Authors Note: Okay. I think this is the last chapter I had originally posted. It's not very long but it's the wedding so YAY! WARNING: It does kind of have a wedding night scene, but it's still within the rating. Just probably toeing the line of that rating :D.
Chapter 14
It is said no outsiders had ever witnessed a dwarven marriage ceremony. Much of this had to do with the age-old rumor that there were no dwarven women to wed. Those who believed this to be true foretold stories of how dwarves were not born but sprung to life out of the very mountains they dwelled in, beards and all, complete with axes in hand. Anyone who spent any real time among Dwarrows knew this to be completely un-true. They rarely dispelled it to outsiders, a way of protecting their few dwarrodam's since female births were much rarer than males. This allowed the un-educated to think the bearded, slightly smaller Dwarrows to just be male. The real reason outsiders had never witnessed the ceremonies had more to do with the fact the entire event took place in Khuzdul, a secret language, from start to finish. In Tauriel's studies with Thorin and Balin, she was repeatedly warned to never, ever use the language in a situation it could be heard from any other except a Dwarrow.
She was by far not the only being in all of middle earth who learned the language outside the dwarven race. There were smatterings of texts telling stories of unions between dwarves and humans or a scholar or two who had come upon the Dwarrow and were accepted into the culture, being allowed the honor of learning the sacred language.
Personally, she found she reveled in the language which was much different than her own. Where hers was smooth and flowed like the whisper of a wind on the trees, Khuzdul required her to hone in new techniques of rolling the tongue, had some glutaral emphasis, and was overall a bit harsher. However, to her, it was a stunning language she respected and loved more and more.
The moment she entered the great hall, the ceremony began.
"Welcome, son of Durin. What blessing do you seek of Mahal today?" Balin called in Khuzdul to Kili, who stood tall, flanked by his brother and Dis.
"Oh, great Mahal. I walk these caverns in the dark. Pulling treasure that pleases you. One, great, endlessly flowing hall of gold, gems, and precious metals. But great Mahal, I too seek after a treasure, but my heart does not yearn for what is in your magnificent stores." Kili responded.
"Then speak son of Durin. Of what your heart yearns for. For it would please me to see you fill with your hearts content, oh favored son."
"I seek a one of my own. A great treasure to stand by my side. One who is a jewel more precious than any here. One who's metal matches my own. One whose weight and worth could never be bought by your entire hall of golden coins. Oh, great Mahal, I seek my one."
"Then come forward, favored son of Durin, and I will find you your one."
Kili then walked forward to stand before Balin who stood as the great Mahal for this portion of the ceremony. Tauriel had loved this part in rehearsals. The story of having a one, which was the dwarvish equivalent of a soulmate, made her heart full. She already knew Kili was her soulmate. Manwe himself declared it so.
She turned her eyes to the dwarves in the hall. It seemed not a Dwarrow was absent, the great hall of Ered Luin being completely filled. She shifted nervously earning her a gentle squeeze of the arm from the dwarven king beside her. She refocused on what was taking place before her, turning her complete attention to Kili who was now standing in the center of the front of the hall. He looked like a vision to her. The complete embodiment of a dwarven prince, her dwarven prince. Her precious and most beloved Kili. He was wearing his family's colors, deep blues and silvers with a touch of bronze. His hair was pulled back in his customary style, pulled away from his face except for the thick fringe of hair that fell over his forehead and the curls that framed his face. Peeking out from the side, she could see her own elven braid. Something she had given him the morning after his own proposal to signify he belonged to her. In addition to the braid, there was also a circlet nearly identical to her own, on the crown of his head.
"Is there any Dwarrow out there who houses such a treasure as a one?" That was their cue. Tauriel stood tall. Originally, she was to just come forward, presenting herself to "Mahal" as a treasure of herself. However, Thorin's quick instructions in her ear as they listened to Kili and Balin speak earlier had a few lines added in.
"You seek a great treasure. I house the greatest of all." Bellowed Thorin who stood his ground beside Tauriel.
"It is a one treasure I seek to find, to gift to a great son. Come forward and present your treasure to me, that I might appraise it's value before forging it into another's heart."
Finally, the gap between her and Kili was closing. She saw him take her in, watching the wonder, awe, and tears gather in his eyes, as a brilliant smile stretched across his handsome face. They were now only a few feet apart when they stopped in front of Balin. Balin made a point to step around Tauriel and Thorin before returning to his place.
"This is a worthy treasure. If it be your will, you have my blessing to present it to the son of Durin, that he may accept and forge the one in his heart."
