara að fara í svefni kjól og berfætt (Where is she going to
go in a sleep dress and bare feet)? ” He asked with an incredulous tone.
Belle could practically hear the grinding of Thorin’s teeth as he looked to see
if Fili was, in fact, correct about her state of undress. He tossed Belle
towards Fili, her feet getting tangled in her sleep dress as she attempted to
regain her footing. She was glad Fili reached out his long arms and caught her
before she ended up face first on the packed-dirt floor.
“Ekki yfirgefinn hana í friði aftur. Það er skylda að gæta hennar. Ekki gera
mig að gefa þessa skyldu til annars, næsta verður ekki eins útboði með henni.
(Don't leave her alone again. It is your duty to guard her. Do not make me give
this duty to another, they will not be as tender with her).”Thorin growled and
disappeared down the long hallway and up the stairs.
Belle shook slightly in Fili’s arms as he scoffed at Thorin’s back. Fili ran a
hand up her back in a soothing manner as one would a scared child, then led her
back to his room. The two climbed into bed silently, neither wanting to speak
of the past events until they were sure Thorin was in his own room.
“I didn’t try to escape!” Belle said quietly. She didn’t know why, but right
now it was extremely important for Fili to know that she had no plans of
escaping.  
Fili sighed loudly and pulled on one of her tawny curls atop her head. “A blind
man would have known.”
“He is not blind, is he?” she asked and looked up at his ice blue eyes.
He stifled a laugh and shook his head. “Funny.” He heaved a large sigh before
explaining Thorin’s behavior. “The white liquor can blind even those with the
best sight for a time.”
Belle rolled her eyes at his answer. This was exactly why she had never liked
liquor much, it was a vile drink that turned even the most respectable men into
complete heathens. But she supposed if Thorin was indeed a heathen, then the
drink was fitting for a man such as he.
“Thank you for sticking up for me, Fili.” She whispered into the darkness. For
a moment she thought he might be asleep due to his deep breathing.
“You’re time will come to pay me back.” He said in a playful tone and a
dramatic wink that made her smile back.
***** Thorin *****
Chapter Notes
     This chapter is from Thorin's point of view.
     It delves into his background as well as Gothi Grey's background.
     Something to remember while reading this; Thorin is a warrior, a
     rough man in general and kind of an asshole. He is not necessarily a
     nice man as of now. He has raided, raped and pillaged because it is a
     part of his culture. As I said before I am trying to keep this
     historically accurate as far as culture goes. History/humans are
     messy, violent and extremely flawed. Thorin has a few more facets
     than just being a violent raider, those will come to light shortly.
     But I will tell you all that he is not going to hurt Belle,
     physically. Just something to remember. :)
     Thank you all for reading this!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Thorin stared at the little woman clutching at his blonde nephew’s trousers
like a frightened child. He was glaring heavily at her across the hall. He had
thoroughly scared her the evening before when his drunken mind had declared to
him that she was indeed trying to escape. His conscious mind would have known
that a small woman wearing nothing but a sleeping dress and bare feet would
never attempt to escape, he assumed she was smarter than that but maybe he was
giving her too much credit. Thorin felt ire rise within him when he caught her
large emerald eyes looking at him. He hated her and yet he didn’t know her. But
he knew who she was and what kind of stock she was bred from. She was the
daughter of a king, the wife of an even worse king and a spoiled little girl.
She knew nothing of life or the harshness of the world. The little English
woman had no clue how hard his people had to work just to survive and barely at
that.
Thorin thought of when he had taken the girl from Smaug’s stone walls. She had
been in fine silk fabrics that would never protect anyone from the elements,
she had flimsy slippers on her tiny feet, gold around her neck and littering
her hair. Belle had been less ostentatious than those around her but he had no
doubt he had just caught her at a bad time, he was sure she was regularly
dripping in wealth. Smaug’s stone walls had been filled with golden riches and
intricate tapestries, it had made Thorin mad with anger. The man did not
deserve all that he had after what he had done to the line of Durin. Smaug had
been a traitor that slaughtered Norse men, women, and children without mercy.
It was a grisly attack that took Thorin’s grandfather, mother, father and
brother to Valhalla before their time. Thorin would get his revenge on Smaug
for taking the lives of those he held dear, it was an oath he had taken at the
tender age of ten. In truth he had already started, he had taken the wife of
the bastard king. Thorin had taken what he thought the old man held dear. He
took away one of the secret keepers of Smaug’s kingdom.
But the raven-haired Jarl wanted more. He wanted to humiliate the king, he
wanted to wound him deeply to his very core. Thorin could admit to himself that
he wanted to strip the woman of whatever innocence she still possessed. He
wanted to impregnate her with his seed, take the child then send her back to
Smaug broken and unfit for another. But Gothi Grey had made it known that was
not to be the will of the Gods. They had plans for the girl and would only tell
them to Gothi. It made Thorin wonder, not for the first time, if Gothi had
ulterior motives. The old priest’s milky eye would seek the little woman out if
they were ever in the same space with one another. Thorin could not blame the
old man, Belle was quite beautiful. She had long tawny hair that spilled down
her back in waves resembling the sea realm of Ægi. She had large emerald eyes,
plump pink lips, and a delicate nose. She was short in stature, much shorter
than his people and probably quite small for her own people. He had thought her
a child when he had encountered her in the stone halls of Smaug. Thorin hated
to admit it but he was slightly impressed by her willingness to guard her own
people herself instead of hiding behind the large doors as many others did. He
would have been impressed by her bravery in being willing to take her own life
when she jumped over the side of the boat on their journey, had it not been him
that had to rescue her. But all that aside she was still the wife of Smaug the
Bastard King. She was weak and unfit to be among his people, he would sell her
at the next opportunity if she survived the harsh northern winter, that is.
“What are you pouting about, brother?” Dis asked as she settled beside him.
Thorin fought the urge to roll his eyes at his sister. “I do not pout.” He
grumbled.
“Ahh yes. Jarl’s do not pout. Excuse me.” She snorted. “What is it you are
pinning with your fierce scowl?” She followed his line of sight as it settled
upon the English woman sitting beside Kili’s redheaded woman. “Belle? Why does
she bother you so?”
Thorin refused to answer his sister. There were many reasons why the little
woman bothered him but they had all been spoken of before, he refused to voice
them again.
“I heard you believed she tried to escape last night,” Dis said it as though it
did not humor her but her ice blue eyes told a far different tale.
“I was drunk” Thorin gave as way of answer.
Dis only hummed in response, a small smile on her face. She knew better than to
laugh at her brother in public but away from the watching eyes of others she
would torment him with her laughter. He was not looking forward to it.
“They are getting too close,” Thorin growled when he saw his blonde haired
nephew sit beside the little woman. She looked up at him and smiled softly.
“You think they are humping?” Dis sipped at her ale waiting for his answer.
Thorin grimaced at his sister’s words. “I hoped he was smarter.”
His littler sister glared heavily at him when he insulted her son’s
intelligence. “My son will not hump her. His heart calls for another.”
“There is no need for heart when humping.” Thorin reminded his sister.
Dis had not been the most virtuous of young women before her marriage and she
loathed being reminded of it. She growled at him and rose from her seat hastily
moving to where Gyda was sitting.
Thorin’s mind was soon flooded with thoughts of humping the English woman
himself. He shook his head emptying the thoughts from his mind, the last thing
he needed was to be attracted to her. He was not allowed to touch her as Gothi
had commanded and he could not risk losing their bargaining chip because he
could not control his prick. Oh but how badly he wished to bend her over the
table and take her in front of all. His cock twitched with want. He rose from
his seat and headed out the doors for fresh air. He needed to clear his mind
and escape thoughts of Belle.
Thorin stepped out into the crisp night air and filled his lungs. He stepped
closer to the shore and watched the waves tumble over the rocky shore. He could
hear the voices of those inside enjoying their nighttime meal. The raven-haired
man wished he could be as carefree as those within the meal hall. Thorin felt
not only the weight of his current position and lineage but also that of his
people resting upon his shoulders. He let out a large breath as he attempted to
block out his ever running mind.
“Thorin.” The gravely voice of Gothi Grey interrupted his thoughts.
Thorin turned around and gazed at the old man that had saved his life as well
as his sister’s life. “Gothi”
Gothi Grey stood beside him under the night sky in his dark robes. “The gods
have much to say this evening.”
Thorin hummed in acknowledgment. He did not need to ask what they were saying
for he knew Gothi was going to tell him no matter what.
“Your fate is a fickle one, Thorin” the old man said cryptically. “But your
purpose is great.”
The raven haired man continued to stare into seas. He was not in the right
state of mind to decrypt the priest’s words. The two men stood out and watched
the waves for many more minutes before Gothi spoke again.
“Why does little bunny bother you so?”
Thorin gave a curious look towards his companion. “Bunny?” He realized that
Gothi Grey meant Belle. “She is the wife of Smaug. Spoiled daughter of a King
and a useless creature with dirty blood...”
For the first time in many years, Thorin gazed upon the milky-eyed priest and
saw anger. It startled him to near silence. The wrinkled hands of the man were
clenched tightly, his knuckles white with the strain.
“She will be the mother of a new world, Thorin Thrainson.” Gothi growled
through clenched teeth. “Watch your tongue.”
Thorin stepped back slightly appalled at the fire in the old man’s voice. “You
care for her” he stated.
Gothi Grey straightened his back and turned back towards the storm that was
beginning. “The storm brings with it your messenger.”     
Thorin turned his ice blue eyes on Gothi Grey. “What does that mean?”
The gray-haired man turned and walked back towards his home making little
noise, leaving Thorin confused and without an answer.
The Jarl sat down on the shore as he thought on what Gothi Grey meant and what
his tie to the English girl was. Thorin had never seen Gothi get angry at
anything in well over a decade if not more. He thought back to the last time he
had truly seen the old warrior turned priest angry.
It was many years earlier when they lived outside of Wessex.
===============================================================================
 
Thorin raced towards the shore, he was tired of watching out for Frerin all day
and needed a break. He had always loved to watch the water break over the
rocks, it calmed him after a stressful day. He knew that he was meant to be
upon the seas, he believed that is why the waters were always so calming for
him. Thorin at the age of ten had begun his training with swordplay. It would
be another few years before he would be allowed to go out with the raiders and
he ached for that day. He wanted to be away from the burden of his family. His
days were filled with training, farming and watching after his mischievous
little brother Frerin. The towheaded little brother of his was constantly
getting into one thing or another making Thorin’s life extremely difficult.
This past week had been especially hectic for Thorin. Twenty-five of his
father’s ships had not returned from their raids yet making Thrain and Thror,
Thorin’s father and grandfather, extremely anxious. Thorin was tasked with his
brother more often than not because of their stress and planning.
A loud roar like the sound of dragon split through the air ripping Thorin from
his musings. He ran towards his home clutching his sword with all his might.
The sounds of a fierce battle reached his ears as he neared his people’s
settlement. He peeked around one of the longhouses on the outskirts of the
settlement and peered into the streets. What he saw made his stomach lurch.
There was an army, an English army, laying waste to Thorin’s people. They all
bore bright metal armor with a crimson dragon adorning the chest, the symbol of
the young King Smaug. They were cutting down men, women, and children without
thought. Thorin felt worry bubble within his chest as he darted towards his
family home.
He came upon it and noticed it was one of the few homes that was not burning.
He darted in through the back door just in time to see his mother be slashed
open by a man. The man was not dressed in the shiny English armor as those
destroying the town. He was dressed in clothing resembling Thorin’s people.
Thorin’s mother, Nis, dropped her sword she had been using to protect herself
and stumbled backward gripping her stomach tightly as blood and organs fought
to escape the confines of her hands. The man with scars upon his face, stood
above her smiling and laughing as he stepped closer to deliver the killing
blow. A scream ripped through the air as little blonde Frerin came tearing out
of his hiding spot. He raised his small sword and charged the man with all the
rage an eight-year-old possessed.
“No! Frerin!” Thorin screamed from the back of the home.
The man’s eyes snapped up to the little boy charging him. With a flick of the
sword, Thorin’s world came crashing down. The man ran his sword through
Frerin’s throat, the blade exiting through the back of Frerin’s neck.
Thorin screamed loudly and charged the large man. He was still occupied with
Frerin giving Thorin the upper hand. Thorin hacked his sword into the arm of
the man causing him to scream in agony. The man clutched his wounded arm trying
to staunch the mass amount of blood flow. Before Thorin could land another blow
the man fled from Thorin, vaulting himself through the large open window and
disappearing into the war waging outside.
The dark haired boy stepped in front of his mother and fallen brother’s bodies
as the front doors opened. Thorin saw his bloody father and his two guards step
through the threshold. Gandalf’s blonde hair was smeared with dirt and blood
matching that of his brother in arms, Fundin. They quickly shut the doors
behind them as Thrain dropped to his knees beside Nis and wept over her
bleeding body.
Thorin reached down and collected his little brother’s body in his arms and
brought him nearer to rest beside their mother. Thorin and Thrain wept loudly
beside one another.  
“He...tried...to...protect...me.” Nis gasped out through dying breaths.
“My...sweet...warrior.” She rested a bloodied hand upon her youngest son's
face.
“The English will pay for this” Thrain growled through his tears.
“Azog.” Nis whispered to her husband. “It was Azog, he betrayed us.”
Gandalf and Fundin sucked in sharp breaths at the name.
“Traitorous bastard.” Fundin spit.
Thorin gazed down at his mother when he felt a weak hand rest on his cheek. “Be
strong my warriors. I love you both.” She whispered before drawing her last
breath. Thrain screamed in agony and begged his wife to open her eyes and
continue to live.
A thumping on the door brought their attentions away from their grief. English
soldiers began to flood into the space. Fundin jumped up and grasped his axes.
He charged the soldiers with a loud war cry and began to fight. Thrain followed
suit and began to fight the onslaught. Thorin rose his sword as well until he
heard the weeping of his little sister, Frerin's twin, in the back bedroom. He
decided to guard the hallway in hopes of keeping his sister alive.
Thorin watched in horror as Fundin was soon cut down leaving only Gandalf and
Thrain to fight.
“Take my children, Gandalf! Run them to safety!” Thrain roared as he cut down
the last English soldier in the home. But more were coming and they were coming
rapidly.
“Thrain, no!” Gandalf yelled back.
“Take my heirs! I am not meant to live through this. Take them, I order you!”
Thrain screamed.
Gandalf looked as if he were about to fight but he did not. He ran towards
Thorin and grasped him roughly by the shoulder.
“Grab your sister. Now!”
Thorin did as he was bid and yanked his younger sister out from her hiding
place under her bed. 
“Keep close. We are going to need to run.” Gandalf growled.
Thorin clutched at his sisters hand while looking over his shoulder nervously
at his father as he attempted to keep the front doors shut. Thrain had his back
against the doors straining with all his might to keep them shut as they
pounded against his back.
“Avenge us, son.” He yelled after his son as Thorin was yanked out the back
door by Gandalf.
Thorin followed closely on Gandalf’s heels as they ran towards the beach. The
raven haired boy clutched his sisters hand to near breaking point as they
sprinted towards the beach. Dis for once, was blessedly quiet as they snuck
around buildings and Gandalf cut down the English soldiers that they ran into.
By the time they made it to the boats resting on the shore Thorin had lost
count of how many men Gandalf had cut down with his bloodied sword.
“Get in” Gandalf ordered as they came to the last intact boat.   Again too much
in shock to do much else Thorin threw his sister into the boat before climbing
in himself. Dis was too distraught and in shock to fight against Thorin's rough
handling like she normally did.
“Wait!” A voice screamed.
Gandalf turned abruptly sword at the ready but he lowered it almost immediately
when he saw Brenna wife of Fundin, running towards the shore with four boys
following closely behind her. Thorin recognized his fellow warriors in
training, Dwalin, Balin, Gloin and Oin. They all piled into the boat and
Gandalf began to push them into the water before jumping in himself. Thorin
pushed his sister towards the retired shieldmaiden and took the oar Gandalf
thrust into each of the boy's hands.
“Row. Now!” Gandalf yelled at the five young boys.
The English archers had been led out to the beach by the same man that had
murdered Nis and Frerin.  Brenna quickly pushed Dis to the floor of the boat
and picked up a shield hanging over the side. Gandalf did the same right before
the arrows rained down on them. The arrows made loud “thunking” noises as they
pierced the wooden shield’s being held above the heads of those on board by
Brenna and Gandalf. Within moments they were far enough out of range that the
archers could not hit them any longer.  
Thorin watched in horror as Azog lifted something with his good arm as if
showing off a trophy to those escaping on the boat. The head of Thror, Thorin’s
grandfather, and King, wearing the arkenstone crown hung in Azog’s hand, the
expression of shock still frozen on his severed head. The raven haired boy
screamed in agony as he realized that all of his family apart from Dis was
truly dead. Gandalf made no noise as he stood at the hull of the boat. He only
glared towards the shore with anger and hatred in his one emerald green eye.
===============================================================================
Thorin rubbed at his temples as he thought back to that horrible day. He tried
to think of any other time he had seen Gandalf, now known as Gothi Grey, angry.
But the day Thorin had lost his family and his home was the last day he had
truly seen so much anger on the old man’s face, until today. The raven haired
Jarl winced at the realization. He felt shame for angering the priest. Gothi
had taken care of him and Dis since the day Thorin’s family was ripped away. He
had reared Thorin in his training as well as took him on his first raid at the
age of thirteen and then every raid after that until the milk of the gods set
into his remaining eye when Thorin was a seasoned raider at eighteen years of
age.
“Why does he care for the girl?” Thorin wondered allowed.
“Why is it any of your business?” A snarky voice behind him had him jumping
ever so slightly.
“Gyda” Thorin growled in way of greeting.
The small auburn haired woman sat beside the Jarl on the sand quietly. “My face
still hurts, by the way.”
Thorin had to fight the smile that threatened to appear on his face at the
nonchalance in her tone. “You have lost your speed”
Gyda snorted loudly and shook her head. “I have lost nothing, except perhaps my
trust in your ability to leave Belle unharmed.”
Thorin huffed loudly, he knew she was right. He had never been prone to strike
women until this tiny English woman apparently. Belle had a stinging tongue
that got the better of him. “I am your Jarl…” He began but was quickly cut off.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. My Jarl, how may I serve you? Shall I make sacrifices in
your honor oh great one? Would you like to hump me tonight while my husband
watches to assert your dominance?” Gyda rolled her eyes as she spoke.
Thorin could feel his anger rising. Gyda had the ability to upset people with
only a few words. He was one of her favorite targets when they were alone. She
would never disrespect him in public but behind closed doors she was ruthless.
“Woman…” Thorin took one look at the little auburn haired woman beside him and
felt himself deflate. Her jaw was set and her eyes held determination. She was
not going to back down and this was just going to get worse for him if he did
not give in.
“What do you want?” He huffed.
Gyda smiled triumphantly and shook her head back and forth. “You are too
easy.” 
Thorin rolled his eyes in response but felt himself cracking a very small smile
at her antics. Gyda had saved him multiple times during battle, she was loyal
almost to a fault and a person he desperately wanted to keep on his side. She
was able to walk near unseen in any crowd. Many times she had brought him word
of disgruntled raiders looking to take more of their share than allowed,
political unrest and general rumors. Her husband, Dwalin son of Fundin, was
Thorin’s dearest friend. The two boys had grown up together and were said to be
distant cousins of some sort. Neither paid too much mind to it, considering
themselves more like brothers than anything else.
“I want you to listen to Gothi Grey” Gyda answered him, tearing Thorin from his
thoughts.
“What does she mean to him?” He questioned once again.
“Are you sure she means something to him and not the gods?”
Thorin let that thought wash over him. He had known Gothi Grey for so many
years now, the man had practically raised him, Thorin knew when something
wasn’t quite right. Gothi was acting suspicious, he was not as aloof as he
normally was. The old man was wound tight, much tighter than Thorin had seen in
years.
“I know him well. It is not just the Gods that have thoughts on the English
woman.”
Gyda nodded her head in a way that said ‘You might be right’, "I will keep an
ear open” Thorin clapped her on the shoulder in thanks.
“Oi! Hands off my wife, you bastard.” Dwalin’s booming voice rang out over the
shore. “Jarl or no, she belongs to me and me only!” Thorin could hear the
laughter in the words making him shake his head.
“My bear, why don’t you come over here and prove it” Gyda said in a sultry
tone.
Thorin took that as his time to leave. He clapped Dwalin on the back as he
passed and barely made it into the meal hall before he heard the moans of
pleasure ringing through the air.
The Jarl stepped towards his seat once again and sat heavily down. A thrall
brought him a large tankard of white liquor while Thorin gazed out over the
boisterous crowd. The raven haired man caught sight of Kili leaning into the
redheaded warrioress that he had purchased. The woman was leaning away from
Kili as far as she could manage in the tight space, she was practically in the
lap of the English girl beside her. Thorin absently wondered how old the
English girl truly was. She had a womanly figure but a child’s stature. At
least to his people. He tried to rack his memory of what English women looked
like. He never much cared for them and none stuck out in his memory, well none
until now. Emerald eyes peered back at him as he was sizing her up. He lifted
an eyebrow at her in challenge and was delighted when she blushed a brilliant
shade of red on her cheeks. She whipped back around and appeared to be
attempting to fold in on herself.
Thorin couldn’t help himself he barked out a laugh at the exchange. She had
moments of being fierce with a sharp tongue. ‘I could think of a few ways she
could use that sharp tongue’He was startled by his own thoughts of the English
girl. It had been a while since he had been inside of a woman, he decided that
was the reason for the thoughts. He could feel his blood warming from the rot
gut he was downing at impressive speeds, that could have explained it as well.
Figuring he had spent enough time with company Thorin excused himself and
walked the short distance to his longhouse. He stepped to the back of the house
and made sure no one was watching before he sat down beside his trusty old goat
affectionately named Mímir (the rememberer). Thorin poured out his thoughts on
the English girl, his suspicions on Gothi Grey’s connection with the girl and
every thought that popped up in his head. Thorin had owned the goat for many
years and it was his best confidant. No one knew, or so he thought, that the
goat meant a lot of him. He always made sure no one was looking or around when
he would speak to the goat or sneak it a treat occasionally. Thorin finished
unloading his secrets on the one-eyed goat and gave it an affectionate pat on
the head before making his way towards the back door of the longhouse. Once
inside he climbed the stairs to his room and flopped down onto the bed. He
could feel how tight his trousers were and groaned at the nuisance of it. He
was not the young teenaged raider he once was, who was in constant need of
draining his snake. He flopped onto his stomach and willed his hardened flesh
to cease its demand for release.
Thorin’s eyes slid shut and within moments he knew he was dreaming.
“Thorin?” The voice of the tiny English woman, Belle, rang throughout the
longhouse.
“I am in here," Thorin called back.
Belle bustled into the room wearing fur boots and a thin sleep dress. The dress
barely fit on her body due to her bulging pregnant belly.
Thorin smiled when she came in and pulled the woman into his lap. His large
hand spread over her pregnant stomach, rubbing it lovingly. “What are you doing
awake?”
Belle wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled his neck before answering.
“I was cold...and your son can not sleep when it is cold.”
Thorin’s deep laugh ran through the large space. “Hmm. I see. Did he tell you
as such?”
The tawny haired woman in his lap leaned back so she could see him and bit her
lip trying to hold back a laugh of her own. “Yes.”
“Woman, our son is brilliant! Speaking before he is even out of the womb.”
Thorin jested in faux wonder.
Belle could no longer keep her giggles to herself. She began to giggle loudly.
“Okay, I alone was cold. Please come back to bed. I am lonely and freezing
without your large body beside me.”
“That is what I thought.” Thorin smiled lovingly down at the woman in his lap.
He picked her up in his arms and carried her down the hall towards their bed.
He gently settled her down under the furs and pulled her boots off before
shedding his own boots and climbing under the furs. Belle pulled as close to
him as possible with her large belly in the way. Her small icy feet pressed
into his shins making him hiss at the sensation.
“I’m sorry! I am just so cold.”
Thorin leaned down and kissed her passionately. “I can think of a good way to
warm you up.” He said in a husky voice.
Belle let out a whimper of approval and soon found herself straddling the large
raven haired man. Thorin ground himself into her heat moaning at the sensation.
He looked up into her large green eyes so filled with arousal, then down to her
pink lips that were moving.
“Brother.”
Thorin shook his head confused.
“Brother.” she said again, her voice deepening.
“Brother!” Dis’ voice ripped Thorin out of his dream. He leapt from the bed
quickly, startling not only his sister with his speed but himself as well.
“Ach. Put your sea snake away. Breakfast is ready” Dis made a disgusted noise
in the back of her throat before marching down the steps muttering about being
surrounded by penises.
Thorin sat down heavily on his bed rubbing at his head. “What was that?” he
asked himself as he remembered his dream. He felt fire rise within him ‘It’s
her fault. She must be a sorceress.’He didn’t want her, he would never want
her. He hated her for making him feel anything towards her apart from disdain.
A small part of him, a very small part, knew his dream was not the English
girl’s fault. But it was easier to blame her than delve deeper into his
thoughts on his dream. He gnashed his teeth together and rose himself from the
bed, swiftly put on clothing and stomped down the stairs to face the evil
sorcerous that haunted his dreams.
===============================================================================
As the day progressed Thorin felt his eyes glued to the little woman and he
didn’t know why. It was frustrating for him. He hated her, she was the wife of
Smaug meaning she was evil by association. Everything the girl did angered him,
even the simplest things. He wondered what he would do if she actually did
something befitting of his anger. Consequently, that day came much sooner than
he expected.
Thorin had just entered the longhouse from a brutal day of settling disputes
throughout the village when he smelled something delicious cooking. The smell
made his stomach growl like it never had before, it was as if it were on a
warpath to consume whatever food was causing that beautiful aroma. Thorin
dropped into his seat and waited for the thrall to serve him.
Kili was jabbering nonstop to his redheaded woman, Tauriel, as if she could
understand him. Fili was laughing with Dwalin about one thing or another while
Belle and Gyda spoke in hushed tones. Dis was speaking with Vinna near the
kitchens while her children ran amuck. Thorin felt hunger clawing at his belly
as he waited for the food and eyed those in the room. When Thorin thought he
could take it no longer the thralls began to bring out the food.
A type of round bread was set in front of him, at least he thought it was
bread, he had never seen anything like the food that was in front of him now.
He looked up at the thrall with confusion, the man only lowered his gaze and
nodded his head in submission to the Jarl before stepping back towards the
kitchens. Thorin looked around the long table at those being served. They had
the same confusion on their faces, except for the English girl, Kili’s
redheaded woman, Gyda, Vinna and surprisingly Gothi Grey. He watched them
closely as they dug into the food with their forks. He did the same and was
surprised to see there was meat and gravy stuffed within. Thorin brought a
forkful to his mouth and had to physically fight the appreciative moan that was
going to erupt from his throat. The food was good, impossibly so. The flavors
burst in his mouth and the meat was extremely tender.
The sounds of happy people lingered in the air, as all appreciated the strange
food in front of them.
“Vinna, this is good.” Thorin praised the regular cook.
The plump woman chuckled and shook her head. “It was not me.”
Thorin was surprised by that and turned to the next person who could have
cooked so much food in the kitchen. “Dis. You made this?”
Dis began chuckling. “Not me either. It was Belle. A recipe from her home. She
calls it a meat pie.”
Thorin was taken aback by that. He did not suspect the English Noblewoman would
know how to cook or know how to make anything edible.
“It is delicious, Belle!” Kili sang her praises with a mouth full of food.
The English girl blushed brightly and said a quiet “Thank you.”
“What is it made of?” Dwalin asked her. Thorin was bothered that his right-hand
man and battle brother was looking at the little woman without a scowl on his
features. Dwalin almost looked...smitten with the girl. Irritating the Jarl to
no end.
“Goat” Belle said softly.
Thorin felt his heart drop into his stomach. “Which goat?” He growled, gripping
his fork tightly.
Belle looked up at him frightened and shrunk into Gyda’s side, while Fili
squared his shoulders ready to block any knives or fists thrown at the woman.
The action made Thorin see red. Fili was his nephew, his heir! How dare the
English woman steal his loyalty! The Jarl clenched his fists waiting for her
answer.
“T-t-the b-b-b-broken o-one” She stuttered in barely passable Norse.  
Thorin closed his eyes and tried to reign in his anger before he killed the
girl. His eyes met Gothi Grey’s when they opened. The old man raised an eyebrow
and tilted his head in warning.
“Brokenone?”Gyda asked in the girl's native tongue.
“Theonewithoneeyeandamangledhoof”Belle answered quietly shooting glances at a
very red faced Thorin.
Gyda tried her best to hide her startled laughter and she did well, but Thorin
knew the woman very well and she was not fooling him. “Which one Gyda?!” Thorin
growled.
“She said it was the goat with one eye and a mangled hoof” Gyda whispered.
The entire room was deadly silent as they waited for his reaction. Thorin
ground his teeth as he tried to control his emotions. He was the Jarl, an
experienced raider and a man on top of it all. He could not lose his temper
over the fact a goat’s blood had been spilled, no matter how secretly important
that goat was to him. Using all of his self-control he lifted his fork and
scooped up another bite of the Mímirpie. His action spurred everyone else to
begin eating again. Thorin made a vow to himself he would make Belle pay for
taking away his confidante, but he needed to bide his time. The flavors of the
food she had made were bursting in his mouth, he hated himself for wanting to
praise her on her cooking ability. He felt eyes on him and lifted his ice blue
ones to meet the deep emerald eyes of Belle.
“Do you like the food, Jarl Thorin?” She asked shakily.
Thorin cursed himself for the small jump in his heart when she said his name.
“It is barely passable as food.” He growled angrily.
A flash of hurt crossed the girl’s eyes and she bent her head down towards the
table. He felt a small bit of triumph at the sad trembling of her pink lips.
“Sílim go bhfuil sé iontach (I think it is perfect)” Kili’s woman said loudly
glaring up at Thorin before wrapping an arm around Belle’s small shoulders.
Thorin didn’t understand the woman but he could see she was challenging what he
had just said and him personally.
He growled lowly at her, eyes narrowed. Thorin wanted to slap her when he saw
her give him a bored stare then roll her eyes in response. Kili, sensing the
tension between his woman and Thorin, put an arm around her shoulders and
distracted her.
“What did you put into this to make it taste so good, Belle?” Fili asked her.
Belle was fidgeting and was about to answer before Kili cut in. “I doubt it was
anything Belle did. Pretty sure it was all of Uncle’s secrets he told Mímir
that made this taste better than food in Valhalla.”
Thorin shot a nasty look toward his nephew and vowed that he would, first, make
sure Kili would not be able to walk for the foreseeable future after they
sparred tomorrow. And second, Thorin would stop at nothing to make sure Vinna
got the recipe for Meat Pie from Belle.
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you so much JJ for bringing to my attention the questions of my
     characters ages.
     I will admit I made a rookie mistake and did not account for ages and
     time. I know, stupid of me! So I have made some edits to this
     chapter.
     Here are some ages:
     Thorin:37
     Dis:35
     Fili:19
     Kili:18
     Belle:18
     Tauriel:19
     Dis married and gave birth to Fili at the age of sixteen. Young for
     our day and age but from histories standpoint that is pretty tame and
     absolutely normal to marry at that age.
***** Tauriel *****
Chapter Notes
     Here is a Tauriel chapter! She is starting to come around to Kili's
     affections.
     Enjoy!
     As always, questions and comments are always welcome. :)
Tauriel had been stuck with the heathens for near three weeks now. In those
weeks she had learned many things, mainly she had learned that Kili meant her
no true harm. That didn't mean she wasn't angry with him or constantly
frustrated by his incessant affection. They slept together every night, him
holding tight to her waist, ensuring she could not leave in the night. During
the day he would walk her to the meal hall her slender hand clasped in his
larger one. It had bothered her immensely the first week and a half. Now it was
just life. She hardly noticed when he was touching her now. During meals, he
was always by her side, pressed as close as possible. At times he would
communicate with her by miming things. Tauriel hated to admit it but she was
finding him more and more tolerable as the days went by, well tolerable for a
heathen. He was prone to making her laugh no matter how hard she tried not to.
But he was also teaching her things and allowing her to learn. When Tauriel dug
down deep she realized that truly her biggest problem with the dark haired
Norseman was that he confused her greatly.
Tauriel was angry and scared. She wasn’t sure if her fear was just manifesting
as anger. It was all too much for her to think on. The redheaded woman was
currently stuck in the kitchens trying to learn to cook like the heathens. She
had learned to cook at home of course but the Norse meals were different, their
entire world was different. Tauriel tried not to think much on it but she had
not seen Kili since she had woken up and that made her nervous. He had left her
in the care of one of the guards, Bifur. He didn’t speak, only grunted for her
to go one way or another. Belle thankfully was in the kitchens with her. They
seemed to be constantly thrown together, which Tauriel preferred. She was able
to actually speak with someone. Belle was also giving Tauriel language lessons.
Belle was learning the language of the heathens from copper-headed Ori, well
until Thorin had put a stop to it. Belle had told Tauriel that Fili was
teaching her in secret against his uncle’s wishes.
Tauriel had asked Belle not to speak of her lessons in Norse. She wanted to be
able to understand those around her without their knowledge. So far it had
worked in her favor. She was learning the language quickly, not as quickly as
Belle, but close. So far she had discovered a few things with her developing
language skills.
First what she discovered was that Dis, Kili’s mother, did not like her much
and she certainly did not like Kili’s “infatuation” with Tauriel. Dis was
constantly lecturing her son to “get it over with”. Whatever that meant,
Tauriel was not sure.
Second, Tauriel learned that Kili was, as his mother had put it, truly
infatuated with her. He was by her side as frequently as possible. Kili
constantly dragged her through the markets to “show her off” he had said once,
not that he knew she understood what he was saying. Her mind was absolutely
shaken by the fact that he wanted to show her off to others. Tauriel didn’t
know what she was to him, at first she had thought that it was because she was
a pretty slave. But now that she knew she was not a slave that couldn’t be it.
Was she just a trinket for him to display, much like his beads in his hair or
the jewelry he wore around his neck? The answers to those questions evaded her
constantly.
In the market where Kili liked to show her off, she had been dragged to many
stalls and had seen that the shopkeepers sold things from a great many lands.
She had even seen some pendants and trinkets from her homeland. Tauriel had
admired a pendant of Brigid, Goddess of healing, poetry, and smithcraft. Her
father had always said she was Brigid reborn. She had rolled her eyes at his
silly words, but now she would give anything to just hear his voice again, no
matter what the large mans words were.
“Viltu það, Tauriel? (Do you want it, Tauriel?)”  Kili’s voice startled her out
of her memory of her larger than life father.
She pretended to not understand his words, but she knew he was asking of her
desire to own the pendant. She feared that if she said yes he would laugh at
her and deny her wish, so she stared at him blankly. He eyed her for a moment
longer than proper before tugging her away from the booth, towards where
fabrics were laying about. She watched him trading with the shopkeeper and
couldn’t help but feel slightly impressed with his bartering abilities. She
snapped herself out of it and thought of all the reasons she should hate him
again.
A third thing Tauriel had discovered after learning some Norse was that the
heathens gossiped just like any other land. Their gossip was far more vulgar
than she was used to but it was gossip all the same. She rolled her eyes at the
memory of one Norse woman saying she was carrying Kili’s baby and that was why
he kept her so near. Tauriel knew Kili had heard it because she saw him chuckle
out of the corner of her eye and then mutter something sounding like “If only”.
“What are you rolling your eyes about?” Belle asked Tauriel, bringing the woman
out of her musings. She was in the kitchens still, standing beside Belle while
kneading dough.
“Nothing” Tauriel answered quickly.
Belle rolled her own eyes now. “Nothing she says” The little English woman only
came up to Tauriel’s shoulders. They were working at the wooden countertop in
the large kitchen while Bifur stood guard over both of them. Belle was
currently perched on a small child’s stepping stool so she could get better
leverage while kneading dough.
“If you continue to sass me I will push you off your stool” Tauriel threatened
in jest making the little English woman giggle. The sound lightened Tauriel's
heart.
“I would like to see you try!” Belle challenged. Tauriel playfully nudged the
girl with her shoulder.
Their play was put to a stop when Vinna came up beside them to check their
dough. Neither of the girls were allowed to do much else because everything
else required knives of some sort. Although neither of them were allowed knives
for very different reasons or perhaps very similar reasons; they both involved
killing. Belle wasn’t allowed to touch knives for fear she would kill herself
and Tauriel was not allowed to touch the knives for fear she would kill
everyone else.
“það er gott (it is good)” Vinna told the two of them with a friendly pat on
their shoulders.
Tauriel didn’t dislike the dimple-cheeked cook, but she didn’t trust her, she
was a heathen after all.
“Ó nei! við þurfum gleymdi salt. (oh no! We forgot the salt)” Vinna exclaimed
in horror. She then ordered Bifur to take Tauriel down to the markets to buy
more salt.
Tauriel didn’t want to leave Belle and she didn’t particularly want to be alone
with Bifur. He had never done anything to her but she wasn’t exactly confident
he would protect her if someone got the idea of trying to hurt her or steal
her.
Bifur and Vinna began arguing quietly about whether or not Vinna could manage
Belle on her own without a guard.
“Þú munt ekki hlaupa, ekki satt? (you will not run, right?)”Vinna asked Belle.
The English girl shook her head no, her eyes flitting to Tauriel swiftly before
going back to the floor.
“Ég veit ekki (I don’t know)...” Bifur began.
“Þeir munu ekki hlaupa án hins (One will not run without the other)”Vinna said
with an impatient wave of her rolling pin.
Bifur looked between the two as if to see if Vinna was telling the truth.
Tauriel gave nothing away on her face but Belle was an open book. Bifur nodded
his head in approval and grasped Tauriel’s wrist before pulling her out towards
the markets. It felt wrong to have another set of hands besides Kili’s on her
wrist’s. Which startled her so much she physically jerked. Bifur looked at her
confused before muttering and pulling her along faster. They reached the
markets without incident and soon Bifur was bartering with the salt salesman.
Tauriel gazed around the market looking for a familiar head of brown hair. A
sharp pinch on her backside had her whipping around prepared for a fight. When
she turned her eyes met the smirking face of her kidnapper, she believed his
name was Sigurd.
“Halló, Villtur Einn (Hello, Wild One).” he sneered with a lustful look upon
his face.
“Don’t touch me or I will remove your hands” She growled back at him. Then spat
on his shoes. It was a clear sign of disrespect, one universal in it’s meaning.
His face turned a brilliant shade of red and he began to raise his hand as if
to strike her. Tauriel was pulled backward by Bifur just as a hand caught
Sigurd's. Her view was obstructed by the large scarred Norseman's back. But she
heard their words clearly. 
“Snerta föstnuð mína og Ill drepa þig, Sigurd (Touch my betrothed and I’ll kill
you, Sigurd).” Kili’s voice was like ice.
Sigurd ripped his arm out of Kili’s grasp and seemed to get even redder. “Hún
vanvirðing við mig (She disrespected me)!”  
Tauriel leaned around Bifur’s large frame to see Kili growling down at Sigurd.
His height truly was impressive. He was at least a few inches taller than the
man if not near half a foot. Tauriel could see all of the muscles in Kili’s
back tensed as if for a fight.
“Ekki held ég hafi ekki séð að snerta það sem er mitt fyrsta. (Do not think I
did not see you touch what is mine first.) Kili’s words made the blonde man
pale ever so slightly but he did not back down. “Þú ert heppinn ef ég refsa þér
ekki fyrir slíkt. Skildu nú friðsamur. (You are lucky if I do not punish you
for such things. Leave now in peace.)”
Sigurd and his two guards turned on their heels and marched away angry and
muttering. Tauriel stared at their retreating forms with wide eyes. Kili shook
his head before the tension left his body and he turned looking for her. His
eyes were slightly wild as he searched for her but once he caught sight of her
flaming red hair he smiled widely and his eyes calmed.  
“ Gyðja mín (My goddess)”He whispered as he came up to her.
Tauriel was too stunned to see what was coming next. His lips landed on hers
softly. Tauriel was so panicked from what had occurred with Sigurd that she
could not do much else but stand there dumbly. She felt herself melting against
Kili's lips. His thick arms wound around her small waist and pulled her close.
That is when her mind caught up with her body. She put her slender hands on his
broad chest and shoved with all her strength. It only moved the man a few
meager inches but that was enough for her to wiggle out of his grasp. She
narrowed her eyes at him and prepared her arm to let loose a punch. Kili smiled
at her sweetly and held out his hand for her in a peace offering. Tauriel
raised an eyebrow at him in impatience.
“I’m not willingly grabbing your hand.” She growled.
Kili waggled his eyebrows and grabbed her hand pulling her along. He stopped
for a quick second to gather a large satchel he had dropped when he confronted
Sigurd before dragging her back towards the meal hall. She looked behind her to
see Bifur following them with a parcel of salt under his arm. Kili squeezed
Tauriel’s hand once they had reached the kitchens. He let her go and went to
speak to Vinna by the ovens. Whatever he had told her made her angry, Tauriel
could tell by the growling noises she was making and the redness in her
normally pale cheeks.
“What happened?” Belle asked her quietly.
“What do you mean?” Tauriel didn’t want to worry Belle. Worrying was Belle’s
favorite past-time. Not that she didn’t have a plethora of things to worry
about, but that is precisely why Tauriel didn’t tell her. She had enough to
worry about already.
“Kili said someone attacked you if I am translating correctly.” Belle chewed on
her bottom lip nervously.
“Sigurd pinched my arse. I spit on him and then Kili intervened. Nothing much”
Tauriel said nonchalantly as she began to form small balls out of the dough
that was beginning to rise.
Belle made a funny noise in the back of her throat before launching herself at
Tauriel and wrapping her arms around her waist. “I am so glad you are okay.
What if he had done more to you!? Oh, bother. I am so worried.” The tawny
haired woman babbled. “What would I do without you here!?! I am so glad Kili
saved you”.
Tauriel huffed a breath. “I could have saved myself. I don’t need him to save
me.”
Belle moved from where she had been attempting to absorb herself into Tauriel’s
side. “Yes well. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t a nice thing to do.” Belle
smoothed the wrinkles out of her wool dress and stepped back up onto her
stepping stool.
Kili walked by and wrapped an arm around Belle’s shoulder speaking with her
quickly. Tauriel assumed they were joking by the small giggle that erupted out
of Belle at his words. Kili planted a kiss in the tiny woman's curly hair and
squeezed her shoulders. Tauriel felt jealousy bubble up inside her at the ease
at which Belle interacted with Kili. She was so at peace with the large man.
But that is not all Tauriel was jealous of, if she was being honest with
herself. She was jealous that he had kissed Belle, even if it was only a
brotherly gesture with no amount of romantic feeling behind it. Tauriel ground
her teeth together when Kili stepped in front of her. 
“Ill sjá þig fljótlega, föstnuð mín ( "I'll see you soon).”
Kili put a hand under her chin and moved to kiss her mouth again but she tilted
her head to the side and his lips landed on her cheek. She had expected the
same anger any man would have at being rejected especially in front of watching
eyes. But when she looked at Kili he had a soft smile on his face and amusement
dancing in his eyes.
‘Will he ever get angry at anything I do?’  Tauriel asked herself as she
watched him walk out the door. He looked over his shoulder right before he went
out and winked at her before disappearing into the noonday sun.
“Do not look so sad now that he is gone. You know what they say ‘absence makes
the heart grow fonder’.”Belle teased.
Tauriel only rolled her eyes and snorted in response.
===============================================================================
The girls finished working in the kitchens and were soon shooed away by Vinna
talking about changing for dinner. But before she let them go she asked Belle
once again for the meat pie recipe she had made a few days earlier. Belle shyly
told the woman that it was a family recipe and would go to the grave with her.
“Allir besta sjálfur gera (All the best ones do)” Vinna chuckled and winked at
the girls before pushing them gently out of the kitchens.
Bifur escorted the girls towards the large home while he stayed a few steps
behind them as an imposing shadow.
Tauriel had been thinking about what Kili had been calling her since her first
day in this heathen land. “Belle?” she asked looked beside her at the little
woman.
“Hmm?” Belle turned her green kind eyes on Tauriel.
“Kili keeps calling me "föstnuð mín". What does it mean?”
Bifur snorted softly behind her at her words. She threw him a curious glance
over her shoulder but he had an impassive mask on by the time her eyes landed
on him. Belle was fidgeting beside her when she turned back towards the little
woman.
“Uh...You know, I was curious about that as well. I asked Fili a few days ago.”
Belle was wringing her tiny hands nervously making Tauriel’s hackles raise.
“What does it mean, Belle?” she asked between clenched teeth. Her mind ran
rampant with what his words could mean.
“Um...mybet…” the little woman mumbled so quietly Tauriel didn’t understand
her.
“What?”
“My betrothed.” Belle winced as she said the words more clearly.
Tauriel was not sure the last time she was this angry, perhaps in the battle
that led to her capture. Fire ran through her brain and her vision took on a
reddish hue. She had not realized she had begun running until she heard Bifur
yelling Kili’s name behind her as she ran towards the house. Her thoughts were
murderous as she saw the man come out of the house looking for whoever called
his name. He was obviously not expecting Tauriel’s warpath because he smiled at
her lovingly right before her fist was ramming itself into his jaw. She tackled
him to the ground before he could recover from her punch. Tauriel vaguely heard
Belle screaming in the background for her to “Stop”. There were other voices as
well, most were laughing or speaking calmly with one another.
Tauriel was straddling Kili’s waist as she flung punch after punch at him.
After she got three good hits in he grasped her wrists in a tight hold. He had
blood flowing from his nose and some covering his teeth. Using his impressive
body strength he bucked and rolled them over, effectively pinning Tauriel to
the ground.
“I am not your betrothed! I will never be yours, you bastard!” Tauriel screamed
in her native tongue.
“Logn, Tauriel (Calm, Tauriel)” he growled. Kili had her wrists pinned to the
ground beside her head as he gazed down at her. For the first time since she
came here, she saw anger directed at her in his eyes
‘Finally! A normal response.’she thought. Tauriel felt fear crawl up her spine
while looking at him. He was truly menacing. Now she could see the warrior
underneath his normally jovial personality.
“Ég mun aldrei vera þinn föstnuð mín (I will never be your betrothed). Mér
býður við þér (you make me sick).”She growled in stilted Norse. She had not
wanted to let them know she was beginning to understand them due to Belle’s
secret teachings but she could not hold back any longer.
Kili blinked rapidly as he realized she had spoken his tongue. His face quickly
went from confusion to sadness. Tauriel felt her heart spasm at the sight. She
never wanted to see that emotion on his face again. It made her stomach ache
with immense pain and her heart hurt even worse. Kili looked away from her
quickly then rose to his feet pulling her by her wrists with him. He picked her
up without much protest and threw her over his shoulder. He turned back to the
small crowd they had accumulated and snarled at them.
“Fara aftur að starf (Go back to work)”.
Kili turned and walked them into the longhouse. As she was about to disappear
into the house Tauriel saw Belle’s green eyes staring at her, they were filled
with tears of worry and sadness.
Tauriel couldn’t summon any fight within her when Kili threw her onto the bed.
He refused to make eye contact with her as he moved to the other side of the
room and picked up the same satchel he had earlier. He threw it at her and
moved to sit in a chair near the door. He put his head into his hands and
scrubbed at his face. Tauriel opened the large satchel slowly afraid of what
she find within. What she found was fabric. She began pulling the fabric out
and laying it upon the bed. The fabric turned out to be dresses, nice dresses
trimmed in fur and beautiful embroidery. There were a few aprons that the
Norse-women wore over their woolen dresses. At the bottom of the bag was
jewelry. Tauriel fished it out and held the jewelry in her hands. Tears welled
in her eyes as she saw one of the pieces. It was a round silver carved pendant.
Tauriel looked up and saw Kili was studying his hands as if they were the most
interesting things he had ever seen.
“fyrir mig(for me)?” Tauriel asked him quietly. He nodded without raising his
eyes to hers.
The tears spilled over her cheeks as she gazed down at the pendant in her hand.
It was the same one she had admired weeks ago. It was a carved pendant
featuring the goddess Brigid from her lands, the same goddess that her father
had always said she was the physical embodiment of. She quickly pulled the
necklace over her head and put a hand to it as it settled upon her chest.
Before she knew it her body was moving on its own accord. She knelt in front of
Kili and grabbed his hands in both of her much smaller ones.
“Þakka þér (thank you)” She told him sincerely.
He looked deep into her hazel eyes and nodded ever so slightly. Slowly he
extracted one of his hands from her grasp and reverently wiped the tears from
her cheeks.
“Ég vona að þú njótir gjafir (I hope you enjoy your gifts)” He told her quietly
and moved to stand.
Tauriel allowed it and stayed on her knees. He ran a hand through her red hair
before walking out of the room. Tauriel vaguely heard him speaking softly with
someone outside the door, then his boots walked out of the house.
Tauriel rose and sat on the edge of the bed rubbing her chest. She didn’t
understand why she was feeling the way she did. Her heart ached for hurting him
the way she knew she had. The redhead had thought it would make her gleeful to
hurt him but it didn’t, she felt horrible. Tauriel pressed a hand against the
pendant again and felt feelings other than hatred and anger bloom for Kili, it
frightened her. She did not want to feel anything but malicious feelings
towards the dark-haired Norseman and yet she was feeling things like
appreciation, affection and even worse arousal towards him.     
A soft knock on the doorframe had Tauriel looking up in wonder. She wanted to
slap herself when she realized she wished it was Kili coming back to speak with
her. She let out a breath of relief when she realized it was Belle at the
doorway. The little woman walked slowly to Tauriel’s side and took a seat.
Belle placed a tiny hand on Tauriel’s back and patted it softly. “Kili asked me
to come with you to the hot springs. We are supposed to look nice for dinner
tonight.” She whispered. "And you have blood on you..." Her tiny hand came up
and wiped some of Kili's blood from Tauriel's cheek.
Tauriel nodded and stood. She gathered her bathing things and a change of
clothes before following Belle into the room across the hall to her room she
shared with Fili.
“gjöf fyrir þig ( A gift for you)” Fili said to Belle as he pointed to a dress
lying at the end of the bed.
“Fromyou?” Belle asked switching to English due to her surprise.
Fili shook his head with a small smile on his face. “No.Another.Itissecret.”
Tauriel wondered about their exchange but did not ask questions in front of the
blonde Norseman. Belle was pleased with the dress and gathered the plum colored
fabric examining it with a happy smile on her face.
“égelskaþað (I love it)” Belle whispered reverently.
A loud knock on the doorframe had all in the room turning swiftly. Tauriel
prepared for a fight while Belle shrunk backward in fear. Fili made no sudden
motion at all but his shoulders were tense until he saw who was in the doorway.
“Við skulum fara að fá nakinn (let’s go get naked)!” Gyda crowed cheerfully.
===============================================================================
 
Tauriel and Belle were dragged towards the water and told to strip. Both the
girls lagged in removing their clothing. Gyda cared not for nudity, obviously.
She stood bare and proud in front of them without a stitch of clothing ordering
them about.
“Filiwon’tlook,will you?!” Gyda called out in English when she saw Belle’s
uneasy glances towards the blonde man standing at the edge of the woods with
his back to them.
“ Nei (No)!” He called back.
Tauriel stripped out of her clothing swiftly and hurried to the water prompting
Belle to do the same. Gyda mumbled about forgetting something and walked back
towards Fili, still naked. Tauriel and Belle both were shocked at the boldness
of the auburn haired woman. They watched as Gyda and Fili talked swiftly about
something.
“Does it bother you?” Tauriel asked Belle.
“Does what bother me?” Belle turned her eyes towards Tauriel’s hazel ones.
“Fili and her. You have eyes for him do you not?”
Belle shook her head and continued to wash in the hot water. “No, I don’t have
romantic feelings towards him and even if I did he is infatuated with another.
That is why we are having the large dinner tonight. Her father is a leader like
Thorin but in a land a few days from here and they are coming to speak about
something.”
Tauriel raised her eyes in surprise. “How do you know?”
Belle dunked her head under the water to rinse out the soap before speaking
again. “You would be surprised what others talk about when they don’t think you
understand them.”
The redheaded woman laughed with Belle at how true that statement truly was.
Belle looked over Tauriel’s shoulder to see Gyda and Fili still speaking.
Tauriel was surprised that Fili’s eyes never strayed below Gyda’s neck as if
her nakedness was either nothing new to him or did not bother him at all.
“Tauriel…” Belle said sounding serious. Tauriel turned back to see Belle
leaning forwards ever so slightly. “I need you to promise me something.”
“Anything” Tauriel answered simply.
“I...I need you to promise me, that if you have a chance to run from here, to
escape, you will take it whether I am with you or not.”
“No. I can’t leave you.” Tauriel dismissed her readily. The thought of leaving
Belle here with the heathens alone made her physically ill.
“You have to. I know I’m not getting out of here alive, I've known it since I
woke up on that boat. Please. You could make it. You are smart and strong.
Don’t waste another chance to escape because of me.”
Tauriel was about to argue back but the splashing of water had them halting
their conversation. Gyda hopped into the water and began to wash quickly.
“ Svo hvernig er Kili í rúminu (So how is Kili in bed?) Ég hef alltaf furða (I
have always wondered) ” Gyda asked nonchalantly as she rubbed soap into her
auburn curls. Tauriel coughed loudly in shock. “Er hún skilja mig (Does she
understand me)?” Gyda asked Belle. Belle looked to Tauriel as if wondering if
she should answer her or not. But Tauriel answered before Belle could.
“ Sumir (Some.)” Tauriel spoke. 
Gyda smiled widely and began hurling questions at Tauriel. She hardly caught
the meaning of any of them. The one question she somewhat understood was about
Kili and his male appendage.
“ Ég veit ekki. Ég hef ekki séð hann...alveg (I don’t know. I have not seen
him...fully).” Tauriel answered in choppy Norse.
Belle beamed at her proudly for being able to form two full sentences no matter
how stuttered and stilted they were. Gyda on the other hand just looked shocked
and even disappointed.
“þú hefur ekki riðið hani hans (you have not ridden his cock)?”
Tauriel looked to Belle for an explanation. The tawny-haired lass was bright
red and avoiding eye contact, choosing instead to gaze into the warm water
swirling around them.
“Uh? Belle. What did she say?” Tauriel asked her quickly.
“She asked why you have not...um...had relations with him.” Belle stuttered in
a small voice. Obviously embarrassed.
Gyda only looked at the little red-faced woman and laughed, a full belly laugh
that echoed around them. Tauriel answered her question with a firm “no” halting
the boisterous laugh of the auburn haired woman but could not wipe the smirk
off her face.
“Reyna það, og það fljótt. (Try it, and soon.) það mun vera þess virði (It will
be worth it). Norse hanni koma ánægju sem hefur ekkert að bera saman (Norse
cock brings pleasure that has no compare). ekki satt, Fili (Right Fili)?” Gyda
called over her shoulder to the blonde with his back turned. His large
shoulders shook as he laughed before he responded.
“Þú myndir vita betur en ég, Gyða. Aldrei tekið a hani. En myndi vera ánægð að
lána minn til hvaða konu sem þarfnast þekkingar (Never taken a cock. But I
would be pleased to lend mine to any woman in need of this knowledge).”
Belle blushed red from the tips of her ears to the point of her toes indicating
to Tauriel that whatever had been said was vulgar.
The girls quickly finished their washing and climbed out of the water to dry
off and change. Tauriel slipped into the plainest gown she had seen out of what
Kili had purchased for her. At the time she had believed the gown to be plain
but now that it was upon her body she felt foolish for thinking as such. The
gown was a deep green color with beautiful golden embroidery and beading on the
hems. The bodice hugged her body tightly showcasing her round breasts and flat
stomach before gently flowing out at her hips. She ran her hand over her toned
stomach hoping to quell some of the butterflies that had begun to reside there.
Tauriel looked over at Belle who was wearing the gifted purple gown that fit
her like a glove. Gyda herself was wearing a bright red gown that fit her
personality well, Tauriel decided.
Gyda forced Tauriel to her knees and began braiding her waist long hair while
Fili made his way over to them and softly styled Belle's curly locks. It had
stunned the redheaded woman that a large heathen like Fili knew how to do a
woman's hair. Tauriel's mind drifted to Legolas and if he would have been able
to do her hair. She wanted to laugh at the thought. Her husband would have been
scandalized at the request. Gyda snapped her fingers at Fili, startling Tauriel
out of her thoughts. Fili placed some sprigs of lavender and a vile of oil into
Gyda's impatient hands. The auburn haired Norse woman popped the cap off of the
perfume oil and began dabbing it at Tauriel's wrists and neck. Gyda handed the
vile back to Fili after copying the routine on herself. Gyda then shoved one of
the sprigs of lavender between Tauriel's breasts making the woman jerk backward
to her feet and growl. 
"Mér líkar bardaga þinn (I like your fight)."  Gyda said with a playful wink.
"Ég veðja að þú ert frábær í rúminu (I bet you are great in bed). Ef þú leiðist
í Kili, Dwalin og ég elska aðn jóta aðra(If you ever get bored of Kili, Dwalin
and I love to enjoy others)" The auburn haired woman brought a hand down and
slapped Tauriel on the arse.
Tauriel raised her fist and was about to charge Gyda when Fili stepped between
the two women. Gyda was laughing loudly and blowing kisses at an enraged
Tauriel.
Fili bent down and caught Tauriel's eyes before speaking to her. "Hún er
beitningu þig (She is baiting you). Gyða elskar að grínast og fá hækkun út af
öðrum (Gyda loves to joke and get a rise out of others). Hún myndi aldrei skaða
þig eða neyða þig til að hafa samskipti. Það er bara að spila (She would never
harm you or force you to have relations. It is just play)." His deep voice was
calming and she felt the fire within her lessening. 
Fili turned then and flicked Gyda between the eyes hard enough for all the hear
the "thunk". "Ef bróðir minn heyrði þig eða sáu hvað þú gerðir, Óðinn sjálfur
gat ekki verja þig (If my brother heard you or saw what you did, Odin himself
could not protect you). Halda hendurnar af konu hans (Keep your hands off his
woman)." 
Gyda took a deep breath before stepping around Fili to stand in front of
Tauriel. "Ég fíflast með þér (I am messing with you). "Eins vinir gera (like
friends do)."
Tauriel didn't know what possessed her to do it but she nodded and waited for
Gyda to turn before she slapped her hand over the other woman's arse, making
Gyda yelp loudly then turn around with a bright smile on her face. Gyda's laugh
rang through the trees as she howled in excitement, then threw her arm around a
laughing Tauriel's shoulders. "Vinátta okkar verður öfundaði af öllum, jafnvel
guði (Our friendship will be envied by all, even the gods)." 
Fili laughed at the two and shook his head. He put an arm around Belle's much
shorter shoulders and the four walked towards the meal hall. 
===============================================================================
 
Tauriel could hear the boisterous men and woman inside from near a quarter of a
mile away. The redheaded woman reached out a hand and clasped Belle’s hand in
her own. She gave her a squeeze of comfort as they approached the doors. 
Before they went in Gyda stopped them with a serious look on her face. “Vera
nálægt Fili, Kili eða mig. Ekki eru allir menn eru áhyggjur af reiði gotarnir
Grey. (Stay close to Fili, Kili or me. Not all men are worried about Gothi
Grey's wrath).”
Belle nodded at her words enthusiastically and turned to Tauriel to translate
quickly. Tauriel hated to admit it but she knew she needed to stay close to
Kili, the worst part was that she was excited by it. But she was also worried,
after how sad and disappointed he had been earlier, perhaps he would want
nothing to do with her. What would she do then? She didn’t have long to think
on it before the large wooden doors opened and they were forced to enter. Fili
was seperated by the crowd when he went to walk up near where Thorin was
sitting with another dark haired man that looked like another leader. Fili had
thought they were behind him, and did not realize their absence until he made
it to Thorin's throne. But by then he couldn't see the little women. Gyda was
soon swept up into the crowd as well after attempting to push back some of the
men that had consumed a little much to drink and we're getting too close to
Tauriel and Belle. Tauriel sharp ears caught the sound of Gyda arguing loudly
with a man on the other side of the large crowd.
It was as if Tauriel and Bell had been sucked out to sea, something that she
had been warned about as a child when she would swim in the ocean during the
warm island summers. Tauriel tramped down the fear she felt creeping up. She
had to be strong for Belle. Tauriel’s hazel eyes roved over the crowds in
search of Kili. In her search, she saw the angry eyes of Sigurd pointed at her.
She glared back at him with a ferocity that would have burst him into flames if
possible. Absently Tauriel could feel Belle trembling beside her.
A drunken man came up to them and bumped into Belle causing the girl to whimper
slightly. Tauriel pulled the little English woman behind herself and glared up
at the man.
“Watch where you are walking, arsehole” She growled in her native tongue
forgetting he could not understand her.
“Nokkuð (pretty)”The man said and attempted to caress her face.
As fast as lightening her hand snatched his wrist before he could touch her.
“Nei (No)”.She growled and tossed his hand aside with force. He chuckled as if
this was a fun game. He towered over her but she knew he was off balance, and
she knew she could beat him with her speed alone. He put his hands on her
backside making her see red. She brought her knee up and smashed it into his
testicles with a satisfying thud. He crumbled like a broken man to the ground
clutching at his manhood. Belle squeaked behind her as Tauriel pulled them
forwards.
Tauriel looked behind her to make sure Belle was still behind her when she ran
into a solid chest. The redhead whipped around preparing for another fight when
she saw warm kind brown eyes.
“Kili” she whispered softly and with no small amount of relief.
He smiled warmly down at her and rubbed his hands up and down her toned arms.
“Tauriel”.
The man who had assaulted her began to curse her loudly and Kili looked around
the man with confusion. “hvað gerðist (What happened)?”
Tauriel wondered if she should tell him the truth and if she would even be able
to find the right words in Norse to tell him. Belle had the words ready “Hann
snerti Tauriel óviðeigandi (He touched Tauriel inappropriately).”
Kili’s eyes turned murderous and he stepped towards the man. “ Ég hef séð um
það (I have taken care of it)” Tauriel stopped him with a hand on his broad
chest as she spoke in stilted Norse.
Kili turned his appraising eyes on her for a moment as if he could read her
soul and mind before nodding ever so slightly and grabbing her hand to pull her
through the large crowd. He led them to the edge of the room and sat Tauriel
down in a seat with Belle beside her. “Dvöl gleðja(Stay please)” He told her
with a hand on her shoulder before disappearing into the crowd.
“Where is he going?” Belle asked nervously. Her small hands were wringing each
other as her bright green eyes searched the crowd.
Tauriel only shrugged in response. Her guard was up as she surveyed all of the
enemies in front of her. She could possibly get away, the distraction would be
good but what if another man like early approached her. Yes, she would have
distraction due to all of the visiting people, but that also means that there
would be more witnesses, more people to thwart her escape or hunt her down. She
cursed her options.
“Halló ” A deep voice said beside her as a large body sat in Kili’s chair.
Tauriel only glared at the unfamiliar man beside her. “Sterk willed kona. Mér
líkar þetta. (Strong willed woman. I like that.)” the man said.
Tauriel only switched her expression to bored instead of vicious. She refused
to speak with him. There was no good that could come of it. He was not going to
accept her answer of “leave me be” and he certainly wasn’t going to be as easy
to take down as the last drunkard.
“Færa (move). Hún er mín (she is mine).” Kili’s voice was a welcome presence.
The man looked between the two beings and nodded before leaving without much
fuss.
Kili handed Tauriel and Belle a tankard, keeping one for himself he sat heavily
beside Tauriel. Kili threw his large arm over the back of her seat, barely
brushing her shoulders with his muscled arm. His hand was playing with Belle’s
curls on the other side of Tauriel making the young woman laugh.
“Kili, hætta” Belle giggled and slapped at his hand.
His deep laugh cause vibrations to flood Tauriel’s body where it was pressed
against his. She couldn’t stop herself from laughing along with them. Kili
stopped completely and stared down at Tauriel with so much love her chest
constricted. She smiled shyly back at him for a moment before he broke the
staring contest and tugged at Belle’s tight curls once more.
After two more tankards and a lot more teasing, Belle excused herself to go
speak with Ori and Balin on the other side of the room. Kili and Tauriel both
watched her carefully as she ducked and dodged arms and large men on her way
towards them. When she was safely tucked beside Ori, Tauriel turned her eyes
back on Kili. His arm was no longer draped across the back of her chair. It was
now wrapped around her shoulders. It could have been the amount of ale she had
consumed or maybe it was something else, she didn’t rightly care at the moment,
but she liked being held against him. He was speaking loudly with the redheaded
Gloin, joking she decided, about one thing or another. His smile was so
beautiful and brilliant that it shown even in his eyes. His laugh was
contagious and his lips...god his lips made her want to kiss him all over.
‘Woah. no, lass. Do not go there.’She chastised herself. Tauriel set her
tankard aside deciding that was enough liquor for one night.
Tauriel looked around for Belle thinking that the girl might need rescuing from
Ori and Balin. But she couldn’t find the girls tawny curls anywhere. Tauriel
put a hand on Kili’s thigh to interrupt him from his talk with Bofur.
“Kili...Belle?” She leaned in close to ask him so he could hear her over the
music and people talking.
He looked at her for a moment stunned by something before standing and looking
for the girl. He didn’t see her anywhere and called Fili over from where he was
speaking with a beautiful blonde woman.
“Fili, hvar er Belle (where is Belle)?” 
Fili’s eyes got large as he gazed around the meeting hall. He stepped up onto
the table in front of them to look for her. When he didn’t find her he turned
back to Kili and shrugged.
“Kannski fór hún út fyrir loft? Ég mun líta. (Maybe she went outside for air? I
will look.)”Fili told them and then bounded out the doors.
Tauriel felt her stomach tighten in worry for her friend. She was not going to
try to escape, Tauriel knew that. But they were surrounded by savages. Not all
were like Kili and Fili.
“ Ég er viss um að hún er fínn (I am sure she is fine).” Kili told Tauriel,
placing a hand on her cheek.
The warmth of his hand and the drink in her belly had her frozen where she sat.
She didn’t want to pull away like she normally did. Kili leaned in slowly and
pressed his lips to hers softly. Tauriel melted into the kiss and began to kiss
him back. He was startled by her willingness but made up for his momentary
stillness by grasping her softly by the back of the neck keeping her lips
locked with his. She wasn’t sure how long they had been kissing, it could have
been seconds, minutes or hours, she truly didn’t know nor did she want to find
out. When he snuck his tongue into her mouth she jerked back alarmed. She had
never been kissed like that. She wondered if that was a heathen movement.
Legolas had never kissed her like that. Kili looked down at her afraid of what
she was going to do next. Tauriel looked down at her hands no longer being able
to keep his gaze. He put a finger under her chin and lifted her face back
towards his. He was about to place his lips on hers once again when the music
stopped and Thorin began to speak.
Kili grumbled under his breath before turning back towards Thorin to listen to
his speech. He introduced the man beside him as Bard Girionson. Tauriel did not
understand much more of it because of the way Kili’s thumb was rubbing over her
knuckles distracting her. There was some silence while Bard rose to speak. It
was then that a piercing scream rang from outside. Tauriel stood abruptly, she
knew that voice, that scream.
“Helpme! Helpme,please! Tauriel! Kili! HELP!”  Belle screamed in English. 
Tauriel did not wait any longer. As swift as an eagle dropping from the sky
Tauriel jumped onto the table, scooping up a discarded knife and ran on the
table towards the front door. She heard people swearing at her for trampling
their meals as she made her way out the doors. The redhead could hear Thorin
barking orders behind her and Kili scrambling after her.
When Tauriel burst through the doors looking wildly for the directions of the
screams. She felt her stomach clench at the sight of Belle covered from head to
toe in blood stumbling towards her screaming.
***** Belle *****
Chapter Notes
     Hi, guys!
     This week has just been complete shit (house construction,
     hospitalized baby, and getting sick myself) so I have not been able
     to write anything new, thank the lord I am a few chapters ahead! I
     had debated on whether or not to wait to post this but meh, here it
     is.
     This chapter has graphic depictions of violence and attempted
     rape...beware.
     I hope you all enjoy it.
The air was stuffy as Belle followed behind Tauriel through the crowds of
people. She clutched the taller woman tightly as Tauriel navigated through the
throngs of men and large women. Tauriel and Belle were definitely the smallest
beings in the room. Tauriel at least was closer to an appropriate height among
these people but Belle would never come close. She was at least a foot, if not
more, shorter than everyone. It scared her immensely to only come up to some Of
the men's waists and lower chests. They could hurt her so easily. She was no
match for any of them, it was painfully obvious.
Belle whimpered in fear as a large man tumbled into her. It felt like she had
been hit by a horse. Tauriel immediately whipped Belle behind her and called
out the man. It brought unnecessary attention to the girls and Belle hated it.
The man was enthralled by Tauriel and her beauty. He called her pretty then
tried to manhandle her. Belle stifled a shriek with Tauriel’s knee came up and
contacted with the man's groin. He fell to the ground crying out in pain and
cursing her name. Few turned to see what his problem was, they were too far
into their tankards of ale.
Tauriel ran into Kili shortly after that allowing the curly haired English girl
to finally breathe a large breath. Belle was not ashamed to admit that she was
frightened. Very, very frightened. But she knew Kili would protect them both,
even if Tauriel insisted she did not need the help. Belle gladly accepted his
protection with zero fuss. But then again, Belle wasn’t the warrior her friend
was. Tauriel had been training for years. She had stepped onto the battlefield
with little fear. Belle, on the other hand, did step in front of the Norsemen
to protect her people but she had hoped to die, not to take anyone down with
her. Her small form was never meant to be in battle, she was not built for it.
Belle did have an affinity for weapons, she always had loved swords. Her best
memories of her mother were those where they played wooden swords in the safety
of her own room. Her mother’s tall lithe frame twirling about, using a weapon
as if it were an extension of her own arm.
‘ Mother would have fit in well among these people’  Belle thought as she
looked at the people around her in passing. They were tall and her mother was a
tall woman. She even grew taller than her father, Gerontius. Adamanta had said
it was because an elf with a wand had put Belledonna in her belly. And as
everyone knows, elves are known for their great height. Belle shook off her
thoughts on her mother when she saw Kili had asked Tauriel what the man had
done to her. Tauriel was struggling to come up with the right words so Belle
stepped in.
“Hann snerti Tauriel óviðeigandi (He touched Tauriel inappropriately).”
Kili’s eyes lit with murderous intent. But Tauriel stopped him and told him she
had taken care of it. He looked like he wanted to argue with her but accepted
it after a few moments. He led them through the thick crowd towards some chairs
seated on a side wall. Belle sat happily, she was glad to be out of the
suffocating bodies. Tauriel sat beside her stiffly, looking ready to fight
anyone that came near. Belle watched those around them carefully. Most were in
their own worlds of celebration, chatting happily in groups in the dimly lit
meeting hall. There was music being played in the center of the room. The smell
of cooking meat and alcohol wafted through the air.
Belle clutched desperately at Tauriel’s arm when she saw the back of Kili’s
head as he walked away from them. “Where is he going!?”
Tauriel didn’t answer her, only shrugged never turning her hazel eyes away from
the crowd. She obviously was preparing for another fight and Belle wasn’t sure
she would be on the winning end again if another fight presented itself.
The small English woman stiffened once again when she saw a large blonde man
sit himself beside Tauriel and begin speaking with her. When he tried to touch
her hair she slapped his hand away brutally.
“Færa (move). Hún er mín (she is mine).”  Kili’s voice was a welcome presence,
like a warm blanket on a cold night to Belle.
The man looked between the two beings and nodded before leaving without much
fuss. Kili handed Tauriel and Belle a tankard, keeping one for himself he sat
heavily beside Tauriel. Kili threw his large arm over the back of her seat,
barely brushing her shoulders with his muscled arm. His hand was playing with
Belle’s curls on the other side of Tauriel making the young woman laugh.
“Kili, hætta” Belle giggled and slapped at his hand.
She wanted to be angry but she couldn’t. This is what she always envisioned
having a brother would be like. Annoying you to no end but also protecting you
if necessary. Belle liked the feeling. He continued to play with her curls
making her squirm and try to duck his hand creating a game of it all. After two
more tankards and a lot more teasing, Belle excused herself to go speak with
Ori and Balin on the other side of the room. She wanted to speak with Ori to
see if he was impressed with her Norse she had picked up from Fili. Balin also
was a semi-calming presence to be around. The old man was gruff and strict but
he had a kind smile that she couldn’t help returning. As she darted around
large men and women alike none took notice of her. She walked by them unseen as
if she were a spirit without a body. Belle was grateful for that fact. She did
not need the attention that Tauriel got wherever she went. Belle supposed it
was the bright red hair that got them, or perhaps it was her natural beauty.
Belle didn’t know, but she was grateful to walk unseen.
When she walked up to Ori he hadn’t noticed her yet, truth be told, none of
them had. Ori, Balin, Bofur and Nori were all speaking. Belle didn’t know if
she should just leave. She turned to do just that but she locked eyes with ice
blue ones. These were not the kind eyes of Fili, no these were fierce
and...hungry. Belle turned away from Thorin’s gaze and tapped on Ori’s elbow to
get his attention. The ginger-haired young man turned around looking for the
person at eye level. He had to drop his eyes to see Belle and when he did those
eyes lit up.
“Belle!” he crowed happily.
“Ori.” She said with a smile. The young man was so shy at first, but now he was
a jovial sight every time they spoke. Belle turned to the other men and
acknowledged them as well. “Balin, Bofur, Nori.”
“Belle” they answered. Bofur, however had grasped her hand and brought her
knuckles up to his lips. His mustache tickled at her creamy skin making her
giggle ever so slightly. Absolutely delighting the dark haired man.
He turned to Nori giving the man a cocky smile. Belle snatched her hand back
but couldn’t help but smile. These men were being surprisingly nice to her.
Slowly they had grown comfortable with her in the weeks she had been present in
this heathen land. She knew that Bofur always had a kind smile and was a
general jokester, although his jokes were always lewd she tended to find
herself laughing at them more and more. As she had thought earlier Balin was
strict but kind. Ori was sweet and smart. Nori was the one she was unsure of.
She knew he was absolutely mad, mad as a hatter. He always wore coal around his
eyes making him look menacing. But his lower half of his face was always
smiling or cackling. At times she felt like he was looking at her with
suspicious eyes but when she would turn and face him fully he would wink at her
and be on his way. He was a puzzle, she decided and she wasn't sure if she
actually wanted to solve it.  
“What do you think, Belle?” Ori asked her in Norse as he gestured to the full
room.
“Ah…its very busy” she answered diplomatically.
“You will learn to love it” Bofur told her with a cheeky grin.
“What is the point of learning to love it if I am going to be sold back to my
husband?” she slapped a hand over her mouth wishing the words would go back in.
She blamed her bluntness on her drink but she knew that was not it. When she
was not frightened she was quite the cheeky woman. 
Four sets of shocked eyes stared at her. Then Nori opened his mouth and cackled
loudly. He wiped at the tears in his eyes mumbling about “stinging tongues”
“It is still undecided,” Balin told her but something in his eyes made her not
truly believe him.
Just the thought of going back to Smaug had bile launching up her throat. She
waited until the men had begun a conversation, none paying attention to her
before she used her quiet feet and slipped out of the large hall.
===============================================================================
 
Belle walked to the edge of the water feeling a chill seep into her bones. She
didn’t want to go back to Smaug. She hadn’t thought of him in a long while, it
had been nice. But she was kidding herself if she thought she could avoid
thoughts of him forever. As if she were back in the bastards bedroom she could
feel his wrinkled hands running over her body. She could smell his foul body
odor mixed with the smell of stale food and liquor. Her stomach lurched at the
memories of that smell and promptly turned to her side to vomit. She daintily
wiped at her mouth and turned to go get something to wash it out with when a
figure stood in her way. She stumbled backward into the water behind her,
soaking her boots.
“Your highness.” The man said in heavily accented English. He was tall,
impossibly so. She thought perhaps he may be one of the giants these Norsemen
spoke of. His face was heavily scarred. His lips mottled almost beyond
recognition with the amount of badly healed wounds on them. The man’s head was
shaved giving view to a startling array of red scars on his flesh. He was
terrifying, truly something out of her worst nightmares.
“Who are you?” She asked him as she stumbled back a few more steps into the
water. It was now up to her knees. She cursed herself for it. She couldn’t run,
the water would slow her down. She could try to swim for it, but she didn’t
know how to swim. Belle was more likely to drown than to actually get away.
“Bolg...” he told her. “Bolg Azogson” He gave her mocking bow, bloodshot eyes
never leaving her.
“Nice to meet you but I must be going now. My...friends are waiting for me.”
Belle said as she went to side step him.
He followed her step blocking the way with his large body.
“Let me pass.” she said in a firm voice.
“I don’t think so. I have looked for you for a long time,  Queen Belledonna .”
He sneered.
Belle felt every hair stand on end in fear. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Oh well. After you were taken, no one knew by whom. Could have been any number
of raiders. I tried a few settlements. You were never there. It makes sense you
were taken by Thrain’s son. Thorin never was one to let go of grudges.” Bolg
mused as he inched forwards. “Smaug called upon my father to find you. My
father passed it on to me. I am a much better tracker”.
“I’m not going back.” she whispered.
“Nor does he want you back” Bolg’s tone was ice in her veins.
“Then why are you here?” She asked. Belle looked around for anyone that could
help her, any type of weapon, anything of use. She took note of a piece of
driftwood near her feet. A swift punch to her stomach had her dropping to her
knees clutching at her stomach. Tears slipped down her cheeks.
Bolg squatted down in front of her and yanked her head up by her curly hair so
her watery eyes would meet his. “I wasn’t sent here to collect you, I was sent
to kill you.” He whispered in her ear. “But I’m going to have some fun with you
first”.
Belle felt around on the sand and grasped a piece of driftwood. Bolg was
currently running his nose up the curve of her neck, breathing in her scent
deeply. When he pulled away from her, he gave her enough space to swing her
improvised club. It didn’t knock him unconscious but it did give her time to
get away from him even if it was just a few feet. She swung again, this time
getting enough weight behind her swing to hurt the large man. There was a large
thunk as it connected with his temple knocking him flat onto his stomach. She
kept the club as she began to run for the longhouse screaming as loud as she
could. A weight hit her hard in the back laying her out flat in the sand. She
flipped onto her back, her hands restrained above her.
“You bitch.” He growled, spittle hitting her in the face.
Belle bucked against him, trying as hard as she could to get his heavy weight
off of her. A large blow to her face had pain radiating under her skin. She
felt as if she were being stung by a thousand bees. The blow stunned her to the
point that she couldn’t fight back when she felt herself being moved towards
the treeline. By the time he had slammed her against the hard ground just in
the shade of the trees she had begun to get some of her fight back. Belle
kicked at him with all of her might, landing a blow to his stomach but it
didn’t deter him. His hand was lifting her skirt while his other held her
hand's hostage. She screamed as loud as she could, her voice going hoarse. She
heard someone calling her name, or perhaps it was wishful thinking, Belle
wasn’t sure. Right now all she could focus on was the large man above her. He
had ripped her dress down the middle exposing her chest to him. She tried to
fight back, to keep her dress closed but it was no use. The man above her
shifted so he was sitting on her hips with her hands clasped in one of his as
he dragged a knife down her chest. She screamed as the pain spread from the
point of the knife. He got two good cuts in before he halted and listened to
something behind them.
“Belle?!” She heard Fili call her name.
“Fili!” She screamed loudly making Bolg stiffen. He looked behind him swiftly
before punching her in the stomach and disappearing into the dark forest.
Belle tried to speak but all the air was gone from her lungs. The pain that
radiated through her was immense, she couldn’t even see clearly due to the
pain. Everything was blurry and misshapen.
“ Fokk ! Belle?” Fili said as he knelt beside her.
She gasped in a large breath trying to warn him of her attacker. “Fi…” She
wheezed.
“Belle. Who did this?” Fili asked as he knelt beside her and tried to assess
her wounds.
“Fili.” She wheezed again pointing desperately behind him. A dark shadow rose
behind Fili and Belle tried her best to warn him. “Watch out!” her voice was
little more than a whisper but Fili heard her just in time. He moved to look
behind him dodging the sword that would have gone through him. Fili pulled at
his weapon but was not fast enough. Bolg's sword slashed into the blondes
stomach. Fili roared in pain and fell to his knees dropping his own sword. Bolg
sneered down at Fili and raised his sword to lop off the younger man's head.
Belle moving quietly and without Bolg’s notice, picking up Fili’s sword.
“lína er að fara að enda. Faðir minn og ég mun sjá til þess (Your line is going
to end. My father and I will see to it). Segja halló til Hel fyrir mig (Say
hello to Hel for me).”  Bolg was about to bring down his sword when a blade
slid through his stomach. He looked down in shock as the tip of the sword
exited his abdomen. Blood spread from the wound rapidly. Belle pulled the sword
out and kicked his newly abandoned one away from him. Thinking quickly she
pulled at the leather cord in her hair and began tying a very stunned Bolg’s
hands to a nearby sapling. When that was done she knelt by a groaning Fili.
“Bastard” He grumbled, hands clasping at his stomach.
Belle pulled his hands back to take a look at the wound but could not see much
in the darkness of the night.
“Did you kill him, Belle?” Fili asked her with a shaky smile.
“No. I believe he is in shock. He is losing blood rapidly.” She told him. Her
hands were covered in blood as she tried to assess his wound.
“It is no use. I am going to Valhalla.” Fili told her with a proud smile. He
brought his bloodied hands up to her face and cupped her cheeks.
“Sorry to disappoint but you are certainly not going tonight.” She growled
making him chuckle and then hiss at the pain in his abdomen. “It is deep but I
don’t think it cut any organs. Can you walk? We need to get help.”
Fili shifted and attempted to stand. He was on his feet but swaying heavily do
to the pain and blood loss. Fili clutched at his stomach holding in his own
organs. He leaned heavily on Belle as they stumbled out of the forest and
towards the main hall. They made it near three hundred feet from the entrance
of the main hall before Fili passed out.
“Help me! Help me, please! Tauriel! Kili! HELP!”  Belle screamed in English.
She ran towards the doors just as they burst open. She saw Tauriel come out
holding a dagger eyes searching for her friend. The red-haired woman’s jaw
became near unhinged when she saw Belle covered in blood stumbling towards
them. Kili was behind Tauriel when she stopped abruptly, he near crashed into
her shorter frame.
“Fili! Please. Help him!” Belle pointed behind her to where Fili lay face up on
the ground.
Kili screamed his brother's name and ran towards the blonde. Belle and Tauriel
ran to the other side and looked at his wound. His entire front was soaked in
blood. Tauriel lifted his tunic spotting the eight-inch slice.
“ Ní mór dúinn a fháil dó isteach ionas gur féidir liom a leigheas air (We need
to get him inside so I can heal him.)”  Tauriel barked.
Belle quickly translated for Kili. The dark haired brother called a few men
over to help carry Fili into the building. Belle could hear Dis screaming her
son’s name and wailing. A large hand gripped her arm tightly and whipped her
around.
“ Did you do this ? ” Thorin growled in Norse, before looking her over. He
noticed the cuts to her chest, her ripped dress exposing far more of her than
he ever thought he would see and the bruising on her that was beginning to
start.
“It was a man. I tied him to the trees.” She stuttered pointing in the
direction of the treeline.
Thorin turned around and ordered a few men to collect the attacker. “His name
is Bolg” Belle said.
She watched as Thorin stiffened and then began to curse colorfully. When the
man came into view, carried by four men, he was unconscious. But Belle’s
reaction was not dependent on him being conscious. She remembered the feeling
of the sword gliding through his abdomen, the squishing sound it made as the
blade tore through muscle and organ. Belle felt bile launch in her throat once
again and couldn’t keep it back. She fell to her hands and knees and puked up
everything she had left in her stomach. When she was done losing her food,
large warm hands picked her up and set her on her feet. Belle felt delirious,
she couldn’t feel her limbs as she was pulled forwards towards the main hall.
Before they entered Thorin looked down at her once more, then did something
that shocked her out of her stupor. He removed his large fur cloak and settled
it on her frame before bursting through the doors. Belle followed dumbly behind
and shrunk back in fear as the screams of Bolg rang through the structure. Gyda
stopped in front of her and pulled her towards a seat, settling her down beside
Ori and his brother Dori.
Belle’s eyes became as round as saucers when she registered what was happening.
Bolg was being tortured. He was being held up by two large men by his arms
while Thorin held a hot knife to the man’s wound. The action filled the meeting
hall with the smell of burning flesh and curdled blood.
“W ho sent you? ” Thorin asked as he pulled away the knife.
Bolg spit at Thorin not willing to answer. Thorin quickly punched the man in
his gaping wound. Bolg‘s scream was inhuman as his body registered the pain.
“W ho sent you ?” Thorin asked again.
“ The Dragon”  Bolg said through clenched teeth .
“ Smaug? ”  Thorin asked bewildered.
“ Já.” Bolg’s body sagged in the arms of the men holding him up (Dwalin and
Nori).
“ For what? ” The Jarl asked.
“ For her. He wants his wife dead .” Bolg said around a mouth full of blood.
The crimson liquid dripped down his chin and onto his shirtless chest.
Thorin shook his head confused and lifted his ice blue eyes to meet with
Belle’s emerald ones before turning back. “ why?”  Thorin growled.
Bolg laughed loudly, the sound distorted by the amount of blood collecting in
his lungs and leaking out of his mouth.  “She is a threat in your hands. The
Dragon has plans for you, Thorin Thrainson. You will all burn. Your people will
be ashes upon the ground.”
Thorin rose the knife and glided it across Bolg’s neck.
Belle bit back a scream as the life left the man’s eyes. She felt herself grow
sick once more but reigned it in. Thorin was barking orders to dispose of his
body in the woods for the creatures to find. The Jarl cleaned his dagger then
walked to his throne.
Belle looked around wildly for Tauriel but could not see her.
“She is in the Jarl’s longhouse healing Fili alongside Sigrid” Gyda whispered
into her ear.
Belle relaxed ever so slightly at the news. She knew Tauriel had done her fair
share of healing back in her home. Tauriel had told her once that her people
were known to consider her healing that of magic. The redheaded woman had
scoffed at the idea but right now, Belle hoped Tauriel’s people were right.
“Belledonna.” Thorin’s voice vibrated off the walls. “Come forward.” He told
her in his native tongue
Belle was shaking as she stepped towards the throne. Thorin’s fur cloak still
resting heavily on her shoulders.
“Tell us what happened” Thorin ordered. He was a frightening sight. He had
blood splatter on him, his knuckles were bathed in the crimson liquid and he
wore a furious expression.
Belle opened and closed her mouth a few times trying to find the right words.
“Speak woman!” Thorin screamed. His ice blue eyes boring into hers.
“I-I-I went outside to get air. I stood by the ocean when he came up to me”
Belle said in Norse. She stumbled over her words trying to remember the proper
words so she could be understood. “He said his name was Bolg Azogson.”
A murmur ran through the hall at the full name of the assassin. Belle’s emerald
eyes flicked up to Thorin. She saw that he was clenching his fists angrily, the
bones threatening to pop out of the skin.
“Do you know him?” Thorin asked her.
Belle shook her head before answering. “I have never seen him before tonight.”
She answered firmly. Thorin seemed to believe her and motioned for her to
continue. “He told me Smaug sent him here to find me. But not to take me back
with him, mind you, but to kill me.” She whimpered slightly on the last words.
“We fought. He hit me and dragged me to the woods. He was going to…” She
trailed off letting everyone get the idea. But that was not good enough for
these heathens apparently.
“Force himself on you?” Thorin asked.
“Yes.” She answered as tears sprang into her eyes. “Fili showed up before he
could. Bolg hit me in the stomach and then hid before Fili could see him. I
tried to warn Fili, I swear I did!” Belle said frantically. “Bolg was too fast
he cut Fili...And...And...I'm so sorry.” Belle sobbed openly falling to her
knees in front of Thorin. “I stabbed Bolg before he could cut off Fili’s head.”
The hall was quiet except for Belle’s sobs.
“You stabbed Bolg to protect Fili?” Thorin said in disbelief.
Belle looked up surprised. “yes.” She whispered.
“Why?” Thorin looked to be positively baffled by her response. “You could have
let Bolg kill Fili, then kill Bolg and escape.”
“Why would I do that? I would never want Fili dead.” Belle was just as baffled
at Thorin’s reasoning as Thorin was at her own.
“Why? He helped take you from your homeland, keeps you prisoner, why protect
him?” Thorin leaned forward in his throne fascinated by the little woman. He
was not the only one. Everyone’s eyes were riveted on the conversation.  
“He is nice to me” Belle said quietly.
The entire room was silent until Nori burst out laughing. “He is nice to you?”
He gasped between chortles. Everyone joined in after that, except for Thorin
and Gyda. The room's laughter was not one of a teasing sense they were all
truly bewildered by her reasoning. It was not the way of their people.
Thorin was leaning forward in his seat staring intently at her with his
calculating gaze. She felt bare to him even though you could barely see her
frame due to his large cloak.  He stood from his throne silencing everyone
abruptly. “If my nephew’s story matches that of yours I will allow you to live.
If he dies tonight taking his story with him, so should you.” Thorin growled.
Belle felt her knees beginning to shake. She was grateful she was already
kneeling on the ground or else she was sure she would have fallen. Thorin
stomped out of the back of the meeting hall leaving the crowd to slowly
disperse.
“Come on up,” Gyda said as she brought Belle to her feet. “Let’s get you
cleaned up,” The auburn-haired woman said.
===============================================================================
 
Gyda led her out of the meeting hall and towards the heated springs. She
stopped only momentarily to grab her husband and a change of clothing for Belle
from her own home. Belle was too numb to put up much protest or do much more
than follow on Gyda’s heels.  When her feet began to be too heavy for her she
heard Gyda speak rapidly to her husband and then Belle was lifted in the air.
She fought feebly against the man holding her but it was no use. Dwalin was at
least three times her size and there was no way she could get out of his grasp.
“It’s alright, little queen.” He told her in Norse making her stiffen.  
Belle was acutely aware of the amount of caked blood on her person, she reeked
of the metallic scent and she wanted it off. When they reached the pools she
was still too flustered and exhausted from the ordeal to care much. She shed
her clothing and stepped into the springs without waiting to see if Dwalin was
turned around.
Belle tore at her ruined shift that lay beside the tub and created a cleaning
rag for herself. Gyda handed her a bar of soap and the girl scrubbed at
herself. She had not realized she was sobbing and scrubbing hard enough to make
herself bleed until Gyda gently took the rag from her hands and began to wash
Belle softly.
“It is going to be alright” Gyda whispered to her. “Fili is strong, he will
live. And even if he didn’t Thorin would not kill you. There are some who would
not let him” her voice rang with emotion. Belle understood the words without
needing to be said,  “I will protect you”.  The little English woman thanked
her softly but continued to weep into the water.
Having been thoroughly washed Gyda pulled Belle out of the spring and began to
rub her town with a drying cloth. She pulled a simply shift over Belle’s head
then a woolen dress. The tawny haired woman only stood there dumbly as Gyda did
all the work. When her cuts were cleaned and bandaged and a pair of boots were
on her feet she was led back towards Thorin’s home.
Dwalin pushed open the door and immediately left her side to go to Fili’s room.
She could hear groaning and what sounded like a muffled scream. Belle rushed on
tiny feet towards Fili’s room.
Fili lay on the bed face up, with a blonde woman at his head whispering into
his ear, while Kili held his brother’s legs and Tauriel poured what appeared to
be alcohol into his wound. The blonde Norseman had a wad of fabric in his mouth
that he was biting to keep from screaming. Dis was praying beside him and
holding his hand tightly.
Tauriel pulled what looked to be a needle and thread from a small tray beside
her and then pierced the tattooed skin of Fili’s abdomen. Like she was sewing a
garment she wove the sliced skin back together.
Belle heard a roaring in her ears as she watched the blood escaping the sides
of Fili’s torso. His screams were only slightly muffled by the fabric in his
mouth and the smell of alcohol and blood invaded her senses. Belle's world
tilted on its axis then went black.
===============================================================================
 
Belle awoke to something soft under her face and the distinct smell of musk and
ocean spray. Belle opened her eyes unsure of where she was. Looking around the
darkened room gave her no clues. She rose from the bed barefooted and stepped
around the room. Her heart beat impossibly fast when she noticed that she was
on an upper floor of a longhouse. She had never been to the upper floor of the
Jarl’s home but she was beginning to think that perhaps she was in the very
man’s bedroom. She padded towards the stairs when she heard voices coming from
below. They were angry voices but it was obvious they were trying to keep quiet
for their tones were hushed. Belle, using her silent feet, crept down the
stairs. She made it down the first three steps before the wood below her
creaked loudly. The three voices down on the lower floor quieted for a moment.
Belle held her breath not willing to move a muscle. It felt as if an eternity
passed before the beings below began to speak again.
“Thorin, you can not kill her if Fili does not live.” Belle recognized the old
raspy voice of Gothi Grey.
“Why not? I am the Jarl. She is more trouble than she is worth.” Thorin
growled.
“That is not true, Thorin” That voice was Dis Belle thought.
“Trust me.” Gothi Grey’s voice was angry, impossibly so. Belle felt her hair
stand on end at the ice in his tone.
“Why?” Thorin sounded like a child pouting.
“He practically raised us, Thorin! Gothi is the only father I have known. I
believe you, Gandalf.” Dis said with conviction.
Belle shook her head in confusion. ‘Who is Gandalf? Is there a fourth person
down there?’
“Thank you, child” Gothi Grey said to Dis softly.
“You had a father, Dis! His name was Thrain. His death was ordered by the
husband of the woman who sleeps above us now!”
“She wasn’t even alive then! Do you truly believe that she willingly married
him!? Have you not been listening to her conversations with Kili’s woman!?” Dis
roared.
Belle sat back stunned. She had never noticed the dark haired woman when she
spoke with Tauriel of Smaug, she hadn’t even been speaking Norse when she did
so…
“Do you see the fear in her eyes when you speak of selling her back!? She hates
him. I would be willing to bet all my gold that she would kill him herself if
able!”
“I am Jarl! I will do as I…” the sound of a hand striking a cheek was heard
throughout the home.
“Dis? You would dare…” Thorin began again but was quickly cut off by another
slap.
“You may be the Jarl but I am your sister and I will pull you from your halfwit
horse when needed. And now, brother mine, it is needed. The English woman will
be of use to us. Think why Smaug wants her dead.” Dis gave a moment of silence
before pushing forward. “All men are daft” Dis grumbled. “ She knows too much!”
She said in an exasperated tone.
Belle thought about that for a moment. Dis was right, Belle did know more than
Smaug would have ever liked. She was of the curious sort and would rifle
through his documents. She knew secret ways into any of his castles that she
was sure Smaug didn’t even know about. Belle knew the shores that were the
least guarded, she knew how many men he posted in the various forts around his
lands. She knew when he had trading shipments coming and going. She knew of his
contracts with other kingdoms. She knew entirely too much.
The three beings downstairs let Dis words sink in. “We could use her…” Thorin
whispered.
“No.” Gothi Grey said firmly.
“What do you mean no?” Thorin and Dis said together.
“You will use her as bait. She will be disposable to you.” the older man voiced
his unfiltered thoughts.
“And why do you care?! What is she to you old man!?” Thorin roared.
“I know not what you speak if. It is the gods…” Gothi began.
“It is not the bloody gods! They do not care for her as you do! What. Is. She.
To. You?” Thorin said between clenched teeth.
“It is none of your concern…” Gothi tried again his voice rising with Thorin's.
“It is my concern! I am the leader of these people. I deserve to know why she
is protected by you and if it will continue! Why do you protect her?!?”
“She is Adamanta of Wessex’s kin! Daughter of her first born, Belledonna Alva
Birgitt.” Gothi snarled back.
“Fokk (fuck)”  Thorin whispered in shock.
The room was silent as the information sunk in. Belle could feel the change of
emotion that ran through the open space. It had started as anger and fury but
with Gothi Grey’s words spoken the room was left with only guilt and tension,
confusing the tawny-haired girl immensely.
“I’ll get you a strong ale” Dis whispered sympathetically to her brother or to
Gothi, Belle was not sure.  
***** Gandalf/Gothi *****
Chapter Notes
     This chapter is a bit of a tear jerker, so grab your tissues.
     Also, there are mentions of underage sexual activity and torture in
     this chapter.
     I hope this answers some questions and unfolds the plot a little
     more.
     Thank you all for reading this fic. :)
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Gothi Grey now old in his age had seen his fair share of the world, but his
favorite view was one he could only see in his mind. It was the image of a
short English girl with honey-colored curls blowing in the wind and a bright
smile on her youthful face standing on the shore waiting for him to return from
a raid. Gothi, formerly known as Gandalf, had been raiding since he was
thirteen, traveling to distant lands with strange people and great wealth. He
enjoyed the different lands, had enjoyed his fair share of their women too but
his heart had always rested on the shores of Wareham outside of Wessex. That is
where young Adamanta resided. She was a tiny slip of a young woman. Her head
had barely come up to his chest, though he was quite large even for his people
as she was tiny for her own. When Gandalf was on the ship headed towards other
lands he always counted the days until he would see his Kanína again . Gandalf
had lovingly given her the nickname because of how small and quick she was. She
had wrinkled her tiny nose at the name but he knew she secretly loved it, it
made her feel special and loved. His attention was the most she ever received
for she was the youngest of seven children and the strangest of them all.
Adamanta was often found in the Norse settlement outside of Wessex traipsing
around. She had little fear and was loved by many of the Norse people for that.
Gothi thought back to the happy times he had with the little woman.
===============================================================================
 
                                August 793 A.D.
                     (Gandalf-Thirteen / Adamanta-Twelve)
At the age of thirteen, on the cusp of fourteen, Gandalf had just come back
from his first raid. They had raided the lands far south and had come back with
many treasures. The lone large structures on the shores they had raided had
been so ill prepared that the raiders did not have to barely lift their swords.
What had surprised Gandalf was that there was only men with strange haircuts
wearing robes of brown living in the large ostentatious structures. There were
no women in sight, confusing the raiders but they did not think on it much when
they saw the amount of gold relics within the buildings. The men in the
dwelling had no weapons of any kind and had cowered in fear when Gandalf and
his companions had stormed their structures. It was an easy raid, too easy,
there was none of the excitement Gandalf had expected. They had returned in
record time with an obscene amount of gold making the young Gandalf exceedingly
rich for one his age. He had given the money to his single mother to help keep
the home running as well as help feed his little sister. He was the man of the
house, had been since his father died in the raids two years earlier. Gosta had
been a great warrior and a noble man. He had died shielding one of his fellow
raiders from a flaming arrow. Gandalf shook off the sadness for the loss of his
father, it was no sad thing to die in battle. Gosta was in Valhalla now and
there was happiness in this fact. To die in battle was one of high honor.
Gandalf trudged through the underbrush of the forest looking for wood to help
get them through the oncoming winter. It was going to be a cold one, not near
as cold as the winters in their northern homeland, but cold all the same. A
small squeaking noise had Gandalf turning swiftly and pulling his chopping ax.
What he saw was a small flash of honey hair peeking out from behind a tree.  
“Hver fer þar (Who goes there)?” Gandalf yelled into the near silent forest.
His eyes stayed locked on the little human attempting to hide behind the large
tree.
“koma út og ég mun ekki drepa þig (Come out and I won’t kill you). Halda áfram
að fela ogég mun (continue to hide and I will)!” Gandalf roared.
He was trying to scare the being behind the tree, if his eyes were seeing
correctly he believed it to be a small child. He did not want company right now
and if he could scare off the child that would be best. But the being did not
react to his words. On silent feet, he crept in a large circle around the other
side of the tree until he could see clearly that it was a young girl. Her dress
was disheveled and her curly hair was full of leaves. She had not taken notice
of him standing behind her. She peeked around the tree looking for him but
didn’t see him. The small girl stepped out from the tree obviously searching
for him where he had previously stood. She made a full circle before her eyes
caught sight of him, arms crossed over his chest smirking down at her. To her
credit, she did not scream; she only squeaked and tensed her entire body.
“Af hverju ertu að njósna um mig (Why are you spying on me)?” Gandalf asked.
When the girl shook her head at him and pointed to her ears he finally
understood, she didn’t speak Norse. He should have noticed that she was not one
of his people, she wasn’t dressed like one of the girls from his village. She
was wearing a silk dress and flimsy shoes, not the woolen dresses and sturdy
boots Norse women wore.
“Why are you spying on me, little girl?” he asked her in English this time. It
was essential to speak the language of Wessex to be able to trade with the
Saxon people. He had learned in his eleventh year how to speak the English
language.
“I wasn’t spying on you. You flatter yourself. And I am not a little girl.” The
girl said in the strange Saxon accent as she threw in an eye roll for good
measure.
“Do I?” Gandalf couldn’t help the small smile that graced his lips at her
courage. She was talking back to a young man over a foot taller than her, who
was holding a very sharp weapon.
“Yes. Why would I be spying on you?” She crossed her arms over her little chest
and popped her hip out.
Gandalf decided he had had enough of her sass and it was time to get her to go
away. He sauntered over to her slowly. Her light green eyes became wide the
closer he got towards her. Her nostrils flared in fear and she hugged her arms
to her chest a little tighter. Gandalf circled her frame slowly taking in every
detail of her without saying a word. He had to hold back a chuckle when he saw
the goosebumps break out all over her visible skin. When he was finally back in
front of her, he lifted his sword and put the tip under her chin.
“Little girl. I suggest you go home, swiftly. The Norse lands are no place for
a fragile little Saxon girl.” He tapped under her chin with the flat side of
his sword.
“I am not little or fragile!” She growled and slapped his sword down.
Gandalf’s eyebrows shot up to his blonde hairline and chortles bubbled up his
throat at her ferociousness. He dropped the tip of his sword to the dirt and
leaned on the hilt while he tried to catch his breath. The girl looked like she
was fighting laughter as well. She had a small smile on her face and laughter
dancing in her eyes.
“What is your name?” Gandalf asked, suddenly intrigued by this little human.
“Adamanta. What is yours?” She asked him extending her tiny hand for him to
shake.
“Gandalf.” He told her while his large hand engulfed hers. He may have been
young but he was large for his age. He was frequently thought to be near
seventeen with his height and strong build. Gosta was the largest man of the
village by near a head, he was always called a giant in good humor. So it was
expected that his only son would be near as tall or just as tall as the giant
blonde man once was.
“Are you lost?” Gandalf asked Adamanta.
“I’m not lost.” She scoffed. But Gandalf did not miss the small shift of her
eyes to the left, a sure sign of lying.
“Oh really?” he asked.
“Yes, really. I am simply taking an evening walk.” She said proudly, puffing
out her little chest.
“Hmm. I see. Well, I will let you get to your evening walk, Adamanta. Good luck
getting home before dark” He told her as he turned on his heel and began to
walk the other direction. He counted his paces betting against himself that she
would last five before calling out to him. He was truly surprised when she
didn’t call out to him until he was twenty-five paces away.
“Wait!” She yelled and came running towards him. When he turned she looked just
like a little bunny in her once white dress and disheveled hair hopping over
fallen branches and large rocks. “Okay, I’m lost.” She whispered looking down
at the ground.
“And what would you like me to do about it?” Gandalf asked her with a cocky
brow raised.  
“Well considering we are friends, maybe you could be a friend and help me get
home.” She looked at him under her thick dark lashes.
“Friends?” He was confused. Gandalf had never seen this girl before near twenty
minutes past. How could they be friends?
“Well yes! Of course.” Adamanta said with a wave of her hand. “We exchanged
names and had a good laugh together. We are friends.” She said it like it was
an obvious thing.
“That does not make us friends.” Gandalf scoffed at the little girl’s
reasoning.
“Of course it does!”
“Uh. no. You must not have very many true friends if you consider that the
start of a friendship.” Gandalf could tell he had hit a nerve when the little
girl’s eyes reflected hurt. He didn’t know why but he wanted to nut himself
just for making her sad. “It is going to be dark soon Adamanta. There is no way
you will be able to find home in the dark and it is too dangerous for you to go
alone or even with just me.” He was not prepared for the tears that began
running down her cheeks when he mentioned not being able to take her home. It
felt like his heart was being smashed by Mjölnir as he watched the tears
cascade down her dirty cheeks.
“Will you stay with me?” She asked in such a tiny voice that he could barely
believe this was the same girl that had slapped his sword away earlier.
“No,” he said and watched as her face crumbled. He hurried to soothe her fears.
“You will come home with me and I will take you to your home in the morning.”
When she smiled it was like he had seen the sun rise for the first time. He
swore his heart stopped then started again faster than Thor’s chariot rides
across the sky. Gandalf jerked backward when he felt her little hand clasp his.
“Thank you,” Adamanta whispered.
Gandalf shook off the stupor he had entered in when she held his hand and began
to pull them through the trees towards his home. He gathered some wood in one
arm on the way back. Adamanta silently refused to release his hand so he had to
carry the wood with one arm. He felt silly for the joy that he was feeling at
her touch.
Adamanta chattered the entire way to the house about nothing and everything at
once. When he caught sight of his home on the outskirts of the village his
heart began to speed up. He wondered what his mother would say or do. Brynhild
was not the friendliest to outsiders. He prayed for his mother to be accepting
of the little girl. He did not wish to have to sleep out with the goats
alongside her if his mother turned her away.
Gandalf had not realized his companion had begun to shiver until they were near
the back door. He was pulled out of his thoughts by the chattering of her
teeth. He pulled her along faster towards the back of the house dropping the
wood beside the back door. Adamanta breathed an audible sigh of relief when
they entered the warm longhouse.
“Ma’” He called out.
Gandalf heard his mother’s reply from deeper within the home. He pulled the now
silent girl towards the center of the home where his mother was sitting near
the fire cooking. His little sister Hildie was dancing around the fire being
the little savage she always was. Gandalf felt Adamanta move behind him still
gripping his hand in a death grip. He chuckled ever so slightly at her fear
making his mother look up with a confused glance. Brynhild's sharp eyes caught
the sight of white skirts and honey colored curls peeking out behind her tall
son.
“ Hvað hefur þú fært heim (what have you brought home)?” Brynhild's voice was
flat, not giving her son any idea of her feelings.
“ Þetta er Adamanta (This is Adamanta).” Gandalf pulled the tiny girl from
behind his back, letting his mother get a good look at her.“ Hún var glataður í
skóginum (she was lost in the woods). Hún býr í Wessex (She lives in Wessex).”
Brynhild rose from her crouch by the fire and walked closer to the girl. “You
are far from home for someone so small.” She said in a deeply accented English.
“Will your mother and father not wonder where you are?”
Adamanta looked down at her tiny ruined shoes. “No. No one will look for me
tonight. There is a big feast at the castle tonight, everyone will be too busy
to notice I am gone.”
Gandalf looked at his mother and saw a glint of sadness in her eyes at the
girl’s tale. “A wee girl like you? How could they not notice?”
“I am not wee. I am twelve years old!” Adamanta said with fire. She immediately
turned red and looked back down at her feet in embarrassment.
Brynhild pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. “Okay, twelve-year-
old Adamanta. Why would your mother and father not notice you gone?”
Adamanta turned her pale green eyes up to Brynhild’s dark blue ones. “I am the
youngest of seven. The feast is tonight, everyone will be deep into their ales.
No one will notice. I have been gone longer than one night without them
noticing.” Gandalf felt his stomach churn at the thought. If Hildie went
missing even for more than a few hours his mother would send out a search
party.
“Well, you are welcome here, Adamanta” Brynhild said with a soft smile. “Are
you hungry?”
Adamanta looked up at Gandalf as if looking for an answer. He shrugged not
knowing why she was looking at him. Just then her stomach grumbled loudly
making his mother chuckle.
“Come, I will feed you.” Brynhild led them over to the fire where Hildie was
entertaining herself. “Hildie, This is Adamanta. She is Gandalf’s friend.”
Adamanta looked up at Gandalf and raised her honey colored brows as if to say
“See I told you we were friends”. Gandalf rolled his eyes at her antics and
removed himself from her side to help his mother serve up their stew for
dinner.
“Halló!” Hildie said not stopping her spinning.
“What are you doing?” Adamanta asked his sister.
“Dancing!” Hildie said without stopping her movements.
“Oh…” Adamanta said softly and a bit confused.
Hildie stopped only for a moment to grab at Adamanta’s hands and then begun to
spin the slightly older girl around with her. Gandalf couldn’t help the
laughter that arose in him when he saw the uncomfortable look on her face.
“Hún er að minnsta kosti hálft daga ganga frá kastalanum (She is at least half
a days walk from the castle)” Brynhild said to her son. Gandalf nodded his
blonde head at his mother’s words. “Það veldur mér áhyggjum að hún var ein í
skóginum (It worries me that she was alone in the woods). Horfa út fyrir hana,
sonur (watch out for her, son)”
Gandalf made a sound of disagreement in the back of his throat. “Ég er ekki
markvörður hennar. Ég mun taka hana aftur á morgun og aldrei að sjá hana aftur
(I am not her keeper. I will take her back tomorrow and never see her again).”
Brynhild openly laughed at her son. “Við sjáum til (we'll see)"
Gandalf was going to tell his mother there was nothing to “see” but she called
the girls over for dinner. They ate quickly with little talk. Brynhild was
astounded at the small amount of food the girl would eat. His mother kept
telling the girl “eat more” or “you are too skinny”. It was clear Adamanta was
astounded by the amount of food Gandalf had consumed. She told him he must have
a hollow leg making everyone laugh loudly. When dinner was finished Adamanta
helped him clean up and then Brynhild was ushering them all to bed.
She gave Adamanta one of Hildie’s night dresses to wear before sending them to
bed. Adamanta had gaped at his mother when she told her she would be sharing a
bed with Gandalf.
“He will not hurt you,” Brynhild said firmly. It was a promise to Adamanta as
well as a warning to her son. Gandalf being only thirteen had never lain with a
woman, of course. He had seen it done many times but it was not something he
was going to partake in anytime soon, especially not with Adamanta. She was a
child.
Gandalf shed his shirt and climbed between the furs of his bed while Adamanta
stood awkwardly unsure what to do.
“Come.” he told her patting the spot beside him in the small bed.
She walked slowly and slipped in between the furs laying face up.
“It gets cold here,” Gandalf told her while he piled another fur over her form.
“We are closer to the sea than your home.”
Not sure what else to say the two laid there until exhaustion pulled the two
friends under.
The next day Gandalf borrowed his friend, and fellow raider, Thrain’s horse to
escort Adamanta back to the castle. The trip was short but filled with chatter
and laughter between the two new friends. Once they reached the castle Adamanta
hugged Gandalf close and bid her new friend farewell.
As the blonde young man rode towards his home he thought that would be the last
time he saw Adamanta of Wessex. He was wrong, very wrong.
===============================================================================
 
                               September 793 A.D
                     (Gandalf-Thirteen / Adamanta-Twelve)
“Gan! Wait up!” Adamanta yelled from a few paces behind him. “Your legs are
much longer than mine.”
Gandalf stopped and looked towards the heavens for patience. “Stop calling me
that!” He growled.
“No. I like it. I think it fits.” She told him as she caught up with him.
“Whatever you say, Kanína,” Gandalf told her as he kept walking towards the
water.
“Why do you keep calling me that!?” Adamanta was exasperated.
“It means little bunny.I like it. I think it fits.” the blonde boy said in a
poor imitation of her voice.
Adamanta grabbed his hand and pulled him to a stop. She tugged on his hand
until he looked at her. “Okay. If you like it then I like it.”
Gandalf chuckled and pulled her along towards ocean. When the two friends
reached the shore Gandalf helped the honey haired girl into the small skiff
before pushing off the shore. He jumped in beside her and the two spent the
rest of the day catching fish. They were just about to row back into shore when
Adamanta misstepped and fell into the water. Gandalf began to laugh
uncontrollably waiting for the girl to pop up out of the water. His laughter
died when she didn’t surface, he ripped off his tunic and kicked off his boots
before diving into the water. Gandalf swam deep into the water until he caught
sight of her green dress floating in the sea. He wrapped an arm around her
waist and swam to the surface. He lifted her into the skiff before dragging
himself in. Adamanta coughed up water and eventually had to lean over the side
of the boat to vomit seawater from her belly. The two lay on the bottom of the
skiff, staring into the clouds, chests heaving until Adamanta looked over at
her blonde companion.
“Gan, can you teach me to swim?”
Gandalf couldn’t help the startled laugh that came out of him. His laughter
made Adamanta burst out laughing as well. Her voice was a little hoarse due to
the seawater ingested but Gandalf was sure he had never heard a sound more
beautiful in his thirteen years.
===============================================================================
 
                               December 793 A.D.
                     (Gandalf-Fourteen / Adamanta-Twelve)
Gandalf dragged out of bed and hurried about completing his chores. He had
training with Prinsinn Thrain, Fundin and Grîon in the morning then he needed
to help his mother make repairs to the home, then it would be time for his
birthday celebration. He absently wondered if Adamanta would be there. It was
winter and there was snow upon the ground. He worried about her riding a horse,
by herself, for hours in the frigid cold.
The blond boy didn’t have long to think of it before it was time to go train.
He pulled on his ragged cloak and trudged out the doors. When he reached the
large hall they would be sparing in he shed his cloak and began to warm up with
Thrain. They two swung their swords at one another working on their forms. More
of the young men that would be raiding the next year stepped in to begin
sparring as well or just to watch. Gandalf heard the bets of those around them
being laid until a distinctly feminine voice bet some sort of jewelry on him.
He was momentarily distracted giving Thrain a clear shot at his face. Gandalf
recovered soon enough but was distracted not long after that by the sound of
arguing.
“There is no way he will win. Gandalf may be a raider but I could beat him.” A
cocky voice said. Gandalf mentally rolled his eyes. He knew that voice. It was
Erikk, bastard son of Threon. The redheaded boy was a cocky arse that Gandalf
would love to knock down a few pegs.
“Yes, he would! My best friend Gan would kick yer arse!” Adamanta’s voice rang
clear throughout the Hall. Gandalf had never heard her swear before and it
startled him.
“Your best friend Gan?” Erikk laughed loudly and mockingly, making Gandalf
grind his teeth. He only had half his heart into the sparring session with
Thrain and his friend knew it. Thrain had slowed down his attacks as well to
listen in on the argument.
“What do you know of fighting, little girl?” Erikk laughed.
“I am not little!” Adamanta had said in an icy voice.
“You are a wee thing. Won’t be worth much more than a bed warmer when you grow.
A smart mouth such as yours will be put to good use.” Erikk spoke lewdly.
Gandalf had had enough. He shoved Thrain backward dropping his sword in the
process and turned to attack Erikk when a war cry and then the smack of flesh
hitting bone was heard. Gandalf turned to see Adamanta cradling her fist while
Erikk covered a bloody nose with his hands.
“Tik (bitch)!” Erikk’s voice was muffled by his hands covering his nose and
mouth but Gandalf did not need to hear more. He slammed the boy against the
wall.
“Aldrei kalla hana það (Never call her that)!” Gandalf screamed and slammed the
boy's head against the wall with impressive strength.
Erikk glared up at Gandalf with disdain “
"Þú ert að fara til hliðar við utanaðkomandi, enskur stúlku, en þitt fólk (You
are going to side with an outsider, an English girl, over your own people)?”
Gandalf dropped his hand and walked over to Adamanta. He threw his arm around
her shoulders “Eins og hún sagði að við erum góðir vinir. Það þýðir að hún er
undir vernd minni. Þú vanvirðing hana aftur ég mun senda þig til Hel. (Like she
said we are good friends. That means she is under my protection. You disrespect
her again I will send you to Hel.)” The blonde took his sword from where Thrain
was offering it to him and marched out of the hall, arm around Adamanta’s small
frame.
When they had reached his longhouse and they were inside it’s warmth Gandalf
unloaded on the girl.
“You can not do such things Adamanta!” he roared.
“What things?” The girl asked while rubbing her sore hand.
“You can not start fights with men twice your size!” he growled rubbing a hand
through his shaggy hair.
“He insulted you! You are my friend, I won’t let anyone talk that way about
you.” Her light green eyes lit with conviction.
Gandalf took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration
until he had calmed “Kanîna, please don’t do that again. Let me handle it.” He
sighed.
The honey haired girl seemed to think of it for a moment. “No.” She answered
simply.
Gandalf stared at the girl flatly waiting for her to change her answer when she
did no such thing he shook his head and walked out the front door to collect
some snow. He balled it up, placing it into a rag then walked back inside to
sit beside his friend. He placed it on her knuckles, she hissed at the contact
but didn’t make any more noise.
“Don’t fight with your fists again for me. Aye?” He asked her.
She rolled her eyes but eventually nodded her head. “I got him good though
didn’t I, Gan?”
The blonde young man laughed and nodded his head. “Yeah, you did, Kanîna.”
Later in the evening, his family ate a dinner of his favorite deer stew,
Adamanta decided not to go home stating that she was sure no one would miss
her.
“Oh! I forgot!” She cried and ran towards the back of the home. The honey
haired girl came trudging back with what looked like a leather satchel.
“What do you have, Manta?” little Hildie asked
Adamanta held out a small parcel to Gandalf. He gave her a questioning glance
before taking it and opening it. Inside were four pastries, at least he thought
they were pastries, he had never had one himself but he had seen the English
eat them.
“They are berry tarts, for your birthday! I had them made for you.”
Hildie, being of only eight and having little manners snatched one of the
pastries and brought it to her lips. “Mmmmm! Brother, they are wonderful!” she
crowed.
Brynhild admonished her for stealing her brother's treats and then talking with
her mouth full. The blonde young man handed each member in the room one of the
tarts and they all enjoyed them happily.
Soon it was time for bed and Brynhild led Hildie up to their shared bed while
Gandalf and Adamanta fell onto his pallet.
When they were both comfortable in the bed Gandalf grabbed Adamanta’s bruised
hand and brought it up to his lips. He pressed a soft kiss to her sore
knuckles. “Thank you for the birthday sweets.” Gandalf could feel her shrug her
tiny shoulders.
“That is what best friends do, right?” she asked him.
“I think so.” He said with a small chuckle.
“I'll be honest. I have not had many friends so I don’t know.” Adamanta told
him.
“Why is that? How could anyone not want a friend like you?” Gandalf asked.
A small sniffle reached his ears and he turned on his side to look at the honey
haired girl. “I am strange. At least that is what people at the castle say.”
She whispered.
Gandalf wrapped her in his large arms giving her a hug. “I don’t think you are
strange and even if you are I like you this way.” After a few minutes of
silence, the blonde young man spoke again. “Kanîna? May I ask you a question?”
“Yes.” She answered in a sleepy voice.
“How are you able to stay away from home without notice?” It was a question he
had wondered since the day they met. The honey haired girl turned up at least
once a week since that point in time and would on occasion stay a night or two.
“You know I am the youngest of seven children?” Gandalf nodded. “I was
unwanted, I guess. Mum died after giving birth to me. Father remarried and now
has a new young pregnant wife. My brothers are too busy with their own lives to
pay me much mind so I slip away and no one takes notice. The maids may ask
where I go but I am the daughter of a high lord, not a princess. They don’t
care much what I do as long as I am not gone for too long. But I truly wonder
what is too long. How long would they go without coming to find me?” She asked.
Gandalf knew it was not a question she wished to be answered.
“Your brother's though, do they not care to find you? You said they are
involved in their own goings-on but surely their little sister is someone they
should be protecting."
Adamanta was quiet for a moment. “They blame me for Mum’s death. She wasn’t
supposed to have any more children but then I came along and she died.” The
girl sniffled again. “My brothers also find me strange, like everyone else.
They find it odd that I like to be outside. That I want to play in the woods or
be near the sea. ‘It isn’t proper Adamanta. You need to be working on becoming
a wife.’” The girl deepened her voice to try to sound like a man making Gandalf
smile. “I don’t want to be just a wife or push out babies the rest of my life.
I want to do something...exciting” Adamanta whispered into the dark.
Gandalf thought of that for a moment. He understood what she was saying, of
course he did. He went raiding did he not? That was as much excitement as you
could have. He had taken the life of a man, there was a thrill in watching the
light of life fade from a man’s eyes. Adamanta could never experience something
like that. She was an English noble-woman, her only duty in life by English
standards was to be a bed slave, have children and sew. The blonde young man
holding Adamanta shivered at the thought of how horrible an existence that was.
“Gandalf…” Adamanta began.
“Hmm?” He hummed.
“Before I am forced to get married will you help me find excitement?”
Gandalf didn’t understand why his stomach lurched at the thought of her being
forced to marry and he wouldn’t fully understand it for another few years. So
for now he answerd her with a simple:
“Of course. What are friends for?”
===============================================================================
 
