Advised

The morning came too soon.

The Durin family gathered for breakfast to continue their discussion from the previous night. Thorin didn't show up – according to Balin, he felt his advice wasn't appreciated, so he wouldn't burden anyone with his company. Fíli took a deep breath in relief: it wasn't like Thorin offered up anything constructive, and Fíli really didn't need to listen to his tirades and accusations once more.

"We need to placate the people somehow," Balin kept repeating.

"People can piss off," Dwalin answered. He never strived to please anyone, but it worked rather well for him.

"We should let them talk," Óin said. "If we let them be, they'll forget about what happened very soon. It's how rumors work. If we try to silence them or tell them too much, they're going to think it's more important than it really is."

"I say we can make a good deal out of it," Glóin said. "They are more willing now than ever to strengthen our security. We should renegotiate our deals for weapons and armor. I bet we can get lower prices! We should recruit new guards too!"

Dwalin was nodding along. "People are more willing to train when they face danger. Even fake danger; not that they can tell the difference," he muttered the last part.

"We shouldn't let panic run wild only to profit from it!" Balin protested.

"We're not letting panic run wild," Glóin argued. "We are taking action for their protection, and kindly ask them to help us reach our goals."

Fíli chuckled.

"Not that there's much panic at all," Óin said. "Most people only learned about the alleged dragon threat after we ensured that there is no such thing. My guess is that they won't talk a lot. And they are mildly amused, instead of panicking."

Balin looked around the table and nodded, pleased with the results. "Very well. What do you think, Fíli?"

Fíli thought that he was very grateful for his kin at the moment.

He feared that they would side with Thorin, because they supported his rule for decades, while Fíli was just a newcomer in this circle. He'd been part of similar family discussions before, but not as King – he was mostly trying to entertain Kíli with a kicking match under the table, because his little brother found these discussions too tedious for his taste.

"I think these are all very good ideas," he said shyly. They all seemed so confident and what more should he add? What would Thorin do? Suddenly, it dawned on him that this was probably a finely tuned process, and today, he had to fill the role Thorin had filled so far. He remembered his uncle giving weight to each and every opinion, adding his own remarks and reaching his own conclusion, but Fíli had nothing to contribute. "Let's do this then."

He felt really awkward. It was different when he had time to plan his actions and map out every possible scenario, but now he had to react swiftly. They were a lot more experienced in these matters, but should he simply tell them that he trusted their judgment? Uncle always managed to sound cleverer than everyone else.

"Good," Glóin said, grinning widely, digging into his food enthusiastically. "Let us take care of our business, and you can deal with yours – the elves!"

Balin patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, it's going to be a funny story around a campfire in a decade, as no harm happened."

Fíli certainly hoped so.

The conversation took a pleasant turn, as they recalled similar 'funny stories', and Fíli started to relax. He feared they would try to make him feel like he was still just a naughty, disrespectful dwarfling (like Thorin did yesterday evening), and he remembered how often they made fun of him and Kíli, but now, they included him in the conversation as an equal. It was nice laughing with them, instead of be laughed at by them. Maybe he wasn't completely alone without Kíli.

Kíli…

"Where is Kíli, by the way?" Glóin asked. "My Gimli is asking after him. Apparently, Kíli promised to go on a hunting trip with him before he left."

Fíli bit down on his tongue, the tasty food turning ashen in his mouth. "He's away for business," he answered, failing to come up with a better lie.

"What business, if I may ask?" Balin chimed in, suddenly suspicious. "Are you preparing another surprise, like the elven envoy?"

Fíli flushed, but he deserved this comment, and no one could know that Kíli's business accidentally involved elves.

"A personal business," he answered.

"Is it another childish scheme of his? I thought he's already grown out of it!" Dwalin grumbled, earning a smack on the head from Dís.

"All of you should've already grown out of it, yet none has!" she commented. Fíli looked at her, silently pleading for help, but she ignored him. Now, Fíli cursed himself for guarding Kíli's secret so well: he'd refused to go into details when she asked about Tauriel, so she wouldn't side with him. Who was childish now?

"If it's personal, it's personal," Balin said and returned to his breakfast, his suspicions clearly not erased.

"But a little warning would be nice before he barges in with some nonsensical demand!" Glóin advised.

