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The Queen
Eilin came out of the bathroom and tried to close her leather pants, but it was impossible to do so without squeezing her baby bump painfully. She exhaled in defeat and lowered her long tunic in order to cover them up. Then she put on her boots and looked at the balcony were Thorin was standing. He'd been out there ever since the break of dawn overlooking the melting snow of the valley and his troops that were out training. Next to his elbow on the banister was Kili's flower pot that now had three vivid green stems coming out of the side of the dried up flowers that Dis had planted. Eilin yawned and opened up the window. Thorin looked above his shoulder at her.
"Hi my beauty," he smiled.
She approached and threw her arm above his shoulder. "It's blooming."
His hand came up to clasp her wrist. "Against all odds."
"A little bit like us?" she smiled wistfully.
He nodded thoughtfully. "I'd say a lot like us."
"You sister told me this means Prince Kili's soul is at rest. Do you believe that too?" She caressed his upper chest softly.
His eyes remained on the stem for several moments. "I want to believe it."
She leaned her forehead on his arm and smiled. "I believe it too."
He squeezed her hand lovingly and after a few contemplative moments he spoke quietly. "You ready?"
She shook her head. "Nope, I am not."
He frowned.
She turned him around and pulled up her tunic up to show her ever growing bump and the open pants that couldn't fit her anymore. "Look at me."
A charming smile spread on his lips and he pulled her into his embrace. "You look absolutely enchanting."
"I am getting fat..." she grumbled.
"You are getting rather juicy. I love that." he spoke in a hushed tone and his large palm caressed her round stomach tenderly. Her head rested under his jawline and the ball of her finger created circular patterns on his skin.
"My pants are getting a bit tight on my hips also. I am not pregnant on the thighs Thorin." She whispered with a frown.
His hand sailed carefully at the side of her hip and lingered for a breathless moment were their eyes were captivated by each other, before opening up to take a hungry handful of her buttocks in a rude manner that instantly send a breeze of warmth to the pit of her stomach. Then he pressed it with a groan of delight that didn't leave her unaffected either. "Your body needs to nourish the child in you and it is getting fuller. It is only a matter of taste I know, but you see I do like you becoming a little bit curvier..." he muttered upon her lips and she shuddered with pleasure.
"You do?" her eyes sparkled.
While one hand was a little bit too enthusiastic with mauling her curvaceous rear, his other left the base of her throat and came down to palm her breast. Her stomach did a flip flop of delight. "Oh, Thorin..." she said surprised at this sudden sensual exploration.
"These are getting voluptuous also and they make my throat go dry every time I look at your cleavage. Especially when we are in public and I cannot act on my urges I become rather frustrated with you." His voice sounded hoarse and when he gave her breast an appreciative squeeze she gasped.
She smiled and felt his lips lingering on hers with hot expectancy. "And we are supposed to abstain from intimacy until I come to term? I don't see that happening." She teased him.
A low rumble awoke from his wide chest as he looked down at her breasts. "I don't see that happening either to be quite honest..." He admitted.
She reached up and cupped his cheeks. "So you like me a bit fatter?"
"Whichever way you look, you are simply beautiful, but your pregnant body is truly the epitome of seduction. You are glowing from the inside out." He smiled down at her.
She closed her eyes briefly and bit her lower lip. "Thank you my heart."
"Whatever for?" he frowned.
"For trying to make me feel better about myself." She opened up her eyes and looked at him with devotion.
He smiled at her.
Her fingers twisted inside his wavy mane and she hesitated for a few moments before speaking. "But I'd rather you be honest instead."
He raised both brows and nibbled his lower lip. "Oh, well you caught me."
"What do you mean?" she frowned.
"You caught up to my lies."
"I did?" she muttered bewildered.
"I mean it was quite obvious I was lying to make you feel better about the mess you are in..." his hand caressed the side of her breast.
"Wh-at?" she stuttered.
"Gaining on weight and expecting to hold onto the love interest of a King..." he rejoined solemnly and shook his head.
"Thorin..." she scowled and tried to read his eyes.
"Actually this is an absolute disgrace...look at you..." he raised his brow at her slowly.
She looked at him in distraught..."A disgrace?" her voice sounded diminished.
A lopsided smile came onto his lips as he placed both hands under her hips and picked her up easily. He placed her on top of the banister and came between her legs, flushing her body against his with a desire that left her breathless. He kept tight hold of her hip with one hand and wrapped his strong arm behind her waist keeping her safe as he leaned down and skimmed his lips across the sensitive skin on the side of her neck. "A total disgrace on my part that I didn't get you to open up in front of me before, so I can feel this perfection..." his wide palm kneaded her plump rear and she exhaled onto his temple a whole bout of relief. She felt his heart drumming on a vein that was trapped under her bottom lip. "An absolute disgrace that I never convinced you before that these are truly bewitching me..." he hummed appreciatively as his hand left her hip and sailed up to her waist and side until it took firm hold of her full breast.
