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Chapter 8

~X~

When no knock came to her door the following morning, Jade returned to her normal routine and went to attend to her mistress. She found Dis in the sitting room, already dressed and laying out a small platter of breakfast items. When she saw the young dwarrowdam enter, a warm smile spread over her face.

"Good morning," Dis greeted, gesturing for her to sit down and join her. "Would you care for some tea?"

"Lady Dis," Jade began, a bit stunned by the hospitality. "I should be attending to you, not the other way around."

"Nonsense," Dis replied, taking her own seat and pouring the steaming liquid into the pair of cups. "I have not been a true princess for quite a long time, and I have labored, cooked, cleaned, and done for myself quite nicely during all that time. And no matter what title I might hold, I may never get used to being waited on like I would have had the dragon never come. I have kept you on as my maid more out of want than need, for I have truly grown to enjoy your companionship, Jade. I value you, not your services…even though those have been exemplary as well."

"Are…are you dismissing me?" Jade asked, her eyes growing wide and her mouth dropping open. "Have my actions offended you…have I dishonored your family?"

"No! Never!" Dis was quick to assure her. "Yet Fili came by earlier, which was quite a shock to see him up at such an hour, and informed me of your concerns. I will indeed miss your company, as well as the services you have so expertly rendered, but until all this courtship business is over, you need to focus solely on that, and not me. I am thus giving you leave…temporarily. It would not do for the future bride of the prince of Erebor to be seen attending to laundry and other chores, even if it is for his own mother. No, you must conduct yourself as a lady from here on out. And before you grow all nervous, I will help you in all matters pertaining to that station. You need not worry."

This did indeed cause Jade to lose a bit of her fear, this was all happening so quickly that she had not given much thought to how her life would be altered during this charade. Pretending to be courted was bad enough, but having to act like a lady befitting the attention of a prince was a whole new thought. It was a relief to know that Dis was there to lean on, and supply answers to all her questions.

"I can't thank you enough for everything you have ever done for me, My Lady," Jade said in all sincerity. "I really don't know where I would be without your kind assistance."

"Knowing you, I'm sure you would be just fine," the older dwarrowdam replied with motherly affection. "You have more spirit within you than any other dwarrowdam I have ever met. You might not have been raised among your kind, but you do them credit nonetheless." She then pushed the platter of food over towards her. "Now, eat up. I sent Fili on to breakfast alone, so that we could have this chat. He will not be pleased if I failed to see to your nourishment. He is taking his role as suitor very seriously."

"I wish he wouldn't," Jade murmured, reaching out to sample the meats and pastries offered. "I don't want him to go to any trouble on my account."

"My son brought any trouble he might be experiencing upon himself, and he knows it. And while I'm saddened by the fact that you two must play false during all this, I think it's a fine opportunity for you to get out, see the mountain, and meet those who live within it. You have always been a bit shy, Jade, preferring to stand on the outside looking in, and if I know my lads, they will not allow you to continue to do so. They have always been the hub of activity, drawing everyone into their antics and adventures like moths to a flame. They get a lot of that from their father, Flinn, for he had the very same energetic personality. And while I know you weren't given much of a choice in this matter, I would encourage you to make the most of it. Enjoy yourself, Jade. For I think it is high time you did."

And while she was still a bit unsure of what it all meant, Jade nodded obediently and sipped at her tea, her mind a whirl with both excitement and fear.

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"Where's Jade?" Kili asked, digging into his breakfast with unabashed abandonment.

"With Amad," Fili responded, looking a bit dejected by the idea. "She said she wanted to speak with her."

"Are you in more trouble?" Kili inquired, a worried expression on his face.

"I don't think so…I'm guessing it's just female talk," yet his eyes were now filled with even more concern. "At least I hope that's all it was. She told me to come back in a few hours to escort Jade around the mountain, so I must not be in too much hot water."

Just then Bofur, Ori, Dwalin and Gloin arrived, sitting down around the two princes and helping themselves to the platters of food.

