Chapter 42

Forgiveness was not something that came easily to Magdalen. It never had. Even as a child she had an unwavering stubbornness that could frustrate the calmest person. When she was six Susan was going to a sleepover for one of her friend's birthday party, which Magdalen was not invited to. It made sense why a six-year-old wasn't invited to a twelve-year-old party, that didn't mean it made sense in Magdalen's mind. No in Magdalen's mind Susan was abandoning her sister, Magdalen didn't speak to her sister for a week after that. When Susan attempted to make peace with her sister, Magdalen would pretend that Susan wasn't there. Their grandfather always joked that Magdalen would never make a good diplomat.

Even now at twenty-two, Magdalen still had trouble with forgiveness. With Fili holding her closer it seemed to come a little easier. It was as if nothing had changed between the two, they were still that same couple all those months ago. No Tearsa, no Amrus, just the two of them and nothing else mattered. Of course, that dream couldn't last forever. They would have to leave their small piece of the world, back to the party that was supposed to celebrate Fili's engagement to Tearsa. Magdalen didn't ever want to leave Fili's embrace, afraid that he would evaporate once she let go.

Magdalen inhaled deeply enjoying the warm scent of her Fili. She released the breath feeling light as she angled her face up at him.

"I'm still mad at you." She stated still keeping close to his face.

She smiled feeling the soft rumblings in Fili's chest as he let out a laugh. Fili looked down at her with a glint of happiness in his eyes.

"Still, Dushin-Mizim?" He teased, his nose brushing against hers.

Magdalen nodded tracing her fingers over his chest. "Yes, my love. You'll have to make it up for it." She smiled wickedly up at her Fili.

Fili's smirk grew. He moved his hands from her back, clasping over her hands. Snuggling her tiny hands against his chest, the steady pace of his heart pacing under her palms.

"Dushin-Mizim, I promise I will make up for what I've done for the rest of my days."

His eyes shone in the dim lights. Magdalen bit her lip, hiding her smile. She closed her eyes pressing a kiss on Fili's jaw. "Fili, I know you are sorry." She began gently. "But I just need time to forgive you, is that okay?"

Magdalen noticed Fili's pained expression, but nevertheless, he nodded. "I understand, Dushin-Mizim. We'll figure this out." He pressed a kiss on Magdalen's head.

Magdalen leaned into Fili's chest listening to his heart, trying to drown out the distant noise of the party. The daunting truth they both had to face. But she knew that they would be facing it together. And that fact brought her a piece of comfort in their chaotic situation.

Days had passed since the celebration and the whole kingdom seemed to take notice of Magdalen's sudden upturned attitude. No longer did anger hang around her like a cloud, but rather her fiery sassy seemed to be ignited again. Her training sessions with Dwalin went back to their usual fun repertoire. Dwalin was astonished but didn't speak about it. Only observing her carefully. Though the rest of her closest friends and allies were not so subtle in their observation. When Magdalen showed up at the Ur families doorstep for dinner the next few nights with Deamra's mother's sweetbread was quite a shock to the patriarchs of the Ur family. The four Ur children didn't seem to mind at all.

Magdalen's sudden enthusiasm, while a joy to most, was a warning sign for those in the mountain that found the human a menace. One of those being Lady Teasra of the Rus clan, the daughter of the wealthiest merchants in all of the dwarven kingdoms. While her family held no direct power in the political arena, all that was about to change as soon as she became Queen. What her family had strived for generations, was going to be realized by her. Not only would she be the crowning jewel on the most powerful kingdom in Middle Earth, but her family. She would finally make her father proud of his child, she would no longer be the burdened daughter.

That was if that stupid human wasn't going to interfere with her plans. Tearsa had certainly underestimated the girl when she arrived in the Lonely Mountain. Her dearest uncle, Amrus, had tried to warn them about the girl's influence in the kingdom. Tearsa and her father had waved it off as a simple problem that they could deal with swiftly.

Tearsa played the part of an excited and doting fiance to the prince, who was good looking enough. She had tried everything in her power to keep the prince interested in her, but nothing seemed to be working. She learned quickly why that was when she stood in the training arena, watching her soon to be fiance battling the little human. At that moment Tearsa could have torn the child to pieces. She refrained from end her sad existence that day in the library, merely offering her a warning if she further intruded in on her plans. She forgave when her fiance looked off into the distance watching the creature frump about her days. Hearing the words being whispered into her ear had been the last straw.

