Coming of Age – Chapter 17
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It was past the sun rise when ThoraLee opened her eyes. As she moved, she felt her whole body ached, especially her lower extremities. At first she didn't understand why it was so, then she recalled last eve's incident…well, it was not considered an incident as it was a delightful …situation with Thorin.
Yes! Her Thorin, her husband, she giggled into her pillow so that no one would hear her.
She was no longer a maiden but a wedded woman!
She sat up suddenly and looked about her and saw Nifir walking into her room with a large bowl of flowers!
"Madam Nifir? What is this?" She stepped out of her bed and approached her helpmaid.
"This is from His Highness, he sends…er…his warm regards to you. And if you're awakened, he is waiting to break fast with you in the dining room."
Lee was blushing as she peeked around to Nifir, "He is waiting for me?" She was about to dash out when Nifir harrumphed and cleared her throat.
Lee turned around and glance at her in puzzlement, "Is something the matter, Madam Nifir? Are you not well?" Lee began to walk towards her maid, a look of concern for her in her face.
Nifir was startled but she quickly recovered and said, "No, I am well, Mistress ThoraLee, I um, I think you need to be properly attired before you dined with His Highness."
Lee looked down at herself and laughed and saw that she was indeed not really dressed properly; she was after all, clad only in Thorin's shirt and nothing else!
"Well, Madam Nifir, I think we shall remedy that, don't you think?" she ran to her help maid hugged her stout shoulders before running towards the bathroom. "Let's get to it, Madam Nifir! Thorin is waiting for me!"
Just as Nifir was walking towards the opened door to the bathroom, she saw a shirt flying through the door and landing on the floor, accompanied by a girlish giggle. Nifir shook her head as she bent down to retrieve the shirt and for once she did not frowned as she muttered about young ladies not acting their age as she disappeared into the room to help her young charge.
Making record time, she was dressed in her shirt and breeches, much to Nifir's disapproval but Lee explained to her that she was liked to work in comfort and shirts and breeches are comfortable for her compared to dresses. Nifir harrumphed her disapproval but Lee was not bothered by it as she thanked her help maid before she hurriedly left for the dining room.
….
Thorin was standing before the tall window, the very window he and Lee had said their vows a few hours before. He smiled as he looked at the balcony, recalling their words; and told himself that when they had discovered the Arkenstone for his father, he would take her to the big forge in the Lonely Mountains and make her their wedding rings, it would be made of Mithril. He would let her etch the date of their wedded date into the bands; it would be last eve's date.
As soon as they break their fast, they needed to get back to their work. He had received word from his father that he had sent word to Frerin, his younger brother, of his impending union, that on Durin's Day would be Thorin's and Lee's wedded day. All of Erebor and Dale would be celebrating their union. It was going to be a big affair; he hoped Lee was prepared for it.
He was startled out of his reverie when he felt a warm hand slid into his own hand.
He grinned as he turned to greet her and again was rendered speechless by her beauty!
She seemed to be glowing every day, every time he looked at her.
"Good morning my rúzín," he said softly as he leaned in to kiss her.
She kissed him back, "And good morning to you, my Khazad-zukȉn."
"Hmmm…you smell like the sun shining brightly."
She giggled, "You can't smell the sun, Thorin!"
"I can, and you are my sun shining." He gathered her in his arms and nuzzled within her neck.
"If I'm your sunshine than you're my…moon glowing," she laughed.
He chuckled with her, "Come on sunshine, let's have some food, I am rather hungry, last eve's activity had made me hungrier than before and we have another long day ahead of us."
Lee's cheeks were reddened as she cast her head down. Thorin squeezed them tighter as he led her to the dining table.
He held the chair for her as she sat again, diagonally from him.
This time, they ate on their own as the servants were about the room.
…..
Later, refreshed and feeling cleaned; ThoraLee and Thorin were back in the basement working diligently into their work.
