Thank you for all of the AMAZING reviews! You all keep me motivated to get chapters ready at an alarming rate (for me anyway, lol). This is officially my longest posted fanfic :) I couldn't do it without your support.
In this chapter we find some very long-winded dwarves. Thank you Jane Austen for much of the dialog in the first two sections. Like before, it is paraphrased, but I try to keep the essence of the book dialog. I was also inspired to model this scene on the the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice. Enjoy and let me know what you think :)
"Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces."―Jane Austen,Pride and Prejudice
By the grace of Mahal's mighty hammer, Gloin had the good sense to have their noonday meal delivered to his quarters the next morning. Signi had not anticipated being hungry after the plate of tarts she had scarfed down with Kili that morning, but the smell of fresh meat and bread made her stomach growl noisily. It was a meal had in silence, merciful silence, save for the clinking of silverware on plates. Lifa and Gimli were nursing hangovers, both staring moodily at their plates as their queasy tummies debated the food before them. Signi was of stouter constitution than her sister, so she did not hesitate to tear into her meal. Only Mikel was completely unaffected by the evening's festivities as he opted to attend the library rather than the ball.
Vifil was the last to arrive, only making an appearance long after the meal had begun. Hovering near the end of the table, he made a feeble attempt at capturing Mikel's attention. Being a dwarf of little consequence or interest to the others at the table, he was dutifully ignored until he cleared his throat loudly and spoke in a voice that echoed in the stone-walled room.
"I request, if you please, a moment of private audience with your daughter, fair Signi, over the course of the morning," he said politely, his tongue stumbling over the rehearsed words.
Mikel raised his eyebrows in surprise and gave Signi long look of amusement. He did not answer straight away, and in his few seconds of hesitation, beads of sweat began forming on Vifil's prominent brow.
"Oh yes!" piped up Galen. "Signi would be most pleased to speak with you. She can do so now! Come lads, Lifa. Let's give them some privacy so they can speak freely."
"Please, no," cried Signi. "Don't go! I am sure that Vifil has nothing to say that cannot be heard by others."
Galen returned with a wide-eyed glare of determination. "I desire that you stay here. I insist that you stay and listen to what Vifil has to say."
To Signi's complete horror, Galen herded her family away from the table. Gloin and Gimli each carried wicked grins that begged to be smacked off of their faces. Lifa's expression seemed to be torn between apology and amusement, but she allowed herself to be drawn away. Even Mikel, Signi's own father and one ally in this cruel world, shrugged his shoulders and left the room without complaint.
The others had barely left the room when Vifil began. As he usually did when given an audience that possessed no interest in what he had to say, Vifil spoke in a never ending stream of studied opinions and scripted niceties.
"Believe me, my dear Signi, your maidenly modesty does not detract from your amiable qualities, but rather adds to your perfection. In fact, I might have found you less amiable if you had not shown this little unwillingness to speak with me alone this morning. It is for this reason that I expressly sought permission from your kin to speak with you alone.
"You can hardly doubt, at this point in our acquaintance, short as it may be, that you are aware that my attentions have fallen exclusively to you. Almost as soon as your father introduced us did I single you out as the companion of my future life. Oh, but I mustn't run away with my feelings…let me state for you the reasons for marrying, and for coming to Erebor with the design of selecting a wife, as I certainly did."
Signi remained frozen in her seat listening to Vifil's words with growing dread. Only at his mention of 'running away with his feelings' did she manage to shake her icy state, nearly laughing at the sheer absurdity of the dwarf before her.
"My reasons for marrying are, firstly, that I believe that it is the right thing for dwarf in my position to set the example of matrimony for those working under my tutelage. Secondly, I am convinced that it will add to my happiness. And thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, I was advised by my patroness, Lady Katlin. Twice she has condescended to give me her opinion on this subject. 'Choose properly' she said to me. 'Let her be a useful sort of person, not brought up high, but able to make a small income go far.'
"Of course there are many fine young ladies in Ered Luin, but after meeting your father I felt compelled to choose from his fine daughters. As you cannot inherit your father's estate, it is only right that I offer my home as well as my hand in exchange for the title that will be bestowed upon me at the time of our marriage. I am not concerned with the small income that you bring, for it will end at your mother's passing, but the honor of dining with her ladyship as well as the king after our marriage is riches enough for me, I think."
In the course of his speech, Vifil had moved to stand beside Signi, persistently ignoring her efforts to lean away from him. Energized by his proclamation of tolerance upon marriage, he eagerly attempted to embrace his intended and place a kiss on her cheek.
