The news that the queen was in labor spread immediately, since all of Erebor was gathered in the great hall. Everyone cheered and drank even more heartily, believing the excitement of the tournament had been just the thing to bring on their heir. No one knew of course what had really happened.

Dwala and Zahra ran to the bedchamber, their skirts held high so they didn't trip. Dwala had left Farin with his father, and Zahra had given Fili an adoring look as she turned from the great hall. She had not been able to so much as touch him that public space, but at least they had been together.

Oin was coming as fast as his old legs would take him over the many steps and stairs, and Dwala and Zahra beat him by a while. What Dwala could not understand was why Thorin had been the one to find Ila. Perhaps he was angry that they did not accompany Ila back to her chambers and went to check on her himself. They would probably hear from him later if that was the case.

Thorin had charged off as soon as he arrived to tell them the news, and she expected him to be beside Ila's bed. Dwala could not believe her eyes when she saw Ila sitting near the top of the stairs that led to their rooms, practically hysterical with pain and fending off Thorin who was trying to help her up.

Tears were streaming down her face and Dwala felt her heart sink. Something was terribly wrong. But Ila had been the picture of health but an hour ago. It made no sense.

Thorin gave up trying to help her as Dwala and Zahra reached her, taking an arm each to help her up and guide her to her room. Thorin remained in the hallway, which Dwala found extremely odd. Usually he would be hovering over her, ready to move the heavens and earth to ensure her comfort.

Dwala and Zahra set about rapidly undressing Ila down to her shift, and Ila could not speak three words together that were intelligible.

Dwala pressed her for what was wrong, if it was the pain or something else. Clearly it was something else.

"He…he doesn't…he thinks….." was all Ila could manage before bursting into another sob.

Dwala and Zahra shared worried looks, and then Zahra had an inkling of what might be wrong.

Her heart hit her feet. No….no….please no. It can't be….

"Ila, are you in pain? What is the matter?" Dwala asked gently but urgently, but all Ila could do was sputter between her gut wrenching sobs.

They guided her to the bed, sitting her down slowly, but she was in too much pain to lie back. Ila instead clutched her abdomen and took turns crying in pain and what seemed to be devastation.

Dwala was at a loss. She was afraid to press her in this state. But if she didn't calm down a bit her labor was sure to be ten times harder.

"Shhhhhh," Dwala soothed her, taking her face gently in her hands. "You must be calm my dear friend. Please….tell me what is wrong."

Ila stopped heaving to take a deep breath and let it all out in one torrent of words.

"Thorin thinks the baby is Kili's. He thinks we've been having an affair ever since I came to the Mountain. I was trying to get away from him and I fell—"

Ila erupted into a new heart wrenching sob and let her head fall forward onto Dwala's breasts.

She could not believe what she'd heard. It was the most ridiculous thing ever proposed, and she wanted to beat Thorin over the head with one of Dwalin's axes for even entertaining the idea.

"Well, that is absurd! We'll just find Kili and make him tell Thorin the truth—"

"He saw Kili kissing me!" Ila raised herself from Dwala's breast to cry out. "He forced himself on my on the way back from the tournament, and Thorin must have seen."

Zahra was covering her mouth in disbelief and anguish. She should never have let Ila go without her. She had promised Thorin to be vigilant of such things. But she had so wanted to be with Fili…..she'd failed in her duty out of her own selfishness.

Dwala closed her eyes as she held Ila to her breast. So, he had never gotten over her. Fool dwarf! Utter and complete imbecile! She wanted to beat him too. Ila's cries of anguish turned into cries of pain again, and Dwala forced her back onto the bed finally.

"Oin will be here soon, the baby will be fine and all of this will be sorted out. Just concentrate on relaxing." Dwala urged her firmly, but she was worried out of her mind. The baby had not been ready, Oin said that this morning. He wasn't in the right position, Ila had said. And Thorin…she knew as well as any that madness ran in the Durin line, and if he believed Ila had Kili's baby in her belly then he truly had given himself over to madness.

Zahra had a too knowing look on her face, Dwala noticed, along with the fact that she was standing there doing nothing, just staring at her feet.

Dwala narrowed her eyes, she would deal with that in a minute. Until Oin got there she sat about making Ila as comfortable as possible, wiping the flood of tears from her face.

Outside, Thorin was pacing the hallway. He was bereft, enraged, and yet….worried. He could hear Ila's cries of pain out there, her sobbing on top of it. He had not meant to hurt her, only to make her stay in their room until he could confront Kili. He had no idea what he would do….what explanation could Kili even give for his actions? He wanted to believe Ila, but there was too much evidence stacked against her. Unless the baby came out his perfect copy, it would be hard to ever believe her.

