Chapter 7
Primrose looked at Kili in disbelief.
"He can't be serious. You could seriously hurt me with that thing," she said.
"Uncle is deadly serious. I'm sorry my love," Kili said.
He was as upset as Primrose about it and as worried as she was that he would hurt her badly.
"My skin isn't as tough as a dwarf's," Primrose said.
"I know and that's what worries me," Kili said.
He had taken her hand in his and he squeezed it gently.
"At least if I am hurt Elrond and Oin can heal me," Primrose said.
"Yes that is true," Kili said.
When breakfast was over Thorin stood again.
"Kili and Primrose please join me in the garden tonight. We will not be disturbed," Thorin said.
He left the dining room and the dwarves dispersed. Kili and Primrose spent the day enjoying one another's company and dreading that evening. They knew that if things worked out that Thorin would have to accept Primrose so they kept that thought uppermost in their minds. Both were determined that Primrose would win Thorin's acceptance.
That evening Kili and Primrose made their way down to the garden talking softly knowing there was no way of avoiding what was to come. It was Primrose's opportunity to show Thorin that she could be an acceptable niece in law. There they found Thorin waiting for them holding the armath taur and turning it over in his hands.
"Good you are prompt. Let's get this over with," Thorin said
He passed the armath taur to Kili with a nod then stood back and watched his arms folded his face stern. Kili turned to Primrose who was trying not to show how afraid she was. He wasn't going to enjoy this one little bit as he knew he was going to hurt the one he loved.
"Please take your gown off and kneel down with your forehead touching the ground," Kili said.
Primrose quickly moved to obey unlacing her gown and pulling it over her head. She folded it and placed it on the ground by Kili then got down on her knees and leant forward so her forehead was touching the ground. When she was kneeling down Kili lifted her slip and pulled her underwear down baring her rump then moved so he was behind her. He looked at the armath taur then gritted his teeth and raised it up and swung his arm down hoping he didn't hurt Primrose badly.
'I'm sorry my love,' he thought.
With a loud sound the armath taur connected with her rump and the pain was like nothing Primrose had ever felt before. It was even worse than when her Uncle Bilbo had disciplined her as a small child. She bit her lip determined that she would not cry out. Again Kili hit her and again. Silently Primrose counted the blows and after the 3rd tears were running down her cheeks. Her whole rump felt like it was on fire and she didn't know if she could take any more blows. Kili hit Primrose again and bravely she she bit back a scream. Somehow she managed two more hits without screaming then on the 7th it was too much.
"Stop my love I can't take it anymore," Primrose said.
"You may sit up my love," Kili said.
Primrose sat up, her slip falling down as she did so preserving her modesty. Kili smiled at her and told her she could right her underwear and put her gown on again. Standing Primrose fixed her underwear then slipped into her gown and looked at Kili. He had passed the armath taur to Thorin and he was looking proud. He gathered her into his arms and held her close. Primrose sobbed openly as her rump really did hurt.
"I'm sorry my love. So sorry for having to do that to you. I hope I haven't hurt you too badly. My clever brave wife. I'm so proud of you, breaking my record. How the heck did you do it?" he asked.
"I was just determined I would. Uncle has to approve of our union now. I took as many as you did without crying out," Primrose said.
She and Kili turned to look at Thorin. He was smiling but inside was shocked as he had been so sure Primrose would fail to take the requisite blows of the armath taur or that Kili would refuse to discipline her.
"Very very well done Primrose. You are as tough as any of my dwarves. I am honored to have you as my niece in law. I was very wrong to object to your union with Kili. But there is still the matter of Kili's discipline to attend to. Once that is done this matter will be closed. Kili will you please kneel with your forehead touching the ground," Thorin said.
Primrose disentangled herself from Kili and watched as Thorin disciplined Kili. He managed to equal Primrose's record before asking Thorin to stop. When it was over Thorin gave him a brief lecture about the necessity of not keeping things from him before letting him right his breeches. Then Thorin addressed them both.
"This matter is closed. Welcome Princess Primrose of Erebor to the house of Durin. Kili you behaved like a true dwarven warrior, accepting the need to discipline your wife and taking your own discipline very well. I am not entirely sure I want Fili to be my heir after this as he did not display the courage required to be a good leader when I disciplined the two of you after you lost those ponies," Thorin said.
"You didn't think I would have it in me to hit her did you," Kili said.