                                April 794 A.D.
                    (Gandalf-Fourteen / Adamanta-Thirteen)
Gandalf fidgeted with the hairpin in his pocket. He was traveling to Wessex
with a group of traders and merchants to the castle. When he offered to help
Fundin and his father, Farin, with their goods he had had ulterior motives. He
wanted to find Adamanta. He knew it was her birthday today and hoped he would
be able to give her his gift on the very day of her birth instead of when she
could next escape to visit him.
The castle market was large and crowded. Gandalf felt anger claw at him when he
saw the way women hugged their babies close as they passed him as if he would
eat their children. It made him roll his eyes. The English men hugged their
women close afraid the Norsemen would snatch them. Gandalf knew, as well as
every other Norsemen in their settlement, that they were to leave the English
in Wessex alone. It was part of the agreement Thror had made with King Richard
the Coward. Thror had rode up on the beaches with thirty ships packed with
warriors and demanded the land closest to the sea. Richard agreed with the
stipulation that the Norse people protect the English of Wessex from other
raiders and not harm his people. A deal was struck and now here they were
trading with the English.
A flash of honey hair bounced through the crowd making Gandalf laugh. He knew
what was coming and opened his arms waiting for the little female. Adamanta
launched herself into his arms hugging him tightly. There were whispers around
them about how improper she was to be hugging a heathen in public.
Gandalf turned and growled lowly at the gossip fiends making them skitter away.
“You are here!” she crowed happily when he set her onto her small feet.
“Aye. I brought something for you.” He told her with a wink of his emerald eye.
Adamanta’s clapped and jumped up and down energetically. She grabbed his hand
and dragged him towards the side of the castle where it was less populated.
“Why did you bring me something?” His friend asked once they were alone.
“It is your birthday is it not?” He began to worry that perhaps he was wrong or
misheard her when she told him her date of birth.
“Well, yes.” She said confused. “But why would you bring me a gift for my
birthday?”
Gandalf chuckled at her confusion. “Because it is your birthday. It is a
celebration.”
“But I am a woman...” Adamanta said as if it had not been obvious.
“Well. I would say a wee girl, not yet a woman.” Gandalf said playfully earning
him a soft punch to his muscled stomach.
“I am not wee.” She said with a small chuckle. “You are just a giant.”
“Hmm. That I am.” He pulled the pin wrapped in fabric out of his pocket and
handed it to her. “For you.”
She accepted it into her small hands and unwrapped it reverently. When the
hairpin was fully visible Gandalf looked up at her waiting for a reaction.
Tears sluggishly slipped out of her eyes and down her round cheeks.
“Do you not like it? I can make you a different one…” Gandalf said in alarm,
hands out as if he could somehow heal whatever wrong he thought he had done.
“It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life.” She whispered
never taking her eyes off the pin. She stroked the carved bone pin with
reverence before turning her eyes on him. “Thank you. I love it” She smiled
brightly at him, eyes still swimming and launched herself into his arms once
again.
Adamanta hugged him as tight as her little body was able to. He lifted her off
the ground when his back began to protest being hunched over. Her little feet
dangled off the ground by near a foot high. When he finally put her down she
asked him to help her put it in her hair. He wound her curly locks, like he had
seen his mother do on her own hair, into a bun and locked it into place with
the hair pin. He was quite proud of his work. He had begun carving into the
deer bone in January when she had told him when her own birthday was. The
carvings on the pin were reminiscent of the waves of the ocean she loved so
much but could never be close enough to. He knew she wished she lived on the
coast as he did, but she was stuck living among her own people.
“Dirty little mouse!” A male voice called from behind them. Gandalf watched as
Adamanta went rigid at the words.
The blonde Norseman turned and looked at the short plump young man sauntering
towards them. Adamanta looked down at her feet at his approach. He had the same
light green eyes as her and a darker shade of her honey hair making Gandalf
realize this must be one of her brothers.
“What are you doing with a heathen?” Her brother hissed lowly and grabbed at
her arm roughly.
Gandalf had not realized that he growled at the man until he turned to look at
him with slight fear in his eyes. The blonde young man smirked at the
realization.
“Don’t you know that they rape English women?” her brother growled lowly.
“William. Stop it. Gandalf is my friend.” She hissed back and tried to remove
her arm from his tight grasp.
“Friend? A heathen. Please. They don’t even speak like actual humans. All they
can understand is grunts at one another, like animals.” William said in a
pompous tone. Gandalf was about to speak up and inform the pompous little pig
that he did in fact understand him, when Williams hand shot out and forcefully
pulled the pin out of Adamanta’s hair. She whimpered when it ripped out some of
her hair strands.
“What is this?” William asked.
Gandalf had his hand on his sword ready to run the boy through.
“It was a gift from Gandalf,” Adamanta said as she tried to get it out of her
brother's grasp.
“A gift? Whatever for? Is he sweet on you? A heathen with a heart. What a
humorous notion.” William chuckled mockingly
“It’s a birthday gift!” Adamanta said quickly.
“A birthday gift? You are a woman. It is the evil ways of pagans to celebrate
women’s birthdays.” William scoffed and raised the pin high above his head
keeping it away from his sister's grabbing. Gandalf had had enough of being
insulted by this tiny English teen and was not liking the way he was treating
Adamanta either. Using his superior height Gandalf plucked the pin out of
Williams grasp with ease startling the boy as if he had forgotten Gandalf’s
presence. The Norse young man handed the pin back to Adamanta then stalked
towards a now back peddling William. When William's back was pressed against
the stone wall firmly and Gandalf was much closer than comfort, standing a full
head taller than the English teen, Gandalf gazed down at him with his fiercest
scowl, something his mother called his “war face”.
“You touch what is hers again, and I will take what is yours” Gandalf looked
pointedly down at the young man’s groin and then back up into his eyes.
William nodded dumbly and tried to skitter away before Gandalf whipped out a
hand and grabbed the teen by the collar and slammed him back up against the
stone wall. “Do you understand my words? Or are they too much like the grunts
of animals?” He sneered down at William. Adamanta’s brother shook his head
indicating he understood Gandalf and tried once again to skitter away this time
Gandalf let him. The blonde Norseman laughed to himself when he noticed the
darkening of fabric running down William's leg as he fled.
Once again his arms were filled with tiny honey-colored curls. “Thank you.” She
said again and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
===============================================================================
 
                                August 795 A.D.
                     (Gandalf-Fifteen / Adamanta-Fourteen)
Gandalf stood at the hull of the longship as they rowed towards the shores of
Wareham. His keen eyes spotted his mother and sister waiting on the shores for
them. He waved a hand over his head in greeting. He smiled widely at them but
it didn’t reach his eyes because there was one female that owned his heart
missing from their group of welcomers.
“Any other premonitions for us before we set foot on land, Gothi?” Thrain asked
as he thumped Gandalf on the back.
“Do not call me that.” The blonde fifteen-year-old growled.
“Oh come now, Gothi fits perfectly” Fundin added. “You have a gift from the
gods. Embrace it”
Gandalf shook his head softly. “It is not a gift from the gods. It is just…”
The blonde young man didn’t know what to call it. He had anticipated enemy
attacks before they came. He had advised Sigfred on only allowing the enemy to
see half of their men. The young man had told his leader to set up the shield
wall and allow the English to tire themselves out by trying to break the wall
before the other half came out of the woods from behind and slaughtered them
all. It had worked, amazingly so. Gandalf had then advised his leader on which
settlements he believed would bend to their will without the need to fight.
They would demand Danegeld, which would put even more gold in their pockets
without having to raise a sword and Gandalf was able to predict which
settlements would pay handsomely. He was never wrong, not even once which had
now deemed him the nickname Gothi, meaning priest or seer.
He didn’t finish his sentence because a flash of honey curls caught his eyes on
the horizon. He finally felt as if he could breathe again.
“Ahhh. Adamanta is here to welcome him. He will no longer hear anything we
say.” Thrain stage whispered to Fundin. Their two dark heads pressed close.
“Hmmm. Yes. Do you think he will show her the pleasure tricks he learned while
away?” Fundin asked.
Gandalf felt his face heat as he thought of what he had learned while out on
the summer raids. He never wanted Adamanta to find out he had done such things
with another woman. She may only be his friend but he felt a heavy pit settle
into his stomach at her reaction to his newest knowledge.
“So Gothi, are you going to give her a lesson or two?” Fundin asked with a
cocky smirk accompanied by a thrust of his hips.
The blonde young man whipped around and grabbed his friend by the throat. “Tell
her and I will gut you.” He growled.
Thrain and Fundin both raised their dark eyebrows before accepting his words.
“Okay. We will not tell her, but how long do you think you will be able to keep
your newfound manhood a secret?”
Gandalf didn’t answer because he felt that “as long as possible” was not an
answer that would go over without chortles. They were soon pulling the longship
to shore and unloading their treasures, then it was time to greet their
families. He hugged his mother first, kissing her on her forehead. Nine-year-
old Hildie was next. She asked him what he brought home for her in the same
breath as telling him she was glad he was home making everyone laugh. When he
got to Adamanta she launched herself into his arms, holding on with all her
strength as he lifted her from the ground. He wrapped his large sinewy arms
around her. In the two years they had known each other he had grown near three
inches and gained at least two stones of muscle. Adamanta had gotten a more
womanly figure. Her hips had rounded out some and her breasts had nearly
doubled in size gaining her much more attention from the men around her making
Gandalf exceedingly angry.
“I missed you so much.” She whispered in his ear.
“I missed you too, Kanîna,” Gandalf said as he ran a large hand down her tawny
curls.
When he slowly lowered her down to her feet she refused to let go of him. He
chuckled and held her tightly. “I thought you were never coming home,” She told
him softly.
“I will always come home to you” He whispered back.
When she pulled away from him she had the brightest of smiles gracing her plump
pink lips. “Promise?” she held up her pinky.
He rolled his eyes and locked pinkies with her, still finding her promise
rituals strange even all these years later. They locked pinkies then pressed
lips to their own fists, pinkies still locked. When they pulled back she
surprised him by pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth.
He was now the one sporting a bright smile. He threw an arm around her
shoulders, then his mother’s shoulders. “I'm starving.” He told his mom making
Brynhild laugh loudly.
“It is a good thing Adamanta brought home some rabbits for dinner.”
Gandalf looked down at his friend in surprise. She shrugged in response. “I
practiced my snares while you were gone.”
He pressed a kiss to her temple “I’m proud of you, Kanîna. But I don’t think
you can eat the rabbits.”
“Whyever not?” She asked in that haughty tone he missed so much.
“I believe there is a law written by your god against eating your own kind.” He
jested earning himself a slap against his large chest.
“That was a horrible joke.” She chuckled. “You are out of practice.”
“I guess I am going to have to hang around you more, hmm?” He asked.
“Precisely.” Adamanta beamed up at him.
The next night was the feast celebrating their haul. He had invited Adamanta
and she graciously accepted, but she refused to go wearing her English
clothing. She dragged him to the market earlier that day to purchase a dress
that would fit her. It was a child’s dress but she didn’t much mind as long as
she would fit in. When Gandalf caught sight of her his knees felt a little
weak. She was wearing a dress made by his people. It was purple dyed wool, with
dark purple ribbon on the hems and neckline. Half of her honey-colored curls
were swept up in his hairpin he had given her for her thirteenth birthday. The
other half of her hair was cascading down her back in beautiful tight curls. He
wanted to bury his hand in them. He shook off the thought and held out his hand
for her to take. They walked hand in hand with his mother and Hildie to the
great hall. When they entered the ale was already flowing and the party had
begun. He found the women in his life good seats before getting ale himself and
walking up to Thrain and Fundin.
The ceremony began with King Thror speaking of the success of the raids. He
spoke of their achievements then spoke about him directly. When Thror announced
his success during the raid all of his fellow raiders raised their glasses and
shouted “Gothi!”. The hall broke out in snickers and while he shook his head
and raised his glass in acknowledgment.
It was then announced that tonight would be the tattooing ceremony. Thrain,
Fundin and him were getting their first tattoos to record their
accomplishments.
Gandalf chose to have the rune of Tyr tattooed on his chest. He removed his
shirt and laid still, not showing any pain, as the needle pierced his skin time
and time again until the large rune was complete. His chest was wiped down with
alcohol then he stood. After feasting beside his men and Adamanta it was time
to sleep. He was near dead on his feet as they stumbled back to his home. His
mother and Hildie had left some hours earlier but Gandalf and Adamanta had
wanted to stay longer.
“Are you not cold?” Adamanta asked him looking at his shirtless chest longer
than appropriate for friends.
“Hmm. No. Ale warms the belly.” He told her with a shrug.
She shook her head at his slightly slurred words and took the lead on the way
back to the house. When they were within, Gandalf laid on his back truly
exhausted. Adamanta shedded her outer dress quickly and cuddled below the furs.
She rested her head on the tattoo free side of his chest.
“Why did they call you Gothi?” she asked.
He shook his head and then launched into the story. When he was done Adamanta
was giggling beside him. The vibration warmed his belly more than the ale ever
could.
“I think I like it better than Gan.” Adamanta said and looked up at him with
those light green eyes he could never say no to. “Can I call you Gothi?”
Gandalf hated the nickname when Fundin and Thrain had said it but coming out of
her lips he liked it. He told her yes and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Gothi then. Have any predictions for me?” She asked him with a cheeky grin.
The blonde young man thought for a moment. “Hmm...You are going to get your
first kiss in the near future.”
Adamanta’s eyebrows shot near up to her hairline. “How soon?” she asked in a
breathy voice.
Gandalf didn’t answer, instead, he pressed his lips softly to hers.
===============================================================================
 
                                 May 796 A.D.
                     (Gandalf-Sixteen / Adamanta-Fifteen)
Gandalf wiped the tears from Adamantas eyes as they stood on the beach.
“I will be back once summer ends.” He told her firmly.
“What if you are not, Gothi?” The nickname had stuck with Gandalf and even
Adamanta had taken to calling him by it, as did everyone else. The only ones
who didn’t were his mother and King Thror. He had hated it at first but now it
was just who he was. He accepted it and moved on.
“I will always come home to you.” He whispered as he pressed his forehead
against hers.
Adamanta raised her chin while snaking a hand to the back of his neck. She
pulled him down into a heated kiss that left them both wanting. This was not
their first kiss, nor their last, but it was the most heated to date. Gothi had
told her he would not go further than kissing until she was near marriage age.
“Gothi! Það er kominn tími (It is time)!” Thrain yelled from the boat.
Gothi pressed one more kiss to his honey-haired woman’s lips. He was afraid
that if he looked at her once more he would never leave. With long strides, he
walked across the shore to the dock and hopped into the longboat. He turned to
watch his mother, Hildie and Adamanta huddled on the shore. He raised a hand
above his head as Adamanta did the same. She opened her mouth and shouted
towards him.
The wind carried her words to his ears “I love you!”.
===============================================================================
 
                              September 796 A.D.
                     (Gandalf-Sixteen / Adamanta-Fifteen)
Gothi laid back in bed his arms full of tiny English woman. The summer raids
had been successful, bringing back with it immense wealth and new trade routes.
Gothi had been excited about their success but it was no secret he missed home.
He missed Adamanta. His fellow raiders had mocked him for it but Gothi knew
that they were hurting for their women just as much, apart from Fundin for his
woman was with them. Brenna was a shieldmaiden, had been since the year
previous. But Fundin had paid her no mind during that time. She had been a
skinny girl with barely any muscle last year. But this year she had filled out,
grew four inches and gotten breasts. Gothi couldn’t deny the girl had some
truly magnificent ones but he would be lying if he said he lusted after them.
His thoughts were all consumed by Adamanta. When they had finally come home she
had been waiting where he had left her as if months had not passed. Her honey
curls were whipping around her face in the sea wind. Her green dress flowing
out behind her. But her smile is what he would remember for all the lonely
years to come. It was bright, stretching from ear to ear. Her white teeth
showing proudly surrounded by plump pink lips. The boat had not even fully
docked when he was out of it and running to her side. He had launched her into
his arms kissing her passionately.
“I love you” He told her. The entire raid he had thought of a way to tell her.
Maybe he would take her to the waterfalls or perhaps the tidepools she loved so
much. But when he saw her face he couldn’t wait any longer.
Now near a month later it was a regular phrase used between the two.
Adamanta had started to come to their settlement less and less. Now that she
was of marriage age her father and step-mother had begun to pay her more mind.
They were looking for suitable matches much to Adamanta’s distress.
This was how a sobbing Adamanta had ended in his bed this night. He had pulled
her close and let her cry into his broad chest.
“I don’t want to marry another.” She whispered once the sobs had subsided.
“Oh? And who would you like to marry instead?” Gothi had jested though his
chest was so tight he feared he would not get the words out.
Adamanta’s tiny had slapped at his chest as she chuckled lightly. “You. You big
oaf.”
“Hmm. That does sound nice doesn’t it.” He whispered into her hair. His
thoughts ran rampant with thoughts of Adamanta as his wife. Her round with his
children. Building her a longhouse that would put all others to shame. Covering
her in furs, silks, and gold.
“Did you hear me?” Adamanta asked him.
“Hmm?” Gothi was deep in his daydream when she had been speaking. He was too
tired to open his mouth up for a better response. It had been a long day of
harvesting the last haul as well as winter-proofing the home and stables.  
“I said I don’t know how it would work but I want it so badly. My father has
picked a husband for me.” She whispered.
“When are you to marry him?” He asked, voice rough.
“The summer after my sixteenth year.” She sighed loudly. “I have known him
since childhood. He is a strange boy.”
Gothi tightened his arms around her small form and moved her up so her little
frame was lying directly on top of his. At sixteen, nearing seventeen, he had
grown impossibly tall. He was the giant everyone expected him to be. Gothi
towered over enemies striking fear into them without the presence of a weapon.
He was heads taller than most of his people. Fundin and Thrain were the only
ones who neared his height but even they fell a few inches short. He was broad
for his age as well, his adult form was sure to give his father’s former size a
run for his coin. But Gothi never felt so large as when he was with Adamanta.
His little love had not grown much in the way of height since when they had
first met, she was maybe three inches taller. But she had filled out into a
beautiful woman. Her hips had widened, her waist had stayed much the same and
her breasts had grown. She was the most beautiful hourglass he had ever seen.
“We will figure it out, Kanína”He told her softly. He pressed a kiss to her
lips once again and was delighted when she deepened the kiss. His large hands
skimmed up her sides loving the warmth he could feel coming through her thin
shift. Gothi had groaned loudly when he felt her pebbled nipples brush against
his shirtless chest. The two were in a battle of tongues and teeth.
Gothi knew he needed to slow down or put a stop to this if he wanted to be able
to sleep without having to relieve himself.
“Kanína,we need to stop.” He said gruffly.
Adamanta pulled herself up so she could straddle his hips. He moaned rather
loudly when her center brushed against his hardness through their clothing.
“Why?” She asked with that devilish grin he had loved since the first time he
saw her.
Gothi sat up, pressing his chest to hers while his arms came around her form
and cupped her firm behind. “Because…” He pressed a kiss to her swollen lips
forgetting the rest of his excuse when she rocked her hips against his.
“Because...If we don’t stop now I won’t be able to control myself.” His whisper
was barely audible.
“Then don’t,” Adamanta said with a shrug and more movement of her hips.
“Kanína...” Gothi said in way of warning. “What if you ended up with child?”
Adamanta pressed another heated kiss to his lips. “Your mother started me on a
nightly tea before you left on the raids”
Gothi tried to contain the wince at the thought of his mother having
the foresight to plan for this but he was glad. Adamanta took Gothi’s silence
for something it wasn’t.
“I don’t want it to be Gerontius who takes my innocence.” She whispered against
his lips. “I don’t want it to belong to someone else. I want it to be you. I
want this to always be yours.” She had begun trailing kisses down his neck
while she spoke making it hard for him to concentrate on her words. “Please,
love?"
Gothi couldn’t take it any longer. He quickly flipped her onto her back and
gave her what she wished for. He took her slowly and lovingly, attending to her
needs before his own. When she had begged him for release he gave it to her
before chasing after his own. Afterward they laid together, naked, spent and
fully in love.
“You will never marry another” Gothi declared in a whisper.
Adamanta turned her pale green eyes up at him. “What are we going to do?” She
whispered.
“We are going to start planning.” He told her with conviction.
===============================================================================
                                April 797 A.D.
                    (Gandalf-Seventeen / Adamanta-sixteen)
Gothi and Adamanta began their planning with a little help from their friends
and his family. They could not stay in the current settlement without
the possibility of starting a war. So it was decided that they would return to
his uncle’s settlement, where Gothi had been born. His uncle was the Jarl and
they would be welcomed with open arms. Gothi was an experienced raider, an
excellent strategist and word had spread that he was something of a seer. He
still refuted those rumors at every chance but if it helped him and Adamanta
find a home of their own he would keep his mouth shut this time.
They had planned to flee in the next month until Thror had called upon him to
lead a small group of ships north to retrieve a gem he desperately wanted.
There had been tales of this gem spreading through the lands. It was said to be
held by King Saruman in the north, he was willing to trade it for gold and
furs. The entire venture would take three weeks roundtrip. They could still
leave in May but it would not be the first week they had planned. They would
just need to push their escape back by one week.
Gothi had wanted to turn down the order of his king but he could not. The extra
gold he would be getting on this voyage would be enough for them to purchase an
entire farm, animals and all, in his uncle’s settlement. So he said goodbye to
Adamanta in the most ancient way possible. He made love to her the entire night
before. Pressed a kiss to her lips in the morning on the shore and promised her
he would be back within three weeks time to whisk her away and marry her as
they had planned.
He pressed a final kiss to her lips, slipped his pendant for protection over
her head and said the words he had always said to her before he left. “I love
you and I will always come home to you.”
Gothi kept his promise but when the trade turned out to be an ambush and Gothi
was captured he did not return when he was supposed to. In the prison of
Sauron’s lands Gothi was subjected to torture that had cost him his eye. He was
sure he would lose his life in that dungeon but it was not deemed so by the
Gods. A rescue came in the form of a Sauron’s illegitimate daughter named Nis.
She had fallen in love with Thrain who was also in the dungeon beside Gothi.
Nis had killed her father in his sleep and broken Thror’s warriors from the
dungeon in exchange for passage to their lands. Thrain did her one better and
asked her to marry him when they got there. Gothi had to be helped to the boat
much to his chagrin. He could not see properly, his body was riddled with
infection and he was weak. If he had not clung to the image of a smiling
Adamanta in his mind he was sure he would have died long before they burned out
his eye with a white-hot knife.
Gothi knew time had passed but he did not know how much time until he stumbled
onto the shores of Wareham to be met with only his sister and his mother.
“Where is she?” He asked in a gravely voice.
His mother’s eyes welled with tears and his sister looked away from him. “You
have been gone six months Gandalf.”
His mind whirled with that information. Six months? He knew more time had
passed than he thought but six months? He fell to his knees and wept for the
first time in years. He did not cry when he was being tortured, he did not cry
when he had lost his eye, but now he wept openly at the loss of his Kanína.
His mother helped him to their home and began to work on healing his wounds.
Gandalf grabbed Hildie’s hand and pulled her down to his face level.
“Did they take her?” He asked roughly.
Hildie shifted her dark blue eyes to the floor but nodded her head. “She stayed
here, hoping that perhaps your ship had just delayed until the end of May. But
her...father came looking for her with a lot of men. They took her from here.”
Hildie swallowed her tears and rubbed a hand on his forehead. “We all thought
you were dead.”
Gothi wept until he fell into a deep sleep. His dreams were plagued with
memories of the torture he had suffered except it was Adamanta being tortured.
He awoke screaming and sweating calling out her name. These dreams would
continue for years to come.
===============================================================================
 
                                 June 800 A.D.
                     (Gandalf-Twenty / Adamanta-Nineteen)
It had been three years, two months and one week since Gothi had seen his
Kanína. He knew the name of her husband, at least he thought he had. It had
taken him a full year after his return to be able to heal correctly then be
able to fight again. He had to relearn how to wield his weapon and shield with
one eye. He was ashamed to say that he fell into despair for some time. But a
swift knock to his head from his mother and a stern scowl from Hildie had him
shaping up. When he was well enough he set off to find his Kanína.
He found her in a castle near the sea farther south than he had expected her to
be. His stomach lurched when he heard the shouting of children in the garden.
He had scaled the wall hoping to be able to take a peek without being seen.
There was his Kanína as he had seen her in his dreams. She was round with child
with another running around her legs. She was chasing the little blonde girl
with bright emerald eyes. He felt as if Mjölnir had been dropped on his heart
as he registered the features of the little girl. She was clearly his blood.
Her hair was the same shade of blonde as his, she had his emerald eyes and the
deep dimples when she smiled. He choked back a sob when she ran towards
Adamanta letting loose a Norse warcry.
“Odin owns you all!” the little girl screamed raising an invisible sword.
He was about to make himself known when a man came stepping out into the
garden.
“Dada!” The little girl roared and ran towards the man.
"Belledonna!" He caught her in a sweeping embrace and raised her above his head
with a large grin. Adamanta stood back from him smiling and rubbing at her
stomach.
Gothi dropped from the wall and began to weep against it. His love, his
Kanínawas happy, she had a family. She had a husband with land, a castle,
his babe in her belly. He was a ghost to her and he stood without a chance
against all Gerontius could give her. Gothi walked away from her that day, his
heart ripped from his chest to remain as a bystander to her happy little life.
All Gothi had ever wanted for Adamanta was happiness and she looked truly
happy. She had moved on from him and showing himself now would change her life.
She would never choose the one-eyed Norseman over her settled English life and
family. So he walked away from her, he let her believe he was dead, that he was
gone from this earth so that she could live her life by the sea with Gerontius
and their children by her side with him watching from the shadows. 
Chapter End Notes
     -Birthday celebrations for Christian individuals were considered
     Pagan until the 4th century when they changed their minds. After
     that, it was only the noble males that celebrated their birthday's on
     the particular day of their birth. Christian women's birthdays were
     never celebrated in medieval times by Christians.
     -Marriage age in the 4th to 15th century for women was between 14-18,
     some women were as young as twelve when they were married off.
***** Fili *****
Chapter Notes
     I'm sorry this is a day late. I hope you all enjoy this new chapter.
     It is the beginning stages of Fili/Sigrid.
Fili awoke to immense pain. He could feel it blooming from his stomach and
radiating outwards. He cried out slightly, eyes still locked in darkness.
“Shhh. Relax” the voice of an angel told him. His people did not much believe
in angels but he knew the Saxon's did and he quite liked their description of
the ghostly winged figures. “You are still healing, Fili.”
A hand brushed his and he grabbed for it. The hand was softer than he had
expected, he thought perhaps it was Belle’s but her hands were smaller than
that of the hand clutched in his. He fought to open his eyes but they were so
heavy. He tried to move his arms but the pain tripled in strength at the
movement making him writhe.
“Fili, stop struggling.” The voice said above him. Her voice was soft yet firm.
“Tauriel!?” the voice shouted. The sound rang in Fili’s ears making him groan.
Fili vaguely heard light footsteps moving into his room then cold hands were
upon his stomach. It felt amazing for the burning of his skin.
“You will be still” Tauriel’s stilted Norse came to his ears.
“I think he opened some of his stitches!” The angel said above him.
“Damnú air (Damn it)!”  Tauriel growled. “Kili!”
He heard his brother's heavy boot tread running towards him then the sound of
his heavy breathing. “What?” Fili could practically hear the happiness
radiating off his brother at Tauriel finally speaking his name aloud.
‘ Fucking bastard’  Fili thought when he heard the happiness in Kili’s tone.
“Hold,” Tauriel said and put her hands on Fili’s shoulders then his legs. Fili
felt his brother’s hands on his shoulders holding him down, then smaller hands
on his leg holding it steady.
“Be still” Tauriel growled then began to move. The pain of his skin being
pierced over and over again was immense. His flesh was so sensitive that it
felt like he was being stabbed by a tiny fire poker over and over again. He
cried out in anguish but the hands on his leg and shoulders only tightened when
he growled for it to stop. The sewing of his inflamed skin did stop but then
something was poured over it making him scream in pain. When the pain became
too much he allowed the darkness to swallow him into sweet oblivion.
===============================================================================
 
Fili opened his eyes to the sound of a female speaking to him in English. He
shifted his eyes towards her without moving his head. He was too afraid that
the throb thrumming through his body would intensify if he moved even a little.
“I am just so confused. Why would who my grandmother is be so shocking? Thorin
has been strange since that time. He still says he is going to kill me if you
don’t wake up but I don’t think that is true because he has not been
as...angry?” Belle whispered as she stared at the ceiling.
Fili realized she was talking to herself and not expecting an answer from him.
But he tried to answer anyway. “Yes” he tried to say but it ended up making
very little sound. He was sure she had not heard him because she continued to
speak for a moment before she stopped and snapped her emerald eyes towards him.
“Fili!? Oh, bless the mother! You are awake!” She practically screamed making
him wince. “Would you like some water?”
He moved his head ever so slightly and was correct in his assumption that if he
moved his pain would make one Hel of an appearance.
“Tauriel?!” Belle called out frantically.
Moments later the redheaded woman came into view. She looked sleep tousled and
pissed. In that moment he feared the smaller woman. He knew she was a warrior,
a killer. One could recognize that in another, but she was especially
frightening while she was the one healing him.
“Hurt?” she asked him.
“Yes,” He said quietly. His throat felt as if he had tried to eat all the sand
on their shores.
“Oh! Water.” Belle said and bustled from the room only to return with a tankard
of water. She gingerly lifted his head and helped him sip the water.
“ nach bhfuil an iomarca, Belle (not too much, Belle)”  Tauriel warned.
Fili wanted to tell the redhead to “fuck off” but he was a little indisposed a
the moment and he wasn’t sure his brother would protect him against Tauriel. He
laid his head back on the feather pillow and tried to control the pain that was
starting to build.
“Tauriel, Tá sé i bpian. Cabhair dó  le do thoil  (Tauriel, he is in pain. Help
him, please)”.  Belle begged in that strange tongue of Tauriel’s. Fili
recognized it as the language of the island’s south where Tauriel had been
taken from.
The redhead turned her eyes towards Belle’s, Fili was amazed to see the hazel
orbs soften when she gazed at the tiny English woman. He knew they were friends
by necessity but what he saw there was love. Tauriel nodded her head and
stepped out of the room.
“Where is she going?” Fili asked through clenched teeth.
Belle brushed the sweaty hair from his forehead with her cool hand making him
sigh happily. “She is getting you something for the pain.”
After a few moments, Tauriel stepped back into the room empty handed. Fili was
about to growl at her when a familiar head of blonde hair stepped into the
room.
“Hello, Fili” Sigrid whispered with a small smile. “I brought something for the
pain” she told him softly. She passed the cup that was in her hands to Belle
and the girl helped lift his head and pour the liquid down his throat.
“It is willow bark tea and valerian root. It will take the edge off.” Sigrid's
soft voice spoke. It was then that Fili realized that she was the angel from
earlier. He felt his chest heat at the thought that she had been here to help
heal him. He had heard that in Bard's settlement she was a talented healer but
he had never thought on it much, he was always too distracted by her beauty and
ample breasts.
“Is there anything else you need?” Sigrid asked him as she lightly touched his
leg.
Fili took a long moment to answer. He wanted to tell her to please stay and
talk with him. He was trying to find a charming way to say it without sounding
weak when Belle spoke up.
“Oh. Uh Tauriel, would you mind helping me with something?” Belle said as she
jumped to her feet. The redhead gave her a strange look and began to argue with
her in the language of the islands. Belle said something that made the girl
look between Sigrid and him then make an “o” with her mouth before stepping out
of the room with the English girl at her heels.
“They are not subtle are they?” Sigrid said finally breaking the silence.
Fili chuckled but that soon turned into a pained groan when the wound on his
abdomen fought his movement.
“Oh! I am sorry” Sigrid said with a small smile. “I will try not to make you
laugh”.
“Thank you.” He told her with a grateful smile.
The two blondes sat in awkward silence for a moment.
“So how long are you…”
“What happened to…”
The two chuckled at how they had spoken at the same time. Fili gesture for her
to go first.
“What happened to you?” she asked.
“Sword across the belly.” He told her quietly.
“Well, I can see that.” She said with a small chuckle. “I mean why did it
happen?”
“I was trying to help Belle” Fili whispered.
“The English girl?” Sigrid said confused.
“Yes.”
Sigrid sat back and seemed to be deep in thought at his answer. He took this as
his moment to ask her his own question. “How long are you to stay here?”
Sigrid turned her gray eyes on him. “Well, I was supposed to leave with my
father's men tomorrow. But I was asked to stay and help heal you through
winter. You have a healer here but his hands are full with the men of the
village. Tauriel is a good healer but she does not speak our tongue well enough
yet. I believe if we work together you should be well soon.”
Fili’s heart soared at her words. She was staying through the winter, this
would give him the time he desperately wanted to get to know the beautiful
blonde haired woman beside him. But for now, his eyes had begun to droop.
“Ah, the valerian root has begun to set in. Let it pull you under, Fili” her
voice became distorted as he fell into a deep sleep once again. His dreams were
filled wth angels resembling Sigrid.
===============================================================================
 
The days following went much the same as his body attempted to heal. The only
worries they had now were that of infection. It was on the fifth day of his
healing that his uncle stepped into the room and excused Sigrid from his side.
“Uncle,” Fili said in way of greeting.
“Fili.” Thorin sat down heavily beside his blonde haired nephew. “You know why
I am here, aye?”
Fili nodded his head. “Aye. It wasn’t Belle.” He told him firmly. “This was
Bolg, Belle protected me.”
Thorin nodded his head slowly. “I didn’t believe she could have done this to
you.” The raven haired man said after a long pause. “She is meeker than a
mouse.”
Fili chuckled then winced in pain as his wound reminded him he could not, in
fact, do such a thing. “You would be surprised, Uncle. She fought back against
Bolg. I believe would have killed him had you not stolen that honor.” Thorin
shook his head at his nephew with a small smile on his normally gruff face.
Fili grew serious before speaking again. “She saved me, uncle. Belle could have
easily left me there so I could enter Valhalla and escaped herself. But she did
not. She near carried me to the hall.”  Fili wondered what was tearing at
Thorin. He could see the older man scrub at his face with his large hands. It
was something of a nervous tick the older man had. “You are much too hard on
her uncle. She is not evil as you suspect her of being. She is not like Smaug,
she was forced to marry him.”
Thorin raised his hand halting his nephew’s speech. “I know. I have spoken with
Gothi Grey as well as your mother. I will be kinder to the little woman.”
“I hear you have been telling her you are going to kill her still” Fili said
staring down his raven haired uncle.
Thorin smirked before answering. “Aye.” he became serious as if remembering
something before answering. “I will not continue to say it any longer.
Fili nodded ever so slightly, then a thought came to him. “Where is she
sleeping?”
Thorin’s cheeks took on a strange reddish hue. “With me, for now. But not for
long.” He answered.
“Uncle, you have not humped her have you?” Fili asked worriedly. He understood
that Belle was a prisoner, she was a bargaining chip for them but in the weeks
she had been with them she had become much more. She had become a friend to the
blonde Viking.
“No!” Thorin practically yelled. “No, I have not touched her...intimately.”  
“Why are you acting strange, uncle?” Fili asked. His uncle’s ice blue eyes were
darting around the room as if looking for listening ears. His hands were
fidgeting worse than Nori’s and his cheeks sported a blush.
Thorin stood abruptly and walked towards the doorway and called for Sigrid then
turned back to his blonde nephew. “I am not acting strange. Heal well, nephew.”
The large Jarl walked out the doors leaving a confused Fili in his wake.
“Fili?” Sigrid’s sweet voice floated to his ears. An involuntary smile came to
his lips at just hearing her voice. His heart beat quicker when she came into
view. Her blonde locks were pulled up in a pin, apart from the stray curls that
had escaped and lay beside her ears. She wiped her hands on her apron and came
towards him. She placed a hand on his forehead testing for temperature. He
watched her closely as she gazed into his eyes looking for something he did not
understand.
“Alright, you are not too warm. Just slightly probably because of your healing
flesh. Tauriel truly does have a healing gift.” Sigrid said as she went to his
side table and began to pour him water. "I do not believe you would have lived
without her strange healing hands. Her ideas are...odd but are working. She has
a gift from the gods" Sigrid said in wonder before shaking her head and
collecting herself.  Sigrid helped him drink slowly then began to leave the
room.
“What lead you to healing?” He asked blurting out the first question he could
to keep her from leaving his side.
Sigrid turned towards him with a small smile. “May I sit? This may take a
while” She said pointing to the chair beside his bed.
Fili nodded enthusiastically, he was happy she was willing to sit and speak
with him.
“Well, Mother died after Tilda was born.” Sigrid began. “Tilda is my little
sister” she explained.
Fili had seen the youngest daughter of Bard Girionson. She was the spitting
image of Sigrid just a smaller version. “There was a complication with her
birth and the blood never stopped flowing. Healers could not get to our farm in
time and father was gone on a raid. I always felt that if I had known more of
healing I could have saved her.” Sigrid said softly.
 Fili reached out a hand and grabbed hers softly. Her gray eyes snapped up
towards his and a small smile appeared on her face. “I was eleven at the time,
Bain was eight. Mother lived one day after the birth, that was it. The healers
made it there in time to help us burn her. Tilda lived off of goat milk for her
first year, bless that animal.” Sigrid said with a fond smile. “Da returned
within two moons. It was good to have the help. I asked him if I could further
my healing and he agreed. I began my training right away and here I am.”
Fili had known Sigrid was lovely, compassionate and gentle. But he had no idea
she was so strong. “Eleven is young” he said lacking anything else to say.
Normally he was better with words. Not as good as Kili but normally he was
better than this, he blamed the injury.
Sigrid giggled and nodded her head, hand still clasped in his. “Yes, it is. But
it made me stronger to lose my mother and raise my siblings. Mother is in
Helgefjell, living the life of a queen."
Fili understood this. Women who died in childbirth were considered royalty,
they were celebrated more than any warrior that fell in battle. Birth was a
battle that men could not fight and it took a strong woman to survive it. Those
that died during birth were lifted up to Helgefjell where they could live a
life of peace and happiness, it was what they deserved and no one would argue
that fact. Fili had never witnessed a birth and he prayed that one day he would
get to watch as his wife brought his child into the world. It is a high honor
to watch life be brought to this world. 
"I was Tilda’s only mother until last year when father remarried,” Sigrid spoke
again, pulling Fili out of his musings.
“Who did he marry?” Fili had not known that Jarl Bard had remarried.
“‘ The Master’s ” wife after he killed the man.” She said easily. Fili took an
easy breath. With Belle, if he had said such things she would have been
horrified then asked millions of questions. He loved the little English woman
as if she were his kin but it was nice to be around a woman that understood his
people. “That is how he became Jarl. It would not do for me to spill the
secrets of my land but I feel like you can keep them. Can’t you Fili?” She
leaned forward looking deep into his ice blue eyes.
He could feel his body reacting to her closeness and he wished that he were not
injured. “Your secrets are safe with me” He whispered.
“Father and Oda had been sleeping together before Da killed “The Master” and
took his Jarldom. Oda hated “The Master” She was given to him by her father as
a gift. She sought out Father after she heard of his hatred for "The Master",
it rivaled her own. Father killed him not truly for his Jarldom but for Oda’s
hand. Father never wanted to lead, but you know the rules.” She told him with a
secret wink.
Fili tried not to chuckle at her words, it always hurt when he laughed but he
couldn’t help it. He let out a small chuckle then regretted it immediately.
“Aye. I know the rules. Kill the Jarl and take his place.”
“I am sure you have thwarted many attempts on your Jarl’s life yourself, have
you not?” Sigrid asked.
Fili remembered them, they were far and few between. Thorin was feared
immensely, by all. He was a strong warrior from good bloodlines with a temper
that matched the god Thor he was named after. “A few,” he answered her
question. “Do you like Oda?”
Sigrid sat back in her chair still gripping Fili’s hands softly in her own as
she thought. “I do in many ways. She loves my father and my father loves her.
Their love is not as great as his and my mothers, their love was saga worthy."
Sigrid smiled softly in memory of her parents love. "But Oda is kind and Tilda
loves her.”
“But?” Fili asked. He could see the blonde holding back from him.
She gave him a rueful smile before answering. “But I am jealous at times. I was
Tilda’s mother and now she has a new one. I was Father’s shoulder to lean on
and now he has Oda. Bain looks to Oda for permission instead of me. It bothers
me, to be replaced.” Sigrid took a large breath and let it out noisily. “I have
never told anyone that.”
Fili rubbed his thumb over her knuckles softly. “You may tell me everything you
wish. I will keep all your secrets.”  
Sigrid laughed lightly and thank him. The two moved on to lighter topic and
Fili learned a great many things about the girl he had been infatuated with
since he had first seen her. He learned that her mother had been a great
shieldmaiden but that Sigrid did not wish to follow in her footsteps. She
wanted to heal people not cause them harm, no matter who the people were. He
learned that she missed being a mother figure to her two siblings, that all she
wanted in life were children. He learned that her favorite food was wheat and
hazelnut pudding, that she hated the smell of rotgut and that she would only
drink ale in small doses because she did not like to lose control of herself.
Fili learned that her best friends were former thralls on her father’s land
that had purchased their freedom recently and fled for home, leaving a lonely
Sigrid behind. Above all else, Fili learned that he liked Sigrid, a lot more
than he should for only having had a few conversations with the girl. When it
was time for him to rest she pressed a hand to his forehead, but slowly that
had drifted until her fingertips on his lips was the only thing he could feel.
“Goodnight Fili” She whispered and left his room for Gyda and Dwalin’s home
where she was staying.
 Gyda was a relative of Sigrid's. Gyda's father and Sigrid's mother had been
half siblings. Ulrich and Helena had been separated when Ulrich began raiding
the Saxon coast and Helena was married off to Bard in her brother's absence.
They saw one another rarely for the remainder of Helena's shortened life, but
Gyda remembered those times. The first babe she had ever held had been little
Sigrid. When Sigrid decided to stay Gyda had jumped at the chance to be near
her kin. Fili smiled softly at the story Belle had told him of the auburn
haired half-blood jumping up and screaming that she would care for Bard's
eldest child. No one contested it in the slightest. It was best to give Gyda
what she wished unless you wanted to face her axes.
===============================================================================
 
Days passed in much the same manner with Fili and Sigrid learning things about
one another. He told her of how he felt responsible for Kili since their father
had perished. He spoke of his wish to be a leader one day when his uncle
passed. He spoke of the different lands he had visited and the different foods
he had tried. He spoke of the treasure they had found but he stayed away from
the foreign women he had sampled or the blood of others he had shed knowing
that Sigrid knew of it without him having to say a word. She knew as well as
him what occured on raids, it was their lives, it was a normal thing for
raiders to partake in but Fili knew Sigrid’s tender heart did not want it
spelled out for her, so he stayed away from speaking of it. The blonde Viking
told her of his love for his strong headed and stern mother. When Sigrid was
not with him it was Dis who was sitting beside her son, knitting or sewing
clothing. He was her first born and the spitting image of his father which made
her cling to him strongly. Fili spoke of his friendship with Belle and his
thoughts on Kili’s woman.
“I rather like her” Sigrid said as they spoke on the redhead.
“I like her fire but that fire will burn my brother.” Fili sighed. “And for
that, I can not accept her fully until she accepts him”
Sigrid crossed her arms over she chest as she thought for a moment. “I think
that she accepts him more than she would like and that scares her. So I do not
think you are seeing dismissal or a lack of acceptance from her, but more fear.
He has taken to kissing her frequently during meals and leads her on walks any
time he can really. It is rather sweet.” Sigrid sighed dreamily before shaking
her head. “But, you should see the way she reacts. At first, she was angry but
these last few days she has been kissing him back.”
Fili wished he had been there to see that. The last time he had seen them kiss
was the night he had gotten his belly wound. Tauriel had kissed him back but
she had been knee deep in ale by that point. His mind flashed to the memory of
her beating the shite out of his little brother after finding out he had been
calling her “my betrothed” since he had purchased her off of Sigurd. Fili
laughed at the memory and for once the moment did not cause him pain. He only
felt soreness.
“What are you laughing about?” Sigrid asked him, her gray eyes twinkling.
He launched into the story and soon the both of them were laughing hard. Fili
noticed that he loved to hear her laughter. It was one of the most beautiful
sounds he had ever heard.
“Do you think they will marry?” She asked him.
“Perhaps. If she does not escape before then. And escape she will want to when
my brother tries to bind her to him.” Fili said in jest, but what he didn’t
know was that hours earlier the redhead in question had made an escape
attempt...a successful one.
Sigrid had laughed at his joke and slapped him lightly on the arm. “Alright,
let us check your bandages.”
The blonde girl pulled back the furs and bandages to look at his wound. “It is
healing nicely. You will be able to begin walking again tomorrow. Slowly of
course but movement is movement.” She said, turning away from him to pluck an
ointment Tauriel had made for his healing wounds from his nearby table. Sigrid
turned back towards him but tripped over the rug on the floor. She caught
herself before she could tumble onto her patient. Her hands were braced on
either side of head bringing her face near to his.
“Oh. I am so sorry!” She squeaked and went to move away from him. But Fili had
no intention of letting her go. She was finally close enough for him to smell
her intoxicating scent of healing herbs that clung to her. He placed one hand
on her hip while the other cupped her face.
Her gray eyes widened at the touch.  “Fi…” She began but quickly trailed off
when he went to kiss her. She pulled back slightly making him halt his trek to
her lips.
“Do you have a man already?” He asked wishing he had had this talk with her
before.
“No. Not at all.” Sigrid whispered. Fili smiled and went to kiss her again but
once again she pulled back from him.
“What is it?” Fili practically whined.
“What of Belle?” Sigrid asked softly worry in her eyes.
Fili shook his head confused. “What of the English woman?” He practically
growled, unaware of the listening ears outside the door. Fili’s answer was
enough apparently and his lips connected with Sigrid's.
Fili had kissed women, many in fact, but there was no kiss that could compare
to Sigrid's. Her lips fit against his as if they had been made for each other.
When the tip of her tongue slid across the seam of his lips he groaned loudly
and soon their tongues were in a sensual battle. He could feel his manhood
hardening in reaction to her. With little effort, he pulled her onto him so her
legs were straddling his hips. He ground his hardness into her. Fili attempted
to sit up and that is when the pain ran through him. He groaned loudly but not
in pleasure. Sigrid saw the change and was quickly off of his lap and across
the room mixing him willow bark tea with valerian root.
“I am sorry, Fili” She whispered as she handed him the cup.
“You are?” He asked turning his worried ice blue eyes on her. “Because I am
not.” He downed the tea before speaking again. “I think it is needed for my
health, Healer Sigrid. Don’t you agree?” He gave her his best thigh-splitting
smile.
Sigrid giggled shyly shaking her head. “I suppose that is something I could
declare for you.”
“But it can not be anyone’s healing kisses. I believe only yours will work.”
Fili said quite seriously.
Sigrid rolled her eyes but kept that fond smile on her face. “Perhaps.”
By now the sleeping root had begun to set in and he was feeling it’s effect.
“Sleep, Fili.” Sigrid’s voice said near his ear. Then her lips were pressing
into his, he fought the sleep as much as he could to just kiss those lips for a
moment longer. The last thing he heard before he drifted into unconsciousness
was Sigrid’s soft sigh of contentment.
***** Tauriel *****
Chapter Notes
     NSFW chapter.
     There is some hot and heavy make out scenes in this chapter so
     beware!
     I hope you all like this chapter.
     Thank you Cassidy for your advice and help with this chapter. <3
Tauriel’s legs cramped as she sprinted through the trees. Her lungs burned and
her entire body had a sheen of sweat covering it. She guessed she was perhaps
ten miles if not more from the Blue Mountains settlement. The redheaded woman
decided to take a quick break near a stream. She cupped the crystal water in
her hands and sipped it haphazardly. She thought that the further from the
settlement that she got the more free she would feel, but the tightness around
her heart and Kili’s sad eyes that kept popping up in her mind had her second-
guessing her decision. Tauriel slammed the heel of her hand into her forehead a
few times trying to dislodge the image. It didn’t work, it only made her head
ache as much as her heart now.
“What is wrong with me?” Tauriel growled into the vacant forest.
She sat heavily on the ground with a frustrated huff. It was beginning to get
cold, the winter fell faster in this land. She didn’t know exactly where they
were but she knew she was farther north than her people’s lands. Tauriel had
heard Kili tell others she was from the southern Island. She also knew they
were farther north just by the feel of the air around her. It was colder up
here with harsher winters.
When she had escaped Kili’s home early that morning she had stolen a fur cloak,
fur boots, and a blanket, as well as changed from a dress to her old trousers
in preparation for the cold. Thinking of her escape made Tauriel’s chest hurt
that much more.
===============================================================================
 
When Fili had gotten injured Tauriel had helped heal him. To heal him she was
given a multitude of herbs from the blonde girl named Sigrid. One of those
things was valerian root also known as sleeping root. While she was mixing
Fili’s tea she snuck some of the valerian root into her pocket.
Belle’s words rang in her ears as she pocketed the sleeping root.
“I...I need you to promise me, that if you have a chance to run from here, to
escape, you will take it whether I am with you or not.” So Tauriel took it.
She pocketed the root and kept it till she could fully plan her escape. It took
her two weeks before she could get away. In that time Kili had become closer to
her and she to him, which bothered her immensely and furthered her desire to
flee.
After seeing Belle attacked, healing Fili’s wounds and then watching Bolg’s
body be quartered in the village center she felt vulnerable. When she stumbled
back to Kili’s room bloody, tired and overall scared all she wanted to do was
flop into bed but Kili had a rule about not getting into bed dirty, which she
secretly appreciated. So she washed her arms and face then began trying to shed
her dress. Her arms were too exhausted to make much headway on the back laces
of her dress. She felt large hands softly push hers away, then un-do the laces
themselves. She looked over her shoulder slightly startled to see Kili helping
her with a somber look upon his face. Tauriel felt bad for it but the sadness
on his face relaxed her. He had only good intentions when he unlaced her dress.
He only wanted to help her, nothing else.
When her dress had fallen to the ground she stood in only her shift. Tauriel
turned and looked at Kili slowly shrugging out of his clothes. When he shucked
off his pants, giving her an obscene view of his lower half, she gave a small
squeak and turned her back towards him. She thought her reaction would get a
chuckle out of him or something but nothing came and she knew why. His brother
was fighting for his life in the next room. But there was nothing else that
could be done for Fili. He either died tonight or he lived, that was it.
Nothing else to it.
A part of her heart ached for Kili. She did not have any siblings of her own,
Legolas had been the closest thing and she had ended up having to marry him. In
a way she missed Legolas, she missed the teenager he had been when she first
moved to the castle. She missed when they were younger and would train with
weapons beside one another. Once they had married their relationship drifted
from easy camaraderie to awkward and strained companionship.
But at this moment she could feel sorry for Kili. If Legolas had been fighting
for his life she would feel upset and saddened.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw that Kili had slipped on a pair of sleep
pants and was crawling into bed. She realized then how truly upset the dark
haired Norseman had to be. He always pulled her into bed with him giving her a
cheeky smile and then tucked her back against his chest. But tonight he did
none of that, he watched her with sad eyes as she folded her dress over the
lone wooden chair in the room. Tauriel felt as if she had lost control of her
body when it automatically shed her boots and then climbed under the covers,
scooting close to Kili, much closer than she had ever willingly gotten to him.
The redhead shocked herself when she got as close a physically possible to the
dark haired Norseman, noses almost touching and hugged him. Kili too was
surprised, she could tell from his loud intake of breath. He wrapped his arm
around her and pulled her even closer. He rubbed his stubble clad jaw against
her neck, making heat spread through her womb. She thanked god above that she
had the ability to hide her arousal, unlike males. Kili pulled back and pressed
a kiss to her forehead and whispered a soft “goodnight”. Due to the events of
that night, Tauriel drifted into a sound sleep, nose to nose with Kili.  
===============================================================================
 
Tauriel rose to her feet near the river and pulled her thoughts together once
more. Dwelling on memories of the dark haired Norseman was not going to help
her. She had to escape...right?
The redheaded lass took off in a sprint through the woods. She kept her right
side within a half mile of the sea, running parallel with it, as she sprinted
through the woods. She would need to steal a small boat then get away from the
heathen land. If she could just get to the English lands she would be able to
find passage home, she hoped. As she began plotting her mind wandered back
towards the Blue Mountains settlement. Surely Kili had awoken by now. She had
only given him a strong enough dose of Valerian root to keep him in a heavy
sleep so she could escape in the dark hours of the morning when everyone still
slept.
Tauriel had had to work hard to get her body to flee the dark-haired man’s
side. The redhead had hastily grabbed the items she would need and shoved them
into the satchel Kili had given her near two weeks earlier. Tauriel had stopped
just before she walked out his bedroom door forever and turned back to gaze at
Kili. His eyebrows were pulled together in confusion but his eyes never opened.
He was heavily under, so she granted herself a small leeway on her emotions.
Tauriel walked back into the room and pressed a small kiss to the Norseman's
pouting lips before running out of the longhouse on silent feet. It was the
second kiss she had ever initiated with him and would be the last...or so she
thought.
There had been a multitude of kisses since Bolg’s attack. Tauriel had never
initiated any of those but she did not fight him any longer when he tried to
kiss her. She would readily kiss him back much to his delight. She could see it
in his warm brown eyes, the excitement and pure unadulterated joy residing in
those orbs. Tauriel had told herself that she was only letting him kiss her
because it would further his trust in her which would help in her escape. She
tried to ignore the rush of arousal between her legs or the tightening of her
nipples when he would dip his tongue in her mouth when they kissed. In the past
two weeks Tauriel had experienced more passion than in all of her twenty years,
and they had not even had sex. It had been close and she could tell he wanted
to but she had not completely abandoned her faith while among the savages. It
had been hard at times especially the night before she had fled.
===============================================================================
 
Tauriel had just returned from the kitchens with Belle close on her heels and
Bifur trailing behind. He escorted them to the Jarl’s longhouse before making
his exit for the night. Tauriel knew that Thorin was home as well as Kili and
of course bed ridden Fili. Dis was sitting in the front room sharpening a sword
when they entered the longhouse.
“Hvernig var að vinna í dag, Belle? (How was your work today, Belle?)” the
raven-haired woman asked.
“ gott. Þakka þér fyrir. (Good. thank you)” Belle had replied quietly.
Tauriel had taken note of the way Thorin and Dis relationship with the tiny
English woman had changed since Bolg’s attack. When Tauriel had asked her about
it Belle had told her of what she had overheard the night of theattack orrather
earlymorning, but it made little sense to either of them. It must have been
significant to the heathens based purely on their new reactions to Belle. Dis
looked at her with pity and a small amount of respect in her eyes. Thorin just
tended to look at her without the disdain that had previously commanded his
gaze. With Tauriel neither leaders cared much about her either way. They knew
she was Kili’s woman, therefore she was under his protection as well as his
discipline, or lack thereof. The redheaded woman knew that Dis did not exactly
care for her, she found her too wild and wished for Tauriel to submit already.
Thorin was indifferent towards her, Taurielpreferredit that way. The less
attention on her the better.
Many things had changed since the night of Bolg's attack and Belle's ancestry
reveal. Belle now shared a room with Dis. A small bed, Tauriel believed it was
a child’s bed, was brought in for Belle to sleep on. Belle had been exceedingly
grateful that she did not have to share a bed any longer, though she did miss
her late night talks and the warmth she received from her friend Fili. The days
she had to share a bed with Thorin had been painfully awkward and frightening
for the little woman. Thorin had never touched her, at least that is what Belle
told her redheaded friend. But at that point in time he was telling Belle he
might still kill her which frightened the woman endlessly. When Belle was
gifted her own bed after Fili woke, Belle was finally able to relax. Tauriel
had grumbled on how lucky she was to now sleep alone when the arrangement had
been set.
‘Are you truly jealous?’ a voice inside her had asked. She tried to push that
voice away as well as the feelings of comfort she felt towards Kili when he
curled around her in their slumber.
“Það er baða nótt, fara. (it is bath night, go)” Dis had said in a motherly
tone making Tauriel want to scowl deeply at her. She kept it at bay with her
grand self-control until Belle spoke.
“Oh. Ég baðaður bara í morgun með Sigrid og Gyða. (oh, I just bathed this
morning with Sigrid and Gyda.)” Belle had said softly and turned panicked eyes
on Tauriel. She had known this, Tauriel had been the one to stay behind to
redress Fili’s wounds while they bathed.
“ Þá bara þú, Villt Einn (Then just you, Wild One).” Dis said with a nod of her
head.
Tauriel’s self-control slipped and her scowl came out full force. She hated
that nickname everyone had given her. She was not wild! She was a lady, meant
to be a Queen one day. How dare these heathens call her wild. They were the
wild ones. No better than animals, most of them.
When Tauriel did not answer, Dis smirked then loudly called for her youngest
son. The dark-haired Norseman came bounding out of his room shirtless.
“Taktu konuna þína til keldum (take your woman to the springs)” Dis commanded.
Kili nodded his head and grabbed at Tauriel’s hand before she could begin
cursing at the raven haired woman.
“Are you okay Tauriel? Do you want me to come with you?” Belle asked as she
tried to trail behind her taller friend.
“I am fine. Check on Fili.” Tauriel had assured her. In truth, Tauriel did not
want to be bathing alone with Kili or without another woman. Gyda would have
even been an improvement even though the little woman was insane and had a
penchant for touching Tauriel inappropriately for her own amusement.
Tauriel and Kili had walked to the springs hand in hand, not by her choice. Now
that Kili knew she spoke a moderate amount of Norse he was constantly
chattering. Back home she had found incessant chatter aggravating and wished
for it to stop. Here, and especially in Kili or Belle’s voice, she did not mind
it so.
“How was your day?” He asked her in Norse.
Tauriel thought for a moment before answering slowly. “Good. We made more pies”
Kili turned towards her eyebrows raised “Belle gave up the recipe?”
“Not on her life” Tauriel quipped.
Kili’s ringing laughter rang between the trees. Despite herself, Tauriel
couldn’t help but join in. Kili threw his arm around her shorter frame as the
two laughed and walked towards the springs. She told herself that she should
shake off his arm but he was warm and the night was beginning to get chilly.
“So how did you bake them and keep the secrets from Vinna?” Kili asked after
the chortles had calmed.
“Belle made her…” Tauriel couldn’t remember the words for “cover her eyes” so
she mimed it. She placed a hand over her eyes to show him.
Kili laughed again. “Well. Uncle will be pleased to taste the meat pies again.
I think he will enjoy these more, she can not kill his favorite goat twice,
thank Odin.”
Tauriel was the one to laugh loudly at this. The fact that the gruesome and
terrifying Jarl Thorin had a favorite goat was humorous. By the time the two
had ceased their laughter they were at the hot springs. There were no others
here much to Tauriel’s pleasure.
She set down her basket of clothes and soap next to the water and was about to
tell Kili where he could wait for her when she turned and saw him wearing
nothing but his tattooed skin. She immediately turned her back to him with a
disgruntled noise leaving her throat.
“Oh come now, my goddess. Are you afraid of a little naked skin?” Kili taunted
from where he was stepping into the water.
“No.” Tauriel dropped her hand and growled at him.
She had to fight the urge to bring her hand back up to cover her vision. She
had only seen one male appendage, and that was her husband. Even with her
husband she had never seen him fully nude as she was seeing Kili currently.
Legolas always kept a long shift on and Tauriel had only caught small glimpses
of the hardened flesh. Nothing like the view she was not getting of Kili. He
obviously had no qualms about his body, none of the heathens did. Nakedness was
not an issue for most of them, especially the males she had realized. It
unsettled her. Tauriel’s hazel eyes kept wandering to Kili’s naked smirking
form no matter how much she tried to keep her eyes pinned above his head. He
was tall, so tall and muscular. Her mouth watered slightly at the sight of his
bulging muscles and tattooed skin. His chest had blue tattoos on it as well as
his shoulders. She was sure if he turned she would see tattoos upon his back as
well. But right now all she could focus on was the muscles of his stomach, how
defined they were, they reminded her of a washboard, well if a washboard had
six hard bumps. Her eyes traveled lower as she took in the lines of muscle that
made a “V” and pointed towards his manhood. Tauriel tried not to look at it,
truly, but she couldn’t help her curiosity. He was hardening under her gaze,
she could tell he enjoyed her staring at him and she wanted to claw her own
eyes out for admiring the man who held her captive. Tauriel’s eyes continued
without permission. First, she saw dark curls at the base then the long, thick
muscle that made him a man.
‘ And what a man he is ’ she thought then wanted to slap the thought right out
of her mind.
“Enjoying the view?” Kili said cockily.
Tauriel only rolled her eyes in response. She didn’t know if she could even
speak without squeaking.
“Join me” Kili ordered her softly.
She shook her head. “I will wait till you are done”
“Do not make me throw you in fully clothed.” Kili’s eyes glinted with mischief.
“If you value that,” Tauriel said pointing between his legs “You will do no
such thing.”
“Afraid to allow me to see you nude, my goddess?” Kili asked with a cheeky
smile, trying a different tactic.
“I fear very little” Tauriel argued back before she realized this was a trap.
“Then shed your fabrics” Kili crossed his arms over his broad chest in
challenge.
“No.” She growled.
“If you are afraid of me touching you, you have my word I will not. Unless you
ask me to” Kili told her with a hand over his heart.
Tauriel’s eyes narrowed when he said she was afraid once again. The competitor
in her reared its head and she began to unlace the back of her dress much to
Kili’s excitement. She knew what she was doing was wrong. Her body belonged to
God and her husband. But he was not here and at times she doubted God resided
near these lands either. Tauriel trampled down the thought and quickly shed her
dirty dress then her shift next leaving her in just her binders. She was
grateful for the lack of light at the moment. Fear licked up her spine but she
refused to back down from his challenge. She had never backed down from a
challenge and she was not about to do so now. The redhead quickly shed her
binders and brought a hand up to cover her breasts as soon as they were freed
of the fabric.
“Quit staring” Tauriel growled menacingly at Kili.
The dark-haired man only chuckled and waggled his eyebrows before stepping into
the water more fully and sitting on the natural rock bench within the water.
“I swear to whatever god you pray to I will remove your eyes and feed them to
the pigs if you don’t stop looking at my…” Tauriel didn’t know the word for
breasts, therefore making her threat fall flat.
“Brjóst (Breasts)” Kili informed her with a cheeky grin.
Tauriel only narrowed her eyes at him and ducked lower into the water. She was
grateful the water had a slight murkiness to it, hiding her body from his
hungry eyes, for the most part.
Kili leaned back against the water and stared up at the sky. Tauriel began to
relax as the peacefully quiet minutes passed. She washed herself slowly while
he was distracted with the stars. When she had finished he turned his eyes back
towards her as if he had purposely been giving her a small slice of the privacy
she craved. It made those feelings in her belly flutter and her heart seemed to
soften. She sat on opposite side of the small pool, facing him. Tauriel looked
up at the stars, she was momentarily distracted when Kili grasped her foot. She
wanted to kick him and was about to do so when he began to run his thumbs up
her feet. No one had massaged her feet since her mother had died. That was
something her mother used to do to help relax her when she was ill. Tears
threatened to build but Tauriel held them back.
‘Think of something to say. Distract yourself, lass.’ she thought frantically.
“My mother used to say that the light of the stars was sacred.” Tauriel began
and then cursed herself for bringing up her mother, she missed her so much…
“Starlight?” Kili asked confused.
“Yes. She said it was memory, pure and precious.”
“I always found the stars to be a cold light, remote and far away” Kili
answered looking back up at the small twinkling lights. “It reminds us of
winter here. Winter brings death and cold. That is when we see the stars the
most.” He answered her unspoken question.
Tauriel gazed up once again but could not picture the way he viewed her
precious stars. “It is not like that for me or my people.” Tauriel’s mind raced
back to her years of running through the forest and climbing trees. She
remembered a particularly good memory when she had climbed the tallest tree and
sat to enjoy the stars up close. “I have walked there sometimes, beyond the
castle and up into the night. I have seen the world fall away and the white
light forever fill the air.”
Kili stopped his massaging of her feet and gazed at her with a soft smile on
his lips. “I saw a fire moon once. It rose over the pass near Daneland. Huge!
Red and gold it was, it filled the sky. We were an escort for some merchants
from Finland, they were trading in silverwork for furs. We took the Greenway
south, keeping the mountain to our left, and then it appeared. This huge fire
moon lighting our path. I wish I could show you…” Kili trailed off.
Tauriel couldn’t help but feel like something between them shifted or perhaps
it was her view that changed, she wasn’t sure. But at this moment she felt as
if she was meant to be here, with this heathen...man. Her breathing picked up
and she was suddenly very aware of her nudity as well as the arousal growing
within her. If Kili was aware of it he did not show it. He just continued to
smile that sweet smile of his that lit up his eyes.
Tauriel had always been a woman of calculations as well as action and at this
moment her mind was focused on action. She pulled her foot out of Kili’s
grasped and waded in the water towards him. She sat down on the rock beside him
as the water rippled around them. Kili was surprised, she could tell by the
quirk of his eyebrows. But he did not say anything, keeping her entranced.
Tauriel would think on this moment later and wonder if she had been possessed
by the devil but at the moment all she could feel was the thrumming in her
veins and the pounding of her heart. She lifted a hand up and buried it into
Kili’s wavy dark locks. He hummed happily and moved to press his lips to hers.
Tauriel did not back away or try in any way to stop him, she wanted
this...badly. The ache between her legs and the tightening of her nipples were
her body’s way of telling her so.
Kili kissed her softly at first but then moved to more passionate kissing, the
kind that involved his heathen tongue. Tauriel wanted to be embarrassed and a
bit horrified of the moan that came out of her lips but she couldn’t control
it. She moaned into his mouth which sent the man into a near frenzy. He wrapped
an arm around her and before she knew it she was straddling his lap,
naked...very naked. One of his large hands moved up her side tickling her ribs
ever so slightly then up to her heavy breast. Tauriel pulled back from his lips
and breathed harshly, her eyes were almost black with lust as were his. He
moved to attach his lips to her neck and bit her ever so slightly making her
hips jerk forwards. She felt his heavy sex graze her pleasure button which made
her moan loudly once again, except this time she was not alone. Kili’s moan was
a deep bass emanating out of his chest. The redhead did the motion again and
arched her back in response. This opened up her chest for Kili’s greedy mouth
and he did not throw away the chance. His lips latched onto her breast causing
Tauriel to first gasp loudly in shock and then mewl happily.
The sound of loud laughing had the effect of ice water being thrown on Tauriel.
She jumped off Kili’s lap and across the pool of water as if she were in pain.
It was then that a laughing Nori came out from the tree line his arm wrapped
around a woman with bright blonde hair. The two were obviously in their own
world and had not noticed Kili or Tauriel. Nori stopped the woman and pulled
her into a passionate kiss. Tauriel could only describe the kiss as obscene.
Kili coughed loudly to let Nori know they were there making the man look up
sharply with narrowed eyes.
“Kili. Wild One” Nori said in way of greeting while the blonde continued to
suck at his neck and grope at his manhood through his trousers.
“Nori” Kili said back equally as annoyed. Tauriel only glared for the nickname,
she did not much care for it.
Nori turned back towards his companion and picked her up. Her legs wrapped
around his hips but she refused to stop her exploration of his skin. “How do
you feel about humping against a tree?” The man asked as the two disappeared
back into the tree line blessedly away from Tauriel and Kili’s return path.
As if he knew this would not be happening again anytime soon Kili quickly
dunked his head under the water and did a hasty wash. While he was under
Tauriel hopped out of the springs and in record time was dried and in her shift
before Kili even turned back around. His pout said it all, he was disappointed
to see her nude body covered. He pulled himself out of the water and began to
dry. Tauriel turned her back to him not wanted to have her eyes disobey and
find themselves glued to his manhood once again. She finished slipping into her
clean woolen dress and boots while he rustled into his own clothes. The walk
back to the longhouse was quiet, Tauriel was berating herself for the feeling
of warmth in her chest with Kili’s arms wrapped around her shoulders. She was
feeling attached to him and that is what cemented her next few actions.
When they reached the house most everyone was asleep. Belle was awake as was
Sigrid and the two women sat before the fire in the large front room. The two
were drinking tea and speaking quietly. When Belle saw Tauriel enter she smiled
widely at her.
“You’re back. Would you like tea?”
“Yes. Let me just put down my things.” Tauriel answered and walked into the
bedroom while Kili sat beside the women. Tauriel rushed into the room throwing
her clothes on the open chair before pulling out the powdered valerian root she
had stored. She slipped it into her pocket and walked back into the front room.
Kili was sipping some of Belle’s tea and chatting happily with her. Tauriel
moved to sit on his lap startling him into dropping his cup.
“I will get you more.” She said softly and picked up his cup. The redhead
pulled the small kettle off the fire and turned her back to pour it. In a sly
move, she slipped the valerian root out of her pocket and dumped the contents
of the glass vial within the tea.  
She turned back to Kili with an innocent smile and handed him the cup. He
beamed with happiness and pulled her into his lap before taking the cup and
sipping it.
“Would you like some?” He asked her softly offering his cup.
“No. I think I am too tired to drink some.” She forced a yawn and moved to get
off his lap.
He nodded happily and chugged the contents of the cup before bidding Sigrid and
Belle a goodnight. Tauriel looked behind her and whispered her own goodnight.
Her hazel eyes settled on Belle’s and willed the little English woman to look
up so she could convey her goodbye properly. It was the best she could do under
the circumstances but Belle did not look up. She continued listening to Sigrid
speak of herbs. Tauriel felt her heart clench at leaving Belle behind but the
woman had made her promise and this was her chance.
Kili and Tauriel both readied for bed swiftly and climbed under the furs. Kili
yawned loudly and Tauriel could tell the root was taking effect. He looked at
her strangely from where he was laying flat on his back.
“Tauriel?” He questioned as he fought to keep his eyes open.
“Farewell, Kili” she whispered softly and pressed a kiss to his lips.
“No...Don’t...leave..mmm…” He passed out before he could finish.
===============================================================================
 
“No...Don’t...Leave...mmmm” the words rang in Tauriel’s ears as she tried to
continue pushing her body forward through the trees. She stopped in her tracks
and sat down once again on the ground, her head in her hands.
“Get it together, lass!” She growled. “You need to get back to Legolas.” as she
said the words they tasted bitter. Did she truly need to get back to him? Did
she
Did she truly need to get back to him? Did she want to go back to him? Her mind
flashed to her blonde husband that she desperately wished would have stayed a
close friend instead of an awkward spouse. Tauriel wondered what awaited her
when she finally returned to her former home. She knew she would be welcomed
back by Legolas but Thranduil would be another story. He would assume she had
been defiled by the heathens, which surprisingly she hadn’t been. She was one
of the very lucky few that weren’t and she knew it was all because of Kili. He
was the reason she had stayed relatively safe all this time.
Tauriel shook her head trying to empty out the thoughts of Kili.
Legolas would stay beside her because it was his duty as a spouse unless…he
already declared her dead. She had been with the heathens many months. No one
came back from being among the heathens. They would have more than likely
declared her dead and Legolas would be expected to marry quickly after to
produce a much-needed heir. Tauriel expected to feel saddened by this new
revelation but she only felt relieved. If she returned, his second marriage
would be considered invalid due to her absence, and by then he would most
likely have an heir, a child of his own. That child would then be displaced,
Tauriel couldn’t do that to a small child.
Thinking of small children caused her mind to drift to thoughts of Belle. The
woman was the size of a heathen child. They grew much larger than most people
Tauriel had ever seen and their children were no different. Belle would be so
saddened by her escape, hurt most likely by the fact that Tauriel had left her
without saying goodbye. Tauriel thought of all of the people that could hurt
Belle without Tauriel there.
“The trouble that little woman will get into without me there to help protect
her…” Tauriel whispered aloud.
“I have to go back...for Belle” she said in a firmer voice. With her mind made
up on the subject, she stalked back towards the Blue Mountain’s settlement. If
her mind was filled with thoughts of the dark haired Norseman that was neither
here nor there, she was going back for Belle and possibly Legolas’ future
child’s welfare, certainly not for the heathen with the warm brown eyes and
dark flowing locks.
===============================================================================
 
Tauriel's trip back felt much shorter than when she had fled, hell bent on
sailing back to her homeland. It wasn’t until she began her trip back towards
the heathen settlement that she realized she didn’t know how to sail and she
certainly did not know which direction to go. She was more likely to die at sea
than to actually find her way back to Ireland.
It wasn’t until she was three miles away that she had the thought that perhaps
Kili would not want her back and would punish her for leaving. As if hearing
her thoughts she heard her name being screamed.
“Tauriel!”
The redheaded woman ducked behind a tree and waited for the screams to get
closer. When they didn’t she crept her way forward still concealing herself
behind trees when possible. On silent feet, she stepped to the edge of the
small meadow she had passed in her escape.
“Tauriel!” Kili cried out in a hoarse voice. His fist slammed over and over
again into a nearby tree. Tauriel winced at the damage he was definitely doing
to his hand. She looked closely and noticed his large shoulders shaking as he
fell to his knees repeating her name over and over again.
Her heart ached for him, without permission her feet glided towards him.
“Kili?” She asked softly afraid to get closer in case he attacked her.
His head whipped up and he looked at her with red-ringed eyes. He didn’t move a
muscle as if afraid she would vanish if he did. Tauriel swallowed her
nervousness and pulled off her pack fishing out the bandages she had stolen on
her way out. Slowly she knelt beside him and began to bandage his bloody
knuckles. The dark haired man did not say a word as she healed him. When she
was finished she did not let go of his hand. Her hazel eyes met his brown ones
and she felt the overwhelming urge to explain herself.
“I am sorry I hurt you when I ran.” She whispered and found that she truly
meant it. She did feel sorry for hurting him but not for running.
“Why did you run from me? I thought you were finally happy. I thought I made
you happy.” He asked in a hurt voice.
“I had to try, Kili, even though I hated hurting you. I was taken away from my
land by force, away from my husband and his family, away from everything I
know. I was brought to this harsh land and I was scared. But I’m not scared
anymore…” She confessed. It did not go unnoticed by her that he winced when she
mentioned her husband.
Kili looked deep into her eyes. “I will not make you come back with me. I will
tell them you escaped and I never found you, if that is your wish.”
“Why would you do that for me?” she asked him in his native tongue.  
Kili pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and inhaled her scent before
answering. “mar is aoibheann liom tú (Because I love you)”.
Tauriel jerked back in surprise at her people’s language coming from his mouth.
His accent was heavy and his speech was slow but that did not matter to her.
What mattered was the meaning behind that stilted speech. He loved her, he had
shown it many times but she had always chalked it up to him wanting her body
but this was more than that. He had taken the time to learn a small bit of her
people’s language, not just that, but he learned how to tell her he loved her.
She had no doubt he meant it, his wide brown eyes were ringing with honesty.
Tauriel pressed a tentative kiss to his lips. “Take me home with you, Kili”
Kili nearly sobbed in relief and gathered her into his arms, hugging her
tightly to his body. He pressed kisses into her neck and whispered words of
gratitude to the heathen gods and to her. He pulled back and placed a soft kiss
to her lips. 
"Home." He agreed and began pulling her back to the Blue Mountains. 
***** Belle *****
Belle was confused. Since the night of Bolg’s attack and Gothi’s declaration of
her parentage, Thorin and Dis had treated her differently. Dis had been polite
to her before but now the raven haired woman was  kind  to her which was odd
but not unsettling. What was unsettling was Thorin’s behavior. The rude and
demeaning comments had stopped entirely. He still scowled at her but it was
nowhere near as fierce or as frequent. He had even complimented her cooking at
dinner one night.
“This is good food, Belle” The entire table stopped and stared at him as if he
had lost his mind. “For an English woman” He added on making the table nod and
go back to their conversations.
The memory still made Belle confused but not as confused as she was at this
moment. She had been working in the kitchen preserving the harvest foods with
Tauriel and Vinna as well as Vinna’s daughter, Bergljot, when Bofur walked in.
“Ah, good you’re here.” Vinna puffed and pressed a kiss to Bofur’s cheek. She
handed him a leather coin purse and then pointed to Belle. “Take, the little
one with you, she knows the list.”
The girls were used to being separated when errands for the kitchens were
needed to be run, but that did not mean they liked it. Belle dusted off her
hands and stepped around where Tauriel was attempting to block her from Bofur’s
view.
“ Beidh mé ceart go leor. Tá sé deas (I’ll be fine. He is nice). ” Belle said
as she patted Tauriel’s waist.
Tauriel continued to glare at Bofur until he promised not to hurt Belle. Then
the two were off to the markets. As they walked Bofur whistled a merry little
tune that helped Belle relax. She even joined in when she caught the gist of
the tune. Bofur smiled down at her, his deep dimples flashing. He was one of
the shorter Norsemen of the group. The top of her head reached his chest. Which
was rather exciting for her. She guessed he was near six feet but not quite,
much unlike Thorin, Fili and Kili. She knew they were much larger. Belle
guessed they were somewhere between six feet and seven feet tall. She was a
mere four feet, ten inches. On the shorter side for her people and downright
comically sized for the Norsemen. But beside Bofur she did not feel quite as
ridiculous.
 “I thought Wild One was going to kill me,” Bofur said after a moment as they
walked down the dirt path towards the markets.
Belle giggled lightly. She liked Bofur he was kind and always smiling. “Her
name is Tauriel and she is quite protective of me.”
“She is not the only one. I saw Gyda threaten Agnar at ax point when he walked
towards you in the meeting hall a few days past.”
Belle’s eyes went round. “Why would he want to approach me? Did he want to hurt
me?”
“No. He wanted to learn more about you.” Bofur said with a shrug of his broad
shoulders.
“Why would he want to do that?” the English girl asked.
“You are unmarried, Jarl Thorin has not said for certain, but you may soon be a
free-woman and you are quite pretty,” Bofur told her as if it were the most
obvious news.
“But I am married,” Belle argued.
Bofur shook his hatted head, the flaps of his hat bobbing with the motion. “Not
anymore. Your marriage was performed for your god.” Belle felt her chest
tightening as he continued to expand on the topic. “Your God does not reside
here, Little Queen. To be seen as married here, you would need to be married
before Freyr, Freya , Vår and Mjølnir .”
Belle felt like she couldn’t breathe which caused her next words to squeak out.
“So it is as if I was never married?” excitement thrummed through her veins.
Bofur tilted his head back and forth as if weighing his words. “In a way. You
would need to speak with Gothi Grey and Jarl Thorin for the exact verdict. But
I would guess that is most similar to an annulment or a divorce.”
Belle’s mind ran wild. ‘ A divorce? An annulment? Those things are real? Not
just far fetched stories from other lands’.
Belle had not realized she had stopped walking until Bofur came up to her and
placed both of his large hands on her slender shoulders. “Everything about your
old life is gone, little Belle.”
Tears of relief sprang up into Belle’s emerald eyes. “What does this mean for
me now?”
Bofur wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gazed down at her with kind brown
eyes. “It means that you have choices. Our women get to choose their spouse,
they get to choose if they wish to be a mother, they choose whether or not to
stay with the man they have chosen. If they do not they are allowed a divorce,
one in which they are allotted money and land after, probably not as much as
they had with their husband but enough they can live on.”
Belle’s mind ran wild with how different this heathen land was compared to her
own. The things he was speaking of couldn’t really be true… ’could they?’.
“So I could choose to leave if I wished it?”
Bofur shrugged his large shoulders. “I do not know that for certain. You would
need to speak with Jarl Thorin. Do you wish to leave us, Belle?”
The little English woman could see the small amount of sadness in Bofur’s eyes
when she hesitated in answering. “Yes.” She said softly. “No…I don’t know” she
answered a little louder. “It just that I am not from here Bofur. I am so
strange to you all and you are strange to me. I don’t belong. Can you not see
it?”
His kind brown eyes held confusion for a moment before he chose to answer. “But
don’t you belong with us, Little Belle? You did not fit in with your own people
and yet you wish to go back to them? There is no place else that can protect
you better. The Bastard King will not stop looking for you, Belle. You know
that better than I.”
Belle did know. From the moment Bolg had stepped in front of her she knew that
Smaug would not stop looking for her until she was dead and he had proof. There
was nothing she could do alone to stop him, but if she had a warrior in her
life she could have some semblance of safety. It was naive to believe that she
could flee by herself and survive. And naive she was not. She had known she
would never leave this land alive. But now she had reason to live. The
assassination attempt by Smaug had scared her but also made her feel powerful
and angry. She could do a lot of damage to Smaug and his Kingdom, he knew it as
did she. For the first time since her parent's death, Belle felt hope flood her
system. Hope was not something she would have ever had with Smaug and yet here
it was in her heart in the strange heathen land.
 
The little English woman was too deep in her thoughts to answer. She only
nodded at Bofur and continued on her way. Bofur kept his arm around her as they
walked towards the market once again. As they moved around the market Belle
began noticing the eyes of the males on her. She had never been considered
particularly pretty where she was from. She was too strange for men to look
upon her with lust. She knew at first glance she was beautiful, it was when she
opened her mouth that English men began to change their view of her. She was
too educated for a woman or was not meek enough. Belle was inquisitive and
needed to be put in her place, they said. She had heard it all. But with the
Norsemen, they did not mind it as much. She knew they were shocked at her
knowledge but instead of seeing the disapproval she would see on a Christian
man’s face she saw wonder or respect on the heathens sun-tanned faces.
Maybe she could live a decent life here. She could marry for love. The thought
was foreign to her but it started a fire in her chest. Marrying for love was
not something she had thought possible since her father’s passing, even then
she exactly have free reign on who she would marry. The man would have to be of
noble blood and worthy of her station as Princess of Yorkshire. But among the
Norsemen, she could marry for love without worry of her station. If she truly
wished it she could perhaps marry a simple merchant. The options gave her a
thrill. She hadn’t realized she had been practically vibrating with excitement
until Bofur began to chuckle.
“What is it?” He asked in Norse.
“I feel something I have not felt in a long time.” She answered with a large
smile.
“What?” Bofur flashed his dimples as he asked.
“Hope.”
===============================================================================
 
Belle was plucking one of the chickens in the back of the longhouse when she
heard raised voices coming from inside the meeting hall. Tauriel had been
escorted away on a “walk” by Kili. Belle didn’t believe they did much walking
due to all the kisses the dark haired Norseman liked to steal from a slightly
less reluctant Tauriel.
“There was nothing of value, Jarl Thorin!” A voice cried.
“There had to be something Erikir! Those are holy buildings of Smaug’s lands!
They hold mass wealth! Are you stealing from me, again? I will kill you if you
are.” Thorin roared. The sound made Belle flinch from where she was hiding
around the corner.
“No! Jarl Thorin, I would not make the same mistake twice. I am loyal, I swear
it!” Erikir cried out.
There was the sound of some scuffling and then the squeaking of a person. Belle
knew that sound well. It was someone who was being threatened with a weapon.
The tawny haired woman stepped out from the kitchens to find Thorin had a
dagger at Erikir’s throat.
“Jarl Thorin,” Belle said loudly, trying to pull the attention away from the
blonde man currently with a knife to his throat.
The raven haired Jarl looked over his shoulder with annoyance clear in his ice
blue eyes. “English woman, this does not concern you.”
Belle took a deep breath and fought her body’s instincts to run. “He could be
telling the truth. If Smaug thought you were coming he would hide his wealth.”
Thorin practically snarled at her for daring to speak. “The holy buildings are
hundreds of miles from his lands. Why would he risk bringing his wealth to his
castle!?”
“He wouldn’t” She answered. She tried to make her voice sound firm but it came
out as a whisper.
“That is what I thought, English woman. Leave us n…” He began but she cut him
off.
“He would hide it in the cellars.” She said loudly, finding her voice once
again.
The few men within the structure stood completely still as they waited for what
their Jarl was going to do to the woman or to Erikir.
Thorin turned slowly and stalked up to Belle. Out of the corner of her eye she
saw Dwalin take a step closer to her as if to protect her, it confused her
greatly but she had more things on her mind, such as the large raven haired man
with a dagger in his hands. She hid her fear well, barely wincing as he towered
over her minuscule height. His ice blue eyes bore down into her own emerald
green ones. Belle had to bend her head all the way back just to gaze into his
angry face.
“Are you willing to bet your life on it?” Thorin growled.
“Yes” Belle answered automatically. She was almost positive that is exactly
what Smaug would do, he had done it before and he would do it again.
Thorin began to circle Belle making her feel like the prey of a large predator.
When he was back in front of her he studied her face once more before pulling
back and pointing his dagger at Erikir. “Are you willing to bet his life on
it?”
Belle gulped loudly and turned her eyes on the blonde man off to her right. He
looked to be impassive to his Jarl’s threat but she could see the fear running
beneath. “Y-y-yes.” Belle stuttered.
Thorin smirked down at her. “You do not sound so sure, little mouse.”
Belle straightened her shoulders and stood up to her full height in anger. She
hated being called “little” anything. She thought she was of average size for
her people’s women (she wasn’t), it wasn’t her fault that the Norse people,
including their women, were gigantic, thank you very much. “I am sure.”
The Jarl narrowed his eyes at her and attempted to peer into her soul. After a
moment he stepped away from her and walked to his throne. “Come.” He said and
waved her after him. He sat heavily on his furs and rolled his hand in a
“please continue” motion.
Belle rubbed her tiny hands together and sent a nervous look over to Dwalin. He
gave her a small encouraging smile and a wink. The action relaxed her ever so
slightly.  “Smaug has done this before when he suspected a raid was coming. He
would have the monks move all of the relics and items of value into the
cellars.” She could tell they did not understand her completely and she thought
perhaps something was lost in translation. She was still perfecting her Norse
so she decided to break it down.
“Uh...He hid it under the ground?” She watched as the men began to nod.
“He buried it?” Thorin asked incredulously.
“Well...not exactly. He had a large space dug below the ground, like a room, to
hide his treasures in. When your men go to raid it again find the largest hall.
There will be an altar.” Confusion once again showed on their faces. “A big
table with fine cloth over it, perhaps candles as well. Go behind it and pull
up the rug. There will be a wooden door in the floor. I promise you will find
what you are looking for down there.”
Thorin stared at her a moment longer before ordering the men to go. “Collect
your provisions and be on your way. I expect you to be swift, Erikir. You leave
at sunrise.”
The blonde Viking nodded and moved to leave but Thorin called him back and
placed a gentle hand on the man's shoulder. “May the wind fill your sails.”
Erikir bowed to Thorin and took off.
Everyone began to leave so Belle turned to leave as well until a large hand
settled on her shoulder.
“Sit with me” Thorin’s tone made it clear it was not a question or offer. It
was a demand, but it was spoken softly.
Belle sat in the seat that was normally Dis’. It made her uncomfortable to be
sitting up here with Thorin but it was not due to what she thought it would be.
It was because she felt like she belonged there and that unsettled her.
“Why help us?” Thorin broke their silence. “Your people believe that wealth
belongs to your God, yes? Why would you help us take it?”
The little English woman sat back and thought for a moment. “The book of
Matthew says:  ‘No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and
love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You
cannot serve both God and money.’.  Smaug collects his wealth in churches and
monasteries to hide it from others. He is not offering it to God as some may
believe. He is not serving God, he does not love God, he only loves his wealth.
I do not believe God would be angered at me for providing you with some of
Smaug’s wealth. You are not hoarding it for yourself. I see that you are
wealthy that you have money beyond those of your people. But you also help your
people, you genuinely care for them.” She rose her emerald eyes up to Thorin’s
face to see him staring at her with something akin to fascination before he
wiped the emotion off his face and the impassive mask slammed shut.
“How do you know?”
“I have been watching.” She said softly and wrung her hands together.
 She had seen Thorin giving food to those who had little to none. She knew from
Fili that it was not something most Jarl’s did. Their society was one of
survival, only the fittest or the best planners survived. But Thorin would
secretly give money to those desperately in need. Mostly women and children
that had lost a man in raids or to sickness. It was more than she had ever seen
Smaug do. In Smaug’s kingdom, he heavily taxed his people no matter if they had
nothing to give. If you were on the unfortunate end of finances and could not
pay your taxes you were thrown into jail or punished. Belle had always hated
that she could not help those around her. She had tried a few times but Smaug
punished those she helped severely, killing more than a handful until she
stopped helping others. It was his silent way of trying to break her spirit.
“The little mouse has been watching me? I am honored” Thorin said with a small
smirk.
Belle scowled deeply shooting him a dark look that caused the Jarl to chuckle.
She rolled her eyes and rose to her feet. “I have chores to tend to, Jarl
Thorin.” She said briskly and moved to leave. Once again a large hand settled
on her wrist grasping it loosely.
“Do you doubt that I will kill Erikir if you are wrong?” There was no malice in
his tone surprising Belle once again. He dropped his hand when she looked
pointedly at his hand.
“I don’t know.” She told him honestly.
Thorin pursed his lips and tilted his head to the side in a dismissive gesture.
Belle left quickly and went to pluck the chicken with shaky fingers. The whole
exchange had put her on edge. Thorin scared her, he always had. But she could
not deny she was attracted to him. He was a good looking man. ‘ Well when your
husband looks old enough to be your grandfather you are bound to find any
younger man attractive’  She chastised herself with a roll of her emerald eyes.
The time she had spent in Thorin's bed had been by far the most frightening for
her. The first night after he had learned of her parentage he had spent many
hours in silence on the lower level of the longhouse with Belle lingering on
the steps above. When she heard him moving around, long after Dis and Gothi had
retired she had skittered up the steps and into his bed on silent feet. She
pretended to be asleep when he entered the room. He stood at the doorway for
many minutes staring at her “sleeping” form before shedding his clothing and
climbing in beside her. He did not touch her, in fact, she believed he had been
extremely careful not to. After his breathing evened out Belle’s eyes popped
open to see his sleeping form. He looked decades younger when he was asleep.
She wondered truly how old he was. She shooed the thought out of her head as
she began to think of other things.  Like Gothi’s threat when he left the
longhouse.
“Hvar sem fjandinn er þar hefur hann sína ( A wise man changes his mind, a fool
never will).  Ekki vera heimskur, Thorin (do not be a fool, Thorin). Ég mun
vera að horfa á þig. Guðirnir verða augu mín (I will be watching you. The gods
will be my eyes). Ekki reiði þá (do not anger them)”.
Belle’s mind had run rampant as to why Gothi would be protecting her, she was
sure that was exactly what he was doing when he threatened Thorin but she
didn’t know why. After stressing about it till near dawn she fell into an
uneasy sleep. When she awoke Thorin was gone, much to her delight.
The next night when it was nearing time for bed he had not laid a hand on her
but had gruffly told her it was time for her to go to sleep and to follow him.
She had wanted to argue and had looked around wildly for some help. Tauriel was
growling in the corner with Kili’s hand over her mouth and arm around her waist
holding her back. Belle could tell the young Norseman was whispering in her ear
trying to calm the redheaded woman. A tug on her wrist had her feet stumbling
forward and up the stairs behind Thorin. He shed his fur coat, then leather
vest and then linen tunic leaving his chest bare before he climbed onto the bed
between the furs. It was dark enough that Belle didn’t have to worry about him
seeing her scared, pale face.
‘Belle, you can do this. Be brave. Act like nothing is wrong. Pretend this is
Fili.’ she thought to herself before she loosened her cotton dress and let it
fall to the ground. She folded it nicely before depositing it on the little
wooden table and standing by the bed. She didn’t know if he expected her to
sleep on the floor, that would be preferable. She dragged one of the furs off
the bed and moved to lay on the floor.
“What are you doing?” Thorin asked in Norse.
“Sleeping on the floor.” She said quietly.
“No. You will sleep in the bed so I will know if you try to escape.” He told
her with a tone that left no room for negotiation.
Scowling deeply she climbed into the bed as far away from the large man as
possible.
 “Do not try to escape or...” Thorin told her in his deep rumbling voice.
“You will find me and kill me or what have you. I know” Belle sassed. She was
tired and in no mood for his threats.
Thorin’s breath hitched as if he was holding back a chuckle but no other sound
was made. Belle waited until Thorin’s breathing evened out before allowing
herself to fall into slumber. The next morning he was once again absent from
the bed but had a guard waiting for at the bottom of the steps to escort her to
wherever her chores were for the day. Most of the time it was Bifur or Bofur
which she was excited by. The two brothers were opposites but had both been
kind to her.
Tauriel returned from her walk with Kili pulling Belle from her memories. The
redhead was sporting swollen lips and a blush causing Belle to giggle. Kili
winked at Belle on his way out and gave her hair a playful tug. Her mind
flashed back to a few days previous when Bofur had told her she had choices.
She realized she could marry a man such as Kili, obviously not Kili himself but
someone like him if she wished. Again hope flooded her system. But it did not
last long.
===============================================================================
 
Over the next few days whenever Thorin saw Belle she was given a smirk which
began to annoy her to no end. She wanted to slap it right off his face. Her
fear of him was no longer founded. She knew she was being protected by
something or someone. She didn’t know if it was perhaps just Thorin’s curiosity
that was keeping her safe, because curious he certainly was. She knew he found
her interesting. She could see it in the way his ice blue eyes roved over her
whenever she entered a room. The little English woman did not wish to ponder it
more than she needed to so she had begun ignoring him as much as possible.
Belle had noticed that Tauriel had slowly been pulling away from her. The
redhead did not spend as much time with Belle and when she did she carried a
look of sadness in her eyes. Belle had attempted to speak with her about it but
the redhead always waved it off and said she was just tired from healing Fili
in the night so Sigrid could sleep. Belle had awoken on the second week after
Fili’s attack to find a frantic Kili running throughout the home.
“What is wrong!?” Belle asked him. She was frightened by the look of fear in
Kili’s normally jovial brown eyes. He didn’t answer just continued to look
around wildly.
“Where is Tauriel?” the English girl asked. But she already knew just by
looking at Kili what had happened.
“She is gone,” Kili said woefully.
“What do you mean she is gone?” Belle practically screamed.
Kili drove his fist into the wall of the wooden home with a loud thunk. The
action frightened Belle causing her to jump back a step with a large squeak.
Her heart plummeted to her feet when the reality set in. Tauriel, the only true
friend she had ever had outside of Belledonna the first, her mother, was gone.
She had done as Belle asked and found a way to escape to save herself. The
tawny-haired girl tried to remember that as she went about her day with the
heartsickness of knowing she would see the redhead again. Belle knew it was
selfish of her, she had told Tauriel to run. Tauriel wanted to escape, she
wanted to go back to her own life but Belle would miss her so terribly and feel
even more unsafe in this heathen land.
Kili had left quickly after informing Belle of Tauriel’s absence and how she
had drugged him so she could flee. He ran towards the woods screaming the
girl's name as he searched for her. Belle knew that Tauriel would not be found
unless she wanted to be. The woman was a warrior, yes, but first she was a
survivor. She had learned how to survive on her own in the wild, how to hide
within the trees and bushes. Tauriel had once told Belle that was how her
people had won many wars, by hiding among the forests and attacking when the
enemy was unaware. Tauriel had called it an ambush.
===============================================================================
 
“Your heart is heavy today, little Belle” Vinna had said to Belle in Norse as
they worked in the kitchens beside one another.
“Yes. it is.” Belle did not wish to tell more people about her friends escape,
although she suspected that Vinna already knew due to Tauriel’s absence.
The plump blonde woman ran a gentle hand over Belle’s curls in a motherly
gesture. “You look like you could use a nap. Go rest. I have this handled.”
Belle nodded her head in thanks and walked towards the Jarl’s longhouse. She
rubbed at her chest attempting to get the ache there to leave her be but it was
no use. She knew she needed to talk to someone about it. Belle entered the
house quietly and went to Fili’s room. He was someone she considered a friend.
As she was about to knock on the door jam she heard Sigrid and Fili speaking
within. She did not intend to eavesdrop but when she heard her name she
couldn’t help it.
“What of Belle?” Sigrid asked softly worry in her tone.  
“What of the English woman?” Fili practically growled.
Belle felt as if she had been punched in the chest. Tears flooded her eyes as
she ran from the home. She had thought Fili was her friend, she thought he
cared for her but perhaps it was only one sided. He didn’t even have the
decency to use her name.
The tawny-haired girl didn’t see much as she ran, everything around her was
blurry due to her tears. She stumbled through the brush and by the time her
tears had begun to dry she had slowed down. Belle found herself on the low
cliff overlooking the fjord. She was only about thirty feet above the ocean.
She sat heavily down on the edge with her feet dangling over. Belle did not
know how long she sat there for. The only thing she knew was that she had never
felt more alone in her entire life. She cried more tears as she watched the sun
begin to fall from the sky. She had thought of jumping off the cliff, why not?
It was like anyone would mind. She could be reunited with father and mother.
Belle stood on shaky legs and looked over the edge of the cliff.
‘ Do you truly want to do this?’  she asked herself.
Deep down she didn’t, suicide was not something that God would take kindly to.
She wasn’t in her right mind, she was allowing her sadness to rule her. Before
when there had been fear and emanate danger she could justify her suicide, but
now? No, she couldn’t. The tawny-haired woman took a deep breath and attempted
to collect herself. Tears were still slipping down her cheeks and her sobs were
becoming less frequent as she looked up towards the retreating sun. She would
need to begin her trek back to the Jarl’s house if she wanted to have any hope
finding it again. Belle heard a sound behind her and whirled around.
Unfortunately for her, she was much closer to the edge than she thought. Her
foot slipped over the edge and she began to fall. The feeling of her body in a
freefall was terrifying. She hoped her heart would stop before she hit the
water but much to her disappointment that did not happen. Her back hit the
water with a rough slap. The pain did not register at first, the lack of breath
did though. She gasped for air but all that did was bring a flood of salt water
into her lungs. She clawed at the water wildly trying to bring herself out of
its heavy presence. That was when the pain decided to set in. She felt like her
skin was being peeled off of her back. If her lungs were not so full of water
she would have screamed in agony. Belle was so focused on her pain that she did
not notice the figure cutting through the water towards her. She was roughly
grabbed around the waist and hoisted above the surface of the water. Air still
was not coming to her lungs as she looked around panicked. Her vision clouded
with black spots and she fought tooth and nail to keep consciousness but lost
the fight.
The next thing she was aware of was a warmth against her lips and pressure on
her chest, then the acidic burn of vomit making its way up her windpipe. The
warmth on her lips was gone as if it knew what was coming. The vomit bubbled
out of her making her fear she would choke on it until she was forcefully
turned onto her side allowing the sea water vomit to spill out. She coughed and
tried to drag air into her lungs. It stung something awful and she attempted to
discontinue breathing just to make the pain stop.
“Andaðu (Breathe)”  a deep voice above her ordered. Her brain function was not
high enough to translate at this time so she was not sure of the words and even
if she had been she would not be able to comply.
“ Smá kona,  andaðu  (little woman, breathe!)”  the voice demanded louder and
began to stroke her aching back with a large warm hand.
Belle took in a ragged breath and cried out at the pain. She took in short
bursts of breath finding they hurt less, her vision cleared and she began to
get her brain function back to notice she was being carried. She clung to the
warm mass carrying her and worked on pulling in breaths to her sore throat. It
was painful still but the pain was no longer as sharp. It was then that she
noticed who her rescuer was. “Jarl Thorin?” she asked in a gravely voice. She
sounded strange even to her own ears.
The raven haired man looked almost scared. She wondered why that was, she
figured her mind was not up to par quite yet and she was imagining things. The
arm around her back tightened and she cried out once again at the pain. Her
rescuer sped up and soon they were entering a warm dwelling.
“Sigrid!” the deep voice bellowed.
Belle wanted to cover her ears at the noise but she was afraid to move due to
her pain. Her head lolled and she saw the blonde haired Norse-woman named
Sigrid running towards her. Jarl Thorin and Sigrid were speaking rapidly in
Norse, when Belle felt the first chills begin to rock her small frame. Her
teeth began to chatter next causing the two heathens to start acting instead of
just talking. Belle was set on her unreliable feet and then her dress was being
lifted over her shivering form. The little English woman tried to protest but
all she could get out was an indignant squawk. The duo worked swiftly divesting
her of her wet clothing even with her trying and failing to swat at their hands
in protest.
“No!” She tried to scream but no noise came out of her angry throat.
 It was then that she found herself completely naked in front of the fire.
Tears were slipping down her face in humiliation, her brain was foggy and her
reactions sluggish which frustrated her even more. When she looked up Thorin’s
eyes were pointed above her head instead of ogling her naked form, she
appreciated that in a small way but her sobs did not subside until a fur
covering was draped over her. She clung to it like a lifeline. Warm arms came
around her and led her closer to the fire. Belle was then folded into someone’s
lap. She fought it until she heard the comforting words of a female voice by
her ear.
“Vertu kyrr (Be still).”  Belle recognized the voice as Sigrid, which helped
her relax immediately. She soaked up the warmth of the fire but seemed to get
no warmer. Sigrid held her tighter and tried rubbing her hands up and down the
small woman’s fur-clad arms hoping to generate warmth.
“Hún er ekki hlýnun (She isn’t warming)”  Sigrid said worriedly.
Belle turned her head towards the noise and found pain radiated down her back.
She grimaced loudly and clamped her lips shut hoping to not bring attention to
herself. Unfortunately for her Thorin immediately noticed and picked the girl
up from Sigrid's lap as if she weighed no more than a small child. She stood
her on her feet that were more steady this time around. The Norseman roughly
pulled away the fur covering her naked body much to her displeasure and forced
a tunic over her head. It was thin linen but it was at least covering her body.
She guessed it was his or Kili’s because it’s hem fell slightly passed her
knees. She did not have much time to speak because she was then gently but
hurriedly grabbed and placed in a lap again. This time it was not Sigrid’s.
Belle’s face flamed as her back was brought against Thorin’s chest and his arms
wrapped around her body pinning her arms with his own. Sigrid moved swiftly to
place multiple furs on top of the duo before disappearing.
Belle held absolutely still as she assessed the situation and her brain caught
up with her. She knew she was in the Jarl’s house, in his embrace as he helped
warm her. The little English woman felt pain all over her back from where it
had made contact with the water. She did not believe anything was broken but
she was quite sure that her back was heavily bruised. Then there was the water
in her lungs that had burned her throat. She was thirsty, dreadfully so. Belle
tried to not swallow to avoid the imminent pain.  Thorin was still behind her
as well and she could feel the air of awkwardness stifling them. She was
thankful for the break in tension when Sigrid stepped back into the room
carrying two iron cups of tea. She handed one to Thorin first then one to
Belle.
“Willow bark tea,” the blonde healer said softly to Belle. Now that she had a
chance to collect herself Belle was able to translate the Norse words.
“Thank you.” She answered in the Norse tongue.
Sigrid nodded softly and looked towards Thorin. “I must mix a salve for her
wounds. Do you require one as well, Jarl?”
“No. I am uninjured.” Thorin answered in his gruff voice which made Belle wince
heavily.
 Sigrid took her leave quickly as the two downed their drinks. Belle finished
first hoping that the faster the warm tea entered her system her pain and
warmth would return allowing her to separate herself from Thorin’s embrace, the
fluid also soothed the ache of her sore throat. She moaned softly as the hot
liquid began to work. Thorin moved behind her in an uncomfortable gesture as if
her noise bothered him.
Deciding that she had given the tea enough time to set in (she hadn’t), Belle
attempted to stand. She clenched her teeth together so hard her teeth felt like
they might just break, if only to keep in the scream of pain.
“Sit, Belle” Thorin placed a large hand on her shoulder pulling her back down
into his lap. Before her backside could land jarringly on his groin he caught
her waist and gently set her down.
“No. That is quite alright. Thank you for warming me but I will go help Sigrid
with the salve.” Belle said awkwardly and moved to stand once again. Thorin’s
hands, however refused to move making her want to slap him.
“What is your fascination with dying at sea?” Thorin practically growled.
Belle winced realizing that he had a point. She didn’t mean for it to happen
but she was two for two and she prayed there would never be a third time.
“It was an accident. I was spooked and fell over the edge.” She defended
herself weakly.
“What were you doing on the cliffs anyway?” Thorin asked from behind her.
Belle sighed loudly. “I was upset.”
“I know, I saw you crying. Why did you cry?” Thorin asked in a bewildered tone
as if he had no idea why she would ever need to shed tears. ‘
‘ Is he that unfeeling?’  Belle wondered.  “Wait a moment. You saw me crying?”
Belle’s brain caught up with his words. “You are the reason I fell!” Belle
pushed his hands off of her and stood on wobbly legs.
Thorin stood as well, towering over her small frame. “It was not my fault. You
stood too close to the edge! Even small children know not to do that!”
Belle crossed her sore, bruised arms over her ample chest. “I was not raised
near cliffs! And it is still your fault I fell!” She pouted like a child but
then she remembered who she was and that she had once been a queen. She needed
to act like it. “But you also saved me so, Jarl Thorin, you have my thanks and
sincere gratitude.”
Thorin stood up straight and nodded curtly. “It is the least I could do to save
one of Gothi’s bloodline. One of my debts to him is paid.”
Belle’s eyebrows knitted together as her brain translated his words into
English. “What did you just say?”
Thorin’s eyes grew wide and then he winced. “Nothing.”
“Gothi’s bloodline? You believe me to be of Gothi’s bloodline?!” Belle
screeched.
“Fokk (fuck)”  Thorin cursed loudly as all Belle had known began to crumble.
***** Thorin *****
Chapter Notes
     NSFW Chapter.
     This chapter is in Thorin's point of view and has a little bit of his
     self-lovin' at the very end.
     You have been warned. :)
     I hope you all enjoy a peek into the Jarl's mind.
“Jarl Thorin”, Erikir said in an excited tone as he rushed into the great hall.
“Erikir, I hope you have brought with you good news,” Thorin answered gruffly
from his throne.
The blonde raider in front of him only smiled widely and nodded his head. The
raider was young, near Kili’s age. Many years earlier on his first raid the boy
had tried to keep a share of Thorin’s treasure for himself. The raven-haired
leader questioned the boy and was impressed that the child did not try to lie.
He simply said he had indeed stolen the gold. When Thorin had asked him why the
boy this time chose not to answer, but a quick word with Dwalin had confirmed
what the Jarl had already suspected. The child’s father died during the harsh
winter leaving behind three young boys, Erikir being the eldest. With little
land to speak of and not much money, the weight of feeding his mother and
siblings fell upon the gangly young blonde boy. He answered the call of the sea
and went on his first raid at the tender age of twelve. When Thorin had learned
of the boy's plight he understood the child’s temptation to steal what little
he could to ensure his mother and brothers would survive the coming winter but
stealing was not tolerated on Thorin’s ships.
The boy received a very light sentence, some said too light, for his crimes. He
was given five lashes instead of the losing a hand which was the common
punishment for such things. Thorin sent him away with half of his earnings from
the raid, again much more than he should have given the circumstances. If the
other half of his treasure and a little extra was delivered to his home in the
dead of night by a cloaked figure bearing the house symbol of the Jarl, that
was neither here nor there.
Erikir became extremely loyal to Thorin as the years passed. When he had come
back from the last small raid of the year (what was supposed to be the last
raid) in Smaug’s land empty handed Thorin had scared the young man purposely.
He needed to recheck the young man’s loyalty. He truly had no intention of
hurting the boy when he threatened him at knife-point, but the little English
woman did not know that.
She had rushed in and given him some of Smaug’s secrets. He had sent Erikir
back to the lone structures on the shore that Christians said were holy, with a
blessing. Thorin had asked Belle why she was helping them, in a gesture that
many would see as turning her back to her country and God. Her response had
baffled him.
“The book of Matthew says:  No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate
the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the
other. You cannot serve both God and money.’. Smaug collects his wealth in
churches and monasteries to hide it from others. He is not offering it to God
as some may believe. He is not serving God, he does not love God, he only loves
his wealth. I do not believe God would be angered at me for providing you with
some of Smaug’s wealth. You are not hoarding it for yourself. I see that you
are wealthy that you have money beyond those of your people. But you also help
your people, you genuinely care for them.”  She had told him.
It had pleased Thorin that she had been watching him. He didn’t fully
understand why, but he liked that she had paid him mind when he was not aware.
It was thrilling, but also frightening because he had not anticipated the way
his stomach fluttered at the thought. It caught him off guard, unbeknownst to
her, giving her the upper hand. He needed to get it back so he resulted in what
worked best, scaring her.
“Do you doubt that I will kill Erikir if you are wrong?”  He had asked her. He
wasn’t going to, but she didn’t know that. She told him she didn’t know if he
would follow through on his threat, then narrowed her eyes on him. She was
losing her fear of him and he liked that. She was getting stronger, her Norse
blood coming to front line. He couldn’t have hurt her even if he wished it now
that her ancestry had been determined. Gothi was a powerful man and a father
figure to Thorin. The Jarl would never disrespect the priest by physically
hurting his granddaughter.
The raven-haired leader was pulled from his musings by Erikir whistling to
those outside the doors. The large doors of the Great Hall opened and in walked
slaves, thralls and raiders alike laden down with goods and treasure. Thorin
stared at the bounty in front of him wide eyed. This was by far the most
successful raid they had had in many years.
“We had to steal another boat to make carry it all back,” Erikir said with a
large excited smile.
Thorin rose from his seat and clapped the blonde man on the back. “You have
done well, Erikir.”
The young man puffed out his chest happily with a large smile on his face. The
arduous process of sifting through and dividing the score was next and within a
few hours time they had divided their portions. Thorin gave Erikir more than he
usually would for leading such a successful raid and for threatening his life a
few days earlier. The treasure was brought to his home as he looked over the
process, it was when one of the young slaves accidently tipped a chest over
that he saw what was inside. There were multiple leather bound books within the
chest. Upon the front was golden writing, he had been taught some of the
Christian's writings by Gothi, where he had learned Thorin did not know. The
Norse people did not have a need for written words on paper. Thorin bent and
picked the books up while the slave who dropped them scrambled in fear to pick
them up.
“No. I have them. Take the chest inside.” Thorin told the young boy.
Looking at the books he was brought back into a memory from over a week
earlier.
Thorin had just finished with a Thing down at the great hall. Two farmers were
squabbling about encrouching on one anothers land. It was not a new or original
argument so it was solved quickly. Fili was still healing, needing sleep often.
There was an uncertainty if he would live. If inflamation took its hold he
would die. Thorin had prayed to the gods and given sacrifices to them for his
nephews survival. The dark haired man walked into the home with the intention
of checking on his nephew. It was late, meaning the house was quiet with sleep
except for the soft sound of someone talking quietly. Thorin crept towards
Fili’s door expecting to hear Sigrid’s voice within but it was Belle’s voice.
“I wish I could read you stories from my home. My mother used to read them to
me when I was injured, you know. She always said that a good story could help
you heal. I don’t know about that but I think you would enjoy some of the fairy
tales I was told as a child, perhaps the ones about knights and dragons…” the
girl mused. “I had this one book as a child about a golden lion that roamed the
skies. I think you would like that one...I miss my books.” She said in a
wistful tone. “They kept me company in the darkest of times.”
Thorin slipped away before the girl could hear him and went up to his cold bed
to reflect on her words.
===============================================================================
 
