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Like I said...here is the beginning of the end for secrets, lies, and all the mistaken identity. Poor Fili.

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Chapter 15

~X~

"That's what my father meant by odd hairstyle?" Réann asked, a mixture of shock and amusement playing across her face. "Sticking straight up?"

"And shaved on the sides, or so they said," her maid confirmed, once more using her hands to demonstrate.

This had Réann laughing out loud, the idea of Dwalin sporting such a hairstyle nearly unfathomable. Still, Amara wouldn't lie, and it did explain her father's question.

"Well…I'm very happy he grew out of that phase!" she giggled, doing her best to calm herself. "And if it was due to some loss of a bet, he best not do any more gambling for fear next time he is forced to pay up in an even worse way!"

"True," Amara agreed. "Still, from what the dwarrowdams said, he is very popular with the lasses, even if he doesn't pursue such attentions."

"And I'm even more happy to hear that!" Réann stated firmly. "Though, I would never take him for the flirty type. Why ever would he need to be; he's a commander, he's well respected, and very handsome."

"And all yours," her maid pointed out with a smile.

"Oh, if only that were a certainty," the Grey Mountain lass moaned, sinking back in the chair behind her. "For it would seem that my hope for the prince to find his match in the other dams just shrunk by one."

"What? I don't' understand," Amara questioned. "Didn't the lady from the Blue Mountains just arrive? Wouldn't that increase his choices?"

"Yes…but not if she already confessed to me that she is craft-wed and only came here as a token representative for the Longbeard clan," Réann explained, sounding miserable over the idea. "So now the prince only has five to choose from…and while I have no desire to be chosen, unless I confess my wishes and reasons to the king, I could very well still be picked."

"True," Amara nodded, looking very disturbed by such a thought. "But you love Dwalin. You can't marry another if you already found your One. It's simply not done."

"Then I must tell the king," she sighed. "There's no way around it. It must be done…and soon."

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During dinner, Thorin filled Dis in on his plans to meet with the Lady Réann, enlisting her aid in getting the dam to his council chambers the following day without anyone becoming suspicious.

"I had planned on visiting with each dam privately anyway," Dis told him. "Thus, I can have her brought to see you under the guise of wishing to chat with her myself. Would that be satisfactory?"

"Perfectly," Thorin nodded, quite pleased to have his sister back within Erebor's walls. He could always count on her for support of any kind. "And best of all, I won't have to go asking for Nori's help a second time.

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Late that night, Réann slipped out once again, utilizing her maid disguise and found her way to the small alcove on the battlement. She was hardly shocked to find Dwalin already waiting for her there, a warm smile greeting her as she entered.

"I wasn't sure if you would come tonight, especially since you just sent your father a letter the previous night," Fili beamed, coming closer and gently cupping her face in his palms. "Yet, I would have waited all night on the slight chance you would."

"I had not seen you all day, and I wasn't sure I could sleep without speaking to you, even for a little bit," Here she reached up and gave him a quick peck on the lips, blushing at the way he grinned madly by her boldness. "I hope that everything is still fine after last night's visit to Dale. No one found out about it, did they? You didn't get into trouble?"

"No trouble at all," Fili assured her. "The king is none the wiser, and I aim to keep it that way."

Here Réann couldn't help but lift her hand and run her fingers through Dwalin's hair at the top of his head, doing her best not to laugh at the idea of how he once wore his hair. He appeared to enjoy the gesture, shutting his eyes as he savored her touch, thus missing the quirky grin on her lips.

"The Lady Dola has arrived from the Blue Mountains," Réann continued, banishing any thoughts of hair from her mind.

"Yes, I know," he nodded.

"Of course, you would know," she said, feeling rather foolish. "You're the one in change of all the soldiers. It's your duty to know such things."

"Yes, but you could tell me anything and I would be hanging on every word, be it news to me or not," Fili insisted. "And how do you like Dola? Is she nice? Did you two get along?" Fili knew that his old friend was not in line to be chosen, but he'd always regarded her fondly, and as a friend.

"She is very nice," Réann assured him. "I think she and I could be very dear friends, and if my opinion mattered any, I would have urged the prince to choose her."

"You would?" Well that wasn't going to work at all, Fili thought to himself.

"I would…except…well," here Réann paused, not sure if this was news she should reveal or not, even to Dwalin. But in the end, she knew he could be trusted with such a secret, after all, he was keeping plenty for her. "Dola had told me that she's craft-wed and is not in line to be chosen at all."

"Ahhh, yes," Fili nodded, fully aware of this. "I believe the king thinks it would cause contention if the prince chose from his own clan."

"But that limits the number of dams even more, and when I'm trying so desperately to get out of the deal myself, the odds are not in my favor," she huffed.

"Do not worry," Fili instructed, reaching out and enfolding her into his arms. "Everything will work out, I promise. You need not fear about the prince's choice, that I swear."

