I told Queen of Erebor that it would be rushing matters to skip past everyone else's lives and kingdom business to focus only on Thorin, so that's the reason for the last chapter. BUT, here's the resolution for those who've been waiting, and I want to hear from you all in lots and lots of reviews! I pushed hard to get this out because you deserve it. And welcome new readers! Your input is important!

Chapter 38

Frain explained his condition to his father, sparing no detail. Dain winced from time to time but stood fast, leaning forward in a desire not to miss a word.

"May I?" he asked with a gesture toward his stomach. Frain nodded and lifted up his tunic. Dain's fingers hovered over the fading bruise. "Does it hurt?" Frain shook his head. "It did at first, but my head hurts more." Dain made a noise of distress, and Frain turned and lifted up his hair in the back, parting it in the middle. The sight of the purple and red stain still covering most of the back of his head shocked his father, and he couldn't help his shaky hand from touching the trail of purple that had leeched from the bruise and traveled under his son's skin down his neck. Frain stilled his desire to pull away.

"How, how did this happen?"

Fingering the back of his head where Dain had touched, Frain took a deep breath. "I fell backward from the force of the throw and hit my head. The bleeding you see is matched by internal bleeding that still makes me dizzy at times and nauseous, but my good fortune seems to be speeding my recovery." He sent a fond glance toward the door, and Dain watched his expression brighten. Bemma wasn't who he wanted for his son, not by any means, but he saw the force of their affection, and he wouldn't stand in the way this time, not again.

"I don't expect you to believe this, but I love you very much, Frain," he said when his son looked back at him. "I was never happier than when Tamra told me she was with child. I regret so much in my life, and you and your sister are my only reasons for living now."

His sincerity was real, there was no mistaking it, and Frain looked down, not yet ready to face his turbulent emotions. Still …

"I've answered all your questions as best as I can, and now you know why Relianna did what she did."

"The herbs are yours, whatever you need," Dain hastened to say. "I'll tell the healer to open the gardens to you. You'll want for nothing. You'll get the best treatments."

He was getting ahead of himself, Frain thought, but that conversation could wait. It was his turn now. "As I'm sure you understand, I have questions of my own." Dain nodded him on.

"I want to know about you and mother," Frain said, eyeing Dain for signs of unwillingness or deceit, but the copper-haired dwarf nodded with open eyes and an open heart, grateful to spend more time in his son's company.

"Anything," he offered without hesitation.

"Anything?" Frain asked. "Then I want to know how you possibly could have abandoned her."

Dain was silent for a long time, his breathing uneven and punctuated with rattles and throat-clearings. He looked up with such devastation that Frain struggled not to reach out a hand. "It was an ugly time, but you deserve to know the truth. If you want nothing to do with me afterward, I'll understand."

"Then we'll talk tomorrow," Frain said, "because I think we both need a lighter moment, and my cousins arranged entertainment."

Thorin drummed his fingers on the arm of his ornate chair while a chorus regaled Erebor's perfection and its heroic rescue by the dashing Heir of Durin and his stalwart company.

"I like this part best," Kili whispered to Frain, who was well enough to join the festivities along with other high-ranking dwarves. Singers harmonized Thorin's, Kili's, and Fili's charge into the hordes of orcs, heedless of danger or death, and Kili wagged his brows while Fili motioned him to be quiet. "But it's the best part, Fili," and he cheered along with the rest when the performance ended. Many expensively dressed ladies craned their necks to see Frain at last, and many a dwarf was frustrated by his lady love's distraction.

"You'd think he was Mahal himself by the way they're carrying on," one noble grumped to his neighbor.

Thorin watched but didn't see and glanced often at the large timepiece. Jugglers, acrobats, story-tellers, magicians, and more tried to distract the King of Erebor who pasted on an empty smile and gave a curt nod when each act came to a close.

The evening of planned distraction failed spectacularly, but Thorin nodded his approval and spoke practiced words of praise and favor that his sister-sons had heard many times before. Murmuring their enthusiasm for the night of excitement, the crowds stood and left their seats for the comforts of home, never knowing that they left their king heartsick and wretched. Fili and Kili watched his face sag after the last dwarf paid his respects and walked over to Lord Kerba.

"It didn't work," Fili said, his eyes on Thorin who stood and acknowledged a joke of Bofur's with a tight smile.

"No," Kerba said, "but time passed, and he wasn't left alone to suffer it. It would have been worse otherwise. You did as good as you could and one day, he'll know it."

Thorin plodded to his chambers, waving away last-minute requests for his attention. Despite Lord Kerba's advice, he had sent attendants all over Erebor, searching for Relianna but without success. The maids had done their work too well, and he thought that perhaps he should employ some of them as military strategists.

