Okay, so, sorry about this last week, I've had a dead computer. But Xanatos is back from the dead and now I have the next chapter for you.

Thank you to:

UKReader, sorry more took so long this time

, no, thank you

LaPierreVonTigger, I will test your love :)... and I'll be needing my book back soon so I can write... also, I think you're obsessed... Just sayin'...

So yeah, we will be getting into the story's plot soon (withinthe next 3-4 chapters). I think this one is going to follow both the movie and the book... and I think I might let Thorin and the boys live in this one... I don't know yet...

Chapter 11: Ghelekhur ma

Thorin and Ahvain had a week worth of traveling to do until they would reach the Blue Mountains. Ahvain would be lying if she said that she was ready to face Thorin's people, especially with the courting braid hanging visibly in her hair. The clasp was distinctively Thorin's, unless many dwarves wore polished silver clasps with a royal design of them, plus it matched the others in his hair. And the one she had put in his could be mistaken for his other. What set hers apart was the design; it had been her mother's when Ahvain was little and therefore, elvish (not that she would tell him that).

That was what Ahvain had fretted over the most. She was an elf, by half, and dwarves hated elves… She had passed a look to Thorin at this thought. Most dwarves hate elves… The grip on her reigns tightened.

What would the other dwarves think? What would his sister think? Would she accept her too; what about the nephews? Surly they would question their king. During the passing days she tried to push such thoughts of rejection away, but they continued to plague her mind. Another lie; her monthly bleeds were late by a few days and the only reason she could think of sent fear stabbing into her gut and had made her shiver at the thought.

"Are you cold?" The sound of Thorin's voice breaking the silence made her jump from her fears.

"No, I just…" She let her sentence die out. Thorin passed a look of concern to his woman (a thought that in its self made him smile [his woman]). "I'm fine, thank you." Ahvain smiled (falsely) and they continued on their journey.

~karak~

As the days continued to pass and the peaks of the Blue Mountains grew ominously on the horizon Ahvain could feel the seed of doubt growing and sprouting inside her spreading worry and fear through her body and mind. She didn't dare telling Thorin about her fears, or about her late cycle, the latter being the most frightening and boarder lining, embarrassing. Though Thorin didn't know her exact feelings, he could sense something wrong with her, and he could guess that it had something with the approaching mountains.

They were now just two days from the entrance to the mountain entrance. The morning was full of crisp clean air, dew had collected on the outside of their bedrolls and the fire that was made the night before was now just a smoking pile of ash.

Thorin was the first to wake and start cleaning up camp. As he got the fire started again he sent a passing glance to Ahvain, still sleeping heavily. He sighed, she had grown a little paler then she should but he thought it was only the lack of sleep she had been getting as they had passed through the more dangerous country and had to take night watches.

He smiled and took out his flint, having to strike it more than usual to get the slightly damp kindling started. Ahvain groaned and turned over in her sleep before opening her eyes in a squint.

"Good morning."

She gave him a weak smile and not-so-gracefully sat down next to him and rested her head on his shoulder, and mumbled a 'morning' into his shoulder. Even through his thick clothing he could feel the heat radiating off of her.

"Ahvain," Thorin pulled her in front of him and put a hand on her forehead, "are you feeling alright?"

She nodded, "I'm alright, just a little worn out."

"Are you sure?" He didn't believe her when she shook her head, but let it go.

The morning continued and the camp was left behind as the journey continued on.

Ahvain knew that the stress had finally taken a physical affect on her body, she could tell as soon as she woke up in a cold sweat and feeling week. Joining Thorin near the fire was a struggle in itself, never mind trying to get up on the saddle. But she ignored her fever hoping that it would pass before they got to the mountain.

They had taken a short rest along the river when that optimistic thought went crashing to the ground.

Ahvain had led both of the ponies away to drink from the river where they both drank greedily from its waters. She gave both of them pats on the neck and adjusted the girths on both of the saddles before stroking Pepper's flank and heading in Thorin's direction.

