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Family reunion(s)


"Nameless!" Durar released Eilin's hand and run up to his friend.

Eilin followed quietly, picking up her airy dress so as not to get it caught at the small bushes around them. They had been walking off the path for a several moments before catching up with the man she had been longing to meet ever since her husband fell ill.

Othin's heart skipped a beat when he heard his grandson's voice. He turned around with a handful of beautiful colored feathers ready to surprise him with his find when his eyes met with the Queen. He inhaled sharply and felt every single layer of his soul tearing apart.

Eilin scowled and rushed to steady the old Dwarf when she understood that he was about to faint. "Are you alright, sir?"

Othin couldn't get a grip on his surroundings. "Yes, uh…th-ank you."

Durin frowned and followed Othin as Eilin led him close to the fountain. "You don't look so good."

Othin's knees unlocked and he emptied himself at a pew. He opened his mouth to reassure Durin that he was alright, but just feeling the overpowering presence of his daughter next to him was enough to rob him off any logical reasoning. His eyes looked around hurriedly searching for the inevitable presence of the King. It was impossible that Thorin would have allowed his wife to speak to her father without being there, especially after their short but very vicious confrontation. His brows met uncomfortably when he failed to see him.

"Master Urkar, are you alright?" Eilin repeated and tried to find his eyes.

"The King?" He muttered.

"My husband had other business to attend to. Am I not good enough to take his place?" Eilin smiled kindly.

Othin closed his eyes and felt dizzy from hyperventilating. "No of course not Madame…that is not what I meant…I mean that is not why I asked…I me-an…." He stumbled. Did the King truly allow him a few precious private moments alone with his long lost daughter? Was that even remotely possible? Did he even want it to be a possibility? He didn't know at that moment what terrified him more. The quiet absence of the mighty King or the imposing presence of his daughter?

"Are you alright? You seem a little bit out of sorts." Eilin rejoined.

"I am y-es...your Highness." His voice was a little more than an exhalation.

Eilin sat next to him and her eyes fell on the red finger marks around his neck. She frowned. "What are these my good man? What happened to you?" She made to touch them.

Othin pulled back and used his long grey hair to cover his throat. "Just an accident."

"Accident? That looks as if someone tried to choke you." Eilin's eyes returned to his face.

"It was a justified outburst from an honorable man who wished for nothing more than to protect his family. He had every right to punish me. There nothing to it your Highness." Othin turned his eyes at the feathers he held in his hands and knew that his heart would give at any moment.

"This man's family was in danger from you then?" Eilin's voice became cautious.

"No…never!" Othin's eyes filled with unbidden tears and he found it hard to stop his lips from quivering.

Eilin's face formed a confused side-smile. "I have only just met you master Urkar and you are full of riddles."

Othin swallowed a very dry throat and felt his teeth clattering from the sheer shock of sitting next to his child. He gave a fleeting glimpse at Eilin and his heart howled in agony. "Your Highness…" He whispered in breathless anticipation.

Eilin patted his shoulder. "Durin and I seem to have taken you by surprise. Forgive us."

"Your Majesty, it is a great ho-nor to meet you. I am just in such dis-belief that we are actually talking. I can-not wrap my mi-nd around it." Othin stammered. He hunched over respectfully and touched his heart as more tears sprang from his eyes unbidden.

"It was a meeting long due. I have heard so much about you. I needed to shake your hand and offer you my gratitude." Eilin beamed and offered him said hand.

Othin observed her porcelain skin and her long fingers for several tense moments. He thought he would be unable to lift his hand and take hers, but his body had different ideas. He reached out and clutched it so tightly that Eilin yelped surprised. Then he crushed it upon his mouth and kissed it with a fervor that didn't leave the Queen unaffected. "You don't have to tha-nk me." He broke.

Eilin drew her hand slowly and two red spots blossomed on her cheeks. "You saved my children and you protected them when they were close to those damned ruins. I think I have a lot to thank you for."

"It was my pleasure to do so." Othin murmured.

"Weird choice of words master. Anyone else would have chosen to say –my obligation- for the King's children." Eilin said insightfully.

"I will insist on pleasure, my Lady." Othin looked away nervously.

"You seem to like them so much." Eilin observed him carefully.

"Your children are a true blessing. All of them. They can make a smile flourish even to the sourest face." Othin faltered.

Eilin's countenance lit up. "That is so true though, isn't it? Even for this grumpy young man." She nodded towards her son.

Durin who was playing with the feathers in Othin's hand decided to intervene. "Mom…you are embarrassing me again."

"Because I agree with this very polite man about the happiness you can bring to other people?" Eilin raised her brows.

Durin rolled his eyes and sighed, deciding not to honor her with a rebuke.

"I know this is our first meeting master Urkar, but your face holds a vague familiarity that spreads warmth in my heart for some reason. I have seen you before…I believe." Eilin's brow creased.

"It's because you have the same eyes mom." Durin said nonchalantly.

Othin looked away and hid his face behind his hair.

Eilin smiled kindly. "Green eyed people are not only the rarest, but I like to think they are also the kindest souls. Have I met you before master Urkar?"

Othin felt his stomach twisting around and wave of nausea overtook him. "I have been in your presence before your Majesty. Very briefly."

Eilin's gaze jumped around the side of his face as she tried to remember. "Have you indeed?"

"I ask-ed the King for a job sev-eral months ago." He paused.

The dawn of recognition slowly appeared upon Eilin's countenance. "I think I remember. Yes. Didn't Thorin accept your request?"

"Y-es."

"But then you disappeared out of the blue and never returned to Erebor."

