Hey everyone! Welcome to my new OC story.
I have been day dreaming constantly about making a story about a character named Isa that I created a long time ago.
(I'm talking when Desolation of Smaug was in theaters)
So finally I decided, What the Hey, let's give it a try. I found this story really easy to write so far. Much easier than my other fic "Role Playing" was anyway. So I'll try to update as often as possible. We will see how that goes.
Any way I really hope you like this story.
Feel free to favorite, follow, review, and PM me about this story. I love to hear what you guys are thinking!
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story except the OC Isa. These are Tolkien's characters and will always be credited as such.
Pronunciations:Isa: (Ice)-(uh)Arik:(Are)-(Ick)Marik: (Mar)-(Ick)
The rest are pronounced as they look
Enjoy!
Isa Chapter 1
Erebor 2746
As shadows danced across the wall, a lone dwarrowdam breathed through the pain flaring in her abdomen. Clenching the sides of the bed, she rocked her hips back and forth as she waited for yet another contraction to pass. Groaning in frustration at the ever increasing pressure in her lower back, having been confined to the bed hours before, the young female watched as the flames flickered in the fireplace on the wall to her left.
"You sure are taking your sweet time little one," the dam said, rubbing her stomach lovingly.
Nine months had passed, and a long nine months it was, waiting for her precious bundle to arrive. Finally, her labor had come at last, and at an all too convenient hour. She had just begun the lessons for her first year students. The dam was a teacher of sorts for dwarflings of lower class citizens in Erebor. Unable to afford the prestigious scholars and tutors the nobles of the Lonely Mountain could, many miners and servants send their children to her for basic lessons in reading and arithmetic. It didn't pay much, but it was a very respectable job; especially for a female dwarf.
Most dams choose to remain home with the children (if they have any) and simply allow their husbands provide for them. Others find jobs as seamstresses and or maids. Some even work in the kitchens or as nannies for noble class families, but rarely ever do dwarrowdams have careers in education. This made her feel special, important even; molding the minds of the next generation…the lower class generation anyway.
"Oh, how I long to hold you in my arms my little jewel. Your Adad and I cannot wait to tell you stories and simply dote upon you," the dam said with a soft smile.
She was a very beautiful dwarf, standing at an average four feet five inches with waist length chocolate curls. She had creamy, tan skin and shocking eyes the color or dark jade stones; their green complementing her complexion perfectly. Her looks were the envy of many other ladies, including those of noble birth. For even clad in a plain dress and sporting a simple braid that crowned her head, she shined brighter than any jewel in the mountain.
"What's this? Spoiling my son already?" a dwarf said as he entered the chambers and took a seat on the empty bed beside hers.
The dam countered playfully, "It could be a girl you know. I think I would prefer a little lass myself. Another girl to even out the overwhelming male presence in our apartments. Your brother and you have me completely outnumbered." She teased as she pushed a stray lock of hair back that had fallen in her face during one of her many previous contractions.
"Now Ora, you would love a son just as much," The male replied, offering his hand.
Accepting the hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze Ora said, "Just like you would a daughter Arik."
Arik's hand was calloused and rough after many years wielding a sword, as well as a pick axe. He was a soldier under the reign of King Thror for over sixty years before an injury to his knee left him unfit for combat. A respectable pension was paid to him in full, as per request, for his service, but his injury was rough and required a few years to heal properly. Even then he still had a noticeable limp.
So when the money began to run out, Ora picked up her job as a teacher and they scraped by until Arik could begin his new job working in the mines. Now with both dwarves at work, enough money had been saved up to give the little one a good start at life.
'How did I get so lucky to find a dwarf as kind as him?' is all Ora could think as her loved one rubbed the back of her hand with his knuckles.
Arik was a tall dwarf being five feet in height. He was stocky from his long life of hard labor. Unlike his wife, he had pale skin and dark auburn hair that he let hang loose around his shoulders. His beard matched in color and fell past his chest. Small braids had been woven into the beard and he wore his family beads there instead of the normal position in a dwarrow's hair. He too had green eyes, except his were a lighter grass green that held a mischievous sparkle whenever he smiled.
