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Durin's new bane

That evening's feast was so grand almost all of the Shire attended. Everyone joined the fun and by the time the sun had set behind the rolling hills, the Party field was full of blithe people that shared good ale, food, conversation and the dance floor between them. Dwarves and Hobbits at the start of the feast were separated at different tables and the designated areas were created in such a manner as to show distinction when one was due. The Thain of the Shire, his family and all his close relatives sat near the elaborate table that was meant for the King of the North and his family.

The Thain gave out a very long speech in the King's honour, but by the end of that speech Ferumbras the third was forced to step down as his people demanded for the music to start playing and for all the typicalities to seize. After they got over the initial awkwardness everybody began loosening up rather quickly. Those who drunk the most, had the least inhibitions, so Thorin's soldiers became a rather formidable competition soon for everyone around. By the fourth cup of mead, a happy energy began rippling through field and by the end of the official dinner most tables were full of people who laughed heartily, smoked and engaged in heated conversations. The dance floor was full of couples dancing and mothers were chasing after their children who were determined to create havoc in the tents that held the food and the ale barrels.

Thorin's soldiers spread out and partook in the games of their hosts, mainly displaying representations of strength and stamina. Either by lifting huge logs and throwing them further than any Hobbit would be able to manage or by drinking too much and smoking even more. Soon enough the tables seized being designated areas of distinction and everybody choose where they wanted to sit according to whose company they enjoyed the most, or what activity they wanted to partake in.

That is how Dis found the chance to abandon the royal table in order to make her way rather shyly to Dongar's company, with little Thrárin in tow. She thanked the heavens that his comrades had left in order to participate in a rather brutal boxing game that had drawn a large group of Hobbits as spectators. Dongar stood up the moment she approached and offered her a seat next to him, which she took. They engaged in a quiet conversation, as Dis was trying to convince Thrárin to put down the third ham sandwich.

"You are going to grow fat and slow, put it down. You are a warrior prince, not a sloth in the making son. Your mother will be mad at you for eating so much." Dis chastised.

"I am hungry auntie." Thrárin's lips pouted.

Dis patted his round belly. "You have so much food in there it can last you for months. How can you be hungry?"

Thrárin pushed her hand away and giggled. "I am ticklish."

Dis sighed and her lips cracked a soft smile of reproach, but she allowed the boy to devour his sandwich. "Are you hungry or ticklish? Decide!" She teased him.

Thrárin screeched and then laughed heartily. "Both!"

Dis laughed with him.

Dongar looked at his hands and then at the princess. "You look so happy right now my Lady."

She frowned at him, but the smile never left her lips. "Happy?"

Dongar nodded. "You look so different from the first time I met you. I will never forget that moment."

Dis' smile turned sad and she caressed Thrárin's back. "That day I was at death's door. I had just lost my son and I didn't know if I was going to also lose my brother."

Dongar nodded. "The recovery you made since then is spectacular."

Dis flicked her shoulders. "I had a lot of help." -She smiled at Thrárin- "From my family and my friends, but above all from time."

Dongar swallowed heavily and it took him a several moments to have the resolution to speak his most timid thoughts. "I know it's presumptuous of me, but did I perchance help in any manner?"

Dis nibbled her bottom lip and felt her cheeks flushing. "You most certainly did, Lieutenant."

Dongar smiled and stopped Thrárin at the last moment from toppling over the edge of the table. "Will you believe me if I tell you that my need to protect you had been strong since the first moment I met you?"

Dis' lips curled up sweetly. "I will, Lieutenant."

"Can you please call me Dongar?" He looked into her beautiful azure eyes and felt his breath catching.

She averted her gaze from his. "I don't think that is appropriate."

"When will it be appropriate then...?" He frowned.

Dis looked up with a frown of her own. "What do you mean?"

"I've known you for ten years. Ten years, not ten days, nor ten months. For ten years I've waited patiently for you to mourn the loss of your family with the vague hope that one day you might see something more in me than just a loyal soldier." Dongar's voice turned almost desperate.

Dis felt her brow wrinkling. "I never approached you, because I didn't want to take out on you all the pain that I felt inside."

Dongar exhaled and pushed the prince further inside the table protectively. "But I have seen all that pain and tried to be there to support you."

Dis looked up at him timidly, but remained silent.

"I suffered through all the mishandling of our King just because I wanted to have a chance with you. I waited patiently, hoping that you would see me as more than just a friend." Dongar continued and his eyes burrowed in hers.

Dis felt her hands becoming cold.

"Do you comprehend that you are my One?" Dongar's voice turned low, but decisive.

Dis inhaled sharply and searched for his eyes.

"If you don't accept my honest confession I will stop trying, but you will forever be my One. I shall not try to find another." Dongar tilted his head and reached behind his head to pull out one of his beads. He looked at it for a few moments and then offered it to her.

Dis' voice cracked. "Your bead..."

"Either you take it, or you reject. Everything is up to you. My feelings for you though shall remain untouched." Dongar told her gently.

Dis' eyes filled with tears. "I have my brother to answer to...my son..."

Dongar reached out and held tightly her hand in his. She felt her whole body numb. "Your brother has his own family, your son is going to wed soon...how about you? Don't you need something more out of life?"

Dis closed her eyes and her hand tightened behind Thrárin's back. "I have the children of my brother to raise."

Dongar remained silent for a few moments before he lifted her hand to his mouth and gave it a gentle kiss. "I can help you with that, if you allow me."

Dis' heart skirted. "Isn't it too late for me now?"

Dongar shook his head. "It's never too late."

Dis swallowed a tight throat and closed her eyes. "I want to accept this so much..."

"Then do so...I am here. I have always been here...all this time. I failed you only once and I lived to regret my shortcomings every single day. I try to redeem myself from that mistake every single breathing second that life offers me." Dongar's passionate voice seemed to finally break through to her.

Her fingers stippled around his and his bead touched her palm. She inhaled sharply. "With Nyrthrasir?"

Dongar nodded and his eyes welled.

Dis looked into his hazel eyes and the sweetest smile she could master appeared on her pale lips. "It's over now...forget it."

Dongar exhaled and lowered his head. "Every single moment of my life was dedicated to you ever since I met you, believe me."

Dis licked her bottom lip and removed her hand from his, but she kept his bead in her palm.