"Yes." Othin whispered.

"Yet you remained in Mirkwood?" Eilin rejoined.

"Y-es." Othin stumbled.

Eilin pressed her lips. "Why did you decline the offer for a job?"

"I realized that it had been a great mistake of me to ask for the hospitality of our great King when I was not worthy of owning either a home or a job." Othin wiped a tear that rolled down his nose quickly.

Eilin clasped his shoulder. "That sounds like serious self-punishment my good man."

Othin nodded. "I have done some despicable things in the past. I have no right to stain Erebor's holly caverns with my presence."

Eilin's countenance took a plunge. "That sounds alarmingly serious."

Othin's whole body shuddered and she felt it.

"Your words would have troubled me had I not been certain that my husband -who also revealed to us your real name- has already confirmed that your background is not as dismal as you are describing. In any other case he would have forbidden Durin to keep you company." Eilin's smile was reserved, but her hand was steady on his shoulder.

"The King is immeasurably judicious. May Mahal bless him." Othin bowed deeply and he had to refrain from rubbing the King's fingermarks on his throat.

Eilin's mouth formed a satisfied smile. "Did you talk with him long?"

"No, my Lady." Othin tried to glimpse at her beautiful face that resembled his so much.

"Did he perchance offer you a job and a home as the least gratitude for helping our family? If he hasn't then I will." Eilin rejoined.

"He has." Othin felt almost out of breath.

"Did you accept?" Durin intervened.

"Y-es." He muttered.

"Where are you going to work?!" Durin clapped.

"The armory….making arrows." Othin's first smile blossomed when he looked at his grandson. It was so much easier to talk to his daughter's son …than her. With her it was so hard…so excruciatingly painful.

Durin clapped. "You will be perfect at that. Will you come home with us then?"

Othin nodded. "I believe so."

"You won't return to Mirkwood anymore?" Durin stood up on the rim of the fountain and began jumping around happily.

"No." Othin frowned.

Eilin's countenance brightened. "No more lingering in this forest then."

"No…" He lowered his eyes apprehensively.

Eilin looked at her son. "I am so pleased that you accepted. You seem to be so good with children. Durin is absolutely hooked on you."

"MOM!" Durin hollered.

She waved him off. "I am just telling master Urkar the truth. Calm down."

"You are always saying things about me that you shouldn't!" Durin crossed his arms with a feisty pout.

"He hates when I make him sound too soft or too emotional. He must upkeep the commanding roughness of his father you see, without realizing that he is still a young boy at heart." Eilin smiled proudly at her son.

Durin's pout became even more prominent and his penetrating blue eyes almost burned through hers…

She didn't seem affected at all. "Don't use that glare at me son. I've learned how to hold the tempest that hides in your father's eyes. I can sure hold yours."

Durin looked away with an indignant humph. "For now!"

Eilin's lips curled up sweetly. "For now…." She agreed.

Durin didn't honor her with another look.

"Even though I must admit that my youngest son Thrárin seems to be much more addicted to you than Durin. Okay baby? Did I fix things now?" She said teasingly and bit her lower lip.

Othin found himself unwillingly smiling at how well she was handling her boy.

Durin on the other hand looked as if he was slowly boiling in oil.

Eilin raised her brow at Durin playfully and then turned her attentions to Othin. "I hope back in Erebor you will find some time between your other obligations to see my children as they seem to enjoy your company a lot. We have a lot of caregivers for them, but with you they seem to have such a good time."

"I can be a caregiver for them too!" -Othin hurried to reply with an eagerness that made Eilin grin. Then when he realized he overdid it, he looked at his hands and nodded- "I mean if you like…I mean without payment, just for the honor to be able to see them…I mean if the young Royals are available and willing. I me-an…you don't know me, but I will do whatever I can to show you my loyalty, my Lady…"

"Thrárin and I would love to have you as our caregiver. I am not sure my dad would agree though or that Rhianaye would like that, but who cares about her?" Durin smirked smugly.

"Attitude young man…." Eilin raised her finger.

Durin's shoulders slouched and he rolled his eyes again. "Oh, come on."

"Correct your insolence!" Eilin's brow arched austerely.

"Rhianaye isn't here mom. She didn't even hear me." Durin flayed his arms in frustration.

"You don't talk like this about your sister even in her absence. You respect your siblings and expect them to respect you too. Now fix your attitude." Eilin commanded steadily.

Durin closed his eyes. "I am sorry mom. I won't do it again."

Eilin inclined her head. "Very well. Now to get back to you master Urkar…."

Othin gazed at her quickly and then averted his eyes. "My Lady…" He muttered.

"I have to discuss this caregiver idea with my husband first. However you seem so good with children…" Eilin rejoined.

"Th-ank you, my Lady." He replied quietly.

"Did you have many dealings with children in your life?"

"No…I was a …" –He stumbled for words- "…A warrior you see…a vagabond…never had a real home. The way I was living was not fit for a child…" –He stopped and looked up at her terrified- "…Not my child I mean…any child…you understand."

"You find it very hard to talk about this. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." Eilin scowled.

Othin clenched his fists silently. "You have to learn things about me, my Lady. How else will you be able to trust me around your children?"

Eilin hesitated. "That is true. How old are you if you don't mind me asking?"

"Three hundred and fifty." Othin said with a faded smile.

"In Dwarfish years you are still young, yet you look long-suffering."

"My life hadn't been easy my Lady." Othin looked at the feathers and felt a fresh welling on his chest.

"Have you ever been married or had any children of your own?" Eilin's attention was wholly on him.

