To the anon who reviewed last chapter: That is an awesome idea and I really like it, but it just doesn't fit into the plot of this story. Thanks for reviewing, though!
A Merrier Place
Part Three: King Under the Mountain
Chapter Ten: A Warm Welcome
Balin's company arrived in Erebor only a week later. Fíli and Kíli looked on the half-rebuilt city of Dale and the bustling walls of once cold, dark Erebor in amazement. So much work had been done in their absence!
The journey back had taken much longer than the journey to Ered Luin, mostly due to the hundreds of dwarves they were bringing home. The increased numbers slowed them down greatly. Some had elected to remain in the Blue Mountains, having found a home among the Firebeards and Broadbeams, but most of the Longbeard dwarves, Durin's folk, had come back to Erebor.
Fíli was at the head of the company, behind Balin, leading the way. He was excited to return and to watch Uncle Thorin's coronation. It was a momentous occasion. Someday, he would be king of Erebor, after Thorin died or retired, but Fíli hoped that day was long in coming. For now, he was happy to be simply a prince.
There was a welcoming party in Dale for the dwarves. King Bard was very gracious to his new neighbors, for all they had almost gone to war the previous winter. Fíli, as Thorin's heir, acted as the group's leader, even though technically, Balin had been in charge until then.
The older dwarf, however, was happy to turn the role over to Fíli. The golden-haired prince thought he did a pretty good job of interacting with Bard. Kíli was impressed—he told his brother he'd done even a better job that Thorin would have. Fíli didn't know if that was quite true, but it certainly could have been much worse.
The next morning, Fíli led his people across the plain toward Erebor. They knew they were coming. His family rode with him up front. Dís smiled, looking elegant in a formal court gown, as she gazed again upon her former home.
Kíli talked excitedly with Tauriel, something about archery. Fíli had warmed to the elf girl after she had proved to outshoot him on a hunting trip on the journey back. She had then made a fool of herself laughing along with Kíli as they prepared the deer she had shot for dinner. And the radiant look on Kíli's face when he spoke with her had proved to him that she was good for his brother.
When Dís had not stopped them, his resolve against their relationship had begun to crumble. Now it was almost gone. Many of the Longbeards had accepted her as one of their own, though most resented their younger prince's choice in bride. Fíli only dreaded Uncle Thorin's coldness. If he continued to act the way he had before their departure, he would tear their family apart.
As they neared the gates of Erebor, Fíli saw the dwarves of the company, plus Lord Dáin and Bilbo, waiting for them. The dwarves from the Blue Mountains cheered as Thorin began to clap, a broad smile on his face.
Fíli walked up to his uncle with open arms, and they embraced. Then the king of Erebor hugged Kíli as well, while Tauriel lingered in the background.
At last, Lady Dís approached her brother. She nodded to him, smiling crookedly.
"So this is what you've done to our mountain," she said.
Thorin laughed and kissed his sister's hand. "I tried my best, sister."
The coronation of King Thorin II Oakenshield of Erebor occurred two days later. The royal family watched with pride as Thorin's newly-crafted crown was lowered onto his head by the grey wizard.
"The Lord of Silver Fountains has returned," Gandalf intoned solemnly. "May his reign be long and blessed, and may the rivers run with wine and gold!"
The watching crowd began to cheer. Thorin stood and they all knelt to their king.
"Rise, my brethren," Thorin commanded. As Fíli got to his feet, he continued, "Today, I am crowned your king. I know what you must be thinking: what of the king's jewel?"
Fíli stirred uneasily. He had almost forgotten about the Arkenstone. Was Thorin about to take it back? Did he already have it back from Bard? Would he fall into the jewel's thrall again?
"Well, I have regained our heirloom," Thorin announced. "Bring for the Arkenstone!"
Bilbo walked forward, bearing the heart of the mountain on a cushion. Fíli smiled at the irony—the thief of the stone now carried Thorin's position of trust once more.
Thorin lifted the jewel off the cushion and held it up for all to see. The crowd oohed and ahhed in appreciation.
"I, Thorin Oakenshield, am King of the Lonely Mountain!" he cried. "I carry the king's jewel, and may it be a symbol to all of my right to rule!"
A moment later, he brought down his hands. Fíli's heart lurched as he saw a glint of the old gold lust in his uncle's eyes. After an incredibly long heartbeat, Thorin tore his gaze away from the stone and thrust it back to Bilbo.
"Now, eat and drink!" Thorin said, his booming voice full of forced cheer. "Make merry—tonight is a night of feasting and song!"
With an enthusiastic cheer, the spectators passed out of the throne room and hurried into the mess hall. Where there was food to be found, dwarves soon followed.
Fíli hung behind, watching Thorin stand still by the throne, staring after where Bilbo had carried away the Arkenstone. His Uncle's gaze was empty and cold, and Fíli felt a chill run down his spine. At last, when only he and Thorin remained in the chamber, the king caught sight of him.
He smiled. "Fíli, my sister-son. Come to the feast with me."
"Yes, Thorin," he said, nodding. He walked up to his uncle and they walked away into the mess hall.
"Are you alright, Uncle Thorin?" he asked. "With the Arkenstone and all?"
"Yes," he said, though Fíli wasn't convinced of it entirely. "Yes, I am...or I will be."
"Where is it going to be stored?" Fíli asked. "Not...where you could be tempted?"
"It's being taken care of," Thorin said firmly. "Bilbo and Gandalf...they're putting it deep in the treasury, under lock and key. I'll be fine."
