A/N: Hello! Sorry I couldn't update this yesterday, but I had a late work shift and didn't get home until 9pm. After that, I just wanted to go straight to bed, so... I did... Anywho, here's the feast chapter, with some customary dancing :)

Big thanks to the following people for following/favouriting: angel9507 and loki winchester. Thanks, guys :)

Review Response(s):

ro781727: I'm not planning on giving her too much trouble from them, really. It should be mostly clean-sailing.

Faron Oakenshield: Aww, thanks :)

CrystalVixen93: Thanks, and here ya go! :P

Rohirrim Girl 2187: I figured, since the last few chapters have been pretty heavy emotionally for Alana, she could do with some lightness. Glad to hear you liked it!

Guest: Wow, you're thinking as far ahead as I am, and I'm writing this thing. Anywho, glad you liked it :)

LOLIcons10121: Aww, that's really kind of you. Thank you! I'm glad you think this is paying off - it's hard work, but sooooo worth it when I get reviews like yours. So, thanks again! :)

Tristana702: Hehe, glad you thought so. I enjoyed writing that bit... :3

'Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they're great because of their passion.' ~ Martha Graham

Chapter 11:

The hall cleared quickly, people filing out to change into more comfortable clothing, as was instructed of them. The feast was destined to become messy, and everyone knew it. Wearing their best clothes to such an event was not only unwise, but also removed some of the air of celebration from the room. It was incredibly difficult to let loose when wearing your best clothing, Balin had said. Alana personally thought it wouldn't make one lick of difference to the vast majority of the diners, but kept that to herself.

The entirety of Thorin's original company (and their families) congregated in the royal quarters, in the large, communal lounge - the one that was so rarely used it was almost pointless. Alana was glad of it now though, as it was the only room with enough space to fit everyone comfortably. She was cheerfully greeted by each of the dwarves in turn, and was finally introduced to Gloin's wife and son, the former of whom was quiet and cordial, and the latter of whom proved quickly to be almost as witty as Fili and Kili. Bombur's whole family were there, and Alana was introduced to those she had not met before. She was also hounded by Bambur, who clearly remembered her from the single time they had interacted - when he had charged head-first into her legs, on the day the family arrived in Erebor.

When Fili, Kili and Thorin entered together, a round of cheers rose up, and the three were drawn into various hugs, head-bashes and claps on the shoulder. Alana sent up another round of cheers when she shamelessly grabbed Thorin by the lapels of his coat and smashed her lips down on his. The cheers were loud enough to mask Thorin's grunt of surprise, but Alana heard it, and when the two of them parted, she grinned wolfishly down at him. Thorin smirked in return, before grabbing the back of her head and pulling her down for another kiss, much to the amusement of the others.

"Three weeks," Thorin murmured against her lips when they pulled apart again, the rest of the group having moved their attention elsewhere to give the couple as much privacy as could be found in such a crowded space. "Three weeks, and then you're mine."

Alana hummed, doing her best to ignore the shiver that raced down her spine at his tone. "It's an awfully long time, isn't it?"

Thorin huffed. "It's better than it was at first - Balin suggested we wait until August before marrying."

Scrunching up her face, Alana pecked the end of his nose. "Well, I'm glad you managed to push it forward. Three weeks is long enough - I'm not sure I could have waited a full three months!"

Thorin chuckled. "Hmm, I think I know how that feels."

Alana grinned at him, but then her grin softened into a warm, tender smile. "You paraphrased my father," she whispered. "You used his words in front of your entire kingdom." She pressed another sweet kiss to his lips, barely giving him time to respond before pulling back. "Thank you."

Thorin cupped her face in his hands, meeting her eyes seriously. "It was his words, your words, that gave me the strength I needed to carry on when I was at my lowest. How could I not honour such a gift?" Smiling through a sudden veil of tears, Alana wrapped her arms around him, pulling him against her. Thorin's arms rose up to encase her body, and he settled comfortably against her, smiling when she ducked her head to bury her face in his hair. That smile faded when he felt her tears on his skin, followed quickly by a shaky exhale of breath. Thorin's brows furrowed, his heart twinging at the sound of her sorrow. "Alana? Atamanel, what's wrong?"

