Author's note: Dear readers, I just want to thank everyone who had been following this story! And to all who had put this on alert, favourite, and follow, I really do appreciate you all doing that! It gives me the encouragement to continue on. If you have any comments on this story, please don't hesitate to fire back! Any questions/comments/reviews would be appreciated and addressed.

Again thank you everybody!

J.

Coming Of Age – Chapter 24

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ThoraLee woke up with a fiery burning sensation in her back. She thought someone had set it on fire! She wanted to roll on her back to put it out but she couldn't move.

Why couldn't she move? What happened anyways? She tried to recall how it happened…did her house catch fire? The forge in the back workshop, did it catch fire? Everything was so hazy!

She grunted in frustration as she tried to wreck her brains to remember what caused her back such intense pain.

Images began to flash before her; Thorin, Grakarbor, Crudd, Shia, Shia's friends, the dagger, the oak limb, the river, the wood elves, Eluin, Thorin, dwarves…Thorin…

She remembered.

"Thorin…" She rasped dryly.

"I'm here my love," Lee heard his voice quite close to her. Then she felt a warm touch on her cheek and she smiled. "How are you feeling?" He asked softly.

"My back…burns much," she admitted.

"I'll have Oin apply more poultices on it," Thorin said. She heard cloth rustling behind her.

What seemed like ages to her when Thorin came back with a dwarf in tow, a wooden bowl in his hands.

He peeked to look at her and said to Thorin, "Er, she does not have the dagger in her hands, does she?"

Thorin turned to him and shook his head, "No, you are safe to approach, cousin."

Oin gave him an arched look as he walked to the bed.

Lee was watching him, "Hello," she said softly. "I presumed I have you to thank for saving my life. You are Thorin's cousin Oin."

Oin smiled and nodded, "At your service, my dear. Of course you don't recall last eve when you introduce the dagger to my throat but that's in the past, princess."

Lee closed her eyes as her cheeks reddened, "I do apologize, I do not recall last eve's events, the last I remembered was meeting Eluin the wood elf and his people."

Oin nodded as he proceeded to apply the stinging poultices on her, Lee gritted her teeth as she held onto Thorin's hands.

Soon it was over and Oin covered the wounds with clean linens.

"Rest princess, your wounds will heal in a few days," Oin nodded as he placed the bowl down.

Lee frowned, "Why do you keep calling me a princess? I am but a daughter of a metal smither, Master Oin."

Oin looked behind her, where Thorin was sitting by her. She couldn't see his expression as she was lying on her stomach.

"She doesn't know?" Oin asked Thorin.

"No." She heard his reply.

"What? Doesn't I know about? Thorin, what is going on?" Lee tried to turn but winced in pain as she lay back down.

"It's nothing, Lee just lie still dear." Thorin said quietly as he squeezed her hand.

A knock on the door interrupted them as Oin opened the door; it was Frerin and Queen Nur.

"I hope you did not mind visitors," Nur smiled as she approached the bed as Oin offered her a chair. Frerin chose to stand with him.

"Your Majesty, forgive my state of undress and informal greetings." Lee blushed but she was happy to see her.

Nur waved her hands about, "Think nothing of it, ThoraLee, I should have waited until you are well enough to receive visitors but I am so worried about you. Do forgive me."

Lee shook her head slightly, "Not at all, your Majesty. I am very happy to see you. How are you? And Dis? I missed her."

Nur smiled wider, "She is well and growing by the minute. But most importantly, how are you my dear? You are in good hands, Oin is the best healer."

"Yes, I am most grateful he was here when it…happened." Lee said sadly.

Nur's smile faltered as well, "Y...yes…it was such an awful thing…that happened to you."

"Mother…" Thorin warned her.

Nur glance at her son, "I am sorry, my son. I know I should not bring it up but I...I...can't help it."

"It's all right, your Majesty. The good thing is I'm alive and well." Lee smiled weakly.

Nur nodded and said, "My dear, why don't you stop addressing me so formally, after all, you and Thorin are wedded so…"

"WHAT?" Lee reared her head but fell back down in severe pain.

