Well Philicia has two weeks to win over the kingdom .What can she do so they see her for herself? What will Thorin do? Follow and find out.
Disclaimer All Hobbit Characters belong to Tolkein. I only own my O/Cs.
Chapter 54
Rumor's
When the sun rose the next morning Philicia woke to Thorin's arm's around her. "So much for seperate chambers." She groaned as Thorin's lips began nibbeling on the back of her neck. Philicia sighed and rolled over facing him. "So what's the king got on his agenda today?" She asked shyly. " I have to hear the petitions of the people today and resolve dispute's. Thorin said exasperated as he rubbed the sides of his head his bare feet sliding on the stone floor. "And what are your plans for the day?" Thorin asked as he headed for the bathroom. "I am going to take Dis's advise an let the people see the real me." Philicia said as she headed for the agoining door. "I have to go and get dressed. Will I see you for lunch?" She wondered aloud placinga kiss on the king's cheek. "I will be very busy today I have to inspect more of the recent renovations this afternoon then I will be in the mines." He said returning a kiss on her lip's as she reached for the door. "Ok I will be around somewhere come find me, if you have time. Thorin, I love you." She said wrapping her arm's around the Dwarven King's waist. "And I you." he returned.
After her bath she hung the dress she had been working on over the bathroom door and headed out and into the world of Erebor determined to gain the acceptance of the whole kingdom. A few day's earlier Philicia and Nori had been cleaning out some of the old royal apartment's and she had come across several bolt's of fine fabric. Philicia had asked Thorin about it and he had granted her the use of what ever she needed. He knew her knack for designing clothes and sewing and so he also had a machine provided for her personal use. She was thankful that her chamber's had a big area cause one corner had become her sewing space with the machine under the window overlooking the Erebor vally and the bolt's of cloth stacked in the corner.
Philicia wandered down to the Gallery of the King's and as she looked out over the beautiful expanceure of space she was reminded of a dream she had once. Philicia deceided then and there that now she could make that dream come true. Suddenly she flew back up the stair's and ran to her room. In the corner amoung one of the bolt's of cloth was a Deep Sapphire Blue Velvet fabric with Sparkles all over it. It was similar to what Philicia had seen in her dream. A dream she had while still in her world several day's after seeing The Desolation of Smaug. Philicia laid the bolt on her bed and reached for her sketchbook and within a few minutes she had drawn the dress from her dream. Philicia set the sketch down with the fabric and made a mental note to work on it later. She made her way back down to the throne room and stood at the railing looking down upon Thorin as the line of Dwarves and even some people from Dale made their petition's to the king. And did he ever look the part. Thorin had the Raven Crown upon his head and a long dark blue robe over his usual mail shirt that was always worn over a Dark Blue Tunic. How regal he looked. Just then two dwarrowdam's passed her by and then one of them cried out. "OH no my mother is going to hang me for ripping this dress." The woman sighed. "Well you should learn to mend and then she would never know, would she." Her friend scolded her." Philicia saw a chance, she took it. "Excuse me." She said polietly facing the two women. "Oh you are the human girl that accompanied our king, are you not?" The woman with the golden hair asked Philicia looking her over. "I am and I kind of overheard that you ripped your dress.I could fix it for you right now as a matter of fact." Philicia offered. The two women glanced at eachother than back to Philicia. "Why?" one of the women asked her. "Cause I want to help . I want to be of service and help in any way that I can. Surly there is a great need for skilled seamstress and I would not want you to be in trouble with your mother." Oh would you please?" The girl asked holding the tear out for Philicia to inspect. "This look's like an easy fix we can do it now if you like." Philicia told the two women. "By the way my name is Philicia ." "We know who you are. There is word around the kingdom that the king actually bestowed the title of lady on you." The woman with the dark brown hair said. "He did however I still don't think I deserved it. She replied "You are to humble My Lady for we all have heard