She whimpered his name softly. "Oh, Thorin."
"I want to taste you bad it hurts," he lowered his head and nipped the frisson that was rippling through her skin, between her clavicle and her throat.
She felt enraptured by his ability to arouse her with such ease and as his mouth slid up her neck and gave a soft love bite on her chin, a moan erupted from her chest. "I can feel you.." she murmured and rocked her hips against his, thrilling at the substantial bulge on the front of his trousers, that proclaimed his need to her so candidly.
"Good, then you know how much I desire you and you can stop with all this nonsense," he muttered.
"You desire me more than an endless vein of Mithril?" her hot breath caressed his lips.
"That's taking it a bit too far..." he raised his brow.
She slapped his shoulder and he clutched her assertive hand between his fingers restraining it. "Thorin!" she chastised.
"Yes?" his lips stroked hers gently.
"Me or the Mithril?" she closed her eyes already bewitched out of her senses, but also teased close to anger.
"You..." -she smiled in satisfaction, but he had more to say- "laying down on a bed full of Mithril..." another rich rumble echoed through her spine and she whimpered as he captured her lips in an all consuming kiss that spiralled her need out of control instantly and creamed her underwear. She followed his lead on that burning dominance of her mouth, feeling the fog of her own arousal jumbling up all her thoughts about prudence. Within a few moments she forgot all about her bump and began debating how much a fierce love session right here at the royal balcony would bother the baby. Her mind didn't even think that they were visible throughout the whole valley and mountain sides. If he decided to strip her from the waist down in order to claim her right then and there she wouldn't have denied. Most probably she would have assisted him to strip her down quicker.
So it was his prudence that stopped this suppressed array of physical craving from both of them. He pulled back from her mouth, but lingered close to her face. "You can bewitch my mind*, you can control every part of my body and you own my heart."
She came up to his neck and opened up her mouth hungrily. Her teeth bit him fiercely and she felt the shivers rushing down his spine.
His fingers tunnelled through her hair and pulled her back gently. "Yet, we must stop now."
"Noooo," she droned.
"The Little Gem needs our care," he smiled and pecked her lips softly. "We have time for intimacy later, remember?"
Her fingers twisted around the strings of his tunic and her lips pouted. "If you find me desirable enough when I become a watermelon on legs."
He snorted. "Nice imagery."
"Will you?" she mumbled and pulled him down.
"I don't like watermelon..." he nipped her bottom lip gently.
"Thorin, come on...stop teasing..." she used her small fist to swat his upper chest playfully.
"There is nothing that can stop me from wanting you. Even if you end up resembling a very juicy sweet summer fruit...wait..." he frowned.
She chuckled. "That sounds rather enticing actually."
He pointed at her. "See? I know!"
Her laughter then was released and it echoed into the quiet valley amidst the military commands of Thorin's troops down below. "I love you..."
"I love you too!" He leaned down and placed a firm kiss on her temple.
"And you'll love me even when I gain even more fat..." The more he reassured her the more she coveted to hear more.
"Hmmm...more and more and even more..." he squeezed her buttocks playfully.
She moaned and grabbed his lapels possessively. "You know Loa is going to be the one to take me through labour, right?"
"Her and my sister I presume." He frowned.
Eilin grinned. "When she felt my stomach last time, she told me that it is bigger than expected for the progress of my pregnancy." She said nonchalantly.
"What does that mean?" he asked confounded.
"That either the child in me is going to be huge..." -she looked at him keenly- "Much like his dad!"
He shook his head, but his smile was smug. "You are insufferable... When there is an -either- there is also an -or-"
She exhaled and smiled up at him. "Or that we are having twins!"
Thorin's jawline dropped open and Eilin enjoyed the effect that had on him immensely.
She cupped his bearded cheeks and pecked his lips once to wake him up. It didn't work. "You there?" she chuckled.
He shook his head slightly and his eyes looked at her confounded. "Twins? That means two kids, right?"
Her laugh bubbled up through her chest. "I love it when you are this confused. Yes...I might have two kids in me."
His hands tightened around her hips and he frowned. "Damn my eyes..."
She raised her brows and her fingers caressed around his thick expressive brows. "Not your beautiful eyes..."
His brows disentangled slowly. "Oh sweet heaven...twins?" he insisted.
She grinned and pressed his cheeks. Then she came up to kiss his lips firmly, enjoying the taste of old Toby when his tongue rolled into her mouth achingly. When she finally pulled back he looked dazed. "You'd like that?"
"Oh...yes I would!" the first bright smile made its appearance on his lips timidly.
She beamed up to him. "Me too! I cannot wait to find out really!"
