The last few nights had been something of a blur for Jalessa Silverstone. When her father had come to fetch her she'd been on a work assignment within Erebor, cleaning, counting and storing blankets and bedding in the great storage rooms. Necessary work and it counted toward her family's accounts. Communal living under a mountain held a certain autonomy within clan structures, but by necessity there was also an amount of work that each family needed to perform to contribute to the whole. That amount varied according to clan size and general wealth, which meant that the Silverstone's needed to contribute hugely.

Her male cousins and uncles were working on repairs, guard duties, organizational things, and preparations for re-opening the mines. She herself didn't have an actual craft, having been raised to wed a prince, but her mam had not been slack in making sure she knew how to put her hand to most everything involved in running a large household.

Households didn't come much larger than Erebor.

Rafnarek Slantbeard had meant to attack her. The very thought was repugnant in the extreme. Because of that her chore had been left unfinished and she'd been wrapped up securely in her family chambers all night. Cossetted and petted and worried over. She'd been in too much shock to really mind though.

Dwarrows didn't attack dams. It was almost unheard of in their world. Dams were too few, treasures to most Khazad. Those who married a dwarrowdam were considered rich, blessed.

Thus it had been a terrible shock to realize she'd been a target for violence outside of a battleground. Today Jalessa had come back to herself for the most part. After a day or two of being watched every second, she'd at last thrown a bit of a fit. Demanding not to be shut away and guarded like a dragon's horde especially now that Rafnarek had been executed.

Her father had reluctantly let her go about her day, though she knew that secretly he was having every member of the Slantbeard family watched. He'd tried to do the same to her, but she'd caught and sent away three such watchers already and her amused mother had held a quiet word with the males of the clan. They were giving her some space now, at last.

This was her excuse for not being caught up on current events.

Jalessa, and every other dwarf and guest, stared at the blond duo seated between the two kings.

King Thranduil appeared resplendent and cold, haughty and yet somehow amused, though Jalessa couldn't say why she thought so. Something about him didn't seem as brittle as she'd seen him before.

On the other end of the table was King Thorin II of Erebor. King Under the Mountain. He too was looking beyond magnificent. Both monarchs gleamed, not a hair out of place, gold and silver cloth in abundance. Buckles were shined, jewels winked in the torch light.

Where were the other honored guests? Jalessa looked around and spotted King Bard with Lord Ironfoot, and there was Mr. Baggins making gestures at her.

Still feeling like she was missing something important, Jalessa moved over to the hobbit. Bilbo stood in greetings, as did King Bard and his son. Prince Kili did not until his wife nudged him in the side with her elbow.

"What?" He said, coming to a half stand.

"You should stand when a lady approaches." Bilbo chided, gesturing to the seat next to him which Jalessa gratefully accepted.

"That's a Human custom." Kili muttered, sitting back down though sending a small smile toward the newcomer.

"And apparently a hobbity one." Bain piped up from next to his father.

Bilbo gave a tiny sigh and a shake of his head. "Hobbity isn't a word."

Bain grinned and cut into his meal without pause. "Sorry." He murmured without any remorse.

"It is among elves as well." Tauriel said with some slowness. "I thought dwarrowdams were cherished here?"

Jalessa smiled at the she-elf, still a bit amazed they were on almost friendly terms despite all odds. "We are, it's just the standing thing is not one of our customs."

"First fruits are." Kili agreed, passing the trays to Jalessa and offering her the platters and making suggestions on what was the tastiest.

Tauriel blinked suddenly. "Is that why you are always trying to put the best bits on my plate?" She'd always thought it a sweet thing for Kili to do for her, but it was really just a dwarven custom? "I thought you were trying to fatten me up for motherhood."

Kili blinked, not realizing his wife hadn't realized his good manners.

Bain looked around in interest, his thoughts flying. "I don't do that for my sisters."

Kili blinked and he gave the boy an apologetic look. "We noticed, we thought you were being a bit rude. Glad that is not the case."

Sigrid giggled from beside her brother, amused. Tilda wasn't with them, deemed too young. She sent her brother a challenging look. "Rude."

"Brat." He teased her back with a grin. Sigrid held out her plate to her brother who rolled his eyes at her. "You're already half done!"

