Her mother looked at her with her big brown eyes, lined with kajal as she entered her room. She was a slim, tall woman, but also possessed curves in her hips and chest that made her look like a statue. It drew in the male eye and often also prompted jealousy from many of the Maharajah's Queens. It was easy to see why the King had taken her as his most beloved courtesan, even though she was considered of low birth from the Harad.
"Love, what have you done now?"
She knew better than to answer the question back but couldn't help herself. Her mother was often understanding, and kind - even non-judgemental much of the time, despite her tendancy to become embroiled in trouble frequently. But this time she could sense the trouble. It had been like a ripple that spread after throwing a sizeable stone into the still waters of a deep pond!
"I stayed as far away as I could! Like you told me!" She was the one who was being asked to marry the angry looking dwarf-prince and it seemed nobody cared right now! "I swear on all that I hold dear Mama, that I never even saw the Dwarf Prince! Let alone spoke a word! Please you must believe me!"
She had minded her own business all afternoon, and only arrived for the meal, when she had sat with her brother at the far end of the table. Only after the meal, all the Nandita and her mother had been upset, and there had been shouting and upset servants throughout the royal wing. Of course, since she was often treated like the illegitimate child of the King, she often hung out with the kitchen staff (which was also helpful in getting meat scraps for Rajah), but this time they had brought up her Jaguars food and told her about what they had heard and warned her to remain in her room.
"And yet he has asked for you?! How is that child?" Her mother never actually angry, but she knew her too well. It was something about being a courtesan, their countenance was always sultry and seductive, even when they were sad. And her mother was the definition of role. "I told you that Queen Ambali can make things very uncomfortable for us if you ruin her daughters big day! But now that you have flaunted yourself around we have a problem..."
"But Mama..." She quietly began wanting to apologize, but it was pointless. Her father had looked quite upset too, and even her favourite step-brother looked worried. He never looked worried and he had fought countless sandworms!
"Perhaps we can offer you as a courtesan tonight...one night...and he will have enough, I imagine..." Her mother examined her where she sat on the bed. "These male folk from the west enjoy different women for the night, perhaps that is what he wishes from you...?"
Her mother's suggestions worried her further. She had on occasion come across one of her step brothers, the royal princes enjoying the company of a courtesan in a secluded area of the Palace gardens. From afar, and to the unsuspecting witness the noises and the faces being pulled didn't always look pleasant. And certainly there was no time to examine the interaction better!
She glanced at her daughter again with some pity this time, any anger briefly forgotten over the sadness of introducing her to the life she lived. The truth was that she had always imagined her daughter would ultimately be forced to give herself to the harem, but she had hoped not so soon or so young.
Shobha began to sob. They looked grumpy, and old. And the idea of them doing the things that she had heard of being spoken by courtesans, to HER, made her both terrified and sickened all at once!
"I am sorry love, but that is the only way I can think to save you..." Her mother soothed her tears and embraced her for a moment. "And to save us both from the rage of Nanditas mother."
The smell of jasmine, gardenia and amber enveloped her. It was part of how she felt soothed when she was near her mother.
"Do not be so sad, darling. This is not a life we choose for ourselves..." She stroked her hair. "And this is the simplest solution...the dwarves are a little...rough...I hear...but the first time is...always...awkward...a little, anyway..."
"No! Please! By all the gods no!" Shobha felt sick now. And panicked. Like a trapped animal.
"This is a mess caused by you, and only you can undo this. He does not KNOW you. He has not fallen in LOVE with you. He simply lusts after you...otherwise why does he not want Nandita with her pale skin and her long hair...?" Her mother explained again. "Ambali is livid and will make our lives hell. This is the only way, love..."
She held her tongue, not wishing to reveal how one of the other courtesans who had experience of serving masters in the West spoke of how dwarves liked to share! There was no need to scare her daughter more.
The door to the room opened and the maharajah entered in his grand silk suit if navy and gold. The initial stern look on his crinkled face disappeared when he set eyes on his youngest daughter sobbing. It was as if only yesterday that the girl ran around after her cub. And now seated beside her mother, both with their big dark eyes and their dark skin, it was clear that each day she grew to look more and more striking like her mother indeed. As much as the thought sickened him at allowing that old dwarf prince to lay his hands upon her, let alone share a marriage bed, it was clear why his eyes had been drawn to her. Even he had stolen his courtesan from one of his closest ministers at a time when he had been desperate.
