So, I have been super busy and I haven't been home much, but I have been writing and taking my laptop everywhere with me. I just haven't had much internet access, and I have been too exhausted to post when I am home.

Now, for this chapter, I would like to make a few things clear. 1) I am not against birth control. Nor do I claim to know everything about birth control. 2) Certain positions require that certain requirements be met. Kira is in such a position.

Enjoy the chapter!

Thorin didn't know how much more he could take. The bickering of the nobles, the rumors, the plots against himself and his heir, his sister's secrecy, his inability to locate his youngest nephew, and now this. It had been three days since they had learned the awful truth, and no one in the royal family knew what to do. Kira had deceived and ruined them all.

Traditionally, it could take years for a dwarrowdam to conceive, so the first few years, Thorin thought nothing of it. He brushed aside the concerns of his counsel and nobles. Five years passed, and Kira gave every indication that she had no desire to have children; Fili confided in him that she took her own rooms and locked herself away. Thorin put pressure on her and demanded she do her duty, only to have her throw their own laws in his face, saying he could not force this and that it was her choice as to when she had a child. It was not until she was faced with the fact that she would never be queen without an heir that she attempted it, and learned an ugly truth: she could no longer bear children.

To keep herself from conceiving, she had been taking special herbs intended for a traveling female; herbs that were not to be taken more than six months at a time. She had been taking them since before she married Fili. His nephew was devastated.

Dis was heartbroken for her son, but even in her grief, Thorin hadn't been able to get anything out of her about Kili. They needed to find him. He was sure that he had to have at least one son, and that gave him hope, though not much. The people wanted to see a direct heir, not another nephew. Once word got out of what Kira had done, it would be near impossible to stop the troublemakers. And word would get out; there was no keeping this to themselves. One of the downsides to being royal was a lack of privacy. He wished Balin were there to give him good counsel.

Thorin was brought out of his musings by a knock at his study door.

"Enter," he said.

"My Lord," said his attendant excitedly, "Master Balin has returned, and with him are Prince Kili, Master Baggins, and Tharkun! They wish to speak with you."

He jumped from his chair. "Send them in! And send for my sister and Prince Fili!"

Here he was, stressing over a solution for their trouble, and Mahal sees fit to drop every possible person who could help right into his lap. Thorin stood straight next to his desk, making an effort to look like the king he was, but the moment Kili walked through the door, he was around he desk and taking his missing nephew into a powerful embrace.

"Hello to you too, Thorin," chuckled Kili, hugging him in return. "I had thought you might run me through on sight."

"Oh," he leaned back, keeping his nephew in the grip of his hands, "you will be going a few rounds with Dwalin and I, very likely at the same time, as soon as it can be arranged. I missed you, Kili. And I am sorry. I should never have forced you into making such a decision."

Kili shrugged. "It worked out for the best."

Thorin looked at him sadly. "I am not sure I can agree with that. I see that you are finally growing your beard."

"Ah, I only started letting it grow again when we left the Shire."

"The Shire?! That's where you've been?!" Mahal! Why hadn't he ever thought to check the Shire?

Before he could answer, they heard a sob coming from the door. "My baby! My Kili!" Dis ran to her son and Kili found himself taken into yet another fierce embrace. "Oh, it really is you! I have dreamed of this since I first heard you left," she gushed.

Thorin had finally remembered the others and had moved on to greeting them. Bilbo had found himself being hugged by the king as well. "Welcome back, Burglar."

It took Dis only a moment to remember who was missing. She stood back and looked around. Seeing that only her brother, Balin, the wizard, and whom she guessed was Master Baggins, she turned her attention back to her son. "Where are they?"

Once more, his answer was interrupted by a noise in the doorway. Kili looked over to find his brother standing there. He look haggard, like he hadn't slept or eaten in days.

"Brother," he said, his voice matching his appearance.

"Fili," said Kili softly. He hadn't known what to expect, but his brother hugging him was not it. It was almost desperate. Kili just let his brother cling to him for a moment. Fili finally stepped back.

"Welcome home, Kili. I hope you are here to stay."

"I am."

"Who are 'they'?" broke in Thorin.

"Hmm?" Kili feigned ignorance.

"You're mother asked 'Where are they?'. Who is she referring to?"

Kili looked nervously between his brother and uncle. He finally cleared his throat and answered. "My wife, Brenna….. and our children. They are in Dale, Amad. We thought that it might be better for me to come first."

