Disclaimer: I don't own any familiar characters, and or anything pertaining to the world of the Hobbit. All, but my ocs, are owned by J.R.R Tolkien (who probably hates us for doing this to his work).
Chapter 22
The first thing Magdalen smelled was pancakes. The familiar warmth of buttery batter filled the dark clouds around her. She sighed curling into her blanket, the silky fabric felt odd and different. It was light and fluffy in her arms. She didn't mind it, she felt light and airy. Magdalen hadn't gotten this good of sleep in a while. She told herself to keep her eyes shut for a little while longer. To enjoy the peaceful quiet before Kili or Deamra came stomping through her door. Bright colors of purple and blue danced behind her closed lids.
Magdalen groaned hearing the soft creek of her door pressing her pillow over her head.
"Deamra, go away. I'm sleeping."She muttered.
A voice snorted "Who the hell is Deamra?"
Magdalen felt her eyes bulge at the voice. The deep and calloused female voice. She slowly lifted up her head, her pillow slipping from her bed to the ground. Her eyes were met with the bright pure sunlight pouring into a familiar room. Her violate blanket wrapped around her cheeks. In front of her eggshell walls were decorated with cheap paintings and old movie posters. The corner of her window seal cracked and crumbled at the edges of her wall from years of wear. Magdalen twisted her head to where the voice came from.
It couldn't be.
There before her was Emma Smith, wearing her oversized 'Lakers' shirts and pajama pants. Her signature owl slippers covering her feet. Her caramel hair a frizzy mess from whatever adventure she had found herself in the night before. Black smudges of makeup gathered under hazel eyes. Magdalen yelped jumping up from her bed, standing up on the mattress. Emma stumbled back at Magdalen's sudden movements.
"Mags! What the hell?" Emma yelled.
Magdalen began grinning like a madwoman. She froze in her delight when she caught sight of her mirror. Magdalen jumped from her bed skirting to the glass mirror, that jiggled with her heavy footsteps. In front of her was a familiar sight. She was just as she was all those months ago. Her hair was the same sandy color, cropped short framing her face just right. Her freckles dashed her warm tanned skin. Her skin was polished and unblemished. Her fingers brushed over her face. No ugly scares in sight. Had it all been a dream.
Magdalen spun from the mirror, lunging at Emma. They stumbled back into the small familiar hallway of their apartment. Photographs of the three friends decorated the hall's dull walls, just as they had all those months ago. It was like time had frozen when she left. She cried into the girl's shoulder.
"Emma, I missed you so much." She sobbed.
Emma froze in her arms, wiggling out of Magdalen's iron grip. "God you are such a psycho, let me go!" She protested.
Emma was never one for human contact. Magdalen laughed holding onto her friend a little long, afraid that if she let go Emma would disappear.
"What's going on in here?" A sing-song voice echoed in their small hallway, the creaking of wood under feet brought Felicity peaking down the hall from the kitchen, a spatula in hand. Her raven hair hung around her glowing face, her green eyes held concern. Dressed in a blue camisole and matching cropped pajamas, Felicity looked like a vision of beauty. Magdalen screamed at the sight of raven hair. Tears poured from her eyes as she launched herself onto Felicity.
"Oh!" Felicity let out slipping her arms around Magdalen's figure.
"Good morning to you too…" She spoke looking over Magdalen's head to Emma, who shrugged.
"Magdalen what's wrong?" Felicity's sweet voice filled with concern.
Magdalen pressed her head into Felicity' shoulder. She couldn't stop the tears from falling.
"I missed you guys so much!" She grabbed Emma's arm pulling her into a group hug.
"Okay drama queen, you were the one who didn't want to go to the bar with us last night." Emma huffed in Magdalen's ear.
"You guys saw me yesterday?" Magdalen reared back looking at her two friends.
Emma and Felicity peered at each other. Felicity knitted her eyebrows together, her hand touching the side of Magdalen's face.
"Did you bump your head last night?"
"Yeah, you're acting weird," Emma added.
Magdalen grinned again, sighing."I'm fine, everything's fine."
Felicity gave Emma a questionable look, Emma shrugged pushing passed the two into the kitchen. Felicity stared at Magdalen moving closer taking her shoulder in her hands. Making Magdalen's eyes focus on her.
"Did something happen last night?"
Flashes of monstrous teeth gnawing at her popped in her mind. Imagines of dwarves, grumpy kings, and fictional kingdoms race through her. A handsome smile burning into the corners of her thoughts. She shook her head gently focusing on Felicity, the real Felicity. Everything had just been some crazy dream, made up out of her grandfather's favorite story. Perhaps it had been her mind just trying to deal with the grief, an escape from the pain.
