In Time

Chapter Seventeen

"He seems happy now."

"He does." Amara leaned her elbow on the wide marble railing, propping her chin on her fist. "He's a far cry from the angry, stubborn dwarf who was wheeled in here only a few months ago, only clinging to life. Now, look at him."

As if he felt the eyes on him, Thorin twisted to look over his left shoulder and Amara would swear she felt his gaze alight on her. A slow smile lifted his lips. He swung his legs over the side of the fountain and dropped to the ground.

"Kenia," he called as he strode over to them, "might Amara come out and play for a bit?"

"I don't think that would be wise," Kenia replied.

"I promise to keep her safe."

Amara smiled, looking over at her assistant. "He promises to keep me safe."

Kenia arched a brow as she met Amara's gaze. "You know water and wounds don't mix."

"I won't go in the fountain."

Kenia sighed and rose from her chair. "You must all promise not to splash her at all. I'd hate to see her come down with an infection on top of what she's been through."

"I give you my word." Thorin twisted back to his company. "Did you hear that? No one to flick so much as a drop of water at her."

"I think we can manage," Bofur replied dryly.

Thorin turned back and Amara could see the devil dancing in his eyes. "We promise."

Amara stood and slowly skirted the chairs to wind her way down the curved staircase leading to the courtyard. Thorin waited for her at its foot and up close, he looked even more delectable than he had from a distance. Water droplets clung to the dark hair swirling across his chest and down his belly, they clung to his beard, and the braid in his hair, and she smiled. "I thought you didn't care for small clothes?"

He glanced down and then back up at her. "I've stretched these to fit me better. Not quite so much of me on display as with the last ones I wore."

"More's the pity. I liked what they displayed."

At first, he just stared, but then he cracked and smiled. "I knew you were looking."

"How could I not? You, dwarf, are one very well-built man."

Perhaps it was just her imagination, but she was fairly certain he blushed. Her initial instinct was to tease him, but she thought better of it. Instead, she slid her arms about his waist, tucked her head against his chest, and said, "And that makes me a very fortunate she-elf."

"Take care," he warned. "I promised Kenia I'd not let you get so much as a drop of water on you."

"My right side is dry. And she is just being overly cautious, since I'm almost healed now."

"Be that as it may, if you get into trouble, she won't let me come see you any more." He pulled away to lace his fingers with hers.

"She is not the boss of me," she reminded him, lifting his hand to her lips to brush the back of it with a kiss. "Even if she thinks she is."

As they strolled toward the others, he lowered his voice. "Perhaps later this evening we might come out here for a bit? There is something I wished to ask you and I want no audience when I do it."

"I'll sneak out if I must."

His fingers tightened about hers. "Just be careful you aren't caught."

She smiled at him. What was it he wished to ask? He looked and sounded so serious, but then again, from what she'd seen, it was the rare occurrence when Thorin Oakenshield wasn't serious.