He felt like he was in a fog. It was a feeling he'd had before, when they retook the Mountain. The dragon sickness that had haunted his forefathers…..he knew he was susceptible….but he had fought it and won. With a little help from a friend…

He wished Biblo was there now. He always provided the best counsel, even for a Hobbit that knew nothing really of dwarven ways. But he believed he could have made him feel better, see clearer, had he been there now.

This was not dragon sickness…that applied only to gold. Not to living creatures. He did not believe Ila was a possession….

Yes, you do. She is yours. Was yours…but someone took her.

Thorin pushed that voice from his mind, shaking his head with the effort. Before he could listen for it again, Oin had arrived.

Huffing and practically dragging himself up the last few steps, the old dwarf sighed deeply at seeing his king.

"What in Mahal's name has happened? She was in no danger of giving birth this morning."

Thorin felt a great pang of guilt stabbing at his heart. "She…fell." He murmured so that Oin could barely hear.

"Fell? Oh, my. I see. Well, let me get in there." He replied and Thorin watched him go. He didn't think he could bear to be in there, for a multitude of reasons.

As Oin went to Ila's side, Dwala pulled Zahra away into the antechamber.

Zahra was biting her fingernails off and didn't seem to notice.

"What is the matter with you? You look as though this situation is no great surprise to you?"

Zahra's eyes looked like big round teacups.

"Oh Dwala! This is all my fault!" she exclaimed and began to cry.

"Stop that, now tell me how on earth that could be."

Zahra sniffed hard and wiped her face before answering.

"Thorin told me to keep a constant watch on Ila when Kili was near. He made me report to him every day, but there was never anything. He said if I did not and keep it secret, he would send me back to the Iron Hills. I should not have let her go alone with him tonight- all I was thinking about was Fili…..this is all my fault Dwala!"

Zahra began crying anew but Dwala drew her into her arms.

"There, there. This is not your fault. This is the fault of men. Men who think about nothing but themselves…men who wouldn't know the truth if it jumped up and bit them on the ass. Thorin obviously gave you no choice."

Dwala's bosom was now seething with anger for Thorin. First for what he had done to Ila, now with the knowledge that he had made Zahra a spy, using her affection for Fili and want to be here against her. If anything happened to Ila or the baby because of him….she was going to flay him. King or not.

Speaking of Ila, she cried out anew, and Dwala and Zahra broke apart to straighten themselves and go back in. Ila needed them now, they could despair of other things later.

Inside, Oin had Ila's shift drawn up over her belly, feeling for the baby's position. He wore a look of concentration and concern. Dwala went to grab a cold compress for Ila's neck and face, while Zahra grabbed more pillows to prop her up. Ila was still crying, though not sobbing at the moment, just letting tears continuously slip down the sides of her face.

Her thoughts vacillated between Thorin's having broken her heart and fear for her baby. Fear that something was wrong, that she couldn't give birth, that if she gave birth Thorin would somehow decide it looked too much like Kili and do Mahal knows what with it. Perhaps it was safest for her babe to stay in her belly, but that was impossible now.

And Kili…what would Thorin do to him? She was afraid for them all, but she couldn't dwell on it long. The pain in her abdomen made concentrating on anything for more than a moment or two impossible. She could only lay there and pray Thorin came to his senses somehow, and that their baby would be alright.

Two hours passed and night had fallen outside the Mountain. The revelry in the great hall continued and would go well into the night, especially with the birth of an heir to celebrate. Kili drank deeply from his mug of ale, having lost count at this point. No one seemed to notice he was a sad drunk, everyone else was so happy. He only hoped Ila was faring well up there, but then her first birth had gone smooth indeed. Funny though, she had not seemed about to be taken by her pains, but then perhaps his surprise, as it was, had sent her over the edge. Shocked the baby into coming perhaps. He didn't know, only hoped she would not be in pain long. It had been at least two hours…someone would come with the good news soon, he was sure.

Kili did not even notice his brother, the dwarf of the hour, slipping from the hall. He wanted to check on Ila, and if he knew his Uncle, Thorin would need a little reassurance. He worried over Ila so much. And Zahra would be there.

Everyone was so drunk they didn't even notice him leaving, which he was thankful for. He was not used to being the center of attention, though his triumph that day had been a dream come true. He had brought honor to his mother and uncle, to the kingdom, to Durin's name, and he got to do so while Zahra looked on.

As Fili walked into his uncle's antechamber, he was not surprised to see Thorin sitting in a chair in the corner, his head down and hands clasped. Of course he would be nervous.

Before he could say anything Ila's scream of pain broke the silence from the other side of the bedchamber door, and sent a shiver down his spine. That was natural though, he told himself.

Thorin had looked towards the door at the shriek and noticed Fili had arrived.

