Authors note: I don't like how ff formats things, so if you use AO3 its also on there. Same bat name, same bat channel
She sat at breakfast alone, a maid bringing her a meal she didn't ring for. She figured it must have been Fili, his words about her eating habits rang in her ear. Sigrid drank her tea and went over her schedule for the rest of the week. So much to do, so little time to do it. She had a meeting with her father and his council that she had almost forgotten about. Fili would be there as well as Balin, what the meeting was about she wasn't sure. Her father had just asked for her to ride down this morning. She barely touched her breakfast, her stomach feeling uneasy, she didn't want to be sick in the carriage.
She heard the door to Fili's side of their apartments open and he stepped in. He looked tense and he pointedly looked at the food in front of her. She glowered at him, sipped her tea and stood.
"We should get going, I don't want to keep my father waiting."
He only nodded and held the door for her while she gathered her notebook.
The ride down was tense as she sat across from him. A young dwarf with fluffy hair drove them down. Fili watched the landscape the whole time, lost in thought, the morning was overcast and already a chilly fog tendrilled over everything. She'd have to bring blankets for her rides down from now on.
Fili jumped down before they came to a complete stop, holding his hand out for her to take, helping her down. He didn't let go of it as her father had spotted them and was coming over with a smile on his face.
"Ah, the rest of the council is still coming in, but come on, I'm eager for your opinion."
Since her father's initial qualms of their marriage, he had warmed to the two of them together. Once inside her father led them to a work table that was littered with maps and diagrams. All of the lake and its surrounding area, of structures that had not been built yet. Of houses some small, others grander. Her hands trembled as she saw what it was.
Esgaroth.
Her father began to talk to her, his voice full of excitement she hadn't heard in a long time. "We had begun to think we couldn't rebuild, what with the dragons carcass and the ruins so unstable. But we've had a proposal from King Thorin for another location, a bit further south than the old one but we finally have the means to build it. What do you think love?"
Sigrid had made her peace with lake town long ago when they had survived the great battle that followed the dragon. She had known that her memories and keepsakes had either caught fire or were at the bottom of the lake. This was something so unexpected that she felt the need to sit.
As if reading her mind, Fili led her to a chair before her knees buckled. She looked up to her father and asked, "How can Dale afford this?"
Because her time helping her father out with money and matters about Dale had taught her that while Dale was doing well, but they weren't doing well enough to rebuild a whole town.
Her father reached over and patted her hand, a sad smile ruining his good natured one he had worn during his explanation. "Well your bride price actually, not all of it mind you but that and the investment from Erebor. We're starting with the harbor. "He pointed to the diagram. "From there we can build both on the water and on the shore. It won't be the same as it was before but it will give those who want to live on the lake a chance to go home."
They went over the initial plans, Sigrid poured over figures, wondering how many homes would have to be built at first. Fili seemed to know more about it, he must have known all along. He answered some of her questions, Balin handing him their own notes on the matter. She was all business for the rest of the meeting, asking about new boats, how many could the new harbor hold, and anything else that came to mind. In the end, she was too focused on the plans that she didn't realize that Fili had pushed a strand of her hair out of her face until he was already pulling his hand away and looking down at what was in front of him. She pushed the thoughts about last night aside so she could focus.
Something was missing from the plans she realized, something she felt was important. She pointed to the road to Dale and spoke. "Are there any plans at the moment for a road? I don't see one added to it. A set road would make land travel more convenient for those who don't wish to sail on a boat."
Her father looked down and brought the map closer, he shook his head, "I didn't think on it, you know I spent most of my life on the water, I was more worried about the harbor."
They began trying to figure out the best way to make the road, and how wide it should be. Sigrid saw Fili watching her but he looked away when their eyes met. She knew that he was still upset about last night, she knew that she'd have to talk to him about it at some point.
By the time the meeting was wrapping up Balin was speaking to Fili in a low voice, the older dwarf's tone annoyed. Whatever it was, she wasn't to know as Fili cleared his throat and replied in their own tongue. Fili looked at her, the smile he used in public plastered on his face. "I fear I will have to leave, have another meeting." He turned to her father, "Let us know if anything comes, up."
