DISCLAIMER: Let's get this out of the way. I do not own or have any hope of ever owning the characters or happenings of middle earth. They belong to Tolkien and as far as I'm concerned he can keep them. For now. I do however, own my OC, Thia! So don't steal her. Please, feel free to leave any comments and/or questions that you may have. Follow the story in which ever way you would like, but make your thoughts known but be polite while you do it. Thank you!
Chapter 7
"When is the gathering happening?"
"This evening, but Thia-"
"The children's clothes have been sent to the room, yes?"
"The tailor was given specific instructions to have them delivered, now-"
"Great! Then I have time to give them a bath before they need to get ready."
"You gave your word that you would relax."
"And whats more relaxing than a bath, hm?"
"If you would just stop for-"
"Nothing, that's what! I'm just-"
"Woman, would you stop for a moment?!" the king's voice thunders behind me and I groan as the guards lining the walls keep their eyes straight ahead and pretend not to listen. It's always guards "Be still and explain this to me!"
I halt in my escape down the hall, Thorin coming to stand before me with his hands intersected over his torso expectantly. I was hoping that when I dropped the whole notion of 'birth control' (after our depressing talk but loving recoupling) on him in the office, he would be too shocked to demand answers. Guess who was wrong? My dwarf was instantaneously all ears and the modest 'I just won't get pregnant or bleed for a while' wasn't enough to placate him.
My second hope was that departing from the room would dissuade him from speaking of the topic in public but I suppose guards aren't people anymore. I banked my last hope on simply out talking him but he beat me there too. I roll my eyes and hope, once more, that my annoyance will put him off but he's like a pit-bull and isn't letting the matter go.
"I had no idea when I'd be coming back to middle earth but I wanted to be sure that I was prepared for whatever the world would throw at me." I step forward and whisper so the sentries can't hear "Getting pregnant or bleeding all over this side of the mountain is not on my to do list so early in the game."
"… How does it work?" he asks, trying not to sound too upset and/or weirded out "This… controlling of your cycles?"
"It's implanted in my arm and lasts for about a year before I have to have it removed with a noninvasive surgery." His mouth gapes at the words 'implanted' and 'surgery' causing me to huff out a breath "It didn't even hurt."
"Do not jest, this is serious. Are there any lasting effects?" I shake my head because they are minimal if they occur at all "Once it is removed- do not look at me in that way, it shall be removed immediately."
"Thorin, you can't just decide-"
"Once it is removed," he presses on "you will be able to have children again?"
"Yes but I WON'T have it removed until the year is up."
"Thia-"
"It's almost void anyway. In about" I count the months on my fingers. I'm not looking forward to removing the capsule Middle Earth style "2 months to be exact, it'll be ready for removal but I'll simply start taking the daily pink pill instead."
"More controlling of what should naturally be." He grumbles under his breath in exasperation, looking very much like he wants to throw his arms in the air "These 'pills' will complete the same tasks as the… implantation?"
"Half; they'll keep me from getting pregnant but only if I take them regularly." God forbid I accidentally skip a day "They take way more attention than the implant."
"I see. Then I request that you do not ingest them at all." I throw my head back with a groan, which he ignores, just as we ignore the snickering royal bouncers. The king steps into my space a rubs my arm gently. An innocent enough gesture, though it sends a jolt to my heart "Do you not desire to have my children?"
"I've been there, done that. Maybe some other time but not right now. Thanks for the offer." I play off the pleasure his hand on my skin brings, though he laughs at my defense. I mentally shake my fist at the Valar, warning them against anymore surprise baby booms as well. They don't know how close I came to tying my tubes. Gesturing down the hall, I continue my thought "You have 2 perfectly great kids you have yet to get to know before we even think of having a third-"
"-or twelfth." He offers with a playful shrug
"Like. Hell." I respond to his ludicrous number with a shiver "Why are you so hard pressed to get me pregnant anyway?"
"You fall from fewer elevations when you are expecting." He answers seriously
"… " I count in my head and though an unreliable statistic, it's not a lie "… True."
Sad but so very true. We stare at each other for a while longer before one of the guards can hold his laughter no longer. Like a good crack in a dam, the flood gates of glee open up and out cascades good-natured humor. I giggle, Thorin chuckles, and all the nameless lookouts chortle at such a truly hilarious situation.
