Chapter Sixteen
Thorin walked towards the Watch Tower, it was his favorite spot to think and to have some alone time. And while doing that, he came up with an idea that a better way to apologize to his wife, is through a song. And he wanted to make it very special. He knew she always loved his singing and harp playing, and he knew this was a sure fire way to win her back. Thorin found a harp, one of the many harps he owned, and sat it in front of him. It was a dark wooden harp with golden strings.
Thorin took out a parchment and quill, as he first written down the words and notes of the music for the song. Afterwards, he leaned the harp towards him as he began gently began plucking and strumming the strings of the instrument. I will win her back, and I pray to Mahal, she'll forgive me, thought Thorin. Later that night, Lalina laid in bed, looking up at the ceiling. She knew that Fili and Kili had made amends with Thorin. However, in her heart, she couldn't find herself to forgive Thorin.
And she thought over this time, is it worth it to give him one more chance? Or not forgive him, and forgo the marriage all together?
She didn't want to do that to her family. Dis, Fili, Kili, and all of Thorin's original company, and Breg, of course, is her family now. She didn't want to leave them. She loved them very much. No soon as Lalina was about to doze off, she could hear harp music and a deep voice singing coming from the parlor of the chambers. The voice sounded very sad, and the music is beautiful.
Lalina knew it was Thorin, and she slowly climbed out of bed, and she entered the parlor. And there, Thorin sat at his harp, playing and singing, his deep voice lifting above the music. Lalina stood as she listened to the words of his song. The song spoken of his love for his wife, and without her, he would be lost, wishing he would turn back time to change things between them. Lalina could see the raw emotion in his features as he sang, and it moved her. A single tear slid down Thorin's face, and soon it brought Lalina into tears.
Soon the music and singing ended, with a soft sigh coming from the dwarf king. "Thorin.." said Lalina softly. Thorin looked up, and he saw Lalina standing in only her night gown. Thorin pushed the harp away. "Come!" said Thorin gently. Lalina quickly walked over towards Thorin, as she sat on his lap. "I'm so sorry-for everything." whispered the dwarf, as he gently brushed his thumb on her cheek.
"I'm glad you made amends with your nephews, Thorin." whispered Lalina, as she leaned forward against his chest, placing her hand at his heart. "I will never hurt you again, Lalina. And that's a promise!" purred Thorin, as he cupped her chin, and leaned down towards her, and planted a kiss on her lips, a deep passionate kiss. "I will let nothing come between us again." said Thorin. "And the gold sickness?" said Lalina. "That too." said Thorin.
One year later….
It had been a year after the Coronation of the King and Queen, and Erebor, indeed became as prosperous as it did years before Smaug attacked the first time. And that night was a celebration the one year anniversary of Thorin and Lalina as King and Queen of Erebor. And that same day, hours before the party, Lalina hadn't been feeling well. She woke up in the morning, feeling nauseous and several occasions had thrown up.
Great, the day of the anniversary, and here I am sick, thought Lalina. Soon, Thorin entered the chambers to check on Lalina. And no soon as he entered, he could hear Lalina throwing up again. "Oh, dear!" sighed Thorin. Soon as Lalina came out, Thorin approached her. "You're not sick are you?" asked Thorin gently.
"I don't know, Thorin. It just started happening." said Lalina. "Lets have Oin look at you, Lalina. We have to get you better before tonight, hey?" said Thorin. "Thorin, I really don't think that would be necessary." protested Lalina. "Lalina, I'm going to have Oin look at you if you wish it or not." said Thorin, and he walked out of the chambers. Lalina closed her eyes and sighed.
Later, Oin entered and he thoroughly examined Lalina. Suddenly a big smile appeared on Oin's features. "There is nothing wrong with her, laddie. In fact, she is pregnant!" beamed Oin. "Pregnant?! Pregnant?! Lalina, did you hear that?!" exclaimed Thorin, in delight. Lalina burst into laughter at Thorin's reaction. This was the first time she ever seen Thorin that excited, as long as she knew him. Oin left the room, leaving Thorin and Lalina alone.
Thorin and Lalina embraced. "Lets hope this time you'll go full term without any complications." said Thorin. "As long as you're not the one to complicate it!" said Lalina, with a sly smile. "Don't worry, Lalina. I'll be easy with you this time." said Thorin. "You better, or I'll sick Dwalin on you!" Lalina shot back playfully. "And tonight, we will make the announcement at the Anniversary feast!" said Thorin. Later, evening came, for the feast.
Thorin and Lalina announced that night of the pregnancy, and everyone cheered. After Thorin made his speech and announcement, the Feast began with much merriment: drinking, music, singing and dancing.
Meanwhile,
Outskirts of the Iron Hills
"How did she manage to survive it? Azog should have killed her!" barked an ominous looking brown haired dwarf, speaking to several other dwarves. "You must remember, sire, she is a skilled fighter, trained well by her late father." said another dwarf. "Don't you dare mention Narin to me! I wanted to rule Ered Mithrin, but no Dain insisted Narin would!" snarled the Dwarf leader. "But you sent Azog to destroy Ered Mithrin, Lord Delmar. What makes you think you can rebuild it?" snapped one dwarf. "The only one way to rebuild it is to take Lalina, Narin's daughter for my wife." said Delmar.
