Italicized words will mostly be thoughts. But of course some are for emphasizing. Long lines of italic words in quotes will be singing/reading from a book.
I do not own any of the characters except for Christianna, my OC. Everything else belongs to Tolkien!
"Balin, what is this about?" Bilbo groaned, furrowing his eyebrows. "I've had quite enough life changing conversations for one journey thank you."
The dwarf slowed his steps to look over his shoulder. "Patience, Master Baggins. Or just ask Christianna." He turned and returned to his normal pace. "Since it would seem she has read my mind."
"She what?" Bilbo jerked his head around to look at the girl.
She had stopped a few feet prior and he hadn't noticed. Her eyebrows were raised and her heartbeat quickened.
"Courting and marriage customs." She said quietly.
Bilbo put his hands on his hips and pushed his ear out towards her. "I'm sorry I thought you just said courting and marriage customs."
She was silent for a moment, then a smile started to form. "Dwarvish, ones."
The Hobbit's eyes just about jumped out of his head at that, the color draining from his face. He was left in that state of shock even after she hurried to catch up with Balin. He shook himself back to his senses and ran after them.
-/-
"Thorin has asked me to enlighten the two of you on the ways of Dwarvish courting and marriage." Balin said nobly.
The three strolled slowly throughout the gardens. Trailing along the paths laid throughout them. Christianna was focused on the dwarf, prepared to give him her full attention as she knew how much of an honor this was. But Bilbo was a bit apprehensive.
"That's brilliant. Why am I here? I understand entirely why she is." He waved absentmindedly at the girl. "She and Bofur are only a matter of time. But I have no purpose." He said matter-of-factly.
The other two stopped. Balin raising an eyebrow and Christianna shaking her head.
"What?"
The dwarrow sighed. "We will start from the beginning then." He ignored the Hobbit as he continued on. "As Bilbo has already been made aware, Dwarvish courting is initiated by what we call the claiming. A dwarf presents another with a gift. One that is priceless, and not ordinarily given away. Whether it is extremely valuable, or because it is precious in some way." He stopped to admire a rose bush, leaning in and inhaling their pleasant fragrance. Then stood tall and gave them a smile. "Royals tend to present it in front of others, as a means to make a statement. But normally it is a private affair. The other person simply has to accept and the two would have stepped into a courtship."
Christianna started toying awkwardly with her hands. "So if the King were to give away, I don't know, Mithril?"
Balin tilted his head and gave her a curious look. "Yes that would be a perfect example of the King trying to court someone." She gave him a huge fake smile and he smirked. "At a further point in time, one partner may present the other with handcrafted hair beads. The material of, designs on them, and gems they possess; all relating to that other persons familial patterns, colors, things of that nature."
"And what are they for?" Bilbo asked looking away, pretending that he didn't really care.
"They are to show that you wish to court for marriage. But no matter the stage, the courtship itself pulls principles from all of the seven dwarf families. We are big on our culture, our history, and so we include as much of it as we can. So with two dwarves, there's not a whole array of new things being introduced. Unless they come from different families." The dwarf flashed her a warm smile. "It does play a huge part when courting out of race. As they will know next to nothing about the intimate details of the dwarves."
She started to beam. "That's beautiful, please, continue."
They approached a stone bench, where Balin sat, sliding over to make room for Christianna. Bilbo leaned against the willow tree next to them, pulling out his pipe and stuffing it with tobacco.
"It is very beautiful. The sharing of music, dancing, exploring each other's crafts. Proving you can provide for one another, in many ways." His eyes were full of light as he gazed up at the swaying branches of the tree. "I have witnessed many courtships in my time. All of them, so personal, each with their own touches."
He paused for a long while, neither of his companions wanting to disturb him as he was obviously deep in thought. Christianna and Bilbo shared an adoring glance before Balin cleared his throat.
"Yes, well, onto the marriage. One proposes with a set of hair beads as well. Only this time, the intricacies of it relate to their own house and family. Braiding them into the others' hair as well." He had a very proud air about him as he spoke. "The couple will start to see an advisor of sorts, and prepare the contract they will live by for the rest of their lives."
"I'm sorry did you say contract?" Bilbo interrupted.
"I am aware it is not the standard for other races Master Baggins. It's just for formalities. Explaining duties to the intended. Where they will live. In cases of two males or two females, it will even state which family is to be the dominate 'male' therefore deciding who will be melding where. As the female is more often thought of to join the male family." He waited, looking for the Hobbits approval. Only when Bilbo nodded did he continue. "When marrying a different race this contract will serve another purpose. As you are now bringing two cultures together, it is expected that traditions and customs from each will be present in their lives. So these will also be mentioned."
Christianna looked to the ground as her thoughts raced. But lifted her head again to look at Balin again. "Thank you." She whispered.
He smiled so wide it reached his eyes. "Of course my dear. I am quite fond of you."
He opened his arms and gave her a light embrace.
Bilbo watched on with raised eyebrows and pursed lips. "Thanks, I suppose. But I am not hugging you."
Christianna immediately turned around. "Bilbo!"