"To be honest no. And I didn't think Primrose would be able to take even one blow of the armath taur," Thorin said.
He had a smile on his face and suddenly Kili and Primrose knew it was ok. Really ok. Thorin had accepted their union.
"I will see you two later as I am guessing you are wanting to be alone together now. Oh and Prim, you have earned the right to apply discipline using this," Thorin said.
He turned and walked away after passing the armath taur to Primrose and a few moments later was gone leaving Kili and Primrose alone.
"What did Uncle mean?" Primrose asked, examining the armath taur.
"If you have not been disciplined with the armath taur you cannot use it on another. As you have been disciplined with it you have earned the right to use it on another," Kili said.
"Is that so?" Primrose asked a glint in her eye.
"You wouldn't. Besides I've just had it used on me. Now is not a good time," Kili said.
"Yes I would. You hit me with this thing so I think it's only fair that I hit you with it," Primrose said.
"You are right, I submit to you," Kili said.
He began to undress leaving his garments in a tidy pile. When he was done he knelt down leaning forward to rest his forehead on the ground.
Primrose stepped behind him and raised the armath taur bringing it down on Kili's rump. He flinched but stayed silent. Primrose hit him 6 more times and not once did he cry out.
"I won't hit you again. We're even now," Primrose said.
She gently wiped away the tears that were running down Kili's cheeks and found his lips with hers.
Soon they were kissing deeply, Kili's hands unlacing Primrose's dress and pulling it over her head…
An hour later the two rejoined the other dwarves.
"So what happened?" Fili asked.
"I took 6 strokes of the armath taur without crying out. I broke Kili's record. He equaled my record when Uncle disciplined him," Primrose said.
"So Uncle has accepted you then," Fili asked.
"He has,"
"Well done both of you on your excellent courage," Dwalin said, coming over to them.
The other dwarves gathered round congratulating him. They were shocked that Primrose had proved to be as tough as she was. Primrose then spoke up again.
"After Uncle had disciplined Kili he gave me the armath taur. Said I'd earned the right to be able to use it myself," Primrose said.
She looked over at Kili and the other dwarves looked at him with an Oooh expression.
"I took 7 hits of the armath taur from her. The same number I gave her. I did not cry out," Kili said.
"I will break that record if I'm ever disciplined again," Fili vowed.
"And what happened afterwards?" Nori asked, a cheeky grin on his face.
"Mind your own business," Kili said.
"I can guess," Fili piped up.
"Shut up Fili," Kili said.
"Are you two going to join us?" Ori asked.
"Yes but I think we'll remain standing for now," Kili said.
Thorin wasn't there as he was in discussions with Gandalf and Elrond. The dwarves were keen to celebrate Kili and Primrose's marriage with a big party.
"When we have taken Erebor I will be able to pay your uncle whatever price he might ask for you," Kili said.
"What do you mean?" Primrose asked.
"In dwarven culture its traditional for the husband to be to pay a bridal price to the family of his intended," Kili explained.
"We do not pay a bride price in our society," Primrose said, "The male will ask the female's family for her hand in marriage and gain their permission to marry her," Primrose said.
"Which I didn't do. Oh well Bilbo will just have to accept what has happened," Kili said.
He had his arm around Primrose's waist and he squeezed her gently.
"Yes Uncle will just have to accept it. It will be 3 or 4 months before we will see him again," Kili said.
An impromptu party got under way then for Primrose and Kili to celebrate their wedding. Thorin joined the party when the discussions with Gandalf and Elrond had drawn to a close for the day. The ale flowed freely and pipes were smoked.
The dwarves presented the happy couple with gifts they had obtained during the day. Then Kili made a speech.
"Thank you everyone for sharing this happy occasion with Prim and I. This is the start of a new chapter in my life and I am really looking forward to my life with Prim. Thank you all for being supportive of this union and thank you Uncle for accepting it," Kili said.
He then turned to Primrose,
"I have something for you, something I've had Bofur making since I taught you how to use my bow," Kili said.
He disappeared and came back a few minutes later with the quiver and bow that Bofur had constructed.
"These are for you," Kili said.
He smiled and passed them to Primrose.
"Wow my love thank you so much," Primrose said.
The quiver had a belt attachment like Kili's which she would wear over her shoulder like Kili did and her sword scabbard could be attached at the bottom. Inside the quiver was her own set of arrows that Bofur had crafted. The bow was a similar design to Kili's but suited her exactly.
