A/N: Another chapter! This time we're back in Rivendell with Maggie and the others! Thank you so much for all the comments so far, you guys make my day. I'm already realising the tone of this fic is different from the other ones and I hope you like it.
A few housekeeping things before we jump into it.
This chapter jumps around a lot and there's quite a lot of dialogue. The long paragraphs in italics are meant to be flashbacks. Hopefully, it won't be too confusing.
The mythology I've used here comes from the Silmarillion and the Lord of the Rings appendices. Character like Haralbad,Amandil and Pharazôn are all canonical but obviously I've taken some liberties with parts of the storyline. In the Silmarillion, it is stated that Amandil did indeed sail west and that he was never heard from again. The idea stuck in my head and now we have Maggie and Riley. If you know the Silmarillion better than I do and you think I'm missing out on important details, please let me know.
As I was writing, ideas just kept coming and there wasn't really a good place to stop so this chapter is much longer than I originally anticipated and I hope you'll enjoy it. I have a long weekend coming up so I'm aiming to have the next chapter up within a few days as well.
I still have no idea where I'm going with Maggie's romance, because I do want her to have a real chance at happiness. If you have any suggestions, please mention them your comments/reviews.
Without further ado, enjoy it!
CHAPTER THREE
"Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark."
Dunedain Village
A few hours later, Riley had told Haralbad the story of his and Maggie's quest to Erebor with the dwarves. Looking back on it now, Riley realised how surreal the whole affair must have sounded, but the Chieftain listened patiently without interruption. Following Riley's explanation of how he had come to be in Middle-Earth and why he chose to seek out the rangers, Haralbad remained silent for a moment. A tension hung in the air while the Chieftain deliberated what to do with this new and strange information. Meanwhile, his fellow rangers kept a close eye on Riley and the others, but without weapons aimed at them. Halabard asked to examine the Sceptre of Annúminas, as to make sure Riley was telling the truth about his heritage and who his father was. He asked why Riley wanted to find the rangers and the oldest Spencer explained that he wished to understand who his father had been when he lived in Numenor.
Normally, the general advice might be to be cautious of strangers, especially ones who threatened you with weapons in the woods, but Riley sensed that he could trust Halbarad. He explained that through visions, Riley's father had revealed to him that they were heirs to the throne of Gondor, which neither him nor Maggie wanted to claim. Part of the reason why he wanted to speak with the rangers was to seek counsel. Renouncing a royal title was a process Riley knew nothing about. If there was also a chance it would cause problems for Estel in years to come, they would have to tread extremely carefully.
After what seemed like a lifetime, Halbarad handed the sceptre back to Riley and then told them to follow him and his group to their village. Legolas and Tauriel seemed sceptical at first but then relaxed and Bard and Kili agreed it was a good idea. Riley assumed they would have been blindfolded to mask the path to the village, but that wasn't the case. They walked for hours without stopping for a break or for food. Riley knew now how grateful the Fellowship must have been for the Lembas bread they'd been given by the Lorien elves. Lembas bread, Riley had come realise, was a godsend.
Eventually, they reached a path of the forest that seemed to have more trace of human life and when they came to a large clearing, Riley was awestruck by the sight before them. The Dunedain village was larger than he first thought it would be. It reminded Riley of depictions of Viking communities in early history and their houses were a mix of long houses and smaller huts. There were both men, women and children in the village, which was the second thing that surprised Riley. For some reason, he had it in his mind that there weren't really any children in the Dunedain community, but that was of course ridiculous. The third thing that surprised him was how normal life seemed to be. As Halbarad took them through the village, Riley saw the men and women doing different kinds of labour work, while children ran and played. Some of them stopped what they were doing to look at the stranger newcomers, while others greeted Halbarad excitedly. Younger children ran up to him and he lifted them up in his arms. It became obvious to Riley that the chieftain was a revered man.
A few days had passed since their initial arrival in the village, and Riley felt as though he had finally found a missing puzzle piece. There were still many questions that needed answering, but Halbarad was remarkably patience and hospitable. While some members of the community remained reserved at first, they relaxed once they knew their chieftain had accepted these new guests. Riley spent most of his days speaking with Halbarad who told him of their people and confirmed that his father had indeed a Lord of Andunie and that it was Elendil who founded the great kingdom of Arnor. Bard was also interested in hearing stories of Numenor, as his past was also entwined with Riley and Maggie's.
