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Since there seemed to be NO WAY for me to link you to the sketch of Flinn holding Thoirin's crown on his head, I changed my Icon picture on my home page here on FF to show it. I will change it back in a week, so be sure to go and look at it soon. I don't know who drew this or who it is supposed to be, but I see Flinn. ha ha. Sorry it is cut off a bit, but that is the only way it would upload. His left hand is holding the crown on his head, but most of his arm and elbow are out of the picture. It is the best I could do.
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OK, now on to another exciting episode of "Fun with Dwarves"!
I hope you enjoy what I have in store for you this time!
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Chapter 60
~X~
"What do you mean it didn't work?" Bilbo huffed in frustration. "It was the perfect plan!"
"Well, it has been five days since we watched the children together, and Marigold has given no indication that she wishes to speed this courtship along," Thorin argued, now frustrated beyond belief.
"You didn't yell did you?" Dwalin asked.
"Or say something foolish?" Dis inquired.
"No! I was on my best behavior and I did nothing unseemly or impolite. Nothing!" Thorin assured them. Yet as the three stared at him more pointedly, he felt obligated to admit his one mistake. "Well…I did sort of lose track of the lads for a little bit."
"You lost my grandson?" Dis shouted.
"And my cousin?" Bilbo added.
"Only for a few minutes, and it wasn't all my fault," Thorin said, trying to plead his case. "We got to talking and then the next thing we realized…they were gone. We found them right away though, in my throne room, safely playing. No harm done, and Marigold did not act like she blamed me for it."
"Well, it still was not the best thing to let happen when you were trying to prove to her that you would be a competent father," Bilbo huffed, feeling as if all his masterful planning had gone to pot.
"So now what?" Thorin asked, eager for any new ideas that might win Marigold's heart and hand.
"Well, I am all out of suggestions," Bilbo confessed, throwing up his hands in defeat.
"I have one more plan up my sleeve, but it does not involve any action from you, Thorin," Dis revealed. "I think it is time I got Marigold's thoughts on the matter."
"And I might know of a way to get the lass interested," Dwalin announced, looking rather smug. "I have learned a thing or two about hobbit females…being married to one and all. So how about you and I go have a little chat, Thorin?"
"I will try anything," he sighed, standing up and allowing his friend to lead him out of the room.
"Do you think speaking to Marigold is a good idea?" Bilbo asked Dis once Thorin and Dwalin had left the room. "If she knows we are all scheming to get the two of them together, she might pull back even further."
"Oh, I am not going to let on that I am singling her out," Dis told him, a sly gleam in her eye. "I will simply invite her, and a few others, to a tea party, and then see where the conversation takes us. Dena and Ilin said that until they filled Bergie in on the dwarrow basics, she had no idea what to expect. Well, perhaps Marigold has questions as well, ones she is too nervous to ask one on one, but in a group setting…you never know."
"Well…I might know about hobbits…but I am willing to bet you understand the female mind better than me," Bilbo laughed. "I hope your idea works better than mine."
"Me too," Dis said with a sigh. "If not, I will soon fear for Thorin's sanity."
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That afternoon, Dis sent out invitations to Marigold, Bergie, and Prim, asking them to join her for tea the following day. She also asked Sier, Ilin and Dena to come as well, thinking that the more there were in attendance, the livelier the conversation might become, opening up a whole array of subjects.
So at noon the next day, Dis waited in her parlor with a steaming pot of tea and several plates of biscuits and small cakes. One by one, her guests began to arrive, each one excited over the gathering, but not knowing their hostess's true intent. Once they were all seated and happily sipping from their cups, Dis set her plan in motion.
"I want to thank you all for coming today," she told them with a warm smile. "I feel as if many of the niceties have fallen by the wayside in all the effort to restore Erebor. But I can remember when my mother and grandmother used to host gatherings such as these every week. It kept the dams in touch with each other, helped foster good relations, and let them know the concerns of their people."
"Well, any reason to get together and have a midday snack pleases me to no end," Bergie said, digging into the pastries with surprising gusto…even for a hobbit.
"Yes," Marigold nodded, eyeing her aunt with curiosity. "Back in the Shire, the ladies getting together to talk is an everyday occurrence."
"Granted, we did not have a mountain to keep running smoothly or anything so grand," Prim added. "But this is very nice, thank you for thinking of us, Lady Dis."
"I am glad you approve," the princess nodded. "For I think I shall start by instigating a gathering such as this every month…and then see how it goes from there."
"Excellent idea!" Ilin nodded. "You can count on me to attend any time you wish, and I will tell you all the news, concerns and issues I have heard rumbling around the mountain."
"You just want a good excuse to hear and spread gossip," Dena laughed, dodging the playful slap that her friend tried to give her.
