Saturday is here and so is a new chapter!

~X~

Almara Elf: I am glad you are happy. But something happened to your review...all it said was "Daeloness and Fili are..." and that is where it ended. What was the last word you planned to say? They are happy? They are together? They are joining the Russian Circus and staring a trapeze act? ha ha. Inquiring minds want to know.

~X~

~X~

Chapter 16

Oin returned to check on his patient, happy to see her smiling and no longer in pain. He instructed that she should remain in bed for at least the following day and then be careful not to exert herself. Upon questioning, he learned that the water women usually gave birth at the end of eight months, a far cry shorter than dwarrowdams at a full year. Yet with the mixed blood of the child, it was to be anyone's guess when this little one would decide to make its appearance. Oin promised to keep looking for information that might aid them in making this birth as easy and painless as possible.

When those in the room saw Daeloness stifle a yawn, they deemed it was their cue to depart. Thorin and Kili headed out with Oin, yet Dis and Fili remained.

"You will share your brother's quarters until we can make accommodations for Daeloness," Dis ordered, fussing with the blankets at the end of the bed, not wishing to look her son in the eye. She was not quite sure why it suddenly bothered her to think of what had transpired between the two in order for the little princess to now be in this condition. She was not a fool, she knew both her boys were hardly innocent, having more than their share of women fawning over them, especially now that they were the two great battle heroes who helped slay a dragon and win back their mountain home. Every dwarf mother in all of Middle Earth now saw Fili and Kili as the perfect mate, and practically threw their daughters at them, each hoping that hers would end up being their one. However their chances had just been cut in half, for Fili was already bonded with his mate, leaving Kili to pick up the slack. Not that he would ever complain, she thought to herself with a laugh. Still, they were her boys, the ones she had carried within her and rocked to sleep in their cradles at night, and it would take some getting used to before she could imagine Fili mature enough to have a child of his own.

"This is my room and I will remain here with my bride," he insisted, the look on his face telling his mother that he would not be swayed in this matter.

"She is not your bride yet," Dis pointed out sternly.

"In all but law," Fili agreed. "But soon even that will be rectified, if Thorin spoke true." He then rose from where he sat next to Daeloness and took hold of his mother's hands, imploring her with his eyes. "Please understand, Mother…I cannot leave her. Not now…not ever."

Dis could hear the desperation in his voice and her heart melted. Fili could always sway her to his way of thinking, be it a cookie just before dinner or being allowed to keep the little puppy he had found wandering lost and alone.

"Fine," she agreed with a sigh. "I suppose it makes no difference anyway, it would be like shutting the barn door after the cow's already got loose." She then grabbed hold of Fili's arm and pulled him a bit towards the door, lowering her voice so that only he could hear her. "Though I would hope you have enough good sense to know better than to engage in any more…marriage like activities, until after the birth of the wee one."

"Mother!" Fili gasped, pulling back, a bit horrified by her words. "Of course I do! What do you take me for?" He might have jumped the gun a bit in partaking in relations that were better suited for after their vows were spoken, but even he would never dream of engaging in such things while a woman was with child…it having always been the long standing custom of dwarves to refrain during this time.

"Glad to hear it," she said with a sigh of relief. "Yet those may not be the ways of her people, so I charge you with the duty of explaining such things to her. If Daeloness is to live among the dwarves of Erebor, she will need to be instructed in our customs."

"I will see to the education of my wife," Fili nodded, realizing that his mother spoke true. Yet he did not see Daeloness having issue with anything he might now be required to inform her of.

"Then have a pleasant night," she told him, reaching up to kiss his cheek, yet when she pulled back, her finger came up and waggled before his nose. "But not too pleasant of an evening!"

"Yes, Mother," Fili laughed, opening the door and chuckling to himself as she gave Daeloness a little wave as she went. Once the door was closed tight and they were alone, the almost giddy dwarf quickly came around to the far side of the bed and after kicking off his boots, he scooted over to lie beside her…respectfully remaining on top of the blankets.

