Gandalf sat at the stone council table in Imladris, as Elrond stood pacing slowly, and Lady Galadriel looked over the valley. Saruman the White, hearing of their gathering had also arrived, and sat opposite Gandalf appearing irritated.
"These visions the Dwarf had, are likely the delusions of his madness.." Saruman dismissed. "He has never had any regard for anything but his own greed and to regain Erebor and return it back to the days of his precious Grandfather."
"But he has managed to establish an alliance with Mirkwood once more," Gandalf contradicted. "They have sent their word, I hear."
"Thranduil is merely enamoured by Thorin's Queen. And only because she returned his precious jewels. She is likely a power hungry woman who pandered to the elf."
"What of the woman then Saruman?" Gandalf rephrased.
"She is a mortal, like any other. Her fate will be decided by the Valar, just as they brought her here." Saruman pressed. "It is not our place to interfere with that."
"But what if her life is important to the future or Arda?" Elrond then stepped in quietly.
"Nonsense. In what way can a mortal woman play any role? Perhaps she will give birth to a great King. But with that her role is fulfilled.." Saruman spoke coldly. "It was a folly to even meet her."
"But we know that the darkness spreads from Mordor.."
"Don't be so foolish Gandalf. All that pipe weed had addled your brain. We all destroyed Dol Guldur, when you last guided the dwarves in taking back their kingdom at great cost of the lives of Lake Town."
Lady Galadriel turned and smiled at the council.
"It matters not. I have spoken to this mortal woman… she would willingly sacrifice her life for her young." Galadriel spoke sadly.
"These visions stop Thorin from siring a child with her. He does not wish his Queen to come to harm." Gandalf insisted.
"Then he will not sire an heir. But he has his nephews to continue his line. What more must we discuss?" Saruman concluded.
Galadriel looked at Gandalf and then began to walk across the floor behind Saruman.
I have spoken with this woman of pure heart.
I have looked into her soul.
she must bear him children, as they will be important in keeping Sauron's forces at bay in the future.
Gandalf half looked at her, but she looked away, allowing Saruman to continue dismissing any concerns.
My Lady, Thorin will not allow her to conceive as long as he thinks she will die of childbirth.
He intends to leave in search of destroying the Goblin strong hold in the Misty Mountains, within days of his wedding.
She stopped and turned to face him again.
Mirthrandir, his quest is not wise, and will leave Erebor and his new bride defenceless.
This would be the aim of such visions.
The visions he saw were likely dark forces acting through the jewel.
He must sire this child; and she must survive the birth.
The child must be raised by a strong King and a Queen of pure heart,
in order to become a great leader.
Thranduil loves her, although he does not realise it.
I have shown him visions of her dying.
It has moved him.
He will come to her aid - to save her, even if he cannot have her for himself.
The dwarf will not like it but will allow it.
Gandalf nodded, glancing up at her briefly. And she continued
Make haste now, Mithrandir, return to the King under the Mountain and reassure him.
Do not allow him to leave Erebor unguarded.
When you are in need, call for me Mithrandir, you will not be alone.
…
Thorin had taken Shobha to their parlour, where she had revealed what Galadriel and Thranduil had told her and the phial of water she had given. And then Thorin had revealed his visions with the Arkenstone and his dreams. Then they had held each other for a while, both believing that she would die.
"Thorin, I still want children." She finally broke the silence.
"But I want you." He kissed her.
"You almost died." She concluded. "In battle… what if Oin does the same for me?"
"It was Gandalf and Thranduil."
"So do the same again… have Gandalf come and stay for the last month of my pregnancy."
"I don't want to take a risk." Thorin pulled her quickly into his lap, and pressed her tighter to him, burying his head into her chest. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and began to gently stroke his soft silver streaked cascade of dark hair in reassurance.
"But Thorin, I will always be at risk here, just for being your wife." She kissed his head, smelling that familiar scent of vetiver that now felt like coming home. "You made a promise to me that you would never deny me anything that was in your power to give me… and dare I say it but this is in your power to give me."
"If anything happened to you, I don't know how I could carry on…" he fixed his intense eyes on hers again. It made her feel naked whenever he did that. She realised it had always made her feel that way.
