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Now...let the wedding night begin.

Don't worry...it is rated PG13. Smut-light only.

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Chapter 84

~X~

The rest of the evening went well, with Thorin and Marigold dancing many more times, as well as most of the wedding party. Fili and Sier only dared a few turns around the floor before his wife grew tired and insisted that she sit the rest of them out. Dwalin and Bergie did not even try. Saradoc and Esme were hardly ever missing from the dance floor, and never out of each other's arms. Even Rory and Menegilda impressed the crowd a time or two with some fine hobbit footwork.

When it came time to cut the cake – much to Flinn and Frodo's delight – Thorin and Marigold got a good laugh over the golden figurines, who by then were embedded up to their necks in frosting. Yet, as the hour grew late, Thorin knew it was time for them to give their final speeches and retire. He was not ashamed to admit that he had been both looking forward to this moment, and dreading it just the same. Yet if he were to delay their departure any longer, some might begin to suspect that he didn't wish to bed his new wife…and that was certainly not the case at all!

"Dear friends," Thorin announced, standing up and gaining the attention of everyone present. "Marigold and I would like to thank you all for attending. Our day was made all the more special by having you share it with us. Please, stay as long as you wish, eat, drink, and dance to your heart's content. Yet Marigold and I intend to bid you goodnight. May Mahal's blessing be upon you all."

With that a loud cheer rose from the crowd, wishing the happy couple farewell, before they all settled back into their merry making.

Marigold hugged both her parents, as well as her brother and Esme. Dis also pulled Thorin into her arms, her eyes beginning to glisten with tears of joy.

"I am so happy for you, big brother," she told him. "You have found a wonderful wife in Marigold."

"I am very well aware of that," he grinned, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek. "And thank you for all you have done to make this day so wonderful. I could not have asked for a better sister."

"Oh, stop," she huffed, wiping at her eyes in frustration. "Or you are going to make me blubber in front of everyone! Now get out of here, you two."

Bergie was the last to embrace Marigold, giving her a little wink of encouragement, before the two of them exited the room and headed down the hallway towards the royal wing.

"Are you sure that you wish to leave the party?" Thorin asked, not wanting his new wife to feel pressured in any way. "We could stay longer if you would like."

"No, I am plum exhausted," she told him, wrapping her hands around his arm and leaning against him as they walked. "I couldn't eat another bite, or dance another round, even if I wanted to."

"Oh?" Thorin said, sounding a bit disappointed by her statement.

"That doesn't mean I am too tired for everything," she quickly assured him, looking up at her husband with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

"Oh!" he said again, yet this time it was accompanied by a much happier sound.

When they at last arrived at his door, Thorin stood there for a moment, not quite sure what to do. Should he just take her inside…or should they talk a bit first?

"Have you forgotten how to use a door knob?" Marigold asked, looking from Thorin to the door and then back again questioningly.

"No…I…I just was not sure if you wished to go in just yet," he explained, feeling very foolish over his hesitation.

"Why wouldn't I?" she questioned. "You do want me to share your quarters…don't you?"

"Mahal, yes!" Thorin gasped, turning to her and taking her hands in his. "More than anything. It is just that…"

"This is new for me as well, Thorin," she soothed, stepping closer to him, her eyes full of love. "And yet, couples have been getting married for countless years before us. We too shall survive."

"I know," he nodded, her tender voice calming many of his fears. "I just want to do right by you, in every way, my love. I want to make sure that your faith in me is not misplaced…for I would never wish to pressure you in anyway."

"And I thank you for that, Thorin," she grinned, tugging at his hands slightly. "Now…shall we go in?"

"Yes," he nodded, turning the knob and escorting her inside.

