Chapter 9

The sun rises and the maids come. They bring food for us, as going to the hall isn't safe until after the ceremony. We eat and we dress and I soothe the kids when they are sent away. My dress is a beautifully ornate cream-colored silk, though extremely tough to move in. There are many skirts that make it difficult to navigate on my own. They catch at my legs and it feels like I'm walking with bubble wrap. As the dressing crew leaves it's explained that I'm not meant to be able to move, only to listen and reflect. As the incoming Queen Consort, I should not expect to move for anyone but my husband. I manage not to roll my eyes as they repeatedly state that his word is my 'law'.That's a bit of a mixed signal from the previous instructions that I was also meant to be an active member of the community but I don't know. Maybe I'm only allowed to participate if he lets me? That's just me asking for things to make sense.

"It's one more day of hurried nonsense. I have the rest of my life to figure out the rest of my life."

I do use the time to reflect though. Middle Earth is very much behind my Earth in terms of 'rights'. Here, I have as many rights as my husband so that gives me a huge leg up on most people. Any other male would be unable to support what I have grown to believe is a core of my humanity. My independence. It doesn't sit well with me but at the same time, I understand that ME is a number of revolutions too early for me to even suggest independence for women, let alone equal rights. I think... if I'd met anyone but Thorin, I never would have been able to come back to this beautiful place. No one else would be able to handle my personality, let alone my attitude. I'm lucky to have met the one guy who won't try to slap me for being outspoken. Or maybe the world is lucky. I chuckle darkly, thinking of all the fire and brimstone I'd rain down if someone laid a violent finger on me.

There is a soft knock on the door and I shake my head to clear it, remembering I'm supposed to be reflecting on other things. I again silently acknowledge that this dress is nearly impossible to move in easily. Not to mention these evil evil EVIL shoes. They are hard and pitch at my toes cruelly. 'I want my sneakers...' I make it to the door eventually and open it for Balin. He has our chaperone, I am not allowed to be alone with a male anymore until the union is consummated. A 'formality' though thankfully unattended by anyone but the 2 participants. Even after though, I'm apparently not meant to keep male company without permission. Failing to abide by this law, yes LAW, could easily make Thorin look like he married a not-so-nice girl. That would make his life harder, so I'll do my best to avoid things like that.

"Good morning." He greets and then gestures at his partner. The chaperone girl's head is bowed, betraying nothing but I'm immediately aware that she's nothing like Gidila or Menna. I haven't met many dams but they usually give off a... softer aura. Not SOFT but softer than this one. I'm ok with that since I don't really know her and Balin seems to be aware of it as well, watching me size her up "This is Lady Noiko. She will be your attending from today on. She will keep your calendar and select appropriate lessons while also assisting in making sure you don't step on any toes while you are learning your new position."

"O-oh."

"Please note that if you miss anything on your schedule, it will be considered her failure and she will be punished."

"Ah. Wow. That's just not-" Without lifting her head, the dam shakes it once "Huh?"

"I suppose the lesson has already begun." I blink at Balin as he continues with his ever-present smile "Lady Noiko is meant to work with you by order of the King. She however does not work FOR you. Meaning you cannot change the duties that have already been set out for her by him. It has already been decided that if you miss an appointment, the failure belongs to her."

"I get it. "Rolling my shoulders, I huff out a breath because that sly husband of mine is learning. This is his way to make sure I show up to stuff I hate. If he'd I'd be in trouble, I'd deal with it. I can't let someone else get in trouble for my failures though. That's plainly unacceptable to me and he knows it. I huff out a breath again "Fine."

"You know he's only doing it for your benefit."

"Hm... It's nice to meet you, Lady Laiko. Wish the rules were different but I'll do my best." She dips her head in but I don't hear the faintest whisper from her. Quiet girl. Balin nods at the exchange and she goes to stand in the corner out of the way. I raise an eyebrow but there is no response from my adoptive Father. Balin continues to smile gently at me in a knowing way, before helping me back to sit and pulling out his scroll of notes "What have you got for me?"