Fili would have said something comforting, but Thorin's expression stopped any words from forming in his throat.

That expression…that cloudy, half drunk, half mad visage was not one he'd seen in some time. And it had almost cost them everything when he had.

"Uncle, what is the matter—"

"Pray, where is your brother?" Thorin said lowly.

Fili didn't understand. "I…well downstairs in the great hall of course. Along with the rest of the kingdom."

"Really? I didn't see him when I last came. Perhaps you should send for him."

Thorin's voice was low and dangerous, and not like him at all. He seemed to be speaking from out of a dream, as if he did not know who he himself was.

"Of course uncle. Is Ila alright?" Fili asked worriedly.

Thorin cast his eyes towards the bedchamber door, where another moan of pain could be heard.

"I could hardly tell you." He said simply and seemed to be contemplating a great deal.

That made no sense to Fili, but he turned to do as instructed, though he had a sense of foreboding he had not had the likes of since Thorin succumbed to dragon sickness. Whatever was the matter with him? And why should Kili be there? Instead of going to the great hall himself, he instructed the nearest guard to summon Kili. Fili then turned on his heels to head towards his mother's chambers. She knew Thorin better than anyone, and likely she had not even been informed of the impending birth given her absence in the great hall. Perhaps she could shed some light on what was wrong with Uncle.

Kili could not help but be worried as to why he should be called to the royal bedchamber while Ila was in labor. There was no reason for it, unless Uncle wanted company while he waited, but there was a great sense of foreboding in his chest. Something felt amiss, and he certainly didn't want to stare his Uncle in the face after so soon having kissed his wife. Surely Ila had said nothing, would never say anything regarding that exchange. At least he hoped. At least for the moment, she had more pressing matters to occupy her thoughts.

Dis arrived with Fili to the antechamber where Thorin waited, ready to assist in any way she could, as she had last time Ila was in labor. She had left Thora with her own maid, the birthing room was no place for a little dwarfling. She was also a bit concerned for Thorin after Fili described his behavior. She did not think Fili was right about his expression…his behavior. She had just seen him, happy as he'd ever been in the arena, and nothing like what Fili had described to her with the dragon sickness. There could be no reason for such, at any rate. Not now.

But as soon as Dis walked in the room, she knew something was wrong with him. Ila's pained cries were sporadic through the door, and she fought the urge to go to her first. Thorin looked up from sparkling blue eyes to register her presence, but said nothing to her, only turning angrily to Fili.

"Where is your brother?" he barked.

Dis looked from Thorin to Fili. "He is coming Uncle, I brought mother—"

Fili stopped as Thorin rose rapidly from this chair, taking everyone off guard. He paced wildly from one end of the room to the other,shaking his head.

"He won't come, he's knows what he's done. He'd be a fool to come." He said to himself, not to anyone else.

"Thorin, what do you think he's done? I don't understand." Dis began, but he rounded on her so fast that Fili stepped forth to stand between them.

"He will tell you himself what he has done, before it is over. He will confess, and then he'll never walk these halls again." Thorin all but growled.

Dis felt her knees buckle; what on earth could be so terrible, that he could have no love for his nephew left in his eyes. Dis now saw the expression that had worried Fili. Thorin looked practically unhinged.

Before Dis could demand to know what he meant by all of that, Kili strode into the room. He stopped short, not expecting to see his mother, or Thorin looking ready to attack anything that moved. Everyone wore a worried expression, except for Uncle. Thorin looked ready to do murder.

"You," Thorin said so low he barely caught it. Kili's eyes widened and Thorin began to cross the room, but Dis was on Thorin before he could get half way to Kili.

Placing her hands on his shoulders and pushing with all her might, Thorin stopped finally, gripping her arms painfully, but looking over her shoulder at Kili, his eyes daggers.

"Tell your mother what you've done, what you've been doing behind my back. Blood traitor!" Thorin snarled and Dis felt him surging against her, but he remained where he was, remembering himself enough not to toss her aside like a sack of potatoes. He certainly looked like he wanted to.

"Thorin stop this, this instant! And Kili, what is this about? Answer me one of you before I bludgeon you both!"

It was not like Dis to scream. Actually Fili could not remember his mother ever screaming. She didn't need to. One look could stop them cold, even now. That had always been her way. But it seemed all reason had been abandoned this night.

"It's not what you think Uncle. I mean it is, but then it isn't."

"Do not speak to me in riddles, boy. That I allow you yet to draw breath is a greater mercy than you deserve."

For the second time that night, Thorin was momentarily blinded by an open handed slap. He hadn't even seen it coming, staring past Dis and she being a bit shorter than he, be she reminded him she was stronger than he often thought.