"He should have been here," she whispered against his neck, and Thorin felt his arms tightening. "They both should have. Your father, and mine. Both of them should have been here to see this. To see us." She released a choked sob, clutching him closer. "I miss him, Thorin. I miss him so much."

"I know," Thorin murmured, his hand rising to bury in her hair, gently soothing her. "I miss my father too. Every day. Even now he is my inspiration. Just as your father, I'm sure, is yours." He tugged her head back, pressing her forehead against his. "But just because you cannot see him does not mean he is not here. Our loved ones never leave us - not really. They stay with us. Right here." He placed his hand over her heart, feeling it pounding against his palm. Alana placed her hand over his, grasping it tight enough that the blood was drawn away from her knuckles, and his fingers started to ache in protest. He didn't mention it. "Let that bring you comfort, knowing that Arathorn is still alive in you, and in your brother. As he will always be."

Alana breathed in a shaky breath, screwed her eyes shut tight, and then relaxed and nodded. "Okay," she whispered, smiling, then opening her eyes again. Something akin to amusement then flickered across her face. "You know, this crown of yours is not very comfortable to lean against."

Thorin let out a low chuckle, shifting his hands to wipe away her tears with his thumbs, before planting another quick peck on her lips. "Are you sure that isn't your own getting in the way?"

Smiling warmly, Alana shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows?"

Rolling his eyes fondly at her antics, he stepped back from her, letting his eyes scan up and down the length of her body. "I'm sure you don't want to hear this, but you look very much like a Queen right now, and it suits you. Almost more than your Ranger clothing."

Alana stared at him. "You're right," she said at length. "I didn't want to hear that." She exhaled heavily. "No, I'm kidding. It's still a bit weird though, you know?"

"I do," he murmured, taking her hands and grasping them in his own. "I understand. Turning back from our previous lives was never going to be easily, but I think it's worth it. Hopefully you think so too."

"If I didn't, I wouldn't be here," she pointed out, smiling. "Now, we ought to get a move on. The feast starts soon, and as much as I enjoy seeing you as fancily dressed as you are, I much prefer that blue coat of yours."

Thorin laughed. "That is hardly appropriate for a feast - it is my travel coat!"

Alana shrugged. "I don't care. Even your sister agrees with me that it suits you almost too well."

Thorin glanced over at Dís (who was conversing with Lady Cinna in a far corner of the room), arching an eyebrow, before huffing out another laugh. "Well, who am I to go against the fashion advice of my two best girls?"

Alana stuck her tongue out at him, smirked when he winked at her, and then she turned away to talk to Fili and Kili. She didn't bother to say anything, just walked up behind Fili (Kili was busy laughing with Dwalin), wrapped her arms around his shoulders from behind, and then smacked a kiss on his temple.

Fili laughed at her actions, tilting his head up to grin at her. "Hello, auntie."

"Hey, Fee," she greeted in return, releasing him and letting him turn to face her properly. "Nicely done out there. You almost had me fooled. Of course, I know you could never really be a proper Prince of Erebor."

Fili snorted, making Alana grin. "Well, we all know propriety was never my strong suit - but at least I can be serious sometimes. And I'm better than Kili."

"That's definitely true," she agreed with a grin, before it became softer. "Seriously, though, I'm proud of you. It's what you've always deserved."

Smiling broadly, Fili's eyes shone up at her. "Thanks, Alana. That means a lot." Then his face took on a teasing expression again. "Now all that's left is for you to join us in royalty."

Alana sighed. "That's still as daunting a thought as ever."

Kili suddenly appeared, wrapping an arm around his brother's shoulders. He had evidently been listening in on their conversation, because he said, "It's not as bad as it seems. Wear some fancy clothes, say a few words, then you're done. Simple. And, so far as I can tell, not a lot changes afterwards."

