"Thorin? Thorin!" Aire's voice rose until she was almost screaming at him. "You have put me through too much already to just leave me!" she cried, the tears now spilling from her eyes. "Damn it, wake up!"
"Linwë, remover her." Dalinor ordered.
The elf maid nodded, getting to her feet to pry Thorin's limp hands from Aire's shaking ones. "Aire, come away." Linwë pleaded. "There is nothing you can do for him."
"No, no I can't leave him!"
"Aire, there is nothing you can do."
"Let me stay with him. Please!"
Linwë wrapped her arms around Aire's torso, pinning her flailing arms and pulling her away from Thorin's body. "Aire, please. You will hurt yourself or the baby."
The tent flap ruffled and Thranduil ducked in with Legolas and Tauriel in tow. "Legolas, Tauriel, get her away from here. The rest of you out also." The elf king ordered.
Between them Legolas, Tauriel and Linwë were able to manhandle Aire from the tent. By the time they got her outside she had given up fighting them and had broken down in Legolas' arms. "There is a path over there. We must get her away from this place." Linwë stated, nodding towards a path at the back of the clearing. "I will speak with King Thranduil and Dalinor and join you in a moment."
Legolas and Tauriel nodded, helping Aire along the path. Once they were far enough from the clearing that her weeping could not be heard they stopped and helped her sit down.
Neither said anything as they sat beside her and watched the sky. The battle had ended upon their arrival with Thranduil and the previous roar of the fight was now smothered by the feeling of death and grief. The only sound was that of Aire's muffled sobbing.
The half-blood tried to cover her mouth with he hands to mute the sound of her weeping but the action made her see the band Thorin had given her along with the promise he had just broken. This only made her weep harder. She tried to apologise to the two elves but the words would not pass her lips. Instead she drew her knees up to her chest and buried her face in her trousers, letting the fabric absorb her tears.
Thranduil's arrival was only announced when he spoke. "Auta met." (Leave us.)Tauriel and Legolas did not depart with the same stealth Thranduil had arrived with, their feet crunching on the loose gravel. "I know the pain that you feel." The elf king said once the others had departed. "I live with that pain every day, but it is made better knowing that my wife lives on in Legolas."
Aire looked up at him with bloodshot eyes. "How could I ever look at my child? All I will see is Thorin and no joy shall come of that."
"You mean to say the memories you have of him are not pleasant?"
"The pleasant ones have been made over the course of a few months. There is not enough to wipe the pain the death of that imbecilic dwarf has caused me."
Thranduil tilted his head. "You hold anger towards him though the pain he caused you is by no fault of your own."
Aire smirked. "The pain must be worked into a new emotion if I am to deal with it accordingly. Anger is far easier to cope with."
"You love him yet you hate him." Thranduil stated with a raised eyebrow. "This is not something I have come across in a grieving widow."
"I'm not his widow." Aire scoffed. "I am nothing but a grieving whore."
Thranduil looked taken aback. "That is not something you should label yourself as."
"Isn't it? Bearing his child out of wedlock. Is that not the definition?"
"If he was your only lover then it does not class you as such a vulgar being." There was silence for a few moments before Thranduil spoke again. "Besides, you have no reason to grieve or hold anger to him."
"He is dead. I have reason to hold both."
This time it was Thranduil's turn to smirk. "Dwarves have called me many things over the years. They accused me of abandoning them on the day of Smaug's attack, but the line of Durin never called it murder. I shall never be accused of being a murderer. If a life can be saved then I will save it."
Aire looked up at Thranduil with a vague glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"Thorin will live, though he will not be conscious for a few days."
The hope in Aire's eyes grew, replacing the grief and anger that had been there previously. "You saved him?"
"With the help of Dalinor and Gandalf. I have sent for Lord Elrond to visit and ensure he will be alright. Prince Kili will also be okay. He was conscious when I left."
"I need to see Kili." Aire scrambled to her feet, waiting impatiently as Thranduil also rose.
"Thorin has been moved to a private tent. You may see him once you have seen the prince. Only the three of you and Gandalf are allowed access to the king." Thranduil led her down to the clearing, motioning for her to enter Kili's tent before leaving to speak with Legolas.
Aire ducked inside, smiling when she saw Fili sat by Kili's side. The two were talking about trivial things and smiled when they saw her.
"Kili!" Aire dropped to the prince's side with a smile. In return the youngest Durin heir greeting her with a wide, cheeky smile.
"I have you worried?"
"You had us all worried." Aire smiled, squeezing his hand lightly.
"We're going to move him to the royal wing in a few days." Balin said from the other side of the tent. "Dain and a few of his men have gone with Dwalin and Gloin to check the damage and start to prepare a room."
Aire nodded. "What's the damage?"
"Surprisingly, not a lot." Kili grins. "Nothing permanently damaged though my aim will be a little off for a few weeks. I'll get that sorted as soon as I'm allowed out of bed. The elf recons that it should only be a week or two."
Aire smiled slightly. "I'm hoping for a week. I don't want to be waiting on you hand and foot for too long!"
"That's what I have Fili for!"
The blonde dwarf laughed at his brother's statement, shaking his head. "This you pulling payment for that hunting trip gone wrong?"
Kili nodded. Aire didn't ask about what had happened, knowing she was probably best left oblivious. The two princes started to bicker and Balin motioned for Aire to follow him from the tent.
"What happens now?" Aire asked once they were clear of the princes.
"Kili, Thorin and the injured dwarves will be moved to rooms in Erebor once they have been cleared. Until then they will be kept here. The injured elves are returning to Mirkwood at dawn tomorrow. The men have taken shelter in Dale. Beorn, the reason that the accursed battle turned in our favour, will provide help with disposing of our enemy."
