Thorin
***

Thorin finished up the newest fragrance of oil. The one for Merissa. He was
supposed to met her in the garden shortly, and already was having second
thoughts. His father would laugh at him for even thinking .. he quickly
stopped those thoughts for they were no where near as pleasant as thoughts
of Merissa.

He picked up the jar and took a deep breath to quiet his nerves, willing
himself to walk out of the lab. His thoughts too intent on meeting Merissa,
he nearly barreled over Clarissa.

"Thorin, what are you doing here? It's your day off!"

Thorin nodded, "I know, I was .. just mixing this up for .. someone."

Clarissa looked at the jar, "A gift, huh." She grinned, "In that case,
don't let me keep you." Thorin tried to suppress the smile that came to his
lips in anticipation of the meeting, but Clarissa caught it and chuckled
lightly, "Don't keep her waiting." She shoed him on out.

Thorin hurried out, heading toward the gardens. As he neared he watched her
waiting for him, and again felt the pangs of self-doubt. If she hadn't have
turned at that moment and spotted him, he might have turned and ran. But as
she turned he was once again struck by her beauty as she stood in the
moonlight..
 
>They awkwardly stood together waiting for the other to break the silence.

>"I brought the oil," Thorin spoke as Merissa asked, "Did bring the oil..."
and they broke into laughter, breaking the ice.

>"It is a beautiful night, would you mind walking with me a bit?"  Merissa
invited, and Thorin nodded.

Mind?! Gods, there was nothing he wanted more!

>Merissa held the jar of oil, she broke the seal and sniffed it gently.  It
was even more fragrant than the batch that Thorin had made for Kalyth,
slightly more delicate.  "I like this one even better."  She smiled at Thorin.

>He was glad that in the darkness she could not see the hot blush that
crept up his neck and cheeks.  He had formulated it with her in mind. "I
hope Chrysthal likes it."  He replied nervously.

>"I'm sure she will."  Merissa answered.  Merissa had chosen a beautiful
white blouse and long skirt that billowed in the evening breeze with a
brightly colored scarf tied about her waist.  She felt alive.  Tomorrow she
would be leaving for the council, but tonight she was free.

>Her mind reached out for Chrysthal, but the young queen was off in her
dreams, and Merissa felt a <Do Not Disturb> response, and sighed.

>Thorin mistook the sigh, thinking that he was boring Merissa, "I'm sure
you must have better things to do..." he trailed off.

He felt his heart sink. He should have known better. Standing there looking
at her, he could see his father laughing and saying, 'Well, what did you
expect!'

>"Oh, no!  Actually I was just thinking how I've never stayed at one place
for so long, except when I was a young girl at the Bard's hall in
Ralengarde, and now I am so nervous about leaving here!  It is amazing.
I've never had a home and family before, and now..."  Merissa stopped, with
her voice choking slightly.

>"And now?" Thorin prompted.

>"And now I have Chrysthal, and the Warren, and Trinale, and... and... a
home," she finished in a whisper.

Thorin had lived in the Warren all his life, though he wasn't sure it was
much of a home. Things had gotten better when he began to study under
B'ril, and especially once he'd moved out of his father's apartment and
into one of his own. It wasn't very big, just a bedroom, bath and a small
kitchen, but it was enough for him. He supposed that was home. At least, it
was much more of a home then he'd had with his father and his new family. 

>They had walked to a secluded place in the gardens. The moon was up and
the fragrance of the flowers were overwhelming.  They stood in the silence
of the moment.  Close but not touching.  

>Merissa looked at Thorin.  He seemed so insecure, so nervous.  She wanted
him to feel more at ease.  To get him talking again.  So she asked about
the oil.  "You did something different with this batch of oil, what is that
fragrance?"

>"It's jasmine, mostly, though I had to make an extract for the fragrance
out of some alcohol and other plants." and as he talked about the process
of making the oil he became more relaxed.  Merissa interspersed questions
appropriately as he lagged, using her skills for extracting information
that she'd learned in the Bard's hall to facilitate the conversation.  But
even as he rambled on about oils and fragrances, and how he might be able
to make different oils with aromas to suit individual dragons, Merissa
watched his eyes, enjoyed his movements and they slowly drew closer together.

He knew he was rambling, but he couldn't help himself. There was something
about this woman that made him feel that she was really interested, that
she actually didn't mind the fact that he wasn't a dragonrider. 

