Another two months passed. Everything was still perfect, just as Ila would have it. Her husband, baby, friends and family…everything was rosy under the mountain. Dwala was less than two months from bringing her first dwarfling into the world, Thora was the happiest and healthiest baby under the mountain, and she and Thorin were as in love as ever.
As an expression of his love, and of his trust, Thorin had allowed Ila more and more freedom. He was honestly impressed with Ila's performance with the bow, and Kili had been a good and careful teacher. Being active was keeping her healthy and happy, so happy that she glowed like a jewel, more radiant than any in his mines. Thora was big enough to be carried around after her mother, which Dwala did when Ila was practicing with Kili. Thorin even caved enough to let Ila venture outside for target practice, though he still demanded Thora be kept inside still.
Ila took that as a great triumph, and didn't think it was a bad idea for Thora to remain inside the mountain for the time being. Now that she was a mother she worried more than she had ever thought possible, and understood Thorin a little better, as well as her own mother.
It was a beautiful summer day outside the mountain now, and Ila and Kili were on their way out of doors to enjoy the sunlight and get some target practice in. Ila was dressed down for the activity and so as to be cool in the summer sun. A simple, dark green dress with a modest neckline and no jewelry. That was Kili's favorite look for her. The green especially brought out her eyes, the beautiful hazels that changed depending on what colors she was wearing. Today they were a marvelous and sparkling green in the bright sunlight.
Ila wore a sling of arrows over her back, looking very much the professional, with her bow at her side. Kili walked beside her, looking exactly the same, arrows on his back, his bow at his side. They walked in perfect unison, a couple of palace guards a little ways back. Thorin was better about things, but he didn't let Ila run completely free. Still, they hung far enough back that they could not hear any conversation, and Kili didn't feel like he was being spied upon.
"Let's stop here," Kili said and continued walking to set up a small target for them. Ila pulled her hair back as he did to keep the breeze from whipping it into her face. She tied it back with a leather cord, leaving it to all hang down her back like a dark waterfall. Her cheeks were rosy in the sun, and Kili felt his breath hitch in his throat as he looked back at her. He only smiled and went back to what he was doing. When he walked back to her, she was ready and waiting.
"So, tell me when do I get to practice on moving targets? Won't that be the test of true skill?"
"Well yes, but you are not ready. Shooting outside is different than inside; factors like the weather, rain, the wind, they all affect your aim and concentration. Which is why we are outdoors today."
"Ah, yes makes sense." She answered and drew her first bow, the elegant arch of her body and the fluid motions a long way from where she had been on her first try. But she had been a fast learner.
Ila noticed her aim was affected by being outdoors, but it was not so bad, and Kili was helping her to correct it. Always a gentle guiding hand on her back or shoulders or hands, but she thought nothing of it. He was her best friend….well after Dwala. He was like her best male friend…..after Thorin….because he was her friend AND lover…..
Oh labels. Ila didn't care for them at all. She was only happy she had Kili as a friend….someone like her that understood her. A royal, so he understood that, but also not a royal that had many responsibilities, so his time was largely his own, and he could spend it with her. Not like Thorin or Fili, who were always so busy and elsewhere. Kili was like one of her brothers she had left behind, Nain and Fain, whom she missed often. But having Kili made that much more bearable.
After spending some time shooting off many arrows in this new environment, the two of them had grown hot in the midday sun.
"Come, that's enough for one day. We should retrieve the arrows and make our way back to the mountain for some refreshment." Kili said and Ila nodded, laying down her bow and going to pick up the stray arrows. Meanwhile Kili pulled those free from that target that had struck home.
There was a hill with a sharp incline nearby, where only a few of the arrows had slid down. Ila leaned down, reaching for them when her boot gave way and yelping, slid down the grassy hill. Kili looked up and barely saw her head go out of sight, and dropped the arrows to go after her. He looked over the incline to see her but a little ways away, laying on her back and laughing her head off.
Kili's fear melted away and he broke into a wide smile.
"Well, that was very graceful your majesty." He called, laughing himself. He then started to carefully make his way down to her, but slipped himself, sliding down too. Ila yelped again as he tumbled into her, and the two of them rolled in a bunch a little further through the grass. Kili found himself on top of Ila, looking down into her hazel eyes, the both of them out of breath from laughing so hard. Ila's long dark tresses were scattered over the grass around her, and she was as perfect as any painting or tapestry he had ever seen.
