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Thanks for your kind reviews! Now let's see what mayhem our Durin's can get into next.

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Chapter 45

~X~

When Fili, Sier, Flinn and Kili entered the dining hall, there came an unmistakable cry of joy from the littlest hobbit, upon seeing his sword brother.

"Flinn!" Frodo cried, sliding out of his chair and slipping under the table, emerging out the front as he ran straight at the dwarfling, giving him a great big hug. "Is you all right? I was so worried!"

Flinn immediately launched into a very dramatic and animated description of all that had taken place, not even bothering to move to a less populated area. No one seemed to mind, for the whole mountain had become rather fond of the dwarfling prince, and seeing him describing his adventures to his wide-eyed hobbit friend, brought smiles to many of the dwarrow sitting around. Leaving his son to his fun, Fili guided Sier over to the table where the hobbits were sitting, while Kili chose to join his uncle and Dwalin.

"We were very worried for you as well," Prim told Sier, as the two females sat side by side. "We have only heard bits and pieces, and not hardly enough to quell our fears. It was all I could do to keep Frodo from marching out of our chambers to go in search of Flinn."

"We are all quite fine now," Sier assured her new friend, turning to place a hand affectionately upon Fili's arm. "Thanks to my brave husband and one amazing pony."

"Don't forget your son's buttons," Fili insisted, wishing to give credit where credit was due.

"How could I?" she laughed. "He is already begging me to sew them back on."

"Oh, I sense there are several interesting stories in all this!" Bergie spoke up, hitching her chair a little closer to where the newcomers sat. She leaned forward and rested her chin on her knuckles, her elbows squarely on the table. "Now…tell us everything!" The rest of the hobbits agreed, eager for a good tale…one they knew ended happily. And if Flinn's continued telling of the story was any indication, his little arms flailing about and his feet dancing around, they knew it would be an exciting one.

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Just as Kili made it to the royal table, Dis appeared as well, allowing her son to gallantly pull out her chair as she took her seat. Thorin and Dwalin, still deep in conversation, hardly noticed them and only looked up when Dis cleared her throat.

"So, what is on the agenda for today?" she asked, laying her napkin in her lap as she spooned out some eggs and then daintily buttered a biscuit. "With all the guests having left for home now, I feel almost lost in what to do. We have been gearing up for Durin's Day for so long, that now I find myself searching for a task." This of course was not true, for along with all the other duties on her plate, she had made a personal decision to see that her brother did not muck up his new romance. And that, she was certain, would be a full time job.

"There are still seventeen hobbits that need looking after," Thorin informed her, mentally berating himself for thinking that he would be more than happy to take on the assignment of caring for one of them. "The planting project will get underway soon…at least the planning stages. And I am informed, now that Durin's Day is over, the mining crew wishes to set out for Himros, to begin their work on the coal mines."

"Well, it does seem like we will be busy over the next few months," Dis nodded. "But before we all get too embroiled in things, perhaps we should offer our new guests a tour of the mountain, allowing them to become more familiar with their new home?"

"I have no objections to this," the king nodded, doing his best to keep his eyes on the meal in front of him and not allowing them to drift to the table where Marigold sat. He had decided that he would not think on her, firmly resolving this in his mind, and yet why was it proving such a difficult task?

"Might I enlist the aid of several of the company as tour guides?" Dis persisted, all of this working out perfectly with her plan.

"Makes the most sense, since they have been here the longest," Thorin agreed.

"And who would you prefer to take around?" she asked, eyeing him with a glint in her eye.

"Me?" Thorin's fork halted midway to his mouth. "Why am I expected to play guide? Do I not already have enough duties to keep me busy from sunup till sundown?"

"I just thought perhaps you might enjoy the break," she huffed, his snippy attitude derailing all her ingenious plans. Why were males so obstinate? "After all, you and Marigold seemed to be getting along so well during the party, and you will be working together on the planting project, it just seemed logical that you would wish to get to know her better."

"I know all I need to know," he mumbled, avoiding her gaze as he dug into his breakfast with renewed vigor. "Count me out."

"Fine," she snorted, again irritated by his lack of cooperation. "How about you, Dwalin? Can you spare a few hours out of your busy schedule to escort some hobbits…Miss Bracegirdle perhaps?" If Thorin was not going to work with her, maybe Dwalin would be a more willing subject.