Standing in the middle of his chambers, he remembered the heat of her skin when he kissed her on her chest, backing her up to his bed in hopes that she would relent. He would have proclaimed his vows with his body, and they would have been married there, Relianna never to leave his bed again for a life apart. But now she was gone, and who knew how much longer would she stay away? A day? A week? He felt his sanity slipping like sand through an hourglass.

In fact, she's closer than you think.

Frain's small bone tossed to a starving dog. Compassionate but unhelpful. A bland and useless piece of news, or was it? Frain wasn't laughing or making one of his witty jokes when he said it. Instead, he seemed genuinely sympathetic

His profession suits him.

Still, Frain's words kept pricking his thoughts. Closer than you think. His head swiveled to the door joining his chambers with what were to be hers. What if …? Careful not to make the smallest noise, he sat on his bed and pulled off his boots with care, grabbing the tops to push them under his bed. Slow and even, he negotiated a tight path between and over layers of parchment, stopping when he stepped square on a thick piece of correspondence from the council. A moment's temptation had him wanting to grind his heel. He put his hand on a door panel, and mouthed his name. He could have heard someone speaking his name from behind the thin door. He might have. Tamping down his excitement, he held his breath and thought through what could and should happen next.

If she's there, would she take offense, or would she be relieved? Can I wait another day and live this half-life, this non-life?

Letting his feelings overtake his reason, he gripped the knob and turned it to face his future. The door opened without a sound.

Honeysuckle. The most wonderful smell to his mind drifted toward him, and he stretched his lungs taking it in. Closing his eyes in rapture, he smiled an exultant smile that dissolved his pain and replaced it with sweet solace. She's here.

Scanning the room, he spied his Relianna sitting in a chair facing the fire. Her back was to him, and a limp handkerchief hung from her hand over the arm. With noiseless steps he crept toward her, listening to her steady breaths, breaths that signaled the conclusion of a matter, and he leaned forward with one hand out, hesitating and then laying the tips of his fingers on her soft curls. She gasped and whipped around.

"Thorin!"

He stood there with eyes begging her not to push him away. Dropping her handkerchief, she held one hand on her chest. He reached out to caress her chin.

"Is it over?" he asked, his voice quiet and gentle. "I hope it is because you'll find a raving madman if you stay away another day."

In response, she cupped his face, and he closed his eyes to savor the feel of her on his skin. Neither moved from their places, unwilling to break the fragile moment. Her hand slid to finger his beard and, without a word, she took his hand and walked him over to a small loveseat. In a halting voice, she told him how she had spent her time. Afterward, she wiped her nose, and he looked down at his hands.

"Did you think I'd not stand with you, love?" he asked with somber eyes. He tried to keep his tone level and voice solid, but a tremor exposed his anguish. She didn't answer, and he drew her face toward him, but she didn't want to meet his gaze and tried to squirm away. "Look at me." Peeking up, she saw the hurt in his eyes, the hurt that she put there, and she realized that he was as vulnerable to her as she was to him. Thorin Oakenshield, mighty warrior, savior of his people, and King of Erebor! Those parts of him were more than a little intimidating, yet they had never been used against her. Did she really think he'd force his will on her? He never had before, even when his whole being fought to. She almost snickered at the thought, but his plaintive voice brought her back. "Did you think I'd not stand with you?" His deep and resonating voice matched the look in his eyes, and she thought herself then a selfish child to have hurt him so even though she did what she must.

"I had thought," she stammered, unnerved by the intensity of his stare. "I had hoped … you would."

"Hoped?" He exhaled and closed his eyes. A thin line appeared between his brows. "Do you not trust me? I'm your lover and will be your husband. Have I given you cause to think I'd not support your decision?" His hands chafed hers. Pulling away, she stood, took his fingers, and led him to the furs in front of the fireplace. Sitting down, she tugged him to follow her, and he dropped to his knees. Reaching for a plump cushion to support his back, he tucked it behind him and pulled her up on his lap. Together, they watched the fire flicker and felt its heat on their faces. Her head rested against his chest, and his arms held her snug against him. The knot in his stomach loosened, soothed by the feel of her in his arms.

"Frain told me you would, but Dain's your cousin, and he fought for you when …."

"You will be my wife, Relianna," he said, putting a stop to her doubts. He dropped his head to punctuate his words with a soft kiss on her ear. She shivered, and he nuzzled the side of her face with his nose and mouth. Creamy skin felt like silk under his lips, and he purred with pleasure at the feel of her breasts pressing against his embrace. "You're more important than anyone, even though our relationship hasn't been of long standing. Do not doubt that."

She said nothing, and he waited her out, her silence poking him like thorns. Was she having doubts about their future as well? "Relianna? Love? Should I be worried about us?" He ran his fingers down her hair with long, slow strokes, hoping that his touch might remind her of what they had as well as soothe her distress. "Relianna?" Hearing the anxiety in his voice eased her worries, and she shook her head to chase away her ridiculous fears.

