Fíli and Astrid made a slow circuit of Erebor's upper balcony walking arm in arm. Below, the main hall was a commotion of dwarves intent on one errand or another, but up here their noise blurred into a pleasant, indecipherable hum. He'd thought sure when they first began such walks that he'd soon grow tired of aimless strolls, but now he found them enjoyable indeed.

"I hope you are able to keep yourself busy these days," he said. "I'm sorry I cannot spend as much time with you as I once did."

Ever since Thorin had thrust Fíli back into his old routine of daily meetings and mediations, his free time with Astrid had grown slim. Combined with his renewed exercises in the training rooms, some days he only saw her at supper.

"I understand," she said. "What do you do with the rest of your day now?"

"Practice with my daggers that I may be as skilled as you," he said with a playful grin.

"I am in earnest," she said as she jostled her elbow against his ribs. He held her arm close against him in retaliation. Her little shows of playfulness were becoming more difficult for him to resist. The truth was, on those days when he only saw her over the dining table, he missed her company more than he was ready to say.

"In earnest," he said with a teasing emphasis, "there is little entertaining about my mornings."

"You have a great deal of responsibility."

"Thorin would say not enough. He is always reminding us we are not in the Blue Mountains anymore."

"Do you ever miss your old life?" she asked.

He looked down at her and saw no judgment, only simple curiosity in her eyes. Did he miss it? Sometimes he dwelled on thoughts of the Blues, but wasn't that only natural? Those halls had been his childhood home, where he learned to fight, got into scrapes with Kíli, and watched Thorin lead their people with a sort of distant awe. He knew Thorin's Halls and the lands of the Ered Luin better than he did the Lonely Mountain. But would he return if he could?

"I miss the Blues," he said, "and the freedoms I had there. It was a different life, but I wouldn't trade Erebor for it."

He paused before asking, "Do you miss your old life?"

She looked surprised, and he was relieved her question wasn't a reflection of her own regrets. "I miss my family, but it isn't a bad thing to have a little distance from them."

"Sometimes I wouldn't mind having a little distance from Kíli." He looked over his shoulder but his brother and Idunn were out of sight. "If there is anything I can do to make Erebor feel more like your home, you need only name it."

"There is nothing, truly."

"So...you are happy here?" He liked to think she was, but her shyness could be hard to read.

When she looked up at him the sweet smile upon her lips was answer enough. "I am happy here with you."

The sincerity of Astrid's simple confession tugged at Fíli's heart. Her cheeks glowed pink until she must have felt them burn, because she placed one hand to her face. He lightly took her hand and ran the backs of his fingers along the soft skin that blushed so sweetly. "I am glad to hear it," he whispered.

He leaned forward but he saw the changed look in her eyes, the nervous shift in her body as she realized what he was about to do. Although he was confident she didn't fear him, he could wait to kiss her until he was sure she wanted him to. Too much of their situation was already not of her choosing - he wouldn't add a kiss to that list.

He closed the distance between them but angled his face to the side so he could press a gentle kiss to her exposed cheek rather than her mouth. Her soft intake of breath when his lips touched her skin led him to hope she wouldn't shy away the next time.

He pulled back just as Kíli and Idunn rounded the pillar that had provided their needed cover. Kíli realized at once that something was afoot, but Idunn seemed not to notice. Perhaps she was just more tactful than his brother, who couldn't keep his mouth shut for his life.

"Incredible views, aren't they?" Kíli dug an obnoxious elbow into Fíli's ribs as he jostled past him. He leaned against the railing and peered down into the depths below, feigning intense interest in the Main Hall.

"This is quite the spot for watching what goes on in the Mountain," Idunn said as she, too, leaned over the rail. "Nothing would go unseen here."

"Indeed," Kíli said carelessly, "anyone out here should take care for being spied upon."

Astrid's already pink cheeks turned a deeper shade of red as the others' words sank in. He didn't care if anyone else in the Mountain saw them together, but perhaps she did. Few knew of their betrothal yet; if they were seen together so intimately, the conclusions drawn would likely embarrass her worse than Kíli's teasing remarks had done.

"Spying is the mark of an ignorant mind," Fíli said with a significant glance at his brother, "and punishable by a sound beating."

