Born from Stone (A Thorin Oakenshield story)

A most unexpected entr'acte

The next morning instead of waking up in Thorin's arms, feeling his skin against hers and his breath steady under her ear, Eilin found herself sprawled like a starfish with the heavy quilts entangled between her naked thighs. The room was very warm due to the blazing fire under the hearth, but when she squinted towards the drawn curtains, she caught a glimpse of the blizzard whiplashing nature outside. A snow storm that thankfully couldn't touch them inside the safety of Erebor.

"Thorin?" She mumbled hoping that he was somewhere in the room and her freshly awoken mind didn't notice him.

No answer.

It was too early for him to get up in order to take over Erebor, so something must have called on his attention and he left during the early hours of the morning whilst she was asleep. She was beginning to get used to his erratic working hours and him being torn between so many people. He was burdened by obligations her mind was unable to process during every moment of their days and nights. He was not a ruler who was simply sitting on his throne overlooking what everybody else was doing. He was hands on everything that concerned his stronghold inside and outside and he didn't stop to rest until he was satisfied that Erebor was running smoothly. So him rushing off to take care of something in the middle of the night was not that surprising to her.

She stretched contently and felt the soft fabric of the sheets rubbing against the back of her legs. Then she grabbed a pillow, placed it between her legs and snuggled against two more. If she couldn't have him here to cuddle, she'd do it with the pillows. She was ready to close her eyes in order to enjoy her sleep once more, but the gnawing thoughts of what he had done to her last night came to torment her. She forced herself to calm down as they began to warm her up from the inside out.

She tried to fall asleep, but each time the images returned and with them an itch she couldn't scratch. Finally after a good amount of time were she tossed and turned she gave up and pushed the covers away from her naked body. She stood up and rounded the bed in order to pick up her clothes from the armchair and get dressed. Since she couldn't get any sleep, she'd start work early. Then she would have more time with him in the evening to maybe repeat what they did last night. As she was kneeling to pick up her boots, she saw the burned remains of a scroll at the grating on the hearth.

She frowned and leaned closer to take a better look. Why would Thorin burn a scroll in their fireplace? She gazed at it suspiciously for a few moments, trying to decide if she wanted to pick it up or not. If it was a meaningless message why would Thorin go through the trouble of burning it? She pursed her lips and picked it up. Only a single word was untouched under all that soot.

"Truth."

Maybe she could ask him later what this message was all about. She threw it back into the fireplace letting it burn to ashes. Or maybe she shouldn't tell him anything. Why would she get involved in the business of the King? What did she know about messages or any kind of royal duties that Thorin was taking care off all the time? Instead of allowing her mind to create conspiracy theories about that burned scroll she decided to dress up, but as she did a vague thought flashed through her mind and made her stop suddenly. Her eyes fell to the fire that had destroyed the scroll completely.

Did he leave so early because of this burned scroll perchance? Maybe it was saying something very important that demanded his attention.

"No, come on, don't be an idiot." she reposted.

Why would he burn it? Maybe he did so because it made him mad about something.

"Or maybe he didn't want anyone to see it!" she rejoined with a hiss.