"AGH!" Tearsa let out a cardinal scream smashing the nearest vase into the stone wall.

The poor vase never stood a chance.

"WHAT?" The words just spoken to her still processing in her mind.

Amrus closed his eyes trying to compose himself. He elbowed Thyum again, wordlessly telling him to repeat himself again. Thyum swallowed taking a moment before speaking.

"The girl and the prince were spotted... Together at your celebration."

Tearsa let out another scream, running her hands furiously through her hair. She began to pace.

"What are we going to do! He's going to break off the engagement, and father will be so disappointed in me." She began to panic.

Amrus stepped forward placing his hands on his niece's shoulders, stopping her pacing. "Tearsa, take a breath."

Tearsa nodded closing her eyes, focusing on her breathing. "The pathetic human will not take away what is rightfully yours." Amrus shook her slightly, shaking some sense into the girl.

Tearsa's eyes now open and wide. Hanging on every word her uncle explained his plan to eliminate their mutual problem. Tearsa was almost awestruck that the glimmer of darkness that swirled in her uncle's eye as he spoke of what he was going to do with the girl. A soul tugged at each word. She almost begged him to stop talking, to leave her in the dark when it came to the girl's fate. Almost.

"And what if it doesn't work?" Tearsa spat still slightly horrified by what awaited the girl, and even worse… What awaited them if her uncle's plan didn't work out.

Amrus's thin pursed lips curled into a smile that even gave his niece a chilling feeling.

"Don't you worry, my dear. At the end of this, you will be the one sitting on the throne, and the girl will be a distant memory."

Magdalen felt like she was floating on air as she fought Bonner. She had come to realize that fighting was a great therapeutic tool for her. It helped her to put away all of her thoughts that clouded her mind and freed her body to let it feel however it felt at that moment. Though today was different, she wasn't fighting the dreaded feeling of despair or the heavyweight of anxiety. Today she was fighting to feel the sweet taste of freedom from those thoughts which she had been at war with for so long.

Holding her arm in a guarded motion across her chest, Magdalen twirled around Bonner holding out her other dagger. The side of her blade silenced at Bonner's exposed arm, he quickly dodged her next blow. Magdalen felt lighter on her feet than she had in a long time. She matched his movements at any unexpected rate. Bonner nearly fell backward when her shortsword caught his sword, her smaller dagger locking their blades in place.

Magdalen grinned as she swung them around, giving Bonner an intense kick to the ground. He landed with a thud.

"There's certainly a little pep in your kick today, Lady Magdalen." Bonner jested, repeating one of her many strange sayings.

Magdalen laughed reaching out to clasp his hand helping him back on his feet. She patted him on the shoulder, about to reply to his joke when she heard the sudden crash of something behind her.

Bonner's shoulders tensed and his eyes stoney. He looked ready to step in front of Magdalen but didn't dare to move. Magdalen followed his gaze only jump out of the way of the edge of an ax. Which was accompanied by a roar of anger. Magdalen screamed as the edge of the ax nicked her arm, burning the skin as blood flowed from the fresh wound. Magdalen stared at the wound for a moment before looking up to meet Tearsa's wild gaze, she looked like a rabid animal ready to pounce on her kill.

Fili had always been wary of becoming king in his younger years. Years of preparation and his uncle's guidance had put his anxieties to rest. While still a daunting task that admittedly still scared him, he knew his duties and was ready for the trials that awaited him. And he knew now that future was meant to be spent with Magdalen by his side.

He had tried for so long to seek the approval of his uncle, his whole life in fact. He always wanted to make Thorin proud of him, to prove to him that he was worthy of being his heir -A king like him. Fili had tried to love Tearsa or grow to love her as Thorin had suggested, yet it didn't work. Magdalen had his heart, he knew she would never give it back. And he prayed to Mahal that she would never want to.

Fili never believed in a dwarf's one. It was a silly tale dwarfling Amad's told them when they asked where they came from-one that his own mother told him as a child. Now he was beginning to doubt. His heart called out to Magdalen, it was like she was a piece of him he never knew he was missing.

He would be lying if he said he hadn't been having dreams of his blonde-haired human and three perfect little dwarflings. King or not, Fili had decided that was the future he wanted to pursue, even if that meant disappointing his uncle.

