Author's Note: Hello all! As promised the extra chapter for today. And...it is also the second to last. Come next week the story shall end. Are you excited?
Chapter 35
Bittersweet.
Many tried to find a word for this. That was what many accepted. Having lost loved ones, having discovered traitors in their midst, bittersweet was the word the people of Erebor chose for this occasion.
Princess Dis returned with her sons as soon as the news came. Fili and Kili rushed their aunt and uncle, crying and hugging them tight.
"I thank all the Valar our home is safe. But mourn for the lives lost," Dis said to her family.
"I'm thinking of having a statue of Glaes built," Thorin said, lifting Kili into his arms so the boy could cry into his shoulder, "Right at the mouth of the harbour. To welcome everyone who comes to Erebor by sea. The first thing they should see of our city is the woman who gave her life to save it."
He held his nephew tight and kissed his cheeks.
"I have to call the court," he said wearily, "They will expect some address, some speech, some medals, something to give them hope that we will continue on."
Laraga embraced Fili, who was too big to be lifted as the King lifted his brother yet she cuddled him anyway.
"I think that a statue is a wonderful idea," she said.
So the court gathered.
Thorin was already sat on his throne, mentally preparing a speech that would praise the survivors while still giving honour and credit to those that had passed in the fight. And he would tell his people the truth about who had killed the Dragon. He would make sure her name wasn't forgotten.
Though he knew Dwalin would be attending and it might pain him, he needed to acknowledge the truth of the man's demise. Whatever medal or glory he would have given to Glaes, he would make sure Dwalin received it in her stead. It was, quite honestly, the very least he could do.
He sat, and watched the court gather, nobles and common folk alike, to hear the words of their King.
Laraga was seated on her throne, next to her husband. The crown was still a weight on her head, but at least she had not yet developed a headache from it. The hall was full of people, some still wore bandages from the battle. How brave of them to attend despite their injury. She was touched and sorrowful.
Finally, one of their dearest friends and most honoured guests came through the door. Talking turned to whispers as Commodore Dwalin Fundinul entered. He was stoic and proud, but carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Laraga held her breath as the people watched him.
Thorin greeted him not by title but by name, acknowledging his oldest friend, "Dwalin. Thank you for coming. We are so sorry for your loss and we grieve with you. Her bravery will never be forgotten and her name will live on in the history books of our nation. All that is ours to give you and the Lokka family in this time of heartbreak, we shall, only name it."
He continued, hitting his stride, knowing the entire hall was listening to his every word, "Glaes Lokka, wife of Dwalin Fundinul, was one of many who perished in the fight to defend our homeland from the Dragon that would have destroyed it. His body lies there," Thorin gestured, "That all may see he failed. It is thanks to these brave souls that we stand today. It is thanks to the strength and courage and training of our military forces that Erebor did not fall. Commodore Fundinul, you have been named a hero of the realm before for services you have provided unto the crown when it sat upon my father's head and the part you played in rescuing the Queen beside me. We would name you a hero thrice over for your fearless defence of our home."
"It was my wife that was the real hero," Dwalin said, voice cracking, "Not me."
"The country grieves with you," the Queen said softly, "The King and I mourn with you."
Thorin nodded and gestured the page with the medal forward, saying, "Commodore Dwalin Fundinul-"
"Wait!"
Heads turned at the cry.
"King Thorin, wait!"
The Ranger Orla strode through the doors and the court gasped. Thorin shot to his feet, "Glaes?"
Dwalin's eyes closed. He didn't want to see the body. He couldn't, not with all of these people watching. Couldn't they give him the decency of a private room to see his wife's lifeless corpse? Of course not. The court thrived off of spectacle. Well, they would get no reaction out of him.
He turned.
Blue eyes met amber. Something clattered to the floor. He didn't care.
"Glaes?" His voice broke.
She took a slow step toward him. Then another. Then she flew, racing down the hall, letting the grey blanket around her shoulders fall as she ran. He took four steps to meet her as she threw herself into his arms, tears wet on her cheeks as she flung her arms around his neck. His arms wrapped around her waist and crushed her to him. Face buried in her damp hair, he inhaled the salt and brine scent of the seawater still clinging to her, and he wept.
Thorin watched the two of them slowly sink to the floor, arms locked tight, curling around each other as they breathed in each other's air, feeling the heartbeats that proved they were both alive. He looked up to the Ranger, asking for an explanation.