It was a sensitive area with him, especially after Pilette. She had come to
the Warren when she was 16 and Thorin 17. They had stood together at her
first hatching neither had joined. Pilette went to work in the kitchens,
and she and Thorin became good friends. At the next hatching neither of
them joined again, and while disappointed Thorin had been sure it meant
they were supposed to be together. But at their third hatching, Pilette
joined. Thorin had been heartbroken though he tried to be happy for her.
After that their relationship changed. Now they barely acknowledged the
others presence.

But Merissa seemed different. And while he was still very unsure, at least
for the time being he was enjoying himself more then he had in a long time.

>There was a gazebo in the center of this area of the gardens and they made
their way towards it as Thorin rambled on, and as they entered it, Thorin
was talking about his disappointment with not being joined.  

>"I have the affinity, everyone knows, but I've never joined with a
dragon."  He murmured.

>"Perhaps your dragon just hasn't hatched yet."  Merissa commiserated.

>"My father doesn't think I'm dragon rider material."  Thorin complained. 

>"He sounds just like my Mother,"  Merissa sighed.

>"Your mother?  I didn't realize, I mean I didn't think, well you said you
didn't have any family..."

>"She isn't family.  Not like all of the Warren is a family.  She has never
cared about me.  She has always been too busy traveling to care for me, and
I really think I'm a disappointment to her.  She is so beautiful, and
I'm... not."  

>"NOT?!"  Thorin exclaimed in surprise.  "She must be blind!  You are so
beautiful Merissa," as he stared down at her.

He couldn't believe that anyone let this woman think otherwise.

>Merissa felt tears come into her eyes.  She looked away.  "No, I'm small
and dark, and not at all like my Mother.  She is beautiful."

>Thorin protested again, and this time he showed her that he truly felt
that she was beautiful by taking her into his arms.  He was a bit awkward,
but slowly they drew together and their lips met.  He kissed her softly,
gently.  Then let her go.

He was instantly worried that he'd overstepped his bounds. He'd only meant
to comfort her, but once he was holding her, he couldn't stop himself. The
touch of her skin, then scent of her hair, and the closeness of her lips
all drew him in and he found himself desiring her.

>Merissa smiled up at him.  Invitingly.  She hadn't been with a man since
the night before Lord Fowler's party, and she suddenly realized that this
was why she had come to the garden this evening.

>"I'm too nervous to sleep tonight." Merissa said to Thorin, "with the
council tomorrow and all.  Would you care to keep me company?"

>Thorin couldn't believe his ears.  Merissa, the junior queenrider, wanted
him to keep her company?  What could he say?  "I'd love to".

She took his hand pulling him out of the garden and toward the lush foliage
that surrounded the Warren's lake. Then she turned wrapping her arms around
him, drawing him into her kiss, a little less soft and a bit more urgent.
Thorin felt his body responding as he ran his hands over her small frame.

Alert bells rang in his head as he realized what he was doing, he pulled
back, "Merissa .. I .."

She frowned slightly, "Don't  you want me?"

"Oh Gods!" he groaned. "How could I not! You are so beautiful and you took
in interest in ~me~."

"What's wrong with you?" she asked, pulling him in for more kisses, as she
began to unbutton his shirt. "You're handsome .." Once his shirt was
undone, her hands ran over his smooth chest, "You're an excellent kisser
.." She continued, as her hands reached for the fastener of the his loose
fitting pants.

He jumped grabbing her hand, looking deep into her dark eyes, "And I'm
~not~ a dragonrider!"

"That doesn't matter to me," she said.

"It will," he whispered, still holding tightly to her hands.

"No .. it won't." She wrested her hands from his grasp taking a step back
as she removed the white blouse she wore revealing her perfect breasts,
"Thorin .." she whispered, ".. it doesn't matter to me."

"Merissa .." he sighed heavily, reaching for her with one hand as the other
closed over her breast, and his mouth covered hers. Knowing full well that
he shouldn't, but not being able to refuse, he made love to her, enjoying
the feel of her body as she joined with his.

****

He awoke the next morning, alone in the soft grass where they had lain
together. He sighed sadly, as this was what he'd expected. Just like
Pilette, she was gone. He was sure she'd come to realize the mistake she'd
made.

He stood quickly, as he dressed and hurried to his rooms. Falling into his
own bed, he felt a single hot tear roll down his face. He only hoped he
could face her again, after what he'd done. "Oh, Merissa .." he whispered.

--Thorin
***
NRPG: Arlene, thanks for letting me have fun with Thorin :} Again all,
sorry for having borrowed so heavily from Arlene's excellent post!'

Kristen 

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Kristen Gant
(AKA: Darlea & Makayla,  Waylene & Aura, Meena & Vonn, 
Kalewyn & Sabbith, Saul & Fayloth)
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/kris.htm