And his smile…a smile that can only be rivaled by that of his wife. Arik was known for his humor and dwarrow claim that whenever he would laugh, it sounded as if Mahal was singing the loveliest of songs to his wife Yavanna, filling the room with its beautiful sound and lifting the hearts of all who heard it.
Though they were never rich or powerful, Arik and Ora were as happy as they come. Even with Arik's injury, the couple always looked on the bright side. They never complained as long as they had enough to live and could always help their friends when in need. Even though Arik's brother, Marik, was all the family they had left, they knew they were blessed by Mahal, the creator himself, to have found each other.
Their Ones.
A dwarf can fall in love like a human. They can love more than once and fall out of love just as easily; unless they meet their ones. The other half of their soul. The mate made specifically for them.
When dwarves were created, Mahal designed a specific few to have what are called Ones. These are two dwarrow of the same soul. It is a rare occasion that Ones find each other, but when they do, a magic that would put a wizard's powers to shame takes place.
For the lovers, it is as if time has stopped. Or in some cases, as if they were hit by an out of control wagon. It can be slow and gentle, or slam into you with more force than lightening striking a mountain top during a raging storm. But once you find them, and recognize that they are your One, the true meaning of "Till Death Do Us Part" is found, for they will never leave.
This is how Arik and Ora knew they were truly blessed by their maker. They were the only dwarves in all of Erebor to have found their ones. Sure there were hundreds of happy couples. But none would ever share the connection felt by these two.
"Ouch woman, are you trying to break my hand!" Arik yelped as Ora fought through another contraction. Poor Arik had the misfortune of having been holding his wife's hand during this round of pain. As the pain passed, Ora gave him a look that explained to him exactly what she thought of his whining.
"Would you rather be in my position?" she questioned as a sheepish grin plastered itself on her husband's face, "No? I didn't think so." She finished as she squirmed, attempting to alleviate the ache that was now radiating through her entire lower body.
"Oh, I knew labor wouldn't be pleasant, but I definitely wasn't expecting this." Coming to his wife's side, Arik motioned for her to slide forward so he could sit behind her. When she moved, he took a seat and began massaging her back.
"How much longer to you think this will last?" he asked as he continued his ministrations. Enjoying the little amount of relief her husband's hands were giving her, Ora answered," I'm not sure. According to the healers, I was only just past half way the last time they were here and won't be ready to push for a few hours yet. At this rate, I'm beginning to think that we will never meet our baby."
"Don't think that my love," Arik said hugging her from behind, "It won't be too long before I am holding our child thinking back on this moment and realizing that it wasn't too far away at all."
With a withering look, Ora asked," You holding the child? And what exactly will I be doing?" With a grin Arik said," Why you will be fast asleep after about, what do you think, sixteen hours in labor?" he teased as his wife's annoyed look turned into a horrified one.
"I sure hope not! It's been eight already, and I'm not sure I can last another eight." Ora stated as the dread that this pain could last quite a while longer settled over her.
"Of course you could dearie." A voice said from the door way. It was Master Drumin, one of Erebor's many healers and the one who was overseeing Ora's delivery. "But let's check and see how much closer we are shall we?" The older dwarrow winked as he assured the expectant mother that she would be fine.
Turning to Arik he said, "Do you mind stepping out laddie?"
"Why? Ora is my wife and we have nothing to hide from one another. Including… um… well… that." Arik said, face turning red with embarrassment.
Drumin responded, "Not for that, I've been informed that another dwarrowdam will be joining Ora here in the birthing suite. What fortune, two births in one day. Usually this mountain only has a new dwarfling every few months!"
Ora brightened at the news, "Someone else will be here with me? Oh, how nice it will be to not go through this alone! Do you know who it is? I know of a few expecting mothers and it may be one of them."
"I'm afraid not my dear. I was just informed that she will be down in a few. After I check your progress, I need to ready another bed for her." Drumin said. Turning to Arik he hinted, "and that laddie is your cue to scram. Why don't you head to the dining halls? Get some dinner before they stop serving for the night."
