She held a water skin to the dwarfs lips, as his head rested on her lap. He was already in his final gasps and his lower torso almost completely crushed by something, she didn't want to imagine.
They had spent hours making their way through the western half of the battlefield. Many were dead already, but they had helped over a hundred dwarves, and elves. The men had been fewer - she imagined that it was because few men fought here. A large troop of soldiers had been kept outside Erebor, to prevent any goblins getting in. But she had seen many of her brothers men charging alongside Thorin.
"I feel cold...lassie..." The dwarf whispered. "Will ya hold me closer..."
So she held him closer to her chest, gently stroking his fiery hair. She wanted to cry, but after having done this for so many already, she had no more tears left in her.
She continued to stroke his red hair for a few more minutes.
And then he was gone. Just like that.
The elves behind her signalled for one of the dwarves to collect the body, and they had arrived placing him in their large cart.
A group of elves had been piling up the bodies of the orcs and setting them alight. But there were so many of these - the piles were plentiful like burning mounds here and there.
"My lady..."
She heard a voice from nearby as she finished saying a silent prayer for the dead soul that had been taken away.
Turning to look up from where she knelt, she found a young red haired dwarf regarding her with suspicion.
"While your efforts are commendable, I must inform you that to touch a dwarfs hair or beard is considered an intimate act..." His words were in no way intended softly and were weighed with much disdain. "It would be somewhat akin to my touching your breasts..."
She blinked up at him numbly trying to assimilate what he was saying after having watched the ends of life passing on her arms, mere moments ago.
"I can see you have much to learn, and shows just what a hasty marriage the King has taken up -"
"I assure you my lord, that I am perfectly read in the customs of the Khazad," she began to stand up from where she knelt. "Which is more than what can be said of you it seems... However, I think kindness is the sole custom that matters in one's final moments."
"Surely disrespecting ones customs cannot be kind in one's final moments...?" He narrowed his eyes at her.
"The dwarf that gave his life to fight as part of your army, asked me to hold him closer in his final moments," she finally stood up, to find she was almost three inches taller than him. "And while my own custom forbids me from touching any other male folk besides my husband, or my male relatives, I held him to my breast because it would be cruel to let him die alone. Perhaps I would have to touch fewer of your warriors if you helped by example, no?"
The young dwarf stared at her coldly for a moment. His cold blue eyes reminded her of Thorin. He was a little perturbed by her height.
"Thorin Stonehelm, son of Dain, son of Nain," the dwarf tilted his head. "I suppose there is little I can say, where a dwarf makes a dying request of you. But I am uncertain what your King and husband would say of your willingness to please dwarrow...?"
"I am humouring an otherwise stranger now, am I not, Lord Stonehelm, of the Iron Hills?" She stated bluntly. "I cannot imagine, my husband, the King, would begrudge me this. Of course you are within your rights to accuse me of such. I have several witnesses here who can vouch for how proper or improper I have been..."
She looked back at the two elven guards and Bilbo, who were all quick to nod in agreement.
"Well, it appears I mistaken of the place in court my cousin gives you in Erebor. But you would do well to keep in mind that there are Iron Hills warriors, and so any trial of wrong doing would be heard in our court..." His cold eyes looked calculating as they briefly looked her over from head to toe. "And we give little place to riff raff in court, let alone those who are illegitimate daughters of courtesans, and whomever they have seduced into agreeing with them..."
She paused to think about what he meant.
"Perhaps then, my lord, you could lead by example and help the brave warriors who pledged themselves to your causes..." She concluded bowing her head to him before glancing at the elves who were waiting to usher her on. "Although judging from the state of your armour you look like you have knelt less in the dirt than I have. But as you say perhaps such a role is only suited to illegitimate daughters of courtesans."
She bowed her head gently to him once more and allowed the elves to guide her onwards, where their healers had begun to help another wounded soldier, this time a man.
"Do you ever wonder whether a goblin could ever live as we do? In our villages - working to earn coins...perhaps even marrying...?" She mused as they moved several dead creatures aside so that one of the elves could collect one of their own dead this time.
"I guess we don't give them much choice in the matter either." Bilbo sighed. "If only they enjoyed a good book, or tea... Or a nice day in the garden..."
"I suppose there aren't many gardens in Mordor either..." She felt pity for the dead creatures. Their lives had been solely bred for wickedness, and they never had a choice in the matter. They were just fodder for the fight.
"My lady, perhaps we should get you to your brother's camp sooner." One of the elven guard spoke quietly with her. "It will be dark in a few hours and you have barely stopped to drink, let alone eat..."
