Hello! I didn't realize this was such a short chapter~~sorry! I should have some time to write this week though (yay!) and get further ahead...many big things coming up: Tauriel meets Thranduil for the first time after the battle, Kili's coronation, intimacy & a "marriage" ceremony of course and Dis and Tauriel's meeting soon! Enjoy {{hugs}}
Chp 52
When Kili and Tauriel entered the dining hall, there were a few other dwarves there having breakfast or lunch, depending on when their shifts had started, happily eating and conversing. Till and Coron were nowhere to be seen, but Bilbo was just finishing his last bite and was reaching for his 'kerchief to wipe his mouth and belched loudly. As the two approached, Bilbo looked up and saw them. He finished wiping his mouth, patted his stomach and pushed his chair back. He bowed to the pair, and said, "If you will excuse me Lord, Lady...I can not wait to get to the gardens and start planting all my finds! Till and Coron were too excited to eat, so they went to show their elders what they had found in the forest. I'm not sure where Twain has gotten to. He ate a spot of food and was off. Well, if you will excuse me, he had some dwarves carry the bags of soil and I've got all my precious plants here in my sack and I'm eager to be off." Kili and Tauriel smiled and chuckled and Tauriel told him she would try to arrive there later to help.
After Bilbo left, a dwarf approached them and inquired what they would like to eat. Kili asked, "My love, are you in the mood for morning fair, or more midday?" She smiled a thought for a moment, and replied midday, please. The dwarf nodded and was quickly away to the kitchens. It was hard for them to have a conversation as any dwarf that was entering or exiting from the Hall made sure they came over to bow to Kili and nod to Tauriel; but each one was handled with genial appreciation, of course. The serving dwarf returning with two trays and set them in front of the pair and then turned around to fetch them some water. He returned with them, bowed and went back to his post by the doorway. Tauriel looked at the meal in front of her. There were thick slices of dark bread with some thinner sliced meat in between, a large steamed potato, some roots of a purplish color and a creamy like pudding on the side. Tauriel enjoyed the food, but thought it left a very heavy feeling in her stomach compared to her usual elven fair.
As they were eating, Kili had looked up and choked on a bit of food. Before Tauriel knew it, Kili had jumped out of his seat and was racing towards a pair of dwarves that entered the hall, who were looking up and marveling at the walls and ceiling. She was going to jump up and help him, but it looked like he had a more jubilant look on his face and was under no duress, so she eased back in her chair. When Kili reached the two he gave an immense hug to the younger looking dwarf and serious heatbutt to the older one. Clasping arms around the younger one, Kili stayed there for a few minutes chatting, while all three looked around. Tauriel figured she would finish her meal, as she too wanted to hurry along to the infirmary first, then back to check on Bilbo.
She was almost finished when Kili and the two dwarves started walking back to his chair. He approached and said, "Lads, I'd like to present..." as Kili thought for a moment for right word, "My friend... Lady Tauriel from the Mirkwood realm, yonder." She arose and bowed to them. Kili continued, "These lads I practically grew up with...well me and Fili that is. This is Eiel and Wiel of the Blue Mountains." Eiel, the younger of pair nodded and smiled friendly at Tauriel and Weil, the older one, had more of a curt nod. Kili roughly patted each on the back and said, "Come lads. Have a seat and get something to eat after your long journey. Come, tell me all about it," as he indicated they take the other two seats to right of Kili. The server swiftly came over and took their orders and just as quick, headed away to get it. Tauriel was finished with her meal and could see Kili was overjoyed at the reunion with his friends, so she thought she would excuse herself to head to her tasks. She touched Kili's arm lightly and that was enough to bring him back to the present and he quickly turned around. He leaned over and said quietly, "My love, I am sorry...I was just happy to see these lads...forgive me." She smiled sweetly and said, "It is not necessary, for you have many things to discuss, glad and sad tidings to share. Please, catch up with your friends, for I have a few places to visit." He wanted to kiss her, but knew he couldn't, in such a public place, yet...so he he smiled and nodded. Tauriel said her goodbyes to the trio and headed to the infirmary.
Kili watched her walk away, a little sadly, that he couldn't have shown his affection for the lady he loved; but knew that one day everyone will know how much he does care for her and be damned for anyone's ill thoughts. He sighed but then turned to his friends and remembered he was glad to see them and said, "Well, tell me all about your journey!" They talked and ate for a great long while. Kili had found out that they took the most direct route from his former home in the Blue Mountains, which wasn't easy for a party of about three hundred dwarves. They went through the Hills of Evendim, just North of the Shire, then through Fornost. When they approached the Ettenmoors, they ran into a few trolls here and there, just like Kili and Thorin's party had, but were able to overtake them or chase them back up into the mountains. Then they took the secret dwarven route through the Misty Mountains and into the Grey Mountains. They had been helped by their kin of that area and they passed just South of Angmar and Mt. Gundabad unseen. After crossing the headwaters of the Anduin and Forrest River, they stayed close to the mountain ranges in the North of Rhovanion, skirting the edges of Mirkwood forest and came upon the Mountain, from the North.
As Kili chewed, "So...what of the force that was left in the mountain?" Weil replied as he ate, "At least six hundred strong. Enough to withstand any assault, although I doubt there would be any, with the protection we're afforded by the peaceful Halfling villages nearby, the Dunedain protected lands and the Elven harbour to the South. I don't doubt that many of them wouldn't also want to make the journey here too at some point, if not to stay, just to visit and see the wonder of the treasurehold of Thror." Kili had a dark look, "The treasure is no more, Weil." To which he had a surprised look, "What became of it Kili? Have the nearby accursed humans plundered it while you were winning back the mountain?" Kili looked down and said quietly, "Well, that's not exactly what happened." So Kili proceeded to tell them his tale, of the Company of Thorin Oakenshield, including the parts where they were captured by the elves in Mirkwood, escaped, and he himself was healed by Tauriel. And then, the awful Battle of the Five Armies and how Dain's men appeared and it seemed like there would be a complete slaughter had it not been for the elves, Laketown men and creatures of legend such as the shapeshifting bear and immense Eagles who helped them to destroy the Orc forces. Then he told them how, Thorin, Fili and even himself were slain but Mahal appeared and brought him back. Kili's friends had very humbled looks on their faces, as if looking at their old friend in a completely different light, now. Then Kili filled them in on everything that had happened since they won back the mountain.
After their long conversations, Eiel and Weil scooted back their chairs and sunk low in their seats, happy to have had a meal indoors for a change. Then they discussed of their next plans. Eiel said he would be interested in checking out the immense forges for the mountain, which is legendary in the dwarven realm. Kili informed him that the mountain had barely been delved, and that made Eiel very happy. Weil said he wanted to explore the Mountain, as his expertise was in digging and building, and wanted to see the fabulous architecture for himself. As they were all finished eating Kili said, "Well lads..let me take you on a tour then."