Surprise! Here is another chapter for all of you. Deepest thanks to Nenithiel, Robinbird79, Celebrisilweth, djhay4, Jillian Baade, SuperWhoVenger214, Jubilee, WesternWitch, and JayBird7567 for your reviews. You'll all be happy to know that I have another chapter already finished and yet another started. Keep your fingers crossed that my Muse doesn't flee my alternate vision of Tolkien's world anytime soon.
84. Embrace the Winds
Thorin started to turn toward his family; already he was weary of being a spectacle.
At almost the same moment, his lip and chest began to feel as though he stood amidst a raging fire, and his head started to buzz ferociously. He tried to take a step forward but instead found his limbs weak, and he fell hard to his knees.
Vaguely aware of Rejna screaming his name, of the sound of feet pounding the ground toward him, his stomach joined the mutiny of his body and started cramping painfully. He heaved, and vomit spewed forth from his mouth.
What new devilry is this? he wondered idly, even as the answer came clearly to mind: Hagen's blade had been poisoned. How he could have managed it when the two of them had been under guard the whole of the afternoon and evening…
"What is it with foolish dwarves and their choice of poisons?" Glorfindel muttered. "His daughter used belladonna on Princess Dís, and now Hagen has used it on Prince Thorin—I know the scent. Ranárë, can you slow its progress?"
"I believe so, Del," Ranárë replied to the elf, "but you must make haste in drawing it out. I sense we haven't much time to save him."
Thorin almost did not feel the feather-light touch of the Maker's kinswoman, nor Glorfindel's. The Maker… Would he soon see Mahal again? He thought it possible, as he was in so much pain, and now he could not see. This was not the end he had imaged—he'd thought he would have more time than this. He'd thought he would get to see and hold his son, to watch him grow into the mighty king his grandfather had proclaimed he would be.
He slipped then into unconsciousness, and so doing missed the declaration Mahal made to him.
No, Thorin Oakenshield—not yet. It is not time for you to return to my embrace.
-...-
A soft groan escaped his lips as Thorin slowly opened his eyes. He was in his bed—how had he gotten here?
A whine sounded at the foot of the bed—Bahûna lay there, her still blue eyes watching him. She gave a light bark, and the dam at Thorin's side awoke. Rejna lifted her head, tears of relief slipping down her cheeks as she raised a hand to caress his cheek.
"Mahal be praised, Amrâlumê," she said. "When you fell after the challenge…"
He grunted. "Should have expected a dirty trick like poison from Hagen."
"Lord Glorfindel and Lady Ranárë said that it was a concentrated dose of belladonna," Rejna told him. "They tested Hagen's sword and said the mix used was designed for a delayed reaction."
"I surmise Hagen imagined the fight would last longer than it did," Thorin speculated. "How long have I been asleep?"
She glanced toward the balcony doors; through a gap in the curtains, he could see that the sky was beginning to lighten.
"'Tis been about a day and a half now," Rejna replied at last. "How do you feel?"
Thorin took a moment to assess himself. "Truth be told, I feel as though I've just had an incredibly restful night's sleep. And I feel ravenous."
His wife chuckled. "Glorfindel said you might awake feeling so—and I recall Halvar was much the same when Glorfindel healed him," she said. "I will send Léof for a healer."
"What need have I for a healer if I have been tended by the elf already?"
"My love, do not challenge me on this," Rejna countered sternly. "Whilst I have the utmost respect for and belief in the abilities of our honored guests, I would still have you seen by a trusted healer before you begin moving around."
The concern that lingered in her gaze stilled Thorin's instinctive urge to argue. "Very well, amrálimê."
Rejna rose and left the bedchamber. Soon after she returned, and Briét entered behind her mistress. As his wife helped him to sit up against the headboard, the maid went first to the balcony doors and drew aside the curtains, then around the room to light a few candles. When she had finished her tasks she made to depart, though before doing so she turned at the door and said, "It brings great joy to my heart to see you recovered, Your Highness."
Thorin offered the young dam a smile. "Thank you, Briét. Believe me, I am greatly joyed to be recovered."
The girl returned his smile and then quit the room. Thorin spent ten minutes in quiet repose with his wife beside him before Danug was admitted. After a quick examination in which his heart was listened to and his sight and reflexes were tested—Thorin noted also that the gash which had nearly cost him his life no longer marred his skin—the king's physician declared him fit, though he still advised another day of rest.
Within an hour of waking, he was seated at the table in the parlor with Rejna and her father. Moments after the king's arrival, Glorfindel and Ranárë knocked on the door; when the two were shown in, Thorin stood and, hand over his heart, bowed a welcome.
