Chapter 42

For the first time the next morning, I woke before he did. He was in such a deep sleep that I didn't even want to move, but I saw that the sun was up and there were things that I needed to do. I slipped out of his hold and got ready for the day in silence. When I came out of the bathroom, fresh and ready about an hour later, Thorin was still sleeping. His chest rose and fell steadily, and I smiled quietly. Picking up my crown, I placed it on my head and pulled my boots on. Tying my belt, I put on my sword and slipped two daggers into my boots as I got ready to leave. I needed to get a few things done. Things that were better off without Thorin involved. Going to walk out of the room, I paused to look at Thorin and sighed. Walking over to him, I pressed a kiss to his brow. His hand reached up and grabbed mine, making me smile.

"Where is my queen off to?" he rumbled tiredly. "And why are you being so quiet?"

"Well you were sleeping," I chuckled. "I wanted to let you sleep. I have a few things I need to do today. I'll be back by nightfall. I think."

His eyes opened and he glanced at me for a moment and then nodded his head. "All right fine," he sighed. "I have a few mines to over see and things to do down in the forges."

Nodding my head, I kissed his cheek and walked out. Walking down the many steps that led through the halls, I found Kili with Fili. The older brother was up and moving around after only four days of healing. He was moving a little better, and his lips weren't pressed together in pain. When I walked over, Fili gave me a smile and a short bow.

"My lady," he smiled.

"Princes," I teased back, and they both laughed. "How are you feeling today, Fili?"

"Much better," he nodded, as I let him hug me. "I can move easier now. Gloin is up and moving around now as well."

"Good," I nodded.

"I was going to bring you with me, Kili but I have other things that need to be done. Take Tauriel away from the mountain for the day. I would like you to go down and make an appearance in Dale together," I said smoothly. "It might be best if I alone deal with Thranduil."

Kili's face fell slightly, but he nodded anyway. "At least I get to deal with getting out of royal duties."

I chuckled as we walked out of the mountain together. Fili was able to follow, his face set in fierce determination. I had to applaud his efforts, he certainly was a stubborn one. Just like his uncle. Dwalin was outside waiting for me, and I smiled when he greeted me with a slight bow. I tipped my head toward him and he came to join my side. Part of me wanted to ride into Mirkwood, but I knew that it would take to long.

"Are we ready?" I asked seriously, and looked at Dwalin who nodded. "Remember, you need to be silent."

"Yes, yes," he muttered flatly, as we walked down the path.

Once we got far enough away, I turned into a large eagle and got Dwalin on my back before taking to the sky. I made a direct route to the woodland realm. I took it as smoothly as I could through the trees, and landed in front of the gate that we had once been led through as prisoners. I turned human once I was able, and I watched two guards come forward as we approached. They bowed slightly, though their eyes glittered with the fact that I was here. Dwalin grumbled under his breath, but kept his arms loosely at his sides.

"Your king knows of my arrival," I said easily. "I sent word to him late last night."

"Of course," one elf said tightly, as they opened the front gate. "Follow me."

I glanced at my war master who took a firm stance behind me as we walked through the woodland realm, and to the throne that I had been in front of once before. The reasons back then had been entirely different. Now, I was a queen and no one could hurt me here. I could feel the warrior behind me was not fully comfortable with the elves at his back, but followed my lead quite easily. Thranduil was sitting quietly, waiting for us as we walked up the steps and to the platform to stand before him. He rose to his feet when he saw me, and gave a slight bow. If one could even call it that, but I didn't care much.

"Queen Arina," he greeted. "A pleasure."

"King Thranduil," I bowed back. "Always."

"So, what brings the Queen of Erebor to the Woodland Realm and from her husband?" he mused, as he walked down the steps.

"I seek your council about a very important matter," I said slowly. "One that I wish not to share with Thorin right now because I don't believe that you two are suddenly wonderful friends."

"Clever of you to be so observant," he smiled, and offered his arm. "Follow me. We will take this to a more private room."

I decided to take his offer, and slipped my hand through his arm. We walked through the vast halls, and I made sure Dwalin was still with us. At one point, he gave me an amused smile, but also reassuring me that I could do what needed to be done. Thranduil took us to a private room and went and sat down at a chair. Moving forward, Dwalin pulled my own chair out, so I sat down after nodding to him.

"So, what is so important that you had to bring your war master?" Thranduil arched a perfect eyebrow.

