AN: I am SO sorry for the delay in getting back to this. One of my books got to 2 on Amazon's regency romance chart on Thursday and the last few days have been been a haze of disbelief, shock and a fair amount of squeeing. I apologise for forgetting about this and my loyal readers, and I hope you enjoy this instalment. I faithfully promise to post the final chapter tomorrow. Cat -xxx-
Chapter Eight
That afternoon, while Rori ate a late lunch with her mother, Rei, and Thorin met with Dain, gift after gift arrived for the royal couple in celebration of their marriage and were duly stored for them to look over later on.
Rori wanted to know where her father was, since it would be very unlike him not to try and spoil things for her.
"He is in jail," Rai said, hanging her head. "He has been drinking a lot and picking fights. This is his seventh time in jail since you left."
Dwarves don't really have a penal system, they prefer fines or for very serious crimes, banishment but they do have a few rooms where miscreants can be housed while they sleep off the drink, or be kept for just a few days until the king (or since he had been gone, Dain) has time to decide on the penalty.
"Dain does not want to banish him but we have no money left to pay fines. He is being kept in jail for 2 weeks as punishment but Dain has warned him that if he should do it again, he will consider banishment."
Rei looked pained but not unduly so.
"Ma, you have to leave him."
"I can't," Rei said.
"Yes you can. Ma, I have power now, I am safe and I can keep you safe, you don't need to stay with him any more."
"It's not as simple as that."
"I think it is," Rori argued.
Her mother was quiet for a while so Rori pressed her point home.
"I saw grandpa just before he died," she told her mother. "I know there is nothing stopping you from leaving him, you don't love him.
"But the shame-"
"It is more shameful to be his whipping boy, mother! I know that you have let him cow you for a hundred years and it must be hard to stand up for yourself but if you do not, I will! I have a position of authority now, Mother, and I can't allow a petty, vengeful man like him have any hold over me and as long as you are with him, he will have power over me."
Tears began to prick Rori's eyes as she remembered all that her mother, all that both of them, had endured at his hands over the years.
"Please, for my sake, reclaim your life."
"And if I don't?" Rei asked.
"I have been thinking about that a lot recently. I cannot banish you from dwarf society, mother, for you have done nothing wrong, but I will send you to the farthest reaches of our kingdom where any threats he makes will be unlikely to reach my ears." Rori's tears spilled over. "Please don't make me do that to you."
Rei had spent so long doing as she was told that she hardly knew how to make her own mind up any longer, but for once she could see that the person giving her an ultimatum had her best interests at heart and she felt tears pricking her own eyes. Still, it was hard for her to make a choice and even harder to take ownership of that choice.
"You are my queen now," Rei said with a hesitant smile. "Which I suppose means that I have to do as you say."
Rori smiled. Maybe this time Rei didn't have to decide for herself; Erebor wasn't built in a day, after all. But some time spent living alone, making small decisions each day, would hopefully rebuild her shattered confidence and maybe one day she would be the strong woman that Rori knew she could be. No one could endure what she had and not be strong. At the very least, she did not have to be in anyone's power any longer and that was a start.
"Okay, Ma. Thorin and I will decide what to do with Father but you are not to return to his home until we have, all right?"
Rei nodded and patted her daughter's hand, thinking that Rori was a good girl, she always had been.
Rooms were made up for her mother and she went home to collect what she would need for a while. Rori took the opportunity to rest, knowing that tonight would probably be a late night. She was awoken from her nap by Thorin kissing her naked cheek as he sat down beside her on the bed.
"Mm," she moaned as she stretched and opened her eyes. "Hey," she smiled up at him. "How did your meeting go?"
"Well," Thorin assured her. "Dain has done a good job in my absence and though I think our marriage is difficult for him since we might produce heirs, he is handling it well. When things have calmed down around here I may offer him a territory of his own, he has earned it."
"I think that would be a very nice gesture," she smiled.
"Good. Now you have to get ready for this evening," he said, getting up and opening the door.
A seemingly endless procession of dwarves entered bearing clothes, jewels, furs, cabinets and all sorts of other lovely things. Rori was struck dumb by the procession, wondering what it was all for.
Thorin picked up a gown in emerald green which he thought would match her eyes, and held it up for her to see.
"What is all this?" she asked.
"Gifts for you, my love."
"For me?"
"Yes. Try this dress on," he said, handing the dress to her.
