Mother knows best
Fili was sitting up as soon as he'd heard her cry out. His arms came around Dru's trembling figure and pulled her up and against him.
"Piglet, wake up!" He said to her over and over again until she finally managed to pull herself out of her dream, guided by the sound of his voice.
Once he had her calm and breathing normally in his arms, he pulled back to look at her face.
"Are you alright? Do you need me to get anything?"
Dru shook her head and looked at him, her hands holding his wrists.
"No, just...being her here helps me."
He settled her back down in the bed and held her close. Usually, he'd let her fall back asleep, but for the better part of an hour, they just talked to one another. He comforted her and told her stories to ease her mind and help her dreams come to her easier. Which is probably why they slept in an extra hour. And also the reason they didn't wake up in time to put their pyjamas back on...
The next morning...
Fili awoke first, shifting around the bed and realising that he could move freely. Usually, when he woke up, Dru would either still be cuddled up close to him or at least have one limb-strewn across his body. Be it a leg or arm.
He rubbed at his face and slowly opened his eyes, adjusting to the light in the room and his surroundings. He didn't mind waking up in Dru's room, but it did still bring a lot of memories back from when they'd first discovered it. When he woke up after the dragon attack and whilst everyone was alive, their Uncle was gripped by his madness and their futures were uncertain.
He shook those thoughts from his head. It would do no good to dwell on the darker times and instead, he focused on his current predicament: Where was his bed partner?
He didn't have to look very far. Whilst he was in the centre of the bed, Dru had slipped from his embrace and was stretched out on the edge of her side. Her bare back was to him and the sheets had slipped dangerously low. So much so, that he couldn't help himself.
As carefully as he could, he turned himself on his side and reached out to her. His Fingers stroked long her bare skin, back and forth until he got a response. She moaned in her sleep and the noises stirred the desire in him, so he did it again and again. She began to wiggle about, trying to get away from whatever it was that seemed to be tickling her. She turned the wrong way and Fili couldn't stop her as she suddenly rolled out and over the edge.
She disappeared and a second later, he heard a 'THUMP' followed by a low groan. He pulled his hand away and wondered if he should feign sleep when her head suddenly popped back up from over the edge and she looked around her with tired eyes and a wild hair.
"What happened?!" She demanded with a yawn and her eyes found Fili's. He tried to remain calm.
"You...fell out of bed."
It wasn't a lie. He just didn't say HOW she fell out of bed.
Still, she seemed to buy it.
"Oh," she yawned again and glared at him, "give us a hand, then."
He happily grabbed her hands and pulled her as she scrambled inelegantly back onto the bed. She tugged the sheets back with her until they were strewn over just their legs. Their arms automatically went around one another and Dru pulled Fili until his head was tucked against her chest. She WAS going to go back to sleep, but then she felt his light little kisses and could only sigh, completely relaxed.
Even when a knock came from her door, she held him in place and lifted her head to yell, "I'M NOT DECENT, COME BACK LATER PLEASE!"
There was a pause and Dru snuggled back against Fili before a voice responded from the other side of the door.
"You're never decent. You've got five seconds to put your gown on before I come in, young woman!"
Both Dru and Fili froze in fear when their mother's voice called out to them. But as soon as Dru heard the threat of her mother coming in, she shoved Fili away and rolled herself as quickly as she could, off and out of the bed.
"MAM! Wait, wait, wait, I haven't got...well, anything on!" Dru waved her arms around erratically, desperately trying to find her nightdress, but unsure where exactly she had tossed it the other night.
She turned to Fili as she searched and saw him slowly getting off the bed. She ran at him and began to gather what she could find of his stuff and shove it into his arms.
"Quick, hide!" She could think of nothing better for him to do, but he just shook his head at her.
"What? No, she's going to find out-"
"Dru, who are you talking to?" The voice demanded and Dru slapped her hand over his mouth.
"MYSELF MAM, JUST TRYING TO FIND MY CLOTHES!" She turned back to Fili with beseeching eyes and lowered her voice, "Fili, you have to hide! She can't find out like this!"
Looking around for anyone for him to hide and knowing they were pressed for time, Dru could only think of one place. She began to shove his boots under the bed and pulled the sheets from off the mattress.
"Get under the bed, she won't look there!"
She turned back to see Fili, struggling to pull on his pyjama trousers and glaring at her.
"Dru, I-"
She could see he was about to protest, but she'd bare the brunt of his ire AFTER dealing with her mother.
"Fili," she hissed at him and turned bright red with what she was about to say, "if you don't get under the bed I'll-I'll-I won't touch your cock again!"
He glared at her, before rolling his eyes and quickly as he could, scrambled under the bed and out of sight. His feet disappeared just in time, for Dis had obviously run out of patience and opened her daughter's chamber door.