"It's a bit soon to be saying things like that, don't you think? The ceremony finished less than fifteen minutes ago!"

Kili shrugged. "I did say 'so far as I can tell', did I not?" Grinning, he tapped his head. "I like the crowns, by the way. You did a good job on everything."

"Just don't ask me to plan anything else," she shot back, grinning. "After my wedding, I'm done."

The brothers blinked at her. "Your wedding?"

Alana frowned. "Yes, my wedding." They frowned back, and Alana tilted her head to the side. "Why do you look so confused? What is it?"

"Do women plan their own weddings where you're from?" asked Kili.

"The wedding is planned by the bride and groom together," she explained simply. "Why? Is that not what happens here?"

Fili shook his head. "No. In dwarfish weddings, the planning is done by the female relatives of those getting married - in this case, our mother and yours. The male relatives are in charge of making sure everything physically gets put together correctly. The bride and groom aren't allowed to know what their wedding is going to be like until the day."

Alana stared at them, dumbfounded. "Huh," she not-so-eloquently settled on, and Kili snickered, while Fili just grinned at her. She shook her head. "Well, that'll take some getting used to, but I'm glad, actually."

Kili glanced up at her quizzically. "Why?"

She smiled, a touch of sadness creeping into the corners of her eyes. "I haven't been able to spend much time with Estel recently. And now he's going out hunting with you and... that was always something I planned on teaching him, you know? Now I'll get the chance."

"That's kind of a relief," the younger Prince said, grinning when she mirrored his earlier expression. "Your brother is a very attentive student, I'll give him that, but his heart wasn't in it. Not really. I could tell he wanted you to be there with him."

Alana's countenance softened. "Thank you for looking after him," she murmured, placing her hand on his shoulder. "I think you have your own little brother now." She looked at Fili. "And for you, a second one."

Touched, both of them smiled, and Kili squeezed her hand. "I like to think so," he admitted. He then sighed. "I'm going to miss him when he goes. It's nice to have him around to fill the gaps in my day, and he's at just the right age for this sort of thing. Still with one foot in his childhood, but edging towards his adult years."

Alana groaned. "Oh, don't remind me. Woe betide the day he becomes taller than me. I will never live it down."

Kili snorted. "I remember the day we realised I was taller than Fili - Dwalin took me out for a drink to celebrate."

"I bet he did," Alana said with a laugh, while Fili good-naturedly rolled his eyes. "Well, as long as he's old enough, feel free to do the same with my brother. I'll need something to use as blackmail against him if I don't want him to comment on my height every time we meet."

Kili beamed up at her. "I knew there was a reason I liked you."

Alana's laughter was the only response he got to that.

Alana was utterly delighted, upon returning to the celebration hall, to see the large spread of food on the tables. Each table was long enough to seat 40 people, and there were a total of fourteen tables, plus the extra table at the head of the room, for the royal family, and all their guests. The enormity of the room meant that the dancing space in the centre of the floor remained almost completely untouched, only two of the tables drifting into that space. Once the bulk of the meal was over, the chairs would, for the most part, be removed from the room, and the tables crammed together. Smaller snack-like foods would then adorn the tables, to be eaten at the leisure of the guests.

Alana was directed to the head table by Thorin, who - despite a few twisted looks - insisted she sit at his side, in what was traditionally the Queen's chair. Fili sat on Thorin's left, and Kili on Alana's right. Dís was next to Fili, and Balin beside Kili. The rest of the company fanned out after that, and the rest of the table was filled by the guests from the other kingdoms around the world. Due to some still tangible tensions between races, the men sat beside the dwarves, and the elves beside the men. It ended up that Alana faced Lord Elrond and the twins, both of whom delighted in seeing the rather overwhelmed expression on her face about the whole event.