"He is adamant that he wants you..." her father looked defeated by this. "And we need to grow our alliances...and our coffers. Trade is not good enough and this is an opportunity for both."
He walked over to her and picked the girls chin up to look at her beautiful tear stained face. Then giving her the briefest of smiles, he planted a kiss on her forehead before wondering over to the balcony lost in his thoughts. The doors were open wide to allow the heat out and the courtyard below was now quiet.
Perhaps, this was not a bad thing. This dwarf was to become King under the Mountain. And he recalled a time when Erebor was once a rich Mountain Kingdom that he had heard of from his own father.
And the girl was no longer a little girl. She had become a young woman almost over night it seemed. So it was only a matter of time when she might catch the eye of other, more vicious, state visitors. The dwarf for all his arrogance and greed asked for her hand. Perhaps other visitors might ask for her as a bed slave - and while he might decline this as long as he lived, he was not so sure his eldest son and heir would do the same.
"What if we offer her for the night, your highness?" Her mother suggested worried. "Then at least she would get to stay...?"
But her father looked angrier at this.
"He has agreed to a higher bride price than with Nandita. And even if she is a child out of wedlock, she is still my daughter and as a princess, I will NOT have her serve a bed!" He knew his daughters sharp mind would be wasted in such a role but this was better than having her sold for her body. "I have said it is your decision to make child..."
She looked up at her father as he stood by the balcony looking down, his large sabre glinting in the soft light of the lamp nearby. After everything he had said, and all that she had heard of from her brother earlier and the servants...it didn't seem as though she had much choice.
Her eyes filled with tears for a moment as she recalled her last days at home. Her mother had become angrier over her last week's before her journey west, picking fights in a way they had never done.
Even their last goodbyes had not been pleasant. To make matters worse, her mother had not written to her much since her departure, and any letters were brief.
Her marriage to Thorin had cost much. But she really had no choice in the matter.
Well, now she was taking back control.
She hurried as fast as her feet could and as she reached the enormous hallway, she found Arvind striding over to join her.
"Do you think it's true?" She asked half excited.
"There is a slim chance..." Arvind replied hesitantly. "But I am not sure many would be brazen enough to prevent..."
Suddenly numerous scenarios ran through her mind as she imagined the alternatives to this being her mother.
"You are not even armed, sister! What if this is some sort of trap?!" Arvind chastised as he glanced over at her, before they both realised from the gasps behind them that Rajah had followed her out of his enclosure. His soft paws padded quietly behind her on the marble as he enjoyed his brief freedom. "You must think of your babe and carry a dagger as I have given you! Now let me go in front of you in case this is an attack..."
He moved forward and strode out of the grand gates, as Rajah now came to stand beside her as if on guard.
But she could see from the gate, through the many layers of guards. It was her mother!
And unlike what she had imagined, with her mother having to make an arduous journey and escaping from Rhun-Agar, she actually looked better than she had ever looked.
She stepped out of the carriage, helped by several Rhun guards, who still bore her father's old sigil, followed by a minister she had spoken to a few times, Shah Jahan.
They were dressed well, in embroidered silks and brocades, as they would have been for a state visit in Rhun. Her mother wore a fur cape, which she adjusted. She had clearly lost some weight, she imagined from mourning the death of her father. But otherwise she looked well.
Then to her surprise, behind them all, another young woman stepped out from the carriage. She too was tall, and much to her surprise, had very similar features to her mother and herself, with a lighter tan. It made her wonder whether they were related in some way.
"Welcome, my lady Talia," Arvind greeted as he moved forward relaxing his hand that usually rested on the pummel of his sheathed sabre.
"Prince Arvind, my good boy," she smiled in reply. "Where is my son-in-law, the King?"
"Mama..." Shobha moved out from between her guards now, since Karan and Amit were satisfied that the recognised her mother allowing her to almost break into a run as she moved towards her mother. "I have been so worried about you -"
"My dear girl, you are with child! Thank the gods!" But Talia stopped her as Shobha reached her just before she could hug her mother. "It really is not befitting of a Kings wife or a mother carrying a babe to run like the scruffy girl you used to be."
The shift in both mother and daughter as they met each other became apparent in that moment. It had been a strange change in her mother the weeks before she had set off for Erebor, and it had been part of the deep sadness she had felt of leaving home. It had been like the end of her happy childhood and youth, the end of her homeland, and the end of her once wonderful relationship with her mother.
