Brann, Dis, her sons and Dwana were back in the Blue Mountains in the late evening. They were chatting happily and Dwana smiled expectantly as she saw Thorin Stonehelm at the gate. Thorin Oakenshield, Dain and Dwalin were awaiting them at dinner.

'He is such a nice young dwarf!' Dis exclaimed and watched as Thorin and Dwana sat down at the side of the dining table. 'He is so attentive and charming to Dwana.'

'Not without a reason.' Dwalin grumbled. 'He only wants to take advantage of my little girl.'

'Why is it so hard to accept that he is just nice? A nice gentledwarf.' Dis cocked an eyebrow at Dwalin. 'Most dwarves are nice and charming.'

'Thorin, please tell your sister that all dwarves are only nice to the females when they want something.' Dwalin insisted dragging Thorin into this mess.

'You are such a pessimist, why can't you just accept that Thorin Stonehelm likes your daughter?' Dis saved Thorin from answering his friend.

Dwalin only snorted and Thorin grinned. Lady Mya and her ladies joined them at the table and Brann could see that one of her courtladies glared daggers at Dwalin and made the huge captain of the guard actually shrink in his seat. Brann looked at Thorin with a questioning look and saw her husband barely contain a wide grin.

'Isn't that the lady Dwalin has set his eyes on?' Brann asked Dis and the kings sister nodded. 'Why is she looking as if she wanted to kill him?'

'Apparently Dwalin hit it off with one of lady Myas courtladies yesterday evening. Both were drunk and well...' Thorin informed them quietly. 'The problem is that he did not remember which one it was the next day. So sister mine, don't tell me dwarves are nice, this is dwarves!'

Thorin grinned at Dwalin from behind his ale and was thankful that his position as the king at the head of the table saved him from Dwalin slapping him silly.

'I have something for you, melekhin.' Thorin whispered into Branns ear as they finally were alone in their chambers.

Brann shyly glanced at him over her shoulder and the warm gleam of her eyes nearly made Thorins heart stop. 'Now I have a bad conscience. I have been at the market today and did not bring you anything.'

'You came back to me. Thats all I could ever want.' Thorin stated firmly and kissed Branns neck.

'So charming, melekhu.' Brann smirked. 'I thought dwarves are only nice to their women if they want something?'

'I do want something.' Thorin grinned against her skin. 'I want my wife. Right here on my desk over the contracts and wearing only...this.'

Brann felt hot at her husbands words, but as his hand reached out with her present she managed to focus. She held her breath as she looked down at the pendant in Thorins hand. He was holding a golden chain with a glas pendant. Inside of the glas pendant was a dried blue flower.

'Forget me nots...Thorin.' Brann was speechless. It was the most beautiful present she had ever become. 'Did you make this?'

'I did. These are some of the flower blossoms we planted in front of our house in Bree.' Thorin told her hoarsely. 'I picked them as we left and dried them to put them into this glas pendant. They will live forever inside of this pendant, not submitted to humidity and air. This flower in the color of the house of Durin symbolises our love, an eternal love. Our love will triumph over time...and death.'

Death. Brann felt her heart wrench inside of her chest. She was no naive girl anymore. She knew that Thorin would long outlive her and that she was forbidden to enter the hall of the dwarven ancestors as a woman from the race of men. Death would destroy their unity and their love...sooner or later. But as she looked down at the flowers in Thorins hand she felt a warm tingle in her heart. She would give her life to Thorin and she would cherish their love above anything else. The necklace fell down between her breasts, heavy and warm, looking like a frozen drop with its captured flowes.

'The perfect place for our love, don't you think?' Thorin looked down at the pendant and made Brann chuckle.

'You tease.' she grinned and watched as Thorins eyes grew dark with passion as he let his gaze wander over her body. She cupped Thorins face and kissed him deeply, making him moan. 'Thank you. I love you. So much. Oh my goodness - you are serious?'

Thorin lifted her onto his desk and sat her down on it. With a mischievious grin he half teared half pulled her dress down her shoulders and nibbled at the exposed skin. Brann let her head fall back and closed her eyes in pleasure. Thorin rid her of her dress and ravished his wife with his eyes and then with his mouth. After their passionate lovemaking Thorin collapsed onto of Brann and pinned her to the desk, panting eratically.

'You still have all your clothes on.' Brann chuckled and looked down at herself, laying on the desk bare naked. 'Oh dear.'

Brann pushed Thorin back and tried to sit up. She was actually sitting on a contract from Ered Luin and smack on the top of lord Maras signature. Thorin could not help but laugh at the irony, while Brann tried to not blush.

A day before Durins Day Brann woke up with a strong feeling of nausea. To not worry Thorin she ignored the lump in her throat and the grumbling of her stomach until he had left for council. She barely made it to the bathroom before she threw up. Immediately feeling better Brann figured that she ate something wrong the day before and walked over to Dis chambers to eat breakfast. As she arrived the smell of the food made her nauseous again. With a glance towards Dis Brann excused herself and went to the infirmary to Oin.