It wasn't long before everyone was cheerfully digging into their food. While the main tables filling the hall were covered in various meats and breads and fish, the top table was filled with everything from meat to salad, in the hopes of making sure everyone present had enough to eat that suited their tastes. Jugs of mead, ale, beer and wine circled the room, and before long the legendary raucousness of the dwarves came to life. Laughter filled the air, bouts of shouting and singing, cheers and hoots, and a few pieces of food were thrown too.

Alana didn't get the chance to eat her meal uninterrupted, being dragged into multiple conversations by the others at the table. She obliged them happily enough, talking at length to Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir chipping in every now and then. She spent a fair amount of time talking to Bard and Bain, and with Dain as well. The half-drunk dwarf Lord introduced her quite heartily to his son, Thorin (she was sure that would become very confusing at some point), who was far more reserved than his father, though still polite. Lord Ecthelion had spent a while talking to her about his father's family, and their legacy. Alana obliged him when he asked curiously about her family's life, explaining to him about the dúnedain and about her own father's role as Chieftain.

She even managed a lengthy conversation with Tauriel, both of them attempting cordiality for the sake of the rest of the guests, and they found that they actually had a lot in common (besides their skill at fighting). Alana had always believed she and Tauriel could be good friends one day, and this only proved it. When Tauriel announced that she had finally told Legolas that he was chasing nothing but a shadow... she felt saddened and happy all at once. She quietly thanked Tauriel for that, much to the elleth's bafflement, and the two swiftly moved on with their conversations.

It felt like an age before she was able to turn her attention to Thorin (her Thorin), the two of them falling into easy conversation about everything and nothing, and they both admitted that they had wished Bilbo could have been here for this, and Gandalf too. Alana forgot completely about her food after that, too busy laughing and talking with her friends and family, and she was glad for this celebration. It was one of the few times in recent months that they had all had the chance to be together, and she could tell everyone was making the most of this opportunity. Bofur and Nori - ever steadfast drinking partners - were already neck deep in beer, though were only just beginning to show signs of intoxication.

At long last, the main part of the feast came to an end, and the room was quickly cleared of chairs. For all their faults, dwarves could be incredibly tidy and efficient, and the tables had been moved and laid with fresh food within three minutes. The top table remained where it was, and the remaining chairs were placed in various places throughout the room, to be used by those who desired a brief repose from all the frivolities.

In the corner of the room, musicians took their places, and the first few chords of what would prove to be the first of many up-beat and cheerful songs rung in the air. Thorin glanced at Alana in the corner of his eye, smirking at her when she caught his gaze. She narrowed her eyes at him.

Chuckling at her suspicion, Thorin held out a hand. "Might I have this dance, my Lady?"

"I not a very good dancer," she warned him.

"You'd be hard-pressed to find a dwarf who is," he told her blithely. "Dwarfish dancing is less about technique and skill and more about letting loose and simply enjoying yourself." He wiggled his fingers invitingly, and with a resigned sigh, Alana accepted.

"If I fall over, I'm never going to forgive you for this."

Thorin chuckled. "If you fall over, I think you'll have to give up every right you ever had to the title of 'Ranger'. As it is, I know you're not by nature a clumsy person, so I can say with confidence that you won't." It being the first song to play, there weren't many on the dance floor yet; just a few couples who were spinning and jumping about jovially. "Gayad'usrun, (Dance of joy,)" Thorin murmured in her ear as they watched the other partners, hovering at the edge of the floor. "That is the barest form of dance - and to us, it is the only form that counts. Do not think, do not worry; just listen to the music and enjoy yourself. Mahignit ê. (Promise me.)" Alana glanced down at him, frowning. "Promise me you will try to simply have fun, atamanel."

Smiling, Alana nodded. "I promise." She glanced at the crowd, some of whom had now noticed that she and Thorin were no longer at their table. "We're going to be watched, aren't we?"

Thorin chuckled. "Of course. It is rare for me to dance at such events - let alone so soon in the night. That is not something that has gone unnoticed, I'm sure."