His eyes filled with regret when he felt her drawing away, but she didn't allow him to fall into darkness. She beamed up to him and found one of her braids. She removed her bead and placed his on it's end.

Dongar felt like a hand squeezed around his heart and stopped all the blood from pumping through it. "Dis?" He whispered.

Dis looked at him with affection. "Your bead is beautiful and it rather suits my hair, don't you think?"

Dongar blanched and his lips parted. He remained looking at her like a fool.

Dis reached out and cupped his cheek. Just feeling his beard scratching her palm send a wave of thrill down her spine and no matter how anxious she was for opening up her life into another adventure, she was also brimming with anticipation. She drew him down and gave a soft kiss at the side of his mouth that left him baffled and mute. Then she buried her head under his chin and waited. "Well...is this how our relationship will go? With you frozen like a statue every time I kiss you?"

Dongar's arms came fiercely around her and he enfolded her close to his heart with an enthusiasm that warmed up her very soul. "I cannot believe this..." He murmured.

She sighed and closed her eyes. "You need to give me time. We cannot hurry through this please."

He lifted up her hand and placed a tender kiss on it's back. "I've waited for ten years, I can wait a whole lifetime for you!" He rejoined ardently.

Dis looked into his eyes for a few moments. Maybe...just maybe she could give herself the chance to love again now that nobody else needed her. She smiled softly up to him and her fingers caressed the hairpin of his mouth. "Tell me my brother is watching us right now."

Dongar looked behind her and shook his head. "He's playing the harp."

Dis closed her eyes and sighed. She felt him leaning down to offer her a kiss. His warm breath planed down the side of her cheek and tingled her neck and her whole body tensed in expectation, but Thrárin ruined the moment for them.

He shuffled to climb down from table and Dis pulled away from Dongar, who rolled his eyes partly amused, partly irritated that he didn't get a change to adorn the princess' mouth with the wet kiss he longed so much.

Dis frowned. "Where do you think you are going young man?"

Thrárin pointed at Thorin and began jumping up and down with excitement. "I want to go to daddy!" He cried and tried to pull his arm free from Dis' tight grip.

Dis pulled him over in order to straighten up his long red braid and then licked her finger in order to clear some bread crumbs from the side of his mouth. "Leave your father alone to have a moment of peace for Mahal's holy beard."

Dongar leaned his chin on his hand and smiled. "We could use a moment of peace also, don't you think?" He said slyly.

Dis' pressed her lips, but the look she gave him was playful. "Control yourself."

Dongar grinned. "At your orders!"

Dis snorted and Thrárin pulled his head away from her wet finger disgusted. "Let me go auntie! I want to go play the harp with dad!"

"Oh, for heaven's sake you kids are going to drive him insane in the end!" Dis glowered at the boy.

Dongar engaged her elbow and thusly allowed Thrárin to run free. "Let him go, I want you to myself for a moment."

Dis glared at Thrárin for a few moments, but when she felt Dongar's lips skimming the soft skin of her temple she closed her eyes and sighed in delight.

Thrárin dashed into the dancing floor and missed Lis by a hair's inch.

"Hey young prince, be careful!" She cried and Thrárin turned around to give her a most formidable frown that resembled Thorin so much it would make Durin feel dangerously jealous.

Lis humphed and came over to the table where her mom was sitting with Lord Dwalin. She placed the mugs nervously on it, spilling half of them. "Here!"

"What is with this attitude young woman?!" Loa glared at her.

"I brought you the drinks, what more do you want?" Lis crossed her arms and looked around in order to locate Prince Durin whom she found quickly as he was with his mother and sister practicing archery.

"I want better attitude from you!" Loa grumbled.

Dwalin raised his brow and drank some ale.

Lis threw her hands in the air. "I have all hell loose in my hands and I also have you asking me for mead. I am not supposed to leave prince Durin alone at all!"

Loa glared at her daughter. "Oh, get over yourself. I did everything for you all these years, it's not a big deal asking you to bring me a mug of ale!"

Lis placed her hand on her wide belt and pushed her rather voluminous sword aside. "If you haven't noticed I have a very serious job to do!"

"Which is also making you very moody!" Loa rebuked.

Lis grumbled a curse under her breath. "You are the one who is making me moody. You are not taking my obligations seriously!" She spat and marched up to the prince.

Loa picked up her mug and spilt half of it on her apron.

Dwalin took up a napkin and wiped it off. "Calm down."

Loa glared at him. "Did you hear her insolence?"

Dwalin nodded calmly. "She is a young dwarrowdam trying to find her footing in this world, give her some slack."

"She was not like that when she was little you know...only lately has she become this insufferable. I think she is trying too hard to impress Prince Durin."

"Well she is not under your control anymore, if you haven't noticed." Dwalin raised his brow and leaned back to enjoy his mead again.

Loa's eyes fell on her daughter who was trying to help Prince Durin align the bow with the arrow. "She is still too young to act this way."

Dwalin raised both brows. "She acts this way, because she needs you to allow her to grow up."

Loa turned at him fuming. "Do you imply that I don't?"

Dwalin met her eyes unfazed. "I do not imply...I am stating that as a fact."

Loa crossed her arms, but remained silent even though she was boiling inside.

Dwalin exhaled patiently. "I am not Lis' father so I don't think I am allowed to express my opinion in all this...still..."

Loa reached out and grasped his hand suddenly.

He froze and looked down at it silently.

Loa was not looking at him as she steepled her fingers through his. "You have done so already on various occasions and you know I care about your opinion even though I may sound too bitchy sometimes with my own daughter."

Dwalin nodded and spoke after a few moments. "I know you want to keep her as your little girl forever, but you do know she aspires to be the bodyguard of a formidable royal figure right?"

Loa remained silent.

Dwalin continued calmly. "I am the bodyguard to another formidable royal figure and I can attest that this job needs balls of steel. You cannot become the first guard of such legendary men and appear to be indecisive and weak in front of them! They are going to devour you and then spit out your bones. Lis doesn't need her mom all the time getting in her case. Allow her grow my dear woman. I can understand you lost your husband and you don't want to lose her too, but she needs her personal space."

Loa gritted her teeth, but didn't draw her hand away from Dwalin's. "You have no children yet...you cannot know the suffering a mother has to go through to see her child grow up..."

Dwalin tilted his head. "I can see the pain of a daughter. That is enough for me."

Loa looked up at him lost.

