Epilogue:
The weeks following the birth of my babies was a flurry of activity. Supplies were being packed and arrangements were being made for the governing of Ered Luin while Dis was away. I was equally busy with learning the Dwarvish phrases I would need for the wedding ceremony and making a start on my wedding dress. Dis had been kind enough to give me an old one of hers and, with my mother-in-laws' help, I was making it my own as per the custom.
Bain and Kanin were taking turns looking after the twins and, Kanin especially, were doting on them as though they were the most precious thing in the world. As I prepared for my impending nuptials I turned my thought towards baby names. While on a break from sewing I trawled through the library in search of the perfect names for the twins and, after a while, I found a musty tome that I had a good feeling about. I leafed through the pages eagerly scanning the text until one name leapt out at me.
"Anabryn," I mumbled rolling the name around in my head "perfect."
I kept searching for a complementary name and came up short. I was so engrossed in seeking another name I didn't notice Kanin enter the room.
"Auntie?" he said from near my elbow causing me a little shock.
"Yes, sweetheart?" I turned towards him and saw he wasn't alone.
"Bela wants to know if she can come home with us" he said smiling at the dwarf-maid next to him.
"As long as her parents don't mind I have no objections" I replied.
"I don't have parents My Lady" Bela said looking at the ground.
"In that case, you are more than welcome to come along" I smiled.
"Thank you My Lady" Bela replied brushing her hand across her cheek.
Kanin took her hand and, with a smile, left the room. I turned back to the book but couldn't focus as I kept thinking about the poor orphaned child who was returning to Erebor with us. The more I thought about her the more her name resounded in my head.
"That's it! Belabryn."
Later, as I went about my packing, I began to wonder what Bofur would think of the names I'd chosen. I touched the tooth earring woven into my braid and felt a pang of longing; it had been too long since I'd seen his cheeky grin.
…
A few weeks later we were on our way home and I was anxious at how the babies would travel. Bain, Kanin and Bela were always on hand to help on our way to the Shire if I felt I needed a break and I began to notice how Bela was becoming enmeshed in my little family unit.
As we travelled I practised my Dwarvish and wrote down notes to myself and began discussing with my father-in-law about who was going to give me away at the wedding.
"Normally" he said "it is the father of the bride but as you lost you father the closest adult male will suffice."
Only one man would fit that description and I wondered how Bard was going to take the news.
…
We only stopped in Hobbiton for a few days; just long enough to restock and spend the promised time with Bilbo.
"Aren't they just darlings!" Bilbo exclaimed as I sat in his kitchen to feed the babies.
"Thank you, my friend, I couldn't be happier."
"Does Bofur know?" Bilbo asked passing me a cup of tea.
"No, it's going to be such a surprise" I replied with a small smile.
"Well, I wish you a safe journey" Bilbo smiled.
...
We took our leave and the miles seemed to fly beneath our feet. Months passed by like they were days and we were soon passing through Mirkwood. Once through the forest I fancied I could see the looming peaks of Erebor and my heart swelled with longing for my fiance; six months without seeing Bofur's cheeky smile had almost been too long.
We stopped at a newly built inn in Dale and finally relaxed. Bain headed off to find his father and I settled into my room to nurse the twins. Kanin was curled up asleep on the bed and Bela was sitting next to me and asking endless questions as only a child could. Later that evening Lady Dis came in to coach me a bit more in the Dwarvish needed for the wedding and help me with the finishing touches to my wedding dress. Bard arrived after supper and took the news of being chosen to give me away rather well. He started his Dwarvish lessons right away and got fitted for ceremonial robes that my father-in-law provided.
A few days later my father-in-law headed off up the mountain to inspect the work Bofur had done on our rooms, as per custom, and I decided to head into the city to get some fresh air. Kanin and Bela were as shadows as I paused to talk with the villagers about the rebuilding, the weather and, of course, the twins. Many people thanked me for what I'd done in defending them and some of the children gave me flowers. I made my way to one of the watch towers and looked up at the looming facade of the mountain. It wouldn't be much longer until I was with my friends again and I found I had missed all of them...even gruff Dwalin.
…
I spent the next week or so growing more anxious to see Bofur so I threw myself into my sewing. The dress turned out gorgeous and I'd learnt the Dwarvish well enough to speak it without mispronouncing anything. Lady Dis had taken the helm with the rest of the wedding planning and was discussing food and decorations with many businesses in Dale as, after the ceremony, we were going to bring the celebration into the city for my people to participate in and the twins were flourishing under the watchful eyes of Kanin and Bela and I couldn't wait to introduce them to their father.
