Two Feasts

The party in Dale had already started by the time Fíli arrived. Bard greeted him, asking for a few words in private. He gladly complied with the request, thinking that he would be offered a fancier drink than the one served for the meal, but he got sorely mistaken.

"Thank you for handling the trials," Bard started, avoiding the dwarf's eyes. Fíli thought that his fidgety countenance was related to strong gratitude, with perhaps a touch of humility. He pondered what he could say, but the man looked up with a steely expression that Fíli hadn't seen directed at himself before. "I'm much obliged, truly. I'm also aware that no matter how hard we try to pretend that we're equals, we are not. I know that my position and the welfare of my people depend greatly on your goodwill, and I'm very grateful that despite all of it, you treat me as a friend. I like you as a person, I admire your knowledge and experience, and your help and advices are very valuable."

Fíli frowned, confused. "Is there any reason for bringing up these things now?"

"Yes. I've seen you argue with Sigrid again on the night of the theft. I don't know what is going on between you two, nor do I care. I only know that she's my daughter, and when she came home after your spat the other day, I could see that she had cried. I didn't want to bring it up until we cleared up all the mess, but you two had a row again before we went on the chase, in public, nonetheless! As I said, I don't want to know the details; I don't care who started it or what was said. She's my daughter, and if I see her reduced to tears by you again, I will severe any relationship between you and me once and for all."

His passionate speech left Fíli dumbstruck. Bard was deathly serious, the expression on his face left no doubt that he would follow through with the threat. Although he didn't like to be reprimanded, the young dwarf had to admire Bard for standing up for his daughter, and he also had to admit that he was right to do so.

He stood the man's glare, but his guts were squirming uncomfortably.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have allowed that to happen."

"I hope that you understand that I'm not only talking about public arguments."

Fíli lowered his gaze to the ground. Bard was right: arguing in public was the worst image he could show regarding the two realms' relationship, but keeping their conflict private wouldn't erase the hurt feelings. Bard was glaring at him, imploring him to say something. Fíli had no words to offer, but Bard let out a long breath, probably satisfied with what he'd seen on the dwarf's face.

"I want you to apologize. Tonight, preferably; I can send her in now. It's nobody's business but ours."

Bard was leaving, and Fíli watched him, paralyzed by his out of character actions.

His mind said that he should rage and throw a fit for being forced into such humiliation. Bard's threat, while impressive, shouldn't concern him: he would manage to circumvent Dale somehow. He had the funds for that.

His heart however said that his actions were wrong. He wasn't the sort of person who made women cry. He held grudges, but wasn't vengeful. He valued Bard's friendship.

He wanted to be a good person and a good king, but he couldn't get rid of Thorin's shadow, or the memories of his deterioration under the spell of the dragon sickness. He wanted to avoid the same fate. He needed Bard's friendship, because he was an honorable man, and he trusted Fíli to be the same.

A timid knock snapped him out of his musings. Sigrid walked in. Her slow approach told him that she was just as apprehensive about this meeting as him. They usually did everything in their power not to be in a room by themselves.

"I'm not sure what can we talk about," she said defensively, "I'm only here because Da told me to come."

Fíli cleared his throat, averting his eyes, only to remember that he shouldn't let his guard down. The woman was sneaky and often had an agenda.

"Yes, that's the only reason I'm here too," he hurried to clarify. "He made me aware that I've treated you unkindly," he said, trying to downplay what happened, but it came out wrong.

"Generally, you treat me unkindly," she stated, crossing her arms on her chest with a frustrated huff. They both knew that this truce was just a farce and wouldn't erase their discord, so he decided to be as truthful as possible.

"I know we don't get on," he said, a little harsher than intended, but at least, Sigrid relaxed. Overt friendliness would just make her suspicious and angry. "I have no wish to change that. But your father is my friend and you're a useful ally in crisis. I've got carried away a few times recently. It won't happen again. Let's just continue to keep a healthy distance, and I'll keep my temper in check."

Well, he was truthful to the point of rudeness, but Sigrid was now studying him with an inscrutable face.

"Is this the dwarven way of saying sorry?" she asked after a little contemplation. Fíli nodded. A radiant smile lit up her face. Fíli backed away in fear that she would like to seal the peace by any action. He tensed when she grabbed his hand. "In this case, thank you. Most people can't rise above their feelings."

