Disclaimer: I don't own any familiar characters, and or anything pertaining to the world of the Hobbit. All, but my ocs, are owned by J.R.R Tolkien (who probably hates us for doing this to his work).

Chapter 36

Fili hadn't spoken to her in a week, and Magdalen was beginning to become anxious. The first couple of days Magdalen didn't think anything of it. It wasn't uncommon for them to go a couple of days without speaking or seeing each other. Fili had many duties that were his number one property, the health and safety of the people of Erebor were one of the most important things in his life. She understood that. On the fourth she began to worry. Magdalen too noticed that for the fourth day in a row Fili hadn't come to breakfast with his mother. She written off as Thorin's doing, keeping Fili busy with meetings and other Kingly duties.

Though when Magdalen had run into him in one of the hallways she began to think it was something else. She had been just finished with Ori in the library and was heading back to her room when she saw Fili walking yards ahead of her toward the royal wing just as she was.

"Fili!" Magdalen called as she tried to catch up with him.

She watched as his shoulder's tensed, though he didn't look back once. Magdalen knitted her eyebrows together, reaching out her hand as she closed in on him. He sighed, his head craning to look up at the sky. Magdalen let her outstretched hand fall limply to her side.

"Fili?" Her voice was small, quietly echoing in the emptied hall.

"Hello, Magdalen." Fili answered glancing over his shoulder briefly before continuing on his destination.

Magdalen knitted her eyebrows together, picking up her speed to come to his side.

"Fili, what's wrong? I haven't seen you in like a week." Her hand grazed his arm before he flinched away from her touch.

"I've been busy, Magdalen. I haven't had time to doddle around." His voice firm, he kept his eyes trained on the walkway before him.

Magdalen made a disgusted her face at the back of Fili's face.

"Did you just say doddle around?"

Fili ignored her question and continued to walk away. Magdalen groaned running ahead of Fili, spinning she stood in front of him. She held out her hand, pushing into Fili's firm chest to stop him in his place. Fili's face narrowed staring down at her with a fire that left her unsettled. Fili wrapped his hands around Magdalen's wrists gently pushing her off him. She snatched her hand away from his touch, cradling it at her side.

"I'm sorry, Magdalen. I can't explain right now." Fili almost whispered to her as he walked past her.

"Fili seriously stop, we need to-" She called out, only to be cut off by another voice yelling down the hall.

"Fili, there you are my boy. Come on we must hurry." The white hair of Balin appeared from one of the many doorways. Balin waddled toward Fili not noticing Magdalen's prescens until he nearly knocked her down as he began dragging Fili away.

"Oh, forgive me, my dear, I didn't see you there." Magdalen hummed in acknowledgement but her eyes did not move from Fili.

Balin noticed the tense air around the couple, awkwardly clearing his throat to dissolve the staring match between them.

"Now if you'll excuse us, Miss Magdalen. There's a very important meeting in the Throne room we must be attending." Balin bowed slightly tugging Fili along behind him.

Magdalen felt them push past her, the tip of her pinky gently scraping against Fili's. That brief touch held no familiar warmth, or thrill as it would have a week ago. Magdalen turned watching as Fili and Balin disappeared from sight. Something was wrong, Magdalen was going to let to be tossed aside so easily.

Magdalen found herself at the end of the balcony just out of sight as she eavesdropped on the royal proceedings below. She was not one to sit around and pout about a boy. Magdalen wanted answers about Fili's sudden cold shoulder, and she was going to get them. Her fingers gripped as a grumpy looking Fili found his place next to Thorin, who sat regally on his throne. Dis anxiously pace on Thorin's left. Magdalen knew she shouldn't be spying, but she couldn't help it. Something was going on, and she was going to get to the bottom of it.

Magdalen sat in the shadow of one of the columns, just watching from her perch.

"What are you doing?" A voice whispered in her ear.

Magdalen yelped, hitting her back into the hard stone column. Her wide eyes were met with the amused face of Kili. Magdalen held her hand over her heart, trying to steady the pounding in her chest.

"You shouldn't scare people like that, Kili." She hissed glancing over her shoulder, making sure no one had heard her little yelp.

Kili hummed tossing a small stone into the air before catching it again. Kili

"You shouldn't be hiding in the throne room, yet here we are."

"I'm fine." Kili cocked his head, leaning against the rail that overlooked the throne room.

"Is that why you stalked my brother here." Kili question nodding to his family below.

Magdalen folded her arms. "I didn't stalk him." Her time couldn't even convince herself.

Before Kili could continue with his questioning the sound of creeking doors exploded in the space around them, silencing over. Magdalen tried leaning around the column, still avoiding being seen. Yet she could not make out the newest arrival in the throne room.

