I'm caught up with my writing, except for the chapter still in progress. My Muse took a sudden vacation to the final frontier, touring through the time vortex along the way, which means updates will be back to once a week or as often as I get a chapter finished. I'm rather disappointed in that myself, I loved being ahead.
Anyhoo... Thanks much, as always, to my Rockstar Reviewers. For chapter 53 they are: ThatOtherWriterGirl, Robinbird79, readpink, readergirl4985, ushxf, ValarenOfGondor, Rogue Lion, Celebrisilweth, Guest, and Aashi! Thanks also to all the lovely people who read along in silence.
Rogue Lion - With all due respect to Prof. Tolkien, who was a follower of the Roman Catholic faith and therefore would have considered it a sin, homosexuality is a factor of human existence. Dwarves may not technically be human, but they are sentient beings like we are and I imagine them to have sex drives not unlike our own - and to that end I suspect there are individuals among them who are not sexually attracted to the opposite sex. The storyline of Halvar being gay is simply my way of introducing a dose of realism into the story. Therefore it's perfectly lined up with this setting, and while I see no problem with introducing gay characters in Middle-earth, I won't make any of the canon characters gay out of respect for their creator's beliefs.
Guest - Quite a lot of people want to give Kíli a hug right now, lol! Heck, even I want to hug him, for all the torture I'm putting the poor lad through... though I know he'll thank me in the end. ;) I can't give any answer as to who his future bride is or what Thorin and Rejna's first child will be because spoilers! Balin and Nori will be coming along soon - I swear! - and are going to be bringing along a surprise. A couple of surprises, actually...
Aashi - Of course Thorin and Rejna will overcome the obstacles before them - I'm not that cruel! Everybody will have a happy ending, they just have to work for it. And like I said above, Kee's going to thank me when his time comes. ;)
54. Duty
Thorin and Kíli headed to the weapons forge soon after the agreement was reached that his nephew would act as his guardian.
When they reached the facility they were greeted by the forgemaster, who offered a hearty congratulations to Thorin on being the princess' chosen. Thorin thanked the dwarf, then said Rejna was the reason they had come.
"Or more to the point, the bride price is why," he said. "His Majesty has asked for me to make him a sword unlike any he has ever seen, so I will have need of steel—"
"Nope!" said Darbur, holding up his hand. "I'll not hear of you using common steel to make a sword for my king."
Thorin tried not to frown. "Then what do you suggest I use instead? I cannot use iron, it is too heavy."
The forgemaster grinned. "Follow me, my Lord," he said conspiratorially, and turned toward a door on the far wall. Pulling a key ring from his belt, Darbur fiddled through them until he found the one he wanted, then put it to the large lock and pushed the door open. When he stepped aside, Thorin and Kíli could see the reason for the heavy iron of the lock.
"Mithril," Kíli said with a hint of awe. "Master Darbur, however did you come by it? Mithril can only be found in Moria."
Darbur chuckled. "'Tis where you're wrong, my boy. Recall that until four years ago, the north had long forgotten about this little kingdom of ours—including the fact that there's a mithril mine below this very mountain."
Is that it? Thorin wondered. Is that the true reason Hagen wants control of Dwarrowvale—so he can control the mithril?
Closer you come to the truth each day, said Mahal's voice in his mind.
It was all he could do not to scoff aloud. How convenient for you to pop in and out of my head when it suits you. Why not just spell it out for me instead of forcing me to play this ridiculous game of clue hunting?
The Maker's chuckle reverberated softly in his skull. Come now, Thorin. We both know how much you enjoy riddles.
Thorin growled silently. Mahal laughed again, then said, In all seriousness, my son, the simple truth is that there are some things you must discover for yourself. However will you learn if I just 'spell it out' for you?
"Uncle?"
Blinking, Thorin returned his attention to the dwarves before him. Both Kíli and Darbur stared with one eyebrow raised. "Forgive me, my mind did wander."
Darbur laughed. "If Princess Rejna were my One, Lord Thorin, I should expect my mind to wander as well. She is one of the comeliest dams I have ever beheld. Now, about His Majesty's sword—do you wish to use the mithril?"
Nodding, Thorin replied, "I would indeed, though I do not know if I have enough to pay for it on my person. I was expecting to purchase steel."
"What you have will be good enough."
Thorin looked to Kíli, whose countenance showed the same amount of surprise he felt himself. "Master Darbur, are you certain? The amount I will need is easily worth three or four times the amount for the same length of steel."
