Thank you all for your continued support of this story, and for waiting patiently for this chapter. Since my grandfather's passing, it has been difficult for me to write anything. I started writing this chapter before he passed, but since then I have found it difficult to keep my hurt and pain from leaking into the story. So I apologize if this chapter seems to go a bit dark towards the mid-point, for that is where I started writing after his funeral.
Note: As a show of respect towards my grandfather, I named a character Théodor. Sounds like Theodore (My grandfather's middle name), but for the Theo pronounce that part like you would Théoden.
Another side note: The locking of the married couple for a week in their apartment/rooms/halls was inspired by the Catholic Conclave procedure when choosing a pope. However, instead of it being used for choosing a pope, it is being used by the dwarves as a "tradition" to ask Yavanna for a fruitful honeymoon in my story.
55 ½ years till LOTR events.
Aliena – 9 ¼ years old
Frerin & Durin – 4 ¼ years old
Kelda- 3 months old
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hobbit or its characters.
This chapter is dedicated to my grandfather. May you join our ancestors at the Great Council Fire.
The morning sun rose over the eastern ridge on this mid-summer eve. The valley between Erebor and Dale showed signs of life from both cities inhabitants. For today was the day that the two cities would unite in celebration. Not only for the mid-summer eve festivities, but also for the marriage of Prince Fili of Erebor and Lady Sigrid of Dale.
Through the careful negotiations between the cities, both the traditions of men and dwarves would be observed. This means that later in the morning, Sigrid and Fili will have a ceremony for both kingdoms to witness. Celebrations and feasts will continue throughout the day, and into the early evening hours. Then near twilight, there will be a private dwarven ceremony inside the mountain just for family.
The lady Sigrid stares at her reflection in the large looking glass. A few of the married women of Dale are helping her get ready. Sigrid's wedding dress is cream color with a chapel length skirt. The sleeves are elbow length and are loose. The neckline is of a square shape, and the bodice is a corset style that ties from the mid back to just below her waist.
"You look lovely, Sig." Tilda says as she walks into her older sisters' room. In her hands is a basket of a soft blue colored violets.
"Thank you Tilda." Sigrid gives her little sister a smile. "How is Da and Bain?"
"They are holding up, and both of them look handsome." Tilda sets the basket of flowers onto the vanity dresser.
"Your dress is done, milady." One of the women says to Sigrid.
"Thank you for your help." Sigrid says before all the ladies leave the room, leaving Tilda and Sigrid alone.
"Would you like help with your hair?" Tilda asks.
"If you don't mind." Sigrid moves from her place before the looking glass, and moves to the chair that sits in front of the vanity dresser.
Tilda brushes out Sigrid's hair, and makes sure to leave it down. Inara had told both Sigrid and Tilda that as a dwarf custom, Fili must be able to place a marriage braid into Sigrid's hair. So neither girl wants to cause any kind of misunderstanding, and left the hair down. However, this doesn't stop Tilda from using the soft blue violets to make a crown for Sigrid to wear.
A knock at the door forces the two girls to look towards the door. As the door opens, Bard enters the room cautiously.
"Are you ready, my dear?" Bard asks Sigrid as he takes in her appearance. "You look so much like your mother. Both of you."
Sigrid's eyes start to tear up at the thought of her mother.
"Come. I believe it is time to leave if you wish to be on time." Bard says as he gives each of his daughters a hug.
The three of them leave Sigrid's room and head down towards the stables. Bain is waiting for them there, and in his hand holds the reigns to a black horse.
"Your escort, sister." Bain says as Sigrid comes up to the horse.
Bard helped Sigrid up onto the saddle; while Tilda helped straighten up Sigrid's skirts.
"We should get going." Bard says as he takes the reigns from Bain.
Nearly the whole of Dale follows behind Bard as he leads Sigrid's horse towards Erebor.
In the Valley in front of Erebor...
The dwarves of Erebor were putting the finishing touches to the many tables, benches, and cloth tents. Many of the benches were set up before a small platform that Dis and Skuld were finishing up with the decorations. Both ladies are dressed in their finest since the wedding will be taking place as soon as the bride arrives.
"Get back here you little troublemakers!" Gimli's voice cries out, breaking the chatter of the ladies.
Skuld and Dis stop decorating long enough to see two dwarflings come running around the corner of the platform. Both of the dwarflings, not watching where they were going, bump into their aunt. The impact causes Dis to stumble slightly, but the two dwarflings land on their backs in the grass. Both dwarflings are wearing one of a few nice sets of outfits.
