Thank you for all of the wonderful reviews! I made up for the last chapter by writing an extra long one it seems. Enjoy :)
"How little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue." ― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Nearly a month had passed since Lady Dis returned to Erebor and all was back to normal it seemed. The mountain endured its first true scandal when Prince Kili returned after a week long absence, but the rumors ebbed as quickly as they appeared and all was forgotten in a matter of days.
Signi did not think that the King acted in a manner appropriate to the situation, but she seemed to be the only dwarf with that opinion. Kili was brought before the king and all of Erebor was present for his sentencing. Seven weeks hard labor was a mere slap on the wrist for indecent acts and possible treason, as the king deemed Kili's actions, but threat of expulsion from Erebor for a second offence was the final straw for Signi. How could the king stand before the entire court and condemn his nephew, his own blood, for something as little as spending a few days with the woman he loved?
She did not have many opportunities to speak with him after the sentencing, but on one occasion, she caught him on his way to the lower levels.
"Durin's Beard," she exclaimed. "I did not expect to see you in an age or two. Did the king finally release you from your labor?"
"I'm afraid not," Kili chuckled. "I still have four weeks to go. I was on my way down now to work the billows."
Signi gave him a sympathetic grimace. "The billows sound like a delightful way to spend one's afternoon."
Kili shrugged, his good-natured grin remaining in place. "It beats the stables any day."
Shaking her head, Signi said with a sad smile, "Was it worth it?"
The prince's grin faded and his eyes pierced hers with an unrestrained ferocity that she had seen just once before when he was first sneaking out of the front gates.
"It was absolutely worth it," he said, his voice resolute and raw. "And I would do it again, even if Uncle means to stand by his threat of banishing me from the mountain."
Signi's eyes widened as she tried to understand. She had never experienced such an emotion, one in which the dwarf loves enough to forfeit everything he knows, every single kinsman, for the companionship of one lady. She had heard about such things in books, the silly variety favored by her sisters, but it sounded like absolute folly to her. And yet, if she did find herself unlucky enough to be attracted to another, she hoped it would be affection of the searing, passionate kind that Kili was experiencing.
What surprised Signi even more was Lady Dis' opinion on the matter.
The ladies met each day before dinner to practice with their swords. The king's sister was quickly becoming a formidable opponent and Signi was able to unleash her full strength as they sparred. Both ladies knew that these sessions of exercise were the only thing keeping Signi from saying something foolish to the king at their nightly dinners.
After speaking to Kili in the hall, Signi decided to broach the topic with Dis as they began another round.
"I asked Kili if he regretted leaving the mountain," she said, ducking away from Dis' sword.
Dis' expression was unreadable, but her next round of blows were hard and angry. "And what did my son say?"
Signi parried Dis' swings with ease. "He said he would do it again, even if the king means to expel him from the mountain."
"My brother would do no such thing," Dis growled. She attempted to strike Signi's exposed belly with the flat of her blade, but was blocked just in time.
"The king sounded serious when he gave that sentence."
Dis' scowl deepened. "The king is too weak to carry it out. For all of his growls and glares, his family is his vulnerability. It has been for years and his enemies all know it. Kili will sneak out again and Thorin will allow him to return. They do this dance every time Kili gets the urge to have some elf bread with his butter."
Signi felt her stomach turn at Dis' euphemism. It was not like Dis to speak so vehemently against one of her sons.
"But surely you do not want the King to banish Kili from the mountain," Signi said, clanging her sword against Dis' with a downward swing. Holding her position, she bared down on her opponent, locking their weapons by grasping the lady's sword in her gloved hand.
Dis said nothing but gritted her teeth and heaved against Signi's grip. Breaking loose, she swung fiercely and growled loudly in her effort. Grunting against the blows, Signi moved close enough to Dis to jab her elbow sharply into her ribs. It was not a wise move, but it was effective enough for Signi to disarm Dis, her sword skidding across the stone floor.
Dis did not retrieve her weapon right away. Rubbing her newly bruised side, she glared at Signi as she tried to catch her breath.
"Do not think for a moment that I want my son banished from the mountain," she said in a low deadly voice. Signi shivered at her tone, but did not look away. "Kili is behaving like a boy who is still using his cock for brains. He is too old for me to stop him from participating in such dalliance. As king, Thorin is the only one with the ability to stop him, but he chooses instead to embarrass the family and make empty threats."
