Author's Note: Thanks once again to Wockerjabi for her contribution to even more detailed back story and plot developing assistance. My official beta AthenaSophia85 is currently very busy with her own real life so understandably is dealing with that first at the moment, but still many thanks go out to her for her assistance. Go check out her story A Song For Heart And Soul. It's amazing and makes me feel so inadequate…. Lol. Anyway, enjoy. :D

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC's.

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"You shall have to do it yourself, lass. I cannot show you this one. My knees will not stand for it."

Sky suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and groan.

Balin had arrived late that morning. It was noon now and his lessons in the behaviour required of her outside her chambers didn't seem to be anywhere near finished.

Already they had covered sitting in a chair, which Balin had informed her she would not be doing very much of, as most dwarves were of the opinion that allowing a slave to be seated on an equal level with their masters may give them 'ideas.' Then they had moved on to standing and walking. Balin had deemed her stride confident "to the point of unseemly arrogance and insubordination," so she had been forced to practice a bearing more sufficiently meek. Nearly half an hour later, he had still not been satisfied with her work.

"Take smaller steps," he had chided, then, "Slower, for Mahal's sake! You will scarcely be going anywhere, so whatever is the point of rushing?" That last comment, though not intentionally insulting, had given her the almost irresistible urge to tangle her fingers in that long, bushy white beard of his and yank. Now he was trying to teach Sky the bow expected of her when she was "fortunate" enough to be in the presence of the royal family and distinguished lords of Erebor. "Would you kindly describe it for me again, Lord Balin?" She requested, voice tight with barely restrained frustration. He was currently attempting instruction verbally. She found this difficult as her brain had never liked nor excelled in translating words into visual images in her mind, which she could then emulate correctly.

Balin took a deep breath and let it out steadily before speaking.

"We will try a different way. Do you know how to squat, Sky?"

She nodded and he made a 'well go on' gesture with one hand. She pressed her lips together in annoyance as she did as he asked. "Good, good. Now, slide your left foot out so it is flat on the floor, but keep the other one on the ball turned slightly outwards as it is." Well, it wasn't too bad. Her martial arts training seemed to be making it easier to hold the bow. But her taskmaster wasn't done with her yet.

"You are doing well. Squeeze your thighs together as much as possible without over-bala– Oh, dearie me. Try again." After a few vexing mishaps she managed it, only to find there was still more to it.

Balin was hiding a little smile in his beard as he told her to fold her left hand over her right, tuck them into her belly whilst keeping her elbows close to her sides – if not against them – and bow her head.

She followed the instructions, then stood as the knee which was folded back on itself over her right foot began protesting its inadequately supported position. "Ah, ah." Balin pointed to the floor with a frown. "No rising until given permission to do so. If the royal or noble you are giving obeisance to does not tell you to rise for another hour, you must simply stay in that position for that entire hour, or even longer, unless otherwise commanded."

"But –"

"Lass." The old dwarf's voice was stern, but not unkind, as was his facial expression. She waited, having a good idea of what was to come. When he was sure he had her attention, Balin continued, "If I were Thorin, would you dare to protest for a single moment any instruction I gave you?" Sky felt her body tense up at the mention of the King. She shook her head. "Then for your own sake, lassie, pretend I am someone other than myself. Someone not so tolerant. Practice diligently when with me, to avoid making mistakes in a less forgiving environment." She nodded, then caught herself, saying "Yes, my lord."

"Better. Remember this is for your own good, Sky. Thorin needs little excuse to deal out harsh, painful punishments I would not wish on my worst enemy. Avoid giving him a reason to do those things to you." Balin gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze and she glanced up at him in surprise. His eyes were sympathetic and a sadness seemed to linger behind them. Something darker too. She fancied she was staring into the eyes of one who had seen horrors beyond imagining.

"Avert your gaze. I did not order you to look at me." His demeanour was suddenly stern again, but not cold, she realised, as she did as he said.

For the rest of the lesson, which involved who was who in the hierarchy of Erebor and the different behaviour – though always respectful – required from her toward each variant of rank, Sky tried harder to listen and perform for him better. He was only trying to help her, the least she could do was put more effort into it.

