Different Worlds
Chapter 35 – "A Restless King"
Sitting out by the lake I watch my son sleeping, his dark curls lying on his forehead. The summer leafs were beginning to fade, the colors of autumn ready to burst forth.
It was funny how time marched on, Kilan now three months old and growing stronger every day. My life in my dwarven home was peaceful but I find myself longing for my elven home. I miss Elrond and Arwen; wish they could join me in the happiness of my life with Kili.
I had made my choice that day I left Mirkwood forest with Fili and Kili, leaving behind my old life for a new one with them.
Kili is my life now, my heart and my soul, without him my life would be meaningless. Gazing upon the beautiful sleeping child beside me helped me understand I did the right thing.
Kilan yawns wide as his big bright hazel eyes look up at me. His little hands instinctively reach up for me but Kili takes him before I can even move.
"Da has you now." Kili rubs his nose on Kilan's, my two precious boys.
"What did Thorin want with you and Fili?" I take his hand as he helps pull me to my feet.
"Thorin is not himself Ruunya, there is something weighing heavy on my uncle's mind. He asked Dwalin to go back to the Northern Mountains and bring back some our kin. Balin, Dwalin's brother is one of the oldest and wisest dwarves I know. If Thorin has asked for him then there is something wrong." Kilan lays his head on Kili's shoulder, my perfect husband swaying with his baby boy.
"I think I would like to visit Thorin. Would you go with me, we can take Kilan. I think that might lift his spirits." Kili places his forehead against mine, his brown eyes sparkling in the sunlight.
"I'll get Fili; he's training Arvandora to use a dwarven broad sword." Kili hands me Kilan, walking towards their training grounds.
"Training her, why?" I follow after him, my curiosity peaked.
"We don't have any elf blades, she didn't bring hers with her and you won't part with yours so she'll use a dwarven blade. Fili made that one especially for her in Thorin's forge. It's not as big as a normal dwarven sword but she's spry, for an elf." I watch the mischievous smile beam across his face and kiss him in spite of it.
The clashing of swords can be heard as we approach the training grounds, Arvandora screaming at the top of her lungs. "Why do have to do that!"
As we round the corner Arvandora is on her backside and Fili his reaching her his hand. "Because you're not holding the sword right … hold it like this."
Fili walks behind Arvandora to demonstrate the proper way to hold a dwarven blade. I watch as he kisses her cheek, his tongue running along the edge of her ear. "Stop that Fili. Will you never give up? Not till our wedding night and I mean it."
"You can't blame me for trying." His grin was more than playful it was downright randy.
Kili walks over to the archery range picking up his bow. "How about a fair match of bows wife?"
"I do believe my arms are full at the moment but I would love one husband." I give him back a confident grin, watching him retrieve my bow.
"Arvandora, will you please watch our son while I prove to my wife I am the true archer in the family." His sassy tone makes me want to take him right there but I stow it away for tonight.
Arvandora and Fili sit back on the bench, Kilan still sleeping. Fili plays with the braids of his mustache, his grin cocking up on one side. "I think this could be interesting." He whispers to Arvandora.
Three rounds later end in a tie, both of us really outdoing ourselves. "It would seem husband that there are two great archers in this family."
Kili takes my bow, grabbing me around the waist. "So it does wife." He kisses me softly at first, then his tongue slides between my lips and I kiss him back. Our hands slide over each other till Fili calls out to us.
"I think you two have a bedroom for that. Who knew shooting a bow could be so arousing?" Arvandora slaps Fili across the arm, her eyes narrowing.
We ignore him, still holding on to each other. "Do you two want to go to the Hall with us? I think Thorin is in need of his family and his little nephew."
The stone hall was always the same, the seasons made no difference to it. I marvel at the stone structure, knowing skilled dwarven hands had carved it.
My feet walk lightly along the marbled floor but the brother's make their presence known with each footstep.
Thorin emerges from the Great Hall, his face looking downfallen. "Ah, you have brought Kilan with you. It has been too long little one." Thorin takes my son and holds him high in the air. I watch Kilan's face light up as he smiles so sweetly back at Thorin.
"Where is Dis?" I ask Thorin, the mask of sadness melting from his face.
"She is with her dressmakers, why don't you go join her?" Thorin's voice had a tenderness to it when he was with Kilan.
