A Promise

Fili - 82, Kili - 77

Dis and Thora were outside in the bright sunlight, each bent over the large clothes washing basin. Dis was agitated about something, so Thora remained silent, letting Dis brood over whatever was in her mind.

"How does he manage to get dirt everywhere?" He's practically an adult," Dis grumbled.

Thora smiled. Dis had to have one of Kili's shirts. Tomorrow was Kili's seventy seventh birthday. He would come-of-age and be, officially, an adult. Thora knew Dis was happy for her son, but she also knew the melancholy Dis felt as her youngest came-of-age. Her children were grown.

Dis scrubbed the shirt against the washboard harder.

"I know Kili's hard on his shirts, but I didn't think you would get so upset over them," Thora tried to make Dis smile.

Dis relaxed for a moment. She went back to scrubbing his shirt, although less violently. "I guess I shouldn't take out my frustrations on the washboard," Dis gave a little smile, "however, I'm still amazed how much mud a grown man can get onto his shirts."

Thora chucked. "So what's really bothering you?"

Dis and Thora had grown close over the last few years, like mother and daughter. Thora knew when to press Dis for information and when to let something go.

"It's Thorin. That stubborn, hard-headed brother of mine," Dis sighed. "He hasn't told me much and I can't repeat what he's told me. Not until he is ready to share, but I'm not happy with him. Not at all."

"I understand," Thora said. "It's alright if you can't say and I'm sorry he's upset you."

Dis wrung out Kili's shirt. Thora held up the shirt she was washing, one of Fili's. It still had some spots on it. She dunked it back into the basin, picked up the bar of soap and scrubbed at the shirt again. She let her mind wander to happier thoughts. She was in love with Fili. They were courting and had been for two years now, since Thora had come-of-age. She shook her head slightly and felt the bead that hung from the long braid behind her left ear. She like the way it tickle her collar bone. It was like having Fili give her soft kisses on her neck, all the time.

She was so happy. So in love. She and Fili would make a home for themselves. They had looked around and found several locations that would be suitable. They would need to be granted permission to use the land, but she didn't anticipate that being a problem.

Thora sighed happily. It would be a lovely home, built by Fili. Kili and Thorin would help, she was sure. Over the years, she had continued to work for the weaver. She gave part of her earnings to Dis, to aide in the family's income for buying food and supplies for the home she had become a permanent member of. The rest of the money she earned, she saved in a silver box Fili had made for her as a courting gift. With the money she was saving, she would buy what she needed to start a home - cooking pots, utensils, crockery, linens and such.

She wrung out Fili's shirt and picked up a pair of Thorin's trousers, dunking them into the water.

If Joli had lived, Thora knew he would have built them a beautiful piece of furniture like a table or even a bed. Later he would have insisted on building a baby cot for their first born. Thora blushed and smiled at the though. She wanted to be the mother to Fili's beautiful children. She could just picture it. She would be holding their newborn son and Fili would be standing next to her, grinning and kissing both of their faces. The baby would have golden hair, just like...

"Thora!" Dis called.

Thora jumped, completely startled right out of her daydreams. She blushed hard.

Dis chuckled. "Must have been a lovely thought."

Thora nodded and focused on the mud stain on the knee of the trousers. "I'm sorry, Dis. What were you saying?"

"Nothing important. I was talking about the party tomorrow and I looked over at you to see you with a wistful smile, your eyes were clearly seeing another picture. What do you dream of? Fili?"

Thora didn't think it was possible for her face to get any hotter or redder, but she was wrong. She could only nod.

"Have you talked about marriage yet?" Dis asked.

Thora nodded again.

"Then why has he not put a promise braid into your hair yet?" Dis was grinning, teasing Thora for information.

"Because this is Kili's special time. Fili doesn't want to over-shadow Kili's coming-of-age with a marriage announcement," Thora answered.

Dis smiled, albeit somewhat sadly. "He has always put Kili first. Ever since Kili was born has it been this way. I'm not surprised that Fili thinks of Kili's happiness over his own."

"Do you know what I fear?" Thora asked. Dis looked at her, but said nothing. "I fear coming between Fili and Kili. That Kili will be angry I took his brother or that Fili will still feel the strong need to care for Kili and leave me for that." Her breath shook. "Back, a long time ago, when we were young, Fili, Kili, Leys and I talked about how one day I would marry Fili and Leys would marry Kili and we would live next door to each other or just all live in one big house together. Brothers and sisters, husbands and wives." Thora smiled at the thought. "A silly, childish dream, I suppose, but it would have suited us all so well."

Dis dropped Kili's shirt into the soapy bucket of water and pulled Thora into a hug. "It would have been a perfect arrangement and Joli and I would have happily given our blessing." She let Thora go, but kept her hands on Thora's shoulders. "Kili loves Fili and for seventy years it's been the two of them, Fili and Kili, but Kili wants his brother to be happy and he could never be angry with you for marrying Fili."

Thora smiled. They finished the washing and hung the clothes on the line to dry. They continued to talk about Kili's party and Fili and Thora's future. Thora loved talking about a future life with Fili, but at the same time, it was embarrassing to be talking about it with Dis. It was times like this she missed her sister. She missed having a confidant. Someone she could share her thoughts and secrets with. Her fears and desires.

The ale was flowing and the dwarves in attendance for Kili's coming-of-age party, which seemed to be most of Ered Luin, were laughing loudly. A small group played music and many dance, including Fili and Thora.

