Chapter Eleven: Dinner in the Royal Wing

Lina woke and ate a hasty breakfast before grabbing her bow and its accessories, locking the door, and heading for the entrance. She passed several people whom she recognized from the previous day.

She strode quickly through town, following Kili's directions. She saw the training arena, and remembered that the next day was the tryouts. She memorized the location, continued, and found a large barn and several paddocks with ponies grazing or cavorting about in them. She went into the barn.

"Hello?" She called.

A young Dwarf with red hair tied back behind his head popped out if an empty stall and set his pitchfork down.

"How can I help you, Miss?" He asked politely.

"I'm looking for a red roan stallion brought in here three days ago." She replied. "He's about 12 hands tall, holds his head arrogantly, and he has a diamond shaped star. Master Kili gave me permission to take him out."

"Yes, Miss, right this way."

He led her to a large paddock. Thalion was grazing at the far end, swishing his tail every minute or so.

"This him, Miss?"

"Yes, thank you. Do you know if there is any tack I could borrow? I don't own any at the moment." Lina said.

"We have several saddles and bridles nobody uses. We keep them in good condition, and you can use them whenever you like." The young groom answered.

"My thanks, could you get some ready while I catch him?" Lina asked.

"Certainly, Miss." He said before hurrying away.

Lina climbed up onto the fence and whistled shrilly. Thalion's head perked up and he looked towards her. She whistled again, and he ambled over, tossing his red forelock out of his eyes. She jumped down beside him and pet his jaw, smiling.

"I missed you. Guess what? I've decided on a name for you. Thalion. It means 'steadfast' in Sindarin, and as you are very steadfast I think it suits you.'' She told him.

She draped a leather cord she kept for emergency purposes over his neck, and he followed her willingly back to the barn, lifting his feet up high with his nech arched as usual. The groom, who introduced himself as Naki, had a saddle and bridle, as well as curry comb and brush ready when they came in, and she thanked him. She groomed Thalion, saddled and bridled him quickly, and trotted off in the direction of the nearby forest.

Thalion sneezed a few times, and the steady beat of his hooves in the grass gave Lina a sense of security. She relaxed in the saddle and applied light pressure to the reins, holding her hands slightly out to the sides. Thalion responded immediately and tucked his chin in, his strides smoother and more collected. She had him hold this pose for a few strides, then released the reins and rubbed his neck.

She stopped near a dead tree and notched an arrow. She held Thalion steady and let the arrow fly. It hit the knot she had aimed for. Thalion's ears pointed forward and he looked alert, but he did not move.

'This bow is wonderful! And steadfast old Thalion. I expected him to jump sideways at least.'

Lina rubbed his neck and rode him over to the tree, retrieved her arrow, and backed off again. She continued until Thalion was completely quiet when she shot, and then followed a deer trail through the woods.

There was a waterhole ahead, and fresh tracks in the mud of the trail. Lina eased Thalion forward, step by step. Two young does were drinking, their large ears back, listening. Lina stopped and stroked Thalion's neck.

She readied her bow and took a breath, holding her arms as steady as possible, and fired. The first doe bounded a few strides and fell as Lina knocked another arrow with the speed of her mother and shot the other, who fell immediately.

Lina petted Thalion again and rode him over to the deer. He snorted once and was reluctant to go closer, but he obeyed her commands.

She put the deer's carcasses over Thalion's withers and mounted again. He seemed unsure and took a few steps backward, snorting. She petted his neck and talked to him, slowly walking him out of the forest, and he soon paid no heed to the deer.

They made it back to the town in good time and Lina left Thalion at the paddocks again. She carried the deer to the entrance and asked Toli where she should take them. He directed her down the main cavern to a large door, which led to the kitchens.

After leaving the deer she went up to Balin's office and knocked.

He greeted her warmly.

"Lina, it's good to see you. Been hunting, I presume?"

"Yes, sir, I brought two deer back." She replied, smiling at the white-haired Dwarf.