"I thought they would never leave," he whispered into her ear, as he gathered Daeloness into his arms and pulled her close, careful not to jostle her too much. "I have missed you so much, my little princess. You have no idea the agony I was in without you here beside me."

"If it was half as much as I grieved for you, then you have my undying sympathies, my prince," she assured him, her words meant in jest, yet her tone betrayed a deeper pain.

"I cannot even begin to imagine how you suffered, my heart. I will never forgive myself for the pain and humiliation you went through while languishing in your father's dungeons…and all for my sake," Fili lamented.

"Please, it is all past and I do not wish to speak of it any further," she begged, snuggling into his embrace even further. "Tell me of the victory to reclaim Erebor…how did you slay the dragon?"

"You might find it odd, but much in the way you had described it with your water show back at the pond," Fili laughed. "Once the dragon had been rendered flightless by means of Thorin's sword in his belly, Kili blinded the beast with his arrows and I was able to get close enough to stab the creature in the throat and then sever its head from its body."

"You slew the dragon?" she gasped, rolling over a bit so that she could see his face.

"It was a joint effort," he said with a shake of his head. "Many were involved in his ultimate destruction…and a good deal of them lost their lives because of it."

"And any one of them could have been you!" she sobbed, burying her face into his shirt and weeping quietly at the idea…one that had plagued her for the last five months. She was just so grateful that he still lived and that she was now back in his arms.

"Nay, that would have never happened," he assured her, reaching down and tipping her chin up just a bit so that she was looking him in the eye once more. "I swore that I would not leave this earth without seeing you one last time…and you are the one who taught me to be a dwarf of my word."

"Yes, my brave and noble prince," Daeloness said with a smile. "And see, we have both been rewarded for our sacrifices. Now we only have happiness to look forward to…that and the birth of our child."

"Do…do you know if it is to be a boy or a girl? You said you inherited the ability to choose…so did you?" he asked, his hand now drifting down to cover the place where his young one resided. It brought shivers to his spine as he imagined what lay beneath, picturing a little boy with golden blond hair and blue eyes, or perhaps a raven haired beauty, should a daughter of his take after his Durin side.

"I…I do not have any idea, Fili," she told him sadly. "The opportunity to choose is given to me only within the hour of conception. If I do not govern my thoughts then, if I do not settle my mind upon what I wish it to be, the moment is lost and I am left helpless to say one way or the other. I…I had no idea that we had created a child that first night…or perhaps it was the second," she added with a blush. "The notion that we could make a new life between us had not even crossed my mind, hence I was not thinking about what I would like to have…a boy or a girl."

"Then we shall be surprised together," he murmured, leaning in to nuzzle the tender spot behind her right ear, making her squirm with pleasure.

"From what Oin inferred…we could be in for more surprises than we might hope," she told him, pulling back as she looked down at his chest, absentmindedly playing with the familiar medallion that hung from his neck once more. "What if this child is difficult to birth? He, or she, will undoubtedly be quite different from a normal water babe or an infant dwarf. I…I am frightened, Fili. What if something should happen to it?"

"Hush now, do not go borrowing trouble," he insisted, cupping her face with his two strong hands. "Besides…look at all we have accomplished together and come out stronger for it. We battled a warg, we were parted and then brought back to each other, not to mention I slayed a dragon and you stood up to your own vicious beast…your father. So how can you even imagine that we could not reign victorious over one small little infant? I mean…really, how hard could it be?"

Daeloness began to laugh at his logic, likening their innocent babe to a terrible foe, out to overcome them. He was being foolish, and yet she knew why…to ease her mind, which had indeed worked.

"Yes, we will not worry, we will just be happy and have positive thoughts of our future," she nodded, yet another yawn interrupted her firm declaration.