"Why must I go as well, Aunt Thia?" Kiliel tries not to whine
The young dwelfling sits with his back to mine and my children's bathing forms. I got him this far but the dwarf is a tad bit too old for either of us to be comfortable bathing with each other. Not to mention Thorin firmly forbade it. I never aspired to be a pedophile anyway. Rinsing the 'No Tears' shampoo from Theodore's hair, I listen to the sulking tween.
"I understand why Theo and Thory must be present" said twins grin at the use of their nicknames, where as I roll my eyes and grab the girl before she can make a break for it "as well as yourself, but why must I attend this meeting?"
"I'll officially be named your guardian, not to mention" I smile to myself while lathering Thoria's hair "because I said so."
"… Adad used to say that all the time." He says, suddenly wary before straightening his shoulders "It is STILL not a very good reason."
"It's all the reason I need." Allowing the boy to believe I didn't notice his momentary lapse into depression, I press on "Now, Theodore is finished so you boys head up to the rooms and get ready, clear?"
The child is silent for a moment as he helps Theodore dry off and get ready to return, but I know he will listen. His natural elvish calmness coupled with his childish obedience have yet to fully clash with his dwarvish stubbornness. For that, I am grateful. The boys leave the bathing chambers, the oldest giving a hesitant nod without ever actually facing me. I listen to their retreating footsteps before returning to the daunting task of washing baby girl's hair. The thick ebony tresses naturally tangle and snag on their own but the tender headed tot isn't making it any easier.
"Thoria, sit still." I chastise for the third time as the toddler tries to wiggle out of my lap "The more you move, the longer this takes."
"But mama, my eye!" she shrieks, furiously rubbing the right side of her face "My eyeeeeee!"
"Don't put your hands in your face." I try to warn "You'll only-"
"Owwwwww!" she howls as the soap begins to really burn her eye "Aiiiie!"
"Calm down, I've got you." Lifting her to sit on the edge of the pool, I ring out a cloth rag and press it against her now suds covered peeper. Massaging gently, I repeat the action until all the suds are gone. 'No more tears, my foot.' Handing her the rag, I allow her to hold it, though unnecessary, to her eye "Don't rub so hard, you'll only make it worse."
"Yes mama." she murmurs with a sniff as I once more place her in the water to play with the rubber duckies "But what about the bad man?"
"What bad man?"
"That one." she points to the opposite end other pool "He keeps looking at your secrets."
"Huh?" I kneel in the water quickly. 'Secrets' being the word I used to describe a person's private parts to the children, I don't want anyone ogling mine. I turn in the direction that Thoria's chubby hand points and glare "You."
Sitting on the edge of the large pool is the strange dwarf from the food court. His black pants are rolled up over his knees allowing his legs to drift in the water unhindered. He watches us with an expression of nearly pure curiosity, only marred by his quick glances at what is hidden below the water's surface. 'Pervert.' I doubt that if he really wanted to kill us he'd indulge himself in a nice foot soak and peepshow beforehand but I'm not taking the chance. I begin reaching for my daughter but his next sentence stops me.
"You pull that little disappearin' trick of yours, majesty, and you'll be findin' yourself with one lonely daughter to console."
I immediately 'feel' for Theodore and I know he is with Kiliel but I also 'feel' many others around them. Enemies or civilians, I cannot tell but I recognize none of them. The insecurity of whether those 'others' are dangerous or not stills my departure. I do however place my arms around Thoria and send the dwarf a murderous glare.
"Now don't be that way, love. I just want to ensure your complete attention."
"Well you've got it. How long have you been there?" the guards cleared the room when my family and I entered and the boys didn't mention that anything was amiss when they left. So when did he enter? The dwarf merely shrugs, picking up the duck Theodore had been playing with and smirks, annoying me further "What do you want... you? And what is your name?"
"So many questions." He says with a pretend sigh "Which do you wish to know most? I will only answer one."
"Who are you?" I ask without even having to think
"A very good question, my queen." He says in that buttery voice as his eyes remain cold "Are you sure you don't desire to know how long I've been watchin' you bathe?"
"The amount of time you spent peeping won't change anything now." I sink lower into the water's depths at the reminder "I want to know who you are."
"I want many things." He purrs and I scoff "Would you like me to name a few for you?"
"No need. You'll attempt to do what you came for regardless of whether I ask you or not." When the dwarf tries to dissuade me again I make a very unlady-like noise that has Thoria 'oooooo'ing in my lap "Stop wasting my time and tell me who. You. Are."