He smiled down at her. "Give her a chance to prove herself to Thorin. She has already proved herself to me, but that's not enough. I've been training her for ten years along with several other soldiers and I can attest that your daughter has the heart of a lion. She has become the best sword trainee in her group and she's also a formidable rider that can deal with rather large horses. Loa your daughter has a lot of potential, if only you can allow her to try. I am here to help her so let me. Have I ever let her down?"

Loa shook her head sadly.

"Have I ever let you down?" He pulled her hand.

She looked up and smiled at him. "No."

"Then trust me in this, alright?" Dwalin raised his brows at her.

Loa sighed deeply. "She will manage to be Durin's bodyguard you think? He's always overpowering her."

Dwalin leaned back and released Loa's hand who looked at him regretfully for a few moments. "She will be not only his bodyguard, but also possibly a very close friend of his. Look at them." Dwalin pointed at Lis who was giggling with Durin as the string of the bow came undone.

Loa sighed as her eyes gazed wistfully at her daughter. "Maybe you are right, my dear."

Dwalin looked at her sideways with raised brows. "My dear?"

Loa straightened her hair and pursed her lips, but remained silent.

Dwalin snorted. "No matter the strong facade you put up for others, I know you have a heart of gold hiding in there." He pointed at her bosom.

Loa's lips curled up slightly and she pointed at prince Thrárin. "Forget my heart of gold and tell me what is that little devil doing with that puppy?"

Dwalin raised his brow critically. "He's leading it straight to his dad...although I think that is an actual wolf cub..."

Loa's lips pressed testily. "I swear these kids are way too much sometimes."

Dwalin chuckled and enjoyed his mead heartily. "You can say that twice."

-.-

Thorin placed his palms and stopped the strings of the harp and his prominent spectators declared their disappointment immediately, but Thorin's eyes were solely on his son who was dragging a little pup by a rather threadbare collar. "Look what I found daddy!"

"What is this?" Thorin asked.

Thrárin looked up with his huge expressive azure eyes. "A puppy..."

Thorin hummed unimpressed. "What is he doing with you then?"

Thrárin smiled bright and released the pup's collar, who began sniffing Thrárin's leather boots. "He followed me."

Thorin raised his brow. "Followed you or got dragged by you?"

Thrárin tilted his head briefly and then as if deciding he beamed up to his father and clapped his hands. "Followed me!"

Thorin pushed the harp until it rested on it's foot down and Ferumbras the third intervened. "Why did you stop playing my King? Your music is enchanting."

Thorin pointed elegantly at his son. "Got a puppy situation here mayor that needs my utmost attention..."

Ferumbras bowed respectfully and gathered all the distinct members of the Shire a little further off to give Thorin some time with his son. Otho though found the opportunity to speak out before they left. "That's a wolf's cub your majesty!"

Thorin looked back at him casually. "Obviously. How come does it have a collar?"

"Some farmers found him at the Overhill. His mom was hunted down, but they found pity on the cub and brought him in. Still he is no pet for children. He's a wolf in the making." Otho placed his hands on his waist and frowned.

Ferumbras grabbed him by the arm and dragged him away. "I am sure his majesty knows all that. He doesn't need our opinion. Now come on!"

Otho pointed at the young prince. "Take that wolf away from the Prince before he eats him up for dinner, your Majesty!"

"Take your dark energy away from our guests before I make you eat instead!" Ferumbras grumbled and shoved him away.

Thorin turned to his son who was kneeling down petting the cub. "You think he's hungry?"

Thrárin looked up to his father with wide eyes. "He's licking my hand, does he want to eat me like that man said?"

Thorin smiled and reached out to take some left-overs from the table. He gave a small piece of meat to his son. "He's too young to eat you, but he'll like this. Give it to him."

Thrárin took it and dangled it above the cub's head, making him jump up and down in order to get it. It's wail was long drawn and wolfish like, but too weak yet. "If he grows up will he try to eat me?" Thrárin placed the meat in front of the cub who devoured it and then lifted up on his hind legs begging for more.

"You are going to be all grown up too, so no he won't be able to eat you then either." Thorin gave him some more meat.

Thrárin gave it to the cub and started petting it. "Can we keep him then?"

Thorin raised his brow. "You want a pet wolf?"

"Yes daddy! He can sleep in my room. I can train him and he can be my bodyguard like Lis is Durin's bodyguard! I can call him...call him...call him..." Thrárin became more excited with each new idea that was popping into his little head.

Thorin waited patiently, but nothing could have prepared him for what followed.

"Thror...can we call him Thror?" Thrárin cried.

Thorin exhaled hard. "You want to gift this wolf cub with the glorious name of your forefather?" The idea sounded ludicrous to him.

"Yes! Can we daddy?"

The cub ate every piece of meat Thrárin gave it and then licked the boy's fingers.

Thorin pulled Thrárin on his lap. "Have you asked your mother?"

Thrárin sat comfortably and began kicking the air. His eyes were moving between the harp and the cub who was sniffing around Thorin's boots. "Noooooo..." he mumbled and tried to dig a booger out of his nose with his finger.

Thorin pulled a napkin from the table and covered Thrárin's nose. "Blow..." -he said and the boy did so- "Don't use your hands, that's not proper manners."

Thrárin did as he was told, but didn't forget the most important thing for him. "He's so cute, can we keep him please?"

"As if we didn't have enough members in our family, we also need a wolf added in it." Thorin mumbled under his breath.

"Thror!" Thrárin beamed back to his dad and made to grab the harp.

Thorin tilted it over to them gently. "Don't kick the instrument, you will destroy the strings and no you are not giving your great grandfather's name to this cub."

"Can I keep him though?" Thrárin's lip pouted.

"I need to talk with your mother about that one first." Thorin raised his brow and looked fleetingly at the cub who circled itself a couple of times and then laid down next to Thorin's boots and placed it's muzzle above it's paws quietly.

"When can you talk to her about him?" Thrárin grinned and Thorin delighted at his son's toothless mouth.

"You don't have any patience do you?" he asked quietly.

Thrárin shook his head fiercely and his long braid almost came undone. "Nope daddy!"

"Well at least you are honest..." -Thorin rejoined thoughtfully and straightened his son's stiff fingers- "Don't hook on the strings so hard, you are going to wound your finger tip. Try softer, like this." He said and demonstrated a couple of notes.

