Hello! This is a short chapter I know...the next one is the really long one. Enjoy~~

Chp 40

It was Tauriel's turn, as she let out a slight gasp when Nott came and stood directly in front of Tauriel. Kili also jumped out of his seat, and even Bilbo made a motion to step in between him and Tauriel. Nott then did something completely unexpected- he had his aides help him bow down on one knee in front of her. Kili stopped his rush and Bilbo just stood there, befuddled. All eyes were on Tauriel, so she got up out of her seat and bent over in front of the kneeling dwarf, then she placed one hand on her breast and the other on the dwarf's shoulder, bowed and smiled at him and when he looked back up did indeed smile back.

Again the crowd was pretty silent at this last turn of events. Nott had his aides help him up. He reached in his breast pocket and pulled out a long slip of paper. Balin, indicated Ori should go over and get it, which he did. He looked it over then handed it to Balin. Then his aides helped Nott over to stand in front of Kili, who had just receded back to his chair. Balin quickly read over the sheet, cleared his throat, then began, "I wanted to address you, Kili, our future King. Please forgive my inexcusable actions. I had nothing in my heart but greed and bloodlust for all of our enemies...but I was told that one of our age-long nemesis' is the reason I am still alive. For 'twas her skill only that stopped the bleeding from my wound." Nott looked over in Tauriel's direction, who still seemed slightly embarrassed, but only an elf could perceive the difference in her. Balin continued reading, "Lady Tauriel...I can never repay the kindness you showed by saving my life; and the only thing I can do or say in return, is to encourage everyone of my kin present today to forget age-long prejudices and welcome a new era of friendship between Dwarves and Elves."

After that, the aides escorted Nott to stand next to his brother and when Balin finished reading Nott's statement, Oin got up and loudly said, " 'ere 'ere!" Gloin next to him stood up as did Dori and of course Bifor, Bofur and Bombur echoed the sentiment loudly as well. They also started stamping their feet, which made loud echoes through the cavernous hall. Bilbo saw Kili's face and it was positively beaming; although not every dwarf in the hall seemed swayed, Bilbo noted, some were still grumpily sitting and not joining in the cheer. Tauriel for her part, seemed genuinely shocked at the outpouring of emotion and stood up and smiled back at everyone.

Suddenly, there was a loud exclamation, "What? What is the bloody matter with all of you?!" Everyone turned around to look for where the sound was coming from. Grule was standing there shaking. He could not believe what he had just heard. He went to run at Nott, who was only a few paces away from him. He went to grab for his bandaged throat, but thankfully Balin and Dwalin were close by and it took both of them to restrain Grule to cause further harm to Nott. They managed to get him physically subdued, but he continued his rant as everyone else in the hall quieted, "Come on! Aren't ye remembering what I told you I saw! This, so called Line of Durin, was having relations- physical relations...with an Elf! Have you forgotten what that accursed lot has done to our kin over the ages? And, he doesn't deserve to be the next King, he's only a distant relation by dwarrow-dam. Our Lord's, son Thorin III, should be the next in line! And...don't forget what has he proposed to do with the birthright of our people? Throw it away to them elves, and almost worse...the Men of Laketown!" Our kin...not them...our kin -are the ones that died out there for this treasure hoard and he just wants to give it away!"

Grule was practically shaking with rage and Kili, who had let him have his say, stalked over and punched Grule in the face harder than he had hit anyone in his life, even Fili, when they used to play fight as kids. Even though still being restrained by Dwalin and Balin, the punch flung Grule out of both their arms and he thudded heavily to the floor and started groaning. It looked like Kili wanted to continue having a go at him, but Dwalin and Balin grabbed him and Balin said quietly, "Laddie, ya can't be doing this kind of stuff anymore." Dwalin nodded also and kept him at bay. Kili huffed loudly a few times, to catch his breath and he finally regained his composure. Dwalin ushered him over to his chair while Balin kneeled down to check on Grule. He seemed like he was breathing raggedly, although knocked out cold- which is saying something for a dwarf!

Balin let the crowd know that Grule was just knocked out, since there were many gasps and exclamations after what Kili had done to two of their kin now. Upon hearing Balin, they eventually did settle back onto the benches, although some murmuring could still be heard. Bilbo and Tauriel looked at each other in stunned silence, even though Bilbo noted a flush of excitement in Tauriel's cheeks and hint of a smile on her lips. Balin and Dwalin lifted up Grule and deposited him on an empty bench off to the side of the gathering and Oin headed over to check on him.

There were still a few conversations going on, some of them getting heated, until, finally one dwarf in the middle stood up and yelled something in Khuzdul that made all the other dwarves stop talking and listen. He said a few other things and most of the dwarves in the crowd seemed to agree. He nodded and then went towards the middle of the rows. As he walked towards the front he said, "may I approach the front, Kili, Heir of Durin?" Kili looked over this dwarf whom he did not recognize, he was fair-haired, although not as light as Fili, well-built, tall for a dwarf and probably only a little older than Kili himself. "Yes-ss," Kili said warily. The Dwarf approached the front and when he reached the seated Kili, he got down on one knee and bowed. Some throat clearing and slight surprised exclamations were heard, but the dwarf continued anyway, "I am Twain, son of Swain, of the Iron Hills. Please forgive the disgusting words and actions of a few of my kin," as he gazed at the two handcuffed dwarves still standing at the front, and the unmoving Grule on the bench. He continued, "Know that these few do not speak for all of us sons of Dain, Lord Kili. We do acknowledge your right to be the next in line, regardless if it was through your mother's succession. That, most of us have no issue with...however...the other two charges brought forth, we believe must be explained your lordship," as Twain stood up and walked to stand over by the dwarves on benches.

Balin hurried over and whispered in Kili's ear as he knew Kili's anger would be rising. Kili seemed to settle back into his chair, then Balin went up and whispered in Dwalin's ear. Dwalin then strided across and back in the front of the rows, and when he was sure he had everyone's attention, he said very loudly, "Tauriel and Bilbo, please come over here!" Tauriel and Bilbo looked at each, and hesitatingly both slowly rose from their chairs and walked very cautiously over to the front of the group. Balin and Dwalin waved their arms to the other familiar members of Thorin's party. Dori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bombur, Bofur all came to stand in the front of the assembled crowd. Kili stayed in his seat and Ori stayed behind the podium, still feverishly trying to take down everything that had transpired thus far. And Tauriel and poor Bilbo still stood front and center very sheepishly and wondered WHAT was going to come next!

I'll have some time off of work in the next few weeks, so I should be able to upload the next, long and tumultuous chapter soon. I'd like to thank Christine, Justme, Margaritasc, LisaKathyrn, mfaerie32, Bienniel, TinuvielTurner, and Nenithiel for their always wonderful reviews and to all the readers out there~~ you guys keep me going Hugs