"I understand from my lady wife that I owe my life to the two of you," he said.
Glorfindel glanced at Ranárë, then looked back to Thorin. His expression was at first solemn, then it slowly changed to a smirk. "Bet you never imagined you'd be thanking an elf for saving your life, did you, Master Dwarf?"
Thorin lifted an eyebrow, then it fell as he laughed. "Indeed I did not."
He stepped closer to the ancient elf, his manner sober as he said, "When first we met, I found myself annoyed merely by your presence. Now, I feel only gratitude, to both of you, for not allowing my spirit to depart this mortal coil before my son is welcomed to the world. Thank you."
"You are most welcome, Your Highness," Ranárë replied with a nod.
"Is it soon enough to name this elf as a brother?" asked Glorfindel with a grin.
Thorin laughed again. "I may have to consider it now that I owe you a life debt," he replied. "Come, join us if you have not broken your fast."
Both visitors thanked him for the invitation, and Léof brought additional chairs to the table while Briét retrieved two more place settings. Thorin and Rejna's little dining table was a touch crowded, but none of the diners seemed to mind.
King Ragin filled Thorin in on the talk of the kingdom while he had slumbered. Whispers and gossip in all four districts seemed to show an overwhelming belief in his declaration, though there were, naturally, those who were not yet convinced of the veracity of his claim. In a very public show of support, Lady Greti had declared her belief in him, as had Halvar and the other lords. Many of the merchants Thorin was familiar with—such as Grehkin and Darbur—had quickly followed suit.
"I suspect that the more of your citizens with whom you've established a relationship openly express their belief in you," said Glorfindel, "the sooner the recalcitrant will follow."
A glance at his One and her father showed Thorin that they agreed with the elf. He inclined his head, then told them, "Though I should like for the people to believe my sister-sons and I have been reborn, in the end the only persons whom I care that believe me already do. And that is enough for me."
"And what of the Deceiver?" asked Ranárë.
Thorin paused as he was taking a drink from his water goblet. After a moment's thought, he snorted, took a swallow, and as he was setting the cup back to the table said, "I imagine Sauron will be too afraid of our return being genuine to take the chance of it being a falsehood. He will come for us, and we will be waiting."
"Oh, Thorin, I cannot bear to hear you speak so," said Rejna.
He reached for her hand. "Beloved, recall what I said of Manwë's communion with Sulladad: Azog was resurrected for the sole purpose of hunting us down and destroying the senior line of Durin's blood. Even were I to have chosen to maintain the secret, I have no doubt word would have reached that wretched spirit of his in Mordor, and he would have sent his minions just the same."
"I am afraid I must agree, Princess," said Glorfindel. "Upon learning of just the possibility, he would likely take action."
"My only regret in coming forward is that I may bring upon this kingdom more strife than has already been suffered in recent months."
"Now Thorin, do not let yourself be troubled by that," Ragin assured him. "I would have you recall that I had decided on learning of the retaking of Erebor to bring my kingdom out of the darkness of legend. No doubt the Deceiver would have turned his attention to us at some point."
"I do not doubt it, Your Majesty," agreed Ranárë. "Strategically, Dwarrowvale is of relatively little importance, but your resources are."
"You refer to the mithril mine below us, my Lady?" the king returned.
Ranárë inclined her head. "The orcs which infest Moria are not really intelligent enough to properly mine and make use of the mithril to be found there," she said, "so it is as like Sauron may consider it as lost to him as do your kin. However, should he learn of the mine here, he would only have to corrupt enough of your people—or the men of Gondor—and the mithril would be his."
Thorin snorted softly. "Interesting you should say so, madam, for I had suspected Hagen of desiring the throne so that he could control the mithril."
"It's just as well that piece of troll dung no longer plagues us," Rejna put in. "Had Sauron gotten a hold of him, he would have been only too easy to corrupt."
"No doubt you are right, nâtha," Ragin agreed.
-…-
The first council held after the Battle of Honor waited only for one more person. When Halvar at last was shown into the chamber, all seated at the table stood and bowed to him, even the king.
Halvar paused, clearly nonplussed by the honor, before he continued around the table. Habit, most likely, had him pulling out the second chair to the king's left, before he shook his head and replaced it, then sat himself in the chair which had for so long been his father's.
King Ragin called the meeting to order, then said, "Our first order of business is to officially recognize Halvar, son of Hagen, as Lord of Eastfell. Have you your father's Last Will and Testament?"