In truth she had not fully understood the change in her mother, thinking it was out of sadness for missing her, and had hoped after a while that her mother would change. But she never received many letters, not even after Arvind returned home to help her father in battle.
And now she understood that was perhaps her mother's reasons for her distance ran deeper than she had imagined.
"Mother, I thought you were dead," Shobha spoke as if in stead of a hug she had received a slap. "We heard no word..."
"I had the guards take their families out of Rhun for safety. Your accepting the Prince's hand had many...effects on the rest of our lives...it left the Kingdom deeply divided..."
Shobha frowned.
"If you keep drowning like that your husband will be forced to remarry," her mother gestured. "Now let us go in and have a talk. We cannot stay long, we are here for a task and then we must travel on..."
"Oh." This too came as a surprise to Shobha who stood there still trying to take it all in.
"Come now, girl, as Consort it is your duty to entertain state guests...and you are leaving me standing here..."
"Lady Talia, there has been much work in Erebor of late," Arvind intervened, offering his arm to Talia. "But let us arrange for refreshments and your rooms to rest..."
He began to lead Talia and the group in, looking over his shoulder at Shobha, who clearly stood there battling her tears. It was clear from his expression that he too was quite surprised by it all.
She took a deep breath in and slowly exhaled in order to compose herself. Her mothers behaviour has changed altogether, and clearly, for her own sanity she needed to find out why.
...
"So you have successfully driven away your husband? I am presuming he has found himself a welcoming dwarf-maid -"
"I am Queen Regent now, mother! And Erebor is thriving! We have re-established a school for girls, the dams who run shops and services are now learning to handle their own accounts without being played out by their male-folk -"
"Have you taught the whores to keep books too now?" Her mother laughed at her sarcastically. "You were always full of these follies and fantasies of fighting and behaving as equal as a male! I simply did not think you would take it this far...or find such a husband that would humour your follies. Either way your father would be ashamed - just as I am -"
"What?!" Shobha searched her mother's face, finding her words bearing no resemblance to the woman she recollected growing up. It was all like a fantasy. "You told me that I should follow my heart! Grow strength in myself to face the world! What happened to that-"
"I was soothing the heart of a pitiful little girl then. But you were fortunate enough to gain a marriage over a legitimate princess of the crown - so, I would have thought that you might have grown up and accepted this life by now!" Her mother sighed as if she were speaking with a tantruming child again. "But here you are dragging us all through it again!"
"Dragging you all?! It was Papa who told me that I must marry Thorin -" she felt betrayed by this now!
"And because you did, the consorts all exiled the remaining courtesans! I barely managed to remain in Rhun-Agar because I was given refuge in the house of Shah Jahan, since his wife was now passed. But even he was asked to leave! And we have managed to make a safe life in Dorwinion, but news of your coup had reached even the East! And Talitha has the chance of a good marriage to the son and heir of a wine merchant in Dorwinion! The best who supplies the King of the woodland realm! But he is nervous hearing of the wildness of Rhun women!"
"If he loves her, he will not listen to such stupidities -"
"Love?! A good marriage is not based upon love foolish girl! Your father loved me - but he did not marry me!" Talia laughed at her again as she walked around the parlour of Thorins suite. "Oh la la la! You are still a silly little girl! Do you think Thorin chose you because he loved you?! You are his whore. He simply had to marry you to satisfy your father to get his army! That is why he is now with another..."
She fell silent at her mother's words. In truth, she had often wondered what had made him choose her.
"You must return the throne to Thorin and stop this madness! For the sake of Talitha..." her mother hesitated and then sighed. "She is your older sister...you see it was Shah Jahan who bought me and freed me from servitude so many years ago..."
Shobha frowned listening to her mother, but was now struggling to understand what she was hearing. Her mother would sometimes disappear or dine with her father's ministers but she never imagined her mother being in love with Shah Jahan!
"He was the one who truly changed my life. He was widowed with his two sons, both still small and he needed a Nanny. He felt sorry for me in the slave market and freed me so that I may work in his house and look after his son's for a wage...we grew closer...and I came to carry his daughter. But it was a great scandal. And he needed to hide me until I had given birth. But on the night I went into labour, the Maharajah was visiting. He was kind and sent his physician over to help deliver the babe. He even agreed to keep it all silent out of loyalty to his friend, Shah Jahan. But he had a price..."
Her mother came to stand by the window and look out towards Dale, her face now expressionless.