Thrárin nibbled his bottom lip and tried one note that sounded way too rough.

Thorin placed his finger above Thrárin's and tried the note with him, creating the sweetest sound ever. "Softer..." he said calmly.

Thrárin frowned with determination and tried again. "I will learn how to play better than you!"

Thorin looked at him proudly as Thrárin tried out several notes. Some sounded rough, but on some he managed to hit the right tone, more or less. "You will be the musician in our family then?"

Thrárin straightened up proudly. "Warrior musician!"

Thorin laughed warmly. "Place your palms on the strings to make them stop." He created a series of mesmerising notes and then stopped them with Thrárin's palms.

The boy nodded. "Okay daddy!"

Thorin wrapped his arms around his son and gave him a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Have I ever told you how much I love you?" He whispered.

Thrárin giggled and grabbed his father's hair pushing him away. "Yeah, but you tickle me!" Thrárin's giggle echoed musically around the opening.

"Have I ever told you I want to devour you sometimes?!" Thorin's large hand burrowed under his son's armpit and tickled him hard.

"Ahhhh! Yeah! Yeah! Leave me alone! Ahhh!" Thrárin twisted and pushed in order to be free.

Thorin laughed heartily with him. "Don't scream so loud, you are going to wake up the poor cub!"

Thrárin stopped and turned around to face Thorin. "We will keep him!?" he cried with wide eyes.

Thorin raised his brows, but remained silent for a few moments. "I don't know. First I want to know how much you love me."

Thrárin bit his lower lip. "First tell me that we are going to keep him!"

Thorin's lips curled up. "You are quite the negotiator aren't you?"

Thrárin frowned. "I am a what?"

Thorin pursed his lips. "A little cunning fox and you have the matching colours to go along with that." He looked appreciatively at his son's red mane.

Thrárin's lips twisted thoughtfully. "I will tell you I love you, if we keep Thror."

Thorin raised his brow in a quiet warning that didn't pass through to his excited son.

Thrárin kneeled on his dad's thighs and grasped his shoulders. "I love you daddy! Thank you for allowing me to keep him!"

Thorin's brow wrinkled. "When did I accept?"

Thrárin raised both brows. "You didn't say no, so that means you said yes!" He said with a tone of uncertainty that melted Thorin's heart.

"That's how I get a declaration of love from you? By giving you everything you want?" Thorin cleared the red wild curls away from his son's face.

Thrárin giggled. "Yeah!"

Thorin huffed. "Your brother is going to be a mighty warrior, your sister a fiery tornado that will burn men's heart to ash and you will be the diplomat of our family, aren't you? Killing slowly with a smile."

Thrárin frowned. "What is a diplomat daddy?"

"Exactly what you are..." Thorin grinned at his son.

"I want to be a warrior musician!" Thrárin said seriously.

Thorin pulled him into a warm embrace and the boy snuggled in his arms comfortably. "Be whatever your heart desires my son...just be happy, that's all that I care about."

"I will be happy if we keep Thror." Thrárin rejoined and looked down at the cub who was sleep cosily next to Thorin's boot.

Thorin sighed. "We need to make sure this cub doesn't have a current owner and then we need to ask your mom, okay?"

"Okay daddy, can we go find her now to ask?!" Thrárin's face was bright as the moon that was upon the clear night sky at that moment.

Thorin didn't have the time to answer as two loving arms came around his neck and a soft pair of lips touched the side of his neck spreading shivers down his spine. "Ask his mom about what exactly?" Eilin whispered close to his ear.

Thrárin was quick to answer before Thorin had the opportunity. He released his father's embrace and grabbed Eilin's hand bringing her around. He kneeled down and caressed the cub's head sloppily. "Can we keep Thror mommy!?" His azure eyes looked up to her eagerly.

She raised her brows and looked at Thorin. "Thror?" she mouthed.

He shook his head. "Don't ask."

"I found him, he followed me home! He can be my bodyguard! He's a wolf mommy, can we keep him?!" Thrárin's eyes gazed at her beseechingly.

Eilin raised her hand and closed her eyes. "Wait a minute."

"Can we? Can we? Can we? Can we? Can we mommy? Can we? Can we? Can we?" Thrárin jumped up and down unwilling to stop.

That is when another voice joined in also. "Can we? Can we? Can we? Can we? Can we?" It was Rhianaye who had followed her mom and listened in on the conversation.

Thrárin stopped and glared at his sister. "If he comes back he's going to be mine Rhianaye!" He warned.

His sister placed her hands in her waist. "He's going to belong to all of us. That is proper, right dad?" She looked at her father waiting for confirmation.

"Well it is Thrárin who found him, so I am not so sure petal. If we decide to keep him, I think his owner will be your younger brother." Thorin clasped Eilin's hand gently and brought it to his lips for a kiss.

Thrárin pointed at his sister. "He will be mine, but you can pet him if you want to and we can take him out for walks together."

Rhianaye crossed her arms and scrounge her lips. "Well it's better than nothing."

Eilin smiled down at Thorin. "Have we decided that we want to keep him?"

"It's up to you." Thorin stood up and pulled her in his arms.

She wrapped hers around his waist and leaned her head on his chest. "Why not then?" She said thoughtfully.

"Really mom!?" Rhianaye grabbed Eilin's apron tightly.

Eilin gave her a most affectionate smile and caressed her shiny black hair that were reflecting the lights from the lamps that were hanging from the trees.

"We are already three kids and two adults...do we have enough time and energy to offer to this wolf cub?" Thorin tried to reason.

Thrárin frowned annoyed. "Yes we do daddy! Me and Rhianaye are going to do it, right?" His annoyance melted under the eager look he gave to his older sister.

Rhianaye winked at him. "We sure will!" -Then she turned to her parents with determination- "Come on people, we are old enough to have a pet."

Thrárin clasped Rhianaye's hand inside his and began jumping in front of her. "We are going to get a wolf! We are going to get a wolf! We are going to get a wolf!" And Rhianaye joined in.

Eilin gave Thorin a soft kiss at his bearded jawline as he gazed thoughtfully at his kids hopscotching around the cub who began howling and jumping also. "Don't think about it too long love. Look at how happy they are..." she whispered.

He pulled back and looked at her face dotingly. "Are you up for one more obligation?"

