Sun and Moon
Upon the following months came a relative peace within the stony halls of Erebor. Winter has warmed over into spring during that time in which Thorin had reclaimed his rightful place as King under the Mountain. The days from there on were the days of the king as the people of Gondor would put it. Coruwen found herself happy to be with her king. News of their courtship had remained surprisingly low within the tightly knit groups within the kingdom.
Upon the first month of spring, Dís had arrived with a large group of dwarves from Ered Luin. All of which oriented themselves into the kingdom.
Gandalf and Bilbo had left in between the arrival of Dís and the coronation of Thorin. The two were left with farewells, and the promises of return upon a later date. The dwarves of the Iron Hills left with Dain shortly after Gandalf departed taking a little back with them considering the fact that many desired to stay.
Upon this warm spring day, Coruwen sat on her balcony with a book reading over the contents slowly. It felt like years since she had last looked at the infinite knowledge of books. In Imladris, she had free reign over Elrond's library which contained knowledge beyond number. Erestor and Glorfindel would often stay with her for company, but Erestor would end up being the one that stayed at her side. She smiled at the thought of the ellon, who took knowledge seriously in every count. Glorfindel would often tease him by calling him a book worm, but in all honesty Erestor didn't care.
A quiet creak made Coruwen's ears tune into the sound of rustling cloth and muffled voices behind her door. Her eyes never left the book, knowing full well who was behind the door. She knew that Thorin was in a meeting and would not be returning for some time, thus leaving her with only two options. Two very entertaining options, mind you.
"Boys, I know you're there," Coruwen stated flatly.
Fili's head poked through the doorway with a small pout on his face. Kili was behind him holding back fits of laughter. Having removed her gaze from her book, she saw that the two were slightly amused. It showed more on Fili's face than his brother's. The ever maturing Fili had a small spark of amusement in his eyes that she caught quite quickly. It pleased her to see him like this. He was separating himself from Kili more and more, which gave him a free mind of his own.
"What is the two of you need?" Coruwen asked as she dog eared a page. Kili stared at her in shock. Ori would kill her if he found out she was dog earring pages.
"Nothing." She caught the nonchalant, 'there's something' tone in his voice that Dís used.
"Fili, you are your mother's son," Coruwen laughed. The lad laughed under his breath with a ever so slight shake of the head. "Now, what is it the two of you need?"
"Would you mind going with Squirrel to the archery range? I need to join Uncle in his meeting," Fili stated. Kili ducked his head in embarrassment, covering his eyes with his hands. "As you can clearly see he is being bashful."
Kili punched his brother in the arm. "Shut up," Kili said through his seething anger. Fili rubbed his arm where Kili had hit him, and looked at Coruwen for an answer.
"I'd love to," Coruwen replied as she leapt down from the ledge.
Her heart and soul had been at ease lately. Ever since Thorin had beginning courting her she had been happy, it seemed almost like a daze to her. She did not know where this sudden unnatural enlightenment came from or how it graced her, but she was enjoying its presence. Fili and Kili left the room with her as she grabbed her bow and quiver from its place at her bedside. The smooth yew wood felt foreign to her since she could not pull the bowstring back as far as she used to since the Goblin King had ripped the flesh from her arm. Nonetheless, it did not stop her from using it.
Fili departed them as Kili led her outside to a large outstretch of rock where she spied many young children shooting small bows with toy arrows at their parents or older siblings. Her heart warmed at the sight of children; even with the children of her own kind she saw them as small blessings from the Valar and Eru.
"How's your arm?" Kili asked as he pulled an arrow back all the way to his cheek. Coruwen's hand went up to her arm instinctively. The scar that marred her arm was large and unsightly; she hated it with passion.
"It's seen better days, Kili," Coruwen murmured. The soft clunk of the arrow shaft embedding itself in the target made her glance up to see Kili's arrow had met its mark dead center. "Excellent shot."
Kili beamed up at her with a cocky smirk before letting another arrow lose, this time with a faster snap that made her cringe. Haldir and Orophin used to fire arrows like that, as if lightning had snapped loose of their bows. She could never do that. Rumil told her it took years of messing up and hitting little critters to fire that fast. Kili's arrow had fallen short of the target in whole and snapped in two before a rock. The young dwarf let out a growl before running over to the snapped arrow.
