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Here we pick up right where the last chapter left off. With Thorin dragging Marigold off to some undisclosed place. Wonder where...and wonder why, no longer.

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Chapter 67

~X~

Thorin was a dwarf on a mission, he wanted to get someplace where they could be alone…where no one would bother them. But he also wanted it to be where there was fresh air and moonlight, someplace special. As it turned out, they ended up on the battlement, the closest he could get to out in the open without actually leaving the mountain, but it was enough. The king found it rather ironic that the last time he stood here with a hobbit, he was attempting to hurl him to his death…oh, what madness had possessed him? Oh, Thorin knew, he knew all too well what insanity had come over him and he prayed daily that it would never take hold of him again. Yet as he pulled Marigold behind him, he knew for a fact that history would not repeat itself atop these walls tonight…for he was completely incapable of letting this hobbit go.

Waving off the guards posted there, Thorin fought to clear his mind of such painful memories, continuing to hurry them across the stone walkway. When he reached the center, he stopped and looked up. The moon was large and round, offering the perfect amount of light as the stars dotted the sky. This was perfect.

"I hope this spot will be sufficient," he murmured, turning around to stare into Marigold's eyes. She looked flushed, most likely from their quick journey, but it only caused her to appear more beautiful to him.

"Sufficient for what?" she asked, a bit out of breath, for keeping up with him had been a bit of a struggle.

"For me to properly propose to you," he explained. "I know that I thoroughly botched it last time when I asked you to be my wife." Here he stopped and gave an embarrassed chuckle. "Meaning that I completely failed to even ask. But I would like to think that this is a much nicer location for my second try. A place, where you can tell our children with pride, that their father got down on one knee and asked for your hand in proper hobbit fashion." At that, Thorin did indeed fall to one knee, taking her hands in his as he looked up into her shocked eyes.

"Thorin! What are you doing?" she gasped, trying to pull him to his feet – yet he would not budge.

"Marigold Brandybuck, I love you with all my heart," Thorin began, ignoring all her flustered protests. "I worship the ground upon which your little bare feet tread, and swear to honor, protect and care for you until the end of our days. My feelings for you are not solely based on tradition, upon my acknowledgment that you are my one, but instead they stem from the fact that you have won my heart through your kindness, your generosity, and your vibrant spirit. I love you for so many reasons that it would take a lifetime to relate them all to you, but if you will accept me as your husband I promise to spend every day making sure you know each and every one." Here he paused for a moment only, taking a deep breath as he spoke the words he had been dreaming about for almost two months. "Marigold, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife, and queen?"

Marigold had been fighting to keep from crying during Thorin's beautiful speech, but as the final words fell from his lips, so did her tears. The lump in her throat was cutting off any answer she wanted to give, so in the end, she simply nodded her head, her dark brown curls bouncing up and down emphatically.

"Yes?" Thorin asked, understanding completely, though still needing to hear the words. "You will marry me?"

"Yes! Oh, yes!" she at last squealed, falling to the floor in front of him and throwing her arms around his neck. "I will marry you, Thorin Oakenshield. I will be your wife, and if the dwarves of Erebor permit it, your queen."

"I neither need nor desire anyone's permission," Thorin assured her, taking her face in his hands and bringing their lips closer. "Your word is the only one that matters to me. For tonight I am not a king, I am not a leader…I am simply a dwarf in love with a hobbit. The most perfect hobbit lass in all of Middle Earth." And with that, he kissed her, there on the battlement, beneath the moon and stars.

Minutes passed, or it could have been hours, before the two broke for air, his fingers still entwined in her hair and hers still fisted in his tunic. They remained silent for a long time, both simply resting their foreheads together as they allowed their breathing to calm. Finally, Thorin spoke.

"Thank you," he whispered, his eyes still closed.

"For what?" she asked, pulling back slightly.

"For coming to Erebor, for allowing me to court you…for saying yes," he responded, his tone heartfelt.

"You do not have to thank me for that, Thorin," she grinned. "I believe that the benefits will be mutual."

"There will be children," he suddenly blurted out, taking her by surprise.

"What?" she asked, almost choking on her words.

"Children," Thorin repeated, feeling honor-bound to disclose the information he alone possessed. "I dreamt that you and I had little ones…two in fact."

"Oh?" She gave him a smile, though it appeared rather placating. "Thorin, just because one dreams something, that does not mean that it will automatically come true." Yet she thought back to the idyllic scene of Flinn and Frodo asleep on Thorin's lap, and how it had made her long for young ones of her own…with Thorin. "Though I am pleased to hear that you have been thinking about such things, for I confess that I have as well."

"You do not understand," he insisted, taking her hands in his as he stared directly into her eyes. "For a dwarf, it is one of the signs that he has found his one…when he dreams of the children they will have together. You will bear a lass first, and then become pregnant with another several years later. I have seen it."

