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A/N: A shout out to Priya who is single handedly trying to lift the number of my reviews and Kudos in two different sites. That you so much *.*
One part babies, three part maidens
It was six days later that finally Fain found the courage to face Thorin again after they brought him the dead body of his daughter. He commanded his wife to remain in the Ironhills and kept Valdis away as he took bitter care of Karunn's body and begged for a space in the burial grounds for her. Thorin allowed him and it was Dain who escorted his inconsolable brother through this dark and lonely ritual of the burial of their relative. When Valdis learned her sister's fate she collapsed in Fili's arms and she remained under for several days. The prince took over her care from the break of dawn to sun down and even though his mother offered her assistance so he could rest, he didn't leave Valdis' side until the poor girl woke up again. She emptied all her agony in Fili's arms and all the guilt ridden half broken sentences of being unable to help her sister in the end. Fili left Valdis' side only when Lord Fain returned from the burial, but even then he was keeping a silent vigil outside her doors. Something that made Dis' heart weep as she understood that her boy held true feelings for this woman.
No one bothered Karunn's bruised family by Thorin's orders. No one outside the strict confinements of the top echelons of command in Erebor ever learned what Karunn did to the royal couple and to so many innocent people. Thorin made sure that everything remained under locks and the name of Fain, Dain and Valdis wouldn't be stained. No one knew anything apart from the two Lords that were present in Karunn's execution, who Thorin trusted to remain silent. Dain's appreciation and gratitude about Thorin's attitude towards the drama that had engulfed their family was expressed every single day. Dain left Thorin's side only to attend his brother. Whenever he found the opportunity he thanked the King for protecting his little pumpkin from all this degradation.
Fain kept himself under locks for several days, unable and unwilling to speak to anyone apart from his brother and daughter. He send back all the worried messages from his wife as he didn't want to deliver the sombre news of Karunn's death through the crows. When he finally decided to face the King, he had already made up his mind to leave immediately after for the Ironhills. He asked his daughter if she was going to escort him back half expecting her to deny, which she did and Fain knew this was because of Prince Fili.
These news managed to return a faded smile on the lips of Valdis' father. He squeezed his daughter's hand and embraced her fiercely before allowing her to be drawn into the company of Fili once more. Then he gathered himself and accompanied by his brother he walked solemnly to Thorin's office. When he took up the courage to knock on the King's door, he felt all his mental exhaustion materialising and he was unable to hide it from his brother. He leaned his forehead on the door with an exhalation of pain and closed his eyes.
Dain's hand landed on his shoulder. "Are you sure you wish to do this?" his voice was deeply caring.
Fain nodded. "I must talk to him and then I must leave. I must return home to my wife and deliver the news that will undo us."
Dain pressed his lips. "Do you wish for me to come along?"
"No, please stay with Valdis and keep an eye on her. She went through a lot. I know the prince is taking good care of her, but I want you to be close by too. She's the only one I have left now." Fain muttered and Dain felt the anguish that oozed out of his brother.
"You also have me and your wife." Dain spoke with a hushed tone.
Fain frowned. "We choose our One for life, don't we brother?"
Dain averted his eyes.
"I don't know if I made the right choices. After everything that happened I don't know if I can live with her anymore and I don't know if I can live without her..." Fain whispered defeated.
Dain's hand pressed on his Fain's shoulder. "Tell me what it is you wish me to do and I shall do it, on my word of honour!"
Fain closed his eyes. "Nothing...there is nothing you can do for me anymore..."
Dain felt the dagger that was already buried in his heart, twisting mercilessly by the forlorn words of his brother, but he didn't have the time to answer as the door opened.
It was Balin who smiled at them. "Come, he's been waiting for you."
Dain and Fain entered and the moment Thorin saw them he stood up and rounded his desk. He addressed Gloin who was rolling up some large scrolls that seemed to be maps. "Don't go too far. We haven't finished yet."
Gloin grinned. "I am not going anywhere. We need to discuss the massive order for mithril vests from the Elven realm. Apparently the news that there is a new vein in Erebor has leaked, which doesn't impress me much since those damned Elves are coming and going all the time in our stronghold! They are sauntering around as if it belongs to them!" Gloin's voice fell darkly.
"That sounded...grumpy." Thorin rejoined with a smile.
Gloin huffed. "It is! Their pretentious behaviour is pissing me off! I'll ask Balin for a cup of tea and I'll wait right outside your door until you finish."
"Very well." -Thorin inclined his head- "Is your family nearing Erebor?"
Gloin beamed up to him. "Yes! They are bound to arrive soon. I cannot wait to see my Gimli again. My brave son. Remember how much he wished to join us on the Quest for Erebor?" Gloin sounded rather emotional on that memory.
"I remember I had no issues with him coming along." Thorin raised his brow.
"He was sixty two damn it! Too young to undertake such a dangerous mission." Gloin glowered at the King as if that was a personal offence to his choices.
"A little bit younger than my nephews and if I remember him correctly he is quite a feisty young man with a fondness for axes and a deep dislike of Elves." Thorin smirked.
Gloin puffed up proudly. "Aye! That's my son alright!"
Thorin smiled and crossed his arms. "When they arrive bring them over so I can welcome them."
Gloin squared his shoulders and bowed respectfully. "At your orders my King. My son absolutely adores you. He will be so happy to be under your orders."