Fíli imagined as Kíli strolled inside the mountain with Tauriel, hand in hand, asking for his blessing to marry and settle down here. He shuddered. He knew for a fact that this scenario have played out in Kíli's mind too. He wasn't sure he would be able to grant this wish, should it happen for real.

"I can promise that."

Business in the mountain went on as usual. Fíli dealt with the elves and a very apologetic Bard, who 'should have kept a better watch', as he said.

"We are in this together," Fíli reassured him, "but once everything calms down in a few days, you should come over for a drink."

Bard happily accepted the invitation.

Fíli spent hours with Haldír, going over the plans and details. He was asking questions only for the fun of it, as Haldír started to grow uncomfortable with every failed attempt at explaining things simply. He often mixed up the proper terms, and when he got confused in the middle of a sentence, he started searching in the notes his companions made for him. Fíli found it hilarious. After an hour of going in circles, Haldír finally had enough.

"Why are you so interested in the fine art of agriculture, Your Majesty? I thought dwarves cared little for growing things."

Fíli sniggered. He knew that Haldír could easily take offense should he answer honestly, but seeing the elf's indignant face, he decided to tell him the truth. Perhaps Haldír will take the chance and laugh at himself. He should. It's not like he didn't deserve the criticism.

"I was only curious how long you can pretend to understand what you're speaking about."

Haldír's face turned crimson.

"I was relieved when you came to report, because I thought I escaped a lot of explanation about correct methods and proper timing and such – I don't care about them. Don't bother learning all this," he pointed at the notes. "Just tell me where we shouldn't go, and what we'll see, or when you'll be burning down my mountain again. There'll be another fire, as I see?" He waited for Haldír's confirmation. "Good. That's what I need to know. We can spend the rest of the time in a better way, I'm sure."

Haldír nodded, and left soon. His face revealed nothing about his feelings, and Fíli only hoped he judged his character well. He'll have an answer for that tomorrow.

The others were busy too: by the evening, Glóin struck up new deals with several merchants and craftsmen, they started recruiting dwarves for the Guard, people generally went on with their day, although they made crude jokes about elves more often.

Dwalin mercilessly hunted down those who reported the dragon first, and took care of them effectively. Their career prospects quickly changed from aspiring warriors to cleaning unused corridors on the lower levels ("where we wouldn't rely on their failing eyesight," as Dwalin said).

After the meeting, Fíli went to the Courting Hall. Balin and Dís agreed that he should be seen more in public now, because his presence effectively discouraged gossiping. Fíli grudgingly agreed – he knew he had to socialize, but what if he runs into Seenia again? He would rather go anywhere else. Visit the mines. Visit the market. Go to the training yard. (He did all of these, actually, but it wasn't enough.)

Balin and Óin accompanied him, as Dwalin had other, mysterious business – Fíli reminded himself to check if Liv showed up. Upon arriving at their destination, Balin immediately left to check if Thorin was here and if he was still in a foul mood, but Óin prevented Fíli to enter the Hall.

"Where is Kíli?" he asked, his voice low and worried.

Fíli took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"Where is he?" Óin asked again, grabbing his shoulder forcefully. "I've been thinking about this all day. What personal business can keep him away from the Mountain?"

Óin stayed behind with them in Laketown, and he witnessed Kíli's adoration for Tauriel develop. They exchanged a meaningful look.

"I don't know where he is currently."

"But you know where he went."

"Yes, Óin, I guess we both know where he went."

Óin shook his head. "It cannot end well."

Fíli knew that too, but only shook his head. "There was nothing more we could do," he declared. It sounded a bit false, but he left Óin on the corridor and entered the Hall.

He looked around immediately, searching for trouble. He found Seenia easily – she was loud and dressed to be noticed – so he walked in the opposite direction. He was looking around for a friend, when Nori came up to him.

"The elves didn't do magic today," he reported, sounding rather disappointed. "It was boring, and several dwarves appeared out of nowhere. A few guards and merchants, too. I didn't like them, they annoyed the elves by standing by and gawking at them. They got twitchy, they're less fun that way."

"I'm glad you find entertainment in your job."

Nori felt his point didn't get across properly. "Don't you hear me? I was just saying that those stone-headed onlookers ruined the fun. Why can't everyone be quiet and unobtrusive, like me?"

Fíli snorted. "I don't know."

"How long should I watch them? There are others now, surely I'm not needed anymore."

"Am I keeping you from business?" Fíli asked, mocking him with his feigned concern.