Arvandora and I leave the men, my child included and head off to Dis's quarters. We can hear the sound of chatter echoing down the hall and we begin to laugh. "Dwarven women really do love to gossip, do they not." Arvandora smiles at me with her eyes, both of us shaking our heads.
Waiting outside Dis's room, we listen in for a while, to check if any of the gossip is about us.
"Dis, do you think Thorin will ever marry?" A small voice asks.
"No, my brother is very much set in his ways. If not for him helping me raise Fili and Kili I would have been lost. My brother has far too much on his mind to worry about such things as marriage." Dis answers swiftly as if the question upset her.
"Your sons are fine boys indeed but how could you let them marry elves?" The voice of an older dwarf asks Dis.
"Excuse me Sallara? Those elves as you put it are fine women. One even saved our cousins to the north from the darkness that plagued the woods. She has given me a strong fine grandson and the other is a midwife. When Fili and Arvandora wed this spring I will be most proud to call her daughter." We could hear the bitterness in Dis's tone and decide to show ourselves.
Walking slowly around the alcove, we smile as we approach her. "Evening Dis, are we interrupting something?"
"No my beautiful daughters, come in and join us." She wraps us both in her arms as she glowers at the four dwarven women in her company.
The dressmakers disburse upon our arrival, Dis looking glad to be rid of them. She sends for some tea and honey cakes as we sit talking. I agree not to leave before she has seen her grandson, her face illuminating with love when I mention him.
Dis leans in towards us as if the walls may be listening. "Thorin is not well my daughters. He has terrible nightmares of the dragon, that awful day in Erebor still haunts him. He talks of returning to the Lonely Mountain to take back what Smaug stole. Dwalin is in agreement with him; those fools will not rest till they have that dragon's head over the fireplace."
"Kili told me Dwalin is on his way to the north now. Do you really think they would try to raise an army to take back the mountain?" The crack in my voice gives away my distress.
"I fear so Ruunya. He will not listen to me; maybe you could talk with him." Dis takes my hand, her eyes pleading.
"For you I will do this." I pat her hand; Dis trying to hide her worry.
Thorin insists we stay for dinner, Kili and Fili agreeing to spend the night with him. Since Kilan's birth I had not stayed in Thorin's Hall and tonight I would lie in the bed I came to know upon my arrival.
Before the men have time to adjourn to the Great Hall for a smoke I ask Thorin for a moment.
We sit in the back of the banquet hall, his blue eyes looking at me with intrigue.
"I take it there is something on your mind niece." His booming voice was back but I no longer flinch at it.
"Your sister is worried for you. She says you do not sleep, your nightmares waking you nightly. From what I hear you plan on taking out your vengeance on the dragon. Thorin I plead with you not to wake the sleeping beast." I can feel my pulse quicken as he stands and begins to pace.
"Do you miss your home, miss Rivendell?" I nod my head, he nods back to me. "Then you will understand why I must try. Erebor is our home, our treasure and our birthright. Smaug killed my people and took my home, leaving my people scattered. This Hall is a poor excuse for a home. The Durin people live in exile and I will tolerate it no longer. I will not go into this lightly Ruunya; my people are looking on me to lead them." Thorin offers me his arm and I take it as we walk back to the Great Hall.
That night my sleep is restless as I know is Thorin's. Kili tries to calm my worries, his hands rubbing my shoulders and back. "You won't be able to change uncle's mind. He has thought of nothing but The Lonely Mountain for years."
"If he goes will you go?" I close my eyes already knowing the answer.
"Where he leads I follow. I know Fili will as well." He perches his chin on my arm, his hand pulling my hair from my face.
Looking over to him I try not to show that my heart is breaking. "If that day comes my love, we will worry about it then."
The talk of the Lonely Mountain and the dragon Smaug continues over the next few weeks, coming to a frenzy when Balin comes to visit. Dwalin had left word for him as he continued on to the Grey Mountains.
The snow white bearded dwarf was the friendly sort, his kind eyes easing my jitters.
"Thorin did not tell me Kili married such a beauty. Elf yes but still a vision. I dare say I am a little surprised that Thorin accepted an elf into his family, and Fili intends to marry one as well. I'm sorry dearie, you'll have to overlook and old dwarf, some things you just don't forget." I look into the old dwarf's eyes and understand he means Thranduil's betrayal.
Thorin and Balin hold council for many days, Kili and Fili locked away with them. My heart becomes low, missing my husband and hoping my greatest fear will not come to light, that Kili would leave me to go on this journey with his uncle.