Laurelin thought living together would be awkward, at first, yet to her great surprise it immediately felt comfortable. Soon, her bedroom smelled of wild flowers and fresh air, and Thorin repaired the cracks in the wall. It didn't take him much time – no more than one hour – but he liked what he saw ; Laurelin had turned this dreary old bedroom in a small but comfortable chamber. The deep blue velvety curtains she had hung at the window gave it a cozy atmosphere, and the candles on her bedside table gave off a subtle smell of herbs and bee wax. On the floor, right next to the bed, there was Laurelin's old wolf skin. Everything was very clean and well-ordered, and Thorin was glad to see she had appropriated herself the place so quickly. The idea that she felt comfortable under his roof made him smile.
When Thorin sold his beautiful sword to a rich human merchant, a few days after Laurelin had moved in : He came back with a nice purse filled with gold coins ; for the first time since he had hired Laurelin, so long ago, he was able to pay her as she deserved it. And he immediately started working on a chain-mail somebody in the valley had ordered from him. Laurelin watched him for a while as he crafted tiny copper ring after tiny copper ring, and listened to him as he explained how a mail made of small rings was offering a better protection than a mail crafted with bigger rings. She listened raptly to each and every one of his words. Then, she left to wash an armful of clothes at the river ; she chatted with several other women, then she went back home and hung the laundry on the lines, to let them dry in the sun.
Later that day, when Thorin came out of the forge, Laurelin saw him blush as he spotted her underwear drying in the sun. It's only then, as Laurelin saw his cheeks turn a deep red over his beard, that she truly realized he had never been close to a woman before. She frowned, and tried to recall everything that had happened during the thirty years she had been in his service... Had she ever seen him with a woman ? No. She reflected. No woman ; apart from Dis of course, but she was his sister so she didn't really count. Laurelin had never seen Thorin show any interest in women, or spend time with any of them... Not once, in more than thrity years... She couldn't quite grasp why ; he was young and healthy and handsome, he was a king with noble blood in his veins, and he was charming enough. There was nothing wrong with him, yet he was still alone. Yet on the other side, it made him look even more endearing, to Laurelin's eyes ; some men would have taken advantage of their high status to seduce woman after woman, yet Thorin wasn't like that. His behavior was always perfectly honorable.
Several days later, Laurelin went to bed early, quite proud of herself ; Thorin had showed her how to assemble the copper rings for the chain mail – easy but tedious work – and then she had spent the rest of the afternoon helping him, and when night had fallen she had been pleased to see they had almost finished one half of the left sleeve together. Knowing that she was actually able to do something that was both so strong and so beautiful was a very satisfying feeling. Yet she was tired nonetheless, and her fingers were sore, so she went to bed right after cleaning the kitchen. She sighed deeply as she slipped between the newly acquired linen blankets, and fell asleep almost immediately, with a faint smile on her lips.
What she hadn't expected was to be woken up when her door was violently banged open, a few hours later, in the middle of the night. Laurelin was so startled that she let out a small cry, before she recognized young Fili ; he was wearing his nightclothes, and he was obviously completely over-excited. He babbled something about Kili being sick, and then Thorin came running into Laurelin's dark bedroom, looking utterly worried.
«Are you all right ? » he asked, looking at the young woman. «I heard you scream... »
«I'm fine. » she answered, her heart still beating very fast after such a fright. «It's just... Fili entered while I was sleeping, and he startled me. That's all. »
He sighed in relief as he saw she was unhurt. Then Thorin's frowned sternly at the boy, who lowered his gaze.
« Fili, how many times did I tell you that you can't intrude into Laurelin's chamber like that ? » he lectured the boy. He didn't like being so stern with the child, but he also needed to make some things clear to the boy. « She lives here, but that doesn't mean you can just come and bother her whenever it pleases you. This room here is her personal space. You need to learn to respect that, Fili. It's called privacy. »
«Sorry. » he said.
Thorin nodded briefly, then he turned to Laurelin.