Magdalen smiled up at her concerned friend. "I just had a really weird dream, is all."
Felicity nodded slowly, not really believing her. Wrapping her arms around Magdalen's shoulder guiding her to their kitchen.
Emma had already made herself a plate, beginning to dig into her pancakes.
"Mags, you'll never believe who's number I scored last night." She said mouth filled with food.
Magdalen grinned, she missed Emma's lack of table manners and big attitude. Kili and Emma would be a disaster if they ever met. Kili. He wasn't real, none of it had been real. But it had felt real, everything she had felt for the people she had met was real. And she felt a pang of longing for her temporary home. She shook off the ridiculous feeling, she needed to appreciate what was in front of her. None of it had been real. None of it.
"Sarah Grimes!" She laughed.
Felicity retorted with a smart comment, and the two began to brick. Magdalen lowered herself into their yellow plastic chair set around the table that Felicity and Magdalen had rescued during the summer from the dump. Magdalen studied the living room. Everything was just as she left it, the old couch took up most of the small space. Movie posters Emma had acquired from her job at the movie theater hung on the walls by duck tape to cover stains. She stared down at the plate in front of her.
"Do we have orange juice?" Magdalen asked suddenly.
She didn't like orange juice, but all of the sudden she wanted.
Felicity nodded picking at her pancakes. Magdalen stood up from the table, a dull pain throbbed in her hip, but she ignored it. Emma and Felicity still talking about last nights escapades. She roamed through the kitchen popping open the fridge. Magdalen stared at the fridge for a minute then over to her friends. It was full of food. She felt tears watering her eyes. She looked down at the ground trying to contain her feelings.
"Who bought groceries?" She swallowed the bile burning at her throat.
Felicity smile was sickeningly sweet. "You did silly, on Thursday."
Magdalen nodded, sighing pinching her nose. She closed the fridge, placing the juice on the counter that separated their kitchen from the living room.
"Mags?" Felicity called.
The dull pain in her hip became sharper. She hissed holding her head, she pressed her palm into her eye. Letting out a soft laugh, she wiped away a tear.
Felicity stood up, opening her mouth to speak. Magdalen spoke first.
"This isn't real is it?"
Felicity tilted her head, her hand reaching out for Magdalen. Magdalen stood up straight staring at the person before her, it wasn't Felicity. Her heart shattered. The fake Emma and Felicity shared a look.
"I told you she wouldn't fall for it, smart one she is," Emma said still stuffing her face with pancakes.
Felicity sighed shaking her head, she looked up whispering something. She looked back down at Magdalen.
"I just want to go home, please send me home." She pleaded with the faux Felicity.
The fake Felicity shook her head. "We can't do that, there's still much to do."
Magdalen opened her mouth to scream at the spirit what she meant. When she felt a splash of water on her forehead. Magdalen reached up and swiped away the small drop of water. She craned her neck to look up the old worn ceiling gone, replaced by dark storm clouds. Raining falling like bullets from the new sky. Thundered echoed in the distances. Her head snapped to look where Felicity and Emma had been. Now there were rolling hills of wet green grass, black figures of trees whirled in the wind. Lighting illuminated the sky, marking the outline of a familiar mountain.
"Erebor," Magdalen whispered to herself.
In the blur of the rain, she could make out the gates of Erebor. Without a second thought, she began running. The world around her blended together, familiar voices called to her from the darkness. She ignored them, ignoring the stabbing pain at her leg, something inside her told her she needed to be at those gates. Magdalen blinked realizing she was there already she spun around wondering how she had gotten there so fast. She didn't have much time to think on it when two voices boomed from the bridge that connected Erebor to the rest of the world. The figures were moving, and she couldn't make them out. But she could hear them.
"Stop this madness. What were you doing in the forest?"
"I don't need to answer to you, guardsmen!" The far figure lunged at the second figure.
The two rolled around on the stone bridge. Magdalen yelled at them to stop, but they couldn't hear her. She ran toward them, but they took no heed of her.
"Stop!" She screamed over the thunder.
She got feet from them. Her feet were stuck to the ground, she reached for them but found she could not move any further. She screamed as her muscles gave in, her knees buckled dropping to the ground. The pain had overtaken her body. Tears disappeared under the rain.
The figure who had lunged first stumbled back a small package in his hand slipping from his grasp. The package hit the ground, a glowing emerald gem shattered on the ground. The far figured stutter back, roaring over the madness.
"How could you do this! You were going to kill him, the king will have your head for this."
The enormous gates of Erebor opened, a group of guards ran toward them.