Once the door was closed behind them, Marigold stopped and looked around. These were her chambers now too, the royal suite, fit for a king and queen. She took in the sights, from the fireplace to the large sitting area, and over to the table they would now dine at every morning. She couldn't wait to cook for him, to wash and mend his clothing, and to curl up in his arms beside the roaring fire at night. This is what she had longed for…to be Thorin's wife. Granted, there were maids and cooks to do most of those things, but she would make sure that she cared for his needs personally, as often as she was able. After all, Marigold now too had a whole host of duties to see to as queen, but her responsibilities as a wife would always take precedent.

"Would you like something to drink?" Thorin asked, his own mouth feeling as if he had swallowed a bucket of dust.

"A little wine would be nice," she nodded, noticing that a bottle and two glasses had already been set out on the table. With a smile, she made her way over to the fire, waiting patiently as Thorin opened it and poured them each a drink.

"I thought the ceremony went well, and the reception was simply lovely," Marigold assured him, taking the glass he offered and sipping at it slowly. She had already had several drinks at the party, and she dared not risk becoming tipsy. This was one night she was determined to remember with crystal clarity. "Dis truly went above and beyond, and my parents were amazed at how many hobbit traditions she incorporated throughout the evening."

"My sister is a marvel," Thorin laughed, knowing that she had just as much fun planning it as they had enjoying it. "Yet the only dam I wish to think about tonight is you, my sweet Marigold," he told her, coming over and taking the glass from her hand, setting it beside his own as he cupped her face gently. "I have waited over two-hundred years for you, my jewel…and I intend to spend every moment with you from here on out."

"As do I," she smiled, rising up on her tiptoes to kiss his lips. "And I say we shouldn't waste another second, don't you agree?"

"Do you mean…?" He let his words hang in the air, holding his breath for her response.

"Yes, that is exactly what I mean," she nodded, taking a step backwards as she held her hand out in an invitation. "Shall we, my love?"

Thorin had no words…none at all. He was nervous, yet beyond thrilled. Everything Dwalin had told him came flooding back in that moment, and he finally understood every last word. He loved Marigold, more completely than he ever thought possible, and anything they shared together could never be wrong. He dearly wanted to please her, to make this as perfect for her as he knew it would be for him. And when he saw the love shining back at him through her eyes…all his fears faded into nothing, leaving only the two of them and this marvelous night ahead.

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Back at the reception, Fili, Kili, the twins, and Glorfindel all sat around a table sharing a few pints of ale. The party was still in full swing, and showed no signs of slowing anytime soon. Fili had noticed that Thranduil had taken his leave not long after Thorin, claiming that he was weary from the travel and wished to retire for the night. That was fine by him, since in his uncle's absence, he would have felt obligated to speak to the woodland king, and that was not something high on his list for the evening's activities. Still, the elves he was currently spending time with left him quite at ease…well, almost. He was keeping an extra sharp eye on Elladan and Elrohir, just in case.

"So, you four came all the way from Mirkwood alone?" Kili asked, looking over at Glorfindel and the twins. "I would have thought King Thranduil would have brought a whole host of guards along for protection."

"Protection from who?" Fili asked, eyeing his little brother humorously. "Who do you believe Thranduil would have reason to fear more…orcs or Thorin?"

"Thorin, naturally," Glorfindel laughed. "Orcs he can simply kill, while he knew he would be forced to converse with your uncle."

"Oh, the horror!" Fili laughed.

"But to answer your question, young prince," Elladan said, taking another sip of his ale. "We did bring a contingency of elves with us, they simply remained behind in Dale, so as not to overwhelm our host in any way. I am sure that four elves at a dwarf gathering is already quite unusual."

"So…there are other elves from Mirkwood waiting in Dale?" Kili asked, his interest oddly piqued. "As in soldiers…or maybe the captain of the guard?"

"Yes, but fear not, they will remain there and rejoin us on our journey home," Glorfindel insisted, obviously misinterpreting Kili's reason for being interested. "They will not dare approach the mountain unless an army of orcs were to storm Erebor."

"Oh, that's…good," Kili mumbled, quickly turning his attention towards his own mug of ale, his expression one of obvious disappointment. Thankfully, the three elves did not seem to notice the dwarf prince's sudden change in mood. Fili, on the other hand, did…though he wisely chose not to make mention of it.