"And what are you two doing?" Dis asks her two nephews as she looks down at them.
Both boys get up from the ground, and smile at their aunt. Seeing that she is not amused with their antics, the smiles disappear from their faces. Even though the boys are twins, you can tell them apart from their hair when the sun hits it. Frerin's hair still keeps his dark brown hair color in the sun. Whereas his brother's hair takes on a hint of red in his dark brown locks when in the sunshine.
"Sorry Aunt Dis." Durin says sheepishly as he brushes the dirt from his clothes. Next to him, his older brother nods his head in agreement.
"There you boys are." Gimli says as he finally catches up to his charges. He bends over slightly to catch his breath from having to chase the boys.
"Gimli. What are you doing with the royal princes?" Skuld asks her son. A smirk is on her face at seeing her own son having trouble with the young boys.
"Kili asked me to keep an eye on them for him." Gimli replies, not realizing that he wasn't supposed to tell.
"Really." Dis says as she attempts to brush the dirt off of Frerin's outfit. "And just where is my son?"
No sooner had Dis mentioned him did her son make his appearance.
"Is somebody looking for me?"
Skuld, Dis, and Gimli all turn to see the Kili walking towards them from where Tauriel was helping set up a tent with a few other dwarves. Even from small distance, Dis could see that Tauriel had the babe with her in a sling.
"Are you supposed to be the one looking after Frerin and Durin?" Dis asks her son as she places her hands on her hips.
"Uncle asked me to help keep an eye on them." Kili replies as he ruffles Frerin's hair before coming to a stop. Kili is dressed in a nice outfit of blue and black for his brother's wedding. "But I did ask Gimli to look after them for a bit so that I could help Tauriel with Kelda."
Dis pops an eyebrow at her son's response. Far be it for her to question Kili's new found responsible side when it comes to his daughter and wife. Never-the-less, he is still reckless at times.
"How is King Thorin holding up?" Skuld asks as she continues working on the fabric decorations for the platform.
"He is with Inara at the moment." Kili says in a worried tone. "Mahal knows this pregnancy is taking its toll on them both."
"Is Amad going to be okay?" Durin asks as he tugs on his aunt's skirt. The boy worries about his mother just as much as Thorin does.
"She will be fine, kandith. Your new nadadith or namad is just giving your mother trouble is all." Dis gives Kili a pointed look before bending down to give her nephew a little hug.
"Let's play!" Frerin shouts as he tugs at Kili's hand in an effort to get his cousin's attention.
"Right. Durin, are you coming also?" Kili asks as he holds out his other hand for Durin to take.
Dis, noticing that Durin still has a worried look on his face, gently pushes the boy towards Kili. The boy takes his cousin's hand, and soon the boys leave with Kili. Gimli follows after them.
"How is Lady Inara holding up, Dis. You can be truthful with me." Skuld asks as she leaves her decorations to make her way over to her friend.
"Thorin is worried about her. Mahal knows Inara has been pregnant before, but something with this one seems different. Or at least that is what Inara has been telling my nadad." Dis knows some of the gossip that has been spread through the court, and even into the lower levels of Erebor.
The past month and a half, many have seen a change in their queen, and it wasn't just the showing of a bump. Their queens' skin color has changed from its normal light tan, to a scary shade of grey. Her once full cheeks now look hallow. The dark rings under her eyes have become more pronounced as well. No one will say it, but they fear that this pregnancy may bring about the end of their queen.
"Let us hope that her stubbornness will bring her and the child through." Skuld says as she takes Dis's hands in hers.
"Aye. She can give Thorin a run for his gold when it comes to who has the biggest stubborn attitude between them." Dis says with a chuckle.
The laughter between Dis and Skuld comes to an end when a few dwarves shout that the bride is coming.
It takes Sigrid's wedding train only two hours to reach the location where her wedding is to take place. As she approaches closer to the platform that the ceremony will take place on, she can see her future husband.
Fili is standing on the left side of the platform with his brother standing next to him. A little ways back from Fili is Thorin, Lady Dis, Inara, Aliena, and the twins. Tauriel is standing near the steps of the platform with some of Fili's cousins and the hobbit Bilbo.
Bard brings the horse to a stop, and helps Sigrid down from the horse. Sigrid, Bard, Tilda, and Bain walk up the steps to the platform. Fili steps forwards and offers Sigrid his arm. Before Sigrid takes Fili's arm, she gives Bard a kiss on the cheek. Once Sigrid takes Fili's arm, the couple makes their way to stand before Gandalf.