Lighting flashed revealing the face of a young Lord Amrus. Magdalen gasped she knew this scene, she had read it in Harion's journal.
"She is mine!"
"She belongs to no one, you think she would pick you after you murdered her love! You will be banished after this." Harion roared.
"No one will ever believe you!"
The guards came closer, Amrus turned calling to them. Harion snatched a piece of the gem stuffing it in his pocket. Amrus told the guards that he found Harion with the gem, and to arrest him. Magdalen yelled to Harion as the guards swarmed him, cuffing his hands. She yelled to the guards that they had it all wrong. But they didn't listen dragging a screaming Harion behind them. Lord Amrus stood there watching as they left, he turned meeting her eyes. He strolled to her, the rain calming into a drizzle. His face curled into a smile. He reached out touching her wet and matted hair. She couldn't move.
His meaty fingers curled tightly around her hair pulling her painfully close. Reaching out to cup her necklace. His eyes dragging from the necklace to her face.
"You're next, my sweet."
XXX
Magdalen shot upright, screaming. Pain rushed through her whole body. Her head pounded feeling like an elastic was wrapped around her head. Swirls of colors swam through her visions as the world around her came back. Hands wrapped around her pushing her into her bed.
"Get off me! Get off me!" She screamed shaking the hands from her.
She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the tears burning her eyes. Her nose felt like it was on fire and snot dripped from her nostrils. Her lungs expanded and deflated at an alarming rate.
"Magdalen, Magdalen you have to calm down. You're going to make yourself throw up." A voice called to her, rubbing big circles into her back.
Magdalen slowed her breathing. "That's right. In and out." The voice instructed her.
Slowly she slipped her eyes open. The warmth of firelight filled her eyes, she certainly wasn't in her apartment. There curled into her side was Deamra. Her auburn hair looked like it hadn't been touched in ages, dark bags sat under her eyes making her look much older than she was.
"Deamra!" Magdalen cried throwing her arms around the dwarrowdam's neck.
Deamra let out a laugh clinging to the girl. "Magdalen you scared me, you scared all of us."
Deamra held Magdalen by her arms, wagging her finger in front of her face. "Never do something like that again."
Magdalen stared at the girl suddenly hissed at the pain that coiled at her side. Slipping from Deamra's grasp Magdalen threw the wool blanket off her. Deamra protested but that didn't stop Magdalen, who took hold of the edge of the sleeping gown she was dressed in looking at her side. She was offered to find blood red cloth wrapped around the top of her hip to her knee. She stared at it for a long time.
"You lost a lot of blood when Fili brought you here. We thought for a while we had lost you. But you just kept fighting." Deamra held back tears. "The warg torn through a lot of muscles and tendons. Oin managed to stop the bleeding and sewed you all up. It's going to be a long way to recover, but you can do it. I believe in you." Deamra held her hand.
"How is Rampur?" She whispered.
Deamra smiled squeezing her hand.
"He is fine. A little shaken but alive and well." Magdalen swallowed, letting out a sigh of relief.
Deamra continued, "Bofur and Poppy have come by almost every day with the kids. They like to read to you, tell you about their day." She softly laughed.
Magdalen smiled leaning back into the cloud of pillows behind her.
"How long have I been out?" Magdalen asked still staring at her maimed leg.
"Two weeks." She answered straightforward.
Magdalen inhaled deeply feeling the mounting stress in her gut. There was a soft knock at her door. Deamra stood up opening it.
"Hello, Deamra." A familiar deep voice greeted.
Kili entered the room followed by Fili. Kili's stoney face broke when he spotted Magdalen sitting up and awake.
"Maggie!" He cried running to take her in his arms.
She was taken back when she felt his tears soaking her shoulder.
"Kili, be careful she just woke." Deamra scolded.
Kili squeezed Magdalen making her look in his eyes. "I command you to never do something so stupid again." His voice quivered.
Magdalen raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me, I'm out for two weeks and you think you can boss me around. Try again." She pinched Kili's arm.
"Oww!" Kili's dark look disappeared replaced by the familiar sparking look she had come to love.
He grinned at her leaning in to place a kiss on her hair. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you." His face dropped.
Magdalen tapped his check. "Kili, I did what I had to do. It's not your fault."
She smiled up at him. He opened his mouth, she stopped him. "No, no I am the one hurt I get the final word." She teased him.
The pleasant look disappeared when the fire on her hip burst. She let out a howl, Deamra pushing through the two men to get to Magdalen. Deamra held her hand telling her the pain would be over in a minute. Fili came to her other side, his hands fidgeting not knowing how to help ease the girl's pain. His heart pounded he had been at her side for weeks talking to her, and now that she was awake he couldn't find the words to say to her.