"But who are they from?"
"Merchants and the like."
"But..." she looked around the gifts which all looked expensive. "I can't take all this!"
"Why not?" he asked, sounding confused.
"Well, because I don't need it for a start, and because I pay my own way."
"I know you do, darling, but it is tradition for craftsmen to bestow a gift on their queen."
"The dwarves in the blue mountains didn't!" she argued.
"Because that community is struggling and I specifically asked Thim not to. Our community is thriving and the craftsmen want to do this for you. To refuse would be impolite."
"But it's too much," she said. "They can't afford to give all this up?"
"Of course they can. It is good business practice really, for if you use or wear anything that they have given you, it will reflect well on them and their sales will increase."
Rori bit her lower lip and Thorin came up to her, putting the dress over one arm so that he could rest his hands on her shoulders.
"You are my Queen now and you must get used to the adulation of our people."
If anything, Rori's eyes grew wider with fright. Thorin didn't say anything more, she knew what she had signed up for, she just needed time to adjust and if he knew her at all, and he thought that by now he did, she would soon find her way.
"Can't I become a tyrant and make them all hate me?" she said with a small smile.
Thorin gave a hearty laugh.
"My dear, you can certainly try but I sincerely doubt that anyone will believe it of you. I will get the blame and then the people will turn against me and we will have a revolution on our hands! It will not do."
"Well, that's a little drastic," Rori laughed. "But I suppose if wearing that dress will stop a revolution, then I have a duty to do so."
"Indeed," he grinned and handed her the dress. As she headed to the bed to lay it out, he picked up a bottle of perfume. "And try this," he said, throwing it to her.
You or I would probably not have caught the bottle but Rori had a dwarf's reflexes and saved the bottle from shattering. She laughed and sniffed the contents. We would probably not like the scent but it smelled like heaven to Rori's dwarf nose.
"You, sir, have very good taste," she agreed.
"Well," Thorin shrugged, "I chose you, didn't I?"
III
The banquet that evening a noisy affair with everyone pleased not only that their king was safe, but that he had finally chosen a mate. Most would have bet good money that he would never choose a wife at his age. Still, he had come back from the dead, so maybe that experience had given him the kick up the back side that he had needed, many suggested to one another.
Rori danced with many people that evening, most she knew as they had been her friends but some, the wealthier dwarves, she was unfamiliar with. Still, Rori was always happy to make a new friend.
People congratulated her, asked her how it had happened, wondered what her secret was, as though she had brewed a potion or some such to win his heart! Rori didn't mind their questions because she could see that everyone seemed happy for her.
She was dancing with Ori when the current song finished and she turned to find Mir, her spurned suitor, standing behind her!
"May I have this dance?" he asked, taking her in his arms before she could refuse. The music began again and she moved with him, more out of habit since she felt wrong footed.
"You obviously had your eyes on a bigger prize," he said, holding her to him just a little too tightly. "I didn't think that you were a gold digger but I can see now that you are just as shallow as the rest of your sex. Still, I see that Thorin still makes you shave, so perhaps he is also aware of just what a useless waste of space you are and he is already regretting his decision."
Rori hadn't even thought about her lack of beard this evening until he mentioned it but he had pressed the wrong button. He had been expecting the meek and helpful girl that he remembered, but that girl had grown up a lot since she'd left the mountain. She'd discovered her own self worth and had no need to rely on the opinions of others to bolster herself self esteem.
She stopped dancing and looked him straight in the eyes.
"You are nothing but a small, petty man who wanted a pretty wife to adorn your arm. You knew that despite your wealth, you are such a nasty little, thieving piece of work, that no woman would willing be your wife and so you tried to buy one instead." She shook her head sadly. "You're nothing but a thief and a con man and your opinions mean less than nothing to me."
Mir's faux-friendly expression was growing harder as she spoke and he gripped her tighter, almost to the point of pain.
"Let me go," she ordered.
Thorin had spotted the altercation and he, along with two of his best guards, were now making their way towards Rori.
"Last chance," she told Mir.
"Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul!" he said, and all about them who had heard him stopped dancing and stared, shocked that such an insult had been aimed at their queen.
Rori's eyes took on a hard glint. Anyone who had seen her rush the orc that hurt Thorin would have recognised that look but sadly, the only person to get a good look at it, namely the orc, was no longer around to warn Mir of what it might mean.