Legolas explored the perimeters of the village, while Kili and Tauriel offered to help out as much as they could. The children had never seen dwarves before and wouldn't leave Kili alone, which he of course didn't mind. Like all dwarrows, Kili loved children and he was good at entertaining them. Sometimes, Riley caught Tauriel admiring Kili from a distance when he played with the youngsters and he couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking about their future.
"This sister of yours," Halbarad asked "Where is she now?"
It was the fourth night of their stay in the village and Riley, along with Kili and Legolas, sat around a fireplace with Halabrad. Tauriel and Legolas had some kind of agreement where one of them scouted out the area at night, despite the fact that the rangers had their own watch system, and this night, it was Tauriel's turn. At the mention of his sister, Riley's heart sank and he wondered what Maggie was doing in that moment. No more letters had arrived from Rivendell, which probably meant everything was fine, but he missed her. After having spent so much time together on the quest, it was strange to be apart again. The guilt of leaving her in Rivendell made itself known yet again and Riley swore to himself that as soon as he had some more answers, they would return before she was due to give birth.
"Maggie is currently in Rivendell right now," Riley said "At least for the remainder of her pregnancy. I'm not quite sure what we will do afterwards."
"She is with child?" Halbarad asked "You failed to mention this, who is the father?"
"Thorin Oakenshield." It was Kili who replied "He was my uncle and the heir to the throne of Durin."
"How did he fall?"
A silence fell between the group for the moment and Halbarad sensed that he had crossed into sensitive territory. Bard hadn't actually seen Thorin die, but he knew Riley, Legolas and Kili had all been there and the bowman could tell from their saddened expressions that it was a difficult memory to recall.
"There was a battle atop Ravenhills." Legolas explained, "Thorin was killed by Azog the Defiler. He took his last breath's in Maggie's arms."
"I am sorry for your loss, I can tell he was dear to you all. Most of all, of course, your sister." said Halbarad with sincerity in his voice. "When is the baby due?"
Riley did the math in his head. "In July, should everything go well." he said "There's been some questions as to whether or not the human and dwarf genes will cause complications in the pregnancy. Not to mention all the trauma and stress of battle and losing Thorin."
Haralbad stirred the pot that hung over the fire. Riley couldn't tell what the herbs were exactly, but the pot had been bubbling for some time.
"In his last letter, Oin said the baby is growing well." Kili said, "However, it is our wish to return to Rivendell in time for the labour. It will be a joyous occasion for both dwarrow and human-kind."
"Joyous and dangerous." Halbarad said "As you say, this child is both human and dwarrow. Not only that but as your father is Lord Amandil, and Elendil was the first King of Gondor, that would make this child eligible for both the throne of Gondor and that of Erebor. Such a thing has never occured in our lifetime."
"Would it really be that bad, though?" Riley asked "Couldn't it be a good thing to unite the two races instead of causing further divide?"
"Civil Wars have been fought over fewer things." Halbarad said "The fact that you and your sister have been sent from another world by the Valar adds a religious element to it."
"You're talking about religious fanatics?"
Halbarad nodded. "Aye, there are groups on both sides and I suspect that perhaps on this occasion, they might unite to get rid of a common threat."
Bard had been silent for a while but spoke up. "You believe they would actually murder a child?"
"I believe they would try to murder the woman carrying said child before he is born."
Riley felt a heavy lump in his gut and a wave of nausea hit him as an awful thought formed in the back of his mind. What if someone tried to hurt Maggie while he was away and unable to protect his baby sister. If something happened to Maggie and the baby, especially now that Riley knew that could be a possibility, he would never forgive himself.
Another silent moment passed and Riley's eyelids began to feel heavy. Halbarad poured the hot tea into a wooden mug and passed it to Riley.
"Drink this before you sleep tonight, you may find your mind more clear."
