Dwalin's group had been in sight since just after daybreak. Thorin and Elmyra had quickly visited Kili with the news. He still slept. 'You had better wake up, Kili. Your amad is coming and she will not be happy to see you like this!' Thorin scolded. Kili slept on peacefully.

'Do you need me, my lady? I can leave if you wish,' Meladil offered reluctantly. Leaving Kili after all these hours was the last thing she wanted.

'Absolutely not, Mel. You stay here. We will be bringing Dis down soon after she arrives. You may as well stay. I have been coping with the housekeeping duties for now!' Elmyra could think of nothing worse than having Meladil standing around thinking about Kili.

Thorin turned to Fili. 'On the other hand, you most definitely need to be there. Your poor amad will be upset as it is to find out about Kili. Having you there front and center will help tremendously.'

Fili did not protest. He knew his mother well enough to know that if she didn't see her sons right away there would be grief for all concerned. 'I intend to be there, Uncle. It has been over a year now since I saw her. I only wish Kili would wake.'

'As do we all, Fili,' Thorin said.

…

They stood in a group between the newly restored gates of Erebor. Gone was the temporary wall, gone the rubble of Smaug's destruction. The flagstones were scrubbed until they gleamed in the sun. There was a coat of new growth over the battle plain. The mountain was coming back to life. Dwalin's group was only a short distance away and Erebor was emptying itself to meet the new arrivals. Usually groups were not this big, nor did they contain the sister of the king. Some had come hoping to witness a scene when Dis was introduced to the new Queen.

….

Dis and Dwalin rode side by side on their ponies. Dis had not walked that day in the small hope that she would not be a dusty mess when she arrived. They dismounted when they reached the foot of the ramp to Erebor. 'Smile Dis. She is the one standing to Thorin's right.'

Dis looked at the woman. She was several inches taller than Thorin she noted, but most humans female or male were taller than dwarves. As they drew nearer, the queen's clothing was more easily seen. She was dressed in normal dwarf style Dis thought approvingly. The dress was rather plain but to each her own. Fili was standing to Thorin's other side. Where was Kili? She shook her head. Her younger son was perennially late. She had hoped today might be important enough for him to be on time.

Finally she stood before her brother and the mysterious Elmyra. Taking note of the woman's hair, she knew that everything Dwalin had said was true and then some. Thorin adored her. Elmyra could either be her friend or her enemy. She would choose friend for now. She had nothing to gain and everything to lose by doing otherwise.

…..

Elmyra watched Dwalin and a dwarf she presumed must be Dis climb up the ramp towards them. When they were closer, she could see the family resemblance. Kili and his mother had much in common, but Thorin and Fili were there also. Dis was shorter than Thorin but not as short as many of the dwarf-women in Erebor. Good, she hated having to tower over everyone all the time. She was beautifully dressed in velvet and silk. Even without Thorin telling her, she could recognize someone who took great pride in appearance.

When they were only a few feet away, Dis could stand it no longer. She ran the last few steps and threw herself into Fili's arms. Damn protocol, this was her boy! 'Oh, Fili, it is so good to see you! And Thorin! King at last. How proud Amad and Adad would be of you!' She hugged Fili again and smiled broadly at her brother. Finally breaking her embrace, she turned and hugged Thorin. Her gaze shifted to Elmyra. 'And you must be Elmyra! Dwalin has told me all about you!' She again smiled. It didn't even feel very forced.

Elmyra cocked one eyebrow and shifted her own gaze to Dwalin. 'You will have to let me know what he has been saying. I hope it was only the nice things.'

Dwalin bowed. 'Of course, Elmyra. What else would there be to tell?'

Before the little exchange went any further, Dis suddenly remembered. 'Where is my other son? Where's Kili? Did he forget his own mother was arriving today?' The happy faces in front of her suddenly dimmed. She said again more nervously, 'Thorin, Fili, where is my Kili?!'

Thorin took her arm. 'He is fine now, Dis. He is in the Healing Hall recovering from a wound.'

'Recovering? Certainly if he is recovering you could have brought him out in a chair. What aren't you telling me?' Her voice rose higher with every word. Her heart fluttered in her chest. She couldn't bear it if she lost yet another one she loved.

'Don't worry, Amad,' Fili reassured her. 'He has not yet regained consciousness, but Oin says it is only a matter of time. Perhaps he is awake even now. We can go and check.'

Dis's nerves began to calm. 'Yes. We must go right now before anything else.'

Thorin finished greeting the leaders of the guilds and crafts and made his excuses. Taking Elmyra by the arm, he led the procession back to the Healing Halls. As they went, Fili told his mother about the attack, Kili's wounds and what Oin had said.

When they entered, Oin hurried over. 'Dis! It is so good to see you again.' He repeated what Fili had told her and then added, 'There is no reason he should not awaken soon. Hopefully your voice will reach him.'

