|
Thorin nodded lightly and tossed the rabbit guts aside. He handed it off to Bombur and started on the next one, "Well, if fish is what she'll eat, then fish is what I'll get her." He started to skin the animal and scoffed lightly, "Why is it she won't eat rabbit, but she'll eat fish? Fish are live creatures, the same as rabbits! That makes absolutely no sense!" Thorin and Dwalin grumbled to each other about how stupid it was to reject perfectly good meat, preach about it, then turn around and slaughter a fish.
Naerwyn sighed lightly when Ammie apologized. She suddenly felt very guilty about snapping at the poor Hobbit when all she did was ask a question, "No, Ammie, do not be sorry. I apologize. I should not have snapped at you like that." When she mentioned Fili kissing her, she blushed again and simpered. "Well, actually, he did kiss me. A few times, even. The first came just after we arrived in Rivendell." She blushed and smiled at the memory as she gently washed her hair in the cool water of the river. |
Fili could not help but laugh at Thorin and Dwalin grumbling together over Naerwyn and her confusing logic. Admittedly he agreed with them. Rabbits, deer, cows, hogs, and birds were all animals and elves refused to partake of those creatures. On the other hand, fish were also animals and elves had no qualms with consuming them. It was a flawed reasoning, indeed, but Fili wasn't about to argue with Naerwyn about it. It was her decision, just as dwarves favored meat over vegetables. What really amused him, however, was Thorin and Dwalin's joking. Dwalin was a beast of a man, but the conversation reminded of how Balin, Dwalin, and Thorin had grown up together. Sometimes he forgot just how good of friends they were. Perhaps they'd been grumbling over the same thing earlier in the forest while actually catching the fish. He smiled at the thought.
~~~ The hobbit brightened noticeably when Naerwyn admitted to Fili kissing her a few times. Maybe that was what they'd been doing just now! Kissing! ...Albeit the more passionate variety, on account of the elf's love bites. Still, it was quite exciting for Naerwyn. Fili was a handsome man! Er, dwarf. And very nice, as far as she could tell. "That's wonderful!" she said, beaming. "I'm so happy that things are going well for you both!" Ammie wasn't surprised, though. She'd never seen a lovelier girl in her life. So delicate, so feminine... Such graceful features. Ammie she looked half as ladylike as Naerwyn did... Perhaps she could teach Ammie to be womanly someday? |
Thorin grumbled something about how a rabbit's flavor far outmatched that of fish and then chuckled when Dwalin made the outrageous suggestion that they stuff one of the fish full of rabbit meat and slip it to the elf. Thorin kept his head down to hide just how hard he wanted to laugh and paused in his work. He didn't want to slip and cut himself, after all. He reached up and smacked Dwalin's forearm with the back of his hand and quietly told him to shut up. He jerked his head toward Fili, shook his head and muttered, "Stop, you'll upset the boy."
Naerwyn sat up straight and gently started to squeeze the water out of her platinum locks. She grinned and shook her head a little, "I can hardly believe it sometimes. How wonderful he is, I mean. I only hope his Uncle warms up to me. Or at least grumbles privately about how much he hates me." She rolled her eyes and shook her head again, only this time with an air of sass. She huffed and shrugged, "But I suppose that is like asking a dog not to bark. It's in its nature." |
It pleased Fili to see his broody uncle so close to uncontrollable laughter. "That's right!" he called, shaking a fish at them from his spot beside Kili. "You don't want to upset me, talking about the elf like that. Sure, her dietary choices are questionable...But they are her choices to make!" The prince's words sounded serious, but from the playful smirk plastered on his lips, it was clear enough that he'd not been offended by their jokes. Just as long as no one tried to do what Dwalin suggested and secretly feed Naerwyn rabbit.
