Chapter 22: Friendships Strengthened

For the next few weeks, Bella was required to stay in Mirkwood for observation, while Thorin was all but dragged back to the Mountain due to the caravans coming in from the Blue Mountains. He apologized for his quick departure many times, but it was Bella who eventually forced him to go. "Thorin," she'd said finally. "Shut up and go back to the Mountain. I will be fine here with Thranduil and Tauriel while you are gone to get your sister settled. Come back for me as soon as you can."

With a fierce kiss good-bye, Thorin left hesitantly, looking back at her long after he and the other dwarves departed. Bella on the other hand just smiled. It was so good to have her Thorin back! Thranduil guided her back inside to her room, where he promised to fill her in on all that had happened while she was gone and out.

"So, what all exactly happened?" Bella asked as she sat down on one of her chairs.

Thranduil sat down across from her. "As soon as you fled across the battle field, many had seen you leave. While people tended to Thorin, who'd been gravely stabbed through the abdomen, I sent some of my elves to track you down. This however, proved to be difficult since you travelled quickly and invisible. Once Thorin was conscious, we told him where you were and he went mad. The dragon-sick Thorin was nothing in comparison to how he was while you were gone."

Bella choked back a sob at that. Forever the guilt would eat away at her for having left him alive on the battlefield after being stabbed. Thranduil continued. "He wanted so badly to go after you, but it could not be allowed. Duties required his attention and he was nowhere near well enough to travel. So, he sent out many groups of dwarves to follow after you as well, while having the rest of them tend to the injured. Those who weren't harmed were put to work in the Mountain, rapidly beginning to repair the dragon's damage."

"Nothing overly interesting happened then?" she asked.

"No," the King answered. "The Mountain's repairing is occurring at an incredible pace though. Already all the injured have been moved inside the Mountain, and the dwarves all have fully functional living quarters. I must say that even I am impressed at the speed in which they repaired that kingdom."

"Dwarves," she muttered. "They never stop working! I swear it would kill a dwarf to step back and relax for a while."

Thranduil chuckled. "So how long are hobbits pregnant for?" he asked, doing a 180 on the subject topic.

Bella was momentarily shocked before she smiled, cradling her barely protruding stomach since she was only two months along. "Typically with Hobbit pregnancies, we are pregnant for eight to ten months, depending on a variety of factors. However, since a dwarf was the father, and Hobbit babies are always the race of the father interestingly enough, I assume I'll be carrying this child for only another five to six months."

Thranduil looked intrigued. "Children of Hobbits always take after the father?"

"Well," Bella sighed, "it is kind of complicated. The child will be all dwarf, although she or he may still inherit certain traits from me, such as it might have my hair or eye color, or it might have Thorin's. They will also tend to be a bit more fair, so if it is a girl, she probably will not grow facial hair like a normal dwarrowdam, while if it is a boy, he might grow hair on his feet like a Hobbit, although that is rare. Overall, it will be all dwarf."

"Does Thorin know this?"

"No, I have not yet told him that any children we have will be dwarves, although I don't doubt he will be pleased. It also means the child will more likely to be accepted among the people."

They sat in silence for a moment. Thranduil studied her closely. "Do you fear his people will not approve of you?"

She sighed greatly. "I stole the Arkenstone. No dwarf in their right mind would approve of me. Plus, I left their king dying on the battlefield, and we are engaged and I am no dwarf."

Thranduil shook his head. "Dwarves are stubborn, but I think most, if not all, will come around to you sooner or later. If not, I'm certain Dwalin and Thorin will set them straight."

Bella let out a hearty laugh at that. Yes, they probably would make sure that no one spoke ill about her, though she hoped no one got in trouble for simply stating their opinions.

XXXXXX

The weeks at Mirkwood passed slowly, until the day came when Bella was awoken by the sounds of loud trumpets announcing the arrival of someone important. Leaping from her sinfully comfortable bed, she went out onto her veranda which overlooked the main gates to the palace. Approaching the gates was one Thorin Oakenshield, and following behind him was Fili, Kili, Dwalin, and Balin. Grinning wildly, she quickly changed into an elegant red gown before slinging her long hair up into a pony tail. The braids that Thorin had woven into it had long fallen out, so she would have to get him to redo them soon.