"Lord Balin, permission to ask a question?"

She'd been practicing her walk again the next day whilst Balin took a break from their lessons and smoked his pipe out on the balcony, having acquired the keys to the grate from the door guards. "It's 'permission to speak,' lass, and avoid using a noble's name unless otherwise instructed." He continued staring down the gully, puffing smoke rings into the air every minute or so.

"My lord, permission to speak?"

"Granted."

"Why is your race at war with everyone and enslaving the survivors after victory?"

The old dwarf inhaled sharply and began coughing, leaning over the stone rail and pressing his gloved fist to his mouth. Sky swiftly fetched her mug and filled it with water from a jug she'd requested of Lasl after she'd found one day that there had only been wine to drink, carrying it over to him and proffering it with an apologetic smile.

He took it and drank deeply, panting a little and giving it back with a nod of gratitude. Then his face became stern and he shook a finger at her as he gathered his thoughts before stuttering, "That is…. not…. really a question you should be asking me, Sky. I... I do not make the decisions around here. I just advise the King on relations with other houses. I stay away from warfare where I can and keep my nose out of military decisions. As you should in regards to all matters outside of pleasing the King. It is simply not your place!"

Sky felt sorry for broaching a subject he clearly found uncomfortable, but she couldn't let it slide. This was her one chance to find out what was going on. She'd hoped the rapport she felt was slowly building between Balin and herself would make him more inclined to answering her inquiries. He was currently tapping the burnt contents of his pipe out over the edge of the balcony, his movements rather agitated. "I apologise for this in advance, my lord, but I need to know. I need to understand why this is happening to me. To others of my race. Why did the war start? Did they offer some kind of slight? What could they possibly have done to deserve this?" She was standing almost toe to toe with him now. They were the same height, some part of her mind absentmindedly noted. That was a welcome change. She was sick of her captors towering over her. Sick of whatever had shrunk her in height when she stepped into this world. Even Fili was an inch or so taller. She realised she had been gradually raising her voice as she spoke, and slowly closed her mouth, biting her lip.

Balin cleared his throat and made a subtle gesture to indicate her proximity to him was unacceptable, so she grudgingly took a step back. "Lass…. This conflict has made enemies of all races non-Khazad." His tone was soft and held a note of weariness and pain which made her wonder again what he had seen and been forced to do at his monarch's command. "It has been raging for many decades. It began with Thror, grandfather to Thorin, who had been going mad for quite some time. Everyone could see it, yet none had the nerve to point it out. One day, something finally snapped inside the King, and he waged war on all those not of the dwarven race. Trade between Erebor and the city of Dale had been flourishing at the time, and no serious problems had ever arisen between us before two incidents that shook our people to their cores, buried our hearts in grief, and hardened them with rage. I shall not speak of them in detail. The Men of Dale were completely unprepared for an attack and were at our mercy within a day. It was clear to myself and possibly several others that Thror had developed a taste for blood and cruelty the like of which had not been seen outside of orc packs. And perhaps in the behaviour of some Men." Balin's lip curled slightly in disgust, his eyes staring at nothing as he recounted the tale. "He grew overly confident however and after a few decades began to lose more battles than he won, his increasing insanity marring his judgement. That was when Thorin stepped in. He was still in his prime; skilled, cunning and, most of all, inspiring. The warriors of Erebor looked up to him, hailing him as the reincarnation of Durin himself, the one who had been prophesised to lead our kind into supremacy. Our kin from the Iron Hills, the Grey Mountains and Khazad-Dum soon also rallied under Erebor's banner. Few could oppose us. Only a decade or so after the birth of Prince Kili, the King and Thorin's father, the Crown Prince, were ruthlessly assassinated. Princess Dis had already lost her husband, Vili, two years prior. She fell into a deep depression and died soon after of a broken heart."

Balin's brow was heavily lined with sadness as spoke.

