Disclaimer: The Hobbit belongs to Professor Tolkien and Peter Jackson.

Worth More Than Gold

Chapter 4

Tauriel shifted on the bed and held tighter to the small charge in her lap. "Fror, hold still," she chided. "I have not finished your braids."

"But Auntie," her youngest nephew whined as he squirmed, "I want to go play with Freyr."

"And you shall," Tauriel suppressed a smile at how put out the little child sounded. "But first, I must finish these braids if we are to go to the festival in Dale."

Fror emitted an enormous sigh, but managed to sit still long enough for Tauriel to bind the last braid. As soon as she removed her hands from his hair, the toddler slid off the bed and scampered to the corner where his brother was building a tower with blocks.

Sigird entered the room smoothing her hands over her frock. "Thank you, Tauriel for keeping an on the boys while I changed. I dare not take my eyes off of them since they slipped out and got into Bombur's kitchen."

Tauriel smiled at the thought of the two flour-covered little boys that had been marched back to their family's suite to face their parents. The she-elf secretly thought that Fili and Kili were a bit proud of the tikes' mischief, but of course they would never say so out loud.

"It was no problem, Sigrid. I am happy to help." Tauriel relished time spent with any of Sigrid and Fili's children. She and Kili took any opportunity to spoil the four boys.

"I do believe we are ready. I am sure my husband and Kili are waiting for us at the city gates." Sigrid took Fror by the hand and helped him struggle into his coat. The little boy squirmed, but Sigrid did not let go.

"Look, Auntie!" Freyr danced excitedly around the castle he'd made with his blocks.

"It is very nice, Freyr," Tauriel smiled as she approached the child with his coat in her hands. "Even your Uncle Thorin would be quite proud to live in such a castle." She held out the small coat and Freyr bounced up to grab it.

"No, Auntie. Uncle Thorin loves Er'bor. Maybe Papa would live in it."

"Your Papa Bard would think it wonderful as well," Tauriel agreed as she helped the child with the last few buttons after he managed to wiggle into his coat.

Sigrid lifted Fror to her hip and Tauriel took Freyr's hand in hers as they left the suite Sigrid shared with Fili and headed to the main gate of the city to meet up with their husbands.

At the first sight of Kili, Freyr tugged his hand from Tauriel's. "Uncle Ki!" he shouted, his feet pounding on the rock floor as he ran toward his uncle. Kili lifted the small boy up and tossed him into the air; Freyr's belly laughs echoed throughout the halls.

"Me, too!" Fror whined as he tried to struggle from his mother's grasp.

Fili stepped forward and took the small boy from his mother's arms. "Stop your fussing, little one or you shall have to stay behind with Uncle Thorin and Auntie Drifa."

Fror pouted, but tucked his lip in at the glare Fili gave him.

The dwarf prince continued speaking. "You must stay close to me or your mother at the festival. It will be very crowded." Fili gave Freyr, Arne, and Soren pointed looks as well. "That goes for all of you."

"Can I hold Uncle Ki's hand?" Freyr asked as Kili placed him back on the ground.

Kili gave his brother a slight nod, so Fili agreed. "Aye, but you must not let go of his hand."

Arne sighed. "May Soren and I play some of the games on our own? I do not want to stay with the babies all day." At ten and eleven, Sigrid's sons by her first marriage felt they were old enough to have some freedom.

"I'm not a baby!" Freyr argued from Kili's side.

Fili shook his head and gave his two eldest a stern look. "The city will be very crowded and there are many who would harm you because of who our family is. You must stay with us."

"But we could take a guard with us," Arne protested again.

"My answer is no, Arne, and do not speak of it again," Fili asserted.

Arne sighed and cast a disgruntled look at his younger brother. Soren shrugged and brushed his blonde hair from his face. When Fili took that tone, there was no changing his mind.

"Let us go begin our exciting day!" Sigrid smiled as she hurried her older boys into the waiting coach to avoid further argument.

Fili sat beside his wife with Fror in his lap while Arne and Soren were seated on their mother's other side. Across from them, Kili and Tauriel sat with a wiggling Freyr between them. The boy was so excited he just couldn't be still.