Never had Signi seen Dis with such a fearsome countenance or with such venom in her voice.
"I do not think that this is a passing fancy of Kili's," Signi said with an entreating tone. Surely Lady Dis could see that this was more than infatuation. She was so quick to support Lifa and Fili, why could she not do the same for Kili?
"Oh? And how is it that you have come to know my son better than myself?"
Signi flinched. "I did not mean –"
"You did not mean to insert your opinion on my family's personal matters? You did not mean to imply that I do not care for my son's future after such a scandal? Kili is a prince of Erebor and he cannot have an elven mistress or half-breed bastards living in the forest when he finally marries. If the king had a son to inherit the throne, I could turn a blind eye to whomever Kili chose to lay with. But that is not the case and I cannot have the line of Durin sullied by an elf."
Signi opened her mouth to retort, but she could not summon the words. Dis was correct in her belief that it would be the scandal of a century if it was revealed that the forest was littered with Kili's illegitimate children - elf mother or not. But Signi knew that he loved the elleth deeply. She had known dwarves driven by lust before, she had heard their boisterous talk on the training field and seen the way their hungry eyes followed her sister after a few pints of ale, but Kili was nothing of the sort when he vehemently pledged to do anything within his power to be with the the elf maid.
Dis watched coldly as Signi attempted to form a response. After several long moments when no words came, the king's sister gave Signi a stiff nod and turned to leave, her back rod straight and proud.
The newest wave of dwarves were a blessing from Mahal when it came to Erebor's markets. The once empty market stands were overflowing with merchandise fresh from Ered Luin. Wives of miners and smiths filled the markets with their craft shortly after arrival in the mountain and gold flowed through hands like the Anduin.
With the new markets came new friends. Lifa had made several acquaintances since their arrival, many of them the young daughters of Erebor's newest nobles. Their friendships centered on mindless chatter over tea and crochet. Lifa was well-mannered in each of these social gatherings, but she was careful not to mention the attention she received from Prince Fili. As much as she wanted to discuss her feelings with a female companion, these ladies were all likely candidates for the prince's hand and would be favored by the king.
Signi on the other hand became fast friends with a girl named Kara. She was the eldest child of a silversmith with six younger brothers. At 128 she was reaching the far edge of what was considered marriageable age. She was a sensible sort of girl who preferred watching dwarves rowdy with drink or dancing rather than joining them. Like Signi, she was tall, but she was also heavy boned and solid. Kara was unusually fair-haired, her beard standing out like dandelion fluff against her tanned cheeks. What she lacked in beauty, she made up for in a pleasant down-to-earth attitude.
Signi and Kara were inseparable, and Lifa often found herself wandering the markets with both of the girls. Of course, they preferred raiding the book stands over trying on beaded cloaks and silver rings, but Lifa enjoyed their company. On most days.
"Do you think they will start selling weapons in the market soon?" Signi asked as she trailed behind Lifa and Kara.
The crowds were already thick just after breakfast. Despite the early hour the decadent scents of fresh-baked bread, homebrew ales, roasted turkey legs, and sizzling pork skins drew laborers and lords alike into the fray.
"Whatever do you need with weapons?" laughed Lifa. Signi did not answer.
"My father says that there is no need for weaponry in the markets of Erebor. This is a kingdom for peace amongst kin. The king will provide a sword and armor for any dwarf that is willing to march for him, but he will not condone putting swords in the hands of those who can't use them. Says it doesn't foster trust with one another." said Kara, ignoring Signi's indignant huffs beside her.
"That is ridiculous," growled Signi. "And what about those who travel away from the mountain? What does the king say about dwarves taking the Great East Road or the Northern Pass without as much as a dagger to fend off the highway men and goblins? A merchant such as your father shouldn't have to ask for the king's protection, or permission for that matter, to trade with other kingdoms."
"Seriously, Signi," chastised Lifa. "I think you are being a little melodramatic."
Signi opened her mouth to argue, but was interrupted by Kara. "If my father needed a new sword, I imagine that he would go to the forges and commission one," she said sensibly. "The king has not banned them completely; he just doesn't think that it is necessary to sell them in the market."
Lifa chuckled at her sister's scowl. "Perhaps you should spend less time trying to find fault with the king and more time helping me find something to wear to this party," she teased. "You may not be interested in romance, but I am determined to secure a suitor before Durin's Day."
