Hello all, sorry for the delay, thought I could post this chapter earlier in the week, just got busy with things. I was able to write quite a bit this week though, so I promise to try to post the next chapter one week from now :)
Again another chapter with some minutiae of daily dwarf living...I was actually looking forward to writing this chapter as I think it's important for us knowing all about the inner workings of their society. I liked detailing the different jobs...see if you notice something (I'll detail below).
Love and hugs to all my wonderful readers for your time and patience in my "little" story (70k words by my count...yikes!) I had a chuckle and smile at all the wonderful reviews from the last chapter, thanks especially to: Susan, Justme, Aneita, Christine, Guest(s), Bienniel, Mfaerie32, Jackie9448 and Nenithiel for taking the time to write!
Chp 44
The trio entered the room to see about three fourths of the Iron Hills dwarves, which amounted to around five hundred dwarves; still there and Kili nodded approvingly. The benches were still there from yesterday and the dwarves were seated again; but this time Balin, Dwalin, Oin, Gloin, Dori, Ori, and Bifur, Bofur and Bombur were standing at the front. Balin noticed Kili came in the room so he clapped his hands and the dwarves stopped their conversations. Balin started, "Thank you to all who have stayed for awhile...whether it be until Kili's coronation or if you desire to make your home here in Erebor, we welcome you with open arms! Now...as I read off possible work opportunities, please see one of these dwarves here, as they will be the ones you will report to," Balin indicated all the dwarves of the Company standing at the front.
Bilbo, Kili and Tauriel stayed in the back as not to disrupt the proceedings and Balin continued, "Okay, for those who desire to be of the Royal guard, want to be in the army that helps protect Erebor, be prison guards, make weaponry and armor, and any other such similar capacity- see Dwalin here." Over a hundred of the dwarves stood up, including Twain. Dwalin directed them over to a side door and he yelled, "Alrightee lads...follow me to the guard room and we'll get your assignments sorted out."
Balin waited for those dwarves to leave, then started again, "Okay, now...who wishes to work with finances, mining, treasure disbursement, or in the forges?" Again about a hundred dwarves got up and Gloin waved his hands and said, "Okay lads! Follow me to the forges...I'll give ye' the tour!" Again Balin waited then spoke again, "Next...we need many a strong hand and back for this work. Who is willing to help out rebuild Erebor: it's gates, rooms, and architecture and restore to its former glory?" Many dwarves yelled "Aye" and stood up. Bofur waved his hands and said, "Wonderful! Let's meet by the main gate and see what we can do to shore that up first." About a hundred dwarves got up and followed him out of the Great Hall to the Hall of Kings and out by the main entrance to the Mountain.
After the last group left, Balin started again, "Okay- we'll need lots on this one too...we've got many mouths to feed here; who wants to help procure food and drink, hunt, or be a cook or server?" Bombur gathered all those that were willing which numbered over fifty; and most of these were ones that had already helped him serve the last few meals. He waved at them and him and his group headed off towards the kitchens. Balin continued, "This is also important work, as we will have many visitors here soon for the coronation. Who is willing to work on clothing, bedding, laundry, textiles, furniture, and preparing guest rooms; or are traders and have ties with other lands with which we can get supplies from?" About less than fifty dwarves stood up and Dori waved enthusiastically and said, "Over here lads. I'll take you to the workroom I've set up," and they followed him out another side door.
Balin said, "There's still lots to do, lots to do- We still have a number of patients in the sick beds, who has training or interest in the healing arts? About twenty dwarves got up and Oin said, "Follow me, we've got lots of patients to tend to...come on, they be needing care and medicinals, quickly!" And those dwarves went shuffling after him, as he suggested, at a very fast pace. Balin counted the rest that were left in his head, about seventy, give or take, he thought. He continued, "Right...well...Bifur needs help with mechanisms and machinery, metal and jewelcraft-so if that's your expertise, go with him." Twenty dwarves got up and Bifur waved them over to another corner of the Great Hall. After this group marched off, then Balin said, "Well...I'd be needin some help as emissaries and messengers to ferry news and information from other lands, who will help me with that?" About thirty dwarves, including Dwain, stood up and Balin told them to wait in the Hall of Kings for him and he would be there shortly.
Balin and Ori were the only ones left at the front and Balin said, "Well, Ori here can use some help in the library, taking down meeting notes and the like, who wants to help him? Three smaller sized dwarves got up and Ori smiled at them, he cheerily said, "Okay, follow me to the library. I'll show you what I've already sorted through, and the four left out a side door. Seventeen dwarves were left in the large room and Balin said, "Okay lads. Those of you that are left, please follow me. You can come with me and tell me of your speciality, or what you want to do." They all got up and followed Balin out if the Great Hall. As Balin passed Kili he gave him a wink and whispered "Not a bad turnout, huh?" Kili smiled as Balin and his group walked by and Tauriel and Bilbo stepped out of the way. Tauriel remarked to Kili and Bilbo, "Well...that was actually handled very efficiently," and Bilbo nodded his head in agreement. Kili said, "Yes we dwarves, when we are not making war that is, have a very well run society. Everyone knows and has their place, and we are usually always willing to do what it takes to help out, for the betterment of all. I am glad so many decided to stay, at least for awhile, as there is much to do."
Then Kili turned towards his companions, stepping towards Tauriel and grasped both of her hands in his, "My love...there are a number of things I needed to attend to this morning. I'd like to check on all the groups but especially Dori as I want to personally make sure my mother's room is prepared for her arrival," he said somewhat downcast. Tauriel squeezed his hands and smiled at him, "I completely understand my love. I have a number of things I wanted to do as well- I promised Oin I would visit the infirmary and see what help I could be to him; AND I promised to take our good Master Hobbit here somewhere that would help ease his homesickness." Kili leaned up and they had a sweet kiss. "I will try to catch up with you as soon as I can, my Lady. I have somewhere else I'd like to show you later," he smiled and turned and walked out one of the side doors. She nodded and turned towards Bilbo, "Are you ready good Sir? I KNOW you will be amazed at the sight you will see soon," she smirked as she looked down Bilbo. "Lady Tauriel, you know just how to intrigue my sense of adventure, that's for sure! Yes...I am ready to go!" he said.