Her knee went into his crotch with as much force as she could muster, as he bent forward she pulled herself from his grip (which had slackened considerably) and brought her clenched fists down upon his back, just below his neck. He fell to the floor and one final kick to his forehead knocked him out cold.
By this time the whole hall had fallen silent but slowly they began to cheer, clapping, waving and whooping, for they did so like a queen who could fight!
Thorin reached Rori and after checking that's she was all right, he picked her up and placed her on his shoulder, so that the whole hall could see her and how proud he was of her.
Rori was still only an average fighter, but then so was Mir, plus he was drunk which Rori wasn't and she also had the benefit of anger on her side. Still, no matter what happened in the future, her reputation as a good fighter and a strong dwarf was cemented forever more in dwarf legend. Retelling of their encounter with the orcs would be embellished until in some tellings Rori would be practically defending the whole party single handily!
Still, for tonight she was just slightly more loved than before and as Thorin weaved through the crowd with her still on his shoulder, she laughed and enjoyed the moment, for whoever would have guessed that she would be hailed as a fighter!
III
Although it was accepted that Thorin and Rori were married, it was traditional for royalty to have a public ceremony. Really it was just another excuse for a party, since the binding ritual simply consisted of them both reciting two words. This time though, non dwarves would be present, dignitaries and emissaries of the other races and towns who lived locally, and as such they would have to use their mannish names and the westron language, rather than dwarvish.
Rori didn't mind. Personally she wished they could skip the ceremony and go straight to the party afterwards for she didn't like being the centre of attention, although she was gradually getting used to it.
Most days Rori spent alone working on the translation, though she was careful to leave her room and join the others for lunch, since being alone all day made her dreadfully dull. Each evening Thorin came home with tales of happenings in the town and she had nothing at all to discuss with him if she did not venture out from her rooms occasionally.
Well, okay she could discuss the finer points of ancient elvish, and indeed she had on occasion, but it was a dreadfully dull topic to discuss at length.
Once this public ceremony was over, she would be expected to take on more responsibility, which she was looking forward to, even if it would take her away from her precious books for a while.
First, she would be required to hold court with Thorin should any visitors come to the mountain, which she was very much looking forward to. Next she would have to be present at any council meetings, both those that were open to the public and those that were closed. Finally Rori was to be present at any trials or sentencing for bad or criminal behaviour.
The thinking behind this was that once a dwarf had found his mate, he was incomplete without her and so she must be present at any event that required a discussion and/or a decision to be made.
She was nervous about those duties but Thorin kept reminding her of her reading, and that the knowledge she possessed would help her to venture an opinion on almost any topic, and that those opinions would be very helpful to his people. Indeed he usually sought her council, even although she had not taken up her public duties yet, discussing various issues with her over dinner or as they lay in bed in the evenings.
She wouldn't have a vote since she and Thorin were deemed to be one now, but her voice must always be heard and considered before any decisions were taken.
The ceremony was quite a grand affair and slightly more sedate than normal dwarf gatherings. The great hall was laid out with large tables and in honour of the visitors, each table had a white cloth and each place had it's own setting (dwarves usually brought their own cutlery and plates to gatherings, since it made the clean up easier). The more important dwarves and visitors were seated closest to the throne and the lesser ones to the back.
The throne that had for so long sat alone in the hall, now had a companion chair beside it and the platform on which they rested, as well as the path leading up to the thrones, had been liberally sprinkled with flowers and petals until they formed a veritable carpet.
Thorin and Rori walked in to the hall together, arm in arm. Thorin wore his dress armour, which was made from gold and therefore impractical to be used in battle. Rori wore a dress of gold chainmail so that she might match her husband, though fighting in a dress was also highly impractical.
They stood upon the platform and faced each other. There was no vicar or similar to preside over the service since it was so simple, but each of them had a second who was waiting at the platform for them. Thorin had chosen Dain and Rori had picked her mother as her second.
Dwarves often exchange jewellery when they get married, or commissioned two matching pieces to be made but it is traditional for royalty to exchange rings with their beloved. Although Rori's cousin, Mori had made the rings, Thorin had taken care of the design and Rori hadn't been allowed to know anything about them since Thorin wanted the rings to be a surprise.
Rori didn't know quite what what to expect but she was looking forward to finding out.
Thorin took the ring from his second and turned to face Rori.
"Rori Storyteller," he said, taking her hand. "My eternal."