The passage ways made by the Durin's clans thousands of years ago starting in deep in Khazad-dûm and to the Western Gate of the Elven world. It was also extended to the Lonely Mountains. The Durin clan while spread far into the south, many remained within Khazad-dûm to toil within the mines and to work through the passages. They dug deep and long. It was believed to have reached as far as the Three Peaks; Baranzinbar, Zirakzigil, and Bundushathûr
Under the Three Peaks, they encountered more foul orcs. The battle was fiercesome, many dwarves were lost but soon they were able to recovered and continued with their work. With the discovery of iron, they were able to forge stronger weapons against the relentless orcs.
When the Durins discovered the Mountains under what is now called Erebor.
Lee paused as she looked at the script in its Cirth form; Ekhëbûr.
"In written form, it is not to be spoken. So, Erebor is as close as it sounds. The ancient kept the secret name of Ekhëbûr even from their own kind…" she muttered as she wrote in her own foot notes on the parchment.
When Durin the First passed on his final life's breath, it was noted that he did not die but his spirit left his body and turned to stone. No records were kept or indicated of how old when his spirit left him. His line was then passed to Durin I who was his son. Not much was known of Durin I. There was also of note that he found something deep under the mountains in Ekhëbûr where he lived there till his passing in the First Age.
When the Second Age began, Durin II also began his reign. Like his father, he continued his work under the deep mountains of Ekhëbûr or Erebor, as it was now called. The dwarves who had forged an alliance with the elves used a common language both race could understand. Through the years, the ancient dwarven language became least used by their own race. Only a few remained still wrote in its language. The Durin text script was one of the few remaining text that was written in the ancient form.
It was written by Durin II and his son, Durin III.
Lee smile; so that's who wrote the text script! She continued with her translation;
It was Durin II who discovered a huge white stone that he had described it to be bigger than his heart and as bright as anything he had ever seen. Durin had called it the Járkarstân. The shape of the stone was not round but Durin II decided to work on it, it took him many years to form.
He didn't see the finished stone as he died before it was done. His son, Durin III completed his father's task. When he was done, the stone had manage to keep its size, bigger than a dwarf's heart, there were hundreds of facets and it seemed to give off its own light. Durin III had called it the heart of the Mountain, as it was founded in the heart of the Lonely Mountain.
Lee sat up straight. The Arkenstone! She had finally found mentioned of the Arkenstone! But where was it location?
Durin III, upon completion of the Járkarstân was most happy decided to keep it within the family. But word was out among other clans, especially the Iron Hills and the Firebeards that a mysterious diamond that was worth the price of a mountain was discovered!
Soon, the heads of six dwarf clans came to claim the Járkarstân. Durin III was furious, he told them his father found the stone and it belonged to the Durin's family. It was no use, the six clans demanded their share. They wanted to see the stone. Durin III had hid it in a place that no one knew where it was. A civil war ensued within the Lonely Mountains! Of course, the Durin dwarves had the advantage as it was their mountains; they knew their ways around the passages inside the underground and soon drove all but one clan out and back to where they came from. The Nogrods clan stayed as long as they could. The King of Nogrod, Gul Menlar II who was Gul Mored's great grandfather, kept sending his people into the mountain in hopes to find the stone. Gul Menlar II knew that if he had possession of the Stone, he would have possession of the mountains.
Lee's interest was perked; why would Gul Menlar II want to own the Lonely Mountains?
Gul Menlar II's people reported back to him that while they were on the hunt inside the mountain, they saw mountains of gold, as well as silver. Gold the size like they had never seen in their lives. Some were bigger than their own heads! Gul Menlar II's greed began to fester within; he wanted them. He wanted to be the riches King of Dwarves! To take over the Durin clan! Long they had ruled over the other six fathers of dwarves. No more!
With the Járkarstân and the horde of gold and silver, he Gul Menlar II will be the new King over the Lonely Mountains and possibly the rest of the realm!
It was time to deal with Durin III.
Gathering the House of Iron Hills and the House of Firebeards, Gul Morel II convinced them they would get their share of gold and silver if they helped him over throw the clan of Durin.
