Chapter 35
The next week flew by for me. Between preparing for the wedding, and learning certain things about becoming queen, I was extremely tired. It was mentally exhausting. My temper, didn't make anything easier. Balin was my teacher, and more than once I got a scowl or a few choice words in his language. For my sake, they were transferring a good portion of the ceremony to the common tongue. There were so many people, and even races coming to this event that they had to change it. I knew also it was because this wasn't an ordinary dwarf wedding. Thorin wasn't wedding a dwarf, he was taking a shifter to be his wife.
A few days before the wedding itself, I met Thorin right at the front gate when a servant had come to tell me that he was requesting my presence. I smiled when I saw the dwarf lord, soon to be officially the King Under the Mountain. His own smile had my heart flipping in happiness. He took my hand and kissed it, before claiming my lips for a deep embrace that left me breathless.
"We have company," he rumbled softly.
"Greeting duty?" I smiled, teasing him.
"Yes," Thorin answered, amusement shining in his eyes.
When we walked out of the mountain, I was greeted with a large number of elves. They weren't just any elves either, they were from the Woodland Realm. Arching my brow when I spotted Thranduil riding up on a stag, I gave Thorin a narrowed look. I wasn't exactly sure I was pleased to see him.
"I wasn't' expecting him to show," he mused, and walked out so I followed him.
"Well he's here," I hissed, making him smile.
"Who is having trouble with this...royalty thing as you would so lightly put it?" Thorin asked, his voice heavy with amusement.
I groaned as I dropped my shoulders, and walked with him up to the elf as he got off his large stag. Unable to help myself, I reached up as the great animal lowered his head to me, and pressed his face in to my palm.
"Thorin," Thranduil nodded, as he watched me for a moment. "Soon to be officially King Under the Mountain. The title fits you well as always."
"Thranduil," Thorin nodded. "We are glad to see that you will be joining us for the events in the coming days. I assume the elves at your back will be setting up outside?"
"We will," the elf nodded. "No use staying underground and away from the stars."
I rubbed the stag gently on the cheek and glanced at both of them. "Have you two been making friends over the last two months? Am I missing something?"
Both of them smiled at my comment and I let my hand fall from the stag, who protested with a stomp of his foot. Thranduil gave a slight bow then.
"I offer you both my blessing as you enter into this marriage, and that you have many years after this day together," he rumbled. "There is no use insulting each other anymore. I have my gems, and you two have what you wanted. We will war with each other if we do not put this aside. Thorin and I have spoken at great lengths about it."
I eyed them both for a moment and moved back. "Thank you," I said slowly. "As if this day can't get...anymore...I think I need a drink."
Thorin laughed while Thranduil smiled with his usual icy politeness, and I had to force myself to hurry back in to the city. I went to our room and walked in and saw the robes for the coronation. Thorin had his up here as well and on a pillow in a far corner were the crowns. I felt my stomach flip again and I sat down heavily on the bed.
"This is going to happen," I whispered to myself.
I had no problem marrying Thorin. Becoming queen was something new, but I knew I could do it. None the less, I was still nervous and terrified. Getting to my feet, I walked over to the crowns and touched the one that was Thorin's. It was the one he had worn before the battle, and I dropped my hand to the smaller more elegant crown that would soon be mine.
It was simple and elegant, and I did like the look of it. It would fit perfectly and I would have no worry about it falling off. The gold twisted, and it was decorated with a few diamonds unlike Thorin's that bore no diamonds. I looked at them for a moment longer before looking at the robes that had been hung up, and I clasped my hands behind my back as I walked forward to look at them.
"Not having second thoughts now are we?"
I jumped hearing Balin's voice, so I turned to look at the old dwarf and smiled at him. "No, I am not having second thoughts," I smiled. "I've been through how much already? Why quit now."
Balin chuckled as he walked in, so I joined him as he stepped out on to the balcony. I leaned against the stone as he looked over the valley and watched as the elves set up their lodgings outside.
"You know he loves you. He always has," he mused, looking at me. "I'm very happy that this is happening. All of us are."
"I know," I replied softly, adjusting my skirt. "I'm just nervous, that's all. There is much now that is expected of me...and it does kind of scare me. And isn't this against the laws of dwarves?"
"Don't worry about that," Balin smiled, and patted my hand. "You will be a fine queen. You already are. You've been acting like one since the day after the battle."
"Thank you, Balin," I sighed softly.
"The wedding is going to be a grand celebration," he sighed, as he walked back inside. "As well as the day after."
I smiled as he left the room, and I turned to look back outside. Thorin and his nephews were outside and over seeing the set up and talking with Thranduil. I forced myself not to narrow my eyes at the elf, and instead let my eyes go over Dale for a moment and to the lake. In the distance I could faintly make out where the rebuilding of Esgaroth was going. The last two months had been busy to say the least. Sighing happily, I turned and decided to go join the others and stayed with everyone through dinner.
The day before the wedding, Dis had kept me away from Thorin when it was bed time that night, and I found myself sleeping in the room where my dress was. I wasn't happy about it, but I knew it would be easier this way. That way I could just get up and get ready for the day. When I woke up the next morning, Dis gave me breakfast and hurriedly got started.
