CHAPTER TWO
If ever there was a kingdom as grand a spectacle as Erebor was on the night of the Ball, it was unheard of.
The green marble walls glittered with the reflections of thousands of candles that hung elegantly from the high ceilings. The smells of food wafted and lively music echoed through the halls.
It seemed all in Erebor had been invited to celebrate the wondrous event. The dwarves having braided their beards and slicked back their hair, and the dwarrows sporting tights busts and glittering jewels.
It certainly was a wonder to behold. So much so, that Charlotte did not know where to look, as her father led her and her mother through the grand doors.
Tables lined the outer skirts of the hall, full to bursting with food. The chatter was incredibly loud, combined with the stomping of feet as partners danced merrily to the music.
"Makes you proud to be a Longbeard, eh?" said Harte, his chest puffing out.
"Indeed it does, Adad," said Charlotte, her eyes sparkling as she took in the merriment around her.
She knew she should be excited about the prospect of finally meeting their enigmatic monarch and his heirs. The entire kingdom had been humming with anticipation for days leading up to the event. However, she could not help but feel an even stronger eagerness to meet the uncle of her newly esteemed student.
Charlotte curiously noted the large queue that was forming towards the end of the hall.
"My goodness, what are they lining up for?" asked Charlotte.
"To meet the King," said Calnia, fanning herself with her hand. "And of course the Princes, and the Lady Dís herself."
"Well, they must be quite interesting," said Charlotte skeptically, watching as a young dwarrow chattered nervously and fixed her hair.
"Oh don't be silly, Charlotte," said Calnia, "This may be the only chance the public will have to meet them... I've heard the Princes are quite agreeable and extremely eligible."
"Have you ever heard of an unmarried heir who was not extremely eligible?" asked Harte.
Calnia tutted and straightened her skirts.
"Amad, you cannot believe that I would have any chance of catching the attention of a Prince," said Charlotte, indignantly. "I am more than twice their ages."
"Age is just a number, my dear," said Calnia airily, standing up on tip toes in an attempt to catch sight of the royals.
"I sorely disagree," mumbled Charlotte, "As much as I would love to grovel at the feet of our monarchs Amad, I really do have a place to be."
"What could be more important than meeting our King, I ask you?" asked Calnia, heatedly. Her face, however, lost all anger after a moment and she leaned towards Charlotte eagerly. "Have you… met someone, my dear?"
"Certainly not, Amad," said Charlotte, her voice stern.
Calnia sniffled sulkily, "Oh! There is Efa, I must say hello." She turned airily to kiss her husband on the cheek, "Find me within the hour and we shall join the queue then."
And before Charlotte could begin to protest, Calnia was off with a whip of her skirts. She joined a group of dwarrows huddled to the side of the hall, no doubt gossiping about the hot topics of the evening.
"Surely it is possible, as an unmarried dwarrow, to attend a Ball without the specific intent on finding a suitor?" asked Charlotte.
"Ah yes, but a woman thrives on the very idea of finding love... It gives her something to think on," said Harte, in a jesting tone Charlotte knew only too well, "If you were to indeed, find a companion on this night, I believe it would gain you all the distinction with that particular group of dwarrows."
"Adad, you do know how to tease," said Charlotte, smiling lovingly.
"Look around you, Charlie," said Harte, nudging his daughter affectionately, "What do you see?"
"I see... Dwarves, food... happiness?"
"Aye, you or I would see such things," said Harte, clearing his throat, "But to those twittering birds over there-" He nodded to the group Calnia had joined, "-It is merely a bunch of suitors linin' up for the kill."
"Adad!" scolded Charlotte, though she was laughing.
"Food for thought, my Charlie," he said, and winking, he left her to follow a servant carrying a tray of ale.
"Oh, how handsome the Princes are! I'd never imagined I'd see faces so perfect."
"Their beards are a little short, do you not think?"
"The better to see their beauty, I say."
Charlotte and Darla, exchanging looks of exasperation, linked arms and moved away from the chattering group of young dwarrows.
"You would think that at a Ball of such splendor as this," said Charlotte, "People would have better topics to talk about than the attractiveness of the heirs to our kingdom."
"They are quite attractive..." said Darla, her voice trailing off in a sigh.
"I've not laid eyes on them and I've no inclination to," said Charlotte stubbornly.
Darla merely smirked and attempted to see through the crowd in search of the royals. The queue to meet them had been disbanded; it seemed the royals had had enough of meeting their subjects and were now enjoying the festivities of the ball.
Curious, while adamant not to show any interest in Darla's presence, Charlotte turned her head a mere inch to spy a glimpse. Her shoulder immediately collided with a nearby figure and her right heel dug itself into what was clearly a foot.
"Ouch!"
"Oh Mahal, I am so sorry!" said Charlotte, straightening herself and bowing deeply. "I was not watching where I was-"
"Lady Charlotte?"
Charlotte gasped, "Oh Kee, thank the heavens it's you." She glanced apologetically at his foot, which he was clutching in pain. "I am so sorry about your foot!"
"Not to worry, it served as a hearty wake-up," said Kee, grinning broadly, "This gathering is such a bore."
"I do not believe the intended label of the event was gathering," smirked Charlotte.
Kee laughed. Charlotte noted just how finely he was dressed, in dress robes of deep blue, with his dark hair hanging loosely over his shoulders but for two braids on either side of his face, clasped by intricate silver beads.
"Kee, this is Lady Darla. Darla, this is Kee, son of No One," said Charlotte, gesturing to her friend who had been silenced by the sudden arrival of the young dwarf.
"A pleasure, my Lady," said Kee, bowing low.
Darla blushed and squeaked a murmur of a reply before curtseying.
"Darla, what is the matter?" asked Charlotte, brow furrowed. She looked at her friend's face and Kee's awkward gaze. "Do you... know each other?"
"It would be difficult for anyone not to know him," stuttered Darla, "He is-"
Kee stepped between the two dwarrows, his hands up as in defeat.
"I'm afraid I have not been entirely honest with you, Lady Charlotte," said Kee.
"How so?" asked Charlotte.
"My name is not Kee – well it is, my brother calls me Kee – only it's not my true name," he said. "I am Prince-"
"Kili!"
The booming voice sent a jolt a surprise through Charlotte and she took a step back out of instinct.
Kili stepped aside wearing a sheepish expression and from behind him appeared four royal guards flanking one dwarf at the center of their group.
"Lady Charlotte, may I introduce you to my uncle," said Kili, his expression slightly embarrassed, "Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain."
Dumbfounded and utterly speechless, Charlotte curtseyed as the King came to a halt before her.
"It is an honor, your Majesty," said Charlotte.
"Lady Charlotte is my tutor," continued Kili, "And a wonderful one at that."
The King said nothing, as Charlotte rose from her curtsey to meet his cold gaze. He looked at her momentarily, one dark eyebrow raised in skeptic appraisal.
"I doubt that," the King said, the corner of his lip rising in a haughty smirk, "How wonderful of a tutor could she be if she does not know who her students are?"
The question left an icy silence in the air between them. Charlotte, temper rising, opened her mouth to retort only to be cut off.
"Let us depart, Kili – I wary of these celebrations," and with that, the King turned smoothly on his heel and left the hall.
Kili turned his head slightly to give Charlotte an apologetic smile, then followed his uncle out of the hall.
Darla cleared her throat awkwardly, having watched the entire affair from aside.
"Charlie… what just happened?"
Charlotte let out a low breath, "I believe we just met Thorin Oakenshield."