Chapter 17: A New Heir
Night drew in swiftly, winter was near. Lily had done just as Bard had said, she did not leave the tent anymore. Thorin would scout the horizon for her every few minutes, but knew in his heart he had hurt her more than he could imagine, and he damned himself for ever thinking she could betray him. But she had. He was justified, she was with them, she was lost to him now. Still, his heart bled for her, he had never longed for anything so much in his life, not even Erebor.
Bilbo paced about the tent impatiently, Lily was definitely in discomfort. She had a sweat on her brow, and her head would move from side to side restlessly. The handmaid would only come and cool her with a wet towel once in a while.
"Is it coming? Is the baby close?" Bilbo asked anxiously.
"Yes, it is close." The handmaid answered serenely.
Bilbo cracked a wide smile, what a joyous occasion! However, it was still dampened in that Thorin and the dwarves were not here to witness the birth of the heir. Just as he was observing her in her fitful sleep, Bilbo heard a horn blowing in the distance. Soon there was a scurrying outside the tent, and he went to investigate. The first person he came across was Bard.
"What's going on?" Bilbo asked in a panic.
"Goblins. They've come out of caves near the mountain. We are vastly outnumbered, even with the elves." Bard said with a look of concern etched into his brow, "Stay with Lily, she will need all the help she can get." Bard commanded, giving a strong pat on the shoulder to the young hobbit. With that he turned and disappeared into the darkness.
"Goblins!" Bilbo said to himself, remembering their last encounter, and turning to look at the tent with the fully indisposed Lily awaiting birth inside. He walked back determinedly, he would guard her with his life. As the minutes went past, Bilbo could hear the battle ensue not far from their camp, it made him nervous. It did not help that Lily was so close to the big event either. The handmaid cast wary glances to the entrance once in a while, but was otherwise as serene as a statue.
Just as the battle seemed to be heightening, the handmaid turned to Bilbo and said, "It is time, go outside to the guards and tell them to retrieve Thranduil."
Bilbo nodded and ran outside as quickly as he could, stammering out the words to a nearby guard, who gave a curt nod and disappeared swiftly into the darkness. Bilbo then returned into the tent, and saw the handmaid feeling Lily's belly, and seating herself between her spread legs. He suddenly felt faint. He seated himself nearby to steady himself as he watched the ceremony begin.
Just a few moments later Thranduil stepped gracefully inside the tent. He was covered in blood, presumably goblin blood. He stepped forward quickly, and the handmaid made way for him to take her seat.
"She is near. Now is the time," Thranduil said in earnest, "Send Beorn."
Bilbo looked around in confusion as the handmaid slipped out of the tent and into the darkness. Did Thranduil say what he thought he'd said?
"Why Beorn?" Bilbo asked, standing up and walking to Lily's side. He gently took her hand in his and caressed it for comfort.
"He will retrieve Thorin. He is the only one strong enough to break through the goblin ranks to get close enough to Thorin, and bring him back here." Thranduil explained calmly. Bilbo nodded mutely.
It was then that Lily gave out a great cry of pain, and her eyes flew open. She looked directly at Bilbo, which startled him for a moment,
"It's alright, the baby is coming. Thranduil is here, you'll be fine." Bilbo said encouragingly, even though it felt as though his insides might explode.
Lily looked down at Thranduil between her legs, who cast up a quick glance at her before continuing his examination. Despite her pain, Lily still felt shame at seeing the noble elf between her legs examining her sex so.
"She will be ready in a short while. I leave you now, I am needed in battle." Thranduil said as he rose up to his full height. In that moment the handmaid returned and he addressed her, "When he comes, let him deliver the child alone. Aid him if there is difficulty, but he must do it himself." Thranduil commanded before leaving.
"Who? Who is delivering the baby?" Bilbo asked as the elf brushed past him and out into the darkness.
"Bilbo, stay with me." Lily said reaching out her hand for him. He quickly returned to her side and smiled at her,
"It will be alright, the elves wouldn't let anything happen to you." Bilbo said as calmly as he could.
A few moments passed before Beorn finally dropped the dwarf king in front of a tent just beyond the battle,
"What is the meaning of this?!" Thorin yelled at the bear, "You took me away from my men in the heat of battle! They need their king!" He said stepping fiercely towards the bear.
Beorn simply changed into his human form before addressing the fuming dwarf king, "Dain has come, your men have all the help they will need. Someone else needs you now more than they do." He said in a growling voice, pushing Thorin gruffly inside the tent.
As Thorin entered the elven tent his breath died in his throat. There she was, legs spread, head thrown back in agony. She was in labor. Thorin turned to look at Beorn who simply nodded before turning back into a bear and running off into the darkness. The handmaid stood up and approached Thorin,
"She is ready. You must deliver your child." She said in a soothing voice, motioning for him to go to her.
Bilbo stood up in a swift motion, looking down at Lily and then at Thorin, "He's here." He whispered to Lily.
Thorin drifted towards Lily as though in a dream. She lifted her head and locked eyes with him. He could see her joy awash with sorrow, and all he wanted to do was be alone with her. Bilbo moved out of his way as Thorin approached his queen's side.
"Thorin?" She said in a faint voice.
"Yes, I am here my love." His eyes brimmed with tears as he stroked her face, "I'm so sorry, I have never been such a fool..."His voice broke off.
"I love you..." Lily said back in a shaky voice.
