I'm back with another chapter! It's time for each of the ladies to start spending time with Thorin (so that means drama is coming).

Let me know your thoughts, whether you love it or hate it, I appreciate every bit of feedback. :)

Enjoy!

Thorin waited by the entrance of Erebor watching the half risen sun. This was his favourite time of day. The Mountain, usually bustling with activity, was quiet and peaceful this early in the morning. Barely anyone was awake and he enjoyed walking through the empty halls. On days he was particular busy, he would often rise early and stroll outside the mountain enjoying the fresh morning air. He found it was a refreshing way to start the day and it was usually the only time he had to himself.

"Good morning My Lord!"

Thorin turned around to see Elli walking quickly towards him. She wore a dark blue dress, a fur lined coat and leather gloves. He was glad she dressed warmly as it was a cool morning and he would hate for her to catch a cold because of him. Thorin smiled and offered his arm.

"Good morning Elli, thank you for joining me so early in the morning."

"I'm happy to! The sunrise is so pretty, I always enjoy watching it," Elli said excitedly. She took his arm and he led them out of the mountain. Three guards followed them out, each of them dressed head to toe in armour with swords hanging from their waists. Elli looked at Thorin curiously and he saw her become alarmed when she noticed he had his sword also.

"Just a precaution," Thorin said. "They will follow from a distance to ensure we are safe."

Elli nodded but Thorin could still see the worry on her face.

"How are you enjoying your stay at Erebor?" Thorin asked, wanting to distract her. He felt awkward and he didn't know why.

"Erebor is amazing," Elli said. "My father has visited many times before and he told me how grand it was. I am so excited to finally see it for myself."

Thorin nodded. "Bofur and Bombur speak highly of your Father, I know they are close friends. Is this your brother's first time visiting Erebor also?"

"Yes, since arriving Einar has been training everyday. He is trying to become ambidextrous as he believes it will make him a better fighter. Einar actually mentioned sparring with Prince Fili and Prince Kili a few days ago."

"I have heard he is a strong fighter, particularly with an axe."

Elli nodded. "There aren't many who can best him with an axe, my Father is very proud of him."

Silence fell upon them and Thorin desperately tried to think of something to say. He had never been a good conversationalist and up until now it hadn't been a problem. What was he meant to say? What did dwarrowdams discuss?

"Do you still fight My Lord?" Elli asked. "I heard you are an excellent warrior."

Thorin was so lost in his thoughts he almost didn't hear her. He looked at her smiling face, either she didn't share his discomfort or she was excellent at hiding it.

"I don't usually have much time to myself, but I do enjoy sparring still," Thorin answered. "I also enjoy reading when I can find the time."

Elli beamed back at him and started chatting about a great book she had just finished.

"So Kaia, how do you spend your spare time?"

Kaia had arrived right on time for lunch and Dis was pleased with her punctuality. They sat at an oak table in Dis' front room close to the fire. Autumn had only just arrived yet it was cold enough to be Winter already.

"Well I enjoy drawing and painting, both my sister and I have since we were young. One of the first things we did upon arriving at Erebor was visit the Gallery."

Lila arrived with a teapot and poured both Kaia and Dis some tea. "The food will arrive shortly My Lady," she said quietly to Dis before disappearing into the next room.

"I take it you enjoyed the Gallery?"

"Very much so, I particularly liked looking at the portraits of the royal family. I'm still trying to perfect painting portraits, so it was interesting to see the brushwork. The artist was very talented."

Dis hummed in agreement."Indeed. You mentioned your sister, Kalea was it?"

"That's right My Lady."

"When I first saw the two of you I almost thought you were twins!"

Kaia laughed. "You wouldn't be the first to think that! I know it may be hard to believe but Kalea is 18 years younger than me. We look very similar and we enjoy so many of the same things, people usually assume we are twins."

Dis smiled and took a sip of tea. She was surprised by how much she was enjoying Kaia's company. She was a clever girl and seemed mature, but Dis had heard a rumour that Kaia had a sharp tongue and short temper. Thorin was also quick to anger and she didn't think it was wise for him to have a wife that shared that quality. Lila appeared again with a platter of sandwiches, fruit and sweet tarts. She placed it between the two Ladies and scurried away.

Dis reached forward for a sandwich. "Do you find yourself missing the Grey Mountains?"

"I do miss my friends and cousins, but I'm enjoying my time at Erebor so much I rarely find myself missing home."

"Yesna is also from the Grey Mountains, were you friends prior to arriving?"

Dis saw Kaia hesitate. When she answered, she didn't meet Dis' eye, instead she reached for a tart. "I can't say I really know Yesna. Her family's property was quite far, almost secluded really, so I never had the opportunity to talk to her until now."

