Chapter Sixty-One
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SUMMARY: In the concluding chapter of "And Winter Came:"
The people of Dale have enjoyed their feast and are eager to get to their new homes, and our Royal Family enjoys their first evening together at last.
Please watch for the next installment of the "Two Thrones" series, called "An Invincible Summer."
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City of Dale, 25th of May 2942 T.A.
At the sound of the bells from the West Gate, Bard's head looked up from his place at the table and met Thranduil's eyes. "Sounds like they're here. Where's Dáin?"
"He is outside, waiting for Óin to arrive." Thranduil said as he got up and handed Bard his cane.
Bard nodded and got to his feet. "Sigrid," he told the girl, "Find Ermon and his wife, and ask them to meet us at the Healing Hall."
"Right away. I'll come too, in case anyone needs help." She declared.
"That would be good. I don't know what we'll find, but all hands are welcome. You can help with the minor cuts and scrapes."
"Kids," Bard addressed Bain and Tilda, "we need to see what's up over there. Stay with Tauriel, and see about helping Auntie Hil and Uncle Percy, all right?"
"Can't I go with you?" Tilda looked upset.
"No, baby. We'll be back soon. But I think your big sister wants you all to herself for a while, anyway." He winked at Tauriel.
The Elf put her arm around Tilda, "I do not want to share you!"
"Bard," Thranduil looked at him with some concern. "Can you walk that far with your leg?"
"I will if you'll help me." Bard's look was determined. "I'm going regardless; these people were injured protecting my people, and I will not sit by while others do my job!"
Thranduil nodded. "Then let us go, Meleth nîn, and not wait for the others." He took Bard's arm and wrapped it around his shoulder to help support him. "I will get us there."
The Kings' Guards also helped support Bard, and they quickly went down the steps and through the Courtyard. As they came to the street leading to the Healing Hall, there was a shout behind them.
"Excuse me, My Lords!" Elénaril and Ermon skirted around, then ran past them, but not before yelling back, "You should not be walking so far!"
"Too bad!" Bard yelled back.
Sigrid flew by, then Thranduil and guards pulled Bard over to the side as the wagon hurried past them.
When Bard finally arrived at the Healing House, Turamarth was in a treatment room with Ermon and his wife, along with Daeron, behind a closed door.
Bard looked at his daughter, "What's going on?"
"He was cut with a poisoned blade, and Daeron did his best to stop it, but, some of it reached his blood stream."
"Sit down here," Thranduil told Bard. "I will go see if I can be of assistance."
They were only there a few moments, when the doors opened, and several others came in with some minor injuries, so Sigrid helped the Assistant Healer stitch and bandage the worst of them up. Soon after, Óin and Dori arrived to help the Dwarves, and Bard was left alone in the waiting area with a couple of others who were not badly hurt. They had been bandaged in the field but had been ordered to have the wounds checked, to be sure they too, had not been poisoned.
Bard saw Gildor saw come in the door. "What happened?"
"There was a larger pack than we had anticipated, Lord Bard. The Guardians alerted us as soon as they saw them, but they must have been joined by more, by the time we met with them. We left no Orc or Warg alive, and Turamarth was the only one seriously injured."
"I wish I could say I'm glad there were so few casualties," Bard shook his head. "But even just one is too many. I heard you had some dogs working with you; are they all right?"
"One has a cut in his shoulder, but that was soon mended; thank you for asking after them."
"Well," Bard smiled at the Elf, "Since I now own one of them, I've been interested. I imagine they're frightening to see in action."
"To our enemies, yes. Their handlers work with them constantly, My Lord. I suggest you take the time to learn to fight alongside Thangon. It might be useful for you."
"I'll do that." Bard told him.
They waited for about an hour, as the injured were treated, and when the newly-bandaged Elves and Dwarves left, Sigrid and Óin came back out.
"Have you heard anything?" Sigrid sat down beside him.
"Not yet. Why don't you go back and visit with Tauriel? We shouldn't be too much longer."
