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 11
Laying in the large bed, I stroke Thoria and Theodore's hair as I stare at the ceiling in deep thought. My fingers lightly trace the royal and kinship braids that adorn their little heads while I replay the past weeks' events over and over in my mind rather than doing the sensible thing and getting a good night's rest. It isn't all my fault. No; it's the little voice on the edge of mind telling me that I need to keep moving, that I need to get to the Shire as soon as possible. I already know many levels of 'something bad' are approaching but this anxiety is almost unlike anything I've felt before.
It reminds me of how I feel when my children aren't in my immediate sight for too long: the fear that they are gone, stolen away from me for some nefarious reason. The feeling of indescribable worry is extremely misplaced and that worries me even more. I dread that it is the real 'seer' part of me warning that something I haven't planned for is approaching. That is highly possible since I apparently changed so much already. In saving Fili, Kili, and Thorin, I've killed Tauriel, Dis, and a baby whose name no one even wants to utter. Who knows what other impact my actions in the past are having on this future… or present now I guess. Maybe Frodo wasn't even born or his parents never drowned or Bilbo got married or dies early or-
"Maaamaaaa..."
I loosen my death grip on my son as he moans quietly in his sleep. My dark thoughts are clearly affecting my children's rest. Kissing his soft hair, I untangle myself from the twins' limbs and exit the warm bed. Careful to avoid stepping on Kiliel, I open the door, and leave the guest room. I shall have no rest until my mind is clear, so I shall clear it. Heading to the large kitchen with a single candle in hand, I quietly begin to take out the necessary ingredients I'll need to make a few pastries. Allowing my hands to do their thing, my mind wanders back to this afternoon.
"Would you like to be my mate?"
"Sorry, but I'm spoken for." the dark haired teen lets out an annoyed sigh and glares at Nori with unbridled disgust and suspicion "Not even close, buddy."
"So your mate didn't come witcha? He clearly needs ta be replaced wit someone betta."
"An' that someone is a skinchangin' brat?" Nori scoffs at the kid and folds his arms over his broad chest "Not much better if you ask me."
"It's a good thing no one asked ya then, dwarf." Grim growls back, not intimidated at all. He sits heavily on my ribs, obviously forgetting me "If ya ain't 'er mate, then ya opinion don't really matter, now do it?"
"Can you get up, please?" I don't know if I should laugh or spank the kid "This is kind of weird and extremely uncomfortable."
"Indeed. It is she who predicted your birth and is therefore nearly your mother." I tilt my head back into the earth and gaze up at my old friend with a wide grin "You are just as enticing as the day I met you, Thia."
"Hello to you too, Beorn."
The skinchanger welcomed us into his home with much more hospitality than he did the first time. He fawned over the twins; providing them with sweet cakes and warm milk and was even kind enough to ruffle Kiliel's hair before sending him to chop wood with Grim. I lost sight of Nori within minutes but I barely noticed with Beorn taking up so much of my attention.
The most heartwarming part was Duke getting to meet his great great great great great grand pups. 'So many butts were sniffed.' I enjoyed the calmness of the moment, knowing nothing would kill me or slander my name. It was the tranquility I had lacked since arriving back into Middle Earth; the one I expected upon my return. Even before I left there was a dragon and… Azog. I shudder as the name crosses my mind, moving closer to the fire to stave off the sudden chill in my bones.
"Your eyes appear gold when you stare into the flames."
Beorn's rumbling baritone voice snaps my spine straight in surprise as I nearly drop the tray I'm carrying. Placing a hand over my thumping heart, I exhale a relieved breath prior to glaring at him. The bear man stands shirtless and sweaty in the doorway of the kitchen; hulking arms wrapped around Grim's scrawny neck as the boy tries unsuccessfully to free himself. Beorn barely seems to notice the kid and with a shrug, I ignore it as well. 'Must be a bear thing.' The lateness of the hour notwithstanding, I know that I have not awoken either male, as sleep does not appear to be on either of their faces.
"You startled me." I admonish lightly, shaking my head
"My apologies."
"Yeah, apologi- Ouch!" my eyes follow Beorn as he comes to sit at the table, dragging his son in a headlock "Let up, will ya?!"
"I called your name however you were so deep in thought, you did not hear." settling his weight into the chair, the behemoth continues to ignore the squawking of his child "Hence, I complimented you. Women hear compliments almost as loudly as they hear insults."
"Oh, haha, very funny." rolling my eyes, I place the tray in the large oven and give the skin changer a dull look "And you are an expert on what women like now?"
"I have never had trouble knowing what a woman wants." He gives me a toothy grin of perversion "Shall I demonstrate?"
"No. Thank you, Beorn." I roll my eyes to fight the blush attempting to make a home on my cheeks. It's only made worse by the bear man's deep chuckle "You're soooo kind to offer."