Dwalin opened his mouth to speak, but was instantly silenced by Thorin's next words.

"He is far too busy as well," the king insisted, shooting his war chief a look that dared him to contradict his statement. "Dwalin and I have to discuss the subject of guards and protection during the planting process. There are still reports of roving bands of orcs and goblins, and we would not wish for any of our guests to be out afield unprotected."

"No…of course not," Dis muttered, her ire rising to the fore. This was becoming rather ridiculous! "Well, then…I suppose I will just have to assign our two lovely lasses other guides then." Turning to Kili, who had been busy eating and not paying a bit of attention to the conversation, she allowed a wide grin to spread across her face. "How about you, Kili? Would you have time to escort Miss Brandybuck on a tour of Erebor? The two of you seemed to be getting on rather well while dancing the other night."

Kili finished chewing his bite and swallowed before nodding his head, more than happy to oblige, though not appearing overly enthusiastic about the task.

"She was nice," he agreed, having found nothing objectionable about her to speak of. "And when she did step on my toes, it didn't hurt as much since she doesn't wear any shoes. As long as I am finished by lunch time, since I promised to do a favor for Fili, I would be happy to give her a tour."

"Splendid…now I just need to set the rest of the group up with guides," she muttered to herself, purposefully ignoring the almost sickly look that now graced her brother's face. "I wonder if Bofur could be cajoled into the task for Miss Bracegirdle." And before Dwalin could even open his mouth to object, Dis was up and off to find the flirtatious, hatted dwarf.

Kili continued to eat, his eyes lazily drifting around the room, completely oblivious to the evil stare his uncle was now giving him. When he reached for his mug, and took a drink, his eyes locked with Thorin's and he almost choked on the heat of his uncle's gaze.

"What?" Kili asked, feeling much like a small rabbit being eyed by an angry bear. "What did I do?"

"Nothing…yet," Thorin groused, turning away from his bewildered nephew, as he stared down at his plate…now having completely lost his appetite.

Dwalin on the other hand had followed Dis with his eyes from the moment she left the table, watching as she approached Bofur, spoke with him for a bit and then led him over to the table where Bergie sat. The three conversed for a bit, where the dwarf miner removed his hat and bowed low, causing a wide grin to spring to the hobbit lass' lips as she nodded her head and rose to her feet. Dwalin made a low growling sound in the back of his throat as he saw his friend extend his arm, allowing Bergie to take hold of it as the two of them headed out of the dining hall, obviously on their way to tour Erebor.

"Did you see that?" Dwalin hissed, elbowing Thorin with a look of utter shock. "That rogue had the nerve to ask her…and she went! She actually went!" He then turned his piercing gaze on his king. "This is all your fault!"

"Mine?" Thorin barked, then looking around in embarrassment, he lowered his voice. "How is it my fault?"

"If you had not made up that bold face lie to Dis, it would be me she was hanging on to…not Bofur!" Dwalin huffed. "And I can just imagine all the dark and secluded places that he might take her!"

"Then you are welcome," Thorin smiled, looking proud of himself.

"It was not a compliment!" Dwalin spat, standing up from his chair so quickly it teetered on two legs for a moment before righting itself. "I have to get out of here." Out he stormed in a blaze of anger, muttering to himself in Khuzdul…with no one daring to halt him for any reason. And while many gave him curious looks, only one was grinning from ear to ear. Dis.

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"And you, Miss Brandybuck?" the princess asked. "Might I entice you to accept a tour as well? My son, Kili, has graciously offered to be your personal guide to all things Erebor."

"I…I really should get started on the project, Your Highness," Mari insisted, looking over to the royal table a bit uncomfortably. "I would not wish for King Thorin to think I am shirking my duties."

"Nonsense," Dis argued. "There will be plenty of time for that. Besides, my brother is completely tied up in affairs of state, or so he claims. So he will not even know you are gone." Well that was a bald face lie if she had ever spoken one, she thought to herself. Still, if he will not play fair and honest…why should she? "Please say yes, there are truly a great number of wonderful things to see in the mountain and I would hate for you to miss out on them. Kili is a very energetic and thorough guide."

"I…" she continued to hesitate.