Coruwen grabbed an arrow from her quiver, pulling back as far as her arm would let before it started to tremor. When the scar made her arm shake and wobble from the lack of strength she fired, splitting Kili's arrow down the middle.
The heir's head snapped up to stare at the awe of her splitting his arrow down the middle. He glared at her when he removed the arrows. Pride filled her when she swept back clutching her left arm while massaging the scar. The muscle felt fibrous, almost stringy due to it being atrophied. Her elven pride was damaged as a result of the Goblin's punishment for not speaking to him when he told her to.
"Not fair," Kili droned as she stepped aside for him. She found him being flustered amusing since he acted like Dís when he did it. His face became hard and his gold eyes darkened to a deep shade of amber. He steadily fired arrows into the target whilst sulking. A young girl came over to him and sat by Coruwen's feet to watch Kili.
"Kili, love," Coruwen said, smiling. Kili turned one gold eye to her, and fired his last arrow. She gestured down to the little red headed dwarf girl that watched Kili with admiration. Her green eyes were big like a puppy's as she watched Kili. The heir of Durin knelt down to the little girl's level and she slinked away shyly. Heartbroken, Kili went back to firing arrows while humming a song to himself. "He isn't going to scare you away, little one."
The little girl blushed with a pout on her face when she looked up at Coruwen. She tugged at the hems of her cream dress in frustration. Coruwen could see her bright red hair turn practically to fire when she became angered. This was amusing to her. She knelt down to the girl's level and tucked one red ringlet behind the girl's ear affectionately. She desired children of her own so much that it hurt her heartstrings.
"What is your name, little one?" Coruwen asked
The girl's emerald eyes rose up to Coruwen's, and her pout faded slightly. "Sol," The girl replied shortly.
"That's a pretty name, it befits you," Coruwen told her softly. "You are named after the sun?"
"Aye," Sol muttered. "Why are you talking to me, Miss Elf? Mama told me not to talk to elves because they are good for nothing liars."
Coruwen let out a sputtering cough at how much disdain dwarves had for her kind. Kili must've heard it because he hesitated before firing his last arrow. "Well, Sol, I will not lie to you. This I swear."
Sol cocked her head to the side. "But Mama said Elves lie… They didn't help us when we were forced from this mountain," Sol whispered in disbelief. Her little hands unwound themselves from her cream dress, and worked her curly red hair.
"Is your mother here, Sol?"
Sol shook her head. "Nay, she is coming with my Papa to Erebor from Belegost. My brother, Mani brought me here from Belegost earlier this month with Lady Dís."
"I've met Mani," Kili said over his shoulder. Sol's eyes darted to the ground in bashfulness as Kili looked at her. Coruwen smiled at Sol's crush on Kili. The heir smirked and threw his bow over his shoulder. "He's about my height, dirty blonde hair, smart aleck?"
Sol threw her head back in wild laughter. "Aye, that's him all right!"
Kili chuckled as he dug around in his quiver for an arrow. He withdrew a knife and widdled on the arrow's wooden shaft carefully. He was engraving something in the arrow, but Coruwen didn't know what. Sol watched him intently with her head cocked to the side, a growing smile on her face. She was small for a dwarf girl, a bit fragile as Balin would put it. She would be no bigger than an elfling girl when Coruwen looked at her. Her hair was frizzy and bright red like fire hanging in fluffy ringlets around her chubby face.
Kili knelt before Sol and pressed the arrow into her tiny hand with a gentle smile on his face. Sol's green eyes widened in shock as Kili squeezed her hand. "If you desire to be an archer of greatness like I am, then let this arrow teach you to never abandon your path," Kili told her.
Sol's cheeks turned as red as her hair when Kili's hand drifted off of hers, and she ran off. Coruwen chuckled and rested her hand on Kili's shoulder. "Someone has an admirer." She said blissfully.
Kili's cheeks became pink and he whirled around to avoid her. She twirled one of his braids with two fingers. He swatted her hand away. "She's too young for me anyhow." Kili grunted. "Her brother is a twit, and her parents aren't in good graces with my mother."
"Are you saying Dís might rip their heads off?"
"Sol's mother at the very least. That woman was called Mother a harlot."
