Thank you sooooo much for the reviews, and hugs to all the readers ! :)
Here's a new chapter that introduces the second part of the story that takes place in the Blue Mountains. After seeing BOFA (twice), I am very frustrated to not know what happens to the rest of the Company, so I tried to imagine this ...
Chapter 4: Inside the Blue Mountains
[Blue Mountains. Eriador]
Dis's bedroom in the Blue Mountains had not seen light for weeks now.
The only light was that of a small candle on her bedside table. There was no light enough to eat, no light enough to dress and it was the way she wanted it.
She stayed in her bed for hours or sat in an armchair near the chimney.
Her skin was white, her body thin and she did not speak unless she had to. She didn't want to see anyone.
Since the arrival of the news of her sons' deaths at the Battle of the Five Armies, nothing mattered anymore. Her brother had died as well and she was not even angry at him for not protecting his nephews.
She just grieved for the loss of the last three members of her family, her flesh and bone, her kin, every single one of them killed in the last hundred years: her grandfather, her mother, her father, her youngest brother, her husband, her sons, her eldest brother.
For the last days, her limbs were shaking more frequently with the lack of strength. Dis had become so frail.
She was just waiting to fade, waiting for the relief to join the Higher Halls at last.
Four months after the end of the battle, the sons of Fundin, along with the Ur brothers, finally arrived in the Blue Mountains, tired of their travels, and anxious to see their families and the Princess Dis.
Dwalin and Balin were sent by Dain, the new King of Erebor, to bring Dis to live back in the Lonely Mountain, as was expected by everyone.
Dwalin had always been the closest to Dis, had always admired her from afar, and protected her as her brothers did.
When the tall tattooed warrior arrived at the Royal Chambers, Dis' maid face was dark.
"She has not come out of her bedroom for days now, master Dwalin" she stated. "She barely eats, won't speak to anyone. She says everyone here is a stranger to her and that no one understands her grief."
Dwalin frowned and put down his heavy cloak on the hangers, sighing.
Of course, Dis was broken with despair. He had suspected as much, hence his hurry to go back to the Blue Mountains just after Kili and Fili's funeral.
All of Dis' family and close friends had gone on the Quest. She had been alone when receiving the terrible news. He felt really bad about it.
And he had yet another strange fact to report to her.
But this time, he vowed that he would stay by her side. Wherever she went, Dwalin would stay at Dis' side.
During the Quest, he had realized how hard it was to not see her every day.
Dwalin, son of Fundin, was not a dwarf of many words. But this time, he would act.
He entered the dark bedroom carrying another much needed candle.
He could barely see the furniture, the only light coming from the candle on the bedside table.
"Who's there?" cried Dis in a feeble voice, struggling to discern the wide shape in the darkness "I said I didn't want to be disturbed!"
"Dis? It's me, Dwalin" he told her in his most gentle rumbling voice.
And then Dis lost it.
It was too much. Months and months of grief with no friendly face, and suddenly he was there.
She threw herself out of bed and, still clad in her nightclothes, ran to fiercely embrace his tall body.
Dwalin was surprised by her swift movement but immediately put his arms on her small back and thin waist, embracing her back.
The feeling of holding her in his arms was amazing, and Dwalin would have been in heaven if the situation was not so sad.
Her hair and side-beard smelled of smoke and ashes from standing many hours near the fireplace.
Dis was uncontrollably sobbing in Dwalin's chest now, trembling all over.
He carried her back to the bed and sat there, still holding her in his large arms. He stroked her back trying to soothe her a little.
"Dwalin, I'm so glad you're here" she whispered through sobs. "I've missed you so."
At her words, a crazy feeling of happiness filled him and for the first in forever, he dared hope to live more than a lonely warrior's life.
They sat talking quietly for hours, and Dis finally regained her composure.
He felt it was the right time to tell her.
"Dis. I have to tell you… We did not find Thorin's body." he stated darkly.
She stared at him, her blue eyes wide, and frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"We searched for days and days and never found his body. Dain declared him dead and it's almost sure that he is. There were so many corpses on the battlefield…" he added, his eyes haunted.
"So he's not buried with my …" Dis had trouble speaking. She took a deep breath and looked at Dwalin's soft eyes "with my sons?" she finished.
"No he isn't. Dain put his name on the royal grave though" said Dwalin, frowning.
Dain had been eager to proclaim himself king and to declare Thorin dead. Not many knew that the body of the Exiled king had never been found.
"Well, it does not matter anymore." said Dis "He surely is dead, otherwise he would have already come back to us."
Dis sighed and put a small hand on Dwalin's joined ones.
"Is Balin with you?" she asked.
"Yes, he's at our house. The Ur Brothers made the journey back with us as well."
"I would be happy to see them again" she said, with the first small smile since months. "But you must be terribly tired after your journey and I keep asking questions!" she exclaimed.
"I'm alright. I came straight after our arrival" he confessed, nervous.
"And I'm glad you did" she told him.
"Dis…" he started, uncomfortable "Dain wants me to tell you that he's expecting you to come and live in Erebor."
Dis frowned and though about it for a few seconds. It seemed really stupid and pointless to her now to want to go back to the Lonely Mountain.
"Well, you can tell him thanks, but no" she said firmly.
Dwalin was surprised at the strength of her swift refusal, and raised an eyebrow.
"Why would I want to live in this cursed Mountain that has taken all that was dear to me?" she explained, slightly trembling with emotion "Am I to be the grieving princess that visits graves every day?! My sons and brother were very much alive when last I saw them, and that how I want to remember them, thank you very much" she added, her voice rising.
Dwalin nodded. He understood her position. Of course, why would she go back to a place she had barely known to live amongst distant cousins?
Dis sat closer to Dwalin and put her head on his shoulder, weary by the emotions of the day.
"There is nothing for me in Erebor, Dwalin, only death" she stated.
He put an arm around her waist and pressed her against him.
Dis had never been so physically closed to him. Before the Quest, she had hugged or kissed him on the cheek a few times, but never had she behaved in such a familiar way.
And it made Dwalin's heart jump with delight and desire.
She soon fell asleep and he put her small body back under the covers, before leaving to get some rest himself.
The review is like the sun and quiet on a afternoon of fanfiction writing ... ;)