King Thorin had invited them all after sunset. The men from Dale, Laketown, Rohan and Gondor and the elves of Mirkwood, Lothlorien and Rivendell. He had thought about inviting the dwarves of the Iron Hills, but due to the circumstances he had quickly dismissed that idea. The great Hall of Erebor looked like a fairy land. Candles and flowers decorated the huge table in the middle and the silverware sparkled between the dishes.

Lord Bard, the mayor of Laketown, King Thengel and lord Denethor were there, as well as lord Elrond, lady Galadriel and king Thranduil. The lord of men stared at Thorins wives and concubines in awe, secretly wishing to ahve such a great harem themselves. King Thranduil was enjoying the wine king Thorin had bought for this special occasion and Thorin himself was engaged into a conversation with Elrond and Galadriel.

Billa cursed under her breath as she reached the feast, for she was late. She had not been able to decide what to wear and now she was late, which was totally unacceptable for a respectable hobbit. In the end she had chose a cream colored and voluminous dress and had tied her hair up into a lose knot. Some of her curls fell back onto her shoulders, but she thought that she looked younger that way. She was just entering the great hall, as king Thorins gaze set on her and a smile appeared on his face. Timidly she walked towards him and the elves and bowed deeply.

'Forgive me, my lord. The sun set early today.' Billa muttered her apology.

'To me, it just rose.' Thorin stated charmingly and Billa blushed. 'Mistress Baggins, please let me introduce you to lord Elrond of Rivendell and lady Galadriel.'

'Mae govannen, my lord, my lady.' Billa bowed before the elves and smiled warmly at the beautiful elven lady. 'Billa Baggins, at your service.'

'I see you have adapted to the dwarven life, miss Baggins.' Galadriels voice was like the sounds of silver bells. Billa instantly liked her.

'Everyone was to focus on the progress Erebor made, but now their attention is diverted to you.' Thorin softly scolded Billa, who shyly smiled at his compliment. Neither of them saw lord Bard of Dale frown. The lord of men was surprised by the open affection between the king and the hobbit. He had never expected the hobbit to actually achieve any changes in the dwarven kingdom, but apparently he had underestimated her greatly.

Before dinner was served, Thorins children sang to their guests. "Far over the Misty Mountains Cold" was the dwarven song they had translated into Westron. It was a beautiful, but sad, song and Billa and the elves and men had tears in their eyes as they listened to the children sing. As the song was over the children bowed and turned to leave for their beds, but little Sigrid ran towards Thorin and whispered in his ear. With a smile, the king under the mountain stood up from the table and adressed his guests.

'Forgive my manners, but I do not wish to break with family tradition.' he smirked and lifted his little daughter up into his arms and kissed her goodnight. Not only Billa smiled at the display of affection between father and daughter and the hall remained silent until little Sigrid had left the hall with fast little steps.

One of the men from Laketown managed to spoil the peaceful moment. 'I congratulate you on all the women, your majesty. I almost wish I was a dwarf myself.'

The man probably thought that he was making Thorin a compliment, but the kings expression darkened at the mans disrespectful mention of his family.

'Excuse me, I do not recall your name?' Thorin looked the man up and down and decided that he did not like him at all.

'I am Alfrid of Laketown.' the man introduced himself. 'I am counselor to the mayor and head of the commerce.'

'I see.' Thorin wanted to let go of the topic and focus in more civilised guests as Alfrid spoke again.

'Erebor has started to join the commerce with a surprisingly strong experience, king Thorin.' Alfrid grinned and made Thorin clench his hands to fists. 'But is that your understanding of progress?'

'Progress?' Thorins voice was low, the only indication for his anger and fury. 'Is Erebor that inferior that it has the need of progress?'

'Men are superior, as well as elves.' Alfrid remarked as a matter of fact. 'The massacres up and down your borders are signs of Erebors weakness, no wonder you seak the help of the men and elves!'

Gasps and growling from the dwarves were heard around the table. Thorin took a deep breath before answering, but Billa beat him to the answer.

'Nobody has the right to judge who is superior to whom.' Billa practically snarled at Alfrid. 'Especially those who frequently demonstrate their so called superiority by armed force.'

Billa knew as well as anyone at that table, that the cities of men had only gotten as powerful as they were by the open and agressive display of their armies. Either you were with them, or against them. She would not let those men destroy everything she worked for.

The elves smiled at the hobbit interference and nodded in agreement.

'A toast!' lord Elrond used the silence to divert from the embarassing atmosphere. 'To our host, may history mark this occasion as the first step to a successful alliance.'

Everyone raised their glasses and the feast continued in a more merry fashion. Billa thankfully glanced at lord Elrond for elegantly passing over her outburst. She had behaved very unhobbity and although she knew that she had said the right thing, she felt embarassed. But as she saw Thorins glances towards her, all of their surroundings faded into mist. Billa had to say what she had said - for Thorin.

