Chapter 12
"So it is true. The Mountain King has returned," Bard said.
"You know the prophecy?" Thorin asked?
"Yes. Everyone here knows the prophecy," Bard said.
He began loading the barrels onto his barge and told the company that he would take them into Lake-Town on his barge.
"Excellent," Thorin said.
Once the barge was loaded the company and Bard got on board and Bard got the barge moving. Primrose and Kili had sat down together on a barrel, Primrose on Kili's lap. He had his arms around her and was letting her snuggle against him as she was shivering again. As Bard had been warned they were coming he had some blankets which the company gratefully wrapped around them. Kili wrapped a blanket around the pair of them and kissed Primrose softly.
"I hope you won't catch a chill as you need to stay healthy for our baby," he said.
Bard had seen the kiss and heard what Kili had said. He looked at them surprise on his face.
"Primrose is my wife," Kili explained.
"That's a pretty unusual pairing but I can see you love her," Bard said.
"Yes I love Primrose very much," Kili said.
He was gently rubbing her arms with his hands trying to warm her up a bit.
"When we get to Lake-Town I'll warm you up," Kili said.
Primrose winked at him knowing what was on his mind. It would warm him up as well.
Finally after a slow journey the barge arrived at Lake Town. There the company made their way through the streets to the Master of Lake-Town's lodgings. There The Master of Lake-Town greeted them and made a speech. Thorin responded to the speech declaring that once they had taken Erebor that he would bring wealth and prosperity to the region again.
"What about the prophecy?" someone called out.
"What about it?" Thorin asked.
"It says that The Lord of Silver Fountains, the King of Carven Stone, the King Beneath the Mountain, shall come into his own. And the bells shall ring in gladness, at the Mountain King's return, but all shall fail in sadness, and the Lake will shine and burn," Bard said.
"What does that mean?" Primrose asked Kili.
"It's foretelling Uncle's return and is saying that his well our return will bring sadness to Lake-Town as the lake will burn," Kili said.
"I don't like the sound of that. Could the lake burning be connected to the Dragon? Maybe I won't be able to kill it and he'll come out of Erebor and attack this town. That would be awful if he killed people," Primrose said.
"I'm sure you will be able to kill him," Kili reassured her.
The Master of Lake Town was talking to Thorin again and he nodded and turned to the others.
"We are to be assigned lodgings for while we are here. We will be given dry clothes while what we are wearing is dried out," Thorin said.
The company were shown to lodgings and each member given clean dry clothes. Once Primrose and Kili were in their lodgings and the woman who had shown them to their lodgings had gone Kili turned to Primrose.
"Time for me to warm you up I think," he said.
Kili helped Primrose out of her wet clothes his eyes roving over her body then quickly shed his own wet clothes. As soon as Kili pressed his naked body against hers heat flooded through Primrose's body. She ground her body against Kili's enjoying the sensation of flesh against flesh.
"Make love to me Kili. I need you," Primrose said,
"I need you too," Kili said.
After it Primrose felt much warmer as did Kili. His love making had been slow and gentle and he had had her in ecstasy. They lay together their bodies entwined, Primrose's head on Kili's chest.
"I could lie here with you for the rest of the day," Primrose said, kissing Kili softly.
"As could I. But we must join the others. They'll probably be wondering where we are," Kili said.
They got up and quickly dressed in the dry garments they had been provided with. Primrose had been given a gown and some boots to go with it and Kili a shirt and trousers with a jacket and some boots.
The two quickly made their way to the agreed upon meeting place where they found everyone else had arrived.
"There they are," Nori called out.
"What kept you guys?" Bombur asked.
"I can guess what kept them. You were having some fun weren't you," Fili said.
"Fili be quiet," Kili said, his cheeks going red.
"They are young and in love. It's normal that they can't keep their hands off each other," Thorin said.
"Can we change the subject please," Kili said.
He was still red and Primrose had gone red too.
"We are to have dinner with the Master tonight," Thorin said.
Kili nodded and the company made their way to the Master's lodgings. There they were seated around a long table and lots of hot food was served. Everyone tucked in and the company and The Master discussed the company's quest. The Master was keen to help the dwarves but he asked that they stay and enjoy his hospitality for a few days. Thorin consulted with Balin and determined that they could spend a couple of days in Lake Town.