"A brave young soldier indeed. Who knows what fate has in store for him. Now go, allow me to talk to my family." Thorin dismissed him, but the light heartedness of his tone made Gloin grin under his thick beard. Thorin cued Balin who left with Gloin and closed the door quietly behind him.
When they were finally alone, Dain led Fain in front of Thorin. The Lord's legs were barely holding him up and his eyes were downcast. Dain was supporting him by his trembling arm.
Thorin's happy demeanour shadowed as he gazed sadly at Fain. "How are you?"
The Ironhills Lord shook his head at a loss for words.
Dain's voice was tainted with worry. "He's not well."
"Did you have the time needed to mourn the loss of your daughter?" Thorin kept his sorrowful gaze on his friend.
Fain felt his knees unlocking under him and even though Dain was supporting him he collapsed. His eyes filled with tears and his lips parted, but he was unable to speak.
Thorin exchanged a guarded look with his cousin and came down to one knee next to Fain. He touched his shoulder firmly. "Tell me what you wish me to do to ease your pain and I shall do it."
Those honest words turned loose more tears from Fain's eyes. "There is nothing you can do Thorin. I lost my child. There is nothing anyone can do to ease this kind of pain. You cannot understand me..."
Thorin's eyes filled with sadness and his heart with unspeakable amounts of bitterness when he remembered that accursed day that Eilin collapsed in Bilbo's home. He knew the kind of pain Fain was talking about only too well. His fingers clutched Fain's wide shoulder strenuously. "My position was and still is extremely difficult to balance throughout this ordeal. I cannot even offer my most genial condolences without pretending. I had a hand on the demise of your daughter, as she had a hand in my demise..."
Fain nodded faintly. "I know Thorin...I know."
"Yet, my heart cries out for the pain you feel inside for I cannot fathom losing my children. I am sorry for everything that happened." He spoke quietly, but the sincerity of his voice broke through to Fain.
He looked up and searched for Thorin's eyes almost desperately.
"The need to protect my family clashed with the love I have for you personally and for your family. Our close relationship and the mutual respect we have for each other stalled my hand many times over. This couldn't have ended without delivering a lot of pain to someone. I am so sorry that person had to be you. You are the last one I have ever wanted to hurt." Thorin tried to keep his equanimity, but it was rather hard.
Their eyes engaged and Thorin saw the heartache behind Fain's broken gaze.
"Had her actions not been so vile I would have acted more leniently towards her, I hope you know that." Thorin spoke quietly.
Fain's inhalation was choked and Dain's strong arm came around his shoulders to support him.
"I am trying to justify why I had to take your daughter's life...this is unthinkable to me." Thorin's voice dropped.
Dain lowered his forehead on Fain's shoulder and averted his eyes from Thorin.
Fain's eyelids closed tightly. "I am living inside hell Thorin..."
"Forgive me. Had I been able to take this trial away from you I would have done so, but it wasn't me who brought everyone to ruins." Thorin lowered his eyes.
"It was she..." Fain sobbed and cupped his mouth.
"There were too many people involved and too many lives suffering. I was unable to give this a resolution that would satisfy everyone. I couldn't be fair to the victims and protect your family to the utmost at the same time. This was such a hard conflict." Thorin said and Dain raised his eyes. Their gazes crossed and the mutual understanding mirrored in them was indisputable.
Fain's chest released a pained moan and Dain's arms tightened around his shoulders. "Still, you did give her a Royal prerogative of mercy..." Fain's voice plummeted.
Thorin inclined his head. "There are blood ties that bound us Fain...I never forget."
"Thank you," Fain stammered and reached up to grasp Thorin's hand, which he drew to his mouth devoutly. When he tried to kiss it, Thorin closed his eyes and pulled it back and drew Fain to him.
"Don't...please." He whispered.
Fain leaned his forehead on Thorin's shoulder and the King cupped the back of his head protectively. "I won't lie to you Fain, because I love you."
Fain very soul was hanging from Thorin's lips.
"I thought of overlooking everything and allowing your daughter to go in exile, not once but many times over." Thorin's voice was earnest.
Fain inhaled sharply and grabbed Thorin for support.
"An exile I am sure your wife would have found a way to bypass..." Thorin continued quietly.
Fain gritted his teeth.
"Am I right?" Thorin tried gently.
Fain's nod was feeble. "Yes..."
Thorin cast his eyes to the floor thoughtfully. "I could have overlooked that abstruse rule of the Elder Laws, had I so wished."
Fain's hand reached out and grasped Thorin's bicep like a vice. He looked up with eyes full of agony. "Why didn't you? Why did you give her to the wolves?"
Thorin's lips pressed tightly. "It is not fair of me to sugarcoat your daughter's despicable actions towards my family and towards an innocent unborn child. She allowed her need for vengeance to blind her and she attacked so many people instead of facing me. What would you have done, had you been in my place?"
"Everything to protect my family..." Fain muttered.
Dain's beseeching look, drilled a hole in Thorin's heart. "I did the best I could under the circumstances my friend." He clasped Fain's hand and pressed it.
"You might feel like you haven't done enough, but you gave her a pardon Thorin...you protected us to your best ability until the end." -Dain's voice fell heavy on their already overburdened gathering. Then he turned to his brother- "I know you are in pain, but think clearly. Thorin did the best he could under the circumstances. He couldn't have saved Karunn. Not after everything she did to so many and especially to him personally." Dain tried to reason with Fain.
Fain groaned and buried his head on Thorin's chest.
