Chapter Four
Fili and Kili hide behind the trees, just a few yards from where Thorin and Lalina are having their picnic. "I really don't think this is such a good idea, Kili. We should turn back and go home." said Fili. "But we just got here! Lets see what they're doing!" said Kili, as he peered through the trees. "You know what? You are on your own!" said Fili, and he was about to walk away. "Hey! Don't you leave me all alone!" Kili called out softly.
"It's your idea, you're on your own! Bye!" said Fili grinning as he waved at his brother and left. Damn it, I see how you are! Kili thought, and he continued to peer through the trees. And right now Thorin and Lalina just now started on their picnic lunch. Oh, this is boring! I'm beginning to wonder if Fili is right. They're not doing anything exciting! Kili thought to himself. As Kili continued to watch, the scene changed with Thorin picking up his harp, and he began singing and playing a love ballad to her. Awe, isn't that too cute? Fili is missing it now! thought Kili.
Soon as the song ended, Thorin moved closer to Lalina. To Kili's surprise, Thorin knelt before Lalina. He's going to do it! He's going to finally propose to her! Kili thought. And indeed, Thorin asked Lalina, and she accepted the offer, and she threw her arms around the dwarf prince, and the two kissed passionately. Kili tried to keep himself from cheering loudly, so he wouldn't get caught. Unfortunately, he couldn't contain himself much longer. "YES! WOO HOO!" cried out Kili, and darted back home. Thorin and Lalina exchanged looks at the sound of the yell.
"Please don't tell me its who I think it is." said Lalina, trying to hold back a laugh. Thorin scowled. "Its Kili! He's been watching us." said the dwarf prince grumpily. "Now, Thorin, there is no reason for you to be hard on him!" said Lalina. "But he's not supposed to be watching us! This was supposed to be a surprise! Now he's going to run home and tell everybody, when I planned all long that we was going to tell them ourselves!" snapped Thorin. "Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut!" grumbled Lalina.
We're not even married yet, and we're already fighting! Lalina thought to herself. Suddenly, Thorin's features softened.
"Lets stay and finish our picnic, Lalin. Fighting is no way to start an engagement." said Thorin, gently. Lalina laughed. "You got that right." said Lalina, as she laid down in Thorin's arms, resting her head against Thorin's chest. One month later, Thorin and Lalina got married. It was a beautiful ceremony and it was held in the Great Hall of Ered Luin. Balin of course, presided the ceremony, and many dwarves came to watch and celebrate the event.
After the ceremony was the huge feast, and there was much food, drink, music and singing and dancing. Lalina had drunk a lot, and it was the first time in a while that she had gotten drunk, and she thought it was quite hilarious to see Thorin drunk. Thorin stood up, and began to sing loudly, his voice slurred from the alcohol, and he join in Bofur dancing on the table singing a lively song. Dwalin tossed a lute over to Thorin, as Thorin took the instrument and began playing and singing, while Bofur took out his flute and played.
Soon, all the dwarves joined in with them. Suddenly, Thorin leapt off the table, lute in hand, and ran up to Lalina. "Why ain't ye up der dancing, sugar?" asked Thorin. Lalina laughed. "I'm not much of a dance-HEY!" exclaimed Lalina, when Bofur grabbed her and began dancing with her.
"You hold it right der, Bo, Bo Bofur! She's my gal!" called out Thorin, as he grabbed Lalina by the arm and pulled her away from Bofur. Lalina laughed, when suddenly Thorin tumbled over on the floor, and passed gas loudly afterwards. "THORIN!" exclaimed Lalina holding her nose. Bofur and the rest of the dwarves laughed, alongside with Lalina. "I never expected our Prince to do that! Bombur however, he can fart, and fart all day-but Thorin?!" cackled Bofur. Lalina laughed so hard, she tumbled over to the ground, and collapsed right on top of Thorin.
