A/N : Thank you Everyone this has been an amazing ride! If you want updates on this series I encourage you to bookmark this story as I will update it when I post the first chapter of the next story. I am beginning work on the second story immediately but will not begin posting until August during my honeymoon.

I love you all so much! The long anticipated last chapter. This story has taken just over a year to get here and I feel like I have accomplished so much! I couldn't bring myself to write the smut but maybe I will add that later if I feel I can do it justice. Please enjoy this last chapter of Mountain Mother!

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

Chapter 29

Thorin woke abruptly unsure of why until he heard the squeak of door hinges. It was too early for Gage to come to his chambers and if there were an emergency people would come bolting into his room instead of sneaking.

"Thorin?" Billa's voice whispered from his doorway, "Thorin are you awake?"

His voice felt deep and rough from sleep, "I am indeed." he could hear the pattering of Billa's feet as she moved into his room, her face becoming visible as she reached the side of his bed and started to climb on. "What do I have that would tempt a burglar in the night?" He teased and pulled her down on top of him exchanging a slow sleepy kiss.

"Oh I would steal many things from you in the night Thorin Oakenshield." Her voice was breathless when Thorin finally released her lips.

"Is it stealing if I would give it to you freely?" he pulled her head back to his losing himself in the slow slide of their lips and tongue. Her curves were warm and yielding as he pressed her tight to his body. Billa bit his lip and he moaned. He brought his hand to ear and began to stroke it from tip to lobe. Up and down, up and down, he used the lightest of touches to tease her until she was panting into his open mouth.

"Wait," she moaned when he brought his other hand to her breast cupping it firmly, "wait."

Thorin stopped, his eyes seeking Billa's but they were not shadowed or frightened as they sometimes grew if dark thoughts and memories were too close to Billa's mind. Instead they were open and dark with desire.

"I have something for you first." She sat up straddling his stomach, and reached a hand into the pocket of her robe. "A year ago you gave me something and you told me to give it back when we were reconciled. You said that you had undervalued me and cast me out; that you would be in my service until your last day on Middle Earth. Since then you have given me many things; the strength and courage to stand on my own feet. You have listened to my council and valued my opinions and abilities above all others. You have supported me in all I have tried to do."

He nodded solemnly.

"I gave you my heart months ago and since then you have nurtured it with affection and warmth and my love has bloomed to bursting." They shared a smile at her garden metaphors. "I want everyone to know that we go to our marriage bed as equals and that all between us is forgiven."

She pulled his bead from her pocket and ran her hand through his hair gently separating the strands of his unadorned temple braid. Thorin's chest was tight with emotion as Billa redid the braid giving him soft kisses throughout the process. When she reached the end and clasped it with the bead, his bead; given away so many months ago and finally, finally given back in absolution, his eyes grew watery and warm.

They stayed together for the rest of the night trading tear flavored kisses.


Balin couldn't sleep, a common problem that started years ago with nightmares of fire and the stench of burning flesh and changed into hundreds of worries buzzing about his head and never quieting.

'I must find work.' 'I must get food for Dwalin.' 'Please don't let us die here.'

The burdens on his shoulders had never been easy to bear but the worries that kept him up tonight were very different from the starving, fearful ravings of the past century. He was worried about his namadith, Billa.

The wedding preparations were (finally) complete and the Mountain waited with baited breath for the sunrise. Billa had held under every pressure put upon her with unfaltering grace and patience. The Council had been insistent that she be given tutelage and tests in multiple subjects; Thorin taught her Khuzdul and iglishmek, Balin oversaw lessons on deportment and court etiquette. Everyone in the Company had banded together to support her as she was tried and evaluated and Billa had not yet been found wanting.

But Balin could see the cost of the pressure that was put upon Billa; how dark circles grew under her eyes with each day that passed. He wished it would get easier for her, that after the wedding the demands upon her time would be less but it wouldn't and he knew she knew it too.

So his thoughts and worries had driven him from his bed to walk in the early autumn air. On any other day he may have been surprised to find Billa leaning on the battlements with Ginta and Ranka as her shadows but tonight it was not a surprise.

"Good morning sister." Balin pulled Billa back from the thoughts that had her mind looking beyond the horizon.

