Oh my! Thank you for not killing me and I am sorry to have caused any fear. *pets ruffled readers and hands out hot tea* I truly would have finished this last night but it was 2 am and as the mother of an almost 2 year old, I needed my sleep. Here is the chapter, enjoy.
"He is doing well my lord, as is the babe. However neither I nor any of the other healers know anything about a hobbit pregnancy and therefore we can not say for sure what caused the episode. I can say that he is not loosing the child and he is not bleeding as the birthing canal is not there. He had mind enough to tell me that it would only appear if he were loosing the child or giving birth, so that it is not there is a very good sign." Thorin, who had been pacing like a caged lion since being tossed from his bedroom for getting in the way of the midwife and healers, finally sank into a chair and rubbed his face with shaking hands though no one said a word about that.
"You are sure that he and our child are not in danger?" He asked and the knot in his heart and stomach loosened more when the midwife nodded.
"Aye my lord, his color is good, his breathing has evened, and the pains have stopped. The babe is still moving but not as frantic and that is also a good sign. I believe he had an episode of false labor, it happens sometimes and there is usually no reason for it. But I would suggest sending for some one who knows more about hobbit pregnancies." The poor midwife did her best to not flinch under the glare from Thorin.
"Then find some one, I want to know that when my husband does go into labor that he and the child will survive. Send for some one immediately, I do not even care if it is a blasted elf! Just find some one!" With that the midwife and the healers were ushered out by Dis who had come running when word had reached her of Bilbo's state. She turned to Thorin and sighed at the sight of him, his face was pale and his eyes wild with fear.
Thorin himself was doing his very best to not completely break. The fear that had seized him when the messenger had come running into his council meeting to say that Bilbo was on the ground holding his stomach in pain; had very nearly choked him. The sight of his husband in said position had almost dropped him on the spot, every nagging fear that had been in the back of his mind since Bilbo had told him of their impending parenthood came rushing to the front. He jumped when hands touched his and he lifted his head to meet Dis' gaze, the understanding in her eyes tore a ragged sound from the dwarf king and he dropped his head against her as he fought the emotions surging through him. Dis ran her hands through his thick mane of hair soothingly.
"They are alright Thorin; I have heard and seen of this a few times, those that I have known give birth to healthy strong children. Calm yourself and go in there, I am sure that Bilbo is just as frightened as you are." Dropping a kiss onto his head Dis hefted him from the chair and gently pushed him towards the bedroom, very glad when Thorin did not argue and disappeared into the room.
Bilbo was curled on the bed on his side facing the door; he was not asleep and as soon as Thorin was in the room the younger man's eyes were on him instantly. With no hesitation Bilbo reached out and Thorin was there in seconds pulling him close. Both men shook as they touched and kissed gently and Thorin dropped one hand to cradle Bilbo's belly and one rested on his cheek the rough thumb smoothing away the tears that the hobbit was freely letting out.
"I was scared Thorin, even if I carry for the hobbit norm of nine months I am still a week from my seventh, it is too early. I am sorry that I frightened you." Thorin shook his head and ignored the rasp of fear in his own voice.
"Do not apologize; you had no control over this. You are both fine and that is all that I want. I told the midwife to send for some one that will know more about hobbit pregnancies, we do not know enough and I want some one here to help you." The knot in his heart unwound even further when thumps landed against his palm that was resting on his husbands belly, their child seemed to be letting him know they were all going to be ok.
"There are midwives in the Shire that could help, but seeing as the elf blood is what gives me this ability I would think they might know even more. Especially considering many male hobbits no longer conceive, so the knowledge has waned over the centuries and we hobbits do not always keep history that we deem unusable around." Thorin thought about this for several long moments then nodded and pressed a kiss to Bilbo's forehead.
"I will send for Lord Elrond then, he was decent to us during our quest and seemed to have no ill will towards my people. Would that set you at ease or would you also like some one from the Shire as well?" Bilbo shook his head and pressed his face into Thorin's chest breathing in the scent of his husband and was comforted by it.
"No, I doubt you would get another hobbit this far, very few are the traveling sort. I believe that Lord Elrond would have answers to our questions. It will not bother you too greatly to have an elf in Erebor?" He grinned when Thorin gave a long sigh that he knew to be more out of letting his pride down to accept help rather than being angry.
"No my hobbit, if you feel he would be a good choice then I will send for him immediately. I will not have anything else unknown happening, and you will be staying in this bed until Lord Elrond arrives." Bilbo opened his mouth to argue pulling his head back, once he caught Thorin's blue eyes, still filled with fear, he relented.
"I will however concede with your idea that our child is a girl, a boy would not cause nearly as much trouble." Thorin rumbled grumpily and Bilbo burst out a laugh.
"Oh really? Have you not paid attention to Fili and Kili, your nephews? They seem to have a knack for trouble or are you forgetting the troll incident. I do not know how any one misses a troll taking several ponies." Thorin snorted and gave Bilbo a look.
"If you actually believe that they were watching the ponies and not otherwise engaged then I am calling the healers back because you have hit your head some how and addled your brain." Thorin laughed at Bilbo's grimace.
"I want to know less about their current sexual antics than I want to know about your past ones. My point remains, boys cause more trouble than girls. Good respectable hobbit lasses do not cause this much trouble."
"Remember my love, our child is half dwarf. Dwarf children of both sexes get up to all sorts of mischief." He paused for a moment and smirked at Bilbo.
"That includes listening at doors that are not theirs to listen at, and you are all far too old to be doing so!" The dwarf king turned enough to watch as their bedroom door opened and their family tumbled in the door. No apologies were made, instead they all crowded around trying to reassure themselves that Bilbo and the baby were both ok. Poor Kili had to sit due to shaking like a leaf, the whole situation had frightened him very much, and Fili held his arms firmly around his brother and comforted him while their mother fussed over them all and Dwalin stood off to the side very much a part of the moment but not the type to get into the physical reassurances.
Thorin, for the moment, let him self be fussed over by his sister and reached out to grasp his nephews hands and cradled Bilbo with the other. His family was safe and that was all that mattered to him.
He would let himself break later, when he and Bilbo were alone for the night and no one would see the proud dwarf king collapse first into anger, borne out of fear and his own past hurts, beating his hands into the stone walls of their room and then into tears and sobs. Through it all Bilbo did his best to sooth the anger and then held his husband as they rode out the waves of uncertainty, fear and relief together until they fell asleep from the exhaustion; hands clasped tightly and resting protectively over their child who settled as they did.
I had this happen when I was pregnant, and it can be quite scary and rather painful. Ok I am going to try to start being nicer to the poor boys. I know we are all used to Thorin being stubborn and proud, but I have learned that even the most gruff of men can be brought to their knees when their family is hurt or in danger, I see it being no different for Thorin.