Disclaimer: The Hobbit does not belong to me, but to Professor Tolkien, Peter Jackson, and his Company.

Gem of His Heart

Kili slipped out of his chair and knelt at Thorin's bedside, reaching out to take his uncle's hand. "I would have supported him, you know, had he been king. Fili and I both would have been loyal to him, even if it meant my brother was not your heir."

"I know, Kili," Thorin smiled, ruffling the already mussed hair of his youngest sister-son. "Now, will you help me into my wheeled chair so that I may check on Drifa? Her fever was quite high last night when I last saw her."

"Certainly, Uncle," Kili assured him as he pushed hurriedly to his feet.

Fili retrieved the chair from the corner and both boys helped their uncle into it before wheeling him down the hall to Drifa's room.

Chapter 14

Fili knocked on Drifa's door as Thorin shifted uncomfortably in his wheeled chair. "I cannot wait to get out of this blasted thing and walk around on my own instead of depending on the good will of others," Thorin grouched.

"You will be up and around soon enough, Uncle," Kili assured him. "Besides, once Drifa is feeling well again perhaps she would like to care for you." Kili leaned around so Thorin could see him and waggled his eyebrows.

"Kili," his brother groaned while Thorin frowned.

"Come in," Drifa's voice rang out, so Fili opened the door as Kili pushed his uncle inside the spacious stone room.

Drifa looked much better; she was seated in a chair before the fire with a warm blanket thrown over her lap. The high color of fever was gone from her cheeks and her eyes were no longer glassy. Her blonde hair had been brushed until it shone in the firelight. She had braided it in one long plait that fell over her shoulder and bound the end with a simple leather thong.

"You look much better today," Thorin smiled with relief.

"I feel much better," Drifa assured him, "and Master Oin says that my fever is gone."

"Good morning, Lady Drifa," both of Thorin's sister-sons greeted Nal's maid with wide grins.

Drifa blushed prettily. "Please, Your Majesties, I am only a humble servant; I-,"

Fili cut her off. "Nay, Lady Drifa," he explained. "You are important to our uncle, and everyone in Erebor is due respect, not just those of royal standing."

Thorin smiled proudly at his heir as Drifa's eyes widened at Fili's words. "You will make a good king one day, Prince Fili," she murmured quietly with a shy smile curving her lips.

Kili moved to his brother's side and clapped a hand on Fili's shoulder. "We have our duties to attend to, so we will leave the two of you to visit." His brown eyes sparkled mischievously.

Fili rolled his eyes. "Come on, Ki, before your get yourself into trouble," he sighed, shoving his brother toward the door.

"Do not do anything I would not do, Uncle," Kili called over his shoulder.

"Kili!" Thorin growled as Fili tugged his younger brother out of the door and closed it behind them.

Drifa's silvery laugh reminded Thorin of days many years ago when their smiles came easily and troubles seemed like small hills to overcome.

"Prince Kili has quite a sense of humor," Drifa informed Thorin with a sparkle in her green eyes.

Thorin shook his head ruefully. "He takes after his father who always did love a good laugh."

"Fili is more like you," she stated. "I imagine he follows his little brother straight into trouble and bails him out much like you did with Frerin."

Thorin's smile fell at the mention of his brother's name.

Drifa noticed and sighed. "I am sorry, Thorin. When I heard of his loss, I knew how devastated you must have been. I was scared for you, Frerin, and Dis once news of Smaug's attack reached Dain's kingdom and then Azanulbizar…" she trailed off with tears in her eyes. "I am sorry that you suffered so, Thorin," she told him, reaching for his hand.

He slipped his hand into hers and squeezed her fingers gently. "I was so bitter after that," Thorin sighed into the quiet of the room. "I became a different person after you left, but even more so after the fall of Erebor and the great battle that took the life of my grandfather and brother." He shook his head. "I was not in a good place. Had it not been for my sister and then her two boys I do not know what would have become of me."

"I have heard that Dis' husband died young," Drifa stated as she felt Thorin began to twine his fingers with hers. Heat blossomed in her cheeks, yet she squeezed his fingers gently.

"Aye, before Kili was born," Thorin explained. "I moved in with Dis and the boys after that. They are like my own sons." His voice faltered on the last word. "I am sorry, Drifa. I hope that does not upset you."

"No, Thorin, not at all," she assured him with a gentle smile.

"Does it bother you to talk about our babe?" he asked anxiously, his thumb beginning to rub soothing circles on the back of her hand.

"No, not anymore," she explained. "I suppose I feel sad and maybe disappointedat what could have been, but I do not mind talking about our child. Would you like to know what happened that day?" Her green eyes studied her former lover's face carefully.

