Outside the throne room doors, she slides her hand into Kili's offered arm. She's going to need his strength for this, and he gives her an assuring smile and nod. Dori comes up to them giving them both a hug for luck and takes his place behind the couple as the others wait with them.
The doors open and they aren't announced. Thorin sits on his throne, glaring. Kili's eyebrow lifts at this breech of etiquette. He and Sayla were going to take their cues from how she would be announced.
A commanding sharp voice booms down at them, "Sayla who has the audacity to presume to be Kili's Wife, come forward." Kili pats her hand and gives an encouraging nod before letting her go. He backs out of the room and kneels to his king on one knee in submission. She raises her head and does her best to not let her knees shake as she walks toward the throne alone and the doors shut behind her. It's make or break time for the alliance with this people.
Thorin simply stares at her, hard and cold as she approaches. She steels her resolve.
"Melhekhel undu abad. (King under the mountain.) Zaidashunizu. (I am at your service.)" She speaks in her perfect Khuzdul as she bows deeply and reverently as she was taught those many years ago.
Thorin's hands steeple at his frowning mouth, "Barely any accent. Ye couldn't have learned this since ye arrived here. Who taught ye, girl?"
"My dwarf father sire." She looks up at his darkening grey eyes, unsure of what to make of his question.
"How came he to be called yer father and what is his name?"
"Orn son of Orli, son of Ornth. He had no children of his own. He and his wife saw my interest in the Dwarven culture and took it upon themselves to be my foster family, sire."
"Orn son of Orli?"
She nods and he grunts an unintelligible reply - something about the folk of Dale and petty-dwarves mixing with others.
"So why did ye come here? I've been told ye didn't just come to snatch away my beloved nephew."
She stiffens a little, but restrains. The fire only lighting in her eyes and she makes sure she holds herself in a proud manner. "Your majesty, I came to offer an alliance with my people."
"Yes, yes. I've heard that. But WHY?" The menace in that last word tells her he doesn't think he needs the alliance with her people.
"Sire, my people have discovered a large contingent of the orcs from Mordor marching this way. It is slow going for the large army, and my people from the South are on their way here to help fend them off. My people should be at your doorstep soon. Perhaps even now. We move quickly."
"Why would we need yer help?" The contempt isn't masked in his question.
"You may not need our help, my king." The derisive snort from him shows his thought of not needing any help what so ever. So she steps forward a bit more and kneels to show the urgency of her message. "But one thing is for certain, both of our peoples are becoming increasingly rare in this world. If we work together, folk from each of our races can be spared and continue on. My people have never made such an offer before and they shall not again. I am the guarantee of their genuine intent. I am the last of the line of the Southern Uu Neill. I volunteered to deliver this message and offer myself as proof of commitment to the House of Durin. On my way wargs pressed in until I could hide and transform to take flight and speed my way here."
"Ye were rather hasty in the offer of yerself. Let us see this transformation." His venom there hinting at her marriage, but curiosity peaked he whispers about her change.
"It requires the end of my life cycle, sire. While I'm not afraid to die, it would be distressing to your nephew." Her eyes darkening and the flames spreading to her hair and hands and the tone in her voice matches her eyes as she breathes her reply.
"Would Kili be free of ye then?" He asks with almost anticipation and a hand on his sword.
"If he wished, sire..." She dares to stand up and step close enough to whisper right next to his face. "Orn Dwarf Father taught me that your people marry for life and never remarry. What would that do to your dear nephew? Kili has my heart and I have his. I would not do something that would cause him pain, if I didn't absolutely have to. Would you alienate him with my death while you still have his undying loyalty?" The pitch in her voice lowers and issues the challenge of the last question.
"Do I still? How can ye be sure?" The pained look in his eyes shows it truly was the contention, his hand still on his sword.
"Yes. He cares for his mother's brother deeper than any other bond between men. He NEVER speaks an ill word of you sire. It's out of that unique love for you." The compassion mixed with force in her voice surprises her.
"Ye will na take him from us?" His eyes filling with genuine worry. The crux being asked, it hurts her. She loves Kili and his people.
"He does not wish to leave you. How could I take him from you? He has a will of iron, just like his Uncle." At the end of her statement, Thorin's hand drops from his sword.
A door creak, and the now familiar shriek of the rock spiders makes her turn and the fire automatically builds from her hands as the door opens and a pile of dwarves tumbles in. The wall of fire crosses the throne room. It leaves all the dwarves untouched. Kili looks up and winks at her then at Fili as if to say, "Amazing, no?"
The angry mask drains from Thorin's face. "Gandalf was right - ye would make a powerful ally. Ye've passed my test child."
She turns back to face him, a puzzled look on her face. Then it dawns. She was setup - to test her courage and resolve. She shakes her head as she lets the tension diffuse and the fires go out. One of the dwarves behind her imitates the pitiful sound of the dying spiders and the others snicker. "What am I to do with these dwarves?" she mutters to herself and pinches the bridge of her nose to hide her embarrassment at falling for it all.
