Months after the birth of the twins Brann started her weapons training again. She wanted to lose her pregnancy weight and she wanted to be prepared for any attack that might come her way. When she was not training with Dwana, she trained with her bow and arrow. Brann hit the middle of the target with her arrow. Kili stood behind her and clapped his hands.

'Me too! Me too!' he exclaimed happily.

'Your uncle will be so happy.' Brann stated dryly, but she could not help but give in to Kilis pleading look. Her bow was too big for Kili, but she would help him. The queen stood behind her nephew and helped him to tighten the bow. As they losened the arrow it struck the target at the edge.

'Good, Kili!' Brann hugged the small dwarfling and frowned at his pout. 'Whats wrong? It was a good shot!'

'I did not hit the middle, like you did.' Kili muttered.

'It took alot of practise for me to hit the middle.' Brann chuckled. 'Ask your uncle Dwalin.'

'Your aunt almost shot me in the foot.' Dwalins voice sounded from behind.

'Did you stand near the target?' Kili asked with big eyes.

'Nope.' Dwalin grinned at Branns frown. 'You did well, prince Kili, but I doubt that your uncle will be thrilled by your choice of weapons.'

'Fili is good with swords and knives.' Kili told them. 'I want to train with the bow, so that we can complete each other.'

Brann took a deep breath as she heard her little nephew talk like that. When had he grown up that much? How old was he anyway? Kili would turn four this year. Children from the race of men were not so fast in their development.

'Listen to you, young prince. All grown up.' Brann tussled his hair and looked over at Fili who watched over her daughters. Fili did not leave the side of the cradle when he was with her. He adored the twins, even more than anyone else. Brann let him hold one of the twins from time to time. She smiled when she saw him with a little one on his arms and hoped to see him with a dwarfling of his own one day. But Brann knew that the chance of seing Fili as a father was slim, since she would probably not live long enough. Sighing sadly, she forced herself to ignore the sting in her heart. Shaking her head, Brann focused on the present. Dwalin had managed to tear the princes away from their cousins and continued with their weapons training. Fili trained with two swords and Kili had chosen one single sword, but he swung the small blade with deadly precision. The two princes would be great warriors one day and Brann prayed to Mahal that they would not find death on the battlefield as most of their ancestors had. The two brothers watched their backs while fighting, they fought as an unit and Dwalin snarled as one of the small blades hit his toes. But he was not only their weapons instructor, he was also their uncle and so he went down and held up his hands in defeat.

'Dwarf down! Dwarf down!' Dwalin yelled and laughed as Fili and Kili jumped on him and started tickling him. Brann would not forget their laughs all her life.

Thorin was already in the royal chambers as Brann walked in with the big cradle. He instantly walked over to his wife to help her with the heavy load she was carrying and kissed her forehead. The king gently put down the cradle at the side of their bed and pulled his wife into their favorite armchair in front of the fireplace.

A knock on the door made Thorin growl. Brann smirked at her husband and stood up to open the door. Fili and Kili rushed into the room as soon as the door opened and surrounded the cradle. Dis stood in the doorframe and grinned at her sister in law.

'Do you need a babysitter tonight?' Dis asked and laughed as a loud 'yes' came from the inside.

'You are the best, Dis.' Brann sighed and hugged her sister in law. As the two women walked into the room Thorin was about to protest as Fili took Gwen into his arms. But the little prince was careful and gentle and Thorin bit his tongue. He looked at his oldest nephew and his daughter and needed to sit down again. He was as happy as never before.

As Dis, her sons and the newborn princesses had left Thorin was still sitting in the chair and stared at the closed door.

'Alone at last, dear husband.' Brann smirked at Thorins dreamy look and walked towards him with swinging hips. She did not reach the armchair. Thorin rushed forward and grabbed his wife by the hips. He kissed her hungrily and growled into the kiss. Their tongues fought for domination until they broke the kiss in need of air. Thorin lifted Brann up by her hips and pressed her against the nearest wall. Biting her neck, he enjoyed her moans and gasps and lifted her dress. Desperate for each other the king and queen did not waste any time. Brann freed Thorin erection and guided him to her opening. Thorin kissed her deeply as he entered her with one swift move and began thrusting in and out if her passionately. Brann gasped and let her head fall back in delight. She wrapped her legs around Thorins waist and met her husbands thrusts eagerly. With every thrust Thorin grunted into his wifes ear and Brann moaned as Thorin managed to push into her bundle of nerves with almost every move. It did not take them long to reach their climax and soon the royal couple collapsed on the bed, breathing heavily.

'Six months...' Thorin took deep many breaths.

'What do you mean?' Brann asked dreamily.

'We have not done this in six months.' Thorin explained and made Brann chuckle.

'You seriously counted the months?' she asked her husband and kissed his nose. She loved his straight nose.

'Six months, two weeks and three days to be exact.' Thorin stated dryly and made Brann laugh. 'Thats no funny at all, almost killed me.'

'We can make up for most of it tonight.' Brann whispered and cuddled up at Thorins side. 'But at first we should lose the clothes.'