For four long years, four Houses fought. Durin III fell as well as Gul Morel II but not the House. Durin IV and his son Durin V prevailed, with their alliance forged with the elves. The House of Nogrod, Iron Hills and Fire Beards were driven out of the Lonely Mountains.
Angry over at their defeat, the House of Iron Hills and Fire Beards broke their alliance with the Nogrods and left, leaving the Nogrods under the new King Gul Morel III's rule.
Maddened with shame and want for revenge, as well as the lust to possess the Járkarstân, Gul Morel III decided to try once again to invade the Lonely Mountains. He stole into the mountains in the middle of the night under the guise as Durin's men. He tried to penetrate the passageways but he didn't have the key all Durin's men required to gain admittance into the deeper passages. Many of his Gul Morel III's men fell. The alarm was sounded, they hunted him down. Gul Morel III managed to see the Járkarstân before he was beheaded.
Lee winced when she wrote the word; her stomach whirled at the ugliness back then. But he got what was due to him.
Feeling thirsty, she stood up and stretched; she saw that she had written quite a lot as she had ran out of parchment papers, she would need more.
She moved to the first room and saw that Thorin was nowhere to be found.
She massaged her hand as it was sore from writing for so long.
She thought of what she had translated, about Gul Morel III who was Gul Mored's ancestor, she wondered if he knew the treachery he had committed back then and paid the price.
As she wondered about the Nogrod family, she heard footsteps coming from the other room; she knew it was from Thorin.
He came in with a pitcher of wine and glasses. She helped him with the glasses.
As they sat down on the bed, she told him about the translation. Thorin was transfixed as he listened to her tale as they drank.
"The Nogrods seemed to be untrustworthy. I wonder what else did they wanted, their being here?" Thorin muttered.
Lee shook her head confused, "I don't understand, Thorin."
He looked at her a moment than getting out of bed, left the room to move to the little room, he returned a moment later with the wooden box.
He set the box in front of her and sat back down facing her, "What I'm about to tell you does not leave this room." She nodded solemnly.
"The content of this box contains all the records of our ancestors, as well as records owned by the Durin family won from other clans. It is our inheritance, our heritage. The Durin's gold."
She looked from the box to Thorin, "Why are you telling me?"
"Because you're a Durin now, so, it's as much yours as it is mine or Frerin's or little Dis'."
Lee shook her head, "I don't want it."
Thorin smiled, "It doesn't matter Lee, it's ours. The only thing is, we don't know where it is."
He shrugged, "The location is probably where the Arkenstone is, a mystery. If I could find this gold, Erebor would be so rich we'll have the biggest kingdom, more than ten times bigger than the Nogrods and that's saying a lot. We could even buy the entire Nogrod clan as well as the others if we wanted to." He stated.
Her eyes became huge and luminous in the reflection of the torches from the wall. "You don't know the location?" She whispered.
He shook his head. "My father had tasked me to find it and I have not had any success. The location might be in one of these papers. No one knows of this, and now you do, Lee. Now, there are only three people in Erebor who knew about this gold and silver." He gave her a strange look.
Lee returned the look, "Thorin, I won't tell anyone. Can you imagine if you find it? How please your father would be of you?"
He nodded quietly. "It is useless at this moment as we have no idea where it is, my dear." He reached over and captured her hand and brought it to his lips and kissed the inside of her palm sending delicious sensations inside her body.
Lee watched him and smiled, "We will find it, and the Arkenstone. Give me a few more days and I might have the location soon. Oh, I require more parchment papers."
He nodded, "I will fulfill your needs, my Princess," he pulled her towards him and laid her on top of him and began to unbutton her shirt.
Lee giggled but did not protest, "I am hungry, Thorin, and require sustenance husband," she was watching him with bright sparkling eyes, her chest heaving wildly.
He looked at her deeply, "As do I, my beautiful rúzín, but I'm hungry for something else at the moment…" he dipped his head into hers.