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Hours later, Fili, Sier, Kili and Flinn left the reception together, each one happy yet exhausted. Dis had run her sons ragged over the past week, getting things ready for the wedding, and now all they wanted was a good night's sleep. The only one who seemed to have any energy left was Flinn, who was talking a mile a minute and racing circles around the slow moving adults.

"You're the one who let him have that last piece of cake," Sier reminded Fili with a roll of her eyes. "So you get to put him to bed."

"Would you be interested in having a bunkmate for the evening, Kili?" Fili asked, looking at his brother hopefully.

"Are you talking about you, or Flinn?" the younger prince laughed. "If you mean you are looking for a couch to sleep on because you fear your wife's anger over winding up your son, it is all yours. But if you want to foster off Flinn…not on your life! I am a single dwarrow for a very good reason. And that means I can go to bed whenever I want…which is now."

"And here I thought it was because no dam could stand your ugly mug," Fili joked, elbowing Kili in the side affectionately.

"Ha ha, very funny," Kili said drolly. "But you know what has been worrying me all night?" he added, his face turning serious.

"That no dam will ever want your ugly mug?" Fili ventured a guess, earning him a glare of death from his nadadith.

"No," Kili huffed. "That during the whole reception, Elladan and Elrohir were perfectly amiable. I kept waiting for them to slip some salt into my ale, or for my chair to collapse when I sat down…but nothing!"

"I too was on guard all night," Fili hummed in agreement. "But Balin did say that Thorin made them promise not to disrupt his wedding with any pranks. So, that could be why nothing happened." He then got a thoughtful look on his face. "Although…they did disappear for a bit just before dinner was served, didn't they?"

"Do you think they were up to no good?" Kili asked, having had the impression that the two elves were not the sort to just let things lie, and that they were determined to get back at him and Fili for what they had done to their pastries.

"Hard to say," Fili hummed. He then looked down at his son, who was currently hopping from one floor tile to the next, trying not to touch the lines between them. "And what exactly did you and King Thranduil talk about, Flinn?"

"Just stuff," he said, looking back with a shrug of his shoulders. "I think he was a little sad. He misses his son."

"His son?" Kili asked, still finding it hard to believe a grump such as him could have ever found a wife.

"Yes…Leg…Lego…" Flinn stammered in an attempt to remember the name correctly.

"Legolas?" Fili offered.

"Yes! That's it. Do you know him, Adad?" the little dwarfling asked.

"I met him a few times," Fili nodded, recalling how the woodland prince had been one of the elves who had originally taken them prisoner, locking them up in the dungeons at his father's command. Yet, Legolas had also been one to aid them in the Battle of Five Armies, so he guessed he shouldn't hold past grudges against the elf.

"Well, King Thranduil misses him…since he is off fighting orcs, you see," Flinn explained, now doing his best to walk backwards while talking. "He also told us a really funny story about a dragon. It wasn't scary or anything, and that made Frodo happy. I thought he was really nice."

"So, all it took was one story and elves are just fine in your book?" Sier laughed, knowing that these had been the first fair-folk her son had ever come in contact with. "Perhaps Thranduil should tell Thorin a story as well."

"Oh yes, he should!" Flinn agreed, taking his mother's words seriously. "Mister Glorfindel is really amazing, and Frodo and I think the other two that look alike are very funny!" The dwarfling's face lit up with glee. "And I think after we made King Thranduil smile and laugh…he was pretty neat too. I don't know why Uncle Thorin is so mad at him all the time. I think they both just need to say they are sorry and start being friends."

"Oh, that idea will please Thorin, for sure," Fili laughed, his hand shooting out to steer his son a little to the left, before he ran into a stone pillar he was heading right for. "But I am glad you like them, since it would appear that an alliance with them is good for everyone. And now that Thorin himself appears to be friends with Glorfindel, I would hazard to say that it is time old prejudices were set aside."