"So, why don't we kick off our inaugural meeting of the females by talking about our favorite subject?" Dis suggested.
"Food?' Bergie asked.
"Growing vegetables?" Marigold chimed in.
"Rambunctious dwarflings?" Sier laughed.
"Or equally rambunctious hobbits?" Prim added with a smile.
"No!" Dena laughed, knowing exactly what Dis was hinting at. "Menfolk!"
"Oh," Bergie smiled, swallowing her last bite of cake before continuing. "Well, this should prove to be very interesting, indeed. What shall we discuss about them?"
"I don't know," Dis replied, feigning indecisiveness. "Do any of you have concerns? Anything that might be bothering you?"
Here all the dams seemed to clam up, no one speaking a word and several averting their eyes in embarrassment.
"Come now, ladies," Dis prompted. "Surely one of you must have a question or two. Anything at all?"
There was another few moments of silence, before anyone responded.
"I have one," Ilin spoke up, sitting a little straighter as she set her cup down and placed her hands in her lap. "My question is…Sier, what kind of lover is Fili?"
"Ilin!" Sier gasped, choking on her tea as all the others turned to stare at her as well. "I…I…"
"Dis said any question," Ilin pointed out, her wide grin never faltering. "And come on, I can't be the only one wondering how our golden prince measures up."
"Well, as long as the question has been posed," Dena chimed in. "Yes…do tell us, Sier…how is Fili in bed?"
"His mother is sitting right there!" Sier squeaked, pointing at Dis as her face turned six shades of red.
"Not that I want to hear any details," Dis began, looking a bit uncomfortable herself. "But…it would do my heart good to hear that my son is respectful and thoughtful to you in that area. I think it is every mother's concern, when their sons take a wife." She then leaned in, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And if he is not, he and I will be having some very serious words."
"No!" Sier almost shouted, holding up her hands in protest. "He is very considerate…honest! I have no complaints…in that department," she assured her mother-in-law. "Can't we please change the subject?"
"How about you, Ilin?" Bergie asked, turning the tables on the dam who had posed the question in the first place. "Care to tell us what kind of lover Bombur is?"
"We have three children…I think that speaks for itself," the blond dwarrowdam told them all with a satisfied smirk. "Trust me, the kitchen is not the only place he knows how to work his magic."
This made all the lasses laugh, the tension easing as they all began to share little details about their menfolk.
"Drogo can always tell when I have had a hard day and he offers to take Frodo out for a long walk so that I can take a much needed nap," Prim said with a proud smile.
"My Flinn always knew when I was at my wit's end as well, and he would offer to make me tea and rub my feet to make me feel better," Dis told everyone.
"Apparently Dwalin needs no excuse to play with my feet," Bergie laughed, sticking them out and wiggling her toes. "For some strange reason he seems oddly fascinated by them. Is that a dwarf thing, or something singular to him?"
"Gloin never shows any interest in my feet," Dena told her.
"Bombur either, but then again, mine are not covered with that adorable fluff like you have, Bergie," Ilin pointed out.
"How about Drogo, Prim?" Sier questioned. "Perhaps it is something to do with hobbit feet."
"No…can't say that he does," she answered, looking thoughtful. "However, to a hobbit, feet are nothing special…we all have hair on them."
"Must be something unique to Dwalin then," Bergie said with a shrug.
"Most dwarf males tend to fixate on a specific trait of their mate," Ilin offered. "Perhaps that is simply what fascinates him."
As the conversation continued, Dis couldn't help noticing that Marigold was not exactly joining in. Sure she was listening with rapt attention, but she had yet to pose any questions of her own. This was not exactly going as she had planned.
"How about you, Marigold?" Prim asked, looking over at her cousin with a warm smile. "As the only one unattached, I thought you would have a million questions. After all, when you return to the Shire, all rich and well-traveled, I am willing to bet you will be bombarded by lads wishing to court you. It might be a good idea to ask any questions now…since you never know when you will need this information."
"I…I…" Marigold stammered, not knowing what to say. She didn't want to go home to the Shire, rich or not. She wanted to stay here…with Thorin, and become his wife. Yet she could not just blurt that out…well, Bergie knew, and she was certain that Dis was informed of Thorin's pursuit, but she would like to think they had been discreet in their courtship. "I…I guess I do have one question," she said at last, thinking on her feet, so to speak.
"Yes?" Dis prodded, thinking that maybe her idea was going to work after all. "What is your question…don't be shy?"
"I was wondering," Marigold began, clearing her throat. "Do all dwarrows have such a fixation over their weapons?"
There was a moment of silence, where all the lasses looked at her blankly. And then the laughter roared around the circle, each one of them, except for Prim, nodding in agreement.
"I know Gloin does!" Dena revealed. "Sometimes I wonder if he loves that ax more than me!"