"It will do us all some good," Thorin said.
"You should have Oin examine you and make sure you and the baby are doing ok. It's been a rough few days for you," Kili said.
Primrose was eating hungrily but she nodded and after dinner was over she, Kili and Oin retreated to the room she and Kili were sharing. After Oin had examined Primrose she got dressed again then Oin re-joined them.
"Despite the last few days being very rough you and the baby are doing fine. How has the morning sickness been?" Oin asked.
"Not too bad. The herbs are helping," Primrose said.
"Try and relax as much as you can for the next couple of days. It will do you some good," Oin said. He left after saying that leaving Kili and Primrose alone.
"I'm glad you and our bubba are doing ok," Kili said.
He and Primrose cuddled and Kili pressed gentle kisses into her hair.
"Oin's right I need to relax. And we are quite safe here as there are plenty of guards to protect us," Primrose said.
Kili nodded. He had taken out his run stone and was looking at it.
"I miss Mama," he said.
"That is natural. I miss my uncle at times" Primrose said.
"So how is it you were living with your uncle? Are your parents still alive?" Kili asked.
"No they are both dead. Mama died giving birth to me and Father died of a broken heart. Bilbo took me in as he was my closest kin. He's Mama's brother," Primrose said.
"I am sorry to hear that you've never known your parents. I never knew my father as I think I've already told you. I hope to introduce you to Mama after we retake Erebor," Kili said.
"Yes that would be lovely. She'll be the mother I never had," Primrose said.
"And you'll be the daughter she never had. Mama never remarried after Papa died which is why Uncle is like a father to Fili and I. So she only ever had Fili and I," Kili said.
"Fili is the brother I never had," Primrose said.
She had come to consider him to be her brother and he considered her to be his sister.
"We should re-join the others and enjoy the party tonight," Kili said, hearing the sound of partying.
So Kili put his rune stone away the two headed to where the party was being held and Fili lit up when he saw them.
"There you are. I was wondering where you two had gotten to," he said.
"We were just talking and Oin examined Primrose. Everything is fine despite the rough couple of days we've just had," Kili said.
Fili nodded and smiled.
"Come let's smoke some pipe weed and enjoy this lovely music," Fili said.
"That sounds like a great idea," Kili said, getting his pipe out.
Fili led Kili and Primrose over to where he had been sitting with some of the other dwarves and they all sat down. Fili and Kili lit their pipes and soon everyone was talking happily. Primrose was seated next to Kili and she chatted with the dwarves while Kili smoked his pipe. Everyone was pleased to hear that Primrose was in good health and the baby was doing well despite the rough couple of days they'd had. The talk was about what would happen when they got to Erebor.
"I'm still not sure that I can kill the dragon. Didn't someone else try but failed?" Primrose asked.
"That was Girion my ancestor and yes he tried to kill Smaug using a wind lance but only succeeded in knocking off one of the dragon's scales. Smaug killed him before he could fire the final arrow," Bard said.
"I'm not sure Primrose should face the dragon. She is in a delicate condition after all," Kili said.
"I'm sure she will be fine," Thorin said.
"You are seriously going to send a pregnant female to face the dragon?" Bard asked Thorin.
"Primrose is our burglar. I did not expect her to end up pregnant when she signed up for this," Thorin said.
"Uncle didn't even know about Kili and I at that point. We kept our romance a secret from him as he wouldn't have approved of it. He didn't even know we had married because we knew he wouldn't approve. He had to approve of me being his niece in law after I proved I was as tough as any of his dwarves," Primrose said.
"And the pregnancy was a natural result of your marriage," Bard said.
"Yes. A very welcome natural result even though the child will be half dwarf half hobbit," Kili said.
"The baby is not due to be born for many months yet. I will carry for 13 months before delivering as that is the length of a hobbit pregnancy," Primrose said.
She had thought about what Oin said but realised she wouldn't carry any longer than the usual 13 months as her body was programmed to be pregnant for only that period of time.
"So we will have our heir in 11 months then," Kili said.
"Yes for I cannot carry longer than that," Primrose said.
"You are right. I should have realised that," Oin said joining them.
"I am over half way through the first period of my pregnancy," Primrose said.