It would have been far too easy to lean down and kiss her right there, and he almost worked up the courage to do it. He stared down at her, their breathing slowing to a more normal pace, and something changed in Ila's eyes. For the first time, Ila noticed the look in Kili's eyes. The yearning, the longing, the passion. His face was as serious as she had ever seen it, and she was suddenly very afraid. Maybe she was just imagining it, but maybe not. It was only just a flicker, it lasted for an instant, but it was long enough for her to notice. In case she wasn't just imagining it, she pushed on his shoulders then and scooted from beneath him.
The magical moment broken, Kili pushed himself up onto his feet, then reached for Ila's hands to pull her up too. She was still giggling and brushing herself off. Kili brushed himself off as well, and held Ila's hand as he led her back up the hill.
Ila felt everything return to normal between them, the strange moment having passed. Hopefully it had only been a figment of her imagination. Surely it was. She was tired, the sun had drained her and she was seeing things. Surely that's what it was. Kili's return to his normal, jovial and playful self on the walk back to the mountain assured her of this, and she felt very silly for believing she had seen a flicker of something else in his eyes at the bottom of that hill.
Ila re-entered the mountain to find Dwala and Thora waiting for her just inside the entrance.
"There's mummy!" Dwala exclaimed to the princess, who she was holding astride her now very large bump. Thora's blue eyes sparkled as she saw her mother, her little arms outstretched for her already, and Ila rushed to take her.
"There is my angel! Have you missed me?!" Ila gushed at her princess, bringing her up to kiss her tiny nose and hold her on her side. Thora was rapidly beginning to grow hair, dark like hers and Thorin's of course, and was outfitted in her father's signature blue. Her dress was trimmed in silver to match even, and she looked every bit a princess.
"Where is your lord father then?" She asked her love, who naturally didn't answer back but chewed on her fingers while blinking interestedly at her mother.
"Well then we must go find him." Ila declared and with Dwala in tow, was off towards the throne room.
"Thank you for my lesson today," Ila said sweetly to Kili as she passed him, he already having taken her equipment so she could grab Thora. He waved her away, but leaned over quickly to give Thora a light kiss on the cheek which earned him a satisfied giggle from her.
He watched them go, then gathered the bows and arrows and made for the armory, trying not to think about the brief moment they shared at the base of that hill.
Ila reminded herself to move slowly through the palace, lest she tire Dwala. Her belly was larger than Ila's was at that stage, and she felt sure Dwala would have a boy. Dwala had dreamed as much, and her dreams always seemed to have truth to them. She couldn't wait to see for sure.
Ila entered the throne room, being careful as always for fear of falling into the depths below, no matter how far she was from the edge of the walkways, and stood off to the side and out of the way while Thorin was listening to a dwarf read off how many of this and that sort of jewel had been mined that previous week. Thorin looked dignified and interested as always, even when the subject he was being briefed on was more boring than watching the stone floor being polished. She saw his eyes momentarily flicker up to note their entrance, then go respectfully back to the dwarf. Ila waited patiently for him to finish, rocking her princess back and forth and making faces to entertain her.
Dwala stood with her hand on the small of her back, tiring of being on her feet quickly these days and resisting the urge to rub her belly in public. She was becoming so uncomfortable though, it was difficult to hide at times. She silently prayed to Mahal that the dwarf would finish and go on about its business so she could as well.
When the dwarf was finally done and turned around, he was startled to see that his queen was there behind him and bowed low to her and the princess. Ila nodded graciously and moved past him as he left to approach her husband.
Thorin wore his crown, which Ila loved as it made him look like a god, not just a king. She had always wanted him to wear it while they made love….perhaps she would mention it later today…
"My loves," he crooned to them as Ila came to hand Thora to him. He took her and kissed her mother, sitting Thora in his lap. Thora giggled and ran her little fingers through Thorin's beard.
"What brings my beauties here today?"
"We missed you, it's been hours since we've seen you," Ila said sweetly.
Thorin smiled and kissed Thora on the forehead. Thora, upon looking up at her father, happened to catch a glimpse of what was above him.
The arkenstone shone magnificently through the throne room as always, and Ila honestly was so used to it she didn't even notice it anymore. Thora was transfixed however, raising her tiny arms towards it and making grabbing motions with her hands.
Thorin followed her eyes to the precious jewel and his face grew into one of the widest smiles Ila had ever seen him make.
"You are no doubt a Durin, aren't you my perfect love?" he gushed at her, she never taking her eyes off the mesmerizing stone.
"Well of course she is a Durin, what else would she be?" Ila asked.
Thorin gave her a gentle smile and loosely took her hand.
"So you really just came to visit me then?" Thorin asked.
"Yes, can't we do that?"
"Of course my love, but I thought you and Kili were training out of doors today."