"If you are sure. I spent many hours pleasing Grimbeorn's mother before she passed on." I open my mouth to offer my condolences but stop as Beorn shakes his head "There is nothing to console."
"But-"
"She ain't dead." Grim grunts from his father's arm pit "There wasn't a need fa ha ta stick aroun' afta I grew off her teats."
"You grew off… Wha…Who taught you to speak like… that?" I've never heard anyone speak in that way in this world and its really confusing. The boy sounds like he has a bad Italian mobster accent that I'm sure would get him killed for back home "If your mother has been gone for so long…"
"He was weaned only a year ago." Beorn explains, understanding my question. I blink rapidly, refusing to show the grimace I mentally feel at the idea of having the teen following around some poor woman, for years on end, demanding to be fed "The process is much longer in my race than your own."
"Whatcha mean by dat, pop?"
"Her cubs have been weaned for years now, I assume."
"Years?!" the skinchangling flicks his head as much as he can in the bear hug to stare intently at me "Then why're 'er teats still so big?"
"They aren't teats!" I hiss heatedly
"Just huge." he states, blatantly gawking without remorse "Must be hard having to grow 'em that large."
"They aren't!" I cry out, swiftly covering my chest
"She is correct, my son." Beorn says, coming to my aid "They have always been roughly that size."
"Beorn!" I stand corrected
"It is true."
"That isn't the point!" I turn my back on the father/son pair with a grumble, peaking down at my chest. 'They AREN'T big.' In fact, I'd say they are on the most average end of average with all of today's augmentations. Solid C's. It isn't my fault that most women from middle earth are built like third grade boys "Let's talk about something else."
"What are ya embarrassed for?" Grim asks, finally freeing his head. His big chestnut eyes shimmer in triumph "They look great on ya!"
"I'm not talking about this with a kid." Like father, like son.
"Hey-"
"Leave us." The simple command is more than enough to have Grim twisting around and immediately heading out the door like a good little soldier. Not even an 'aw, but daaaad' is offered "He only jests. Now we may discuss your-"
"Oh gosh, no!"
"Why not?"
"I've no desire to talk to you about this."
"Are we not both adults? Have we not children?" He tilts his head, causing his wild curls to become even wilder "We have both clearly engaged in our natural instincts to reproduce with our selected partner. There is nothing to be ashamed of in discussing it."
"…" He's not wrong but I don't really want to talk about this. Maybe I'm immature or a prude but I'd like to keep Thorin and my activities between the two of us "… Why did you name Grim, Grimbeorn? I mean, I knew you would but why did you?"
I actually already know the vague answer to that. I didn't just watch LOTR, I read every book on the world that I could get my hands on as well as the original cultures they were drawn from. There is little that is written that I don't know by heart already. Beorn shifts his eyes to mine curiously and I know that he knows that I already know the answer. He lightly strokes his chin and I hope that he lets me off the hook.
"I named my son Grimbeorn because that is who he is."
"Oh…" I shrug at the simple answer "Makes sense."
"I should hope so." he hums lightly "And why, Thia, did you name your children thusly?"
"The twins?" he nods, even though to be honest, it was obvious that he meant the twins "Well, they are modelled after our names. Thoria for Thorin and Theodore for me, Thia."
"That much is clear." I barely turn to acknowledge Nori's statement, assuming he's been around since I got up in the first place "However, do they mean anythin'?"
"Theodore means 'Gift from god' and he truly is a gift." I smile, thinking of my little angels. I've never been more thankful for anything "Thoria on the other hand is a spin off... uh variation of Thorin. Where I come from, Thorin is also a modification."
"Of?" the thief prompts
"Thor. Myth says that he was the god of Thunder. Very intimidating guy." I laugh at the faces of the males around me "They are all named for divinity."
"And you?" I sniff the air, knowing my baked goods are done before I answer Kiliel's sleepy question "What about your name, Auntie Thia?"
"My name?" I put the finished product on the table and cover them with a cloth after quickly removing them from the pan "Heh, It's a variation a Theia. She… well... She was said to be the goddess of light and sight."
"Light and sight?" Beorn questions but I just shrug "That describes you quite well. You are a glowing seer, are you not?"
"Mmmm, let's chalk it up to coincidence." Grasping Kiliel's shoulders, I direct the kid back into our shared room "Good night guys."
Review of the Reviews:
SiriusBlacksCellMate- thank you for your awesomely kind words.
DearChibico- Welcome back! And THANK YOU for all the reviews. You're doing it right!
Mizsztique- You often make me sad.
JesusFreak3791- I have a strong dislike for Boromir so you can expect some tension between the two.
*Editted 6/28/2017