"You are too hasty, sir!" Signi cried, drawing on undwarven strength to spring from his grasp. "I have not given an answer. Let me save us both time and embarrassment by saying now that, although I appreciate your compliments, for I know they were dutifully given, I cannot accept your proposal."
Signi watched Vifil, warily maintaining some distance between them and using the chair she had previously been seated in as a barrier.
Vifil's face reddened at her words, but taking a few deep breaths, he proceeded without making eye contact. "I understand that it is common practice amongst well-mannered ladies to refuse a dwarf they intend to accept. In some cases they may even reject him a second and third time. Therefore, I assure you, I am not discouraged in my efforts to make you my wife."
Signi felt her temper rising at his words. "I am certainly not the type of lady forfeit happiness in hopes of a second proposal. I am perfectly serious in my refusal – you could not make me happy and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who could make you happy. Your patroness, Lady Katlin, would find me a very poor choice indeed."
"Lady Katlin would surely approve," he muttered, his eyes darting back and forth as though he was trying to find his place in the script that he so carefully planned. "I will speak to her when I return to Ered Luin. I look forward to our next meeting and I am sure you will meet me with a more favorable answer to my petition. Yes, your refusal is a fine example of the pleasing habits of elegant females. As there is no reason on my behalf to turn away my offer, I assure you that your manners are noted and respected, and it does nothing more than increase my affection."
Signi stomped her foot in frustration. This stubborn dwarf made her want to rip her braids out. "Vifil! I am not the sort of elegant female that would torment a respectable dwarf with false refusals. You have done me a great honor of giving me such a proposal, but I how can I refuse it any plainer? I will not marry you now or later."
Vifil laughed with a tone edging on maniacal. "Fear not, my lady! Your efforts do not wound me. I shall speak to your father and perhaps then will your mind be changed."
Oh how freeing it would be to bang her head on the stone wall. Surely that would drive away this insipid dwarf. Unleashing a string of unmaidenly curses, Signi fled the dining room and ran down the corridors to escape. Mahal, she thought, if he follows me in the halls I shall scream for the guards.
Fili and Kili were on their way to the training arena when a commotion in entrance hall below caught their attention. Looking over the balcony rail, they were surprised to see Signi standing with her arms stiffly crossed. Her father stood before her, calmly listening to his daughter arguing with an irate Galen. Vifil stood a few yards away, head bowed as he listened.
The dwarrowdams fought loudly and their voices carried to Fili and Kili on the balcony.
"Promised your mother, I did!" screeched Galen, wagging her finger under Signi's nose. "Told her I would find you a proper husband, you headstrong, foolish girl!"
"If she is headstrong and foolish as you say," interrupted Vifil in a meek voice, "then perhaps she would not make a good wife after all, for I am sure such defects of temper could not bring me happiness."
Signi nodded vehemently in agreement with Vifil's words. "Absolutely! My temper would be greatly distressing, I am sure of it."
"No, no, no!" cried Galen, scrambling to backtrack from her previous statements. "She is headstrong on these matters only. In every other way she is a good natured girl."
Fili and Kili's snickers floated down to the entrance hall. Galen shot them a dangerous, narrow-eyed glare, but continued in her efforts to convince Vifil to reconsider.
"Oh Mikel," she said, rounding on Signi's father. "You must make Signi marry Vifil. She says she will not have him and if we do not hurry, he might change his mind!"
Mikel Wordsmith listened to Galen with a passive expression of contemplation. He seemed to be considering her words with great care as his daughter silently begged him to take her side on the matter.
"And what is it exactly that you want me to do in this situation? If Signi has given her answer, there is nothing left for me to do," He said evenly. Even from their placement high above the scene, the princes could see a twinkle in his eye that defied his diplomatic tone.
"Speak to Signi yourself!" Galen insisted, smacking Mikel firmly on the shoulder. "Tell her you want her to marry Vifil!"
"Very well," Mikel sighed. Turning to Signi, he beckoned her closer, "Come here, child."
Signi walked slowly to her father, bowing her head in shame before him.
"I understand that my friend, Vifil, has made an offer of marriage to you. Is this true?"
Signi nodded, but did not raise her eyes to his.
"Very well – and this offer of marriage you refused?"
"I have," she whispered.
"Very well," he said again, his voice stern like it was the numerous time he chastised her as a dwarfling. "We now come to the point. Your cousin has made a promise to your mother and she insists that you accept. Is that not so, Galen?"
