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Well, it appears that quite a bunch of you found the movie quote in the last chapter. It was Thorin telling Hagen "I have the only right" to rule Erebor.
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Now, let's see what happens with Marigold and the baby!
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Chapter 125
~X~
Thorin and the others rushed to the stairs as Ori practically flew down them, all meeting at the landing. Grabbing the young scribe by the shoulders, the king demanded an explanation.
"What do you mean, Marigold is having her baby?" he asked, his tone ripe with fear. "Where is she…what about Rose?"
"I tried to get her and the princess back to the tunnels, just like you said," Ori explained, gasping for air after having run so quickly. "But before we made it halfway, Marigold went into labor. I didn't know what to do, so I set her up in one of the weaving rooms, leaving Rose to mind her, and ran to get Bergie."
"Bergie? Why not a healer, you fool?" Dis demanded, rolling her eyes in exasperation.
"The healing halls are blocked by the enemy," Ori insisted, looking a bit hurt by her words. "I didn't know what else to do, so I got Bergie."
"If she went with you…who is watching the children?" Sier asked, suddenly worried for a whole new reason.
"Tor and Tal said they would care for Freya," Ori was quick to reassure her, though it really didn't do much good. The princess looked very concerned for her daughter.
"What about Marigold?" Thorin huffed, wishing to stay on the subject of his queen.
"I took Bergie to Marigold, but when we got there, she was in terrible pain and I was sent to find you," Ori explained. "You must come quickly, something appears to be wrong."
Thorin turned to Bard and Gloin, barking out his orders in a hurry.
"Get to the healing halls and liberate those imprisoned there," he instructed. "Then come find us in the weaving area…quickly!"
"We will not delay!" Bard nodded, signaling to his men to follow as he chased after Gloin, who was already halfway across the room.
"Gimli, take Sier and Dena, along with some soldiers, and go fetch the children from the tunnels," Thorin continued, noting just how worried Sier was over them being alone.
The dwarrow and two dams did as directed and soon they were heading for the entrance to the secret tunnels.
"I'm coming with you," Dis stated, ready to follow Thorin. The king did not have time to argue, even if he had meant to, for he was already racing after Ori, who was leading the way. Balin and Dori were hot on their heels, the group of dwarrow not even noticing the elven escort they were being given for protection.
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"Just keep breathing," Bergie encouraged, holding on to Marigold's hand as she took a cloth and wiped at her damp brow. "Ori will be back soon with help."
"I don't know what's wrong," the exhausted queen moaned, gripping at her stomach as another wave of pain struck her. "This is nothing like when Rose was born…it hurts far too much."
"Maybe it's twins?" Bergie joked, doing her best to ease the tension a bit. "I recall it hurt like Mordor when I squeezed Tor and Tal out of me."
"Twins?" Marigold laughed through the pain. "Thorin would surely faint over that!"
"Ama…can I help?" Rose asked, looking rather frightened to have her mother in such discomfort. "Can I get you something…anything?"
"No, my little flower," Marigold answered, reaching out and touching her cheek gently. "It is far too dangerous for you to leave this room right now. We must wait for Ori to return with your father…or some other kind of help." And while she would take just about anything or anyone who might alleviate her pain, she truly wished for Thorin's strong and reassuring presence right then.
And as if Mahal had heard her prayers, the door suddenly burst open and there he stood, her amazing husband…looking more frightened than she had ever seen him before.
"Mari!" he cried, rushing over and falling to his knees beside her. "Oh, my love…" He might have said more, but his wife silenced him as she grasped his arm and dug her nails in as another spasm of pain overtook her.
"Thorin…the baby…it's coming, but…but something is wrong," she managed to get out through clenched teeth.
Dis had also entered and quickly came to sit next to Bergie, taking hold of Rose and pulling the child into her lap. She cuddled her close in an effort to comfort the now crying child.
"If the little one is coming too soon, it might be that it has not turned yet," Dis suggested, knowing that the babe needed to be facing the right direction in order to enter the world smoothly. Otherwise…things could go badly.
"How can we know?" Thorin questioned, looking at his sister in desperation.
"We need a healer…now!" she insisted, looking over at Balin and Dori, who were hovering by the door. "Go see what is keeping them!"
The two dwarrow nodded and raced off, obviously happy to be given a task they could handle. As they left, no one noticed Thranduil as he stepped inside the doorway, eyeing the struggling hobbit with a look of genuine concern. Ori was leaning against the wall, his mitten clad hands wringing in worry as he too looked on helplessly.