"It is morning already?" her eyes looked at the sky again surprised by the lightening of the eastern sky. "The night has passed so quickly." She sighed, her gaze going distant again.

"More than the night has gone quickly, I think." Balin put his arm around Billa's shoulders pulling her tight under his coat. "A year ago we were sending you into the lair of a dragon and none of us believed we would live to see the dawn." He should not classify such an evening as a happy one but remembering the adrenaline and triumph he felt when Smaug had fled the Mountain made it one of his greatest achievements. "But we did" he gave Billa a bright smile, coaxing one out of her in return. "and no one could have guessed how bountiful our lives would become. I have a home again, a safe place to rest my head and a full belly." He squeezed Billa tighter against his chest, "We have so many things I haven't even dared to dream of. It can be beautifully overwhelming."

When Billa hugged him tight and snuggled her face into his beard he knew she understood. They had been blessed with a great and heavy burden, for they felt the weight of unconditional love.

Balin stayed with Billa through the hours of early dawn and well into breakfast until Dis appeared from inside the Mountain and dragged Billa to get ready.

Balin stayed for a few moments longer savoring the rising temperatures before he too turned away. Fili and Kili were good boys but Balin had little trust in them helping Thorin prepare.


After dragging Billa from Balin's presence Dis practically pushed her into a warm bath before ordering a swarm of serving women to begin their work. They were ruthless in their efforts to wash every inch of her.

"I am quite sure I can wash my own hair."

"I have been washing myself since I was a fauntling."

And finally when one, well intentioned, hand strayed between her legs to "freshen her for the King", she squealed in protest, "That is quite enough help, thank you very much!" So the Dam surrendered her wash rag to Billa's hands before helping to rub lavender oil into her hair, muttering about "maidens not having any sense about feminine hygiene" and "did she want to get a bladder infection, honestly!"

As humiliating as that moment was Billa greatly appreciated the help Dis and the palace women were giving her. The women's' art of preparation had always been difficult for Billa, though she would don party dresses and ribbons in her curls at her father's and grandfather's insistence she had almost always had her Mother to help her do so. Dis' deft hands braided her temple braids, threading them with white ribbon before twisting them into a complex coil on top of her head. They asked her to contort her face so they could apply rouge and eyeshadow, her lips were painted a light red and hours passed before she was allowed to rise from her stool and look into a mirror.

The women waited with baited breath as Billa's finger gently touched her painted lips and traced the defined arch of her eyebrows. They watched as tears gathered in her eyes and they feared they had upset their soon-to-be Queen.

Billa's voice was tight with emotion when she turned from her reflection and grabbed Dis' hands and smiled, "I look like a bride!" after which she promptly burst into tears.


Balin needn't have worried about getting Thorin ready for the wedding since most of the Company was sitting around Thorin's small dining table eating breakfast when he walked through the door. He wished everyone good morning before grabbing a meat pie from the platter.

"Where's Thorin?" his question was for everyone but Dwalin answered between bites of his own food. "He's in the bath with Dori and Gage."

Balin turned to look into the King's bedroom where he could hear Thorin cursing as Dori's voice grew shrill. "I take it he is not enjoying himself?"

Dwalin sprayed crumbs as he laughed, "Nah, he started fussing as soon as Gage talked about trimming his nose hair."

"Gage is a brave dwarf indeed." Balin commented serenely as the voices in the back room grew louder and Thorin ran into the room clad only in a towel, quickly putting the dwarfs at the table between himself and his tormentors.

"There is no way I am letting either of you do THAT!"

"Come now my lord," Gage tutted as he brandished a pair of tweezers at the King, "would it not be wise to be prepared for all possibilities between yourself and the Lady Billa?"

Thorin spluttered and the skin beneath his beard was a visible red "Even if that is somewhere Billa would be interested in touching I am quite capable of cleaning there!"

Gage gave a heavy sigh and rolled his eyes before he reached through the Company and dragged Thorin back into the bath, "As you wish Sire."

"Damn right it's as I wish!"

The Company was left in shocked silence until Fili and Kili slumped onto the sofa with ashen faces. "I don't even want to know, not even a little bit."

The older dwarves just laughed at their sickened faces. What striplings their princes still were!


