Ila had grown impatient with waiting for Thorin to appear, being that she had so little time with him before he departed for three weeks and because she needed to convince him to let Kili stay behind. She left breakfast and went straight for the throne room, hoping to find her beloved was already hard at ruling for the day.
She was right, as she found him sitting upon his throne and listening to what she guessed was a summation of the trip to Dale the day before. How tiresome, Ila thought, to have to be briefed on every single, tiny thing that transpired in the kingdom. Thorin was doing a good job at feigning interest though, while still retaining his majestic and dignifiedly detached airs. Ila noticed his eyes shift ever so slightly to note that she had walked into the room but then go back to the merchant who was speaking. Ila leaned against one of the great columns that stood throughout the throne room and simply studied her gorgeous husband from afar.
Thorin felt her eyes on him and tried not to stare back at her and be respectful of the dwarf before him. He was almost done. He would dismiss the room then and have a quick moment with his queen, but enough time for a kiss or squeeze or two. He noted the fiery red number she wore, it contrasted marvelously with her long dark tresses. It made her look exotic, especially due to the human blood he knew she had somewhere far back in her mother's line. He had never mentioned that he knew of those rumors, for fear of upsetting her, as dwarves were proud of their bloodlines and distrustful of other races. But whatever his wife was it was otherworldly beautiful to him.
A few more moments and the dwarf before the throne had finished. Thorin dismissed him and the guards in the room as well. The dwarf noticed his queen as he was leaving and stopped to give her a deep bow and then go on his way. Ila looked to her husband as they were finally alone.
"Come here," he said quietly.
"In plain view?" She asked.
"No one has a perfect view from here. I'll not keep you long." He said, giving her a come hither look. Ila did so slowly and with a glint in her own eyes. She carefully picked up her skirts to climb the few steps in front of him and sit sideways on his lap. He held her waist and looked into her eyes, while gently rubbing her bump, which was practically second nature to him now.
"Yes my queen?" He asked in a deep drawl. "What is so important that you must visit me here?"
He had been hoping that she was not visiting because she was still cross with him. He'd left before she had a chance to wake that morning, partly in hopes to escape another argument with her. As he looked in her gorgeous hazel eyes, she did not appear to be upset, for which he was very thankful. He did not want to part with her on such terms.
"Why should I want something to come and visit you?" She asked innocently.
"You shouldn't, necessarily, but I can tell there is something this time. What is it my love?" He asked, silently hoping she wasn't going to insist on coming tomorrow.
Ila batted her eyelashes at him and smiled a little, trying to thoroughly butter him up first. It was working as Thorin felt his heart liquefying in his chest. Her pregnancy had somehow made her even more beautiful, which he had not thought possible, and she practically glowed like mithril now.
"Don't take Kili with you tomorrow," she said.
Thorin had not expected that. He was relieved that she hasn't asked to come again, but this was a strange request.
"Why ever not?" He asked with a confused face.
"Because whatever will I do for three weeks if both of you must go? You did order him to keep me company, and I know you will appoint someone to keep an eye on me while you are gone, which Fili will not have time for and you don't trust Dwala, though you should..."
"He is reckless and will cause trouble without me to keep him in check. That is why he's coming with me, one reason anyway."
"He is young, he's not reckless that I have ever seen." Ila said.
"You two are the same age,"
"Females mature faster,"
Thorin made a face at that. Ila also noted that he hadn't denied appointing someone to watch over her in his absence.
"Balin can watch over you, and keep you company. He can tutor you in fact, in most anything you would want to know."
"Thorin," Ila whined. "He will be watching over the kingdom under Fili's rule. And...and..."
"And what?"
"He is so old." Ila whispered.
Thorin huffed at her and shook his head. Ila loved Balin, truly she did, but he was not exactly barrels of fun or the most fitting companion for a young queen.
"He is not supposed to be your playmate. And there is no more loyal or trust worthy a dwarf in all our kingdoms." Thorin said a little agitated now. Ila furrowed her brow at the playmate comment and rose from his lap.
"I am not so young that I need a playmate," Ila said, clearly agitated herself as she stepped down from the throne.
"Ila-" Thorin began trying to soothe her but she'd stepped from his grasp.
"I only wish to make the time pass quicker in your absence, which you purposely sprung on me at the last moment."
Great, Thorin thought. Now she's mad.
"Darling, I am sorry. But having told you sooner would have but given you more time to be upset. I do not wish you to be troubled at all." Thorin said trying to calm her.
Ila didn't say anything, she knew he was right.
"I know, Thorin. But I cannot be happy that you are going. I had nightmares last night that our little one was born while you were away," Ila said with both hands on her belly and looked down at it.
"Darling, you know that will not happen," Thorin said rising from his throne to walk over to her. She gave him pitiful eyes that completely melted his heart and he pulled her into an embrace. Thorin lightly kissed her forehead and stroked her hair.
"Would it really make you feel that much better if Kili stayed behind?" Thorin asked.
"It would make me feel better yes, though I will still miss you painfully." Ila replied.
Thorin thought on it for a moment. He would have to practically threaten Kili's life to ensure he behaved and took his duty seriously while he was gone. In truth he didn't really need Kili with him, but the trip would have been good for him he thought. He pondered all of this and Ila waited for an answer, but believed from his expression that she had won.
"I will speak with him," Thorin said and Ila smiled. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips, keeping it chaste in case someone happened to see. Thorin returned the kiss and held her waist gently. When they parted, Ila gave him pitiful eyes again.
"Will you not spend any time with me today before I am robbed of you?" she asked.
Thorin stroked her face. "Yes, my dear. I still have not even begun to pack, so I will be in our chambers for much of the evening. I'll have supper brought there so we can dine just the two of us." He replied.
