Sorry about the delay in posting. It was midterm exam week, and I am also trying to get ready for Halloween/ daughters' birthday party. Now I know some of you are going to be disappointed that your chosen suitor for Aliena didn't come through, but Aliena took matters into her own hands while I was writing. I tried to change it for over a week, but nothing felt right after I changed the person. So yes, I have four different variations on this chapter, but this was the one that felt natural while writing. Also, if your pick isn't the one that Aliena chooses, look for them in later chapters. Especially in the LOTR part of this story. I will be making some changes on who ended up with who. Arwen and Aragorn will still end up together.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hobbit or its characters.
Remember that years are approximate and rounded to the nearest quarters.
Count down: 41 ¼ years till LOTR events. Roughly 12 more chapters to go till then.
Aliena- 21 ¾ years old.
Frerin & Durin- 16 ½ years old, look 14 years old.
Kelda- 12 ½ years old, looks like a 10 year old.
Balder- 11 ¼ years old, looks like a 9 year old.
Toril- 10 ¾ years old, looks like an 8 year old.
Freya- 9 ¾ years old, looks like a 7 year old.
Rìka (pronounced Reeka) & Kilian- 8 years old, looks like 6 year olds.
Karys & Fergys- 5 ¾ years old, look like 4 ½ year olds.
Vân- 1 ¼ year old.
Solen- 1 year old.
Inside of Erebor...
It has been almost a year since Aliena had returned to the mountain from her year-long visit to the Shire. In that time, more suitors have been sending messages asking for the chance to meet the adopted daughter of the King. Since her return, Thorin and Inara have left it up to Aliena to make her decisions about what to do with the suitors.
Pulling her black wool cloak closer to her body, Aliena walks in and out of the small crowds of shoppers in the proprietor halls. Even though the hall houses the shops, the buyers are not out in large crowds like they usually are. This winter season has been very harsh for not only Erebor, but for the city of Dale and even the Woodland Realm as well.
She keeps walking, passing several closed shops till she reaches her destination.
"Hello lass." Dori says in a cheerful voice as Aliena enters his tea house. He is standing behind a small counter that houses several different cups, glasses, tea cups, and even stem-ware. The wall behind him has built in shelves that hold all the different ingredients and varieties of the teas and ciders that he serves to his guests.
"Good afternoon, Dori." Aliena says as she approaches the counter.
Of all the different drink pubs that Erebor has, Dori's tea house is the only one that is located in the proprietor halls. It is for this reason alone that his shop is always busy. However, today his tea house only has three customers sitting, and drinking their teas.
"What can I get you, lass?" Dori asks as he quickly walks towards the large fire pit grill that he uses to warm the kettles of water.
"What kind of cider special do you have today?" Aliena asks as she walks over to one of the empty, two-person tables near the fire pit grill.
"Well, I have the typical apple cider. Though I can always make a few changes to the flavor to make it interesting." Dori says as he walks over to place a kettle of water onto the grill part of the fire pit. "I did receive an interesting cider recipe from your amad the other day. Something called pumpkin cider. I have yet to try it."
Aliena and Dori give each other a grin at the thought of trying out a new cider. It was one of the things that Aliena loved about visiting Dori in his tea house. He always saved trying the new recipes out till she came to visit.
"I would be more than happy to assist you in making this pumpkin cider." Aliena says as she takes off her cloak. Her copper colored dress is made out of a thick material that Sigrid had bought in Dale last year. The copper color matches well with Aliena's brown hair, and slightly tan skin.
"Well come on then. Wouldn't want to keep you waiting long for your drink." Dori says as he shuffles back behind his small counter to pull out a few cups and the dried ingredients to make the pumpkin cider.
As the two of them work together on mixing the dry ingredients together, Dori is the one who doesn't let it stay silent between them.
"So. Have you given any consideration as to which suitor you wish to know better?" Dori grinds up the dried out, minced pieces of pumpkin and broken up pieces of a cinnamon stick in a mortar and pestal.
Aliena gives Dori a look that clearly says she isn't happy with his question before she replies.
"I have, and I am in no hurry to marry or to leave Erebor." Aliena says as she measures out some powder nutmeg. "Every suitor who comes calling wants me to leave. But how can I leave Erebor. It is my home, and I want to stay here."
Dori smiles as Aliena calls Erebor home, and speaks of her wish to stay.
"Ahh lass. It is good to hear you speak of the mountain as your home. Not many from the race of men could be happy living in a mountain." Dori says as he keeps pounding away with the mortar and pestal.
"Sigrid seems happy here. As does my mother." Aliena says as she pulls a container of whole cloves down from the shelf behind them. She pulls out two cloves and sets them onto the counter, next to where Dori is finishing up grinding the other ingredients.
"Aye, but both of them married into the royal line. They knew what they wanted and went for it." Dori says with a smile on his face. He takes the two cloves, and adds them to the mortar and pestal.
"Ori certainly went for it too." Aliena says in a teasing tone. "So where is Ori by the way? Isn't tonight the wedding feast?"
It had taken Ori and Tali over a year before deciding on a night to hold their wedding feast. Even then, it was only family and members of the company who were invited to the feast tonight.