"If only I had your confidence," Réann moaned, though his arms were doing wonders for calming her frayed nerves.

"I would be happy to share it with you," he offered, looking down into her face as he spoke. "And a kiss as well, if you be willing."

"Yes to both, please," she grinned, only too happy to take him up on such an offer. Yet before he could even bring his lips to hers, there came a very loud voice from just outside the alcove.

"Hello there, fine soldier!" came the unmistakable sound of Nori. "And what might you be doing up here at this time of night?"

Fili froze in place, knowing exactly what was happening out there. Nori, ever the spy and snoop had apparently followed him up to the battlement and was now alerting him to the presence of an approaching guard. Thank Mahal for that blessed sneak.

"My duty, of course," came the confused answer from the unseen dwarrow. "What else would I be doing? I'm on guard tonight."

"And I'm sure you're doing your job amiably," Nori continued, his voice still raised an octave above normal, in hopes that Fili didn't miss anything. "But I have to ask…what do you make of that, over there, in the distance."

At this, Fili could only imagine that Nori was offering them a distraction, one he needed to utilize before the guard got bored and continued on with his rounds, possibly finding them in the process. So, holding up his finger to his lips, he took Réann's hand and pulled her towards the entrance. Peeking out, he did indeed find Nori pointing the guard in the opposite direction, and after giving Réann one quick kiss on the lips, he led the two of them out and around the corner as quickly as possible.

Once they were safe…or safe for the moment, he stopped, taking advantage of the empty corridor.

"You better get back," he whispered. "That was a close call, and Nori can't always be watching our back."

"No, but I'm grateful he was at that moment," Réann stated. "But you're right. We can't mess things up now, not when we're so close to this all being over."

"And it will be over soon, I promise," Fili swore. "The prince only has to meet with each dam and then he can make his decision. Then, you will be mine, Réann of the Grey Mountains. All mine."

"I look forward to that day with great anticipation," she assured him. "But for now…good night. And be careful, my love, don't get caught." Réann blushed at the use of that word, for until then, she realized she hadn't actually said such things out loud to him. Still, she wouldn't take it back for all the gold in Erebor.

"You either, my One," Fili responded, his heart soaring at the use of such intimate terms of affection. "For that's what you are…my One and only. Forever." He wanted nothing more than to kiss her, to seal his declaration of love then and there, but once more the voice of Nori, heading their way, stopped him.

"Wait! I have one more question for you, good soldier!" his tone was rather desperate now. "Can't you spare just a moment more?"

"I have work to do, and I won't shirk it simply to entertain your odd sense of curiosity," the dwarf barked, apparently fed up with Nori's stalling tactics.

"Go! Now!" Fili urged, giving her a gentle push in the opposite direction of the voices. "I will stall them while you get away." And with a final wink, he turned and headed back the way they had come, pleased to hear her delicate footfalls fading away behind him.

"Ahh, Nori…there you are," Fili greeted the anxious looking dwarf when he turned the corner. "I was just coming to look for you."

"Prince Fili," the guard bowed, recognizing him even in the low light. "How may I serve you?"

"By continuing to do your duty, of course," he said kindly. "But if I might, I do need to steal Lord Nori away. I hope that won't be an inconvenience?"

"No, My Prince," the guard assured him, looking rather relived by the idea. "Please, by all means."

Fili nodded and stepped forward, putting his arm around Nori's shoulders and steering him towards the nearest exit, wishing to get them both far away before anyone became suspicious. Once they had gone a fair distance, he stopped and gave a sigh.

"That was close," he whispered.

"You're telling me?" Nori grumped. "Of all the guards to be on duty tonight, it has to end up being one who cares more for duty than chit-chat. I was positive he was going to catch the two of you!"

"But he didn't, all thanks to you, dear friend," Fili pointed out. "And with Dola now in the mountain, and it only being a few days till this is all over and done with, I don't expect we will have many more opportunities for that to happen."

"I sure hope not, because watching your back has turned into a full-time job lately…and you aren't even the king yet!" Nori laughed.

"And thank Mahal for that!" Fili agreed, the two heading off to find a pint of ale.

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The following day, right after breakfast, Réann was escorted out of the Lady's Chambers under the guise of wishing to be interviewed by Princess Dis. The idea of meeting with the mother of the prince had been stressful enough, but when she was instead taken to the king's council chambers, she really began to panic. If only she had known, Réann would have had time to prepare, both herself and what she was going to say. Oh, how she wished Dwalin was beside her…for only he had the power to calm her nerves and make her feel brave once more.

"Lady Réann, I presume?" Thorin greeted the startled looking dam who had just been brought in. He waved off the guards, and then gestured for her to come take a seat before him, hoping to put the lass at ease. "I believe you've met my sister, Dis, and my adviser, Balin?"

