Chapter 8
A few nights later Elrond, Thorin, Gandalf, Primrose and Kili met to look at Thorin's map. It had to be looked at under a certain moon and as luck would have it the very same moon shone that night. The writing that showed up on it gave directions as to how to find the key hole in the door at the secret entrance to Erebor that matched Thorin's key.
"Wow we haven't got much time to get there. I guess we will have to leave fairly soon" Primrose said.
"We will," Thorin said.
Primrose looked at Kili, concern on her face. She didn't know how she would travel if she was pregnant. And there was the fact she'd be putting her unborn baby in danger. Kili gave her a reassuring look and put his hand on her arm, as if to say don't worry about it. Obviously he had guessed what she was concerned about.
Thorin, Gandalf and Elrond discussed the quest for a while and then everyone returned to their quarters.
"Oh my love what if I AM pregnant. I could be putting our unborn child, your heir, in terrible danger," Primrose said.
"I will protect you and that which grows within you if that is the case," Kili said.
The dwarves remained in Erebor for two more weeks and during that time Kili and Primrose spent all their time together getting used to being a married couple. By the time the dwarves left Erebor Primrose was due her next bleed but it hadn't arrived. She was also feeling nauseous in the mornings and her breasts were full and tender. After the first full day's travel the company camped and Primrose went and spoke to Oin.
"I will have to examine you and see if you have any signs of pregnancy," Oin said.
So he, Kili and Primrose went out of sight of the others and Primrose undressed and lay down on Kili's jerkin. Oin knelt down by Primrose and began examining her.
"Kili, I will need to examine her internally is that ok with you? And may I examine her breasts?" Oin asked.
"Yes you may," Kili said.
Primrose also gave her consent and the examination proceeded. At the end of it Oin told Primrose she could get dressed again then once she was dressed Oin smiled at Primrose and Kili.
"Without question you're pregnant Primrose. Congratulations both of you. Primrose how long does a hobbit carry her child?"
"We are pregnant for 13 months," Primrose said.
"Dwarves carry for 24 months," Oin said.
"I know, Kili told me," Primrose said.
"As your child is half dwarf half Hobbit your pregnancy may last for 19 months which is longer than a hobbit pregnancy but shorter than a dwarf pregnancy," Oin said.
He then went on to instruct Primrose on what herbs to use to help with the nausea and any other symptoms she might suffer from. Primrose would need to see Oin regularly for check-ups as her pregnancy progressed. Kili, Primrose and Oin returned to the camp and Fili came rushing up to Primrose and Kili.
"Well?" he asked.
"How does Uncle Fili sound," Kili said.
"You mean?"
"Yes I'm going to be a papa," Kili said.
"Mahal that's wonderful," Thorin said coming over.
"You will be Great Uncle Thorin," Primrose said
"And Mama will be Grandmama," Fili said.
Fili and Thorin hugged Primrose and clasped hands and butted heads with Kili.
The news quickly spread around the camp and soon an impromptu party had gotten under way. All the dwarves were excited to hear Primrose and Kili's news. They were also concerned that Primrose could be putting her baby in danger. Dwalin and Balin felt she should return to Rivendell and let the Dwarves finish the quest without her. Thorin wouldn't hear of it.
"Primrose is our burglar. We need her to find the Arkenstone without disturbing the dragon," Thorin said.
In the end Primrose was allowed to continue on the quest as the dwarves would do all they could to protect her especially Kili, Fili and Thorin. That night Primrose was on watch with Kili and Fili as usual.
"Have you guys got any ideas for names for your child yet?" Fili asked.
"We don't even know if I'm having a boy or a girl," Primrose said.
They wouldn't know what Primrose was having until she delivered the baby so would need to come up with both a boy name and a girl name.
"I wonder what your child will look like. Whether it will look like a hobbit or a dwarf," Fili said.
"Again we won't know until I deliver the child," Primrose said.
Kili smiled at Primrose.
"Turn around. I want to braid your hair," Kili said.
Primrose did as he said and he quickly added a braid to her hair.'
