So so so sorry for the delay in posting. Unfortunately, it's on the shorter side too~~

Chp 71

Any they passed by made sure to bow to the couple and Kili and Tauriel beamed smiles in their return. As they got closer to the Gallery, Balin displayed an exasperated smile and said, "There you are! We sent pages all over looking for you...did you forget about your meeting with the King of the Blacklocks clan?" Kili replied a little sheepishly, "Well, only momentarily...then when I remembered, we decided to head back." Balin replied, "Well...he was starting to get a little ticked off and your mother is not back yet from the burial chambers, so I ran out of things to entertain him with! Thankfully you are here now. I have sent him to the small room that we met Thranduil in. Hopefully your mother will arrive shortly too. She has always had a good rapport with members of that clan." Kili played down Balin's excitedness, "Yes, yes...I'm sure a quick chat with him and all will be well, " he smiled. Balin narrowed his eyes and huffed at the young royal, oh he had so much to learn about politics, this one. He shook his head and they entered the small room finally.

King Xen'ab and a few members of his clan angrily appraised the trio entering the room. Kili turned on the charm as he entered and bowed to the huffy Royal and said, "King Xen'ab...please forgive my lateness...so many kin to meet and greet on this busy, happy day, you know," he smirked. Tauriel raised a keen eyebrow and vowed to herself to remember that as sweet and sensitive she knew him to be...he was far from innocent...some of the time. She only had to think back to their back and forth reparte in the jail cells to know he could have his way with anyone when he acted like that and smiled that toothy smile. King Xen'ab seemed to have fallen for the ruse, for the moment. He sputtered, "Well...y'as, o'course," and he slightly inclined his head in Kili's direction. Kili smiled again and nudged Tauriel in his direction, "King Xen'ab, I am very pleased to present my Queen, Tauriel." Being the first time introduced thusly to a dignitary, Tauriel wasn't sure how to act, so she put her hand elven style and bowed low to him. The King neither seemed impressed nor disgusted by her actions, but just slightly lowered his head. Kili seemed a little miffed that the royal didn't take more of an instant liking to his mate, but proceeded on to introducing Balin. Balin laughed and said, "Well, your majesty, despite the fact that myself and the King have been chatting here for the last hour, we have cracked some Orc skulls on a few occasions together. Yes, back in both of our younger days, when there was was much fighting to be had. Xen'ab laughed and said, "Yes...that's true, of course, my clan normally keeps to our desert hills, but there were a few times when those filthy scavengers tried a'pillagin our villages on the way to yours, or on the way back...so I'm sure we've crossed paths on'ce a'twice over our long years." Just then, Lady Dis entered and gave her apologies for her late return, to which King Xen'ab stood up and greeted her a little more friendlier.

Kili feeling the formalities were out of the way, indicated they all sit, so they did at the chairs assembled for them. Balin started, "Your majesty, you requested an audience most urgently on King Kili's Coronation day, what is it you wish to discuss with him?" Xen'ab usually the one used to dictating the pace of negotiations, shifted some in his seat, which was a bit difficult as his very rotund frame, even for a dwarf, was having a hard time fitting in the chair. But he eventually began, "Very well... as you know, our holdings in the Orocarni Mountains have always been a secure and prosperous homeland for my peoples, but also for the Ironfists and Stiffbeard clans. After a recent meeting between myself and the other two Kings, they were unwilling to come and pay their respects to you, but as I have dealings with many different peoples, even elves, I try to keep an open mind," he said as he smiled at Tauriel.

"If I may speak bluntly?" Kili looked at Tauriel and Tauriel nodded her assent, so he continued, "Frankly, King Asmirah and King Gal have stated they will never accept a dwarven and elven pairing, as such rumours have reached their ears, and now I can plainly see that they are true. In addition, they also had heard of the coming of Mahal to return a Longbeard to the throne, and once again, it is not something they will abide by." Lady Dis interrupted, "Xen'ab...how can this be? If our creator himself has returned one of my sons to rule, how can his gracious gift be denied? And do not forget, there once was a time where all dwarves looked up to Durin the Deathless, and am myself and my son not of that line?" she said somewhat angrily. Balin attempted to smooth over the situation while Kili was also looking upset about the two King's feelings about his and Tauriel's relationship. Balin stated, "Yes, we are well aware of our distant kin's feelings on other peoples, least wise what they believed elves have done to them over the many long ages...but those times are past and as King Kili stated, now is the time for a new beginning - to heal wounds from the past and renew long bonds of kin that were forgotten." Xen'ab sat thoughtfully and said, "Fair 'ye well, Master Balin. From all of what I have seen...and heard today, I am willing to give my consent to Kili as King of the Longbeards...and Tauriel as your Queen. You will find it hard pressed to receive that from the other two though. They may, in time, accept Kili as King of your clan, but doubtful as ruler over all dwarves however." Dis looked to Balin and Balin to Kili in a silent pact of acknowledgement.