"When did Loa said that she'd know for certain?" Thorin's brow creased again. The eagerness Eilin saw in his face made her heart melt.
"It's too soon yet. She cannot feel them now. All this is just supposition due to the size of my belly. I hate to ruin it for you, but it might just be one huge baby." Eilin cringed regretfully. She really didn't want to see his face falling after brightening up so much to the possible news of twins. Thankfully it didn't.
"You cannot ruin this for me however much you might try. One or two babies, I don't care. I am waiting for them to come out impatiently." He smiled.
Eilin frowned thoughtfully. "It might just be just one big baby now that I think about it. Judging by the way this pregnancy almost destroyed me during the first three months, I bet I'm carrying one legendary warrior in there that has taken after you and who will probably make our lives hell after their birth...or possibly during it..."
He exhaled through his nose. "Now you are scaring me."
She frowned taken aback. "Why?"
"How is it ever going to be able to come out of your dainty body?" he looked at her with obvious concern.
She felt some fear pooling at the pit of her stomach. "If I tell you that the labour scares me too, will you be mad?"
He enfolded her into his body and she nuzzled under his chin. "I'd be understanding. You are a first time mother. This is a new experience both for you and for me."
Her arms came under his armpits and her fingers clutched his shoulder blades. "Will you be next to me when I deliver?"
He exhaled hotly on top of her wild hair and frowned as the fear got rekindled in him. "Nothing will keep me away." -He reassured her, but deep down he was cursing himself for telling her back in Bagshot Row that he was more than ready to become a father. Right now holding her in his arms with her belly growing rapidly and picturing her labouring through a very difficult delivery to a very large baby, he felt anything but ready to face all that. Possibly he was more scared than her, but he would never speak these thoughts to her. His job was to reassure her, not terrify her- "I am sure you will do perfectly during labour. I have complete trust in you and your body and I will be right there holding your hand, men gehyith."
She smiled contently and closed her eyes as his hand came between them and caressed their Little Gem...or their Little Gems. They remained entwined around each other for some time. Eilin was visualising her baby's hair and eyes and it's plump baby fat. Thorin was trying to keep at bay his revulsion at his previous self certainty that he had everything under control concerning Eilin, their family and his impending fatherhood. He had been nothing more than a fool and he was brave enough during this silent debate to admit that to himself. He wasn't ready to see Eilin suffer and he didn't know how ready he was to face his child...or children. He may have raised his siblings and he may have raised his nephews, but truth be told the full responsibility of all those children had never been his. This...now...was something completely new for him. Just picturing the woman he loved writhing in pain send a wave of terror down his back. He wanted to do something to take that impending trial away from her, but he couldn't. Actually he was the one who placed her in this situation and he didn't know if he loved what he did to her, or hated it. He pressed her firmly against him and felt his eyes tearing up, but he didn't allow her to see him. She was breathing calmly and seemed rather content and serene in his arms. When the door knocked, he didn't move. He didn't even open his eyes. He didn't want to let her out of his arms, but she had different ideas.
"That must be the wood carver," -she said and nudged him to help her off the banister, which he did with a wince of regret. She looked down disheartened at her inadequate attire- "Really, now tell me how the hell am I going to open up the door looking like this?" She pointed at the half open pants that couldn't be hidden under the tunic.
"First off you take care to go down to your rooms and bring all your things up here," he rejoined and tried to sound collected and calm.
She looked up at that.
"We are having a baby and we are getting married. There is no point in keeping your wardrobe in another room. Unless you want us to be that kind of a couple. A room each." He flicked his shoulders.
"No way! I am bringing them up by the end of the day!" she said and rushed onto him happily. She climbed up his body and wrapped her legs around his strong hips as she placed a fiery kiss on his mouth.
He held her up and relished on her unbidden passion that helped to ease out his worries and send his fears to hide in the deepest corners of his mind. When finally she pulled back and allowed him a moment to breathe, he spoke again. "Ask my sister for some maternity dresses. They'd feel more comfortable in your condition."
She lowered herself from his arms. "Good idea, but what do I do now that he's banging at the door? Am I going to talk to him with my pants half open?"
"On my way out I'll tell him to wait until you are ready to speak to him and I'll notify my sister to bring you some gowns. Alright?" his fingers pinched her cheek gently.
She blushed. "What would I do without you?"
"You'd probably be thinner..." he winked at her as he opened the door.
Her mouth dropped open and she placed her fists on her waist angrily, but didn't have the chance to rebuke his tease.
When he closed the door, he looked at the elder craftsman who immediately pulled back and bowed to the ground. "Your majesty, I was called here by the Queen. I hope I am not disturbing."
Thorin's lips pressed. "She's unavailable currently. Remain here and she will call you in shortly." He said casually and turned toward his sister's room.
The craftsman inclined his head respectfully. "I am at her service my lord."