"Oh no…" Kili groaned behind her, plumbing down into the seat behind him.

Magdalen made a face at Kili before trying again to catch a sight of whatever was captivating the royal family below. A dwarf dressed in rich ruby fabrics appeared at the feet of the throne, golden clips glimmered under the lights. Twelve or so guards, in golden armor, followed the dwarf in a line on either side of the walk away.A sickening knot tightened in her stomach, she had to focus to keep away the bile fighting to come up.

"King Thorin!" Lord Amrus greeted Thorin, to which Thorin simple nodded.

He continued.

"It is with the deepest pleasure I present to you my brother, Lord Hamrus of the Grey Mountains."

Another figure appeared at Amrus's side, also dawning the ruby and gold colors so finely weaved into Amrus's clothes. He and Amrus shared similar features, their height was about the same. Hamrus, however, was much thinner than his brother, and his hair was bathed in silver and grey.

Thorin bowed his head, as did his council. Magdalen turned back to ask Kili what was going on, but found his eyes were somewhere else entirely. Emerging from the line of guards stood a dwarrowdam. She was shorter than her counterparts, she too was dresses in ruby red fabrics. She wore a golden breastplate, a held a golden handled axe. Her raven hair was braided into a mess on top of her head. Her round face was held high, as she strolled with pride toward the Throne.

She greeted Thorin with khuduzl before bowing before him.

"Whose that" Magdalen whispered hoping her voice wouldn't carry. Kili's eyes were weary looking upon the new girl that stood before his family.

"Magdalen perhaps we should go. You shouldn't be here for this." Gently he took her arm trying to guide her up the stairs away from the meeting below. Magdalen shook him off looking back down at the girl.

"My King," Hamrus turned to Fili, giving him a sharp and controlled smile. "My Prince, May I introduce my daughter, Lady Tearsa."

Thorin nodded to Fili, who stiffly walked to Tearsa. Slowly Magdalen stepped down the steps reaching the stone rail. Time seemed to slow as Fili, her Fili, stood in front of Tearsa taking her hand,pressing a kiss into it.

"Lord Hamrus." Thorin called upon the lowly lord. "Your brother tells me you have come to me with an agreement that will benefit our kingdoms."

Magdalen found that she could no longer look at the pair below her. A hard and sudden realization hit her like a ton of bricks. Her breathing became ragged, air slipping away from her body. Her feral eyes met Kili's, whose face was filled with regret and shame. She knew what 'agreement' meant as she saw Tearsa's prideful and lustful stare meet Fili's. A sudden rush of anger followed her at the thought of this girl marrying Fili just because he was the crown prince.

"Surely Thorin won't make Fili marry her. Kili please tell me that's not why they are here."Magdalen pleaded. Kili reared his head toward his friend, who stared at the girl with a vicious he had never seen in her eyes. "He is the crown prince, he has to marry and produce an heir. That or I will have to marry and produce an heir. But look at me how could someone with my looks be tied to one dwarrowdam."

Water began to blur her vision as she glanced over her shoulder at the throne room.

"Thorin isn't going to make him marry her, Fili agreed to meet with her that's all." He reaches out to comfort Magdalen.

She quickly wiped away her tears and stood taller. She turned away from the scene below walking up the steps. Kili called after her.

"Maggie, why do you care who my brother married?" He wasn't teasing her, his face was serious making him look too much like Thorin.

"I don't." Magdalen's voice was cold and direct. She glared one last time at Fili only to find him smiling at the dwarrowdam, holding her hand between his. Magdalen's heart ached more than she liked to admit.

Magdalen couldn't seem to drag herself back to her room. Her heart screamed for her to return to her bed and cry out the dagger that was embedded in her chest. But her mind told her that she was fine. That if Fili was going to act as if nothing had happened between the two of them, so could she. So she wandered the halls aimlessly, taking up conversation to anyone who would lead her an ear, anything to take her mind away from the aching pain that resided in her chest.

When there was no longer people to converse with her body began to lead her to the only place she knew she could find peace. As she turned to escape the people of Erebor a voiced called out to her.

"Lady Magdalen." One of the guards said.

Magdalen's fists balled and she shoulders tensed turning to face the guard.

"The Princess requests your presence in the royal chamber." The stoic guard told her.

Anxiety pumped into her veins. Magdalen bowed her head making her way to the guard, allowing him to lead the way. She grew eerily quiet, dark thoughts consuming her mind. She had been so caught up in the maze of her mind she hadn't even noticed when they arrived at the familiar doors of the royal's private parlor. Magdalen thanked the guard before pushing her way into the room.