The lass wiggled the plate and the young man sighed, spearing a piece of the venison and sliding it onto his sister's plate without fanfare.

Kili bobbed his head in approval.

Sigrid began cutting the meat and shook her head. "I hadn't realized that this was a custom among the dwarves. I just thought everyone was so polite to make sure I got plenty to eat."

King Bard looked over at his daughter in question.

Sigrid caught his glance and smiled. "Everyone keeps asking me if I have enough to eat, or making suggestions on what is the best thing coming out of the kitchen. I just thought it was because I was a guest, and your daughter."

"That too." Kili grinned, he nodded at the newly titled princess.

"But it can't be just because I'm female. I've seen King Thorin do it for Mr. Baggins several times." Sigrid said, paying no attention to the others as she finished cutting up her meat.

"They don't do it for me." Bain said, grinning and obviously not understanding any implications.

Bard shot a startled glance at Bilbo Baggins and then hastily turned the subject to the current weather. As a parent he was fine with his children remaining clueless about certain adult matters for a while, especially his daughter. Double standard or not, it was just the truth.

Bilbo smiled blandly, saying nothing until his attention got caught as Fili walked in with the tall elf prince at his side.

Jalessa looked up, she couldn't help herself. Fili was off-limits to her, now that he'd chosen to marry Zelke Steelforge, but she couldn't help but look. Wait. Where was the other dwarrowdam?

"They're holding hands." Sigrid said, confused.

Bard blinked and shook his head, saying nothing.

Jalessa's mouth dropped open as she too saw that Fili was holding hands with Prince Legolas. She turned and sent an inquiring look at Tauriel and Kili, her eyes moving between them.

Kili grinned and shrugged, taking a large swallow of ale. Tauriel's smile was much softer. "Now that Fili has been released from his betrothal, there has been much attention cast his way."

Jalessa's mind felt like she'd been tossed into an icy river. Fili was free from Zelke? "How long?"

Bilbo sent her a quizzical glance, as if to wonder how she didn't know any of this yet. "Oh, it was announced the other day. But it happened on the same day that ….the Lore Keeper arrived."

"Oh." The dwarrowdam sat back, her appetite gone completely. Bilbo had been about to say the same day that Rafnarek had laid in wait for her within her rooms. Obviously he was afraid to bring up the thwarted attack. But that wasn't what was bothering her.

Fili had been free for a few days now. And he hadn't been to see her. He'd sent no messages. He ….wasn't ….interested. Not in her.

"He has been inundated with courtship offers." Kili, oblivious to his former-betrothed's world falling apart, grinned and laughed. "Not just from within Erebor. Message birds have started to arrive as well. Word is spreading."

Not to her. She'd heard nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Tauriel and Bilbo both seemed to notice something was wrong. "You're pale." The she-elf said gently.

Bilbo turned and offered her some tea, his eyes silently asking what was wrong.

Jalessa shook her head, making a weak excuse but managing to walk away from the table instead of running. She cast one last look over at Fili and Legolas taking their seats at the main table right between the two monarchs. They were laughing together. Feeling the pinch of jealousy as unworthy, she turned away though she did wonder what they were talking about so intimately.

o.o.o.o.o

"We use water, and I know that it cannot be cold prior to quenching the blade." Legolas asked, letting go of the dwarf's hand as soon as he saw that his father noted the gesture. Thranduil looked less than thrilled. Good. It had been done on his orders in the first place.

It was the two kings versus the two princes. Which side would be the first to rebel? Pride. Legolas mentally sighed. Elves and Dwarves both seemed to have this commodity in full. Or was it one race against the other? First to blink loses.

Fili nodded, piling his plate full of food. He did not offer any of the platters to the elf at his side. He was polite and made sure they were within easy reach though. "Oil quenching is better, though it can't be cold either. You have to heat it with a hot poker first."

Legolas did not appear to notice, also serving himself though with less volume and emphasis on the meats.

"Wouldn't that flame up?" The elf asked.

Fili laughed, nodding. "Nearly lost my eyebrows the first time I tried it. Singed myself certainly. Kili pretended I was a candle for a week at least. Kept threatening to 'put me out' with his blanket."

Legolas laughed outright at that mental image. "Did he do the same?"

"No." Fili shook his head, sending an amused glance over at Thorin. "Kili had the benefit of having me go first on those kinds of things. Learned from my mistakes."