"We did, we just finished. My little lamb will be wanting her lunch soon though."
"Ah, yes. She is still a growing dwafling." Thorin observed, though Thora barely seemed to notice anything other than the shiny object over her head.
"I suppose I should get to that, and change clothes. I took a little spill down a hill after some arrows…"
"Be careful my dear….do not make me regret the freedom I have granted you."
"Thorin," Ila drew her face up and lowered her voice so that Dwala or the guards did not hear her.
"Do not treat me like a child…at least not in public." She added.
Thorin gave her a brief look that said he would do as he pleased, then looked to his daughter and gave her another warm and adoring smile.
"Off you go then my princess," He said and kissed her once more on the forehead as he handed her back to her mother.
"Will you have lunch with me?" Ila asked.
"Yes, I have two more briefings and then I can have a break."
"Good, I'll be back down shortly." Ila said and blew Thorin a kiss over her shoulder as she walked away so that only he saw. He smiled amusedly and made a small grabbing motion so as to say he got it. Ila giggled to herself and turned around to walk from the room, Thora looking over her mother's shoulder at the arkenstone until they had left the room entirely.
"Dwala, why don't you just go on to lunch, I don't want you climbing all of those stairs just to come back down them. I don't want you over exerting yourself."
"Look who's talking now? You were so ornery when we said those things to you a few months ago," Dwala replied but good naturedly.
"Yes….but I haven't tried to hold you prisoner anywhere either. And now that I have lived it I know that it is for the best." Ila admitted.
Truthfully Dwala didn't want to ascend and descend those stairs, and would gratefully have gone on to lunch by herself, but couldn't leave the queen and princess completely alone as they strode through the palace. That would be a serious breach of her duties.
"I will follow you to the royal staircase and wait for you at the bottom, how's that?"
Ila smiled at how faithful her friend and dwarf in waiting was. "Alright then."
Ila moved quickly up the stairs with Thora, having all her former strength returned and more so thanks to her constant training with Kili. She laid her babe down on the bed and quickly undid her bodice to free a breast for Thora. The sweet little dwarfling only got fussy when she was hungry, but she had seemed less than thrilled to be parted from the arkenstone. She had clearly wanted to reach up and take it, and as she was used to simply grabbing whatever interested her, Ila knew Thora was a little testy at the moment.
"Just like you're father aren't you? You want what you want when you want it." Ila spoke to Thora who was still not amused, but then happily took the nipple that Ila offered her.
Thora was getting bigger and it was harder for Ila to hold her while feeding. She had to use both arms and leaned back into the bed, trying to get comfortable. Ila then remembered looking down at her dress she needed to change…but she had left Dwala downstairs. Oh well, she thought. She would survive lunch without a fresh dress.
Ila actually felt more tired than hungry now, feeding always did take it out of her a bit. She felt she could go to sleep in that position, but forced her eyelids to remain open. She looked back down at her daughter, still sucking away contentedly, but found her eyes growing heavy even that way. She probably would have fallen asleep too had a knock not come at the door.
"Who is it?" Ila called.
"It's Fili," answered the dwarf.
"Come in, but be warned I am nursing." Ila answered.
She heard the door open, not being able to turn in her current position. Fili stepped cautiously inside, and seeing that Ila must be in the bed stopped in the doorway.
"I apologize….uncle sent me. An envoy of men from Dale showed up unexpectedly, he wishes that you stay in your rooms until they are gone." he said.
Ila chuckled. "Oh your uncle. I think he believes I have never laid eyes on a man before. Which I most certainly have."
"I believe he doesn't want them laying eyes on you, or the princess."
"But why not? What harm could that do?"
"He just doesn't trust them."
"He does plenty of business with them."
"We trade and conduct business with lots we do not trust. That is the way of the world. Else we would have only other dwarven kingdoms to trade with."
"You're right," Ila replied. "Fine, I will remain here. But I will not be missing lunch. The princess is sucking all my nourishment from me for her own. Literally."
"I'll have some brought to you straight away." Fili answered and turned to leave.
"Are you going so soon? I haven't seen you in days." Ila called in his direction.
"I am busy yes, the men were a surprise as I said. But I will have to make time to see how you have advanced with your bow. Kili says you are a natural?"
"Your brother is too kind, but I think I am rather decent at it."
"Better than that I am sure, he can't stop praising you." Fili replied. "But I must be going," and he was almost through the door before he stopped himself.
"Oh, one more thing. Dwala is sitting on the bottom stairs outside, should I tell her to come up or dismiss her?"
"Oh! Poor Dwala! Please have her come up, and send someone else with food, she is too far along to bother herself with such things."