He returned to cleaning and cutting fish until the pile of them had been well-processed. He stood and gathered up the bunch, taking those that Kili had finished as well, and then brought them to Bombur. "Here you are, Bombur." Fili said with a grin. "Take care to cook these separately from the rest of meat." Fili lifted his hands above his head and stretched his back with a long yawn. His earlier...Activities...Had left him invigorated after the stress of the goblins...But now his exhaustion had caught up with him. He wanted to rest a bit before supper. "Oi, Kili," he said. "I am going to have a nap under that tree. Horribly tired. Wake me when dinner is ready, will you?" ~~~ Ammie pursed her lips, appearing thoughtful when Naerwyn mentioned her concerns about Fili's uncle. Thorin...Now Thorin she knew better than Fili, surprisingly, and that was only due to an accidental turn of events. She could not reassure Naerwyn confidently because she knew of Thorin's deep prejudices towards elves... But she could promise to stand up for her, as she had done so twice already. "Thorin's not all bad," she said quietly, blushing. Ammie recalled how kind he'd been to her so far, and how he'd cared for her in the aftermath of her irresponsible drinking. "He's rough on the outside. Broody...Grumpy, and all that. But he's a good person, beneath it all. He cares about his nephews a great deal and desires above all to protect them from harm. I believe that eventually he will see that you care for Fili as well and that you truly make him happy. Then he will accept you. Until then, I will try and vouch for your relationship whenever you need me to." The hobbit smiled sincerely. Ammie felt her fingers and toes becoming pruny from sitting still in the water for so long, and she splashed around absentmindedly. "We ought to get back soon," she said after a moment. "The others need their turn in the river." |
Thorin and Dwalin burst into fits of laughter when Fili scolded them for teasing the elf. They both cracked a few jokes about Fili being too sensitive for a little teasing and a few pranks and went back to skinning the last of the rabbits. After so many upsets and worry, it felt good to genuinely laugh. He felt lighter, better. When he was finished, he cleaned his hands the best he could and spoke to Dwalin quietly about how nice it would be to bathe once the women came back. He glanced into the trees, hoping they would return soon.
Using a silver clasp, Naerwyn gathered some of her hair at the back of her head and braided it. She pulled the rest over her shoulders to hide the love bites on her neck. She nodded lightly, agreeing that they should head back and slowly moved through the water to the bank. She stepped slowly out of the water and picked up her coat. She used it to pat her skin dry, figuring she could always hang it to dry while she ate. She pulled on her leggings and the stiff under-tunic she wore, then her black tunic and her boots. She draped her coat over one shoulder and pulled her hair around to rest upon it, "I wonder what we will have for supper. I'm starting to get hungry." |
Ammie stood up, wringing her short hair out between her fingers. Since Naerwyn was getting ready to return to camp, the hobbit decided that she might as well follow. She waded out of the stream to dress, but not before shaking excessive droplets of water from her body in the same manner as a dog. She removed her clothing from the tree branch and first wiggled into her trousers. She hopped about comically as she attempted to pull the garment up her legs while standing. She then wrestled her dirtied blouse up her arms and began to button it up. "I really ought to wash these clothes," she muttered to herself. "I don't see much sense in bathing and then putting on dirty things again." Once Naerwyn had finished dressing as well, Ammie led the way back to camp. "I don't know what there is for dinner, but I know Thorin and Dwalin brought back a decent amount. If you can't eat what they found, I also have some vegetarian snacks I could share with you!"
No sooner had his uncle mentioned bathing when the women returned than the group heard the sound of crunching dried leaves under feet. Ammie emerged from the woods with Naerwyn close behind. Fili had dozed off under the tree, but was snapped awake by the noise. Naerwyn! His heart gave a throb in his chest, reminded of lewd images from the very sight of her. He cleared his throat awkwardly, even though no one was beside him to hear it, and averted his gaze to avoid suspicion. |
Thorin was relieved when the two women returned to the camp. He offered Ammie a warm smile and gathered Dwalin, Balin, Kili, and himself for a bath. He hadn't known Fili had awoken and decided that since he craved a nap so badly, he wouldn't wake him just yet.
Thorin headed off into the woods with the other men, eager to get down to the river for a bath. Naerwyn stretched as she walked, trying to squash the fatigue that suddenly rushed into her limbs. She grimaced at the thought of what Thorin and Dwalin had brought back. Small animals, most likely. They probably didn't think twice about Naerwyn's diet and how it lacked meat. She couldn't blame them, she supposed. They had gone for so long with everyone eating the same things and she couldn't ask them to make special exceptions just for her. She almost paused, thinking that she should go off and find her own food now that her lembas was gone, but Ammie offered to share her own food. Naerwyn looked at her, astounded for a moment at her generosity. She smiled warmly and nodded, "Thank you very much, Ammie. That is very kind of you." She walked through the camp and set her weapons down against a tree near Fili. She gave him a sweet smile and sat down against the tree. He had been adamant about not returning to the camp together, but she wasn't sure if she should sit closer to him, in case she aroused suspicion. She had never been in a situation like this before and wasn't sure how to act. |
Ammie's skin tingled when Thorin graced her with another handsome smile. Her insides seared with warmth and she dropped her hazel eyes shyly to the ground. She hated how easily the dwarf king could make her feel this way. She was embarrassed to admit, even to Naerwyn, how deeply she'd fallen for him. She supposed that, given Thorin's hostility towards the elf, she would be unable to understand Ammie's sentiments towards him anyway. "Of course," she said in regards to the food she'd offered to share, "But let me ask Bombur what he is making first. Just in case."