Riley wasn't sure what Halbaras meant but he decided to call it a night and returned back to the small hut which he shared with Bard and Kili. It took him a while to settle as his mind filled with thoughts from the evening's conversation, but finally, Riley Spencer fell into a deep sleep unlike anything he'd ever experienced…
…...Riley found himself standing on a beach, overlooking a vast ocean, its surface glistening in the sunlight. He wasn't sure how, but he knew immediately that he wasn't in Middle-Earth. Everything felt different, the breeze in the air, the touch of sun on his skin and the sand beneath his feet. Even for a dream, it was incredibly vivid and yet, it also wasn't quite a vision. After a few moments, when the initial shock had faded, Riley studied his surroundings and began walking along the beach. In the distance, he saw what looked like an ancient city with castle towers peering out over the other buildings. As he walked, a voice called out and Riley turned around to see a young man, almost resembling a medieval knight with a sword hanging from his belt and a red cloak from his shoulders. At first, Riley thought he was the one the man called out to be, but it soon became clear that the knight couldn't see Riley at all. Instead, Riley's eyes followed his movements as the knight walked past him. There, Riley froze in his place when he saw the man in front of him. His clothing was different and he wore a grey tunic, with with a jacket over and from his shoulders also hung a cloak. Instead of a sword in his belt, he carried the Sceptre.
"My Lord Amandil." the knight said and greeted Riley's dad with a bow "His Majesty requests your presence."
"The council is not for another day." Amandil said. It was strange to Riley how his voice sounded exactly the same, yet the man was so different. "Why does he wish to see me?"
"He did not say My Lord, but I can only say that His Majesty did not sound pleased."
Amandil let out a frustrated groan and began to walk after the knight. When Riley turned around to follow, as soon as he put his right foot in front of the left, his surroundings changed. Instead of standing on a beach, Riley now stood in a torchlit hallway of what he assumed was the castle he had seen previously. He heard loud and angry voices bellowing further down the corridor and as he followed the noise, he soon came to a throne room where two men argued. One of the was Amandil and the other, Riley assumed, was the king. In his mind, Riley thought the king would be much older, but instead his appearance was that of a man in perhaps his early thirties. Then, Riley remembered the Numenoreans aged at a much slower rate than other men. It made him wonder how old his father really was and it made sense why he'd always found birthdays such an awkward eent.
"Ar-Pharazôn, long years have we been friends, nay brothers!" Amandil said "I have remained a faithful servant by your side and yet you think I would betray you!"
"They warned me not to trust an elf-friend!" Ar-Pharazôn snapped "I should have listened but I was blinded by your promises of kinship and brotherhood! I know you have been scheming behind my back. You think me a fool, as though I have not been a true and just king to our people!"
Amandil stepped forward and as Riley watched his father, his saw fire in his eyes that frightened him. In all his twenty-six years, it was rare that their father showed anger. This was a new side to him and Riley wasn't sure how he felt, as he watched Amandil who now stood but an inch from the king's face.
"These words are not your own!" Amandil bellowed "You have been poisoned by that snake in your dungeons."
Riley wondered who was held in the dungeon but his question was answered when Ar-Pharazôn next spoke.
"Sauron showed me the truth!" said the king angrily, "You no longer have pure intent, your faith lies with the Valar as it has always done! Even though their belief was banned you still favour them over your own king! You and your Faithful will bring doom and ruin upon our shores!"
Amandil put a steady hand on the angry king's shoulder and Riley could see that his father tried his best to compose himself and not let his emotions boil over. Even though Riley stood in the middle of the room, the two men could not see him.
"Pharazôn, my friend," Amandil spoke gently "My king. I have always been loyal to you and yours. For over a century we have been dear friends and brothers in arms! I fought by your side and watched my own men die in your honour! You would be so foolish to cast all this aside for this words of this phantom!"
"Sauron knew you would say as much." Pharazôn replied, his voice was deceitfully calm. "He has foreseen the future. You and your bloodline will bring death and ruin upon us all. Therefore, I have come to a decision."
"Well? Do not hesitate, what is it?"
"Amandil, Lord of Andunie, I hereby banish you, your son and your Faithful from Numenor. By taking your sceptre I am also stripping you of your noble title. Should you for any reason find yourselves on these shores again, your death will be swift and merciless."
