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While I try very hard to make my chapters mistake free...often my beta readers and I will miss a boo-boo. Just so you know, I don't mind at all if you tell me when you see one. I would rather know about it so I can fix it than to let it remain undetected. Thanks.
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Chapter 4
~X~
Kili had just sat down to lunch, choosing a table in the back as he waited for his brother to join him. Normally the two princes would have eaten at the head table with Thorin, their mother, and several of the original thirteen who had accompanied them to Erebor. But lately, with all the fuss over the delegates, he had seen so little of his brother that he felt some quiet catch-up time was in order.
The young, dark-haired prince had just opened his mouth to shovel in a forkful of meat, when he felt a hand on the collar of his tunic, gripping it tightly as he was hauled out of his chair.
"I need your help…NOW!" came a low growl from behind him. And while the voice sounded suspiciously like that of his brother, Kili could not help but notice that the tone was off. Normally Fili was far more calm and reserved, yet this dwarf's voice was anything but.
"Fili!" Kili whined, as he was pulled away from the table and any chance of consuming the meal he had so been looking forward to. "What's with you?"
"Hopefully, you are! After all, this was your idea!" his brother informed him as they made their way down the hallways and passages until they came near the royal chambers. Ducking into a small alcove, Fili at last began to explain his idea to Kili in hushed tones.
"You surprise me, Brother," the younger prince said with a wide grin on his face, once the plan had been laid out for him. "This is so unlike you!"
"I know," he mumbled, peeking out to make sure that no one was nearby. "Like I said before, I'm taking your advice on this, Mahal help me. Since it would appear that you have had far more experience with this sort of thing than I."
"That's not true," Kili objected. "Sure, I've shared a kiss with a lovely lass or two, but never have I found one in my bed!" He paused here, and from the faraway look in his eyes, Fili knew his brother was thinking about that red-haired she-elf again…something Kili did quite often since they had retaken the mountain, it would seem. Still, he shook it off and continued. "You, on the other hand, have managed to lure in one you had not yet even laid eyes on. Now that's an achievement worthy of song!"
"Hold off on commissioning the ballads until we see if this works or not," Fili insisted. "We have less than half an hour before the changing of the guards, so let's go over my idea one last time…we can't afford for anything to go wrong. For if Jade should reject me, or I'm discovered by Amad, then I might as well pack up and head back to Ered Luin tonight, for crown prince or no, my life will be forfeit."
"And for my part in helping you…well, suffice it to say, I will be right beside you on that journey back over the Misty Mountains," Kili agreed with a nod of horror.
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And so they waited, keeping track of the time as they watched for any sign of the new guard. When at last he had come to relieve the current watch, the two brothers slipped out, Fili slinking off to the right, while Kili walked straight down the corridor, greeting the two dwarves loudly. The plan was for him to distract the two enough so that no one noticed Fili sneaking up to the royal chambers. Not that he didn't have every right to be there, but for the sake of anonymity, the fewer that could place him near Jade's chambers the better. So it was that Kili began a rousing tale of some kind, keeping both guards looking at him, neither one noticing the crown prince silently creeping up the steps and around the corner.
When he was out of sight, Fili made his way to Jade's door, thankful to find that it was unlocked. He knew that she was still down at the laundry, tending to his mother's dresses, and quickly shut the door behind him.
Once inside he looked around, trying to gain a bit more insight into the young maid who had so captured his attention. She had very few possessions, having just arrived and brought so little with her. Her bed was neatly made, her clothes hung in the wardrobe, and every surface appeared to be well dusted. Fili had hardly believed her to be some kind of secret slob, still he found it very pleasing to know that she was so meticulous.
While Kili normally seemed to gravitate to the wild, loud, and boisterous dwarrowdams…Fili found the ones who were quiet and mild of spirit and temperament to be his preference. To him, the fact that Jade took pride in her quarters and saw to its condition, spoke highly of her character and spilled over into how she might treat others. As a prince, and future king, he knew the importance of choosing someone who would not only suit his tastes, but that of the kingdom as well…and a loud, slovenly lass was not his idea of queen material.
Fili shook his head suddenly…where had that come from? Why had his mind turned to marriage and queens? All he wanted to do was speak with the dam alone and find out what had truly transpired that night in his bedroom? Chances were, if he were to spend more than five minutes in her company, and share an actual conversation, he would find out that she was dull as a post and not worth his time or trouble. And yet…what if she was?
"Well, there's only one way to find out," he told himself, heading for the bed and laying upon it, propping himself up against the headboard with his fingers laced behind his neck.
Now he only had to wait.