«My sister's youngest son is very sick, so she took him to the healer. She asked if I could keep an eye on Fili for a few hours, that's why he's here now. I told him to stay downstairs, but when I went outside to fetch firewood in the shed he obviously decided it was a good moment to disobey my orders. »
«Sorry. » the boy repeated meekly, his eyes on his feet.
«We'll talk about this downstairs. » Thorin said gravely, pointing at the stairs with his finger.
Fili shuffled out of Laurelin's bedroom.
The maid felt her heart melt as she saw the little boy so stricken and sad. She jumped out of her bed, and caught up with him and Thorin in the corridor. Very tenderly, she put her right hand on Fili's shoulder, but her eyes were on Thorin.
«It's nothing. » she insisted, in a respectful but determined tone. «I was just a bit startled, that's all. I am fine, my King. Truly. It was just a silly incident. There's no reason to scold you nephew for such a trifle. »
«He knows you are living here now, and I told him several times to stay downstairs to let you sleep in peace. You've done good work today, and you deserve to rest without being disturbed by this little wildling here. » His voice had softened up as he had spoken, and Laurelin detected a clear note of tenderness in the man's last words. She couldn't help but smile. Thorin my be rough and stubborn, sometimes – and very proud – but his heart was a gentle one.
«I'm sorry. » Fili repeated for the third time, and by his voice Laurelin realized he was crying. She felt a surge of compassion for him. She knelt at his side and stroked his cheek, very gently.
«It's nothing. » she told him reassuringly, and was pleased to see a small smile on his lips. «I know you didn't frighten me intentionally. » She smiled at him, then she looked up at Thorin. «But tell me, young Master Fili... : Why did you come to me ? What did you want from me ? »
Fili shuffled nervously, and bit his lips.
« You're always nice with me, » he admitted finally. « Every time when Mother and me and Kili we come here, or when we meet you in the village, you're always smiling at me and Kili. Mother didn't smile at me today, because she was sad for Kili... » He looked at Laurelin, his blue eyes glistening with tears. « I just wanted to be with somebody who smiles at me... and... a few days ago, on the market, you told Mother that you know a lot of stories that your mother told you when you were a little girl... »
Laurelin couldn't help but smile tenderly at him, moved by his words. She gave him a cuddle, more than willing to offer him the warmth and comfort he so desperately needed right now. A few minutes later, she got up again and looked at Thorin.
«So... he will be here for a few hours ? » she asked.
«I don't know exactly, but I guess he'll be here for a good part of the night at least, if not the whole night. But don't worry, Laurelin. I will take him downstairs with me, and he won't bother you again. »
«Oh no, I didn't mean it like that ! » she exclaimed. «He doesn't bother me at all ! I was merely wondering whether he will sleep here or not. »
«Do you think Kili will be all right ? » Fili asked unexpectedly, but neither Thorin nor Laurelin had the answer to this question. They could do no more than hope and pray with all their hearts that the youngest boy would heal quickly.
«He's in the hands of the healer, now. » Thorin said gently. «Oïn will do everything in his power to make your little brother feel better again. »
Laurelin hoped he was right. She had not seen Kili, but if Dis was worried enough to run to the healer's home in the middle of the night, leaving her eldest son behind, it probably meant it was serious.
«I don't like it when Kili's sick. » Fili said dejectedly, looking first at his uncle, then at Laurelin. «He cries all the day, and he doesn't laugh like he always does, and we can't even play with me. I really want him to heal. » It's obvious he's very worried.
«Of course you want him to heal. » Laurelin told him very softly. She would have loved to tell him the stories he wanted to hear, but she was not sure whether she was allowed to take such a liberty or not. She hesitated. Thorin encouraged her with an approving nod. «When... When I was young and I was sad about something, one of my parents used to take me on their knees to tell me stories, and it helped me feel better. » she said, her smile broadening as she watched the young boy. As soon as he understood Laurelin acutally agreed to tell him the stories he longed for, his cute little face light up with hope and enthusiasm. «Maybe... if you don't mind, my King... I would really enjoying telling him a few stories, to take his mind off Kili... »
Thorin looked surprised, but Fili started jumping excitedly.
