Chapter Thirty-seven; Pleasant Surprises
Fili was playing with Luna and Mora sat nearby, resting. Her baby was to be born quite soon, and she was worried about the birth.
"Fili, my mother died birthing me. What if the same happens to me? What will happen to our baby then?" She asked.
"Nothing's going to happen to you, dear. Even if it did, Lina, Kili, and I would take good care of the baby." He assured her.
"What are we going to name him?" She asked.
"I don't know! We don't even know if it's a boy or a girl yet." Fili replied.
"Which do you want it to be?"
"You know I don't care. Which do you want it to be?" He asked.
"I'd like it to be a boy." She replied instantly. "So, assuming it is, what will we name him?"
"Well, what do you think of the name Flynn?" He asked.
She nodded thoughtfully.
"Flynn...I like it. What if it were to be a girl?"
"I've had that one figured out for ages. Miri." He replied.
"I've not heard that one before. How did you come up with it?" Mora asked.
"It's the consonants from your name and the vowels from mine." He replied with a smile.
"Alright then, it's settled. If it's a boy we name him Flynn, and if it's a girl we name her Miri."
The day came, as Fili was returning to their house after taking Luna back to Lina. Mora was pale and looked at him in a strained way.
He could feel panic rising, but clamped a lid on it and shouted for the guards to bring a healer. One arrived minutes later and helped Mora to bed. She gave him a weak smile.
"I love you, Fili." She said before he was ushered out of the room.
Not wanting to leave her but not wanting to be alone, Fili went to find Kili, who was poring over several parchments in his office.
"Fili? What's wrong?" Kili asked as the door when he saw Fili. "Is it Mora?"
Fili nodded mutely, taking a few deep breaths. He knew how Kili had felt when Luna was born now.
"Hey, she'll be alright." Kili said, laying hand on his shoulder. "Come on, we'll go spar or something."
Fili followed him without a word all the way to the training arena, where they found Lina, who was watching the fighting from a distance with Luna on her lap.
Kili jogged over and spoke to her. She said something in reply and stood up. Kili looked like he was about to protest but Lina placed the baby in his arms and came towards him. Kili shook his head and started back up to the gates.
"Hey, Fili?" Lina asked, shaking his shoulder a bit. "You alright?"
He blinked and realized she had been talking to him.
"What? Oh, yeah. I'm fine, just worried is all."
She nodded skeptically. "Come on." She said, taking his arm and leading him over to a bench. "Tell me about it."
Fili sat down beside her and started talking. "Well, Mora was worried before this that she might...not make it. Her mother didn't and she was worried the same would happen to her. I told her it wouldn't, but what if it does? I can't protect her, I don't know what to do!"
"Just keep calm and don't think about that. Think about your baby, and how happy Mora will be later. Now, grab a sword and come with me." She said, bouncing back up and going over to the storage shack, which held several training weapons and a few actual weapons.
"Lina, what are you doing?" Fili asked as she selected one and hefted it with a satisfied nod.
"You realize it's been a year since I've sparred with anyone? I can't take it any more. Come on!" She said, a slightly teasing note in her voice he was sure was deliberate.
He rose and took the sword she offered him.
"And...ha!" Lina said, twirling under his attack to aim a blow at his neck. He blocked it and they circled.
Lina laughed, her braid flying as she ducked and spun. Fili found himself laughing, too. It had been so long since they had done this, he hadn't even realized.
The hours slipped by, the sun edging lower to the horizon, and they kept fighting. Tyhere was no better sparring partner than Lina when you wanted it to go on for hours.
Lina stepped back for a moment and took a breath. Fili lowered his sword and saw the grin just in time. She had been tricking him into lowering his guard.
"Ha! I nearly got you then! This just feels so...right. You know what I mean? This feeling sums up my life." Lina said thoughtfully as she continued fighting.
"Yes, I know what you mean. Take...that!" He laughed, swinging a particularly swift blow. She laughed as she leapt over it, twisting in the air like a cat to land nearly behind him. The flurry of blows she dealt was unexpected, and he had to concentrate for some time.
The Dwarves who normally came in for tthe evening classes arrived and Lina sighed.
"I rather feel like teaching again. But I've got Luna, so I suppose I can't. I miss it, fighting all evening and hunting and riding." She said.
"Yes, I miss it, too. Have you decided not to raise ponies, then?" He asked, aiming for her thigh.