"You will not threaten my son! King or no!" Dis growled herself now. Fili was horrified, looking from Kili to his mother to his uncle. But he was beginning to work out what must have happened. And he was sick to his stomach.

Kili spoke up, afraid that his mother and uncle might starting rolling on the floor if he didn't distract them from each other. It took all his courage, but what was done was done. He obviously knew, and there was no way out.

"I forced myself on her. She all but fled from me screaming. That was the last I saw of her, she was fine when I last saw her."

Thorin was red faced and could barely control his breathing. Dis had turned to look at Kili over her shoulder but was still holding Thorin back. Worry creased her face.

"Kili what are you saying?" she demanded.

Fili closed his eyes, willing this to be a bad dream.

"I love her. I have loved her ever since I laid eyes on her." Kili began, his voice strangled with pain, as if every word cut him. "She is my soulmate, I know it, your wife or not, my queen or not, my aunt or whatever else you want to call her. I just couldn't stand it anymore—"

Dis closed her eyes, her face the picture of horror. Thorin's behavior made sense now, but it was not so terrible. He had forced himself on her, he'd been drinking, it could be excused. Thorin had to forgive him, she told herself, knowing she was hoping against hope.

"You mean for me to believe then that all the time you have spent together has been innocent? That the babe in her belly is not yours?" Thorin asked through gritted teeth, clearly not believing yet.

Dis opened her eyes and gave him an incredulous look, along with Fili. How could he even entertain such an idea?

"Uncle, I have never lain with her! She loves you, she practically screamed her devotion at me. The baby is yours-"

"I saw your hand on her womb, you-"

"Yes! Because I wish it was mine! I told her so, I would have her for a lover if she would have me, but she won't!" Kili began to scream now himself, enraged that Thorin could doubt Ila so, that he doubted the child in her womb was his. He didn't deserve her, and he couldn't stop himself now. It was all rushing out in a torrent of anguished feelings that he'd been trying to suppress for months now, and he had no strength left.

Dis tried to sush him, Fili did too, but there was no stopping him.

"You don't deserve her, you don't love her the way she deserves to be loved. She is just a possession to you and always has been. You try to keep her on a shelf like some glass doll instead of letting her live and be who she is! I will not apologize for loving her the way she deserves!"

Kili was yelling as loud as he could by the time he finished. His chest heaving, he was waiting for Thorin to come at him. Dis was holding onto Thorin for dear life, refusing to let go of him no matter what happened. She could feel his heart threatening to beat out his chest, and after such an admission fully expected Thorin to make an attempt on Kili's life.

Fili was in front of Kili too, to act as a human shield if need be, and also trying to usher him from the room. Kili was rooted to the spot however, meeting his uncle's death stare.

Dis whispered to him, her face practically touching his, "Thorin, please…"

Kili's words struck him hard, and angry as he was some doubt bloomed in his bosom. Perhaps Ila was innocent, or he thought to sacrifice himself for her. He was not sure. But he was certain that Kili was guilty, that he had betrayed him and openly proclaimed that he desired to do more so. He could not let it stand.

He spared a short glance at Dis, tears forming in her eyes. She was clutching him as though her life depended on it. Ila's cries interrupted his thoughts, and guilt struck at him again.

Raising his eyes to his nephew, Thorin snarled "Get out. You have by sunup to be gone from these halls. If you are found in Erebor once the sun rises, I will forget you are my sister son."

That was all Fili needed to push Kili from the room. Kili shot a worried look over his shoulder towards Ila's cries, which neither Thorin nor Dis missed.

Once they were gone Dis relaxed her grip on Thorin, but tears were rolling down her face now. He wore an expressionless stare as he looked down at her.

"Thorin-brother please—"

He pushed her, gently at least, from his chest and turned his back to her. Dis knew Kili had done something terrible indeed, and made it ten times worse with his proclamations, but surely this would blow over. Surely Thorin did not mean to banish him.

"Thorin-" she began again.

"Leave me!" he roared, but she grew roots where she stood.

"Thorin, listen to me. You cannot believe that Ila would stray from you. She loves you, I have never seen two dwarves more devoted to one another than you and she. Kili is young, he is love sick he didn't know what he was saying-"

"Did you not hear him? Where you not here just now?" He barked as he turned to face her again. Do you think I would allow such treason, such adultery without even the grace to feign shame from anyone, even my nephew? The willfulness to bed my wife behind my back?!"

Dis closed her eyes. It was terrible. Unthinkable. She was ashamed of him, hurt by him in ways he probably could never understand, but he was still her son, and she loved him. She could not bear to see him banished.

"Thorin, allow him time to consider what he said. It was all in the heat of the moment. He will apologize as he should, I will see to it—"

"No. No I cannot bear to lay eyes on him ever again. This is too deep, too much. Best you save your breath."