The hobbit moved over to the fat dwarf to inquire just that, and her face brightened noticeably at his reply. She returned to Naerwyn beaming. "Bombur says that Thorin brought back rabbits and a small deer for the company, but he also caught a bag of fish! Evidently there is something for you to eat, as well! Perhaps he remembered that you don't eat meat?" Ammie felt proud of him, now--he was more considerate towards the elf than he let on! She excused herself to chat with Uncle Bilbo now that they both had some time to spare before dinner. Fili smiled at Naerwyn when she seated herself beside him. He made sure none of the others were paying mind to them before reaching up and stroking his fingers down through her damp hair. "Feel better after your bath?" he asked. "You may sit closer if you'd like... I am merely having trouble looking at you without seeing..." He coughed, flushing slightly. "That is the only suspicious thing. The company has seen us together before, you know. In the cavern and in Rivendell." |
Naerwyn watched Ammie hurry over to Bombur and she found herself squirming nervously. She had sincerely hoped that there was something she could eat over there. When Ammie came back, she looked excited, but her face fell when she listed the rabbits and the deer first. Naerwyn couldn't eat either of those! She opened her mouth to reply, but then Ammie very excitedly told her that there was fish as well. She looked surprised and blinked a few times before managing a smile. "Perhaps he did." She didn't really believe it, though. She figured it was just a coincidence. Why would Thorin give a hoot about what she needed? As far as he was concerned, she was worthless and did nothing but cause trouble.
Naerwyn looked to Fili and smiled when he ran his fingers through her hair. She nodded lightly, "Yes, very much. It was just what I needed after so much exhausting...activities." She blushed deeply and scooted closer to him, sparing a glance to the others. She smiled and blushed again, speaking softly to him. "I, too, am having trouble focusing on more...appropriate thoughts." |
Naerwyn's comment resulted in an expected twinge of arousal, causing Fili to cough suddenly and avert his eyes. "Better not talk about it, then," he muttered quietly, lest anyone decide to eavesdrop on their conversation. "I do not know about women, but... At least for men, there are...Consequences...For even mentioning such things." He struggled to change the subject. "So...Did you see that my Uncle brought you fish. You do consume fish, correct?" The dwarf prince sat upright, stretching, and then rested his arms on his knees. "I told Thorin I would be more than happy to forage for you myself, but it didn't seem to trouble him as much as I thought it would. I was also thinking of asking the hobbits how to identify edible plants, such as wild vegetables and such. I've heard their knowledge of that area is quite vast."
Bilbo was writhing on his back beside Ammie, groaning and clutching his stomach. "Dinner could not be ready fast enough!" he moaned. "I've worked up such an appetite from wandering those dark mountain passageways for so long." Ammie scoffed. "You had it easy, Uncle Bilbo! At least you were not pursued by hordes of goblins, running until your legs felt they might fall off!" |
Naerwyn let out a soft giggle when he mentioned there being consequences for less than appropriate conversation, "I apologize." She watched Bombur cook, her lip curling in disgust when he set about roasting an entire rabbit. She blinked and glanced to Fili, "Yes, Ammie mentioned that he did. I have to admit, I was quite surprised that he would bother getting me anything at all." She gave a small shrug. She was still in shock that Thorin had bothered to gather the fish.
She leaned back and relaxed on her elbows, letting out a slow yawn. She looked up to Fili while he spoke, "Yes, I heard that as well. I know very little about foraging. If I were on my own, I would starve in a heart beat. That's why I brought the lembas." She huffed irritably and grumbled, "I hope those goblins choke on it." |
"Uncle is...Broody... And usually cross over something or other," Fili said, "He clearly has many prejudices and imperfections. But he is not as cruel as his personality makes him seem. He dislikes elves, but you're still a person. And a woman. He cannot, in good conscience, allow you to starve." The prince chuckled quietly. "Besides...You are important to me, his nephew. He would prefer not to earn my disdain." The dwarf followed Naerwyn's line of vision, to Bombur roasting a rabbit on a makeshift stick spit, and chuckled. He wondered why the elf was watching their cook at work, if she could scarcely stomach the sight. "I believe you'll be able to replenish your supply of 'lembas' when we get to Greenwood... That's where your sister lives, correct?"