"But now we will sleep, my love," he informed her, once more pulling her to him as she nestled her head on his chest, her hands reaching up to intertwine in his hair, finding the braid she had placed there with love. Tomorrow she would offer to redo it, as well as ask him to re-braid her own, but for now, she was at peace and only wished to find rest in his arms.

"I love you, Fili…so very, very much," she whispered as her mind began to drift off to pleasant dreams.

"Just as I love you, my little princess…my one," he responded, not sure if she heard him or not. Yet it did not matter, he would tell her this many more times in the days to come as they both prepared for their wedding day.

~X~

And so he did, whispering those very sentiments in her ear as the days passed, and never more so than when they stood before the elders of his clan and spoke the ancient words that bound them together for life. Fili did however cock an eyebrow after his turn to speak, effectively reminding Daeloness of the very personal vow he had quoted to her that night in the forest, causing the girl to blush as she remembered his words.

The wedding had been kept quiet, Thorin not yet wishing for the news of Fili taking a non-dwarf as his mate to become public knowledge. Yet word traveled fast and the hall where the ceremony was to take place ended up being filled to the rafters with those who wished to either support the young prince, or simply to get a look at the girl who had stolen his heart. Many dwarrowdam maids had tears in their eyes as they watched half their chance of becoming royalty slip through their fingers.

Dis could not have been more proud, for every mother dreams of her little boy finding the perfect woman one day…and she felt in Daeloness, Fili had done just that. Sure, they would have problems, what couple didn't, but as she saw the love reflecting in their eyes, she knew they would be just fine.

Kili had stood up for his brother, taking his place beside Fili as he joyfully looked on. He had wondered if he would feel a twinge of jealousy, not over the fact that his brother now had a bride and he did not…but because Daeloness would now be Fili's main concern. He had always relied on his brother for friendship, comradery and all around mischief making, yet now he would have to share his beloved companion with her. However, when he heard the love reflecting in his brother's voice and how he stared at her with such affection…he couldn't feel anything but happiness for them both. And as Thorin stepped forward and gave his blessing on the union, no one was smiling bigger than Kili, and he was the first one to offer his congratulations and warm hug to them both.

~X~

And so the days continued, blissful and happy as the young couple began to create a life together in Erebor. As was expected, there were the occasional odd looks or turned up noses when they were seen walking around the great halls, but no one dared to speak against them, and the majority were genuinely happy for the strange pair. Daeloness went out of her way to show everyone kindness and over the months that followed, more and more of Fili's kin came to accept the pretty little thing as one of them. Her spectacular water shows around the great fountain in the main hall went a long way in this regard, as she reenacted numerous battles and important events, including the conflict with Smaug in amazing detail – thanks to Fili and Kili's meticulous descriptions.

Frequent visits to the infirmary became mandatory as her pregnancy dragged on, especially when Daeloness passed the expected eight months that her people normally took to give birth. It was at this time that Oin became concerned, so much in fact, that he called a secret meeting with Thorin, Dis, Fili and Kili, wishing to relay his worries without the young mother-to-be present.

~X~

"Why have you called us here?" Thorin asked, not liking the look in Oin's eye. The older dwarf was usually quite mellow and matter of fact about everything, but this felt different.

"I worry over the little princess," he said, trying not to let his fear creep into his tone.

"We all do," Dis spoke up, her motherly instincts now on high alert. "Yet what in particular causes you distress?"

"If you know of some reason why we should have concern…I beg of you to tell us now," Fili insisted, a deep dread taking hold of his heart. He had lost Daeloness once, and having just got her back, he was not about to do so a second time.

"I have talked with everyone I know, read every book or scroll written on the subject and even consulted with the midwives in Lake Town," Oin informed them. "Yet, no one could offer me any idea of what to expect…except one."

"And who is this one you speak of?" Thorin questioned.

"It was a young maid who has been trading herbs with the elves…ones used in the art of healing," Oin explained, cringing slightly when he saw Thorin's eyes narrow and his face grow dark.

