The Complete Works of Lady Oakenshield's Adventures

Chapter 18 -- Trials and Triple Libations

Thud. The sound reverberated through the thick Elven wood door. Next came a tirade of Black Speech that no self-respecting Dwarf King would let pass his lips. Lady Oakenshield smiled. "Hi Honey, I'm home!" wasn't even close to the translation.

She leaned against the door waiting for the wrath of Thorin to subside. Once it was quiet outside her chambers, she opened the door. What appeared at first blush to be a pile of leather and metal was of course, Thorin Oakenshield, King of the Dwarves. Out cold. Dead drunk.

It started out as a normal day. Frerin was Judge, Jury and Executioner of Justice Day. Thorin ceded the reins to him after he proved he was wise and fair minded. This until Grendel showed up unannounced. She wasn't scheduled for trial until after the baby was born, and she should have been locked up in the tower. Mowing down guards, visitors, lawyers, and anyone else in her way, she stormed the platform dragging two guards with her. She demanded her day in court. Frerin, having been the recipient of her wrath, promptly stepped behind Thorin.

Thorin refused to discuss anything with her until she calmed down. It took a while but finally with order restored, Thorin listened to Grendel's complaints, all twenty of the them. Everything from the food to not getting ale. Most of the complaints he handled with a slight wave of his hand. Still, she stopped him cold when she wanted to know if the rumor that Frerin was getting mated again was true. It was of course, but how had she found out? Balin would be asking some pointed questions of the palace guards later. Grendel proceeded to recite the mating agreement she'd signed with Thorin and Frerin. At stake was the fact the contract had not been fulfilled. She still had 3 months to decide whether she wanted to stay married to Frerin or take the money offered and move away, releasing, in Frerin's opinion, him from a living Mordor on Middle Earth. She stated she felt differently. She probably didn't, but she'd do anything to keep the pressure to release her on. She couldn't be carrying a member of the Royal family and be stuck in the tower, even if she'd threatened the life of the queen. More than once.

Thorin had no choice but to cancel the rest of Justice Day, empty the chamber, and listen to her. He, Frerin, Balin and Grendel sat down to a long debate on a compromise. It was late in the afternoon, when, satisfied that she had won, Grendel agreed to an annulment, substantial monetary gain, and safe passage to the destination of her choice. It so happened that she chose to be as far from Frerin as both could hope, without her sailing to Elven paradise. She would leave within the week.

"I need an ale or six," Thorin motioned to Balin and Frerin. "Grab Dwalin and let's go to the Dancing Warg. I'll send word to Lady Oakenshield we're there if anyone's looking for us. I don't like her to worry." Any other day Thorin would have raced home to be with his mate. Today he needed male companionship more than he needed female love. He'd make it up to her later. He'd have a couple of ales and go home. Since becoming King he'd had little time to spend with his family and friends just relaxing.

They sat in a private corner and ordered Bruni's stew and ale. Before they knew it, Bruni was turning benches upend to drain and dry. She'd tapped a new keg halfway through the evening. Luckily it was a slow night at the inn, she'd been kept busy taking care of them. She was happy with her servers, but it was the King. No one but the proprietor ever waited on the king and his entourage.

At one point in the evening, Dwalin had left the table with a smarmy-looking Dwarf. He came back later sporting a new tattoo on his back. It was a mixture of Elvish and Dwarf depicting Frerin defeating a fire breathing dragon, who's face looked startlingly like Grendel's. "How am I going to tell Janfief? I guess I'll wait until she notices it and figure out how to explain having Frerin in bed with us."

"Easy brother," Balin had snorted. "Tell her Frerin has your backside."

"The fact that she despises Grendel, may not work so well." As expected when drinking with family, everyone took a turn slapping him on the new tattoo. He'd probably feel it in the morning, but right now, he was miles away from feeling anything, but the warmth of camaraderie.