Othin fiddled with the feathers for several moments. "I…eh…I have a daughter."

Eilin smiled pleased. "A daughter? That is so wonderful…" –She then hesitated and a shadow covered her brow- "Yet you said your life was not fit for children."

Othin cleared his throat and felt his chest suffocating. A few tears rolled down his long nose. "I…didn't get to know my daughter all that well." He faltered.

"Because of the rough life of a warrior?" Eilin was observing him with so much interest.

He shook his head. "My relationship with her mom didn't turn out good."

"A separation then?" Eilin's beautiful face clouded.

"An unwilling one on my behalf. The mother left one evening without any warning with my daughter when she was but a mere baby. When I managed to find her several moons later she revealed to me the child was dead." His lips quivered.

Eilin's countenance took a plunge. "Oh my heaven's that is awful. Losing a child…I cannot even imagine it."

"My daughter wasn't dead, my Lady. That was a lie of her mother." Othin hurried on, needing to speak these words before his throat closed down forever.

"Oh, you poor thing. Look at you. You are trembling." Eilin rubbed his back.

Othin's face blanched.

Eilin pressed her lips. "I shouldn't have probed you so much. What you are telling me is very painful."

Othin took several moments to regulate his breaths in order to speak again. "No, you need to know…I mean…if I am to be close to your children…you need to know a few things."

Eilin nodded softly. "Very well."

Othin had to force the words out of his mouth. "Her mother -bless her soul- was a woman who worked in a profession that didn't have any place for sentimentalism…nor a family. I was in love, she wasn't. We were gifted a child out of marriage and at first she seemed willing to settle down, but when a highest bidder offered her the gold I couldn't, she decided to abandon me. She said I was not good enough to provide for her and the child….that I was useless….and she was right."

"So you lost your daughter? That is a fate worse than death." Eilin's eyes glimmered with the ghosts of tears.

"It is a fate I don't wish to any parent." Othin covered his mouth in order to mute a groan of anguish.

Eilin pressed his shoulder. "It was so unfair of the mother to treat both you and your daughter this way."

"No, don't blame the dead my Lady. Evelyn was not a bad woman, simply misguided. It is the man's will that can hold a broken family together and I was not strong enough to do it. Maybe if I had more gold, a better position. Maybe if I wasn't a Dwarf…." Othin muttered.

"She was not a Dwarrowdam?" Eilin's brows arched.

Othin shook his head. "No Dwarrowdam ever becomes a prostitute, my Lady."

Eilin exhaled defeated and gazed at her son who was playing by the waters with a sad pout on his well-formed lips. "I am so sorry."

Othin gulped audibly. "It wasn't your fault…" He whispered.

"Neither yours from what I hear. Your story touched my heart deeply for you see we have very similar experiences." Eilin tagged him lightly and tried to see his eyes.

Another silent shake of his head and a curtain of hair covered his face.

"Your child was taken away from you and I was given up by my parents." Eilin's voice diminished.

Durin looked up at that and observed his mother closely with renewed sadness in his eyes.

"I am so sor-ry you had to suffer so from the mistakes of other too…my Lady." Othin stuttered and rivers of tears etched his face.

"We were both disappointed by life, right?" Eilin wiped away a few tears and smiled at him sadly.

Othin nodded. "Yes."

Eilin's silence was heavy and long. She finally sighed deeply. "When you learned that your daughter was alive, did you try to find her?"

Othin shook his head. "No."

"Why?" Eilin frowned.

"She had created her own path in life so very successfully. I didn't want to overburden her with my failures. She didn't need to be reminded of what I didn't do for her all these years. She was happy…that was enough for me." Othin wiped the tears from his bearded chin.

Eilin's brows furrowed. "That is not the proper way to think my good man. You don't know how she might feel inside. She might need you…Heaven help me I'd need to see my father and ask him all the questions that had been tormenting me all these years. Does she even know you are alive?"

"No…" Othin shuddered hard.

"You are being unfair to this poor girl…almost as unfair as her mother had been." Eilin's voice was stern.

"I know my Lady, which is why I renounced my name and my rights to a home and a job." Othin nodded quickly.

Eilin pursed her lips and looked at her lap. "Self-punishment indeed, but unfortunately you are also punishing her."

He felt his chest tightening and his lungs unable to draw in breath.

"Does she live in the North?" Eilin gazed at him.

"No…" He stumbled.

"Maybe I can help you find her. That way I will feel better about my own situation." Eilin's smile was bitter.

"No, please heavens…no." Othin frowned and twisted his hands around the feathers so much they cracked.

Eilin noticed. "I am sorry, I shouldn't have pushed you so much about such a private matter. I just relate too much I suppose."

Othin nodded softly. "I understand."

Another long pause. "What do you say that we forget about the past until you are ready to face it once more?" Eilin retuned with a cheerfulness that seemed forced.

Othin averted his eyes and nodded quietly.

"And I will do the same for me. What do you think?" Eilin tagged his shoulder.

Othin's mournful eyes looked up with another imperceptible nod.

"A deal?" Eilin offered her hand.

He looked at it long and hard before clasping it almost in despair. "A deal to leave the past behind until we are ready to face it?" He murmured.

She smiled brightly. "Yes Sir."

He pressed her soft fingers and then drew her hand on his lips. He kissed it with such desperation that Eilin frowned and she felt his tears staining her skin, but didn't pull away. "Yes, I would like that, my Lady…." He whimpered.

"You are a good man master Urkar. Maybe there was a reason you came into our lives." Eilin smiled brightly.

Othin couldn't open his eyes.