"If Fili sharpens his blades one more time, I swear he will whittle them down to nothing. And he has so many of them, it takes him hours to tend to each and every one!" Sier told everyone.
"Try living with a dwarf who has two axes…which he even named!" Bergie snickered. "I keep waiting for the night when he asks if he can bring them to bed with us!"
"How about you, Ilin?" Dis asked, having now given up on her original plan and was simply enjoying herself with her friends. "What is Bombur's weapon of choice?"
"His soup ladle!" the blond dam hooted. "But he keeps it razor sharp!" This sent the rest of the group into a fit of laughter.
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Later that night, tucked in her bed, Marigold thought back to the conversation during tea. She did indeed have a lot of questions, but every one of them centered on Thorin. If she had asked anything personal, everyone would have realized in a second whom she had been referring to.
Questions like…was it possible for a dwarf to find his one, yet not truly love her? Could a dwarf deny his one…and go on living happily as if he had never found her? What would the dwarves of Erebor say about having a hobbit for a queen? There were so many things running through her mind, and yet none of them really mattered until Thorin confessed his feelings for her. Did he love her…truly?
"Ohhhh," she moaned, turning over and burying her head in the pillow. "Please love me, Thorin…I need you to love me as much as I love you."
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Two days later, Bergie walked down the corridor towards the healing halls, wringing her hands and muttering to herself all the way. If anyone had bothered to look closely, they would have believed that the little hobbit was in mental distress. And in actuality…that's exactly what she was.
Having arrived at the door she sought, she paused, working up her courage to enter. She had suspected that something was wrong for a while now, but at this point, she could no longer deny what she believed to be true. She only needed one of the healers to confirm, or deny her suspicions.
So taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.
"Bergie?" Sier gasped, standing up from the chair where she had been sitting, looking flustered and almost nervous at seeing her friend. "What…what are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," she said, not expecting to run into anyone she knew in the waiting area.
"I…well…I was not feeling very well and…" Sier dwindled off, looking down at her feet in embarrassment. "But what about you? Are you hurt or injured?"
"Neither," Bergie assured her, the two lapsing into an awkward silence as they did their best to avoid eye contact with each other. Finally, the inner door opened and in walked, of all the dwarrow, Oin.
"Oin!" Sier gasped, having apparently expected one of the other healers to currently be on duty.
"Hello, Sier," he greeted her with a smile. "And Bergie…so nice to see you both." Yet his face quickly turned serious as he looked at the dam and hobbit with concern. "Unless this is not a social call and you are in need of medical attention…then I do hope it is nothing serious. Is it?"
"Well," Bergie said, clearing her throat. "I was kind of hoping you could tell me."
"And me," Sier nodded in agreement.
"Well…what ails you?" Oin probed. "What are your symptoms…where does it hurt?"
"Ummm…" Sier wavered, looking as if she truly did not wish to say. And from the way Bergie was now mumbling and shuffling her bare feet, she seemed equally as hesitant.
"Oh, for Mahal's sake, lasses, you have to speak up," Oin chided, placing his trumpet up to his ear. "If you won't tell me what is wrong, how can I fix it?"
"I…I think I am pregnant!" Bergie blurted out suddenly, her desperate need to know outweighing her embarrassment.
"You too?" Sier asked in a shocked voice, looking over at her new friend with wide eyes. "I...I think I am with child as well!"
"Well now," Oin chuckled, looking at the two startled females. "It would appear that congratulations are in order…perhaps." He then moved forward and ushered his two nervous patients towards separate rooms. "How about we have a look and see if you two are correct in your assumptions."
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"I can't believe it," Bergie muttered, taking the cup of warm tea from Oin's hand as he next passed a second one to Sier. "A baby!"
"Two babies it would seem," Oin corrected, giving the dwarf princess a wink. "You are each going to have one."
"I kind of suspected," Sier told him, nodding her thanks for the hot beverage. "I mean, I was experiencing many of the same symptoms as I did when carrying Flinn…but I just didn't think it would happen this fast."
"Looking at you and Fili's track record, I would think you would have expected it, my dear," Oin laughed. "As it stands, I would say that you are almost two months along. And you, Bergamot, I would hazard to guess that you have not even reached a full month yet, though I confess that my knowledge about hobbit pregnancies is rather limited. I will most definitely be doing some research on that subject."
"That is just about the time frame I suspected as well, having been keeping a very close eye on the calendar over the past week...if you take my meaning," Bergie nodded, still appearing rather stunned.
"Am I to assume that the fathers know nothing of this?" the elderly dwarf asked.
"No, not yet," Bergie said with a shake of her head.
"I did not want to get Fili's hopes up before I was absolutely sure," Sier also confirmed. "You won't tell them, will you?"
