o.o.o.o.o (And now we leave the bonfire and jump ahead a few days …)
Gimli scratched his beard, a far more impressive one than his cousin Kili's despite being the younger of the two. He looked over at his mother in puzzlement.
Alfhildur, wife of Gloin and mother of Gimli, took the message from her son. The fact that he didn't react worried her. Quickly she scanned the messages, a frown forming on her face. "Your father puts good trust in you."
Gimli looked at his mother with wide eyes. "Kili married an elf." He whispered in a shocked tone that he might have used if told his friend had died.
Nodding, Alfhildur looked up. "We need to go see that dwarrow who writes up the contracts for the Guilds. He'll have a good grasp on the legalities. Normally we'd use Balin, but he's with your father."
Gimli looked grim. They'd already had word that Erebor was free and that the Company members were all rich and well. This new information was unexpected to say the least. "Why do they need quit-claims?"
Alfhildur looked up at her son, disapprovingly. "It's all here." She jostled the messages she still held.
"An elf!"
"A request from your father." The dwarrowdam countered. "Gloin would not ask this of us without good reason, and the fact that Thorin …er, King Thorin allowed Kili to marry an elf tells us all we need to be told."
Gimli firmed his jaw and gave a quick nod to his mam.
o.o.o.o.o
Kili walked into the main dining area in a grand mood. All mornings were wonderful right now, only eclipsed by the nights. He grinned and waved at a few who greeted him cheerfully, having caught sight of his brother.
A dark-haired dwarrowdam was sitting beside Fili, intriguing him. She was very pretty with a nicely curved figure and even better, she was not Zelke Steelforge.
Kili had spent the most of the past three days, and nights, basically in his chambers. Oh, and the bath. There had been that one time in Thorin's private dining room. And twice in the armory, though he couldn't remember why they'd ventured there once much less twice. Still, he grinned, it had been more than fun. They'd eaten mostly privately, though once with Dis, Bilbo and Thorin that had ended with the others shooing them away as they'd been lost gazing at each other the whole time.
So. Who was Fili sitting with and why wasn't it the Steelforge dam? Curious, Kili made his way closer, though unable to see the family denoting braids and beads as his brother was in his way.
Kili noted the moment Fili spotted him, then some of his morning lost a bit of shine as his brother actually stiffened at the sight of him. Was something wrong? He glanced around with false casualness, looking for hints or signs of trouble.
Nothing seemed apparent.
Had there been bad news from Ered Luin about the quit-claims. Kili sighed. Or about something else. He had been lost in a sexual daze these last few days …and nights. He wondered what he'd missed and felt a bit guilty about it, though not regretful.
Kili slid onto a bench next to Fili, nodding in greeting to those nearest them. Fili murmured something bland. Kili looked over at the lass next to his brother, but she was not looking back at him. Strange behavior. What was going on?
Tauriel arrived, putting down the tray laden with foods and drink. She sat across table from Kili even as he patted the seat next to him. The elf smiled secretively at him and he felt the soft toe of her slipper run up the side of his foot to the calf. Oh. His smile turned a bit sloppy.
Fili sighed and started to rise, stopped when Kili's hand clamped down on his forearm.
"Something wrong?" Kili asked.
Tauriel glanced up, catching the tone in her husband's voice. Her green eyes flicked to Fili and then to the dam sitting rather stiffly next to him. She turned back to Kili, her expression a bit guarded.
"Nothing is wrong." Surprisingly it was the unknown dwarrowdam who spoke. Kili watched as she turned to face him, looking across Fili who was seated between them. "Greetings to you Prince Kili."
Dark eyes noted the rather formal smile in an otherwise pretty face. Okay. He noted a few things in those first couple of seconds. This dwarrowdam had greeted him personally and by name, noting familiarity. But had used a title, noting distance. She had not been introduced. Fili was acting very strangely. "Greetings to you …" He responded, still unsure.
One eyebrow rose and the dam turned her head enough for him to catch sight of her beads. Kili's eyes widened. "Damn it." His gaze flew to Tauriel, who was watching him carefully.
The she-elf sat back slightly in reaction to suddenly becoming the center of attention. The dwarrowdam's face held no hints other than she was not at ease. Fili looked ready to jump up if need be and Kili looked apologetic. "What?"
The gazes of Fili and Kili both dropped as they stood, each ready to move off in opposite directions for the time being.
