I realize that this chapter is a bit thin, but I needed to set up what's coming. I've been a bit sick as well as I'm splitting writing time with another story, and this one is far more complicated to write. Anyway, I'm open to suggestions if you all have a better way to resolve this problem. Onkra is already figured out, but if one of you comes up with something brilliant, I can alter what's going to happen in the next chapter. Ooo, reader participation!

Chapter 22

Thorin and the rest of the group were tired after the night's events, and they took several breaks to eat and refresh themselves. Frain asked for some soap to wash up, and the others gasped when he came back in with bright, blond hair.

"I ran out of the blacking some time ago and had to use something that washed out. That's why I kept hidden," he explained while rubbing his wet hair with a towel.

Balin shook his head.

"So much like your mother, laddie," he said fondly. "You're a handsome one, make no mistake. If all goes well, you'll have our women folk falling all over themselves."

Fili and Kili were indignant.

"What about us, Balin?" Fili said. His brows drew together, and he threw back his shoulders. "We're princes, after all, and he's beardless!"

"And we have a way with the ladies," Kili said hotly. "The maids were more than friendly during the picnic."

Dwalin scoffed and shook his head.

"Aye, lads, more than friendly for your purses, no doubt."

Frain rubbed his chin. Already, blond stubble was thick upon his chin like it had struggled to be free and now was going to make the most of it.

Calling them back to order, Thorin ran through a number of plans revolving around Dwalin's suggestion. Frain was greatly amused to hear of his sister dressing up as a guard so Thorin could spend time courting her. That brought to mind something else, and he raised his hands to halt the discussion.

"My lord king," he said, "may I have a word. I was remiss to not do this earlier, but there were more important matters to deal with."

Thorin nodded and gestured for him to dispense with titles.

"You called me Thorin before and you might as well now, since we'll be kin."

Frain nodded and smiled faintly.

"Very well. I wasn't thinking clearly then, but I am now."

The others looked up from the table.

"Since our father sees fit to ignore us," he said with no little amount of disgust, "I am head of my family, and it's my duty to protect my sister's welfare and honor until she's wed to another. So then, Thorin, I formally ask you what your intentions are toward Relianna."

Thorin nodded his head. Frain was well within his rights to ask such a thing and, indeed, it was his duty by custom and law to do so. Thorin had acted on his own when he thought Relianna an orphan, but now that her brother had come forward, he must acknowledge his claim.

"I, Thorin Oakenshield, King of Erebor, ask for your sister's hand according to the customs and laws of our people."

Frain nodded just as formally as both played out the roles that custom decreed. Then Thorin realized what was coming next, and he flushed. The rest caught on quickly, and Balin dropped his head in his hands while the others groaned.

"And, as her suitor, have you in all ways conducted yourself honorably toward her so that your behavior would be acceptable in a public setting?"

There was a heavy silence. Thorin was duty-bound to answer for Frain outranked him in all matters regarding his sister. Dwalin held his hand over his mouth. The others froze in various poses of anxiety while waiting for Frain's reaction. A sudden fear wound its way through Thorin's gut. Frain could well refuse his suit if he found his courtship lacking. The younger dwarf folded his arms across his chest while Thorin squinted one eye and screwed up one side of his face.

"Mmmm," he started while his eyes darted to and fro as he struggled to come up with an answer that was both true and unrevealing.

"I see," Frain said slowly. He waited a few seconds, and his face hardened in firm lines. "So …"

Thorin winced in anticipation of Frain's response. His courtship of Relianna had, from the first, passed all bounds of restraint. He thought dejectedly that he would have behaved even worse if not for her own level head and sense of honor.

"So," Frain said again while glaring at his sister's beloved, "who pounced first?"

No one moved for a beat, and then he started laughing.

"The look on your face!" he said while he held his sides.

Thorin grimaced and huffed at his joke. For a moment, he thought he had lost Relianna and didn't appreciate him taking advantage of his fear. Then he realized that if he had acted correctly he would have no cause to worry.

"Very funny," he said glumly.

Frain waved both hands as he tried to contain himself. Then he took a deep breath and grew more serious, although he kept his amused smile.

"Relianna is passionate, and anyone who did what you did to reclaim Erebor could hardly be otherwise," he said. "However, I expect that you restrained yourself enough not to compromise her virtue."

Thorin looked over at Balin who cocked his head and pushed his chin out. He nodded at his advisor's unspoken encouragement.

"I must be honest with you, Frain," he admitted quietly. "I'm deeply in love with your sister, and I would have made love to her many times over if she had let me. I certainly made my desire to clear enough. I respected her honor, certainly, but I'm afraid my feelings overwhelmed my good judgment."

Frain nodded and tilted his head thoughtfully. His new cousin was intimidating. He would be nervous in his presence for any other reason, but he was completely self-assured where his sister was concerned. The King of Erebor could have been one of the Valar, but that would make no difference to him.

"Stopped you, did she?"

Thorin looked down and nodded. He was embarrassed to admit to such a thing, but it couldn't be helped. Frain deserved the truth.

"Very well. I ask then if you tried to force her?"

Thorin folded his arms in a defensive gesture. Now that he was clear on. He had thoughts, certainly, of overcoming her objections in some way, but he would never hurt her. Never.

"I would never force my desire on her, but begging wasn't beyond my actions."

He lifted his eyes, and the two lords stared at each other.