"So where's your lass?" Dwalin asked, unaware that this was already the topic at hand. "You've not managed to offend her already, have you, lad?" he joked.

"She's with my amad this morning," Fili informed the burly captain, giving him a sour look. "I'll be seeing her later."

"Good, good," nodded Bofur. "Smart lass. Always wise to make nice with the parents right off the bat. Although, since she apparently knew your amad before meeting you, I would say that's one hurtle you've already put past ya. What does Thorin think of Lady Jade? He seemed rather supportive last night…no objections to her character or kin I take it?"

"No…Thorin is…" Fili was a bit unsure about how to describe his uncle's feelings on the matter.

"Uncle is all for the courtship," Kili broke in, saving his brother from any embarrassment. "He's almost insistent upon it, you might say."

"Well, I thought she seemed very nice, and is quite pretty," Ori added, giving Fili an encouraging smile. "I've overheard several dwarrows say they would give their best axe for a chance to court her, but they were all too afraid of crossing the princess for an opportunity to be introduced."

"Really?" Fili was not sure he liked the sound of that, and as he let his eyes drift over the crowded room, he began to wonder just how many might be eagerly waiting for him to fail at this courtship, thus giving them a chance to court Jade. Hadn't his mother already told them that she had been beating potential suitors away with a stick back in Ered Luin? And here in Erebor, with over four-hundred single dwarves from Dain's army alone, any young, unattached dwarrowdam would be a prize highly sought after. Fili suddenly realized he owed his mother, and her stern reputation, a word of thanks for any opportunity he might currently have with Jade.

"Don't worry, lad," Dwalin laughed, reaching out to slap him on the back. "What dam in her right mind would look any further once being courted by you…and a prince to boot?"

"So you think she's only after my title?" Fili asked, sounding a bit offended by the suggestion. Of course he knew that was not the case, seeing as how it was all a ruse, but the idea still stung his pride.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it," the older warrior huffed in rebuttal. "You and Kili both have a lot going for you besides being heirs to the throne."

"Dwalin's right," Gloin broke in. "You're a fine warrior, an honorable lad, and you have a good head on your shoulders. The lass would be a fool not to notice that."

Fili nodded his head in thanks for his cousin's words, still, it hurt him more than he cared to admit to think that his claim to the throne could ever influence someone to play false with his affections. Still, he supposed that was what the courtship period was designed for…to find out for sure who was truly right for who…and why.

"Gloin," Fili began, looking at his older cousin thoughtfully, "You've courted before, and were successful in finding a wife."

"Aye, and have a fine son to prove it," the proud dwarf nodded.

"What were some of the things you did to impress your intended? What did you talk about? What should I say?" Fili felt a bit embarrassed to ask, but he was completely out of his element on this, and felt the need for some sage advice.

"Every lass is different," Gloin responded, sitting back in his chair as he stroked his impressive beard as if in deep thought. "Find out what her interests are and then build on that. The beginning is always hard, even awkward at times, but one way to know if she's the right one, is that it will get easier. In no time at all, my Dena and I were conversing and carrying on like we'd known each other forever…and that's when I knew she was the one for me."

"Take Lady Jade out for a picnic," Ori suggested, eager to add in his thoughts. "Pick her some flowers, and play your fiddle for her."

"Fix it so she's around when you're in the training ring," offered Dwalin, always one to be thinking about battle. "Nothing impresses a lass more than a display of strength and fighting technique. After all, you're supposed to prove that you can protect her, so show her that she has nothing to worry about in that department."

"And if you happen to be shirtless at the time…well, then lucky her!" Bofur laughed, watching as Fili's face reddened just a bit. "Show the lass what's she's getting."

"That's enough," Kili said, coming to his brother's defense. While he realized his friends were only being playful, he alone knew the true reasons behind his brother's courtship, and he would not have this made any more difficult for Fili than necessary. Although, from what his brother had said, Kili got the distinct impression that this was not too much of a hardship at all. Still, he was quick to stand at Fili's side. "I'm sure he'll do just fine on his own, and he doesn't need any embarrassing suggestions from you." He looked directly at the still snickering Bofur when he said the last part.