Fili smirked at his younger brother. "Freyr reminds me so much of you."

Kili looked down at the blonde-haired, blue-eyed child beside him. Although his brother-son looked like Fili, they shared the same laugh and a similar mischievous grin. Kili had always been easily excitable as a child and had hated to sit still. The brunette heir of Durin ruffled his nephew's hair being very careful of his braids. "Uncle Thorin said the same thing," he chuckled.

Tauriel frowned as a slight headache began to pull between her eyes. The only times she'd ever had headaches were when she had received a blow to the head in battle. Even then, they had faded fairly quickly when she had partaken of teas with special herbs. This was most perplexing.

"Are you all right, Love?" Kili murmured quietly in her hear, frowning as he noticed her furrowed brow.

"Aye, husband. I am well." Freyr curled against her and she tried to push thoughts of her headache aside.

The sun rose higher in the sky as they traveled along the road to Dale. The coach became warm and stuffy. Tauriel was no longer able to ignore her headache. She hoped that one of Dale's healers would be able to provide a tea to ease her pain. She rested her head against the back of the seat and closed her eyes. The coach swerved around a bend in the road and Tauriel's stomach flipped and rolled. She barely stifled a groan. Perhaps she had picked up a sickness of some sort from one of the children.

"What is it, Tauriel?" Kili leaned over Freyr's slumbering form to murmur into her ear. "Are you ill?"

"I think…," she began, attempting to breathe through her nose, "I think I may have a touch of motion sickness."

Kili frowned. In all of the years he'd been married to Tauriel she had never once been ill. "Have you ever had motion sickness before?" he asked in concern.

She shook her head and concentrated on taking deep breaths.

Sigrid noticed Kili's concern and the paleness of Tauriel's countenance. "Tauriel, are you all right?" she asked in alarm.

"Motion sickness," Kili frowned as he signaled to the driver to stop the coach. "Perhaps we should stretch our legs a bit."

"Kili, I will be fine," Tauriel protested even as she fought to keep her early breakfast where it belonged.

The coach drew to a stop and Kili flung open the door, his alert eyes scanning the surrounding countryside. The guards that traveled with them quickly questioned the dwarf prince as to why they were stopping and then fanned out to protect the family as they emerged from the coach.

Tauriel was relieved to exit the stuffy box, taking Kili's hand and swaying a bit until she found her sense of balance. She breathed in deep gulps of fresh air, but even that was not enough to calm her stomach. She pulled away from her husband and emptied the contents of her stomach into the bushes.

Kili was immediately at her side pulling her long red hair back from her face. When she had finished retching, he handed her the flask of water so that she could rinse the foul taste from her mouth. Tauriel sagged weakly against him with sweat glistening on her brow.

"I think you and I should return to Erebor," Kili frowned. "You are ill."

"No, I will be fine," she protested, certain that with this brief rest her stomach would certainly settle.

Kili looked doubtful.

Fili was giving each of the boys a drink of water as Sigrid approached the couple. "Tauriel, perhaps we should return to Erebor if you are ill."

The she-elf frowned. "I am sure it was only the motion of the carriage that caused my illness. I feel much better now. We should continue on to Dale. The children will be disappointed if they miss the festival. I am also certain they are eager to see their Papa Bard."

Sigird looked unsure of herself. "Only if you are certain."

"I am," Tauriel smiled. "I really do feel better now." She linked her fingers with those of her husband. "Come, Kili. I am ready to travel once again."

The family resettled themselves in the coach and the rest of the ride into the city was uneventful. Tauriel's stomach felt much better and only a slight headache remained.

When they arrived at the festival, Bard was waiting to greet them. Bain waited his turn behind his father with his young wife on his arm. Tilda fluttered anxiously nearby. She could not wait to see her nephews and introduce Kili and Tauriel to her betrothed. Sigrid's family had met him months before.

There were introductions and then the family set off to enjoy the festival. Kili kept his wife's hand clasped in his even as Freyr clung to his other hand. The dark-haired dwarf prince was keeping a close eye on his red-headed bride to ensure she was truly feeling better.