"Consider the discount an early wedding present," Darbur said. "Sir, I may not know you well, but that Mahal—in his infinite wisdom—chose you for Princess Rejna tells me you are worth the loss of coin. Besides, it is a discount. You're not getting it for free—I'm not that sentimental!"
Thorin laughed and thanked the forgemaster and shook his hand heartily, then handed over the money. Darbur handed him a length of the silvery metal; he also purchased a thin rod of iron to mix with the mithril, as alone the latter was too malleable—as an alloy it would be unbreakable, stronger than any sword of plain steel.
Darbur then directed them to an empty workstation—his shop was one where a dwarf without his own forge (some of the wealthier dwarves in the kingdom could afford a private forge) could purchase metal and pay a small fee to use one of the numerous fire pits and anvils to work on a personal project. A discount was offered if a patron had his or her own tools.
After getting the fire started, Thorin set the metal pieces into the cast iron pot. Kíli steadily pumped the bellow to fan the flames.
"Any idea what you're going to make this sword look like, Uncle?" the younger dwarrow asked.
Thorin reached into an inner pocket of his vest and pulled out a piece of parchment. He unfolded it and showed it to his nephew, whose eyes widened at the item drawn on it.
"Orcrist? You're going to make a copy of Orcrist for King Ragin?"
A slight frown marred his brow. "Do you think he will not like it?"
"Oh no, I'm sure he will," Kíli assured him. "I just figured with how much you came to like that Elvish blade, you might make one like it for yourself someday since you left the original behind in Erebor."
Thorin tilted his head as he thought about that. "Aye, I did like that sword. Perhaps I shall make another for myself someday, but this one is for the king."
Soon the molten metal was ready and they were pouring it into a plain mold. From this, he would use a hammer and anvil to pound it into the shape he desired: straight on one side and curved on the other.
At one point Kíli asked him, "Rejna's bodyguard is married, isn't he?"
"You know he is. Why do you ask?"
"Well, a part of me still wonders why you didn't want Dwalin or even Fíli to be your guardian. I'm the youngest, the most reckless. I prefer a bow to a blade—the latter of which Fíli carries with him in abundance—and Dwalin of the three of us is the most qualified," pointed out the younger dwarrow. "If Árni can manage a wife, and now a son, as the princess' bodyguard, why not select Dwalin to do the same for you?"
Thorin sighed as he pulled the red-hot rod from the fire, ready to begin the first strikes. He picked up the hammer and strategically placed several blows, wondering how he could put his thoughts into words to make Kíli understand.
He'd put the metal into a bucket of water to cool before he replied. "In my old life, I probably would not have hesitated to choose Dwalin, for as you say he is the more qualified," he began. Thorin looked Kíli in the eye as he added, "But this is not my old life. I am not the dwarf I once was, Irakdashat."
His nephew studied him for a moment before saying, "I have noticed a difference in you. You seem more… tolerant, I suppose. More compassionate—not that you weren't caring before, of course, it's just…"
Kíli shrugged. "I guess what I'm saying is that you're not near as cynical as you used to be. You're less jaded. You've even made friends with an elf!"
Thorin snorted. "Don't remind me," he quipped, though his words were in jest. The truth was he did like Glorfindel. The ancient elf was vastly more tolerable than any other of his acquaintance—he was certainly less pretentious than that forest pixie Thranduil had been.
"As I said earlier," he went on, "Dwalin and Fíli now have a duty to their females. And while it is the same duty Árni has to Sindri and now Alfir, I simply cannot ask either of them to make one more sacrifice for my sake—they have each of them given up enough in my name."
After putting the blade metal back in the fire to heat again, he lifted his eyes to Kíli's. "You have also sacrificed much, my sister-son. And I am truly sorry that this new life has brought you more heartache than joy. I vow to you that I will stand by my word—when at last Mahal gives to you the gift of your One, the duty of looking after me will no longer be your burden. Perhaps by then, may the moment not be too far from now, I will trust one of Dwarrowvale's soldiers as much as I trust my blood kin."
Kíli nodded solemnly, then turned his attention to pumping the bellow. After a minute or so of silence, he said, "You're doing it again, you know."
"Doing what again?"
His nephew looked up at him. "Making decisions for others, decisions they should be allowed to make for themselves. As much as you have changed, Uncle, some things will always remain the same."
Thorin was about to argue his point again when he took note of the gleam in Kíli's eye. "We can none of us afford to change completely, as then we are not ourselves anymore but someone else entirely. I'll not allow myself—or you or Fíli—to lose the essence of who we are."