"I make a solemn decision to look at the bright side of things and so should you. I am very grateful you were there to save my children. I am deeply appreciative of the time you are taking to get to know them and make them happy and I hope we can provide a safe abode for you." Eilin shook his head vigorously.

Othin cleared his face and inhaled deeply. "I am blissful just to be in your presence your Highness."

"Maybe if you feel worthy enough you will be able to reclaim your daughter….one day." Eilin's eyes sparkled.

Othin looked away.

"And maybe that way I will find some peace myself by helping someone whose suffering equals mine." She added and looked towards her son pensively.

Othin stole a glance towards her and it was overflowing with so much suppressed affection. He was asphyxiating with the words he couldn't speak.

"Look I have a great idea that might fix our moods. Would you and Durin like to help me?" Eilin spoke after a while were no one wanted to disrupt the silence that felt so much safer than words.

"Sure mom. What about?" Durin sounded dejected.

Eilin drew him and placed a soft kiss on his temple. "I want to pick up the best flowers I can find for daddy."

Othin looked up at her and his eyes filled with so much longing that she didn't see.

"For Dad? Why?" Durin frowned, but allowed his mother to pamper him with kisses.

"I want to make him a flower crown." Eilin smiled.

The young Prince drew back eagerly. "Are you guys okay then?" He paused.

Eilin frowned. "We were always okay honey. What are you talking about?"

Durin hesitated. "All those fights?"

"Dad told me you always worry about us like this. Don't my love. We were just having stupid arguments that are so common between a loving couple who stays together for so long. I love your father dearly…never doubt that…and he does too. That is why I want to make a flower crown for him. Just to remind him how much I feel for him." Eilin smiled sweetly at her boy.

That seemed to animate Durin who jumped off the fountain and pulled Othin by the hand. "Will you help me Urkar?"

Othin nodded and wiped his face. "Cert-ainly my boy."

Eilin observed them thoughtfully as they got instantly busy in the field, picking up the most colorful flowers by Durin's command. Her eyes remained solemnly pensive upon Othin for a long time as she thought about this man's grim fate with his child. It took her several moments in order to join their ardent flower hunting.


Thorin was standing rigid as ever at a balcony several floors above them, looking down sternly. Dwalin was next to him with his arms crossed. A silent sentinel to Thorin's emotional and physical ailments since the beginning of time.

"We are not the only ones overlooking them…" Dwalin stated.

"No." The King placed his hands on his thick belt with a scrutinizing frown.

"You send Balin after her?" Dwalin gave him a careful side-glance.

Thorin nodded.

Dwalin sighed. "You should have been down there with her."

"No. This meeting belongs to them. I have no place there." Thorin's voice was thick with emotion.

"So it is enough to observe them from afar?"

"That is what I will always do. Look after her…from afar." Thorin's brow clouded.

Dwalin eyed him. "For someone who almost choked Othin you are acting rather chivalrously right now."

Thorin rested his heavy boot on the lower part of the railing and crossed his arms. "I was unable to control myself when I saw him."

"That was blindingly obvious." Dwalin drawled.

"You don't have to be so snarky." Thorin rebuked.

"Just trying to remind you of the seriousness of what happened." Dwalin spat.

"I am already aware." Thorin snapped back clearly vexed.

"Then why did you act so foolishly with him?" Dwalin returned.

"The moment I saw him I recalled every painful memory, emotional and psychological scar Eilin owns. I remembered every single nightmare, every endless night she was crying in my arms…every single time I had to soothe down the terror in her when she remembered the accursed moment of her rape. When I saw him, I saw her suffering. His face was Eilin's agony. If you knew that someone's past failures had been torturing Loa since birth, robbing her of sleep, of her self-esteem, slashing through her emotions like hot knives… that this man's actions had assisted in the defilement of her womanhood and at her awful living conditions for years on end…if you knew this man was now at Erebor's gates ready to see her what would you have done?" Thorin's eyes darted heavily at him.

Dwalin pressed his lips and looked down.

Thorin gave him a curt nod. "Stop asking why."

Dwalin turned towards the plaza thoughtfully. "Did you offer him the gold in order to humiliate him?"

Thorin's mouth formed a lopsided smile. "That annoyed you."

"As hell." Dwalin's countenance became tight.

"I noticed." Thorin rebuked.

"I can understand you lashing out to the poor guy in your need to protect Eilin, but what you did afterwards with the gold was so beneath you." Dwalin's lips turned down in disgust.

Thorin's lips twisted. "The poor guy?"

Dwalin humphed and looked away.

"I wanted to make sure that he is for real." Thorin added flatly.

Dwalin looked at him abruptly. "So that was not you losing your dignity?"

"You are giving me too little credit." Thorin's upper lip stiffened.

"Well what would you have me think?" Dwalin scowled.

"I needed to see how much gold was enough for him to sell his daughter's soul again to the demons of Morgul." Thorin's countenance was expressionless.

"I understand what you are saying and I feel partly relieved by your words. However I think you have misjudged the poor man." Dwalin leaned his elbow on the railing and scratched the bald patch on his head.

"You think I will allow him close to Eilin without passing him through every torture I can improvise?" Thorin's brow arched.

Dwalin humphed. "If I judge from what you did to Dongar…no."

"Oh, Dongar had it easy." Thorin's eyes glimmered.

"And there I thought you were acting chivalrously before." Dwalin eyed him.

"I will not intervene in his dealings with Eilin or the children, but he will be under close surveillance and he is going to suffer in order to prove his loyalty to me." Thorin's voice dropped low.

"He refused the three chests of gold…" Dwalin offered.

