Welcome new readers and thanks to all who reviewed and PM'd. Here's a little Christmas bonus that I managed to sneak in for the holidays. I liked the idea of a warm, fuzzy chapter after injury and angst, so I whipped it up as a thank you present. I'm putting it out before Painton had a chance to edit it, so all mistakes, weirdness, and plot and character inconsistencies are mine. Hopefully, I've learned from her wise counsel, so there won't be too many. Enjoy!

Chapter 26

Ugh. What a night. Between someone waking me up at regular intervals, Oin's nasty but potent medicines, and feeling like I'd been trampled by King Thorin's horses, I didn't want to move, not now, not ever. Not even an eyelid. I had heard stirring in the room that might have been Frerin and a yawn and stretch that was most likely Fili, but then the door opened and a steady murmur of voices trooped into the room.

"Do ya think she's awake?" It was Nori, and he came closer to the bed and jiggled it a little. I would have shoved him back if I was awake enough to lift an arm and not just for jostling me. He must have had chicken livers for breakfast.

"She probably is now thanks to your yammering." That was, uh, Dori.

"She looks so peaceful." Ever the romantic Ori. Peaceful? Not even close. I felt like one giant cramp. It was funny that they thought I was sleeping yet made no effort to lower their voices. Then again, Kili did tell me that the company had dispensed with niceties while on the quest. I suppose such things weren't worth considering when they were in dire straits most of the time. I suspected though that Nori didn't have them to begin with.

"How'd ya sleep, Fili?" The prince stretched and yawned again. Frerin was already wiggling on the bed and kicking off his blankets.

"Well enough for waking up my son every few hours to make sure he didn't fall into a coma." He yawned again, and I thought that one might split his head open. "But I'll shake this off soon enough." Scooping Frerin up, he said that he was headed up to see Della. I knew that Fili had wanted her to sleep for the baby's sake, but I would put down money if I had any that she had slept about as well as I did.

"I want mama."

"She'll need a big hug from you, Frerin, so squeeze her tight, er, not too tight."

More footsteps came down the hall, and by the confident stride, it sounded like whomever it was had gotten a good night's sleep. I was envious.

"How is she, Oin?" Dwalin asked. "Kili and Thorin willl be down shortly. They wanted to wash up after spending the night."

So they … what? They spent the night here? My eyes twitched under the lids, which was my depleted way of having them fly open and stick to my forehead. One might think that it wouldn't matter for a blind girl to open her eyes in the morning, but it was the principle of the thing. So … they spent the night. Of course, they would have wanted to watch over Frerin, being family and all. And he was a Prince of Durin and Fili's heir. Yes, that made sense. I hoped I didn't talk in my sleep. That also brought up a vague dream of someone touching my hair, but I wasn't going to humiliate myself by asking about it.

"Her lids twitched," Ori said. "Is she waking up?"

I felt him leaning over, and I battled between frustration and embarrassment. I couldn't sleep in peace, and now I couldn't wake up in it either. Besides, there was something I needed to do, something I needed to do every morning. Mahal, something everyone needed to do every morning, and I wanted to do it with a bit of privacy. I didn't think I could wait them out, and then I had this horrible thought that I couldn't make it to the privy on my own. I dismissed the image of the company carrying me off to take care of my private needs while loitering about outside until I was done.

So I ignored the nagging urge, hoping that someone would tell them to come back later, but they decided to hear Kili tell again what had happened and sat down to wait. On top of being one giant bruise, I was emotionally sore, and I didn't want to hear it again—from the top, as Bofur said.

"Mmmm." I tried to open my lids, but they decided that they were just as disinterested in facing the world and stubbornly stayed closed.

"Oy! Oin. Are you sure there's nothing wrong with her?" Nori asked. "She's making noises now, and she looks like plums are stuck to her face."

Chairs scraped against the floor, and they crowded around the bed. Breath from every angle, some good and some not so, blew in my face. Chicken livers, onions, and blue cheese mixed with cinnamon, honey, and lemon to smell like one of my friend Sella's more creative attempts at finding her secret recipe.

"I think she looks good for someone who might have died."

"I've seen corpses look better."

"What are you doing?" Dwalin asked. "Giving her last rites?"

I liked him. I did. He was blunt, never mincing his words and never apologizing. That coupled with good looks would make him quite the catch. Too dry and matter-of-fact for anyone I knew, but a stalwart lady warrior would serve him well.

More footsteps and another voice joined in. "Areen? Are you awake? Areen? How are you feeling?" It was Kili, and his concern was touching. He smelled good too, very fresh and clean with a hint of mint.

"Kili ...," I whispered through a parched throat. It came out more like a croak. His breath quickened.