Kíli smiled. "I wouldn't wish that either," he said. "I'm happy to see us all grow and change for the better, certainly, but I'm equally pleased to recognize more than just your face. If you didn't make a decision for us once in a while, I'd wonder if something was wrong with you. With everything else I've had to give up, I don't want to lose the last part of myself I have—nor do I wish to lose the uncle I've always loved and admired."
Thorin felt his chest swell with emotion as he and Kíli regarded one another. On silent accord the conversation ended there and they concentrated on their work. Thorin had already carved the piece of tusk into shape over the days it had taken the hunters to return from Harondor; he only needed the blade, the guard, and the pommel. He recalled that Orcrist had had jewels set into the latter, and he'd already selected from what remained of his share of the troll hoard the stones he would set in the shape of the Blacklock sigil.
As quickly as he was getting the blade shaped to his liking, he thought at one point, there was a slim chance he would get it done today, though that would require missing lunch and working late into the evening. Even as badly as she wanted it done so they could move forward with the engagement, Thorin knew Rejna would not be pleased if he neglected himself or her in the process. In truth, he would love to have it done today as well, but he knew that perfection required patience, and perfect is what this sword had to be.
Tomorrow then, he mused as he pounded the mithril alloy between hammer and anvil for the third or fourth time.
They broke for lunch around noon and headed for the hobbit hole to join Dwalin, Larkspur, and Fíli. Dwalin reported as Larkspur was fetching glasses for their ale that he'd seen the spot Thorin had chosen for the getaway cottage and deemed it perfect; he'd also contacted the same masons and woodworkers he had hired to help build his own house. They were thankful for the work and eager to begin, especially once they had heard this project was for the princess.
"The king's sword is coming along as well," Thorin said. "Had I no obligations I would have kept working on it and possibly finished it today. But I am to meet with Rejna to take a tour of the mountain this afternoon."
"Part of that parading yourself nonsense?" Fíli asked with a snort.
Thorin echoed the snort, then said, "Aye, though it is also sensible that I do so. As Prince of Dwarrowvale, it will be my duty to oversee security within the capital. I must get to know the people I am to rule."
"Sounds familiar," Dwalin quipped.
With a laugh, Thorin said then, "Yes, it does seem like I've been through all this before."
Once lunch was over, Thorin and Kíli reported immediately to the palace. They were led by one of the guards to a meeting room in which they found the king and Rejna going over parchments. His princess looked up at him with a wide smile, her gaze curious as she took in the dwarf beside him.
"Master Kíli, it is a great pleasure to see you again. Might I introduce to you my father, His Majesty King Ragin, son of Dargin."
Kíli lifted a hand over his heart. "Kíli, son of Síli, here to serve you, My Lord," he said, then bowed.
"I bid thee welcome, Master Kíli. I have heard from my daughter that you are kin to her One?" said Ragin.
"Aye, my Lord, Thorin is my uncle. I accompany him today and will stand at his side for the foreseeable future, for he has chosen me to serve as his guardian," Kíli replied.
Father and daughter looked to each other; Thorin was certain he saw Rejna's shoulders relax a fraction at the news.
"You have my deepest thanks for accepting the duty, Master Kíli," she said. "I only wish it weren't necessary."
"As do we all, my Lady," Thorin put in, then he and Kíli approached the table at last. "I see that you are quite busy. Do you desire we put off the tour?"
"Nay, do no such thing on my account. Rejna was merely helping me with the city's ledgers. Plenty of money to spend on the wedding, rest assured," Ragin said with a laugh.
Thorin chuckled. "I had no concerns at all, though I would have you know that two of our kinsmen are traveling south with the caravan and they bring with them a sum from our family coffers in Erebor. I will pay any funds required of me upon their arrival."
Ragin waved off his words. "We can discuss that another time," he said, then looked to his daughter. "You should go, Rejna. It is time the people got a good look at the two of you together. It is time they got to know he who will one day be their king."
"Should we not also tour the rest of the kingdom then?" Thorin asked.
"Certainly, Amrâlumê, but we cannot do that all in one afternoon," Rejna said with a laugh as she stood.
Taking the back entrance into the mountain, Rejna held onto Thorin's arm while Dag and Kíli trailed behind. They visited shops that produced everything from jewelry to clothing—including Grehkin's Wood Furnishings, where the proprietor assured Thorin that Fíli still had a job waiting for him when things were settled with Melindë. They departed after thanking him for his understanding and Rejna had made the older dwarf blush by placing a kiss on his cheek.