At a steady run, being mindful of the fact that she was pregnant, she bolted down to the front gates to greet her lover. There he sat on his black pony, waiting for her with a huge grin on his face. "Thorin!" she shouted eagerly, as he dismounted and she flung herself at him. "Oh how I've missed you!"

"And I you, love," he murmured softly into her ear as he gently swung her around before placing her back on her feet. Then he leaned in and stole a quick, but passionate, kiss. Mahal, how she missed this man.

"How was your trip?" she asked.

"Very good," he responded as he handed his pony to a waiting groom. The other dwarves did the same. A dark look crossed his face for a moment, shocking Bella. "I announced our engagement while I was at the Mountain, and it however, was not taken well."

The blood left her face as she swayed momentarily. Was he going to cancel their marriage? Would he take back all the sweet things he'd said and done for her? As she swayed a bit more, Thorin's hands gripped her shoulders firmly. "Bella, love, look at me."

She brought her blue eyes up to meet his, and was momentarily frozen by all the love and warmth she saw in them. "Do not doubt us," he said, "for the others will come around. Not all are upset by our engagement; in fact many are overjoyed. My sister Dis is making sure that everyone will be courteous to you upon your arrival at the Mountain."

A heavy hand fell on her shoulder, and she looked up into the soft, caring eyes of Dwalin. "Rest easy lass. Dis and I will be making sure that no harm from any possible revolts or objections will come to you, Thorin, and the babe."

Tears pooled over her cheeks and she wrapped her arms around Dwalin. "Thank you Dwalin," she murmured softly, surprised when he attentively hugged her back.

"No need to get all emotional now," he murmured.

"Careful where you tread Dwalin," Thorin joked. "That is my wife-to-be you are holding."

Dwalin chuckled. "Basically my little sister Thorin; don't get creepy." Dwalin reached down and picked Bella up, earning a squeal from her as she was sat upon his incredibly large shoulder. Well… everything about Dwalin was large, including his height! She did not feel like she was going to fall though, as he kept a firm hand on her knees to hold her in place, while at the same time she hung on to his other shoulder.

"Be careful Dwalin!" she shrieked. "I'm not as light as you think!"

Dwalin burst out laughing. "I could carry you with my littlest finger lass," he chuckled. Thorin as well laughed along with him. Dwalin began walking, causing Bella to grip onto his shoulder tighter.

"Do not let me fall," she hissed at the large dwarf.

"Have a little faith!" Dwalin barked. "Thorin would have my head if I allowed you to fall from my shoulder."

"Ay," Thorin chuckled, "that I would."

The other dwarves followed behind giggling as Dwalin carried her upon his shoulder all the way to Thranduil's thrown room. Even the elf-king had to grin at the sight of a disgruntled Bella upon Dwalin's shoulder. "Ah, it's good to see you have arrived all in one piece, but Bella, I thought you were marrying that dwarf?"

Bella gapped. Thranduil had a sense of humor! The other dwarves gapped as well before they burst out laughing, all except Thorin who looked kind of ticked before he walked up to Dwalin. "Ok, give me back my fiancé."

Dwalin chuckled as he pulled her off of his shoulder gently and placed her in Thorin's arms. Once she was on her feet, she poked Dwalin's arm in a joking anger, before she crossed her arms and huffed. "Carrying me like I'm nothing more than a sack of potatoes, why I never!" Dwalin pressed his fist into her shoulder gently.

"Awww. Your so cute when your pissed," Kili chuckled, fleeing when she went to slap him teasingly.

"Thorin!" she whined. "Make them stop teasing me."

"It's kind of entertaining though," the dwarf king drawled. Thranduil smirked, sitting back to watch with his fingers laced under his chin.

Bella pushed out her lower lip and looked at him with big eyes. "I guess no more lovin' for you, your Highness." Picking up her skirt like a proper lady, she curtsied low for the King as if she were no more than a mere peasant. Stifling a giggle at his flabbergasted expression, she turned tail and skipped off. When Thorin made a move to follow, she rounded on him. "Finish your guys' business with Thranduil, then come find me later. We need to chat."

With a final wink to Thranduil, she headed off down the hall, giggling once she got out of earshot. Oh what a day this was!