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When Bofur went to further explain Ailyn was no longer listening, "where is he?" She murmured under breath as she leaned against a wall her chest beginning to heaven.
"Ailyn." Fili spoke softly, "you shouldn't see him right now." He went to touch her arm but she pulled it away.
"Why not!" She demanded her eyes filled with anger, "why can I not see my father! Is he breathing?!" She turned her gaze towards Bofur her eyes now filling with tears, "Bofur please tell me that he is breathing."
"He is Lassie." Bofur nodded slowly. Ailyn took in a deep breath and swallowed before looking at the three again, "then why should I not see him?" Her jaw clenched together.
"He hasn't woken Ailyn." Fili's eyes held regret, "and he has been taken ill. No one knows with what." His voice lowered and slowed as Ailyn began to rise slowly.
"Ailyn." Bofur took a step towards as she took a step backwards.
"I have to find him." Ailyn spoke only to herself as she turned to the door and before anyone could stop her she was gone. Ignoring the protests of her body, Ailyn ran. With all her might and strength she ran through the halls not stopping despite the feeling of burning that had started to grow within her lugs. She truly had no idea where she was going but that did not stop her. Either she would eventually find what she was searching for, or she would run into a Dwarf that would help her whether they right or not. Eventually she came to a skidding halt behind a railing of gold from a balcony looking upon the Gallery of Kings.
"Galley of Kings." Ailyn turned to look around, "the royal quarters should just be above." Her eyes locked on a set of stairs, her feet were all but ready to take off when someone called her name.
"Ailyn! Wait!" Kili jogged towards his cousin stopping to catch his breath in front of her, "just. Stop for a moment." He put his hand up, "you shouldn't really be running."
"Neither should you by the sound of your breathing." Ailyn countered brining her hand to cup her side. Kili waved his hand, "that isn't important. Fili sent me to come get you back."
"Not until I find my Adad." Ailyn protested firmly, "then and only then." Kili looked around before letting out an exasperated breath, "fine. Come on." Ailyn looked at him surprised. Kili held out his hand, "well if you aren't gonna stop, then I might as well you."
"Thank you, Kili." Ailyn took his hand grateful before the two began their slow descent up the towering staircase leading to the royal chambers.
"Why aren't you and Fili up here yet?" Ailyn questioned glancing around.
"Fili can't go up and down the stairwells yet." Kili answered, "I didn't want to leave him alone, or you." He focused on his footing as they neared the top.
"Why was I in a different room?" Ailyn asked recalling how far her room was from her cousins.
"Once Thorin fell ill Oin moved us apart until we woke up." Kili explained, "he didn't want anything else happening. When I woke and was able to move I went between sitting in your room, and sitting with Fee." Kili went on to explain what had happened after the, and after he had awoken, "it was very boring, they wouldn't let me get up for the longest time, or even leave my room at time." Kili frowned, "but I feel as if that was more of Dains orders than anyone else's."
"Dain?" Ailyn turned her head to her cousin. Kili nodded, "he stayed here after the battle. He is still here in fact."
"And the others? What about the others in the company?"
"Balin is helping with organizing cleaning crews for the mountains. Dwalin hasn't left Thorin's side. Pins his going back and forth between all of the wounded, Ori, and Dori have been helping him. Everyone else has been helping clean and rebuild. Although theses upper chambers were untouched." Kili gestured to the stone around them.
"Were those Dains men by the front of the mountain?" Ailyn continued to bombard Kili with questions, "there are so many of them...is Dain still in charge of them?" Kili opened his mouth before pausing in thought, "I believe that Balin might be better at explaining things than me, Ailyn." Kili glanced over her and Ailyn fell silent nodding.
When they came to the Kings quarters Ailyn was not sure that she would bale to enter. Despite the fact that she needed to see her father the moment she walked through the doors everything would become very real. She knew the price of battle and in truth once she walked through the doors, she would know what price her father had payed.
When the doors first opened and the two stepped inside what little movement was happening in the room ceased, and everything fell quiet.
"Durins name." Dwalin spoke looking at the two his eyes settling on Ailyn.
"You should thank him brother." Balin said happily making his way to Ailyn before greeting her with a warm hug, "it is a great to see you Lassie."
"You too Balin." Ailyn returned the hug gracious before looking at the others in the room. Dwalin gave her a soft smile that she returned. Ori hugged her next, she was grateful to see the young dwarf alive and well noting only a few scratches on his face. She had no doubt that Dori and Nori took care of him during the battle.