The four also took time to visit the capital's public library and the school, where the younger children were delighted by a visit from their princess, before heading to the army training facilities. At the latter, Kíli was indeed taken off to be fitted for armor while Rejna led Thorin to the sparring arena to watch "Dwarrowvale's bravest in action".
"I have already seen Dwarrowvale's bravest in action," he quipped as they stepped up to the railing to look down into the pitch below.
"My love, you flatter me," the princess replied as she eagerly watched the two combatants stepping out onto the dirt, one bearing a vicious war axe and the other two short swords.
They watched the two fairly evenly matched dwarves for several minutes before Rejna bumped his shoulder and said, "You know, I'm suddenly reminded that someone challenged me to spar with him."
Thorin looked down to find her smiling up at him. "Do you desire we have a go at each other now?" he asked, gesturing toward the pitch below.
She laughed. "No, not right this moment—we've more of the mountain to see and I know you are as eager as I to return to making Father's sword. But I have just had an idea as to the perfect moment for our match."
"Oh?" he asked, his brows rising. "Pray tell, Princess."
Rejna stood on her toes and whispered her idea in his ear. Thorin found himself grinning widely. "Oh, that will certainly be a surprise indeed, Amrâlimê. A fine idea—I like it."
Bidding farewell to the dwarves who stood near them, they headed to the armory in search of Kíli. He met them as they were walking down the corridor toward the facility, now bearing the same chain mail and polished steel as any soldier of the army.
"You know, my Lady, I move faster without all this," he grumbled lightly.
"Aye, but you look quite handsome, my soon-to-be nephew, and you are obeying the command of your princess," Rejna replied with a smile.
Kíli's eyes widened. "Mahal's balls, why did I not think of that? You'll be my aunt once you and Thorin marry—we're practically the same age, you and I!"
"There's twenty-seven years' difference, I remind you."
He scoffed and waved off her words. "A pittance. And you don't look a day over seventy."
Rejna grinned while Thorin shot him a mock scowl. "Watch yourself, nephew, that you do not take your compliments too far."
"Are you actually accusing me of flirting with my future aunt?" the younger dwarrow replied, his expression changing to one of mock horror. "That's disgusting, she's too old for me—not to mention we're practically related!"
Apparently unable to contain himself any longer, Dag burst out laughing, his whole body shaking with his mirth. "You lot are unbelievable. Definitely family, the way you carry on."
The three of them laughed heartily, and then the group went on to finish the tour. Thorin did his best to remember the name of each person he met, though he knew it would require multiple meetings for his memory to hold them all. But he was glad for the opportunity to go out and start meeting the citizens of Dwarrowvale; though he despised the underlying purpose of their tour through the mountain, he knew it was good the people got to know him. That he showed them he would be generous with his time and attention, that he genuinely cared about their welfare. And if he was going to rule these people one day as their king, he knew needed to earn their admiration and respect long before he took the title.
It was mid-afternoon before he and Kíli were able to return to Darbur's forges to work on Ragin's sword. By the dinnertime, he'd almost gotten the shape perfected—tomorrow morning would be spent finishing the blade before he went to work on the guard and pommel. Darbur allowed them to store the blade, which he wrapped in a soft cloth, in the store room where the mithril pieces were kept for security's sake.
Kíli once again escorted him to the palace when they left, where he dined with Ragin and Rejna and discussed their tour and how well it had seemed to go. Because he was family as well as Thorin's guardian, Kíli was invited to join them. Thorin gave the king the news that he believed the asked for bride price would be completed the following day, and that the day after he aimed to join his cousin in working on another project he'd agreed to do. Ragin grinned and winked conspiratorially, causing Rejna to raise a questioning eyebrow at them. When at one point she excused herself and left the room, the males quickly discussed the project in question, with Thorin reporting what Dwalin had told him at lunch and then asking if he might convert one of the multiple dining rooms into her honor room within the castle.
The king agreed immediately when he explained what he intended it to be—a "Queen's Court"—and said that once the getaway cottage was well underway, he would get started on it and complete the room himself.
When Rejna returned to the dining room, she reminded him that he needed to select his manservant soon. Thorin agreed to meet with a few of the stewards working in the palace after lunch the next day.
After spending more than an hour after the meal talking and smoking and drinking, he and Kíli departed the palace for their own apartment. Thafar and Bahûna greeted them enthusiastically and the two spent another hour playing with their lupine friends before taking them for a walk to do their business outside and then heading for bed.