"Thank you - I am anxious to see my brother, but I cannot eat knowing there are so many who lay here still injured or dying..." She shook her head. Frankly, she felt sick at the thought of eating now.
"We have more helping us now..." He glanced over at the iron hills dwarves who had suddenly increased in number. "It appears your words were not entirely unheeded, even if you would be sneered at in their court. Although there is less royal blood amongst their clan..."
"What will happen when nightfall comes...?" She knelt by another dead corpse of an elven warrior. His long brown hair trailed from beneath his helmet which was now askew. And his strange grey eyes looked up at the sky, lifeless. Carefully, she shut his eyes and sighed.
"Our King will punish me, if I do not have you returned to his tent, by nightfall, Princess," the elf spoke calmly. "The fires will burn through the night, and likely keep away any wild animals coming to feed off the dead. It will allow us all to work through the night. But it is no place for you my lady...nor the halfling."
She knelt silently by the elven warrior as another group of elves collected his body carefully.
"I realise my opinion will not be of great value, but I can see why our King protects you. Unlike the kin of your husband, I believe a Queen such as yourself, will have greater following and allies amongst both men and elves." The elven warrior extended his hand to her, helping her up from the mud, dirt and blood she knelt in, even where her own knees had given in now. "And I would vouch for your conduct in helping that dying dwarf. I do not see any lowliness in your bloodline, my lady..."
She blinked up at his strange green eyes that watched her, as she wiped away the new tears that welled up, always threatening to fall, but run dry for how much she had shed before.
But to her utter surprise, the elven guard did something entirely unexpected.
He smiled. It was the faintest of smiles, and like all the elves she had met so far, it seemed controlled, even cold.
But it was a sincere smile, touching even his eyes.
"But I suppose your dwarven lord believes that I and my fellow warrior too, have been seduced by your charms..."
The second elven guard nearby nodded in silent agreement. His smile was more of a wry one, however.
Bilbo chuckled quietly from nearby.
"Well...I too would be the same then..." He came over to pat her arm.
She smiled weakly at them, wiping her eyes using her upper arms, which were still tear stained.
"Come on. I need to find my brother, my guards and the Shah before nightfall..."
Bilbo moved closer to her and patted her arm gently before scowling at her use of her own upper dress sleeve as a handkerchief.
"I would offer you my handkerchief...but sadly forgot mine at home. And I shudder to offer you the substitute that Thorins company gave me!"
...
She stared out at her brothers camp far away. The fires on the fields burned brightly where they burned the bodies of the goblins and wolves.
They had reached the line up to which the men from her brothers camp had been combing through looking for their wounded and dead. And so between the iron hills dwarves combing through the east of the field, the men of Dale dealing with the south, her brothers men looking through the north and the elves dealing with the western field had found all the injured and dying.
And just as they had decided to move towards the Rhun encampment, they had received word that Prince Arvind was unharmed and busy with the wounded himself. So the elven guards had turned her back to their camp.
She was still worried about her own guards, but had no choice as night fell.
So even while she bathed, redressed, and sat there, she was unable to eat or sleep. And to make matters worse, there was still no word from Gandalf about Thorin or Fili, nor was there news of Kili.
She could only hope the others were safe with Lord Dain too.
"You are still awake..."
She turned to find Thranduil, pouring himself a glass of wine. He must have entered from another flap, unseen.
"Can I see Thorin now?"
"He still requires more herbs and enchantments..." Thranduil turned to look at her and sighed. "Gandalf did not feel it was time yet..."
"He is my husband!"
"He is still delirious..."
"I cannot leave him to die alone..." She confessed.
"Even if the only reason he wanted to rescue you was in order to deal out your punishment himself..?" Thranduil drained his goblet and set it down before turning to inspect her with greater interest. "Even still you would not attempt to escape? To accept my offer of sanctuary?"
She sighed heavily looking down at her hands and feeling ashamed..
"I have no freedom. My marriage to Thorin is an important alliance for my people. I cannot jeopardize this." She said quietly. "Even if I were to accept sanctuary with you, what if he wages war upon you? I could not live with myself for that. And what if I discover that I am with child...HIS child. Then he will hunt me down to the ends of middle earth to find his heir."
Thranduil listened quietly as she reasoned out all that which she had time to think of in some previous attempt for freedom.
"There is no freedom for me. "
"And yet you would not wish him dead?" Thranduil raised an eyebrow.
