Just to answer some questions people may have: 1. Will you ever edit this story? Yes, at this point I'm almost finished so my brain is too excited to do proper editing, but after I do plan to go back, chapter by chapter and fix things.

2. It's almost finished? Yes, Rue is almost done. Probably two more chapters and an epilogue to go (likely)

3. Will you update on Wednesday? No, I am venturing into a damp, dark cave called 'finals' so pls be patient as I skip a normal update.

4. Did you come up with the songs in this chapter? No, I can't write songs to save my life. The first is that 'For the Dancing and the Dreaming' song from the Dragon trilogy (cause it is literally the only upbeat wedding-ish song I could find) and the second is 'As I am' by Heather Dale (the same artist of Rue's bathtub song) all rights go to respective owners

5. Did you write 'something more'? Yes...read or don't read it, it's up to you. I didn't want to simply imply it, but at the same time I didn't want it to be explicit, so I hope I got the right medium between the two.

Enjoy!

Dwarves certainly didn't waste time in setting up a good party. Tables were quickly carried in, chairs were moved around, food and ale started arriving…and Fili and I hadn't even been married for twenty minutes.

Of course, the change of décor was not noticed by us until later, because we were flooded by our friends and family, and our view was sufficiently blocked by their smiling faces.

Kili grabbed my shoulders and walked me down to the eagerly awaiting company. "Gentlemen…" He smiled broadly. "I present to you my new little sister." I laughed at him.

"Aye…and our new princess." Dori smiled. "Congratulations."

"It's good to see something completely worthwhile came out of that quest." Balin said.

"We couldn't be more proud." Bilbo grinned.

There was many an embrace passed around between us. "It was a lovely ceremony." Hana said.

"It's going to be a lovely party!" Bofur whooped. This is when we noticed the Hall's transformation.

"Oh my…" I whispered. "You move quickly."

Pints and goblets were quickly passed around among us. "To the bride and groom!" Gloin cheered loudly, and fair portion of the Hall raised their drinks in a toast.

Bofur was right. It was a lovely party. The food was some of the finest I had eaten in years…but I still thought my favorite part of any dwarven celebration the dancing. Dancing at a wedding is somewhat different from a holiday or festival.

Fili and I had the honor of starting off the dance. It started off slow enough. My spins were elegant and as close to Tauriel's gracefulness I would probably ever get. Then the family joined in a ring around us, and the music picked up in speed, and my dress floated around my ankles. Then the close friends of ours joined in yet another ring, and the music increaseed yet again. By now my dress billowed around me, a swirl of white fabric.

Finally, everyone was dancing, the rings around us still intact, though everyone was changing up between them. Luckily, no one could enter the center where Fili and I were yet, and steal one of us away, though I knew for a fact the company was waiting for a good opportunity.

I loved dancing this fast, and when the music stopped my heart was still racing.

Another melody was quickly started up again, and I shared a dance with each member of the company, returning back to Fili whenever I flew off in his direction. Everyone was in high spirits.

"It's good to see Erebor like this again." I smiled when I was once again back with my husband (the word felt odd yet thrilling to say inside my head). "It's been so much work around here lately."

"We'll certainly be busy." Fili said. "Uncle has decided to test our marriage from the very beginning it seems. There's a long list of repairs to do in Dale when the snow melts."

I shot the King (excuse me…my uncle-by-marriage) a tiny glare, more teasing then serious. He glared back, probably wondering what I was thinking.

"I'm sure we'll all work together well." I said.

"I'm sure Uncle simply cannot wait to hear your opinion every day." Fili smirked.

I smirked back. "We'll get along fine."

"I can see it now…the collision of your tempers will cause the collapse of many a hall."

"Stop that!" I snapped, but in a friendly, teasing way. "Erebor will only repair from now on. That, and I promised to protect you from the wrath of my highly tempered self."

"You'll never lose that fire in your blood…I swear you must have been born with it."

"Your likely right about that. It's here to stay…but I will have to tame it a little to avoid burning anyone I love."