"Uhhh…yes…your majesty...I have," Réann stammered, doing her best to curtsy to the king on wobbly legs, before turning to the other two in the room. "It's also a great pleasure to see you both again."

"Please, do relax, Lass," Balin smiled, still finding her to be his favorite. "No one is going to harm you, and we are very much looking forward to hearing what you have to say about a trade agreement with your people in the Grey Mountains."

"Yes," Thorin agreed, sitting back down and steepling his fingers in front of his lips. "Please tell us what you have in mind."

Here Réann forced herself to calm down, knowing that her father and the rest of her people were counting on her to initiate this agreement. Their future, as well as their very lives, depended on it. So, taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and began to speak.

"King Thorin, your reputation as a forward thinking and wise king has reached the ears of my father, Lord Darmin. He has long been a staunch supporter of the line of Durin and wholeheartedly approves of you retaking the Erebor throne," she said, figuring a little bit of praise never hurt anything.

"I recall your father," Thorin informed her. "He fought alongside my Grandfather, my father, and myself at the battle of Azanulbizar. He was a brave and valiant dwarf, one I have admired greatly ever since."

"Then you will be very pleased by what he proposes, King Thorin," Réann grinned, quite proud to hear her father praised in this way. "The Grey Mountains is ripe with the richest veins of taconite you will find in Middle Earth. We are practically swimming in the stuff, yet without a buyer or a way to smelt the ore ourselves, we are unable to produce the fine steel it would create. And it is the best you will find, King Thorin, I guarantee that. With it, you could make such weapons and tools the likes of Middle Earth has never seen."

"I see," Thorin nodded thoughtfully. "And what, pray tell, would you want in exchange for such fine metals? For I doubt that your father would agree to just giving it away."

"No, Your Majesty," she agreed. "We might be well stocked with the makings for steel, but I fear that our lands are not suitable for farming, growing food, or supporting a large amount of wild game. Thus, we in the Grey Mountains are struggling to survive, and have been for quite a few years now. Your idea for unification of all the dwarf clans is greatly supported by us, for we hope that it will expand the trade routes even to our small corner of Middle Earth. Thus, if you would like to offer us food and supplies, along with reasonable compensation, we would happily provide you with all the ore you might need."

Thorin sat there silently for a few moments, thinking this over with great care. He then turned to Balin and then his sister, asking them silently with his eyes to give their opinions.

"Erebor gets all its iron from Dain, and the Blue Mountains has pledged to keep us well stocked with the gems they still mine there," Balin began, using his diplomatic voice. "Yet, thus far, we have not struck up a deal with anyone for taconite, or steel."

"And you did say that you trusted Lord Darmin," Dis added. "If he was willing to risk his life, and those of his soldiers, to battle at Thrór's side…I would think it worth your time and attention to learn more. Perhaps when all this marriage business is over, a trip to the Grey Mountains would be in order to inspect their promised goods?"

At each word uttered, Réann's hopes grew, yet she held her breath and waited for the king's thoughts. For his were the only ones that mattered.

"Lady Réann," Thorin began at last, leaning forward in his chair. "You have presented your petition quite eloquently, and the love for your kingdom and it's people is evident in your eyes and voice. Your father would be very proud of you for what you have accomplished this day. For I would very much like to open a trade agreement with the Grey Mountains, both to your benefit, as well as ours."

"You…you would?" Réann could hardly speak, she was so excited. "Oh, King Thorin…thank you! Thank you so very much! My father will be so happy to hear this."

"As I said, I wish this to be a mutually beneficial endeavor," Thorin smiled, finding he now agreed with Balin's assessment of this dam's worth. Fili would be a fool not to see in her what was more than evident to any who bothered to look. She was sincere, thoughtful, smart, and extremely well mannered. He could definitely see Réann of the Grey Mountains as Erebor's future queen. "And I will be sending a message to your father within the week in order to set up a meeting with him in person."

"Again, Your Majesty…I can't thank you enough," Réann continued to gush.

"And we thank you for bringing us this opportunity," he assured her. "It is important that a king surrounds himself with those who are both trustworthy, and willing to aid in furthering the unifications of the clans. We cannot expect to stand as a race if we are divided, and there is nothing I admire more than loyalty, honor, and a willing heart."

At this, Réann's smile faded, and a wave of panic washed over her. For here she stood, before King Thorin of Erebor…harboring a secret of major proportions. The Lady Dola had urged her to confess, to speak up and reveal her lie, and while that was the last thing she wanted to do - Réann knew that if she didn't speak now and was found out later, the king might never forgive her. And she would never forgive herself.

"King Thorin," she said, lowering her head as her eyes misted up out of shame. "While my father and I are indeed loyal to your rule and would never do anything to jeopardize such fine relations…I fear I must confess a deception on my part."