"It is. I believe he is with Gloin and Gimli right now." Dori says with worry showing in his voice. "Nori is busy with his... work, and I plan on closing up early this evening. So Gloin and Gimli are preparing Ori with all that is needed."
"I am pleased that Ori has found someone." Aliena says as she watches Dori pounds the cloves into small pieces.
"I am too."
Once the ingredients are finished being prepped, Dori adds them together and places a small amount into two mithril steeping balls. The rest of the ingredients, he places into a container to save the rest for later. Dori then places each steeping ball into a tea cup, and carries them to the table where Aliena's cloak is at.
Aliena grabs a heavy duty leather glove takes one of the boiling water kettles from the grill, minding that her skirts don't get close to the flames.
"Is there anything that Tali or Ori need done still?" Aliena asks as she walks to the table, and begins to pour the hot water into the tea cups.
"If they do, neither one will say." Dori says and he goes back to the counter to pull some tea biscuits from one of the many containers on the shelves.
Aliena puts the kettle on a hot pad that Dori had placed on their table, and takes off the glove. Once Dori returns with the biscuits, the two enjoy this new cider, which Dori turned into a tea instead.
After an hour of visiting with Dori, Aliena decides to head back to the royal halls. As she makes her way through the many halls, she keeps her cloak pulled close to her. She begins to walk down the corridor that has Thorin's office door, and notices that his office door is open about an inch or two. Letting her curiosity to get the better of her, Aliena walks quietly towards the barely open door. She can hear voices coming from inside that she knows belong to Thorin, Inara, and Balin.
Inside of Thorins' Office...
"I still don't see what the problem is, Balin." Inara growls out at the old dwarf.
For the past hour Balin, Thorin, and Inara had been discussing Aliena's suitor situation. Of course, Inara isn't pleased with the situation at all. However, it was when Balin mentioned what Bofur had told him a year ago, that shocked the king and queen. Yet, Balin and Thorin knew how the council would react to such a thing, and were trying to explain it to Inara. This is where, out in the hall, Aliena had come upon the open door.
"The council would not agree to this. A match between him and Aliena, the council would not take lightly. It would be seen as an insult to the royal family." Balin says in a frustrated voice since he thought that Inara was being stubborn.
"What of it. It isn't their say as to who Aliena marries. It is hers, and if she did accept his suit, then I wish her all the luck in the world." Inara practically shouts at Balin. "As for an insult to the royal family, that is a load of shit!"
"Inara." Thorin growls out from his chair at his desk. He had been watching Inara and Balin circle each other, both verbally and physically, and was beginning to wonder if he should worry about them possibly attacking the other.
"Thorin. Surely, if Bofur is the one she wants, would you keep her from him?" Inara asks her husband.
Inara's cheeks are flushed with anger, and with her form fitting, royal blue dress with silver trim isn't helping Thorin and his growing desire to take her. He can't help that her fighting spirit wakes up his carnal desires for her.
"Bofur is a miner, Inara. The council sees that as a low class job, which would not match with Aliena's status as Thorins' oldest, female child." Balin says as he lets out a heavy sigh, and rubs a hand across his forehead.
"Thorin isn't her biological father, and she is from the race of men, as the council loves to remind us every time this issue comes up." Inara says as she begins to pace the floor by the fireplace.
"The council only says those things to rile you up, Inara." Thorin says as he gets up from his chair, and moves to walk over to Inara. "It does not matter to me if the lass has my blood or not. You are my One and Aliena is a part of you. I would not make you choose between your child and me. Aliena is my daughter, and always will be. No matter if she were to choose a boy from the race of men or a dwarf as her mate."
"So you plan on giving Bofur your consent to allow him to court the young lass?" Balin asks carefully.
"If what you say is true about what Bofur told you. If Aliena is his One, then let him ask me. And let Aliena hear of his intentions." Thorin says with a voice that makes it known that his words are final.
What the three in the office don't realize is that Aliena had heard what they were talking about, and now she plans to go confront Bofur about this.
In Erebor's schoolrooms in the library...
There are many classrooms in Erebor's library; however, each classroom houses different learning levels of the dwarflings of Erebor. One classroom is similar in nature to a daycare for the youngest ones who have yet to reach their third year of life. Then there is the classroom for those who are just starting to learn their letters, numbers, writing, and basic sentence structures. Another classroom is for those who are learning to read, more advance writing and number skills. Then there is the advance classroom for those who are preparing to enter into an apprenticeship for their chosen field. It is in this advance classroom that we find a certain pair of twins.
Frerin is sitting at the assigned table that his instructor, Master Árni, had chosen for him earlier in the year. Looking down at the series of historical questions on the paper, Frerin lets out a huff. He was not good with historical knowledge, but he excelled with metal crafting and fighting.
'It just had to be history.' Frerin thought to himself. 'I don't need to know this. All I need to know is how to wield a blade like Adad, and forge weapons like a smithy. This old, senile dwarf is as nutty as a fruitcake.'
Durin, who is sitting two tables away from his twin, has been watching Frerin out of the corner of his eyes. Unlike Frerin, Durin excelled in the historical knowledge and his numbers. However, Durin was not good with forging weapons like Frerin was. Yet, both boys could fight extremely well with swords and battle axes.
