Thank you everyone for your reviews for this story, and the thoughts & prayers for my family during this sad time. I know that the last two chapters were a bit dark, but I hope that this chapter will lighten the mood of this epic story.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hobbit or its characters.
Remember that years are approximate and rounded to the nearest quarters.
54 ¾ years till LOTR events.
Sigrid- 20 ½ years old.
Aliena- 10 ¼ years old.
Frerin & Durin- 5 ½ years old, looks more like 3 year olds.
Kelda- 1 ¼ years old.
Over a year has passed since the king and queen of Erebor lost their son to the darkness. For three months after the death, the king's heir took charge of the kingdom in their absence. All of Erebor had mourned the loss alongside their rulers. Once the three months had past, the king returned to his duties. The queen however, was still battling the melancholy that followed the loss of her son. The only thing that pulled her out of it, was the lady Sigrid's wish that the queen be the midwife for her pregnancy.
In one of the hallways inside of Erebor...
Fili is pacing in the hallway. It had been about two hours since it began, and Fili was beginning to worry. He glances at the door every now and then before letting out a sigh.
"Fili? Is everything alright?" a familiar voice echoes down the hallway.
Fili turns to see his brother, Kili, walking towards him.
"What are you doing out here? I thought you would be inside." Kili says as he moves closer to Fili.
"I would like to be in there.." Fili says, leaving the sentence unfinished.
Just then the door opens, and several of the council members exit the room. Most of them will not look at the two brothers as they walk past.
"What are they all grumpy about? Did the dining hall run out of ale at lunch?" Kili asks Fili while watching the last of the council members walk away.
"Fili. Kili." Thorin says as he too, comes out of the room.
"Uncle." Kili says with a smile on his face. "What has the council in a bad mood?"
Thorin comes to stand next to his nephews before answering Kili's question. "I have received a request from the Blue Mountains. The dwarrows that decided to stay and live there are asking that I send someone to rule in my place."
Thorin and his nephews begin to walk down the hallway with Balin and Dwalin following a short distance behind. Fili and Kili walk side by side to the left of Thorin.
"The council has requested that Fili be the one to send to the Blue Mountains." Thorin says as they walk.
Kili looks over at Fili, then looks back at Thorin.
"How can they ask that? He is your heir for Erebor." Kili says in disbelief. "It is because of the three months that Fili took charge while you and Inara mourned, isn't it?"
"I told the council that I will not go." Fili says in a stern voice. "Sigrid is due to birth our child any day now. Even if I was to leave after the birth, I will not subject my family into uprooting from our home. I am sorry Thorin, but you will have to choose someone else. I refuse to go."
Fili proceeds to walk at a faster pace, which causes his boots to hit the stone walkway hard.
"Fili!" Kili calls out to him.
"Let him go, laddie." Balin says as he moves to fill the vacant spot left by Fili.
"Uncle. This isn't fair. Isn't there anyone else you could send?" Kili asks.
Thorin gives Kili a look, but Balin is quick to dismiss the notion.
"Sending Kili wouldn't work, Thorin. Nothing against you laddie." Balin says as he gives Kili a sad look. "However the dwarrows of the Blue Mountains may not be so kind to your lass and child."
"I will have to go." Thorin says suddenly, which shocks Balin, Kili, and Dwalin.
"Thorin!" Dwalin says sharply.
"It wouldn't be forever." Thorin says, before continuing on with his explanation. "Perhaps, I can visit for a month every couple of years. I would still rule here in Erebor, but visiting the Blue Mountains every so often would help till another solution presents itself."
"It is possible. However, it takes almost 3 months to get to the Blue Mountains. Who would rule Erebor whilst you are away?" Balin says thoughtfully.
"Inara could rule." Thorin quickly says.
"Aye. But the queen may wish to go with ya. She is a stubborn one, and would not be pleased about ya leavin' her behind." Dwalin says with a chuckle.
"Couldn't Fili fill in like he has before?" Kili says to the older three dwarves.