Fili had arrived at his uncle's study, but couldn't seem to find the courage to actually knock on his door. He had rehearsed what he was going to say to Thorin a hundred times in his head. Fili was going to say to Thorin what he should have said before Tearsa arrived in the mountain. That Magdalen was his one and he was going to marry her if she would have him.

Fili took in a swift breath before knocking on the door.

He waited for a moment. Nothing.

Fili was taken aback when his uncle didn't respond. There were no meetings that Fili knew of, and Fili had seen Thorin heading toward his office a few hours prior. Opening the door, Fili popped his head in to find an abandoned study. Though it was only recently abandoned as his lamp lights were still burnings, and his fireplace was still roaring. Fili was about to go in to inspect more when he heard the frantic cries of his name.

"Fili!" His brother called.

Fili jumped out of the doorway finding Kili rushing toward him. Kili's face was deathly pale, his eyes full of fury. Kili began off on a tirade about something that Fili didn't catch, knowing only that his brother was dragging him down the hall. Fili managed to snake away from his brother's tight grasp.

"Kili!" The sharpness in his voice stopped Kili.

"What is happening?" Fili asked slowly, trying to combat the wildness in Kili's gaze.

Kili took a few deep breaths before speaking.

"Fili, Tearsa's on a warpath!" Fili knitted his eyebrows.

"Uncle and Amad are already there! We have to get there before something happens!"

In the short time, Fili had known Tearsa, he had figured out that Tearsa had a short temper. She had a habit of making molehills into mountains. He wasn't surprised she was angry, though he was surprised it had sent Kili into fear.

"Kili, what are you talking about?"

Kili shook his head "Tearsa! It's Tearsa's, she's after Magdalen."

Fili ran faster than he had ever run in his life.

"What the hell!" Magdalen exclaimed Tearsa ignored her screams swinging her might ax wildly. Magdalen yelped dodging out of the way, Bonner running out of the ring. If Magdalen hadn't being chased by a mad dwarrowdam she might have heard the yells erupting from the hall above the ring. But she did not as she was in fact being chased by a mad dwarrowdam with a very sharp ax. Magdalen ran out taking a moment to compose herself bringing the short sword in front of her, trying to block Tearsa's attacks.

"Tearsa what is wrong with you!" Magdalen yelled.

Tearsa grunted her ax gripped at her side. "You! I told you to stay away and you did not listen." Tearsa thrusted her ax into the air holding it ready to end Magdalen in one swift swipe.

"STOP!" A voice above them commanded making Tearsa freeze her actions. Magdalen's head snapped to meet the furious gaze of Thorin, whom she had never been more pleased to see in her life. Magdalen looked to see they had gained a small audience Thorin, Dis, Dwalin, Balin, Lord Harmus and Lord Amrus- who held no trace of anger in his eyes-stood at the entrance watching as Tearsa was about to make Magdalen sliced meat.

"Lady Tearsa what do you think you are doing," Thorin growled marching down the stairs to the ring followed by Dwalin, and Dis.

"I told this human whore to stay away from my betrothed, Prince Fili," She glared at Magdalen.

Magdalen's stomach burned, she knew. She knew about her and Fili. Magdalen stared at the ground in shame unable to meet anyone's gaze.

"I was told that she was trying to seduce the Crown Prince at MY engagement celebration. That the two were seen kissing! I was simply trying to defend my husband's reputation, from this worthless women." Magdalen felt her heart spike in her chest. Air left her lung contracting in her chest painfully.

"Prince Fili is not your husband yet, Lady Tearsa." Dis sneered staring down at Tearsa. Her voice was strained and held hatred.

"Lady Teasra, Prince Fili can speak for his own reputation he doesn't need someone to speak for him. As for the rumor, it is nothing more than that. It is shameful that you would take up arms against an honored guest of the crown." The words left Thorin's mouth. Magdalen looked up at the King who did not meet her gaze, a warmth spread throughout her chest.

"I think this is a more pressing matter, only to be thrown away as a rumor King Thorin." Lord Hamrus said furiously.

Above them, the doors once again swung open Kili and Fili rushed into the room. Kili yelled for Magdalen taking in the scene below him as they descended the stairs. Soon they were at their mother's side. Magdalen looked up meeting Fili's gaze. She saw his eyes flicker to her bleeding arm. She gave him a small smile, trying to reassure him that she was okay.

