Hello :)

i wanted to post this chapter earlier today, darn got caught up with a few things...so I thought I would give everyone an early present...two chapters this weekend- there is this short little chapter before Tauriel meets Dis, so that one will be tomorrow...I can't torture you all anymore in wait ;) Enjoy!

Chp 55

Tauriel was surprised to hear that Kili's mother had given him the beads to put in her hair, perhaps she didn't have anything to worry about, for tomorrow, she thought. Kili gave her one last sweet kiss and he said he would be here to escort her to breakfast. Tauriel closed the door and for awhile was in daze about what had just happened and what Kili had said. Even though his mother had given her consent, by giving him the beads to use, that still didn't mean she wouldn't change her mind, once she saw for herself that her son, the soon-to-be King of all dwarves nonetheless, had fallen for an actual elf! And not even one of royal birth, she thought to herself, and went back to fretting again.

Not needing rest, especially on this night, she thought about tomorrow. She had an idea for something, but she could never accomplish it from her room, for there were certain items she needed. She decided to take a good bath now because she didn't want to leave her room until it was well into the night and be unobserved. She undressed and bathed as best she could. In her mirror, she thought her hair looked perfect so she didn't wash it. She put her normal attire back on and thought she would ask Kili to come by her room after breakfast tomorrow to get her dress on before they went to his mother's. No sense in being too fancy any earlier than need be, she chuckled to herself. She didnt think there would be any trouble, but put that small dagger in her pants pocket just in case.

It finally was sufficiently late she thought so she peeked out her door, and not seeing anyone, she began on her familiar pathway towards her errand. A few hours later she returned to her room with her needed supplies and she judged she would have three or four more hours to craft what she intended to make. She began weaving all the leaves and thin branches she had gotten from the garden area into something she had been taught by her kin that would be a nice repository for the something special she wanted to put in it. She worked and she weaved until she got everything just so. She noticed it was getting light out and Kili would be coming to get her soon. She went over to her chest, opened it and got her tunic dress out. She found a way to hang it from a notch in her wall to stretch it and get any of the wrinkles out now. She reached back in the chest and tucked in the very bottom, wrapped in some hosiery, was the small, very special item she wanted to place in what she had crafted. She took and placed it in there now and put the item on her small dresser, ready for when she returns. She looked in her mirror and she looked suitable for heading to the dining halls.

In not too long of a time there was a knock at her door, she opened and her handsome prince was standing there, looking very handsome indeed in his blue velvet tunic and circlet around his head. He smiled at seeing her and remembering the beads he wove in her hair last night. He leaned into the doorway for a quick kiss; afterwards she smiled and mentioned she would like to return to her her room to put her dress on and didn't feel that it would be the right attire for her for breakfast. Kili said that was fine and they began on their way. As they entered the halls that had more dwarves bustling about, there were a few that noticed the dwarvish beads woven into an elf's hair. If they were newly arrived from the Blue Mountains, their look was one of shock and surprise; or if they had been in the Mountain since the battle, their suspicions had finally been confirmed and they looked at couple with amazement as they passed.

When they reached the Dining Hall they walked around the tables to their usual seats. Tauriel observed it was a little less than half full. There were a lot of new faces and she surmised the dwarves from the Blue Mountains had rested enough from their journey and were now ready to see how they would fit into the society here in the Mountain. As they took their seats, Tauriel picked up on some barely audible gasps as surely they were noticing the beads now present in her hair. Kili sat down and surveyed everyone, a happy smile on his face, but inwardly a little nervous about the upcoming meeting; not noticing the few gasps and whispers from their fellow diners. Servers quickly came up to get the pair their breakfast and even they had trouble containing their surprise. One of them even spilling a mug of water in front of Kili. Apologizing profusely, he scrambled to wipe it up. Tauriel again was pretty sure Kili was unaware of the new attention she was receiving, and hoped that it wouldn't take long for the dwarves to accept her as their future Queen, as most had accepted her already as a resident of the Mountain and companion to the Prince.

She thought, "Oh well," and began to tuck in to her warm porridge and sausages. At this time, Dori and Ori walked in to the Hall and took the two seats to the left of Tauriel. They looked well rested and both cheerily said hi to Kili and Tauriel. She was happy to see Dori as she thought she could ask him to come back to her room with Kili and make sure she is presentable enough to meet Dis. Kili leaned over to talk with the two dwarves, "How goes the preparations lads?" Ori chimed in first, "Fine Kili, I believe I have located the correct volumes that detail the articles of coronation that we will need soon." Kili gulped slightly, "Good, good..." he replied. "And have all the guest rooms been prepared Dori?" Kili asked. "Yes, there are about two hundred rooms, of varying sizes that have been cleaned and we are preparing the linens for. That should be done sometime tomorrow. Although we have gotten word that King Thranduil would rather make his encampment outside the Mountain, in the valley," to which Kili and Tauriel both had distasteful expressions.