Ammie was similarly disgusted by Bombur cooking a rabbit. While the hobbit had no issue consuming meat, she liked rabbits far too much to want to eat them. All she had to do was imagine an adorable, fluffy creature hopping across the grass and twitching its whiskered nose, and that was all it took to put her off. Dwalin had also brought back a deer to prepare, so perhaps she could ask to eat that instead of the rabbit. And, if necessary, she could search the forest for other edibles. Mushrooms, for example! Hobbits adored mushrooms--far more than any other type of food. |
Naerwyn averted her gaze from the rabbit, guilt rising up in her gut. That poor creature died and it probably had a family. There might have been hungry babies in the forest some where and it was likely that they would starve. She heaved a sigh, trying to force those thoughts away (and the urge to scour the forest in search of baby bunnies without a mother. She turned her attention to Fili when he spoke of his Uncle. She remained quiet, not wanting to comment and accidentally offend the man that she loved. She nodded lightly, mostly to let him know that she was listening. She agreed that Thorin probably caught the fish if only to keep Fili from becoming upset. It made sense. He couldn't stand the sight of her, but he obviously cared very deeply for his nephew. It only made sense.
She nodded lightly at his question, "Yes, that is correct. She lives there with her husband." She flopped backwards onto the ground at the thought of being in Greenwood again, "She could give me clean clothes! And a bath! A proper bath! And, of course, I could introduce her to you." She smiled up at him, "I am sure she'd be quite anxious to meet the man that stole my heart. I am sure she's dying in Greenwood while she anticipates my next letter. Which, of course, will not come for quite some time. Poor thing." |
Fili grinned at the thought of Naerwyn's sister anticipating another letter with boundless enthusiasm. He wondered what her sister was like in general. At the very least, she and Naerwyn had much in common. She, too, had allowed a man her father disapproved of to whisk her away to Greenwood. Did she have a similar personality? Was she, too, surprisingly short for an elf? Moreover, what sort of man was her husband, goodnatured and welcoming? Would they greet Fili warmly were they to meet in the future? If he recalled correctly, Naerwyn's sister was older than himself. Fili expected someone kind and mature, whose resemblance to Naerwyn was uncanny. He sincerely hoped that he'd get along with the sister, seeing as he had little hope of accomplishing that with her father.
"I would love to meet her," Fili said. "If she is anything like you, I am certain we would get along. And her husband is a good man? I always assumed most elves weren't fond of dwarves, so I wouldn't hazard a guess as to her husband's attitude towards me. My impressions are skewed." The dwarf leaned back against the tree he sat beside. A gentle breeze blew in from the east, stirring his blond bangs in the most refreshing of ways. He sighed deeply at the prospect of a real bath and an actual bed to sleep in. It was too much to hope for, to have such luxuries come soon to the dwarven party. . He wanted the first shift of dwarves, including his uncle and brother, to return from bathing in the river so that he could go do so himself. He dared not consider what scent he gave off to the elf...Most likely a mixture of sweat, body odor, and grime. |
Naerwyn looked up to Fili from her spot on the ground. She smiled lightly when he spoke of her sister. She sat up and shifted so that she faced him a bit more. "She is truly wonderful. You will like her very much and she will like you, as well. I am certain of that. Alauriel has a gift for seeing a person as they are in the inside, not the body that encases them. Her husband, though, I cannot speak for. He is very kind with a warm, giving heart, but I cannot be sure his feelings against dwarves. Though, I hold high hopes. Many Elves that live in Greenwood don't hold a high opinion of mixed breeds, but Rilien seems not to mind, for obvious reasons. Perhaps his views of other races are softer as well. He has never mentioned an opinion either way, but I suppose we shall see." Naerwyn quieted down after explaining and took to picking at the end of her coat while she waited for supper.
