Hello...Here's the next chapter, kind of continuation of the last, as Dis needed to introduce the happy couple to everyone ;) Thanks to everyone who read our last couple chapters-Aneita, Bienniel, Margaritasc, and those who left a review: Guest-well...we'll have to see how Thranduil will be~~traditionally...he's been pretty mean...but we will see if things are changed after the battle, Nenithiel-glad u enjoyed that...there's def. more dwarf culture coming up!, TinuvielTurner-Aww...you're so welcome :) It really brings me joy to know that others are enjoying my story (as much as I do :)!) I thought that was a natural part for Tauriel to return the stone as that was such a big part of the movie, Susan-I think I get more and more sappy the older I get ;) I literally cheered out loud when Sheldon kissed Amy on last week's Big Bang Theory (they're my next fave couple after Kiliel)...there should always be a happy ending~~real life is harsh enough:/, Jackie9448-aww your welcome! :) Yes...cute Kiliel babies are coming soon...I can't wait too! Kendiemoore-You're welcome :) I try to post a chapter a week and I will be off from work during the holidays so I should have more time for the story~~yay! Enjoy~~
Chp 57
As they left Dis's chamber, Kili stopped Tauriel in the hallway by reaching for her hand and pulling her close to his body, both of his strong hands at the curve of each of her hips and planted a big sweet kiss on her as he pushed her gently against the stone wall. She enjoyed his show of affection, despite the fact that Balin was a little ways ahead in the large hallway and Tulin the Guard was stationed at the end of it. Kili beamed up at her sparkling eyes, "You did wonderful Amralime...I knew my mother would take to you immediately. For she values loyalty, bravery and steadfastness; and of course you excel in all of those my Love. You showed courage to return her gaze head on. Many of our strongest warriors have never even managed that feat-that I've ever seen, come to think of it," he chuckled. She put her arms around his strong shoulders and tilted her head to return his kiss with her own deep one. They enjoyed each other but were smiling as they broke apart. "Much I have seen and done in my lifetime, my love...for in a few times of weakness I have quailed...but meeting and speaking to my beloved's mother and defending our love, I resolved would not be one of those times." He looked at her with complete love and adulation and they kissed sweetly again. Then they happily started on their long trek to the gardens.
Upon arriving in the sunny garden area, which today was a particularly warm Spring day, they noticed how different it seemed when the pair visited not that long ago. Though beautiful, it had an aire of neglect before; now, with Bilbo's tending, everything seemed to radiate light and growth. Sweet and pleasant scents wafted on the air as the pair descended the stairs and looked for Bilbo. They found him on the other side of the bridge by his tree saplings. His usual attire seemed more dirty than normal, but this was because of the actual dirt liberally sprinkled up and down his sleeves and ground into the knees of his pants. When Bilbo looked up to see who had come visiting, they noticed he had dirt all over his face too...but he seemed in absolute bliss. Kili and Tauriel smiled down at their friend and Bilbo gave a satisfied sigh and got up and proceeded to brush some of the aforementioned dirt off his clothes. Bilbo returned their smiles and started chuckling, to which Kili and Tauriel turned and gave each other puzzled expressions. Bilbo smirked and said, "I knew both of you would return unscathed and in one piece...after your...meeting; and if possible, even the happier for it, it seems!" Tauriel bent down and felt the need to give her Halfling friend an immense hug. She did and started, "Oh Bilbo! She has given her consent for Kili and I to be together!" He returned her hug with a happy expression and his usual sniff, but quickly whipped out his handkerchief to wipe his eyes. "That is wonderful my friends! I really knew there would be no doubt...even though I had never met your mum Kili. How could anyone not love the two of you being together?" Bilbo said as he reached over and shook Kili's hand, a somewhat new gesture for the dwarf, but one he managed ably and with a goofy toothy grin.
Tauriel watched her two friends embrace but couldn't ignore the reality they still needed her King's approval, so she reminded Bilbo about that too. His mood didn't completely turn sour but he did pull a face. "Tauriel," he asked, "Do you have an inkling as to what he might do or say, regarding this? I mean...you both are so happy- do you think he would forego giving his consent because of...of...what happened?" Bilbo said, knowing full well what indeed had happened between Tauriel and Thranduil. Tauriel said thoughtfully, "No Bilbo. I do not believe he would be capable of that. I'm sure he would want for me happiness, even after all that has come to pass recently. To the extent of his forgiveness, remains to be seen, or understood though I'm afraid. He may give his consent...only to be rid of my presence once and for all. We shall have to see." Kili had a perturbed look at Tauriel's statement but standing side by side with her he put his arm around her middle and gave her a good squeeze and leaned up and kissed her on the cheek. Kili said, "And we will find out soon, as Thranduil and his party will be arriving tomorrow." Bilbo blew air through the o in his mouth and a high sounding noise came out. They all nodded their heads and were lost in contemplation for a moment.
