King Raff did not respond to what Roland said. Roland drew in a deep breath and he sat down. A quiet settled in between them-thick and old, like dust from a forgotten tomb.
Roland took another breath and he said, "I love my wife like a man who rules beside a den of lions," he said softly. "I know exactly who she is and what she is. She us not just my queen. She is the second half of my two pronged sword. When she speaks, people listen--because her voice carries iron and mercy in equal parts.
When the people are starving, she does not hesitate to open her purse or that of the Thorin family to feed them. If a plague or disease is spreading, she sleeps in an alchemy room, trying to figure out what herbs will cure our people.
When there is a threat on the wall, she does not hide but she picks up a blade, takes my hand and we fly to the wall together. We fight side by side and bathe in the blood of our enemies. She is fearless and she is my pride."