"He could laddie, but the council is a fickle bunch. What is to stop them from trying a power grab while Thorin is away? This is something we would have to think long, and hard on." Balin says, and the other three agree.
The Market Hall inside of Erebor...
"Lady Sigrid." A dwarrowdam says as she bows to the heir's wife.
Sigrid gives a smile in return, and with a basket in hand, makes her way towards a certain toy shop. She knows that she shouldn't have come to the markets by herself, but staying in the royal halls was starting to drive her stir crazy. A small smile graces her face as she remembers when she told Fili about being with child. Her husbands' face turned white as a sun-bleached sheet, and his knees gave way so that he ended up landing on his butt to the floor.
"What has caused a pretty smile on your face, Sigrid?" Comes a jolly voice that pulls Sigrid out of her memory.
"Good evening, Bofur." Sigrid says with a smile on her face. A sharp kick to her back bone causes her to gasp, and she places a hand upon her lower back.
"Kicking up a storm is it?" Bofur says with a chuckle as he helps guide Sigrid inside his cousins' toy shop. "Bifur! Can you bring our Lady Sigrid a seat?" Bofur helps guide Sigrid towards the back counter which has many wooden dwarf soldiers displayed on it.
Bifur, who was placing a new wooden rocking warg onto a lower shelf, stands up to see the two. Letting out a few growls, and making some hand gestures, he goes to get a chair.
Bofur turns his attention back to Sigrid. "You alright lass?" He places a hand gently on her round belly. Then places his other hand on her arm that is bent back because of where her hand is at on her back.
"Yes, I am fine." Sigrid replies with a soft chuckle, and lets out a heavy sigh. "It has been nonstop kicking since mid-afternoon. I can't wait to finally hold the babe in my arms."
"I am surprised that Fili let you go out alone. What with you being so close to having it." Bofur says as his cousin comes back into the room with a stool and pillow for Sigrid to sit on.
"He doesn't know that I am out of our halls." Sigrid says shyly as she carefully lowers herself onto the cushioned stool. Once she has placed her basket down, Sigrid looks at Bifur. "Thank you Bifur."
"Khuzd tada tabjabi d'ahlut yusth mud ashmur diya ins ubnanhu." Bifur growls out while doing hand gestures.
"I couldn't have agreed more." Bofur says with a smile on his face.
Sigrid looks to Bofur as Bifur walks to the back of the store to begin locking up for the evening.
"What did he say?" Sigrid asks her companion.
"Oh he said that, a dwarf that chooses to take a wife must guard her as his greatest treasure. In effect, that Fili should be keeping a closer eye on you." Bofur chuckles to her. "I hope you don't mind me leaving you for a bit, lass. Bifur is going to be needing help with locking up the store."
"Of course not. Go help your cousin. I will just rest a moment here, and wait for you two to escort me back to Fili's halls." Sigrid says to Bofur.
She watches as the two cousins begin putting things away for the night. Sigrid's mind begins to wander in thought about how her child would interact with Kelda. Or even Frerin and Durin, once the babe is old enough. In her musings, a sharp pain cuts across her belly, which has her gasp in a high pitch tone.
Both Bifur and Bofur hear the gasp and come jogging towards Sigrid.
"You alright lass?" Bofur asks in a slightly panicked voice.
"I think so." Sigrid replies softly before another pain causes her to lean forward with both hands holding her belly.
"Should I go get Fili? Or Inara? Or Dis even?" Bofur is starting to become a bit twitchy with his movements.
"No. I am fine now. The pain has passed." Sigrid groans knowing that what she just said is a lie.
"Bifur. Go find Fili." Bofur says just as his cousin goes running out the shop door. He looks back to Sigrid before whispering, "I hope he finds someone in time."
Another pain hits Sigrid, but this time it doesn't seem to fade. As the pain becomes too much for Sigrid, she tries to hold back a scream.
