**Wrapping up...part one! Feel free to drop me a note, even if you're late to the story...always helps to know your reactions and thoughts... Enjoy! -Summer**

Chapter 21

Bruilan of the King's Advance Guard, Minas Tirith, left Dale with the Royal Procession, riding beside Eowyn, Lady of Ithilien. He felt out of place among the royals: three men, two elves and a dwarf.

But his presence had been requested by the King of Erebor himself, and it was not, apparently, a formal dinner at mid-morning. The King of Erebor seemed to have something else in mind.

And the Lady Eowyn was full of questions.

"I've heard that you've actually met Erebor's new princess," Eowyn said. They'd all heard of Prince Kili's sudden wedding and Dale was buzzing with the news.

Bruilan nodded. "Yes, my Lady. A lass not unlike yourself in some ways. She is a trained healer."

"Is she?" Eowyn's eyes were wide. "I have heard of Erebor's advances in burn treatments and would love to know more. Tell me what she's like."

"She is quite capable," Bruilan said, going for a safe descriptor since he knew better than to gossip. Thankfully, his King and friend Aragorn rode up beside him.

"What the Lady Eowyn is trying to ask, I think," Aragorn offered, an amused grin on his face, "Is whether she is bearded and hairy. I'm afraid that Master Gimli has painted a rather dreadful picture of dwarf ladies." Aragorn smiled broadly now. "It might help if you corrected the notion before we arrive," he nodded his head.

Bruilan turned to see Lady Eowyn looking at him with expectant eyes. On her other side, her husband, the Prince Faramir smiled in amused sympathy. He was obviously no stranger to Eowyn's persistent curiosity.

"Ah," Bruilan said. "She is a bit taller and less plump than most dwarves. Black hair, single braid down the back…no beard." He pointed to his ears. "Little bit of soft sideburn." He smiled at Eowyn. "Came up to about here on me," he patted his elbow to show her height. "Taller than Gimli, I think. Nowhere near as heavy…"

"Was she shy? I hear that dwarf men don't allow their women out in the world."

"I wouldn't say I believe that. They are a bit shy of our kind, that is true. But the Lady Nÿr is well traveled in her own right— out to the Blue Mountains and back, and I don't believe she asked any lad for permission to do it." He chuckled. "And no one could have stopped her from going into that goblin cave."

Eowyn looked toward Gimli, who rode ahead with Bard.

Bruilan went on. "I believe that bit about not leaving their homes is a bit of a smokescreen," he said. "I never heard anyone say it inside Erebor. I saw lasses in uniform, saw them working. Didn't seem much different from the lads."

"Children? Did you see dwarflings?"

Bruilan shook his head. "I saw no children when I was there, but I understand the King has an usually large family with four."

"You liked the princess? I've a mind to make friends with her, but I fear to misstep."

"I thought her kind and friendly, but we were on a covert mission…so I can't speak for her manners at tea," Bruilan winked. "We rode hard and she never complained. She can think on her feet and has no mercy for goblins, I can tell you that. We were ambushed and I lost track of her for a moment…when it was over I feared the worst, but she had taken down two entirely on her own—broke one's neck, got the other one in a rather precise stab straight into the heart."

Eowyn nodded. "A healer would know how to do the most damage with the least effort."

Bruilan smiled. "She is a brave lass, more than worthy of her new title. But you understand we went alone into a goblin cave…"

Eowyn nodded. She was no stranger to facing dark and evil things in order to protect a loved one.

"At one point we were in a tight spot." He leveled a look at the Lady Eowyn and lowered his voice. "Our captors discovered she was female and it was touch and go. She was ready to jump to her death rather than let them touch her. Tragedy was averted, but it was a narrow thing."

Eowyn said nothing. The experience weighed on him, she could tell. "I am sorry. War is not generally kind to women."

"My apologies for bringing that up…" Bruilan worried now that he'd broached an inappropriate subject. "I only meant to help you understand…"

"No apology needed," Eowyn murmured, her eyes still wide. "I'm grateful to know…I can be too interested sometimes and I see now that I might use more tact…"

"You are right to be cautious," Faramir murmured from her other side. "The Sons of Durin are known to be very rich and very private."

"They're also very brave and very strong," Aragorn added. "And this mountain is a strange and powerful thing by itself." He looked up at it as they approached.

"Yes," Arwen added. She had been talking quietly with Legolas, but now she slowed to join them, lifting her face to the morning breeze. "Very old and ancient…deeper and more earth-bound than the places of elves…" She smiled. "But it is not a dark magic. It's strong, unyielding. It is earth and fire when elves would have wind and water."

Aragorn rode in silence a moment, contemplating her words. "If Sauron had ever gained control of Erebor, all our plans would have failed. The Sons of Durin and the people of Dale held fast the northern lands…and by their work did we succeed. I wish to honor this in our relations with the King and his people. They were as much our partners in the great victory as those of us who took the field."