He came up to her and held her hand. "Don't worry about rushing home love, I'll see you at dinner tonight."
He kissed her head as he always had before they were married, the gesture felt mechanical to her though, as if he was doing it because they had an audience full of her family and her own people.
She stayed the rest of the day in Dale, having lunch with her family and trying not to think about the mountain until it was time to leave.
At dinner, she was seated next to Fili as she hadn't done in weeks. She soon saw what he was about as he pushed plate after plate in her direction, his eyes daring her to say anything. Sigrid felt like a child, she hadn't been one in years, she stabbed at her food with more violence than she had intended. No one noticed but him.
Dinner was held in Lord Dains private rooms, his son had only just arrived when Sigrid had come down for dinner. The introductions were quick, the sound of skull meeting skull as the cousins greeted each other. Kili had come back to her side rubbing his head with a bemused expression, whispering to her that he was starting to think shaking hands was a better idea.
Little Thorin was much taller than anyone else except Sigrid, she didn't think she had ever seen a Dwarf so tall. Though his beard was growing in full and he was very broad, there was something that reminded her of her brother when he had grown too quickly. The dinner was less formal, and for that she was grateful. Though she quickly realized she was the only female as Lord Dain was not married. The meal was louder than usual and she wished Lady Dis was around to keep Sigrid from killing her son.
Fili kept trying to feed her more and more helpings of food. She had eaten well at her father's house, Eva had made a lovely stew. But Fili wouldn't hear of it and asked her with a honeyed voice if she wanted dessert already.
She wished she had gone with Lady Dis to handle the dispute between two guild masters down in the merchants quarter. She really wished she had gone when the rest of Dains court joined them for tea. Fili finally left her side, she felt like she could breathe when he and Kili joined the rest of the men over a bottle of something foul smelling.
She was soon joined by a few ladies, including the smiling Lady Amet and her mother. "Ah your grace, don't worry, we can sit here and talk about more important things, let them speak of battles."
The conversation was dull to Sigrid who wanted a reason for an escape, she didn't care for jewelry or what kind of dress she would wear to the festival. She used to make her own, but that soon stopped when she became engaged to Fili. Her dress for the festival was something Tilda had picked out for her, she hadn't even seen it yet. Her sister was insisting on surprising her, though she thought Lady Dis was aware of it.
Lady Amet put a soft dainty hand on Sigrid's, "Your grace, I hear you have a school in Dale. What a charming thing that you have a profession."
Sigrid noticed that Lady Amets hands were soft, far softer than Sigrid who had always worked with her hands, cleaning, sewing, writing. Her own hands felt like a blacksmith's in comparison to the noble girl next to her. "I love my school, I find it comforting to teach."
Someone handed Lady Amet a tea cup, "Oh but why not here in the mountain, surely the children here would love their princess to teach them."
"I do have a few dwarves that I teach in my class. All are welcome that want to learn. And I only teach the younger ones, the older ones go on to work with their parents or take up an apprenticeship. I do teach those who wish to learn how to sew."
Lady Amet laughed with amusement. "And you sew as well! How extraordinary, it must be nice to have such a trade." She leaned in as if to tell her a huge secret, her curls fell forward in red waves. "I was raised to be a politician, and it's dreadfully boring. So many meetings. I don't know how your prince does it, he never seems to look like he's about to fall asleep."
Sigrid tensed up, her back rigid against the chair she was sitting on. She sipped her tea before saying. "I didn't realize you were so involved in politics. I haven't seen you in any meetings."
Lady Amet shrugged, "Oh they're pretty informal here, but my family is pretty influential in the Iron Hills. The meetings here do drone on though."