"I like to think that I'm a better person than most," Fíli growled.

She smiled, squeezing his hand.

"I know that you're a wonderful person."

"Well, this wonderful person is leaving now," he said, freeing his hand and slipping out of the room before she could say or do anything else.

He nodded at Bard, signing that he completed the mission. The man raised his cup in approval, but he didn't truly relax until his daughter appeared with a happy smile.

Fíli desperately needed a drink – something potent, but they wouldn't waste the good stuff on such a large gathering. He looked around for company, and his moment of hesitation cost him a lot.

"Fíli! Your Majesty! It's so good to see you tonight!" a woman squealed right behind him. He cringed, recognizing the voice as one he dearly wished to avoid.

"Good evening, Seenia," he said. He wouldn't hurt her feelings by openly expressing his dislike of her pushy company, but he couldn't feign pleasure or excitement. He didn't need to: she clapped her hands and sighed deeply, promising to guarantee him a pleasant time. He snatched a full cup he found abandoned on a table, not caring to get his own. To shut her up, he asked her for a dance, but she was perfectly capable of gushing and moving at the same time. Interestingly, she seemed incapable of keeping a proper distance. He was getting one sticky hand away from his butt, while the other was sneakily sliding higher up on his arm, until she was touching the nape of his neck. He shook his head before she could entangle her fingers in his hair, and pretended to stumble only to get away from her. He didn't mind gaining a reputation as a clumsy dancer, if Mahal granted him the chance to escape.

Mahal wasn't in a generous mood tonight: only Kasia passed him on the arm of a young and handsome dwarf.

"Get a room, Your Majesty!" she mock-whispered.

She danced away, laughing very hard, leaving Fíli angry and embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, my legs aren't cooperating anymore tonight," he said to Seenia through gritted teeth. He pretended to look for refreshments, and checked the room, hoping to find someone to save him.

Amad kept shooting him disapproving glares – she must be thinking that he only wanted the girl to warm his bed tonight. Dwalin didn't come down at all, probably enjoying a quiet night with his lady. Thorin and most of the councilors had already left. They still weren't comfortable around the elves, but Fíli appreciated their effort to mingle for a short time. Nori was who knows where, still sulking because of Alin's involvement in the trial. Ori was preparing for a trip, and although he could spot one or two friendly faces, like Bofur, they were too pissed to be of any use. His steadfast guard was engaged in a conversation with Seenia's partner in crime – probably, by design, since he'd already interrupted them once. Bard would see his situation as due punishment after hurting his precious daughter, and while said daughter could probably get rid of the clingy 'dam very effectively, Fíli didn't want her meddling in his business.

Oh, how he missed his brother now!

Salvation came from the unlikeliest of source. Raya, the little golden sunshine approached, with Haldír on her side. The elf whispered something to her and left, and she came over.

"Seenia, do you mind leaving us alone for a minute?" she asked politely. Seenia was reluctant to do so, but Raya cleverly hooked her arm through Fíli's, effectively pushing Seenia away, since two 'dams couldn't hang on the same arm without considerable awkwardness.

Raya led him upstairs to a balcony. Fíli took a deep breath of the cool fresh air, appreciating his newly regained freedom. He soon recalled the person who freed him, and turned to her.

"Thank you! You have perfect timing! Is there a problem with the elves?" he asked, worried, when it occurred to him that she may have had a purpose for approaching him. She was smiling and was in a good mood, so it couldn't be very serious.

"No, there isn't, but Haldír said I should get you away from her before you make a fool of yourself on their last night here."

Fíli flushed. The fact that Haldír noticed meant that he'd already accomplished that.

"Then please pass along my thanks to him."

"I will," she said, not holding back her giggles. Fíli sneaked a glance at her: she looked well. He noticed a new air of confidence around her. He wondered how much of it came from her interactions with the elves.

"You got on well with them."

"Yes," she nodded, staring over the city. "They didn't mind my presence, but I don't think they wanted me to learn. Except for Haldír, he was always very helpful."

Fíli snorted, reminded of the elf's latest help.

"That's good."

"He says that his companions have great respect for you and Bard."

That surprised the young king.

"They do? They did a very good job of hiding that."

"It's because of the cultural differences. Some of them are more than two thousand years old. For them, we are all children, but you are a remarkable child, less rash and temperamental than most."

