"Have you lost your bloody mind?" Dáin roared at Thorin as he paced in Thorin's smaller receiving room. "Did the dragon sickness muddle it that much that you would take some woodland sprite as your queen?!"
Despite the pain the movement did to his chest, Thorin pushed to his feet with a snarl. Dwalin had already moved over to Dáin, a blade in hand. Dís stiffened as she stood with Enelya, noting that her sons also went on the defensive.
"Take care how you speak about Enelya," Thorin said with a dark tone.
"Thorin, think reasonably," Dáin said. "You canna take an elf as your queen."
"First of all," Thorin said. "She is half-elf." He narrowed his eyes. "Her mother was a dwarf." Dáin looked shocked. "And second, why would I not have my wife as my queen?"
"Wife?" Dáin mumbled.
"Mm hmm," Thorin said. "And my One." Thorin settled back in his throne. "Enelya will be my queen and our son, Thráin, will be named Crowned Prince. Fíli and Kíli will remain in the line of succession as well."
"Wife and a son?" Dáin said. "You've been busy, cousin." He placed his large hands on his hips. "You realize many may not be happy about this proclamation."
"Including yourself?" Fíli asked, his voice cold. Dáin was taken aback once more, his gaze drifting to the young dwarrow.
Dáin rubbed at his chin thoughtfully. "I have no love for elves," he said. "Not after what they did to my kin."
"Thranduil of the Mirkwood did us wrong," Thorin said. "And yes there has been a tenseness between dwarves and elves for ages. However, not all elves are the same ilk as Thranduil is."
"Including your wife?" Dáin asked. He lifted his hands when Fíli and Kíli stiffened. "It is a question that needs askin'."
"You have heard of Lady Galadriel of Lothlórien?" Thorin said.
"The Lady of Light?" Dáin asked. "Aye, I have heard of her. Heard tell she's one of the elven three that has a Ring of Power much like the seven given to the dwarf lords."
"Indeed," Elrond said from his corner. "As am I." He flexed his hand to let the light catch Vilya. Dáin's eyes widened once more.
"Enelya is kin to Lady Galadriel and to Lord Elrond," Thorin said. "Lord Elrond is to Enelya as Thror was to Fíli and Kíli."
"And the Lady of Light?" Dáin asked, his voice awed.
"Lady Galadriel is mother to my wife," Elrond explained.
Thorin rose and walked over to his cousin. "Even if Enelya was not my One as I have known her, and mother of my child, it would prove beneficial for her to be my queen," he said. "If one thinks of politics, the allegiance this union brings is formidable. But as she is my One, I look to you as my kin, not as the Lord of the Iron Hills, to support me. As Fíli said when we discussed this earlier, if there are those that do not wish to see Enelya as my queen, they can go to Ered Luin, the Iron Hills, or live outside of Erebor."
"What do your neighbors say of this union?" Dáin asked. "I ask as a political query, not as your kin at the moment."
"Thranduil does not matter," Thorin said. "As Elrond has pointed out, he will not risk the wrath of Lady Galadriel or Lord Elrond himself. Bard of Dale is behind the union."
Dáin studied Thorin a moment. "You will need good reason for stronger alliances with Dale," he said. "As you have brought together elves and dwarves with your union." His eyes flickered to where Kíli stood. "As well as through another if the looks I've seen are any indication." Kíli stiffened.
"My original intent had been to have both Kíli and Lady Tauriel serve as ambassadors on my behalf to Dale, as Fíli had much to learn as Crowned Prince," Thorin said. "However, I am rethinking this decision and I am considering having Fíli join them as my head diplomat in Dale." He tilted his chin. "But that is a discussion for another time after my coronation with Bard. What of you, cousin?"
Dáin sighed. "I have my misgivings," he said. He lifted his hand to stave off Thorin's wrath. "Not because I think the lass is a bad fit. Truth be told, a fresh outlook is needed, plus it is obvious by how you speak of her that she is your One, and you deserve happiness, cousin. My worries stem from those that will not be as understanding and may seek to do something to her and the wee one."
"Ones," Dís said. "Enelya and Thorin have twins. A boy and a girl."
Dáin's jaw dropped. He coughed a bit before eyeing Thorin with mirth lighting his face. "'Tis a day of surprises I see," he said. "But the worry remains."