'Lass! Its been too long since we last met!' the healer greeted her and hugged her warmly. Brann was the queen, but the relationship between her and Oin had been close since Moria.

'It really has been too long.' Brann sighed. 'But I am afraid a delicate matter has brought me here, Oin.'

'Are you pregnant at last, lass?' Oin grinned from one ear to the other.

'How did you...? Oh, why bother...' Brann smiled. 'I threw up this morning and I get sick at the smell of food. Now that I think of it I have felt different lately.'

'Hmmmm...your temperature is higher than usual and...may I ask...are your...you know...' Oin pointed at her breasts. '...sensitive to touching?

Brann blushed and looked down. Her breasts were indeed sensitive, but she had thought it to be a reaction to Thorins touch. 'A bit. And my stomach aches a bit.'

'Mood swings?' Oin asked further.

'Not recently.' Brann smirked. Her mood swings had been a result of strain, but now she did feel normal.

'I am no expert on men, but I think that you might really be pregnant. But there is only one way to tell for sure. Wait until the next bleeding.' Oin stated.

Brann sighed, she had seen that coming. It could not have been more then three weeks since she had concieved. Neither she nor Oin wanted to jump to the wrong conclusions.

'I´ll wait.' Brann grumbled and Oin smirked at the queens pout.

Brann stood on the balcony over the main gate and gazed to the north, to the Lonely Mountain, her husbands home. She lightly moved her hand over her stomach and took a deep breath. If she really was with child it would be a huge step in hers and Thorins lives. A little one would change everything. Thorin would finally have an own heir who would follow him onto the throne. A half human heir. Brann frowned and could not help but worry if a place on the throne of the Blue Mountains was what she wished for her child. A rulership full of peril and distrust from the dwarves from Ered Luin.

'You should not let your worries take over your soul, my dear.' Thrains voice made Brann jump. 'Thats not good for the dwarfling.'

Brann could only stare at her father in law. 'How do you know?'

Thrain smiled mysteriously. 'You look exactly like Thorins mother when she was pregnant. And I have witnessed it three times. Its hard to explain. Its something in your eyes and in your bearing. I´ve noticed it for a few days now.'

'And you did not plan to ask me?' Brann asked quietly.

'So that you could yell at me in front of everyone again?' Thrain laughed at Branns sheepish look. 'I figured that you might want to find out yourself. How did you find out?'

'I threw up.' Brann said plainly and made Thrain chuckle.

'Thorins mother never did. She also did not crave for funny combinations of food.' he remembered. 'But Dis did. She ate as much as a dragon when she was pregnant. Had a mood like one, too. And I thought the only dragon was living in Erebor now.'

Brann stepped closer to her father in law as his face saddened at the thought of his lost home.

'Why don´t you reclaim your homeland? Ask for help from the other dwarves. Or from the elves and men. You could give them a part of Erebors gold in return.' Brann suggested.

Suddenly Thrains face darkened. 'I will not give away one single coin of Erebors gold! It is mine and only mine!'

Brann jumped at his words and stumbled backwards, staring at him with big eyes. Thrain had a vicious and mad gleam in his eyes which she had never seen before and his outburst scared her. It was only gold. As Thrain looked at his daughter in law and her scared eyes his gaze softened.

'My apologies, my daughter.' he sighed. 'Its simply not that easy. The other dwarven kingdoms will only follow the king who posesses the Arkenstone. And the Arkenstoner lies in Erebors treasury, far away from our grasp. As for the men and elves - why should they risk their lives for our sake? A battle against a dragon is a costly one and a futile one.'

'Arkenstone?' Brann was sure that she had heard from it before, but she did not know when and in what relation.

'The heart of the mountain. That jewel gave our line the right to rule over all dwarven houses. It is essential to us to unite all dwarven kingdoms. Without the stone there is no chance of gathering an army strong enough to oppose Smaug the dragon.'

'A mere jewel?' Brann did not understand. 'How can an alliance be based on such a small thing?'

'You cannot understand that daughter, you are no dwarf.' Thrain sighed, not knowing how much he hurt Brann with these words. 'The dwarf lords have sworn allegiance to the one who rules under the shining heart of the mountain which now lies at the feet of a dragon. They will not follow us.'

'Allegiance can be ensured with more than an oath to a stone. With loyalty, honor and friendship.' Brann stated firmly. 'I do not need jewels or gold to follow my husband wherever he would go. And neither should his kin!'

'You have a willing heart. Thorin has loyal friends and a loyal family. But I am afraid that this will not be enough.' with these words Thrain turned away from Brann and smiled sadly. 'I am sorry that I frightened you. Go back to the chambers and tell Thorin the good news. He will be so happy.'