Marigold was obviously stunned by this news, her mouth opening and closing several times in an attempt to form words. This caused Thorin to become concerned, perhaps he should not have addressed this issue so soon.

"Please, say something, my love," he begged, feeling very unnerved by her silence.

"I…I really should have asked more questions at that blasted tea party!" she muttered to herself.

"What?" Now it was Thorin's turn to be confused.

"Oh, nothing," she said, waving it off. But when she looked back at him, her eyes appeared bright and she cleared her throat to speak. "If we are destined to have children, as you so believe, then I am glad. Very happy in fact, for second to being your wife, the chance to be a mother is my greatest wish."

"Truly?" Thorin probed. "The idea does not frighten you?"

"Of course it does," she insisted. "What sane person wouldn't be a bit scared about taking on such a massive responsibility? Yet at the same time, I can't wait to hold my…I mean our little one in my arms, counting each toe and finger and looking to see if it has your eyes or mine."

"Durin blue tends to be the dominant color in my family," Thorin mused, loving the look of excitement on her face. "Yet, Dis inherited our mother's brown…as did Kili, so there is a chance that some of our children might be born with emerald eyes like yours."

"Some of our children?" Marigold giggled. "How many did you say you dreamed we would have?"

"I saw only the two, but that is not to say there won't be more," he reasoned. "Though dwarf families are usually small in number, with three being considered rather impressive."

"Well, hobbit families are often very large, with three being a rather unimpressive number indeed," she informed him. "Perhaps we will find a happy medium between both our cultures, like you did with your gift?" Marigold's fingers found the little silver chain around her neck, holding up the rose for him to see. "Just like dwarf silver was seamlessly formed into a flower beloved by hobbits, we too can find happiness with the blending of our cultures."

"I couldn't have said it better myself," he smiled, yet then his face turned a bit sad. "Yet…I must tell you, our children can never inherit my throne," Thorin confessed.

"Why?" Marigold asked, though she did not sound upset about it, only curious.

"The crown can only pass to a full blooded dwarrow from the line of Durin," Thorin explained.

"And with my hobbit blood, they would be disqualified from gaining that birthright?" she deduced.

"Aye, they would," he nodded.

"Does this upset you?" Marigold asked, trying to read Thorin's expression.

"I named Fili as my heir a long time ago. He is wise, strong, brave, and no one can argue his right to rule one day," he told her, his tone neither sad nor happy. "And while I wish only the best life possible for our young ones, I do not see any of them ever becoming king after me. I will leave that to Fili, and be content in doing so."

"Then I don't care either," she nodded solemnly. "I would much prefer our children being raised without the pressures that would govern their lives if they were meant to rule. Besides, what if they inherit more of my hobbitness and wish to dwell in the Shire…they certainly couldn't do that if they were expected to be kings or queens of Erebor."

"No…they could not," Thorin nodded with a slight chuckle. "Are you sure this news does not bother you?"

"Not at all," she said with a shake of her head. "I know that marrying you will involve a lot of changes, and a great deal of learning about dwarven history and customs, but I am more than up for the challenge. As long as I get you in the bargain, I will be happy."

"If you truly mean your words," he said hopefully, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his clenched fist before her. "Then I have something to give you." He opening his hand to reveal three small, but intricately designed, beads. "I've had these for a while now, but I feared offering them to you. It is strictly a dwarf custom, but I was hoping you might indulge me in this."

"Beads? Like the one that Dwalin gave to Bergie on their wedding day?" Marigold asked, entranced by the beauty of the little objects before her.

"Yes…and no," he answered, reaching up to poke at the three spheres in his hand. "This one here I made out of an emerald, because it reminded me of your eyes, and it was meant to be your courting bead."

"My what?" Marigold asked, now really, really wishing she had thought to ask more questions during Dis' tea party.

"When a dwarf has found his one, and before they wed, it is customary to give her beads. The courting bead indicates to any other interested dwarrow that the dam is spoken for," Thorin explained. "Yet…with the fact that we were attempting to keep such things a secret, I did not feel it appropriate to ask you to wear it."

"I see," she nodded, realizing that had she accepted such a thing, it would have been like shouting their intentions from the top of the mountain.

"This one," he continued, indicating the little silver bead next to it, sporting a number of tiny symbols across its small surface. "This is meant to be your engagement bead. These runes symbolize my family line, the line of Durin. By wearing it, you are telling all that you have accepted my offer of marriage, and that you and I are soon to be wed."

"And the last one?" she whispered, eyeing the one that was the most stunning. It was pure gold, with small gems embedded within the circle, sparkling in the starlight.

"This one I crafted to place in your hair on our wedding day," he revealed, looking up at her with so much love that it took Marigold's breath away once more. "I know I cannot weave it in now, but…would you allow me to place the other two within your curls? Will you accept my offer of marriage, according to dwarven custom?"