"Now you'll be a real warrior," Kili said.
The party broke up not long after that and everyone retired to their quarters. Primrose placed her new bow and arrows with her sword.
"I will definitely need to wear breeches rather than a gown as these won't go with a gown," Primrose said.
"You can wear my shirt and breeches as long as you need to," Kili said.
"Thanks," Primrose said.
She had had no intention of taking the elvish gown she'd been wearing with her when they left Rivendell.
"We will have to take a swim together tomorrow," Kili said.
Primrose liked the sound of that.
"Yes we will," Primrose said.
Kili then gave Primrose some basic advice on how to take care of her bow and arrows. He had already advised her on how to care for her sword. She listened attentively and watched what Kili did. When he was done the two got into bed and cuddled.
"I love you so much Prim," Kili said.
"Love you too Kili," Primrose said.
Kili found Primrose's lips with his and the two were soon kissing and cuddling enjoying being together. They fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms and didn't wake until morning.
That afternoon the two went for a walk down to the stream near the bridge where they had gotten married. They walked hand in hand enjoying the scenery and being alone with each other. The area they went to was deserted and they knew that they wouldn't be disturbed as the elves didn't usually go there. It didn't take long to shed their clothes leaving them in a tidy pile and Primrose found her eyes roving over Kili's nakedness. He was exquisite, a muscular physique accented by a light covering of dark hair on his arms legs and chest. Hair also ran down in a line from his chest to his navel and down below that. Kili's eyes were roving over Primrose and he smiled enjoying what he was seeing. The two entered the water, Kili diving in and Primrose carefully lowering herself in and came together sharing light kisses.
"You look beautiful my love," Kili said.
"Thank you. And you look amazingly stunningly sexy," Primrose said.
Kili wrapped his arms around Primrose holding her close. The feeling of skin against skin was electrifying and it wasn't long before they were kissing deeply, one kiss following another Kili picked Primrose up letting her wrap her legs around his waist…
When they were both spent Kili lowered Primrose down again and the two had a fun game of splashing each other then Primrose looked at Kili.
"I wonder if I will conceive soon," she said.
"It would be wonderful if you did. I would love to be a Papa," Kili said.
"Do you receive a braid to indicate fatherhood and motherhood?" Primrose asked.
"Yes," Kili said.
"If I conceive I'll be pregnant for 13 months. We hobbits live a little longer than humans so our pregnancies are a little longer. We also have slightly longer monthly cycles. Instead of 5-7 days of bleeding we bleed for 2 weeks and there are 5 weeks between our bleeds," Primrose said.
"Dwarves are usually pregnant for 24 months and there are 4 months between bleeds which last for a month. That's because we live for 200-300 years," Kili said.
Primrose remembered Kili telling her he'd only just come of age like she had.
"W… what will you do when I am dead and gone. I'll pass long before you will," Primrose said.
"I don't know. Dwarves mate for life so I would not marry again," Kili said.
"I understand that," Primrose said.
"If I become a Papa the child will be half dwarf half hobbit. So it will be interesting to see what kind of life span the child will have," Kili said.
"I would guess any children we have would live longer than me but not as long as you might live," Primrose said.
"That seems reasonable," Kili said.
The two talked for a while longer then clambered out of the stream. It was fine and sunny so Kili laid his jerkin out for them to lie on and they lay down and enjoyed a cuddle while the sun dried them off. Once they were dry they dressed and headed back up to the Last Homely House where they joined the other dwarves to have dinner.
"When are you due for your next bleed?" Kili asked Primrose on the way back.
"In about three weeks. If it doesn't arrive and doesn't come at all I will speak to Oin as I am sure he will have some way of being able to tell if I'm going to be a mama," Primrose said.
"Yes I'm sure he has," Kili said, "And he'll be able to advise you on what herbs and things to use to ease any symptoms you may suffer from whilst expecting," he added.
When they rejoined the others they discovered a lively discussion going on about when to resume their travels.
"I still need Elrond to look at my map so we won't be leaving for a while yet," Thorin tells them.
He then turned to Primrose and said she was welcome to join him, Gandalf and Elrond when Elrond looked at his map.
"Can Kili come too?" Primrose asked.
Kili smiled glad Primrose wanted him to be included as well.
"I don't see why not," Thorin said.
"Thank you Uncle," Primrose said.