One month after the birth of the twins Thorin was called to Ered Luin on a diplomatic mission. The king did not want to leave his queen alone in all the chaos, but he had a kingdom to rule and the lack of sleep was claiming his whole energy. He would miss Brann and his daughters, but he would welcome some sleep. Even in his own rooms his thoughts were dwelling with his family and he could hardly sleep.

On the day of his departure he kissed his girls goodbye when he left and looked over his shoulder several times as he rode towards the north, away from his family. Brann was holding Zial and Dwana had Gwen. The young dwarf had gotten used to the small dwarflings and adored them. Thorin Stonehelm was feeling uncomfortable when he saw Dwana with one of the twins, but as she scolded him and stated that she would not want any children before they were married for many many years, young Thorin relaxed.

Thorin Stonehelm and Nori accompanied the king, for he would not take any chances with Dara and her family again. Thorin planned to ask the lord of Ered Luin for support against the orcs once more. He knew that the chances of Mara supporting him and the kingdoms of men were slim, but he would at least try. With a heavy heart Thorin left his queen and his daughters behind and rode for Ered Luin. He left his kingdom in the hands of Brann and Dis. Thorin smirked as he thought about his family, it seemed that the line of Durin would be dominated by women in the future.

The king of the Blue Mountains reached the home of lord Mara a day later and was welcomed by him personally. His wife and daughter were nowhere to be seen. Thorin and his dwarves were welcomed warmly, more warm than expected. Thorin felt cold shivers run down his spine, he could feel that something was wrong, but he could not put a finger on it. The next day, scouts came back to Ered Luin with news from orc attacks in the near vicinity of the Ered Luin. This time Mara reacted instantly and sent out his armed forces. He asked Thorin to sent Thorin Stonehelm and Nori with them, to show the support of the dwarves of the Blue Mountains. Thorin had a bad feeling about this, but he would not keep his own dwarves behind while Maras dwarves were fighting. It was a matter of honor.

This evening, after long hours od negociation, Mara was serving a truly wonderful dinner. His wife and Dara were also present and Dara apologised to Thorin in all formality. With her head low and her eyes looking at the ground to Thorins feet she asked for his forgiveness. Her apology seemed honest and true and Thorin accepted. He usually was more distrusting, but he somehow could not hold on to his feelings towards the treacherous family. Indeed, Thorin felt different that evening, he was unfocused and the whole evening passed like a dream. He could not understand why. He had not touched the wine and ale, he only had water and ate what was served. Yet, he felt drunk. The later it was becoming, the more tired Thorin felt. He had not slept well for weeks and did not think anything of it. He did not realise how exhausted he was until he woke up the next morning, with a headache - and not in his own bed.

The king of the Blue Mountains had no idea whose chambers these were and his enormous headache forced him to fall back into the pillows and close his eyes. He could not remember a thing after dessert had been served. He did remember that he had not been drunk, he had been careful around Mara and his family, but apparently not careful enough. Before he could think about what had possibly happened a servant rushed into the rooms and bowed deeply.

'Your majesty, I hope that your night was pleasant.' the dwarf muttered. 'Forgive me to disturb your morning, but your men have arrived. They have slayed the orcs who dared to cross our borders. Your presense is required at the gates.'

Thorin groaned as he stood up and fought his dizziness. 'These are not my quarters, please bring me to my rooms.'

'Of course, your majesty.' the servant nodded and guided Thorin back to his room, which was merely a few steps further down the hall. As soon as the door closed behind Thorin he started to change into his travel clothes, he did not want to spend one more night in Ered Luin.

Thorins memory of the past night did not return until they had reached the Blue Mountains. Lord Mara had not objected to the sudden departure and his wife and Dara had even packed them some supplies. Dara seemed bad tempered that morning, but her mother looked awfully pleased. Thorins Stonehelm and Nori had been surprised by the sudden return, but Thorin insisted that he did not feel well and since all the negociations had been finished they were free to leave. Thorin was haunted by his doubts. Whose bed had he waken up in? What had he done in this bed? A bad feeling grumbled in his guts. He had to tell Brann what had happened, even if she might not forgive him. Thorin found Brann in the kitchen, making a tea. Dwana was in their chambers with the twins and apparently they had stopped crying for half of the day and slept more often. Brann smiled happily as she rushed towards her husband, but his expression and his slumped bearing made her step back and look at him.

'Whats wrong? What happened?' Brann was worried. In the past days she did not have time to worry much about Thorins presence in Ered Luin, with her focus alone on the twins.

