Chapter 2
Kíli slowly blinked his eyes open. He was still on the cot in the tent, though the elf prince was gone now. What had he said? My wife? He turned his head towards the partition, tears welling in his eyes.
He gave a weak smile as Óin entered.
"Ah, laddy, you're awake. Good." The old healer was followed by a younger Iron Hills dwarf. "Sorry about the elf, he's gone now. Told him not to upset you."
"Not fault, upset," Kíli signed. "Important I know." He took a deep breath and winced. He panted through the pain. "She still there?" He continued to sign, and then pointed to the curtain.
"Aye, lad, the elf maid is there." He took a tray with a steaming bowl and cup from him his aid. "Eat, then we'll have a look at your wound."
Kíli shook his head and grimaced.
"Had to put you through a second surgery after that elf prince was here, lad." Óin looked at him sternly. "Don't make me have to force feed you."
The aid busied himself laying out supplies for wound care. "We can have the elf maid removed." He wrinkled his nose in distaste.
Kíli's eyes widened as he turned his head sharply towards the unfamiliar dwarf, "No!" His chest tightened at the outburst, as he began wheezing.
The younger healer raised an eyebrow. "No? An elf shouldn't lay in state with the heirs of Durin. Be reasonable, boy."
Óin busied himself raising Kíli's arms above his head to help open his lungs. "What part of no talking did you not understand, Lad?"
Kíli fought an arm free and signed. "Wife should." His breathing started to normalize.
Both dwarves just stared at him a moment.
Óin shook his head. "Lad, you're not wed; and certainly not to an elf. Just a dream from that silly infatuation of yours."
Kíli warmed his hands on the cup and knit his brow in thought. He was sure Legolas had told him lying with Tauriel made her his wife. Had he lay with her? Or was it just a dream? He closed his eyes.
#
He had followed her into the forest after their boat had made it to shore. She gathered wood for their fire. "Go back to camp, rest your leg."
"I'm fine."
She stopped and turned towards him, her arms full of dead wood. "Fine? Hours ago you were dying, you stubborn dwarf."
He sighed and sat down on a nurse log. "I'll rest here. You can check the wound if you like."
She set the bundle near him and knelt down beside his leg. "We should at least bandage it properly with a clean wrapping." She untied the filthy strip. "Remove your trousers, Master Dwarf."
Kíli grinned at her as he complied. "You wouldn't search them but you demand I remove them fair maid?"
She sighed. "Behave." She cleaned and prodded the wound eliciting a few hisses. "No signs of new infection. The athelas worked well." She tied the fresh bandage and looked up into his eyes.
His breath caught as their gaze locked. He leaned forward, placing his forehead gently against hers. He raised a hand and threaded his fingers into her hair, his thumb on her pulse. After a moment, as she hadn't pulled away he brushed his lips against hers.
He heard her breath catch and felt her pulse speed up. Still she didn't pull away. He could feel his own pulse racing as he became aroused. He kissed her again more firmly.
She returned the kiss and slid her hand from where it rested on the inside of his knee up his thigh. He moaned. Her exploration became bold.
Kíli began exploring her more with his hands as well. He wasn't sure when she'd shed her own leggings are when they'd both lost their smallclothes. But he found her straddling his hips as she sheathed him in her.
"Hhhm. Wasn't nothing after all," she breathed into his ear.
#
That wasn't a dream. She had, as Legolas said, given herself to him. Had I known, I would have made her wait. Courted her proper before marrying her. Right, like you would've been allowed to. Did she know I didn't know?
He furrowed his brow and thought back to his lessons on the customs of other races. Was that detail in there? Why would it? No one would expect a dwarf to lay with an elf. Then again, he was the one caught in the barmaid's bed. Besides the fact he'd been far too young, he got a lecture on not being so reckless when it came to other races, that some villages of men had customs, like the elves, where that equaled. . .
Kíli groaned.
"Laddy?"
He opened his eyes and signed. "Not dream. Lay with her. Wife."
The other dwarf spit. "You would have this child, who admits he wed an elf as King?"
"He is Thorin's heir after his brother." Óin straightened from where he was prepping to tend Kíli's wound. "He is loyal and brave," he looked at his young King, "if a bit impetuous."
"His age and that last part are the problem. No one here would say a word against the Prince not being brave or loyal. He's proven in battle."
"King." Óin stated.
Kíli ate the gruel in the bowl and sipped at the obviously medicated tea while the other two debated his status. Really mucked it up, idiot.
"That is not decided." The other glared. "He's the heir presumptive, I'll grant that. My Lord, Dáin, may be the one to take the throne."
"Aye. I'm aware of the challenge." The old healer waved a hand.