Thorin looked down at Tauriel then back at his nephew. "Son of Duran, I give unto you the greatest of all my treasures. To you I gift this one that you may house her in your halls, that you may protect her with your steel, and that you may cherish her beyond any jewel, gold piece, or precious metal. For should you do, you have the protection of my house and hearth, and the love of her breast."
Thorin stepped forward presenting Tauriel's hand to Kili who immediately took it into his own much larger one. Dis stepped forward with Kili's other hand. "Metal is formed and bonded even so, a one. To give a great treasure, you must understand it's worth to fully appreciate its value. As your treasure is precious to you, so be this son is precious to me. Oh, great Mahal, I can see the worth of this great treasure presented and I give unto her the heart and hearth of my son. Bonded to our family as blood of my blood from this moment henceforth forever. May their union shine and be filled with love." She placed the hand she held in Tauriel's free hand. Giving their joint hands a squeeze and stepped back.
"Who shall bond these two together and stand as a witness of these truths?"
Fili stepped up standing before Kili and Tauriel opposite of Balin. "I do." He pulled out two, very small, plates of gold. One representing each of them. "With mine eyes, I witness this union of the brother of my blood to this, one, who is now and forever, sister. With this gold, I bind them." He passed the gold to Balin who placed the two bricks in the tiny smelter, standing back as the gold easily melted and formed together. Fili came around and poured the molten gold into ring forms where it ran through a special cooling channel. Having mastered metals, dwarves were beyond capable of such things.
Pulled out of the mold, Fili quickly released both golden bands having been poured in a mold which had been sized for the bride and groom, then with a careful polish, presented the rings to the entire room.
"I stand to unify this pair, joining them as one before mahal."
Fili passed the rings to Balin, who turned and addressed those in attendance. "If there is any here who would make a case of why these two should not be bound, do so now, for once done, their union would be unbreakable."
The room was quiet, only the shifting of chairs could be heard and Balin smiled. However, just as he was about to put the rings on the pair, a commotion filled the back and Kili and Tauriel whipped their heads towards the dwarves present.
"Tauri!" It was only Riffi. An escaped Riffi, who was running up the isle on two pudgy legs and looking to all the world like he had just had his proudest moment in escaping his family. His family who was rising from their seats looking horrified.
"Riffi no, you have to stay here." Hillanna was trying to grab her baby brother from the closed off aisle. The seats had been roped off at the end so at the conclusion of the ceremony, the couple could walk down without dwarves stepping in front of them.
Aeodhen and Shaada were trying to make their way through the dwarves seated in their row, but Riffi had already ambled up and seemed to be somehow evading all arms reaching for him.
Tauriel was struggling to hold her laugher in, having released one of Kili's hands to smother her smile. Kili too was chuckling. She looked over at Kili and together, they squatted to the ground to receive the runaway dwarfling.
Tauriel gathered him in a one-armed hug when he finally reached them "Tauri. Tauri. You are beautiful." He loudly proclaimed, an array of laughter rumbling up through the audience. "I completely agree." Kili said, squeezing her hand. "Thank you Riffi." Tauriel beamed.
"My lady, my prince. I am so deeply sorry. Come son." Aeodhen was the first to reach them, Shaada having been slowed by her pregnancy. "No. I want to stay with Tauri." Large tears were forming over his chubby cheeks.
"Riffi, go with your a'dad." When he continued to shake his head, she supplied "I happen to know for a fact there is some of your favorite kind of cake about to be served. If you go sit with your sister, I will make sure you get the biggest piece." This seemed to appease the toddling dwarfling and he went easily to Aeodhen who apologized profusely again and went back to his seat. Riffi proclaiming he was getting cake the entire way.
Balin got order back with a clearing of his throat and Kili picked up Tauriel's hand, giving it a brief kiss, and turned once again to Balin. Balin presented the rings placing a ring on the designated finger on each of their hands.
"With these rings, and with the authority I have, I bind these two as one. May they continue to have the joy, happiness, and love I see shining in their eyes every moment they are together and may Mahal bless this union, when their time in the great mountains of life is complete, that they will be ushered in as one to the great halls of Mandos as they are in this moment. Husband and wife."
Cheers erupted in the halls. Bofur's voice yelling above the uproar "This is the part laddie, where ya kiss 'er." Kili burst out laughing but didn't move. He only looked past Tauriel at Thorin and gave a nod, who walked up to Balin and retrieved a long piece of cloth, previously hidden from view.
Tauriel just watched curiously. She didn't remember this part, and Balin called for quiet in the hall. Thorin stepped up and without a word, wrapped Kili and Tauriel's hands, still held together then tying a great knot at the end. Tauriel's eyes widened in surprise, but that was not what shocked her the most.
