Thorin sent out an invitation for the celebration to every dwarf in the mountain, and it came alive with the excitement of the impending gathering. Every shop in the market grew busier as new clothes were requested. New drapes were designed for the ball room and candles were mass produced with a long lasting wax to ensure the celebration didn't end until every dwarf was satisfied.
The ballroom was opened to allow fresh air in, and every space of floor, wall, and pillar was scrubbed until the entire room shined like a diamond. The gold on the pillars glistened in the half light coming through the door. The chandeliers were lowered to the ground to allow for them to be cleaned. The wooden pieces, shaped in a circle like a wagon wheel, were rinsed in a lacquer to make the wood shine, while the metal joists holding the wood together were scrubbed until the layer of dust disappeared. Tables and chairs that had been pushed against the walls for storage were spread across the outside of the room, leaving a large space for dancing in the middle.
As the leader of internal affairs, Dis commissioned a decorating committee to help the room look more festive after it had been cleaned. She relied on many volunteers, but a select few dwarves she hand picked herself, including her personal advisor and friend: Kaleria.
"Kaleria?" Dis waited for Kaleria to look up from the book she was reading, then continued. "Would you mind joining the decorating committee?"
"I thought you had plenty of volunteers," said Kaleria.
"I do," Dis held up her finger, "but I need someone who understands my level of detail to ensure the job is done right."
"You want me to spy for you?"
"Yes," Dis affirmed. "This is the first major celebration that I have been a part of. I would like everything to be perfect."
Kaleria smiled at the slight insecurity Dis revealed. Dis was as intimidating as her brother, so it amazed Kaleria when she saw how fragile the princess of Erebor could be.
"I promise I will keep an eye on the decorators, and I will fix anything that you wouldn't approve of."
Dis returned the smile, happy her friend agreed so easily to her request. "They started today, so if you wouldn't mind checking up on them now?"
Kaleria laughed. "What would you have done if I had said no?"
"I would've gotten more creative with my asking." Dis scratched something off the list in front of her, signaling to Kaleria Dis had gotten exactly what she wanted.
Kaleria stood from her chair, then left the room to make the walk to the ballroom. After her injury, her friends had forced her to take it slow. That only lasted a few days until Kaleria was walking around the mountain at her usual pace. The walk to the ballroom didn't take long, and Kaleria entered the room to see many volunteers scurrying around the room. One group stuck candles one by one into each open spot on the chandelier, while another group unfolded the large drapes to hang.
Kaleria approached the group unfolding the drapes, and spoke to one of the dwarves standing there. "Do you need more help to hang these?"
"Aye. We could use another hand," said the woman.
After the drapes were unfolded, one end of each drape was tied to a chandelier. They planned to secure the other end to the walls on either side, so that two drapes ran from the chandelier in the center to the outside walls. The plan was to repeat this process for each chandelier until each one supported two drapes that were attached to the walls, adding a pop of color against the dark rock ceiling. The group easily finished securing the drapes to each chandelier, and the next task was hoisting the chandeliers back to their place in the ceiling.
Kaleria stood off to the side watching as the first chandelier was pulled toward the ceiling. She grabbed the end of the drape not yet attached to the wall and played with the folds of the fabric, trying to find the best way to hang it.
"You have an artistic eye."
Kaleria turned to see Thorin behind her. "I take my work for the king seriously."
"You don't have to impress me," teased Thorin.
Kaleria shook her head and released the drape. "This isn't to impress you. What kind of image would it present if your decorations were poorly done? This is to impress your people. To make them think you know what you're doing."
She smirked at Thorin, watching him as he took a few steps toward her.
Thorin stopped when he was only a step away. "Do you want to know a secret?"
Kaleria nodded, curious at what he would say.
He leaned in close to her ear and spoke in a low voice. "I don't know what I'm doing." He stepped back to study her face as his words sank in.
Kaleria snorted, but maintained her composure. "Your secret is safe with me."