what you did for our king and the prince's after the great battle. You have most definatly earned it." Philicia thanked them and then they followed her up to her chambers. "The royal corridor's wow!" The blond said. "I am Sarenna and this is my cousin Mayana." The two women curtseyed before Philicia. "Now that we have gotted accuainted let's get that dress mended." As Philicia entered her room the girl's gasped at the Lime Green and pink decor. "This is beautiful!" They said glancing around. Philicia noticed one of Thorin's shirts laying over the chair next to her machine. "Oh, not again He just doesn't get it this thing is simply too small now." Philicia hung the shirt on a hanger deceiding to add it to her list of sewing for later. Suddenly as she bent down to select some thread her courtship braid fell forward. Sarennna's mouth dropped as she let out a gasp. "Is it really true, are you and the king courting? You have the beads of Durin in your hair!" Philicia stood up and smiled at her new friend's. "Yes we are courting, for a long time now. But we have not announced it publically yet so I would appreciate your discretion." Philicia said with a regal commmand. 'You have our word." Sarenna and Mayana said in unison. " Thank you I do really appreciate it." Philiicia let loose the breath she had been holding. "Do you love him?" Sarenna blurted out suddenly." "Pardon?" Philicia said sitting down at her machine. "Do you love him,King Thorin that is?"Sarenna repeated. "More than my own life." She softly answered wiping at her eye's. But the council thinks Thorin should send me away cause I am not a dwarf woman." Philicia 's eye's filled with tears as she threaded her sewing machine with a matching color of thread. "Well I for one think that it shouldn't matter as long as the both of you are happy ,who cares if your not a dwarf." Mayana added. "If only everyone else thought like that." Philicia said slipping the torn dress under the presserfoot. "King Thorin deserves happiness. In The Blue Mountains he was always alone. And he never laughed or smiled but now he seems genuinely happy. That is because of you." Philicia stood up from her chair and hugged the two dwarf women. "You can't know what those words mean to me." She said. So for the next few minutes Philicia repaired the tear in the dress and handed it back to the women. Looking up Mayana gasped as she saw the unfinished gown hanging over Philicia s door. "Oh, what seamstress created this stunning gown?" she said. "I did." Philicia answered. "It is one of my own designs." So the women stayed for a while longer and by the time they both left Philicia had agreeded to sketch a dress each for them tomorrow. They were all going to meet with Lady Dis after lunch and toss around ideas together. It had turned out that the women's mothers were good friend's with the Dwarven Princess so Philicia had caught a lucky break in that one.
"Oh there you are my dear I have been looking for for you." Dis said catching her as she came out her door. 'Is everything alright?" Philicia said. "Yes all is fine come with me I have something of great importance to share with you. "Now you've got me curious. what are you up to?" Philicia glanced at her future sister in-law. "Dis ushured Philicia in her chamber's. "Sit" she commanded. I have been talking with several of the ladies and you my dear girl have stirred up quite a lot of speculation." "I have!" Philicia sputtered. "Indeed you have, apparently you have more support than you even realize. Most of the people know already what you did to save the king and my son's lives and for that they have been curious who you are and where you are from. Dis said. "I can't exactly tell them . They would never believe me." Philicia wispered. 'Well we certinly can at least know for sure who supports you and who does not." Dis continued. "How?" Philicia asked. "Well as you know besides the dwarrowdam's from The Iron Hill's I know most of them that have come from Erid Luin and the Blue Mountains."Dis's face broke out in a smile. "I have spread the word that since you are a human woman and beardless, for all the women who support you and my brother to ...shave their beard's off." Dis turned her Durin Blue eye's on Philicia and took her hand's. "You are a rare thing Philicia and the love my brother has for you even more so. I want to know for sure exactly how much support you really have and tomorrow we shall find out." Philicia sighed. "I hope you know what you are doing." Philicia said as she made to leave. "Until tomorrow my dear." Dis called as Philicia walked away.