Thorin was unpacking some food from one of the packs when he saw her stumble. He stood to help her when her knees buckled and she lurched forward, he could see her bright green eyes roll back before she fell to the ground. He was by her side in seconds lifting her limp body, his heart franticly pounding in his chest.

"Ahvain!"

One of his hands went to her cheek and moved her head in his direction. Her eyes were closed and she made no movements to stop him. Her skin was hot against his fingertips. His heartbeat audible in his ears.

"Ahvain?"

Verndari, who had been drinking with the ponies, trotted up to the pair. The dog licked her face and the woman's brows came together in what looked to be pain.

Without much more of a thought, the dwarf king took the half-elf into his arms and, with a little it of a struggle, mounted his pony. The mare gave a snort with the extra weight. Pepper sniffed her lady, who rested in front of the dwarrow king, and pawed at the ground. Thorin spurred his pony and set off towards his halls

Thorin grimaced, reliving the sight of her falling to the ground. He should have brought her to a healer, or had taken a break; he would have sacrificed being a few days late to his halls rather than seeing her in a bed, paler than the sheets on it. He took hold of one of her warm hands. Thorin could feel his sister's eyes on him from the corner of the room.

Thorin did not want to stop for the night. Ahvain had started moaning and trying to shift into a more comfortable, warmer position and her body shivered with the cold sweat that had started to cover her body. Pepper and Verndari kept up with the rushing dwarf. His pony was tired and the sweat on her neck had started to froth and turn white. Coming to terms with the situation Thorin pulled the reigns back and halted his pony by the river they were following. Both of them slipped off the back of the spent pony and brushed the brown hair that clung to her skin, away from her face. Thorin's mare made for the river in haste.

"Why didn't you say anything Ahvain?"

He didn't get an answer, not that he expected one.

Pepper came up behind the pair and nudged the dwarf's shoulder. She was breathing deeply but wasn't sweating as much as the mare he was riding. She was staring at him expectantly with wide brown eyes. The mare gave him another nudge on the shoulder.

"Alright stubborn mare; the quicker we get there the quicker your master will see a healer." Thorin moved to the black spotted mare and shifted to pull both he and Ahvain up. Ahvain's mare was taller than his and the dwarf had problems getting both of them up into the saddle.

Once on the pony, she took off, hardly given the dwarf time to settle himself and Ahvain. He had one hand on the reigns and the other holding Ahvain to his body. Her head limply bounced with each stride the mare made. Verndari ran at a full gallop, struggling to keep up. The other mare was left behind.

Pepper kept a solid pace for hours into the night hours, a little past midnight when Thorin first spotted some of the torch-lights from the entrance into the dwarven settlement.

He pulled the woman closer, "Just a while longer Ahvain."

If the mare could understand that her master was close to help, she sped up her pace. The dwarfs standing guard at the gate stood straight and held their weapons ready. As Thorin approached the two dwarves became more alert.

"Who goes there?"

One called as Thorin was forced to slow Pepper down; he stopped just before the gate. His introduction was unneeded when he stopped but he gave it anyway.

"Thorin Oakenshield," The dwarves dropped guard and bowed.

"Sorry to stop you, My Lord, we did not recognize you in the dark." The first guard said.

The second guard moved to open the gate allowing their king entrance. Before he did though, he turned to the first guard.

"Have the healer, Óin, son of Grólin, sent to my halls." The guard looked to the woman in his king's arms and nodded.

"Yes, My Lord."

Thorin rushed through the sleeping settlement, Pepper's shoed hooves clopping down the streets until he reached the front steps of his hall. Like before, Thorin slide from the saddle on the mare and landed heavily with Ahvain in his arms. He dropped one arm to rest underneath her knees and picked her up, carried her up the stairs and kicked at the doors.

Since the loss of her husband, Thorin had moved his sister and her sons into his home. It was nice to be with his family, and seeing as the three of them were all he had left, the decision was made without hesitation. He gave the heavy oak door another series of kicks. Ahvain gave another groan and tried to move in his arms. Sweat now rolled down her face, and Thorin could almost see steam rise from her skin, her fever was too high.