The ceremony itself doesn't take long, and soon the couple share a kiss. The crowds from Dale and Erebor cheer happily as Fili and Sigrid come down from the platform.
"Are you happy?" Fili asks Sigrid as they make their way through the crowd.
"I am." Sigrid says with a smile on her face.
Thorin watches the newly married couple make their way towards the banquet tent. A little hand finds its way into his, and he looks down to see that it is Frerin who has taken his hand.
"Can we eat now?" Frerin asks his fathers. His blue eyes begging his father to say yes.
"Yes we may." Thorin answers to Frerin, and the two make their way down from the platform.
The others also come down from the platform, and make their way through the crowds.
The celebrations last from the noon hour till late in the evening. However, there is one who isn't celebrating as much as the others. Inara is sitting at one of the tables watching the dwarves and humans dancing or eating. Next to her is Durin, who hasn't left his mother's side since the ceremony. He has taken it upon himself to keep an eye on her.
Durin knows that he will have a little brother or sister soon. But what has him worried is how sick is mother has become of the last month and a half. The little boy has also heard a lot of the court gossip, and none of it sounds good.
Gandalf comes over to where Inara and Durin are sitting. Since his arrival to the mountain, he has noticed that Inara's health is not what it should be.
"Are you alright my dear?" Gandalf asks Inara as he takes a seat next to her.
"I am as well as can be expected." Inara replies to Gandalf.
"You look as though death is knocking at your door."
"Amad hasn't been sleeping well." Durin says from his spot by his mother. He looks at Gandalf, and his little eyes shine with unshed tears. "Are you going to die, Amad?" Durin hugs his mother close to himself. "You can't die."
Inara hugs Durin gently. "I have no plans on dying till I am old, wrinkly, and have white hair on my head. You have nothing to fear, my little wolf. I am not going anywhere."
Gandalf watches the mother and son for a small bit before speaking again. "If you would permit me, I could check on you and the child. Just to make sure everything is alright."
Inara nods her head. "I can agree with that offer. But let us wait till after the dwarven part of the wedding. Perhaps tomorrow morning."
"As you wish, my lady." Gandalf says before looking down at Durin. "Will that satisfy you, young master Durin?"
"It will, wizard." Durin gives Gandalf a slight glare from his spot up against his mother.
The time passes quickly, and soon the dwarves are escorting Fili and Sigrid into the halls of Erebor. Bard and his family follow the royal family of Erebor from the halls to the temple of Mahal. It is there in the temple, that one of the oldest dwarves recites the marriage rites in the dwarf language. Once the rites have been completed, the families lead Fili and Sigrid to the royal family halls.
"May you be happy, Sigrid." Bard whispers to Sigrid at the entrance of the family halls. He gives his daughter a hug before moving towards Fili. "Treat her right or you will have to answer to me."
Fili gulps at the threat before answering. "I shall treat her with respect, dignity, and love. This you have my word of honor."
Bard gives Fili a nod before following Balin to the guest halls down a bit from the royal family halls. It had been a suggestion of Inara's to place guests near so that the guards were not spread too thin.
The married couple is escorted to their apartment. Once Fili and Sigrid are inside of their apartment, Balin closes the door and secures in with a chain. Dis and Kili then place a hot poker against a metal clasp that is placed to secure the chain.
"Let this couple be left alone for 1 week, in honor of Yavanna." Balin says in a stern voice. "May Yavanna bless this union."
Gandalf, Bilbo, and Thorin head down to the main living area in the royal halls to talk and have a smoke. While Kili and Tauriel head back to their rooms to get Kelda settled for the night. Dis decides to join Inara in getting the twins and Aliena ready for bed.
"I have something for you." Bilbo says to Thorin later that night as they are sitting by the large fireplace. Pulling out a thick, green packet from his coat pocket, Bilbo hands it to Thorin.
"What is this?" Thorin says past the stem of his pipe. Keeping his pipe in his mouth, Thorin uses both hands to open the packet. Inside the green packet is a bunch of torn apart leaves.
Seeing Thorin's confused look, Bilbo explains. "It is pipe weed. The best that the Shire makes. I know you dwarves like the stronger, musk scents. Most Shire pipe weed has a sweet scent to it. However, I found a fellow, Tohm, is his name. He blends some of the Shire pipe weed with a stronger scented one, and that is what I am giving to you."
