Hey everyone. Yes I'm still alive and no this story has not been given up on. My brain went to war with itself the past few weeks and I just couldn't do anything. To those who waited, thank you for hanging in there, and welcome to everyone else who added this story to their alert and favourites list.

I basically just skipped over the next how ever many weeks in this chapter, it needed a time jump. Enjoy.

Ch 26 Time Flies By

Whatever she had in mind when Thorin had returned was erased when she saw the books. He went on to explain he wanted to teach her to read and write so she could be more included in his life now and later. Her hands grabbed one of the books and flipped through the pages, fingertips grazing the inked script that she didn't know. All the books he had brought were in Westron, a language easier to learn than that of the dwarves. The large tome Lapis held was shoved in his face and she had shook it slightly.

"Show me."

They didn't go out that night nor the next few after. Frerin provided writing supplies and Thorin would show her letters each night for her to work on while he was gone the next day. She grasped the knowledge quickly and Thorin began to teach her sounds along small words to repeat. They began rotating nights between teaching and going outside, setting a schedule so Lapis wouldn't stress herself. Frerin joined them almost every time they went outside and read from his books or reiterated his lesson he had that day to Lapis while she rolled on the grass near them. Over days and weeks, she grew more open and curious, her knowledge expanding as she came to understand a little more each day about dwarves and the world outside.

As she became more aware of the world and the on goings outside the mountain, the stronger her mind had become and the more her nightmares had diminished to almost nonexistent. It was almost as though it was in sync, the more her mind matured resulted in being able to have control over what she saw while sleeping. Thorin still had no idea what she saw in those times and Lapis felt no need to bother him with them since they hadn't resurfaced in days.

Spring rolled into summer and Lapis grew bigger, both in her belly and as a dragon. It was becoming exhausting to change back and forth so often making Thorin demand she only do so once or twice a week. This result in her staying as a dragon for a day or more and staying inside his room on her bed of jewels. During the days while Thorin was occupied, she was given books to read ranging from children's tales to history of Middle Earth. When he returned from his training with Gatik or with his father, they would bathe and sit together with Thorin cradling her body with his hands on her stomach while she read aloud to him and he corrected her pronunciation or explained what a word meant. Sex still occurred, not as often, but Lapis was still active in her want of Thorin and he was more than happy to comply with her wishes; carefully.

In the weeks through the hot months, she also worked on her ability to cast ice. It was baffling to her, to suddenly have this power after becoming pregnant and no idea how to draw it forth. No matter how hard she tried at first, there was no result and it infuriated her. Anger hadn't been a part of her mood before and it surprised Thorin so much when she screamed at him that he had backed away from her. In that moment, it was good she never wore clothes because his eyes caught sight of her torso when she had spun around. A pale blue glow emanated softly above her belly up to her throat and after pointing it out, Lapis calmed down almost instantly after looking down watching the glow vanish. After hearing the story, and after laughing at Thorin for trying to escape his pregnant One, Frerin suggested her Ice only came out now when she was under a lot of stress.

It was after that event that Thorin made a trip to see the Scholar in Dale to seek advice. Dwarf knowledge was useless in that moment since they didn't rely on magic for anything. Bede was excited to see the Prince and pulled him into the same room as before and questioned him about Lapis, her condition, and whatever else popped into his head. Thorin answered everything, chagrined at the Man, and after some time held up a hand to silence him to tell Bede the reason he was there. The older man ran off after standing in thought after Thorin finished his tale and returned with a book. A dark brow rose in question and Bede went on to explain it was of Elvish origin, written in Westron, and contained a section on meditation. Blue eyes flickered over the beginning paragraph, taking in the information scrawled on the page with interest. He thanked the scholar and returned home, to Lapis who was sleeping in his bed.

Over the next week, with Frerin's help, they studied the passage and directed Lapis the best they could. The idea was basic, she had to find her way to her power and learn how to use it, the problem being there was no one to teach her outside the book. In the following days, her frustration grew, and Lapis started to become increasingly angry. More than once Thorin had to subdue her for Frerin to leave and calm her down, and half those times Lapis would gain the upper hand at least once. She had turned into a dragon one day and the brothers had taken a step back in unison before Thorin shoved Frerin out of the bathroom and planted himself in front of the door. This went on for the rest of summer until Thorin finally called quits. He demanded that she no longer endanger herself, the baby, or his brother and her training would have to wait until after she had given birth. Tears and shouting had ensued, but Thorin held steady until she collapsed from exhaustion, giving in once she woke up the next day.

It was nearing the end of summer and the trio were outside, Thorin and Frerin watching Lapis fly high in the sky under the light of the full moon. Thorin was more than thankful Lapis hadn't scared his brother away with her fluctuating emotion, he couldn't imagine trying to do this on his own. They sat in comfortable silence, taking in the quiet night air and the sounds of chirping from the river near them. After a while, Frerin to turned to his brother.

"I think we should rethink introducing her to people."

Thorin looked at him in surprise, "How do you propose we do that?"

The younger dwarf shrugged, "I'm not sure. However, I do believe eventually she will be found in your rooms and that seems like a worse idea to me. She's going to give birth at some point and you can't hide a baby in your rooms along with her."

Blue eyes moved back to the sky at the figure of his One languidly soaring in the clouds. "How though? And what of my child, I would have to pretend he or she isn't mine."

"I don't know Thorin, but I have this feeling something bad will happen if we don't find a way to bring her to father." Frerin fell silent for a minute. "May there is a way to announce she is carrying your baby."

A bemused look was thrown at him. "And you propose to do that…how?"

"Well, you did disappear for that time they found you all bloodied up outside the gates…"

"You know very well that's when she got pregnant." Thorin interrupted.

"…Which is why it is a perfect time to consider you met her, lost control meeting your One so young and didn't remember her for a time."

"For five months."

Frerin rolled his eyes at the tone, "They already think you don't remember what happened to the 'animal' that attacked you."

He did have a valid point or two, Thorin thought as he moved his gaze back to Lapis as she spiraled down. How dangerous would it be though? Would his father accept her since she wasn't a dwarf, or could he convince him that Lapis was part dwarf? She had the height, just lacking in other characteristics; and some extra features that would be questioned. Her scales could raise alarm, but if properly dressed only the small section on her jaw would be visible. Time was flying by and he still hadn't figured out what to do with her when she gave birth. Perhaps this was the only way. But what if she gave birth to dragons or shifted into a dragon and laid eggs? As she landed in front of him and returned to her human form, Thorin's frown fell and he gave her a smile. They would figure this out, but it looked like he would have to convince her to wear clothes. Lapis kneeled in front of him, her hair falling around him with the silver jewelry he had given her months ago decorating the dark locks. She had put on all the jewelry he had made or given her and refused to take any of it off, not that he minded. Thorin laid his hands on her swollen stomach and kissed his mate, pulling her into his lap.

I know it's been a lasting debate on what to do with Lapis, but I've decided now. Also, the timeline now is around the fall solstice, maybe a week before.

Please let me know what you all thought, much love.