"Hmmm, then would you be faithful to her and her alone for as long as she lives, never to take another lover? I know that's the way our kind, at least among honorable dwarves."

No one needed an explanation. Thorin leaned forward. Frain's concern was reasonable considering what had happened to his mother. This time he had a confident answer.

"Never will I love anyone but her," he said firmly. Frain quietly assessed his truthfulness. "She is my only love. I will make her my wife and queen and cherish her above all others for as long as I live."

Her brother nodded.

"But you won't live as long. How will your people treat her without your protection? All might change after your rule is over."

Fili interrupted at that point.

"She'll be just as honored and loved when I rule," he answered firmly. He nodded toward Kili who lifted his chin and then at the rest.

"We'll protect the lass," Dwalin said as he put his hand to his dagger in his belt. "We won't tolerate any disrespect."

Frain nodded impressed. Then he turned back to Thorin and grinned.

"She loves you with all her might, and Mahal blessed her love with yours in return. I see that you'll make each other very happy, so you have my consent." He shook his head and looked toward the door where she slept. "Anyway, she'd kill me if I said no," he added grudgingly.

"And," Thorin offered, unable to suppress a large smile, "our many children will stand by her. She'll be well-cared for. Besides, I intend to live for a very long time."

He looked so hopeful that the others chuckled and rolled their eyes.

Frain's eyes glinted with satisfaction. "You'll love her well, but keep your hands to yourself until you're wed!"

Properly chastened, Thorin nodded and then took a deep breath, relieved that all was settled.

"We'd better get back to planning," Balin said.

Relianna stirred in the next room after she heard talking in the next room. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she ran her hands over her face and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Then she tested standing, but her legs felt weak. Putting her arms out for balance, she toddled to the door and heard Thorin's loud voice.

"I'll not risk her knowing that Zozer will try again," he said with slap of his hand on the table. "I'll marry her in secret first and then announce her. That will give us more time."

"Aye, but she's the only one who's seen him," Balin reflected while he stroked his beard. "Maybe we can use her knowledge somehow."

Frain nodded. "But she stays hidden while I draw him out. As the unacknowledged prince, I'm more of a target."

The rest nodded.

"All agreed?"

"Absolutely not!" came a weak but furious voice at the door. "Frain will not offer himself up as bait!"

Thorin stood immediately and hastened to the door.

"You shouldn't be up," he said tenderly, and he took her hand to lead her back to the bed, but she pushed against him and faced her brother.

"I forbid it!" she said as she twisted and tried to push-off Thorin's embrace. "You won't go out there to your death."

Frain stood and appealed to her with his arms out on the table.

"Relianna, love, you need to stay hidden. It's for your own good."

Making a noise of fear and frustration in her throat, she faced her brother with clenched fists.

"I'll not have it, and if you all try something like that, I'll walk the halls shouting for Zozer to come for me! I swear I will!"

Then she played her trump card.

"Besides, you know I'm the only one who knows what he looks like, and I'll be able to spot him before he gets to me."

Fili leaned forward.

"You know, Dwalin's idea does have merit, uncle," he said as he spread his hands out on the table, "and I suggest that we mark the guards' uniforms somehow to let us know which one is him."

All murmured as they considered it. Relianna's gaze swung from one to the another, and her mouth pursed.

"So what is his plan?"

Thorin gripped his hands together so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"Since it seems that Zozer favors hiding himself in others' uniforms, we set a trap by talking about announcing you as my bride at the feast. He must be getting desperate since we know about him being here,. No doubt he'd try something there since he'll have no opportunity beforehand and a smaller chance after we're wed. The hall will be crowded, and there'll be quite a reaction to my announcement. It'd be the perfect time for him to try again."

She nodded and motioned for him to go on. Frain shook his head and bit his thumb.

Thorin's voice lowered, and it was clear that he was struggling to force the words out.

"Dwalin suggested that we have the company dressed in guards' uniforms as well and plant them in the assembly. Kill and Frain will hide in the balcony above with their bows, ready to shoot him on sight while we'll be armed on the ground."

Kili leaned over to Frain.

"Are you any good? We don't want you shooting us instead."

Frain smirked.

"I'm fair enough with the sword but much better with the bow for obvious reasons. If you'll lend me one, I promise I won't miss."

Kili nodded and clapped him on the back.

Thorin gripped his hands tighter and breathed slowly. Then he lifted his tortured eyes to her.

"He'll come for you, Relianna, he'll come for you there, and the only way we'll be able to stop him is by getting to him first."

She sat up straight and nodded as though her death was already decided.

"Will Lord Dain help at all?" Frain wanted to know.

Dwalin shook his head.

"He hasn't so far, my lord, so I don't think we can count on him. In this, we go it alone."

The others snorted with disdain. Balin shook his head dolefully.

"Where have we heard that before?"

Then Frain looked around the table with concern.

"Will the rest of the company agree to this? It's not certain we'll all survive."

Relianna put her forefinger to her lips.

"And Onkra has more guards from her mother's side that she called in after her servants left. They're not honorable for certain."

Frain grinned at her. Fili told him what had happened.

"Nicely done, sister!"

She wrinkled her nose and smirked.

"What about her?" she asked looking around.

Fili, Kili, and Frain grinned at each other.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, my lady," Kili said. The three sniggered while the others shook their heads in fond exasperation. "We have that one all figured out."

"Aye," Fili said, "and I'm sure that her former servants would enjoy the opportunity to repay their former mistress."

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