“She deserves a reward. Without her this raid would not have happened.” Thorin
thought as he gazed at the books. He decided he owed her, and he hated owing
people. He would also be lying if he said he did not wish to see her smile at
him. He had seen her smile at others and it had always made him
slightly...jealous. Thorin knew it was his own fault that she did not smile at
him. But that did not stop him from coveting it.
The raven haired man walked the books up to his room setting them gently on the
bed before going in search of Belle. He would ask for an audience and give her
the books then, as a reward for helping them with this raid and perhaps she
would give him one of those smiles he wished for.
He started out in his own home, looking into Fili’s room to see him and Sigrid
in bed together asleep, legs entangled. He looked into Kili’s room and found
his room a mess as if the young man had upturned everything in his room in
search of something. Thorin rolled his eyes, Kili had always been a slob but
had been trying to stay cleaner since the redheaded warrioress had been living
with him. Thorin next checked Belle’s room she shared with his sister. That
room was pristine compared to the rest of the house. He was sure his sister
loved having another woman that was diligent in keeping the house clean. Thorin
next went to the kitchens and not finding her there he began to worry that she
had made an ill-fated mistake by trying to escape. He looked out over the
fjord, looking for a boat, perhaps she had stolen one and was attempting to
sail on her own.
‘ No she is not that stupid’  he thought.
When his eyes roved over the tall cliffs he spotted a small figure on the edge.
He ran towards it thinking it was a child. He sprinted up the mountainous land,
his thighs burned with the exertion of sprinting at an incline. He jumped over
logs and rocks dodging the trees as he ran. It wasn’t until he neared that he
realized the being on the cliff side was no child. It was Belle, and she was
weeping. Loud sobs escaping her chest as she looked out over the cliff. It all
connected then, she was going to jump. He burst through the trees trying to
make as little noise as possible but she heard him. She whipped around quickly
but misstepped and went careening over the edge into the sea below, all the
while screaming.
Without another thought, he jumped in after her. It was a test of manhood to
jump from this cliff into the deep sea below. He himself had done it many times
and been just fine, in fact, no man had ever been injured jumping from this
cliff but his people knew how to swim. Belle did not, and she certainly did not
know how to dive either. He had seen her hit the water flat on her back and
winced as he cut into the water beside her. She was frantically clawing at the
water and then her movements stopped. He pulled her up and out of the water,
then to shore. But she still was not breathing.  Thorin bent and gave her the
kiss of life. Pressing his lips to hers and blowing air within her. He repeated
this action three times before she responded. He turned her onto her side as
vomit spilled out of her.   
Thorin would not admit it aloud for many years but he had never been more
scared in his life than at that moment. He did not know why he feared for her,
but he did. He demanded her to breath when she tried to refuse to do so.
Eventually, she took in short ragged pants through cold blue lips. He pulled
her small form into his strong arms and took off sprinting towards his home. He
kicked open the doors trying his best not to jostle the woman in his arms.
“Sigrid!?” Thorin screamed for the blonde healer.
The woman in question came out of Fili's room frantically. Together they shed
Belle of her clothing and Thorin saw how truly beautiful the little woman was,
even if she was near frozen, but now was not the time to think on it. He helped
wrap the now naked girl in furs before settling her in Sigrid’s lap in front of
the fire to try to warm her.
The Jarl ran up to his room and shed his own wet clothing. You could not stay
in wet clothing this far up north, you would die the ice death. He snagged an
extra tunic for the girl downstairs and made his way back to her. When he
returned Sigrid was looking at him worriedly.
“She is not warming.” She said frantically.  
Hurriedly he pulled Belle to her feet and ripped the furs away from her. She
squawked, embarrassment flooding her. He pulled the tunic over her head and
dressed her none too gently, then sat before the fire pulling her into his lap.
He hugged her to his body sharing his heat with her. It was something his
people learned from an early age. Sharing one’s body heat could mean the
difference between life and death here in the north. Sigrid draped furs around
them and began to make tea. He relished the feeling of having her this close to
him. He enjoyed it, much more than he should. He was attracted to the little
woman, even before he had seen her naked body. She was all green eyes and tawny
curls. He had to admit that one of the reasons he had been so awful to her was
because he was attracted to her and hated it, she was his enemy's wife. But now
that was not the case. The man had defaulted their marriage by trying to kill
her and the nature of their relationship was revealed to Thorin. He could not
use it as an excuse any longer and knew that he could not continue being cruel
to her. It was his best defense but now it was unwarranted and with her in his
arms, her wet curls in his face, he felt his body beginning to react to her
proximity. She tried to stand and get away from him but he was not going to let
that happen, not yet. It was after Belle tried to stand that they began to
argue.
“What is your fascination with dying at sea?” Thorin said in an irritated tone,
trying to cover his lust for the woman with annoyance.
Belle winced “It was an accident. I was spooked and fell over the edge.” She
defended herself weakly.
“What were you doing on the cliffs anyway?” He could smell lavender and sea
water on her and dammit if it was not the best thing he had ever smelled in his
life.
Belle sighed loudly. “I was upset.” She whispered.
“I know, I saw you crying. Why did you cry?” Thorin asked in a bewildered tone.
He never understood why women cried so much. Dis had always said it was the way
they were made, after the gods. Everyone knows that rain comes from the
goddesses tears and rain was essential for life to grow. Dis had always said it
was a natural thing but he never found it useful. Tears did not change things
nor help any so why shed them.     
“Wait a moment. You saw me crying?” Belle growled and turned to look at him
with a scowl. “You are the reason I fell!” Belle pushed his hands off of her
and stood on wobbly legs.
Thorin stood as well towering over her small frame. “It was not my fault. You
stood too close to the edge! Even small children know not to do that!” ‘ I
actually thought you were a child at first.’  he thought.
Belle crossed her sore, bruised arms over her ample chest. “I was not raised
near cliffs! And it is still your fault I fell.” She pouted like a child but
then slid a polite mask on. “But you also saved me so, Jarl Thorin, you have my
thanks and sincere gratitude.”
Thorin stood up straight and nodded curtly. “It is the least I could do to save
one of Gothi’s bloodline. One of my debts to him is paid.”
Belle’s eyebrows knitted together and her head cocked to the side. “What did
you just say?”
Thorin’s eyes grew wide and then he winced. “Nothing.”  
“Gothi’s bloodline? You believe me to be of Gothi’s bloodline?!” the little
woman screeched.
“Fokk (fuck)”  Thorin cursed loudly. ‘ Gothi is going to kill me. This was
meant to be a secret. She was not to know yet and she was certainly not mean to
find out from me.’
The tawny haired woman was still for a moment, her eyebrows pulled together in
confusion before her face smoothed out. “Is this why you all changed when you
heard of who my Grandmother was? Adamanta? What does she have to do with it?
Did her and Gothi…”
The little woman slapped a hand over her mouth as tears began to well in her
eyes.
Thorin hated it when women leaked from their eyes. It made him extremely
uncomfortable. He patted her shoulder softly, or what he thought was softly,
but her entire body moved with the motion and she grimaced at the action. Then
she was moving away from him and running down the length of the house to her
room she shared with Dis. Thorin stood there dumbfounded and at a loss of what
to do.
He looked around the empty longhouse like someone was going to pop out and tell
him what he needed to do or explain the situation to him. But that did not
happen, what did happen was a streak of tawny hair went by him. He whipped
around and saw her running out the door, clad in only a cloak, his tunic, and
her tiny boots.
“Woman! Where are you going?” Thorin growled and set off after her.
“Where do you think I am going?” Belle snarled back.
“Fokk! You can not speak with him. I was not to tell you.” Thorin said in a
pained voice. “Come back here. I am your Jarl. You will listen to me.”  
The little woman only scoffed at him over her shoulder and took off running to
Gothi’s small home as if she knew he was planning on throwing her over his
shoulder and marching back to his own home. She was surprisingly quick on her
little feet as she zoomed away from him. He groaned loudly and took off after
her. When they reached the door of the seer’s home Thorin was out of breath but
the girl looked fine, a little flushed but not out of breath. She went to bang
loudly on the door but Thorin caught her fist before she could.
“No.” He growled down at her.
“Yes” Belle growled back, her face pulled into a surprisingly frightening mask.
“No” Thorin said after a moment of silence. “If you will not listen to me I
will…” The woman cut him off before he could continue.
“You will what? You can’t hurt me.” She let out a mirthless laugh. “Gothi has
been protecting me without me even knowing. You showed your hand, Thorin."
He did not quite know what “showed your hand” meant but he knew it was an
insult of sorts. The raven-haired Jarl felt anger flushing through his system,
but he could not deny that he was slightly impressed by this little woman
sticking up to him. She was no longer the scared little mouse she once was. He
found the challenge to be...exhilarating. The two were locked in an intense
staring battle when Gothi’s gravely voice broke their battle.  
“Ah. Thorin. Belle. The Gods said you would arrive soon. Please enter.”
Thorin shook off his anger and stood ramrod straight allowing the little woman
to enter the home first. Gothi sat upon his pallet across the fire pit while
offering a bench to Thorin and Belle.
“I am surprised you have kept this to yourself for so long, Thorin. I did not
believe you could do it.” Gothi said after all had settled.
Thorin felt his anger once again rise. “You did not believe I could keep the
secrets of one of my people? That is an insult, old man.”
Gothi put up his hands in a placating gesture. “Peace.” He said in that calming
tone of his.
The little woman beside him seemed to still be frightened by Gothi, she was
sitting closer to Thorin than she had ever done so before. He was laughing
within that she would be more comforted by Thorin than her own grandfather
across the fire.
“I do not believe you are my grandfather,” Belle said in a shaky voice.
Gothi’s unseeing eye looked up to Belle’s face. “Believe what you will, but it
is true. Gerontius was not Belledonna the First’s father.”
“I knew that. My mother knew as well. But her father died in war. You could not
be him.”
Gothi was silent for a moment allowing her words to sink in. Thorin sat back
and watched as discomfort bloomed on the older man’s face. “Adamanta,  Kanina
min , believed I had perished. I was six months late for our escape.”
Thorin knew this story well. His mother had told him the tale on more than one
occasion. It had been the story of how his parents had met and fought beside
one another. Nis had been the one to kill her own father, King of the Swedes,
so she could free Gothi’s men, which included Thrain. Her future husband and
love of her life.
Belle still looked unconvinced though. She toyed with the necklace upon her
chest while Gothi rose from his seat and stepped towards a small trunk he had
in the corner of the room. He picked it up reverently and walked towards Belle,
who despite her fear of the older man only flinched once.
“Open it” Gothi commanded gently as he set the small trunk down in her lap. He
slowly made his way back to his pallet giving the girl the time she needed to
read.
Thorin could not help himself as he peered over her shoulder. He had learned
from Gothi how to read the English runes when he was young. The old man had
said it would make him a better leader someday. Thorin had not taken to it as
well as Dis had. He knew his sister was quite intelligent when it came to
things such as this. As Thorin read over Belle’s shoulder he was able to
recognize some of the words Gothi had taught him but most were also foreign. He
understood that the letter Belle held in her hand spoke of love, and missing
Gothi when he was gone. Thorin pulled back to looked at the tawny-haired girl
and saw her eyes were leaking again. He shied away from her ever so slightly.
He did not wish for her to cling to him as some women did to males when they
cried.
Belle read through a few more of the papers before looking up at Gothi over the
fire.
“Why didn’t you come back and tell her you lived? She said you promised to come
home to her. That you always said it before you left. She thought that Odin had
kept you from your promise.”
Gothi stared into the fire as he answered. “I kept my promise. I found her
after three years without her. By then she was pregnant with Gerontius’ child.
They loved one another. I could not add conflict to her happy life. That was
all I wanted was for her to be happy and she was, her and my  Belledonna Alva
Birgitt.” Before Gothi had even finished Belle was shaking her head as more
tears fell.
“They did not love each other. It was a badly kept secret that their marriage
was one of convenience, they did not wish to touch each other unless absolutely
necessary. Gerontius knew she was pregnant when they married. But everyone had
been told her husband had died in war leaving a pregnant widow behind.
Gerontius and her were friends. He must have known about you.” Belle mused.
“I met him once” Gothi said in a strained voice. Thorin had never heard such a
tone on the old seer. “He was a strange man. Kind. Small. He looked at me in a
way that would always make  Kanina  laugh. She never told me why” He said with
a far away look in his unseeing eye and a small smile on his lips as if he
could hear her laughter still.
Thorin thought perhaps she was in the room with them when he heard tinkling
laughter until he looked to his side and saw Belle giggling.
“Gerontius had no love for the female form, I found out when I stole one of his
journals to read. Grandmother always said they worked well because he was not
handsy  with her and she did not wish to be touched by another’s hands.”
Thorin wondered what that meant, not having love for the female form. Then it
hit him. The Englishman was a  fuðflogi .  “ A  fuðflogi ?” Thorin asked aloud.
He could not maintain his look of disinterest any longer.
Belle’s brows furrowed as she attempted to translate but she could not. She
shook her head indicating she did not understand. Gothi was too deep in his own
thoughts to answer so Thorin tried to explain it to her.
“Ah.  fuðflogi  is one who flees from the female sex. Humps men?” Thorin
explained.
Belle cringed deeply before nodding her head slightly. “Yes.” She whispered.
“He was a  fuðflogi?  She was not happy? But what of their child? I saw her
with child. She was…”  Gothi’s voice was thick as he spoke. Thorin wondered if
the old seer was about to leak from his one eye as Belle had.
“They were expected to produce an heir when they could not pass mother off as
their own,” Belle answered. “They had no more children after Uncle Isengrim.
But she was not unhappy with Grandfather. They had a deep friendship with one
another. It lacked romance but not happiness. But If you truly came back as you
said she would have left with you in a heartbeat, pregnant and all.” The little
woman attempted to soothe the older man. Thorin once again was fascinated by
her. She feared the old man before her and yet she wished to ease his
suffering.
“I am tired. I must sleep.” Gothi said suddenly and laid upon his pallet, his
back facing them.
Thorin understood what this meant,  leave,  but the little woman apparently did
not.
“I have more questions.” She said softly but did not say more when Thorin
grabbed her wrist lightly and shook his head. He pulled her to her feet and
began to walk her out of the home. She protested physically but did not voice
her protest much to Thorin’s appreciation. The tawny-haired girl did not speak
again until they were out of the home with the door shut behind them.
“Get your hands off of me.” She growled and wrenched her wrist back. “Thank you
very much.”
Thorin rolled his eyes at her pompous tone but did not reach out to grab her
again. “You can speak with him another time,” Thorin growled when she would not
continue walking.
“Yes, I know. But do you think he is alright? Should I stay with him?”
The raven haired Jarl rubbed at his temples willing himself not to scream at
the woman. It would bring the man that helped raise him no comfort if he heard
Thorin yell at Belle. “Leave him be. He wishes to be alone.”
“Not everyone is as unfeeling as you, Jarl Thorin.” She snipped back.
“And not everyone is as sensitive and weak as you.” Thorin towered over her,
invading her space.
“I am not weak” She whispered in a way that did nothing to convince him. “I
have killed a man.”
Thorin smirked down at her. “Have you ever watched the life leave a man’s eyes
while you kill him with your bare hands, Little Mouse?”
Her green eyes snapped up to his with a fire behind them. “No, but if you keep
calling me Little Mouse you are going to make me want to try it.”
Thorin couldn’t help the startled laughter that burst out of him. His laughter
bounced through the trees around them, magnifying the sound.
“Ugh! You make me so angry. Why are you so...so...mean!?” She pushed him out of
her way and continued down the path towards his longhouse.
He followed behind her, his laughter had subsided but he could not wipe the
humorous smirk from his face. She stomped all the way back to the longhouse in
the dark, he was greatly surprised she did not lose her way. He would never
admit it aloud but he was enjoying the view of her round arse as it marched in
front of him.
It wasn’t until he was in his bed, alone, that he began to think about that
round arse and naked body he had seen earlier in the night. He could feel his
manhood harden as he thought about her pert breast, bigger than most he had
seen in his time. How her pink nipples stood out due to the cold. Her shapely
legs thicker than his people’s women and much shorter, but no less lovely. Out
of respect for the near-dead woman at the time, he had not looked at the
juncture of her thighs after her drowning but his mind supplied a possible
likeness and that was all it took for him to bring him to an aching hardness.
He untied his trousers and pushed them down his hips. It had been a while since
he had to use his own hand to pleasure himself but he would make due. He
stroked his manhood to thoughts of the tiny English woman’s naked body. He even
thought of that smart little mouth of hers and how it felt when she gave him a
tongue lashing. He wished she was giving him a very different type of tongue
lashing at the moment. It was to thoughts of her little mouth around his thick
cock that had him spraying his seed across his own stomach. He huffed as he
came down from his orgasm.
“Fokk, that little English woman will be the death of me.” He said in a breathy
whisper. That woman was going to be trouble for him and he knew it. He wanted
her, more than he had ever wanted another woman. That was perhaps because she
was going to be a challenge and Thorin Thrainson never backed down from a
challenge.
***** Kili *****
Chapter Notes
     This chapter is going to be from Kili's point of view.
     Enjoy! :)
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Kili held fast to the smaller body beside him. Tauriel was back where she
belonged, with him and he could not thank the gods enough. He planned to
perform a sacrifice in their honor tomorrow. When his redheaded love had ran
from him he could not describe the pain that ripped through him. He felt as if
his heart had been ripped from his tattooed chest. Kili figured it had hurt as
badly as it had because he felt that she was beginning to care for him. He
supposed she had begun to care for him but it still hurt that it was not enough
to deter her running in the first place. The dark-haired Norseman tried to
understand why she needed to try to run but he still did not. Kili had treated
her well, he knew he treated her better than the prissy bastard that called
himself her husband back on her island. Kili worshiped her. He loved her. He
respected her. But it had not been enough at the time and that stung. Or maybe
it was the pain left over in his ripped up knuckles. He wasn’t too sure right
now. What he did know was that Tauriel was back beside him and nothing could
take her from him again.
Kili awoke the next morning to a warm body wrapped around his. He smiled at the
feeling. One of Tauriel’s legs was thrown over his hip and an arm over waist,
with her beautiful face firmly planted in his chest. It appeared when his
goddess was comfortable she turned into the vágrek (seaweed) that wrapped
around one's limbs while swimming in the sea. His bladder was screaming at him
as he tried to untangle himself from her. She only gripped him tighter. He was
in both heaven and hell like he was most of the time with his infuriating
woman. Using a technique he had perfected many times when sneaking away from
his mother’s sleeping arms as a child he used his pillow as a substitute for
his body. Tauriel gripped it tightly and smiled. His heart stuttered at that
look. He hoped one day she would give him more of those smiles, preferably when
she was conscious.
He quickly made his way out the doors, shirtless, and emptied his bladder on a
nearby tree. The dark-haired Norseman could see the fresh frost layering the
land and felt dread creep into his system. His people were hale and hearty but
winter always took at least one from their village if not more. His mind
drifted to Tauriel. She was thin, thinner than his people and all around
smaller. He knew she was a warrior but the war they were about to face could
not be won with weapons. It was a war of the elements and the only thing that
could save them was being prepared. As Kili walked back into his home he began
to plan the hunt he was going to need to feed and clothe Tauriel let alone
Belle. His heart sunk as he thought of Belle. She was so small. If she survived
the winter here he would be surprised. It was unlike anything either of these
two women had experienced. It was inevitable that slaves taken from other lands
died during the winter. Not all of course, but a good number. He had to keep
telling himself that they were not slaves or thralls, they were free women, who
lived in the Jarl’s house. It was one of the best built. It had been built by
Thorin himself. He had a skill with wood that all envied.
“Kili?” the morning voice of his love made his heart leap and his worries
momentarily forgotten.
“I am here, my goddess” Kili answered as he walked down the hall and through
the curtain doorway. He couldn’t stop the smile that spread upon his face as he
looked at her sleepy form. Her red hair was wild and in disarray. Her hazel
eyes were hooded with sleep and she had a small pout on her beautiful pink
lips.
“What are you looking at?” She said with that scowl that made him fall for her
in the first place.
“The most gorgeous woman I have ever seen.” He answered with a sultry wink.
She rolled her eyes and laid down, her back facing him and pulling the furs
tighter around her.
Kili chuckled at her reaction. He toed off his boots and climbed under the
covers behind her pulling her flush to his shirtless chest.
“Ifreann na Fola (bloody hell)! ”  Tauriel practically screamed and tried to
get away from his body. “ Tá tú ag reo (You are freezing)!”
Kili’s laugh was loud as it thundered through their room. “I do not know what
you said but I am quite certain it was not lady-like, my love.”
Tauriel scoffed, then shivered making Kili think of the approaching winter once
more.
“I am going hunting tomorrow.”
Tauriel turned in his arms and looked at him with her eyebrows pulled together
and mouth quirked. He could tell by her expression she was attempting to
translate some of his words or some of her own. He gave her the time she
needed, running his fingers through her hair as he waited.
“Hunt?” She said and made the hand movement of an arrow being released from a
bow.
“Very good, my heart” Kili said with a smile and nodded.
“I will go with you” Tauriel said in her thick accent that he had come to love.
Her words, however, he did not love.
“No” Kili answered firmly.
Tauriel glared at him. “Yes. I hunt well.”
“No. You are not coming. It is dangerous and will be very cold. Stay here, work
in the kitchens where it is warm”.
The look she shot him in return was a clear warning. “I was not a kitchen maid
at home and I will  not  be one here.”
“You are not on your island Tauriel. You are in my land. You do not know it
well. It is too dangerous for you, you will get lost or hurt. I will not stand
for it.” Kili said firmly.
She was on her feet in a flash wearing just her thin shift. Her eyes lit with
fire as bright as her hair. “You doubt my skill as a warrior, as a tracker, as
a hunter?!” Tauriel snarled.
Kili rose with her, his temper flaring under the surface. He kept it in check
as best he could. “No, Tauriel. I want to keep you safe. You do not know my
lands. There are creatures far different from your own. The beasts are bigger
and more violent. I know you are a warrior I see it in you but it is not enough
here.” The dark haired Norseman had watched Tauriel closely during his speech.
She was sending him warnings once more that he did not heed. In a move that he
barely saw, it was so fast, Tauriel brought her hand up and hit him on the side
of his neck. His legs went out from under him and he fell to the ground in a
heap of useless limbs. His vision went black momentarily. When his eyes popped
back open Kili stared up at her in absolute shock at what sorcery she had just
hit him with.
“Not enough?” The redhead growled loudly.  She threw on her dress and boots
before marching out the door. He was so stunned he could not follow her for a
few minutes. When he finally did get up he cursed loudly and went to find her,
whatever she had done had made him exhausted and feeling sick. He stumbled a
bit before launching himself out the door to find her, boots in his hands He
was surprised to see that she was no longer in the home. He ran out the doors
still shirtless while trying to put his boots on. He was hopping around calling
her name in the early morning air while attempting to shove his boots on his
feet when he caught sight of Belle looking at him confused.
“Have you seen Tauriel?” He asked in a huff.
“Tauriel?! She came back?” Belle dropped the basket of mushrooms she had been
holding to shake him roughly.
“Yes. We returned last night” Kili said bewildered at the little woman’s
strength. A harsh slap on his cold skin had him hissing in pain.
“And you did not think to tell me!?” Belle said in disbelief. Her voice had
reached a grating pitch in her scolding that made him wish to cover his ears.
“Sorry,” Kili answered weakly.
Belle removed her hands from his shoulders and brushed dirt from her apron
before giving him a tight smile. “I am sorry I shook you. Please inform Tauriel
that I wish to speak with her when you do find her.”
Kili was getting whiplash from the women in his life today. But he did not have
long to think on it. He needed to find his goddess. Tauriel could not have gone
many places. He knew she would not run like she had yesterday. She wasn't dumb
meaning she would not leave without being prepared first. She had left his room
with only her boots on and a dress, she did not even stop to grab a fur for
warmth. He checked the kitchens first and found the fires barely started and
Vinna along with several slaves beginning to look over their stores. But he
found not his redheaded woman.
Next, he went to the home of Gyda and Dwalin. She was not there either but Gyda
gave him the evil eye for upsetting her friend. He walked into the forest
looking for her. She had told him once that she enjoyed being among the trees.
She said they held listening ears, whatever that meant.
===============================================================================
 
He was beginning to get cold and think he should go back before he caught the
death chill. When he turned he caught sight of a red flash among the trees.
“Tauriel?” Kili asked.
There was running feet behind him and he whirled again. He was beginning to get
anxious when she did not say anything. He tried to listen once more and heard
nothing. The dark haired Norseman shook it off and turned back towards his
home. That was when he heard the rustling again. He ran towards the noise just
in time to watch his goddess jump from one branch to another. Shifting through
the trees effortlessly, as if she had been raised in them.
“What are you doing?” Kili asked.
“You say I do not know your lands. I am acquainting myself with them.” She said
as she stood high above him. Her feet resting on one of the branches and her
back leaning against the trunk in a relaxed pose, as if being twenty feet off
the ground was nothing new or anything to fear. “I could have killed you, you
know. If I had my bow, it would have been easy.”
Kili gulped at her words. He did not doubt her, she had said the threat so
nonchalantly he knew it was not a bluff.
“You Norsemen are heavy. Heavy on your feet and loud when you walk. It is a
wonder you can hunt anything at all. Not to mention you can not climb trees
like me or my people. You would never have found me if I didn’t want you to.
Perhaps I will just follow you tomorrow. It is not as if you will notice.” She
glared heavily at Kili and he knew he was not going to win this battle. She was
coming on this hunt whether he liked it or not. He never stood a fighting
chance against her.
“Fine” Kili growled. “But you can not have a weapon.”
Tauriel climbed down a few branches of the tree before dropping onto the balls
of her feet gracefully. “Why not?” She growled.
“Because you just said you could kill me if you had a bow. I am not going to
hand one to you now.” Kili argued.
Tauriel rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "I said it would
have been easy if I wanted to kill you. I don’t want to kill you...anymore.”
Kili couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up in his chest at her words. He
shouldn’t be laughing at the love of his life wanting to kill him but it he
couldn’t help himself. His redheaded goddess cracked a tiny smile at his
laughter but did not laugh with him.
“If you truly want me to be safe why would you allow me on a hunt without a
weapon?” She asked both eyebrows raised.
Kili stepped towards her and pulled her into his muscled arms. She remained
stiff and unmoving. “It means you will have to stay close to me for protection.
And you know how much I love to keep your close.” he moved to kiss her but she
turned her head giving him her cheek. He tried to go for her lips once more and
was once again given her cheek. He tilted his head back and let out a
frustrated groan. “Fine. You may have one knife.”
Tauriel gave him a triumphant smile and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“A small one.” He whispered to himself, it was barely audible, he hoped she
would not hear it. But her hearing was apparently much better than he had
thought because she pulled back and glared at him once more. But he was not
about to budge on this. Tauriel brought her face close to his. She brushing her
lips against his softly, pulling back when he went for a true kiss. It was
maddening for Kili. All he wanted was a kiss but Tauriel was teasing him,
greatly.
“A medium one.” He bartered. “For kisses.”
“How many?” She asked. He could tell she was a good trader just by the way her
eyes took on a hard edge.
“As many as I want today, no hesitation allowed.”
Tauriel pursed her lips in thought. “Add in strong twine and make sure the
knife is sharpened today and you have a deal.”
Kili smiled triumphantly. “Deal. Seal it with a kiss, my love” He puckered his
lips and waited.
His redheaded goddess laughed and pulled him by his long hair to her lips. He
felt as if he was finally able to breathe freely with her lips against his. It
went against all logic that he should be as enamored with this warrioress but
he was in love with her. It was as natural as the sky is blue or water is wet.
He deepened their kiss massaging her tongue with his own until his body
demanded more. He pushed her up against a nearby tree and pressed his body
against hers, showing her just how much he wanted her. She gasped when she felt
his hard length pressing against her hip. Kili nipped at her lips in response
then moved those lips to her neck. He sucked at the sensitive skin there and
was rewarded with a small moan from his woman. Kili trailed the kisses down
until he was at the neck of her gown. He ran his fingers along the collar in
thought. Perhaps she would let him push it aside and finally feast on those
beautiful breasts of hers. He began to pull gently and realized with sadness
that he had pushed his luck. Tauriel moved away from him gently.
“It is cold. You are shirtless. We must get you inside before you become ill.”
Tauriel told him with swollen lips. It was then that he finally felt the chill
in his bones. He shivered in response making her smile at him. She reached out
a hand inviting his to intertwine with hers.
“Come,” She said with a small smile. He grabbed her hand quickly and lead them
back to the Longhouse shivering the entire way.
===============================================================================
 
Kili awoke to the feeling of an empty bed. He frantically searched the bed for
his love’s warm body before opening his eyes. The room was lit dimly with a
small candle. He could see his love now. She was pulling on one of the tunics
he had purchased her over her chest binder she had been wearing when he first
set his eyes upon her. She was wearing the leather pants she had came in as
well. He couldn’t help but salivate when he saw that perfect arse of hers in
her tight leather pants. It showcased her toned legs in a way that a dress
never could. She then sat on the bed to pull on her boots. Kili moved and
wrapped his arms around her waist tightly pulling her back to bed beside him.
“No. We must rise, Kili. The animals wake early.” She scolded lightly.
“Few more minutes, yes?” He asked, his voice deeper with sleep.
Tauriel sighed in defeat and allowed the large man to cuddle her. Kili wanted
to shout in victory but contained himself.
“How was speaking with Belle?” He asked tiredly.
“We will talk more of it later” she whispered
He fell back asleep quickly and was awakened by a tapping on his forehead.
“Wake up” Tauriel said gently. “Kiiiiillliiiii it is time to rise.” She sing-
songed.
He smiled widely and stretched. He quickly dressed and readied himself for the
hunt.
“Kili. Can you help me?” Tauriel asked in a nervous voice.
“Yes?” He said looking at her. She was acting strangely.
“Will you...put my hair in the braids of your people?” She rushed the sentence.
Kili was taken back by the question. Why was she nervous to ask him about that?
“Of course. Nothing would please me more in this moment.”
He gave her a soft smile and pulled her into the chair in their room. She sat
down quietly and waited while he began working on her hair. He began putting in
three braids side by side on the top of her head starting at her hairline and
going back to the crown of her head. He then braided two braids by her ears and
pulled them all back tying them with a leather cord leaving the rest of her
hair down to cover her neck and keep it warm. He let his hands run down her
neck softly when he was finished.
“Why were you nervous to ask that of me?” Kili wondered aloud.
Tauriel stood from her chair, giving him her back as she pulled on her heavy
wool cloak with the fur lining. “It is not the custom of my people” She
answered him stiffly.
“Leggy-lass did not braid your hair?” Kili asked in a surprised tone. It was a
regular occurrence for a husband to braid his wife’s hair and vice versa.
Tauriel let out a breathy chuckle. “His name is Legolas and No. I have not met
many males at home that help with their wife’s hair, if any. I saw Dwalin
helping little Gyda with her hair not long ago and wondered if it was normal.
It looked...nice”.  
Kili pulled his cloak on before walking up to Tauriel. He captured her lips
with his own softly.
“I will braid your hair every night and every morning if you wish it.”
Tauriel’s smile was blinding as looked up at him. “Thank you, Kili”
He nodded his head and grasped her hand before walking them out of the home.
They stopped at the kitchens to grab food for their trip and then headed out to
meet the rest of the hunting party.
===============================================================================
 
“You are bringing your woman with us?” Gloin asked incredulously.
Kili felt his hackles rise at Gloin’s obvious displeasure. “Yes.” Tauriel was
beside him snarling.
“She does not look like a hunter. Too small and too wild.” Gloin scoffed as he
glared at the thin redheaded woman. His eyes zeroed in on the hunting knife
sheathed at her hip. “And you gave her a weapon? Did she not try to kill you
twice?” Gloin shook his head in anger.
Tauriel stepped in front of Kili and barred her teeth. “Four times I tried. He
is a strong opponent. Against you, I would have victory on the first try”
Gloin raised his spear up in a protective stance. Dwalin was chortling loudly
behind the group while leaning heavily on an equally amused Bifur and Bofur.
Kili stepped between his love and the angered Gloin.
“Gloin. You do not need to come with us if you have a problem with Tauriel. My
woman is my business. If I wish her here she will be here by my side. And no
one, and I do mean  no one  Gloin, will insult her.” Kili jabbed a finger in
the other man’s chest. Kili then turned to Tauriel. “Tauriel do not threaten to
kill any of the men here. I will deal with them if they insult you again, do
you understand?”
The redhead obviously did not like his words but gave him a stiff nod in
return. Kili threw an arm over her shoulders before pressing a kiss to her
temple. He gave out orders and the location they were headed into before the
group took off.
===============================================================================
 
“What is your woman doing?” Gloin snarled.
Kili shot the man a warning glance at his tone. Kili took a closer look at his
love he did not know what she was doing, in truth. As they had walked she had
been sharpening the end of sticks then looping the twine through a hole in the
top of the stick. Now she was placing them every so often into the ground. She
would stab the sharp end of the stick down and make sure the loop of the twine
was full and standing out away from the stick. He had no idea what she was
doing but he was not about to tell Gloin that. They kept walking and soon they
had caught the trail of an animal. Kili stooped down and looked at the hoof
prints in the mud.
“Deer” He informed them. “Maybe a stag”
Tauriel crouched beside him. “More than one.” She said pointing out the
multiple paths of broken twigs and the other prints he missed. Kili felt a
surge of pride flow through him.
The group took off tracking the deer once more, with Tauriel stopping ever so
often to place her sting and stick contraptions.
“Tauriel, what are you doing?” He asked softly.
“Hunting” She answered simply.
A booming laugh sounded in front of him. Gloin was laughing at her answer.
“That is not how you hunt. What are you trying to catch pixies? Maybe a wee
elf?”
Kili held Tauriel back before she could charge the man. Dwalin, Bifur and Bofur
were chuckling as well at either what Gloin said or what Tauriel said, Kili
wasn’t sure.
“If I had my bow I could hunt the large animals. But since you refuse to trust
me with a weapon I have to use snares.” Tauriel growled at Kili.
“Snares?” Kili raised an eyebrow at her words.
“It catches the animals of the forest floor.” Tauriel snapped and walked away
from him to climb the nearest tree. He had never seen a being climb as quickly
as his woman. He looked at the other men of his hunting party and saw that they
too were shocked at her speed and agility.
Dwalin turned toward Kili with a raised eyebrow. “Catching animals with
string?”
Kili pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head in a way that said, “I
don’t know”.
“Unnatural if you ask me” Gloin snarked. “Being able to move such as she or
conjure dead animals with string.”
“Good thing no one asked you, my friend” Bofur, ever the peacemaker, said
clapping the ginger haired man on the shoulder.
“I have seen it before,” Bifur said in his gravelly voice. You hardly ever
heard the man speak and when he did, it was always a surprise.
“Where?” Kili asked.
“Raiding the islands. Foot got stuck in one once.” Bifur said absently his mind
wandering off to somewhere else.
Gloin rolled his eyes in response. “Five coins says she catches nothing.”
The bets then flew around them. Kili only rolled his eyes in response. He did
not wish to encourage them nor reprimand them. He did not know himself if she
would catch anything.
“Kili!” Tauriel harshly whispered as she dropped from the tree quietly beside
him. His companions jerked back in surprise at her unexpected reappearance.  
“What?”
“Animals are coming. Three of them” She told him as she pulled her knife from
its sheath at her hip.
“What kind of animals?” Dwalin asked her as he leaned against one of the trees,
his hunting axes attached to his back.
Kili could see by the frustrated look on her face that she did not know the
word for the animal coming at them, which worried him. She knew most of the
vital animals, but this is what he had feared when he had tried talking her out
of coming with them. There were animals here that she knew nothing about, not
their temperaments, not the easiest way to kill them, nothing.
“ Torc !” she said waving her hand about as if that would help him understand
what she was saying in her native tongue. She brought her pointer fingers up to
her mouth and made a motion for tusks.
It was then that the animals came crashing through the greenery around them.
“Boar!” Bifur yelled. The boars were large, they had fattened up for the winter
and were enraged at the humans in their territory. Many a man had fallen on
boar hunts in previous years. They were vicious creatures with long tusks and
aggressive natures.
Kili pulled his bow and tried shooting the animals. He missed the first,
wounded the second and stuck an arrow in the flank of the third as the animals
charged their small hunting party. Kili was preoccupied with trying to locate
his woman as well as keep out of reach of the animal’s tusks. He lost sight of
Tauriel when he dodged one of the boar’s sharp tusks. The next time he saw her
she was perched on a low limb of a tree with Bofur’s bow in her hands. In rapid
procession, she shot boar after boar through the eye. Three down in a matter of
minutes. All the men of the hunting party watched with heaving breath as
Tauriel calmly hopped from the branch she was on. She walked to Bofur, who was
sprawled on the ground and offered him her hand.
Bofur gave her his dimpled grin and took her hand allowing her to help him up.
She reverently handed him back his bow before walking towards the boars. She
ripped the arrows out, not breaking a single tip and handed them back to Bofur.
All the men watched her in silent awe as she took her knife and began cutting
the throats of the beasts. Tauriel wiped her forehead with the back of her
bloody hand and looked up at him. She had a streak of blood running across her
forehead and Kili felt his manhood react immediately. In a few strides he was
in front of her and pulling her into his arms. She squeaked in surprise at his
attack and stumbled backward. Kili latched his lips to hers kissing her with as
much passion as he could muster. If took a moment but soon she was kissing him
back.
“Alright, enough of this. Let’s get these cleaned and get back home” Dwalin
snarled behind them.
Tauriel immediately stepped out of his grasp with a bright blush upon her pale
cheeks. Kili growled lowly in frustration but knew it was necessary they did
not want to attract any other animals to the smell of death.
===============================================================================
 
The walk back to the settlement was mostly quiet, that is until they came upon
Tauriel’s snares. Out of the twelve she set, ten had rabbits in them.
“Pay up, you bastards” Bifur said and held out his hand as Gloin and Dwalin
pressed coins into his scarred palm as well as his brother's.
Bofur winked at Tauriel “I never doubted you for a minute, woman.”
Kili chuckled at Tauriel’s eye roll and slight scowl. Dwalin and Gloin carried
two of the boar carcasses tied to a wooden branch they had cut while Bifur and
Bofur carried the other.
Tauriel had her rabbits stuffed into the sack she had brought along, with
Bofur’s bow slung over her shoulder and his quiver at her back. The smiley man
had told her she was a better shot than he could ever hope to be so she was
worthy of guarding them on the trek home. Kili was alternating with the other
men when the load became too heavy. He also shot two large fowl on the way
home. He smirked when he saw the arousal and pride on Tauriel’s face at his
skill with a bow.
When it was nearing dark they finally reached the settlement. All the hunters
worked together to skin and separate the meat and organs.
“For you,” Kili said and handed the tusks to Tauriel.
“For me? Why?” The redhead asked.
“You killed it, you get the trophy and the furs.” He told her with a soft kiss
to her cheek as he went about finishing up with the other men. Most of the meat
would need to be dried for the upcoming winter but they were going to have a
fine feast that night. After leaving one entire boar with Vinna and Bombur to
prepare for dinner the group went their separate ways. Kili pulled Tauriel back
to the Longhouse to begin soaking her rabbit furs for tanning. When that was
finished the two sat side by side in silence absolutely exhausted. They were
both covered in blood and cut quite menacing figures.
“Bath?” He asked her holding his hand out.
Tauriel sighed happily and nodded her head. The two gathered their things and
walked towards the bathing springs. Kili held onto her hand tightly, looking
over at her ever so often just to catch a glimpse of her proud smile.
“You are happy” He stated.
“I am” Tauriel answered with a squeeze to his fingers. “It feels good to hunt
once more. I missed it. It is…”
“Freeing? Exhilarating?” Kili supplied.
“Yes!” Tauriel said happily.
The two made it to the baths both smiling widely at one another. Kili wasted no
time in shedding his clothing and jumping into the water with a happy sigh.
Tauriel stayed at the edge of the pool undressing slowly. Kili stared at her
with his large brown eyes fixated on her.
“Turn,” she told him with a twirl of her fingers.
Kili turned begrudgingly. “I will see you fully naked soon, my goddess. You can
not hide from me when we are wed.”
A slight pinch to his side had him laughing loudly at her stealth.
“Who said I am going to marry you?” she answered cheekily.
Kili kissed her softly, his large hands cupping her face. “The Gods.”
Tauriel pushed away from him with a roll of her hazel eyes. He knew she didn’t
believe in his Gods but she thankfully did not rebuff his belief in them.
“Where did you learn to shoot?” Kili asked.
“My father first, then Legolas. It was something we both enjoyed.”
Kili’s hackles rose slightly at her husband’s name. To his people and to him
she was no longer married but it still bothered him that she had belonged to
someone before she stole his heart. And what a strange name it was. Legolas?
Kili mentally snarled at the name.
“I can feel your anger from here,” Tauriel said from the opposite side of the
large pool.
Kili made a dismissive gesture, no longer wishing to speak of the man on the
island far away. It was then that a thought occurred to him and made his veins
turn to ice. “You do not have children do you?”. 'How did I not think to ask
this before?' he wondered. Kili H watched as her face pulled into an angry
expression. “No.” She said shortly.
“No.” She said shortly.
He breathed a small sigh of relief. It was selfish of him, he knew that, but he
wanted to only children to grow in her womb to be his. The two were quiet as
they washed themselves of the blood on their skin and in their hair. Kili
watched his woman out of the corner of her eye. Her movements were choppy and
spoke of her anger.
When it was time to step out of the bath she showed no self-consciousness as
she hopped out of the water and quickly dried herself before putting her
clothes on quickly. Kili was wise for once and did not speak. He followed suit
and was only halfway done lacing up his trousers when Tauriel went striding
away from him towards their home.
“Tauriel.” He called. She did not slow. He groaned loudly and pulled on his
boots quickly. While he was jogging after her he pulled on the rest of his
clothing. “Frustrating woman” He grumbled under his breath.
He finally caught up to her stomping steps. Kili reached out a hand and grasped
her arm harshly. “What is with you, woman?”
Tauriel shoved him away from her but not before he caught sight of her watering
eyes.
“ Fokk . Are you crying?!” Kili said alarmed. He had not seen Tauriel shed a
single tear since she had been brought here. She did not cry when she was
presented before the Jarl still shackled. She did not cry when Sigurd kicked
her in the ribs for her defiance and she did not cry when she left Kili in her
escape.
“I am not crying!” She snarled and turned away from him.
“Like hell you are not!” Kili growled and forced her back to looked at him.
She kept her face defiantly down so he could not see her eyes. He bent his
knees and ducked his head so he could peer up into her face. There it was, a
single tear track down her face.
“What did I say? What is it, Tauriel? So you do not have any children. Why does
that make you angry?” Kili asked in a softer tone. The sight of her leaking
from her eyes made his stomach clench unpleasantly. "Do not ignore me, Tauriel.
Speak to me"
“He said it was my fault!” She screamed at him. “If I can not give you a son
what are you going to do with me!? Turn me into a slave like the others you
heathens have taken from their lands!? Keep me as a sex slave for your pleasure
while you take a fertile woman as your wife? Will I have to care for her little
brats as a nurse!? What will my fate be Kili?! Tell me!”
Kili was a warrior, battle tested and had killed many. Almost too many to
count. So he would not admit he feared the woman in front of him as she roared
at him. But his body exhibited fear in spades. He stomach clenched and his
blood turned cold. The hair on the back of his neck stood up and his fists
clenched in preparation for a fight. In her angry dialog, she had told Kili a
few things. First, her husband had wounded her with his comments of her perhaps
being barren. Second, there were negative consequences in her homeland if she
did not produce her husband a male heir. Third, she knew more of his people’s
customs than he gave her credit for. And fourth, she had thought of having
children with him.
“I will kill him for saying such things to you!” Kili growled, his teeth bared
and muscles shaking. He towered over his redheaded goddess. The top of her head
only came up to his neck, meaning she had to crane her head up to see his
angered eyes.
“That is not the point, Kili!” Tauriel said in a frustrated tone, but he could
see the fear running beneath the surface. She was frightened of him in this
moment.
“What is the point? He does not produce Norse seed. My seed is strong. It will
bring forth many sons from your womb. I know this.” Kili said strongly.
“How could you know?” Tauriel scoffed.
“Gothi.” He said simply.
“You put your faith in that of an old blind man?” Tauriel said incredulously.
Kili leaned close to her face his expression hard. “Do not mock the Gods or how
they deliver their messages, Tauriel. They will not hesitate to show you their
power.”
Tauriel flinched back from his anger and words alike. It almost made Kili feel
bad. Almost.
“But if they are mistaken? Or the message was not understood correctly? What if
I can not bare you sons, Kili?”
The dark haired Norseman softened at her words. She was afraid, he understood
why. It was something that happened rarely but it was a frightening notion
nonetheless.
“We will not have that problem. But if it does not happen right away we keep
trying until it does.” he gave her a playful wink and flexed his hips softly,
making her crack a small smile despite herself. “And if that still does not
work, there are many children who lose parents in raids or winters. Some babes
that must be taken care of. I could give you one if you wished it.”
Tauriel blinked in shock. “And you would be okay with that?”
Kili shrugged his broad shoulders. “If it made you happy. But it is not going
to happen. You will bear me sons. Many beautiful son's. Strong like their
father and excellent hunters like their mother. Perhaps with red hair and fire
lit behind their eyes. They will bring the world to its knees.” He watched in
fascination as her face softened and water welled in her eyes. “Are you crying
again?”
“I am a warrior. I do not cry” She snarled at him. It would have been
terrifying had she not sniffled towards the end.
Kili pulled her resisting form into his chest and held her tightly until she
stopped struggling and melted into him.
“You have seen me cry. Do you believe I am not a warrior?” Kili asked.
“I wouldn’t know. I have never seen you fight.” She answered. He could tell she
did not mean it offensively she may have meant it cheekily but it fell flat due
to her being upset. He pinched her behind playfully.
“Oi, you. You are asking for it, woman.” He chuckled against her. “Do I need to
take you on my next raid just to have you see me pillage and wage war?”
Tauriel pushed against is chest getting him to let her move back a few inches.
“Maybe.”
“Oh, would it please you to be a shieldmaiden among my people?” His dark
eyebrows rose and his cock hardened at the thought.
Tauriel only shrugged in response. Kili couldn’t hold back any longer and
latched his mouth with hers. He walked her backward until she was pressed
against a large tree. He lifted her by her behind prompting her to wrap her
long creamy legs around his trim waist. He pressed his hardened core against
her wet one, eliciting a moan from both beings. Kili moved a large hand to her
covered breast and kneaded it slightly. She pulled away from him panting when
his fingers had begun moving towards her center.
“Off.” She demanded, pushing him away from her.
He groaned slightly but did as she asked. She placed her booted feet gently on
the ground and fixed her skirts.
 “One day, my woman. You will allow me deep into that cavern of yours.” He said
with a husky growl.
“And one day, I may agree to marry you. Neither are happening soon.” She said
with a smirk and took off down the walkway towards the grand hall.
Kili felt like weeping. His gaze fell down towards his tented leather trousers.
“She will change her mind.” He said confidently and began walking after his
redheaded woman, his groin aching all the way.
Chapter End Notes
     The blow that Tauriel delivers is to Kili's Vagus nerve in the neck.
     When hit correctly it causes your opponent to lose function of limbs
     momentarily and can render an opponent unconscious. When they awake
     they feel sick and disoriented. The effects can last anywhere from a
     few minutes to a few hours, depending on the person.
***** Belle *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Belle spent her morning by the sea after picking mushrooms along the forest
edge. She had gotten very little sleep last night after the drowning incident,
finding out who her real grandfather was and then fighting with Thorin. She
needed to recenter herself, so she went to the sea. Belle had always loved the
ocean (ironic considering she couldn’t swim and had nearly drowned twice), now
she wondered if it was something in her blood. She had heard the Norse people
call themselves Sea Wolves and now she couldn’t help but think it had always
been a part of her. Was that why she never quite fit in with her own people?
Because of her blood? Was that why she was more comfortable around these
heathens now? Oh, she still cowered in fear when they got too close to her and
worried that someday Gothi wouldn’t be around to protect her. Her grandfather
was a powerful man. She could see it in the way people spoke in reverence
towards the blind man. They called him a seer but she did not know if she
believed any of that. Was it against God to believe in such things? Bofur’s
words rang in her ears. ‘Your god does not reside here, Little Queen’ . But she
had been taught that God was everywhere, watching at all times. Is it possible
that there was more than just her God? Does he allow others to rule this
heathen land?
Belle shook her tawny head at the direction her mind had gone. It was
blasphemous.
She dug her toes into the sand below her feet and shivered against the cold.
Her back was still horribly sore and bruised from her fall yesterday. Not to
mention her throat. It was sore and the flesh within angry. Sigrid had told her
to try to stay with liquids for a few days to give it some reprieve. Belle
liked the tall blonde woman. She was beautiful and gentle, but Belle could see
the heathen beneath. At times she would glower at the men that got too close to
her in the village or at the market. Belle couldn’t help the smile that rose to
her lips thinking of when Sigrid was milking one of the goats and got kicked.
Belle did not know the words she was saying but she knew they were death
threats and it was obvious she was not entirely the gentle flower she projected
herself to be.
A harsh breeze brought Belle back to herself. She pulled her boots on and
clasped her cloak tighter around her as she trudged back to the longhouse. She
had stolen one of Fili’s swords to protect herself in case something should
happen. She did not feel bad for stealing it either. Fili had wounded her
deeply. Her heart still hurt when she thought about it. Belle had thought they
were friends, but apparently, he did not feel the same. The dark cloud of
sadness descended upon the tiny English woman once more when she thought of
Tauriel. The closest friend she had ever had was gone, traipsing through the
forest towards her own homeland. Belle sent up a silent prayer the redhead
would make it to where her heart resided soon and in one piece.
Belle walked up to the longhouse with a little pain. She would need to take
another dose of Sigrid’s willow bark tea. A flash of dark hair exited the house
in a rush. She saw Kili hopping on one foot trying to shove the other in a
boot. He was only wearing leather trousers and now boots, no shirt or cloak to
be seen. His long wavy dark hair was wild around his face and his blue tattoo’s
stood out against his chilled skin.
“Have you seen Tauriel?” He asked in a huff as he caught sight of her.
Belle’s heart soared at his words. “Tauriel?! She came back?!” Belle dropped
the basket of mushrooms she had been holding to shake him roughly. Her manners
long gone. She knew her muscles were protesting being used to shake the giant
man but she couldn’t feel it at this moment. Her blood was rushing so fast at
the thought that her friend had returned.
“Yes. We returned last night” Kili said bewildered at her behavior.
Belle’s anger could not be contained now. She slapped his chilled skin with her
frozen hand making the large man hiss at her and jump slightly backward. “And
you did not think to tell me!?” Belle said in disbelief, her voice reaching a
new height she did not know she possessed.
“Sorry., Kili answered weakly. He looked like a scolded little boy.
Belle dropped her hands and brushed dirt from her apron before giving him a
tight smile. “I am sorry I shook you. Please inform Tauriel that I wish to
speak with her when you do find her.”
She nodded to him and watched as Kili took off running towards the
kitchens. Belle bent with some effort and collected her fallen mushrooms. Her
joints creaked as she stood and she may or may not have groaned. Belle stepped
into the warmth of the longhouse and sighed happily. She sat her bounty on the
wooden table in the corner of the room to separate out the mushrooms. She was
going to cook Gothi some food with them she decided. He was alone in that shack
of his, with no one to care for him. Her heart jerked painfully. It would break
her grandmother’s heart to know such things. When the old woman had still been
alive Belle knew that she was still saddened by the death of her first true
love. Now Belle knew it was her only true love. Adamanta would want Belle to
care for Gothi, so that is what Belle planned to do. Belle would hide away her
fear of the frightening looking man and do as family should, take care of one
another. She separated out half the mushrooms to bring to Gothi giving the
other half to the kitchens for everyone to feast on. She was in the middle of
cleaning them with a small pail of water when she heard footsteps behind her.
It was Sigrid creeping from Fili’s bedroom with mussed hair and swollen lips.
Belle raised her eyebrows at the girl who stood frozen in place when she met
Belle’s eyes.
“Is Gyda looking for me?” Sigrid said in a worried tone. Gyda was the girl’s
older cousin and current guardian.
“I didn’t see her” Belle answered with a shrug and went back to her mushroom
sorting.
“Thank the Gods.” Sigrid sighed. “Would you like some tea for your back?” the
taller woman said as she came to stand beside Belle.
“That would be lovely, Sigrid. Thank you”
The blonde stepped back into Fili’s room before returning with a small pouch
and set to work making the tea.
“Who are you bringing the mushrooms to?” Sigrid asked after a few silent
moments.
Belle debated on whether or not to divulge her secret but she figured the more
people who knew who her kin was the safer she would be. “My grandfather.”
Sigrid looked utterly confused so Belle expanded. “Gothi Grey is my
grandfather.”
“Truly?” Sigrid's gray eyes were large in shock.
Belle couldn’t help but chuckle a little at the jaw dropped expression on her
blonde companion's face. “Yes.”
“He is a legend. Did you know? He saved Dis and Thorin’s lives. He was a great
warrior. Is it true he is Tyr in human form?” Sigrid asked hurriedly.
“I don’t know who Tyr is” Belle said slowly. “I did not know he was a legend. I
didn’t even know he was my grandfather until last night.”
Sigrid sat on the wooden bench beside Belle in shock. “Will you tell me the
story sometime? If you are comfortable?”  
The tawny haired woman wanted to hug the taller blonde girl for giving her the
option instead of just demanding it like some many of the Norse people would.
Belle nodded with a small smile on her face. That smile was not long lived
because soon Fili was attempting to stumble from his room unattended.
“Siggy. Where did you go?” Fili said blearily.
Sigrid jumped up in a flurry of skirts. “Fili you are not to be up! Back to bed
with you!”
Fili smiled fondly at her before his eyes landed on Belle. “Belle! Are you
alright?”
Belle snapped her eyes to his and glared. “I am fine.” She said shortly making
Fili frown.
“I heard you almost drowned. I have told you not to get near the water. Did you
not learn the first time? You could have gotten far more hurt or died if Thorin
had not been there to play the hero.” Fili chastised her in a teasing but firm
tone.
“Why would it matter to you!? I’m just the small, insignificant English woman.
Don’t pretend you care.” Belle snarked at him. She shocked even herself with
the outburst. She clapped a hand over her mouth in surprise before taking off
with Gothi’s mushrooms clutched in her basket, leaving behind two very startled
blondes.
‘Damn it, Belle. Why couldn’t you keep your mouth shut!’She chastised herself
as she went to the kitchens. She found Vinna already awake and working.
“Belle, good morning.” The plump woman said cheerfully.
“Hello,” Belle answered semi-awkwardly. “Vinna may I ask you a question?” The
cook turned and nodded with a curious look. “I am wishing to make Gothi a meal,
may I have some ingredients?”
Vinna’s dimpled grin was blinding. “Of course, child! Take whatever you wish.
It will make the seer very happy to have food prepared by you. He only gets
what the thralls make. It is normally cold by the time it makes it to his home.
A hot meal will help his weary bones.”
Belle set to work and soon she was on her way to Gothi’s home with a satchel
full of ingredients. When she came to the small hut she knocked on the door
quietly.
“Enter” She heard the man say from within.
Belle swallowed her fear and stepped within. She found Gothi hobbling around
his small dark space. “Gothi, it’s me Belle.” She said in a flimsy voice.
The blind man turned with a small smile on his lips. “I did not think you would
return so soon.”
“Yes, well...Is now a bad time?” She asked.
“No. Now is a fine time.” He waved her further into the dark dwelling. “Make
yourself at home, my child.”
Belle’s chest warmed ever so slightly hearing the old man call her by an
affectionate term. “Well in that case” Her mothering skills came to the
forefront and she began to step around his home pulling open the wooden
shutters and heavy fabric covering them. “You need to air out your house. Fresh
sea air is good for the soul” She told him with a large smile and continued on
her way. She propped open the door giving them extra light so she could begin
cooking. “Do you mind if I use some of your cookware?.”
Gothi’s eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. “For what?”
“I am making you food” Belle answered and began cooking without waiting for his
permission. He was a little hard to look at still. He was a frightening sight
with his milky eye and mottled flesh but she was starting to sense the wise and
loving man beneath the horror. Belle muttered to herself about Norse cooking as
she began making the mushroom soup.
“You are just like my Kanina.” He said with a sigh.
“What do you mean?” Belle asked over her shoulder.
“The muttering. Taking care of others. Being stronger than you think you are.
You look just like her as well.” Gothi said in a wistful tone.
“I thought you were blind.” She answered in a quiet confused tone.
Gothi tilted his head back and forth. “I can see some out of my remaining eye.
Mostly shapes and some faint colors. But I was not speaking of seeing you with
my eye. I was speaking of seeing you in my mind long before you came to the
shores of the Blue Mountains.”
Belle’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline in surprise and disbelief. “And what
do I look like in your mind?” She tested him.
Gothi let out a gravelly laugh. “You look like my Kanina. Spitting image I
would say. Except for one thing. You have my eyes, or what used to be my eyes.
You probably got them from your mother who got them from me. Emerald green, am
I right?”
Belle stilled in her stirring of the soup. Her eyes had always been called a
rare color and fascinated many. “Yes…”
“Your hair is longer than Adamanta’s though. Down to your waist, but it has her
curls. She hated those curls” He said as he got lost in a memory. “She said she
wished she had my straight blond hair. Kanina would play with Hildie’s hair for
hours.”
Belle had heard of Hildie before. Her grandmother had talked about the girl and
wondered what she was doing at the time. When asked Adamanta said she was one
of her friends from when she was young, a Norse girl Adamanta had become close
to. “Hildie was one of her closest friends, right?”       
Gothi straightened in his seat and looked up at Belle with unseeing eyes. “Yes,
she was also my little sister.”
More pieces of the puzzle known as Adamanta’s life fell into place. “What
happened to her? Is she here? I would love to speak with her.”
The old white haired man tried to hide the flash of pain that crossed his
features but he couldn’t do it in time. Belle felt her heart ache for the man.
“She died protecting our settlement from Smaug’s men. Nothing could stop her,
even being with child didn’t stop her from raising her sword. She took down
many English men before falling herself” Gothi told her with sad fondness. It
was like a punch to the gut. She knew her former husband was an evil man but
more and more evidence piled up making her truly pray for his death. “She is in
Valhalla now feasting beside Odin, probably pestering him as well. I wouldn’t
be surprised if he now wishes he had given up his ears instead of his eye.” He
said with a chuckle.
The sound of his laughter made Belle giggle as well. The two spoke more of
Gothi’s sister and mother and some of Adamanta as they ate. Belle cleaned up
his home while he finished slowly eating. While she was cleaning she caught
sight of the box of letters he had shown her the night before.
She noticed that he had kept them near him though he could not read them. There
was even one resting upon his pillow. She could practically see him smelling
the paper hoping to get even the slightest scent of his former love upon the
paper.
“Gothi?” Belle asked holding the letters.
“Yes, my child?” He answered.
“Would you like me to read these to you? The letters.” She said as she looked
down at the small box full of letters and some small trinkets she guessed
belonged to her grandmother at one time.
Gothi was silent, his entire body tensed. “You can read?” He asked her softly,
his voice held more emotion than she thought possible for those three words.
Belle smiled. “Yes. I can read and write. My grandmother was very adamant that
I be educated. My parents shared the sentiment.”
The blind seer smiled fondly in her direction. “It would make me very happy if
you would read them to me, Belle.”
The english woman felt her heart grow warm at being able to help her
grandfather. She settled on one of his wooden chairs as he sat cross legged on
his pallet bed, facing the fire. Belle plucked a letter from the bottom hoping
it was one of the first written. She cleared her throat and then began to read.
-Gandalf, you always say I am not stealthy such as you but you are wrong. I
stole an entire tray of sweetcakes from the kitchen yesterday! I took them to
the village and gave them out to the skinny little kids. I think I might
continue to smuggle more food to them…-
===============================================================================
 
Belle walked back towards the Jarl’s longhouse. The insight into her
grandmother’s young mind and watching as her grandparent's loving relationship
grew through the letters made her heart ache for the two of them. How different
her life would have been had things worked out, but then again she wouldn’t
truly exist if things had worked according to plan for Gothi and Adamanta. But
oh how happy they would be. In her mind she could see a young version of her
grandmother clinging to the side of a young blonde haired Gothi as he teased
her for being so small.
When Belle had reached the grand hall kitchens she began to throw herself into
more cooking. The less she thought about everything the better.
“Belle?” Tauriel’s voice was nervous.
Belle turned around and gave her a small smile. “Hello, Tauriel.”
“May we speak?” the redhead asked while wringing her hands together.
“Yes. I will check with Vinna.” Belle stepped aside and spoke quietly with the
large woman.
Vinna smiled warmly at Belle and touched the end of the english girl’s curly
without thought. The woman loved touching Belle’s strange curls. These curls
were never seen among the Norse people, unless it was on a slave taken from
another land. “Of course you may go. You do not need to ask my permission, but
I am pleased you informed me.”
Belle thanked her and moved to walk away when Vinna grasped her small hand
softly. The tall woman bent down to whisper in her ear. “Stop thinking of
yourself as a slave, little Belle. You are not one. You are a free woman with
the blood of Gothi in your veins. Demand respect from others, no matter who
they are.”
The tawny haired girl looked up at Vinna in shock. It was the most the plump
woman had ever said to her and it was so...heartfelt. Belle squeezed her hand
in thanks and walked out the back doors to meet with Tauriel.
Quietly, and awkwardly, the two women walked towards the edge of the sea and
sat in the sand, putting their toes in the cold water, their boots sitting
beside them. It was a few moments before either of them spoke.
“Are you angry with me?” Tauriel asked in her native tongue.
“No.” Belle said truthfully. “I am sad and hurt”
The answer seemed to have had the effect of a physical blow to Tauriel. She
winced heavily and shied away from Belle. “Would you have not done the same if
your situation was mine? I had to try, Belle! I have people that will be hurt
by my absence there.”
“You have people that will be hurt by your absence here too!” Belle cried out.
She did not try to stop the tears from pouring down her pink cheeks.
Tauriel nodded sadly. “I know that now. But I still had to try Belle. I had to
know for myself.”
“I am not sad you tried, Tauriel.” Belle whispered. “I am sad that you didn’t
deem me worthy of your farewells. I wouldn’t have stopped you, you know that. I
told you to run if you had the chance. It wouldn’t have hurt as much if you had
run without much plan, but you did plan. I know you did, for weeks! And you
couldn’t tell me of your plan? You couldn’t have said goodbye any one of those
days? I thought we were friends, I thought we were closer than friends...like
sisters.” Belle whispered, her heart breaking again as she said the words
aloud.
“You are right. I should have said goodbye. I’m sorry, Belle.” Tauriel’s voice
rang with sincerity and a small amount of pleading. “Please forgive me.”
“Of course.” the little english girl answered, she was not one to normally hold
grudges. “I am glad you are back,” she said after a few minutes of silence.
Tauriel bumped her shoulder against Belle’s playfully. “Me too.”
A small gaggle of children ran by playfighting with wooden sticks as swords.
One of the children was Gimli. He stopped his assault on his opponent and
turned to them bowing his head respectfully. “Fair maidens.” the little
redheaded boy waggled his eyebrows before running off after his friends.
The two girls looked at eachother before breaking out into loud giggles. When
their laughter finally subsided they decided it was time to return to work.
“You would have been okay without me, right Belle?” Tauriel asked quietly.
“I would have survived but…it’s not the same. You are my only friend here
Tauriel.”
“That is not true! You have Gyda. You and Fili are very close, too. There was
some gossip in the market about you two possibly becoming betrothed before
Sigrid’s stay.”
Belle rolled her eyes and scoffed loudly. The memory of Fili’s words ringing in
her ears. ‘What of the English woman?’
“Are you jealous of Sigrid?” Tauriel asked Belle with a mischievous smile.
“No. Certainly not.” Belle answered.
She attempted to be truthful in her answer but she was not entirely. It was not
that she wanted Fili. Yes, she found him handsome and he had been a dear friend
to her. If she had been forced to marry as she was back home she would have
chosen him before she found out how little she meant to him and before he was
claimed by Sigrid. So in a way yes, she was jealous of Sigrid, she had replaced
Belle’s friendship, or what she thought was friendship, with the blonde
Norseman. She was jealous that the long legged, blonde Norse woman fit with
another human being so flawlessly and effortlessly. Belle had never experienced
that and perhaps that was what Belle was truly jealous of. She was just as
jealous of Tauriel and of Gyda for the same reasons.
Tauriel did not say anything else she only smiled down at her friend as if she
knew she was lying and the two returned to the kitchens in companionable
silence.
===============================================================================
 
“English woman” Thorin’s said from behind her making her jump near a foot.
“You know very well what my name is, Jarl Thorin.” Belle said with a huff and
turned back to the fire in front of her. It was nearing time for all to retire,
in fact most had. Belle had thought she was the only one still up. She had
desperately needed some tea for the painful bruises on her back from her fall
and decided to stay up to make some.
“Little Mouse.” Thorin tried for her attention again.
Belle whirled on him to see him smirking behind her before he wiped the look
from his face and went back to his usual scowl.
“No.” She growled. “I am not a mouse and I am not little!”
The english woman watched the muscles in Thorin’s face twitch as if he was
desperately trying to hold back laughter, making her scowl deepen which in turn
made him snort with the effort of not laughing. It was such a rare sight to see
the large raven haired man smile that all Belle couldn’t help but stand and
stare at him in fascination. Thorin sobered immediately upon seeing Belle’s
stare.
“You are little,” He told her with a straight face.
“I am a woman grown and I am of average height for women in my country!” Belle
said with her arms crossed over her chest.
Thorin bent down so his face was near hers. “In case the large norsemen and
longboats were not enough evidence for you woman, you are not in your country
any longer”.
Belle felt fear and something else slither up her spine having his face so near
hers. She noticed his pupils had nearly swallowed the ice blue color of his
eyes, leaving only a thin ring of blue evidence behind. His breathing changed,
Belle absently wondered if it was due to their proximity or something else
entirely. He looked so intensely at her that she thought her skin may catch
flames at any moment. She had never seen someone look at her in such a way
before. It made her skin erupt in goose flesh and her belly to warm strangely.
“Thorin?” She asked quietly unsure of what was happening or what to do next.
Her saying his name apparently snapped him out of his trance and he stood
straight abruptly.
“Belle. Because of you the raid of the Great Worm’s lands were successful. I
would like to bestow upon you these gifts as thanks for your hand in our
success.” He said formally before bending to pick up the sack at his feet that
she had failed to notice.
“That is not necessary,” Belle told him with a wave of her hand.
“It is and you will accept the gifts with grace.” Thorin’s voice held a hard
edge to it, one that clearly spoke of the danger in refusing.
Belle did not say anything at first, afraid of what he would do. She accept the
sack he handed her. She thought perhaps it was fabric based on how light it
looked in his hands. She was very wrong. The sack was heavy, so heavy in fact
that she immediately dropped it once it was in her hands.
“I do not wish for Smaug’s gold, if that is what this is.” Belle grumbled.
Thorin did not comment, only clasped his hands behind his back in what reminded
her of the knight’s stance when they were on guard.
Crouching down to the ground Belle opened the sack and found something she had
been missing desperately since being brought here.
“Books? You brought me books?” She said in disbelief.
“Are you not pleased? I heard you speaking with Fili once..." Thorin shook his
head and scowled darkly. "If you do not enjoy books then you may burn them. My
people have no use for them...” Thorin was growing more and more angry the
longer he spoke.
Belle stood and threw herself at him, hugging him tightly around the waist
before realizing exactly what she had just done. She stiffened immediately and
released him. Her eyes were wide as saucers when she stepped away from him.
Thorin looked just as confused. His dark brows were pulled together and his
lips turned down in a frown.
Belle coughed awkwardly before speaking. “Uh...Thank you, Jarl Thorin. The
books please me immensely. I thank you for your kind gift.”
Thorin nodded once before turning and marching down the hall and up to his
room. She waited until she heard his boots on the upper floor before she began
to inspect the books in the sack.
She pulled out first the Holy Bible. She noticed why the vikings had grabbed
the books in the first place. The titles were written in gold and encased in
rich leather. They were expensive, Belle knew that right away. The next book
she pulled out was Blostman , following that was Carolingian minuscule,then
came the books she was truly excited about. One was a book of botany, plants
and the like that could be used for many different purposes and then a book of
fairy tales, most likely something that had been owned by a prince or princess.
Belle hugged the books tight to her chest and breathed in the smell of leather,
paper and ink. The smells were so comforting to her, they reminded her of her
happy childhood spent in her father’s library, or within the garden reading.
The smells made her feel safe. When she had been living under Smaug’s thumb the
only place she was truly free was within the open pages of books. Breathing in
the smells of them now had her feeling safer than she thought possible. Belle
sat before the fire and cracked open the fairytale book and began to read. TIme
ceased to exist for her as her eyes flew over the open pages. It became
progressively harder and harder to keep her eyes open until they finally closed
and her mind floated into blissful sleep.
Belle startled awake when she felt herself being carried. Her eyes flashed open
and she jerked in the arms of a giant. In the lack of light she could see the
dark shadow of someone’s long hair, bare chest and large frame.
“Thorin?” She asked in a sleepy voice.
“Not quite.” the voice answered. It took her a moment before she realized she
was being carried to bed by Kili.
“Kili? What are you doing?” Belle asked startled. 
“Tauriel awoke and found you curled before the fire. She asked me to carry you
to bed.” Kili told her softly in his sleepy voice and set her down gently on
her small bed in the room she shared with Dis.
“Thank you, Kili. But my books…” Belle said and began to rise until she heard a
thunk on the floor beside her bed. She looked down at the sack on the floor.
Kili had carried both her and the sack as if they weighed nothing. “Thank you”
She whispered.
Kili nodded sleepily and walked out of the room in a daze. She shared a wall
with the couple so she heard some faint mumbling of voices and then the sound
of a body landing on the bed. She could practically picture Kili falling asleep
as he was walking and flopping into the bed face first not waking until
sunlight poured into the room.
It was in the silent darkness of her room that she began to ponder the gift and
her reaction to it. She cringed heavily at herself for hugging the large Jarl.
He did not appear to be a hugger, especially not by english women that he
barely tolerated. She blushed brightly and wished she could go back to that
moment and simply thank him for the gift and say nothing else. She had let her
glee and near child-like wonder get the best of her. Belle cursed herself for
being so impulsive. Now things were going to be awkward at best and hostile at
worst. She knew Thorin would not hurt her now at least not physically, or he
would incur the wrath of the heathen’s holy man and Thorin’s pseudo parent. The
Jarl was a surly, harsh and frankly volatile man but he was not stupid. Belle
knew he had what the heathen considered honor and for that she was thankful or
else she was sure she would be dead by now. "I heard you speaking with Fili
once..." What had he meant by that? These questions plagued her mind endlessly.
The english girl laid back against her pillow with a huff and prayed by
tomorrow she would no longer think of the embarrassing act or how good it felt
to have his muscular form pressed against hers.
Chapter End Notes
     The death of Hildie was an idea I had after reading about Freydís
     Eiríksdóttir in Eiríks saga rauða. She was the daughter of Erik the
     Red and sister to Leif Erikson (men accredited with discovering
     Vinland and the Norse exploration of North America).
     This story portrays Freydis as a fearless, and protective woman. She
     joins an expedition to Vinland led by Þorfinnr Karlsefni, but is only
     mentioned once in the Saga when her camp is attacked by the Red
     Skins, or the Skrælingjar. The natives snuck up on the Viking camp in
     the night and shoot what are believed to be catapults at the
     warriors. Many of the men, having never seen such weaponry, flee.
     Freydís hears the commotion and comes out to see the men retreating.
     She calls out, "Why run you away from such worthless creatures, stout
     men that ye are, when, as seems to me likely, you might slaughter
     them like so many cattle? Let me but have a weapon; I think I could
     fight better than any of you." They give no heed to what she says.
     Freydis is eight months pregnant at the time, but this does not stop
     her from running out of her tent and grabbing the sword from her
     fallen brother in arms, Thorbrand, Snorri's son. Then come the
     Skrælingjar upon her. She lets down her sark so that one breast is
     exposed, and strikes her breast with the sword, letting out a furious
     battle cry. At this the Skrælingjar are frightened and rush off to
     their boats, and flee away.
     So instead of living, I had her fall by the sword, which is
     horrifying to think of with her as a pregnant woman but I think it is
     a good testament to how violent and bloody those times were. But also
     how the sister and daughter of famous warriors would be.
     Thank you for reading, y'all!
***** Sigrid *****
Chapter Notes
     Here is a Sigrid chapter. I am sorry this took me so long to write I
     just couldn't get it the way I wanted it and ended up giving up. I am
     still not perfectly happy with it but I hope you all enjoy it.
     Thank you for reading! :)
“Are you pregnant yet?” Gyda’s voice floated from the back of the wooden home.
Sigrid cursed under her breath. She had hoped Gyda would be gone when she
returned from sleeping at Fili’s home. The blonde girl loved her cousin dearly
but at times she wished to strangle the aurburn haired woman.
“Come here” The older cousin called out again.
Sigrid walked through the home stopping at the back bedroom to see Gyda
completely naked sorting through clothing.
“Do you ever wear clothes?” Sigrid asked her cousin.
Gyda ignored her question and turned to face the blonde. “You stayed with Fili”
Sigrid felt blood rush to her cheeks, answering her cousin without the need for
words.
“You could do worse.” the auburn-haired woman said with a shrug of her bare
shoulders. “He has money, honor, land. He is next in line to be Jarl, assuming
Thorin does not plant his seed within anyone. When you bear his child he will
stay beside you even if it is a girl. He is a good warrior too.”
Sigrid knew her cousin was a shieldmaiden, one of the fiercest to date apart
from Hildie Gostadottir and Dis wife of Vili. Gyda was a berserker. She
preferred to charge into battle wearing naught but pants, boots leather binders
and perhaps a wolf skin upon her shoulders, and of course her axes. No shield
was necessary for the woman. She was quick, small and underestimated. That is
until she began hacking men’s heads off with one swing of her ax. Sigrid had
been told stories of her cousin's great victories since she was a small girl.
Gyda had shown her great worth in battle at the age of fourteen. Sigrid’s
mother had said that Gyda had been blessed with the great berserker spirit by
the Gods. It helped her succeed in battle. Her first battle Dwalin had begun to
notice her. Their love was one worthy of the sagas. As Sigrid had been told,
Gyda had climbed up Dwalin’s shoulders, much to his surprise, and launched
herself up onto one of the stone walls of the enemy. She then proceeded to
slaughter all the archers upon the tall stone wall. Sigrid heard Dwalin say
that he knew at that moment he would have her for his wife. The auburn haired
woman refused to marry him until he killed three bears and brought her the
cured skins. When Sigrid asked Gyda why she did that the woman had shrugged and
said “I didn’t think he would actually do it. But I got new furs for my bed, so
in the end, it worked out”. Gyda and Dwalin were both raiders with Fili. Dwalin
had been Fili’s weapon’s trainer and even helped raise the man after Vili died.
“He is a good man” Sigrid whispered lovingly, thinking about the blonde.
Gyda raised one eyebrow “Is my wee cousin in love?”
The blonde blushed brightly and turned her back on her, and began folding
laundry. “Would it be so bad if I was?” she asked quietly.
Gyda was quiet for a long while but then embraced her cousin tightly. “No.” She
said in a voice that was very un-Gyda like, it was soft. “If you had asked me
before Dwalin I would have said yes. Love makes you weak. It can make you the
shell of your former self if something happens to them. But I am married to a
warrior, a Viking and if you live your life trying to avoid becoming attached
to others you will never truly live. So if you love him act on it while you
can, because you never know if he will leave this fjord and never return.”
The words hit Sigrid like a punch to the stomach. It was a very real fear of
any woman attached to a raider.
“How do I go about it?” Sigrid asked her cousin.
Gyda pulled away from her and gave her a strange look before mumbling. “I
thought your father would have spoken with you about this…”
 Sigrid was not sure if she had heard her cousin correctly. Gyda found the
nearest article of clothing and pulled it on. It happened to be one of Dwalin’s
tunics that was long enough to cover her down to her knees. When she turned
back to Sigrid she had a determined look on her face.
“Well. What you do first is get naked. Well, you need not get completely naked.
I guess you could just lift your skirts. But the man’s cock will get hard and
he will put it inside of your…”
“No!” Sigrid yelled at her cousin, cutting her off. “I know how to have sex.”
The blonde rubbed at her forehead harshly. “I meant how do I go about starting
a betrothal with him”.
“Well it’s easiest if you just open your legs for his wee Fili but if you wish
to go the proper way about it…”Gyda laughed loudly at Sigrid's look of
frustration. “You know how things are done as well as I, Siggy. He must go to
your father.”
Sigrid chewed on her bottom lip as she thought. “Dwalin went to you though”
Gyda nodded her auburn head. “Yes, but my father was dead and I lived alone.”
Sigrid had forgotten about that part and immediately felt the need to apologize
but tramped it down. Her cousin never liked when one apologized for being
callous. Gyda’s entire family and most of her settlement had been slaughtered
by the Swedes. She had only escaped because she had snuck away from her duties
in the home to go hunting. When she returned the settlement had been ravaged.
There was so much bloodshed that the abandoned settlement is to this day called
Blóðið fjörður (The Blood Fjord). Gyda and a few of the settlers that had
survived (Bofur, Bifur and Bombur) stumbled their way towards The Blue
Mountains and sought refuge there. Gyda began raiding that next summer to deal
with her rage, she swore the sea called her name but Sigrid knew it was simply
that the young girl wished to kill all those in her path without punishment.
“I do not know why I am even entertaining this idea. I am leaving this place
after winter and going home.” Sigrid said standing up straight and shaking her
head.
Gyda raised her eyebrows “Why? You know old healer Jøn is said to die soon. A
healer will be needed to take his place.”
Sigrid shook her head. “No. I couldn’t stay. Your people will find another
healer. Maybe Tauriel.”
The auburn haired woman snorted loudly. “Tauriel as our healer? You think the
men of this village will let the Wild One heal them? I would let her heal me,
but...the men? No. She is more likely to purposely kill them than to heal them.
You would make a much better healer here.”
Sigrid couldn’t argue that. She knew the fire headed island woman held a steep
hatred for the Norse people. Tauriel barely tolerated Kili’s kin and a few
friends. She tolerated Sigrid but that was only because Sigrid was a cousin to
Gyda, whom Tauriel found amusing, and Belle had befriended Sigrid meaning
Tauriel had to be around her more frequently. The blonde girl thought about
what it would be like to be a healer here but she quickly dismissed the idea.
“No. I must leave in spring. Bain and Tilda need me.” Sigrid said in a tone
that spoke with finality but even she did not believe her words. Gyda snorted
and rolled her eyes allowing her cousin to end the conversation. If she were
anyone else Sigrid knew her cousin would have fought louder or pulled a stunt
to get the speaker to tell the truth but Gyda loved her gentle cousin and
allowed the words to stand untrue.
===============================================================================
 
“I heard that she stole Fili from the English woman. There was talk of a
betrothal between Belle and him. That is why Belle tried to kill herself”
Sigrid stiffened at the sound of the woman’s words in the market. Sigrid’s back
was turned to the women and her hood of her cloak was up due to the chilly day.
She pretended to be looking at the beads on the table in front of her so she
could listen in longer.
“Saw her jump, I did.” A woman with a raspy voice said. “Dove right off the top
of Trolls Tooth peak, head first.”
There were gasps from those gossiping that made Sigrid roll her eyes. Belle had
not intentionally jumped off the cliff and she certainly did not jump off head
first, her bruised back was evidence of it. The woman had fallen, back first
into the water.  
“I’d marry the English woman for her bloodline alone.” One of the merchantmen
nearby said.
“Her bloodline?”
“She is Gothi Grey’s granddaughter.”
Another round of gasps sounded. “He had a child?”
“Aye, with an English woman. The gods brought his bloodline back to him as a
gift.”
“If I were Fili I would marry both women.”
Sigrid could not listen any longer. She dropped the beads and rushed to finish
her shopping. She walked towards the Jarl’s home with her stomach in knots. The
merchant's words rang in her ears.  “If I were Fili I would marry both women” .
She had heard of the practice in a few settlements but it was never something
she wanted or thought highly of. She understood some men had bed slaves with or
without their wife’s permission. But to have two wives seemed...selfish in a
way. Sigrid shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts. Is that something
Fili would want, to keep both her and Belle as wives? But Fili had alluded to
the fact that he did not wish for the English woman in that way. Now she was
not so sure.
‘ Does it really matter? You are leaving in the spring. This...fling, you have
with him is just to help pass the time. You will leave and Belle will take the
place as his wife’  Rage and jealousy ran up her rigid spine.  ‘Is this how
Belle felt? Is this why she snapped at Fili yesterday morning? But wouldn’t
Belle be mad at me not Fili if that were true?’
Sigrid was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of Fili’s grunts from
within the Longhouse. She ran into the home expecting to find him injured on
the ground but instead she found him sharpening his swords beside the fire.
“What are you doing up?” She asked him.
Fili looked up at her with a large smile. “You said I may begin walking this
morning.”
Sigrid sighed deeply. “Fili. I said you may begin walking with assistance.”
The blonde man only shrugged his shoulder with a cheeky smile. “I made it out
here, did I not?”
“Fili. You must go slowly or you will hurt yourself. Please wait for me next
time.” Sigrid could not stay mad at the man. He was too beautiful.
Fili ignored her words. “How was the market?”
The gossip of the market began to weigh on her once more. “Okay.”
Fili set down his sword and looked at her with narrowed eyes. “Okay? What truly
happened? Were you touched? Or propositioned?” His tone was murderous.
“No. Nothing of the sort.” Sigrid said as she began to make a pain relieving
tea for Fili’s walk to the dining hall. They were due for dinner in an hour.
Giving time for the tea to seep into his blood.
“You lie almost as badly as Belle” Fili said with a mirthless chuckle.
Sigrid couldn’t take it any longer, she whirled around on him. “There was
gossip at the markets.”
Fili pursed his lips and nodded his head. “I hear there is much of that there.”
“They were speaking of Belle” She watched him closely to see his reaction.
Fili let out a soft snort. “What was it about this time? I am sure by now her
bloodline has been revealed. There will be suitors soon, everyone wishes to be
close to the God’s mouthpiece.” He mused.  
Sigrid busied herself with stoking the fire as she spoke avoiding his gaze.
“They say I stole you from her. That you were to be her betrothed before I came
here. A merchant said that you should marry both of us.”
There was silence for a moment before Fili began to laugh loudly, startling
Sigrid. “Both of you? It sounds dangerous.”
“Dangerous?” Sigrid asked confused.
“Wive’s get angry. I would not wish to be the target of two angry wives. I may
be a strong warrior comfortable being outnumbered on the battlefield but I
would greatly fear being outnumbered in my own home.” Fili chuckled again.
Sigrid busied herself with pouring Fili’s tea and handing it over to him. She
did not know what else to say. He had not answered her question directly which
bothered her but she knew she had no right to ask anything of him. She handed
him his tea and was about to turn back and clean up when Fili grabbed her wrist
forcing her to look at him.
“What else did they say?”
“That Belle tried to kill herself because I stole you from her.” She answered
him. She could never hide anything from those ice blue eyes they were piecing.
A look of pain crossed Fili’s face and then confusion. “I thought she fell.”
Sigrid sighed loudly. She was not sure what to say. “She did. At least she told
me she did. The bruises on her back speak to her falling backward from the
Trolls Tooth. But why was she up there in the first place? She does not like
heights, she told me so. I do not believe she knows how to swim either.”
Fili grimaced. “You have no idea how badly she wades in water. Sinks like the
heaviest stone, that one.”
Sigrid couldn’t help the small laugh that bubbled up out of her at his words.
The laughter only lasted for a moment before she became serious.
“Perhaps you should speak with her.”
Fili nodded and finished his tea. “Perhaps.”
===============================================================================
 
Sigrid slipped under Fili’s arm allowing him to lean heavily on her as they
walked towards the great hall. The sky was dark making their trek through the
woods a bit more precarious. As they stepped down the path Fili began to lean
more and more heavily on Sigrid. She was eternally grateful when Ori popped up
on the path in front of them.
“Do you need some help?” He asked in that sweet voice of his.
“No” Fili answered gruffly at the same time Sigrid answered “Yes!”
Fili looked over at her slightly disgruntled but did not fight her on it. He
knew what her answer was going to be. “You are straining yourself too much”.
Ori listened to Sigrid's answer not Fili’s much to her delight. The copper
headed young man pulled Fili’s other arm over his shoulders lessening the
weight on Sigrid’s body.
“What did Vinna make for supper?” Sigrid asked, trying to take all minds off of
their slow pace.
“Boar” Ori said with some strain. Fili was a big man, heavy with muscle, While
Ori and Sigrid were both lean and weighing much much less.
“Boar?” Fili asked. “Kili caught a boar?”
They had just reached the edge of the large dining hall and heard Bifur answer
Fili’s question. “No. Not Kili” the man's voice was deep and gravely. Sigrid
was not sure she had ever heard the man speak since she had been here. He was
of the quiet sort. She vaguely wondered if it had to do with his head injury.
She had heard from Dis that Bifur had frequent headaches that at times had been
near crippling. The healer within her had begun thinking of herbs that could
help her relieve those headaches.
“Then who?” Ori asked.
“Wild One” Bifur answered and pulled the wooden doors open allowing them into
the large structure.
The room was filled with delicious smells making Sigrid’s belly cry out
needily. The long tables were laden with food for all to share. It was a feast,
one she was extremely enthused to consume. It was then that her eyes settled on
Belle. She was tucked into a corner away from everyone with what looked to be a
book in her hands. Tauriel was standing in front of her acting as her guard. It
fit with what Sigrid had seen of the woman. The redhead was fiercely protective
of the little English woman.
After finding Fili a seat and procuring soft foods for him to eat Sigrid
finally sat herself.
“Pushed me to the ground, she did!” Bofur crowed. He had one booted foot up on
the seating bench and was leaning forwards over the group, his hands gesturing
wildly. “She grabbed my bow and then flew up into the trees. She flew! Her feet
barely touching the ground.”
Sigrid couldn’t help but chuckle at the look of awe on everyone’s faces.
“The boars were wreaking havoc upon us and then like a Valkyrie from the sky
she shot arrow after arrow in rapid procession.” He made the motion of shooting
arrows while making sound effects. “They laid dead at her feet. She stood above
them, her booted foot resting on their carcasses” Bofur mimicked the ridiculous
stance that Sigrid had no doubt Tauriel did not do. His fists were on his hips,
his jaw raised upward and his leg bent, foot resting on the raised bench. “We
shall feast tonight, she said”
Sigrid looked over at a very red faced Tauriel. “I did not say that” She
murmured to Kili who only pulled her against his side as he laughed.
Sigrid felt jealousy bubble up within her as Kili pulled Tauriel in for a kiss
against her temple. The blonde woman looked to where FIli sat beside her. He
was laughing, not as hard as he normally would, she could tell the healing
muscles of his stomach were still sore. Sigrid wished she could be as Tauriel
and Kili. There was no uncertainty with how they felt for one another. For a
time there had been with Tauriel, but never with Kili. Kili had proclaimed his
love for her day in and day out since Sigurd had dragged her into the Blue
Mountains settlement. Sigrid wanted Fili to proclaim his love for her but she
knew it would not work that way. She was to leave this place, go home, and be a
healer in  Dalr.  That was her destiny, right? She had prayed to the Gods to
know but had not received an answer. Sigrid thought perhaps what she had with
Fili was merely something to pass the time for him. She could do what many
women had done to men in the past. She could get pregnant on purpose by the
muscular blonde raider. But that was not what she wanted from Fili. She did not
want him to stay at her side because she carried his child. She wanted him to
stay by her side because he wanted to, because he loved her. Then when he was
ready, he could plant his seed within her. She felt it would be deceitful to
trick him into staying by her side with his own flesh and blood growing in her
womb so she threw the thought from her mind. Gyda had alluded to the pregnancy
trap knowing Sigrid would never go for it. She was not that type of woman and
she never would be. So she continued to take her pennyroyal tea, though Fili
and her had not had sex yet. She briefly wondered if they ever would, with her
leaving in three months time.
“Mistress?” An accented voice said from behind her.
Sigrid turned abruptly at the strange voice and greeting. She saw a slave man
standing behind her. He looked to be of English descent but she did not know
for sure.
“What is it?” She asked him.
“My m-m-master sent me to fetch you” He stuttered in fear. A quick glance to
her left saw Fili scowling heavily at the young man.
“What for?” She prodded kindly. The slave looked as if he could not remember
the words. Sweat began to pour down his pale skin.
Belle walked over at that moment, setting down her book and walking up to the
man. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, though the man flinched at any
contact whatsoever.
“ Whatisit?”  Belle asked the man in what Sigrid assumed was English.
“ Mymaster’swifeishavingthebabiesnow. Theyneedahealer,
buttheoldmanwouldnotcome. IwastoldtofetchthewomannamedSigridfromtheJarlshall.”
the slave said frantically.
“His master’s wife is giving birth. The old healer will not come to help her.
He was sent to find you, Sigrid” Belle translated for the very relieved looking
slave.
Sigrid nodded and stood. Fili gripped her hand harshly. “You need not go. You
are healer to the Jarl family, and us alone. Do not feel you must help others.”
Sigrid was confused by his statement. “But I must. It is my duty as a healer to
help those I can around me, whether they are the ones who employ me or not.
They are in need and I have the knowledge to assist them.”
Fili’s ice blue eyes softened at her words and he smiled. He raised her hand he
had in his own and pressed his lips to it. “Of course, Siggy” He moved to
stand. “I will go with you”
Sigrid snorted and pushed him gently back to his seat. “Over my dead body, you
will. You must not strain yourself.”
She hopped up from her seat and strode towards Kili without saying another word
to Fili.
“Please make sure your brother gets to his bed after dinner. He is not to do
anything else, or he could injure himself.”
Kili nodded sharply and narrowed his eyes at his brother as if he could pin him
with his eyes alone.
Sigrid ran out the back door towards her medical bag resting in Fili’s
chambers, the slave was tight on her heels as she ran. It was when she exited
the Jarl’s home that she saw her auburn haired cousin beside the slave.
“I am to guard you” Gyda answered Sigrid’s questioning gaze.
“Okay then.” Sigrid nodded to her cousin then turned to the slave. “Lead us to
your master”
===============================================================================
 
Sigrid sighed tiredly as she trudged back towards the Jarl’s home. She needed
to check on Fili before collapsing into bed. Her cousin told her to just sleep
at the Jarl’s house for the night. Gyda had told her to sleep with Belle but
knew Sigrid would more than likely end up in Fili’s bed.
Sigrid’s, freshly washed, wet hands prickled in the cold air. They felt as if
they were turning to ice. She pushed open the large doors to the Jarl’s home
and headed down the hall towards Fili’s room. She entered to see a candle was
still lit.
“What are you doing awake?” She asked sharply.
Fili did not seem to notice her tone and smiled widely at her. It was one of
those smiles that made her heart melt. She wished he would not continue to
smile at her like that. It always led to her wishing she could stay and pining
further after the blonde raider.
“I wanted to make sure you returned safely.” He answered with a small shrug.
“And if I had returned to Gyda’s home instead?” She asked with a smirk.
“I knew you would come check on your favorite patient.” He answered with a
smirk of his own.
Sigrid rolled her eyes and began to check over his healing wound once more
before retiring for the night. “I am sorry to inform you, but you have been
replaced as my favorite patient.”
Fili looked positively scandalized at her statement. “And who must I kill to
become your favorite once more?”
“Two newborn babes. Twins. First twins I have delivered.” Sigrid said with a
happy sigh.
The blonde man had his arms behind his head, his muscles bulging making his
tattoo’s wiggle each time his muscles flexed. “I have never killed babes
before. Perhaps I should allow them to survive and win your affections another
way.”
Sigrid felt arousal slither within her belly at the meaning behind his words.
“Perhaps.” She answered coyly and began to shed her bloodied apron and dress.
Fili opened up the furs beside him inviting her into the warm bed. It was not
rare to share beds with others this far north. Sigrid had always shared a bed.
At home, she shared a bed with Tilda and at times with her brother Bain. Fili
had been by far her favorite bed partner. He radiated so much warmth she barely
felt the need for furs. He also happened to smell nice, like leather and
forest.
She pressed her icy hands to side causing him to shy away from her. “Is the
fierce raider afraid of cold hands?” She taunted lightly.
“ Och . no woman. I fear nothing. You may warm your hands against my skin if it
pleases you” He said bravely.
Sigrid pressed her cold hands to his warm skin and laughed loudly when he made
a face as if he were in immense pain. She took mercy on him and brought her
hands back into herself, warming them between her knees. “I will take mercy on
you.” She giggled.
“So did you speak with Belle?”
Fili looked over at her, his braided mustache swinging slightly with the
motion. “Yes. She said she was fine.”
Sigrid narrowed her eyes at him. “She said she was fine? How did she say it?”
Fili’s eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. “What do you mean? She said
the words ‘I am fine’. Nothing more nothing less.”
Sigrid shook her head and looked towards the roof. “Did she say ‘I am fine’ the
same way she said it yesterday morning? Did she smile at you as she said it?”
“What do you mean, woman?” Fili sighed in frustration. “She said she was fine.
She is fine. All is well.”
Sigrid let out a small chuckle. “All is definitely not well. When a woman says
she is fine and says it in a shortened tone or with a scowl upon her face, she
is certainly not fine. If she says she is fine with a smile on her face all
might be well, but you should still be kind to her regardless. Belle is not
fine. And here I thought you were so good at telling when she was lying.”
Fili groaned loudly and tossed his head back against the pillows. “Is it so
hard for women to say what they mean?”
===============================================================================
 
Sigrid found the English woman alone the next day and sat beside her along the
shoreline. Belle did not say anything just smiled at Sigrid and continued to
weave the basket in front of her. The blonde tucked an errant strand behind her
ear before speaking.
“Belle. May I ask you a question?”
The tawny haired English girl turned concerned eyes on the young healer and
nodded her head.  “Of course, Sigrid. Ask me whatever you would like.”
Sigrid pulled all of her courage together to confront the woman. The blonde
girl had never been good with contention or confrontation.  “Do you hate me for
stealing Fili’s affections?”
Belle immediately stopped her weaving and turned her body towards Sigrid in the
sand. “Heavens no. Why would you think that?”
Sigrid felt relief flood her system. “I heard in the markets that you jumped
from the Trolls Tooth because of my relationship with Fili. I did not believe
that you had jumped but...I had to make sure.”
Belle took a deep breath of ocean air before answering. “I do not hate you
Sigrid, and I certainly did not want Fili in that way. If I had been forced to
marry here he would have been a good spouse for me because we were friends,
that was it. I did not want him in that way, and to be truly honest I never for
once believed he had affections for anyone but you.”
A blush stole Sigrid’s cheeks at the words.
Belle began nervously picking at the sand beneath her as she continued
speaking. “I did think of jumping...only for a moment.”
Sigrid’s eyes grew round and she was about to ask her why but Belle continued
speaking.
“You see, I felt so alone Sigrid. I did not know I had family here. It is still
a bit hard to believe, truth be told. Tauriel had escaped and Fili...well I
would rather not get into it. I felt alone, more alone than I had in a long
time. But I did not jump because I couldn’t waste my life, God would not
approve of it.”
Sigrid had heard of people taking their own lives due to melancholy but it was
not common among her people. “But you were not alone,” Sigrid said and patted
Belle’s hand. “You had me and Gyda, Fili and Kili too.”
Belle only let out a small snort when Fili’s name came up making Sigrid’s
curiosity peak. Belle wished not so speak of it now, but Sigrid would get it
out of her one way or another.
“As true as that may be. I just do not fit in here, Sigrid. I am strange and I
can tell others around me find me odd. Even you do at times and you are one of
the nicest people here.” Belle said with a small chuckle.
Sigrid could not deny it, the English girl did do some strange things. But the
blonde knew it was because Belle did not know their customs, she did not
understand their ways. But perhaps Sigrid could teach her.  “It is true that at
times you can be strange but that is only because you do not know better,”
Sigrid said with a small smile. She stood and outstretched her hand to the
smaller woman. “Would you like to learn?”
Belle gave her a large smile of her own and accepted Sigrid’s help standing. “I
have never been one to shy away from knowledge.”
===============================================================================
 
After many long day of teaching, cooking and cleaning Sigrid would return to
the Jarl’s home. She felt fear and relief fight their way through her most of
those days. Fili was doing better, much better. She was not going to needed by
him for much longer. She would have no reason to be near him. That day came
sooner than she would have liked. Sigrid peered at the now-healed wound on
Fili’s torso. Tauriel was smoothly removing the thread she had tied his skin
together with. There was no blood only pink holes where the removed thread had
once sat.
“You must do light things for now. No harsh movements or labor. That will come
in time. Perhaps another week?” Tauriel said looking to Sigrid for her official
opinion on the matter.
It took the blonde a moment to agree. She was too deep in her worry to listen.
But when she finally realized what Tauriel said she nodded her blonde head.
“Yes. No fighting for at least another week. But farm work should be good. Do
not push yourself. You have cheated death once, I do not see you doing it
again.” Sigrid told an ecstatic Fili.
He jumped from the bed rubbing at his stomach where a large scar sat and
stretched his arms over his head moaning at the delightful feeling of it.
Sigrid clenched her thighs together at the sound. It was so raw and manly she
could barely contain herself. In a movement much quicker than one would think
he would be able to achieve Fili had his arms around Tauriel and was planting a
kiss to her cheek much closer to her mouth than she or Sigrid were comfortable
with.
Tauriel shoved him off with an angry scowl. “Just because you are freshly
healed does not mean I will not mess up my handiwork. I will put you back in
that sick bed for the remainder of your days if you kiss me again. ”
Fili smirked widely, Sigrid saw it coming but Tauriel apparently did not. He
grabbed Tauriel by the waist and hoisted her up above his shoulder. Tauriel
began to swear, rather loudly, in what Sigrid assumed was her mother tongue.
Fili marched her across the hall to Kili’s room.
“Little Brother!” Fili called.
“What?” Kili called back from where he was turned around attempting to put on a
pair of boots.
“I have found something that belongs to you in my room,” Fili said cheerfully.
Kili turned around with a confused look on his face until he saw Tauriel flung
over Fili’s shoulder. He attempted to hold back laughter, but Sigrid could
still see his lips wobbling with the effort.
“She was in my room, how improper of her. Then she attempted to kiss me and
told me she wished to keep me in bed for the remainder of my days.”
Sigrid covered her mouth trying to stop her own laughter. It was so far from
the truth that it was humorous. Unlike the others, Tauriel was less than
pleased by his playful words.
“I did no such thing! He lies! He kissed me!” She snarled from where she was
slung over Fili’s shoulder and pounding on his broad back with her small fists.
Kili gently patted her arse before pulling her from Fili’s shoulder and into
his own arms.
“He is a handsome man, I could not fault you for it.” Kili teased with a large
smile on his face.
Tauriel’s hazel eyes shone with fury until she immediately jerked backward with
a suspicious look on her face. “You are jesting me.”
Sigrid had let loose a small giggle that when it reached Tauriel’s ears the
redheaded woman shot her a glare that was sure to melt skin off of bone.
A large body was soon blocking her view of Tauriel's scowl.
“Do not worry my fair maiden, I will save you from the evil fire goddesses
wrath,” Fili said before pulling Sigrid into his arms and marching her laughing
form back to his own bedroom. He threw her on the bed before crawling after
her. She was still laughing when he settled his body on top of hers.
“Thank you for healing me, Siggy” Fili told her in a gruff voice and dropped a
much more passionate kiss to her lips.
“You will not be healed for long if you keep this up. When I said not to push
yourself that included throwing women.” Sigrid told him as her hands absently
ran over his bare chest. Her smaller hands ran over his tattoo’s showing his
victories in battle and tributes to the Gods.
He had a large tattoo of Thor’s hammer on his chest with Odin’s ravens resting
on either side of it. His arms were littered with the knots of their people and
a symbol of Ragnarok on his right bicep. He was beautiful. She felt her heart
and womanhood throb at the sight. Fili leaned down and captured her lips with
his own once more. His braided mustache tickled her cheeks ever so slightly,
but she couldn’t be bothered by that because Fili was physically on top of her
for the first time. His hips cradled between her thighs. She could feel his
heat and wished for nothing more than to strip his trousers from him and give
herself over to him at least for a little while. But it seemed it was not in
the cards for them. Sigrid heard Dis calling for her eldest son from the front
of the Longhouse. Fili extracted himself from between Sigrid’s thighs and
rolled onto his back with a frustrated groan while Sigrid stood.
“Fili? Did you hear me?” His mother called.
“Gods! Yes, mother!” He yelled back with impressive volume.
Dis appeared in the doorway as soon as Sigrid had finished straightening her
skirts. The raven haired woman smirked at the two before speaking. “Get
dressed, Fili. If you are healed enough to hump pretty women then you are
healed enough to muck the animal stalls.”
Sigrid blushed brightly “No..we were not…” she stuttered.
“Yes, mother” Fili talked over Sigrid and rose to put on his boots and dressed
fully. He dropped a kiss to Sigrid’s lips making her feel supremely awkward as
his mother watched on. He did not fear showing her affection in front of his
mother.
Fili rubbed his thumbs over Sigrid's cheeks softly.  “I will see you at supper”
And with that, he was gone leaving Sigrid alone with his mother.
Sigrid wrung her hands together nervously. “We were not having sex” the blonde
clarified.
Dis shrugged her strong shoulders. “It is okay if you were. You are of marrying
age and Fili needs to begin producing sons. The Gods know his uncle is not
going to be doing that anytime soon. Fili might as well get a head start”
Sigrid was surprised. She had essentially just got the go ahead from the Jarl’s
most powerful advisor, her lover’s mother and the legendary shieldmaiden, Dis
Thrainsdottir. The blonde was slightly speechless. She gaped at the raven
haired woman causing Dis to smirk, she looked so much like Kili in that moment
that Sigrid cracked a small smile.
“You would be a good for him,” Dis said and stepped forward to cup Sigrid’s
face in her calloused hands. She lifted the girl’s upper lip and peered at her
teeth. “Strong teeth, beautiful cheekbones, kind eyes” Sigrid held absolutely
still as Dis hands moved to her hips. “Wide hips for bearing sons and
daughters. Sturdy figure for hard work, gentle hands to heal the sick and rear
children and beautiful enough to keep my son’s eyes from wandering.”
Sigrid blinked owlishly at the raven haired woman. It was not rare to receive
compliments from other females, but it was rare for Dis to be the one doling
them out.
“Will you stay among us after winter?” Dis asked.
“I do not know…” Sigrid whispered. It seemed the question was going to plague
her until winter passed.
“Think on it. You will be missed if you choose to leave. Even if you do not
wish to marry my son there are a great many good men that will wish for your
hand and even more that will want your healing hands to stay near.” Dis smiled
softly and patted Sigrid’s face gently in a motherly fashion before moving
towards the doorway. Sigrid finally found her voice and spoke up.
“If I was to marry someone in the near future I would wish for it to be Fili,”
Sigrid announced. “But I do not know if he feels the same.”
Dis looked back at her with a small smile. “His eyes will tell you all you need
to know".
***** Tauriel *****
Chapter Notes
     Hi everyone!
     I hope you enjoy this chapter.
     Thank you for reading this!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Tauriel snuggled deeply into the warm furs around her. She could smell the snow
falling outside making her feel a nonexistent chill slither up her spine. In
reality, she could not feel an ounce of cold. Kili radiated so much heat she
was near sweating every morning. Speaking of the large man he was currently
holding her so tight to his body that she was scarcely able to breathe.
She understood his fear for her. He had finally told her why he was acting so
strange lately.
===============================================================================
 
Kili would not let her out of his sight, he had even taken to loitering around
the kitchens. For a woman who was self-sufficient and independent, this had
irked Tauriel something fierce. After the hunting trip, she had noticed some of
the males giving her more attention than usual. She was worried that they now
found her desirable, a frightening notion for someone who wanted to be left
alone entirely. Males back home had never truly been interested in her because
she had been labeled Legolas’ wife at a young age. When she was in the castle
she was only looked upon with respect for her station. Here in the Norse
settlement, she was no one’s wife and she certainly had no titles, except ‘free
woman’ which meant she was neither a slave nor a thrall. She was up for grabs
as far as being someone’s wife went. Kili called her his betrothed but here
that could change at the drop of a hat. It had taken Tauriel some time to get
used to the fact that the men here happened to enjoy foreign wives. Back home
foreign wives were only for nobles who needed an alliance. Legolas would have
been subjected to one of these marriages had his father not wanted Tauriel’s
homelands desperately.
Tauriel knew many here were deterred by her fierceness, but some still looked
upon her with coveting gazes. A deep kiss from Kili and a fierce glare from him
or Fili had those men walking away.
Kili had asked her to take a break with him near noonday so they could share a
small meal by the water before the snow began to fall. She said a quick goodbye
to Belle and Vinna before walking out the doors to meet Kili. He was sitting
outside the doors on a pile of wood whittling something.
“Hello, my love” Kili said in his beautiful deep voice.
Since Tauriel had accepted she would be staying here possibly for the remainder
of her life she began to feel more towards Kili than her previous annoyance and
at times arousal. She had begun to genuinely like him and enjoy his company.
The best parts of her day were speaking with him or him joking with her. He
brought out her less serious side which was a large feat but the dark haired
man was up to the challenge.
“Hello, Kili” She answered with a small smile.
Kili popped up out of his seat and grabbed her hand to intertwine her fingers
with his own, warming her chilled hands.
“Do you mind walking with me to the markets quickly? I must pick up something.”
Kili asked as he led her that way. She let him know she did not mind. He smiled
brightly at her and pressed a kiss to her temple. The redhead felt more
butterflies erupt within her at the action.
They spoke little as they walked through the now familiar paths towards the
market. Kili was teaching Tauriel more of the language and in return, she was
teaching him some of her own. The dark haired man was much more intelligent
than she had originally given him credit for. He picked up on her language
quite well. Much quicker than she had expected of the man.
They had just finished speaking of insults, at Kili’s prompting of course, when
they stopped at the fur workers booth. Kili spoke with the man quickly before
he handed over a large bundle of fabric and furs.  Tauriel shot Kili a confused
look but did not say much else. Kili thanked the man and paid him before
leading Tauriel out of the market. On their way out she saw Bofur waving at
them with another young man.
“Beautiful huntress,” Bofur said as he pressed a kiss to Tauriel’s hand. She
snorted and rolled her eyes in response making the mustache clad man chuckle
deeply. When she looked at the young man that had been with Bofur he was
staring at her with a type of awe in his eyes.
It was then that Kili unbundled the furs and draped a cloak over her shoulders.
Tauriel was taken back by the sudden covering. Kili moved in front of her and
secured the toggles down the front of her cloak, muttering the entire time. As
Tauriel was attempting to push the fabric off of herself she noticed it had
long sleeves. She shoved her hands through it truly surprised by the unexpected
sleeves. She pushed her hands through and nearly giggled in surprise. Of
course, she suppressed the sound, she was much too serious to do something
silly like giggle over a strange cloak. Tauriel had been so surprised by the
sleeves that she had not paid attention to the men’s conversation around her.
When she looked up Bofur and the blonde young man were gone. She brushed it off
for the time being.
“Do you like it?”  Kili asked.
“It is warm.” She answered him, reveling in the rabbit fur that was within.
“Good.” Kili nodded and grasped her hand to take her towards the water.
It was no more than two days later that Kili did another strange thing. Tauriel
had left the home that morning without her new sleeved cloak. When she had left
the kitchens to meet up with him he was standing with her cloak. For the first
time, she noticed that it had his symbol, something they called runes, along
the hems. She absently wondered if she should be angered that he was branding
her with his mark.
“I am warm Kili” She said wiping the sweat from her brow. She had been working
near the ovens today with Belle.
“Good. Put it on” Kili ordered and put it on her shoulders.
“No. I am warm, Kili!” Tauriel told him firmly pushing the cloak back into his
hands.
Kili’s jaw clenched tightly and he put it back on her shoulders. “For me. Wear
it.”
Tauriel stared at him for a moment wondering if she should fight with him on
this. Belle’s words rang in her ears. ‘Choose your battles wisely, Tauriel’.
“Fine.” She grimaced and put on the cloak, shoving her arms through the wide
sleeves.
Kili smiled triumphantly and grasped her hands before pulling her through the
markets. Once again they were at the fur workers booth and once again Kili paid
the man for a bundle of furs. Once again they ran into men that wished to speak
with Kili. The dark haired Norseman could not be bothered with them. He plopped
a hat made of fur upon her red head as he absently spoke with the men. Tauriel
pushed the fur up over her eyes so she could actually see around her and
noticed the men had left. It was then that Kili placed gloves upon her hands as
well. It was a feat for him because she fought back against him. He ended up
having to grasp both her wrists with one hand and shove the gloves on while she
tried to jerk away.
“I am so hot, Kili!” Tauriel growled.
“Good!” Kili growled back and grasped her hands to pull her back towards the
kitchens. He ignored her questions and snarls as they walked, or rather as he
pulled her. Once at the kitchens Kili tried to kiss her. She dodged his first
kiss but then he grasped her face with his large hands and held her immobile
while he planted a kiss to her lips. She could tell he was frustrated with her
as she was with him. He stalked away saying he would see her at dinner.
Tauriel stomped into the kitchens pulling off the hat, gloves, and cloak with a
little more force than necessary. She dropped them on a nearby table snarling
all the while.
“Tauriel?” Belle asked questioningly from where she was mixing a pot of stew.
“Ugh,” Tauriel replied and stomped over to the dough Vinna was kneading.
“Need to take out your anger?” The plump cook asked.
Tauriel nodded, her face still pinched in anger. Vinna chuckled and moved aside
so Tauriel could work the dough angrily.
“What is the matter?” Belle asked her quietly.
“Kili” Tauriel answered shortly as she pictured his face in the dough she was
currently punching.
Belle rubbed at Tauriel’s back gently. “What did he do? Kiss another woman?”
Tauriel shook her head but beat the dough in a little harsher just for the
thought.
“Hit you? Yell at you? Curse at you?” Belle continued to ask worriedly. Her
little mouth turned down in a frown.
“No! None of that.” Tauriel was beginning to deflate at Belle’s questions.
“What did he do?”
Tauriel leaned her head back and took a deep breath. “He covered me in furs.”
Belle’s tawny eyebrows pulled together in confusion, afraid she may have lost
something in translation. “Furs? Like animal hair?”
It sounded ridiculous to Tauriel’s ears. “Yes.”
The little English woman pursed her lips. “Is this an insult here or Ireland?”
“No,” Tauriel said shortly.
“Did you not like them? Gothi presented me with a fur cloak, you can have mine
if you wish. We could switch.” The little English woman told her in that kind
voice of hers.
“That is not a good idea," Sigrid said from the opposite corner of the kitchen.
When there was no one to heal the blonde woman would work with them in the
kitchens or at the looms. She was constantly busy doing something. “It is a
great insult to trade or refuse a gift here. It is an act that could lead to
bloodshed." The blonde young woman was giving Belle, and subsequently Tauriel
as well, lessons on Norse culture so they may fit in better. Tauriel did not
care for it but Belle did so Tauriel tolerated said lessons.
“That is not what I wish,” Tauriel said shortly. “It is not that I dislike it.”
All attention was now on her, which she absolutely hated. “Forget about it.”
She growled and turned back to the dough until most had turned back to their
work as well.
“Please tell me,” Belle whispered beside her. The woman would not give up.
“I was hot and he continued to push the furs upon me around men.”
Belle’s small mouth made an “O” as if she had finally understood. “You wanted
to be noticed by the other men and Kili was hiding you from them?”
Tauriel shook her head frustrated. She was not angry about that either. She did
not care. What she was angry about was him not allowing her to take the furs
off when she grew hot. It also bothered her slightly that he felt the need to
brand her. She knew it was ridiculous that she was angry and she had allowed
her temper to get the best of her. So she just shook her head and grew quiet.
She continued to work in silence as they prepared for evening supper.
Once all had sat and the food was upon the tables Tauriel’s temper had weaned
to coals instead of a blazing fire.
“The first snowfall will be coming soon,” Dis said from her seat beside Thorin.
Tauriel saw Kili beside her tense and grip his fork tightly. The redhead
wondered why all eyes drifted to her and Belle briefly before staring back at
their plates. Tauriel felt as if she were missing out on something vital. The
redhead was never one who enjoyed being left out. She rose from her seat
quietly and stepped out of the doors of the hall leaving behind many confused
eyes. Tauriel needed time to cool off once more. She needed to think in peace.
What was she missing? Had she done something to offend someone? Perhaps she
needed to begin putting more stock into Sigrid’s lessons.
The sound of boots crunching on rocks made her turn prepared for a fight. It
was only Kili and that blasted cloak. He attempted to put it upon her shoulders
but she shrugged it off. She heard him huff behind her and put it back on her
shoulders a little more forcefully. She again shook it off of her.
“Wear it” He growled.
“No,” Tauriel said defiantly.
“Woman…” Kili began.
“Why are you so adamant about me wearing so many furs!? I am sweating, Kili. It
is hot. If you wish the men to not look at me, allow me to wear your clothes or
perhaps tattoo your rune on my face! Would you rather just pee on my leg as the
dogs do to mark me with your scent?!” Tauriel cried.
The dark haired man’s brows pulled together in confusion before he burst out
into deep laughter.
Tauriel pushed him with all of her strength only making him fall back a few
inches. “Stop laughing at me!” she yelled and went to stomp away from him but
he caught her around the waist with his powerful arms. She fought against his
hold until she grew too tired and gave up, choosing instead to go absolutely
limp. Kili continued to chuckle quietly against her, shaking her smaller frame
against his chest.
“Believe me, if I thought you would stand for it I would absolutely tattoo my
rune upon your face, for you would look beautiful marked as mine with blue ink.
And there is an entirely different fluid I would mark you with, not piss. But
that is not why I am bundling you in furs, my love. I do not mind when others
look upon you. You are a treasure that should be shown not hidden away. They
may look but Odin help them if they touch”
Tauriel listened to his words carefully. “Then why the furs?” She asked him.
Kili turned her around in his arms and looked at her with worried eyes. “I do
not wish to lose you,” He told her in a quiet voice.
“Lose me? I have no plans to leave. Are you sending me away?” Tauriel felt her
hackles rise and worry grow in her belly.
“No! No, I would never send you from my side, if I could help it. And anyone
that wishes to take you from me will have to pry you from my cold, dead arms.”
Kili said fiercely showing the warrior he was.
“Then why do you believe you may lose me?” The redhead was confused. She did
not understand what Kili was attempting to say.
“Winter is coming. The cold takes with it many souls each year. Mostly slaves,
from other lands, not used to the cold.” Kili told her softly as he cupped her
face in his hands. “I cannot lose you” He pressed a kiss to her lips.
It took her a moment to respond as she digested his words but soon her lips
were moving against hers. He allowed one of his hands to travel slowly down her
back until it rested at her lower back. He pushed her lower back until her hips
were flush against him. Tauriel was lost in the feeling of his tongue massaging
hers, his large warm hands on her body and the feeling of his hardness pressing
into her belly. When he moved his hand even lower to cup her backside she felt
a shiver of pleasure shake her frame. Kili pulled away abruptly and snatched
her fur cloak from the ground to rest it upon her shoulders. She slumped in
disappointment but allowed him to cover her. She pushed her arms through the
sleeves as Kili fastened the toggles.
“I am not cold, Kili,” Tauriel said with a sigh. She could not deny that the
night air held a chill to it but it was not cold enough for her gloves and hat,
or the cloak frankly. But she was humoring him. He was worried for her and she
could not punish him for that. She drew the line though when he attempted to
push the fur hat and gloves onto her.
“I will wear them when it begins to snow. I will never take them off if that is
your wish, once the snow falls. For now, only the cloak, Kili” Tauriel told him
firmly.
Realizing he was not going to win this Kili shook his head softly but relented.
“We have winters in my land as well, Kili. Snow does fall upon the ground in
Ireland as well.”
Kili shook his head and brought her hand up to his lips. “Not like here, love.
You have never experienced cold quite like what is to come.”
It was not until the first snowfall that Tauriel understood a fraction of what
Kili spoke of.
===============================================================================
 