"I agree. Will do." Fili said and departed. It was truly something how the presence of an outsider could send dwarves into such a tizzy. Fili was visibly on edge and eager to get back downstairs. But to her it didn't seem like such a big deal. Men didn't have to be bad simply because they were different, or Elves for that matter, though she wouldn't tell Thorin that. She hoped her little Thora wouldn't grow up afraid of the outside world, or judgmental of those different from her just because they were different.
But then Ila knew that was the very nature of dwarves.
A few minutes passed and Ila was afraid Dwala was taking too long, but she soon came laboring into the room.
Breathing deeply, Dwala practically fell into a chair nearby, he hand on her belly.
"I'll bet anything your dwarfling will come early, rather than on time or late. You look to grow daily!" lla exclaimed.
"I wish he was ready to come today! Two more months and I daren't think how big he'll be, or me for that matter."
"You won't be able to get out of bed at all that last month."
"I'll go crazy being in bed all day, remember how much you hated it?" Dwala reminded her.
"Yes, but you may have no choice. What does Dwalin say?"
"That the baby will come out walking at this rate,"
"Ha!" Ila laughed out loud. "But I meant about your lying in."
"I don't intend to do that, and we haven't discussed it."
"Dwala…..you should really consider it. Especially with how big you'll be. You'll want the baby to be safe. And just think, what if your pains come upon you in some remote part of the palace, far from your room?"
"I'll stick close to my quarters when the time draws near…I have given it some thought." Dwala said and Ila could tell she was a bit nervous just talking about it. She could certainly understand that.
"Well, you just let me know when you wish to be relieved. It can be today if you want."
"Oh, no! Not yet…I am still plenty able to serve…and I need to be occupied, to pass the time."
"Very well," Ila said and laid Thora down, she being finally full and sleepy. Ila sat staring at her adoringly, wondering how she had ever been happy without her.
"They will change your life in ways you cannot yet imagine…..you'll wonder how you ever had a happy moment without them….and you'll want to move mountains just to make them smile." Ila said quietly and without looking up.
"I believe you…" Dwala replied, looking at her belly.
That night, Thorin returned to her with servants bringing supper on his heels.
Ila gave him a dissatisfied look, and he immediately pursed his lips at her.
"Darling…you know my rules." He began.
"You know I have seen a man before. Lots of them in fact."
"I'm certain you have…"
"And they even looked back at me, and nothing happened."
Thorin said nothing else while the servants laid out supper, which they did with haste as they sensed something was coming on and made it a point not to look at any of the royals directly.
Thorin laid his crown on Ila's vanity, then shrugged off his furs to hang in his wardrobe. He then went straight for Thora as was his custom now. She stretched her little arms out for him and he lifted her into his arms, a great hand cradling the now fuzzy head. He gently kissed her forehead and sat down with her reclining on his chest.
The servants cleared out then, Thorin waiting only long enough for the door to shut.
"Why must you question me so?" Thorin asked, but without much heat in his voice.
"Dearest….don't you think they should see the queen of Erebor? They probably doubt my very existence…"
"No one doubts your existence. And you are far too beautiful….you might tempt them. And as for Thora she might catch something from one of them…their germs and disease are different from our own…and she is still young."
"You are right, as usual my love." Ila said rising to come sit stand behind him and plunge her fingers into his mane. Thorin closed his eyes and leaned back as his wife worked his scalp under her deft fingers, massaging in circular motions.
"But surely….someday you will let me meet envoys and official guests with you? By your side? As your queen? I mean I see your point about men…but what about elves? They think we are disgusting and couldn't possibly be tempted by me…"
"I wouldn't say that." Thorin answered slowly, clearly enjoying her ministrations. "One was rather smitten with Kili during the quest to reclaim the mountain…"
"You lie!" Ila said, flabbergasted by that.
Thorin chuckled. "No. She saved his life even."
"Truly?! I can't believe he never mentioned it." Ila said thoughtfully. She found it funny, and would have to ask him about it.
"Did he like her back?" Ila asked, intrigued.
"Of course not, he was amused by it all and grateful for her actions. But she fell in the battle, so his life debt to her was thankfully no more." Thorin answered casually.
"Oh, how terrible." Ila said, not thinking it funny anymore.
"I suppose. But her sacrifice was no more than ours….we lost many that day. As did your father. The day would have been lost without him."
"Yes, mother and I did not sleep until they all came home safely." Ila remembered those long and horrible nights…wondering if her father and brothers would return to them. She also remembered being angry at this Thorin Oakenshield….who wanted her family to fight alongside him in a battle that many felt had nothing to do with them. How things had changed…
"I hope our little Thora never has to live through something like that…a war I mean." Ila said, suddenly fearful and looking down at her babe.