"You weren't the only one who pleaded for Karunn's life. Your plea was fortified by the wishes of the Queen. It had been almost impossible for me to sign that official scroll Fain, I won't lie. Nevertheless I did it, both for you and also for my wife, but never in my heart shall I believe that your oldest daughters actions were worthy of that pardon."
Fain's countenance dropped. "The Queen asked for Karunn to be spared?"
Thorin inclined his head loftily. "She has a heart of gold. Sometimes she's too kind hearted for her own good, but I admire that in her immensely. She forgave your daughter even though Karunn's actions almost cost Lady Eilin her pregnancy and her life."
Fain's eyes overflowed with tears.
"When Lady Valdis asked the help of the Queen concerning her sister, Lady Eilin took it upon herself to protect your youngest daughter. Nevertheless I am not as compassionate as my One. I cannot even come close to the majesty of her heart towards others who have wronged her. I am going to be sincere with you Fain. There are not many people in Middle Earth who have studied the Elder Scrolls as intensely as I had in youth. I could have easily overlooked that rule and cast Karunn into exile, but I chose not to do it." Thorin continued quietly.
Fain's lips was trembling and he was unable to utter a word.
Thorin's brow clouded as he looked above his shoulder. "The royal pardon is still at my desk. It's yours to take whenever you wish."
Fain squeezed his eyes tight and shook his head fiercely. "I need to thank the Queen...I need to..." he stammered.
Thorin pressed his forearm. "What you need to do is embrace your youngest daughter and allow yourself time to heal."
Fain grasped Dain's arms to keep himself from falling apart. "Thorin I know you will never reveal to me my daughter's connection to Nyrthrasir, but I have to ask...This is haunting me..."
Thorin's brows creased and a grey shadow covered his eyes. He remained silent and his gaze fell on Dain.
Dain pulled his brother up. "I think that's enough. We have to leave now..."
Fain yanked his arms free from Dain's grasp. "How was Nyrthrasir related to my daughter? You are always avoiding that question Thorin, but you know...as well as my brother..."
Dain's look at Thorin was imploring.
Thorin averted his eyes and looked at his scarred palms. He closed them in tight fists and his eyes found Fain's steadily. "I respect you and your brother too much to answer this question. I am sorry cousin."
Fain's already broken bearing shook hard. "Was he intimately involved with my daughter...is that it?" he stuttered unable to even ask the question without feeling his stomach nauseous.
Dain's brows came together angrily and he shook his head in negation to Thorin.
The King's hand landed on Fain's shoulder. "I will ignore your need to have this question answered, no matter how many times you will ask me. May you never find out, but if you do, may the knowledge come from the mouths of people your love dearly and not the King's."
Fain averted his eyes to the floor.
Thorin inhaled deeply and continued. "The rule of the Elder Laws that was used for your daughter's judgment is in the hands of Balin. Copied precisely from the Books of the Elders and signed by me. Everything is at your disposal for any official use, here or in the Ironhills."
Fain pressed the heels of his palms upon his eyes. "I know you did everything by the law. I never expected anything less from you, but that doesn't diminish my pain."
Thorin looked at him long and hard. "I respect that deeply."
It took Fain several moments to collect himself before he pulled Thorin in for an embrace that held nothing back. "Thank you for offering my daughter a place for burial."
Thorin's lips turned down and he patted Fain's back in commiseration. "My obligation."
"Thank you for respecting my brother's wishes and not revealing to me Nyrthrasir's connection with my late daughter, but I think I know the answer to that already. I remember him fraternising with her a little too much for comfort, before she came to me with an obscure demand to remove him from the army and throw him in the mines. I think my mind already knew back then that something serious had happened between them, but I tried to protect myself from that knowledge and acted like it was just a whim. Maybe that was part of many mistakes I made with her. Forgive me for ever offering your family such pain and anguish indirectly through a member of my family. Thank you for giving my daughter a royal pardon despite her heinous crimes. Thank you for acting with honour towards my family during this dark time. I shall never forget your upstanding conduct and sincerity, no matter the pain I feel now, my King." Fain pulled back and placed his fist onto his chest.
Thorin felt his eyes tearing up and grasped Fain's biceps keeping him up. "Go to your wife and heal your wounds. There is no reason for you to remain here anymore my friend." He said quietly.
Fain's knees unlocked and Dain pulled him on his strong body. "Steady brother...steady."
"My daughter Valdis...Do you want me to take her back to the Ironhills?" Fain's eyes were absolutely devastated.
Thorin smiled sadly. "No, for she has captured the heart of my nephew. If she leaves he's going to be beside himself. Unless you want a fierce Longbeard banging at the doors of your stronghold in the middle of the night in order to claim your youngest daughter I'd suggest you allow her the time to remain here. Let her ride off her pain for the loss of her sister with the assistance of Prince Fili."
That was the first time Thorin saw a small flicker of hope sparkling in Fain's eyes. "It is an immense honour to ask me of such a thing Thorin, especially after everything that took place between my late daughter and your family."
"That doesn't touch the impeccability of Lady Valdis' character. A trait that not only I have noticed, but also my sister, my wife and above all the Prince. I've seen too much hate, darkness and death lately. I'd truly appreciate the ability to enjoy a young couple blooming under my roof. Erebor needs some light after all the centuries it had been buried in the shadows." Thorin's mouth upturned in a thoughtful smile.
Fain pulled Thorin in and their foreheads touched. "You have whatever is left of my heart and of my family, my King of the North."