"I'll send for an Elven healer to examine her, to see if she's indeed not virgin." The healer shook his head. "Gar, did mention she was found dead where she'd been grieving the prince. Even he admits she did something so he lives."
"Isn't that and her death for him enough?"
Kíli let out a sob.
"Laddy," Óin placed a hand on Kíli's shoulder.
"Enough to honor, Aye, not enough to bury her as the Prince's wife."
"My wife." Kíli signed again. "My word." He wiped the tears that traced down his face.
"Milord, protocol. Something you need to start adhering to if you would be King." The younger healer crossed his arms. "Unless you have a witness to your Elven marriage to the elf maid?"
Kíli's eyes widened as he blushed and shook his head.
"Thought not."
#
Balin sat in the tent with Dáin, Thranduil, Bard, and Gandalf. The whole mess was giving him a headache. "I don't see what business this is of Thranduil and Bard, other than what treaties will exist in the future. The succession of Erebor's King is a Dwarven matter."
"Agreed." Thranduil sighed. "But, I'm witness to the fact he was indeed dead. What the traitor did, that he lives. . ." He shrugged. "The fact remains, the Prince was dead when Thorin died."
"Even I know, until a healer pronounces him such, he's not dead for reasons of succession," Dáin rolled his eyes, "ye woodland sprite."
Thranduil smirked.
"The issue is, though Thorin named his sister-sons' as heirs, the lad is from the female line and he is too damn young t' take the throne."
"Thorin sat in council with all the Dwarf Lords when he named those lads heirs, it was approved." Balin rubbed at the bridge of his nose.
"If it were Fíli, no problem. The lad was barely of age, but a good sight more astute then his brother. The only training Kíli took seriously was tha' of a warrior." Dáin pounded a fist on the table.
"Aye, the lad never thought he'd take the throne. He had the training none the less." Balin sighed.
"Could I point out, I am even less prepared than Kíli, yet no one here sees me as unfit to be King of Dale?" Bard raised an eyebrow.
"That is a good point." Gandalf nodded. "Kíli's age is a factor though for Dwarven custom. Perhaps a Regent?"
"Something to discuss when the Dwarf Lords meet here." Balin looked around the table. "For now, it will have to be a council to get things started, the Company and Dáin as the next in line after Kíli."
"Why aren't the others here then?" Thranduil took a sip of his wine.
"I was sent as representative." Balin answered.
"Now, that is decided, what of the burial of the dead?"
All eyes turned to Gandalf.
Bard lowered his head. "We've begun digging a mass grave for our own. Work details have been sorting the dead. The burning of the Orc Armies' dead has started."
"We too, are already in preparation for our dead." Thranduil inclined his head in respect for his fallen warriors.
"Then ye be removin' the body of the lass soon? She dunna belong lying in state beside Thorin and Fíli." Dáin glared at Balin.
"No. The traitor is banished. Burn her with the filth."
"Clearly, she did not side with the Orcs," Gandalf huffed.
"No, she did not. She did defy my orders and pointed a weapon at me over her infatuation for a dwarf."
"Which leads to a request one of Dáin's healers put forth. Something that needs clearing up before the Royal funerals." Balin shook his head. "I know I gave the lad a talk about different racial customs, still, we need something confirmed given Kíli's status."
"Ya have got t' be jokin'."
Balin shook his head. "He admits to lying with Tauriel," He looked at Thranduil. "The healer has requested one of your female healers to examine her body to verify her loss of virginity."
Thranduil raised an eyebrow. "She wed him? Fine, granted."
Dáin shook his head. "One more reason the lad is not fit t' rule. Other than Thorin, Fíli, and. . ." he grimaced, "Tauriel, our dead are being taken care of."
Balin looked around the room. "Messages have gone out to Ered Luin to call our people home to Erebor. Other messages have gone out to the Dwarf Lords to call a council here to ratify our King before his Coronation." He stood up. "Unless anyone has something to say, we are adjourned."
A/N I would like to thank Summerald for all her support of my original fanfic as well as for letting me play in her AU for my other one. :-)
TMI Fairy & JP: Thank you for your reviews. Happy to bring something new to this.
Moonraykir: Thank you for review as well, as our PM discussion. :-)
Thank you to everyone that has followed the story. I hope to take you all on a wonderful journey.
Second Note: As pointed out, there have been those who took leadership much younger than Kili is. This is not the norm. He is also much older than many who died at Azanulbizar. Then again so is Gimli, who was considered too young for the quest. Dwarves also count their lineage patrilineal. Kili is related to Durin on the matrilineal. These two factors together muddy the succession, despite him being named Thorin's heir. Had he been apparent rather than presumptive, his age would not factor as succession would be clear.