"And have those iron hills brutes looking over my shoulder. No." She shook her head. "His bloodline is of Kings, and I can see they are lesser. Even if he is a monster - he is my monster. That part I shall learn to live with."
"You have a brilliant mind. And yet you have not found your way out of this yet...?" Thranduil moved closer to her now, watching her face carefully. He wondered if, in truth, she had no desire to escape from the dwarf at all.
"Not yet. But things will, undoubtedly change, when Erebor is rebuilt." She concluded. "I will have to consider all these things...and who knows, perhaps Thorin will grow tired of me, once his favourite dams are returned to the Lonely Mountain? And maybe then I too may find my way out..."
"A male willing to wage war and risk his throne and life for a woman, will never lose interest in her." Thranduil moved closer still to look carefully at her face. He was just as much the man he described as Thorin, and they certainly had that in common. "And you will win over many I imagine when Erebor sees the dwarves returned. Just as you have done with my own elves..."
She looked up at him a little confused about what he meant. Then she realised it was about the cold elven guards and healers who had come to accommodate her company throughout the day.
"And Fili...?"
"He too is very unwell. It is possible that he may have long standing ailments following the fall..."
She fell silent at his words again.
"I have heard your brother is unharmed. I am glad of that," Thranduil drained another goblet of wine before turning to her again. "But I think you should get some rest now..."
He gestured towards a large bed all laid out with soft blankets. It was too large for her, and then she realised he was offering her his own bed!
"I couldn't..."
"Do not fear. I am not offering that you share with me..." He smirked, before cupping her chin in his long fingers and tilting her face up to meet his. "I can help you drift off..."
She froze briefly under his strange gaze before quickly taking a step away.
"I...there...is no need...your highness," she looked out at the large cot that was made up for her on the opposite side of the room. "That should be fine for tonight -"
"I fear it will be longer than expected," Thranduil observed her still for any sort of reaction to indicate her true feelings. "Please take my bed. It is warmer, with softer blankets..."
Before she could reply, he had already coaxed her into his cot, and tucked her in gently.
He then paused, hovering awkwardly for a moment above her, and lightly ran his hand over her silky hair.
She froze, watching him back from where she lay beneath finding it difficult to read him.
His tenderness could have been almost as much paternal as it could have been so much more, and he could have just as easily have bent down to steal a kiss from her. It was the last thing she had expected of him and had taken her very much by surprise.
She hadn't particularly found the elves to be the calm, wise and thoughtful beings she had read of as a child. In fact she had found they were as cold and cruel as anyone else. And what's more, she had found their strange pale eyes rather unnerving. They were the furthest thing from her mothers pretty warm, brown eyes, dressed in khol or some powdered jewel dust. And she had always considered her mother's eyes as the most beautiful she had ever seen!
It wasn't that he was unpleasant or ugly, but rather that he looked very different to what she had ever considered to be masculine. Even the most handsome of noblemen in Rhun did not possess such long hair. And as for Thorin and the other dwarves, despite their longer hair and braids, they were broad and bearded, which made them unmistakeably male. These elves were a little different. Perhaps some in her land might have even considered them to look a little more effeminate! And yet she couldn't deny that Thranduil was most certainly a king, and a male at that...!
It appeared that Thranduil too had found himself briefly distracted by thoughts of her. But he also seemed to have gleaned what might have been running through her mind!
And so, smirking at her as she lay there looking so small in his royal cot, he stood in one fluid movement and disappeared away.
She quickly closed her eyes, feeling her cheeks heat up, pulling the blankets tighter around her, hoping that this would have been enough to spare her embarrassment. But she had then spent at least an hour unable to sleep afterwards, thinking of all the poor souls she had come across on the battlefield.
To make matters worse, she could smell Thranduil all around her in the soft bedding. And he was not wrong in how soft the blankets were against her skin!
Eventually she had drifted off out of sheer fatigue, into a dreamless sleep.
...
Thorin lay in a deep sleep, and Fili lay in another bed nearby. Both looked ghostly pale. And something about them worried her. Perhaps it was the stillness in how they lay. Or perhaps it was her own fears for having seen so many dead and dying so recently.
Slowly she reached her hand out and touched his forehead and then his cheek. But Thorin lay motionless, and if not for the warmth of his skin, she would have imagined he was dead.
"He was fortunate that, King Thranduil was able to stem the bleeding fast," Gandalf muttered puffing on his pipe as he sat on a stool nearby.
"So he will be alright then," she whispered, stroking her hand over his silver streaked, wavy hair. He had never let her touch him like this while he had been awake. And she had been too afraid to truly look at him - but now she could see just how handsome he was.