"It would seem that our opponents were growing desperate, and had hoped to defeat us by removing our head. But despite our losses, we continued to prevail. Thorin took Fili as his heir and trained both princes in the skills required of them to serve their people. The King has had many consorts. Only a few survived beyond their first few months here, though many still died once their usefulness had ended. So many of them simply gave up, and Thorin became bored with them."

The old dwarf grasped her shoulder suddenly, and she startled, her body instinctively tensing in expectation of a blow. But he didn't strike her, merely looked her in the eyes and said, in an almost pleading tone, "Whatever you do, lass, do not let the King tire of you! Do all you can to please him in all things."

He let her arm go and picked up his pipe, slipping it into the folds of his robe before turning back to her, his kindly face grim.

"It may end up being the only thing that keeps you alive."

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Sky paced the floor of her chambers restlessly. Balin's terrifying warning the day before and his recounts of the war's beginnings had kept her awake most of the night. To top it all off, this was the day Balin would decide if she was ready to be let loose in Erebor.

This was the day she would finally be released from her glorified prison cell. For the umpteenth time that morning, Sky wished the dwarves had invented clocks. Or if they had already, that they had bothered putting one in her rooms. The sun had already risen and still he wasn't here.

"Where are you, Santa Claus," she growled as she turned to cross to the door once again. "Where are your reindeer when you need them?"

He did look a lot like the jolly, white bearded man of legend. He even wore red clothing most days. In fact, she mused as she finally flopped down on the divan for a rest, she couldn't remember having ever seen him in any other colour. She almost laughed at herself. Here she was, about to be released after an entire month of incarceration whilst being forced to watch herself be used by previously fictional characters, and all she could do was think about Balin's attire. And she was certainly one to talk. All her dresses were similar gold or saffron shades, lacking any sort of adornment but rather beautiful in spite of it. She felt even plainer than ever in them. If she'd hoped that would put Thorin or Kili off, however, she'd have been sorely disappointed. She tugged at the leather collar of the new dress Lasl had brought her to replace the one Kili had destroyed, wishing she could loosen it even a little. Perhaps she could find a way to make another hole in the strap….

The sound of the bolt sliding back had her springing immediately to her feet, a flutter of excitement curling within her which she tried desperately to keep in check. She couldn't afford to forget Balin's training, thereby losing his vote of confidence, the only thing now between her and a consistently unbolted door. She could do it.

Balin entered, holding a box under his arm.

She took a deep breath and tried to look as demure as possible. Damn those dwarves and their oppressive rules. Balin cleared his throat and she quickly cast her eyes down and dropped into the bow for nobles and royals, praying he would let the delay this time pass.

"Good morning, Sky." He placed the box on the sideboard and unfastened the catches on it. "Good morning, my lord." She was fit to burst. What was taking so long? He turned back to face her, holding what seemed to be a gold cuff in one hand and a tiny padlock and key in the other.

"This is your Thandmesem. It is a symbol of your status as royal consort and shows others you belong to the King. You are to wear it at all times unless you need to remove it for bathing or His Majesty orders differently. The key will be kept in the King's chambers, to be retrieved by your maid with permission of the King. Punishment will be swiftly meted out to both yourself and your maid should you violate these rules." Balin's voice was flat, as though speaking words he had recited many times. "Rise and hold out your right arm."

Sky obeyed, shivering slightly as the cool metal made contact with her skin. The cuff was made up of two pieces, both parts hinged on one side, and each with loops on the other which interlocked as the old dwarf brought the halves together around her upper arm. He then slipped the little padlock through the loops and closed it with a soft, yet eerily final click. It was tight, too tight, like the collar around her neck. Before she could say anything however, Balin was speaking again and holding out another item.

A veil.

She bit her tongue firmly to keep from protesting. He had already briefed her the day before on the importance of keeping her face covered. She belonged to Thorin and only he had the right to decide who may see her, though apparently her bare arms and feet didn't count. She had rolled her eyes at this and Balin looked inclined to agree with her, but had instead continued on with a list of the things she was expected to do at banquets or general dinners were she 'honoured' enough to be invited.