"It is!" she cried. "And I will not see her again if she refuses."
"Ah, so now you have an unfortunate decision to make, my dear. From this day forward, you will be a stranger to one of your relatives. Galen will not see you again if you do not marry Vifil, and I will not see you again if you do."
Signi threw herself in her father's arms in happiness at his answer. Ever a man of wit and wisdom, Mikel would never force his daughters into a dissatisfied union.
Fili and Kili found his response equally amusing, each roaring in laughter at Galen's disgruntled fluttering and Vifil's mortified disappearance. Their laughter was heard on the lower level, making Signi turn a fierce scowl on them. Mikel excused himself, telling Signi that he desired to spend the remainder of the day undisturbed in the library, and, he added with a humored glint, that he expected her to handle her own refusals from there on out.
Taking a moment to flash a rude hand gesture in the direction of the still laughing princes, Signi stalked out of the mountain and headed toward the lake for desperate solitude.
Thorin had quite forgotten that he was not alone when Lord Brasi finally took leave from the king's study. Lunch had barely been served when Thorin found himself cornered by the dwarf, and it was with no small amount of frustration that he followed Brasi's evening departure with a string of Khuzdal curses.
"If I might be so bold," said a quiet voice from the hearth. "You do not seem to have recovered from your previous night's grievances."
Thorin's head whipped around to meet his valet, Nadir, with a withering scowl. Unfortunately this did not have the desired effect. Nadir had pledged his service to Thorin just two months after Erebor was reclaimed and the first wave of dwarves moved into the mountain, and not once since that first introduction had the dwarf fallen victim to one of Thorin's sour moods or biting glares. He had a constitution of steel, which was feat in itself given his slight build and fair complexion, and he could read anyone he met with the unnerving accuracy of a mind-reader.
"What are you doing here?" the king snarled, hoping that his growl could achieve what his glare could not.
Nadir again was not affected. Remaining where he stood by the fireplace, he gave his answer with nonchalance. "You called for me. Lord Brasi arrived before you could give your directive and has thus distracted you to the point of forgetting my presence."
Despite his practiced indifference, Thorin knew Nadir well enough to recognize the irritation lingering in his words. Fortunately, the irritation seemed to be directed at Lord Brasi rather than himself. This thought brought the king's lips up into a smirk.
"Brasi's determination has that affect," he muttered wryly.
"I must say, you held it together better than expected, my liege," Nadir teased, pouring the king a drink without waiting for the command. "It must have been a great disappointment to him when you so adamantly refused to give an answer to his requests at the present."
Thorin growled at the comment, swallowing the wine Nadir had given him in one gulp. Lord Brasi could be a cunning bastard when he chose to be, which was far too often in Thorin's opinion, and his efforts that morning had been no less contrived.
The king was aware that rumors of his anger the previous night had circled the mountain many times over since dawn. It was for this reason that his council members avoided him. Balin claimed that too many were nursing hangovers to be any use meeting that day, but Thorin knew that his temper was the true reason for delay. In some ways he was thankful that his friends had granted him reprieve, giving him a chance to cool his mind before he met with Stonehelm and Bard. But he was the damn king and he could not stand the thought of his people knowing that there was still weakness within him. Too many eyes were on him day and night, searching for any sign of the dragon sickness surfacing again. He did not know how much was known about his behavior after the ball, but he would not be surprised if someone managed to connect it to parting with gold.
Lord Brasi proved to be as slimy as Thorin had long suspected him to be. Taking advantage of the moment, Brasi slipped through the chink in Thorin's carefully built armor and attempted to trap him in oaths and promises cleverly designed to disguise their deceit. A promise of more soldiers from Ered Luin, Brasi's personal guard, the best dwarven army in all of Middle Earth, was nearly tempting enough to overlook the double salary such soldiers would demand from Erebor. A newly laid road allowing clean passage from Ered Luin for all who traveled it, patrolled and paved by Brasi's company, sounded promising despite the casual mention of Erebor gold funding such a project. Not to mention the proposed toll, a small matter said in passing with a smarmy smile, which would pay for maintenance of the road but not the salaries of patrolling officers.
These propositions irritated Thorin, and despite the pain shooting from his clenched jaw to his throbbing temples every time Brasi hinted at Erebor's expenditures in his plans, the king could not deny the merit in his offerings. The cost would be great to his kingdom, but perhaps the benefits would be greater. It was too early in the talks to tell and he would need to seek Balin and Gloin's advice on this matter. Even Mikel Wordsmith might offer some keen insight to these decisions.
