Warrior's Heart

Chapter Thirty-Seven

The night passed far too quickly for Arielle's liking, but when she and Thorin returned home, it was as if everything had changed. Amara took her leave, after promising Arielle she would return any time Arielle needed her, she need only send word. Thorin busied himself with the room he wanted to add onto the cottage for Tiriana. And miracle of miracles, Tiriana decided she didn't mind sleeping through the night so much. For Arielle, it was one of the happiest times of her life, now that she could get a full night's sleep and motherhood took on a whole new meaning for her. It was with great amazement that she watched their daughter as she learned how to laugh, as she began to recognize faces and sounds.

Her favorite part of it, however, was nighttime, when she and Thorin would bring Tiriana into their bed at her bedtime and he would tell her the most marvelous stories. Some were of her dwarvish history, but some were strictly fights of fancy he created as he spoke. He would sit back against the headboard, legs bent and Tiriana propped against his thighs, and her eyes remained fixated on him as he regaled her with the most wonderful stories. Curled up against him, her cheek resting against his shoulder, Arielle would get lost in the worlds he created for his baby daughter. And what worlds they were! There were princes and princesses, wizards and sorceresses, maidens and monsters, and elves and dwarves.

But, the one thing that never made it in to any of his stories?

Dragons.

She leaned against him, and with a sigh, said, "You tell the most wonderful stories, Thorin. Has anyone ever told you that?"

"Actually, yes." He offered up a sidelong glance and smiled down at her. "Dis used to beg me to tell her bedtime stories when we were younger. And when Fili and Kili came along, she would impress me into service to get them down at night as well."

She reached down to smooth a hand over Tiriana's head. The baby was asleep, her fist in her mouth, a smile on her lips. "You captivate your own child as well, you know. She listens as if she understands every word you say."

He chuckled softly as he carefully shifted, lifting Tiriana before swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He rose without jostling her, and managed to get her put in her cradle without waking her. "I've been talking to her since before she was born. She knows her papa's voice well."

"And it is a soothing voice, you know." She sank deeper into the mound of pillows. "So deep and smooth... your voice is like a caress at times, Thorin. Other times it is authoritative and commanding, and at times it can be frightening."

"It wasn't always that way. I used to sound like a girl, my voice was so high. Then, it finally changed and now—"

"The perfect voice for the King Under the Mountain."

He looked up from Tiriana and winked. "I have my moments."

He tucked a light blanket about the baby, then straightened up and came around to her side of the bed. "We need to talk, princess."

Her gut kinked sharply. "What is the matter?"

"I spoke with Gandalf this mooning. Down at Balin's workshop."

"What was he doing in the Blue Mountains?"

Thorin's brow furrowed and his expression grew serious as he sank onto the edge of the bed. "War is coming. From the east. It won't be safe here for much longer, so the time has come for me to set out for Erebor, to reclaim it before it is too late."

Her mouth went dry as her heart skipped a painful beat. "So, you and the Company are leaving. As war is coming to our doorstep?"

"Gandalf has already been in touch with both Thranduíl and Elrond. You and Tiriana will go to Mirkwood and I will meet up with you there."