The best surprise

"Do you think Magrat knows she's about to fall out?" Rana leaned over and lowered her voice, trying not to smirk as her friend snorted and visibly shook her head in disgust.

"I think she's aware her bosom is on show for all to see, but I don't think she knows she's about to dip them into her plum pudding," Dis sipped from her cup and watched, almost eager with anticipation at seeing the 'fall out'.

"Should we warn her?" Dru chirped up from beside them, knowing full well what their answer would be, but wondering if perhaps it would be more sympathetic.

"After the show she made to Thorin last time?" Dis snorted into her cup and rolled her eyes, "Oh, sweetheart. People deserve their just desserts when they've only got themselves to blame."

"I know, but what a waste of plum pudding."

All three women cackled to themselves, averting their eyes from Magrat so the stuffy Dwarrowdam wouldn't catch wind that they were talking about her.

"Oh, where's that husband of mine? He'd disapprove of our behaviour whilst trying not to laugh," the Queen had to put her cup down for fear she'd spill it and schooled her features so no one would guess she was being bad.

"Stolen by the fairies," Dru pointed out to the crowded floor of dances, where somewhere in the middle was her uncle and children, "Thora has been waltzing with him most of the night and Bror wanted to join in. Be warned, he might try to pull you in as well."

"Oh, I'd be honoured. He's such a handsome boy," Rana smirked at Dis' proud smug face, "and yes, I know, I know. 'It's all in the breeding.'"

"Damn right," Dis turned to her daughter who pushed her chair away and stood up stretching, "babe pressing down on your bladder again?"

"No, I think I'm going to have to call it a night," she placed her hand on her belly and winced as she arched her back, "my back and feet are killing me. I can't wait to pop this one out."

"They say the third pregnancy is supposed to be the easiest," Rana tapped her chin thoughtfully, "but then, I think it was the males who started that rumour. "

"Pfft. Don't listen to anything the doctors tell you. Read only what Bodil writes, she's smart enough for about ten doctors. Right, I'm off," Dru came around her mother to Rana and leaned over to place a kiss against her cheek, "happy birthday. Have a wonderful rest of the evening."

Rana returned the kiss and practically beamed at her niece.

"Thank you, Dru. AND thank you for my beautiful shoes," very unlike a Queen, she raised one foot, showing off her jade green slippers, "very comfortable and colourful."

"You're welcome, only the best for a wonderful aunt."

"Goodnight, sweetheart. I'll pop up to see you in a bit and bring a slice of cake," Dis waited for her kiss, lovingly petting her daughter on the side of her head.

They both watched her as she toddled off to say goodnight to Thora and Bror, both still dancing merrily with Thorin.

"Oh, what a party. It's a shame Fili is missing this."

Rana shrugged her shoulders.

"No helping it. There was an emergency in Dale, and he'll be back in time for cake. Besides, he promised me something special from town, so I'm looking forward to that."

"True. Now, back to pudding watch. I'll bet you your green shoes, she's going to dip herself into that sauce and not notice."

Rana arched one pretty brow and shook her head.

"Not a chance, your wide feet wouldn't fit into these dainty slippers."

"Cow."

"Love you too."

As Dru exited the hall, she didn't know why her mother and Rana were laughing this time, but she had a feeling, Magrat might have finally dipped herself...

A couple of hours later….

"That was the best party I've been to in ages," Bodil wiped away a crumb that lingered on the corner of her mouth, the only telltale sign she had scoffed the birthday cake, "thank you for the invite, your majesty."

"Oh, pfft," Dis waved her hand, dismissing the title, "it's Dis when we're in private, we've known each other long enough. And besides, of course, I'd invite you. You bought my first grandchild into the world."

"How has Thora been? When she sees me, she runs and hides with her brother," she found this amusing, snorting at the memory of the two squeaking like mice and running away from her as fast as they could.

"She's fine and don't worry, they don't hate you. They just think you can be very stern and serious when you're poking and prodding their mam, asking a lot of questions."

"Necessities of being a midwife. Great with women with babes and newborns, but children flee at the sight of us. A little bit like Orcs."