With these considerations in mind, Thorin politely listened to Brasi's propositions but maintained steadfast in his reply that he could not possibly give an answer without discussing it with his advisors.
"I understand, Thorin," Brasi said with a cold smile. "As king you have a duty to humor your council with the belief that their advice matters."
Thorin bristled at his words. Perhaps he had made a fool of himself when he summoned Dain's soldiers without consent from the others, but he would not for a moment suggest that his council members had no bearing on his actions.
"I have something that might give you more cause to consider my offer," Brasi continued, fixing his unwavering, shrewd gaze on Thorin. "I have a daughter."
Thorin responded with an indifferent snort. This the king knew. Ever since Brasi's arrival in the mountain, Thorin had heard and seen far more of Miri than he cared to for the remainder of his days. She was as predatory as her father and she was the last possible dwarrowdam that Thorin would allow on the throne of Erebor.
"I have no desire for a wife," Thorin growled, his lip curling in disgust.
Brasi leaned back with a self-satisfied smirk. "I wasn't offering her to you. Your nephew is to be your heir, is he not?"
Thorin felt a wave of nausea at Brasi's words. Fili was to be his heir and he was of marriageable age. The king himself had mentioned on several occasions that it was time he found a wife.
"As you may be aware," Brasi continued, ignoring Thorin's reddening face. "Ered Luin has been experiencing an economic slump, so to speak, since your little jaunt to reclaim Erebor. Too many of our good merchants have moved east. I am sure Lady Dis has kept you well informed. Mahal be praised, I had the insight to make some good investments prior to your quest and was able to save many families from financial ruin.
"Now you may be wondering what this has to do with my Miri. I will tell you one thing, Thorin Oakenshield. My daughter believes that her future lies with Prince Fili, and my daughter always gets what she wants. Perhaps I have spoiled her in this regard, but in this case it benefits us all. In the event you deny their betrothal, I am afraid you will find trade from Ered Luin very scarce indeed. I may not have a share in every merchant's profits, but they do not hesitate to listen to me. Gondor is knocking at our door as we speak. As is Rohan. Kinship is all that places Erebor before them, but that can easily be forgotten if we cannot come to an agreement."
Thorin did not interrupt Brasi in his speech. There was little he could do but grind his teeth and clench his fist until his palms bled from his nails digging into the skin. Lord Brasi, greedy serpent that he may be, was far too correct in his words to argue. Thorin Oakenshield would not be blackmailed, but in that moment, the weight of his kingdom bore too heavy to throw the dwarf from the mountain as he dearly wanted to do. Winter would be there faster than they could plan for and trade with non-dwarven kingdoms was still weak. Thorin needed to buy a few more years with Ered Luin before turning to closer sources.
Lord Brasi was quite satisfied with the effect of his words. He sat back in his chair when he finished speaking and watched with a smug expression as Thorin's face registered the gravity of the situation. It was a small miracle in that moment that the Orcrist did not find itself removed from the wall once more and plunged mercilessly in Lord Brasi's rounded gut.
"I see," the king answered tightly, unwilling to give the bastard an inch of approval. "And I expect that you will understand when I say that this too must be presented to my advisors, as well as my nephew, before an agreement can be made."
Brasi's expression soured slightly, only to be replaced by his preferred cold smile. "Of course, my King, I would expect no less."
Neither dwarf offered the typical pleastantries as Brasi saw himself out of the room.
Nadir pouring another glass of wine brought the king out of his reverie. "So what will you do with this threat that Brasi has so kindly offered?"
Thorin groaned, leaning his head back to rest on his chair and rubbing his aching temples. Nothing seemed to be going the way he wanted it to. It was moments like these that made him believe that facing Smaug was far easier than running a kingdom.
"I will present it to my advisors, just like I said to him," he growled. "Mahal give me strength, if they cannot offer a better solution…"
"Prince Fili will not agree to this arrangement," Nadir said
"I would not expect him to," sighed Thorin. It was not the first time that he regretted not having sons of his own to bear the duties of their lineage if only to save his sister-sons from such responsibility. "But I am afraid that more there is far more at stake if he followed his heart rather than his duty."
Nadir scowled openly at this comment and Thorin felt dutifully ashamed. Lifa was a likeable dwarrowdam and a favorite amongst his staff, but she was not a future queen.
"These ladies from the Iron Hills are a mystery to me," the valet muttered. Thorin could feel Nadir's side-long gaze on him, watching closely for a reaction. Two can play this game, the king thought as he allowed his stony expression fall into place.