"Okay," Fíli said. He mulled that over as they joined the rest of the dwarves in the mess hall, until his mind drifted to the more important matter of food.
Several hours later, everyone in the hall had grown friendly with wine. Only Tauriel, though she drank liberally, remained sober. Elves, it seemed, handled alcohol better than dwarves.
Fíli sat with his brother and the elfmaid, laughing at one of Nori's absurd stories. He was in a wonderful mood. There was good music playing, his family was all around him, and even the elf seemed pretty for once.
"And then," Nori continued while the others laughed around him, "then the old fool buys his watch back from me! The watch I stole from him in the place!"
The company howled with laughter. Fíli hiccuped, grinning and slapping Nori's hand away when he got too close to his own pocket watch.
Tauriel smiled. "Did he ever find out you took it from him?" she asked the intoxicated thief.
Nori giggled. "Nope! Nor did he find out when I stole his monocle off him the next week that I done it!"
A few tables down was a group of dwarves from Ered Luin. One of them, eyes bloodshot from all the ale he'd drunk, remarked loudly to his neighbor, "Look at that ugly elf lass! Still hangin' around the prince. It's disgrace, I say, a disgrace.."
Immediately, Kíli, who had been hunched over with merriment besides his elfmaid, stood up.
"Who said that?" he demanded. Their area of the hall went silent. Kíli sounded furious, his face dark with anger. "Who called amrâlimê ugly?"
"Kíli, sit down, it's not a big deal—" Tauriel hissed, trying to pull him down.
Kíli pushed her hand away and looked around again. "Who said that?" he demanded.
The dwarf who'd made the rude remark stood up, his face flushed red. "I said it, 'n I don't take it back! Elf and dwarf ought not to mix!"
"Kíli," Fíli warned as he saw his brother's clenched fists tremble, "don't do anything you might regret."
"By insulting my lady Tauriel, you insult me," Kíli growled, ignoring Fíli. "This elf saved my life. She and her people helped us take back our homeland!"
"If she saved your life, perhaps she has addled your brains, your Highness," the arrogant dwarf said with a sneer.
Enraged, Kíli leapt toward the dwarf and began to attack him. As Tauriel stood up behind him and raised her voice in protest, Fíli roared in outrage. Though Kíli was being reckless again, he was on his brother's side. Fíli jumped after him, tearing at their opponent's ragged beard.
"Stop!" a commanding voice bellowed. Fíli let go immediately and fell back, fearing that wrathful tone he knew all too well.
"Yes, Mother," he said meekly. An angry Dís was not someone to mess with.
Kíli, however, ignored his mother and kept punching the insolent dwarf. Dís reached out and tore them apart, displaying her fearsome strength.
The offending dwarf went limp, covered in bruises. Kíli, on the other hand, kept struggling until Dís dropped the other one and smacked him into stillness.
Thorin strode up to the group, a scowl on his face. "What's all this about?" he demanded.
Tauriel stepped forward, a cross expression contracting her usually delicate features. "Your Majesty, I can explain—"
"He insulted her!" Kíli protested from his position on the ground. "He insulted us!"
"That is no excuse for acting like a child," Dís said firmly. "We ought to settle this matter in a civilized fashion, not with brawling."
"Kíli, really, I can defend myself, you know," Tauriel admonished him. She held out a hand and leaned down to help her beloved to his feet. "And I know what your people think of me, even if they do not say it often to my face. It is fine. I do not expect to be accepted readily, or even at all."
Kíli sighed and took the Silvan elf's hand. When he stood up, he helped his opponent up as well.
"I'm sorry," he apologized stiffly, "for acting so improperly. But I do not forgive the insult against my starlight."
Fíli sighed and rolled his eyes. Lovers and their stupid nicknames for each other.
The other dwarf had a broken nose and a black eye. He only glared at Kíli and spat at his feet.
Thorin growled in disapproval. "You cannot treat the royal family so, citizen. I am of half a mind to punish you for this offence!"
The dwarf paled a little beneath his injuries. "I'm s-sorry," he stammered. "I was just—"
"I don't care," Thorin snapped. Then he turned to face the hall of half-drunk, now-silent dwarves. "Hear my word, all my subjects! I, your king, hereby command that all shall treat the elves of Mirkwood with courtesy. We are not enemies, but friends in this time of peace! And especially we ought to treat this noble with respect, for she had saved this kingdom with her bow and healing knowledge, and she is the beloved of my sister-son Kíli!"
Tauriel blinked in shock and covered her mouth in surprise. Then she curtsied to Thorin, murmuring her thanks. Kíli's eyes were wide, but he beamed with happiness. Fíli was just as shocked as they were. How had Thorin managed to overcome his hatred of elves to support and accept Tauriel?
Thorin took the elf maiden's hand and kissed it. Tauriel smiled, holding Kíli's hand with her other.
"I suppose if you're really going to become family, I ought to apologize," Thorin murmured, straightening. The crowd, once they saw he was done, went back to merrymaking. "I was unchivalrous to you, and to you, Kíli."
"Thank you, Uncle Thorin," Kíli said warmly, clasping his uncle's hand.
"I suppose I should apologize to you as well," Tauriel said, "for assuming you would make things worse tonight."
Thorin laughed. "Apology accepted," he said. "After all, I haven't been acting my best."
Fíli sighed, glad this family tension had been worked out at last. Then he picked up his wine bottle and lifted it.
"A drink to a happy family," he proposed. They all laughed, then took a sip of wine. All was well.