Ila smiled and nodded. She knew that was the best she was going to get and took it gladly.
"Now, I have some other matters to attend to, the sooner I am through with which the sooner I may devote the rest of the day to you my love." Thorin said and Ila nodded and gave him a swift peck on the lips.
As she was leaving the room he watched her go, and she looked back at him to whisper, ""Hurry," with sad and longing eyes.
Thorin sighed. He wished he never had to leave her, and if she wasn't pregnant he would take her to the Blue Mountains with him. But he couldn't, so he returned to his throne and called for one of the guards.
A stocky and armored dwarf entered the room quickly and waited for further instruction.
"Summon Prince Kili," Thorin commanded and the dwarf set about doing so. While he waited, Thorin considered the matter of leaving Kili in charge of Ila's care. The two did seem to enjoy each other, and he was glad they were becoming close, what with their being family now. Ila was closer with Kili than with Fili, but Fili was generally busier than his brother. Keeping Kili busy was good for keeping him out of trouble, but would he take his assignment seriously enough? He had some doubts, but would only leave Kili behind if he could convince him that he would take the task to heart. He had made Ila no promises, though she had taken their conversation to mean that he would acquiesce to her wishes.
He hoped Kili did convince him, because otherwise he was going to have one sorely displeased wife on his hands, and dwarf women could be worse than balrogs when they were angry.
Kili entered the throne room then and came to stand before his uncle, rather casually since no one else was there.
"Uncle," he said expectantly.
Thorin was slumping on his throne, his hand over his mouth and clearly thinking hard about something, though Kili was not sure what that could be. Finally Thorin spoke.
"Do you wish to make the journey with me tomorrow? Or are you more or less indifferent?" he asked.
Kili realized that Ila had already spoken to Thorin about his staying behind. He seemed to be seriously contemplating it, but knew it depended on his answers to the ensuing questions.
"It will be long and cold, and I did grow up there…..I would always rather stay here, truth be told." Kili answered.
"Since when have you been shy of a journey, or cold or roughing it for that matter?" he asked Kili, who was always ready for a new adventure.
"I am shy of nothing, uncle. I only answered your question honestly. I would rather remain in Erebor." Kili responded. Thorin was going to ask him more questions but Kili continued talking.
"—And, someone will have to watch over Ila will they not? I mean, Fili will not have the time to do that and reign in your stead—"
"So," Thorin interrupted. "The queen has spoken with you about this as well I see. And has she persuaded you?" he asked with an unreadable expression.
Kili stuttered for a moment. He was unsure what the correct response should be.
"Well, she did not persuade me as much as I think it is a good idea." He said, hoping that was near the answer Thorin was looking for. He wondered for a moment if there was any way that his uncle suspected that he was in love with Ila. Did his eyes linger on her too long? Did the love in his eyes tell the whole story whether he was looking at her or not?
"Your staying behind to watch over her is not an easy task, nor is it a pass to spend three weeks doing as you please without me here or your brother having enough time to keep an eye on you."
"I know that uncle, it is a very serious matter-watching over the queen and the unborn heir." Kili insisted.
"It is a dire matter," Thorin corrected. "And not one that I would leave with any dwarf lightly," he said gravely.
"I know, uncle. I do not underestimate the task," Kili furthered insisted. "My every day would be devoted to her care and entertainment."
Thorin said nothing but considered his words. It wasn't that he didn't trust his nephew, but that he really didn't trust anyone completely where his wife and unborn child were concerned. He lamented having to leave Ila, and if she wasn't so early in her pregnancy he might not go at all. He would not leave Erebor for all of Middle-Earth when she grew close to delivering. And truly, he was probably worrying too much. He knew Kili was slightly smitten with Ila, and what dwarf wouldn't be, so he would likely be very attentive to her needs. And hopefully, the more he got to know her the less smitten and more comfortable he would be with her.
Kili shifted ever so slightly, wondering what Thorin was thinking and what he was about to say. Thorin looked at him gravely, his eyes unblinking.
"You will make sure she does not overextend herself, that she does not trouble or upset herself, that she eats enough, that she is never remotely in danger, that she does not venture outside the mountain, that she gets plenty of rest—"
"I will do all that and more uncle—"
"You will or I shall know it. And I shall have you answer for it upon my return. This is as imperative a matter that I leave Fili in charge of."
"Yes uncle, I know."
Thorin sighed deeply and felt as though he was giving in to a plan he wasn't fully invested in, because he wasn't, but he told himself that it would probably be alright. He would skin Kili if he came home to find he had taken his duties less than seriously, a point which he felt he had adequately communicated. Kili and Fili had always had a certain reverence and even a tiny bit of fear where their uncle was concerned, which Thorin knew well. In this case, he felt it was a good thing.
"Very well then." Thorin said. "You will remain in Erebor while I visit the Blue Mountains. Do not take my decision lightly," he said to Kili, who bowed and Thorin dismissed him. As Kili turned his back to Thorin he smiled, excited—no, overjoyed, to have three weeks of Ila all to himself.
A/N: So, I realized this week that I have no idea how many chapters this is going to end up being. I do know how it will end, but was also thinking this week about how I'll do the end. I am debating on doing it all as a single story, doing an epilogue, or making a short sequel. I cannot decide, and have been mentally expanding on the ending all week. More to come on that, I suppose. In other news, DoS was pretty amazing, no? It had you on the edge of your seat the entire time, and I especially loved getting to see more of Erebor. That was pretty inspiring for me from the perspective of writing a story that is based there. I'll say no more for those who haven't seen it. Have a great weekend and I'll try and post again before the holidays.