Bring On The Wonder[Thorin Oakenshield]

Chapter Thirty Five: Not Looking Back

The dwarf king opened his eyes slowly and looked down beside him to see the young woman sound a sleep against him. Her head rested on his firm chest, with her right arm laying on his chest as well. Thorin had his arm wrapped securely around her waist. His eyes drifted to the scars along her arm, and back. Some were from years ago, before he even knew her and others were from the event that happened in Goblin Town. His calloused fingers gently traced along the damaged skin and caused the half-breed to shift in her sleep.

"Your awake." Bella murmured her eyes closed. Thorin moved his hand to her back stroking it and kissed her forehead. "What time is it?" She asked her fingers grazing the dwarf's dark chest hair.

"Not yet dawn." He whispered. "Go back to sleep." Bella could hear in his deep voice that something was clearly on his mind and the half-breed sat up, so she was looking down at Thorin.

"What's wrong?" She asked softly. " I know something is bothering you." She added. The dwarf reached up with his other hand and caressed the side of her cheek.

"Bella....the last thing I want to do is put you in even more danger. There was so many times I thought you weren't going to pull through, but your stubbornness has managed to keep you alive." Thorin trailed off.

"What are you trying to say, Thorin?" Bella dared to ask. She had a pretty good feeling she knew where this was going, but she hoped she was wrong and this was just Thorin's failed attempt at trying to be sympathetic with her. He was never good at showing his weaker side, though he tried when it came to her.

"...Bella when we reach the mountain. Its going to even more dangerous. I don't want their to be a chance that something could actually happen to you. I know you can't stay here, but I want you to be somewhere safe away from all this until it's over."

"What? Thorin. I'm going with you. I'm not going to just abandon you all. Not when were so close!" Bella pressed.

"Bella, this is too dangerous for you. You were nearly killed, how many times? I'm not going to risk your life anymore." The king protested.

"This quest has been dangerous since we left the Shire. And encase you have forgotten I signed the contract. So I'm going to see this mission through, whether I live or die." She declared, giving a smirk at the end, but Thorin continued to look at her with serious eyes.

"Bella this isn't funny. I'm being serious." Thorin growled lowly.

"So am I. I'm going with you and nothing you say is going to stop me. So you might as well shut up about it and accept it handsome." She placed her hand on his face and kissed him on the lips and he pulled away giving her a look.

"Have I ever told you how stubborn you are?" Thorin stated with a hint of a smirk he was trying so hard not to show.

"I might of heard it a few times." She admitted, with a giggle and rested her head under Thorin's chin. " Promise me, we will do this together." She asked him.

"I promise. Close your eyes. I'll wake you when its time." He whispered and kissed her hair and he slowly closed his eyes.

The young woman had shifted herself off Thorin in the time she had fallen asleep and was now laying on her side curled up facing the leader and she opened her eyes to see the light streaming in through the tiny window and look over to see the dwarf still sound asleep, his face actually looked peaceful for once, as oppose to all the restless nights he had. She moved closer to him and pressed her lips against the dwarf's and she felt his lips twitch into a smirk. "What are you doing up?" Thorin murmured and opened his eyes to look at her.

"Watching you sleep." She admitted.

"Oh? Were you now." Thorin said, sounding almost embarrassed at the thought and the half-breed giggled at Thorin and he turned away from her.