As Mary woke, she could not ever remember being so sore. Groaning, she tried to move to find herself a more comfortable position and opened her eyes. At first she was shocked at how dark it was, it had still been early afternoon when Thorin had brought her up here and then the thought of her baby hit her and she tried even more fiercely to sit up. Before she had fallen unconscious she remembered Oin saying something was wrong. Something about twins, but that could not be right. She gave a small gasp as she got herself halfway up, only to fall back on the pillows as her strength gave out and suddenly a voice came from over by the window.

"Hey, you should not be getting up, you need to rest." Thorin said and moved over and sat on the bed next to her.

" How are you feeling?" He asked.

"Like I just tried to get between Bombur and dinner" Mary replied with a small smile.

Thorin chuckled and then put his arms around her and lifted her to a sitting position.

Mary looked at Thorin with a worried expression and asked "Our child?"

Thorin nodded to two cradles situated next to the low burning fireplace and smiled at her.

"I think you mean children and they are fine." He replied and Mary looked at him a little shocked.

"I thought I heard Oin say… I could not believe it though!" she stammered.

"The first babe was a boy I know, but the second?"Mary asked now with tears in her eyes.

Thorin gave her a tender smile and replied, "A girl."

Mary felt the tears start to fall freely down her face.

"And they are alright?" She asked needing reassurance.

"You fell unconscious just after the birth of our daughter, but Oin was able to find a wet nurse to feed them. They are sleeping and Oin says they are small but perfectly healthy." Thorin told her and Mary smile and leaned her heard against his shoulder.

Thorin pulled her more firmly into his embrace and held her for a few moments. Mary leaned back and looked at him.

"I want to get up and see them." She said.

Thorin nodded, knowing that here was no way he was keeping her in this bed, and helped her up and into a chair by the fire. Mary leaned over the cradles and looked at her two children. As she did a wave of love and fierce protectiveness swept over her. She smiled in noticing that they were both the spitting image of their father, both having his dark brown hair and dwarfish features. At that moment the young prince opened his eyes and Mary let out a surprised gasp.

"What?" Thorin asked.

"Hazel. His eyes are hazel."She said.

"Like his mother." Thorin said, placing a gentle kiss on the top of her head.

"What are we going to name them?" Mary asked.

"I was thinking Thoron for the boy." He answered, "I don't know about the girl."

Mary looked thoughtfully at her daughter for a moment.

"What about Aria?" She asked looking at him.

Thorin nodded, "Thoron and Aria. It fits."

After a couple of days recuperating, Mary started to feel like she was going stir crazy. One day, after the twins had been put down for a nap, Becky came to check on her.

"I am going stir crazy being cooped up in this room. I am not even able to put my own children down for naps in their nursery." Mary complained, from the bed that Thorin had threatened to tie her to if she did not stay in it.

"You need your rest!" Becky replied checking the bandage on her neck.

Mary grumbled, "I am fine. This is only a scratch. I have cut myself worse sharpening my arrows!"

Becky looked at her with her hands on her hips.

"You were not four days ago chased thought the woods and almost killed by a crazed maniac and then gave birth to twins. You need to recuperate. Now you are either going to cooperate or I will knock you out myself!" Becky retorted and Mary huffed and leaned back against the pillow and muttered something uncomplimentary in elfish.

"I am going to pretend like I did not hear that. Anyway, Don and Den are still here. Thorin wants to make sure you are kept safe." Becky said.

Mary sighed, "When's the hearing?" she asked, no matter what they said she was going to it!

She was done running from those two!

Becky smiled evilly and replied, "Whenever Don finally wakes up!" and Mary gave her a confused look.

"Thorin gave him a pretty good beating and he still has not regained consciousness." she explained.

A few days later Don finally awoke and when he was able to leave his bed, Thorin had him brought before the council to pronounce sentence. Thorin was ready to sentence him to death for attacking Mary, but a few days before she talked him out of it.

"Thorin, I do not want his blood on your hands. I would not want you sullied in that manner. He is not worth it." She had explained.

So in front of the council, Thorin pronounced Don's sentence.

"Don son of Den, you are here to answer for attacking Mary Sapphire, Queen of Erebor. Your guilt is unquestionable and deserving of death. But the Queen has wisely recommended mercy and I have agreed. Your are not worth allowing your blood to stain the rocks of Erebor. You are hereby sentenced to 60 years labor in the mines of Moria, as Lord Balin has need of more workers to continue the restoration of that city. You are to be escorted there immediately and after your time is served you are never to set foot within Erebor territory." Thorin pronounced and Don was led away.

Den, it was revealed, after intense questioning by King Dain, did know that Don had been in the forests around Erebor but denied any knowledge of what he had been planning.

King Dain took it upon himself to pronounce sentence upon Den.

"Den you have been my magistrate for many years and I thought that your area of the Iron Hills was flourishing under your leadership. I have now received word that this was not the only time your son has harmed someone. Most disturbingly, is the news that you have covered up not only his previous attack on Mary Sapphire but also other women. I cannot trust you in your place anymore, as now I see that your judgments are nothing but harmful. I hereby strip you of the title of magistrate and seeing as you have no other heir, the title will pass to whom I deem worthy. Also for disobeying my orders concerning your son not being allowed to come to Erebor, you are now ordered banished from the Iron Hills. You will be given leave to return now to gather what you need and then you are to leave." Dain decreed.

"You are also to never set foot in Erebor again!" Thorin added.

Don left then, looking completely broken and Mary breathed a sigh of relief, the nightmare was finally over and she could now enjoy her life with her husband and children without looking over her shoulder.

A few hours later, Thorin found her in the Tower room watching as the dwarf lords dispersed down their separate ways to their homes. He walked over and put his arms around her from behind and Mary leaned back into his embrace.

"You alright?" he asked, not liking seeing the bruises that still colored her fair skin.

"I am now." She answered.

Mary turned and put her arms around his neck and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"It's finally over." Mary whispered and then smiled.

Looking down, Thorin caught sight of the smile and asked, "Smiling about anything in particular?"

Mary shook her head and answered , "Just thinking about the crazy journey that led us here. Who would have thought a venture into a mountain, to commit theft, by what many thought was a phantom, would have led to a life of love and joy."

Thorin smiled and cupped her cheek, "There is only one thing you have wrong." He said and Mary looked at him questioningly.

"You're not a phantom anymore." He said.

Well that's it! It's finished! YAY! Thank you to all of you who were so faithful in reviewing my story. The constructive criticisms were very helpful and the enthusiasm really helped. Thanks in particular to Fifekun, Dragynfyre18, Jo, AlliBaba, Jessiekat89 and Eclaire Stones for your encouraging reviews and Thank you to Rousdower who is currently Betaing this story!

Hope everyone liked it, please review and I am working on a new story called Firebringer. Now that this on is done that one will move forward.