She put her arm through his and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm not letting you out of my sight."
Another half-hour later, and Thranduil and Elénaril came out.
Bard grabbed his cane, and was on his feet instantly. "How is he?"
"He will recover." Elénaril said. "We drew the poison from his blood and my husband removed the necrotic tissue and is stitching him up as we speak."
"Thank the Stars," Bard breathed. "How are you both? Are you tired?"
"Not especially," she told him. "We all worked together to remove the poison, so it did not overtax any of us."
Bard looked at his husband with some concern. "But you're just recovered yourself! Are you all right?"
"Do not worry, Meleth nîn; Ermon made me stop before I became fatigued. I am glad we sent the wagons back; he would not have survived on horseback."
"Turamarth will stay here for a couple of days, and after a few weeks at home, he will make a complete recovery." Elénaril informed Bard. "Daeron and Ermon will be taking him to a room in a few minutes."
Just then, the door to the treatment room opened, and they saw Turamarth being carried on a litter, with Daeron and the Chief Healer close behind. Beyond the treatment rooms, there was a set of double doors, behind which housed the beds for the patients to stay for observation.
"Daeron will sit with him for a while, and make sure he stays asleep. I will go and clean up the treatment room; please excuse me." The Healer nodded to the Kings and left.
Sigrid got up. "I'll go help. Why don't you two get back to the Castle? You can come visit him tomorrow."
Bard kissed her cheek. "Wait for the guards to come get you, love. You're not to come home by yourself, do you hear me?"
"Yes, Da. Bye, Ada," she stood on tiptoe and gave him a hug. "See you later."
The two Kings left the Healing Hall to their guards who were waiting outside.
"When we get back, please return to escort Princess Sigrid home." Bard ordered. "She's staying behind, but she shouldn't be more than a half-hour."
"Yes, Lord Bard."
Bard spied Thranduil grinning at him out of the corner of his eye. "What's so amusing?"
"You are getting very good at 'Kinging,' Meleth nîn."
"I have always been a concerned father." Bard laughed as Thranduil helped support him as they walked through the streets to the Castle. "Does your leg bother you?"
"It aches, but it doesn't hurt. Nothing a few weeks of exercise won't fix. I'm anxious to get back to training."
"As am I. I do not like it when my skills are not sharp."
When they reached Castle and made it to their corridor, Tilda came out of her room to give them both a hug.
"Hi, Beanie! Are you all unpacked?"
"Uh huh! Tauriel helped me," she rested her chin on Bard's chest and smiled up at him, with her arms still around his waist. "And she showed me Farien's new babies!"
"She did? What do you think?"
"They're so cute!" She gave him a wide-eyed look, set out to utterly charm the pants off both of them. "Da? Can we –"
"No." Bard said. "Absolutely not."
"Daaaaaa…" She whined.
"No!"
Thranduil was puzzled. "What is it you want, Tithen Pen?"
"Your daughter," Bard answered, with a pointed look, "wants one of the kittens."
"Well we could –"
"No, Ada."
"But Bard -"
"But Da-a!"
"Tilda," Bard sighed. "We have two dogs and a cat sharing this corridor. Esta takes care of you, right?"
"Right," Tilda pouted.
"Don't you think you'd be hurting her feelings? She'd think you don't love her anymore! Besides, those kittens have been spoken for, since before they were born. Dale needs good mousers to keep vermin out of the food stores and away from the children, right?"
The little girl rolled her eyes and sighed. "I guess so."
"If you're good, I'm sure Tauriel will let you play with them, until they have to leave, but," he held up his finger in her face, "you may not go into her room, unless she is there. No sneaking in, do you understand?"
"All right." Tilda reluctantly agreed, then asked hopefully. "Will Farien have more babies?"
"Only if Tauriel allows it." Thranduil answered her. "We have a spell to put on the females, just as we have one for Esta." He reached down to pick her up. "When Dale is a bit more settled, we will see about breeding her, because I am sure some will need dogs to work the sheep and guard their homes."