There was no holiday or festival approaching, but news had meandered quickly through the mountain that Dain was on his way to Erebor to meet with the king on some matters of state. It was common knowledge that anytime Dain travelled a party was to be had in his honor. Lifa was looking forward to dressing up and dancing in Erebor's Great Hall. Signi was looking forward to drinking Gimli and Kili under the table.
With an exaggerated sigh, Signi looped her arm through Lifa's to walk beside her. Kara quickly stepped forward as well to take Signi's right arm.
"I was under the impression that Lifa had secured a princely suitor already," Kara said, leaning across her friend to give the redhead a smug grin.
"Oh please," Lifa sputtered, her cheeks rosy with embarrassment. "The prince is very kind in his efforts to welcome me to Erebor. That is all, I am sure."
"Right," said Signi, rolling her eyes. "Three months later the prince is still welcoming you to the mountain. Funny, none of the rest of us have had that treatment."
"Picnics under the trees, Dorwinion wine every other night, the new quill with gold nibs and a jade inkpot…" Kara held up a finger with each gift she named.
"And don't forget the new ivory combs last night," said Signi, tugging on her sister's braid dangling beside her ear. "Such an expensive gift. That oliphaunt ivory came from the east. Not the sort of thing you bring here from Ered Luin."
"No," Lifa protested weakly. "They were from Lady Dis…said they match my hair better than hers…Fili…no.."
"You might as well admit it, sister dear. Prince Fili is a courting dwarf, or I'll eat my beard."
"You have no beard," said Kara solemnly, her eyes twinkling with mirth
"Thanks for reminding me," Signi spat.
Kara chuckled, turning her attention back to Lifa. "You know what I think? I think you should seduce him right away, let him know what he is missing if he marries one of those other ladies. Besides, not much the king can do if there is a royal baby on the way.
"Kara!" both girls gasped, one horrified the other in amusement. Lifa seemed to be hyperventilating at the idea, her face beet red, while Signi roared with laughter.
"What?" their friend shrugged. "It happens all of the time in Ered Luin. A shopkeeper's daughter can land a marriage with the son of a wealthy lord if she gives him a little preview. Once is all it takes sometimes."
Lifa took a few deep breaths to calm her racing heart. Seduce Prince Fili? The idea was far more tempting than she cared to admit. Mahal, what would her mother think of such behavior? Although it was not ladylike to consider bedding a dwarf before marriage, if her mother's actions with Elin were any indication, Lifa suspected that Mama would approve of any method that landed a prince.
"While I appreciate your advice on the matter, I will not be giving the prince a preview," she said stiffly. "Now if you will excuse me, I am going to make good use of my time here. Come find me when you are finished talking about the royal family in such a way."
Stomping away, she could hear the girls sniggering after her until she was several stalls down the path.
The stands at the end of the lane were filled with rich fabrics and finely embroidered gowns – the latest fashions from Ered Luin and Minas Tirith. Lifa had never seen such vibrant colors or decadent textiles, such finery never made east of the Misty Mountains, but her father told her once that Erebor and Dale together had been the height of fashion and luxury before Smaug. It seemed as though the new dwarves from the west were determined to make it so once again.
Pausing at a booth filled with fur pelts and soft leather gloves, Lifa's attention was immediately captured by a beautiful silver fox fur stole. The silvery fur shined as though it had been meticulously brushed and a blue silk ribbon, the same shade as her eyes, tied in the front with a bow. Unable to resist, she reached out to card her fingers through the thick fur.
"Aye, the lady has a good eye on her," said a croaky voice.
Looking up, Lifa was surprised to see a wizened dwarrowdam standing before her. The old woman was very short with a gray beard that was long enough to tuck into her belt.
"I'm sorry?"
The dwarrowdam gestured toward the stole Lifa was inspecting. "That fox fur, it is a good piece. One of my best. Go on, try it on then."
Hesitantly, Lifa lifted the stole and wrapped it around her shoulders. It felt soft and luxurious. Lifa was nearly purring as she stroked the fur.
"Absolutely perfect," crowed the old lady, clasping her hands excitedly in front of her. "The king will not be able to resist you in this!"
"Wait, what?" sputtered Lifa.
"No?" said the old woman, her eyes twinkling. "If the king is not your fancy, then perhaps the princes. Yes, you will land a prince if you wear that, mark my words."
