I'm getting these chapters out as fast as I can because of my respect and affection for you, as well as my own personal safety, so here you are my wonderfully loyal readers!

Chapter 53

Relianna stood near the picnic basket on the cloth laid out for a lazy afternoon. After calling out a one, two, and three, she swung her son high in the air. He screamed with delight, waving his plump arms to and fro, trying to grab a puffy cloud far above. It was perfect joy to her, all the troubles and fears of the past faded to where she could scarce see their outlines anymore. Her beautiful boy looked like his father with dazzling, blue eyes and the beginnings of dimples. His skin was creamy and unmarred except for bright cheeks warmed by the sun. Soft with fat, his skin fascinated her.

"Oh, my dear," she said, shaking her head after he thrust his body up, trying to touch the sky again, "how do you manage to hide dirt like that?" and she licked her thumb before spreading the fold at one wrist to wipe away some lint. She smelled the top of his head, glorying in that powdery baby smell unique to infants. His wispy, black tufts were already thickening, and he burbled happily before making those suckling noises that only meant one thing. She was very tired from numerous late-night feedings, but she didn't mind. Her boy was healthy and thriving and that was all that mattered.

"My you're hungry, little one, but then again you're always hungry." She rubbed her nose against his, and with a wicked grin dove in to blow against his neck. He squealed and squirmed and tried to grab her face but only succeeded in yanking on her curls. "Ouch! So you think you got me, huh? Just you wait until Papa comes! He'll defend my honor against invaders!" Pulling gently, she tugged her strands through sticky palms. "Oh, so you think you can defeat my champion?"

She rubbed her nose against his again and kissed the tip. "He's a hero, my love, and famous throughout the land. It's lucky that you have King Thorin Oakenshield as your father." She looked around at the waving grass before hefting her son to whisper in his ear. "I'll tell you a secret though. We'll keep it just between us. He may have fought a dragon, but he's a pillow where you're concerned. He sneaks in the nursery to watch you sleep because he loves you so. Sometimes I've even caught him tearing up, but he says it's because he's tired. Don't believe him."

The day was warm, the sky was blue, and to make the day complete, she spied Thorin walking toward her with a wave. She called out to him, but he didn't answer. Even from a distance he looked upset.

"I hope there's not trouble at Erebor, my little prince. Let's go greet Papa and put a smile on his face. You always do."

Relianna, love, wake up.

Laughing, she called out to tell him she was awake, or at least as awake as an exhausted new mother could be.

Wake up, dearest, wake up.

Frain? Was that him? She settled her son on her hip and shielded her eyes against the noontime glare but didn't see him. Odd. He wasn't supposed to arrive for another couple of weeks, and where were Bemma and Tamra? She couldn't wait to see her niece. By all reports, Tamra was a miniature of her grandmother, and it had been so long since she'd seen that beautiful face that she pestered Thorin just a bit to leave sooner than planned. This Tamra though had her father's boisterous spirit, and long letters detailed her escapades.

"I can't believe I'm an aunt!" she said to her son. She bounced him on her hip. "It makes me sound so old, but then again, you have a cousin, and isn't that wonderful? You're going to be the best of friends."

Frain, what's wrong? Why isn't she waking up?

Calm yourself, Thorin. She lost blood when the cord caught, but not enough to cause serious problems. Relianna, can you hear me? Try to open your eyes.

"What? Frain, what nonsense are you spouting this time? Where are you?" She strained to hear him, but the breeze picked up and tossed his words out of reach. "Thorin, is Frain with you?" She turned this way and that but didn't see him. "Wait right here, my love," and she put the gurgling baby on the picnic cloth. "Thorin, did you hear me? Is Frain with you?" Her husband's expression didn't change, and after a last look to make sure their son was secure, she went out to meet him. He was walking toward her but strangely didn't come any closer. "Tell Frain that if this is a joke, it's not funny. Do you hear me, brother? Don't jump out from behind some tree and scare your sister-son! I just got him to stop crying. Thorin! Tell him to stop teasing me!"

Relianna, love, please, please, open your eyes.

Her steps slowed and stopped. The wind whipped up her hair, and she grabbed her tossing curls and looked over her shoulder to see their precious boy playing with his toy bear. She smiled at his intent if slightly cross-eyed look. The wind slapped at her shoulder like someone trying to shake her, and she winced and rubbed her upper arm.

"That was bizarre. For a moment there, it felt like someone was … no, that's ridiculous. Thorin, please hurry, or the food will spoil."

Relianna, it's Frain. Can you hear me?

Something's wrong, Frain. She's not waking. Mahal, something's wrong!

Sister? Dearest? Wake up. Thorin, get the lamp.

She squinted as a strange glow appeared above her head. It grew brighter and brighter like the sun was moving closer, and voices grew louder and louder around her, but she didn't see anyone. Even Thorin disappeared in the light. The sounds of the wind and dry rustle of the grass faded away, and all she heard were the same disembodied voices.

Relianna! Something shook her shoulder hard. She wanted to swat it away, but her arm wouldn't move.

Relianna, you must wake up now. I promise you can sleep later, but I need you to open your eyes now.

They wanted her to open her eyes. Why? Who was speaking? Thorin? Frain? Was something wrong? Her eyes were open. Where was her son? Frantic, she whipped around thinking perhaps he'd crawled away, and they were trying to get her attention.

"No, he couldn't have. There's nothing around, nothing but grass. He was right behind me. Oh, Mahal, where is he?"

I think she's coming 'round.