The head piece consisted of a thin, but sturdy chain made of gold links, around which had been sewn several pieces of gauzy cloth a similar colour to the fabrics her dresses were made from. He handed it to her and she reluctantly placed the chain on the crown of her head, feeling it settle around her brow as she arranged the folds over her face and around her neck. Her vision wasn't as badly impaired as she had thought it would be, yet she was already wishing she could just take it off and never have to wear it again. Balin was nodding approvingly though, and she was not going to ruin her chance to leave her hell hole, even if it was only for a few hours.

"Well done, lass. You will be alright I think. Just remember the walking, bowing and correct forms of address and everything will go smoothly. If you need to do more and you are less than confident you will remember the protocol, never hesitate to request my assistance. You will be alright." He was beginning to sound as though he was trying to convince himself as well as Sky. She felt the sudden urge to throw her arms around him and squeeze. And tug that bushy beard, but this time it would be with affection instead of vengeance. She kept her hands firmly pressed to her sides however, holding herself in check. Perhaps she could find a way to thank him later. She had grown just a little bit fond of him, she realised, as he nodded once in a sort of absentminded manner and left the room again.

She was alone, and the door was open. The guard stood with his back facing her, off to one side so that the green marbled corridor stretched before her, seeming impossibly long. Her stomach twinged and she swallowed. She should be taking her first steps of semi-freedom right now. Why couldn't she move?

She took a look around the place that had been her prison for the past month. Suddenly it seemed inviting and safe. 'That's ridiculous,' she told herself firmly, 'You've just been here too long….' She sat on the divan. She stood up again and moved toward the door. She sat in front of the fireplace, then grew restless and went to stare out the grate for a while. "This is insane," she muttered, and resolutely rose, turning back to the opening in the wall. And that long, long hallway….

Finally she grew tired of just staring and retrieved one of the blindfolds from her bedchambers, tying it firmly around her eyes before carefully using her sweeping foot trick to guide her toward and out the door. She could feel the guard's eyes following her down the passage, but she didn't care. He couldn't stop her unless she did something wrong and she was just walking.

She remembered she was still sweeping as she couldn't see, so she removed the blindfold and focused on the little steps Balin had taught her. She turned and looked back to where the guard had closed the door to her chambers and felt panic surge up inside her, but managed to keep herself from racing back. She had come this far. She could continue. And hopefully this feeling would wear off soon.

She spent what felt like hours exploring the corridor, stopping whenever she saw Kili's door and turning to go back the way she had come, before repeating the process. Eventually she decided it would be best to take it slowly and returned to her chambers, where she took a nice long bath, attempting to twist and adjust the cuff every now and then as it was still rather uncomfortable.

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The next day was much like the one before, only this time she managed to push past the younger prince's chambers and got all the way to Fili's before she stopped and fidgeted a little under the scrutiny of the armoured duo posted at his door. Now she had a dilemma. She didn't want to pass Kili's door again but going anywhere near Thorin's 'territory' was absolutely non-negotiable. She felt trapped and breathed deeply to calm herself down. They were irrational fears and entirely the most unproductive ideas she had ever foolishly indulged herself in believing. She held her head high, steeled her nerves and stalked back past the single door with all its elaborate carvings.

Fuck those carvings.

She turned and glared long and hard at them. The guard turned to glare right back at her. Her immediate response was to think of all the different ways she could take him down unarmed, in a dress.

Barefoot.

She didn't like her odds. If he were a Man it would have been plausible. But dwarves were built like the rocks they were rumoured to be born from. She had found it difficult enough to defeat an armoured dwarf with a sword when he had gotten too close too quickly for her to shoot. And it made sense that those dwarves chosen to protect the royal family would be far more skilled than the rank and file soldier she'd faced. It didn't matter, she decided, as the guard had made no move to attack her anyway. His constant staring was a little unnerving though.

She turned on her heel and remembered just in time to shift into the consort walk, instead of the defiant stride she'd intended to use to show the guard he didn't scare her. Which was bullshit, because he did, but he didn't need to know that and the walk required of her wasn't helping.

She returned to her chambers, made a rough sketch in her notebook detailing her attacking Kili's door with a chainsaw and felt a little better. Then spent the next hour pondering what exactly those carvings had done to deserve her wrath. She couldn't find a feasible answer and instead came up with the conclusion she was ever so slightly losing it.

