Brann held the letter from Gondor in her hands and did not know if she should laugh or cry. Lord Denethor had sent her his sympathy about the obvious disloyalty of her husband and had invited her to Minas Tirith. He had offered her his hands in marriage and vowed that he would be a better husband than the dwarf who had turned to his own kin so shortly after their marriage. Brann sighed and put the letter down. She had already shown Dis the letter and Thorins sister had burst into laughter, despite the tense situation. Brann stood up and handed the letter to Thorin. Sitting down on their bed she waited for her husband to blow up, but nothing came. Instead Thorin stared at the letter and smiled sadly.

'I cannot blame him.' he said calmly. 'I am not worthy of your love.'

The king jumped as his wife gave him a hard smack on the back of his head. 'Do not ever say that again, do you hear me?' Brann snarled. 'Or do you want me to marry Denethor?'

Thorin huffed and frowned. 'Would you wish to marry Denethor?'

'Of course not!' Brann grinned behind his back. 'Although...he is a good looking man. And so tall!'

Thorin turned around in shock, but exhaled as he saw his wife grin. 'Do not tease me, this is not funny!' he snarled.

'Yes, it is.' Brann chuckled and threw her arms around Thorins neck. 'I would never leave you. Besides, I would need to leave our daughters. Denethor only wants sons.'

Thorin shook his head at his wife's obvious teasing, but her laughter relieved him. The life with Dara and her family took a toll on everyone in the royal wing. Thorin and Brann rarely had time for themselves, Dis had to face Asif and the servants suffered under Mara . The only light in the dark were the five dwarflings. Fili and Kili spent time with the twins as well as with Thror. Nobody could dislike Daras son, he was smiling at everyone he saw and he really was a precious little dwarfling. Only Thorin could not look at him. Brann had not told him that there was a chance that Thror was not his son, for Thorin would have snapped and would probably have ripped off Daras head because of the lie. The lie nobody could prove, yet. But the queen had asked Nori to hurry with his search for Thrors father. She did not want to keep information from her husband longer than she needed to. Nori and his spies had scathered through all the dwarven kingdoms and searched for the dwarf with the black hair and blue eyes.

In the meantime Mara tried to convince the council to talk their king into marrying his daughter. But he had ignored one important issue. The dwarves loved their queen Brann. Although they had agreed about Thorin needing to take a second wife years ago, they had accepted Brann and the princesses and nobody could stand the arrogant Dara.

One day, Dwalin and the guards were called to the royal wing by Asif. Daras mother and Dis had gotten into a fight and Asif had slapped Dis across the face in front of Fili and Kili. The king's sister snapped and had rammed Asifs face into the nearest wall. Fili and Kili cheered for their mother after the first shock and the guards had to seperate the two fighting dwarf ladies. Four guards had to be brought to Oin afterwards, they had scratches, bruises and even bites on their arms, hands and faces. Zial and Gwen watched the whole scene and Gwen started crying. Brann rushed into the chaos like a mother warg and yelled at Asif for provoking yet another fight. Brann would have loved to smash Asif into the same wall Dis had, but her daughters were still present. The queen took her daughters and left the royal wing. Lateron, Thorin found them in the kitchen with master Bombur.

Brann and Bombur were cooking and the princesses were making a mess. Gwen was full of flour and looked adorable with the grey streaks in her hair. Zial had taken two bowls of peas and beans and had begun to sort them out.

'Thorin.' Brann smiled at him and pointed to a bowl of mash. 'Would you please feed our daughters their dinner?' The queen did not want to talk about what had happened in the moment.

'What is this?' Thorin nodded and eyed the brown mash curiously.

'Potato and trifle.' Brann answered and smirked as Thorin winced.

'Ewww...' Thorin looked like Kili when he grimaced. 'Why would I feed my daughters that?'

'Because its healthy.' Brann grinned at her husband.

'Healthy my a...' Thorin was about to say.

'Thorin!' Brann yelped and the king bit his tongue. Bombur only chuckled at the young parents. He and his wife had raised two children and he had gone through all of this already. He watched as his king reluctantly grabbed a small spoon and sat down at the table with his two daughters. After a few moments, the mash was everywhere, just not inside of the princesses mouths. Bombur nearly suffocated himself as he tried to choke his laughter. Thorin had mashed potatoes in his hair, his face and on his kingly outfit. The princess's faces were covered in mash and they chuckled happily.

'Thorin...' Brann sighed. 'What in Durins name are you doing?'

'What does it look like?' Thorin snarled and tried to shove another spoon full of mash into Gwens mouth. The princess sneezed as the spoon was near her lips and the mash landed on the kings face with a loud splash. For a moment Thorin had to count to ten to calm himself down, but the happy laugh of his daughter made him smile again instantly. Brann smiled as she watched her family. For a moment she thought that she could not be happier, but then she remembered that Dara was now in their lives.