Supper was ready shortly after Thorin and the others returned from their bath. Thorin sent another group down to the river while some of them ate their supper. The dwarves traded off eating for bathing for a little while until they were all as clean as they could muster with full stomachs. Their spirits were raised and a few of them carried on quite lively conversations. It was as if the business with the goblins was completely forgotten. Things began to wind down, though, as the sun fell below the horizon and the moon took its place in the darkening sky. One by one the dwarves made themselves as comfortable as possible and settled down to sleep. Thorin sat up, his body propped against a tree as the others began to drift off to sleep. Thorin's body was physically exhausted, but his mind was far too busy to even think about sleep. He watched his nephew curl his body around the elf's. The two were practically asleep the minute their heads hit their balled up coats they used as make-shift pillows. He huffed irritably and thought about saying something, but he knew he shouldn't. There would come a time when Thorin had a proper moment to sit Fili down and attempt to talk him out of this ridiculous affair before it got too serious, but now was not that time. Thorin took comfort in the fact that nothing intimate would happen before they were wed and decided that, for now, he would let Fili dream a little longer. Thorin's gaze drifted away from his nephew and wandered across the company to Ammie. He watched her quietly, his thoughts going back to the night before. They were snuggled so close, sharing their warmth. Perfectly content without a care in the world. And then the goblins came. Thorin hadn't been that scared since he face Smaug all those years ago in Erebor. He hadn't realized how close he had come to losing her and how badly it would have hurt him. His brow knit and he felt his throat close around an awful lump. He forced it down and got slowly to his feet. He carried himself across the camp to Ammie and put a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Ammie? May I have a word with you?" |
Dinner passed pleasantly and with little consequence. Conversation was goodnatured and rowdy. So far no harm had befallen the company in the woods, which was surprising consider Gandalf's absence. He'd disappeared about the time that Ammie and Kili started training and had no yet returned...But it was getting to be a usual occurrence, that the wizard would wander off into the wilderness and then come back when it suited him, so none of the dwarves were particularly troubled over it. Wizards came and went as they pleased, after all.
Bilbo ate more than perhaps he should have, out of desperation, and was terrifically bloated. He laid on his back moaning while Ammie tutted over him. She had some deer and trail mix, but steered clear of the rabbit as planned. Fili enjoyed conversing with Naerwyn for the remainder of the evening, eventually inviting his brother over to speak with them so he wouldn't feel left out. However, he could not help but notice Kili was far quieter than usual. Perhaps something was troubling him? Fili would remember to ask him later if they had time. Of course, the perfect time never arrived. As darkness fell, the entire group found themselves overcome with fatigue. Most, even without the comfort their bedrolls, went right to sleep. Bilbo was among the few to pass out in seconds. Fili was more hesitant to retire for the evening. The dwarves' luck was notoriously bad come nightfall. He imagined some enemy lurking in the brush and waiting for them to let their guard down and he certainly wanted to be ready to protect Naerwyn were that to happen. Therefore, Fili told Naerwyn to sleep first while he kept watch for a bit. Unfortunately, his exhaustion got the better of him. Soon he'd curled up against the elf, an arm draped protectively around her waist. Her warmth was welcoming in the crisp night air and the prince quickly drifted off to a state of semi-consciousness. He thought he heard his uncle speaking to Ammie, vaguely, before he lost all coherence...But it didn't intrigue him enough to stay awake. Ammie took longer than the others to ready herself for bed. She felt as tired as the others physically, but her mind was restless. She wondered what excitement awaited the group in the following days, and how much further they would have to travel to reach Greenwood. Would they run into other adversaries, worse than trolls or goblins? Orcs, perhaps? The hobbit sighed deeply. They could be easily killed off by any number of opponents, she supposed. Especially her. She needed to focus on the present, rather than fretting over the future. Since Ammie was the only one left with a pack, a fact the others were envious of, she had a blanket to lay out. Still, it was thin, and not very effective against the cool, night temperature of woods on a mountainside. Perhaps she could ask to sleep beside Thorin again... The female blushed over the prospect of once more sharing body heat with the king. She glanced across the camp in Thorin's direction and was shocked to catch him staring at her. Her face burned and she quickly averted her eyes. Was he also thinking about her? Flustered, Ammie started sifting through items in her bag to busy herself and calm her nerves... But soon the dwarf had made his way over to Ammie and laid a hand upon her shoulder. The hobbit twitched slightly, slowly lifting her large hazel eyes to Thorin's ruggedly handsome features, and swallowed. What could he possibly wish to discuss with her? "All right," she murmured, and shot up abruptly. She stood so quickly she nearly lost her balance. She teetered on her heels for a second, but managed to save herself. The hobbit laughed nervously. "Hahaha! Almost fell there. I'm such a klutz..." She trailed off, trying to think of what to say. "Do you want to speak here or...Privately?" |
Thorin watched Ammie stand and held a hand out to catch her when she almost fell. He breathed a sigh of relief when she regained her balance and cleared his throat quietly, "Privately, if that is alright." Thorin gently took Ammie's hand and glanced around at the others. He led her away into the trees, the moon's light creating a safe path for him to take. He walked until he saw, glittering in the moonlight, the stream he had found earlier. He figured that somewhere up the mountain, the stream and the river on the opposite side of the camp were one, but split suddenly and trailed down the mountain separately, carving their own paths.