"Why not go?" Drogo encouraged her, looking rather perplexed by her reluctance. "As she said, the king is busy, and it is not as if he expects you to sit outside his chambers and wait to be summoned. Go, explore…you might just have fun."

"Very well," Marigold said, giving Dis a halfhearted smile. A tour did sound grand…yet Kili was not the one she had hoped would give it. "I would be happy to take your son up on his offer." And as she turned and caught the engaging dwarf's eye, giving him a little wave as he nodded his head in her direction, she could only give a heavy sigh of regret.

Kili, sensing that his presence was now required, wiped his mouth and stood up from the table, yet as he pulled his chair back he locked eyes with his uncle once more.

"WHAT?" he asked again, this time more forcefully. "What have I done, and why do you keep looking at me like that?"

"Nothing…" Thorin grumbled, looking away. "And if I were you…I would keep it that way!"

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By the end of breakfast, Dis had indeed set up excursions around the mountain for all the hobbits that desired them, making sure that the ones interested in learning the blacksmith trade were given an extended tour of the forges. Hamfast and Drogo were especially interested in getting a better look at the area outside Erebor, allowing them to begin to imagine the crops they would be planting, come spring. While Prim, having been given a break by Sier asking if Frodo and Flinn could play together for a bit, was given a personal tour by Dis of the healing halls and the weaving rooms. Yet all the while, the sly princess steered her conversation around to questions about Marigold and Bergie. She wanted as much information as possible with which to bait her trap well.

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"And this…well, this is one of the least visited chambers in Erebor, though arguably the most impressive," Kili told her, pushing open the huge double doors and stepping aside to allow her to enter.

They had been visiting rooms for about two hours and young Kili was starting to run out of things to say…small talk not being high on his list of princely priorities. That was not to say he wasn't enjoying Mari's company, for she was extremely engaging, he was just…well, not interested. He truly hoped that his mother had not asked him to take her around in hopes that a love match might be made. Was a dwarf falling in love with a hobbit even possible? Interracial marriages were not the norm in Middle Earth, though he had seen a few in his time. Mostly with humans though, a few elves like Lord Elrond having mixed blood in his background. But dwarves mostly stuck to their own kind…probably due to the fact that they would not awaken unless they found their one. And what were the odds of a hobbit being that? Probably the same chances of an elf being his. Kili paled slightly at where his mind had taken him, and shaking his head as if to clear such things from his thoughts, he continued on with his tour.

"These are the tombs of my ancestors," he revealed. "All the kings and royal families of Erebor." He spread out his hands as if offering her a good look at the massive room, with high ceilings, stone arches and oil filled sconces lining the wall as the light cast almost eerie shadows upon all contained within.

"You…you mean this is like your graveyard?" Marigold halted halfway through the doors, turning to look at Kili in shock.

"Yah…I guess so," he shrugged, taking her hand and leading her farther inside, taking no notice of her trepidation. "This over here is King Thrain the first, and it was he who founded Erebor. Before that, my ancestors had dwelt in Khazad-dûm."

"Kaz-ad…what?" Mari asked, doing her best to pay attention while she stared at all the large tombs, statues and crypts that now surrounded her.

"Khazad-dûm," Kili repeated, a bit slower this time. "Maybe you have heard it called Moria. Anyway, that great dwarf kingdom had been founded by the original Durin…Durin the Deathless." When the little hobbit lass just stared at him in a somewhat bewildered state, Kili pressed on. "After Thrain died, his son, Thorin the first, took our people and joined their kin in the Grey Mountains, abandoning Erebor for the next four generations."

"How many Thorins have there been after the first?" Mari asked, suddenly striking on a subject that caught her interest.

"Three so far," Kili answered, happy that she seemed to be perking up. "Uncle is the second, and Dain's son is the third." He then pointed to several more stone tombs, each one engraved with ancient runes and intricate dwarven symbols. "These two belong to Uncle Thorin's grandfather, Thror, and his wife Dolma. She never made it out of Erebor when Smaug attacked and we found her body after we returned. King Thror was the one who originally brought the dwarves back to the Lonely Mountain, building Erebor into one of the most prosperous kingdoms in all Middle Earth."

"Excuse me for asking," Mari broke in, "But Bilbo told us many stories of the dwarves on the way here…and wasn't King Thror killed many years after Smaug attacked Erebor?"