Frain would be giving me a big 'I told you so' right now.

However, Thorin misunderstood her response and stiffened. She felt him go rigid and turned in his arms. His face was tense, and he wouldn't look at her. "Thorin? What's wrong?"

"You tell me."

"Tell you what?"

Staring at his stern face in the firelight, so like one of the statues guarding the front gate, she realized how he took her gesture and couldn't help a surge of love and affection. Reaching up, she kissed him on his cheek just above his beard. His eyes dropped to her face, unsatisfied by so slight a gesture, so she kissed him on the lips. Leaning back, she saw his eyes close while he took a few steadying breaths. Not enough, not quite enough to soothe her black lion, so she slipped her hand under his tunic over his heart and kissed him again, tasting his mouth with her lips. His heart hammered under her hand, and he moaned and braced one arm behind him while holding her with the other.

"Thorin, it's not that," she said, when they broke apart, her eyes showing him what he needed to see. He relaxed at once and nuzzled her nose.

"Relianna, love …" but she put her hand to his mouth.

"I haven't changed my mind about us, Thorin," she said, "and I never will. I'm so sorry for having doubts about your reaction, but it's not just that. I've never had time to reflect on anything—at least not since I entered Onkra's service years ago. She was rather … demanding. My whole life's been a lie, and I needed time to come to terms with it. Can you understand?"

As one who needed solitude himself, he understood better than anyone. But …. "Of course, I understand, love. It's been a shock, and Dain hasn't given either of you a chance to breathe. But know that I've been alone long enough, and there isn't anything to do with you that I don't want to be part of. I want to marry you because I want to be with you, through whatever comes. Can you understand that, Relianna?"

Joyous with relief, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him so hard that he fell over on the furs, taking her with him. She lay half on him with her hair spilling over one shoulder. He lay on his back with his long, dark hair splayed on the ground, his face open and wanting. In the golden light, his years melted away, and he looked like a young dwarf eager to experience love for the first time.

"Taking you as my wife can't come soon enough for me," and he pulled her head down to his lips. Their mouths moved together, and he rolled her over so that she lay on her side. He wouldn't repeat his earlier transgressions, but he was determined to make sure that she was just as impatient to be married.

"You look so young," she said, marveling at the transformation. He didn't argue, believing that he knew the reason. "You make me feel young, sweet Relianna." Holding her head, he kissed her eyes, her nose, her cheeks, and her lips. Tilting her neck, he kissed his way down, making sure that his teeth tickled her tender skin from time to time. She moaned, and he pushed his knee between her legs to pull her closer. He rocked them back and forth, more in affection than desire, and she laughed at his playfulness.

"When we're wed," he said with a peck on her nose, "we'll not leave our chambers until I have enough memories of your glorious body to last a lifetime." If he thought he'd shaken her, he was wrong. "Is that the only time we'll spend together?" she asked with an arch smile.

His mouth fell open in dismay until he saw her teasing eyes, and he roared with laughter and rolled her on the furs, feeling light and carefree. She giggled and swatted away his teasing hands. "Now stop! Thorin!"

Still laughing, he pulled her to her feet and twirled her in his arms. "Feel better?" She nodded.

"Much," then she bit her lip. "I need to tell you though what I've decided about Lord Dain." Seeing her mood shift, he nodded and sat her back in her chair. He pulled another closer and leaned forward, waiting.

"Whatever you decide, love, I will respect and honor it." She smiled a tight, joyless smile, and he knew then what was coming.

"Lord Dain is my father," she said, "and I will acknowledge that, but I don't want to go to the Iron Hills to spend time with him or work on any sort of relationship beyond what common politeness requires."

She looked under her lashes to see his response, and he nodded his support of her. "Go on, love. I understand what you're saying."

"I don't know what Frain will decide, but I'm too angry and hurt right now to pursue anything more with him. Onkra beat me, Thorin, and he didn't care enough to know. His negligence hurt so many of us. He knew mother was with child, and he did nothing. You told him I was his daughter, and he said I was a whore, and he treated mother little better. I can't forgive that yet. I can't! I will, I know I will some day, but not yet."

Thorin said nothing, just nodded his support once again. Remembering his own confrontations with Dain, he well understood her feelings and didn't disagree with any of them or her conclusions.

I warned him this might happen. So be it.

"Will you be with me when I tell him?"

"Of course, love, but what if Frain decides to go back?"

Her eyes filled with tears, and her lip trembled. He knew beyond all doubt that they were close—two halves of a whole—but he had never had that kind of relationship with Dis or Frerin. The differences in age and temperament were too great. He had loved them with all the protectiveness and affection of an elder brother, but Frain and Relianna had something different, and he knew then that if he left, she would be desolate.