"Really?" Tilda yelped, and clapped her hands together. "Puppies?"
"Not for quite a while, Ada," Bard gave him a severe look. "And thank you," he jabbed him sharply with his elbow, "for planting that idea into her head. She'll never leave you alone, now."
"I sincerely hope not," Thranduil kissed her brow. "But, your Da is right. Come, Tithen Pen; show me how you have set up your room."
They went in to find Tauriel unloading Sigrid's trunk and putting her things into drawers. Esta was curled up on the bottom of Sigrid's neatly-made bed, and Tilda's toys were stacked up against her pillow, ready for play. Tauriel had even placed a vase with fresh flowers on one of the side tables, to welcome her sisters back home.
"I thought Sigrid might be a while," Tauriel explained, "so Tilda and I wanted to take care of this for her."
"That is kind of you, Gwinïg." Thranduil rubbed Tauriel's back. "I take you are happy to have your brother and sisters back?"
"More than I can tell you, Ada." She sighed happily, then stroked Tilda's cheek. "Are you tired, Gwathel? You have had a busy day."
The little girl shook her head. "Nuh uh. I slept for part of the ride here."
"I'd still feel better if you rested, Beanie," Bard told her. "If you don't feel you can sleep, then sit and read or something, until dinner."
"Sit on your bed with a book, while I finish unpacking Sigrid's things, then I will read to you, would you like that?" Tauriel told her, and set her on the bed.
Once that matter was settled, Bard peeked into Bain's room, and saw him sitting cross-legged on his bed, with his new canine friend. Thangon was lying on his back, moaning with delight, as the boy rubbed his belly.
"You two are getting along." Bard said, as he sat down and scratched Thangon behind the ears. "Glad to be home, son? Are you all unpacked?"
"Yep. What should I do with my trunk?" Bain pointed to the empty container. "There's no real room for it in here."
"I'll ask Percy and Hilda," Bard answered. "I don't know what we're supposed to do with them, either." He got up and tousled Bain's hair. "Welcome home, son."
"Thanks Da." Bain started to scratch the giant dog's ears. "Thangon's great."
"He's goofy, but he's a good dog." Bard smiled fondly. "Oh, this is some very important advice: Do not, under any circumstances give him beans or Lembas bread, not matter what Uncle Percy tells you, okay?"
"What if somebody else feeds it to him?"
"Oh, that's easily dealt with." Bard shrugged. "Lock the dog in Uncle Percy's room."
"Auntie Hil would kill me." Bain laughed. "I don't feel sleepy, but I don't really want to go running around, either, so I'm just going to read for a while."
"Good idea. See you at supper."
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When they entered their bedroom, Thranduil took his hand. "You need to lie down and rest your leg, Meleth nîn."
Bard sank into bed with a groan. "Ohhhh…. That feels good. I hate to admit how sore my muscles are."
"I can imagine." Thranduil sat back against the pillows beside him. "Bard, we are all together again!" he exclaimed, and he put his arm around him, as Bard laid his head on his husband's chest. "I am so happy."
They relaxed for a minute or two, then Bard looked up into his face. "Can I tell you something?"
"Of course, Meleth nîn. Anything."
He reached over and intertwined their fingers, "I'm not sorry I had to sit up there, when the kids came."
Thranduil was curious. "Why do you say this?"
"I saw the joy on your face when the children saw you; and when Tilda screamed your name, and jumped out into your arms…" Bard smiled, as he watched his husband think of that moment. "It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. That was when I knew." Bard's throat tightened, "I knew in my bones we did it."
"Did what?"
"We're not trying to make a family, anymore, Thranduil. We are a family, and we always will be."
The Elf looked deep into his eyes and swallowed hard. "We are. We really are."
"I still wonder what's so special about me, to deserve someone like you."
Thranduil shook his head and sighed. "You believe I saved you, Bard, but you saved me every bit as much. You taught me how to love again, and that it is the small things that give our lives true meaning: when you touch my hair, when Tilda smiles at me, when Bain tells me how his sword work is progressing, and when Sigrid sits next to me in the evening and works on a sock for you. You have shown me how to appreciate such moments with Tauriel, and you have helped me show her how much I care about her, so she will never feel alone again."
