Aurelia and Dis walked together from the Council room, making introductions as they went. Dis was quite tall for a Dwarf (that must have been where Kili got his height), and looked much like her brother, though more feminine. She had a light dusting of facial hair and broad shoulders, and even at her age was still regarded as one of the most beautiful Dwarrowdam in Erebor.
"My sons speak highly of you." Dis said, by way of greeting. "I am Dis, Daughter of Thrain."
Her voice was deep and velvety, much like her brother's. The more Aurelia looked at Dis, the more uncanny their similarities were.
"I am Aurelia, Daughter of Vlin. It is very kind of you to say so, I think highly of them, too." Aurelia said, feeling out of her depth. As normal as Kili and Fili seemed, Dis practically radiated nobility. "It is nice to finally meet you. I've heard many great things about you from my Adad." She said, feeling perhaps more nervous for knowing Lady Dis' fierce reputation, though she had no reason to expect Dis' fierceness to be directed towards her.
"Oh, yes! I remember your Adad. He made me the most beautiful dresses in my youth. In fact, it was one of his creations I was wearing when I met my boys' father. He even made my wedding gown." Dis said nostalgically, with a slight smile on her face. Aurelia was surprised Dis was willfully speaking of her husband to a complete stranger, but perhaps since she had long since lost him, time could heal any wound. She knew her Adad liked to talk about her Amad, lest he forget all about her and what she was like.
"My Adad does have a knack for making beautiful dresses." Aurelia agreed. "Or at least he used to. He is, quite truthfully, growing rather too old to work with his hands now."
"I'm sorry to hear of it. I hear though that you have some skill of your own in that area?" Dis hedged, as they started down the staircase that would take them towards the gates of the city.
"I do, though I fear not as much skill as my Adad." Aurelia replied, tightly holding the handrail in case she stumbled. She did not wish to make a fool of herself in front of Dis, whose approval meant a great deal to her.
"I might suggest making a dress for the Meragel, if you do not already have a formal dress." Dis suggested, "You must attend, as I am sure my Son will want to steal a dance or several with you."
"I may well have to make a dress, I have no formal wear to speak of, never having needed it before." Aurelia admitted. "Speaking of Kili, can you tell me what happened back at the council meeting? One of the Dwarves on the council assumed we were courting, and he did not correct them. Thorin did not either."
"I know very little of what has happened there this morning, but you can be assured that Thorin will get to the bottom of it. I am sure Kili will explain himself to you as soon as he can... Though I think it would be a reasonable assumption to say that Olif assumed you were courting Kili as you are wearing his clasp." Dis said, not unkindly.
"Of course!" Aurelia sighed. "I hope I have not caused him extra trouble this morning. He said the morning had been quite terrible for him already."
"My dear," Dis said, as they finally came upon the gates, "I would worry not. As you said, his morning could have been no worse. Besides, any implications from the council's assumptions are not your fault, but the misfortune of circumstance. He will not be angry with you."
Aurelia really, really hoped not.
They exited the front gates together, quickly spotting Sigrid seated on a chair, as promised. The guards stood at attention when they saw Dis, hastening to explain the reason for her presence.
"Lady Dis, we are sorry for the inconvenience. As Lady Sigrid is not one of our people, we had to follow our orders and obtain permission for her to enter the mountain." The friendlier of the two guards explained. Dis held a hand up in placation, and they silenced immediately.
"I understand completely, and you did well for following orders. I will remind my sons to forewarn you in the future so that we may not keep our guests waiting again. If you could please alert the other guards in the barracks that Lady Sigrid is always welcome here, I would greatly appreciate it."
The guards assured her it would be done, returning to their posts. Sigrid stood and came to meet the two women, seeming glad to be granted entrance at last.
"Thank you, Lady Dis." She curtsied, "It is lovely to see you again."
"Likewise, my dear." Dis smiled warmly. "However, I am afraid this is where I must leave you, things have become complicated in the council this morning and my presence is long past overdue. I hope to see you both again soon." She said, and the young women bade her a farewell, thanking her again.
Sigrid and Aurelia hastened to the shop, walking at a pace to attempt to make up some lost time.
"I am sorry I don't have more time to show you around the city this morning." Aurelia said apologetically. She sighed stressfully. "It has been quite the morning."