….
When Thorin brought Lee up an actual meal, they did not realize the sun had set. Thorin felt horrible keeping her beneath the palace with just breakfast which was earlier that morning. He vowed that he would have the guards sent food to them regularly.
With apologies accepted graciously, Lee was escorted to her quarters by her husband to ready for their meal.
Nifir was there to help her cleaned and dressed again. Half way, she received word from Queen Nur that she and Thorin were invited to dine with her and King Thrain.
Lee was thrilled and nervous at the same time; she had not seen the queen for a while and realized she missed a feminine and a maternal company, so she looked forward to seeing her again. On the other hand, her nervousness was if the queen could spot the change in her and Thorin.
They no longer argue as much as before, that much was clear and the queen was a shrewd and smart woman who would pick up nuances like that fast.
"Mistress ThoraLee," Nifir began as she was combing her hair. "I was wondering how your dress came to be in His Highness' room last eve?"
Lee's cheeks became red instantly but she quickly replied, "I...I…required assistance from His Highness with the buttons; he was most kind to help me in removing them. I must have forgotten and left the dress there, after His Highness lent me his shirt. That's all."
Nifir harrumphed, "I see, His Highness was most kind in his assistance."
Lee nodded but she saw that Nifir had many questions.
They did not discuss about the dress there after.
Soon she was ready; Lee was wearing a green dress this time, it enhanced her green eye this evening and made her right amber eye seemed a darker caramel color and exotic.
She was wearing the silver bracelet with the entwined vines that Thorin had made on her left arm, Jor's bracelet on her right. The Durin's ring was back on the chain hanging on her neck.
She walked out of her room and met Thorin in the halls and smiled; he was dressed similarly in a darker green tunic and black trousers that seemed to wrap around his legs snuggly. Lee arched a brow as she admired his thighs; he looked more handsome in calf-high boots.
She wished they had time for their special… activity.
Thorin saw her look of desire for him and grinned as he moved close to her and whispered, "We are to dine with my father and mother, don't look at me with like that or they will know and I can't resist you."
Her cheeks were instantly inflamed, "Oh!"
He kissed her sweetly, "You are so lovely and still so innocent in so many ways, and it makes you so much endearing."
She giggled as she bent her head down shyly.
A moment later he straightened as he realized they were not alone; the guards were on sentry duty along the halls.
Sighing softly, he took her hand as he led her down to the Dining Halls.
"Let's not keep my father and mother waiting."
She shook her head, then added, "Thorin, will they find out, about us?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, your mother is a very smart woman, and we have not argued since…er…you know…she will know."
Thorin nodded, "You're right, my dear. Nothing will pass her. What do you think?"
Lee grinned mischievously at him, "We'll have a little fun…after dinner, of course."
He arched a brow at her, "Just as long as you don't ruin my new suit," he said seriously.
Lee smacked his arm lightly, "Well, my dress is new too," she looked down at herself.
He nodded, "You looked beautiful by the way. You grow more beautiful every day, my Princess."
He had stopped by the doorway as he was starring at her, holding her hands. He was about to lean in to kiss her when they heard someone in the Dining Halls cleared his throat.
They looked in and saw King Thrain and Queen Nur standing together, watching them. Thrain's face was looking slightly embarrassed to watch his son making lovey eyes at a young lady in front of the guards. Queen Nur was beaming; she was not paying any heed to the guards.
Embarrassed, Thorin bowed to his father then to his mother as he greeted them. ThoraLee did likewise, her face was deeply crimson-red.
"Greetings Father, Mother, you look very well this evening." Thorin moved to kiss his mother's cheeks.
Thrain tried to look stern as he harrumphed, "Are you trying to ruin my appetite?" he shook his son's hand.
Thorin laughed aloud, "Not at all father, I was just telling Lee how lovely she looked tonight in her pretty dress."
Thrain smiled, "Indeed he is right, ThoraLee, you do look lovely."
Lee inclined her head, "Thank you, Your Majesty, you are most kind and generous."