Bofur, seeing Sigrid's face turning red in an attempt to hold back a scream, pulls her into his arms.
"Scream into my shoulder if you need lass." Bofur says to her as he pulls her head into his shoulder, and Sigrid lets out a scream. She even holds onto the back of his coat in a death grip from the pain.
In the Main Kitchen Area of the Royal Family Halls...
"Don't do it Frerin." Durin calls out softly to his twin from the doorway.
Dinner had ended over an hour ago, and the two of them were supposed to be working on some numbers homework. However, Frerin had told Durin that he was still hungry, and that Amad had brought home cookies that Bombur had made. That is how the twins found themselves in the kitchen with Durin in the doorway, and Frerin on the counter-top trying to climb up the shelves in the cupboards to get to the cookie jar.
"Just keep an eye out for any adults, Durin. I just need to go up two more shelves." Frerin calls back to his brother.
Durin shakes his head, and looks back out the doorway. So far none of the adults in the main living area have noticed that the two boys have slipped away from their desk and chairs. Durin sends a wish to Mahal that he and Frerin aren't caught sneaking into the cookie jar. However, a sudden crash of from inside of the kitchen causes Durin to run quickly to hide under the dining room table. He is not about to get in trouble due to his brothers' hunger.
On que, both Adad, Amad, and Aunt Dis come running to the kitchen.
"What is going on in here?" Thorin bellows out as he sees the broken plates laying on the floor.
"Frerin!" Inara yells out as she sees her son holding on for dear life to the third shelf of a cupboard.
Thorin moves quickly to grab his wayward son for the cupboard.
"What do you think you are doing?" Thorin growls out at Frerin as he places his son onto solid ground.
Frerin, face bright red at being caught, looks down to the ground. His left knee hurts from hitting the second shelf, and his brown pant leg has a slight tear in the knee area. However, the little boy fights hard not to cry. Uncle Dwalin has told him that crying is for babies, and by Mahal, Frerin refuses to be a baby.
"Frerin." Inara says softly to her son. She can see that the boy is fighting back tears. However, as she moves towards Frerin, Thorin places a hand on her arm.
"I will handle this." Thorin says to her with a hard look on his face.
"Very well." Inara says softly to Thorin.
Frerin realizes that the tone of his Amads' voice has disappointment in it. Try as he might, Frerin can't hold back the tears anymore.
Once Dis and Inara leave, Thorin sees his sons' shoulders quake. Regret from his harsh tone earlier seep into Thorin. In truth, the harsh tone in his voice was out of concern for his sons' safety, but Thorin knows that the boy doesn't understand that. Letting out a heavy sigh, Thorin kneels down to Frerin's level.
"Frerin? What were you doing up in the cupboards?" Thorin asks gently, but with a hard under tone.
"I was hungry." Frerin mutters out as he uses his tan tunic's sleeve to rub across his now runny nose.
"Why didn't you tell me or your Amad that you were still hungry?"
"Because."
"Because why?" Thorin says, trying to get Frerin to explain.
"You'd say no." Frerin whispers.
Thorin gets a confused look on his face at hearing Frerin's response. "Me or Amad would never refuse to give you food. You know this, Frerin."
More tears flow from Frerin's eyes before he finally hiccups out his response. "Bombur gave Amad cookies. I only wanted two before Kee or Fee eats them up."
Thorin lets out a sigh, and shakes his head in astonishment. The little boy hasn't realized that he has now let Thorin know just who has been taking cookies from Inara's cookie jar. Inara will be pleased to know who has been raiding her cookies, when he tells her later tonight about it.
Durin, who had been hiding when the adults came, hears his brother crying. Knowing that his brother may get punished, Durin quickly goes into the kitchen once his Aunt and Amad leave.
"Adad. It isn't all Frerin's fault." Durin says as he walks over to his brothers' side.
Thorin, who hadn't noticed his other son enter the kitchen, looks up at the two boys. If there is one thing Thorin has noticed about his sons is that Durin is so much like Inara. Willing to take the blame, and punishment, for someone else.