It was Fili who spoke first. "You have children."

"Yes, two sons and a daughter. Frerin will be ten next month, Runa is six, and Drerin in three."

Fili congratulated his brother and took a seat, finding he could no longer make himself stand. Thorin was torn. He was happy that their line was showing itself strong, but his heart hurt for his heir. Thorin had chosen a life without a wife or children, while Fili had always desired it. The room remained quiet for a few more moments, until Balin cleared his throat to draw everyone's attention.

"There is another matter we should…" Kili glared at the dwarrow, causing him to trail off.

"Come now, Kili. Better to get it out now," said Gandalf.

"What is it?" asked Thorin, a little worried.

"Frerin is…" started Kili. "Frerin is special. He, uhh… he's not what he appears. Well, he's exactly as he appears, but he's not… I don't know…"

"He's Durin reborn, Thorin" Balin rushed in. It seemed as though the outside world had simply stopped. Not a sound was heard.

"Impossible," whispered Thorin.

"It is true," said Gandalf. "I was there the day he was born. I saw the mark, as did the midwife, and Kili's elf-friend, Tauriel, though they do not know its meaning. It is very obviously not done in ink."

Thorin was reeling. How was this possible? Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fili stand quickly and excuse himself. Thorin sighed. He didn't know how to make things better for his heir, but at least part of his burden was relieved: once Frerin was established as Durin reborn, the throne would be secure. Seeing the confused looks on the newcomers, Thorin divulged the newest developments. All present, he knew, could be trusted. It would be public knowledge in a matter of days, in any case.

As Kili listened to his uncle, his heart weighed heavily in his chest. He hurt for his brother. He quickly excused himself and headed towards the training arena, having a good idea of where he had gone. He went through the halls quickly, giving rushed greetings to those whom he encountered that he knew, telling them that yes he was back to stay, and that he really needed to be somewhere. He barely managed to avoid running into Dwalin, who, from his haste, must have heard of his brother's return. Once he got close to the arena, he darted into an archway that was partially hidden and rarely noticed, and made his way up some stairs. Just as he thought, he found his brother, looking out over the railing.

"I want to be angry," he said, sensing his brother, "but I find that I can't. I really am happy for you, and it is a relief to know that the throne is secure. It just feels like one more strike against me, but it has given me an answer to a dilemma I have been presented with. Without an heir, and my wife unable to produce one, and given her deceit, I have the choice of severing myself from her, in this life and the next. It is a choice that has been haunting me. Despite all that she has done, I love her. Your son shall take the throne after me, if I am even allowed to rule now, so I have no real need for a son of my own."

"Fili," Kili started softly.

"So, I have decided that she shall be sent into seclusion. I do not trust her, and once she finds out about your children, I fear she may lash out at them. I will not have my niece and nephews threatened. If, in time, she shows true repentance for her wrongs, she shall be allowed to take part in society again, and even take her place as my queen," he said, turning to his brother. "I already have a place in mind. All her regular guards have been replaced by dwarrow loyal to Thorin and I, and she will have companions approved of by our mother. Her visitors will be limited and observed. It is my hope that she will change her ways, and that I will not make it worse."

Kili had come to stand next to the railing with his brother. Fili smiled softly at him. "I know our relationship will not be what it once was, but I hope that we may be able to be close once more."

"That is my hope as well. Frerin, Runa, and Drerin are eager to meet you. I have shared many stories from our childhood with them."

"I look forward to meeting them as well, and your wife."

"Brenna," Kili smiled to himself. "She has become my very breath. She's put up with me these twelve years, and laughs at me more often than she scolds me. I cannot think of what my life would be without her. Fili, I am sorry, I shouldn't be…"

Fili stopped him. "I am glad that you have found such joy in your marriage, Kili. Never be sorry for your good fortune. I made my choices, and I shall live with them. You and Amad warned me, and I chased after what I wanted regardless. But, I must go and see to my wife. Amad has kept some very nice apartments cleaned up and furnished. I always figured they were for you, for when you returned. I shall have Kira moved by tomorrow, if you would rather wait until she has been relocated to her new apartment."

"No, Brenna will not stand for that, especially in her condition. She will want to settle as soon as possible." His brother raised a brow in question. "It seems as though our family is not finished just yet," he finished slowly.

Fili merely nodded sadly and went on his way.