She had worried at some point last night that despite her attempt to prevent herself from conceiving using the garlic flower potion that Oin had given her, Thorin had been far more zealous with his numerous plunderings of her body. And it was more than likely that she was with child already. Until her next bleed, she would not know.
And although Thorin expected her to rule, she had now met the heir of the Iron Hills, who would undoubtedly attempt to take the throne from her - of that, she was sure.
And in her land, unwed mothers and widowed mothers had almost no place in society, unless it was those fortunate few who were able to secure a second husband for their wealth or their exceptional beauty.
In the end, she expected the dwarves would be no different - and she had little hope of another who would have her as a wife.
She wasn't even sure Thorin even liked her or found her particularly attractive beyond his own ambition to produce an heir!
"It is still hard to say, my dear, but we are trying our best," Gandalf replied gently pulling her out of her thoughts.
"He almost allowed that creature to hurt him!" She choked out quietly. "I saw him! But why?"
Gandalf watched her thoughtfully for a moment.
"I suppose he imagined it was the only way he saw to kill Azog..." The wizard mused. "After all he survived a worse injury inflicted by Thorin long ago, when all assumed the orc dead..."
"And Fili...?"
"Is no different." Gandalf grumbled, puffing a few more rings of smoke into the air around him, before glancing at her again and feeling a pang of regret for his sharp words. "Of course, he is fortunate that you got to him on time. And if anything makes a difference it will be this -"
"There is no need to rub salt into my wounds and be patronising Gandalf." She wiped her eyes and stroked Thorins hair once more, before turning back sharply and leaving.
Outside the healers tent she stood, for a moment breathing deeply, trying desperately to eradicate the stench of the wounded and dead that lingered in her nostrils of the various smells that hung in the air. The battlefield had almost been cleared of the dead, but their blood was soaked into the soil.
"He was quite right. Your quick thinking helped his nephew."
A familiar voice made her look up, to find those storage pale eyes watching her intently.
It was Thranduil.
"The defiler would have certainly killed him, had you not distracted him," Thranduil smirked, taking a step closer. "And while they were not arrows, your aim was quite remarkable. Thorin too owes his life to that savage beast of yours...but of course that too should be attributed to you - after all, the creature would not distinguish friend from foe if not for your gentle training..."
"Rajah is a very intelligent creature - not unlike Daer. It was entirely his own bravery that led to his attack on Azog at such a critical moment and all credit must be given to him alone." She corrected the Elven king. "And one hardly needs to train anything or anyone, but to treat it with kindness and respect..."
"Your mind is truly quite remarkable. I hope your husband appreciates you for all that you are..." Thranduil watched her again, with those strange pale eyes. She couldn't help wringing her hands together feeling unsettled under his scrutinizing gaze.
When she remained silent, he took a step closer, standing a little behind her.
And then she suddenly realised that she still wore the necklace she had meant to return!
Suddenly reaching back, she struggled to undo the intricate clasp under pressured silence for a few moments, when a cold pair of hands landed lightly on her fingers, halting her.
"I thank you for taking such care of it..." He began. "But it suits you so well, perhaps you would like to keep it...?"
She froze, her fingers feeling their way around the delicate necklace.
Turning briefly, she looked at him, where he stood behind her. Was it possible that he was testing her or that it was some sort of trick?
He made her nervous.
"I neither deserve this, nor could I keep it in any good conscience..." She whispered once again returning her fingers to the clasp. Now her hands truly felt like jelly. Her heart pounding wildly as she attempted to undo it, with him standing there so close behind.
He took a step closer still, this time gently halting her fumbling hands again. But he carefully moved her hands away.
"Allow me please..."
She stifled a soft gasp, as he delicately ran his fingers over the back of the necklace, untwisting it first, and grazing her sensitive skin at the back of her neck.
"I have come to realise that my wife left me so much more than just these precious jewels..." He sighed, carefully unclasping the necklace and lifting it over her head. "My son looks like me, but his heart is his mother's...and I was foolish enough to be blind to the love he held in his heart for one I did not approve of. And now because of my own vanity, he travels north, to overcome his own heartache, having helped her avoid such a fate..."
"You are fortunate to be blessed with so many years. So you must let him know that you too love him. No matter what or how long it takes...and he will return back to you some day..." She replied quietly, feeling sorry for him for the first time. "So you would give your blessing for Tauriel and Kili..?"
