Kili
He could hardly contain his excitement as the doors flew open to reveal a gathering of his dearest companions and closest kin inside the grand meeting room. Tonight was to be about him; about song and cheer, drinking and revelry, but most of all, about celebrating his upcoming marriage.
"Welcome, brother, to the feast we have prepared in your honor!" Fili yelled as he stood atop the table. His golden haired sibling leapt down and raced towards him, embraced him tightly and slapped him hard on the back. "Are you surprised?"
"I knew you were up to something, seeing how you've been suspiciously quiet these past few days." He laughed as he returned the embrace. "You never could keep anything hidden from me."
"Sit down and have a drink lad! Mahal, you certainly need one." Gloin joked through gulps of ale.
He approached the table with sincere joy in his heart; he was surrounded by the members of The Company, including Gandalf who would serve as officiate of the ceremony, Dain Ironfoot and his nephew Nain and Gimil, one of his oldest friends, was in attendance. All seemed to be filled with cheer; even Nain, who was usually in a sour mood, appeared to be in good spirits tonight in the presence of family and friends.
"I will take that drink, and many more!" He threw his head back and guzzled down the contents of his mug in one swift motion.
"So Kili," Dain began. "Seeing that your bride is a great bit taller than you, my advice is to jump as high as you can so you can kiss her on the knee." He laughed so hard over his own insult, Dain nearly feel over backwards in his chair.
"Forget kissing the lass, how do you plan on fulfilling your duties as a husband? Poor lass won't know what hit her, cause she won't feel a thing!" Bofur, already drunk, teased.
"At least he's at the right height for all the good stuff! Don't need to look up when you've already got the best view." Gimli chuckled as he winked at him.
As the others laughed and slung well meaning insults about him and his manhood, images of Tauriel, naked and in the throes of ecstasy flashed in his mind, causing a familiar ache to stir in his pants. If they only knew. He thought to himself in amusement. Fili, clearly aware that they had already spent many nights together already, nudged him hard in the side. They exchanged glances, and Fili just shook his head and smiled slyly.
"Ay Fili! You know your brother better than any, tell us; will poor Tauriel be sorely disappointed that she married a dwarf?" Bofur continued to tease.
"Why you ask? Are you upset that Kili is marrying an elf instead of you?" Fili, always defensive, chided right back and was met with a chorus of hearty laughs. "If you really want to know how Tauriel will feel after the wedding, I will tell you. Disappointed? No. Sore? Yes."
"I do not know lads, perhaps my darling love will not come to regret that she married herself a dwarf. I will, however, advise you to cover your ears in the event it gets loud on our wedding night." He grinned cheekily.
"As if we couldn't already hear you." Thorin grumbled under his breath. "Damn lad moans like a Laketown whore." Bilbo, who was in earshot, blushed deeply and continued to drink steadily from his mug.
"Have you asked him yet about how he plans on satisfying the elf on their wedding night?" Oin, always hard of hearing asked innocently after the ruckus had died down; which once again caused the room to fill with merriment.
He sat with them, listening to their tales of love, courting and marriage; singing along with their songs and laughing at their jokes. They continued to drink ale by the glassful until he felt his head beginning to spin. He stood up and raised his mug in a toast to his companions.
"I could not have asked for a better celebration. I thank you, my dear friends and family, for giving me such a wonderful evening." The liquor had taken effect, and he tried hard to keep his words from slurring together. He looked around the room and noticed that Oin was sleeping with his head on Gloin's shoulder, Bofur was attempting to play his flute, but tumbled over and hit the floor with a crash, Bifur and Dain were still singing old love songs in Khuzdul, Gandalf appeared in a stupor from the contents of his pipe and Bombur continued to eat the leftover scraps from the feast. Out of the corner of his eye, he could have sworn he saw his Uncle tug playfully at one of the curls on Bilbo's head.
"Just think lads, soon enough we will be celebrating three more weddings." Balin, hazy from drinking, said with a grin as he looked at Fili.
"Three more weddings?" He asked with confusion.
"Ay, another new princess and perhaps a Queen. Surely you've noticed the dwarf maids roaming the halls; lovely ladies meant to be the brides of Durin sons." Balin continued.
"Brides? You mean they are here to marry my brother?" He asked bewildered.
"Ay, and Thorin and Nain too. Lucky bastards these boys! Such a choice to make!" Balin said as he stroked at his long white beard.
"Fili, we are all anxious to know who you have chosen to be your bride. I noticed the jeweled diadem you crafted in the forges several weeks ago, and wondered who would be wearing such a magnificent creation." Dori, who was normally quiet but was now filled with alcohol, enthusiastically jumped to his feet over the change in conversation.
He felt his head whip around to meet his brother's eyes; why had he not heard about this diadem and how could such a mystery be kept from him?
"A diadem?" Thorin asked with interest.