"What is happening here!" Kili gasped.

Fili pushed passed his mother, who reached out grabbing his arm stopping from running over to Magdalen. Dis looked at her son searching his face for something, she was taken aback by what she found. Fili looked desperately at his mother then back at Magdalen.

"I would never do anything to hurt the reputation of the line of Durin or Prince Fili, Thorin." Magdalen mustered her head bowed unable to meet the searing gaze of Fili.

Thorin said nothing his eyes trained on Magdalen, studying her every move.

"This girl has been nothing but trouble to us since we arrived, King Thorin." Lord Hamrus grumbled. "And now she has tried to compromise Tearsa and Prince Fili engagement."

The room exploded with argument as everyone, but Fili and Magdalen, spoke.

"Enough!" Thorin shouted efficiently shutting everyone up.

"If we are quite done arguing, let us speak as adults." Thorin snapped glaring at the room full of grown dwarves.

"Magdalen are the allegations against you true." She felt the weight of the whole's room's gaze on her.

Magdalen felt a foot tall in that moment. Yet in the dark clouds of stares, there was a light. She stared at Fili before looking up at Thorin.

"They are." The room exploded as everyone once again began to yell.

Tearsa lunged at Magdalen but was restrained by Dwalin. Magdalen fell back trying to crawl backward, hoping to put some space between her and the crazed dwarrowdam.

"You whore, I will kill you!" Tearsa screamed.

"ENOUGH!" Thorin slammed his fist into the nearest wall, causing a small tremor.

Their arguments begrudgingly died on their lips, staring up their king. Thorin fixed his coat, walking over to Magdalen. His dark shadow covering her. A wave of fear crashed into Magdalen. Until a hand appeared in front of her face. Magdalen stared at the hand before placing her hand in his. Thorin pulled her to her feet.

"Are you alright?" He asked low enough so only she could hear.

Magdalen couldn't muster any words, only nodding in response. He studied her face searching for an answer that she didn't know if she could give to turned to face his small crowd. Lord Amrus spoke first.

"How do you plan to deal with her punishment!" Magdalen's eyes widen with fear.

"Punishment?" Kili demanded.

Thorin looked lost on what to say. Dis was pale as she stared at Magdalen, looking as if she could faint at any moment.

"Yes, punishment. Miss Magdalen was conspiring to break up Prince Fili and Tearsa's engagement. I wouldn't be surprised if this was her plan all along." Lord Amrus snarled at Kili.

Kili stepped toward Amrus ready to fight him.

"There is no need for punishment, uncle," Tearsa spoke up, shaking off Dwalin's grip.

Tearsa came closer to Magdalen, circling her like pray. "If she wants Prince Fili, then she can have him." Tearsa snapped into Magdalen's ear as she came to stand in front of her.

Magdalen face pinched with confusion.

"What?" Dis said echoing Magdalen's thoughts.

A cruel smile curled on Tearsa's lips.

"That is if you can beat me?" Mystery playing in her voice.

Dis gasped behind them. "I challenge you for Prince Fili's hand."

Though Magdalen was lost on the meaning of her words the rest of the room was not. Dis and Kili surged forward toward Thorin. Concern filled Dis's face, her eyes flickering back and forth between Thorin and Magdalen. Tearsa had walked away from Magdalen with pride, toward her uncle and father. Dsi whispered angrily with Thorin.

Magdalen focused on Fili. Though neither spoke a word, a sense of comfort fell between them. She may not be as strong as Tearsa, but for Fili, she was willing to get her ass kicked. They had fought for so long to get where they were at this point in their relationship. She was done playing games and keeping things secret. She just wanted to be with Fili. No Tearsa, no Amrus, just the two of them together and happy.

Magdalen stepped forward. Her chest puffed and her fist closed tightly as she spoke.

"I accept your challenge Tearsa!" A wicked smile sat on Tearsa's face as if she had expected this outcome.

Dis screamed in frustration. "Thorin, you cannot be seriously considering this ridiculous challenge." Thorin ignored her walking over to Fili.

Thorin nodded at Fili before speaking.

"I accept your challenge for my heir's hand."

Dis raised her hands in the air, storming out of the training room.

Kili and Dwalin came to Magdalen's side checking her still bleeding arm. The world seemed to be on mute as they led her out of the room toward the healer's wing.

The only thing Magdalen thought was: What did I just agree too?