Hello lovelies. I apologize PROFUSELY for the months long wait for an update. I've been super busy with school and my new boyfriend (well, not-so-new. It will be our 6 month anniversary on the 19th of December.) I've been wanting to update for such a long time now but not only was I busy, I had a major case of writers block. It was horrible.
But here it is! Finally! Chapter 7! Please, enjoy and review! Remember, there will not be as many updates as before but I will try my hardest to keep writing!
~:Elven Kat:~
I could not tell whether the look on Thorin's face was one of anger or surprise. I pulled the sheets around me, trying to hide what little dignity I had left. Thorin Oakenshield had seen me as bare as the day I was born. I lowered my head, staring at the bed. I did not want to meet his gaze.
"Fili, Kili, leave us," I heard Thorin say.
I felt the bed lighten as both brothers stepped off to pull on their clothes. I heard their footsteps leave the room and the door close. It was silent for a moment before Thorin spoke.
"Ali, look at me."
I did not want to. I was completely embarrassed.
"Alivyan! Look at me!" he said in a more commanding tone.
Reluctantly, I lifted my head to look at him. Now I could not read his face at all. It was expressionless.
"Balin asked me a very interesting question today," Thorin told me. "He asked if I knew about the custom of marrying two Dwarves. I had wondered where he had gotten the idea. It took me a moment but I realized he was asking on your behalf, Ali."
I stayed silent but inside, I was hoping he had come to give me his blessing.
"I cannot give you my blessing," he continued. "At least not for both."
My head shot up and I stared at him, tears springing into my eyes.
"What?" I whispered.
"I can only give you and Fili my blessing," he replied.
"Why?"
"Because he is the eldest, Ali. And I was hoping both of you could continue the line of Durin. It is only proper that the eldest be wedded first. So, from now on, Fili is your betrothed if you would have him."
I was in shock. Marry just Fili? I loved them both equally. I would not be able to deal with even the thought of Kili marrying someone else. The tears began to course down my cheeks. I closed my eyes, hoping this was all a bad dream. At this moment, I longed for nothing more than to be held by both of them.
"Thorin, please," I began.
"This is my decision, Ali. It is final," he interrupted. "I am sorry."
I buried my face in my hands and cried. I heard him leave. This was not happening. It couldn't be. I cried until no more tears came forth. The door burst open and Fili came running in.
"Fili!" I cried as he flung his arms around me.
"Ali, it will be alright," he soothed, stroking my hair. "We will change his mind."
"What if we can't?" I asked.
"Do not worry. It will happen. Neither I nor Kili will ever leave you," he assured me.
The two of us laid down, Fili still keeping his arms tightly around me. We did not move or speak. The sound of his breathing lulled me into a deep sleep.
~:✿:~
I was standing barefoot in a field of grass, digging my toes into the ground. The sun was high overhead, throwing its warmth down to the earth. Looking down, I could see I was with child.
"Mama!" I heard a child call.
I turned to see two boys running towards me. I knew who they were instantly. One had blond hair like Fili. The other had Kili's dark eyes.
"Mama!" they yelled in unison.
Before they reached me, the landscape began to swirl and morph into a different scene. It was no longer warm and sunny but cold and damp. I was standing in a hall now and I was no longer with child. In fact, I looked pale and sickly thin. My attention was drawn to two figures crossing the other end of the hall. It was Kili, holding the hand of a very pregnant female. They were laughing with each other as Kili slid his other hand over her swollen belly.
"Ali!"
My eyes flew open at the sound of my name. Fili's face was hovering over me, concern written in his features.
"Fili?" I whispered.
"You were having a bad dream," Fili said. "You began to cry."
A fresh wave of tears burst out of me as I told him what had happened in my dream. He held me tightly until the tears subsided.
"Ali, we will all be together. I promise," he soothed.
"Really? You promise?" I asked, turning my tear-stained face to him.
He nodded and grasped my face gently. Slowly, our lips met in our first real kiss. It was not rushed or forceful like they usually were. No, this time it was sweet and gentle. I parted my lips as his tongue probed them. The kiss only broke when we needed air. My fingers were tangled in his blond mane, holding him close to me.
