The morning of the tournament dawned just as fair as the day before and yet the market streets of Dale were deserted. The bright array of festive garlands strung high above the streets waved merrily in the gentle breeze although not a soul walked beneath them to enjoy the sight. It seemed that everyone within the vicinity of Dale had squeezed themselves into the stands erected beyond the city gates to watch the much-anticipated tournament.
Bard stepped out into the arena, his longbow in hand, and the crowd let up a great roar of approval through which it was still possible to discern the voices of each of his children. The King of Dale acknowledged his people and guests with a humble inclination of his head and then prepared to cast the first arrow from the Northern corner of the area. As Bard took his place, the first of the Men of Dale stepped up to a plinth on the Eastern point, bow clenched in his hand. At a signal from the announcer, Bard and the competitor notched arrows and drew their strings taught, the competitor's eyes fixed on Bard while he trained his arrow on the space of air that marked exactly halfway between them.
Then Bard released his arrow, and an instant second later so too did the man. The competitor's arrow sped toward Bard's with a whistle and managed to clip its tail, knocking it off course and sending both into the netting that shielded the spectators. And thus began the archery tournament; whoever could split King Bard's arrow in mid-air was to be declared the victor.
Owing to the fact that there weren't a great many Dwarven archers, Kíli was next to advance towards the Eastern plinth. He grinned broadly and gave a flourishing bow and the crowd applauded enthusiastically for the Dwarf Prince.
Fíli rolled his eyes in exasperated amusement as he clapped, noticing as he did that the Elf, Tauriel, wore the exact same from where she stood across the pit waiting her turn beside the Elven Prince.
Kíli stepped up to the plinth and notched his arrow to the string. Fíli held his breath along with the hushed crowd as his brother lined up the shot, Kíli's fingers flexing and then tightening at the grip as he waited for Bard to shoot.
But just as Bard relinquished his arrow there was the slightest movement beyond Kíli's line of sight, and Tauriel let out an audible cry of pain. Kíli twisted just as his fingers let go, and the crowd gasped as the arrow sailed not at all towards Bard's arrow… but towards where Legolas and Tauriel stood.
Thranduil jumped to his feet in outrage as the arrow caught in the netting mere inches from the Elven Prince's face.
Kíli leapt from the plinth and ran across the pit, but far from apologising to Legolas he ducked under the netting and went immediately to Tauriel's side.
Tauriel was glaring at Legolas who was apologising profusely for stepping on her foot.
"What does your brother think he is doing?" Thorin asked sharply from where he sat beside Fili.
Fili swallowed. "I think he is apologising for nearly shooting them." He decided that it was best to omit rather than to lie.
"He's familiar with the Elf."
It wasn't a question.
His hands felt rather clammy. "She was the one who healed him in Laketown."
Thorin glowered at Kíli, who was in turn glowering at Legolas. "Pity he missed his second target."
"Lad didn't miss." Dwalin muttered under his breath.
Fili and Thorin looked perplexed.
Dwalin nodded his head towards Kíli and Legolas "He knew exactly what he was aimin' for."
Thorin stared at his youngest nephew, and then his mouth curled into a smile of barely restrained pride.
Fíli sighed as Kíli ascended the stand towards them. Despite the slump in his shoulders at not having won the tournament, there was a satisfied curl of his lips that told Fíli that Dwalin's intuition had been correct.
"Bastard." Kíli muttered darkly, taking his seat. "He did that on purpose, and now Tauriel is angry at me for shooting at him!" He threw down his bow and scowled. "It's not as if I could have hit him through the net anyway."
"We'll if he's trying to get you killed he's going about it the right way." Fili muttered under his breath. "If you're not careful you will start the next war."
"You know what?" Kíli said seriously, turning his shoulder to the arena. "I honestly don't believe that will happen, too much has changed."