«I love stories ! » he yelled, and cast his uncle a pleading look. «You say yes, Uncle ? Please ! I want to listen to Laurelin's stories ! »
The little boy screamed in joy when Thorin nodded, and hugged his uncle wth both arms.
«Thank you, Uncle Thorin ! »
The king of the Dwarves gently tousled his nephews's blond hair, with an affectionate smile on his proud face.
«Are you sure you don't mind ? » Thorin asked Laurelin.
«Not at all. » she said, smiling widely and tenderly at the child who was still clinging to his uncle. She was obviously very happy to take Thorin's nephew under her wing for a few moments.
Fili let go of his uncle, and grabbed Laurelin's hand instead with juvenile exuberance. He led her into her bedroom.
«Mother is always sitting on the bed when she's telling stories. » he said, and a moment later he had climbed on Laurelin's bed. As soon as she joined him, the boy crawled onto her lap, and cuddled comfortably against her. Laurelin smiled fondly as she saw him like that, so small and so sweet against her. Instinctively, she wanted to kiss him on the top of the head, but she didn't think this would be appropriate, coming for somebody of her rank ; Fili was of royal blood, after all, and will probably become a king, one day. Instead, she just put an arm around him and pulled him a bit closer to her, to keep him warm as well as to comfort him.
Thorin, who was standing in the frame of the open door, watched them silently for a while, feeling both amused and pleased by what he was seeing. Fili's acted is if Laurelin was some sort of older sister, or maybe a loving aunt, but in truth the boy's familiarity didn't really surprise Thorin. Fili was a gentle, trusting little boy ; sometimes it was worrying, because he was talking to everybody in the streets, and he always followed people he barely knew – if he knew them at all. He was never wary of anybody. Dis had complained several times about this, but tonight Thorin knew he wouldn't have to worry for the lad. He was in safe hands, with Laurelin.
He nodded briefly at her, then he left them alone. He was still smiling when he went down the stairs.
«What story will you tell me ? » Fili asked eagerly.
«Do you know the story of the Frog Pincess and the Troll ? » she asked. The boy frowned, then he shook his head, making his hair and his tiny braids fly.
«Tell me, please ! » he said excitedly.
She helped him settle more comfortably on her legs, her arm still around him, and started telling her story in a soft, gentle voice.
From downstairs, he could hear Laurelin soft, chanting voice as she told her story, but he couldn't understand the words. From time to time, there was an excited word from Fili, too. They seemed to get along fine. He hadn't expected her to take care of the little boy like that – he was no family of hers, after all – and looking after him in the middle of the night was not part of Laurelin's duties, but she seemed to enjoy the boy's presence. Thorin had noticed the fondness in her eyes as the boy had cuddled against her, and he wondered if she longed to have children of her own. She probably did. This idea made him feel uneasy, so he just tried to concentrate on something else. He went into the forge to make a few more rings for the chain mail. He trusted Laurelin enough to leave her alone with Fili, but he also promised himself he would not let the boy in her hands too long. She needed rest.
When Dis came back, late at night, Thorin had fallen asleep in his old moth-eaten armchair, in front of the fire. He woke with a start when she knocked on the door. Thorin hurried to open the door, and frowned when she saw her standing outside alone – without Kili.
«Kili is fine. » she chuckled, when she saw the worried look on her brother's face. «He's asleep at home, in his bed. At last. » Thorin noticed how tired she looked. «And where's my eldest ? Since he didn't run into my arms, I suppose he's asleep as well...? »
Thorin felt a pang of guilt and embarrassment as he realized he had left the boy in Laurelin's hands for Mahal knows how many hours, while he had been sleeping. She needed to rest, as well, but instead of letting her sleep he had just left her alone to deal with Fili. How selfish of him. What would she think of him, now ?
«He was with Laurelin when... when I fell asleep. » he admitted sheepishly.
« Oh, really ? » she joked. «Laurelin ? I ask you to watch over Fili for one night, and you shove him into the hands of your maid as soon as I have my back turned ? Were you really so eager to be rid of him? Big, strong Thorin defeated by a little boy ? »
She chuckled softly.