Eilin's lips pursed and she momentarily looked as if she wanted to tell him something, which at the last moment she regretted. "Just one more?"

He frowned. "What?"

She beamed up to him. "I am up for many more obligations, how about you my love?" her finger touched his lips gently.

He kissed it and smiled. "Whatever you say. The final call is yours."

Eilin's fingers coasted up to his cheek. "Thank you..." She whispered and the warmth of her breath caressed his face.

"I don't want to divert from the serious conversation about the wolf cub, but I'll never get used to your face. You are the most beautiful woman of Middle Earth, you know that don't you?" He bit his lower lip and his smile at her was sultry.

She laughed and caressed his large ear. "I happily belong to the most handsome warrior King of Middle Earth."

He offered her a dazzling smile and pulled her close. "Hear that song?"

She nodded and looked at his parted lips.

"Remember it?" He raised his brow.

"I danced it for you that day at the lake, when you showed me what it was like to be undone by the hands of the man you love...for the first time." She whispered.

"Will you dance for me again?" His fingers captured her chin and kept her in place as he leaned down to offer her a gentle lingering kiss that disgusted Rhianaye, but left Thrárin unaffected as he was kneeling next to the cub petting it.

"Yuck dad...not again!" Rhianaye stomped her foot down.

Thorin looked above Eilin's shoulder. "Cannot I kiss my wife, young lady?"

Rhianaye crossed her arms seemingly pissed. "Not in front of us! It's disgusting!"

Eilin looked behind her with a tender smile. "It's just the representation of the love we feel for each other, petal."

Rhianaye waved them off and kneeled down to pet Thror too. "Tell me when you finish...so I can look again." She sounded irritated beyond reason.

Thorin looked for a moment at his children with the cub and then down at Eilin's beautiful green eyes and pink luscious lips. "Will you dance with me?"

Rhianaye looked up sharply at that. "You owe me a dance dad! You promised!"

Eilin laughed and leaned her head on Thorin's shoulder. "You are being pursued by two women. Choose wisely!"

Thorin smiled down at his wife affectionately. "I'd never wish to be the cause of a rapture between mother and daughter. You choose who I dance with first."

"Dance with our daughter. You need to have a talk with her if I am not mistaken." She winked at him.

A knowing smile broke on his mouth and he turned to Rhianaye. "Very well. Can I have this dance, Little Gem?"

Rhianaye looked up at him and crossed her arms. "No, go ahead and dance with mom..." She still sounded annoyed by her parent's shenanigans.

Eilin kneeled close to Thrárin and caressed the cub. She gave an eloquent look at her husband who nodded discreetly. "I'd like to dance with you first."

Rhianaye looked at her mom who smiled brightly at her. "Go love...dance with daddy. He declares that he hates dancing, but he is actually one of the best dancers I've ever met."

Thorin was unable to hide his bliss as Rhianaye took his hand with a very elegant bow that betrayed instantly that she was of royal descent. "In that case, I would be honoured Sir..."

Thorin clasped her hand lightly and led her to the middle of the dance area that was full of people. He raised his brow at her slowly. "The honour is mine my Lady." He said majestically.

Eilin admired her husband leading her daughter into the dance that she had used to dazzle him back at those early days, when she was still uncertain how much of his attention she truly had. Their dance though was not tempting and alluring as she had made it for Thorin back in the days. It was elegant and so well performed that the dance area slowly cleared up to allow Thorin and his daughter to enchant all of them. They all admired Princess Rhianaye with her serious tries to control her body so as not to make a fool out of herself in front of her dad and Thorin for leading his daughter into a series of twirls and turns that lifted up her small dress and made her loose slowly all her forced solemnity. Soon enough Thorin's playful attitude didn't draw just smiles, but giggles from her that in the end became full blown laughs that were contagious towards the crowd.

Eilin wanted to remain and admire the special relationship Thorin always had with Rhianaye, but she just couldn't. She stood up and took Thrárin by the hand.

Her son had enough time to grab Thror's collar and drag the cub with them. "Where are we going mommy?"

"I need to leave you to Dis..." She said and felt a rather ominous burp coming up.

"But I wanted to show Durin our new wolf!" Thrárin whined and tried to resist.

Eilin stopped and burped loudly. Then she looked around to see if anyone noticed her rudeness. "I need to have you remain with a grown up. I don't want Lis to take care of two kids alone."

"Then come with me!" Thrárin cried.

"Mommy needs to take a small break love. Here I will take you to auntie Dis and Lieutenant Dongar and you can show them your new wolf. I will be back soon okay?" Eilin forced herself to smile down at her son even though her stomach was twisting painfully and the whole world was twirling mercilessly.

Thrárin followed her silently with a deep frown of annoyance on his beautiful face.

-.-

Thorin clasped Rhianaye's hand and pulled her behind him. "How did your archery lesson go?"

"Perfect dad! I hit the bullseye three times!" Rhianaye said and followed his lead as brought her in front of him and bowed elegantly.

"I noticed that Durin was helping you more than your mom." He noticed.

Rhianaye began nibbling her bottom lip nervously. "That's true."

"What a kind and caring brother you have..." Thorin let that thought trail off as he moved her to his side and allowed her to follow his steps through that particularly slow part of the dance.

Rhianaye averted her eyes and looked down at her feet.

"Don't you agree?" Thorin pulled her hand gently in order to draw her attention.

She nodded and felt her cheeks flushing red.

"So you do appreciate his efforts to assist you?" Thorin raised his brow at her, even though she wasn't looking at him.

It was as if suddenly she had lost her mirth. "Yes dad..." She said in a hushed tone.

Thorin stopped next to her with the music and bowed elegantly. She did the same. "Have you shown him your appreciation lately Gem?"

Rhianaye looked at him bashfully. "Uhm...no...I mean yes...I mean...maybe not."

Thorin led her away from the dance floor and found his spot close to the harp. He sat down and pulled her in front of him by the hands. "How did you do that precious?"

Rhianaye looked at her hands and began swaying her body uncomfortably. "I ...don't know..."

Thorin looked at her lowered eyelids for several moments before deciding to give her the final blow. "By stealing his honey cake?"

Rhianaye lifted her eyes and her whole face became crimson. "Dad no! I never stole it! I just...I just...it was ...you don't understand!"

"So Durin lied?" Thorin said calmly and placed some Old Toby in his pipe.