Looking back down at his exam paper, Durin continues to answer Master Árni's questions with ease. He wants to finish this exam so that he may leave with his namad, Rìka, and nadadith, Vân. His Adad and Amad were counting on him and Frerin to look after their little siblings for this evening, because tonight was Ori and Tali's wedding feast. And the kids were not going as punishment for nearly setting the main living space of the royal halls on fire.
Except for the scratching of quills to exam papers, the only other sound that was in the room was muffled from the walls that separated the classroom from the other ones.
As Durin finishes answering the last question, a loud rumbling sound echoes through the room.
"Keep working." Master Árni says to the small group of students in his classroom as he leaves the classroom.
Large crackling noises fill the air, and causes the students to look about the room. Then the sound of screaming and falling rocks are heard through the wall of the adjoining classroom.
"Take cover!" A voice from the main library shouts.
Durin and Frerin rush from their seats and quickly dive underneath a table, where a young dwarrowdam had moved to take cover.
The rocks along the far wall crumble inwards, and dust is pouring down from the ceiling of the classroom. The room goes dark as the light from the torches goes out, and more rocks fall into the room.
In Erebor's mines...
Aliena is rushing through the corridors and hallways, making her way down towards the mines. As she walks quickly, her mind is moving at a faster pace.
'Bofur wants to court me? Why would he want to? It can't be true. Am I his One? None of this makes sense.' All of these thoughts are going through her head as she walks to where the main mining area is.
She walks through the archway that serves as the entrance to one of the many mines in Erebor and stops to get her bearings. She has only been here twice before, and that was with Thorin and Balin when she was a little girl.
To her right, there is a small hovel building which the shift leaders of the mines meet with the overseers about mining operations. To her left there are table and chairs, which serve as a small dining area for the miners. In front of her, but not too close to the edge, is where the carts of rocks with gems in them are being held till a ram and driver can take them along the rails up a few levels. There are also pathways that lead to other areas of the mines.
It is a warmer in the mines than the rest of Erebor thanks to geothermal heat, or at least that is what Inara calls it. However, the large furnaces are up a few levels, and are across the opening that runs through the heart of the mountain.
Aliena walks towards the hovel and knocks hard on the door so that it can be heard over the clanking and industrial sounds.
A dwarf with grey hair and beard opens the door, and gives Aliena a hard look.
"What you doin' down here, lass. Mines no place for ya." The dwarf growls out in broken Westron.
"I am looking for Bofur. Does he work today?" Aliena asks kindly.
The dwarf lets out a growl and moves inside of the hovel. "Uzbad want Bofur?"
"You could say that." Aliena answers, hoping to sound convincing to the older dwarf as she enters.
She watches as the dwarf haphazardly goes through several sheets of paper. 'This place is not organized.' She thinks to herself as she looks about the room, and sees even more paperwork laying about.
"He on rail." The dwarf says as he hands a paper to Aliena. He doesn't realize that she can barely read the Khuzdul letters.
"Thank you, Master Dwarf. I will go and find him now." Aliena replies. She gives a short curtsy and a smile before leaving the hovel. She makes her way to the rails, and begins to follow them up.
The railway and their carts roll along on small paths that run between the different mining levels, and sometimes a rail will lead to a room where the dwarves unload the rocks with gems. Then the dwarves will carefully chip away the rock from the gemstones or precious metals, so that they can free them from the rock. The left over pieces of rock, and dust, are sent to the forges for possible use elsewhere in Erebor.
Aliena keeps to one side of the railway path so that she will be able to move out of the way if a cart and ram need to pass. She walks for a good ten minutes till she reaches a lower level from the one she entered from. As she exits the small tunnel way, she sees Bofur standing by one of the lifts that sends a dwarf down along the edge.
"Bofur." She calls out as she approaches him.
Bofur turns from where he is at, and sees Aliena coming towards him.
"Lass. What are ya doin' here? The mine's a dangerous place to be." Bofur says to her as he leaves the lift, that he was repairing, to reach her.
"I needed to speak to you about something." Aliena says with a slight blush creeping upon her cheeks. Before she can ask her question, a loud rumbling occurs which forces Aliena to cover her ears.
Bofur knows what this sound means, and he quickly grabs one of Aliena's hands to pull her towards the railway tunnel.
"Bofur!" Aliena shouts to him as dust and some small rocks begin to fall on them.
Bofur pulls Aliena's body close to his and tucks her head close to his chest as they just enter the tunnel.
"It's a cave in!" Bofur yells as he moves them both to the left side of the tunnel, and away from the tunnel entrance.
Then everything goes black in the tunnel as some of the tunnel caves in.
Erebor's Main Gates...
Every dwarf inside of Erebor felt the massive tremors from the cave in that happened near the northeast, inside of the mountain. The whole northeast area was being evacuated, and the displaced dwarves, who lost their homes, are being sent to the gathering areas for the time being.
Tauriel was on sentry duty at the main gate when she felt the tremor of the collapse. Now she watches the dwarves rushing around in main gate's hall, and her anxiety for her children's safety begins to rise.
"Tauriel!" Sigrid calls from below the sentry rampart. She is waving her hands to ensure that Tauriel can see her.
"Sigrid." Tauriel calls out as she begins to run towards the stairs that lead down to the hall. She runs down the stairs and both females embrace each other at the base of the steps.