Fili walked slowly towards his rooms. He hated that his life had taken this turn. Over the course of the past few days, he had felt so many emotions, and he was angry with so many people, but in the end, he realized he had only himself and Kira to blame. For as long as he could remember, he had wanted her. Even in Ered Luin, when she wouldn't give him the time of day, he had never been blind to her ways, as some supposed. He had just been sure that he could change her with his love. He snorted at himself. He was such a fool.

He stood outside his door, took a deep breath, and walked in. The front room looked just as it had for the past few days: an utter disaster. When Thorin has sentenced Kira to house arrest, she came in and threw about everything she could, tore any fabric she could get her hands on, and screamed until she could no longer. He had refused entry to any maid and she hadn't left her room. He walked to her door and knocked.

"Kira, come out here. We need to talk."

"No!" came her quick reply.

"It wasn't a request," he said more firmly. "Now, get out here. Don't made this harder than it already is."

He went and sat down and waited. And waited. And waited. He was about to lose his temper when he heard movement from her room. He waited a few moments more, and she finally emerged. She looked worse than the room. Her hair hadn't been washed and was falling out of its braids, her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, and if he were to guess, she was wearing the same slip that she wore under her dress three days ago. His heart hurt for her, and he knew he was only going to make it worse, but it had to be done.

"Have you made your decision concerning me, husband?" she said, looking ready for battle.

"Yes," he said confidently.

She knew the answer was coming, but she wasn't truly prepared for it. He saw her deflate and finally take a seat. She looked fearful, and with good reason. He held her future in her hands, in this life and the next.

"I am not going to set you aside for another, and I am not going to shame you. You've done a good enough job of that yourself. There have been some developments in the past few hours that will work in our favor."

"What kind of developments?" she eyed his suspiciously.

He sat back as though he had no cares in the world. "Balin has returned, and with him he brought Kili, his family, Bilbo, and Gandalf. Kili has two sons and a daughter."

Kira scoffed and sneered at him. "Do you think the people will be pleased with another heir who is not a direct descendant of the king?! They will not stand for it!"

He smiled at her. "They will when they realize the lad is Durin reborn."

She stood and recoiled from him. "Impossible! What game are you playing?"

"It is no game," he chuckled. "Gandalf was there when the lad was born and verified it. They call him Frerin, but he is Durin. I didn't stay to hear all the details, but I will, I imagine. Brenna and the children are currently in Dale. They will be here tomorrow."

"So, that solves the problem of the throne, but what about me? How does this affect me? How are you going to explain away my not bearing a child? People will wonder why Durin didn't choose me."

"We're not explaining it away. Your sins will be known, Kira, there has never been a choice in the matter."

"But that's not fair!"

This time, Fili scoffed at her. Standing from his own seat, he stalked towards her. "How is that not fair? It's your actions that have brought us here! You knew what was expected of you when you accepted me, and you even shared my desire for child, until we actually wed. Afterwards, you informed me we wouldn't have more than one child, and I accepted that! I thought that you might change your mind over time, but now it seems that children will only ever be a dream for us… for me."

"You are not setting me aside, but you have not said what plans you have for me," she said, trying to ignore the hurt look on his face.

He stood back from her. "You are to go into seclusion,"

"No!"

"The only contact you will have will be approved by both me and my mother. I shall come visit you once a week," he started to walk away from her, towards the door.

"You cannot do this!" Kira started to scramble after him.

"If such a time arises that you have shown proof that you recognize the wrongness of your actions, and I think you can be trusted, you can join in our society again."

"I hate you!"

He whipped around to her, approaching her faster than she was prepared for. "And I love you! But that has never mattered to you, has it?"

"So you will punish me for your own blindness?!" she practically spat into his face.

"No," he said painfully, leaning away from her again, "I punish myself for it. Your sentence comes from your actions against the throne. Considering everything, you are getting off easy. I am not even going to require you to be there when your actions are made known and your sentence announced. I have already sent for your new apartment to be prepared. Tomorrow, when Kili leaves to fetch his family, you shall be relocated."

"So, I do not even get to meet your brother's family?"

"No. I do not trust you," he answered honestly. "I do not want to think you would harm a child, let alone Durin himself, but I cannot be sure what you are capable of."

"I am not stupid! I wouldn't bring such a curse upon myself!"

"Yet you were willing to bring another!" he mocked.

She got quiet. "May I be excused now?"

"You may. But know this," he said as she turned, "it hurts me to have to do this to you. I do not like it, but it must be done. I hope in time that we may have more than we do now."

She said nothing more as she moved into her room, and closed the door.