Lifa shook her head, too embarrassed by her assumptions to speak. With a wink, the lady walked away to help another customer. Lifa slowly removed the stole and set it back on the pile. It was a beautiful piece and she could imagine it pairing nicely with the dress she bought a few days prior. The weather was too warm for furs, but inside the mountain the temperature remained cool enough to wear it for at least a few hours.
She was still admiring the stole when she heard the clatter of footsteps stopping beside her. Signi and Kara had finally come to their senses it seemed.
"Do you think the prince could resist me in this?" she joked without raising her eyes to greet her sister.
"I think I would be unable to resist you no matter what you were wearing," said a voice much lower than Signi's
Lifa froze in horror as she realized who she was speaking to. Slowly, she lifted her wide eyes to meet Fili's very amused expression.
"My lord! I was not…I did not mean…Mahal," Lifa stuttered. She wanted nothing more than for the earth to open up and swallow her whole. How could she say such a thing to him? He must think her an absolute fool.
"Fili," he corrected gently. Taking her hand in his, he entwined his fingers with hers. "I would prefer if you called me Fili."
Lifa felt as though her stomach was trapped in her throat as she looked down at their interlocked hands. Never had he tangled his fingers with hers in such a way. Especially not in the middle of Erebor's bustling market.
"Then you should call me Lifa," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Fili grinned widely and Lifa felt her knees weaken as she stared at his twinkling eyes and deep dimples. She had to take a few deep breaths to compose herself enough to speak.
"I did not expect to see you in the markets….Fili," She attempted to hold her voice steady. The look he was giving her made composure difficult enough, but the sensation of his fingers gently squeezing hers sent shivers down her spine. She gathered from his smug expression that he knew exactly what he was doing to her.
"No, I don't get to come down here often. Uncle has kept me dutifully occupied the last several days, as I am sure you noticed," Fili's voice had a tone of bitterness at the mention of the King. Lifa hummed in agreement. "I managed to slip away for just a moment to find you."
"Oh?" asked Lifa, her eyebrows raised in surprise.
Fili nodded. "Yes, I wanted to speak with you. Your sister wasn't hard to find – she and her friend were buried in books in the booth at the other end of the lane. You were the difficult one," he teased.
Lifa rolled her eyes. "Yes, Signi and Kara were being facetious, so I decided to shop on my own."
"Anything you would like to share?" He asked.
"No," she squeaked, her face instantly flushed.
Fili chuckled. "Keep your secrets then. I am afraid I cannot stay long. The King has ordered me to Dale this afternoon. But I did want to ask you something."
"What is it?" She breathed, her heartbeat fluttering like a moth against the wind.
"As you know, we will be having a ball when Dain arrives," he said capturing her gaze with a warm smile. It was subtle, but Lifa could detect a nervous waver in his voice. "Would you do me the honor of sharing the first two dances with me?"
Fili's hand gripped hers tightly as he waited for her answer almost begging her not to say no. As if she had the strength or desire to refuse him.
"Of course, Fili," she said with a bashful smile. "I would be glad to give you the first two dances."
Letting out the breath he had apparently been holding, Fili gave Lifa a cheeky grin and brought her hand to his lips, quickly kissing each finger as they remained entwined with his.
"I would have you for every dance if I could, but Uncle would take my head clean off my shoulders for neglecting social protocol," he said, releasing her hand, his fingers brushing hers as though they did not wish to let go.
"Well you certainly can't dance without your head," Lifa teased.
Fili's eyes were still smiling, but after a few chuckles he schooled his expression to reflect the solemn look of a king. "I am sorry our meeting was so short, but I must get going," he said regretfully.
Lifa gave him an understanding nod. "You have a kingdom to help run," she said softly. "Do not apologize for that."
Fili gave her a short bow, not taking his eyes from hers and turned to leave. Two guards, who Lifa had not noticed before, turned and followed Fili as he retreated and disappeared in the crowd.
Three nights had passed since Signi foolishly opened her mouth about Kili and she was standing alone on top of the watchtower waiting for a pupil who would not come. Dis was avoiding her it seemed both at dinner and in lessons. Although Signi regretted angering the king's sister, she still felt irritation coursing through her each time she thought of their argument.