Lady Amet looked over Sigrid's shoulder and nodded her head in that direction, "We were quite surprised in the Iron Hills when your wedding was announced, everyone at court was talking about your romance." She leaned forward again, a playful grin on her painted lips, "Between you and me, quite a few ladies and a few of the gentlemen were put out that they weren't chosen. A lot of them would have clawed each other's eyes out to be in your position. But soon everyone got over it when they heard the story of your love. It was so romantic, almost straight out of a book."
She said this as if it were a compliment but Sigrid heard the double meaning behind it all. She hesitated before saying, "I wouldn't say that, I fear our marriage is pretty typical. Two kingdoms uniting for the good of their people."
Lady Amets eyes grew wide in surprise, "Oh you don't have to be so modest, we've all heard the tale. Everyone knows how he fought his uncle for his right to choose. Swords were drawn, dear."
Sigrid looked back to Fili who still looked tense but not like before, not like when they were alone. He was standing with little Thorin and Kili, enjoying a dark amber drink. She couldn't believe Fili would draw a sword to his uncle, she knew their relationship hadn't been the same since the battle but they didn't seem as strained as before. Sigrid wondered what else this woman next to her knew that she didn't know herself. She wanted to go to her rooms, to hide in her balcony or in her bed. Peace and quiet weren't for her as they were interrupted by Lady Dis who had arrived looking harassed. "Oh thank Mahal you haven't gone up to bed, I need your help, if you don't step in I'll have to take a sword to these dwarves. Excuse us Amet, I'm sure you don't mind me stealing her away."
Sigrid set her very cold tea down and stood quickly following her mother in law down towards the merchants quarters. At this hour the alleys were deserted but she could hear shouting as they walked up. "My sons should be down here, but I fear they'd just join into the pile."
When they finally reached the commotion a small crowd had formed as King Thorin had another dwarf pinned up while a much shorter dwarf was beating the king repeatedly with what looked like a large jewelers glass. It took a long time for her and Lady Dis to disengage the three older dwarves, she felt like she was at the school as she had to send them to opposite corners. They began trying to shout at one another from across the small shop making Sigrid's head hurt, it seemed no matter what kingdom she was living in she had to play peacekeeper. Though no one in Dale had ever assaulted her father. The guild masters looked ashamed of themselves as she discussed their behavior, even King Thorin looked a bit embarrassed.
Nothing was settled tonight but she promised to mediate a second meeting between the two factions first thing in the morning before the start of the festival. She wanted to let tempers cool before she helped them see sense, though she had no idea what the argument was really about. She'd have to ask Lady Dis later. Both guild masters groaned when she gave them an hour to meet but agreed to it with a low bow each.
Lady Dis clapped her shoulder in a half hug, "Your father was right, he told me you had a firm hand for these sort of disputes."
Sigrid smiled tiredly, "It reminded me of school children to be honest."
Lady Dis' laugh was loud and her eyes crinkled at the edges. "Don't let my brother hear that he usually ends up in a fist fight during these things. Maybe you should be the one handling it from now on."
They made their way back to the guest rooms where half of Erebor was still attending to the heir of the Iron Hills. Sigrid saw the young dwarf with Fili and Kili, talking amicably. He had a thick braid down the middle of his head with an already a thick beard. Sigrid could see a vague family resemblance though, in the eyes and nose. Though 'little' Thorin was much taller than his cousins. Lady Dis thumped her sons on the back of their heads before hugging her nephew.
"You two should have been helping me and Sigrid handle that damn king, got into another fight with old Sorn about the price of iron of all things. Ah little Thorin, my you've grown since I saw you last."
Fili rubbed the back of his head testily, "No one asked for my help or I would have gone. You shouldn't have taken Sigrid mother, what if she had been hurt?"
Sigrid narrowed her eyes, "I was perfectly safe, I can handle myself well and I took care of it."
Fili's jaw clenched. "Yes because it was a simple argument, you haven't been in contract negotiations with this lot, knives have been thrown before."
At this Lady Dis interjected, "I was there to take care of your wife, if anything she was there to prevent me from wielding my sword at the lot of them."
Fili snapped back, "That doesn't help me feel any better about it."