Dru quickly snatched the sheet around herself, encase her mother was being followed by a servant. Luckily, she was not, but that still didn't stop Dru from complaining.
"MAM, THE DOOR!" Dru waved her hand at the door her mother was going to leave open when she strolled in. Dis turned about, looked at the open door in surprise and shut it behind her.
"Don't fuss," her mother turned back towards Dru and shook her head in annoyance, "I gave you longer than five seconds-"
When Dis stopped short in her speech and just STARED at Dru, her daughter's heart gave a nervous flip. Oh Gods, what was it...what could she see. Dru pretended to fuss with the sheet and turned about, casually looking around her as she did so. From her perspective, everything seemed ok.
"Everything alright, Druili?" Her mother's eyes narrowed at her but her tone was very calm, "I'm not interrupting, am I?"
Dru took a deep breath and tried to appear as casual possible.
"What? No, no," she shifted on her feet ever so slightly, hoping her and the sheet were hiding the bottom of her bed, "I just woke up, that's all. How are-how are you, mother? Busy day ahead?"
Dru could have kicked herself for the way that sounded. She was trying not to panic, but of course, she came off like a stuttering idiot instead.
Dis just arched her eyebrow at her as if seeing right through the lie.
She knew it. She knew something was up. Dru was really panicking now.
"Mmm...well, since you're not dressed yet, I suppose I best leave you to it. Unless you want me to stay and give you a hand?"
Dru shook her head vehemently.
"No, no, you go on ahead. You know how fussy I am with clothes. You go and I'll see you there!"
Dru's face was starting to hurt with how much she was smiling at her mother, trying her hardest to be polite and making it seem like nothing was wrong.
Dis nodded her head and turned away, heading back towards her door. Dru held her breath the entire time and even when her mother cast her one more pointed, suspicious look, Dru only smiled and waved her off.
As soon as the door shut behind her mother, Dru stumbled towards it and locked it behind her, just encase.
She waddled inelegantly back over to the bed and bent over.
"Coast is clear."
A quiet shuffling followed by Fili scrambling out from underneath, still fiddling with his trousers. He'd managed to get them all the way on, but the laces hung loosely so Dru could see his hip bones peeking out. She shook her head clear of those thoughts and took a deep sigh of relief.
"That...that was close."
Fili glared at her, but his voice was firm when he spoke.
"We have to tell her at some point. If she doesn't find out from us, she'll find out next time this happens."
Dru looked a little panicked and shook her head.
"I don't know how to go about that. What do we do? What do we say to her?!," Dru folded her arms defensively across her chest, "'Oh, Mam, you know my brother? Yeah, well we're having it off because we're madly in love!' Somehow, I don't think she'll take it well."
Fili wiped at his face and took a step closer to her.
"We have to at least think about what she could say, seriously."
Dru gave him a blank stare before nodding, though Fili felt she was about to make it very difficult.
"Right. Ok," She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin up, "picture I'm Mam. You wanted to talk to me, Fili?"
Fili had a feeling she was going to pull this. He copied her posture but kept his hands clasped behind his back.
"Mother, I-"
"Well, what have you got to tell me?"
"Mother, I'm getting to that-"
"Go on, spit it out!"
Fili rolled his eyes. Dru was fitting the role very well.
"Mother. After a lot of discussions and some...soul bearing I've decided to get married. I've thought of this moment for over fifty years and-and...I want to marry Dru."
"WHAT?!" Dru exploded, one of her arms flaming out wildly.
"Mother. I'd like you to take a step back, calm down and-
"Calm down! She's your sister! Have you completely lost your little Dwarf mind?! I should-"
"MOTHER."
Dru snapped her mouth shut at the harsh tone he used and saw the anger flare in his eyes. He reached forward, grabbed her by the arms and stared at her and Dru didn't say anything else.
"She's more than that to me. She was my sister for only a short while before I fell in love with her. She's my best friend. She's my hero and now...I want her to be my wife."
Fili lent in close and placed his forehead against Dru's, but he still didn't break full character.
"She's my one, mother. My Queen, even if I never get to be King. I've been apart from her for months and it felt like an eternity. I missed and craved her for every minute. I'm not asking for your blessing or your permission. I need you to know that THIS," he grabbed Dru's hand and placed it flat over his bare chest, "is what I feel in my heart. I only ask you to see our love for what it is."
"I won't write to her sonnets or poetry. And I wouldn't go to war for her, because she knows that's ridiculous," Dru smirked at him but he continued, "But I'd never force to her stay if she wanted to leave. If she asked for her freedom from me tomorrow, I would let her go, even if it would break my heart. And I'd always love her for who she was. My strong-willed, stubborn, fierce love."
Dru took a couple of deep breaths to steady her beating heart and gulped nervously, though she didn't know why.
"I think...I think you're talking with your cock again."
Both she and Fili laughed at that, but he shook his head.