Eowyn and Faramir bowed their heads in understanding, hands on hearts. Bruilan followed suit.

Gimli rode in silence. He, of course, already knew.

Kili, Prince of Erebor, looked at the drawings spread out on his brother's council table: sketch artists' renderings of the great dragon burning, presented in stages. Skull and bones brought ashore by lines of laboring dwarves, bones crushed under warhammers, the remains lit afire with torches. Then a great explosion, helped along by the King's anger attuned to the power of the Mountain. Blue fire and vaporizing elements.

He'd felt that explosion…it had been the thing that broke the dragon's hold.

"This was quite a cheeky feat, O King under the Mountain," Kili commented with a touch of humor. "Dragging the whole thing out of the lake…" Kili shook his head. "I get the feeling that Thorin is sitting somewhere laughing his ass off at us."

He saw Fili grin. "I think all of them are. Even mum. But it was Gondor's idea. I just made it happen."

"Is this them?" Kili raised his head, listening to the sounds of activity coming from the main hall.

Fili looked up and nodded. "I believe so. How's your foot? We're about to do a lot of walking."

"My foot is fine," Kili said. "Stop fussing at me."

"And the quality of your sleep?" Fili teased, leading the way out of the King's Chamber and down a passage to the Great Hall.

Kili teased back. "Deep and highly satisfying."

Fili's eyes twinkled when he looked over his shoulder at him. "Good to hear. Married all of three days and life is bliss."

Kili laughed. "You know, nothing's really any different. She's still studying for exams, I'm still out doing whatever you need me to do..."

Fili led the way through the King's Door into the wide, open hall, and now the brothers walked side by side to wait in front of the King's chair, a smaller replica of the old throne, used for most business.

"Well, that's my fault," Fili said. "I admit to being a completely ineffective chaperone," Fili's smile was a bit smug. "I just looked the other way while you two started sharing quarters..."

"And I thank you for that," Kili nodded. "Bit better than your method, you'll have to admit."

Fili laughed. "Yeah…that first month with An was pretty much a disaster."

"Who knew she'd want an actual bed?" Kili teased. "A private bedroom or a privy with a door?"

"You think?" Fili laughed again. "We were pretty rough around the edges in those days. It's a wonder she stayed."

Kili shook his head at the memory. They'd lived in the open halls with the guard…the part of Erebor with the royal quarters hadn't even been cleaned or renovated yet. He looked at the cool beauty of the great malachite green stone around them. The polished, beautifully-lit city inside the mountain today was nothing like the dark, dusty ruin full of corpses and dragon stench that they'd found eighty one years ago.

He schooled his expression to seriousness and set his hands on his belt in a posture that matched the King's and looked toward the procession coming toward them.

He had two things to do in order to make amends after the events of the past two weeks.

One he was looking forward to, but other not so much.

Formal greetings complete, the visitors were brought to the Reception Room to refresh after their ride.

Kili knew there was no putting off the inevitable.

"Legolas Greenleaf," he bowed, finding Legolas standing a little apart from the small crowd.

"My Lord Prince of Erebor," Legolas put his hand on his heart.

"I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks, along with a deep apology and try to make amends," Kili said, meaning it.

Legolas at least didn't fall back on old patterns and insult him. But Gimli came over to stand facing both of them, as if a referee might be needed. Kili noted Aragorn turning to stand a few paces back.

Kili reached out and touched his cousin's arm to reassure him.

"Is this about Tauriel?" Legolas spoke quietly. "Aragorn told me about the dragon…how he had caught her spirit and held her here."

Kili looked away. "I regret more deeply than I can say that I didn't understand she was trapped." He looked back at the tall elf, feeling the sadness all over again.

Legolas only blinked.

Kili steeled himself and went on. "My belief is that she hid her spirit self to elude the dragon, so he could not use her. It was a very brave thing."

Legolas nodded. He looked sad, but Kili could never quite tell with most elves. "She is free now?" Legolas asked.

"Yes." Kili nodded. At least he could confirm that. "We said goodbye... She was happy, at the end—ready to go." He swallowed and his voice got quieter. "I asked her if she could see the stars and she said yes."

Legolas closed his eyes.

Kili went on as if his memory of her gentled his words. "It was as if I sensed her spirit dancing. I could feel how much loved trees and life and growing things…and I know that her greatest secret was her love for you." Kili paused, then went on. "Her truest wish in life was to be worthy of a prince."

Legolas opened his eyes, looked stricken for a moment. "Which is where you came in. I'm glad you were her friend," he murmured. "I'm glad she is free." He looked at Kili.

Kili nodded one time.

"She resisted that dragon to protect The Woodland Realm, Legolas." Kili's voice was stronger now. "I would have her remembered for her spirit and her sacrifice. Please promise me you will tell your people and that someone will remember. She did it for them." He lowered his voice. "She did it for you."

Legolas looked at his feet, but his hand came up to rest on Kili's shoulder. "I promise, Mellon. I will make sure we remember."