Inside the warmth of the hearth filled the space, giving it a false sense of security. At the moment Magdalen felt anything but safe. She left like she had just walked into the lion's den.

The room was filled with the noble dwarf families of Erebor. No one seemed to notice her presence as she slipped through the room looking for Dis. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Amrus standing with his brother, his eyes watching her carefully. Ignoring his leering gaze, Magdalen searched on for Dis. Thorin and Balin spoke quietly in the corner, while Dwalin looked bored by the whole affair leaning against the wall.

In front of the hearth sat Dis, and another figure she couldn't make out. Dis spoke vividly to whomever she was with and hardly noticed Magdalen's presence. Behind her, Magdalen heard the soft squeaking of the door. Soon she was joined Kili, who looked less than thriller to be there. Kili gave her a weak smile, before her cleared his throat to gain his mother's attention.

Dis turned her face to greet them before with a radiant smile. She stood up coming over to wrap them both in a tight hug. Though as she did that so did the person she had been speaking with. Magdalen's chest tightened when she realized it had been Lady Tearsa. She had been more beautiful than Magdalen realized. Her square face was complimented by a thinner nose-an uncommon feature among dwarves. Her almond shaped eyes were akin to two pools of gold. The ruby fabric of her dress was thin and showed off her muscular physique. Her tanned skin highlighted her toned, muscular arms. Her onyx hair was made into singular braid, decorated with small jewels. Her beard was thicker than Dis's and Kili's. Though still trimmed close to her sharp jawline.

"Lady Tersa may I introduce you to my youngest son Kili." Dis nudged Kili forward, he bowed taking the girl's hand pressing it into his forward head.

"Lady Tasra, Vem." Lady Tersa bowed looking down at Kili from the tip of her nose.

"Thank you, Prince Kili. You're home is quiet lovely." Her voice was sharp and controlled.

Kili nodded. "Thank you, my Lady. We are more than happy to welcome you into our kingdom." Kili did not smile as he spoke.

"And your family, perhaps." She gave him a smile, though not as warm or comforting as Dis's. Magdalen felt her fist tighten as a reaction to her statement. She felt as if a dagger were being stabbed in her chest over and over again. Magdalen forced herself to stay, and play the part of a proper lady. But inside she wanted to hunt Fili down, and figure out what was going on. She felt Dis's arm wrap around her shoulders, breaking her from her trance.

"And this is Lady Magdalen, she is my guest." Dis place a hand on Magdalen's back anchoring to her spot. Lady Tearsa blinked analyzing Magdalen from head to toe.

"She is a lady?" Tearsa snipped her block like nose still turned up to the sky.

Magdalen shifted hating the feeling of her eyes studying her every move. " Idmi, Lady Tearsa." Magdalen greeted the girl, bowing in respect.

Lady Tersa expression became dark her thick eyebrows knitting together."Why is the human speaking Khuzdul?" Her head snapped to Dis in utter disgust.

Dis stared at the women wide-eyed, slightly horrified by what she had just said. Kili's eyes blazed with anger, and the same horror that he shared with his mother. Dis shook off her shock,leaving her with a more cool and controlled experisson.

"As I stated previously, Lady Magdalen is a welcomed guest of the crown and is herself a quarter dwarf. Therefore can learn khuzdul, as is her birthright and blessed by the king." The venom dripped from her sharp words.

This seemed to snap something in Lady Tearsa, her dark facade faded into a warm and bright one. Tearsa let out a small laugh, giving Dis and Magdalen a smile.

"Forgive my tone, Lady Magdalen. As a dwarf I have the instinct to protect our culture from outsiders."

That word cut through Magdalen like a knife. Was that what she was going to be now? An outsider.

"Lady Magdalen has done a great deal for the kingdom, and should be held in the highest respect, Lady Tearsa." Dis ordered her hands clasped in front of her tightly, squeezing her hand to refrain herself saying something she would regret.

Lady Tearsa placed her hand over her bronze breastplate, using her other hand to pick up the ruby fabric of her dress as she bowed.

"Oh course, my Princess. I've heard a great deal of Lady Magdalen's deeds." Satisfied with her response Dis bowed her head.

"Good, why don't we go speak with your father for a bit." Dis ordered taking Tearsa by the arm leading her away from Kili's murderous gaze.

Tearsa narrowed her eyes at Magdalen as she passed. Magdalen could see the fires of hatred shooting toward her. Magdalen shifted uncomfortably turning her face away from the lady. Huffing, Magdalen walked away. She needed out of this room, out of the mountain.

"Magdalen," Kili called after her, she did not stop.

"Maggie." Kili reached out to her stopping her in her place.

Kili walked in front of her, forcing her to look at him.