It was time to try for safe passage through Thorin's domain.

Tomorrow.

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She was beginning to wish Thorin's doors had carvings on them. The solid gold and gems embedded in geometric patterns clearly of dwarvish design were far more intimidating than the wooden hunting scenes all over Kili's. Or was it simply because the dwarf king himself could come sweeping through them at any moment? Pick on some little mistake she might make and punish her for it? Cerulean gaze glinting in satisfaction at the sound of her pain. Sky opted for the blindfold again. Really, if she thought about it he would most likely be out at this time of the day, doing whatever evil kings did in this nightmare world.

Finally, she was free of the royal apartments and soon found herself going down several flights of stairs wide enough to fit at least half a dozen dwarves standing shoulder to shoulder. There was in fact a group of them coming toward her now, speaking to each other in their gruff, gravelly tones with the occasional hand sign thrown in for good measure. She recognised them as nobles and crouched awkwardly on the stairs, shooting out a hand to grasp the railing when she almost toppled over. They carried on as if she wasn't even there. That was a relief. She waited until they were out of sight, deciding that was as good as verbal permission to rise, and continued down the staircase.

The passage she entered at the bottom was much wider than those she had left, and was lined with runes and bas-reliefs depicting battles with a sprinkling of unidentifiable scenes she assumed were ceremonies of some kind. A few looked like coronations and funerals.

She reached a t-intersection and took the right fork, stopping when she realised it ended in two gigantic oak doors stretching many feet to reach the high ceiling. It was unguarded.

Surely just a quick peek to see what was inside couldn't hurt. Sky tugged on one of the large brass rings and, with some effort, achieved a gap wide enough to slip through. She found herself in what was unmistakeably a library. Hundreds of bookshelves lined up and trailed off into dimmer parts of the gigantic room. An enormous desk was set close by the door she had entered through, and she could just make out a mop of short mousy brown hair slightly buried under a few loose papers which seemed to have toppled off a nearby pile. Cautiously, she tip-toed over to get a better look.

And was pleasantly surprised to see the sweet face of a dwarf who could only be Ori, fast asleep, draped across a large open book and clutching a quill in one limp hand. She grinned, but her face fell again when Balin's teachings about off-limits places in the upper levels sprang unbidden into her mind. The King's library was forbidden to all but the royal family and those granted access by Thorin himself. That was what Balin had said. This was a library on the upper levels. Books were an expensive and rare luxury item typically enjoyed in large quantities by only the richest families in eras such as the one she was in.

It had to be the King's library.

Curiosity warred with fear of discovery.

Her heart was beating rapidly, her stomach doing its best to twist itself into some complicated sailor's knot by the feel of it. But she had never been able to resist the call of books. She took in a deep breath, letting the scent of old paper, dust and mildew drift into her nostrils. Before she knew it, her feet were taking her of their own accord to the nearest shelf. The veil was beginning to feel rather stifling, so she took it off and tucked it under her arm. She was already doing something she had been forbidden to do, why not just remove the damn thing to boot. Sky ran her fingers over the worn leather spines reverently, almost afraid to pull one out. When she did, she groaned in frustration and put the tome back. It was in Khuzdul. She wondered if they had any books in English - Westron, they called it here - and was about to go ask the little librarian when she realised he would report her for sure, and she would be stuck in those chambers again for as long as Thorin saw fit. She paused to calculate whether lifting a few books was worth it or not. Her addiction to the written word won out and she set off on her own to find the Westron section. They must have one, surely.

She was just about to exit one aisle and move to the next when she heard and saw the library doors swing open and an imposing figure stride in.

'Thorin!'

She darted back between the shelves, peering slightly around the corner to see where the King was. He had reached over the sturdy oaken desk and was currently in the act of shoving the hapless librarian off his seat and onto the cool stone floor below. Thorin growled something in their tongue and it was whilst Ori stuttered his apologies that Sky took the opportunity to slip around bookshelves towards the doors in an effort to get close enough to escape as soon as Thorin moved away.