"In order to gain access to a life of plenty next to my wife! You think that is impossible?" Thorin scowled.

Dwalin pursed his lips.

"He has a long way to go to convince me."

"What are you planning for him?" Dwalin turned to him.

"He will be relocated in Erebor, but you personally will make sure his abode is trashed. I want to see him willing to put in an effort in order to fix his home. He will get a job in the armory, but Ísakur will always deal him the worst shifts possible with minimum payment. I will make him go through heaps of humiliation and ridicule by his co-workers and I want to see him sweat in order to gain their respect. I want to verify that he is willing to pass from the mountains of Shadow and struggle through the filth of the plateau of Gorgoroth in order to be close to his daughter and his grandchildren. I will drive it hard on him that he will not enter Erebor to have a life of plenty. Let's see if he feels all that torture is worth the few precious moments next to his child. If he convinces me of that then maybe he might be worth redemption in my eyes." Thorin's voice was harder and more ruthless than his words.

"Yeah, you are about to enter one of your usual torture sprees alright." Dwalin nodded disheartened.

"Do you blame me?" Thorin gazed at him angrily.

"No I don't blame you, but be careful he doesn't keel over and die on you. You don't want Eilin to learn that you tortured her father to death one day, right?" Dwalin raised his brow.

"I am here to protect Eilin. I will not relent until I am convinced of his true intentions, even if that paints me as a cold-hearted bastard in her eyes. She's the only one I am thinking of right now." Thorin replied sternly.

"I know, just be careful. The old man was a formidable warrior once upon a time, but he possibly doesn't have the same stamina now." Dwalin pursed his lips.

"He is not so old." Thorin flared his shoulders.

Dwalin observed him amused for several moments and then chuckled. "Oh, it bothers you that you are close to his age."

"Close? What are you talking about? He is much older than me." Thorin turned to him with murderous eyes.

"Only by a couple of decades." Dwalin poked.

"And that isn't enough? Do me a favor. I could do without all this idiocy…." Thorin pursed his lips in disapproval and then turned his attention at Rhiannon who arrived and began talking with Eilin.

Dwalin looked at Thorin's half-exposed collarbone and pushed the tunic back with his forefinger. "Despite that you are a decomposing corpse in comparison to your wife and very close age-wise to her father, you must be doing one hell of a job if she leaves such marks of affection on you." He noted the bite mark on Thorin's skin.

Thorin wacked his hand away annoyed. "Can you not?"

"What's the deal? You've been locking yourself up with Eilin ever since you woke up." Dwalin continued.

Thorin saw Eilin leaving along with Rhiannon rather quickly and frowned. "The deal is that we finally talked."

"Did you tell her about Siv?" Dwalin lost all his need to tease.

"Yes." Thorin closed his eyes.

"It must have been hard for you." Dwalin scowled.

"Unbearably…" Thorin rejoined.

"So?" Dwalin nudged him

Thorin felt his eyes welling and he rubbed them hard. "The perseverance of Eilin's soul is beyond mundane mortality. She is worth to live alongside the Valar, Dwalin. She does not belong to this earth. I don't know what I have done right to deserve her. She excused all my failings. She forgave me even though I was unable to forgive myself and she embraced all my follies. With the way she treated me after I revealed to her my most shameful deeds, she reminded me that she is the quintessence of compassion, the very representation of love."

Dwalin clasped his shoulder. "Never forget the treasure you have in your hands for it is very rare."

"Not even on my death bed shall I forsaken that." Thorin's eyes grew darker.

"I must admit that I haven't seen you looking so serene in a long time. I am so glad you are finally in such a good place. Your relationship has gone through hell so many times and with every struggle it is becoming stronger." Dwalin remarked.

"I know." Thorin's eyes teared up.

Dwalin pursed his lips and decided to lighten up the mood after allowing Thorin to settle down for a few moments. "Has anybody told you that you can love a person, without rolling in the gutter with them all the time? Especially when you are in a desperate need to recuperate? You look absolutely knackered."

"Forget it. Now that I have her where I want her I won't stop." Thorin's countenance softened.

"Are you at least careful?" Dwalin raised his brows.

"Careful as in counting days?" Thorin pursed his lips.

"Of course."

"Well I am counting, but I am not sure my pretty wife is doing the same." Thorin's lips curled up in a sly smile.

Dwalin frowned.

"She either is not counting or she forgot to mention that these are pretty dangerous days for full loving." Thorin looked at him shrewdly.

"I wouldn't worry. I am sure she was just too caught up in the moment. Besides since you were aware you knew what to do to keep it safe." Dwalin shrugged the whole deal off.

Thorin caressed his beard braid musingly. "I wouldn't take that at face value…."

Dwalin looked at him sharply. "You weren't careful?"

Thorin pressed his lips and shook his head. "Nope…not even close."

Dwalin's mouth dropped open. "You bloody fool! You are always complaining about the troubles of fatherhood and you went and did it again?!"

"No one can be certain of the result. Calm down." Thorin frowned.

"Oh, I am calm. I don't know how calm you are going to be if she falls pregnant again." -Dwalin crossed his arms with an indignant huff- "You were complaining of never being intimate with her because of the overburdening family obligations. Then you find the chance to get your wife back and you act like an immature dwarfling that found himself between a woman's thighs for the first time. You will be labored with another baby and the rest of us will have to put up with your usual grumpiness times a thousand!" Dwalin scolded.

Thorin snorted, feeling rather amused by Dwalin's vent.

