Thorin was certain that Halien would be alright, but he was not certain how things would go between him and her father.
"There are some who would imagine a noble quest was at hand, a quest to reclaim a homeland and slay a dragon," Thranduil said to Thorin. "I myself, suspect a more prosaic motive. Attempted burglary, or something of that ilk."
Thranduil looked at Thorin. "You have found a way in," he said, then moved back towards his throne. "You seek that which would bestow upon the right to rule. The King's Jewel. The Arkenstone."
Thorin looked at the floor, unsure of what to say.
Thranduil continued. "It is precious to you beyond measure." The elven king smiled. "I understand that. There are gems in the mountain that I too desire. White gems, of pure starlight." Then, bowing his head, he closed his eyes for a moment and said, "I offer my help."
Thorin smirked. "I am listening."
"I will let you go if you but return what is mine," Thranduil explained.
Thorin turned and began to pace. "A favor for a favor?"
"You have my word," Thranduil said. "One king to another."
Scoffing, Thorin said, "I would not trust Thranduil, the great king, to honor his word, should the end of all days be upon us." He turned and pointed at Thranduil. "You lack all honor. I have seen how you treat your friends! We came to you once, starving, homeless, seeking your help, but you turned your back! You turned away from the suffering of my people, and the inferno that destroyed us!" He even threw in an insult in dwarvish just before Thranduil advanced on him as he had on Halien.
"Do not speak to me of dragon's fire!" he hissed. "I know its wrath and ruin!" He released the magik that held his appearance together to show Thorin the scars of when he was last burned. "I have face the great serpents of the north. My wife, the mother of my children, was nearly killed by a dragon. Only my daughter was able to defeat the dragon when no others could. I felt the burn of its fire whilst trying to save my wife and children. Why do you think Halien's sword is named Fenumë Dagnir? It is the Dragon's Bane that killed the dragon who took our friends and nearly took her mother from us. My children and I know all too well what dragon fire can do, the destruction it can cause. I was not about to let my people face the same fate as them!"
Thranduil stepped back and pulled his magik forward to conceal the scars and mutilation that ruined his beautiful elven appearance. "I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon. But, he would not listen." Then, going up the stairs to his throne, Thranduil said, "You are just like him." And he waved his hand for the guards to take Thorin to the others. "Stay here, if you will until you rot. A hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an elf. I am patient. I can wait."
Before he could be dragged away, Thranduil turned to him. "I know that you wed my daughter and that she carries your child. I felt it when she touched my chest. She loves you very deeply. While I am utterly disgusted by it, I do still love her. You best take care of her and never stray from her side, lest I hunt you down and kill you myself."
Thorin's eyes widened and the guards took him away. The guards threw him into the cell Halien was being held in and slammed it shut.
"Did he offer you a deal?" Balin called to him.
"I told him he could go ish kakhfe ai-'d dur-rugnu! Him and all his kin!"
"Thorin, do you mean that? Even about me?" Halien asked.
"Not for you, my love," Thorin said. "Never for you."
"That's it, then," Balin said, defeated. "That deal was our only hope."
Thorin looked out of the cell door. "Not our only hope."
Halien knew that somewhere, Bilbo was trying to find a way to free them. She felt the babe kick her womb, hard, and winced.
Coming to her side, Thorin sat next to her. "Are you alright? Is the baby alright?"
Halien nodded. "Yes. Here," she said, placing his hand on her womb. She widened her magik and drew in the small thoughts of the babe. She sensed a few weeks earlier that it was to be a boy, but said nothing. Thorin could feel and hear the heartbeat of the growing child and somehow, sensed that it was indeed to be a baby boy. He was going to have a son.
Thorin looked at Halien and smiled. "We are having a son?" He murmured, happy at the news.
Halien nodded. "A few weeks ago, I sensed that we were going to have a son. He is strong, little king. Even Beorn sensed it. I'm sorry I did not tell you before."
Thorin kissed her and smiled. "It matters not for we will be a family now." He stood and went to the cell door. "I am having a son!" He called out to the others.
The dwarves smiled and cheered, happy for their king and queen. They were glad for such good news in such a dark moment when they knew they may never leave the Woodland Realm and may never reach Erebor.
Thorin sat back down next to Halien and kissed her. "When we take back Erebor and slay the dragon, we will hold a celebration to honor our son and our marriage."
"That would be wonderful, little king."