Sigrid glared at Fili, she noticed with satisfaction that his mother was glaring at him too. Lady Dis' face became haughty, she reminded Sigrid of all the ladies at court suddenly."You're being an overprotective ogre aren't you, going to lock her up in a tower next?"
Sigrid, trying to put an end to the whole thing simply stated, "No one is locking me up in any tower." Fili looked like he wanted to say something but Lady Dis elbowed him.
"Enough, if you're so worried, you can go with her tomorrow. Now I'm going to ask my poor nephew how his trip was, if you're going to be a brute, take it to the training yard."
She dismissed her son with a wave of her hand and turned to Little Thorin who didn't seem to much mind the whole thing. Sigrid was surprised at Fili's temper, but she remembered their argument last night and assumed he must have been in a short fuse all day. She soon excused herself, eager to get some air. She wasn't so lucky to escape unnoticed and Lady Amet insisted she join the ladies as they took tea together.
Sigrid gave in, joining into the conversation when spoken to directly. She was surrounded by the younger dwarven girls, most younger than Fili and Kili. She felt too tall around them too skinny, although well fed now in comparison to her life before the dragon, she had always felt she would be too thin. Lady Amet asked her more questions, though not about her relationship with the prince again. They were all eager for the events tomorrow and the next few days, Sigrid just wanted her bed.
She hated to admit it, she'd be loathed to admit it to Fili at any rate, but she was starting to feel worn out and more tired now than she had in a long time. It felt like her mind was always working out something even when she was resting. Even now as she answered a question about the dress she would wear the next day, she felt her mind going over the things she had to do in the morning and groaned inwardly when she realized how much she had to accomplish before the games even began. She found a way to excuse herself, promising to see them tomorrow and almost running out of the room.
When she got to her apartments she saw the door to Fili's rooms open and she sighed, knowing they should talk before things got out of hand but she hesitated.
Lady Amets words from earlier rang through her mind, she stood there going over it. It seemed that everyone thought their marriage was real, that it wasn't just on paper. She hadn't heard about any story, she had assumed that their arrangement was very public. That it was something that they both did out of their duty to their own people. Her heart gave that all too familiar lurch, the one she ignored as she stepped into his sitting room. He was setting out his swords when she walked in. He looked up and spotted her, she almost wavered and bid him good night, but instead, she faced him. Breathing deeply she sat down at his table, her hands flat on the wood, avoiding the many sharp objects on it.
"Why is it that everyone thinks we are in love?" It comes out harsher than she intended. Her cheeks feel hot but she refuses to touch them. "What story has been spread around that I'm not even aware of?"
His jaw clenches but his face becomes like marble. He doesn't answer her right away, weighing his words carefully. Finally, his voice is neutral, "The story is that a prince from a lost kingdom married the girl who rose from ashes to become a princess. That he fought his uncle to marry her, and that she agreed."
She knew all of that, it was the truth, "They said you drew your sword to your uncle."
He chuckled, his eyes far away, remembering that moment. "I did, he drew his sword too. Why do you think I don't want you at the more volatile meetings?"
Her voice, oh how she wished she could control it, she hated how it wavered. "But they think we're in love." She had never felt so small in front of him, so vulnerable.
He sets his double swords down, purposefully, pointing away from her. He comes to her side of the table. She doesn't want to look at him, so he lifts her chin gently. His smile is both sad and amused, "Is that so terrible?"
She thought of the day when Fili had danced with her the first time, another festival, her dress made with the best fabric her father could find. How she had laughed with him, how he had held her hand so they could go down the line. How he had stayed at her side the whole night. Then she thought of last night and how seeing Fili in a dark corridor hurt more than she would ever admit. She didn't say anything,
"Let them think what they want, we know the truth." He touches her cheek, his fingers leaving a trail of burning skin behind. "That's all that matters."
She nods, wanting nothing more than to go to her bed and hide away from him. "You're right."
He was right. Even as the rings on their fingers and the clasps on their hair proclaimed them otherwise, they knew that they were friends. And that's all they would ever be.
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