"Mother!" Thorin exclaimed as he tried to sooth Lee.

"Oh great, this is going to be fun!" Frerin grinned.

Oin turned to him, "Fun? I don't see where the fun in this?"

Frerin chuckled, "Just watch," as he pointed at the scene before them.

"Thorin, you told your mother we are wedded? Who else?" Lee tried to glare at him as she struggled through her pain and her bindings. Oin rushed to her and held her down.

"Really, you must not move about, you'll tear the stitches!"Oin glared at Thorin, "Will you help hold her down?"

"Forget the stitches! The only thing I'm tearing is…is his head! It is supposed to be OUR secret! Thorin!"

Thorin glared at her as he did what Oin asked him.

"Let me up!" Lee tried to shrug them off her as she stood up on the bed, gathering the blankets around her glaring angrily at Thorin as he and Oin tried to grab at her.

Nur was looking on worriedly, "Lee, do listen to Oin, er your coverings are slipping…oh my! Frerin turn around!" Frerin did as his mother bidden him as he continued to laugh.

"Get off… me…"Lee continue to struggle angrily, trying to push against both of them.

Finally, in desperation and to keep her safe, Thorin jumped on the bed and tackled Lee, wrapped both arms around her and held her close to him, keeping her within him as he brought them to their knees, "Lee! Listen to me! It slipped! I thought they killed you! And I was upset…I didn't know what I was saying…you were all I have, Lee and I…I…blurt it out!"

Lee was shaking her head as her strength gave out and she lay limply in his arms, "No one was supposed to know! Do you know what this means? Everyone…wait...Does everyone knows?" She turned to Thorin and

"I know! I'm sorry Lee!" He bent his head to lean it against her body. "I was broken hearted…I thought I had lost you. I didn't know what I …how I was going to go on without you. And it came out."

Nur said quietly, "Lee, it's all right. We are not upset. In fact, Thrain and I are delighted. A little unconventional but delighted. Given the way you two went about your...er...relationship, Thrain and I were not surprise you did it behind us."

"You're not?" Thorin and Lee asked together.

Nur shook her head as she laughed, "Not at all. We can tell we would not be able to keep you apart for long. I remember when your father and I were courting when we were young and still unwed, we couldn't keep our hands off…"

"Mother!" Thorin exclaimed. "Please?"

Oin was chuckling.

Nur blushed, "Well, anyways, as I was saying Lee I think I would be most pleased if you would start calling me a little more informally?"

Lee smiled and nodded, "Yes...mother."

She clapped her hands happily. "Oh yes! How wonderful!"

"Um mother, may I turn around now?" Frerin said by the door.

Nur turned to look at her youngest son, "Oh yes, by all means."

Frerin turned to look at all of them and said, "Well, this is thirsty work and if you ask me, I think I am in need of a drink. So, you'll excuse me?" He shook his head and left the room.

Nur nodded, "Well, that is my cue as well, I do have to see about my other…daughter." She looked at Lee as she smiled and she moved over to the bed and kissed Lee's forehead softly, "Rest well my daughter," before she left the room, smiling widely.

Oin mopped his forehead with his kerchief, "It appears I too am in need of a drink. I shall return later to apply more poultices on your back… princess." With a nod, he left in a hurry, shutting the door after him.

"Thorin?" Lee said a moment later.

"Yes my dear?"

"I think it's safe to let me go," she said, Thorin could hear her smile.

"Oh yes…" He did not realize he was still holding on tightly to her, her back was beginning to hurt her again.

Laying her back gently down on the bed, he poured her a cool drink which she drank gratefully and thirstily,

As she rested, watching him sitting close beside her, their hands entwined together, Lee posed a question to Thorin, "Exactly who knew about our…secret?"

Thorin was silent for a while, Lee thought he had not heard her but he arched a look at her and said, "Don't be mad, my love but I think by now, everyone from Erebor to Dale."

Lee groaned.