Gerontius heart skipped a beat when he finally saw his granddaughter; he had been lead to a side chamber of the throne room where they would wait for the guests to be seated before the ceremony began. Billa's back was to the door and her gaze was on her hands, she was probably wringing them together a nervous habit she had always had, her hair was pulled off her neck and it spiraled in a widening braid around the back of her head. The back of the dress was a straight line across her shoulder blades and the color was a beautiful contrast on her tanned skin.

Gerontius' eyes began to burn with tears, "Oh Billa, you look beautiful."

"Grandpapa!" she rose from her chair and rushed across the room, embracing him tightly. Eventually he pulled back from the hug and Billa's eyes were just as wet as his. "I have never seen a happier bride."

She snorted, "You've probably never seen a more nervous one either."

"Well I wouldn't say that…" he trailed off remembering Belladonna's wedding to Bungo. "Your mother threated to burn the bridge over the Brandywine when you father was late to their ceremony."

Billa's went wide with shock, "She did not!"

"Oh she most certainly did! Isumbras hid Bungo's waistcoat and handkerchief while drunk the night before and couldn't remember where he had put them. Belladonna almost killed them both when she found out." Billa's laugh ended with a sad sigh, "I miss them."

"We all do dear, we all do." He drew her back into his arms and held her tight, "They loved you very much and I know they would be so proud of and happy for you. You have found a good husband in Thorin Oakenshield and even though I will always worry about you I will rest easy knowing you have protective brothers and a good, caring husband with you. Not all grandfathers are so lucky you know?"

The look he gave Billa was one filled with pride and love. It was not so long ago that Billa was just a fauntling. Whenever her mother brought her to Tuckborough she would sneak away from the other children and into his study as he did work as the Thain. There were many conversations that were interrupted by the small giggles and noises she would make as she played with paper soldiers and dolls beneath his large desk. She would spend hours there "hiding" from her mother until she would fall asleep amidst the piles of paper bits and toys. Now she stood before him a woman grown about to marry and start a family of her own.

"Now, now. I promised myself I wouldn't cry, you see and you are making me fail miserably." he tutted as he felt a tear fall onto his cheek.

Billa pulled the handkerchief from his breast pocket and dabbed at his cheeks, "I love you too Grandpapa."


Dis watched her brother as he paced around the edge of the room; his strides were long and his scowl fierce. "Please don't tell me I was this nervous when I got married." Her words brought Thorin to stop and he turned his glare from the floor onto her.

"I am not nervous." He insisted.

"Perhaps you are not," she conceded lightly. "though you would have every right to be. I mean you are only marrying the woman you love and crowning her your Queen in front of a thousand people and a dozen dignitaries, what could possibly go wrong?"

Thorin growled at her teasing, "Don't be glib, it's unbecoming."

She smirked and walked to her brother and took his hands in hers, "Stop being an idiot then."

The King gave a huge sigh, his shoulders falling as he released the tension and rested his forehead against Dis'.

She looked into those Durin blue eyes, an exact copy of her own, and smiled. "A blind man could see how much she loves you and a deaf man could hear the way your heart races when she smiles at you."

Thorin's eyes crinkled in the slightest smile, "Truly?"

"Of course." She assured him gently, "You look at each other the way Vili and I did."

"Oh Dis." His eyes flickered with sadness mirrored in hers, "If that is how we look then we must be very much in love."

Dis' laugh was watery, "Of course you are you dolt."

"Then I have no reason to be nervous, do I?"

"No," replied Dis and she buried her face into Thorin's chest, "you really don't."


It was passing into mid-afternoon when Dis finally came for Billa. "It's time."

Gerontius held his arm out for Billa, who was grateful to have her Grandpapa's steady presence as they walked to the throne room doors. "Ready darling?"

"As ready as I will ever be." Her voice was shaking when she nodded to the two guards to open the doors before her.

Music drifted to her ears as she stepped over the threshold and everyone in the room scrambled to stand as she began to walk down the aisle. The people were craning over and around each other, hundreds of pairs of eyes eager to see her as she made her way towards her husband but when her eyes met Thorin's she lost herself. Thorin was waiting at the top of the stone steps, just feet from the throne and the way he looked at her took the breath from her lungs. It made her feel like there was no one else in the room, no one else the in whole world but him. His hair was still lightly decorated with just the two braids at his temple, though something had been done to highlight the hidden shades of blue amongst the inky black strands. The light of the Arkenstone was reflected in the onyx chevrons that made up his crown but his tunic, what she could see of it beneath his scale armor, was dark blue and delicately embroidered.