"Indeed! I saw it with my own eyes! Such a glorious crown could only be meant for a princess of Erebor. Fili, tell them how you set one of your own rub…" Dori was interrupted by a frantic Fili.
"I have not chosen as of yet." He stammered, utterly distressed over the topic. "I have made no decision."
"But if you have crafted something so special, surely you must be planning on giving it to one of the women." Thorin said with a hint of concern. "Why will you not tell us who is meant to wear your crown?"
Fili's eyes filled with fear, and he could sense that his brother had the intention of keeping his creation a secret.
"If Fili has made a decision, surely he would have told me. Do not rush him to the altar just yet." He said defiantly. "Leave my brother be until he is ready to give his answer." His gaze met Fili's once more, and he nodded silently.
"I meant no harm Prince Fili. I was just excited that is all." Dori apologized meekly.
Balin, also sensing Fili's clear discomfort with the attention, shifted the focus of his questioning on the other eligible young dwarf. "Nain, have you begun courting yet? You boys have your pick of the beauties. Oh to be young again."
"I know who I would choose! Foretè, the great beauty of The Iron Hills!" Bofur, still lying on the floor, called out. "She has the most perfect arse I've ever seen…"
"And it be a fortunate thing for the lasses that none of them are here to marry you." Dwalin scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"I am considering my options. I will be using the wedding as an opportunity to become better acquainted with the women. Naturally, if Fili has a preference, I will not make a move until I have his blessing." Nain said deliberately. "There are indeed many lovely women and I am certain any will make a fine bride." His thick fingers grasped the handle of his mug and he took an approving gulp.
"I would gladly take any of the maids you do not choose. Except for maybe Grenda, she is much too plain and thin for my taste." Ori cooed sweetly.
"Poor Grenda received none of her mother's beauty and all of her father's features. It's too bad, she comes from such a good family." Nori frowned in agreement with his youngest brother.
"Grenda would be my top pick for a wife." Nain said and everyone turned to look at him. "I do not think her lack of curves is unappealing."
"Give me a woman with a full bottom and an ample bosom and I will die a happy dwarf." Bofur called. "But if it is all the same to you all, I think I be needing to cut this party short on account that I cannot feel my feet." Bofur moaned from his spot on the floor, and Nori and Bombur quickly ushered him to his feet and escorted him back to his bed chamber. Dori helped a dazed Ori while Balin and Dwalin stumbled along together down the corridor.
"Begging your pardon Kili, but would you mind terribly helping this old dwarf to his feet? It seems I might have had one glass too many." Dain Ironfoot, with his eyes glazed over from drink, asked softly.
"Ay come on Dain. Fee, mind giving me a hand?" He beckoned to his brother.
"That' right now, on your feet." Fili pulled Dain's other arm over his shoulder and assisted lifting the intoxicated dwarf to his feet.
"Allow me to help. His chamber is this way." Nain held open the door as they led Dain out into the hallway.
"Kili, tell me how you got that elf lass to love you. My own wife has no affection for me and I cannot for the life of me understand why." Dain, beginning to tip over, pleaded to the younger dwarf.
"Ah Dain, all you need to do it show her that you love her. Lady Ionè is a good woman. Just tell her once and a while how you feel." He could not help but pity Dain. "And give her kisses, not the kind on the knees though...aim a wee bit higher. Ladies like those kinds of kisses, if you know what I mean." He winked at Fili who shot him a disapproving look.
"Kisses?" Dain asked clearly confused. "Ohhhh, I think I understand what you're saying. Think the wife will go for that?"
"Always. Plus, maybe you should make her something nice, like an amulet or a hair fastener. Let her know she is your one and only." He continued as both he and Fili were trying hard to keep poor Dain on his feet.
"Here you are, Uncle, your room is right through these doors." Nain scowled as he took Dain's hand and pulled him through the door.
"Nain, my lad, have I ever told you about your mother? My sister she was, and a damn fine woman too. I miss her every day. If only she hadn't died when she did, maybe you would have had a brother; like Fili and Kili here." Dain's eyes began to close as he lay down atop his bed. "You wouldn't be so lonely…"
"Yes Uncle. You've told me many times about my mother." Nain's eyes grew cold and his face contorted into a sneer. "I'm the reason she died and you have never let me forget it." Nain said quietly.
"I'm so sorry Nain, I did not know." Fili tried to comfort the sallow dwarf.
"I wish we had spent more time together as lads, but we can make up for that now." He put his arm around his cousin and patted him on the back. "You are a Durin."
"And Durins folk look after each other." Fili smiled affectionately.
"They do indeed." Nain nodded to them. "I must retire now; the evening is beginning to catch up to me. Goodnight."
He watched the rotund dwarf as he disappeared down the darkened hallway, making certain he was out of earshot before he spoke openly to his brother.
"Why didn't you tell me you made a diadem for Sig…?" He grinned, much to Fili's dismay.