"Balin, please. Did you enjoy the festival yesterday?" He asked. "I saw you and young Master Fili dancing. You did quite well."

"Oh, I did not see you, or I would have said hello. Yes, I had a splendid time, and thank you." Lina replied.

He wrote a note on a piece of parchment and handed it to her.

"If you go straight up the corridor, the third door on the right is Gloin's. He manages the treasury. Show him this and he'll give you your wages." He said. "My brother tells me he wants to try you out as a weapons instructor."

"Yes, although I'm not sure if I will take the offer yet. I honestly don't believe my skills are good enough for me to qualify as a teacher." Lina admitted.

"Well, Miss, you held your own against an Orc pack, and that's no small matter. What is your weapon of choice?'' He asked.

"I am fairly good with a sword, but I prefer to use a bow and arrows." She said.

'Revealing too much, Lina. Tread carefully, even if you are friends with people, they don't need to know everything just yet.' She thought.

"Well, there's no reason why you can't teach the younglings to shoot. Every Dwarf has to use a bow at some point, and they might as well be good at it when the time comes." Balin told her.

Lina nodded. Balin seemed like a wise, friendly Dwarf, and she liked him already.

"Thank you, Balin. I think I will try out." She said with a smile and a confident nod.

She rose and left the room, traveling further up the corridor to the third door on the right.

She knocked.

"Come in!" A gruff voice called. She entered a room similar to Balin's, but with vaults rather than bookshelves. Parchments littered the few tables, and a stocky Dwarf with a full red beard rose to greet her.

"And how may I help you, Miss?" He asked.

"My name is Lina. I'm working as a huntress, and Master Balin told me to give you this.' She said, and handed him the note.

He read it, nodded and went to one of the vaults. When he opened it, Lina caught a brief glimpse of hundreds of silver pennies. He retrieved four and gave them to her.

"Here you are." He said,

Lina bowed.

"My thanks, sir." She said, and exited the room.

She went out to the market and bought a blue tunic and some smoky grey leggings, as well as a few clay dishes.

'This should be a nice outfit to wear to dinner tonight. I need to get back home now and clean up.' She thought.

After bathing and rebraiding her hair, Lina ate dinner and read more of her history book. She finished the tale of Mîm and Turin Turumbar and went to inspect herself in the mirror one last time.

The blue tunic and grey leggings looked good together, and her hair was shiny from the extra care it had been given.

'I can't wait to see Fili! I wonder what he'll think of the new clothes.'

She heard knocking and went to open the door. She opened it with a smile, and was surprised to see Kili rather than Fili on the other side.

"Master Kili! Do come in." She said, and fetched him a mug of water. "I'm afraid I don't keep anything stronger." She said.

Kili laughed.

"That's quite alright, and please just call me Kili." He said. "How was your day?"

"Oh, splendid. I went hunting with Thalion and got him used to being shot off of, and brought two deer back. Then I went shopping at the marketplace." She recounted brightly.

"Thalion? You named the stallion?" He asked.

"Oh, yes.''

She hesitated to tell him the meaning, as Dwarves were not familiar with Sindarin and it would look strange.

"That sounds slightly Elvish. Is it?" Kili asked.

"Yes. It means 'steadfast'." She told him.

"Good choice! It describes him perfectly. I never understood why my brother called his filly Whisper. Makes no sense to me." He laughed.

"I'm sure he has some reason. Plenty of horses and ponies have names that make sense only to the owner." She said.

"Yes, I suppose you're right. Shall we be off?" Kili asked, rising from his chair.

Lina nodded with a smile and took his arm. They walked up an unfamiliar passageway that was especially grand and stopped before a wooden door decorated with gold. Kili opened the door and motioned her in. The room was huge, and decorated with relief scenes and gold. Dis came through a doorway with a wide smile.

"Ah, Lina, it's good to see you! Do come in and make yourself at home, dear. I never was one for all this golden fuss, but people will insist that the royal family have bigger rooms and carved walls.'' Dis said.