"If I have my kin, and Enelya's kin, behind me," Thorin said. "Then we can face any situation. And it will take a great deal of negotiations on both of our parts to ensure the line of Durin remains strong."
"Aye," Dáin said. "Then we best get to planning your and your queen's coronations, should we not?"
ලොවපුරා සිනමාහල්
"I do not trust him," Balin admitted to Thorin as they went over coronation plans that now included Enelya. Thorin lifted his head to look at Balin. "Dáin seems a bit too… agreeable after calling Enelya a woodland sprite."
"I am reserving judgement," Thorin said. "I will be wary of not only his suggestions but his motives, but Dáin is no fool either. Faced with the power of the elves alone that are behind us now, he would take pause. And should most dwarves actually stand behind their king, he will truly only have those from the Iron Hills behind him."
"We do not know what allies he has gained amongst the other clans," Balin pointed out.
"I do not take this lightly, Balin," Thorin said, signing a parchment and pressing his seal into the wax. "Do not take my calm as apathy over this situation. Time will determine Dáin's true loyalty."
"And until then?" Balin questioned, taking another parchment from Thorin.
"Until then, we keep a very close eye on the political rumblings through the dwarves, as well as the safety of Enelya and the children," Thorin said. He looked at Balin. "Including Dwalin's."
ලොවපුරා සිනමාහල්
The day of the coronation had arrived. Many of the dwarves that had arrived at Erebor to resettle themselves from Ered Luin and other clans wondered about the woman with their King and the young dwarflings often seen with them. Curiosity grew even more as a new contingent of elves arrived that even surprised King Thranduil when he saw the arrivals.
The dwarven clans stood on either side of the long aisle that led to the thrones. Murmurs had gone up around the throne room when they saw two side by side. The last time any of the dwarves remembered there being two thrones at a coronation was when Thorin I had been crowned King Under the Mountain, with his wife beside him as his queen. Most of the dwarf kings after Thorin I had taken the throne before they were married. Many had been betrothed. As far as any of the clans knew, Thorin Oakenshield had not been betrothed to anyone.
Horns sounded and the crowd turned to the open doorway where the procession was starting. At the head of the line was Gandalf the Grey with Bilbo Baggins beside him, carrying the crown of Durin on a pillow. Due to Bilbo's assistance in the quest to reclaim Erebor, he had been asked as a friend of Thorin and the Company to participate in the ceremony as the crown bearer. Behind Bilbo and Gandalf walked Thranduil with his son, Legolas, beside him. Then came Bard of Dale, his own son beside him. His daughters walked behind Bard and everyone bowed respectably to all of them, but particularly to Sigrid. Her left arm was still held close to her side from the injury she had sustained from an orc's mace when she had defended the sons of Durin when she and Tauriel had found them on the battlefield.
Behind Sigrid and Tilda walked Tauriel, dressed in an Elvish gown of the Mirkwood, but carrying insignia of Erebor. Thorin had asked her to remain in the mountain as an ambassador between Erebor and Mirkwood once Thranduil had lifted her banishment after the battle. Behind Tauriel walked some of the newest members of the elves that had arrived, shocking Thranduil. Identical elven maids, Nemirien and Nemirhel, both with long dark hair walked just in front of two males, one with golden hair, the other with dark hair, Elion and Gilion. Behind these two elf lords were another pair of identical elves, this time male. Elladan and Elrohir of Rivendell. The twin elf maids, Elion, and Gilion were the children of Elrohir. Just behind the older twins was Lord Elrond, their father and lord of Rivendell.
The dwarf line started with the heads of each of the Dwarven clans, save Dáin. Following them was the Company that had accompanied Thorin on his quest, starting with the Ri brothers, Dori, Ori, and Nori. They were followed by Bombur with Bifur and Bofur just behind him. As members of the house of Durin, Glóin and Óin were next, with Dwalin walking behind them. Fundin was in his arms, his eyes wide as he looked around at all the new faces. Just behind Dwalin, carrying a book for the coronation, was Balin.
The royal line started with Dáin, representing the Iron Hills. Dís was behind him and walking just in front of her sons. In her arms was Díserin, the little girl looking around with eyes as big as Fundin's were. Her tiny fingers were curled into the material of Dís' dress. Following Dís were her own sons. Fíli held little Thráin in his arms as he walked beside Kíli.