"You look stunning this evening," Fili said.

"Why thank you," Thora smiled

"Do you know what would make you look even more beautiful?" he asked. Thora shook her head. "A Promise Braid in your hair."

"Well, the moment someone asks me, I'll make sure he places that braid in my hair," Thora grinned. She would tease Fili, so she smiled sweetly at him, "It's just too bad I have to wait another decade before Gimli is old enough to court me."

Fili growled at her as he spun her faster across the dance floor. "Gimli would be looking down the wrong end of my twin swords if he even thought about that."

Thora laughed. She felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked to see Thorin smiling down at her. "May I have his dance?" he asked. Fili smiled and backed away.

Thorin took her hand in his and they dance. She loved Thorin like an uncle, or even a father. He had been more of a father to her than her own father had been, since he had always been gone as a traveling merchant. Then, when she had received news of her father's death, it had been Thorin who had comforted her and told her she was a part of their family for always.

She smiled as they glided across the floor.

"Fili and I have talked and I've given him my consent," Thorin said.

When it had come time for Fili to formally court Thora, rules and etiquette demanded he ask for permission from her father. In the absence of her father, Fili had gone to Thorin as the patriarch of their family in which Thora had been adopted into. Now, they were ready to take their courtship to the next part - a promise. They would make an exclusive promise to court no one else. They would promise to be each other's husband and wife. It was the final step before marriage.

Thora crushed her body into Thorin's as she hugged him. She stood up on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. "You have made me the happiest lass in all of Middle Earth."

"Honestly, I'm surprised it took him so long. I half expected the two of you to be married as soon as you came-of-age."

Thora let him go. "I had hoped to be married by now, but Fili had his reasons for waiting."

Thorin gave her a quick, questioning look, but decided not to ask. Here was not the time nor place for such questions. "Come on. Let's finish the dance. it's not often I get to dance with so beautiful a lass."

Thora laughed and picked up her heels again. Thora was born right after the first time her father had been injured in the mines. It had been Thorin who had rescued her father and so Thora was named for him in thank of his service to their family.

Thorin had been uncomfortable with that after he had found out about the little girl named after him, but he was honored as well. He would never have a child to bestow his name too, so Thora had taken a special place in his heart, right from the start. Then, years later, when Fili had started to notice lasses, Thorin had been secretly pleased his heir had fallen for his namesake.

The dance ended and Thorin kissed Thora's hand. He led her back to Fili and placed her hand into his. He said nothing, but smiled and walked away.

"Well," Thora said, "how about that braid now?"

Fili smiled, "Tomorrow, my jewel. Let Kili have his night. In the mean time," he turned her hand over so her palm was up, "Take this as my promise that tomorrow you will have your braid." He pressed into her hand a silver bead. She saw the bead bore his personal sigil as well as the symbol for the Line of Durin.

"Oh, Fili," she closed her hand over the bead and held it to her heart. "Thank you." Their eyes locked to each other, each trying to show their love and adoration through their gaze alone.

Kili bounced over and threw an arm around them both. "Come on, Fee," he said, his speech slightly slurred, "are you going to put that bead into her hair or not?"

Fili was surprised. "It's your birthday, Kee. Your coming-of-age. It's not my celebration."

"You're right, brother-of-mine," he leaned heavily into Fili's shoulder. "It's my celebration and I require one more birthday present from you."

"You require?" Fili asked.

"Yes. For my birthday, I want to watch you put the Promise Braid into Thora's hair, seal it with your bead and then you kiss her."

"Kili," Fili chuckled lightly, "you're drunk. You don't want me to do that during your party."

"It's my party and I do want this. And I'm not that drunk. Please, Fee? Braid her hair or I will do it for you," Kili grinned, knowing how much he had just riled up his brother.

"You'll do no such thing!" Fili answered.

Thora sat, red faced, but completely entertained by the two brother's banter.

"Fine," Fili said, acting like he had just been bullied into mucking out the stables. He started to reach for Thora's hair, but Kili grabbed them both by the hand and pulled them out to the middle of the floor.

"Kili!" Thora cried out. "Just what do you think you are doing?"

Kili only smiled wider. "Hey everyone!" he yelled. "My own dear brother has asked Thora, daughter of Aner, to marry him and she accepted!"

Thor and Fili were red faced, like a pair of tomatoes. Fili looked to Thorin for help, but he was laughing heartily.

"Come on, lad!" Dwalin called out to him. "Aren't you going to braid her hair?"

The group roared in agreement. They called out to Fili, encouraging him to braid her hair. With shaking hands, Fili reached up to Thora's long red hair and took the section of hair, just behind her left ear, where her courtship braid hung. He undid the braid and wove the intricate Promise Braid into her hair. Thora was smiling. She held open her hand and he took his bead from her palm. He snapped it into place. With the bead he had just taken out from the courting braid, Thora, in turn, put the same braid into his hair and used the courting bead to finish the ritual. Fili leaned in and kissed his wife-to-be. Another roaring cheer from the crowd filled the hall.

Fili and Thora grinned at each other. Another song began to play. Fili bowed and Thora curtsied in reply. They started to dance. Many others soon followed them onto the floor. Fili reached out and ran his fingers over the new braid in his love's hair. "I was right. You look even more beautiful now with that in your hair."

Thora kissed him again. They were betrothed now.

"So," Kili said, dancing with his mother, came up alongside Fili and Thora, "When's the wedding?"