'Brann! Braaaannn! Oh for Durin's sake!' Dwana rushed into the royal chambers a few days later and forgot to knock in her excitement. Nori had returned with news. But as Dwana barged into the room she caught the king and queen in the armchair she and Thorin Stonehelm used to cuddle in when they dwarflingsat the twins. Dwana thanked Mahal that they were both wearing clothes, but she turned around nevertheless.

'My queen, I will...wait in my rooms.' Dwana stammered and ran out of the royal chambers before theing could call her a brat again.

Brann chuckled as she heard Thorin mumble the word 'brat' under his breath, but a quick move of her hips against his silenced him instantly. Brann thanked all gods that she and Thorin had decided to keep their clothes on while being intimate this time. For a short moment Brann felt sorry that it had not been Dara running in on them. But lately, Dara seemed sad and tired of life. There was no gleam in her eyes and she did not even try to disturb Thorins and Branns family life. Often she sat on one of the few balconies and stared to the north. Brann did not know why, but sometimes she wondered.

But right now, the queen concentrated on pleasing her husband. With a seductive grin she kissed Thorin and gasped into his mouth as he began to push into her until both crashed into oblivion.

Brann still was smiling dreamingly as she entered Dwanas rooms. Her grin grew even wider as her courtlady cocked an eyebrow at her.

'What? You really need to knock the next time.' the queen scolded her courtlady and friend.

Dwana shook her head and decided to just continue. 'Nori is back. He has news.'

Branns attention was completely focused now. 'And? Did he find Thrors real father?'

Brann felt newborn as she saw Dwana nod. 'Its a dwarf from the east. A simple miner. The leader of the Blacklocks, lord Ravin, do you remember him? He helped Nori and his spies when he heard about Maras intrigue. Ravin was the one who found Thrors father. He will be brought here immediately.'

Brann had to sit down. It was over, lord Mara and his family would be charged with treason and this time Brann told herself that she would have no mercy.

'And Nori is completely sure about this?' Brann reassured herself.

Dwana nodded and grinned. 'I will kick Mara out of this mountain myself.'

'You will have to beat half the dwarves of this mountain to it.' Brann smiled at her friends. 'Thank you for your help. Yours and Thorins. I will inform my Thorin.'

Brann walked back to the royal chambers and thought about how to tell Thorin what she had learned. Thorin would be furious that she had not told him sooner, but Brann had to accept that. As she entered the royal chambers she saw Thrain sit at the fire with his son. They were talking silently and both seemed peaceful. Thrains precense did not keep Brann from walking to her husband and sitting by his side. Thorins arm slipped around her waist as soon as she sat down and Thrain smiled at his daughter in law.

'Father, husband, I hope I am not interrupting anything important?' Brann smiled at her family.

'My father brought his granddaughters to bed.' Thorin told his wife. 'No word of protest left our little gems lips this time. A miracle.'

Brann chuckled and smiled at Thrain. 'They adore their grandfather.'

'I never thought I would have such a big family one day.' Thrain frowned. 'Even little Thror...'

Brann surprised Thrain and Thorin as she held up her hand in determination. 'Speaking of Thror. I need to inform you about something. Promise me that you will let me finish. And please do not yell at me.' she looked at Thorin as she spoke. Thorin frowned at her but nodded. Brann told them about Balins, Thorin Stonehelms and Noris suspicions and that they had been searching for Thrors real father for the past months. And she told them that they had been succesful. As she was finished with her report, Thrain leaned back in his armchair and Thorin stood up.

'Why should I yell at you?' Thorins voice was dangerously quiet. 'I will yell at her!'

The king of the Blue Mountains ran towards the door, but his father was surprisingly quick and kept his son from waking up the whole royal wing.

'This is good news! But we need to stay calm.' Thrain pushed his son back to the fire. 'Even if this dwarf will be brought to us, we will have to persuade him to tell us everything. He is a simple miner. His word will stand against Mara and his family. We need proof or else this will fall back on us. On you. Charging Mara and his family for high treason needs to be well planned.'

Thorin nodded and forced himself to calm down. He looked at his wife and her worried face. 'My love, we will see to it that this horrid family will not stay in our lives one day longer than necessary.'

'What about the little one?' Brann asked. 'He is innocent in all this.'

But Thorin only lowered his gaze. 'We will see.'