Thranduil leaned in to press their foreheads together. "I am the person I want to be now, and it is because of you. And you have given me the courage to love my memories, and to share them with Legolas." He swallowed again. "My son will know his mother, thanks to you."
Thranduil couldn't speak at this point, as his eyes filled and spilled down his cheeks.
"Oh, love…" Bard reached out and gathered his Elf in his arms, and held him.
"When we first brought the children to the Palace," he whispered, "they didn't know you well enough to love you yet, but they do now. You proved to them that their hearts, their wishes, their fears and dreams will always be safe with you. You are their Ada, in every way but blood, because they know you'd die for them, and you'd die before you'd fail them."
As Thranduil buried his face in Bard's neck, and Bard stroked his hair, as he went on. "We've had some hard times, in the six months we've been married, love, but it's only brought us closer." Bard couldn't help but chuckle a little. "Especially the last six weeks in bed with you." He laughed. "Not exactly a romantic getaway, but anytime I can be next to you, I'll be happy."
"Even when we were grumpy and impossible?" Thranduil smirked, as he lifted his head and wiped his eyes.
"That was only because we were lying next to each other, too pooped to have sex."
"This is true." Thranduil, as always, was grabbing his handkerchief out of his pocket. As he wiped his eyes, he repeated the sentiment that often came to him at moments like these. "Ever since I came to Dale that day, it seems all I do is cry."
"Before you came to Dale that day, you hadn't cried for almost a thousand years." Bard grinned and leaned his head on Thranduil's shoulder. "You've got a lot of catch-up blubbering to do."
Thranduil made a face and poked him, but he agreed. "You are right; learning to feel again is as tumultuous as our lives will probably be, yet I will gladly accept it. To feel pain, means also to feel joy."
"I love you so much, my Elf."
"And I love you, my Bowman."
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After a late dinner, of leftovers from the feast, it was time for the children to get their baths and go to bed.
"Is it really all right if Thangon stays with me?" Bain asked, as Thangon jumped on his bed and stretched out with a groan of delight.
"Sure. Just remember to push him on his side if he snores too loud; it helps."
"But won't he want to go back in your room?"
"I highly doubt that, Ionneg." Thranduil laughed, "He is still angry with me for kicking him off your Da's bed, and barely tolerates his cushion on our hearth. I think you have made a good friend, Bain."
"I like that." Bain settled under the covers. "Good night."
"Have a good sleep, son," Bard kissed his hair while Thranduil stroked his arm.
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Next was Sigrid and Tilda's room, where their littlest wanted help with her hair.
"Are you glad to be home?" Bard asked Tilda, as he tied the end of her braid.
She nodded. "I'll miss the Palace, but I like being with you."
"We will go back fairly often. That is your home, too." Thranduil helped her into bed, and pulled the covers up to her chin. "We could leave the lamp on low, Tithen Pen, until you get used to your room, again. Will that be all right?"
"Uh huh." Tilda gathered her stuffed toys as Esta jumped on the bed and settled down beside her legs.
"Esta wants to make sure you get a good night's sleep," Bard looked down at her fondly. "You've got Sigrid in here, too, but if you need us, we'll be right next door, all right?"
Tilda nodded opened her arms. "Goodnight, Da."
"Sleep well, Little Bean." Bard kissed her forehead.
Thranduil took Bard's place and took the little girl in her arms. "I love you, Ada."
Thranduil stroked her brow. "I love you very much, my Tithen Pen. Sleep well."
Bard went over to Sigrid's bed. "Are you too grown-up to give your Da and hug and kiss?"
"Never," she said, and sat up to give him a peck on the cheek.
"Are you sleepy?"
"I don't mind going to bed early tonight." She yawned. "It's been a loooong day."
When Ada took his turn to say goodnight, he kissed her forehead, and told her, "I am proud of you for helping the Healers today, Iellig."