She finally met up with Thorin as he was returning from the mines ."Philicia." He called racing up to her as she threw herself into his arm's. Thorin was covered in black and green dust but she paid it no nevermind as her hands went around his back."I missed you." He groaned bring their lip's together in a tender kiss. "Thorin" She said as they broke apart."I thought you didn't want anyone to know yet?" She wispered in his ear. "Oh my heart I am so tired of hiding this .Tomorrow night I am going to do this the right way. I will have you remove the bead's and braid then I will do this as it should have been done in the first place." Philicia wondered what he meant but deceided to wait and see. "Oh I was going to ask you tomorrow night after dinner if you would meet me in The Gallery of the King's and, wear something really nice." Thorin arched a eyebrow at her petition."If it would please you I willl be there." Thorin said kissing her once more before continuing on his way. The stage was set now all that was left was to finish the dress.
Thorin had a long night ahead of him with all the document's that needed his signature so he was to spend a good part of it in his study. Philicia went to her chambers to assemble the dress she knew for sure was going to shock the whole kingdom. She had designed the dress to be strapless, free flowing down to the floor. This was going to knock the breath out of Thorin. Philicia spent till nearly midnight sewing the ball gown there was only the hem to do tomorrow. Thorin after nearly falling asleep at his desk slowly made his way to his chamber's. Passing by Philicias room he noticed there was still light coming from inside. He stopped and gave a soft knock. 'Just a sec," She said untangeling herself from the yard's of fabric draped across her lap. "Who is it?" She asked before opening the door this late at night. "It's Thorin ,my heart." Philicia jerked the door open and hurridly pulled him into her room. "I missed you so much." The king said bringing their mouth's together. Thorin plunged his tounge into her mouth only to have her's wrap itself around his. He deepend the kiss as his hand's cupped her bottom bringing her warm body closer to his. "You are going to be my undoing of you keep kissing me like that." Thorin growled as he nipped her neck and trailed kisses over her throat. "Thorin?" She breathed. Just then he saw the cascade of color sprawled over her machine. "I am making a few dresses for some friend's." She happily chattered. "I am pleased you are meeting people , it will only help them to get to know you all the better." He kissed her again this time with a great tenderness it nearly brought tears to her eye's. "I will see you in the morning my love." With that he left her alone. Phiilicia blew out the lantern's and snuggled under the blanket's dreaming of tomorrow night.
The next morning Philicia was awakend when a very excited Tilly charged into her room going on about how the whole kingdom was in an uproar ." What with all the beardless Dwarrowdam's running around everywhere. Why the word is even Lord Aerion's wife has shaved her's off. And he sit's on The king's council!" Tilly was practically dancing with the news. "It was when Tilly turned to help Philicia pull the cover's back that she noticed Tilly's bare face."Oh Tilly , you did not have to I know what your opinion is already." Philicia slid her leg's over the side as Tilly helped her get dressed."I know but The princess said every lady . Besides I kind of lile the way it look's maybe I will make it a permanent thing." Just then there was a roar heard from the hallway and then a shouting match could be heard."Oh no!" Philicia sighed " Thorin's pissed." She said. "Pissed, Lady Philicia?" Tilly giggled. "You know mad as hell." Philicia laughed. All at once there was a pounding on her door. "Philicia I know you are awake." Came Thorin's angry voice . Philicia opend the door as Tilly finished lacing up the back of her dress. "Leave us." Thorin ordered. The handmaiden curtsied to the king and shot out the door. Thorin just stood there one arm laying over the other in his usual stance. "Just what in Mahal's name where you two thinking?" Thorin glared at her. Just then Dis came charging in the room. "Nadad, leave her alone she was not aware of this until last night." Dis came between Thorin and Philicia." I for one think it's a fantastic ides at least we know who approve and who don't. "Philicia said turning to Thorin. "Perhap's so however did you both stop to comprehend how many angry Father's husband's and dwarves I am going to have to hear out because of this." Amad can we shave our's too?" Kili asked bursting into Philicia's room. " Sorry Kili it's only for the women. Kili kissed his mother's cheek and took off down the hall. "Dwalin will be in a foul mood if they are late."Thorin said as he peeked out the doorhis anger having cooled somewhat after Dis's speech. After a while he came to the conclusion that Dis did have a good idea and the reprecussions would be minimal, he hoped.