He moved his foot to kick the door again when the door was thrown open, familiar black hair and blue eyes greeted him with a scowl. He had woke her up (no doubt) and she was none too happy about it.

"-This better be impor- Thorin?" Dis stood in the frame of the door in a thick blue robe, her face formed in a mix of confusion and concern.

"Hello Sister." She let him in, staring at the limp figure in his arms. "I'm sorry about the timing," she followed her brother as he made his way to his bedroom, a huge grey dog following the dwarf. "I had planned on arriving tomorrow but ran into a slight problem."

Dis watched as her brother placed the woman on his bed with care and pull up a chair next to the bed.

"Thorin, who is she?"

He put a hand in his hair, playing with something she couldn't see. "May we speak of this later? Óin will be here soon; there is a black mare outside, could you tie her up and give her some water? "

Dis thought about saying 'no', demanding a story but did as he asked when she saw the tender look her brother was giving this woman.

The she-dwarf tightened the rode around her, "Is there anything else I can do to help?"

"Maybe grab a bowl of water and some cloth, until Óin arrives."

Dis nodded and left the room in a slight rush. Thorin gave his sister a smile and turned back to Ahvain.

Thorin watched the woman shift in her sleep, her fever seemed to be getting worse as the hours continued. For a moment the thought that Ahvain might not survive this illness, but as quick as the thought entered, he pushed it out.

Dis came back some minutes later with a grumpy looking Óin, who carried a wooden box at his side, the ending of a conversation stopping at the door.

"… he just came back with this girl in his arms."

Óin eyed his king and then the woman on his bed. "So you pick up strange lasses on the side of the roads now do ya?"

He set down the box and took the bowl and cloth from Dis' hands, "Thank ye, Lady Dis."

She nodded, "Of course Óin." Dis stood at the frame watching.

"So, lad, tell me what happened." Óin dipped the cloth in the water, strained it from the cloth, folded it up and placed it on Ahvain's forehead.

Thorin sighed, "Will she be alright?"

Óin moved to mess with the contents of the wooden box pulling out a few different types of herbs, mortal and a pestle. "Aye, if we can get her up and 'ave 'er drink up some tonics of mine, she'll be well in a little while."

"Thank you Óin."

Dis couldn't help but smile, it had been awhile since she'd seen her brother like this. There had been that time when Kili fell and nearly broke his ankle. Thorin was so concerned. As if he had read his sister's mind, he had turned to her.

"Where are the boys?"

"They went out on a hunting trip, to prepare for the Durin's Day feast. She should be back within the next few days." Dis said.

Thorin smiled, "You let them go alone?" A smirk started to grace the king's weary face.

"Yes, they are both grown dwarves now." Dis gave pretended to be taken aback by her brother's words.

"We wouldn't want a repeat of the last time," Óin added his share and pass the mortal to Thorin, "When she wakes up, make sure she eats or drinks this. Keep the cloth on 'er head and try to cool 'er down"

Thorin nodded, "I will, thank you Óin."

"Of course, my king. I will come back in a few days to check on the lass."

Thorin nodded again and stood, "I will see you out."

"Nonsense, stay here and keep watch over her." Dis motioned for Óin and led the healer out.

The dwarf king stayed by Ahvain's side through the night, replacing the cloth many times before the light of the morning came through the window. Dis had stayed by her brother's side as well, even when he told her she could return to bed. But like her brother, Dis was stubborn.

Not long afterwards did the exhaustion finally catch up to Thorin. He fought to keep his eyes open, they won a few times but he was able to open them soon after. A hand placed itself on his shoulder. Blue met blue.

Dis gave her brother a half smile, "I can look over her for now Brother, if you want to rest."

Thorin shook his head, "I would say 'no', but I know that this argument will not be won while I'm fatigued."

"Smart move Thorin; now go get some rest. I will wake you if anything changes."

Thorin returned her earlier half smile and stood from the seat, taking a moment to stretch out. "I will use the boys' room."

