He placed the crown on its stand in his wardrobe. He untied the cape and pulled off the layers of coats and tunics. When he was down to his trousers and undershirt, he breathed a sigh of relief. He was just about to remove his boots when there was a knock at the door. Before he could reach it, the door was flung open and his mother stood there. Her hair was looking a little disheveled and she had changed from her royal clothes into one of her more comfortable, all-purpose dresses.
"Mother?"
"Fili, Tauriel's labor has begun."
Fili's exhaustion was gone in an instant and he dashed out the door, his mother following close behind. When he reached Tauriel's chambers, he stopped and stood quite still in front of the door. Dis laid an hand on his shoulder and opened the door. It led into a sitting room. A dwarf midwife and an elf healer were there. They both bowed to him.
"How is she?" Fili asked.
"She is well, Sire," the dwarf said. "She is in the early stages and has a long way to go yet."
"May I see her?" he asked.
"Yes, for a few minutes. She has requested you visit her," the elf said.
Fili was lead into the bedroom. Tauriel sat, propped up by cushions, on her bed. A thin blanket was pulled up to her chest. Her round stomach looked large under the blanket. She smiled when Fili walked in.
"My king," she said. "I'm sorry I didn't get to play my respects to you earlier."
"No need to apologize, Tauriel."
Her face scrunched up and she took several deep breaths.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Tauriel chuckled. "I'm fine. I'm just having a baby. That's all."
"I'll be close by, if you need anything," Fili took her hand. "Just get through this and bring that baby safely into this world." He leaned to her and kissed her cheek, surprised by his own actions.
"Don't worry," she said, but another pain came and she squeezed Fili's hand as she slowly breathed. The healers ushered him out of the room and he went back into Tauriel's sitting room. The door was shut and he was left alone. He sat down in a chair, only to stand up and walk the room moments later. The only sounds were his boots on the floor. He started to feel a panic rise in him.
The outside door opened and Dis walked in, holding several articles in her hands. She passed Fili his pipe and she laid out a blanket on a long cushioned chair. She chuckled as she watched Fili.
"It's going to be a long time, son. It's too early to be pacing the floor," she said.
"How long will it take?"
"I don't know. Many hours. It could well be into the day tomorrow before it's all over. Why don't you get some sleep. I'll wake you if anything happens."
"How can I sleep?" Fili asked.
"Lay down," she pointed to the chair.
"Don't you think I'm too old to be told to go to bed by my mother? I'm a king!" He laughed.
"I know you are and I'm so proud of you." She placed her hands on his face, like she did so many times when he was a small boy. "Today went very well and you did a fine job. Thorin would have been a good king, but I know you will be a great king." She kissed him on the head. "But, king or no king, I am still your mother and you are still my little boy, so I can indeed send you to bed."
Fili knew better than to argue with his mother, so he laid down and allowed her to pulled the blanket up to his chin. She rubbed his head and he quickly fell asleep.