Thorin grinned. "I think we better save this for the bed-hiccup! Room!" said Thorin. Lalina smiled. "We can leave now if you want." purred Lalina. "But I'm too drunk to carry yer, love!" protested Thorin. "Have Dwalin walk you, and then Dwalin carry me!" joked Lalina. "Ha, that's not going to work that way, sweetheart!" said Dwalin, overhearing the conversation. Thorin slowly stood up and punched Dwalin in the arm. "She's mine, yer yutz!" hissed Thorin, playfully. As the night progressed, Thorin and Lalina went home, as everyone else continued to celebrate.
Both Thorin and Lalina wobbled home, and they made it, and they entered Thorin's bedroom, as they both quickly undressed and collapsed to the bed. To Lalina's dismay, Thorin dozed off.
"Damn it, Thorin! How much of the ale did you drink?!" said Lalina, sharply. The next morning, Lalina already woke up, and her head was hurting from the effects of the alcohol, and she slowly made her way into the kitchen and attempted to help Dis on starting breakfast. "No, my dear, you sit and rest! You look hung over! I got it." said Dis, kindly. "Thanks." said Lalina. "I take it my brother is still sleeping." said Dis. "Yes, he had way too much ale last night. I thought I had to carry him home!" said Lalina with a smile.
Dis laughed. "I can imagine that will be quite a sight to see!" chuckled Dis. Shortly, Thorin came out and joined them. "I feel like I got ran over by a bunch of orcs!" grumbled Thorin as he sat down. "Well if you didn't over exert yourself on the alcohol, you wouldn't be feeling it would you, brother?" said Dis. "You think I don't know that, sister?" snarled Thorin. "Ewe, somebody has climbed out of the bed, this morning!" teased Lalina. Thorin just looked at Lalina, grumpily.
Early spring, 2940
That day, towards the end of March, Thorin had announced their departure for the quest of reclaiming Erebor. Lalina wasn't at home, because she had been out picking berries for a pie she was going to make.
Thorin had been debating on how to break the news to Lalina. Dis already knew of course, and at first, she didn't like the idea, especially at the fact that Fili and Kili would be going with him, and the two argued about it off and on for quite a long time. Finally, Dis agreed and allowed Thorin, and her sons to go. Now it was the difficult task of talking about this to his wife. Later, when Lalina returned, Thorin approached her. "Lalin, can we talk outside?" asked Thorin. "Why of course!" said Lalina, as she placed the basket of berries on the dining room table, and the two walked outside.
"Lalina, we will be leaving on our quest soon, and its going to be difficult for me to leave you behind." said Thorin. "I understand, Thorin. You've been planning this for a long time, and you are dead set are going. I'll be here waiting for you." said Lalina. Thorin sighed with relief, as he was worried she would get angry at him. "However, I do not approve of this, Thorin, and I have my reasons." said Lalina. "What reasons?!" asked Thorin, sharply. "Thorin, there is a dragon inside that mountain, as I mentioned before. Thirteen cannot go against one big dragon." said Lalina.
"We can manage, once we have the right weapons to kill it with." said Thorin, icily.
"Thorin, there is something more than just the dragon himself I'm worried about. Your sister, and Balin told me of your grandfather, and the gold sickness. I'm worried that same thing would happen to you." said Lalina. "Its not going to happen to me, Lalina. I am not my grandfather." said Thorin, with a sharp tone in his voice. "And how would you know that?" said Lalina. Thorin didn't reply, and remained silent.
"Lalin, you don't understand. I'm doing this for YOU! FOR ALL OF US! To take my place as King! This is my destiny, Lalina…OUR destiny." said Thorin. "Call it destiny if you want, Thorin, but I call it a suicide mission!" yelled Lalina, with tears running down her face. "How would you know this, Lalina? You know nothing of our people! You're just a noble dwarf lord's daughter!" Thorin yelled back. "I maybe a dwarf lord's daughter, Thorin, and don't you ever say my father's name in vain again!" screamed Lalina, and she spun around and stormed back into the house, slamming the door. "Impossible woman! YOU HEAR ME! You're IMPOSSIBLE!" shouted Thorin.
