Author's Note – Truth is, I had to cut nearly 2000 words out of this document due to the content. If you are interested in reading the mature scene, then please PM me or review and let me know what your date of birth is. If you qualify as legal for the country I'm in, I'll send you the link to read the full version. PLEASE REMEMBER TO LOG IN! I cannot reply to you if you're not logged in.

Disclaimer – I do not own "the Hobbit" nor do I make money from this story.

Chapter Twenty – Celebrations

Now that the ceremony was over, the group went to enjoy the food that had been waiting for them to celebrate the union between Kili and Adamanta. Beorn and Gandalf contributed to the laughter and noise, toasting the union and wishing them many happy years together.

Adamanta blushed quite often, thanking them quietly as she did so. Kili was sitting beside her with an arm around her shoulders as he offered his own gratitude for everything they had done to make the day so memorable for the newly married couple.

Thorin approached the pair, offering them the daggers they had used during the rite. They were sheathed and could be fastened onto their belts later.

"May Mahal and His wife bless you both and grant you happiness," he told them. "I am genuinely happy for both of you."

"Thank you, Uncle Thorin," the archer said, giving him a warm smile.

"Thank you, Master Oakenshield," the hobbit said to him, blinking when the older dwarf made a motion with his hand to cut off her words.

"You're family now, Adamanta. That means you can address me by name or by uncle. In fact, I insist on it," he said to her. "Speaking of family, Kili, Dwalin will be waiting to start training you two together soon. You both showed a very keen ability to read each other, and I believe you will be a partnership on the battlefield that will be incredible."

"I think that's a wise idea," Kili agreed. "She can read me rather well, and it's something we should take advantage of. As long as Master Dwalin remembers she's still learning and doesn't have the experience or training that I do."

"I'll make sure he remembers," Thorin promised, not wanting his new niece to become frustrated if her teacher made demands of her that she didn't know how to fulfil yet.

"If we do this well, wouldn't Master Fili and Master Ori be able to do the same since they have been courting for a while," the blond haired lass asked.

"We're testing them for that tomorrow," the king said, grinning at them. "If they can read each other and work well together, then I plan on ensuring Ori's training is sped up and the two train together as well."

"Fili will enjoy that," Kili laughed, a gleam of mischief in his eyes. That gleam was echoed in the dark blue eyes of the older dwarf.

"I plan to make sure he does," Thorin returned. "Well, as much as Oin allows me. I'm healing well, but he wants me to rest for a few more days."

"It'd be better to have you at full health when we start off again," Adamanta said softly. "Master Oin says my wounds are healing well too. Gandalf has helped to speed the healing up somewhat; he made sure I didn't lose sensitivity in my hands."

"I am pleased to hear it," the king told them. "Now, enjoy yourselves. Tonight is for the both of you."

The two smiled at him, watching him as he rejoined the rest of the company. Mead flowed freely, and the dwarves happily imbibed of the beverage while singing and chatting amongst themselves. Beorn and Gandalf mingled with them, sharing stories and Adamanta blushed when the wizard brought up one story where she had smacked him in the backside with the toy sword she had stolen from one of her male cousins.

"Did you really do that?"

"I did," she admitted to Ori, blushing. "It was the Old Took's birthday, and he was a friend to Gandalf as well as being my grandfather. I had gotten rather tired of being told by my Baggins relations to act like a proper lady and decided I was going to have fun. So I stole the toy sword from my cousin, who was being quite awful, and pretended to be on an adventure like Mama had been. She scolded me for being naughty, but Gandalf slipped me some candy later to make up for it."

"Core of mithril," Kili murmured, making her blush. "I bet you were rather adorable at that age too."

"Valar, she was," Gandalf laughed. "I remember the first time I saw her after she started walking. I was having tea with Belladonna and Bungo, and the little mischief maker decided to make off with my hat. She was toddling around Bag End with it over her head, and she couldn't see a thing. Bungo was too busy laughing to scold her for touching things that didn't belong to her. I couldn't blame him, she was too precious."

Adamanta's blush grew darker and Thorin laughed, shaking his head.

"Here I was thinking she'd curb his love for mischief; I may end up having to scold the pair of them for playing pranks on others."

"Only if you make me mad," the hobbit protested. "I'm quite sensible these days."

"No, love, when you get mad, you box people's ears," Kili reminded her. "So I can imagine you only prank people who irritate you."

That comment sparked laughter from the group, and Ori was quick to share the story with Beorn. The skin changer laughed, eyes sparkling with mirth.

"The little bunny fights back; that is good to see," he chuckled. "She will be quite the voice when you reclaim your home."

"Especially once she meets Mum and Belis," Fili replied, grinning. "They'll have two generations of Durins on the throne that they'll need to keep in line."

"You do notice you're including yourself in that," Bofur pointed out, then nearly fell off of his seat at the blond dwarf's reply.

"Of course I am," he answered the hat wearing dwarf. "I'm not foolish enough to think I'll be able escape either of them!"

Adamanta giggled, sipping at her drink. She'd eaten her fill and now was simply enjoying the company of her friends and family. Both she and Kili hadn't imbibed much of the mead, wanting to enjoy the night with the others with a clear head.

The merry atmosphere continued but when a ribald joke was heard in the language of the dwarves, Thorin gave his nephew a nod to let him know that this was time for the two to withdraw for the night. Though they were simply making merry, Adamanta did not need to be exposed to jokes of that nature.