Thank Mahal, thank Mahal.

Relianna's eyes opened into slits, and two blurry images loomed in, one dark and one light. Opening them was painful, and she felt like weights were sitting on her eyelids.

My love, my love, wake up.

A sound, a small, light sound, so soft she could barely hear it, drove all exhaustion away, and she blinked her eyes open to see Frain's grinning face and Thorin smiling over his anxiety. She looked up and saw the canopy of their bed and a cheerful fire beyond.

"Our son?" she rasped. "Our child?"

Nodding, Thorin brought a bundle into view, and with Frain's help, she turned her head to see tufts of downy, black hair. She blinked again and remembered shouts and frantic voices before pain and weakness faded into blessed oblivion.

"Is he?" She choked on her dry throat, and Frain held a glass of water to her mouth. After a few sips, she tried again. "Is he … well?"

Their expressions changed, and Frain nodded to Thorin who leaned in. He swallowed before speaking.

"The cord was around his neck, love," he said. She gasped, and horror showed the whites of her eyes. Frain gripped her arm. "Thanks to your brother's skill though, he lives and is well." He paused and gathered himself. "He's a bleeder, love, though we think not to the extent your brother is. It seems the medicine may have helped in that regard."

Relianna craned her neck to see over the swaddling cloths, and Frain helped her sit up against the pillows. Thorin brought their son closer. Very gently, he pulled back on the cloth to reveal a perfectly round face with a button nose and puckered mouth that opened to yawn. After a sneeze, he blinked, and dark blue eyes fixed unsteadily on his mother. Bruises were splattered across his forehead and chin. She pulled down the wrapping to see dark mottling around his neck.

"Open the wrapping."

Relianna, love, wait until you're stronger."

"No, I want to see."

Frain looked over her head to Thorin who pressed his lips together before giving a tight nod. Carefully, Frain unwrapped her son and laid him on her lap. He wriggled, uncomfortable with his sudden nakedness, and began to cry. There was light bruising on his fleshy parts and heavier bruising on his scalp, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles and heels.

"Oh, my son, my son!" Covering her face with her hands, she sobbed for the life he would have, perhaps not as hard as Frain's but hard nonetheless. Watching with tears in his own eyes, Thorin slid next to her and put one arm around her while crading his son's foot in his other hand.

"Don't cry, love, don't cry. We'll do right by him. Don't cry."

The door creaked open, and a voice interrupted. Dain couldn't wait any longer and, after hearing everything that had happened, needed to see his daughter and grandson. He reasoned that they would have called him in any moment anyway. He peeked around the door before pushing through.

"Of course, she should cry," he said as he strode into the room, dry-eyed himself. "Let her cry. She needs to wet some hankies. Come, sweetling, cry out the bad and have done. Otherwise, it'll tear you up inside," and he handed Thorin a wad of clean and dry handkerchiefs.

"You didn't need these yourself?" Frain asked in an aside.

"The trick is knowing when to let go and when to hold back. Now isn't the time for me, but it is for her."

Stroking their son with light fingers, Relianna sobbed out all her fears and worries while Thorin held her. She had voiced them before, but she had never cried them out as deeply as she felt them. After she stopped sobbing, Thorin gave her time in case she wasn't finished, but she shook her head.

"I'm done," she said after a big sniffle. Dain handed her a handkerchief while Frain watched from the side. "I'm done. Now," and she smiled a teary but bright smile, "I will glory in my son, our son, our little prince." Their son had been silent with his arms and legs flung out as if startled, but now that his mother had stopped crying, the little prince took the opportunity to make his voice heard.

"Oh, my dear, I'm so sorry to have scared you," Relianna said. At once she loosened her robe, and her brother and father did an immediate about-face.

"We'll see you a little later, sister," Frain said quickly. "C'mon, father," but Dain was already heading for the door.

"I won't be cheated out of holding my grandson now," he said over his shoulder with one hand on the frame. "Rest, my child, but send for me first thing when you're ready."

"Reli," Frain said with his back to her, "You know what you should do, but knowing you, you won't do it, so I'm sending in Derlig, Plumma, and Carba to make sure you eat and rest. Food will be coming up shortly, and you need to eat it—all of it. You can walk after you rest, but I want to be there when you do. The ladies outside have been fully briefed, so no funny business. Do you understand?"

She grumbled her agreement which Thorin reinforced, and Frain left with a smirk, knowing she'd fuss but do what he said. After he was gone, Thorin rubbed her hands against his mouth.

"I need to see you well, love," he said, worry reappearing on his face. "You gave me quite a turn there, and I need you to obey what Frain says. He's only saying it for your own good."

More than anything, that convinced her to cooperate willingly, and she nodded with a smile.

"I won't have you fretting over me more than you already have, my love," she said. "I'll be good. So ... what happens now? I mean officially?"

"All will be well, Sweet Relianna. We're already gathering our people. I'll make the announcement and explain the circumstances, and then Frain will share his part. It will be short because I want to come back to you and our son." He shook his head like he couldn't believe what he had just said. "We will do a more formal celebration when you both recover."

"Very well. Hurry back."

"As soon as can be, love," he said with kiss on her forehead and stroke of their son's arm. "You know, we had our name picked out, but after what happened, I want to change it if you agree." She watched his face and knew immediately what he was thinking.

"I do. The name is perfect. He couldn't be called anything but Frain."

OK, so now you can put down your bricks or pillows or anything else you wanted to throw. Can I get three cheers for an "awwww" moment? They deserve it.