"Kili said that was a sight to behold. I had to see it too." Thorin clasps her shoulders with both hands. His eyes are warm and announces, "Sayla Kili's Wife, ye've captured the hearts of my kin before I could see straight and they plotted to bring ye into the fold. Kili, Fili, Dori and all the others would na give me a moment's peace as they continued to press yer case. How could I refuse my entire clan? Yer bravery, strength of character, and patience do ye credit. Welcome to the House of Durin and the alliance between our people." To the others he says, "Bring the visitor in and let us celebrate!" He holds her hand up in triumph. The shouts of joy behind her started before Thorin even finished speaking.
...
In the vast cavern of the Grand Feasthall with it's dizzying heights and ornate columns, Kili leads her toward the head table. All sounds echo tremendously in here and it's already a ruckus of happy voices. One familiar voice echoes over the rest and startles her. She lets go of Kili's hand and she darts toward the voice, calling with joy, "Dwarf Father!"
The old short round dwarf, with his curly gray hair in numerous braids, extremely bushy eyebrows, and a beard that is neatly braided and tucked into his belt, scoops her up into a big bear hug. "Oh my girl. I've missed ye so!" A tear tries to escape the corner of his eye and he wipes it away embarrassedly. "I should na be so emotional. It's just been so long since ye visited Mother and I."
"There, there Dwarf Father. We are together now. Oh, I have such news for you!" she comforts and kisses his cheek.
"So the alliance is agreed on the dwarven side?"
She giggles, "Yes. Yes, of course."
"I knew that Mahal sent ye to Mother and I for a reason! To think we taught ye enough to walk here in these hallowed halls!"
"And there's the matter of..."
Kili appears at her side putting an arm around her and knowing his position over his visitor. He interrupts confident in his charm, "Mine Wife, is this the one ye spoke of and are greeting so merrily?"
Orn looks at her with a little hurt and touches her arm as a sign of protection and then back to Kili, "Wife?"
"Uhm, yes Dwarf Father. I have much to tell you." She looks a little uncomfortable, since Orn would have liked to be the one to give his permission as Dwarf Father and have his place in the Dwarven ceremony. She can see he assumes that's happened with out him. "Orn son of Orli son of Orth from Dale this is mine husband - Kili son of Kor, and sister's son to Thorin Oakenshield King Under the Mountain."
Orn's eyes widen as he understands who this is and he quickly makes up for his previous rudeness with as deep a bow as his fat belly will allow, "F...F...Forgive me. Me family and I are at yer service, as always."
When Orn straightens, Kili grasps his forearm in friendship, "I am indebted to ye for teaching this gem of all gems our customs. It is I who is at yer service."
Orn's face down right glows with pride, "Well, well. It seems I am at a loss for words, my Lord."
"Please, let me fetch my brother and my uncle. They will be pleased to meet ye, after hearing so much about ye," Kili winks at her before zipping off to find them.
Orn whispers in her ear, "My dearest, are ye happy? Is this young lord treating ye well?" Her eager nod gives him comfort. His hands smooth her hair and he kisses her on the forehead. "Then yoe must tell me the tale when ye're able."
"I've been waiting to. I feel like I could burst. I could not have anticipated things going quite this way, Dwarf Father. But I couldn't be happier. My Father will need to be told too. Though...he will not be as surprised or as accepting as you."
When Kili returns, he introduces his family and Orn somehow manages with out falling over to bow even deeper to Thorin.
Thorin takes Orn aside, "Orn. I must apologize for how this looks. Our families are joined now. Can we move forward together and give them a proper Dwarven wedding?"
Now that the puzzle pieces are fitting together for Orn he smiles in understanding. "Oh! Of course. Sayla has always been a strong willed and impetuous one. This came about because of her people's customs, did it na?"
Thorin nods with a twinkle in his eyes. "Yes, but Kili had his own part in this. It's difficult to straddle two cultures. But my kin were smitten with her instantly." Then his look turns grave again. "I'm unsure how her birth father will take this. Do ye have advice?"
"I...I am unused to giving counsel to a king. But she is much like her birth father. He will be angry, but should be able to be convinced of the good here. She absolutely glows when she is around yer young Kili."
Thorin's worry is replaced with joy from the complement and he pats the old dwarf's shoulder. "Come. Drink with us. And tell me if her people have arrived yet."
...
Later that evening.
Kili knocks on Thorin's door and opens is, "Uncle?"
"What is it Kili?"
He takes a good deep breath before he shares the trouble on his mind. "Will ye come with Sayla and I to meet her kin in the morrow eve."
"A little nervous?" Thorin's perception is usually spot on with his nephews.
"Maybe a little."
"Learning to think before ye leap, my reckless nephew?" Thorin prods just a bit.
"Perhaps." Kili lets out out a small chuckle and a small humble smile.
"I will accompany ye, since ye still have need of me."
Kili's grateful embrace is returned and Thorin cradles his nephews head against his shoulder.