Brann had not planned to tell anyone about the pregnancy until she was absolutely sure, but now that Thrain knew she had to spill the news. Thrain had been so sure that she did not doubt a pregnancy anymore.

Thorins cry of joy was audible inside of the entire Blue Mountains and surely the entire Ered Luin. As Brann told him that she might be pregnant he rushed to his wife and swirled her around in his arms.

'Alright.' Brann laughed dizzily. 'This can´t be good for the baby.'

Thorin let her go immediately and looked at her worriedly. 'Did I hurt you? Or him?'

'How do you know if its a him? Could be a her?' Brann teased. 'We may have a second Dis.'

'Durin forbid! I am not sure if we would be ready for that!' Thorin grinned.

'But we would be ready for another Fili or Kili?' Brann asked and cocked her eyebrow at her husband, who sighed in defeat.

'Or another Dwana?' Thorin suggested and now it was Branns turn to look shocked.

In the evening Thorin and Brann had dinner in Dis chambers together with Balin, Dwalin, Dwana, Thorin Stonehelm, Oin, Thrain, Fili and Kili and enjoyed a moment in peace.

'You really look pregnant.' Dwana mused and looked at Brann.

'And how does a pregnant woman look like, Dwana?' Brann asked and only waited for the word fat.

'Well.' Dwana was no stupid dwarf. 'You have that pregnant lady glow.'

'Thats sweat!' Brann exclaimed. 'If you would throw up all morning, you´ll have that pregnant lady glow, too!'

'And how are those mood swings coming?' Dis smirked and blinked at her sister in law.

'I don´t know, I haven´t had any, yet.' Brann grinned as she said that. Laughing happily she glanced at Thorin who tried to keep a poker face. Her mood had been fragile again today, but at least this time she could be sure that there was a reason other than strain behind it. And it did not bother her this time.

As Thorin and Brann returned to their rooms in the evening Thorin quietly sneaked up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

'Now that there is a little one growing inside of you...does that mean that I can´t...`Thorin did not get to finish that sentence. Brann turned around and kissed him hungrily.

'If you start staying away from our bed again, I swear I will hunt you down and cut something off.' she growled and pulled him towards their bed. Thorin smirked against Branns lips and pushed her down onto the mattress. He moved carefuly, to not crush her beneath his weight, but as soon as both were laying on the bed Brann sat back up on her knees and started to undress Thorin who moved up to lean against the headboard. As soon as both were naked Brann straddled Thorins lap and started nibbling on his lips, sometimes biting lightly. Thorins hands roamed over her body and sent waves of pleasure down her spine. Brann felt unusually lustful, but Dis had told her that this could happen in the first months of pregnancy. And Thorin had not complained so far. As she tilted her hips to meet with Thorins erect member Thorin grabbed her hips and pulled her down onto his hips forcefully and caused her to cry out lustfully. One hand on her lower back and one hand in her mane Thorin supported her moves and invaded Branns mouth with his tongue. With slow, but forceful, moves Brann rode her husband until they were both panting heavily. Brann broke the kiss and leaned back, leaning on Thorins legs for support. Thorins gaze moved over the naked front of his wife, the smooth skin, the firm breasts and the still flat tummy. The movement of her hips drove him mad and all he wanted to do was pound into her with all his power. But since he knew of her pregnancy he held back. With a quiet growl Thorin rolled over and pinned Brann to the mattress. He was still careful to not put too much weight onto her tummy, but he lifted her leg to press into her in a more delicate angle. Brann moaned lustfully as Thorin began pounding into her slowly at first and then with a punishing speed, but still carefully. Before the waves of pleasure could crush over Brann, Thorin slowed down and looked down at her lovingly. His hand sudenly moved to her left breast and Brann realised that the golden bead was tangling above her heart again, as is it was drawn to that spot. Thorin gently stroked the bead and the skin around it and Brann came alone from his touch. She arched into her husbands body and started moving again, so that Thorin could find completion, too. With a supressed groan Thorin came shortly after Brann and rode out his climax with gentle rotation of his hips. With a pleased sigh Thorin collapsed at Branns side and pulled her close. Brann snuggled against him, the golden bead hot and heavy between their bodies.

'Do dwarves add a bead to their hair when a dwarfling is born?' Brann suddenly asked. Dis had various beads in her hair and she had told Brann that Fili made some of them.

'There is no bead which traditionally signify the birth of a dwarfling, but some dwarves braid in some, anyway.' Thorin told her. 'Do you want another bead?'

'Maybe.' Brann sighed happily. 'But we still have nine months to figure that out.'

'Nine?' Thorin asked surprised. 'Dwarf pregnancies take about a year!'

'What!' Brann was stunned. 'A whole year? Twelve months? For Durins sake...I will look like a cow.'

Thorin grinned at his wifes distress. 'A very beautiful cow.' he stated and yelped as a pillow smacked him in the face.