She shook her head with the last remark, and they sat down in the fancy chairs by the large, inviting fire.

"How was your day, Lina?" Dis asked.

"Splendid! I went hunting this morning." Lina said.

She found it easy to talk with the plump, motherly Dwarf.

"Oh yes, Fili did tell me you'd gotten a job! He and Thorin will be here soon, they went to inspect the safety of a new mining tunnel. I swear, those two work so hard."

She shook her head again.

The door opened and a stately Dwarf with dark hair and blue eyes entered. He had a braid behind each ear, and there were a few silver streaks in his hair. His dark beard was short and immaculate.

'Thorin Oakenshield, the hero of Azanulbizar! Should I stand up and bow?' Lina thought.

Before she could decide, Thorin nodded to her gruffly and went into an adjoining room. Fili closed the door and came over to sit down.

"Hello, Lina!" He said with a smile. "I see my no-good brother got you here in one piece."

"Well, if I'm no-good what does that make you? You didn't even show up when you told her you'd come and fetch her." Kili retorted, but there was a spark of amusement in his eye.

'What would it be like to be teased as a sign of affection?' Lina wondered.

"True. Sorry about that, Lina. Some of the miners were worried about the safety of the tunnel they were mining in and we had to go take a look. It didn't look like there was anything to worry about." Fili said.

He added in a low voice,

"Uncle wasn't exactly pleased about being dragged down there before dinner. He'll cheer up, though, when he has some of Mum's cooking."

"Speaking of which, love, let's eat!" Dis said, and led them into the dining room.

Roast meat, grapes, cheese, warm bread, and many other delectable dishes covered the table.

"Help yourselves, there's plenty to go around." Dis said cheerily.

Thorin entered the room not long after, dressed in a different tunic. His grumpy demeanor lessened as the meal progressed, and he soon spoke to Lina,

"Would I have known your father in Erebor, Miss Lina?"

Fili winced, but Lina took a deep breath to steady herself and responded.

"It's possible, sir. His name was Goli, and he was Captain of the Guard."

Thorin nodded.

"I knew him before he left with the troop that fought the Orcs in the Misty Mountains. I never saw him after he left, although I knew he returned. I am sorry that he died. He was a good Dwarf."

Lina swallowed and nodded. Fili took her hand under the table and gave it a squeeze. She returned it and felt much better.

"I understand Fili gave you the roan pony. How do you like him?" Thorin asked, effectively changing the subject.

"He's the best I've ever ridden, honestly. I'm honoured to own him." She replied.

Dis brought up the festival and bragged about Lina's dancing, making her blush a little. Kili winked at her discreetly which made it all the worse.

They talked for a while after dinner, and Dis refused her offer to help clean up.

"You and the boys go have some fun. I'll manage here." She insisted, and so Lina found herself walking out of the mountain with Fili on one side and Kili on the other.

Kili had a rather mischievous look on his face, and before she realized it, he had tapped her on the arm, yelled "Tag!", and was running away laughing.

"You'll regret that!'' She called, tearing after him. Fili joined in on the childish game and they had a mad chase that led all over town.

At last, panting, Lina had tagged both of them. They laughed and caught their breaths and slowly made their way back inside.

"That was fun!" Lina gasped.

"You were right; I did regret it." Kili said with a grin.

The brothers escorted Lina home and she went to bed soon after, exhausted from the game of tag.

Hello! I hope everyone liked this chapter. I'm currently writing chapter 21, and it's coming along quite well. :-)

In response to this review:

Personally, I rather like the idea of Kili and Lina! I just can't see it with Fili, not sure really why. Maybe their friendship? They seem like they'd be better friends? But that's just my humble opinion. Kili and Lina really seemed to hit it off. Anyways, I loved this chapter and it was nice to see her happy!

I'm glad you like it! Keep reading for your answers. I'd hate to spoil it for you!

Thoronsul Belegmegil