The queen of the Blue Mountains stared at her husband as he told her what had happened the last night. She had been surprised to see him that soon again and she already wondered about the exhausted delegation which had returned with her husband in a murderous speed. Noris hair had been pointing into every direction and Thorin Stonehelm would not be able to sit normally for the next days, because of the hard ride home. But as Thorin told her what had happened she felt a cold fist clenching around her heart. But only for a moment. She looked at her husband and right into his eyes. Eyes full of despair and doubt. With dilated pupils. Brann walked closer and took Thorins chin into her hand. She looked into his eyes and kissed him on the nose. The king could not be more confused.

'You are my king, my husband and the father of my children.' Brann stated warmly. 'And I trust you. Nothing this thrice damned family could ever do would shatter my trust in you. I love you and I know that you love me. And our daughters.'

Thorin could not believe what he was hearing and he thanked Mahal on his knees for the wife he had found in Brann. But he could not be sure that he had not deceived her, again. But before he could speak Brann put a finger on his lips.

'I know that you are doubting yourself and I know why, but whatever you did last night, I know that you did not betray me.' Brann whispered to him. 'And now we should visit Oin in the infirmary.'

Thorin looked up at his wife in surprise at the sudden change of topic.

'What? Why?' he managed to ask.

'You were drugged.' Brann stated firmly. She hated lord Mara and his family. And she would let them pay for what they had tried to do to her husband.

'Indeed. The pupils are still dilated, that must have been alot of...I am guessing Narkotica. Its a plant which grows in the south and leads to disorientation and loss of consciousness. Added to food and drinks it is only barely detected.' Oin watched Thorins reaction to light and felt his pulse. 'Tell me how you felt yesterday, my king.'

'I felt as if I was daydreaming. I felt dizzy and unfocused. I could not concentrate. Dara came and apologised to me, about everything. I believed her although I should not have.' Thorin paused and looked at Brann. Her expression had darkened at the mention of Daras name, but she took Thorins hand and pressed it assuringly. 'I did not drink anything else but water that evening. But I had a severe hangover the next morning. And I...Oin can I speak with my wife for a moment?'

The old healer nodded and gave the royal couple some privacy. Brann looked at her husband in worry.

'What is it?' the queen asked quietly and Thorin had never been so scared in his life. He was scared to tell Brann the truth. He was scared to lose her, more than anything, but he had to be honest.

'I...I woke up in someone elses bed. I have no idea whose bed it was, I only know that it was not mine.' Thorin swallowed hard. 'I am so sorry, I swear that I...'

Brann held up her hand to stop him from speaking. Her expression was emotionless and Thorins heart turned to ice. 'Thorin, I know that nothing happened. ' she she saw his confused expression she could not keep a straight face anymore. All the love and trust she felt for her husband showed in her face.

'Was Nori there? I thought he was sent away to fight the orcs?' Thorin did not understand.

Brann only grinned. 'No. Nori was not there...its about the Narkotica. Too much of this herb - and you definetly had too much, since you are still showing signs of it - makes men...well...men can´t - you know.'

Brann pointed to Thorins pelvis and gestured awkwardly. Thorin frowned at his wife in confusion. 'I don´t get it.'

'Oh, for Durins sake, your get up and go has got up and went!' Brann whispered, but apparently she was not quiet enough.

'As in erectile dysfunction!' Oin yelled through the infirmary and Thorin winced. Brann could not help herself and started chuckling.

'Thats...' Thorin wanted to say "not funny", but he was incredibly relieved that he had been incapable of betraying his wife in his drugged state. 'Thank Mahal! I have never been so happy about...well, not that it ever happened, at least not with you...I should just shut up.'

Brann leaned forward and kissed her husband. 'I know that you are loyal to me, Thorin. What happened after our wedding was a one time mistake and we were not at the same place where we are now. I trust you and I know that you would never betray me... Why are you so surprised?'

Thorin looked at his wife in awe and sighed in relief. Her trust in him was stronger than his own trust in himself. Without another word he grabbed his wife and kissed her passionately. Both moaned into the kiss as they realised that they had not been this close for months.

'Maybe we should retire to our rooms...' Thorin managed to croak hoarsely. 'I think the effect of the drug is fading.'

Brann grinned into the kiss and pressed her pelvis against his, feeling the effect of the Narkotica leave. 'Maybe we should. Thank you, master Oin!'

'Drink alot of water and REST!' Oin called out after them and shook his head in amusement as the door closed behind the king and queen who seemed to be in a hurry.

Thorins lips burned on Branns skin. The burning trail moved over her jaw and the side of her neck, lips sucking and teeth nibbling. Thorin pressed his queen against the door of their chambers, his hands moved over her body and his lips searched for every inch of skin.