"How so, Durin?" Thorin asks.
Before Durin can answer his Adad, a commotion in the main living area draws Thorin, Durin, and Frerin's attention away from the conversation. All three rush out of the kitchen and into the living area. Thorin moves towards Dis, while his sons go to stand by Inara.
Bifur is gesturing wildly and growling out a few words that don't make sense.
"Take it easy Bifur. I can't understand what you are saying." Dis says loudly as she stands in front on him.
Again Bifur gestures, and Thorin picks up a few of the meanings.
"What about Bofur and your shop?" Thorin asks as he move towards the dwarf.
Bifur lets out growl before saying something that causes both Thorin and Dis to take a quick intake of air.
"What did Bif say, Amad?" Durin asks softly to Inara.
"I don't know." Inara replies back to her son. Inara continues to watch the exchange between Dis, Thorin, and Bifur.
"Bifur, I am sorry but I can't understand you. All I am understanding is Bofur, your shop, and needing Fili." Dis growls at the dwarf.
Something clicks in Inara's head, and she moves towards Bifur.
"Bifur, do you need Fili?" Inara asks in a calm tone.
Bifur gestures, and Inara looks to Thorin.
"He says yes." Thorin answers on Bifur's behalf.
Inara looks back to Bifur before asking another question. "Was Bofur waiting for Fili at your shop?"
Bifur gestures, and Thorin answers the question for him. "No."
"Where is Fili?" Inara asks Dis, since she doesn't remember seeing him at dinner.
"I don't know." Dis replies before looking towards her brother.
"He walked away after the council meeting was over with. I haven't seen him since then." Thorin says.
Bifur lets out an irritated sounding growl, and starts to leave to try and find Fili.
"Bifur? Where are you going?" Inara asks quickly.
Bifur turns and makes a gesture, which Thorin explains what it means.
"Healer?" Thorin says in a confused tone.
Inara suddenly realizes that not only was Fili missing at dinner, but also Sigrid as well. Actually, Inara can't remember if she has seen Sigrid at all today. Which is odd.
"Bifur." Inara calls out to the dwarf. She quickly places her hands under her bust and proceeds to make a half circle down towards her hips. Then she mimics holding a baby in her arms.
Thorin and Dis watch Inara, and are confused by her movements. Both brother and sister give each other a look.
However, Bifur understands the gestures, and makes his own gesture. Then proceeds to sign even more.
Thorin's eyes becomes big with understand. "Bifur says yes to your gestures, and says in shop. Then pain."
"Shit!" Inara mumbles out, as she rushes over to where one of her heavier cloaks is hanging on the wall by the main door.
"What is it?" Dis asks as she follows after Inara.
"Thorin, watch the boys. I'll be back later." Inara shouts as she moves quickly to the door.
"Amad?" Durin and Frerin say at the same time. Both boys are confused as to what is happening.
"Sigrid is in Bifur's shop, and is most likely already in labor." Inara says as she runs out the door, with both Dis and Bifur chasing after her.
Somewhere in Erebor...
A soft groan is heard echoing down an empty hallway, followed by a soft male voice.
"Easy lass." Bofur says as he helps keep Sigrid from dropping to the floor. He had made the decision to try and get Sigrid to the Healing Halls, since Bifur had been gone for over an hour. Seeing Sigrid in pain and with beads of sweat collecting on her forehead, he just couldn't keep her from help.
Sigrid tried to breathe through the contraction, as she was now realizing that she was in full on labor. As the contraction let up, she pulls away from the slight hug Bofur had pulled her into.
"Can you keep walking?" Bofur asks cautiously. Having never been married or dealing with pregnant females, Bofur is trying hard not to get Sigrid in a bad mood.
"Yes." Sigrid says while slightly hyperventilating.
The two of them keep moving down the hall in hopes that they will make it to the Healing Halls in time.
At the Gates of Erebor...