The music paused again and there was a round of applause (dwarves did appreciate a good melody). Then another merry tune started, brisk and light hearted. I spotted from the corner of my eye Sigrid dancing with someone, Kili with Tauriel, and most adorably, Bard was entertaining young Tilda with a dance. I then noticed Ori on one side of the hall with his brothers, and Hana on the other end with Ander and Varis. Then I got quite a wicked little thought.

"Help me push Ori and Hana together." I whispered to Fili. Hana would never be so bold as to ask a man to dance with her, and poor Ori had been too shy to go up to her and request her as a dancing partner yet. "Tell Hana I told you to dance with her." I added, knowing Hana was bound to be a little quiet, and may refuse. "Then when the time comes to switch we'll simply throw them together."

Fili nodded, and I took off toward the brothers Ri. "Ori!" I smiled kindly. "Care to dance? I can't be left without a partner."

"Alright." Ori agreed, setting aside his drink and joining me, happy to please.

"Thank you." I replied, as the spinning and stepping recommenced. I pulled him (even though he was technically supposed to the one leading) toward the center of the hall. I could make out Fili's head in the back angle of my view. The music was about to shift again, which meant to change partners. Finally, there was that quick high note for us to switch dancing partners, and I grabbed Ori by the elbows and swung him (again, even though I should have been swung as the lady) in the direction that Fili swung Hana and the two of them collided, Ori just barely managing to catch her in our hurry. There was a mutual "Oh!" from them as they realised whom they had just ran into. Then quickly muttered apologies, and Hana blushed, from embarrassment or something of a different nature I knew not. But the somewhat awkward encounter was brief, and as I floated over to Fili to dance with him again, Ori took her up, to avoid other dwarves crashing into them, and did dance with her.

"That went very well." I smiled.

"You're plotting something between those two." Fili said.

"Not plotting…merely advancing a plot already formed." I defended.

"So…meddling?" Fili pretended to pause in deep thought. "I wonder how the last few times you became involved worked out…?"

"Alright, so my first few attempts were not as successful as I had hoped…but toward the end my meddling saved a good many people."

"You're right." Fili nodded. "Without you, the ending of battle would have been much different."

"The quest itself would have been much different." Kili added, as him and Tauriel passed us by.

The song ended, and Hana rushed over to me. For a moment I thought she would be flustered, or suspect me of meddling, but neither happened. In fact, Hana was beaming so brightly, she looked like she had stars in her eyes. Clearly she had been having fun. "Will you toss your bouquet soon?" She asked.

"Oh, yes." I nodded. "Let's do that now. Hurry and gather all the unmarried maids."

Hana flew off, and soon the dwarf girls and Hana and Sigrid gathered around the end of a table. "Up you go, lass." Oin smiled, giving me a hand to stand on top of the table. I picked up the bouquet that I had laid down earlier that evening.

"What are you doing?" Tauriel appeared by the table's edge.

"It's a wedding practice." I nodded. "The bride tosses the bouquet behind her and the women who aren't married yet try to catch it. Do elves not do such a thing?"

"I've not heard of it." Tauriel shook her head a little.

"Then you must join us!" Sigrid smiled, pulling Tauriel with her.

Checking over my shoulder once more, I prepared to throw the flower arrangement behind myself. Then I gently tossed it over my head. I instantly twirled around to see the results. All the dwarf girls made a small jump…but Tauriel, being taller than everyone there, caught it in the air before it even reached them. There was a quiet groan from the ladies below her, and oddly Tauriel now appeared a little confused. "What is done next?" Tauriel asked.

"Oh, Tauriel…I think you may have misunderstood." I said, an amused smile on my face.

Kili stepped in beaming broadly. "It means we'll be next." He said, pulling the elf maid down for a kiss. I laughed softly at the two of them, along with quite a few others in the hall.

"I'll trade places with you." Bofur winked, giving me a hand back down to Fili, as he climbed atop the table.

"What are you planning Bofur?" I asked.

"You'll see." He smiled.

Bofur cleared his throat, in a loud preparatory cough, capturing the attention of the Hall. "While we're all still and steady…" He looked around at everyone. "I believe I'd like to bestow a wedding gift upon the lovely couple."