"Thank you master Baggins." Thorin takes a small inhale of the new pipe weed, and is amazed that the smells blend together well. "As much as I would like to try it, I must be turning in for the night." Thorin closes the packet, douses his pipe, and excuses himself for the night.
Making his way up stairs towards his apartment, Thorin gets a sensation that something is amiss. He stops at the top of the stairs and takes in his surroundings. With nothing appearing to be amiss, he continues on his way towards his rooms. He carefully opens the main door to the apartment, and a cold feeling, like dread, crawls up his spine. Moving slowly, Thorin checks on his children who are sharing the second bedroom. Sometime after being put to bed, Frerin and Durin have snuck their way into Aliena's bed. Seeing that the children are safe, Thorin makes his way towards his bedroom. What he finds there sends him into a panic state.
Laying on the floor in a small pool of blood, is the shivering body of Inara in her short night shift. Her eyes closed, and her lips are white. Even though is laying on her right side, her head is moving violently from side to side.
"Inara!" Thorin bellows out. He quickly moves so that he is kneeling next to her upper body. Looking closer, he can see that the blood is coming from between her legs. "No. NO!" He gently lifts Inara's upper body to his, and holds her close with his right arm. His left hand is caressing his wife's face.
Hearing their father's bellows all three children wake up, and come running to their parent's room. Aliena pulls both of her brothers out of the room.
"Frerin, you need to go find Aunt Dis. Can you do that?" Aliena asks Frerin as she tries to hold back her tears.
Frerin lets out a sniffle before nodding his head in agreement.
"Durin?" Aliena looks back towards her parent's bedroom to see the little boy has moved. He is standing just inside of the doorway. She decides to leave him alone, and quickly pulls Frerin with her as she leaves the apartment to go get help.
Frerin runs down the hallway in the opposite direction from his sister. As he runs, he wipes the tears away with the back of his tunic sleeve. He makes it to his Aunts' door and begins to knock on it. The knocks sound pitiful as they echo down the hall. Becoming frustrated Frerin decides to body slam the door instead. What the little boy wasn't counting on, was that he was actually in front of Kili and Tauriel's door, not his Aunts. The door opens and Frerin lands on the floor in a heap.
"Frerin! What are you doing out of bed this late at night?" Kili asks as he helps the little boy up. When Frerin looks up, Kili's smile disappears. "What's happened?"
"Amad. She… she…" Frerin tries to say through his tears. "She hurt, Kili. The floor is red."
Kili pulls the boy into a tight hug. There is flurry of quick movement behind Kili, and he knows that Tauriel is grabbing her healing supplies and Kelda.
While Frerin went towards the other rooms, Aliena had gone down the stairs. As she runs towards the main door to the royal halls, a voice pulls her back from her worried thoughts.
"What is the hurry child?" Gandalf says from his spot by the fireplace.
"Mama is hurt. She needs help. Papa is with her, but he doesn't know what to do." Aliena says as her eyes fill with tears.
Both Gandalf and Bilbo jump out of their chairs, and move towards Aliena. Gandalf bends down to look Aliena in the eyes.
"Go with Bilbo, and find Oin. I will see to your mother."
As Aliena and Bilbo run out the doors, Gandalf rushes up the stairs to where the apartments are.
Meanwhile, Durin is still standing in the same place he was when his siblings left. His blue eyes are riveted to the scene before him. After his brother and sister left, Durin watched as their Adad buried his head into their Amad's chest. The boy's little ears hearing the gut wrenching sobs coming from his father.
Just as Durin is about to move towards where his parents are, the sound of a door opening pulls him out of his shocked state.
"Thorin!" Kili's voice rings out as he rushes into the main room.
"Here." Durin says in a small voice, and it is enough to draw Kili and Tauriel into the bedroom.
"Oh no." Kili says softly as he looks at the scene before him.
Tauriel hands Kelda to Kili, and quickly rushes over to Inara. She whispers so softly that no one can hear her except Thorin. However, he doesn't respond. As Gandalf enters, he too moves quickly to help in any way he can.
"Come on, Frerin. Durin. Let's give them some space." Kili says as he adjusts his hold on Kelda.
As Gandalf and Tauriel lift Inara out of Thorin's arms, Durin rushes over to his Adad, and wraps his arms around one of Thorins' legs. After burying his face into his fathers' leg, Durin feels a hand gently being placed on his head. He looks up to see his Adad looking down at him.
"Will Amad be alright?" Durin asks in a shaky voice, and tears filling his eyes.