"Lothron i caun he'ar nin hu. I,m proc llaim nin gre'atest a onlui mel na he whi'ch na- befor'e nin. Na hen im on- all nin emel. An im am ú- complete ir he na- ú- bui nin haer. Sho'uld aell nin d'ays n- fi'lled with hen sui all nin emel na- alreadui. An all na he'ar. He na- nin emel, o hi mome'nt na al whi'ch e'xist. Naud mín are in mind, emel, a cuil un'til caun ta'kes ammen."
(May the valor hear my voice. I proclaim my greatest and only love to she which is before me. To her I give all my heart. For I am not complete when she is not by my side. Should all my days be filled with her as all my heart is already. For all to hear. She is my heart, from this moment to all which exist. Bound we are in mind, heart, and life until Valor takes us.)
Kili. Oh, her precious Kili. A sob burst from her lips as she heard the elvish wedding blessing. It wasn't perfect, but it was perfect to her in every way. From this moment she vows she will never cease to be surprised by Kili's most beautiful and pure heart. He finished looking into her eyes, and she repeated the blessing back changing the she to he.
"Can ye kiss 'er now laddie?" Bofur called when they both finished speaking and silence fell once again to the hall. With a quiet "Oh yes" from Kili, she felt herself being pulled willingly and completely to his lips. Her husband's lips, for a long, deep kiss.
With the ceremony, or technically both ceremonies, now over, the couple was herded to the dining hall where there was a lot of food, plentiful music, and a lot of merry making. Throughout the meal, well-wishers would come and offer a traditional piece of advice. This usually came with a gift which was anything from gold, to jewels, weapons, drink, sometimes it was a song or poem, a drawing (one exceptionally good one from Hillanna), or even a story. Each required a kiss between the couple, both happy to comply.
Fili, Thorin, and Dis sat beside them at the head table. Though they did step down for several dances and once, they were able to coax Thorin into joining Fili and Kili in a trio fiddle performance, Tauriel and Dis clapping along the loudest. At one-point Tauriel asked Bofur and Bombur how long the celebrations usually last, Bofur just laughed and said much longer than Kili will. Tauriel blushed scarlet and Kili threw his roll at Bofur while Bombur just chuckled before relaying "They usually go into the early mornin'for everyone except the bride an' groom."
As the night progressed, and the ale flowed more and more, the couple noticed they were being bypassed more often than not, and took it as a hint they were allowed to leave. Standing, they told their intentions to Dis and Thorin. Fili was long gone, having passed out after losing a drinking game against Gloin, who just called him a lightweight before losing himself, surprisingly, to Leotti.
"We have a gift for you, come." Dis said as she guided them out of the dining hall. The few still slightly sober guests yelling catcalls as the pair left.
They went up the hallway towards their chambers but stopped at the door across from their own. "It isn't much, but it can be your own for now. Of course, you are welcome home, and encouraged even. Especially for meals. But we, Thorin and I, thought you may be happier here." Thorin passed them a key and signaled for the door. Without a word, he turned and draped his arm around Dis, and the two disappeared back down the stairs to return to the hall.
"Ready?" Kili asked. Tauriel smiled and together they pushed the door open. Dis was right, the chamber was comparatively small to their own and consisted of just a single room. It had a bed about the size of the one they shared in their other chambers, a clothing cabinet, set of drawers, end table, and there was a door which Tauriel assumed lead to a bathing room and toilet. She closed the door behind her and Kili walked in only to collapse spread eagle on the bed. His circlet falling and rolling to a stop on the floor. Tauriel picked it up and placed it on the small table with her own before removing her shoes and joining Kili on the bed.
He peaked an eye open as she lay slightly amused watching him. "Hello." She supplied. "Hi." He responded, before both erupted in nervous giggles. "How did you do it?"
"Do what?" Kili asked, somewhat distracted as he fingered the wide collar of her dress.
"Sindarin, the elvish ceremony. How did you do it?"
"Oh." He exclaimed, with a laugh waiving it away like it was nothing. Her incredulous look launched him into an explanation. "I remembered you telling me about your people's traditions."
"Kili, that was months ago, before you even proposed!" Tauriel sat up, eyes wide looking down at her husband."
"I suppose it was." He laughed. "But regardless, I knew I wanted to have a part of it in our wedding when you said yes. You never really brought it up again and it took me far too long to realize you were doing that for me." He ran his hand through her hair. "I made my decision to surprise you with it and went to find the only Dwarrow who may know a thing or two about elvish culture, Balin. He is the one who found an old tome explaining the handfasting and a rudimentary version of the blessing."
