Hello everyone~~ busy last couple of days what with the holidays and all...I did get a few chances to write though. Okay... one more chapter (this one) before Tauriel and Dis meet, for all those who were wondering~~its coming soon :)
Thank you to all my lovely readers, especially: Margaritasc, Guest, Nenithiel-alone time soon (they have to consumate this bethrothal after all ;)), Susan-Thank you, you too :), TinuvielTurner- You're welcome..it is so wonderful that i get to make me and so many others happy with this story, Jackie9448-You're welcome :), Bienniel-Thank you :).
Chp 54
Tauriel gulped after Kili's latest revelation, and she really felt nervous but he squeezed her hand as they walked, "Do not worry, Amralime. For my mother is like Thorin in some ways, but not all ways. I know her to be very kind and loving and she does have an open mind, about things. For it was left to her and Thorin to groom myself and Fili for the mantle of power, as my father and their brother Frerin had been slain in battle, and we became the heirs of Durin. She is strong and stubborn, like any Durin but who do you think gave permission for me to travel and see as much of Middle Earth as I could? She wanted me to be familiar with other races and other lands; despite Thorin's protests, of course. Well, he would not permit Fili, being the next in line and all but he gave his permission for me. Personally, I think he wanted to get me out from underfoot, at times, as I did get into trouble on, um...more than one occasion," he smirked at her. She returned his smile, but still had much on her mind at the moment.
They arrived in Dining Hall and took their usual seats. Bilbo had already been served his meal and was eating heartily. A server dwarf gave the pair some water, then brought their meals a short time later. They received the same food, a pie baked with hearty meat and vegetables and a sweet custard like pudding for dessert. Tauriel declined the wine, remembering its effects from the last time and instead enjoyed some of the cider that was available. She noticed there wasn't a full dining hall and she asked Kili about it. While chewing, he said, "Well, now that our society is a little more settled, the dining halls are staffed all day for there are various shifts and comings and goings and one can get a meal at any time." Tauriel also chewed her meal and asked, "Does poor Bombur ever get any sleep then?" Kili laughed, "Well, of course he has much help in the kitchens, but to be truthful...I think he does like eating more than sleeping," they both laughed at that.
Tauriel still had other things on her mind and didn't join in on the happy conversations going on around her. She did notice that Twain had come into the Hall and came onto Kili's other side and bent low to discuss something with him quietly. After their discussions, he went to sit on the other side of the table and before he passed Tauriel and Bilbo, he bowed and said hi. Tauriel and Bilbo replied in kind and Bilbo, just finishing, belched and patted his belly. He excused himself to everyone because he wanted to get a good night's rest and get back to the gardens as early as possible the next morning. Tauriel told him she would try to visit him there to perform those incantations. Internally, she thought she had no idea what was going to happen tomorrow, or how long she would be occupied.
Just as Tauriel was having those thoughts, a large party of raucous dwarves came into the Hall, and this time, Tauriel saw something she had never seen before...female dwarves! Their dresses of wool and intricate beadwork were beautiful even from afar, and the bodice on all of the dresses barely contained the ample bosoms, therein. Tauriel sheepishly looked down at her own chest and frowned a little because she definitely felt she was lacking in comparison. And she was shocked to see that some of the ones that appeared to be older even had a bit of a beard, some long enough to have beads and jewels entwined within it. There were about twenty and each seemed to be escorted by a larger and older male dwarf. There was no mistaking where each and every female dwarf had their eyes turned towards, Tauriel noticed, and they all seemed to be giggling and staring at the charming dark-haired dwarf sitting next to her.
One particularly large bellied and long bearded dwarf reached Kili first. Kili felt obliged to get out of his chair and exchange words with them. Tauriel observed that the exchanges were pleasant and surmised these were dwarves he had known from his home in the Blue Mountains. It seemed like the male dwarves were formally introducing their female relations to the future King, and Tauriel surprisingly felt a few pings of jealousy. With each one that went by, Tauriel felt that she should try to smile at them but every single one gave repugnant and disgusted looks in return when they noticed the tall, pale, pointy eared female elf sitting so near the King. One by one the females filtered by and smiled, batting their eyelashes at Kili and then finding a place to sit on the opposite ends of the tables.