"Made his own mistakes." Thorin said dryly and with a fond smile of memory. "Broke several blades at first, making the metal too brittle. Didn't have the perfect feel for timing and heat."

Thranduil sipped his wine, relaxing. "Is that why he is an archer?"

"No." Fili grinned. "Kili learned and he's great at forging, but he makes that bow sing."

"Perhaps a competition?" Thranduil said, his interest piqued.

Legolas shook his head immediately though Thorin looked intrigued. "He has had a lot less experience than any immortal elf."

"Not a competition, but a demonstration? Mixed group. To compare the bows and abilities of Dwarves, Humans, Hobbits and Elves?" Thranduil suggested next.

"Not hobbits." Thorin chuckled. "Fond as I am, Bilbo is no warrior. I'm unsure if he knows how to string a bow."

"He can play conkers." Fili said with a wide grin, his dimples on display.

Legolas blinked. "Conkers? Is that like chess?"

Thorin and Fili both laughed well over that comment, before the prince could explain it was a children's game with tree nuts and string.

Thranduil blinked slowly as he spoke. "It appears Hobbits lead a very exciting life."

Thorin sobered and he shot the Elven monarch a hard look. "Their land is green and growing, free of shadows and scrabbling for all you can get. The biggest argument they have is on the correct way to slice a cake." He exaggerated.

"Amazing what such a one finds to keep him here, under a mountain." Thranduil drawled out the words, as if expressing his bewilderment on Bilbo's choice lover.

Sensing the undercurrents, Legolas stepped in gamely. "How about a day of games? Each race can show off their culture with children's games and the such. A chance to learn."

"Strength and weapons too." Fili jumped in, actually excited about the idea. "What do Men call it? A fair? Care to have me for an escort?"

Legolas nodded. He would not be the first to say 'enough'.

Thranduil and Thorin sat back, neither happy with the other but also not wanting to ruin the challenge. They let the young males of their households make the initial plans for their little party. If Legolas or Fili thought either of them would give in and end the charade of courtship, then the lads were sorely mistaken.

Legolas sat back, taking measure of each of them. No. It wasn't older generation against younger, especially with the disparity of racial ages. It wasn't even one race against another. It was a four way contest. Who would be the first to say quit?

"I would love for you to escort me." He said softly to Prince Fili, no inflection in his voice at all.

o.o.o.o.o

Later in the day a box dropped in front of Tauriel unexpectedly. It was of some dark wood or stain, intricately engraved and even inlaid with silver if she wasn't mistaken. The hinges were different from what she was used to in the Mirkwood, but she recognized the dwarven touch.

The red-head looked up to find Kili's mother smiling at her. "To hold the quit claims as they come in."

"I thank you." Tauriel said, her words more formal than reflective of her genuine gratitude. As Dis started to move away the she-elf held out her hand to forestall her. "I know my actions on this subject may be confusing to dwarven sensibilities."

Dis stilled, then shook her head. "Odd and different, but not confusing. Jealousy comes in many forms, and it's actually not that difficult to understand wanting to come first in your spouse's eyes."

"I'm not jealous." Tauriel exclaimed, though without heat. "I …well, elves only take one person to their bed. Ever. In all their years, just the one. To be with someone who has shared himself with others, it shocked me." She licked her lips and gave a small shrug. "You did try to warn me that Kili and I were moving too fast, but I credited your words to trying to keep us apart. For that I apologize."

Dis blinked, her blue eyes unreadable. Slowly she nodded. "Perhaps I was. You and Kili aren't the only ones having to make adjustments in order to make this work." It was a round-about admission without culpability. "Though I will say this, as strange as your demands for the quit-claims are to us dwarves …to me as Kili's mother, it shows that you are entirely committed to making this marriage work, on every level."

"When you made him promise to return to you, you had no clue he'd come back with an Elvish wife." Tauriel teased.

Dis' eyes widened with appreciation. "And when you captured an intruder in your woods, you had no idea your family would grow so large. Or that you'd be the tallest member."

This startled a light laugh from the red-head, who smiled and then leaned in slightly. "Perhaps I am jealous of his past."