Coruwen's eyes widened at the statement's severity. To call a princess a harlot is like dancing with death. Especially if that person is Dís, who is just as short tempered as Thorin was; quite possibly more if you made her angry enough. Kili rested his head against her arm, gently playing with the long flowing sleeve. The cloth was light green and sheer. Despite it being spring, in Erebor it was oddly cold from the altitude height. Thus, Coruwen had to wear cloaks to keep herself from freezing to death.
"When are Uncle and Fili going to be done with that meeting?" Kili asked under his breath. Coruwen shifted her gaze down to him noticing his stiff back and shoulder pulled back to straighten his posture. She saw much of the line of Durin in this type of posture and gruffness. "It's only a simple meeting of kin, isn't it?"
"I do not know. Thorin told me little of what he was doing this morning," Coruwen simply replied. Kili sighed shortly in frustration as he listened to her. She could sense his impatience, there was little she could so to quell it now.
"Ah well, what can I do? I may be an Heir to the throne, but I'm still young as Mom puts it," Kili snorted as he ran his fingers across the ebony tinted feathers of his arrows. What could he do? He was forced to the bottom of the food chain because of age, again. It was bothersome, stupid, and he saw no point in it. Coruwen could see his contradictions flaring in his eyes. "Damn age…" He heaved a deep sigh that made him calm down a bit. "I'm surprised Uncle hasn't been spending time with you as of late. With what your status' are currently."
Yes, he was courting her still. Coruwen smiled at the thought of him. The king always brought a smile to her face when she thought of him. The love he gave her was fiery, but he halted himself when he felt himself slipping too far over the boundaries he mentally set. He had done it the other day in fact. He had started to become lost when he kissed her and held her close to him. Coruwen saw his eyes always open and darken when he halted himself in his advances. Thorin was never unsure of anything before, or at least as long as she had known him. With her, he was so precarious now.
This, mind you, isn't a bad thing since it is better to be slow than fast in ones advances. Coruwen smiled as she ran a hand across Kili's brown hair. He reminded her of Thorin physically; while Fili acted like him in spirit.
The sound of a door opening and shutting made Coruwen look up from Kili. Fili, Thorin, and Balin entered the archery range. Thorin was dressed in a tunic of burgundy with a light coat on his shoulders. Silver metal gleamed on the tunic's design and upon his back was Orcrist with a polished pommel and newly wrapped hilt. The crown of his forefathers had yet to be found, which angered him greatly, but he found himself not desiring it as much as he thought.
"How did it go?" Coruwen asked. She sat herself on a rock, her fingertips running along the tight bowstring. Balin let out a stressed noise and leaned against the door. The meeting was a bust by the elder's crestfallen expression. "Not well, I assume."
"Damn Belegost's leader's holier than thou attitude," Fili scoffed. "If he wasn't so busy on his cloud, we might've gotten things done." Edginess tainted Fili's voice as he cursed the existence of Belegost's leader. Thorin, however, remained quiet. His eyes were shut whilst Fili ranted on and on. Fili threw his hands up in the air in defeat as he collapsed to the ground. "But oh no, he just had to open his bloody mouth and talk down to us. I'm surprised Thorin didn't chop his head off with Orcrist."
"What point would there be in that?" Thorin said evenly. "His blood is all ready tainted, trust me."
"He has a son?" Fili asked in disbelief.
Balin nodded. "Aye, his name is Vanir. Only a few days old, but nonetheless a son that will rule Belegost." Balin stated. Fili sighed angrily, shaking his head. "Lad, calm down. The man leaves in a few days, and then he'll be out of our hair."
"Thank Mahal," Fili murmured as he came to stand beside his brother. Coruwen had never heard Fili curse another's existence before. He was often very quiet in his cursing. This meant that the leader of Belegost had insulted Thorin or his family in some regard.
"Fili, what is the name of the leader?" Coruwen asked out of curiosity.
Fili let out a short breath before speaking, "Amren."
"Ah," Coruwen replied. She did not pry further knowing that Fili was containing his anger in slow strides. A hand pressed itself against the small of her back gently making her gaze fall on Thorin, who had silently walked up to her while she was focused on Fili. His hand was barely touching her back but she could feel the heat of his hand on her regardless. He was watching someone from a distance; she could see it in his eyes as he watched the distance instead of the boys or Balin.