"Are you alright?" Tauriel asks Sigrid as she starts to check Sigrid for any injuries.
"I am alright. Have you seen our husbands?" Sigrid asks as she looks away from the elf to see if she can spot Fili or Kili in the crowds.
"I have not seen them here." Tauriel says as she too looks about the hall, hoping that her height will make it easier to spot their husbands.
Neither Sigrid nor Tauriel can spot Fili or Kili into the ever growing crowd. They watch as dwarrowdams try to calm their children, while the dwarrows start talking among themselves over what could have caused a cave in.
It takes over twenty minutes for Tauriel to spot Inara and Thorin in the crowd. She waves them over to where Sigrid and she are at. Once Thorin and Inara reach the two, the questions start to fly.
"Where is Fili?" Sigrid asks Thorin as she wrings her hands in a worried fashion.
"Is he not with you?" Thorin says as he looks around where they are standing by the stairs. "Where is Kili?"
"We don't know." Tauriel says to Thorin. "I haven't seen Kili since lunch, and Fili since last night."
"Perhaps they were on their way to get the kids." Inara says carefully to the group. "Thorin, what are we going to do? We can't evacuate the whole mountain to go outside. It is freezing out there."
This was what Inara and Thorin had been discussing after they had felt the tremors while walking towards the royal family's hall.
"I don't know. I sent Dwalin, Nori, Balin, Bifur, and a few others to survey areas of the mountain for damage. No one from the northeast areas will be allowed to return home till the damage is assessed. If it means our people will be sleeping in the gathering halls, then so be it. At least it will be better than going outside." Thorin says to Inara.
The four of them stay near the stairs, and try to help ease the worry of their people as a crowd questioning dwarrows descend upon their king.
This goes on for about an hour till finally, Fili and Kili are seen moving through the crowds trying to get to the group. The two of them jog to their spouses as they get closer.
"Fili!" Sigrid says as she throws herself into his arms. "I was so worried."
"We are alright, love." Fili answers while pressing a kiss to Sigrid's cheek.
"Where are our little ones?" Tauriel asks Kili as she gives him a quick hug.
"Are they not with you?" Kili asks as he looks from Tauriel, to Sigrid, and then to Thorin and Inara.
"No." Thorin says to Kili. "Who was supposed to see them from their schooling to home?"
"I thought Aliena was?" Fili says as he releases Sigrid from their hug. Concern upon his face is clear that he is worried about his young ones.
"Where is Aliena?" Inara asks as she looks out into the crowd. Her eyes rapidly scanning over the crowd to see if she can see Aliena. Both Inara and Aliena stand taller than all the dwarves by roughly 3 to 5 inches.
"Thorin!" Dori calls out as he approaches the royal family in his dust covered clothes.
"What is it Dori?" Thorin asks as he moves closer to Dori so that their conversation wouldn't be heard by the crowds.
"I have been looking for you. Oin needs help in the Hall of Healing. Casualties from the mines are being sent there, and he needs all the help he can get. Broken bones, cuts, and some severe kinds of injuries are causing the hall to run out of staff. Also, Bifur wanted me to tell you that half of the library has collapsed. The schoolrooms are buried by the rubble, and there are parents down there demanding to know where their little ones are." Dori huffs out as he tries to calm his breathing down.
"Oh Mahal, no." Inara gasps as she places her right hand over her mouth. Tears start to swell up in her eyes as the fear of losing all of her children hits her.
Thorin turns from Dori to look at Inara. His face is fighting between fear and trying to stay neutral. If his subjects were to see him crumble, then all will lose hope. He looks to Fili and then to Kili. Both of them give Thorin a quick nod of agreement.
"Dori. Escort Inara, Sigrid, and Tauriel to the Healing halls. They will help Oin with the injured. Kili and Fili will come with me to what is left of the library. We will help with the search and rescue in that area." Thorin says in rough voice.
"As you command. Inara. Sigrid. Tauriel. Let's go. Good luck, and may Mahal keep the young ones safe." Dori says to Thorin before waiting to for the ladies to say a quick word with their husbands.
"I will find them." Fili says to Sigrid before giving her a kiss on the lips.
"Bring them home." Tauriel says to Kili as she places a kiss on his forehead.
"I will." Kili says as he gives Tauriel's hand a squeeze.
"Be safe." Inara says to Thorin as they embrace each other in a fierce hug.
"You too." Thorin says as he releases Inara from their hug.
The three ladies leave their men to follow Dori to the Healing Halls, as their spouses head off towards the library.
In a classroom, after the cave in...
"You alright, Durin?" Frerin coughs out to his brother.
Both boys had ducked under a table when the walls caved in. The table survived the falling rocks, and is still standing. However, they are trapped underneath the table till something removes the boulders and rocks. Yet the boys are not alone in this somewhat safe place. One of their fellow students, a young dwarrowdam, is under the table with them.
"Yeah. How about you, lass?" Durin asks.
"I am fine, my princes." The dwarrowdam replies.
"I can't tell where you two are. It is so dark." Frerin says as he cautiously moves a hand forward to feel his way to the others. When his hand hits something, Frerin can feel that it is an arm. "Durin?"
"That you Frerin? Touching my arm?" Durin asks when he feels the said hand moving up towards his shoulder.