"I promise. She will be alright." Thorin says to his young son, who in this instance reminds him of himself. Thorin has a quick flashback from when he was a dwarfling in the same place as Durin is now. Remembering the cold way his father treated him as his mother died in childbirth, Thorin makes the choice to be kind instead. He bends down to give his son a tight hug. "You should go with Kili for now."
Durin nods his head against his fathers' chest before pulling away.
Kili leads the boys out into the hall just as Oin, Bilbo, and Aliena come rushing down the hallway.
"Keep people out." Oin says gruffly before entering Thorin and Inara's room.
Hours pass by with no news. Kili, Bilbo, Frerin, Durin, Aliena, and Kelda are still in the hallway. Only instead of standing, they are all sitting on the floor. Bilbo had fallen asleep roughly an hour ago, and has a sleeping Aliena leaning against his left side. Kili, however, is the only one awake, and is holding a sleeping Kelda with Frerin sleeping against his left side. Durin is laying on the floor sleeping just to the right of Kili.
Eventually, Balin comes walking down the hallway and sees the small group. The old dwarf had been coming to check on Kili every hour since being told by a crying Aliena hours earlier. The old dwarf has been hoping that everything is alright.
"Any new information?" Balin asks quietly as he comes to stand near Kili.
"Nothing."
"I see."
"What do you suppose happened?" Kili asks while trying to muffle a yawn.
"Something that happens all too often. I just hope Inara is strong enough to come back from this." Balin replies. "Were is Dis?"
"I don't know. Oin sent a guard to go look for her since she wasn't in her room." Kili says in a worried voice. Even though Dis is his mother, he still worries about her.
"I see." Balin replies. "Well I am sure Dwalin may be able to find her. Mind you, that would be if any of the guards can find him as well."
The two dwarves give each other a knowing smile. Both dwarves know that Dwalin has always had a soft spot in his heart for Dis. Balin had been there that day when Dwalin asked Thorin if he could court Dis, and Dis' two boys had almost succeeded in burning down their uncle's house in a retaliation moment.
The sound of the door opening alerts Balin and Kili that something has happened. They hold their breath as they see Thorin come out, and in his arms in a small bundle. Kili's eyes begin to fill with tears, as he watches his uncle walk away in a trance like state.
"I'll go with him." Balin says as he tries to keep his voice from shaking. He doesn't need to be told what is in the bundle. Seeing his friend's shocked state was enough to tell him that his king and queen have lost their child.
Balin follows Thorin down the hall and towards the main living area of the royal halls. He knows that his king knows of his presence.
"I will bury my son." Thorin says in a rough voice as he finally stops walking. His knees buckle and he lands in a kneeling position on the ground.
"If I may, let me help you Thorin. You shouldn't have to bury the child alone." Balin says softly as he comes up next to his king's side.
"Théodor. That is his name." Thorin stumbles over saying the name of his dead son. He cradles the dead body of his son closer to his chest.
"You and Inara chose a good name." Balin replies.
"No. We hadn't chosen a name yet. But Inara had told me once that Théodor was a family name that was passed down from generation to generation in her family." Thorin begins to break down even more.
"It is a strong name. All of Erebor will mourn his passing." Balin says as he places a hand on Thorins' shoulder.
"I have lost my son." Thorin says in a gut wrenching tone. "I might also lose her."
This is what Balin has been afraid to hear. "Inara is strong. She will pull through."
"The wizard and the she-elf aren't sure if she will." Thorin looks up at Balin's face. "She has been poisoned. With what? They don't know. Gandalf had just called that brown wizard to us when Oin told me to take and bury my son."
Hearing Thorin's words, Balin now has some information that he can pass on to Nori and Dwalin.
"Come. Let us take the small lad to the burial chambers." Balin says as he helps his king off of the floor.
As the two of them leave the royal family halls, the guards stationed outside of the doors bow deeply when they see the small bundle in Thorins' arms. While Balin and Thorin make their way towards the burial chambers, any dwarf that is sees them bows deeply. By mid-morning most of Erebor knows of their king and queens' loss.
Down deep in the mountain lies the burial chambers. Thorin and Balin both carve out a small box out of the stone floor, and when it is completed four hours later the small body is placed inside. Thorin places the stone slab of flooring over the carved out box, and begins to carve his dead sons' name into the stone slab of the floor.
So I decided to turn this into a two part chapter. Mostly because I felt that if I kept it as one whole chapter, a particular part would take away some of the sense of loss that Thorin is feeling.
I also apologize for any spelling, grammar, or any other mistakes that may appear in this chapter.
Selene