"Elves?" he grumbled. "Are you suggesting that we inquire with the elves for knowledge about Fili and Daeloness' situation?" The tone of his voice almost made Oin shrink back in fear…almost.

"She told me that the elves of Mirkwood know much about such things, having actually dealt with cross breeding in the past, between their kind and with those of the Númenor," Oin continued on bravely. "And while they are at least of similar size, just as the water people are with dwarves, there are still considerable differences in their makeup. None so great as the fact that the elves are ageless while the race of men are not. At least Daeloness and her kind share a similar life span as the Khazad, thus she and Fili, as well as their offspring, should age comparably. Yet for the reasons I just stated, the elves have since developed herbs and techniques that aid in the birthing of young when the parentage is mixed. Ones we might be able to employ with the birth of the little warf as well."

"Warf?" Thorin questioned, not understanding this term.

"It is what Daeloness, and many others, are calling the child," Fili chuckled, having both heard and accepted the term long ago. "It is a cross between the word water and dwarf. We thought it rather fitting."

Thorin apparently did not agree, and gave a grunt of displeasure over the idea.

"Regardless of what anyone is calling it," Oin went on, trying to ignore Thorin's disapproval, "I feel that inquiring of the elves would be the best means to insure this babe is delivered safely."

"What exactly is it that worries you about her condition?" Fili pressed, not appreciating being left in the dark where his love and child were concerned. "Daeloness appears healthy, her appetite and energy levels are still strong, and she gets around rather well…for her size."

"It is, as you say, her size that concerns me," the elderly dwarf insisted. "I fear that if the baby keeps growing, which dwarflings normally do right up until they are ready to be born, the little princess may not be capable of giving birth without…well…"

"You fear she may perish in the attempt?" Dis asked, her eyes growing wide with understanding.

"NO!" Fili shouted, rising to his feet as if he wished to throttle Oin for even daring to suggest such things. "There has to be a way…something we can do!"

"It would appear that is the very thing Oin has been trying to tell us," Kili broke in, having been sitting quietly and listening to everything. "And if the elves can help…then I say we go to them and ask."

"HAVE YOU SUDDENLY GONE MAD?" Thorin growled, turning on his younger nephew in rage. "The elves of Mirkwood ignored our pleas for aid when Smaug attacked. Their king turned us away when we were in dire need of food and shelter…and yet you now expect us to go crawling to them for help?"

"Thorin, show reason," Dis begged, taking hold of her brother's arm in a beseeching manner. "No one remembers the way the elves betrayed us more than I, yet after almost a hundred and fifty years…don't you think it is time to lay down the hate and try and make peace? We have our mountain back, with no little thanks to the girl whose life now lies in question. Should we not use this moment to sue for peace? To try and make amends?"

"Amends?" Thorin continued, not at all swayed by his sister's words. "And why should we be the one to extend the hand of peace? We have been back for almost a year now and not once has the elven king attempted to approach Erebor or offer even a word of good will. Thorin Oakenshield will not go crawling to them…not now, not ever!"

"Uncle…" Fili said, turning to Thorin with a pleading look. "I know there is bad blood between you and King Thranduil, and I would never ask this of you if there were any other way. Yet if there is even the slightest chance that his people could help Daeloness…help my child…I beg of you to reconsider."

"Thorin…did you not say just yesterday that you recognized the benefits of diplomacy over rash actions?" Dis asked, using her brother's own words against him. "That having strong allies is often more helpful than a strong sword arm? If you are truly to be king under the mountain, you need to put away your petty hate and anger and do what is best for your people…and that includes your niece. If you will not do it for her and Fili…then who?"

Thorin was torn. On one hand he harbored a longstanding hate for those who had deserted them in their time of need…yet on the other, the king had grown very fond of the girl who had stolen Fili's heart. Often her laughter, stories and water displays brought a much needed smile to his lips or lightened his weary moods. He also enjoyed seeing his nephew so happy, and hearing the joy in his voice again went a long way in making the somewhat care weary king feel young again. Could he allow his temper and unyielding attitude to be the cause of her possible demise, when it lay within his power to prevent?