"Areen?"

I tried to sit up but flinched, and he demanded that I be given help. Oin came over with another one of his terrible syrups. I had asked last night if I could have some of Frerin's medicine, and he chuckled at my finicky palate. Minus one point for Erebor. Not that I was really keeping score. Despite yesterday's debacle, Erebor was doing quite nicely in the rankings, and Oin wasn't being mean. Frerin's wasn't strong enough, he had said. I don't think he heard me suggest a double dose.

"Mmmm, my head."

Another voice overrode the others.

"Stand back and give her some room," King Thorin said. "Oin, do you have it? Areen, can you sit up?"

I shook my head and flinched again. It was just too hard. My shoulder and head were battling for top honors in the category of inflicted pain. After a pause, someone slipped an arm behind the pillows and propped me up. I smelled spicy musk.

"Drink it and you'll feel better, child," Oin said. "You had a rough go of it last night, but I couldn't safely give you more."

"As soon as you drink, I'll set you back down," King Thorin said. "Kili, help her with the draught."

Kili took my good hand and put it on the cup and helped me bring it to my mouth, but I started shaking, and the cup dropped. The company noised its concern, and Oin left for clean linens.

"I'll take it," King Thorin said when Oin came back with more. "Come, Areen. I'll hold the cup and help you drink then Kili will help you find a comfortable position."

I blinked and made ready, and he propped me up a little more while holding the cup against my lips. I drank it all without spilling, then he lowered me slowly. Kili rearranged the blankets and helped me settle in with a final rub of his hand on my arm.

"That's enough for now," Oin said, but I knew I needed to get up soon. I had an increasingly urgent matter to attend to, and I didn't know how to say it in front of everyone. I shifted and grunted in discomfort and, thankfully, Oin picked up on it.

"Ah, yes," he said. "Now shoo, all of you. Areen, needs some privacy to meet the day, so out with you. Kili, can you send for Otha and Kitra? They can help Areen change and so forth. Thorin, she needs a moment. All of you. She'll be better soon enough."

Thanks to my friends, I soon was cleaned up, dressed, and feeling relief in a number of areas. A good breakfast can set anyone to rights, and I knew that when my appetite returned at the smell of lemon and berry scones, I would recover quickly.

"Can you walk, lass?" Oin asked. "It's best to move about if you can. Lying still for too long won't be good for you."

By then, Kitra had come back with Sky, and my good girl whined and licked my hand. I knew that she wanted me to get up and walk her, but I didn't think I could keep the pace.

"Otha will tend to your laundry," Kitra said, "and I'll take Sky. Master Oin's right. You need to move, Areen. You know you'll stiffen up otherwise."

Little by little, the pain subsided, and I got to my feet with help. After checking me over, Oin put a sling on me and led me out. The reception committee was waiting outside.

"Areen, you look …."

"Like a bunch of purple grapes," Nori said.

"I was going to say much better," Ori said in a testy voice, the first non-dreamy tone I had heard from him.

"I thank you for coming to see me," I said. "It was very kind, but I don't want to keep you from your day."

After a few more pleasantries, they left to go about their business with promises to visit soon. Nori promised to make my life more difficult while I was there, and I promised to leave him unable to have children. It would be a strange relationship, but a good-natured one.

"Down a couple of halls then," Kili said. "Oin will walk with your wheeled chair in case you need to sit down. Now may I?" He took my arm and carefully led me down a hall—Erebor's labyrinth—and the more we walked, the better I felt.

"That's enough now, Areen," Oin said after the half-hour bell chimed. "You're looking a little pale, so I want you to go back. Rest awhile and maybe you can go out again later. I want to keep an eye on you for another day."

I was getting tired, so Kili walked me back, and every so often, he'd pat my hand and give it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you, Kili, you've been wonderful."

He made a sound in his throat. "You could have died trying to save Frerin, so the least we can do is make you well. Uncle found out what had happened from your guards. They saw you from a distance and said that you took the fall for Frerin. When they came up to you they said that you tried to cover him with your body to protect him. We owe you a great debt, Areen."

I didn't think they owed me anything. I was terrified as Della had said and did only what I could at the time for the dearest boy ever. He was so full of life, so curious and questing that it was hard not to be taken with him. The thought of anything happening to those soft, plump hands and round face made me shudder.

"I'd have done anything for him," was the only thing I could say that made sense. Kili gave a satisfied, joyful chuckle.

"I know. You don't hide much."

I got back into bed, but it was quiet when I woke up, and I felt like it was the middle of the night. "Oin? Is anyone here?" It was a strange, disorienting feeling. I'd had that happen before I was blind when I'd take a nap during the day only to wake up when it was dark. The nap may only have been for an hour, but I'd wake up and feel like I had lost a day. Of course, when I found out that it was only an hour, I thought I'd gained time somehow.