"Yeah it is me. So lass, what is your name?" Frerin says as he sits near his brother.
"Innes." The young dwarrowdam says shyly. "Do ya think that the others are alive?"
"Don't know. Hopefully all the little ones are alright." Durin says quietly. "So what do we do?"
"We could try to move some of the rocks." Frerin says as he feels his way towards where the rubble is.
He starts to feel the rocks, and searches for the ones that can be moved easily. Durin and Innes feel their way towards where Frerin is, and begin to help him move some of the rocks. It takes them over an hour till they dig their way out from under the table.
Frerin is the first one out, and feels a pair of hands help pull him out.
"We got you laddie." A familiar voice growls out.
"Dwalin?" Frerin says as he tries to blink away the dust from his eyes.
"Aye, it's me." Dwalin says before shouting to someone. "Found Frerin over here."
"Dwalin." Frerin says as he moves away from the entrance hole. "Durin and Innes are right behind me."
"I see 'em. Sit here till Kili comes to get ya." Dwalin says as he turns back to help Innes come out of the hole, then Durin.
All three are having to blink a lot to keep the dust from getting into their eyes as another dwarf climbs over to them.
"Thank Mahal. Frerin. Durin. You lads okay?" Kili says as me moves over the rocks to get to them.
"Have you got the others out?" Innes asks from her spot next to Frerin.
"Aye. The two rooms with the youngest dwarflings are still intact. However, the other two rooms are completely gone. As is half the library." Kili replies to the dwarrowdam. He pours some water out of a waterskin onto a piece of cloth. "This may be cold, but I am going to try and wipe the dust from around your eyes."
Kili starts with Innes first, and the lass flinches a bit at the cold temperature. Then Kili moves on to Frerin and Durin to do the same to them.
"I don't think we will find any more alive." Dwalin says to Kili. "Have they found Aliena yet?"
Kili looks over to Dwalin before answering. "Not yet. No one knows where she is at. Thorin thought she would be here."
"You mean our sister is missing?" Durin asks Kili.
"She was supposed to pick you all up from here." Kili says to Durin.
"Aliena wasn't here. We had our exams today, so we were not going to be dismissed till late afternoon. After all the others were to leave." Durin explains to Kili.
"So where is she?" Dwalin asks as he looks over to Kili.
Both of the older dwarves look at each other, and know that Thorin and Inara will be worried even more so.
Railway tunnel...
Bofur starts to wake up with pain coming from one of his legs and a bright light makes his eye squint as he opens them. He realizes that he is laying on his stomach, head turned to the left, one arm laying by his head, the other arm laying by his body, with one leg bent at an uncomfortable angle, and the other leg laying straight.
"You have a broken leg." A soft, feminine voice says to him.
Bofur blinks a couple more times till his eyes finally adjust to the light, which is coming from a wall torch that has been taken from the wall. It takes only a minute for Bofur to remember that there was a cave in, and that Aliena was with him when it happened.
"Lass?" Bofur says with a scratchy voice.
"I am alright. You kept me safe as it happened." Aliena says as she finally moves into Bofur's view.
The sleeves of her dress are torn up a bit, and there is a long tear in side of her skirt. Her hair is caked with dust, and there are a few light scratches upon her left cheek from the debris.
Bofur lets out a groan as he tries to move into a sitting position. That is when his feels the pain hit him hard, and he lets out a growl.
"You shouldn't move, it might aggravate the wound." Aliena says as she moves to help Bofur into a sitting position.
Aliena guides Bofur into leaning his back against the wall of the tunnel, and gently moves his injured leg to a more comfortable position.
This is when Bofur sees that a good nine feet of the tunnel hasn't caved in on them, and sees that a bone in his leg is sticking out.
"You have a compound fracture." Aliena says as she sits next to Bofur's injured leg, and facing him. "We shouldn't move you around. It may cause it to get worse."
"Can't you stick it back in?" Bofur asks as his stomach becomes a bit queasy at the sight of the bone sticking out.
"I don't know how. You shouldn't lose any more blood since I placed a make shift tourniquet just below your knee. Used some of my under skirt to make the tie, but I did it." Aliena says to him.
"When did you learn to do tha?" Bofur asks before going into a coughing fit.
"I watched Oin do it a couple of times to the little dwarflings who come into the Healing halls with broken and bleeding limbs." Aliena says with a half-smile on her face.
Bofur stops coughing and leans his head back against the wall.
"Do you think they will find us?" Aliena asks quietly.
"They will. Might take some time, but they will." Bofur replies. He watches Aliena get a slight blush to her cheeks. "Why were ya lookin' for me lass? Before the cave in, I mean."
Aliena's face goes red, and Bofur becomes even more curious about what is causing her to blush even more.
"I wanted to ask you about something." Aliena says as she fists her hands into her skirt.
"Well ask away lass. We're not goin' anywhere soon." Bofur says in a pained filled, but slightly cheery voice.
"Am I your One?" Aliena asks him while looking down at her hands.
This question takes Bofur by surprise, because there was only two people who knew.
"Where did ya hear tha' from?" He asks her.
"I overheard Balin, mother, and papa talking before I came to see you. Balin and mother said that you think that I am your One." Aliena says as her body begins to shake from the lowering levels of adrenaline.