He reached out rubbing her shoulders, watching her face contract in pain. She breathing became shallow and eased as she relaxed back in her bed. His hand still on her shoulder. Magdalen turned her head to meet Fili's gaze. Her eyes were glazed and tired. Like she had been when he road into Erebor with her. She smiled at him.
"Hi," her voice was hoarse and dry.
He returned her smile, drawing circles in her skin.
"Hello."
"Alright that's enough for tonight, Magdalen needs some more rest. Fili go tell your mother that Magdalen is awake. Kili, go inform Oin so he can check up on her." Deamra shooed the boys out of her room.
Kili tired to protest, but Fili grabbed his shoulders pushing him out. Fili's eyes met Magdalen's one last time. Once they were gone, Magdalen let out a breath. It felt oddly nice to be back in Erebor. Her hand reached up touching her necklace, the visions of Harion and Lord Amrus haunting her. The words of the fake Felicity echoing. What still had to be done.
XXX
Deamra and Oin held off on visitors for the first couple of days since she woke. Of course, that didn't stop the Durin clan barging into her room. Dis was a blubbering mess when she laid eyes on Magdalen and held her for hours. She dotted over Magdalen and acted like at any moment she would explode into a million pieces. Dis insisted that she needed to be at her side during the healing process. Kili and Fili rolled their eyes. Soon her room was filled with flowers, baked goods, and other small treasures sent from members of the company that were unable to get to her. Ori had sent a book he had found, sending a note that told her he hoped it helped pass the time.
After a week in healers wing, Oin and Deamra allowed her to move back into her apartment. It felt nice to have a piece of her privacy. Walking was difficult at first and had put her in a wheelchair, Oin said they would begin working on walking soon enough. Her peace and quiet didn't last too long, as soon as she was out of the ward the company flooded her room day and night. Always there to keep her company. Gloin sang praises of her to his wife, Rumi, who she finally got to meet. Bifur built her a ball and cup game, that he taught with her play. Bombur and his clan brought her loads of food she wasn't sure she could finish in a year. Nori and Dori bathed her in compliments that made her turn beet red. Ori kept her up on all the things he did the library, telling her the plans he had for when she got back to work. She was glad for some normality in her life. Well as much normality she could get in Erebor.
Balin, Dwalin, Thorin and the Ur clan didn't come to see her. Poppy and Bofur hasn't come to see her since she woke. It bothered her that Dwalin hadn't come to see her. She thought they had grown close, she looked at him as a weird uncle figure. She hated to admit it but she missed his scolding face. It hurt that he didn't seem to be concerned about her well being at all. Though she would never tell anyone that.
Kili and Fili were always by her side when they weren't attending to their duties. Fili had been there the first day she took steps. She felt like a toddler stumbling from the chair Deamra had sat her in into Fili's arm. Electricity shot through her leg, and she cried for hours after she took those small steps on the floor. Fili sat by her side comforting all the while. The thought of never beginning able to walk properly again scared her. Oin patted the girl's head hushing her.
"It's not going to be easy, my girl. But you will get through this. Now stop crying and let's do it again." He tapped her chin.
Fili stood her up, she had a vice grip on his arm. He poked his nose into her hair as she legs shook violently like a newly born filly.
"You've got this, Magdalen. Just breathe." He whispered into her ear.
She bit her lip nodding her head, trying to stand a little taller. She was Magdalen Kathan, she was going to get through this.
XXX
Today had been quiet, and she was thankful for that. She appreciated the love of the dwarves, they were loyal and passionate people. But that meant never having a moment to herself. So it felt nice to have a few moments of peace and quiet. She was sure Deamra would stop by sooner or later, but for now, she took in the love that filled her bedroom. Bundles of flower-covered every inch of surface in her room. A pile of books as big as the mountain from Ori had accumulated in the corner. Magdalen thought of her apartment above the Red Rabbit. She knew it was, in fact, a dream now, but in the moment she couldn't help missing this place. And for good reason.
"Magdalen" A feminine voice called.
Magdalen stared up in bed, hearing the soft footsteps coming in her doorway. Deamra left her door open just in case something happened, and she needed to yell for the guards. The sight of a small pregnant female hobbit came in the doorway. Her heart stopped. Poppy and her family hadn't come to see her. She didn't blame them, she had put their children in danger. She wouldn't want to see her either. Magdalen couldn't keep her mouth in check, as word vomit tumbled from her lips.
