Fire and Ice

Dead End.

Bad snow brought in bad news from a messenger from the woodlin Dwarves.

They are calling for Thorin & his Orc fighting warriors, to aid in the battle once again..Their orcs are not as big and tough as the ones that had been battled here in the Lonely Mountains.

Thorin has agreed, he needed two days to prepare and have his men ready to battle once again.

Castle has been busy as bees with getting ready to leave, have not came head on with Thorin anymore since the day of my bow training. I took it upon myself to stay out of the way of the men getting ready to leave..So curious as a cat, I took to exploring the castle.

Many twists and turns of passages and felt like going into the pits of hell..If such a thing...Then the sound struck me,,seemingly odd..Sounds of a waterfall,,really a waterfall inside a castle..But wait..not impossible since I am in a castle inside a mountain..Who puts a castle inside a mountain??

Follow the sounds to feel the heat as well still hearing the sound of a waterfall..A heated spring pool inside the mountain..Could be when I ask for hot water to take a bath, I get it right away.

DEAD END!! The natural steps led to a pool, water ran down the stone walls and into the pool that steamed..But the pool wasn't empty.

Once noticed it was not empty, I pulled back quickly, but only far enough to see and be unseen.

A sight that would fuel sleepless nights to come.

Thorin was waist deep in the pool, bathing with his back to me..Torchlight on the walls danced on his wet body..shiny droplets of water running down his broad shoulders. Tribal tattoos covered his shoulders and back, not sure if on his front part of his body..

His long dark hair, seemingly black since wet, still held the wave look.

Thorin looked hugely built from the waist up since it was all I was able to get sights on, the rest of him stayed hidden under the water..I chewed on my fingernail as the daydreaming began of the all powerful,handsome King of Dwarves bathed before me..Thoughts were sinful and coming from me...was uncalled for..But hey..human here and my needs have been lightened by this sight.

I took care to take quiet steps backwards out of the hell I have placed myself in..I had to escape before getting caught at spying..

Went to the dinning hall, where everyone was always eating or drinking..No wonder the dwarf men are so huge..I myself had to grab an ale to calm my nerves and to build up my wits.

It wasn't long after I arrived in the dinning hall and chatting with Dis and Balin, Thorin entered dressed all in black from head to toe..his black & gold cloak outlined in black fur, clasped below his ribs..Black silk shirt opened to show bare broad chest, wide gold belt tight on hip, making him look very tempting below the belt, tight  bottom in black leather pants..Thorin's hair still dripped wet, still wet again it held it's wave in his long mane.

My heart caught on a few beats..Damn him to Hell..This was a stab at my long sleepless night..now I get to go to bed with his image glued to the black side of my mind..one I won't forget for a long time..

"Lady Elise, are you ill?" You seem pale." Thorin asked in what I took as a humored tone..as if he knew what he was doing to me..again I'm only female..with newly awakened female animal needs.

I bit my inner cheek as I eyed Thorin over my goblet before speaking.

One of the dwarf ladies offered me food. I smiled at her as I shook my head no before turning my attention back on answering Thorin.

"I'm fine...just peachy." I said as turned up my goblet once again.

"Prove it, eat something.." Thorin said as he leaned forward toward me.

"Thank you, I have already eaten. " I said as I tried to keep my gaze off his attire, but I felt like I had been caught like the cat who ate the canary..For I jumped when Thorin's sister Dis felt my forehead..

"Brother, the girl feels warm." Lady Elise, why don't you go retire, I shall check on you later." Dis said as I felt she was stretching it a bit..Thorin as well did not seem to believe her..He waved his hand for me to go.

I bowed out before exiting the dinning hall.

Dis gave her brother a look as if to know what he was doing as she as well eyed his attire..whatever he was doing was working on the human.

Thorin took his eyes off the empty doorway that I walked through to look at his sister whom eyed him.

"What?" Thorin asked as he sat slowly in his chair as he took a drink of his ale.

"See to it Dis, that Lady Elise spends more time here at the castle while I am gone." Thorin ordered as he tried changing the subject of what was going through his sister's head..For Dis is quite smiting with the human, but then who wasn't..

"As you wish dear brother of mine." Dis said.

Thorin gave his baby sister a questioning look.

"With you gone, the poor thing can relax I hope, maybe she will gladly look forward to you being away." Dis said as her brother  rolled his eyes before downing his ale.

"Be ready to leave in the hour." Thorin growled as he stood and glared at Dis.

Some of his main men moved after their leader spoke..all but Balin.

"But Thorin." Balin said as he slowly stood up after the look his King gave him...making him feel an inch tall.

"Yes." Balin said.

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I woke to being starved since I did not eat the night before..As I dressed, I prayed that today would be a peaceful day.

Found a few dwarves sitting in the hall with Gandalf and Dis, and Balin...who looked like he lost his best friend..I could only guess Thorin and his other men had not gotten up yet or was getting ready to leave.

But the look Balin had upon his face was disturbing a bit.

"Ok, something is wrong??What is going on?" I asked as I rubbed the old dwarf's shoulders as he patted my hand with his big one that made two of mine.

"Balin is being punished for speaking out to Thorin while he was in a ill mood." Dis said as she fixed me a plate of meats, cheese and bread.

"Punished how?" I asked as I sat down beside of Balin.

"Forced to stay here, while Thorin and the others go battle." Gandalf said as Dis nodded her agreement.

"Your saying Thorin is gone already?" I asked.

"Left last night, not long after you went to bed." Dis said.

"Fine, it was best for me to not see him..I mean them off." But Balin do not take this as punishment,,at least you are here with me." Cheer up, cause the dwarves from where I am are jolly and happy." I said trying to cheer Balin up.

"Ah my lady, I feel useless, what if..Oh I can't think of that now." Balin said as he left the room after choking down his ale.

Great, now I feel like shit..Thanks a lot Thorin.

**(Sorry such a short chapter,  Lady Oakenshield.)