Chapter 4

"Kaleria, you have been moping since you came in this morning. What has my brother done to you now?" Dis questioned, tired of her friend's foul mood.

Kaleria looked up quickly, meeting Dis's eyes. "Nothing. I'm fine."

"You most certainly are not fine. We are family now. You can tell me." Dis softened her tone as she spoke, hoping Kaleria would open up to her.

Though she tried to fight the Durin stare–which was much stronger coming from Dis–Kaleria cracked under her gaze.

"I'm not with child yet." Kaleria blurted.

Dis, who had been standing over Kaleria, found her knees weak and took a seat next to her new sister. She took her hand and squeezed it, offering comfort in the only way she knew how. Dis understood the pressure of conceiving an heir.

Kaleria stared at their joined hands, drawing strength from their connection. "We've tried for two months. I've even asked some of the midwives for advice. Nothing has worked. Maybe I'm too old to be a mother."

With her last statement, Kaleria broke down and started crying. Dis wrapped her arm around her and drew her into her side.

Dis swallowed the lump in her throat before speaking. "I understand what it is like to feel the pressure of producing an heir, but no one is putting pressure on you but yourself. I've talked to Thorin about you two becoming parents, and though I could see in his eyes how happy he would be if it were to happen, I could also see in his eyes how much he loves you. Having a child, or not having a child will not change the way my brother feels about you. We both know he is too stubborn to change his mind that easily."

Kaleria laughed and her tears began to dry up.

"Fili has known from a young age that he will be the next king. No matter what the laws may say about passing the throne to a direct child of the king, I do not think my brother would place that burden on your child. Fili will be ready soon, and, if you do have a child, Thorin will spend the rest of his days being a father. If you don't have a child, then you two can live happily together for the rest of your days in your bubble of marital bliss." Dis squeezed her shoulders and released her hold so she could see her face.

Kaleria smiled, thankful to have a sister like Dis. "Thank you, Dis."

"You're welcome." Dis turned toward the pile of shirts on her table. "Now, let's mend these shirts my boys so graciously ripped for us."

The two women set to work mending shirts while discussing the topics of the mountain that Thorin had delegated to Dis.

Thorin had missed dinner due to an emergency in the forges that required his attention. After the matter was sorted out and the mess was cleaned up, Thorin dismissed the workers to return to their homes for the night.

Although it wasn't that easy for him.

The foremans of the mine wanted to meet with Thorin to discuss safety and other concerns that had come up, causing the king under the mountain a late night in the mines. When he had put the minds of the foremen at ease, Thorin decided to turn in, but not before he stopped for a snack in the kitchens.

Finally reaching his bedchambers, Thorin cracked the door open slowly to avoid any noise. Once inside, he shut the door with a soft click, believing himself successful.

"Did you really think you could sneak in and I wouldn't notice?"

Thorin kept hold of the doorknob. "I thought I would try."

"Seriously, Thorin?" Kaleria sat up in bed giving her husband a hard look across the dimly lit room.

"I wasn't trying to sneak in." He walked toward her, removing his coat and leaving it on a chair as he passed. He sat on the edge of the bed by her hip. "I was trying not to disturb you."

Kaleria sighed and placed her hand on his cheek. "You know I can't sleep without you."

Thorin leaned forward and kissed her. "I missed you, too."

He stood from the bed and moved to his wardrobe against the wall. He unlatched his vest and hung it within the wardrobe before he removed his tunic, exposing his back to her. Kaleria laid down on her side and took in the sight of him–his scars and freckles and everything in between. When he turned and placed the tunic in a basket for dirty clothes, she saw the wound from the Battle of the Five Armies. Although it had faded slightly over the years, she still marveled that he had survived it at all.

"Are you watching me again?" He asked, catching her in the act.

Kaleria shrugged one shoulder. "And if I was?"

Thorin shook his head, but she didn't miss the beaming smile that formed on his lips. He finished washing up for bed, and joined her. He laid down on his side of the bed and once he was comfortable on his back, Thorin raised his arm and she slid over to him, resting her head on his shoulder and her hand over his heart. His arm wrapped around her and pulled her as close as possible.

"Did you have a good day?" He rested his chin on her head enjoying the closeness.

Kaleria hesitated before bringing up her earlier conversation.

"It was fine. I spoke with Dis."

"About what?" Thorin had no idea where this could go.

"Apparently I was moping around and she asked me what was wrong."

Thorin tensed. "Was there something wrong?"

"Yes and no." Kaleria felt Thorin begin to panic and she rubbed her hand along his chest. "Please listen before you say anything, alright?"

Thorin nodded, afraid to speak.

"I told Dis that we had been trying for a child, and that we had not been blessed with one yet. I told her how I felt this pressure to give you an heir, and I was upset that I hadn't yet. I thought I was disappointing you in a way." Kaleria revealed.

Once again Thorin tried to speak and she stopped him.

"Dis explained it to me perfectly. I shouldn't feel pressured to give you an heir because you have never once said that I needed to, or that we had to. She said you would give your throne to Fili, even if we had a child to pass it to. She told me that you will love me no matter what happens. I guess I thought you wouldn't love me anymore if I didn't give you a child, but now I realize that is not true." Kaleria hugged him closer.

Thorin waited a moment to see if she would begin again. "May I speak now?"

"Yes," said Kaleria with a giggle.

"My love, when we spoke about having a child, I hope I didn't put pressure on you to think that we needed to have one. All I want is for you to be happy. And I need you to know that my life is infinitely better with you in it, and my love for you will not change because of a child." Thorin kissed the top of her head for a long moment. His eyes brimmed with tears at the thought of her worrying about making him happy because of a royal tradition.

Kaleria hugged him again. "I know that now. Your sister is more helpful than you think."

"Please don't ever tell her that." Thorin groaned.