Once the procession reached the throne, the audience returned their attentions to the archway as the tone of the trumpeteers changed. Stepping through the arch was Thorin, dressed in the robes that had been made for him for the coronation. A murmur went up around the throne room when they caught sight of Thorin's companion.
Dressed in the gown that Dís had worn for her wedding to Finn, stood Enelya. Dís had quickly adjusted the gown to be more fitting for a coronation, adding jewels Thorin had given her to the bodice and sleeves. A lovely fur cloak that was a feminine version of Thorin's was draped over her shoulders. Her hair was braided back from her face, with two very prominent braids framing her face. One was a marriage braid that matched the one now in Thorin's hair, the other was a symbol of Durin royalty declaring her Thorin's queen. The jewels of Thorin's mother and grandmother adorned her throat and hands.
The couple made their way up the aisle towards the throne, keeping their eyes focused ahead. The leaders of the Dwarf clans had parted before reaching the throne to rejoin their parties on either side of the aisle. Each of them murmured with looks ranging from curious to suspicious, especially as Enelya's hair did not cover the delicate points of her ears.
Thorin and Enelya ascended the stairs to the throne, turning to face the congregation. Balin stepped forward with Gandalf, offering the book to the wizard. As one of the few in Middle Earth who could speak all of the known languages, Gandalf would oversee the coronation. His eyes sparkled as he faced the audience.
"Elves, Men, Dwarves, Durin's Folk," Gandalf said strongly. "Here in these ancient halls of Erebor, once more the line of Durin will take the throne as they rightfully should." He turned to Thorin, opening the book in hand. Speaking in the ancient language of the dwarves, the ceremony began. Murmurs of approval rose amongst those that watched as the crown was placed on Thorin's head, officially proclaiming him King Under the Mountain. Gandalf spoke again before a second crown was produced to be placed on Enelya's head. The murmurs this time were much louder, some gasps even rising amongst the crowd.
Silence fell as Thorin took Enelya's hand and the two stepped forward. Gandalf stood to the side, reciting a blessing in khuzdul before switching to Westron.
"May I present his Royal Majesty, Thorin, son of Thráin, son of Thror, the King Under the Mountain, and his queen, Enelya, daughter of Elwin, son of Elrohir," Gandalf said. He noticed some of the dwarves looked furious, while others simply looked confused. Thranduil looked shocked, while Elrond and his kin simply studied the crowds for those who they needed to watch to keep Enelya safe.
Thorin took a step forward, turning to Fíli. The blonde dwarf stepped towards his uncle and handed his baby cousin to him, remaining at Thorin's side. Dís did the same on Enelya's side, handing Díserin to Enelya. Turning to the crowd, Thorin spoke. "I present to you, my people, my son and heir, Crowned Prince Thráin, son of Thorin, son of Thráin," he said. "And my daughter, Princess Díserin, daughter of Enelya, daughter of Elwin." Enelya looked at Thorin, a soft smile tugging at her lips at the break in tradition to acknowledge her as their daughter's mother rather than following the patriarchal method of announcing a child's name.
Gandalf stepped forward once more. "To King Thorin and Queen Enelya, may Erebor thrive evermore."
Notes:
- Names were given to Elrohir's other children since they are in attendance. I decided that his daughters are the identical twins, Nemirien and Nemirhel both mean water jewel. I thought it fitting to have the great-granddaughters of the wearer of Nenya, the Ring of Water, to be named water jewel. The sons are Elion and Gilion and their names both mean star. This is my nod to the fact that Arwen is called Arwen Evenstar.
- I have no idea how a dwarven coronation would go, but I suspected that a procession of important parties would go forward starting with the person leading the ceremony or having an important part of the ceremony, the visiting foreign dignitaries, the visiting clan dignitaries before the royal line. However, I can see Thorin insisting that the members of the Company needed to be a part of the coronation due to their part in the quest to reclaim Erebor as well as the Battle. This is more for the brothers Ri and the family Ur, as Glóin, Óin, Dwalin, and Balin are cousins to Thorin and of the line of Durin.
- I also took some liberties with the idea of past coronations only being the King and not their Queen because of them not being married yet. The likelihood is probably very slim, but I wanted the double throne to have a significance and not just because, as far as anyone knew, Thorin was a lifetime bachelor.
The title of this chapter in Sinhala is "Coronation".