She smiled and then looked down as he slipped the ring on her finger. Her smile widened as she realised that the ring was made from Mithril, a silver metal that is much stronger than gold or silver. Mounted in the ring was a large white stone.
"It's tough, and the stone should help you pack a punch," he said softly so that no one else in the room could hear, save possibly for their seconds.
Rori smiled, remembering her words when she had told him how impractical gold was. She turned to her mother and accepted the ring, which was exactly like the one he had given her only larger. She could see writing on the inside of the ring and smiled as she read "my eternal" written in ancient elvish, of all things. So he had been listening when she talked of that dead language! She almost began laughing, for it really was the silliest and sweetest of gestures.
"Thorin Okaenshield, my eternal," she said, slipping the ring onto his finger.
The crowd went wild, cheering and clapping, though the men and elves were slightly more reserved. Thorin claimed a kiss from his wife, causing the noise level to rise a further few decibels, then when they separated, they each took their place on the thrones.
They sat there until the crowd had calmed somewhat and then took their places at the top table so that the feast could begin.
Also seated with them at the top table was the Elven-king of Mirkwood, the master of Lake-town, Bard of Dale and their wives, the lords of the three most prosperous dwarf houses in Erebor, including Dain, and finally Gandalf (who though he hadn't received an invitation since they didn't know where to send it, had turned up anyway and was a welcome addition).
All the visitors had brought gifts and the feast consisted of deer, which were a gift from the elves, wine, gifted by the men of Lake-town and potatoes, which were a gift from the men of Dale. Each visiting party had also given gifts to the couple, though these were usually of a much more expensive nature.
The elves had given them a matching short sword and dagger; his and hers weapons, if you like. The men of dale had presented the couple with a selection of gem stones (Dwarf metal smithing is far superior to human skill, so they didn't try to mount the stones first). The men of Lake-town had given the couple a hand carved wooden chest, inlaid with the finest mother of pearl marquetry depicting the Lonley Mountain.
Gandalf had not given a gift publicly as the others had, instead he preferred to give his presents directly to the recipients and so once the feast was over with and the singing and dancing had begun, he drew the couple to one side so that he might speak with them in private.
He handed them a small wooden box which was ornately carved and they opened it to find a metal frame inside, from which a black jewel was suspended.
"It's beautiful," Thorin said, though his expression was confused. He didn't expect a gift of jewels from Gandalf, that was more something that mortal men valued.
"It's beauty is undeniable," Gandalf agreed, "But it's value is far greater." He took the stone and it's frame from the box. "When it's owner is in danger the stone turns lighter, almost clear if the danger is mortal and close enough but when the troubles have passed, the stone will return to it's normal colour, black."
"It's an early warning system," Rori said, delighted by the idea. "To tell us when the danger from the prophecy is coming."
"Indeed," Gandalf smiled. "Unfortunately it cannot differentiate between dangers and will grow lighter whenever Thorin faces danger but in any case, it will warn you to be on your guard, even if you are not facing mortal danger."
"Thank you," Thorin said, though he felt that it was sadly inadequate for such a gift.
"Think nothing of it, my boy, it was only gathering dust in the bottom of an old chest."
Thorin doubted that somehow.
"Now, I also have another surprise for your dear wife," Gandalf continued. "If you could return to your room, I believe you have a visitor waiting for you." He winked and then walked away, heading back to the party.
Thorin and Rori looked at each other, both wondering who the visitor was and by unspoken agreement, they both headed down the corridor to their room. He didn't expect the visitor to be someone who wished them harm but since Thorin was slightly wary, he opened the door and went in first.
"There's no one here," he said, looking around as Rori joined him.
"No one?" came a small voice.
They looked over to the fireplace where Morgana was sitting on the mantle above it.
"Charming!" the faerie huffed, although her smile belied her words.
"What are you doing here?" Rori asked, smiling and heading to the faerie, pleased to see her again.
"I heard about your wedding and I wanted to give you a gift. Gandalf smuggled me in under his robes!" she said grinning.
"That was very clever," Rori laughed. "But you didn't have to give us a gift, the help you gave us and your friendship is more than enough."
"But I wanted to," Rori said looking over Rori's shoulder at Thorin. "But it's a girl's gift!" she said, making it clear that he should leave them.
Thorin looked to Rori who nodded, so he left them, an indulgent smile on his lips as he closed the door behind himself.