Just then Balin and Dwalin came in. Balin took his usual seat to the right of Kili, but Kili waved Dwalin over to him. He turned his seat to the right, and not that Tauriel was specifically trying to listen to the conversation between the two (although she could if she wanted to); she picked up on a few words like "ran into a bit o'trouble in that cave," "some injuries," and "yes, preparations have already begun, Bofur is heading there this morning." She picked up on Kili nodding and saying "splendid," then Dwalin took the seat to the right of his brother.

Balin and Dwalin started into their breakfast and Balin asked Kili, "I hear you two are headed to your mother's quarters on this fine morning, and I was wondering if I may come along?" Kili was finishing up his breakfast and replied, "Oh...of course, Balin," although he honestly didn't know why he wished to accompany them. Tauriel then turned to ask Dori, "Dori, if you have some time may you return with me to my chamber and...see that I look presentable enough?" Dori and Ori smiled at each other and Dori replied, "Of course, Lass...although you look beautiful enough already!" Tauriel blushed and demurely said "Thank you." Dori continued, "Ahh...I see our young Prince has made his commitment to you...finally" he smirked, as he admiringly looked at the six beads woven into Tauriel's hair. "Oh he did a beautiful job, he did...almost as fine a job as I could do," Dori said proudly as he went to finish his meal.

They all made small talk until everyone was finished. Any new diners that came in or out of the Hall made scoffing noises when they saw Tauriel and she just tried to ignore them as she could pick up on every gesture. The group got ready to leave and they said their goodbyes to Dwalin and Ori who were still enjoying their breakfast. Exiting the Hall, they made the trip to Tauriel's room in a not too long of a time. Tauriel entered her room and told Dori she would let him know when she got her dress on, the rest sat on the bench in the hallway to wait. Quickly she put her tunic dress on. Not as opulent as her elven attire for special occasions; and definitely not as soft of a fabric as elven wear usually is...still...once she pulled the dress down over her head, she looked at herself in her little mirror and was pleased with what she saw. Of some sort of cotton material that had a little give to it, the pretty shade of light leaf green enhanced her features and made her green eyes stand out. The v neck bodice made her bust squish together, which was a little uncomfortable she felt, but the length of the skirt was nice and long and had a bouncy flow to it. There were some soft soled flat shoes that went with the dress and she slipped those on and did the long laces up her even longer calf.

Suitably dressed, she peeked her head out of the door and told Dori she was ready for him to come in. He came in and remarked, "Lass-you look lovelier than crisp spring morning!" She nodded and said, "Aww, thank you Dori. This is a very pretty color of fabric, wherever did you get it?" He smiled, "After the battle, I sent a few lads into Dale to see what they could scrounge up. They came back with lots of bolts of fabric and a few clothes of the humans, as I figured you'd be staying with us for awhile and ya might be needin some things to wear." Tauriel blushed again, "Dori...was it...was it that apparent that me and Kili would be together? I mean...did you or the others not wonder at...our unusual pairing?" Dori chuckled as he had Tauriel turn around as he quickly started to hem the bottom of her long dress. Looking up at her he said, "Well Lass...we all could tell Kili was taken with you right from the start just by the way you too kept looking at each other on the way back to Thranduil's cells. Then when we had found out you went to their aid on the hill yonder. And of course how we saw you grieve for him as we brought their bodies back to the mountain, there was no question, to any of the Company. I think our hearts were hurt more see to you in your grief than actually losing our King and Princes. So not just Kili, but we all fell in love with you then, for caring so about our Prince," he said unabashedly as he continued his work. Continuing, "But, we are ever grateful to Mahal for returning one son of Durin to us," Dori said as he bowed his head, remembering their Creator's powerful words echoing through the Mountain, not so long ago.

Tauriel also blinked her eyes remembering the amazing feeling she felt with one of the Valar so near. Dori was finishing his hemming and pulled the bottom of the dress and let it fall to its natural shape, seeing if the length was enough. Satisfied, he stood back up and said, "I think that will do...very nice," he said admiringly. "I must take my leave of you Lady Tauriel, there is much to do with the Coronation only days away; however, I will have a larger selection of clothing sent to your room soon, as I'm sure you're getting tired of wearing the same things," he winked. Tauriel nodded, "Yes, of course...thank you very much Dori, I appreciate your care...and your words. They are of comfort to me, right now," she hesitatingly smiled. Dori bowed and exited. When the door opened, Kili and Balin stood up, when Kili saw Tauriel he gulped...she looked so beautiful to him...more like a queen, in the fancy dress, than in the battle gear or casual wear he normally saw her in. He couldn't help but reach for her hand, squeezed it and leaned up for quick, sweet kiss, making Balin blush too. Kili asked, "Are you ready, Amralime?" She took a deep breath and started to take a step out of the threshold...but remembered her gift, and ran back quickly and grabbed it. Kili intertwined his arm with hers and they started to make the long journey to the Royal chambers, Balin walking in front...and they were off.