Thorin looked down at his wife and smiled widely. He losened the laces of Branns dress, slowly and gently. He kissed every inch of the revealed skin and caressed Brann sides as the dress slid down her body. Thorin leaned forward and kissed Branns flat belly. It looked almost the same as before the birth of the twins, but Thorin loved the extra and soft flesh which remained on his wifes belly. Brann was not happy with it, but Thorin would never complain. His wife had just had his dwarflings, his jewels and he would cherish her body as long as it was his to cherish. Brann chuckled as his beard tickled her belly.

'Your turn.' Brann pushed Thorin onto his back and slowly slipped her hands under his tunic. Curious fingers trailed over Thorins muscles and hairy chest and rid him of his tunic. With a loving smile Brann kissed her way down Thorins neck, over his collarbone and down to his chest. She teased the nipples with her tongue and smiled as she heard Thorin gasp. Her fingertips played with the thick chest hair before her hands moved down the toned belly, down to the laces of the kings pants. With a cheeky smile Brann opened Thorins pants and pushed it down his muscular thighs. She chuckled as Thorins half hard manhood twitched at her touch.

'Ready for another round?' Brann grinned and leaned down to kiss the tip. Thorin only gasped and nodded. Brann closed her lips around her husbands member and felt his hands move into her hair, tugging it gently. She moaned as she took him in, the vibrations of her moans sending hot shivers down Thorins spine. Thorins head fell back into the pillows and he had to refrain himself from thrusting into his wife's mouth.

'Mahal...' he gasped as Brann swallowed around him. He could feel Brann smile around his member and pulled out of her warm and welcoming mouth. He did not want to finish without her. He rolled Brann onto her back and leaned over her, pressing her body into the soft mattress with his weight. His member was rockhard and ready to plunge into Branns warmth again, but he took his time and teased Branns nipples with his teeth, lips and fingers. Brann cried out as his teeth closed around one of her nipples and pulled him up to her for a wet kiss.

'Please, no teasing.' she panted and arched into Thorins touch. She cupped his face in her hands and pressed her forehead against his. 'Please...'

Her passionate pleading made Thorins blood boil with pleasure and he positioned himself at her entrance before entering her torturingly slowly. Brann eyes were dark with passion and she let out a deep sigh as Thorin buried himself into his wife. They made love slowly and incredibly gentle. Thorin rolled his hips and drove Brann to the edge various times before pulling back. Branns nails dug deep into Thorins shoulders and her moans grew louder with every move of Thorins hips. Thorin moved his arm under Branns leg and lifted it to change the angle of his thrusts and soon Brann had to choke her passionate cries in his shoulder. She started shivering violently and as the climax ripped through her body Brann arched her back to meet Thorins last strong thrusts. The king came harder than ever before and saw white stars as he spilled his seed into his wife. Uncapable to move, he collapsed beside his wife, panting erratically. It took some time before they could even speak again. In Branns case it was a happy muttering as she pulled the sheets over her sweaty body and cuddled against her husbands warm chest.

'No sleeping...you hear me? We still have all night.' Thorin smirked as Brann muttered against his shoulder half asleep. 'I know how to wake you up...'

Brann chuckled as she felt Thorins lips on her collarbone and her neck. Smiling dreamingly she accepted the fact that neither of them would sleep that night.

The next morning Brann had breakfast with Dis, desperatly fighting her yawns at the breakfast table.

'How did my little gems behave?' Brann asked Dis, who chuckled at her sister in law.

'Lets say I got more sleep than you did.' Dis blinked at Brann. 'I had to fight my sons everytime when one of the little ones woke up. Fili and Kili told them every good night story they knew. I think that you will have to struggle to get your dwarflings back from Fili and Kili. By the way, my father was here, too. He adores his granddwarflings, all of them. His...friend was here, too. But he left after a short moment.'

'His friend? You mean Dorn?' Brann frowned deeply. Dorn had congratulated them to the birth of the twins, but it was obvious that the twins reminded him of what he had lost. His two daughters and his wife.

'I do not trust him.' Dis stated firmly. 'He changed. He is not the man from Bree we knew anymore.'

'Grief changes people.' Brann murmured.

'We all lost loved ones. I lost my grandfather and my husband. You lost your entire family. Yet, here we are living our lives as good as we can.' Dis insisted. 'Dorn lost himself in his grief. And I do not like the way father keeps talking about him. He is the reason why father is restless.'

'Thrain was already restless before Dorn came here.' Brann answered. But Dis was right, Dorn had an influence on Thrain. He challenged the kings father to reclaim his old home and offered his help. He supported Thrain in his belief that Erebor could be reclaimed, although he knew that it was futile.

'Maybe.' Dis sighed. 'But I would wish that my father would stay away from him.'

Later that day, Brann was called into the throne room. As she entered she saw two familiar faces.

'King Thengel! Lord Denethor! It is a pleasure to see you!' Brann smiled at the visitors who bowed before the queen.

'Queen Brann, a pleasure as always.' king Thengel smiled.