Fíli watched the disgruntled elves regroup as Legolas himself stepped forward to take the next turn. The crowd began to clap as he stepped up to the plinth, but many of the dwarves only brought their hands together once or twice. Fili sighed. "Kíli, there are some things that not even three years-"
"And sometimes it only takes a single moment to change everything." Kíli insisted.
Fíli watched as Legolas smoothly cast his arrow, and heard the whoosh as it hit but did not split Bard's arrow. There was a roar from the crowd, and Sigrid's brother Bain jumped to his feet, pointing and exclaiming loudly. A grinning Sigrid grabbed him by the sleeve and yanked him back to his seat so that the people behind could see, but that didn't appear to stem the lad's enthusiasm as he mimicked the fluid technique of the elves to his equally excited younger sister. Sigrid was watching her sibling's when she seemed to detect Fili's gaze on her. When their eyes met she smiled, just for him.
Kíli nudged his brother as Sigrid turned back to hush an overexcited Tilda. "Are you trying to tell me that you don't feel differently about anyone here?"
"What do you mean?" Fíli frowned gruffly.
Kíli snorted loudly. "Did Thorin drop you on your head too many times when you were born?"
"I did not drop him once." Thorin interjected, not really listening as he watched one of the men of the Dale Guard walk up to the plinth.
"Aye, but he might 'ave knocked ya head against a few walls." Dwalin smirked.
Fíli turned to his uncle, grateful of the distraction. "Does my mother know about this?"
"No." Thorin growled, his eyes still on the un-split arrow. "And unless you want a few more bumps to your head, I suggest that you don't mention it." But there was a softness in his eyes; a softness that made Fili's heart ache for those days before the veil of unspoken words between them.
Dwalin stood up to take his turn and they stopped talking to watch.
Sigrid had her eyes firmly trained on the arena bellow. Bain had taken his leave to take his turn at the tournament, leaving Tilda on her left and an empty seat on the other. She should have known that it would not remain empty for long.
"Princess Sigrid, may I have this seat?" Sigrid looked up to see that Roland, the son of the new Master of Laketown, had worked his way along the bench to where they sat.
Sigrid inclined her head in polite ascent and Roland took the seat beside her, taking her hand as he did and pressing his lips to it. He gave neither greeting nor acknowledgement to Tilda.
"It seems unfair that the Men should have to compete against the Elves when they have had centuries more years of experience." Roland said, indicating the line-up.
"Perhaps," Sigrid acknowledged, still watching the tournament. "But I would not be so quick to cast doubt upon the skill of the Men."
"Or the women." Tilda muttered.
There was a great roar from the crowd around them as the arrow was once more hit and yet fell to the ground un-split.
"Will you be competing today, Roland?" Tilda asked from across Sigrid.
"I will compete in the fighting later in the afternoon, little Princess. I would rather be amongst the warriors than the archers."
Sigrid bit her tongue, training her eyes intently upon the competitors.
Tilda got to her feet as the next competitor came forward. "Sigrid, I'm going to see if they need my help in the Healing tent. Roland," she turned to face him. "I wouldn't let the distinction trouble you. Nobody would ever call you either." And with that, she turned on her heel and left.
Sigrid had to bite her lip to keep from snorting. "I apologise for my sister." she lied.
"She is certainly…spirited." Roland acknowledged, looking after the youngest Princess with a frown.
The sun had just reached the highest point in the sky, and yet despite many hits the arrow had not been split.
"What will they do if nobody wins, will they hold another round or get on with the fighting?" Roland wondered aloud.
"I don't think they will need another round." Sigrid replied, watching as Tauriel prepared to take the eastern plinth.
Tauriel had opted to take her turn last, and while this might have seemed like an act of chivalry from the Captain of the Archers of Dale, anyone who knew Tauriel could be sure that it was, in fact, a display of utter confidence. And what was more, anyone who knew Tauriel was well aware that she had every reason to be confident.