Tauriel pushed herself slightly away from Kili’s sleeping form. She was
sweating ever so slightly but Belle was not sleeping with a personal heater as
she was. Tauriel worried for the smaller woman now as the snow fell. The
redhead slipped out of the bed and immediately felt the chill in her bones. She
pulled on her cloak and stepped out of the room and down the halls to Belle’s
room she shared with Dis. When she got to Belle’s bed she could hear the woman
shivering in her sleep. Tauriel shook her awake.
“Come with me” Tauriel whispered.
Still heavy with sleep Belle agreed and stumbled after Tauriel as she pulled
her back towards Kili’s room. Shedding her cloak Tauriel climbed under the
covers close to Kili and beckoned Belle into the bed beside her.
“No. I can’t sleep with you two.” Belle whispered. “It is improper.”
Tauriel rolled her hazel eyes. “More improper than sleeping with Fili and
Thorin? It is warm Belle. Come in before you freeze.”
Belle realized she had no ground to stand on with her argument and slipped
under the covers sighing happily at the warmth. With her back to Kili and her
front facing Belle, Tauriel was warm, almost too warm. But she would suck it up
so Belle would not freeze. The little woman would be better between Kili and
her but Tauriel knew Belle would never go for it, nor would Tauriel want her
to. Kili was a cuddler in his sleep and morning happened to have a firm affect
on his lower half. Tauriel could practically see the scandalized look on
Belle’s face if she felt him pressing against her. The redhead let out a small
giggle at the thought. She had expected Belle to ask her what was so funny but
when she looked at the smaller woman in the dark she was already fast asleep.
Tauriel snuggled closer to Kili behind her and smiled when his arms came around
her and he pressed a sleeping kiss into her hair, all while remaining
unconscious. Tauriel smiled softly and closed her own eyes, succumbing to
exhaustion.
Tauriel awoke to Kili’s arm under head moving then the sound of a hand slapping
skin. She opened her eyes slowly and saw Kili’s hand pulling at one of Belle’s
tight curls and her slapping at his hand still in her sleep. Kili’s chest
rumbled against Tauriel’s back as he tried to hold back laughter.
“Kili stop. You will wake her.” Tauriel whispered, but could not hold back the
small laughter the bubbled up within her chest.
Kili pulled one more curl making Belle jerk awake and stumble from the bed
patting at her hair.
Kili broke into loud chortles as did Tauriel. Belle pouted at them both and
stumbled out of the bed and back to her own.
“Come back, little Belle! It was just a bit of fun.” Kili called out.
“Ugh,” Belle growled and continued on her way. They heard her fall into her own
bed through the wall they shared before bursting into chuckles again.
When they had finally calmed Tauriel turned in his arms to face him.
“Good morning,” Kili whispered and pressed a kiss to her lips. “How did little
Belle end up in our bed?”
Tauriel didn’t know why but hearing him call it “our bed” sent a thrill through
her. “It has begun snowing and it was cold last night. I went to check on her
and she was shivering. I made her come and sleep with us. I was worried. Do you
mind?”
Kili shook his dark head. “No. But perhaps she will want to sleep with another.
The bed is far too small to sleep all three of us every night.”
Tauriel nodded. “I will sleep with her in her bed.” She teased.
Kili snorted loudly. “No. You belong in my bed, no others.”
“Hmmm. I do not know. Perhaps it is better that I sleep with Belle. She does
not kiss me in her sleep. She smells nicer too” Tauriel teased. A wicked glint
in her eye.
Kili’s nostrils flared and his jaw set tightly. “Take it back, woman” he
warned.
“Never” she whispered.
“I am warning you,” Kili said fighting a smile from growing on his face.
“I do not fear you,” Tauriel answered stubbornly.
“That’s it!” Kili cried out and began to tickle Tauriel mercilessly.
“Kili! Stop!” Tauriel said in a breathless voice. She bucked and kicked trying
to get away from him. Before she could get too far he climbed on top of her
grabbing her slender wrists with one hand while his others continued to torture
her.
“I surrender!” She screamed, making Kili cry out in triumph.
He released her hands and raised both fists in the air calling out a Norse war
cry causing Tauriel to laugh and send a quick punch to his stomach. It was not
a particularly hard hit but it took the man by surprise with a “umph” he fell
on top of her, pushing her into the feather and hay mattress. Tauriel laughed
loudly and let out a triumphant cry of her own, that is until Kili took her by
surprise and clasped both of her hands above her head once more.
“That was naughty, little warrior,” Kili whispered in her ear.
The heat of his breath making goosebumps erupt across her flesh. It was then
that she noticed he was currently between her legs, her shift had been pushed
up to her upper thighs and she could feel Kili’s warmth against her quickly
wettening center. He must have noticed because he minutely pressed his hips
against hers before capturing her mouth. He swirled his tongue along with hers
causing her to lose all coherent thought. Kili’s hands released hers to begin
running down her body. He kept himself from squishing her completely by putting
most of his weight on one of his elbows leaving his other hand to roam freely.
Tauriel’s hands did exploring of their own as she and Kili were attached at the
mouths. She ran her hands up his bareback feeling the strong muscles hiding
beneath. She lightly scratched him with her nails making him buck into her and
moan loudly. He released her mouth allowing her to breathe as he nipped and
kissed her slender neck. She felt his hand on her bare thigh working its way
up. She was not sure she had ever had such embarrassing noises come out of her
mouth but she could not stop herself. Everything Kili was doing to her felt so
good, better than anything she had ever felt before. Her pulse pounded between
her legs, concentrated in the spot Kili had begun moving against with his
hardened flesh. A piece of her wished to have him remove his sleep pants so she
could feel him without fabric between them. When Kili’s hand reached up and
began toying with her breast she began to pant and writhe against him loudly.
His thumb brushed against her taut nipple and she swore she saw white stars in
her vision.
“Kili..Take off your…” Tauriel whispered but was soon cut off by another voice.
“Brother mine! Quit your humping and help me walk to the kitchens!” Fili boomed
from the doorway with a large smirk on his face.
Kili jerked back and snarled loudly at his brother, making Tauriel feel a bit
of fear replace her all-encompassing embarrassment. “I will kill you and all
your kin!” Kili roared at his brother.
Fili laughed loudly and ducked out of the room before Kili’s boot could hit
him. “Bastard!” Kili roared when Tauriel slipped from under him and quickly
pulled on a thick wool dress and her boots. Kili flopped back onto the bed
facing the ceiling and scrubbed at his face.
“Are you coming?” Tauriel asked him softly when she was fully dressed. She
could see Kili’s body was still very much in the mood for their previous
activities. She could see the firm outline of his cock through his soft leather
pants. If she had not seen it before she would have been in awe at the size of
it.
“I will meet you there. Wear your furs, please” He said without looking at her,
his arm still draped over his eyes.
“What are you going to do?” she asked confused, as she pulled on her fur cloak,
gloves, and hat.
“He is going to strangle his sea snake” Fili yelled out.
Kili clenched his jaw. “Perhaps after I will strangle my brother. I am
undecided on whether or not I want him dead right away or if I want him to
suffer.” Kili called out. Making his brother across the hall chuckle.
“Strangle your sea snake? What snake?” She asked genuinely confused. What was a
sea snake?
“He means his cock!” Fili called out from the hallway.
Tauriel burned bright red at Fili’s words. “I will meet you at breakfast.” She
said shortly and ducked out of the room.
“You do not wish to watch?” Fili asked in a teasing tone as he leaned against
his doorframe.
Tauriel bared her teeth at him and made her way out towards the kitchens his
laughter following her. The entire way she continued to think of what Kili was
doing and scolding herself for being curious enough to want to watch as Fili
had suggested. She had never seen that act done before. According to the
church, such an act was a sin. To spill one’s seed without the purpose of
procreating was frowned upon heavily and could, depending on the land and it’s
leaders, lead to punishment for such a thing. She thought that was ridiculous.
It had never settled right with her that the church had such power over one’s
body or bedroom. She was odd for such thoughts and would be called blasphemous
by many if she spoke them aloud. Tauriel shook off her thoughts. She would find
no answers here. There was no priest to ask or a bishop to confide in. She had
Belle but the two stayed away from talks of religion. They both knew what was
coming at them, and swiftly. They were acclimating to all around them, that
meant adopting the customs as well as the religion. Tauriel wondered if there
was not a middle ground to be found between Christianity and paganism. Her own
people had something of a different approach than those in England. Back In
Ireland almost all Christians still sent respectful nods to the pre-Christian
deities. No one, apart from Monks or Bishops from England, called falsity upon
the Deities. It was a part of the Celtic culture as ingrained in them as they
were in it. Her own people had found a way to balance on that thin line, and
she was of her own people, was she not? She could dance the line between
maintaining her Christianity and accepting the Norse Gods.
===============================================================================
 
The true test of this “dance” came in the form of what Kili called Blót.
Tauriel had never been truly grateful for the tall blonde healer Sigrid until
that day.
Just like any other, Tauriel and Belle had been put in charge of milking the
goats that morning.
“Watch this,” Belle told Tauriel and shot milk from the goat’s udder into the
nearby barn cat’s face. When the cat finally stood on two legs and opened its
mouth to catch the milk Tauriel and Belle had dissolved into fits of laughter.
 This is how Sigrid found them, leaning on one another laughing harder than
either of them had in their entire lives. As soon as Tauriel saw Sigrid’s
blonde form in the barn doorway she sobered. This playful side of her was not
shown to just anyone. The redhead wanted to appear the tough unfeeling
warrioress to everyone but a select few. Even to Gyda, who was quickly becoming
one of Tauriel’s close friends, the redhead was more serious than not.
“What is it?” Tauriel asked Sigrid, while Belle continued to try and contain
herself. The redhead fought the smile attempting to take over her face at
Belle’s snorting laugh. The little woman’s entire body vibrated when she
laughed and the sound coaxed others to join in. Her laugh was more contagious
than the plague. Sigrid attempted to keep a straight face as Tauriel but it was
no use. Within moments all three women were laughing once more. It took a few
minutes and the cat scurrying out of the barn for the women to calm.
“So Sigrid. What brings you to us?” Belle said, her face still flushed with her
previous laughter, as she wiped tears from her eyes.
Sigrid pulled up a stool and sat beside them. “I came to warn you”
Tauriel immediately went on the defensive, pulling out her knife she had kept
since her hunting trip with Kili. Sigrid to her credit did not startle at the
look of the weapon as Belle did. Belle fell out of her stool landing on her
backside in the hay.
“I am not here to warn you of danger,” Sigrid said softly putting her hand
gently on Tauriel’s coaxing her to lower the weapon. “I am here to warn you of
the upcoming sacrifice.”
Tauriel returned her knife to the hidden sheath within her skirts.
“Sacrifice?” Belle croaked, emerald eyes impossibly wide. “They are going to
sacrifice someone? The monks were, right? Are they going to sacrifice me?”
Tauriel rolled her eyes. “Why would you think they would sacrifice you?”
“Who are they going to sacrifice? You? Kili would kill everyone even his own
kin just for suggesting it!” Belle nearly shrieked. “It’s going to be me!” The
little woman then began to make the symbol of the cross frantically with her
fingers and chanting prayers in latin. Tauriel knew these prayers, they were
spoken in her home as well.
“This is not a sacrifice of humans” Sigrid finally said stopping Belle mid
cross.
“Oh…” Belle said slightly embarrassed.
Tauriel shook her head fondly at the little English woman. “What are you
sacrificing?”
Sigrid tilted her head towards the other side of the barn where the pigs and
chickens were housed.
“So the pigs are to be sacrificed, why must we be warned of that?” Tauriel
asked but no amount of preparation from Sigrid had prepared her or Belle for
what was coming for them.
===============================================================================
 
The women had bathed and dressed for the sacrifice that night, Sigrid had
demanded it. While they were at the blessedly warm pools it looked as if most
of the women of the village were there. It came as a surprise to Tauriel that
she no longer felt any wariness about being naked in the open as she was,
surrounded by what she had once considered the enemy’s women. Tauriel and Belle
were both small compared to the tall mostly blonde women. Gyda was the nearest
one to their height, standing only an inch or two above Tauriel. Tauriel also
noticed that she and Belle were slighter than most of these women as well.
Their shoulders were not as broad and their hips not as wide. Tauriel had
smaller breasts than half of the women here but Belle was the opposite. Hers
were bigger than most, which was humorous considering her small height. Tauriel
looked at Sigrid and wondered if she was perhaps part English as well. Though
she was tall, she had more narrow shoulders than the other women. The blonde
girl’s entire being shouted soft and gentle, even her naked body.
It had been a culture shock at first to see women feeding their infants in the
open. The feeding of one’s infants was always done in private back home. But
here they did not care, even out in the markets, Tauriel had seen a woman pull
out her full breast and shove it into the mouth of her babe. But right now in
the circling pool of warm water, while soft snowflakes fell around them,
 Tauriel saw multiple mothers feeding their babies. She even witnessed one
mother pass off her child to another woman to feed the babe. It was...odd but
slightly welcoming for Tauriel. It was good for her to see these people as
something more than the war hardened, blood lusting, violent heathens she had
thought they were. They loved their children and they loved each other. She was
beginning to see them as less of savages and more of human beings.
Tauriel, Belle, Sigrid and Gyda soon left the warm water of the hot springs and
moved to dress in the cold air. After dressing, Sigrid and Gyda beckoned them
to Gyda’s warm home and braided their hair in the Norse way, before switching
and doing each other's. Tauriel wondered why this sacrifice was so significant.
At least it appeared to be based on how much care Sigrid and Gyda were taking
with the hair of each woman. Gyda even went as far as to rub flower oil on each
woman to make them smell perfumed. A quick pinch to each woman’s cheeks,
bringing color to them, and they were off, trudging through the snow towards
the great hall.
The redheaded woman kept her hand clenched in Belle’s. The little woman was
shaking like an autumn leaf does before it falls to the ground.
“It will be fine. Stay beside me and Kili.” Tauriel told her little friend.
When they entered the grand hall the light of day had dropped from the sky. It
was beginning to snow harder outside of the Great Hall and Tauriel fought a
shiver. She had donned her warm cloak from Kili as well as the hats and gloves.
Upon entering the dwelling Tauriel removed the hat, ignoring Sigrid's tsk about
mussed braids and continued pulling Belle towards where she spotted Kili’s dark
brown head.
“There she is! My beautiful Valkyrie!” Kili shouted. It appeared he had tapped
into the mead a bit early. He swept Tauriel into a kiss before dropping a soft
one to Belle’s forehead. Fili followed after his brother dropping a kiss first
to Tauriel’s head then to Belle’s. Tauriel watched the small English girl's
reaction to Fili’s lips pressed to her forehead. Belle stiffened at the initial
familial kiss. When Fili pulled away and moved on to give Sigrid a kiss to the
lips Tauriel caught Belle’s confused look.
“What is it?” Tauriel whispered to the tawny haired woman.
“Nothing...just confused,” Belle whispered back.
“Confused about what?”
Belle nodded towards Fili. Now it was Tauriel’s turn to be confused. “What of
him?”
Belle did not answer, her attention was diverted elsewhere. Thorin entered the
hall, fur-lined coat billowing out behind him. He sat at his throne covered in
leather and furs, then called for all to be silent so they may begin.
===============================================================================
 
Tauriel shut her eyes tightly as the blood from the dead pigs were splattered
onto her. She heard Belle beside her whimper ever so slightly. Tauriel creaked
open one eye, the rest of her face still scrunched to see Gothi leaning over
his short granddaughter. Tauriel’s hackles rose and she was about to push the
older man off of Belle but Kili knew his redheaded woman too well by now. He
wrapped both arms around her in what looked like a soft embrace to others but
was actually an aggressive hold.
“No. You will dishonor our Gods or our Priest.” He whispered in her ear. “She
is fine. He is blessing her”
Every muscle in Tauriel’s body tightened at his words. When Gothi finally
pulled away from Belle, Tauriel saw the girl’s face, horror was written all
over it as well as blood dripping from it. Gothi had taken his fingers, dipped
it into the ceremonial bowl filled with pig and chicken blood and dragged them
on Belle’s face. She had two stripes of thick blood running down the center of
her face. Tears welled in Belle’s eyes but a small shift of her eyes to Sigrid
across from her had her reigning it in and raising her chin. Gothi smiled
proudly down at her and moved on. By the time all of the blood had been flicked
on those gathered within the hall Gothi began to chant. He poured the remaining
blood around the raised fire pit within the great hall. He raised his arms
above his head and turned his face to the heavens. He chanted a few words that
Tauriel was too shocked to decipher then the hall erupted into shouts of
celebration.
Kili pulled Tauriel’s face to his own and pressed a heated kiss to her slightly
reluctant lips. When he pulled back she saw another glimpse of the warrior
within Kili. He had blood splattered across his face from where Gothi had
flicked it at them. Kili’s normally soft brown eyes were wild and he had a
predatory smile on his face. Tauriel felt a small bit of fear run through her.
She was woman enough to admit that if Kili had been the one to raid her home
she would be afraid of him. He was beautiful but frightening. He reminded her
of the lightning within a storm. It was wonderful to witness but you knew it
could cause damage that could never be repaired if you got too close. But here
she was, wrapped in his arms. She was near as close as one could get, was she
not? She was falling in love with the man and if anything happened to him or he
changed his mind about her she would be damaged beyond repair.
Chapter End Notes
     Blót (Old Norse neuter) was a Norse pagan sacrifice to the Norse
     gods, the spirits of the land, and even someone's ancestors. The
     sacrifice often took the form of a sacramental meal or feast.
     The Blót in this story is meant to be the autumn Blót, meaning it was
     performed in October. As far as we know it was a sacrifice in favor
     of the Gods for safety during the upcoming winter. Animals were
     sacrificed, blood was splattered on those in attendance then the
     remaining blood was poured around an altar or firepit, then a large
     feast followed.
     In the next chapter I will go more into the feast portion through
     Belle's eyes.
***** Belle *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Belle felt the warm blood roll down her face in thin rivulets. A whimper
escaped her tight lips as Gothi’s fingers continued their wet trek down the
center of her face. She rose her eyes to Sigrid and saw the blonde woman giving
her a stern look. Belle raised her chin and held her emotions tightly within.
It would do no good to burst out in tears of fear. An action such as that would
set her back many months of progress among the heathens.  
“Hail Týr, God of Law, Justice, and Victory,
Child of Odin, lover of Zisa,
You who dwell in the Hall of Justice,
You who offered your arm to Fenrir, you who leads us to victory, you who keeps
the balance,
With your swift spear and fair judgments,
Come swiftly to aid me
As I bless this child. Belle, Daughter of Belledonna Alva Birgitt, Blood of
blood, bone of my bone. Watch over her and lead her heart and mind to victory.”
Gothi’s gravelly voice spoke slowly.
Belle began to see the sweetness behind his actions. He was personally blessing
her in front of all. It was a tender gesture in a not so tender way. The pig's
blood dripping down her face pooled between her lips. She was not sure if she
could spit it out or wipe her mouth so she held perfectly still. Gothi gave her
a proud smile when he was finished making her feel a warmth within her. She had
made the old man proud. She, a tiny English woman, had made the seer proud. She
smiled a little at the thought. Gothi moved from her and continued flicking
blood upon all those within the hall all the while chanting to the Gods. Once
the ritual was finished Belle let out a large breath effectively spitting blood
from her mouth and onto Bofur beside her.
“Oh bother. I am so sorry.” Belle said covering her mouth slightly.
Bofur stood proudly, not flinching or wiping the blood from his tunic. “It is
an honor to be bathed in blood from your lips.” He gave her his signature wink
before sauntering off.
Belle gave his retreating form a soft smile. His words were gruesome but sweet,
as she found most of the heathens around her were.
“Are you okay?” Tauriel asked worriedly. In a motherly gesture the woman licked
her thumb and went to wipe the blood from Belle’s face but Kili’s large hand
grabbed hers. Tauriel whirled on him and snarled lowly. “I will kill you.”
Kili only chuckled at the redhead's fire. “I have heard that before and yet you
have not done it.”
Belle saw Tauriel fight the smile that battled to take over her face.
“You can not wipe that from her face until after the feast. It is very
offensive to do such a thing. It will take honor from Belle as well as Gothi.
You could be killed for such a thing” Kili told Tauriel and Belle.
“I can not take it off until after the feast? I look frightening.” Belle said
worriedly.
The dark haired man shook his head and was about to say something when he was
cut off.
“You look lovely. Like a tiny war goddess bathed in the blood of her enemies.”
Belle turned around and saw nothing but broad chest. She raised her head to
look into the newcomers face. He had a shaved head and a bright red beard.
“Canut Ruriksøn” The man introduced himself.
Belle had not had to do a formal introduction for herself yet. Her mind flashed
through the appropriate ways to do so until she settled upon one.
“Belle Gothidótturdóttir,” She said.
It appeared she had said the right thing because Canut bowed his head to her
with a large smile. She had called herself quite literally, Belle daughter of
Gothi’s daughter. Belle looked out the corner of her eye and saw Kili give her
an approving wink.
“It is pleasure to meet you, Belle Gothidótturdóttir” Canut said in a deep
voice. “Perhaps you would like to take a walk sometime?”
Belle absently heard Tauriel snarling behind her.  “Chabhraigh sé seo ar cheann
a chur orm ó mo bhaile (this one helped take me from my home).”
Kili said some words in her tongue “ bheith socair (be calm)”  His accent was
atrocious and the words were extremely stilted but the words actually made
sense. Belle was momentarily stunned by that. So stunned in fact that she had
given Thorin time to speak for her.  
“Canut,” Thorin said in way of greeting.
The red-bearded man bowed his head respectfully to Thorin. “Jarl”
“What are you speaking to Belle of?” Thorin said shortly. Belle glared heavily
at him but kept her mouth shut.
“I have asked her to go on a walk with me,” Canut said with a small smile upon
his face. When he smiled he looked much younger. Belle studied his face in
fascination. Her eyes drifted lower and she saw that he had tattoos on his neck
leading down under his tunic and reappearing all over his hands.
“Hmph,” Thorin grunted. His arms crossing over his broad chest. He shifted ever
so slightly hiding the small woman from view.
“Is she your woman?” Canut asked in a startled tone.
“No.” The raven haired Jarl barked. “But she resides in my house. She is my
charge.” That was the first time Belle had heard that.
“But she is a free woman, yes?” Canut asked mirroring Thorin’s stance. The men
were near the same height, though Thorin was perhaps and inch or two taller.
Belle watched Thorin’s jaw clench tightly making the girl nearly laugh in
surprise. Canut was getting to Thorin and anyone that was aggravating Thorin
goodnaturedly was worth her time.
“Canut. I am a free-woman.” Belle said moving around Thorin’s large form. “I
would be pleased to taking a walk with you.”
The shaven-haired man smiled triumphantly and reached to take the girl’s tiny
hand in his own large tattooed one. He pressed his lips to the back of it. “I
will collect you tomorrow at noonday.”
With that, the large red-bearded man took his leave.
Belle looked up with a smug smile to Thorin’s scowling face. His ice blue eyes
were lasered in on Canut's strong back. When he looked down at Belle and saw
her smirk his face became an impassive mask for a moment, then broke out into a
smug grin that had rivaled her own.
“Come, little Belle” Thorin said placing a large hand upon her tiny shoulders.
“Let us speak of Canut’s victories.”
Belle shook her head and planted her heels in the dirt. This did not deter
Thorin in the least. In one swift move, he had his arm around her waist and
lifted her an inch from the ground to carry her forward until they were in
front of his throne. He sat her down in Dis regular seat before sitting
himself. As if they knew he was going to begin spinning tales many warriors
flocked towards Thorin’s throne.
Thorin raised his drinking horn upwards. “To Canut the Skull Splitter!”
Belle swallowed loudly at the large man’s nickname. Her eyes caught Fili’s. He
was looking at her as if he was concerned for her. He almost appeared as if he
was going to attempt to protect her. She glared heavily at him and lifted her
chin. She did not need his help. She did not want his pity friendship.
“Do you know why he was given that moniker?” Thorin asked all but kept his eyes
trained on Belle.
“I can guess,” Belle said dryly, making all around her burst into laughter,
even Canut himself. He was looking rather proud of his nickname. The stories of
his victories soon began to fly around. Not only was he known for being able to
cleave men’s skull’s in half with one strike of his mighty broadsword but he
was also known for his ability to break men's necks with his bare hands.
“Lovely” Belle said under her breath.
Thorin looked to be enjoying himself immensely. Cup after cup he had downed
becoming more and more drunk as the tales continued. Soon it was not just Canut
that had tales spoken of him. Thorin placed in many, Balin too and especially
Dwalin, even “little” Gyda had bone chilling tales told of her victories. Belle
began to down cup after cup of mead, just as Thorin, to try and dull her senses
a bit.
“The time she ripped out a man’s throat with her teeth was one of my
favorites,” Dwalin said wistfully.
“What of the time her and Canut took turns shooting flaming arrows at the
Frankish monks?”
Belle felt her stomach heave at the thought. The stories and mead mixed were
beginning to be too much for her. She felt a tug on her arm and saw it was
Thorin lifting her from her seat.
“Where are you off to Jarl?” one of the men called.
“I must see to it that my charge is returned to her quarters. It seems she can
not handle her mead!” He bellowed. The large raven haired man led her into the
chilly night.
She stumbled to the edge of the large wooden building and emptied her stomach.
A large hand held her hair out of the way from the vomit while another rubbed
at her back, not so gently.
“Belle?” A voice called from the back of the house.
“She is here,” Thorin said to the newcomer.
“What have you done to her?!” Fili snarled and attempted to pull Belle from
where she was leaning into Thorin.
 “Watch yourself, sister son,” Thorin growled lowly. “She has had too much mead
and her fragile sensibilities are a bit stunned from our victory tales. Leave
us be. Go back to burying your head in your woman’s skirts.”
Fili ignored his Uncle’s taunts and instead looked to Belle for an answer.
She waved him off but he did not take that for an answer. “I will make sure you
get to bed safely, Belle,” he told her ignoring his uncle’s warning growl.
“Why do you care?” Belle bit out.
“We are friends, are we not?” Fili asked surprised by her outburst.
“Are we? I thought we were but I heard you that day. ‘ What of the English
woman?’.  You could not even bother to use my name?” Fili stood absolutely
still in confusion.
“I can find my own bed by myself,” Belle growled and went stumbling in the
wrong direction of the Jarl’s longhouse before correcting her course.
“I will deal with you later for such disrespect of your Jarl” Thorin hissed at
the tall blonde man.
Belle stumbled up to the longhouse without any followers much to her delight.
She quickly fell into her bed and drifted into blissful drunken sleep for a few
hours until the sound of slapping skin awoke her.
The tawny haired woman blushed brightly at the moans and gasps coming from Dis
bed. On her silent feet, Belle slipped from her bed, grasping her furs tightly
to her chest and crept out of the room without the lovebirds noticing her. She
stopped at Kili and Tauriel’s bedroom, hoping perhaps she could bed with them.
Before she could even pull back the curtain she heard the telltale sound of
lips smacking. She huffed quietly and moved towards the front room. At one
point in time, she would have gone straight to Fili’s room but that was not
going to happen, no matter how drunk she was. Belle decided her best bet was to
curl up on one of the pallets used for sitting in the front room. She had just
gotten marginally comfortable when the large front door opened. Belle shivered
as the icy winds blew within the home. She peered over her furs to see Thorin
stumbling into the home. She huddled further into the furs around her and hoped
she could warm herself.
“Little mouse, come” Thorin whispered harshly.
Belle popped her head out of the furs and looked at Thorin with questioning
eyes. He gave her an impatient wave towards the back of the house. She did not
react just stared at him dumbly.
“It is cold. Come. You will sleep in my bed.” Thorin clarified impatiently.
Something within her was screaming “no” but it was so dulled by the alcohol in
her system she barely heard it. The thought of being in a warm bed was too
tempting to pass up. She threw her furs over her shoulder and trudged after
Thorin as he made his way up the stairs. Belle’s ears picked up the sound of
Dis and her guest reaching what sounded like their finish, but what did Belle
know. She had never had pleasurable sex. It was only ever painful with Smaug.
Thorin reached the loft room first, he pulled off his tunic and shed his pants
before climbing into the bed in just his underclothes. Belle was far too tired
and far too cold to care for modesty at the moment. She dropped her furs on top
of the bed and climbed in beside the large raven haired man. Within moments her
body began to absorb Thorin’s heat.
“By the Gods she is loud.” He grumbled under his breath when he heard Dis
scream out in what Belle hoped was pleasure not pain.
“Who is with her?” Belle asked quietly.
Thorin rolled onto his side to look at the tawny haired woman. “Bifur, I
think.”
Belle grimaced heavily at the news. It was not as if she found the man
unattractive, she just wished she did not know what his pleasure moans sounded
like.
Her face made Thorin snort in mirth.
“It does not bother you?” She asked.
“Bother me?” Thorin was confused by her words.
“You sister, you are hearing her having relations with a man and they are not
wed.” Belle clarified.
“Like I have said before, mouse, you are not in your homeland any longer. We do
things different here. It does not matter that they take pleasure in one
another. If a child was produced from such a union than it would matter then,
but if not. It is of no consequence.” Thorin told her sleepily. “You have much
to learn of our people, you are one of them now.”
Belle laid on her back staring at the ceiling, her eyes drooping with every
breath.
“Oh and for the love of the Gods, learn to handle your mead, woman. Vomit is
foul” With that Thorin fell into a deep sleep, snoring and all. Belle wanted to
punch him, she really did. But she was afraid of what he would do if she
startled him awake. So instead she allowed her mind to drift into
unconsciousness.
Throughout the cold night, Belle awoke multiple times. The first was her
attempting to fight off the vomit threatening to rise within her. She was able
to push it down and drift back to sleep.
The next was when her bed companion shifted in his sleep. A large heavy arm was
thrown over her tiny waist. She felt her body being dragged closer to the
immense heat on the other side of the bed. She sighed happily and cuddled more
into the warmth. Belle sleepily rubbed her cold nose against the warm skin in
front of her, eliciting a small grunt from her companion.
The last time she awoke it was to her companion once again shifting. Belle was
now draped across a broad hairy chest, she had one leg hitched up and wound
around one of her companions. In the back of her mind she knew she would be
horribly embarrassed by the way she was attached to her companion, but at the
moment she was so warm, comfortable and tired that she just did not care.
===============================================================================
Belle opened her bleary eyes with mass amounts of effort. It felt like someone
had poured sand into her eye sockets during the night. When she was finally
able to open her eyes fully she gazed around the room in a panic. Memories of
last night came flooding back to her. She shifted her painful eyes towards the
other side of the large bed and sighed with relief when she found it empty.
Thorin had already left for the morning. She was immensely grateful for that
fact. The all-encompassing embarrassment made itself known then. She dropped
her head into her hands and tried to will all of last night to be a dream. The
cuddling, the outburst at Fili and most definitely the vomiting.
“Get it together, Belle. It could be worse. Just act like nothing happened.”
She chanted to herself as she wrapped herself in her furs and crept down to her
own bedroom. Belle walked on silent feet into her shared room and wished she
had just gone about her day tasks wearing her shift and furs. As quick as
possible she pulled on one of her discarded wool dresses. She did not even stop
to pull on her apron or cloak. But no matter how much she tried she still got
more than an eyeful of a very naked and unconscious Bifur and Dis. A quick
survey of the house told her she and the two lovers were the only one’s still
left in the residence. Belle pulled on her boots and the rest of her outfit in
the hall before stepping towards the Great Hall. Perhaps she could still
rummage up some cold breakfast porridge.
The little English woman stumbled into the kitchens on unsteady feet. Waiting
there was the plump cook Vinna. She handed Belle a bowl of hot porridge and
nuts.
“Thank you.” Belle nearly sobbed.
Vinna chuckled, her deep dimples showing, and pinched one of Belle’s cheeks.
“You’re welcome, bunny”
Belle felt her heart break a little as she walked into the main dining area.
Her grandmother had been called little bunny and it appeared that Belle was
soon going to take over the name.
“Belle!” Tauriel called out to her breaking her from her somber thoughts.
Belle smiled at her redheaded friend but that smile soon dropped when she saw
who she was being placed next to, none other than her bed companion from the
night before Thorin. She remembered her words from earlier and stuck to them
like they were gospel.  ‘Just act like nothing happened’.
She sat down with her food and began to eat quietly while those around her
spoke animatedly, even Tauriel was speaking more than she normally did. She was
also being far more affectionate with Kili than Belle had ever seen before. The
redhead was nowhere near the level of affection that Gyda showed Dwalin but she
was near obscene in her attentions compared to her behavior towards Kili months
ago. Belle watched in shock as Tauriel pulled Kili into a kiss that involved
tongues. The tawny-haired girl looked across the table and locked confused eyes
with Fili.
“She is still drunk,” He told her in English so no others would understand.
“How?” Belle asked in fascination.
Fili shook his head. “I have never seen a woman consume as much mead as she did
last night.”
Belle grimaced. She could practically taste the mead and vomit from her night
lingering on her tongue. “Ugh”. She even felt like she could smell it. It was
not until Tauriel sloshed her drink ever so slightly that Belle realized the
smell was not memory but was present right under her nose. Her friend was still
drinking this morning.
“Tauriel. Why is there mead in your cup?”
Tauriel smirked and took a sip. “My people have a theory. You never have to
feel the pain after a night of drinking if you never stop.”
Belle looked at Kili in alarm but the man was too busy laughing hard enough to
snort.
“To my woman’s people!” He said raising his cup high. “They may not be able to
best us in battle but they know how to best us in drinking!”
The table roared with laughter. Belle looked around in disbelief. When her eyes
met Thorin’s he had mirth dancing in the ice blue orbs.
“Do not think you can follow in Tauriel’s footsteps, little mouse. Your
tolerance for Norse mead is shit.” He told her making the table roar with
laughter once again. She glared heavily at him before turning back to her
porridge. She finished her breakfast quickly and was one of the first to leave.
She wanted to milk the goats before she did anything else that day. She was
sure no one had milked them and she did not want them to be uncomfortable.
The little woman sat upon the wooden stool and began to hum as she milked the
animal. It was there that Tauriel found her near an hour later.
“How are you standing upright?” Belle asked her friend with a scoff.
Tauriel sat beside her friend and began to milk one of the remaining goats. Her
movements were slightly sloppy but she was still able to do the task with more
grace than Belle. “It is called weaning. The last cup of mead I will have for
the day was one I had at breakfast or perhaps at noonday. I have not decided.”
Belle did not understand it but she let it go. She had other things to think
on. Such as how much better Tauriel was doing at fitting in than Belle was. It
made her jealous in a way. The redhead had the fire of these people, she had
the drinking ability as well as being skilled in the art of killing. Belle had
none of these things going for her. She wondered if it was easier for Tauriel
because Kili helped keep her in line or if Tauriel just had a natural ability
to fit in with these people. Either way, Belle was envious.
The other thing she had on her mind was the walk with Canut. It was hanging
over her head in the most terrifying way. He was obviously not going to hurt
her now but if she ended up his wife what then? His moniker was “Canut the
Skull Splitter”. He was not a gentle man. Kili had told Belle the night before
that Canut was quite the jovial man, in fact. Tauriel did not share the
sentiment. The shaven-head man was one of the men that had taken her from her
homeland. He had shed the blood of warriors she had known. She had told Belle
as such loudly enough for all to overhear the night before. They had laughed
and clapped Canut on the back. Did Belle truly want to go anywhere with that
type of man? But in truth, she had not run into one man that had not shed the
blood of others unless she wanted to be with a thrall. These thoughts plagued
her mind as she went about her daily chores. It was nearing time for the night
meal when she ran into the red-bearded man.
She had just finished scouring wool with Dis. It was an awkward affair for
Belle. Dis, of course, was not affected. She spoke in great detail to Gyda, who
was beside Belle, about her night. In her words “Bifur fucked like an animal,
one that she would volunteer to ride anytime.” Gyda spoke of her own
experiences with the man and his brother Bofur. She had at one point in time
“sampled” them both. Belle’s virgin mind was running a mile a minute as she
thought of what doing such a thing back home would do for the woman. If the
woman was of high standing, such as she, they could be punished severely
perhaps even put to death. Here, though, it was not a rare thing to do. It was
not a punishable offense. It was just...life? Belle had a hard time wrapping
her mind around it. That is why she had taken the long way back to the Great
Hall for supper. She wondered at what the women had said. Could sex actually be
pleasurable? Any woman back home would tell you no, but here that was certainly
not the case. Belle’s mind sifted through these thoughts as she walked.
“Belle Gothidótturdóttir!” A voice boomed from behind her.
She turned in alarm and saw Canut jogging towards her with a large smile on his
face. “Hello, Canut,” She said politely once he was closer.
“Hello.” He panted slightly. “I am sorry I did not collect you today as
promised. I was ill”
Belle couldn’t help but look at him differently than she had last night. He was
apologizing to her. He was using manners. It was conflicting with the warrior
persona she had heard so much of the night before.
“It is quite alright. I was ill as well.” She told him softly.
“Perhaps I can take you tomorrow?” Canut asked with a hopeful lilt.
“Uhh..” Belle stalled. She wanted to say no. That she feared him too much. But
at that moment she caught a pair of ice blue eyes staring at her from the
entrance to the Grand Hall. The Jarl had his large arms crossed over his chest
and was openly staring at her with a smirk on his face.
Belle shook her head to clear thoughts of the night before when he was bare-
chested and in bed with her. She hated him and that smug look he wore as if he
had succeeded in scaring her away from Canut and was supremely happy about it.
“I would love to take a walk with you tomorrow,” Belle told Canut with a
strained smile.
The tall man smiled happily and bowed his head to her before taking his leave.
Belle walked back towards Thorin, schooling her features.
“How did he take the news?” The raven haired Jarl asked with the same smirk
upon his face.
“What news?”
“That you had changed your mind about taking a  walk  with him?” Thorin
clarified.
“I did not change my mind. Why would I?” Now it was Belle’s turn to smirk as
Thorin’s scowl took over his face. "We are going tomorrow" She walked past him
and into the Great Hall to fill her belly with warm food.
===============================================================================
 
Her walk with Canut had been...interesting. Belle had decided she would not
fear him. She would be brave and find out what type of a man he truly was. He
had spoken with her about his family and the places he had seen. He spoke of
his love for the sea and that his favorite food was the claws of the enormous
crabs that were found in the ocean. Canut had given her a scandalized look when
she said that she had never had them before. He promised her as soon as the ice
melted he would bring her some to eat. Belle had been so engrossed in their
conversation that she found herself forgetting all her fears and seeing him for
what he was...a human being. He had a mother and a father. Both still living.
He had two younger sisters and one younger brother. His brother was only six
years old, a child still. When he spoke of his mother Belle could see the boy
underneath the warrior. He loved his mother, would do anything for her. He was
kind and funny. But the most surprising thing was that he liked  her . He said
he thought she was smart and he liked that in a woman. The shaven head man
asked her about what she liked and disliked. He did not make a face when she
said she enjoyed reading. He did not grimace or say it was not a woman’s place
to learn when she said she knew many languages. He did no such thing to show he
did not approve of her knowledge. He only stared at her with an impressed look
on his face and told her he thought it was a good thing for a woman to have a
level head upon her shoulders. It had stunned Belle into near speechlessness
making the tall man laugh.
“Did I surprise you?”
Belle nodded her curly head.
“What fun is a woman who can not think for herself?” Canut asked.
===============================================================================
 
“What fun indeed…” Belle thought as she walked towards Gothi’s home. She had
come back from her walk with Canut to a message from Gothi to meet her at his
home. He had something important to discuss with her.
“Grandfather?” Belle called out as she tapped on the door.
“Enter” He called from within.
Belle stepped into the room and took in the sight of her grandfather sitting
upon his pallet looking at her with his white eye. He looked...upset.
“What is it? Are you well?” she asked worriedly.
“We must speak,” Gothi told her and tilted his head towards the chair across
from him.
The tawny-haired girl sat in the chair, her stomach rolling with nerves.
“Belle. Many men have come to speak with me this day.” Gothi’s gravely voice
held something she could not detect.
“Did I do something wrong? I have tried very hard to fit in, to become one of
you. I have been taking lessons from Sigrid! I try to keep my mouth shut...for
the most part. I…”
Gothi shook his head and waved his hand as if to say that was not it. “They
have asked for your hand in marriage.”
Chapter End Notes
     I swear the whole Fili and Belle debacle is going to be solved
     shortly. This is the last outburst.
     I warred with myself on whether or not to have Canut play a love
     interest role with Belle. In the end, I believed he would be able to
     help me as far as Thorin's "punishment" went.
     I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.
     Thanks for reading! :)
***** Thorin *****
Chapter Notes
     Sorry this chapter is so late!
     Please forgive me. :)
See the end of the chapter for more notes
“What bit you in the arse?” Dis voice grated against his ears.
“Quiet, woman” Thorin growled in response.
The raven haired woman rolled her eyes at her brother and turned back to
stroking the fire. “Where is Belle?”
Thorin clenched his jaw at the mention of the little woman. She was the reason
he had been more than irritable these last two weeks. He felt as if he could
not escape her. The snows had been heavy meaning all were caught in doors.
There were too many kept within his home for his comfort. All were paired up
and it angered him. Sigrid and Fili were upon one another constantly. Kili was
attached to Tauriel’s skirts worse than any child Thorin had ever seen. Bifur
and Dis were constantly giving each other lustful looks from across the
longhouse and humping in darkened rooms at every chance. Then there was Belle.
Canute began to appear more and more as the days blended into weeks. He was
there to deliver trinkets to the girl, or to take her on walks. He only
achieved such things after she had been bundled more than a newborn infant.
Tauriel and Thorin had built a type of silent kinship over their hatred of the
relationship budding between Belle and Canute. Tauriel glared and snarled under
her breath the same as Thorin did every time that three point knock sounded on
their door. It was so cheerful and so purely Canute. More than once Thorin had
been caught in a daydream of cleaving the man’s chest open and ripping out his
still beating heart.
He had caught Tauriel snarling in time with him once again when that three
point knock rang out this time.
“Will you two quit?” Dis told the both of them with a glare.
Thorin narrowed his eyes as Tauriel rolled hers towards the raven haired woman.
Belle came rushing out of her room she shared with Dis...shared for the moment.
Thorin felt a plan beginning to brew within him. Kili opened the front door to
reveal Canute standing there a large smile on his face. His cheeks and nose
were ruddy from the cold biting at them. His red beard was large and bushy and
he wore a warm hat upon his head.
“Canute! Enter, my friend” Kili told the man with a large smile and a slap on
the shoulder.
Thorin found it interesting that though Kili’s woman hated the man, Kili
remained friends with him.
“Jarl Thorin” Canute bowed his head in respect towards Thorin. In return,
Thorin only tilted his head towards the man.
“Beautiful Belle” Canute bent his frame towards the tiny woman. He grabbed her
hand and pressed his lips to it.
The giggle that came from the tawny haired woman had Thorin seeing red. She
should not be giggling for any other than him. He was so far in his anger that
he did not hear or see the two leave. It was not until the heavy doors shut
that he was able to calm himself, but not by much. His movements were jerky as
he stood and pulled on his fur coat, gloves, and hat.
“Where are you going?” Dis asked.
“Out!” Thorin barked and slammed the door behind him.
===============================================================================
“Jarl Thorin” Gothi said as he opened the door.
“Gothi.” the Jarl answered shortly as he stepped around the old gray man.
Gothi closed the door tightly and moved towards his pallet. “What brings you?”
“You are the priest. I thought you would already know” Thorin sassed.
Gothi’s expression turned hard. “Do not get smart with me, boy. Don’t forget
who taught you how to fight.” As if to emphasize his point the old man tapped
his staff against the packed dirt floor.
Thorin felt the reprimand deep within him. “I came to speak with you of Belle.”
“You wish to ask for her hand as the others have?”
Thorin felt his entire body go rigid. His insides clenched and his blood ran
cold. “Others?” He asked through clenched teeth. “Who?”
Gothi stared blankly at Thorin for a few agonizing minutes before answering.
“Canute. Sigurd. Bofur. Erikir. Magnus. Ubbe.”
Within seconds Thorin had devised ways to kill most of the men. But perhaps it
would be easier to simply get them to lose interest in her. Erikir and Bofur
could be commanded to drop their suits. Both were extremely loyal and if Thorin
asked them to, they would cease their pursuit. Canute, Sigurd, Magnus and Ubbe
would be another story. Ubbe was a farmer, not a raider so he could not be sent
on the next raid. But Canute, Sigurd and Magnus could. Ubbe could
be...persuaded with money to drop his suit.
“Cease your planning, Thorin.” Gothi’s gravely voice broke through his
thoughts. “I find it interesting that for months you hated her. Everything
about her. Your hatred plagued my blood. To know the only thing that saved her
from a horrible death is your loyalty to me, hurts my heart. And yet, here you
stand wishing for her hand? How did that happen, Jarl? The Gods have been
silent on the matter.”
‘How did that happen?’Thorin wondered. He could not pinpoint exactly when his
attitude towards her changed. He found her attractive from the moment they had
stormed her castle and she stood against them with just a sword. He found her
attractive when he pulled her from the sea, the first and the second time. He
found he enjoyed her cooking when she made meat pies. He found he liked to hear
her speak when she would sit with Fili and talk to his unconscious form. He
would stand outside the door and listen to her talk of her books for more time
than he would ever willingly admit. He had felt immense fear when he saw her
fall from the Troll’s Tooth cliff, it is what prompted him to jump over the
edge to her rescue. He found her amusing when she called him “mean” outside of
Gothi’s home the night she learned of her lineage. He felt his chest warm when
she had embraced him in thanks for the books he saved for her. He found himself
wanting to kiss her softly when she had been laughing with the other women in
the weaving loom. He had not held back when she had fallen asleep drunk in his
bed. He had allowed himself to place a kiss into her curly hair. It felt more
thrilling than any raid or battle he had even been a part of. The way his heart
leapt from his chest and sprinted away from him was addicting.
“Who said I wish for her hand?” Thorin asked Gothi, keeping his features in an
impassive mask. “I never did. You assumed.”
The old seer closed his eyes and shook his head in disappointment. “Lie to
yourself if you must. But know that this blind man can see better than any
other with both his eyes.”
Thorin clenched his jaw tightly and rose from his chair swiftly, knocking it
backward. He stomped out the door, but a hand on his shoulder kept him from
getting much further.  
“A warning, Thorin. The bears are coming to feast upon your flock. Prepare
yourself.” Gothi shut the door swiftly behind Thorin aggravating the Jarl. On
the walk back through the snow, Thorin thought on the seer’s words. ‘The bears?
What bears? The Swedes? The Danes, perhaps? It must be the Dane’s.’Thorin’s
thoughts began to be consumed with planning. His worries over Belle evaporated
as the welfare of his people came to the forefront of his mind.
===============================================================================
Thorin gazed at the ships with disdain. The winter had caused deep cracks in
the hulls.
“Can it be salvaged?” Thorin asked Nori.
The face painted man shook his head with a large grimace upon his face. “No.
These are done for. The others...can be repaired. But these two...no”
Thorin hated losing ships. If taken care of, they could last many years and
these two had. But that meant as soon as the snow thawed two more ships would
need to be built. Not just any ships either, these were two of the largest in
Thorin’s fleet. The Jarl scratched at his dark beard and gazed at the ships.
“What do you plan to do with the ships?” A little voice asked beside him,
startling the tall Jarl.
Thorin looked sharply beside him and saw Belle with Gyda linked at the arms.
They had both been so silent Thorin would be impressed if they hadn’t surprised
him.
“Torn apart to be used for various purposes. Perhaps for a new ship.” Balin
answered her in a soft tone.
“I have an idea if you would be open to hearing it,” Belle said looking at
Thorin.
Thorin glared heavily at Belle, to his surprise she did not shrink back. She
held his stare until he broke eye contact because of someone clearing their
throat. “What is your idea, mouse?” He emphasized the word as if he were
speaking to a dumb child.
Balin shot him a look that clearly advised him to be kinder, but the Jarl had
no desire to listen to his advisor.
“Sink them at the opening of the fjord.”
It was silent for a moment before the men began to chuckle loudly. “Sink them?
For what purpose, silly girl?” Nori asked wiping charcoal tinted tears from his
eyes.
Belle shrunk back into herself until Gyda nudged her with her shoulder
prompting the girl to stand up straight and finish her thought.
“You sink them at the opening of the fjord so when enemy ships try to take your
harbor they crash their boats upon your sunken ships hiding beneath the waves,”
Belle said, her little chin held high.
“And what of our own ships? Will we not crash on them as well?” Dwalin asked.
He was the only one that had not doubled over in laughter at the girl’s idea.
Thorin guessed it was because his wife did not laugh. And if she did not find
it funny, Dwalin had better not either if he wished to sleep in her bed.
“That is the beauty of it!” Belle said excitedly. “Your men know where the
ships are. They can avoid them! It is perfect, can’t you see? It is a trap they
will never anticipate!”
Thorin crossed his arms over his broad chest as he thought the idea over.
“Get back the kitchens. Your head is too full of fairy tales, Little Girl.”
Dori taunted.  
Belle shook her head, feeling dejected and walked back towards the kitchen,
alone.
Thorin felt rage bubble within. He had never wanted to kill the blonde before,
but now he was having thoughts of slitting Dori’s throat for such disrespect of
Belle. Thorin was jerked out of his thinking by the sound of one body hitting
another. He looked down and saw that Gyda had tackled Dori to the ground and
held him at ax point.
“Continue to insult her honor and I will gut you.” Gyda snarled. She ran the
sharp ax down his cheek bringing blood to the surface before Dwalin could
remove his woman from the blonde headed man. Dori stood wiping the blood from
his cheek.
“Bitch” Dori snarled at her.
Dwalin released his wife allowing the woman to land a swift headbutt to Dori’s
nose making the man stumble backward. Thorin stood back allowing them to solve
their problems. The sound of cackling laughter cut through the tense silence.
Nori was once again wiping tears from his eyes. “She got you good brother!” The
face painted man said in gasping breath.
Gyda soon joined in laughing along with the redhead. Both were berserkers
together for a few years before Gyda decided to try breeding and they were two
of the maddest among Thorin's warriors. Some believed they were addled in the
brain because of all the mushrooms they ate before the battle but Thorin
preferred to think of them as...passionate.
Dori looked towards Thorin as if the raven haired Jarl was going to do
something. He only shrugged his strong shoulders and shook his head at the
blonde. Dori huffed and stalked off to his own longhouse.
All were quiet once the blonde had left. They stared out towards the fjord for
many minutes until Balin spoke. “Sinking the ships is not the worst idea I have
heard.”
===============================================================================
Thorin began to look at Belle differently once again. It was no secret that
Gothi Grey had been one of the best battle strategists in his time. He had
saved countless of their men and had doubled the death count of the enemy with
his tactics. Thorin knew it was a gift from the Gods, now he wondered if the
little Belle had the gift as well. Sinking the ships at the opening of the
fjord was a brilliant idea, he, of course, would never say it aloud. He had a
reputation to uphold but that did not mean he would not put her idea to use. It
was a good idea. Thorin stuck by this thought as he watched the boats
disappearing beneath the waves. He could see Nori leading the operation from
where Thorin stood on the shore. The ginger haired man was roaring in victory
as the last ship went under with just the bubbles rising as it’s only indicator
of what had once sailed proudly upon the waters. The men clapped and hollered
happily from the ship holding them above the freezing water. Thorin laughed
along with them.
“So he does laugh.” Belle’s voice said from behind him, startling him once
again.
Thorin turned and glared at the woman, although with much less heat than he
wished.
“Please do not stop on my account,” Belle told him with a small smirk.
“What do you want, Little Mouse?”
It was now Belle’s turn to glare. Thorin felt excitement run through him at the
fierce look upon her face. He loved getting a rise out of her.
“First you can call me by my name and not Little Mouse. I hate that name. And
second Dis asked me to fetch you. She says she must speak with you
immediately.” Belle answered crossing her arms over her chest. Thorin nodded
and began to walk towards his home, with Belle at his side. Dwalin would be
angry that he did not wait for him to return from the ship but he would get
over it. Thorin did not enjoy being guarded at all hours of the day.
Thorin looked down at his walking companion to see her with a large smile on
her face, though to her credit she was attempting to hide it. She looked up at
him and knew she had been caught.
“So it was a good idea, hmm?” Belle said triumphantly.
Thorin rolled his eyes but did not say much else. He was afraid he would do
something incredibly stupid and tell her she had a beautiful smile or that he
loved to see her emerald eyes alight with happiness. So he kept his mouth shut
and only snorted in response. He was silently gleeful that his response did not
dim her happiness.
“I have more ideas if you would like to hear them,” Belle said as they
approached his longhouse.
Thorin was pleasantly surprised by that. “Hmm. We will have to speak of it
soon, Little Mouse.”
The Jarl watched as her face fell into anger. “That is not my name.” She
snarled.
This time Thorin could not keep his face in check. He grinned widely. “And what
should I call you instead, my mouse?”
A blush ran down Belle’s face and onto her chest making Thorin curious if her
entire chest turned that color, perhaps even down to those rosy nipples of
hers. He desperately wanted to find out.
“I am not your anything! Especially not your damned mouse!” Belle hissed and
stalked off towards the kitchens muttering angrily under her breath. Thorin
laughed loudly at her retreating form. When he had finally collected himself he
stepped into his home to find a pacing Dis.
“What is it?” Thorin asked worriedly.
Dis was not one to pace. It was a sure sign something was amiss. That and the
tears running down her cheeks.
“Kili? Fili?” Thorin asked worriedly.
Dis shook her dark head.
“Are you hurt?” He grabbed her by her shoulders gently and began to look over
her.
“No. Thorin. I...need to tell you something.” Dis said in a watery voice.
Thorin led his sister to a chair and sat her down. “What is it?”
Dis ice blue eyes looked up into his own showing him something he had
previously missed in his examination...happiness.
“I am pregnant.” Dis blurted with a large smile.
Thorin’s brain took a moment to process what his dear sister was saying.
“Pregnant? A baby?”
Dis nodded. “It is a miracle. After Kili, old Jøn said I would never have
another. But l am! I am pregnant. I am sure of it. I have missed two
monthlies.”
Thorin felt conflicting emotions hit him all at once. The first was disgust for
hearing of his sister’s bleed weeks. The second was happiness for her. The
third was anger at Bifur for impregnating his sister. And the last was fear,
Dis almost did not make it through her last pregnancy eighteen years ago when
she birthed Kili.
“Is that wise? You are old to be carrying a child.” Thorin asked. He was so
preoccupied in his worry that he did not see her hand coming at his face but he
did feel the slap sharply. “Fuck Dis!” He growled standing and rubbing at his
face.
“Old!? You believe I am too OLD to have a babe!?” Dis roared. “You bastard!”
She swung at him again, this time with her fist. Thorin caught her hand with
his own and threw it back down to her side.
“That is not what I meant and you know it, Dis. I fear for you. I do not wish
you to die in childbirth.”
This only angered Dis more. “You do not wish me that honor? If I die in
childbirth I go to Sessrúmnir, you do not want that for me? How dare you!”
Thorin grimaced and looked to the ceiling as Dis continued to scream at him
about his disrespect and she would kill others for far less. That he was lucky
he was her favorite brother for she did not want him dead, yet. When she had
finally begun to lose her steam Thorin looked back at her, arms crossed over
his chest.
“Are you done?” He did not wait for her to answer. “I do wish for you to have
honor when you die. I simply do not wish to lose you from my side just yet.”
Dis smiled softly at him before launching herself at him and wrapping her arms
around his waist. “I accept your apology for your foolish words.”
“I did not apologize, woman,” Thorin said with a small smile. He felt the punch
to his gut pushing all the air from his lungs harshly.  
Dis glared at him but he could still see the happiness beneath the anger. She
had wished for years for another child. Vili and Dis had tried for another
child up until his death but the Gods had never blessed those two with another.
They chose instead to wait many years and bless only Dis with her greatest
wish. This was why Thorin could not kill Bifur for impregnating his sister. She
was blissful about being pregnant. And Bifur had granted her something she
desperately wanted.
“Does Bifur know?” Thorin asked as he sat heavily in a nearby chair.
“No.”
“He is going to have to marry you.” Thorin scrubbed at his face harshly as he
began to think of the wedding feast they would need to prepare. “Or I could
take his head. I will let him choose.”
Dis scoffed and sat down heavily across from her older brother.
“He may wish for me to take his head once you begin to resemble an angry boar.”
Another slap landed on Thorin’s chest making him bark out in laughter. “I have
never resembled an angry boar,” Dis growled.
This caused Thorin to laugh near hysterically. He mussed his little sister’s
(now grown sister’s) raven hair with a large hand. “Oh, wee sister. If you do
not remember, I was there for both of your pregnancies. Vili and I both cowered
in fear at your angry huffing and squealing.”  
Dis looked as if she were fighting laughter off. Her face turned a brilliant
shade of red before the laughter bubbled out of her. “Vili ran from me once.”
Thorin laughed merrily at the memory. “Once again, I was there Dis! You were
chasing him with a battle ax. Have respect for the dead and tell the story
correctly.”
Dis wiped the tears from her eyes and choked back laughter until it finally
resided. “Odin bless that man. I miss him.”
Thorin nodded along with his sister. Vili had been a close friend to Thorin.
The blonde had been the first to befriend the young Dis and Thorin. Vili had
been waiting on the shores of the Blue Mountains Settlement with the rest of
the settlement to welcome the survivors of the Wareham massacre. Vili had
fallen in love with Dis at first sight. It had taken Dis a bit longer but in
the end Vili had won her over. Thorin had liked the man because he reminded him
of his goofy younger brother, Frerin. Dis vehemently disagreed, but she was
wrong, at least according to Thorin.
“Dis.” Bifur’s gravely voice broke through Thorin and Dis trip down memory
lane.
Dis looked towards Thorin asking for privacy. Thorin nodded once to his sister
and stood. As he walked past the black haired man the Jarl clapped him on the
shoulder.
“Make the right choice by my sister or I will kill you and all your kin”
Bifur looked at the Jarl with a confused look on his face until he gazed upon
Dis. The woman had both hands over her stomach in a very obvious gesture. The
last thing Thorin saw before he stepped out the doors was Bifur kneeling before
Dis with both hands on her stomach in awe.
===============================================================================
 
Dis did not wish for much fanfare for her wedding. It was winter and she
understood that the wedding feast would be small. Lasting only one night
instead of the traditional three nights. Kili and his woman had gone out
hunting and had somehow managed to take down a reindeer. Thorin was beginning
to believe the rumors surrounding the redheaded Celtic woman were true. In the
markets, the center for all gossip, they were saying she had the hunting skill
of the goddess Skaði.It seemed the woman did not have to even aim, she simply
picked up a bow and launched and arrow haphazardly and she could kill an
animal. At least that is what Bofur had said. The man did embellish quite a bit
but Thorin had living, or rather dead, proof that she was as good a hunter as
Bofur said. She always came back with a kill. That is when Kili would actually
let her out of the house. The young man was more protective than a bear with
her cubs. He was constantly ridiculed for it, even by the woman herself, but he
did not apologize for it nor did he seem ashamed. Thorin shook his head at the
thought. To be so attached to a woman’s apron strings that you follow her
wherever she goes and do not act as a man should. Stoic and strong. Kili did
neither of those things. He trotted behind the redhead like an overly dependent
cub. Thorin had had enough of watching Kili trail after the woman at his own
mother's wedding.
“Kili” Thorin called to the man who was currently attempting to put a blanket
upon Tauriel’s lap as they sat at the banquet table.
Kili stilled in his attempts and turned towards his uncle. “What?”
“Leave the woman be!” Thorin called causing all those around him to laugh.
Kili glared at him heavily and turned back towards Tauriel. She rolled her eyes
but accepted the blanket just so the dark-haired man would discontinue his
nitpicking. When Dis was dragged out of the longhouse by Bifur all roared and
celebrated for the two. Near the time foolish men began to fall asleep at the
tables and wise men had stumbled home Thorin was prepared to call it a night.
“Little Mouse.” He called to the curly haired woman who was currently speaking
tiredly with young Ori. 
Canute had left an hour before to stumble to bed, but he did not leave without
pressing a kiss to Belle’s temple. Thorin had shattered his drinking glass from
their trade routes in the east when he saw the action. Fili gazed at his uncle
curiously but wisely did not comment. It had angered Thorin much to see Canute
share such an intimate gesture. The only thing that kept Thorin from
challenging Canute in a fight to the death was that Belle looked extremely
uncomfortable, dare he say, displeased by the action. Much like how she looked
now when answering Thorin’s call.  
“My name is Belle. You may call me Belle or Little Belle if you must. I will
even go as far as to say you may call me little bunny but cease this “little
mouse” thing.” The woman huffed angrily.
Thorin only smirked down at her from his throne of furs not bothering to
apologize or say anything else on the matter. He rather enjoyed these
interactions and he had a sneaking suspicion she did not hate them as much as
she led on.
“You are to sleep with me tonight,” he told her with a straight face. He hid
the glee and desire within.
Belle’s face turned a bright shade of red and then purple. She stepped closer
to him and narrowed her eyes. “I will do no such thing. And do not speak so
loud!” She shushed him.
“And why not?”
Belle sat beside Thorin uninvited but he did not feel like telling her to
evacuate Dis regular seat. Anyone else he would forcefully remove them. But
Belle fit up here with him and if things went the way he was planning this
would be her rightful place in time.
“People will believe I am a harlot!” She snarled quietly. Her emerald eyes
darting around to make sure no one was listening in on their conversation.
Thorin scoffed at her words. “You see them?” He pointed to a man currently
swaying on his feet with a woman helping to prop him up on his left side and
another man on the woman’s opposite side. Belle nodded that she did, in fact,
asee the trio. 
“They will all be humping one another before the sun rises.” The raven haired
Jarl watched Belle’s face carefully. The color drained from her face
completely.
“Two men?” She asked shocked.
“Two men with the one woman. They will probably both take an end of her.”
Thorin said nonchalantly but within he was enthralled by Belle’s reactions. She
was awestruck and horribly scandalized.
“Do you see those two women?” He asked the tiny woman. Who barely nodded in
return. “They prefer to have each other in their beds than a man. Though they
are both married. Their husbands are traders and gone much. So they make the
best of their time alone.”
Thorin leaned over the armrest of his chair to place his face mere inches from
Belle’s. “You could be having sex with Canute and I and none would dare call
you a harlot.”
The little woman shook her head, her curls swinging with the motion. “How can
that be?” She asked in a dazed tone. Thorin would swear she was aroused if she
were any other woman than the pure virgin-minded English girl.
“Because they know I would take their heads if they so much as muttered it near
you, Little Belle..” Thorin jerked backward slightly in surprise at the words
that had rushed from his mouth without permission. He had not meant to say any
of that. He looked at her to see if she had heard him and it appeared she had.
She was looking at him with a confused and startled look upon her face. She
truly did resemble the bunnies of the forest with her large eyes rounded in
shock.
“But we are not speaking of sex. We are speaking of sleep. I do not believe you
wish to be back in Dis room tonight. She is a newlywed and she is loud enough
to be heard through the walls of the home, imagine being in the actual room.
Hhmmm?” Thorin hummed with a smirk. He was hoping he had spoken enough to
distract her from the fact that he had not only shown a bit of his true
feelings for her but that he had called her by her name and not the ridiculous
nickname he had given her. “It is too cold for you to sleep on the pallets
again. Who else would you sleep with?”
“She may sleep with us,” Tauriel announced from where she was standing in front
of them.
Every warrior's sense within him screamed at his negligence. He had neglected
to notice the redheads approach. He had been too enraptured by Belle and her
stinging tongue to notice much else.  Tauriel reached out a hand to Belle and
the little woman grabbed it urgently.
“Wait...wha…?” Kili said as he choked around a mouth full of mead.
“She is sleeping with us, Kili” Tauriel snarled firmly. Kili’s face immediately
crumbled but he nodded and followed his woman and Belle, still hand in hand,
out the doors.
Thorin watched them leave with rage building inside him. Any seedling of
comradery that had grown between he and the redhead was now demolished. She
took something he wanted desperately...Belle within his bed once more. 
===============================================================================
 
Thorin threw himself deeper into his role as Jarl. Gothi’s vision had been a
gift from the Gods. The gift of time to prepare. And prepare he did. New
weapons were made, every warrior’s sword and arrows were sharpened and armor
was repaired. The sunken ships were weighing on Thorin’s mind heavily. He hoped
that he had not sent precious spare wood down under the waves for no reason at
all. He prayed to the Gods that Belle had been gifted with the foresight of her
forefathers. Thorin had attempted to get more information from her only living
ancestor but the man would say no more. It was infuriating for the raven haired
man but he knew how these things worked. The Gods enjoyed riddles and would
only give their mouthpiece small bits and pieces at a time. But the more Thorin
thought of it the more he began to believe he knew who was coming for them. The
remains of this enemy’s son lay scattered in the surrounding lands. Azog had
been known as the Bear Man for more than just his gargantuan size. The scars
upon his face were caused by a pet bear that got a little too hungry and
attacked. Thorin was sure that was who was coming to their lands. Azog the
Defiler, Azog the Bear man, Azog left hand of the dragon.
===============================================================================
 
Thorin walked into his home after doing his rounds of the settlement. Every
able bodied man and woman was prepared to fight, excited even. This is what he
loved about his people. They were fighters. They did not sit back and take
abuse such as the English. His people were the aggressors and he loved it. The
sound of sniffling had Thorin’s senses on high alert. He pulled out his sword
and crept down the hallway. He peaked into Fili’s room and saw the bed expertly
made and the room spotless.
‘Sigrid’s doing, no doubt’Thorin thought.
He turned towards Kili’s room and that is where he found Belle shedding furs
from her body and stuffing them into a basket nearby. She was sniffling and
wiping at the tears falling from her eyes. After surveying that there was no
danger Thorin put his sword away quietly and waited for the woman to notice
him. He leaned against the doorframe and watched her move. She seemed to have
thickened out being around his people and not wearing the torture device around
her stomach any longer. He wondered if that was the doing of the dragon. He
wondered if the evil man had made his wife wear such a contraption. The thought
added another reason to hate the man on the already endless list.
“Thorin!” Belle cried and jumped back a step, then immediately turned her back
towards him.
“Belle” Thorin answered calmly.
“What are you doing here?” Belle asked, her back still turned. He could tell
her voice was watery but he did not comment on it.
“It is my home, is it not?”
Belle glared at him over her shoulder but nodded. “Yes. I suppose it is.”
Thorin decided he had quite enough of talking to her back and got close enough
to turn her towards him. “Why are you crying? Did someone disrespect you?” He
tried to contain his rage but it did not work too well.
Belle looked up at him with wide eyes and shook her head. “No. No. Nothing of
the sort. I am just being silly”
“Silly? Why?”
Belle huffed and sat upon the bed. “I'm horribly embarrassing.”
“Who embarrassed you?!” Thorin roared.
The little English woman shrunk back in fear. “No one! Canute promised me he
would take me sledding, whatever that is. He made it sound fun. But he had to
cancel and do patrols instead. I began to cry and it is embarrassing.”
Thorin’s brows crinkled together in confusion. “And you are sad because he went
back on his promise?”
“Like I said it is silly! You do not need to embarrass me more than I already
am!” Belle snarled.
Thorin held up both hands in defense. “I am not trying to embarrass you I
simply do not understand you.”
“I am just tired! That is why I am overreacting!” the little woman cried.
Her mood swings were terrifying him. Thorin sat beside her and patted at her
back awkwardly. “Why are you tired? Are Kili and Tauriel not allowing you to
sleep with them any longer?”
Belle shook her curly head. “No. That is not it. They both kick in their sleep!
It is like they are trying to run while in a dream. They are constantly moving
and it wakes me.” She said and looked towards the ceiling, huffing all the
while.
Thorin could not stop the chuckle that bubbled up his throat. “I know he does.
Fili and Kili used to sleep with me when they were babes sometimes. Fili would
sleep talk and Kili would sleep walk. I would have to practically gag Fili to
get him to shut up. And Kili I would tie him to the bed to keep him from
running out of the bed in his sleep.”
It was as if all of Thorin’s dreams were coming true when Belle began to laugh.
He had never thought a sound could make his entire existence click together but
here it was. He felt as if his world were moving to center itself to the little
woman. Her laugh bubbled like a fresh stream running over rocks. It was the
sound of glorious life itself, so refreshing and lovely he was sure he had
never heard anything so wonderful. He realized he had been staring at her in
awe for far too long and turned away. The image of her, head back, mouth open
with a large smile and eyes crinkled closed would be seared into his brain
forever, at least he hoped so.
“You are jesting,” Belle said merrily.
“I jest not. It is the Gods honest truth.” Thorin assured her, with a large
smile of his own.
After the two had calmed from their laughter they sat side by side on the bed
silently until Belle looked over at him with a calculating gaze.
“May I tell you something?”
Thorin immediately became serious. He pulled on his Jarl mask and became
utterly emotionless. “What is it?”
Belle twisted her little hands together. “I must repent.”
Thorin was once again confused by the little woman. He did not understand her
words. Repent?
As if she sensed his confusion she began to explain herself.
“I must apologize.” She clarified. “I have been angry with you.”
Thorin smirked because this he already knew. “And?”
“I am angry with you for many things but the biggest of them all recently is
sending Canute to patrol today.”
Thorin shook his head. “You misunderstand. I did send Canute on patrol. He
volunteered. All my men do”
“Volunteer? They willing choose to be in potential danger?” Belle asked.
Thorin stood then and put his hands behind his back as he paced. “Yes. Not a
single one of my warriors is commanded to fight for me. They are all
volunteers. They choose to fight with me and protect their people or go out and
raid.”
Once again the little woman’s eyes were large. “Why would they do that?”
Thorin looked her over once more. She was a smart woman, he knew this. But she
was naive in the ways of his people, even still with Sigrid’s lessons. “Honor.”
He answered simply. “When we die by blade or arrow in battle we go to Valhalla.
We live every day as if it may be our last and we are prepared to die. Because
Valhalla is where we wish to be. So, my warriors, my people, are not afraid to
die. We find honor in it. We will be rewarded for dying while fighting. That is
why my people volunteer to fight.”
Belle stared at him for a long minute as if digesting this information before
she spoke. “You do not order them to march to their deaths?”
Thorin was offended by her words but tried not to let it show. “No. I am not
Smaug. My people have choice.”
“I am sorry I have thought such ill of you,” Belle said softly.
Thorin was at a loss for words. He chose instead to just grunt softly in
acknowledgment of her words. Feeling as if he needed to escape the strange air
that was around them he began to leave the room but something nagged at him. He
turned abruptly and words began to fall from his mouth.
“Get dressed” he ordered.
“I am dressed…” Belle said slowly.
“I mean get dressed to spend time outside.”
“Uh...Why?” She pressed.
“Because one of my men made a promise he did not keep. As his Jarl I choose to
fulfill that promise in his stead.” He said proudly, his shoulders back and his
chest out. When he saw that Belle still had not moved he spurred her forward.
“Unless you are too scared to go sledding with the big bad Jarl, Little Mouse.”
He cheered as he saw her eyes light with fire and she began to pull on her furs
and cloak once again. He left the room to allow her privacy and to begin his
own layering of furs and fabrics. It was a nice enough day but it was still
near freezing with a few feet of snow upon the ground. Thorin gathered the sled
and attached it to his winter horse. When Belle stepped out of the home bundled
head to toe in furs he was prepared for her. He motioned for her to sit beside
him on the sled. When she did as he bid with only one wary glance he put a fur
across her lap and snapped his reins. The horse took off and soon they were
gliding through the snow.
“Oh!” Belle screeched when they took off and on instinct grabbed his arm in a
death grip. Soon she was laughing as the cold winter air rushed past them. It
had been so long since Thorin had enjoyed an outing or done anything that did
not have to do with his Jarl duties. It felt so freeing. He felt as if he had
sprouted wings and taken off within the sky. When he looked at Belle she seemed
to be feeling the same thing. She had released his arm and had opened her arms
as if to feel the wind beneath her freedom wings.
Once they had reached the outskirts of the settlement Thorin slowed the horse
down into a trot. Belle’s nose and cheeks were bright red with the chill but
her eyes were alight with excitement. He took them up a small hill before
stopping the horse and jumping from the sled to tie the reins to a nearby tree.
“What are you doing?” Belle asked nervously.
He only smirked at her and pulled the ski’s from the back of the sled.
“Are you making a fire?” she asked.
“No. Get out of the sled. You are learning to ski” Thorin told her with a large
smile.
“No. No. I am quite alright right here.” Belle said and shook her head.
“No. You’re not. Get out.” Thorin ordered. But she did not budge so he lifted
her from the sled.
“Get your hands off of me you brute!” He could tell she did not truly mean the
words because she was laughing as she said them.
Thorin attached her ski’s, child ski’s mind you, to her feet while she
protested lightly and then attached his own. Belle looked down towards the
bottom of the hill and shook her head. She had a tight grip on Thorin’s hand,
well as tight as it could be with her thick gloves in the way.
“What if I fall?” Belle asked him biting on her lip.
Thorin shrugged his shoulders. “Then you fall”
“Yes. Very helpful...Thorin!” She screamed as he pushed her down the
embankment. 
Her arms pinwheeled but she somehow managed to stay upright. Thorin laughed and
pushed off to follow her down the small hill. It was where the children
practiced skiing. Much too easy for him but he could not very well take her to
the high hills and push her down. She could seriously injure herself. She
screamed all the way to the bottom before she lost momentum and landed on her
arse. Her skirt flew up, showcasing her legs in wool stockings that would be
starring in Thorin’s dreams in the near future, he was sure of it. He slowed to
a stop beside her and extended his hand to help her up. She slapped his hand
away angrily and stood up on her own pointing a finger at him.
“How dare you! I was not ready yet, Thorin. That was so horrible of you! You
make me so angry sometimes! I just can’t even…” As she had been speaking she
had gotten closer and closer to him until they were inches apart. He thought
about kissing her. It would be so easy to just lean down and capture those
silky lips. He was about to do so when he heard a horn in the distance. 
“Shut up, woman,” He said to her. But she continued to babble. He placed a
large hand over her mouth. “I said shut up.” He whispered lowly and turned his
ear to listen.
“They are here!” He growled and kicked off his ski’s. Quickly he untied hers
and threw her protesting form over his shoulder before sprinting up the
embankment. Roughly he tossed her into the sled and untied the horse. With one
hand he controlled the horse and with the other he held his sword as they
rushed through the trees back towards the settlement.
“Thorin! What is happening?” Belle’s voice held much fear. Rightfully so.
“We are under attack.” He growled.
Belle’s piercing scream startled him slightly and he was about to roar at her
to be quiet when he saw what had made her scream. Four men were emerging from
the tree in front of him. They were not his men. These were the Dane’s, Men of
Azog. He could tell from the blood warpaint they had marked their faces with.
They had used the blood to copy Azogs scars upon their own faces. Thorin
prepared his sword and as they rushed by he sliced one of the men near in half
with a mighty blow. The horse slowed to a stop in fear and reared backwards at
the men advancing on them. Thorin lept from the sled and challenged two of the
men. It was the third he had not anticipated. He took down one of the two in
front of him before he noticed the third behind him. He fought against the
remaining Dane in front of him killing him, all the while awaiting the deadly
blow from behind but it never came. He turned to see the Dane looking down at
his stomach in shock at the sword protruding from his belly. When he finally
fell to the ground succumbing to death Belle stood behind him bloody sword in
hand and emerald eye's large in fear.
Thorin nodded to her in thanks and threw her into the sled once more. Belle
held the bloody sword in her hand, stuck in a state of shock as they rushed
through the snow. The first home they came upon was the home of Gothi Grey.
Thorin stopped the horse barely before cutting the ties it held to the sled. He
jumped upon his horse’s back.
“Go inside and stay with your grandfather!” He called and took off. As he rode
and killed, he prayed the little woman would be safe, for she was to be the
mother of his children. He was sure of it.
Chapter End Notes
     I will go more in depth with how weddings were believed to have gone
     in the next few chapters.
     Vikings are thought to have invented skis and skiing. They also used
     snowshoes and sleds.
***** Kili *****
Chapter Notes
     NSFW CHAPTER!!!
     This chapter has a lot of gore, death and some smut at the end, so
     beware!
     I am sorry this chapter is a week late. We had a horrible storm run
     through and flooded our basement so I have been busy with repairing
     the damage from that, getting a new job and working with clients.
     Please forgive me for being late! I will try not to do it again, but
     you all know how life is. :)
“You finally pulled your head out from under the Wild One’s skirts, eh?” Bofur
said cheerfully with a slap to Kili’s back.
Being the good-natured man he was Kili chuckled at Bofur’s words. If he was
more like his mother or Thorin, Kili would have perhaps hit the mustache clad
man, but he did not. That was not his way. He could obviously hold his own in a
fight but his first instinct was not to fight. That is what had set him apart
for years from others. He was more gentle and kind. More than once during a
raid he had told women and children to hide instead of slaughtering them like
his fellow warriors. Why take the life of an innocent? Kili found no joy in it.
He found no joy in killing women and children without swords or a way to defend
themselves. For years he had asked himself why he had been born with compassion
when many of his own had not. It felt like a curse to him, but now he
understood why. He understood that he was made this way to fit perfectly with
his redheaded Goddess. Tauriel felt the way he did about killing innocents. She
wanted no part of it. And Kili was not sure she could love him if he did want a
part in it. The men he killed on the battlefield were not innocents. They were
adults that either chose to fight or chose to raise a sword against him. He had
no doubt that they would kill him if they were given the chance. It was a kill
or be killed situation. Tauriel understood that in battle. What she did not
understand was marching into homes in a foreign land and killing defenseless
women and children. Her and Kili both agreed on that.
“You only wish you could have your head up a woman’s skirt. Do not be jealous
of the boy” Nori called from where he was sharpening his throwing axes, pulling
Kili out of his thoughts.
“I am man enough to admit I am jealous. I must find a wife soon. I am getting
old. Kili’s woman is a sight for sore eyes. I would gladly bed her. But alas
her heart has been stolen by this ugly bastard” Bofur said in mock woe pointing
to Kili.
“I thought you had asked Gothi for Belle’s hand” the ginger headed berserker
asked, one of his eyebrows raised.
Kili pushed down his annoyance at Bofur speaking of Tauriel and focused on what
had been said of Belle. He had not heard of this information. He looked towards
Bofur in shock. “You are in love with Belle?”
Bofur shook his hatted head. “No. I could have been with time, perhaps. But I
liked her well enough. She would be a good wife. She comes from a strong
bloodline and she is smart.”
“Yes, perhaps your offspring would have a fighting chance at being somewhat
competent with her as their mother.” Nori quipped making Kili laugh merrily.
“Fuck off” Bofur answered. “It matters not. Jarl Thorin asked me to pull my
suit.” the hatted man said more seriously.
“Why would he do that?” Kili asked surprised.
“Perhaps he loves her,” Nori said with a shrug and a sly smile.
Kili chuckled loudly and shook his head. “They can barely stand one another”
“Oh? I seem to remember Wild One not being able to  stand  you either. Now it
only fuels her fire in the bedroom.” Bofur waggled his eyebrows.  
Kili shot up and tackled Bofur around the waist bringing the smaller man to the
ground. They wrestled for a few moments until Balin burst through the doors of
the metal smiths building.
“Save your energy boys!”
Kili and Bofur both looked up towards Balin with confusion. Balin opened his
mouth to answer their confused gazes when the horns of war were blown.
“Who?” Nori asked calmly as he pulled a mushroom from the pouch at his hip and
ate it slowly.
“The Danes. Azog’s men.” Balin snarled and spit on the ground before rushing
out sword raised above his head. The scream of a woman sounded sending a bolt
of fear up Kili’s spine.
“Tauriel.” He whispered and leapt to his feet reaching for his sword. Bofur
moved to do the same but came up empty handed.
“Fuck! I forgot my sword” Bofur growled.
Nori walked over to the far wall picked up a mattock and threw it at Bofur.
“That’ll do,” Bofur said with an appreciative nod. He tossed the mattock back
and forth in his hands for a moment getting the feel of it before nodding to
Kili and Nori indicating he was ready to charge. Nori jumped up and down in
place for a moment, slapped at his cheeks, then wiggled his shoulders as if
preparing for a foot race.
“Nori!” Kili snarled. He needed to go check on Tauriel, but he could not burst
out the doors without leaving his men behind. Plus it helped to have a
berserking Nori by your side in battle.
The ginger pulled his axes out before beginning to breathe heavily. Kili knew
what this was, Nori had descended into his berserker trance.
“Odin owns you all!” Nori screamed and kicked open the wooden doors.
The scene before them was wrought with battle. Azog’s men were falling by
Kili’s people’s blades but the opposite was true as well. Kili watched as the
men and women he had known for years were cut down. Their blood painting the
white snow a vivid red.
The battle rage rose within him as he faced his first opponent. A man near his
age with white blonde hair and nearly black eyes. Kili was quick in gutting the
man before moving onto the next enemy. Slowly he cut his way towards the barn.
Tauriel would be there or the kitchens, he hoped.
===============================================================================
 
His legs burned as he sprinted towards the kitchens after finding the barn
empty. What he found in the kitchens was a dead Dane lying upon the ground his
skull appearing to be completely crushed in the front by what Kili thought
might have been a frying pan. The iron cookware was covered in blood and laying
on the ground beside the dead man.
Kili turned and checked the last place he could think she would be. He sprinted
up towards the longhouse, his heart sinking. He prayed to the Gods his woman
was alright. When he reached the doors he heard her roar from within and then
clashing of swords. Quickly he wrenched them open just in time to see Tauriel
stab a Dane in the neck. Blood spurted from the wound in all directions, as the
man’s life force left him. Tauriel did not stop there. She dragged the blade
across the entirety of his throat nearly decapitating the man.
Kili stood stunned at what Tauriel had just done. He had never seen another
being spill blood so beautifully. The redhead bent down and shoved her fingers
into what was once the neck of the dead man and pulled back with blood dripping
from her fingers. Quickly she began to paint upon her skin. Kili recognized the
pattern immediately. It was the same swirling paint pattern she had on her skin
when he first laid eyes on her. But this time instead of her people’s calm blue
color she wore the red of his people on her pale skin.
“Get me your bow.” She told him while she finished painting her skin.
Kili raced towards his room and began to pull a box out from beneath his bed.
Quickly he pulled the quiver full of arrows and the bow itself out of the box.
He returned to find Tauriel had quickly braided her hair out of the way and
looked to be as ready for battle as one could be when faced with an ambush.
Tauriel snatched the bow from him and threw the quiver over her shoulder so it
was resting against her back. “I will watch your back.” She told him with a
firm nod.
He pulled her in for what was perhaps their last kiss before the screams of his
people shook him from the passionate moment. He needed to fight for his people
and perhaps die for them. Kili readied his sword and marched from the home with
Tauriel trailing slightly behind him.
There were three men storming up the path to the Jarl’s home with torches in
their hands prepared to burn it down. Kili raised his sword to protect Tauriel
but the woman was quick. She stepped out from behind Kili her green dress
flowing in the wind and let loose arrow after arrow killing the three Danes.
She sprinted up to their bodies to retrieve the arrows and then she was gone.
“Stay safe, my Goddess,” Kili whispered as he pushed towards where the fighting
was concentrated. He heard no reply nor did he know where she went. When he
turned around she was nowhere to be found. He could only hope she had decided
to find a high vantage point.
===============================================================================
 
Kili looked for his family as the battle raged on. He spotted Fili battling
with his twin swords, never giving an inch. Thorin was atop his horse riding up
and down the beach killing those in his path. Dis had her battle ax and shield
out. His mother was one of the best shieldmaidens he knew. She would be fine,
it was the babe, his half sibling, within her he was concerned for. His
distraction with this concern opened him up for an attack. He took on the Dane
in front of him, knocking the man back with his shield to get enough space
between them so he could skewer the bastard. Just as he was running the man
through, he heard the faint whistling of air behind him. Kili turned quickly to
fend off the inevitable attack from behind. Though in the back of his mind he
knew he would never be quick enough. He just hoped the sword would be dull or
perhaps not hit anything vital. By the time he turned he was face to face with
an already dead man. The Dane had an arrowhead sticking out of his eye, or what
once was his eye. Kili looked up trying to find who shot the arrow. His eyes
caught the flashing of bright red hair on a nearby roof for only a moment
before it disappeared.  
Kili smiled to himself at the thought that his woman was protecting him. It was
not much longer that the battle began to slow. The Dane’s were losing and they
knew it. You could see the fight leave some of the men’s eyes as they began to
fight sloppily or perhaps it was desperation that was making them falter in
their fighting. Kili did not ponder it long. He and the rest of his people
pushed the enemy towards the sea and slaughtered them.
Kili watched as arrow after arrow from above pierced any of the enemy
attempting to flee to the forest. The dark haired Norseman could not keep his
eyes off of his woman. She was lithe but fierce as she leapt from rooftop to
rooftop or tree to tree chasing down the fleeing men from above. Not many would
notice her for she made no noise, nor were her movement’s clumsy or overstated.
Everything she did was with purpose, no extra action or movement. Just what she
needed to nock an arrow and release it then move to a new vantage point.
The fighting pushed towards the outskirts of the settlement. Kili caught sight
of Gyda on the ground, her axes thrown from her hands. For a split second, he
thought of helping her but the woman would most likely kill him for
interfering. Kili’s attention was diverted again by another opponent. He swung
his sword and dodged his enemy’s just in the nick of time. Soon the two were
locked at the swords, struggling for dominance. Kili pulled his dark head back
before launching his forehead into the nose of the Dane. The Dane stumbled and
Kili took that moment to gut the man.
Kili raised his eyes back up to check on Gyda and found her hacking into the
upper body of her enemy. Blood was flying off the tip of her axes spraying all
those around her. Gyda then shoved her hand into the Dane’s abdomen and pulled
out his entrails while he stared down in shock. She looked up and caught Kili’s
eyes, sending a wink his way before moving on to the next poor bastard that was
going to die by her axes.
Soon the Dane’s numbers had dwindled dramatically as they were pushed further
and further into the forest. When the enemy had all disappeared from sight
Thorin’s voice rang out.
“Check every home! Check the forest! Find every last one and send them to Hel!”
The wind roared picking up snow and swirling it all around them as Kili and his
men slowly marched forward through the trees. Kili could vaguely hear the
creaking of the trees above and wondered if it as his redheaded goddess acting
as a protective shadow.
The sound of slight whimpering had Kili whipping around quickly in search of
its source. The cold of a steel blade is what he felt next.
“Make a sound Dane and I will gut you like a fish.” the harsh whisper of a
familiar voice said.
“Siggy?” Kili asked.
The blade was immediately removed from his throat allowing him to turn around.
“Kili? Oh, gods! I am so sorry!” The blonde cried.
Kili quickly pulled her into a tight hug. When he did not see her on the
battlefield he admittedly had thought she had perished. “Is Belle with you?”
That was another he was worried over.
“No…” Sigrid said slowly. Horror growing in her gray eyes. “I thought she was
with Tauriel.”
Kili shook his head and began to internally mourn the loss of the little
English woman.
“Who is with you?” He asked.
“Vinna and her children. A few more children from the settlement I gathered”
While Sigrid was talking Kili began to notice the bodies of Danes around them.
It looked as if Sigrid had tried to hide them in the snow but there were at
least five perhaps more men halfway buried in the snow. Seeing what had stolen
Kili’s attention Sigrid began to explain. “They came after us or were fleeing.
Vinna and I...took care of them.”
Kili chuckled and slapped the woman on the shoulder. “Good.”
A thump sounded beside him making him jerk and point his sword in the direction
of the noise.
Tauriel raised her hands in a defensive gesture until Kili lowered his sword.
He quickly pulled her into his side and planted a firm kiss to her lips.
“Fili?” Sigrid asked in a fearful tone as if she was not sure of his fate.
“Last I saw him he lives,” Kili answered.
“He is checking the homes on the north side.” Tauriel’s smooth voice answered
the blonde as well.
Kili and Sigrid both turned to Tauriel in confusion at how she knew such facts.
With a shrug of her shoulders, she tilted her head up towards the high trees.
“The trees give clarity that the ground never can.”
Once again Kili wished to kiss Tauriel but he realized now that he was covered
in blood, but so was she. Hers was painted on carefully and Kili’s had been
spurted on haphazardly but it seemed to fit their personalities.
“Stay here with the children and Vinna.” Kili ordered the blonde. Then began to
gaze around. “Where are the children and Vinna…?”
“Snow cave” Sigrid answered.
Kili informed her they would come for her once the settlement had been cleared
then he and Tauriel were off. He had tried to convince Tauriel to stay with
Sigrid but one glare from the redheaded woman had him discontinuing his speech.
She had refused to climb back up into the trees as well. She pulled a sword off
of one of the dead Danes and crept by his side as they checked the forest and
surrounding homes. As they stepped they found a few stragglers from the enemy,
but not much excitement until they came upon the home of Gothi Grey.
“Get your hands off me!” the voice of Belle screamed.
Kili felt fear rise up within him. Tauriel broke off into a sprint towards the
noise leaving Kili behind. His woman was fast, much faster than he or perhaps
anyone he knew. It was as if she had sprouted wings and was flying towards her
friend.
The scene Kili came upon was an interesting one. The blind Gothi Grey was
fighting two Dane’s at once with his staff, Belle was attempting to fight with
a little sword that would look more like a long dagger in anyone else’s hands
but her tiny ones, then there was Tauriel. His redheaded goddess was a blur of
green dress and long red hair as she fought off a Dane’s continued attacks.
Kili raced towards Gothi’s side and helped him fend off the two attackers. The
roar of pain coming from his woman had his stomach dropping to his feet. He
quickly disposed of his opponent and charged at Tauriel’s. He tackled the large
man to the ground and began to fight him hand to hand. He was not sure where
his sword had fallen to. All he could think about was killing the man who had
dared to hurt Tauriel. Kili rained punches on the man below him. He stunned the
man momentarily with a sharp punch to the jaw and took the moment to grab a
nearby rock and beat the man’s skull in. He did not notice when the man stopped
resisting or when he had died. What he did notice was the sound of Tauriel’s
bell-like voice calling to him.
“Kili” She spoke calmly. “Kili he is gone, my love. You may stop.” Her soft
hand’s gripped his hand holding the rock stopping its downward motion.
He looked up at her through the haze of blood in his eyes. She smiled softly at
him and tenderly wiped the blood from his eyes as he huffed from exertion. Kili
stood on shaky legs and gazed around for further attack. There was none. The
Dane’s were dead on the ground with Belle, Gothi, Tauriel and himself looking
worse for wear but alive.
It was then that Gothi collapsed against his staff. Belle was on her feet in a
flash and running to the old man’s side.
“Grandfather!” She cried. “Kili help! Please!”
Kili hurried to the man’s side and helped lead him into his home. The place was
in absolute disarray, well more than usual now that Belle cleaned the old man's
home weekly. Kili guessed the Dane’s had attempted to attack Gothi’s home and
he and Belle fought back.
“Over here,” Belle said and pointed to Gothi’s bed. Once he was laying on his
back Belle began to fuss over him as if he were a newborn. She pet his head and
removed sweaty gray hair from his face. Then she went to the bucket of clean
water and ladled the man out a tankard full. The little woman helped Gothi
drink while Kili and Tauriel stood back and watched for a moment.
The sight of red had Kili turning towards his woman. She was clutching at her
arm, putting pressure on a wound.
“Fuck...Tauriel. Are you okay?”
It seemed his words had shaken her out of her daze and she noticed the pain in
her arm. She winced heavily but nodded. Kili tore away a piece of his tunic and
began to tie it around her arm hoping to staunch the flow of blood that was
seeping through her fingers. The sound of hoof’s beating across the ground had
Kili pulling his weapon and moving towards the door. He was prepared to lay his
life down for those within.
When he peeked out the door he saw familiar raven hair.
“Uncle,” Kili said as he sheathed his weapon.
“Sister-son” Thorin pulled his nephew in for a quick hug and tap of the
forehead. Kili saw his brother moving from his horse and embraced his brother
in the same fashion.
“Have you seen my Siggy?” Fili asked him.
Kili nodded and pointed towards the forest. “She is protecting Vinna and the
children in the woods. Killed a few of the bastards and nearly took my head
when she thought I was a Dane.”
Fili smile was blinding. He laughed merrily and clapped his brother on the
back. “She is one great woman.”
Kili smirk alongside his brother. “That she is, brother. That she is.”
“Belle I must speak with you….alone,” Thorin said in a soft tone that had Kili
and Fili’s heads snapping up. Their uncle never spoke in such a tone.
Kili moved towards the door and peeked within the home. Tauriel was speaking
quietly with Belle then moved to Gothi’s side. It appeared the old man had
passed out due to exhaustion. Thorin led Belle out of the home and motioned for
Fili and Kili to guard the door. The brothers nodded and unsheathed their
weapons. They watched as Thorin led Belle out of earshot and then began to
speak with her.
The little woman’s hand came up and covered her mouth as tears filled her eyes.
“Canute died” Fili whispered.
Kili winced at the news. All had guessed that Canute would be marrying the
English girl very soon. The shaven headed man had proclaimed just two nights
past that he would be asking her for her hand within the next moon. He was sure
he would have gotten a yes.
“How?” Kili asked his brother.
“He came upon the four wrecked Dane ships in the harbor on patrols. Only three
ships made it through Belle’s trap. Canute was the one that sounded the alarm.
They killed him for it. Him and Erikir. Their heads were removed.” Fili said
with anger.
Kili wished he could kill another Dane much more violently after hearing the
news. His brown eyes raised towards where Belle and Thorin were speaking. The
little woman was engulfed in Thorin’s arms as her body shook with sobs.
Thorin’s eyes were closed as if in pain. Kili did not understand it. It was no
secret that Thorin was not overly fond of Canute, especially in the last few
months. Perhaps it was Erikir that his uncle was mourning. The blonde man was
Kili’s age and had been raiding under Thorin for quite some time. Kili knew his
uncle had a soft spot for the young man.
But it appeared his uncle had a soft spot for another, Kili deduced from the
way his Uncle was patting Belle’s hair gently and pulling her tightly against
his chest.
===============================================================================
 
“It is going to need stitches.” Tauriel said with a wince as she sat upon their
bed.
The Danes had been disposed of and the dead had been counted. It was now time
to prepare the dead for their burning tomorrow. Those wounded were being
treated by Sigrid and whoever else could help. Healer Jøn had died in the
ambush so everyone was scrambling for the blonde woman’s healing abilities.
Tauriel swore to go down to the main hall turned hospital and help as soon as
her own wound was stitched up. Kili had other ideas, such a keeping her away
from more gore and eventual death. He had been extremely blessed by the Gods to
have all of his kin survive and his woman as well. Many had lost their mothers,
fathers, sons, daughters, spouses and lovers in this ambush. Kili would be
making an offering to the Gods in thanks after the burnings on the shore.
“Pour that on the wound,” Tauriel said as she handed him a bottle of white
liquor.
“Where did you get this?” Kili asked shocked.
Tauriel grimaced. “Bifur”
Kili was impressed his redheaded woman had been able to talk Bifur into parting
with his beloved liquor. “How?” Kili began to pour the liquor over her wound.
He paused in his movements when he heard Tauriel’s teeth grinding together and
tears welling in her eyes.
“Keep going” She growled through clenched teeth.
Kili made quick work of pouring the alcohol. Once he was done Tauriel snatched
the bottle out of his hands and brought it to her lips. She began to gulp it
down.
“Tauriel….Love...That is not...” Kili began to tell her that liquor was
unusually strong but Tauriel put up a slender finger halting his speech as she
continued to gulp. When she finally pulled it away from her lips she had downed
near a fourth of the bottle.
“That was a lot.” Kili winced. He remembered his nights drinking white liquor.
It never ended well. It was called rotgut for a reason. Kili had never been so
sick in his life.
“I am going to need it a lot,” Tauriel said with a snarl. She then began to
lead Kili step by step into sewing together her wound. Before he even inserted
the needle she grabbed one of his wooden totems and wrapped it in a scrap of
fabric she pulled from her old shift. She placed the fabric wrapped wood in her
mouth and bit down on it before nodding for him to begin. Kili felt immense
guilt and perhaps sick to his stomach as he pushed the needle into Tauriel’s
skin.
After sewing the flesh together near halfway he stopped and asked her if she
was okay. The redhead ripped the totem out of her mouth and growled lowly at
him. “If you don’t stop stalling I will rip your teeth out one by one and shove
up them up your arse.” She shoved the totem back in her mouth and bit down once
again.
Kili couldn’t help the chuckled that rose in his throat. She was so fierce, it
was one of his favorite things about her. He finished sewing her flesh together
and helped her wrap the stitched up wound in a clean cloth.  He finished tying
the knot and caught Tauriel’s hazel eyes on him.
“Thank you, Kili.” She told him sincerely.
“Anything for you, my love” He answered her.
The redhead leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his mouth. Kili relished in
the feeling. During the ambush from the Danes, he was not sure he would ever
get to feel this again. The kiss did not last as long as he wished but it would
tide him over until he could get her alone in their bed.
“I must help the wounded,” Tauriel told him as she stood and began to pack what
had become her healing bag.
Kili wanted to protest but he could not. He was grateful she was willing to use
her healing skills to help the people that had stolen her from her lands. The
people that distrusted her at every turn and the people that often looked down
their noses at her or spoke foul rumors of her.  
“If you must go I will stay by your side.” Kili grabbed her hand and helped her
walk from the home and towards the Great Hall that had been turned into a sick
room.
The dark haired Norseman was impressed Tauriel did not seem to be swaying on
her feet or sick to her stomach due to the amount of rotgut consumed. The only
affect the liquor had on her was to dull her pain it seemed. It seemed the
woman could not only hold her mead and ale well but also hard liquor.
===============================================================================
 
The smell of blood and the sound of painful groans assaulted Kili’s senses as
they entered the hall. He saw Sigrid bustling around like a chicken with its
head cut off as she attempted to reach all those that needed healing. Tauriel
quickly moved from Kili’s side to help her. There were others, such as Dis and
Belle that were trying to help but neither had much healing experience. Dis
knew how to patch small battle wounds well enough but that was as far as it
went. Kili was not sure of how much the English woman knew of healing or if she
could stomach it for that matter. Belle seemed to be fighting off sadness. Kili
guessed she offered to help the wounded as a way to busy her hands and mind.
The little curly haired woman looked so very afraid of everything around her.
Kili wondered if she was that much of help to anyone until he observed her
holding the hand of a woman named Alvlaug.
The large blonde woman was weeping. Kili was not sure if it was from the pain
or from fear of dying. He stepped closer to hear their conversation. He watched
as Belle grabbed Alvlaug’s larger hand in her two tiny ones. The English girl
did not fuss over the blood that was getting on her dress or on her skin. She
only rubbed at the hand of the woman and spoke softly to her.
“Tell me of your favorite place,” Belle said with a small smile.
Kili knew as well as Belle that the blonde woman before them would not last
much longer. The very large and very deep gash in her stomach would have her
bleeding out soon.
Alvlaug stopped crying and began to smile softly as she spoke of the meadow at
the far end of the forest. She spoke of how it looked during springtime and
when her father would take her there as a child to pick flowers. Then when her
husband would take her there to make love.
Kili knew her husband. He had died of the sickness that had swept through their
settlement a few years past.
“It sounds beautiful” Belle whispered to the dying woman. She swept hair from
the woman’s face and smiled down at her softly.
Alvlaug smiled up at Belle with bloody teeth and dimming eyes. “It is.” She
rasped. Her chest expanded once more before her spirit was carried away to
Valhalla. Belle gently pushed the woman’s eyelids down. Kili watched in
fascination as Belle mumbled a few words with her eyes closed. She tapped two
fingers to her own forehead, the center of her chest and then each shoulder
before bringing them to her lips and kissing them. Kili was confused by this
action, but he did not have much time to think on it. Tauriel was calling to
him.
“Kili, come hold him down!” She growled from where she was attempting to hold
Bofur down.
Kili held down Bofur’s shoulder’s as his brothers held his legs steady. Tauriel
ripped the hole in his trousers open wider around the wound.
“Oi! My trousers” Bofur cried out.
“Do you wish to live or do you wish to have perfect trousers?!” Tauriel barked
down at him. She grabbed the totem she had stolen from Kili’s room and shoved
it into Bofur’s mouth. “Bite down. This is going to hurt.”
Bofur’s eyes were wide as Tauriel pulled the heated dagger from the fire. Its
blade was glowing bright red. He began to shake his head and protest. His
entire body attempting to move away from the blade.
“I said to bloody hold him!” Tauriel roared. The men holding him down all
snapped into place and used all of their strength to hold down the fighting
man. The smell and sound of sizzling flesh assaulted all. Kili winced slightly
at the overload of his senses. Bofur screamed around the bit in his mouth and
his eyes watered. Tauriel pulled the dagger away from the flesh to show it had
closed the wound with heat. She quickly wrapped the wound in a bandage and
called out to Belle to retrieve snow for the man before moving on to the next
patient.
Kili watched her work and assisted her where it was needed. He only felt ill
when he had to assist her in an amputation but other than that he held his own.
He helped her cauterize wounds, stitch those that needed stitching and bandaged
those at her direction. Soon between Sigrid, Tauriel and a slightly coherent
Oin all those that could be helped were and it was time to rest. Most of the
settlement had gone to sleep or were mourning in privacy for those lost.
Kili stepped out of the Great Hall with Tauriel leaning on him heavily. She was
practically asleep on her feet. He went to lead her towards the LongHouse but
she stopped him.
“I need a bath.” She told him tiredly.
He quickly ran to the home, gathered what she needed and met her on the path
towards the hot springs. She had her eyes closed and was leaning against a tree
when he found her. She appeared to be sleeping standing up.
“Come, my love,” Kili whispered and picked her up. He carried her towards the
Hot springs without waking her until they were at the edge of the waters. He
gently shook her awake and helped her undress then step into the water. They
both bathed quickly much too tired to do anything else. Kili helped her wash
her wounds and his own before exiting the hot water. The ice cold air nipped at
their wet skin as they dried their bodies in a rush and attempted to put on
their clothes clumsily. Tauriel barked out in laughter when Kili tripped over
his pants and landed bare-assed on the snow covered ground.
“That hurt you know,” He told her not being able to hold back his chuckles.
“Oh? Would you like me to coddle you? Perhaps kiss your wounds better as a
mother does?” Tauriel asked him.
Kili shook his head and threw an arm over her shoulder as they walked back
towards his home. The cold air and his stumble had effectively woken them both
up from their previously sleepy state. By the time they climbed into bed with
one another, their eyes refused to close. Kili stared up at the ceiling, hands
behind his head while Tauriel cuddled into his side her arm wrapped around his
rib cage and her head resting over his heart.
“Kili” Tauriel whispered into the muted light of dawn.
The dark haired Norseman looked down at his beloved woman, eyebrows raised in
question.
“I am glad you lived.” She told him sincerely. Her eyebrows knitted together in
what he guessed was fear at the thought of what would have happened to her if
he hadn’t lived.
“As am I. Because Valhalla would have nothing on living here with you” He
turned on his side and captured her willing lips. He kissed her with abandon.
The relief over her safety and the adrenaline rushing through him at the
thought of how close he had come to actually losing her had him being bolder
than he had ever been with her. He cupped her breast in his large hand and felt
her stiff peak brush against his palm. He brushed his thumb over the peak
eliciting a surprised squeak from the woman followed by a breathy moan.
When Tauriel turned her head needing air Kili continued kissing and sucking
down her neck, giving her barely visible love bites. When he reached the top of
her sleep shift he prepared to be turned away, but Tauriel did no such thing.
She continued panting above him. Kili reverently untied the top of her shift
and pulled it open slowly, giving her time to change her mind. He continued his
exploration of her chest with his lips. He rolled her onto her back and settled
between her thighs. His clothed hardness pushed impatiently at her center. He
could feel the heat coming from between her legs and wished to bury his tongue
within her. Kili took a chance and kissed the tip of her breast then sucked the
hard bud into his mouth. Tauriel’s response was immediate. She locked her legs
around his hips and ground herself against him impatiently. Her head fell back
as her chest arched impatiently towards him. He feasted upon her, quenching the
thirst he had felt for her delectable breasts since he first laid eyes upon the
rosy peaks.  Tauriel jerked and moaned beneath him.
Kili’s heart beat out of his chest as he realized he wanted more, he needed
more. He ran one of his hands up Tauriel’s smooth thigh, up to her arse and
gave one of the cheeks a firm squeeze. Tauriel giggled slightly below him
making Kili laugh around the breast trapped between his blunt teeth.
Deciding he was going to push his luck, he gently moved his hand from the
outside of her thigh to the inside. He slowly trailed his fingers up her silky
inner thigh until he reached her hot wet center. Tauriel stiffened below him
making him pause in his actions. He looked up her, his brown eyes begging for
her permission.
“We can not have sex yet.” She told him with heavy regret in her voice.
“We do not have to. We can do other things.” He told her.
“Other things?” Tauriel’s red brows were pulled together in confusion.
Kili smiled excitedly. “Relax love. It will not hurt.”
Tauriel narrowed her eyes at him in suspicion but nodded her head slowly and
laid back down.
Kili captured her lips again attempting to relax her. Once she was responding
enthusiastically Kili began to run the tip of his fingers through her wet slit.
Tauriel was panting once more, her chest heaving with excitement and arousal.
Kili slowly rubbed his thumb in a circle around the top of her slit where her
pleasure button rested. Tauriel moaned loudly into his mouth making him smiled
triumphantly. Slowly he pushed his middle finger into her. She was so tight
around his finger that he nearly came in his trousers. His redheaded goddess
continued to writhe against him. Kili could not take it any longer. Her
released her lips and moved down her body. He pushed her shift up to her hips
exposing her glorious lower half. Her thin patch of red curls begged to be
nuzzled. So he did just that, breathing in the primal scent of her.
“Kili! What are you doing!?” Tauriel said in a scandalized whisper. She
attempted to close her legs around his head but he held them apart. He tried to
ignore her and go in for his first lick but she shot out a hand quickly and
grabbed a handful of his hair forcing him to look up at her.
He huffed impatiently. “I am attempting to feast, but you keep interrupting me.
“
“Feast? On what?” Tauriel shook her head at his words.
“You,” He said cheekily and quickly dipped his head down and licked her slit.
The hand in his hair tightened to a near painful degree but he was too far into
his bliss at finally tasting her that he did not even notice.
“Kili!” Tauriel’s voice was a mixture between a moan and a shocked squeak.
Kili chuckled against her center, causing a vibration to run through her. She
released her tight grip and rolled her hips towards him. He took that as his go
ahead and he began to do what he promised her. He feasted upon her. His tongue
teased her as his fingers worked in and out of her. Her moans were making it
hard for him to control himself. Instead of busting in his trousers he deftly
untied them with one hand and shimmied them down his narrow hips exposing
himself. He had always been good at multitasking but right now he was impressed
with himself. He continued to lick and pleasure Tauriel while tugging at his
manhood.The dark haired Norseman glanced up at Tauriel and found his ending at
the sight. Her hazel eyes were locked on him, lust overflowing within them. Her
skin was flushed and her mouth was hanging open while she panted. Her pale
chest heaved, her breast moving with the motion in the most tantalizing way.
Kili paused in his pleasuring of her to spill his seed into his palm rather
loudly. Tauriel smirked at him a very proud look on her face.
After his breathing had calmed he accepted her silent challenge. He licked at
her and pumped his fingers into her a furious rate. Within moments she was
coming apart on his tongue. Tauriel threw a hand over her mouth to muffle her
pleasure screams. Kili smirked up at her from between her legs. When she was no
more than a twitching mess Kili crawled up the bed and laid beside her quietly
on his side.
He was quite proud of himself but mostly he was happy that they had reached a
more physical place in their relationship. It had been very challenging for him
to sleep beside his love night in and night out without being allowed to touch
her intimately. All thoughts of the ambush, of the gore and death, was gone
from his mind as he lay beside her. They would deal with it all tomorrow but
right now he just wanted to enjoy having her naked body beside his.
Once Tauriel had caught her breath she looked over at him, catching his eyes
once more.
“You are a good man. An even better lover it seems. And a very skilled
warrior.” She said intertwining her naked body with his. She threw her pale arm
around his ribs and wedged one of her long slender legs between his. “You may
ask me to marry you now”
Kili laughed at her words. He was so happy he could not contain it. He kissed
her lips savoring her. He pulled back and looked at her lovingly. “Marry me. Be
my wife and I will make you happier than you ever thought possible.”
“Okay,” Tauriel said with a large smile.
***** Belle *****
Chapter Notes
     This took so long to get out. I have had writer's block and have been
     crazy busy keeping me from writing. Hopefully this chapter was worth
     the wait.
     Thank you for reading my work and being patient with me. :)
“You can not stay up all night watching over me, Belle.” Mumbled her
grandfather.
“I believe I can” She answered stubbornly.
“Hmmph.” Gothi grunted in response, shutting his one eye once more.
Belle had already tidied the house, cleaned blood off the floor and cooked
enough food to feed her grandfather for the next few days. The cold was good
for few things, but the snow helped preserve food, as long as you could keep it
away from the animals. Belle was not used to being idle and she was not about
to start now. Plus it helped keep her from weeping. Canute was dead. She would
never hear his laughter again or see him smile at her or tell his ludicrous
tales with wild hand gestures and comedic voices. He was the first man that had
actually been interested in her for her, at least that is what she thought. He
praised her knowledge. He delighted in her stories and ideas. He liked her and
she liked him but he was  gone . Again tears fell down her rounded cheeks. She
turned away from her grandfather so he did not see her if he happened to open
his eye. But it was no use.
“Kanina did that too.” He whispered to her.
“I know. She did it every time I asked about you.” Belle answered, too
exhausted to edit her words so she did not hurt his feelings.
Gothi sat up immediately. “Tell me more of her.” He asked gently.
“Grandfather you must sleep,” Belle said tiredly.
“I will sleep when I am dead” He answered near petulantly.
“Fine,” Belle said and sat more comfortably in her chair. There was no hope she
was going to sleep tonight so it may be nice to have company.
“She had a portrait of you done,” Belle said softly. “It was done in secret of
course. She told the painter what you looked like and he painted it for her.”
Belle watched Gothi’s face closely. He smiled sadly before speaking. “Did it
look anything like me?”
The little English girl barked out a small laugh. “Hmmm, perhaps when you were
young...It must have though because she never let it out of her sight.
Grandfather Gerontius had it buried with her. He said when she was alive you
were never far from her heart and you should not be in death either.”
“He was a good man then?” Gothi asked.
“Yes. He was. He cared for her as a friend should. He made her comfortable. He
let her speak her mind. He encouraged her and my mother to learn and be
intelligent. He indulged her. It made her happy but she never loved him like
she loved you.” Belle thought it was important to tell her grandfather this.
She knew the man regretted letting Adamanta go, he had said as much. But to
know that Adamanta never stopped loving him would put some of the man’s mind at
ease, she hoped.  
Gothi sat back and allowed the information to wash over him. “Much like how you
and Canute were.”
===============================================================================
 
Gothi began the burning ceremony of the bodies on the beach with a speech about
the Gods being pleased with the new set of warriors they would receiving and
that all that had perished would be entering Valhalla. There were claps and
chants all around. Belle did not join in. She continued to stare at the remains
of Canute. Before his family lit the pyre she had been allowed to say goodbye.
She was thankful for that. He was dressed in finery, his weapon clutched to his
chest with dead hands. Tears fell from her eyes as she reached a hand out and
laid it atop his cold ones.
“May your soul rest in peace.” She subtly made the sign of the cross and
recited a prayer. “ Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord; and let perpetual
light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen. ” Belle whispered. “Goodbye,
my friend.”
With that, she left Canute’s side and went back to where she had stood before.
Gothi began to light the pyre of each of the dead. Belle had not noticed who
stood beside her for she was too far into her sadness. Thick smoke billowed
around her and the stench of burning flesh invaded her nostrils. She went to
cover her nose when a hand stopped her.
“It is offensive to do such a thing,” Fili spoke to her quietly. Without saying
anything else he pulled her into his side allowing her to bury her face into
him to escape the smell. She was thankful for that. A hand was soon on her
back. She looked over her shoulder to see Sigrid smile at her sadly and
continue to rub her back gently.
Belle was thankful for the support. It was very sweet of both of them. In light
of the tragedy, her hurt feelings were long forgotten, her anger at Fili had
vanished. She had more important things to think on. Such as what current
emotions she was feeling.
Her emerald eyes were riveted on the fire that was eating the red-bearded man
that had quickly become a dear friend to her.
Belle had been so consumed in her thoughts that she did not notice the hours
passing or those that had disappeared long ago to return to their lives or
ready themselves for the feast in the dead’s honor. Sigrid had long ago left to
care for the wounded once more. She had many patients to check on if they were
going to fight off infection. Tauriel had disappeared with her as had Oin. The
old and retired healer could hardly hear and was going blind but his hands
still worked for the most part. He would help the two women when necessary.
Fili had left some time before to help his uncle with repairing the damage the
Danes had done.
“I am sorry you are sad.” Said Uncle spoke behind her making her jump.
Belle’s eyes focused seeing that it was nearing night and she was still seated
on the beach watching the now smoldering fires. The bodies had been consumed by
the flames leaving only a foul stench in the air, smoke on the horizon and ash
on the beach. She was thankful for all of the furs on her body for she had not
felt the cold of the winter day.
The little English girl looked over at Thorin when he sat beside her. He
settled his fur cloak over her shoulders adding an extra layer of warmth. The
large man settled her forearms on his bent knees and looked out to the sea.
“I feel guilty,” The English girl said after a moment.
“Why would you feel guilty? It was not your fault he died.” Thorin stated.
Belle had spent the last few hours reflecting on what she had felt for Canute,
that is what led to her guilt. “I did love him.” She said quietly. “But not as
he loved me.”  Thorin turned towards her with a confused glance.  “I felt for
him as I feel for Fili or Kili.” The girl clarified. “I knew he was going to
ask me to marry him. I would have said yes. Not because it was love for me, but
because we were friends. I feel guilty because I did not love him as he loved
me and he died without me being able to give him the kind of love he wanted
back.”
“You wish to marry a friend?” The Jarl asked her. His ice blue eyes
calculating. It was as if he had not heard anything else she had said.
Belle pursed her lips and nodded her head. “I believe I do. Love will come
later, but friendship should come first, I believe. But what do I know? I was
married to a horrible man who made the Devil look tame. I know nothing of love
and barely know anything of friendship. The only friends I have truly ever had
are a Celtic woman and a handful of Norse people found here, many of those
kidnapped me from my home.”
Belle looked down at her fur-clad feet. In a move that surprised her Thorin
scooted closer to her and tucked her crying form under his arm. She had learned
these people were not governed by the same set of rules as her people. Back
home men did not embrace women unless they were a very close relative or a
spouse. Here they did not care for such things. Friends could embrace and that
made her feel...happy.
Belle felt that perhaps she should not be as comfortable in this man’s arms but
at the moment, she did not care. She relaxed into him, listening to the strong
thud of his heartbeat. She did not know how long they sat there and she did not
want to know. It was not until Dwalin came to Thorin’s side and whispered in
his ear that Belle knew their silent time was over.
“It is time for the feast,” Thorin told her and pulled her up with him as he
stood.
“I am not hungry.” She replied softly.
“That matters not. You will eat.” Thorin ordered and began to pull her towards
the Great Hall.
Belle stumbled on her feet that had gone numb while she was grieving upon the
beach. Much to her surprise Thorin stopped beside her and waited for her to
attempt to shake her legs back to life. When it did not happen soon enough for
his liking he pulled her arm up and over his broad shoulders and latched his
arm around her small waist. He hoisted her up as if she weighed nothing at all
and carried her at his side. Her feet barely touching the ground.
“Jarl Thorin. I can walk.” Belle protested
Thorin did not answer her he only continued to walk for the both of them until
they came to the doors of the Great Hall. Belle had expected to hear weeping
and wails of sadness but all she heard were the sounds of a feast. When the
doors were opened Belle was even more confused. There were not tears, there was
no sadness. She could see anger and small amounts of grief etched on the faces
of those within but otherwise, everyone acted as if they had not been involved
in a bloody battle that cost many their lives just one day past.
Belle followed Thorin into the room thanking the stars above that he had
released her before walking in. She did not need even more gossip floating
around about her than there already was. The little English woman trailed
beside the giant raven haired man and took the only free seat at the large
banquet table, again right beside him.
Thorin stood at the head of the high-table and all quieted while they looked at
him.
“Yesterday we lost good men and women. But their passing is not to grieve us.
They are in Valhalla celebrating with Odin. They have died with honor and we
should all rejoice for such things. So please raise your tankards and let us
honor them in the best way we know how!” Thorin yelled out. His voice was so
loud it rang in Belle’s ears. She watched as all tipped their tankards back and
chugged their mead or wine. Belle herself took a small sip of her wine not
wanting to offend anyone. When it was done and all had emptied their cups
Thorin began to roar once more.
“We will get our revenge! The Dane’s will be crushed under our feet. We will
make the ground run red with rivers of their blood. We will not let this
offense stand! Tonight we drink to our fallen, Tomorrow we begin planning for
the Dane’s demise!”
The sound of the crowd was so loud that Belle involuntarily covered her ears
and pulled into herself. She could feel the vibrations of the Norse people’s
claps, screams and excited stomping throughout her entire body. When they
finally quieted, ever so slightly, it was for all to begin drinking as if they
may never drink again. This time Belle did not drink, she studied those around
her.
The feast was similar to those she had been present at in her time with the
Norsemen. People were partying, celebrating. Belle was disgusted with their
behavior. She looked around the high table she sat at and saw that most were
acting as they always had in the past. Gyda was overly affectionate with Dwalin
while his brother, Balin, tried to ignore the couple smashed beside him. Vinna
was attempting to get her kids to eat pickled herring while Bofur chipped in
telling them it would grow hair on their chests. Bombur was stuffing his round
face full of meat. Oin sat quietly eating his dinner in peace with his hearing
trumpet tucked into his belt. That did not deter his brother. Gloin was
speaking rapidly to his unhearing brother while his wife tried to feed the
overactive Gimli. Ori, Nori and Dori were all seated beside each other speaking
of this or that. Dis was sitting back slightly with a large smile on her face
allowing Bifur to place a large hand on her slightly rounded stomach. Sigrid
was beside Fili, asleep against his shoulder with her fork still clutched in
her sleeping hand. She had been so busy that Belle was surprised she had even
made it to the Great Hall for the funeral feast. There was a new development at
dinner that had Belle confused. Tauriel was latched onto Kili’s side in a
very...odd way. She was smiling at him and pressing small almost unrecognizable
kisses to his shoulder while he looked at her smirking from the corner of his
eye.
“What is happening?” Belle whispered to herself.
“Eat,” Thorin told her sternly pointing with his fork to her now full plate.
Belle wondered how she had missed someone loading her plate but chalked it up
to exhaustion and grief. Speaking of grief, Belle wondered if she were the only
one feeling as such. Until she looked towards Thorin. He did not look sad but
he also did not look as if everything were alright or the same as it once was.
He was looking at a map as he ate his dinner and he looked angry. She felt as
if she could not take her eyes off him. He looked up catching her eyes and gave
her a slightly confused look. But it was not just that. His ice blue eyes were
showing so much more than he had ever allowed her to see before. She saw the
pain, sorrow, and what she thought might be affection? In his eyes.
“Eat your food, Belle” Thorin said softly and stood from the table to move
towards his throne of furs. He was followed by Balin, Dwalin and Dis. Thorin
had a large glass of wine in his hand as he gazed upon the feast. Belle could
see the leader in him. He looked like a King of the Heathens. Belle absently
wondered why he was not a King. She would have to ask more questions later.
Right now she just wanted to escape into her own mind and pretend not to be
here.
===============================================================================
 