And move he did.

Straight toward her.

Sky turned and bolted as silently as she could, her heart pounding in her ears and blood pumping through her veins at an alarming rate. She turned a few corners as she ran deeper into the library. The only thought in her mind was hide. If she could just avoid him seeing her long enough, she may yet be able to get away with this. She stopped and looked over her shoulder for a moment to listen for any sounds of pursuit. There were none. She sighed in relief and rounded another corner, only to collide with a person standing facing the shelves in the next aisle. Sky stumbled backwards in fright, tripped on her skirts and fell on her backside, whilst the other cursed as the pile of books they'd been holding toppled to the ground. Sky's apology died in her throat as she looked up into the annoyed and slightly confused blue eyes of the Crown Prince.

"What are you doing here?!" Fili hissed, regaining his composure quickly and bending to retrieve the fallen tomes.

"I-I..."

"Surely Balin informed you in your lessons about this place?!"

She had been foolish. Now she would be re-confined, and surely refused any request she might make later for reading material as extra punishment. She couldn't go back to that place, her cage, to spend her days pacing the floor and fighting down the primitive urge to scream and throw herself at the walls holding her in like a crazed chimpanzee in a laboratory. Sky could only nod helplessly, a lump forming rapidly in her throat, fighting back tears.

A thought seemed to occur to Fili then.

"You can read?"

He was looking at her as though this was an unusual thing for consorts to be able to do. Perhaps it was. Those of the class the dwarves must assume she was from most likely didn't bother to learn. If the opportunity was even available to them. She would be an oddity indeed were that true of her. As it was, her only option was to dip her head quickly in affirmation before pulling herself to her feet, despair dragging her down inside even as she attempted to lift her body upwards.

"If Thorin catches you—"

"I know, I know. I just couldn't..." She trailed off as she noticed he was staring at her with raised eyebrows. She had failed to bow, risen without his permission and cut him off, she realised, horror, fear, frustration and apprehension coiling in her gut. Before she could make amends however, heavy footsteps sounded out from behind her, and a deep, commanding voice she knew all too well resonated and swelled all around them.

"What do you think you are doing in here?! This library is reserved for the use of myself and a select few! How dare you disobey me?!"

Sky felt the blood drain from her face. She gritted her teeth and tried to stop herself running away like a frightened jackrabbit. It would do her no good now. Instead she sank into the crouch-like bow Balin had spent so much time teaching her only a week earlier, the hands clasped tightly against her belly shaking uncontrollably as she waited for the King's judgement upon her. "Barely a few days have passed and you have already broken a rule." He sounded just a little bit too pleased with this fact; Sky clenched her hands into fists to stop the quaking, though it was largely ineffectual. "Return to your chambers," he was almost purring now, "and stay there. I will deal with you later." She dipped her head low then rose to leave. Fili's voice and a gentle but firm hand on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks.

"Wait a moment. I gave her permission."

Sky had never seen anyone lie as well as Fili did. His face remained impassive; not a flicker of the eyes nor the twitch of a facial muscle gave him away. He did, however, pull away from her after she stopped as though he'd been burnt, dropping his arm to his side.
Thorin held his gaze for what seemed like hours, searching for any sign that the younger dwarf was being less than honest with him. Apparently he found none, if his chagrined expression was anything to go by. "All applications are to be presented to me before granting another access. You know this well." His voice dropped to a warning rumble; Fili's eyes finally fell from the King's. "Forgive me, Sire. I made an error in judgement." His head was bowed, but his shoulders were back and his overall posture perfectly straight. Even in subjugation, the golden-haired warrior presented an air of confidence and nobility. It was almost defiant, in a way.

Defiant submission.

Sky had no idea how he did it, but it was the only thing she could call what he was doing now.

"Indeed you did." Thorin's voice had an all too familiar edge to it, one that promised disciplinary action in the near future. Sky felt guiltily thankful she was no longer on the receiving end. Fili's lips tightened noticeably, but it was the only outward sign he made to show any kind of distress.

