Chapter 7
A few days had passed since Kaleria's mysterious illness had incapacitated her to her chambers. The next morning she had felt much better, and since then her only symptom was slight nausea that kept her stomach tumbling. She chewed on peppermint leaves to keep her stomach at bay.
As she entered the council room for a meeting, Thorin greeted her at the door and placed a quick kiss to her lips.
"Mmm. You taste delicious. Is that peppermint?" He questioned, studying her lips.
"Yes," replied Kaleria, she thought quickly for a convincing lie. "Hedina brought me some baked goods and I had to try one."
"Of course you did," he teased. He escorted her to her seat and helped her into her chair. The other council members started to file in and take their places. Dis strode into the room past two men who were walking slowly; their glares remained locked on her until she sat down next to Kaleria.
"Hello, sister." Dis greeted.
"Hello, Dis."
Dis studied her for a moment. "You look lovely and you smell wonderful. What's the occasion?"
Kaleria shook her head. "No occasion. I simply dressed for our meeting."
"Well, you're practically glowing. It's a wonder my brother can keep his eyes off you." Dis elbowed her suggestively, then glanced at Thorin, who was watching them.
Kaleria shrugged off Dis and smiled at Thorin to ease his tension. On the inside, she couldn't get past Dis saying she was glowing.
Could she really be with child?
The last of the council members joined the table with Grollin being the last to his seat. He eyed Kaleria as he sat, and she returned his stare with a hard look of her own. Their eyes remained locked until Thorin started speaking and Grollin turned to his king.
"Our first order of business is our deal with the merchants. I have spoken to them about expanding their stores with our investment into their businesses. All of them agreed to a fair tax that will be implemented once the construction is complete." Thorin informed.
The council members murmured their agreements around the table.
Thorin waited for them to quiet again before speaking. "Are there any urgent matters we should attend to today?"
All members of the council remained silent. All except Grollin.
"If I may, sir?" He partially stood from his chair until Thorin granted him the floor. "We are in a prosperous position in the lonely mountain, but we can't rely on prosperity alone to carry us into the next age. I suggest we strengthen our alliance with the Iron Hills as they are the closest to our walls. Creating a stronger bond with them will show all of Middle Earth that we are not as weak as they make us out to be."
"And how would you suggest we strengthen this bond, Master Grollin?" Kaleria asked, staring him down from her seat.
"I propose we commission weapons and armor, and pay a visit to our cousins in the east." Grollin stated, plainly.
"You act as if we should be preparing for war? Have you seen the future?"
"Kaleria." Thorin said in a warning tone.
Kaleria turned on Thorin. "If we arm ourselves now, there will be people out there who will believe we are declaring war. We are only inviting trouble to our lives."
Thorin furrowed his brows. "No, by arming ourselves now, we will be prepared for any attack that might come to us."
"How do we expect to make allies, if we are looking at everyone as a threat?" She grew angry at her husband for not seeing all angles of their disagreement.
"We will make it known that we are only a threat when they give us reason to be." Thorin turned to the council members. "We will draft an agreement with the Iron Hills for weapons and I will lead a party to visit my cousin Dain and bring our goods back."
Kaleria couldn't listen anymore. She stood abruptly, making her chair screech across the floor. She stormed out of the council chambers and out into the hallway.
Thorin and Dis stared after her as the rest of the council tried not to look. Grollin hid the smirk on his face by looking toward the door Kaleria had exited through. Dis got to her feet and went after Kaleria, leaving the men to complete the meeting.
"Gather a quill, ink, and parchment. We will draft the agreement today and send it to my cousin as soon as possible." Thorin waited for someone to move, but no one did. "Now! Fetch the parchment! Move!"
The council members fought to get to their feet the quickest and gather the materials for their king. Only Grollin moved slowly, happy with himself for getting his plan approved.
Thorin waited in his chair, fuming at Kaleria for arguing with him, for storming out of the meeting, and at himself for letting his emotions get the better of him.
—-
Dis jogged after Kaleria through the long hallways and tight turns. She barely caught her turning right down a hallway that led toward the front gates of the mountain. Dis ran faster and fell into step next to Kaleria.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" Dis questioned.
"I need some fresh air, and to be away from your brother." Kaleria marched to the gate and signaled for the guards to open them.
The guards looked at each other.
"I need five minutes outside of this mountain. I will remain within eyesight of you both. I command you to open this gate now!"
Dis had never heard her sound so demanding as she watched the guards fumble to crack the gate open to allow Kaleria through. Kaleria stalked out into the sunlight with Dis not far behind her. She spread her arms, closed her eyes, and pointed her face toward the sun. She took long, deep breaths to calm herself.
Dis waited for her breaths to slow before speaking. "Can we talk now?"
Kaleria opened her eyes as she faced Dis.
"I understand you want to protect this mountain, but arguing against acts that could protect it is not the way. We need to strengthen our bond with the Iron Hills. They are part of the reason we still have a mountain to call home." Dis reminded her.
"I know they are as important to our success as we are to theirs. I don't mind visiting Dain, but requesting weapons and openly transporting them for everyone to see, will only invite danger into our lives." Kaleria hoped Dis would understand.
Dis nodded. "You really are an annoyingly good queen." She smiled at Kaleria, hoping to ease the tension between them
Kaleria sighed, but smiled. "Thank you for being the greatest sister."
"What are you two doing out here?" Thorin bellowed as he approached them.
"Thorin, it's fine. We didn't go far," said Dis.
"Leave us, Dis." He shot her a look, but returned his gaze to Kaleria as he stopped in front of her. Dis looked at Kaleria who nodded, letting her know it was okay to leave.
Thorin opened his mouth to say something, but Kaleria stopped him.
"Enough, Thorin. Let me speak." She met his intense gaze. "I'm sorry I argued with you in front of the council. I don't agree with Grollin's plan, but I see the value in it. We need allies to survive, and one way to create allies is through trade. I don't want you to go to the Iron Hills, but you are the best man to make that alliance. I will miss you terribly while you're gone."
Thorin's face softened as her final words registered in his head. "Did you think I was going to leave you behind?"
"Well, aren't you?" Confusion wrinkled her forehead.
"No. I wouldn't dare pass up an opportunity to show off my wife to my cousin. He constantly said I would end up alone. Now's my chance to prove him wrong." Thorin placed his hands on her hips and pulled her into him.
Kaleria relaxed. "Then you're no longer angry with me?"
"That depends. Are you still angry with me?" He threw her question back at her.
Kaleria pulled him down to her and kissed him hard. The kiss lasted a few brief moments until she pulled away. "I'm no longer angry. I love you."
Thorin kissed her once more before leading her back into the safety of the mountain as the large stone gates closed behind them.