"Shhh, must you be so damn loud? Follow me." His brother tugged on his tunic and they walked in silence until they reached Fili's room. He quickly shut the door behind them.
"How could I have forgotten that I saw Dori that night? I should have been more careful." Fili paced anxiously.
"Are you going to show it to me, or am I no longer important enough to share your secrets with?" He asked with a hint of sadness.
"Oh stop, you've been so busy lately, I did not want to bother you with my foolishness. And truly, it was foolish of me to think I could give this to her." Fili removed the latch on his trunk and pulled out a large wooden box. He set the box on the bed in front of them, reluctant to open it.
"You are not being foolish, Fee." He smiled. "And I will always have time for you. Nothing will ever change that." He clasped his hand on his brother's shoulder and pulled him in close; touching his forehead to Fili's. "Now open the damn box and let me have a look."
Reluctantly, Fili lifted the cover and gently removed the contents; the diadem was spectacular to behold, and he could hardly contain his excitement over seeing it.
"Fee, that's one of your jewels. You set one of the Prince's gems in the crown for Sigrid?" He reveled in once more seeing one of the rare and precious twin rubies mined long ago from Erebor, passed down generations and protected by Thorin himself who had presented them to Fili on his Sixtieth birthday.
"Trust me when I tell you that I did not intend to set one into the diadem. It just sort of….happened." Fili sighed and picked at a scratch on his arm.
"I believe you. But Mahal, you're not going to be able to keep your feelings secret if it's sitting on her head." He sat down on the bed and placed the crown beside him. "Has she seen it yet? Does she know you…"
"No. And she's not going to see it. I cannot give it to her, not now anyway." Fili shrugged as he continued to stare at his work.
"Why can't you give it to her? You love her, don't you?" He grinned.
"Are you as stupid as you look? I cannot give it to her because I cannot marry her. You heard Balin tonight; I am supposed to marry one of the dwarf women, remember?" Fili slammed the trunk shut in frustration.
"You should just tell Uncle that you do not want to. Tell him you have someone else in mind; like a close neighbor and ally." He suggested.
"Are you crazy? 'Thorin, I know that things are really tense right now with the other dwarves, but I think I'm just going to defy them and marry Bard's daughter.' That will go over about as well as if I were to marry an orc." Fili said angrily, flailing his arms wildly.
"Why not? You should marry the one you love. Surely Thorin will understand." He said calmly.
"You might be able to choose an elf for a wife, but I cannot just run off in the night with Sigrid; I have responsibilities and expectations. I am the crowned Prince of Erebor, not some common dwarf free to make his own choices." Fili's shoulders slumped as he sat down on the bed. "Kee, I have to make the right choice; I have to do what is best for Erebor and for the Line of Durin."
"That is all well and good Fee, but perhaps you need to think about what is best for you. Do you not have the right to be happy?" He raised his eyebrow at his brother.
"What is happiness, Kee? I am not sure I even know anymore." Fili frowned sadly.
"I can tell you what happiness feels like." He could not help but giggle.
"I'm aware. I walked in on you, remember? But there is more to life than just kissing maids you know." His brother pouted.
"Oh is there? Sounds like someone is jealous." He teased playfully.
"No. Well, maybe a bit." A slight smile crept over Fili's face and together they shared a laugh. "I still cannot believe you are getting married before me."
"I still can't believe I'm getting married at all. Lucky for me, Tauriel decided she wanted me, otherwise I'd probably end up marrying Grenda." He frowned.
"At least someone is. I hope Nain will find happiness with her." Fili said sincerely.
"I hope so too. Poor lad seems to have had a rough go of things." He frowned and Fili nodded in agreement.
"He has us now, and we must do our best to be there for him. Goodnight, brother, you must get your rest for the day after tomorrow, we celebrate your marriage." Fili clasped his shoulder once more and they bid each other good evening.
I am soon to be married. He thought to himself as he climbed into his empty bed. Married to the most beautiful woman in all of Middle Earth. I am the luckiest dwarf ever to live. His eyes began to close as he drifted off to sleep. If only Fili could know this joy; I must find a way for him to be happy, I cannot stand to see him live his life to please others.
The Question
Nain stood in the center of his room and pondered the night's discussions; he had learned much from listening to them ramble on and on about Kili's upcoming marriage, but one conversation remained in his mind:
Fili made a crown for a bride, but claims he has not made a decision on who to wed. Why would he be so reluctant to share such joyous news with those he is closest with? There must be a reason.
He considered the quandary for a moment before the answer became clear to him:
Fili would keep a relationship a secret if it was one he knew his family would disapprove of. Who could be the mystery woman that has the Prince's heart? I must find out her identity, for she is the key to The Lion Prince's undoing. His lip curled in delight; finally, he would have his advantage over Fili, an advantage he would not hesitate to use.