"What?" He held out his hand nonchalantly, staring down her glare before wrinkling his nose. "Alright fine. Balin. Thank you. It was quite the privilege to be let into such a secretly kept way of life." He said sincerely. "Even though I still don't understand why I was."
The dwarrow started to laugh, drawing the girl's attention, and causing the Halfling's eyes to go wide.
"Aren't Hobbits supposed to be intelligent?"
-/-
"Come on Chrissy, Bilbo, join us!" Kili shouted merrily, his cheeks starting to flush.
The Hobbit shook his head. "I have a mug. A single mug. I refuse to get so inebriated that I act anything less than respectable."
The dwarf wrinkled his nose. "Fine! Chrissy! Come on you'll have fun!"
She smiled amused. "Sorry Kee, twelve dwarves and a lady, not a good idea."
"Oi! You've been learning all about the dwarves." Nori piped up. "Get over here and tell us about your world."
She sighed. "This is my world."
"You know what I meant! The other one!"
She rolled her eyes and turned to face them all. "Ask a question then."
"Tell us." He hummed for a moment. "Tell us about your family."
"My father left when I was about three-years-old. My mother verbally abused me my whole life. The rest of the family, weren't much better." She looked away awkwardly.
"Left, what do you mean he left?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Nori." Bofur growled a warning.
"It's alright Bofur." She assured him. "Abandoned, Nori. He abandoned his responsibilities as a father and left. All worlds are not as kind and honorable as yours."
The boisterous noises of the dwarves came to a screeching halt. All eyes were upon her.
"Don't worry. My family here was much better." She gave a half-hearted smile.
"Well there must be someone you miss." He said sadly.
"Of course. I had a few good friends. Friends I actually made due to this story." She laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Writing fanfiction, making art, creating gifs, headcanons, ship names-"
"Ship names? You named boats? What the hell does that have to do with us?" Nori slurred as he finished another mug of ale.
She chuckled sheepishly. "Not boats no. A ship; in that world could also refer to a pairing. Like a couple." She took in their confused looks and smiled. "The ship name is a creative term that relates to them, or combines the two names into one. Well, no because sometimes there's more than two. Maybe I should just give you an example." She hummed to herself and looked around. "Sorry honey. Nofur." She said suddenly. "Nori and Bofur. More commonly known as Stolen Hats, or Hatted Hedgehog."
The dwarves erupted with belly-aching laughter.
"That's very clever eh!" Bofur beamed at her.
Nori gave him a playful wink. "Well if it had to be a male, you ain't half bad."
"Hey! No!" She hopped off of the window-sill she and Bilbo were on, then quickly ran over and sat in Bofur's lap. "This seat is taken."
"I was only jokin'." He snorted. "You like that too much is it really that cozy?" He looked around, not waiting for her reply before he stood.
He made his way to Dwalin and fell into his lap. Wiggling around to get comfortable and pulling one of the other dwarfs arms over his shoulder. The warrior turning bright red.
"Not bad." He sighed. "Alright, give us another."
She started to purr as Bofur rubbed her back. "You pick this time. But keep in mind that I don't make these up, so I can only tell you if I've heard before."
He thought to himself in silence. "Dori and Balin."
She giggled at the glares he received. "Strong Tea."
"Me and Dwalin?"
"Nwalin."
"Thorin and Bilbo."
"I beg your pardon?!" The Halfling screamed.
She froze, not having expected that one.
"It's just a bit of fun." Nori sneered.
"You are all insane." He whispered angrily. "Quickly, before Thorin comes back."
"Bagginshield, or Thilbo."
Bilbo immediately became flustered, turning to look away from the others.
"Christofur!" Ori chimed in, but cowered behind his book when everyone's attention went to him.
Bofur's cheeky grin stretched from ear to ear. But Christianna was a blushing mess.
"Yes. So. Friends. A fair few. No one I will miss so bad it kills me." She quickly wanted to change the subject. "Especially not when I have people here who love me way more than they ever did."
"Do you truly have no one you really miss love?" Bofur asked softly.
She was still for a moment. "The Elf who brought me safely to Rivendell when I was a baby. She stayed with me all my life. Taught me to fight, to read the land. The only person besides my parents, who knows who they are. She was my best friend."
"What happened to her?" He hesitated.
"I don't know. I haven't had the opportunity to ask, um, Ada. Since she isn't here." She wiped a few tears from her face.
Bofur pulled her to his chest. "I'm sure she's fine. Sailed into the west for sure."
Soft murmurs of agreements came from all around.
"Miss Chrissy, do you not have enough magic of your own to find her?" Dori asked carefully.
She sighed. "It's not that. I mean, as of right now I'd probably get way too dizzy and maybe even faint. But there's no point in trying." She shifted a bit to see him better. "Other's will know, or at least have a clue. If I just mindlessly search for her, when she could have went west, or even died in battle somewhere. I'll exhaust myself beyond measure."
"I see." He nodded.
"What's her name? Maybe Gandalf will know where she is." Bofur said cheerfully.
"Aeyanna." She sighed. "Her name is Aeyanna."