Thorin knew what he wanted to say. He wanted to confess his feelings for Ammie. They had confused him no longer. He knew what he felt and he was going to say it. He was going to come clean and take the risk. He was already taking a large enough risk going to Erebor in the first place. He might as well cast caution to the wind where he love life was concerned. Why not? What had he had to lose at this point? He didn't even care that if she didn't exactly feel the same way, the rest of the quest would be full of awkward glances and even more awkward polite conversations. Thorin came to a stop, the stream just behind him. He took a deep breath and turned to her. He offered her a soft smile and then it happened. Or..well. Nothing happened. He, Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, was unable to spit out a damn word. He suddenly found himself very warm and fidgety. What the hell was the matter with him?! Nothing! Nothing! That's what! He took another deep breath and forced out the words he longed to say, "....I have.....a wound." .....What the hell was that? "I n-....noticed it while bathing and I...-. ...Well, it has started to irritate me, but....I wondered....perhaps, you could take a look?" Thorin wanted to punch himself. What had he done? He had ruined it! Everything! She probably thought it was a fool! Majestic King, indeed! |
Thorin took Ammie's hand and began to lead her away from the camp. She blushed deeply, although he couldn't see it. She kept her eyes lowered...Although she mainly did so in order to avoid tripping over loose rocks or tree roots in the darkness. The moon lit their path through the forest fairly well, but Ammie did not trust herself to walk gracefully without paying attention. The last thing she wanted was to fall and take Thorin down with her! Her mind tried to grasp the current situation. The dwarf king was taking her to a more private location, free from the scrutiny of the others... And he wished to speak to her about something. What were his intentions? Did he wish to discuss their... Situation? Did he mean to kiss her? Reject her? Ammie's heart hammered loudly in her chest. Thorin had not been acting as though he would reject her. He continued to smile and speak gently with her. He'd been immensely concerned for her well-being both during and after the passage through the mountains. Unless he truly considered her a burden, the dwarf likely had another topic in mind. But what?
Finally, the pair came to a stream trickling down through the forest. Thorin turned to face Ammie, offering her a terribly dashing smile. The moonlight illuminated his features in a breathtaking manner and glimmered magically on the surface of the water. Ammie had the sudden urge to faint. What sort of romantic atmosphere was this?! Her breath caught in her throat as Thorin started to speak--what would he say?! She fiercely wrestled with her flight instinct in order to stay by the dwarf's side and hear him out... But his request was nothing like the hobbit had expected. Her jaw dropped, her mouth flapping uselessly at Thorin as she tried to comprehend his words. He wanted her to...Look at his wound?! Well, all hobbits bore knowledge of herblore and healing, but she figured Oin was the healer of the group. Why did Thorin want Ammie to look at his wound? Was he embarrassed? Ammie's face betrayed a complex series of emotions. First shock, followed by confusion. Next her brow knit with concern over the prospect of Thorin potentially being injured and not having mentioned it to anyone earlier. Finally, panic. Good ol' awkward panic; the kind an incredibly shy secret admirer might have when faced with the opportunity to be close to the one they pined after. If Thorin had to remove any of his upper garments to show a wound...His coat and tunic, for example...Ammie would see the entirety of his chiseled, muscular torso. The hobbit's heart raced and pounded simultaneously and she forgot how to breathe. "W-Well, if y-you w-want me to," she squeaked, grasping the hem of her blouse tightly between her fingers and fidgeting with it. A nervous tick. "I don't know if... My opinion would be... Better...Than Oin's...B-b-but if you w-want me to...I can l-look!" |
Thorin fidgeted, not quite sure, at first, what to do. He nodded lightly and quickly pulled his fur-lined coat off, tossing it to the ground beside him. He pulled off his belt and dropped it onto the coat, then stripped away his armor. By the time he was down to his tunic, his stomach had twisted up in nervous knots and he felt quite hot under the collar. He shrugged a little and reached up to grasp the back of his tunic. He pulled it over his head and off his arms, casting it to the pile of clothing beside him.
