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

23

Thorin woke up the next morning when someone shook him at his shoulder. He opened his eyes just to close them again immediately. It was as bright as daylight in the room. He groaned. Someone must have lit every available candle in the room. The king blinked with aching eyes. Alwa. She knelt next to his pillow in bed and looked down at him.

"My king", she said, "You have to lie with me now."

"Hm?"

Thorin was sure to have misunderstood. Slowly he came to himself and the memory of yesterday rushed back to him. He had tied the knot, Alwa, her injured toe, the seizure...

Full of concern he raised himself on an elbow and asked:

"How are you this morning, my dear? I really did not want to hurt you last night. I am very sorry that happened! I just did not want you to walk around in your nightgown last night. Do you understand?"

"Yes", she answered, "I see it all clearly now. But you have to lie with me now. At once."

Something was different about her, but he could not figure out, what it was. He looked at her puzzled, trying to sort things out for himself. Had her mind now yielded fully under last night's fit?

As if he had uttered this thought aloud, she sighed and it sounded somewhat impatient, almost annoyed.

"If you lie with me now, you will father a child. A son. Who will be a great king. But it will be too late soon", she explained to him decidedly.

He did not believe a single word she said.

"Child", he said indulgently, "What are you talking about? I gave Dan my word not to hurt you and broke that promise last night already. I will certainly not...."

She put her fingers over his mouth, to stop him from talking and said emphatically:

"Middle Earth needs this king. Dan needs him too."

"Well, if that is so... Hence for Middle Earth!", Thorin laughed and fell back into the white cushions.

This was just crazy he thought.

"Is there anything I must do? I do not know about these things from experience. Or are you not able to right now?", she asked, quite desperate now.

She was obviously absolutely serious about it.

"Oh, I would be able to all right", Thorin answered with a pensive smile, suddenly seeing her with different eyes.

"Kiss me", he said.

"On your mouth you mean?", she asked, at a loss.

He nodded.

She bent over him, briefly pressed her lips on his and looked at him questioningly.

"Like that?", she asked sceptically.

"Yes. That's part of it", he replied amused.

"Oh, please! My King! It has to...", she began again unhappily.

And the king took her face into both hands and gently pulled her down into a slow, deep kiss, cutting off her talk. Soft and yielding he felt her lips on his. There was no hesitating or timidity on her part and when Thorin broke his kiss at last, she gazed at him amazed and in wonder, touching his lips once more with her fingertips.

Thorin urged her down on her back next to him, feeling the heat rise inside himself. He gently pushed her legs apart and when he lay down between them, she began to breathe heavily.

"Alwa, are you really sure, you want this? Because if I start now, I will hardly be able to stop", he whispered hoarsely.

She nodded silently. Then she reached into his hair and pulled him close for her part. Kissing him, a little trembling and insecure.