Dis held back new tears. She would not beg him, not right now while he was seething and Ila was in labor. She would go to her, try to comfort her, the poor thing, fighting to bring forth a baby her husband foolishly thought was not his. She would wring Thorin's neck in time. She would come at him later when he was calmer, more pliable, and see all settled for right.

As she turned towards the bedchamber doors Oin came through them, Ila's cries momentarily ear splitting, and shut it behind him. He wore a dark look, clearly worried. He wiped his forehead with a handkerchief and stared at his feet for a moment, seeming as though he didn't want to say what he had come out to tell them.

"Well?" Thorin urged. It has been almost three hours, but that was not a long time. Some dwarves lay in labor for a day or more.

"I am a bit concerned….the baby was not ready. I fear her fall brought on her pains too soon for good."

Dis looked to Thorin questioningly. "Fall? What fall?"

Thorin cast his eyes towards the floor.

"She….fell on the steps outside there. It was a hard fall, she slid down one or two before I could stop her." Thorin murmured.

"And how did that happen?" Dis inquired.

"She just fell! Dwarves fall! It happens!" he bellowed, and the other two took a pace back from him.

Embarrassed, he urged Oin on with his hand.

"Uhh, well as I was saying the baby was not ready. He was not in position that is. I have been trying to turn him around but every time I almost manage it, she has another contraction that turns him right back around again."

"What does this mean, Oin, please?" Thorin asked impatiently.

Oin sighed, "It means that the baby is trying to come out the wrong way. He could get stuck in there and suffocate, he could get the cord wrapped around his neck and choke him, and Ila could perish right along with him."

Thorin waited for more, for some solution, before he realized there wasn't one. He looked at the wall, looked at nothing, and suddenly Ila's cries were even louder in his ears. Cries of pain, worse than he remembered when Thora was born. He had not considered that she might die, that the baby might not be able to be born at all. That was his fault. He had been so angry, he mishandled her and caused this. He was suddenly frightened, frightened and ashamed.

Choking back a strangled sob of his own that he tried to disguise as a cough, he turned back to Oin. Dis looked worried sick, wringing her hands.

"Well, what can be done for her?" he asked, anger gone from his voice for the first time in hours.

"I will continue to try, but if the baby moves towards the birth canal and gets stuck I won't be able to turn him right. If that happens, you may have to consider a very difficult question."

Oin looked at Thorin as if he should know what that was, but he didn't. When Thorin said nothing with his confused stare, Oin continued.

"You may have to choose between the life of your queen and the life of your heir."

Thorin blinked, not understanding. How could he make such a decision, and what could that mean? He thought he knew, but didn't want to imagine it.

"If it looks that she cannot deliver, I can cut the baby from her womb in time to save him. But your wife—"

"I understand, Oin." Thorin cut him off, the vision of Ila bleeding to death in their bed playing before his eyes, amid the agonizing cries of her being cut open.

His body shook, and he forced back tears. This was not how it was supposed to be…none of this. This was a nightmare, not real.

When Thorin spoke again, his voice was shaky.

"How long before such a decision must be made?"

"Not at the moment, the baby could still turn."

"Very well." Thorin said and Oin took his leave to rejoin her.

Dis was pale, wringing her hands even harder.

"Thorin, how did Ila fall?"

Thorin winced, but knew she wouldn't relent.

"When I confronted her about what I saw in the corridor, she tried to defend herself, telling me it wasn't true. We argued, and when she saw I would not believe she tried to get away from me. I wanted her to stay in the bedroom until I could decide…..we struggled out the door and onto the stairs. Her feet tangled in mine and I had her by the arms…..I couldn't catch her in time…."

Thorin's voice faded, replaced by Dis with a roar.

"You wool brained madman. How could you?! No wonder she was trying to flee you; mad as you are. You are acting like grandfather, except over Ila instead gold and jewels."

Thorin let her lash his with her words, she was devastated over Kili, but he knew she wasn't done fighting for him. She was just done for now. He would tell her later what a hopeless cause that was.

But he could not help but be shaken by something she said. Their grandfather. Thror. He remembered how he acted when he was a very young dwarf. Not wanting an eye laid on his treasures, especially the arkenstone. Driven mad by it, the lust and possession of, even the awe of it. He did not think he was so with Ila.

"I am no such thing…" Thorin muttered, again refusing to meet her stare.

"Some of what Kili said was true, in the way that you have treated her. And now she lies in a bed which she may never rise from because you would not trust her." Dis was regaining some of her composure, intent on making him see reason. He slumped his shoulders and would not look at her, seeming to consider some of what she said, though he did not look convinced.

"Do you have nothing to say for yourself then?" Dis asked.