"You don't seem bothered now, but I'd like to see that smug smile melt off your face when you are cradling a crying baby, looking after a post-partum mother and also catering to the remaining three kids alone! To hell! I am not going to help you with this mess just because you were unwilling to finish outside of Eilin once and I am going to take Dis and Fili with me!"

"More than once…" Thorin cringed.

Dwalin's face exploded in terror. "You crazy asshole…." He muttered.

"Actually since throwing her in bed I didn't let one ounce of my love go to waste." Thorin's brow arched.

Dwalin brow wrinkled in confusion. "Wait a moment."

Thorin crossed his arms and looked towards his son smugly.

"Why do I have a feeling that you were aiming for a baby to begin with?"

"I longed to feel her intimacy again, which I have been missing like mad. Now if a baby comes out of it…then…" Thorin shrugged casually.

Dwalin covered his brow. "You actually want this."

Thorin looked at him amused and inclined his head. "I was not aiming for it, but I wouldn't say no to it either."

"But you are always grumpy about the burdens of fatherhood!" Dwalin flayed his arms.

"Grumpiness is my natural state of being. That doesn't mean I don't love my children or that I don't enjoy being with them." Thorin smiled.

"Or that you don't want more! You will get blue balls from being unable to mate with your wife again for a long time after another pregnancy." Dwalin spat.

Thorin chuckled. "Blue balls is also my natural state of being. That is why I am always grumpy."

Dwalin closed his eyes. "Don't be a smart-ass. Does she even know that you came inside her with full knowledge?"

"She was too caught up in the moment as you said and so was I. She –forgot- to tell me and I also –forgot- to mention it. I don't care about anything else. For now I am just happy that we are once more like we used to be." Thorin's face lit up.

Dwalin closed his mouth and smirked. "You are both insufferable…have I told you that?"

"More than once."

"And more alike that you will ever be willing to admit." Dwalin added and that is when a pair of loving voices interrupted them and made Thorin's heart come alight.

"Daddy!" The exclamation came both from Thrárin and Rhianaye who hastened down the corridor towards him with open arms.

Thorin knelt down just in time for them to knock him to the floor with their momentum. Thrárin climbed on top of him and leaned his head on Thorin's chest and Rhianaye wrapped her arms around his neck, throttling him with her love.

"Daddy are you alright? Missed you so much!" Rhianaye spoiled his cheeks with kisses.

"Daddy…daddy….daddy…" Thrárin cooed.

The King didn't even try to get up. His long arms enfolded both kids in his embrace and he began dispersing kisses on their heads and faces. "I am alright. Where have my two precious gems been? I missed you too…"

Rhianaye took over eagerly. "Oh, daddy! I was practicing my balancing skills with Lis and I managed to hopscotch on one leg. You wanna see?"

Thorin nodded and sat up with Thrárin snuggling in his arms. "I'd love to see that." He beamed.

Rhianaye's face became serious and she gazed at the balcony for several moments. Then she pulled one foot up and held it with her hand. She hopscotched successfully a few times before losing balance and stumbling back to her father. "We have been working on this for as long as you were away. I wanted to surprise you with it! Are you happy? Maybe now I can try getting on a pony without Durin, what do you think? Is my balance improved? Will I be able to ride alone?"

Thorin hugged her tightly and gifted her face with countless loving kisses. "I think we can try that, sure."

Rhianaye's eyes grew wide. "Truly?!"

"Yes." He beamed.

"THANK YOU!" Rhianaye almost knocked him to the ground again.

Thorin closed his eyes and his heart erupted in a hundreds colors of love from the bouquet of affection that his children were offering him. "I love you my Little Gem."

"Me too daddy, I love you to the end of Middle Earth." Rhianaye cupped his cheeks and kissed his nose.

"And I love both of you to the sky." Thorin arched his brow at her.

"And I love you to the end of the sky!" Rhianaye added.

"And I love you to the end of the sea!" Thrárin added.

Thorin looked at his wide-eyed son. "And I love both of you to the stars and even beyond them….to the great unknown."

Thrárin giggled and clapped his hands. "I want to see the stars!"

"We will climb on those huge trees when everyone else is asleep and when the sky is clearest and darkest. Then we will sit at the thickest branches and we will admire the stars until the break of dawn, what do you think?" Thorin tickled his son.

"Yeah I want that!" Thrárin giggled enthusiastically.

Rhianaye squeezed her father several times, she caressed his hair and offered several sloppy kisses to his cheeks. "You need to comb your hair daddy…" she said.

He kissed her nose. "Is it that bad?"

"Yes." Rhianaye scowled at his tousled image.

"Maybe you can do it for me?" Thorin beamed at her.

"Not mom?" Rhianaye looked at him eagerly.

"I want you to do it." He smirked and Rhianaye embraced him and closed her eyes.

"I will make you the best hair braid dad. You just wait and see." She promised.

Dis chuckled happily.

Thorin's eyes fell to his sister and his mouth formed a smile. "Your sister will make me a braid. What are you going to make me?" He asked his son.

"A will forse a sword and I will play you music." Thrárin's eyes were so excited.

"Forge…" Thorin smiled sweetly.

Thrárin snorted.

"So you will become a sword-smith and an artist?" Thorin raised his brow.

"Yes that!" Thrárin shouted.

Thorin rubbed his nose upon Thrárin's. "What have you been up to these days my little prince?"

"I learned how to make trap-door traps in order to catch birdies with Fili and Valdis." Thrárin said and pulled his father's hair.

"And Roac was not angry that you are messing with his helpers?" Thorin smiled.

"We are letting them free again. We are not hurting the poor birdies." Thrárin frowned even at the idea.

