This chapter has been long overdue. I apologize. I thought I would finish this before school started, but that hasn't been the case. As far as I can see, there will be a few more chapters left. I don't have a definite number, but around five chapters I'd assume. I forgot to mention that someone reviewed Head Over Heels and stated "OMG! Mary-Sue GET THE LASERS!" and it bothered me. I think I stated that it was a Mary-Sue in the beginning. Yes, I'm pretty sure Head Over Heels and In Over Your Head are Mary-Sues and if you have a problem with it, you don't have to read it. If there are any grammar mistakes, let me know. This chapter is a bit raw, so there may be mistakes hiding from me. Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, and added this fic to their alerts! I do not own Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, or anything Tolkien wrote! Enjoy!
Chapter Thirty-Seven
In the days that followed, Thanduil spent much time with his son and his family while Gimli, Rowan, and Éodred enjoyed the elves' hospitality. Thandien wanted to stay longer, but remaining in Mirkwood for a week was the longest they could stay. On the eighth day, they packed for Erebor. The dwarf kingdom wasn't too far and Legolas thought they might arrive by nightfall. Thandien and Éodred complained as they rode through Mirkwood toward Erebor.
When they reached the reconstruction of Dale, the boys marveled at the sight. The men from Laketown were set on rebuilding it and Bard's line had ordered the city to be returned to its former glory. As they passed, the men working didn't mind them. Gimli huffed as he rode by and turned to the others.
"You'd think I'd get more respect in these parts," he stated.
"They're hard at work, Gimli, I don't think they realized who you were," Vivian explained kindly and exchanged a look with Legolas.
X_X_X
Upon coming closer to the Lonely Mountain, Gimli sighed and gazed up at his home. At the gate, the guards looked down on the travelers and turned their attention to Gimli.
"What brings you here, Master Gimli?" they asked.
"We come to visit. I bring my friends, Legolas Greenleaf, his wife, and his son. I also bring the Queen of Rohan and the heir to Rohan's throne," Gimli explained, gesturing to each of them.
The captain of the guard looked to Gimli and opened the new gate. Vivian and Rowan gazed at Erebor in wonder as they rode through and took notice of the rebuilt kingdom. Before they made it completely inside Erebor, they dismounted their horses and went on foot. When they reached the throne room, Thorin Stonehelm stood there waiting for them. The Arkenstone was nowhere to be seen, but Rowan assumed Thorin Oakenshield had been buried with it.
"Welcome to Erebor. What brings you to my mighty dwelling?" Thorin Stonehelm wondered cautiously.
"I have come to offer friendship on behalf of Rohan and pay my respects to the fallen warriors at the Battle of Five Armies," Rowan announced and bowed slightly.
"Is that all you have come for? Why do you bring so many with you?" Thorin Stonehelm wondered.
"These are my friends who have traveled with me and I brought my son," Rowan replied.
"There must be something else for you to have traveled with so many," Thorin Stonehelm assumed.
"Cerwyn and Helena have come to visit their departed friends," Gimli spoke up and the king of Erebor looked to Rowan and Vivian.
"You would be older than you are currently to be the two women who traveled with my predecessor's company," the great dwarf argued, but Gimli shook his head.
"They are indeed. May they visit the tombs of Thorin, Fili, and Kili?" Legolas wondered.
"Very well, but we shall discuss an alliance with Rohan when you are finished paying your respects," Thorin Stonehelm decided and had someone show the group to the crypt.
Three great tombs rested in the middle of the dusty room. A single slit of light shined through and because the day was ending, the light was fading. Into the walls were carvings of the deeds Thorin Oakenshield accomplished. Éodred ran his hand over one that depicted the Battle of Five Armies and Gimli smiled.
"I hear your mother fought like a beast," Gimli noted and Rowan laughed.
"It was adrenaline, I promise. Vivian helped me fight them off and distracted the Orcs who had come for my head," Rowan explained, glancing at her son.
"Fili and Kili would still be alive if they had not died," Vivian muttered and looked to their coffins.
For a few more moments, the girls stood there and then they were escorted back to the throne room. Thorin Stonehelm waited for them and stood from his seat when they stood before them.
"I will speak with you now of an alliance," he decided and Rowan stepped forward with Éodred at her side. The three left the throne room and Gimli decided to take the others around Erebor.
Thandien gazed at the dwarven halls in wonder and Vivian tried to remember the horrible state Erebor was in when Smaug was driven out. Legolas walked behind Vivian and watched as she scanned every inch of the mountain.
"Has it improved since you've seen it last, lass?" Gimli wondered and Vivian nodded with a smile.
"It's beautiful," Vivian replied, looking back at Legolas.
"Dain had these halls rebuilt with the help of Dwalin and the rest of the company. When Erebor was back to its former glory, those from the Blue Mountains came back," Gimli explained, gesturing to the dwarves going about their business.
"What do you think Rowan is discussing with Thorin Stonehelm?" Vivian wondered, not asking anyone in particular.
"She's negotiating on behalf of Éomer. I know she will be able to achieve an alliance," Legolas assured his wife.
"I am sure he will agree to her terms," Gimli assumed and led the group further through the halls.
X_X_X
Rowan sat across from Thorin Stonehelm as he pondered her request. Éodred had been silent throughout the discussion and didn't stir when Thorin Stonehelm raised his voice. Rowan handled the situation well.
"You propose an exchange of goods between our countries?" he asked once again.
"Yes, we can provide you with whatever you ask of Rohan within reason. Perhaps you need horses to deliver your wares to market," Rowan suggested.
"What would you ask in return?" the dwarf king was curious to see what Rowan had in mind.