'We are here to inform you that the alarm beacons are ready.' Denethor reported to Thorin. 'If the orcs charge a full scale attack against either one of our kingdoms, we are ready.'

'Thats good to hear.' Thorin nodded at his visitors. 'But you could have informed us about this through your scouts, why the long journey to the Blue Mountains?'

'We are always happy to see our friends and allies.' Brann assured their guests and cocked her eyebrow at her husband.

King Thengel smirked at the royal couple. 'We are here to congratulate our friends! We heard that you have two daughters now! I already pity the young dwarf warriors who dare to lay an eye on the royal princesses.' he laughed and looked at Thorin, who fought back a grin.

'Thank you. We are truly blessed to have such loyal friends at our side.' Thorin seemed more at ease now. 'We would be pleased to welcome you at dinner tonight.'

'Is master Bombur cooking?' Thengel rubbed his hands together. 'He is the best cook I have ever met. We would be delighted to have dinner with you tonight. And maybe we will see your precious daughters?'

'Of course.' Brann smiled as she saw Thorins chest widen with pride. 'They will be there. We will see you tonight, king Thengel, lord Denethor.'

Bombur served an excellent dinner as always. Thorin, Brann, their daughters, Dis, her sons, Thrain, Dwana, Thorin Stonehelm, Dwalin, Balin and a few dwarves from court joined Thengel and Denethor at the dinner table. It was a merry gathering and both Thengel and Denethor were enchanted by the royal princesses. While Denethor reassured Brann that he preferred sons, Thengel would not let go of little Gwen who blinked at the huge blond man in awe. Fili watched him with wide eyes and twiched every time the king moved.

'Do not worry, young lad, I will not let her fall.' Thengel grinned at Fili who looked caught and blushed.

Thorin held Zial and Thengel was holding Gwen and Brann could not help but smile at the sight. The two princesses had managed to enchant two great kings of their time in no more than a few moments. It was adorable to watch the two massive warriors hold the tiny dwarflings in their hands and Brann almost melted to that sight. Dis watched her sister in law in amusement and happily chewed on her food. She missed her husband more than ever, but she was happy with her big family. Brann had brought the light back into all their lives and Dis would be thankful for that for all her life.

Dis and Dwana brought the dwarflings to bed later that evening and the men and dwarves endulged in more ale as the females had gone. Only Brann stayed and chuckled at Dwalins and Denethors newest discussion topic.

'Dwarven ladies are the most beautiful beings in Middle Earth, my lord Denethor.' Dwalin leaned towards Denethor. 'Wonderful big breasts, magnificent beards and behinds so round that the Maker must have created them all before Durins Day so that he had a day off to look at them and celebrate.'

Brann laughed behind her hand and shook her head in amusement. As she felt Thorins hands on her hip and was pulled close to him, she looked at him in surprise. Usually Thorin would not touch her like this in public. There could only be one reason.

'Who is staring at me, dear husband?' Brann asked Thorin quietly. As he looked at her with a cocked eyebrow Brann chuckled. 'You only get possessive when people - no, men - look at me.'

'I do not like the way Denethor looks at you.' Thorin growled and sent a dark glare towards the steward of Gondor.

Brann smirked at her jealous husband. 'He is a young man and he would look at every woman who is attractive. You should be proud that he is looking at me.' Brann teased her husband and grinned at his quiet growl.

Suddenly their attention was pulled back to the table. Dwalin and Thorin Stonehelm glared at each other furiously.

'I heard that!' Dwalin growled at young Thorin.

'I said it out loud!' Thorin snarled back.

'Oh my, what just happened?' Brann looked at the scene with wide eyes.

'Too much ale...' Thorin shrugged his shoulders. 'Nothing serious.'

Brann gasped as Dwalins fist landed on Thorins nose. 'Old dwarf, my ass.' he yelled and lunged at Thorin.

'Won't you do anything about this?' Brann exclaimed and stood up to rush towards the bundle of dwarves rolling around on the floor, but Thorin held her back.

'What are you doing?' he asked her amused. 'They are dwarves, they'll manage to sort out their problems by fighting.'

'But...' Brann looked at her husband and gestured towards the fighting captains of the guard and their godson. 'We have guests! For the love of Durin...'

'Don't worry, queen Brann.' Thengel grinned. 'A good fight will not do badly for the merry atmosphere of this wonderful evening.'

Rolling her eyes, Brann excused herself. She loved her husband and her people, the dwarves, but sometimes their rude behaviour bothered her. Brann smiled at her guests, kissed her husband goodnight and joined Dis, Dwana and her twins in the royal chambers.

'What are you doing here?' Dwana asked the queen. 'Shouldn't you be with your guests?'

'I was, until...' Brann grinned as a plan crossed her head. 'But I left as your father started fighting with your beloved Thorin and broke his nose.'

'What?!' Dwana yelled and Dis tried to cover the twins ears. 'I will give him a piece of my mind!'

Dwana stormed out of the rooms and Brann grinned, while Dis shook her head.

'You are mean.' Dis told her sister in law, but she could not fight a grin herself.