As the day progressed Philicia was greeted with warm hug's an even a few gift's from the dwarrowdam's as they came and went throughout the day. Everywhere she went throughout the kingdom offer's of dinner invitation's were given. Word was spreading like wildfire about her and Thorin. A few of the ladies snickered behind her back but most were polite and just wanted the oppertunity to meet the human girl who had stolen their king's heart. One dwarowdam that was not to particulary happy was Arina. "But I was supposed to be queen , you said so!" She stomped her foot and screamed in anger. "ARINA ENOUGH!" Lord Aerion shouted. "It is ovious that KingThorin is very much in love with the young lady even your mother has shaved her blasted beard in support of the king's choice. I will no more hear about it ." Lord Aerion left his daughter to her fit's and anger.
Near dinnertime Thorin cornered Philicia in her room. "What's the damage?" Philicia asked as Thorin brought his arm's around her. "Not as bad a I had feared. Only a few angry people to listen too. Most of everyone seems to approve. So now will you allow me to do this proper?" Thorin asked taking her courtship braid in hand. "Oh I will ,yes!" Philicia let Thorin unclasp the bead from her hair and slowly she unfurled the braid he had placed in her hair several month's earlier. Thorin put the bead into a small box in his inside pocket. "Come my love ,now we do this by Dwarven tradition." Thorin held her hand a they walked to the Great Hall together. On the way there they were greeted with curtsies an bow's as the beardless women embraced Philicia. As they entered the hall all became quiet as Thorin with Philicia at his side raised his right hand in the air. All eye's were on the king when Fili brought up a chair. "People of Erebor, tonight I began a new milestone in my life. As many of you know I have never chosen someone to be by my side." Thorin looked at Philicia as a big smile splayed across his face. "Here tonight marks a momentious occasion in Dwarven History. At the begenning of the quest to reclaim Erebor this beautiful young woman entered my life. Against all odds she overcame tremindous trials and danger just to be by my side. And if not for her quick wit my sister's son's and I would not be here now." Thorin then turned and faced Philicia. "So with all honor due you I Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, Oakenshield ,King under the Mountain do hereby take The Lady Philicia Renee Anderson of Woodland Hill's in courtship. If she will still allow it?" Philicia slowly stood before the Dwarven King. "I most honorably accept." Her voice came clear and loud for all to know. "I love you so much Thorin." She said as tears ran down her face. Philicia reached up and her small hand brushed his cheek. Without warning Thorin's lip's came crashing down over hers. Throwing her arm's around him she returned the kiss. She sat back down as Thorin took a lock of her hair and began to plait it. When he was done he reattached the bead and let it hang over her shoulder for all to see. The people cheered as the food and ale were served. Everyone ate and drank some were even talking of a bethrothal that would be forthcoming soon. "Now all there is to do my dear is to get the courtship contract in order." Balin informed her. "Cou..courtship con..tract." Philicia sputtered. "Oh not to worry it is laid out for your protection as well as Thorin's nothing to fancy just how long the courtship will commence for and so forth." Balin set her fear's to rest. They all were to meet in Thorin's study in the morning to sighn the contract. "The council will not be happy about this Thorin." Balin wispered in his ear. "I know that however it is not a bethrothal just a courtship." Thorin returned. "It may be however everyone knows it is a done deal there is no going back now, Thorin." Balin reminded him. "No ,there is not." Thorin returned leaning over to kiss Philicia's lip's again. So the eating continued and the drinking commenced in earnest. After a while Thorin and Philicia made their respectful regards and both went to prepare for their date in The Gallery of the King's.