"Oh Lily..." Thorin broke. He leaned in and kissed her deeply. He would have continued on if the handmaid had not spoken,
"My lord, the child is coming. You must be ready to receive it."
Thorin lifted his head, never breaking eye contact with Lily before gently nodding. He then moved down between her spread legs and gently lifted her white night gown. She was already so close. Her cries of pain seared through him, he wanted to bring her relief.
"Push, my queen, I am here to receive our child." Thorin said gently.
Lily didn't need more encouragement, she pushed with all her might. Bilbo returned to her side and held her hand, watching her face with deep concern.
"Push again, my love." Thorin said louder and firmer this time.
Lily obliged and pushed. Soon the head came into view, to which Thorin gasped and gave out an excited laugh.
"Again my love, our child is almost here!" He said with excitement.
With a loud cry and a mighty push Lily forced the head out, and Thorin's great hands gently supported it. She pushed again and the shoulders slipped out slowly,
"This is the last time, my queen, push and bring me my child!" Thorin said loudly.
With that Lily used all her might and screamed out as their child broke free from her and slid into Thorin's waiting hands. Lily fell back exhausted as the handmaid closed in on Thorin to check on the child.
Thorin sat staring at his child with tears in his eyes. It was so small in his hands. The little lungs gave out a powerful cry. His voice was barely audible when he said,
"It's a girl." He looked up at Lily and said with a small smile, "It seems the house of Winters had won out."
Lily smiled with tears in her eyes as her head fell back onto the pillow. The handmaid handed Thorin a small blade to cut the cord. Thorin gently severed the ties, and the handmaid lifted the child from his hands and took it to be cleaned nearby. Thorin's eyes were wide as he watched his child be carried away, his hands still lay open in wait for her.
The handmaid did not take long and returned the baby to Lily, who Bilbo had now propped up on pillows. Lily took her into her arms with tears in her eyes,
"She's so beautiful." She said in a loving tone.
Thorin rose up and came beside Lily, sitting next to her on the bed. He watched his two women with such love, he felt he could burst. Even the sounds of the battle no longer registered in his ears.
"She is, just like her mother. What should we name her?" He asked, looking down into the tiny angelic face.
"Adia." Lily whispered down into the small face.
"Adia...it's perfect." Thorin whispered.
Bilbo sniffed back tears of joy. It was true that their child was indeed beautiful, and he was so grateful to have witnessed her birth. It was then that Thorin turned to Bilbo. He stood up and walked towards the hobbit, who suddenly didn't know what to do, his eyes flicking about for an exit.
Thorin stopped within a few inches of him, looking him over with scrutinizing eyes, "I owe you an apology." He began in a low tone, "I thought you had betrayed me. It seems, however, that your little plot was merely to get me closer to my queen. I am forever in your debt." Thorin said, placing a large hand on Bilbo's shoulder.
"No, no debt, I was sworn to mind her, and I did. I was already repaid just by seeing her born." He said motioning to little Adia.
The hours had rolled away in the night, and the sun would soon rise. News came that the battle was over, Gandalf had arrived with aid from the eagles, and the goblins were defeated. Bilbo and Thorin turned with joy to the messenger, and laughed and embraced.
"Did you hear that my queen, the battle is won. Erebor is ours. We can present our little princess to her kingdom." He said proudly, sitting down next to Lily again.
"...What of the treasure?" Lily asked cautiously.
Thorin's eyes shot up to hers, for a moment she saw fire, but it was extinguished by the little sounds of their daughter. He looked down at her with such tenderness that Lily's heart melted.
"They shall have their share. I have the best treasures in all the land already." Thorin said smiling at his daughter.
Lily breathed a sigh of relief. With that, Thorin rose up, kissed her once more, and departed to go and do as he said. The day stretched on long before Lily saw Thorin again. The business had been done with the elves and the people of Lake Town, as he had promised her. She was so proud of her king.
It was in the early evening that visitors started to arrive. The first to come were the dwarves, who all piled into the tent and gasped and smiled at the little princess. Each dwarf had a tear in his eyes, congratulating the couple. They all soon left to join the celebration with the elves and men when Gandalf entered with Thranduil, Bard, and Elrond.
"My dear girl," Gandalf began with a bright smile, "It would seem that you have done very well. I had no doubt that you would come through." He said with a gravely chuckle.
"My sincerest congratulations on your new child." Lord Elrond said with his gentle smile, "She will one day have a kingdom to rule, but I have no doubt with such parentage that she will manage."
"And she shall always have the guidance of the elves." Thranduil said gently from behind. Lily smiled at the blond elf. His aid had been greatest of all.
Bard stepped forward with wild flowers from the nearby fields and lay them at the foot of the bed,
"A beautiful queen, and a beautiful princess. I dare say the valley has never been so flattered before." He said smiling at the two.
"Thank you all," Lily said sincerely, "Without each of you I probably wouldn't be here today, and neither would my little one."
Each of the three men bowed deeply before the queen before taking their leave. Thorin stood bursting with pride beside her bed. The first thing he would do would be to set up the royal chamber for her and Adia, and then with the help of Dain he would repair the mountain for the other dwarves. Bard and his men would restore Dale, and the splendor of Erebor would return.
Thorin bent down and took his beautiful little princess in his arms while whispering to Lily, "You must sleep now, my queen, I will watch over her." With that he began to sing in his deep tones to the little princess, and Lily fell asleep to the soothing sound.