Halvar placed the rolled parchment he'd carried in before the king. Ragin unrolled it and read it aloud. They were none of them surprised that, while everything Hagen had owned was left to Halvar, his only son, the will contained a codicil stating that Halvar was required to wed a female of noble blood in order to retain his title…otherwise it would revert to the crown to be given to another.
"The troll spawn just doesn't give up, does he? Even when dead," muttered Lady Kari.
"Kari!" admonished her father.
"Do not be vexed with your daughter, Lord Tryg," said Halvar. "It so happens that our sentiments are the same."
He drew a long breath, then suddenly shot to his feet, pacing away from the table as he exclaimed, "Did he think I asked to be this way?! I am binnaith'afsal not because of a choice I made, but because I was born this way."
"Of course you were, Halvar," said Rejna. "As Lady Kari expressed to your father once, I have no doubt Mahal made you as you are, that he knows the khâzad race is in a decline and so he makes some males to love other males, that those without female mates are not without the comfort of a companion in their lives."
"You are kind to say so, Your Highness," Halvar replied, before also offering a nod to Kari. He sighed then, crossing his arms as he turned to look out the window.
"Do you know what the worst part is—even more so than not yet finding a partner to share my life with? I actually want to be a father. I've dreamed of having bairns of my own, but I know it's not in Mahal's plan for me. Can't be, given he made my heart desire males and not females."
"But General… I mean, Lord Halvar," spoke up Hakon. "Could you not… I don't know… make an arrangement with a female?"
Halvar scoffed lightly as he turned around. "I could, perhaps. I have no real doubt there's a female somewhere in Dwarrowvale who would be willing to bear a child for me. But in order for that child to inherit my title and wealth, I would have to be married to their mother when I conceived it with her. I cannot in good conscience bind any female in a loveless marriage. And even if I were to decide I could, for the sake of having an heir, what of my desires? I could no more deny them than I can deny will of our Maker, and the honor my father believed me to lack would not allow me to satisfy my physical needs outside of my marriage vows. Unlike my father, I refuse to commit amralbinakrâg."
"If anyone were to ask me—which I note they're not—" said King Ragin, "I believe that the matter of Lord Halvar's heir may be addressed at a later date. Let us allow him some time to acclimate to his new position in society before we make a point of it."
"Agreed, Your Majesty," said Thorin. Rejna, Eirik, Tryg, Hakon, and Kari all echoed him.
Halvar looked relieved to have the matter closed, and so returned to his seat. Discussion then turned to what reports had been received regarding the unrest each district had suffered. There had been some incidents reported in each, but the number was dropping each day.
"I surmise, Your Majesty, that without their ringleader to goad them on, the Brotherhood may be slowly crawling back beneath the rocks they were hiding under," said Lord Tryg.
Thorin snorted. "Let them, and may they rot in the shadows which conceal them."
"Indeed, agnât'dashat," Ragin said. "I do not think we should reduce the patrols just yet, however. In fact, I would increase them, if it can be done. I wish to make it clear that no more of that nonsense will be tolerated. Parents will be held responsible if their children engage in bullying or violence of any kind. And I would have Durc and Eirika continue their investigations in identifying members of the Brotherhood—I want those treasonous rabble dealt with swiftly and publicly."
"I have another meeting with them scheduled for this afternoon, Your Majesty," Thorin told him.
"Excellent! The sooner we restore peace to our lands, the sooner I may rest."
The meeting ended soon after the king's declaration. Tryg and Kari were the first to depart, followed by Halvar. Eirik and Hakon made to quit the chamber last, but Thorin stopped them.
"My Lord Eirik," he began, "in your foray into the archives to research the marriage laws, did you come across anything regarding the gender of one's marriage partner?"
Four pair of confused eyes looked to him. "I cannot say at present. My research in the autumn was specifically to determine how yourself and Princess Rejna might secure the throne under Hagen's motion of disinheritance."
"What are you thinking, Thorin?" Rejna asked.
He glanced toward the double doors of the council chamber. "Whilst I do not fully understand why Mahal would form such dwarrow—those who desire the intimate touch of their own gender—I find that I cannot ignore the difficulties they face in matters of the heart…or of the law."
Returning his gaze back to the others, he continued with, "If a dam can take two husbands, should not a male whose heart seeks other males be allowed to wed the one they love?"
"For that matter," began Rejna with sudden understanding, "should not the rare female who desires other females be allowed the same? And should not one in Halvar's position—or one similar—be allowed to take both a husband and a wife?"
Ragin began to nod as she spoke. "Yes… You are quite correct, my children. Why should any dwarf or man in this kingdom not have their heart's desire and be protected under the law? Halvar could have an heir—if he can bring himself to wed a female in order to sire one—and he could honorably satisfy his needs. If any such law forbidding marriage between persons of the same gender exists, I will abolish it."