"Yes, lass? I stepped away to have your dinner sent up. Otha and Kitra wanted to visit, but I thought it best for you to sleep as much as you could, so I turned away all visitors for the rest of the day. You're running a slight fever, perfectly understandable, so keep quiet until the family comes."

"Oh?"

He seemed surprised by my confusion.

"Lass, you were hurt trying to save their boy, so they want to see how you are. Besides, Frerin wants to visit. I think it'll do him good to see you more alert. I don't want him fretting."

I leaned back in the bed and tried to get comfortable, but my day dress was heavy and a little too hot to wear.

"Oin, is there something else I could wear that would be suitable? I'm hot, and I can't get comfortable."

A hand slapped on my forehead.

"You're fever's up a bit, so I'll send for some nightclothes. You're hair needs to come down too. It'll be cooler off your head."

About an hour later I was unbraided and wearing a lighter gown and robe. Otha and Kitra assured me that it was pretty but modest. "Nothing unseemly, Areen," Otha said. "Don't be uneasy."

I ate roast beef and gravy on a thick slice of bread, and it tasted marvelous. Slif had really gotten the hang of it. Otha and Kitra were eating as well and sharing their experiences at Erebor so far when the question I'd never had answered came to mind.

"What does King Thorin look like?"

Oin stopped putting away his vials and jars.

"Do you have pictures in your mind of what we look like, lass?"

Otha and Kitra said that they had described the princes to me, and I told Oin what I knew.

"Prince Kili has fine features with dark brown hair and dark eyes that are boyish and adorable, yet they can turn fierce when he's angry or upset. They said that he has a strong jaw and high cheeks. When I was young I remember seeing someone who looked like that, and I thought him very handsome."

"Good enough, lass. Kili is a looker for certain. And Fili?"

Otha giggled.

"We didn't say anything that wasn't true, Master Oin."

"He has golden hair with sparkling green eyes and lovely dimples," I said. "He looks to be in good humor almost all the time, although his dimples can deepen with exasperation when Frerin is, um, acting his age."

Oin chuckled heartily then and asked for my impressions of the others. Some were fairly close and others not so. Oin and my friends were happy to correct my errors.

"So Dori has braids tied under his chin, and Bifur has an ax sticking out of his forehead? I'd never have guessed that."

"And Dwalin?"

I described him as best as I could with, I admit, some of my more fanciful notions.

"Hmmm, interesting," Oin said. He coughed and thumped his chest.

"So what do you think King Thorin looks like then?" Kitra asked. I went into great detail, and when I was done they could hardly contain themselves.

"Well, Areen, my dear," Oin said when he could catch his breath, "you have them pegged exactly, excepting ..."

"Excepting what?"

Before he could answer, Kili rapped on the door.

"Is she up for visitors, Oin? Just the family for tonight. Frerin can't wait any longer for story time."

"Give us a minute to get ready, Kili," Oin said still chuckling. "We'll talk later, lass, but you've given me the best laugh of my week."

I didn't understand what was so funny, but it would have to wait for another day. Frerin ran through the door and jumped up and down next to my bed.

"Story time!"

"Frerin wants to include you in our nightly story time, Areen," Della said. "Are you feeling up to it?"

Of course I was.

"Which story are we going to do tonight, Frerin?"

"The Foolish Dwarf!"

Everyone groaned. "We did that last night, dear," Della said.

"Again!"

"Frerin, how about the Brave Princes and the Gem? Or the Crown Prince Who Saves His Kingdom?"

"No!"

"We could do the Perfect Mother," Della said. "You love that one."

"Foolish Dwarf, papa. Please?"

"Very well, son. Who's going to start it this time?" Fili asked. "Uncle?"

"If I must," King Thorin said. He creaked a bit in his seat, no doubt settling in for his performance. I was delighted. I'd never had such a time before where a family—the whole family—got together to do something as a family. Mother used to read to me when I was young, and tutors when I was blind; that is, until father decided it was a waste of his money and their time. Frerin climbed up on the bed and squirmed with excitement, and I confess that I did too.

"Once upon a time, there was a foolish dwarf who worked for a good king. A very good king. A great and wise king who was the most powerful king there ever was. A most noble king."

"Mmm, laying it on a bit thick, aren't you, Thorin?" Fili mumbled.

"You asked me to narrate, so no comments if you please. Now, before I was interrupted. There lived a great and wise king who had a foolish servant. Although he wasn't smart, he had served well, so when it was time for the servant to go home, the very noble and generous king gave him a bag of gold coins. As he went along his way, he grew tired and rested by a stream. There he met a man on a horse. Kili?"