After dinner, Thorin stood up with a smirk. Musicians appeared from the shadows and all of a sudden there was dancemusic resounding from Erebors walls. 'After the custom of the people of the West I invite you all to dance.' Without any further word, Thorin focused on Billa and made his way around the table, towards her.

Billas heart was beating so loud that she thought that everyone had to hear it. Petrified, she watched as Thorin strode majestically towards her, eyeing her and smiling. As he stood before her he reached out for her hand and lightly pulled her up.

'I would be very happy, misttress Baggins, if you would honor me with the first dance.' Thorin stated quietly and his voice sent shivers down Billas spine. Speechless, she took his hand and let him guide her to the dancefloor, everyones eyes on them.

'I...I haven´t...danced in a long time.' Billa stammered. 'The evening went so well, I do not want to ruin it.'

'I am the king.' Thorin smirked at her. 'I will lead.'

With one hand on her waist and one hand leading her, Thorin started dancing swiftly and flowing. He was a remarkable dancer and Billa had no problem to follow his lead. She did wonder where he had learned to dance like this.

'I have never danced with a hobbit before.' Thorin stated amused.

'Nor I with a king.' Billa gently replied and looked up at Thorins handsome face, feeling completely lost all of a sudden.

Thorins wives and concubines, along with his brother Frerin and Balin and Dwalin watched in astonishment as they saw their king swirl over the dancefloor with the hobbit, smiling and laughing, highly enjoying himself. Dis and Frerin exchanged a knowing look and Frerin grinned happily at his brothers joy. It had been a long time since they had seen Thorin that happy. Now that Frerin thought about it, he had barely seen Thorin in the treasury lately.

The next morning, Billa and Frodo were striding along the market outside of Erebor. Billa was humming and almost dreamingly walked through the streets. Frodo shook his head at his mothers behaviour.

'You are humming, mother.' he stated as a matter of fact as tilted his head as his mother smiled at him happily. 'You haven´t hummed since...I can´t even remember.'

'I am happy, my son.' Billa knew that Frodo had witnessed his mothers dance with the king although he had been supposed to go to bed. 'He held his hands out for me as if I was...'

'One of his forty cocobines?' Frodo asked, grinning.

'Its concubines.' Billa answered sourly. 'And thank you very much.'

Billa was distracted by her sons words and did not notice a brow haired dwarf sneak up around them. As she felt something slip into her basket she turned, only to see the young dwarf run into the opposite direction. She looked down and saw the small box with an attached letter in her basket, adressed at Tauriel. Assuming that the dwarf had only been a courier, Billa thought nothing of it and continued her shopping.

As she returned to the royal wing she could not help but laugh at the sight of Thorins daughter, Sigrid. Her hands reaching out for an invisible partner, the little dwarfling swirled around in the family´s hall in an imaginary dance.

'Something tells me that she did not go to bed right away, yesterday.' Thorins deep voice made Billa jump, but she smiled as he walked up behind her and looked upon his daughter lovingly.

'It seems that way.' Billa smiled at Thorin, but instantly saw that something was worrying him. 'Is there something the matter, your majesty?'

When had she learned to read him that well? Billa tried to forget the voices whispering about Thorin in her head and focused on the present.

'I was told that the Iron Hills have formed an official alliance with the men of Dale. A war might be inevitable if the attacks continue.' Thorin informed her with a heavy heart. All their effort to establish strong bonds to the men and elves were in danger if war broke out between the two dwarven kingdoms. With a heavy sigh he turned around and walked back down the corridor, but looked at Billa expectantly, wanting her to follow. The hobbit followed the king until they were standing in his study. A small wooden box laid on his desk and Thorin pointed towards it. 'I have something for you, mistress Baggins.'

Billa walked towards the desk and took the box into her shivering fingers. It was beautifuly carved, with flowers entwining around a mountain. As she opened it she had to gasp and covered her mouth. It was her mothers ring, the golden band the dwarven lady had tossed into the depths of the mountain.

'You can´t...where have you...?' Billa was stunned and looked at the king with big eyes.

'I found it near the mines. It was calling out to me.' Thorin smiled, but he had no idea how his words made Billa remember the whispers she heard when she was near the ring.

'I can´t take it.' was all Billa managed to whisper.

'Why not?' Thorin looked at her now, with stony eyes and an expression even Billa could not read. 'It is yours, take it.'

But Billa could not. Taking this ring from Thorin would seem like a commitment and she knew what gifts meant to dwarves. She was the kings familys tutor and she would not let herself be bonded to him in such a way.

'I can't. I am sorry.' Billa whispered and left Thorins study without looking back.