"But…what will everyone say when they see me wearing your tokens?" she asked, looking a bit worried. "I thought you did not wish for anyone to know just yet."

"I could braid them in at the base of your neck, and the rest of your hair could hide them from view," he offered. "Yet I would know they are there…I would know that you accepted my suit."

At this, Marigold grinned widely, turning slightly as she reached over and pulled her hair aside, allowing Thorin easy access to the hair at the nape of her neck.

Without a moment of hesitation, the mighty king of Erebor, whose hands were more suited for metal work and the wielding of a sword, wove the tiny beads into Marigold's hair with delicate precision. When he was done, he sat back and looked at his handiwork, loving how the two beads dangled against her tantalizing skin. He had marked her at last…she had agreed to be his.

"How do they look?" she asked, unable to bend her head enough to see them from where they hung.

"Perfect," was all he could muster. "And I look forward to the day when you can wear them openly, and I may add the final bead as well. Will you allow me to make the announcement soon? Like I said before, it cannot be a hurried affair, for there are many I need to notify and invite. The marriage of a king is not something that can be done on a small scale, but I promise that any and all arrangements will be done with your approval. This is your wedding too, and I want you to be pleased with the outcome."

"Oh…Thorin," Marigold breathed, her look of joy melting to horror right in front of his eyes. "I…oh, Thorin…you are going to hate me."

"Hate you?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean? How could I ever hate you?"

"But you can…and you will when I speak my next words," she confessed, all the blood draining from her face. "I…I can't marry you. At least not here in Erebor."

"What?" Now he was truly concerned…and a little frightened. "What are you talking about?"

"Every little lass dreams of her wedding day," she began, her voice trembling as tears began to pool in her eyes. "And while I love you more than anything, I simply can't imagine getting married without my family beside me. I want my mother there, helping me dress and placing the wreath of flowers upon my head. I need to know that my brother, Saradoc, is present, smiling at me from the front row. But most of all…I need my papa beside me, to lean on as he walks me down the aisle to where you will be waiting."

"Well of course we would invite them," Thorin reasoned.

"But they are not the adventurous type," Marigold tried desperately to explain. "In all their lives, they have never traveled any farther than Tuckborough, and that is not far at all. They would never leave the Shire…I am sure of it."

"I…I see," was all Thorin could say in response, his mind suddenly spinning from her request.

"I want to marry you, Thorin, honestly I do," she was quick to assure him. "And I will gladly give up my home in the Shire, and remain by your side in Erebor for the rest of my days…I will! But it would be my fondest wish to be married in Hobbiton…with my friends and family around me. That is…if such a thing is at all possible. It would mean so very much to me…but I also know that it is an enormous thing to ask. Oh, Thorin, please forgive me!"

The dwarf king was quiet for a while, his mind trying to wrap itself around the idea that she was practically refusing to marry him within the walls of Erebor. Had he not done everything over the past several months to please her…to accommodate her hobbity ways? Did Marigold even realize what she was asking? There was not only the danger involved in leaving Erebor's lands to consider, but his people would be also be expecting a lavish wedding ceremony, followed by a massive celebration. Not to mention the coronation of her at their queen!

But then, his eyes fell upon the two bright beads in her hair. His beads. For his little hobbit lass had said yes. And when he truly stopped and thought about it… that was all that mattered. Marigold had agreed to be his wife, and suddenly, where they decided to make the marriage official did not matter to him. What did, were the vows that would be spoken, the commitment they made to one another, and the life they would share from that day forward. And at that moment, Thorin knew what his answer would be…the only answer he could give.

"I will be more than happy to journey with you to the Shire and make our vows before your parents, and all the hobbits in Middle Earth," he promised, reaching up to cup her cheek with his palm and wiping away her tears with his thumb. "I will take your hand in marriage anywhere you choose…for in saying yes, you have given me all I have ever dreamed of."

"You…you would truly do that for me?" she squeaked, hardly daring to believe her own ears.

"I would do anything for you," he nodded. "I would even give up the throne and take to dwelling in a hole in the ground, if that were the only way I could have you as my wife."

"Even if it requires postponing our wedding until fall, after the harvest, so that we can return to the Shire with the others?" she questioned.

"Yes," he agreed, knowing that the wait would be excruciating, yet loving the look of pure adoration in her eyes. "As long as you are by my side, and wear my beads, time will mean nothing to me. I may not be a very patient dwarf, but you, my little Mari, are more than worth waiting for."

"Oh, Thorin!" Again she threw her arms around him and held him close, peppering his lips and cheeks with kisses as she whispered her gratitude over and over. "How did I get so lucky as to find such an understanding and generous dwarf as you?"

This caused him to chuckle, as his face broke into a wide smile.