"Oh," Billa gasped as she neared Thorin and the pattern became clear, there were twisting ivy vines and small flower buds, each a match to the pattern on Billa's veil. When she reached him and Gerontius placed her hands into his she ran a hand down the length of his arm, her smile said it all, 'You wore flowers for me.'

His eyebrow shot upwards and his face shifted into a smirk, 'of course I did.'

Together they turned to his throne where Gandalf had stepped forward.

"Dwarrow of Erebor, Elves of the Greenwood, Men of Dale and Hobbits of the Shire," He spoke grandly gestured towards each of the leader of each race, "I welcome you all to this momentous occasion; for the first time in the history of Arda these four races of Eru Iluvatar are gathered together not to make trade or war, but to celebrate love."

Gandalf continued to talk, he may have spoken for hours for all the Billa and Thorin knew but they had been far too lost in each other's eyes to remember a single word that was said until Gandalf finally bade them to seal their union with a kiss. At which Thorin pulled Billa close and placed a hand upon her neck before tilting her head and claiming her lips with his own. The kiss was slow and lingering; the press of his lips against her own sent a small spark racing to her belly, making her hands fist his clothes to keep him close for a moment longer. They broke apart breathless and tingling with desire and looked back to Gandalf who was waiting to continue the last part of the ceremony.

"Billa Amadel Baggins," his voice was grave and it echoed to every corner of the room "do you swear to lead your new people to times of prosperity? To lend you strength and wisdom to this kingdom as you do its king?"

"I do." Her voice rang with conviction as Gandalf gently lifted her crown from a velvet pillow and placed it upon her head.

"I crown you Billa Amadel of Erebor, long live the Queen!" Thorin pulled her into a kiss and did not let her go until the first cheer rose from the crowd, dwarrow and men alike whooping and hollering, "Long live the Queen! Long live the King!"


"Where in the world are you taking me?" Billa giggled tipsily as Thorin dragged her through yet another hallway, "Please don't get us lost on our wedding night."

"I am not getting us lost," Thorin's voice was loud and echoed up to ceiling, his pace was fast and the smile on his face was blinding, "I have a present for you."

"Present you say?" Billa's free hand reached forward to pat one Thorin's shapely cheeks through his trousers, and teased him "is that what you are calling it, a present?"

Thorin lost focus of his task when he felt the firm press of Billa's hand on his rear and immediately quit leading her through the hallways and pressed her into one of the walls instead, pinning her there with his chest and hips. "While that is not what I meant, I will be giving you that present as well." He thrust his hips against her grinding evidence of his arousal in the heat beneath her skirt and kissed her mouth open before plunging his tongue inside. His hands drifted down her hips and to her thighs and he cupped beneath her generous buttocks before lifting her off the ground and slipping her skirts upwards, freeing her legs to wrap around his waist. She moaned loudly in his ear and grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled. Thorin practically roared as he wrenched them both away from the wall and began walking down the hallway, keeping her legs wrapped around him.

Billa moaned as every step he took jostled her pearl against his stomach, each moment of pressure stoking the fire that was consuming her from the inside. "Please Thorin," she begged, "Please hurry."

"Billa there will no hurrying tonight." He spoke into her ear placing hot open mouthed kisses against the sensitive shell, "When we reach our destination there will be no force that could make me rush through this night. I will unravel you completely, I will devastate you with my mouth and hands until you a quivering mass of lust and then," he punctuated his words with a hard thrust of his hips, "then I will slick up my cock and make love to you. I will make you my wife."

Billa was sobbing in her pleasure as Thorin continued to tease her as he walked. Finally he reached a large door with silver fittings and put her feet on the ground, "I would give you a wonderful present tonight Billa," he spoke breathlessly as they panted into each other mouths. "I would give you a Deed proving my love and devotion to show to the entire Mountain." He stepped away from her quickly needing the space to cool his passion and clear his head and looked into her wide green eyes.

"I would gladly accept any Deed you would give." Her hands trembled as he placed them on the door handles and helped her swing them open.

