Title: Life's Choices

Author: Latina44870

Rating: M

Warning: violence, graphic sexual situations.

Pairings: Thorin/ofc, Kili/ofc

Disclaimer; I own none of it but the storyline. The characters all belong to the Great JRRT and I'm just playing with them for a bit.

Summary: Marella- an orphan raised in a small town brothel. Each miserable day the same as the one before... until a chance meeting gives her the opportunity to change her life and find the answers to the questions that have long gone unanswered.

chapter 1

Marella pulled the cloak tighter around her shoulders as the cold threatened to creep in. She shivered at the icy blast that blew thru the open door. She could see the men that had entered the house. She willed herself to stop shaking and feigned sleep; praying that she would be overlooked on the small lounge.

She could hear Baena as the old woman spoke to the newcomers. She offered them lodging for the evening. "Marella!" the old woman called out to her.

Inwardly Marella sighed but opened her eyes anyways, "Yes Baena?"

"Show these man to a room and see to it they are … comfortable."

She saw the men hand Baena some coins. At least she knew if she made it to morning, there would be a treat for her at breakfast. Baena always saved something nice for her if she was obedient. Marella stood up and straightened her cloak. She avoided the eyes of the 3 men as they looked her over.

"What is she?" one demanded of the old woman. "She doesn't look quite right!"

Marella cringed inside but waited for what she knew was coming.

"Look at her ears," the man laughed and the others came closer to gawk at her. "They look bigger than a normal girl's for sure."

Baena frowned, "She is human just ugly. It's all the same in the dark. No refunds." She grabbed tightly to her coin purse and hurried off to the kitchen.

"This way, please," Marella said as she turned towards the stairs. She silently prayed the men would just turn and leave but she heard the loud thump of their boots as they followed her.

"I still don't think she is worth the coin," she heard one of them whisper to the others. "Some kind of mixed breed for sure."

"Should be half price," the other one replied.

Marella blocked them out and kept walking up the stairs. She turned to the left and opened the first door. She stood back and waited for the men. "In here," she said.

Two of the men entered the room but the third stopped in front of her. "I'd say half hobbit but your feet look normal sized. What are you?"

"I am Marella," she replied, praying that the questions would stop. She had no answers to give.

When it seemed he was ready to press the issue, she reached up and unfastened her cloak, letting it slip open. His eyes feel to her small but ample breasts. "After you," he said as he stepped aside for her to enter. She hated exposing herself but it always worked. At least so far…. She followed the man inside and shut the door…

It was early. She had not even heard the roosters begin to crow yet. Quietly she crept into the wash room and poured some water into the basin. Grabbing her soap she began to cleanse herself. If only her memory was as easy to clean as her body was. She wanted to wipe every kiss.. every touch.. of all 3 men she had spent the evening with. Marella stopped washing and lit another candle to give herself more light to see by. She glanced into the low quality looking glass that was hanging on the wall above the basin. Her hair was long and unruly. Loose curls cascaded down to the middle of her back. She reached for her brush and ran it thru the deep chestnut brown strands. It helped a little. Her eyes focused on her ears as they poked thru the tresses. They were a tad oversized compared to the other girls in the home, but nothing too outlandish. Her eyes were normal. They were a deep brown and matched her hair perfectly. Her skin was pale and smooth and she looked her age even if her life had been anything but easy. At 19 she was still alive and it could be worse. She had seen how some of the other women lived in the streets, begging for bread or scraps. She had a roof over her head and food to eat; even if it came at the price of her innocence.

She had pride. She wasn't sure where it had come from. She had never known her mother who had died giving birth to her. Her father overcome with grief had left her with his friend Baena. The old woman would not tell her many details over the years but she had taken her in when she needed looked after. It was this debt she felt beholden to. It was why she stayed. There were a few other women who lived in Baena's home, but not as long as Marella had been there.

She straightened up to her full height. She was not a tall woman but she felt she was well proportioned. Her breasts were full enough without excess and her waist was small. Still, she knew there was something.. different.. about her. She felt it…

She heard a clatter in the kitchen and knew Baena was up and working. She emptied the water basin and blew out the candles. Heading quietly past the room the men were sleeping in she slipped down the back stairway to the kitchen.

"Good morning," Baena said as she cracked the eggs into the pan. "I trust it went well last night?" Marella gave the old woman a smile and nodded. "Here," she said as she handed Marella a plate in each hand full of scrambled eggs and biscuits. "We have customers in the dining room. Serve them while it is still hot so they can hurry up and leave."

Marella took the plates and turned towards the dining room. It was not unusual to have men stop by for breakfast on their way into or out of town. However, Baena usually did not rush anyone on their way. In fact, she sometimes tried to make a few extra coins from them if she could.

She noticed they were different right away. They were sitting at the table by the fire and were speaking a language she had never heard before. They both looked up when she entered the room and dropped their conversation. She set the plates down in front of the men, taking a moment to look at them more closely. They had set their weapons on the floor beside the table and they were both dressed in traveling clothes. She had not seen them in town before so she guessed they were passing thru. She realized she was staring and blushed," My apologies," she whispered as she turned to walk away.

"It's ok," the one man said. "We are used to be looked at when we travel to human villages."

Marella looked at him. He had light hair that was long and done up with several braids. Even his mustache was braided on each side. "What are you?" she asked then quickly regretted her words. The very same words that she hated had come out of her own mouth.

"I'm Fili and this is my brother Kili," he said with a smile. "We are dwarves. Have you not seen dwarves in this town before?"

"Yes, there are a few that live in town," she said but they really do not look like you at all. You are not as stout nor as hairy as the ones I've seen." A look of horror crossed her face once she realized what she had said. Although it had been honest she did not wish to insult them. "Forgive me," she cried. I did not mean to.."

Fili's laugh interrupted her plea. "See Kili, I told you! You are not hairy enough to be my brother. I think you were adopted."

Kili shot his brother an un amused look. "Some of us do not really want to be hairy, nor fat."

The dwarves began eating their breakfast, still chuckling at Marella's reaction to them. "Enjoy your meal," she said as she turned to leave the room.

Fili looked at Kili who was starring after the girl. "What brother? Do you fancy her?"

"Did you not notice?" Kili asked. "Surely you noticed?"

Fili swallowed his mouthful and nodded. "I noticed probably before you did but the lass seems unaware."