Riley thought that his father would blow up at the king, but instead he turned on his heels and stormed out and as Riley was about to walk after him, the scene changed again. Not just once but several times and each one portrayed a different part of Amandil's life. Riley saw his father speaking with Elendil about what happened with the king. There was a secret meeting with the Order of the Faithful, deciding how to proceed and it was their wish to try and overthrow Sauron but they needed help. Just like Maggie had told Riley back in Rivendell, Amandil and his followers set off in nine ships which were aimed to sail west.
There was a terrible storm and Riley found himself on the deck of a quickly sinking ship. Some of the men were crying out while others fell overboard as the ship headed deeper into the again, Riley saw his father, desperately trying to save what was left of his ship but eventually, he also fell overboard and it was not long before he vanished beneath the waves. A few seconds later, Riley once again stood on a beach but this time, he recognised it as one of the beaches in Brecon Beacons national park. His father lay unconscious with his hands pressing into the sand but soon his eyes opened and the voice of a woman calling out reached Riley. Her voice was all too familiar and when Riley saw his mother reaching out her hand to Amandil, his eyes welled up with tears. The following scenes took place in settings Riley had known all his life. The next time his eyes welled up was when he stood in the nursery room of his and Maggie's childhood home. His father held a crying baby in his arms.
"What shall we call him?" Amandil asked as he rocked the baby back and forth.
"Riley." he replied "After my great-grandfather."
"Mae Govannen Riley, you will do great things one day." …
Finally, the surroundings changed one more time and Riley stood in his father's study where he was sitting at his desk, writing down something in a leatherbound notebook. His mother came in, put down a cup of tea and kissed her husband on the cheek. In the background, Riley heard the laughter of children and he could only assume it was younger versions of himself and Maggie.
"Will you ever tell them?" His mum asked
"One day perhaps." Amandil replied "When they are ready, but for now. I want them to have a normal life. As much as possible, at least."
…..Riley's eyes snapped open and he jolted upright. His breath was shallow and it took him a few moments to adjust to the darkness and when he had, hee saw Haralbad sitting next to him. It didn't take a genius to figure out that the chieftain had put something in Riley's tea that made him have these sort-of visions. They were too intense to be dreams and it wasn't quite the same feeling as when he'd met his father in that void-space.
"What was that?" Riley asked
"You already know, and now so do I." Haralbad replied "You truly are the brother Elendil and heir of Amandil. Come with me, there is something you must see."
Haralbad wasted no time and Riley quickly got dressed and hurried after him. The village was asleep apart from a couple of small campfires and quiet voices speaking. Riley followed Haralbad who took him to a house at the far end of the village. Inside, Haralbad passed the torch to Riley while the chieftain rummaged through bits of writing and finally pulled out an ancient roll of parchment from a container. Haralbad placed it on a table and gestured for Riley to shine the light over it. How the ancient scroll had survived all this time, Riley had no idea, but he was fascinated by the writing on it. He knew it was some form of elvish, but it was different from the Elvish he had seen previously. The text was centralised and at a guess, Riley assumed it was a verse of some kind.
"What does it say?" Riley asked
"Nine shall walk the path of night and five more will come to aid their fight.
Through trials of both heart and mind their fate with this world shall be 'twined.
Three will stand and one will fall and face the dark which lies beyond
And as the end draws to a close a final test they must endure; of strength and of fellowship and bond."
When Haralbad finished reading the verse, Riley stood unmoved in his place. Goosebumps appeared on his skin and a feeling of unease formed in his stomach. They stood in silence for a while as Riley pondered the meaning of the strange verse.
"Great, a riddle." Riley mumbled. "I bloody hate riddles. What's this supposed to mean?"
"It is a prophecy long since carried by our people when they reached these shores." Haralabad explained "For centuries we have tried to decipher its meaning and had almost given up, until you showed up."
"You think this prophecy has to do with my sister and I?"
"Its true meaning is still unclear and I believe that perhaps you are here to understand it. I believe the clues to your purpose in Middle-Earth."
"Oh, so now I have to solve a riddle?" Riley groaned "Wonderful, exactly how I imagined I'd be spending my weekend."
Truthfully, despite being annoyed, Riley was also scared. It seemed like the closer he got to understanding his father and their heritage, the more sinister things became and Riley wasn't sure he liked the direction in which things were headed.
