Arnial woke with a slight jerk, she remembered the orcs and the fire from the night before but not really where she was now. She was so groggy and as she stretched she felt the pain in her muscles from all that had happened the night before. She rolled over onto her other side and blinked a few times in surprise at the sight before her.

She remembered that she and Thorin had escaped, that he had come to her rescue, and that he had agreed to keep her warm that night to avoid using a fire. As she watched him sleeping the full night came back to her, she had agreed to be his queen.

Arnial tilted her head examining him a bit more closely now while he slept. He was naked she knew beneath the cloak they had slept under and she moved the claok so she could see a bit more of him but still be respectful. His chest had light scars from battle on it that she knew were all years old, his body was toned from years of work and combat. His long black hair was a tangled mess right now after the swim in the river and his usual tidy beard was in similair conditions.

One thing that would always be a draw for her were his eyes, they were like storm clouds and so expressive.

Arnial leaned a bit closer and pressed her finger tips gently against his bare chest, she heard his breath catch as his lips parted. His eyes flickered open and he turned to look at the she elf, his eyes were narrowed at her for a brief moment. She felt worried that he had spoke only out of exhaustion last night to calm her as he watched her.

Thorin reached his hand out slowly and stroked her hair back away from her face “You are quite a beauty in the morning.”

Arnial smiled softly and she could feel heat in her cheeks as she pulled herself a bit closer to him. When he opened his arms to her she laid herself against his chest and blushed as her bare breasts brushed against his ribs. She could hear his breath catch and he shifted slightly looking at her closely. Turning onto his side he ran his hands gently over her face causing her to close her eyes in pleasure. She felt his hand slowly run down to her neck, her shoulder, and then around to her chest to trace the scar across her chest.

She felt his arms link around her and he pulled her gently against him, her chest pressing to his. She felt his manhood twitch against her as her naked body was pressed to him and her eyes opened to look up at him.

His eyes were gentle and warm as her leaned close lips barely touching hers as he spoke.

“You will be my queen?” he asked softly. “You can refuse.”

“I would be what you would want me to be my king.” she sighed against his lips.

Thorin leaned forward pressing his lips to hers the kiss started gentle at first but as he pulled her tight to him it became fevered and full of need. She submitted to him letting him part her lips to taste her on his tongue and he pushed her slowly onto her back pulling himself ontop of her body. Arnial moaned against his lips as he let his hands search her body running over her.

He moaned and pulled his mouth from hers panting “I want you now.”

Arnial gasped as his mouth began to work its way down her neck slowly going to the scar which he kissed as passionately as he had her mouth.

“You have to say it.” Thorin moaned.

She gasped her hand fisting in his black hair stopping him “I.. need to .. breath.”

Thorin chuckled lightly and pulled himself back to where he could set his forehead against her’s. His eyes searched her face while a smirk lit his face as he enjoyed seeing her so open to him.

“Should I stop?” he asked mostly joking but he did remember that the elves were an uptight people when it came to tradition.

Dwarves did not consider sex before marriage to be so shameful though it was frowned upon when it was taken so lightly, he knew they would be displeased if the king were caught being so forward. He could only imagine what the elves would say if their selected bride were caught in the bed of the king without a formal proclamation to her new status.

“I’m sorry.” she said blushing. “If anyone knew…”

“I would tell no one if you laid with me but I will respect your choice.” he said kissing her forehead gently.

“You wouldn’t have to tell them, they would know soon enough.” she whispered touching his face.

“And why is that?” he asked rolling gently away from her. “You would speak of it?”

“No.” she said looking sheepish. “There is a test of purity before a marriage for my people. I won’t be allowed to return to you in private after you proclaim me your intended bride.”

As he removed himself from her, Thorin frowned slightly embarrassed now.

“You must of thought me a bit of a brute earlier then.”

Arnial chuckled leaning towards him pressing her lips to his softly when she pulled away she whispered “I didn’t protest your touch my lord.”

*******

It was some time later that Arnial and Thorin walked out of the Mirkwood onto the road leading to the city of Dale, they were the worse for wear but otherwise unharmed. They could tell from looking now that they were free that sometime in the night the elves had gotten the fire out and no doubt began to try to heal the forest.

They had seen no search parties as of yet and had decided to begin walking back to Erebor. The sun was high in the sky before they saw anyone and it was as they passed the city gates, they were hailed by Bard who was riding back down the road towards them.

“Thorin!” he called stopping his horse. “Thank goodness you are unharmed Erebor is in a rage, the dwarves are denying that the orcs were responsible for your disappearance.”

“What?” Thorin demanded “I will need your horse this must be stopped.”

Bard was already off the mount glancing at the elf “The horse will only carry one quickly she is old.”

“Go I will join you in Erebor.” she assured Thorin when he glanced back to her.

Thorin nodded turning the horse to gallop the road back to his mountain, he was grim and worried.

Bard turned to look the elf up and down before saying “The elves are in Dale they are not pleased that you have not returned. Please I will show you where Thranduil is waiting.”

Arnial was surprised but went willingly with the human man, she knew Bard to be an honest man at heart so she trusted him.

*******

Thorin arrived in the throne room followed by those that had met him at the gate bursting through the doors his face dark. Everyone in the room fell silent advisors, visiting ambassadors of the other dwarf kingdoms, and his own cousin Dane. They seemed shocked and then relieved that the king had returned to them.

“Thorin you bastard you’ve had us worried all night where have you been.” Dane demanded in a joking tone.

“Surviving a fire and a warg pack in the Mirkwood. I have been told the elves are being blamed for my vanishing well here I am what more is there to say now?” he demanded throwing his arms wide.

“Look the last we had heard you were going after the she elf that you had turned down for a bride, what else were we to expect but treachery of the part of the elves?” Dane demanded in kind.

“Well you call off the search for me I am here and I have chosen my bride.” Thorin said taking his seat on the throne.

“Well that is a relief and who pray tell is it?”

“Arnial.”

********

Arnial arrived in the City of Dale and was promptly taken to the main hall by Bard who upon arrival dismissed himself.

She went inside to find Thranduil and Legolas waiting for her, they had a few unmoving elven warriors standing around them acting as guards to the king. She gave a small bow from the hips and looked up at him cautiously as he started to walk around the room his eyes locked on her.

“Well if your back than that means Thorin Oakensheild has returned to the mountain. What has transpired?” he asked sourly.

“He’s asked me to be his queen.” Arnial assured him. “I’m returning to Erebor as soon as we are done here.”

“We have been insulted by these dwarves again, he rejects you so you levae, and now he gets to play the hero. He will turn this to his favor making this offer to make you queen seem like such a gift to our people.” Thranduil spat.

“It is a gift maybe not so much in name but think on it. One of us being a leader of Erebor is not owed to us. If anything we didn’t deserve the invitaition to petition a bride for him, after the  elves abandonement with the dragon.” Arnial said shrugging.

“Don’t pretend to know of what you speak!” Thranduil roared “You were not there that day, you who have loved the dwarves as if they were your own, you were absent from the field of battle as well.”

Arnial looked at him stonily “That will always be my shame just as it should be yours.”

The two stared at each other in silence.

Legolas coughed “I wish you congratulations on your betrothal cousin. Sadly I will not be able to stay for the wedding itself I am needed elsewhere again.”

“Your presence will be missed but I wish you safe travels.” Arnial said bowing at the waist to him.

They shared a smile and she turned back to her uncle “I will be returning to Erebor now, should you need me you know how to find me.”

Arnial turned her back to him and started walking back to the door.

“He will never love you as you deserve.” Thranduil said to her back. “Thorin isn’t capable of it.”

---