A few days had passed and the dwarves slowly settled in their temporary home. Queen Runa made sure that they had everything they needed. At one of her advisors objection that the wealth of the small kingdom would not be enough to feed the men and dwarves all together the queen sighed and politely asked the dwarves if work like forging or other crafts could be taken over. Thror immediately arranged that his kin took over the smiths and mining, which was much to the mens gratitude. The dwarves were used to the hard labour in the mines and the men could focus on the field work. Thorin himself worked in a smithy and accomodated a house together with his brother Frerin, his sister Dis, her husband and his nephews, Fili and Kili. In the evenings the dwarves visited the pubs in the Blue Mountains and sat together with the men, both folks living in peace at each others sides.

Kili had gotten quite anxious with every day that passed. Neither Runa nor Oda had showed up on other occasions than the official meetings and he was disappointed to not see his childhood friend. Fili took the opportunity to huff his brother.

'I bet she forgot all about you. She may have made new friends.' he chuckled as Kili gave him a playful nudge.

Days later they found out that they had been wrong all along.

The guards sounded the alarm in the early morning hours. Thorin was startled and grabbed his sword still half asleep. He had worked in the smithy until late that night and had not slept well. He did not sleep well since the dragon had taken their home. Alarmed he ran out of the house and saw that many dwarves had already took up their weapons and were ready to protect their families. And then he saw them. Orcs and wargs attacked the rim of the city in hope for easy casualties. That moment the gate of the mountain opened and three dozen mounted knights emerged. The queen herself led them, her face covered by a silver helmet. She charged at the orcs with a rage that Thorin had only seen on women defending their children.

Thorin soon found himself fighting at the side of his father and nephews. Soon the orcs were fought back but one warg rider charged at Kili as the young dwarf aimed at the retreating orcs with his bow. Thorin watched in horror as the warg ran over his nephew and turned around to finish him.

'Kili, no!' a female voice cried out and at first Thorin thought that Dis had called out for her son. But the voice was higher and more shrill. In the next moment a spear hit the warg and the orc was tossed of his back. Thorin saw the queen rush to the orc, killing his with one swift blow of her sword. She kneeled down beside Kili and took of her helmet. Kili only said one word as he looked into her face. 'Oda.'

'What does this mean?' Thror was furious. 'What is this trickery?'

Thror, Thrain and Thorin stood before the throne and looked at queen Runa who stared back at them silently.

'The young dwarf will be fine, king Thror. I hear he is your greatgrandson.' a female voice came from the door. 'I think that you owe my sister some gratitude.'

The dwarves watched as the queens sister emerged from the shadows, dressed exactly like the queen and wearing her crown. As she arrived at the throne she sat down on it and smiled warmly at her sister.

'I am queen Runa. I apologise for the confusion. This is my sister Oda, my loyal bodyguard. She replaces me in times of peril.' the real Runa looked at Thror with intelligent eyes. 'Do not think we do not know what you have been planning king Thror. I may be young, but I am not stupid. The dwarves of Erebor have lost their home and now you search for a new home for you and your kin. We seemed weak to you, we are only a small kingdom and into the bargain ruled by a woman. But we have offered you shelter whereas others have not. Please do not treat our hospitality with disrespect.'

Thror was too surprised to answer immediately, but Thorin stepped forward. 'I think we should reconsider our situation. It is obvious that you do not trust my kin, although we have never done anything to earn such mistrust.'

This time Oda spoke. 'We meant no disrespect. Our offer was honest. We do believe that a peaceful life of our people is possible in the Blue Mountains. But we will not let you take our home from us. Not after we lost our real home to Mordors orcs five hundred years ago.' she walked down to meet the dwarves on eye level. 'And please, my lords. Do not underestimate us because we are women.' Speaking these words she looked at Thorin, her eyes gleaming passionately. In that moment Thorin was unable to look away. Thror looked at the young princess and then to his grandson. Brown eyes burned into deep blue ones. As he cleared his throat the two young people broke the eye contact.

'I guess it is decided then.' Thror stated dryly.

Thorin met Oda the next day as he visited Kili at the healers house. He nearly did not recognise her in the simple tunic and trousers, without make up and jewelry. After a second glance he decided that he liked her better that way though. She looked more like herself without the burden of kingship on her. For a short moment he wondered if kingship would change him too, one day.

'Uncle!' Kili exclaimed happily as he saw Thorin leaning in the frame of the door. Thorin moved over to his nephew and saw Fili sit in the corner of Kilis room, eyeing Oda suspiciously. Thorin could not help but smirk at his nephews glare.

'Are you well?' he asked his nephew who nodded.

'I am fine, uncle. I am just tired of laying around here.' Kili sighed.

'You have a severe concusion, Kili. You should at least rest one more day.' She chuckled as she saw Kili pout. 'Pouting will not help help you, that was always your brothers speciality.' Oda said blinking at Fili who only glared at her. Lifting her hands in defeat she stood up and left the dwarves alone.

'Always pouting...such a nonsense.' Fili grumbled and frowned at his uncle and brother who burst into laughter as they saw Fili pout subconsciously.

'I cannot accept this! I will not succumb to this childqueen!' Thror grumbled, pacing up and down the the huge room which had become the council room of the dwarves of Erebor. 'The dwarves of Erebor, ruled by...this woman!'

Thrain watched his father in worry. Since the loss of the Arkenstone Thror had become unstable and moody and having arrived at the Blue Mountains as a refugee was more than his pride could take.

'Queen Runa may be young, but the blood of the Dunedain runs in her veins. She seems to be strong and wise enough to rule over her kingdom.' at his fathers sneer he continued. 'What shall we do? Take this kingdom by force after they opened their gates for us? We have more honor than that.'

'This kingdom of men is weak. It is merely a small village, sooner or later it will be overrun.' Thror grumbled. 'If not by us then by somebody else.'

Thrain nodded to that statement. Regardless how strong the rulership of these men was, the kingdom was too small to stand its ground against other kingdoms.

The next day Fili and Kili went for a walk outside of the mountain. Kili was feeling way better, but their mother had forbidden them to get into trouble. So they sat on a ledge quietly as they watched Oda emerge from the mountain joining a group of men on horses and riding of with them. She was wearing a leather armor and was armed, as well as the men were.

'The knights of Duath.' Fili and Kili jumped as they heard a voice behind them. Balin, the old advisor of their greatgrandfather had sneaked up behind them and smiled at the young dwarves reaction. He may be old, but he was still a warrior.

'The knights of Duath?' Fili remembered having heard of those special warriors. They had received a special training, they were nearly invincible on their horses. There were seven of them, each one carrying his own weapon and having his own speciality. And Oda seemed to be one of them.

Balin nodded thoughtfully. 'But even a regiment of such knights won´t be able to protect this kingdom forever.'