Well last chapter left off with Thorin not felling to well from overindulgence. Now he has to face a meeting and with a hangover to boot. What will the elders of Erebor advise him to do?

Disclaimer I own none of Tolkeins characters just my own.

Chapter 53

The Great Council

Thorin woke with his head pounding and the light streaming in from the window's all along the western side of the mountain .The bright morning sun was as if needles were piercing his eye's. "Oh what did I drink last night." He groaned as his stomach lurched in protest of the sudden movement. "He turned his head and saw the red gold of Philicia's hair lying on the pillow next to him. "Your finally awake I see? How are you felling?" She asked her eyes fresh and bright. "Like I was ran over by a truck."Thorin moaned as a wave of nausea struck again He moaned again as he stumbled for the bathroom. Philicia went to wake Oin . She shook him gently."Oin now would be a good time for one of those miracle drink's you make?" She said her glance straying toward the bedchamber . "Aye lassie he's a felling in a poor way I imagine."Oin chuckled. "Yep he did look a little green . Can you bring him something for the headache also?" Philicia asked. "Oh lassie all we have for pain is Milk of the Poppie and that will make him sleepy. Thorin needs to be alert for the meeting this morning." "Oh that's this morning? Philicia gasped. "Aye lassie in about an hour or so." "Wait I have some Extra Strength Tylenol still that should help the headache. A little while later Thorin emerged from the bath all cleaned up and ready for the day. "Philicia would you help me with my braid's?" Thorin asked sitting down on the bed. So while she rebraided his hair Oin went to make the tomato juice hangover cure. "Here, this will help your headache." Thorin reconizing the little white tablet's swallowed them without hesitation. Oin showed up with the drink and Philicia returned to her chamber to get ready for the day. "I will come for you in a little while and Philicia ,be yourself my love they need to see who you really are." Balin had advised Thorin to be honest with the Elders and tell them the truth about where Philicia was really from. So in preperation she had her laptop and her phone and her I pod fullly charged. Taking Balin's suggestion to be herself Philicia chose to wear clothes from her world. She wore her Black Skinny Jean's paired with a Lime Green and Pink shirt and a Pink Cartigen over it. She slipped her black hoop earrings on and completed her outfit with her black boot's. Philicia wore her hair loose around her shoulders save for the Courtship Braid Thorin had given her all those month's ago. "Ready?" Thorin asked as she met him in the hallway. "No and yes I am so ready to shout it out to everyone how much I love you." She said reaching around his neck pulling their lip's together. Thorin kissed her deeply but quickly then pulled away. He was wearing his signature Sapphire Blue and Silver over Black breeches and his Mithril belt kept it all together. "Come my heart. They are alredy waiting. "Don't let go Ok?" So for the whole walk down to the Main Council Chambers Thorin held Philicia's hand tightly in his. "Good morning your Magesty." The people greeted him giving a bow and the ladies a curtsy. Philicia they looked at with curiosity and unsure whole kingdom knew what she had done for the children still mistrust was evident in their faces. Wait here." Thorin commanded as he approached a set of huge double doors just off the throne room. "I will come for you when it is time." Don't worry Philicia we will be right here with you." Fili said as he and Kili sat down with Philicia between them. "So what do you think they will say, about me I mean?"She asked her insides shaking with nerves. Philicia knew this day would eventually come and as she listend to Fili talk about the Elder's of ther council she became more scared. "If they are as narrowminded as they were in Erid Luin you and uncle will be in for a long battle."Kili added. "Oh please don't tell me that I am scared as it is." Philicia felt tears welling up in her eye's. "Kili?" Fili scolded his little brother. "Do you think he will send me away?" Philicia said tears finally breaking over her face."Not a chance, Uncle Thorin loves you ,we all know that and besides you have the whole company plus my mom to vouge for you. Uncle will have strong word's with them should they even suggest a thing."Fili reassured her. Philicia kept her head bowed as the meeting commenced.

