It took me a whole day to process what was going on. I never left my room and Ori never left my side. Anyone who came inquiring about my whereabouts was sent away with some excuse or another. I couldn't decide if I wanted to be happy or scared and spent most of the day switching between the two emotions. If Ori's calculations were right, I was already at least two months along... When Dis returned that night I had Ori bring her to my room under strict gag orders.

She took one look at my face and hurried over to give me a tight hug. "How far along are you?" She asked, beaming.

"We think two months." Dis' happiness was infectious, cheering me up somewhat.

"Does Fili know yet?"

I shook my head. "But I'd like to be the one to tell him."

"Of course! My mouth is shut until you say otherwise! Oh honey, I'm so happy for you both!" She gave me another hug. "Another little Durin in Erebor!" She was so beside herself with excitement I couldn't help but laugh.

I finally had to kick both her and Ori out so I could get some sleep, their conversations were endless! Dis insisted on posting a guard at my door, at least until Fili was back. Eventually I gave into her request, after all she was right, it wasn't just my safety anymore. It wasn't just me anymore...

It was two days of torturous waiting before Ori let me know Fili and Kili were due back that afternoon. I was standing outside the stables, after slipping my guard, for over an hour before I finally saw him. He was dirty and looked tired, but when he noticed me he kicked his horses faster.

"What's wrong?" He dismounted and handed his horse off to a stable hand.

"You look tired, you're not hurt are you?" I didn't want to keep my news from him but my first concern was for him.

"No. We found their trail, but it led us nowhere. Now what's wrong with you? Why are you acting so weird?" His brow was furrowed as he waited for an answer.

"Fili... I-" A part of him must have guessed because his face began to brighten.

He grabbed my hands. "Nora?!"

"You're going to be a father." I smiled the best smile I could manage at that moment.

"Are you serious?! Are you sure?!"

When I nodded he picked me up by the waist and spun me around, making me laugh along with him despite myself.

"How far? How long have you known?!" He was having trouble keeping his excitement under control.

"Two months, and only since you left."

"I can't believe it!" He fell to his knees and kissed my stomach through my dress. "I'm going to be a father!"

"Mahal save us all!" Kili was grinning at us, along with a small audience we didn't know had gathered. Fili jumped to his feet and embraced his brother in a back breaking hug. "I'm going to be an uncle. Poor child!" Kili said with a laugh, beating his brother on the back.

Fili turned, scooped me up into his arms, and began walking into the mountain. "You, amralime, have made my life complete."

He wouldn't stop kissing me until we were in the council room, where he sat me in a chair as if I might break.

"Fili, I'm pregnant, not crippled." I said as I watched him stick his head out the door and call a guard.

"Find Thorin, my mother, and the rest of the company, tell them to get here!" After closing the door again he came back to my side. "You're carrying my child, I'll be damned if you get so much as a paper cut!"

I chuckled but Fili could tell it was forced.

"What is it?" He went to his knees again in front of me.

"Are we ready for this... like, really ready?" I didn't want to break him from his happiness but while everyone seemed so ecstatic I was freaking out.

Fili took my hands and kissed them softly. "A family is all I've ever wanted. I've been more than ready since the day I met you." He knew I wasn't convinced. "I know this a lot to take in, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little scared, but with everything we've been through we deserve some happiness."

There was still a part of me, a large part, that was uneasy about it all. At that moment the door was thrown open, Fili's family and closest friends filing in. Thorin looked alarmed, along with everyone but Dis and Kili, who were trying their best to hold back their smiles.

"What?!" Thorin searched my face, which I'm sure didn't look that encouraging.

Fili held out his hand and helped me to my feet. "We have an announcement to make. Nora's with child!"

It took a second for the words to sink in before we were bombarded with hugs.

"And you thought we were all protective before?!"

"We're gonna have our hands full now!"

"Aye, a baby Fili, can't imagine it!"

I tried my very best to smile and be happy, if only for Fili's sake, but my mind wouldn't slow down. Luckily it seemed like no one was paying any attention to how I was feeling, but for some reason that made me even more upset. I looked up from the hands on my stomach, trying to will my tears away, when I met Dwalin's eyes staring at me from across the room, his arms crossed over his chest. Oh Dwalin, why did it have to be you that noticed?

I kept my eyes on his while everyone cooed, a strange sense of panic growing in my stomach, climbing inside me until it was constricting my throat. He nodded to me and took a deep breath, clearly telling me to do the same. It didn't help.

"Okay! I think Nora could use a break! Why don't you all go about your business, I'll take her to her room." Dwalin pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning against and began to usher everyone out.

Fili looked to me in concern. "Are you sure?" He seemed reluctant to leave.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm just tired."

Once everyone was out Dwalin closed the door and slid in the bolt.

As soon as I heard the door lock I began to shake from the effort of holding in my emotions. Dwalin sighed and walked up to me, pulling me into a fatherly hug. That's all it took for the flood gates to open. He rubbed my back and let me cry it out on his shoulder, never saying a word. When I was finally empty of tears he let me pull away.

"So this isn't the happiest moment of your life, I take it?" He looked sad for me.

I sniffled and tried wiping the tear streaks off my face. "I knew it would have to happen eventually... I just..."

"Thought you had more time?" He wasn't judging me, and for that I would always owe him.

"I love Fili, more than I thought I could ever love anything in this life. But I've lived my entire life up until him knowing I never wanted children. Am I a bad person?" I sat at the table and put my head in my hands, a throbbing headache starting just behind my eyes.

"Am I a bad person for never wanting to marry?" He sat next to me, looking across the room. "Sometimes we just want different things out of life, that doesn't make us bad. That makes us normal." We sat together for a few minutes as I calmed down. "You have time to figure this out darlin, don't let it eat ya alive."

"Fili can't know... I couldn't bare taking any of this away from him."

He put a hand on my shoulder and smiled when I looked over. "I'm here for you, if ever ya need me."

I took a deep, shaky breath. "Thank you."

"Lets get you to your room, give you some time alone."

When we reached my room he held the door open for me. "I'll be right outside, least till the guards come." He went to close the door but I stopped him.

"Dwalin, thank you, again, for everything."

"Don't mention it. You're like the daughter I never had." He closed the door before I could say anything more.

I spent the rest of the day in my chambers, afraid of showing my face again. Through the door I heard a few people ask to be admitted, Dwalin gruffly turned them all away. It looked like word was already spreading like wildfire. I was dozing off by the fire when I heard Fili thank and dismiss Dwalin, saying he had reinstated the Queen's Guard to look after my safety. Funny how I could somehow feel even more like a prisoner.

"We missed you at dinner." Fili set a tray of food at my side. "Feeling any better?"

"Much, just needed to rest. And thanks, I'm actually starving." The venison roast was quickly devoured, followed by almost the whole loaf of fresh bread. I looked up to see Fili watching me. "What?!"

"Nothing, just being amazed at how gorgeous you are."

I rolled my eyes. "If I keep eating like this I'll be as big as a cow."

Fili sat next to me on the chaise. "Don't say things like that. You're making our child strong, there's nothing more beautiful."

I pushed Fili over and scooted down far enough to lay my head in his lap. "I don't want to be put in a cage."

"What?"

"I don't want to be trapped in this room, or this mountain, the entire time. I'll go crazy."

There was silence for a while, the flickering fire and Fili's breathing lulling me toward sleep.

"Dale's due to be completed in a few weeks. There's going to be a huge celebration, care to be my date?"

"Mhmm." I rolled over onto my side and curled up, quickly falling asleep to Fili's soft caresses.