"Some review, lass. Take a breath and we'll go over what's to come. It will make you feel better. Now" he takes a deep breath, which I echo "Once you enter, do you remember your steps?"

"Don't fall."

"Lassie..." he looks at me over the parchment with an eyebrow raised "Once you stand before the steps of our King what is the first order of business in the Grand Theater?"

"Ok. Ok. The first thing that will happen in the Grand Theater is the recognition of the incoming monarch by the Archbishop."

"Who is?"

"Me?"

"... Who is the Archbishop?"

"Heh... Archbishop Kumrar. He oversees all official events involving the monarchy, as they can't officiate themselves."

"Good. He has announced and recognized your entrance. Then?"

"He will ask those in attendance to affirm the position I'm about to take: Queen Consort." he nods and I continue "The congregation will affirm and I'll give my oath to them."

"Do you remember the oath?" I recite it easily as it's pretty straightforward "Very good. Continue."

"I'll wait as the crown-"

"Which crown?"

"Uh, the ceremonial crown. I'll wait as it's placed on my head and be very careful not to let it drop... Then I will stand beside Tho- The King."

It's a very abridged version of events, to be honest. The ceremony will last hours once I am crowned. I imagine it'll be like when everyone, including Thranduil, paid homage alllll those years ago. The theatre will be lined with gifts, each faction within the kingdom is required to give one in order to attend the banquet afterward. But Thorin and I will only sit quietly and nod during the gifting. Boring. The children will attend the main event and then will be watched over in a separate area until the next day. I peek up at Balin and blush at his smile.

"It's time."

Standing before the Kingdom of Dwarves, I feel my soul quake. I've never been one for crowds and this is quite the turn out. I make my way down the narrow runway with my heart in my hand but my steps steady and even. Balin thankfully holds my arm as we move before handing it over to the Archbishop. He takes it and speaks to the crowd boisterously. He helps me kneel before the throne and I keep my head tilted so the veil remains in place. It's a greeting to the King, though I'm not meant to look directly at him yet. The Archbishop helps me rise and kneel again facing the people of the mountain. It's a greeting to the subjects before me. I rise a second time and stand just off to the side near Balin and Fili for the moment but close enough to be called forward. The podium we stand on is raised with the throne at our back. I feel a bit nauseous but stand unmoved. I can always throw up later. Now is the time for oaths.

"Ladies and gentle dwarves. Masters and Misteresses. One and all. I here present unto you Consort Thia, your undoubted Queen." A loud drum echoes in the distance or maybe it's just my heart. He grips the pedestal with aged fingers and I focus on my breathing. I have read the script of today's events but even after many explanations, the archbishop's next sentence gives me a headache "Wherefore, all you who come this day to hear your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?"

"Aye!" they call enthusiastically and the mountain quakes. I feel like I'm in Gericho and expect the walls to come down "Mahal save The Queen!"

"And what of the Consort Queen?" He pulls a long rolled parchment from his sleeve delicately and places it on the stand before him before turning with his wisened hand outstretched to me "Will she support our King, her King, her One in his duties as our sovereign? Will she swear fealty and support his own oath to govern the Dwarves of Erebor and the Commonwealth with law and justice?"

Resisting the urge to look back at Thorin, I take the Bishop's offered hand and move forward. A hush comes over the room as I look down at the paper. I know what the words say, it's no secret. This is my first time seeing the long line of signatures beneath them though. This is an ancient document. Each female name is paired with a dwarf, a king, from the line of Durin and I feel so... Not alone. Many dams before me have signed this oath. That such a document escaped Smaug's destruction makes me happy. Thorin's parents would have been unable to sign, given that Thror and his wife still ruled at the time the mountain was lost.

