Chapter 10
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and Kili gathered Primrose to him. She could hear his heart beating and she looked at him.
"Another close call. Are you ok?" she asked.
"I'm fine. What about you?" he asked.
"I am good," Primrose said.
"What is that?" Ori asked, looking at Gandalf.
"That is your host," Gandalf said, "His name is Beorn. He's a skin changer. Sometimes he's a bear and sometimes he's a great man. The bear is unpredictable but the man can be reasoned with. But he's not over fond of dwarves," Gandalf said.
"What about hobbits?" Primrose asked.
"I don't know," Gandalf replied, "Alright get some sleep all of you. You will be safe here. I hope," Gandalf said.
The dwarves could hear that Beorn in his bear form was leaving. The dwarves spread out and unrolled their bedrolls. Primrose snuggled up close to Kili in their bedroll.
"I'm sure Beorn won't have a problem with a hobbit," Kili said.
He kissed the top of her head and smiled at her.
"Damn I want you so bad," Primrose said, the feeling of Kili's body against her making her body grow hot with desire.
"I want you too but everyone would be able to hear us," Kili said,
He was caressing Primrose's stomach something which he would do often during her pregnancy.
So the two enjoyed a cuddle then fell asleep in each other's arms. The next morning when they woke Beorn was there in his man form. Gandalf introduced each of the dwarves to him and fortunately he was prepared to tolerate the dwarves in his house. When it was Kili's turn to be introduced he nodded and then gestured for Primrose to join him.
"This is my wife Primrose," Kili said.
"Hello," Primrose said shyly.
"You've married a hobbit? That's most unusual," Beorn said.
"I have. I love her and we are very happy. She will be Princess of Erebor after we reclaim it. Prim is part of the company as she is our burglar. I met her at her uncle's in Hobbiton and she came with us after her uncle wouldn't come. He is probably furious as she came with us without him knowing," Kili said.
"Well congratulations. I hope you are very happy together," Beorn said.
"We are and we have our first child on the way. Primrose is 3 months pregnant. She isn't due for another 16 months though," Kili said.
"And you've let her continue on the quest with you. Isn't that dangerous?" Beorn asked.
"We are protecting her as much as possible. We need her help to kill the dragon," Thorin said, joining them.
Primrose looked at Kili who put a hand on her arm.
"It's ok my love he means well," Kili said.
They joined the other dwarves who were having breakfast and sat at Beorn's table. It was much too big for them but they managed to eat a hearty meal. Once breakfast was over Beorn provided the company with ponies and they rode to the edge of Mirkwood Forest. There they dismounted the ponies and Gandalf prepared to take them back to Beorn before heading to do another errand. Primrose stood with Kili looking at the forest wondering what dangers they'd encounter within. Beorn had given the company directions for getting through the forest and both he and Gandalf had stressed that they needed to stay on the path once in the forest.
"Stick close to me my love. This will be a dangerous time. Fili and I will keep you safe," Kili said.
Primrose nodded and slipped her hand into Kili's as the company entered the forest. At first the path was easy to see and they made good progress but as they penetrated further and further into the forest it grew darker and the trees more twisted and gnarled. And then the path disappeared and the company stopped.
"I don't like this," Bofur said.
"Which way do we go?" Bombur asked.
The dwarves began arguing then they picked a way. Eventually after they'd been walking for about an hour or so they came across a water holder.
"There are dwarves from the blue mountains in this forest. This is a blue mountains water holder," Bofur said.
"It's yours you doofus," Dori said.
"We're going round in circles," Nori said.
The dwarves began arguing again and Primrose looked at Kili.
"This isn't good," she said.
"We will find our way through the forest," Kili tried to reassure her.
"I'll climb a tree and see if I can see where to go," Primrose offered.
"Yes do. Please," Thorin said. So Primrose began climbing up a nearby tree. As she climbed higher and higher the forest became brighter and brighter until finally she burst through the foliage at the top.
Looking around Primrose spotted a mountain rising in the distance and at its foot there was a lake. She knew instantly that the mountain was Erebor her soon to be home. There were butterflies flying around and the air was fresh and clean
"I can see it. I can see the mountain. Erebor," Primrose called down to the dwarves.