"When will you begin to look pregnant?" Fili asked a curious look on his face.
"Not until I'm in the second period of pregnancy and that will start when I am 20 weeks. I should begin to look pregnant between 24 and 30 weeks gone and by the time I am 38 weeks I will be entering the stage where I am heavily pregnant. I will still have another 19 weeks after that before I deliver bubba," Primrose said.
She smiled feeling excited about what was to come and the three continued to chat about the future. Fili shared about his hopes to marry Anifried and produce an heir with her to carry on the line of Durin.
"Our child will also continue Durin's line," Kili said.
"Much to Azog's dismay I'm sure," Fili remarked.
Bard suddenly appeared with a tapestry he had located. Upon the tapestry was a family tree for Durin's line which went as far as Thorin. Primrose looked at Kili then at Bard.
"I will see to it that this is updated to include you Kili and Fili and of course Primrose and your child once he or she arrives and I know your child's name," Bard said.
The party continued until late at which point Primrose and Kili retired to their quarters and went to bed. Primroses cuddled into Kili after they had gotten into bed.
"Sleep well my sweet," Kili said, kissing her softly on her head.
"You too," Primrose said.
She closed her eyes and the next thing she knew she was waking up hearing voices shouting and the clashing of swords. Kili was getting out of bed and reaching for his clothes and weapons when suddenly some orcs burst through the door. Primrose reached for her bow and began shooting them while Kili grabbed his sword and launched himself at the nearest Orc yelling a Kahzad war cry. Fili and Thorin suddenly appeared and along with Kili quickly dispatched the orcs.
"Primrose! Are you ok?" Thorin asked.
"Yes I'm fine," Primrose said.
There are orcs everywhere. They must have tracked us to here," Thorin said.
"We need to kill them," Kili said.
"We are trying but there are so many of them," Thorin said.
"What should I do?" Primrose asked.
"Stay close to me. I will keep you safe my love," Kili said.
The two quickly dressed and grabbing their weapons went to the door of their quarters. Kili opened the door and peering around could see there were no orcs about. Both could hear sounds of fighting nearby so cautiously made their way out of their quarters and headed for the centre of town. On their way they were waylaid by some more orcs. Kili pushed Primrose behind him and flung himself at the Orcs swinging his sword fiercely. Primrose began firing arrows at the orcs being careful not to hit Kili and grimly the two fought. Suddenly a number of elves appeared including Legolas and they entered the battle. Once the orcs had been dispatched Legolas nodded to Kili.
"Greetings, Kili Prince of Erebor and Primrose, Princess of Erebor," Legolas said.
"Greetings Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood," Kili responded.
"We followed the orcs tracking you as we knew you would be in danger," Legolas said.
"Thank you," Kili said.
He nodded to Legolas again who nodded back then darted away followed by the other elves. When Primrose and Kili reached the town centre they found the other dwarves there as well as the elves and Thorin thanking the elves for helping them.
"Kili I was worried about you," Fili said, hurrying over to them.
"I'm fine. We were waylaid by some orcs but managed to fight them off with Legolas and co's help. And some tried to come into our quarters but we took care of them. Are you alright?" Kili said.
"Yeah. I too have killed some Orcs," Fili said.
After a hurried discussion it was decided that the dwarves would leave for Erebor at first light. The elves and town guards would see to it that the orcs were kept at bay. Kili and Primrose returned to their quarters went back to bed.
"I can't believe the Orcs found us here. Will we ever be safe?" Primrose asked.
"We will be safe once we reach Erebor and you have taken care of the dragon," Kili said, "No one can get into Erebor without us knowing about it," he ended.
"I'm glad to hear that. And I'm glad we are both ok," Primrose said.
"Get some sleep my love. Remember you are with child. Our child," Kili said.
He placed his hand on her stomach under her slip and caressed it. Primrose closed her eyes and was soon asleep again. When the two woke the next morning they dressed and joined the others to have breakfast. Over breakfast Thorin outlined the plan for the day which was to be at Erebor by the end of the day. There they would camp until Durin's day at which point the secret entrance would be revealed by the last light of the day. Everyone agreed with the plan and as soon as breakfast was done they set out using a boat The Master had leant them. The whole town turned out to see them off and waved as they sailed down the lake.