Rivendell
Maggie was having a bad day and more than that, she was having a very anxious day. Her mind was filled with memories of Thorin. Specifically, they were memories of spoken words that she kept replaying over and over in her mind. They were memories of private, intimate moments she hadn't even shared with Riley and they were painful to think about. It had left her sleepless that night and as morning approached, nothing else could distract her and she knew she was spiralling down into the part of herself she hated the most. It was the part of her that second-guessed all the small details and wondered how things might be different if she had made different choices.
As a child, she'd called them gremlins and it was an appropriate way to describe the feeling that part of her gave her. Maggie had just about managed to have breakfast when it became too much for her to handle. Upon the return to her bedroom, she had tried everything to shut out the echoes in her head. She'd plugged in her earphones and tried listening to music as a distraction, she did some writing and she also tried to see if she could feel the baby inside her. When none of the above worked, Maggie gave up and the anxiety consumed every fibre of her body, mind and soul.
Thoughts of Thorin became more prominent than they had ever been in the past month and every time Maggie closed her eyes, she saw his icy blue eyes and that playful smile. Describing how much her heart ached was impossible but Maggie knew it was a feeling she would not want to wish even on her worst enemy. All things considered, Maggie thought she had been doing pretty well as far as healing was concerned. Life was, for all intents and purpose, pretty normal again and usually she enjoyed her days in Rivendell. The fact that she was able to form individual relationships with all the residents was something Maggie would never again take for granted and without their support, she was certain she would not be able to find herself again. Despite her best efforts and her progress, some days, like this one, it all came back to her….
…..Maggie was sitting on the bed when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist. Thorin's beard tickled as his lips brushed her shoulders, placing soft kisses on her skin. She could instantly tell that he was in a playful and mischievous mood, as he had often been since their arrival in Lake Town. Their ability to have some actual privacy was all because of Brenna and Maggie made a note to thank her later.
"Are you done with that?" Thorin asked, referring to the leather journal Maggie was writing in. The same one he'd gifted her for a birthday.
"In a moment," Maggie replied "I just want to write down some more details so I remember things."
"Will you still remember them later?"
"Yes, although -"
Maggie's words were cut off by Thorin closing the book in front of her and grabbed it out of her hand. She turned around and scowled mockingly mockingly at the raven-haired dwarf. She was about to open her mouth to complain about his rudeness when he interrupted her with a kiss. As their lips locked and Thorin's tongue explored the inside of Maggie's lips, she playfully pulled away, which made the king groan and his grip around her tightened. Patience was not something Thorin Oakenshield was known for and it especially showed when he wanted something.
Maggie decided she wasn't going to let him have her that easily. So, with Thorin's hand resting firmly around her neck, Maggie did the only sensible thing when he reached in to kiss her again; she ducked, which made him miss her mouth and nearly fall over. Maggie saw her chance, grabbed one the pillow's and hit him across the face. The surprised look on Thorin's face was worth the amount of trouble Maggie knew she was in.
"You are going to regret that." Thorin grumbled, brushing a bit of pillow stuffing from his hair.
"Oh really?" Maggie teased "What are you doing to do, exactly?"
In one swift movement, Thorin reached for Maggie who fell backwards on the bed. Using her hands, she quickly backed away on the bed, using her feet as a defence against Thorin, but the raven-haired dwarf was cunning. He crawled after her, grabbed her ankle and pulled her towards him. He trapped one of her legs in his grasp with his knee, while he used his quick reflexes and strength to pin Maggie's hands against the wall behind her. With Maggie unable to move, Thorin began his next plan of attack and began to mercilessly tickle her, a trick he had no doubt picked up from Riley.
"Do you yield?" Thorin asked, as his other hand rested gently on Maggie's stomach. Her laughter ceased and she spent a few moments catching her breath.
"Never." Maggie teased and stuck his tongue out at him. "If you want me, Thorin Oakenshield, you'll have to fight for me."
"Fine, have it your way then." …
….As one memory faded another one took its place.
"What about Rúnolvur?" Bofur suggested as he took a seat opposite Maggie.