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Jade had spent more time than usual in the laundry, washing, pressing and getting Dis' dresses looking like new. Yet she had been distracted the whole time, mulling over thoughts of Prince Fili. Why he dominated her every waking moment was a mystery, one she wished she could solve and move on. Jade knew for a fact that she had in no way chosen to slip inside his room that night, not even knowing where his chambers were. She could just as easily have found herself in Kili's bed…or, Mahal forbid, King Thorin's! Now wouldn't THAT have been a royal mess?
Yet even though she probably could not have chosen a more kind or understanding dwarf to inconvenience, for Fili had never given her the impression that he was otherwise, he still continued to try and speak with her. And while she didn't wish to discuss the horribly embarrassing incident again, there was a part of her that knew he deserved the truth. At some point, she would need to work up the courage to admit the reason she had been there, no matter how mortifying it might be.
It was that thought that plagued her mind as she made her way back to her chambers, not even taking note of Prince Kili, who was leaning against the wall at the bottom of the stairs in a darkened alcove. Nor did she see the wide grin that spread across his handsome face, anxious to soon learn how things might fare for his brother.
Jade's arms were so heavily loaded down with clothes that she could barely see over them, and it took her a moment or two before she could successfully fiddle with the handle and get her door open. Stepping inside, she kicked it shut with her foot and headed for the small door that connected her room to the princess' chambers. Yet before she could make it halfway there, she caught a slight movement out of the corner of her eye, causing her to jump as she realized she was not alone. Letting out a gasp of fright, the clean laundry fell from her arms and was now scattered across the floor. Her hands covered her lips as her eyes grew wide, instantly recognizing her intruder.
"Prince Fili?" Jade whispered, doing her best to stop her frantic heart from leaping from her chest.
"I thought since you have been reluctant to speak with me, that perhaps I might attempt to get your attention the same way you got mine," he explained, sliding off the bed and standing up before her, a sly smirk gracing his lips.
"Your Highness…I…I…" she stammered, turning several shade of red at his words. She realized that she had just been thinking about confronting him about the subject…but this was too soon! She had not had a chance to prepare what she would say, and yet it looked like there was no time like the present.
"Erebor may be a large mountain, but you cannot go on avoiding me forever," Fili continued, walking around her as he spoke. "And I think we both know that it was you I found sleeping in my bed the night of your arrival. I will not say I was disappointed by your actions…however, I am still a bit confused by them." By now he had come to stand behind her, all the while Jade had been turning her neck, attempting to keep her wary gaze trained on him. When he stopped and reached out to slide the bolt across the door, effectively locking them both inside, he couldn't help but chuckle at how wide her eyes grew. He had already bolted the door that led to his mother's chambers, not wishing to risk her coming back and attempting to gain entry through that way. "Now…we will not be disturbed while we chat. And the subject I would very much like to discuss, is the one question I just can't figure out. Why were you in my bed?"
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Meanwhile, Kili had been spending his time examining one of his daggers, for even if they were ensconced in a highly protected mountain, he had grown so accustomed to bearing arms that he now felt naked without at least one weapon on him at all times. Fili was the same, though Kili had to admire all the different places his brother managed to hide them! He had just stuck the blade back in the sheath on his belt when he heard voices coming down the hallway…and not just any voices, ones that spelled trouble! Thorin and his mother rounded the corner, escorting about four of the current emissaries, Balin, and several guards, all heading towards the stairs that led to the royal chambers.
Oh, this could not be good!
"Uncle…Amad!" Kili called, hoping he could alter their destination or at least waylay them and buy Fili more time. "What brings you to this part of the mountain? Surely there are much more exciting places to show your guests."
"Ah, Kili, there you are," Dis smiled, her heart still filling with joy every time she saw one of her lads, alive and well. "I was hoping to run into you and your brother and invite you to join us for dinner. The lords from Evendim have just arrived and wish to dine with the entire royal family."
Kili could easily tell from his mother's tone that she was less than thrilled by the prospect, and one look at Thorin's face told him that he felt the same way. Still, their true feelings on the subject were lost upon the important visitors, and they stared at Kili with great anticipation. Oh, joy, he thought to himself, just what he wanted to do, spend an evening mingling and chatting with more pompous diplomats.
"Of course, Amad," Kili said with a bow. "I would be honored to join you, as I'm sure Fili will be as well…when I find him."
"When you find him?" Thorin scoffed, looking a bit perplexed. "When have the two of you not known exactly where the other is?" And it was true, for the longest Fili and Kili had been apart had been when they were thrown in separate cells in the dungeons of Mirkwood.
"Well…he said he had something to do…and that I should meet him here," Kili answered, which was indeed not a lie…just not the whole truth. He could tell by the lifting of her eyebrow that Dis did not believe a word of it, giving him the same look she used to when he had been caught with his hand in the jar of sweets as a dwarfling.
"I see," Dis murmured, choosing not to embarrass her son in front of strangers, and going on as if she believed every word out of his mouth. "Well, when he does show up, please tell him to meet us in the dining room in an hour. You as well." She then began to head towards the stairs leading to the sleeping quarters, the rest of the group following closely behind.