"Did you hear anything else about Turamarth?"
"No but I am sure he will be fine."
"Me, too." Sigrid rolled on her side and smiled up at them. "Talk to you in the morning."
The lights were bright in Tauriel's room, and they found her sitting by her fireplace, looking into the basket of kittens, as her grey tabby lay on her side to feed them.
"They've gotten bigger." Bard observed.
"They have." Tauriel agreed fondly. "I allowed Tilda to peek at them, but Farien gets upset if too many people are around."
"We'll back off and leave her be, then," Bard kissed her cheek and teased. "Night, 'Granny!'"
Tauriel smirked at him. "If I am 'Granny,' what does that make you, 'Great-Grand-Da?'"
"Be quiet, you," Bard scowled.
Thranduil chuckle at their easy banter. "You are happy, my Gwinïg?"
"Very happy, Ada." She got to her feet and hugged him tight. "I love you."
"As I love you, child." He rested his chin on her head. "Where is Galion?"
"In his room, I believe; he wanted a quiet evening. Hilda and Percy went to bed early, as well."
"We'll let them rest, and see them in the morning, then." Bard told them. "Dû vae, Tauriel!"
She giggled. "Your Sindarin is getting much better, Bard, but the correct way to say 'Good night' is 'Vae dû.'"
"Oh, crumbs," Bard sighed. "I always get that mixed up."
Thranduil was incredulous. "We have spent hours working on your Sindarin, yet Tilda speaks it better than you!"
"Oh, stop." Bard smacked his chest. "Come on, we're upsetting the cat."
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"I'm not used to wearing sleeping clothes..." Bard pouted, as they settled under their blankets.
Thranduil agreed reluctantly, then leered at him out of the corner of his eye. "However, should they 'accidentally' come off..."
"Hmmm…" Bard regarded his husband thoughtfully.
Thranduil grabbed Bard and began to kiss him, and soon he was on top of him, nestled between Bard's legs as they began to rub against each other.
"Gi melin, Thranduil. Uireb." Bard breathed, as he ran his hands through his silky hair, as it surrounded him like a golden curtain. "Anthon 'ûr nîn anden, Aran nîn…"
"And I give you my heart, My King," Thranduil whispered, "it drives me wild to hear you speak Sindarin." and began to kiss him with urgency, as he continued to grind himself against his husband's increasingly interested cock.
"Oh, Stars, Thran…" Bard grabbed Thranduil's face and kissed him hard. "You're only saying that to get me to practice."
"As long as it works, Meleth nîn…"
They somehow managed to stay together as their clothes were removed and thrown haphazardly on the floor, and they never stopped working each other to hardness, amid deep kisses and low moans.
"Oh..." he moaned. "I need you..." Bard's eyes were closed, and his jaw was slack as he arched his back and fisted his hands in the long, blonde hair. "I need you to fuck me…"
"Patience, Meleth," Thranduil teased. "I am enjoying this." He returned to his ministrations with renewed enthusiasm.
By this time, Bard was frantic. "Please, love. I need you inside me."
Thranduil pulled off his cock with a grin, and reached for the bottle of oil in the side table. "Who am I to disobey the King of Dale?" he smiled, and he started to pull out the cork-
"Da?" Tilda's wobbly voice was heard.
"Shit!" Bard rolled his eyes and groaned.
They scrambled to get out of bed, and in their panic, Bard accidentally kneed his poor husband in the crotch.
"AI NAEG!" Thranduil yelped and buried his face in the pillow to muffle his moans.
"Ada?" Tilda began to cry. "Are you mad?"
"It's all right, Beanie," Bard called to her, as he yanked on his bottoms and tied them quickly. "Ada's not mad at you; he just… tripped and hurt his foot, darling. I'll be right there." He looked over toward his Elf, whose eyes were scrunched tight as he writhed and whispered filthy words in Sindarin.
"I'm really sorry love, but you need to get yourself sorted quick, and get some clothes on!" He picked up Thranduil's clothes and tossed them on the bed.