"If you would not mind telling me, Drifa, but if it brings you sorrow we can speak of it another time."

She shook her head. "You deserve to know, Thorin." She kept his hand tightly in hers and leaned her head back against the chair. "It was exceptionally cold that year," she began.

"I remember," Thorin nearly whispered as his gaze locked on her face.

"The journey had taken much longer than it should have. We had faced rain and snow. It was raining that morning, in fact," she remembered, her voice taking on a distant tone. "We were running low on food and had to start rationing it out. All of us in our party went to bed hungry and stayed hungry day in and day out. I woke up that morning with cramps; I thought it was the beginning of my monthly when the bleeding started."

Thorin tenderly reached out to brush a wisp of blonde hair from her face with his free hand. "You were losing the child."

"Yes," she murmured. "I soon realized that the bleeding was not my normal flow, and I called for the healer that was traveling with us. She examined me in my tent away from prying eyes and realized what was happening." Drifa's voice grew thick with tears. "I suddenly found myself mourning a child that I did not know had existed. It felt unreal, and the babe was the last part I had of you. It was like losing you all over again." The tears spilled over and rolled down her cheeks.

"Oh, Drifa," Thorin murmured. He leaned forward and pulled her to him as well as he could in his wheeled chair.

She buried her face in his neck, but continued to speak. "The healer kept quiet about what was truly wrong with me to avoid scandal. My name would have been sullied if it had been found out that I was unmarried and pregnant."

"I am sorry, Drifa, that I was not there," Thorin murmured.

She shook her head against him. "I am strong, and I survived. I made a place for myself in Dain's kingdom. Although I was not what you call happy, I was satisfied. I had a good job, a warm bed, and food to fill my belly. I made friends; I made the Iron Hills a home."

Thorin stroked the back of her head tenderly. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too," she responded, her breath warming the skin of his neck and sending a shiver down his spine.

"And you wish to return there?" he questioned hesitantly.

"That is where I live and serve," Drifa replied, pulling back and sitting up in her chair once again.

"I have wondered all of my life if things would have worked out if you had stayed," Thorin began. "Now I realize that you probably would not have survived Smaug's attack on the mountain." He took both of her hands in his larger ones, his thumbs drawing patterns on her soft skin. He looked earnestly into her green eyes and sucked in a breath. "Can we have another chance, Drifa? Would you consider staying here in Erebor so that I may court you?"

The dwarrowdam's breath caught in her throat and her green eyes widened at his words. "Thorin," she stammered, "I do not know what to say."

"Please consider it, Drifa," he requested, his eyes never leaving her face.

"But I have my duty to Nal," she protested although she spoke hesitantly.

"I will send someone to take your place for the time being if Nal so desires," Thorin replied. "I can send a messenger straight away to find out her wishes."

Drifa gnawed her bottom lip anxiously as she lost herself in Thorin's gaze. "I do not know what to say."

"Think about it, Drifa," he told her softly. "I do not need an answer today. It is much to consider. We would have a second chance, and perhaps things would turn out differently this time."

She nodded. "I will give the idea some thought, Thorin. I promise. You have given me much to think about."

"Then I will leave you to it," he smiled. "Perhaps you will join me for dinner tonight, just two old friends visiting and reconnecting."

A smile curved the maidservant's lips. "I would like that," she told him shyly.

"We could eat wherever you like," he continued. "There is a lake that lies here below the mountain if you remember. I do believe we stole a few kisses there in our younger years." A mischievous twinkle lit his eyes and Drifa gave a soft laugh.

"Aye, that we did, Thorin. Dinner on the lakeshore sounds like a splendid idea. I will rest this afternoon so that I will be ready to dine with you."

Thorin smiled, his mind jumping ahead to plan the evening's menu. "I will look forward to seeing you this eve. I will send a meeting time once I speak to the cook."

"And I will be ready," Drifa smiled, her green eyes dancing at the idea of spending an evening with her old friend and lover.

That evening, Thorin was waiting on a soft blanket spread out beside the lake beneath the mountain. Fili had brought him down a while ago and helped him from the wheeled chair. Thorin now leaned against a large rock with the picnic basket beside him. His injured leg was stretched out before him. The dwarf king's stomach twisted nervously as he waited for Drifa to arrive. He thought of the courting beads tucked away securely in his tunic and his throat tightened. He wondered if he would have the courage to give them to her.

She came into view a few moments later, dressed in a simple emerald gown that matched her eyes. Her blonde hair had been pulled back and brushed until it shone with braids on each side that had been pulled back into a leather thong. She was beautiful.