"I have made her aware that the dwarf will die, whether in fifty or one hundred and fifty years from now. All that awaits her love is heartache too. But I cannot deny her wish, for she has shown willingness to give her life for him." Thranduil sighed. "Her father is one of the Avari. He briefly followed her mother and attempted to make a life with her in Greenwood many years ago, before giving up and returning to his own kind. But her mother could not follow him back, for she realised she was with child then, and sadly lost her life giving birth to Tauriel. I made her a promise that I would look after her babe, and raise her in my court. But I have yet again failed another, to whom I made a promise..."
He lifted the necklace over her head and gathered it in his hand, wondering why he ever wished to wage war for such a small item.
"I can see now that your long lives are more of a curse than a blessing. That makes you all believe that you have a choice in matters of life - but the truth is that you have none."
He moved around to take a better look at her.
"Perhaps you are indeed right..." He watched her again for a few moments before speaking. "Now, you will need your cape - your presence is needed for a more delicate matter..."
She looked up at him nervously wondering what he meant but he remained watching her silently with those strange pale eyes. Her people had warm brown eyes. They ranged from hazel and amber to the darkest, richest browns that easily looked black. And they all felt like home. Thorins azure eyes were like the sea of Rhun, deep, dangerous and cold (even on the warmest day). But she was used to them too now, for he would be rougher with her body if she did not obey him and stare into their cold depths when she lay with him. Even still they made her feel cold and bare.
Thranduils eyes looked inhuman altogether. It felt as though they bore through her skin and pierced her soul, even when she tried her best to guard herself against them.
"I have not been informed regarding the nature of the matter." Thranduil explained before she could ask. It was as though those inhuman eyes had read her thoughts. "Of course, your brother is awaiting you closer to his camp... And I am happy to accompany you throughout, if that is your wish?"
"Thank you. I think I would be grateful for that..." She hurried to fetch her cape and found the two guards who had accompanied her yesterday were now behind her, as Thranduil guided the way.
The battlefield was completely clear of corpses now, but still looked scarred from the battle as they made their way north towards the mountain itself from Thranduils camp.
Arvind had been waiting for them as they arrived and while their meeting had been a warm and happy moment for her, it has been far too breif.
"My dear baby sister, I am truly sorry that we cannot sit together and talk, as we should after such a terrible time," he had smiled, gently brushing her cheek, in the same way that she could recall him doing since the time that she was a little girl. "But I trust that you are well and know that the Elven King has indeed kept you safe."
Thranduil bowed his head towards Arvind in that moment, from where he stood just to her right.
"But now I must lead you on into my tent..." Arvind then paused as Thranduil moved closer to her for a moment.
"I did ask King Thranduil to accompany me..." She glanced at the elf for a moment, but for the first time since she first encountered him, he appeared to yield to her brother.
"I understand and shall wait outside for you, my lady..." Thranduil offered. He was clearly not happy about it, but appeared to begrudgingly accept that he was neither her formal guardian nor her husband, and so did not belong in what was likely a formal discussion.
It was the first time the normally proud elf had backed down, and it made her wonder what was behind this.
"I can ensure her safe return to your camp, King Thranduil." Arvind offered.
But the elf remained there, statuesque and firm.
"It is no inconvenience, my lady." Thranduil reassured her.
And so turning to Arvind she began to follow him through into his tent.
As they entered, several dwarves, whom she recognised as having been part of Thorins company moved out to stand by the entrance and bowed to her. She too was quick to reciprocate. And then the tent flap was shut behind them, while the dwarf with the funny hat, whom she recognised as Bofur moved around lighting a few more lamps.
She hesitated at first.
"Arvind, what on earth is this about?"
"Come through sister," he paused and offered his hand. "You trust that I would protect you at all times do you not?"
She nodded after a slight pause before taking his hand and moving through to a large table set out inside.
Slowly as more lamps illuminated the tent she realised that there were many of Thorins company seated around the table, as well as Bilbo and Gandalf!
"Not too many, or it will be noted that we are gathering." Arvind warned before squeezing her arm gently. "You will have to make do with a little darkness, for we cannot let the Iron Hills clan know of this gathering."
"What is this about?" She looked around very worried indeed.
"Lassie..." Balin began softly. "There is no need to fret, but we need to prepare for the possibility that Thorin may not survive..."
"No. I...saw him...he...will be fine..." She looked around the room. "Gandalf - tell them - Gandalf…?"
"And if he is we donnae worry and we say no more, eh?" Dwalin moved over to give her a pat on the back supportively. "No one need ever know about it..."