"Is that why you were coming home so late?" Kili nodded. "You've taught me a little bit of your language, but it took a bit for Balin and I to transcribe and figure out the pronunciation. It's a very lilting language." He observed.
Tauriel hummed, feeling touched at his love for her and his desire to make her happy and comfortable.
"Thank you Kili, it means more than you will ever know, what you did for me." Kili lay back down mirroring her position on the bed. "You truly looked beautiful today. Have I told you yet?" Kili asked, running his fingers down the side of her face.
"Once or twice." The truth was he had been saying it like a prayer the entire feast. She brought his lips to hers in a soft kiss then pulled away to stand, Kili immediately protesting her actions.
"My dearest husband, do you mind helping me out of this dress?"
"If the answer to that is ever no, run me through." Kili all but leapt off the bed to stand behind her and began releasing the ties that kept the corseted bodice together. Pulling the last of the laces, he was given the exquisite view of her alabaster skin on her back. Unable to help himself, Kili leaned forward and pressed and open-mouthed kiss to her now bared spine sending pleasant shivers down Tauriel's back. Kili then pulling away only to bend further and place another and another, his lips tracing along the curve of her back as he pulled the dress down until it pooled in a mass of cloth at her feet.
Standing, Kili took in Tauriel's form from the behind, taking in the swell of her hips, the length of her legs, and the prominent smattering of freckles that dotted like tiny constellations over her skin. Oh Mahal, how he wanted to count those and map each one out with his lips.
Tauriel just stood quietly. She really didn't have anything on underneath that dress, so she stood bare before him as he circled her coming to stand before her and whispering reverently "Beautiful." Tauriel just smiled. "I do feel this is unfair husband, for we are unevenly matched. You have far too many clothes on." She stepped forward but did not move to take off his many layers, instead she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips to hers. They stood together, her lips devouring his while his hands took advantage of her close, unclothed proximity and he began mapping her out. When her lungs began to burn, she pulled away, running her teeth along his bottom lip with a tug releasing it with a soft pop. Kili groaned.
Not wanting to stop, Kili moved from her lips while Tauriel attempted to control her breathing. He slid his mouth down her jaw, to her neck, his lips and facial hair leaving a trail of burning heat in his wake. Having had enough, Tauriel began to tug at her princes many layers, she was beginning to get frustrated with the barriers still between them.
"Off." Tauriel ordered pushing Kili enough to separate them so she can slide this vest from his shoulders. She lowered her hands and fumbled with his belt which was large and hung over his tunics at his waste. Her hands slightly trembling as she tried to work it free. Kili placed his hands over hers. "Hey, it's okay." He gave a flick of his wrist and the belt fell to the floor. She could repeat that, she thought, another time. Right now, her sole focus was removing the tunic and under tunic from her husband.
"How is it you have so many layers on? You have more than I do?" She lamented when another layer was revealed. Kili just laughed and pulled it over his own head, this having finally been the last of his tops. She ran her hands up his now bared chest. She loved his chest. She loved running her hands through the soft hairs. She leaned in to place her lips on Kili's strong, stubbled jaw, planting her own trail down his neck and kissing her way down the center of his chest, following the trail of hair as it disappeared beneath the trousers he was still wearing. He was making the most delightful noises from the back of his throat which were making her blood sing.
Kili, who had decided he had enough, pulled Tauriel back up to meet his lips and began to slowly back her towards the bed. He laid her down gently first, then removed the final layer of clothing he wore and joined her on the bed, leaning over her prone form and looking lovingly into her emerald eyes. She never felt safer and more loved.
"I love you, Amralime."
"As I love you, Meleth nin."
There was no need to ask if either was ready, they both just knew. Tauriel pulled Kili over her and he leaned in claiming her mouth with his. Both their hearts burst with love as they finally came together, in one body, one mine, and one soul.
Authors Note: No, there will be no smut in this fic, so I will not go beyond what you read. Not my forte' really. If you want to right something up for yourself, go for it as for me, it remains PG-13. Alright. *claps hands together* Wedding is done and over with. Now things get complicated. I've got it mostly mapped out but we are now hitting chapters I have not written yet, but I know the direction I want to go so hold on tight for updates. You certainly won't be getting two or three a day. It may be once or twice a week depending on my homework load. I do have mid-terms coming up. I will try to keep on it though.
I am pretty sure I just wrote in the only translations I need on this one, the elven blessing I sort of made up and used a translator for. Got to love the adorable Kili for doing something so nice for his elf. Awwww, heart eyes. :)
-Ginger-