Arranged Fate

A/N- Welcome to the next chapter of my story. Thank you all for reading thus far, I do hope I continue to write in a worthy manner.

This chapter is mostly about them forging and Ochre admitting to a few things.

'Thoughts'

Disclaimer- I don't own the Hobbit or Lord of the Rings, but man do I own my OC's and the story in this.

Please enjoy.

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Chapter 3:

Newly Forged

She was very nervous.

Ochre took everything in around her as they finally entered the forge. It was a large cavern filled with several semi-large furnaces, scattered throughout the area. There was a store room off to the side where she could see several precious metals and raw ore sitting in piles. Against one side of the cavern were also several molds and she was pleased with herself for being right.

She knew the reason why Kili had brought her here, they were about to forge their wedding bands and wedding beads. Something that normally the couple did separately, but she knew Kili and was grateful he was willing to begin their lives together by having them work together.

"Now where is that man, ahha." Kili spotted whoever it was he'd been looking for and moved over to the far side of the cavern. Ochre stayed close at his back, not sure what else to do at the moment. She'd been in the forges at the Blue Mountains in Erid Luin, but they were nothing compared to this. Besides, she was engaged now, which by Dwarrow custom changed things for her.

This was why she was so nervous, once engaged it was the duty of the man to make and forge. While it was the women's to tend the home and children. This was to protect her from other male's attention and to keep her safe like the jewel she was. Ochre always found this to be nonsense but she was dealing with royalty now and wasn't sure if she was on steady enough ground to tell Kili this without repercussion. Although, if Kili was really having her help make their bands, then he was already changing custom.

"Milord?" Hearing the voice Ochre snapped out of her reverie and looked up at the person they had approached. It was an elder dwarf, one she'd seen around Erid Luin once or twice but for the life of her, she did not recall his name. "Vor, just the man I wished to see. Ochre and I are here to forge our wedding bands and beads, are the smaller forges ready for such a task?"

Vor blinked as he looked between them, his braids in his beard jingling from the metal and various beads within. "If that is your intent, yes. Which metals would you prefer?" Kili smiled at that, "I will require Mithril and..." he trailed off as he looked at Ochre. Seeing this she piped up, "Rose Gold as well." Vor scratched at his beard as he thought it over, "I believe we do have enough of both, let me go see. The forge to the right there will be sufficient for your task; the molds are against the wall."

Ochre watched the elderly Vor walk away muttering to himself before she turned and walked to the forge he'd indicated, Kili was silent as he walked at her side. First she went to the molds and guessing Kili's finger size, gabbed one. She then moved over to the already heated smelter. Kili seemed to be just watching her, for he made no move to grab a mold.

Ochre felt her face and body warm under his stare and tried her best not to fidget when she pumped the bellows of the forge. Being a small one it had an easily operated foot pedal and so in a few good steps she had the fire flaring high and could feel the heat coming off the forge. This was good; it meant the temperature was just right for her to smelt her ore into molten metal.

Hearing shuffling behind her, she turned to see Vor. He was carrying a couple baskets, each had ore in them. One had Mithril and the other had the rose gold. Smiling, Ochre walked over and took them from him, she carried them the rest of the way to the forge. "Thank you Vor."

The old man blushed and nodded his head before he turned and shuffled away. Ochre then looked at Kili who nodded his head to her in thanks for helping the old man. She flushed herself even as she took out a hunk of the Mithril ore, picking up a small hammer she began striking the rock. She kept doing so until she had gotten as much of the metal from the rock as she possibly could.

She did this for a good couple of hours until she'd gathered enough for her task. She then placed the metal into the crucible over the fire and waited patiently as it melted. Mithril was a fickle metal and required a very steady eye and hand. She knew she was in for a long night, but as she felt the heat wafting off the crucible she felt at ease.

Kili had moved to start breaking the ore of the rose gold apart when he finally broke the silence and asked her. "So...what all did you see when watching me in Erid Luin? Just wondering what you think you know about me." Smiling to herself at such a question, Ochre turned to look at him as he struck the rock before him with the ore hammer. "First off, I thought you were the type to start a fight and then run away. But you proved me wrong and still got beat up for it. That was when I first saw there was more to you than what was on the surface."

A blushed settled once more upon Kili's cheeks as he struck the rock once more, it broke apart and he was able to break off several large pieces of pure metal. "I was glad to be proven wrong, the moment I saw your eyes...I knew that was it. You were it. My One. By the way," she tilted her head a little as she prodded the almost liquid Mithril before her. She then turned to smirk at Kili, whose face had gotten even redder from her words, "you have a wonderful singing voice. I would be honored if you sang for me sometime."

Kili's eyes widened at that and he missed with the hammer nailing his thumb hard. Jerking he dropped the hammer and started swearing, Ochre felt her own eyes widening at some of the more...creative...words that he spouted. Getting up she moved over and lifting his hand, she rubbed at the tender finger. He winced but she didn't stop, "my uncles always told me that making it hurt a bit more makes the pain go away quicker. There."