What's more interesting though, is the names. Sure, there are the typical ones like Ravnia and Mewa but there's also a Madeline and a Suzette. The latter two are NOT Dwarven names meaning... I'm not the first human Queen Consort. From my understanding, the only people who actually get to look at this document are the current Queen Consort and the ArchBisshop who signs as a witness. It's likely that no one else is aware that since this records conception, thirteen generations prior, (15 generations removed from the original Durin himself) at least 4 Durin descendants have taken human brides. On the rare occasion that a dwarf married twice, it was never the case where the 1st Bride was a woman. So I guess 'half breeds' actually run in this family. Who'd how known? This... makes me feel immensely better. Empowered even. It's the road less traveled but I'm not the only person to find it. Given that Thorin never mentioned it and all the information on lineages only includes the males, it's probably unknown that the Line of Durin reintroduces human blood into the pool every few centuries. Interesting. Picking up the quill and raising it towards the people, I loudly make my proclamation.

"You have my oath. The things which I have here are now promised. I will perform and keep."

I bring the quill to the paper and sign my name boldly before setting it down and kneeling before the Archbishop. Receiving the signal, the room erupts in a cheer as the crown is brought in. My veil is raised gently and the ornate coronet is placed upon my head. It's a ceremonial crown and I will more than likely wear it no more than two or three times in my life. It's a solid gold headpiece adorned in the best rubies and sapphires mined from the very caverns beneath our feet. It's heavy but I wait patiently as Thorin finally rises from his feet to welcome me to his side. The room is so loud... so happy... but not as happy as I.

THORIN POV

Thia and I rest a spell as the merry-making pours through the dining hall. I can tell she is tired, mostly of her attire. Her evening wear is a stunningly bright blue with dark gems. She is beautiful, even in her exhaustion. She pinches at the fabric as it cinches and her smile turns into a scowl before she remembers to smile again. I could watch her for hours, finding amusement in everything she does. Her eyes grow wide as the meal is set before us. Multiple options, every option, is laid out. Her plate is filled by the servants and he glances at me in disbelief. I offer her a shrug and begin my meal. She closes her eyes and rolls them beneath her lips but begins to eat as well. The amount of food is enormous but this is an event that everyone under the mountain is allowed to revel in. Her welcoming ceremony went well, to the blind eye at least. There were a few attempts to halt or offset the ceremony but all were dealt with swiftly and without panic. She thankfully did not notice the blood on Balin's robes, as he and the chaperone disposed of an intruder they'd found softly knocking on her door during her time of reflection. Now, that Thia has been officially recognized as my wife and Queen, the threats should die down to a more manageable level. It's a historically accurate assessment that all Queen Consorts have the most threats on their lives on the day of their coronation. It is a longstanding threat that I ensured her security was prepared for.

Thia made quite an impression on the guards. I did not request volunteers to be assigned to her, wanting to ensure my selection was not tainted. However many offered themselves anyway. Her care for their well-being during the bathing hall incident earned her their respect and many were eager to repay the debt. One of my strongest upcoming soldiers, Lhakpo, made quite a name for himself during reconstruction and offered his services. He does not do well with children, so I declined but he quickly offered his wife's services instead. Noiko; a young dam who adored my sister and suffered greatly after her death. She was happy to play whichever part was needed for my wife. She currently stands along the wall with the other attendants, watching the situation quietly. Noiko is no mere dam, though. Had she been I would not have allowed her near Thia during this time. Noiko was a permanent part of Dis' protective entourage. She had fought bravely to protect her. In doing so her belly had been cut open but still, she refused to let the thieves desecrate my sister's corpse. They managed to slit her throat as she fought them off but could no more as reinforcements arrived. The thieves paid with their lives but the young guard suffered too. Despite our efforts, Noiko will never be able to speak again or bear children. Lhakpo loved her dearly and they married shortly after she was discharged from the healing unit. She wanted to work and I would not deny her the right, adding her to the roster of disguised guards hidden throughout the kingdom. The pair have remained faithful to each other and myself ever since.

"How long must we stay?" Thia whispers without taking her eyes off the partygoers. She takes a sip of her drink, blinking rapidly at the strength of the ale. I will not admit but it is quite strong. She covers her mouth to hide her cough "Oh wow... Yeah... how long?"