The company had gathered in the Erebor kitchens on one of the rare moments when Thorin's mind was clear and he was himself again. For the past forty-five minutes, the dwarves had been discussing possible names for the baby. It had started out sincerely but as more names were suggested, Maggie was certain that they were now just taking the piss. Judging by the smugness on Nori's face, she was becoming more sure that now they were being silly.
"I think I'd like to be able to pronounce the name of my own son, thank you very much Bofur." Maggie said and Bofur pouted.
"Well," Ori continued "What about Salmundur?"
Maggie nearly choked on her tea. "Now I know you're just being daft."
"If anything," said Gloin as he downed a pint of ale. "The baby's name should follow the tradition of his family. Thorin son of Thrain son of Thror. That's always been the dwarrow tradition."
"What about human tradition?" Riley asked "Shouldn't the child recognise his human heritage as well?"
"Master Riley is right." Thorin replied as he put and arm around Maggie. It felt good to be near him, knowing the dragon-sickness could be suppressed, for however long it lasted. "Our son is both human and dwarrow, he should have a name with roots in both worlds."
The room fell silent for a while as the company deliberated over a name that was suitable for a child who was both a Son of Durin and of mankind. Naming things had never been a talent Maggie possessed. As a child, their first family pet had been a cat she had called Pointy simply because the cat's ears had indeed been pointy. It was Riley who spoke next.
"What about Theodore? Theo for short? It has both a human and dwarrow ring to it. Besides, if I'm not wrong, I think it also means 'God's Gift'."
Maggie turned to Thorin and waited for his reaction. Personally, she rather liked the name Theo and thought it would suit their son.
"Theo son of Thorin, son of Thrain." Thorin said after a while. "I like that. It is a kingly name."
When the last memory faded, the knot in Maggie's stomach tightened and she tried her hardest to not cry but it was fruitless. Her emotions turned jagged inside her and as she curled up on her bed, hugging her knees, she sobbed into a pillow. The sound of footsteps reached her ears, a weight sunk into the mattress next to her. A gentle hand on her back alerted Maggie to Glorfindel's presence. Of all people it could have been, Maggie was glad it was Glorfindel because she wasn't sure she could stand the thought of Fili, Elrond or the others seeing her cry yet again.
"Elves have healing powers, can you make it go away?" Maggie asked between her tears "Because I don't understand how I'm supposed to live through this nightmare."
"Dear one," Glorfindel said calmly. His heart truly went out to the girl. She had done tremendously well to adjust into life in Rivendell. Especially considering all the horrible things she had been through during the quest and then the Battle of the Five Armies. There weren't many things that frightened elves and they rarely had to worry about death, except in battle. Heartache however, was something that did frighten them. Glorfindel had never experienced it himself, but he had witnessed it before and now in Maggie. He could almost feel his own heart aching
"I have not the power to heal heartache, penneth." Glorfindel said "It may not seem like it now, but it will get better, I promise."
"How can it get better, when every time I close my eyes, I see him?" Maggie asked "Yet, every time I feel like I'm ready to move on, I feel so guilty for even considering it."
The guilt sat not on Maggie's chest but in her brain. Every logical part of knew that she was allowed to move on. A small voice in the back of her mind thought that perhaps, she was even ready. Some days, when she watched Estel play with Fili or Glorfindel converse with Lord Elrond, she felt at peace. Most days, life in Rivendell was one Maggie enjoyed and she could see herself having something that resembled a normal life there. Yet, the anxious voices in her mind reminded her that she didn't deserve to move on. Thorin hadn't survived so why was she allowed to move on with her life? Her responsibility was to her son and to allow him a chance at a happy life. Can my son be happy if I am not truly happy? Maggie thought.
"The guilt is no doubt caused by your own anxiety." Glorfindel said "But Maggie, there is nothing wrong with wanting to move on and seek happiness for yourself. Happiness and indeed love."
Maggie sat up. "What do you mean?" she asked
"You are still young, penneth." the blonde elf replied. "Yes, the love you shared with Thorin Oakenshield was true and that love will live on through your son. However, you are also allowed to experience that love again. It does not make you a bad person and nor does it sully the memory or what you shared."