"You could sell your wares in Rohan if it isn't too much trouble," Rowan offered and the dwarf king pondered her suggestion.
"I will have my advisors draw up a treaty with details that may benefit both our lands. In the meantime, you may stay as my guest," Thorin Stonehelm decided. This was what Rowan wanted. She wanted some sort of treaty with Erebor to make peace. If there couldn't be peace between the dwarven and human kingdoms, a lasting peace couldn't be achieved.
Rowan found Vivian and the others at Thorin Stonehelm's table eating. Gimli was ravenous and ate the meat that he could see. Legolas ate what vegetables he could get and Vivian ate a few bits and pieces of meat. Music was played as they feasted and Vivian smiled as Thandien and Éodred spoke with each other, smiling. They had become good friends and it would help when they grew older.
One of the dwarves in Thorin Stonehelm's inner circle was drunk on ale decided to ask the girls about their aliases.
"So you're really Helena and Cerwyn?" he asked in a husky voice.
"Yes we really are," Vivian replied, taking a small sip of her ale. The drink repulsed her, but she drank it because she was in Erebor and it would be rude not to accept.
"I hear you both slayed the pale Orc's Warg," he continued and Thandien's eyes widened. Éodred looked shocked to discover his mother had a hand in killing a Warg. He had heard tales of Azog, the pale Orc, and those of his white Warg.
"It would have killed us if we did nothing," Rowan answered quietly as she tried to determine what to eat from her plate.
"Were you scared?" Thandien asked suddenly, earning a soft smile from Vivian.
"Of course we were. Well, I was, but I'm not sure about Rowan," Vivian assumed as she looked to Rowan.
"I think I was too concerned about your leg and the fact that if we didn't take it down, I'd probably end up losing my sword," Rowan explained.
"You care too much about that sword," Vivian noted, in which Rowan smirked.
"If you were me, you would be as well," Rowan reminded her, "You value your bow I'm sure."
"Yes, but it was a gift. I wouldn't have rammed it in the Warg's hindquarters." Rowan rolled her eyes at Vivian's naivety.
"Well, let's move away from that topic," Rowan decided.
"How are you both here now when you fought alongside Thorin Oakenshield?" another in Thorin Stonehelm's inner circle asked.
"I suppose it's just like how we arrived in Middle Earth," Vivian mused and exchanged a look with Rowan.
"We were not born in Middle Earth or across any ocean that you know. We were stranded here many years ago," Rowan explained and all eyes fell upon her. Éodred and Thandien looked at their mothers strangely and Thorin Stonehelm folded his arms across his chest.
"Then where were you born if not in Middle Earth?" he inquired.
"We come from a different world," Vivian stated, earning a few doubtful glances.
"Are we to believe this as truth?" one of Stonehelm's close friends asked, leaning forward.
"You can trust us or consider us strange, but we weren't born here," Vivian replied confidently.
The dinner went on and when the dwarves were finished, everyone left the table. Legolas stood up with Gimli and they left with Thandien and Vivian. Rowan smiled to her best friend and stood up with Éodred. Thorin Stonehelm had one of his advisors show them to their rooms.
Éodred's room was next door to his mother's and when Rowan shut her door, she let out a breath. She changed out of her clothes and dressed in a nightgown. A candle was lit by her bedside and she blew it out once she was settled. In the morning, she would see if Thorin Stonehelm's advisors had drawn up a plan.
Vivian was woken by her husband when the sun rose. She gave him a smile and stretched. There was a knock on the door and Legolas sat up. He walked over to the door and opened it to find Thandien standing there, dressed for the day.
"Thorin Stonehelm's council is meeting. Aunt Rowan is with them and so is Gimli. I was told by aunt Rowan that you both should be left alone," Thandien explained quietly and Vivian slid out of bed, dressed in her nightgown.
"Rowan asked you to let us sleep?" Vivian wondered and her son nodded.
"She didn't want us to be at the meeting," Legolas assumed, looking to Vivian.
"I'm sure she'll tell us about it when they're done," Vivian assumed and Thandien went back to his room to wait. Éodred was also at the meeting at Rowan's request.
X_X_X
Rowan stood across from Thorin Stonehelm and his advisors as they read off the contract. It was fine except for the fact that the dwarves would receive more support from Rohan in the event of a battle or from the Harad forces if they invaded.
"The threat of the Wild Men is still an issue in Rohan. If Rohan is aiding you in your battles, I assume it would be fair to say that if we ever required your help, you would gladly give it if you were able," Rowan pointed out, keeping herself from slamming her fist on the table.
"It is a good point," Gimli pointed out.
"We cannot offer such promises. As you know, dwarves do not travel by horse and it would take some time to reach your lands," one of Thorin Stonehelm's councilors stated.
"But if we should require your aid, would you attempt to help even if you sent a quarter of your army?" Rowan was trying her best to negotiate, but she wanted to make a deal that would impress Éomer.
"Perhaps we could send some of our army in the event that you are in dire need," the councilor figured and consulted the others around him. When they asked for Thorin Stonehelm's opinion, he looked to Rowan and then to his councilors.
"We shall give aid to Rohan, but we will not send all our forces," Thorin Stonehelm decided and Rowan smiled. She had been successful in negotiating with Erebor.
So what did you think? Somewhere (I can't remember where) I read that Rohan and Erebor were on bad terms, but I probably made that up. Because I couldn't go back and find it, I figured that Erebor and Rohan would be on fairly good terms with each other. So, hopefully I'll be able to get back to writing this on a regular basis. I just have a lot of reading that has to be done on a weekly basis for my classes. Until next time!