"Poppy I'm so sorry, I know why you all haven't been to see me. And I understand. I did this. I caused all of this. It's my fault. I understand if you don't want me in your family. I took out the braid and- and gave Bombur the clan bead. I thought you would want it back." She said in one long breath.
Poppy stared at her. Magdalen blinked tears forming in her eyes. She hated how much she had cried in the last couple of weeks. It wasn't like her, but her emotions were all out of whack. Magdalen dropped her head, wringing her hands around each other. Two small arms wrapped around Magdalen.
"I'm sorry, Poppy. I'm so sorry!" She trembled loudly.
Poppy sobbed gently above her, squeezing her body into Magdalen's.
"Shhh you foolish girl," Poppy ran her fingers through Magdalen's tangled hair.
"You didn't do anything wrong." Magdalen clung to Poppy's tiny arms, crying gently.
"You saved my son's life, I owe you everything. I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to him." Poppy's voice broke, her hands curling around Magdalen's body.
Magdalen let out a breath, her face was red and blotchy.
Poppy pulled back, tears matching Magdalen's pouring down her face. "I'm going to put that braid back in your hair, and if you ever think about taking it out. I will tie you down and put that braid back in."
Magdalen let out a sad laugh nodding her head, resting it on Poppy's tiny shoulder. "Now that's out of the way. You think you have enough energy for a few more guests."
Magdalen's eyes sparkled up at Poppy nodding quickly.
Poppy stood up calling out into the living room "Bofur."
A horse stampede ran through her hallways, as the three Ur siblings and Bofur appeared in her doorway.
"Maggie!" They yelled racing toward her.
Poppy stepped in front of her children slowing them down. Bofur came up behind them picking up Rampur, who hide away in the crook of Bofur's neck. Magdalen smiled at them.
"Gentle my babies, Maggie isn't feeling that well so we need to be careful." She instructed them.
Bomfur and Daisy nodded meekly walking up to her bedside. Magdalen wrapped them in a tight hug kissing their chubby cheeks. Daisy giggled kissing her back, Bomfur, on the other hand, made a disgusted noise wiggling out of her grip.
"I've missed you too, so much." She chocked.
Bofur cleared his throat stepping behind his children, Rampur still refusing to look at her. Daisy and Bomfur stepped aside, Bofur leaned placing Rampur on her side. Rampur sat with his back to her. Magdalen looked at Bofur and Poppy desperately. Poppy nodded her head toward Rampur. Magdalen gently tapped on Rampur's shoulder. Rampur's pouted lip turned to look at her.
"Hello, Rampur." She said quietly.
He looked down at his lap, kicking his feet off the side of the bed.
"Hello, Maggie." He whispered.
Rampur sat there for a moment, before twisting in his spot. Rampur slowly came to Magdalen's side nestling into her arms.
"I-I'm s-sorry Maggie. I did this, I should h-have listened to y-you." He cried in her arms.
Magdalen felt her heartbreak, kissing the crown of his head over and over again.
"Never say sorry to me, I would do that all over again. If that meant saving you, you're my family." She pressed her lips into his head.
"Really?"
She knocked her head against his. "Really."
She winked at him.
The other Ur children soon lept to her side telling her all about what she had missed since they saw her last. They sat in her arms for hours, and she loved every minute of it.
XXX
The month following her recovery were long and strenuous. She spent nights in pain, trying to put on a brave face for everyone. Her walking had greatly improved, she wasn't running or jumping by any means but she was getting there. That morning Kili had volunteered to take her on a walk after breakfast, as Fili had a meeting he had to attend to. The week after staring her therapy, a beautiful cane had shown up in her room. She figured it had been one of the gifts the company left her. It was made from oakwood dark and strong, a red gem was set at the knob of the cane. She was hardly seen without it.
Today they started their stroll through the market, up toward the training area. Each day the walks got longer, and less painful.
"Everyone misses you in the training arena. I think they miss that sassy mouth of yours." Kili taunted.
Magdalen stared down the side of the bridge they walked on. "I don't think everyone does." She added.
Kili hummed knowing who she was talking about. "Magdalen he was more than upset than anyone, other than Fili."
"Then why hasn't he come to see me." She said miffed at the captain of the guard.
"Dwalin-"
"Kili," A gruff voice called behind them.
Magdalen looked over her shoulder. Speak of the devil and he shall come. There stood Dwalin, the same old Dwalin. The Dwalin who hasn't seen her in over a month.
"Dwalin," She greeted.
Dwalin mumbled nodding to her and Kili.
"Thorin wants to see Magdalen, now." Kili opened his mouth to protest but Magdalen stood tall.
"Okay, but I'll need help." She nodded to her leg. "Stupid bum leg."