Nur walked to her and gave her a hug, "No, my son and husband are right, you are lovely in a dress. You look so much like a Princess."
"Thank you, your Majesty."
Thrain nodded and smiled again, "Well, shall we dine?"
They all nodded as Thrain led his wife to her seat, Thorin led Lee to hers, seating her next to him.
Dinner was a cheery meal as they dined. Conversations revolved the daily going on around Erebor and Dale.
Thrain had informed Lee that Erimm and Crimm were currently busy working in their workshop, smithing the swords Thrain had commissioned them. Thorin as well as Lee were worried that the two elderly dwarves might overworked and could not handle the work load but Thrain waved them off, assuring them that he had made sure they did not over-exert themselves and a guard was there to keep an eye on them and a maid to serve them in them in her domestic duties. Lee was grateful to the King for his attentiveness. King Thrain shook his head; he expressed his gratitude to Lee for her willingness in helping him with the script text.
When their dinner was over, the servants had cleared the food and left them alone, the four were able to truly discuss about the translation.
Thrain and Nur had read what Lee had translated so far.
"ThoraLee, I cannot tell you how impressed I am and how far you have done in this translation. To think, the Nogrods had been plotting to gain the Durin's gold all these time," Thrain had stood up and was walking around the dining table, he was staring at the fireplace.
"I am much more intrigued with these passages that extended from Moria all the way to here. Where is it at now?" Nur asked.
Thrain shook his head, "I am not sure, and I thought I know the undergrounds well. I believe we will have to make a journey to search for it again."
Nur sighed, "My dear, you have searched the undergrounds so many times already, and yet, you came back empty-handed."
"I'm well aware of it, my dear. Perhaps, once ThoraLee is done with her translation. We might have something much more definite, right?" He glanced at Lee.
Lee nodded, she was holding Thorin's hand under the table, he gave her an assuring squeeze before he released her hand.
"We still do not have the location of the Arkenstone though," Thorin said as he gave her a certain look.
Lee frowned at him, "What are you getting at, Thorin?"
He looked at her, "All I'm saying is that, you've been working on the script for some time and yet, you still have nothing to show for the location. All you have done was how our…my ancestors fought against the other clans."
Lee was becoming angry, "Well, forgive me, your Highness. I am working ever so slowly, translating Cirth is not easy. I am translating what was in the text." Her eyes were getting a little teary. Thorin saw them and stopped but saw her head shaking slightly, so he continued on, in his mind he was cussing himself for being a heel, he hoped she knew he didn't mean a word he had said.
"I'm well aware of how difficult the language is but you had assured us that it was not a problem for you…"
"Enough Thorin!" Nur exclaimed in anguished. "This poor child has done the best she can, you will apologize to her and you will stop badgering her this instance!"
They both were startled and Thorin, contrite, nodded his head muttered, "I apologized, Lee."
She nodded.
Nur stood up, "I'm exhausted, my dear. I'm ready to retire." She said to Thrain.
Thrain looked at them, shook his head and then escorted his wife out of the room, leaving the young couple alone.
Thorin gathered Lee to him, "I think we went too far this time."
Lee nodded, "Yes, we did. I'm sorry, Thorin I didn't mean to hurt your mother…"
He shook his head, "I'll talk to her in the morn. Let's go to bed, my dear it will be all right."
She nodded but she was not convinced.
He sensed her unease and stopped walking, turned to face her, "Lee, it's going to be all right. Mother will recover after I have a word with her in her morn, all right?" He lifted her chin to look at her. She nodded and gave him a weak smile.
He leaned in to kiss her, "Come on my sweet, let's go change and I'll meet you outside the room and we'll head back to the basement. I would like to have an early start in the morn."
She nodded.
They walked to their chambers and then Thorin led her to her room and said, "By the way, I think we have achieved something tonight."
"Oh? And what is that?"
"My parents did not suspect us at all."
She grinned and nodded as she moved into her room.
….
End of Chapter 17