Thorin looked at her, but said nothing. With that she opened the bedchamber doors to go to Ila's side. Thorin watched her go, pondering what she'd said, what Kili had said, and his own fears and guilt.

Oh Mahal, he had not meant this. He had not meant to hurt her! He was only so heartbroken, so crazy with hurt that he forgot himself when he was trying to force her back into their chambers. Even if what he feared was really true, he did not want Ila to die. Anything but that. Angry as he was, he knew he loved her no less. That is what made the pain so unbearable.

Steeling himself and refusing to yet consider what Oin had told him may come to pass, he pushed open the door to enter the bedchamber.

Thorin didn't know what to do with himself, he just stood there staring. Ila was in their bed, the scene much like Thora's birth. Ila was propped on pillows, sweating, and Oin was busying himself trying to turn the baby still. Her shift was pulled back and he was pressing and pushing all over her stomach, there seemed to be a method to it, but Thorin's eyes didn't linger there.

Ila was continually moaning and writhing in pain, her hands griping the pillows. Thorin stood by the door, watching.

This was his fault. He'd done this. The baby wasn't ready, it had needed at least another week. Now Ila was struggling to deliver, if she even could.

But was the baby his? Perhaps it was his. Ila had insisted nothing had happened, but it contradicted everything he had seen and remembered. The mere thought of someone else making love to Ila...of impregnating his wife, made him blind with rage all over again. That it was his nephew, his own flesh and blood that he had raised himself made it ten thousand times worse.

Ila cried out towards the ceiling and collapsed in a sobbing mess onto the bed. Her hair was plastered to her face and she could barely speak. Oin looked grave and laid the sheet down over her.

Thorin looked at the stone floor, guilt flooding his chest. Would she die? That certainly isn't what he wanted, no matter how betrayed he felt.

"Do what you can for her, whatever she needs. If you need send for a healer..."

Thorin hated elves. Hated them. Hated every hair on their immortal bodies. But if they could save his Ila...

"They'd never come in time. We'll have to do the best we can for her here." Oin said to low for Ila to hear.

Thorin studied Ila's face, eyes shut tight in agony. And fear, she had to be afraid, knowing what was happening. Dwala was staring a hole into him, daring him to meet her eyes. Zahra refused to acknowledge Thorin was in the room, as did Dis for the time being.

Thorin felt his heart breaking all over again. He wanted to hold her, tell her it would be alright, tell her it didn't matter whose baby it was in her belly—he just wanted her to live.

He just wanted her to live.

Overcome, Thorin went to her bedside and reached out to touch her, but Ila's eyes snapped open and she shrieked in his face. Thorin drew back as if slapped again, as he watched Ila try to scurry away from him on the bed. She began to sob harder, turning from him and clutching her stomach as if afraid he meant to harm her. The three females all tried to soothe her, forcing her to lay back in bed, and all but Zahra fixed him with a hateful and reproachful glare.

Ila was terrified of him, and somehow that was even worse than she being angry with him. Thorin backed away slowly, swallowing hard, and left the room.

Thorin sat by the fire in one of their rooms, trying not to hear her agonizing cries. Another hour had passed and nothing. Ila was giving out of strength rather quickly. All her efforts to push her baby free had been futile. He feared that any moment Oin would come through that door, telling him it was time to make the decision. A decision he simply couldn't make. Either way, it would end with her dead, and it would be his fault. Tears slipped from his eyes, and he wondered if she did live, little chance that seemed, could she forgive him. He thought not.

Ila in so much physical and emotional pain that she didn't even want to fight anymore, her poor babe was better off where he was she thought, as Dwala wiped away sweat from her brow for what must have been the hundredth time.

Looking to Dwala, she suddenly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her close.

'Dwala...you must...you must find Kili..."

"He has already confessed to Thorin," Dwala replied. She'd already told her that twice, but Ila was on the brink of being delusional from the pain.

"Yes….yes…." Ila answered weakly.

"Ila you must sit up and try pushing again," Dis urged gently. She could see her strength fading fast.

Ila didn't answer, but let her eyes close. She could hardly hold them open anymore. And she didn't want her baby born if Thorin thought it was Kili's. He would harm it likely, or banish it, after he killed her.

The pain seemed distant now, she kept hearing Oin remark about how much blood she was losing, but that seemed far off too. Like in a dream. Vaguely she felt her abdomen clenching, tightening, as her body tried once more to push the baby free.

He was the wrong way, turned the wrong way….

"Ila please," ….. "Ila you must," …..came different voices, but they all blended together now.

Thorin didn't love her anymore. He hated her, hated their baby. That was the only thing that seemed real and in front of her. How was she supposed to live after this? What of her baby? Her poor baby….he needed to stay in her womb where he was safe….