But when Tauriel stepped forwards, she did not have her bow in her hand. Instead, she walked over to the announcer and whispered something in his ear. The man's eyebrows rose and then he nodded, clearing his throat and raising both his hands to address the crowd.
"It seems that we have a last minute entrant into the tournament!" Please make welcome-" He looked to Tauriel for the name but Tauriel just shook her head. "Please make the competitor welcome!"
The crowd began whispering behind their hands, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the surprise entrant.
The figure that stepped into the pit was adorned in light chainmail, a helmet that obscured their face, and a chest-plate over a plain tunic.
The hushed whispering intensified.
"Who is that?" Roland he whispered into her ear.
Sigrid could only shake her head blankly as she too craned her neck in curiosity. They seemed too short to be a Man or an Elf, and not nearly broad enough to be a Dwarf.
"Seems mighty foolish to be wearing a helmet in an archery contest." Roland scoffed.
Sigrid privately agreed.
Bard raised a hand and the crowds fell silent. "Ready?" He called to the masked competitor.
The short figure nodded silently, and Bard drew his bow.
Then, the arrows flew.
With a splintering and resolute crack they collided and span towards the ground. The crowd was on its feet in an instant, pushing forward towards the railing to catch a glimpse of the arrows. A second later a great shouting went up, and not even the announcer could be heard as he lifted the two arrows aloft; Bard's arrow cleanly pierced and splintered directly at its centre.
The crowd was screaming and stomping in approval for the masked competitor who stood frozen in disbelief at the eastern plinth.
Bard stepped forward with a barely disguised look of relief on his face. "I think the people would like to know the identity of their champion." He said in a carrying voice.
The figure seemed to peer up at him and then slowly reached up with both hands to lift the helmet from their head. The crowd watched as long mouse brown waves of hair tumbled from beneath the aventail, and Bard's mouth fell open as his youngest daughter grinned up at him.
"Tilda?"
Sigrid was frozen in shock, unaware that she had risen to her feet in the stands. Tilda?
But she said she was going to the healing tent…
Then, a grinning Tauriel began to clap, the sound echoing across the arena. Sigrid too began to clap, bring her fingers to her lips and whistling loudly. And as if shaken from a reverie the noise was suddenly taken up by the crowd, growing louder and louder as they laughed and cheered for Tilda.
Tilda turner to her Da. "You're not angry are you, Da? I've been training with Tauriel and she said I should enter, but that it would have to be a secret so that nobody could accuse me of cheating."
A wide grin spread across Bard's shocked face. "Angry? My darling, I don't think I've ever been more proud."
Tauriel caught Sigrid's eye and winked while the crowd continued to clap and stomp their feet. Sigrid just shook her head in awe and laughed.
It took a long while for them to take their seats again.
Soon enough, it was time for the fighting.
The combatants stood waiting at the side of the pit while the arena was cleared. Some, like Kíli, were conversing amiably and placing bets of who would come out on top. Others, like Dwalin, had turned away from everyone else, their faces drawn in deep concentration and looking as if they might strike out at anyone who approached them.
Fíli was staring murderously at the back of the head of the lad who had been sat beside Sigrid. He had never considered himself to be particularly violent, but he also wasn't one to shy away from a fight, and at that very moment he was strategizing the best way to position himself on the field so as to be the one to crush the hands that had dared to steal a kiss from Sigrid.
Fili reached out and caught Bain's arm as he made his way past. "Who is that?" he asked, jerking his head in the direction of the lad's blond curls.
Bain looked about. "Oh, that's the New Master of Laketown's son, Roland."
"He doesn't look like he's done much fighting." Fili remarked disparagingly, looking the lad up and down.
"I think he's only doing it today because of Sigrid." Bain shrugged.
Suddenly, Kíli appeared beside them. "What was that about your sister?"
Bain reiterated while Fili clenched his knuckled around his swords.
Kíli inspected the lad from where they stood. "She could do much better." A mischievous twinkled suddenly lit his eyes. "Would you introduce us, Bain. Since it is his first time, we ought to give the lad some pointers, don't you agree?"