Tauriel turned to look at the other dwarrowdam with curiosity and warning, sensing that it was this one's presence that had turned things strange this morning.
The dam with the dark, intricate braids and hazel eyes blinked rather thick lashes and then gave a first real smile. She leaned forward at the she-elf who hadn't moved. "They're uncomfortable."
"So are you." Tauriel commented, ignoring as Kili gestured for her to come with him. Deliberately she reached for a knife and noted how both dwarrows went a bit pale. Interesting. She deftly sliced up some ham and began eating. She wasn't leaving without knowing what was going on.
"I have reason." The dam said quietly, her gaze open and curious about the she-elf. "Does that pin you are wearing have a meaning?"
"No. It was a gift from my father when I was much younger and I always wear it." Tauriel said, unsure why she answered the question at all much less with more detail than she normally would have offered.
Kili stilled. His eyes went to the pin in question, he'd not known that story actually. Somehow that made him feel a bit bad. They'd talked about the death of her parents so many centuries ago, but there was so much more to learn about his new bride.
"Do I have reason to be uncomfortable?" Tauriel asked bluntly.
The dwarrowdam nodded slowly.
"Why?"
"Hmmm. It's widely known that Prince Kili is seeking quit-claims from all the females he has had intimate knowledge of in the past."
Fili groaned, still standing even as Kili looked around as if seeking some exit strategy.
"Sit." Tauriel flicked a warning glance at both males. She turned back to the dwarrowdam at the table. Was this the … "Is your name Rephira?" Her hand tightened on the eating blade.
This question surprised a quick laugh that was gone just as fast as the blink of an eye. She hadn't missed the signs of aggression even as she shook her head. "I hadn't heard about Rephira. Don't recognize the name either, I'm assuming a lass from Ered Luin?"
Kili flushed and gave one terse nod, unable to meet anyone's eye at the moment.
Fili stared at the ceiling before lowering his gaze. He glanced back and forth between the two females and then around at all those watching discretely, and the many more who were openly staring. "This could be more private."
"Then sit." The unnamed dwarrowdam reached for Fili's hand.
Kili's mouth unhinged slightly as his brother not only allowed the touch, but seemed to seek it. What had he missed in the past few days? As his brother sat, the brunet prince looked around, the focus of all attention. Reluctantly he sat as well, stiff and ready to grab Tauriel and run if need be.
"I am Tauriel, formerly a Captain of the King's Guard, of the Mirkwood." She offered the introduction, knowing the dwarrowdam already knew exactly whom she was. It was a polite if overt way of learning a name. She wasn't left waiting.
"Jalessa Silverstone."
Silence.
Tauriel looked back and forth between Fili and Kili, then over at Jalessa. The two males wouldn't meet her eyes, the other female was waiting for a response. Tauriel shook her head. "The clan name is not unknown to me but …"
"Ah." Jalessa nodded, sending a thin-lipped smile that wasn't a smile over at the two princes.
"Were you among those dwarrowdams that have had intimate relations with my husband?" Tauriel watched as the dam's eyebrows both rose over a surprised look.
Jalessa leaned back and sighed lightly. "Interesting. I have had relations with him." As the she-elf seemed to turn brittle she held up a hand to forestall movement. "But not intimate. I swear to you that he and I have never met in person before this moment. In truth, I had never laid eyes on him until a few days ago at the bonfire celebration when I saw him with you."
Tauriel contemplated that answer, spearing some ham as an excuse for not speaking yet. As she chewed her food without really tasting it, she stared at the dwarrowdam who appeared unconcerned, until you noticed that her hand was too far to the side under the table. Tauriel surmised she was holding hands with Fili. This Jalessa wasn't as at ease as she'd like to appear it seemed.
"Let us go." Kili asked Tauriel, clearly not comfortable.
The she-elf blinked at him and turned back to Jalessa. "I loathe being toyed with or kept in the dark."
"Me too." This steeled those hazel eyes and she let go of Fili as both hands appeared to tear apart some bread and slather on a soft cheese. "You are quick to seek quit-claims from all who have any dubious claim on your new husband."
Tauriel paused, hearing the slight inflection on the word 'dubious'. The inference was that Jalessa didn't consider herself in that light. So what legitimate claim …..oh. She blinked hard three times in a row. "You …"
"…were betrothed to him. Yes. Perhaps if you wanted him you should have sought a quit-claim from me first." The smile she offered this time held a bit of bite, both in terms of tone and the flash of actual teeth.
