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

18

Contrary to Dís's assumption Thorin did not come to see her in the following days and weeks. He wrote his sister a quite formal letter, trying to explain what had happened and asked for her forgiveness. From Dwin Dís learned two weeks later how Thorin had made up his mind in her kitchen and how she herself had chosen Alwa for him. Dís could understand her choice but was still not happy that her brother had selected his bride so hastily. Secretly she hoped Alwa's family would refuse her consent because of his violent outburst and it was in fact the case that her parents had strong concerns. Dáin however brought all his influence to bear and Alwa's parents who were no longer the youngest and wanted to see her daughter taken care of finally agreed reluctantly.

Alwa had not wished to read the letter from Erebor herself but only looked upon the small picture of the king, Balin had send along with his writing, for a long time instead. Without a word. And she set up the little frame on her desk where she could see it well and went on translating an old book from the archives of Gondor her father had brought her from a journey there.

One day at the beginning of spring the hospital in Dale was festively opened and on that occasion the upcoming wedding of the king and the princess of Erebor was announced. The marriage was to take place two months later in Lótessё, the Flower Month. Many had been speculating about that and the news was received with benevolence and joy.

Dís had almost fully recovered, plunged with enthusiasm in her new tasks and tried to banish Thorin from her thoughts as best as she could.

Just that Thorin did on his part too. He was at work from early morning to late evening. Initially there had been strange looks at him but after a while there were other things that occupied the public in Erebor and as the king did not show any signs of violence against someone else the dwarves finally went back to their everyday life. The first wind lances were ready and the king, Dwalin and a first selection of warriors tried them out from the bailey. It was the first time since weeks that Dwalin saw the king in a good mood and he was relieved to finally hear him laugh again. He had been guest at his home often lately, ate with them and spent time there. Thorin was welcome and felt that too, but he also felt a bit like the odd man out seeing Dwin and Dwalin together. And recently Balin and Ori too.

And at night when the king returned to the absolute silence of his own chambers and came to rest, he could think of nothing else than his sister. At first he went aimlessly through her rooms, sat at her desk or lay in her pillows that still breathed vaguely her scent. But after the acceptance of Alwa's parents he removed with a heavy heart all the furniture and decoration out of Dís's rooms that he had chosen with so very much care. Then he had a new room carved out of the mountain's stone above the existing rooms which could be reached by a pretty spiral staircase. From that space upstairs they cut an opening into the steep rock face outside. A small platform was created half of which was glazed as a protection against the weather. And the other half was worked out as an open balcony for warm nights. Balin had ascertained that Alwa liked white furniture and bright rooms and so everything was completely refurbished until nothing reminded him any more of Dís.

The glazed lookout became his favourite retreat in those lonely weeks. Thorin sat there, looked over the valley until the sun west of Mirkwood went down, the darkness swallowed the city's skyline and the first stars appeared. He watched from afar lights flare up in the houses of Dale and imagined that somewhere there his sister and her chosen one sat together with his children around a table. Laughing and chatting, listening maybe to a tale of the youngest. The two were not married yet but from all what he had heard they spend already nearly every waking minute of the day together. With such musings in mind he often fell asleep up there in one of the comfortable easy chairs or recliners, between the white blankets and furs that had been selected for his future queen. The bond with her would be tied at midsummer day. One month after his sister's wedding in Dale.