"And you have my respect Lord of the Ironhills. Travel with safety and heal your wounds with the help of your woman. My doors shall always be open to you. I wish for Lady Valdis to enter my family soon, with your blessings." Thorin smiled softly.
Fain's jawline gritted. "That would be the biggest honour my family could ever have."
Thorin nodded and pulled back. "There is a platoon ready to escort you back and Lady Valdis with Prince Fili are waiting to bid you farewell."
Fain nodded and more tears stained his cheeks anew as Dain led him slowly to the door. Just before closing it Dain's eyes crossed paths with Thorin's again and a sad smile formed on his lips. Thorin's mouth reciprocated and he inclined his head discreetly. Dain closed the door behind him and Thorin emptied himself on the edge of his desk. The heaviness of this confrontation didn't leave him unaffected. He sat there and observed the fire lost, trying to reassure himself that he acted properly towards all the parties of this dark trial, but above all to his family and to himself.
This affair couldn't have ended with all the parties satisfied. That knowledge allowed him to slowly settle down. At least he could sleep at night with his mind at ease that he had protected and avenged his family, without exposing his rule and Kingdom to criticism and without endangering the still fragile foundations of the Dwarven Alliance. Ever since the moment he returned to Erebor he knew that he was not going to allow this evil woman's dark legacy to overthrow everything he had worked for so hard. If that meant that he had to act through others and work in manipulative ways in order to get his vengeance, but keep his Kingship spotless under the Elder Laws then so be it. What mattered at the end of the day was that this woman had been punished and that his children were not going to share the world with her nefarious imprint still active on Middle Earth.
What was important was that Karunn's shadow didn't stain the Dwarven Alliance, nor the tight bond Erebor shared with the Ironhills. Most importantly it didn't rattle the blooming relationship of his boy with Lady Valdis. Thorin knew how much the loss of his brother Frerin had affected him after the battle of Azanulbizar. He understood how Fili was feeling after his brother died and that void was always going to be there.
The first honest smile of happiness he saw in Fili's face was when Valdis was next to him and Thorin treasured those moments dearly. Knowing that his careful handling of Karunn's case didn't destroy the possible happiness of his boy meant the world to him. That thought allowed the broodiness of his face to withdraw and gain slowly the peace it had lost during his confrontation with Fain.
He remained calmly musing at the fireplace until the door knocked again and Gloin came in carrying a rather large piece of Mithril and the biggest smile Thorin had ever seen from him. They remained under locks discussing the possibilities of that drift until it was late afternoon and only then did Thorin allow himself the luxury to return to his rooms and search for Eilin. Feeling rather calm and content he closed the door of his office and got ready to walk down to the King's Halls when Bjarki appeared in front of him out of nowhere and startled him.
"Going somewhere?" Bjarki's face was playful.
"To my wife?" Thorin frowned confused.
Bjarki's hand grabbed his forearm. "You have time to lock yourself up with your One. Actually you have all your life to do that. Now follow me." He pulled Thorin away from his door.
"What's gotten into you?" Thorin cringed annoyed, but allowed Bjarki to lead.
"You need to have some fun!" Bjarki smirked knowingly.
"Who told you I am not having fun?" Thorin frowned. Bjarki was trying hard to make Thorin walk faster, but he was failing as it was practically impossible for anyone to physically force Thorin to do something he didn't want to do.
"The graveness on your face," Bjarki looked above his shoulder.
"Maybe that is caused by serious issues that concern Erebor." Thorin rebuked feeling rather irritated.
"I think Erebor might be partly the reason for your broodiness, true." Bjarki stopped in front of the large doors of the royal dining cavern.
"What is the other part then?" Thorin raised his brow with a smirk.
"That your wife is becoming huge and full of pregnancy hormones and you're in over your head already..." Bjarki grinned.
Thorin leaned on the casing of the door and rubbed his forehead, but didn't speak.
"Did I get it?" -Bjarki chuckled- "I've been there. Fool that I was, I thought that my wife's pregnancy was the most difficult time of our relationship..."
Thorin removed his hand and looked at his friend with perturbation. "It wasn't?"
Bjarki laughed out loud. "Maybe Bombur will have more to tell you on this, because the man is experienced as hell, but believe me the worst period comes right after birth. You got a lot in your hands, because there is also a possibility your wife is carrying twins, isn't there?"
Thorin suddenly felt confused and out of sorts. Like someone just took absolute control of his life and he didn't know where he was heading. "They are not certain yet...I don't know. There might be just one big baby in there."
Bjarki flicked his shoulder and gave Thorin the once over. "Judging by you I wouldn't find that too surprising. Your size is intimidating and your woman is tiny..."
A strong shudder sailed through Thorin's spine. "Don't remind me." He paled.
Bjarki grasped his shoulder. "Are you afraid of the delivery?"
Thorin gave him a quiet nod. "Absolutely terrified." He admitted.
Bjarki opened his mouth to reassure him in some manner, but the door flew open and Durar along with Dwalin fell face to face with Thorin and Bjarki.
"Where the hell are you going?!" Bjarki frowned.
"To help you bring this bastard over. I was sure he was going to resist!" Dwalin grumbled and clutched Thorin's bicep and pulled him inside. He had little opportunity to understand what was going on before Durar engaged his other arm and Servin pushed a cup of mead in his hands.
"You are here too?" Thorin frowned at Siv's brother.
"Well, I am part of your kingdom now and part of your court, aren't I? I have to partake in this debauchery." Servin smiled quietly.
A ghostly smile appeared on Thorin's mouth.