"Thorin…I don't think I can do this much longer," Marigold moaned, her eyes closing as she turned her head this way and that in an attempt to stay focused. "It hurts too much…and nothing is happening."
"What can we do?" he begged, looking from Dis to Bergie. "Please…help her."
"There is nothing we can do," Dis replied solemnly, not daring to meet Thorin's pleading eyes.
"Cut it out!" Marigold insisted, reaching up to clutch at the front of Thorin's tunic desperately. "Save our baby, Thorin. Don't let our wee one perish. Please!"
"Marigold, no!" the dwarf king recoiled at her demand, not able to even contemplate such a thing. "I…I could never…"
"Thorin, you must…if I can't deliver our child, I will perish anyway…don't let it claim our baby as well," she groaned, gripping at her stomach as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Make way!" came a call from the doorway, as Balin returned with a very winded dwarf. "The healer is here!"
Everyone seemed to release a sigh of relief, watching as the dwarrow knelt down to examine the queen, pressing on her belly and then checking her progress, while doing all he could to conceal her modesty. However, Marigold was in far too much pain to care much about that, and continued to beg the healer to save her baby.
When the dwarrow finally looked up at his king, his eyes held a measure of fear and regret, and Thorin's heart sank as he feared what he would say next.
"The babe has yet to turn, and it is currently sideways…there is no way the queen can deliver while it is in this position," the healer informed them, knowing this was not what anyone wished to hear. "I see no way to save either of them without cutting her open. I am so sorry, my king."
And while Marigold weakly nodded her head in acceptance, Thorin and the others were against it. For this type of procedure had a very small success rate, often resulting in the loss of both mother and child, and no one wished to take the chance with the king's wife.
"If you would allow me, Thorin Oakenshield," came a voice from the doorway. "I might be able to offer some assistance."
Thorin looked up, shocked to see that it was Thranduil who had spoken, his tone nothing like the arrogant king of the elves he was used to. For this time his voice was soft…almost pleading.
"You?" Thorin asked in surprise. "Why?"
"Because I know the pain of loss all too well," the elf king explained, his words filled with agony. "I lost my precious wife in battle, and was forced to raise our son alone…I would not see the same fate befall you, if I can somehow prevent it. I may not possess the healing skills of Lord Elrond…but will you allow me to help if I can, King Thorin?"
Thorin stared at him for a long moment. The dwarves and the wood elves had long been enemies, all during their years in exile. And even though they had formed a tentative alliance over the past decade or so, it was hardly what one would call strong. Yet as he looked down at his beloved wife, struggling for her life, as well as the life of their child, Thorin knew he would do anything if it meant saving her.
"Please…help Marigold," he murmured. "Do whatever it takes to save her and the child."
Thranduil nodded, striding over with both grace and determination. He knelt beside the queen, allowing his hand to hover over her swollen belly, as he shut his eyes and began to speak quietly in Sindarin. At first nothing seemed to be happening, and Thorin wondered if he had been wrong to allow the elf to try. Minutes ticked by, while no one in the room spoke, and the only sound was the moans and wails of Marigold as she fought her private battle. But then, suddenly, Thorin caught the sight of movement, small kicks and wiggles coming from within his wife's stomach. She cried out once more, yet this time it was not from pain.
"I…I can feel it moving!" she said in genuine relief. "The babe is turning…I know it is!"
The healer was once more at her side, placing his hands on her stomach as he judged for himself. And this time, when he looked up at his king, it was with eyes full of hope.
"I do not know what he has done, my lord…but the babe has indeed shifted positions and can now be birthed," he said in relief. "It still might be small…but it stands a better chance now, thanks to Lord Thranduil." He then moved towards the foot of the little makeshift bed, preparing himself and the queen for delivery.
Now with the babe pointing the right direction, Marigold pushed as hard as she could, knowing her strength was leaving her and wishing to see her little one before she lost consciousness. Thankfully, the child also seemed eager to be born, and in no time at all the healer was encouraging her to give it one final push…and out came the baby.
"Congratulations, My King," the healer smiled, wrapping the squalling infant in a soft blanket, cleaning it off and rubbing it dry. "You have another fine looking lass. Our kingdom has been blessed with a second princess."
"Let me see her," Marigold begged, at last able to take a full cleansing breath without the overwhelming pain. "I want to hold my little one."