Feeling that she'd done enough, she let go of his hand and unable to stop herself, brushed some of his hair back behind his ear. Kili shivered at her touch and when she turned and went back to check on the Mithril, he looked down at his thumb in surprise. It hardly hurt at all anymore.

"Umm...when did you hear me sing?" His curiosity had gotten the better of him at this point. Smiling to herself at this point, she removed the bowl that held the melted metal and making sure the mold for the ring was ready, she poured the metal into it. She left just enough for the two beads that she needed to make as well.

"It was morning; you had just left the training field. Your brother had stayed behind because Thorin had asked to speak with him. About the quest. You had gone to practice with your bow and started humming a song, once you were sure no one was around you started singing. It was one week before Thorin, Fili, and yourself set out for the shire." Kili smiled at that, "I see...I remember that day. I had no idea of the great adventure I would soon undertake, did you see what had happened after I practiced?"

Shaking her head she watched as Kili crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes. "That day was the anniversary of my father's death. My mother always made my father's favorite meal and so that day was no different, except we were out of meat. I was asked to go hunting by her that is why I went to practice a bit before heading out. All in all, that was a very good day."

When he fell silent after that, Ochre got up and walked back to the other molds and finding the two she thought appropriate, she brought them back over. The silence stayed for a few minutes as Kili finished removing what he needed for the task at hand.

Kili finally placed the rose gold ore into a crucible of his own and had begun to melt the metal. He waited a bit before he disappeared for a couple minutes, when he returned she watched as he crushed something before adding it to the mix.

Deciding to break the silence Ochre asked the first thing that came to mind. "By the way, what was that song you were singing? I asked your mother but she wouldn't tell me." Blinking, Kili smiled and ran a hand through his hair, "I know why she refused to. It's a special song to our family...one day I will tell you, but until then I ask you to wait. Trust me you will understand when that day comes."

Ochre smiled at that happy to hear that he was thinking about their lives together down the line. "I do trust you and always will." Kili paused in reaching for the metal piece he'd grabbed to stir the rose gold, he gave her a look that had her body warming rather quickly.

"You said you watched me for a week and knew I was your...One. What else is it you learned about me? You said I was kind hearted and can sing, but is that all? I know it is forward of me to ask this...but I...I need to know, everything." Blinking Ochre looked down at the rough rocky floor, reminding herself that she knew what she was getting into when she agreed to this. Taking a deep a calming breath she looked back up at him with a small smile.

"Your favorite color is Red, you don't like tending to your own hair, preferring to have Fili do it for you. You have a sweet tooth for honey and cream. You love blueberries. You carry two daggers your father had made for you with you at all times. You have never held a woman's hand or kissed before. You like to collect rocks of a certain size and color. You're mischievous when you're bored; you play tricks on those whom you deem need a little excitement in their lives. Which mostly ends up being those closest to you. You can throw things better and farther than your brother can."

Pausing she looked away from him knowing that he'd soon react to her words and she wasn't sure how he'd react to them. She had all but admitted to stalking him after all. She'd started though and knew she couldn't stop until she'd said it all, he'd asked no less of her. "But most of all, you are loyal to those whom you call your friends and family. You would give your life for them in a heartbeat. Something that won my heart and my trust. I will follow you anywhere Kili and no matter what I will never leave your side. I love you, this I swear."

Kili just stared at her, unable to think of one good thing to say to such a comment. The stuff she'd rattled off was enough to tell him that she had in deeded been 'stalking' him for that week. But her last words caused a strange feeling too well up from within, his heart actually sped up and he felt suddenly very unworthy of such a woman.

"How can you be so content? I never asked for our union, never approached you or courted you. I just...are you sure I am worth all of this?" Kili knew he was probably babbling but didn't care; this was something he needed to get off his chest. He'd been looked down on most his life by a good number of his own kind after all and a part of him wondered if they had been right to do so.

Sighing, Ochre stood and walked up to stand right before him. She could see the worry and fear in his eyes. Reaching up she cupped his cheeks pulling his head down a bit too where they were more level, she smiled softly at him as she leaned in to press her forehead against his. She could feel his sharp intake of air even as she felt his body stiffen beneath her hands. She knew she was being very personal and forward right now, but they were soon to be married and she loved him. She needed him to understand that nothing was more important to her than him; she just hoped this would do the trick.

"You are worth all this and more Kili. I fell in love with a wonderful man, the same man before me today only more. You have been through something I can only dream about, the good and the bad. This has changed you and I will enjoy every day I can discover those changes." Closing her eyes she smiled as she felt his stiffness slowly going away.

"Yes, I am content. I have been given my heart's desire, you. I know I may never have your heart in return and I would be lying if I said that didn't bother me. It does. I am hurt by the fact that you will have to be with someone you do not love. I understand what this all entails Kili and I am determined to do what I can to make this work. So let's start this marriage as friends, alright?"

Her smile deepened when Kili smiled back at her, nodding his head against hers in the process. She was about to pull back when Kili stopped her, he touched her cheek this time and giving her a measuring look bent his head and kissed her. Ochre stood still in surprise at this, her heart beating rapidly in her chest as she watched him pull back.