"This is the same kid who released the fishes back to the river because he didn't want them to suffer. Forgot?" Dis added.

Thorin looked at her with a sweet smile. "True. So did auntie Dis convince you to come along with her in Mirkwood?"

"No we wanted to come find you and mom. We convinced auntie Dis to bring us over." Rhianaye tried to assume a serious face.

Thorin's eyes were searching towards his sister.

Dis walked over to them and Thorin saw for the first time Tauriel who was standing far off behind, half hidden by a tall column. "They are saying the truth wolf. They wanted to come find you. They were worried and they asked me to bring them over."

"I thought you were ill or that mom was not well. I mean auntie Dis told us you were fine, but…" Rhianaye's eyes darkened.

"You didn't believe them?" Thorin cleared some hair from her forehead.

"No... I wanted to make sure you were alright. What is this anyway?" Rhianaye grasped his hand and pressed his bandaged finger.

Thorin hissed and grew slightly pale. "A wound I earned for not being careful."

"Did this make you sick?" Thrárin pouted.

"No my proud warrior. I didn't fall sick. I just had to stay here and talk with the Elven King about some matters of state." Thorin frowned.

"But you left so quickly because you lost Durin and then you never came back and you didn't look good before you left." Thrárin continued with that soft and sad voice that was enough to melt his dad's heart.

"You worry too much. Both of you. We found Durin and we decided to come here in order to take care of some matters. That is all. Do I look sick?" Thorin offered a solemn gaze to his children.

"Nah…" Thrárin flashed a toothless grin.

Rhianaye looked at his finger suspiciously and then shook her head. "No."

Thorin's mouth formed a dazzling smile and he stood up easily, scooping up both of them in his arms. Then he placed a firm kiss on each cheek. "Now that you are here are you in the mood to have some good time in the Elven Realm?"

"YEAH!" Both children yelled.

Dwalin chuckled at Dis who smiled warily at him.

"Okay, then we shall ask uncle Dwalin and maybe Lady Tauriel who's been hiding in the back to help you find Durin and mom?" Thorin raised his brow.

Tauriel came forth and bowed slightly. "My King Thorin."

He offered her a kind smile. "No need to hide my Lady. We have missed your presence in Erebor, even though you have become one of Thrárin's best friends and his usual partner in crime here in Mirkwood."

"Cannot stay away from this beautiful young boy. I admit it." Tauriel smiled.

When Thrárin was placed down, he ran and climbed on Tauriel's arms. "Can we go see all the fountains and the waterfalls and the enchanted lake and the deer and the owls and the bugs and the fishes….pretty please?"

Tauriel kissed his cheek. "Sure my love."

Thrárin squeezed her tight. "Thank you!"

"I must insist that your presence is needed to brighten Erebor. We miss you Lady." Thorin said quietly.

"It is hard for me…please understand…" Tauriel averted her eyes.

"Still?" Thorin's brow creased.

Dis looked at the moon stone the Elven maiden was wearing around her neck and averted her eyes.

"Always." Tauriel closed her eyes, before anyone had the chance to see the unbearable darkness in them.

"I am so sorry…" Thorin said quietly.

"Me too….I shall always be sorry." Tauriel whispered and then gave another firm kiss on Thrárin's cheek.

"That's Nameless with Durin daddy!" Rhianaye pulled his warrior braid and turned his attention towards the opening below them.

Thorin's brow clouded. "Yes."

Dis came over and scrutinized the man with a raised brow. "The famous Nameless then…" She murmured.

Thorin pressed his lips and offered Dwalin a guarded side-eye.

"Nameless!" Thrárin screeched.

That set the loyal bodyguard into action. "Come on I will take you to them." He presented his hand to Rhianaye.

Thorin put her down and she grabbed Dwalin's hand. "No I will take you to them uncle!" She hauled the giant Dwarf with great difficulty.

"You little urchin." Dwalin chuckled.

Tauriel followed with Thrárin and soon after Thorin was left alone with his sister. She remained silent next to him, observing Durin and Othin that were very concentrated on sorting out feathers. "You are unusually silent considering the circumstances." He noted.

She didn't answer.

"Thank you for bringing them over. I have missed them tremendously." Thorin continued.

Dis swallowed heavily and her countenance became distantly cold. "I know. How are you feeling?"

"Better." Came the taciturn answer.

She turned to him. "Is this the only place where you are hurt?" She pointed towards his finger.

He frowned taken aback. "Yes."

"Nowhere else?" She looked at him from top to bottom.

"No…"

"Are you certain?" Her brow arched.

"Of course I am." He scowled in confusion.

"No further signs of any weakness?" Dis insisted.

"I am not ill anymore, but I would appreciate some repose. Why are you asking?" Thorin rejoined hesitantly.

Her slap came out of nowhere and set his cheek aflame. He grabbed it and his mouth dropped open in shock. "Why the hell did you do that for?"

Dis' jawline clenched. "That is for scaring the shit out of me again!"

Thorin was left speechless with a buzzing ear.

Then came another equally fierce slap from the other side. "That is for making me think that I was going to have to tell your children that they are now FATHERLESS!" She lifted her hand to strike him again but he grabbed it mid-air.

"Can you stop?" He asked befuddled.

She pulled her hand free and looked at him through teary eyes with a countenance that bespoke of many stifled emotions. "You made me remember what it was like when I told my sons their father was dead. I still recall the look of confusion and terror in their eyes. You almost made me do the same thing to your children, just because you are a bloody fool!"

"Gerbil please calm down…." He begged.

"Don't you dare…." She was trembling with rage.

