Chapter 21

Kili:

Instead of taking dinner in the Great Hall like we did most nights, tonight Uncle Thorin had insisted on a small, private family dinner. I knew the idea of a private family dinner made Tauriel uneasy. She had been trying with no avail to make peace with mother, and I could tell her patience was running thin, and honestly so was my own. Since mother had arrived, Tauriel had taken every opportunity to reach out to her, and had been more than courteous and kind. Mother, while she had not said anything bad to Tauriel since we told her of our betrothal, had said nothing nice either. Unless she absolutely had to, she acted like Tauriel didn't even exist. To make matters worse, mother had been insisting that Fili and I lunch with her every week. What had originally seemed like an innocent request, turned out to be a nightmare. Each time there was a different set of dwarvish women who mother had invited to lunch also. Most of them paid me no mind, turning all their attention on poor Fili, but several, who had never paid me any interest before when I was only a prince in name, had attacked like vicious wargs, talking relentlessly and taking every opportunity to invade my personal space. I had ignored them the best that I could, and endured through the lunches, knowing that fighting my mother on it would only make matters worse. Plus, I figured, if I showed her I honestly was happy with Tauriel, then I could make the lunches work in my favor, but that didn't make me any less miserable during them.

I companied to Tauriel as we got ready, the lunch from this afternoon still painfully fresh in my mind, "You could tell your mother no." She answered glancing over her shoulder as she brushed her hair. I laughed, "I learned early on you have to pick the right battles if you want to win the war. No, if this will make her happy for the time being and prove to her that I am happy with you I'll suck it up." She smiled, and kissed my cheek, "My brave warrior." She teased. I went after her then, covering her with kisses from head to toe. Her laughter filled the room as I undid all of the careful work she had already put into getting ready. "We're going to be late." She whispered a short time later, her head resting in my lap in front of the fire. My hand traced the gentle curve of her body, resting on top of her ever-growing stomach. Our child was still for the moment, sleeping, Tauriel had said. In only a few short months we would get to meet our precious bundle of joy, I would be able to hold my child in my arms. I sighed reluctantly moving my hand away, "I guess we should finish getting ready and be on our way." I said leaning down and kissing her gently, one more time.

Tauriel walked beside me, her hand resting on the top of the swell of her stomach. The dress she had chosen to wear had been a gift from one of her new friends, Athdara, who had crafted it especially for her. Athdara was known far and wide for her gift with the art of the needle, and the dress she made for Tauriel was nothing short of breathtaking. The cloth was form fitting on the top and then flared out, becoming light and flowing once it reached her stomach. The cloth danced around her feet, fluttering and making it seem like she was floating across the floor. It was a deep shade of blue with silver decorations stitched across the bodice. It was truly a generous gift, and I smiled at Tauriel, marveling at her resilience and ability to for friendships with people who should have been her enemies.

We walked into the small dinning chamber, her arm looped through my own. Mother did not try to hide the sour look on her face as she talked to Uncle, who looked equally as upset. Fili on the other hand seemed elated to be here. While I had managed to escape the attention of the women outside of the lunches mother hosted, Fili had been hounded non stop. Just the other day I had found him hiding in the kitchen cellar, trying to get away from one of them. I knew he had his eye on one in particular, but was waiting, as was customary, for her to make the first move, though in my opinion he had given her plenty of opportunity. Uncle looked up as we walked in and smiled, "Good, you're here. Now we can begin." I pulled the chair out for Tauriel before taking a seat myself, "Begin what?" I questioned. "Planning your wedding of course." Fili answered, a wide grin on his face. This was going to be an interesting night.

Tauriel:

I hadn't been aware that so much went into planning a dwarven wedding. It normally consisted of a week worth of celebration and feasting, all culminating in the ceremony on the last day. Each day of the week had a different kind of celebration or feast, each with its own meaning, significance, and importance. Of course since this was a wedding for a Prince, there were even more celebrations and feasts that were expected. Dis seemed like she was trying to make the best of a bad situation. When faced with the prospect of fighting the wedding and ruining it, or giving her son a wedding fit for a Prince, she had chosen to do the latter, although she expressed her displeasure in the matter frequently. I was given countless words and rituals that I would have to study and learn. Just trying to remember each what happened when beginning to make my head spin.

