„Kate? Are you alright?"
Lindsey could see her sister suddenly turning a bit pale. Her older sisters eyes drifted along the room, until they met Lindseys gaze.
„A baby...Lindsey, I'll have a baby. Thorins baby...", she breathed until a broad smile turned on her face and tears of joy ran down her cheeks. She swung her arms around Lindseys neck and laughed.
„I can't believe it...you know, yesterday he told me he wants me to become his wife, the mother of his children. And now...", she fell silent and gently stroked her belly.
Lindseys eyes grew wide as she realized what Kate just had said.
„Wait, he proposed to you? You're telling me this like it's the most normal thing on earth?"
The sisters looked at each other and started squealing and embracing each other.
„And now tell me everything!"
Kate smiled and told her sister what happened last night until she raised her hand to show her the ring. Lindseys mouth dropped open.
„Kate...did Thorin make this?"
She nodded with a proud smile.
„That looks exactly like mine. Except for that sapphir."
„He chose a sapphir because blue is his favorite color and he carved the sign of Durin in it.", Kate explained.
„Who would have thought of it...If you ask me I would have took wager on whether or not the two of you kill each other on this journey. And now look at that...engaged to the king and awaiting his child. Kate, Kate...and you told me to be careful with Fili", Lindsey said chuckling.
„I hope you were!"
„Yes, yes...", she mumbled hoping Kate would not realise that she was lying.
„Good..."
„So, when will you tell him?"
„As soon as possible...but first I'm going to see a healer. I promised him."
„Why?"
„I had a little morning sickness yesterday...I did not know that it's because I'm pregnant"
„If you like I'll come with you to the healer"
Kate nodded and got up.
„Let's go!"
/
After a long examination by the healer Kate now officially knew that she was pregnant. Her heart was racing and she could not stop smiling. The sisters walked down along the road and down to the rivershore.
The Company was sitting in the warm sand, while the sun was shining down on them.
„Look at those beautiful young ladies", Fili said and pulled Lindsey down to him.
Kate smiled down at the young couple and sat down between Balin and Bofur.
She could feel all eyes on her and she turned around to look at the Company.
„You know?", she suddenly said and they all nodded with broad smiles on their faces.
„How is this even possible?", she asked with a smirk and Kili was the one to tell her their discovery.
„You took wagers on my unborn child?", Kate teased them and laughed about their ashamed faces.
She shoved Bofur and added:"It's alright, so who's in for a boy?"
The boy-faction cheered and she was impressed.
„So the rest is in for a girl, yes?"
„What do you think? Would you like to have a boy or a girl?", Kili asked.
She fell silent, thinking hard.
„It doesn't matter. It is Thorins child. As long as it's healthy and strong it can be a boy or a girl.", she said with a slight absent smile on her lips while stroking her belly.
They all exchanged a happy look but fell silent as Thorin walked up to them.
„He does not know,yet. Please be quiet", Kate hissed and the Company nodded.
Balin shifted slightly so Thorin could sat down next the Kate.
„So, what did the Master say?", Dwalin asked his friend.
Thorin shifted slightly. „We can stay one more week. He will make sure the blacksmiths create more weapons. He will provide food, drinks and ponies for us. They will take us closer to the mountain by the river as soon as we're ready to go."
The Company started to mumble. They were happy to get some more rest in that city, but their thoughts drifted to Erebor. The dragon waiting inside the mountain. Kate could feel her heart sink now. She thought she would give birth to Thorins child when this is over. Never did she think being pregnant before they reach the mountain.
Her eyes drifted along the Company and she could feel his strong arm around her waist.
„What's wrong?", he whispered sending a shiver down her spine.
She got up without saying a word. She pulled him with her, both walking up towards the city.
„Kate, are you all right?"
„Yes...", she simply replied and they entered the house.
They reached the living room and she turned around to face him.
„You better sit down"
He frowned but sank down on the sofa.
„Kate, you scare me...what's the matter?"
„I was at the healer earlier."
She could see immense sorrow in his eyes and rushed on:"I'm fine, Thorin. Don't worry. But..."
„But?", he was on the edge of his nerves.