"That is most generous of you, Your Majesty," said Eirik.
"But my king," said Hakon, "what about Lord Tryg and Lady Kari? Do you believe they will agree?"
"I am certain Kari will," offered Rejna, "given her own words to Hagen, spoken in this very chamber. And I am fairly certain that Lord Tryg will agree, as well—he may have despised Hagen, but he has much respect and admiration for Halvar."
"I will make for the archives at once, that I may determine if any such law exists," said Eirik. "That way we will know how next to proceed with making the future much more agreeable to all our people."
"There is another option," said Rejna suddenly. "Adoption—Halvar could adopt an orphan to his house. Could he not then leave all that is his to the child?"
"He could leave an adopted child his personal wealth, if any, but not the title, Your Highness," Eirik replied. "At least, not as the law is presently written. Noble titles can only be passed to blood kin."
"But what if the child is kin?" the princess pressed. "Like Thorin said to that darrow that questioned him after the Battle of Honor—not of his flesh, but of his blood?"
"What are you saying, Rejna?" Thorin queried.
"What if Halvar adopted a cousin's child? Greva has young ones, does she not? He could take one of them into his house."
"He could just as easily name the child his heir without adoption," her father pointed out.
"I know, but I mean to say, he could offer to raise the child himself," she said. "And there is yet one other possibility: a sibling. Lady Greti said at court that she wondered just how many half-siblings Halvar had. Knowing Hagen as we do, there is surely a young one out there—or several."
"An illegitimate child could no more inherit than an adopted one, amrâlimê," said Thorin. "Even in the north, it is so."
Rejna slapped her hand on the table in frustration. "Ârra! If we can change one law to serve Halvar and others like him, we can change another!"
King Ragin drew a breath, blew it out, then smiled. "Very wisely—and passionately—spoken, nâtha. It will be done."
-...-
Thorin and Rejna relayed the news of the impending law changes to the rest of the family over luncheon. There were many nods and words of agreement to the plan.
"I really must say," Balin mused, "that your coming to these lands was a change to more destinies than your own, cousin. You brought a hobbit—" He gestured to Larkspur. "—introducing to these folk a whole new people, a new culture, new ways of doing things. Your newfound tolerance for change and understanding of the need for new blood among our kin that the dwarrow race may continue for ages yet will soon, I don't doubt, improve the lives of a great many of your new people. You have been reborn only a short time, and yet you have already done so much good."
"I agree wholeheartedly, iraknadad," said Rejna as she smiled and put a hand on Throin's shoulder. "Mahal may have blessed Thorin with new life, but he has blessed Dwarrowvale with him."
Thorin colored, and determinedly ignored the smiles and stares of his kin. "I deserve not such high praise," he said gruffly between mouthfuls of food. "I do only that which should be done to see that the people are safe and prosperous."
Dís chuckled. "Now this is a glorious day indeed," she said. "And one which I never thought I would live to see."
At this Thorin did raise his head. "What the devil are you on about, sister?"
"You. Being humble. You are much changed in this new life, nadad. It just goes to show that even the toughest rock may be hewn, if one works at it long enough."
"Or has a god raise him from the dead," muttered Kíli.
Fíli smacked the back of his head. "What?" Kíli cried as he rubbed the spot. "Not like it's not true."
The sons and daughters of Durin gathered 'round the table broke into laughter.
-...-
Shortly after his meeting with Dwarrowvale's top inquisitors, Durc and Eirika, the latter's father sent a note to Thorin by messenger regarding his research. The short missive stated that while there was, at present, no law that forbade same-gender marriage, he advised they draft one that declared it legal so as to prevent any challenges to such openly celebrated unions in the future.
Thorin acknowledged the advice as sound, and was at the desk in his study writing up the new law (and wishing he had a skilled scribe like Ori to do it for him) when Halvar answered the summons he had sent him.
Standing on the newly-anointed Eastfell lord's entrance, he bid the younger dwarf welcome and gestured for him to be seated.
"Halvar," Thorin said, "I have some news to impart which, considering your revelation at this morning's council meeting, may give you some relief—in more ways than one."
Halvar, understandably, looked confused. "I do not understand, Your Highness. What relief can there be for one such as me?"
His expression changed in rapid succession from confusion to wonder and back again multiple times as Thorin explained not only the new marriage law but also the change to the inheritance law.
"So you mean to say, my lord," said Halvar, "that I could have a wife and a husband if I should choose to? And that any child of my blood that I adopt and raise and my own could inherit my title? I don't just have to name one of my cousin's children as my heir?"