Dis pointed at the box, giving her new daughter a soft look. "The first two quit-claims are gained. The messages arrived this morning. The formal documents will be delivered to you once they cross Arda to Erebor. Too heavy for the poor birds."

"The birds might be overburdened." Tauriel's smile brightened. "But my heart is much lighter."

"Two times lighter I would hazard to guess." Dis acknowledge. "Three to go."

"Three." Tauriel's voice was nearly a whisper as she considered the task might never be complete. Kili still could not recall that last dam's name.

Reading the mood and the elf aright, Dis clucked her tongue chidingly. "Do not fret nor give up, not yet. Its early days. Thorin is crafting a plan for one, Kili might just remember the other, and the third is actually on her way to Erebor. That message too was sent to us."

Tauriel's green eyes narrowed in consternation. On her way to Erebor? It hadn't occurred to her that someone from Kili's past might actually want to reside here under the mountain. With them.

"Don't kill her, please." Dis laughed, though she was quite serious as well as amused by the murder she saw in the eyes of her son's wife. "Promise."

Tauriel hesitated, then gave a jerky nod. "I promise to endeavor."

Dis' eyebrows rose. It wasn't exactly a vow of good behavior, nor was it a guarantee of Hedal's continued existence. "Fair enough." She said, making plans to discuss this with Dwalin and Thorin.

o.o.o.o.o

Jalessa had forced herself not to think about the sons of Durin all day long, losing herself in work assignments. She'd already accomplished three today and Nori, the Company member who was currently in charge of record keeping had grumbled at her. Refused her a fourth assignment.

She hadn't missed his worried looks in her direction. Or those of others. There had been unasked for breaks all day long, cups and cups of tea brought to her just to 'check in'. She wasn't a fragile flower to be destroyed so easily.

Yes. Rafnarek's actions had left her feeling rattled and shaken. Even Kili and his wife had made a point of dropping by earlier to see how she was getting on. Bilbo, that dear, had made her some apple scones, swearing they were just the right restorative for nerves. She'd hated to disappoint her new friend and had managed to eat one, though he'd still looked concerned when she'd finally managed to shoo him away.

But the problem wasn't Rafnarek. Or at least not in whole. The problem was in who hadn't been by to check on her. See her. Speak with her.

So. What now? She didn't want to be alone and she didn't want to be around others. Especially others dithering on about her attack, or doing everything to awkwardly avoid the topic. But everyone was now talking about the 'courtship' between Legolas and Fili.

Wagers were rampant. Bofur had even asked her opinion on the best odds, all while trying to find out if she were hale and healthy after her 'ordeal'. Jalessa snorted. Most were betting the 'courtship' was a sham, but the question was when would it end? Everyone seemed to be having a grand time with guessing, except for her.

Jalessa found herself at the threshold to the main dining area without having decided where to go. She smiled at a few and grabbed a container at random. Ale. Yes. She'd had enough tea. Turning, she ignored everyone and said something about making it an 'early night'.

But Jalessa didn't head back to her new chambers. Her mam and da were there, and they'd been smothering her with attention and worry. She wanted to scream at them, but they were undeserving of that.

The dwarrowdam uncorked the container, taking a large swallow and then nearly choked before managing to swallow. Whiskey. Not ale. Jalessa blinked, then shrugged. So be it. She took another swallow, though smaller this time.

Where could she go? Nori wouldn't assign her any more tasks. She didn't want to go back to her family. She didn't want to meet up with her friends. She couldn't even formulate what she did want.

It had all been so much simpler back before. Before the ….oh. She'd had a task that she'd abandoned unfinished! The storage rooms for blankets and pillows and such were quite private. She could finish her task and no one could blame her. She took another sip of the whiskey and made a face. Well. She could count blankets sober too. Corking the drink back up she headed out.

o.o.o.o.o

Fili followed the Silverstone heiress through Erebor, wondering where she was going. He wasn't hiding himself, though he wasn't presenting himself either. The whiskey she held surprised him and he frowned. He'd heard about Rafnarek Slantbeard and had been furious the dwarf was already dead at another's hand.

He watched as Jalessa entered one of many storage rooms and stopped. Fili considered his options and shook his head. Why hadn't he told her about the change in his circumstances? Would she blame him for the attack? Would she throw herself at him?