"Could you not ask the king or spy master?" I don't bother to answer as we both know I can't. They would refuse to tell me as they have done so far; one for my protection and the other because he's a bastard. The dwarf finally runs out of excuses or maybe he was just waiting until he grew tired of stalling and answers "Many call me Long Arm, as nothing is beyond my-"
"Yeah, no."
"... Excuse me?"
"You don't get some wicked cool name. You're not that important." Thoria softly chastises me about the rudeness of interrupting others. Having kids is hard. I 'feel' for the boys again and wish they would hurry up and get to the rooms so I'd know they are safe "I didn't ask what other's call you, I asked who you are."
"Hm." I know I've asked the right question by his obvious desire not to answer it. Much to my dismay, he turns his attention to Thoria and wiggles his fingers in her direction "Your mama is a smart one, isn't she?"
"Don't you DARE talk to her!" I growl menacingly, pushing the child behind my back "Do not EVER talk to her!"
"Apologies, my queen. I meant no harm. As for my name…" His head bows as his hands raise in a submissive position that I don't trust for a minute. Still, since the first time I had the displeasure of meeting the dwarf, he seems hesitant. Good "It is…. Sugar."
"Sugar? Like… sweet sugar?" I almost feel like calling him on a bluff but he looks downright ashamed of the name that I actually think his parents named this guy 'Sugar.' I know I shouldn't laugh and I don't, but it takes a lot out of me "Oh. Sugar."
"Yes." He huffs out in distaste as I secretly grin at how sensitive he is over the name. Big, bad, child threatening, peeping dwarf named 'Sugar.' It's comical "I would thank you kindly to avoid using it. Few still living know my birth name."
"Do Kiliel and Sugar have the same Mama and Papa?" Thoria whispers loudly in a way only a three year old could "They have girl names together!"
"Thoria…" I groan
"Did you know Thia had to take a bath to wash away Thorin's seed that was dripping from her womb?"
The dwarf causally asks the sudden question as if he were addressing the room on whether anyone wanted tea. Probably because I forbade him from talking to Thoria directly. I nearly slap the poor girl silly to cover her ears against his vulgar assault
"There is no need for such precautions. From what I heard you are 'unable' to conceive at the moment. You may serve our king without worry. From what I SAW, you serve very well, my lady. Allow me to offer my congratulations on performing your wifely duties." If I wasn't shaking in outrage, I'd kill him. No... I wouldn't because of Thoria and the boys but I'd have less control. This prick WATCHED us, Thorin and me doing... how? Too many questions "Our king has been in great need of some… relief. Next time however, try not to mention the material of the seat."
"You-"
"I was instructed only to come and watch you interact with the children. What is important to you, is crucial to us. You are very good with them." He places a hand to his chin as if deep in thought. I know in about 2 minutes the boys will be in the room but Sugar seems to know that too as he is speeding to the end of the conversation. I take his hesitation as an opening to throw a bar of soap at his head which he sadly dodges and continues as though it didn't happen "Maybe that is why it calls out to you."
"I don't know what you're talking about, but leave." I issue the order knowing that I've no reason to hold myself back anymore. Just 30 more seconds "No one calls to me."
"Oh, but it does. You just refuse to listen." Sugar stands and collects his shoes before walking to the door. No shouts are sounded so my assumption is either the guards are gone or knocked out "That might save you in the end, but I doubt it."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I call as he disappears through the doorway "Sugar, you jerk!"
"We'll see you again soon." is his haughty response "Give my regards to Nori, won't you, love?"
"…" Even in the now silent room I can hear my daughter's question coming up and I try to will it away but to no avail "… Mama?"
"Yes baby?"
"How come Papa's seeds are in your room?"
I can't tell you who murdered the baby yet. Tuariel couldn't get over the loss of her first child and totally disregarded the second one. Kili being the moron he is, couldn't leave his love to her morbid decision nor could he change her mind, so he went with her. He knew someone would care for Kiliel, though he didn't expect to live. Now he has no wife, no home, and kin. I'll warn you now, Kili will suffer in his trial before his life gets better. Thorin banished Kili after his side of the story was heard and it was determined he was guilty. He had a trial, they didn't do it right off the bat. Late to say Hello all! Take the chapter. Like it. Love it. REVIEW it! I'm serious about the reviews though. Seriously serious. Heheheheh Thank you guys!
*Edit 6/24/17