Servin bowed respectfully, before he was pushed aside by Bombur's huge personality who clutched Thorin's wide shoulders firmly. "How are you father-to-be?"
Thorin cringed. "I don't know."
"A little anxious, a little excited and very apprehensive?" Bombur chuckled knowingly.
"Leave the laddie alone, he is here to have fun, not to be teased by you!" Dori pushed Bombur away.
"Don't listen to that idiot. He thinks he knows everything just because he has so many children!" Dori roared.
"I think he does know though, doesn't he? I mean none of us have his experience in that department." Ori said carefully.
"He can certainly offer some advice of course, I don't deny that..." Dori rejoined, but Bombur cut him off.
"Some advice? I have all the advice in the world for you! First off you have to find ways to calm down your woman now that she's pregnant, but that won't be enough later on..." Bombur looked slightly intoxicated.
"Later on?" Thorin felt overwhelmed already.
"What is going to happen after birth, needs balls of steel..." Bombur roared in laughter and so did Durar. Dori and Gloin smashed their mugs together and drank until their beards were full of mead.
"Well he's got those...I sometimes wonder how he walks straight with these monsters between his legs..." Durar said matter of factly.
A ghostly smile appeared on Thorin's lips, but his countenance was still bewildered with an undertone of irritated.
Dori thwarted Thorin's shoulder hard enough to make him choke on the first sip he dared to take. "Leave the lad alone, he's going to manage fatherhood perfectly. Don't scare him before his woman gives birth."
"Well she getting closer to the date, right? She has certainly become rather big...even though she's as beautiful as ever." Ori twisted his fingers around nervously.
"Even more beautiful you mean. An already stunning woman who becomes even more alluring during pregnancy, must be carrying a boy!" Durar roared and drank.
Thorin looked at him sideways and mimicked him by emptying his whole mug. At that moment he needed any alcohol offered.
"That's true!" -a rather dizzy Balin intervened- "It's a well known fact. If a woman becomes prettier during pregnancy then there's a boy in her!"
Dwalin jerked Thorin by the shoulder and took away his empty mug to offer him a fresh one. "How do you feel then about all this? Do you think she's carrying a boy?"
Thorin looked at his drink truly unnerved and drank it all in one go. "You people are not making me feel easy, I'll tell you that. I don't know if it's a boy or a girl, alright?"
The roars of laughter around, rattled Thorin's nerves. That is when a rather sweet maiden bowed in front of him. "Can I take your mug my King?" she asked timidly.
He pushed it in her hands and gave her an absent smile before looking at Bofur. The Dwarf dropped a rather heavy sack in front of Thorin's feet. "What is this?" Thorin asked with a frown.
"Gifts..." Bofur tried to avert his eyes from the King and attempted to turn away and leave, but Bifur cursed his brother in Khuzdul and pointed at Thorin.
"What gifts?" Thorin brows creased as another maiden arrived with a tray full of mugs.
Dwalin took over the job of distributing them. "Bring more, they are hardly enough," he commanded the bashful maiden.
She bowed. "The bottles are empty my Lord."
"Then take one of the other girls and go to the kitchens to bring us some more!" Dwalin barked at her. The poor girl jolted fearfully and then rushed to the door, giving one last wistful look at the King of the North whom she was seeing for the first time up close and personal.
"Gifts for the baby," Bofur said and crossed his palms in front of his legs.
Thorin took a couple of sips from the drink that Dwalin gave him and stopped. Dwalin's hand grabbed the mug and force fed him the reminder of the drink. "You are not going leaving this place anything short of totally pissed. Get it?" he spat into Thorin's face.
Thorin nodded and cleaned his beard. "I get it! Now get your troll breath away from me!"
"You need this kind of fun before the child arrives. Afterwards you'll be in over your head!" Balin laughed heartily.
"Can you shut up about this already!?" -Thorin snapped, feeling a little more like himself after the two mugs of mead started to warm up his extremities. Then he remembered Bofur who was still standing in front of him like a wet puppy- "Where did you get all these?" He said and opened up the sack to see several wooden toys and a couple of plush ones.
Bofur flicked his shoulders. "I am a toy maker, remember?"
"You made these yourself?" Thorin frowned and his lips parted in disbelief.
It took a long time for Bofur to nod.
"I thought you hated the idea of me and Eilin together..." Thorin raised his brow.
"We have the same taste in breathtaking redheads, right? The best man won. I know how to accept defeat." Bofur raised his eyes steadily on Thorin's.
The King's mouth formed a sweet smile. "Thank you for taking the time to make all these. I am sure that Eilin would appreciate it if you took them to her."
Bofur's face brightened up. "I can? I mean you'd let me?"
"She thought she lost you as a friend. She will be happy to know that isn't true." Thorin continued calmly.
Bofur reached out and grasped his hand. "Thank you and ...forgive me. My attitude ...you know...before...was inexcusable."
Thorin head inclined gently. "It's alright. Let bygones, be bygones. I am happy Eilin has such a good friend in you."
Bofur's eyes teared up and he averted them as he picked up his sack. "I'll take them to her."
"Anytime," Thorin smiled and that is when another mug was shoved into his large hand.
"You are hardly touched by the mead yet. That month you locked yourself in Thror's study truly increased your tolerance to alcohol. We need to do better than this." Gloin roared and everybody laughed.
"You can say that again," Thorin whispered with a raised brow and emptied his mug.