Thorin frowned and stopped in an afterthought. He mauled the idea that awoke in his mind for a few moments before giving the Dwarf a thoughtful gaze. "When the Queen gives you her wishes, you shall report them to me. Don't commence any work before you talk to me."
The dwarf kneeled. "At your orders my Lord."
"This remains between us," Thorin looked at the man coldly.
"Of course your Majesty." The man rejoined respectfully.
Thorin inclined his head and knocked at his sister's door.
It was close to afternoon, two days later and Eilin was in the company of the Princess at one of the common areas, where several ladies have brought up gifts for the Queen and her baby. Clothes and quilts and sheets of beautiful embroidery that made Eilin's eyes sparkle. She was picking up the small clothes one after the other, simply unable to get it into her head that her baby was going to fit in them. They looked so tiny that if you stretched them from the fingers, they reached the middle of her forearm. She loved them so much that she buried her nose in them and tried to feel the softness of their fabric. She thanked each and every lady that had taken the time to make something for the unborn prince or princess of Erebor and gave them ample time to talk with her. She asked their names, information about their families and about their own children.
Dis was sitting next to her, admiring how all embracing her sister in law was. The timid Eilin that used to hide under a heavy hood a few months ago was nowhere to be seen. If someone asked Dis what was Thorin's biggest accomplishment she wouldn't have pointed towards Erebor, the Blue Mountains, the Arkenstone or any huge battlefield. She would have pointed towards Eilin and her ever growing belly. She would have showed her sister-in-law's brilliant smile and declared that this has been created by her brother and it was worth every treasure in Erebor's vaults.
"Oh, dear, it's impossibly small. The baby won't fit in this!" Eilin eyes popped open when she took a beautiful pink tunic from a young dwarrowdam with long golden hair.
"It will fit, my Lady. It's for the first days of birth!" the young lady rejoined eagerly.
"But isn't it too small?" Eilin raised her brows lost at Dis.
Dis pursed her lips. "Judging by the descriptions of my father about how big my brother was as a newborn I'd say it is a bit on the small size, but we shall see."
The young golden haired dwarrowdam dug up through her basket and took out more baby tunics. A deep blue and a maroon one that were much bigger. She offered them to Eilin. "In case the young heir of Durin proves to be as big as our King!" she beamed.
Eilin smiled sweetly and embraced all the clothing offered. "Oh, thank you so much. Can I keep the pink one though please?"
The young dwarrowdam reciprocated the smile. "I made it for you! I can make you more if you like it!"
"I'd love to have more if you can. As small as the pink one and I don't care if the baby doesn't fit in them. I'll keep them as a memento!" Eilin reached out to pull the girl into a warm embrace that had not been expected. The girl's eyes grew wide from shock at first, but then she embraced the Queen back.
When they pulled away she bowed respectfully. "I am so glad you like them. I am going to start on the new ones immediately!"
"I adore them, I cannot wait to show them to Thorin!" Eilin rejoined and began checking each piece again with meticulous attention, feeling that she couldn't get enough of them.
That is when Dis's hand fell on her forearm trying to draw her attention.
Eilin looked up truly lost inside a baby cloud of amazing possibilities. "What?"
Valdis was approaching, been help up by Fili. Her eyes were bloodshot, her face pale and her hands were trembling. Eilin immediately forgot all about the gifts and frowned.
"What is wrong with the lady?" Dis stood up and looked at her son.
"Mother she's here to inquire an interview with the Queen." Fili said calmly and caressed Valdis' forearm.
The poor girl didn't even seem to notice. Her eyes were stuck on the glowing face of Eilin.
Dis crossed her arms angrily. "If this is about a case we all know, you are wasting your time! Try bothering Thorin, Eilin has had enough of all this. She doesn't need this right now!"
"What is this all about my lady?" Eilin placed the clothes on the intricate basket next to her and stood up also.
The other ladies upon understanding that this was a private conversation left discreetly.
"You don't need to bother with this Eilin, take the basket and let's go." Dis said dismissively.
"Mother please, that's enough..." Fili's voice sounded frustrated.
Dis turned around and pointed at him. "Just because you are interested in this woman romantically doesn't mean you have to intervene on her behalf to Eilin! Especially since you know how difficult all this has been for her! She's bloody pregnant...she's had enough of this nonsense! Allow her to enjoy her pregnancy and don't bother her with this filth!"
"My lady..." Eilin tried.
Dis turned at her angrily. "You've had enough. You don't need to listen to this. I know why they are here."
"My interest in Valdis is not the reason I am assisting her through this," Fili tried.
"Then why are you doing it, especially when you know it will burden the woman who is bearing your cousin in her loins?" Dis placed her hands on her waist angrily.
"Because it's her sister...and I know how it is to lose a sibling..." Fili whispered unable to hide how much this was affecting him.