"I'm afraid that's impossible, sire. She is already married, and also Queen of Erebor." said a third dwarf. "WHAT? How can she be married? The Line of Durin are DEAD!" bellowed the dwarf lord. "I'm afraid not, sire. They all survived, and Thorin stands as Erebor's new King." said the same dwarf.
"NO! NO! Dain is supposed to be Erebor's King! You better be bluffing, Nar!" shouted Delmar. "I'm not bluffing." said Nar, gravely. "Then there is only one thing left to do." said Delmar, angrily. "Yes, sire?" said Nar. "We're going to attack Erebor. And I will kill Thorin, and take Lalina to become my wife." said Delmar. "And when will you want to take this into action?" asked Nar. "We will leave in two days. In the mean time, everyone pack your belongings and your weapons!" snarled Delmar.
Erebor,
Lonely Mountain
Lalina woke up in the middle of the night, feeling uncomfortable and restless. Lalina's restless had woken up her husband. "Lalin? Are you alright?" asked Thorin. "I don't know. Something in the air tonight isn't right." said Lalina quietly. "Lalina, you're nightmares aren't coming back, are they?" asked Thorin again. "No, no. My nightmares aren't coming back. Its something else." said Lalina. "There is no need to worry. Just rest, okay?" whispered Thorin. Lalina nodded.
Thorin pulled her close to him, as her back pressed against his chest, as Thorin started to hum a soft tune, into her ear, as Lalina dozed off into a peaceful slumber.
City of Dale
Three days later…
Lord Delmar and his dwarves approached the City of Dale. "Halt! Who goes there?" called out the guard the front gates. The dwarf lord approached the guard. "I'm Lor and we're dwarves from the Iron Hills on a visit with our relations in Erebor." said Delmar. "You may pass." said the guard. "We will attack once we reach the Front Gate. You, Nar, find Silverfire, and bring her to me alive!" Delmar ordered the dwarves. Nar nodded.
Erebor
Thorin sat in this Throne Room, as he had an audience with Thranduil and Bard, discussing the trades. As the meeting ended, Thranduil and Bard left. Lalina entered the room, smiling at her husband. "How did the little meeting go?" asked Lalina. "It turned out well. I'm going to Dale to meet with Bard, for another meeting here in five minutes. Will you be okay, while I'm gone?" asked Thorin. "Yes, I'll be just fine." Lalina replied. With a brief kiss on his wife's lips, Thorin turned and left the Throne room.
Lalina then went to spent time with Dis in her chambers, as they discussed (and gossiped) about the Kingdom. After spending hours with Dis, she retired to her and Thorin's chambers, and sat by the hearth to read a book. Suddenly, she could yelling and screaming outside the corridor of the chambers. What in Durin's name is going on here? Lalina thought as she quickly stood up. Suddenly, the door barged open, and Dis ran in. "Lalina, Dwalin, and several others had been injured! Our kingdom is under attack!" panted Dis. "Under attack?! By WHOM?!" exclaimed Lalina.
"Our own folk. Dwarves from the Iron Hills." said Dis, her voice filled with anger and sadness. "NO! It can't be! How can this be, Dis? Dain will never turn on us!" cried out Lalina. "Lalina, I don't Dain is behind this." said Dis. Suddenly it hit her. She remembered a story that her father told her about his dispute with one of Dain's dignitaries, Delmar. Delmar originally wanted to take the Throne of the Iron Hills before Dain, but once Dain took up the reigns as leader, Delmar's thoughts set on Ered Mithrin. And that is when the feud began between her father and Delmar.
"We need to get you somewhere safe! Come with me!" said Dis, tugging at Lalina's arm, as they ran out of the Chambers.
Suddenly no soon as the two came out, "THERE SHE IS!" cried out one dwarf. "GRAB HER!" shouted Delmar. "Get your hands off.." Dis started to cry out first, when one of the dwarves knocked Dis into unconsciousness. Several dwarves grabbed Lalina. "Let's go!" barked Delmar. "THORIN!" Lalina screamed. Meanwhile, Thorin, Dwalin are in the healing chambers, luckily they only had minor injuries. Thorin sat in a chair, and he felt very angry of the latest occurrences.
Suddenly, Fili and Kili, alongside with Gloin and Nori charged into the room. "Our mother! She's been attacked! She's lying unconscious just outside your Chambers, Uncle!" cried out Kili. Thorin stood up. "I will bring her in here." volunteered Nori, and he left the chamber. "What of Lalina? Is she okay?" asked Thorin. "I haven't seen her, Uncle. I'm sorry." Fili replied. Once Dwalin and Thorin recovered they went to find the dwarves responsible for the attack "They're gone! They attacked and ran! COWARDS!" bellowed Dwalin.
Suddenly, Thorin saw a parchment sitting on his throne. Someone had left Thorin a note.
Your Majesty,
I got your wife. If you want her, come and get her. And also a friendly reminder, you will pay for taking her from me.
Delmar.
When Thorin read the note, Thorin yelled. "Thorin, what's wrong?" asked Dwalin. "Those bastards kidnapped my wife!" screamed Thorin. "Is there anything I can do to help?" asked Dwalin. "Go get Fili and Kili, and several of the guards. We're going to find Lalina, and get these traitors, for not only kidnapping my wife, for assaulting my sister, one of royal blood!" demanded Thorin. Dwalin nodded, and he sprinted out of the Throne Room.