Something in the reverent way Raya spoke of them humbled him. Maybe he was seeking praise from the wrong place all this time – he craved Thorin's approval, even though his original goal was to gain the elves' alliance. Finally, it seemed that all those planning and sleepless nights were worth it. He chuckled nervously to disguise his growing pride. He'll need to thank Nori, because his reports gave him a lot of leverage, which often helped him to maintain his composure.

"I see that you took your studies seriously," he said, trying to redirect the attention from him.

"Of course I did!" Raya exclaimed. "Finally, I had a purpose! My life stopped being a meaningless, endless wait for an acceptable groom. You gave me a chance, how could I not take it seriously?"

Raya's vehemence surprised him. He had thought that her insecurity was caused by the new environment. He didn't understand when she said that her life had been empty. Seeing her now, there was an undeniable difference in her countenance.

Being king meant that he had to make decisions about people's lives; usually, in a negative way by taking their money, their limbs, their freedom or more. He didn't think much about the positive effects of his actions. Erebor was prospering, and he supposed everyone found something to do. It was easier to keep his distance, because there would be people along the way to help each other up, but he would be going after the one who caused the stumble. Yet, seeing Raya, full of pride for doing something he told her to achieve, made him think if he should take this risk more often.

He wondered if other dwarrowdams were suffering from similar issues. They should look into it, because giving them a new home was just the beginning. Giving them a new life is an entirely different thing.

Not everyone in Erebor was interested in feasting with the elves and men.

Alin and her family, for example, were having a different farewell dinner, since the parents' visit has come to an end.

She wasn't really looking forward to it.

She missed her parents during the first weeks of her stay here, and having them so close gave her a sense of security.

Her parents also invited their new friends too. Alin never cared much about the company they kept. She learned their names and greeted them on the market, but that was all.

Here, though…

Father manage to pick Nori as his best friend.

First, there was the betting. Later, Nori introduced him to influential people and helped him to a few profitable deals. He also got them a stall for the Day of Crafts in the last minute, and somewhere on the way they became drinking buddies, who went out together every week.

Had she not known better, she would have thought that her lover was trying to impress her father, maybe with a purpose… but Alin knew better, since Nori avoided her now.

Her lover arrived late. He checked her out with quick, barely noticeable glances, but otherwise, ignored her. His rejection caused an ache in her heart, but she refused to be miserable anymore. She was insulted, and rightfully angry. He owed her an explanation for his absence, at the least.

When her mother announced dinner, the company slowly trickled over to the dining room. It was time to act. She inched closer to him, and when someone tried to pass, she pretended to stumble, and got pushed into Nori. She was pretty proud of her cunning accident, since she managed to knock a few decorative pieces to the ground too.

She made sure to apologize deliberately loudly.

"Oh, how clumsy I am! I'm so sorry!"

He was looking at her with wide eyes, realizing that he could avoid her no longer. His gaze flicked around for an escape route, but Alin continued.

"I truly hate to further inconvenience you, but can you maybe help picking these up?"

Nori, still too stunned, nodded. He moved to grab something without taking his eyes off of her. Alin checked if anyone was in hearing distance.

"Stop avoiding me!" she hissed. "At least tell me what's your problem!"

Nori narrowed his eyes.

"I think I was pretty clear about my problem."

"No, really not!" she argued. "If you are angry because I'm not your obedient little subject, than please, rethink your position!"

"That's not how I see you!"

Alin fixed him with an unimpressed glare. "The first time I do something against your wishes, and you… you vanish!"

"Why couldn't you trust me on this?" He actually looked hurt – not only in his expression, but in his eyes too. She reached for his hand and squeezed it gently. He didn't remove it, and it filled her with hope.

"Why couldn't you trust me to do the right thing? I helped a lot. They kept me safe, King Fíli didn't even let me close to him."

Nori let out a derisive snort. "Well, then King Fíli can keep you safe. I meant it, Alin," he said on a lower voice. "You're radiant and precious, and I made a mistake by wanting you for myself."

"This doesn't make any sense!" She wanted to reassure him of her love, but he finally stood.

"How can I make you understand?" he whispered harshly, before stalking out of the room.

He found the most painful way to demonstrate how serious he was.