"Yes, that is true," Kili confirmed.

"Then how did he come to be buried here?" she questioned.

"After Thorin reclaimed Erebor, and the mountain was restored to its former glory, he had his grandfather's bones brought back from where they were buried in Ered Luin," the dark haired prince explained. "He said it was only right that he was laid to rest in the same mountain where he once ruled." He walked to another set of crypts, gesturing to one and then the next. "This is my Uncle Frerin, older brother to my mother, and younger to Thorin. He died before I was born, so I never knew him at all. And this one is for my grandfather, Thrain the second, and my grandmother, Perine."

"Why does it have a statue of him standing at the head of the tomb?" she asked, noting that none of the others were done that way.

"He disappeared, taken by servants of the enemy and his body was never recovered," Kili told her. "So Thorin had a statue made in memory of him, and here he watches over his wife in death, just as he did in life."

"And this one?" Mari asked, gesturing to a lone statue of a dwarf, standing erect, with his hands resting on the head of an ornate ax. "He…he looks a lot like your brother, Fili."

"He should…it is our father, Flinn the First," Kili told her, his expression a mixture of sorrow and pride. "Our mother had it made, worked with the stone masons day and night until it was done to her specifications."

"Why does he only have a statue and not a tomb as well?" She looked around, but could find no other statues like this one.

"Because even though he died fighting near Ered Luin, we could not bring his body back to rest in Erebor either." He walked forward, touching the stone likeness of the sire he could hardly remember. "When my father was killed in battle, they had not been victorious. The orcs ran the survivors off, driving them away from the battlefield with sword, ax and bow. When at last my uncle, and those with him, could return to reclaim the dead, the foul beasts had piled all the slain and burned them, thus we were unable to identify one body from the next. They sifted through everything and returned any mementos or weapons they were able to identify, finding my father's pendant and his sword. My mother still wears the pendant around her neck to this day, and she has said that when Fili is crowned king of Erebor, she will present him with our father's sword."

"I…I am so sorry, Kili," Mari said in a low voice, walking up behind him and placing her hand consolingly on his arm.

"It was a very long time ago," he told her, doing all he could to shake off the sorrow. "They buried all the slain in a mass grave, there in the valley, just east of the Blue Mountains where they fell. They built up a huge mound over it, and the wives of the fallen planted pink carnations that still grow there today, watering them with their tears."

"Pink carnations?" Marigold said, pursing her brows together in thought. "Those stand for…remembrance, saying that they will never be forgotten …correct?"

"I wouldn't know anything about that," Kili shrugged. "But they call it the Nukshelhindîn…or Hill of All Sorrow in Western. My mother would visit the mound as often as she could, but after coming to Erebor, she had this made in his honor, and she visits it instead. I have found her down here several times, talking to my adad, telling him all about us…about Thorin, Fili and Sier, little Flinn…and me." Here he reached up and quickly wiped at his eyes, not wanting the lass to see the lone tear that had escaped.

"It is obvious that she loves her family very much, and wants to share your lives with her mate, any way she can," Marigold told him, leaning the side of her head against his arm in a sign of comfort. "You should be very proud of her…and him."

"I am," he assured her with a few sniffs and a wide smile. "It is a great honor to be named a son of Flinn." Here they grew silent for a bit, both lost in thought.

"What in Mahal's name is going on here?" came a booming voice from behind them, causing them to spin around to see Thorin standing just inside the open doors.

"Uncle!" Kili said with a start, stepping away from Marigold as he did his best to compose himself. He had allowed thoughts of his father to overtake him and he felt a bit unnerved by his emotional display. "What are you doing down here?"

"I could ask the same of you," he responded with a stern glare.

"Mother requested I give Marigold a tour…remember?" Kili was a bit confused, had his uncle not been right there when this was discussed?

"Of the tombs?" he asked, with a raise of his eyebrow. His eyes darted from one end of the massive room to the other. Were there not at least a dozen dark and secluded spots in this one room alone…and had he not found them standing shoulder to shoulder with her head resting against his arm? What exactly had been going on?

"Well…we looked at just about every other place that was interesting," Kili said with a shrug, wondering why it seemed as if his uncle was upset with him. "I took her to the forge room, the weapon training ring, the stables and then down here. I was running out of places to show her where I actually knew something to speak about."