"Love?" He lifted her face. "He is the Prince of the Iron Hills. If he decides to have any relationship with Lord Dain, it will include going back to assume his rightful place."

"No!"

He summoned all his wisdom and tried again. Thinking it likely that Frain would go back, he needed to help his future wife prepare to let him go. "Relianna, he needs those medicines from the Iron Hills. He needs them to live. If he stays here, his life is in danger. You know he'd sacrifice anything to make you happy, but would you want that?"

She hiccupped and looked up with wide eyes. "Of course not." She drew in long, shuddering breath and wiped her cheeks. "Of course not." She faced her him and smiled a teary smile. "I love him."

"I know you do."

After finding out how she managed for those few days that seemed like an eternity for him, he rang for food then took her hands. His face was grim, and her tongue darted out to lick the bow of her lip.

"What has happened? Is it Frain?" Her face looked pinched and apprehensive. "It is, isn't it? Isn't it?"

He nodded but wouldn't release her hands. "But he's well, love, he's well now."

"Now? What happened?" He hesitated, and she squeezed his fingers. "Thorin?"

He grimaced, not sure how much he should tell her, but since he didn't want anything but complete openness between them, he decided that he needed to tell her everything no matter how upset she might be.

"Lord Dain wanted you both to come back with him and suggested that we postpone our wedding."

"No!" Her eyes blazed, and she tossed her head in defiance. He smiled at her outburst and lowered his head and kissed her palms. That was what he wanted to hear and see, that was what he craved.

"I can't tell you how much it pleases me that you don't want to wait," he said with a small smile teasing his mouth.

"What did Frain do?"

"He took him on and collapsed, but not until he had his say. You would have been proud, love, but don't fear. Bemma's taking good care of him."

He expected her to be beside herself with worry; instead, a sly grin curved her lips, and a knowing snort shook her shoulders.

"I'm sure she is, but I wonder if my darling brother had courage enough to declare himself. At times I honestly thought he'd rather face Zozer again."

"To Bemma?" Thorin was shocked, but looking back, he had seen a certain affection between them from the start. "I heard that he's making a remarkable recovery, so it seems so. Mahal, Dain's had more than he ever bargained for in this trip."

To his delight, she laughed and threw herself into his arms. "I'm so happy for him. Even if he goes back now, he'll have someone to help him. He won't be alone. She's my best friend, and if I can't be there, there's no one else I'd send in my place."

He grinned, but it faded when she took his hand and held it to her chest. "Was it truly awful for you, Thorin? Did I cause much trouble for everyone?"

He shook his head, dismissing how he felt. His burden was born of his own insecurity and not from any true rejection from her. "Lord Kerba gave me wise counsel as loath as I was to follow it, but when I realized where you were, I couldn't help myself. Forgive me."

"It doesn't matter," she said. "I was going to find you in the morning." She tilted her head and smoothed away the lines in his brow. "He loves you, you know."

"Who?"

"Lord Kerba. He loves you like a son."

Not likely, he thought. It was a fanciful notion though comforting, but he put no stock in it. Mahal, he hardly ever saw Lord Kerba save when he came to see about shipments and trade routes. Usually, the genial lord was in conference with his father or in conversation with his mother. On the few occasions when their paths crossed, he was kind and asked many questions about his studies and hobbies, but Thorin passed it off as politeness.

"It's a charming notion, love, but hardly …"

"He said so, Thorin. He said so when he came with Lady Carba to visit. He said that he had no son or nephew, so he looked on you as a member of his family. He said that he always made sure to talk to Aunt Relia about you when he visited Erebor."

He was more surprised than he could say, but he had no words to refute her. Was it true? Did he have an ally all along when he thought himself alone in the world? Images of Lord Kerba sending wagon loads of sorely needed supplies, arriving only a short time after Smaug destroyed his home reappeared in his mind. Then black-haired but no more spry, he came himself to offer home and shelter for survivors, vowing to make all necessary accommodations for their safety and welfare. No one else but Dain had showed such concern, true concern. And why would he have spent so much time talking with his mother? It wasn't about business. Letters asking him how he was faring at Ered Luin and working with Lord Meldin to get new coal mines up and running spoke of far more than simple charity or compassion. Revelation misted his eyes, and Relianna smiled and put her arms around him. It was her turn to hold him close, and she warmed to the task.

"See, Thorin? You're loved. You're loved so deeply by so many, and you'll never be alone again." She whispered her love and faithfulness to the shaking king in her arms and kissed his tears away.

So was it worth the wait? Let me hear from you! BTW, Thorin's words of wanting to share in Relianna's life and wanting to be part of her life whatever comes is almost word for word what my husband's said to me (on many occasions). What a gem.