He patted her hand, "I am sorry rúzín it was not my intention. I wanted you to myself as well until the time of Durin's Day. But I truly thought I had lost you forever…" He closed his eyes as he recalled that anguished day.

Lee squeezed his hand, "Tis quite all right, my Khazad-zukin," She said softly to him. "I too wanted to be selfish and have you all to myself. I did not want to share you with anyone. I thought I would never see you again as I floated away in the river…" Thorin covered her mouth as he shook his head.

"Let's forget about that day. I don't want to think about it anymore." He said with a ragged voice.

Lee smile behind his hand.

He looked at her as he replaced his hand with his lips and soon found her unresponsive; she had fallen asleep, with a smile remaining on her face.

Thorin smiled as he kissed her gently again, she moaned softly but didn't stirred. "Sleep well, my sweet and beautiful wife."

He stood up and left the chambers after he made sure a maid was sitting with her in case she stirred.

….

As he made his way to his living quarters, in need of a drink, he saw his cousins, all four of them waiting for him, as well as his brother Frerin.

"Ah, the newly wedded Prince! Come, come, we are now celebrating your bliss with your finest keg of ale! Come cousin, here's a mug in your honor!" Gloin handed him a mug cheerfully, the brim was overflowing with froth.

"Indeed, cousin!" Balin chuckle as he drank his mug of beer. "Last I left the poor sod, he was busily in the midst of a battle of the wits with the pretty lass, pretty and fiery and now Dwalin and I returned not but a few days' time, he had up and be wedded to her! He who had sworn he would not be tied to a wife for the longest time! This is a tale I want to hear how it came to being. Sit Thorin. Let us hear this tale about this claim... how is it that she beat you to it? And how did you put up to it?" Balin eyed him closely as the others laughed at him rauciously.

They all laughed as he reddened to the point even his ears were feeling hot.

Gloin and Oin nod as they said together, "Nay, We want to hear it ere from the beginning, how you met the fair and fiery ThoraLee and what led to this claim of YOUR fair hand, cousin!" Of course, more laughter as they slapped his back hard as Thorin's face was turned beet red.

Thorin shook his head as he drank more from his mug; he felt that this evening was going to be a long, long evening as he sat back and listened to Balin, Dwalin and his brother told the tales of how he and Lee met at her Coming of Age party, and how he wound up with a black eye and a broken nose from her! And it went down from there, with the deal his father made with her.

The entire evening was interrupted with lots of laughter and back slapping and plenty of beer drinking.

Balin was describing the incident at workshop in Dale when they were throwing daggers at each other. Oin and Gloin couldn't help wondering what kind of daggers they were using. Thorin, wearing the dagger from the night before, removed it from his boot and showed it to the two.

"Lee made them a while back, she gave this to me. It had a twin and they are deadly sharp."

Oin and Gloin examined the craftsmanship and nodded.

"Indeed, it is a fine piece of work. So fine, if pierced her skin and muscle cleanly in her shoulder." Oin nodded. "I must say, I will have her make me a few of these. She is quite a talent. The wood elves and her sire taught her the craft?"

Thorin nodded. "Her twin brother is just as talented as her. Balin and Dwalin can tell you that."

Balin nodded. "Indeed, he is. JoraLee is as talented as they come. That's right, I had forgotten! With all that had happened, Dwalin why did you not remind me?"

Dwalin frowned at his brother, "What are you talking about?"

"That we met with Master Odin! And the old master himself was willing, too willing to take in that young lad as his apprentice!"

"Ah yes! You're right, all this excitement, I had plump forgotten! Dear me, we were on the way to the bottom of Misty Mountains but Master Odin met us near Erebor! Imagine our surprise! We didn't expect the great dwarf himself. He said he was here for supplies and we showed him young Jor's work and he was thrilled, well more than thrilled, so he said he would ride back home with the lad. So that saved us the trip to under Misty Mountains."

Thorin nodded, "That explains why you two made it back so soon." Then he turned to his other cousins.

Gloin explained, "Oin wanted to come to Erebor when cousin Nur was with child. He didn't know how far along she was and figured she required assistance with the delivery. As you can see, we were too late. Thanks to my brother." He glared at Oin.