"Dwalin is much more then just a war master, my lord," I smiled. "But he is not what I've come to discuss."

"Indeed," he acknowledged.

"For the past year, you have been allowing Tauriel to travel freely between our realms," I began carefully. "Surely you know about the...love those two share."

"I try to ignore it," Thranduil answered, bored.

"So I've noticed," I commented. "I'm afraid that you can no longer ignore the issue. I'm here to ask for you to allow Tauriel to marry Prince Kili."

It was silent for a long moment, and the elf lord stared at me with absolutely no emotion on his face. I could tell that he was angry at the suggestion, only because my senses picked it up. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up, and even Dwalin shifted closer to me in the silence. I couldn't let Thranduil intimidate me, or throw me from my course. I cleared my throat softly, making his eyes snap to mine.

"You had to know this was going to happen, my lord," I said with a smile. "I know you are not completely blind."

"This is not happening," Thranduil snapped, his cool demeanor disappearing. "I will not let an elf pledge herself to a dwarf rat!"

"Remember what happened on the battle field when Tauriel confronted you?" I asked slowly, arching my brow.

"I do," he muttered, his attention caught by my sudden question.

"Had I not been there, this would have played out very differently in the end," I murmured.

"If I allow this..."

"If you allow this, it will be beneficial to both parties involved. Kili is royalty, not just any common royalty either," I pointed out confidently. "He is a son of Durin. Had this not been meant to happen, I'm sure the Valar would have stepped in long ago. Durin the Deathless will come again regardless, that I am sure of. Not only that, but Tauriel is not yours to give away. She is not royalty, nor is she of your blood. You are just like Thorin, unwilling to do something that is foreign to you."

Thranduil glared at me slightly, but it disappeared before I had a chance to do anything. "And how did King Thorin react?"

"The same as you," I replied easily. "But there is a difference over there. He married me, so he has no room to tell Kili that this cannot be done. If this marriage happens my lord, then we'll have an alliance that will last till the end of days. It would be a huge step for both races. You can even call it a political marriage if it satisfies you."

It was silent for several minutes, as Thranduil glanced at his wine cup thoughtfully. I knew that his brain was working, and just like Thorin, I knew that he saw no issue with that was going on. If he stood in the way of Tauriel, she'd renounce him as her ruler and just head over to Erebor. It was depending on whether or not he wanted to step in between a couple in love, or stop them. The fact that Thorin had already said yes in a way, just made it that much easier. Thranduil couldn't say no to this.

"I will send out word soon," Thranduil nodded quietly. "If any assistance is needed, I will provide it. We will discuss this in more length at another time."

"My Lord," I nodded, and turned to walk away from him.

He inclined his head ever so slightly, before looking at a guard and nodding to him. Dwalin followed at my back until we were safely seen from the city. I was almost bouncing from the happiness that was flowing through me. Not only had I achieved something that many thought would be impossible, I was about to make two beings very happy. Dwalin grunted behind me, and I smiled at him. Once we were out in the courtyard, I moved away from him to transform back into an eagle.

"I'll never get used to this," he sighed gruffly, and I clicked my beak.

"Yes you will," I teased. "You have me as your queen...it's not so bad."

Dwalin got into a rock, and easily jumped onto my back from there. It was a tricky take off with the trees, but I managed it and I soared high over the forest and toward Beorn's house. I landed about two hours later, and allowed the dwarf to slide from my back. I had to talk to the bear shifter about what was going on. The door opened at our arrival, and I melted back into my human form quietly. My plan was also to bring the horses we had left here home, so Dwalin went off to fetch them while I dealt with Beorn.

"Hello Beorn. I apologize that the horses were with you for so long. We had a few things to take care of," I greeted, after he bowed slightly

"Shouldn't a queen send out someone else to fetch horses?" he mused.

"I will not be confined to ruling a kingdom. Thorin knew I had things to do today," I replied easily. "He is better at the leading and the ruling part."

"I wouldn't be so sure."

Turning my head, I watched Dwalin ride over, ponying the other horse. I softened slightly at Dwalin's comment, and smiled at him.

"Are you trying to give me a compliment?" I teased him.

"My Lady, you under estimate yourself," Dwalin replied with a rumble.

"Thank you, Dwalin," I chuckled, and patted the neck of his horse. "Thank you, Beorn for watching over them."

"No, it is a privilege," Beorn smiled and bowed. "I quite like you and your little dwarf friends."

