Chapter 35

"Bilbo!" I smiled, setting my wine down.

Bilbo returned my smile, and the whole company scrambled over to go see him. He laughed and hugged everyone, so I moved so I could hug him as well. Thorin joined me, and they greeted each other happily. So many had made the trip, and so quickly. I couldn't help but be over joyed to see so many of those I loved again.

"Congratulations," he smiled at us both. "Gandalf said I had to come here. It was something I'm glad I did not miss."

"I am glad that you came," Thorin said, as he put a hand on my back. "It wouldn't be complete without you here."

"Of course," he smiled. "Well I won't keep you two. We can catch up in the next few days I'm sure. I'll be here after your coronation, before Gandalf sees me back home."

"Good," I nodded. "We have so much to catch up on."

"Yes, we do!" Bilbo chuckled.

I took another drink of my wine as I reached the table, and listened as the music started, and I tilted my head as I listened to the happy tune. Someone suddenly grabbed my hand, and tugged me away from the crowd to where others were dancing. Laughing, I caught myself as Thorin twirled my body and then wrapped his arms around me.

"Oh, do I finally get to see you dance?" I beamed, as he moved me through to the music.

"It's the least I could do," he teased, and kissed me.

"It takes me marrying you, so that you dance?" I laughed, breathless when he pulled his lips from mine.

He chuckled as he danced with me, and had me going through several songs before he allowed me to stop. It was a good thing he was good at leading, and that I had lived among dwarves for most of my life. Some of their songs were a little hard to dance to, but I managed. I laughed as we moved through the crowd, quite easily. I had never seen him in such a carefree state before, and I loved it. He was smiling, having fun and even joking with others. It was the Thorin I remembered meeting when I first came to Erebor. We moved through and mingled with several of the guests, making sure to show our appreciation to everyone. Thranduil nodded his head to us and Legolas reached out to give me a hug. Thorin reached out, and Thranduil took his hand and I had to stand there for a moment. I was definitely not used to that, and Legolas laughed. Someone hurried over to me and grabbed my hand tightly. I laughed at Kili as he tugged on me.

"I'm stealing her Uncle!" he laughed, and spun me away.

I gave a last desperate look to Thorin who was smiling, as Kili moved me into a dance. I danced with almost everyone in the company before I was allowed to return to my husband. He was sitting at the table with Elrond, Dain, Thranduil and Gandalf. I grabbed a fresh glass of Elven wine and laid my hand on Thorin's shoulder as I approached the table.

"Gentlemen, are we talking war already?" I asked, with a smile.

"I tried to sway them lass," Dain said helplessly, and it made me laugh.

"We could not put it off," Thranduil mused, glancing at Elrond.

"Mmm," I said pleasantly. "I'm sure you couldn't. You are male; I swear sometimes it's all you think of."

"That is not true," Thorin said in defense and I leaned down to kiss him. "There are plenty of other things we think of."

"Lord Dain," I said when I pulled back, my cheeks red. "Where do you stand in this?"

"I am honestly not to keen on taking my people to war right now," Dain said slowly. "Nor am I to keen on aiding these sprites..."

I gave him a flat look and glanced at both elves for a moment and watched Thranduil's eyes flash slightly so I pointed at him in warning. Looking back to Thorin's cousin, I took a drink of wine and sighed quietly. I needed to adopt a different approach with Dain, so I gave him a confident smile.

"Then think of it as aiding me," I replied. "I am going to war, and I'm going to help take out that evil place. Isn't Gundabad sacred to the dwarves as it is anyway?"

"Aye," Dain muttered slowly. "It is..."

"Then all the more reason to join," I said looking at him. "You have no excuses, but if you wish not to join us in this then you have my respect. You aided us last fall, and we will be forever grateful. But I fear this is not done yet."

"Sorry, Dain," Thorin smirked a little, as he took a drink of his ale.

"Aye, you have yourself a strong woman," he laughed across the table. "I will think about it, My Lady and give you an answer before the sun sets tomorrow."

"Thank you, Lord Dain," I smiled at him.

"My Lady," Dain chuckled, giving a slight bow of his head.

Turning away from them, I walked off to go mingle with other people. Legolas managed to pull me into a dance, and I laughed at the elf. I couldn't hide my surprise so he arched his brow at me.

"You know, for some reason I imagined you only knew how to fight and be mean," I teased as he moved with the music.

"I can have fun, My Lady," he said tartly.

I laughed, "Indeed. I am so sorry to offend you."

He chuckled at me as he spun me in a circle. "You and Thorin seem happy together," he commented.

"Very, very happy," I smiled back at him.

"And how is Tauriel and Kili?" he asked. "He's taking care of her I hope."

"He is. They are honestly a great match, even with the difference in their people," I nodded my head.

"Good, I am glad they are happy," he said softly.

"And you? Have you had any luck?" I asked. "I heard Thranduil sent you after some ranger, after you decided to leave."

"I was with him till I received word on the wedding," Legolas nodded. "He's a dunedain, one of the few that still remains."

"Really?" I asked in surprise.

"I believe he is heir to the throne of Gondor," Legolas sighed, as he spun me once more. "But I have yet to have that revealed. He is a good man however."