"As I recall, the last time that was attempted the would-be beater was put in his place by the spy." Kíli grinned, unfailingly content with himself. "Or am I wrong?"

"You're almost always wrong."

"Do you two need to visit the sparring rooms?" Idunn asked dryly.

"I'm confident in my superiority," Kíli said. "But perhaps Astrid would like a chance to best my brother. What do you say, Astrid, do you want to put him to shame with your one-on-one skills?"

When Kíli winked at him it was all he could do not to tackle his flippant little brother on the spot. Taunting him about his growing affections was one thing, but teasing her was another.

"I've heard the stories of your journey to Erebor," Astrid said as she held Fíli's arm a little tighter. "I'm not so foolish as to think I could best him."

Kíli made a show of taking Idunn's hand and placing it upon his arm. "Oh," he said, "I think you already have." With that, he led Idunn away.

Astrid's cheeks burned again, but Fíli would have sworn it was out of pleasure and not embarrassment this time. He nearly took her in his arms and kissed her right then, despite having resolved not to just moments ago. It was an impulse that was growing harder for him to fight. He knew he could only keep his feelings for her a secret from the prying eyes of the Mountain for so long.


What with all the sights and sounds her months in Erebor had shown her, the one thing Idunn lacked was a variety of company. She had not expected her days as Astrid's companion to be so isolated. For all her time spent in the forges, she wouldn't call the workers there her friends, nor had she and Astrid had much opportunity to make new acquaintance. It was a great thrill to her, then, when Fíli and Kíli announced that they would dine with a group of friends from Thorin's Company that evening.

In light of the occasion, the women made ready in their finest dresses, something Fíli couldn't help but notice when he arrived at their door. He looked at Astrid like a miner who has just caught sight of gold. His gaze took on that awestruck look more often lately, which pleased Idunn for Astrid's sake, but also distressed her, as his increasing interest would no doubt complicate her role as chaperone. An indifferent suitor was one thing, but an ardent one would be quite another.

"You look beautiful, Astrid." Fíli didn't take his eyes off her, as though incapable of looking on anything else. "I should say something about the need to have guests at supper more often, but I'm not sure I want to share you."

"You said they are honored friends." Astrid pretended to overlook his flattery, although the little smile at her mouth said she was pleased with his attentions.

"Mmm," he murmured, "honored, yes. Honorable...well, Nori is somewhat reformed, I suppose."

Kíli held out his arm to Idunn. "They're almost as refined as we are."

"Almost?" she said. "We're in for quite the evening, then."

Fíli and Kíli led them down strange corridors of the royal halls they didn't often visit until finally they arrived at a set of doors flanked by guards. They were ushered into a sumptuous room where a great dining table was laid out before a hearth big enough to roast a bear in, and plush seating drawn around the fire. A dozen or more dwarves unknown to Idunn hovered about in conversation, but all went quiet when the four walked into the room.

King Thorin sat in an armchair near the fireplace but stood when their party arrived. He gave a slight nod to Idunn, and the simple recognition filled her with a warm sense of pride. Ever since she had given him his sword his attitude towards her had undergone a shift, however slight, and he was no longer quite so brusque.

Idunn and Astrid were met with many curious stares as they were presented to the room. Fíli introduced Astrid as his 'dear friend', although by the arch looks that a few of the dwarves exchanged, Idunn guessed some must know the truth of it. At any rate, a beautiful young dwarf-maid on the arm of the Crown Prince invited active minds to draw their own conclusions.

They had already met Balin on several occasions, but the rest were new to them, a succession of dwarves whose names Idunn had heard spoken of around the Mountain, and whose faces she wasn't likely to forget. It seemed odd that of Thorin's Company only he, his nephews, and the rather ferocious-looking Dwalin truly looked like the sort to embark on a quest of any kind, let alone one to retake the Mountain. The rest were a strange collection of dwarves she could more easily imagine running market stalls than fighting orcs or rousing dragons. That just thirteen had succeeded at all now seemed even more amazing than when she had first heard the story of their triumph whispered about in the Iron Hills.