Arik looked to his One, unsure as to if he should leave her, having only just gotten back from his shift in the mines, but an approving look from his wife let him know he wasn't needed at the moment.
Sighing he said, "Okay, but if anything happens, and I mean anything, let me know and I'll be back faster than you can blink."
Smiling at the dwarfs love for his wife, Drumin said, "We will Arik."
Ora piped up from behind the sheet Drumin had covered her with, "Goodbye my love, I'll see you soon."
Exiting the chambers, Arik said, "I love you dearest. I'll see you soon!"
Shaking his head at the lovebirds, Drumin began his work, "Okay let's see how you are doing." After a few hmms and tuts, Drumin reappeared from underneath the sheet, "Well it seems you don't have much longer now. How close are the contractions? I don't believe you've had one since I've been here."
"They are quite close now. I actually had one when Arik was about to leave. But it wasn't bad so I breathed through that one fine. I just didn't want him to see me and decide he needed to stay." Ora stated, getting excited that her baby was almost here.
Drumin got up and went to the wash basin, "good. Now let me clean up and ready another bed for the other dam."
Seeing her opportunity to finally have some female company Ora wasted no time when she asked, "Would you be able to place her in the bed next to mine? I would love to have someone close by to help encourage me and keep me strong." She grinned, slightly embarrassed to admit to the healer that she was more nervous about the delivery than she had been letting on.
The old dwarrow said, "Well I see no harm in it. Besides if I know anything about dams, it's that you two will gab until time to push so I may as well put you close so you're not yelling across the room."
So with a twinkle in his eye, he set to fixing up the bed that Arik had recently vacated for the soon to be arriving dwarrowdam. "Take Your time my lady we are almost there!" a worried voice said from the hallway outside the birthing suite.
"That must be her." Drumin said, rushing over to the door to escort the dam to her bed. Stretching up so she could catch a glimpse of the dwarrowdam as soon as she entered the birthing suite, Ora gasped when she recognized the raven haired female enter the room.
"Princess Ursa, you must lay down!" Drumin exclaimed as he took her hand a from her lady in waiting and led her to the bed. That must have been who was urging her on that Ora hear outside.
"Master Drumin, you must quit this fussing. I'm pregnant, not an invalid. Even in labor I can make it to the bed just fine." The princess replied, though her strained tone and gritted teeth did nothing to reinforce her words. After settling into the bed, Drumin hurried out of the room to collect the supplies he needed for the newest mother-to-be in the chambers.
Princess Ursa turned her attention to her handmaiden, "You may go now Gwendolyn." She stated, smiling at the young maiden who was standing by the door way.
"Are you sure my lady? I do not mind staying by your side." The girl stated, standing taller to show her princess that she was there to support her.
Ursa smiled, "I am sure, you are dismissed."
With a bow, Gwendolyn exited the room. Leaving the princess and a stunned Ora alone in the suite.
"And who might you be?"
Ora stared at her princess in shock, she babbled unintelligently for a few moments before she was able to form actual words. "I am Ora, your highness, daughter of Harvik."
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Ora, I am Ursa, daughter of Grovar."
Ora couldn't believe this. She was sharing her delivery room with none other than the crowned princess herself! "Oh. I know your highness, and it is an honor to share the birthing suite with you!" Ora stammered, turning red at her unladylike babbling.
The princess couldn't help but chuckle at the dam's flustered state. "Please just call me Ursa. We are about to give birth together, so I will have none of this your highness nonsense." whispering playfully she added, "I never really cared much for titles anyway."
"Oh of course your hi… I mean." Taking a deep breath Ora continued. "Of course, Ursa. My apologies if I made you uncomfortable."
Laughing once again Ursa said, "Well it seems I should say the same. With the color red you are turning, I would imagine my presence has definitely thrown you for a loop tonight."
Ora giggled with the dwarrowdam, surprised at how easy and…well…normal she was. The merriment ended all too soon for both ladies as contractions struck them both at the same time. Panting after the pain passed, Ora smiled over to Ursa, "Well that was good timing. How funny our contractions hit together."
Ursa flashed her a grin and laughed. "I was just thinking the same thing."