"Well I wish you luck on that journey."

"Thank you," he said bowing his head, and kissing my hand. "I will turn you back over to your husband."

I smiled as he moved back for Thorin who pulled me to him. He pressed his forehead against mine as we decided to dance a little slower. I closed my eyes, and sighed softly in happiness.

"You are beautiful, you know that right?" he asked softly.

"I think you've told me that plenty tonight," I chuckled, as I opened my eyes.

He smiled at me again, and then walked me from the dance floor and we left the hall. The party would be going well into the night, since it was something for the history books. He led me up to our room and we were greeted with a warm fire. He threw a log onto it, and sighed softly as I shut the door. Glancing at him with an arched brow, I watched as he laid several blankets on the floor in front of the fire and poured us both a cup of wine.

"He's drinking wine," I smiled, as he walked over to me.

"Don't get used to it," Thorin chuckled softly, handing me a glass.

I took it and pressed my cup to his. "To many, many happy years together. No matter what life brings us, I will not part from you."

Thorin smiled and touched the glass and we took a drink. I hummed softly as I looked at the fire and set my glass down on the table. Thorin did the same, and then walked up and pressed a kiss to both of my shoulders making me sigh softly. Turning to look at him, I let my fingers run through his hair, and I tugged his braid, a common gesture of my affection. He smiled again and pulled me to him, his lips meeting mine.

Somewhere during the heated kiss, my dress was taken off, and his clothes were also shed from his body. He pushed us to the furs, and soon I was laid out under him as he feathered kisses all along my body. I hummed in bliss at the feeling, but that was soon replaced by a gasp as he pushed into me when he came back up to catch my lips. Making love to Thorin was unlike anything I experienced. It was everything I had ever dreamed of and more.

We ended up laid out in front of the fire, our bodies both deeply satisfied. As I laid back against him, I let him run his fingers down my side and across my belly. Leaning down, he kissed my cheek, and his hair fell forward, making me chuckle. He moved and pulled me onto my back so he could kiss me on the lips, before pushing himself to his feet.

"Bath?" he asked softly.

"That sounds nice," I nodded, as he went and got it ready for us.

I reached out and grabbed a piece of fruit that was on the plate on the table. It had been there when he had the wine poured, and I sighed after I finished chewing. Looking at the fire for a moment, I then pushed myself to my feet and went in to the bathroom when he called me. We took our time, washing each other and he even took my braid out for me. I yawned after I washed my hair and then got out to follow him into the room. We got ready for bed, and I laid down and pressed up against him when he was comfortable. He kissed my neck once more before we both fell asleep.

The coronation was easy the next day, and I found myself standing beside Thorin as we were crowned by Gandalf. I was more excited to have Thorin officially called King than I was to be his Queen. When we stood and turned around for all to see, I held Thorin's hand to keep myself grounded as everyone clapped. The coronation itself had been all a blur to me, and I was trying to get used to be called Queen for the whole day.

Thorin was by my side for it all, and kept his hand in mine or on my back so that my courage didn't fail me. I glanced at him finally at the end of the day after we were seeing our guests off. Bard had stayed for both events, as well as the elves before slowly they all began to pack up and start their journey home. Dain walked up to us through the crowd, and I looked at him when he knelt before us. I shifted my feet a little and Thorin looked down at his cousin. Being King came naturally to him, and he had been one for many years with out the crown. I on the other hand, knew that this was going to take some getting used to. I wasn't used to people bowing to me for any reason. I stopped myself from fidgeting and waited for Dain to speak.

"My Queen," Dain said slowly. "I have my answer."

"Oh?" I asked. "And what would it be Lord Dain?"

"If you or my cousin should ever need our assistance, then you have it," he said. "We will be with you when the time comes and we are called to battle once again."

I felt myself smile, and I nodded and gave him a slight bow. "Thank you, Lord Dain. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated, we need it. We will see you in two weeks for our march on Gundabad."

"My Lady," he said softly, and rose to his feet and kissed my hands. "King Thorin."

"Always Thorin, cousin," Thorin smiled, and hugged him.

Dain laughed happily, and we saw the rest of the guests off. When it was finally quiet in the halls, or at least quieter, I sighed softly. Bilbo was staying a few more days so that we could catch up. I headed up to our room to change in to something easier for me, and it took all I had to keep the crown on my head. Thorin followed me, and he set his down on the pillow that was set on the corner shelf. I smiled as he turned to face me, once he also put on something a bit easier to move around in.

"What?" he asked.

"You don't need a crown to be called King," I said, as I walked up to him. "You look better without it anyway."

He chuckled as we walked back down the stairs. "I would say that you look good with yours on, my queen," he said softly, and kissed my hand.

I blushed, my cheeks hurting as we went and found Bilbo in the golden hall looking over everything. We spent the day showing him through the city, and how it had changed since he had last been here.

"It is so great to see things doing so much better," he said as he looked around Erebor. "It's almost as if the dragon was never here."

"It is getting there," Thorin nodded slowly. "Which reminds me. We will be marching on Gundabad in two weeks. It would be wise for you to stay here. Gandalf is coming with us, and I do not feel like worrying about you making a safe trip home."