"And he was doing a very fine job of it, as well," Marigold said, stepping forward, as if almost drawn to the gruff looking king. "He told me quite a lot of the mountain's history, and I found it very interesting."

"You did?" Kili asked, thinking for sure he had been boring her to tears.

"Oh, yes," she nodded. Then turning back to Thorin with hopeful eyes. "I find your ancestry, as well as your home, very enthralling, and I look forward to seeing more of it during my stay. Might you recommend some other places I should investigate, Your Majesty?"

"I told you to call me Thorin," he reminded her, before he could stop himself from speaking. His resolve was beginning to fray slightly at the edges, and before he knew it he was speaking to her again. "And there are many places I am sure my nephew overlooked, opting to show you where we house our dead, instead of places more suited to the living. There are many amazing places in Erebor, filled with light, beauty and wonder. "

"Well, then…Thorin," she smiled shyly, "Perhaps you have time to show them to me?"

"I…" here Thorin halted, having almost been ready to agree wholeheartedly to her innocent request. Ahh, but it would not have ended so innocently, especially if he were the one sporting her around dark chambers and secret passages where no one would be and no one would see them. No…it was best that he stick to his original plan. To ignore the pretty lass who called to his very being, and stay as far away from her as possible. "I fear, Miss Marigold, that I am currently unable to accommodate you at this time. Perhaps at a later date."

"Oh…of course," she nodded, looking down at the floor in disappointment.

"And you, Kili," Thorin continued, turning away from the forlorn looking maid and leveling his gaze on his nephew. "Didn't you say you had something you needed to do for your brother at lunch time? It is almost twelve bells now."

"It is?" Kili looked aghast. "I completely lost track of time!" He turned to Marigold with a sheepish look on his face. "Might I escort you back to the dining hall? I am certain you must be hungry by now…or at the very least, thirsty. Forgive me for not realizing how late it has become."

"Yes, thank you," she smiled. "Perhaps all three of us can journey that way together?" Yet when she turned to see if this was something Thorin might have time for…he was gone. "Well…that was rather rude," she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes at the now empty doorway.

"He…he did say he was busy," Kili offered, doing his best to excuse his uncle's odd behavior. "Come, we best be going if we don't want to miss out on lunch."

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Just down the corridor behind a large column, the great and mighty king under the mountain hid himself as Kili and Marigold passed by, his chest tight and his breath coming out in labored gasps. Oh, what in the name of Mahal was wrong with him? One minute he had been sitting in his office going over a stack of papers that Balin had given him, and the next thing he knew he was searching all of Erebor for his cheeky nephew and the hobbit lass. Why? Just to make sure that they were safe? That she was having a pleasant tour? Or was it to make sure that nothing was going on between them? And yet, when he did find them, the position they were standing in did not fill him with any sense of relief…in fact it had filled him with rage! How dare Kili be touching her…or her touching him…Thorin was not quite sure which way it had been. But, they had both been in contact with each other, and he was quite certain that was not a required position for a guide, or the one to whom he was giving the tour.

Then…when she had asked him to show her around himself, well he had panicked. Leaving the room without even saying goodbye. Talk about childish. See, this was what he was trying to avoid. She made him crazy, she stole all his manners, common sense and dignity. Well…if this was what happened to a dwarrow when they found their one, he was having none of it! He was Thorin Oakenshield, king of Erebor and he would not be brought low by a tiny little hobbit lass who was barely a fourth his age. He would fight this…he would not succumb…and he would prevail.

At least he prayed he would.

Kili is so darn cute and clueless. ha ha.

Thorin is a dolt.

And Dwalin needs to stand up to his king.

Dis is the only one on the ball here.

I look forward to hearing what you thought - did you like Kili's history lesson?

Guest Reviews:

Guest: Glad you are loving it. Thanks.

Aranel Mereneth: Not sure if you ever log in to your account so I will respond to you here. I am glad to BE back! And so happy you are still enjoying my little tale. Fili and Kili ARE awesome brothers...and just awesome all the way around. Thorin and Dwalin should hire Dis to help them, then maybe they might be able to function correctly without hobbits on their minds constantly. ha ha.