"I've added the motherhood braid to your hair. Will you add the fatherhood one to mine?" Kili asked.
Primrose nodded and quickly added the braid.
"What do you think of having your name as middle name if our child is a boy?" Primrose said.
"I like it. He could be Borin Kili. Borin was Papa's name," Kili said.
"That sounds good. If our child is a girl she could be Sigrid Primrose," Primrose said.
"Nice," Kili said.
So it was settled just like that.
A few days later the dwarves reached the mountains. Their journey since leaving Rivendell until then had been uneventful. As the company began climbing up the mountain pass the weather got worse and worse.
"Stay close to me my love," Kili said.
Primrose nodded and stayed as close to Kili as she could as the dwarves slowly made their way along the path. It grew narrower and the weather even more wild and soon everyone was huddling against the mountainside. Suddenly Primrose slipped and nearly went over the edge of the cliff.
"Prim," Kili called out in alarm, upon hearing her scream of fright.
He grabbed Primrose pulling her back against him holding her close. He could feel her heart pounding in her chest.
"You're ok my love. I've got you. I won't let you fall," Kili said.
"I know," Primrose said.
She smiled at Kili, her heart rate finally returning to normal. It had been a bad fright but she felt ready to continue on. Fili was nearby looking concerned but she assured him she was ok.
Finally the company got on the move again but the weather just got even worse. So they huddled close together against the cliff hoping to wait out the storm only to have the ground suddenly start shaking. And then Bofur spotted something huge standing up in the distance.
""Oh my word the stories are true. Giants, Stone giants," Bofur said.
Everyone looked in the direction he was looking in and saw the Giant. And then Balin realised what was going on.
"This isn't a thunderstorm it's a giant battle storm," he said. Then a huge hunk of the mountainside was flung toward them. It struck the cliff above them and rocks and other debris rained down upon the company.
"Kili I'm scared," Primrose said.
Kili held Primrose close protecting her with his hands and arms heedless of the danger to himself. The ground shook again and Primrose clung to Kili feeling even more fearful. The company edged their way along the path taking cover from falling debris where they could. Suddenly another hunk of mountainside was flung towards them and at the same time the ground shook. The company turned to see where the hunk of mountainside went and saw it hit another giant behind them.
"Kili this is no place for Primrose. Your child is in danger. We need to get out of here," Fili said.
"Agreed," Kili said.
Before they could even move one step the ground shook again then split between Kili and Primrose. Primrose looked at Kili in horror. What was going on?
"Primrose! No," Kili said as his part of the path moved away from hers. And then everyone realised the dwarves on Primrose's side of the path were standing on a giant. Kili watched in horror as it stood up and entered the fight.
"Mahal please keep Primrose safe. Don't let her die," Kili begged.
The giant Primrose was on continued to fight with the other giants until suddenly one of the other giants threw a chunk of rock at it hitting the giant in the head. It lurched forward and as it fell it crashed into the side of the mountain. The dwarves safely on the side of the mountain could only watch in horror fearing the worst for the comrades. As soon as the dust had settled they cautiously made their way forward. To their relief the other dwarves had survived and were ok. Suddenly Kili realised Primrose wasn't there.
"Where's Prim?" he asked.
At the same time Primrose screamed from below them and looking down Fili realised Primrose had gone over the edge and was clinging on for dear life. Her feet were wind milling unable to find purchase so she could pull herself up. Kili immediately moved forward and reached out his hand as did Fili. Primrose tried to grab Kili's hand but missed so tried again. This time she grabbed his hand and held on tight. Kili quickly pulled her up only to fall over the edge of the cliff himself. Fili immediately grabbed him and pulled him up.
"We need to find cover, now," Kili said.
"Agreed," Thorin said.
The dwarves hurried along the mountain path finally finding shelter in a cave which had a dirt floor and was wide enough for them to set up their bedrolls in. Bombur began preparing some food for dinner and the other dwarves talked quietly. Fili joined Primrose and Kili who were sitting together and cuddling. Primrose was shaking, still frightened by her near fall to her death.