Tauriel felt that now that the unrest had been dealt with and everyone had been settling in to their roles, she took him through the Great Hall. She did however tell him of the alternate route when they passed the staircase that went down to it. She had a feeling Bilbo would be spending most of his time at the place where they were going, and wanted him to know a few different routes to get there. Once passing the large doors off the Great Hall, they entered the smaller hallway that the dining halls and kitchens were off of. There were many dwarves bustling about. As they passed the dining halls they could see a number of dwarves in them moving furniture around and hanging tapestries and pictures. They noted all the dwarves seemed happy in their tasks and when they passed by the pair they nodded their heads towards Bilbo and Tauriel and continued about their business.
Tauriel and Bilbo went past the large entrance to the kitchens and again could see many dwarves hurrying in and out. Some were carrying game, boxes and barrels in, others were chopping greens and potatoes and others yet were wearing aprons and heading towards the ovens. Tasty smells were coming from the kitchens and Bilbo rubbed his stomach, even though they had had breakfast not that long ago. Tauriel noted his gesture and said, "Do you find yourself hungry again Master Hobbit? We just ate not that long ago- surely the fare and opportunities were not plentiful while you were traveling? Did you not adjust to eating less?" Bilbo chuckled, "Lady Tauriel, you are not familiar with Halflings are you? We require little more than good company, a comfy home and good food...lots of it. Back home, it is not uncommon for us to have two breakfasts, elevensies, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner AND supper! And to finish it off with a bit o' wine and smoking weed." Tauriel looked down at Bilbo and exclaimed, "Indeed! I see. Well now that life is a little less hectic, let us hope we can get back to that - as I'm finding out, that dwarves do enjoy their refreshments too," she smiled at him. As they walked, Bilbo asked Tauriel what do elves eat then. "Since I am an Elf of the forest, game is usually plentiful, so venison, rabbit, fowl and fish are common meals. In addition, we enjoy leafy greens, fungi and other succulents the forest provides for us. Although, I have not witnessed first hand, but I believe the other groups of my kin, enjoy different types of fare, according to their customs." Bilbo smiled and remembered the brief time the company was in Rivendell and told Tauriel all that they were served there and she nodded interestingly.
They continued walking, "Well, we are almost there. Just around this corner," Tauriel said. They got to the small door that Kili had taken Tauriel to a few days ago. Bilbo looked up at Tauriel in great anticipation and so she unlatched the small door. As soon as the door was cracked, rays of sunshine streamed in the hall they were in and many sweet, woodsy smells and water spray filled both of their senses. Tauriel took a deep breath in, and Bilbo just stood there at the top of the stairs in the doorway, a small, "Oh my," escaping him. He still stood there and Tauriel noticed tears rolling down his cheeks, she took his hand and said, Come Master Hobbit, let us get a closer look," she smiled kindly at him and led him down the stairs.
They walked over to the water's edge but Bilbo was still too much in awe to speak. Tauriel spoke first then, "It is indeed breathtaking, when Kili first brought me here, I scarce could believe my eyes also. He explained that the mountain had been host to many visitors and they needed a place that could supply greens, flowers and other growing things, here in the mountain. While that scourge was here, many of the plants died off, but I think with loving care, they can be coaxed back to life. What do you think Bilbo?" she grinned large down at him. Crying softly, he got out his handkerchief and blew his nose and wiped his eyes. It still took him a moment to speak, "I think this is one of the most beautiful sights I have seen in all my journey!" he managed to get out. "Even more so than the Great Hall filled with a horde of treasure...for those things move me not...but seeing living and growing things touches my heart and fills it with joy," he managed to get out.
Bilbo looked up at Tauriel and he asked, "Do you...do you think...Kili would let me start tending to the gardens here?" Bilbo asked anxiously. Tauriel smiled a knowing smile and said, "I think Kili would be much appreciative for you to do that very thing, Bilbo." Bilbo clapped his hands and said, "Wonderful!" Over his awe a little bit, Tauriel sensed he was very impatient to get started, now having discovered the new purpose to his life for the next few months or so. They walked around the water's edge, went over the bridge and explored on that side of the pool, all the while both marveling at the sights and sounds before them. As they were walking Bilbo was telling Tauriel all about his garden back home and how he wanted to fix up this one here in the Mountain.
They walked and talked and explored for an hour or two, then Tauriel looked up at the sky and could sense it was mid afternoon. "Bilbo, I need to head back, so I can go help Oin in the infirmary, I trust you will be alright here, alone?" She looked down at Bilbo who was positively beaming and rubbing his hands together, not knowing where to start first. "Oh, yes...yes," he said distractedly. Tauriel also said, a little sterner this time, "Bilbo...promise me you won't leave the Mountain. I know you are eager to go out into the wilderness to start foraging for seeds and such to start growing, but you must not go alone. Also, we need to ask Kili's permission first." Bilbo gave her a slightly impatient answer, "Yes, I realize that Tauriel, but I should like to get started as soon as possible. Perhaps you can ask Kili tonight, at dinner if you may accompany me out into the forest first thing tomorrow." Tauriel smiled, "Yes, I will definitely do that." They bowed to each other and she left Bilbo to walk amongst the flowing water, ravens and trees to his heart's content.
FYI, Balin listed the jobs in order of "importance" (at least to dwarven society) :)