She kissed him in reply, this time with much more passion, and trailing kisses up his jaw, she then wrapped her arms around him, just feeling his broad muscular shoulders.
"You speak as though I am going to live forever." And then she drew back to search his face. "I will die before you anyway, even if I lived to eighty five, which is a good innings back home with all our modern medicine."
"Amralime, it causes me pain to think of this. But to lose you so early from childbirth would drive me to the depths of despair." The pain on his face was so tangible at this point. He had already seen so much loss in his lifetime.
"When I thought of staying here, leaving my family behind, to be with you Thorin, I wanted everything with you. Your heart, your mind, your body and to have your child was part of that. I thought I could create a family for the one I have left behind. I know what you have seen, but I don't know the certainty of any of that. And all the things I wanted with you before: I still want them all." Shobha stroked his face softly. "And I could die of childbirth anywhere… would you deny me from having children with anyone for that reason?"
He thought hard, her argument was logical and reasoned, but the irrational fear still remained for him.
"If we do this – I will not allow you to travel or take risks while you carry our child. And those terms are non-negotiable." He looked at her defeated. "And we will need to have Gandalf and Oin ready. And you will have to take it very slow and do exactly as we say… do you think you can manage that?"
He looked at her carefully as she sat in his lap surrounded by his arms, face still filled with concern.
"So does that mean I will become your sex slave for a bit, remaining within Erebor?" She smiled, trying to make light of the situation.
"Even that we may need to be careful about once you are with child, my beautiful one."
She kissed him deeply. And he held her tight. And then his thoughts drifted to her and something he had wanted to ask her for a long time.
"Tell me, Amralime, your name… what does it mean?"
"You recall I mentioned that my family ancestors are not from England, but my parents migrated there before I was born?" She said. "And although we have taken up customs and language as everyone else indigenous to England; There are still some things that we enjoy from our heritage, in India, like the Sari-"
"Mmmmm… which I love."
"Well, my name means 'beauty' in my ancestral language."
He smiled at that: Her parents had named her well indeed: She was completely beautiful.
"Beautiful face, beautiful mind, beautiful heart…" And he whispered the last in her ear sending a shiver down her spine, as ran his hands up and down her sides. "And a beautiful body..."
"So no more silly chasing after Orcs in tunnels without having proper information about that being your source?" She fixed her hands on his shoulders and looked into his face for clear confirmation.
"Aye, my love. But one more condition then."
He was not easy to negotiate with. Although she always got what she wanted, he always had several conditions it came with.
"Ok – what is your condition?"
"So in addition to you remaining in Erebor while you carry our child, and do exactly as we say without straining yourself.. I do not wish for you to conceive in the first month or two. There are safe precautions we can take, we can speak discreetly with Oin –"
"I agree to your conditions, but may I ask why you wish to delay nature taking its course my King?"
Suddenly he looked bashfully at her, with the slightest hint of a blush creeping onto his cheeks.
"My beauty, I wish to enjoy you fully first – and in truth even a year would not be enough for me, but if I can enjoy you at least until you've had enough of me…." He was interrupted again, when she violently kissed him this time.
"You could start now…" she gasped in between their kisses, as she began to tug at his clothing.
"I can do 'other things' as you so eloquently put it the first time, my Queen," he scooped her up as he stood, and began walking in to his bedroom carrying her. "Whatever my Queen wishes… I seem to yield to. And I shall never have enough."
They had spent the whole evening once again in each other's arms. Further negotiations had taken place between them, including a return trip to Dale for Shobha to check on the injured and burned citizens and particularly the children from the Orc attacks. He has seen straight away that the children had been her concern and had been gentler about his conditions, but still insisted that she was accompanied by his best guards and Dwalin. He knew Dis would likely join Shobha, as they had grown very close.
He had wanted to kiss every inch of her, but she had been far too turned on to wait. And after watching Shobha climax so beautifully, several times, he had found himself very turned on, imagining her coming undone around him. So she had then taken her turn to bring him to the brink several times without allowing release, and when she had finally tipped him over, he was utterly exhausted. Then Thorin had dismissed Zodar and they had slept through dinner once again. They knew they would be teased about it in the morning, but it wouldn't matter; their evening was perfect.
