Born from Stone (A Thorin Oakenshield story)

To your heart, I am bound

The very same evening at the Shire, Eilin was trying very hard to become the maiden that master Bilbo had hired even though the gentle hobbit never required any work out of her. That noon the very famous grey wizard had knocked at their doors and Eilin lounged around at the kitchen quietly in order to admire that legendary figure that she had seen also from afar in Erebor. Loa took over everything concerning the food that was to be served and about the arrangements of the table. In fact it was Loa who served the two friends even though Eilin insisted to do it. Load denied vehemently reminding Eilin about the poor condition of her health and the ongoing weakness of her body that for some reason was becoming worse by the day. It was not only the weight she was losing, It was also her inability to stand up for too long without feeling weak at the knees. Those concerns always send Eilin's mind into a tailspin about her pregnancy, making feel rather certain that something evil was going to happen. Each time she used the toilet she went in with perturbation and came out partly relieved. The fear was eating up inside whatever Thorin's dismissal hadn't already destroyed. At times she didn't know if she'd be able to give birth to this child if she ever came to term. She wasn't certain she'd dig up the courage and the strength it needed to undertake this formidable task alone. Of course Loa reassured her that she was going to be there and that she had acted as a midwife in several cases, but that still counted as alone for poor Eilin. Her One was not going to be there. Half of her was missing and her heart was unable to mend, no matter the generosity of Bella or anyone else that tried to uplift her spirits and fill out the huge void Thorin's absence had created.

So she lingered in the kitchen taking sneak peeks of the grey wizard and caressing her belly as Loa served them tea after a rather satisfying dinner.

"I thought you were supposed to stay to Ithilien more." Bilbo sipped his tea calmly.

"I was asked to join Lord Elrond in Rivendell and you know well my dear friend that if my way passes close to the Shire I will visit, even if it is for a little while." Gandalf's lips curled up.

Bilbo sighed. "It's good that you came, even though my household is rather hectic at the moment."

Gandalf raised his brow. "I've heard you became a rather generous host to a very illustrious guest."

Eilin paled and threw a gaze of trepidation at Loa who smiled at her.

"Illustrious is an understatement." Bilbo scrounged his lips.

"Do tell..." Gandalf smirked and raised his brow.

"Oh, this went undetected by the most nosy wizard of Middle Earth? How?" Bilbo beamed up truly surprised.

"I know that your guest is very important to Erebor," Gandalf said quietly.

"But you don't know who it is!" Bilbo raised his finger.

"Admittedly no..." Gandalf rejoined.

Bilbo settled down and looked at the wizard for a little while silently.

"Come on Baggins!" -Gandalf rumbled- "We've been through hell together. You know I will not betray your secret."

Bilbo shook his head. "Thorin did a very good job, if this went undetected by you."

Eilin leaned against the casing of the archway, still hidden.

"That stubborn dwarf lord has to do with your guest?" Gandalf exhaled some smoke through his nose.

Bilbo sighed. "I am hosting the fiancee of the Mountain King and the unborn heir of Durin."

Gandalf's face froze in time.