"No. I mean every word and you know it."
Dru sighed and suddenly, her joy fled her as fear took hold.
"What if she doesn't approve? What if she tries to keep us apart? Fi', I don't want to think about it, but it's a possibility," the hand resting on his chest balled into a fist and if he had been wearing a shirt, he knew she'd be clinging onto him. Afraid to let ho.
"Then we'll go somewhere where she won't be able to keep us apart. I'm not giving you up without a fight."
He slipped his arms around her and pulled her close, the side of his head pressing against hers. Dru felt safe in his arms and knew his words were true. No matter what happened, he would protect and fight for her and she would do the same.
"My Dru. Maralmizi."
"My Fi. Maralmizu."
He felt her hand run down his chest and suddenly slip into the loose waistband of his trousers. He hissed as her cold fingers gently grasped his cock and slowly began to tease him until he was hard.
"Well, you DID get under the bed," she whispered against his ear and he groaned when he felt the sheet slip off of her, her naked frame pressed against him.
"Aye'. I did."
He quickly turned and caught her lips in a fierce kiss. Their hands were exploring one another and all previous tension had fled the room. But if only they had known...
A few minutes earlier...
Thorin was awake when the knock came at the door, but he hadn't even given a command for them to enter before a familiar figure came rushing in and quietly shut the door behind her.
"Dis, what-"
"Shh!" His sister held up her hand and quickly made her way over to him and spoke in a whispered voice, "I need to borrow your door."
Thorin quirked an eyebrow at his sister. He'd heard strange requests and commands from her in the past, but this one...this one was new.
"Dis, I don't understand-"
"Shh, not so loud!" She waved her hand in his face again and turned away from him. He watched walk around the room and towards the adjoining doors that led to her former room and Dru's current one.
"Dis," he lowered his voice to appease her as he followed, "what is going on?"
Dis turned to him as she moved her hair off of one ear and began tucking it around her opposite shoulder.
"Listening."
Thorin felt a headache already arising and that was before he watched his sister press her ear to the door and began to listen. Whilst he was curious, he was still more concerned about Dru's privacy.
"Dis, this is an invasion of privacy, you can't-"
"Shh, they're talking!" Dis pointed to the door to signal that there was more than one person on the other side.
"Who?"
"Dru and Fili."
"And? They're talking-"
"Thorin...she said no one was in her room when I was just in there. And yet I saw a man's boot under her bed," she motioned for him to join her by the door so he could listen in also, "And I recognise my son's boots when I'm the one who bought them! AND the little lovebites on her chest. I recognise those when I see them."
Thorin felt a little pull at both his heart and stomach. Dru and Fili's relationship had been confirmed AND found out by their mother it seemed. And she was currently listening on their conversation.
"Dis, surely-" he stopped when she grabbed at his royal robes and tugged him close to her. Even if he didn't want to eavesdrop before, there was nothing he could do now.
"Just...let me listen," Dis rested her ear back against the wood and Thorin followed suit. Though it was a little difficult, he could definitely hear them, especially the way Dru was barking at Fili.
"Mother. After a lot of discussions and some...soul bearing I've decided to get married. I've thought of this moment for over fifty years and-and...I want to marry Dru."
"WHAT?!"
Thorin almost leapt away from the door at Dru's bark.
"Mother. I'd like you to take a step back, calm down and-
"Calm down! She's your sister!"
Dis turned to Thorin and looked offended.
"I don't sound like that! ...Do I?"
"Shh," he hushed his sister as Dru continued.
"Have you completely lost your little Dwarf mind?! I should-"
"MOTHER."
Both Thorin and Dis listened intently as Fili began to spill his heart out.
"She's more than that to me. She was my sister for only a short while before I fell in love with her. She's my best friend. She's my hero and now...I want her to be my wife."
Thorin's eyes looked down at Dis, but her eyes were shut as she listened closely to every word her eldest son spoke.
"She's my one, mother. My Queen, even if I never get to be King. I've been apart from her for months and it felt like an eternity. I missed and craved her for every minute. I'm not asking for your blessing or your permission. I need you to know that this is what I feel in my heart. I only ask you to see our love for what it is."
Thorin's heart clenched painfully. Of course, that's why they kept it between them. Dru was worried about her mother and possibly everyone would disapprove. Thorin would not put her through that. He truly only cared about her happiness.
"I won't write to her sonnets or poetry. And I wouldn't go to war for her, because she knows that's ridiculous, but I'd never force to her stay if she wanted to leave. If she asked for her freedom from me tomorrow, I would let her go, even if it would break my heart. And I'd always love her for who she was. My strong-willed, stubborn, fierce love."
There was a pause and Thorin continued to listen intently, wondering what Dru would say as Dis next, but she appeared to slip back into her own self.
"I think...I think you're talking with your cock again."