The group was allowed to mingle only a short while before they were drawn to the table for dinner. They made a large party, and several conversations went on at once with such enthusiasm that Idunn could hardly even follow that which was closest at hand. Talking over each other as old friends do and gesturing wildly, everyone seemed ready to argue on any given topic. She caught snippets of talk, but didn't really pay attention until the Iron Hills were mentioned.

"I'm glad the trade talks are finally settled," Glóin said between great bites of potato. "We can move on with real business again."

Idunn's eyes shot to Astrid's at the other end of the table. Astrid looked as surprised at the news as Idunn felt. Since being scolded by King Thorin for asking about the trade negotiation's progress, she hadn't brought the subject up again. She turned to him now, but he took no notice of her.

"Though the arrangement is a bit too generous for my taste," Glóin went on, "they debated it long enough our side can have nothing to complain about."

"What wouldn't be too generous for your taste?" Nori asked.

"I would have been content to let them fall," Dori said with a slight sniffle.

"They didn't come to our aid until after the Quest," Glóin said. "Should we come to theirs now?"

"It would have served them right to get nothing," Dori muttered. "Leave them on their own and see how they like it."

Idunn's face grew hot and she clenched her fists beneath the table. She had never heard someone speak so derisively of her home and people before. Erebor and the Iron Hills were kindred lands, not enemies to be vanquished. Was this the prevailing opinion towards the Hills? Anger and wounded pride prevented her from quickly forming a coherent argument against such talk.

"Our guests are from the Iron Hills." King Thorin's low voice silenced the resentful chatter. Dori glanced between Idunn and Astrid with a shade of repentance, but Glóin seemed to have no shame for his sentiment.

"And it's true," Thorin went on, "the Iron Hills did not come to our aid when we first set out on our journey, but we could not have kept the Mountain without them. I would not have it said that Erebor does not stand by our allies. Their halls are as important to them as ours are to us."

For a moment the table was quiet. King Thorin let his gaze drift around the table, resting on Idunn for the barest moment before moving on again. It seemed a direct acknowledgement of her voiced desires to preserve the Hills, but she knew the secured deal could have nothing to do with such a meaningless plea. She wondered about the generous terms, but considering Glóin's derision for the Hills, any concession at all might have been branded such.

"I expect you are finding ways to keep yourself entertained around the Mountain Miss Astrid?" Balin asked as one making an effort to fill up an awkward silence.

Astrid glanced about the table, painfully aware that all conversation had ceased but their own. "I am. I spend a great deal of time reading in the library, and when I am not, I draw."

"That's right," Kíli said with a snap of his fingers, "I forgot that you draw. Ori, here, draws as well." He gestured to another, who gave a faint smile.

"What are you working on, Miss Astrid?" Ori asked.

"Oh," she said quickly, "just portraits, mostly." Idunn gave her a wry look. She knew what secret project consumed Astrid's time but would not dare spoil the surprise. "What do you draw?"

Ori opened his mouth to answer but hadn't gotten a single word out before his brother, Dori, spoke. "Ori is compiling the story of our journey here, at the request of King Thorin. It will be a written chronicle, complete with illustrations, to be bound into a book for the library. It's historical." Dori's chest puffed out as though boasting of his own accomplishments.

For his part, Ori twisted his mouth into an odd little smile and nodded along to his brother's recitation.

"That sounds like an important commission," Astrid said. "I must confess, Fíli has told me enough of the dangers you faced on your travels that I'm not sure I would like to see the illustrations."

"They're not grotesque," Nori said. "At least not in any way that isn't true."

"That's so," Dori said. "How is he to draw orcs, or wargs, or mountain trolls without showing them as they really are?"

"Trolls?" Idunn cast a curious glance at King Thorin. "I have not yet heard the story of the trolls." He seemed to brush off her curiosity, as though such incidents were nothing to him.

"I'd be happy to tell you of it," Kíli said. "I was, dare I say, quite heroic." The chorus of contradictions this claim provoked must have dented his pride, and he scowled at their jeering.

Lady Dís's laughter cut through the noise. "If you get this lot recounting their tales of valor it will end in bloodshed."

Despite Dís's warning, the group finished their meal and found places around the hearth, where Kíli regaled them with a story of their encounter with mountain trolls. Everyone seemed to have played a part in the battle, and so each dwarf butted in with a particular memory, which more often than not turned into a jab against one of the others. As far as she could understand, each one failed in some spectacular way, only to be rescued by another. It sounded as though their hobbit friend was the true hero of the day, even if he had used questionable distraction techniques.