Dis turned to the bed where her son lay. Sitting by his bedside was a lady! No one had mentioned this part of the tale. She hurried to his side and covered his face with kisses. He did not move. She stared at him for a minute. 'Kili, wake up. Kili!' He ignored her and slept on. She stroked his face lovingly and cooed his name several more times. Still no response.

Standing abruptly she moved to the end of his bed and uncovered his foot. She reached out one hand, took his big toe in her fingers and twisted it. His foot jerked back and his head turned a little. 'Kili! What is this I hear about you lying around in bed when there is work to be done! Get up this instant!' she scolded. Kili remained motionless. Dis called again. 'Kili, wake up. You are late as usual!' She gave his toe another twist.

'Why do you always have to do that, Amad? You know I hate it.' The voice was very soft but the words were clearly said. The watchers exploded into cheers. 'Why is everyone shouting?' Kili pried his eyes open and focused them on his mother. 'Amad is that really you? I thought I was dreaming.'

'Yes, dearest Kili, it's your amad. Apparently I am still the only one you will listen to.' She knelt now at his side and covered his face again with kisses.

Kili turned red. 'Do you have to do that in front of everybody? I'm too old for kisses.'

'You and your brother will never be too old for kisses, Kili,' Dis said as she gave him a few dozen more.

…..

Meladil watched the happy scene play out. When Kili spoke and opened his eyes, she cheered louder than anyone else. However, in all the excitement, she was gradually edged out by Thorin, Fili, Dis and Oin. She stood alone for a minute and then began to back away. As she turned to leave, a hand grabbed her arm. 'Oh no, you don't. You're not going anywhere!'

Elmyra had a firm grip on her arm. 'But this is for family, my lady. I am no longer needed.' She tried to pull loose.

'Who says you are no longer needed? I told you Kili is your responsibility. Have I released you from that duty? Who makes the rules here, you or your Queen?' Elmyra smiled at her. 'You little nut, now is not the time to fade away. Make yourself known to Dis now or you will lose your advantage.' Elmyra dragged her back to the bedside.

Kili saw her at once. 'There you are! I was afraid you left. Amad, this is Meladil. She helped on the day of the attack and I am pretty sure she has been here visiting a few times.' His brow wrinkled as he tried to remember. Vague memories of soft hands stroking him surfaced.

Fili cried, 'A few times, brother! She has not left your worthless hide for two days. I wish someone will explain that to me because I find it hard to understand such devotion.'

Dis turned to stare at Meladil with narrowed eyes. She saw a mature dwarf, older than her son but rather pretty. 'You tended Kili? For that I thank you. We are in your debt,' she said stiffly. Elmyra she would accept on another's word. Two such acceptances in one day would be too much.

Meladil bowed deeply. 'It was my duty and my pleasure, Your Highness.'

The use of the title mollified Dis somewhat. Sometimes people forgot she was a princess of the line of Durin. She patted Kili's hand. 'It looks like you did a good job. You may stay.'

While the remark was terse and rather rude given all her devotion, Meladil refused to be insulted. She resumed her seat at Kili's side. He smiled happily and reached for her hand with his free one. Meladil thought her heart would explode at this sign of his affection and shyly took it.

'Dis, you should know that without Meladil, Kili would most likely be dead' Elmyra said sternly. 'She ran the race of her life to get something from the mountain that I used to close his wound. You owe her more than thanks for nursing.'

Before Dis could reply, Kili muttered, 'I am very tired. Would you all please go away?' Oin quickly shooed everyone but Dis away. When Meladil tried to pull her hand away, Kili opened his eyes and said, 'No, you stay, too.' She stopped trying to stand and looked across at Dis for permission.

'It will be a chance for us to get to know one another. If Oin says it is alright, it is alright with me.' It wasn't said in the nicest of voices, but she did smile as she said it. Permission given by Dis and Oin, Meladil braced herself to face the lioness in her den.

Thorin, Elmyra and Fili walked away. 'I wouldn't be Meladil for another share of the gold,' Fili muttered. 'She is going to get the grilling of a lifetime.'

'Should someone else stay? Dis won't be mean will she?' Elmyra asked.

Thorin chuckled. 'She won't be mean but she will get all the information she wants and more. It is not a bad idea. If Meladil passes the test, her life will be much easier. Better to get it all settled now than to drag it out over the next few days.'

'And if she fails the test? What then?' Elmyra worried.

'Meladil is more than capable of facing my amad, Elmyra. If Kili hadn't taken her hand I might have worried, but Mel will be able to hold her own knowing he wants her there.' Fili had never known his brother to really even look at a fwoman let alone want to hold her hand. His fate was almost certainly sealed.

….

The rest of the day passed in a blur of activity. The new arrivals were assigned rooms and introduced to the mountain. Thorin and Elmyra were busy greeting those they had not met earlier. Elmyra sat with Dis in the "Hideous Chamber" while they waited for Thorin to join them for lunch. Thorin had been right. Dis liked it quite a lot. 'Such a lovely use of gold,' she murmured after making a tour of the room.