Valdis moaned and hid her head on Fili's chest. His hand came up and cupped her cheek protectively.
Dis's face became living, but she remained silent.
"Give her a chance please..." Fili begged.
"Take that request to the King. He's the one who will decide Karunn's fate, not Eilin." Dis said, but a little less forcefully than before.
"We did..." Fili swallowed heavily.
Dis raised her brow. "Did he give you the brush-off?"
Fili scowled. "He didn't even allow her an audience."
Valdis released a few sobs from the safety of Fili's chest.
Dis inhaled deeply. "So you decided to plead her case on the only person who can change Thorin's mind?"
They both remained silent at that rebuke.
Eilin paled.
"You'll fall into a dead wall again if you think that anything will change your uncle's mind about this woman after what she has done." Dis rejoined sternly.
"Allow her to try at least mother, please...she's inconsolable. What happened is not Valdis' fault. She's as much a victim as the rest of us." Fili entreated his mother.
Dis nostrils flared and she looked at Eilin.
"It's okay my lady, I want to listen to lady Valdis, please." Eilin said quietly.
Valdis looked up hopefully from Fili's chest and instantly tore away from him. She run up to Eilin and clutched her hands. Then she fell down to her knees in front of her. "Please my lady, I know we didn't have the best relationship back in the Ironhills, but I am here to beg you. I have no one else to turn to, but you!" she cried.
"We never had bad blood between us my lady. Please stand up..." Eilin cringed.
"Since you are so determined to listen to her then allow her to do it in the proper manner." Dis snapped.
"But she's kneeling...she shouldn't..." Eilin tried to pull the poor woman up.
Dis spoke over her. "She's kneeling in front of the Queen of Erebor!"
Everybody froze, but above all Eilin whose face became pallid. Her hands trembled between Valdis' fingers.
"My Queen...I beg you... allow me to have one last talk with my sister please! I know she must have done something horrible in order to be thrown into the dungeons. I know my sister well. She's capable of some really evil actions. I know not what she has done this time, but I suspect that she was involved in the incident that broke you and the King apart. The one that almost brought Erebor to it's knees. I don't know the details nor will I dare to ask them from you, or from the King's family" -Valdis looked back at Fili and Dis respectfully- "But I will beg you to allow me to ask my sister about them. I need to have this closure my Lady, please! The prince told me that things don't look good for my sister. She will be brought into a trial that will end up either in branded exile or even worse, to her execution. I need to speak to her before everything ends."
Eilin's heart was suddenly broken for this young woman. Karunn may have destroyed her family and almost killed her unborn child, but this woman's plead was truly making her ache. She tried to pull her up, but Valdis resisted. "Please stand up..."
"I asked my uncle and he strictly denied me to approach Karunn. I know he wants to protect me, but he's slowly killing me. I asked the King, he's not even accepting an audience with me. I have no one else to turn to. I know the King send my father and mother back to the Ironhills. The crows intercepted them just before they reached Erebor. That means the plans for my sister are grim and the King is trying to spare the pain from my father. King Thorin holds Lord Fain in great respect, I know. Maybe that is the reason he's denying me access to Karunn. Maybe that's his way of protecting me, but I don't need protection my Lady. I need to speak to her before everything is over."
Eilin cupped her mouth and felt tears staining her cheeks. "Oh heavens..." she muttered.
Valdis crushed her lips on Eilin's hand. "Please...I'll do anything...I beg you...speak to the King for me. There is no one else who can do that in the whole of Erebor. Only you...please my beloved Queen...".
Eilin looked at Dis. The princess had a cold unaffected look in her eyes that scared Eilin. "I will...try" she stammered.
The wail of pain that left Valdis' chest was enough to rattle both Fili and Eilin, but not Dis who remained totally impassive. "Thank you, may Mahal bless you and your husband with health. May he bless your child with health and wealth and shower them with glory that will surpass that of their father..."
Dis rubbed her forehead. "Enough...just take her away for Mahal's holy beard."
Eilin looked incredulously at the princess. "Allow her please. She's in pain..."
"And you are pregnant! I am not having this pregnancy endangered by any member of this accursed family anymore!" Dis snapped.
Fili took hold of Valdis' shoulders and pulled her up. She was barely standing. "Mother enough!"
Dis pointed at him. "You shouldn't be talking. You know exactly what happened. You are allowing your heart to take over your mind...your logic is gone. We'll need to have a serious talk and soon." Came the warning.
Fili raised his brow. "With pleasure mother." -Then he turned at Eilin who was still trying to get a hold of her feelings- "Thank you for listening to her."
"Of course," Eilin muttered lost.
Fili inclined his head and led away the distressed dame carefully. When they were finally gone Eilin emptied herself on the stone bench looking lost at the baby's gifts.