"He suggested the trolls skin you?" Astrid asked with wide eyes.

"They wouldn't have done," Fíli reassured her with a gentle touch of his hand.

"No," Dwalin agreed, "they were more than willing to eat Bombur whole."

"Lucky for us mountain trolls are slow and stupid, eh Kíli?"

"The plan worked," Kíli said.

"I don't recall you having a plan," Thorin said. Kíli shrugged and gave a smile as though undeterred from his own version of events.

"In the end," Balin said, "Bilbo's cleverness held them off until Gandalf - and the sunrise - could arrive."

"It was lucky you had such a friend in such a desperate hour," Idunn said. King Thorin looked stricken, but then his features softened again and he gave a slight nod. The room was suddenly silent. "Forgive me," she said in a soft voice, "did the hobbit not survive the Great Battle?"

Everyone turned to the king as though afraid to answer. "Bilbo survived," Thorin said finally, "although for a moment it seemed he would not."

He looked grim, as though reliving memories that pained him, and his gaze remained fixed on the fire. The others glanced about, unwilling to elaborate. Whatever had happened, everyone seemed to regret it had been mentioned. There was an undercurrent of guilt in the room, and Idunn could only guess they felt responsible for having brought someone so unsuited to battle into the heart of one. She had never seen a halfling, but she knew they were smaller than dwarves, and less hardy. Given the room's somber atmosphere, something terrible must have befallen him, even if he did survive it.

"Bilbo returned to his home in the West, in the Shire," Balin said with a veneer of false cheer. "We all know how much he missed his home." Murmurs of laughter moved around the room, and the mood seemed to lighten.

"He could hardly be induced to leave it," Dwalin said with more fondness than Idunn would have expected from such a dwarf.

"'I forgot my handkerchief'," Glóin said with a shake of his head.

"A song, Bofur." King Thorin's command was quiet, but his tone could not be mistaken. For his part, Bofur obliged without comment, and pulled a clarinet from his pocket. From the atmosphere around their little group, Idunn half-expected a mournful dirge, but he came out with a jig that seemed to ease sad memories from their minds.

Every member of the group had some musical talent, and each was happy enough to play in their turn. Flutes and fiddles were retrieved from hidden places, and the rest of the evening was spent in glorious song. Although the gathering was not so fine nor extravagant as Lord Dáin's evenings at court, Idunn found it much more enjoyable.

Between songs, Fíli turned to Astrid. "Do you play at all?"

"I play the flute, but I have never been very dedicated to it," she said, as though fearing he would ask her to take over for Dori or Ori.

"No," he said with a small smirk, "your time is taken up with drawing. And when am I to see your work?"

"It is not quite ready to be seen."

Idunn tried to conceal a smile, imagining how he would react when he finally saw what Astrid had been working on.

"Do you play an instrument, Idunn?" King Thorin's voice startled her from her musing, and several sets of eyes turned to look her way.

"I'm afraid I do not," she said. "So much of my youth was taken up in the forges with my father, I had little chance to learn an instrument."

"I found time for both." The lilt to Thorin's voice almost made her think he was teasing her, but that could not be. He was not a teasing sort of dwarf, was he?

"You play an instrument, sire?"

"I play the harp." The room suddenly rang with a chorus of confirmation and exclamations of his great musical skill. After the group's boasts about their feats with the trolls, their credibility wasn't the strongest. Even so, she seriously doubted he would have mentioned playing an instrument were he not proficient. King Thorin's boasts weren't idle.

"Then I concede you to have made the better use of your time," she said with a little nod.

"No one seeing the work of your hands would think your time in the forges was misspent."

His gentle words sent an unsettling thrill through her in their wake. She smiled slightly, offering the smallest of thanks, before turning her attention back to the center of the room, where Bofur, Dori, and Ori now stood ready to take up a new tune.

Idunn could withstand King Thorin's gruff rudeness, for it bothered her very little, but a kind King Thorin...she found that bothered her very much.


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As always, a huge thank you to everyone reading along and reviewing. I appreciate it!