Tauriel was first to shake out of their thoughts and said, "Bilbo, I will be happy to walk around and give those blessings now," as she went by the first rows of saplings and they observed her bend down and put her hand on the dirt and close her eyes. Bilbo and Kili chatted in the meantime, Kili all the while gazing belovedly as Tauriel went about her tendings. Bilbo eventually asked, "Have you heard from Gandalf? Do you think he will be here for the coronation?" Kili thought for a moment, "No, we have not received word from him. Balin told me after the Battle he left very quickly to spread the news far and wide of what happened. Undoubtedly, word I'm sure must have reached him by now of my return. Yes, I hope our old friend will make it back in time," he told Bilbo. Again, they both seemed lost in their thoughts momentarily. Then Kili remembered to tell Bilbo about his mother's announcement in the Gallery before dinner. The sun was was starting to sink low so Bilbo began to dust himself off, "Well then...we should begin to head back and get ready," he said and smiled.
Kili went to collect Tauriel as the last rays of daylight reached the teeming flora that surrounded them. Bilbo noticed Tauriel had a little bit of dirt on her nice dress so he asked if he could brush it off and he helped her to get it all off. They proceeded on their way back to the living quarters. They walked Bilbo to his room first and waited a few minutes outside his door while he spruced himself up. Kili and Tauriel smirked when they noticed part of a clean handkerchief sticking out of his back pocket. Then they headed the short distance to Tauriel's chamber. She went in her room and brushed a few errant strands of hair, used her wash towel to freshen up herself and wipe a little dirt that she had on her face. She also patted a few areas on her dress that still had a bit of dirt and she watched it fly up in the air and dissipate away. She took a deep breath and felt she looked presentable enough. She hoped for the best as she stepped out of the threshold of her room and joined Kili and Bilbo in the hallway and started on their trek to the Gallery.
As they got closer they could hear quite a bit of noise coming from the Gallery as any and all dwarves that weren't engaged in preeminent tasks were asked to be present for this important announcement before dinner. Balin was there outside the closed immense doors and he directed Kili and Tauriel to have a seat and to wait for Kili's mother, and they were to wait for his cue to enter the hall; Bilbo meanwhile, entered to get himself a seat. Kili and Tauriel sat nervously on the bench and waited awhile. Finally, Lady Dis could be seen coming down the long hall, a young handmaiden in tow behind her. Tauriel could see even from afar what a stately bearing the Lady Dis had. It was just something...something intangible...but on the few times she was in Thorin's presence too, and he had it; and although her King was usually cold and aloof, he too also exhibited this regal stature. She knew she could never act that way; and when she looked at the handsome dwarf sitting next her, yes, she had felt, at times, Kili has that kingly bearing but not fully wrought yet...perhaps it is something that comes with age, she thought and she smiled at her Prince who smiled back.
As she got closer, Kili stood up and so then did Tauriel. Tauriel thought the Lady's attire was exquisite and added to her regal stature. Her dark hair had been finely braided and included many sparkling white and blue gems weaved throughout; these accented the indigo velvet blue dress she was wearing. A silver crown with sapphire jams was delicately interweaved with the hair on top of her head and she had a few hair tokens braided into her lush sideburns. The dress was overlaid with a brownish black leather tunic which criss-crossed over the bodice and included places for weapons, which Tauriel noted she did indeed have a small axe hanging off of one side and a wide, thick sword on the other. A little strange to dress this way for dinner, Tauriel thought, but perhaps this was the way with Dwarves. Tauriel and Kili bowed as Dis walked by. She smiled at them and nodded her head in passing. The handmaiden's pupils widened when she saw Kili and then was in absolute amazement as she noticed the beads in Tauriel's hair. She didn't say anything but continued to look back, even as she followed behind her Lady for a few steps.
The doors were opened and Lady Dis entered the large chamber to the sound of deep horns playing, the rest of the dwarves in the Hall quieted immediately as to gaze upon the Lady who had seemingly lost all; only to have one of her sons sent back by Mahal himself, to rule. The hushed crowd watched her solemnly enter and slowly walk to the front, the handmaiden behind her, with Balin also following. When she got to the front she turned around and directed everyone to take a seat on the benches that were quickly arranged there for this event. She also sat down in an opulent chair that had been placed at the front of this gathering, the handmaiden and Balin stood behind the chair on either side.