"Mahal no! I would never deprive an expectant mother of that privilege," he assured them. "I might be half deaf, but I am far from completely daft!"
"Thank you, Oin," Sier smiled, grateful for his discretion.
"Now you two sit here as long as you need," he offered. "I have things to take care of in the back, but let me be the first to officially congratulate you both. Two little bairns to bless the mountain…how exciting." And with that he disappeared through the door, leaving the two lasses alone.
"How do you plan to tell Dwalin?" Sier asked, sipping at her tea to calm her nerves.
"I have no idea!" Bergie all but wailed. "Truth be told, I was not even sure he and I could have children together…so this comes as quite a shock. Yet I could no longer discount the listlessness, my increased appetite, and the way I was feeling all queasy in the mornings. But when I missed my cycle…well, that is what brought me down here to the healing halls."
"I have been hiding my symptoms as well, hoping Fili would not catch on until I was sure," Sier nodded. "I know he will be excited, for we have talked about having more little ones, but now that I have confirmation…I have no idea how I should go about telling him." She placed her hand over her stomach and stared down at it with a wide grin. "I can't believe it…another baby!" Yet when she looked back up, she was met with a pair of eyes full of fear. "Bergie…is something wrong? You…you do want this child, don't you?"
"Of course I do…I mean…I…" Bergie stammered, looking up at her with wide eyes. "I am just frightened out of my mind! Until a month ago, I never thought I would ever get married, let alone have children! What do I know about babies? Nothing, I tell you, not a blessed thing! Add to that the fact that I will be giving birth to a half dwarf, half hobbit - something for all I know could be the first in existence - I am terrified!"
"Oh, Bergie," Sier said sympathetically, moving closer to her friend and putting her arm around her, offering a comforting hug. "You have nothing to worry about, I am sure. Dwalin will be there for you, as will I. And just think about how happy your husband will be when you tell him the good news. I know that he will be ecstatic."
"I hope so," Bergie said leaning her head back against the chair and doing her best to keep herself calm. "Because right now…I am scared to death."
So, we have apparently found Bergie's one phobia...kids! She is pretty worried, I sure hope Dwalin can set things right.
Now Fili...well I think we all know he will be over the moon about this! As for Flinn? Guess you will have to wait and find out. ha ha
Did you like Dis' little tea party? Always fun to get a bunch of lasses together to chit-chat.
Poor Thorin, he thinks he messed up with the babysitting job. When in actuality he did everything right...for once!
Guest Reviews:
(WOW, there were so many of you this time - I am tickled pink!)
Guest review for Chapter 37: Yes, yes indeed it shall be priceless...because you couldn't PAY those dwarves enough to willingly sit around and talk about their love lives, or sex! Only Dis could make it happen. Thanks.
Guest review for Chapter 39: Well, Fili did get retribution, but I leave it up to you if it was satisfactory. And no, Bina did NOT know what hit her!
Guest review for Chapter 42: Yes, their 'talk' did prove very interesting for both of them, ha ha. And you are on Dwalin's side of this revenge stuff? ha ha. Most readers were too.
Guest review for chapter 43: Yes, this is the end of Part 1, then comes Part 2 with Dwalin and Thorin. Then, when I get it written, Part 3 with our little Kili. hee hee. Can't leave him out of all the fun!
dojoson41: Yep, lets keep Kili free spirited and fun loving as long as we can...but his days are numbered, love will sneak up and bite him on the backside!
Guest: Yep, Bilbo's plan did indeed work...and Marigold knows she wants kids with Thorin! Won't she be shocked to find out that he has probably already picked out names for them and stuff. ha ha. Thorin did a very good job.
Louise: I am glad you are excited for more...because I am hard at work writing more for you to read. ha ha.
Aranel Mereneth: So happy you liked the fluffy bonding time with Flinn, Frodo and Thorin...and Marigold too. ha ha. And was THAT soon enough for you to hear some baby news for Fili and Seir? ha ha. Not to mention Dwalin and Bergie. BABIES FOR EVERYONE! I thought Sier and Bergie could use someone to sympathize with as their feet swell and they start to waddle. ha ha.
Guest: My husband thanks you for your kind, yet sedated, words for the chapter. ha ha. And Bologna? Isn't that a lunch meat? ha ha. Have a fun in Italy!
Guest K: Thank you very much *takes a bow*
Emrfangirl: Please, feel free to like Thorin and Marigold all you want. Do you not remember how back in chapter 51 Thorin told Dis that his children could never inherit the throne...and how she said it was a good thing he had already named Fili as his heir? Fili will not be stripped of his birthright, and Flinn is next in line after him. (since Kili does NOT want it. ha ha) So fear not. And updating quickly is what I love to do! I just have to keep writing just as quickly to keep a nice stack of chapters ahead of you all.