Chapter 14

Tolkien likened the dwarves in his story to the Jewish people. Therefore in my story I am trying to draw as many parallels as I can. Maintaining the semitic tone is my nod to him. While I'm still creating my own twist of dwarven custom, I have incorporated the plain ring to symbolize a marriage of stability and the orthodox custom of seven blessings and seven meals to honor the couple. I may add more parallels as the fic progresses but we'll have to see.

Special shout out to Bon Jovi in this chapter. For those of you who are old enough (or cool enough) will notice the 'Bed of Roses' nod.

Kili POV

I awoke to tender kisses across my brow.

"I have to leave soon, Fili is starting to walk today," my lady whispered.

"Mmmph," I mumbled as I pulled her into an embrace, "it's fine... I need to get up early anyway."

Fili had completed the grip for her bow and I had arranged to present it to her after breakfast. Hopefully, I could finish the gift in time.

Tauriel hopped out of bed and I watched as she put on a corset, gently pulling the strings and adjusting her breasts into place. She pulled thick stockings out of the drawer and slipped them on one at a time. Tying the bows tight around her thighs as her hair fell in front of her face, the ends brushing just below her backside. Just watching her dress was alluring, "I have never seen you wear stockings, It's a good look for you."

She looked up to see my hungry eyes and flashed me a sly smile. My lady obliged with a playful slow turn so I could commit the vision to memory. When she finished, she made her way to the wardrobe. I began to climb out of bed to assist her back out of the lovely stockings when she yelled out, "Your mother!"

Really?!

"I love her... And I hate her all at once," she exclaimed as she pulled out a linen pinkish red dress, "I had tried this on at the shop yesterday because everyone insisted. Obviously, I had refused the dress because of the bold color."

"I can see why everyone liked it, the color suits you" I told her.

"The shop keeper said this shade is called rose, of course she would purchase it without my knowing. I can not possibly wear this, everyone will stare," she exclaimed sadly.

"It reminds me of a bawdy Dwarven love song... now you have to wear it," I teased her as I started up with the song.

She raised an eyebrow at me and pursed her lips into a pout, inspiring me to grab her and dance her around the room. I caressed her face at the chorus, "I want to lay you down on a bed of roses...," It took me holding her hand to my heart while singing in an over exaggerated manner to get her to break into a smile.

She giggled and rolled her eyes, "How do I say no now?"

Fili POV

Tauriel and Óin came to my room early in order to assist with my therapy. Óin bent and stretched my legs and my arms as he always did, periodically asking me if I had pain. When he was satisfied with his assessment, he allowed me to step off the side of the bed to try and walk on my own. I did much better than I had hoped, I had minimal ache in my right leg around the two places it broke, with almost no pain in the left. The more I moved the easier my movements were. I still had a noticeable limp but it would get better, if not go away completely. If one considers Azog tossed me beaten and stabbed from the tower on Raven Hill, the limp was a small price to pay for my life.

"You're doing amazing Fili. Why don't we work our way to the stairs, see if you can get down for breakfast," Óin told me, seeming relieved.

"You'll be ready to seek revenge from Dori and Ori in no time!" Tauriel said cheerfully.

The reminder of those two had me growling in anger, "I'm still furious with them after their joke."

Óin sniggered, having already been told about the incident, "They were just giving you an opportunity with the lovely Dünhilda."

I snorted, "The lovely Dünhilda?! Mahal, I could puke."

"Who is this lady?" Tauruel asked confused as I glared at Óin.

"Kili did not tell you?" I asked, she shook her head so I continued, "She is the daughter of Dünek, comes from a strong Firebeard family. Balin probably dreams about the alliance Erebor would have if I chose to marry her."

"She is the only available 'dam in the mountain right now. Sadly, Dünhilda is about as attractive as an Orc's behind." Óin was laughing heartily at his own words.

"and probably less intelligent." I added causing Óin to start laughing even harder.

Tauriel was horrified at our description of the dwarrowdam, "Poor Dünhilda."

"No, not Poor Dünhilda, poor Fili," I corrected her, "Dori and Ori had been tasked with getting me back up to Thorin's room after lunch. Dünhilda was trying very hard to gain my attention the whole meal. On the way out of the dining hall, she was strategically squeezing her chest with her arms, to accentuate her cleavage... one of many lewd attempts to get my notice. Dori had been teasing Ori about asking her for walk in a dark corridor, when the two fell silent behind me. I had all but asked what was going on when I was left stranded by a bench just outside the hall."

"Well that doesn't sound so bad," Tauriel said.

"Yes well, Dünhilda found me there a second later. Forcing me to spend the next ten minutes politely swatting her wandering hands from my person," I explained, sounding disgusted, "She even tried to lean in for a kiss, which caused me to fall off the bench! I think she was trying to lie next to me on the floor before Dori finally came to get me, tears streaming from his eyes from laughter."