"There will always be another war, my love. And you both are young still." He said but sounded far away. "I imagine I shall be dead before another great war ravages this land."
"Don't say that, you are going to live to be three hundred." Ila protested, not wanting to live through a war but certainly not wanting to live through a war without her husband.
Thorin opened his eyes and looked directly up into hers. "You know I won't my love. You will have to do without me, one day."
"Thorin stop, I don't want to think about that…much less talk about it."
"I know darling, but I am much older than you."
"So? I might die in my childbed or of some disease….you can't possibly know."
"Stop that," he said.
"Not funny is it? Your spouse talking about dying on you?"
"No, no it isn't. I am sorry." Thorin said and took her hand to kiss.
"We should make the most of every day my love…every moment." Ila said, now running her fingers over his collar bone and under his shirt.
"Mmmm, yes I agree my queen. What did you have in mind for tonight's moments?" He asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Well….since you asked…." Ila began, walking around him to take Thora and put her in her crib. She fussed at her mother a bit, not ready to sleep just yet, but didn't cry.
"Just for a bit my sweet, you can sleep with mommy once she is done with your father."
"Done with me?" Thorin asked and Ila gave him a devilish grin.
"That's what I said." Ila turned back to him and promptly began to shed her clothing. Thorin rose to do the same, but when he was done and advanced on his wife, Ila placed a hand on his chest.
"No, sit on the bed." she instructed.
He cocked his head at her but did as she bid him, eager to comply only because he was eager to have her. He sat on the side of the bed with his hands on his thighs, his organ erect and pointing at her, and waited.
Ila finally disrobed herself and went to her vanity, grabbing Thorin's crown. He gave her a peculiar look at she approached with it, but said nothing until she gingerly placed it on his head.
"You want to make love while I wear my crown? Why?" He asked curiously.
"I just do," was all she said as she placed on knee on either side of this waist on the bed, her sex brushing his member as she settled in his lap.
"It turns you on does it?" Thorin crooned in his deepest register.
"Perhaps," Ila said in a breathless voice herself.
"Ahhh…well then…." Thorin answered and Ila lifted herself just enough to easily grasp his throbbing organ and sit down on it.
Thorin growled and Ila sighed, placing her hands on his shoulders and beginning to ride him, up and down, up and down.
He grabbed her cheeks and helped guide her, the hair above his member scrapping against her clit and making her arch her back in pleasure.
She rose up, pushing up on his shoulders, trying to gain control of the situation. She wanted to fuck him tonight, not the other way around. She came down harder and harder on him, slapping her breasts against his face. His blue eyes were bright with wild lust, and she reveled in causing it. He wanted to control the situation too however, and painfully dug his fingers into her hips.
Ila struggled against him, their wills set against each other, and he let a hand go from her hip to slap her bottom.
Ila yelped from the sting of it, then set at him again with new fervor, drawing herself off of his member entirely to crash back down onto it. Thorin groaned and practically yelled through gritted teeth. He was going to make her come first. He thrust his thumb harshly into the top of her opening, pressing and flicking her bud. Ila faltered, grabbing him to steady herself while she flung her head back and moaned at the ceiling. Having finally gained the upper hand, he stood up and threw her onto the bed, grabbed her legs and pressed them against her body as he violently finished her. Ila held onto the bed itself, her head hanging off the other end now he had tossed her so far, and wailed uncontrollably.
Thorin felt his release coming so powerfully he yelled as he quickly withdrew from her, his seed shooting through the air and all over the bed. Ila threw an arm up to cover her face and felt the shower her husband sent over the bed.
Her eyes closed, Ila just laid there, her head still hanging off the bed, her body spread eagle. She could hear Thorin breathing hard and moving from the bed. Ila continued to lay there, now very sleepy and fast losing consciousness.
Thorin gently cleansed her as always, and pulled her limp body up into a standing position so he could pull the covers off and toss onto the floor.
"Have Dwala launder those in the morning," he said and Ila made a face at him.
"She needs to be dismissed Thorin, she's too far with child.."
"Then dismiss her." Thorin said and Ila rolled her eyes at him, too tired for words.
Thorin took her by the hand and pulled her into bed, throwing a fresh blanket of dark furs over her.
"Thorin…the baby…" Ila slurred.
"I'm going, I'm going," he assured her and went to retrieve their babe. Thora had been quiet through all the strange noise but had not fallen asleep. Thorin deposited her in Ila'a arms and slid in under the furs with them, all three royals a warm and content bundle.