Dis humphed. "That shouldn't have happened."
Eilin looked up.
"If Thorin finds out that they placed you right in the middle, he's going to be mad," -Dis grumbled- "and I won't blame him!"
"My lady..." Eilin tried, but Dis spoke over her.
"You got almost choked a few days ago by this woman's sister and you are trying to intervene on their behalf? You are going to aggravate Thorin, do you wish to do that?"
Eilin shook her head. "By no means."
"If he denied her access to Karunn then he's got his reasons and they are not of personal vendetta. My brother works through things with logic even if they are affecting him emotionally. We don't know what's on his mind about Karunn. We don't even know if there are things at play that we are unaware off. If he denied Valdis, then he's got serious reasons!" Dis said with barely constraint anger.
Eilin cupped her cheek, feeling at a loss.
"And now Valdis found her way to you through my son! Through my bleeding son! If that's not manipulative, then I don't know what it is!" Dis spat.
"Hopeless..." Eilin muttered.
"What?" Dis turned at her sharply.
"Not manipulative. That was truly hopeless.." Eilin said and felt her eyes tearing up again.
Dis shook her head. "Oh no, don't tell me she convinced you to intervene."
Eilin didn't speak.
"You shall not go near Karunn! Remember what happened last time?!" Dis glared at her.
Eilin nodded. "I will not approach Karunn, no."
Dis pointed at her. "Don't go to my brother with this request unless you want to come head to head with him."
Eilin paled.
"Are you sure Valdis' tears are enough reason to have a feud with your husband about the woman who destroyed your family?" Dis raised her brow.
Eilin averted her eyes.
"It's pointless. Whatever decisions Thorin has made, or is ready to make for her will not be affected by your words. I know him, now you shall learn him better too. He might adore you, but when it comes to matters of such gravity he listens to no one but his own mind." Dis crossed her arms.
Eilin swallowed heavily. "That doesn't mean I cannot give this a try."
Dis exhaled through her nose truly annoyed. "This will lead you nowhere, but in a feud with my brother. Is Karunn worth something like that?"
"No...she's not.." Eilin rejoined sincerely.
Dis pursed her lips.
"But Valdis maybe is worth it..." Eilin said thoughtfully.
Dis placed her palm on her face and prayed quietly at Mahal to gift her sister in law with some sense, but Eilin felt nothing. She was mauling the idea of approaching Thorin with this request already. Hadn't he told her to embrace her people and tend to their needs? That is what she was trying to do. She was trying to embrace not only her people, but the idea that she was the new Queen of Erebor and that she had to act on their behalf, even though this meant that sometimes she was going to work against the will of her husband.
It took Eilin another two days and nights to come to the resolution that this was worth her intervention. She saw the deterioration of Lady Valdis every day at the grand dining hall. The girl was barely able to stand. Lord Dain and Fili were always with her, but even though Fili seemed very supportive, Lord Dain seemed as cold as Dis had been. Even a tad bit more. Maybe the princess had been right. Maybe there were things taking place that none of them knew about. Maybe she should steer clear from this mess and mind the baby gifts and the cradle she had ordered and that damned wood carver hadn't even began making yet.
She was filled with painful uncertainty as she was walking down to Thorin's forging station, trying to decide up to the last minute what she wanted to do with all this. As she turned and saw him working, half naked with the sweat running down his ribs, her heart smiled and she was one step from rejecting Valdis' request once and for all and keeping her relationship with Thorin unbothered. She wanted to go to him, kiss the living daylights out of him and show him all the baby clothes the common women had gifted them with. She wanted to share the happiness of her pregnancy with him, not come head to head about Karunn.
He looked up as she stood at the archway with her arms crossed.
"First time I saw you entering this doorway I was already conniving ways to convince you that an old dwarf like me is worth the effort." He said calmly.
She smiled sweetly and approached. "First time I entered this doorway I was thinking that such a gorgeous Dwarf Lord as you would never see me as anything more than a stable maid."
He offered her a bright smile that loosened her knee caps.
She placed her palm on his shoulder and leaned down to offer a gentle kiss to his sweaty skin. "What are you making?"
"Something..." he replied vaguely and his small hammer hit the carving fish tail, creating a beautiful trail onto a wooden plank.
"Didn't know you could carve wood," she raised her brows.
"Surprise..." he smirked.
"I thought you only specialised in forging swords and weaponry." she leaned her chin on his wide shoulder in order to observe his work from the comfort of their close proximity.
"Don't want to sound arrogant, but my hands are skilled in more than one way." He gave her an appreciative side look that send a hot flash through her bosom.
She snorted and nibbled his shoulder gently. "I can vouch for that."
He tilted his head and continued his work.
"So what made you decide to work on wood this time?" she raised her brows.
"Just for a change," he flicked his shoulder unbothered.