Laughter came from the other side of the door and Thorin couldn't help but smile.
"No. I mean every word and you know it."
"What if she doesn't approve? What if she tries to keep us apart? Fi', I don't want to think about it, but it's a possibility," Dru's voice sounded panicked and full of fear and Thorin longed to reassure her that he wouldn't let that happen either. He glanced back down at his sister's expression and whilst her eyes remained closed, he could see the tense lines in her forehead. He didn't know if she was thinking, or angry or disapproving.
"Then we'll go somewhere where she won't be able to keep us apart. I'm not giving you up without a fight."
Thorin took a deep breath. They were truly committed to one another.
"My Dru. Maralmizi."
"My Fi. Maralmizu."
The sounds coming from the room seemed to turn intimate and Thorin pulled back, gently place his hand on Dis' shoulder to follow. She opened her eyes and finally, he saw giant tears fall out and over her cheeks.
He steered her quietly and calmly away from the door and towards a chair. As soon as she was sat in front of it, he held her hands in his own and knelt in front of her, looking up at her face. He wanted to comfort her but he also wanted her to know that he wouldn't even let her interfere in Dru and Fili's future.
"Oh, my babies," she shut her eyes again and began to sniff as more tears fell and Thorin reached up to wipe her tears away before he spoke calmly to her.
"Dis...I understand that this may be a shock to you," he took her hands again and squeezed them in his own, "and I understand your position, but I believe what Fili and Dru have here is genuine and we should-"
"At BLOODY last!"
Thorin suddenly found himself engulfed by his sister's arms, his head buried in her bosom as she held onto him tightly. She was crying and laughing against his head, but he quickly turned and freed himself from possible suffocation.
"Dis?!" He didn't hug her back, unsure on how to handle her right now. Luckily, she pulled away from him and grabbed ahold of his hair, pulling his face close to hers.
"Do you know how long I have WAITED for this?! Over Thirty-Five years!" He could see the joy in her eyes, even as she restrained herself from shouting, "They've loved each other for all that time and UGH-They've been dancing around one another! I couldn't push them together and interfere and do you KNOW how painful that is for me?! I'm their MOTHER and I couldn't interfere! And they think I wouldn't approve?! Children are so bloody frustrating!"
"Dis," Thorin calmly placed his hands over hers, trying to get his braids free so she wouldn't pull on him anymore, "you might need to calm down."
"Not a bloody chance...right, you're not going to like this but you're coming with me."
Dis let Thorin go and suddenly stood up, threatening to send him falling onto his backside, but he managed to stand up unsteadily and watch her. She made her way back over to the door and Thorin had a horrid realisation. He dashed after her and grabbed at her wrist.
"Where are we going?!" He hissed and held her firm, even when she turned to glare at him," Dis, you cannot!"
"Oh, we can and we must-"
"No!"
Thorin, for the first time in his life, overpowered his sister and pulled her back. He moved easily between her and the door and shook his head.
"They are not ready to tell us. When they are ready, they will come to us, is that clear?!"
His sister shot him a bemused look.
"Thorin, I'm going to go in there and you're going to stop being stupid-"
"You cannot do it this way...I forbid it," he squared his shoulders and puffed his chest out, "if you do this, Fili and Dru will never get over it. You must learn to respect their privacy."
Dis couldn't quite believe it. Her jaw was clenched tight because if she relaxed it even slightly, she knew her mouth would hang open like a codfish.
"When did you become so," she waved her hand about, trying to look for the right words, "wise and forceful to your own sister?!"
Thorin arched his brow.
"I am King."
"Oh...yes, so you say," she bit her lip before sighing dejectedly, "I suppose I can let you be right, just this once."
Thorin felt a little lighter at that. He'd never stood up to his sister like that before and it felt...very good. Thrilling. But dangerous. Like playing with Wargs on a loose lead.
Dis wasn't about to go in there, but she still leaned closer to the door and smirked at what she COULD hear.
"And I suppose it is good we're not interrupting them now. Bless them."
Thorin rolled his eyes and waved at her with one hand.
"Dis, come away from there!"
It was her turn to roll her eyes but she did placate him by walking away from the door.
"Oh please! Did I ever tell you about the time I caught Fili in the shed with that little human? He told me he was showing her our gardening tools! Honestly, that boy was so virile-"
Thorin groaned and suddenly wondered if his sanity could take anymore.
"Dis."
"Oh...you old grump," Dis prodded him in his stomach and the roles seemed to switch back easily, "you spoiled my plan, so the least you could do is put up with stories of my children's energetic youth. Do you know about Barry Turner?"
"The Human dullard with the big ears?"
"Oh ho ho, what Dru told me about that boy-"
"DIS," Thorin rubbed at his temples, not needing the image in his head. Still, at least she wasn't focusing on the happy couple in the next room. That was one small consolation.