"Until your cup runs dry, however-" she downs the cup before I can finish. My sympathies go out to her throat as she slams the mug down loudly. The room erupts in cheers as everyone clammers to refill the mug. The girl tries to wave them off but to no avail. Once they have gone, she glares at me "As I was saying, we cannot leave until your cup runs dry however do not let it until everyone else is too far gone to refill it."

"Speak faster next time." she says, guzzling her cup of water. She sets this cup down with more care before eyeing the original offender maliciously "Do I have to drink this one too?"

"Eventually. I'd advise you to do so slowly, Atamanel." Sweeping a soft lock from her face, I smile at her and rest a hand on her cheek. "Your cheeks already hold the warm glow of drink and the night is still young."

She hums in childish disregard but wisely sips her drink throughout the meal. She only receives refills three more times, much to her annoyance. It is far less than my eight but it is our way. If our cups do not run over then the wine has run out and the party must end. This is a celebration after all. The drink runs freely and it isn't long until a dwarf gets the courage to leap onto a table with a song.

"Let the mountain hear the chiming bells
Of Thorin and Thia's wedding
Grab an ale and come hear the tale
Of the lovely couples courting"

It takes but a moment for me to recognize the drunken dwarf is actually LongArm. He grins mischievously, knowing I will not stop his fun unless he becomes a danger. I signal to Dwalin to keep an eye on him. I must drink tonight, but I trust the Dwarf to handle himself without me. Knowing he is safe for the moment Longarm trills on, much to the crowd's amusement. A few jolly dwarves with their wits still enough about them join in on the tune with instruments. The song is out of place, being a wedding tune at best. However, it matters not to those in attendance. Few attended our original wedding and are treating this ceremony as such.

"The Elven King and King of Dale
Were present at the wedding
Surrounded by friends, party never ends-"

The song stops for a moment until a big smile crosses the deviant's mouth

"Until the couples' bedding!"

The room erupts in raunchy laughter and Thia huffs quietly beside me, her blush of embarrassment deepened by the ale. It is out of her comfort zone but I know she will be alright. I don't know how Longarm knew of who attended our original wedding though. I'd have remembered him if he were there and he surely was not.

"Let the mountain hear the chiming bells
Of Thorin and Thia's wedding
Let the union produce many children of use
Aye, 10 is what I'm betting!"

The song ends, much to Thia's relief and Longarm slips off into the night. His chaotic need to insert himself at random is becoming troublesome but it is not my focus. No, tonight the only person I need to focus on is my wife. She manages to keep her cup close and avoid most of the remaining unsteady attempts to refill it. However, she is unused to dwarven wine and is just as drunk as the other partygoers by the time we are permitted by tradition to leave. She makes it out of the hall and into the secret alcove before she refuses to move any further.

"Carry me." She demands, eyes drooping and lips pouted. She lets out a high-pitched 'Hmm" sound while raising her head and speaking with an accent "A Queen Consort doesn't move except if the King makes her."

"... You are confused." Still, I pluck her up and continue our journey to what is now our rooms. The children will be cared for during the night and into the day however if the gentle snores by my ear are anything to go by, she will not easily consummate the union tonight. Gently jostling her as we enter the suite, I try to wake her "Thia..."

"Whaaaat?"

"We have a duty to perform."

"Fiiiiiine." She tries to undress but is so uncoordinated that I must aid her, lest she cause herself harm. She removes one glove and a shoe before nodding to herself "There. Done. Huzzah."

"Huzzah?" With a grin of amusement, I wrap my arms around her. She is in no condition to accept me and I'd very much prefer her enthusiastic participation. I can wait for her. We can always carry out the duty in the morning. Every morning if she'd let me. Stripping my One to an appropriate layer, I gently place her under the blankets. She kicks them away and sulks "Oh? Are you ready then?"

"Mmmm no." She whines, tossing off the layers of underclothes I'd tried to leave her in. I thought she'd be too far gone to care but it seems even in this state she prefers to sleep unconstricted. Suddenly though, she begins pulling at my own clothes. I allow her to undress me only to laugh loudly when she takes my undershirt and claims it as her own before climbing back into bed. I pull the blankets up again in amusement and start to straighten but she still has other plans. She pulls me into the bed with her while using her gift of strength to firmly hold me in place. I can do nothing as she snuggles into me, breathing into my neck. Her body immediately begins to relax as my own heats up "It's beeeedtime."

