Chapter 49

Making my way down the halls, I went down to Bofur's tavern and made an appearance. I focused on paying attention to as many dwarves as possible. At one point, Fili and Kili accompanied me. Fili had finally been released from Thorin and Kili was taking a break from training the guards.

"So tell me what it was like to live here before," Fili smiled, watching his brother walk off with Tauriel hours later.

"It was a grand city," I sighed, leaning against the railing. "It will be that way again and I'll be sure to tell you the day it feels like that again. Back when I first came here, they were very welcoming. Now, I find that there are a few who do not like me. But that's beside the point. They were happy. Very happy. Always singing, always laughing. Business was flourishing and King Thror was amazing. So I was told."

"Was he sick when you came?"

"Aye," I nodded. "But your uncle Frerin told me of the times when he wasn't. Thror would take Thorin and himself through the halls, and down to the mines. A good King always paid attention to his subjects. Took pride in the work they did. He had been very much a part of the people. Your grandfather was like that. Thrain took up what Thror started to leave behind. On top of that, when I came around I kept him busy."

Fili smiled at that and looked down at all the dwarves below. It wasn't as great as it was before the dragon. But it would get there again. I watched them for a moment, and fiddled with my braid a little.

"It's amazing...the years that have passed," I sighed.

"Aye," he agreed. "I never thought we'd get to see this."

"It's precious," I smiled. "Don't ever forget that."

The prince nodded, and I smiled at him again. I squeezed his arm, a gentle show of affection before I walked off. I walked down the stairs and through the winding halls, before I found where I wanted to go. The Gallery of the Kings was usually always empty. This was the one room dwarves rarely crossed into. I wasn't sure why, but I wasn't about to complain. It was quiet here, and I stared at the gold floor, remembering when I had come to find Thorin before the battle.

Standing in the middle of the floor, I took in a large breath and let it out slowly. Even with the winter setting in, Orcs were still moving across the land. Much slower, since the bitter cold was doing our jobs for us, but they were moving none the less. The darkness in Mordor was going to grow, I knew it. Sauron wasn't going to give up on everything so easily. Even with the defeat at Gundabad, he wasn't going to stop.

I took another breath, resting a hand on my belly as I did so. Anxiety filled me for the first time in almost a year. With my growing powers, I had grown so confident in myself. I was able to protect not only myself, but those I loved. Finally, I was able to repay what they had done for me. Now, I was nervous.

"You sure have been acting odd."

Jumping at the voice, I turned around to see Dis walking over. I chuckled, and dropped my hand to my side, letting my fingers flex. She smiled at me, and dipped her head in respect.

"What has you seeking time away from everything each day?" she asked, arching a brow.

"Have you been spying on me?" I asked, half glaring.

"Maybe," Dis chuckled, motioning me to walk with her. "I also know, that you've taken something from the healing halls."

I gave her a firm glare. "Yes, I have. I'm not sleeping well, nor am I feeling the greatest. You've been spying on me."

"That I am, My Lady," the Princess smiled. "The King was asking for your presence in the study. He wanted to discuss something with you. I told him I'd go find him."

"Whatever you are guessing at, keep your mouth shut. We don't need rumors flying around this mountain," I growled, walking away from her.

I ignored her grin as I walked off, heading to the study that Thorin was usually in. Pushing open the door, I saw him discussing something with Balin when he looked up. I relaxed when Thorin smiled, and kissed my cheek when I went over to him.

"Thank you, Balin," Thorin rumbled. "That is all."

"Of course. I'll let you two be," Balin smiled. "My Lady."

"You wished to see me?" I asked softly, taking a seat in front of him.

"That I did," he mused back.

"What for?" I questioned.

I watched him sign a few papers, and waited quietly for him to collect himself for whatever he had to say. He apparently had something on his mind, and I knew that it was serious. Again, our last conversation had not been the most pleasant. I was finding that more and more, but I refused to give in. He finally sighed, and looked up from what he was doing, and I felt my body stiffen at the look he gave me.

"When were you going to tell me?" he asked lowly.

"What?" I asked, surprised.

Thorin's eyes narrowed. "I am not blind, nor daft woman," he rumbled. "Our increased arguments. You've been acting strange lately. Small things really. But, I see them. You wake up in the middle of the night, and leave. The cooks told me to find a midnight snack."

"I...I..." My throat closed up on its own, and I couldn't speak.

"I was only thinking that something was seriously wrong with you the day I bested you in the arena, but now it all makes sense to me," he rumbled. "All this odd behavior."

"Oh?" I asked, only managing to get the squeak from my throat.

"You are with child, are you not?" he asked, his voice soft.

I pursed my lips tightly as he said it out loud. We sat there staring at each other, and for the first time in two years, I wanted to run from this room. He must have seen the expression on my face that I thought I was hiding, because instantly, Thorin was on his feet. He moved around the desk he was at, and came to stand in front of me, blocking any chance of escape.

"Arina," he murmured, reaching out and touching my cheek.

"I wanted to make sure it was safe," I whispered. "I've…I've been seen by the midwives and healers. I'm thirteen weeks along, and I...I was waiting to make sure it was safe before I said anything."

The King looked at me, taking in my expression and his thumb rubbed itself gently over my skin. I closed my eyes at his touch, and let out a shuddering breath when he pressed a kiss to my forehead. When I opened my eyes to look at him, Thorin suddenly yanked me forward into a hug. A squeak left my lips as he pulled me in, and the hug he wrapped me up in was so overwhelming that I started crying. I tried to blink them back, but it didn't work. When Thorin leaned back, he kissed me on the lips and it took my breath away. All I could do was kiss him back, and his hands cupped my face.