Bofur lets out a sigh, and his shoulders fall in defeat. He knows what she is wanting to ask.
"Ya want to know if ya are my One." Bofur says with defeat in his voice. He watches Aliena nod her head, but she is still looking down. This is not how he wanted her to find out.
"So am I?" Aliena asks as she finally looks up from her hands to look at Bofur's face. Her eyes are shinning with unshed tears.
"If you are my One, I will not force ya to be with me." Bofur says to her. Seeing the confused look on Aliena's face, Bofur continues to speak. "I didn't realize that ya were my One till tha' bastard raped ya."
"But he didn't fully rape me." Aliena says in a hurry.
"Doesn't matter. When I heard what he did, all I could think about was gettin' revenge. A dwarf can be very possessive of his One."
"How does it work, being One?" Aliena asks.
"Well, dwarves don't usually feel in the mood for love or romance till they meet their One. Some dwarves are lucky to find their One. While others toil their whole lives away, and never find their One."
"How do you know someone is your One?"
"When ya first meet them it feels like comin' home after bein' away for so long. Ya feel a warmth ya can't explain in your chest when ya lock eyes with 'em."
"But you have known me since I was a child. Oh my. Are you a ped?" Aliena yells at Bofur.
"No. No. I didn't know till after ya reached maturity. No one knows who their One is till both have reached maturity. To dwarves reachin' maturity means that lads are horny as hell, and lasses have begun their monthly bleeds. Though for the lads it comes much later in life than lasses." Bofur says, trying to defend himself against her calling him a ped.
"So the older dwarves get the best pickings of the females?" Aliena says with a grumpy voice.
"No. The younger lads are more prone to havin' a few tumbles in the hay without it meaning anythin'. Where lasses are pickier on who they tumble in the hay with. On rare occasion an older male dwarf has been a One to a younger lass, and the other way 'round as well. Besides, females live longer than males tend to do."
"What about Dis and Dwalin? Wasn't Fili and Kili's father her One? Yet Dwalin says that Dis is his One." Aliena says with curiosity.
"Aye, tha' can happen too. However, twas always Dis's choice in the end to choose who she wanted." Bofur replies. "The female does have the choice on who she weds. Ones are our soulmates, yet we can love others as well."
Aliena takes in all the information that Bofur is giving her about Ones. She understands the concept of 'true love' and 'soulmates', but she still isn't sure if she really is Bofur's One. So she wants to try something.
"Ya don't hafta choose me, lass. Ya can walk away. I wouldn't hold it against ya." Bofur tries hard not to let his disappointment show in his voice. He looks down to his lap, and closes his eyes.
The soft rustle of fabric lets him know that Aliena has moved from her spot on the floor. Bofur realizes that he will have to let her go, and he is trying hard not to let his emotions show. It is the touch of hand on his chin that throws Bofur off. This hand lifts his head up, and something soft makes contact with his lips. His eyes fly open and he discovers that Aliena is kissing him. The kiss ends as Aliena backs away slightly, and leaves only a few inches between their lips.
"Ya shouldn't do tha' lass. Give a lad ideas that he shouldn't." Bofur says before leaning in to capture her lips with his in a slow kiss. He wraps his arms around Aliena's body and pulls her into his lap. He feels her hands rest against his chest as he deepens their kiss.
Aliena breaks their kiss as the need for air becomes too great. She feels Bofur's mustache and lips move down her neck as she gasps for air. Sure Aliena has been kissed before, but none of them compare to this. Even when Legolas gave her a kiss on the cheek, it felt nothing like the fire that was coming to life in her veins. Or even her first kiss with Bain, did anything like this happen.
Bofur can hear her panting for breath, and he nips at the junction where Aliena's neck meets her collarbone. He plans on leaving his mark on her, and he feels her shift against him at being given this mark.
"Bofur!" a voice echoes from down the tunnel.
This voice is enough to cause the two to jump apart. They look at each other with wide eyes, and are both panting heavily.
"Bofur!" the voice shouts again.
"Down here." Aliena shouts back while her eyes are still locked with Bofurs'.
"Aliena? Lass is that you?" the voice shouts.
"Yeah it's me." Aliena gets up from Bofur's lap and walks down the passage way a little, making sure that she can still see the light from the torch.
"What are you doing down here. Thorin is going to be pissed to find out you were down here lass." The voice shouts back to her.
"Bofur is here with me, and he is injured."
"Alright. It will take a bit to clear some of these stones away before we can come for you both." The voice shouts.
"Make sure to bring a stretcher with you." Aliena shouts.
A few voices are heard talking before the sound of rocks being moved echoes down the tunnel way.
"You hear that Bofur. Help is coming." Aliena turns to look at Bofur and notices that he is slumped over on his side. "Bofur. Bofur!"
When Bofur doesn't answer her, Aliena runs over to him and sees that there is some blood coming from the corner of his mouth.
"Oh no. No no no no. Bofur!" Aliena screams as she shakes him gently. Since he isn't responding, she checks for a pulse, and notices that it is faint.
"Aliena! What is going on?" a very familiar voice shouts.
"Papa!" Aliena calls out. "Something is wrong with Bofur. You have to hurry."
Tears are running down her cheeks as she keeps watch till help arrives.
Halls of Healing...