"I'd forgotten about it, honestly.'' She said, neatly blocking the blow. "Perhaps Kili and I should find a mare or two soon."
At last it became too dark to spar any longer and they went in. Fili grew anxious again and Lina stopped, turning to him.
"She's going to be alright, Fili. Do you want me to walk up with you?" She asked gently.
He nodded and she took his hand. They continued up the passageway and Lina opened the door to his house, finding everything quiet. Fili's heart beat faster and he strode quickly to the bedroom door and opened it to see Mora and...two babies.
Twins!? Oh Mahal! What was he supposed to do with twins?
"Are you alright, Fili love?" Mora asked and Fili realized he was glued to the spot.
"I'm fine, it's just...twins?" He asked.
She smiled. "Twins. Flynn and Miri." She told him, and he walked closer to look at them.
Flynn had blonde hair, but a darker shade than his own golden mane. Miri had brown hair of a beautiful light shade. They were perfect.
Lina peeked in the doorway to see if everything was alright and gasped. The possibility of twins had never crossed her mind. They were beautiful, and she smiled as she came in.
"Just look at them!" She said quietly, and Fili gave her a triumphant proud smile.
"Their names are Flynn and Miri." Mora said.
"Those sound perfect!" Lina exclaimed, then added more seriously, "How are you feeling?"
"Tired." Mora admitted.
Lina nodded briskly. "I'll be right back." She said, and hurried out the door.
Once she was safely out of earshot she whooped with joy and jumped up in the air. A Dwarf coming down the hall gave her an odd look and she giggled as they shook their head and continued walking.
Kili started as the door burst open and Lina flew in, braid flying and eyes alight.
"Is Mora alright? Where's Fili? Lina, what's going on?" He asked, but she didn't seem to hear, walking right past him into the bedroom as if he didn't exist. She returned with their old cradle and went straight back out, closing the door with a flick of her wrist.
He stood there, confused, and saw his face in the mirror. He closed his mouth and attempted to look a bit more serious. Kili checked on Luna, who was fast asleep, and called to the guard in the hall.
"My lord?" The guard asked with a bow.
"Would you kindly see if Lady Dis is available, and if so ask her to join me here?" Kili asked.
"Certainly, my lord." The guard replied, and set off down the hall.
Dis entered the house a few minutes later with a questioning expression.
"Mora should be done with the birthing now, and Lina just came in, completely ignoring me." He told her.
"Did you upset her? Is Mora alright?" Dis asked, concerned.
"That's what I asked her! She walked past me and left again with our old cradle." He said. "I need to find her, would you watch Luna?"
"Of course, dear! I hope everything's alright." His mother said.
"So do I." Kili muttered as he set off down the hall.
He met Lina in the hall by Fili's house and took her shoulders so she couldn't ignore him.
"Is everything alright?" He asked.
"Everything's fine! Mora had the babies and-"
"What!? Twins!?" Kili nearly shouted.
"Shh! Mora's trying to sleep!"
Kili glanced around and lowered his voice. "Why did you ignore me earlier?"
"When?" She asked, clearly confused.
"You walked right past me and didn't answer me when I asked about Mora. When you came and got the cradle." He said, worried. "Lina, are you alright?"
She laughed. "I'm fine, Kili! I just didn't see you is all. I was in quite a hurry. Fili and Mora didn't have another cradle and Mora needed to sleep as soon as possible, so I was trying to rush to get it back so they could put the little ones to bed and give Mora a chance to sleep. I'm not going mad, if that's what you're thinking." She said, then looked around. Her eyes grew wide and she asked in a rush, "Where's Luna? Is she alright? Where is she?"
"Hey, everything's fine. Mum is watching her while I look for you. I got worried when you just left like that." He said, and she nodded, taking a few deep breaths.
"I overreacted, I suppose. You would have told me if Luna wasn't alright. Anyway, Fili and I were fighting all day!" She said, leading the way home.
"Fighting? You always get along so well, though. I suppose the anxiety got to him."
She laughed again. "Not that kind of fighting, sparring! Don't say a word."
Kili stopped just as he was about to say something.
"I have been cooped up for over a year, Kili! You've been able to go to work, move about the city, and talk to people, and I've been at home in bed or taking care of the baby. I needed some exercise, my muscles are going soft." She said, rolling her shoulders. "And though I fear I shall be sore tomorrow, I don't regret it. Now, how about we see if Naki is ready to begin those stables?"