Fili has been hiding most of the evening, sitting on the rampart that looks out on the valley below. The sun had set roughly an hour ago, and the late autumn air has become cold. Yet, Fili still hasn't moved from his spot. His thoughts are full of the council, and the matter of who will rule the Blue Mountains in Thorin's place. So lost in thought, that Fili doesn't hear the footsteps of someone coming towards him.
"Fili?" a female voice calls to him.
Looking up, Fili sees that Tauriel is standing in front of him.
"What are you doing out here without a coat?" She asks him as she moves to sit next to him.
"I needed a place to think." He answers.
"Have you had dinner?" Tauriel asks as she pulls out some herb bread from a pocket on her belt. Not hearing an answer, she breaks off a piece and hands it to Fili.
"Thanks, but I am not hungry." Fili says even though he accepts the piece of bread.
"Eat it anyways." Tauriel says as she takes a bite from her piece. "You know, most of the sentries were too afraid to come towards you. However, I am not afraid."
Fili looks over at his sister-in-law with a scowl on his face. "Why are you even here? Who is looking after Kelda?"
"Your brother is fully capable of taking care of Kelda without me supervising him." Tauriel replies with a hint of anger in her voice. "As for me being here, I have resumed my duties. Tonight I have the night watch."
Fili lets out a sigh before speaking. "I apologize for my rude behavior. I haven't been sleeping well, and now with the council wanting me to go to the Blue Mountains."
"Kili told me about that. It would be considered a great honor, but you don't wish to take Sigrid away from the place that is close to her family in Dale." Tauriel says thoughtfully.
"Even more so now that we will have a child." Fili says as he takes another bite from his piece of bread.
"I believe Kili would feel the same way if he were in your shoes." Tauriel says to Fili. "Especially now."
Fili looks at Tauriel with a confused look on his face. "How so?"
Tauriel gives Fili a smile before answering. "Because I am with child again. I have yet to tell Kili, but I have felt off these past two months. I have yet to seek Inara's insight about confirming it. So you are the first to know."
Fili is shocked to say the least. "You honor me by sharing this little secret, azaghâl namad."
"Lass!" One of the sentries shouts to Tauriel. "The prince is need right away!"
Fili and Tauriel look at each other in confusion before standing up from their spot.
"How so?" Fili shouts back to the sentry, who is standing below the ramparts.
"His lady is missing!" The sentry shouts back.
"Sigrid." Fili whispers to himself before taking off into a full run towards the stairs. He runs down the steps, and approaches the sentry.
"What has happened?" Tauriel's voice comes from behind Fili. She had followed him down from the rampart.
"The Lady Dis and her majesty were seen running to one of the toy makers shops. When they couldn't get inside, they asked one of the night patrols if they had seen the Lady Sigrid. None of the night patrols have seen the Lady Sigrid. So the Lady Dis has some of the patrol guards searching for the Lady Sigrid." The sentry told Tauriel and Fili. "Lady Dis also mentioned that the Lady Sigrid might be having her time."
Fili's face turns pale at hearing that Sigrid is lost, and might also be having their child.
"Fili." Tauriel says as she comes to stand in front of him. "Where would Sigrid go if she couldn't make her way back to the royal halls? Would she go to the Healing Halls?"
"I don't know. She might have, but what if she isn't there. What if she is alone in some hallway or room by herself?" Fili starts to say in a panicked voice.
Crack!
Tauriel had just smacked Fili across the cheek to pull him out of his panicked state. Several of the sentries who witnessed it, let out a collective gasp.
"Instead of standing here worrying about what ifs, go find her Fili!" Tauriel shouts at Fili.
"Right." Fili says as he rubs his now red cheek. "I have got to find her."
Fili takes off towards the hallways that will lead him to the Healing Halls.
In the Healing Halls...
'It sure is quiet tonight' thought a young dwarrowdam as she sat behind the check in/out desk. Behind her, in the store room, was another dwarrowdam taking record of all the supplies.