"But I was wondering," Flinn continued, still walking ahead of the three adults. "Are there any elf lasses?"

"Of course there are," Sier laughed. "Do you think little elflings simply spring up from the ground? They would need to have mothers, wouldn't they?"

"Oh…but what do they look like?" the tyke continued.

"Elf maids are very beautiful," came Kili's reply, causing both Fili and Sier to stop and look at him questioningly. "Well…at least the few I have seen," he added, blushing slightly when he realized just how quickly he had offered up his rather emphatic opinion. "I mean…if you like the tall and willowy type, that is."

Fili's eyes narrowed slightly and he gave his brother a low hum of suspicion, yet once again chose not to comment at that time. Perhaps later.

They had all reached Fili and Sier's chambers by then, and there they bid Kili goodnight, watching him continue down the hall to his own room.

"What was that about?" Sier whispered when the younger prince was out of earshot.

"What?" Fili asked, yet he knew exactly what his wife was referring to.

"All that talk about elf maids? Is there something I should know?" she asked, eying her husband with great interest.

"It's a very long story…and one that I would rather not go into tonight," Fili said in a pleading tone. "I am exhausted and just want to get some sleep."

"All right, I will let it go for now…but I won't forget about it," she warned, reaching for the door and heading inside.

"I never thought for a moment that you would," Fili chuckled. Yet his laughter died on his lips when his eyes beheld the disturbing scene before him. "What in the name of Mahal!"

"Adad!" Flinn squealed with delight. "The room….it's all upside down!" The little dwarfling quickly bent over, tipping his head sideways so that he could view things correctly.

"Fili, what on earth?" Sier gasped, unable to process what she was seeing. For their table was turned upside down, with the legs sticking up, their sofa was arranged the same way, as well as every book on their shelves, and each chair in the room. Even the paintings had been turned around so that they now faced downward. "Who could have done this?"

Before Fili could even hazard a guess, Kili came busting in behind them.

"Fili, you will never guess what…" and there he stopped, scanning his brother's room as well. "Or…maybe you would."

"Yours too?" Fili asked, confusion written all over his face.

"Everything I own…upside down!" Kili confirmed with a nod of wonder. "But who?"

"The twins!" Fili all but shouted, throwing up his hands in exasperation. "That's why they disappeared from the party! It has to be!"

"How did they get past the guards posted at the bottom of the stairs?" Kili asked, having seen the sentries on duty as they came up.

"They're elves!" Fili replied, the simple explanation being all that was needed to convince his brother.

"But they promised Thorin that they would not disrupt the wedding," Sier reminded them.

"And they didn't," Kili chuckled. "They knew perfectly well that we would not discover any of this until the reception was over. Oh, they're a sly pair, I will give them that."

"And you know what that means, don't you?" Fili asked, with a wide grin on his face. "That we have to be even more sly in order to get them back!"

"But how? It is already so late and they will be heading back to Mirkwood in the morning," Kili whined. "And I am so tired now, I can't even think straight, let alone plan some elaborate prank."

"Thankfully, that is why you have me, little brother," Fili stated, his eyes narrowing and his jaw setting in determination. "I will come up with the perfect form of retribution."

"Can I be your lookout, Adad?" Flinn asked, jumping up and down in excitement. "I can be a great lookout!"

"You need to get into your room and put on your night clothes," Sier insisted, rolling her eyes at her husband and brother-in-law's insistence on continuing this prank war.

"But Ama! Adad needs me!" Flinn pleaded.

"No…bed for you," Sier repeated, pointing towards the room firmly.

"Flinn, you should listen to your ama," Kili warned the child. He then leaned down and whispered animatedly. "And you never know, your room might be all upside down too, and you will be sleeping on the ceiling tonight!"

This thought caused the little dwarfling's eyes to grow wide with excitement, and spinning around, he ran towards his room without another word.