True enough, there was a cut on Thorin's chest. It was high on his chest, to the left of his heart. Thankfully, it hadn't disturbed the black lines underneath his skin. It didn't look bad at all, a scratch was all. It was a little red around the outside and did look to be a little sore, but if he was worried, it was over nothing. It was hardly something to worry about. Still, he glanced down to the cut, then back to Ammie. He fidgeted lightly and cleared his throat as softly as he could, "Well? What do you think?" |
Ammie tried very hard to remain composed as Thorin removed his garb. He seemed less than confident about it himself, which lead her to believe he was also uncomfortable with disrobing in front of her. Why, then, had he mentioned doing so in the first place? His wound must really have been bothering him. His pace reminded her vaguely, even, of... Dare she think it... An awkward striptease. The hobbit coughed faintly against the back of her hand, flushing, as the dwarf discarded his tunic--his final garment--onto the ground.
Thorin's strange behavior did not take away from the fact that he was immensely attractive underneath his clothing. He bore a long, fresh scratch on his upper left chest, above his heart, but was for the most part unmarred save for faint old scars. His pectoral and abdominal muscles were, to put it lightly, impressive. His arms were similarly well-defined. Every inch of him, actually, appeared rock-hard. Sinewy. Athletic. The hobbit was made immediately aware of any flab or imperfection her little body possessed. She must have resembled a clump of dirt in comparison. Ammie's breath hitched in her throat and with enormous effort she stepped forward to examine Thorin's cut. Truthfully it only looked like a flesh wound...Not at all deep. Not incredibly long, either. She traced her fingers along his reddened skin gently, lest she cause the dwarf further discomfort, and pursed her lips. She didn't see anything amiss with his scratch, except for the inflammation. Still, if irritated him beyond what she could see, she could think of one, sole solution. “I don't see anything wrong with it,” Ammie said after inspecting the cut. “But if it's bothering you, it may be infected. Did you get this scrape from one of the goblin's weapons?” The hobbit paused, glancing around at the base of the trees surrounding them. She remembered seeing a useful herb growing wild in the woods, but its usefulness hadn't registered in her mind until now. “Aha!” Ammie moved a few feet away and crouched down. She plucked leaves off of a small plant growing betwixt two tree roots, depositing the leaves onto a flat stone and using another to crush them up. She returned to Thorin with the sticky crushed leaves in the palm of her left hand and began dabbing them delicately along his cut. “Yarrow,” she explained. “An analgesic and antiseptic. Lessens pain and prevents infections. This should do it. I'll collect some more tomorrow morning for the road, in case the others need it. Perhaps Oin doesn't know how to identify this in the wild, but it will be helpful considering we've lost all our healing supplies in the mountain.” Once finished, she brushed any stray pieces off of her hands and smiled brightly up at Thorin. |
Thorin was still while she inspected the cut. She didn't seem impressed by it. Not that he was trying to impress her, of course. But he figured she saw right through his ruse. He stiffened slightly and nodded at her question, "Yes, I imagine I did." He grimaced at the thought of the cut being infected. That wasn't something he wanted to worry about, but in truth, it really wasn't bothering him all that much. He wanted to groan and give himself a kick.