"I...I will stay if that is the safe thing to do," Bilbo replied quietly. "I am not to keen on getting myself in to anymore danger just yet."

"Then it is settled," Thorin nodded.

"Excuse me," I said softly, and walked away from them.

I walked out of the city and in to the warm sun while they were talking. The elves had left no trace of their stay, and I looked over the valley that was slowly growing grass again. The river that ran past Erebor was flowing, and so I walked along the path and up to my usual look out. Taking a breath of fresh air as the breeze hit me, I sighed quietly. Now that I had a moment of silence, I was able to get myself under control. It had been so overwhelming, these last two days. It wasn't a bad thing, but I found I needed a moment of silence.

Watching the lake, I noticed the city that was slowly being rebuilt and listened as the birds flew down to land on the lake. With all the important things out of the way, that left me thinking about the battle that was to come in two weeks. Touching the crown on my head thoughtfully, I looked over the land again lost in thought. The vision I had just a week ago lingered in the back of my mind. What had I been looking at? Was the shadow something I had made myself, or was there something I should worry about?

"My Lady."

Turning my head, I watched Bard come up the steps and I smiled at him. "Lord Bard," I greeted him easily.

"What brings the newly crowned queen from the halls of Erebor?" he asked, as he came to stand beside me.

"You have heard talk that there is an alliance between elves and dwarves. We plan on marching on Gundabad," I sighed and he nodded. "I find I am just a little troubled about marching on that place. I am sure it is nothing we cannot handle, but it worries me."

"It would worry me if no one was concerned about it," Bard answered. "Going to war isn't something that others should go into joyfully."

"No," I agreed. "It is not. When we leave, will you look after Erebor? We obviously won't be taking a large number of dwarves, but Dain will be with us at least."

"We will look after the mountain," Bard nodded. "You have my word."

"I plan on making Balin stay behind to over see everything. He is skilled at all that he does, so he is perfect," I sighed. "Lady Dis will also be there."

"My Lady," Bard nodded his head. "You can trust us."

"Thank you," I replied to him. "Very much."

Turning from him, I walked back toward the city and paused when I saw Fili and Kili outside practicing their swordsmanship. They had concentrated looks on their faces as they moved about, and clashed their swords together. Fili swiped at his brother, who narrowly missed his attack. When I stopped watching them, I saw Thorin walking over so I smiled when he joined me.

"Bofur has promptly stolen Bilbo," he chuckled. "Where did you run off to?"

"I wanted some fresh air," I replied, as I took his hand. "And a little bit of silence so I could gather my thoughts."

"I find that is why I've come outside as well," he sighed, watching his nephews spar. "We have much to do in these next two weeks."

I nodded my head quietly. "I wish we didn't have to do this so soon..."

Thorin turned to look at me, and he laid a hand on my cheek. "We'll get through this, just as we got through the last one," he said softly.

"Try not to need my rescuing this time," I teased, as he wrapped his arm around me.

He laughed and kissed me on the lips. "I can't guarantee that," he smiled.

Smiling, I leaned against him and then decided to follow him as he led me back inside. We threw ourselves in to planning for the rest of the day and getting numbers figured out. We could only take so many with us while also leaving the mountain protected.

"I can get a good number of horses for us," I said as we sat eating dinner with Dwalin and the others. "I'm sure it all depends on who you would rather have on horse back."

"The company," Thorin nodded as he took a bite of food. "I would have them ride in. They will be the only ones willing to ride horses I'm sure."

I swallowed a bite of my dinner and nodded. "I can do that," I nodded. "I'll send a raven out tonight requesting the number we need then."

"We have the armor and weapons ready," Dwalin added as he chewed his food.

"Good," Thorin nodded.

"We've also made extra just in case," he sighed and I nodded.

"I think we will be just fine in this then," I sighed quietly.

"You are settled for dinner and didn't even tell us?!"

I glanced up as Fili and Kili joined us, and Kili wrapped his arms around me as he stood behind me. He gave me a fake choke hold, and then kissed my cheek quite happily before sitting down.

"I forgot to tell the children," I sighed softly, making both the brothers huff loudly.

"No, you are just talking about war and we sniffed you out," Fili said, setting his plate down.

"Of course, can't leave you two out of it," I chuckled, as Thorin laid his hand on my knee.

I looked at him softly, and laid my head on his shoulder in a brief moment of affection before finishing my dinner. Fili snorted at me from my remark and took a drink of his ale.

"We'll be fighting," he said bluntly. "No use in hiding it."

"We weren't," I replied, arching my brow.

"Mmhmm," Kili accused looking past Fili.

"Oh you two," I laughed.

They both smiled as they got started on their own plate of food. I leaned back in my chair for a moment and then glanced toward the entrance of the city as people moved in and out as they were finishing the clean up of the hall. Bilbo was there with Bofur and several others laughing together. It made me smile a little and I sighed and looked at Thorin when his fingers pressed against my knee. I glanced at him again, and reached up to kiss him on the cheek. Soon, we'd be on our way to a place I didn't want to see again. I wasn't sure what to expect, and part of me was terrified.

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