"Thorin is this perchance a daisy you are carving on that plank?" she raised her brows.
"Might be...certainly it's a flower of some sort..." he winced as he looked at it.
"Hmmm...what kind of wood is this. Cherry perhaps?" she rejoined carelessly.
"I think so," he nodded.
"A most rare kind of wood in this part of the world." She noticed.
"Most certainly."
"So you like daisies?" she continued with the same casual tone.
His deep voice hummed.
Her body responded unwillingly with a shudder. "Well, what a coincidence."
"What is?" he picked up the plank and looked at it. Then he blew the wood chipping away to look at the design.
"That I ordered a cradle made out of cherry wood with a daisy carved on the head board." She was unable to hide her smile.
He didn't notice. "Well, isn't it a coincidence indeed..." he rebuked unfazed.
Her lips opened up to nip his skin and he bit his lower lip obviously affected. "Thorin..."
"Eilin..." his mouth curled up in playful side smirk.
"You are fooling around with me I know..." she said.
"I'd never dare to fool around the Queen of Erebor...what a load of bollocks..." he waved her off, but the side smirk never left the hairpin of his mouth.
"Look at me...!" she demanded.
He raised his azure eyes on her and she instantly felt her heart stopping. "I'd like to hear you command me to do other things with that fierce tone..." the insinuation on his voice was clear.
"Sweet Mahal, you are intolerable at times. Put that chisel down!" she commanded.
"Oh, my...you are really going in with the commands, aren't you?" he huffed, but did as she told him.
"Can you please take me seriously?" she wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her onto his lap.
"I'll take you anyway you wish my beauty," his fingers brushed her ribs.
She smiled. "You are making it hard for me to be serious."
"I love the serious side of you. Try harder." he chuckled.
"Thorin are you making our baby's cradle?" she cooed close to his neck and gifted him with a dozen gentle kisses, trying to coax the answer out of him.
"I might be.." he responded quietly.
"Why didn't you tell me?" her beautiful green eyes gazed at him dotingly.
"I wanted it to be a surprise." His arms tightened around her waist.
Her finger traced the ridges of his upper lip. "You intercepted my wood carver, didn't you?"
"You sound mad." he whispered.
"Not at you, but I was becoming pissed off that the wood carver hadn't done anything about my order...okay now I am maybe a bit angry at you for not telling me what you were up to." she scrounged her lips.
"You are becoming too assertive on me."
"You hate that?" she whispered.
"I love that..." he smiled.
She snorted. "Who knew that the legendary Mountain King enjoys a bit of roughness from his wife?"
"She's the only one he would accept it from." He pulled back and raised his brow at her.
"So you mean I have complete control over the King of the North?" she twisted her fingers around his warrior braid.
"You have a pretty tight grip I'd say," he admitted.
"Thank you for making the crib. If I knew you could do it I would have never asked another one to take the job," she said solemnly. Slowly her face lost its brightness and that made Thorin frown.
"Then why do you look so gloomy? Don't you trust me to deliver?"
She shook her head. "My mood has nothing to do with the crib..." she replied.
"Why are you like that then? Is the Little Gem causing trouble?" his hand rubbed her round stomach gently.
She cupped his hand and shook her head. "No, it's not our baby either. I wish to speak to you about something very important, but I don't know how to approach you with it."
Thorin looked at her captivating eyes. "Try honesty. It works well on me."
She exhaled through her nose. "Thorin...remember what you told me the other day about learning how to act like the Queen of Erebor?"
He nodded solemnly. "Yes."
"That I should embrace my people and tend to their needs?" she continued.
He inclined his head silently.
She pressed her lips and looked at his sweaty neck for far too long as her mind was trying to decide what to do. He held her close patiently, not intruding her thoughts until she decided to speak again. "That is why I am here today. I am here to relate a request from one of your people."
He looked at her peacefully. "I am all yours."
She nibbled her bottom lip. "It is from Lady Valdis..." her voice lost it's original self certainty.
"What does she want?" his voice remained calm.
That gave her courage. "She needs to see her sister."
His brows creased slowly.
She felt the cold hand of apprehension squeezing her insides. "She knows that something serious happened, but is short on the details. Her uncle is strictly denying her access to Karunn and she knows that what caused her arrest will probably send her branded into exile or execute her. She wants to say a last farewell and I don't find that an irrational request, do you?"
"You'd condone to this?" his eyes thinned on her.
"Yes..." -she rejoined eagerly- "it's not a favour I am doing to Karunn, but to her sister who is as much of a victim as we are."
He pursed his lips. "I see."
"Do you find this request unfounded?" she tried to find his thoughtful gaze.
"By no means," he responded, but his face had become seriously calculative. It was as if she had lost her Thorin somewhere between their words and now she was being held by the stern Mountain King.