"Actually, you might be!" Nori sounded sincerely hurt, but as he'd just described himself as unobtrusive, Fíli decided to ignore it. Probably he only wanted to get more money out of him – Fíli was only surprised that he waited so long to ask (or rather, whine) for it.

He noticed Kasia nearby; accidentally, she was sitting with Alin, Nori's suspected lover. Kasia noticed him too, and waved. Fíli smiled at her, and decided to go over. Maybe she can guard him again tonight. He beckoned Nori to follow him.

"How much do you want?" Fíli asked, but Nori was distracted, and only made a noncommittal humming sound. He pretended to think, but his eyes were fixated on Alin. "Maybe we can go over the details tomorrow," Fíli offered.

He couldn't help but sympathize. He remembered how the yearning and the reluctance about going public with Flor tore at him at the same time. He remembered how they both loved the large gatherings, where everyone danced with everyone, and no one gave a second thought if they paired up once or twice a night. He remembered the thrill of getting away with it, of being together right under their noses, of being honest without actually being honest.

If there was anyone in this world who enjoyed it more than him, it must be Nori.

They were already near the dwarrowdams, and he decided to give him a push. "I'm going to ask that girl for a dance, do you mind entertaining her friend for a little while?"

Nori froze for a moment, but immediately shook it off. "Sure," he said nonchalantly, but he wouldn't look at Fíli.

Kasia happily accepted his company. She seemed a bit deflated tonight. They left Nori and Alin together.

"That's going to be awkward," Kasia said. "She's always so careful to stay in company. I think her lover would be jealous if he saw her right now!"

Fíli smirked. "Seeing that?" Nori and Alin conversed stiffly, keeping a rather large distance between them. "He must be really insecure!"

They danced for a while. He told her about the elves – fortunately, he didn't need to explain everything to her, since she'd already heard the story from Raya. She told him about the rumors she heard, and made fun of them. When the musicians took a break, they split up – Kasia rejoined her giggling friends, and Fíli tried to stay unnoticed, quite unsuccessfully. Fortunately, exchanging a few words with everyone kept him too occupied to be swept away by overtly friendly dwarrowdams again, and leaning to the table an arm's length from the ale, he started to relax.

Suddenly, another friendly face appeared next to him – looking not so friendly right now.

"Your Majesty," Erna greeted him politely, but the tight smile accompanying her words didn't look natural. Fíli felt not a small amount of apprehension: did she come on Thorin's behalf? She shooed away his current company, and put a fisted hand on her hip, while pointing a finger at him accusingly. Seeing her steely glare, Fíli braced himself for what was to come, but her next words confused him. "You owe me an apology, as you quite rudely ruined my whole day!"

Fíli blinked, twice, tilting his head. "What do you mean?"

She threw her hands up in frustration. "Thorin is sulking. Apparently, you're not the good little lapdog he tried to train. Apparently, you are having ideas of your own, and I should condemn you for it. Why no one has warned me of his tantrums?"

"What will you have me do about it now?"

Erna crossed her arms, pursing her lips. Uncertainty arose in Fíli, as he couldn't tell if she was truly angry, or simply tried to drive her point home.

"I'm not going to be your messenger!" she stated firmly. "He said a lot of things; mostly being very cryptic, but I think you two need a good long talk."

Fíli slowly let out the air he held back without noticing.

"I'm not sure now is the right time for that, but we're family, we'll deal with it. We always do," he said diplomatically. He was getting curious how much Thorin told her – she was a very close friend after all!

"I'm sure, but I don't think either of you realized what a precarious situation you are in!" She made an exasperated gesture with her hands. "I don't know how to say it nicely, but there's a reason why the new king is usually crowned after the old one dies!"

Fíli pressed his lips together to stop them from expressing his annoyance.

"And I think I overstepped," she said, her frustration evaporating suddenly. "I apologize. I'm going back to Thorin and bear the grunt of his hysteria without complaints."

She turned to leave, but the change in her tone shook Fíli out of his anger.

"Erna, wait!" he called after her, unsure what to say. She glanced back, but as he was still looking for words, she answered.

"You're not a dwarfling anymore, you don't have to explain anything. Not to me, and not to Thorin either."

"Care to tell him that?" Fíli blurted out sarcastically, and shook his head. "Forget it. You're not a messenger. Just… sorry for upsetting your day," he finished awkwardly.