Kili realized that she was telling the truth. He had hardly let her out of his sight unless she promised to stay home while she was carrying Luna, and then she had been forced to stay home with her for some months once she was born.
"Naki? You still want to breed ponies, then?" He asked.
"Absolutely! Think of what fun that will be for the children." She said with a smile.
"Children?" Asked Kili.
"Luna, Flynn, and Miri, of course." Lina replied. "Oh, I haven't told you! Fili and Mora have a boy and a girl, Flynn and Miri."
He smiled. "Those are good names. So, shall we go down to the paddocks tomorrow?"
She grinned. "No stopping me! Thalion will be fine to teach them to ride on, and then once they get a bit older they can ride Edencuil, but wouldn't it be marvelous to have a whole stableful of ponies they could help take care of?"
The next day Lina got up early, and true to her suspicions was rather stiff and sore. She spent some time stretching before she woke Kili and made them breakfast. Luna woke up as she was setting the table.
Lina decided to take Luna with them when they went to the stables, since Dis, Fili, and Mora were all taking care of the new babies.
They found Naki's apprentice, Loni, grooming a pony in the hall. Luna looked around from Kili's arms with wide eyes and smiled.
"Your Lordship! My lady! How can I be of service to you?" Loni asked with a bow.
"We're looking for Naki, is he available?" Kili replied.
"He'll be down towards the stream building fence." Loni said. "Shall I run and fetch him, my lord?"
"No need, we'll go ourselves." Kili said, turning to leave.
Lina, however, stayed a minute. "You'd be better off tying the halter this way. It won't come loose if you do it like this." She said, fixing the knot. "Did you see how I did that?"
"Yes, my lady. Thank you!" Loni said, bowing again.
"Don't mention it." She said, and paused before continuing. "My brother's name was Loni. We were good friends, and I hope you and I will be the same."
"Yes, my lady." Loni replied, looking a little confused.
Lina caught up to Kili, who was staring blankly towards the stream.
"What is it?" Lina asked, and looked. "Oh, goodness!"
There stood two sturdy wooden buildings with strong doors. One had small pens attached to the wall, with doors opening out into them. The other was slightly larger, and it was wide open. Naki was working nearby, replacing rotten planks in a fence with new ones.
"Hello, Naki!" Kili called, and they went closer.
Naki grinned and waved, setting down his hammer and meeting them by the larger barn.
"My lord and lady! What a pleasant surprise!" He said.
"This is magnificent, Naki! When did you build it all?" Lina asked.
"This year. Loni and some lads in the town helped me with most of it. I'm nearly finished with the last of the fence in that paddock." He replied. "Shall I show you about the place?"
Lina nodded and they followed him into the barn.
"This here is the main barn, with a loft for hay and grain, a tack room, an office, and plenty of stalls. I figured we could keep the mares in here. Out this way..." He led them through a door at the back and along a well-trodden path to a third building hidden by the other two. "Is the stallion barn. We've got some feed storage and a tack room here, since we want to keep the mares and stallions separate and it wil be easier nit to habe ti bring feed and such from the main barn. There are six stalls, since we'll likely want to keep some of the colts for breeding purposes."
Lina was amazed by the fine structure. She had expected to ask Naki about beginning the stables, not finding them finished already.
"This barn here is the foaling barn. We can keep the mares and new foals here, with these pens to let them outside. Once they grow up a bit we have larger paddocks we can let them into, and a separate one for when they're old enough to wean. I thought we might build a fourth barn for the yearling and two year olds next spring. If we started now the snow would catch up to us and we'd have to stop halfway."
"Naki, this place is amazing. A fourth barn does sound like a good idea. This is even grander than the stables in Minas Tirith!" She exclaimed.
"I agree, it's fantastic. How soon will we be able to acquire mares and fill the place?" Kili asked.
"Whenever you fancy! And thank you kindly for your compliments." Naki said.
Lina smiled. What other dreams could come true?
Hey, I'm finally back! A sudden burst of inspiration hit me and I have five more chapters written! Yay me!
There is a lot of pony/stables in the next chapters, hope you don't mind. Thanks for reading, and waiting so patiently while I struggled for ideas.
Please review and let me know you're still reading!
Thoronsul Belegmegil