« Your little boy would be able to defeat a whole army of Orcs, with his boundless energy. » Thorin grumbled, but then a smile suddenly stretched his lips. When they were younger, in Erebor – when times were happier and easier – Dis and Thorin used to bicker and tease each other a lot. His sister's jest had brought back those memories of old.
« Well, now at least, I know which one of you both is truly brave. » Dis said with an impish glint in her dark eyes.
« You're a nuisance, little sister. » Thorin joked amiably.
« Of course. » she retorted with an impish smile. « That's why you love me so much, dear brother. » She laughed again, and part of the tension she had been feeling all day just vanished from her tired features. Then she was serious again. « Come on, now, let's relieve poor Laurelin. Dawn will soon be here, but maybe she will be able to get a few hours of sleep before the sun wakes her up. »
They climbed the creaking stairs. No sound came from the first floor, and no one answered when Thorin knocked on Laurelin's door. He opened it slowly. Everything was dark, inside. All the candles had gone out.
Dis entered after him, and in the light of her oil lamp they could see Laurelin and Fili asleep on the bed the little boy was lying between Laurelin and the wall, to make sure he wouldn't fall if he stirred in his sleep. He was turning his back on the young woman, and she had put a protective arm around him. She had covered him with her blankets to keep the chill of the night away from him, keeping only one linen for herself. Since she had also given her pillow to the young boy, she was sleeping with her head resting on her free arm.
Dis smiled adoringly when she saw her son fast asleep, then she looked at her brother.
« He looks comfortable enough. » she said hesitantly. « It would be a shame to wake him up now, but... well, do you think I can leave him here, with Laurelin ? Don't you think he will bother her ? »
Thorin hesitated, too. He didn't like to speak on behalf of Laurelin, without asking for her opinion first.
« I... I don't think she would mind. » he said at last, hoping he was right.
« I'll be back tomorrow, in the morning, then. » Dis whispered softly. « By Mahal, I never though he would be able to fall asleeep tonight. He was so worried for Kili. I thought he would be up and about all night, but obviously your Laurelin has done miracles with him. »
Thorin closed the door again, then he continued.
« She's not my Laurelin. » he said, a bit confused. « She belongs to no one but herself, and... »
« She works for you, doesn't she ? » Dis interrupted him. « And she lives with you, too. »
« She lives in my house, Dis. Not with me. »
The woman shrugged, as if this detail made no difference.
« I need some sleep, too. I'll come to get Fili back in the morning. » The descended the stairs together, trying to be as silent as possible. She reached the front door, and was already half outside when suddenly she turned around, looking at Thorin. « It was a good idea to let her come and live with you here. » she said.
« She's doing good work in the house, and she also helps me a bit with my work in the forge, when she has time. »
« I wasn't talking about that. » Dis retorted, amused by how slow Thorin was to understand some things, sometimes. « I was talking about two lonely people deciding to live under the same roof to be a bit less lonely. It will be good for both of you. »
She gave him one last smile, then she walked out.
Thorin drank one last cup of hot tea – Laurelin had left the kettle on the kitchen fire – then he decided it was high time for him to go to bed, too. He undressed, and slipped between his fresh blankets. The last thing on his mind, before he drifted into sleep, was Laurelin with little Fili cuddled against her. It made him smiled, first, and then frown it was obvious she loved children, and her desire to have a family of her own was probably growing with every day.
What will happen when she finds herself a husband ?
He didn't want to think about the answer to this question.
When Laurelin felt Fili moving in the bed next to her, she understood the little boy would wake up soon. She opened her eyes, and saw the sun was up already. She climbed out of the bed, very slowly, very carefully, then she stretched. Fili opened his eyes when the maid slipped her feet into her soft leather shoes for a moment, he stared at the room around him, looking utterly confused, then he recognized Laurelin and smiled weakly.
« Where's Mother ? » he asked shyly.
« You will see her very soon. » Laurelin promised him, kneeling to be on eye level with him.
« Kili ? » the child asked.