While all this was going on, Ori came into the Hall and took his usual seat next to Tauriel. He sighed and sat down. Tauriel smiled and greeted him while he plopped in his seat. "Master Ori," Tauriel said, "You sure seem tired. What has got you so busy lately?" He drank some water the server brought him and settled himself in his chair. "Me and the other lads have been very busy cataloging and, well, really...fixing, all of the tomes that we found in the library. Many needed to be repaired. And first even, we needed to straighten and tidy up the room itself- very dusty and disheveled it was. But we finally managed to do that; then we practically had to put every book back on the shelf, in its right place!" he said as he gladly tucked in to his plate of pie that was brought to him.
As Kili was still busy engaging with the line of dwarves, Tauriel turned asked Ori quietly, "May I ask you a question?" After his reply, "Sure," Tauriel continued, "Are there many females in dwarf society?" Ori just then had noticed the parade of them going by, so tired and hungry he was. "Oi!" he exclaimed, and almost spit his food out. After his shock was over and he chewed and swallowed his bite of food he continued, "Well...tis uncommon that is for sure. It is said that now, one out of every about 50 births, is a dwarrow. And it didn't used to be that way. I have read numerous books about that going back to the First and Second Ages, it used to be about even. No one knows why there has been less and less females in more recent times; so we guard and protect our females, since they are so rare. They used to be out there fighting alongside males, and just as strong and fierce, but it has been many, many generations since that was the case." Tauriel noticed he was generously looking over each of females that went by and sat down, although looked down sheepishly if he managed to catch one of their's attentions. "I see," Tauriel said, a little darkly.
Now that Ori had a chance to rest and eat something, he observed some of the same things Tauriel had picked up on and said, "Aye" and nodded his head up and down. "Yes, many of these have made the journey from the Blue Mountains to see if they can pair their sisters or daughters with the future King, tis the usual tradition; and if not, with the higher ranking members of our society, then on down." Ori said that last part very downcast, but remembering the other part he said and forgetting to whom he was speaking, and quickly tried to repair his mistake, "Well, obviously...we know to whom Kili has pledged himself to...for...you, you have nothing to worry about, Tauriel," he hastily said and smiled at her. "Yes, of course Ori, we both know how we feel about each other," she replied to him...but thinking to herself, she doubted females of ANY race acted any different when trying to win a suitor, and thought she would have to keep her guard up around these ones.
The parade of female dwarves and their relations finally ceased, so Kili was able to get back to his meal and had a slightly sheepish look when he sat back down and turned Tauriel's way. She gave him an eyebrow raise, but not unfriendly expression. From that, Kili took the opportunity to reach his hand out under the table and squeeze hers, "Amralime...always and forever...he said quietly." She smiled knowingly and squeezed his hand back. Tauriel was mostly finished with her meal so she tried to act pleasant and patiently wait for Kili to finish his. After chewing a bit of food, Kili asked, "May I ask that I escort you to your room after dinner, my'love?" Tauriel replied, "Of course," but wondered what Kili had up his sleeve as he had asked the last question with a distinct smirk on his face.
As Kili finished, Tauriel had a pleasant conversation with Ori, telling him all about being back in the forest, what they got on their forage and how much Bilbo had done in the garden areas. At the same time, she was trying to ignore all the stares, points and rude giggles the female dwarves were obviously directing her way. And it wasn't just the females, the male relations were also pretty stunned to see an elf in their midst...let alone right NEXT to the future King! SHE picked up on all of this and it had nothing to do with having the heightened senses of an elf; Kili, meanwhile was oblivious, as he sat enjoying the rest of his meal. Tauriel was hoping he would finish soon as she was anxious to be away from their gazes and whispered insults. Sensitive Ori picked up on the situation too and hurried to finish his meal so he could leave with them, so as not to make it seem like Kili was leaving with just Tauriel, by themselves, and he informed Tauriel of his plan and she gave him a quiet, "Thank you."
Other dwarves stopped to talk with Kili, prolonging him finishing his meal, so Tauriel continued to try to be patient. Taking the friendly approach didn't seem to be working with these females, so she decided she would just sit up straight in her chair and return each stare and point with a piercing gaze, if they happened to look her way. This seemed to get better results, as when an elf sits straight up they appear very tall in their seats, not to mention what it looks like when an elf, full of white light gazes directly into your eyes! Kili finally seemed to be finished and Tauriel anxiously asked if he was ready to leave. He took one last swig of wine and got up from his chair, and so did Tauriel and Ori. Kili just then had noticed him and said, "Oi...hi there Ori! How are things going in the library?" as the trio turned and made their way out the Hall and Ori filled him in on their progress. As they walked by, every dwarf bowed their heads and Kili shyly smiled in return, but the conversation started up in earnest as the three made their way out of the room.