"Do you think anyone is going to come in tonight, Tali?" the young dwarrowdam at the desk asks.
Tali, the sand blonde haired dwarrowdam, comes out of the store room with her record book in hand.
"It is supposed to be quiet during the night shift, Eira." Tali replies as she places the book in a drawer of the desk that Eira is sitting at. "I must be leaving now. Master Balin will be wanting me to help him in the morning at the library."
"Goodnight Tali." Eira says as she yawns.
"Night, Eira." Tali says as she leaves the Healing Halls.
She doesn't make it far from the Healing Halls, down two hallways, when she hears a loud, pain filled moan. Moving quickly, Tali turns the corner and sees the Lady Sigrid leaning against a dwarf that Tali knows isn't the prince.
"My Lady Sigrid, are you alright?" Tali asks as she approaches cautiously.
The dwarf who is holding Sigrid, turns his head and sees Tali walking slowly towards them.
"She needs help. The babe is coming." Bofur tells the dwarrowdam.
"The Healing Hall is just down a bit. Here, let me help you." Tali says as she makes her way to help Bofur hold Sigrid up right.
The three of them make it to the entrance, and give Eira quite the shock.
"Back so soon Tali. Oh my! Lady Sigrid!" Eira says as she quickly makes her way around the desk.
"She is in labor, Eira. Go fetch Master Oin, quickly. I will have her in one of the private rooms." Tali says as she helps guide Sigrid and Bofur towards one of the doors along the right wall.
Eira is quick to run out of the Healing Halls, and heads towards the head healers private apartment.
While Eira is gone, Tali and Bofur help Sigrid into the room, and onto the bed. Sigrid rolls so that she is laying on her right side, and curls into a fetal position.
As Tali moves about the room, lighting the wall torches, she speaks to Bofur. "You should go fetch the prince. I will stay with the Lady till Master Oin arrives."
"Agreed. Good luck Sigrid." Bofur says before running out of the room to go and find Fili.
Sigrid lets out a loud half groan, half scream from the bed. She really wishes that she had stayed home, like Fili had been telling her to do all week.
Tali, seeing that Sigrid was in pain, moves quickly to Sigrid's side.
"It will be alright. I am sure that Eira will be bringing Master Oin in soon." Tali says in a rush, hoping to hide the panic that has set in now that she is alone with Sigrid.
Only ten minutes pass, and Tali hears the main doors bang open. Footsteps are approaching fast from the hall.
"Sigrid!" a voice calls out.
Tali recognizes it as Prince Fili's voice, as it echoes in the main hall. She leaves Sigrid's side, and runs to the door. As she opens the door she calls out.
"In here, prince Fili!"
Fili whips around from his spot by the desk, and sees Tali standing in the doorway. He runs over to her, and glances over the dwarrowdams' shoulder.
Tali moves out of the way so that Fili can enter the room.
"Sigrid." Fili says in relief before walking over to her. "Are you alright, love?"
"I am sorry I didn't stay home." Sigrid says before crying out in pain.
"It's alright. I'm here now." Fili says as he brushes a few strands of hair out of Sigrid's face. He looks over to where Tali is standing at the door. "Where is Inara and Oin?"
"I sent Eira to go fetch Master Oin. He should be arriving soon." Tali answers. "Her majesty is not on midwife rounds for another two days."
"Go find her, and bring her here. Inara has overseen Sigrid's pregnancy, and needs to be here to help with the birth." Fili says in a panicked voice.
"I shall go find her majesty then." Tali responds before leaving Fili and Sigrid alone.
Fili turns his attention back to Sigrid, who is letting out another pain filled groan. He takes hold of her right hand with the hope that it gives her some kind of comfort.
"Is there anything I can do, Sigrid?" Fili asks in a shaky voice.
"Hold me?"
Fili nods his head, and moves to climb next to Sigrid on the bed. He holds her in a spooning position. His left arm comes over her chest so that he can hold her left hand in his. While his right arm snakes underneath the pillow, and comes out just under the edge of the pillow.