Morgand flew off the mantelpiece and began to fly around Rori's head, saying something in her native tongue, then she threw a handful of dust over Rori which made her cough and splutter.
When the dust had died down, she smiled at he faerie who was fluttering in front of her.
"What was that?" she asked.
"That was my gift," Morgana said with a wide grin.
"Um, thank you?" Rori sounded uncertain.
"You're welcome!"
"Can I ask, what exactly did you do to me?"
"I stopped your beard from growing," she said. "Never again will you have to worry about it."
"What!" Rori's eyes went wide. "You what?"
"I... stopped your beard from growing?" The faerie didn't look nearly so satisfied now.
Rori ran to the mirror in the bathroom.
"I'm sorry!" Morgana cried, flying after her. "I thought you didn't like it! You kept shaving it in the mountains and I kept watching you for the rest of your trip and you kept removing even once you reached the Blue Mountains! I thought you wanted it gone!"
Rori looked at herself in the mirror, seeing exactly the same face looking back at her that had for the past six months or more. It was simply the idea that the choice had been taken away from her that was upsetting. In truth she did find it annoying to have to shave so regularly and had considered trying something that the women of Dale did to remove hair, called waxing. Morgana had only been trying to do her a kindness.
"Can you undo it?" she asked, turning to the faerie.
Morgana nodded and moved to fly about her head once more but Rori quickly snatched her from the air.
"No," she smiled. "I only asked if you could, not if you would."
Morgana looked fearful to have been caught.
"It's okay, you just caught me my surprise that's all. I'm not angry and now that I know you can undo it if I ever want, I think it's a wonderful gift, thank you." She brought the faerie to her lips and kissed her before setting her free.
Morgana dropped a few inches then righted herself and hovered in front of Rori once again.
"You're really not mad anymore?"
"I'm really not," she laughed. "But maybe in future, you should ask before you perform spells on people."
"I will, I promise!" Morgana said though Rori was very far from certain that she would. "Here," she handed Rori her bag of faerie dust.
"I still have the last bag you gave me!"
"Well now you have more! If you ever want the beard back, just hold the dust, wish it back and sprinkle it on your face."
"Okay," Rori smiled. "Now, since I was rather ungracious earlier, how would you like a dance?"
Morgana's eyes grew as wide as her smile then quickly faded. "What if they see me?"
"They won't," Rori pulled her hair back off her neck. "Clime on, my hair will hide you."
Morgana debated with herself for a moment then decided to risk it. She flew under Rori's hair and held onto the hem of her dress as Rori placed her hair back down over her.
"There, okay?" she asked, looking into the mirror to make sure that Morgana wasn't visible.
Morgana pulled herself up on the collar of Rori's dress so that her head was visible, then she shrank back out of sight.
"Okay," she told Rori.
They headed back to the main hall and Rori approached Thorin.
"Dance, my Lord?" she asked.
"Why yes, my Lady, I think that is an excellent idea."
They headed to the dance floor (though I hesitate to call it that since the floor was rock). Dwarf dancing is an energetic affair with lots of jumping, kicking and cheering. A bit like line dancing on crack.
"Hold on tight," Rori said as Thorin took her in his arms.
"Excuse me?" he asked, puzzled my her words.
Rori turned her head to the side and Morgana peeked out from her hiding place.
"Ah. It appears I am dancing with two beautiful women."
He thought that he heard the faerie giggle, but it was hard to tell over the music and the ambient noise.
They danced with abandon and Rori kept hearing giggles on the more athletic movements. They danced three songs before Rori was breathless and in need of a rest. She made her way over to Gandalf.
"Ah, my dears," he said as he saw Rori. "Did you enjoy that?"
Rori knew he wasn't speaking to her and heard the high pitched buzzing that was the fey language.
"Wonderful!" Gandalf smiled.
"I believe I have some contraband that you're looking for," Rori smiled.
"Indeed you do but I seem to have dropped something." He let go of a handkerchief that he held.
"Let me," Rori said bending over to get it and allowing Morgana the chance to climb into Gandalf's robes. When she was certain that Morgana was concealed, Rori stood and handed the square of material back to him.
"Thank you, my dear."
"Thank you for bringing her."
They said their goodbyes then and Rori went to find Thorin. Though the party went on into the wee small hours of the night, hardly anyone noticed that the king and queen had long since departed for their own, private celebration.