Lady Dis slowly began from her seat, but she neither needed bullhorn nor to shout as it became very quiet in the chamber, and hers, like Thorin's was a loud and deep voice, "My Kin...I thank all of you for joining us here in the Gallery of Kings, where we will gather soon to crown my son Kili, King of all Dwarves." Balin and Dis surveyed the five hundred or so present dwarves after she said these last words, and most had pleasant expressions, so she continued, "Before that happens in a few days time, I would like to recap the recent events for my kinsmen that traveled from the Blue Mountains." She stood up and bowed and said, "To my cousin, Lord Dain and to the kinsfolk that traveled from the Iron Hills, thank you for your loyalty and for answering my brother Thorin's second call to arms and to be here when he and his company's needs were most dire. Let us pause to remember the sacrifice of the fallen." She bowed again, this time holding it for a few moments. She stood back up and saw that the dwarves were also reverently lost in their own thoughts momentarily so she went and sat back in her seat. But continued, "As most of you well know, Thorin reached out to many kin far and wide, to undertake this impossible task of winning back Erebor from the accursed dragon." She stood back up to emphasize her point, "...and yet...only twelve answered his call! If you are here, please stand up," she said as she looked around. Dwalin, Bofur, Bifur, Ori and Dori, and Oin and Gloin and Bilbo all stood up from their seats near the front.
She continued, "And so, these lads embarked on this quest and encountered many perils along the way- trolls, spiders, all with that terrible pale orc and a pack of wargs on their tail. They finally reached Erebor, and after a long and horrible battle, we emerged as victorious. We suffered terrible losses that we will continue to give tribute to; my brother Thorin, my firstborn Fili and even my secondborn, Kili, the heirs of Durin through my father Thrain and my grandfather Thror's direct line of descent. Some of us were not present to witness what happened next... but let it be known to all...Mahal, our magnificent Creator came to the Mountain in gold and shining glory and said he would return one of these fallen, including Lord Dain who fell at the foot of the mountain; and the one returned would be the one most worthy to rule. From their funeral slabs," she said as her voice was rising to a crescendo, "the trembling of the Mountain receded as Mahal returned to his mansions... but the gold light that left in his wake enveloped one of these four on the slabs and his limbs began to move and his eyes began to flutter, and lo... it was Kili whom he had chose to return to rule all the dwarves!" After her fiery speech she looked around the hall again and many of the dwarves from the Blue Mountains who were just hearing this full account of their Creator had tears in their eyes; and even the Iron Hills dwarves who were present when it happened still had misty looks from remembering the incredible power that they felt at the time.
Dis returned to her chair and breathed deep, Balin gave her a smile and she started up again, more softly this time, "But...let us not forget the contributions of all manner of folk and creatures that aided my brother, my sons and the rest of the company along the way. I am told that Azog and his orc pack pursued the Company and nearly had them cornered on a high rocky ledge, but not for the wizard Gandalf and his friends the mighty Eagles, our kin were delivered to safety. Then, when traveling throughout the dark forest of Mirkwood, even though they had briefly been detained by the elven King Thranduil, with the help of our Halfling friend here, Bilbo, they again escaped. The warg pack and orcs were still on their tail and pursued them all the way to Laketown, my youngest son had been struck by a Morgul shaft even, but his peril was not known immediately. As Kili's conditioned worsened, he was left in Laketown, but thanks to generosity of a man of Laketown, Bard, who would go on to become The Dragonslayer; he was the only one to take my son in and try to give comfort to him. Those that were left behind to tend to him numbered: Bofur, Oin and Fili," she said steadfastedly. She continued, "And so, even with the mighty skill of one of our best healers, my youngest still seemed near the brink the death... and then, a pair of elves, one male and one female appeared at Bard's house right when the filthy orcs planned their attack. Not only did the elves help to all but destroy this party of orcs but the female elf, who you may know as Lady Tauriel, proceeded to do and elvish incantation and was able to cure Kili of his deadly wound. But...in doing so...she willingly surrendered her immortality to save him," as she said this last bit with a bit of gravity in her deep voice. She let this bit of information sink in to the hundreds of dwarves in the Hall, and even Bilbo and the members of the Company were taken aback by the news, and everyone seemed a bit sad.
She continued to pause to make sure this last bit had fully sunk in, then she continued, "And yet, the member's of the Company ultimate aim was still not fulfilled. After the dragon was destroyed by Bard, the orc filth still marched on the Mountain. That is when my loyal kin from the Iron Hills came and many died defending Erebor," she said as she hung her head. Lifting up, she continued, "But...even a large well trained army of dwarves could not hope to defeat thousands upon thousands of orcs alone. For this, we have the men and women of Laketown, the shapeshifter creature called Beorn and the mighty Eagles, our Wizard friends Radagast and Gandalf... and yes... even King Thranduil and his army from Mirkwood to thank for finally helping us to eradicate the orc hordes. But yes, my kin... it came with a price...for many of our kin, humans, creatures and yes...even elves died out there defending this Mountain!" She again sighed deep with her last statements and sat back in the chair.