"His price was that I was to join his Harem as his courtesan. But I was to only ever serve him. And I was to leave the Shah as soon as Talitha had turned a year old. I never thought I could love again let alone bear another child. But the Maharajah safeguarded the Shah and Talitha. And I suppose you were a gift for him..." her mother carried on. "And I took have been loyal to him until his last breath. But this is now our chance to start again. And to live the rest of my life happily..."
Shobha felt numb. It was as if her life with her mother had been a complete lie!
"And what about me Mama...?"
"You are the consort to the King under the Mountain. You have everything you need! But I beg you, do not ask me to give what is left of my life and finally the freedom I have gained to you," Talia genuinely looked saddened as she turned to face her younger daughter. "Besides you may have imagined that I was dead after your father passed away...all I ask is that you continue to think of me as that."
Shobha wrapped her hands around her rounded stomach realizing that her mother was not here for her at all! Her heart felt as though it was breaking into pieces all over again.
Remaining silent for a few moments, she stared at a tapestry hung in the parlour attempting to think.
There was no going back now. Could she really have turned down Thorins proposal all those many moons ago, truly? Knowing that had she declined marriage to him, he probably would have entered the mountain anyway to drive out Smaug, and had her father's army not been there with Arvind, many many more lives would have been lost in Lake Town now!
But of course in the eyes of many, she would have been wrong no matter what decision she made that fateful day.
"Very well, the Elvenking has promised to grant me help should I require it. I shall ask that he writes to your wine merchant from Dorwinion and encourages the match with Lady Talitha. Neither of you will have any connection to me as you require," Shobha concluded. "And we will arrange for you to have supplies so that you can make the journey by boat. That is trade route taken from these parts...Is there anything else you require, Lady Talia?"
It was hard to ignore the neutrality with which her daughter spoke, after being used to her lively spirit over so many years.
"You need not address me so, child..."
"What other way is there to address? You did after all say that I should regard my mother as dead," Shobha walked over to the door and opened it, waiting for her mother to leave, and unsure as to how long she could maintain her composure before she broke down in tears. "I will honour this. But also be sure that you are addressing the Queen of Erebor, and not a child."
Talia hesitated now, feeling regret at her own abruptness and her daughter's reaction. Perhaps this had not been the best way of managing the matter.
"Forgive me - this is not how I wished us to part. Please try to understand, I have missed a lifetime with your sister, and you are now doing well. Allow me to settle with her..." her mother moved towards the open door. "But there is one more last request that I would make..."
Shobha nodded silently urging her to speak.
"The jewels I gifted you...forgive me, but I must ask for them back...Jahan had to sell and trade all his wealth for safe passage and travels out of Rhun..." Talia hesitated knowing she was now asking too much, and could only hope her daughter still bore the generosity she always has in her heart. "It would help us establish ourselves again in Dorwinion when we arrive..."
Shobha sighed at the door, where she stood as her mother moved closer. There was a time some weeks ago, when she would have given everything she had to receive a warm embrace from her mother once more. And the sorrow of not doing so now when she was so near, and perhaps being the last time that she may see her mother again made her entire being ache. But she would not crumble now.
"I had to use the jewels to aid Dale when the firedrake destroyed their town, but I can offer you gold of equal value in compensation," she held the door open and waited, no longer able to look her mother in the eye.
Talia paused by the door, grateful for her daughter's generosity, but all the same realising that she had hurt her.
"I hope you find your accomodation restful...now I must get on with my work..." she stood by the open door. She would not be able to hold back her tears for much longer. "If you need anything further, please let Prince Arvind know..."
She looked up briefly to find Talia's expression revealing her disappointment. Even at the Palace, despite being a courtesan she had always been permitted to speak directly with the Maharajah as she wished, which some of the Queen's even could not.
As soon as her mother left she shut the door behind her and hurried over to Thorins large arm chair, where she could sink into the leather and tobacco smells, and close her eyes.
The tears that bit at her as she had caged in with all her strength could now fall freely.
...
Thorin watched the figure below from the ramparts high above.
She was well cloaked and hooded, but from her height and shape, he knew it was her.
He had witnessed the new arrivals and was aware of stir amongst the guards yesterday with rumours of the Queen's mother coming to stay in Erebor.
To his surprise, she had not spent the night in their bed as he expected, nor had she remained in the study alone. She had instead held several meetings and moved around the Mountain a lot. It meant that he had been unable to talk wit- her to find out the details.
And now she was taking a carriage, to Greenwood!