To her surprise there was no response and Primrose became alarmed. As she climbed back down the tree she suddenly spotted spider webs and then she catches her foot on a web and falls. She lands in a net of silk and suddenly a spider is there. It rolls her up in silk and a start dragging her away then gets on top of her. Suddenly she stabs upwards with her sword killing the spider. As it falls to the forest floor she cuts herself free from the silk and hides behind a tree. Slipping the ring on she is invisible and can understand what the spiders are saying. They are talking about eating the dwarves so she knows she has to act. Picking up a branch she tosses it away and the spiders dart after it. One of the spiders remains and is about to have a taste of one of the dwarves. Primrose attacks it and as they fight she can hear the spider asking where she is so she pulls off her ring.
"Here I'm here," Primrose says before stabbing the spider through its open jaws the blade of her sword going up into the middle of its head.
"Ahh it stings it stings," the spider says.
And just like that Primrose has a name for her sword, Sting.
"Sting, that's a good name. Sting" she says before beginning to free the dwarves. Once they are all on the ground Primrose can see them writhing trying to free themselves.
"Where's Primrose?" Primrose hears Kili asking.
"I'm up here, my love," Primrose answers only to have another spider attack her. As they fight they fall from the branch Primrose had been on and Primrose loses her grip on her ring. She sees it fall onto the forest floor and after she lands she gropes around for it. At the same time the dwarves are running towards her being chased by and fighting spiders. Primrose has no time to see what they are doing as she is frantically looking for her ring. And then she spots it lying a short distance away. As Primrose moves towards her ring a spider appears. Grimly she raises her sword and then hearing the spider's feet knocking the ring charges it and the fight is on. As they fight Primrose can hear the dwarves still fighting the other spiders. Finally the spider is dead and Primrose is able to retrieve her ring.
"Mine" she says after picking it up.
She looks at it and realises how close she came to losing it. Hearing some noises she quickly slips it onto her finger and heads in the direction of the dwarves. When she gets there she sees to her horror that the dwarves have been surrounded by elves. Creeping c loser she can see that Kili isn't there and at the same time she hears him cry out and Fili yell his name. Then another elf arrives, a female elf and she fights off the spiders.
"Give me a weapon quick," Kili calls to her.
"If you think I'm giving you a weapon dwarf you're mistaken," she says.
Primrose watches as the dwarves are searched wishing she could help Kili. She could see him looking around clearly wondering where she was. There is a male elf who is clearly in charge and Primrose sees him looking at Gloin's locket which contains the pictures of his wife and son Gimli.
"Is this is your brother?" the elf asks.
"That is my wife!" Gloin says.
"And what is that horrid creature… a goblin mutant? The elf says.
"That is my wee lad Gimli" Gloin said.
Primrose suddenly realised that Kili had lost his sword and bow and wished there was a way she could give him hers to use. She could only watch as the dwarves were marched away silently following them. She heard Kili whispering to Thorin that he didn't know where she was and that he was worried about her. The dwarves were taken to the Elf King's palace in the middle of the forest and just before the elf who had insulted Gloin's wife and Gimli went inside Primrose showed herself.
"Who are you and what are you a hobbit doing here in Mirkwood?" the elf asked.
"I am travelling with those dwarves you captured. I was nearby but out of sight when you captured them," Primrose said.
"Why are you travelling with the dwarves?" the elf said.
I am Primrose and I am wife of Kili, Prince of Erebor. I am travelling with him and the others to help them kill the dragon that has made his home in their home," Primrose said.
"I am Legolas Prince of Mirkwood," the elf said.
Primrose looked at Legolas and nodded.
"Come my father will want to talk to you. He is king of this realm," Legolas said.
"I look forward to meeting him," Primrose said.
"Tell me how did you a hobbit end up marrying a dwarf?" Legolas asked as they walked.