"You're just overly protective since Thorin put you in charge of playing chaperone," Dwalin laughed, having been privy to their king's decree the previous night. "Just remember, when it's your turn to swoon over a pretty pair of eyes, it'll most likely be Fili who'll be assigned to watch over you. So cut the lad some slack with his dam, or he'll be twice as ornery with you!"

"Are you speaking from experience there, Dwalin?" Gloin chuckled, elbowing the gruff warrior in the ribs.

"Oh, I did my time playing Shomakhalinh for Balin when he was courting, but no dam turned out to be his match," Dwalin announced. "And thus far, my brother has never had the opportunity to pay me back."

"Hmmm," Kili muttered, looking over at Fili with suspicious eyes. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Which part, Naddith?" the blond prince asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "The idea of being nice to me, or that of making my life a living hell, thinking that I will never be in a positon to reciprocate?"

"I'm not sure yet…but you'll be the first to know," Kili laughed, dodging as his brother reached out to slap him playfully on the head.

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Two hours later, on the dot, Fili knocked at his mother's chambers, squaring his shoulders as he waited for a word of admittance. Instead, the door was opened by Jade, looking both happy and nervous to see him.

"Have you come to give me a tour of the mountain?" she asked, sounding delightfully eager.

"Not the entire mountain," he laughed. "For that would take weeks, and there are still areas where it is unsafe to venture, due to the dragon leaving it unstable and dangerous. But, I could certainly show you a few of my favorite places, if you would like."

"I would enjoy that very much," she nodded.

"Have a nice time," came a call from within the room. "Just stay in public areas, or I'll have to hunt down Kili to tag along and watch you. Propriety, you know."

"Yes, Amad," Fili answered back, holding out his arm, encouraging Jade to take it. When she did, tucking hers through the crook of his elbow, he smiled broadly, pulling the door shut as they left.

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"I had no idea Erebor was this big, or grand," Jade told him as he escorted her through the maze of halls and over walkways on their tour.

"Neither did I until we arrived," Fili admitted, still a bit awestruck himself. "I grew up on tales of the mountain, but even I was stunned by what I saw when we first entered. Granted, it's been cleaned up considerably, for it would seem a dragon can make quite a mess if left unchecked."

"Was the dragon truly terrible?" Jade asked, knowing that she was talking to one of the few dwarves in Middle Earth who had actually seen it.

"I won't lie, he was beyond frightening," Fili admitted, unashamed by such a confession. "More than once I thought Kili and I were going to be fried to a crisp by his fire…the rest of us as well. Yet, it was not myself, or any of our company, who actually felled the foul beast. We owe that accomplishment to Bard, the current king of Dale. It was his arrow who pierced Smaug's hide, bringing him down over Lake Town."

"Is that why the king has been sending so much aid to help rebuild Dale?" she inquired, enjoying the ease in which they had been speaking. When Fili raised an eyebrow, obviously impressed that she was aware of such things, she looked down, blushing slightly. "I promise I don't eavesdrop, but when serving your mother it's difficult not to overhear what's being said between her and your uncle."

"It's no secret," he laughed, easing her concerns. "Thorin is indeed grateful to King Bard, but I think he also feels somewhat responsible as well. Lake Town was completely destroyed by Smaug before he was killed, but even then, when the orcs attacked, the men of Esgaroth joined their swords with those of the dwarves, along with the elves and eagles…not to mention Beorn, the skin changer. My uncle has pledged to offer aid and support to those who stood by us that day."

"Even the elves?" she pressed, the tone of her voice revealing her amazement over this.

"I think your ears have heard more than you're letting on," Fili chuckled, knowing Thorin's dislike for the residence of Mirkwood, their king especially. "I think everyone knows just how our kind feels about Thranduil and his kin. Even when we passed through Rivendell, there was tension on both sides. Still, the fact that even against unsurmountable odds, the elves chose to fight at our side has gone a long way in healing the rift that broke the alliance between our people so long ago. I'm not saying Uncle is ready to welcome them into Erebor with open arms, but there is talk of treaties and mutual trade."