« He must be with your mother, young Master Fili. » she said reassuringly. « I suppose your uncle will bring you back to her soon, but first you need to eat something. Come, Fili... Let's have some breakfast in the kitchen. »
The boy hesitated for a moment, then his smile broadened.
When Thorin woke up, he heard Fili's shrill voice at once. He was in the kitchen with Laurelin. He yawned, he stretched, then he decided to join them at last when he saw the remnants of food on the table, he understood the boy was finished eating already. Laurelin had combed and braided his hair, and she was now washing his sticky hands in a basin of warm water.
« Good morning, my King. »
Laurelin had greeted him with a friendly smile, as usual, but inwardly she was worried the fact that Dis didn't come to get her son back was quite alarming, in truth. How ill could the little one be, to keep his mother away from her firstborn ? Yet she didn't want to speak with Thorin about such disturbing things in front of Fili, so she just kept silent and did her best to cheer up Fili.
« Good morning. » Thorin replied, still looking a bit sleepy.
Even though he looked tired, Laurelin was pleased to see that he was also very relaxed, and Laurelin felt slightly less anxious he had probably heard some good news about Kili, during the night, or else he wouldn't look se serene.
« Your breakfast is ready, if you are hungry. » she announced amiably while she dried Fili's hands with a towel.
« I don't have time to eat. » he said. « I have to bring this little scoundrel to his mother. She came by during the night, but then we found you both asleep, and looking so peaceful, and we didn't have the heart to wake you up. » he explained, a bit hesitantly. « Dis said she would come to fetch him, but I don't like the idea of her leaving little Kili alone in his bed. I'm going to bring Fili home. »
« I'm glad you didn't wake him up. » Laurelin said, still smiling. « It took him such a long while to fall asleep. »
Laurelin didn't say it aloud, yet Thorin guessed that the young boy had been very worried
last night.
« Your little brother is feeling better. » he said to Fili, with a beaming smile. Laurelin was amused – and a bit touched – to see the King talk so gently, so softly to the child, in spite of his big booming voice. « Kili's probably asleep in his bed, right now, and as soon as Laurelin will be finished with you, I will walk home with you. I'm sure your mother missed you, this morning. »
Fili's face lit up at once.
« Kili ! » he bellowed in his childish voice. « I want to see Kili ! »
Laurelin laughed at his exuberance, and smiled tenderly as the boy ran towards his uncle to grab his big hand. They had almost reached the door, when suddenly he turned around and ran back to Laurelin he gave her a wet kiss on the cheek. The maid was so surprised by this unexpected gesture of affection that she didn't know how to react, and then she startled when she heard Thorin chuckle softly at this outburst of childish love.
« I love your stories. » Fili said with a smile. « Can you tell me more stories, the next time I come to sleep here ? »
« Of course. » she answered, her throat tight with emotion. She stroked the boy's blond hair one last time.
« And Kili will come as well ! He loves to hear stories, too ! »
« Whatever you want, young Master Fili. » she answered, feeling a surge of affection for this gentle, sweet child.
He shrieked in delight, then he grabbed his uncle's hand once more. Laurelin watched them together – Thorin so big and strong and imposing, and Fili looking so small at his side. She couldn't help but smile again.
Yet Laurelin was also worried for Thorin. He looked so tired, as if he hadn't slept at all and he would probably be spending the rest of the day laboring in the forge, which was hard and physically exhausting work. He couldn't neglect himself like that. For a few moments she hesitated – maybe he wanted to talk with his sister, or to get news from his youngest nephew – but in the end she took the liberty to call him back before the reached the road.
« With all due respect, my King. » she told him in a firm, but humble and soft voice. « If you don't take the time to eat, you won't have enough strengths to work all day. You need to eat, and to take care of yourself. »
« I thank you for your concern, Laurelin, but I assure you I will not die of hunger just because I have missed one meal. » he said in a reassuring voice. « I want Fili to be home before my sister leaves Kili alone, and then I will have to keep working on that chain mail. You know how long we've worked on it yesterday, and how little we did. We didn't even finish one sleeve. I'll have to speed up if I want to deliver it in the time limit. »
Laurelin shrugged.
