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

32

Two months later Alwa's secretary saw through the pile of messages that a servant had brought from the messengers' house. He paused. An elvish writing bearing the seal of King Thranduil himself lay between about a dozen other letters. The dwarf hesitated. Usually he just handed those private correspondence simply to the queen but should he not tell the king about this one? He could of course ask for Dori's advice but he would certainly report to the king immediately. The secretary was very much devoted to his queen and decided to have overlooked the seal and put the letter among Alwa's private mail.

At noon that day she came to see him.

"King Thranduil is asking for a longer conversation with me", she simply said.

The secretary consulted his large book and looked for the next possible free day for guests from afar.

"Fine. I will tell him this date. No other consultations on that day. Thank you", Alwa ordered.

The secretary bowed, put down Thranduil's name in the book carefully and decided to assume the queen would inform the king and Dori of this detail.

A few weeks later the king sat at breakfast in Alwa's room with his wife and son. Alwa leaned back comfortably on the divan and nursed Fredrin. Thorin loved watching them. It was such a calm silence and only the smacking of his son was heard from time to time. He looked forward to this peaceful moments with his family every morning.

Alwa took a sip of tea and said gently:

"Thranduil will come to consult me today. Please have someone bring the chest with the stars' gems to me."

Thorin swallowed his mouthful the wrong way and turned instantly red with rage. He coughed and choked.

"What?", he finally managed to yell when he had his voice back under control at last.

Fredrin was frightened and began to cry. Alwa took him up and held him on her shoulder. She stroked his back gently.

Instead of repeating what she had just said, she looked at her husband reproachfully.

"You knew all the time he was coming?", Thorin gasped angrily.

"He asked for a consultation like many others", she replied calmly.

"Why did no one tell me?", he roared, rising from his seat and pacing the room.

"I just told you", she said gently.

Thorin still glared at her angrily, but Alwa returned his look completely serene.

"You will not talk to him alone! I want Dori to accompany you. No! Not Dori. Dwalin will do that", he snapped.

"What are you afraid of?", she asked, looking him straight in the eye.

"What do I know what this accursed elf is up to? He can not be trusted!", the king thundered.

"What exactly are you afraid of?", the queen asked again.

When he did not answer but kept looking at her furiously, she sighed and said:

"Thranduil visited Wala several times. She told me about it. Obviously he hesitated a long time to contact me, because I am not only a dwarven seeress, but also your wife. He will not consult me on how to do any harm to the Erebor. It is a very personal matter in which he sought Wala's help and I will not tolerate anyone else listening to that conversation", she said quietly but firmly.

"I do not like that. Not at all", the king said and fell onto the cushions next to her, still angry. She continued to breastfeed Fredrin and Thorin moved closer, put his arm around her, his head on her shoulder and watched.