"We found her on the shore two leagues north of the city," Orla said, bending down to pick up what Glaes had dropped. "The tide had left her in the pools, protected by the rocks. We almost didn't see her. She was clutching this."
She held up the dagger. Black steel, slightly rusted and salt-stained, it was an old piece, made in the style of the old craftsmen of Dale, and Laraga's eyes immediately flicked to the body of the pirate. A bullet wound in his shoulder, and a knife wound in his lungs.
"Mrs. Fundinul?"
The still embracing figures ignored the King, Dwalin rocking slightly as he held his wife to him.
Thorin asked again, "Glaes?"
Her honey head lifted from her husband's shoulder and she looked up.
"Erebor owes you a debt we will never be able to repay," he said, his royal voice echoing slightly in the hall, a reminder that they still had an audience.
She finally smiled and the tension broke with a ripple of relief through the courtiers as she gave a little laugh and said, "You got that right."
Dwalin helped her to her feet and together they stood before the thrones. Orla returned the knife to Glaes' hand and offered Dwalin the thick grey blanket so he could wrap his wife in the warm wool.
The King gestured to the page with the medal, saying, "The survivors of the battle have told us what they saw of your daring bravery and selfless sacrifice aboard the Crimson Dragon."
"That's not quite how I remember it," Glaes muttered under her breath.
"Your quick thinking and cunning in distracting the pirate Smaug Drake allowed the Naval forces enough time to engage with the pirates and defend our city."
"Not quite how it happened."
"It was my intention to bestow this medal upon the Commodore-"
"We're going to have an entire collection after this."
"But he rightly declared-"
"Yeah, I heard," she tossed a grin at him and put on an impression of his accent, "It's mae waef that's the real heroe."
"Mahal's balls, Glaes, will you let me give you the bloody medal?"
Her laughter rang bright and brilliant in the hall and Dwalin felt his heart constrict. He had never thought to see her again, let alone hear her voice. His eyes prickled with tears as his mad demon of a wife gave a shrug and laughed, "Yeah, alright, I guess."
The medal settled over her head, the ribbon resting on her still damp skin, and the King said, "Now, without interrupting, it is my honour to declare Glaes Lokka Fundinul a Hero of the Realm. Again."
The gathered people of Erebor and the foreign friends that had come to Erebor's aid gave out a cheer and Glaes blushed. The King kissed her hand and her husband kissed her mouth and when the applause quieted, the Commodore said, "And it is my honour tae announce that this Hero of the Realm, my madwoman of a wife, is also carrying my child."
Laraga laid a hand over her own pregnant belly and asked, "Oh, Glaes, is that true?"
"The ultimate bargaining chip," Glaes grinned as Dwalin's large hand caressed the bump where his child was growing.
"I will give ye anythin' in the world," Dwalin told her, "Just dinnae leave me again."
She shook her head and smiled up at him, "Never."
"We will be quite interested to hear your recounting of events in your own time," the King said, "But for now we will turn what would have been a sombre reception into a celebration to honour the souls now returned to the Maker and the one mad pirate lass that refused to die."
The Queen moved through the people milling at the celebration, looking for the ones with the saddest faces and the most grief in their eyes. She asked them who they lost, asked for stories, asked permission to pray for their souls that they might return to the Maker's embrace and not be forgotten. The mourning families thanked her for her kindness and her thoughtfulness and Thorin watched the way his wife cared for their people in their sorrow.
Glaes had been whisked away to change into dry clothes and she was back with a bright smile that didn't quite reach her eyes and hands that shook slightly as she tried to hold her drink. She stayed close to her husband's side and answered questions about the baby and the plan and what had happened on the ship. Dwalin's arm was protective around her shoulders and she only moved from his side once.
Laraga watched in a moment of quiet in her own place across the hall as Glaes tentatively approached the table where the body lay. She watched those little fingers explore the bullet wound, trail down the body's chest to the dagger wound. Her palm pressed to the pirate's chest as though reassuring herself that he was dead and no longer breathing. And, in a gesture Laraga uncomfortably understood, Glaes stroked his hair back away from his brow, almost tenderly caressing his cheek. Then, as though catching herself, she jerked her hand back and took a shaky breath before turning away.
Amber eyes caught the Queen's green ones and shame and guilt flickered in them but Laraga just gave her a soft smile and a gentle nod. She understood.