"Do you truly fear for the girl when her time comes? Is she in that much danger?" he questioned, looking Oin in the eye, searching for answers.

"I fear so, laddie," the dwarf said in a somber tone.

"The time of childbirth always holds a great deal of uncertainty, no matter the circumstances," Dis informed her brother. "Even I had some difficulties when Kili was born, but to add in the complications of the parents being of two races…the problems could easily be without number."

"Please, Uncle," Fili once more begged, all the while knowing that if Thorin remained obstinate, he would seek the aid of the elves himself.

Silence filled the room, all eyes turned to the great king under the mountain, waiting to see what he might say. After what seemed an eternity, he gave a sigh of resignation and bowed his head.

"I will send an envoy to the king of Mirkwood, offering him treasures and gems for information on the subject," he said at last, earning him a hug from his sister and a hearty handshake from his grateful nephew.

"I will go with the company you send and make the petition myself," Fili announced, eager to see this completed before the day of birth was upon them.

"Nay, brother," Kili argued. "You are needed here, with your wife and your king. We can't have the heir to Erebor traipsing over hill and through forest, risking his foolhardy neck, now can we? I will go in your stead, for my neck is far less valuable than yours."

"Says you, little brother," Fili insisted. "For to me, it is worth its weight in gold."

"Still, I will go and make the entreaties for our people, offering peace in exchange for the knowledge we seek," Kili told him, laying his hand on his brother's shoulder, giving him a nod of assurance. "We will find a way to protect my new little sister and your child."

~X~

So two days later, Prince Kili and a company of twenty dwarves headed out, their wagons laden with offerings of peace. All of this had been kept from Daeloness, who had recently been ordered to bedrest by Oin for the remainder of her time. The confinement made her moody, but Fili did much to keep her entertained during her convalescing. Dis came every day to visit and spent hours with the expectant mother doing needlework and sewing clothes for the new babe.

Even Thorin found opportunities during his busy schedule to check in on her from time to time, all the while anxiously waiting for any word from Kili. He had wondered if sending the unpredictable prince had been a good idea, and yet, of all his warriors, the young lad probably stood the best chance of winning over their elven enemies. Kili had such an engaging spirit, a boyish charm that could coax a rabbit from its warren, yet that reckless streak ran wild in him as well, making his actions often…unpredictable.

So it made Thorin's heart glad when he received word that the envoy he had sent had been spotted on the horizon, returning with great haste. When he and a garrison of his troops met them at the gates, the king under the mountain was shocked to find that not only had Kili returned, but he had brought a handful of elves with him!

"What is the meaning of this?" he barked, as his grinning nephew dismounted and approached, bowing in respect to his king.

"Our petition has been accepted and King Thranduil agrees to bargain for peace between his people and ours," Kili explained, his attention suddenly stolen by the hurried approach of Fili, anxious to see what had become of his little brother. "Fili! It is good you are here, I would like to introduce you to someone…someone who can aid you in your concerns." He then turned back and gestured towards a rather lovely elf maid with long auburn hair and a somewhat guarded look, eyeing those around her with a touch of wariness. "Tauriel, may I present to you my Uncle, Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain. And this is my brother, Prince Fili, the one whom I spoke of who is in need of your skills to aid his wife."

The she-elf bowed low, as did the others who had come with her, showing such respect to Thorin that even he was somewhat mollified.

"It is with great pleasure that we, the elves of Mirkwood, once again engage in diplomatic relations with the dwarves of Erebor," she spoke, her hands outstretched with her palms up in a gesture of good will. "Your petition for peace speaks well of you and the wisdom of your reign, Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror. May your rule be long and your beard never grow short."

