Warrior's Heart

Chapter Twenty-Two

Something tickled her neck.

Arielle snorted, shoving the annoying insect away with one hand. But it came back, crawling along her neck, to her ear.

"Go 'way..." she mumbled.

Coarse, but soft, hair, grazed her cheek. A deep, rumbling voice whispered, "Up you get, princess."

"No. I'm sleeping."

A light kiss swept along her neck, then he nipped, which made her jump fully awake. "Thorin!"

He reclined back on his mound of pillows, looking for all the world like the king he refused to believe he was. "I told you it was time to get up."

She grabbed her top pillow by the corner and flung it at him. "Beast."

It sailed back toward her. "I did it nicely, you know."

"You bit me!"

"It was a love bite."

She fired another pillow at him. "I've changed my mind about being your wife, dwarf. I think I'll stay here."

"Too late, princess. You've already taken the vows."

As he spoke, he reached across the bed and snaked an arm about her waist to tug her to him. Despite her laughter, she managed to yelp, "I had my fingers crossed."

"Liar. I was holding your hands the entire time." He gathered her in his arms, so she sprawled across his lap, pinned between his arms and his chest.

"My toes, then."

"Careful, love, or I might think you serious."

She sighed and relaxed against him. "It's too early to be awake."

"It's dawn. We have a long journey ahead of us. I spoke to Thranduíl last evening about loaning us horses, since I'd rather you not walk all the way back to the Blue Mountains."

Her spirits sank. "Gandalf and the eagles left?"

He nodded. "I told you, they are not for hire and do not appreciate being used that way on a whim. But your father is in agreement about you not walking, so, he's agreed to loan them."

"How many?"

"We will walk. You will ride."

"Ride with me?"

"I cannot do that."

She sighed. He walked a fine line where she was concerned, although she didn't think the others would begrudge him riding with her. Still, she didn't want to manipulate him that way, and so nodded. "Very well. When do you wish to leave?"

"Within the hour. I wish to cover as much ground as we can before nightfall, and hope to find an inn along the way. I have no desire for my pregnant wife to sleep on the hard ground."

"I would be fine."

"That is neither here nor there, Arielle, nor is it up for discussion."

She rolled her eyes as she pulled out of his arms and slid to the edge of the bed to rise. "You are being quite overbearing, you know. You didn't mind my sleeping on the hard ground before."

"Need I explain it? Do you truly not know how this is different?"

"Of course not and yes, I do know, and you are being ridiculous." She crossed the room, to the low windowsill, and turned back to him. "I am only barely pregnant, and I would be fine just as I was before."

"I am hardly being ridiculous. What I am is a concerned husband and father."

"You aren't a father yet!"