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All right...no more waiting. Bergie's plan is going to be set in motion! NOW!
Hope you like it.
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Chapter 66
~X~
The following afternoon, Dis called a secret meeting, inviting several others from the company to join in on her little conspiracy. Along with a few of her previous cohorts, Fili, Kili, Bilbo and Dwalin, she now enlisted the help of Nori, Bofur, Bombur, Balin and Bifur. Once gathered around the table in her private meeting room, Dis began to speak, outlining her plan.
"I have called you all here to discuss something very important," she told them, all eyes glued on the princess. "Thorin, as you know, is currently courting Miss Brandybuck…though we few are the only ones privy to such information."
"I rather doubt that," Nori snorted, grinning widely, until he was glared at by several of those around him.
"Yes, it is true, my brother has been less than secretive about his feelings, though no official announcement has yet been made," Dis continued. "And before one is made, I would like all of you to do a bit of spying for me."
"Spying?" Bofur asked skeptically. "While Nori or Bilbo would be best suited for that, I fear neither Bombur, no I, are exactly the type to go around without notice."
"I do not need you to go unseen…just keep your ears and eyes open," the princess continued. "Bombur, you are in the kitchen most of the day, and I know for a fact that serving maids talk…so listen to what they say and report back if you hear any opinions, either good or bad, about Thorin courting a hobbit."
"Ahhh, I see your point," Balin nodded, knowing that taking a poll of the people on this subject would not exactly be the wisest thing to do. "Best not to ask, but just observe."
"Exactly, if we go around questioning their thoughts of the matter, we are confirming it," Dis stated. "Balin, you can observe the nobles, the councilors and those closest to Thorin's ear. Do not let on that you are concerned…just…well…"
"Spy on them?" the white bearded dwarf laughed. "Consider it done."
"Bilbo, I need you to find out what the hobbits are saying. There are not many of them, but their opinion still matters greatly to me and Thorin. They did not seem to have any issue with Bergie and Dwalin getting married, but then again, Dwalin is not a king."
"I will find out what I can," Bilbo agreed.
"Dwalin, I am putting you, Fili and Kili in charge of gauging the reactions of the warriors. Do they suspect anything, and if so, how do they feel about it?" She earned a solemn nod from all three.
"Now, Bifur, you deal a lot with families - mothers and children," she stated, knowing that as the best toymaker in the mountain, he was constantly surrounded by those looking to buy his wares. "See if the wives and mothers seem to have any thoughts on the matter."
"Aye," Bifur replied, still being a dwarf of few words.
"And Bofur, I need you to keep your ears open around the miners. Those who work the mines are the backbone of our society, and their opinions could go a long way in influencing the rest of the mountain. If they accept Marigold as their future queen, then we just might have a chance." She then turned to Nori, giving him a sly smile. "I think you already know what to do, so I will not attempt to give you direction. Just find out what you can, where you can, and any way you can."
"Ahhh, I like that, no restrictions to tie my hands," he laughed, his eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Just keep it legal," was all Dis asked. "Now, does everyone understand what to do?"
"Aye," came the round of replies, as everyone got up and headed for the door, eager to get started. Yet before Dwalin could also exit, he was stopped by Dis' voice.
"Cousin, please stay a moment," she requested, causing him to flinch at the almost warning tone in her voice.
"Yes?" he inquired, sitting back down, though not appearing happy about it.
"What are you hiding, Dwalin?" she asked him point blank. "You barely said one word here today and usually you are the one most vocal on the subject of Thorin and Marigold. What are you keeping from me?"
"I…I…" he stammered. Dis was a very formidable dam, one everyone in the mountain was afraid to cross...even Thorin. Add to that the fact that she was his kin and he had grown up respecting her a great deal, and that left Dwalin in a bind. And yet, Dis was nothing compared to Bergie when she set her mind to something, and he knew that breaking his promise to her was tantamount to marital suicide. "I can't tell you," was all he could think to say.
"You can't tell me?" Dis replied, her words coming out slow and deliberate. "And exactly who in this mountain has sworn you to secrecy? Who is it you are now loyal to, if not your own cousins?"
"Bergie," Dwalin admitted quietly, not even raising his eyes to look at her.