Again and again he drunk, getting slowly drawn in by the happy disposition of his comrades. Then the singing started and every voice chimed in, but the one that reverberated upon the cavern walls the most was Thorin's rich melodious undertones that dispersed waves of goosebumps to everyone attending and made the maidens gaze at him coyly under their long lashes.
"Are you sure you want to cook today? I think it'd be better to give some instructions and let Loa do it." Dis followed Eilin who was waddling hastily through the corridors that led to the kitchens.
Eilin smiled. "I know how much he likes my stew and I want to please him. He's getting so tired everyday and I do absolutely nothing more than eat, sleep and knit new clothes for the baby." She stopped and took a deep breath- "Or the babies. Hope Loa could tell me for sure already. I am getting rather worried." She added.
Dis' pursed her lips. "Sometimes it's difficult to tell, but I am sure Loa will figure it out sooner or later. I must admit though that the men in our family had always been rather tall for our kin with Thorin being the tallest by far. Judging by that I'd say you have a pretty good chance of carrying one baby in you and it has taken after the size of my brother, which will be magnificent for the heir to the throne of the North."
Eilin smiled and flicked her shoulders. "If I ever manage to deliver them. How will I ever be able to do that?"
"Your body knows very well what to do, worry not," Dis reassured her.
"I hope you are right," Eilin rejoined.
"At least your pregnancy is going great according to Loa. There is no danger for you to miscarry anymore as she informed me." Dis engaged Eilin's elbow.
Eilin's brow wrinkled in annoyance. "Apparently no. She even allows us some careful intimacy, but does Thorin take advantage of that? No..." Eilin waved in the air as if she wanted to disperse Thorin's unwillingness away with her hand.
Dis cringed bothered. "I am not sure I want to hear about my brother's sex life...really."
Eilin snorted and pressed Dis' hand. "Sorry..."
Dis reciprocated. "It's alright, no matter my unwillingness to hear such things, I do know you have no one else to share them with. I will grit my teeth for you. Tell me...does he refuse your intimacy?"
"He refuses to give me his, because he's afraid he might harm the babies...or so that is what he tells me." Eilin sounded a bit bitter.
"I can certainly see Thorin going crazy about not hurting his children, but why do I have a feeling you don't believe him?" Dis raised her brow.
Eilin paused right outside the kitchen doors that were slightly ajar and whispered. "Look at me!" she pointed at her body.
Dis smiled. "I am looking. So?"
"Do I look appealing to you?" Eilin pressed her lips annoyed.
"What do you mean?" Dis frowned.
"Does this look appealing?" -she pointed at her round belly- "do these look enticing to you?" she grabbed her hips with her palms above the silk material of one of the pregnancy dresses Dis had given her.
Dis sighed in understanding. "Oh, dear, you are going through that phase."
Eilin crossed her arms and felt her eyes tearing up. She didn't know if her pregnancy was causing her to be this emotional or her fear that she was not sexually desirable to Thorin anymore.
"You think he doesn't desire you?" Dis tried to hide her smile.
"How can he desire me? Look at me! I am a bloody mess! Fat and slow. I cannot even walk! My clothes don't fit me and I cannot see my womanhood anymore! I can barely see my toes unless I lean down! As for my breasts they are almost twice the size and so swollen I can barely touch them!" Eilin wined.
Dis chuckled.
"Don't laugh! I cannot find a proper position to sleep without hurting. I lay back and my waist is killing me. Prone position is out of the question and it was always my favourite. When I lay on the side my ribs are killing me. I am becoming as big as a walrus and rather moody because of it! He did all this to me!" Eilin's eyes thinned in anger.
Dis covered her mouth. "Oh, yes he did."
"And now he doesn't want me!" Eilin snapped.
Dis grabbed her hand. "Calm down my angry beauty. How do you know he's not attracted to you anymore? That's just an assumption. I am certain my brother is simply trying to be respectful to you."
"I told him Loa allows us to become intimate and he refused point blank! He knows how much I want him! If he desired me as well, he would have had me by now!" Eilin said and felt tears running down her cheeks.
Dis raised her hand to stop her. "Okay first and foremost stop...don't become so graphic! Second calm down. My brother loves you more than life and he's trying to respect your pregnancy, that's all."
"I know he loves me, but I don't know if he desires me anymore. I don't want him to respect my pregnant body, I want him to do other things to it!" Eilin's lip pouted.
Dis rubbed her forehead. "For Mahal's holy beard, I am going to have bloody nightmares after this."
Eilin shook her head. "I am sorry, but this is affecting me too much."
"The proper course of action is talking to him about it." Dis said calmly.
"I've done that, not once, but many times over. He insists to abstain because he doesn't want to endanger my pregnancy." Eilin closed her eyes.
"Exactly what I have been thinking then." Dis flicked her shoulders.
"We haven't been truly intimate for a long time. The moment Loa allowed us, I wanted to jump straight to bed with him. The moment he found out, he decided it was best to go bury himself in his office to work!" Eilin spat vehemently.
Dis covered her mouth in order to hide her mirth. "Some men have a difficulty switching roles between expectant fathers and husbands. Maybe that's the case with Thorin, I truly cannot know. Maybe he has a difficulty seeing your body in any other way, but the temporary home of his child now."
Eilin rolled her eyes. "That's exactly it. He sees me as nothing more than a pregnant blob..."
"I didn't mean it like that!" Dis chuckled.
"But I did! Will he ever see me as a woman again I wonder..." Eilin's eyes overflowed with tears again.
