Journey to Middle Earth // Thorin Oakenshield

Chapter 12

"This should fit you for the night," a young maid said as she left a night gown on the bed along with the towel and wash cloth for Sara.

The red head smiled, "Thank you. I appreciate it."

The maid nodded before exiting the room to leave Sara to get ready for the night.

Sara removed the cloak and shawl Grace had given her before sitting down to remove her boots when she sensed a presence behind her. turning around, she smiled when she saw Thorin standing in the doorway in the clothes Bard had given him, his shoulder leaning against the doorframe.

"You don't have to stand guard you know," the girl said smiling.

Thorin pushed off the doorframe and entered the room, leaving the door cracked behind him. "The love of my life jumped over a waterfall and disappeared for almost three days, of course I am going to be on guard."

Sara chuckled as she unlaced her boots, "I won't be jumping off waterfalls again anytime soon. I promise you that."

Thorin smiled, "I am glad to hear that. But I am still not going to leave."

Sara smirked but it turned into a grimace when she bumped her sore knees. Thorin noticed right away and grabbed her hands, pulling them away from her boots. Kneeling down in front of her, he gently removed her boots and socks, his gentle but firm touch eliciting content hums from Sara. When he finished, Sara went to stand up but Thorin spied the bandaging beneath her pants and caught her hand.

"You're hurt," he observed.

Sara shook her head, "It's nothing serious."

Thorin raised his eyebrows in disbelief at her words. Sara sighed, knowing Thorin wouldn't be content till he saw it for himself. Standing up, Sara removed the pants but left her dress on. Thorin pulled her back over and made her sit back down on the couch in front of the fire so he could see her knees better. Gently grasping one leg in his hands, he unwound the bandages to be faced with a mostly scabbed over wound but he could see how sever it had been.

He glanced up at Sara before removing the bandage on her other leg before gently touching the edge of the wounds with his calloused fingers. The warmth of his fingers brought no pain but a soothing relief to the ache Sara had been feeling in her knees all day. When Sara released a pleased sound when he kneaded her sore ankle muscles, Thorin's icy blue eyes locked on the girl from beneath his black lashes.

"Where else are you hurt?" he asked.

Sara didn't bother avoiding the question, knowing Thorin would poke and prod the answer from her. Grasping the sleeve of her dress, she rolled it up till Thorin could see the large bandage on her arm. Rising to his feet, he sat down next to Sara on the couch and gently took her wounded arm in his hands. He cautiously unwound it and Sara was glad that the stitched wound was no longer swollen and sensitive but healing nicely. Thorin grasped her wrist in his hand before lifting it up to place a hot, slow kiss on her palm. Sara felt her throat go dry when he placed a second kiss on her wrist, stopping to look at her from beneath his lashes like a hungry predator having just laid sights on his prey... her.

Thorin continued to trail kisses up her arm, being careful of the stitches till he reached the underside of her elbow where he pressed a stronger kiss to the soft flesh there. By then, Sara had forgotten how to breathe and didn't resist as Thorin grasped her legs and pulled her sideways onto his lap so he could continue his trail of kisses over her clothed shoulder, up her neck and behind her ear. He stopped there, raining kisses along her jaw and cheeks but steering clear of her lips on purpose.

"Thorin," she gasped, practically pleading with him.

Thorin pulled away just enough to look her in the eyes, his eyes clouded over with want and desperation, drinking in the sight of her glossy orbs and flushed cheeks.