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence and then Dis gave a short laugh.
"Fine," she nodded, sitting back and folding her hands on the table in front of her.
"Fine?" Dwalin gasped, shocked by her placid reaction.
"Yes, fine," she repeated, looking no longer concerned that he was keeping a secret from her. "I would never get between a husband and a wife, and if Bergie swore you to secrecy on something, I am confident that she has a very good reason."
"I only wish I knew what it was…she won't even tell me all the details!" Dwalin huffed, feeling like an untrustworthy child. "Says she is afraid I will spill the beans to Thorin before her plan has a chance to work."
"Then Bergie is even smarter than I first anticipated," Dis chuckled, enjoying the pouting look on her kinsman's face.
"Hey!" Dwalin protested, knowing that somewhere amid the compliment to his wife, he had just been insulted.
"Oh, come now, she married you, didn't she?" Dis pointed out. "That makes her the wisest of hobbits in my book. She just also knows that your loyalty to Thorin is absolute, and anything you can do to aid him would be foremost on your mind. Don't begrudge her a little secrecy…especially if it will help move this courtship along."
"Aye, you are right…and so is Bergie," Dwalin nodded, resigning himself to being kept in the dark. "All I know is what I am supposed to do and say…though I have no blessed idea as to why. And if truth be told, it looks as though my part in all this could easily get my head lobbed off. I just hope she knows what she is doing."
"Something tells me that she is the only one who fully understands the situation, and we need to trust that she has the solution," Dis said with all seriousness. "And may the Valar guide her hand."
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"Bergie?" Marigold gasped as her aunt grabbed hold of her arm and quickly pulled her into the room. "What is going on? Nori delivered your message saying that you needed to see me immediately…that it was an emergency. What is wrong?"
"Everything!" Bergie wailed, stomping over to the sofa and holding up a frilly blue dress. "It no longer fits!"
"What?" Marigold's tone quickly turned from fear to humor. "That's all…your dress is too tight, and you call that an emergency?"
"But it is my best one…and I really wanted to look pretty for Dwalin tonight. It is our two month anniversary and I had something special planned." Bergie had never been one to primp or preen, but even Marigold could see her desire to look nice for her husband…especially on a special occasion such as this. Had it truly been two months since they had wed?
"Well, then we will just have to fix it," Mari stated, shrugging out of her little coat and rolling up her sleeves. After inspecting the gown, she noted that the fabric at the seams had been left wide, allowing a little wiggle room for expansion. "I think we can make this work...where is your sewing kit?"
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Meanwhile, Nori, having accomplished his first assignment, hurried to the front gates, where he knew Thorin and Dwalin were briefing a company of soldiers being sent out on night patrol, hoping to ascertain if any remaining orcs or goblins were skulking around in the dark. None had been spotted since the attack on the arriving hobbits, but still, the dwarves knew the foul beasts would not remain inactive for long. They would slink back to their filthy holes, lick their wounds, and attack once more…those damned bloody orcs always did.
Thorin and Dwalin were just finishing up, when the war chief spied Nori, standing over to the side as the setting sun gleamed off the little piece of metal he was using to signal him. The two of them giving each other silent nods, indicating that the trap had been set. Now it was up to the bald warrior to do his part…whatever that was. Nori liked Bergie, and he trusted her implicitly, even if her own husband was pouting over being left in the dark.
"Thorin," Dwalin began, clearing his throat to dislodge his slight fear. Yes, this could easily go terribly, terribly wrong. "I need to speak to you…alone."
Turning to stare at his kinsman, and trusted friend, Thorin only gave a nod of agreement, apparently realizing that what Dwalin had to say was important.
"Where do you suggest we speak?" Thorin inquired.
"My chambers are not far, we can go there," Dwalin stated, doing just as Bergie had instructed.
"Lead on then," the king offered, extending his hand as he fell into step with his captain of the guard.
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"Hold still, or I swear that little one of yours will be born full of pin holes!" Marigold fussed, doing her best not to poke her aunt, though her squirming was making it very difficult.
"I just want to hurry," Bergie complained. "It must be nightfall by now and I want to surprise Dwalin by wearing it at dinner. I'm worried he will come back at any moment."