"It was a tall horse," Kili said with mischief in his voice, "a magnificent horse, the most beautiful and magnificent horse there ever was. A most noble horse."

"Most amusing, Kili," King Thorin said. I stifled a snicker, but Fili didn't bother.

"At this rate, we'll never finish," Della said.

"Uncle started it."

"Kili."

"As I was saying, the man on the horse said to the foolish dwarf, 'What have you there?" Kili had pitched his voice in a close approximation of the king's, and I couldn't help a giggle at his irritated huff. "The foolish dwarf said a bag of coins, and the man said, 'Why, a horse is better than a bag of coins! Look you, why should you have to carry a heavy sack like that all the way home when you can ride this beautiful horse?'"

The story went on with the dwarf listening to each charlatan that he met on his way and trading what he had for something less valuable. A cow was better than a horse, and a pig was better than a cow, and a goat was better than a pig, and a goose was better than a goat. They all extolled the virtues of what they had to cheat the foolish dwarf who was only too willing to listen. The funniest part was that the foolish dwarf felt that he was getting the better deal every time. The Durins were surprisingly good story-tellers, and I laughed along with the rest at their comic interpretations. Fili was the foolish dwarf, and his doltish delivery had me holding my stomach with my good arm. Frerin squealed with each one's turn, and I realized that they were acting out their parts as well. I wished I could see their expressions, but being there was enough.

"So the foolish dwarf took the goose and went on his way feeling very proud of himself," Della continued, "When he was about three miles from home he met a man carrying a large, smooth rock. The man said to the dwarf, 'Friend, where are you going and what have you there?'"

When Della described the rock and how it could be used as a whetstone and wouldn't a whetstone be better than a goose who would die someday, I burst out laughing with the others. She did it so well with the voice of an elderly man who was shrewdly selling a worthless rock that I wondered if this talent came out of the roles they play as royalty. Maybe not, but if they were ever deposed, they could go out on the road and get rich. I listened with an eager smile for the ending, but she stopped.

"Your turn, Areen," Fili said. "As guest of honor, you get to finish the story."

Now I had told many, many stories in my life, but they were the kind called Stories to Evade Father's Wrath. I wasn't sure what Frerin expected and worried that I'd disappoint him. Maybe he had an ending that he liked.

"But how does it end?"

"Any way you want," Kili said. "That's the fun of it. We make up new things as we go."

Oh. I wanted to beg off, but I also wanted so much to join in and be a part. "Can you give me a hint, Kili?"

He cupped his hand around my ear and leaned in. His lips tickled my ear. "He ends up with nothing. Just use your imagination."

I took a deep breath and plunged in.

"Now by this time, the foolish dwarf was tired of carrying the heavy rock and very thirsty, and he thought that a taking a drink at the lake about a mile from his house would be just the thing before he walked through the door. So he set his rock down and leaned over to take a drink. But he set the rock down on the slope and while he was taking a drink it tumbled into the water and fell to the bottom of the lake. The foolish dwarf thought to himself that it was very good fortune not to have to carry a heavy rock the rest of the way and went home with a happy smile, thinking that his wife would be so proud of him."

I bit my lip when I was done, but the Durins laughed and clapped their hands.

"Couldn't have done better myself," Fili said gallantly. "Now Frerin, give Princess Areen a kiss goodnight. It's time for bed."

The disappointment must have shown on my face because Della laughed and patted my hand.

"You're welcome to join us every night if you wish. We'd be delighted to have you."

Fili lifted Frerin up from the bed after a moist kiss on my cheek, and I beamed my thanks. I was so happy to be included in a real family. Lord Vinn had tried to include me in his, but father had always complained that it was unseemly for me to be eating meals and spending evenings with others and always commanded me to come home so he could vent his frustrations on me and mother. Heaping bile on just one wasn't satisfying enough.

"Oh, thank you. I would like that very much."

Gathering themselves together, they joked about their performances and the new tidbits that had been added. Fili and Kili kissed my hand with exaggerated smooches. I swatted at them and missed. Della leaned in for a light hug, and King Thorin laid his hand on my shoulder.

"We're glad you are recovering, Areen," he said. "I didn't say so before, but you have my gratitude for what you did for Frerin. The guards told me what they had seen, and I thank you."

I nodded, suddenly too overcome to say anything. A tear splashed on my cheek, and he caught it on his finger.

"Don't cry, Areen. It's over now. Go to sleep, and tomorrow you'll feel much better."

The story is an old fairy tale that I'd always loved. Please review! Consider it a Christmas present to your finger-numb writer!