Rhianaye looked terribly uncomfortable and even slightly afraid. She didn't speak.

"Be careful to tell me the truth Gem, for if he lied he will be punished." Thorin said cleverly and lit up his pipe.

"How will you punish him?" Rhianaye looked up.

"He won't be allowed to ride a horse for three full moons." Thorin rejoined nonchalantly.

Rhianaye paled. "Dad noooo...he loves his horse!"

Thorin flicked his shoulders. "Lies get punished petal. You know that." He inhaled the smoke deeply and then released it with a soft sigh of relief.

Rhianaye's fingers twisted tightly around each other. She turned and looked at her brother practicing archery with Lis, then at her father who had closed his eyes and was enjoying his smoke. She tried to find her mom, but she couldn't. She only saw Thrárin with auntie Dis cradling the wolf cub in his small arms. It took her long to decide what to do and how to break through to her formidable father. Her conclusion was that honesty couldn't be avoided. She may have wanted to eat that extra honey cake, but she loved her brother. She didn't want him punished for this. She murmured something Thorin missed.

His eyes cracked open and he looked at her sideways. "What did you say Gem?"

Rhianaye bit her lower lip and inhaled deeply. "I said I stole his cake, please don't punish him. He did nothing wrong."

Thorin's heavy gaze evaluated his daughter for several moments before he inclined his head. "Very well. Thank you for being honest."

Rhianaye froze and her bright green eyes engaged with her father's. "That's it? You won't punish me?"

Thorin shook his head. "No, you saved your punishment by a hair's inch. If you had been dishonest with me you would have lost your enchanted lake for several full moons."

Rhianaye closed her eyes and exhaled hard.

"Don't ever take Durin's desert again. When you want extra you go and ask Loa to make you some more. Is that clear?" Thorin said with an austerity that always made Rhianaye lose all the colour from her face.

She clasped her hands tightly in front of her apron. "I am sorry dad."

He reached out and touched her cold hands. "It's not me you should be asking forgiveness from..." He said meaningfully.

Rhianaye looked back at her brother. "I will go tell Durin."

"When?" Thorin raised his brow.

"Now!" Rhianaye said eagerly.

Thorin's lips curled up in a proud lopsided smile. He cupped her cheek and drew her into his arms. "There you go love...that's the proper way to treat your siblings."

Rhianaye wrapped her arms behind Thorin's neck. "I love Durin..."

Thorin kissed her forehead and caressed her temple tenderly. "He loves you too, but you need to stop poking him."

Rhianaye leaned her head on his shoulder. "I will dad I promise...and Thrárin, I love him too."

"As for him, he absolutely adores you." Thorin smiled gently.

Rhianaye smiled. "He's just so silly sometimes."

"He's young. Allow him the time to learn and one day you shall see him all grown up, wise and brave standing next to your brother...a wall of protection for our family and for you personally." Thorin said without being able to hide a thread of pride from his voice.

Rhianaye started giggling. "I cannot imagine Thrárin ever being like that."

Thorin offered her cheek and hand another kiss. "You will all grow up and you'll see things through another perspective. Listen to your old man."

Rhianaye frowned. "You are not old dad, come on!"

"I am three hundred years older than you, young lady." He smiled thoughtfully and looked at the dance floor that was full of couples once more.

Rhianaye scrounged her lips. "I don't like the sound of that."

"Why?" Thorin asked and began wondering were Eilin had gone. He wanted so much to have a dance with her.

"Because that means you may die soon." Rhianaye felt her eyes welling. "I love you too much. I don't want you to die, ever."

Thorin enclosed her on his chest. "We will make a deal alright?"

Rhianaye nodded. "Okay."

"I won't die until you become old enough to have your own children. How about that?"

Rhianaye punched his shoulder. "Not enough!"

"Okay your own grandchildren then." Thorin smirked down at her.

Rhianaye shook her head. "More!"

"Your own great grandchildren?" Thorin raised his brows in amusement.

"MORE!" Rhianaye giggled.

Thorin laughed. "Shall I will become Thorin the deathless for you?"

Rhianaye's face lit up brightly. "Yes!"

Thorin gave her a firm kiss on her cheek and got ready to answer when Durin's solemn voice stopped him.

"Dad..."

He looked at his son's annoyed face. "What?"

Durin pointed at a tree cluster at the far end of the field. "Mom is puking again."

Thorin's face lost all it's mirth and he put Rhianaye down. "Stay with your sister." He said and started walking quickly towards the place Durin pointed at.

Rhianaye looked at her brother long and hard before yelling suddenly a rather uncomfortable sounding. "I am sorry!"

"What?" Durin looked taken aback.

She stippled her fingers and looked at her apron. "I am sorry I ate your cake."

Durin's face settled in irritation. "You are a little weasel...we all know that. You are lucky I didn't beat you up."

Rhianaye's eyes welled. "I said I am sorry Durin...honestly...what more can I do to fix this?"

Durin pointed at her. "You will let me eat your desert tonight!" He raised his brow at her.

Rhianaye deliberated on that for a few moments and then extended her hand to him. "Deal!" She said bravely.

Durin looked at for a few moments before cracking up a smile. He grasped his sister's hand and squeezed tightly. "Perfect, now come on!" He said and pulled her behind some trees.

"What are we doing?" Rhianaye looked around as Durin pulled her along as quietly as possible.

"We are sneaking..." Durin whispered.

"Where to?" She lowered her voice likewise.

"Into Gandalf's tent!" Durin hushed her.

"Why!?" Rhianaye's eyes grew wide.

"So we can fire up his biggest firework!" Durin smirked back at her.

Rhianaye's mouth dropped open for a few moments and then she clapped her hands. "Yeah!"

Durin clutched her hands and hushed her again. "Keep your bloody voice down before they figure us out!"

Rhianaye looked around her anxiously. "What if mom and dad see us?"

Durin waved her off. "They'll be busy for a while."

"Because mom's puking? She's sick again, isn't she?" Rhianaye frowned.

"Nah, don't worry. She's just having another baby, that's all." Durin flicked his shoulders.

Rhianaye's face lit up. "She does?!"

Durin nodded and pulled her silently into the Gandalf's red tent. "She acts the same way she did before they announced us that Thrárin was coming."

Rhianaye nodded. "Do you think it's going to be a girl this time?"

Durin began uncovering the boxes and searching. "I hope it's a boy."