The sight that greeted them still made Thorin preen, the wooden walls awash in the orange glow of the fire crackling before two plush armchairs and a sofa. He had carefully chosen each piece of artwork on the walls blending their tastes and interests into one home.

"Thorin…." Billa whispered as she stepped into the inviting room her fingers touching everything she passed. "Thorin this is beautiful." She stopped in front of the fire and turned back to her husband.

"You said your father built your mother a home worthy of her." he crossed to his wife and held her hands in his own. "I do not think anyone could build a place grand enough to honor all that you are but I hope you will accept this place as your home."

"Our home Thorin," her correction was gentle, "our home."

The honeymoon of the King and Queen lasted an entire week; each day was marked with a great feast for the rest of the Mountain. After the second day passed without the couple ending their seclusion a conspicuous dwarf with tri peaked hair began taking bets. "We've got six to one against for a Princess and one to two odds for a pregnancy before Yule!" Nori shouted in the market place as dwarves clambered up to place their bets.

Dwalin could have broken up the betting ring and scolded the thief for exploiting their friends' marriage but he didn't. They were only celebrating the love of their King and Queen in the best way they knew how, by believing that more good things were to come and that they deserved to profit from this certainty.

"Put me down for 20 slivers on a Princess!" Dwalin shouted above the roar of the crowd. "And put me down for more than one!" Gerontius piped up from where he stood at Dwalin's elbow. The betting crowd went silent before they all started shouting at Nori again, all eager to bet on the fertility of hobbits against the stubbornness of dwarves.


Epilogue

Five Months Earlier

It was freezing out and there was no adequate place to take shelter in the northern wastes of the Grey Mountains but he kept trying. He had found a small alcove amongst the rocks that shelters three sides of the wind even if it did not keep the snow from piling up around him. His fire was small and sputtering as it struggled to stay burning through the winter storm. The cold never used to bother him when hehad the heat of fellow soldiers to warm him in the night and a beard, a beard to protect his face from the frigid winds.

The figure ran his hand across bristly skin where deep brown hair used to grow. It had been full and textured before it had been cut off, before it had been taken from him.

Damn that Oakenshield, damn him and his bitch of a woman.

So lost in his mind was he that Erl barely had time to hide his shame beneath a scarf before a group of riders came into his shabby camp.

"Ho there fellow!" shouted one of the riders, a dwarf atop a great shaggy battle ram. "I must say we've been looking for you for quite some time."

There was only one reason for a group of soldiers to be following his trail through the dead of winter and Erl was quick to abandon camp, leaving his meager supplies in the snow as he took off at a run.

"Bring him in men!" Erl heard the voice of what must be the Captain echo through across the mountains as he tried to outrun their battle rams. But they were swift and bred for the rough terrain and they quickly caught up to the fleeing dwarf. With one well aimed stone Erl fell to the ground, his vision wavering as the riders came into view.

The Captain ordered one of his men to dismount and remove the scarf hiding Erl's bare face and head.

"Looks like the right guy." the soldier confirmed when he rolled back a sleeve and found his sword hand missing as well.

"Bag him up and let's head home, it's colder than an ice drake out here."

So the riders headed into Ered Mithrin and to the stronghold of Lord Kohim.

Erl's eyes had just fluttered open to a plain stone room an old dwarf sat at his bedside, a book perched on an end table nearby.

"Finally awake, I see."

Erl grunted in response.

"I am Lord Kohim, Master of these halls. Do you know why you have been brought here?"

Erl stayed silent at the lord's question.

"I have heard of you, Erl former son of Yerl and I know what you were convicted of in Erebor."

Erl paled. Perhaps this Lord meant to kill him to gain favor with Oakenshield? Perhaps-?

"I want information" Kohim interrupted Erl's thoughts, "and if you give me something that proves useful perhaps I will let you stay in my Halls until the spring time instead of casting you out to die in the wastes, as I am supposed to."

It was a generous offer, too generous. No dwarf would be caught dead giving aid to a Zhinkarkal. If others found out about this Lord Kohim's reign would be ended, his entire line disgraced.

"Tell me what you know about Thorin Oakenshield, every scrap of gossip that graced your ears, every whisper that went behind his back." Kohim demanded, "I need to know everything."