Her hand gripped the gem knob of her cane, feeling Kili's body leaving her. Her leg shook feeling the weight as she put on it. Dwalin quickly slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow, allowing her to lean into him. Lifting the weight from her injured leg.
Dwalin looked back to Kili.
"They will be in his study." Kili nodded, watching the odd pair leave.
Either said anything for a while, until Magdalen couldn't stand it any longer.
"Why did you come and see me?" She snapped stopping in her place.
Dwalin sighed pinching his nose. He didn't say anything.
"Dwalin, everyone else came to see me. Everyone but you. I thought you were my friend."
She continued on with her rant. "How could you do that to me!"
"I'm sorry, "Dwalin mumbled
She stopped. Dwalin, captain of the guards. Stone heart Dwalin. Just said sorry to her.
He groaned. "I am sorry. I couldn't come and see you like that, girl. I felt like I let you down." His voice was quiet.
Magdalen's heart pumped. Without another word she hugged his thick arm, pressing her face into his skin. She could have sworn she heard him sigh in content, but she didn't comment on it.
"Let go someone is going to see, and think I've gone soft." He shook her off gently.
She smiled up at him as he led the way. They fell back into their usual repertoire. He talked about the training she missed, and that she would beat up any of the new recruits that had rolled in.
"Don't think just because your hurt that excuses you're training." He ordered her.
She dropped her head smiling to herself"I won't dream of it."
He paused and quietly told her."You did a good job, kid."
That was the closest thing to a compliment Dwalin would ever get, and she would, gladly, take it.
"Thanks, Dwalin."
They stopped in front of Thorin's door. She pulled on his arm stopping him from opening the door. Dwalin looked back her giving a questioning look.
"Did you know a guard named Harion?" She asked suddenly.
Dwalin blinked at the name, nodding it slowly.
"Yes, a long time ago." He remarked.
Magdalen stared at Thorin's door. "What happened to him?" She choked thinking about the guards dragging him away in the rain.
"He was sent to the grey mountains to work as a miner, but escaped after Smaug attacked. Why, how do you know him?" Dwalin asked shaken by the old name.
Before she could explain the door opened revealing Balin. Balin smiled bowing at her.
"Lady Magdalen, Thorin is waiting for you." He took her in his arm releasing her from Dwalin.
She looked back at Dwalin. "Will you come and see me tomorrow?"
Her eyes sparkling at him. He huffed, he couldn't deny her anything when she smiled like that. Magdalen looked too much like her for his liking. Balin saw that too, grinning at his brother.
"Fine, but not for long I have to get those wimps into shape."
Magdalen nodded in satisfaction. Balin bowed to his brother, leading Magdalen inside.
XXX
She had never been inside the king's study. It was just a magnificent as she imagined it would be. The room was round and held dwarven patterns, which were carved into every inch of wood. A fireplace roared to her right, two comfortable chairs sitting on either side. Bookshelves lined the walls. A Durin blue rug took up most of the room, hiding the stone floor underneath. An oak desk sat opposite of the room, Thorin sat hunched contemplating something. Balin cleared his throat getting his attention. Thorin stood up coming around his desk.
"Thank you, Balin. Miss Magdalen have a seat."
Magdalen stared at the dwarven king. Did he just call me by my name? Magdalen was taken back by the timidness in his voice, he didn't look at her like she was the scum of the earth. Balin guided her to the chair in front of his desk getting her comfortable.
Balin dent down coming eye level with Magdalen. "Thank you for everything, Lady Magdalen." Before he could explain himself, Balin pressed his forehead into his hand. He stood up bowing to his king, leaving the two alone. She stared after the king's advisor and then back to his king.
"You used my name." She stated lamely.
Thorin chuckled. She was going crazy, she was already crazy. But now she was just mad. Thorin Oakenshield just chuckled without snarling at her. Thorin nodded his head, looking up to meet Magdalen's gaze.
"I have heard it is nice to call people by their names, rather than their gender." He teased.
What is going on?
Thorin's fingers fidgeted she noticed. A habit Fili had when he was nervous.
"I have been a stubborn dwarf," He started.
"But you said-" His awful words echoing in her mind.
Thorin held up his hand, stopping her from repeating those words that had dug at her for so long.
"What I said to you came from a place of anger. Anger that should not have been aimed at you. How I treated you was shameful and unfitting of a king."
"What changed your mind about me?" Was all she could come up with.
Thorin let out a soft, barely audible, laugh. He shifted back in his char. "There were many things that changed my mind. Poppy and my sister, nearly beating me to death was one of them."