Rhianaye helped him. "You are unfair. You got Thrárin, whom do I have?"

"Us..." Durin smirked and pointed at a huge rainbow coloured phoenix bird. "Look, there it is!"

Rhianaye's eyes glimmered. "Oh...wow! Are you going to light it up?"

Durin grinned. "You bet your life I will. Hold this!" He gave her his bow and went on a quest to find some flint and stone in order to finish his plan for the evening. To blow up the tent and all the fireworks with that huge fiery bird.

-.-

At the end of the field away from all the commotion Eilin wiped away her mouth and leaned her hand on the tree bark behind her. She closed her eyes and tried to calculate how dizzy she felt and how stupid she had been to come out here all alone in this state. That is when a strong pair of arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her onto an equally strong and tall body. She exhaled hard in relief. "Thorin..." she muttered.

He cleared some hair away from her pale face and looked down at her. "You told me you felt better."

She shook her head. "Now I feel much better, believe me."

"You look pale as death. Follow me." He said and led her next to a small creek. He kneeled down and helped her to sit next to him. Then he pulled her hair back in a ponytail and began washing her face clean.

The cold water did wonders for her dizziness. "Thank you my love."

"Why didn't you tell me you felt this awful?" -his face looked both troubled and annoyed- "We could have left the feast so you could get some rest."

Eilin reached out and clasped his thigh. "My love...listen."

"You are forcing yourself to do everything with the kids. You are exhausted all the time even though you sleep constantly and this dizziness...it's not getting any better is it? No matter what we do, it's only getting worse. You can't stop emptying your stomach every single day. I want Gandalf to take a look at you!" He said and wiped away her face with a handkerchief after she cleaned her mouth amply with the fresh water from the creek.

She removed his hand from her face, but held it firmly between her cold fingers.

He looked down. "You are freezing..." His voice became even more worried.

She shook her head gently. "I am alright...please...listen."

His previously clear brow wrinkled. "You are not alright. Gandalf must see you..."

She pressed her lips and their loving gazes engaged. "Thorin I don't need Gandalf to tell me what I already know."

He frowned momentarily taken aback. "What?"

The thin line of her lips curled up in the most adoring smile she could master. "I am pregnant my love."

Thorin's lips parted and his chin came down.

Eilin cupped her mouth and snorted at his bewildered expression. "I am not dying honey. I am just pregnant..."

Thorin looked bemused for a few moments. When he spoke again his voice was diminished. "Again...?"

Eilin raised her brows and gave him a series of ceaseless nods. "Again..." She spoke silently, trying to read his reaction to these news.

"I am going to be a dad...again?" His face cringed in disbelief.

Eilin cupped his cheek and bit her lower lip. "Tell me you are not freaking out please. I tried to prepare you a couple of times back there..." She sounded mildly worried.

The troubled lines on Thorin's face melted away slowly as he raised his beautiful eyes and looked at her. He shook his head slightly. "But we were counting days..." He said.

Eilin pursed her lips. "We kind of messed up the previous month remember?"

Thorin closed his eyes in sudden realisation. "Oh, damn..."

"You are actually unsettling me with this attitude, just so you'd know." She warned him gently.

He turned around and gifted her palm with a warm kiss that made her heart skirt. "If it's a girl, I want it to be named Ida..." His mouth formed a most affectionate smile.

Eilin closed her eyes with a sigh of relief and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Oh thank heavens...I thought you were mad at this."

He shook his head. "I will be mad if I cannot get the girl I am always aiming for."

Eilin frowned confused. "I know I may sound completely crazy, but if it's a boy can we name him Órin?"

Thorin's demeanour clouded. "Oh, Eilin..." He didn't know what to say to that unexpected declaration.

Eilin closed her eyes and shook her head. "I haven't made peace with him and I don't know if I ever will, but I'd like to combine his name with yours for our son, if Mahal blesses us with a third boy. Is that okay with you?"

Thorin felt his heart welling with love. He rubbed his bearded cheek on her forehead. "It would be an honour for me."

She nodded gently and exhaled a whole bout of tension. "I love you so much."

It took him several moments to speak again, but when he did his intentions were clear. He wanted to lift that unbidden dark shadow away from Eilin's heart. "If this turns out to be a boy, I think we should try one last time."

Her brow wrinkled in momentary confusion. "Try what?"

"To get that ginger haired princess with the green eyes that we are going to call Ida." His voice was part teasing part serious.

Eilin pulled back and looked at him with austerity. "Are you literally trying to kill me?"

He raised both brows. "Why?"

Eilin tilted her head and her shoulders deflated. "Thorin I absolutely adore you, but mercy me please... that's enough! We have three already and one on the way and you want more?"

He flicked his shoulders. "Haven't coaxed a second daughter from you yet."

Eilin straightened her body and looked at him sternly. "I never thought I'd ever say this, but honey...don't love me fully anymore...please!"

"We'll see..." he frowned down at her.

She smirked playfully and raised her finger at his face. "You told me to command you to stop all this and now I am! We will count carefully after I birth this baby. Carefully! Every single time we shall count and you won't love me fully when the days are too dangerous! Do we have a deal?!" She sounded austere and partly irritated, but he didn't look intimidated.

He wrapped his arms around her and smiled smugly. "I'll think about it."

Eilin's lips parted. "What do you mean you'll think about it?"

He nibbled his lip and looked at her mouth thoughtfully for a few moments, then he pulled her in fiercely and flushed her against his body. Then his mouth made an attack on her cheek that ended up as fiery kisses on her mouth that she was unable and unwilling to stop. Her fingers clutched his nape firmly and she surrendered to the carnality of his claim that related to her not only his physical domination, but also his devotion to her. His kiss not only took over the reigns of her thoughts, but with equal ease it erased every single thread of nausea from her body. Only then did she realise that he was kissing her after she had emptied her stomach and she pulled back feeling abhorred.

"What?" he frowned down at her obvious hesitation.

"I just puked...the smell of my mouth must be foul..." she told him.

He looked at her face hungrily for a few moments before dipping down to capture her bottom lip between his teeth. "You taste sweet like honey," -he let his tongue roll into the hot cavity of her mouth and instantly her body tensed. When he pulled back her body was already overtaken by a lingering warmth and her mind was partially foggy- "you taste like flowers" -his tongue engaged sensually around hers a few more times before he looked at her eyes- "You taste like life!" The hairpin of his mouth curled up.