"You are supposed to be in bed." Oin scolded her before patting her on the arm softly, "you gave us all a fright."
"I think I scared myself a bit." Ailyn lowered her voice as her gaze fell upon the bed towards the back of the large chamber. In a haze she crossed the room quickly coming towards the right of the bed. Thorin laid in the center of it, still and unmoving. Ailyn swallowed as her mouth went dry, staring at her father. Although now he did not look like her father at this moment. His eyes was dark, while the rest of his skin was pale racked with cuts and purple bruises. Although he looked cold, and shivered when Ailyn gently grasped his hand his skin was hot. She sunk into a chair near the bed, settling her arms on the side of the bed, "what is wrong with him?" Her eyes scanned over the Dwarfs fear igniting in them as Oin shook his head wandering closer, "we do not know." His voice was gruff but gentle, "he fell sick shortly after the battle."
"But he is strong." Ailyn whispered looking back at Thorin, closing watching his chest rise and fall through the blankets, "he is surly stronger than this."
"…He would be." Oin shook his head again, "but his wound has become infected, and we do not know what he is sick with. So, we cannot-"
"Treat him?" Ailyn asked quickly fear lacing her voice.
"We are treating him Ailyn." Dwalin spoke firmly but gently, "have no fear of that lassie."
"But he is not awake." Ailyn whispered to herself laying her head on the edge of the bed, her hand still wrapped around Thorins. She stayed there for despite the protests of the elder Dwarfs, soon she fell into an unpeaceful sleep.
"Careful now." Thorin whispered gently as he clasped his large hand around his daughters small one, helping her guide the silver carving knife over the wood as she stared at it intently. Wanting nothing more than the piece to be perfect like the ones she had see in the shop of Mister Bofur. Like the ones she had watched Mister Bifur carve again and again. She smiled quickly as the tail of the horse began to form before returning to her gaze of focus.
"Do you know this symbol?" The large dark haired Dwarf pulled the Dwarfling up onto his lap, pointing to the symbol he had added.
"It is our symbol." She spoke with a smile, grabbing and inspecting her newly crafted horse. The Dwarf smiled at the Dwarfling, "yes it is. With this, you shall never be lost." He whispered placing a soft kiss to the top of her head, "ever."
Ailyn woke with her head snapping up as a loud crash ran through the room.
"Sorry." Kili apologized as he bent and picked up a metal bowl, "didn't mean to wake you."
"How long have I been asleep?" She turned to look around seeing, Oin sitting at a large wooden desk stirring something, and Dwalin in the corner still.
"Only an hour or two." Kili answered watching as Oin worked, but Ailyn could tell he was slightly bored.
"Where is Balin?" She sat up more, watching her father. There had been no change.
"Attempting to reason with Dain." Dwalin scoffed, "there is no such thing. Dain and reason." Again he scoffed grunting in disapproval. Dori sent him a warning look but he just dismissed it. "We should have just thrown him out." Dwalin went on, "his Dwarfs all over the mountain, him strutting around as if we was king." Ailyn looked at him confused, "what do you mean by that? Dain is not king."
"Nay, but he doesn't seem to know that." Again Dwalin scoffed with distaste and Ailyn turned her attention towards Kili in question. He glanced at Oin before letting out a sigh, "after the battle, since all of us were unconscious, he has seemed to make himself at home."
"There was no other heir to succession." Dori continued, "Dain saw it was his duty to step up."
"But Balin…" Ailyn looked over the faces of the Dwarves, all of them seemed to have a solemn and distasteful look about them at the mention of Dain Ironfoot. A knot formed in Ailyns stomach, "has he not be…helpful? Surly he has fulfilled the promises that were made. Erebor is being rebuilt, as is Dale…" She slowed her speech as Kili shook his head regretfully.
"Dain has not sent provisions." Kili answered, "nor has he been completely hospital to the people of Dale. Or that of the Elves." His voice was gentle. Ailyn was aware that her younger cousin had some sympathy towards some Elves since Mirkwood, but she still knew that other Dwarves held grudges against the Elves. She herself did not entirely know where she herself stood on those grounds. They did fight with the Dwarves in the battle for the mountain.
"I must speak with him." Ailyn stood abruptly, but grimaced as pain shot through her side.
"Careful now Lassie." Oin stood slowly, "I need to check your wounds before you move anymore." He walked towards her ushering her back to the chair.
"But the men in Dale." Ailyn protested, "or the Elves…surely Dain is not being gentle with that alliance either." She clenched her teeth as Oin inspected her wound before changing the bandages, "how is your pain?"