It has been two days since the cave in, and the healers have been busy. Oin is standing by one of the doors to a private room with Thorin, Bombur and Bifur. Inside of this room Bofur is laying on a bed with his injured leg in a splint. Oin was able to set the bone and stitch the gash, but he is worried about the spread of infection.
"If the infection gets too far. I may have to take the leg." Oin says to them quietly.
"Surely you can save it?" Thorin asks as he looks into the room.
"I am out of supplies, Thorin. I need more, and the sooner I get the supplies the better off he will be." Oin says to Thorin.
Bifur says something, which causes Thorin to turn to look at the dwarf. But Oin shakes his head at what Bifur said.
"The elf tried already to rid him of infection. It didn't work. I fear the infection might be going into his bones." Oin says. "If that is the case, then the faster I remove part of the leg, the better. However, your lassie won't let me bring any sharp objects into the room."
"I will speak with her." Thorin says to Oin, before the old healer walks away.
"She still hasn't left his side?" Bombur says with a few tears in his eyes.
"No. She refuses to leave him." Thorin replies as he looks into the room again.
Next to the cot that Bofur is laying on, is Aliena. She has been kneeling at his bedside since they brought Bofur into the room. While Oin had set the bone, Aliena had held Bofur's hand as he screamed in agony before passing out. Since then, he has been in and out of sleep as his body fights against the infection. Yet, Aliena still remains, in the same outfit, at his side and holding his hand in one of hers.
"She still in there?" Fili asks as he walks over to where Thorin is standing. He looks into the room and sees that Aliena is asleep while still holding Bofur's hand. "What happened while they were in the tunnel?"
"No one knows, and she will not say anything to us about it." Thorin says to Fili. "How is the family holding up?"
Fili lets out a sigh before answering. "Sigrid is now asleep after being awake for so long. Amad is watching Solen and Vân. Freya has a scrapped knee. The cut on Balder's head is healing nicely. Kelda and Toril are keeping Rìka company. Both Frerin and Durin are wanting to help. And all of them are having nightmares. So the all of them in the nursery have pulled their mattresses off of their beds and are currently sleeping in the main living area of the royal halls. Even Fergys and Karys have joined them, even though they were with Amad when the cave in happened. Took Kili, Tauriel, Amad, and myself by surprise to find them all sleeping there tonight."
Thorin chuckles softly at the thought of going home to find all of the children sleeping together.
"You should get some rest, uncle." Fili says to Thorin. "I will keep watch over her."
"Not yet. Inara is still in another room with a dwarrowdam miner. The dam is pregnant and has gone into labor early." Thorin tells Fili.
So the two males keep watch from the doorway as the night progresses.
One week later...
Aliena is still at Bofur's bedside, but she is now dressed in a clean forest green dress with a cream bodice. Her hair is pulled back into a single braid to keep it out of her face. She is sitting on the edge of the cot, and gently wiping Bofur's brow with a cool, wet cloth.
"Will you be alright here?" Inara asks from the doorway. She is wearing a purple velvet dress, and has a crown made of braids in her hair.
"I will be." Aliena says softly as she continues to wipe.
"I shall light a candle for him in Mahal's temple and say a prayer for him after the ceremony." Inara says as he walks over and places a kiss on Aliena's head.
"Tell Ori and Tali that I am sorry for not coming."
"They already know, sweetie." Inara says before walking back to the doorway. "I will send up a small platter of food to you from the feast. The best thing you can do for him, is to keep yourself healthy."
Aliena looks away from Bofur's face, and turns to look at Inara.
"Thank you." Aliena mouths to Inara.
Inara gives Aliena a smile before leaving her daughter alone. She knows how hard it is for Aliena to see Bofur like this. After Inara had lost the dam and the bairn last week, she had checked up on her daughter. Aliena had cried in her mother's arms and told her everything that happened. Inara's concern now was to keep Aliena healthy, both physically and mentally, till Bofur comes out of his coma.
Aliena focuses her attention back to Bofur. He has been here now a week, and has yet to wake. He had moments, during his fever, when he would take drink in his delirium, but he had not fully regain consciousness.
Leaning forward, Aliena places a kiss on Bofur's forehead.
"You have to wake up. We need to figure out what is between us." Aliena whispers to him as she settles her forehead against his.
"Aliena." A low, baritone voice says softly.
Aliena leans up and away from Bofur, and turns to see Thorin moving towards her. She knows that placing ones forehead against another is a gesture only family or close friends use.
As Thorin comes to stand next to Aliena, he pulls her into an awkward hug while she remains seated on the cot. He can feel her tears through his tunic, as she buries her face into where his chest bone is located Her arms wrap around his waist, and her hands clutch at the over vest. Thorin places one hand at the back of her head, and the other he places between her shoulder blades.
"Bofur will be alright, Hôfukel." Thorin whispers to into Aliena's hair.
"Papa?" Aliena says as she backs away from Thorin's body, but not pull fully out of the embrace.
"Yes."
"I would like you to give permission to allow Bofur to court me." Aliena says as she wipes away a few tears from her cheek. "I had overheard you, mother, and Balin talking about how Bofur thinks that I am his One. That is why I was in the mines. I went looking for him to see if what you all were saying was true. Papa, Bofur confirmed what I had overheard. That is why I want you to give your permission. I want to see where this can go."