Curiosity burned inside Dis. She wanted to question her more, but Kaia seemed uncomfortable so she didn't want to push the subject. Dis took a bite from her sandwich and pondered in it, she would have to find out information another way.

Elsewhere Thorin walked with Ila through Erebor. He had just shown her the Main Hall and they were walking towards the Library. As he expected, Ila was far from shy. Thorin would go so far as to say she was quite bold. She brazenly flirted with him, held his arm tightly and dramatically dropped her bracelet twice. Both times she picked them up slowly offering him a very generous view of her bosom. Both times Thorin looked away which he could see she wasn't too pleased about.

"Here is Erebor's library," Thorin said. They walked through the entrance and Ori came to greet them.

"King Thorin, how great to see you!" Ori said. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Thorin smiled at the young dwarf. After the war, Ori had led the restoration of Erebor's library. Without any input from Thorin, Ori had organised a team of dwarves to save as many books as possible and spent months copying words from yellowed, mouldy books to fresh pages. Not a single word was lost and it was because of Ori and his team.

"No thank you. I'm just showing Ila the library." Thorin turned to Ila. "If you are after a particular book or would like a recommendation Ori is the perfect dwarf to ask. He knows this library more than anyone else in the Mountain."

Ori beamed and nodded his head. "Our book collection is quite extensive, I would be more than happy to assist if you are after something to read."

Ila scrunched her nose and looked around the gigantic room. "I'm not really much of reader," she said. "I find reading quite boring, I generally prefer other activities."

Ori's smile fell a little. "Oh, I see. Well, if you change your mind let me know."

"Thank you Ori," Thorin said through gritted teeth. Ori bowed and walked away. Thorin walked Ila through the library trying to ignore the anger he felt. Even though Ila had been rude, he couldn't let Ila see she angered him. He would have to stop by the library later to check in on Ori, it had been a while since he had conversed with his friend. He took a deep breath and started to lead her out of the library. Although it was one of Thorin's favourite places in the mountain he knew Ila hated it (she even commented on the "disgusting stale smell libraries have").

"Where are we going now My Lord?" Ila purred gripping his arm tightly as they walked out of the library.

"I will take you to the Council Chambers, it is where all weekly Council Meetings have been held for centuries," he said.

Ila immediately started gushing about how one of her ancestors had sat on his grandfather's council. Thorin was only half listening as he guided them through the halls. He stopped listening entirely when he saw Raina walking towards him. She was with Rowen, who hadn't noticed him yet. Rowen was busy looking over the railing as she walked. Raina locked eyes with him and he saw she was caught off guard. Her eyes widened and her cheeks started to turn slightly pink. Unlike before though, she didn't look away. Instead she held his gaze and smiled shyly. Thorin felt as if he had been kicked in the chest, like all the air had been sucked from him. He couldn't hear anything, he had no idea if Ila was still chatting away next to him. He felt his face grow warm. Was it warmer in this part of the mountain? Also why was his mouth suddenly dry?

Thorin couldn't help but smile back at her, making her smile grow even more. Mahal, she was beautiful.

He was forced back to reality when the smile dropped from Raina's face and she turned her head sharply, whispering into her sister's ear. Rowen immediately turned to look at him and the pace at which the sisters had been walking slowed down.

"Good afternoon King Thorin, Ila," Rowen said sweetly as she passed them.

Ila said nothing and glared at Rowen.

"Good afternoon," Thorin said to Rowen. He looked to Raina, but she was looking at the ground as they passed. Thorin forced himself to keep walking and forbid himself from turning around.

"Do you think I could see it My Lord?" Ila asked.

Thorin silently cursed, he hadn't heard a word Ila had said. "My apologies Ila, what did you ask?"

Ila smiled and stroked his arm as she spoke. "Do you think I could perhaps see the Great Hall of Thráin?"

A wave of anger and guilt washed over Thorin. The Great Hall of Thráin was turned into a treasury by King Thrór. When he was young, Thorin watched his grandfather spend days in that hall with hoards of gold, driven mad with greed. The Great Hall of Thráin became Smaug's lair when the beast roamed the mountain. It was also where Thorin had given into the sickness that plagued his line years ago. He had not stepped into the Hall since then. Just the thought of it would make him sick with guilt.

"No," he said flatly. Ila was shocked at his tone and looked ready to plead.

"I will take you to the Gallery instead of the Council Chambers," he said gruffly, not giving her a chance to argue."Perhaps you will find that more interesting."

Ila nodded, but her smile was gone. Thorin sighed and ran a hand through his hair. This wasn't as easy as he thought it would be.