The healer did indeed place the infant in her arms, with Thorin assisting her in her weakened state. She was beautiful indeed, with a mop of brown curls like her mother and the most adorable button nose they had ever seen. Yet no one could deny that her entrance into the world spoke of her stubborn dwarven heritage, taking after her father in that manner.
"A lass?" Thorin whispered, staring at his daughter in surprise. "We…we always assumed this one would be a son. I mean, the odds were high that it would be a lad this time."
"She's perfect, Thorin…simply perfect," Marigold insisted, tears streaming down her cheeks as she watched her daughter open her eyes for the first time, blinking once or twice before giving a little yawn before shutting them again as she fell asleep. The overjoyed queen looked up at the elven king. "Thank you, Lord Thranduil…thank you so very, very much. You saved us both."
Thranduil inclined his head, graciously nodding his acceptance for her words of thanks.
"What will you name her?" Dis asked, also wiping away tears of happiness.
"We don't have one picked out," Thorin admitted. "It was to be Thrór if it was a lad…but now, with a lass, we will have to give it some thought."
"She needs a very special name," Marigold stated firmly, before looking over at the elven king. "King Thranduil…may I ask, what was the name of your wife?"
"My…my wife?" he gasped, shock filling his eyes. "Why…why do you wish to know that?"
"Because, I can think of no better way to honor your deeds here today, than to name our precious daughter after her…with your permission of course," Marigold said, causing both Thranduil and Thorin's mouths to gape open in surprise.
"Are you certain, Your Highness?" the elf king asked, still unsure if he had heard her correctly. "A dwarf princess bearing an elven name…would that not seem odd?"
"No more than a hobbit and a dwarf finding love and getting married," Marigold laughed, her strength returning as she smiled down at her lovely daughter. "We would be honored if you were willing to share the name of such a fine lady as your wife with our daughter. Please…tell us what she was called."
Thranduil hesitated for a moment, not having spoken her name out loud in a very long time – yet he knew he still called it out many times in his dreams. She had been his world, his life…and when she had perished, a large part of him had died with her. If it had not been for Legolas, Thranduil knew for certain he would have followed her in death, choosing to leave this world to be at her side. But he had stayed, raising their son as best he could on his own, while all the while longing to be with her. And now here was this little hobbit, asking to bestow upon her child a name that meant so very much to him…and yet, in his heart he knew his wife would have been touched by the gesture. And if truth be told, he was as well.
"Raina," he replied quietly. "Her name was Raina…which, in our tongue, means beautiful queen." Thranduil looked down at the now sleeping babe and gave a slight smile. "Though I think in the case of one so small, beautiful princess might be more fitting."
"Raina," Marigold repeated, stroking her daughter's cheek fondly. "It is a lovely name, and one she will bear with pride, in memory of your assistance during her birth." She then looked over at Rose, who was still clinging to Dis, her eyes wide with awe. "Come meet your baby sister, my little flower," she urged, holding out her hand in a coaxing manner.
Rose scooted off of Dis' lap, sitting down on the blankets beside her mother and leaning her shoulder against Marigold's as she stared at the baby in her arms.
"She's so tiny," Rose stated. "Much smaller than Freya was when she was born."
"Well, Freya is full dwarf, and was born when she was meant to," Marigold explained. "Where Raina is part hobbit and came a bit early. But I believe, that given time, she will more than catch up in size."
Thorin truly hoped so, yet no one could deny the fact that his new little lass appeared quite healthy. He stood up, allowing Dis to nudge in closer as she took his place, wishing to get a better look at her niece. He turned and stared up at Thranduil, feeling suddenly very small and petty for nursing the grudge he held for this elf all those years. Yes, there had been mistakes made…on both sides, but now, in light of what the Mirkwood king had done for Erebor, and him personally…that was all about to end, here and now. Stepping forward, he held out his hand in friendship.
"Thranduil…I owe you a debt I can never repay," he said, his voice cracking slightly as he thought of what might have occurred if the elf had not been there. "From this day forth, I hope that your people and mine can be friends."
"Even their kings?" Thranduil asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow as he stared at the proffered hand.
"Yes…even their kings," Thorin nodded, though he had to swallow a bit of his pride to say it. "Unless that is not your wish?"
The elf king considered Thorin's offer for a long moment, the dwarf's hand still extended in friendship. Yet, at last, he nodded, reaching out and grasping it firmly.
"It is indeed my wish for our kingdoms to be at peace," he assured Thorin. "Long has the rift between our people endured, but no more. You can indeed consider the woodland realm your friend and ally. May it only strengthen our lands against the dark forces of Mordor."