Thanks to this horrid attempt to reconcile, she was late for dinner. She sat down near Malin, who was surrounded by Spring Tour participants. Malin's friend, Lee and her fiancée, Ori, will travel to the Iron Hills too, to ask for the blessing of Lee's kin. Alin's parents invited them to travel together – Alin was pretty sure where the idea came from.

Malin and Lee carried the bulk of the conversation, both excited about the upcoming nuptials. Alin barely paid attention, choosing to sulk silently instead, until she realized that Malin was freely talking about how they grew up together.

"You had to share a room?" Lee asked incredulously. "But you're so rich! Even I had my own room from a very young age!"

"Only because you have a bunch of older brothers!" Malin corrected her. "Sleeping among them would be unseemly, but with sisters, it's different." She lowered her voice. "Actually, Mother was right. By sharing everything, especially the room, sharing secrets came easily. I liked those late night conversations in the dark."

"Yes, that sounds nice," Lee said wistfully. "But have you never been envious?" she asked, intrigued. "Mahal knows, I've always guarded my possessions fiercely!"

"I am happy if she is happy. Actually, it makes it a lot better," Malin said sincerely.

"What about you, Alin?"

Alin winced.

"The same," she uttered. She hated how it sounded fake now, even though she wished it was still true. She didn't dare to meet Nori's mocking gaze, nor anybody else's, where she'd meet judgment, had they been able to see into her mind.

The disaster happened soon after this conversation.

Nori jostled his way next to Malin, and started showering her in compliments.

"I will miss your father dearly, although no doubt your feeling of loss will be greater," he drawled. Malin was surprised that he addressed her: Nori visited the family a few times, but rarely talked to any of the girls.

"Yes, but their whole life is there, and Erebor is beautiful."

"Indeed," Nori said, leaning closer, but before he spoke again, he checked Alin with a furtive glance, if she was watching.

(She was watching. The vile creature! Ignoring her and consoling her sister? What was he playing at?)

"Let me say that present company is only adding to it," Nori continued.

"Oh, I doubt there's much to add!" Malin started fiddling with her bracelets, not quite knowing how to answer. Alin's lips began to curl downwards. Her sister was so clueless! Of age, true, but Malin had never had a suitor – the attention always shifted to the more attractive younger sister.

"Is this copper?" Nori asked, tracing her hand with a finger, studying the bracelet.

"Yes," she said, blushing. It was her plainest jewelry – an old birthday gift, a reminder of their happy childhood. Nori must have caught on to its sentimental value. He was very observant and clever; Alin especially liked that about him. She really had to make an effort to overdo him in this regard.

Nori adjusted a strand of hair behind Malin's ear. She blushed shyly, while Nori made an insipid comment about Malin's copper-colored hair. He listened to her rambling answer with a casual smile, but when Malin felt that she talked too much and cast her eyes down again, Nori rolled his eyes.

That's when Alin had enough.

She didn't want to make a scene, so she quietly slipped out, and found herself a quiet corner. She sat down on the ground, hugging her knees to her chest, doing her best not to cry.

Nori warned her that he wanted to break up, but she'd never thought he'd go to such a great length to get his way. The only thing Alin didn't understand was why?

She thought they were in love. It was definitely true on her part, but did he love her? He rarely said the words, but it made them all the more convincing. Was it all a pretense, a game? Was she a victim for the second time? Was it too much to expect an answer once in a while?

He was clever and observant, and she liked it about him, but for this reason, he knew exactly where to strike to break her heart irrevocably. She would never stand in the way of her sister's happiness.

She resolved herself to get this issue sorted permanently tonight. She didn't want to be part of anyone's games anymore. If Nori didn't love her, then she would back off. This possibility horrified her, because without him, she had nothing to keep her in Erebor. She kept her friendships superficial and she consciously avoided to stand out, all because she wanted to keep her thrilling secret, as he wished. Not that she had any idea how to fit in: she had no particular talent, except for being pretty and sociable. But that, she could do at home too. Maybe if she and Nori were really over, she should return to the Iron Hills with her parents. She had signed a contract that she would stay in Erebor for a year because of the Spring Tour, but she figured they could claim a family emergency.

She joined the gathering in the sitting room with a forced smile on her face. Malin immediately appeared on her side, thankfully, without Nori.

"Are you alright?" she asked, concerned.