"You're safe my love. I've got you and I'm not letting you go," Kili said softly to her.
"I thought I was… thought I was going to die," Primrose said.
She began to cry and Kili held her close.
"Let it out you've had a bad fright," he said.
"You ok?" he asked Kili.
"I'm fine. That was a close one though. I'm thankful we were able to grab Primrose before she lost her grip and fell.
"You are both alive and that's what is most important," Fili said.
"Prim's had an awful fright. Give her some time and she'll be fine," Kili said.
Primrose was slowly relaxing, knowing Kili was holding her tight. She felt safe, wrapped in his loving arms.
After dinner the dwarves talked quietly about what lay ahead. Kili and Fili were both concerned that Bolg and Azog were still at large and very much alive.
"You do realise that Bolg and Azog are going to try again to kill us and Uncle. Azog wants to end the line of Durin and he won't stop until he has. We must be always on our guard for an attack from him," Fili said.
"I'd like to see him try. He couldn't kill us before and he won't be successful any other time. Uncle will retake Erebor and sit on the throne there," Kili said.
They still had a very long journey ahead of them including travelling through Mirkwood and then across the lake that lay beyond it. Each of these things was another obstacle that must be overcome. And they had limited time in which to reach Erebor as they had to be there on Durin's day as the keyhole in the secret door would be revealed in the last light of Durin's day. Durin's day wasn't that far away.
"What are we going to do once the quest is over?" Primrose asked Kili.
"You'll live with me in Erebor," Kili said.
"Will we be able to go back to the Shire and visit Uncle?" Primrose asked.
"Of course. I'm sure he'd love to meet his great niece or nephew," Kili said.
He smiled at Primrose who smiled back, completely relaxed. The terror of the events earlier had given way to exhaustion for all of the dwarves so when everyone went to bed it wasn't long before they had fallen asleep.
Primrose was woken during the night by a cracking sound. Her sword was glowing blue meaning they were in the presence of goblins. Before she had a chance to wonder what was going on the ground split apart and everyone was falling. They landed in a heap, Primrose landing on top of Kili.
"Sorry my love," Primrose said, hoping she hadn't hurt him.
She rolled off Kili and cautiously stood. The other dwarves were also standing up and dusting themselves off.
"Look out everyone. There are Goblins and lots of them!" Nori exclaimed.
The dwarves quickly closed ranks pulling their weapons out. Suddenly the goblins were upon them. Primrose had drawn her sword and was fighting fiercely, holding her own. Suddenly someone's elbow knocked her and she stumbled backwards, the ground suddenly disappearing under her. After a short fall she lands on top of the goblin she had been fighting who had fallen with her and is knocked out cold. Kili was unaware of Primrose's fall as he and the other dwarves had been captured by the goblins and taken before the Great Goblin. It is only when Kili looks around he suddenly realises Primrose is not there. Horrified he wonders where she could be thinking the worst that the goblins have captured her and are even at that moment doing unspeakable things to her. He catches Fili's eyes and manages to silently communicate that Primrose has disappeared. Fili looks equally as horrified.
The Great Goblin demands to know why the Dwarves are there but none of them answer. The Great Goblin finally grows impatient.
"If you won't talk maybe you'll squeal. Start with the youngest," he says.
"Wait," Thorin calls out as the Goblins move to grab Ori
He reluctantly answers the Great Goblin's question but it's no good and the dwarves are still to be tortured. Suddenly Gandalf appears and blasts the Goblins with his staff. The dwarves immediately begin running after grabbing their weapons which had been taken off them and dumped nearby.
"Uncle, Primrose has disappeared," Kili tells Thorin when they are running side by side.
"There isn't anything we can do. She's on her own. We've got enough to deal with ourselves right now. I'm sure she can handle herself," Thorin said.
Kili knew he was right but he still couldn't help worrying about Primrose.
"Mahal please keep Primrose safe and return her to us and me," he prayed.
Suddenly more goblins swarmed them and Kili had to fight. He focused on the fight and dispatched several goblins with swings from his sword. Fili was next to him and they fought side by side as they usually did.