"It would be only fair." Bain agreed with the same glint look, and he led them forwards.
Reaching the lad, Bain tapped him on the shoulder and Roland turned. He was probably handsome by human standards, Fili noted. His hair had a gentle curl, a sharp jaw and striking green eyes set deep in his brow, but he didn't have a beard, not even a whisker.
"Hello there, Bain." The lad ruffled Bain's hair even though Bain was as tall as he was.
Bain disguised his grimace well. "Roland, I'd like to introduce to Kíli and Fili, the Princes of Erebor."
Kíli and Fili bowed in unison.
Roland held out a hand to each. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is ours." Kíli replied. Fili's mouth was set in a painful half-smile.
"So how are you feeling?" Bain asked. "You must be nervous."
"Not really," the lad shrugged. "I've done a spot of training with father's Laketown guard."
"Your confidence is admirable." Kíli sighed. "I only wish I felt the same, especially after the last tournament…"He bit his lip and grimaced.
"What do you mean?" the lad frowned.
"It's just that last year when this tournament was held in Erebor," Bain lowered his voice to a whisper. "Two people died."
Roland's green eyes widened and Bain nodded stoically.
"We had three amputations on the first day." Kíli added.
"Amputations?" The lad glanced nervously at the gates of the pit.
"An arm, a hand, and…" Kíli indicated the region bellow his belt and Roland shuddered, turning noticeably pale.
"Don't worry about it too much." Fili said, clapping a hand to the lad's back slightly harder than he intended. "Just keep clear of Dwalin." He indicated the dwarf who was sharpening his axes on his knuckle dusters. "And whatever you do, don't let him catch you even looking at Princess Sigrid."
Kíli had to hide his laugh in a cough.
"Why?" Roland asked nervously.
"Treats both the Princesses like daughters after the aid they gave us in Laketown." Fili explained. "I wouldn't risk it."
Dwalin looked up at that moment to see them all watching him, his eyes narrowed. They turned away hurriedly.
"Well," Kíli clapped the lad across the back again. "We best make sure that we're ready. Good luck!" they turned away, not before noticing the slight tremble in Roland's hand as he gripped his thin sword.
The competitors were paired off and each pair assigned a square within the pit. The rules were that if you disarmed your opponent of forced them to step outside the boundaries of your square, you were the victor. As the matches progressed the squares were to be combined as the victors of each pair faced off.
Fili's first opponent was one of the Men of Dale who was quickly put off by having to defend against two weapons at once. With a well-aimed strike, Fíli knocked the man off balance and with his other hand sent the sword clattering into the dust. There was a smattering of applause, and after he shook his opponent's hand, Fili had a moment to watch those around him.
Dwalin was thankfully on the other side of the pit so Fili wouldn't face the warrior anytime soon. Bain was facing off against Nori who was surprisingly quick to dodge the prince's blows and slip past as Bain pushed him towards the boundaries. Roland was facing Legolas, and Fíli watched with savage please as the lad lunged at the Elf who twisted effortlessly and allowed the lad's misplaced momentum to send him across the boundary. Meanwhile, in the square beside him Kíli was facing Tauriel.
"He stepped on you on purpose!" Kíli hissed as he deftly blocked Tauriel's double strike.
"So you tried to shoot him?" Tauriel seethed. Putting her daggers back and sidestepping Kíli's advance.
"He was never going to get hit." Kíli scoffed.
"But. You. Tried." Tauriel punctuated each word with a high strike, giving Kíli no choice but to step backwards and defend them.
"What was I supposed to do? I was defending your honour." He cried out.
The other pairs were all nearly finished and all eyes were being drawn to the still brawling elf and dwarf.
Kíli's sword caught the inside of one of Tauriel's daggers in mid-air and he pushed it around so the space between them was open. "My honour is my own to defend." Tauriel seethed, and with that she struck Kíli's sword once, twice and then knocked it from his hand.