Sigrid moves her right hand up to Fili's hand that is slightly poking out from under the pillow, and grips it tightly.
The pair lay there; one giving comfort to the other who is in pain. They lay like this till Inara and Dis show up 30 minutes after Tali left. Dis takes in the scene with a heavy heart. Her son is holding his wife in the same manner that Vrili did with Dis at Fili's birth.
Inara pushes past Dis, and quickly moves towards Sigrid in a business-like manner. This pulls Dis out of her memory, and she begins to move about the room, gathering needed supplies.
"How far apart are the contractions?" Inara asks the couple, as she begins to move Sigrid's skirt up.
"I don't know." Fili says as he watches Inara struggle to lift his wife's skirt.
"Sigrid?" Inara asks as she finally gets Sigrid's skirt up to thigh level.
"They won't stop." Sigrid cries out as the pain worsens.
"Alright. Sigrid, I need to check to see if the head is visible." Inara says. Seeing that Dis is busy, Inara looks up towards Fili. "Fili. I need you to help hold Sigrid's leg up so that I can see."
Fili gives Inara a quick nod, before letting go of Sigrid's left hand. He moves his hand down towards the back of Sigrid's thigh. Feeling a bit nervous, he gives his wife a quick kiss on the shoulder before moving his hand to grip the inside of her thigh. He gently lifts her leg, and she gives a small scream at the movement.
Dis, quick to help assist her son, places some of the towels next to Inara. She then moves onto the bed, so that she can take Sigrid's right knee, and cradled in the corner of her elbow.
Inara moves Sigrid's skirt down a bit so that the light from the wall torches can help her see. Taking a quick breath, Inara moves to grab one of the towels.
"Sigrid, I am going to need you to push hard." Inara says to Sigrid. Seeing the confused looks from both Dis and Fili, Inara begins to explain. "The babe's head is crowning, and it looks like it has been there for a short time. She needs to push so that the child doesn't become lodged in the birth canal."
Hearing the seriousness in Inara's voice, Fili whispers for Sigrid to push, and push she does.
Sigrid screams as she pushes, and she can hear Fili whispering encouragements to her. She pushes again, at Inara's command. A burning sensation begins, and Sigrid screams even louder at the pain it causes. Then at last, the feeling of being released from the burning pain washes through her.
A soft sniffling sound is heard before a full blown wail of a baby comes from the end of the bed.
"You have been blessed with a strong son." Inara says as she moves to lay the wailing baby in front of Sigrid's body.
Both Fili and Dis gently place Sigrid's leg down from their hold. Fili is the first to move from his place, and looks over Sigrid's shoulder.
"We have a son." Fili whispers in Sigrid's ear before he places a gentle kiss to her wet cheek.
Sigrid moves her left hand, and gently takes hold of one of their sons' flailing fists. The boys' cries soon becomes softer in volume.
As Dis and Inara clean up Sigrid's legs, they both watch as the new parents become enraptured by the babe.
"What is his name?" Dis asks her son and his wife.
"Balder." Sigrid replies as Fili helps her move to a reclined sitting position on the bed. Sigrid picks up the babe and holds him in her arms.
Fili is quick to hold his new little family in his arms, and looks down at his son with a smile. He can see that his son has a light coat of golden brown hair on his head. However, the boy has yet to open his eyes.
"A strong name, for another strong son of Durin's line." Dis says as her eyes fill with unshed tears. Yet again, the scene reminds her of how her husband was after Fili was born.
Balder has now made his entrance into Middle Earth.
I couldn't help but add in the scene with Thorin having a daddy moment with Frerin being in trouble.
Reviews are always welcome. Even bad ones.
Selene
In the next chapter, Kelda receives advice from Aliena about becoming a big sister. Frerin and Durin go with Thorin to visit Théodor in the burial hall. Kili and Tauriel face the darkest hours of their lives.