"Agreed," Thorin said with a nod of finality.
"However…this does not mean I will be required to attend all of your Durin's Day festivals, does it?" Thranduil asked, with just a hint of humor in his regular monotone voice.
"Not at all," Thorin assured him, he too doing his best to appear gruff. "In fact…I would be highly offended if you did show every time."
"Just as long as we understand each other," the elf king nodded, straightening to his full height and lacing his hands behind his back in a regal fashion.
"Perfectly," the dwarf king replied, also turning to watch his wife's smiling face as she continued to dote over their new little princess.
Balin slipped in and took his place beside Thorin, starting at the happy family scene before him. He then looked up at his king and gave him a wide grin.
"Good to see you remained upright this time, laddie," he chuckled. "You know that Nori was taking bets on whether or not you would pass out when this one was born."
"And how much did I cost you by remaining conscious?" Thorin asked, giving Balin a glare.
"Oh, I made money on this one," he laughed. "I knew you'd come through for Marigold."
This seemed to please Thorin, yet before he could respond, the sound of many footsteps was heard just outside the door, and soon several heads poked around the corner, all eyes eager to see what was going on.
"May we come in?" Sier asked, holding Freya on her hip. The little child was grinning from ear to ear, apparently quite happy to be reunited with her mother. Torin and Talin were at her side as well, along with Dena.
"Yes, please," Marigold laughed, waving them all in eagerly. "Come meet our new daughter."
"Another lass?" Sier squealed, hurrying over to peer down at the little babe. "Oh, Marigold…she looks just like you!"
"Yet I believe she will have Durin Blue eyes, just like her father," the hobbit grinned.
"Well, we know she certainly inherited her stubborn streak from him," Dena teased, earning a little glower from Thorin. "I mean, who else but his daughter would insist on being born in the middle of a battle?"
"Why did it have to be a lass?" Torin moaned, his little shoulders slumping in despair. "Flinn and Frerin better get back soon, now I'm really outnumbered!"
"My poor little pumpkin," Bergie laughed, pulling her son into her arms and giving him a kiss on the cheek, which he quickly wiped off in a fit of embarrassment.
"What's her name?" Talin asked, coming to stand beside Marigold as she looked at the baby.
"Raina," the hobbit mother announced with pride.
"Raina?" Dena repeated, a bit confused. "Must be a hobbit name…because that certainly does not sound at all dwarfish."
At this, those who knew the truth all burst out laughing, and even Thranduil couldn't help but smile…just a bit.
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The group had talked and laughed, reliving old tales and sharing new ones until Fili finally announced that he could no longer keep his eyes open.
"Do you realize that we have all been up for two days straight?" he asked, suddenly recognizing just how bone tired he really was.
"I feel as though I could sleep for a week," Dwalin nodded, standing up and stretching his muscular arms over his head and twisting his neck to the side until it gave a loud crack.
"Oh, I know you can," Flinn grinned, standing up as he slapped his old friend on the back. "Remember that time you played that rotten trick on that healer in training and he spiked your ale in retaliation? You literally slept for a week, and were groggy for the next one after that!"
"If you keep telling everyone all my dirty little secrets, Flinn, I'm going to start wishing we hadn't found you at all," Dwalin laughed, throwing his arm around the blond dwarf as they both stumbled off to find their respective bedrolls.
"I'm glad that Bain and his men offered to keep watch," Nori yawned. "With as tired as I am, a whole pack of orcs could dance a jig on my head tonight and I wouldn't wake up."
"Just keep that snoring down to a minimum, will ya?" Bofur pleaded, his eyes drooping shut as he left the warmth of the campfire.
"I told you, I don't snore!" the thief insisted. "It's all this outdoors…it's stuffing me up!"
Fili watched them all leave, one by one, until it was only him, Kili and Tauriel. He looked at the two of them, noting that neither one had moved an inch, and were still holding each other's hand. Ahhhh, young love, he thought to himself. And it only gets better, Nadddith…it only gets better.
"So…" he began, not quite sure how to go about this. "I'm going to hit the sack." When still neither one responded, he tried the direct approach. "Might you be joining me, Kili?"
"I think I'll sit here a bit longer, if you don't mind," his little brother answered, a wide grin on his face as he looked at Tauriel. "You go ahead…I'll be along later."
"All right," Fili said, rolling his eyes. "But remember, we have a long journey ahead…and Tauriel needs her rest to heal."