"Where are you going?" Kili almost yelled, jumping in front of his mother, halting her progress.
"To my chambers to speak with Jade," she answered, quite stunned by Kili's rude behavior. Perhaps spending so much time with Thorin, tromping around in the wild, had been detrimental to all the good manners Dis thought she had instilled in him. "I told her I would be dining in tonight and I do not wish for her to go to all the trouble of preparing a meal only to have me not show up."
"I…I don't think she's there," Kili lied, knowing full well that his mother could see right through him when he did so. He had never been able to pull the wool over her eyes…never!
"Well, I know for a fact that she is, since I just came from the laundry and they told me she left just a little bit ago," she huffed, placing her hands on her hips and eyeing him suspiciously. "And if you have been standing here, waiting for your brother all this time, as you claim, you would have seen her return. So which is it?"
"I…I…could have missed her?" he attempted to clarify, his voice betraying him even more than his poorly fabricated lie.
Dis leaned in and lowered her voice, giving Kili a stern, motherly glare.
"We will speak of this later and you will tell me just what shenanigans you and your brother are up to, is that clear?" she hissed.
"Yes, Amad," he nodded, lowering his eyes as she stepped around him and stormed up the stairs. He saw the looks of confusion on Thorin and Balin's face as they too walked past him, yet the other dwarves seemed blessedly unaware of anything amiss. Kili found himself thankful that the guards had respectfully chosen to wait at the bottom of the steps, knowing that no one but the royal family was allowed beyond this point without express permission. At least this way, if Fili was discovered, there would be fewer weapons on hand for his uncle and mother to kill him with.
Appearing more like a whipped dog than a warrior, Kili followed the group up the stairs, listening as Balin continued to inform their guests all about the intriguing lighting system they used throughout the mountain. One of the minerals they discovered deep in the mine had a luminescent quality to it, and through the years, as tunnels, walkways and chambers were constructed, they had incorporated this stone into the ceiling, allowing it to shed a small amount of light even in the darkest places. Of course it was minimal, and torches and lanterns were preferred, yet when all lights were out, even then one could at least make out where they were going. This information was intriguing to the delegates and they all stopped at the top of the stairs, admiring the intricate and decorative pattern created on the ceiling of the chamber hallway. All, that is, except for Dis, who had marched over to Jade's door and knocked loudly.
Kili cringed, fearing what might happen next.
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Jade had just opened her mouth to answer Fili's burning question when the rapping at her door, and Dis' voice, took her by surprise. Instantly fearing that she might become startled or scream, Fili quickly lunged forward, placing one hand over her mouth and the other against the back of her head, as he gently silenced her.
"Shhhh," he begged, his desperate eyes pleading as much as his whispered voice. "If we remain quiet, she might go away," he told her hopefully. "If she catches us here alone…well, we don't want that, now do we?"
Jade was in full agreement, and shook her head in the negative. The last thing she wanted was to be caught with a dwarf in her room! She might not know all the customs of her kind, but even she realized just how it would look and the rumors that would quickly spread through the mountain. And while Fili might be able to come out of this with his dignity intact, being a prince and all, she was sure it would ruin her reputation for life. She had just begun to feel at home amongst her true people, she didn't want to mess it up now. So, Jade followed Fili's suggestion and kept quiet, offering no resistance.
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When no answer came, Dis tried the door, finding it locked, which she thought was rather odd. She then went to her own room and called out again, once more trying the door that separated her chambers from Jade's. It was locked as well. This left a very perplexed look on Dis' face when she returned, eyeing Kili in a way that made him very nervous.
"If the maid is not here, then leave a note," Thorin suggested, wishing to end this ridiculous tour they were on and get to where he could at least ply himself with some ale. He had found that with one or two pints in him, he could often handle all the politics he was being forced to sit through much better.
"Or I could just tell her," Kili suggested. "I have to wait downstairs for Fili anyway, so if she comes back I'll give her the message." He truly wanted nothing more than for everyone to leave the area so he could get his brother out of there and back to safety.
"There, a perfect solution," Balin agreed, gesturing to their guests to follow him back down the stairs. "We will see you and Fili in about an hour then."
Kili gave a sigh of relief as he watched them all turn to leave, even his mother had seemed to have given up on trying to figure out what he was not telling her. He and Fili would have to dream up a very elaborate tale in order to throw her off their scent. Thankfully, that had always been his brother's specialty. Fili's innocent eyes, and unwavering expression in the face of danger, had often been a life saver…especially when dealing with their mother. If anyone could pull one over on their Amad, it was Fili, and it would appear that his luck was holding.