"Good. Because I wouldn't want my people to think I was soft, and I don't know how to hang drapes." Thorin winked at her.
Kaleria couldn't control her laughter and the sound echoed in the massive ballroom. The women she was supposed to be helping glared in her direction until they saw Thorin standing there.
Kaleria composed herself. "I appreciate your humor, but I must return to decorating."
Thorin straightened his back and clasped his hands behind him. "I'm sorry to have distracted you."
"It was not unwelcomed," admitted Kaleria, giving him a smirk.
Thorin bowed his head, then left the room through the door he had entered. Those who had seen him standing there didn't notice he had left. Only Kaleria was aware that the king had disappeared into the hallway. She shook her head to clear her mind of thoughts of Thorin, and returned to helping the women attach the drape to the wall.
Two days of decorating, cooking, and baking had passed quickly, and the energy in the mountain was near bubbling over as the day of the celebration had finally arrived. Kaleria helped with some last minute touches before returning to her room to dress. Cardeena arrived at her room already dressed in her celebration attire, looking like a young lady of the court and not a maid.
"Cardeena, you look beautiful," commented Kaleria as Cardeena entered.
"Thank you, Kaleria. I made the dress myself." Cardeena spun in a giddy circle.
"That's amazing. I wish I was that talented with a needle."
"Oh, but your dress is much prettier than anything I could make."
Kaleria looked at the green dress she had chosen to wear. "I don't know about that, but it is a nice dress."
Cardeena tilted her head, confused. "You haven't seen your dress?"
"It's that one right there." Kaleria pointed.
Cardeena shook her head and marched to the wardrobe. She opened it and moved everything to the side to reveal a large bag hanging in the back. Cardeena wrestled the bag out of the wardrobe, then hung it on the door.
Kaleria raised an eyebrow. "Where did that come from?"
"Princess Dis had me put this in your wardrobe a few days ago. I thought she would tell you it was there, but I guess she didn't." Cardeena untied the ribbons holding the bag closed and revealed the large dress within.
The dress was a deep blue with silver trim and stars drawn in silver thread across the skirt in varying sizes. The bodice tied in the front with silver ribbon over a white insert. The sleeves ended just past the elbow and widened into bell sleeves. Kaleria couldn't believe Dis had given her a dress that fine.
Cardeena handed Kaleria a piece of paper that had been hidden within the bag.
Kaleria,
Please accept this dress as a gift of appreciation for all you have done for my family. You must wear this to the celebration, or I will not attend.
Dis
P.S. I do not make idle threats, so please wear the dress.
Kaleria looked up at Cardeena. "I guess I'm wearing the blue dress."
"Wonderful! Let's finish your hair." Cardeena moved to the vanity and picked up Kaleria's brush. She smoothed the hair back from Kaleria's face and gathered it into a ponytail, then piece by piece she twisted strands of hair and pinned them into a large bun on the back of her head. Cardeena left pieces of varying lengths out of the bun to frame Kaleria's face and add volume.
Cardeena stained Kaleria's lips with a pink color and lined her eyes with a black eyeliner that made her brown eyes stand out. Next, Cardeena prepared the dress, and Kaleria stepped into it. They pulled it up over her shoulders, and Cardeena began tying the front until it was secure. Kaleria looked at herself in the mirror and barely recognized herself.
"You look beautiful, miss," said Cardeena."
"Thank you," replied Kaleria, still admiring how different she looked.
"You better hurry." Cardeena grabbed Kaleria by the arm and dragged her toward the door. "The king and princess will meet you in the dining hall."
Kaleria was about to question her when she remembered that Thorin had volunteered to escort her. Suddenly, Kaleria became concerned about her style, thinking it wouldn't be pretty enough to warrant being escorted by the king. She had to remind herself that if Dis had chosen the dress, then it would be suitable to stand next to Thorin.
All this worrying had distracted Kaleria and she found herself standing in front of the door to the dining hall. She took a breath before entering the room.