"Oh..." I breathed in, as she started doing my hair. "Please don't make it crazy."
"Lass, you are going to have a thick braid off to the side, is that okay?" she asked as she worked.
"Yes, that's acceptable."
"I brought a few things I could use for your face and everything else is ready," she smiled, as she continued working.
I snapped my fingers a few times as she worked and felt myself fidget. Dis smiled as she watched me briefly before keeping up on what she was doing. We spent about two hours getting everything ready and by then I could hear the voices of many others in the hall below.
"We are using the Gallery of the Kings," she said. "We set it up for everything, and when we walk down the stairs I will accompany you down the aisle just to make sure you don't collapse."
"Thank you," I whispered, as she helped me slip in to my dress.
I was keeping my breathing under control so that I wouldn't work myself up. I had to think queen material, so I composed myself and waited until everything was done.
"There," she finally breathed moving back to look at me. "Oh don't you look wonderful."
There was a knock at the door, and I glanced at it when I saw Lord Elrond walk in with a gentle smile on his face. I felt my hands tremble slightly, but I returned his smile. It was a surprise to see him here. I had been in Rivendell just a few weeks ago. I wasn't aware that he was able to make a trip to Erebor this quickly.
"Go join the others, Lady Dis," he smiled. "I'll walk her down instead, it would be my honor."
"Thank you," she bowed her head and hurried out of the room.
"Well look at you," Elrond smiled. "I dare say there are a lot of people out there. Are you ready?"
"Don't ruin my courage," I laughed, as I walked up to him. "Because I'm not sure if I am."
"You will be fine," he replied gently, as he led me out of the room. "Just focus on walking down the row, or better yet, let your eyes find Thorin. I beg you, do not trip."
I laughed at that as we walked down the small flight of stairs, and to the doorway that would led through to where we had to go. I managed to peek in to see it full of bodies. Elves, men and dwarves filled the large hall, sitting on benches. The tapestries hung through the hall with decorative purpose and the gold floor added a glow through the hall.
"Everyone who should be here is," Lord Elrond smiled, as we listened to music and Dis appeared quietly.
She smiled at me, and squeezed my free hand. "Ready?" she asked.
"As I'll ever be," I replied softly.
"All right," she nodded. "It's time. Go."
Elrond tucked my arm in his and laid his hand on mine as I took a big breath and let him lead me forward. Everyone in the hall had turned and looked at us and I tried not to dread the next few moments as we walked down the long aisle that led up to Thorin. My keen eye sight found him instantly as we were halfway down, and the smile that lit up my face almost hurt. He was dressed in royal blue, with a black vest jack that fell almost to the floor. He had his hands behind his back, a common posture.
As he turned his head to see us, I met his blue eyes and it took everything I had not to start crying. His expression had my stomach hurting and my heart pounding. Elrond squeezed my hand gently as we walked up, and I faintly glanced to see Thranduil standing in the front with Tauriel, Legolas, and other elves. Everyone I knew was up front, and Dwalin was standing slightly back from Thorin, dressed in nice black attire. Lord Elrond stopped as we got up to Thorin, and he took my hand to his lips with a gentle look. When he let go of me, I looked at Thorin, and let him take my hands and bring me to stand in front of him.
"You look...beautiful," he whispered, his voice trembling.
"Stop it," I whispered back with a smile. "I can't kiss you yet."
He smiled as Balin positioned himself with a soft chuckle. I steadied my breath as he squeezed my fingers and the time suddenly blurred. I focused on his face, and repeated words when needed, but I couldn't remember much after that except for when he finally slipped a ring on to my finger, and I did the same. When Balin gave us permission to kiss after it was all over, Thorin pulled me forward and kissed me with such passion, that I had to wrap my arms around him so I wouldn't fall. There had been shouts in other languages, and music that I couldn't understand, but I was focused on the being in front of me. The clapping and cheering that echoed through the hall was so loud it had my ears ringing, and when Thorin pulled back with a smile. I looked at him, and let him run his fingers down my cheek before I wrapped my arms around his neck. He laughed softly and wrapped his arms around my waist tightly.
"Are you ready to spend the rest of our lives together?" he rumbled in my ear.
"Didn't I just agree to that?" I teased as we turned, to start walking back down the aisle. "As for being ready...ask me later."
He smiled wide, and I glanced over at Lord Elrond when we passed him and his smile was beaming. Even Thranduil had a smile on his face, which was saying a lot. Fili and Kili were cheering like ten year olds, and even Dain was joining in with them. I laughed, unable to get past that this was real. I was a queen of one of the greatest dwarven cities ever recorded. We had done the impossible, and after all of this, here we were, doing what so many thought wouldn't happen.
The feast that followed was something to put in the history books. The elves provided their own feasts to join in and the dwarves cooked food that could feed two whole cities. As I sat at the head table with Thorin and others, I looked to see a familiar face walking through the crowd with Gandalf, and my face lit up.
This needs to be split lol. Sorry this took so long. But here we are!
Review?! Please please!?