Unfortunately, it did not hold for long. For mere moments before they would have been in the clear, a very loud scream and then a thump was heard from inside Jade's room, causing everyone to turn back around, staring at the locked door with a mixture of panic and confusion.
Only Kili looked away, closing his eyes and shaking his head.
"Now, we're in for it," he muttered to himself.
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During the time that his mother had been trying to gain access to the room, Fili had kept his hand over Jade's mouth, the two of them standing very close as they waited, their hearts beating madly for fear of being caught. Of course the young prince had a lot to lose should he be discovered in the bedroom of a young dwarrowdam maid. Not only would he risk punishment from his mother and uncle, but it could seriously jeopardize his credibility as next in line for the throne.
Yet none of that mattered to him when he looked at the fear in the beautiful jade-green eyes mere inches from him. Why had he been so foolish? Why had he let his desperation to speak with her override his common sense and put her in such a compromising position? It should not matter if she had slipped into his room the other night, it was obvious that she now regretted her actions and did not wish to pursue it. Yet Fili had been unable to let it go.
Now here they were, trapped in her room with nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, both praying that his mother would just go away and allow them to get out of this predicament with none the wiser. He would never forgive himself if he were to somehow taint Jade's reputation, and he was certain his mother would not allow him to forget about it either. What a fool he had been! Fili almost wished he could blame it all on Kili, after all it had been his idiotic suggestion…and yet it was he who had decided to take it. He could blame no one but himself.
Just when he thought they were never going to get out of this without being caught, a miracle happened…his mother seemed to have left. All was quiet and there was no more jiggling at the door and no more persistent knocking. Was it possible? Were they actually going to get away with this?
Letting out a sigh of relief, Fili slowly removed his hand from Jade's mouth, suddenly feeling a loss at the lack of contact – even if it had been initiated out of fear and alarm.
"Do…do you think she's gone?" Jade whispered, sounding just as hopeful as Fili felt.
"I think so," he nodded, pulling his hand away from the back of her head as he moved to check the door. Unfortunately, the metal clasp on the vambrace he wore on his arm had caught in Jade's hair, and as he made to walk away, it yanked hard. Panicking, Fili rushed back and quickly tried to untangle it, yet his feet got twisted up in the clothes that still littered the floor and he ended up falling into her, knocking her over as the two of them crashed to the floor. This motion, coupled with another violent yank to her hair, caused Jade to let out a very loud, and unintentional scream, the sound ending as Fili fell on top of her causing all the air to leave her lungs.
It was at this moment that a loud crash was heard and the two of them turned their heads just in time to see Thorin kick down the door, the small metal bolt no match for the ironclad boot of the king under the mountain. When his eyes landed on the two of them, lying on the floor, amid an array of discarded clothing – no matter that none of it was their own – his face went from shock, to dismay, to pure rage.
"Fili…Jade?" Dis could not believe what she was seeing, and the sight of her eldest son lying on top of her beloved maid, was causing all kinds of confusion and dismay in the princess.
Yet that was not the worst of it, for right behind the king and his sister, were four sets of judging eyes, all staring at the scene before them and undoubtedly assuming the worst. Balin too appeared just as shocked as everyone else, but at least his expression held a touch of sympathy.
"BY DURIN'S HAMMER, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" Thorin bellowed, causing Fili to let out a low moan as Jade's hands to flew to cover her face, doing all she could to hide her undeniable shame.
They'd been caught!
And there you have it. Complete and utter failure of Fili's plan. Oh well, what did you expect?
At least he DID get Jade's attention, and she would have confessed to him if Dis hadn't knocked at that very moment.
Now, how are they going to talk their way out of THIS mess?
They really should have hired Nori to help them out.
Guest Reviews
(Oh boy! Three of them!)
Chione: Yippeee, all the sadness is gone! Thanks for the warm welcome. And of course, a good guest always brings gifts! Hey, you guessed them all, including a royally pissed off Thorin. But really, isn't that a given? Amused Dis...check. Laughing his head off Kili...ummm, not at the moment, that's for sure! I think Fili's hide is up for grabs right now...but I'm betting on Dis and Thorin taking turns. Right now Jade is not too sure of herself or her strength. But given time she will find her inner warrior. Oh, I think you might have noticed the few hints I've dropped about Kili pining after his red-haired she-elf. That will come in time. Thanks for your kind and timely review! It was very much appreciated. T.O.W.G.
Guest: I'm so happy you are enjoying it. That WAS the point of me posting it, after all. Thanks for the kind words.
Emrfangirl: If you have the power to reach into your phone (or computer) and smack anyone, you should smack Fili! But really, if you smack one brother the other would probably feel it. ha ha. Oh yes, disaster with a capital D...and it just hit the fan at the end of this chapter too. Like you said, however, something crazy HAS to happen...it's Fan Fiction...we live for that kind of stuff. ha ha. Thanks for the review(s). T.O.W.G.