-...-
The next day dawned and began much the same as the one before, including a visit from Dwalin as breakfast was ending. He gave another progress report on what he and the work crew had accomplished with the getaway cottage, saying that the ground had been dug out—the sod set aside for later use—and the foundation started. Thorin told him he'd try to stop by for a bit following his meetings with the stewards, but that most of the day would be spent completing the sword.
Later, as he was finishing the shaping of the king's blade, Kíli asked if he planned to etch anything onto the sword, as Orcrist had had Elvish scored on the guard and blade. Thorin gave the matter some thought and then set to work on it, carving with precision Khuzdul runes on both sides of the blade before polishing it to a mirror shine.
They reported to lunch at the hobbit hole of their kin and then made their way to the palace after, where Rejna and three males she'd said were interested in the position of "manservant to the prince" were waiting in one of the meeting rooms. Thorin posed numerous questions of each, feeling out their loyalty to the crown with subtle but pointed questions. After about ninety minutes of discussion, he chose a fellow named Leof for the job. The younger male was a half-blood dwarf about a head taller than he who was the same age as Kíli. His mother was of Rohirrim origin and quite naturally, his family bred horses and ponies. Thorin and Kíli were surprised to learn that the boy's parents were in fact the owners of the stable in the Valley where they'd housed their own mounts upon arrival in Dwarrowvale.
"If it would be to your liking, my Lord, I can begin my duties tomorrow," Leof said after thanking him profusely for the job, which would not only include increased duties but an increase in pay.
"I do not think it will be necessary, as I am not yet your prince," Thorin replied.
"But sir, would it not be wise for me to begin learning your likes and dislikes now? To learn your current routine so that when it changes with your marriage to Her Highness, the transition is that much smoother?"
"He does have a point, my love," Rejna said softly.
"Indeed, Princess," he agreed, then said Leof could start the next day if he did not mind getting up at around five bells in order to be at the apartment by six, when he typically rose for the day. His new manservant smiled and replied that it would not be a problem, as he already rose that early in order to complete what duties he had in the palace.
With the matter of his steward settled, Thorin and Kíli returned to the forge, foregoing a trip into the woods where he had chosen to have the getaway cottage built in order to finish Ragin's sword. It was late in the evening, well past Darbur's closing time and long after dinner when Thorin declared it done.
"It is magnificent, my Lord," Darbur said when he showed it to him.
"Agreed, Uncle," added Kíli. "Definitely your finest work."
Thorin nodded, then said to the shop owner, "My deepest thanks for allowing us to stay after closing to finish our work, Master Darbur."
"Think nothing of it, sir—'tis for my king, so a small sacrifice of my time," Darbur replied. "Besides, it enabled me to get some work done on my accounts I'd been putting off. Now that I'm all caught up on the bookkeeping, I can work on a little something of my own."
Thorin grinned. "Then I am happy to have been of service to you in return."
The three then walked out of the shop, with Thorin and Kíli saying farewell to Darbur as he locked the door. They spoke of being eager to get to the palace that the sword could be presented to the king as they walked toward the east entrance of the mountain, with Kíli saying he could not wait for Ragin's reaction to the inscription.
They were through the entrance and about halfway along the courtyard wall when out of the shadows stepped four figures. Each was brandishing a weapon.
Kíli stepped forward, his hand on his sword. "Whatever you are about to do, friends, I suggest you reconsider."
"What we're 'bout to do, laddie, is earn us some serious coin," said the largest of the four dwarves, before he spit on the ground and then charged him.
Thorin, having no weapon on him other than the sword he'd made for the king, quickly threw off the cloth he'd wrapped it in and joined his nephew in fighting. He noted that while he and Kíli were doing their best to avoid seriously injuring their attackers, the four brutes were clearly not of the same mind. Apparently, the promise of gold was worth more than the dishonor of spilling a fellow dwarrow's blood.
An alarm rang from somewhere above them as the fight was engaged, and even though several guards came running toward them, they did not arrive soon enough. On seeing that one of the four attackers was a moment away from killing his nephew, Thorin threw a hard punch at the fellow before him, breaking his nose, then kicked him aside as he lifted the mithril sword and swung it in an arc that severed the carotid artery of the dwarf whose knife would have been plunged into Kíli's neck had he been seconds later in reacting. As it was, he was hit with blood spray instead of blade; the foolish dwarrow fell to the ground and began to choke as his life quickly drained away through the hole in his neck.
The fight did not last as long as it seemed to, and upon the arrival of the palace guards the three remaining attackers soon threw down their weapons and surrendered.