Kili fairly slumped where he sat.
Tauriel smiled, baring her own teeth.
"Now. Isn't this all cozy and interesting?" The slyly snotty voice could only belong to one person.
Fili and Kili both stiffened as they felt Zelke Steelforge's hands come down, one on each of their shoulders. It embarrassed them both that she'd come upon them unnoticed.
Tauriel watched coolly. She'd seen the dam approaching but had dismissed her as unimportant. Jalessa didn't seem surprised, calmly eating her food. She looked at Fili and offered to pass him the pot of honey sitting on the other side of her.
"No, thank you." Fili responded.
Zelke frowned, a quick flash of temper in her eyes. Still, she gave a nasty glance toward her rival and then turned a bright, if false, smile of welcome on the she-elf. "Dear sister."
Tauriel blinked. Zelke had never appeared welcoming and she certainly didn't trust this new warmth. "Did you marry in the last three days?" Her words intimated that the dam had no right to any familial claim upon her.
"My Fili prefers savory over sweet." Zelke chirped in indirect challenge. "You don't know him like I do." Her tone made suggestions of how intimately she might know the prince.
"It is my understanding that you are walking with the prince this afternoon." Jalessa said smoothly. Her meaning was clear enough, Zelke shouldn't be over here, not yet. The dwarrowdams weren't supposed to interrupt the courtship of others, even when seeking the attention of the same male.
"Oh. But it looked like a family gathering!" Zelke purred, her hands give a small squeeze to the shoulders of both dwarrow. "My betrothed and future brother and sister. Oh, and the dam who was cast off by them. Thrown out like trash. In disrepute. Desperate for any attention to keep from slinking away forever shamed."
Tauriel looked puzzled, glancing back and forth between Fili and Jalessa. She glanced at Kili who appeared just as lost as she. Torn, she turned back to the Silverstone lass. "Is that the way of it?" She asked in some distress.
Jalessa blinked, then gave a short nod.
Tauriel shook her head and turned to Kili. "Is there any way to repair it?"
Kili shrugged. Frankly he'd not considered what would happen to the Silverstone heiress. He'd really not thought of her at all.
Fili lifted a hand and this time took Jalessa's hand openly, on top of the table. "Working on it."
Kili appeared stunned, his dark eyes flew from the joined hands to his brother's tight look, and then up toward Zelke's face. The Steelforge lass looked furious. Okay.
"Repair it? Why should you? You won. You married the prince and all his wealth and title. You vanquished the enemy. It is not right to …"
Ignoring the rant, Tauriel learned toward Jalessa. "You have my apologies."
Jalessa Silverstone stared at the she-elf, clearly indecisive. Fili squeezed her hand and when she looked at him he gave her a nod.
"Ah. You choose your race over your brother's wife?" Zelke asked, her voice rising, desperate to rid herself of any rival. Her father had been quite vocal about how she needed to make sure the prince was happy. But …she just couldn't sit back at let the Silverstone chit win …at anything.
"I don't choose. I would have both at peace with each other." Fili threw a look at Tauriel, it was hopeful rather than pleading. "One didn't mean to cause the other hurt."
"No." Tauriel agreed, a bit stricken that she'd not even thought of Kili's broken engagement. She'd assumed that since the two hadn't ever met in person that the consequences would be small. Still, she wasn't going to apologize for falling in love. Her green eyes fell on the sight of two hands still being held. "Do you still seek my husband?"
Jalessa didn't miss the possessiveness in the words. It made her chuckle, even as she shook her head. "I would seek no company that didn't seek me back. And I've seen the way he looks at you."
Tauriel paused, remembering how the dam said she'd seen she and Kili at the bonfire. She gave a brief nod of understanding. This wasn't a rival for his attention. Still. "Do you seek recompense?"
This froze all the dwarves. It was an interesting question, considering that Tauriel's wealth and connections had expanded exponentially since wedding the prince. Did the she-elf know what kind of mess she might have just opened with those four words?
Jalessa didn't dismiss the question, for it wasn't an offer, not yet. She ignored Kili's alarmed look and Fili's more cautious one. How to use this to her advantage without overstepping? Her chin rose as she nodded at the she-elf who'd inadvertently changed her entire life. "Invitations."
Kili blinked rapidly while Fili gave a soft grunt of admiration.
Zelke's mouth opened in shock.