"Well, look here, Gloin. I had to collect some herbs, that root could have been useful for delivery." Oin tried to defend himself.

"That root cause us to be stuck in the mud for the whole day!" Gloin said angrily.

Oin shrugged his shoulders, "We came through all right, though."

Gloin muttered in his breath as he drained his mug and stood up for a refill.

"Anyways, your wife is certainly as smart as well as pretty, you're fortunate Thorin, I'd wed her right away, if you hadn't." Oin nodded his head.

"Aye I would too if I weren't wedded myself." Gloin agreed.

"So, is Thrain really serious with his death sentence ruling?" Oin asked.

Frerin shook his head, then wished he didn't as he was deep in his cups, he had drank one too many, "Since Lee did not die, they could not be charged with murder but they are charged with … the word…trying to kill her…attempt, yeah, attempted murder. So, they are to be sent to the mines to work for the rest of their lives."

The dwarves nodded, "Well that is just as bad as being sentenced to death. They might not make it. They deserve it. All of them."

"I wish I could get my hands on that fat lump of a boy, that Crudd, for what he had done to Lee." Thorin said angrily as he stared into his mug.

Dwalin nodded, "Be that as it may, the work in the mines will be more than punishment for him. Trust me, he will get his due."

They all nodded in agreement, and together, drank to that.

Thorin nodded to them, "Well I have more news to you then."

The four dwarves looked at him expectantly as Frerin had begun to snore in the corner quietly.

"Lee found Durin's gold and the Arkenstone." Thorin said quietly as he took another drink.

"You don't say?" Balin said in a stunned voice.

"I'll be an orc's uncle!" Dwalin's jaw dropped as he said.

"Great Mahal!" Oin and Gloin blurted out together.

Thorin grinned at them, "The Arkenstone had been in the palace, in my mother's room all this time and we did not know. It was in a secret compartment."

"Your mother's room?" Balin's awed voice repeated. "Your mother's room?"

"Who put it there? And During's gold? How much?" Gloin asked.

Thorin told them, "According to the text script, Lee had translated, Durin V had hid the Arkenstone when the Nogrods decided to mount an attack with another clan. The gold, we'll take you to see it, it is immense covers the entire Erebor is undergrounds from the palace to Dale."

"That big?" Oin exclaimed.

Thorin nodded. "We sent for you to help move the gold. That was why we were surprise to see you so soon. Too soon, we didn't know you came for mother. It is fortuitous you were here when you did."

Oin and Gloin nodded their heads still dumb-founded at the find.

"You don't think the Nogrods will be back once word had gotten out about the gold and the Arkenstone?" Dwalin asked

Thorin looked at his cousin and said, "That is why we want just family to do this and we were hoping to find this contract Durin V had carved out about the Nogrods. It was supposed to be out in plain sight. Frerin and I searched the Receiving Halls, figuring it would be there but nothing." He said glumly.

Balin nodded, "It will be found, and once it is, they will have no claim to the gold or the Stone." The others nodded in agreement.

"I can't believe it, Durin's gold…it actually exists. Thank goodness for your ThoraLee."

Thorin nodded as he grinned. "Aye I am a lucky man, nay…the luckiest man. Thank goodness she hit me!"

Balin and Dwalin laughed at him, "Yes, thank goodness she did."

Then a feminine voice came into the room, "And if you don't do something about my back, Master Oin, I'll hit you as well as the closest gentleman in this room."

They all looked up in surprised to see Lee leaning against the door frame, she was dressed in Thorin's oversized shirt that came to her knees and bare-feet as she had her right fist balled up ready to put it to use,

Oin looked at her guiltily as he began to fumbled out of his seat and hastily gathered his bag, "Why yes, ma'am…right away…um, Thorin..someone….please escort her back to her room…I'll be along."

Thorin stood hurriedly and brought her out of the chamber and settled her back in her room and awaited for Oin and his poultices.

The other dwarves chuckled as they said in one voice, "Fireball!

…..

End of Chapter 24