Maggie thought about Glorfindel's words and while she wasn't entirely sure why he mentioned it to her, she appreciated his forthrightness. Like most elves, Glorfindel had a calming presence and he was a good listener. They talked for a while longer and when he eventually left the bedroom, for the first time in a while, the nagging voices at the back of Maggie's head ceased. She still stayed in the bedroom for the remainder of that day. Every now and again she heard Estel pass by and asked Lord Elrond if he could see Maggie, but the elf-lord had gently told his son that Maggie wanted to be alone. It was almost supper time when Maggie heard three gentle knocks on the door, and when it gently pushed open, it was Dwalin who walked inside. How the bald dwarf spent his days had been a mystery since they arrived in Rivendell but Maggie also knew he was a dwarf of privacy and so she didn't press the matter further. Just like Oin and Fili, Dwalin had settled well into daily routines and he was beginning to even enjoy the company of elves, although he would not admit it to anyone.
"Master Dwalin," Maggie asked "How may I help you?"
"I was hoping I could speak with ya'?" Dwalin said "Although, if yer feeling unwell, I'll come back."
Maggie shook her head. "No, I'm glad for the company. Although, if this is about the cookies, I am not the only culprit."
"It is not about the cookies," Dwalin said "Actually, we'll talk about those later."
Dwalin placed a chair in front of the bed and sat down. Maggie watched him and thought he seemed uncharacteristically nervous, which in turn made Maggie nervous. They remained silent for a while as Dwalin twiddled his thumb and searched for words to say.
"Dwalin, what's the matter?" Maggie asked when she was beginning to worry for real. "Has something happened that I should know?"
Finally, Dwalin inhaled and exhaled a deep breath before he spoke.
"For over a century, my duty has always been to protect the royal family. It is what my family has done for many hundreds of years. My father before me and his father before him. We have always been proud to serve next to the Kings of Durin." Dwalin explained, "Through all these years, I have been a lucky dwarf to call Thorin my friend, as well as my king. I must admit that when you and yer brother first showed up in our camp at Trollshow, I was doubtful. I didn't trust the two of ya. But after seeing how much Fili and Kili cared for ya and how well the two you adapted into our way of life, my perspective changed. I am proud to call you my friend and indeed part of my kin."
Dwalin paused briefly and Maggie waited for him to continue. "Even though he is gone, I still have a duty towards you and your son. Regardless of what happens with the throne or if others will accept him as a son of Durin. What I am trying to say Maggie, is that wherever you choose to go after he is born, be it staying in Rivendell or not, I will go with you, no matter what happens."
"Dwalin…." Maggie whispered. She didn't know what to say and she wanted to hug the dwarf in front of her but she also knew Dwalin wasn't too keen on hugs. She knew that professing his loyalty to her in such a formal way was more than a big deal. In fact, in Maggie's opinion, Dwalin didn't owe her anything. If anything, it was Maggie who should be thankful to him for staying by her side and being her friend, even during times when she was difficult, which she knew she could be.
"I know what you will say." Dwalin continued as if he had read her mind. "That I don't owe you anything and that may be true, lass but you are one of us. We look after our own."
Maggie ignored her previous thoughts hugged the bald dwarf, something that surprised him at first but he relaxed and embraced her in a friendly hug.
"I miss him, Dwalin." Maggie said, trying to keep back the tears. "Everyone is telling me that I am allowed to move and that there's nothing wrong with wanting to be happy again. I know they are right but I feel like I have let him down. Like I've betrayed him."
"I miss him too, but you have not betrayed him, lass." Dwalin told her "Don't you think that even for a second. I know it might seem hopeless at times, but the others are right. You are allowed to find happiness and love again. There is nothing wrong with that, nor will anyone judge you for it. There is also no rush, you have time."
Maggie sighed as she let go of Dwalin and he dried her tears away.
"Come on," he told her "It is supper time and I have heard words that afterwards, there will be stories told in Hall of Fire. If you're ready of course."
Maggie nodded and straightened out her clothes. She wasn't sure if she was entirely ready, but she was going to try.
To be continued…..
Whew! There we go! There's a lot happening in this chapter and we got a bit of an extended insight into Riley's travels. What do you think the prophecy means? Also, I'm terrible at making up riddles, I'm sorry if it isn't great. What were your favourite bits? How do you feel about Maggie's reactions to the events and people around her? Will she be able to truly move on? I'd love to know your thoughts !