Inside, she found the empty table stretched out in the middle of the floor, and Thorin pacing alongside the fireplace. He wore a dark blue tunic over black pants and boots. A large blue cape strapped across his back with gray fur lining the edge, while his head was topped with his gold and silver crown, reminding Kaleria how kingly he really was.
"You'll wear a trench in the floor pacing like that," said Kaleria as she approached him.
Thorin stopped to address her, but his words caught in his throat as he stared at her.
Kaleria gave him a worried look. "Is something wrong?"
"No! I mean-" Thorin cleared his throat "-no. I wasn't prepared for you to look so beautiful."
Kaleria averted her eyes as she smiled. "Thank you. Dis had this made for me."
"A wise decision." He smiled kindly at her, and Kaleria's heart clenched.
She tried to turn the conversation back on him as she checked him over. "You look rather dashing. The crown is a nice touch."
"I was advised the crown was necessary for tonight," replied Thorin, reaching up to adjust the crown on his head.
"Like someone would confuse you for a commoner if you didn't," teased Kaleria.
"Exactly," he agreed. "Besides, the crown attracts more attention."
Kaleria shook her head at him, amused by his dislike of attention. "When are you going to learn that you will always be the center of attention?"
Thorin grunted. "It doesn't mean I have to like it."
Kaleria was laughing at his latest comment, when Dis appeared through the door across from them. She bounced across the floor toward Kaleria and Thorin.
"Good! You're both here. Are we ready?" Dis asked.
Thorin faced her. "I've been ready. You're the one making us late."
"I am not late, only slower than you would like." Dis took her place at Thorin's side, hinting that she was ready for him to escort her.
Thorin turned to Kaleria and offered his other arm. "May I?"
"Yes, of course," she said, looping her hand around his arm.
The trio left the dining room and began the walk toward the ballroom. Kaleria could already hear the music playing from down the hall. She became more excited as they grew closer to the hallway leading to the main door.
Dis leaned foward to look at Kaleria across Thorin's chest. "I see I chose well for you. You look lovely, dear."
"Thank you, Dis. I love the dress you're wearing. It's the perfect shade of red."
"Well, I knew my brother would wear the darkest colors he could, so I thought I would liven up the place," explained Dis.
"And, take away some of the attention from Thorin?" Kaleria looked at Thorin's reaction, then back to Dis.
Dis looked away from Kaleria, but a slight smirk graced her lips. "If that does happen, it was an unintentional kindness."
Thorin glanced down at his sister, but he remained silent.
Kaleria gave a laugh. "You can pretend you wouldn't do everything for your brother, but I know your heart isn't that cold."
Dis turned to Thorin. "Where did you get this girl? She's too perceptive for my liking."
"Don't look at me. You're the one who claimed her as your friend and personal advisor. Who knew she actually listened to all your prattling?" Thorin teased.
Dis sighed, dramatically, but Kaleria saw the smile on her face. Kaleria knew Dis didn't always like to show her true emotions, but the love she had for her family was fierce and protective, and by wearing her bright red dress, she knew she would take the attention away from Thorin ever so slightly.
They approached the door to the ballroom and Kaleria's nerves bubbled up within her. Thorin's arm flexed under her fingers, and she looked up to see him looking at her.
"I would appreciate if you loosened your grip on my arm," he said, giving her a soft smile.
Kaleria released her hand. "I'm so sorry. I became very nervous all of a sudden."
"Don't be. I won't let you fall." He assured her.
Kaleria took a breath and exhaled all the tension from her body. Standing next to Thorin made her feel like she could do anything, especially walk through a crowd of staring people.
The guards standing on either side of the door opened the large door as Thorin, Dis, and Kaleria approached. The energy from the room billowed out like a cloud of smoke engulfing them. The master of ceremonies signaled to a steward by the band, and the music was stopped.
"Presenting King Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, Princess Dis and Lady Kaleria."