The Elders of Erebor stood as The king entered the chambers. "Good morning your Magesty." They greeted Thorin in formal Kazadul. The elders all bowed in unison then Thorin took his seat at the head of the great stone table in the center of the room. Balin was to his right and Gloin to his left . Ori who had been appointed as the Royal Scribe was sitting quietly in a corner his parchment and quill at the ready. "This meeting is formally opened." Thorin declared and without delay the first elder spoke. "My king we have called this meeting in regard to the human woman now residing within A Dwarven Kingdom." Lord Areion said his angry glair focused on Thorin. "What of it?" The king shot back. "My king no disrespect to you but she has no place here. We all advise that you see she is provided safe passiage to Dale and be amoung her own kind." Lord Hathnor added. "So you are suggesting that I send this defenceless girl out into the world with no one to look after her." Thorin was biting his cheek trying to keep his temper in check. "Please my Lord's." Balin interjected. "I have known Lady Philicia since she first joined our company and she has been nothing but loyal to the company and has spoken highly of all our people. To turn her away would be a great injustice." Balin ever the diplomat voiced his opinion. "I agree with all that Lord Balin has spoken." Gloin said his eyes catching the faces of the elder's. " It has come to our attention that you my king have taken this daughter of man in courtship. Is this accurate or have we been misinformed?" Lord Areion said his palms coming to rest on the table. Thorin sat quiet for a minute"You have not been misinformed." He exhaled slowly. "Since when my king?" Lord Silus asked glaring at Thorin. " The village of Bree on the journey here." Thorin answered. "If it is a queen you are wanting my king there are several eligeble Dwarrowdam's here and a few of nobel birth I might add. My daughter Aleiah would be a splendid choice for future queen." Lord Aerion beamed hoping the king would consider such notion. Having his daughter marry into the line of Durin with it would come wealth and prestiege and a permenant place on the council as the king's father-in law. "NO!" Thorin roared his temper finally snappping. "I will have no other I can not. She is my one. The lady Philicia Anderson has given so much for this kingdom. If it were not for her Fili, Kili and I would be cold in our tomb's. She saved our lives after the battle I will not have anyone else ." Thorin sat quiet as they asorbed all he had said."My king do you claim to love this human girl?" Lord Daries asked looking Thorin strait in the eye's. "Yes, I do love her very deeply. I will have no other at my side." Thorin breathed as their faces dropped in shock. "What would your grandfather ,your father say to such a union?" Suddenly there were angry shouts coming from the council chambers. Fili,Kili and Philicia sat just outside the chamber doors ."Oh not now." She sighed as Thorins angry voice was heard above all the rest. "It var mere cold lakh nir hell first." Thorin roared as the shouting aburptly stopped. "What did he say Fili?" Philicia asked grabbing both their hands at once. "Uncle well he said a..." kili trailed off. " What he said Philicia is it would be a cold day in hell first." Fili finished for his brother. 'I wonder what happend to flair up his temper like that ?" She asked as some shouting was heard again. "My king surely you do not mean to wed this girl and set her beside you on the throne? Never in all the history of our kind has anyone other than pure dwarven blood set upon the throne of Erebor. We will not allow this to happpen. "This is my kingdom. I am king. I will wed whom I choose. Do not ask me to give her up for I will not I love her to much for that." Thorin fell back in his seat. "Before you pass judgement upon her all I ask is that you see her for yourselves. See the kindness and the way's she could benefit this kingdom. She is not what you think she is." Thorin stood back up and his head scanned the faces before him. Some of these dwarves had served on his grandfathers council and then on the council while in exile. Thorin had great respect for them but his heart would not be sweyed. " We will have no more to say in this matter our king you must for the greater good of the kingdom send her away." They had nearly ordered Thorin to do so however when he slammed his fist on the stone table so hard the mugs shook the council became quiet . "I will not comply. You are condeming her just because she is not of the Khazad. "Othok ath olkodran ur pompus asses." Thorin shouted as Balin and Gloin joined him on either side standing with their king. " Fili suddenly burst out laughing." What's so funy Fee?" Kili asked. "Uncle just called them all a bunch of pompus asses." Kili threw his head back in laughter also as Philicia just stared at the door waiting for Thorin. " You can not force me to give her up. I will not comply." Thorin shouted again. Send the human whore away my king before she can corrupt you any further." Lord Aerion raised his voice at Thorin. "HOW DARE YOU SPEAK OF HER IN SUCH A MANNER AS THAT. SHE IS THE BEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPEND TO ME. you will meet with her an hear her story then decide." Thorin commanded his authority as king. "Very well my king we will meet with the human girl." Thorin aburptly stood and shoved his chair back so hard it toppled over with a crash upon the stone floor. He jerked the door open and it slammed with a hard ka thud making a indentation on the wall as he stormed out. Thorin's eye's looked quickly to his nephews and Philicia as he passed by but he was too angry and hurt to stop and fill them in on what had happend. "Amek is e bunch e fuckupoz bullshit. "Thorin shouted as he stormed off down the corridor. "Philicia made to go after him but Fili's arm held her in place. 'Let Thorin cool off then go talk to him."Fili suggested as she sat back down with a sighe. "K, I don't understand Kazadul but I know what he said." Philicia told them. "He said this was a bunch of ..." She stopped. "Kili do not say it." Fili warned.

