Time in Erebor: Making it Officially Official

This takes place during chapter 8 of the main story

Laying in bed, I stroke Thoria's hair to soothe her, while going over the day we just had. The twins are cuddled up at my sides, with no intention of going anywhere. While my daughter isn't running a fever, Thoria was complaining of a tummy ache; insisting that sleeping in my bed would make it go away. Whenever I move, she wakes with a confused whimper, letting me know that she's going to be here all night or she's going to be a pain in my neck. Theodore... he just came along for the ride. Rolling my eyes at their fluffy heads, I accept that Thorin and I won't have a night to ourselves. I want to see him though, before I go to bed. Thus, I just review the day while I wait for him to pop up out of the woodwork.

It was a pretty uneventful day to be honest. After Thorin departed, I really just went back to bed until the children woke up. We slept way later than I meant to; missing breakfast and almost lunch. By the time we were dressed and ready to go out, we had company. Kiliel popped in and shortly after that the serving girls, Menna and Gidila, had come with lunch prepared, asking if we'd like to continue the tour after we ate. The twins seemed to jump at the idea and, not having much else to do, I agreed.

Menna and Gidila didn't talk much, at least not until Kiliel decided against joining us for more than an hour. Then I couldn't get them to stop. The way he is treated around here makes it no mystery to why he is so withdrawn. It immediately put me in a bad mood and within an hour of his departure, I wasn't even trying to participate in the conversation anymore. Though I was ready to go back to my rooms, I pushed through and continued with the tour. Having woken up so late, the twins weren't nearly tired enough for a nap. They probably wouldn't need one at all today. They were wide awake and excitable and not the best company cooped up. Going back would just have been asking for two rambunctious toddlers to bounce off the walls.

So I swallowed my foul mood and plowed on. As we dredged through the grand tour, not viewing any of the adventurous places I REALLY wanted to see, a small bookshop caught my eye. It was tiny and not well lit but the smell of books could not be ignored. It seemed like some place pulled straight from Harry Potter or The Hob... It looked like the perfect place for me. Mistakenly assuming I was looking at the shoppette beside it, Gidila jumped at the opportunity to engage.

"That is the tailor's corner." she chirped, rushing over to the window. She looked inside with a dreamy look on her face and I almost smiled. I honestly don't know how old she is, or if it's even polite to ask, but that look was one of a dreamy child like fantasy. Taking a piece of paper out of her pocket, Gidila scanned it quickly before smiling brightly"You have been scheduled for an appointment here tomorrow!"

"Oh?"

"Oh, yes indeed! His majesty wants you to have a full wardrobe. Mistress Loli is the best tailor in the mountain and she's fast with her work too." she turned again to the window. Her partner came up beside her and they began girlishly giggling over the many colored clothes on view "I wish that someone would buy a store out for ME."

"Me too. He must truly love..." Menna started to respond softly, before straightening. Looking bashful, she ducked her head "Are you truly her, the King's One? Thia Malcolmson? I've heard so many tales... It's all a bit confusing given... well... everything."

"I understand your confusion." giving her a soft smile, I tried to put her at ease without messing up whatever Thorin is trying to do "It will all be revealed soon but I promise that I'm not a seductress after your King."

"O-O-Of course not, mi-lady!"

"Mistress Dulola didn't mean that!"

"She's just-"

"I'm sure she just-"

"What we mean is-

"Please forgive us!" they bowed deeply in apology and I laughed openly at their blushes. They smiled nervously, not sure if I had the power to punish them. Breathing deeply, I shook my head "Mi-lady?"

"It's late, girls. I'm going to feed these rascals and head back to our quarters."

"... Yes'sum..."

I jolt awake with a start as my side suddenly becomes cold. Squinting my eyes, I watch as Thorin silently sits on the edge of bed beside me. Theodore has been transferred to my other side leaving just enough room for the king to lay on my left. Rubbing my eyes with one hand, I must have fallen asleep, I reach up and stroke his cheek with the other. He hums lightly before the sounds grows deeper as I comb my fingers through his beard. He grabs my hand with a shudder before kissing my finger tips.

"Surely you know what you invite when you touch me so." kissing his way up my arm, he grins into my shoulder. My goodness, if we aren't the Addams family "Or do you believe yourself safe because of our children at your side?"

"Mmmm. Both." winking at him, I think of teasing him a bit more but I'll save that stuff for later. He settles for a gentle kiss before pulling away. He gets up and I watch in sleepy confusion as he begins to walk away "Where are you going?"

"Go back to sleep, Thia. It is still early, nearly dawn. However I would think you would not want a repeat of yesterday morning."

"Its morning already?!" Thoria whines at my side and I cover my mouth comically as if that could take the sound back. Waiting for her to settle, I face the grinning dwarf with an excessive pouty face "But... you just got here."

