Kili POV
They seem happy. They should be, Erebor is returning to its former glory. Every inch has been cleaned out and made habitable, a duty I luckily avoided due to my new station in life. Normally I would have avoided it by disappearing when the time came for work. King. It's still unreal to me. Black boot thrown over the edge of my leather armchair, in front of a roaring fire in the great hall, I gulp another mouthful of fine apple ale. I drink too much now, or so Balin is endlessly commenting.
"Tis a fine day!" Nori announces, puffing on his pipe. I'm sure it seems so. But honestly—how would we know? My acquaintance with...the elves...I cannot say her name even in my head, has changed my views. How would we know if it was pleasant or if it was raining by the gallon? If the sun were warm and it was 80 degrees or if there was a thin layer of snow, or if lightning split the heavens? We live in a cave, in a hole. Far, far from the bright sun, far from the bright stars...
"Daydreaming again?" Nori asks. "Tis unnatural for a dwarf."
"Not for that dwarf", Dwalin drawls in his Iron Hills accent as he walks by, "Look at that nose, look at that face. The nose of his brother and his uncle, he has the looks of the line of Durin. Handsome and good with a bow. He's half elf as it is."
The party erupts into laughter.
"I'm not an elf", I bark, "I don't make promises and break them." Uncomfortable silence. Great.
"Laddie, you're not still on about that elf maid are you?" Balin asks, "I told you and told you, it cannot be. She's just smarter to have seen it before you."
"Enough", I moan, head in my hands. I cannot hear more of it.
"Logia will be here to visit with the next moon", Balin reminds me, "Your brother's fiancé, now she has no one. She's of an age and a mind to marry, as are you, lad, you must give her a fair chance."
"I have no desire to rush it", I say, "Dwarves mate for life."
Balin sighs. "You're just being difficult! She was good enough for your elder brother..."
Superior brother, he means.
"She was good enough for Fili and not for you? When we arrived, the line of Durin was secure. Thorin was young and healthy, and we had every reason to believe he would have many sons, and if he didn't, he had two healthy nephews to take his place. You have no such assurance. You have no heir at all. You must get to the business of making some."
"Leave the lad be", Dwalin says, surprising me. "Logia was never going to win any awards for her face and figure."
"She comes from the finest of families, thrown out of their home in Moria..." Balin objects.
"What is a fine family compared to green eyes and long legs? His last lass was 5'7, you can't expect him to settle for 4'7." Another round of guffawing.
I get up and leave.
"Oh come back...touchy," carries after me.
Tauriel POV
"Have you come to a decision on the dwarf?", Galadriel ponders.
"I have. I can't do it, my Lady, I can't. It would kill me to love him and lose him." Perhaps it's shameful. "Or rather I would wish it would kill me."
Galadriel sighs. "You must never say such things. But I understand that kind of love. I lost my daughter you know. I have not been the same since. But I hope if you will not accept Kili, you will leave your heart open to someone else."
"I hope to live my life here, by your side..."
"As you know, the elves are leaving these shores and going to Valinor, our lives have been quite long enough. At some point, you will have to decide my dear- between this world and the next. Between coming with me, and sticking it out in Middle-Earth. At some point your decision will be final. Make sure you don't regret it." I involuntarily shudder. Galadriel looks sad and knowing, but says nothing.
Kili POV
I bend and kiss her hand. It's hairier than mine. But as Dwalin joked, I'm half elf as it is. Her fingers are loaded with rings, and her neck with gems. Her family has held onto its wealth and she has the dwarf admiration for shiny objects. We have only spent enough gold to make our home look as it did, and I have yet to even touch it myself. I want nothing to do with that gold.
"Logia, it's a great pleasure to see you again, and to have you here in Erebor, we hope you'll enjoy your stay", I remember to say, and she blushes prettily.
Balin clears his throat. "And of course we hope your stay will prove permanent."
"Kili never did know what to say, even as a child...", she jokes, "But it's nice to see all of you again, I just wish it were under better circumstances."
"We're terribly sorry for your loss", Balin adds, "There is no replacement for your beloved Fili."
No replacement indeed. She looks me up and down. "No longer starving dwarves on the run I see."
I fall into a coughing fit.
"We're dwarves, what did you expect my lady?" Dwalin laughs, "I've a good dark lager for ye if you're interested, and a white cheddar for the salted pretzels."
"I'm interested", she says with a smile and takes his arm. I would never have imagined the likes of Dwalin as my savior.
Over a dinner of pork, she launches into her tale. "Our family was driven from Moria", she exclaims, as if it happened to her and not her ancestors, "My father intends to take it back, and I would know what dwarves will join us."