"Next time," he murmured against my lips. "Don't hide it."

"Sorry," I answered, my voice quiet.

He smiled then, and for a moment I had never seen anything more dazzling. The happiness that filled the room had him pulling me into his arms swinging me around happily. When Thorin set me down, he looked at me. I felt the blush creep up to my cheeks and I waited patiently, or at least I tried.

"Are you hiding it?" he rumbled.

"I am. With magic..." I answered. "Like I said, I wanted to be safe."

"When did you learn to do that?" Thorin demanded.

I smiled. "Galadriel."

If dwarves could growl, the sound that left his throat was pretty close to it. I looked at him for a moment, and then stood straight and focused on the magic that was hiding what was most precious. Nothing changed in my appearance much, beside a small bump in my belly. It wasn't pronounced, since I wasn't terribly far along, but one could feel it if they put their hand on it. I took a breath, and reached out to Thorin's hand who immediately took it. Guiding it forward, I placed it where the baby was growing, and I watched his eyes light up.

"It's nothing significant, yet," I said quietly.

"But there is a change," he whispered. "Very subtle, but a change none the less."

I choked on my words again as he dropped to his knees, and pushed my shirt up from my skirt. His cheek pressed to the small rise in my stomach, and then his lips came after. When Thorin looked up, I felt myself freeze seeing the tears in his eyes.

"You have just made me the happiest dwarf alive," he announced, his voice thick with emotion.

Blinking, I let him put my shirt back down when the door suddenly opened. Fili and Kili came into the room, arguing about something. It was silent suddenly, and Thorin rose swiftly to his feet. All his happiness was suddenly gone and I was staring at the King again. I gave him an amused glance, but looked back to his nephews. They were both standing there in surprise, but Fili was doing a better job at hiding it. Instead, he was giving us a suspicious look.

"What did we miss?" he asked casually.

"Nothing," Thorin rumbled, adjusting his coat.

"Right," Kili answered, not believing him for a second.

"It does not concern you," Thorin rumbled, his voice firm.

There was no arguing with the King when he used that tone, and both Fili and Kili sighed softly. They walked in, and I moved to stand beside Thorin as both of them updated the King about their duties. They had apparently completed everything on their list, and were reporting back for the day.

"Very good," Thorin nodded, pleased. "Go find your mother. We'll all have dinner together tonight. I don't think we've done that in quite some time."

"Yes, Uncle," Fili nodded his head.

When the door was firmly shut and it was silent, Thorin turned back to me and gently pulled me to him. I allowed it, and closed my eyes when he cupped my cheeks and kissed my forehead. For a moment, emotion almost overwhelmed me, but I gave a firm clearing of my throat and hugged him back.

"Come, let us get out of these clothes and into something more comfortable," he smiled, looping my arm through his.

We left the room and headed back to our own chambers to do as he said. I noticed as we walked, that there was a softness on his face that had not been there before. It made me tilt my head gently, and as I studied it, I found I liked it. He opened the door and led us in, before shutting it gently. Turning around, I gasped as I found him in my personal space. Thorin yanked me to him, his lips meeting mine with fierce passion. I hummed, unable to help it and his happiness overwhelmed me.

I wasn't sure when our clothes came off, or when he put me on the bed. All I did remember was the pleasure of it. It left me not wanting to leave the bed when it was all over. Thorin laid on his back, and he pulled me close to him. I gave a soft giggle, and laid my hand on his chest, letting my cheek rest on it tiredly. He let his fingers run through my hair and I glanced up to see the smile on his face.

"I like seeing you this happy," I said softly.

"And you?" he asked, looking at me.

"If I wasn't I wouldn't be here," I smiled. "I love you. You know that."

"And I you," Thorin hummed.

He pushed me onto my back, kissing me as we turned. I had to pull away with a laugh as his fingers brushed up my sides. I watched as Thorin kissed down my neck, between my breasts and to the small rise in my belly. He kissed it firmly, and ran his fingers over it. The moment was so tender, I bit my lip at the sight.

"How long?"

"We are predicting about seven months," I answered softly. "Shifters followed humans in pregnancy, while dwarves are at six months. I'm assuming because the baby is half dwarf it'll be seven months."

Thorin grinned at me again, and after moving up to kiss me again, he sighed. "We should get moving. Dinner is close. Soon they'll be knocking at the door."

I chuckled. "And who's fault is that?"

"I will take full responsibility," Thorin answered immediately.

Another laugh echoed through the room as I rolled out of bed and got cleaned up and dressed again. I sighed, running a brush through my long hair as Thorin pulled on his boots. Once we were ready, we left the room and headed to the private dining area. It was specifically held for royalty, and for gatherings such as this. Fili and Kili had brought in Dwalin, Balin, and Dis. The old family from back when we were in the Blue Mountains.

Thorin squeezed my hand gently, and pressed a kiss to my temple right before we came into sight. Everyone greeted us with a smile, and I arched my brow at Dis as she grinned at the floor. I knew that she knew something was up. I wasn't going to be surprised if she knew I was pregnant. Women were funny like that. I was assuming tonight was going to be the night we just told everyone. I sighed a little, and watched as the others started to eat dinner and the talking started. I picked at my food, finding myself more nervous than anything.

Thorin stood up half way through the dinner, lifting his goblet. "May I have your attention."

Everyone fell silent at his words, and I was yanked firmly but gracefully to my feet. He gave me a look, and I chuckled nervously. This was going to be interesting.

Surprise! :D Merry Christmas everyone. I was going to wait, but I figure why not. Here we go!