…
The big day finally arrived and to say I was nervous was an understatement. The party from Ered Luin had been arranged around me as a sort of guard, I was told this was another custom, and with feast preparations well under-way we headed for Erebor. We passed through the newly rebuilt Gates and tears rose unbidden to my eyes when I saw all of my friends gathered in the Throne Room. Bard was waiting to one side, Balin was Master of Ceremonies and Kings Kili and Dain were standing to the front of the gathered dwarves. My eyes fell on the one in the middle and my heart started beating double-time. He turned around and I realised just how much I had missed the warm brown eyes and cheeky face.
The ceremony passed by in a blur with neither I nor Bard messing up our Dwarvish and parts of the ceremony were spoken in Common Tongue so Bard and Kanin could understand. Before long Bofur was placing his family ring on my finger and leaning in for a kiss.
"I missed you" I whispered in his ear as I placed a plain band on his finger.
"I missed yer too" he replied huskily.
With the ring exchange Balin stepped forward and closed the ceremony, before inviting everyone to join in with the feast. Kili headed up the line of well wishers as they approached.
"Congratulations Anduin," he said with a small smile "Fili and Thorin would be proud of you."
"I know they'd be just as proud of you, your highness" I replied earning a bigger smile.
The rest of my friends soon followed; Dori was in tears, Dwalin was gruff about his compliments but a smile was in there and Bombur and Bifur enveloped me in a huge embrace.
"Welcome to the family...officially" Bombur said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Thank you, dear brother-in-law" I replied dabbing at my eyes.
Once Dain and his dwarves had given their congratulations I turned to Dis. She was standing to the side with Kanin and Bela and once Bofur and I were alone for a few minutes she bustled over.
"My Lady" Bofur bowed "my condolences fer yer loss."
"Thank you Bofur and please accept my warmest wishes for the future," she turned to the young ones and waved them forward "also I wish to congratulate you on your beautiful babies." With a quick embrace for me she left to find Kili.
"Did I hear that right?" Bofur asked "did Lady Dis say babies?" he turned to me and the journey his face went through made me laugh.
"Do you want to hold them Uncle Bofur?" Kanin piped up.
Bofur looked down and finally registered the two bundles being presented to him. "Am I dreaming?" he asked gently taking hold of Kanin's bundle.
"No, my love, you're not," I replied taking Bela's bundle "they were born just as we arrived at Ered Luin."
"I'm a father?!" Bofur asked thickly.
"Yes my love," I shifted my grip a little "this is Anabryn and Belabryn" I said indicating the purple and pink blankets respectively.
"They're beautiful" Bofur whispered before placing a kiss on Anabryn's forehead.
"Come on Uncle Bofur!," Kanin said tugging on the hem of his robes "there's going to be a feast and you can't be late."
"Alrigh'," Bofur laughed dabbing at his eyes "I'm coming."
We joined the others and made our way back to Dale for the celebrations. Once again there were a flurry of congratulations and kisses, and flowers presented by children. Bela seemed quite overwhelmed at the attention so Kanin took her back to the mountain, but not before grabbing a plateful of food. I moved to the edge of the crowd to nurse the twins and watched Bofur dancing with his family. I smiled at the happy expression on his face and how the light of the torches sparkled in his eyes.
With the twins asleep and back in their sling I let my eyes pass over the crowd and marvelled to myself at how much my life had changed in the last couple of years. I'd travelled across Middle Earth, been caught by Thranduil twice, broken ribs, nearly been eaten by trolls, lost my family, had two beautiful daughters and married the love of my life. I wondered what the future had in store and as I gazed once more at all the people gathered I knew it would be full of love. Contented with that realisation I joined in the dancing, dragging Kili to his feet on the way and proceeded to have the best night of my life.
…
The following year, on the anniversary of the retaking of Erebor, Bofur and I welcomed our son Adalain into the world. With our family now complete we looked to the future with fresh eyes and hearts full of love.
-x-
A/N: I'm sooo sorry this story has taken so long to finish, my motivation went out the window for quite a while there but I rallied and churned the final chapter out.
I hope you have enjoyed my take on The Hobbit and I look forward to see what you think :)
Thank you for sticking with this story.
Gaubdukhima gagin yakulib Mahal!
(may we meet again with the grace of Mahal!)