Special Delivery in the Woodland Realm

You'd been beating yourself up over it for months. How could you have let yourself get pregnant? Even though Thorin was both your husband and the father of your unborn child, you hadn't told him or anyone else about your condition. You knew he would have made you stay behind, and there was no way that you were going to do that. He needed you on this quest, even if he was too stubborn to admit it.

Miraculously, you had been able to conceal the pregnancy from every person in the company, except for one: Bilbo. He'd caught you in the middle of one of your bouts of morning sickness, and after much pleading on your part, agreed to keep your secret. It was comforting to have someone to confide in and feel close to, especially since the entire ordeal had caused you to distance yourself from Thorin. You didn't want to chance him finding out after all.

Not being one to vocalize his emotions, Thorin simply brewed in his anger and his jealousy. At first, he thought that the hardships of the journey were simply taking a toll on you. Travelling all day and not having any privacy at night were bound to have an affect on things. But when you started spending all of your time with Bilbo, sitting with and whispering to him by the fire, he became convinced that he was losing his woman to the burglar. It caused him to snap at you over little things in a way that were uncharacteristic of him. In these moments, you wanted to break down and tell him everything, but you had promised yourself that you wouldn't and you kept that promise.

Now you sat all alone in a cell in the dungeons of the Woodland Realm. Thorin was upstairs with the elf king, probably spitting in his eye if you knew your husband. There was no way that Thorin was going to accept any offer of Thranduil's. You knew this as well as you knew your own name. The only way the dwarves would be getting out would be if Bilbo came and rescued them.

Leaning your head back against the cold, stone wall, you rubbed your hand across your belly. The pain had started earlier that day, and the incident with the spiders hadn't helped any. There was no chance of you keeping this a secret any longer. As best as you could, you made your way to the cell door and called out for a guard as loud as you could. The dwarves stopped their attempts to break out of their cells to ask you what was wrong. Although the concern in their voices was evident, you ignored them in favor of continuing to scream out for a guard.

When one finally arrived he asked, "What do you want?"

"Bring that girl elf to me."

"I do not answer to you, prisoner."

"Listen here," you said, trying to sound as tough as possible. "I'm about to have a baby right here in this cell, so unless you want to deal with it, go get the girl elf."

The horror at the idea clearly visible in his eyes, he turned and hurried up the steps leading out of the dungeons. Moments later, he returned with the female elf and she entered your cell.

"My name is Tauriel," she said. "How far along are you?"

"I've been in pain all day. I've never done this before, Tauriel." For the first time, you let the fear that was buried deep inside of you show.

"Neither have I," she said, smiling weakly. "But I will take you to someone who can help."

After speaking in her native tongue to the guard, he rushed over, picked you up, and carried you out of the cell.

"Stop!" you yelled as he carried you past Balin's cell. "I have to tell him something."

Turning your head to look at him you said, "Tell Thorin what's happening, but don't let him wait for me. This quest is more important than anything. Tell him I love him and that I'm sorry."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You sat in the clean, soft bed holding your new baby boy. He was absolutely beautiful. In fact, he was the most beautiful sight you had ever laid eyes on. The special moment was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Come in."

You were shocked to see none other than Thranduil himself walk through the door. Instinctively, you held your precious bundle closer to you.

Genuinely smiling, he said, "Do not worry. I mean you no harm." Then he moved over and sat on the edge of your bed. His eyes seemed gentle as he studied you and your child.

"Have you chosen a name for him?"

"Not yet."

"I remember the day my own son was born..." His eyes took on a faraway look as his voice drifted into silence.

Coming back to the moment he said, "I came to tell you that the dwarves, including your husband, have escaped."

"That's very interesting," you said, trying to suppress a smile. So Bilbo had come through.

"I also wanted to tell you that you and your son are welcome to stay here as long as you wish."

"In the dungeons you mean?" You snapped. You couldn't help it. You were Thorin's wife after all.

"No, I mean here. You will have as much freedom as my people."

"Why?" You asked suspiciously. "Why would you let a human who is Thorin's wife live freely amongst your people?"

"It is no secret that I dislike Oakenshield. But it takes a great deal of strength and courage to go through the things you have gone through, particularly in that condition. I may not want Thorin Oakenshield to be king, but even I must admit that he chose a queen of the highest quality."

Rising from the bed and moving towards the door he added, "I will take my leave now. Good day, my lady."

Once you were alone with your son again, you said to him, "We don't have any choice but to stay here for now. But I promise that you will meet your father soon. I swear it to you on my life."

And you were not one to break your promises.