“Belle?” A deep voice said beside her.
The tawny-haired girl did not respond. She just continued to stare blankly into
the fire pits in the center of the hall.
It was not until the being shook her that she came out of her stupor. She
turned her sad eyes to Fili. His blue eyes were kind and his smile sympathetic.
“Uncle Thorin has asked to speak with you.” He said and pointed towards where
Thorin was gazing at her from his throne. Belle stood from her seat and allowed
Fili to help her walk to the empty chair beside the Jarl.
“Belle. Sit.” Thorin ordered.
If it had been any other day Belle might have felt a protest rise in her
throat. But right now she could do nothing but follow the raven haired man’s
order. She sat upon the slightly smaller throne beside him. They were both
quiet for many minutes, watching the crowd beside one another.
“I must give you praise,” Thorin told her, his deep voice breaking their
comfortable silence.
“For what?” the little English woman turned her emerald eyes on him.
Thorin breathed deeply as if what he was about to say physically pained him.
“Without your idea of sinking the damaged ships in the harbor many more of my
people could have died.”
“Really?” Belle was surprised by this. Her eyebrows raised and her large eyes
widened further.
“Yes. Three of their ships crashed against our sunken ones. Your trap killed
many Danes. You did well.”
‘ Your trap killed many Danes’  His words rang in her head for the rest of the
night. She was not proud of the fact she had killed many. She did not kill them
with her bare hands but did that make it any better? Lives were lost because of
her. Dane women lost their husbands, sons, friends. Men drowned or froze to
death in the icy sea. How could she be proud of that? As if her grief over
losing Canute was not bad enough now she had the weight of many lives lost
because of her. To keep her mind from her consuming thoughts she tried to stay
at the feast as long as possible. When her eyes began to droop like Sigrid’s
had she decided it was time to leave. There were still many having a good time
and drinking but she knew these Norsemen would party until the sun came up and
she physically could not do it. Fili saw her attempting to step out of the
Great Hall alone and offered to escort her. He tried to talk to her and she was
polite but there was no emotion behind her words. All she wanted to do was curl
up in bed and weep for her immortal soul. Once they entered the house Fili went
to his bedroom where a snoring Sigrid was resting and Belle moved towards her
three person bedroom.
Belle pulled back the curtain of Kili and Tauriel’s room and saw two figures
moving under blankets and breathing heavily. On silent feet, she backed out of
the room and stood in the hall. She slumped against the wall and began to cry
silently.  All of the pain from losing Canute, all of the sorrow over helping
take lives and all of the fear crashed upon her like a tidal wave. Her mind
decided to torture her with images of Canute smile and laughing then flashing
to his corps burning on the beach. It drudged up images of men drowning in deep
waters and calling out for their mothers. Her mind tortured her endlessly until
she could not stand it anymore. She was not sure if it was desperation or
exhaustion, perhaps it was the anguish, whatever it was led her up the stairs
to the upper level of the Longhouse.
Once there she did not let her mind get the best of her. Without thought, she
stepped close to Thorin’s bed where he was sleeping peacefully. Her foot landed
on a creaking floorboard causing Thorin to shoot upright in the bed, a dagger
at the ready.
“Belle?” He asked in a voice thick with sleep. “What is the matter?”
Belle felt the tears welling in her eyes again without permission. “I don’t
want to be alone.” her voice wavered.
Thorin did not say anything in response. He put the dagger under his pillow and
pulled back the furs and blankets of the opposite side of the bed inviting her
in silently. She sniffled loudly before pulling off her outer dress and
climbing under the covers in her shift. The warmth radiating off the large man
had her sighing wistfully. Thorin did not touch her much to her surprise. He
continued laying on his back arms behind his head and invading the small space
she had curled herself into but still not touching her.
“Why are you weeping?” Thorin asked her when he heard her sniffle again. He did
not sound annoyed like she had expected him to be. He sounded genuinely
curious.
Belle turned on her side to look at his form in the dark of the room. “I am
sad.” She struggled to tell him exactly what she was feeling.
“But you have already wept for Canute. Why do so again if you were only
friends?”
Belle sighed loudly. “It is not just Canute. I feel bad for having a hand in
killing the Dane’s” She confessed.
Thorin snorted. “Truly? Why would you feel bad for them? They came to kill you
and my people for taking you. You saved many lives by taking theirs. If you had
not provided the idea of the trap all of my people could have been wiped out,
yourself included. You saved many of my people at the cost of a few Danes.”
Belle had not thought of it that way. She could only focus on those that had
died not those that had been saved. “Oh.” She said softly and felt the mess of
knots that was her mind unraveling itself. She supposed that was the thought of
a leader, it helped them cope with loss of life on both sides. She saw his
point and found comfort in it. “Thank you, Thorin.” She whispered into the
dark.
“For what?” His voice was beginning to get heavy with sleep.
“For making me feel better. And for being kind” She whispered the last bit so
quietly she was not sure if he would hear her. The large man grabbed her wrist
softly and gave it a small squeeze as if to acknowledge her words.
===============================================================================
 
Belle awoke feeling warm and rested, the second was a bit of an oddity for her
since she had been sleeping with Kili and Tauriel. The two beings both seemed
to be moving in their sleep constantly. The English girl opened her eyes to see
that she was not in Kili’s bedroom but in a bedroom much closer to the roof of
the home. The girl felt embarrassment flood her system at being vulnerable
around the raven haired Jarl. Though he was already gone she could not stop
herself from cringing at the thought of him seeing her this morning. She had
acted as a harlot does, asking her way into a man’s bed. Though nothing
terribly untoward happened she still asked to sleep in his bed. Was that the
heathen side of her coming to the surface? The side so much like her mother?
Belle was not sure even her mother would do something so brash. The English
girl quickly dressed in yesterdays clothing and ran down the stairs to Kili's.
She changed into a fresh set of clothes before moving towards the Great Hall.
As she was stepping out of the home she ran into a soft body.
“Belle. I have been worried.” Tauriel said and pulled Belle’s body into her
own.
Belle embraced her slightly taller friend back tightly.
“Are you alright?” The redhead asked as she ran her hand up and down Belle’s
arms in a motherly gesture.
“I will be okay in time. Are you okay?”
Tauriel blushed brightly and her eyes darted away. “I am well.”
“Why are you blushing?” Belle pressed, her mind ringing with a memory from the
night before. Tauriel and Kili were doing better than well.
She shook her head and squared her shoulders. “I have agreed to marry Kili.”
Belle was taken aback. “Truly?”
Tauriel smiled shyly. “Yes. He..asked and I said yes. We will marry in a few
weeks time.”
“Where are you going to find a church?” Belle wondered.
Tauriel’s red brows pulled together in confusion. “We will not marry in a
church, at least not a Christian church. I do not know how the ceremony is done
yet. Kili is going to explain later. ”
The tawny-haired girl gave an appropriate congratulatory response and then the
two girls were off to break their fasts in the Great Hall.
The entire day Belle was consumed by her own mind. Tauriel was marrying one of
the heathens. She was not going to marry in a Christian church. Belle knew that
Canute was going to ask her for her hand and she would have said yes but she
had not put too much thought into it. Not being able to marry in a Christian
church was another thing that had been taken from her when she was brought to
the heathen land. The little English woman had truly not thought about what
would happen when she did marry again. Was she ready to turn her back on her
faith? Could she fully accept the heathen Gods? Tauriel had always blended so
well with these people, Belle envied her. The woman did not appear to be having
any qualms about not marrying in a church. Not for the first time Belle wished
she could be like her. Tauriel was having no internal wars over religion or
death. She could see clearly and logically without emotions clouding her mind.
The tawny-haired girl wished she could be more like that.
By the time night had fallen Belle had been trapped in her own thoughts she
could hardly remember what she did all day. Belle sat at the banquet table
eating quietly while all those around the table spoke excitedly about the
upcoming wedding and some venture the Jarl was putting together. She could not
even muster up the energy to be curious of this venture. It was not until she
was getting ready for bed that she came out of her mind slightly. She stood in
the hallway trying to ignore the pull she felt to climb the stairs and slip
into the warm bed of Thorin. Tauriel and Kili were already in bed with one
another laughing about one thing or another.
“Oh. You two are in love? How disgusting for everyone.” Thorin’s voice said
from over her shoulder in mock irritation which truly looked exactly like his
real irritation.
Kili gave his uncle a rude hand gesture while he captured Tauriel’s lips.
“Come, my mouse.” The raven haired Jarl said and turned to go to his bedroom.
Belle wanted to be angry, but again her lack of energy kept those emotions at
bay. Slowly she followed him up the stairs and climbed into bed beside him.
This continued for the week to follow. Not much was said and there was no
official talk of this new sleeping arrangement. They just began to follow one
another up to bed without any talk or confusion. The first night they slept
together an appropriate distance was kept. But as the nights began to wear on
that appropriate distance began to get smaller and smaller until Belle found
herself curled around the large man in her sleep. There were times when Thorin
was the one to wrap around her. Belle found that she slept best during those
times. There was never any talk when they were in bed with one another. Belle
felt that if she spoke the spell of peace they were under would disintegrate.
So she held her tongue and chose to never speak aloud.
The silence continued until one morning Belle woke to the sound of shuffling
around the room. She had never awoken with Thorin still in the room. The man
tended to rise at dawn before she even opened her eyes, keeping them both from
awkward conversation.
Belle squeezed her eyes shut and tried to pretend she was still asleep until a
large hand settled on her shoulder and shook roughly.
“What?!” the tawny haired woman practically snarled. Her jaw felt like it had
come unhinged from the shake.
Thorin smirked above her, his ice blue eyes lit with something she could not
detect.
“Get dressed and pack your things.” He ordered.
Belle felt fear rise up in her. Was he selling her back to Smaug? It was an
irrational fear. As long as Gothi Grey still lived there was no way she was
going to be sold back to the Bastard King.
“Where are we going?” Belle asked breathlessly.
The Raven haired Jarl stood to his full height and his eyes became hard. “ To
see my cousin, Dain...The King of Norway.”
===============================================================================
 
Belle had thought the Blue Mountains settlement was large, but that was nothing
compared to Agdar. The little tawny haired woman stayed tucked into Tauriel’s
side for most of their time on the water. Tauriel was angry with Kili for not
wanting her to join them. Belle had rolled her eyes when she heard their fight
commence. The dark haired Norseman had much to learn about fighting with a
woman such as Tauriel. He had not learned yet that he would always lose. The
redhead was similar to Belle’s mother and Belle could not remember a single
time that her father and mother fought that ended with Bungo as the victor.
When Tauriel and Kili had made up it was Fili that stayed close to Belle’s
side. It felt so much like being brought to the Blue Mountain’s settlement that
Belle had to fight off her fear with all the energy she possessed. She had to
remind herself that she spoke their language, she would not be sold (Gothi had
threatened some horrible things if Thorin even thought about such a thing.) and
that she had friends now. Belle looked up at Fili and saw him smile down at
her. Their quarrel long forgotten after a swift and rather awkward explanation
by both Sigrid and Fili as to what had happened. Belle felt ridiculous for
feeling as she did and apologized as well for being rude. Both the blondes had
looked at her as if she were insane for worrying over such things but she was a
noble Englishwoman after all.
Belle looked out towards the icy water. She felt as if her entire body was
seized up expecting them to crash into a block of ice and drown. But Fili,
Dwalin and Gyda had all assured her that their boats would not sink. They sat
high on the water and were flexible enough that they could navigate around the
ice without a problem. Though they attempted to comfort her it did not work
well. The entire trip she clung to someone and was near kissing the shores when
they finally reached land.
Agder was bustling with life and made the Blue Mountains settlement look like
more of a cluster of houses than an actual village or town
“Stay close to us. If you think our home is harsh and wild you will be in for a
great surprise. The people of Agdar or as they call themselves “the Iron
Hills”, make us look proper and near as pompous as your people.” Gyda whispered
into Belle’s ear making her shiver in fear.
She followed closely as the group of twenty five stepped through town. Tauriel
grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the center of the group where her and
Kili were walking. The dark haired Norseman had his arm slung around the
redheads shoulder and was glaring at any man that dared look at his woman for
too long. Tauriel drew men’s eyes in as a flame drags a moth to its death.
Belle absently thought that it was all the same. If a man other than Kili got
too close to her they would be signing their own death warrant. Either Tauriel
would kill them herself or Kili would bury his sword into their chest.
Movement out of the corner of her eye caught Belle’s attention. She saw monks
being sold and even some hanging by ropes around their necks. She made a high
pitched noise in the back of her throat that had Gyda pulling her from
Tauriel’s side and into her own. Belle was now placed between Gyda and Bofur.
He gave her a small wink while Gyda slung her arm around Belle the same way
Kili was claiming Tauriel.
“Do not let them see your fear.” Gyda whispered lowly.
Belle swallowed back her panic and attempted to make the same impassive face as
Gyda. She knew she was not succeeding but she tried anyway. The group walked
through the dirt streets of Agdar passing large markets, places of business and
homes before they came to a large and rather ornate longhouse.
“Jarl Thorin! My favored cousin!” a large man with a bright red beard and wild
red hair stepped out onto the steps of the home. He was wearing rich fabrics
and furs upon his stocky body.
Thorin bowed his head slightly in a show of respect. “King Dain.”
The redheaded King pulled his cousin in for a tight embrace and slapped his
back hard enough to make Belle wince from where she was standing near fifteen
feet away.
“It is good to see you again, you surly arse.” The king said with a large
chuckle. He looked down at Thorin’s group as if he had just noticed them. He
opened his arms wide and welcomed them with a booming voice. Belle shrunk into
Bofur’s side to escape the noise making the man chuckle. His laughter was cut
short when he caught the eyes of Thorin. Belle noticed the raven haired Jarl
was looking at Bofur as if he wished to murder him. That look was mild compared
to the near fit he threw when Dain asked if she was Fili’s wife at the feast
held for them.
“No. I have plans to marry another. I will be speaking with my woman’s father
soon.” Fili said after choking on his mead.
“So who is your man, little flower? Bofur?” King Dain asked.
Belle smiled politely and was about to answer when Thorin did it for her.
“She has no man.” Thorin growled.
Dain looked baffled. “Come here, Little Flower.” The King said and waved her up
to where he sat at the head of the table. Belle looked towards Thorin for
direction. She did not know why, but she had grown to have some semblance of
trust in him since Canute's death. His jaw was tight and his nostrils flared.
She rose on shaky legs and slowly made her way towards the Norse King. Her
emerald eyes caught sight of Tauriel holding a dinner knife at the ready, just
in case she needed to gut someone. Kili was attempting to get it from her but
she was not willing to release it. The redheaded woman did not even take her
eyes off of Belle as her and Kili fought over the knife silently. Belle felt as
if she were walking in slow motion, perhaps she wished she was. She did not
want to get any closer to the man with the bore husks in his beard or the
tattoo’s on his face. When she was finally standing before him his eyes slid
over her form slowly in a probing way that made her feel nude despite the
multiple layers of clothing on her slim frame. Belle could hear teeth grinding
and flicked her gaze quickly to Thorin who was the cause of such noise.
“Pretty woman. You would do well with my son, Thorin III Stonehelm.” Dain told
her with a large smile after his forever long examination of her. The Norse
King pointed to a blonde man at the other side of the feasting hall. As if he
heard his father the man began to make his way towards them. Belle wanted to
run but she could not. The man was tall, not near as tall as Thorin or Kili.
Closer to Fili’s height but even then he fell a few inches short.
“Father.” His voice was much deeper than she was expecting.
“Meet Belle Daughter of?” Dain looked to her to fill in the rest.
“I am Belle Gothidótturdóttir” She said quietly.
There was a moment of silence from all near her.
“Gothidótturdóttir as in Gothi Grey?” the King asked slowly.
“Yes. He is my grandfather.”
Dain sat back in his chair and whispered something that sounded suspiciously
like “well fuck me”. “I did not know Gothi had a child. Thorin is this true?”
The raven haired Jarl nodded his head with a grim smile. “Yes he had a
daughter, Belledonna Alva Brigitt. Belle is her daughter and Gothi’s last blood
relative.”
Dain turned a startling shade of red, near as red as his beard. “Forgive me for
my rudeness.” He began snapping his fingers at a slave nearby and ordering them
about until Belle was now seated beside the King himself. His son had been
shooed away but continued sending curious glances back at Belle.
“There is nothing to forgive, King Dain. I am perfectly comfortable anywhere.”
Belle said softly.
“Any blood of Gothi Grey will not sit at the end of my table but at the head. I
owe that man my life and I will show my respect for him and his bloodline any
chance I have.”
Belle did not respond only nodded her head in thanks and continued to eat her
food slowly while those around her spoke loudly. The room she was in was a
large Great Hall. Much larger than the one in the Blue Mountains. The room was
ornate in appearance with gold painted runes on carved wooden beams. There was
a large chandelier made of antlers with painted gold tips. Disks holding fire
hung from the ceiling bathing the entire room with more light than Belle had
thought possible. Beautiful tapestries hung from the walls and different
artifacts were being displayed. Belle spotted a large golden cross sitting in
the corner of the room as if for decoration. Her mind flashed back towards the
monks she saw earlier weeping over their fate.
“Do you have the same gifts as your Grandfather?” Dain asked Belle. His blue
eyes bore into hers breaking her from her examination of the large building.
“What do you mean?” Belle did not understand what gifts he was speaking of.
“She exhibits signs of it. It was her idea of sinking our damaged ships in the
harbor as a trap. It saved many of my people.” Thorin spoke to Dain. While Dain
delighted in his tale Thorin shot her a look that clearly told her to keep her
mouth shut and allow him to do the talking.
“She has the gift!” Dain crowed and leaned close to her. “Do you have any
premonitions to bestow upon me?”
Belle floundered for a moment, not sure what to say. Her mouth open and shut a
few times before Thorin came to her rescue. “You know as well as I that the
Gods do not work that way. They must come to you. Leave the woman be.”
“Of course.” Dain said and pushed his empty plate away from him. “I believe you
had business to discuss with me as this was not a family visit. Come, we may
speak in my home.” The man stood from the table and turned to leave but then
grasped Belle’s hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “Until we meet
again.”
Thorin was looking away but she saw the muscles in his jaw clench tightly. She
wondered what that was about. He shook his head momentarily before moving his
eyes towards someone. It looked as if he were communicating with someone across
the large table. Belle followed his line of sight and saw Gyda rising from her
seat and walking towards her. The company divided then. Dwalin, Balin, Fili and
Ori followed Thorin while the rest hung back but moved so they were sitting
closer together. Gyda was beside Belle in a flash.
“Come. We will drink for good luck.”
“Why do we need luck?” Belle asked.
“Because if you truly want your husband dead, the only way to do it is for Dain
and his men to join our army. We will need all the luck we can get for him to
say yes to this mad quest.”
***** Tauriel *****
Chapter Notes
     NSFW chapter. Rated for gore and encounters of the sexual variety.
     I did not have the time to put much editing time into this chapter so
     I apologize for the errors that are most likely present in this
     chapter!
     I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Thank you for reading my work.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
“Good morning, my goddess” Kili’s voice was the first thing she heard that
morning.
Tauriel stretched her limbs and her mouth curled up in response to his warm
voice. “Hmmph” She grunted tiredly in response. It was far too early to be so
cheery but her betrothed had the disposition of a cat who stole the cream and
never seemed to be bothered. Well unless it came to men wanting to steal her
attentions. Then he turned into a rabid dog guarding its bone.
“Hungry?” He asked her as he rubbed a large warm hand over her flat stomach.
Tauriel nodded her redhead. She was truly hungry. They had had a large feast
the night before but Tauriel had not eaten much. She was in a new land, one
that she knew nothing about and she refused to let her guard down for even a
moment. Kili had tried to ply her with alcohol but she turned it away choosing
instead to keep her eyes on Belle. The woman had the ability to draw in trouble
with very little effort. Tauriel knew it wasn’t her fault, perhaps she was
cursed?
“Up. I am hungry” Kili said and began to climb out of bed.
Tauriel felt her warmth beginning to leave and acted on instinct. She wrapped
her arms and legs around her larger bedmate and pulled him close. When she
opened her bleary eyes she saw that she was wrapped around Kili’s back. Her
legs around his waist and her arms around his neck with her cheek pressed
between his shoulder blades.
Kili’s laughter made her chest warm and her entire body vibrate.
“I could carry you like this all day, Tauriel. It would please me immensely.”
As if to prove his point Kili stood without any hindrance. He went about
dressing with her still on his back absorbing as much warmth as possible. She
had thought her homeland was cold during the winter. It turns out she had no
idea what cold truly was until she was on heathen soil.
Not wanting to be paraded around in just her sleep dress, Tauriel released her
hold on the dark haired man and climbed off his back. She dressed slowly, her
joints stiff due to the cold. All the while Kili’s warm brown eyes followed her
movements. He always looked at her so intensely she felt as if her skin was on
tingling. Tauriel found that when she finally accepted his affections and
allowed herself to return that affection the feelings were addicting. She
wanted to drown in them for the first time in her entire life. She had always
pushed her emotions down, well all aside from anger, because she believed that
life was easier that way. And in a way she was right, it was easier to be angry
at everything even God so that she did not have to feel anything else. But now
that anger is what she pushed down and she allowed herself to feel love, fear,
excitement, and lust. Kili had been the key to opening those feelings up and
she could not be more thankful. The world looked different now. It was no
longer as dull and colorless. Now the world was bright and full of something
that felt similar to hope.
“We must gather Belle. She stayed up drinking with Gyda last night. She will
miss breakfast if we do not wake her.” Tauriel told Kili once she was dressed
and covered in her cloak and gloves.
They were staying in the King’s guest quarters. Essentially it was just a part
of his enormous longhouse. There were different sections of the large home
designated for different people. Thorin was placed near the back by the King
while everyone else was placed towards the front.
Kili and Tauriel, hand in hand, passed by the different doorways and peeked in
looking for their curly-haired friend. They found her passed out on a pallet in
Gyda and Dwalin’s room. The couple was currently snoring loudly with one
another in their own bed. Tauriel noticed that they both had their clothing on.
Rare for the two. They must have been considerate of Belle’s fragile
sensibilities for once.
Slowly Kili crept into the room and lifted Belle from her bed while Tauriel
collected her fresh clothing from her trunk. The little woman did not wake as
Kili carried her, she only snuggled into him and mumbled “Thorin”.
Kili’s brown eyes snapped to Tauriel’s in surprise. Tauriel’s eyes must have
reflected the same thing because Kili began to chuckle silently. Once they had
gotten her into an empty room Belle was waking up.
“Ugh. Why are we standing so near the sun?” She grumbled, blinking blearily.
“You are just hung over, my little friend,” Kili said with a loud chuckle.
“Shhhhhh” Belle hissed and grabbed her head.
“Gyda must have gotten to her. She is hungover.” Tauriel said angrily. Anything
that caused her tiny friend hurt, angered the redhead something fierce. “She
knows Belle can not handle alcohol as well as others. Her tolerance is low.
Gyda must have done this for her own entertainment.”
Kili placed a hand on Tauriel’s shoulder and rubbed gently. “She is fine. Belle
is a woman grown. She can decide when to stop drinking for herself. Do not
behead Gyda for this.”
Tauriel glared at him for speaking good sense instead of siding with her but
she would deal with that later.
“I am right here. You do not need to speak of me as if I am not.” Belle said,
her eyes still closed in pain but her fresh clothing fully on her body.
“Come let’s go” Tauriel grabbed Belle’s hand and pulled her stumbling feet
towards the entrance of the home.
“I am not hungry” The little woman complained.
Tauriel swallowed her irritation with her dearest friend. “I do not care. You
will eat. You are too skinny. If you do not eat Kili will force you to.”
Tauriel looked back towards Kili who grimaced but nodded. He truly would do
anything for her and she was continuously grasping the full extent of it.
Belle glared heavily at Tauriel, well as heavily as a hung-over tiny woman
could. “You sound like Thorin” Belle grumbled quietly. Tauriel shrugged off her
statement and continued pulling her.
As they walked through the home Tauriel was once again blown away by the ornate
quality of it. These were not the cold stone halls of her home. The walls were
wood, straw, and mud but it was packed so well that it felt warm despite the
cold of the outside. There were tapestries and trinkets from around the world.
They appeared so foreign but beautiful in their individuality.
Once they had reached the large hall they had feasted in the night before they
found that breakfast was just beginning. Tauriel, Kili, and Belle sat beside
Thorin, Fili, Nori, Ori and Balin. The rest of the group was most likely deep
in their ale sleep.
Tauriel mentally checked all of the weapons she had hidden on her person. Kili
knew of one but there were a few more. She had gotten the idea from Fili when
she had walked in on him concealing multiple knives and two small throwing axes
under his clothing.
“Welcome, Jarl Thorin,” a tall woman with long blonde hair said as she sat at
the head of the table.
Tauriel eyed her curiously. She was beautiful but in an odd way. The angles of
her cheeks were sharp, her jaw was square and her nose very angular. Tauriel
decided that she had an unconventional beauty. The blonde woman’s imperfections
captivated Tauriel in a strange way. Next, the redhead noticed the woman’s
clothing. She was wearing a strange type of fabric. Tauriel must have been
staring too long because Kili leaned over and whispered in her ear.
“It is called silk.” His breath was warm on her skin causing her to break out
in goose bumps and her skin to tingle. Her mind flashed to feeling his warm
breath on her naked thighs. Speaking of those thighs she was clenching them
hard at the moment, attempting to rid herself of her sudden arousal.
“Silk?” She whispered back in an effort to busy her mind.
“Raiders exploring the far east met merchants selling the fabric. It is said
that worms make it. Large worms the size of my small finger.” Kili said as he
wrapped his pinky around her own, locking them together. “It takes thousands of
worms to make just one pound of silk, at least that is what the merchants told
them.”
“Hmm. It’s beautiful”
“On Queen Solveig, it is nice but on you, it would be beautiful,” Kili told her
and planted a kiss on her neck causing her to shiver. “Would you like one?”
“One?” Tauriel asked.
“A silk dress,” Kili said with his signature smile. She had grown to love his
smiles. He smiled with not just his mouth but his eyes. Tauriel had never met
another person whose smile warmed her chest as his did.
“Silk is impractical for the climate of your land. It would get ruined or I
would freeze to death.” Tauriel answered him matter-of-factly.
Instead of just smiling Kili laughed loudly. “Always my practical woman.” Once
he had calmed he spoke again. “Summers are not cold, you could wear it then, or
at feasts where it is warm.”
Tauriel agreed he did have a point but allowed the conversation to drop as she
was now very interested in the Norse Queen. The woman was attempting to speak
with Belle about potential husbands, specifically her son.
“That is very kind of you, Queen Solveig. But I am still grieving.” Belle said
softly and with respect.
The Queen laughed at Belle as if she was simple. “Oh, you must do things
differently where you come from.” Tauriel’ hackles rose at the condescending
tone of the blonde woman. “The best way to grieve is to move on to another
swiftly.”
Belle smiled politely at the Queen “Things are done differently where I am
from. But I am not ready to marry just yet”
The Queen’s eyes became hard and narrowed on Belle. “Do you not believe my son
to be good enough for you? Is that what it is?”
Tauriel had had enough. “The Gods have told her she is to bear the sons of one
of the Blue Mountain’s men. Who would she be to disobey the Gods? She is smart
and does not question them. Do you?”
The entire room went silent as Tauriel stared down the Queen, fire in both
their eyes.
“Is this true, little woman?” The Queen asked Belle without taking her steel
eyes off Tauriel.
The redhead felt Kili grip her knee to a near painful degree beneath the table
and she could feel the waves of annoyance rolling off of him.
“Y-y-yes…” Belle stuttered.
“You do not sound too sure.”
It was then that the Viking King came stumbling into the room, his arm around a
slave girl. They both appeared to be drunk still. Tauriel had never seen a man
so inappropriate with a mistress in front of their wife. He sat beside his wife
only after planting a kiss on the slave girls mouth and began to stuff his
face. It took many moments before the drunken king felt the stiffness in the
air.
“What is it, woman?” He asked his wife.
“The English woman says the Gods have told her she is to bear the sons of a man
who hails from the Blue Mountains. I believe she would be best with Thorin III
Stonehelm.” The Queen said in a sugary tone that somehow still had a bite to
it. Tauriel wanted to rip the Queen’s tongue out of her mouth.
The King choked slightly on his drink before turning to Belle with large eyes.
“Truly?”
This time Belle answered firmly. “Yes” Her eyes only flicked to Tauriel for the
briefest of moments.
“Do not question her, woman” The King hissed to his wife angrily. “She is a
Gyðja. Her grandfather is Gothi Grey. If she says she is to marry and bear the
children of Odin himself you do not question it.”
The Queen appeared to be fuming but reigned it in. “My apologies, Belle.” the
words sounded like vinegar on the tongue.
The tawny haired woman nodded her head back in a sign of acceptance. Before
turning back to her breakfast.
“Whoever you are to marry will be a very lucky man,” King Dain said with a
boisterous laugh and clapped Thorin on the back harshly. Belle laughed
uncomfortably and immediately turned her face down towards the table. But it
was not Belle’s reaction that intrigued Tauriel; it was Thorin’s.
Tauriel studied Thorin’s face as this interaction took place. He was angry,
jealous even. But jealous of what? Belle’s hypothetical husband? The redhead
had never questioned why Thorin did not like Canute. She was just happy someone
else did not like the red-bearded man. Now she began to wonder. Did Thorin wish
to be Belle’s husband? Was he jealous of Canute and that is why every time the
red-bearded man was around Thorin would snarl, glare and pace more than an
angry boar? Tauriel looked between the two as breakfast progressed. Thorin was
speaking with the King about trade routes but his eyes were constantly flicking
to Belle. Belle would look at him once or twice but Tauriel did not see the
same longing in her eyes as Thorin had present in his gaze. It appeared he had
tried to hide it but Tauriel was a very observant woman.
Tauriel was snapped out of her thoughts by Kili’s hand moving from her leg. She
had been so focused on Thorin that she had not paid attention to Kili. When she
looked at him she saw his jaw was tensed and his mouth was set into a hard
line. When he felt her studying his face he turned towards her with a very
unamused look upon his face. There was no trace of the cheeky man she knew.
This was the Viking man. The warrior. And he was none too happy with her. She
felt ice slide into her veins and wished to speak freely at this table but it
was not the way of these people, especially not in a strange land. Tauriel kept
her mouth shut until it was time to look around the city.
Kili pulled her harshly from her seat once breakfast was completed and without
a word led her out of the large hall and towards the water. Belle trailed
behind a few feet not wanting to be away from them. Tauriel tried to slow but
Kili was not allowing her to stop his march. When they reached the shores and
were far enough from others Kili opened his mouth.
“Woman.” He snarled getting close to face. “You can not make up prophecies from
the Gods! It is wrong!”
Tauriel’s inner fire flared as red as her hair. “Oh? So I should have let
that...that...baothrach anduine beat Belle into a corner!? No one was helping
her. She would have been married off to that cnapán amadáinson of hers before
any of you pulled your heads out of your arses!”
Kili’s eyes narrowed further and pointed to Tauriel as a mother does when
scolding a wayward child. “I don’t know what you just called the Queen or the
Prince but I am guessing it was no good..”
Before he could continue Belle cut in. “She called the Queen a miserable tyrant
and Thorin Stonehelm, I believe, a big fool.” She had been staring at her nails
and looked up in shock as if she had not meant to speak aloud.
Tauriel felt the laughter bubble up in her throat at the pure shock on Belle’s
face. Her laughter set off Belle into giggles and before long Kili could not
hold back either. He chuckled for a moment before coming back to himself.
“No matter how true those insults are if they ever heard you could be killed!”
Kili scrubbed his face with his large hands. “You can’t make up prophecies and
throw them at Belle. You put her in danger too. We would have handled it if the
Queen became more...aggressive.”
Tauriel rolled her eyes at him. She did not believe they would have handled it
well. It would have started more problems. She saw nothing wrong with her
actions.
“Fili and Thorin were both about ready to jump in and rescue her! You just
jumped ahead of the line like a mother protecting her cub.”
Belle grimaced at being likened unto a cub but remained silent.
“I will not apologize,” Tauriel said stubbornly, arms crossed over her chest
and chin raised defiantly.
“And I am not asking you to. I only ask that you be more careful and do not
speak false prophecies any longer.” Kili answered calmly.
Tauriel nodded her head. She did not want to say the words aloud but she had no
intention of not speaking false prophecies if a situation like the one with the
Queen arose again. Kili smiled at her and pulled her into his strong arms. She
turned her face into his chest and allowed herself a few moments to soak up his
warmth. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and hugged her tighter before
pulling back and looking around sharply.
“Belle?! No!” He yelled out.
Tauriel turned abruptly, her stomach dropping to her feet. Kili ran towards the
tree line where the redhead could see Belle speaking with a pale figure. Belle
looked over her shoulder with confusion in her eyes. The pale man began to step
back into the shadows but not before Tauriel got a good look at him. He was
sickly looking. His face was sunken in making his already large eyes more
pronounced. His hair was wispy and falling out in clumps. He had many missing
teeth but the teeth he did have were dark yellow and sharpened. He was wearing
clothing but it had holes and looked worse for wear. But what had Tauriel even
more wary of him was the way he stood. Like he was hunching over due to a
curved spine or like a Fomori lurking in the darkness.
By the time Kili reached Belle the pale man was gone and Kili had pulled Belle
into his arms tightly and nearly dragged her away from the tree line and
towards the shore.
“What were you thinking Belle!?” Kili roared at her.
“What do you mean?” Belle said shrinking back in fear. Tauriel placed herself
in between the two ever so slightly to protect the little woman.
“What were you thinking getting close to him!? Why would you stray from our
side? It is too dangerous here without getting close to an shunned one” Kili
explained angrily.
“I wanted to give you both privacy so I stepped away and then caught sight of
some mushrooms growing at the treeline. He wasn’t there when I first went over.
He sort of popped out of nowhere and said his name was Smeagol then asked for
my name...He also asked me for food...”
“Did you give it to him?” Kili asked warily.
“I gave him some of my jerky Vinna made me promise to keep on me and an apple
from breakfast,” Belle answered slowly as a child would, afraid of the
punishment that was to follow.
“You must never give anything to a shunned one. They have been shunned from our
society for good reason. It is against the law to aid them in any way. Do not
speak of this to anyone.” Kili told Belle passionately while gripping the tops
of her arms harshly.
The tawny-haired girl nodded her head emphatically, her curly hair going wild
around her face. Kili took a deep breath and mumbled something about “needing a
drink” under his breath. Before putting an arm around both women and walking
them towards the large market in the center of the city. While they walked
Tauriel thought of what would get one of these heathens shunned from their own
people. They were wild and violent on their best days not to mention their
worst. She mentally shuttered to know just what this “Smeagol” had done.
===============================================================================
 
“It is beautiful on you,” Kili said as he held up the silk dress against her
clothed body. Tauriel could not argue that the dress was beautiful and she
could not stop herself from running her fingers delicately over the fabric time
and time again. It was a deep red with strange looking white embroidered
flowers. It had long flowing sleeves and would be tight to her chest and waist.
It was an entirely impractical garment but oh so beautiful.
“Yes. but it is impractical...” Tauriel said softly. “It would look good on me.
But most clothing does.”
Kili chuckled at her lack of humility and turned to barter with the woman
selling the dress. While he was doing that Tauriel caught sight of Belle
standing with Bofur, Fili and Gyda. She was arguing with them hotly, as hotly
as she could anyhow. The woman was taught to never raise her voice in a man’s
presence, that followed her into the heathen land as well. But being as close
as Tauriel was to Belle she recognized when the woman was struggling not to
explode.
Tauriel left Kili’s side and walked with surety to Belle’s side, she was only a
few feet away when a being fell between Belle and Tauriel. The redhead was
about to kick him to the side when she noticed he had not exactly fallen he was
kneeling in front of the little English woman.
“Queen Belledonna!” He shouting.
“Noooo…. You are mistaken…” Belle said in a worrisome tone, shaking her head in
denial.
“I would recognize my King’s bride anywhere! You are Queen Belledonna, wife
King Smaug!” the slave cried loudly.
Tauriel had been in too much shock to react quickly. Her mind was still
attempting to catch up with what was happening. Before her was a clergyman
looking worse for wear. He had a collar around his neck indicating he was a
slave.
“I am not!” Belle said loudly, her eyes darting around the space. Tauriel too
looked up and saw that this interaction had garnered a large amount of
attention. “Please stand up, they can’t know who I am” Belle whispered harshly
to the man.
This apparently shocked the clergyman. “Why not? You are a beloved Queen and
wife! Smaug will barter for you!”
“No!” Belle practically screamed. “I am not beloved by him. He has tried to
kill me! He wants me dead”
It was then that the clergyman rose to his feet and began to yell loudly. “You
dare speak ill of your King!? Smaug is a man of God! Your fragile female mind
has been poisoned by these heathens, Queen Belle! We must get word to Smaug and
he will set you straight, you foolish woman!”
“Shhh. Please. Quiet!” Belle tried hissing again.
In that moment Tauriel thought of killing the clergyman but she was not quite
ready to turn her back completely on her God. It appeared Gyda had no qualms
because just as the clergyman began screaming again for Belle to repent of her
whore-ish sins Gyda snarled in annoyance and took out her ax. In one swift
motion, she hacked her ax into the side of his neck nearly severing his head
from his body.
“Ugh, shut up” She grumbled and pulled her ax out of his flesh with a loud
squelching sound.
Belle stared at Gyda with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. Tauriel, on the other
hand, understood why Gyda had done it and was slightly grateful for it.
“What?!” the auburn haired woman asked with an incredulous tone. “You wanted
him to be quiet. There was no other way.” Gyda thought for a moment and then
smiled. “Meh, perhaps there was, but this way is more fun.”
It was then that the owner of the once-proud clergyman turned slave began to
yell at Gyda.
She turned to him with no small amount of annoyance. She pulled out a purse
that was tucked into her tunic and counted out coins to pay the man. When the
slave owner tried to say the slave was worth more Gyda took out one of her axes
and pointed it at him. Her kohl covered eyes narrowing at him.
“Do not try to thieve me. That bastard was worth no more than any other slave!
He was old, fat and lazy. If anything I am overpaying you for him. So close
your mouth or it will be your death. Are you willing to die over one measly
slave?”
Gyda’s tone was so chilly that even Tauriel feared for the briefest of moments.
Tauriel felt Kili behind her, sword at the ready and arm around her waist ready
to pull her away from the danger.
The redhead caught sight of men marching towards them. She pulled out her
dagger hidden beneath her cloak and prepared for a fight. Tauriel was grateful
that Gyda stepped in front of Belle and looked about ready to fight warriors
herself all at once. Bofur had pulled Belle back behind him and he too had his
sword out prepared to kill.
“The English woman. She must come with us.” The leader of the warriors spoke.
“Over my dead body, you fuckin’ arse.” Gyda snarled and spit at the leader’s
feet.
In a move so quick Tauriel almost missed it, the man brought his hand back and
slapped Gyda across the face hard. There was shouting from the crowd around
them, cheering the fight on. Tauriel moved to step in and help the auburn-
haired woman but Kili held her back.
“This is a fight she must do alone. Sometimes you just need a good fight to
settle things” he explained but kept his sword at the ready.
Gyda spit blood from her mouth and smiled wickedly at the man as if she enjoyed
this immensely. Tauriel felt new appreciation for the shieldmaiden rise within
her. Gyda threw her weapon to the ground and raised her fists. The man did the
same and soon the two were beating on each other using only their fists, well
when the leader could get his hands on the smaller woman. Gyda was fast,
Tauriel noted that she and the woman would be evenly matched if they were to
fight in this manner. But that was not her worry right now. Gyda had gotten
behind the large man and was on his back, her legs wrapped around his waist and
her arm locked around his neck, shutting off his air supply. In a move that
lacked finesse and was purely animal instinct, the man dropped onto his back
slamming Gyda into the frozen earth, knocking the wind out of the woman. The
leader grabbed his sword and pointed it at Gyda’s throat.
“STOP!” Belle screamed and ran from behind Bofur towards the warriors. Tauriel
lunged forward to grab the small woman but she was too fast. “Don’t kill her.
I’ll go with you.”
“Where are you taking her?” Bofur barked after helping Gyda to her feet.
“To see the King” The leader with the now bruised face answered.
===============================================================================
 
The entire walk back to the King’s Great Hall had Tauriel’s stomach in knots
and her brain in hyperdrive. She had tried to worm her way up to Belle but the
guards around her were in a tight circle and Kili kept pulling Tauriel behind
him. She glared at him heavily but it did not help. He would glare right back
at her and then once again push her behind him.
“Give me your knife,” Kili whispered to her once they were at the entrance of
the Kings Hall.
“Why?” Tauriel asked truly baffled. Why would Kili take her only manner of
self-defense? When she looked into his eyes she understood perfectly what he
was not willing to say. If the King killed Belle or hurt her in any way Tauriel
would kill the man or anyone else that got in her way.
“No” The redhead snarled at him making more than a few of those around them
turn to look at her. She glared at them heavily in return.
“Tauriel,” Kili said and held out his hand. When she did not hand it over he
grabbed her wrist harshly and ripped the dagger from her grasp. The island girl
often forgot the strength of her betrothed. He never used it on her or even
near her, making her underestimate him. A mistake she hoped not to make again.
“You will pay for that,” Tauriel warned him.
“I know,” Kili whispered and nudged her forward into the now open doors to
reveal the King pacing before his throne of furs and his wife looking entirely
too smug on her seat to his left. Tauriel envisioned herself sending her now
missing knife through the woman’s eye socket.
“Queen Belledonna.” King Dain said in an accusatory tone. “I have heard rumors
of you. The missing wife of King Smaug. Did not know it was one from my kingdom
that took you.” The redheaded man mused aloud as he paced. “Your husband is an
evil man. A man that killed my grandfather. Why should I not kill you for
revenge?”
Tauriel was about to answer for the woman but Kili covered her mouth with his
hand, as had become the norm when placed in a situation such as this. She bit
at his fingers making him flinch but he did not remove his hand.
“Because it would do no good.” Thorin barked from where he was striding into
the doors, Dwalin and Fili at his heels with Nori hidden in the shadows behind
them.
“Oh? Do tell, cousin” Dain said gesturing with his hand.
“You will gain the wrath of Gothi Grey.” The raven haired Jarl said
nonchalantly as he stepped in front of Belle to hide her small frame from view.
“Gothi can be...dealt with.” Dain mused. Tauriel looked closely at the man’s
eyes. He did not mean the words he was speaking. There was apprehension there.
“Perhaps. But I would not be so quick to try.” Thorin said in a much more
charming voice than Tauriel thought he possessed.
Dain pursed his lips as if in agreement and motioned for his cousin to continue
speaking.
“You told me this journey was our own, that it was too risky to send your
warriors against Smaug’s armies. Well, now that you know who she is, let me
introduce you to Queen Belledonna House of Baggins wife of Smaug and the woman
who is going to give us the keys to his kingdom.”
Dain stared at his cousin with a calculating gaze and rubbed at his long red
beard. Tension was high in the room as all waited for the King’s next move.
“Why would she help us?”
Thorin smirked. “She hates him more than any of us ever could. I guarantee she
would kill him herself if given the chance.”
Dain smiled back at his cousin and motioned for the raven haired man to move so
Dain could see the little woman. “Is this true? Would you kill your husband if
given the chance? If handed the dagger would you plunge it into his heart?”
Tauriel held her breath waiting for Belle’s answer. Belle was so gentle that
Tauriel worried she would say no.
“Yes,” Belle said firmly and without hesitation.
Dain barked out in laughter. “Good. I will get you that chance and hand you the
dagger but you may have to fight others for the right to kill him. Tell me what
you know of his kingdom’s weaknesses”
Tauriel let out a large breath of relief and without turning towards Kili she
held out her hand staring forward, eyes locked on Belle. Kili rose her hand up
to his lips chuckling and pressed a kiss to her palm before he placed the knife
back into her hand. She quickly put it into her belt and gazed around the room
gauging if this King was the kind that lied. She could see he had taken some
sort of shine to her small friend but that could be a faked act. Queen Solveig
looked as if she was choking on vinegar. Tauriel smirked happily that the other
woman was unhappy. She was not someone Tauriel liked or even respected. The
woman rubbed her the wrong way.
The redhead drifted to Belle’s side and listened as she began to speak King
Dain.
“King Dain. As a former ruler of these people, I must speak of my concern for
them.” Belle said gently.
The Norse King pursed his lips but nodded his head for her to continue.
“The peasants within Smaug’s kingdoms are not at fault for his misgivings. They
are his victims as well as I was. I will tell you all you want to know if I may
have your word that you will not hurt those that do not raise a sword against
you.”
“You mean the women and children? Why do you worry for them?”
Both Tauriel and Belle were surprised by this. It was always surprising to see
the heathens lack of compassion. It was normally more shocking for Belle than
it was for Tauriel but she understood worrying for her own people at least.
“You care for your people do you not?” Belle asked the King gently after she
had looked to Thorin for a reason that was beyond Tauriel.
“Yes. But our people know how to fight back. They can protect themselves if
needed.” Dain said with confusion.
“See my people can not. Tauriel’s people, the people of the southern islands,
even they can protect themselves well. But mine, they do not know how.” The
little English woman said sadly. “They are no match for your warriors.”
Tauriel heard all in the room shift as if they were straightening their spines
with pride.
“My people do not learn how to hold swords until they are called upon to fight
for the king, usually at the last minute. Smaug has his armies of men that have
been taught to fight for him, but that is small number compared to what you
will see on the battlefield. Most of the men fighting on the front line are
peasants, ordered to serve their King. They leave women and children behind
that can not fend for themselves, let alone fight for their lives.”  
The room listened with rapt attention to the little woman speaking of her
foreign land. It was a strange notion to Tauriel. Back home they were taught to
fight and how to hold swords from a young age, nothing like she had seen the
little Norse children do but they at least held weapons before they were forced
to fight. Tauriel thought of her people. They had fended off attacks from the
Norsemen before. They lost many but were not completely decimated like many
other lands. That was because her people were stealthy. They hid in the trees
and the in the marshlands. They did not fight in the open like the English
tended to do. They would not survive battles if they did. So they shot arrows
from high in the trees or painted themselves to look like they blended in with
the forests and would attack on silent feet. It was something Tauriel had
learned well, how to allow herself to walk among the forest unseen.
The redhead looked over at her dark-haired betrothed and thought that perhaps
that was a skill she would like to teach him. He was not as bulky as his
brother or uncle, he was taller but thinner. He could climb the trees and fly
among the branches such as she, with enough practice. The thought of him being
picked off in battle against her own people because he could not walk unseen
made her stomach quiver painfully. She grabbed his hand gently and squeezed.
Kili smiled down at her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders before pulling
her in and pressing a kiss to her temple.
“I believe we can make that deal.” King Dain said in a voice that made Tauriel
think he perhaps was the liar she had contemplated earlier.
“He lied,” Tauriel whispered aloud, ready to question the King before Kili
tightened his hold on her.
“Shh.” The dark haired man said and pulled Tauriel from the hall and out into
the cold day once more.
“Do not say those things where others can hear, Tauriel.” Kili said gently and
rubbed his hands up and down her arms to generate more heat for her. She was
warm enough in her cloak, hat, and gloves but the gesture was sweet all the
same.
“And why not? He lied to her. Lied about protecting her people all so he could
gain secrets.” Tauriel bit out.
“Because if you challenge his honor he can kill you for it. That is the way it
is here, love” Kili said, his jaw clenching at the thought of losing her. “He
may not have been lying, perhaps it was a half truth.”
“A half-truth?” Tauriel had never heard of a half-truth. Her mind worked in
black and white, not in gray and every color in between.
“Yes. I believe he fully intends to tell his men not to attack the peasants,
but he will not punish them for doing so.” the dark-haired man clarified.
Tauriel thought on that. Was that good enough for her? Should she inform Belle
right now? Could the man truly control all of his own warriors? She believed a
leader could to a certain extent. But if they were not watching at all times
should their men be punished for going against orders? In theory, the answer
was yes. But here the punishment was normally death. Could you expect the
leader to kill his best warriors for doing what these heathens always did, for
what they were taught from their first raid? Tauriel was not sure. It alarmed
her. She was beginning to think as these heathens did and she was not sure she
liked it. Or perhaps she was always this way but had been reigned in by her
Christian ideals and her position in life.
“What happened to you!?” Dwalin’s stern voice cause Tauriel to snap out of her
thoughts.
Tauriel looked up and saw Dwalin holding Gyda’s face gingerly in his large
hands. His eyes scrutinizing her already swelling and bruised skin.
“Skírnir” Gyda growled.
“He beat you?” The large brown haired warrior asked in surprise.
“He fucking cheated!” Gyda yelled towards the open doors of the longhouse.
The man in question came out with a smirk on his face.
Tauriel was not surprised when Kili stepped in front of Tauriel, guarding her
body with his own.
“Do not be sore because I beat you little half-blood.” Skírnir, the lead guard
of King Dain, said.
“Half-blood!?” Gyda screamed and lunged at the man but Dwalin was faster and
grabbed her around the waist holding her lower half tight to his body. One of
her axes was out in a flash prompting Kili to move quickly. When she launched
the ax, Kili in what appeared to be a blur plucked it from the air, keeping it
from cutting into the smirking blonde guard.
Tauriel’s eyes were impossibly wide as she watched the scene unfold. Kili had
stopped a weapon in its tracks as if this was a natural thing in the world. As
if the blade had not been soaring through the air. Kili handed the ax back to a
retreating Dwalin as Gyda continued to scream over his broad shoulder.
“Even being half-blood I am more of a warrior than you will ever be! You son of
a bitch!” The auburn haired woman’s voice faded the farther Dwalin carried her
away. “Watch your back Skírnir for my ax will be buried in it before long!”
Skírnir did not seem to be the least bit worried. He shrugged off the woman’s
treats and re-entered the King’s Hall.
Tauriel did not have much focus for her surroundings at the moment. All
thoughts of needing to be near Belle flew out the window the moment Kili had
shown his skill with a weapon. Tauriel grabbed a hold of the tall man’s hand
and dragged him towards the side of the large hall. Kili did not speak as she
did this. He followed her as she was sure he would follow her to the ends of
the earth. Once they were away from the eyes of others Tauriel pushed her
betrothed up against the wall and latched her mouth to his. Kili hesitated for
only a moment but then doubled her enthusiasm. His tongue sought entry into her
mouth and before long their tongues were entangled in a wonderful dance. Kili
ran his large hands up and down Tauriel’s clothed body causing goosebumps to
break out on her skin. When Tauriel broke away to catch her breath Kili moved
his lips to her neck. The redheaded woman laughed as his stubble tickled her
tender skin.
“I love that sound. It is so rare which makes it twice as beautiful” He
whispered against her ear, his hot breath making her weak in the knees.
“I am cold, Kili. Take me to our bed and warm me up.” Tauriel ordered in a
sultry voice.
Kili pulled back and looked at his redheaded woman with a surprised smile. He
quickly grabbed her arm and near ran them both to their borrowed room within
the Kings longhouse. They were a mess of lips and tangled body parts once they
fell onto their shared bed. Before long hands had begun to wander. Tauriel’s
hands were raking up and down Kili’s firm stomach, feeling every ridge and
outline of hard muscle. It was thrilling for her. When Belle had said that the
Norsemen were not built like men back in her homeland she had spoken the truth.
Kili was built differently from the men of her home as well. These men were
taller, bulkier and far more muscular. In a teasing motion, Tauriel dipped her
fingers into the line of Kili’s trousers and felt the grooves leading to the
part of him she had seen many times but had never touched with her bare hands.
The redhead did not allow her mind to drift to her morality or her God, she
only felt. She felt the arousal flowing through her. She felt the passion Kili
was giving off in droves. She felt the wetness between her thighs and the
beating of her blood. Tauriel gave in to the temptation and dipped her hand
into his pants completely to grip his hardness. That was as far as her feelings
took her. Unsure of what else to do she turned her hazel eyes up to Kili’s warm
brown ones.
“Teach me how to please you.” She whispered into the quiet. Tauriel was a proud
woman but around Kili she was willing to ask for help.
The dark haired man looked like he was in pure bliss just at hearing her words.
He pushed his leather pants off of his hips to give her better access and then
led her in how to pleasure him. Her hand glided over his skin feeling the silky
softness of it. Like velvet covered iron. He whispered in a tortured voice that
he was the hardest he had ever been. Tauriel felt pride in that. She worked him
from base to tip stopping now and then to rub the moisture seeping from the tip
around the head before working her way back down. Tauriel watched him as he
struggled to not come apart. When he lost that battle she was not sure she had
seen a more thrilling sight. His eyes were clenched shut and his mouth fell
open but she could still see the ever-present smile on his face. Every muscle
was clenched but she could not allow her eyes to stray from his face to look at
those strained muscles. She felt power swell within her. She had rendered him
into such a state. Her. This was her doing and she felt more powerful than she
had in a very long time. Wanting to feel more of it the woman released his
member and crawled onto his lap to recapture his lips. She was aware of the
seed that was now getting on her dress and the small amount on her hand but she
was addicted to the power that flowed through her and she did not wish for it
to ebb for anything.
“Gods, woman. I love you.” Kili’s voice was hoarse.
“I love you too.’” Tauriel whispered back between passionate kisses as she
chased her next fix of power. 
Chapter End Notes
     So there was a lot of drama in this chapter but I hope you all
     enjoyed it. Thank you littleanniebutterfly for the suggestion of Dain
     and his people finding out about Belle being married to Smaug.
     Some additional info:
     The Fomori: “In Celtic mythology, the Fomori are demons that live in
     the impenetrable darkness of the sea’s depths and in lakes and dark
     pools in the upper world. They were once ruled by Balor, who provided
     them with victims, but after his death they returned to their waters
     and prey on people, taking the form of sea-monsters, lake spirits,
     and the boggarts who lurk in the fens.” (http://
     www.sarahwoodbury.com/demons-of-the-ancient-world/)
     I do not know much of Celtic mythology so if this is incorrect or
     does not fit I apologize.
     I had read somewhere that Smeagol was a type of sea slug which I
     thought was quite perfect for Gollum and fits the idea that he
     reminds Tauriel of a demon from her people's mythology.
     There are multiple written accounts of the Celtic people fending off
     the Vikings because of their ability to hide within the marshes and
     trees of their lands. The Vikings learned their lesson after a few
     lost battles and chose to stay on the shores of Ireland instead of
     straying too far inland because they would be ambushed by the native
     people. Over time they began to respect each other for their prowess
     in their different fighting styles and began intermarrying. But that
     was in a later date than I have this story placed in. So perhaps we
     will see some of that in the future of this story. :)
***** Belle *****
Chapter Notes
     NSFW CHAPTER
     -Attempted rape
     -Mentions of necrophilia
Belle watched in horror as two slaves stepped onto the frozen ice of the river.
“Bofur! They are going to fall in!” Belle whispered urgently to her guard for
the day.
The dark haired man laughed, his mustache bouncing with the motion. “Nah. They
know what they are doing.”
One slave took what looked to be a pick ax and chipped away at the thick ice of
the lake. Belle held her breath waiting for the man to fall in, or perhaps both
men. When the slave finally opened the ice to reveal the water beneath he
surprised her by remaining on the hard steady ice.
“What  are  they doing?” Belle asked
“Fishing” Bofur answered her simply. He smiled at her, his dimples showing
their depth.
His words surprised Belle. She did not know the fish were alive beneath the
ice. She had never seen such a thing having been raised in a castle. The slaves
both pulled out a long stick of sorts with a thin thread and a metal hook
attached. They dropped it into the water and waited. Belle sat in anticipation
but as the minutes passed and the slaves remained talking without much movement
she allowed her mind to wander.
She had begged Bofur to get her out of the main city for at least a few hours.
She was getting strange looks, too many for comfort. She was not sure if the
heathens here found her as attractive as the Blue Mountain’s ones did but that
was not her worry. It was the men that looked at her as if they saw money on
her skin. They wished to sell her back to Smaug. Many had heard the clergyman
proclaim her, rather loudly mind you, as Smaug’s missing wife. She said a
silent prayer for the clergy man’s soul. She felt responsible for his death in
a way which made it ever harder to go to the markets today as Tauriel, Kili,
Gyda and Ori did. Thorin, Dwalin, Nori and Balin as well as the rest of their
group, mostly warriors of Thorin’s, were out recruiting men for Thorin’s “Great
Army”. Belle tended to refer to it in her mind as “Thorin’s Great Heathen Army”
but that was neither here nor there. It did not change the fact that Belle did
not want to be near large amounts of Iron Hill’s people. They scared her. Gyda
was right when she said that they were much rougher than the people of the Blue
Mountains. Perhaps the reason for that was that it was far colder in this land,
or maybe it was having large amounts of people crammed into one area of land.
Belle did not know. She understood their rules and laws. But it was not as calm
as home…
“ Home? Is the Blue Mountains my home now? It feels like home in a way.”  Belle
thought. She had startled herself by calling the settlement home. But that is
truly what it was now. She was more comfortable there than she was in Smaug’s
lands. She missed the Shire where she had been reared by her parents but now
that they had passed and the only family she had near was Otho, the Shire was
no longer home. It was a place she had fond memories of but it would never hold
the warmth it did when her parents lived. Perhaps it was being in a new and
scary place that had her thinking fondly of the Blue Mountains as home, or
perhaps it had truly grown on her, but that is what it was at this moment...
home .
“Oi! He’s caught a big one!” Bofur cried out and stood up from the large rocks
they were perched on.
Belle jerked in surprise at his volume but did feel fear rise in her. Bofur was
looking excitedly towards the two slaves as they attempted to pull up something
fighting below the surface.
“They might need help…” her dark haired companion mumbled to himself.
“Go.” Belle said with a small smile. “I am not going anywhere.” there were no
people around, only the forest at their backs and the water in front of them.
She felt relatively safe in this location. No one was going to carry her
off...for now.
Bofur nodded his head, his fur hat moving with the motion. In a flash, he was
nearly running towards the two slaves. Belle laughed at his childlike
exuberance. He turned back towards her as soon as he reached them and gave her
another dimpled grin. She waved at him to let him know she was fine as he began
to help the two slaves. She wondered how they were going to bring in anything
below the surface with such a small string but what did she know of fishing.
“Precioussss” A voice whispered.
Belle felt goosebumps break out on her skin and it was not due to the cold. She
stood and looked around at the trees behind her. When she saw nothing she
turned back around to stare at Bofur and hopefully calm her nerves.
“Preciousssss...Come here precious.” a voice slithered into her ears.
Belle turned swiftly once more and spotted a face peeking out at her through
the trees. It was Smeagol. He was smiling at her showing the gaps in his teeth
not to mention the rotten ones.  Feeling Kili’s warning screaming at her she
stumbled back a step. Smeagol’s smile left his face and he frowned for a moment
disappearing back behind the tree. Belle shook off her fear and allowed her
guilt at making the outcast feel bad to overwhelm her senses. She stepped to
the treeline slowly.
“Smeagol?” She said quietly.
The pale sickly man popped his head back out from behind the tree with a large
smile, but it was his eyes that made her stomach churn. They looked..hungry,
but not for food.
“Precious.” He said the name as if it were a caress, a very unwanted caress.
“My name is Belle.” The tawny-haired girl said quietly afraid to speak louder
or get closer. Smeagol was still a few feet away and she wanted to keep it that
way.
“No, no. You are precious. My precious…” He whispered the last part so quietly
that Belle was not truly sure she had heard it.
“Would you like a bread roll. I am sorry it is all I have but you are welcome
to it.” She said and dug a roll out of her satchel. Instead of handing it to
him as she would have done with any other person, she set it on a fallen log
between them before returning to her spot in clear view of where Bofur was on
the water. Smeagol launched forward and scarfed down the roll messily. When he
was done he looked up at her with eyes that spoke of his secrets to devour her.
Belle stumbled back a step but he followed her.
“Come play with me, Precious.” Smeagol whispered with a devious smile on his
face. “I love to play games”
Belle shook her curly head at him and backed away even further. “Uh. No thank
you. I must be going now.”
“Come now, Precious, we will have great fun.” Smeagol said again, his footsteps
advancing on her stumbled one’s quickly.
Belle thought to cry out for Bofur, or perhaps anyone. She was not sure she
would be able to at this point. Her heart was beating so loud and she was
horribly afraid.
“Smeagol, I do not want to,” Belle said in a shaky voice.
Smeagol stopped walking towards her as body wracking coughs broke his frame. He
bent over while coughing showing her the top of his nearly bald head. His hair
looked to be pulled out at the root in some places and completely bald in other
patches. There was red angry looking patches on his scalp and piles of dead
skin building up. The tawny haired woman felt her stomach churn at the sight.
Belle took his moment of distraction and decided to run away. With all of the
snow at her feet she did not get far before a hand was closing around her
wrist.
“No!” Belle screamed and tried to jerk away from the man.
“Precious! Stop fighting!” Smeagol growled into her face, spraying her with
foul smelling saliva.
He began to drag her behind him while she clawed at anything she could find
purchase on. In a moment of panic Belle dropped all of her weight to the
ground, throwing Smeagol off balance. She was able to get her hand free, giving
her the freedom to crawl forwards. A harsh grasp on her ankle had her screaming
once more. She brought her foot back and slammed it into the gaunt face of her
attacker. She was rewarded with a howl of pain from him.
“Oi!” Belle nearly cried out with joy when she heard Bofur’s angry voice.
“Hands off her!”
Smeagol jumped up and ran back into the forest as Bofur sprinted towards her,
sword in hand ready to attack. Belle jumped to her feet and ran behind Bofur,
putting the warrior between her and Smeagol. The dark-haired norseman raced
into the trees looking for the sickly attacker. Belle hugged the shore of the
river while she waited anxiously for Bofur to return. The minutes passed as
slow as honey moving on a winter’s day. Her thoughts ran wild with the fear.
Fear that perhaps Bofur had been taken by surprise, that he had died at the
hands of Smeagol. She took a step towards the forest, gathering her courage to
charge in and find her hatted friend but just as she was about to do so she saw
a familiar shape emerge from the dark forest.
“Quick little shite.” Bofur said in a huff of breath.
Belle charged at him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Thank you! Thank
you for saving me.” She cried against his chest.
“Anything for you, little Belle.” Bofur said as he ran a hand over her soft
curls.
A loud cough behind them had the two whipping around. There stood Thorin
Thrainson in all of his armored glory looking angrier than any Norse war God
ever could.
Bofur quickly released Belle and took a large step away from her. Her eyes
caught sight of Gyda behind Thorin looking as if she might burst out laughing.
Fili had one brow raised while Dwalin at his side looked utterly unimpressed
with the situation.
“Jarl Thorin...what are you doing here?” Belle asked as she attempted to smooth
out her dress. When she finally looked down at herself she realized it was a
lost cause. Her cloak and dress were covered in wet patches of snow mixed with
mud, there was a few rips in her dress as well as her thick stockings where
Smeagols nails had carved into them. Belle did not want to even imagine what
her hair looked like.
“Two slaves found us in the markets saying that the English girl-child was
being attacked.” Thorin said through clenched teeth.
Belle did not know why but she felt guilty for hugging Bofur in Thorin’s
presence. She pushed the feeling away and allowed fear to overcome her as
Thorin stalked towards her and gripped her arm harshly.
“I thought the Iron Hills men had decided to sell you back to Smaug. I had
thought you were being raped or murdered. And here you are. Rolling in the mud
with Bofur like a common whore.” Thorin whispered lowly.
He did had not expected Belle’s hand to fly through the air or for it to slap
against his cold cheek painfully.
“Don’t you dare ever call me a whore again!” Belle said in a cold tone that had
chills running through Thorin. “I was attacked by an exiled one. He tried to
drag me into the woods with him.” Belle said and lifted her skirt to show
Thorin her scratched calves and torn stockings. “Bofur saved me. He answered my
cries for help and chased Smeagol into the woods.”
Thorin’s ice blue eyes were lit with fire but so were Belle’s. She was angry,
impossibly so. It seemed Thorin brought this side of her out. The two stared
each other down, the air growing thick around them and the silence heavy.
“How did you know his name?” Thorin asked after a moment, effectively breaking
the trance they were in.
“Uhhh….” Belle said trying to stall. She knew he had caught what she did not
want to say.
“You have spoken with the exiled one before” Thorin accused.
Blood rushed to Belle’s face at having been caught. “Well...I don’t
think...Uh…He...I” She stumbled.
Thorin stepped ever closer to her so she had to crane her neck all the way up
to see into his eyes. “There are reasons to not speak to exiled ones! They have
been shunned for actions that you can not even fathom! Must you always throw
yourself into trouble, Belle!? Is this a game to you? Do you enjoy being
rescued time and time again?”
“No! I don’t do it on purpose! It finds me! And how was I to know that I was
not to speak with him or give him food! No one had told me that I am not to
talk to them! I just thought he was a hungry beggar!” Belle argued hotly.
“YOU GAVE HIM FOOD!?” Thorin roared. Belle flinched away from him heavily.
“That is it! You will not be straying from my side for even a minute. You will
sleep with me, eat with me and attend every gathering by my side. I will not
take my eyes off of you for even a moment because apparently you have a death
wish! Gods woman!” Thorin snarled.
“Why are you so worried about my death!? I thought you wanted me dead. It would
make your life easier” Belle sassed back, her arms crossed over her chest. Her
defiance and anger were back full force.
Thorin pinched the bridge of his nose and attempted to calm himself before
speaking. “Woman, my life would be a breeze without you in it. But the Gods
have deemed us to be together for a good long while, whether that is in life or
in death. Because if you die here and I go home with your corpse, mine will be
burning on the pyre right beside your’s thanks to Gothi Grey!”
Belle wished she did not feel sadness at Thorin saying his life would be better
without her.
‘ Did he say better or easier? They are not the same’  a small voice within her
mind whispered to help her hurt feelings.
“Come. It is time to recruit more men.” Thorin growled, breaking her out of her
thoughts. When she did not follow immediately he put his arm around her
shoulder tightly and began to pull her. Belle looked over her shoulder and
found that they were only being followed by Dwalin. Gyda, Fili and Bofur were
entering the forest and disappearing into the darkness.  
===============================================================================
 
Belle wondered briefly when Thorin would tire of her being with him constantly
but it seemed to her he delighted in it. He constantly sent her looks that made
her stomach clench in a strange way. At first she had thought the looks were
anger and pending punishment for her. She had slapped the Jarl in front of his
men. She had hit him before but it was behind closed doors. If she had dared to
do such a thing to Smaug, he would beat her in places no one could see or use
the Pear of Despair on her. She shuttered at the thought.  Belle continuously
reminded herself that her grandfather would never allow Thorin to put her
through the same tortures that Smaug did. Gothi Grey would kill anyone who
tried in these heathen lands. She was safe for the most part, at least from
Thorin.
Belle gazed around as Thorin drank with many men that had pledged to follow him
into battle. There were so many that she began to feel a sense of hope swelling
within her. Thorin’s army may be able to kill Smaug.
“I do not like the way he looks at you” Tauriel growled around her cup of ale.
Belle looked over at her friend in surprise. “Who?”
Tauriel tilted her chin towards where Thorin was. Belle looked up and locked
eyes with the raven haired Jarl. He smirked at her and returned back to
speaking with the warriors around him.
“In what offensive way does he look at me?” Belle asked.
“Like he is a starving man and you are food.” Tauriel growled.
“So as Kili looks at you?” Belle quipped. She did not believe Tauriel’s words
and wished to hear them even less.
Tauriel snorted. “Oi cheeky little Queen.”
“Don’t call me that.” Belle growled back. Her redheaded friend only rolled her
eyes and continued to look out over the crowded hall. It was then that all were
called to sit for dinner. Belle was placed between Thorin and Fili, Dain sat at
the head of the table with his blonde wife beside him and her son on the other
side. Belle had just dug into her salted ham and potatoes when Thorin began to
speak.
“King Dain. What do you know of a shunned man named Smeagol?”
Belle felt her innards contract painfully. She could feel his angry hands on
her. His feral eyes eating her alive.
The redheaded King chugged his entire tankard of ale, more than a bit of it
dribbling down his bushy red beard, before he answered. “Smeagol Gollumson?
He...likes to play with dead things, Thorin.” Dain’s eyes were hard on Thorin
as if to convey a secret meaning.
Belle did not understand what it was. She looked up to see a disgusted and
startled look on the raven haired man’s face. If Thorin was truly disgusted and
horrified by the man’s crimes then they would completely wreck Belle's mind.
She grasped his hand with hers tightly. Thorin shot her a look of something
that looked suspiciously like fear before squeezing her hand back.
===============================================================================
 
Belle lay curled on her side staring at nothing as she attempted to covet every
ounce of body heat under the blankets and furs. She thought of many things,
mainly her deceased family, her grandfather, her God, the heathen Gods, but
most of all she thought of Smeagol.
“Go to sleep. I can hear you thinking.” Thorin grumbled from where he was
laying on his back, both arms behind his head.
“That is impossible.” Belle grumbled under her breath.
“Is it?” Thorin asked.
“Yes,” Belle argued back.
Thorin turned onto his side so they were now facing each other. “You are
thinking of Smeagol.”
When he saw her eyes widen he smirked slightly. “That is what I thought. Stop
thinking so loud.”
The tawny haired English girl was quiet for a moment before she whispered into
the darkness.  “What did King Dain mean when he said Smeagol liked to play with
dead things?” She was afraid of the answer but she needed to know. She needed
to know how close she came to being one of his playthings.
Thorin took a deep breath. “He likes dead flesh.”
“He ate it?” Belle asked in disgust.
“No. well… maybe. He laid with the dead.” Thorin said with slight hesitation.
Belle felt sick to her stomach. Bile rose within her throat as she tried to
digest Thorin’s words.
“Why?” She wondered why she had asked such a silly question. She was waiting
for Thorin to say just that but he did not.
“Dain believes he is...sick in his mind. He hears voices of people that are not
present.”
A creak of the floorboards had Belle nearly jumping out of her skin. She
scooted closer to Thorin until she was touching him with her toes on his shins
and her head nearly touching his chin.
“Do you understand now why you mustn't speak with the exiled ones?” Thorin
asked her as if he were speaking to a child.
Belle could not summon the anger to swell within her, all she felt was fear and
disgust. She nodded her head against him but did not stray from where she was,
as improper as it was she felt safe with Thorin by her side. His life depended
on her own. He would not let anything happen to her by her grandfather’s
orders.
The warmth of Thorin’s body soon lulled her to sleep. When she opened her eyes
she knew she was dreaming.
Belle allowed the water to drip from her fingertips. The room was warm as she
bathed. The bathhouses in the Iron Hills were much better than the ones at the
Blue Mountains. There was privacy and the room retained its heat around the
pool. Belle hummed happily as she continued to wash herself.
“Precious…” A voice whispered.
Belle felt fear drop heavily within her gut. Her blood felt as if it had turned
to ice in her veins, despite the hot water around her.
“Precious….come and play” The voice singsonged. The sound of it reverberated
around the room making her unsure of where it was coming from. Belle’s breath
came in short pants as she looked wildly around the room for the owner of that
voice.
“PRECIOUS!”
Belle jerked upright in bed with a loud scream. An arm was over her chest
pushing her down and the sound of a sword leaving its sheath filled the air.
Thorin had his sword at the ready, prepared for the invisible attacker. Belle
threw herself at him as tears gathered in her eyes. She could feel his heart
beating against her chest as she was sure he could feel hers. Once the large
man had ascertained that there was no threat he dropped the sword and hugged
Belle back. She would be proud of herself later that she did not sob in his
arms. The tears stayed within her eyes never cascading down her cheeks.
“He is going to come for me.” She said against her companion’s neck.
“No, he will not.” Thorin said firmly. He had a large hand buried in her curls
while she was seated in his lap. Belle would feel embarrassment for this later,
but right now she could not feel anything but fear and exhaustion. When she
finally did pull away Thorin seemed reluctant to let her go. Belle laid on her
back, her eyes fixated on the high ceiling.
“I’m sorry I woke you”
Thorin was quiet for many moments before speaking. “I am glad you did.” He
whispered.
“Bad dream?” Belle asked her hand reaching for his in the cover of darkness.
“No. Only memories of my family long ago.”
The tawny-haired girl could understand this. When she dreamt of her father or
mother the memories were always tinged with sadness and regret.
“Would you tell me about them?” When Thorin did not answer she spoke again. “To
distract me from my fears...please”
The raven haired man scrubbed his face with tattooed hands before speaking.
“Frerin was lively, he could run as swiftly as the wind. He ran everywhere for
no reason other than to run. There was no hurry for him to be in he just
enjoyed the wind on his face. He was blonde headed as Fili, with the same blue
eyes as me. But he acted as Kili did. Always smiling and laughing. He told the
worst jokes and only he would laugh at them too.” Thorin let out a small
chuckle causing Belle to smile softly beside him. “He cared not what others
thought. And he was such a warrior. If he had lived he would have no doubt been
far better than me.”
The tawny-haired girl nearly teared up at the sweetness of her companion’s
words. “Do you believe he is with your Gods?”
“Yes.” Thorin said without a doubt.
“Perhaps he is in Valhalla laughing at his own jokes beside your God Odin.”
Belle said with a small smile.
She had not expected Thorin’s reaction, therefore it made her nearly jump out
of her skins when he laughed loudly. His laugh was infectious, coaxing hers to
join in. It was many minutes before either of them calmed. Belle could see
Thorin’s smile in the darkness and returned it with one of her own.
“I like your laugh.” Belle blurted her thoughts.
Thorin snorted in response. “Go to sleep, my mouse.”
“Not a mouse” Belle retorted around a large yawn.
“No, not any mouse. My mouse.” She heard Thorin whisper before she drifted off
into a restful sleep.
===============================================================================
 
Belle followed Thorin for many more days as they spoke with men around the
settlement and the surrounding villages. The little English girl did not know
how many men they had recruited but what she did know was that they had a
fighting chance, especially with her knowledge of Smaug’s lands. The tawny-
haired girl followed behind Thorin during all of his duties. The only time she
was allowed a reprieve was when she needed to make water but even then she was
not alone. More times than not Gyda was with her or Tauriel. It was on the way
back from one of these small trips that she stopped to stare at the men and
women wielding practice weapons in the snow.
“Would you like to join them, little Belle?” Gyda asked, one auburn brow
raised.
Belle wanted to say yes, truly she did. But she was not sure Thorin would
approve.
‘Thorin would approve? Have you heard yourself girl? He is not your handler.’
The voice inside her screamed.
“Yes.” The English girl said aloud.
Gyda smiled wickedly and stomped over to where the practice weapons were. The
auburn haired woman looked over the swords before selecting one for herself and
one for Belle. She handed the sword to Belle and she weighed in her hands. The
blade was small. More than likely a child’s blade, but it fit her well so she
did not complain.
Belle felt her mother’s lessons washing over her as she got into the
appropriate stance. She blocked and countered Gyda’s dramatically slow attacks.
Slowly the woman picked up pace until Belle was getting tangled in her own
skirts and was getting smacked with Gyda’s dull practice blade. Belle had shed
her cloak long ago, not feeling the cold around her due to the blood pumping
rapidly through her veins.
Gyda waved her forward waiting for Belle’s attack with a devious smirk on her
face. The smaller woman charged and began her attack. She was vaguely aware of
the audience they had gained. She could tell Gyda was taking it easy on her and
she was grateful. Belle had seen the woman in action and she was truly a
frightening sight to behold when she was putting forth a full effort. Belle
blocked an attack from the woman but was not expecting her to end up behind
her. Gyda had her blade against Belle bare throat in one quick movement. Belle
dropped her sword in defeat and yielded. Gyda released her but not before
swinging her sword and tapping the english girls behind with the flat of her
blade. Belle yelped loudly and turned to glare at a laughing Gyda menacingly.
Belle marched over towards where her cloak was waiting on a bench and saw a
familiar figure, standing with his arms crossed and his raven hair tied back.
“I worried over you.” Thorin growled.
“I was with Gyda. You knew that.” Belle retorted sharply.
“This is true…” Thorin mused. “I see you can handle yourself better than I
thought.”
Belle felt warmth floor through her chest at the small compliment.
“If you wish to spend the remainder of your time with Tauriel and Kili until we
leave on the morrow, you may.” Thorin offered.
Belle looked at the raven haired man closely, stunned at his words. He was
wearing a black tunic with golden embroidery at the hems showing his wealth and
status. He had a black cloak with heavy furs resting on his shoulders and
leather trousers with nice heavy boots on his legs and feet. His ice blue eyes
bore into her own demanding her to answer.
“Could I stay with you?” Belle asked.
Her question surprised him she could tell, and in truth, it surprised her as
well. She did not understand why but him giving her the choice to leave his
side made her want to stick with him.
His raven brows lifted in surprise. “Are you sure? I am going to be meeting
with Dain, it could be dull”
“Dull is better than watching them make hungry eyes at one another.” Belle said
with a small smile as she tilted her head towards Kili and Tauriel.
Thorin let out a chuckle before holding out his arm for her. It was the first
time he had done such a thing and it seemed so...domesticated. Belle could tell
he was not used to such an action but he was trying...trying for her. She
absently wondered why but never got around to answering herself because as soon
as her arm looped with his she felt his intense body heat. Her body made it
known that she was cold, near freezing. The small bit of sweat that had thinly
layered her body was now turning to ice on her skin. She shivered and pulled
herself closer into Thorin’s side.  
“When we get home, you will learn to fight with a shield.” Thorin told her
before they entered the King’s meeting hall.
“When we get home…”  It sounded so nice, so inviting, she wished they were
there at this very moment.
===============================================================================
 
Belle allowed the water to drip from her fingertips. The room was warm as she
bathed. The bathhouses in the Iron Hills were much better than the ones the
Blue Mountains. There was privacy and the room retained its heat around the
small pool. Belle hummed happily as she continued to wash herself. She thought
of Dain’s words at their dinner that night.
‘ If you are ever in need of a home, mine is always welcome to you. We could
use a Gyðja (priestess/female seer) in Agdar.’
Belle had politely thanked him for his offer and promised that if she ever
found herself in need of a home she would visit him. It was a lie of course.
The Iron Hills scared her, the people especially. She would never voluntarily
choose to live among these people but she had thanked him nonetheless.
Belle had decided on a good wash before they boarded the boats at dawn to sail
back towards the Blue Mountains. She was both relieved they were leaving and
relieved to be able to wash the city's grime from her skin, plus the water
swirling around her was simply heavenly.
Thorin had offered to guard her personally while she bathed but she declined
his offer instead allowing Ori to guard her. He was not much a fighter but she
was only going to the baths and no one seemed to object to the idea. Plus she
knew that he wished to have a few minutes alone to be within his own mind. He
was constantly with his brother or Ballin, learning the ways of counseling.
Belle supposed she could have asked her redheaded friend but she did not wish
to interrupt. Tauriel was with Kili doing one thing or another, but the woman
always made sure to check on Belle every few hours. It made her feel like an
unruly child but she knew her friend only did it because she cared. Though at
times that was hard to remember when Tauriel was checking her over for wounds
or fixing her wild curls that had fallen out of its braid.
“Precious…” A voice whispered.
Belle felt fear drop heavily within her gut. Her blood turned to ice in her
veins, despite the hot water around her. Her dream from many nights previous
came to the forefront of her mind. She had dreamt of this and though she had
not dreamt until the end she knew this was not going to end well.
“Precious….come and play” The voice singsonged. The sound of it reverberated
around the room making her unsure of where it was coming from. Belle’s breath
came in short pants as she looked wildly around the room for the owner of that
voice.
“Smeagol” Belle said quietly. There were shadows cast on the walls giving him
the darkness he preferred and she absolutely abhorred. Belle wrapped an arm
around her chest in an attempt to retain some modesty.
“Hello, my precious.” Smeagol hissed as he stepped out of the shadows in the
far corner of the bathhouse. He had a large rock in his hand that was dripping
with blood. Her stomach churned at the sight and she thought of Ori. She prayed
that it was not his blood but a part of her knew it was.
Her mind ran quickly over what to do. She did not want to be this crazed man's
next plaything.
“What are you doing here?” She demanded in a much stronger voice than she
thought she could muster.
Smeagol drifted back into the shadows while Belle moved farther away from him
in the water. She wished to leave the water but to do that she would need to
bare herself to him and that was the last thing she wanted to do.
“I came to play.” Smeagol said from the shadows. His voice sending shivers of
fear throughout her small frame.
It was then that Belle had an idea.
“You want to play? Smeagol, do you like games?” Belle asked her heart
quickening within her.
Smeagol popped out of the shadows much closer than he had been when he
disappeared into them. He had moved so silently she had not heard him. He had a
large goofy smile on his face and he was nodding his head enthusiastically.
“We likes games!” He said while clapping his hands as a child does.
“Okay, we will play a game of riddles. Do you know what those are?” Belle asked
him, trying to keep the shaking out of her voice.
“We knows riddles” Smeagol said with a glare as he took insult to her question.
“Good, good!” Belle said with false enthusiasm. “Shall we have a wager on these
riddles then?”
When the sickly man nodded his head she continued. “If I win, you let me go and
do not harm me.”
“And if we wins...You come with me to the forest. You will be my new guest.”
Smeagol said in a menacing voice.
Belle couldn’t help the vomit that sped up her throat. She swallowed it back
down quickly but not before she could taste it on her tongue.
“Me first.” Smeagol said as he began to circle the pool of water she was in.
“What has roots as nobody sees, Is taller than trees, Up, up it goes, And yet
never grows?”
Belle racked her brain for the answer. She had been quite the riddle champion
in her younger days. It was something her and her mother had done together.
“A mountain!” She said triumphantly much to Smeagols displeasure.
“Thirty white horses on a red hill, First they champ, Then they stamp, Then
they stand still.” Belle waited anxiously for his answer, praying he would not
be able to figure it out. She was about to count down time when he smiled
widely and opened his mouth showing off his very few teeth.
“Teeth!” He nearly screamed. “I have seven,” He said showing off a dismally low
number of yellow teeth.
Belle winced heavily at the sight and moved farther to the opposite edge of the
pool. Her eyes darted to where her clothes were. If she could get to her
clothing she could run out that door. There were others around at this time of
night, but the question was, would they hear her screams? The wind was howling
loudly outside, surely it would drown out any sound she could make. The only
hope she had was to outrun Smeagol or for Ori to awake and save her. Her eyes
darted to the bloody rock still in Smeagols hand and reevaluated her hopes.
‘ I’m going to have to outrun him’  She thought.
“This thing all things devours: Birds, beasts, trees, flowers; Gnaws iron,
bites steel; Grinds hard stones to meal; Slays king, ruins town, And beats high
mountain down” Smeagol hissed from the shadows once more.
Belle tried to think. Her mind was being pulled in multiple directions. When
she had not answered in many seconds Smeagol began to pressure her for an
answer.
“Precious must give us an answer…”
“Give me time to think! I gave you a good long while.” Belle said angrily. It
was then that it came to her. “Time! The answer is time!” She cried out
triumphantly.
Smeagol growled lowly in annoyance as he walked out from the shadows his rock
held high as if he wished to throw it at her.
“Now, now! You mustn't cheat, Smeagol. I do not play games with cheaters.”
Belle chastised him shakily. He seemed to think about her words then lowered
his rock.
“Give us a question. Ask us!” Smeagol demanded.
Thinking quick on her feet Belle asked him a question. “What is in the pocket
of my dress?”
Smeagol sputtered angrily. “That is not a question! That is...that
is...cheating!”
Belle prepared herself to jump out of the water and run for her clothing, she
even thought of leaving the clothing behind and running nude towards help.
Better for her to be found naked by an Iron Hills warrior than to be dragged to
the forest naked with Smeagol. At least she had a chance at survival with the
Iron Hills warrior, with Smeagol she knew she would be dead before the sun
rose.
“It is not cheating! You said to ask a question. I asked you a question. What
is in the pocket of my dress?” Belle stated as she backed onto the naturally
made stairs of the hot spring slowly.
Smeagol screamed angrily and stomped his feet, his back turned to her. She knew
this was her chance. Belle darted out of the tub and ran for her clothes. She
had just grabbed her shift and was running out the doors when her entire body
was forcibly yanked back by her long hair. Belle was so close to escaping, she
could taste freedom on her tongue when she was yanked back into the dark
bathhouse.
“You cheated, Precious!” the sickly man screamed as he dragged her backward.
Belle screamed and howled hoping someone would hear her. Smeagol threw her to
the ground, still naked and gazed upon her body. Tears of fear and shame welled
in her eyes. She tried to kick him and run again but it only prompted him to
hold her down, using his body atop hers. She felt panic rise within her as he
pushed her knees apart and knelt between them. She scratched and fought with
the ferocity of a wild cat. She scratched and kicked at anything she could get
her hands on.
“Your skin is too warm. We aren't used to warm,” Smeagol grunted as his hands
rubbed down her bare breasts and stomach. She screamed loudly and attempted to
push his hands off of her to no avail. For a sickly man, he was quite strong
and much bigger than her. His hands traveled back up her body and wrapped
around her throat.
Belle clawed at his hands and face, breaking more than one nail in the process.
Black spots began to flood her vision as Smeagol pressed harder on her
windpipe, oblivious to the pain she was causing him.
Distantly she thought she heard her name being called. The tawny haired girl’s
head lolled to the side as she fought for air and looked for the being calling
her name. Through the black spots, she saw the color red. Her muddled brain
recognized the bloody rock that Smeagol had used as a weapon earlier. She
reached for the weapon as she fought unconsciousness. When her hand finally
wrapped around the blood-soaked rock she swung it into Smeagol’s head. It
connected with a loud and satisfying crack. Belle brought as much air into her
lungs as possible. She coughed and heaved as she attempted to clear the black
spots in her vision. Realizing she did not have the time to fully recover she
stumbled to her feet, slipping on the wet floor. Her eyes locked on Smeagol’s
crumbled form. He was in the fetal position holding onto his head weeping.
Belle lifted the rock to hit him again when he whimpered like a child. She
stopped for a moment seeing the scared, sick human, turned pathetically feeble
with defeat.
‘ He tried to kill you! Hit him’  A voice within her screamed. Belle had just
raised the rock again to hit him when she heard the sound of boots approaching
her cautiously from behind.
***** Thorin *****
Chapter Notes
     NSFW CHAPTER
     -vivid torture scenes
     -talk of attempted rape
Thorin sat in the Great Hall drinking alongside Dain. Able-bodied men from all
surrounding lands were drinking their fill and pledging to fight beside him
against Smaug. Many had lost family members or friends due to the Bastard
Dragon King. Others pledged to him so they could make money and secure their
positions as seasoned warriors and raiders. His people were measured by their
ability to fight and survive. Thorin thought how different his people were
compared to the men they would be fighting before winter thawed. Belle had told
him about Smaug’s men. The Dragons army was mostly comprised of farmers or
peasants that were forced to serve their King. Belle had said most of the men
had never wielded a sword before one was thrust into their hands and they were
pushed out onto the battlefield to fight for their lives. Thorin’s people were
much different. From the time they could walk a weapon of some sort, normally a
sword, was in their hands. The sword started out wooden, once they were
comfortable with that they would move to a dull blade and slowly the swords
would get sharper and heavier. The children’s games they would play all
prepared them for the day they would have to fight to survive. Foot races and
swimming races were the most common to start with, those then turned into games
of who could swim better with a sword in their hands, then ax throwing or
archery on skis. Thorin had done it all and more when he was a child as his
sons and daughters would do the same.
Thorin’s mind flashed to his dream months ago. The one where Belle was round
with his child, his son. Thorin thought of what their sons would look like. No
doubt they would be tall and strong like him but perhaps one would get the gift
of foresight. Thorin shook off the thoughts, he was dreaming as a girl does
after some warrior. It was silly and not something a man of his station should
be doing.
“How long does Belle need to bathe?” Nori asked the raven haired Jarl with
sarcasm.
Thorin wondered the same. Belle and Ori had been gone a good long while, too
long.
“I will go fetch them.” The Jarl offered. It was below him to act as a
messenger but he had an invested interest in Belle’s well being. Gothi Grey had
made his intentions clear if Thorin dared to let any harm befall the little
woman.
===============================================================================
 
Thorin was seated in his throne listening to council from Balin when the doors
opened with force. In walked Gothi Grey in all of his decrepit glory.
“Gothi” Thorin said in a somewhat bored but respectful tone.
The blind man snorted in return and continued his trek up to the throne. In the
time it took for him to hobble to the throne Thorin had all those in attendance
apart from Balin leave the room. When the old seer finally made it to the
throne he unceremoniously took a seat in Dis throne beside Thorin’s with a loud
huff.
“Please make yourself comfortable” Thorin grumbled.
“Shut it, boy” Gothi growled.
It reminded Thorin of when he was a young man and Gothi had taken over
guardianship of he and Dis. Gothi was a good man, a good father figure. He
always made sure Dis wanted for nothing and that Thorin understood how to
survive and how to be a man, how to be a good leader. Once Dis had given birth
to Fili and Kili, Thorin understood a small measure of the pressure that had
been on the man’s shoulders. The sleepless nights, the worrying, the pressure
to find food for hungry bellies and most of all the fear of what type of men
they would be. Gothi, or at the time Gandalf, had been there for the
nightmares. He had held Dis as she wept through the nights crying out for their
mama or for her twin Frerin. Gothi had been the doting father figure to Dis,
but to Thorin he was much harsher. When the raven haired ruler was younger he
was angry and even at times jealous of the difference in their treatments. To
Thorin, Gandalf was harsh and demanding. He constantly pushed him to be better.
If Thorin had not done something correctly Gandalf would make him do it ten
times more the correct way. He forced him to be in superb physical shape,
running the once gangly boy ragged. When Thorin would ask why he had to do all
of this Gothi would slap the back of Thorin’s thighs with his staff or with the
flat of his sword, effectively bringing the raven haired boy to his knees
before forcing him up and to continue once again. At the time Thorin hated it,
had resented the giant blonde man, but as he grew older Thorin began to
understand and even appreciate the man’s harsh ways. Thorin was snapped out of
his thoughts by Gothi tapping his staff on the wooden floor.
“You intend to take my granddaughter to the Iron Hills.” The old man stated.
“Yes, she is not safe away from my side.” Thorin growled.
Gothi looked at Thorin in that way that had the raven haired man not truly
believing Gothi was blind. “Perhaps she is not safe at your side.”
The raven haired man felt rage rise within him but he tried to trample it down
out of respect for the man that helped raise him. “What are you trying to say,
old man?”
“I am saying, Thorin Thrainson, that you at one point in time wished to rape
and maim my granddaughter.”
Thorin was about to roar back with a retort about not knowing who her blood
belonged to at that time when Gothi continued speaking. “You have had a change
of heart and now wish to obtain her as a wife or perhaps you only wish for her
to be a warm hole to stick your cock into. I do not claim to know exactly your
intentions because you have never told me so. But as her flesh and blood I will
protect her where I see necessary and right now that is from you, Thorin.”
The raven haired Jarl clenched and unclenched his fists as he fought the urge
to strangle the old man. “Speak plainly, Gandalf.”
Gothi Grey smirked at having ruffled his former charge into forgetting about
titles. “What are your intentions towards my granddaughter?”
Thorin looked towards where Balin was stoically standing and appearing to be
ignoring whatever conversation was happening between Thorin and Gothi, but
Thorin knew better. Balin heard every word and had an opinion of his own no
doubt.
“I would have her for a wife if she were amenable.” Thorin felt as if he had
swallowed vinegar. He had not been ready to speak his wishes so plainly
especially when he had not decided a course of action to win her hand.
“What kind of a husband would you be?” Gothi asked.
Thorin looked at the man with fire in his eyes at the suspected insult.
“That was not an insult, calm yourself.” Gothi said after reading Thorin’s
rage. “I ask what kind of a husband you would be, quite literally. Would you
wish to break her spirit as the Dragon tried? Do you only want to obtain her
because others wish for her hand? Or do you love her? Do you care for her at
all?”
The raven haired Jarl growled lowly and stood from his throne in anger, no
longer able to sit still. “Yes! Yes I care for her! I do not know if I love
her, yet. I enjoy her mind and her spirit. I wish to own her as I wish for her
to own me. I do not want her only because others do. I have honor!” Thorin said
as he hit his leather clad chest with a hard fist as if to emphasize his noble
heart. “I will honor her as a good husband does. I would put her above all
else!”
Gothi had been sitting in the spare throne watching Thorin walk about angrily,
his milky eye following the man. “Would you? The Gods are not so sure it is
true.”
Thorin took a deep breath before he hit the old seer. “I would put her above
all else.”
“Above revenge on Smaug?” Gothi asked with his one brow raised.
Thorin paused in his pacing. “...No. I must avenge my people. It is my duty as
their leader to kill Smaug.” He said, sagging slightly.
The room was quiet for a moment before Gothi turned to Balin. “Leave us.”
The white-blonde haired man looked over to Thorin for approval.
“The Gods have something they wish to say, but do not want all to hear. Leave
us.” Gothi said in a firmer tone prompting Thorin to excuse Balin. Once he was
gone Gothi stood and walked til he was in front of Thorin.
“My granddaughter is precious to me and the Gods I speak for. You can not
understand her importance as of yet. But know she is dear to me and to them.”
Gothi placed a hand on Thorin’s shoulder and began to squeeze harshly.
Thorin watched as the man before him stood up straighter than he had in many
years, his bones creaking loudly with the effort, but he did not wince as his
bones protested. With his full height showing Gothi was taller than even Thorin
by a few inches. Thorin wondered briefly if he was witnessing the Gods’
strength flowing through the old seer for the grip Gothi had on his shoulder
was beginning to cause him pain.
“Belle will go with you to the Iron Hills because the Gods wish it. But if her
spirit is sent to the next world before her time, as will yours. Do you
understand me, Thorin?”
The raven haired Jarl looked up at Gothi in shock and no small amount of anger.
“You would kill me? My people would never allow it. You too would die for their
vengeance.”
Gothi managed to squeeze Thorin’s shoulder ever harder bringing him to his
knees with the pain of it. “I am old. I am weary. And my only wish is to see my
Adamanta once more. Death does not scare me. I would welcome it with open arms
after I killed those who were meant to protect the last of my blood. Do not
doubt me, boy.” the old seer released Thorin’s shoulder allowing the large
leader to stand with a scowl on his face to mask his fear.
“Do I have your word you will guard my granddaughter with your life?” Gothi
asked as he cut into his hand with a small dagger. He held the bloody hand out
to Thorin ready to seal their promise with blood.
Thorin hesitated for only a moment before doing the same. As a Jarl, as a
leader and as the stubborn fool he was he would not back down from his pursuit
of Belle due to her Grandfather's threats. Their blood mingled and fell in fat
droplets on the floor as their hands clasped together.
Gothi brought his free hand behind Thorin’s head and brought their foreheads
together before pulling back and planting a fatherly kiss to the top of
Thorin’s head. “You have turned into a good man, Thorin. I am proud of you.”
Gothi said gently and stepped away from him, slowly making his way from the
hall. All evidence of his earlier strength and height long gone. Back was the
shriveling old seer who had once been a mighty warrior.
===============================================================================
 
Thorin looked down at the cut on his hand. It had healed until it left only a
pink line on his palm. In another week or so any evidence of it would be long
gone. But the promise was fresh in his mind as he walked through the snow with
Dwalin and Fili at his sides on their way to the bath houses. Fili was unhappy
to leave the feast and his brothers side but he was loyal to his uncle. Dwalin
just wanted to get the little woman and go back to burying his head between his
wife’s tits. The wind howled around them making Thorin sure that Ori had
entered the bathhouse with Belle to avoid the frigid cold. The thought of Ori
seeing her in the bath, naked, made anger flood his system.
“Ori!” Thorin shouted as they came into view of the wooden bathhouse. “Ori
Borison! Show yourself.”
Dwalin and Fili both stiffened behind him at hearing his angry shout. When no
one came from the bathhouse Thorin figured they could not hear his voice over
the harsh wind. He picked up his pace until he was only a few feet away from
the bath house entrance.  
“Belle!? Ori!?” He barked loudly.
“Uncle…” Fili said firmly. Thorin turned around to see Fili had taken out his
twin swords and was pointing to something at the side of the bathhouse. Thorin
pulled his sword and crept towards the lump on the ground. As he got closer he
saw blood staining snow and hurried to turn the being over. What he found was a
nearly frozen Ori, unconscious with a large head wound.
“Fuck” Thorin growled as he sprang up and went running to the door of the
bathhouse. When he reached the door he heard scuffling within. He slowly
creaked the door open to see Belle’s naked body flushed and standing over a
sickly looking man who was weeping upon the ground. She was holding a bloody
rock in her hand as if she was going to hit the man. Thorin would later think
upon this moment with pride at Belle’s strength but currently all he could feel
was anger at the sickly man and fear for Belle’s life. He crept forward
cautiously afraid to set the woman off. Belle turned sharply towards him ready
to throw the rock at him. When her eyes locked on him she immediately dropped
the rock in her hand and stumbled towards him on unsteady feet. He caught her
naked body in his arms while Fili picked up the sickly man from the floor by
the scruff.
Dwalin had walked into the bathhouse with an unconscious Ori over his shoulder.
His blue eyes were wide as he stared at Belle’s naked form clinging to Thorin.
Thorin growled at Dwalin and Fili both, their eyes spending far too much time
on Belle’s nude backside as she clung to him. He snarled at them both making
them turn their backs to her. Thorin peeled off his cloak and wrapped it around
her nude body.
When Thorin pulled back to wrap the cloak more securely around her body he saw
the markings on her neck as well as the bruises blooming on her arms and legs,
defensive wounds he would guess. What made him feel unparalleled rage was the
fingerprints on her breasts.  
“He raped you?” Thorin growled lowly.
Belle shook her weeping face back and forth. “Nay. He only..touched.” She
shivered as she said the words. He had studied her enough to know that she was
fighting the vomit rising in her throat.
Belle pulled the cloak tighter around her body showing her hands. Thorin
reached out and grabbed one of them. Her fingertips were covered in blood. In
some places her nails had been broken in near half but he was sure not all of
the blood was her own and he felt immense pride in that fact. She had done her
own damage, that much was evident.
“What else did he do?” Thorin asked lowly.
“He tried to kill me.” Belle whispered shakily, turning her red rimmed eyes up
to him. He was not sure how it was possible but with the tears glistening in
her green eyes it made the color pop more. He was not sure he had ever seen a
color so vibrantly.
“She lies! Precious, lies!” The sickly man cried out while he thrashed against
Fili’s hold.
Belle cringed deeply into Thorin’s side as if she wished to be absorbed into
him. Rage swelled within him at her fear.
“Fili.” the Jarl ordered.
In a flash his golden haired nephew had his arms around Smeagol’s thin neck and
was cutting off his air supply. The man scratched against Fili’s wool clad arms
but it did no good. Within a few moments Smeagol’s eyes closed and his head
hung.
“Is he dead?” Belle asked quietly into his chest.
“No. His mind is asleep. He will wake in a few moments.” Thorin spoke, his
voice making her body vibrate. “Fili. Take him to the Hall. He will face
judgement tonight. Dwalin, get Ori to a healer.”
Fili and Dwalin both nodded and took their leave of the bathhouse. As soon as
they had left Thorin heard a small sniffle against his broad chest. He looked
down and saw tears flowing freely from the little woman’s eyes. Never one
comfortable with tears Thorin seized up slightly. He held her as tightly as she
held him. When her tears did not slow he began to pet her head gently. He
marveled at the softness of her wet wayward curls.
“It will be alright, Belle,” He said softly. “I am here.”
At his words she sobbed even harder. He did not understand how his words upset
her so he asked.
“No. You have not upset me.” She said with a sobbing stutter.
Thorin did not understand women and he never pretended to. But understanding a
traumatized and weeping woman was so far out of his realm of comfort that he
began to wish he had paid more attention to Dis when she was growing just so he
could know what to do at this moment.
“You must dress.” Thorin said after he caught sight of her clothes on the lone
bench in the bath house. He led her towards the bench and stepped towards the
door to give her privacy, something he knew she would appreciate under most
circumstances.
“Thorin.” Belle whispered quietly.
He turned back to see her still clutching his cloak around her tiny shoulders,
her emerald eyes wide and fearful. “Please don’t leave me.” Her voice was so
small he almost didn’t hear her.
He gave her curt nod but turned his back to her giving her a small semblance of
privacy. Most women he knew would not mind shedding their clothing in front of
him but his little mouse was shy and had been raised that her naked body was
sinful. Something he did not understand and most likely never would. He heard
the rustle of fabric and soon Belle was tapping him on his shoulder. Wordlessly
she handed him her cloak but he refused it, instead putting it over her
shoulders for added warmth. He noticed her own cloak, the one her grandfather
had made for her, was clutched in her hands, soaking wet. He was used to the
cold, she was not. He could walk into the snowy night without fear of catching
the chill but he was not so certain of her. The bruises on her neck were
beginning to darken, he could see the handprints of Smeagol tarnishing her
creamy skin.
The two walked back to the Great Hall where Thorin was going to dole out his
punishments on the man for hurting his mouse. Belle clung to Thorin’s side
tripping in the snow. The raven haired man draped his arm over her shaking
shoulders as they braved the wind. He could feel her entire body trembling and
made a promise to himself that he would make Smeagol suffer. ‘ Oh how he will
suffer’  Thorin thought to himself darkly.
When the Great Hall was visible Thorin saw a redheaded figure sprinting from
the building towards them. He pulled out his sword prepared for any sort of
attack until he saw the dark haired figure lumbering after the redhead. He knew
that frame, had watched it grow from a babe to a grown man. ‘ Kili’  Thorin
whispered within.  
“Belle!?” Tauriel screamed and gathered her little friend in a fierce hug.
Thorin tried to extract his arm from Belle but as soon as his arm was at his
side he had a small hand clutching his with surprising strength. Her emerald
eyes were pleading with him not to let go. He did not but he was eager to get
within and begin to deal with the rage burning within.
“Inside, Wild One. Belle is cold.” He growled to Kili’s woman.
Tauriel narrowed her eyes at the raven haired leader for the nickname but kept
her mouth shut. Kili tugged his woman from her other side away from Belle so
that Thorin could lead her within the home. The sight that greeted him was Dain
sitting on his throne rubbing at his forehead harshly, the entire hall packed
to the walls leaving Smeagol in the empty center of the room with Fili and
Dwalin standing guard over him as he wept on his knees.
When Thorin entered the Hall a hush flooded through it. He was still holding
Belle’s hand but quickly released it. He found it was a much harder action than
he thought possible as the girl gripped at his hand like it was her only
lifeline. He tilted his head to Tauriel who took his place as the little
woman’s comfort.
“I understand you wish for an immediate trial.” Dain said when Thorin stepped
in front of Dain.
“Yes, my king.” Thorin answered stiffly.
Dain huffed loudly, not liking that his feast was interrupted for this. “What
are his crimes?”
“He tried to kill Belle Gothidótturdóttir.” Thorin spoke loudly and clearly for
all to hear. At Belle’s name Dain sat up straighter, his brows rising high. He
had not known that the woman attacked was Gothi Grey’s granddaughter. “Smeagol
Gollumson spied on her while bathing, touched her naked body and had plans to
do much more. He also attacked her guard, Ori Borison.”
The sickly man in question began to cough loudly, spraying spit upon the floor.
“No! No! He lies! Lies!”
“QUIET!” Dain roared loudly, the sound echoing. “Bring her forward.” The
redheaded King ordered.
Thorin turned around to see Kili bring Belle forward with Tauriel on her
opposite side. The taller woman’s arms around her.
“Do you have proof of this claim?” The King asked rather gently for a man his
size.
“Look at her neck.” Tauriel snarled and pulled off the cloak on Belle’s
shoulders to showcase the handprint bruises around her slender neck.
“Show him your arms and legs,” Thorin told her.
Belle looked up at him as if he had lost his mind. “My legs? I am no whore and
I refuse to be treated as such!” she whispered harshly.
Knowing her defiance would just get worse due to her Christian ideals of
showing no skin Thorin dragged her closer to the King, deciding to skip the
argument and force her to show Dain.
Tauriel was speaking rapidly to Belle in the language of the islands. She
sounded to be trying to calm the woman and it worked for only a moment until
Thorin set Belle down a few feet from Dain and pulled the hem of her dress up
to her knees. Dain and Queen Solveig both raised their eyebrows at Belle’s odd
behavior over her modesty. Thorin guessed that they did not keep very many
Christian friends or talked to their Christian slaves. The only reason Thorin
knew so much was from watching Belle and occasionally listening to lessons from
Gothi Grey. The lessons the old man had learned on Christianity were from
Belle’s own grandmother Adamanta.
Thorin dropped her dress back to the floor and then grabbed her hands forcing
them in front of the King and Queen’s faces, showing the broken nails and
bloody hands.
“Are you going to strip me and show them my breasts too?” Belle snarled at him
quietly.
Thorin rolled his eyes at her then turned back to Dain. “She has more bruises
on her chest and stomach.”
He could see Belle seize up out of the corner of his eye at mention of her
breasts in such a brash way.
“And what of her guard?” Dain asked.
“Ori is being seen by a healer.”
Queen Solveig looked towards Belle with a small bit of softness. Normally the
woman was frigid at the best of times, so her small bit of softness surprised
Thorin. “Please tell us, Belle Gothidótturdóttir, what happened.”
Belle spoke clearly and without any tears or shaking of her voice. She told
them of Smeagol knocking Ori unconscious with a large rock and then lurking in
the shadows of the bathhouse watching her bathe. She told of how he spoke of
taking her into the words with him and that she bought herself time with
playing a game of riddles with the demented man.
Smeagol howled and snarled at her as she spoke making Fili put a gag of fabric
in the man’s mouth to keep him quiet so Belle could finish. Every time the
sickly man roared Belle would wince and twitch. Thorin wished to hold her which
was an odd sensation for him. He had held few women, most of them after they
had pleasured one another but it was never to comfort a woman.
By the time Belle finished her tale everyone within the room was calling out
for his head. Dain stood from his throne making everyone quiet immediately. The
stout King walked down from his throne to stand in front of Smeagol.
“I did not kill you for your former crimes many years ago out of respect for
your sister, who I loved dearly.” As Dain spoke Thorin watched the Queen. At
the mention of Smeagol’s sister Solveig’s face twisted into an angry grimace.
It was no secret that Dain’s first and truest love had perished in a plague
that swept through the Iron Hills many years ago. He spoke of his Yngvild
Gollumdottur often, especially when he was drunk and Solveig hated it.
“I took pity on you because you are sick in the mind and you swore you would
never step into my settlement again and yet here you are. You attack my guest,
you attacked a member of her guard and you broke your oath to me. Your life is
forfeit Smeagol Gollumson.”
Smeagol screeched and screamed under the gag in his mouth. Thorin’s eyes
watched Belle as she flinched away from the mad man.
“Belle Gothidótturdóttir you may do whatever you wish to him or you may appoint
someone to do it for you.” The Norse king said with a flippant wave of his
hand.
Belle froze, her eyes wide. The little tawny haired woman looked towards Thorin
for assistance.
“I will do this for you Belle Gothidótturdóttir.” Thorin said in a strong voice
so all could hear. He stood straight, his head held high and his jaw clenched.
“Okay. But...don’t make him suffer.” his mouse said slowly then turned her eyes
back to her feet.
===============================================================================
 
Thorin led the march out to the stock yard where Smeagol was dragged. As they
left the Great Hall he briefly heard Kili telling Belle she did not need to
watch, that Smeagol did not deserve that honor if she did not wish to see it.
When they were in the open air Thorin turned to see that Belle had indeed taken
Kili’s advice and had stayed indoors. Thorin was grateful for that, now he did
not have to worry over her reaction when he did not follow her request of a
death lacking suffering.
“Tie him to the post.” Thorin ordered as the crowd around them spoke quietly to
one another.
Smeagol screamed and fought against Fili and Dwalin. The sickly man’s hands
were tied with a rope above his head to the top of the post while his feet were
tied at the bottom, leaving him in a standing position but unable to move or
get away.
Thorin shed his cloak and clothing on his upper half. It was cold outside but
not unbearable. The raven haired Jarl heard the tittering of some of the women
watching and snorted with a small amount of annoyance. He knew he had a good
body. Many women had found pleasure in it and his body had served him well. He
was strong with good muscle structure and tattoos covering his back and most of
his chest as well as his arms. Thorin briefly wished Belle could have seen him
shirtless. He had been shirtless in front of her before but it had either been
dark or she was unconscious. But now was not the time to think of bodies or
pleasure. It was time to punish Smeagol for his crimes against Belle and Ori.
Thorin pulled one of his daggers from his hip and stepped in front of Smeagol.
The mans gag had slipped down his face and was now resting against his neck
while Smeagol thrashed against his ties.
“She is my precious! She belongs to me! She is mine!” Smeagol roared.
Thorin grabbed Smeagol by his thin hair forcing his eyes to meet Thorins. “Her
name is Belle and she is mine. You will be punished for trying to take what is
mine.”
Smeagol was crazed at Thorin’s word. He fought harshly against his binds to the
point that Thorin wondered if they should have used the iron shackles.
“Hold his head Fili.” Thorin ordered his blonde nephew. Fili braced Smeagol’s
head while Thorin took a dagger to both of Smeagol’s large eyes. The man
screamed and shrieked as his eyes were cut from their sockets. Thorin tossed
his eyes to the ground and leaned in close to the man's bloody face.
“I took your eyes for looking upon what is mine.” His voice was eerily calm as
he spoke. “Next I will take your hands for daring to touch what is mine.”
Thorin grabbed an axe from one of the Iron Hills warriors and with one swing
detached Smeagol’s hands from his arms. The screams coming from the man were
that of an animal. Thorin was not sure he had ever heard a human being make a
noise such as that before.  
“Now I will take your life for attempting to take her from me.” The raven
haired Jarl growled.
“My Precio…” Smeagol’s words drifted off into a gurgle as Thorin’s blade slit
open his throat.
Thorin stared into the man’s face as all the color drained from his face and
out of his neck.
===============================================================================
 
The rest of the night was occupied by disposing of Smeagol’s remains (Dain
insisted they be burned so his Yngvild did not skin him in the next life),
preparing his men for the next leg of their journey and then bathing left
Thorin with little to no time to rest. When he finally did stumble to his
quarters he found two women in his bed. One smaller than the other but both had
curly hair. One auburn and one tawny. Thorin shook Gyda awake careful not to be
close enough for her to stab him when she awoke with a start. She quietly slid
from the bed and stumbled her way towards her own bed. Thorin slid between the
furs careful not to jostle the woman he hoped to someday make his wife.
As he laid on his back he thought of how horrible the situation could have been
had he not gone to check on Belle when he did. Yes, she had gotten the upper
hand in the end but could she have killed Smeagol? What if he had gathered his
strength and taken the rock from her hands. What if he had beat her head in?
These thoughts swirled within his mind, causing fear and fury to rise within
him again. He doubted he would be sleeping this night. It was then that Belle
began to whimper in her sleep. Without thought Thorin gently pulled her into
his arms. With a loud sigh his tawny haired mouse calmed and let out a relaxed
breath. She nuzzled her face into his bare chest and threw a leg over one of
his own, locking herself onto his much larger body. Thorin pressed a kiss to
the top of her head and within minutes her steady breath had lulled him into a
deep slumber.
===============================================================================
The feeling of someone jerking upright beside him had Thorin grabbing his
hidden dagger. When his eyes focused he looked over to see Belle breathing
heavily beside him.
“I’m sorry I woke you” She whispered breathlessly. “Nightmares...”
Thorin did not say anything just pulled her back down beside him and wrapped
his arms around her. She breathed him in heavily, clutching onto him with
surprisingly strength. Thorin stared up at the ceiling beams while he waited
for her to calm. He was not sure how much sleep he had received but he did know
that he would not be going back to sleep any time soon. This time he was sure
of it.
“Thorin…” Belle whispered into the dark.
He turned his head to find her face so close to his that their noses were
almost touching. He was not sure he had ever been this close to her before. His
eyes darted down to her plump lips. How badly he wished to press his lips
against hers. He was just leaning in to do that when she spoke again.
“Did you kill him quickly?”
Thorin let out a frustrated breath and turned his eyes back up to the ceiling.
“Quicker than he deserved.”
Belle turned so that she was on her back using his arm as a pillow. “So not
that quick then?”
The dark haired man cursed himself. Belle was becoming far too observant of him
and his habits for his liking. Frustratingly enough she was beginning to be
able to read him.
“I could have taken his eyes and tongue then tied him out in the forest for the
wolves to find. Or given him a thousand cuts before anchoring him in the fjord
at low tide and allow the tide to swallow his soul. Taking his eyes, hands and
then slitting his throat was as quick a death as he deserved.”
Belle did not say another word, she just continued to stare at the ceiling.
Thorin found that he wished to hear her speak her thoughts. It was an odd
sensation for him but it seemed all sensations were odd to him when he was
around Belle.
“Does that anger you?” he asked no longer being able to stay quiet.
Belle turned back onto her side so she was facing him. “It should, I suppose.
The person I was months ago would be horrified by it but now...I don’t know
what I am feeling. I guess I am sad he suffered because I do not wish anyone to
suffer but he deserved it. I wanted him dead. I wanted to kill him. I could
have done it…” She whispered lowly.
Thorin digested her words. He found he enjoyed listening to her whisper, no
matter what she was saying.
“I think I am changing. I am becoming more like you and your people.”
The dark haired man looked over at Belle to see her brows knit together in
confusion. “And this is bad?”
Belle thought for a moment, her lips pursed prettily, begging for him to kiss
them, to claim them for his own. “I don’t think so…”
===============================================================================
 
Thorin looked out over the open water feeling a breath of fresh sea air fill
his lungs. It burned his lungs due to the cold but at least it was clean, not
filled with the stench of the Iron Hills. The dark haired man knew he was meant
to be out on the water. It is the only place he truly felt free. Thorin looked
back over his crew, his eyes automatically searching out the small tawny haired
woman. She was currently playing a game with Tauriel using only their hands.
Thorin did not understand it, but the two women seemed to be enjoying it
immensely. They would pound their right fist into their open left hand before
presenting a number of fingers. It seemed Belle had won this particular round
because she threw her head back and laughed loudly while clapping happily.
Thorin couldn’t help the smile that rose to his face at seeing her smile and
laugh so openly. Her trip to the Iron Hills had been less than pleasurable and
Thorin was sure she would be having many more nightmares but for now Tauriel
had distracted her enough that the little woman was putting up a good front. Or
perhaps she was stronger than Thorin gave her credit for.
“Uncle.” Fili’s voice interrupted Thorin’s musings.
“Sister-son.”
His blonde haired nephew stood with him at the bow of the longboat as they
looked out over the ice cold sea.
“We will be in Dale soon. A day at most.”
Thorin nodded slowly then clapped his nephew on the back. “Are you ready?”
Fili shot his uncle a confused look. “For?”
“Am I wrong that you wish to ask for Sigrid’s hand on this trip?” Thorin asked,
raising one raven brow.
The Jarl watched as color drained from Fili’s face. “Uh. No you are not wrong.
I do plan on asking for her hand.”
“I hope you have a good speech planned, Bard will not let go of his eldest
daughter easily. Good luck sister-son” Thorin clapped his nephew on the
shoulder before turning back to gaze at his crew or rather gaze at one
particular crew member. A tiny woman with tawny colored curls and large emerald
green eyes.
***** Fili *****
Chapter Notes
     NSFW
     -Sex
     -Language
     This chapter features a pretty fluffy Fili. I hope you all enjoy. :)
Dale looked similar to the Blue Mountains enough that at first glance Fili had
thought they had rowed too far and ended up home. But when he caught sight of
all of the hanging fishing nets he knew his eyes had played a trick on him.
Dale was known for its plentiful waters, just as the Blue Mountain’s was known
for its plentiful forests. There were mostly fishermen in the Dale settlement.
Sigrid had told Fili many times that she had been born and bred on the waters
of Dale. That she could out swim and out-fish anyone. He had promised her that
he would be testing that out come summer and sealed it with a kiss.
 Speaking of Sigrid, there was a woman on the shores that looked suspiciously
like his golden haired woman. She stood on the shore with the light behind her.
As they rowed into port the features of the woman became sharper and more
focused. She stood on the shore in the sand with a light blue cloak on her
shoulders and a fur hood covering her ears.
“Is that…?” Belle spoke quietly from where she was sitting beside him on the
rowing bench.
“Siggy!?” The little woman yelled out and scrambled from the boat once it
docked. Fili was not sure if she was more excited about being on land or seeing
her golden haired friend.
“Belle. Careful.” Thorin growled under his breath when the boat rocked
violently threatening to tip the woman into the icy waters.
Fili looked back at his Uncle to see his ice blue eyes locked on Belle’s little
form racing up the dock. The blonde man studied his Uncle’s strangely soft
expression with a small sense of wonder until he was distracted by a flash of
red hair leaping above him. Fili cursed under his breath at Tauriel’s stealthy
movements. The woman had surprised him one too many times with her silent feet.
 