Kili then spoke, "Well, if my words cannot sway them at first, then let my actions of goodwill and alliance, and eventually they may come around." Kili and King Xen'ab got up and gave each other a resounding headbutt, which due to the heavier weight of the older King, left Kili a little wobbly on his feet for a second, leaving the gathering in short round of laughter, Kili just shook his head momentarily and sat back down as Xen'ab said there was one other matter he wanted to discuss.

He began, "The other matter I wished to bring to your attention is that normally our kin and the other tribes have usually been able to fend off the rabble of Orc filth here and there that passes through our realm, but some thin' big I fear is amassing in the East and the South. We've heard tell of whisperings from those friendly to the Black Lands, that the Variags and Haradrim and other Easterlings are readying themselves for a Great War. Now...who, or when they plan on attacking, I'm not for certain...i'couldbe a year or ten years or more...but I wanted to pass along that information." He hesitated before this next bit, but eventually said, "And...well...we were wondering, do I have your commitment to support your kin in the East, if this should go ill and they plan on attacking us?"

Everyone in the room looked at Kili, who looked pensive for a moment, then set his jaw firm and spoke, "Those are indeed ill portents you have brought on such a happy day, my good King. For it seems that, as much as I had hoped for a quiet and peaceful reign, these things are never to be for us dwarves." He sighed, "However...as promised... I will not abandon our kin, though they have not chosen to honor me by coming here today." He looked at his mum and Balin, and they both smiled back. He continued, "Yes, we dwarves should always be ready for war...but hope it does not have to come to that; for I have learned, there is nothing good that comes from it. So yes, you and the other clans have my pledge that we will support you. Of course, as most of us in Erebor are just recently recovering from the last, terrible battle, we will need some time to recuperate and set our affairs in order here the Mountain. A great tragedy has befallen my great-grandfather's realm due to the dragon, and, I fear, will take many a year to restore it, and the surrounding lands to its' original splendor. So as we may not be able to commit much resources right away, we will never waver in the support of our kin and for peace across the lands."

Xen'ab smiled, "I couldn't ask for non fairer than that my lad." Again Kili and the King shared a bonding moment and everyone rose and made happy conversations. Kili invited the King and his entourage to stay as long as they liked in the Mountain before their long journey home and he said they would gladly stay a few days. King Xen'ab and his group prepared to leave and Kili had a page that was standing by idle, show them to the hallway of the Royal chambers. After they left Dis and Balin came over and Dis kissed her son on the forehead, he asked, "What was that for mum?" She replied, "Because that was a very wise and diplomatic decision you made. One could perceive the other Kings absences as a slight, but...we should try to be open to others' viewpoints, for they may have their reasons for feeling as they do; and I think it shows you have much caring, loyalty and understanding in you, hallmarks of great rulers...which of course I already knew to be true my son." Balin agreed, "Yes laddie...I think that's the right way to play it for now. A bit of wariness is prudent, always, but it showed your were willing to forgive petty slights, which is good, very good." He patted the young Royal on the back and said, "I'm guessing the feast will be ready shortly, why don't we all head to the dining hall?" All four agreed and Balin and Dis headed out of the room first, and the King and Queen, happily arm in arm, followed.

Thank you to everyone who left reviews from the last chapter. These last three weeks have been such an emotional roller coaster and I can honestly say have been the worst time in my life; capped off by something on Friday that is so horrible, I can't even detail here :( I hope to be able to write when I can, to be able to post next chapter. I'll keep everyone updated on my Facebook page as to status (Kili Cannot Be Dead). Hugs!