She sighed. "You can understand the pain of a sister who needs to see her sibling then."
"I have siblings. I can empathise."
She felt a timid smile forming on her lips. "Then you agree?"
He shook his head. "Unfortunately no."
Her heart fell. "Why Thorin?"
He pressed his lips and looked at her face. "Valdis' request arrived to me via my nephew also. The answer was the same there too. Apparently they decided to get to me through you."
She looked disappointed. "Does my attempt anger you?"
His palm touched her jawline and his thumb caressed her chin. "No, it makes me proud, for you are acting like the true Queen of Erebor. You are embracing the needs of your people and you are working for them. Part of your job is to decide which person to assist and which to decline."
She smiled timidly and felt her cheeks catching fire.
"As is mine, therefore the answer is still no." His voice turned stern.
"Can you at least explain to me why you are so adamant to deny her? It's not as if Valdis visiting her sister is going to change Karunn's fate in any way." Eilin rejoined gently.
He averted his eyes to her bosom for several moments. "As much as I love you there are somethings I don't have to explain to you."
Her face fell. She leaned her forehead until it was touching his. "I thought we shared everything with each other. No secrets, that's what you said."
One hand left her waist and came up to cup her nape. "That concerns our relationship my Queen, not matters of state. Forgive me."
She nibbled her bottom lip. "Are you going to kill her Thorin?"
"Do you care about Karunn's life?" he whispered.
"I care about Valdis." she said tenderly.
"Let her be taken care of by Fili. Karunn's fate will not be decided emotionally, based on her sister's needs. It will be decided based on her crimes, for that I assure you." His voice was cold and calculative.
Eilin remained silent, but her fingers twisted through his hair slowly. "Thorin I know you are not a murderer. I don't want her death to stain your hands."
"It's my obligation to give out justice. If that means that she must die, then so be it. It won't be the first time my hands will kill someone." Thorin frowned.
"In the heat of battle, yes. In cold blood, no!" Eilin's eyes filled with anxiety.
"Every single one of my kills has been in cold blood, even in the heat of battle." Thorin tried to find her eyes.
Eilin averted them to his throat.
"Nevertheless I assure you that Karunn's case shall be judged according to the Laws of the Elders. I shall not step out of those borders in order to satisfy my own lust for blood. Does that put your mind at ease even a little bit?" Thorin cupped her cheek softly.
Eilin raised her head and their eyes engaged. "Yes." Her soft fingers slipped through his hair and caressed him gently. "But what about Valdis? Maybe you should reconsider..."
"I find it wonderful that you have embraced your role so deeply and that you care so selflessly about your people. You overlooked how painful this case is for you personally in order to assist someone who is currently suffering. I expected nothing less from you and your courage and strength make me immensely proud of you." He smiled at her and cleared some locks from her cheekbone.
Eilin blushed.
"Nevertheless my decision is irrevocable here. There are things you don't know about this case."
Eilin opened her mouth to speak, but he stopped her.
"Things you don't need to know. I will not condone on Valdis' request no matter how much I admire your attempt to assist her." He continued calmly.
Her fingers twisted gently through his hair and she leaned down to kiss his cheek. "...but you do understand that we are separating two siblings don't you? No matter how evil one of them is..."
"Neither will your alluring ways change my mind on this. I can do everything for you, but not this. I am sorry." He frowned and grasped her hair pulling her back firmly.
"I am not touching you like this to convince you. I do it because I love you," she whispered and felt her eyes tearing up.
"This woman destroyed many people as she sought revenge. She attempted to murder your best friend. She killed an unborn child and attempted to murder it's father. She broke us apart and almost cost us your life and the life of our child. I will not be pulled down any road of guilt concerning neither her nor her sister." He spoke with a forbidding tone of authority that made Eilin's heart clench.
She remained silent knowing that she wouldn't be able to break through this side of Thorin. It was the first time she was coming face to face with the King in him and his dominion gave her serious pause.
"Stay away from Karunn's cell..." he warned.
She nodded. "I will."
"Stay away from Valdis and Dain." He continued.
She swallowed heavily.
"Don't overlook my command in this Eilin, I warn you." He pulled back and his eyes seared into hers.
She felt her heart stopping and a strong shudder of fear run down her back. "You are scaring me."
"It's not me that you should fear, but this family. Haven't they done enough to us?" he lowered his head and his eyes burned through her.
She nodded and pulled him into a fierce embrace. "Yes, my heart."
His arms came around her firmly and he enfolded her close. "However much I respect you and your need to care for your people, I will not have you meddling in this. There is more at stake than you think. Keep away, do you understand?"
She nestled under his chin and gave him an affectionate kiss on his neck.
"Yes." she whispered as they hugged ardently.
A/N:
* Easter egg for anyone that might recognise it. These words are certainly not mine.
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