"I promise in return I will do my best for you, to deserve you. Thank you for telling me your thoughts and I agree, we will begin as friends." Kili's voice was soft as he slowly pulled away; he gave her one final serious look before returning to the smelter to check on the metal within. Ochre watched him with a heavy blush upon her cheeks, unable to believe what had just happened.

Slowly she reached up to touch her trembling lips, recalling Kili's kiss. How it had turned her insides to mush and made her weak in the knees. She sighed before dropping her hand and turning to finish their task at hand. She only had to polish and shape the metal before adding her etchings to both pieces. Then and only then would they be ready for the ceremony.

Kili had melted all of the rose gold he'd gathered and turned to her, "hold out your hand for me." Raising her eyebrow she did as asked and smiled when he looked at her fingers. Once it was clear he'd gotten an idea of her ring size he thanked her and went over to the wall to grab a suitable mold. She just reached over and grabbed an etching tool and a curved whetstone from a table to her side that had all the smaller implements needed to forge and engrave.

She then took her time in removing the ring and beads from their molds and using the whetstone and some water, she scrubbed out any imperfections. Then heating the tip of the etching tool she began the arduous task of carving runes of her family and Kili's, as well as words of love and promise onto the ring and beads. The whole while Kili was busily doing his part as well and they spent the next few hours in a companionable silence.

Having finished her work a bit before Kili had, Ochre sat back and wrapped the ring and beads in the handkerchief she had in her pocket. She then watched Kili as he worked, he was etching his runes and she couldn't help but admire the beauty of his writing. Her writing had been hard and rather childish looking, but his were elegant and precise.

She smiled to herself at that. Considering he'd been considered the problem prince by most of their people back in Erid Luin, it was rather surprising.

Kili was having a hard time concentrating on the work before him. His hands even shook a couple of times and it was all because she was staring at him. Watching him with those eyes.

Closing his eyes he took a deep and calming breath before he finished the last rune on one of the marriage beads he'd crafted. He then pulled out a soft cloth his mother had made for him when he'd come of age. She'd told him with steely eyes that the cloth was for only one thing. For gifting his chosen wife with his beads and ring as a sign of promise.

The cloth was made of a soft silk that his mother had embroidered while he still laid within her womb as was custom among their people. The deep royal blue represented his prince hood, while the silvery white of the embroidered Rune represented him. This rune was his and only his.

Wrapping the ring and beads up tightly in the cloth, he stuffed it into his breast pocket for safe keeping. He then turned to Ochre and smiled when he saw she'd nodded off. She must have been utterly exhausted from the journey and the ensuing chaos of the announcement. He moved over to her side and cupped her cheek, only to fly backwards in pain, a hand over his eye.

Ochre stood before him her eyes narrowed and fists raised. Considering one of said fists had clocked him as she'd awoken, he made sure to stay where he was. As if realizing what she'd done, Ocher's eyes widened and she gasped, "I am sorry Kili, I didn't mean to. You just startled me."

Kili winced and lowered his hand; he then shook his head trying very hard not to laugh. "Don't worry, I can take a beating. Time to take you back to your uncles, Bombur's probably going to cook me alive if I don't get you back soon." Ochre laughed at that, slapping him on the back.

"They wouldn't let you go to waste either; Bombur would use your bones for toy carving." Kili blanched at that, giving her a wide eyed look. Before he snorted and held out his arm, "shall we then, Milady?" Ochre raised an eyebrow at that and acting as dainty as she could she curled her hand around his arm, "lead the way, your Highness."

Kili couldn't stop the laughter that burbled up his throat at that and when they had left the forge and made it to the halls, both of them were laughing hard. Unable to hold back their mirth any longer. A loud cough stopped them both in their tracks. Turning they looked and saw Bofur standing there, eyebrows waggling at them both.

Blushing, Ochre released Kili's arm and stepped away. Kili seeing this started to reach for her but stopped, sighing he scratched his neck. "Well, I suppose this is goodnight then. Until the morrow then." Reaching out he took her hand and lifted it to his lips. After kissing it he gave her hand a squeeze and then released it, turning he nodded at Bofur before he walked away down the corridor and back to the royal tunnels.

His mind was whirling with thoughts and emotions. But there was one thing he knew without a shadow of doubt. He'd enjoyed his time with Ochre, she was funny and smart. Beautiful and skilled. Life with her would never be dull. He smiled to himself as he turned a corner, this was getting interesting.

Ochre watched him go, her heart beating fast. Sighing after a moment though she turned to look at her uncle, Bofur had come to stand at her side. "I take it things went well lass?" She smiled at that and elbowed him in the side before holding out her arm, he took it with a flourish and began leading her to where they were housed.

"You could say that."

A/N- I had fun with this chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it as well.

Forging is an important task for Dwarves so I had to dedicate a whole chapter to it. Thanks for your reviews everyone and as always.

May the Fluff Be with You!

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