'Thorin, we should not...' Brann could not finish the sentence, because Thorin opened the door and they stumbled into their rooms. A quiet shriek and babbling awaited them. Zial and Gwen laid happily in their cradle, while Thorin Stonehelm and Dwana sat on one armchair, kuddled up beside each other. The two couples looked at each other in shock and the older Thorin was the first to speak.

'Alright...you forget what you just saw and I won't tell Dwalin a thing.' Thorin smirked as he saw the two younger ones nod. Brann slapped him on the arm and shook her head in amusement.

'Thank you for watching the twins, Dwana.' Brann looked at Thorin Stonehelm who seemed to be petrified. 'And you take a breath before you get a cramp.'

'How are our little gems behaving lately?' Thorin cleared his throat.

'They are great. Only crying when they are hungry or sleepy.' Brann answered. 'Zial is the nice one, I think we named them wrong. Zial behaves when Dwana, Dis or I take care off her. Gwen likes the male members of our family more. Everytime Dwalin, Balin or even Fili and Kili are near her she stops crying and starts smiling.'

Thorin could not believe how much he had missed already. He swore himself that he would not leave his family again for a long time. But first he would spend the evening with his three girls. After Dwana and Thorin Stonehelm had left Brann and Thorin snuggled into the same armchair the two young dwarves have been sitting in before. As Thorin started to nibble on Branns neck again, the queen chuckled and pushed him away.

'Our daughters are right there. Stop this.' Brann tried to stay calm, but she wanted Thorin. She wanted him bad. They had not been intimate for months and Brann ached for Thorins hands on her and him inside of her. But not with the little ones around. Thorin sighed deeply and stopped to kiss his wife.

'What is it, my bear?' Brann sat on his lap, straddling him. She trailed her fingers over his face, his eyebrows, down his nose and over his lips.

'I was just thinking that I am the happiest dwarf in Middle Earth.' Thorin stated truthfully and grabbed Branns waist. He pulled her hard against him and captured her lips in a heated kiss. Brann grinded her hips and Thorin gasped into the kiss. A knock on the door disturbed their privacy. Brann sighed and wanted to open the door, but Thorin held her tight and shook his head.

'What if its important?' Brann smirked.

'Nothing is more important than you.' Thorin growled as another knock sounded through the room.

'My king , its Balin. Its important!' Balin knocked again.

The twins started to stirr and Brann rushed over to them to calm them down and Thorin opened the door with a murderous expression. Balin only looked back at his king with a cocked eyebrow.

'I would not have woken them if you would have opened the door.' Balin sighed and walked past Thorin into the room. 'We have to talk about what happened in Ered Luin.'

Thorin looked at his old advisor in confusion. 'I haven't even...Nori or Oin?'

'Both.' Balin smirked lightly. 'I am you right hand, it is my duty to know such things. But it would be more accurate if my king informed me of such things himself.'

'He has a point there, you now.' Brann stated from behind the cradle and grinned as her husband frowned at her. Zial was babbling and whinning and Brann lifted her up into her arms. She rocked her daughter in her arms and hummed quietly. Thorin could not look away and Balin rolled his eyes at the lovestruck king. Where was Dis when the king needed a slap on the back of his head?

'Alright.' Thorin slowly turned to his advisor. 'We will talk.'

'Tell me everything, most important are the reactions of Mara and his family.' Balin frowned.

'Mara sent Nori and Thorin Stonehelm away on purpose. I was surprised that he send out troops to fight the orcs in the north of his territory, but he only needed a chance to get rid of my kin. I think that his wife was behind all of this. Asif looked at me all evening and searched for the best opportunity to shove Dara into my arms. I think it was her who slipped me the drugs, she always refilled my water.' Thorin winced as the memory of the particular evening returned.

'Did you wake up in Daras rooms?' Brann asked quietly.

'I don't know. I should have asked, but to be honest I did not want to hear the answer.' Thorin sighed. 'I made it clear various times that I would never consider Dara as my wife or even my mistress. Why all of this intrigue? What do they want?'

'They want you weak, my king.' Balin mused. 'They want to break you and your queen apart. Apparently they hoped that this incident would lead to mistrust and betrayal between you and Brann. But I have the feeling that this was not all, yet. You should be careful. Do not turn your backs on them.'

Thorin nodded and sighed. It was hard to accept that the biggest threat to him and his family came from his own kin, from dwarves. 'Thank you, Balin.'

The older dwarf bowed and left the royal chambers.

'Take your daughter.' Brann gave Zial to Thorin. 'Gwen is hungry, too.'

Thorin focused on the small dwarfling in his arms and felt better immediately.

'Do not let Mara and his family destroy your peace.' Brann cupped his cheek with her hand and kissed him. 'Nothing they will do will take me or our daughters away from you.'

While their parents foreheads touched in a intimate gesture, the twins looked at each other and babbled happily.