"Don't screech dear, it will only increase those who are paying heed." Jalessa commented without looking at the Steelforge lass. She was too busy watching Tauriel. She didn't make the red-head ask. "Invitations to private family dinners and meetings as are appropriate."
"Access to the royal family?" Tauriel guessed, still watching how the lass was holding hands with Fili. More was going on here than she knew.
"And those of high power and name." Jalessa added for those listening in, and there were a lot of them.
Tauriel considered for a long moment. She turned toward Fili and lifted an eyebrow. The prince nodded. She turned next to Kili who was still a bit stunned, helplessly he shrugged then nodded. "I have the power to grant this?" She asked, just to be sure.
"The king would not be happy with you." Zelke hissed. "It would put a strain on certain political things you could have no knowledge of."
"My marriage alone did that it appears. And caused harm of which I was unaware." Tauriel said rather dryly. "I would offer such that I can in a limited capacity and dependent upon King Thorin's approval."
Fili blinked, then beamed at her wording. The she-elf had placed herself beneath Thorin's rule and word on the matter, as was proper. Murmurs surrounding them showed that the other dwarves were not unhappy on the matter, even those that might not fully accept Tauriel as yet.
Jalessa's nerves settled a bit. She was surprised by the she-elf's manners and offer, but pleased. It didn't make her friends with Tauriel, but at least they weren't enemies, not openly anyway. Time would tell.
Zelke leaned down to whisper into Fili's ear. "This isn't over and you're not released. Hold her hand all you want, but in the end you'll marry me. But be careful, her reputation isn't as nice as you might think."
Fili snarled and the other dwarrowdam withdrew. He wondered at her words and looked over at Jalessa. "Your reputation?"
Correctly pinpointing the source of the question, Jalessa shrugged. "Zelke's been spreading rumors about me. Nothing real and quite vindictive."
Fili frowned, not liking that at all.
Kili said nothing but watched his wife as Tauriel finished off her plate of food. His wife watched him right back. This was the first time someone from his past was right in front of her nose, so to speak. Even though he'd not been intimate with Jalessa, he was unwilling to intervene in case Tauriel took it the wrong way.
The red-head pulled a piece of ham off of Kili's plate, slicing it without fanfare. She glanced over at Jalessa. "I have a lot to learn about Dwarven ways. Dare I ask what you plan on doing?"
Jalessa ran the pad of her thumb over Fili's finger as they held hands. "Courting."
Kili, in the process of tearing off some bread, froze. His head whipped around and he stared at his former betrothed and then at his brother. He coughed harshly and blinked.
Tauriel sighed and shook her head. "I will admit to confusion. I do not know what to make of all of this. I hurt you and I did not intend to do so, but I will not take it back nor apologize for I love my husband and would not change that for the world. I am not overly fond of the lass Fili is to marry, but she has done naught to me but be unwelcoming. I have offered recompense to you and you accepted, but it doesn't make us friends. I don't know if you look on me or Kili with pain or a desire to hurt. This is beyond what I am familiar with and Dwarven politics are far more snarled and intricate than I ever considered before."
Jalessa blinked in surprise. "Forthcoming." She said slowly. "Refreshing even."
Fili leaned in quickly. "No one …."
"No." Jalessa put her other hand on top of the one that was still clasped with Fili's. "I will say this. No one here besides perhaps Prince Kili, knows what to make of you. You are unprecedented among us. You hurt me, but I hereby fully accept that it had not been your intention to do so. I do not seek an apology, I would have once perhaps but I let that go for I do recognize that you are in love. I am not overly fond of Zelke, but I seek courtship with Fili for it alleviates many of the negative effects of the broken betrothal. But also because I find I like him."
Fili smiled in spite of himself.
"I do not look on you or Kili with any plan or desire for revenge. I cannot say that it has been pleasant, nor that I look on either of you in a friendly manner, but not as an enemy might. And Dwarven politics are a knot with size of this mountain."
"Larger." Fili interjected with a tilted smile.
"So. What now?" Tauriel asked.
Jalessa shrugged. "For you?" She shook her head. "As for me? I have to respond to Zelke's machinations before they poison any against me."
Tauriel nodded at the dam. "Why haven't you done so already?"
Jalessa's lips twitched and a smile grew that promised no good thing. "It's part of a plan."
Fili did a bit of a double take. "You have a plan?"
o.o.o.o.o