Erna took his arm and led him to a corner to have some privacy. The armchairs were facing the wall, and she motioned for him to sit down. Fíli, intrigued by her actions, obeyed.

"I'm not really angry at you," she said on a low voice. "Thorin is grumpy as any old dwarf would be after the life he led during all those years. Do you remember my compliments from the other night?"

"Which ones?" He raised one eyebrow impertinently, and Erna looked away, shaking her head and trying not to blush again.

"About your confidence," she managed to say, fixing her gaze on the floor instead of the dwarf opposite her. "You don't have to explain anything. You need to look infallible. Whatever happens, you go through with it as if it was your plan all along. I thought you were already doing that."

Fíli nodded. "I'm trying."

"Thorin said a lot of things today. He often comes to me for a new perspective, and I'm glad to help, but I could help more if I'm told where."

"What did he say?" Fíli asked, hopeful to get some insight.

"Briefly: he sees your efforts, but he expects you to fail with the elves."

"And this is how you try to encourage me?" Maybe she meant well, but Fíli suddenly questioned her loyalty. She was Thorin's friend, so who knows.

"No. I'm saying you need to make this endeavor with the elves successful, and after that happens, you two need to learn how to be equals. You can start by talking to him, as he suggested the other night. He likes reminiscing about old times, and I'm sure you have a lot of stories to show your competence and experience regarding leadership. Eventually, he'll realize that you aren't as clueless as he fears."

Erna gave him a lot to consider; actually, she was the first person who not only realized his difficult position, but gave useful advice.

"I'm leaving you with your thoughts, and I'll just harass other members of your family. Maybe one of them takes pity on me and teaches me a trick to snap Thorin out of this mood." At least she was smiling, Fíli noticed, so he didn't worry much about her. "I've also heard your mother is making an interesting announcement very soon!"

Fíli also knew about it, but felt little interest. He stayed in his secluded armchair, only adjusting it slightly to have a better view when Amad called for silence. The summer solstice was soon upon them. Dwarves celebrated their work on the longest day of the year, but Amad and Vera also appointed this date as the starting point of marriage announcements. (The date also coincided with the elves plan to burn the lands once more, so Fíli planned to advertise it as a spectacle in the end of the long day.)

Fíli watched the crowd, where a few couples exchanged excited hugs, while others looked disappointed, or giggled with their friends. Dwarrowdams generally displayed more emotions regarding the matter; groups of dwarves were standing awkwardly near the walls, not sure how to broach the subject with their respective partners, if they were lucky enough to have one.

Kasia came and took a seat next to him. She immediately dropped the fake ear-to-ear smile, when she felt safe from prying eyes.

"I blame your brother for this!" she said, scrunching her face. "I should be getting married by now!"

"I thought there wasn't any formal agreement between you two," he said hesitantly.

"Because there wasn't!" She was tugging on her braids, which Fíli learnt to interpret as a sign of her immense frustration. "But I came here to get married as soon as I can! I came here with a good plan! I'm attractive! I know how to handle men! Then he came along, taking up all my time, and now everyone seems so dull!"

The corners of her mouth were dangerously bending downwards, and when she sniffed, Fíli vowed to make Kíli's life miserable, when he returns.

"Whatever. He's dull too!" she declared, lifting her chin stubbornly. "And I have a goal. It's just… I thought I would be the first to marry here, yet, here I am, while Zaz is talking to a mediator about her marriage prospects, and I'm sure she'll make an announcement as soon as she can, just like I should!"

She was sniffing again, scrunching her nose, and pulled at her braids so hard she cried out. "Ouch!"

Fíli reached out to get her hands away from her hair.

"I'm not making any announcement in the foreseeable future, so you're welcome to my company."

Kasia looked at him in mock horror.

"But you're the dullest of them all!"

"Am I?" He did little to make himself popular among these ladies, so her statement carried more truth than he preferred.

"Well, you can prove me wrong anytime!" she offered, still acting up her disbelief, but her eyes were twinkling with challenge.

A/N: Quick update. I'm busy with an exam tomorrow, but I'm really trying to keep a schedule here. So, I hope you like it!

Next up: the day of the summer solstice, which brings celebration, a little jealousy, a marriage announcement, and Varni reappears again.

If I'm up to it, it's coming on Saturday. You can encourage me through reviews!