"Aye but if we do not, then we may find our mountain taken over by the Iron Hills Clan." Balin gently warned. "And neither you, nor your Thorins heir will be given a place in their court..."
"Dain has a weakness for eastern courtesans, but he never keeps the same one for long. And Thorin Stonehelm will see to it that ye have no place at all." Dwalin growled disapprovingly. "And donnae think he will be payin yer brother and his men either. But they played no part in reclaiming the mountain - "
"Alright brother, the lass gets it," Balin interrupted. "The point is, we must do this to safeguard Erebor..."
Balin placed a long parchment before her on the table.
"We all agree that you should be Queen, in his stead, should the worst happen..." Balin added gently as she read through the details. "And I heard what Thorin said to you - his wishes were clear -"
"But I know nothing about ruling -"
"You will not be alone sister. You will have all the company who are in support and myself and the Shah." Arvind moved closer. "But you have one of the best minds I know - and I believe you will have the capability without a doubt!"
"And you agree with Gandalf?" She asked the wizard who sat in the corne deep in thought. "But I thought you are doing your best to save him? So why should the worst happen?"
"The worst has already happened! They are all fools for not telling you what they see!" Gandalf muttered angrily. "Thorin IS no longer himself."
"When did Thorin sign this?!" She looked at the parchment and frowned again worried, especially after hearing Dain's son not long ago. "Balin! You have forged this?! Would I not be found as committing treason?!"
"Lass! Come now! I am a lawmaker! I would never do such a thing!" Balin winked at her cheekily.
"Aye - that would be me..." The well dressed dwarf, she recognised as Dori stood and bowed. "Besides, all in this room alone agree that this was signed on this night of your wedding, prior to Thorin setting off for the mountain...and you are carrying Thorins heir -"
She closed her eyes and held out her hand to stop him mid sentence, now fearing the consequences of her actions. This was no longer the time for secrets.
"In the spirit of honesty between us all - I have..." She looked around to spot Oin before continuing. "I have been taking a potion to stop myself from...well…having a baby -"
"Foolish girl! Why would you do that?" Gandalf snapped angrily. "You were meant to do no such thing!"
"Why Gandalf? Was it not enough to force me into this…this…oppressive marriage and being his bed slave -"
"It is of little consequence - Master Oin informs me that he gave you the garlic flower potion, which would work under normal circumstances where he visited you intermittently. But it seems he rather...enjoyed...your...erm...time together..." Balin explained, blushing, as she felt her own cheeks heating up upon the revelations of her most intimate moments. "And so, it is likely that the potion does not work on you when you are so thoroughly...erm..."
"Plundered…? Mined for the goods? Drilled to the core -" Dwalin grinned as he offered up explanations only to be interrupted by an ever reddening Balin.
"Alright brother! I think the lass understands fine…."
"Of course, we must factor in that Thorin is nearly two hundred now...and has never even illegitimately conceived a child," Oin commented gruffly from where he sat, as though he were debating something terribly mundane, rather than the intimate lives and fertility of the King under the Mountain. "But then the little lass here is also very young, and a child of man, so it is entirely possible that she more than makes up for what he lacks. A most clever choice Gandalf."
"So you mean...the Princess... may be with child as we speak now..?" Bilbo questioned nervously. His own worry stemming from having put her in danger by helping her open discussions with the Elven King, whose motives in aiding her he deeply distrusted. "That is...perfect..."
"It matters not either way. You are the best choice for the throne here, until... Thorin has regained his mind." Gandalf urged her. "Dain will leave, once you show proof that Thorin has left this in place. And you have your brother and his army - you will find none braver, or more loyal to protect you…."
"You could offer a generous fee to help Dain with his wounded...he will like that..." Gloin added, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Besides he has a weakness for lasses like you…"
"And it appears that you have managed to charm both Thranduil and many of his elven warriors. So you will have their support too, should another threat march upon the mountain." Gandalf agreed. "But I suspect your strength may be in using your words and your mind to vanquish any foe rather than through warcraft..."
She sighed looking carefully at the decree on the parchment. If Thorin died, she didn't want further imprisonment in this horrid mountain - she finally wanted her freedom! And this certainly felt like she was about to sign away her freedom.
"You once asked me, why I had reasons to protect Erebor. Those reasons, while I have not revealed in their entirety, remain unchanged." Gandalf spoke, as he stood up. "And you, my dear, are most certainly part of that..."
She frowned again at the parchment laid out in front of her and with a sigh, carefully reached for the quill.
...