"Goodness. Don't let Thorin hear you say that," Dis lowered her voice but gave her friend a wicked smirk, "or the guards. They'll not look at you lot the same again."

"I love the look of fear on male's faces, makes such a difference to patronising floating. Or lust. Anyway, is that for Dru?"

The 'that' in question was a thick slice of cake, wrapped in a linen cloth. Dis clutched it delicately in her hand, making sure not to squash it too much.

"Yerp. She left before Rana could cut it, but she'll appreciate the gesture after her nap. When we drop this off, do you fancy a game of snapdragon?"

"Only if we can swing by my place beforehand."

"Oh, you want to grab your money pouch?" Dis winked and gave her friend a wicked smile, "I'll grab my whiskey and we'll make this interested. We can even invite your mates if ya' like?"

"Why, so you can swindle us all out of our hard-earned wages?" Bodil shared the same smile and nodded her head, "Just you wait. I'll get that crown off your head one of these games."

"Oh, fighting talk. I like it."

Dis and Bodil continued the way, bickering like friends do and cackling along with one another's taunts and threats about 'taking all their money'.

They arrived at Dru and Fili's chambers, knocked once and made sure to announce themselves.

"Dru?" Dis called as she unlatched and gently pushed the door open, "I bought cake, sweetheart."

"Bring it in, Mam," Dru called back, and the two women entered to a rather strange picture, "just getting things ready."

"Dru, I thought you were sleeping…why are you putting all those towels by the bed? What are you up to?"

Dru was ferrying towels back and forth from the end of her bed where a heavy trunk lay, to the side table, where a surprisingly large basin of water sat.

"Just getting bits in place for-Ah!" Dru cried out suddenly, her hand clasping her belly as she stopped walking and held the towels closer to her with her other hand.

"Oh no," Dis put her hand on her hip and gave her daughter 'the look', "don't say it."

"I bloody will," Bodil went on and made Dru sit down on the bed, checking her pulse and of course, placing both hands on her stomach.

She paused for about ten seconds and then, stood straight up and nodded.

"Aye'. It's time. It might have actually been time for a while."

"Oh, bloody Mahal," her mother set the cake down and began to roll up her sleeves, "why didn't you come and get us sooner?!"

They both helped Dru, one taking the towels and the other making sure she was propped up with pillows since Fili was now there.

"It's Rana's birthday, I'm not spoiling anything when this is going to take hours and hours," Dru cried out again as she gripped the covers underneath her, her brow beginning to moisten with sweat.

"Or in your case, now," her mother looked around at everything and then, to Bodil, "we have all the necessities, but should I go and let the others know?"

"Nah, we've done this before. Besides," as she reached up Dru's nightgown and checked her over, she realised it was too late, "by the time you go and come back, it'll be done. Come on, Granny."

"I thought...Ah!" Dru grit her teeth as she tried to get through another wave of pain, "I thought it'd be a nice surprise for Fili!"

"Right then…let's get the surprise ready," Dis unfolded a towel and immediately attended to her daughter, gently mopping away the sweat from her head.

The party was still happening downstairs, so no one could really hear the screams of the Princess upstairs. Nor could they hear when she stopped, and the quiet wailing of a child began.

Later that night…

Fili arrived back home, tired, and sore. The journey back on the horse had been painful since Thunderbolt was in heat and attempting to show off and impress a mare riding with them. True to his name, he had bolted off, throwing Fili down on the ground.

It had taken an extra hour before Fili had managed to get them both back, but he had felt a little embarrassed since he had to walk the last ten minutes with both their bridles in his hand.

He'd arrived back inside the mountain though, evidently after the party had finished and he quite enjoyed the peace and quiet around him. And the sleeping guards trying their hardest to appear that they were standing up and just 'resting their eyes'.

Most of the mountain was in bed, except for-

"Mother?" He stopped as his mother approached him, holding a small silver tray with a bowl of soup and a mug of tea. The most disconcerting thing however was that smile she had on her face.

The smile he knew all too well. It was sneaky and he was never sure if he liked it.

"Right on time. Your wife wants this brought up to her and she says if you're back, you must do it," she pushed the tray against him, so he had to take it and then, leaned in to place a kiss against his cheek, "well done. Be happy, my son."