Alin shook her head, the motion becoming her general answer lately. Their mother would reprimand her for the common gesture, but it didn't matter. Her mother would be too speechless to reprimand her, had she known everything.

"Alin, talk to me! You're so upset, and lately, I know so little of what's going on with you!"

No matter how much she wanted to tell Malin everything now, she knew that she should be talking to someone else first.

"I will tell you later," she promised finally. Her words pained her sister, but she couldn't be swayed anymore.

"Can't I do anything for you?"

"Maybe you should stay away from the dwarf you were talking to," she said slowly, making a conscious effort to suppress her feelings. Maybe she'll conclude that Nori is a scoundrel, like Varni – Lady Vera warned them to pay attention after that scum was arrested. Oh, she would have the laugh of her life!

Such cruel thoughts were foreign to her until now, and she really wanted to get rid of them.

She located her target: her lover was currently talking to his little brother, with a scowl on his face. He seemed to be aware that he needed protection tonight, since he cleverly kept a shield of people between them. He tried to sneak away undetected, but her fury tuned her senses to notice his every move, every word, every breath tonight.

She gathered every morsel of her courage to go through with her rather reckless plan. She remembered his dangerously quick reflexes, so she knew that approaching him from behind unexpected wouldn't go well – except if he was rendered motionless. She took a clean-looking knife from the dinner table, and when he exited the sitting room, she followed him and held the knife to his back like she'd seen him do to Varni.

Her plan was working: he froze, until he checked who was there.

"Are you going to use that stuff on me?" he asked, humoring her. He would have no trouble turning the situation in his favor in a blink of an eye.

"If I must," she lied confidently. She had neither the skill nor the strength for it.

Nori let out a slow breath, and turned to face her. With unnerving calmness, he wrapped his hands around hers, around the hilt of the knife, but Alin wrenched it away. Nori frowned, annoyed.

"You're forbidden to leave without an explanation!" Alin said hurriedly.

"I have nothing to explain," he stated nonchalantly.

"That's golden!" she exclaimed, her fisted hand finding its way to her hips. She shook her head forcefully and her soft, strawberry locks fell in front of her face, tickling her cheeks. She angrily pushed them back to their place, and pointed the knife at him accusingly. "You come into my parents' home, and insult them with flirting with one daughter, while… while…"

"While what?" he asked impatiently.

"What am I to you? A lover? An exciting secret? Needed for physical release? Was anything you've ever said true?"

During her whispered speech, he started cleaning his nails with a knife of his own (slightly meaner-looking than hers), but he raised an eyebrow as an answer for her last question.

"I told you we should stop seeing each other."

"That's stupid!" Alin cried out, exasperated. Suddenly, she felt like the ground had opened under her, and she was falling, with no clue how far. "I thought we had something! I thought…"

"I used to think a lot of things, but that doesn't make them true," he commented cynically.

"Tell me that you don't love me."

For a heartbeat, Nori was silent, and Alin hoped that he would fall to his knees and beg for her forgiveness, but no.

"I don't love you," he spoke, keeping his eyes on his nails.

She let out the breath she was holding.

"That's not very convincing."

"Sorry."

"Oh you infuriating, loathsome liar! You can start explaining your disappearance now, or look me in the eyes and tell me you don't love me!"

Her heart was beating loudly. Her hope for a good outcome was diminishing rapidly, since Nori was still cleaning his nails and checking the result.

Finally, he slowly looked her over, keeping his face blank, but he took his time on her waist, her hands, her hair – the parts she knew he loved the best. He avoided her gaze as long as he could, but in the end, he did it. He was keeping the eye contact, opening his mouth, only to close it again. His face revealed nothing, but he didn't speak for the second try either, and at the third, he uttered:

"I don't have to tell you anything!"

His petulant words strangely comforted her. She even managed a faint smile.

"Maybe we should talk later," she said. "You're much more talkative in bed."

Nori smirked.

"Since lately you've forgotten the way to my room, maybe I shall visit you from now on!"

Nori drew his brows together, searching her face, unable to decide if she was serious.

A/N: I almost forgot that it's already Thursday, but here's the new chapter - with the promised apology, Seenia attaching herself to Fíli again and Alin finally confronting Nori. His mind is an interesting place, and we'll discover it in the next chapter!

I hope you liked this one - a few words in the box below would make me very happy!

SV