A few days later Nori arrived in the Blue Mountains with Thrors father. They gave him a cloak to cover his face, for Mara should not get any knowledge of his presence. They were led into the royal chambers and Thorin stood before the dwarf who looked like him with a furious expression. Brann also looked at the dwarf from the east with wide eyes. He was not as tall as Thorin, but he was also broad and strong. He had black hair and the same blue eyes. But despite all of the same attributes, Brann did not even see a tiny little bit of similarity between him and her husband. The miner seemed scared. He looked at the ground to his feet and his bearing seemed insecure. He was the complete opposite of Thorin.

'What is your name, miner?' Thorin asked and the miner jumped at the kings hard tone.

'Its Levek, my lord.' the miners answered quietly.

Thorin surrounded the other dwarf while he spoke. 'Do you know why you are here?' but he did not even let Levek answer. 'You are here, because you are charged of a serious crime. How did you get to know lord Mara and his family?'

Levek frowned, he did not seem to know what the king was speaking about. 'Lord Mara? I have never met him. I only met his wife and daughter...once.'

Brann frowned at the miner. He was clearly hiding something, but she could see no malice in his eyes. Only confusion and panic. She decided to step in and touched Thorin on the arm to stop him from tearing the dwarfs head off.

'Master Levek, please tell us how you got to know the lady Asif and her daughter Dara. It is very unusual for a miner and a lady to form any kind of contact.' Brann smiled at the dwarf and lifted in eyebrows in awaiting of an answer.

Levek looked back onto the ground as the queen adressed him, but Brann could see a slight smile at the mention of Dara. 'Lady Asif had visited lord Ravin, as it seemed. The lord was surprised about the female delegation from Ered Luin, but he would never be a bad host. He invited the lady and her daughter to stay in the east with us for a few days. I watched them when they inspected the mines. The lady Dara is a beautiful dwarf and I...she...' Levek was fighting for words, but Brann could guess what had happened. And she could see what had happened in Leveks eyes and the tone of his voice. He had fallen in love with Dara. The way he spoke about her, the way his bearing changed when he thought of her and the loving tone in his voice were the proof for the unexpected.

'Did she show interest in you?' Brann asked further. She could feel Thorin shift in impatience.

Levek looked at the queen in awe, he did not understand why the woman was so interested in his life. 'I would never have anticipated that a lady would...I am only a poor miner...but please, why is that of importance to you, your highness?'

Brann bit her tongue and looked at Thorin, who could barely contain his anger. 'It is of importance, because ...' the king stopped midsentence. He too had noticed the love and admiration in the dwarfs voice when he spoke of Dara and all of a sudden he felt sorry for the miner. He looked at Nori and Dwalin and silently gestured them to leave. Dwalin looked as if he wanted to protest, but then he sighed and followed Nori out.

Levek was confused. 'Please, I do not know why I am here and what my crime has been. I assure you I have never done anything criminal in my life.'

'Master Levek, please sit down.' Brann pointed to the chair and the miner sat down reluctantly. 'We need to inform you about a serious crime, committed by ...lord Mara, lady Asif and lady Dara.'

'What? But Dara would never...what did she do?' Levek looked at the queen pleadingly. 'I am sure that there is an explanation for everything she has done.'

'You love her.' Brann stated quietly.

Levek stared back at the ground. After a while a nodded sadly.

'It is foolish. She would never...I am only a miner.'

Brann bit her tongue. She could never ask him if he and Dara had been intimate. She looked at Thorin and gestured towards the miner. You ask him she mouthed and nearly chuckled at his shocked expression.

'For Durin's sake!' Dis came storming in. 'This is going nowhere and I will NOT tolerate this damned family near us any longer! You! You need to know ...' Dis pointed at the miner who looked at the sister of the king in shock. 'Dara slept with you - ah! do not deny it, we know she did - because you look like the king of the Blue Mountains.'

Brann nearly broke into laughter as the miner looked the king up and down and frowned dismissively.

'Dara got pregnant. Her son looks like my brother. Do I really have to explain to you why she did this?' Dis knew that she was very insensitive, but there was no other way around it.

Levek needed a minute and swallowed hard. 'She had a dwarfling? My dwarfling?'

'Yes.' Brann sat down at his side and threw a scolding look towards her sister in law. 'And she used it to force my husband to accept her as the mother of his heir.'

'She made you believe that our dwarfling was the kings.' Levek was a miner, but he was no stupid dwarf. It dawned on him and he felt the knowledge close around his heart like an iron fist. 'She used me to...she used me.'

Thorin, Brann and Dis exchanged a look of pity. It was obvious that Levek had not known of the intrigue. He had only been a fool in love.

'Dara tricked the king to accept our son as his.' Levek eyed Thorin darkly. 'Does that mean that you...'

Brann and Dis could stop Levek in the last minute before he launched at the king for ever touching his Dara. Maybe the miner and the king were more alike than they would like to accept, Brann smirked.