"I wish that I could stand up and greet you," Thorin told her when she reached the edge of the blanket. "Please have a seat."

Drifa smiled and sat on the blanket, carefully arranging her skirts around her. "I had forgotten how lovely this lake is," she commented as she stared out over the surface of the water that was as smooth as glass.

"It is not half as lovely as you," Thorin spoke, his cheeks suddenly flaming with warmth. He chided himself for sounding like an addlepated school boy.

Drifa flushed becomingly. "Thank you," she told him shyly.

"I would ask you for a walk," he commented, scowling as he gestured at his broken leg.

The dwarrowdam shook her head. "We can enjoy ourselves just fine sitting here on the blanket," she assured him.

"Are you hungry?" he asked, his gaze skittering to the picnic basket. "Cook prepared us a fine dinner." Thorin was so nervous that he was not sure he could eat. Perhaps he was too old and crotchety to even consider pursing a woman. Then, Drifa smiled at him and his heart pounded in his chest. He had to try to make things right with her, or he would regret it for the rest of his life.

"I am starving," she replied. "Let me help you set out the food."

They worked together quietly and soon each had a plate with meat, bread, cheese, and several tasty treats. "This is wonderful," Drifa breathed. "Thank you for inviting me, Thorin."

He smiled. "You are most welcome. I am glad to be able to spend time with you. Too many years were wasted between us."

Drifa put her unfinished plate down in front of her on the blanket and pinned Thorin with a serious gaze. "Did you really mean what you said before, about me staying in Erebor?"

Thorin froze and swallowed hard. "Aye, Drifa. I meant it with all of my heart." Slowly, he put his plate to the side and stared at his former lover.

She fidgeted anxiously before she finally spoke. "I have decided to stay, at least for a time, if Nal allows it." Her voice trembled. "I think we owe it to ourselves to see what happens between us, but nothing has changed. I am still just a lady's maid, nothing more.."

"Oh, Drifa," Thorin murmured, feeling joy fill him up to the brim. "You are so very much more." He drew her into a quick embrace, which she returned with fervor. He tangled his fingers in her silky tresses before turning his face to breathe in her scent. Drifa smelled of springtime, just as he remembered. His nose brushed against her cheek, and then his lips sought hers.

The kiss was tentative at first, warm lips brushing with the barest of touches. Drifa's hands clutched at Thorin's sides and then he found himself pulling her closer, his mouth sliding over hers with fervor. She opened her lips to him and he deepened the kiss. Drifa sighed against his mouth as Thorin tangled his fingers in her hair. When the need for air became too great, Drifa pulled back reluctantly and rested her forehead against his. Both of them were quiet, breathing heavily. Thorin's fingers drew patterns on her sides; he was reluctant to let her out of his grasp.

Finally, Drifa leaned her head back, but she did not move away. Instead, she cupped Thorin's cheeks with her hands. "I have missed you, my handsome king," she smiled.

Thorin placed a quick kiss to her nose before reaching inside of his tunic and pulling out a small, silken pouch.

Drifa raised an eyebrow curiously.

Thorin carefully opened the bag and tipped it so that the courting beads inside fell into his hand. He heard Drifa's quick intake of breath as she observed the beautiful beads, crafted of fine gold and silver. "These were worn by my mother," he explained softly. "I found them in my father's chambers when we returned to Erebor."

Drifa's eyes filled with unshed tears. She knew these beads were one of Thorin's greatest treasures. "I will proudly wear your beads if you will have me, Thorin," she told him softly.

A grin hooked the corners of the dwarf king's mouth and he leaned forward to capture a quick kiss.

"Will you braid them into my hair?" Drifa asked, her fingertips stroking Thorin's bearded cheek.

"Aye," he murmured, his eyes caressing her features lovingly.

Drifa turned her back to him and Thorin carefully began to braid, his nimble fingers slipping the beads onto her pale blonde tresses. He hooked the ends of her braids with clasps he had designed himself.

The dwarrowdam fingered her hair when he was finished and then graced him with a dazzling smile. "I am looking forward to spending time with you, Thorin," she smiled.

"I will send a messenger to the Iron Hills immediately," Thorin assured her as he reached out to take her hand.

Drifa twined their fingers together and leaned forward boldly to press her lips to his. "You do not have to leave our picnic immediately, My King," she smiled against his mouth.

Thorin grinned. "Nay, M' Lady, I do believe that I shall stay here with you a while longer." All thoughts of messengers fled Thorin's mind as Drifa's lips touched his once more.

To Be Continued…