"Well I can't sew any faster, and you moving around like this is not helping," Mari scolded. "Now, for the last time, hold still."
It only took a few more minutes before she tied off her thread and then moved around to start on the right, having let out the seams on both sides of the dress.
"One down, one to go, and then you will look beautiful," Marigold smiled. But her expression turned to one of fear when they both heard the sound of a key turning in the lock at the door.
"Dwalin! He's back!" Bergie hissed, hopping down off the footstool she had been standing on and grabbing Marigold's hand. "Quick…hide!"
"What…hide where?" she squeaked, as Bergie all but dragged her into the closet, though leaving the door open just a crack so that they could both see and hear.
"Shhh, I don't want Dwalin to see me in my dress yet…especially when it is only half finished and still showing most of my bare skin," she explained, her voice a harsh whisper. "Now, be quiet!"
Marigold rolled her eyes and leaned against the back wall, having to brush a few coats, and other articles of clothing, out of her face.
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"Do you need some help with that, cousin?" Thorin asked, noticing how Dwalin appeared to be having some difficulty with the lock on his own door.
"I can do it," Dwalin huffed, taking a few more seconds before allowing the key to turn the tumblers and unlock the door. Pushing it open he quickly glanced around, seeing no one in sight…just as planned. Yet his observant eyes took note of the open sewing box, and Marigold's jacket lying nearby, and he knew that the little hobbit lass was here…somewhere. He only hoped this would work.
"So, are you going to offer me a drink, or do I need to be in possession of my faculties when you speak your piece?" was Thorin's next question, causing Dwalin to turn and look at him nervously. "What's on your mind?"
"It…it's Marigold," he blurted out, figuring he might as well jump right in with both feet. A drink would have been helpful, providing him with a little bit of liquid courage, but he knew that somewhere in the room his pregnant wife and niece-in-law were hiding, and he dare not prolong any discomfort they might be experiencing. "I've been hearing things and I thought you should know about it."
"Hearing things?" Thorin was instantly alert. "What kind of things?"
"Dis has asked a few of us to keep our ears open," he continued, tossing in a bit of truth with his upcoming lie. "From what I have learned, the residents of Erebor are not pleased that their king is paying an inordinate amount of time with a hobbit. They are not pleased at all."
"What?" Thorin was devastated. He had feared they would not be overjoyed at the idea, but that they would at least see reason. "What are they saying?"
"That a hobbit would not make a good queen," Dwalin stated, hating the taste of the lie on his lips. "That you are making a big mistake and they will never accept her as your one. Some are even claiming that since she is of another race, she can't possibly be your one."
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Inside the closet, Marigold had abandoned her position against the wall and was now side by side with Bergie, the two of them doing all they could to see and hear what was going on through the crack. The older hobbit put a comforting hand on her niece's shoulder at those last hurtful words.
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"They have no right to say who is, or who isn't, my one!" Thorin roared, his face turning a dangerous shade of red. "They accepted Bergie as yours! Why in Mahal's name won't they accept Marigold as mine?"
"Well, I am not their king," Dwalin reasoned, shrugging his shoulders helplessly. "I am not held to the same standards as you, or the rest of the line of Durin. Your people see this match as nothing short of a betrayal."
"It would be more of a betrayal to refuse the one that Mahal gave me!" Thorin fumed. "Those idiots, those fools…what do they expect me to do?"
"Give her up…send her back to the Shire where she belongs," came Dwalin's next nail in the coffin.
"NO…NEVER!" Thorin was now beyond enraged.
"You will get over her in time," he pressed on, hating himself for every cruel word. "And I hear tell that there is a fine dam from the Iron Hills, one of noble blood, who is just itching to come visit the handsome, single king of Erebor. And if not her, then maybe another will suit your taste. They really don't care who you wed, just as long as it is a dwarrowdam…not a hobbit."
"To Mordor with what they want!" At this, several of Dwalin and Bergie's possessions met an unhappy end, being tossed to the floor as Thorin overturned a nearby table in a fit of rage. "I will not give Marigold up! I will not send her away…for how could I? She is my one, Dwalin…my one!"