"Are you okay?" He questioned

Magdalen furrowed her brow. "I'm fine, Kili. Why wouldn't I be fine?"

Kili raised an eyebrow. "Magdalen, I know my brother very well. And I like to think I know you very well. I know something happened between you."

"There is no us, he doesn't want there to be anything . He's an adult, and he can't make whatever choice he wants. Doesn't affect me any!" She growled.

She pushed away from Kili, wanting to be anywhere but here. She felt the heat of tears forming in her eyes. Kili follow in her steps behind her. Magdalen reached the door, her hand pressed against the wood when she heard laughter. She felt empty when she registered the deep baritone chuckle. Looking over her shoulder she found Lady Tersa blushed at something, beaming up at Fili who stood closely beside her. He shared her loving gaze. Her stomach turned, and her vein felt as if fire had been pumped into them.

"I think I'm going to be sick." She whispered just loud enough for Kili to heard beside her. The doors swung open from the power of her push, ricocheting off the stone walls. Magdalen hastily rushed away from the scene before her. She could hear Kili call behind her but she didn't care she needed to get away… far away.

Magdalen told herself she wasn't going to cry. It's illy to cry over a boy who breaks hearts, that's what her grandfather always told her. But Fili wasn't just any boy, what she had felt for him was stronger than she had ever felt before. Magdalen had convinced herself she had loved him, and for a moment being held in his arms she thought he might have felt the same way.

You don't lie to those you love, she repeated to herself. He had lied to her. He knew Tearsa was coming, he knew a marriage proposal was coming. Anger boiled under her skin, clenching her fists she marched down the hall. She hadn't known what they would have become. She didn't care about his titles or money, she just wanted to be with him. He had ripped that all away from her

"Magdalen, please wait."

Magdalen froze in her spot hearing Fili's voice call behind her

Magdalen glared over her shoulder at the prince"She seems like a lovely dwarrowdam, Fili!" She spat before continuing down the hall.

She heard the shuffled foot fall of Fili as he chased after her.

"I can explain." Fili pleaded.

"I'm sure she will make a good wife." Magdalen not having the courage to look at Fili.

A hand wrapped around her forearm bringing her to a halt.

Fili turned her to face him. Purple bags hung under his beautiful eyes. He looked tired, older than he was."Magdalen stop running away, I can explain." His hand slide from her forearm into her hand, tugging it closer to him.

"I'm not the one running, Fili." Magdalen snatched her hand away.

"You were the one who has been ignoring me for a week. You knew she was coming, but you were to big of a coward to tell me. I'm a big girl, Fili, you can't hurt me." She pressed her finger into his chest, the anger from the past week bubbling in her chest. She continued.

"So no I don't need you to explain,you were just using me until your little queen came." Magdalen snarled.

"That's not what happened!" Fili yelled.

"Magdalen, we were just living in a dream. I'm the crowned prince, I have a du-" he cut him off.

"You have a duty Prince Fili. You told me that. You have to marry, you have to produce an heir." She repeated his words from the Festival.

"Magdalen-" His voice was small and weak, he reached out to stop her.

Magdalen could no longer hold back the tears as they came streaming down her face. She recoiled from his touch. "Don't, Fili. Please don't."

Fili opened his mouth to speak but another voice cut him off.

"Fili, what's going on?" Thorin came into view.

Magdalen quickly wipes away her tears, hoping the king had not seen her in such a state.

Fili has never been a good liar, that was always Kili's job. He racked his brain for something to tell Thorin. But Magdalen spoke.

"Nothing Thorin, I felt sick and Prince Fili came to check on me." She still didn't look in Fili's direction. Though he gaped at her, she had called him Prince Fili. Magdalen never paid attention to titles.

Thorin hummer glancing between the two young people before him.

"I can send for Oin, you do look pale Magdalen." She reached up touching the heat of her cheeks.

"Thank you Thorin, but I think I just need some rest." She bowed, she turned to walk away from the pair.

She stopped looking at Fili with tears red eyes." Congratulations on your engagement, Prince Fili."

Fili looked away from Magdalen's face. "I'm not engaged yet." He mumbled.

Magdalen hummed looking back at Thorin."If you will excuse me."

Thorin watched, dumbfounded and confused, as Magdalen marched away.

Though she held her head high as she walked away from Fili. Though she didn't hold back the tears that were forming in her eyes. Her heart shattered with every step that separated herself from Fili. She had felt heartbreak before, but none had physical hurt as this had. When Magdalen reached her room, she let her knees buckle as she sank to the floor.

Sorry it's been a while, but I went on a last minute vacation. But the breaks over! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, things just now starting to spicy up.