What in Mahals name could she possibly
require from a slippery serpent like Thranduil?!
Perhaps more importantly what seductive offer had Thranduil promised her?
He had also been unable to shake the frank conversation he had last with Dwalin about her. But to make matters worse, he was aware that Dain had been informed of the coup, and that the nobility supporting him were itching for a fight or attempt to capture her and retake the throne!
Either way, he was steadily running out of time.
...
The chill of the evening had set in now, and while the snow had melted and the days had finally begun to grow longer, dusk had most definitely set in.
"The hour is late for travel, sister," Arvind stood beside her worried. "What they do is wrong. But you could send others - a messenger or a guard -"
"I want this resolved as fast as possible, Arvind," she pulled her cape tighter. The truth was that she needed some space to think as breathe. And her mother would inevitably attempt to interfere with her running of Erebor as long as she remained in the mountain. "No I must get their onward journey expedited...and Thranduil can help me."
The elven carriage pulled up on the far end of the stone bridge. It was taller and simpler than the dwarven carriage and the guards dismounted in a smooth leap.
"Do not worry about me, dear brother, just take care of yourself now," she tiptoed up and kissed his cheek. "You are now my only family..."
She turned to the carriage, where the elven guards waited for her to climb in hoping that Thranduil would still be amenable for helping her.
...
Thorin watched while she got into to the carriage. Something about the way the elven guards helped her didn't sit well with him. They appeared far to relaxed around her. As if they intended to guard her regularly. Amit, her own guard got in followed by Karan to sit in the carriage with her. He was glad of that, for they were armed to the teeth with hidden daggers and other vicious looking implements. He had begrudgingly come to accept that they were there to guard her for life. Amit was friendlier, but Karan had a constantly dour countenance about him that was probably enough to keep most of the elves away from her. So he was glad of their presence.
But he didn't like her familiarity with Thranduil at all.
He continued to watch as the carriage pulled away and made for Greenwood.
It made her wonder why she had chosen to suddenly leave, when she should have been spending time with her mother.
He also began to wonder why her mother would have left her to worry all this time and grieve terribly, had she been alive. Particularly when her daughter had almost risked her own life to return. He had even almost drowned her in the large basket she had hidden in.
Something about it all did not sit well with him at all.
Perhaps he was no longer in power, but he was still King under the Mountain, and she was still HIS wife.
And perhaps he had not been the best husband, but she still belonged to him. He had paid a bride price for her! And he had vowed that he would protect her.
So he intended on finding out what was going on now and he intended on protecting her even from her own mother if need be!
Quickly he found the hidden passageway that led down to his study.
The room was cold, and she had let the fire go out. But he could smell the warm, ambery scent of her perfume that always lingered on her skin. It reminded him of the first time he had her, threatening to bring back to life more than just memories.
So, pushing back any feelings that tempted him, he moved to the desk, and began to open the drawers.
During his use of the study, most of the desk and drawers were usually a jumble of scrolls, parchment and other items.
But she had clearly taken time to order them neatly. There was a basket of scrolls underneath, and another for fresh parchment. The top drawer held spare ink and quills, keys, a small blade and a few other items.
Finally the bottom drawer, which had been locked, but of course he knew by which key, held a book.
Opening it, he instantly recognized Gloin's notes. It was a record of the summary of expenditures each week.
He smiled at the notes, spotting her untidier scrawled writing. Clearly, while she was clever enough, she had not been studious as a child, for he could recall having his knuckles wrapped for writing like that as a youngling.
Nonetheless she had managed to get both Balin and Gloin to provide summaries of the week's expenses, which was more that he managed. He had had to often sit through arduous and often tangential discussions and accounts!
She had even been thorough enough to have her own wedding jewels valued, as well as Thranduils necklace with notes on the date they were given to Bard and the Woodland King.
Even the gold invested by Lord Erol and others had been meticulously accounted for, and she had not spent much more.
Finally, at the very back of her ledger, she had documented a request from what seemed to be a woman named Talia for a sum of gold. She had titled it as a personal payment. And it had been dated on the day previously and accounted for by Gloin.
Thorin frowned, as he realized what it most likely meant. And he wondered what else her mother was here to ask her.
He found himself somewhat angry at this. This was his gold. From
HIS hoard! Even if it were for her mother, she had no right to give it without HIS permission. After all, he had paid for her father's army, and given a share of the hoard as a bride price!
Feeling the rage in him spill over he disappeared into the passage.
...