"No one said it would be easy," Dwalin insisted. "But it is not as if you truly love her or anything. We all know that you are only courting her so that you can fulfil your urge to sire children…right?" Oh, that had truly hurt him to say…he only prayed that Thorin would one day forgive him for this ruse.
"WHAT?" Thorin gasped, taking a step backwards, looking as if Dwalin had punched him in the gut. "What are you saying? I have never said that…I have never even thought that! And if you believe such lies then you are no friend of mine, kin or no! I have loved Marigold from the moment I first laid eyes on her, since the first words she spoke to me, and the first time she smiled. She is the reason for me to rise in the morning and my last thought before I fall asleep. I would never let her leave Erebor…and if she did, I would follow her to the ends of the earth, begging on bended knee that she accept me as her husband. I would sooner renounce the throne than be parted from her side. If the dwarves of Erebor require a king who is married to a dwarrowdam, then Fili can bloody well have the crown, and with my blessing! He was always meant to succeed me anyway, why not sooner than later? I love her, Dwalin! I love Marigold more than anything in this world and you dare to tell me to simply let her go? I thought you, of all people, would understand how I feel. But apparently not!"
"Oh, cousin," Dwalin grinned, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. "I understand exactly how you feel…and now I think someone else finally does as well." At that, the now beaming warrior nodded his head to something behind Thorin, causing the still enraged king to turn around, his eyes falling upon a teary eyed Marigold, who had just exited the closet.
"You…you love me?" she sniffled, her gaze never leaving Thorin.
"Marigold!" he gasped, his mind spinning with worry over what she had probably just heard Dwalin say about the residents of Erebor rejecting her. Yet apparently that was not the part of the conversation she now chose to focus on.
"You truly love me…not just the idea of me being your one…but you love me?" she repeated, taking a few steps closer to him.
"Of course I do," Thorin assured her, reaching out as he ran his hands up and down her arms, pulling her closer to him as he spoke. "I thought you knew this. I have done everything in my power to show you my love on a daily basis. And yet…you had doubts?"
"Well, you never said it," she revealed, looking up into his sapphire blue eyes and feeling as if she could drown there. "You never once told me that you loved me, just that I was your one…chosen by Mahal…yet never truly chosen by you out of love."
"Oh, my sweet Marigold," Thorin moaned, pulling her to him as he wrapped his arms around her. "I had no idea you felt that way…none at all! And my only excuse is that to a dwarf, claiming a dam as his one is equal to saying I love you. But had I known you needed to hear the words, I would have gladly told you a million times over. I love you, Marigold Brandybuck, and I want you to be my wife for no other reason than simply that…because I love you."
"And you would truly give up your throne just to be with me?" she asked, pulling back as she looked at him in fear. "Thorin, I could never ask you to do such a thing, never!"
"Yet I would in a heartbeat, should my stubborn and stiff-necked people have the gall to object to our union," Thorin swore through gritted teeth.
"Well…let's not go putting the cart before the pony, shall we?" came Bergie's warning, as she moved over to stand by Dwalin, the two of them looking rather smug. She was currently clutching the side of her dress, where Marigold had yet to finish sewing up the gaping seem, but nothing could dampen the smile that was plastered across her face. "The dwarves of Erebor are not exactly as up in arms as you might think…in fact, we made the whole thing up."
"What? But Dwalin said…" Thorin began, but was cut off by his very much relieved kinsman.
"Everything I said was all scripted out by Bergie," he confessed, hoping since things had turned out so well, he might be forgiven…in time. "None of it was true…at least not that I know of. Dis did ask us to find out what the consensus was around the mountain, about you and Marigold courting, but she only asked us to look into it today. No one has reported back with a yea or a nay."
"So…this was all a ruse to get me to confess my feelings for Marigold?" Thorin asked in shock, his mind just now wrapping itself around their kindhearted deceit.
"Well, if the words had not come straight from you, it wouldn't have meant as much," Bergie explained, giving Marigold a wink. "My niece needed to hear it from your lips, with no coercion, no duress…just you, speaking from your heart."
"And now you believe me?" Thorin asked, looking down at the still teary eyed dam in his arms. "You no longer doubt my feelings…that I do indeed love every inch of you, from your furry feet to the tip of your adorable button nose?"