Sigrid nodded. "I had guessed as much. Worry not, we can always explore the mountain another time." She comforted, patting Aurelia on the arm. "You returned with Lady Dis looking rather flushed. Did something bad happen?" She questioned with a look of concern on her face.
"Not exactly. Well, I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it, but it wasn't necessarily bad." Aurelia said, picking at a broken fingernail, needing a distraction for her hands. "I stumbled into a royal council meeting."
Sigrid gasped. "Oh no!"
"Oh, yes. But that isn't the worst part. One of the council members assumed that I was courting Kili - I am wearing his clasp, you see? But it wasn't like that. We have only known each other for a few days, we could count each other as friends at most." Aurelia explained.
"Is wearing someone's clasp of significance to Dwarves?" Sigrid asked curiously.
"I am beginning to think so. What was a gesture between friends to keep my hair out of my eyes has quickly turned into something that I don't think either of us bargained for." She sighed. "I bet he regrets giving me that clasp, now. I should not have worn it so casually about the mountain."
"I'm sure he doesn't. Kili is a kind soul, and he would not give a gift he did not mean. Dwarves are sincere folk, aren't they!" Sigrid reminded her reassuringly.
"He is.. and we are." Aurelia agreed. "I do hope that he can forgive me for taking liberties with his gift, though."
"It will all work out, I am sure of it." Sigrid said, and Aurelia felt a little bit better for hearing it.
They arrived at the shop, and entered to find Vlin sitting at his workbench, making patterns to cut out fabric.
"Adad, this is Lady Sigrid, Daughter of Lord Bard of Dale. She's our new apprentice." Aurelia introduced. "Sigrid, this is my Adad, Vlin."
"It's nice to meet you, Lady Sigrid." Vlin smiled, "I'm glad for the extra help, especially with the Meragel so close."
"It's lovely to meet you Vlin. I've heard great things about your skill. I'm honored to be learning from both of you." Sigrid replied.
It was a relief for Aurelia to finally return to her shop, her safe haven where council members could not make wild assumptions about her love life.. It had been a hectic, complicated and confusing morning. Truthfully she wanted nothing more than to go over its events until she had overthought the memories to death. She couldn't be afforded the luxury though, not with a shop piled up full of work orders and an apprentice to train. So she set right to work, showing Sigrid to her workbench, leafing through the stack of papers with orders written on them, placing them with the corresponding garment.
Sigrid had proven to be an adept hand with a needle, completing all of her repairs efficiently. She had been studying Aurelia for the past hour, helping her cut out patterns and pin garments ready for stitching later on. Her father Vlin had even taught Sigrid some new stitches for added durability in hemming. They all conversed while they worked, continuing past lunchtime before stopping for a break. Aurelia and Sigrid made the walk to Bombur's, picking up some lunch and returning to share it with her Adad. They walked in, arms laden with bowls and bread, to find Fili and Kili in the shop, talking with her Adad.
"Aurelia, my dear! I've decided to go and see Bombur myself, it's been too long since I've eaten in at his hall. You girls should share your lunch with Fili and Kili. I will be back later." Vlin said with a strange glint in his eye. She might have thought him upset if he hadn't been making his way out of the shop with a spring in his step.
"Oh, okay Adad." Aurelia answered. "I'll see you later on, then."
Kili must be disappointed indeed if her Adad was leaving the store to let them talk. As much as she wanted answers, though, she wasn't sure she wanted them with an audience. She decided to get it over with on her terms.
"Kili, shall we take some lunch upstairs? I think we should discuss what happened this morning. Fili, Sigrid, you two don't mind?" She asked, feeling the nervousness twist in her gut.
"Not at all!" Fili assured. "Take your time. Sigrid and I have much to discuss also."
Sigrid looked surprised at this, though not unpleasantly so.
Kili stood to follow Aurelia upstairs, lightening her load by taking some of the food. He made sure to leave a share for Fili and Sigrid, before heading up the stairs after her. He was careful to keep his gaze appropriate, as tempting as it was to take in the sight of her, a few steps ahead of him. He was nothing if not a gentledwarf.
"So, Aurelia.." Kili began, when they reached the landing. "I'm afraid I have some explaining to do."