“I am not sure mother would approve of such words gracing her perfect child's
lips.” Kili joked from where he was mooring the boat to the dock.
“Hmm. Well then, I guess it is good she is not here.” Fili said as he slapped
the back of his brothers head.
Fili moved from the boat and towards Sigrid. She was currently being hugged by
Belle while Tauriel smiled at them both warmly. In a move that surprised the
redhead, Siggy pulled her into a hug next. Tauriel gently hugged her back
before stepping away and allowing Fili to enter their gathering. Fili moved to
kiss Sigrid as he would back home but she stepped away from him, extending her
hand to him instead. Confused he took her hand and pressed a kiss to it.
“ Wemustspeakalone”  Sigrid said in slow English. Fili did not even know the
woman knew how to speak it. Belle looked at her proudly for a moment before the
words registered. The English woman’s emerald eyes darted to his with a small
bit of worry before she turned her head towards the boat in search of someone.
“ Whatisit?”  Fili asked.
Sigrid looked over her shoulder before turning back to him. “ Nothere.
Iwillmeetyouinyourroomshortly. Waitformethere.”  With that she turned on her
heel and marched towards her father’s longhouse, her blue cloak billowing
behind her. He noticed a few men watching her intently and then following her
into the longhouse. He assumed they were her guards.
Fili looked towards Belle for help. The little woman grabbed his hand in her
smaller one and gave it a squeeze. He was not too fond of the sympathetic smile
on her face. It spoke of doom to his relationship.
“What do you think it is?”
Belle was about to answer when Tauriel spoke over her. “She will tell you in
time. Do not make yourself angry with worry.” her tone was nonchalant as was
the hand wave she threw in after speaking. 
Fili glared at the redheaded woman without much heat. He did not like that she
was right about him. He was prone to getting angry when he was worried. The
blonde could not help but worry over Sigrid’s reaction to him while he helped
unload the boat and store their belongings in the rooms set aside for them.
Bard and his wife Oda greeted them with a small bit of fanfare and the promise
of a feast that night in their honor.
Dale was not nearly as lavish as the Iron Hills and was just a step below the
Blue Mountains but not by much. In the Blue Mountains, there was a large sod
house for those visiting or needing the hospitality. In Dale there was one
small sod house for visitors. It had two rooms with one large area packed with
pallets for visitors to sleep on. Seeing as Thorin was a Jarl he was granted
his own bedroom. Kili and Tauriel offered to share with Fili, Gyda, and Dwalin.
The rest of the crew would be sleeping in the large open room at the front of
the house.
===============================================================================
 
 Fili had just finished changing for the feast when he caught sight of a cloak
darting around a corner into Thorin’s room. Fili pulled out his twin swords and
crept into the room. He was greeted by Sigrid chewing on her bottom lip. Fili
lowered his swords but did not have the chance to put them away before Sigrid’s
mouth was fused to his own. She kissed him passionately pouring every emotion
she had into it. Their tongues tangled and her hands began to roam before the
sound of the front door closing had them breaking apart. Fili slid his swords
back into their holster before pulling the blonde into a tight hug.
“What are you doing here, Siggy?”
His woman pulled him to sit on the bed before speaking. “Father wrote me a
letter...It worried me. He said Harald Eriksson was coming for a visit and
wished for me to be here as well.”
Fili was even more confused than ever. “Why does that matter?”
Sigrid took a deep breath before speaking. “My father wants an alliance with
Harald and Harald wants a wife. Do you see the problem here?”
Fili stood abruptly as anger rose within him. Bard was going to marry off his
woman to another man. His breathing became heavy and he began to see red.
“Fili, be calm,” Sigrid told him as she rubbed at his chest.
“How can I be calm when I could lose you?” He growled looking down into her
gray eyes.
Sigrid pushed up onto her toes kissing him softly and slowly. “As long as you
want me you will not be able to lose me.”
Fili wrapped his muscled arms around her slim waist gently. “I will want you
forever. I wished to ask Bard for your hand on this trip.”
Sigrid smiled slyly at him. “I know”
“How could you know? I did not tell anyone in the Blue Mountains” The blonde
man said with confusion and a fond smile for his Siggy.
“Your eyes. They told me all I needed to know.”
Fili chuckled lowly. “That obvious, am I?”
Sigrid nodded and captured his lips again. She pulled away when they heard the
sound of Belle and Thorin arguing down the hall.
“I will meet you at the feast,” Sigrid whispered before disappearing out the
back of the longhouse. Fili collected himself and put on his mask of
indifference to hide his emotions as he listened to his uncle and the English
woman.
“How did you forget your dagger?” Thorin was growling to Belle.
“Back in North Umbria, I was not allowed to have weapons! It is not a habit to
have one on me, Thorin! And it is not a dagger, it is a sword!” Belle said in
an exasperated tone.
Fili looked around the dimly lit room and found a large dagger on the bed. He
grabbed it and met them at the doorway.
“Sisterson. What are you doing?” Thorin asked when he caught sight of his
golden haired nephew.
“I was leaving for the feast and saw that Belle had left her dagger. I was
gathering it to bring to her.” Fili explained and held the weapon out to Belle.
“Uncle is right, Belle. You must be armed.”
The tawny haired girl nodded with a flare of annoyance before grabbing the
dagger from his hands and strapping it around her waist. “It isn’t a dagger. It
is a sword” She said under her breath.
Fili put his arm around her tiny shoulders and led her out of the home with his
uncle on her opposite side. “Perhaps to one so small. But to any normal sized
person, it is a dagger”
Fili barked out in laughter when Belle pushed him and chose instead to move
closer to Thorin. The blonde man acted as if he did not notice his uncle’s
pleased smile at having the woman so close to him. Fili knew Thorin had a sort
of infatuation with the woman. It was a new development and made the blonde
wonder if it would last or wean as all his uncle’s previous infatuations had.
Speaking of infatuations as they entered the hall Fili saw Sigrid had just sat
down with her family and was attempting to fix her brothers clothing as he
slapped her hands away from his body. She looked up at him giving him a sweet
smile. He wanted to smile back but at that moment he saw who was also seated at
the high table, Harald Eriksson.
Fili snarled internally. The man was staring at Sigrid lecherously as he ate
his chicken. Fili wished he would choke on said chicken and make Fili’s life
easier. If it came down to it Fili would have to kill Harald or Bard for
Sigrid's hand and he did not wish to do either at the moment. But if Harald
continued to stare at Sigrid the way he was, Fili would change his mind.
“Fili?” Belle whispered beside him and tugged on his sleeve.
He looked down at her in surprise, he had not realized he had stopped to glare
at Harald. The blonde nodded down to his English friend and allowed her to lead
him to the opposite end of the high table. Belle was seated between he and
Thorin, looking ever uncomfortable. Fili looked around the table and assessed
the danger Harald’s men could inflict if they wished it. Next, his eyes slid to
Jarl Bard. The dark haired man sat with his redheaded wife. The Jarl’s wife was
a pretty woman, Fili surmised. She had a slightly rounded face with gentle
features and a wide smile. It was not until she rose from her seat that he saw
her rounded stomach. Fili made a mental reminder to ask Sigrid how she felt
about the new development.
“Welcome Jarl Thorin,” Bard said with a respectful nod. Thorin returned the
gesture before beginning to eat the chicken in front of him.
“ Eatyourfood. YouareworryingSigrid”  Belle whispered to him in English and
tapped his plate with one delicate finger.
“The language of the Saxons?” The gravely voice of Harald broke into their
conversation.
“What of it?” Fili snarled at Harald and received a sharp look from his uncle
for the tone.
Harold leaned back in his chair scratching at his red beard. “We dine with a
Saxon slave?”
It was Thorin that snarled next. “She is not full Saxon nor is she a slave. She
is my companion”
Fili tried to hide his shock at his uncle’s declaration but he did not do so
well. His dark headed brother kicked his foot grasping his attention so they
both could look stunned at one another. Fili caught sight of Tauriel around his
brother’s large body looking confused.
“Your companion?” Bard asked
“Yes” Thorin growled grumpily. He was glowering at both Bard and Harald.
Knowing Belle as well as he did Fili could tell the woman was going to say
something she shouldn’t. He clapped a hand on her knee and gave it a tight
squeeze. When she looked up at him he kept his eyes on Bard but shook his head
ever so slightly. It seemed his message was received because she immediately
sat back in her chair giving Bard a tight smile and a small nod.
"I apologize Jarl Thorin Thrainson,” Harald spoke. “I did not know you had a
companion”
Thorin only grunted in response and turned back to his food.
“Fili, she was speaking to you in the language of the Saxon’s, yes?” Harald
asked around the chicken in his mouth.
“Yes.” The blonde’s hackles began to rise. He knew what was coming next.
“Are you Saxon too?” Harald asked with a mocking smile.
“Do I look Saxon to you?” Fili glared murderously at the Jarl.
Harald chuckled into his wine glass. “No. But she does not look Norse either.”
“Watch yourself, boy” Thorin snarled and wrapped his arm around Belle.
“No disrespect meant,” Harald said with a smirk. “I am simply curious as to why
a son of Durin knows the language of the Saxon’s? It seems...Unnecessary and
strange, no?”
Fili was about to launch from his chair and challenge the man to one on one
combat when Sigrid slammed her eating utensils onto the table and stood.
“Fili Vilison has learned the language of the Saxon’s to improve the bounty
they get on raids. I will not have you mock him for doing what is necessary for
his people at my father’s table. You wish to mock him for his intelligence take
it outside my father’s house.” Her voice was deadly as she spoke to Jarl
Harald.
Fili relaxed into his chair and hid his amusement at Harald being chastised as
a child would. Bard did not say anything on the matter only changed the subject
rapidly to how Thorin’s visit with Dain went.
===============================================================================
 
It was after the feast when Thorin was able to meet with Bard. Fili, as
Thorin’s heir and second in command, attended the meeting. Bard’s son, Bain,
joined the meeting as well.
“What are you here for Thorin? I know you did not stop along the way home for
nothing. There is a reason you are here and eager to speak with me. Tell me
why”
Thorin sat across from Bard at the large wooden table. “You heard of Azog’s
attack on my lands?”
Bard’s normally kind eyes turned hard. “Yes. I heard they killed many, my
daughter would have been one of them without Belle’s foresight, or so Sigrid
says.”
Thorin straightened in his seat. “This is true. Belle provided us with one of
her...visions. It saved many. They out-numbered us before stepping into her
trap. They lost more than half their fleet because of it.” Fili recognized the
pride in his uncle’s statement. Belle had grown on Thorin, her trap for the
Danes being the pushing factor.
“I am angry my little girl was not kept safe within your lands, Thorin.” Bard
said tightly.
“I am angry many of my people and good warriors died that day, neither of our
anger is my fault. It is Azog’s.” Thorin snarled.
Bard eyed the man critically. Fili knew Bard was a fair man, he did not have a
hot temper and seemed to be even keeled. However, when it came to his woman or
his children Bard was vicious.
Fili took the moment to look at Bain. The young man had grown out of his baby
fat years and was now a lanky young man with the promise of being quite tall.
Fili thought he had heard Sigrid say the boy was fourteen years of age, meaning
he had already been on his first raid if not his second. He was learning how to
take over his father’s throne and watching out for his sisters.
“What do you want, Thorin?” Bard asked in a strained voice.
“I need warriors. Men and women. I am marching on the Dragon’s lands. Dain has
promised me men, as have the lands surrounding the Iron Hills. We will begin
our attack before the snow falls. I wish to catch the Bastard King off guard.”
“Dain has not given you enough men?” Bard asked, rubbing at his dark temples.
“You have been to battle Bard. Is there ever enough men?” Thorin asked, one
raven brow raised.
Bard took a deep breath and nodded his head that Thorin was indeed correct in
his statement.
“Why should I help you Thorin? Why should I allow my men and women to march on
a foreign land leaving behind family and friends?”
Thorin leaned in slightly staring intensely at the other Jarl. “Correct me if I
am wrong, but it is rumored that you lost two elder brothers when the Dragon
army attacked Wareham, not to mention all of the family your first wife lost
that day. Do you not long for revenge? Does it not drive you as it does me? Do
you not see their faces when you sleep at night and wake up wishing you could
murder the man responsible for their deaths?”
“They are in Valhalla. They earned it for dying while fighting.” Bard said with
a clenched jaw.
Fili could not tell if the man was trying to remind himself of such or if he
were telling Thorin.
“Just because they are in Valhalla does not mean they do yearn for revenge.”
 Bard breathed deeply trying to calm himself. His jaw clenched and unclenched
multiple times before speaking. “You may ask for volunteers tomorrow. I have
one hundred and fifty men and women that I know will gladly go. But you may
talk to the men themselves and gain their loyalty.”
Bard stood as if to leave but that is when Fili stepped forward. “Jarl Bard. I
wish to speak with you before you retire”
Bain looked at Fili with a brow raised. He was the spitting image of his father
just as Fili was with his own father. In the very back of his mind, he wondered
if his first born with Sigrid would follow suit and look just as he.
“Yes, Fili Vilison?”
“I wish to ask for Sigrid’s hand in marriage.” The room was deadly quiet. Fili
had his hand on the hilt of his sword, knowing that some fathers became enraged
and would battle those asking for their daughter's hand.
It felt as if many moons had passed before Bard spoke. “Did you get her
pregnant?”
Fili was surprised by this question. “No”
Bard stood then. “Then the answer is no.” He moved towards the exit before Fili
grabbed him by the arm and spun him back around.
“No? But if I had gotten her pregnant you would say yes?”
Bard glared at Fili silently telling the blonde to release him. “Yes. I could
not very well follow through on my promise of giving her to Harald Eriksson if
she were pregnant with your babe.”
“Your promise?!” Sigrid’s high pitched shriek rang through the room.
“You were listening outside the door.” Bard accused.
“Of course I was!” Sigrid growled back as she scowled darkly at her father and
brother. “I will not marry that pompous arse Harald.”
Bard turned his face up to the sky and groaned lowly. “This is not the time
Sigrid. We will speak of this in private.”
“No. We will speak of this now!” Sigrid snarled.
“You are marrying Harald Eriksson, Sigrid and that is final!”
Fili’s blonde woman crossed her arms over her chest in a way he had learned
meant that she would not relent until she got her way.
“Fine.” The word caused Fili's heart to splinter. He felt his stomach churn
violently and his chest seize until his blonde woman began to speak again,
halting her father’s path out the door. “Oh, but father, wouldn’t it be a shame
if something were to happen to him on our wedding night?”  Sigrid whispered in
an icy tone. “I know of every herb in this land good and bad. It would be
terrible if his wedding cup happened to be laced with hemlock, wouldn’t it?”
Bard huffed, his shoulders bending as a broken man’s would. He rubbed at his
brow harshly and huffed.  Fili looked at the two, his uncle and he utterly
silent. It was not their place to interject...not yet anyway.
“What would you have me do Siggy? You agreed to marry for an alliance years
ago.” Bard said quietly.
“That was before I fell in love with Fili! And you should have spoken to me
first before making a deal! Since when did you think it was okay to give me
away without speaking to me about the man? What would mother have said?” Fili’s
blonde woman asked, her voice full of pain. Fili wanted to stab Bard for
hurting her in such a way.
“Our people needed the gold and alliance that Harald offered. He has already
given me half of the bride price. The four gold ounces have been spent.” Bard
said woefully.
Fili saw his chance and took it. “I will pay you double what Harald promised to
give you.”
The room was silent as it seemed everyone had forgotten he and Thorin had been
privy to their family spat.
“You can pay me double now?” Bard asked, one dark brow raised in question.
“Well, no. But I can pay you Sigrid’s original bride price in full now and the
second half after we raid North Umbria.” Fili tossed Bard his purse holding his
gold.
Bard gazed at Fili with calculating eyes. “How do I know you will keep your
word and pay me the second half?”
Fili felt anger rising within him. It seemed everyone was wanting to question
his honor on this trip. Thorin laid a heavy hand upon Fili’s shoulder to keep
his eldest nephew in check.
“On my word, you will have your gold” Thorin said strongly.
Bard nodded curtly before shaking hands with Thorin and Fili. “We will make the
announcement tomorrow.”
===============================================================================
 
Fili gazed up at the beams of the sod home they were in. He could hear Dwalin
snoring and the sound of Gyda growling in her sleep. The woman truly was a
beast in all aspects. Tauriel and Kili were both moving constantly in their
sleep, meaning Fili was the only one not getting any sleep at all. He rose
quietly and decided he would keep watch. Surely Harald Eriksson had heard of
his broken betrothal by now and would want revenge. If the man was smart he
would not act on those feelings of want but Fili did not see the man as having
any intelligence at all. 
The blonde man walked out of the room and peeked into his uncle’s room. He
found Thorin asleep on his side, with one arm tightly tucked around Belle’s
stomach holding her close. Her curly hair was fanned out wildly across her
pillow and covering most of her face with one of Thorin’s hands buried in the
tawny tresses while her face was planted in the large mans chest.  Fili
wondered how long it would be until his Uncle spoke of his own intentions
towards the woman. Anytime he was asked when he would wed Thorin would change
the subject. The man had never wanted a wife, or so he said. He had said they
were troublesome and he would only wish for one to produce him heirs, but
because Dis had provided heirs of the Durin line, Thorin did not have to. He
could live free without a woman or babes to worry over. Fili believed it was a
rouse. He thought Thorin could only put his mind to one thing at a time. And
revenge had been on his mind for far too long to have a wife. Now that he was
on the path to avenging his family, Fili guessed that Thorin was finally
allowing himself to take on a wife. Or perhaps Belle had enchanted the raven
haired man, Fili did not pretend to know. He had his speculations but they
would never be said out loud. They would stay locked within him forever, the
consequences of those being verbalized would be his uncle’s wrath and he would
never wish to be on the receiving end of such a horror.
Fili turned away from his uncle’s room with the intention of sitting in the
front room but light seeping through the crack under the back door had him
halting his movements. He pulled out his sword and crept towards the door. He
pushed it open slightly to find the light was a lantern coming towards him. His
sharp eyes caught sight of a familiar blue cloak. He re-sheathed his weapon and
stepped out of the house and into the night. It was cold. Much too cold for
Sigrid to be walking around this late.
“Siggy? What are you doing?” Fili whispered harshly.
The blonde pulled back her hood with a large smile. Her cheeks and nose were
red from the cold, her eyes bright with happiness. “Put on your cloak and come
with me.”
“Siggy it is late and cold. You must sleep.” Fili said unconvincingly.
“I sleep better with you at my side. I miss your warmth. Come with me. The
sooner you get your cloak on the faster we will get to warmth. Hurry.” The
blonde scolded with a mocking smile.
Fili shook his head knowing he would not win this argument. He slipped back
into his shared room and pulled on his cloak. He saw his brother raise his head
in question at his elder brother's attire.
“I am going to patrol for a bit” Fili whispered in way of explanation.
Kili snorted and rolled his eyes “Tell Siggy that I expect you home before dawn
with your maidenhead intact.”
Fili gave his brother a crude hand gesture before walking out of the room and
back out to his beautiful blonde. As soon as he exited the home she was waiting
there. Her hand outstretched, beckoning his to join. He linked hands with her
gloved ones and allowed her to lead him through the sleeping village of Dale.
He did not dare speak for fear of awakening prying ears and eyes. It seemed
Sigrid had the same idea for she did not speak either, until they reached a
small sod house in the center of town, very near the sparring rings.
Sigrid unlocked the door and slipped inside. She pulled Fili within before
setting to work making a quick but small fire.
“What is this place?” Fili asked looking around the clean, fragrant space.
“The Apothecary.”
Fili gazed around the room seeing only hanging herbs and flowers. There were a
few cots pushed against the far wall and a table with pestle and mortars atop
it. The small fire Sigrid had started bathed the one room structure in dull
light. Fili was grateful for it, it meant he could see his golden haired woman
better. Seeing her shy smile had the man’s trousers growing tight. He gave her
his signature smirk and bobbed his head beckoning her over. Sigrid gave him a
fond smile and shook her head at his antics. She pushed him into a nearby chair
before lifting her skirts and straddling his lap. Fili’s large hands slid up
and down her milky thighs enjoying the feeling of her smooth skin. Being the
cheeky girl she was Sigrid tugged on his mustache braids gently eliciting a
soft growl from the man. He captured her lips first softly but as the desire
grew his kisses became harder and less refined.
Making quick work of the laces on his breeches it was not long before Fili was
in Sigrid's hand and his fingers buried deep within her. They had done this
many times, starting after he had declared his feelings for her. He had never
said he planned to make her his wife but he had told her he felt that perhaps
he may love her. That he did not wish to live without her by his side. He had
told her softly in the dull light of dawn that he wished for her to bear his
blonde haired daughters.
Sigrid had asked him why daughters and not sons. His answer had seemed to be
her undoing, further allowing herself to give into Fili fully.
“How could I not want a little girl that looks as beautiful as you”. They had
made love that night for the first time. It had been beautiful and perfect.
Their couplings after that had ranged from sweet and gentle to rough and
intense. It had all depended on what Sigrid had wanted. Fili was just happy to
finally be with the woman he had been staring at for the last four years.
This coupling though, the one inside of the apothecary of her homeland, looked
like it was going to be quick like their coupling in the barn, not two weeks
past.
Fili sighed with relief when Sigrid finally engulfed him in her heat, her wet
silky walls gliding against his length gloriously. Fili placed his hands under
her arse and lifted her up then lowered her down furiously. Sigrid untied the
top of her dress allowing her breasts to bounce free. Fili had seen many
wondrous lands and beautiful sights but his favorite sight to this day was
Sigrid’s breasts bouncing free, her cheeks flushed in pleasure and her eyes
wild with want. Gathering one of the light pink buds into his mouth he began to
suck lightly, flicking the bud with his tongue every so often. The action sent
Sigrid wild. She bounced up and down on his length with vigor, her moans
growing louder until she had to put her hand over her mouth to keep quiet. It
was not long before both of them were finding their release.
Several moments later after the two lovers had caught their breath Sigrid began
to chuckle.
“I have been trying so hard to not have a babe when it seems that being
pregnant with your child could have saved you quite a bit of gold.”
 Fili huffed out a small laugh and pressed a kiss to Sigrid’s soft neck. By the
Gods, he loved this woman. She was gentle and kind but was strong and a warrior
when needed. She was perfect for him and she was finally his. He wanted to cry
his praises to Freya but thought perhaps he should wait until all were awake so
as not to cause confusion.
“I would have paid your father double your bride price whether I had gotten you
pregnant or not. You are worth all the gold I have and ever will have, my
Siggy.”
===============================================================================
 
Fili sat in the hall downing his tankard of ale. The announcement would be
happening soon, though currently, he was working with his uncle’s company to
recruit more warriors to their army. Belle called it the Great Heathen Army but
he preferred just the Great Army. The blonde had just finished speaking with a
man named Lüter, who had not only pledged himself but his three eldest sons to
go to battle beside them. Fili looked at his youngest of the three that would
be joining them. The boy was tall but still had a childishness to his features.
He could not have been much older than thirteen. Fili felt slight fear for the
boy. He hoped Lüter had taught his sons from a young age how to fight well.
“Fili, it is time.” Kili’s voice broke through his thoughts.
The blonde nodded to his brother and headed towards the front of the room it
seemed Bard had already spoken with Harald about his now broken betrothal, the
man looked as if he had been sucking vinegar.
The room quieted as Bard stood from his throne.
“I hope you all have enjoyed your feast and ale tonight!” The dark haired man
said jovially. The answering cheers of delight were confirmation enough of alls
enjoyment.
“We have much to celebrate tonight as it seems my eldest daughter, Sigrid has
found love in Fili Vilison. He has offered to pay double her bride-price.
Sigrid and I have accepted his offer.”
The surrounding cheers had Fili’s serious face cracking into a large smile.
“When is the wedding!?” A voice cried out from the crowd.
Bard stared Fili in the eyes before answering. “When we return from killing
Smaug the Bastard King.”
The excited roar of the crowd nearly drowned out Bard’s words to Fili, working
in the dark haired man’s favor. He clapped Fili on the shoulder and pulled him
in close to speak lowly in his ear. “I will be there beside you on this venture
to keep you both in line. We would not want your first child, and my first
grandchilde, to be born on Saxon land. What better way to get to know the man
my daughter has fallen in love with than to fight beside him on the
battlefield.”
Fili clenched his jaw tightly. “Let us not forget, you also want to make sure
you get your money.”
Bard chuckled good naturedly and dipped his head. “True. I also wish to protect
my daughter. I know she will not stay behind while you go off and fight. You
will need healers and my daughter is one of the best we have.”
Fili felt anger rise within him. “If you do not believe I can protect her why
allow her to marry me?”
Bard pulled away from Fili and gazed at his daughter speaking with Oda, his
eyes gentle and his smile soft. “I do not doubt your skill or your love for her
Fili Vilison. But someday, if you are blessed by the Gods, you will have a
daughter and understand a father’s worry for his little girl.”
Bard clapped the blonde on the shoulder once more before moving to his wife’s
side. Leaving Fili standing on the dais, watching as the celebration commenced.
The blonde made his way down towards a slave girl to get more ale when a dark
blonde being stepped in front of him.
“Jarl Harald” Fili said stiffly. He could see his brother moving across the
room towards him, to offer assistance if needed.
“Fili” Harald answered tightly.
“Listen, I am sorry that Bard made a deal with you and did not speak to his
daughter first. But she loves me and I her. I have loved her for many years and
I will fight for her if necessary.” Fili rested his hand on the hilt of his
sword as if to make a point.
Harald looked at Fili from top to bottom, his gaze hard and calculating. After
a tense moment, the shorter man gave Fili a small smirk. “There are always more
women. I will not force Sigrid to marry me when she loves you. Many stupid men
have tried to do such a thing and ended up with their bride’s knife in their
gut for the trouble. But if you die and she comes back alone, I will have her.”
Harald said with a small chuckle.
Fili smothered his fury and gave Harald a hard smile. “I would expect nothing
less”.
Harald laughed loudly, clapping Fili on the shoulder before wrapping his arm
around a redheaded slave girl and leading her to a darkened corner.
Fili turned to see his brother behind him leaning nonchalantly on a large
support beam. The blonde rolled his eyes and moved to pull his little brother
into a headlock as he had since they were children. Kili laughed loudly pushing
his brother away.
“So it seems we are both going to be wed soon. Well soon for me anyway.” Kili
chuckled. “You will have to wait. Are you sure she is worth it?” His dark
haired little brother jested.
Fili caught the gray eyes of Sigrid across the room and felt warmth flood his
chest. “She is worth it, little brother. I would wait a lifetime for her.”
***** Tauriel *****
Chapter Notes
     Hello!
     So sorry for the wait! I have been out of town and without the
     internet until yesterday.
     I hope this chapter will make up for not posting in nearly a month.
     TRIGGER WARNING:
     -Mentions of rape
     -Medical examination of rape victim
     -Abuse
     NSFW CHAPTER
     -Sex
     -Sexual Language
Tauriel gazed out on the icy waters, her arm resting on the side rim of the
boat and her chin on top of it. She was constantly amazed by the Norse boats
and their ability to expertly avoid the chunks of frozen water. There was mist
all around making her wonder how  Kili’s people were navigating at all. Tauriel
dipped her hand into the water as she thought. She found she enjoyed the water
and felt it call to her. The redhead made a mental note to ask Kili to teach
her how to swim when the ice thawed.
“Do not leave your hand in there for too long. Jörmungandr may get hungry and
take a bite out of it.” Kili said from behind her with a large smile.
Tauriel rolled her eyes fondly at the man over her shoulder. “Oh? And who is
this Jörmungandr and why would he wish for a bite of me?”
Kili sat down on the bench beside her except unlike her he did not sit on the
bench one was meant to. He straddled it and scooted as close to her as possible
until his groin was pressed against her. He wrapped his arms around her waist
and playfully bit her shoulder.
“Because you taste so delicious, that even I would love to take a bite out of
you”
Tauriel scoffed but could not stop the smile from gracing her lips. “You never
answered my question.”
Kili rested his chin on her shoulder and spoke quietly. “Jörmungandr is a sea
serpent. He is the child of Loki and the giantess Angrboða. He is so large that
he encircles all the land, but lives beneath the water. He was dropped into the
sea when he was but a babe by Odin. Jörmungandr loved the sea. He ate and grew.
He is so large that he has grasped the end of his tail in his mouth. It is said
that when he releases it, it will bring on the end of the world.”
The redheaded woman looked over the waves, her eyes scanning the dark waves
looking for the back of a sea serpent. “And why would he release his tail to
take a bite of me?”
Kili pressed a kiss to Tauriel’s neck making her shudder lightly. “Because your
flavor is so good that it is worth ending the world just to taste you for a
moment.”
Tauriel could not hold back any longer. She laughed rather loudly, startling
her lover. “Shut your mouth, you liar.”
Kili grabbed Tauriel’s face by her chin, with more force than she was
expecting. It did not hurt, in fact, it was quite thrilling. She gasped in
excitement as Kili forced her hazel eyes to meet his brown ones. “I could never
lie when it comes to you,” He said huskily and pressed his lips to hers.
Tauriel was the first to run her tongue along the seam of his lips taunting his
own tongue to join hers. Just when the two were sure to get carried away on a
very crowded boat Tauriel heard Belle’s voice speak beside them.
“Kili, May I ask you a...Oh. Nevermind. I am sorry for interrupting.” Belle
turned away from them to hide her flaming cheeks.
Kili sighed loudly. He moved back a foot on the bench then reached out a hand
and pulled Belle down into the empty space between him and Tauriel on the
rowing bench. “What is it, Belle?”
The redness in her cheeks had not subsided making Tauriel smirk lightly. Kili
must have noticed the same because he pinched one of the girl’s cheeks making
her scowl and Kili and Tauriel laugh. Tauriel was not sure if Belle was more
angry about Kili pinching her cheeks or sitting so close to her with his legs
open on the bench. It was a rather...aggressive seating position, one a woman
such as Belle rarely would have seen back home.  
“You are quite aggravating, you know?” Belle pouted.
“Yes, I know,” Kili said with a proud smile. “Was that your question?”
The tawny haired girl shook her head. “No. I uhm…” She wrung her hands together
in a way that told Tauriel she was very nervous over what she was going to ask.
“What does it mean to be someone’s companion?”
Tauriel watched Kili’s disposition change at the question. He sat up straighter
and his smile faded into a more serious expression. “Is this about what my
uncle said in front of Jarl Bard?”
“Yes. What does that mean exactly to your people?”
Tauriel was curious too. She had not understood all of what was said during
that dinner due to everyone shouting and speaking so quickly in Norse. She had
picked up the “companion” conversation though and wondered what Thorin had
meant when he said Belle was his companion. Was she his bed companion? And if
so did that entail what Tauriel and Kili had done quite frequently since that
night in the Iron Hills. Or was it just sleeping between Belle and Thorin? And
if so, how long would that last? Tauriel was not completely obtuse in human
emotions. She could see that Thorin had some degree of...adoration for Belle.
Belle liked him, though Tauriel was not sure why and wondered if Belle even
knew herself. Tauriel looked up at Thorin briefly. She supposed he was
handsome. He looked like a slightly older Kili, but not quite as jovial and
with ice blue eyes instead of Kili’s warm brown ones. He was broad shouldered
with thick muscles. His long hair was tied back at the moment and his beard was
combed nicely. She supposed he was handsome, though she found she had no
attraction to him. Her attraction extended to Kili and Kili only.
“Yes,” Belle said snapping Tauriel out of her thoughts. “What does it mean?”
Kili scrubbed at his face roughly. He was growing his beard out and the sound
of his course hairs rubbing against his palms was doing something strange to
Tauriel’s insides, something good. “I think you should talk to uncle about what
it means”
“Why?” Belle asked sharply.
“Because I do not know how he meant it,” Kili said back with a huff.
“Fine. In general, what does companion mean to your people?”
Tauriel watched the two closely, enraptured by their exchange. She desperately
wished to know the answer now that Kili seemed uncomfortable with telling
Belle. He was hardly ever uncomfortable.
“It means...You know what? Go ask Fili.” Kili said as he tilted his head
towards his golden haired brother who was speaking lowly with Sigrid.
Belle tilted her face towards the sky and groaned. “He told me to ask you!”
Taking pity on her friend, Tauriel took matters into her own hands. “Kili. Just
tell her!”
It seemed having his woman bark at him pushed him into telling Belle.  “Tauriel
is my companion as Sigrid is Fili’s.” Kili rushed the words.
Belle was silent for a moment before standing from her seat and stomping up
towards the front of the longboat where Thorin was looking out at the sea.
Belle turned him around and began to speak with him. Tauriel could not hear
what they were saying but she knew it was not pleasant. Belle’s neck was tight
as she spoke forcefully and her back was ramrod straight. She had her hand
balled into tiny fists until she rose one and poked Thorin in the chest with
her index finger.
“Oh good. Now she has done it.” Kili growled under his breath. Her dark haired
companion turned his face down hoping to avoid, what she assumed was, Thorin’s
death glare.
“Did you tell her?” Fili asked crouching down behind his brother.
“You fucking arse,” Kili growled at his brother and pushed him off balance.
Tauriel watched Thorin closely waiting for the “death glare” while the brothers
fought. But the glare never came. The redhead did notice something interesting
though. As Belle whisper yelled at the tall man, he was fighting a smile.
Tauriel could tell by the way his cheek would lift ever so slightly and his
nostrils flared quickly. She caught a glimpse of his smile when he turned his
head to the side to “cough”, covering it with his fist. It was so quick she
almost missed it. By the time he turned back to Belle his smile was gone. When
she jabbed him in the chest again with her little finger he grabbed her hand,
halting its movements. Whatever he had said while holding her hand had stopped
Belle’s anger in its tracks. She nodded solemnly as if she did not wish to
acknowledge whatever Thorin had said was right and turned to walk back to them.
Tauriel watched Thorin as he watched Belle walk away, his eyes on her arse the
entire time. The redhead rolled her eyes at the way men’s minds worked and
turned back to gaze out at the water once more.
===============================================================================
 
Returning to the Blue Mountains was a strange affair. Tauriel was able to relax
and found comfort on the shores of heathen settlement. She said none of this
aloud, of course, but the feelings of warmth were there in her chest. She
justified that her comfort was due to knowing the land and most of its
inhabitants, not that she liked any of them of course. The redhead simply knew
them and what they were capable of. On the shores were many people waiting for
them. Tauriel’s eyes first caught Dis and Gothi bundled together. Dis was
holding onto the old man’s arm tightly as they looked out over the water. Gothi
had a soft smile on his wrinkled face as his one pale eye looked out at the
sea, he had one hand raised in greeting. Tauriel looked at Belle and found the
little tawny haired woman clutching at the bow of the boat that had a large
reindeer skull mounted on it. 
The girl was holding on with one arm while her other arm was raised in greeting
mimicking her grandfather’s action. Tauriel smiled at the sweetness for a
moment until dark clouds of memories long forgotten crept within her mind. She
remembered the way her father would wave to her mother from the edge of the
forest as she watched for him from her high window in the stone castle after a
long hunt. Tauriel remembered the way her father looked with his bright red
hair and broad shoulders. His broken nose from the many fights he had been in
as a young lad. The large bear pelt cloak that hung on his shoulders and blue
paint on his face and arms. Memories of her running towards her father from the
castle gates, him putting her on his shoulders no matter how weary he was and
carrying her all the way back to her mother had her heart constricting
painfully. She shook her head trying to dispel the memories from her mind. They
would do no good to her.
“What is dead is dead and will not return,” Tauriel whispered to herself.
“What was that, love?” Kili asked her from where he was collapsing the sail.
“Nothing.” The redhead whispered to her betrothed. She could tell he did not
believe her but he was currently helping guide the boat toward the dock.
===============================================================================
 
It was not until all had bathed, eaten and retired for the night that Kili
asked Tauriel what had upset her on the boat. At times she hated how observant
the dark haired man was.
“I was thinking of home,” Tauriel told him quietly deciding she was too tired
to lie. Their trip to recruit warriors had been emotionally and physically
taxing.
Kili pulled her tighter against his chest and pressed a kiss to her ear. “I
will take you home someday if that is your wish.”
“I know you would. A piece of me wishes to go home but what is there for me? I
have no family. Yes, I had friends but they must believe me dead by now. They
have moved on with their lives, as have I.” the redhead voiced her thoughts.
“But if I came with you to live out the rest of our lives, would that make you
happy? We could go live in your father’s castle and fill it with many sons.”
Kili’s voice was rough with sleep.
“That would never work. The land belongs to Thranduil now.”
“But it was your father’s, he would want you to have it. Thranduil took it
after you were married to his son. If you came back with a new husband would
that land not still belong to you?”  Kili asked, thoroughly confused by their
cultural differences.
“No, Kili. If I went home I am still married to Legolas. There is no divorce
where I am from. I could be killed for marrying another. They would not
legitimize our marriage, in their eyes I would be a whore for laying with
another man that was not Legolas. They would kill you and I. Me for being a
whore and you for being a heathen. My father’s land belongs to Thranduil now
and forever. The only way I could get it back is if Thranduil and Legolas both
died and I was the only one left standing. Even then the land would only go to
my next husband.”  Tauriel whispered the words for fear that if she spoke them
louder they would come true.
“Then I will kill them,” Kili said nonchalantly with a shrug of his shoulders.
“No Kili. There is nothing there any longer for me. You and I will make our own
home here. They do not deserve death.”
Kili clenched his teeth together harshly. “They have taken your land, your
father’s land and will kill you if you and I return together. How is that not a
punishment befitting death?”
“It is the way of my land, Kili. Women cannot own land. We can not divorce a
husband and we can not take lovers like your people do. My father’s land is
gone. There is nothing to be done and we are not killing Legolas or Thranduil.”
Tauriel huffed. “Now go to sleep. I am tired.”
Kili shook his head as if he did not understand her reasoning, which he didn’t,
and drifted off to sleep quickly.
Tauriel stayed awake thinking of what could have been if her land had the same
laws as these heathens. She could have her father’s castle. She could just see
her father’s castle in the distance. The pride of the Máelgarb clan. But her
clan had been wiped out with no son to take over, Thranduil, head of the Uí
Néill and one of the high kings of Ireland took the land and renamed it
Southern Uí Néill. Wiping out the Máelgarb name. Tauriel had not been old
enough at the time to understand the impact that would make on her heart in
later years. Now being twenty years of age she understood the anger and pain
that welled inside her at her Clan’s name being erased. She hated it and a part
of her hated Thranduil as well for it.
===============================================================================
 
“We must finish your dress.” Dis said to Tauriel as they finished breaking
their fasts.
Tauriel looked up to Dis with confusion in her eyes. She was not sure if she
had made an error in her translation. “Finish? It has already been started?”
“Yes. Belle began sewing it for you before you left for the Iron Hills and I
continued to work on it while you were gone.”
Tauriel turned her eyes on her little English friend who blushed brightly and
gave Tauriel a nervous smile. “Okay.” The redhead said simply and allowed her
soon to be Husbands mother to lead her towards the Jarl’s longhouse.
 Belle trailed behind with a small amount of nervous babbling coming from her
little mouth. Dis led the two women towards her bedroom and that is when
Tauriel saw it. It was a beautiful dress the color of holly berries, deep blue
water and fresh creme. But the part that truly stunned her was the beautiful
embroidered knots of her people and Kili's people on the bottom of the outer
dress. Tauriel delicately ran her fingers over the embroidery. It was a
beautiful dress. Very different from the dress she had worn for her wedding to
Legolas. That gown had been symbolic in its fit and how it correlated to her
life. That dress had been tight, nearly suffocating, and extremely
uncomfortable. The dress in front of her was going to be comfortable. She would
not have to wear a corset nor would her hair be stuffed into a wimple that
choked and irritated her. Her hair would be able to be loose and wild, just the
way she liked it. She would be free to breathe, eat and drink. Again the
symbolism was nearly stunning in its obviousness.
“Do you not like it? I can always take the embroidery out. I just thought you
would like it. If the knots are not right I can try again. Your wedding is not
for another week. I can probably finish in time. Perhaps Siggy will help me. I
could get Ygritta to help as well. I think she is from around where you are, I
should have talked to her first. That was not very intelligent of me was it…”
Belle nervous babbling turned into self-depreciation quite quickly forcing
Tauriel to react.
She pulled the smaller woman into a tight embrace. Belle quieted and hugged her
redheaded friend back just as tightly.
“I love it. You have given me a piece of home. Thank you. Both of you.” Tauriel
said with a bow of her head before turning on her heel and marching out of the
house and fleeing towards the forest. Tears were never her forte. Being
uncomfortable with every emotion apart from anger Tauriel did not wish to stay
and allow Dis and Belle to fawn over her crying form.
‘ Well perhaps just Belle. Dis does not seem the type to do well with tears
either.’  The redhead thought to herself as she climbed up a large oak tree and
settled herself on the branch. Tauriel pulled one of her knees up to her chest
while she let the other swing below her. The air was crisp and cold but at
least the sun was out today. Her fur cloak, gloves, boots, and hat protected
her from the chill. Her nose was running due to the cold and her eyes stung a
bit but that was the biggest amount of discomfort apart from the pain in her
heart.
Tauriel had been thinking a lot about home since the night before. Her dreams
had been haunted by her father and mother. What would they think of her now?
Her father would be proud, that she knew. He had always indulged her love of
weapons, horses, and the climbing of trees. He had told her stories of the
ancient Goddess Brigid and that she was just like her. Father had never had the
chance to have sons. Mother was said to have lost two of her younger brothers.
It had crushed father and mother both. But they never let on that Tauriel was
not enough for them. Father had treated her as near to a son as possible. She
was so much like him that it was as easy as breathing when she was around her
father. Her mother had been sterner in her learning the ways of a noble lady
but not near as much as most women would with their daughters. Her mother had
agreed with her father about allowing Tauriel to be a little wild. The redhead
was grateful for that. It allowed her to accept the way Kili’s people were, it
allowed her to accept Kili.
Her mind drifted to her soon to be husband. She loved him, she knew that. She
did not believe she loved him as much as he loved her but she was beginning to.
The man had broken down her stone walls and stolen her heart just as the
heathens did to the foreign lands they raided. Tauriel’s mind drifted to the
heathens and what they did to other lands. They were surviving the best way
they knew how. They were not Christians, far from it. They were not governed by
the same laws. Her God had said to love thy neighbor, keeping them from
enslaving or killing each other as much as was possible. As far as Tauriel
knew, Odin had said no such thing. The Christian’s were easy pickings for the
heathens. Monasteries were largely unprotected as were most small towns. The
only time the heathens would run into a real fight was the closer they got to
the King of any land. Tauriel had heard Dwalin and Gyda speaking of the
Christian’s more than once. The auburn haired woman’s mother had been a
Christian girl but had left the religion behind when she married Ulric. Tauriel
wondered what would wait for her on the other side when she adopted Kili’s
Gods. She believed in God. She believed in the Church when she was on Christian
soil. But here, on the heathen soil, her God did not rule. The Norse Gods did
and it was becoming harder and harder to stick to her own beliefs. She did not
know what that said about her or what punishment would wait for her when she
did die. If she and Kili were to die today would she go to heaven and him to
Valhalla? And if that was the case why would she want to be separated from him?
Her parents were in heaven, that she knew. But they would want her to be with
her love, wherever that was, right? So Valhalla it was. Tauriel made up her
mind then and there. She would go wherever Kili went and in the end, she would
take whatever punishment awaited her for such a blasphemous act as long as her
dark haired lover was there to hold her hand.
The crunching of snow below her had her standing up on her branch silently and
tracking the sound with her hunter’s eyes. She only had a knife on her, but
that would serve her well enough if she kept her high ground. Tauriel waited to
see who was coming. It was then that she recognized the gait of the person
walking through the snow. It was her dark haired lover. He appeared to be
looking for something, she guessed he was on the lookout for her. Tauriel took
her seat again and waited for him to find her.
Kili bent down and looked at her tracks in the snow. He followed them a few
more feet before he came to the base of the large tree. He looked up and at
first did not find her. Tauriel waited with bated breath for his eyes to lock
on her. When they finally did he broke out into his signature grin. The one
that had taken her breath away the first time she had seen it, though she would
never admit that aloud.
“My love” Kili called up to her high in the tree.
“Heathen” Tauriel teased affectionately, earning a small chuckle from the dark
haired man.
“Why do you not come and say that to my face.” He said with his arms crossed
over his chest.
“Why do you not come up so I can say that to your face?”
Kili snorted and shook his head. “I do not feel like falling arse first into
the snow. Come down, love.”
“I am afraid I can not. You must come up and carry me down.” The redhead said
in a playful tone before her smile turned coy. “Come up and I will give you a
treat.”
Kili’s eyes widened and his face took on a determined look before he began
attempting to climb the tree. After he had fallen onto his arse, as he had
promised would happen, twice, Tauriel took pity on him and climbed down the
tree gracefully.
“I would have made it to you eventually,” Kili said grumpily.
Tauriel pressed a soft kiss to his pouting lips. “That I do not doubt. Even if
you had to chop the entire tree down to reach me.”
Kili chuckled and nodded his head that her words were indeed correct. The dark
haired man captured her lips again and began to push her up against the tree
she had just dropped from. The trunk dug into her back as Kili pressed his body
against hers, his lips attacking first her lips and then her neck. Tauriel did
not wish for him to stop, she never did. Just when she was about to tell him to
lift her skirts and take her here against the tree Kili groaned into her
throat.
“What is it?” She asked when her mind recognized this as an annoyed groan, not
a pleasurable one.
“I forgot why I was sent to find you in the first place,” he growled and began
straightening her clothing before his own. “Sigurd asked me to fetch you. He
wishes you to check on one of his slaves.”
Tauriel snarled at the name. Sigurd was the man that had taken her from her
home, had beat her and humiliated her. She wanted him dead more than anything
and did not wish to help him.
“I do not work for him, nor will I ever.”
Kili sighed rather loudly. “I know Tauriel. I know. I just...It is one of his
female slaves or else I would refuse on your behalf. Siggy is busy with another
birth and does not know how long she will be.”
Tauriel’s ears perked up at the worry in Kili’s tone as well as the mention of
a female slave. “What kind of female slave?” She asked.
Kili shifted his weight from one leg to the other in a clear sign of
discomfort. He did not wish to tell her. His eyes darted to her face then back
to his feet multiple times, another sign of his reluctance to tell her. “A
house slave.” He said after few tense moments.
“House slave? Does that include warming his bed as well?” Tauriel asked
angrily.
Her dark haired lover's pained brown eyes said it all. Tauriel turned on her
booted foot and walked towards the village. She did not wait for Kili, she knew
he would catch up shortly and lead her where she needed to go.
===============================================================================
 
Tauriel had followed Kili into the home of Sigurd the Snake. The blonde man
leered at her but then pointed her in the direction of the furthest bedroom
towards the back. Tauriel mumbled insults under her breath in her native tongue
at the man. Kili was as unfriendly as she had ever seen the man. He stood with
his hand on the hilt of his sword, back straight and jaw tight as Sigurd spoke
to him about the upcoming war. Kili did not speak much except to give Sigurd
short, clipped answers. Gone was her loving, caring and friendly lover, now
before her was a skilled warrior, a killer, a Viking.
Tauriel left in the direction Sigurd had pointed to, nervous of what she was to
find. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the dimly lit room. She looked around and
saw a figure huddled on a small straw bed in the corner of the room.
“Hello,” Tauriel said quietly.
The being flinched visibly and curled tighter on herself.
Tauriel slowly walked up to the being, her hand on her dagger at her side
prepared for anything. What she saw on closer inspection was a woman. A young
woman. Her face was bruised heavily and still bleeding in spots. Her eyes were
both black with bruises. Her lip split and blood trickling down. Tauriel
quickly knelt beside the girl and grabbed her face gently. The girl tried to
pull away but something in Tauriel’s eyes must have calmed her.
“He did this?” Tauriel snarled.
The girl looked down at her feet. “No.”
“No? Do I look dumb?” Tauriel growled before calming herself. “Look at me”
The girl raised her eyes to Tauriel’s hazel ones. “Did he do it?” the redhead
whispered.
The girl nodded slowly. Tauriel looked towards the heavens and prayed for
strength from any God that was listening, whether that was her own or Kili’s.
“What is your name?”
“Emelisse” The girl whispered.
“Where are you from?”
“Frankia”
Tauriel knew of Frankia, they were not far from her own land, only separated by
a small bit of ocean. Frankia was very wealthy, Tauriel understood why the
Vikings raided it. There was wealth near everywhere, but their warriors were
not as skilled as others meaning they could not protect the land they were born
into.
“How long have you been here?” Tauriel asked the girl as she began to examine
her.
“Since the spring,” Emelisse said with a small cry of pain when Tauriel reached
her wrists. They were heavily bruised with small crescent shaped wounds. The
redhead growled under her breath when she realized those were nail marks from
Sigurd.
“Do you speak Latin?” Tauriel asked even lower. Most Christians were taught
Latin as long as they were of a higher class. The redhead hoped against all
hope that this girl had been of a high enough class to have been taught.
Emelisse looked at her strangely for a moment before nodding slowly.
“vultis abire? (Do you want to leave? )” Tauriel asked in stilted Latin.
Emelisse nodded her head quickly as tears began to fill her brown eyes. “ Ita!
Ita! (yes! yes!)”
Tauriel lifted a hand slowly and brushed the girl’s dirty hair gently.  “Ego
salvum te (I will save you). Temporis opus (I will need time).”  Tauriel saw
the girl’s eyes fall in sadness prompting Tauriel to hurry to finish her
sentence. “ Non multo tempore  (not much time!)”
Emelisse smiled again and wiped some of the tears falling from her eyes gently,
avoiding the bruises on her face. Tauriel continued her examination of the
girls outer body before asking her if there was anything else she needed to
look over. Emelisse looked extremely uncomfortable telling Tauriel without the
need for words exactly what else needed to be examined.
===============================================================================
 
“How much do you want for her?” Tauriel asked after she walked out of the room.
She was trying to keep her emotions in check. She knew that Sigurd wanted to
rile her up. He was delighted to have her as the healer checking on his slave.
He wanted to show off his handy work.
Kili’s brows knitted together in confusion for only a moment before his face
returned to its previous stoic expression. Sigurd smirked at the redheaded
woman before speaking.
“She is not for sale.”
Tauriel clenched her fists at her side angrily. Kili stepped in before she did
something brash. “Everything has a price, Sigurd. How much?”
The blonde man glared at Kili momentarily for not allowing him to bait Tauriel
any longer.
“She is not for sale, Kili Vilison. You have already taken one woman from me,
you will not take another. Besides, she had more work to do for me.”
“What work!?” Tauriel screamed loudly causing people to stop and look towards
the open windows of Sigurd’s home. “She is broken and bleeding! If you wish for
her to do more work you will have to wait weeks! You push her before then she
will die! Do you want a dead slave or do you want our money?”
Sigurd tightened his jaw. “Do not tell me how to use my slaves, woman.”
Tauriel’s hazel eyes lit with fire. “I am the healer and I am telling you if
you push her any farther than you already have she will die. Or are you too
dumb to see for yourself that you have nearly killed her?”
The blonde man ground his teeth together angrily before calming himself and
shrugging. “What is a dead slave to me? She has served her purpose.”
Tauriel charged at the man dagger drawn but once again, Kili was too fast. He
caught her around the waist and pulled her through the front door of Sigurd’s
home.
“Your slave woman needs to be taught her place, Little Kili. Would you like me
to take her for a few weeks to train her?” The blonde taunted.
In a flash, Kili had released Tauriel to her own two feet and had Sigurd
against his home with his arm braced against the blonde’s windpipe. Kili stood
a near half a head taller and was in better physical condition than Sigurd
could ever hope to be. The blonde clawed and tugged at Kili’s arm without much
success while Tauriel stood in pure glee, but also jealous that she was not
about to kill the man.
“You will never speak to my woman again. You will never look at her. You will
never touch her. And you will never refer to her as a slave again. She is a
free woman and will be my wife shortly. You will show her the respect she is
due as a wife of the line of Durin.” Kili snarled.
Tauriel looked around and found that many people had come to look upon the
scene. As if Kili had heard her thoughts he too looked and saw many watching.
He shoved Sigurd’s head back harshly against the house, causing an audible thud
before releasing the man. Kili stepped back and said loud enough for all to
hear.
“Sigurd the Snake, I challenge you to personal combat”
Tauriel began to shake her head. This was not smart, this was not like Kili.
The dark haired man was intelligent and calculating. Challenging Sigurd the
Snake to personal combat was a rash decision. One made in anger. Tauriel wanted
to tell Kili not to do it, truly she did. But if she did that she would make it
seem that she doubted he could do it and win. The redhead believed Kili could
win but at what cost? What if he lost a limb or got a wound that would kill him
later. Her stomach churned painfully at the thought of living without Kili.
“No,” Sigurd said in a raspy voice.
Tauriel nearly cried out in joy.
“You are a far superior fighter to me, Kili Vilison. I will shoulder the shame
of not accepting your challenge and walk away with my life.”
Tauriel wondered why the blonde man was smirking. He did appear to be in pain
as he rubbed his throat which made her happy. She studied him closely and tried
to envision the strategy behind both their moves and found her knowledge
lacking on strategy. It was never her strong suit. She was more of a shoot
first ask, questions never type of person.
Kili gave a curt nod before stepping away from Sigurd. “Remember what we spoke
of Sigurd. Do not come near my woman.”
Sigurd bowed his head slightly, his hand on the pummel of his sword just as
Kili’s was on his own. “I will do well to to remember that, just as you will do
well to remember that my slave is my property and I will do with her as I see
fit.”
Kili nodded once more before turning and stalking away, his hand tight on her
wrist as they marched through the small crowd of onlookers towards the Great
Hall. Kili did not talk, nor did Tauriel. She was deep in her thoughts and she
assumed Kili was coming down from his battle high. They passed by the kitchens
stopping only for Kili to grab jerky, some cheese and a small sack of nuts
before continuing on their walk. He did not speak when he practically threw her
onto his horse or when they were galloping through the trees. It was not until
they were safely tucked into woods with no chance of wandering ears that he
spoke.
Tauriel jerked slightly at the way his voice intruded the quiet of the snow-
covered forest.
“How bad was it?”
“I was not lying when I said he would kill her if he pushed her much farther.
Kili she is…she was…nearly beaten and raped to death.” Tauriel whispered.
Kili let out a distressed breath. “I would pay for her, you know that, right?”
Tauriel squeezed her lover around the waist tightly from where she was behind
him on the horse. “I know.”
===============================================================================
 
The two lovers were quiet for some time once more before they came to a cave.
Kili dismounted the horse before helping Tauriel off as well. He tied the horse
lightly to a nearby tree and led Tauriel into the cave. She found that it had
been used before, not recently but she could see the remnants of logs that had
once burned in a fire pit. There was also enough logs that were dry in the cave
to last someone a good long while. There were a few furs tucked into the far
back of the cave and what looked like a few cooking pots.
“What is this place?” Tauriel asked as she trailed her fingers gently down the
walls.
Kili was busy spreading out his furs he had brought with them onto the cave
floors. “It is used for hunting. Fili and I have used it to escape from summer
rains while hunting or to escape mother.”
Tauriel smiled softly at his explanation. She could not muster the small laugh
that would have normally crossed her lips at his words. Her mind was too busy
thinking of Emelisse. She thought of the different ways she could get rid of
Sigurd or how to get him to sell. Tauriel felt as if her hands were tied. If
she killed Sigurd with a weapon suspicion would fall to Kili as her betrothed
had threatened the man not hours ago. So Tauriel would need to kill him in
another way. She thought of how she could stage an accident, such as throwing
him off a cliff or maybe staging a bad “fall” while he was hunting. It was all
too obvious as murder, especially during winter. Tauriel weighed her options on
how long Emelisse could withstand Sigurd’s ways. He seemed to want to break the
woman. Tauriel did not know him well but she assumed that he would want to get
the satisfaction of breaking the Frankish woman, meaning he would not want to
kill her just yet. He would want to see the fight leave Emelisse’s eyes.
Tauriel did not understand why she did not have a cruel spirit. Legolas on more
than one occasion had called her emotionless but she was not heartless or evil
as Sigurd was.
“I will not let him hurt you, Tauriel,” Kili said softly from behind her. He
wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pressed a soft kiss to the skin right
below her ear.
Tauriel nearly told Kili that she was not worried about Sigurd hurting her, she
was making plans to kill him. But the redhead was smarter than that. She leaned
back into Kili’s arms and allowed him to “comfort” her for a moment.
“I know, Kili. I know.” Tauriel whispered after a moment.
Kili began to pepper her neck with kisses for only a moment before stepping
away. He walked to the corner of the cave and pulled out her bow and quiver of
arrows.
“You planned this?” Tauriel asked him with suspicion in her eyes.
“Hm.” Her dark haired lover playfully tilted his head back and forth as if he
was not sure how to answer. “Yes. Well not the visit to Sigurd’s house, but the
hunting trip, yes I did.”
Tauriel smiled warmly at him and took her bow from his hands. Kili grabbed his
own bow and soon the two were out hunting.
Tauriel moved through the snow without sound, she cringed heavily when she
heard Kili’s heavy footsteps beside her. She calmed herself by remembering that
to anyone else and probably to the animals around Kili’s steps were not loud at
all, but compared to hers he sounded like bear stomping angrily. The large
man’s steps seemed to flush two frightened hares from their hiding place.
Tauriel quickly shot the first one and was about to pull another arrow when she
noticed the second hare was already down. The redhead looked up to see Kili
smirking at her.
“Though you were the only one that could wield a bow, my goddess?”
Tauriel rolled her eyes at his cocky attitude before pulling out her arrow and
Kilis.
“Two hares in such little time,” Kili said with wonder as he crouched down and
gathered the animals.
“It was luck,” The redhead answered with a shrug of her shoulders.
Kili pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “I do not know much of this luck, but I
do know that you must beware of the goddess Skaði else she become jealous of
your skill with the bow and your dominion over the animals of the forest.”
“Skaði?” Tauriel asked following Kili as he walked through the white forest.
“The Goddess of bowhunting, skiing, and winter.”
Tauriel hummed in acknowledgment of his words but did not say much else. She
would need to learn of his Gods and Goddesses if she was to be his wife and
stay in this heathen land. She made it a point to remember that Goddess, she
had a feeling thisSkaði may end up being her favorite. 
Kili walked them a little further until they reached a small clearing that had
a small spring running through it. Tauriel spotted a few plants growing out of
the snow around the water but did not pay much mind to them until they were
sitting on the water’s edge cleaning their kills. It was there that Tauriel
spotted it. The plant she needed to solve her Sigurd problem. Tauriel waited
until Kili had gone to relieve his bladder before pocketing the plant very
carefully. She was nearly giddy by the time the dark haired Norseman returned.
“What has you so happy?” Kili asked with suspicion in his eyes.
“I am excited to eat fresh rabbit and not fermented or dried fish” Tauriel
hoped she had put enough emotion into her sentence. Kili could normally see
right through her lies. If he sensed she was lying he did not say so. He only
smiled and nodded, agreeing with her.
With the weight off her shoulders for now regarding Sigurd and Emelisse,
Tauriel was able to enjoy her afternoon with Kili, that is until the storm
began to roll in.
“It is going to snow.” Her dark haired lover said as he looked at at the dark
clouds rolling in.
“Badly?” Tauriel asked.
Kili only grimaced and grabbed her hand to pull her more quickly towards the
cave. “We will have to sleep here for the night. We will not be able to outrun
the storm.”
Tauriel trampled down the slight fear she felt at spending the night in a cold
cave while a storm raged outside. The weather changed so rapidly here she was
not sure she would ever get used to it. Just an hour ago the skies had been
bright and sunny. Now it looked as if the sun was going to disappear forever
having been eaten by the angry clouds above.
The blizzard had just begun when they finally reached the cave. Kili brought
the horse within the cave, afraid of it freezing to death in the storm raging
outside. Tauriel began to build a small fire to cook their skinned and gutted
rabbits while Kili made sure the horse for secure within.
While she used her flint to start a fire she could not help but smile at her
luck that day. She was going to be able to save Emelisse without shedding
Sigurd's blood which was crucial at this time with the mess Kili had
unknowingly left for her. She just needed to find her best opportunity. The
redhead allowed her mind to run over every scenario while she cooked. Before
long their meals were ready and the two sat side by side eating their cooked
rabbits. It was quiet within the cave, neither of them willing to stop their
train of thought to speak unimportant words to one another.
The wind howled outside loudly making the horse neigh and nicker nervously.
Tauriel rose from her seat and went to the horse to attempt to calm it.
The redhead ran her hand gently down the horse's neck and began to whisper
comforting words in her native tongue. The change in the animal was almost
immediate. The horse nuzzled its face into her shoulder gently before moving to
the floor to lay down. Tauriel gave the animal one more pat and a small kiss
between the ears before moving back to Kili’s side.
Her dark haired lover looked at her in wonder once more.
“What?” Tauriel asked slightly embarrassed.
“I love you.” He told her as he reached out a hand towards her and pulled her
into his lap. Kili pressed his lips to hers gently. “I can not wait to make you
my wife.”
“One week, yes?” Tauriel asked breathlessly.
Kili only hummed against her lips. Feeling as if she were losing control of her
body Tauriel pulled away from her betrothed making him huff lightly.
“How do heathen weddings work?”
Kili rolled his eyes at her good naturedly. “You know, you are going to be the
wife of a heathen soon. Perhaps you should stop calling us that.”
Tauriel scrunched up her nose. “Perhaps”
Kili laid Tauriel back onto their fur’s for the night before beginning to speak
about Norse weddings.
“We are to marry this coming Friday so as to honor the goddess of love and
fertility, Freyja. The morning of our marriage we will be separated to honor my
people’s traditions. You will be stripped of your old life and cleansed in the
baths where women will give you advice on marriage. They will take you then to
get dressed. You will wear your dress and your bridal crown.”
At this Tauriel immediately tensed up. “I do not own a bridal crown.”
“Do not worry. I have taken care of it.” Kili pressed a swift kiss to her lips
before continuing. ‘“Your hair will be left unbound to show that this is the
last time you will be unbound for after that day you will forever be bound to
me. While you are being readied I will be meeting with Thorin. He will give me
my father’s sword for the marriage ceremony. He will speak to me of my family
and our history. Then I will go to the baths and wash away my bachelorhood.”
Kili said with a wink making Tauriel blush at the thought of him bathing. “I
will be lectured on the ways of being a husband and father. I will change into
my clothing, bringing my father’s sword with me to where we will meet as you
will bring a sword with you to give to me.”
Tauriel had been told this and had asked Gyda to help her acquire such an
important object for this wedding. The auburn haired woman had made a few crude
jokes about “being able to handle Kili’s mighty sword” before taking Tauriel’s
money and disappearing to complete the task.
“There will be a sacrifice of a boar in Freyja’s honor. Gothi Grey will
preside. We will exchange rings. Then there will be the bride race.” Kili
smiled widely.
“The bride race? Are we going to race?” Tauriel asked excitedly.
“No, thank the Gods.” Kili’s eyes dancing with mirth. “I would lose.”
Tauriel nodded her head in agreement.
“I will race whoever give you away, which will most likely be Fili.”
Kili laughed loudly when Tauriel wrinkled her nose. “Well, you could have
Thorin give you away if you wish, or perhaps Bifur, maybe Nori?”
“Fili is fine.” The redhead practically growled. Fili was the most athletic out
of all of the men mentioned. Tauriel only cared who would win. Unfortunately,
she already knew that the race would go towards Kili's favor. He was quicker
and more lithe than his brother. “What happens next?”
Kili chuckled at her tone, he did enjoy teasing his woman. “Whoever wins the
bride race will serve the ale at the feast. We will share ale mixed with two
drops of boar blood to show we are one. The feast will last three nights.
During the first night’s feast, Thor’s hammer will rest in your lap while we
eat to bless your womb for our future children. We will eat and be merry. Then
we will go back to our bed.” Kili said with a waggling of his eyebrows making
Tauriel blush and laugh.
“Hmm. What will we do there? Play stones? Tell stories?” the redhead asked in a
joking manner.
“There will be no talking or playing stones.” Kili’s voice was husky as he
corrected her sending a lightning bolt of arousal between her legs.
Kili rolled over so he was on top of his redheaded betrothed and attacked her
mouth with kisses. Tauriel kissed him back with fervor, their tongues sensually
playing with one another. Soon that was not enough for the couple. Tauriel
broke first by pulling at Kili’s trousers. Her hands worked gracefully at
untying the laces of his trousers and soon she had the leather britches down
his hips and his manhood hard in her hand. She pumped him a few times before he
knocked her hand off of his manhood and began to pull at her own trousers. In a
move that was much quicker than she was expecting Kili had her boots and
breeches off leaving her bottom half bare. The heat of the fire in their small
cave and the pounding of her blood kept her from noticing the cold too much.
Before long Kili’s fingers were within her moving in and out at an
aggravatingly slow pace. For once Tauriel allowed her body to take over
completely. There was no thought in her next action, only need and primal
instinct. She pulled Kili’s hips down onto her own effectively rubbing the head
of his manhood through her soaking wet entrance. The two groaned loudly at the
exquisite feel. Kili began to tease her as he ran the trip once again up and
down her womanhood. Tauriel tilted her hips tired of Kili’s teasing and felt
the head of his cock slip within her. There was no panic or awkwardness that
she had expected to feel. All she could focus on was the hunger for more.
Kili’s eyes snapped up to hers and he looked to be about to pull out before she
anchored her hands on his hips and pulled him into her further. Not being able
to hold back from the delicious feeling Kili plunged into her fully. The
redhead marveled at the fullness she felt. It was not just Kili’s height that
made him bigger than her former husband. Tauriel gasped as Kili pulled out of
her once more only to plunge back in. He continued this motion for a few
moments before pulling her over him so he was now the one on his back and she
was on top of him. Tauriel gave him a questioning glance.
“Ride me” The dark haired archer gruffly ordered.
Normally Tauriel would have told him to not boss her around but she found more
wetness flooding between her legs at not only the order but the position
itself. Again the power of being on top of Kili and deciding his amount of
pleasure had her nearly drunk. She lifted herself up then dropped herself back
down experimentally, she had never done this before. In all the couplings she
had had with Legolas she had stayed on her back with Legolas on top of her.
This position and certainly being with Kili was much better than that. Tauriel
continued to ride the large man as if her life depended on it, she chased the
flame within her that was rapidly growing. The sound of their skin meeting over
and over again had her nearly delirious in ecstasy. It was not until Kili
pulled her tunic up and over her breast to feast on them that she fell over the
edge. Her walls convulsed around him bringing him all the way to his peak as
well. He held her tightly to him as he lifted his hips rapidly and spilled into
her. Tauriel marveled at the feeling rushing through her veins. She felt
complete, whole and absolutely sated. Never before had she felt this way
before. She wanted more of it, but for now, her legs felt useless and her lungs
struggled to get enough air into them.
Kili, sensing her struggle, released his tight hold on her allowing her to
breathe. Slowly Tauriel melted off of the large man and fell to his side on the
furs. She smiled happily up at him as he gazed down at her with a worried
expression. Gently she pressed one more kiss to his worried lips hoping it
would wipe that expression from his face.
“What is it Kili?” Tauriel asked popping up onto one elbow.
The dark haired man shook his head and averted his eyes, not speaking.
“Are you upset with me?” The redhead asked, her temper flaring to almost as
bright as her hair.
“No, I am upset with myself. I did not want to couple with you until we were
wed in the traditions of your people.” He said angrily.
Tauriel had conflicting emotions on what he had said. She had wanted the same
in theory. But now that she had experienced what he had to offer she understood
why many heathens did not wait until marriage to couple or why they had
multiple lovers. She had no idea what she had been missing all these years. She
was also slightly annoyed at him for bringing her down from her amazing high so
quickly and not being as happy as she was. “I am not angry, nor should you be.
I am the one that pushed us. I made my decision.”
Kili shook his head. “No. It was my fault.”
Tauriel recognized the pain there and wanted to take it away. “No. It wasn’t,
Kili. I wanted this. I want more.” She said in a sultry voice before pulling
his lips to hers once more.
The dark haired man seemed to lose all self-control at her words, but only for
a moment. He pulled back cupped her cheeks gently in his large hands.
“I will give you more on our wedding night, but not again until then.”
Tauriel scowled darkly. “Why?”
“I want it to be...special,” He said as if struggling for an appropriate word.
Knowing that defiance in his eyes, Tauriel recognized she would not win. She
huffed and agreed. She quickly pulled on her trousers and boots before lying
down beside him.
“Friday cannot come soon enough.” She grumbled as she felt more arousal hitting
her in waves. Kili smiled softly from where he was behind her and squeezed her
a little tighter in agreement before he drifted to sleep.
It was not until his snores started that the conflicting emotions began to stir
within her. She had had sex with a man that was not her husband on this land or
in her own. She had allowed the temptation of carnal pleasures to suck her in
and it was oh so good. Tauriel shook her head trying to not allow her arousal
to cloud her judgment. The redhead supposed she should be feeling guilt but
found none. She knew she should feel as if she betrayed Legolas but the only
thing she felt was relief that he was not the man behind her. She rationalized
that her actions were not wrong because Legolas must have gotten a new wife by
now or at least would be in negotiations for a new wife that would give him
sons. He would be happier with someone else, that was for sure. Tauriel
listened to the fire crackling behind her and wondered not for the first time
if this was the deed that would send her to hell. Perhaps Kili could put in a
good word to Odin and get her sent to Valhalla instead. Tauriel nearly chuckled
at the idea. As her mind swirled with thoughts of heaven, hell, and Valhalla
she realized that she was grateful Kili had set up a boundary between them. It
gave her something to look forward to. Her words could not be truer “Friday
could not come soon enough.”
***** Belle *****
Chapter Notes
     This chapter is a little fluffy so I apologize if you came here
     expecting pain and sorrow. :P
     I hope you all enjoy the chapter!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
‘You had no right to claim I am your companion! You made them all think that we
were doing sinful things with one another. I am not that type of woman,
Thorin!’ Belle snarled as she poked the large man in front of her.
The large man turned his head to cough before turning back to the tawny haired
woman. When he faced her again he stared at her with his usual scowl.
‘You have ruined my reputation, you...you big rampallion!’ The little woman
poked him once more in the chest before Thorin grabbed her tiny hand in his
large ones.
“I have not ruined your reputation! To be my companion is not looked down upon.
You would be treated better by others as my companion than just an English
girl”
Belle was about to speak but it seemed Thorin was not done yet. He gripped her
hand tighter, not in an uncomfortable manner but there was no question who was
in charge in this situation.
“Had I not said you were my companion you could have been propositioned,
proposed to, or even worse, taken. Would you have rather I not said anything
and allowed a man from the Iron Hills to force you into being his wife or
perhaps just his bed warmer?”
Belle felt fear strike in her heart, that was the last thing she wanted. “No.”
She said quietly.
Thorin’s ice blue eyes bore into her own emerald green ones. “Then you can see
how I protected you by proclaiming you as my companion.”
The tawny haired girl only nodded her head this time. She did not enjoy when he
was right and did not wish to say so aloud. Thorin nodded curtly at her and
released her hand. Belle wondered why her hand felt so cold after he released
her but shrugged it off.
“I would do the same for you in the Blue Mountain’s if you wished it.” Thorin
said so quietly that Belle was not sure she had heard it. When her eyes rose to
his face she saw him looking out at the sea from the head of the boat. His eyes
did not look back at her so she decided she had, in fact, imagined his last
sentence and walked away slowly.
===============================================================================
 
The tawny haired girl shook off the awkwardness of that memory and continued
stirring the food within the pot in front of her.
“Smells good, child.” Her grandfather said in his gravelly voice.
“It is a simple soup, grandfather. Nothing special.” Belle said with a small
smile over her shoulder.
“To have another cook for you is always something special,” Gothi answered
lightly.
Belle only snorted softly. “Unless it is Dis’ fish stew.” The woman had quite
literally told Belle that she needed to eat it because it would “put hair on
her chest”.
The tawny haired girl had stated quite vehemently that she did not want hair on
her chest. Thorin had turned red in the face while Kili and Fili had laughed
rather loudly.
Gothi chuckled quietly. “I am afraid I did not teach her much of cooking.
Brenna was never known for her cooking either.”
“Brenna?” Belle asked confused.
“Wife of Fundin. Dwalin and Balin’s mother.” the white haired man said as he
gathered a spoon full of her simple soup and brought it to his mouth.
“Were you two together?” Belle wondered allowed.
“No. I never loved anyone but your grandmother. Brenna was a beautiful woman
but neither of us could see past our love for others.”
Belle mulled his words over as she ate. “You do not have to love someone to be
their spouse.”
Her grandfather looked up at her with sad eyes. “I do not wish that for
you...again. It would have never happened had I been there.”
The tawny haired girl felt her love for her grandfather triple. She stood from
her seat across the table and gave him a large hug. He was surprised by her
action but soon hugged her back. That was how Thorin found them.
“Gothi” The gruff man said in greeting. “Belle, I came to escort you home.” His
voice seemed slightly softer when speaking her name. Belle wondered if that was
her imagination as well. Since their conversation on the boat, she was unsure.
“Would you like some soup?” Belle asked kindly, ever the good hostess.
Thorin looked towards Gothi who tilted his head slightly in way of nodding. The
raven haired Jarl gave Belle a small smile before sitting at the table. Belle
measured out soup for the large man before setting it in front of him and
taking her seat beside him. Gothi sat back in his seat and watched the two
carefully as they ate.
“I do not know how I feel about you sharing a bed with my unwed granddaughter,
Jarl Thorin Thrainson.”
Belle choked on her soup. She coughed and struggled to get air into her lungs
until Thorin pounded on her back helping the chunks of chicken go down her
throat. Just to avoid speaking she grabbed her cup of water and began to drink
deeply. Thorin did not seem to be of any help, he continued to stare at Gothi
his brows lowered in a deep scowl.
“Where else would she go?” The raven haired man growled finally cutting the
silence.
“With her kin, here,” Gothi answered.
“She will freeze.”
Gothi raised an eyebrow in question. “Will she?”
Thorin stood abruptly. “Look at her! She is no more than skin and bones. She is
not accustomed to our climate. You have not felt her shiver. You have not heard
her teeth chatter in the night. You have not seen her lips turn blue because of
the cold. She needs more than just a few blankets. She needs body heat.”
Belle looked at Thorin with surprise written on her face. He noticed a lot more
of her than she thought, though she did resent the “Skin and bones” comment.
“Okay,” Gothi said simply with a shrug and rose from his seat, disappearing
towards the back of his home a small smirk playing on his lips all the while.
Belle wished the ground would swallow her whole. Her grandfather knew she had
been sleeping beside Thorin. The tawny haired girl had at the time rationalized
the action, thinking to herself that no one knew, least of all the last of her
living kin. But she had been wrong. Very wrong. And now she did not know what
to do. Yes, she should be living with her grandfather, but as she looked around
the space she found that there was no room for her. It was a small, dark space
her grandfather lived in. There were bones of various animals and certain herbs
hanging from the ceiling with twine. How the old man did not constantly bump
into them Belle did not know. But what she did know was that she would not be
comfortable here, not that she was entirely comfortable at Thorin's home
either, but she had grown accustomed to it.
“Come, Belle,” Thorin said sharply.
“I have to wash the dishes,” Belle said in a slightly haughty tone. She did not
like him bossing her around especially not in her grandfather’s home.
“His thrall will wash them.” The raven haired Jarl said as he grabbed her hand
and pulled her out of the home. Before she could protest he had her cloak
around her shoulders and was lifting her onto his horse.
“Excuse you.” The English girl grumbled.
Thorin did not say anything in return he only climbed onto the horse behind her
and made a clicking noise with his tongue to get the animal moving. Belle
looked out at the dark landscape. Her grandfather lived on the edge of the
village, nearly secluded due to all the trees around. Belle felt slight fear
creep under her skin. Though she knew the forest of the Blue Mountain’s
Settlement well enough she couldn’t help but feel that they did not look all
that different from the Iron Hills settlement. The thought had her huddling
into her cloak and shivering.
“Cold?” Thorin asked behind her. The sound of his voice sounded as loud as the
roaring of a horn in the silent night air.
Belle shook her head and was about to tell him no when she felt his cloak come
around her body as well. It took her only a moment to recognize that Thorin had
closed the sliver of distance between her backside and his front so they could
share his cloak. She could feel his heartbeat pounding against her back, and
his strong muscles bracing her body. Belle felt the same butterflies she had
been feeling around the raven haired man as of late reappear. Like a frightened
animal, she stayed completely still even halting her breath. If Thorin noticed
he did not comment on it until she could not hold it in any longer and let out
a loud breath.
“What is it, my mouse?”
Belle ground her teeth at the nickname. She hated it. “Still not a mouse, Jarl
Thorin”.
“When we are alone, you may call me just Thorin.” He said near her ear. She
could feel his warm breath tickling her neck and it sent another shiver up her
spine.
‘What is happening to me?!’The girl internally screamed.
“I would rather call you something else.” She grumbled her mind flitting
through insults from her homeland that the man was sure not to understand.
“Your companion?” He asked.
Belle turned to look at him sharply unsure if he was speaking in jest or not.
When she turned she found that he had a small smile on his face indicating he
was joking but it was his eyes that confused her. They did not show the same
humor as the lower half of his face. His eyes looked nervous. Sensing that he
was jesting Belle let out a strained laugh.
“Very funny, Jarl Thorin.”
“Thorin.” The raven haired man insisted.
“Okay, Thorin,” Belle said almost shyly and turned her eyes back forward. Her
brows pulled together in confusion. Deciding that she had had enough with the
strange stilted silence Belle spoke again.
“Why did you gather me? Fili or Kili could have easily done it. I would think
gathering the silly English girl would be beneath you.” She tried to add some
humor but it fell flat.
“Beneath me? Perhaps. But I must keep you safe. ” Thorin answered her. She
could feel the vibrations from his voice radiating into her back. “Fili is busy
somewhere under Sigrid’s skirts and I have not seen Kili since this morning.
But I imagine he is doing the same as his big brother but with the Wild One.”
Belle cringed at his crude words. She did not want to imagine any of her
friends in compromising positions. As if he could sense her tense nerves Thorin
chuckled. He thankfully did not say anything else as they had come upon the
stables. He handed his horse off to a slave before offering his arm to Belle
for the walk towards the house. She gladly took it to soak up his warmth. The
storm that had passed through the village the day before had left her
permanently cold. She was not sure she would ever be warm again but having
Thorin’s arm so close to hers helped thaw her icy blood.
“You know, you are the first Norseman I have seen offer his arm like this. I
did not think it was a custom of your people.” Belle said cheerily.
Thorin stiffened slightly before mumbling. “It isn’t”
“Oh.” the English girl said softly. ‘Then why do it?’she wondered silently but
never got the chance to ask it aloud as they entered into a home full of
laughter and chaos.
Belle could not hold back chuckles as she saw Kili and Fili on the floor
playing some game of strength. They were sitting on the ground across from each
other. The bottoms of their feet pressed together and their knees bent. In
their hands was a short rope. Belle guessed the objective of the game was to
overthrow the other person by pulling on the rope, similar to tug of war but on
a much closer scale.
Tauriel and Siggy were both sitting together cheering on the two men as they
pulled on the rope. Dis and Bifur sat on the bench towards the back laughing
with both their hands on the raven haired woman’s rounding stomach. Belle stood
just inside the door with Thorin. She laughed when Fili won, throwing over his
younger brother.
“Is there another who wishes to challenge me?!” Fili stood arms outstretched as
he roared in triumph.
Belle rolled her eyes at his dramatics. Kili was sitting beside Tauriel now who
was rubbing his back and whispering in his ear. She could see the love between
them and felt her heart swell at the scene. She was so enraptured by them that
she did not see Thorin whip off his cloak or when he removed his shirt.
“I’ll challenge you sister-son,” Thorin said with a wicked smile.
Belle’s head swiveled harshly to look at him. She did not doubt that her neck
would be aching tomorrow from her swift movements. Her mouth went dry when she
looked at the man. She had never seen him in the light before. He was...Belle
could not come up with a word that fit. The closest her muddled brain could
come up with was magnificent but that fell short. His body was muscled,
tattooed and a lot for her eyes to take in.
Thorin sat down in front of his nephew and took the offered rope. As he bent
Belle could see every muscle in his body move beneath the skin in a fascinating
dance that her eyes could not pull away from. When her mouth began to feel dry
she realized that she had been gaping like a fish out of water. She snapped her
mouth shut with an audible snap.
The uncle and his nephew began to count to three. As soon as they hit the
number three the game began. Both wearing fierce expressions on their faces as
they yanked and pulled at the rope. When sweat began to build up on both men’s
faces Belle began to worry one of them was going to get hurt. She could not
stop herself from looking at the way Thorin’s arms bulged. She recalled her
words to Tauriel the first day they had met “They are built much different than
your people too?”The statement ran with truth. Thorin towered over the men in
her homeland, but not only that he was thick and heavy with muscle. Belle did
not understand the primal instinct she had to squeeze his muscle’s with her
tiny hands or the overwhelming desire she felt at seeing those muscles.
“Have you had enough nephew?” Thorin asked in a voice that sounded so level
that it seemed this was not a challenge for him at all.
“Have you?” Fili grunted, with great effort, in response.
With one last pull, Thorin yanked Fili forward with great force, winning the
game. He immediately looked up into her eyes to make sure she was watching him.
Belle blushed brightly and turned her eyes down towards her boots.
===============================================================================
 
The tawny haired girl replayed her view of Thorin’s body as she laid in his bed
that night. Her mind dredged up images of his tattooed skin rippling over
muscle. The English girl felt a growing slickness between her legs and wondered
at it. She had never had that happen to her before. She wondered if this was
the sinful feelings she had been warned about. The ones she was told to pray
away. Deciding that her best option was to ignore it her mind traveled to other
topics.
Belle had tried to talk Thorin into letting her sleep else where but her
suggestion fell flat when she realized she truly did not have anywhere else to
go. Her grandfather’s home was good for one person and that was all. Gyda and
Dwalin would allow her to live with them but they were hoping to have a child
in the spring and that would not leave her with much room. Plus why would she
want to stray from a place where she had friends and a sworn protector? Her
grandfather had alluded to the fact that Thorin would be protecting Gothi’s
bloodline for as long as the Jarl drew breath into his lungs. The man would do
whatever necessary to keep her safe.
That was evident by the way he had claimed her as his “companion” in the Iron
Hills. She was sure he did not actually want her as a companion and could have
very well ruined his chances of finding a wife there. Belle then wondered why
he was not married. He was a handsome man, much more handsome than she should
think of a heathen man. Her slick womanhood was evidence of that. He had money,
land and was a good warrior. He could protect a wife and any children that came
along. So why was he not married?
A large arm was thrown over her waist pulling her towards his warm body. She
squeaked at the suddenness of it causing Thorin to lift his head in semi
consciousness.
“Mouse?” His sleepy voice asked.
“It is nothing. Just go back to sleep.” She whispered.
Thorin hummed in response and buried his nose in her hair. She could have sworn
he had pressed a kiss there but decided she was delirious from lack of sleep.
She closed her eyes and allowed sleep to overtake her.
===============================================================================
 
‘Her feet pounded against the muddy ground as she tried to get away from the
sickly man chasing her.
“You are mine, Precious! You will always be mine!” He screamed.
When she turned back she saw what looked to be Smeagol, though his eyes and
hands were missing as he stumbled towards her. There was hardly any light and
she was so cold. Her breath puffed in front of her like a dragons smoke. Belle
ran towards the castle in the distance hoping to find someone to help her or at
the very least she hoped to find a hiding place. She entered the dark feast
hall and scrambled to find a place to hide. Slipping under the banquet table
she hid and tried to control her breathing. When the large doors of the hall
opened she heard the sure steps of heavy boots. Belle clamped a hand over her
mouth trying to make her breath silent. Her eyes widened at the sight of the
boots. She knew those boots. They had kicked her in the ribs more times than
she would like to count.
“Belledonna!” Smaug said in cold tone.
Belle felt her heart race and was sure that he could hear it from where he was.
“Belledonna. I will never stop looking for you, as long as I live! Come out,
come out, wherever you are, little wife of mine.”
The tawny haired girl had tears streaming down her cheeks at the sound of the
evil man’s voice. Her body hurt all over with the memories of the torture’s he
had subjected her to.
The sound of hair being ripped out of her scalp was next to reach her ears, the
pain followed. She was dragged out from under the table while she kicked and
screamed. Smaug held her up, her locks twisted around his wrist like one would
hold a rope.
“There you are, Belledonna. Aren't you going to give your husband a kiss
hello?”
Belle chose instead to spit into his face.
Smaug wiped his face angrily with a hand. “Your time with the heathens has made
you positively feral, wife.”
“I am not your wife.” She snarled defiantly.
The old man laughed coldly. “Whose wife would you be then, hmm?”
“I am the wife of Thorin Thrainson, Jarl of Blue Mountains.”
===============================================================================
 
Belle jerked awake in shock. Sweat covered her body and her heart felt as if it
were attempting to find freedom by way of her esophagus. Belle looked over at
her bed companion and found him still asleep. She moved slowly to untangle
herself from his grasp knowing she would not get a wink of sleep the rest of
the night. She sat on the edge of the bed and tried to catch her breath. Belle
grabbed her book of fairy tales from the bedside table and moved to stand up.
She had just put on her cloak when Thorin awoke with a loud huff.
Belle stayed absolutely still in fear hoping that if she did not move he would
fall back asleep. She was not so lucky. His eyes locked on her within seconds.
“Where are you going?” He asked pulling himself up onto one elbow.
“Downstairs.”
“To take a piss?” He asked confused.
Belle felt heat flood to her cheeks. She would never get used to how blunt the
people here were.
“No. I had a nightmare. I can not sleep and did not want to wake you.”
“Too late,” Thorin said with a sniff as he rubbed at his eyes with one large
hand.
“I’m sorry,” Belle said guiltily and continued to move towards the stairs.
“What are you going to do down there?” he asked.
Belle turned her eyes towards the heavens. “Read...I am going to read. Go back
to sleep, Thorin.”
She took another step towards the stairs when Thorin spoke again. “Stay here.
Read to me.”
The tawny haired girl turned with an inquisitive look on her face that she was
sure he didn’t see due to the darkness of the room.
“You want me to read to you?”
“Why not?” Thorin said with a shrug.
“Don’t you want to go back to sleep?” Belle asked dubiously.
“No. Come, my mouse. Read to me.” The large man said as he rustled around. It
was not long before he was lighting a candle. The room was then bathed in a dim
glow that allowed her to see her shirtless companion. The man set the candle on
the bedside table and beckoned her forward. Her feet moved on their own accord
as did her hands when it unfastened her cloak so she could climb underneath the
covers he held open. She scooted towards the headboard so it could brace her
back and lifted the large book onto her lap. Thorin did not touch her like when
he was asleep, he simply laid with his hands behind his head and listened.
This felt intimate, so very intimate. It was an odd sensation for her and she
felt silly for feeling that way. She was only reading to him. She had read to
many people before, but she had never been in bed with those people while she
did so. The intimacy of that coupled with the fact that in her nightmare she
had said she was his wife had her stumbling over words in her awkwardness. If
Thorin noticed he did not say anything.
She thought back to when she had first met him. He had wanted to kill her, and
that was perhaps the least of what he wanted to do to her. He was so different
now. Belle wondered why. Was it just her grandfather’s blood in her veins that
changed his mind? Or was it something else?
===============================================================================
 
“Tauriel?” Belle asked quietly as they wove baskets.
Her redheaded friend looked over at her with a serene expression on her face.
“Are you nervous for your wedding?”
Tauriel thought for a moment before answering. “No. Why would I be?”
“Because you are getting married in the way of these people not your own. What
if you mess up the wording or kill the wrong goat?”
Belle had done that once and both women chuckled lightly together before
Tauriel spoke.
“It doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, I will be married to Kili.”
Belle looked up at Tauriel’s soft content smile and couldn’t help but feel
happy for her but she did still have questions. “It really doesn’t bother you
that you are not getting married in a church like that of your people and
mine?”
“No. It really doesn’t. But even if I did wish to get married in a church do
you not think that Kili would build one with his bare hands or plunder one just
for my wedding day.” Tauriel said with a wistful smile. “He would kill a
million priests just to find one that would marry us in their church. I have no
need for an ostentatious church or a pompous priest. All I need is Kili. He
would do anything I ask and that is another reason I love him.”
“I can’t fathom having another person be willing to go to such great lengths
for me.” The English girl thought aloud.
“What of Thorin? Do you not think he would do anything that you asked of him?
He cares for you deeply...in his own way.” Tauriel said shifting uncomfortably.
Belle knew the redhead was not overly fond of Thorin nor did she dislike him
immensely. It seemed her opinion was not solidified in one way or another.  
“I don’t know what you mean.” Belle denied.
Tauriel only shrugged in response choosing to turn back to her basket weaving.
It was many minutes later when Tauriel spoke giving Belle the time she needed
to process Tauriel’s words and think of the subtle things Thorin had done for
her. There were not many but they were something and she was confused by his
reasonings behind them.
“You could find out for yourself if you do not believe me.”
===============================================================================
 
Belle had stewed over Tauriel’s words until two days before the wedding. The
tawny haired girl was walking through the nearly empty markets searching for
any Christian slaves. She had spoken to many in hopes of buying a cross off of
them. Not many had any left but if they did they were not willing to sell their
last piece of home to her. A swift pinch on her backside had her turning around
with a loud yelp. There stood a smirking Gyda, Belle glared in return.
“Come on,” The auburn haired woman said with a tilt of her head towards the
Great Hall.
“Why?”
Gyda rolled her eyes and grabbed Belle’s arm before lacing it with her own “Our
great and fearless Jarl wishes to speak with you.”
“I live with him. Why couldn’t he speak to me then?”
Gyda waggled her eyebrows. “Perhaps he does not wish to waste time on speaking
when you two are together in his bed.”
“Well, I never! We don’t do...I am not a harlot.” Belle sputtered.
The Norse woman laughed loudly and continued pulling her towards the Great
Hall. “That will please these fine and virile men in our settlement that can
not take their eyes off of you.”
“What do you mean it will please them?” The English girl asked.
“They may still have a standing chance at getting you for a wife.” Gyda laughed
before pushing Belle into the Great Hall and shutting the doors behind her.
Belle turned back to the entrance with a snarky retort aimed at Gyda but found
the large doors closed and the auburn haired woman on the opposite side.
“Hmmph.” Belle huffed and turned back to where Thorin was sitting on his throne
speaking with Dwalin and Balin with Ori hovering.
She walked towards the throne quickly, ready to get whatever he wished to speak
with her about over with. When she was a few feet away Thorin locked eyes on
her.
“Belle.” He said shortly.
“Jarl Thorin.” She answered just as shortly.
The raven haired man smirked lightly for just a blink before becoming
expressionless again. He made a quick hand movement to his men dismissing them.
They did not leave the hall but simply stepped a few feet from him. He
continued to stare at Belle in a manner that made her warm all over.
“Is there something you needed from me, Jarl?” The English girl asked when she
could not take it any longer.
Thorin leaned back in his throne and rubbed at his beard for a moment. “I have
heard whispers of you attempting to buy items that are not for sale from slaves
and slave owners alike.”
“Is that a problem? Have I wronged someone?” Belle asked suddenly nervous. She
had improved in blending into their culture as well as accepting parts of it
that she did not fully understand, but she was not perfect. It would not
completely surprise her to know that she had deviated from some strange Norse
custom without knowing it.
“No, you have not wronged anyone. Just...confused them.”
Belle breathed a large sigh of relief.
“What is it you were looking for?” Thorin asked his bright blue eyes curious.
“A cross” The tawny haired girl had thought of lying but found she felt safe
enough around Thorin now to not need to do so.
“Like the cross you are wearing?”
Belle looked down at her person searching for the cross he was speaking of. She
had not been carrying her prayer cross when she had been taken and was quite
sure she had not picked up one in her time being here. “I am not wearing one…”
She said confused.
Thorin stood from his throne and walked towards her. He towered over her as he
reached down and gently picked up the pendant resting on her chest.
“Troll_cross.” He said holding it in his palm so she could see it as well.
“Oh.” She felt like she could not breathe quite right with him being so close.
“uh...That is not the cross I meant. I mean a cross like the ones from my home”
She said quietly.
Thorin once again captured her eyes with his own. She felt trapped like she
could not escape even if she wanted to because of the hold those ice blue orbs
had on her.
“Why do you want it?” Thorin asked her in a low voice.
“I...uh...I wanted Tauriel to have a piece of home for her wedding day.”
“Why?” Thorin asked again, his raven brows pulled together in confusion.
Needing to regain her mind again she stepped away from him, pulling her pendant
from his grasp. “Would you not want a piece of home if you were so far from
it?”
Thorin took a step toward her once more, not sensing her need for space from
him. “You feel this way as well?”
That had confused Belle. She had not said anything about having a cross for
herself. She only wished for Tauriel to have one but now that Thorin had asked
her she found that she did feel the same. Perhaps that is why she wished for
Tauriel to have a cross for her wedding day. She was projecting her own wants
and needs onto the redhead. Belle did not think Tauriel cared one way or
another about having a cross, but Belle certainly did.
“Yes, I suppose I do,” Belle answered him while she wrung her hands together.
Thorin looked at her for a few uncomfortable moments as if she were a puzzle he
could not figure out before walking up to his throne and taking a seat. “You
will not find them here, Belle. You will stop looking now. I suggest you wait
out the next few weeks until we are in your homeland to obtain the relic you
wish for.” The man said in an indifferent tone.
Belle did not understand why this had angered her but it did. Perhaps it was
him telling her what to do or maybe it was his indifferent tone after having
shared several, what she considered, intimate moments. She narrowed her eyes at
him before turning and stomping out of the Great Hall. Feeling the need to
release her anger she caught sight of Gyda and walked towards the woman.
“You said I need to learn to fight with a shield, right?” Belle said roughly.
Gyda broke out into a blinding smile. “Oh, little Belle, we are going to have
fun.”
===============================================================================
 
Belle felt as if her arms were going to fall off. By the time she had finished
training with Gyda she was close to needing to be carried to the hot spring to
bathe the dirt, sweat, and grime from her body. She had stumbled her way back
towards Thorin’s Longhouse, now clean and in a fresh dress. It had been dark
for several hours by the time she stepped foot into the home. Dwalin and Gyda
had escorted her home after sharing a meal with her. She liked the couple. They
were loud, brash and absolutely the crassest people she had ever met but they
were also kind and loving. She liked that about them and had come to see the
two as friends. Gyda had shared a secret with her as they sat around the fire
eating a hearty stew. She was pregnant, three almost four months along. It was
the longest she had ever carried and they were ecstatic about it. Belle had
congratulated them enthusiastically. She loved babies. It was a harsh world
they lived in and one that horrified her at every turn. But when she saw a baby
or a small child she forgot all of that. Though she loved babies and children
alike she found herself sending a prayer of thanks that she had never conceived
back in England. It was a mercy from God and one she would not soon forget.
Being pregnant with such an evil man’s child may have broken her.
Belle shook off the dark thoughts threatening to creep in and walked further
into the Longhouse. She wondered if she could ask Tauriel and Kili if she could
sleep with them for the night. She was still angry at Thorin. When she passed
their room she heard the sounds of snores and did not wish to awaken them.
Next, she listened for Fili and Sigrid. Once again she heard snores and did not
wish to awaken them. Knowing that Dis and Bifur’s room was out of the question,
Belle swallowed her anger and quietly crept up the stairs hoping the man was
asleep at the very least. But what she found was a blessedly empty bed. She
hastily shed her outer dress and crawled under the blankets and furs. Belle
wondered where he was once the relief of him not being there began to fade. Was
he hurt? No, she decided there would be word of that if he had been. Was he
sleeping elsewhere tonight? And if so where? Was he sleeping in another woman’s
bed and if he was why did that make her chest hurt? Belle huffed and flopped
onto her back willing her heart and mind to calm themselves and let go of these
odd feelings. She had to recite every herb she knew of and it’s uses before she
eventually drifted to sleep.
Belle awoke without seeing her normal bed companion nor did she see him by the
time she went to bed the following night as well, the night before Tauriel and
Kili’s wedding.
===============================================================================
 
The tawny haired girl woke the morning of the wedding with some trepidation.
She looked over to the other side of the bed but once again there was no raven
haired man. Belle thought perhaps that was just as well. She was sure he would
be announcing his engagement to another woman soon, or perhaps he would be
announcing that he had a bouncing baby boy on the way. Belle thought bitterly
before stopping herself.
‘What is the matter with you? Why do you care?’She snarled internally.
The tawny haired girl pulled herself from the bed and went to grab her comb
from the bedside table. She spotted a small fabric parcel and gently picked it
up. She set it down in her lap as she carefully unwrapped it, unsure of what
she would find.
Inside she spotted two cross_pendants made of bronze. A disbelieving laugh
bubbled up in her chest. She couldn’t stop the shaking of her fingers as she
picked up one of the crosses. She brought it up to her lips and kissed it
gently. As she was not an expert she could not be sure but she believed them
both to be newly made. Reverently she tied the leather cord holding one of the
bronze crosses behind her neck and smiled down at the cross resting high up on
her chest.
She had no doubt who the crosses were from. She had not told anyone else about
them besides Thorin. Well, unless you counted the eavesdropping of his advisors
and guard. But she did not believe they would have made them for her, nor would
they have crept into the Jarl’s room while she was sleeping and leave them
there for her to find. Though they could have had Fili, Kili, Dis or Tauriel
bring the items up.
To make sure she was correct in her assumption that it was Thorin that left
them, Belle decided she would ask the possible suspects. She was quick in
dressing as she was sure she would need more time to get ready after she helped
Tauriel into her dress. Belle pulled on a light blue_wool_dress and then went
through the tasks of adding all her jewelry all the while smiling over her two
crosses, the Troll cross, and the Christian cross. She figured they fit on her
as she was part of both cultures. Belle made her way down the stairs to help
Tauriel dress for the wedding, clasped in her hand was the cross for Tauriel.
The tawny haired girl met up with Dis in the hallway. The two smiled
conspirators smiles at each other before ripping open the curtain separating
Kili’s room. Belle giggled lightly at the sight before her. Tauriel was
sleeping on her stomach, her red hair resembled a giant bird’s nest. Kili sat
up at the giggling of Belle. His hair was not much better than his soon to be
wife’s. He squinted at them with a confused look on his face for a few moments.
He broke out into a tired smile before giving them one wave and falling back
onto the bed snoring.
Dis walked calmly over to the bed before ripping off the covers off the two
sleepers.
Kili curled into a tighter ball trying to conserve as much warmth as possible
while Tauriel stumbled from the bed. “Hot springs?” She asked in a sleepy
voice. Belle nodded and helped the redhead gather what she needed for the
baths.
“FILI!” Dis called loudly making Belle wince and Tauriel glare at the sudden
intrusion of noise in her ears.
The blonde came in looking as if he had woken not much earlier.
“Get the water,” Dis ordered when Kili attempted to get the blankets back from
his mother with a sleepy hand.
Fili smiled devilishly before disappearing. When he reappeared he was holding a
small pot of water. He chuckled to himself before dumping the cold water all
over his younger brothers head.
Kili bolted up with a large scream. “You bastard!”
Fili laughed loudly as did Belle and Tauriel.
Kili looked towards his mom for help but the dark haired woman only put her
hands up and told him simply he should have gotten up when she told him to.
“Time to go,” Dis said pushing Belle and Tauriel out the door. Kili grabbed
Tauriel’s hand as she was about to exit and pressed a heated kiss to her lips.
“I will see you soon, love.” He whispered.
Tauriel did not have time to say anything else before Dis gave her a harsh yank
on the arm, pulling her from the room.
===============================================================================
 
Belle was sure she was going to sporting a blush for the next year after all
the “advice” Tauriel had gotten from the women at the hot springs. Gyda had
been the most graphic in her advice. This advice from the women mostly centered
around sex, especially anything out of the auburn haired woman’s mouth. If
Belle silently, and with a large amount of guilt, took mental notes about how
to please a man she would never tell. She also learned a few things about being
a wife in the heathen land that she did not know. For instance, when Kili built
Tauriel a home of their own she would keep the keys to the house. The woman’s
responsibility was within the home while the man’s was outside of it. The woman
of the house kept the keys and the man was not allowed to touch her keys, which
Belle found fascinating. It was seen as a slight in certain households if the
man took the woman’s keys. It was such a serious offense that in some cases
divorce was the end result. Belle could not fathom such a thing, it appeared
Tauriel did not either based on the wrinkling of her petite nose. The tawny
haired girl supposed she could be wrinkling her nose due to the scented oils
being rubbed into her skin and hair. But Belle preferred to imagine that
Tauriel agreed with her in the obscure custom.
It was not long before all the women began to dress Tauriel for her wedding at
Gyda’s home, with it being the closest to the bath’s. Dis and Belle helped
Tauriel with her clothing while Gyda and Sigrid combed out the island girl’s
long red hair.
“Dis, did someone ask you to deliver a parcel to me this morning as I slept?”
Belle asked the raven haired woman.
Dis turned her blue eyes onto Belle with a curious expression. “No.”
Belle gave her a small smile and shook off the questions Dis eyes were shooting
at her. While they readied Tauriel, Belle spoke with each of the women quietly
asking if they had delivered a package. All of them said no. Sigrid and Tauriel
had both vouched for their male counterparts saying neither of them had
delivered it either. This news had butterflies dancing within Belle’s stomach.
It was Thorin. He had gotten them for her. The confirmation of her thoughts had
her feeling...strange. She was not sure how she felt about him or how he felt
about her. But she believed he was attempting to tell her how he felt with his
small acts of favor.
Tauriel’s hair was left unbound, red waves resting down her back. The bridal
crown that had once belonged to Dis, sat on her head. It was made of gold and
silver but decorated with brightly colored fabric flowers. Her wedding jewelry
was added on but there was one piece missing.
“Do you mind if I have a moment alone with Tauriel?” Belle asked quietly.
The rest of the women nodded and stepped out the front doors. Tauriel looked at
her with concern, as if what she had to say was a bad thing.
Belle pulled the cross out of her pocket and grabbed Tauriel’s hand. “I know
you said you did not care to marry in a church or to have the symbols of our
God with you on this day, but I thought maybe you could think of this as more
of a piece of home. Something to always remind you of where you come from.” The
tawny haired girl’s voice was slightly teary as she finished.
Belle removed her hand leaving the cross in Tauriel’s palm. The redhead opened
her pale hand and looked down at the bronze pendant. She did not say anything
for a long while, or perhaps it was a short while, but to Belle, it felt like
forever.
When Tauriel raised her eyes to Belle’s her usually hard hazel eyes were
swimming and her lips quivered with emotion. “I do not like to cry, so I will
not do so now. But I want you to know that I deeply appreciate this gift and
will cherish it for as long as I live.”
Belle did not stop the tears that fell down her cheeks and she did not suppress
the urge to hug her Celtic friend. Belle wrapped her arms around Tauriel’s
stomach and held her tight. The two embraced for some time before a knock was
heard on the door signaling it was time to go.
“Help me?” Tauriel asked indicating that she wanted the cross to rest on the
center of her most prominent necklace. Belle helped her tie the pendant on and
stepped back to look at the redhead, checking to see if she needed to make any
last minute adjustments.
“You look beautiful,” Belle said with a small sniffle. “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” Tauriel said simply and allowed Belle to lead her from the home.
===============================================================================
 
The ceremony was held in the same clearing that Thorin had taken Belle skiing
many weeks previous, though it had been transformed with basin’s holding fire
to light the guests way as well as to keep them warm. As they approached the
ceremony Dis pulled Tauriel’s cloak hood over her head and pulled her into the
middle of their small group, so she could be hidden from Kili’s sight.
Belle looked around at the gathering of people and saw many faces she did know
and many she did not. She spotted her grandfather standing up at a type of
altar under an arch made of branches and what Belle thought were antlers with a
sow tied at his feet. She knew what was coming. These heathens loved a good
sacrifice.
The hair on the back of her neck stood on end signaling that someone was
watching her. She craned her neck around as they continued to walk Tauriel
towards the altar and found a familiar pair of ice blue eyes boring into her.
Belle held his gaze for a moment before smiling shyly and turning her eyes back
forward.
Fili stepped away from the crowd and walked towards his mother who was leading
the bridal procession. The group parted for him and allowed him to reach for
Tauriel. He led her the rest of the way to the altar before stopping.
All watched as Gothi chanted a few words in what Belle thought was a prayer to
either Odin or Freyja, she couldn’t be sure. Her grandfather then slid his
knife across the throat of the sow catching its blood in a bowl. Belle winced
at the wet sputtering noises coming from the animal before it fell limp to the
ground.
“Who gives away this woman to her new husband?” Her grandfather asked in a loud
voice for all to hear.
“I do,” Fili answered before handing Tauriel’s hands off to Kili. He pulled an
item from his pocket and handed them to Gothi Grey. From Belle’s view off to
the side, she watched Gothi dunk the items into the blood bowl leaving them
there.
“You will now exchange swords to signify the most sacred of all bonds, the
unifying bond sanctified by the Gods and Goddesses.” Gothi prompted them.
Kili unbuckled the sword at his hip and presented it with both hands to
Tauriel.
“Tauriel, my love, this is the sword of my ancestors. This sword is now yours
to hold. It is yours to keep safe so it may be passed down to our children and
grandchildren.” Tauriel accepted the sword gently before tying it onto her hip.
She turned to Gyda and motioned for the auburn haired woman to present the
sword she would be handing off to Kili.
“Kili, here is the sword you will use to protect our family and yourself in the
years to come. May you wield it well.”
Kili accepted the sword with a large watery smile on his face. He tied it to
his hip as Tauriel had done with his ancestral sword and joined hands with her
once more.
“The rings,” Gothi said and pulled the two items from the blood bowl. He handed
the first ring to Kili and allowed him to slide it onto Tauriel’s finger
leaving a blood streak on her pale skin. Next Gothi handed Tauriel a ring. She
slid it onto Kili’s finger with shaking hands.
“By the will and power of the Gods you are man and wife,” Gothi said. As he
spoke he dipped a bundle of fir twigs into the blood and began to flick it at
the couple and to all in close proximity. “May the Gods bless you and give you
many children. And may the Gods keep the wolf from the door.”
When Gothi finished speaking Kili pulled Tauriel to him and planted a firm kiss
on her mouth. All cheered but an especially loud cheer erupted just behind
Belle. She turned to see Thorin clapping and shouting congratulations for his
nephew. She had not heard him move closer to her during the ceremony and was
not ashamed to say she was startled by his sudden appearance behind her.
“And now!” Gothi roared over the shouting of the crowd with a large smile on
his face. “The Bridal Race!”
Like an arrow Fili took off running, leaving Kili slightly behind. Kili soon
caught up though as the two weaved through the trees and basin’s holding fire.
Belle clapped with joy at seeing the two race. They were both quick as they
ducked the oncoming blows from laughing guests trying to slip them up. They
stopped at Dwalin and Nori who held out cups of ale for them to chug before
they could continue running. Fili finished his first and took off running once
more with Kili at his heels. The brothers broke through the shield wall held up
in place to slow them down. Fili and Kili jumped over the next obstacle, a
fallen log, at the same time and it seemed to Belle that Fili may just win the
race but with one last burst of energy Kili took the lead and held it as they
rounded a tree and came barreling back towards the altar and his new bride.
The two bent over out of breath and continued to attempt to catch it once they
reached the finish line. Belle tore her eyes away from the scene to look back
at Thorin. He was laughing at his two nephews and their exuberance. His eyes
flicked to Belle’s when he felt her staring at him.
“Thank you for the pieces of home, Thorin,” Belle said in a voice barely above
a whisper.
“I do not know what you are talking about.” He said in a tone that convinced
her of quite the opposite.
Belle reached out a hand and squeezed his gently. “Truly, thank you, Thorin.”
he looked deep into her eyes as if he wished to convey something foreign to
her, something she did not yet understand. Instead, she drifted to something
she was more comfortable with...teasing.
“If you are not careful, some may think you have a soft spot.”
Thorin chuckled lowly and rolled his eyes then said something that would keep a
blush on her cheeks for many hours to come. “Only for you, my mouse.”   
Chapter End Notes
     So I have had a reader or two ask me why I always write scenes of
     Thorin and Belle in bed together.
     I feel that this is the best place for them to open up. There are no
     listening ears, no prying eyes. Just the dark and them. There is
     comfort in the dark when you are alone with someone you hold
     affection for (even if you don't truly recognize that affection at
     first). In my mind, I see this also as a place where they are
     actually together. During the day's they are both doing separate
     chores. Him leading his people and Belle working on tasks to keep the
     household going along side the other women. Sleeping is really the
     only activity they do together, so I write a lot of scenes with them
     in bed together. I hope this provides a little clarity.
     For the wedding scenes and talks of customs, I took information from
     several sources but a few of the most informative were http://
     www.vikinganswerlady.com/index.shtml, The Vikings by Professor
     Kenneth W. Harl and The Sea Wolves by Joe Barrett.
***** Kili *****
Chapter Notes
     Sorry for the delay in this chapter! I have started going back to
     work so I have less time to write. Hopefully, I can be a little
     quicker though in future chapters!
     Thank you so much for reading this, I hope you all enjoy it!
“Another refill brother mine!” Kili called to his blonde haired brother, his
voice ringing with mirth.
“Fuckin’ bastard,” Fili answered with a laugh as he refilled Tauriel and Kili’s
drinking horn.
They were sharing as was the custom of his people. The feast was a loud affair,
as most feasts were. There were people dancing and singing, enjoying the
abundance of food before them. It would be the last big feast before most of
the able bodied men and women in the settlement left to fight a war of revenge
against the Dragon King. He knew some of these people would be saying goodbye
to friends and loved ones never to return. The dark haired man shook off the
thoughts that threatened to consume him. Today was not about that. Today was
about his marriage. It was about his Goddess being bound to him for the rest of
their lives, however long that may be.
Kili looked over at the redhead and found her smiling lightly at those in
attendance.
He squeezed her hand gently prompting her to look over at him.
“I love you.” He told her softly.
“I love you too,” she answered quietly. He found her discomfort with affection
quite humorous. She had come such a long way with him and would continue to do
so as long as Kili was patient. He was a patient man, who normally had a high
tolerance for temptation but when it came to Tauriel he found that he gave into
temptation more often than not. For example, him threatening Sigurd, that was a
rash decision. He did not regret it of course but he did wish he had thought it
through better and challenged the man without so many witnesses. Another
example of the dark haired Norseman falling to temptation was him lying with
Tauriel in the cave. He had had many a dream about that night, both while he
was asleep and while he was awake. Like a teenager, he had woken up in his own
seed after a dream of that night while his wild redhead slept quite literally
on top of him. What he wouldn’t have given to be able to pull her night dress
up and plunge deep inside her.
“Kili?” Tauriel asked, pulling him out of his fantasies before he got too
carried away.
“Hmm?” He asked as he raised her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to her
wrist.
“How long do I have to leave this in my lap?” Tauriel asked pointing to the
wooden Thor_hammer resting on her thighs.
Kili placed his hand over the wooden hammer and sent up a silent prayer that
the Gods would bless her womb. “Until we leave for the night”
Tauriel did not look happy about that and even went as far as pouting.
“If you would like to dance you may set it down while we do so. But once we sit
you will need it to rest against your womb once more.” Kili offered.
His redheaded wife nodded her head and picked up the hammer before setting it
on the table gently. “Show me the dance of the heathens,” Tauriel said
jokingly.
Kili laughed loudly and stood. He pulled his wife with him and soon they had
joined hands with those dancing. As was the custom for his people, they all
joined hands in a circle and followed synchronized steps. Occasionally a woman
would break free and dance within the middle of the circle, allowing the beat
of the drums and the horn pipes to move her body. Kili could not help but laugh
when he saw Tauriel struggling to keep up with the steps because her eyes were
centered on Gyda in the center of the circle.
The auburn haired woman had her arms raised above her head as she spun, her
hair unraveling from its braid and swirling around her face. He wondered if the
dance of her people was as free form or if they were constricting in their
dance. Eventually, his redheaded woman got her footwork back in time with
everyone else’s. She smiled widely at him when she was able to keep up and even
laughed at him a bit when he stumbled in his steps because he was too caught up
in staring at her.
The song soon ended and he pulled his wife back to their table to drink
heavily. It was the custom of his people to get drunk the night of their
wedding. Kili knew his wife could hold her ale, not as good as him but close so
he had their shared cup refilled constantly until he saw her eyes beginning to
become glassy.
“Kiiiilllliiii” Tauriel sing-songed into his ear.
That was when he knew that she was truly gone and he did not hold back his
laughter because he too was more than a little drunk. “What is it, my fairest
wife?”
Tauriel tried to playfully glare at him but a small hiccup from her mouth had
her giggling. “Why did you stab the wood there?”
Kili looked to where his new wife was pointing. “To test the luck of our
marriage. The deeper the scar in the beam the depth of our luck”
“Hmmm” Tauriel hummed and took another drink of the ale. “Your sword went deep,
does that mean we are going to be very lucky?”
Their faces were so close that he could see the tiny flecks of gold in her eyes
and every pale freckle on the bridge of her nose. “Oh yes. We are going to be
very, very lucky.” Kili said licking his lips. All he could think of was the
suggestive pur in his woman’s voice when she mentioned his sword going deep.
His mind drummed up images of him swiping all the food and drink from the table
and throwing it to the floor. He thought of ravaging his woman in front of all
to see. But that is not what one did with a wife, that is what someone did with
a slave girl and Tauriel was no slave. Deciding he needed to pace himself he
looked up and locked eyes with Belle speaking with his uncle. Kili lifted a
finger and silently told her to come to him. She gave him a strange look but
followed his command, fluidly moving through the crowd without anyone noticing,
well anyone apart from Thorin. His uncle was giving him a very angry scowl for
disrupting their conversation. Kili shrugged it off. It was his wedding day.
His uncle could horde the attentions of the little English woman any other day
of the year.
“Are you alright, Kili?” Belle asked him.
“Yes. Do you know dances from Tauriel’s home?” He whispered in her ear.
“Uh, no. But I can come up with something” Belle told him with a small smile.
She moved in front of Tauriel and pulled the woman by the hands back to the
dance floor. Kili watched as the little woman first made a stop to Gyda and
then to the musicians. Belle then led the three women in an upbeat dance that
Kili suspected was from her home as it was nothing he had ever seen before.
They danced in a circle hands held up and connected for a majority of it. There
was some spinning and clapping involved which made everyone want to dance as
well. People clapped in time with the music until the song came to an end. Then
it was time for the  flytings,  the exchanging of poetic insults. There were
many that were said and far more that were centered around Kili and his cock.
Kili had taken it all in good humor, Tauriel had laughed at a few of them
making Kili feel as if he could continue to be insulted all night just to hear
her laugh some more. But for now, he would have to settle with walking his
bride back to their new home.
It was announced that they would be heading back to their wedding bed and soon
the Great Hall was filled with cheers, jeers and good natured slaps on the
behind. Kili looked over at his bride and found her smiling stiffly. He guessed
that perhaps this was not how things were done where she was from. He squeezed
her hand gently and gave her a comforting smile before stepping out into the
cold air. Thorin, Dwalin, Nori, Balin and Gothi lit the way for the couple. It
was a custom of his people and one Kili was not entirely sure he would live to
see, but he could not be more grateful that the Gods had taken mercy on him. As
much as he would have been overjoyed if he had been sent to Valhalla he was
eternally grateful he had been able to have Tauriel first.
When they reached the Longhouse, Kili swept Tauriel into his arms surprising
the redhead.
“What are you doing?” She growled as he walked into the home.
“It is tradition,” Kili answered her simply without releasing her. “If you
stumbled over the threshold it is a very bad omen, my love.”
Tauriel rolled her eyes but did not say anything else on the matter. Kili
kissed her lips as he carried her towards their room. He set her down once they
were within. Their room had quite obviously been prepared by his mother, Sigrid
and Belle. There were boughs of fresh smelling pine with cinnamon attached to
it adorning the headboard of their bed. The room smelled glorious and Kili had
a small thought that it was quite unfortunate that they had gone to such a
great effort because within moments he planned for the entire room to smell of
sex. Kili was snapped out of his assessment of the room by Tauriel clearing her
throat.
“Are they going to need to watch us?” The redhead asked.
She sounded brave but Kili could see fear beneath. “No. Why would they?”
Tauriel clenched her jaw tightly and leaned towards him slightly. “To make sure
it happened”
Kili gave her a bewildered look and shook his head. “No.” He growled to Tauriel
and turned towards the five men with confused glances.
“Out.” Thorin nodded his head at Kili’s command and gave Kili a look that
clearly said that was the last time he would ever get to order his uncle to do
anything. Balin and Dwalin left without a word. Gothi said one more short
prayer to the Gods for Tauriel’s womb to be fertile before leaving. Nori
smirked and gave a thrust of his hips before leaving as well.
Kili stared at Tauriel for only a moment before he had her body against the
wall. It was not long before his hands were gliding up her legs and tugging her
clothing from her body. The lamp cast a beautiful shadow on the floor of
Tauriel’s naked body. Kili was not sure when he had ever felt this much
excitement in his life. He was this beautiful woman’s husband, he was going to
be the father of her children. Gods he was not sure he had ever wanted anything
more in his entire life than to see Tauriel round with his child. But perhaps
he wished for one thing more at this moment and that was to be inside her.
Kili picked her up, her legs wrapping around his naked torso while her mouth
ravaged his. He ground his clothed erection into her for a moment, he could
feel the heat of her womanhood through his pants. When he felt the tide rising
within him he decided he had had enough and tossed her onto the bed. His
redheaded wife looked up at him with surprise in her eyes that slowly turned
into a glare that had his cock hardening even more. He quickly shed his pants
and stroked himself three times before climbing onto the bed.
“How do you want me to take you, my dearest wife?” Kili asked cheekily against
Tauriel’s lips.
“And who says you will be the one taking me this night?” Tauriel said with a
quirk of her brow.
Kili growled and began to nip at her neck moving down her chest. He nipped at
her playfully until he reached her womanhood and then there was no playing. He
knew what she liked and was far too heated to play games at the moment. When he
had brought her to her high twice he knew he could not hold off any longer. He
settled himself between her legs and swiped his cock over her wetness before
plunging deep within her. Kili groaned at the delightful feeling. Her walls
gripped him tightly and he was sure this was as close to Valhalla as he would
ever come without shedding blood. Tauriel wrapped her legs around his waist
pulling him ever closer with her strong thighs. Her arms wrapped around his
shoulders and pulled his chest closer to hers. He could feel her taut nipples
against his broad chest and let out a groan of appreciation at the feeling.
“Kili” Tauriel whispered huskily as he moved in and out of her at a steady
pace. His mind felt void of any and all thought apart from wishing he could
bury himself even deeper within her and chasing the tide that seemed to be
right out of his reach. The dark haired man lifted her legs quickly,
surprisingly his redheaded bride. Her legs now rested vertically against his
chest. The new angle proved to be even better than he had ever thought
possible. His hips began to snap inter hers at a relentless pace. Kili felt
himself nearing his peak and based on Tauriel’s moans and gasps she was nearing
hers as well. It was not until he dropped his clever fingers down to her pearl
and began to rub at it furiously that she reached that peak. Tauriel stiffened
below him and moaned his name loudly before falling limp. Not being able to
stand the pleasurable torture anymore Kili fell from his high and spilled his
seed deep within his wife. He pressed soft kisses to her face as he came down
from his high. The dark haired man pulled out of her gently and laid down
beside her. He pulled her against his chest and relaxed into the sex afterglow.
He looked down at Tauriel and found her smiling softly. His heart warmed at the
sight. She looked happy, incredibly happy.
“What are you thinking of?” Kili asked his redheaded bride.
Tauriel looked up at him with her large hazel eyes. “I didn’t know it could
feel like that.”
“Feel like what?” Kili was not sure what she meant. He hoped it was good for
her. None of the women he had been with ever complained.
“I didn’t know it could be so...Exciting.” Tauriel explained haltingly, as if
she could not find the right words.
Kili gave her a smug smile “So leggy-lass never excited you?”
The redhead rolled her eyes but the small blush Kili could see on her cheeks
confirmed what he had assumed. The two basked in the quiet around them before
Kili put his hand on her lower stomach gently.
“The Gods will bless us very soon. I would not doubt if my son is already
growing within you” He meant it mostly cheekily but after speaking with Gothi
he believed they would be welcoming a son within the next year.
Tauriel snorted at his words. “Kili. I may not even be able to get pregnant,
especially not after just one bedding with you. Your little warriors are not
that virile.”
The dark haired man was up on his knees quickly and pinned his lover’s hands
above her head. “Hmmm. Then I guess I will have to bed you some more, just in
case.”
Tauriel gasped quietly in arousal while Kili went to work on her body.
===============================================================================
 