"I am sure after delivery, everything will be back to normal my dear." Dis rubbed her shoulder to reassure her.
"Will it? What if he never sees me as a partner again and he only sees me as the mother of his children from now on?" Eilin inhaled sharply.
"This pregnancy is making you truly paranoid, which is partly excused. Try to think clearly please. Thorin can't live without you..." Dis frowned.
Eilin gasped Dis' hand tightly. "What if he starts seeing other dwarrowdams as more alluring than me? You know, women who don't resemble a rolling hill."
"You won't look like this forever. You are getting closer to delivery, your body will return back to normal in a couple of months. I am sure that even now Thorin finds you very sexy and appealing..." -Dis rubbed her eyes wanting to expel this conversation away from her somehow- "I really don't want to talk about this..."
"But does he really? How can I be sure? He is not giving me the proper signs..." Eilin's eyes turned sad and uncertain.
Dis opened her mouth to calm down Eilin's irrational, pregnancy fed, insecurities when the voices that came from within the kitchen stopped them.
"Well, if it wasn't our lucky day today. Serving the King's company!" a young playful voice said.
Eilin grasped Dis' hand and pulled her away from the door. "What are you doing?" Dis frowned.
Eilin hushed her and pointed towards the gap, needing to overhear what was being talked about her husband.
"It's strictly a male gathering. I still wonder who convinced the King to allow us to serve him and his court." Another more mature voice replied.
"Who cares! We got to see so many handsome Lords!" a cheeky voice rejoined.
"Many of them rather impressive to be sure," the playful one intervened.
"And most of them, if not all, married!" the mature one scolded.
"Who cares, even married Dwarves have the right to admire a beautiful dwarrowdam", the cheeky one rebuked teasingly.
"Oh, be serious youngling!" the mature one's voice became heavy.
"What? Do you think these imposing Dwarf Lords didn't offer us small gazes of appreciation?" the playful one said proudly.
"I think you are out for trouble young lady," the mature one responded solemnly.
"I am not out for trouble, I just know what I saw and more than one pair of eyes was on me this evening!" The playful one giggled.
"Many eyes were on me too!" the cheeky one added.
"You are both fools beyond count!" -the mature one admonished- "And I have better things to do than listen to fairytales."
"Fairytales? I'll have you know that the most handsome of them all couldn't keep his eyes away from me..." the playful voice teased.
"Hush your insolent little mouth!" -the mature one chastised- "You are talking about the King of the North! Our valiant King!"
"He's still a man..." the cheeky one intervened.
Eilin's face paled and Dis shook her head. She pulled Eilin to her angrily. "Don't give them any notice! They are simply fooling around!" She hissed.
"A man who has a very beautiful wife!" the mature one reproached.
"Who also happens to be very pregnant and unable to fulfil his needs most probably. You think he doesn't need any intimacy? Didn't you see how he was looking at me?" the playful voice drawled.
"Want a bit of honesty?" the cheeky one replied.
"Sure!" the playful one sounded annoyed.
"He was looking at you indeed, but not much differently than he was looking at me!"
"You are just jealous..." the playful one admonished.
"Will you both silence your mouths about our King! You should be ashamed of yourself! His wife will give birth soon. Instead of taking care to help the Queen, you sit around drooling over her husband!" the mature one snapped.
"It was mutual because he was also drooling over me..." the playful one teased.
Eilin's jawline flexed angrily and so did Dis' hand on her forearm. "Steady! Calm down!"
"And he gave me the sweetest smile ever, didn't you see?" the cheeky one added.
"Shut up!" the playful one rebuked.
"You both shut up!" the mature one cried and that was followed by silence. "Now pick up these bottles and take them up to the royal dining cavern. Then you get back down here immediately. You are not to remain there and prowl around our very engaged King who is also a father-to-be. Dwarves don't act in these despicable ways. They choose their One for life!"
"Who said we are going to tease him in any manner or form? We are just acknowledging that he enjoyed seeing a couple of young, shapely maidens instead of looking at the Queen who lately is becoming heavier than Beorn!" the cheeky one said and the two of them giggled.
The mature one grumbled. "Forget it! You are both dismissed from this service. I will take the bottles up myself. Enough with your silliness!"
"Oh, come on..." -the playful one wined- "when am I ever going to find another opportunity to get close enough to the King to enjoy his beautiful eyes again?"
"I will make sure never, and you...shut up! Not a word!" the mature voice said and that was followed by silence accompanied only by the clanging of bottles.
Eilin leaned back to the wall and her cheeks were filled with tears. Dis frowned. "Are you crying?"
Eilin averted her eyes and shook her head.
"About a couple of common women fantasising over my brother?" Dis tried to wipe her tears away.
Eilin pulled away.
"That's been happening to him ever since he entered early manhood. It's not something new for heaven's sake." Dis tried to explain to Eilin the reality of this situation.
"Didn't you hear them?" Eilin whispered.
"Oh, I heard them alright and I will make sure they get punished." Dis frowned.
"Didn't you hear what they said about me?"
Dis pressed her lips.
"About how fat I am and how unwanted? How Thorin needs to look and admire other shapely women? Didn't you hear what they said about him admiring them?" Eilin's voice was diminished.
"I am sure that was just their overactive imagination. I've seen many women envision that Thorin admires them when he actually doesn't even know they exist." Dis shook her head calmly. This has been something so common for her that she couldn't understand how it could affected Eilin so much.
Eilin shook her head. "They were right though, weren't they?"