Her words now, slow and carefully spoken, "And so...as has been mentioned, a friendship has been forged between our new elven and Halfling friends. So, as many of you have seen, or have heard whispers of, I am here to dispel any rumors and to confirm that my secondborn, soon to be King Under the Mountain, and King of all the Dwarves, has chosen his beloved, and she has accepted." The crowd started excited tittering, so Lady Dis nodded to Balin and he then waved to some guards at the back of the room by the large doors. The doors opened and in walked Kili and Tauriel who walked hand in hand. They both appeared apprehensive but with firm backs as they slowly made the long walk to the front. Most dwarves who already knew whom Kili had chosen had happy looks on their face; but for the dwarves whom this was new to first had shocked, then some had dismayed looks. Dis and Balin surveyed the crowd again and were not too pleased with the reactions by some, as they had hope her speech would sway everyone present.
Lady Dis sighed as she looked at Balin and he gave her a scrunched up mouth look and she waited for the pair to make it to the front of the gathering. Most faces looked at Kili and Tauriel as they walked to the front with genuine surprise and a little puzzlement; a few had happy looks and smiled as they went past; but equally a few had harsh and disgusted looks when the pair made their way past them. Kili and Tauriel finally made it to the front, Dis kissed her son and also kissed Tauriel on the cheek. She then arranged them so she was in between the pair, she took Tauriel's hand and then placed the blue runestone in it, and then took Kili's and placed it on top of Tauriel's and said to congregation, "For this stone I gave to my secondborn to Return To Me, and so he has- through poison, through water, through fire and yes...through even death! Aided in his return by many...but none more so than the one i know for certain that has captured his heart and has vowed to be at his side until the ending of this world. I know their union will usher in a new era of peace between our two races...Please join me in celebrating the betroval of Kili, soon to be King Under the Mountain and Lady Tauriel of the Mirkwood realm!" Many of the dwarves, although still slightly puzzled were caught up in the excitement of the moment, stood up and clapped their hands roughly or stamped their feet. Kili and Tauriel smiled out at the crowd but Balin and Dis surveyed the joyous celebration and made sure to note those who were not celebrating the happy union, and unfortunately there were a few.
Lady Dis continued though, "Please come up if you would like to offer your congratulations to my son and his bethrothed, and after, please head to the Dining Halls where a sumptuous feast has been prepared for you on this night to celebrate!" Again loud cheers and much noise was heard as the dwarves got up from their seats and began moving to their destinations. Balin judged at least half of the gathering formed a line to come up and speak with the Prince and his chosen, the rest gathered in groups for excited conversations, but some he noted left the chamber altogether.
Kili and Tauriel spent the next hour or so greeting and meeting and talking to the dwarves that stood in line waiting for them or to speak to the Lady Dis. Balin and Dwalin stood close by in case they were needed. All the conversations seemed genuinely cordial and most of the dwarves were interested in actually talking to this elf, their future Queen. Even one or two of the female dwarves came up and had interesting and friendly chats with the pair. The last dwarves in line were bowing to the royal Durin heirs and having their conversations with them, Bilbo too was there in line and was finishing his conversations with a few dwarves that had stopped to talk to him. The rest of the dwarves had made their way out of the Chamber and finally only Bilbo, Dis, Balin and Dwalin and Kili and Tauriel were left. Kili went over and kissed his mum on the cheek and said, "Thanks for all of that, mum" he said with a blush in his cheeks. "Of course my son," she said as she looked at both him and Tauriel and continued, "For I desire nothing more for the two of you: happiness, peace, fruitfulness and prosperity for both of you until the end of your days," and she hugged her son, then Tauriel, in turn. "Go, and enjoy this fine meal, in your honor," she said as she smiled at them. Kili gladly now took Tauriel's arm in his as they walked blissfully happily towards the Royal Dining Hall.
Balin and Dwalin hung back and stayed in the Chamber. Dwalin spoke first between the huddled trio, "i counted more than ten." Balin echoed his brother's statement, "Aye, my lady...I counted at least two dozen that left the Chamber pretty quickly after your announcement." Lady Dis deeply sighed and lowered her head, when she raised it she said troublingly, "And yet... we still do not know what her King's thoughts will be on this 'arrangement' but... it was best not mentioned to everyone else." She looked directly at Balin and Dwalin, in turn, "We will deal with those consequences, if they are ill, amongst ourselves." Balin and Dwalin nodded their agreement and the Lady Dis said lastly, "And so you know who to keep your eyes on now?" Balin said yes and looked at his brother, and Dwalin darkly said, "I will go inform Nori."