He paused stroking his majestic beard. "But you were willingly ready to sacrifice yourself for a child you've only known for a handful of months. You were going to give up your life in place of another. When I began the journey to take back my home, not many jumped to aid the exiled king. I could not blame those who didn't, it was dangerous and seemingly meaningless. No dwarves stood a chance against a dragon. But twelve of my kin and a small hobbit came to the call. All I could ask of them was a willing heart. You have proved to have a willing heart time and time again. I have been blinded by my pride. I appreciate loyalty and honor, Miss Magdalen. None of which I have shown you. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
She gaped at the king.
"As a peace offering, and an extension of mine and the kingdom's gratitude for your deeds. I have approved the Ur's claim of you."
She was speechless. For the first time in her life, Magdalen Rose Kathan was actually speechless. She stared at Thorin, her mouth gaping. Magdalen suddenly stood up clenching her cane. Thorin's eyebrows shot up to his hairline and he matched her movement. Magdalen stumbled a little as she moved from her chair around the mighty oak desk, Thorin reached out a hand only to take it back to his side as Magdalen stopped him. The clicking of her cane and boots neared him as she was only inches away from the king. She stared in his azure eyes, they weren't as soft as Dis's nor as lovely as Fili's. But they were strong, age and wisdom engraved into them. Her face was set in a hard expression. Her grey eyes burned with something that he could not read. Thorin prepared himself for a smack, he deserved it. The girl's temper was just as bad as his... If someone had treated him the way he treated her, he would have punched himself long ago. He closed his eyes waiting for the impact. It did not come.
Thorin stumbled back as the weight of another jumped into his arms. He opened his eyes to find his vision filled with golden strains of hair. Her arms wrapped around his neck, burying her face in his chest. He went rigid unsure what to do. He didn't hug people, well other than his sister. Thorin hugged Fili and Kili on occasion. But his subjects didn't just come up and hug him. He heard the soft cry coming from the girl relaxing into the touch. He lightly patted her back, unsure how to deal with the women.
"Thank you…" She whispered.
The door flung open.
"Uncle, I told you to leave Mag-Magdalen alone?" The words died on the intruder's lips.
Fili stared at the sight in front of him. It was almost comical. Magdalen stood behind Thorin's desk her arms wound tightly around his uncle's neck. Her cane lightly tapping Thorin's head. Thorin stood there straight at a beam, awkwardly patting Magdalen's back. Magdalen sighed loudly releasing Thorin from her grip. Thorin stared at Fili, stunned. She seems to leave people that way. Magdalen grinned at Thorin then to Fili.
"Hello Fili," She beamed at him.
She began to wobble over to him, he quickly came to her side. Slipping her hand onto his forearm. Fili looked up to the still stunned Thorin. And back at the women smiling on his arm.
"H-hello Magdalen, I've been looking for you everywhere. Kili informed me Thorin wanted to talk to you." He muttered
"So you thought you would come and save me from the big bad wolf. Like I can't take care of myself?" She raises an eyebrow.
"N-no, no that's not what I meant-" Fili hung his head in frustration.
Thorin chuckled at the sight of his flustered nephew.
"We were just done talking Fili, why don't you take Miss Magdalen to her room. She's extruded herself enough today."
Magdalen tapped Fili's check, "Come on, Thorin's right. I'm worn Deamra, Oin, and probably Dwalin will have your head if I tell them you keep me on my feet too long."
"Better listen to the girl, Fili. I don't need my heir being chased all over Erebor by the chief healer, and captain of the guards."
Fili bowed to his uncle, helping Magdalen find her balance. Thorin reached out to Magdalen pressing her hand into his forehead.
"I am thankful for your kindness, Lady Magdalen." She couldn't hide her grin.
She bowed at the king, before letting Fili sweep her away.
A good distance away Fili couldn't stop looking at her.
"Stop that." She pinched his forearm with her free hand.
He let out a laugh. "You must be a siren, Dushin-Mizim. You even have Thorin under your spell."
She rolled her eyes ignoring his jab.
She eyed him, wonder-filled her mind "What does that mean?"
He titled his head. "What does, what mean?"
Magdalen gave him a pointed look. "You know, Dushin-Mizim." She butchered the word.
She would never tell him, but she loved the way he said that word.
"You're a smart girl, you'll figure it out." Fili smiled coyly.
"I find out you've been calling me something bad, you better find a tunnel so deep and dark that I can't find you." She warned him.
He held a hand over his heart, slightly wounded by her accusatory words."I would never imagine calling you such a thing."
"Promise?" She held out her pinky to him. He raised an eyebrow, she reached down hooking his pinky with hers.