"About what?" Dis' brow creased.
"About how undesirable I truly am..." Eilin lowered her eyes at her stippled fingers.
"Your body is changing drastically exactly because you were so desirable! My brother couldn't keep his hands off of you and that is the reason you ended up like this!" -Dis grumbled and then cringed- "I really hate talking about him in this manner. My stomach keeps revolting at the image...have mercy on me."
"Maybe they were right. Maybe he doesn't want me anymore." -Eilin muttered- "Maybe he enjoys looking at these beautiful and thin maidens."
Dis grabbed her shoulders in order to shake her to reason. "These beautiful and thin maidens are not even close to comparing with your beauty and charisma. They are just enraptured with the unattainable King. Making up whole stories about how a stray look at them means so much. That he secretly admires them and probably wants to bed them, when in reality he won't ever care if they don't appear before him again. You were a maiden. You've been in their shoes. You saw how quickly and how intensely he prowled around you. How he insisted in showing you his interest. He didn't just offer you a couple of vague looks. He did everything he could to get you close to him, even against the advice of his court. Get your head together please. When Thorin decided that he wished to be near you he did everything to let you know. Don't listen to the silliness of these younglings. They are just lusting after what they cannot get. Thorin is so used to female attention that he doesn't even acknowledge it anymore. That should tell you a lot about how he felt for you since the start. Women flocked around him ever since young adulthood, but he responded to none. The way he responded to you, should ease your mind about everything else you heard tonight."
Eilin looked up at her with a pair of sad eyes. "My heart is feeling so angry and bitter right now."
"Talk to him." -Dis gave her a firm nod- "Let him ease your worries about everything since I cannot do it for him."
"I don't know if I am mad at him right now or at me." Eilin frowned.
"Just because a couple of maidens fan themselves over him? Where's his fault in that?!" Dis smiled.
Eilin shook her head. "If he did look at them...if he admired them..."
Dis spoke over her firmly. "Talk to him! Mad or not, go find him and settle this once and for all."
"When?" Eilin looked up timidly.
"Now!" Dis frowned.
"Now?" -Eilin asked confused- "He is with his comrades and his court, how can I interrupt him?"
Dis looked at her very confused. "Interrupt him? You are his wife, not his maiden. You can interrupt him anytime you please, unless the fate of Erebor is on the line!"
Eilin sniffled and twisted her fingers nervously around each other. "The fate of Erebor isn't on the line now, is it?"
Dis cupped her cheek and smiled sweetly. "No, my darling girl. It isn't. Go find your husband and tell him how you feel."
Eilin nodded and looked at the floor for a couple of moments. "What about these women?"
Dis waved her off. "I'll deal with them."
Eilin nibbled her bottom lip and pressed her fingers hard as she tried to decide what to do. Finally after a few moments she shook her head. "No, I am the one who must deal with them."
Dis looked at her carefully for a couple of moments and then smiled. "Go for it."
Eilin's sad disposition took a few tense moments to become contorted with irritation and she gave a curt nod to the princess before throwing the doors of the kitchens open. "Good evening." She said with a firm voice and looked at two admittedly beautiful dwarrowdams and an older lady.
They all blanched when they saw her. The older woman bowed. When she saw the younger girls frozen in time she kicked one at the shins and gave a mighty slap on the other one's nape. "Bow for your Queen!" She commanded.
They came down to their knees.
Eilin squared her shoulders and flared her chin up proudly. She crossed her hands under her growing belly and raised her brow. "Am I interrupting anything?" She didn't think her voice could have ever sounded this haughty. Especially since several months ago she was in the place of these women, hiding under a hood.
"No my Lady, we were just sorting out these bottles of mead." The girl whose voice Eilin recognised as the playful, said shyly.
"Are you in the middle of some chore?" Eilin raised her brow slowly.
"We are serving the King and his court up in the Royal dining cavern." The girl she recognised as the cheeky one replied, only now her tone had lost every single drop of impertinence and it was slightly shaking with apprehension.
Eilin gave them a curt nod. "So you are free to assist me."
The girls looked at each other. "What about the King my Lady?" they both bowed.
Eilin's brow lifted another inch. "Oh, I am sure my husband won't even notice that you are missing."
Both paled and averted their eyes as they shrank away from the Queen's imposing presence.
"You" -she pointed at the older woman who immediately bowed- "Take these bottles to the King. As for you two young ladies..." She drawled.
They quivered in their boots.
Eilin sauntered to the table and pulled up a chair. She sat down elegantly and arranged her long silk dress around her legs. "You will assist me with the cooking. I will tell you what to do while I rest my feet up a little bit." -She looked at Dis who immediately understood Eilin's game and pulled another chair in front of her. Eilin lifted her legs on it and crossed them calmly- "You see the heir to the throne of Erebor is too active today and my husband doesn't want me to get tired." Eilin caressed her belly and her lips curled up in a sly smile. She enjoyed immensely seeing the insolence of these two young ladies erasing under her intense scrutiny. Dis crossed her arms and stood behind Eilin's chair, admiring the way the Queen was toying with these women.
The older woman took the tray with the bottles and left quickly. Dis leaned down to Eilin's ear. "Like a cat and a mouse..." She whispered.
Eilin smirked and began ordering around these shapely young maidens, intending to use them in order to cook for Thorin the best stew she had ever made without lifting a finger.
Of course that meant that these unmannerly creatures might need to throw away the cooked food if it didn't please the Queen and repeat the process...several times over.
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