"That all depends on who you ask," he told her. "Dis would say it was not luck at all, but that you are simply taking pity on me. Dwalin would claim that Mahal sent you as a reward for my many years of struggle to regain our kingdom. And Bilbo would more than likely take credit for everything himself, having been the one who brought you here in the first place. But I…"

"But you?" Marigold prompted.

"But I know the truth," he continued. "I know that it is I who am blessed to have found you, my precious jewel. For all my life I have known something was missing in my life. At first I thought it was our homeland, and by reclaiming it I would once again feel whole. Yet gaining back the crown did not ease that sense of loss. I was apparently waiting for you, Marigold. Only you. Though I do not count my time as wasted, for every road I traveled, every mistake I made, and every victory I have won, brought me one step closer to this moment…and you. I have no idea how I managed to exist all those years without you near me, and from this day forward I will never leave your side. You are my heart, my life and the one I am desperately in love with. You are my everything, Marigold. And you always will be."

After such a touching speech, Marigold could say nothing, for there were no words as eloquent as his. So instead she kissed him, long and deep, telling him all he needed to know that way. And apparently, Thorin understood completely.

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"What do you mean Thorin and Marigold were seen running this way?" Dis asked as she and Bilbo hurried through the corridors.

"That is what one of the royal guard just told me," Bilbo replied, his hobbit feet moving as quickly and quietly as possible. "He said he saw Thorin all but dragging Marigold behind him as they ran this way, and he claimed that our stubborn king did not look happy. The guard had no idea why he seemed upset or where they were going, but I fear that it can't be good."

"Thorin would never hurt Marigold, no matter what," Dis told him assuredly, though her steps did not falter as she followed along.

"Of course he wouldn't, not physically anyway. But you know as well as I do that often your lug-headed brother can be a bit abrasive in his speech," Bilbo reminded the dam. "Only the Valar know what foolishness he might blurt out in a fit of anger. I submit his first proposal as a prime example."

Dis had no rebuttal to this and the two hurried on, looking around each corner and into every alcove they came across, in hopes of spotting their prey. Yet as they rounded the final bend, leading them out onto the battlement, both hobbit and dam skidded to an instant stop. Dis' hand flew to cover her lips, and Bilbo's mouth dropped open in shock. For there, before them were Marigold and Thorin, kneeling on the floor…kissing!

"Sh-should we stop them?" Bilbo asked, keeping his voice low so as not to be heard by the two lovers.

"No…look!" Dis said in an excited whisper, pointing to the two beads in the hobbit's hair, glittering in the moonlight. "She said yes!"

"What?" Bilbo had no idea what she meant and looked up at her in confusion.

"She is wearing Thorin's beads in her hair!" Dis explained further, and this time Bilbo's eyes followed to where she was pointing. "By dwarf standards, that means they are engaged…she must have said yes!"

"Well, whatever was said, they both seem very…um…happy," Bilbo chuckled, a bit shocked to witness this side of Thorin. While he always imagined that his friend had the potential to love, and be loved in return, it was quite another thing to actually witness it.

"That they do," Dis smiled fondly, placing her hand over her heart. "Perhaps we should just let them be. Come, my friend, I think a pint of ale is in order. This in an occasion that needs to be celebrated!"

"It would appear they have beat us to it," Bilbo laughed, though he gave no protests, as the two of them turned and left the battlement without a sound.

Dis couldn't wipe the smile off her face as they headed back the way they had come. Thorin was happy, he had obtained his one at last! She momentarily closed her eyes and recalled how she had felt the night Flinn had asked her to be his wife – the joy, the elation…the love. It warmed Dis' heart to think that while she would never feel such things again with her one, her beloved brother would. It was a small consolation, but tonight, after seeing how happy he appeared…it was enough. Yes, Thorin had found love at last, and for her, that was enough.

Awwww. Looks like Thorin and Marigold are engaged at last, and a wedding is planned for the Shire. Hmmm, wonder what everyone else will think of that? What do YOU think of that?

Was Thorin romantic enough?

Was there enough fluff?

Looks like Dwalin dodged the bullet there, I mean if Bilbo and Dis had interrupted them, his name would have been MUD!

Guest Reviews:

Aranel Mereneth: Pretty cheeky of Bergie...good thing that it worked or Dwalin's head might have been lobbed off in Thorin's rage. ha ha.

dojoson41: Oh Kili will get his coat...and I think you will find it amusing when he does. hee hee. And YES, Bergie did a great job in getting Thorin to say those three little words. ha ha.

abc: I agree, Dis could rule the mountain just fine on her own. Too bad there has never been a dwarf queen on the throne, because she would be awesome! I think it almost gave Dwalin a heart attack too, having to SAY those words. As you saw, Thorin was looking for a specific spot, but not for the same reason as Bergie and Dwalin. ha ha.