"And the burials?"
"The dwarves of the Iron Hills will be wrapped and placed in caskets and taken back when Dain leaves. The elves will take care of their own and the men are to be buried at midnight. None of our thirteen dwarves have fallen, though Bilbo is still unaccounted for."
This worried Aire. "Where is Bilbo?"
Balin shrugged. "Those able enough are out searching for him. They will find him soon." He assured her. "For now, I think it best that you find a little peace of mind. Thorin is being cared for in the tent there. I will let you know when our burglar turns up."
Aire smiled at Balin, accepting his hug before walking slowly to the correct tent. She paused before stepping inside.
Thorin was laid out on a reed matt in the corner, Dalinor hovering over him and unwinding bandages from his torso. Gandalf was stood watching with sharp eyes, turning to smile at Aire as she entered. Dalinor glanced up and motioned her over. "Would you be kind enough to apply this lotion to Thorin's injury while I prepare the new bandaging?"
Aire nodded, taking the small wooden bowl from Dalinor. "How much is needed?" she asked.
"A good covering. I would rather too much than not enough."
Aire nodded, gently dabbing some onto the angry red mark under Thorin's left arm. It had been cauterised, something which would leave an ever reminding mark. The wound on his back was probably cauterised too. A bandage was still wound round his right shoulder to protect it. There was no sign of Thorin's shirt or his armour. Orcrist was also missing.
There was movement from across the tent and Aire looked up in time to see Gandalf and Dalinor leaving, muttering something about needing more fabric. Aire knew it was nothing more than an excuse to give her some time to think, for which she was grateful.
Once Aire had finished applying the lotion she wiped her fingers on her trousers, gently cupping Thorin's face. He looked more peaceful than Aire had ever seen him. In sleep over the past few days he had still looked worried and stressed but now, in a state of unconsciousness, he looked calm. It made him look far younger. "I love you." Aire said as she kissed his cheek, hoping that he'd somehow be able to hear her.
She sighed and rested her head on his chest, careful to avoid his injures. It probably wasn't a wise move so she didn't lean on him, but it gave her peace of mind. She could feel his chest rise and fall as he breathed and she could hear his heartbeat. Aire pressed a quick kiss to one of the small inkings on his right breast before standing and clearing the bowl away.
Aire travelled to Dale that night with Dain, Fili, Gandalf, Thranduil and Bilbo (who had been found safe and sound just outside of Dale. He had visited Kili and Thorin before cleaning up and joining the small group). They stood and watched as the men which had fallen for the sake of Erebor were either buried or burned per family request. Those which had fallen in Smaug's attack were also honoured. After Aire and Balin spoke with the Master of the town and Bard. They promised them their share in the gold as a reward for their service.
When Dain learned of this he was less than pleased. "That is treasure my cousin fought hard for! His family mined the gems and metals and crafted everything in those halls! You would see fit to give it to men?"
"Those men have earned their share, Dain." Balin warned. "They will not receive much but there is a lot in the hall to be shared."
"You have no right to make such a decision! You are not king or even counsel!"
"He did not make the decision." Aire spoke up, watching Dain cautiously.
"What gives you, a half elf, to make the decision in Thorin's place? He had made it quite clear that they were to not have any of it!"
"The treasure that will be given shall come from my share. I have no need of gold or gems. I have the right to make the decision as the intended of Thorin. My heritage had nothing to do with my ability to make a decision."
"Thorin trusts her and, in his absence, she and Fili are the highest ranking members of our company." Balin added, cutting across Aire before her temper could rise and lash out at the lord. "Fili has supported Aire's decision, therefore you have no right to question it."
"Do you plan to give the elves a share too?"
"They do not require that we do, though they would have some if they desired." Aire stated coldly. "The only person that does not have the right to do something is you. You have no right to question my decisions, the same as you have no right to question a decision that Thorin, his father or his grandfather would have made in my place."
Dain nodded, the only thing Aire would get by way of apology.
"If you will excuse me, I have a nephew to attend to."
Dain raised an eyebrow once Aire had departed. "She will make a fine queen."
"Indeed." Balin nodded. "Though I fear she and Thorin will have more fights than his sister and her husband."
Dain laughed. "Ah, the wonderful Princess Dis. Yes, Thorin will have his work cut out for him when she arrives. When will the first caravan depart?"
"The raven was sent as soon as the battle was done. It was brief and explained only briefly the state of our company. I would imagine the first of six will leave by the end of the month."
"Which shall Dis travel in?"
"That remains to be seen." Balin replied. "She holds the highest rank and therefore must ensure the safety of the people, but with an injured bother and son I cannot see her wishing to leave with any caravan but the first."
"What of Gloin's wife? Will she not be able to take Dis' place?"
Balin smirked. "Gloin's wife will undoubtedly be on her way already. We had difficulty getting her to stay in the Blue Mountains in the first place."
"I will be happy to send my men out to meet them and ensure them safe passage." Dain offered.
Balin nodded. "We will appreciate the help, but it would be wise to ask Dis' permission first. She can be more short tempered than Thorin when it comes to matters involving armies."
"Yes, I do remember."
The conversation drew to a close and the two parted for the night, heading back to their respective groups as the sun began to rise over the horizon and stain the bloodied field in an orange light. Hopefully the light would bring a better day with far less suffering.
There are going to be several follow up chapters in which I will tie up loose endings. The next chapter will be the last official one and the following will span the course of several years to (hopefully) satisfy you all!