"Kili and I met when the dwarves showed up at my uncle's place wanting him to come on their quest. We were both attracted to each other and it went from there. We married in Rivendell. Kili's uncle did not know of the union as he wouldn't have approved but he knows now and approved after I proved I was as tough as any of the dwarves. My uncle does not know anything about Kili and I and I don't think he's going to be very happy when we return to Hobbiton," Primrose said.
"Typical dwarves only interested in their own kind," Legolas said.
"Why do you elves dislike dwarves so?" Primrose asked.
"The dwarves killed Thingol back in the first age when my father and grandfather lived in Doriath. Thingol was killed when the dwarves attacked the city and ever since the Sindarin elves have held a grudge against dwarves," Legolas said, "As a result when Smaug arrived and Thrain asked us for our help my father decided not to help him and thus it has been ever since," Legolas said.
"I hope you do not hate me for being married to a dwarf. I am also carrying his child," Primrose said.
Legolas stared at her in surprise.
"You are not a dwarf so I do not hate you. I am surprised in your choice of husband but will not question it," he said.
When Legolas and Primrose entered the throne room Thorin was talking to the Elf King.
"That is my father Thranduil the elf king," Legolas said.
Primrose could hear Thorin telling Thranduil that he could not trust him and then he said something in Kahzad the language of the dwarves. At that Thranduil called the guards and told Thorin he could rot in his dungeons.
"Stay here and rot if you will. A hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an elf. I am patient I can wait," Thranduil said.
The guards dragged Thorin away and after he was gone Legolas moved forward indicating that Primrose should go with him.
"Father this is Primrose. She is the wife of one of the dwarves," Legolas said.
"A hobbit and a dwarf married? How odd," Thranduil said.
"Kili is wonderful. We are very happy together," Primrose said.
She bowed respectfully.
"What did Uncle say to you that upset you so? Kili is his nephew," Primrose said.
He accused me of turning my back on his people when they were homeless and hungry," Thranduil said.
"And did you?" Primrose asked.
"Your uncle's grandfather's greed brought the dragon upon them. I warned him of what would happen but he did not listen. That's one reason why we did not help them after they were thrown out of Erebor," Thranduil explained.
"I understand," Primrose said.
"I offered to help your Uncle if he gave us our share of the treasure but he refused. All I have wanted is the white gems. Before the dragon came Thrain also refused to give the white gems to me which is another reason why I did not wish to risk the lives of my kinsfolk against the dragon," Thranduil answered.
"You were being cautious and I understand that," Primrose said, "Would you help us if I could get one of the other dwarves to promise to give you that which you want? I can talk to my husband and see if he can talk some sense into his uncle," Primrose ended.
"Let me talk to your husband and see what he has to say," Thranduil said.
So he gestured to his guards and told them to go and bring Kili to him. While they did this Primrose and Thranduil continued to talk and Primrose shared about life in the Shire. Finally the guards reappeared with Kili between them. As soon as he saw Primrose he rushed forward.
"Primrose my love are you ok? What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I have been talking to the King and trying to get him to help you," Primrose said.
"Your wife is very pleasant to talk to," Thranduil said.
"Yes yes she is. But how can I help?" Kili asked.
"Thranduil offered Uncle his help if Uncle would give him the white gems that he desires. Uncle refused because Thranduil refused to help him and your kinsfolk when Smaug took Erebor and because he doesn't think Thranduil should have the white gems. Thrain refused to give them to him all those years ago which is why he wouldn't help your kinsfolk when the dragon came," Primrose said.
"Uncle is greedy like his father before him and his grandfather before him. His father and grandfather both suffered from gold sickness and I think Uncle is going the same way. It frightens me a bit. I promise you King Thranduil that if I should one day become King Under the Mountain you shall have your white gems," Kili said.
Thranduil could see that Kili was sincere and nothing like his uncle.
"I see honesty and sincerity in you. You are nothing like your uncle," Thranduil said.
"Then you will help us?" Kili asked.
"For you yes," Thranduil said.
He and Kili shook hands and Thranduil invited him and Primrose to the banquet that was being held that night. The rest of the dwarves were to be released from their cells and given clean clothing and their weapons returned to them.