"Bofur you don't have-" I began to say, but he held up a hand to stop my interruption.

"Don't worry." He smiled. "Tis' not a material gift I give you…it's the gift of a song."

Naturally such a gift was from Bofur.

"A song?" I repeated.

"Aye, a wonderful little tune I found on the top of my head and at the bottom of my pint."

There was a laugh shared through the Hall. "By all means, Master Bofur, sing!" Fili encouraged him.

Bofur cleared his throat again, and then began to whistle out a tune.

He'd swim and sail on savage seas

With ne're a fear of drowning

And gladly ride the waves of life

If you would marry he…

No scorching sun, nor freezing cold

Will stop him on his journey

If you would promise him your heart

And love him for eternity

It was a much more sophisticated and slow song from the one Bofur had sung before in Rivendell, and definitely beautiful.

By Mahal, Lord your mighty words astound the Lady

But she has no need for mighty deeds when she feels your arms around she

Someone with a pipe joined in, the tune picking up pace, and beginning to match Bofur's personality more, becoming fast and loud and fun.

But you could bring her rings of gold

And even sing her poetry

And you could keep her from all harm

If she would stay beside thee.

She has no use for rings of gold!

She cares not for the poetry!

She only wants your hand to hold

She only wants to be near thee.

To love, to kiss, to spar with and sweetly hold

For the dancing and the dreaming

Through all the sorrows and delights

And keep that love inside thee

So swim and sail on savage seas

With ne'er a fear of drowning

And gladly ride the waves of life

For today you two did mar-ry!

I smiled brightly when the song was finished and joined in the thunderous applause for my friend. "Thank you." I said, meaningfully. "I believe that shall be my favorite gift."

Bofur laughed at my overly-happy face. "Mastro, if we could start the music again?" He shouted, and the hall commenced dancing again. I was stolen from Fili, by Bofur and then Nori, and Balin, the company eager to dance with me again, and say more well wishes.

I caught sight of Gandalf trying to dance with the dwarves and the sight of it made me laugh. "Master Gandalf, what are you doing?" I asked, coming over to him.

He sighed, a smile on his face. "I could never keep up with them. Despite their small stature, I've always found dwarves to be in the highest of spirits."

I smirked. "Then I suppose I'll have to slow down, in order to dance with you, friend."

Gandalf smiled down at me. "Thank you." He smiled.

As I danced with Gandalf I noticed him looking at the party a little…strangely. As though he were committing it to memory in a very sad time. "Is something wrong?" I asked. "Do you not feel well?"

"Oh." Gandalf shook his head. "I don't mean to spoil such a grand reception…I only fear for the future."

"Erebor will only grow stronger, have no fear of that." I smiled.

"It is not Erebor I fear for alone…it is Middle-Earth. I find the rise of evil that we witnessed months ago quite distressing."

"We destroyed them, did we not?" I asked, a light concern growing in my voice.

Gandalf looked down at me. "Now I've done a terrible thing, distressing a bride who should be only overjoyed. Do not worry Rue, for now, there is peace, and I feel it is peace you shall always know."

I smiled at him. "I should hope so."

The music changed again, slowing down this time. "I believe you might have a new husband looking for you." Gandalf released me, with a friendly smile. I nodded, turning around finding Fili coming toward us.

"The wizard looks troubled…what happened?" He asked.

"I'm not sure." I answered. "I think he may have taken the battle very deeply to heart. He's become concerned." I shrugged off the thoughts of the wizard. "He told me all was well for now though."

Fili nodded, and I smiled at him, my smirk coming forth. "I didn't know dwarves could stand dancing slow and graceful for a whole song." I said, noting the gentler nature of the song.

He laughed softly. "We don't seem the type, do we?"

"Hardly." I said. "What is this song?"

"An old ballad." Fili replied.

"Have I heard it before?" I asked, having come to hear a good many dwarven melodies from my time under the mountain.

"Perhaps, though I doubt you would have understood it. It's in Khuzdul."