Bard waited until Thranduil's eyes were no longer crossed and had his sleep pants on, before he opened the door. Tilda, miserable and sniffling, looked up and him in her white nightgown and bare feet. She was clutching all three of her stuffed toys to her chest. Esta, her escort, sat beside her and looked up at Bard expectantly.
"I woke up and the lamp was out," she sniffled, "and it was d-dark, and my bed is different, and my room is different, and… Charlotte got really scared." she said before she screwed up her face and began to cry again.
Behind him, Thranduil's voice was heard, "Does Charlotte need to sleep here with us, Tithen Pen?"
Before Bard could open his mouth to talk her out of it, Tilda scooted underneath his arm and was scrambling on the bed and into Thranduil's arms. "We were scared, Ada," she howled into his shoulder.
"Shhh… Do you remember when you first came to the Palace, and you were upset?" the Elvenking rubbed her back.
"Uh huh," she nodded her head into his shoulder.
"I told you then: shadows are only scary until you get used to them." He held her away and smiled at her, "You will not always be frightened, I promise."
Bard looked down at Esta, who was satisfied her duty was done, so she turned to go back into girls' room for a decent night's sleep.
"Thanks a lot," he mumbled to the sheep dog. "Now she'll be kicking us all night, instead of you."
Esta responded with a smirk before she trotted back to bed.
Bard allowed himself a moment of self-pity, and resigned himself to his fate. Once his Elf and his Little Bean got together, they stuck like glue, and there was no separating them.
He heaved a sigh and accepted his doom. "Do you need to go to the privy, Tilda?"
"Can you come with me, Da?"
"Ada wants to take you, love." Bard made a face and stuck his tongue out at his husband. He shouldn't be the only one to suffer, and this was Thranduil's idea anyway. "Don't you, Ada?"
Thranduil made a surreptitious face back at him before he got out of bed, still wincing a bit. "Leave your dolls here, so Da can look after them." He reached down and picked the little girl up. "Where are your robe and slippers, hênig?" He asked as he carried her through the room.
"I forgot." Tilda was still teary, but she was settling down from her fright.
"Then I will get them while you are in the necessary, and you must remember to put them on. The floors here get cold at night, and we cannot allow you catch a chill, can we?" He kissed her hair as he carried her out into the corridor. "Now, would you like a story or a song when we get back?"
Bard watched her lay her head on the Elf's shoulder. "Could I have a song, Ada?"
"A song is what you shall have, my little love."
Through the open doorway, Bard couldn't help but smile, as he watched this fierce, mighty Warrior-King handle Tilda's nighttime qualms with an ease that could only come from the deep love and trust between them. It was a beautiful sight - one of the "moments" Thranduil had spoken of earlier.
As he sank back into the pillows, Bard's enhanced hearing helped him enjoy their whimsical chatter. Then his ears picked up the sonorous noise of Thangon, snoring away, in Bain's room. The boy had always been a sound sleeper, so maybe he'd get used to that racket faster than Bard had. He also hoped the big dog would help Bain adjust to life in Dale, and be a loyal and protective friend to the boy.
Soon, Thranduil was back but instead of putting Tilda in the middle, he lay next to Bard and put her on his right, so they still could sleep in their favorite position. Bard put his arm around him, and snuggled into Thranduil's back and kissed his shoulder, and buried his face in fragrant, silky hair.
The King of Dale began to drift off as he listened to his Elf, his beloved husband, softly sing their small daughter to sleep.
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ELVEN TRANSLATIONS:
Anthon 'ûr nîn anden, Aran nîn… - I give you my heart, My King.
Gi melin, Thranduil; Uireb. – I love you, Thranduil; always.
AI NAEG! – OH OUCH!
Nan aear adh in elin… - By the sea and stars…
Puitho nin! – Fuck me!
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~Fin~
****End of Book II of the Two Thrones Series****
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Now that our family is together again, see how Daeron deals with his love for Rhian, in Book III: "An Invincible Summer!"
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See you over there!
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