And how is it that you have come to know my son better than myself. The words were seared into Signi's memory and she felt her face burn each time she replayed them. Of course she did not know Kili better than his own mother, but how could they not see that his feelings were more than infatuation? A dwarf did not love quickly or lightly, but once they were struck they fell like stone in a deep lake. Signi could not measure how many fathoms Kili had fallen, but it must have been further than any dwarf she had met before.
The sky had been black for some time and two pinpricks of starlight glimmered beside the half moon, but Signi remained on top of the watchtower. Yellow light from the front gate shone against her back casting a long shadow across the stone floor. Holding her sword aloft, Signi watched her shadow as she moved, practicing the more complicated maneuvers that she had hoped to teach Dis that night.
Another shadow approached from her left, wide and tall, stretching longer across the floor than her own. Signi continued in her movements, her ears recognizing the heavy, purposeful footsteps that came to stop beside her.
"You mean to frighten me, your Majesty, by coming in all this state to watch me feint," she said, not raising her eyes to his.
Thorin made no sound. Slowly, he moved to her other side, inspecting her motions as he went. Without warning, he placed his hands on her, one on her squared shoulder, the other on her lifted elbow. Signi's breath caught, but she made no sound and allowed him to guide her movements slightly higher than before.
"I will not be alarmed even if you have had a century of experience before me," she continued, willing the shakiness from her voice. "There is a stubbornness in me that cannot bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage rises with every attempt to intimidate me."
"I do not doubt it," grunted Thorin, finally drawing his hands away from her and nodding when she moved as he had shown her.
Signi's breath remained shallow. She could still feel the heat of his palms burning through the tunic and mail shirt she wore.
"But I have not come to intimidate you," he said as he stood before her, tall and ever imposing with his hands clasped behind his back.
Signi lowered her sword and gave the king an appraising stare. "Why have you come, Sire?"
Thorin's expression was as unreadable as the stone effigies of the king's guarding the mountain. "I came to see how my sister is progressing with her sword, but she is not here it seems."
"You knew about that?" Signi asked, her eyebrows disappearing into her hairline.
"I know about all that happens within Erebor," he answered coolly. In the faltering light, Signi could just see the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
With an irritated huff, she crossed her arms and gave the king the best scowl she could muster. "You knew about this and you have not kicked me out of the mountain yet? What happened to 'dwarrowdams can't fight'?"
Thorin rolled his eyes at her impertinent tone. "I never said Dwarrowdams can't fight. I said that they should not be in the training arena. I cannot have my soldiers distracted when they should be training."
Signi furrowed her brow in confusion. If he did not have a problem from fighting elsewhere, then why was there such opposition to weaponry as well?
The king was reading her mind it seemed. With a sigh he said, "I did not want untrained citizens getting hurt in an effort to train themselves. You and your sister are my responsibility as long as you live in this mountain and I do not wish to face your father when something terrible happens because you chose not to listen. I know now that you are able to handle weaponry without injury to yourself."
Signi's eyes grew wider as the king spoke to the point of looking ridiculous. Thorin must have thought so as well because he chuckled when he finally caught a good look at her expression.
"What made you change your mind?" she asked, ignoring his amusement.
Thorin's smile faded beneath his beard. "My sister will not tell me the truth about her travels. It took some while getting it out of the guards – she bribed them well – but it seems that they encountered trouble on the way."
"Orcs," Signi breathed. She knew that orcs still roamed the northern wastelands. Some even made it as far east as the Iron Hills only to be shot down by Dain's archers before they reached the stone-walled keep. But they never made it as far south as the Great East Road.
Thorin nodded, his face twisting in an angry scowl. "Yes, orcs. They were attacked by only half a dozen, but they were all on wargs. The guards managed to kill them, but not before they injured one of the group, a child."
"But that isn't orc country," said Signi, unable to wrap her mind around this discrepancy.
Thorin surveyed her, his face unreadable once again. "Aye, they met them just south of the Ettenmoors."
Signi thought back to her father's map of Middle Earth. The Ettenmoors was north of Rivendell in the Misty Mountains. The region was once thick with trolls as she recalled, and Kili had mentioned meeting the Goblin King not far from there.
"Why are orcs travelling so far south? That is Goblin and troll country, is it not?"
Thorin narrowed his gaze. "You seem to know a lot about the western lands."
"I'm sorry, I did not mean to –" she sputtered.