He past her as he started out of the room, but stopped when her hand returned to his shoulder. "I am glad to see you home."

"I am glad to be home."

Thorin left the room, the giant dog following, and Dis took a chance to truly look at the woman her brother had brought home. She was pretty for a human girl. She was a small little thing with a full head of brown hair. It was the braids that caught her attention. She didn't have many, only a few meaningless ones. There was one that stood out however. With two fingers Dis brushed back some hair to see the braid behind her ear clearer.

Dis had expected many things, but not the pointed ears, and not the royal clasp holding the end of the braid. She started at the woman's ear and the braid behind it for several minutes. What is my brother thinking? Even though the girl was elfish, and was rather tiny, Dis couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. Her brother had finally found a woman… even if she was an elf.

~karak~

She was cold and could tell that she was laying down. Ahvain groaned and tried to open her eyes and move around. But a hand pushed her back down.

"Just stay put now."

The half-elf froze, she didn't know this voice. With effort she forced her eyes open. She was surprised at the person beside her, who appeared to be a female Thorin. Black hair was braided out of her face and a thin, neatly trimmed beard covered her jaw. Sapphire eyes looked down at her in concern.

"Thorin is sleeping right now; he rushed in here at some bleak hour yesterday. Looked about ready to fall over. Been keeping him busy have you?"

Ahvain's jaw dropped, unsure what to say, she felt her cheeks heat up. The she-dwarf chuckled.

"Just kidding, calm down. I am Dis, daughter of Thráin, Thorin's sister, at your service."

"Uh," Ahvain blinked. "Ahvain, daughter of Larik, at yours."

"Good, now, I need to go wake my brother and tell him that you've awoken. I'll be back shortly. Is there anything I can get you?"

She shook her head, "Wait, may I get some water?"

"Of course, be back soon."

"Thank you"

"You are welcome."

Ahvain laid there examining the room and its furnishing. Aside from the grand bed she lay in, there was a huge oak desk by a large window (it could have been doors leading to a balcony, but she couldn't tell from her spot), and a hearth that looked as if it had been carved from the mountains themselves. But as Ahvain took greater detail in about her surroundings she realized that the entire room had been carved from the mountain. The furniture, the desk, bed, a few chests and wardrobes, were all oak structures with sharp dwarfish patterns carved into them.

She had been able to sit up and was looking at the various weapons on the walls, placed around a suit of chainmail and armor when the doors opened suddenly. Thorin came in making only a few large strides before sitting bedside.

"How do you feel?" He had taken up one of her hands.

"Cold, but most of all tired."

Dis held out a hand with a mug of what Ahvain hoped to be water. "Óin wants you to drink this, and then I will go fetch you some water."

Thorin helped Ahvain sit up. She had taken the wood mug offered to her and wrinkled her nose at the smell of its contents. But with a deep breath chugged it down. Her face held in disgust.

"That was rancid."

Thorin and Dis chuckled before the later took the mug and walked out of the room. Once she was gone Thorin leaned closer to the sick girl and placed a gentle kiss to her forehead. He pulled away quickly leaving the poor girl flustered.

"You gave me quite the scare Ahvain." Thorin all but whispered.

"I'm sorry; I thought it was going to pass quickly."

Thorin moved to sit next to her on the bed, watching her actions to see if he was crossing any boundaries, and wrapped an arm around her, occasionally rubbing her back in a soothing manor. "I would have not pushed us so hard to get here had I known, if you needed rest I would have given it to you."

She nodded, "I know, it just came so suddenly. I didn't want to waste time."

Thorin shook his head and bent to rest it on her shoulder, "Silly elf."

Ahvain rested hers on his, "Half."

Dis smiled broadly from the frame watching her brother. He was helplessly in love with this woman, and had finally gone back to his old self.

So, I hope this wasn't too confusing...

I feel okay about this chapter and for whatever reason I forgot about the poor dog and had to go back and write him in... Anyways

Until... sometime in the future...