Mary paced around their apartments, nervously awaiting word that Thorin's company had been sighted. She had received a letter from him saying that they would be delayed for around three weeks, as his presence was requested in the Iron Hills after the trade negotiations were finished. It had now been over a month since Oin had given her his diagnosis, and she had told no one. Thorin should be the first to find out. Finally there came a knock at the door, upon answering it she found Tauriel waiting for her.
"The company had been sighted. They are about a mile and a half out." Tauriel said and Mary breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let's go then!" Mary said and almost left at a run.
"Whoa! Slow down! They won't be here for at least thirty more minutes!" Tauriel said laughing.
Mary arrived in the main hall and waited anxiously for the company to arrive. It seem like years since she had last seen Thorin, instead of just a month and a half. Finally the gates opened and the company walked in and Mary could not wait any longer. She ran forward and threw herself into Thorin's arms. He caught her and held her close, laughing at her enthusiastic welcome.
"I've missed you." Mary said.
"Not more than I you." Thorin replied, "We need to talk. There is something I need to tell you."
He sounded so serious that Mary was sure something was wrong.
"There is something important that I need to tell you as well." She said and they left the welcoming crowds and went to the tower room where they were guaranteed privacy.
"What do you need to tell me?" Mary asked, wanting to get whatever bad news there was out of the way first.
"No, you first. What I have to say in going to take a while." Thorin replied.
Mary nodded and took a deep breath.
"Well, I went and saw Oin like you asked. He said he is certain what is going on." Mary said and looked at Thorin, "I am with child."
Thorin looked silently at her for a moment and Mary was scared that he was not happy.
"He is certain?" Thorin asked quietly.
"Yes." Mary replied worriedly.
Suddenly Thorin pulled her close and kissed her passionately.
Mary smiled when he finally drew back.
"I am guessing this means you are happy about the baby." She said breathlessly.
"You just made me the happiest man in Middle Earth!" he answered, still holding her close.
Thorin lifted his hand and caressed her cheek.
"How far along does he think you are and when does our great healer think we can expect our new arrival? Thorin said smiling.
"Well Oin figures that I am around two months. As for around when we can expect the baby to come, that is a little tricky considering my lineage. But since I am mostly elf and dwarf, and elf pregnancies last around ten months and dwarf around twelve months. A safe figure should be around eleven months. So in around nine more months." Mary answered happily.
"Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?" he asked gently.
"A boy. An heir for the line of Durin. We can try for a girl next time." Mary answered with a smile.
Thorin chuckled at her answer, "Planning ahead now are we?" he asked.
Mary looked up at him and smiled.
"Now you said you had something you needed to talk to me about." She reminded him.
Thorin looked at her and she could tell it was something bad.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"The reason I was called to the Iron Hills is that Dain needs us to host the meeting of the seven dwarf lords and their magistrates. They had some bad storms in the Iron Hills and his halls were damaged and he cannot accommodate the meeting. Mary, Dain's magistrate Den is going to be coming with him." Thorin told her.
Mary leaned back and looked at him in shock.
"No! No! They can't be coming here!" she said, fear overwhelming her. "That man and his son cannot be coming here!"
Thorin pulled her back into his arms and tried to calm her.
"No, only Den is coming. I told Dain that Don was not allowed to step a foot in Erebor. But I could not get him to leave Den out. He's the head magistrate for the eastern part of the Iron Hills and no one else can come. Dain agreed, apparently Don has a bad reputation in Dain's court and is not welcome. I am going to keep you safe! That man will never touch you again, not if I can help it!" Thorin explained.
"Safe! There is no safe for me or our family around either of them!" Mary pleaded.
Thorin cradled her face in his hands and made her look at him.
"A plan had already been made. The meeting is in eight months. Our family will be safe! You, the children, your parents and everyone will not be alone while he is here. You will be with me whenever possible. And when I cannot be with you, Kili is talking with Tauriel to stay with you. Gloin's son Gimli is also going to be shadowing you. Dwalin and several members of his troop are going to be watching over the rest of the family. You know he will not let any harm come to them. Especially the children." Thorin explained, finally getting Mary to calm down and listen.
She knew that Dwalin would keep her family safe, as he had grown close to the children. They even referred to him as Uncle Dwalin. Mary nodded and took a couple of deep breaths.
"I am so scared." She admitted.
"I know, but I will protect you. Please trust me to keep our family safe." Thorin said and he held Mary close as she began to cry.
What had supposed to have been a happy night was now a night filled with fear and foreboding.