Kili yawned loudly and rolled onto his side looking for his redheaded lover. He
found an empty bed and felt fear strike through him. It was not long ago that
she had given him a sleeping draught and tried to escape. He knew she had come
a long way since then. She had truly fallen in love with him. He thanked the
Gods once again for that. But there was still a piece of him that could not
shake the fear of her leaving him again. The dark-haired man climbed out of bed
swiftly and went to go look for his bride. His muscles were deliciously sore
making him wonder how sore Tauriel was. He hoped not too sore, because he had
plans for him to worship her body after he got some food in him. Kili stepped
out of the Longhouse and made his way towards the kitchens. He figured Tauriel
would be hungry just as he was. As he walked he thought of the night they had
had together. He chuckled to himself at the memory of taking her from behind.
She had complained that she was not an animal to be mounted. That complaint
lasted until he was fully inside her, her complaint slowly turned into a moan
of approval.
Kili deviated from the memory when he felt himself hardening. He could do
without the jeers of his family and peers at seeing his hardness through his
leather pants.
Kili tore open the door to the kitchens and found Belle chopping up meat. When
he saw the head of the goat sitting on the counter off to the side he got
excited. It seemed the little woman had not noticed his arrival so he took
advantage of it. He snuck around the counter behind her before speaking.
“Little Belle”
The woman screamed loudly and spun around her knife slicing towards him.
Thankful for his quick reflexes Kili grabbed her wrist holding the knife before
it could cut him across the chest.
“Please tell me you are making Mimir pie.” He asked with a large smile on his
face.
Belle had her hand pressed to her chest and was attempting to catch her breath
but nodded in way of answer. “I know how much you liked it,” The little woman
said in a very shaky voice.
Kili, suddenly feeling bad for scaring her, pulled her into his arms for a hug.
“I am sorry I frightened you.” He said with a small chuckle.
It was then that Thorin came storming in reacting to Belle's scream, sword
raised. As soon as he caught sight of Belle in Kili’s arms his eyes narrowed
and he sheathed his sword.
“Sister son. Your wife is with Sigrid.” Thorin told him gruffly. “Go find her.”
Kili tried to hide his smile at his uncle’s blatant displeasure at Belle being
in his arms. “Thank you for the pies. I am sure I will not be the only one
overjoyed that you are making them.” Kili said and moved his eyes, quite
obviously, towards Thorin before taking his leave.
The dark haired man plucked a piece of bread from the table beside him as he
walked towards where his wife and Sigrid were speaking quietly in the Great
Hall. Tauriel looked angry making Kili wonder what exactly the young blond
woman was telling his wife. Kili let them have a few more seconds before he
approached. The change in Tauriel was immediate, surprising Kili. Tauriel
turned to him with a soft smile, her earlier anger hidden far beneath the
surface. He had never thought she was one to hide her emotions so well.
“Wife,” Kili said as he threw his arm over her shoulder and leaned down to
press a kiss to her temple.
“Kili” Tauriel answered with a smirk.
The dark haired man let out a small laugh at her teasing. “Cheeky woman.”
The couple broke their fast among friends and family. Kili endured the jeers
aimed at him for his wife being able to walk that day.
“I do not understand,” Tauriel told him quietly. “Why would I not be able to
walk? I was not injured yesterday.”
Kili turned slightly red in the face and told his wife not to worry about it.
But it appeared she was not willing to take that as an answer. She only raised
an eyebrow at him forcing him with her eyes to answer her question.
“They are saying that you should not be able to walk because we had so much sex
you would be too sore to walk.”
The redhead snorted and rolled her eyes. “Perhaps they should be asking you how
you are walking today. If anyone was going to be a weakling it is going to be
you.”
The roar around the table had Kili clenching his eyes shut in mock pain.
Everyone was laughing, even Thorin. Dwalin was laughing so hard he was leaning
against an equally hysterical Nori who was wiping tears from his kohl covered
eyes.
“Laugh it up, you bastards,” Kili said and waved his hands towards him in way
of challenge. This only caused everyone to roar even louder in laughter. Kili
looked over at his wife with mock annoyance on his face, but he did not find
her laughing like the rest. He found her looking slightly worried. Kili leaned
towards his wife and pressed a kiss to her lips.
“That was funny, love.”
Tauriel gave him a dubious look. “You are not angry?”
Kili laughed loudly. “No. You are allowed to jest, Tauriel. You are quite
funny.”
His redheaded goddess broke out into a smile. “It does not come naturally or
frequent.”
The dark haired Norseman chuckled. “We will work on that, my serious woman.”
===============================================================================
 
Breakfast passed quickly, and before long Kili had Tauriel back in their bed,
naked and heaving for breath as he showed her who was the weakling in their
bed. Being with his wife was different than anyone else he had ever bedded. She
challenged him, matched him in every way, and battled for dominance with him.
He truly believed they were a love crafted by the Gods just by the way they
fucked. They were a perfect match and it had never been this good nor could it
ever be topped. Kili knew that and that knowledge would keep him from straying
to another bed if not for the fact he loved his fire kissed warrioress and she
would kill him if he did.
They spent most of the day wrapped around each other only leaving the bed to
eat and drink.
===============================================================================
 
That night the wedding festivities continued as it would for three days. There
was no feast but there was drinking, wrestling, poetic insults, and
storytelling.
Kili sat with his bride as they drank and looked over the party. Fili had
gathered Belle and was spinning her around on the dance floor. The little
woman’s long curly hair was loose and spinning around them, brushing against
those dancing near them. Belle had a large smile on her face and her cheeks
were a bright pink. Fili himself was laughing along with her as they spun to
the music. When the song ended Belle pulled Sigrid off from the side and pushed
the couple together to dance.
“Go dance with Belle.” Tauriel said staring towards the front of the longhouse.
Kili gave his wife a confused glance. She turned towards him and smiled.
“Please...She is not done dancing and we both know between Thorin refusing to
dance and all the men here too afraid of him to ask her to dance she will not
have any enjoyment. Go.” His redheaded wife pushed him from his seat towards
the tiny woman.
Kili sauntered towards the little woman and gathered her into his arms without
asking and whisked her back to the dance floor.  
“Kili. It is very rude where I am from to touch a woman without asking first.”
Belle said with a fond smile.
“Well, then it is good for me that we are not in your home,” Kili said with a
cheeky wink and a smile.
Belle rolled her eyes with mirth and continued to dance with the man that was
so much taller than her they looked near comical. Belle was quiet for a moment
as she gazed around the room.
“I think Canute would have liked this.”
Kili was taken back by the mention of the red bearded man. Belle had not
mentioned him in quite some time. It was then that he saw Canute’s younger
brother. A boy in his fourteenth year with the same red hair and kind eyes as
his deceased elder brother.
“Had he lived, this could have been your wedding.”
Belle turned her large emerald eyes at him in surprise. “I suppose you are
right. What a strange thought…” the little woman mused.
“What is strange about it?” Kili asked absently. He had just noticed his bride
was not at their table. His eyes scanned the large room in search of her. He
had lost track of time dancing with Belle and was not sure how long he had been
gone from their table.
“Me, married to a Norseman.” Belle answered tightly.
“It will happen eventually, do not get your hopes up that you can escape us. We
love you far too much to let you go. You’re kin to us now.” Kili said, his eyes
still looking for his redheaded wife. He pressed a quick kiss to Belle’s head
before leaving to go find Tauriel without another word. In his haste to leave
the dark haired man missed the misty eyes of the tawny haired woman and his
uncle glaring daggers at him for making her cry, even if it was good tears.
Kili had just stepped out the front doors into the snow when he caught sight of
his woman’s fur hood coming up the walkway.
“Love. It is not safe for you to wander alone during winter nights.” Kili said
as gently as he could with the fear coursing through him. Though she was now
married to the most powerful family in their settlement there were still those
that would be stupid enough to hurt her if they were drunk enough.
“I had to make water, Kili.” Tauriel huffed, her cheeks a bright pink.
“Just...take a guard next time, please.” The dark haired man said in a defeated
tone.
“For you, I will think about it.” his wife answered with a small smile and
allowed him to lead her into the Great Hall for more merriment.
===============================================================================
 
“Laddddyyyyy wifeeee” Kili sing-songed horribly. He knew he was very drunk,
perhaps the drunkest he had been in at least the last few years if not ever.
“Husband” Tauriel answered as she acted as his crutch. The woman was a lot
stronger than she looked as she was carrying her taller and bulkier husbands
frame nearly on her own.
“Whyyy do dis?” the dark-haired man could not form words correctly it seemed.
He knew what he wanted to ask but it had not come out quite right.
“Well, that is what happens when you are on the opposite end of a drinking
contest with a drunkard, my love.”
Kili shook his head trying to clear his foggy mind but found the motion caused
the world to tilt a bit too much. He righted his feet and trudged along with
his wife for a moment before his alcohol soaked brain could come up with a
response. It was not until Tauriel had gotten him into bed devoid of clothing
and put a basin beside him that he answered her.
“I...didn...chal  *hiccup*  chal... *hiccup*  challenge dem...Youuuuu did” Kili
could barely get the words out he was so drunk.
Tauriel smirked down at him as she ran her blessedly cool fingers down his
heated face. “Yes, well, I am your wife now. What use is being your spouse if I
can not get you into trouble now and then?”
Kili smiled up at her goofily but could not summon words.
“I love you, Kili” Tauriel said gently and pressed a kiss to his lips. He
accepted the kiss and attempted to say the same in return but could not gather
the energy to do so before he let the darkness swallow him.
===============================================================================
 
Kili awoke to his head pounding as if Thor himself was attempting to break out
of his skull.
“Uughhhh” the man groaned and rolled onto his side trying to escape the dull
light of daybreak seeping in from his doorway. He felt a slight chill in his
bed and moved closer to the feeling hoping it would help him not feel so
nauseated. Without opening his eyes he sought out the cold sleepily. What he
found was his wife. Her skin was chilled. His eyes popped open abruptly
thinking perhaps she had died in the night. She felt near as cold as death.
“Tauri?” Kili asked worriedly and stared into her face. Her cheeks were pink as
was the tip of her nose which was a good sign. What was an even better sign was
her opening her bloodshot hazel eyes to stare at him with no small amount of
confusion and annoyance.
“What?” She asked in a gravely voice.
“I thought you were dead…” Kili said. It sounded terribly ridiculous being said
aloud.  Tauriel cocked her head at him, confused by his answer so he clarified.
“You are very cold”
His redheaded wife nodded her head. “Warm me up?”
In way of answering, he pulled her closer to his overly warm body and reveled
in the beautiful chill that was her porcelain skin at the moment.
===============================================================================
 
When he woke next his wife was still asleep beside him. He desperately needed
water. Kili pulled himself from the bed with great pain and tried to dress as
quietly as possible. At one point he had to lean against the wall to stay
upright while he calmed the storm building within his stomach. He made it out
of the house mostly clothed and stumbled his way towards the kitchens for a
roll of bread and some water.
He had just sat down in the kitchens with only Vinna to witness his haggard
form when his brother came in grinning like the cat who got the cream.
“Brother!” He shouted loudly making Kili want to cry.
“Fi...No. Please...Just..shhhhhh” the dark haired brother pleaded.   
Fili laughed loudly and clapped his brother on the shoulder. Kili felt himself
losing his battle with the storm within him and launched himself outside to
vomit. The alcohol from the night before came coursing out of him in a foul
tidal wave. His brother stood outside the door laughing at him while he felt as
if he was dying.
Kili wiped his mouth angrily and was contemplating how it would feel to be an
only child when Fili disappeared and came back with a tankard of water. Kili
decided he would put off his brother’s murder for a bit longer.
“Vinna, would you get my brother dearest here a healing breakfast?” Fili asked
the plump blonde.
“For a price,” The woman said with a large smile and tapped her cheek.
Fili laughed and pressed a kiss to her cheek in thanks.
Kili felt his color turn a little green when Vinna began to pull pickled
herring out of its container and assembled it atop the gherkin and onion. When
the plump blonde was done she handed the plate to Kili and told him to get to
eating. The dark haired man pinched his nose and began to devour the foul
smelling hangover cure. He chased the food down with a bit of water downed wine
and took a moment to allow his food to settle before he attempted to breathe
too deeply.
“Where is Wild One?” Fili asked as he ate large bites of porridge, a bit
dangled from his mustache braids making Kili’s stomach roll once again.
“Sleeping it off” He answered shortly.
Fili wiped his mouth with the back of his hand making Kili relax ever so
slightly. He was no longer thinking of vomit. “Gave her the Durin hammer a lot
last night, huh?”
“No. I had drunk dick.” Kili admitted. He was too sick and tired to be shy
about it.
“Oh? I didn’t see her drink anything last night but then again I was too busy
with Sigrid to notice too much.” Fili said with a shrug.
Kili tried to remember the night before through the haze of his clouded brain.
It took him a good long while but he could not remember her drinking much
either. He shook it off. Perhaps she had drunk when he was not looking.
“Is that uncle?” Fili said turning his ear towards the door leading to the
Great Hall.
Their uncle was arguing with someone. The two brothers crept towards the door
and peeked within. Thorin was speaking with Gothi Grey. It appeared the two
were fighting over something.
“You are not coming with us. You will die. We need you here with Dis. She needs
you.”
“No she doesn't, not anymore and yes I will...die that is.” Gothi said calmly.
Thorin groaned loudly and looked towards the ceiling in frustration which to
Kili’s eyes looked a little like pain as well. “You want to die by the Dragon’s
hand?”
“If the Gods wish it then I will. But I do know I am to die on Saxon soil.” The
white-haired man answered.
“You can not leave like this! You can not abandon us this way. You can not
leave me alone without your counsel.” Thorin’s voice broke on the end making
Kili and Fili both look at each other in alarm.
In a move much faster than the boys thought possible Gothi had pulled the Jarl
into his arms for a tight hug. Thorin hugged him back just as tightly. It was
the first time in a long time that either boys saw the pseudo father and son
dynamic between their two elders. Thorin pulled away first, standing up
straight but still kept his hand on Gothi’s shoulder.
“You are sure of this?” Thorin asked worriedly and in a much softer tone than
the brothers were used to.
“Don’t you try to take this honorable death from me, Thorin Thrainson,” Gothi
said with a soft jab to Thorin’s ribs.
“I wouldn’t dream of it old man,” Thorin answered with a small chuckle.
Gothi said his goodbyes and hobbled his way towards the doors. Once he had
disappeared from sight Kili and Fili heard Thorin speak again.
“I had thought your sneaking days had ended when you became men,” Thorin said
with a huff, his eyes still on the door Gothi had just exited.
The two brothers stepped guiltily out into the Great Hall and before their
uncle. It was a position they had found themselves in repeatedly in their
lives. It was either Thorin’s harsh lectures and insults or their mothers and
they would take the large Jarl’s punishments over their mothers any day.
“How much did you hear?” Thorin asked turning his ice blue eyes on the two men.
“Enough,” Fili answered for the both of them.
Thorin was quiet as he studying them for a moment. “Don’t tell Belle. She
doesn’t need to know nor worry over something she can not control.”
Fili and Kili both nodded curtly in response. Kili would later blame it on his
hungover mind but it truly was just his curiosity that got the better of him
when he decided to speak.
“When are you going to ask for her hand?”
Fili looked over at his brother in horror, while Thorin’s eyes narrowed. “That
is none of your concern, Kili Vilison.”
Kili winced at his uncle using his full name and only nodded in response afraid
to open his mouth again. His hangover sickness had subsided ever so slightly
meaning he did not wish for death anymore and if he continued to pry Thorin
would indeed kill him.
The doors opened then and a few of their friends and family entered. Kili
smiled at his mother’s pregnant form. He was saddened by the fact that he would
not be here to see his brother or sister born. He could only hope that he would
survive long enough to meet the child someday.  His mother was followed by
Bifur, the old warrior looked more alive than he had in ages. Kili wondered if
that was his mother’s doing. He didn’t know how she had done it but Dis had
been able to make the old bastard look near ten years younger. Perhaps it was
his neat braids or his trimmed beard, Kili didn’t know. Behind Bifur was Dwalin
and Balin. The two brothers did not look too happy making the dark haired young
man curious as to what they had to say to Thorin.
“What is it?” Thorin asked appearing to have noticed the same displeasure on
the two brothers faces.
“Sigurd is dead,” Dwalin said in that short way of his.
Kili’s stomach dropped through the floor. If Sigurd was murdered it would look
as if Kili had done it, he was the last to challenge the man in personal
combat. It was no secret that Kili hated the man, he hated him near as much as
one other person...Tauriel.
“How?” Thorin growled shooting a look to Kili who scowled in return at his
uncle’s unsaid accusation.
“Bastard drank too much and fell asleep in the snow. Froze to death.” Balin
answered.
Through Kili knew now that he was off the hook for a murder accusation his
stomach had not returned to it’s previous place of rest. It was still on the
floor somewhere near his feet. He knew who was responsible. Though Sigurd was a
drunk, a mean one at that, he also managed to stumble inside during winter.
There were times that the man had fallen asleep in the Great Hall, or even
outside during summers but never in the winter.
Thorin let out a breath of relief before he began problem-solving. “Next of
kin?”
“No children, one living brother in the Iron Hills,” Balin answered.
“Send a willing messenger to inform him. We will hold his property until his
brother decides what to do with it. Prepare a pyre and burn Sigurd. If that is
all..” Thorin said as he rose from his throne.
“No, Jarl. His house thrall is gone. Do you want us to go find her?” Dwalin
asked.
The raven haired Jarl rubbed at the bridge of his nose in frustration. “No. It
is possible Sigurd killed her and buried her without our knowledge. Consider
her dead if she does not return. She will die from the elements or come back,
no need to waste your energy looking for her.”
Kili felt anger swelling within him. He would bet his life he was married to a
certain someone that knew where the thrall girl was. The pieces all began to
click together for him.  Tauriel disappearing last night after asking him to
dance with Belle. Then her pushing him into a drinking contest with the two
bottomless pits known as Nori and Bofur. Her freezing cold body when the sun
rose this morning, her skin felt as if it had been outside all night.
Kili waited until it was not suspicious before he took his leave stating he
wanted to lay with his wife before the day’s work began. He stomped angrily
towards the Longhouse and flung the doors open to find his wife pulling on her
cloak.
“Morning, love,” Tauriel said with a small tired smile.
Kili ground his teeth together so he did not say anything he would regret. He
grabbed her arm, surprising her and began to drag her towards the back of the
Longhouse and out the back door.
“Kili? What is the matter with you?” Tauriel protested and dug her heels in. He
knew there were still listening ears about so he did not answer. When her
protests became to be more of a hindrance on his walking he threw her over his
shoulder and marched towards the barn. Tauriel pounded on his back demanding he
release her as she had many months earlier but he did no such thing. Once they
were in the barn he saw two slaves working on milking the goats.
“Leave us,” Kili growled.
“But master, the goat is not done being m..” The thrall began to protest.
“I SAID LEAVE US!” the dark haired man roared making the slaves skitter out of
the barn like frightened mice. He set Tauriel down before shutting the doors.
“That was a good impression of Jarl Thorin,” Tauriel said in a dry tone.
Kili turned back to his wife with a very unamused look on his handsome face.
“Where is she?”
His redhead clenched her jaw and stood a little straighter, facing him down.
“Who?”
Kili stepped closer to his wife and spoke in an icy tone that left no room for
warmth of any kind. “Where. Is. She. Tauriel?”
The redheaded woman stared at him for a moment waiting to see if he would break
but he did not. “The woods.”
Kili took a deep breath of annoyance. “The woods are vast. You are going to
need to be more specific.”
“Am I?” Tauriel questioned with a raise of her brow. “And what will you do to
Emelisse when you find her?”
Kili lost his temper and began to scream. “What do you think I will do to her?!
Do you trust me so little!?”
Tauriel only clenched her jaw in response, showing very little fear. “I trust
you, but I feel you are tied by your people’s laws and will not deviate from
them.”
“Fuck, Tauriel!” Kili roared. “I would have deviated from them for you! Did you
even think of what would have happened had anyone suspected this was murder or
if there had been any blood?”  Tauriel did not answer allowing the dark haired
man to continue his rant. “I would have been put on trial! I threatened him not
a week past. I challenged him to personal combat. It would have been assumed I
killed him! And if that wasn’t the case and they put you on trial I would have
taken the gauntlet or the punishment of death for you! Why would you put my
life on the line for a slave?”
“Because I knew I wouldn’t get caught. It was the perfect plan, Kili. You can
not tell me you regret me taking his life.” Tauriel answered bluntly.
“No. I don’t regret his death. I am angry that you took such a risk to release
one slave. I do not understand, Tauriel!”
The fire lit behind Tauriel’s eyes at that moment. “Do you not see!? That  one
slave  could have been me had you not fancied me! How could I leave Emelisse in
such hell when the world would be better without the bastard anyway?” His
redheaded wife argued.   
Kili felt himself losing his steam but he could see his wife was losing hers as
well. “I understand. But you must understand that you can not do things such as
this Tauriel. No plan is flawless when it comes to killing. You could have
easily been spotted or overheard while hiding the slave girl.”
“Perhaps. But I would not have been recognized” The redhead argued lightly.
“How do you figure?” 
“I stole clothes from Bifur and a knitted cap from Ori and wore them when I
helped Emelisse escape. I looked like a little boy, not a woman.” Tauriel
answered with a shrug.
Kili rubbed at his face and sat on a nearby bale of hay. “How did you do it
Tauriel?”
His wife sat next to him quietly for a moment before speaking. “I found a small
bit of hemlock while on our last hunting trip. I had already made up my mind
that I was going to get Emelisse away from Sigurd by any means necessary and I
found my solution in that small plant. I just needed to find my opening to do
it, I had a bit of time, or so I thought anyway. Sigrid told me yesterday
morning that she had seen Sigurd raping Emelisse in the open and worried over
her injuries reopening or not healing all the way. It made me so angry.”
Tauriel swallowed back the emotion in her voice. “I knew my time was up. Last
night I had the poison in my pocket. I waited until you were distracted and ran
to Sigurd’s home. I found Emelisse bleeding and weeping in bed.” Again his wife
had to shake off the anger growing within her that was making her voice quiver.
“Emelisse told me he always has a drink before bed, so I put it in his water
skin and told her I would be back later that night. I knew you would notice if
I was not in bed unless you were drunk or drugged, so I challenged Nori and
Bofur to a drinking contest for you. You got drunk, I put you to bed and I
snuck out.  Sigurd was dead by the time I got there. I helped her pack what she
needed to survive, dragged the body outside and stole his horses for the ride.”
“Where is she?” Kili asked tiredly.
“The cave…” Tauriel whispered nervously.
Kili nodded his head. He had a feeling that was where the slave girl was. “She
can survive on what you took from Sigurd?” Tauriel nodded. “You won’t have to
go back?” Tauriel shook her head. “Good, it is too much of a risk.”
The two were silent for a few minutes before Tauriel spoke. “Are you going to
tell Thorin?”
“Gods no.” Kili snorted. “I am not going to tell anyone.” The dark haired man
grabbed his wife’s hands in his own and looked deep into her hazel eyes. “I
love you Tauriel. I could not stand if anything happened to you and If anyone
found out you would be put on trial, so I will not say a thing. But do not
think that I am not angry that you tricked me because you felt you could not
trust me. Though, I am more angry that you put yourself at risk.”
Tauriel pressed a kiss to his cheek in a sort of apology.
“Just don’t do something so reckless again, I don’t think my heart could take
it.” Kili whispered.
“I can not promise that I will not kill again if the situation is the same.”
Tauriel answered him honestly.
“That is not what I am saying. Just don’t do it alone. Tell me and I will help
you.” The dark haired man told her, his brown eyes boring into her hazel ones.
“Truly?” Tauriel asked surprised.
“I would do anything for you, you should know that by now.” Kili declared with
a kiss to her lips.
“I have no plans to find myself in this situation again, but if I do, you will
be the first to know.”
Kili chuckled at the absurdity of the conversation. “That is all I ask, my
wife.”  
***** Thorin *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Thorin gazed out at the icy water before him. They would be arriving on Smaug’s
lands within the next day or so. The raven-haired leader looked behind him at
the ship’s following their lead. His final number of men landed around two
thousand. Far more than he had ever led, but with Dain, Bard, and himself he
had no doubt they could lead the men with ease. It would be necessary for them
to raid the stores of the castles they laid siege to but Thorin felt confident
he would be able to keep his men fed and watered. His warriors were ready to
fight, many of them were also prepared to never return home.
One of which was Nori. The man swore he would never return to Norwegian soil,
not because he didn’t wish to do so but because he proclaimed it was not the
Gods will. His brothers Ori and Dori said that it was the mushrooms finally
eating his brain Thorin was not so sure. He too had felt the Gods whisper that
he would not be returning home. But that did not mean he thought he was going
to die. He believed he would be victorious as long as Belle was by his side. He
knew as well as Gothi that if the little woman chose not to help them, for
whatever reason, they would fail. Thorin himself had seen it in a dream,
whereas the Gods had whispered it into the ear of the old seer.
Speaking of the old seer, Thorin looked over his shoulder and saw the old man’s
one eye closed and a smile on his face.
“What are you smiling about old man?” Thorin asked as he sat down beside Gothi
Grey on a rowing bench.
The grey-haired man breathed deeply before answering. “I can smell the change
in the wind. We are nearing Northumbria.”
Thorin looked out at the sea, wondering how the old man could smell the change.
He did not ask because he truly did not think the answer would be very
enlightening. Gothi tended to want to keep his secrets. That is how Thorin and
everyone else did not know he had a granddaughter. Nor did they know that when
they raided Smaug’s summer castle it was to retrieve the last blood relative of
Gothi Grey. If the raven-haired man had known, his first interactions with the
woman would have been very different. Thorin thought that perhaps he would have
offered to rescue her from the Bastard King instead of taking her by force. He
would not have laid a hand on her, nor would he have intentionally scared her.
He would have been gruff of course, that was just his nature. Even now he could
not muster the softness towards Belle that his nephews possessed when dealing
with their women.
In the weeks leading up to their departure.  He had not found much time to
speak with the little woman, nor had he gone out of the way to do so. Thorin
would leave the bed they shared before sunrise and not return until well after
dark. There were lingering glances and hints of smiles when they would pass
each other during the day, but it never went further than that. He would never
admit aloud but he was not sure how to proceed with her. He had never sought
out to make a woman his wife before. But he was also torn because he was not
sure if now was the time. He was about to lead his men and many other land's
men into the greatest battle of their lives. Was now the time to get swept up
with a woman?
Thorin looked over at said woman and could not help but find his excuses to
hold off as just that...excuses. Weak ones at that. Belle was currently sitting
between Gyda and Tauriel listening to the two argue about who was the superior
warrior. When her eyes caught his she appeared to be pleading with her eyes for
him to rescue her.
“Little Belle” Thorin called to her. She immediately stood and walked to his
side. Once again they stood at the head of the boat their backs turned to all
others isolating them from the rest.
“Jarl Thorin. I am impressed. I did not think you remembered my name.” Belle
said with a wry smile.
“How could I forget it, my mouse?” Thorin asked with a smirk.
Belle sighed loudly in mock frustration but still held a small smile on her
plump pink lips.  The two stood out looking at the waves for a long moment.
Thorin’s hand may or may not have been brushing her arm lightly as the boat
gently rocked them.
“Tell me again where we will be landing?” Belle asked.
“Your cousins land, Northumbria,” Thorin told her looking down into her eyes.
“It is my homeland, My father’s land. Where I was raised.” The little woman
said in a tight voice.
“It should belong to you. Not him.” Thorin could tell the woman was bitter
about her cousin taking her land. “He is an usurper.”
“No. It was never to belong to me. It should have gone to Bilbo, had he not
perished with mother.”
Thorin only snorted softly in disagreement. It should have gone to Belle and
whomever she chose as a husband. Belle would make a fine ruler if she could
toughen up. He wondered how she was going to do when it came down to them
marching into battle.
“How do you believe we will be received with you by our side?” Thorin asked
her. He knew how they would be received if it was just them without the fat
king’s kin.
“Cautiously at first” The tawny haired girl answered. “Otho is an arrogant man.
He will believe that Smaug will come to his rescue, but Smaug wouldn’t risk his
armies in unfamiliar ground for Otho.”
“Just another reason you should have ruled over your cousin.” Thorin remarked.
Belle looked up at him in confusion. “Though you are meek. You are smart. You
would never have accepted an alliance with Smaug and truly expected the man to
hold true to his word.”
The raven haired man looked down at Belle and found her nodding her head
minutely.
“May I speak plainly with you, Jarl Thorin?” Her green eyes looked up at him.
“Yes.” Thorin braced himself for her next words.
“You are going to kill many of my father’s people. I know it, you know it. Otho
will not back down until all his men are dead. He will sit behind his army of
farmers and a few soldiers while they fight your far superior warriors and die
for their  King  like they are supposed to. I am unsure if he will fight or
not. He could go either way, but my gut says he will run. Run to Smaug.”
“And?” Thorin was unsure where she was going with this.
“I think it is best if you do not allow him to do so.” Belle answered quietly.
“You want me to kill him?”
The little woman gasped and shook her head. “No. He is my kin! I do not want
you to lay a hand on him, at least until I have a chance to speak with him.”
Thorin scoffed. “What are you going to say to him that will make him change his
mind?”
Belle glared up at him haughtily. “I don’t quite know as of yet. But I have a
feeling I can sway him in our favor.”
Thorin glared down at her as she glared up at him. Her fire showing in her
eyes. She was challenging him, quite openly and it thrilled him. She might just
make a great ruler yet.
“I will give you the chance to speak with your cousin. If you can not sway him,
I will be killing him.”
His little woman did not look happy about it but she gave him a curt nod and
turned her eyes back out to the dark sea. “I would ask that you allow me to
attempt the same thing with his army.”
“What?! No” Thorin fumed. “Absolutely not! Have you lost your mind?”
Belle shrunk back from his anger for only a minute before standing straight
unflinching. “These are my father’s people. I grew up with many of the men that
will be standing on that battlefield. I would like to offer them the same deal
as their King.”
“And how are you going to get them alone to speak with them?!” Thorin growled
angrily.
“On the battlefield. “ Belle said simply.
“Do you understand how easily they could shoot an arrow into you?” At this
point Thorin was sure his face had turned a bright red. Out of the corner of
his eye he saw Gothi sitting up straight as if ready to intervene.
“I will wear armor.” the english girl said with a shrug.
“She says she will wear armor!” The large man sneered. “ I do not have armor
that will fit you! You are child sized.”
“For the last time, I am average height for my people, Jarl Thorin!” Belle
roared. Her little fists cleched at her sides as she scowled angrily up at him.
“That does not change the fact that I have no armor in your size.” Thorin said
between clenched teeth. He had bent to look her in the eyes so they were mere
inches away. He could see the golden flecks in her emerald green eyes. They
pulled him in so deeply that he nearly forgot they were arguing, or on a boat
with thirty others.
“It is a good thing then, that my grandfather had some made for me before we
left.” Belle said with a triumphant smirk.
Thorin pulled himself away from her sharply. “The answer is still no.”
“Why!?”
“I will not allow you to be in harm's way, woman!” Thorin roared loud enough
for the entire boat to stop what they were doing and look up. He glared at all
of them making his crew turn back to their previous attentions swiftly.
“Jarl Thorin, my cousin and his men, they will not hurt me. They are Christian
men.” Belle said quietly and touched his arm as if to reassure him.
“Is your dearest husband not a Christian as well? He hurt you in many ways did
he not?” Thorin immediately wished he could take the words back. Tears welled
in the woman’s eyes instantaneously. She dropped her hand from where it rested
on his arm as if he had burned her.
“Belle...I’m..” He wanted to say sorry but he had never been one for apologies
but he would try for her. He was about to finish the sentence when she put up a
hand in a “stop” motion and shook her head halting him from speaking more.
“You are right, Jarl Thorin.” The tawny haired woman said in a sad voice and
stepped away from him. She made her way to the end of the boat and sat between
Gyda and Dwalin. The large man slung a heavy arm over Belle’s shoulders while
his wife held the woman’s hand and rolled her eyes at Thorin as if to say “You
fucking idiot”.
===============================================================================
Landing in Northumbria proved to be easier than he thought it would have been.
They were not spotted until they were practically on the shore of the beach,
but Thorin did not stop at the beach and wait.
“There is a river. It is deep. We may be able to go inland by it.” Belle told
Fili standing beside her.
Thorin turned to look at her and found her avoiding eye contact with him. He
was about to speak when his sister-son beat him to it.
“Where?”
Belle lifted her delicate hand and pointed towards the river head barely
visible.
Thorin raised a call for his boat, the leader in their floating caravan, to row
towards the mouth of the river. Thorin smirked as he heard the horn from the
Castle of Northumbria blow warning all of it’s citizens to get within it’s
gates.
“Run like little mice.” Nori said with a loud cackled.
The boat erupted into chuckles except for Belle. Thorin caught her saddened
eyes staring pointedly towards the water.
They were half a mile up the river when Thorin spotted a search party.
“They have sent children to do what a man should have.” Dwalin growled behind
Thorin.
“They are not children. Just miniature men.” Fili answered with a smug smile.
The raven haired leader stared down one of the soldiers in the search party and
found that he agreed with Dwalin. They looked like children to him. Thorin had
every intention of allowing the search party to watch them until one of them
opened their mouths.
“You filthy savages! We have been righteous and our God will reward us by
striking you down!”
Thorin heard a small groan from behind him and found Belle with her head in her
hands whispering “stupid boy.”
The men all looked to Thorin for instructions on what to do. His heart wanted
to tell them to ignore the taunts for Belle, but his mind, the logical part of
him knew what he must do.
“Row ashore.” Thorin barked and heard his order being repeated many boats back.
===============================================================================
Thorin had done something that he never would have before he met the small
English girl with the long tawny curls. He had given a enemy soldier a chance
to run.
“Drop sword and I won’t kill.” Thorin had growled into the soldiers ear in
choppy English. The Jarl held the English soldier against his chest with a
sword at his throat. The others in his small party had already slit the throats
of the English spies, well those that chose to stay and fight. A few had run
back to the castle as soon as they saw the Norse boats moving to shore.
The English soldier immediately dropped his sword, it landed with a barely
audible thud.
“ Please don’t kill me .” The young man whispered in a shaky voice.
 “Fili.” Thorin growled calling his nephew to his side. The blonde stepped to
his uncle’s side on silent feet.
“Tell him to deliver a message to his King.” Thorin ordered and listened as the
blonde translated Thorin's words to the soldier. The English soldier nodded his
head in affirmation as well he could with a sharp sword against his throat.
“Tell your King to assemble his army. We will meet him on the battlefield
tomorrow. I will have a special someone there he may wish to speak to.”
The raven haired Norseman threw the soldier to the ground after Fili had
translated for him.
“ Run, boy”  Thorin said in English. The soldier stood on unsteady legs and
went stumbling through the woods towards the castle.
Fili gave his Uncle a questioning look but thought better of voicing his
confusion at his Uncle’s choice to leave the boy alive.
After tying the bodies of the dead soldiers to their horses and setting them
free knowing full well the horses would return to the castle with their macabre
load, the norsemen climbed back into the boats and went further up the river.
They rowed until Belle, with assurance from Gothi, told them they had found
where their camp should be. It was a clearing just off the shore of the river,
so they would be near their boats, still have freshwater and also fish if they
wished it. Thorin’s army split then. Most readied camp while a small group of
fifty men raided the few houses they found on the river. They found them empty
of human life but abundant in animal life. All the animals were taken back to
camp. They would all be of use, whether it was the handful of horses for riding
or the goats, chickens and pigs for eating. His men would feast after they won
the battle tomorrow. Thorin had no doubt his men would win. They had triple if
not quadruple the number of men as King Otho.
===============================================================================
By the time the raiding party returned, trenches and latrines had been dug,
sticks were sharpened and made into barricades. But instead of setting them up
as they normally would, he had been told by Fili that Belle had suggested they
do it a different way. It was quite ingenious making Thorin once again question
if she truly had the gift of sight like her grandfather.
She had told Fili how to design them so that they lay flat on the ground hidden
by a thin layer of snow and branches. If there was an attack one would simply
pull the rope on their side back far enough to have the pieces lock into place
and produce the sharpened stick barrier at the last moment, not giving the
enemy time to avoid it. Thorin had listened as the little woman was praised by
Dain later.
“You are smart and have a mighty gift from the Gods on top of it all.” The
large redheaded man said. “I will forever be grateful you are on our side.”
Dain then threw his arm over Belle’s little shoulder and gave her what the man
must have thought was a gentle embrace but looked to nearly squeezing the life
out of her, if her bulging eyes were anything to go by.
Thorin went to intervene when his cousin released her with a kiss to the top of
the head and went on his merry way. The raven haired Jarl ground his teeth
together in jealousy. He did not like anyone to touch his woman, let alone with
embraces and hugs.
“Peace, Thorin Thrainson. I can hear your teeth cracking from here.” Gothi said
in a gravely voice.
“Quiet, Old Man.” Thorin grumbled without much heat.
Since the gray haired man’s declaration of his oncoming death Thorin could not
find it in himself to be angry at anytime with Gothi. All he felt was something
akin to sadness and loss brewing within him.
As if he had read his thoughts, Gothi rose from his seat by the fire and
clasped Thorin on the shoulder in a comforting gesture before hobbling to his
tent with the assistance of Belle.
That was another annoyance for Thorin. Belle was now sleeping in the same tent
as her grandfather. It was cold here, but not nearly as cold as their homeland.
Belle did not need body heat to stay warm in the night. She just needed to be
bundled in furs. It angered Thorin to have his sleeping companion ripped away
from him. It had made him more surly than he already was, according to Dwalin.
That night when Thorin laid in his bedroll he found himself unable to sleep.
His body was missing Belle as if she were his right arm. He found the night
colder than he ever had been back in his homeland and his arms felt empty
without her presence.
===============================================================================
“Where is your armor?” Thorin asked Belle when he found her sitting beside the
fire the next morning tending to her grandfather who was swatting at her hands.
Belle turned her big green eyes up at him in surprise.
“If you truly wish to speak with your cousin’s army before the battle then you
must wear armor.”
The little woman gave him a bright smile before skittering off towards her
tent.
“She will be safe” Gothi spoke from where he was sitting at the fire pit once
again.
“Good.” Thorin did not ask if the Gods had spoken of such things, finding that
it did not matter. He trusted Gothi and if Gothi swore Belle would not be hurt
then Thorin would have to believe him.
Thorin stood outside Belle’s tent and listened to her excited breathing,
feeling a smile creep onto his face. “Wear breeches under your skirts.”  He
called to her.
“Breeches?” Belle called back.
“I would prefer if you did not wear a dress at all during this battle but I
know that is a lot cause. Put breeches under your skirts because you will be
cold watching the battle.” That was not the only reason he wanted her to wear
pants under her dress. She would be riding, and wind happened to rush past one
when riding. If one of his men caught sight of her bare legs he would have to
kill them for his own mind to be at ease.
When Belle came out she was wearing chainmail over her dress but under her
cloak effectively hiding it from the untrained observer.
“Did you put them on?” Thorin asked her looking at her skirts as if he could
see through them.
Belle crossed her arms in front of her chest with a wry smile. “I’ll have you
know I had these on before you even asked me to put them on. Apparently our
minds are in the same place.”
Thorin smiled back at her allowing the peace her smile brought him to push away
some of his fear for her safety.
The raven-haired man allowed himself to get lost in her emerald green eyes
until Kili walked over with her horse.
“A horse? For me?” Belle asked happily.
“Yes. How else are you going to get there?” Thorin jested.
Belle rolled her green eyes at him fondly and went to get on the horse but
found it much too tall for her. Taking advantage of this Thorin placed his
large hands on her waist and lifted her onto the horse.
“Was that necessary?” The woman huffed once she had settled on the horse.
“I don’t know. Could you have gotten on that horse by yourself?” Thorin replied
snarkily.
Belle did not answer him simply scrunched up her nose in a quick grimace.
Thorin did not say anything else, he only reached up to grab her hand gently in
his own. She looked at him slightly confused by his action but did not pull
away.
“Listen to me, my Belle.” His voice low as he spoke. “Do not take risks that
are going to put you in harm’s way. You say what you must to his army but do
not anger them and if you see even one raise their bow towards you, you will
kick this horse in the sides until he rides faster than the wind.  Do you
understand?”
Belle looked down at him with her large green eyes and nodded earnestly.
“I will gut any man that dares raise a weapon towards you. Stay out of the way
when the fighting begins. Stay safe.” Thorin’s words were choppy as he got them
out. He pressed a harsh kiss to first her palm and then her wrist. He dropped
her hand before he could see her reaction and climbed on his horse.
He was a coward in this moment to walk away without explaining his feelings to
her should he die in this fight. He knew this and yet he still did not turn to
tell her his heart beat for her. He allowed his nephews, Gyda and Tauriel to
guard her on all sides while he road at the front with Bard, Dain and Gothi.
The four men led their two thousand warriors to the battlefield.
===============================================================================
Thorin allowed his nephews, Gyda and Tauriel to guard her on all sides while he
road at the front with Bard, Dain, and Gothi. The four men led their two
thousand warriors to the battlefield.
While they rode they spoke strategy. Their sheer numbers would be enough to win
this battle without problem for them. Though they decided to follow through
with a battle strategy used by Gothi himself long ago. They would be splitting
up. Half the army would stay in the open while the other half hid away in the
forest ready to move behind the English army when they attacked and slaughter
them from all sides. When they reached the clearing they found that they were
alone. Bard led roughly one thousand men into the woods to await the army of
Otho, House of Sackville-Baggins.
Thorin placed his men with their backs to the woods. They gave up the higher
ground to do so, a horrible thing to do if your armies were evenly matched. But
they were not matched, far from it. Even if they decided to sit out half his
army Thorin would still have double the amount of men Otho did. Thorin’s
warriors lined up their shields at the ready. Thorin, Dain, Gothi, Gyda,
Tauriel and Belle all sat on horses behind the rows of blood-thirsty Norse men
and women. They waited quietly until they heard the tell tale sound of many
feet approaching. Then they saw the four hundred men of King Otho. Thorin
watched them with sharp blue eyes as they stepped down the hill towards his
army with great fear and shaking knees.
The large Jarl smirked when he saw the Christian King. He was a rotund man with
dark curly hair. His nose was sharp like a bird’s beak and his eyes beady like
that of a weasel. He had a circlet atop his round head and robes that showed
his status.
Thorin wondered why the man would wear such finery to a battle. As if she heard
his thoughts Belle answered.
“He does not plan to fight,” Belle whispered.
“Coward,” Thorin said with a snarl.
Otho’s army stood at the top of the small incline unsure of how to proceed.
Thorin’s men did not move from their positions. None shifted. None even moved
the muscles in their faces except to blink. It proved to be unnerving for the
enemy. From his spot behind the army, he could see the nervous sweat beginning
to build on the English army's faces.
“Thorin. You will need to get behind Otho to capture him. He is going to run as
soon as the fighting begins. He knows he can not win.”
“Yes. But first…” Thorin said and moved his horse around the left side of his
army with Belle following at his heels and Gyda behind her.
Otho’s army stopped leaving a large space between the two armies. Thorin led
his horse into the space between still tucked close to his own warriors.  He
faced Otho and glared at him menacingly as Belle’s horse trotted directly in
the middle of the two Armies. Gyda walked her horse up beside Thorin and
translated for him as Belle spoke in English.
“My name is Belledonna of House Baggin’s. I am the daughter of your former
King, King Bungo. Many of you know me as I was living amongst you, not two
years past. Many more of you know me for we grew up together. Playing side by
side in the castle that I called home for so many years. My father led you
through many years of peace. He kept you all safe without marching you out to
battle.” Belle yelled out in a large confident voice making Thorin’s heart
burst with pride. “He would never have made an alliance with the Bastard King!”
Thorin smirked when he saw King Otho grow red in the face at her insult.
“And now you fight with the Heathens?! You are confused, my cousin! They have
tainted your mind and spirit. Come with me now and I will return you to your
husband unharmed.” Otho yelled out, still cowering behind his army.
“Though they may be heathens they have honor.” Belle ignored her cousin's
taunts and continued speaking. “I have made a deal for you, the people who my
father loved so dearly. Those who do not wish to fight for a silly King who
made a deal with the devil named Smaug, you may leave now, in peace. The
Norsemen will not hunt you down, nor kill you. You may go to your families and
consider yourself safe. The Norsemen will not come for you, you have my word!”
Thorin watched as multiple men on the opposite side of the battlefield looked
at each other nervously.
“Her word? You would trust her word!? She has sided with the heathens. She has
abandoned the one true God! She will be demolished by hellfire as those who
side with her will. Stay strong men! You are fighting in the true Gods name.”
Otho screamed to his men.
Belle began to walk her horse up and down the length of the space between the
armies as she spoke.
“You are not fighting in God’s name! You are fighting for the gluttonous man
behind you! He is the reason you are going to die today! He made a deal with
Smaug! If he did not this army would not be standing here. They would not
bother with you! It is because of the deal he made with their enemy!”Belle
roared pointing a finger at her cousin.“He was greedy and selfish and promised
to give your lives to Smaug in exchange of gold and silver from the Bastard
King. Smaug would never send his army here to protect you! The deal was one-
sided! Otho would march all of you to Wessex to defend a King who would never
do the same for you! Otho did so knowing such things because he wished to drown
in gold in silver! So I say again, you are not fighting for God, you are
fighting because your pompous King is a greedy piglet suckling at the teet of
Smaug!”
More of the English men began to shuffle and give wary looks to one another.
Sensing he was losing control Otho perched higher on his horse. His feet
digging into the poor animals stirrups so he could semi-stand.  “Lies! She is
spouting words of the devil!” Otho cried out. “Do not listen to the devil
woman!”
Belle shook her head sadly and looked out at his men once more. “Listen to your
hearts, not the words of your greedy King. Do not die for nothing. Do not leave
your wives as widows and your children fatherless to starve this winter! Leave
now and you will not be harmed. Go home to your families. Go if you wish to
live!”
Thorin raised an eyebrow as men began to drop their shields and run. He counted
fifty as they skittered away up the small embankment and out of sight all the
while their King screamed that they were giving into the enticings of the
devil.
“Enough of this! Archers! Let loose your arrows!” Otho cried.
Thorin kicked the sides of his horse towards Belle just as she turned to
retreat. The archers hesitated for a moment giving Thorin the time to lift his
round oak shield above her head before the arrows fell around them. It appeared
to him as if the archers were purposely missing the little woman for none hit
his shield and none hit her.
“Shields up!” Dain cried to their men as Thorin led Belle out of the range of
fire.
Thorin's warriors and shieldmaidens lifted their shields. The front line held
their shields in front of their bodies while those behind the front line held
their shields above themselves and the men in front of them effectively
covering all those in range.
Thorin left Belle in the care of Gyda and Tauriel as he and Dain began to shout
orders to their men.
“Shield wall!” Dain called when Otho’s men began to charge.
“Hold steady!” Thorin cried out as the English men began to push against his
shield wall tiring themselves out within minutes. “Give way!” Thorin called
again. He watched as the shield wall began to move back a few feet. He was
giving Otho false hope and it seemed to be working. He could hear the man
calling out in glee at the sight.
“Open!” Dain roared. Every two shield’s opened and the row behind shoved a
spear through the opening effectively skewering the English soldier in the way
before they closed the open shields once more. Otho was so focused on the
strange Norse strategy that he did not see the second army approaching on his
left until they had him completely surrounded. Thorin smirked at the look of
pure fear on the fat man’s face.
“Slaughter them all! But leave the fat King alive! He is mine!” The Jarl roared
making multiple warriors laugh.
Thorin’s eyes automatically searched for his nephews. He saw Kili shooting
arrows from the side while Fili was hacking his way towards the King, double
swords glistening with enemy blood. Feeling the bloodlust begin to build within
him Thorin kicked the sides of his horse and rode after those fleeing. He cut
them down one by one feeling the excitement thrumming through his veins.
It felt like moments later that the battle was over. Nori blew the horn letting
them know that all were dead, all except one.
Thorin wiped the blood from his sword and trotted towards Otho, who had been
ripped from his horse by Fili. The blonde was currently holding the King on his
knees with twin swords resting at his neck, ready to slit it open at any
moment.
As his men sorted through bodies, weapons, and armor Thorin looked down at the
little man with a sneer. He took out his dagger ready to plunge it into the
throat of the coward when Belle trotted up beside him and jumped from her
horse.
“Thorin. Do not lay a hand on him, I must speak with him.”
Thorin rolled his eyes but motioned for Fili to allow the man to stand.
“I have nothing to say to the cock warmer of the heathens .” Otho snarled and
spit at Belle’s feet.
Thorin did not need to speak English to hear that his words were a terrible
insult. Thorin brought his head back and slammed his forehead it into the man’s
face, knocking the man onto his arse. Thorin then kicked the side of his head
knocking him unconscious.
“Thorin!” Belle cried out and knelt by her cousin's side checking for signs of
life.
“What!?” Thorin growled back. “You said not to lay a hand on him. I did not lay
a hand on him.”
Belle glared up at him as if to say “You know what I meant” but did not say
anything else. Tauriel was there within moments checking the man over.
“He will wake eventually.” The redheaded woman said and rose to her feet, her
eyes searching out her dark-haired husband.
===============================================================================
 
“He is still not waking. I think you killed him, Thorin!” Belle said worriedly
from where she was checking over her cousin's unconscious form once again.
“He is still breathing.” Thorin rolled his ice blue eyes before grabbing a pail
of water and dumping it over the slumped form of Otho, House of Sackville-
Baggins.
The man sputtered under the shower of water, his brown eyes opening blearily.
Thorin looked to Belle with an “I told you so” smirk.
“ Unhand me !” Otho roared.
“ I do not believe you are in a position to be demanding things, ” Gyda
responded in English from where she was sharpening her sword.
“ Belle! Belle! You must help me! ” The fat man pleaded with his cousin.
Thorin smirked at the pleading look on Otho’s face.
“She is not in charge here. I am” Thorin growled and motioned for Gyda to
translate for him. The auburn-haired half English woman huffed and stood from
her rock to do what her leader asked of her. Belle glared at him but did not
say anything. She kept quiet and stayed slightly behind Thorin.
“Why would she help you? You ordered her death on that battlefield. You can not
ask anything of her. Perhaps we should hand her the knife and allow her to gut
you.” Thorin snarled.
Otho looked up at him in fear as Gyda translated. “Belle would never,” Otho
answered but Thorin could see the doubt behind his eyes.
“Hmmm, Perhaps not,” Thorin said and crossed his arms over his chest,
accentuating his muscled arms.  “But any of these two thousand men would gladly
do it in her stead without her having to raise a finger.”
Thorin could smell the foul stench of fear rolling off Otho in waves. The large
raven-haired man smirked with triumph. “Shall we begin?” Thorin asked pulling
out a dagger. “You listen to her words. You answer any question she has. For
every word of hers you ignore and for every insult you direct at her I will
take a finger. And when those are gone I will go on to your toes. If those run
out I will move on to limbs. Do you understand?” Thorin asked running the blade
of the knife down Otho’s cheek nicking his skin lightly.
Otho nodded but glared at Belle as she stepped forward. “ Cousin. I didn’t want
this. ”
“Didn’t you?”  Otho snarled up at Belle.
“No! I never did! I told you nothing good would come from your alliance with
Smaug and you didn’t listen.”
“Why would I listen to you? Stupid woman. What do you know of alliances or
running a Kingdom!? ” Otho roared.
As Gyda translated Thorin became more and more angry, though he did not show
it. He kept his impassive mask on. As soon as Otho called Belle a stupid woman
Thorin nodded to Dwalin who pulled a red-hot blade from the fire. Otho was then
held by Fili and Kili as he screamed and tried to back away from them. Kili
yanked the fat man’s hand out so it was flat on the tree stump in front of him
while Dwalin cut his smallest finger off first. The smell and sound of sizzling
flesh filled the air. Thorin’s eyes drifted to Belle to see her tearing up but
clenching her jaw in concentration as she tried to keep the tears from falling.
Without thought, Thorin rubbed his fingers over the back of her clenched hand
resting at her side.
Belle looked up at him with large sad emerald eyes. He grabbed her hand fully
in his own and gave it a quick squeeze before attempting to release it. But
Belle held fast to his hand.
“Thorin. I have an idea.”
Thorin gave her a confused look unsure of what she meant. He pulled her away
from the camp slightly and turned their backs to prying eyes.
“We don’t have to kill him,” Belle said grabbing his large hand in both of
hers.
“What? Belle, why would we keep him alive?” Thorin growled.
“He deserves to die, I get that. I am not stupid or without anger towards him.
But, he could be of use to you.” The tawny-haired girl said with hopeful and,
dare he say, excited eyes.
Thorin’s mind began flitting through his options and how he could use the man.
“You mean to have him pay me Danegald?”
“Yes!” Belle said with a large smile. “He pays you what gold and silver Smaug
gave him. You have no use for his Kingdom as we are not staying here. He has no
army to fight with he could be a puppet for you. If we decide to come back you
can take his Kingdom easily and kill him then.”
Thorin weighed the options silently. “Or I could kill him now, march to his
castle and take the gold for myself.”
“You could but word would spread to Mercia and Wales that Northumbria is
unprotected. They will take that land for themselves. Otho is a prideful man,
he will not willingly tell anyone that his entire army was decimated. But you
kill him and Northumbria will fall to Mercia or Wales without a King here. You
and I both know you do not have enough men to leave here to protect the land.
You need every man fighting in Wessex. So leave Otho here, make him pay you and
rest easy knowing this land will be waiting for you if you want it later.”
Thorin stood in amazement at her plan. It was smart, ingenious even. A few
months earlier he would have never entertained the thought of listening to her,
but now he trusted her, among other things. She had not been wrong yet.
“Okay,” Thorin said simply.
“Okay?” Belle asked, brow quirked.
“Yes. It is a good plan, Little Mouse.” Thorin again squeezed her hand before
dropping it and turning back towards Otho with Belle on his heels.
“Did you already need to be reminded of the rules, fat man?” Thorin growled as
he crouched down to be face to face with a crying Otho. “No insults and listen
to her.”
Thorin stepped away from Otho again and nudged Belle forward.
“ I do not want them to hurt you, Otho. Please just listen to me. ” Belle said
in a pleading voice.
Otho did not say anything in return just glared up at her. Thorin was sure if
he was not in immense pain and fear the man would be spouting insults.
“ Smaug hurt me, Otho. He tortured me. I should hate you for what you knowingly
did to me. Yes, knowingly. You knew he would hurt me. You knew his two other
wives had died of ‘ mysterious causes ’ just as I had known. And yet you still
sold me to him for silver and gold and I can never forgive you for that. But we
are still family.”
The fat man scoffed and muttered something under his breath. Thorin cleared his
throat and glared down at the man giving him a stern but silent reminder. The
fat king winced slightly and turned his eyes back to Belle.
“I want to save your life, Otho. So here is what must happen for you to
survive. You give them all the gold and silver you were given by Smaug, some
food from the castle stores and promise not to give word to Smaug of our
approach and they will leave you be, life still intact.”
Otho scowled at her deeply.  “And if I say no?”
Belle took a very deep and very aggravated breath before answering.  “Then
Dwalin is going to cut your appendages off one by one until you die of blood
loss. They will then walk through the gates of my father’s castle, rape your
wife and murder your son violently.”
Thorin was surprised at Belle’s words. Her tone was ice cold and detached.
“Is that what they did to you? Rape you into submission? Did each one of his
men take a turn on you, Belle? ” Otho sneered.
Thorin marched forward to kill the man himself but Belle put a little hand on
his chest stopping him.
“ No. They have honor with those that are of their blood.”  The tawny-haired
girl said proudly, showing much more strength than Thorin thought she
possessed. Thorin watched as Otho's dark brows rose at her declaration of
blood. “ Take the deal, Otho.”
“I will not negotiate with a lying heathen whore! God is on my side! He will
protect me.”  Otho screamed and thrashed.
This time Thorin was the one to wield the red-hot knife. Instead of taking just
a finger Thorin decided to take an entire hand. Thorin was halfway through the
bone when Otho screamed that he would take the deal, that he would give them
anything they wanted. Thorin traded off his knife for a heated ax. In one fluid
motion, he had the hand completely cut off. Tauriel and Sigrid were there in a
flash wrapping Otho’s stump in clean clothes. The pompous King had passed out
from the pain momentarily while  Thorin allowed the healers to patch him up.
“You could have just hit him. He would have given in eventually. You didn't
need to take his hand,” Belle said woefully as she looked at Otho’s detached
hand laying on the ground.
“He knew the consequences of insulting you. He is lucky he is still alive.”
Thorin answered.
Belle did not argue with him, she knew he was right.
===============================================================================
 
“ How could you do this to him!? !” a black haired woman with a shrill annoying
voice screamed at Belle as Thorin’s men ceremoniously dumped Otho onto the
ground in the courtyard of the castle.
“Lobelia.” Belle greeted the woman in a tight voice but did not answer her
question.
“My poor Otho! ” Lobelia wailed and screamed for a healer to help him.
Thorin could see the tenseness growing in Belle’s shoulders at the shrill
woman’s presence. The large Norseman felt the overwhelming need to protect her
so he did just that. He stepped in front of Belle and faced down the little
pest.
“You heathen devils! You will pay for this! Belle, you will pay for this. Oh
how you will pay for this!”  the woman threatened, trying to look around
Thorin’s large frame to glare at Belle. Having had enough of her Thorin lightly
shoved the woman backward and watched her fly to the ground. He then straddled
her prone form and drew his sword putting the sharp blade to her throat.
“ Quiet, woman, ” Thorin said in heavily accented English. The black-haired
woman looked up at him with immense fear dancing in her eyes. Her chest heaved
with fear and Thorin smelled the unmistakable stench of urine. Thorin gave her
one more stern glare before rising off of her and telling Belle to lead him to
the treasury.
Belle lead Thorin and his men into the treasury and stood off to the side as
they began to load the wagons full of gold and silver. Thorin kept one eye on
his men and the other on his little woman. She was looking at a tapestry hung
in the far corner of the stone room. It looked dusty and uncared for. Thorin
stood next to her as she ran a hand over the tapestry. As Belle cleared the
dust from the tapestry he could see that it was quite beautiful. There were
intricate vines and trees resembling a beautiful garden embroidered on it. In
the center of this garden was three individuals. A man, a child, and a woman.
All three holding hands. The woman was quite obviously pregnant in the
tapestry, her belly rounded dramatically. Thorin stared at it for a moment
longer before recognizing the bright green eyes of the child.
“It’s you.” Thorin breathed in surprise.
“Mother made it,” Belle said in a voice thick with tears.
“It is beautiful.” The raven-haired man told her gently. He too lifted his hand
to brush some of the dust away from the tapestry, showing more and more of the
details hidden behind the gray dust. The large man looked at the way the
tapestry was attached to the wall and in one quick motion pulled the bar
holding it up ripping the mounts from the wall they were attached to.
“What are you doing?” Belle asked in alarm, her emerald eyes wide.
“Taking it with us,” Thorin answered in a blunt tone.
“Do we have room?” The little woman chewed on her lip nervously but still
gently touching the tapestry not being able to let go of it.
“If we have room for gold and silver we have room for your mother's tapestry.”
Tears welled in Belle’s eyes. The little woman wrapped her arms around his
waist and hugged him for a moment. Thorin bowed his head and pressed a kiss to
her forehead feeling his heart beat rapidly at the thrill of it.
“Thank you, Thorin.” Belle said with a gentle smile.
“Anything for you, my mouse.”
Chapter End Notes
     Just a quick note:
     I realized I had the wrong name for Belle's cousin. I mixed up Lotho
     and Otho. I have gone back and made those changes so please excuse my
     mistake on that.
     I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter!
***** Belle *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
 
Belle gleefully charged into the King’s quarters in the castle of Northumbria
with Thorin stalking behind her as a menacing bodyguard. Feeling giddier than
she had in a long time Belle grabbed a pillowcase and began to pile what was
left of her parent's belongings into the makeshift bag while she laughed. She
had walked away with her father’s sword and cross, her mother’s silver
brushes and a beautiful wooden box containing her mother’s prized silverware.
But there was something missing. Belle looked to the far right of the drawer
and found the silver_spoons missing.
“She has taken them!” Belle growled and closed the lid of the box roughly.
“Who?” Thorin asked confused. He was currently lounging on the King’s bed. His
dirty boots muddying up the white sheets. His muscled arms behind his dark head
but his sword close by in case he needed to defend her or himself.
“Lobelia. My cousin’s wife.” Belle said as she sat on the end of the bed with
her head in her hands.
“The black haired bitch?” Thorin moved to sit up, further spreading the mud,
blood and other bodily fluids from his boots onto the King and Queen’s once
white sheets.
“The rather unpleasant woman you met earlier, yes.”  Belle stood again, so very
irritated. Thorin snorted at her description of Lobelia. Belle knew it was not
words the large man would use. He felt they were too mild and kind for Belle’s
cousin’s wife.
“This is something she would do. She knew I loved this silverware! We fought
about it before they married me off. I wanted to take it with me. She wouldn’t
let me have it. Lobelia must have stored them on her once she saw us coming.”
“Like I said. She is a bitch.” Thorin told the tawny-haired girl before
standing to his full height and whistling, bringing in two of his men who were
standing guard. “Take these to the boat. Be gentle.” He said handing the
pillowcase and wooden silverware box to the warriors.
“She is unpleasant.” Belle hedged pulling Thorin’s attention back to her.
“Unpleasant? No. She is a bitch. Say it.”
Belle gave a surprised snort. “No.”
She could see a smile threatening to creep onto Thorin’s lips. “Say it, my
mouse.”
“I am not going to say that! Why would I call her that? It will do no good.”
Thorin stepped into her personal space, his body mere inches away from hers. He
stared down into her eyes with laughter dancing in his own. “I promise it will
make you feel better. But more than that...You call her what she is, a bitch,
and I will help you get your spoons back.”
Belle bit her bottom lip lightly trying not to react to the man’s close
proximity. “I am not going to say that.”
“Oh come now, my mouse,” Thorin said and raised a hand to brush a stray curl
from her forehead. “I am not going to get your spoons back until you say the
words.” the large man said in a teasing tone.
“I can not say it. It is a sinful word, Thorin.” Belle stuttered out.
“Ah. Sinful.” Thorin tapped his bearded chin playfully. “Your God would condemn
you for uttering just one word? Seems silly, no?”
Belle was lost in his icy blue eyes but could not completely deny his logic.
“Well, It does seem a bit silly. But it is still not a nice word and certainly
one she does not entirely deserve…”
“She has been mean to you. She would not let you take your mother and father’s
possessions with you before she and her husband sold you to the Bastard King.
She threatened you. She is lucky I do not cut off her head. Call her what she
is!” the raven-haired giant of a man demanded his face inching closer and
closer to hers with a small smirk.
Belle could not help but smile back. “She is a bit of an...itch”
Thorin let out a laugh, a large belly laugh that had Belle chuckling beside
him. “Close, my mouse, but not quite. Come now. Enough of these games! She took
much from you, Belle! Do not let her run off with your mother’s spoons! Take
them back. Be strong! Now, Say what you think of the horrible woman!”
As Belle listened to Thorin’s increasingly intense words she felt fire surge
within her. The anger swelled as she thought of all the horrible things Lobelia
had done to her. The mean and cutting words. Slapping the back of her neck or
arms with her fan, demanding she sit up straight or “be a lady for once in your
life, Belledonna!”. Belle could still feel the rage gnawing her insides as she
thought of Lobelia delivering the news of Belle’s engagement to Smaug with an
evil smile on the woman’s pinched face.
Belle did not say another word, she huffed angrily and went marching down the
stone halls towards where the healer's halls were. She could barely hear the
heavy boot tread of Thorin and two other guards behind her over the racing of
her own heart. She was angry, incredibly so. And she kept that anger with her
as she stomped into the room and stood in the doorway with a red face and
heaving chest. Lobelia looked up sharply from where she was frantically patting
at her husband’s large belly in a way of comforting him.
“Lobelia! Where are my mother’s spoons!? I know you have taken them!” Belle
roared.
The black haired woman immediately stood and marched toward Belle. “You dare
come to my husband's sickbed making such a racket after you are the one who has
put him here!?”
Belle, refusing to back down stepped ever closer to the woman, there scowls
nearly identical in their fierceness. “It is not my doing that put him there!
It is his own! Now give me my mother’s spoons..you...you…you thieving Bitch!”
There was a loud gasp from Lobelia but all was silent, Belle was sure one would
be able to hear a pin drop with how silent it was. Her own mouth dropped open
in surprise. She was so busy being horrified at her own self that she did not
see Lobelia’s hand coming at her face. Of course, it never made it. Thorin had
whipped out a large but quick hand and grasped Lobelia’s thin wrist. He threw
her wrist down with enough force to send the woman stumbling away this time
though she stayed on her feet.
“Where are the spoons Lobelia!?” Belle yelled again, having come out of her
shock and returning to anger.
The little black-haired woman turned her nose up in the air refusing to answer.
Belle heard Thorin huff loudly before he stalked towards the English woman and
bent down. In one swift movement, he had the little woman held up in the air by
the ankles while spoons began to fall from the pockets of her dress. Lobelia
screamed while Thorin continued to shake the woman and his men laughed.
Lobelia’s dress had fallen over her face showcasing her white undergarments and
corset. Belle pushed down the embarrassment she felt for the woman and instead
focused on gathering the spoons that littered the floor. Everyone seemed to be
screaming but Belle had a one track mind at the moment.
Thorin gave the screaming Lobelia one last good shake before tossing her down
as a child would a rag doll. Lobelia cried and crawled her way towards her
husband’s bed to hide on the other side. Thorin offered a hand to Belle to help
her from the floor. She tucked her mother’s spoons into her own pockets and
walked towards the door without a backward glance at her cousin and his wife.
Thorin gave one last smirk to the King and Queen of Northumbria before throwing
his arm around Belle’s shoulders and walking her out of the healing halls, his
nose buried in her tawny curls.
===============================================================================
 
Belle lovingly brushed her hand over the tapestry in her tent. As her fingers
glided over the threads, she could feel her mother’s love there with her. Belle
remembered the elder Belledonna spending countless hours working on this piece
of art. When Belledonna had fallen pregnant the second time everyone knew it
was going to be the end of her. No one wished to speak it but they all knew.
The light left her eyes and she grew frail. No longer was the tall blonde woman
found gallivanting through the gardens and courtyard, now she remained in bed,
not able to move more than a few feet from it. Belle spent most of that time
with her father. She would follow him at his heels asking one million questions
within an hour. Bungo answered them all with patience when many said he needed
to be focused on other things. They said to let the nursemaid take care of
Belle, not the King. But Bungo had refused. He loved his daughter and most of
all he loved her spirit. He knew the stuffy and stern nursemaid wished to
smother that within the girl. Belledonna would never let her daughter’s spirit
be smothered so Bungo did his very best to do what Belledonna would while she
was on bedrest and even after she passed into the gates of heaven.
Belle felt a small irregularity in the threads and felt a smile spread on her
face. She remembered making this very stitch.
Little Belle bounced up the steps of the castle making her way up the winding
staircase towards her mother and father’s bedroom. The little tawny-haired girl
was overjoyed at this moment. She had heard from her nursemaid Judith that
mother was well enough for a visit that day. Of course, mother could not get
out of bed but Belle could at least visit with the woman.
Belle did not bother to knock on the door instead opting to fling the door open
and race through.
“Mama!” the little girl shouted as she skid to a stop in front of her mother.
Belledonna was looking better that day. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a
long braid running down her chest, the ends brushing her bulging stomach.
“My little darling!” Belledonna said just as excitedly as her daughter. “Come.
Sit” the woman said and patted the space on the bed beside her.
Little Belle launched herself onto the bed with great excitement. She scooted
as close to her mother as physically possible without being in the woman’s lap.
Belledonna wrapped her arms around little Belle’s shoulders and gave her a
squeeze. It was not quite as strong as it used to be but the little girl knew
her mother was not well.
“What are you doing, mama?”
The blonde woman looked down at the needle and thread in her lap. “Making a
tapestry. Would you like to help?”
Belle nodded her tawny head excitedly. Her mother helped her thread the large
needle and then begin to make stitches. It was not long after that the little
girl threw down the needle and thread with a large pout after once again making
a bulky knot.
“I am not good this! I keep making mistakes!”
The blonde woman clucked her tongue and gently took her daughter’s hands in her
own. “Oh, my little Belle. Mistakes are not a bad thing. I hope that in this
years to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you
are trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing your world.
You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're
doing something .”
===============================================================================
 
Belle thought back to that moment as she ran her hand over the bulky stitching
mistakes of her past and couldn’t help but let out a little chuckle. If only
her mother could see her now. She was trying new things, learning new things
and absolutely doing things she had never done before.
“We will be nearing your mother’s homeland soon.” the gravely voice of Gothi
Grey said behind her.
Belle looked at the old man over her shoulder. “Yes. I suppose we will be.”
Their army had split after the battle against Lotho. That had been a mutual
agreement between Thorin and Dain with Gothi’s blessing. They would split down
the middle. One thousand with Thorin and one thousand with Dain and Bard. Dain
and Bard would be taking the coastal route whereas Thorin would take the river
system down. They needed for Smaug to be confused. They needed the Bastard King
to be unsure where the Vikings were coming from and how many men they truly
had. With one thousand men each they still outnumbered any army they would come
across, apart from Smaug’s Kingdom. They did not know exactly how many men he
had but they did know he had at least four hundred less than he thought with
Otho’s army laying in a mass grave. Belle knew the number of English men Smaug
had but he also had hired swords at his disposal. Those were the numbers she
did not know of and that frightened her. She had been against the idea of
splitting up but when asked if it was due to her “foresight” (which she didn’t
believe she truly had) or just that she was frightened, she nearly lied and
said the Gods had told her. But the trusting look in Thorin’s ice blue eyes had
her rethinking that action.
So that is how they found themselves with only half their army floating down
the rivers towards Smaug’s lands in the south of England. Currently, they were
camped on the shores of the Trent. To the East was her mother’s homeland, to
the west was King Alfred. A fair and smart but very lazy King. He was only
interested in himself and his own Kingdom which was perhaps why he had lasted
so long without war. He did not care for Smaug, nor did he care for Otho. He
remained neutral to all around him. Belle knew that Smaug wanted Alfred’s
kingdom eventually as it was part of his plan to unite England under one ruler
but Alfred would never let it go willingly. The man was too smart, smart enough
to outwit Smaug without having to raise a single sword. Belle had rather liked
the man as her father had before her. The two had a friendship, or that is what
it appeared to be. But Belle knew that when it came down to it her father’s
friendship with Alfred would do her no good, the man was loyal to no one but
himself.
It was her advice to travel past his kingdom undetected. Thorin had reluctantly
agreed.
That is why they were camped on the shores of the Trent trying their best to
avoid drawing attention to themselves, as well as they could with one thousand
men and women.
“I would like to speak with you,” Gothi said and patted the furs beside him.
Belle nodded her head and sat beside her grandfather, her emerald eyes looking
into his milky one. It no longer caused her fear, it brought her comfort.
“What did you wish to speak of, Grandfather?”
Gothi grabbed her hand in his wrinkled old ones and gave it a squeeze. “Have
you forgiven Thorin?”
The little woman quirked her head to the side in confusion. “Forgiven him? For
what?”
“For taking you from your homeland. For being intentionally cruel to you. For
whatever else he has done that the Gods or the people have not thought to tell
me.” Her grandfather said in his deep gravely voice. There was no malice there,
only bluntness.
“He has changed and done many good things for me. I do not hold grudges, it is
not in my nature. So, yes, of course, I have forgiven him.”
Gothi nodded his head slowly. “I do not wish for you to be caught unaware.
Thorin has asked me for your hand in marriage.”
“What?” Belle asked dumbly. She could not quite fathom the thought of Thorin
wanting her hand in marriage. She knew he held affection for her. He held her
close when they slept together back in the Blue Mountains, he made her the
crosses, he helped her get her beloved spoons back…
“Thorin. He wishes for your hand, has for quite some time. I wished to counsel
with you on it.” Her grandfather said.
“I do not know what to say...Do you want me to marry him?” Belle asked quietly.
She felt confused and a little more than shocked. This felt sudden, too sudden
and perhaps a bit far-fetched.
The large and slightly shriveled man beside her shrugged. “He is a good man at
his core. Honest in his dealings. Strong. A good warrior. He has money, quite a
bit of it actually. Thorin is smart though his temper and hunger for vengeance
can at times get in the way of his mind. But he would be good to you as you
would be good to him. You could keep him in line and bring out the best in him.
You already do. But if it is not your wish to marry him, if you love another,
you may turn down his proposal. You may marry whomever you choose. I just want
you to be happy, my little Belle.”
Belle threw her arms around her grandfather’s stomach and nestled into his
side. He smelled of the ocean spray, snow, herbs, and ale. It was a good scent,
one she had grown to love and find comfort in.
“Thank you,” The little woman said, her voice teetering with tears.
Her grandfather only nodded and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Think on it,
my child. You have time. Decisions such as this can not be made in the blink of
an eye.”
Belle nodded against her grandfather’s chest before letting go and standing.
She quickly wiped her eyes and made an excuse to exit the tent.
As Belle made her way to the center of the large camp she caught sight of
Tauriel standing at the edge of the fire, her hand on her stomach and her face
turning a slight green color.
“Come,” Belle said and linked her arm with her friends guiding the woman into
the woods.
Tauriel walked stiffly beside her until they were deep enough into the woods.
The redheaded woman then allowed her weight to fall against a nearby tree as
she vomited rather violently into the white snow at her feet. Belle rubbed at
her taller friends back hoping to provide what little comfort she could.
“It is a good sign that you are vomiting. It means the baby is developing
well.”
Tauriel looked at Belle with a slight glare.
The smaller woman chuckled lightly at her friend's reaction then became
serious. “Have you told him yet?”
“No. I want to wait a little longer. Until I am sure I will not lose my son.”
Tauriel said and pressed a hand against her stomach lightly.
Belle understood Tauriel’s fear. The woman, though having been told many times
that Kili was not like Legolas, feared that if she miscarried this child Kili
would blame her. Belle could vehemently disagree until her face turned blue but
it would not take Tauriel’s fears from her. So the tawny-haired woman gave up.
“I am going to make water. I will be right back.” Belle said and moved deeper
into the forest. She did not, in fact, have to pee she just needed a moment
alone to think. What her grandfather had told her was creeping in on her. She
had so many conflicting emotions running through her all at once that she could
not see a way out of it. Tauriel did not seem to hear her as the woman was yet
again spilling bile from her mouth, her back turned to Belle. The tawny-haired
girl stepped a few paces away before leaning her back against a tree.
‘Thorin wants to marry me? Why? Does he love me? Do I love him? No...Well
maybe? Do I? Does he?’Belle wondered silently.
The snapping of a twig beside her had her whipping around to see three English
men advancing on her.
“Tauri…!” Belle tried to scream but one of the men shot forward and clamped a
hand over her mouth. She bit and gnawed at the large hand, but the leather
gloves he was wearing protected him. Belle struggled as they boosted her onto a
fourth man’s horse, he grabbed her tight around her waist where she was placed
in front of him and kicked the sides of the horse.
“Tauriel!” Belle screamed when the man on the ground released her mouth. “Help
me! Thorin!”
As the horse took off Belle frantically looked over her shoulder for any sign
of someone following them. She saw a flash of red hair fighting one of the
remaining English men striking him down.
“Belle!” Tauriel screamed and reached her hand out to the woman from afar as if
she could somehow reach her.
A hand once again fell over Belle’s mouth and nose cutting off all air from
entering her lungs. She struggled and squirmed trying to get the hand from her
mouth. She scratched with all her might to no avail. The black spots of
unconsciousness clawed at her vision, threatening to take over and soon all she
could see was the black. Her mind went blank as unconsciousness fell over.
===============================================================================
 
When the tawny-haired girl came to she saw a familiar pair of eyes. Light green
eyes she had not seen since childhood. Ones that matched that of her beloved
grandmother, Adamanta.
“Primula?”
The woman with the wild curls so much like Belle’s only in chocolate brown
smiled warmly at her. “Belle!” The girl chirped happily. She threw her arms
around Belle’s shoulders and hugged her tightly. Belle blinked tiredly a few
times and shook her head trying to gain some clarity. She was slumped in a
chair with her hands bound with rope. As soon as she ascertained that this was
not a dream she began to frantically try to get loose of her binds.
“Oh! Here.” Primula said and began to untie the ropes. “Drogo told them not
bind you but they did not listen. I am so very sorry, dear cousin.”
Belle stood immediately on weak legs and gripped her cousin’s forearms tightly.
“Prim. You must let me go. They will come for me in a tidal wave of blood.”
Her cousin looked at her in alarm. “We can protect you from them, Belle!
Drogo’s men will protect you!”
The tawny-haired girl shook her head in confusion. “Protect me from them? From
Thorin?”
“Is that the leader of the heathen army’s name?” Primula asked with excited
green eyes.
“Yes…” Belle said slowly as she took in her surroundings. She was in a castle.
She knew her favorite cousin Primula had been married off to a lord, but she
had never found out who. The pieces of the puzzle began to come together.
Primula had been married off to Drogo, a Lord in King Alfred’s Kingdom.
“Is it true? Are they really so horrible? How did you survive? Are they always
so violent? Do they truly bathe in blood? Do they worship the devil, like the
Bishops say?” The girl asked excitedly and in rapid fire procession.
Belle grabbed her younger cousins hands to slow her words down. “Primula. This
is serious. They will come looking for me. And they murder all in their path.
Innocent people will die. You must release me.”
Primula grasped her cousin’s face in her small hands. “You do not need to fear
them any longer. We can protect you here.”
The tawny-haired girl sighed loudly in frustration. She pulled her cousin’s
hands away from her face and held them once again. “You are not understanding
me. I love many of them. I trust them. My grandfather is among them! They will
come for me. I am very important to them and they will stop at nothing to get
to me.”
“Grandfather? Grandfather Gerontius has passed through the gates of heaven
Belle. You are speaking nonsense.”
Belle rubbed at her forehead harshly and began to pace in front of the roaring
fireplace. “No. Adamanta’s first husband...He was not some English soldier that
died in battle. He was a Norseman.”
Primula shook her head gently “What? No. No. No… No?” As she continued to speak
her disbelief in her cousin’s words began to fall apart and turn into the
opposite. “The height and white blonde hair of your mother…”
Belle nodded her head as her cousin began to absorb the truth. She wished for
the chocolate haired girl to hurry this along. Belle needed to be reunited with
Thorin and her people, the Norse people, before they killed every living being
in this land. They would kill every English man, woman, and child to get to her
if necessary, this she knew.
===============================================================================
 
Belle kept her head down as she followed Primula through the stone hallways. It
had taken more time then Belle would have liked to convince Primula to help her
escape, but eventually the brown haired girl had agreed. They had given the
guards outside of Belle’s room a soft excuse of needing food and soon evaded
them through the kitchens.
“Here,” Primula said and snagged a plain brown cloak from the nearby coat rack
before fastening it around Belle’s shoulders. She pushed the hood over her
cousin's tawny colored curls before doing the same for herself.
“Thank you, Prim,” Belle said quietly.
The younger of the two looked over her shoulder with a small wink and grabbed
her cousin’s hand before leading her through the darkened courtyard. They kept
to the shadows as best they could.
But it seemed it was not enough for just as they had made it near the gates
when a hand grabbed at each of them.
“Lady Primula. Where are you going this late at night?”
Belle nearly screamed, but having been around the Norsemen so much she had
learned to swallow her fear and make no noise. Primula, on the other hand,
screamed rather loudly.
“I am sorry that I have frightened you, Lady Primula. But you must know there
are savages walking our lands. It is not safe for you or any woman to venture
out of the gates, especially not at night.”
“Why are they here?” Belle spoke softly, keeping her face hidden deep in her
hood so as not to be recognized.
“I know not. They seem to be searching for something. They are checking every
home then burning it to the ground when they do not find what they are looking
for.” The soldier said. It was obvious to Belle then that the soldier had no
idea who she was and that she was exactly what the Vikings were looking for.
“Shall I escort you back to your quarters?” The soldier asked kindly.
“That will not be necessary. I can escort my wife back to her quarters.” Belle
cringed at the sound of Lord Drogo’s voice. It was too full of sugar. Too
cocky.
“Oh! My lord.” Primula bowed her head to her husband and took his offered arm.
Belle’s upper arm was gripped lightly by a strong hand. She looked up into the
face of her “escort” and found it to be a soldier, one that was quite possibly
was Lord Drogo’s personal guard.
Belle tried to think of any possible way she could get away from the guard and
run towards the gates. But she was small, not nearly as strong Gyda or Dis, nor
was she as fast as Tauriel. She could never make it to the gates without being
caught. Belle was good at being quiet, she was good at being stealthy. That is
how she must escape. She would bide her time and escape. That was if Thorin did
not burn down the entire Kingdom to get to her first.
===============================================================================
 
“Queen Belledonna. Please excuse the manners of my men.” Lord Drogo said as he
stared at her across the wooden table.
Belle did not say anything, she only tilted her head in acknowledgment of his
words.
“And please excuse my wife.” He said with a tight smile. Belle could see that
his hand was on his wife’s thigh and judging by the wince on her face he was
squeezing her leg rather harshly.
“Whatever for?” Belle asked him with false confusion.
“For nearly putting you in danger to simply re-live the silly excursions of her
childhood.”
The tawny-haired Queen felt anger surge within her. “They were the excursions
of my childhood as well, for we grew together. They are some of my fondest
memories and I thank her for wanting to lift my spirit, with our, as you put
it, silly excursions.”
Belle watched as the Lord’s face fell into a look of surprise and her cousin’s
shone with gratitude.
Drogo’s surprise only lasted for a moment before his cocky mask returned.
“Well, I suppose you should enjoy it now before we return you to your Kingdom.”
Ice slid into Belle’s veins but she did not let it show. She instead nodded her
head slowly. “When do you have plans to escort me?”
Drogo rubbed a hand through his thin black beard. “Unfortunately we have not
been able to send out a singular messenger with the heathen attacks, let alone
an envoy carrying Smaug’s Queen.”
Relief washed over Belle. So the Dragon did not know where she was...yet. There
was still time.
Drogo leaned forward then, his putrid smell wafting towards Belle. Her time
with the Norsemen had spoiled her. Where the English bathed every few months
the Norsemen bathed at much more frequently.
“Why do they want you so?” Drogo asked distracting Belle from her thoughts.
“Who?”
“The Heathens.”
Belle thought of what response the man would like to hear. She was playing a
game here, a dangerous one. Should she reveal her ties to the Norsemen? Or did
she play the innocent flower that had no idea what was going on around her? No,
she would not. Perhaps at one point in time, she would have, but now, the Norse
blood within her was raging.
“I am important to them.”
Primula smiled behind her napkin at her cousin’s brashness while the Lord Drogo
looked once again confused.
“Important? Why? For ransom?”
“No. They do not want to ransom me.” Belle said with a shrug of her shoulders
and a cheeky smirk upon her face. She was beginning to feel something akin to
Thorin’s power and attitude flowing through her. “They love me.”
Drogo nearly spit out his wine at her words, then burst into laughter. “Oh, you
jest woman!”
Belle let out a small chuckle of her own around her goblet of wine. Her eyes
slid to Primula to find the woman with questions in her light green eyes. She
gave her slightly younger cousin a small wink and continued on with dinner.
===============================================================================
 
“What is it like to be loved by the heathens?” Primula asked as she and her
cousin shared her bed. Like many couples in the court of a King, the Lords and
Ladies each had their separate rooms. Currently, Belle had been placed in
Primula's room until she could be taken to Smaug for a handsome reward or until
Thorin came for her. She was betting on the latter.
“They love more fiercely than us.” Belle began as she thought of the types of
love she had seen around the Blue Mountains and even in Iron Hills. “They are
more physically affectionate than us.”
“How so?” Primula asked confused.
Belle turned on her side so her and her cousin were now facing each other in
the darkness, matching white chemises tangled around their legs. The tawny-
haired girl cracked a smile at the thought of how strange the heathens customs
were at first, but now she ached for them. “It is quite normal to hug kiss one
another whenever you see fit. Males and females of no relation embrace and will
give kisses on cheeks or foreheads when they are happy to see one another. It
is not improper in the least.”
Primula let out a small little giggle. “Truly?”
Belle let out a small little laugh of her own when she thought of being
embraced for the first time by Fili. She had gone stiff as a board and nearly
had a heart attack at the impropriety of it all. “Yes. They share beds often to
fight off the chill outside too.”
“Did you have to share with a man!?” The dark haired girl asked in complete and
utter shock.
“Yes. It is not improper there. It is just life.”
“Did you...you know...with any of them?” Primula asked in a suggestive tone
that was filled with mirth.
“Oh! You scoundrel!” Belle laughed and pulled her pillow out from under her
head to hit her cousin, making the younger woman laugh loudly. “No, I did not.
I am still a Christian woman, thank you very much.”
The two girl giggled slightly into the darkness until it was silent once more.
“I have wondered in the dead of night what it would be like to be with one of
them…” Primula whispered her confession into the dark. “It is a sinful thought
but one that has danced in the recesses of my dreamless mind.”
Belle could not fault her cousin for she had had the same thoughts while lying
beside Thorin once or twice. “I would not be surprised if they are good
lovers…They take pleasure in each other, married or no, quite frequently and
openly.”
Primula gasped loudly with a trail of a giggle behind it. “You have seen it?!
Do they do it like animals?”
Belle felt heat flood her cheeks. “They do it whichever way they feel. The
things I have seen and heard would make the devil himself blush.” Again the two
girls giggled quietly with one another.
“Oh to lay with a heathen. What an experience it must be.” Primula mused. “Are
they always covered in blood?”
The tawny-haired girl snorted. “No, but it does seem that way. They actually
are quite clean. They bath at least once a week if not more. They always comb
their hair. They clean their ears and cut their nails. The women even pluck the
hair from their faces. They take pride in their cleanliness. They smell better
than the men of our home country that is for sure.”
Primula flipped onto her back and stared at the ceiling making sounds of awe.
“I would have never thought. The monks and priests say otherwise.”
“They do not know,” Belle answered quickly. “None of them have gone to the
Norsemen’s homeland and returned. But do not misunderstand me, the Norsemen are
not like the people here. They are still pagans. They worship many Gods and
make sacrifices in their honor. Some are animal sacrifices and some are human
sacrifices.”
“What do you think of their Gods?” Primula whispered a question that had
plagued Belle’s mind for far too long.
“I don’t know. I feel our God in the stillness of peaceful times. But I can
feel the power of Thor when lightning strikes or Aegir in the thrashing sea. I
can feel Freyr in the farming soil and in the sun. And I can feel Frigg in the
love between man and wife. I do not know anything for certain any longer.”
Belle too turned onto her back and let out a sigh of frustration. “You must
think me truly mad for such thoughts.”
Primula grabbed her cousin’s hand in her own and held tight to it. “But I
don’t. It reminds me of Grandmother when she would sit in her rocking chair
near the window looking over the bay. She used to tell us the Heathen myths.
Father thought she was just descending into old age madness but I never
believed that. She was not mad or sick. She knew things we did not. She was
wise. Perhaps you received more than just her looks.”
===============================================================================
 
Belle sat near the window and watched as smoke rose from afar. She felt a
mixture of emotions plague her all at once. She felt relieved that Thorin was
going to such great lengths to get to her but then felt guilt for her relief.
People were dying and losing their homes because she was stuck within these
walls. Feeling the need to take action Belle stood from her perch and went
stomping towards the room she was sharing with Primula. She changed back into
her Norse dress, fur boots, and fur-lined cloak. Over top her cloak she draped
the brown cloak Primula had found in the kitchens and attempted to find her
cousin to say one last goodbye.
She found the girl talking to her husband in one of the stone halls. Using her
silent feet Belle crept behind the corner and listened to them.
“You have no idea what kind of a man he is! He is worse than the heathens
waiting outside those gates!”
Drogo let out a mirthless chuckle. “And how would you know, Primula? Smaug is a
Christian man. He was baptized in the holy church. Those savages worship false
gods! They rape, and murder and maim”
“According to Belle and others so does Smaug!” Primula whispered harshly. Her
small fists at her sides clenched in anger.
Drogo grabbed his wife harshly by the upper arms and shook her roughly. “Do not
say such things, Primula! Those are lies. Belle is just a silly woman whose
mind has been warped by the heathens! She is confused. She will be alright once
she is back with her husband.”
“That is not true,” Belle said stepping out from behind the corner. She could
no longer stand back and not say anything. “I am not confused about anything
regarding King Smaug. I would rather die than go back to him. He is horrible
King and an even worse human being. Those heathens outside the gates have more
honor and kindness in their hearts than Smaug will ever possess. I am leaving,
Drogo. I will not be your offering to the Bastard King.”
The black haired Drogo looked at Belle in shock but steadily as she spoke his
face turned into anger. “Woman. You know not what you speak.”
“I do. But I will not argue this with a simple man such as yourself.” Belle
snapped. “You can not keep me here forever. You are running out of time lord
Drogo. Every moment you spend in here keeping me hostage more of the people of
this kingdom die.” The tawny-haired girl turned on her heel and marched towards
the doors. Her arm was seized by Drogo harshly and he dragged her back towards
Primula’s room with the chocolate haired girl practically screaming at his side
to release her cousin. When they reached the room Drogo threw Belle into the
room.
“What is it that you think Smaug will grant you for my safe return?” Belle
snarled.
Drogo huffed loudly and straightened his clothing. “Gold, a position in his
court and a home by the seaside.”
“You’re a fool if you think you will get any of that.” The tawny-haired girl
laughed. “He will give you nothing but perhaps the duty of burying my corps.”
Drogo shook off her words calling her a liar.
“Drogo, you have the power to end this bloodshed, is that not worth more than
money and a silly estate.” Belle tried once more to be reasonable, but it
seemed her efforts were in vain.
“No.” He said and turned walked out the door, slamming it shut and barking to
the two guards to not let Belle or Primula leave.
“I am sorry Belle.” Her dark-haired cousin cried softly.
“Do not be sorry for me. Be sorry for them” Belle said as she looked out the
window on the small fleet of warriors leaving the gates. “They are marching to
their deaths.”
===============================================================================
 
It had been three full days since her capture and Belle counted every minute.
She watched from the window as the fire’s got closer and closer. She knew what
that meant. Thorin was nearing her. He was on a warpath that would not stop
until she was returned. Feeling power flow through her Belle began to think.
She needed to get out of this room. She needed to escape before there was even
more bloodshed. Primula had been taken by her husband the day before and had
not returned. The woman did not see him as the type to beat his wife senseless
or kill her so Belle did not worry over it much. Belle began to formulate ideas
on how to escape. The guards had come in and cleared out anything that could be
of use to her. All except the bed sheets.
The tawny-haired girl began to tear the sheets into long strips of cloth and
tied them end to end. When meals were brought into her or her chamber pot was
cleaned she would hide the fabric beneath the bed.
It was the morning of her fourth day away from Thorin that she heard the
shouting of men below. She finished tying her knot and peeked out the window.
There riding up to the castle was a familiar black cloak followed by nearly
five hundred men. Some were on horseback some on foot, but all were carrying
something in their hands. Belle squinted to see what it was. She opened the
window and leaned out of it just as Thorin and his men came to a stop not far
from the gates. He lifted a round object with one hand prompting all his men to
do the same. It was then that Belle realized what it was. Thorin and all of his
men held a severed head in their hands.
Knowing she did not have much time before Thorin stormed the castle and killed
all within Belle tied the end of her crude rope to the heavy bedpost and threw
the rest of the length out the open window. She was not too far from the
thatched roof of a lower building. She could shimmy down the rope onto the top
of what she believed to be the barn and from there she could climb down one of
the posts holding the roof up or simply jump. It would not hurt her overmuch.
Belle tied her skirts into her belt as she had seen Gyda and Dis do when they
were spearing eel in the rivers of the Blue Mountains.
“You can do this, Belle. You must do this.” The tawny-haired woman said as she
began to climb out the window.
“No. No. No. Do not look down. Do NOT look down.” Belle chanted to herself as
she caught a glimpse of how far up she truly was. She clung to the crude rope
she was practically swinging on with all her might and tried not fall to her
death.
A voice broke through her fear as she heard Thorin yelling in Norse. The
cacophony of noise had died down and all she could hear was him. Her heart gave
a small lurch at the sound and butterflies danced in her stomach.
“This is the fate of every man and woman in your Kingdom if you do not return
her to me!”Thorin roared and tossed the head he was holding towards the gates.
She heard Fili translate in heavily accented English before the rest of the
heads thumped to the ground. Four hundred and ninety-nine heads falling to the
ground in near unison made a much louder thump than Belle thought possible.
Gathering her courage Belle continued to move down the rope.
“Who!? Who are you looking for!?” King Alfred yelled in response from the
castle paraphet.
“Where is she!? I demand you give me Belle or I will murder all to find her
myself! This is your last warning!”Thorin screamed in fury.
Belle hurried down the rope faster, nearly losing her grip in the process. She
gave a small scream prompting a few people below her to look up and begin
exclaiming in concern. The tawny-haired girl tried to look back and see if
Thorin was mounting his attack but it seemed her hands were far too slippery
for such an action. Her hands slipped and she began to soar down the rope. She
did not have time to scream as she went plummeting through the roof of the
lower building. The girl thanked the heavens that she had fallen through the
thatched roof of the stables and onto a large pile of hay. Huffing loudly the
girl stood and patted the hay off of her sore behind before mounting the
nearest horse.
“I do not know who you are looking for! I do not have this Belle!” King Alfred
yelled out in defense. He was speaking rapidly to his men trying to figure out
if any of them knew who the Vikings were speaking of.
The crowd parted for her as she trotted on horseback towards the gates. “They
are looking for me, my lord,” Belle yelled loudly up towards the King, out of
the corner of her eye she spotted Drogo and a few of his men trying to make
their way towards her.
The young King turned and looked down at the little woman, he held his hand up
in a stop motion towards Thorin as he did so. “Queen Belledonna House of
Baggins?”
“Yes,” Belle said and listened to the gasps sound around her.
“When did you arrive in my lands and why was I not informed?” King Alfred
looked towards his men accusingly.
“I was taken from the Norsemen forcibly by Lord Drogo and his men with the
intent of selling me back to Smaug.”
“Selling you? No, returning you.” Drogo spoke loudly in his defense.
“I have no wish to return to the Bastard King,” Belle growled back no longer
able to keep herself contained. “King Alfred, You must let me through those
gates to return to the Norsemen.”
The dark-haired King tilted his head to the side. “Why would I do that?”
Belle shifted on the bare back of the horse she was on. “Because that is not
even half of their army. Your army, your available men, are lying dead in a
field somewhere. You will never defeat them. They want me, just me. Let me go
and they will leave your land in peace.”
Alfred pursed his lips before looking out over the paraphet at where Thorin and
his 500 warriors waited. “I did not know she was here. She was taken by one in
my Kingdom without my order. She assures me that if I open these gates and let
her through you will leave my Kingdom in peace. Is this true?”
Belle wished she could see and hear what was happening on the other side of the
stone battlements but what she guessed was that Thorin was speaking with Dwalin
and Fili.
“Jarl Thorin says if she is unharmed and the man responsible for her capture is
also handed over to us we will leave your land in peace!” Fili called out.
The tawny-haired girl shook her head. King Alfred would not hand over Lord
Drogo. His family was influential and quite rich. They funded the King in many
of his ventures. It would be stupid of the young King to willingly upset Lord
Drogo’s family by signing his death warrant.
“I can not give you Lord Drogo. But I can assure you he will be punished” The
King said with slight disappointment in his voice. Belle guessed that the
pompous lord was quite a thorn in the side of King Alfred.
“Then you will return Belle to us and pay us her weight in Danegeld.” Fili
countered.
Belle watched anxiously as King Alfred conferred with his advisor beside him.
The dark-haired king was nodding slightly as the round man whispered in his
ear. When the advisor had said what he needed to Alfred stood and turned back
to Thorin. “Agreed.”
There was a flurry of action then. Many men went running back into the castle
to gather what she suspected was the Danegeld matching her weight. Belle’s
horse walked nearer to the gates anticipating their opening. She could hear an
argument breaking out to her upper right and looked at Lord Drogo climbing the
stairs of the battlement to speak with the King. She guessed Drogo was
attempting to get the King to change his mind, to instead trade her to Smaug.
Belle wanted to roll her eyes. Drogo was no military man, Alfred, on the other
hand, had seen battle. He understood what a handful of angered Norsemen could
do, let alone an army of them.
It seemed to take hours but was mere minutes that the drawn bridge began to
lower. There were two soldiers behind her carrying a chest full of what she
assumed was gold and silver.
When the bridge was fully lowered Belle had to restrain herself from kicking
the horse below her into a full sprint, instead she gently urged the horse
forwards. Every step the horse took towards the Norsemen she felt a lightness
begin to grow in her chest. It was as if she were returning home.
She could see Thorin’s fierce mask but below that she could just make out the
relief in his features. He was angry, that much was for certain, murderous
even. But he was happy she was being returned to him. When Belle made it to his
side Thorin leapt from his horse and pulled her from her own. He cupped her
small face in his hands and turned it from side to side looking her over for
injuries.
Belle gently laid his hands over his and pulled them from her face. “I am
uninjured, Thorin.”
“That is surprising. We all saw you scale down from the tower or rather fall.”
Kili said with a small chuckle, making his uncle shoot him a fierce glare.
“You are bruised. I should kill all of them for even laying a hand on you.”
Thorin growled lowly and squeezed her hands gently.
“You have done enough killing here. It was not the King’s fault.” Belle argued
gently.
“It was his man. He should take the punishment for it or hand the bastard
over.”
“It is not the way things are done here.” The girl answered making Thorin’s jaw
clench.
“We will argue over such things later. We must leave.” Thorin answered. He
turned back towards his men and ordered a few of them forward to collect the
abandoned chest of Danegeld. The raven-haired man looked back down at Belle and
was about to speak when she heard the sound of running feet behind her and her
cousin's exclamation of “Wait!”
Belle looked over her shoulder to see Primula running towards her. The girls
curly dark brown hair whipping around  behind her, her green eyes wild. Belle
released Thorin’s hands and turned fully towards her cousin in alarm.
Primula did not slow her approach, instead choosing to run full force into her
cousin’s arms, giving the slightly older girl a tight hug. Belle heard the
unsheathing of swords from Thorin’s men and waved a hand behind her to let them
know she was okay.
“Take me with you,” Primula whispered in her ear.
Belle pulled back sharply in surprise. “What?”
Her dark-haired cousin’s nose and cheeks were pink from the cold but her eyes
are what stood out to Belle. They rang with sincerity and pleading. “Take me
with you, Belle. Please! Do not leave me here! I can not bear another moment of
this land and these people!” Primula gripped her cousin’s hands tightly and
refused to let go.  
Belle could hear Lord Drogo screaming for someone to rescue his wife. The
tawny-haired girl looked back at him on the battlements and half smirked before
gripping her cousin’s hand tightly in her own and looking at Thorin. She did
not need to communicate in words what she wanted, for Fili had translated her
cousins entire conversation for his Uncle.
Thorin gave Belle one hard calculating look before shaking his head in defeat.
He mounted his horse, then pulled Belle up behind him.
“Fili.” Thorin ordered. The blonde offered a hand to the dark-haired Primula.
The girl blushed brightly and gave a small nervous smile before accepting his
hand and allowing him to pull her up onto the horse behind him.
Belle smiled triumphantly when she heard Drogo’s continued screams cut short by
the King’s nonchalant response of “I will not go to war for your wife. If they
want her, Lord Drogo, she is a small price to pay for peace.”
===============================================================================
 
Belle clung to Thorin’s frame tightly and breathed in his familiar scent. It
was slightly tinged with the lingering scents of blood and sweat but she did
not mind. She was safe. Finally. The irony of her feelings were not lost on
her. Once again she marveled at how much she had changed in her time with the
Norsemen. They traveled for hours until they neared the river, only this time
farther south.
“Who is she?” Thorin asked as they trotted towards the unfamiliar camp.
“The man who took me, Lord Drogo, she is his wife...and my cousin,” Belle told
him as she looked over her shoulder at the girl. Primula was gripping onto Fili
tightly, her face red from laughter. Bofur was currently singing and giving the
young girl quite a show as they rode. Though Primula could not understand a
word she laughed at the man's antics.
“Father’s or mother’s side?”
“My mother’s.” The tawny-haired girl answered. “She is Adamanta’s granddaughter
from Gerontius.”
Thorin did not answer as they had reached camp. It took a few hours to get
Tauriel to discontinue her unnecessary apologies but those ceased eventually.
Primula had let go of Belle’s skirts after the tawny-haired cousin introduced
her to Gothi Grey, formerly Gandalf Gostasson and the only true love of
Adamanta of Wessex. Belle looked out at the two as they spoke before the fire.
Belle was jealous of her younger cousins bravery. Primula showed no fear at
Gothi’s face or scars. She was happy, bubbly and curious. Belle envied that.
She had too much worry in her soul, but for now, all she could feel was
exhaustion. The tawny-haired girl entered her tent and began to make up her
furs. They had gotten enough hay from the surrounding lands to make a nice bed
for her and Primula to share. Belle nearly cried in relief. Though she had
slept on a feather bed back at the castle it had felt like no more than rocks.
She supposed that was due to her discomfort with being captured.  
Belle began to unbraid her hair, readying herself for bed when she heard the
tent flaps open.
“Prim. I assume you will need to borrow clothing, we are near the same…”
Belle’s words fell short when she saw who was standing in her tent.
“I am not Prim,” Thorin stated.
Belle nearly laughed at the absurdity of his sentence. “Yes. I can see that.”
The tawny-haired girl stared at the raven-haired man expecting him to begin
speaking but he did not. He only continued to stare at her with something akin
to worry on his features. “Thorin? Are you alright?” The girl asked placing a
hand on the large man’s fur-clad bicep.
In a flash the man’s arms were around her, pulling her tightly to his body. He
had hugged her in sleep before, cuddled her even. But this was different. This
action sent her body into a type of fog. She felt as if she could not think
straight. It was not unpleasant...quite the opposite in fact. That feeling only
intensified when Thorin bent his head and captured her questioning lips with
his own. His lips were slightly chapped and rough but Belle was sure she had
never felt something so...thrilling and yet, confusing. But all too soon it was
over. Thorin pulled his lips away from hers prompting Belle’s heavy lids to re-
open.
“Wha…” Belle began but was cut off.
“I thought I lost you,” Thorin whispered in a pained voice, his warm breath
tickling her lips. “It was some of the worst days of my life to not know what
happened to you or where you were.”
“I...I feel…” the tawny-haired girl searched within her and decided that now
was not the time to be calculating and methodical in her answer. “I did not
like it either.”
Thorin pressed another kiss to her mouth, swift and soft. “I never want to lose
you again. And I fear I might if your countrymen do not know that you are mine
and not the Bastard Kings. I would have you as my wife.”
Belle immediately sobered at his words. She took a small step back from him.
“My Grandfather told me of your suit”
“And?” Thorin asked expectantly, stepping into her space once more so their
bodies were nearly flush.
“And...I don’t know.”
The raven-haired Jarl’s brow pulled together in confusion and hurt. “You do not
know? How do you not know? You said yourself you did not like being away from
me. We are good for each other, Belle. It makes sense, you and I. I am powerful
as are you. I can take care of you and protect you. You will never want when
you are with me. I would make a fine husband for you.”  
Belle released Thorin’s hands and began to pace. “I know! I know this! But this
is logic Thorin. What you are telling me is not because of your heart, it is
because of logic. We would be good together but if there is no love I want no
part of it. I promised myself I would never marry for anything apart from love
this time. I have married for duty and logic before and it gave me nothing but
pain and scars. Love is what I am searching for.”
Pain flashed across Thorin’s face. “And you do not love me?”
It was as if the pain that had run through Thorin traveled and pierced her
heart. “I don’t know...Maybe I do love you? I don’t know how I feel.”
Thorin pulled her into his arms once more, planting a much rougher kiss upon
her lips. “Figure it out, my mouse,” He said in a gruff voice before turning
and leaving the tent. 
Chapter End Notes
     My interest was peaked in one of my classes when the professor spoke
     about the monks writing regarding the Vikings. They had said that the
     Viking men stole the hearts of good Christian women and tempted them
     away from their husbands. I can’t find the exact source as of yet,
     but I will post it when I find it. This is what I based Primula’s
     actions off of.
     I hope you all enjoy this chapter :)
***** Tauriel *****
Chapter Notes
     NSFW Chapter!
     Hello all!
     So sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out! Life has been
     crazy not allowing me time to write.
     Thank you for your patience and kind words. You guys are the best!
Tauriel emptied her stomach once again. The redhead leaned her clammy forehead
against the rough bark of the ash tree in front of her. She had known she was
pregnant from the first day of her missed monthly. That had been weeks ago and
Kili still did not know. She was terrified of miscarrying her first pregnancy.
What would she tell Kili if she miscarried his son? The thought had vomit
rising once again up her throat and out of her mouth.
Tauriel groaned lightly and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. The cool
winter air felt wonderful on her clammy skin. She had just pushed away from the
tree when Belle’s piercing scream broke through the quiet forest.
“Tauriel! Help me! Thorin!”
The redhead spun at incredible speed pulling out Kili’s borrowed dagger as she
did so. Her eyes caught sight of Belle being surrounded by three men. Tauriel
went to sprint after them when a fourth man stepped out from behind a tree
attempting to block her advance. Tauriel quickly dodged his attack and plunged
her dagger into his jugular. She watched helplessly as Belle’s kidnappers took
off on horseback with the little woman clutched to one of the men’s chest.
“Belle!” Tauriel screamed and reached her hand out to the woman from afar as if
she could somehow reach her.
 The redhead sprinted back towards camp all the while screaming for someone to
help.  When she was a few paces from camp she ran into a hard body belonging to
Thorin.
“Belle!” Tauriel cried in a breathless voice. She attempted to catch her breath
as Thorin dropped his weapon and grabbed her tightly by the arms.
“Where is Belle!?” The raven-haired Jarl roared into her face.
“She has been captured”
 Tauriel had never truly feared Thorin until this moment. His eyes turned
nearly all black and his face pulled into a horrible mask of pure fury.
“Who has taken her?” Thorin shook the redhead roughly he spoke. Tauriel knew
she would be sporting handprint-shaped bruises on her arms later.  “Was it
Smaug’s men?”
“I don’t know,” Tauriel answered woefully.
“Think, Wild One!” Thorin screamed and shook her hard enough to have her teeth
rattle.
“Release her uncle!” Kili screamed running to their side and shoving his
uncle’s hands from his wife’s thin arms.
“What were they wearing Wild One!? Tell me!” The raven-haired man roared again.
“Regular clothing. No design or sigil was on them. Not even armor!” Tauriel
answered angrily. “I killed one! He is this way.”
She led them to the fallen body and soon there were many men looking over it
for even the slightest clue of who had taken their precious companion.
“It is winter, Uncle.” Fili began in an attempt to reason with his uncle. “The
English, they do not travel during the cold months. This is not the doing of
Smaug’s army. He would never have sent only four men, he would have brought an
entire army. This is the doing of a kingdom close, much closer than Smaug.
Though they may wish to ransom her to Smaug, she is still near Uncle. They can
not go far with her.”
Thorin swore angrily under his breath, then raised his mighty sword in anger
and brought it down onto the neck of the dead Englishman, severing his head in
one blow.
Tauriel stood with her back straight and her body unmoving. However the storm
within her stomach was beginning to brew, it took all of her self-control not
to turn and vomit. Those around her would think she was weak and a woman that
could not handle blood. That was far from the truth. So she held it in and
pushed the vomit down. She would not appear weak.
Thorin stomped towards her angrily holding the Englishman's head in his hand.
“Which way did they go?”
“That way. Three men on horseback. I can track them.” Tauriel answered flatly.
“You have done enough.” The raven-haired Jarl spit through his teeth.
“Uncle, she is the best tracker I have ever seen. She will be of help.” Kili
stepped in between his wife and his uncle, shielding her from the large man
with his own body.
“Was she of help when my woman was taken!?” Thorin screamed as he inched closer
and closer to his nephew, their faces wearing identical scowls.
“She fought them! How is that not enough? One is dead by her blade! She did her
duty.” Kili argued.
“Her duty was to protect Belle at all costs! I have seen her fight off multiple
Norsemen at once when training. How was she not able to take on subpar English
soldiers? Are you working with them?! The English? Are you conspiring with
Smaug, woman? ” Thorin snarled like an angry bear while Kili cooly reminded the
man that it was his wife Thorin was insulting.
“I would never!” Tauriel screamed around and over Kili. “I love Belle! I love
her more than anyone here! I would never betray her so!”
“You are not the only one to love her!” Thorin roared back around the wall
known as Kili. “And if you love her so, why were you not watching out for
her!?”
“I was…” Tauriel pulled up short. “I had turned to vomit just before she was
taken.”
Kili turned then looking down at her with immense worry. “Are you sick?”
“We do not have time for you to mother hen her, Kili!” Thorin screamed while
Kili asked many questions about her being ill. The volume rose as those around
her asked questions of their own or murmured about a sickness that could
spread, killing them all.
“ENOUGH!” The roaring of Gothi Grey silenced all. He hobbled into the center of
the circle of humans that had formed. “Thorin. Tauriel is not working with
Smaug. She is truly devoted to the line of Durin, even more so now that she
carries a raven within her.”
Tauriel looked at him in shock. How had he known?
“A raven?” Kili asked confused.
“Ravens are black. Perhaps he means she carries the black plague.” one of the
warriors whispered causing all to take a large step away from her.
“That is why she has been vomiting”
“And sweating despite the chill”
Gyda shoved her way past the soldiers and stood in front of them, her rounding
stomach standing out proudly. “No, you fucking idiots. She is pregnant! That is
why she has been vomiting and sweating. She is growing a child within her, you
dimwits!”
“Gothi said she was carrying a raven, not a child.” one particularly daft
soldier argued.
“The house sigil of the Durin line is a raven! She is carrying a child of
Durin, therefore making it another raven in the line. Idiot.” Gyda snarled.
“Gyda is right. She carries a child within her. Kili’s child” Gothi confirmed
in his gravelly voice, he appeared to be rather tired of this entire
conversation.
Tauriel looked around and saw all eyes on her. She did not want the attention.
When her eyes turned to Kili he looked stunned and absolutely still.
“Enough of this. We must find Belle before they get her to Smaug’s lands.”
Thorin barked distracting all but one, Kili.
As Thorin barked out orders for the men to split into companies of fifty and
guard the border between this land and Smaug’s so that no one passed Tauriel
continued to stare at Kili. He did not blink nor did he move.  The redhead knew
it was the wrong time but she could not help but worry if he was not pleased.
She had thought he wanted a child but he showed no emotion whatsoever. She felt
as a deer does when startled, so she fled. She fled in the directions of the
horse tracks. She crouched down to where the hoofprint laid in the snow.
Heavy footprints followed her to show Kili squatting across from her. “You are
pregnant.”
“Yes and now everyone knows it,” Tauriel growled without looking up from the
print.
“This upsets you?” Kili asked quietly.
“Yes. I wished to tell you myself...in private.”
The dark-haired man nodded his head slowly. “So you are not upset that you are
pregnant with my child?”
The redhead jerked slightly at the obsurdity of his words. “No. I am overjoyed
to be pregnant with your son, Kili. I am afraid I will lose him. I wished to
wait until my stomach rounded to tell you, in case I miscarried.” She
confessed.
Kili stood to his full height and pulled her swiftly against his body. “It
brings my heart great peace to know you are not ashamed to carry my son.”
Tauriel wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed him to give her warmth for
only a moment. “Kili. We will speak and enjoy this later. But now. I must find
Belle. I am the reason she is gone.”
“You are not” Kili shook his head adamantly.
“But I am. I should have never let her out of my sight.” she argued.
“You are right. Now track them, woman” Thorin growled from beside them.
Tauriel glared at him heavily but did as he bid, ignoring Kili’s harshly
whispered words about respecting his wife.
===============================================================================
 