The crowd applauded wildly for their Captain and Tauriel straightened up, re-sheathing her dagger at her back.
Kíli stalked from the arena, glowering darkly, and Fili drew himself up to face down the still seething Elf.
"Tauriel." He inclined his head.
"Prince Fili." She nodded curtly.
Fili set a silent prayer to Mahal that Tauriel's rage would make her an easier target rather than a better fighter. But when the horn to commence the second round sounded it became clear that Mahal had not been listening.
Tauriel whirled and spun with a dizzying lethal speed, her crimson hair almost a weapon in itself as it whipped through the air behind her. It was all that Fili could do to avoid her daggers.
"This isn't a fight to the death!" Fili cried out in alarm as one of her blades came dangerously close to his moustache.
Tauriel's eyes narrowed and she swung for him again. "Perhaps you should tell your brother that."
"Look," Fili hissed as he blocked a strike aimed at his legs. "He did it for you."
Tauriel raised an eyebrow and drew back for a second. "What are you trying to say?"
Fili drew himself up. "I'm telling you to talk to him. He might be an idiot, but he loves you. And from what I can see, you love him too. Now," Fili raised his swords. "Can we get back to the fight?"
He didn't last much longer. Tauriel knew how to use her height to an advantage and at last she pushed him across the boundary. Yet he was struck with a sudden understanding and kinship with Tauriel. It wasn't that he suddenly saw how genuinely she cared for his brother; that had been as plain as the lack of beard on Kíli's face ever since Laketown. Rather, he felt that he understood the kind of reckless courage it took for them to want to be together when nobody else around them would accept it. Later as he watched Tauriel being declared champion, he could only hope that he would find the same courage in himself.
AN: I will be releasing a chapter or two a day for the next few days because I am going to be volunteering overseas for two weeks and I won't have access to my computer. Stay tuned for frequent updates and thank you all so much for reading!
Reviews:
Sofasoap: My pleasure : ) Haha it's good to know that my very unsubtle images of Papa Fili and Mama Sigrid were received! I'm 100% with you on finding you One. More on that coming up in a few chapters time.
BlondiezHere: Haha I know the struggle! You are very kind, thank you very much for leaving a review even though you were pressed for time. Every time I get an email from a review or a follow or a favourite I just jump around like a child, no matter how through or simple it is, for me it's enough just to know that people like what I'm writing. I hope that you enjoyed this latest chapter : )
sorrellkaren: Playing possum was something I used to do a lot as a kid so that I could eavesdrop a lot on what the adults were saying, and tbh nothing much has changed. How long can he resist? Only was long as it takes to make sure they won't be caught! Haha the second conversation that Kíli has with Tauriel is blatantly suggestive, what makes you think he slowed down with the innuendo since then ;)As you know by now, they still have a few issues to work through. "Thorin is going to have a cow" my goodness that made me laugh!
Margaritasc I'm finding that the more extras I write for Kiliel the more I just end up putting them in the chapter anyway. This chapter was originally half the size until I decided that it needed more Kiliel. Kiliel will be secondary to Figrid, but there will absolutely be lots more Kiliel to come (including an apology scene in the next few chapters)
Whilewewereyetsinners: Those two silly cutie pies would start off thinking it was the most romantic thing ever, then they wake up sick the next morning and just NOPE. Meanwhile everyone else around them is all 'we told you so'.
ThatOtherWriterGirlHmmm: Perhaps Aeron should have been the apprentice Spymaster, just imagine the things he and Nori could get up to if they put their heads together LOL. Don't worry, all the details of Fili's plan will be made apparent when they present their plan to the Council (after, as you said, they get a clearer picture themselves). Thanks for leaving another incredibly thorough and insightful review. It's people like you who make me excited to write and post.
RogueStara : Wow! It gave me such a buzz to read your review and I am so honoured! I hope that you enjoy the rest fo the story :)