Thorin lets out a sigh before answering, "You realize that Bofur is older than you by almost 150 years older than you are. That is a large age gap to overcome on top of the difference of race between you."
"But you are older than mother, and you two make it work." Aliena says quietly.
"That is true. However, your mother has been granted the lifespan of a dwarf from Mahal. You have not. You would go old in front of his eyes, and will most likely die before he does."
"I don't care, Papa. We can make it work. I will fight and give it my all to make it work. Please." Aliena says while giving Thorin the puppy eye look that she has used since she was a child.
"We will wait till Bofur gets well again. Then I will give him permission." Thorin says, knowing that he is giving in. "Are you sure that this is what you want?"
"It is."
"And what about the blonde elf? Tauriel has told Kili and myself that he has asked about you."
"Why would I fall in love with an elf who took me away from my parents and held me hostage as a child? I may have forgiven, Legolas, but that doesn't mean that I have forgotten what he did. Even if it was his father's orders. Besides, I see him and Estel as friends. Nothing more, nothing less."
Thorin lets out a chuckle at Aliena's response. "I shall let Tauriel know what you have said. But for now, you should get some food and rest."
"Mother said she would send food up from Ori and Tali's feast."
"Very well." Thorin places a kiss on Aliena's forehead before leaving her alone once more.
Aliena stays at Bofur's bedside for an hour, when Kili arrives with a platter of food. He sets it down on a bedside table.
"No changes?" Kili asks as he begins to pour a glass of mead for Aliena.
"Nothing." Aliena says as she gets up from her spot and walks over to the table to get some food. "How is the feast going?"
"It goes. Ori almost passed out while reciting the ancient ritual vows." Kili says before swiping a piece of roast mutton from the platter.
"That would have been embarrassing if he had." Aliena chuckles as she takes a roll from the platter.
The two chuckle at the thought, and eat together in silence. One most of the food is gone, Kili decides to break the silence.
"Thorin told Tauriel and I that you asked him to allow Bofur to court you." Kili watches Aliena's body go rigid.
"I did."
"Well I wish you both all the luck in the world. Sure Bofur wouldn't be Thorin's choice, and Fee and I were shocked to hear it as well. But if he is truly who you want, then who am I to argue against that. Besides, it will shock the hell out of the council if you two were to wed. They have been pestering Uncle for a while now to force you into a marriage of convenience, for them mind you. You should marry for love, and a little lust too."
Both Kili and Aliena laugh a bit before a groan is heard coming from the bed.
"Bofur." Aliena says as she rushes to his bedside.
"Keep it down, lass. Head feels like an orc has been treatin' it like a drum." Bofur says as he blinks his eyes.
"Good to see you are awake, Bo." Kili says joyfully while bouncing on his heels.
Bofur lets out a groan and places a hand over his eyes.
"Kili, can you go get Oin? I am sure he will want to check Bofur over now that he is awake." Aliena says as she reaches for a glass of water.
"I will go, and I will let everyone know as well. Take it easy Bofur." Kili says before leaving the room.
"Here, drink this." Aliena says to Bofur as she helps him lean up to the waiting cup of water.
"Ack." Bofur grumbles out after taking a sip. "Got something better than that? It has no flavor."
"I can give you some tea."
"How about some ale?" Bofur gives Aliena a pleading look.
"Bofur. Your stomach won't be strong enough to handle that yet. You're going to have to take it slow for a few days." Aliena says while giving the dwarf a look that clearly says 'don't push it.'
Bofur chuckles a little bit as he watches Aliena move to clean up some of the leftover food on the platter.
"What has ya so quiet lass?" Bofur asks. "Thought for sure ya would be kissin' me by now." He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
Aliena goes still for a moment before turning towards Bofur. "I told Papa to give you permission to court me."
That one sentence hits Bofur like a pale of cold water. "Lass..."
"He agreed to let you court me." Aliena says while cutting Bofur off from what he was about to say.
Bofur lets out a sigh. "Are ya sure tha' this is what ya want? There are plenty of lads who would like the chance."
Aliena gives Bofur a smile as she moves to sit on the edge of his. Since she is facing him, she reaches out her right hand and places it on his left cheek.
"I am willing to give this a chance if you are." Aliena says before leaning in and pressing her lips to Bofur's.
Bofur brings one of his hands to cradle the back of Aliena's head before deepening their kiss.
In the door way Kili, Fili, Bombur, Bifur, and Oin watch the two.
"Anyone want to place bets on how quick their courtship will be?" Kili says cheekily.
Like I said before, Aliena took control from me. When I first wrote this chapter there was no cave in, and Thorin would have had to deal with Legolas attempting to court Aliena. However, while I was writing that version, Aliena kept fighting me on it. The whole Legolas, under Thranduil's orders, separating Aliena from Inara and the company (in A Tale to Tell) just wouldn't resolve itself. Then I wrote a different chapter that would have had Aliena fall for a man from Dale, but that didn't work. Then I tried another man, but this time from Gondor, and again it didn't seem to work. Then when I wrote a chapter using a dwarf, well it kind of worked. Then finally I just let Aliena's character take over, and bang! What you just read is what came out.
Reviews are welcome, even the negative kind.
Selene