Thorin gave a quick nod of his head as a group of well dressed dwarrowdam's passed him. "Good morning King Thorin." A woman with dark brown hair said to him as she batted her eyelashes at the king trying to get his attention."Ladies." He replied stepping into a side room so no one could see his eye's tearing up. "Fili, I have to go after him." Philicia said as she stood ready to bolt. "I advise you to give him a bit of time lass." Balin said coming up in front of her. "Alright." She said with a sigh. " Come get me when they are ready to reconviene." She said following Fili and Kili to the great hall."Will do lass." "I am going to play some games on my computer come on you both can help me." So they sat in the great Hall as Philicia showed them how to steer the car's from the racing game. "I need to turn now!"Fili said with excitement a he zoomed past the finish line ahead of his brother. "I will beat you on the next round." Kili shot back as they started the game over again. "There you are I have been looking for you." Thorin said as he came up behind her. Philicia turned around and looked at Thorin. His eye's were red and swolllen. "What is it?" She breathed noticing Thorin's eye's. "Come they are ready." He held out his hand and Philicia gently took it. "What do I tell them. I don't know what to say." Philicia said as they walked back to the main Council Chambers. 'Be honest that is all I can tell you." Come on lass we will be there with you the whole time." Balin gently ushured her inside. "The first thing she saw was four very old dwarves coming to stand as she entered the room on the king's arm. They all had long white beard's and several braids in their hair. Covering their bodies were long robes with sashes around the neck dipicting the symbol of Erebor. "My Lord's may I present the Lady Philicia Anderson of Woodland Hills." Thorin deep voice boomed around the cavernous room. "My Lord's." Philicia said dipping in a respectful curtsy. One by one Thorin introduced them as they stood and bowed . "Well shall we reconvene." Balin suggested but the dwarves could only stare at the beautiful human girl before them. "Lord Aerion spoke first " It is to our understanding that you wish to remain in Erebor Lady Philicia." The dwarf that spoke Philicia reconized him as the father of the dwarrowdam that had make lude remark's about her the night of the feast. "It is my Lord." She replied. "And why should you want to be here amoung the Khazad and not your own kind?" He asked. Philicia exhaled gathering her strength. "Where I come from sir there are several different races. No one is grouped together because of the color of their skin or their belief's or even where they are from. We all live together and get along for the most part. Some countries are quarrelsom but most are peaceful. May I ask you all something." Philicia said quietly. 'You may?" Lord Silus answered. " Why do you think I am so different than you. I might not have as long of a life span and I have no beard on my face but inside I am just like you." Philicia could feel her heart starting to hurt as she spoke. "You are not the same tho." Lord Darius said his voice calm. "How, how am I not the same. Look at me and tell me what you see." Philicia stood strait holding her hand's out to them. "Do I not have two hand's ten finger's and toe's, two eye's and ear's and leg's a mouth that speaks a nose that smells and mind that think's. A heart that beat's. You see inside I am just the same I even have the same kind of internal organ's as you. So tell me how are we so different?" The council was silent as they took in the beauty before them. "And what of this so called courtship between our king and you?" Philicia was quiet as she brought out her braid for them to see the bead's of Durin at the tip. "Yes, it is true. I know you don't approve.." Lord Hathnor cut her off. "You are not of the Khazad my Lady therefore we can not, approve." Philicia at that broke the tear's flowing down her face. "I know that. But why does it have to be a dwarf? Why can't Thorin be with the person he loves with his whole heart?" Philicia accepted the hankerchef Balin held out to her and dabbed at her eye's. "Think of your own daughter's ,sister's ,brothers, son's. Would you ask of them what you are asking Thorin to do? I would be content to just be his. I don't want any of the gold or riches I just want Thorin's love. Philicia held back sob's as she stood before them. "She is right you know . The lass never asked for any share of the treasure ,not a single piece did she ask for." Balin informed them. "Then what do you want Lady Philicia if not wealth and power. Lord Aerion prompted."Thorin." Philicia went up to the Dwarf King and took his hand's in her's. "I want to make him laugh, fill him with joy. I want to be there when the day is done to take him in my arms and say hey I love you. I want to be there when he wakes from a bad dream in the night to say it's ok I'm right here. Please don't do this don't tear our love apart?" Philicia said laying her head against Thorin's broad chest. His arm's came around her and he kissed the top of her head. "So tell me what should it matter?" Thorin finally spoke. "In answering the Lady's question's my king she is not a dwarf." Lord Aerion said in Khazadul. "Where is it written mind you that a Dwarven Queen must be of full dwarven blood." Thorin said knowing what Lord Aerion was hinting at. 'I have never known of such law Thorin." Balin offered. "Nor have I." Thorin added. Philicia turned around and faced the council Thorin's arm's still around her. "I know the people don't trust me and I understand that,however I may ask is that they get the chance to see me with their own eye's. Let them jugde for themselves who I am. That is all I ask of you." With that Philicia broke down turning around she sobbed into Thorin's chest. "Balin take her to Fili have him take her to my sister." I will remain here to await the council's decision.