"The elder sister is lovelier than any dwarrowdam I have seen in this mountain," Nadir continued slyly. "But it is the younger that has captured the most attention. I can't see what it is about her beardless face that draws dwarves in, but just this morning she made the quite the commotion when she turned down an offer of marriage."
Thorin's face remained passive save for the muscle twitching at his jaw.
"I heard from Lord Gloin's serving girl that she had to refuse that friend of her father's three times and fled from the quarters to get away from his persistence."
Breathing heavily through his nose, Thorin's heart pounded in his chest and his face turned red like a ripe tomato. That little Vifil was a growing nuisance and Thorin had half a mind to send him packing without waiting for their appointment the next day.
"I also heard from the princes that this carried into the entrance hall and there was a massive spat in which Lord Mikel agreed that his daughter should not marry the dwarf."
Thorin felt relief washing through him, cooling his temper like the chilly waters of the Anduin.
"Surely Lord Dain intends to make an announcement soon. It would not be wise for any more dwarves to seek her hand as she has been betrothed to young Thorin Stonehelm since they were children."
The king's enraged bellow could be heard down the long corridor from his study, and many of the stationed guardsmen found themselves taking battle stance lest the dragon they just heard came smashing through the hall.
It was long past dinner and Vifil found himself wandering the paths of Erebor like a skittish alley cat. These were not the well-lit passages connecting the quarters of nobility in the mountain, nor were they the clean stone halls of merchants. Instead, Vifil found himself lost in the dark and crowded tunnels that housed miners and laborers alike. This particular set of halls was lined with single rooms and communal bathrooms. Unmarried dwarves lived in these rooms and paid their rent weekly, all hoping to someday move up to the higher levels of the mountain.
Vifil walked stiffly, holding his travel bag close to him as he tried not to meet his taunters' gaze. Dwarves lined the hall, all filthy from the mines or the forges, laughing loudly as they waited for their turn in the baths. There was drink aplenty, which earned a dignified snort from Vifil, and a group huddled around dice and stacks of coins. Worst of all, in Vifil's estimable opinion, were the dwarrowdams lingering in the hall with dresses far too small to be decent.
His pride was injured beyond repair. After being vehemently rejected by his intended and publicly embarrassed by the princes of Erebor, Vifil could not face another night in the presence of Signi and her father. He was friendless in Erebor, and there was no one to take pity on his scenario and offer a bed. After roaming the mountain most of the day, he learned about these boarding rooms in the market. Being a single young dwarf with less than a year in his current abode, he had spent plenty of time in similar boarding houses and inns. But never had he met a situation as dire as that of Erebor. He was the steward of Lady Katlin of Tourmaline Hall, aunt to King Thorin himself, and he was forced to live in the same squalor as the workforce of Erebor for the remainder of his time there? The king would hear about this at their meeting the next day.
"Mr. Vifil?" said a voice behind him. "What are you doing down here?"
Spinning around, Vifil was shocked to see Miss Kara, daughter of Lady Katlin's favored silversmith. "I should ask the same of you," he said haughtily. This was no place for a young lady of her bearing.
Kara had the dignity to blush. "I was making deliveries for my father," she explained, showing him the cards of livery buttons she carried. "Many of the servants live down here."
Vifil nodded at the explanation, but it did not calm his objections. "You must allow me to escort you. This is no place for a young woman to be unchaperoned."
Kara shrugged. There was no point in telling him that she made this delivery on a regular basis. Slipping her hand into the crook of his offered elbow, she paid no attention to the awkward height difference and half-listened to his description of the servant quarters at Tourmaline Hall.
After all of her deliveries were made, Vifil was hesitant to let her go. It seemed to him that it was a foolish decision to walk with her as it wasted a great deal of his time and he still did not have a place to sleep. Pausing at the end of the hall with her, he looked sadly down the passage he would have to take once more. There were fewer dwarves than there had been at the start, but they were drunker than before.
Watching him closely, Kara said, "You never told me why you were down here."
Vifil sighed. "I cannot impose of Lord Gloin any longer," he said, his face coloring in shame.
Kara was no fool. She had heard about his failed proposal to Signi. But she was not about to tell him that and mortify the little dwarf more than he already was.
"Come stay with my family," she said bluntly. There was no doubt that her father would agree and her brothers should provide him with adequate distraction to get over Signi's rejection.
