Where she is right - The story of Dís, daughter of kings.

6

A little later the princess was laying in her huge, soft bed and could not fall asleep. She had to think about her little one. Her little Kíli and this elf? Was that possible? Tomorrow she would ask Balin about it but tonight there had not been a confidential opportunity to talk.

The next morning she had just finished dressing when someone knocked aloud at the door of her reception room. She was surprised that Juntin did not come and announce some one. The knocking became more urgent and Dís went slightly annoyed to open herself. Dwalin stood outside the door. He looked pale and miserable as was to be expected after the binge last night. A sharp sneer was on the tip of Dís's tongue but before she could say anything Dwalin pushed her back into the room. He grabbed her at her shoulders with a desperate look.

"Go and see after Dwin! Dís, I beg you!", it burst out of him.

"Mahal, what happened?", Dís asked worried, "Come, tell me on the way", she continued and wanted to pull him towards the door.

But Dwalin tore himself from her hand and fell on his knees in the middle of the room.

"No, she won't want to see me for sure. You go", he groaned.

Dís froze. Ice-cold anger swept through her.

With a piercing voice she asked:

"What have you done?"

"Spoiled everything. Tear me apart later for my sake. But go first and look after her. Dís, please!", he begged hoarsely.

Dís swept from the room and hurried along the corridors. She lost her way twice and cursed.

She saw Tauriel stepping out of some corridor and called out to her:

"Captain Tauriel! Thank Mahal! Show me the way to Dwin's room please. Quickly! It's urgent!"

Tauriel nodded and hurried ahead without asking questions. In front of the door Dís asked her to enter with her, because she did not know what expected them and if she might need help.

Dís knocked but did not wait for an answer and opened the door. They found Dwin sitting on the floor in front of the bed, huddled and her face hidden in her arms.

The snow-white sheets of the bed were bloodstained. Next to Dwin stood the white bowl from the washstand. Full of reddish water. Dís rushed to her while Tauriel closed the door behind them.

"Dwin!", the princess called anxiously and knelt down, "Tell me what happened!"

Dwin raised her head. She looked as if she had been crying all night but now her eyes were dry and she herself was quite calm. She took a deep breath and sighed.

"Nothing has happened that wouldn't have happened eventually anyway. Only the way... Oh, Dís! I don't know what came over him. It was him who wanted to wait until we were in Erebor. But when we were alone last night... Like a boulder pushed down a slope. Nothing to stop him. He was so full of anger and then the drinking... Nothing I said seemed to really reach him."

She threw an unhappy look at Tauriel.

"And look at the bed! What are your people gonna think about us now! I feel so ashamed", she whispered, hiding her face in her hands.

Dís flew into a rage.

"There is absolutely nothing you have to feel ashamed of! Accursed males! I tell you! We should take all those running around with that worthless tripe in their pants and stick them into a sack to drown them all! How peaceful this world would be!"

Tauriel had silently waited at the door but now she resolutely opened a cupboard and took out a laundry bad. She pulled the bloody sheets and blankets off the bed and stuffed everything in the bag. Together with Dís she put clean sheets on the bed again and straightened up everything. While Dís helped up Dwin Tauriel emptied and washed the bowl.