Both Óin and Tauriel were laughing by the time I'd finished my story.

"I did not know any women had traveled with the settlers, besides your mother," Tauriel said once she gained her composure.

She held my forearm stabilizing me down to first few steps and Óin positioned himself in front of me in case I stumbled.

"I believe only Grumdi and Dünhilda traveled here with Dìs," Óin informed us, "it's possible the menfolk would have kept them hidden from an elf initially, but neither 'dam looks very feminine, doesn't surprise me you didn't spot them."

"Grumdi is here? I haven't seen Gimli yet" I wondered allowed, breathing through the pain.

The first few steps were easy but doing the full staircase was quickly becoming problematic.

"Aye, my young nephew is still upset he was left behind, Glóin suggests we let him be for a little longer. He will come around," the healer admitted.

"You look rather strained, perhaps we are taking things too fast?" Tauriel asked a little worried, "Glandur instructed you to st..."

"Nope!" I cut her off breathlessly, "I am doing this, the coronation is tomorrow... I think... if I can get up and down this staircase... Then I can get to Dale."

"Get to Dale fine, but how will you get back?" my future sister asked.

"Ale lots and lots of ale."

Tauriel POV

I could sense Dwalin's presence from the moment we left the royal suite but I could not see him. As frustrated as I was to have a shadow, I'll admit it did make me feel a little better. He would have no problem picking me out in a crowd thanks to Dìs.

Fili made it down to the bottom of the staircase and finally sat down on a bench for rest. His determination was rather impressive. He relaxed his head against the solid ebony rock behind him and breathed deeply with his eyes closed.

"Perhaps we should make arrangements for you to stay in Dale over night," I proposed.

He opened one eye to look at me, still leaning back into the wall, "perhaps"

He started to smile at the suggestion, I'm sure extra time in our neighboring town would please the blond prince immensely.

He regally limped on his own to the dining hall from the bench, insisting Óin and I go ahead of him so he could enter on his own.

As we entered the hall I suddenly felt very self conscious, every dwarf had turned to look at me and I silently cursed my dress. Kili was already in the hall and stood at the royal table smiling, waiting for me to approach. As I made my way towards him I vowed to keep my head high, I did look lovely in this dress.

"My lady," he bowed and pulled out my chair before sitting beside me.

I was so nervous, I simply grit my teeth to make it look like I was smiling, "I'm the giant tomato of Erebor."

Kili chuckled, "That could not be further from the truth, you are stunning in that dress. I am the envy of every male in this room. Look even Dünhilda is jealous of your fair beauty."

"Poor Dünhilda, you guys are awful." I chided him but my curiosity got the better of me, "Which one is she anyway?"

Kili pointed out a swarthy dwarf with rather unfortunate physical features. To my utter surprise, the lady was wearing a gown in a color similar to my own. My elation at knowing the red hue would not deem me a harlot by all the kingdom, was quickly ended when I remembered how forward the dam had been with Fili. The thought reminded me I had some sensitive questions for my dwarf.

"Kili," I lowered my voice so the conversation would be private, "are dwarven women always as forward as Dünhilda?"

He stopped eating and looked at me seriously, "um... What do you mean?"

"Well, how many women have been... forward with you?" I asked getting to the heart of my curiosity.

My dwarf turned a shade deeper than that of my outfit and looked back down at his plate. I was about to ask him again when Fili walked into the hall, garnishing light cheering from the dwarves as they saw him walking on his own. Kili nudged my side whispering for me to stand up and it quickly became apparent what Fili had intended to do.

"Crap." I whispered loud enough only for Kili to hear, but by the mischevious smile on Fili's face, it's possible he caught the expletive as well.

Fili stood in front of the royal table until the room was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Shouting his words so the sound would echo off every stone in the kingdom, he began, "Lady Tauriel of Greenwood," Fili paused for effect, every dwarf was waiting to see if he would accept or deny the engagement, "I Fili, son of Vili, pledge to protect the lady of Durin."

Fili bowed as low as his injury allowed before stepping up and embracing us both in a vigorous hug. Many of the dwarves applauded the acknowledgement by the prince.

"I thought I was done with the pledges, did you have to do it in front of everyone?" I whined, very embarrassed by the attention.

"Yes" Fili said simply. The blonde prince ruffled his younger brothers hair before taking his seat, "making the pledge public was key, there are a good portion of dwarves who will accept you simply because the family accepts you."

Kili winked at me and I couldn't help but smile. I had a new appreciation of the Durin boys. For as playful and irresponsible they were, there was an equal amount of brilliant and serious when they needed it.

"Besides," Fili continued, "I had to pledge loudly or I wouldn't have had anyone's attention. All eyes were on you in the dress, the color is very becoming."

"Same color dress as your lady love," I teased as I angled my head in the direction of a certain lady, Fili simply shuddered.