"Thank you, Kili," Sier laughed, giving the two brothers a wave as she headed off to assist her son in getting ready for bed. "Don't be up too late plotting your revenge," she called over her shoulder as she left the room.

"So you really think you can dream something up before morning?" Kili asked, stifling a yawn.

"I will do my best," Fili nodded. "So go get some sleep, Nadadith. We will talk in the morning."

"I am all for that," Kili agreed. "I just hope it was only my living quarters they messed with…I would hate to have to fix my bedroom tonight. If so, I think I will just sleep on the floor." He then gave a shrug of indifference and headed out the door.

"Now…" Fili mumbled to himself as he rubbed his neatly trimmed beard in thought. "What to do about those rascally elves?"

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As the first rays of light filtered down through the crystal shafts and into Thorin's sleeping chambers, the dwarf king opened his eyes slowly, staring at the ceiling like he always did. And yet, something felt different. He felt different! And what was more, he immediately became aware that he was not alone in his bed. As memories of the past day, and night, came flooding back in a wave of pure delight, Thorin turned and smiled down at Marigold…his wife!

For a split second he wondered if it had all been a dream, that he was still asleep and this feeling of utter contentment would fade as soon as he awoke. But the longer he lay there, staring at the sleeping beauty next to him, Thorin came to realize it was real. Yesterday he had stood before all of Erebor and claimed Marigold as his wife and queen. Then, last night, much to his wonder and delight, she had freely given herself to him as a lover as well.

Oh, it had been too perfect for words! Granted, at first they had been a bit shy and awkward, neither one quite sure how to proceed. And yet, as their wedding clothes had been shed, and kisses had been exchanged, things simply began to fall into place. Dwalin had been right, their love guided them, showing the way and taking them to moments of pure ecstasy. Thorin could still hear the delicious sounds of Marigold desperately whispering his name in the dark, as his lips and hands explored every inch of his precious little hobbit. It had been a whirlwind of pleasure, followed by a warm sense of completeness as they lay cocooned in each other's arms, trying to catch their breath. Thorin had struggled to find words to express his joy, yet everything he could think of fell utterly short. In the end, the looks of utter love they exchanged, and the tender kisses they shared before falling asleep, had more than conveyed their feelings for each other.

Yet now, in the light of morning, Thorin was not sure what to say once Marigold awoke. He didn't believe he had done anything out of order last night, though he admitted that he had been rather exuberant in his displays of affection. Still, she had not seemed opposed to his methods, nor did she once ask him to stop. He could only hope that his adorable wife would wake with the same sense of satisfaction as he.

Now he only had to wait.

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Marigold was having the loveliest dream, and didn't wish to open her eyes and see it disappear. She imagined that she was lying in Thorin's arms, warm and safe in the knowledge of his presence. Marigold let a small sigh of contentment escape her lips as she snuggled a little closer to her dream lover, enjoying the feel of his bare skin against her own. Yet, when she felt a set of lips touch her forehead, her eyes flew open. That had felt all too real!

The first sight she saw were her fingers, curling around the dark hairs that covered his firm chest, and as she let her eyes drift upwards, they also took in the view of his neatly trimmed beard, his smiling lips, and his bright, yet hesitant, eyes.

"Good morning, my love," he greeted her, remaining very still so as not to spook her.

"G-g-good morning," she answered back, sitting up slightly as she pulled the covers around her chest. It was then that the fact she was indeed completely naked beneath the blankets hit her…and that he was just as bare as she! A slight blush kissed her cheeks and she looked away with a touch of embarrassment.

"Now, now…there will be none of that," Thorin soothed, reaching up to tip her chin back in his direction, having instantly missed the sight of her emerald eyes. "We are married…there is no shame in what we did."

"No, you are right," she assured him, her worry melting away at the sound of the rich and sultry timbre in his voice. "Of course there isn't."

"You…you are still happy that we are wed, are you not?" he asked, his brows furrowing in worry. "I did not displease you in any way last night…did I?"