"I am well, Kili," Tauriel protested as she once again felt his eyes on her.

He sighed. "I am just concerned for your well-being, my love. You have never been ill since I've known you."

She smiled and pressed a quick kiss to his brow. "It was illness from the motion of the coach. I feel fine now."

Kili studied her face and then nodded, moving to follow Fili's family into the crowd.

They had a busy morning tasting all of the treats the festival had to offer. The children wanted to play the games, and of course, they all wanted to compete against Uncle Kili. Tauriel cheered the children and her husband in turns. It was mid-afternoon in the heat of the sun before she felt the headache begin to build once again. She forced herself to keep the smile on her face so as not to worry Kili.

"Are you feeling ill again, sister?" Fili asked her quietly. He had noticed the tightening around her eyes and the paleness of her face.

"I am fine," she smiled.

"You do not seem quite yourself," her brother by marriage admitted. "Perhaps you should take a rest in the shade."

Tauriel smiled at the blonde dwarf. "I thank you for your concern, Fili, but I will be all right." She was thankful when Freyr ran up to his father and tugged on his hand, begging to go to the next competition.

Kili was pleased to find that there was to be a contest between archers. He glanced toward his wife and frowned when he saw how pale she looked. He quickly moved to her side. "Are you well?" he asked with concern.

"I am fine, my love. I cannot wait to see you win this competition." She stroked her husband's unruly bangs back from his eyes.

"You could beat everyone here," he said with certainty, "but I am not sure that you are feeling your best."

"I am fine," she promised once again. "Go enter the competition so that I can cheer for my handsome husband. Now go!" She pushed him forward gently with a slight chuckle.

Kili obeyed, but cast a reluctant glance over his shoulder.

Tauriel cheered eagerly as the competition began, but then her headache intensified and her stomach began to churn once again. She took deep breaths and fought the nausea as long as she could. Finally, she knew she had to excuse herself.

Tauriel turned quickly and was surprised to find blackness hovering at the edges of her vision as dizziness suddenly assaulted her. Mortification enveloped her as she lost the contents of her stomach in the dirt right there before everyone.

Things were fuzzy for a few moments after that. Kili's concerned arms were around her. She was led into the shade and a cool rag was pressed to her brow. Kili held a mug to her lips and she drank the ginger water carefully, unsure of what her stomach was going to do. The nausea and the vomiting was a most unpleasant sensation, and she had no desire to experience either again.

Kili cupped her cheek and Tauriel was able to gather her wooly thoughts. "You are sick, Tauriel. We are returning to Erebor."

"I will be all right. Just let me rest a bit," she protested.

"No," Kili stated flatly and with authority that would have rivaled Thorin. "You and I are returning to Erebor. Fili and his family will stay here another night. He has sent for the coach."

Tauriel looked up at Kili sadly. "I am so sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" Kili demanded incredulously. "You cannot help being ill."

Before Tauriel could reply, the coach arrived and Kili helped her into it. She found that she could not stay awake and was soon asleep stretched out on the seat with her husband watching over her.

She woke only when the coach returned to Erebor and was drawn to a halt. She heard Kili asking for Oin to be sent to their suite immediately. Tauriel sat up and brushed her long hair back from her face. "I am fine, my love. Do not fret."

Kili shook his head and scowled darkly. "Do you argue with me about this; you will not win."

Tauriel sighed and allowed him to help her down from the coach. She felt perfectly fine now.

Oin was waiting for them at the door to their suite. Kili ushered his wife inside their rooms and Oin followed. Kili explained what had happened and then looked at the healer expectantly.

"I will need to examine my patient before I can make any sort of diagnosis," Oin told the dwarf prince. "You must wait in the sitting area." He turned to Tauriel. "Go put on your nightgown and let me know when you are ready."

She nodded and turned to obey, sensing Kili's eyes on her and knowing that arguing would be futile.