Thorin inclined his head. "If you find two such willing partners, or your cousin allows you to raise her child as your own, or you happen to find among your father's no doubt numerous affairs a child you would be willing to make your own… then yes."
Halvar stared disbelievingly. "My Lord Prince, I do not know what to say. It is an immeasurably generous thing you do for me."
"We do not do it only for you," Thorin rejoined. "Whilst certainly your situation was my motivation and Rejna's for suggesting these changes, due to the great esteem in which we both hold you, you will not be the only one to benefit."
The other dwarrow shook his head. "Oh, indeed not, Your Highness! I have friends in same-gender relationships who would greatly benefit from being able to leave their estate to their partners, for instance. One, I fact, is a dam who desires both females and males—she has long wished she could have married the daughter of Men who shares her heart as well as her husband."
At this, Thorin leaned back in his chair and regarded him thoughtfully. "And what of you, my lord?" he asked. "Does knowing that you may soon legally be wed to both a male and a female change your mind about taking a wife to bear a child for you?"
Halvar drew a breath and sighed. "I would certainly feel a great deal less guilty about bedding a male while married to her, if I were married to him as well," he said. "But I have never met a female who stirs my loins enough to make bedding her even possible. I failed miserably the first and only time I tried."
"That was more than sixty years ago, as I understand," said Thorin. Halvar's color deepened, and the elder of the two chuckled softly.
"Do not be embarrassed, my friend. Rejna is a beautiful dam—only a fool would not think her so. I bear you no ill will for trying to bed her long before I came to these lands."
Halvar's head bobbed. "Ah, thank you, my prince. It is gracious of you to say so."
He then held up a black leather book bound with cord. Thorin had taken little notice of it when the other dwarrow entered the office.
"On another, much more grievous subject," his visitor began as he handed the book across the desk. "This belonged to my miserable excuse for a father. To be honest, I never imagined him the sort that would keep a diary, but… I found that in his desk. My desk now, I suppose. Anyway, Your Highness, I didn't read much, but what I did was… disturbing. I thought that, given his behavior toward you personally, you had a right to read his mad rantings. I thought perhaps it might give you a clue as to what caused his descent to begin with."
Thorin snorted. "Should prove…interesting, at least," he said.
Halvar stood then. "Thank you, Your Highness. Though the whole of Dwarrowvale will benefit as well as myself, that you and the rest of the council would even consider—let alone carry out—changes to the laws of our country in order to accommodate myself and those like me… Well, it is a most progressive and promising outlook."
"No doubt there are those who will balk—most of them our kin, as I know better than anyone that dwarves despise change. The majority of those who oppose the new laws will surely have ties to the Brotherhood, and we may have more of their foolishness to deal with as backlash."
He sighed then. "But death and rebirth, seeking a destiny different yet similar to the one I had in my first life… As I have said to others, we need to break free of the stagnant cycle we have lived in for far too many centuries and embrace change if we are to survive."
Halvar nodded his agreement, then after saying he had been given much to think about, took his leave. Thorin stared with mild disgust at Hagen's diary before picking it up and unwinding the cord from around it. Much of the content of the first several pages were vitriolic diatribes against Ragin and Rejna, and how he wished to be rid of them. No surprise there, he mused darkly.
Shortly before the arrival of himself and his kin in Dwarrowvale, the tone of Hagen's writing changed. It became darker, more sinister. He wrote of a voice giving him advice—it was the voice which had suggested he broker a marriage contract between his son and the princess. The voice had advised him to kill any opposition to putting his blood on the throne, certifying in Thorin's mind the former Eastfell lord's guilt in the attempts on his life. When he came across a detailed fantasy in which Hagen himself bedded Rejna and sired her heir, he growled and threw the book toward the fireplace. It struck the mantle and fell to the floor.
With an aggravated sigh, he stood and went to pick it up; a loose sheet fell out as he did so. Thorin retrieved the folded paper, which matched the parchment bound in the book, but saw that the edge was ragged as though it had been torn out. As he unfolded it, he noted that it also appeared to have been crumpled and smoothed out multiple times.
The page contained only a few words. What struck him most was the drawing of a rounded stone. Suspicion and dread began to curl in his gut as he now paid heed to the writing on the page.
"With this he talks to me," Hagen had written. "With this, my Master shows me the future of which I dream—my son as the new king. With the mithril in our mine, the world of Men will be ours to conquer."
With great haste he fled from the study, startling Dwalin and Kíli, who followed his breakneck pace shouting questions he was not yet ready to answer.