"NO! Not at all," she was quick to assure him, loving how his face softened in relief. "You were…quite magnificent, in fact. Or at least I thought you were…I mean, I have no frame of reference to say otherwise…but I am sure that…" she was now floundering, her words sounding as if they were coming out all wrong. Yet he hushed her with a quick kiss, her lips more than happy to be put to a better use.

"Shhhh," he whispered as they parted. "The look in your eyes tells me all I need to know. I too was more than pleased by what took place between us last night. In all my years, I cannot say I have ever felt so alive…or so happy."

"And you made me happy as well," she assured him. "More than that, for you make me feel…loved!" As she said this she fell back against the pillow beside him, grinning from ear to ear as she closed her eyes with a sigh of bliss. She could feel her whole body tingling from pure joy, knowing that she was now his in every way imaginable.

"And that you are, my little Marigold," Thorin chuckled, rolling over until he hovered above her, brushing the stray locks of her chocolate curls to the side, attempting to memorize every nuance of her face. She opened her eyes and stared up at him, her smile of contentment never fading.

Thorin had once imagined he knew what love felt like. He had loved his parents, his brother and sister, and of course his nephews. Yet nothing had prepared him for this overwhelming need for the lass beneath him. Was this what Fili felt for Sier? What Dwalin experienced whenever he looked at Bergie? What Dis had shared with her husband Flinn? Thorin could not imagine such a thing, for what he was feeling could never be duplicated or repeated…it was for them alone.

"I once swore that I would never succumb to the overwhelming pull of gold sickness again," Thorin whispered. "And yet, looking back, I now realize there is a much stronger addiction…one I will gladly allow to consume me. For you are my treasure now, Marigold. Your emerald eyes, your ruby red lips, your teeth as white as pearls, and your heart as pure as diamonds. You are worth more to me than all the gold in this mountain, and I will gladly slay dragons in order to keep you. I have never known such a love before, one I intend to share to the end of my days with only you."

"And our children, of course," she reminded him, gazing up at him in adoration. "I know you will love them as well."

"Indeed I shall, with every fiber of my being. Yet not the same way I love you," Thorin insisted. "You are my wife, Marigold, Queen of Erebor. As long as I have you at my side, I will never want for anything else in this entire world. Promise that you will never leave me."

"I couldn't even if I tried," she swore, reaching up to cup his cheek, his long mane of silver streaked hair falling down around her and tickling her cheek. "For to do so would mean my death…since I can no longer live without you, my heart."

"Nor I you," he told her, leaning down to capture her lips with a kiss – a kiss that held the promise of forever…and so much more.

And there you have it. The royal wedding night. Granted they have more honeymooning to do, but that will have to wait till another chapter. ha ha.

Oh, man, it sounds as if Kili has some secret crush on someone...whoever could it be? Hmmmmm

Well, the twins have struck...but notice they kept their promise? See, what good elves they are. ha ha. However will Fili and Kili get them back?

Was Thorin and Marigold's wedding night sweet enough, without being too suggestive?

Guest Reviews:

Emrfangirl: OH good, I am happy you liked the lads and Thranduil. I had this in mind for a long while and I am tickled it was so well received. Well, the cake topper just HAD to sink...it was solid gold for pity sake. ha ha. And yep, those twins were indeed up to something. ha ha.

abc: I really did like writing Thranduil's POV. The way he was all freaked out by them looking at him, talking to him and then, egad, touching him! ha ha. Thorin and Glorfindel are becoming best buddies. And the only thing that was not better before Smaug was Fili and Kili...since they had not been born yet. But just imagine if Smaug had not come, they would have had a much better life. Sigh... The twins, as you just read, were indeed up to no good. Kili was just getting more food, that is all. And the cake topper, it just kept sinking for laughs.

Aranel Mereneth: Thorin is too busy being happy with his new wife to be all upset about Thranduil and the lads. And Sier knows how to handle Durin boys now. ha ha. Glad you liked Flinn and Frodo with Thranduil.