"We're all of Erebor", Bifur says, dismayed, "Erebor is our birthright, I doubt you'll find many up for the journey. It's just become a fit place to live, we've worked hard..."
"Yes, Bifur, but some like Oin", Balin stops him, "His kin especially have a close link to Moria, far closer than Thorin's line...some of you may change your mind."
"Indeed", Oin adds, "My kin are closely tied to Moria, and I for one would make my home in the west, in the Misty Mountains if I could."
Logia smiles and lifts her glass.
"The dwarfess who would become my wife needs to live here with me, I cannot leave Erebor as its king", I point out.
"Of course I would be content to make my home here as Queen", she says quickly, "If I knew others had recovered my family's stronghold, and were living safely there. Besides...I presume my husband-to-be would want to be active in the recovery of my homeland, as my family would be his."
"Of course of course", Balin answers for me, and I glare at him. I just took one mountain, now I have to take another?
"Orcs, goblins, they defile our homeland", she adds. I've seen enough orcs and goblins and trolls...and elves for that matter, to last a lifetime. The price of marrying Logia keeps going up. Now I have to go to war again. Balin seems able to read my mind.
"Well I would imagine your entire family will be involved in this, there will be plenty of help", Balin adds.
"Oh yes", she says, "Plenty, hundreds of dwarves..."
Balin smiles happily. "We can play a secondary role."
"When were you needing this extra help?" I ask.
"I was hoping I could convince you to return with me now", she says, taking a gulp of the apple ale.
Balin just looks at me. This is there another option? The truth is that without...her... nothing matters, I do have to marry, and I do have to have heirs to carry on my line. Does it really matter who I marry? Maybe I'll get lucky and some orc will clock me over the head, and that will be the end of me.
"We must hold a meeting this evening to discuss this important business", I say.
"I'd be happy to fill you in..." she begins.
"In private", I interrupt.
"But she knows her needs better than anyone", Balin offers.
"Your King said in private", I repeat and Balin jumps, "It is up to individual dwarves to decide if they wish to leave, I will countenance no pressuring of any kind, no matter what line they are from. This will be hard work, and we just reclaimed one homeland, a trial and tragedy none of us are soon to forget or want to repeat. No one will be forced out of Erebor, whomever they are." Amazingly, no one argues.
That evening we are gathered together in our armchairs before the fire, ale flowing in abundance, fried sausages being passed around with mustard.
I stand up. "Every dwarf here in Erebor must make a decision for himself, just for himself, about going with Logia and retaking Moria. There are family ties involved which cannot be ignored, but if you leave Erebor, you do this as an individual, not as a group. Do what's best for you, and don't allow yourself to be influenced. This task may be even harder than taking Erebor from Smaug..."
Shoulders droop and moans go up. No one is excited about this idea.
"Oin, Gloin, Nori, Ori, and Dori have a link to the original dwarves from Moria. It is their homeland. Under no circumstances does that mean you're required to go. But you can if you choose, and even if it's not your homeland, you can go if you choose", I say.
"Done laddie?" Balin says, bold as brass.
"Yes, Balin." I sit down.
"What Kili says is correct", Balin starts, "But blood is more important to these dwarves than our young king is acknowledging...they are also a good deal older than you lad and dinna need the simplest things explained."
"Aye, it is important", Nori says, "I will go to Moria though I do not relish the task of taking another mountain, it is my home."
"I'll go", Ori offers quiet, "My place is with Nori."
"And mine", Dori adds.
"I willna", Gloin says, "I left behind a wife and young lad to come here, I will seek them before making any more decisions."
"You surprise me!" Oin spits.
"I dinna know why I should...I left behind my wife and laddie..."
"You don't have to decide now", Balin says.
"But soon", I correct, "I get the feeling Logia will want to leave with all haste."
"I get the feeling Logia's in charge", Dwalin drawls.
"Enough", I comment, but it sounds pitiful to my own ears. "Decide in the next couple of days. I'll go with you of course to take back Moria, as Logia's presumed bride-groom, but won't be staying."
"Could be years, lad", Dwalin says.
"Don't remind me."
The dwarves who want to go are eager and packed quickly. They've learned to pack light and move quickly, skills that may never fade.
A ram has been obtained for Logia to ride upon. As we leave the mountain, I look back. I don't want to go. I gave everything for this place, literally everything except my own life which feels less valuable by the day. I lost my brother, I lost my king, I lost my love. I don't want leave here, the cost for its purchase has been too dear.
"Coming, Kili?" Logia calls. I follow.