Elmyra grimaced internally but glued a polite smile to her face. 'Yes it is, but I am going to redecorate soon. Thorin would like something a little more….understated.' She threw Thorin to the wolves without a second thought. He was late again so it was his own fault.

'Redecorate?! But they are perfect the way they are! The gems gleam so brightly.' Dis basked in the glow of all the richness.

'Well, Thorin wants to set his own style. These were Thror's chambers. Even though there are not that many who remember them from before, Thorin does not want to ride on anyone else's taste and style.' She was floundering a bit, not wanting to make the retching sounds out loud that her brain was making. 'And after recovering from the dragon sickness, he finds it less stressful if there is not so much gold around.' Aha! That was the explanation. It might even be a little bit true.

Dis continued to admire the grandiosity of the room. 'He has a point, I suppose. He is like our mother and grandmother. They liked a lot less gold than the average dwarf. If it is for his health, I heartily support him. I know what that horrible disease has done to our family. I hope Fili and Kili are never touched by it.'

'They were for a very short time when we first entered the Treasury, but I think seeing what it did to Thorin cured them quickly. I have seen no sign of it since,' Elmyra reassured her. 'Is there anything in here that you would like for your chambers?' Dis had declined to live in her family's old quarters and was waiting for other ones to be made ready for her.

'You would let me have something?' Her eyes lit up. If anyone had a touch of dragon sickness, it might be Dis. However, it would show itself in really bad taste rather than in disastrous battles. 'When I find out what my new rooms are like, I am certain there are a few things I could take.' Her hand stroked the back of a particularly ugly sofa.

Elmyra smiled. 'Just let me know what you want. This is your heritage after all, not mine.' And I won't have to secretly burn the ugly things, she thought.

Thorin hurried in. 'I was delayed, ladies, my apologies. I hope you are not too hungry.' He kissed Elmyra and hugged Dis before seating them at the table that was already fixed for lunch.

'I have been telling Dis some of my plans for redecorating, and she is more than happy to take some of the pieces we will not be keeping.' Elmyra nodded towards the hated sofa and smiled somewhat wickedly at Thorin. He had heard her complaints about the furniture more than anyone.

'Wonderful. It is good to know it will stay in the family, Dis. How are you settling in?' Thorin dug into the lovely roast that Bombur had sent up. 'Do you think you are up to a celebration dinner next week?' He, Balin and Elmyra had put the wheels in motion for the dinner once they were sure Kili would survive and that Dwalin and Dis would arrive as planned.

Dis grinned at the idea. 'You know me, Thorin. I am always ready for a celebration. I am a bit tired today, but an early evening should see me in fine form.' She cleared her throat. 'Speaking of celebrations is Dwalin correct in telling me that the two of you are not yet married?' she asked.

Thorin smiled at the hesitation in his sister's voice. He knew she would have asked someone in Erebor almost the moment she had the chance. Most likely Meladil had been grilled on the subject. 'Not for lack of desire, Dis. We did not have time after the battle and when she returned, things were a bit unsettled. Then both of us thought we may as well wait until you and Dwalin arrived.'

'How thoughtful!' She turned to Elmyra. 'Anything I can do to assist in the planning? I always love weddings!'

Elmyra answered a bit awkwardly, 'I imagine there will be something for you to help with. Thorin and I have not really discussed it yet, have we my love?' She wanted to kick him. She hadn't heard a peep out of him about a wedding and now he made it sound like it was being held soon. 'We can talk about it tomorrow.'

They spent the rest of lunch hearing about Dis's journey and the past year in the Ered Luin. 'We were so pleased when Dwalin arrived with the news of your success, Thorin. I know many who never believed it would be possible to get rid of Smaug. Being back here has brought back so many memories. It will take awhile to adjust I think.'

Even as she spoke, Owl sashayed in from the hall and wandered into her line of sight. Her eyes widened when she saw him. 'Oh, Thorin where did you find him? He looks just like my cat when I was a little girl!' Abandoning any pretense of dignity, she rose from the table and went to greet the new arrival.

'Bard sent him on the day Elmyra returned. His name is Owl, like your old cat. She thought he looked like one, and I thought it was appropriate to carry on the tradition. I hope you don't mind.' Thorin smiled to see his sister sitting on the floor playing with the cat. In recent years, she had gotten a bit too stuffy and formal for his taste.

'No I don't mind. I loved that cat. I tried to bring him with me on the day of the attack. It didn't work out.' Elmyra thought she saw tears in Dis's eyes even as she smiled over the new Owl's antics. He was on his back, kicking his feet at a bit of lace dangling almost within reach.

With a sigh, she got up and returned to the table. 'That was all so long ago. We must look forward, not backward. Now, when is this wedding going to be?