He watched her go, perplexed at her unusually giddy and content behaviour. Usually, she'd have a word or two to say about him and his manner of riding Thunderbolt.

He looked back down at the tray, even more confused.

"Surely this is the maid's job?"

He shrugged and looked around, seeing that nobody was about to offer to help him. He continued onwards to his rooms, hoping that Dru was comfortable since she always struggled in her late pregnant state.

He also hoped she'd saved him some cake since she'd promised him, she would.

He cautiously opened his door and found her sitting up on their bed, smiling blissfully at him. She was propped up and leaning casually over a pillow with the covers up, as though she had just climbed in.

"Hello, my love."

He walked over with an arched brow.

"Oh, my love? Not, 'humble servant'?" He held up the tray in her hands to show it off and prove his point, "And where would my lady like her dinner?"

She gestured with her head to the side table.

"Set it down over on the table, sweetheart."

Oh no. Oh no, she was giving him the same smile his mother did, and she called him sweetheart. He knew she was up to something, and he didn't know if he liked it.

He placed the tray down warily and shifted his focus back to her. She still held the covers up over herself and to the side, as though she were hiding something.

"Alright. What have you done? You're up to something."

"No," she pursed her lips tightly together, but she was visibly amused.

"I know you too well," he squinted and looked her over, wondering what was different, "are you feeling sick again?"

"Practically perfect."

Fili could see he was not going to get anything out of her and walked around to his side of the bed. She shifted the covers slightly and he thought it was an odd angle, but she would reveal it to him when she was ready. He hoped.

"Well, can I get you anything else, my lady?" He teased her and she nodded, looking triumphant.

"You can come here and say hello to your daughter."

Slowly, she lifted back the cover to reveal a tiny, sleeping babe. Fili's eyes widened at the sight.

She was swaddled in the same blankets they had wrapped Thora and Bror in. Her cheeks were a natural rosy red and she had a small tuft of curly, blonde hair.

He smiled and let out a noise of pure happiness, unable to control himself.

"Freyja, your daddy's home," Dru whispered over the child, but the only response seemed to be a little wiggle in her sleep before settling back down.

Fili, needing to be close to his newest child, gently picked her up from the pillow she had been placed on and held her close. She made a little noise at being disturbed but settled almost immediately against him and was just…astonished.

"Why didn't you send for me?!" He couldn't take his eyes off the babe but was shocked at how everything had changed again in the short space of a day.

"I'm afraid it was over so quickly that by the time you'd have gotten here, she was already out," Dru tilted her head and smiled at his happy face, "I wanted it to be a surprise. Plus, Rana's birthday was happening, so it was a quiet affair."

"Did you not let the others know?"

She gave the empty spot on the bed a pat and he sat down as she explained.

"As of right now, myself, mother, Bodil and you know. Thora and Bror were taken straight to bed, so I haven't even told them yet," she leaned over and placed her head on his shoulder and her hand over his, cradling their child with him, "right now, she's a secret."

"Best secret," he was finally able to tear his gaze from his daughter when he realised what Dru had called her, "you decided on Freyja?"

"As soon as my eyes landed on her, I knew it was right," her finger came out and gently touched the tuft of hair on Freyja's head, "and the moment she opens those eyes, I know she'll have the most beautiful blue you've ever seen. Just like her da' and Thora."

Their eyes met and the spark of love came to life and without hesitating, their lips connected and he poured all his love for her into the kiss. For how wonderful she was and for everything she had given him.

When they parted, he gently rubbed his nose against hers and sighed happily.

"Every babe we have is perfect."

Dru could only snort.

"Dain would say it's good breeding."

"Want more?" He looked back down at Freyja and pulled a happy face when it appeared she was stirring.

"…I'm too tired to kick you."

For the next few minutes, they were both distracted by their daughter. Dru had a feeling, nothing would distract them away from her, unless-

"Oh, it that cake?" Fili had evidently spotted the small, wrapped parcel on the table he'd missed earlier.

"Of course."

Cake may have called to him, but he still didn't put his daughter down for the rest of the night, not until he ABSOLUTELY had to.

Xxxxx

Author's note: Yes, I've been watching Poldark.