And then to Kili's utter surprise, the tall elf prince went to his knee, hand on heart and bowed to him.

"Oh, now this is all wrong," Kili laughed. But he bowed back, deeply. "I owe you much, my Lord. The life of my beloved not least."

Legolas grinned. "I do apologize for carrying her over the threshold a bit before you did," he teased, referring to his rescue and the fact that it had been he who had carried Nÿr from the narrow ledge to safety.

"Good thing I was too senseless to object," Kili grinned.

But Legolas didn't tease back. His expression went serious again. "They killed five elves in that fight ring…did you know?"

Kili sobered. He shook his head. It was not easy to kill an elf. "It is a grievous thing to lose even one."

Legolas smiled. "But child of Aulë, you survived, and I am glad." Legolas pulled Kili closer, touching foreheads. "Live your life as she would have you do," he said.

And then he was gone, standing and striding away. Kili watched him go.

Gimli nodded, philosophically, having observed the whole exchange. "He will sort it out. Now, Galadriel—there was a lady worth true reverence…"

Kili looked up to see Aragorn next to him and they shared a quick look of dismay as if to say not again…then smiled at each other.

"I'm afraid I'm taking your time next," Aragorn said to him.

Nÿr stood silently next to Kili in an antechamber, having been invited in and informally introduced to Queen Arwen. Formal introductions to the others would come later.

At least she and Fili stood with Kili as he unhappily allowed an exam, and now they watched Aragorn and Arwen, Elrond's daughter, consider the problem.

The topic was Kili's morgul wound.

"I am not a skilled healer like my father," Arwen said. "But I do recall clearly the conversations we had about your particular case. This kind of wound is not a small thing. My own mother was harmed by such a poison…and Ada could not heal her. She departed, as Frodo did."

Nÿr, suddenly frightened, found Fili's hand. He squeezed reassuringly, but he looked as sober as she felt.

"Yet you have borne this poison far longer than any of them," Arwen said, her brow wrinkled. "I am not sure what that means and my father did not know, either. Except for this: the dwarves alone are Aulë's creation…and it is written: Aulë made the dwarves strong and unyielding. I think this means that you will not succumb, even if the goblins successfully augmented the poison."

Aragorn nodded. "But no one ever said unsuffering." He looked at Kili. "I think Durin's Day will still bring to you this recurring fever…whether strong or weak, I cannot say."

They sat in silence.

"But I think I can guarantee no more conversations with dead dragons."

Kili smiled a little bit.

"I will also say this," Aragorn continued. "The piece that does not fit between your case and the cases of Frodo and Celebrian is the inability to leave the mountain's protection. That problem," he looked at Kili. "I think, was related to the dragon spirit, not to the morgul wound. Frodo was pursued by nine because of the ring, and they pursued long before he was ever stabbed by a morgul blade. Once the ring was gone, the nine were destroyed and he was hunted no more, yet his recurring fever stayed. In your case, I think the dragon's spirit was the true draw for the dwimmerwraiths."

"Are you saying he can leave Erebor?" Fili asked.

"I'm saying we should test it." Aragorn raised an eyebrow. "Did you not try to step off Erebor's soil some years ago?"

"Yes," Kili nodded. He looked away. "But I would not like to meet a wraith ever again."

Aragorn considered him. "No one would. But I think that before I depart, we will return to the place where you did this test and we will give it another try."

"It was north of the mountain," Fili said. "At the edge of the Heatherns—the flatland that stretches up to the Withered Heath."

"So we give it a shot. If my guess is correct, master dwarf," Aragorn went on, looking at Kili. "You will be able to go anywhere you wish. I would like to see you back in the Blue Mountains."

Kili looked up sharply. "Leave? Leave my brother?" He glanced quickly at Fili.

Aragorn smiled. "I don't think distance will really change your love for each other. Roads will be safer soon, travel between kingdoms relatively easy."

"Blue Mountains…why there?" Fili asked.

"The Blue Mountains hold the oldest dwarf settlements in Middle Earth, do they not? That is a great responsibility. It also sits on my western border." He looked Kili in the eye. "And the Blue Mountains people themselves have made it known that they wish a King on their throne again. The old councilors left by your uncle are in decline and passing away. They have only three where once they had seven."

Kili could only stare.

"I would offer them no less than a Son of Durin, and one born to their halls. They revere your late mother, there. They already consider you their own." He nodded toward Fili. "You've had a wise mentor and your experience here has prepared you like nothing else could. It is time," he said pointedly. "For you to come out of the shadows and make your own way in the world."

He and Arwen took their leave then, returning to the reception room and the mid-day refreshments. Nÿr sank to the edge of the couch where Kili sat, quiet and blinking.

Fili stared at the door.

None of them spoke for a long while.

"Well," Fili finally said. "There's no use worrying until we test Aragorn's theory."

"At the Heatherns?"

Fili nodded. "And then we'll know…"