Just a few days of being the center of all female attention had taught him one thing. Defense. Fili snorted. He was already tired of getting 'little gifts' of food. Like the future Queen of Erebor would need to be able to cook. To run a massive kitchen staff? Yes. To actually cook though? Fine, but unnecessary.

"Are you going to stand there all evening?"

Fili looked up to find Jalessa glaring at him from the doorway. "I'm cold." It wasn't what he'd meant to say, not one bit.

The dwarrowdam's eyebrows shot up. "I'm not." She said, her chin firming though she did step out into the hallway.

"But you are frightened." He said, his voice more sure. His blue eyes fastened solely upon her.

"I am?" She asked, though stepping a bit closer to him. Now her scent teased his senses and something within him relaxed a bit.

"You are." He nodded, opening his arms.

Jalessa stared at him too long. Long enough that he started to doubt, then when he might have moved away, she walked up to him and turned into him. Her back to his front.

Fili's arms wrapped around her and suddenly she felt more secure and safe than she had in days. He rested the side of his head against the side of hers and tightened his hold on her sweetly rounded form.

"I'm not in love with you." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm not in love with you." He responded, nestling her body back against his with ease, relaxing into the embrace.

o.o.o.o.o

"Rephira and Meg. Done." Bilbo made a grand gesture of clapping his hands as if to rid them of grime. "Hedal Stonebrace is reportedly on her way here already."

Dwalin grunted, settled back in the chair within Thorin's private study.

The king nodded thoughtfully. "Kili still cannot remember that last name."

"You may have to send me out to Ered Luin to investigate." Dwalin's voice rumbled pleasantly, the warrior actually relaxing next to the fireplace. "Might take a while, maybe a year as it's a large area, but I can get it done."

Thorin nodded, but Bilbo scowled. "No. No, no ….oh dear."

Dwalin looked over at the hobbit and frowned. "Why not?"

The king snorted softly. "Interferes with Bilbo's plans to get you married off to my sister."

The dwarven warrior rolled his eyes and his frown sharpened. "Unnecessary."

Thorin sighed, turning to look at his friend and cousin. His eyebrows rose over deeply amused sapphire eyes. His lips twitched.

Dwalin groaned, crossing his arms. "Oh, not you too! Tell me you're not considering this."

"Why not? Why shouldn't you be happy and married, think it will dull your warriors instincts?" Thorin deliberately poked the beast. "Turn you into a mewling kitten?"

"Dis and I are happy."

"And I was happy for you." Thorin shrugged. "But your reasons for being discrete are no longer as valid, not with Erebor restored to us. The biggest concern was whether or not as a second-father to the lads you'd influence them in some fool-hardy scheme to take back ….Erebor."

Bilbo's mouth pursed thoughtfully as he nodded, listening and taking mental notes.

"No one cares whether or not you'll influence Fili into a water usage tax until the repairs are complete." Thorin shook his head. "Oh, they might care, but not enough to be a problem. The big concern they had was committing both myself and my heirs to an impossible and deadly task. That's done and over."

"I could influence his choice of bride, or at least it might seem to some." Dwalin threw out the concern blithely.

Bilbo slapped his hands down on his knees. "Good. So. Once Fili is married, then you can marry Dis. Sounds like a plan to me! Two years at the least. Fine. I can write to my cousin for her cake recipes. Just the thing. The icing is so creamy and holds its shape so well. Or it does in the Shire. Do you think the higher elevation in the mountain would affect that? Possibly, possibly. I'll have to experiment!"

Dwalin and Thorin both watched Bilbo dash off to do something neither of them really wanted to know about. The turned and looked at each other.

Thorin suddenly grinned. "You're getting married."

"I haven't decided. Your sister hasn't decided."

"Bilbo decided. Haven't you learned anything by now? He usually gets his way, and if we Dwarves try to stand in front of that way?"

Dwalin growled in response.

"Trolls wanted to eat us. Bilbo disagreed. We escaped uneaten. Azog. The Mirkwood prison cells."

"The Arkenstone." Dwalin huffed pointedly.

Thorin paused, then nodded. "An alliance with Men and Elves."

"You."

"Me? No." Thorin scoffed. "I chose him. He was surprised, but I definitely chose him."

Dwalin's smile grew slowly until it lit his entire face. "Are you so sure about that?"

o.o.o.o.o