Suddenly the door opened again, and Lalina peered out, and she threw her entire basket of berries at him. Thorin stood with his eyes closed.
Three days had passed, Thorin and Lalina hardly spoken together, much to the worry of their family and friends. And finally the day came for Thorin and his twelve companions to depart. It was by early sunrise as they prepared to leave. Dis walked to Lalina's room, and she knocked on the door. "Lalina, wake up! They're leaving!" Dis called out. "I'll be out in a minute!" Lalina called back from behind the door.
After getting dressed, Lalina followed Dis outside the home, where Thorin and Company were getting ready to depart. First, it was Dis who said her farewells to them, and it was a bittersweet and sad farewell. Lalina took notice that Thorin didn't walk towards her at all, to hug her or wish her good bye. "Brother, aren't you going to say goodbye to your wife?" Dis reminded Thorin. Thorin looked back and saw Lalina standing at the front door, her eyes glassy as she was tearing up. But Thorin remained silent, and looked away, still angry over their little dispute.
"You two had an argument earlier, which is no excuse for this unhappy goodbye! Go and say goodbye to her, NOW!" Dis demanded. "No." said Thorin, as he tapped on the reigns of his pony. "Let's move!" Thorin called out, and they set out, and Thorin not once looking back at his wife, or without saying good bye, which crushed Lalina.
Lalina stormed back inside slamming door, as she collapsed to the floor, never ending tears falling down her face. Dis came following after, and she found Lalina on her knees on the floor. "Oh, Lalin." said Dis softly, as she knelt before her, and the dwarf princess comforted her. "Your brother is a selfish, arrogant bastard." wept Lalina. "I know, but he isn't like this all the time, you know." said Dis, quietly as she held her.
Hours later, Lalina lay in bed. She couldn't sleep. She was hoping for a better send off, but now Thorin had left, on bad terms with her, and it broken her heart. I wish there was a way I could turn back time an fix things between us, thought Lalina. And suddenly, an idea popped in her mind. I will go to him, I will go with them on their quest, thought Lalina. But she remembered if she goes with them, and she had to go undercover so she wouldn't be noticed by the Company.
The next morning, Lalina was going through some clothes in her room as she prepared to pack to find the Company, when there was a knock on the door. It was Dis that answered the door. "Lalina, someone is here to see you!" Dis called out. Lalina's eyes widened in surprise. Now who would come and see me? thought Lalina as she entered the foyer of the home.
Standing at the front door is a tall man dressed in grey robes, and a wide brimmed hat. "Lady Silverfire?" asked the tall man. "Who are you? And how do you know who I am?" asked Lalina. "I am Gandalf the Grey, and I was sent here to find a fifteenth member to join on a quest I'm arranging." said Gandalf. "Are you speaking of Thorin's quest?" asked Lalina. "Yes." said Gandalf. "Did my husband sent you?" Lalina asked.
"Husband?" said Gandalf. "Yes, Thorin. He's my husband." said Lalina. "Oh, this has change things quite a bit. Thorin has sent me to find a fifteenth member, I didn't expect it would be his wife!" said Gandalf, with a slight smile. "Is that a problem, wizard?" snapped Lalina. "Actually, it might be, according to Thorin." said Gandalf, gravely. "Gandalf, I really want to go. In fact, I was just now packing to leave. However I do not know where they heading." said Lalina. "Is this what you really want, Lady Silverfire?" asked Gandalf. "Yes." Lalina replied.
"There is only one way that will get you into the Company, Lalina. I'm not sure if you're going to like it, but I'm sure it will work." said Gandalf. "I know a disguise. What do you have in mind?" asked Lalina. "We'll leave tomorrow, and head for Bree, and you'll find out." said Gandalf.