Thorin pulled back. He knew how fiery his sister could become when she was in rage.

"You are the most stubborn Dwarf that our race has ever produced! Mother was right! You are never to be trusted! You didn't say a word about how sick you were feeling, how was I supposed to know? How were we supposed to help you, if you don't speak?!" She tried to hit him again, but he contained her arms and pulled her in his embrace.

"Please…stop. Forgive me." He muttered upon her head.

She closed her eyes and enwrapped her arms around his back fiercely. "I thought I lost you. I thought I would have to sustain your poor wife through the unbearable pain of losing the love of her life. That I had to explain to her how it is to raise the children your man gifted you with…alone. That I had to convince her to withstand the hell of remaining behind when her other half is gone. You stupid, obstinate Dwarf!" She cried.

"Hush…no…" He closed his eyes and kissed her forehead.

"Have you no shame? No guilt for what you made your poor wife and oldest son go through? What you made me and Fili go through? Your other children suspected something was wrong. Rhianaye is far too clever to be sidetracked. What came over you to keep all those nightmares a secret? You kept fainting and you didn't speak a word. You were burning with fever and you never asked for help…why? Just so you could die earlier and get it over with? What was your purpose with this senseless behavior?!" She thwarted his shoulder-blades furiously.

"I didn't want to worry you or Eilin. I was wrong." He admitted in defeat.

"Yes you were wrong! You could have died from this foolhardiness. Don't you have an ounce of empathy for Eilin, your children or me?" She grabbed his tunic and pressed her face on his chest.

"I never spoke because I didn't want to worry you or get you involved with all this. I trusted too much in my strength and it failed me. I shall never do something like that ever again. I promise." His voice was soothing and honest.

"I almost died of anguish…and you don't even want to know how Eilin sustained through the torture of seeing you in oblivion. This girl is braver than all of us combined, remember that." Dis continued with the same broken voice.

He closed his eyes. "I know."

"I told you before…I cannot bear to lose you, but I am far less important than your family, right now. They cannot lose you…period! Do you understand that?" Dis gritted her teeth.

"Gerbil you are not thinking clearly. One day I will raise our banners and call our troops to form their lines once again. I am still a warrior at heart and I shall be one to death and a warrior's job is to protect the ones he loves. I will fall one day and I pray it will be in battle. What will happen then to Eilin or you? This is something we must all come to terms with." His voice was heavy.

"I will endure you falling in battle -sword at hand- and I will mourn your honorable loss at the side of your proud wife. However I will never accept you dying from a bloody scratch of an old Orcish blade, because you are too arrogant to admit to any weakness! Forget it!" Dis rubbed her face on his tunic and exhaled hard.

Thorin's lips curled up to a side-smile. "When you word it that way you put things into perspective."

She nodded and punched his shoulder-blade again. "Never again you hear?"

He nodded. "Never."

"You shall always tell me if you feel unwell…even when you feel too hesitant to worry your poor wife you shall come to me!" Dis continued with an austerity that made him smile.

"Okay."

"PROMISE ME!" She shouted and tagged his tunic hard.

"I promise…calm down." He spoke in a hushed tone and kissed the top of her head.

That seemed to settle her a bit. "Did I hurt you much?"

He pulled back and cleared some teary ringlets from her temple. "On this side or on this?" He pointed at his reddish cheeks.

"On either!" She glared at him.

"Stung like hell." He admitted.

"They should have been punches!" She pointed at his face.

"You are ruthless…" He pressed his lips.

She stared at him long and hard. "Do you feel pain or discomfort anywhere else?"

Thorin shook his head and then touched his temple lightly. "No…all my troubles lay here."

"Your head is hurting?" Dis reached up to cup his face with a tenderness that didn't go well with her attack before.

"No, but that is where I feel mostly uncomfortable." Thorin pressed his lips and turned to observe the fountain under their balcony, still holding Dis in his arms.

She wiped her eyes. "What is bothering your mind wolf?"

"Him." He nodded towards Durin's grandad.

"Nameless…?" Dis scowled and leaned her hands on the railing in order to see better.

"Nameless who also goes by the name Urkar…but who was also honored once upon a time with another name of great lineage." Thorin's eyes thinned.

"You are talking in bloody riddles again and you know I hate that. Also I am still mad at you so don't play with my patience." Dis warned.

"You said before that you would do anything to help Eilin and my children if I died." Thorin's regard was full of shadows.

"With my life if necessary and you know it." Dis' eyes filled with uncertainty at this sudden mood change from him.

"I will need you to become Eilin's shadow from now on, especially when she is meeting with this man and I am not there. Be discreet, but be there and keep your eyes open."

"You are scaring me…" Dis' hand fell on his forearm heavily.

Thorin pressed his lips.

"Why especially with him wolf? He is just a Petty Dwarf who lingered at Mirkwood, right?" Dis seemed more and more confused.

Thorin's mouth curled up in a dry smile. "Hmm, the Mirkwood shadow lurker…master Nameless…Urkar the arrow maker….or else Lord Othin of the Firebeard clan. The High Lord who fought in Azanulbizar next to Thror….The great Telchar's descendant."

Dis blanched. "Othin?"

Thorin turned to her and his gaze was unbearably heavy. "Eilin's father." He nodded coldly towards the plaza.

Dis felt her face draining from every single drop of blood, her fingers tingling and her heart stopping. Nothing would have been able to set her once again in motion at that moment. Everything around her remained frozen under that heavy revelation. Only Thorin's eyes were animated and they held in them a strain that was not enough to contain the enormity of what he had just revealed to his sister or its implications.


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