"Well…" Thorin stammered, hardly expecting such pleasing sentiments to come from the mouth of an elf. "I…I accept your words and offer a few of my own. If you are indeed here to aid my nephew's wife, then I will look upon you as an emissary of peace and welcome you into our mountain. Are you a healer then?"

"Nay, my lord, I am the captain of King Thranduil's guard," she corrected him, watching as his eyes grew wide with shock.

"What? We send for one learned in medicine and the king sends me a warrior?" Thorin questioned gruffly.

"All of the elves are taught the ancient ways of healing, be they a baker or a prince," Tauriel explained. "I assure you, your majesty, I am more than qualified and up for the task. I will aid the Lady Daeloness in any way I can. You have my word."

"I trust her, Uncle," Kili broke in, turning his back on the elves as he spoke close to Thorin's ear. "She has proven to me that she is sincere, I do not detect any deception in her. I think the king truly does wish for peace."

"Let us hope you are right, lad," Thorin nodded, his face once more softening a bit as he spoke his next words. "Very well, I will accept your aid, for we are quite lost in the best way to proceed with this dilemma. Stone and precious metals are what we dwarves excel in, however, the intricacies of medicine…at least in this case…have thus far confounded us and I would not see my family suffer needlessly when you might be able to assist. Thus I welcome you into Erebor in hopes of both our races profiting from such a collaboration."

With another low bow, Tauriel and her fellow guards entered into the lonely mountain.

~X~

"Are you in a great deal of discomfort?" the auburn haired elf asked after taking a few moments to examine her new patient - under the ever watchful eye of Oin and Fili, of course.

"I…I have noticed a bit more pressure as of late," Daeloness responded, naturally a little uneasy when she had been told that elves had come to aid in her delivery. Yet after a few reassuring words from her dutiful husband, she calmed enough to allow the elf maid to enter their chambers. She had spoken with Daeloness for a bit, putting many of her fears to rest before they got to the reason for her presence, and by the time the examination began, the little princess was feeling much more receptive towards Tauriel. "I am also experiencing a measure of pain in my lower back as well, yet that is relatively new."

"I would think that you are close to your time, water child," the elf smiled, patting her hand gently. "It is good that we came when we did."

"Already?" Daeloness asked, a bit uncomfortable at being called a child by one who appeared no older than she, but knowing that the elves were ageless, Tauriel could very well have been hundreds of years her senior, and no one would ever know. "Yet, I have not reached the full term experienced by the dwarf women…is it safe? Will the child be in danger of being born early?"

"I cannot say," she responded. "Yet if one were to guess, I would say that a point between the two might be the best you can hope for. You are at a little over ten months, are you not?" When Daeloness nodded, she continued. "Then perhaps that is all that is required for your infant to be ready to emerge. I do worry about your size though, you are quite a bit smaller than your husband's kin, and it would appear that you will be birthing a very robust child. We will need to prepare your body for the effort such a feat will require."

"And how is that, exactly?" Fili asked, a concerned look on his face as he took hold of his wife's hand and looked down at her with love.

"Leave the particulars to myself and your learned physician, Master Oin, young princeling," she told him with a warm smile, not wishing to go into such details with a possibly excitable and frantic husband. If the golden prince was anything like his high strung brother, Kili, then it was best to keep him in the dark. Although, the elf maid could not deny that the disposition of the fun-loving prince who had come seeking peace with her people, did indeed fascinate her. And when most of her kin had been too wary to travel to the lonely mountain, she had been intrigued enough to come. Their many conversations along the way had only caused her interest to grow, and now that she was here, Tauriel was looking forward to learning more about the Khazad and their mysterious culture. "For now…we must wait and see how the little princess fares…but I do not think we will be waiting long."

BABY TIME! And look at what a great midwife/elf guard Kili brought back with him. yet something tells me he did it for himself as well, ha ha.

Well, only two more chapters after this...can't believe I am almost done.

Which means you only have three more opportunities to send in a review and make my day!