Jeweled dolls of Durin

quest and discoveries [ pg ]

Several weeks pass

Tia woke up early that morning reaching for the other side of the bed like she did every morning feeling the vacant spot hoping something changed there..no Bofur still. She sighed and decided to get up when suddenly her stomach heaved hard ..she ran to the bathing room barely making it there. After it passed she just knelt there gasping and shaking from the violence of it all...praying that something wasnt seriously wrong that a little time wouldnt fix. She cleaned herself up and was going to get dressed when it happened again...just as bad...she prayed it would end soon.

Dis came by to visit Tia that morning looking for a shoulder to lean on and offer a shoulder in return. She entered the shop...locking it up behind her and went up stairs to the living area. As she drew closer she could hear horrendous retching down the hall and she ran towards the sound, finding Tia curled up in a ball on the floor shaking hard. Quickly grabbing a cloth ,wetting it, she knelt next to her wiping her face as Dis voice laced with some panic in it persuaded her off the floor and back to her bed. After she got Tia settled again she started checking her over for bites, fever, anything to clue her in while asking questions.

"What happened..did something bite you ( shakes head no).. something you ate maybe( shrugs not knowing)..hmmm. well I'm going to go get Ahmi and mayb..." she suddenly heard the front door open and Tohlms voice echoed down the hall.

"Hello...Tia! Anybody here?"

Dis went to the door opening it "down here Tohlm."he started down towards her when Dis next words stopped him cold."Tias very sick..go get Ahmi quickly" he rushed into the room and saw Tia shaking under a blanket looking pale yet almost green at the same time, as Dis was placing a cool cloth on her head. He just stood there staring until Dis shouted at when she saw him just standing there.."Get Ahmi..now". He turned around running out the door to the healers shop ,throwing the door open and hollering like a mad man for Ahmi, who was in the back dealing with a dwarfling who had broken its arm playing around.

"Hold on..I'll be right out in a moment." She hollered out then turned back to the child. "Now you need to be more careful and no more trying to tag with rocks." She smiled and sent the child away then went out to the front where Tohlm was waiting impatiantly for her. "Now what's the problem?"

"Its Tia..she's very sick and pale..Dis said to bring you back quickly" he looked very worried. Ahmi went and retrieved her medicine bag then gestured for him to lead the way. They got there shortly and was greeted by the wretched sound of Tia being sick that came from the bedroom. Ahmi told Tohlm to wait out in the living room and she went in to find Tia wrapped around a bowl and Dis holding her hair out of face..after few moments she was ready to be examined.

Ahmi looked her over noticing how pale, exhausted , and nausous she seemed..she then checked her for fever ..nothing..Ahmi sighed and started to ask questions of both women.

"When did this start ( this morning)...how long have you been feeling sick to your stomach (today)...notice anything unusual about your body (not hungery) ..tired lately (yes)..sore lately ( a little..my breasts)?" She listened to it all then sighing again " When was your last womans monthly bleed?" she didnt look over at Dis as she gasped in surprise..she kept watching Tias face as it dawned on her.

"Im..Im..might be pregnant?" there a look of shock on her face as she whispered in nervousness.

"Im going to make sure..but it sounds like it.." she went over and started to feel her lower abdomen ."So when was it..your cycle?" ...6 weeks ago..i think.. Ahmi just nodded her head and kept feeling around..."Hmmm..well ...you are with child it seems."  she smiled as Tias face lit up with joy over this news. Dis was overjoyed at this and made a decision right there.

"Well this settles it.Im taking you home with me where i can help watch over you and pamper you thru this." Tia looked like she was about to object when Dis interuppted her."Remember ive done this twice already so i know what im talking about." 

" My business..what about that?"  Dis waved her hand in a dismissing motion.

"It can wait till this sickness passes..then you will have help running it and such." Dis thought for a moment then got a look of  having a brillaint idea." Isnt it about time you got an apprentice? One that can do the running for you and help you with such?" Tia just looked at her as a wave of exhaustion rolled over her. Dis saw this and realized she needed to rest for bit. " We will worry about this all later..Ill get Tohlm to help me pack up some essentials and get you settled with me for a bit. You sleep dear..we got this for you." as she was about to walk out the door Dis turned around and looked at Tia  for a moment." Please say you dont mind..i.. i .. really need the company and this  would be good for me too." Tia saw how lonely and worried Dis was since her sons had left and it mirrored her own feelings.. she nodded and smiled at her and was rewarded with a radiant smile that warmed Tias heart...Dis closed the door  leaving her to rest for bit. As she faded she heard a shout of joy out front bringing a smile to her lips as she sank into darkness.

By that evening Tia was moved over to Dis house settled into the upstairs room that several months ago she stayed in for her wedding. When Dis told Tohlm earlier he was shocked at first but let out a loud whoop as it fully enetred his brain..." Im going to be an Uncle..whoo-hoo!" Dis shushed him before he woke his sister then like a drill sargeant she directed him into moving some things over to her house to make Tia more comfortable while she stayed with her .Now Tia was ensconced in bed with Dis fussing over her like a mother hen and Tohlm was over at thier fathers house along with Ahmi telling everyone the good news.

"You ok dear?..Tia nodded.." Then alright. Im going to fix dinner now..call if you need something or such." Dis left her alone as she went down stairs to start fixing food knowing that pretty soon there would be company anytime now.  As Tia sat in bed reading a book her thoughts wandered to Bofur and what was happening to him at this time.

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Shire..evening

Bofur was sitting next to Thorin at the table with the rest of the company smoking his pipe in one hand and a mug of ale in the other while Balin hands the hobbit..Bilbo baggins.. a contract to sign which he was reading over at that time.As Bilbo was reading he started to sputter ..." lacerations..evisceration...incineration?" Bofur leaned forward in his chair looking at Bilbo.

" Oh, aye, hell melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye." Bilbo stands there trying to take it all in as Balin asks if hes alright..which Bilbo answered feeling a bit faint. Bofur continued. " Think furnace, with wings." Bilbo paled while gulping air."Flash of light, searing pain, then poof! Your nothing more than a pile of ash!" Bilbo thinks for a moment..looks at the dwarves.. and faints to the ground. Gandulf looks over at Bofur with displeasure as he goes to the Hobbit. "Oh very helpful Bofur" he looked at the wizard with a sheepish expression and focused back on his mug not looking at anyone else as Gandulf took Bilbo out of the room.

Later that evening Bofur was sitting on a stool smoking his pipe by the fire, lost in thought when Thorin came into the room with everyone gathering around , and started to sing in his deep voice a mournful song of home..Misty mountains cold while staring into the fire, after a moment everyone else joined in .As they finished the song there was a moment of silence then Thorins voice spoke "We all need to rest..its going to be a long journey and we have miles to go before we reach our destination." He turned and left the room as the men went to lay daown. Bofur layed down as his body started to sucumb to sleep his last thought was of Tia and how much he wished to hold her again..then he drifted off into dreams with her scent in his nose from the scarf that he kept wrapped around his neck.