"I have been here all night, my love. You and the children slept quite soundly, as did I." he begins to walk away again but thinks better of it. Coming to sit on the edge of the bed, he pats my leg "Today will be very long... very trying."

"Getting clothes made and a meeting complete doesn't seem too bad." his lips smooth into a flat line, making me rethink what the day will hold "Thorin?"

"Your clothes are not my main concern. At least one dress will need to be completely prepared for the evening. I trust Loli to get it done. The council gathering will not be so easy."

"What do I have to do?"
"Be... honest... but not overly open. They will not be the most welcoming group but they are good dwarves. Be yourself yet... I will tell them the truth of the matter, in ways they can understand. That this, us, our union, is Mahal's will."

"Mahal's will..." I don't know much about it. I mean... Yes? I guess us getting together was something Mahal wanted but it was our will too. I frown, clearing my head of the automatic rebellion "Will that work?"

"... We, myself and trusted others, have prepared for this. Years have gone into this. There is more than enough evidence to prove it."

"Then...? What's worrying you?"

"That the council will simply chose not to believe, that it will not be enough, that stubborness will outweigh reason, that I will strangle someone... OR that you will antagonize someone deserving."

"... A fair assessment." Its true. He's got a short fuse. I say what I think and I'm more than fluent in brutal sarcasm. What I don't plan to do though is make things difficult for Thorin or the kids. If they are accepted as his children, then I have to make sure the council accepts me as their mother... his wife. If they don't... Well... They will. They have to "I can't do much about most of that but I'll do my best on my end, Thorin. You seem to have thought long and hard about this and I'm going to trust you. So, I'll do my best not to intervene. Just this once... JUST THIS ONCE, I'll be... quiet... er than usual. I'll sit back and let you handle it. O.k?"

"... Trust me." squeezing my leg through the blankets, he nods before smirking ruthlessly. Leaning over me, he whispers darkly into my ear "This will be the last time I leave you in a bed that isn't mine."

"My goodness." I roll my eyes as he gets up to leave for real this time "Was that supposed to be romantic or something? Seeeeriously?"

He just laughs at me and disappears back to his room. I try to go back to bed but I'm up. So, I get as ready as I can for today. And wait.

THORIN POV

"… I'm not feeling very well."

Pressing a hand to her temple, Thia rises from her seat and quickly departs from the council room. I know she is extremely unhappy with the turn of events but things could have ended much worse. In fact with everything being as it, this outcome is very good. Thia has been accepted as my Queen and the twins our children. I even had her named as Kiliel's guardian, much to the lad's relief. It took a great deal longer than I would have liked but she is mine and all must know and accept that. Our son on the other hand... while he too is mine, I will indeed need to spend quality time with him. I'll not be an absent father, to him or his sister.

"Is something the matter, your highness?" Musoud, a Lord from a long line of jewelers, drags my attention back to the conversation. Though excellent at his craft, he often lacks conversational awareness that leads to him speaking his ideas of truths more harshly than he means. Such as my daughter being a mere trinket for political gain. As such, he has not made a good first impression on my wife. He looks toward the door with curiosity.

"Shall we send someone after the Queen?"

"No. She will be fine." Not that she could be easily caught if she desired not to be found. The ease in which she wields her gift has improved since she first discovered it "Despite her duty to Mahal, she has never been away from our children for very long. She is anxious to be with them again."

"I see. My suggestion about your heir must have no doubt upset her then. My apologies but I simply think it is vital-"

"Yes, thank you very much, Lord Musoud. No matter the difference in preferences, my wife and I only wish the best for our son's, and daughter's, future." Deciding to end the conversation before it gets started again, I move forward to the next topic "The official announcement of our union will be made in four days time."

"Of course, your highness. The sooner the better. May you grow prosperous with Mahal's chosen bride."

With little more to discuss on my private life, the meeting progresses quickly and at times even smoothly. We discuss upcoming events and future plannings, much like any other meeting before this one. Yet I would be a fool if I thought that everyone within this room agrees with the outcomes placed before them. It was the same with... her. I could not welcome her into the royal house, not without a bond between her parents, but I declared her under the mountain's protection. All outwardly silenced their tongues when referring to the half elven child and I believed... hoped... that they would leave her be. For sometime she was left alone but alas... One would smile in my face and cut my bloodline just the same. When I was informed of her death, my heart went out for my nephew. The deed was done and her killer brought to justice. He honestly thought he was doing the right thing, taking no fee to kill a child, and giving no names of who gave him entry. His death was not swift.

Concluding the meeting, I meet each dwarves eyes before departing. Some of them are good dwarves; honest and hard working. Most of them in fact. But there are always a few possessed by darkness who wish calamity on those around them. The twins are not much different from their deceased cousin. If not for their lack of manish appearance, as well as housing Durin's soul, I doubt even my children would be without fear in their ancestral home. It is to this that I attribute to having received no such threats on their lives. Not yet at least. With Thia and my coming union... darkness will come, as it always does, and I will be ready.