"It is not a bad thing," Thorin interrupted. In darkness, Signi could just make out the whiteness of his teeth smiling against his black beard.
Taking a deep breath to calm, Signi met his pleased expression with a small smile of her own. She could not recall a time that she had managed to speak civilly with the king for so long.
"You are right," he continued. "The lands are infested with goblins. My company encountered orcs in that area when we travelled through two years ago. I would have expected the elves –" he spat the word as though it tasted bad "to take care of that problem long ago."
Signi watched the king pacing as he spoke. Each word seemed to anger him more than the one before. She almost did not want to give her opinion in fear that it would anger him more, but as usual her tongue behaved like a disobedient child.
"It sounds like someone should bottleneck the orcs at their source, attack them where they are coming from and keep them from making their way into mountain range."
Thorin turned on her, his eyes blazing as he glared down his long nose. Signi was not intimidated. The king was effectively making himself look like a puffed up, angry owl and she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at this imagery.
"And who will be leading this army to kill the orcs at their source?" he thundered.
Signi shrugged. "You are king, you can work out the logistics. If Rivendell is responsible for the orcs at Ettenmoors because of proximity, that leaves those closest to Gundabad responsible for the orcs pouring out of there."
Thorin gave an undignified snort. "You do realize that only the Mirkwood elves have a force strong enough and close enough to attempt such a thing. Erebor's army is too small and Dale is too weak."
"You are the king," Signi reminded him. "If you want to keep the road safe for our kin to travel and trade, you will have to do something about it."
The silence between them stretched as Thorin continued to glare and Signi maintained a look of indifference. Whatever agreement they had before seemed to be dissipating as suddenly as it appeared.
"What did you and my sister fight about," he said suddenly.
Signi did not welcome the subject change. Sighing deeply, she leaned against the battlement and inspected the edge of her sword to avoid the king's eyes as she spoke. "We discussed Prince Kili's absence and we hold a different opinion of his affections for the elf maid."
Thorin did not reply. Slowly he moved to where she stood and leaned against the stone beside her. Signi was surprised by his sudden move. He was close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off of him in waves into the cool night air. She could smell him – soap, leather, and the sweet smoke of the pipe weed he favored.
"My sister thinks that Kili is driven by his lust for the elf," he said slowly, his voice rough and low. In the winds high above the mountain, Signi had to strain to catch his words despite his closeness.
"You do not agree?" she asked. Perhaps there was hope for her friend.
Thorin chose his words carefully. "I do not know what motivates him. I believe that what he feels for the elf is more than lust, but I cannot believe that it is truly love. She brought him back to life when he nearly died, she fought beside him, and she gave him hope to survive the battle. I am forever grateful for that. But she is not our kind and Kili must marry within the dwarf kingdoms."
Signi felt her irritation growing at the king's words. While he was more forgiving than Dis when he spoke, his actions proved otherwise.
"Then why the punishment and the public embarrassment?" she growled.
Thorin's hair whipped in the wind as he turned to look at her. Her face remained impassive, but the angry swipe of her hand to push his black and silver strands from her face spoke volumes.
"I am king. I cannot allow my nephew, my heir, to openly take a mistress. Especially not a bloody elf. Mahal, the dwarf clans barely recognize me as king without the Arkenstone. I can only imagine what they would say about the line of Durin if I allowed the prince to marry her. They think we are mad enough without elven by-blow."
Signi pushed away from the stone and stood the face Thorin with a cold glare. His words angered her. They were cheap and thoughtless. Like Dis, he could see nothing more than a fleeting affair. Kili was a silly boy, much like she as a silly girl three years before. They did not trust him to know his heart or to understand the gravity of his actions.
Thorin watched her, his own expression defeated as though he could not take much more of her anger. He made no effort to stand above her or to retaliate with his own heated temper.
"The dwarves will forgive Kili's choice in wife as long as gold continues to pour from this mountain into their merchants' hands," she hissed, taking another step away from Thorin. Each step she took drew her deeper into the darkness, effectively masking her angry expression. "And I would be careful in assuming that Kili has lain with her. It may be a small matter in our culture, but for elves it is an act of marriage."
Signi did not wait for the king's reply, turning instead to stomp down the stairs and return to the mountain. It was long past dinner and she would have to sneak into the kitchens for a bite to eat, but none that mattered as she put as much distance between herself and the king as she could.
Fun times in the next one, I promise :)