The dams continued to chat in between the contractions. Talking like old friends, one would believe they had known each other for years. They were set into another fit of giggles when Drumin re-entered.
"What did I say. Gab until time to push." Turning to Ursa, "and how are we feeling princess? Let's have a look at you." Drumin made his way to Ursa's bed and proceeded to give her an examination. "Well it seems you are right along with Miss Ora here, give it another hour or so for the last of those contractions to really set in and you both will be moving right along into the delivery process."
"Really? I did not think I was that far along with it being my first child." Ursa said, rubbing her stomach as another contraction faded away.
"Yes, you are the lucky type it would seem. I've seen dams stuck in here for multiple days before they are even ready to push. To be in labor for less than fifteen hours on the first go around isn't common." Walking over to the basin once more to clean up he murmured, "Lucky indeed."
Continuing the conversation from earlier, Ursa asked, "So why haven't I ever had the pleasure of meeting you before Ora? I have been all over the mountain and I have not once, that I can recall, seen you before."
"I am far to low-class for you to have ever seen the likes of me. I am a basic reading and arithmetic teacher to children of poor families and my husband is a miner." Ora explained, with no lack of pride in her voice despite her words. It never mattered to her that Arik and herself didn't have much, and she knew that both her husband and her jobs were important.
Giving her a disapproving look, Ursa said, "I don't like the term low-class. I believe every dwarf that works and lives in this mountain is worth his or her iron. It doesn't matter if they are a miner, a teacher, or even a princess."
"Like it or not, our pay grade puts us there. But we don't mind. We know who we are and that what we do is worth something. Besides I am honestly much happier now that instead of washing orc blood from my Arik's uniform, I am washing dust from the mines. It gives me a piece if mind I didn't know I was missing when he was a warrior." Ora said.
She bit her lip as another contraction ripped through her body, this one bigger than the rest.
The baby must be close now!
The princess perked up at Ora's statement, "A warrior. Your husband was a soldier? Why did he quit?"
"He didn't. It was a forced retirement due to injury. It was hard, but we got through it. Oh…..just like I'll get through this pain!" Ora tried to breathe through this one, but it just kept coming in stronger waves every time she thought it would end.
"Oh…Ursa ah…call Drumin…I think it's time." There was no response.
"Ursa?"
"Ohh…I believe you are correct. Ahh." Came Ursa's pained response as contractions continually hit her as well, stealing the majority of her voice so what she did say came as a horse whisper.
Drumin chose this moment to make his reappearance," Alright I've got Yorri with me to take care of you Your Highness and a few more assistants on the way…Oh Mahal! Are you both about to deliver? Yorri, help the Princess immediately!" Drumin ordered.
He ran over to Ora's bedside and checked her progress. "It is indeed time lass, move your legs my way a bit. There you go. And get ready to start pushing."
Panicking over the fact that her child was coming now, Ora asked, "Can someone inform Arik? He hasn't returned yet."
Impatiently the healer told her, "There is no time, he will be back soon, but right now we need to deliver this baby."
Screams from Ursa's bed informed Ora that the princess had begun pushing. Looking over he saw that she had her arms tensed out to the sides.
Reaching over, she grabbed her new friend's hand and gave it a squeeze. Ursa looked over and gave her a grateful nod. The other dam's encouragement meant a lot to the princess.
Drumin's voice called her back to her own delivery, "Okay Ora, Push!".
Gripping the side of the bed with her right hand and Ursa's hand with her left, Ora pushed as hard as she could. "Drumin! Nothing happened."
"Well of course not lass, it takes more than one try. Push again!"
So again she pushed.
And again.
And again.
The painful process tiring for both dams who seemed to be getting nowhere. By this point the assistants had finally made it to the birthing suite and the room was now like a hive. Dwarrow running back and forth; fetching towels and water and whatever the healers demanded like bees working diligently for their queen. Or in this case, their Princess.
Ora pushed again and again and the baby still hadn't made its way into the world. She was running out of energy fast. Worried that she wouldn't be able to deliver her baby, she felt a squeeze and a slight tugging on her hand.