Ila was brought back from the brink of unconsciousness by a terrible burning sensation that made her scream before she knew she was doing it.

She felt clamoring around her, tense voices, surprise. The burning was accompanied by more painful contractions, and suddenly she felt as if she were being ripped apart.

Gripping the sheets, her vision blurred, and she screamed again.

Urging voices spoke to her from everywhere it seemed, hands holding her legs apart and pressing on her belly. Ila screamed yet again, the pain unbearable….she was dying. This was it, this what how it happened.

Another scream. Not hers. A baby's cry. A crying baby…..

The door to the bedchamber flung open as Thorin burst in, shocking the four standing dwarves. Thorin heard the cry and came directly. He thought he might have imagined it, but there it was. Oin turned and presented a kicking, bloody baby boy to him.

Thorin saw his own prominent nose, his own pitch black hair-but only a little tuft on the bloody head, and his own piercing blue eyes looking back at him. Angry eyes. Accusing eyes. The babe looked furious at being out of its mother's womb, kicking and wailing in Oin's arms.

Thorin's heart constricted. It was his baby. There could be no denying it. Guilt flooded through this veins and wrenched at his heart. Turning to Ila with tears in his eyes, he was ready to fall to his knees at her feet.

"Ila," he said, and then froze in horror.

"Ila, Ila!" Dwala's voice rose in fear as she gently shook her friend. Ila's eyes were closed, she had collapsed into the pillows, her dark, soaking wet hair splayed about. Her chest was barely moving.

"Ila!" Thorin cried and pushed Dwala aside to try and draw her into his arms. Blood, there was such much blood he now realized, and it did not look to stop.

"Get away from her!" Dwala tried to yell at him, emotion cracking her voice. She placed herself between him and Ila again, as though to make a human shield with her body.

"This is your fault!" she said in a lower voice, through gritting teeth. Zahra's eyes bulged, she was sure Thorin would annihilate her- verbally or physically-for speaking to him that way. But he didn't. He just stared back in a mixture of disbelief and grief. He could not leave her, not if she were like to die. He hadn't apologized….he needed to tell her that he loved her….

"You should go, Thorin."

That was his sister's voice, harsher and steadier than Dwala's had been. Zahra said nothing, only fidgeted and wiped tears from her eyes, trying not to look at anyone.

"It would be better if you go, I think." Oin said, handing the babe to Dis. He was wrapped in a blanket now and almost clean of all the blood, but he was wailing louder yet.

Thorin just stood there, wavering, not wanting to leave, but not knowing what else to do. Dwala was still covering Ila as to protect her from him, and he supposed he could not blame her.

"Is she…is she.." Thorin began but could not finish.

"I will retrieve you if she turns for the worse." Oin assured him curtly and set about trying to staunch the blood flow.

Thorin swayed on this feet for a moment, but after meeting his sister's gaze turned towards the door. He went back into their antechamber, leaning against the door for some time.

The baby was his…it was undeniable. He had almost lost him, and now might still lose its mother.

Thorin could not even bear to think of that. And that it would be his fault made it too painful to even exist. He had been so sure, after what he had seen earlier, and his suspicions from before, but then he was reminded of a time much like now.

Dis had accused him of being like their grandfather, of having dragon sickness, but where Ila was concerned. He had once had that real thing, right after the Mountain was retaken, and he had believed his kin betrayed him and kept the arkenstone from him. He had been wrong about that too. He had wanted the life of his friend for only trying to save him.

The shame of those memories flooded him, merging with the shame of what he had done that night, and it was all too much. Pushing himself from the wall he paced the room rapidly, trying to decide what to do. If he could only go to sleep to find this a dream….

The door opened and Thorin stopped, looking expectantly, fearfully. Zahra came through the door, shutting it behind her quietly.

"How is she?" he asked, breathless.

"Oin is still….evaluating the situation. I-I came to beg you to believe me. You must think that I have been lying to you all these weeks, but I have never done so once. Your lady sister says that Kili confessed, and perhaps he does have feelings, but I place my very life on the oath that your wife loves you and never strayed, not once. Never even thought to."

Zahra had let that out without stopping to draw breath, afraid he would try and silence her. Her eyes were red and puffy where she had been crying, clearly distraught by the events of the night. Thorin heard her out, then looked to the floor, saying nothing.

After a moment of silence, Zahra pressed him, her voice stronger this time.

"Well, do you not believe my king? What must I or anyone else do? I cannot live with the guilt from this."

Thorin jerked his head to stare at her.

"Guilt? What guilt?" he asked confused.

"For not telling someone what you suspected from the start! Perhaps this could have been prevented….somehow….I don't know! But I cannot bear it, especially that you think Ila betrayed you!"