Kili leaned his head down beside his wife's, voice low as he murmured to her.

"Ready to retire for the night," he asked, watching as she looked over at him for a few moments before nodding.

"I think so," she replied quietly. "It's getting a bit too boisterous in here, and I'm not used to this kind of thing."

He helped her to her feet, then guided her from the main room. The two had succeeded in making their exit with only Thorin noticing, and the king silently wished them well before turning his attention back to the party.

Adamanta entered the room that had been hers for the time they were there, noticing the fire had been laid and lit. Her keen eyes also noticed Kili's belongings had been moved here but said nothing as she knew this was what was proper between husband and wife.

The dwarf slipped off his boots, laying his belt and the two daggers from Thorin onto the small table where some of his wife's things were laying. He slipped into a chair in front of the fire, watching her for a moment before speaking.

"I love your choice for the bead and ring; I find it to be perfect for us."

"I'm happy you approve," she answered, relieved he was pleased with her choice. "I was worried about it but, like you, I felt the quotes were very appropriate to use considering the situation. What does my bead say?"

"Interestingly enough, I chose the same story to find the words I wanted for you to wear," Kili said to her. "It's Mahal's response to her vow. It says 'the forge of my heart will always burn bright.'"

Her fingers stroked the bead as she gave him a smile in response to what he had said.

"It's perfect," Adamanta said to him. "Thank you for the thought you put behind it; I noticed the flowers on it and my bracelet. I can't believe you remembered all of that."

"I had a feeling it might be important so I made sure to memorize it," the jeweler admitted. "I have no idea how long it will be before we can find a space for you to grow flowers in Erebor, and I wanted to make sure you had those flowers with you to remind you of what is in my heart."

"It's perfect," the hobbit reassured him again, fingers going to caress the bracelet. "You must have spent every waking moment on this. I've never seen anything so lovely."

"I'm rather proud of it," he confessed. "You are the type of person where simplicity suits you best and again, I wanted you to have the reminders with you always."

"Thank you," she said to him, going willingly when he took her hand and gently tugged her onto his lap. It felt comfortable leaning into him, and she rested her head against his shoulder as they enjoyed the warmth of the fire.

Adamanta felt him press a kiss to her hair before strong fingers lifted her face towards his. Her eyes closed when his lips brushed against hers before settling there.

This felt a lot different from the first time he had kissed her, and she melted into him as he slowly moved his lips against hers. When the kiss finally ended, Adamanta was breathing a little more rapidly and could hear a light rasp to his voice when he spoke to her.

"I very much want to make love to my wife tonight, but I have no wish to frighten you or do something you feel you're not ready for," he confessed to her.

"Beyond the fact that I know what happened is meant for marriage and making babies, I didn't understand what was happening," she admitted. "Mama didn't have much of a chance to explain things before she died and due to being ill, Papa didn't really have the will or energy to explain marital relations once I came of age. The only thing I knew is that the first time was supposed to hurt, and that every married woman I've overheard talking about marital relations complained quite often about fulfilling her wifely duties."

"That's where the cultural differences come in again," the archer shared, fingers trailing gently over her cheek. "The act of intimacy between a husband and wife is not solely meant for the creation of children. It's an expression of the love they share. The first time for a woman can hurt, but she can enjoy the aftermath if her lover knows what he's doing.

"You should have had so many things done differently for your first time," Kili admitted. "You were nowhere near prepared for our joining, and everything was too rushed. Fast encounters can be enjoyable, but the first time is meant to be slow and savored. My attention should be entirely focused on you."

"The ending caught me by surprise," Adamanta told him, meeting his eyes. "Is that what you meant about enjoying the aftermath?"

"Something like that," he informed her. "For one, women are able to enjoy more than one climax while she is making love with her husband. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to build the pleasure up for you or allow you the chance to enjoy how passion starts to build and grow inside of your body. It was bad enough your first time was in public like that, and I certainly wasn't going to leave you with the memory of pain only."

"Thank you," she whispered, resting her forehead against his as she closed her eyes to think about what he'd said and what she really wanted.

Kili let her have the time, knowing she needed it. Things had to be confusing for her right then, and he didn't want to push her into something she wasn't ready for. After removing the clasp that kept his hair out of his eyes and somewhat tamed, he gently stroked her back to help soothe her.

"I want to know what it's like when it's done properly with all of your attention focused on me," Adamanta said a short time later, whispering her words to him. She opened her eyes in time to see his warm brown eyes darken before he kissed her again.

True to his words, the archer built the fire up for his bride and ensured that she would enjoy their wedding night. He was careful and loving, and the hobbit was beyond sated by the time they had both reached their peaks. Kili drew her into his arms, letting her rest with her head against his heart.

"All right, love?"

"More than," Adamanta murmured drowsily. "I had no idea it could be that way."

"There's a lot more to learn," he said, pressing a kiss to the curly hair. "I will enjoy teaching you."

"I want to learn it," she told him, eyes closed as she listened to his heart. Adamanta gave a tiny yawn, snuggling into him when he pulled her closer.

"You will," he promised. "Sleep now, tomorrow will be the first day of our lives together."

It didn't take long before she fell asleep, and Kili watched her rest for a while, thanking Mahal and Yavanna for his wife. He was incredibly happy and hoped that he would make his beautiful One happy as well.

Author's End Note - I hope this chapter was all right for everyone. Please let me know what you thought of it! ~ Laran