Alana sighed, then cocked an eyebrow at him. "Dance of joy, huh? I think I can manage that."

Thorin grinned broadly at her, pulling her by the hand onto the floor just as the first piece of music came to a flourishing close. The crowd cheered as they noticed Thorin and Alana step onto the floor, and Alana tried not to let her nerves get to her when she realised the other dancers were leaving the floor, so they had it to themselves. "You're not going to back out, are you?" Thorin teased, smirking at her knowingly when her eyes flashed.

"Not on your life," she bit back. "And just for that, I'm not going to apologise if I step on your toes."

Thorin guffawed, a deep-bellied noise that echoed around the whole room. Those who knew even a little bit about Thorin (so nearly everyone) knew that making him laugh so heartily was a rare treat, and as Thorin and Alana stood in the middle of the floor, many of those watching had a new appreciation for the human woman who had claimed their King's heart. "Just think of it like a battle," Thorin murmured to her softly, sensing she was still a little nervous. "Imagine there is an invisible army fighting against us, and with no weapons, we must ensure we do not get hit, and bring them down."

Alana blinked at him, mouth gaping slightly, before she snapped it shut. "You know, that actually helps."

With a quick wink, Thorin grasped her hand more tightly in his, and then the music began. At first it was simple. The two circled one another, step after step, until Thorin lunged froward. Alana laughed and skirted back, then twirled around him, using his advice and imagining a small army of armed orcs. The two spun and circled, and moving fast enough that they almost were going too fast for the music. It was strange, she mused as Thorin grabbed her by the waist and lifted her off her feet, spinning her around. The difference in their heights made the whole thing rather amusing, and yet at the same time it just... worked. They'd always been able to fight well together, like they'd been training to do so their whole lives, and suddenly this was shown in their dancing.

By the time the music came to close, both of them were breathing heavily and beaming at one another, and Alana jumped when the dwarves around them cheered and applauded, having forgotten they had an audience. Alana laughed and curtseyed when Thorin bowed to her, still smiling, and he began to lead her off. Their progress was halted, however, by the figure that all but bowled her over.

Alana laughed again, smiling down at her brother as he clung to her. He grinned at her. "My turn!" he declared determinedly, and with a shared glance with Thorin, the King tilted his head to the side and walked back to the top table, while Alana grabbed Aragorn's hands and led him back onto the floor. The next song had started, and the floor now had a dozen other dancers, so Alana made sure they didn't get in the way of anyone else. Aragorn's dancing was hilarious, with no rhyme or reason to it, but Alana did her best to keep up with him, letting him lead her blindly across the floor. Those watching were also trying to hold back laughter at the sight of it, and the pure glee that radiated off her softened more than one heart amongst the crowd.

At the end Alana was breathless from her laughter, though Aragorn seemed oblivious to the fact it was aimed at him. He rather adorably reached up at the end of the dance, wrapping his arms around Alana's neck and then carefully planting a kiss on her cheek. Alana smiled down at him, mirroring the action, before urging him to go back to their mother. He scampered away, giving Alana the chance to return to her seat.

"That was some interesting dancing over there," Kili teased, and Alana glared at him, though there was no real force behind it.

"I'd like to see you do better with him," she retorted, before turning to Lord Elrond's son. "You two are in charge of teaching him how to dance," she instructed, making them both blink owlishly at her. "I won't have him growing up and being unable to dance with his wife."

"You said not ten minutes ago that you couldn't dance all that well," Thorin pointed out, smirking.

Alana shrugged. "I didn't have an older sibling," she pointed out, grinning. "And besides, what's the point in making mistakes if you can't learn from them?" She turned back to the twins. "So?"

Elladan chuckled, but nodded. "We'll do as you ask, my Lady."

"But you owe us," Elrohir added cheekily, making Alana roll her eyes.

Whatever she was planning on saying next remained unknown, because before she could speak, there was a commotion from in front of the door.