I chuckled and went over to the horse Dwalin was holding and swung up into the saddle. Reaching forward, I smoothed his mane and sighed quietly to myself. Beorn saw us off, and we pushed the animals into a trot. We made some good time, until a smell caught my attention.

"There's a storm coming," Dwalin sighed, as a low rumble in the distance confirmed it. "We'll never make it back to the mountain on foot like this."

"I don't want to be stuck in it," I sighed. "The horses are going to freak out. Can you handle them?"

"Aye. I think it would be best. It feels like a bad one," he said seriously, so I nodded.

Sighing quietly, I jumped off my horse and gave them some space so that I could transform into a dragon. The animals immediately snorted, and pranced in worry at the sight of such a predator. Dwalin jumped off his, and I grabbed them with my back feet once I had Dwalin in my front claws. He'd be safe that way if it started to rain. The horses immediately panicked when I took to the sky, but I kept a firm hold on them as we flew. The storm closed in on us quite fast, and soon I was pelted with cold rain. It made me growl in irritation.

By the time we returned to Erebor it was well into the night. I had taken my time in the storm, not wanting to harm those I carried in the fierce wind and rain. I put the horses down after I released Dwalin. Touching down, I lifted my head and looked to our room to see the candles lit. A figure stood out on the balcony, so I came level with Thorin, who looked at me from the safety under the rock. I bared my teeth when he arched his brow slightly, but I turned human and quickly rushed inside. Guards had rushed forward to help Dwalin with the horses, and soon everything was quiet again.

Pulling my hair out of my face,I ran a hand through it and sighed softly. Dwalin walked over once the guards were dealt with and he arched a brow at me. I smiled at him, and he bowed slightly. Moving forward, I reached up and hugged him tightly, and was glad that he returned the gesture. It was rare for him to do so, and I was grateful.\

"Thank you," I murmured.

"Of course," he rumbled.

Once we parted, I made my way up to my room. I wanted to be dry, and I wanted it now. Thorin was smoking his pipe when I opened the door, and he turned to see me. I gave him a smile as I took my boots off as well as my socks. There was a fire going, so I went over to it and warmed up briefly. Turning my attention back to the dwarf, I sighed softly.

"For it being summer...the rain was actually cold," I complained lightly as I walked toward him.

"And where did you run off to might I ask?" Thorin arched his brow.

"I hope that bath is for the both of us," I smiled, avoiding the question.

He sighed at the obvious dodge and motioned for me to come with him. I was all too happy to shed my wet clothes and get into the warm water. Thorin joined me, and leaned his head back as his tense muscles began to relax. I got my hair wet and then hummed happily as my body began to warm up and relax.

"I went to see Thranduil about what we had discussed last night," I said slowly and waited for his reaction.

Thorin looked at me from where he sat at the corner of the large tub but gave me nothing except for an arch of his brow. "Go on."

"It was nothing spectacular," I sighed softly, moving over to him. "I just pointed out that you had already said yes, and that Thranduil would have an alliance if he decided to do this. He knows that he'd be getting in the way of love. I don't think he wants to do that either."

"I think that's the smartest thing he's ever done," Thorin snorted.

"He said that he will be in touch with you shortly to discuss how this will go down," I replied with a smile. "We are all in agreement that this is good. The alliance alone is needed, I'm sure you thought of that."

"I have. I thought it over today while I was in meetings and over seeing what else needed to be done," Thorin answered.

"And how are you feeling today?" I asked leaning back, and looking at him.

"I feel much better," he nodded his head. "Well rested."

"Good," I grumbled. "And have you seen your eldest nephew at all?"

"I did. I spent almost four hours with him. For once...I was just his uncle and not his king," he sighed softly.

"I think he misses having just his uncle around sometimes."

Thorin sighed and ran his hand over his face, his body tensing from the gesture. "I know he does," he muttered.

I pushed back from him so that I could reach up and place a kiss on his lips. "All things need balance. You'll find it," I said softly.

"Speaking of balance," he smiled softly. "You will be going in front of my council tomorrow."

"What?" I demanded.

"I may have mentioned something to them," he shrugged, wrapping his arms around me. "You will be speaking to them about why this needs to happen."

"Lovely," I grunted.

He gave me a slight smile and allowed me to help wash him. He said nothing further, and instead we fell into a comfortable silence. We wanted to take our time, but it was late. I wanted nothing more than to go to sleep, and I noticed Thorin felt the same. I was happy that I had been able to accomplish so much today.

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