Tilly was there and she helped Philicia slip the dress over her head. "Oh my ,how does it stay up?" Tilly asked ajusting the roushing that covered Philicia's breast. "I added some stiffining rod's in the bodice and zipper from an old shirt I didn't need anymore." Within thirty minutes Philicia was ready. Her hair and make up were done and even Tilly stated she looked every bit a Queen to be. "Shall we." Philicia said closing the door behind her.
Philicia arrived a few minutes before Thorin did .Her I-Pod was ready and she had even managed to have Oin attach a line if his ear trumpet's to make the sound louder. With The Gallery of the King's being so hollow everything was sure to echo nicely he had told her. Now as she turned around Thorin in all his splendor stood in the open door. He had donned a very regal ensemble and now as he stepped across the floor of solid gold he seemed to glow with every step. "Oh Mahal you are stunning." Thorin smiled at her as the breath escaped his lung's. He let his eye's roam over her starting at her feet. The dress was Deep Blue sparkles gleaming off the fabric from the light of the braizers that had been lit all around the ginormous hall. "I have no word's my love." Thorin spoke softly as he placed his large hands on her bare shoulder's. "You look a..amazing." Philicia said suddenly shy. "Thank you, for, for this." She wispered. "My lady ,May I have the pleasure of this dance?" Thorin gazed at her as she reached for his hand. "You may, my king." She answered dropping down into a very graceful curtsey. Thorin led her to the middle of the floor and the music began to play. Oin quietly slipped away shutting the doors behind him.
I know your eyes in the morning sun
I feel you touch me in the pouring rain
And the moment that you wander far from me
I want to feel you in my arms again
And you come to me on a summer breeze
Keep me warm in your love, then you softly leave
And it's me you need to show
How deep is your love, how deep is your love?...
I really mean to learn
Cause were living in a world of fools
Breaking us down when they all should let us be
we belong to you and me
I believe in you
You know the door to my very soul
Your the light in my deepest, darkest hour
your my savior when I fall
And you may not think that I care for you
When you know down inside that I really do
And its me you need to show...
Thorin and Philicia were oblivious to the crowd of people that had come out of their homes and from around the kingdom to stand at the guardrails and on the bridges that surrounded the Gallery of the Kings. The sound of the strange but beautiful song had brought them by the dozens. Now as they all quietly wispered to themselves Thorin with Philicia in his arms slowly swayed to the beat of the music. Philicia wound her hands around his neck as her head laid against his broad chest. Thorin brought his arms around her and held her close as the otherwordly song played. "I love you. You are my heart my life, my everything." Thorin then showed her how much he really felt as he slipped a diamond and sapphire ring onto the third finger of her left hand in front of the promise ring he had made for her at Beorn's house. Philicia looked down at her hand as the diamond caught the light and sparkled taking her breath away. "Is this what you have been doing in the forges?" She asked him her eye's glistening with tear's. "It is, I have been working on it for a while now. I love you. You said you would not accept till my people accepted you. Will you now?" Thorin held his breath as he waited for her answer. "I will, Yes a thousand times, yes!" She cried out when Thorin lifted her offher feet and swung her around in a circle before kissing her deeply not caring who saw. "But what about the council? What if they force you to make me leave?" Philicia asked laying her head in his shirtfront. "We will keep this amoung ourselves till then . Only four more day's to wait my heart even if they deceide against you staying I will not send you away. I am king and I have the final say so weather they approve or not." Thorin brushed her cheek gently then without reason his head turned upward and he suddenly spoke. "It appears we have an audience." Philicia's eyes followed Thorin's hand a he pointed out the crowd of dwarves that had gateredat the railing to watch them dance. "TO THE KING,TO THE KING."Someone shouted out and all at once everyone was clapping an cheering for them. Philicia hid her face in Thorin's cloak as she blushed. Thorin took Philicia's hand and wrapped it around his back and they walked out together safeguarding the greatest secret Erebor would ever know.
The lyrics to the Bee Gee's song do not belong to me . Thank you for a beautiful song.