After the three left the Dining Hall, a little ways on, before Ori turned down one corridor he bowed to the pair and said good night. They continued on their way until they reached Tauriel's room. Tauriel opened the door and stepped in the door and bade Kili to enter. Once in her room, he directed her to sit on the couch then he took her hand and said, "I'm sorry you had to be present for that earlier. It is a bit of a tradition, you see...since there are not many female dwarves, it is up to their older brother or father to introduce them to the..." Kili seemed to have a distaste in his mouth trying to get out his next words, "highest ranking dwarves, starting with the highest and then on down through society until they are claimed. Better the chance of a desired offspring in the preferred fields of warcraft, mining, metalwork and the like," he said a little embarrassed.
Tauriel looked at him and said, "Your traditions are nothing to apologize for, my love. For over this short period of time in the Mountain, I have been witness to previously long held prejudices recede to acceptance and friendship...however, my battle skills and prowess will, I doubt, impress and win over those that came into the Hall tonite. Females, of any race, are not that much different." Kili seemed to understand what Tauriel was trying to convey and smiled, "Well then...after today, there will be no more doubt and any cause to give one speculation." With that, he reached into his pocket and produced a few, beautifully wrought silver beads that sparkled with sapphire and plum colored gems. She gingerly touched them in his hand, "They are beautiful Kili," she said as she rolled them with her long fingertip in his palm. She noted something about the design that seemed familiar to her. "The scrollwork, on the beads...I have seen it before..." Kili smiled, "Yes...you may remember it from the lapel of my usual attire. You see, every direct descendant of Durin has a special pattern commissioned at their birth, that is put on everything that is ours- clothing, weaponry, jewelry, and the like. Tis an intricate pattern, I do not know what it symbolizes, but I'm sure my mother could tell us," he smiled. There were six of them and he placed them on a nearby table. He again took Tauriel's hands and got on one knee, "They are commitment tokens. For once weaved into your beloved's hair, you are pledged to them forever. With my beads in your hair, there will be no mistake who my heart has pledged itself to." She looked into his beautiful face with impish smile and his warm-colored eyes welled with happy tears and he asked, "May I? She felt happy tears come too, "Oh Kili...Yes...Yes," she said breathlessly happy.
Kili reached up and gave her an immense hug and they kissed passionately. Still crying but now both laughing too, Kili stood up and walked over to her nightstand. He took her elven brush and walked back. He stood behind her and removed the simple ponytail she had her hair in and began to brush her long hair. She found it was a luxurious feeling, having someone else brush her hair as he wove his thick fingers through her hair and massaged her scalp with the soft brush. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes as she enjoyed this amazing sensation. Kili was in awe, "I must say, I have wanted to do this for a very long time, Amralime, for your hair is the softest and finest strands I have ever felt in my life."
As he deftly began to braid strands of her hair along the front of her face, she asked, "Is hair weaving of...importance, in dwarven culture?" As Kili continued to braid he replied, " Oh yes, we learn to braid from the youngest age. Long hair and beards are certainly a mark of status and with all that hair, one simply must do something with it, so we've learned all sorts of ways to wear it and put it up. Me and Fee used to practice on one another all the time. He did mine but he never could get the hang of it, and I could never fix my own hair very well...plus...for some reason, my hair doesn't really grow as long as the other lads." Tauriel turned to look back at Kili, "Is that why you're hair is always, rather...messy?" He said, "Hey!" but laughingly, and they both had a good chuckle.
Kili finished and said, "There," and he stood in front to view his maiden and he was speechless and teary eyed. All he could manage to get out was, "You are so beautiful." Tauriel smiled and reached up to feel the braids and beads in her hair. She walked over to her small mirror and found Kili did an exquisite job, better than she had ever learned to do. He had taken her bangs and weaved them at her hairline and interspersed four of the beads throughout that part, and the other two were in small braided strands that hung down, one in front of each ear. He stood behind her with his arms around her waist and whispered, "You know...tis said...that the number of beads the suitor weaves in his beloved's hair will be the number of children they will have," and squeezed her middle gently. Tauriel smirked and put her arms on top of Kili's at her waist, "Oh really, my love? One day...soon, we must see if that will come to pass," she said demurely. She continued, "But for this night...we both should be well rested for tomorrow," and she turned around and they kissed passionately. After their kiss, she touched the braids, "Kili...are you not sure that we shouldn't have put them in after meeting your mother?" she said hesitatingly. Kili gave her a puppydog smile in return, "Who do you think I got them from?"