Looking over Ora saw the Princess give her a determined look. "We can do this Ora! You said it yourself. You know who you are and what you are worth. Well I know that we are both going to be wonderful mothers and right now, we are going to bring two beautiful babies into this world."
Gripping Ursa's hand tighter, the teacher and the Princess both gave one more strong push, and in the same moment, time stopped for the two dams. It felt as though they were being ripped apart and finally completed at the same time.
Every doubt they ever had, every moment where they thought they were never enough or that they felt something was missing disappeared. For in that moment, not one, but two cries were heard, signaling the birth of the newest heir to the throne.
And the birth of Arik and Ora's pride and joy.
Yorri's voice could be heard over the flurry of activity, "Congratulations My Princess. You have a healthy son."
Reaching out, the healer placed the newborn into his mother's awaiting arms.
Drumin piped up from the foot of Ora's bed," Good work dearie. You have a beautiful baby girl."
He moved forward and deposited her in Ora's arms. She was amazed at how perfect everything in her life seemed at that moment.
While she never complained, she knew she had suffered much with the loss of her family. Her mother, father, and two older brothers all died in an Orc raid while traveling. She was fortunate enough to have stayed home with her grandmother who died soon after she married Arik. Arik lost his family too, except his brother. Then her husband was injured, they were very tight on money for a long time and went to bed hungry many nights.
But now, holding her baby girl in her arms, none of that mattered. It was all the past. Distant memories that could haunt her no more.
She had a family again. One of her own that she would love and protect fiercely like only a mama dam could.
Noise from the hallway outside the chambers alerted them to approaching dwarrow.
Arik burst through the doors and ran straight to Ora's side. Following close behind was Marik. They crowded her bedside just as Prince Thrain strode in with King Thror and Queen Cadyn hot on his heels.
They rushed to Ursa and congratulated her on her delivery and her handsome son. "Ursa, he is absolutely perfect! Our son is here, your newest heir, father." Thrain said to Thror as the proud father took his son and displayed him for the family.
The baby snuggled close to his father. He was pale with a black mane of hair that matched his mother's perfectly. The family couldn't wait for him to open his eyes. How they hoped he had inherited the Durin blue!
Ursa was exhausted, but grinning as she watched tears slide down both her husband and her father-in-law's cheeks. Cadyn came over to her daughter-in-law and placed a kiss on her head.
"You did wonderfully my sweet, but now comes the really hard part."
"What is that?" Ursa asked, looking worried that more pain was to come.
Reading the expression on the Princess's face, the Queen chuckled, "don't worry my dear, it's nothing too bad. What are you going to name him?"
Relieved at her Queen's words, Ursa smiled up at them all. A wink and a nod from Thrain told her to inform his parents of the new heir's name.
"Our son shall be named Thorin, son of Thrain, Son of Thror."
"A perfect name Your Highness." Came a voice from the bed over.
Turning to the source, the royal family saw a young dwarrowdam with a newborn in her arms as well, this one with pale skin and dark auburn hair.
With her was two other dwarrow. "Now Ora, what did I say about titles?" The Princess laughed, as she watched her new friend turn red under the stares of the King, Queen, and Prince.
"Apologies Ursa, it seemed inappropriate in the current company."
The King, understanding through his daughter-in-law's behavior that this dam meant quite a bit to her decided to put her thought at ease.
"Lass, anyone who can put up with this one," he said pointing to Ursa, "especially through something as rough as childbirth, does not need to stand on ceremony to impress us. Please call me Thror, this is Cadyn, and this is Thrain."
Ora was shocked to say the least. A few hours ago she never imagined that she would meet the royal family. Let alone be on a first name basis with them.
Touched, she replied, "Thank you. I am Ora, daughter of Harvik. This is my husband Arik, son of Druk. And his brother Marik son of Druk."
Arik chimed in, "It is an honor to meet you sir. All of you" He added looking at the family next to his. Marik gave a respectful nod in greeting.
Ursa spoke up from her bed, having taken back Thorin from her husband. "So Ora, what are you going to name your daughter?"
Ora looked from Arik to their child.
After a brief pause she said," Her name will be…Isa."