"I'll make sure she gets it," Kili assured him, making a little shooing motion with his hands. "Good night, brother."
"Good night, Kili…Tauriel," Fili said, covering his mouth as he fought back a yawn. "See you in the morning." And off he went, snuggling down between his two sons, pulling them safely into his arms as he drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
"Are you not tired as well?" Tauriel asked, her keen eyes examining Kili and seeing obvious signs of exhaustion.
"I will retire soon enough," he chuckled, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips for a kiss. He liked sitting beside her, for in this position, they were nearly eye to eye, since it was apparently only her legs that were much longer than his own. "I simply wish to sit and talk with you a little longer…is that so terrible?"
"No, not at all," she grinned, loving the warmth of his skin on hers. "What do you wish to talk about?"
"My favorite subject, of course," Kili informed her. "You."
"Me?" Tauriel laughed. "And what might you wish to know."
"Anything…everything," he stated. "Tell me one of your fondest memories, something that makes you happy."
"Hmmmm, all right," she mused, digging into the recesses of her mind and pulling out one of her favorites. "I was a very young elfling, perhaps twenty summers old, when my parents took me on a trip to Lothlorien. It was my first time out of the Greenwood, and I was simply amazed by the mallorn trees that grew there. They were so big and tall, and at night every bough was lit up, as if the stars themselves had descended to sleep amongst the leaves. I could simply stand there and stare at them for hours and hours." She gave a happy sigh. "Have you ever seen a mallorn tree, Kili?" Yet when he did not reply, she looked over, only to see that his eyes were closed, his head resting lightly on her shoulder. "Kili?"
"I'm awake," he assured her, though his tone said differently. "Keep talking…I'm enjoying your story. Honest."
"How about you lie down?" she offered, gently guiding him until his head rested on her uninjured leg.
Kili didn't protest at all, and lacing his fingers together, he laid them on his chest in contentment. A warm smile sprang to his lips as he felt her fingers begin to brush lightly through his long hair, enjoying the feel of it more than he probably should have.
"You have very soft hair," Tauriel commented.
"I can't do a thing with it," he told her in a sleepy voice. "Fili's will stay wherever he puts it, but I can't keep a braid in it to save my life."
"I like your hair loose and free," she informed him. "I wouldn't change you one little bit."
"That's good," he grinned, snuggling down a bit more as he relished the feel of her touch. "Because I'm already far too set in my ways…I fear it would be a hopeless endeavor." He could sense his mind beginning to shut down, and the feel of her so close to him was more relaxing than he imagined it could be. She was his one…and one day soon she would be his wife.
"I love you, Kili," she whispered, leaning down and placing a kiss on his lips.
"I love you too, my beautiful Tauriel," he mumbled, his last conscious thoughts for the night being of her and the wonderful life they would have together.
Awwww, they are so smitten! Now for some fluffy time on their way back home. ha ha.
So...how did everyone like the birth? Did you all expect another girl?
How about Thranduil helping out...much to Thorin's shock and joy.
Raina - the internet says it really does mean 'beautiful queen' FYI.
And look...THORIN DIDN'T FAINT! ha ha.
I am going to take the weekend off from posting so I can concentrate on writing the final few chapters of this story. But I will be back on Monday - notice I did not leave you with a cliffie? How nice am I?
Guest Reviews:
abc: Since the chapters are all written it is not too hard, but I do have to read them over once more to check for mistakes and continuity...often I change something later on that I forget affects something a few chapters back, so it is good to double check things before I post. ha ha. Then I try and get all my reviews responded to before I post again...so, hmmm, maybe it is a bit of work to post a chapter. BUT I love doing it and am excited for you all to see what I have planned. ha ha. I hope to grill Dwalin a little more when he is drunk and find out what happened with the chicken/goat/barmaid story...we will see what I can get out of him. ha ha. I am glad that Thorin didn't choke on his words of thanks. ha ha. Nope, Thorin did not faint...shocker, right?
dojoson41: Yah Hagen...THAT army! Look around, will ya?
Feu d'Argent: Glad my story could be a nice reward for your hard work. Hope you get an A+. You're right, I didn't kill off Mari or the baby, that would have been horrible of me! Ori is very polite, and Balin is very diplomatic. Thranduil does like the little dwarflings...and now the little hobbitlings. ha ha. Ha ha, Yah, Thorin...ever think of cleaning up? ha ha. Glad you enjoyed it and I too will be sad when this is all over. But that means I can move on to other stuff...I just don't know what that is at the moment. ha ha.