Chapter 4- Homecoming

3 Months later and Erebor has been restored to its former Glory. The people of Esgaroth have returned to Dale and the city is once again beginning to prosper. Bilbo has returned to Hobbiton with Gandalf and the dwarves are moving back into Erebor.

Ri was walking down a passage towards her assigned chambers, she had not come this way before so she was very curious to find out where she would be living.

She arrived outside a door with her name engraved in it and slid the thick brass key she had been given into the lock. When the heavy door opened she gasped. Inside was the biggest bed she had ever seen and behind that was a giant window. The mountain had windows. After exploring a bit, and finding the wardrobe full of ornate gowns, she came across a door leading in the opposite direction to where the wardrobe and the bathroom was. Curiously, she cracked open the door. On the other side of the door there was a chamber that was almost identical to hers except for a couple of tapestries on the wall. She didn't know who's chamber this was so she left the door ajar and decided she was going to have a long relaxing bath.

She walked into the bathroom and closed the door. Ri undid her braid and took off her clothes, she got into the steaming water and completely submerged herself.

After a good soak Merrithrin got out of the tub and wrapped herself in a vast, fluffy towel. She brushed out her hair, which when it was wet and straight, reached down to mid-thigh. Ri opened the door to her room and immediately noticed something was wrong. The door to the other chamber was wide open and she could see a pile of weapons laid out on the ground. She clutched the towel close to her chest, making sure it was securely wrapped around her. Cautiously, she slipped out of the bathroom and into the main chamber, startling the figure that was sitting on her bed and jumping in fright herself. "KILI WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM!? YOU SCARED THE LIVING HELL OUT OF ME!" she screamed.

"I'm so sorry, I thought you weren't here yet. I was going to surprise you." He replied apologetically.

"Well you did surprise me." She muttered, looking away. He chuckled. "GET OUT!" she yelled at him. "My, I've showed you more of my skin than you deserve to see." She added as an afterthought. "Thorin wants to see us in the throne room, it sounds important." He said then left her room and walked into the adjoining chamber with a grin on his face. After making sure he had shut the door so there wasn't as much as a hair's width crack between it and the doorframe, she unwrapped the towel and walked into the wardrobe. "Hmm Thorin… Important. May as well dress up." She muttered as she made her way towards the gowns at the back of the closet. Ruffling through them, she felt all manner of textures from velvet to wool. She decided she would wear a floor length light blue silk dress with black embroidery around the ankles and neck and a black corset that went around the waist and chest.

Even thought Ri had a beautiful dress on and glorious blonde, curly hair she still managed to walk like a boy. She never spent any of her time pursuing girly hobbies and enjoyed getting dirty and fighting but the one thing she would like to be able to do was walk like a girl. Her mother never really spent time with her after her father disappeared (He disappeared when she was a small child, around when she was five or six years old, her father said he used to take her on adventures and Ri would come home with flowers intertwined in the braids in her hair) and Ri was left to look after her mother rather than visa-versa.

Ri arrived in the throne room and saw Kili, Fili and Thorin bent over a map. She cleared her throat and the dwarves turned around and looked at her. Kili gasped and Fili wolf whistled, she looked at the ground and blushed, "So why do you want me?" asked Ri.

"Well, as you know, not all the Dwarves that came from Erebor have returned. Tomorrow the last party will arrive and in that party is someone very important." Answered Thorin.

"Who?"

"Well, I haven't told anyone, not even you boys, but," he took a breath, "Lady Dís will be returning to the Kingdom Under the Mountain."

A gleeful expression reached Fili's face and Kili shrieked, "Mother!" (Ri had guessed that Kili was a mother's boy). Ri smiled, "That is great news Thorin, but what has it got to do with me?"

"Well, it has two things to do with you. Number one, Dís is a Lady which in Dwarf terms is a female fighter, she has that title, therefore can give it to another who deserves it. I think men call it knighthood." Ri was shocked to receive such an honour but kept her mouth shut because she was curious to hear the next point. "The next reason she might be of help to you is she knows the Dwarven family trees like the back of her hand. And no offence but, Ri, you aren't pureblood human."

Ri giggled, "I've been told that all my life but you are the first not to mean offence when you say it. Thorin, I'm honoured that you have even considered me for ladyship but I really don't think I deserve it." Ri was really nervous around Thorin, he had power almost radiating him and could silence a room without lifting a finger.

"Merrithrin of Esgaroth, you saved my and both my kin's life in the Battle of the Five Armies, you deserve a ladyship as much as the Dwarves deserve the riches of Erebor.

The next day Ri woke up feeling very nervous and sore, last night she had discovered the pain of a tight corset. The boning had left long bruises up and down her ribs.

She made her way to the throne room wearing a simple white gown. She sat down in her place, next to Kili who was on the right of Thorin who was on the throne. As the room started to fill, she became more and more nervous, she was after all, meeting the greatest Dwarven female warrior in a matter of minutes. Making her more nervous was that Kili hadn't turned up yet. Thorin and Fili had taken their places and still Kili was nowhere to be seen. Just as the trumpets blew to announce the arrival of the party, Kili slipped in the side door holding a chicken leg and ran to his seat. Thorin gave him a glare that would have made any foe shake in their boots but as the giant oak doors opened, it was replaced with a wide grin.

Lady Dís walked in the door, followed by a party of 40 or so Dwarves. She strode up to the throne and curtsied deeply, "Welcome home sister." Said Thorin.

"It's good to be back, brother." She replied.

Now is the ample opportunity to describe Dís from Merrithrin's perspective. Ri had seen a few female dwarves before since being in Erebor she had laid eyes on two, both extremely beautiful, not to mention bearded. Dís carried a different air to the ones she had seen previously. She had a regal aspect about her, her back straight and her shoulders square, she had long, thick dark hair almost identical to Thorin's but Dís carried a few gold streaks in it. The blonde was woven into an elaborate hairstyle that looked like a basket weaving that reached from her hairline to the crown of her head, the rest of the hair cascading down her back with a few plaits here and there, tied with golden clasps.

Dís' beard was braided in two, both sections going from her chin to under her ears where it joined the weave. She carried a dagger in her belt and an axe on her back, even in a place where she could be sure she was safe. Ri liked her already.

The formalitys were soon over, then began the feast. Ri had never seen so many dead fowl in the one room, as well as whole roast pigs, legs of lamb and beef ribs. The ale was carried into the hall by the barrel and soon, they were seated at great benches. Ri was sitting across the bench from Dís who had Thorin on one side and Fili on the other. Kili was next to her, moping because he wasn't quick enough to beat his older brother to his mother's side. "Cheer up!" Ri yelled at him over the racket as she raised her tankard in his face, "You are grumpy in all this merrymaking, I don't know how you manage it!" she took a swig of ale. Kili couldn't help but smile at Ri, she was not used to the Dwarves rich ale and he was sure she would soon be intoxicated but he was happy she was happy. "Merrithrin!" boomed Thorin, "I would like to introduce you to my sister baby Dís."

"I am not you're baby sister," she punched him in the arm with such force that Thorin yelped. Dís reached across the table, "Hello, Merrithrin, Thorin tells me you saved my sons in the battle, for that I owe you my debt." Ri shook her hand. "I am honoured to be in you're presence ma'am."

"Say nothing more child! Be silent and drink your ale, tonight is a night for celebration for the line of Durin is reunited!" She drained her tankard.