Thorin stared back at Zahra in shock. He would never have believed that timid mouse of a dwarf had it in her to speak to him that way. But there it was.

"I—" he began, but could give no excuse for himself. "You should get back to Ila and the baby." Turning from her so she would not see the tears in his eyes.

Zahra waited only a second before doing as he said and returning to Ila.

Thorin clenched his fists, trying to relieve tension. He wanted to go find Kili, confront him again, make him tell him everything once more. But he dared not leave Ila in her state. So instead he paced, trying not to run completely mad while he waited.

Thorin last track of time quickly; every minute seemed to take forever. His lips moved in silent prayers for his wife. His wife. He had to have been wrong….there had been so much evidence though….but he had been wrong. He must have….he tried to make himself feel better, that it had been easy to arrive at his assumptions…but he felt no better at all.

After a while-how long Thorin couldn't tell- Oin emerged from their bedchamber.

His expression was grave, and Thorin feared the very worst.

"Well?" He urged, hands clasped in front of him.

Oin wiped his brow for the hundredth time that night.

"She has a fever, and has lost much blood. She is asleep now, a fitful one but I hope it will give her strength. The difficulty of that birth took it all from her."

"So, she will be alright?" Thorin pleaded for a straight answer.

Oin sighed, not wanting to give him too much hope. "If she survives the night, then I believe she will recover, with enough rest and care. But there are many hours left before dawn." Oin replied quietly.

"There is nothing else you can do for her now?" Thorin entreated his old friend.

Oin only shook his head. "She'll need a close watch kept on her all night. I will stay with her, and one of the ladies. The other of them will need to tend the babe. He'll need feeding soon."

Thorin nodded. That was the best that could be hoped for at the moment. She needed rest. She would be alright.

Stepping beside Oin, Thorin slowly pushed open the bedchamber door.

Only a few candles lit the room now, it was dark but still smelled of blood, though the soiled bedclothes and sheets had been replaced already. Ila was in a fresh nightgown, laying in the middle of their great bed. Her hair was still damp but arrayed gently around her face now. Her eyes were shut, but she was twitching fitfully now and again. Dis had a damp cloth pressed to her chest, trying to cool her off.

Zahra was washing her hands in a basin in the corner, and Dwala was seated with her back to him. He quickly realized she was nursing the baby, and turned all his attention on his wife. Dis regarded him coldly as he approached the bed. She made sure he felt her icy stare before looking back at Ila and gently moving a strand of hair from her face.

Thorin stood with his legs touching the side of the bed now, peering down at his wife. She was fighting for her life, adrift in a deep but ill sleep. He swallowed hard, being unable to bear seeing her in pain.

"This is your doing," Dis said just above a whisper, still not looking at him. "No matter what my son did earlier tonight, this here if your doing alone."

Her voice was like stone itself. Harder than the Mountain itself was carved from. Thorin wished very much that the Mountain would fall on top of him at the moment.

He did not even try to defend himself against her words. He knew now that they were true. The baby was his, and she loved him. Even if she had strayed from him, he could have forgiven her now. Being so pitiful and helpless there below him, and so at his very hand, he would have forgiven her.

But then there was another wound, one he could not forgive so easily. Kili had professed his love for his wife, had admitted that he would have carried on an affair with her- behind his back- had she agreed to it. Kili said he did deserve her- that he could not argue with presently. That he didn't treat her as he should, like she was a possession- perhaps. It was a great fault of his. He had loved her too much, prized her too much. She was a treasure to him, more valuable than silver or gold or all the gems under the Mountain. Even the arkenstone. He had let it consume him- his love and lust. He had not let her be who she was, and now she might never be.

Thorin had raised Kili for all intents and purposes. He was too young to remember his father when he fell in battle, and he had been that figure for he and Fili ever since. It was his betrayal that cut the deepest. Not that Ila had betrayed him, but even if she had, Kili's would have been the worse. He saw that now. He was beginning to feel that hurt and anger tangibly now that he knew Ila innocent.

Thorin had reached out tentatively to stoke Ila's cheek, but just before he touched her, withdrew his finger. He feared touching her would disturb her in the fragile state she lay in. His hand fell back to his side, and clenched into a tight fist as he thought of Kili again.

Not being able to stand looking at her like that anymore and knowing there was nothing he could do, he began to retreat from the room. The three ladies watched him go, every eye shooting daggers into his back. Dis was going to berate him for leaving, but just let him go instead. It was only after he had been gone for a few moments, and she had heard his iron tipped boots move from the next room out into the corridor, that she feared he was going to find Kili.

A/N:Sorryfor leaving off that last bit of the last sentence in my haste to post. Thanks for the head's up!