Balin led Philicia away as she sobbed quietly. "Fili." Balin called. " Thorin say's take her to your mother she will help her."Balin handed Philicia over to Fili, and Kili came up on her other side. Both supporting her as she cried. "Come on this way" Fili led them through the back halls to give Philicia the privacy she needed. "Come we are almost there." Kili said as they entered the royal corridor's. "Kili opened the door and hollered."Amad,amad, are you here. 'What is it Kili?" The Dwarf Princess asked as she saw Philicia sobbing uncontrolably. "Oh my dear girl ,what has happend?" Dis asked pulling Philicia in a warm enbrace. "There was a council meeting. They want to send her away amad." Fili filled his mother in on all that he had heard as Kili went to get Oin to make her a tonic for her nerves. "There, there now everything will be alright. "Dis said as Philicia continued to sob into her shoulder. Boy's leave us." Dis commanded. Oin showed up and had Philicia drink some Cammomile Tea with a sprinkle of calming herb's for her . "Thank you Oin." Dis said as he quietly made his exit not wanting to wake Philicia who had fell asleep on her sofa. Dis was just getting back to her embrodary when there was a knock on her door. "It's open." She softly called as Thorin peeked his head in his sister's room. "How is she?" Thorin asked sitting down and taking Philicia's head and laying it in his lap. Thorin tenderly brushed her hair out of her face as she moaned quietly. He could still see the tear tracks branding her cheek's and looked at Dis for an explaination. 'She cried her heart out Thorin. What happend in there to cause her so much agony?" Dis asked. "The council suggested I send her away to live amoung her own kind." Thorin said bringing Philicia up close against him. "They have no authority to do that. You are the king ." Dis nearly shouted. "I know however as my advisor's they can cause much uproar." Thorin said. "They are going to give her a fortnight and then a decision must be reached." Thorin slowly lifted Philicia up and made for the door. 'Thorin wouldn't it be better to let her sleep here?" Dis asked. "No I have a great need to hold her next to me this night." Thorin pulled her closer to his chest. "Do I have dinner sent to her chambers ,or yours?" Dis asked reaching for the door. "Mine" He said and was gone.

Thorin gently laid Philicia on his bed slowly pulled her boot's off. He brought the blanket's back and snuggeling in next to her he brought her head against his bare chest and held her there. As the king and his lady napped word began to spread about the king and the girl who was at his side . "A knock came on the door and two handmaids entered with the dinner tray's Thorin had requested. "Philicia, Philicia wake up my heart before the food get's cold. 'Ohmmm." She softly moaned and opened her eye's. All she felt was warmth and the scent of sandelwood and pine and leather was clinging to her sences. Thorin?" Where am I?" She asked taking a look around. Suddenly reconizing the room she smiled at Thorin reaching up to plant a soft kiss on his lip's. "Why. why did you bring me to your room?" She asked taking a chair across from him as he removed the cover from the silver serving platter. There was roast chicken in a herb and butter sauce ,mashed potatos and steamed green beans with Bombur's homemade rolls. Thorin and Philicia ate quietly as they talked. "So what is the verdict?" She finally asked. "They will reconviene in two week's until then you let my people like you said ,see you with their own eye's." Thorin took her hand in his and brought it to his lip's. "Philicia ,I love you and no matter their decision I will not send you out there to fend for yourself. I can not. You woud not know how to survive in this world. After being in yours I can clearly determine that. Thorin focused on her beautiful eye's. "I know and I couldn't lose you I would just die inside. I love you so much I can't see the rest of my life without you in it." They finished their meal talking about the meeting and Philicia told Thorin about Dis's plan and he suggested to run with it. "Fear not my heart in the end they will come to adore you as I do."