Suddenly a slight smile broke on her face, she took his hand and placed it gently on her belly. He frowned, his eyes resting on his hand, trying to understand. With sudden realisation his eyes shot up to her face, his mouth slightly open.
„Is this true?", he whispered and she nodded with a broad smile. A tear of joy rolled down her cheek and a silvery laugh broke out of her.
His eyes drifted back down to their hands on her belly and slowly, like sand in a hourglass, he fully understood.
He got up and embraced her, a broad, proud and happy smile on his face. The happiest she'd ever seen on him. To her surprise a single tear rolled down his cheek as well. She looked at him, his eyes teary-wet and with a soft kiss she brushed his tears away.
„You make me the happiest dwarf of all dwarves.", he whispered and kissed her deeply. But suddenly he broke apart, his eyes changing slightly.
„Thorin, what's wrong?"
„I can't take you with me...You can't go with us to Erebor."
„WHAT?"
„Kate, you're carrying my child. Our child. A heir to the throne. I cannot risk getting you or our child killed."
Her face fell and tears formed in her eyes.
„Please, don't do that, Thorin. I cannot let you go. I will die of fear...I cannot sit here while you risk your life out there and Lindsey would not want to stay leaving Fili behind. And if she goes I will go as well!"
He sighed, sank down on the sofa, pulling her with him.
„I'm afraid, Kate. I love you so much, and I instantly began to love our unborn child. You have to understand..."
„I do, Thorin. I do understand, but you have to understand me as well."
Their eyes were locked, both filled with fear, sorrow, and still an immense happiness.
„I would never forgive myself if something happens to you or the child..."
„Then we have to make sure that nothing happens to us", she smiled and he slightly chuckled.
„That's one thing I love about you the most. Your easy confidence."
He pulled her closer, placing a kiss on her hair.
„How come the healer did not recognize it the day we arrived?", he asked curiously.
„She did not examine me like she did today. You don't want to know the details", she laughed as she saw his slightly shocked face.
„It's fine, it did not hurt. But to be honest I knew it before I went to the healer."
„What? How?"
She told him about the discovery of the Company and that Lindsey told it to her this morning.
„You see? I knew they were plotting something", he grumbled but he was not really angry. He was too overwashed with proudness. He never really thought it would happen. That he would find a woman to give birth to a heir or heiress. He was certain that in the end, when his time was over, Fili would be the one taking the throne. But now, everything changed. His eyes drifted to Kate again and he watched her, her head leaning against his shoulder. She was the most beautiful woman he ever met and he did not even care about that she was from the Men-race. He knew that his Company was fine with his choice and he was certain that his sister and all the other dwarves that would come back to Erebor would love Kate as well. She would be the most beautiful Queen in a dwarf kingdom ever.
Then his mind drifted and he frowned.
„Kate?"
„Hmm?"
„The time we were locked up in Mirkwood...you told me you feel sick. And you threw up a lot..."
She shifted slightly to look up into his eyes.
„I guess I was already pregnant, yes. I think it was the day at the Carrock our child was conceived.", she smiled but was aware that the color of his eyes slightly changed. They were dark, darker than ever before.
„Thorin, what's wrong?"
He could feel fury building up in him. Blind fury, and he had to take a deep breath not to break out.
„He slapped you...", he pressed through gritted teeth.
„Thorin..."
„He slapped and treated you like a worthless piece of meat. Not only that he slapped a woman. He slapped a pregnant woman. MY pregnant woman!", he growled and she knew that his anger was immense and he would break out like a volcano.
„Thorin, try to calm down. That's past. He won't get near us again."
„I like to see him try. I would behead him and impale his head as a warning sign to any enemy not to lay hand on you or my child again!", he growled.
Kate did not know what to do so she just cupped his face and pressed her lips on his. She could feel him slightly relaxing again but she knew the anger was still deep inside him.
„You need to blow off your steam, I suppose. Go and make a little sparring with Dwalin. I'm certain that'll help you to calm down again. I don't want to see you like this now. I want to enjoy that last week in peace."
He looked deep into her eyes before finally nodding.
But he never forgave, and never forget.
/