"I'm glad to hear that," Jade nodded. "Growing up, I had several chances to journey to Rivendell with my father, for he did business with the elves. I found the city of Imladris to be wonderful and fascinating, with all the architecture, waterfalls, and fountains."

"Yes, the fountains were very nice," Fili mused, grinning to himself as he recalled that he and his fellow dwarves had bathed in one of them, much to the elves' displeasure. "And while I agree that the place was almost magical, I would still prefer solid stone under my feet, and the security of a mountain of rock over my head, any day." It pleased Fili greatly when instead of disagreeing, Jade stopped and looked around, nodding her head as her eyes seemed to shine with admiration for her surroundings. "Still, you have lived many places it would seem, both above and below ground. Will you tell me of your time spent among men? Mother has mentioned it, but I would like to hear it from you."

"I'm sure you would find it strange, yet, since I knew no better, to me it was quite normal," she informed him. "We lived in the shadow of the Misty Mountains, near the Gap of Rohan, in a house made of wood with a thatched roof. Not the safest of dwellings, but the men of our village fought to protect us from danger. We worked the land, tended livestock, and hunted for our food, much like all races do. It never occurred to me growing up that I was different from those around me, other than perhaps my size. Yet when my friends and kin began to mature much faster than me, often taking a mate and having children while I remained an adolescent, it became quite clear that I was different."

"You did know you were a dwarf though…right?" Fili inquired, extremely interested in her story.

"Oh, yes, my parents did not hide that from me," she quickly assured him. "As soon as I was old enough to understand, I was told how Gunnar and the men of our village found me in the woods while out hunting. A band of orcs had apparently attacked a small caravan of dwarves heading towards the Blue Mountains, killing all except me." She stopped there, getting a far off look in her eyes, as if she were lost in a memory.

"I'm sorry, does speaking about this upset you?" Fili was worried that he might have overstepped in some way, causing her pain in the telling.

"No…it's fine," she assured him with a sad smile. "It grieves me, yes, but I do not remember my dwarf parents. I was told that my mother had shielded me with her own body, protecting me so that I alone survived. When Gunnar and his men came upon the scene, they were able to overpower the surviving orcs, yet were sadly too late to save any others. They buried the dead, marking the graves in case anyone came along to lay claim to their bodies, but as the years went by, no one did, and my identity was never discovered. The only clue I have to who I am is this." Jade pulled on the small cord around her neck, bringing forth a shiny medallion engraved with dwarf runes.

"My little jewel?" Fili said, reading the words written there. "What does it mean?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," she replied with a slight frown. "I was wearing it when they found me, and they didn't find any other forms of identification."

"Did your foster parents not try and locate other dwarves? To find out where you had come from, or at least take you to the nearest dwarf settlement? It would have been the logical thing to do," Fili was confused, for had any dwarf come across a foundling child of men, that's what they would have done, attempting to place them back with their own kind.

"I honestly believe that was their original intention," she told him with an understanding smile. "Yet Gunnar and Ursa were never able to have children of their own. And when my father returned with a babe in his arms, my mother said she felt as if her prayers had been answered. They told the village that they would turn me over to the first dwarves they came across or make the trek to the Blue Mountains themselves when the weather turned better. Yet no dwarves came through, and as the seasons changed and summer arrived, my mother argued that I was still too little for such a major journey, so they decided to wait a year…then two."

"And then three…and four?" Fili continued, sensing where this story was going. "It would appear that the perfect time never arrived, for in truth they did not wish to part with you at all, did they?"

"I harbor no ill will towards them for their choice," Jade assured him. "They were wonderful parents, who gave me a home, food, shelter, and a great deal of love. They were kind, supportive, and eager for me to learn all they had to teach. My mother showed me how to cook, spin, and sew, while my father shared with me all his knowledge of farming and hunting. I also got to travel with my father when he would go to trade, learned the ways of the forest, and even visited Rivendell, learning the language of the elves."