"I promise."
He turned so his hand enveloped hers, holding the small of her palm against his beating chest.
"So long as you promise to never scare me like that again."
She felt lightheaded as the tips of her fingers brushed the fabric of his tunic, feeling the heat of his chest warm her palms. "I can't promise that. Had that been you, or Kili, or anyone else I would have done the same thing."
Her wide eyes stared up at him. He sighed, hanging his head. Pressing her hand closer to his heart.
"I know, but you can try. No more facing trouble by yourself, I've got your back." The pad of his thumb drew circles on the back of her hand.
She swallowed staring down at their connected hands.
"Okay," She whispered huskily.
He grinned, "Now let's get you to bed, or I will have a whole hoard of people coming after me. Including, it seems, my uncle now."
She matched his smile. "Lead the way, Prince."
He rolled his eyes, slipping her hand from his chest slowly his hand covering hers as he placed it on his below. Magdalen tried to conceal her smile turning away from the smirking prince as he led them back to her apartment.
XXX
"Poppy is in labor!" Kili barreled into her apartment.
Dis squealed standing up from the couch where she had been working on her needlepoint at. She had offered to help Magdalen's poor craftsmanship since Magdalen, now, had time to spare. She needed to keep herself occupied or she would go crazy. Dis helped Magdalen to her feet.
"How long until the baby arrives?" Dis asked coming around the couch taking Magdalen with her.
Kili shrugged, "I was walking down the hall when Bofur and a screaming Poppy were heading toward the healer's wing."
Magdalen grinned, she had been excited for the newest Ur's arrival. She hadn't held a baby in forever, she could wait to hold the dwobbit.
"I'm going down to the healer's wing to see if I can help, Kili stay with Magdalen." Dis smiled running out of the apartment.
"Ready to lose that bet?" Kili mocked.
"Yeah, right." She snorted.
Knowing Poppy's baby was due any day, Kili and Magdalen had made a wager on the gender. Magdalen put five gold on a girl, Kili put the same on a boy. Fili put ten down on another set of twin, twenty if they were both boys. Magdalen preyed he had been wrong, she couldn't imagine poor Poppy and Bofur raising another set of twins.
The next morning Magdalen was called down to the healer's wing. Poor Deamra looked like she could have slept on her feet as she escorted her down. Deamra informed the birth went perfectly, that both the baby and Poppy were healthy.
Poppy and Bofur smiled when Magdalen arrived. The three Ur children curled into a pile on their uncle Bifur's lap, all fast asleep. Deamra gave Magdalen a chair to sit next to Poppy. A tiny bundled wrapped in the parent's arms.
"Do you want to hold her?" Bofur asked.
"Her?" Magdalen's heart leaped.
She would have loved the child either way, but it was nice to know her gut was right.
Poppy nodded handing her child off to Bofur. Magdalen handed her cane to Deamra, who gladly took it. He slipped the baby into her arms. Magdalen felt her heart swell, Bofur's blue eyes stared up at her. The child giggled as Magdalen's hand curled over her soft cheeks.
"Maggie meet your newest niece, Marigold Rose." Magdalen stared up at Bofur and Poppy.
"Rose?" She questioned her voice felt dry.
Poppy smiled tiredly. "After her aunt." She winked.
Magdalen looked down at the babe, holding back tears. Her hair was wild and full, filled with hobbit curls. She certainly took after her father with her blue eyes and dark hair.
She held the tiny babe in her arms. "Hello Marigold, I'm your aunt Maggie."
The babe whined grabbing at Magdalen's fingers.
"I promise I'll keep you safe and tell write lots of stories so your parents can read them to you when you're older."
Marigold began nibbling on Magdalen's thumb.
"I'll make sure that Dwalin will train you when you get older. So you can be a badass just like me. Girls shouldn't be left defenseless in this world. "
She held the girl in her arms while Bofur and Poppy slept.
"You're really lucky, you know. You have a lot of people who love you. I have a crazy story that I'm sure your siblings will tell you one day…"
It pained her a little thinking that she wouldn't get to see Marigold grow up. She would never get to see the person she would grow up to be. Then it hit her as she looked across the room at the other Ur children. She would never get to see any of them grow up. She would never see Bomfur conquer the world with his sheer will power. Or see Daisy become the intelligent woman she was meant to be. She would never get to see Rampur's first sword fight.
"Oh no, I think I'm in trouble, Mari." She whispered to the newborn.
She realized she was going to miss Erebor when she left.
I'm so happy that you guys are loving this story as much as I love writing it. These's definitely a lot more to come, get ready cause a certain hobbit is heading into the mountain.