The tracks faded out at the edge of a small village. When they marched upon it,
more than five hundred strong, the villagers screamed and began to flee.
They were hunted and corralled. Any who fought back were killed. Tauriel
watched all this with conflicted emotions. She did not say a word aloud, nor
did she blink an eye at the horrors unfolding in front of her. The warriors had
begun to check every home, then burned it to the ground when they did not find
even a hint of Belle. The villagers were lined up on their knees with their
hands behind their heads. Tauriel felt fear for them all, the children
especially.
“Where is she!?” Thorin screamed as he walked up and down the row of kneeling
people.
None knew who he spoke of, but Thorin did not believe them when they told him
as such. He began to take the heads of all the men while Gyda explained loudly
in English exactly who they were looking for.
“Her name is Belle. She is a small woman with long curly hair the color of
autumn leaves. She has green eyes and was wearing a purple dress. Belle is very
important to us. She has been taken by three English men on horseback! Return
her to us and we will not kill all of you!”
All were quiet for a moment as one brave little boy stepped forward and began
to speak.
“I saw a girl on a horse with a man ride through many hours ago. She was
wearing a dark cloak but she was asleep and I did no see her eyes.”
Tauriel wished to hold him against her to protect him from Thorin’s wrath. The
raven-haired man towered over the boy menacingly prompting Tauriel to take a
step towards the boy.
“Which way child?” Thorin growled.
The little boy raised a small hand and pointed west. “T-t-that way” the child
stuttered.
Thorin gave one nod and called for all to move out. Tauriel breathed a large
sigh of relief for the boy, he was going to live another day. Kili grabbed her
hand and squeezed it softly as if he could feel her relief as well and wished
to share in it.
===============================================================================
As they marched through the snowy forest on silent feet Tauriel felt the guilt
beginning to weigh heavier and heavier with each step. She was to watch for
Belle. She knew the woman was able to find trouble in even the safest
situations. The redhead knew Thorin was right, she should have never let the
girl out of her sight, she knew better.The redheaded woman’s thoughts were
running wild with what could be happening to her dearest friend. What if Smaug
got a hold of her? What if she was being raped and tortured? It would be all
Tauriel’s fault. Not being able to fight the vomit any longer Tauriel walked
towards a large tree and emptied her stomach behind it. A large hand was soon
on her back rubbing at it.
“What do you need, my love?” Kili asked worriedly.
“To find Belle,” she answered.
The large dark-haired man nodded his head slowly. “For the sake of every living
being in England, I hope she is found...I am afraid Thorin will slaughter them
all until he finds her.”
===============================================================================
 
The tall man was not wrong in his predictions. As the hours melted away Thorin
became increasingly more murderous. He ordered all the men they found to have
their heads removed if they could not help in the finding of Belle. It was when
night fell that the man let loose his true worry and anger. He snarled and
barked at anyone near.
Fili was the only one brave enough to confront the man when it became so dark
none could see. “Uncle.”
“What?!” Thorin snarled, sword clutched in his hand.
“It is too dark to see any longer. We must wait until dawn before we continue.
The men need rest.”
The raven-haired Jarl shook his head angrily. “Those that wish to stop, by all
means, rest. But I will not stop until I find her.”
Tauriel watched from afar feeling conflicted. Her mind was willing to continue
on but her weary body was not.
“Uncle, you are no use to Belle if you can not stand. Sleep. Even just for a
few hours.” Kili interjected.
Thorin did not respond. It was only once Gothi spoke with the man quietly that
the raven-haired Jarl nodded sharply.  “We rest here tonight. At dawn, we will
continue searching for Belle!”
Tauriel let out a small breath of relief. She needed to rest her weary feet.
Though she was not far along yet, she still felt the fatigue. All her energy
was flowing to the being inside of her womb helping him grow strong, in turn,
that made her very tired. She felt frustration for this fact. She wished she
could search for Belle all night and all day. Her guilt gnawed at her like a
hound does a bone.
 When she laid down to sleep, it did not come no matter how tired she was. All
she could hear was Belle screaming her name. Screaming for help. The redhead
tossed and turned beneath the furs that covered both her and Kili. They were
sleeping outside for the first time ever for her. There was no tent above them
only open sky and cold air. Kili had laid a wax dipped leather upon the ground
to shield them from the cold snow beneath. She did not feel the old. Kili was
warmer than any fire. He kept her warm despite the cold air and snow around
them. Tauriel rolled onto her side to look at him in the moonlight. He was not
asleep as she expected him to be. He was staring at the stars above.
“What is it?” Tauriel asked him quietly sensing he was pondering something.
“You are pregnant with my child.” He whispered with a small smile.
“Yes” Tauriel answered and pressed her cold nose against the warm skin of his
neck.
“The Gods were right.” Kili’s words reminded her of their conversation long
ago.
‘He does not produce Norse seed. My seed is strong. It will bring forth many
sons from your womb. I know this.” Kili said strongly.
“How could you know?” Tauriel scoffed.
“Gothi.” He said simply.
“You put your faith in that of an old blind man?” Tauriel said incredulously.
Kili leaned close to her face his expression hard. “Do not mock the Gods or how
they deliver their messages, Tauriel. They will not hesitate to show you their
power.”
Tauriel flinched back from his anger and words alike. It almost made Kili feel
bad for her. Almost.
“But if they are mistaken? Or the message was not understood correctly? What if
I can not bare you sons, Kili?”
The dark-haired Norseman softened at her words. She was afraid, he understood
why. It was something that happened rarely but it was a frightening notion
nonetheless.
“We will not have that problem. But if it does not happen right away we keep
trying until it does.” he gave her a playful wink and flexed his hips softly,
making her crack a small smile despite herself. “And if that still does not
work, there are many children who lose parents in raids or winters. Some babes
that must be taken care of. I could give you one if you wished it.”
Tauriel blinked in shock. “And you would be okay with that?”
Kili shrugged his broad shoulders. “If it made you happy. But it is not going
to happen. You will bear me sons. Many beautiful sons. Strong like their father
and excellent hunters like their mother. Perhaps with red hair and fire lit
behind their eyes. They will bring the world to its knees.’
“So they were.” Tauriel mused. She had let go of her trepidations pertaining to
Kili’s Gods the day they married, or perhaps slightly before that. They had
shown her their power by allowing a child to grow within what she had been told
was a barren womb.  
Kili laid a large hand on her stomach gently. He smiled down at her with those
deep brown eyes making her insides melt. He was so happy, she could see it.
Tauriel wished she could feel the same as him, but right now all she could feel
was fear and guilt for Belle.
“I wish to be happy with you, Kili. But I am too fearful for Belle to focus on
much else.”
Her dark-haired husband pressed a kiss to her lips. “We will find her, Tauriel.
Do not make yourself sick with worry. You must be strong for little  Bárðr ”
“ Bárðr ?” Tauriel asked with a rise of one red brow. “You have already named
him?”
“Yes.  Bárðr  is a strong name. Good for a leader that brings the world to its
knees.”
“Oh?” The redhead said with a small smile. “I rather like it. It would be
pronounced in my homeland as Barith or Bárid”
“Both sound good to me, Tauriel.” Kili pressed a kiss to her forehead and
rubbed at her stomach gently. “Goodnight, my wife and my little  Bárðr .”
===============================================================================
 
Tauriel was the first to rise at dawn, having not slept well she been awake
when the sun made it’s appearance on the horizon. Thorin was the next to rise
and with him all others did. The raven-haired man did not so much as look at
her when he rose. Tauriel knew he blamed her for Belle’s kidnapping, he had
said it plainly. But Tauriel also blamed herself. She pushed herself harder and
harder with each hour, her mind having one focus. Finding Belle.
The next village they came upon they once again burned it to the ground killing
all those that fought back. But this time Thorin did not kill any that
surrendered. Instead, he asked Gyda to translate much as she had in the last
village. She did as was bid, telling of what Belle looked like and that she had
been taken from them. Villagers pointed west prompting them to go that way.
It was at the next village they came across that they ran into trouble.
There was a meager army waiting there. Perhaps one hundred and fifty men.
Tauriel did as Kili asked of her and stayed back during the fighting. But that
did not mean she did not fight at all. She had her bow, her quiver of arrows.
She climbed the nearest tree and shot arrows from on high. Protecting Kili’s
back when necessary.
The fighting did not last long, the English were slaughtered with ease.
“Take their heads” Thorin roared, blood spraying from where it had pooled on
his lips.
Tauriel did not follow his order, instead allowing others to take the heads.
She did go through the bodies and took what weapons were needed. She herself
gained two rather ornate daggers off of the English Captain. They per polished
beautifully allowing her to see herself for the first time in weeks. The
redhead gazed into the metal her mind wandering. The eyes that looked back her
did not resemble the same girl that had been taken from Ireland. No, these were
the eyes of a woman. Tense with wisdom but also culpability.
“What have you found?” Gothi asked from beside her.
“Daggers.” Tauriel held up the curved blades for the old man to see, or rather
not see.
“Hmm.” The man hummed. “She is alive and well. If you continue to deprive your
body of the sleep and food it needs, you will lose little  Bárðr .” Gothi spoke
quietly.
Attempting to ignore the immense fear that soared up her spine Tauriel spoke.
“Have you told Thorin as such..about Belle?”
The white-haired man leaned heavily on his staff and nodded. “Yes. He will not
believe until she is secured in his arms.”
The Celtic woman nodded her head slowly. She understood this. If Kili were in
Thorin’s position she knew he would not believe the old seer any more than
Thorin did.
“You must rest, Tauriel wife of Kili.”
Tauriel felt the warning deep into her very soul. Gothi hobbled away leaving
her feeling bereft.
Her hazel eyes immediately sought out Kili. She saw him cutting off the heads
of enemy corpses across the battlefield and laughing with his equally blood
covered brother. Sensing he would be busy for quite some time Tauriel made her
way towards Gyda who was sitting down on a pile of furs rubbing at her stomach.
She walked slowly and with great care as if afraid that any stumble or misstep
would cause her to begin bleed. Without invitation, s he sat beside the woman
and rested her head on Gyda’s shoulder. Within moments she was fast asleep,
dreaming of a little boy with auburn hair and kind brown eyes.
===============================================================================
 
“They took her to the castle,” The man said refusing to meet Thorin’s
bloodthirsty eyes.
Over the tree line, Tauriel could see the stonework of the castle in the
distance. Since Gothi had told her she needed to be careful or she would lose
the baby and that Belle was relatively safe she had relaxed some. She stayed
behind the rest of the group attempting to be as gentle on her womb as
possible. The redhead wondered if this is what all women felt like when they
carried a child. This fear was all-encompassing and truly foreign to her. She
hated it, but she was overjoyed to be carrying Kili’s child that she could not
decide exactly how she felt. Everything felt more intense and...bigger. Tauriel
could not quite put her finger on it. She felt dramatic and out of control with
her emotions. She looked down at her stomach with interest. It was fascinating
to her that such a small fetus could cause her to feel so many things at once.
Large hands rubbed up and down her sides making her smile softly.
“How is my woman and my babe?” Kili asked in his jovial voice.
“Tired. But good.” Tauriel lied. She did not tell Kili what Gothi had said. She
knew that as soon as her dark-haired husband heard such things he would fly
into a frenzy and send her on the first boat back to Norway.
The large man landed a kiss to her temple and pressed his front to her back.
Tauriel leaned back into his warmth momentarily finding strength in his
presence.
“Set up camp to the south. We move at first light, we will mount an attack on
the castle.” Thorin roared and glared heavily at said castle.
===============================================================================
 
Tauriel opted to wait at camp with Gyda. Kili had given her a strange but
clearly relieved look. She knew he did not like his woman going to battle with
him. He hated it in fact. But he knew something was wrong when she did not even
try to come along. While the men began to prepare for battle Kili pulled her
aside into the forest, away from prying ears.
“What is the matter?” He asked her, ducking his head to look into her eyes due
to her shorter height.
“What do you mean?” Tauriel asked with a blank face masking her thoughts.
Kili narrowed his eyes and scoffed. “I have watched you enough to know when you
lie. When you are afraid. When you are keeping things from me. What is it? Is
it something wrong with the babe? What is wrong with  Bárðr?”
“It is nothing. I just must rest.” Tauriel said with a small lift of her chin
and the clenching of her teeth.
“Rest? By whose orders? You would never force yourself to rest and Siggy is
with her father.” Kili mused allowed.
“Gothi,” Tauriel answered with some hesitation. She had vowed to she would not
lie to her new husband, even if it was to keep his heart at ease.
Kili’s eyes grew wide and his hands immediately sought out her stomach. “What
did he say?”
Tauriel relayed the old seer’s words with an emotionless voice hoping that if
she projected that she was not afraid Kili would not overreact. It did not work
of course but she had tried her best.  Kili immediately picked her up in his
arms and walked her back to camp.
“Kili, put me down,” Tauriel growled.
“No. You must rest. If you will not listen to Gothi’s words I will force you
to.” The dark haired man snarled back angrily his chocolate eyes alight with
determination.
“I am resting. I am not going to retrieve Belle. I have not been walking as
much. I have been sleeping when able and keeping down some bread.” Tauriel knew
she had said too much as soon as Kili’s eyes whipped down to hers.
“Some bread? Only some? That is all you have been consuming?”
The redheaded looked towards the heavens with impatience. “Yes, Kili. I have
been getting sick. Food does not agree with my stomach at the moment.”
Kili did not say anything else as they walked into camp but his teeth gnashed
together angrily. He took her to their tent and set her down on their bed made
of hay. “Stay.” He growled under his breath and stomped back out of the tent.
Tauriel felt defiance crawl up her throat. She wanted to hop out of the bed and
tell Kili he was not going to order her about, but the bed did feel nice and
she was so tired. Tauriel closed her eyes for a moment and before she knew it
Kili was kneeling before their bed.
“Eat.” He ordered once again, as he nodded towards the platter of bread,
cheese, and chicken. Before she could protest he began to speak again. “I must
leave. I love you. Both of you.” He said and laid a hand on her stomach before
dropping a kiss to her lips.
“May your arrows fly straight and your aim be true.” Tauriel gave him one last
kiss and watched him leave the tent.
“She does not leave the tent until that platter is empty,” Kili growled to
someone just outside the tent. Tauriel felt her temper flare and stood to march
out of the tent when a very pregnant Gyda stepped in.
“It is so cute when they think they are in charge” the auburn-haired woman said
with a wry twist of her lips.  
===============================================================================
 
The hours spent waiting for the warriors to return had Tauriel’s already uneasy
stomach in knots. She paced in front of the fire while Gyda sat back and
sharpened her ax’s. There were others milling about equally as anxious for the
return of their friends and loved ones. When night began to fall Tauriel began
to stand still, listening for any sound. She stood still so long her body began
to cramp, begging her to get the blood moving through her veins. She had just
begun to shake out her feet when she heard the telltale sound of hooves moving
through the forest. She could also hear the laughter of a woman and the singing
of Bofur. That was a good sign. The laugh sounded much like Belle’s just at a
slightly different pitch. Tauriel wondered if the woman was perhaps drunk?
When they came into view Tauriel saw that it was not Belle singing, it was a
little English woman with curly hair just like Belle’s only dark brown. The
redhead did not focus on the woman much, she was of no importance to Tauriel at
the moment. Tauriel's eyes sought out the two most important people in her
life. Kili, in turn, had his eyes on her, they were narrowed and she could read
his thoughts without him having to voice them. He was upset she was not lying
down. But she could not care about his thoughts right now because she had
caught a glimpse of Belle. Tauriel sprinted to the woman and practically yanked
her from the back of Thorin’s horse.
“Careful, Wild One.” Thorin growled.
Tauriel only glared at him for a moment before wrapping her arms around Belle,
pulling her into a fierce hug.  “I am so sorry.” Tauriel whispered sincerely.
“There is nothing to be sorry for.” Belle answered her friend holding her just
as tightly.
Tauriel did not take that as an answer. She apologized until she did not have
the breath for it any longer.
Kili had watched her like a hawk the entire time. He was never far from her as
she stuck to Belle’s side afraid to let the woman out of her sight. When
Belle’s attention was diverted by her grandfather and the little English woman
Tauriel had learned was actually Belle’s cousin, Kili made his move.
“To bed.” He said and pulled his redheaded wife towards their tent.
Tauriel protested little knowing that Belle was safe...for now. She allowed
Kili to lead her to the tent then pull her outer dress from her body. The
feeling of his strong hands removing her clothing had her overactive hormones
raging. Everything was well. Belle had been returned, safely. Tauriel had
gotten enough food and rest to make her confident Bárðr was going to be okay.
She had not lain with her husband in days and she was craving his touch.
The redhead moved to her tippy toes and captured Kili’s lips in a heated kiss.
He kissed her quickly then attempted to back away from her, but Tauriel’s hold
was too strong on his neck. She pulled him down with impressive strength to her
lips once again. He kissed her back but without much heat. Tauriel began to
walk backward, his lips still attached to hers, until her legs touched the bed.
Without releasing him she stepped onto the bed giving her the height she needed
to wrap her limbs around her tall husband without having to jump.
Kili instinctively caught her, grabbing her arse to hold her up as her legs
wound around his waist. Kili turned his face away from her allowing Tauriel to
begin to nibble on his neck.
“My goddess...We can not…” Kili said in a pained breathy voice.
“Why not?” The redhead asked without moving her lips from his neck. She could
feel his blood pumping in the artery of his neck sending a thrill through her.
“The babe…” It sounded as if her husband was beginning to lose his war with
himself on resisting her.
“He is fine. I rested. I ate. Be gentle.” The woman suggested and bit down on
his neck, contradicting her last sentence.
Kili groaned loudly and tilted his head back. His wife smirked knowing she had
truly broken his resolve. He detached her from his body holding her out away
from him under her arms as one would a child.
“What?!” Tauriel nearly screamed when he stood her on the bed.
Kili chuckled and pressed a finger to her lips. “Gentle...remember?”
Tauriel only grimaced in response. Her body craved the heathen-like, frantic,
burning coupling that Kili normally gave her. Gentle had become something she
had left in the past when she began to have sex with Kili.
“Lay down.” The large man ordered.
“And if I don’t?” his wife challenged arms crossed over her swollen chest.
“Then I take care of this” Kili said grabbing his sizeable bulge “on my own and
you go right to sleep.”
Weighing her options Tauriel laid on the bed, her curiosity won out in the
battle against her stubbornness.
“On your side. Your back facing me.”
Tauriel rolled her hazel eyes at Kili’s command but did as he asked. She could
hear him removing his clothing and felt herself grow slick with anticipation.
When he slipped beneath the furs behind her and simply held her, she began to
let her anger be known. That was until Kili pilled up her shift leaving her
lower half bare. Tauriel’s breathing quickened in anticipation as he tested her
readiness with his fingers.
“So wet” He growled approvingly in her ear, nibbling on it lightly.
Kili lifted her leg and slid into her slowly allowing her to feel every inch of
him enter her. The redhead reached behind her and held tightly to Kili,
enjoying the feeling of his rough skin and hard muscle. Slowly he thrust into
her, driving her wild. She felt as if her body could not contain the sensations
she was feeling. The passion was all-encompassing.
 In the short amount of time she had been married to the man he had opened her
mind to the pleasure her body could receive. Every time he took her in a new
position she fell a little more in love with him. She had never felt so
connected to another being as she did in this moment. The feeling of his skin
against hers, the primal sounds he made as he took her body gently but
fervently had her seeing lights behind her lids. Not to mention the way he
filled her so completely she was sure he had never been this deep within her
before.
Kili dropped his hand and began to play with her pleasure nub as he thrust into
her. It did not take long for her to reach her peak after that, merely seconds,
but her orgasm lasted longer than it ever had. Her walls constricted to a near
painful degree making Kili jerk sporadically until he could not hold back any
longer. With a loud grunt and shudder he spilled his seed within her.
The two lay back panting and attempting to catch their breath. Kili grabbed her
face with his calloused hand turning it towards him so he could kiss her
deeply.
“Gods how I love you, woman” He breathed.
Tauriel smiled softly and kissed him again. “I love you” She answered simply,
feeling as if she could not put together the words necessary to describe her
exact feelings for him.
As her husband curled around her Tauriel felt invincible, like nothing in
heaven or on earth could get to her. But she was wrong...so very wrong.
***** Thorin *****
Chapter Notes
     Apologies for the late arrival of this chapter. With the holidays,
     sickness and moving it has left me with little time to write.
     I hope you all enjoy the chapter. :)
Watered down blood dripped from his fingertips as he bathed in the warm
springs. He scrubbed at his face attempting to wash the blood from his skin.
The first rays of sunlight were beginning to light the sky painting a portrait
of peace. But no peace was to be found within Thorin. He was troubled, by many
things. If any were to ask him what troubled him the most he would lie and say
it was the upcoming battles with Smaug but that was not true. If he dug within
his own heart and listened to what it said, what troubled him was Belle. She
did not return his affections, at least not yet. He was not a patient man, had
never been. He was not sure he would be able to wait and allow her the time to
figure such things out. He wished he could walk away from her. Oh, how he
wished it. But he knew better. He knew that he loved her far to much. If she
truly did not love him and chose to give herself to another (the thought had
Thorin’s muscles all clenching, ready to kill the theoretical man), he would
love her for many years to come.
The kiss they had shared mere hours earlier had his heart yearning for her even
more so than it had before. He cursed himself for allowing himself to be
dragged this deeply into her. Thorin dipped beneath the water in hopes that the
warm water could wash away his feelings. He found them to be a hindrance. The
raven-haired man knew he should be thinking of the upcoming battles, not the
tawny-haired girl with the emerald eyes.
They would be continuing their march towards Wessex now that they had Belle
back. His mind began to dip into strategies and the like. Feeling as if he
perhaps needed more information on Smaug’s kingdom and his ways Thorin decided
he needed to have a meeting with Belle. She would tell him more.
===============================================================================
 
“You wished to speak with me Jarl Thorin?” Belle asked as she entered his tent,
head bent downward in respect.
His tongue burned to remind her to call him Thorin but as he looked up he found
she had two guards at her side. He flicked his head silently ordering them to
leave. Belle looked up at him with those large emerald eyes making him
momentarily speechless. All anger, all feelings of hurt vanished the moment he
saw her enter his tent. He had had every intention of lashing out at her in
anger or perhaps simply giving her the cold shoulder. But when he looked at her
all he felt was warmth.
“What did you wish to speak of?” The little woman asked.
Thorin snapped out of his stupor and stood straight, hands clasped behind his
back. “I want your opinion on what Smaug will be expecting of us,” Thorin told
her looking towards the map on the table in his tent. It was a map they had
stolen from Northumbria. It was ostentatious with its gold letterings and
portraits of various kings beside their lands. Thorin had taken it purely for
the roadways and riverways it showed, it was too impractical for a traveling
map. It was written on thin paper that could rip easily and would be ruined if
even the slightest amount of blood got on it.
Belle smiled widely at the map and floated towards it as if she had no power
over her limbs. She traced her thin fingers over the map. Thorin stepped closer
to her, wishing he could absorb some of her excitement. Thorin coughed under
his breath feeling jealous of the attention the inanimate object was getting.
Belle shook off her wonder and pointed her finger to a place on the map.
“We are here. In the Kingdom of Mercia. East Anglia is to our right. My uncle,
Primula’s father, is a high Lord there. We will want to get past them without
their notice. Dain will be sailing their shores about now. They are moving
faster than us but they will have had to battle some men, I do not doubt it.
Mere skirmishes, if I am correct.” Belle spoke without looking up at Thorin.
The raven-haired man moved closer to her to see the map better if he took a
moment to breathe in the lavender scent of hair that is neither here nor there.
Belle’s speech stuttered at his close proximity making him smile subtly.
“Smaug will be expecting us to come in through Rochester, or Essex. He will
want to keep himself far from that side of Wessex.”
As she spoke Thorin put one hand down onto the table in front of them, bringing
his body so close to hers he was nearly on top of her. He moved his hand over
to the left side of the map and tapped one of the cities there. “So he will be
here.”
Belle tilted her head from side to side and grabbed his large wrist and began
to move it in a circular motion, so his pointer finger was moving in a circle
around multiple cities.
“He will be in any of these. Either Glastonbury, Exeter, or Sherborne.” She
told him and looked up at him through her lashes.
“Then we split and go after those cities at the same time,” Thorin said with a
shrug.
Belle moved away from him as if she could not think straight and began to pace
across his bearskin rug. Thorin watched her in fascination as she chewed on her
thumbnail and shook her head subtly.
“I don’t know, Thorin. Smaug is going to have a mass amount of his army with
him. He would not split them up evenly. If we split our armies we are losing
the upper hand if we do stumble upon him. Dain will be pushing from the east,
we push from the west. Smaug, if we do not come upon him in those western
cities, will run to Winchester.”  
Thorin had heard of Winchester, he had heard of the great castle of King Smaug.
It was filled with glittering gold and jewels the size of ones fist. The greed
in Thorin rose as he thought of the wealth that could be bestowed upon them if
they were victorious. He could become King. He would have enough wealth to buy
an entire country.
“Thorin? Are you listening?” Belle asked as she now stood in front of him.
The raven-haired Jarl looked down at Belle and nodded.
“So Smaug, if not found will flee to Winchester. If he gets there you will need
your entire force of men to get past the battlements and barricades of that
city. It is large, with many men to fight. If we were to move to Winchester,
Dain would meet us there. We would have a much better chance at succeeding if
we had Dain’s men for that Battle.”
Thorin looked down at the map and felt doubt beginning to creep in. “Why do we
not march on Winchester first?”
Belle came back to his side and began pulling items from the table. “Because
then we lose him to the Western cities. If we start on the far west side and
begin looking for him there, while simultaneously destroying his back up armies
of men we diminish his numbers without having to fight them as a whole and do
not have to look for an attack behind us,” she said and placed three cups side
by side vertically on the east side of the map before moving three more cups to
the west side in the same manner. She began pushing the line of cups together,
moving them towards Winchester at the center of Wessex.
“It is a trap?” Thorin asked slightly surprised at her ingenious plan.
“In a way yes.” Belle said and looked at him with excitement in her eyes. “We
will be forcing him to go where we want him to. It would be better if we could
push him to a city without great defenses but we do not have the time for such
things. Though we will have the upper hand.” Belle said thoughtfully.
“Upper hand? How so?” Thorin asked.
“You have me.” The little woman said with a devious smile. “I spent much of my
time in Winchester and even more reading about it. I know ways into that caste
that Smaug himself does not know of.”
Thorin could not help but chuckle at the vengeful glee written upon her face.
“This looks good on you, my mouse.” The large man reached out a hand and cupped
the side of her face, dragging his thumb across her bottom lip. A wondrous
blush crept across her cheeks giving Thorin great joy. When she sensed his
amusement she slapped his hand away.
“So what will you do?” Belle asked looking at him expectantly.
“We will follow your plan, Belle. I will send a runner to Dain informing him of
our plan and we will move forward.”
Surprise bloomed on her face but something else was there as well. “That is it?
No argument? You are not going to confer with Balin or perhaps Gothi before
making a decision?”
“No. I trust you.” Thorin told her. He wished to convey much more with those
four words but he was not able.
“Why?” Belle asked quietly, her eyes on her feet.
Thorin lifted her chin with a singular finger. “Because the Gods are with you.
And who would I be to doubt one so beloved...by the Gods?”
The little woman pulled her shoulders back and took a deep breath to gather her
courage. “Am I beloved by only the Gods?”
Thorin felt his stomach clench anxiously. “You know how I feel, Belle. You are
the one that was confused.”
“I am not confused, Thorin. There are just reasons...Reasons that make this a
hard decision.”
Anger built within him making his tone much harsher than he meant it to. “What
reasons?”
“I want safety and happiness. I want to be courted. I want to be loved,
Thorin!” She burst out.
“Love? And you think I do not love you?” Thorin shouted back over Belle’s own
shouting.
“And! And! I want to marry in a Christian church!”
That pulled Thorin up short. “A Christian church?” He asked in bewilderment.
“Yes,” Belle answered with a defiant lift of her chin.
Thorin pursed his lips and did not say any more. Belle clenched her fists twice
before moving towards the opening of the tent. Before she walked out she looked
at him over her shoulder. “I do believe you are now the one that must  figure
out  how you feel.”
Thorin cracked half a smile at the feistiness of his woman. He sat upon his bed
heavily and attempted to untangle the mess of thoughts within his mind.
===============================================================================
 
These thoughts plagued him as they continued on their way towards Glastonbury.
There were small groups of men here and there that they had to cut down but
nothing of consequence. Thorin kept his distance from Belle but never far
enough that his eyes could not find her. She was constantly on the same horse
as Fili or her own little cousin Primula. The dark haired girl had been able to
make many of the men fall in love with her. Thorin may have scowled in her
direction the same amount as anyone else but truth be told he was impressed by
her bravery. She laughed, joked and drank with the men and women of his people
without trouble. She did stay close to Bofur and at times Gothi but as a whole,
he believed her to be brave. Gothi represented something familiar for the
woman, he was a connection to her beloved grandmother. The old man had treated
her as a grandfather would and she had in turn begun to call him grandfather
alongside her cousin Belle.
It was her little voice that broke through the quiet march of their men.
“ Uh. Grandfather...We are nearing the town of Bristol.”
“What did she say?” Thorin asked in Norse over his shoulder.
“She said we are nearing the town of Bristol, Uncle.” Fili translated for
Primula.
“Bristol.” Thorin stopped the march and moved his horse towards the girl who
was sharing a horse with Belle. He attempted to keep his eyes off of his tawny-
haired girl but found it was futile when she began to translate for Primula.
“Bristol is beginning to grow popular as a port town.” His woman said. “Prim is
saying that if you are needing supplies it would be best to get them here.”
Thorin nodded curtly. They were running low on supplies and there would be
easier places to find them but he believed his men needed to feel the blood
rushing through their ears as they fought. The last few skirmishes they had had
with the English soldiers could not even be called that. They were over within
moments with no more than 25 men at a time. Thorin led his horse towards Gothi
and convened quietly with him.
“Are the God’s whispering about this town?” Thorin asked quietly.
The old man shrugged his shoulders. “Perhaps there are answers you seek
within.”
Thorin nodded his head unsure of what answers could be given to him. He had so
many questions.
===============================================================================
 
They waited until the holy day of the Christians before sacking the town, per
Gothi’s advice, it was in his favor that it was the next day. He gave Belle one
last look over his shoulder before he left. She answered with a worried smile
in his direction. He nodded curtly at her and lead his men away from their
improvised camp. They quickly disposed of the town guards at the gates before
ramming the gates into the city. Thorin had expected it to be empty, but not
quite this empty. He had never raided a town on a holy day. But this is what
Belle had told Fili to expect. Thorin had unabashedly been listening in on
their conversation. After wiping the blood from his face he ordered his men to
search for more guards. They split up into groups as Thorin eyed the large
grand structure in the town. Feeling a pull to the building he marched towards
it with nearly fifty men behind him.
Thorin put his ear against the door and heard the chanting of a man within.
Thorin pulled the doors open slowly and saw people with their heads bowed,
their backs facing him. His men followed him into the structure on silent feet.
Thorin’s eyes were glued to the man at the front wearing the brilliant white
robe and strange hat.  He had begun moving towards the man when a woman turned
and look at him. Her brown eyes grew impossibly wide before her face contorted
in horror. A fearful scream ripped out of her throat when Thorin smirked at
her, blood running down his lip and onto his teeth. A few Englishmen fought
back against them but they were quickly cut down.
“Do not fight and we will not harm you!” Thorin roared. Fili and Ori translated
as they made their way through the crowds. Few more fought back, most choosing
instead to cower in fear. Thorin marched towards the man with the white
clothing and grabbed him harshly by the collar throwing him to the floor.
Thorin put a knee on the much smaller man’s chest and peered down at him with a
frightening smile.
“ Pppleeassee…I will give you anything…”  The man stuttered.
Thorin understood his words enough that it peaked his interest. He nodded Fili
over to him. “Ask him if it is possible to marry me and my woman in his holy
place.”
The blonde looked at his uncle in bewilderment before shaking his head and
translating.
The priest took a moment to understand what Fili was saying before he asked: “
Have you been baptized as a Christian?”
“No, but she has” Thorin answered him.
The man looked at Thorin in surprise and immense fear before stuttering out
that Thorin would need to be baptized for him to perform the marriage between
his woman and him.
Thorin growled and brought his blade down the man’s chest, ripping through
clothing and skin until crimson seeped through.
The man screamed in agony prompting more than a few of the English men left
within the room to attempt to fight back or escape. Thorin’s warriors quickly
cut them down and Fili called out to remind everyone that if they did not fight
or try to escape they would be spared.
“How about now? Have you changed your mind? Will you marry my woman and I,
without me being baptized?” Thorin spit the last word as if it were foul on his
tongue.
“I’ll do it!”  The chubby little man said.
“Good,” Thorin answered with a triumphant grin. He slapped the Christian holy
man on the cheek in a patronizing manner before leaving the man weeping and
shaking on the floor. The large leader walked out of the church into the
streets with Fili marching beside him.
“You are going to marry Belle, Uncle?” his nephew said in a hushed tone.
“Yes. She will marry me if I agree to have the marriage ceremony in a Christian
church.” Thorin answered with slight annoyance. He wished Belle had simply
agreed to his proposal without adding provisions of her own. But deep down he
knew he never expected that of her. She was difficult, she was work, she was
not easy as many women in his homeland would have been. They would have asked
him to kill any certain number of animals or bring them gold from far away
lands. That was easy. Belle had asked him for something challenging, something
that would test him. And dammit if he did not find her more enthralling for it.
“Do you want me to send one of the men to fetch her?” Fili pried.
“No. She wishes for me to court her first.” Thorin answered wiping his bloodied
sword on his trousers.
“Then why the Priest?” Fili asked, his blonde brows pulling together in
confusion and his mustache beads swinging.
The raven-haired man sheathed his sword as there was no threat near him before
answering. “I do not wish to abandon our Gods for their weak one, regardless of
what Belle thinks she wants.” Thorin spit on the ground in anger.
“So you are going to get a Priest to perform the marriage in her church by
threatening to kill them?” Fili asked with a chuckle. “Why not just bring that
one with us?” gesturing behind him towards the church.
Thorin shrugged his shoulders before picking up an abandoned spear and
launching it at a fleeing English guard. With a loud thud, the spear buried
itself between his shoulder blades. The English guard fell to his knees with a
loud scream of agony before falling face first into the mud, dead.
“There will be others, and if there is not, I will come back and find him.” The
raven-haired leader finished their conversation and stalked off to gather his
men.
Thorin walked through the muddied streets of the trade town, he could hear the
chaos all around him and reveled in it. The screams gave him renewed energy and
brought his blood rushing through his veins. He saw a scared woman running down
the streets. She skid into the mud, falling to her hands and knees in front of
him. She had obviously not seen him yet as she did not cower from him. The
dark-haired English woman was too afraid to notice him. She scrambled to her
feet and went flying past him as two of his men laughed and stalked after her.
Thorin took a moment to watch this scene unfold. He leaned against a nearby
wall and watched as his men grasped the woman and threw her harshly onto a
nearby merchants table. This was a familiar sight for Thorin. He had both been
on the viewing end as well as the participating end. He understood the power
lust these men were experiencing. It had been a few months since they had been
near a woman.
One of his men began to pull up her skirts as the other held the girl down by
her upper half. She screamed and thrashed in a futile attempt to get away from
the much larger beings attacking her. Thorin felt conflict rise within him
watching this unfold. He could hear Belle making him and Dain promise that
their men would not prey on the females of her people. That their men would not
rape the women of her home country. Dain and Thorin both had agreed readily
because the reward was much greater than the cost. Thorin knew Belle was smart
enough to understand that they would not kill their warriors for doing what
came naturally to them. For what their people did on raids. Belle knew better.
But Thorin supposed she made him promise in case a situation like the one he
was witnessing arose. He was here. He could stop this. But if he stopped this
was he a hypocrite? He had forced women of other lands and felt nothing wrong
with it, until now. Now all he could see was Belle’s disappointed eyes in
learning such things about him. Thorin clenched his jaw and spit on the ground.
“Stop” He ordered. What was he doing? Why should he stop this? His men deserved
to have some pleasure. Why should he deprive them of that? The answer was clear
and simple. Because He had given his word to Belle to do so.
“Jarl?” The man currently holding on to the English girls heaving bare breasts
looked at him confused. When he looked at the English girl all he could see was
Belle’s big fearful green eyes and curly tawny hair. It enraged him to see
these two had their hands on his woman.
“Let her go,” Thorin growled. Thorin shook his head harshly at the last order
and rubbed at his eyes. When he looked at the girl again, she looked nothing
like Belle. She had dark brown eyes and dark brown hair with much sharper
features than his little Belle had.
“Why?” the man at her legs nearly whined.
“Because I ordered no man to take the women of this country by force.” He grit
out, he was getting irate that his mind was attempting to play tricks on him
and that these men were not listening to his orders.
“You were serious?” one of the men scoffed.
Having had enough of their insubordination Thorin stomped towards them and
ripped the girl from the table, throwing her towards the ground.
“ Go .” He roared at her in English. She scrambled to her feet and took off
sprinting, all the while attempting to hold the top of her dress together to
cover her bare breasts.
“I gave you an order, I expect you to follow it. If you do not wish to follow
my orders, leave or I can kill you” Thorin snarled and raised his sword to one
of the men’s throats.
They both shook their heads and clenched their jaws. The large Jarl tilted his
head, silently excusing them. Once they had rounded the corner, out of his
sight Thorin slumped against the nearest wall and shook his head in anger.
Belle was changing him and he was not entirely sure he liked it. But he had
made a promise to her and he would keep his word. His word was his bond. He had
honor and he would not forsake it to take the easy way out.
===============================================================================
 
Thorin returned to their camp in the wee hours of the morning three days after
having left. His men were bloody and tired but their bellies were full and they
had a horde of new supplies. He silently praised little Primula’s knowledge on
the area. This was a very successful raid and this town could come of use
someday.
Thorin’s thoughts were encompassed by the future when they finally came upon
their camp. All was quiet. He assumed many were still sleeping. He spotted a
slave and ordered her to begin bringing bath water in for him. He did not wish
to be covered in her people’s blood when he told Belle they would be marrying.
He had just finished bathing when he heard little feet entering his tent. He
looked over his shoulder to see Belle standing awkwardly at the entrance of his
tent. It seemed it took her a moment to spot him and when she finally did she
squeaked and turned around.
“Hello, my mouse,” Thorin said with a small chuckle. He pulled himself from the
bathwater, completely nude and began to dry himself off while she was still
turned. She peeked over her shoulder at him and squeaked again. She looked as
if she were about to run when he called to her.
“What did you come for, little mouse?”
“If you put your clothing on I will tell you” She answered back in a tight
voice.
“Why? I do not mind if you see me.” He told her.
“I mind.” She growled.
Thorin tied the drying cloth around his waist as he chuckled. He could see a
blush on the back of her neck making him chuckle. He realized then he had never
truly seen her with her hair up. It was swirled in a pin with intricate braids
leading here and there. He stepped towards her almost without thought and
touched the back of her neck making her twitch.
“If we are to be married, then you will have to learn to not mind my nude
body,” He said in a low voice.
Belle turned to face him with suspicious eyes. “What do you mean?” Her emerald
eyes darted down to his waist for a moment making her blush slightly subside
when she saw his lower half was at least covered.
“I mean, I accept your terms.” He answered her as he brushed a stray curl from
her forehead. “I will give you safety and happiness. I will court you and I
will marry you in a Christian church.”
The tawny-haired girl’s already large eyes were as big as dinner saucers. Her
mouth hung open in shock and her shoulders drooped in bewilderment before his
words actually sunk in. Then she stood straight but still held the look of
shock.
“You will marry me in a Christian church? You will be baptized for me?”
This is what Thorin had been afraid of. Her getting too specific. He tried to
artfully dodge the last question hoping she wouldn’t notice. “I will marry you
in a Christian church, my little Belle.” He told her and reached out to run his
hands down her shoulders in a way he had been wishing so desperately to do in
the last few weeks. What he truly wished was to throw her on the bed and
celebrate in the best way he knew how, but he knew she would not approve. She
was not a slave, nor was she some shieldmaiden to let out sexual frustrations
with. She was going to be his wife.
Belle had not moved an inch, too stunned. Thorin stooped down so they were face
to face, snapping her out of her own mind.
“Do you accept my suit, Belle?” His ice blue eyes held her emerald green ones.
“I….Um...I…” Thorin’s stomach clenched as she stumbled for words. His heart was
steadily dropping and his anger rising until he heard her utter that one
singular word. “Yes”
He smiled so wide his face ached. He had not smiled like this since he was a
child he was sure of it. Taking advantage of her stupor, Thorin cupped her face
and pressed his lips to hers. She did not react at first. She stiffened but the
more the raven-haired Jarl persisted the more she melted against him. He swept
his tongue into her mouth, feeling bored with the chaste kiss. Belle pulled
away slightly to give him confused eyes before he pulled her back and did it
again. This time her tongue slid tentatively with his own, thrilling him to no
end. Feeling his back beginning to ache the large man pulled her into his arms
and lifted her from the ground. She made a small noise of alarm but Thorin
ignored it. Instead choosing to set her feet upon his bed so she was standing a
few feet taller, making it easier to attack her mouth. He felt his manhood
beginning to react to the close proximity to her, not to mention finally being
able to kiss the woman he loved like he had wanted to for so long.
Thorin ran his large hands down her back nearing her perky arse. He was about
to place his hands on that beautiful backside when a being burst into his tent.
“Uncle,” Kili said with slight horror in his tone.
Belle had tried to jump back from Thorin but he held her tight to his body. He
knew she could feel his hardness against her stomach from her slight gasp.
“Kili, this had better be good. I swear if it is not, I will shave you bald
then kill you.” He snarled menacingly.
Kili gulped audibly from the opening of the tent. “Uhhh...Gyda. She is having
her baby. I was asked to fetch Belle…”
The tawny-haired girl in question ducked under Thorin’s arms and walked out to
follow Kili’s retreating form. Before she exited she gave him a small shy
smile. That one look got him off within seconds after having had enough sexual
frustration for the last few months.
===============================================================================
 
Gyda gave birth to a daughter by the name of Hillevi. A celebration was had as
the tiny girl was welcomed into their ranks. She was fawned over as was her
mother. Gothi blessed the little girl and Thorin announced her to his people
that were present with them in England. Gothi foretold that the little girl
would someday be a warrior leading men and women into great battles. Thorin
looked down at the little dark haired babe and wondered if it were true. She
looked so small and fragile now. It was hard to imagine this tiny thing would
grow into a powerful woman.
“She is beautiful,” Belle said beside him as she gazed down into the basket
holding the bundled up child.
“Yes.” He answered back absently.
“I wonder if our children will look like that.” She stunned him with her words.
In the days since accepting his suit, she had said small things here and there
about things in the future, but this one truly shocked him. He had thought of
marrying her, he had thought of having children with her, but that had always
been a far off thought.
“Ours will be even better looking. This one has Dwalin as a father, poor girl”
He said under his breath, making Belle laugh in surprise and slap his arm with
the back of her hand.
He found he liked it when she laughed, he always had, but especially now. He
threw an arm over her shoulder and pressed a kiss to her temple. She stiffened
slightly. Belle was uncomfortable with displays of affection in front of
others. It was not the way of her people. Thorin had been uncomfortable with
the women he had bedded showing affection to him outside the bedroom, but with
Belle it was different. Very different. She was going to be his wife. He wanted
to claim her for all to see. His men lusted after his woman, he knew full well
what their longing looks meant. She was beautiful and exotic to them. They had
been ordered not to touch any English woman, apart from slaves since coming to
England. Though he knew many had, as long as it was not in front of his face he
could not enforce his rule. The two men that had attempted to rape that English
woman in front of him had made themselves scarce around him. He applauded them
for their foresight on that manner. He was still angered by their
insubordination.
“Where are you leading us?” Belle asked him quietly.
He came out of his mind and looked around. “A little further.” He stopped them
once he spotted the purple flowers popping up out of the snow. He bent down and
picked them before handing them to her.
“For me?” She asked with a bright blush. Thorin only nodded in response. He
watched as she smiled shyly and put the flowers in her wild curly hair. Belle
rose up on her toes and pressed a warm kiss to his cheek in thanks. The raven-
haired Jarl smirked lightly when Belle’s eyes grew round as he pulled her back
towards him and welded his mouth to hers. Again after a few awkward seconds,
she melted against him. This kiss was similar to their kiss in his tent. It was
filled with both want and need. He turned her before picking her up and
pressing her back against a nearby tree. He slipped his tongue into her mouth
and soon hers was sliding along with his. She let out a breathy moan when he
pinned her pelvis with his. But it seemed her moan had broken the spell. She
pulled away and pushed him gently away from her so she could stand on her own
two feet leaving him feeling hollow.
“We shouldn’t get carried away,” She said quietly in way of explanation.
Thorin was going to tell her just how he felt about not getting carried away
when he heard the laughter of his men followed by the high pitched giggle of a
woman.
“I need to get back to Prim. She has been drinking.” Belle said quietly and
turned to walk away when Thorin stopped her. He pressed a quick kiss to her
lips and held out his arm for her. The smile she gave him was blinding. She
laced her arm with his and the two walked back to camp. As they walked Thorin
thought that perhaps the rest of their courtship would be this smooth and
wonderful. He was wrong.
===============================================================================
 
It started when they reached Glastonbury. The women stayed behind, watching
from a hill looking over the city. Thorin led his men into Glastonbury, ready
to find the Bastard King. He had been told by Gothi he would not find the old
dragon here. But Thorin still stormed the city. As Gothi had predicted there
was no Smaug, but there was a small army they needed to defeat. It took three
full days to take the city, and there were casualties, but it was worth it when
they sacked the city. The city had great wealth within and more than enough
supplies for his army to be warm and have full bellies for the rest of this
venture. When he reached the large church he found multiple priests that
refused to perform a marriage between he and Belle without him being baptized.
Angrily he tossed the last of the priests bodies aside and snarled under his
breath. He was beginning to regret leaving the priest from Bristol behind. He
had not expected the rest of their camp to make their arrival then, nor for his
woman to be among the first to see him.
“What. Happened. Here?” She snarled.
“The priests died,” Thorin answered angrily. His chin upturned in defiance.
“Why have they been tortured, Thorin?” Belle said between clenched teeth.
“They wouldn’t give me the answer I was seeking.” He replied calmly but inside
he was an out of control storm.
Belle crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him heavily. “What answer
were you seeking, Jarl Thorin?”
Thorin crossed his blood covered arms and mimicked her position, refusing to
answer.
“Kili?” The little tawny-haired girl asked after a lengthy staredown with
Thorin. The dark-haired man was greeting his wife who had happened to walk in
with Belle.
“Do not answer, Kili” Thorin snarled, his eyes still locked on his little woman
with the emerald eyes.
“Kili, if you do not answer I will make Tauriel punish you.” Belle threatened.
A swift glance at the dark haired man showed that he was breaking. His wife was
staring at him intensely.  “ Inis di, Kili”  Tauriel snapped.
“He wishes to marry you without being baptized.” the man said swiftly and with
no small amount of wincing.
Belle gasped loudly. “I knew it! I knew that you accepted my terms too easily!”
Thorin bared his teeth at his nephew, a promise for later punishment. “No. I
accepted your terms. You did not say you wished for me to be baptized. You only
said you wished for me to marry you in a Christian Church. The priest in
Bristol said he would perform the ceremony without the baptism”
The raven-haired man could see the fury growing within Belle’s eyes. “So you
tortured these men because they did not give you the same answer?” She scowled
deeply at him before turning and marching out of the church.
“You will pay for that later.” Thorin snarled as he passed his nephew, bumping
the younger man's shoulder hard enough to jar Kili’s teeth.
The raven-haired Jarl went on the hunt for his little woman. Though he showed
no outward signs of it, he was frightened. Frightened that she would break
their engagement. Though she had exited just second before him he could not
find the little woman, it was as if she had vanished into thin air. He began to
worry when his search became more and more fruitless. He became frantic as he
searched for her. Did an Englishman sneak beneath their noses and take her? Did
one of his men take her in way of revenge for not being free to rape and
pillage as they saw fit?
Thorin turned nearly murderous until he saw a little woman with the black curly
hair sitting nearly within Bofur’s lap around a fire in the large marketplace.
“Primula. Where is Belle?” Thorin asked sharply.
The little woman jumped to her feet and pointed a shaky hand towards one of the
structures across the marketplace. “Grandfather.” Her Norse was still not
clearly understood but that word was clear. Thorin gave her a sharp nod of
thanks and stomped towards the structure.
“Belle!” He roared as he walked. At first, she did not emerge from the house.
So he called her name again. This time she did emerge.
“You can not disappear like that. We are in enemy lands, woman!” Thorin
snarled. He was inches away from her but the volume of his voice did not seem
to bother her. She only looked at him with a bored expression. “Do you
understand?” He growled when she did not make some sort of retort.
“Yes,” she said calmly.
“Yes?” He asked suspiciously. She was being calm, far too calm. “You will not
run from me again.” He ordered testing her anger.
“Yes, Thorin,” Belle told him.
Thorin was pulled up short by her answer, as well as the small smirk she was
attempting to contain. “Where is your sharp tongue?” He asked with suspicion.
“Away I suppose,” She said with a shrug.
Something about this interaction was off, Thorin could sense it. She was being
too agreeable.
“Are you breaking our engagement?” he asked suddenly.
Belle pursed her lips and shook her head. “No. In my anger, I wanted to, but
after speaking with my Grandfather I will not.”
Thorin’s stomach clenched at her honestly regarding dropping their engagement.
“Why will you not?” He asked quietly.
“It seems I do not have a choice. We are fated.” She spoke like one of his
people. Thorin knew that the Christians did not believe in fate. They believed
they had a choice. They were able to make their own fate. Thorin disagreed. He
believed everyone’s fate was predetermined. Perhaps the Christians belief in
choice was an illusion. They believed they were making a choice but in reality,
they were making the choice that would keep them on the path of their fate. But
this was all beside the point, Thorin did not know if Belle believed in fate.
“You believe we are fated?” He asked with narrowed eyes. Absently he heard the
laughter of his men and the cackling of the fires in the background.
“I don’t know. But I trust my Grandfather and he says that we are fated, among
other things” The girl then smiled widely.
“What other things?” That suspicion was back again.
Belle only shrugged her shoulders in a way that had his blood boiling. “What.
Other. Things. Belle?”
“You will be baptized a Christian on this venture, no matter how hard you fight
it.” The tawny-haired girl said with great mirth.
“No.” Thorin snarled back, his muscled back going rigid.
“And for each Christian Priest you kill attempting to change this fate, you
will experience a week of impotence, where you will be unable to lay with me. I
do hope you do not challenge the Gods fate for you, Thorin. They are watching,
always.” Belle smirked and tilted her head towards the black crow sitting atop
a nearby roof overhang.
“Are you cursing me?” Thorin spoke in a deadly voice and stepped close to her,
backing the little woman up against the clay siding of the home.
Belle’s eyes were frightened for only a moment before she shook her head and
her bravado was back. “No. I am giving you a warning from my Grandfather,
Thorin.”
Thorin picked her up in his strong arms. Her legs automatically wrapped around
his waist as she cried out in surprise. “Perhaps I should prove your
grandfather wrong and take you here and now.”
Belle jerked in shock. She was afraid of him. He was not sure if that aroused
him or saddened him. “You wouldn’t,” Belle whispered.
Thorin only continued to stare at her, challenging her. She was right of
course. He wouldn’t rape her. He loved her.
“Thorin. You are scaring me.” She said in a shaky voice, her emerald eyes full
of fear and her bottom lip quivering.
The large man let out a loud breath before pulling her in for a small peck on
the lips, then set her down. “I am sorry I frightened you.”
Belle only nodded in acceptance of his apology. Thorin put his arm around her
shoulder and pulled her into his side. “Let us find you food.” He told her
softly.
“I would like that.” The girl answered as his stomach growled lightly.
“Come my little Belle.” He said as he pulled her through the dark street
towards the fires of the marketplace.
“I believe my Grandfather, Thorin. You should too.” Belle told him before they
were within hearing range.
Thorin scowled and shook his head. “I will never be baptized a Christian.”
“You are wrong” Belle whispered just before they were pulled in different
directions. Her to eat and him to give orders to his men.
***** Primula *****
Chapter Notes
     NSFW Chapter warning!
     Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay in this chapter, but by now you have
     all probably guessed correctly that I never post "on time" or when I
     first intend to. I try to update once a month, and would truly like
     to update even more than that but having extra time to write is not
     in my cards at the moment. Hopefully you all can forgive me!
     So this chapter is mostly smut, FYI.
     I wanted to write Primula different from her cousin. I wanted her
     more sexualized and sexually free. In my mind, Prim is different than
     everyone else in the sense that she made the choice to join this life
     and she is not going to be half-assed about it. She has fully
     accepted her new life without indecision or remorse. I like to think
     of her as similar to Adamanta in this way. I feel like had Adamanta
     gotten to have the life she dreamed of with Gothi she wouldn't have
     looked back and she would have adapted to his way of life quickly,
     leaving her old life behind. So in a way Prim is getting to live the
     life her Grandmother was never able to.
     I don't think Adamanta would have had as hard of a time leaving
     behind Christianity as Belle is having and Prim is similar to their
     Grandmother in this way. She has no problem leaving it all behind for
     freedom.
     Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the chapter. I am hoping to post a short
     chapter from Bofur's POV in the next week or so. Fingers crossed I
     can find the time to get it done!
     Thank you all for taking the time to read my writing. You all are
     truly awesome!
When she had made the decision to run after Belle it had been a Godsend. For
years she had fantasized about getting away from Drogo. She had thought it was
never a possibility, but a girl could dream. It was not as if he was evil to
her, like her cousin’s husband. But their relationship was...strained. They
were a loveless arranged marriage after all. Drogo was the typical high Lord.
He owned Primula and her body. He took her whenever he wanted, except on her
period because “blood was foul”. Primula had rolled her eyes at the notion but
shrugged her shoulders. It was not as if she minded him giving her a break, she
never found the release that some of the women had tittered about the stable
boys giving them. Primula had once thought about indulging in such things but
she would certainly be caught and the teenage stable boy would be put in the
stocks or worse, killed. Not to mention what would happen to her.
She had gotten close to that elusive peak once, with Drogo, when she imagined
him as Leland from the markets. She had kept her eyes closed and imagined it
was the rough calloused hands of the blonde haired Leland moving over her pale
skin instead of the soft hands of Drogo. She could see Leland’s crooked smile
that he would give her when she bought fresh apples off of him. She had focused
on that while Drogo drove into her for the entirety of two whole minutes, while
she felt herself climbing to a peak before he grunted and filled her with his
seed. It had been a rather disappointing moment. She had been so excited to
finally reach that peak only to be let down. That moment never came again and
she wasn’t sure it ever would, and in a way she was right. She would never feel
that way with Drogo, but she could with someone else.
Primula looked over at Bofur standing across the fire chopping wood. She
certainly wouldn’t need to imagine Leland if she ever was bedded by Bofur. He
was tall and broad-shouldered, not as tall as the rest of the Norsemen but
still well above her height. He was by far the nicest to her, not that any of
Norsemen were mean to her per say. But as soon as she had been pulled onto the
horse of the large blonde Norseman Fili, Bofur had immediately begun to try to
make her feel at ease. Though they did not speak the same language he had
comforted her with a kind smile and a gift. He had pulled a small wooden bird
from the pocket of his fur-lined coat and handed it to her. Primula at the time
had stared at him in shock.
“For me?” She asked quietly. The little dark-haired woman held the wooden bird
in her hands as if it were made of glass.
Bofur only gave her a dimpled smile and dipped his head in answer, his braided
hair swinging forward.
“Thank you.” She answered with a large smile and held it close to her heart.
The entire way back to the Norse camp she held onto the little bird with the
flapping wings as if it were more precious than jewels because to her, it
nearly was. It was the first gift she had been given that was made by the
person gifting it to her. But not only that, it was the only possession she had
besides the clothes on her back.
From that point on Bofur had stayed close to her side and she to his. She
looked to him for guidance in most things, at first it had been without his
notice, or so she thought. The culture was different with these people. She
watched all of them with keen eyes. The women are what shocked her the most at
first. They were practically as tall and tattooed as the men. The females wore
trousers, and even carried weapons. Primula had nearly fallen over when she
first saw the woman named Gunhild. She had a tattoo around her neck leading up
the side of her face. The dark haired girl had swallowed and absently rubbed
her throat at the sight. The woman was tall with a head of thick blonde hair.
That blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, with small specks of red
littering it. Primula squinted to get a better look at the red specks and
wondered what they might be.
As if he could read her thoughts, Fili leaned over to her and whispered in her
ear. “It's blood. Gunhild is a great warrior, one of the best from her home in
Kattegat.”
“She is beautiful,” Prim whispered in awe. This was no lie. The woman was
beautiful in an unconventional way.
Fili had snorted lightly before calling out to the towering blonde woman. “
Gunhild, lítill einn segir að hún telur að þú ert falleg (Gunhild, Little One
here says she thinks you are beautiful).”
“Shhhhh!” Prim had attempted to shush the tall man but he only gazed down at
her with mirth in his eyes.
Gunhild turned towards her and with a large smile winked at the girl. “Það
virðist sem hún hefur fleiri heila en nokkur af ykkur. Ég er glaður að líta á.
(It appears she has more brains than any of you bastards. I am a delight to
look upon)” her words prompted many around the camp to chuckle.
Prim, knew her cheeks had to be bright red, but all were smiling at her warmly
making her think perhaps she was not being made fun of and maybe, just maybe,
she had won some approval. “What did she say?”
“She said you are smart, and that she is a delight to look at” Fili translated
with a chuckle.
The green-eyed girl had then caught sight of someone she immediately knew,
though they had never met.
“Gothi,” she whispered and followed her feet toward him. She sat beside him
without hesitation and without fear.
“My name is…” She began to introduce herself but she was quickly cut off.
“Primula, granddaughter of Adamanta of Wessex.” His deep voice was gravely and
made something within her calm immediately. “You have her eyes.” The gray-
haired man said, but he did not look at her. His single eye was fixed at a
point in front of him, but his head was tilted as if he were concentrating on
something. “And her spirit.” He finished his thought. That was not the first
time she had been told as such.
“Yes, I do.” Primula wore that badge proudly. Grandmother had been her favorite
person that had walked the earth. The woman was more of a mother than her own
had ever been. It had irked Anna of East Anglia to no end, but there was
nothing for it. Anna, Prim’s mother, preferred not to get her hands dirty with
motherhood, that was what nursemaids were for. But Adamanta, her grandmother
with the white curls, had gotten her hands dirty with Prim, quite literally.
One of the dark haired girls favorite memories was digging in the forest
looking for truffles with the old woman.
“You will fit in well here,” Gothi said with a smile that had soothing warmth
spreading through her body.
“I intend to,” Prim answered with confidence making the old man chuckle.
And she stuck to that thought as she stayed with the Norse army. When she was
handed a mug of mead she drank it all, just the way they did, damn the
consequences. When she was handed a pipe packed with what she could not guess
she smoked it like they did. It burned her lungs and made her cough but she
took the pain to blend in with them. When they danced around the fire she
joined in, allowing her body to move like theirs did. She was going to be like
them come hell or high water. She found she rather liked it, being like them.
It felt...freeing. No longer was she restricted, no longer was she forced to
hide the side of herself that was wild and rather untamable. Here that part of
her was was normal. She was allowed to wear trousers and tunics. She was able
to ride horses and forage for food in the forests. The Norsemen didn’t care if
she picked up a weapon, in fact, she was told she had to learn to defend
herself which had made her nearly break out in squeals of excitement.
So that was what she was currently doing, training with sword and shield.
Though she was not very good. Belle was attempting to teach her a few things
the tawny-haired girl had learned during her time among the Norsemen. After a
few hours, Prim had gotten marginally better but she knew by then it was time
to take a break. Her arms ached and she was not so sure she would be able to
hold a sword at the moment let alone fight with it. She wiped at the sweat on
her brow and returned the sword back to her cousins waiting hand.
“There is a hot spring that way. Let’s get you a change of clothing.” Belle
said and grabbed her cousin's hand leading her towards their shared tent. As
Primula was dragged by the little woman her eyes caught sight of the leader of
this venture, Jarl Thorin Thrainsson. His ice blue eyes bore into Belle in such
an intense way it made Prim a little hot under the collar.
Once safely ensconced in the tent Belle began to search in her trunk for an
outfit for her cousin. While Prim sat on the edge of their bed she studied the
little woman before her.
“What is going on between you and the Jarl?” Prim asked nonchalantly.
Belle’s back immediately went rigged but she did not look her cousin's way. It
appeared she was attempting to hide her eyes. “Nothing. Why do you ask?”
The dark haired girl rose to her feet and twirled towards her cousin. She
plucked one of Belle’s long curls and wound it around her finger. “Oh, I don’t
know. Maybe it is the way you avoid his gaze or perhaps it is the way he stares
at you so intensely I’m surprised your clothes have not burned off of your
body.”
Belle gave Prim shifted her eyes downward before answering. “You are imagining
things, Prim.”
“Am I?”
Annoyed emerald eyes met teasing pale green ones in a standoff before Belle
broke it with a huff. “Yes.” The tawny-haired girl said sharply.
She shoved a bundle of clothing into Prim’s hands and pushed the giggling girl
out of the door of the tent. Her chocolate curls had swirled in front of her
eyes momentarily causing her to bump into a strong body.
“Ah, Bofur!” Belle chirped and smiled widely at the man.
Bofur greeted her in kind before moving his eyes down to Primula. “ Halló, blóm
(Hello, Flower)”
“Hello...” Prim answered with a large smile and a bright blush dancing on her
cheeks.
“Hvert ertu að fara (where are you going)?”Bofur directed the question at Belle
but he never took his hungry eyes off of Primula.
“Til vatnið. (To the water)”Belle answered quickly before she was pulled aside
by a slave girl.
Primula’s pale green eyes shifted between Belle and Bofur. His own blue eyes
were trained on her. His smile was easy and kind as he gazed at her.
“Prim I must speak with Jarl Thorin. I can take you to the baths later.” Belle
said in an apologetic tone before hurrying off.
Prim shifted from foot to foot awkwardly unsure of what to do. She truly did
need a bath and she was not keen on waiting for Belle and Thorin to go a few
rounds of sexual tension battle before she could go. She was just about to bid
Bofur farewell and ask Gyda to go with her when Bofur began to speak in very
broken English.
“I go to...vatnið...with you.”
Prim understood enough to pick up on what he was offering and she accepted
gratefully. She linked her arm through his without an invitation from him and
marched towards the water. He did not seem to mind, in fact, he looked to be
quite happy about it.  Based on his deep dimples that were showing. He looked
young when he smiled like that. Prompting her to wonder how old he truly was.
She guessed late twenties. Though she had learned that the Norse people tended
to look slightly older than they were based on the harsh conditions they lived
in. He could be much younger than she assumed. She gazed at him from the corner
of her eyes and saw him doing the same to her. The two chuckled at having been
caught by the other and continued to walk the beaten path leading to the hot
water.
When they reached it Prim, stood awkwardly to the side. She saw Bofur turn his
back slightly to her. She assumed he was giving her the privacy she needed to
bathe. Prim quickly shed her dirt-caked clothing and stepped into the water
before Bofur saw her naked body. It became apparent to her the point was moot
when she looked up and saw the man shedding his shirt from his muscular and
tattooed chest. Prim stood absolutely still her arm braced against her breasts
to hide them from view.
‘Is he getting in with me?’She thought. “Oh!” She gasped quietly when he
shucked off his pants.
Her green eyes nearly bugged out of her head at the sight before her. She had
seen Drogo nude and if she was being entirely honest she had peeked at some of
the young men from the village when they were swimming in the river once while
she was out in the forest. But those were boys compared to Bofur. He was a
fully grown man.  Muscled. Tattooed. Hairy in all the right places. Primula
turned her back to him choosing to dunk her hair under the water in an attempt
to gather herself.
‘This is normal to them. They bathe together. She already knew this. So he is
naked...Very naked… Get it together, Prim. You can do this. You want to fit in?
This is part of it. Relax. There is nothing wrong with this.’
As she had been giving herself the pep talk Bofur had begun scrubbing at
himself. She turned to look at him, silently wishing the water was murkier. ‘Or
perhaps not’She thought as her eyes darted between his legs.
Her cheeks turned bright red but not with embarrassment. No this was purely
arousal. It seemed he had noticed her scrutiny because he chuckled lowly
showing those deep dimples once again. Prim giggled slightly in response. The
two stared at each other for a moment of time before turning back to washing.
The entire time she bathed the chocolate haired girl had to fight her instincts
to cover herself or shut down from the embarrassment of another seeing her
naked body. She was leaving her old world behind. She had made a decision and
she was not turning back from it. So she continued to wash in this man’s
presence. She allowed herself to feel the things that had been suppressed from
years of stern Christianity. Prim allowed herself to gaze upon his body without
shame. She studied him and even lusted after him. He was bigger than her, as
all Norsemen were. Unlike her cousin, she accepted that she was small, much
smaller than most. That was something that had come from Adamanta. Prim knew
she herself was just a slip of a girl. She had a few years to grow according to
the Wise Woman of a nearby village.
Prim’s attention was brought back to Bofur as he unbraided his hair and let it
flow down. It was quite handsome when down. Healthy and straight. Her fingers
itched with the urge to run through the silk strands. He dipped below the water
and came back up rubbing his hands down his face to expel the water from it.
Her knees when a little weak at the action. It was unusually erotic. A brief
thought flashed through her mind that she should be repenting for lusting after
this man quite openly. ‘It is not sinful here. Not with them’She was nearly
giddy at the thought.
===============================================================================
 
To her disappointment and perhaps some relief the quick bath in the hot springs
did not lead to anything more than lingering looks and several submissions into
her memory bank. Bofur escorted her back to the camp and helped her learn more
Norse words as they did so. She appreciated the help wherever she could get it
but especially from him. His voice was kind and his smile reached his eyes
every time. Her heart tended to flutter at just the sight of him, let alone
getting close proximity to him.
The English girl pouted slightly when the two had to separate for the remainder
of the day. That was another thing that had surprised her about the Norsemen.
Everyone had a chore no matter how high their station or their gender. She had
been raised as a High Lords daughter then had been married off to another High
Lord. She was never expected to do chores of any kind, so being among these
people had been a shock at first. But it was welcome. She had always felt that
she needed to be doing something other than embroidering tapestries and
gossiping with the other ladies of the castle.
Prim was tasked with gathering food from the area for the day. Having been
raised near these parts she was the most knowledgeable on the plants that were
edible and poisonous. She was accompanied by Belle, Gyda, Tauriel and more than
fifteen guards all surrounding them as if they were liable to be snatched away.
She nearly laughed at her silliness for thinking such things. Her husband had
snatched Belle away from the fierce Jarl not too long ago. They were possibly
still on edge about that. She shrugged off the thought and allowed herself to
relax at the extra safety around her.
They began to pick mushrooms as they walked through the snow-covered forest.
Prim listened quietly as Belle and Gyda spoke. Suddenly the auburn-haired woman
turned to look at Prim with a wicked glint in her eye.
“So. I see you and Bofur are getting close.”
Prim nodded slowly afraid of what words were coming next. Gyda was not governed
by the same rules that most people were. She said exactly what she felt like
saying at any given moment. Most of the time it was sexual in nature, but the
occasional insult could be thrown out as well.
“He is a fine lover. Hung like a horse too” Gyda grinned mischievously.
Belle gave Gyda a scandalized look, while Tauriel laughed and rolled her eyes.
Primula’s reaction was different, she blushed brightly and pursed her lips in
thought as well as memory. Gyda was not wrong about the last part, Bofur
himself had proved it at the hot springs that morning.
===============================================================================
 
Gyda’s words rang within her mind the remainder of the day and into darkness of
night. To lighten the load on their journey south the barrels of ale that had
been taken from a nearby town were to be drained tonight. Prim had wondered if
it was merely an excuse for the men and women to celebrate and let loose.
Whatever it was she was grateful when the ale warmed her belly and made her
feel free. She danced around the fire until all she saw was swirls of color
like a tornado surrounding her. She stumbled on her feet but strong hands were
there to steady her. Her green eyes looked up to see kind blue ones.
“varlega, blóm mín (careful, my flower)”Bofur’s deep voice sparked something
within her. A fire that had begun to burn from their first meeting, turned into
an inferno at that moment. Feeling more courage than she ever had before Prim
grabbed his hand and began to stumble on her unsteady feet toward where his
tent resided.
She could admit that she had been watching him. She knew which tent he slept in
and who he shared it with. Prim knew that he loved his fur hat, hardly ever
taking it off. She knew that he was left-handed, but led with his right foot
when fighting.
“hvert erum við að fara (where are we going)?”Bofur asked with laughter in his
voice.
“Shhh.” Prim hushed louder than she intended ending it with a giggle.
The large man laughed once more but allowed her to pull him toward his tent.
Once inside Prim felt as if she had boldness in spades. Absently her conscious
mind, the part of her at that moment that was shoved back into the recesses of
her mind, praised the alcohol. She would never have the kind of bravery she
possessed at this moment without it. The short girl rose up on her toes
wrapping her arms around his neck. She brought her lips a whisper of distance
away from his and waited for him to respond. Though it was only a moment Prim
swore it felt like an eternity before Bofur wound his arms around her pulling
her to his chest in a bruising grip before his lips crashed into hers. She
could taste the ale on his tongue and the tickling of his beard spurring her
forward. She wanted more, much more. For instance the part of him she had seen
mere hours earlier.
‘He is a fine lover. Hung like a horse too’Gyda’s voice rang in her head like a
bell that had been struck much too close to her.
Her blood pumped in her veins at a rapid pace. It thumped in her ears loudly
drowning out all other noise apart from the harsh breathing of her and Bofur.
The man pulled her closer, but not close enough. Prim wrapped her arms more
tightly around his neck before jumping slightly and pulling herself up his body
so her legs could wrap around his waist. Bofur made a startled sound in the
back of his throat before moving his large hands under her arse to lift her up
higher. Prim groaned happily when his fingertips began to dig into her plump
flesh. She ground her warm center against his stomach seeking any type of
relief from the ache growing inside of her. Sensing her distress he pulled her
even tighter against his body. Using her legs she pulled herself slightly up
his body then moved back down, effectively grinding her hot wet center against
him. He hummed against her mouth approvingly while she panted and attempted to
keep up with his demanding kisses. They were a mess of twisting tongues,
pounding hearts, and overwhelming arousal.
In the recesses of her mind she recognized the feeling growing within her. She
had felt only a small snippet of it months earlier. But this...this was far
more intense. Far more addicting than she had ever thought possible. Needing
more Prim pulled his lips away from hers and panted heavily attempting to get
some air into her lungs so she could speak.
“The bed” She whispered breathlessly to him.
His dark brows pulled together in confusion. Prim nodded her head towards his
bed of furs. Bofur looked surprised but complied happily. He walked them both
to the bed before putting her down on her feet gently. Before he could put
space between them or she could lose her nerve, she had her hands on the belt
of his trousers. The blue-eyed man chuckled lowly but began to help her get his
trousers down. When he had shucked his trousers and stood in only his long
tunic he pulled that off too leaving him bare and in all his glory. Prim nearly
squealed in excitement at the view of his naked body. He was all thick muscle
and tattooed skin. Her drunken mind kept her from being embarrassed or thinking
about the morality of it all when she pulled off her dress and shift.
Bofur’s smile fell off his face as he fell into a trance at the sight of her
naked breasts. As if he had no power over his limbs he stumbled closer to her
his hand reaching up reverently to caress her rosie bud. Prim’s head fell back
at the delicious feeling. She was not prepared for his warm wet mouth to ascend
on her breast causing her to gasp loudly. Bofur pulled back slightly ready to
back away from her. Prim grabbed the back of his head and pulled it back to her
breast harshly. Again his deep throaty chuckle filled the tent. Prim was too
far gone in a haze of pleasure to laugh with him. She was intent on finding
that elusive peak that so many women before her had spoken of. Bofur switched
from one breast to the other making Prim whine with impatience.
The large man grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her down onto the bed.
She fell onto her back with a surprised huff. The action had another burst of
arousal rushing through her body. Bofur nodded his head at her with a
questioning look on his face as if to ask her if she was alright. Prim smiled
coyly at him and curled her index finger at him beckoning him toward her. He
scrambled toward her on the bed until he was between her bent legs. Prim
absently wished it was lighter so she could see his glorious body better. She
knew that if she was sober she would be grateful for the cover of darkness. She
did not have long to think on it when she felt her insides being stretched.
She hissed loudly at the sudden feeling. Bofur had not wasted any time on
getting inside her. Prim was now more grateful than ever that she was not a
virgin. That action would have hurt her immensely had she been. At the moment
she was merely uncomfortable at the stretching but knew it would subside. The
large man above her gave her only a moment to adjust before he began to pull in
and out of her. By the third thrust, she was feeling delicious heat spread
through her veins. Bofur was whispering something to her but her mind was too
preoccupied to even decipher what he was saying. Whatever he was saying didn’t
matter nearly as much as the dizzying feeling of his hips pressing against hers
or his manhood sinking deeply into her. Every time he sank into her he would
grind his hips slightly against her. She could feel a throbbing where their
flesh met. Each time he pulled away she wanted to cry out, or perhaps she did
cry out. She was aware that she was moaning and making pleading noises but she
herself could not hear them over the sound of her heart beating rapidly.
The release she sought after was fast approaching but she needed something
else. What, she was not sure. It seemed her lover knew exactly what she needed
because he dropped his hand down to rub at the top of her slit. That small,
hard, throbbing numb sucked up his attention for only a moment before she went
tumbling over the edge. Light flashed behind her eyelids as if she were seeing
shooting stars. Her back arched off of the bed and her entire body went taught.
 She felt a rush of fluid leave her body and Bofur’s exclamation of approval
before her body fell limb back onto the bed. Her lover continued to jackhammer
into her body while she spasmed around him until his hips stuttered and he
roared loudly. She felt his hot seed filling her and hummed happily at the
sensation.
Bofur was careful not to drop on top of her. She was saddened by this. She
wanted to feel his full weight pressing her into the bed. He pulled out of her
slowly giving her a newfound craving for the feeling of him being seated fully
inside of her. Bofur fell onto his side and took a few deep breaths before
pulling her toward him. Prim giggled happily at the feeling of being cuddled by
such a large man. He pressed a soft kiss to her ear that she was sure was meant
to be innocent in nature but she found it to be anything but. Instead, it had
her mind flashing through what they had just done. She surprised herself by not
being embarrassed, or even slightly ashamed. All she felt was excitement and
addiction. She wanted more...No she NEEDED more. She was not sure she would be
able to breathe again until she got more. Prim turned to face Bofur biting her
lip with slight apprehension.
“Hvað er það, blóm mín (What is it my flower)?”
She understood enough to know that he was asking her a question about why she
was looking at him like that. Feeling bolder than she had ever in her life she
scrambled on top of him, forcing him onto his back. Her lover made a sound of
surprise but complied with her silent request. She straddled him, bringing her
wet womanhood against his bare skin. Bofur’s hands moved down to grip her
unclothed arse tightly. Prim leaned down and captured his lips delighting in
the way her nipples brushed against his hairy chest when she moved.
“Aftur (again)?”Bofur asked in an incredulous tone.
She had understood that and nodded earnestly. She ground her hot core against
him while whispering in his ear “Again and again and again.”
***** Bofur *****
Chapter Notes
     NSFW warning on this chapter.
     *TRIGGER WARNING*
     There is part of this story that has a semi-graphic description of
     sexual assault. It is at the end of the chapter and is one of Prim's
     flashbacks so it will be italicized if you want to skip it.
     Hey everyone! I am so sorry for the wait on this chapter, I could not
     write it for some reason. Everything I wrote I was not happy with and
     truth be told after the third rewrite I said "fuck it" and this is
     what I came up with. I am still not happy with it but it is
     functional for what I wanted. Hopefully, you all don't hate it.
     Thank you for staying with me and reading this story! <3
Bofur was not sure what Thorin needed him for but it worried him all the same.
There were rumors of Thorin’s infatuation with Little Belle. He was pursuing
her some said. Others professed that he would never divert his attention from
the upcoming battles to a woman. But Bofur knew different. He knew their
fearless leader was in love with the little woman and had claimed her as his
territory whether Belle wanted it or not. Bofur had at one point in time asked
Belle’s grandfather for her hand in marriage, but had been asked to drop his
suit. Why? Because Thorin himself was placing a suit and according to the
Gothi, she was to marry the large Jarl. So Bofur swore to back away, to not
pursue the girl any longer. Not that that disappointed him any. Sure he wanted
a wife and Belle was pleasing to look at but he was not in love with her.
The dark haired man wondered if Thorin wished to talk to him about how close
Bofur had been hovering near Belle lately. It was not as if he was doing it to
be close to the tawny-haired girl. Who he truly wanted to be close to was
little Primula. The girl was enthralling to him with her dark curls and big
green eyes. When she smiled those green eyes seemed to join in. It made his
heart beat faster every time she blessed him with one of those smiles. He had
not known that he would have that reaction to her when he had handed her the
little wooden bird. She had just looked so unsure when she had been pulled onto
Fili’s horse. Bofur felt his heart seize at the sight of her. So he pulled out
the little wooden bird he had been working on just to pass the time. He held it
out to her but she hesitated in taking it so he pushed his arm out further
towards her, bridging the gap between them and nodded his head softly. The
smile she gave him in return once she took the bird into her hands nearly
knocked him from his horse.
From then on the girl could always be found near him and him to her. It was not
a conscious action, he thought. She was like a siren luring seamen to their
death. Her dancing was a further testament to that.
Bofur had watched her closely as she took in all of those around the fire’s
dancing and singing. Belle was sitting beside her talking quietly with Tauriel
in the language of the islands leaving Prim to her own devices. Bofur sipped at
his ale and waited to see what the girl was up to. There was something in the
set of her jaw that made him watch her ever closer.
“Do you think the next village will have written texts as this last one did?”
Ori jabbered beside him. Bofur ignored the young man for he did not give a rats
ass about the English written text. “Perhaps Belle will know,” Ori said and
went to walk towards the tawny-haired girl. Bofur placed a hand on Ori’s chest
halting the redhead from moving towards Belle, nearly spilling his ale in the
process.
“Wait.” He hissed as he saw Primula set down her own drink. He was worried that
if Ori went over and began to speak with both the English women he would not
get to see whatever Primula was about to do. He was rewarded when the chocolate
haired girl stood and walked towards Gunhild who was dancing before the fire.
Prim stood in front of her for only a moment before the tall blonde pulled her
into a dance. Bofur stumbled at the sight of Prim’s body swaying back and forth
to the beat of the drums.
“Bofur...You spilled your ale” Ori told the man before walking away to talk to
Belle.
Bofur looked down at himself and cussed. His ale was now a wet stain on his
trousers. He tried to wipe some of the liquid off with his hand but it was no
use. When he looked up he caught laughing eyes looking at him from across the
fire where Prim was now twirling with pregnant Gyda. Bofur smiled at her
sheepishly. He wished he could take his eyes off her but he found them forced
her way as she continued to twirl around the fire. He had never been in love
before but he was sure this was how it began.
“Enter” Thorin’s voice could be heard from outside the canvas tent, bringing
Bofur out of his memories.
Bofur nodded to Thorin’s guards before entering the tent. He found Thorin
standing beside a wooden table looking down at a large map.
“Jarl Thorin.” Bofur addressed and bowed his head to the man.
Thorin turned and stared at Bofur with scrutiny in his gaze. “I have heard you
have spent much time around my Belle.”  Bofur opened his mouth to protest but
Thorin put up a large hand to halt such words. “I have been told it is because
of her kin. That the two of you are...friendly.”
Bofur nodded his head sharply and straightened his shoulders waiting for the
order to stay far from her as well. A million scenarios rushed through his mind
as to why Thorin may want to keep her far from Bofur. Perhaps Thorin wanted
both of the cousins as wives. It was not unheard of to do such a thing. Perhaps
the girl had complained to Thorin about Bofur always being near. Perhaps…
“That is why Belle has requested that you become Primula’s personal guard.”
Bofur had not expected that. He looked at the large Jarl with confusion.
“What?”
Thorin’s face did not give way to much emotion apart from the natural anger or
indifference that usually resided there. “Belle has indicated to me that
Primula is garnering attention from some of the men. Belle is worried about
such things. According to Belle, Primula is quite comforted by your presence.
She has asked that you are the one to be her cousin’s personal guard. Stay near
the girl, make sure the men stay far from her and keep her happy.”
“May I ask why, Jarl Thorin?” Bofur shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. He
did not understand the large man’s motives behind this order to keep Prim
happy. It was very unusual for Thorin to care about such things.
Thorin pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance, but not at Bofur. His
annoyance was aimed at a thought within his mind. “Belle, and her agreeability
is essential to the ease of our venture and in a way as is Primula. Belle is
protective of Primula. If Primula is unhappy as is Belle. We must keep both
women as even-keeled as possible.”
“Yes, Jarl Thorin. I will do my best.”
Thorin nodded his head curtly in dismissal. Bofur bowed his head to the man
before taking his leave.
===============================================================================
 
Once again Bofur found himself watching Prim dance around the fire with a few
of the other women. But this time he knew what her body in its entirety looked
like without clothing. He could envision what she looked like without the dress
covering her body as she writhed. He licked his lips as he remembered her bare
in the water that morning. She had been a stunning sight.  His cock hardened at
the memory of her creamy skin. Bofur closed his eyes savoring the memory. When
his eyes opened he found a sight he was not rather fond of. Bjarte was now
attempting to speak to a dancing Prim.
Bofur snarled under his breath and marched towards Bjarte. In one swift
movement, Bofur wrapped his arm around Bjarte’s shoulders and led the blonde
man away from Prim while her back was turned.
“Leave her be,” Bofur said with a smile that held warning and clapped the
slightly larger man on the shoulder.
“Is she yours?” Bjarte asked in a challenging tone.
The dark-haired man looked over his shoulder a the woman in question. “I am her
guard and I must guard her from all the men. It is nothing against you
personally, Bjarte. Just orders from our Jarl.” Bofur's tone was soothing
giving off the impression that was relaxed but he was anything but.
Bjarte scowled for a moment before nodding his head and clapping Bofur on the
shoulder. “Alright, my friend.”
As the night wore on Bofur found himself getting more and more exhausted with
the effort of trying to keep the men from Prim. It seemed his previous
assessment of the girl still stood true. Like moths to a flame, the men flocked
to her. Bofur stood back and attempted to drink the rest of his ale after not
being allowed to do so until he saw the little dark-haired woman beginning to
tilt. He dropped his drink and sprung into action, catching her before she fell
over.
“ Careful, my flower ,”  Bofur’s said with a small laugh. He would openly admit
that feeling her in his arms was thrilling.
He had begun calling her “flower” after Belle had pointed out the girl's
namesake on the trail they were marching. The flower itself was a beautiful
plant and resilient, just like little Primula herself.  
Prim looked up at him with wide eyes for only a moment before she grabbed his
hand and began to lead him through the camp. She stumbled a bit giggling all
the way. He held tight to her hand hoping to help keep her up if she did fall.
“Where are we going? ”  Bofur spoke rather loudly for the quiet night. He
supposed perhaps he had drunk more ale than he had thought.  
“Shhh.” Prim hushed rather loudly herself.
The two broke into quiet laughter. The air around him buzzed with excitement.
He was not sure why but he had a feeling he was about to find out. And find out
he did when Prim led him to his tent he shared with Ori and Nori. Bofur allowed
her to take the lead and waited with baited breath for what she had planned.
The short girl rose up on her toes wrapping her arms around his neck. She
brought her lips a whisper of distance away from his and waited for him to
respond. Bofur was unsure if he should kiss her like she seemed to want him to.
He was her guard, her friend, certainly not her lover. Not yet at least...
‘keep her happy’
Thorin’s words wandered through his mind at that moment. This is what Prim
wanted, right? Bofur would be lying if he said he did not want it as well. But
there were many things to consider. If he turned her down she would certainly
be embarrassed and perhaps unhappy. That was the opposite of what Thorin asked
him to do. So that was not an option. But what if he did go through with it and
she regretted it, then never wanted to do it again? At the end of the day at
least he had lain with a woman for the first time in many months. But there was
also a chance that she would enjoy it, would not regret it and would want to do
it again.
Bofur took that chance and pressed his mouth against hers with excitement. He
realized only after the kiss that perhaps he had been too rough. She was much
smaller than him and he could easily hurt her if he was not careful. It
appeared he had nothing to worry over when she pressed herself even closer to
him in a silent plea to close the sliver of space between them. If it were not
for her feather lightweight he would have possible stumbled when she jumped up
his body after wrapping her arms around his neck. His hands automatically
dropped down to her backside to hold her up. Bofur growled at the delicious
feeling of her flesh being in his hands. He revealed in it for only a short
moment, a much smaller amount of time than he would of liked when she whispered
in her native tongue.
When she indicated she wanted to move to the bed his cock jumped in excitement
but he would not let it get the best of him. Again Thoin’s words to keep her
happy rang in his mind. He set her down on the bed then attempted to take a
step away from her to see if this was truly what she wanted. But it seemed Prim
was quite sure of what she wanted when her petite hands reached out and began
to yank on the belt of his trousers. The blue-eyed man chuckled lowly and
helped her get his trousers down. Having never had much of a problem with
nudity Bofur shed his clothing quickly leaving himself bare. He knew the
English were different in that manner so he was truly surprised when the little
dark-haired woman shed her clothing just as quickly. Her skin was milky and all
smooth curves. He wanted to lick every part of her beautiful body. But that
would have to wait, for his eyes had caught sight of her breasts and he would
need to feast on those first.
He lost all conscious thought after he entered her. He allowed his mind to shut
off and enjoyed being inside a woman after so long without. Bofur made sure the
little woman had enjoyed it, her screams of pleasure were a testament of that.
The dark haired man cuddled the woman close to his side and felt true happiness
flood his system. He was not alone in his happiness when he heard her giggle.
He couldn’t help but smile along as he looked down at her. He pressed a small
kiss to the shell of her ear and settled back to enjoy the after-sex euphoria.
Prim turned her face up to Bofur biting her lip in a way that had him hardening
immediately.
“What is it my flower?”
Prim moved her petite body on top of his straddling him. She gave him a coy
smile and ground her hips against his bare skin.
“ Again?” Bofur asked with one brow raised.
Prim nodded her head enthusiastically, her curls bouncing wildly. “Again and
again and again. ”
===============================================================================
 
Bofur followed behind the little woman he guarded as she went about her chores
for the day. They were to help gather water that day. Bofur and two of the
other men stood guard over the women as they began to dunk the large pots into
the ice-cold water. The dark-haired man’s eyes drifted to Prim’s perfect arse
bending over to gather the water. He felt saliva pool in his mouth much like
how a hungry hound would if a piece of meat were placed in front of it.
“Quit ogling her arse and hold Hillevi.” Gyda snarked before plopping the fur
bundled infant into his arms.
Bofur chuckled good-naturedly and held the infant close to his chest with one
arm, but kept his dominant hand open just in case he needed to grab his sword.
“Hello, little shieldmaiden. Born into the blood of the battlefield. That is
good luck, I do believe.” Bofur spoke to the babe as she stared up at him
with gray eyes. “You will lead many men and women, Hillevi. I know this. I can
see it in your beautiful eyes.”
“It also helps that her mother and father are legendary warriors,” Belle said
from beside him as she peered at the child.  He was always shocked at how
silent Prim and Belle walked. He had not even heard the tawny-haired woman’s
approach.
“This is true” Gyda grunted as she pulled the full pot of water up from the
spring.
Bofur looked towards Prim and saw her looking at him strangely. He gave her a
wink that had the girl’s cheeks blushing. He wondered if she was remembering
one of their many couplings together. It seemed the two of them could not keep
their hands off of one another. That first night they had made love until the
little woman could no longer bear it. He thought perhaps that would be the last
time they laid with one another but he was wrong. Prim had quite the appetite.
She would pull him behind trees to quickly fuck when they thought no one was
watching. Or they would escape to his bed if they had even a free moment. It
did not even necessarily have to be his bed. They had coupled on others beds
simply because they were available and no one was near.
===============================================================================
 
It was the night after their trip to the springs for water that they both lay
utterly spent, at least for the moment, when Prim began to speak to him in
horribly choppy Norse from where she was resting in the crook of his arm.
“You like babies?”  
He looked down at her with pride. She had spoken a full sentence in his
language before but it still astounded him every time she put words of his
language together. Prim understood more than she spoke which helped them
immensely as he did not speak a word of Saxon.
“Babies? Yes.” Bofur smiled down at her with fondness in his gaze.
Prim nodded her head for a moment, her eyes drifting as if she were lost in
thought. “How...Do...Are your women only for breeding?”
Bofur snorted lightly. She had used the term for animals mating but he figured
it was close enough. “No. They are their own people. Women and men both are
expected to produce heirs to care for their land and themselves when they get
old. But many women become shieldmaidens or prefer to travel to far lands
instead of having children. Or they have children and leave them with family
while they go raid or go to battle. Our women choose when to have children.
Most of them anyway…” Bofur trailed off. Not all women had the choice but many
did. More than the women of Prim’s home did, he supposed.
Prim turned onto her stomach and propped herself up on her elbows. He studied
her face carefully. Her green eyes were large but not abnormally so. She had a
petite nose that was straight, having never been broken much unlike his own.
She had plump pink lips that guarded white teeth. Her face still held a slight
roundness that suggested her youth. Bofur’s eyes trailed down her thin neck
engulfing the sight before him. Smooth skin that covered sturdy bones and then
those glorious breas…
“I want to fight before we breed babies.”
Prim’s words had his eyes flicking to hers with lightning speed.
‘ Before we breed babies”    
Bofur stayed absolutely still like a stunned animal. Had he heard her
correctly? Had she perhaps just confused the word “I” with “We”? It was not an
unpleasant thought he immediately decided. Having tiny dark-haired babies with
the petite woman. Should he ask her to marry him now? Is that what was
acceptable in this situation? She did not have any kin that he could speak to
apart from Belle and perhaps Gothi. Would Belle and Gothi approve of the match?
Did he care? Of course, he cared. He respected both of them as well as Primula.
She would make a fine wife...better than fine. She was what he had been
searching for his entire life without knowing he was in fact searching. And she
wanted to have his children; that was not something that every woman wanted.
“Will you show me how?” Prim asked haltingly.
“How to make babies?” Bofur asked bewildering thinking that he had already been
doing a mighty fine job of that for a few weeks now.
Prim laughed loudly and rolled onto her back. Her pert breasts danced with the
motion of her laughter effectively entrancing the man. She pulled at his arm
telling him without words what she wanted. He settled on top of her and pressed
kisses to her neck leading down her collar bones.
“Show me how to…” Prim broke off her sentence with a loud moan when his lips
latched onto her pebbled nipple. “Fight”. She finished with a sigh.
Bofur nodded his head at her request looking up at her from where he was
worshiping her and the Gods that crafted such magnificent breasts. “But first…I
show you how to make babies…” He winked before plunging into her.
===============================================================================
 
“Lead with your left!” Bofur called out as Belle translated for him. The dark-
haired man didn’t think Prim actually needed the translation but he didn’t tell
the tawny-haired woman to stop. Prim was bright, exceptionally so. She was
equal with Belle as far as intelligence went. But there was something that Prim
was far superior at than her elder cousin; fighting.
As he watched Prim swirl around the crude sparring ring he couldn’t help but
fall more in love with her. Especially when she landed a groin kick to Ori, who
she was sparring with. Prim had been practicing her thrusting and attacks when
Ori opened himself up for her kick. He had tried to block one of her oncoming
thrusts and locked swords with her. He then attempted to shift her swords force
upward instead of into his chest. But by moving his sword, still locked with
hers upward, he opened his body up for the kick. Prim, working off of instinct
as well as watching others fight, brought the heel of her foot up and slammed
it forward into poor Ori’s jewels.
“Oi!” Bofur burst out laughing along with all the others who were watching. He
clapped proudly from the sidelines.
Ori immediately bent forward to cradle his sore manhood giving Prim the
opportunity to bring her sword down on his neck in a clear victory.
“I am sorry, Ori” Prim whispered after the fight was over and patted the
redhead on the back gently.
Bofur smiled at how caring the woman was, but only after she had won. He
admired that in her. He enjoyed her kindness. Some men preferred women that
were battle hardened and cold. Bofur, however, loved that Prim could dance both
sides, hard and soft. He wondered if she would be able to handle battle. She
was tough in the sparring ring but the sparring ring was not the battlefield.
There was not the stench of curdled blood, shite and vomit invading your
nostrils. Not to mention the sights before you. Here in camp, they were
surrounded by trees with the large river to their backs. There was snow on the
ground and a calmness in the air. Again, nothing like the battlefield. Bofur
looked at Prim who was currently getting Ori tea in way of an apology and
wondered if fighting was truly what she wanted or if she simply wished to fit
in with his people that much more.
===============================================================================
 
The dark haired man moved to behind Primula and wrapped his arms around her
thin shoulders. The heat from the fire before them warmed their bodies as did
the ale in their systems. After a long day of walking, many were exhausted.
Prim doubly so. She had decided to practice more of her fighting skills after
having set up camp for the night.
“You did good today,” Bofur told her as he dropped a kiss to her temple.
Prim turned to look at him behind her with a large smile on her face. “Thank
you.” It seemed she was thanking him for much more than the compliment.
“For what?” He asked one dark brow raised.
“For...helping me be free.” It seemed she wanted to say much more but couldn’t
find the vocabulary for it.
Bofur gave her a dimpled smile and pressed one last kiss to her lips before he
escorted her back to her cousin's tent. Belle had become suspicious of the two
of them as of late. She had ample reason to, Bofur had decided. They had tried
to hide their affections for one another but it was not an easy thing to do.
Bofur had found that whenever Prim was near his body took control and
immediately moved to her side. His hand somehow always found hers, their
fingers intertwining without thought. Prim frequently found her way onto his
lap when most had fallen asleep, or even into his bed after Belle and Gothi had
fallen asleep. The two lovers were in bliss. But bliss can only go unnoticed
for so long.
===============================================================================
 
“Bofur Ursson!” Dwalin called out.
Bofur stood abruptly from where he was sharpening his weapon. “Aye?”
The large tattooed man only tilted his head towards the Jarl’s tent. Bofur
internally groaned, but outwardly he gave an easy-going smile and walked
towards the Jarl’s tent.
“You wished to speak with me, Jarl Thorin?” Bofur stood straight, his hands
behind his back.
Thorin looked up from the wooden table he sat at and glared.  “Bofur. I thought
I made it clear that keeping Belle and Primula happy was of the utmost
importance.” The Jarl’s voice was full of ice if Bofur had been a weaker man he
may have shivered.
“My lord, I have done all in my power to make Prim happy. Have I upset her in
some way that I do not know of?” Bofur’s mind flitted through their time
together searching for anything that could have upset the girl enough to go to
the Jarl.
“Not Prim. I am speaking of Belle.” Thorin snarled and stood to his full
height. In a reaction to the aggressiveness of Thorin’s maneuver, Bofur stood
up straighter and puffed out of his chest slightly.
“I have upset Belle?” Bofur asked.
Thorin narrowed his ice blue eyes. “She believes you may be sullying the honor
of her little cousin dearest.”
“I have not caused her to break any oaths nor have I caused her to have
cowardice. I have not insulted her or pushed her to treachery. How have I
dishonored her?” Bofur was truly confused. The last thing he would want to do
is dishonor Prim. He loved her.
“Honor to the Saxons is different, or so Belle says. Humping an unmarried woman
is sullying her honor. Even kissing her in public is said to dishonor the woman
as well if there is no intent of marriage, even then it is considered much too
forward.” The large Jarl looked to be at the end of his patience with the
subject.
“Oh.” Bofur felt a rock settle in his stomach. He had been dishonoring Prim by
her people’s standards for weeks and he had not even known. But she had not
said as such either. She was just as eager to jump into bed with him as he was
with her. Why had she not told him? “I did not know, my lord. Prim never
mentioned such things. I will make this right whatever way I must. Even if that
is taking whatever punishment you see fit, Jarl Thorin.” Bofur knew full well
that the punishment for such a crime in his homeland was to run the gauntlet or
to be killed. He would take either for what he had done unknowingly to Prim. If
he had known of what he was doing to her he would have never even touched her
without marrying her first…
“Before I take my punishment, Jarl. I would like you to know that I had planned
to ask Prim to marry me before we made it to the next village” Bofur spoke the
truth quickly hoping that in some way this would save him.
Thorin huffed “Being betrothed to a Saxon woman is punishment enough” Bofur
could tell Thorin was speaking of his own betrothal when he spoke of such a
punishment. It seemed little Belle was making life hard on the once stone cold
Jarl.
“Should I apologize to Belle?” Bofur asked. He felt as if he had been thrown
into water and could not swim. The English customs were strange and foreign to
him. He did not wish to offend either of the women.
“No. She does not know I have spoken with you about this matter. Keep it that
way. Hurry and seal your betrothal to the girl by the end the of today.” Thorin
waved his hand in dismissal before turning his back and mumbling lowly to
himself. “I am the leader of a two thousand man army and yet I must deal with
these petty matters. The things I do for this blasted woman.”
Bofur left the Jarl’s tent quickly in search of Prim.
He did not have to go far when the girl found him. He had been searching for
her near the edge of camp leading towards the woods. He heard shuffling in the
trees and looked towards the noise. He was just about to turn when he felt a
small being jump onto his back. His warrior senses screamed at him to dislodge
the being but he knew those petite arms that wound around his neck, and he was
well acquainted with the thighs clenching onto his abdomen to stay upright.
Prim pressed a kiss to his bearded cheek. He had been growing his facial hair
out on the venture to help fight the cold. “Where have you been, Bo? I have
missed you. I played chess with Belle and was utterly humiliated. My dear
cousin is brilliant, I swear it.”
Bofur cringed at the word humiliated. After speaking with Thorin he felt as if
perhaps he had humiliated her without meaning to. Bofur quickly but gently
moved Prim from his back and set her down in front of him.
“What is it?” Prim asked, her brows pulled together in concern.
Bofur reached out his hands and grasped her smaller ones. “Primula. I must ask
you a question. A few questions, actually.” Prim only nodded her head and
motioned for him to continue. “Have dishonored you? Disgraced you?”
Prim shook her head in confusion. “I don’t know that word.” She whispered.
“Have I hurt you?” Bofur asked, attempting to simplify his words.
“No you have never hurt me.” Prim answered immediately as if that was the
strangest question.
“Have I hurt your honor?”
“No.” This answer was short and held a bite to it. Bofur looked at her closer
hoping her expressions would give something away but nothing did so he
continued.
“Okay,” he pressed a small kiss to her cheek before leading her back to camp.
“Are you alright?” Prim asked worriedly and pressed the back of her hand to his
forehead checking for fever.
“I am well. I must speak with Gothi. I will be back in a moment.” Bofur
whispered before depositing the girl next to Gyda who immediately pulled the
girl into a conversation saving Bofur from having to answer more questions.
===============================================================================
 
Bofur walked with purpose towards Gothi’s tent. The man felt a build up of
sweat collecting on his palms. He did not know why he was so nervous. He had
asked for a woman’s hand before, Primula’s cousin's in fact. He had not been
this nervous then. Perhaps that was because deep down he knew that his suit
would fall through and he had never loved Belle. He truly loved Primula. If her
pseudo grandfather and cousin said no he was not sure what he would do.
“Bofur. Come in. I have been waiting on you.” Gothi spoke through the canvas of
the tent Bofur was outside of. The dark haired man gulped before stepping in.
This tent was one of the larger one’s meaning there was space to stand and walk
around. Bofur stood near the entrance of the tent too nervous to go further.
“We will wait for Belle she should be here any…”
“Grandfather have you seen…” Belle’s little voice spoke as she entered the
tent. “Oh Bofur.” Belle said awkwardly.
“Lady Belle.” Bofur bowed his head to her.
“I will wait until you two are done.” The tiny woman said and began to leave
the tent before being called back by her grandfather.
“He is here to speak with you as well if I am not mistaken. And I never am.”
Gothi spoke with humor in his voice.
Bofur took that as his cue to get on with it. “I have come to ask for Primula’s
hand in marriage. As her nearest kin I felt it was best to speak with both of
you.”
The tent was silent, too silent for Bofur’s peace of mind. So he continued to
speak. “I can pay a bride price, I am strong, capable and have a trade...I also
love her.”
Bofur watched as a smile broke out on Gothi’s wrinkled and scarred face.
Belle’s face, on the other hand, did not seem to change overmuch. She still
wore a polite smile but it did not hold the warmth he was used to it carrying.
 
“Have you spoken with Prim about this matter?” Belle asked.
“I have not spoken to her of asking for her hand but she knows I have deep
feelings for her. She knows that I care for her and we have spoken of having
children.”
Belle nodded her head slowly. “If Prim wishes to marry you that is her choice.
I only wish for someone to love her and for it to be of her choosing who she is
wed to.”
Bofur internally cheered. “Gothi?”
The withered man stood, leaning heavily on his carved staff. “It is Primula’s
choice. But I approve of this match if Primula is amenable. We will speak with
her and let you know.”
Bofur smiled widely and bowed his head to the two before taking his leave. He
waited anxiously around the fire. Primula had been called to her tent after he
had exited. The dark-haired man looked around the fire at the organized chaos
before him as he tried to calm his nerves.
“ Yes! Yes! ”
Bofur laughed when he heard Prim’s cries. He turned around just in time to
catch the little woman as she launched herself at him. She pressed a kiss to
his mouth and ignored the conspicuous coughing of her elder cousin.
“Leave them be. You can start your chaperone duties on the morrow.” Gothi
chided Belle lightly. The older man placed an arm around the tawny-haired
girl's shoulders and led her back into their tent.
“They had better not bed one another,” Belle grumbled.
Prim’s eyes lit up at her cousin's words. She bit her bottom lip slightly and
began to drag the larger man into the woods.
“Where are we going?” He asked with a chuckle. This was oddly reminiscent of
their first night together. Prim only raised her brows and winked.
“Belle said we could not bed one another. I do not wish to get on your cousin’s
bad side, lass”
“It is a good thing there will be no beds involved then,” Prim whispered before
pushing him up against a nearby rock outcrop well out of sight of camp.
“Oh, you cheeky woman. I knew there was a reason I loved you the moment I laid
eyes on you. It’s that devious smile.” Bofur chuckled and ran his thumb over
said smile.
Prim giggled and lifted her skirts. “I believe it was the bird that won me
over. This helped.” She whispered and ran her hand over the bulge in his
trousers.
===============================================================================
 “You are not ready,” Bofur argued as calmly as possible.
“I am ready! I will be beside Belle the entire time! We will share a horse!”
Prim responded enthusiastically.
Bofur rubbed at his forehead with calloused fingers. “Prim, Belle is no
warrior. She is a strategist. She has never been in a battle. She has seen a
battle while protected behind two thousand men, not on the front line.”
“That is not entirely true. I was on the front line while I spoke with my
father’s people.” Belle corrected from beside her cousin. Prim was no longer
allowed to be alone with him according to an English courting custom. He hated
it, as did Prim. Belle and she had gotten into a rather boisterous argument in
their native tongue over such things.
Upon hearing the raised voice Bofur called Gyda to his side to translate
quietly.
“Belle is wanting Prim to go through with a Saxon custom but Prim says she has
left her own culture behind and adopted yours. She wishes for a Norse courtship
and marriage…” Gyda whispered with one ear tilted towards the tent the women
were in. “Prim is saying she had one Saxon marriage and she will not have
another.”
Bofur felt his chest warm that Prim had fully accepted his culture and customs.
It made him feel slight pride over this fact.
Gyda’s brows rose in surprise and continued to translate. “Belle is wondering
why Prim is rushing into this...She said she approves of you but she is worried
her cousin is not thinking clearly. That it is too soon to marry again."
Bofur liked little Belle, he even liked that she was showing more of her fire
as of late. Away had the meek and unsettled mouse scurried and in its place
stood a strong, capable woman. He was, however, a little hurt that she was
attempting to get Prim to break off their betrothal.
“Prim says she has never seen so clearly. She knows it is fast but it is what
she wants and after a lifetime of not being able to make her own choices she is
ready to fight for what she wants in life.”
The auburn haired woman looked at him with respect in her eyes. But that
respect was not for him, it was for his soon to be wife. “They are making a
deal. Prim understands Belle only wishes to protect her and she loves her so
she will allow for a very short English courtship if Belle gives her something
in return.”
“What is Belle giving her?” Bofur’s curiosity peaked to an all-time high.
“I don’t know. Prim only said ‘you know what I want’. Belle is saying she would
talk to Thorin” Gyda shrugged her shoulders and readjusted the sleeping infant
strapped to her chest.
Bofur wracked his brain for what that could be. What could Thorin grant Prim
that she wanted so desperately...
Bofur looked over at Belle with an un-amused look on his face. “Belle. I do not
like this. Neither of you are ready to be on the front line.”
“We technically won’t be. We will be on horseback in front one-thirdrd of the
army. They have set up the battlefield on the other side of the town. One third
of the army will go around the right side, the other third to the left, we will
go through the center of town.”
“Do you not see the danger in that?” Bofur asked bewildered.
“I do.” Belle narrowed her eyes at him. He could tell she thought he was
insulting her intelligence which he was not but he could not see this battle
from her point of view. How did they believe this was a safe option? “However
the two parts of our army flanking them will begin the fighting before we get
within range of an arrow. We are the distraction. Can you not see?”
In truth Bofur could see that it was a decent plan but when it came to Prim
being in danger he could not see straight. “I do not like it. What if there are
soldiers placed in the town? What if they hide out in the homes and ambush us?”
Belle had already begun to shake her head halfway through his sentence. “That
is not the Saxon way.”
“If they were smart it would be.” Tauriel said bluntly from where she was
seated on a log not too far away.
 The tawny-haired girl rolled her eyes slightly at her friend's input but
nodded her head. “It would be a smart option but a  dishonorable  one in their
eyes. The noble way of fighting is to line up and wait your turn for a sword in
your belly.” Her tone showed the bitterness in her thoughts towards the Saxon
fighting style.
“Prim. Please.” Bofur knelt down to her level and looked her in the eyes, his
own pleading.
Her resolved looked like it was about to break before she shook her head. “I
need to do this Bofur.”
“Why? Give me one good reason why Prim”
Prim squared her shoulders and hardened the set of her mouth. “Revenge.”
===============================================================================
 
“Are you going to tell me who you are enacting vengeance on?” Bofur asked Prim
from where she sat in front of him on his horse. When the time for battle came
he would be moving onto foot and her and Belle would share the animal.
Their argument from earlier that day had been cut short when Thorin called for
all warriors to prepare to march. Thorin had swiftly walked to Belle’s side and
gave Bofur the news that this was, in fact, happening by his order. Bofur had
fought beside the man enough times to know that he was not telling the full
truth. The dark-haired man had an inkling that it was, in fact, an order passed
to Thorin by Belle or Gothi and then projected through his mouth. Thorin did
not look any happier than Bofur about the two women proving as bait or a
distraction, but he had announced the order and so it was final. "I expect you
to keep them both safe" Thorin has snarled into Bofur's ear before leaving to
gather the troops. 
“Do you want to know?” Prim asked him in that thick accent of hers.
“Yes.” Bofur sighed deeply. He had a feeling he was not going to enjoy this
story.
“Have you ever heard of a virginity check?” The dark haired girl whispered.
Bofur shook his head that he didn’t know what it was but he could guess. Prim
began her tale painting a picture that had him seeing red.
Prim waited nervously in a strange room of this castle. It was a bedroom but
she did not know whose. The petite girl was cold and uncomfortable. The thin
white shift she was wearing did nothing to provide modesty. She looked towards
the door as she heard the knob turn. A man of middle age wearing the robes of a
healer entered.
“Where is the midwife?” Prim asked nervously as she looked around him towards
the door. This was a procedure that was said to be done by midwives and healers
alike but Prim's mother had insisted on a midwife being present.
“There will not be one today.” His tone sent fear scampering down Prim’s spine.
The girl stumbled back a few steps. “Then I will wait for another day.”
“No we will do this now. I am leaving for Eddington in just a few days time and
have been asked to finish this quickly so your marriage contract can commence.”
the man said as he laid out multiple medical instruments.
Prim gulped at the look of those metal instruments. She shook her head and took
another small step away.
The healer gave her a smile that dripped with the promise of horrors to come.
“Come now, girl. Do not be fearful. I am a man of God and Healing. I would
never hurt a fine maiden such as yourself. You are maiden are you not?”
The dark haired girl nodded her head vigorously. She was, of course, a maiden.
As untouched as the Virgin Mary, no matter how tempted she had been to stray.
“Are you sure? A pretty girl such as yourself?”
“I am a maiden still,” Prim argued.
“So you say. But it is my word they will believe.” the man told her as he
stalked towards her.
Prim put up her hands in a defensive gesture. “Would you lie about such a
thing?”
“I will have no reason to as long as you lay down and allow me to examine you.”
He gently grasped her arm and led her towards the bed. He made her lay back
then went to his seat at the foot of the bed. He grasped her by the ankles and
pulled her down towards the end of the bed closer to him. Prim held back the
tears until he began to lift her dress, the tears began to flow silently. He
moved her legs so they were bent, feet planted on the bed.
“You are quite the beauty.” he said to her but never took his eyes off of her
womanhood.
Prim swallowed back the bile rising within her throat. He inserted his fingers
within her and began to move them in and out. The pain made her cry out
slightly.
“Hmm. Just relax” He said in a breathless tone. “I feel no barrier.”
Prim sat up abruptly. “What? I am a maiden! I swear! I have had no relations!”
The man gave her a sly smile that had vomit churning within her. “I would be
inclined to find one if you only relax and do as I say…”
Prim wanted to scream for help. She wanted to fight. She wanted to curl in a
ball and hide away. She was cornered and he knew it. If he walked out of this
room and told her father and Drogo’s father that she was not a virgin she would
be disowned. She would be cast out onto the streets. In the end she would
perhaps have to end up selling her body just to survive. So she laid back and
cried tears of shame as his harsh hands did what they wanted.
Bofur was correct as previously predicted that he would not like her story. He
was angry. His disposition was not prone to mass amounts of anger but that was
before Prim had stepped into his life. He had never had a woman to love and
protect before.
“He is still here?” The dark-haired Norseman snarled looking out of the trees
at the town below.
“Yes.” She looked out at the town towards where the apothecary was. “He will be
housed there.”
“We will burn it to the ground. When I get my hands on him…” Bofur growled, his
fists tightened with rage.
“You will hold him for me so I can kill him.” Prim answered.
“You wish to kill him?”
Prim nodded her dark head. “Yes.”
“Why not allow me to kill him?” Bofur asked. He wanted to feel the man’s life
leave his body.
“Would a Norse woman allow a man to kill for her? Prim asked.
“Yes...Depending on the woman.” The blue-eyed man answered.
Prim scoffed. “Fine. Would a shieldmaiden allow you to kill for her or would
she do it herself?”
Bofur knew she had him there. He nodded his head not answering either way. He
knew Prim knew the answer without him having to clarify. A shieldmaiden, if
able, would kill the man herself.
“But, I get to burn his house to the ground.” Bofur challenged.
“Deal,” Prim said with a small laugh.
===============================================================================
 
Bofur stayed close to the horse Prim and Belle were on as they descended into
the town. He still did not like this plan but he was not the leader of this
army, Thorin was. A third of the army following Prim and Belle crept silently
down the hillside into the town. It was a town built in a small valley of
hills. Built in a place that would be safe from the elements but not from the
Northmen. Bofur’s eyes combed the town looking for any inhabitants. He saw none
but they could have easily hidden. He tore his eyes away from the buildings to
look up at Prim.
She was on the front of the horse, having had more experience riding than her
elder cousin.The two girls were wearing armor but were dressed quite
differently. Prim had asked Bofur to braid her hair that day in the style of
the Northmen. She had her hair in two braids from hairline to the center of her
head and then tied off. The rest was gathered up into tail of sorts at the back
of her head to keep it away from her face. She wore the khol eyeliner of his
people with it running down her cheeks in lightning-like streaks. Upon her
forehead was the symbol of Tyr. Lovingly drawn by Gothi Grey that very morning.
Prim wore trousers, boots, a tunic with armor over her chest and stomach.
Belle, on the other hand, wore a dress, with a thick cloak atop effectively
hiding the armor she had beneath. She wore a thin line of eyeliner on her
lashline and the simple of Tyr written in kohl on her forehead as well but that
was it. Her hair was left down with just her hairline braided. The two girls
could not look more different.
Prim looked down at the moment and caught him staring at the two of them. She
gave him a wink and a small smile. He grinned back, his dimples showing proudly
before he heard the sound of a door opening to his right. Quickly he pulled his
sword prepared to cut down anyone approaching. He barely registered that it was
a child exiting the home. He was able to stop his swing before the sword struck
the child down.
Belle stopped their procession with one raised hand.
“Leave the women and children be.” She ordered. The order traveled back the
three hundred men following them. There were few grumbles as those in Belle’s
part of the army had been pre-briefed by Thorin. Bofur had been a part of that
debriefing, and it had been clear that those that disobeyed would be punished.
It also helped that the Jarl's nephew, Kili, was in their group and would
report back if the order was disobeyed.
“ Go back in your home and hide beneath your bed. ” Prim told the small boy in
English. The child did not register Prim’s words, his terrified eyes were
riveted on Bofur.
“ Go ” Bofur told the boy with a small smile. He hoped that he had used the
correct word. The boy nodded slightly but did not move, so Bofur gripped him by
the shoulder and gently pushed the boy back into the home before closing the
door. He nodded to Belle and Prim indicating that they needed to keep pushing
forward.
They moved a few hundred yards further into the town when they saw it. A single
scout peaking at them from around a building. This was part of the plan, they
needed the scout to spot them. The scout would report back to his commander how
many of them there were. The scout would only report the three hundred, being
led by two women no less.
“Bo. There it is” Prim whispered and pointed towards the apothecary.
The dark haired norsemen growled under his breath and called back for a few men
to prepare the torches. When one was passed to him he walked to the apothecary
with fifteen men following him. All holding fire lit torches. They each moved
quickly and with purpose as they first lit the thatch roof on fire before
breaking all the windows and tossing the torches within. The house soon lit
into a roaring blaze. Bofur smiled devilishly at the scout and spread his arms
out in way of challenge.
“Prim remember not to get involved in the battle. Move to the back of our men.
I will make sure Cynefred is captured and you may kill him at your leisure.”
Bofur reminded the girl.
Prim nodded but did not look him in the eyes. She was too focused on the army
of men in the distance.
“Prim. Did you hear me?” Bofur asked.
The dark haired girl did not answer she only continued to stare.
“Prim?” Belle asked worriedly and tugged at the girls arm.
The cries of war pierced through the air as Norse arrows were shot from the
left and right of the Saxon army stealing the souls of the soldiers.
Battle blood pumped rapidly through Bofur’s veins. He could feel the energy
building within him. As he looked around at his fellow warriors behind him he
knew they were feeling it as well. Their pace picked up and they were rapidly
approaching the Saxon army who was being laid to waste by Thorin’s third of the
army and Fili’s third. The English soldiers had created a ring around their
high lord and important figure’s but that ring opened when the soldiers to the
front moved to help their fallen brothers on each side. As the ring opened
Bofur caught sight of four figures in the center of the Saxon army. All four on
horseback, all wearing armor but none wearing helmets. Bofur narrowed his eyes
to get a better look at the men, not that they mattered to him. But one in
particular did to Prim. Bofur heard the unsheathing of a sword and then Prim’s
heels slapping against the sides of the horse she was on.
“PRIM!” Bofur screamed and reached out to stop the horse but it was too late.
Prim, with little Belle holding on for dear life, was charging at the Saxon
army.
“PRIM! No!” The dark haired norseman roared and sprinted after the horse.
The men behind him followed suit and soon the pounding of three hundred running
feet could be heard. Bofur pushed harder than he ever had as he sprinted
towards Primula. His legs burned and his chest heaved but he would not stop. He
watched her as she rode into the battle like an enraged valkyrie, sword raised
and body tensed for war. Prim was singularly focused as she rode towards
Cynefred, that was perhaps why she did not see the arrow coming for her. Bofur
watched in horror as his love was thrown from the back of the horse, arms out
in front of her grasping at thin air and a scream of agony ripping from her
throat.
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