"Fine." Ailyn nodded, "all of me is sore from time to time. Is there anything else I should know?"
"Dain has no love for Elves?" Kili shrugged leaning back on a wall, "but then again that is not new."
"But is not kind towards the race of man?" Again Ailyn stood, more slowly this time, "surly something must be done."
"Balin is speaking with him." Dwalin announced before looking over at Ailyn, "as is Fili. But Dain is at the moment in charge. Balin does not wish to anger him, since Thorin is not yet awake, and The Ironfoots outnumber us greatly."
"I must still talk to them." Ailyn walked towards the door, "where are they meeting?"
"I'll take you." Kili opened the door, "but perhaps we should change you into different clothes that fit you better." Ailyn looked down at her clothes with a nod, "perhaps that is a good idea."
Again the two cousins walked through the mountain, Ailyn now dressed in a blue shirt with a loosely tightened grey leather corset that looped around the shoulders. Then tighter fitting pants tucked into Dwarven boots. Kili began to make his way to the lower levels of the west of the Lonely Mountain.
"What is he like?" Ailyn asked as they descended down a flight of stairs slowly, "Dain Ironfoot?" Kili thought for a moment before answering, "firm, loud, stubborn. At times very arrogant. He seems to have a set mind in most matters. No love for the Elves. No real fondness of the race of men either."
"Sounds pleasant." Ailyn gave a doubtful laugh. What Kili had spoke about Dain Ironfoot quickly became apparent as when the two entered the council room Dain had just slammed his fist on the table, facing Fili and Balin who were seated on the other side.
"Ye' cannot trust the pointy erd' bastards!" He exclaimed not noticing the entrance of the two Durins, "nay! Ye' shall not send supplies 'r money to the race of man neither! It'll run ye' dry."
"We made a deal with the men of Dale. With King Bard." Fili answered in a stern tone, "we cannot afford to go back on our word, and make enemies of them. We have more than enough gold. As for the Elves we must try our best to make allies of them once more." Dain let out a scoff before chuckling, "ye' are too young. Ye' do not yet understand how this world works dear prince."
"We understand more than you know." Ailyn spoke up, announcing the presence of herself and Kili. Dain looked at her in surprise before dipping her head, "m'lady. I had heard that ye' wer' indeed awake, but had not idea that ye' were movin' about."
"I have never done well with bedrest." Ailyn moved forward standing next to Fili, "I seem to have just heard your proposal to double cross the people of Dale? Why would that benefit us? Like my cousin said, we need all the allies we can get. My father made a promise. We should help them." As soon as Ailyn got a good glimpse of the Dwarf, she now knew why her kin had been so weary. She had only gotten far away glimpses of the Dwarf lord, but up close he was slightly terrifying. With reddish wild hair, broad shoulders and a booming voice he was every bit the intimidating Dwarf she had heard stories about. Leaning back in his chair Dain seemed to weigh Ailyn's words carefully before answering, "I shall 'bout it." He stared at her, "tis' will be m' dwarfs helpin after all." Before anyone could say anything else Balin jumped in, "of course we understand. Thank you for your time. We shall leave you, no doubt you have much to think on." Dain nodded before waving his hand lazily as one of his soldiers opened the doors for the four. Reluctantly Fili rose from his chair and stiffly left the room.
"He is wrong." Ailyn addressed Balin once the doors were closed and they were alone.
"He may very well be Lassie." Balin nodded sadly, "but right now the power is in his hands. Even though you three may be the actual heirs to Thorin…" He shook his head and lead them away to a deserted part of the castle, "even though you three are the heirs, and it was said that if your uncle could retain his duties that the power should fall to the three of you…Dain has more might and more power. Dwalin and I have talked." Balin looked at the three, "and it seems that it would be in all of our bests interests if we keep Dain. In a word, happy. At least until Thorin wakes, or more of the Dwarves that are loyal to your father come to Erebor." Balin explained his view on the situation in length before ending, and letting the three younger Durin's fall into silent thought.
"But we must help Dale." Fili answered seriously.
"And we will laddie." Balin gently patted his arm, "we just need to buy ourselves time. I have a feeling that given the chance, Dain would take this mountain." The Durins looked at each other quickly. Inside Ailyn's heart sped up, and she sent a silent prayer to Mahal that her father would wake soon. They were going to need him.
Well, that's the chapter, I hope you all liked it! Thank you all so much for reading! :)