"I love you, Fili. You and Kili," I said, looking into his blue eyes.
"We know, my love," he responded, pulling me to his chest. "Nothing will ever tear us apart."
~:✿:~
Early the next morning, I awoke to Kili sliding into the bed next to me.
"Kili, what are you doing?" I asked him sleepily.
"I could not bear to be away from you anymore," he replied, wrapping his arms around me.
Beside me, I felt Fili stir as Kili brushed his arms against him. Fili emitted a muffled groan and held me tighter. Here I was, in between my two lovers, as happy as ever. I did not want this to end. I only realized I had fallen asleep when the sound of someone yelling Kili's name startled me.
"Kili!"
I jumped at the angry sound, jolting Fili and Kili. Thorin came bursting through door. I glared at the Dwarf King as he stood just inside of the doorway. I despised him at the moment. Both Fili and Kili sat up, staring at Thorin angrily.
"Ali, perhaps you should take a walk, my love," Kili hissed to me, never taking his eyes off his uncle.
Both brothers had the same, protective look in their eyes as in Ori's drawing. Thorin averted his eyes as I pulled on a gown. I brushed past him and slammed the door shut. I hadn't gotten far when I was intercepted by Eluon. His stunning eyes clouded with worry when he saw my face.
"Is everything alright?" he asked.
I nodded, not wanting to divulge too much information. His features softened and he grasped my hand.
"Come," he said and began to pull me.
He only smiled when I asked him where we were going. It was not long before we reached an archery field. Eluon smiled down at me as I took in the scene before me.
"I want to see how well your archery skills are," he said, pressing a bow into my hands.
"The sun has barely risen," I protested, pointing the sky which was barely tinged with pink. The Elf merely smiled and showed me to the target I would be using.
~:✿:~
I had to admit, archery did take my mind off Fili, Kili, and Thorin for a while. Eluon seemed to be in awe of the skills I possessed, enthusiastically praising me.
"You are very skilled Alivyan," he remarked. "You truly have Elvish blood flowing through your veins."
I could not help but smile a bit at his words.
"Ali!"
I turned to see Bofur running towards me, arms waving about to catch my attention.
"Bofur? Is everything alright?" I asked, not failing to notice the look he gave Eluon.
"We're leaving," he said, catching his breath.
"Leaving?"
But we had just arrived in Imladris! Lord Elrond had said my mother was alive! We couldn't leave!
"Gandalf's orders, lass," Bofur said quietly as if he could read my mind.
With a heavy heart, I sighed and thanked Eluon for his time. As I turned to leave, he grabbed my hand and pushed a bundle of arrows into my arms.
"For you. I spent all night making them as I had noticed you had none left."
"They're beautiful," I breathed, admiring his handiwork.
They were straight as could be with beautiful fletchings adorning them. I reached my arms around the Elf in thanks, earning a cough from Bofur. With a quick smile to Eluon, I followed Bofur back to the rest of our Dwarvish company. Fili immediately came to my side.
"Congratulations on your betrothal," Bofur said to me, a sad smile on his face.
He knew that this was not right, that I should be betrothed to Fili and Kili. In fact, as the rest of the Dwarves congratulated Fili and I, I could see the same sadness on their faces.
"Let us go," Thorin said, leading us out of Imladris.
"What about Gandalf?" Ori asked.
"We shall meet him in the mountains," was Thorin's reply.
We followed our leader, up a steep rocky path. I glanced back one last time as Imladris grew smaller in the distance. Fili grabbed my hand and together we continued to walk.
"Be on your guard," Thorin told us. "We are about to step over the edge into the wild. Balin, you know these paths. Lead on."
I noticed Bilbo had stopped and was looking back towards Imladris. Thorin stopped as well when he realized the Hobbit was no longer moving.
"Master Baggins," Thorin called out. "I suggest you keep up."
I glared at the Dwarf King when he glanced at me as I passed him. Thorin Oakenshield had managed to shatter my heart, to rip it into tiny pieces and scatter them to all ends of the earth. It was only the thought of Fili and Kili's love that kept me going.