"I know these words...I've heard them before." She murmured and her finger caressed his bearded jawline. She felt enchanted by him, like she always did. No matter the time they had been together or how many children were now in their lives, that magic between them was still there, burning strong...endlessly.

He raised his brows. "I've spoken them to you before, I will speak them again and I will repeat them as many times as you wish me..."

She felt her eyes burning. "I love you Thorin."

"I love you too my Eilin." His mouth opened up to devour her and his ears barely heard the moan of pleasure she released into his mouth, as an array of explosions lit up the night sky above them and made it bright as day.

As I kissed the love of my life, the woman who has gifted me with four precious children, companionship, affection and emotional bonds that stood much stronger than bonds of blood...I didn't see the rainbow coloured phoenix erupting above our heads and drenching us with myriads of fiery flares that sparkled upon Eilin's reddish curls like small fireflies. I didn't hear the exclamations of awe and disbelief that came from the party field, nor was I able to make out the blissful cries of my two oldest children that came running out of Gandalf's tent full of soot, happy that they had destroyed the whole feast. I could only feel the slickness of her tongue dancing around mine and the sharpness of her nails penetrating the sensitive skin on the side of my neck. I could feel her soft warm body against mine and her voluptuous breasts pressing provocatively on my palms. The more I kissed and fondled her the more I wanted to undress her and make love to her right there next to the creek, surrounded by the quiet darkness of this protective cluster of the trees. I wanted to push that rude dress up to her midsection and move those underwear aside the moment her hands became too bold and too rude around my own need for her. As the fireworks erupted in the sky above us, I knew that under me open and longing was the woman I had devoted my life to and that inside her was a second heart beating very fast. A heart that was created by our love. That wholesome feeling was so overwhelming on me that I forgot all about the feast behind us. All about my children that were trying to escape the clutches of Dis and Dongar. I didn't care that my youngest boy Thrárin was hopscotching on a table, kicking away every single dish and mug while Loa and Dwalin were trying to get him to come down. I forgot all about the wolf cub named Thror and the need to teach Thrárin to play the harp. As I slid in her and pinned her demanding hands above her head I forgot all about Hobbiton, Erebor and everything in between. I forgot how I was brought back to life in Ravenhill and how I begged for death once more, not so long after...

As I thrust inside her almost desperately, looking at her closed eyes and at her face captivated in total rapture though I remembered the very first moment I met her and how she took my breath away. Her green eyes that reminded me of the fields around us in full bloom, her long curly hair that was a red sea around her perfect face. That porcelain skin that felt almost too delicate to touch and too soft to kiss. Those lips...ah...those soft petals I have under mine now...sucking them, eating them, drinking them to oblivion as I spread her legs open with my thighs...her neck...her long thin neck around which I am wrapping my fingers gently...feeling it undulating under my palm with her moans of pleasure that penetrate my very heart. Her perfect, voluptuous firm breasts that will always feed my most carnal dreams with a fire that cannot be satiated. I remembered everything from the moment I met her and then on...I never forgot a single look that we have exchanged nor a single word. I could go back and retell it as if I was re-reading a book. Every touch, every curl on the hairpin of her perfect mouth, every exhalation of timidness. Every shy scrape of skin, every hope, every dream, every need, every tear, every beautiful pain, every regret, every guilt, ever single ounce of love I have felt for her.

I remember the first moment I decided to pursue this perfection, to the last moment we allowed our passion for each other to consume us...much like it does now that I see her unravelling under me. With her dress pushed over her hips and her breasts caressing my face. With the scorching heat of her innermost self enwrapping me so lovingly. I'll never forget the journey this woman offered me. She freed me from the demons of my past and took my hand urging me to follow her into the future...and what that future held for us was utterly amazing, unexpected...unfathomable. So as she twisted her smooth thighs around my hips and she arched her body against mine I longed to see that future evolve, change and become the future of our children. My fingers tightened around her wrists and my mouth kissed her so deeply that I felt that my soul adjoining hers. When the fireworks abated above us, I felt her tensing and I knew she was there. I begged her to come for me...to come to me. When she did her eruption was more blinding than any firework that had gone off in the night sky of Hobbiton. There surrounded by the safety of the clusters and the darkness of the night, the love of my life unfolded every single inch of her passion under me and I followed her into the void, knowing that inside her there was another life blooming. My rapture was so engulfing that I wanted to make love to her again and again until both our hearts would finally give up. Only then maybe I could relate how I felt for her...or maybe she already knew, because her arms enclosed me with such doting devotion that my eyes filled with tears as I emptied all my love for her into her blessed, comforting heat. She knows how I feel...for she feels the same...and our love had been fierce from the first moment ...and it will remain as such to the last.

As I pulled back to look into her eyes... I heard the cries of Durin and Rhianaye and she heard them too for those beloved green eyes of hers forgot the ecstasy I offered her and they filled with dread. She grasped my biceps firmly, letting me know her worry about the children. I helped her up, I pulled her dress down, making sure I cleaned it from all those fallen leaves that had stuck on it's back and I assured her that everything was going to be fine. It was just our fierce twins creating havoc once more and their younger brother who was trying to keep up. That was not something new. It was not something we haven't dealt with before.

Little did we know at that moment that our twins were not going to be the fiercest members of our family for long. Soon Órin, my youngest son was going to be born and he was destined to make us reevaluate what we considered ferocious, by becoming his oldest brother's nightmare.

Durin's new bane!

THE END

A/N:

* There will be an epilogue which will be the last chapter of this story. I know there are plot lines left unfinished, like Eilin's father, but they cannot be addressed in this story as it became too big. It needs a closure. If you are interested in a sequel that would address Eilin's father and what happened with her mother, the royal family and their formidable children, Erebor and the part it will play in Middle Earth later on, please let me know and I will do the best I can after a break because I admit I am totally burned out. I will thank each reviewer that has caught my eyes personally at the end of the epilogue *.*

*Oh, before I forget. There weren't many people who read this story, probably not more than a handful, still though it was a story worth telling. So this is for all of us who sometimes struggle with self-worth (and no these are not my words, but do take them at heart):

If you're not noticed, you're still valid.

if no ones gonna read it, you should still write it.

If no ones gonna see it, you should still do it.

If no ones gonna hear you, you should still say it.

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