« Maybe I could walk Fili home, and so you will have time to eat your breakfast. » she suggested, as she walked towards them. « I need to leave the house anyways, to go on the market. We don't have any flour left. »
Thorin seemed to think about it for a while, then he nodded.
« All right. I will be glad to accept your kind offer. » he said with a smile. « But keep a close eye on Fili. He tends to run off at first chance, and to get himself into trouble. »
« Don't worry, my King. » she reassured him. « He will reach his mother's home safe and sound. » Inwardly, she was very pleased that the king himself trusted her enough to entrust her his heir. It was a true honor, for somebody as lowborn as she was.
Fili bounced happily around Laurelin, then he took her hand eagerly.
« I want to see Kili ! » he urged her.
« All right, we're leaving. » she said, smiling at his eagerness. Then she gave Thorin a confident look. He nodded briefly in response.
Laurelin made sure Fili's hand remained in hers all the time while they walked in the narrow, still neglected streets of the town. Dis' home wasn't far away from the forge, barely a few streets away, so it didn't take them long to reach her house. Laurelin knocked softly, and was welcomed by a tired but smiling Dis.
« Mother ! » Fili screamed, running into her open arms.
She hugged him for a long time, and when she let him go she looked at Laurelin.
« Thank you. » she said. « Thorin told me what you did for Fili yesterday, and I saw him asleep with you, and... well, he looked so peaceful and quiet that I didn't want to wake him up. I hope he didn't bother you too much. »
« He didn't bother me at all. » she assured the Lady Dis. « May I ask you how your little Kili is feeling this morning ? »
« Oh, he is absolutely fine, now. » Dis answered. « Oin's medicine seems to be rather efficient. He woke up this morning hungry like a wolf, and after eating he fell asleep again. Yesterday he was coughing so badly I feared for his life, but now he's almost completely recovered already. Children are amazing little creatures, sometimes. »
She smiled fondly, and mussed Fili's hair.
« Fili was very worried for his little brother. » Laurelin told him.
« They are very close, and it's no wonder since there are no other children of their age around here. They only have each other to play with. Whenever one of them is sick, or hurt, or distressed, it is always very difficult for the other one. That's why I was so surprised to see Fili asleep, this night. »
« I really enjoyed spending a few hours in his company. » she said with genuine sincerity.
Then they all heard a whimper coming from inside the house.
« Kili ! » the eldest boy screamed. He hugged Laurelin around the waist, yelled a hasty good-bye, then he dashed into the house to join his little brother. A moment later, Laurelin hear Kili's cheerful giggles coming from inside the house. She bowed to Dis, smiling, then she left her house to go to the market.
After the night with Fili, several days went by without anything noticeable happening. Slowly, Thorin and Laurelin settled into a comfortable routine, and got used to living under the same roof. For Laurelin, it was reassuring to know Thorin was close, and for Thorin the maid's constant presence in the house was like a ray of sunshine. Her laughter, as she had been with Fili, still rang in his ears like a cheerful melody. Of course, there had been a few awkward moments he still remembered how shocked he had been when he had suddenly seen Laurelin's underwear hanging in the sun, right under his nose, at the most unexpected moment – but he had already gotten used to such things. All in all, he was more than glad she was here, with him. Laurelin was a cheerful, warm and soothing presence in the house. And she was always so helpful, so willing to please or to learn new things. She offered him something he had never known before : a touch of womanly softness in his life.
But in truth, what he liked most about Laurelin was the fact that she truly cared for him. She only thought about his well-being, and she had nothing to do with those other ladies who only pretended to care for him in the hope to catch his interest. Laurelin never asked anything back for her services. There was no pretense, no falsehood. She was truly kind and caring, and it was a quality that made her very endearing in Thorin's eyes.
He lifted his tiny hammer, then he hit the small copper ring, sealing it around two other rings. There was still a lot of work to dfo before it would be finished, but hopfully Laurelin would find a bit of time to help him again, as she had already done several times. Everything always seemed so much easier, so much more pleasant when she was around.
He grinned as he grabbed the next ring.
He had never felt so confident and optimistic before.