He hissed lightly when she gently packed the small cut with the plant she had found. It was slightly tender to the touch, despite being small and generally wimpy looking. He nodded lightly when she spoke about getting more of it. She doubted that Oin knew how to identify the plant and he found himself chuckling, "I think he would be offended to hear that. I'm quite sure he knows what the plant looks like, but who knows. I could be wrong." Thorin looked down at her, smiling brightly up at him. His chest suddenly felt tight and his limbs felt heavy. His heart raced in his chest and he found himself unable to hold onto a solid thought. He wanted to tell her the truth of why he brought her out there, but all seemed lost in that moment. Thought was lost. Sense was lost. And he did the only thing he could think of. Thorin reached up quickly and cradled Ammie's jaw in his hands. His thumbs sat in front of her ears, his fingers curling around toward the back of her neck. He leaned in before she had a chance to react and pressed his lips tightly against hers. His lips moved softly against hers. His heart felt ready to burst and he feared, for a moment, that she would reject him. |
Ammie snickered when Thorin defended Oin's ability to identify herbs. Well, surely any good healer or midwife would know the common ones, but hobbits knew a great deal about botany and agriculture specifically. They were adept at utilizing wild plants that sprung up in their woods as well as the ones they grew in their gardens. Sure, hobbits were not as skilled as elf healers in that regard... But they knew enough to live comfortably. Hobbits enjoyed convenience and remaining as healthy as possible. "I'll ask him to assist me tomorrow morning, then," she giggled. "And if I see anything else of use near camp, I'll be sure to collect it!"
One instant the halfling female had been smiling up at Thorin, and the next he'd cupped her face between his hands. She had scarcely time to think before the dwarf king had slanted his lips against hers. Ammie went rigid in Thorin's grasp. She'd considered the possibility of him kissing her, but not after he'd asked about the wound. He wasn't rejecting her after all, was he? Somehow...This majestic, handsome dwarf felt affection for her, despite her clumsiness...Dull upbringing. Weakness. Uselessness. Perhaps he enjoyed her because she was so delicate...Something more to care for and protect that had not yet been taken away. Ammie melted into Thorin's kiss, hanging from his lips uselessly. Her heart hammered in her chest and her cheeks darkened with a furious blush. She felt less timid than the first time he'd kissed her in Rivendell. Maybe because she'd been longing so for him to do it again. The hobbit's hands slid up Thorin's back. She rested them beneath his shoulder blades, pressing her tiny body against him almost desperately. She attempted to kiss him in return, although her lips were shy and far less experienced in their movements. |
Thorin leaned into the kiss when he felt Ammie melt against him. He let out a tiny sigh when her hands slid up his back. Her touch set his skin aflame and he smiled against her lips. Thorin's hand slipped away from her face and moved down to her waist. His caressed her waist softly, then dropped his hands even lower to grasp her hips.
Thorin pulled Ammie's hips tightly to his own and deepened their kiss. His tongue gently caressed her lower lip, silently asking for permission. Goosebumps swarmed over his skin and he shivered lightly against her. He could attribute it to the chill of the night air, but it would taste a lie. Her touch made him tremble like a leaf in the wind. It was a feeling Thorin hadn't felt in ages and he was positively thrilled by it. He dared breathe a tiny, almost unnoticeable moan against her lips. |
Ammie released a faint moan of her own as Thorin clasped her hips and pulled them flush against his. This kiss was different than the last...Needier... Although her mind scarcely had the coherency to recognize that fact. She was more than a little preoccupied with Thorin's bare chest (she could feel his rippling muscles through her thin blouse) and his warm tongue drifting enticingly across her lower lip. Ammie whimpered softly. Her knees almost gave out beneath her as a jolt of arousal more powerful than any she'd felt before struck her lower stomach.
The hobbit parted her lips to allow the king entrance to her mouth. Her hands crept down from Thorin's back almost instinctively, roaming to his front and down his hard abdominal muscles. Intense butterflies fluttered within her chest and her stomach twisted into knots. Every inch of her body was suddenly aflame with the desire to be closer, to sink into him... A tiny voice in the back of her head pleaded for her to stop. This wasn't love, was it? This was purely physical. She needed more than that, didn't she? But Ammie was not strong enough to pull away at the moment. |
Goosebumps spread like wildfire as Ammie's hands drifted from his back around to his abdomen. He tensed under her touch, his muscles clenching, causing deep ridges to form over his stomach. His fingers gripped her hips and pulled her harder against his body. When he felt her part her lips, his tongue swept in without hesitation. It curled around hers, gliding along it and caressing it gently.
The heat of his arousal was unbearable and Thorin's head and becoming more and more clouded. A voice spoke out from somewhere in the back of his mind. At first, he ignored it, but it only got louder. Ammie had never been intimate with a man. That much was obvious. He couldn't come on too strong or he could risk chasing her away. Thorin brought an end to their heated kiss and leaned his forehead against hers. He panted lightly, his fingers still gripping her hips. "Ammie?" He took in a shaky breath, "I need to know. Before I go any further." He pulled back slightly and dragged his eyes open to look deep into hers, "How far will you allow me to go?" |
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