When Oin entered their bedroom at the she-elf's bidding, he asked Tauriel many personal questions that made her blush and then conducted an exam. Finally, he sat back and told her that he was finished. "I'd like to call Kili to be with you before I explain my diagnosis."

Tauriel's eyes widened. "So I really am ill?" she asked as her stomach rolled threateningly.

"Let's wait until your husband joins us," Oin cautioned, his face an impassive mask as he removed his trumpet from his ear.

Tauriel shifted uneasily as worry spiraled through her. She watched as Oin stepped to the doorway and called for Kili. The dark-haired dwarf prince immediately entered the room and went to the bed to sit beside his wife, linking his fingers with hers.

"Did Oin figure out what is wrong?" he asked worriedly, his eyes meeting hers.

"He wanted to wait until you joined us to explain his…his diagnosis." Tauriel tightened her fingers around Kili's and drew in a deep breath to calm her quivering nerves.

Kili's head whipped around to the healer. "Oin?" he queried sharply.

The healer smiled and placed his ear trumpet into position. "Not to worry, young Kili; it is nothing that will not resolve itself in time."

The young prince's face did not relax. "Oin, what is making Tauriel ill, and how do we help her feel better?" he pressed.

A smile blossomed on the old healer's face. "The two of you are going to be parents, Kili lad."

Kili leaned back, startled. "What?" he gaped in surprise.

"I'm…I'm pregnant?" Tauriel asked, her eyes wide with wonder. She had doubted that this day would ever come, and now that it was here, it felt surreal.

"Aye," Oin smiled. "Make sure you get plenty of rest tonight, Tauriel; I will bring you some fresh herbs to brew into a tea to help with nausea."

"I'm pregnant," Tauriel breathed once again, this time turning to beam at her husband.

Kili still stared at Oin in stupefied shock. "Are you certain, Oin?"

"Oh, yes," the healer smiled. "I have been doing this for a fair number of years, you know." He shuffled toward the door. "I will leave the two of you alone to digest the news."

"Thank you, Oin," Tauriel called happily. She turned to her husband only to find his face creased in a frown. "Kili?" she asked, suddenly worried. She cupped his cheeks and rested her forehead against his. "What is it, my love?"

"I am afraid for you," he murmured, leaning forward to press his lips to hers in a tender kiss. "Fili almost lost his Sigrid in childbirth; I couldn't bear to lose you, Tauriel."

"You won't lose me, Kili. Elves are very strong; our women usually do very well in childbirth." She stroked the edges of his beard with her thumbs in a manner she hoped would be soothing.

Kili sighed. "But there is a chance that something will go wrong."

"And the midwives will know what to do if that happens," Tauriel assured him. "I will be fine. We will be fine." She took his hand and placed it over her abdomen. "Our babe is growing there, Kili, a child created because of our love for one another." Her eyes filled with tears at the thought.

Kili's hand caressed her belly tenderly. He kissed her lips once again. "I love you," he murmured.

"I will be all right. We will talk with the midwives if it will help you feel better." She stroked his dark hair as he pushed her carefully back on the bed. "What are you doing, Kili?"

He placed his lips over her abdomen and kissed her belly through the fabric of her gown. "I'm letting our babe know how much her da loves her."

Tauriel continued to stroke her fingers through her husband's dark hair even as her heart filled with love for her husband at the sound of his words. "What if it is a boy?" she asked, knowing that males outnumbered females among the dwarves.

"No," Kili grinned up at her. "I just have this feeling."

Tauriel chuckled and placed her hand over his on her belly. "All right, my love. We shall see when the time comes."

Kili moved up to lie beside his wife, propping his head on his elbow. "Did I not tell you this day would come?"

"Aye," Tauriel murmured, "you did. Now we can look forward to the day when we hold our child in our arms."

Kili chuckled. "Fili's boys might be jealous; they are used to getting all of our attention."

"No," Tauriel protested. "I think they will be quite happy to have a little cousin to spoil."

Kili nuzzled her neck. "You may be right, my love."

"I know I am," she chuckled as she tugged him up so that she could capture his lips in a heated kiss, her mind filled with the wonder of the child growing inside of her.

To Be Continued…