In Mirkwood the weddings I had attended had been quiet and simple, vows said to each other, their words ancient and rooted in the magic that flowed through the forest, followed by the exchange of the rings. The Mirkwood elves had added another tradition that differentiated them from the other elves, and I wanted to incorporate the tradition into my wedding with Kili. "I have a request for the ceremony." I said, interrupting conversation on how many barrels of ale should be ordered. "Whatever you desire amrâlimê, it is your wedding too." Kili said turning and smiling at me, seeming to be thankful for the distraction. "I want to plant a tree." I replied, but was met with puzzled looks. "You want to…. plant a tree?" Fili questioned. I nodded explaining, "As the last part of weddings with my people, the couple would take a small seedling and plant it together to symbolize their unity and new bond with each other. And as the years go by the tree will grow and their love for each other would deepen." I smiled slightly, "Some of the trees stretch higher than the eye can see. It had always brought me peace sitting in their branches, knowing that I was surrounded by bonds of deep, unbreakable love." I paused, looking across the table at Dis, who was studying me closely, "And that is something that I would like to share with Kili, watching our tree grow and prosper, ever changing and ever growing like the love that we share."

I did not break eye contact with Dis as I fell silent, and I swore, if just for a second, that the corner of her mouth twitched up in a smile. "I'm sure that can be arranged." She said quickly, before quickly turning the conversation back to the quantity of ale that would be required. I felt Kili's hand slip into my own and give it a quick squeeze. Maybe I was starting to get through to her.

Kili:

I had seen the smile that mother had tried to smoother. I had seen that look before when Fili or I had done something silly to make her smile while she was angry at us for one thing or another. It was the first sign that she was beginning to be angry with us no longer. I tried not to read too much into it, but I hoped that this was the beginning of mother accepting Tauriel into our family. The rest of the dinner went by without any incident. I walked Tauriel back to our room, and kissed her before turning back to the door. "Where are you going?" She questioned, her hand on her hip, looking like a goddess in the glow of the fire. "There is something I need to finish up tonight. Don't worry." I said with a smile, "I won't be too long."

I held the knife steady, concentrated completely on my work. The crib that I was making for our child was almost finished. I was just working on carving the intricate details into the wood. I wanted it to be perfect, and I wanted it to be completely from my hands. I knew that if I had accepted help it would have been done already, but I wanted my first gift to my child to be completely my own. I concentrated on the feel of the wood, blocking out the world around me. I was so focused I didn't notice her until I felt her hand on my shoulder. I jumped, dropping the knife causing it to go skittering across the room. My warrior instincts kicked in instantly, as I spun out of my chair facing the intruder. I didn't think that anyone had known I was down here, but when I saw it was only Loaghaire, I relaxed slightly but didn't let my guard down completely. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." She said smiling, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. We had been friends for a time, until I had realized she was only using me to get to my brother. I sighed, thinking she was just trying to use me again, but I wouldn't fall for it this time. I turned, looking around the room for my lost carving knife, "What do you want Loaghaire?" I suddenly felt arms wrap around my waist and a voice whisper in my ear, "You."

I froze, my brain struggling to catch up with the situation, "I think you have the wrong brother… I'm engaged to be married…" I stammered, turning out of her grasp and backing away from her. "No I have the right one." She said with a smile, following after me. "I never did thank you for rescuing my brother." My eyes searched around the room looking for an escape, if I could only make it to the door. "You're brother?" I questioned. "You saved him from the mines. And mother always said, never forget your debts." My back hid something cool and solid and I realized with dread that she had managed to back me into a corner. "And it's too bad you've never been with a real woman." She said leaning in. The rage ignited like a burst of flames inside of me. She had dared to insult Tauriel to my face, and suggest that she was better? I put my hand on her chest, pushing her back with so much force that it caused her to stumble. "Get. Out." I had always been taught never to harm a woman, but I was coming dangerously close. "But why would you choose her when you could have me?!" She screamed. I grabbed her arm, forcing her back outside of the room. "Tauriel is the only one who holds a place in my heart. For me, it was never a choice." I could see the rage on her face, the same expression she had when Fili had rejected her as well. "I will not forget this insult. Mark my words, you will live to regret this." I closed the door in her face, making sure this time to turn the lock.

Loaghaire:

As the door slammed shut in my face, I felt the rage settle deep down inside of me, and there was nothing that could quench it, not until I had my revenge. With each step I took the plan began to form in my mind. I deserved to have that crown, I should be the one bathed in jewels and admired by people far and wide, having them speak of my beauty and grace. I should be the one sitting next to the prince, it didn't matter which one, as long as it was a throne beneath me. They had both rejected me, but…. what if one was in need of comfort and I provided it for him. What if I broke him free of the cruse he must be under to choose her over me. Then all of the pieces would fall into place. He would realize that I was the right choice for him all along. I would get my crown and my revenge, all tied up in a nice little package, and all I had to do was get rid of that elf bitch. And I knew exactly how I was going to do it.

AN: I would have had this up two hours ago except my computer lost the work I had done on this chapter (the last 2 pages) from yesterday… and I had to rewrite it (although I think it turned out a little better than before haha). Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I originally was going to have Loaghaire's revenge plot happen in this chapter, but I wanted to give it some more time to ripen… just beware, never know when/how she's going to strike! Look forward to hearing what you think!