Vifil's acceptance was perhaps a little more eager than appropriate, but Kara made no comment. Offering his arm once more, he happily resumed his role of escort until they reached her family's rooms on one of the higher levels.
Lifa was thankful for Galen's anger at Signi. Although she did not wish for her sister to be on the receiving end of such unjust wrath, she did not want her cousin's wife to notice the late hour that she finally would return to her rooms. She was no child, so it was silly to think that her family would be watching the logs burn to ash as they waited for her to come home and go promptly to bed.
Fili seemed to know all of the best hidden places of Erebor. On this night he led her to a hidden staircase that led to a small private balcony overlooking the city of Dale. Only the royal family was allowed admittance to that particular view, he explained.
The night was beautiful, as any night with Fili would be, and together they watched the moon climb in the blackened sky. The prince was well-practiced in following the stars in his travels and pointed out many of the known constellations: Mahal's hammer to the south, Yvanna's ring farther East, and Volunir - the smith of legend who could take the shape of a boar to the west. Lifa leaned into him as he spoke, her head nestled under his chin and her gaze following his hand as he pointed out the stars. She never had a talent for spotting constellations in the thick clusters of stars, but that did not stop her from trying for Fili's sake.
Despite her cloak and Fili's arms around her, Lifa shivered in the cool breeze that passed continually in their high vantage point.
"You are cold. We should go inside," Fili murmured, his lips brushing her temple. Lifa shivered again, but it was not triggered by cold.
"Not yet," she said softly. "Just a little longer."
Lifa could not tell the prince what was no her mind. Their time at the ball had been wonderful, and their time afterwards had been her favorite moment yet. All day she thought of the way he held her in that alcove, so gentle yet passionate. She remembered his lips on her with absolute clarity and it sent a flood of heat through her each time she relived that moment. And when he had kissed her again with their siblings as witnesses, she thought she could fall over dead with happiness.
But each time she remembered those moments, dread rose in the pit of her belly and burned her throat. Fili was a prince of Erebor and would marry a lady with more prominence than she. Miri had made her intentions known to all who would listen and everyone knew that Lady Miri always got what she wanted. Lifa overheard her father telling Signi that only Lord Brasi had supported the king's most recent decision. If he and the king were already such good friends, it would only be a matter of time before Fili was promised to Miri. And who was Lifa kidding – Miri would make a much better queen than she ever would."
Fili seemed to sense Lifa's dark thoughts. Gently, he cupped her cheek in his hand and turned her face toward his. "What is on your mind?" he asked softly.
Lifa felt her insides turn to molten gold as she took in his worried expression. All of this kindness from the prince, this affection, would only make it hurt more when king made his decision, but she could not push him away even if her life depended on it.
"I am just thinking of our time together," she answered sadly. It was not a lie, but she hoped it would be elusive enough to keep him from deciphering her real meaning.
But Fili was not fooled and his expression darkened. "Please do not doubt me, Lifa," he said, his voice wounded. "I do not take my time with you lightly. It is not fleeting."
Lifa was ashamed. She had not intended to give him that impression. "Oh Fili," she breathed, sitting upright so that she faced him. Capturing his face in both her hands so he could not turn away, she said, "I do not doubt you. Not in the slightest. It is the king I worry about and certain ladies within the mountain."
It sounded so foolish to say it out loud. Had he been a soldier or a miner, she would chastise herself for such ridiculous insecurity. But he was not either of those things; he was a prince. It was not outside the realm of possibility that he would turn away from her, whether he was given a choice or not.
Fili's gaze hardened even more at her words, and for a moment Lifa was worried that she had angered him even more. At this rate she would not have to wait for the king to take him away from her. She was doing a good job of it herself.
"Thorin will not use my life as part of a trade contract," he growled, his hands moving to grip her shoulders tightly. "I will not allow it. And as for other ladies in the mountain, there is only one deserving of my time and interest. Even then, Lifa, you are far more than I deserve."
Lifa tried to respond, she honestly did, but Fili's lips on hers stole the words right out of her mouth. Perhaps he was able to find the reply in the way she eagerly deepened the kiss or in the unmaidenly moan she made when his tongue swiped across her bottom lip. After some time in this state, it no longer mattered what she wanted to say. All that mattered was that Fili continued his ministrations and, Mahal help her, that she had the strength to stop before she shamed her entire family on that balcony with the crown prince of Erebor.
Lifa and Fili are seriously the cutest couple ever. I can't stand writing a chapter without them. We shall have some Stonehelm and Signi interaction in the next chapter. Thorin and Signi need to get with the program, lol.