We make our way through the wilderness at a much slower pace than we planned. Our exalted female guest must erect a large tent with a full bed every night, and insists we don't travel in the dark. We cook over a fire every night, but Logia's food runs out fast, and we eat the salted pork we brought along. A month passes and the weather begins to turn. We have not come far enough.
"We will never make Moria at this rate", Dwalin complains, "We are still weeks out. Our food will run out before we reach it."
"We didn't pack well", Balin says.
"If it were only men we packed well enough", Dwalin says, rolling his eyes.
"We must stop and ask for help", Balin says.
"No, we'll be okay, we'll fast", I say.
"Have you lost your mind, laddie?" he asks.
There's only one place to stop between here and Moria, and I do not care to see anymore elves.
"I thought you said we hated them, Balin", I offer.
"We're allies now. An ally is different from having one in your own house", he says back.
"I'm sorry", he adds when he sees the look in my face, "But it was all for the best, in fact, there was no choice to make..."
"Balin!"
"I'll stop", he says. "We make for Lothlorien!" he calls out, loudly.
Tauriel POV
"A party approaches from the east!" Haldir shouts.
I pick up my bow and five of us race to the eastern border of the wood. It has been quiet for so long. No trespassers save rabbits and foxes.
Haldir rolls his eyes when I look at him. No reason to fear then.
"What do you want, dwarves of Erebor?" he asks, and they nearly all jump, thinking they were being stealthy. "Winning back your home for you was not enough?"
"We are ever grateful for the help of our elf allies", Balin says diplomatically, "We seek only minor provisions and we will be on our way."
"Come and rest for you are weary." Everyone stands up straight when we hear her voice. There is nothing that happens here that is a secret from the Lady.
The dwarves of Erebor? My stomach fips. He stayed there, he must have stayed there, he's king. He can't be here. This can't be happening. What do they want? Can't they leave me alone? I was just, just starting to find peace.
"We have no wish to stay and intrude upon your generosity", Balin says, "If you can provide us with minor provisions, we would be grateful, if you cannot, we will be on our way."
That white haired dwarf seemes to think he can give directives to Galadriel. If she asks you to stay, it is not a suggestion. "I would speak with your King", is all she says, "Is he with you?" She already knows.
"I'd be happy to speak with you", Logia offers, coming forward.
Galadriel doesn't say a word. She rarely gives orders twice.
"I'm here", rings out in a clear masculine voice, a deep voice for a dwarf, one I remember by heart. I squeeze my eyes closed. Then pop them open.
He's staring, but not at the majesty that is Galadriel. He's staring at me. He's the same, oh Valinor, he's the same. Dark hair, bangs still hanging messily on his forehead, eyes so dark they're nearly black, scruffy unshaven face, handsome as ever. And yet different. He gained some weight, but then again he's no longer marching and starving all day. But far more important he's...tired, frustrated, he compromises now and he does not like it. He's grown up to become their king and the crown rests heavy.
"I did not know...I mean to say...I thought that you were in the Woodland Realm, would be married to Legolas by now...", he starts. He can't keep the shocked look off his face.
"You are speaking to Galadriel! The Lady has spoken to you!" Balin insists.
"Forgive me", he corrects, "Lady of Lorien, it is honored we are that have come...to meet us..."
Galadriel smiles indulgently. "Never apologize for being distracted by your heart", she says. "For now, come with us and have some refreshment...Tauriel..."
I'm lost.
"Tauriel...", she repeats, "Go to the kitchens and order a light repast..."
I turn and run. She knew I needed to be anywhere but there.
I return as slowly as I can, with several elves laden with trays of food and drink. Not that the dwarves are going to want the salad and vegetables.
"We have been discussing their desire to take back their homeland of Moria", Galadriel says, as I return.
"How many homelands do they have?" Haldir sneers.
"I will be providing provisions for the party, as well as a small party of elves to assist", she adds, "Haldir will lead the party..." She hates sarcasm, he should have known better. "Bethen, Ildir, and Tauriel will also accompany them."
My mouth falls open. "My Lady, I..."
"I have spoken", she says, "This party is comprised of my best warriors and will accompany the dwarves to Moria."
"Thank you, my Lady", Balin offers. He's learning not to argue. The Lady always has more than one reason for doing what she does.
The room has disappeared though. Kili and I are locked in a gaze no one else is party to. Besides Galadriel of course. She has betrayed me. But I know she does not have a malicious bone in her body, she's pure light. She thinks she's helping...
"When do we leave?", Kili asks, not breaking my gaze.
Logia has noticed and is frowning.
"With the dawn", Galadriel offers, "Stores and supplies will be packed and ready for you by then. Take my blessing with you. May you recover your homeland. And maybe find more along the way."