"I swear one of the first things I'm going to do when I have more time on my hands is learn that language. I'm tired of having to work with only numbers, and staring at words that look like jumbled letters to me." I smiled. "Perhaps I may have Bifur teach me, he's seems quite the expert at it. Maybe I'll even teach him a few common words, if such is possible with his old injury." Fili laughed again at me. "What does the song say?"

"Oh, the usual."

"Translate it for me?" I asked.

"I thought you didn't care for the likes of poetry."

"It has its moments…" I muttered. "I can't ask Hana to translate every little thing for me."

Fili sighed, relenting. He then actually sang the words softly, in the common tongue.

I suppose that I look different

Without the robes and crown

I come with day before you

With no riches, no renown.

For here I am no leader

I am just a humble man

And I only ask you take me

You take me as I am

I'm not looking for perfection

And I'm not offering a saint

No, I'm not looking for a pretty bird

To put in some restraint

The only thing I want is that

You love me, if you can

And I only ask you take me,

You take me as I am.

He silenced, the soft spoken words dying off. "I don't think the rest is so easily translated at the top of one's head." I was staring at him. "Why do you look so shocked?"

I hadn't been anticipating such a beautiful song. It was far more…well, more than I had expected. "I can't believe I married you." I said, the only words I could think to say at that moment. I raised my heels from the ground, lifting myself enough to kiss him fondly.

/

It was very late and the party coming to a close when Fili and I had slipped out of the hall at last. The food had been eaten, the ale drunk, and I was nearly sure I had worn the soles out of my shoes from my constant dancing. We'd made a quiet exit, leaving those still remaining to finish their drinks, and dances.

Carefully, we raced through the halls, and I pulled off my slippers, Erebor's stone floors refreshingly cool against my feet. The soles were still intact, but definitely worn out. At one point I dropped them, and laughingly, spun around to fetch the things, before running to Fili, lips ready for another kiss, and still hurrying to not be caught out in the halls.

We reached our new home at last, and before I could protest and walk inside, he scooped me up, like he had many times before and carried me over the threshold. I gave a little sound of surprise, then laughed at him, then laced my arms around his neck and kissed him again.

What surprised me even further was the fact that when we entered our new rooms, they were furnished. Someone had thought to finish what we had started, and though I had no way of knowing who had done so yet, I suspected Dis had some involvement in it.

Fili placed the tiny box full of ashes he had been carrying on the mantle. Now everything was perfect. "Now it feels even more like a home." I said, looking at the chairs and the rug, and the overall additions.

We kissed again, in the quiet peace of our home. A kiss that soon turned deeper, and more heated…

/ %/ %/ %/

"Why are you smiling?" I asked, my breath light in my chest, feeling Fili's lips turned up in said smile on my collarbone.

He smirked, eyes flicking up to mine. "I suppose it is a relief, after all this, to finally see there is a lady underneath the dress."

I laughed breathily, my hands digging into his hair. I did not know a great deal about…this…it was one of those topics too taboo to be openly discussed with my mother it seemed. I thought it a little unfair, here I was trained so well with a blade, something a maid wasn't supposed to do, and left guessing in this, something a maid was supposed to do. Fili seemed to appreciate what I regarded as my awkward fumbling all the same though.

"You're trembling." Fili noted. "Are you scared?"

I shook my head. "The Battle of Six Armies made me scared. Losing people I loved made me scared. This, thus far, has been quite nice."

Fili laughed to himself, a single chuff of laughter. "You don't let anything frighten you…I might have known."

He nuzzled my neck and I turned to fire.

His hands wandered and I burned in the sheets.

By the time all was said and done, I lay comfortably against him, curled up on my side, my body soaking up the heat that poured off him. He really was like a walking furnace. I had mapped him out well that night, and I imagined he had done the same with me. There had been pain, sharper and more sudden than I expected, but I'd bit the inside of my cheek and endured it, until newer, far more pleasant, sensations filled me.

Now I was happy, and wonderfully sleepy and warm. Fili had already dosed off, his face showing the usual calm it did whenever he slept. I smiled, stilling my fingers, which had been tracing his shoulder repeatedly, so I could press my nose to his temple again, like I had before. "Good night Fili." I whispered, very quietly, kissing his temple, and then pulling the blankets higher and settling against him to sleep.