"Yet nothing of your dwarf ancestry?" he pressed.

"No…there was no one to teach me about that," she admitted sadly. Suddenly her eyes brightened at a thought. "Though once, in Imladris, Lord Elrond himself took notice of me, and gifted me with a small book on the history of the seven dwarf lords created by Mahal."

"A book about dwarves, written by elves?" Fili asked, his eyebrows coming together in a look of skepticism. While the young prince never held a strong hatred for elves like Thorin, he was still a bit miffed by the fact that the king of Mirkwood had taken them prisoner and locked them in his dungeons. "I wouldn't believe everything that book had to say, it would be better if you would check out the libraries here in Erebor, if you want more accurate information. Or better yet, ask an actual dwarf…like me."

At first Jade had been a bit upset by Fili's less than understanding attitude, yet the goofy grin on his face at his last statement did much to dissipate her anger.

"Regardless, it was very generous of Lord Elrond to give it to me, and I will continue to treasure that book as one of my most prized possessions," Jade stated firmly. "But, while my adopted family never hid my true parentage, or discouraged me from learning about it, neither did I feel the urge to leave what I already had, in search of the unknown. Not until their deaths, that is. And even then, I remained in the village for a while longer, moving in with my cousin Sella after her husband was killed and helped her raise her son, Brayden. However, once he was a grown man, and left to join the Riders of Rohan, Sella also remarried, leaving nothing to hold me there."

"You had no one? No suitors? No one wishing for you to stay behind so that they might court you?" Fili found the idea of any others, especially those of the race of men, having a claim on Jade's heart very upsetting.

"I was a dwarf living among men," she laughed, finding the idea a bit preposterous. "And while I harbor no prejudice against any race, the fact that I only stood as tall as the average man's waist was a bit off-putting to anyone seeking courtship. And those who were willing to overlook our many differences and asked to pursue me…well, let's just say the feeling was never mutual. Thus I had no reservations about setting out to explore my true heritage, eventually leading me to Ered Luin."

"Well, I for one, am glad you did," Fili smiled.

"Even if my being here is causing you all this trouble?" she laughed. "Perhaps it might have been better for me to have stayed in the Dunlands."

"Never!" the dwarf prince gasped, placing far more stress on the word than he had meant to, causing him to pull back and try and cover over his statement. "I mean, without anyone left to protect you, it was wise for you to seek out the dwarves. At least we would never allow a defenseless dwarrowdam to go wandering around in the wilds alone."

"I would hardly call myself defenseless," she chuckled.

"Do you know how to fight with a sword? Swing an axe, or shoot a bow?" Fili asked pointedly.

"Well…no," she admitted. "But I do…"

Jade never got to finish her sentence, for Fili grabbed hold of her hand and practically began to drag her down the corridor, a determined look on his face.

"If you had been raised by dwarves, as Mahal had intended, you would have been trained in some form of weaponry from a very early age," he explained as they went. "So by my reckoning, you are long overdue for your first lesson!"

Dwarves do love their weapons!

Did you enjoy the 'advice' Fili was given on how to court a lass? Other than Gloin, it was pretty much the blind leading the blind, ha ha.

So, Fili and Jade are getting better acquainted it would see. Good for them! Now, on to the training yard!

Guest Reviews:

Guest: Yes, she did...but I wouldn't call anything they ever do 'proper' ha ha. Fili IS liking how things are working out, but poor Kili, stuck being chaperone. He needs a lass of his own, don't you think? Glad you liked the visual of Kili with the chicken on his head laying eggs. Thanks!

Aranel Mereneth : I sent you a reply to your account, but I can't remember if you forgot your password or not. So do you want me to answer there...or here...you decide. Glad you are enjoying my story. Thanks.

Emrfangirl: Soooo, the story of the chicken and the eggs made YOU smile just like it did Jade. Good to know the joke is universally funny. ha ha. Thanks.