"... Alright. Let's go to sleep." I slip into the bed beside her, kissing her temple and preparing for a long night "Until the morning, my love."

A/N:

First: I'm not going to write about what happens between our lovely in the morning. They need SOME privacy every now and again. Plus, if I had to write every time they boinked, I'd never get anywhere. They are lovey-dovey. On a totally separate note, I decided to make interracial marriages more commonplace. It would honestly make sense with the low birth rates of Dwarves, the proximity of Dale and Esgaroth, and the ability for dwarves and men to crossbreed. In addition, the dwarves only seem to hate elves and vice versa. Men are just hanging around trying not to get blown to bits in the crossfire. As such, in THIS universe Dwarves and Men intermingling isn't as common as a pure dwarf pairing but it's also no big whoop. Like someone with hazel eyes. Sure, it's different and interesting but that's about it.

Next: Adding the sporadic women into the long line of Durin was actually a very last-minute thought. I was on the phone with my sister (The basis of my Atina character) trying to find a name for Thrain's mom/Thror's wife. I was explaining that Dwarven names typically rhyme to express familiar/relation so I decided that her name would have to mix with Thror's in order to make Thrain. AKA, Thrain would have received the THR part of his name from his dad and the AIN part from his mom. All the dwarf female names ending in AIN or the sound weren't that great for me. My sister got annoyed and said that there were too many dwarves anyway and to just pick some regular names. I laughed at the notion but then... decide 'Why not have some regular ole humans in this line?' I stuck with the sound I was looking for and picked Madelaine/Madeleine. (Pronounced LAYN, not LYNN). She's not Thror's wife, I gave up on that, but she and Suzette, and a couple more, are listed somewhere on that Queen Consort document and fall within the Line of Durin. Not often enough to make the dwarves 'Men' or for anyone to really notice but it still happens. In THIS universe.

Lastly: Consent. Middle Earth is pre-earth about 6,000 years ago according to Tolkien. Sorry, but there is no such thing as consent, at least not in the way we think of it. Thia and Thorin are married. For all intents and purposes, Thia belongs to Thorin. Her mind, body, and soul. Her gifts, her children, and everything she is or has legally belong to her husband. Marital rape isn't even a concept. For reference, it didn't even become illegal in all 50 states until about 30 years ago. That might make you uncomfortable but Middle earth is backlogged in the moral/ethics department. THAT BEING SAID, Thia will not allow herself to be treated like property and unlike most women of any world, she has the means to leave the situation and still thrive if she ever feels slighted. Thorin is aware of this and he loves her. So, he treats her the way she wants to be treated. Others will see his treatment of her as 'spoiling' her but he's a King and can afford it; so long as it isn't detrimental to the overall function of society. (In public she can be coy or stubborn, maaaaybe argue a little but in the end, his word is her law and she can't appear to violate that principle.) Thorin usually primes her of times this may happen, like with the council. Occasionally, however, I'm sure you've noticed, he makes 'Executive decisions'. When he feels like Thia is going to hurt herself with her independence, he will invoke his natural born right (natural to him and those around him) to subdue or reign her in. Noiko is a great example of this in person form. I'm of the mind that no relationship set in the past could have existed without also having ideas or notions that we would condemn today. Thorin is forcing Thia's hand which today is a big no-no but back then, it would seem like unneeded extra steps when there are more immediate steps to make your wife submit. Thia DOES NOT like this idea in any fashion, which Thorin is aware of, and tries to keep it at a minimum. I say this to hammer the point that despite how it may look to 2023 Thorin cares very much for Thia and she absolutely adores him. So the little things that seem like a given or weird to even mention (her being 'quiet' during the council meeting or him not screwing her brains out while she is inebriated) are actually big things the two of them do in order to respect each other and their relationship. Please let me know if this doesn't make sense.