"I was not aware you were literate. Where and from whom did you learn?" Sky jolted as she realised Thorin was addressing her now, and cleared her throat nervously before responding. "I'm u-unsure, y-your Majesty. I a-assume from my p-parents, but even t-that part of my life is v-vague in my memory." He hummed as he considered the reply. Luckily it seemed her answer wasn't important enough for him to pursue. Instead he turned back to Fili, addressing him even as he was speaking to her. "As my nephew has taken it upon himself to allow you into our private collection –" The King stressed the words 'private collection' with a glare at his sister son, who wisely said nothing, "He shall be responsible for everything you do whilst in these spaces and any items you decide to take with you back to your chambers. If anything is damaged or lost, he will answer for it. Is that understood?"

"Yes, your Majesty."

"Yes, Sire."

They answered simultaneously, heads bowed and tones respectful.

"Come to my chambers this evening, Fili. I wish to discuss some important matters with you."

"Yes, Sire."

Had Fili's voice come close to breaking? Surely not. Once again his face was expressionless. Perhaps she had imagined it.

Thorin released a short grunt then turned on his heel, disappearing down one of the aisles. Consort and prince stood there in silence for several moments. Sky looked up and immediately wished she hadn't. Fili was glowering at her, his jaw clenched tightly as he picked up the last few books on the floor and stacked them atop the others which he had set down upon the arrival of his uncle. The narrow passage they were in was cold, the atmosphere tense. Sky swallowed and was about to speak, but was cut off.

"Kindly refrain from opening your mouth again. You have done quite enough already."

He let out an exasperated sigh, running his hand over his face as he stood and returned to scrutinising the names of the books on the shelf in front of him. She bit her lip and twisted her arms behind her back, unsure of what to do next. She was eternally grateful to him for stepping in like that, but clearly there would be consequences for him now instead, and part of her felt terrible, considering the things she had suffered at Thorin's hand in the past. Even his non-sexual punishments couldn't be pleasant.

"I'm sorry," she finally blurted out.

"I seem to remember I forbade you from speaking." His tone was sharp and she flinched. "You have already erred once today. I do believe it to be in your best interests that you do not make the same mistake twice."

Silence fell once more.

Sky took a few steps toward the direction of the library door, then looked back to where Fili stood with a large, thick volume open, balanced precariously along one hand and its adjoining elbow, running his finger over the pages with a slight frown creasing his brow. She realised she'd been staring at him when he raised his head to shoot her an annoyed glance. Before she could stop herself she was talking again.

"I just need to say thank you."

He had made to give her another sharp reprimand but stopped, the lines on his forehead deepening as he considered her words, as though they were almost entirely foreign to him. "You didn't have to do that," she continued, finding that she couldn't hold his gaze anymore and dropping hers to the floor, fiddling nervously with her skirts. There was a sharp exhale not unlike a stifled snort, and when she looked up at him he was smirking, though it didn't reach his eyes.

"No. I did not."

There was a long pause whilst Sky tried to decide what to do or say next, then Fili made the choice for her. "Leave," his voice was stern and she winced at the bitterness lacing it, "before I begin to regret my actions. And put your veil back on. You are very lucky Thorin did not punish you for that."

She sighed and turned to go, donning the veil and muttering another "I'm sorry," though she doubted he'd heard it.

Even if he had, he probably wouldn't have cared.

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Author's Note: I was very pleasantly surprised to see all the reviews commenting on Fili's silence in the story so far and how we need more Fili. I couldn't agree with you more, and I really hope you enjoyed this little scene here. I PROMISE he'll become more of an active character as the story progresses. Sky and Fili are going to take a while because of Sky's insecurities and fears and Fili's duties, twisted history and equally – if not more so – twisted present. He's wary of being around her that much for his own, understandable reasons (once you find out what those reasons are). Anyway, that's neither here nor there. Just aways ahead in the future. Read and Review please. :D Skywolf, over and out.

Khuzdul Translation:

Thandmesem – bracelet; singular form

Much gratitude to Dwarrowscholar (not a Fanfiction pen name by the way; look them up on the general internet) who spent so much time putting together an actual English-Khuzdul DICTIONARY, which is what I used here.