"I believe now that you might just love me as much as I love you, Thorin Oakenshield," Marigold nodded, her bright smile saying it all.
"You…you love me as well?" This news was so overwhelming to him that he suddenly understood why she had waited so long for him to confess it. To hear the words, to see the truth reflecting in her eyes…it was almost too much.
"More than words can possibly say…though I will never withhold them, and speak them daily," she promised.
Thorin wanted to kiss her, he wanted to pull her to him and never let go, but he wanted something else even more. And yet, here, in Dwalin's home, with too many eyes upon them, he felt suffocated. So taking her by the hand, he pulled her towards the door, stopping only long enough to call over his shoulder.
"Don't you two dare follow us!" he growled, yanking open the door. "And if you see Bilbo or Dis…for Mahal's sake, keep them busy!"
"Consider it done!" Dwalin laughed, giving the two a final wave as the door slammed behind them.
"Well…that went well," Bergie stated, looking up at Dwalin with a big grin.
"And if it hadn't?" Dwalin asked, eyeing her suspiciously. "You might have gone to bed a widow tonight, if Marigold had not liked what she heard."
"Oh, I would have protected you, my big strong warrior," she giggled, snuggling into his side. "Besides, I knew it would all work out."
"How?" came his shocked question.
"Because I am a hobbit…and a hobbit knows two things. Food, and matters of the heart," she informed him.
"Apparently, hobbits also know how to be sly and tricksey, when they want to be," her husband added, making her grin even more.
"That they can," she nodded. Her eyes then glanced over to the open closet, where she and Marigold had hidden, listening to every word the two dwarves had said. "And I just so happen to have discovered a nice, soft, and dark place that you and I have yet to christen, my love."
"Oh?" his eyebrows shooting up into his non-existent hairline.
"Yes, do let this sly and tricksey hobbit show you just what she means, my brave and handsome husband," Bergie said in a sly voice.
"Are you sure?" he asked, pulling back slightly. "I mean…will it be safe for the baby? We have been going at it like rabbits lately."
"Are you complaining?" she joked, raising an eyebrow at him.
"No…never!" Dwalin barked back, rather aghast at the idea.
"Besides, soon I will grow so large that it will make a little rendezvous like this a bit…well, awkward," she giggled, imagining that in no time at all, she might not even fit in the closet, much less be able to get in there with someone else. "Best take advantage of our chances now…before it is too late." Once again she pulled on his arm, urging him to follow her.
"Well, from the looks of your gown there, you are already half undressed anyway," he mused, offering no resistance or protests as she led him forward. Dwalin only paused long enough to toss a few of the hanging coats down for padding, before he allowed himself to be lured to the floor by his seductive wife.
Oh, yes, Dwalin loved his hobbit…no doubt about it.
Well...did everyone like Bergie's solution? Kind of a mean way to go about it, but it got the job done!
And Thorin now knows the importance of those three little words...because when Marigold said them back to him... he turned to mush! I bet he won't be holding back from saying them again, and again, and again.
Hmmmm, wonder where they are off to in such a hurry?
And hey, if Dwalin and Bergie are kanoodling in the closet...how are they supposed to keep Bilbo and Dis off their trail? Slackers!
Guest Reviews:
Emrfangirl: Agreed. If Thorin is told WHAT to do and WHAT to say too often, he will never know what to do or say after they are married. He needs to find these things out on his own. And I think Bergie's idea did just that. And SOMEONE is having fun in a closet right now...it is just not Thorin and Marigold. ha ha.
dojoson41: Ohhhh, gotcha! And as for your request...it has been duly noted. Not saying I will or will not grant it, but it has been noted. ha ha.
abc: You have a point...Gandalf has been meddling in Middle Earth affairs for quite some time, hasn't he? ha ha. and now that you know what Bergie was up to...were you pleased?
Aranel Mereneth: Sier loves Kili like a brother...who wouldn't? I hope you did not think I forgot all about Kili's coat...I mean he wouldn't let Sier forget, that is for sure. ha ha. OH yes, the Durins bleed fiber-fill stuffing. ha ha. Thanks for the review.