"A deception?" Thorin repeated, his tone suddenly stern and bordering on angry. "Explain yourself…and do so quickly."

"I came to Erebor in hopes of gaining an audience with you to offer the trade agreement from my father," she began, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat. She could see that both Dis and Balin had tensed up as well, possibly fearing what the king might do should he not like what she had to say. "And while I understand it to be a great honor to be considered as a bride for the crown prince…I hoped that I would not be found acceptable in his eyes, thus sent home with the treasure you offered to each dam who came." Here she turned and looked at Princess Dis. "Not because I found marriage to your son objectionable, but simply because the gold I would bring home could easily feed most of my people for the entire winter. And we were so desperate, that I volunteered to offer myself as a candidate for the Stiffbeard clan."

At this, Thorin visibly relaxed, no longer imagining that she was plotting treason or an assassination. Still, his brows furrowed over her confession, wishing to make sure he understood everything before passing judgement.

"So, you are saying that you lied about your motivation for coming to Erebor," he surmised. "That you only wanted to present your offer then leave with the gold you were promised…and not a petition of marriage from my nephew?"

"Yes, My King," Réann all but whispered, shame coloring her cheeks as she wrung her hands together.

"Yet, what is to stop you from doing both?" Dis broke in. "No one says that the money can't be given, as well as a marriage arrangement with my son, should he indeed choose you as his bride. Would this satisfy your concerns?"

"If only it were that simple," Réann all but wailed, flopping down in the chair behind her in utter misery. "But I fear that I can no longer accept the prince's offer, even if he chose to give it. For you see…I've already found my One in another."

This revelation had Thorin up and out of his seat, looming over his desk in a frightening manner.

"Your father agreed to send you as a potential match when you already loved another? Such blatant disregard for Mahal's choice is unthinkable!" he barked out.

"NO! I didn't come here knowing I had already found my one…I found him once I arrived!" Réann was quick to defend both herself and her father. "If I had even an inkling that I may have found my match, my father would never have considered sending me, nor would I have come – trade agreement or not."

"You found your one after arriving?" Dis questioned, looking confused. "But how? I was told that the six of you would be sequestered until I came back from the Blue Mountains with Lady Dola. How could you have met anyone."

"I…I snuck out," Réann said, flinching at how guilty her words made her look. "I wanted to send a message to my father, and I while I was out doing so…I was discovered by someone. It was him I fell in love with. I didn't mean for it to happen, honest! But…well, as you said, I couldn't disregard Mahal's choice. Thus, I must respectfully withdraw my candidacy for Prince Fili's bride. And if you no longer wish to consider the trade agreement, I would understand. Though I would hope you wouldn't punish my father or our people because of my foolish mistakes, or willful heart."

The room was silent for a long time, with each one of them trying to decide what was to be done. Réann sat there in utter dejection, just wishing she could crawl in a hole and die of shame for her failure. At last, Dis gave a heavy sigh.

"Well…we thank you for being honest about your feelings," she began, sounding a bit forlorn. For up until now, Réann had been the front runner in her mind for her son's future bride.

"Yet, we cannot go against Mahal's will. And if you say you've found your One…then who are we to second guess you," Balin added, also saddened by this news.

"Who is the dwarrow?" Thorin asked suddenly.

"Does…does it really matter?" Réann questioned, not liking the idea of giving over Dwalin's name, for fear he would get in trouble because of it.

"It does to me," the king informed her matter of factly.

"It wasn't his fault! I'm the one who snuck out!" Réann continued to plead. "I beg of you not to blame him."

"His name, if you please," Thorin insisted, and though it sounded like a request, it was quite clearly a command…one that would not be refused.

"His name is…" here she took a deep breath and swallowed hard, willing her voice to continue. "His name is Dwalin."

Dun, Dun, Duuuuuuunnnnn!

Well, it's out in the open now, and I hope Balin doesn't keel over from shock or anything. Or Thorin doesn't swallow his tongue. I can imagine Dis laughing herself silly though. ha ha.

And wasn't Nori a good friend, keeping that silly guard busy so Fili and Réann could get away safe?

Also, Réann took the idea of Fili having odd hair once, good thing they didn't mention that Dwalin has a SHAVED head now though, ha ha.

Well, Friday's chapter should be interesting...yes?

Guest Reviews:

Emrfangirl: Yes, Dola is nice, but the also knows she's only there for show. Nope, totally craft wed, that one, just like Thorin. No worries. And Dis is a mother...she notices EVERYTHING. Wait no longer...consider the jig up. Thanks.

Travelbug: Oh yes, fun, fun, fun...but maybe not for Fili. I think all mothers see their sons as babies...no matter how old they get. Nope, sorry, I couldn't let it slip THAT easily. I wanted the full shock effect. Like a huge bomb. More fun that way. Thanks.