It was then that Coruwen saw who he was watching. A dwarf to be no older than he with dark hair and a friendly smile. Coruwen had met this dwarf before; his name was Ralof. He was a smith that had come from Ered Luin with Dís. Coruwen saw Thorin's disposition change from relaxed to possessive in a split second whenever Ralof neared them the tightening of his jaw and ever so slight movement of weight made Coruwen know that he was being protective.
"Meleth nîn, he won't do anything," Coruwen soothed. She placed a hand at the base of his neck and rubbed his neck in slow circles to calm him. Thorin's posture changed to one of calmness, but regardless he still had a defensive fire in his eyes. She found his protectiveness overbearing, but put up with it considering it was typical of dwarf men to act this way. Thorin glanced up at her, and then it swiveled back to the smith. "Freya was right; you were a dragon in another life."
Thorin's gaze snapped instantly to hers. She smirked playfully and withdrew her hand from his neck. "Do not mock me," Thorin warned. "You know why I am this way."
Coruwen shook her head, sighing. "Yes, I know. Ralof is a friend of mine, and would no more try to take me from you than fly." In fact, the smith didn't even see her in that light. For one thing the dwarf didn't even know she was the Lady of Thorin. The dwarf just saw her often and would talk to her. Thus, by some twisted piece of fate, Thorin saw him a threat. "The man is honorable, but I do not see him in the same light as you." She ran her hand down his arm to place her fingers on his knuckles. "I am sure there are others for him amongst your people, my dragon."
Thorin scoffed, turning away from her to watch Ralof again. He would never learn since he was so obstinate. Coruwen removed her hand to let it rest in her lap. "What all have you been up to since I left?" He asked quietly.
"Mostly reading, but I came out here with Kili not too long ago to keep him company while he practiced his archery." She smiled with a Cheshire like grin. "Kili has a little admirer running about."
Thorin raised one dark eyebrow to that ending piece of information.
"Her name is Sol, sister to Mani. She's a bit too young, only about ten, but she loves him as if he were old enough for her."
Thorin chuckled. "Let me guess, he played her a bit, didn't he?"
Coruwen rested her chin on his shoulder. "You could say that." She sat up straight again to make sure nothing else bad happened while they were outside. "Aside from that, I have little."
Thorin opened his mouth to respond, but Kili interjected into their conversation. "Uncle, Coruwen split my arrow straight down the shaft." Kili blurted. In his hand, were the roughly carved arrow of Kili and the elegant arrow belonging to Coruwen splitting it straight down to the arrow's head. Thorin smirked at the sight of the arrow's precision. "You owe me another arrow, Coruwen!"
"When I have time, Kili," Coruwen replied.
"You better remember," Kili said with a goofy grin. He wasn't truly meaning it; he only did it to give her a hard time like the little troublemaker he was. The sound of a door opening and closing drew everyone's attention to a young dwarf, not older than Kili, come storming out to the range with Sol behind him. It was Mani. He had dirty blonde hair that was braided back, and his green eyes were dark with an unknown emotion. Mani was the child of a weapon smith, and acted just as so. His tongue was sharp like his swords, and his words blunt like his maces.
"Mani, please!" Sol cried tugging on her brother's pant leg trying to halt him in his tracks. Her little voice cracked as she dug her heels into the ground and pulled on Mani with all of her strength and he stopped. Coruwen watched from a distance with her fingers hovering over her quiver in case of a problem. Mani raised a hand to smack Sol, who ducked preparing for the blow but saw an arrow whistle past his ear. Both Kili and Coruwen had their bows raised in to protect Sol. The arrow that had left its bow belonged to Coruwen.
"Try that again, and I won't miss," Coruwen warned.
"And what would an elf know of anything!" Mani snapped. His hand rested at his side and Sol darted behind Kili. "My sister has told me that you lied to her, elf."
"I have done no such thing," Coruwen retorted. Her tone became threatening ever so slowly. She did not wish to hurt Mani in any form with Sol watching. "Your sister put her trust in me, thus I gave her no lies."
"All know that elves lie the minute they speak, and you are no different!" Mani barked. It was then that Coruwen saw Thorin's posture become offensive as Mani threatened her. She was half tempted to unleash Thorin on the lad, but knew that she had prove herself capable of dealing with these people. "Sol, come here."
"No!" Sol shouted as she hid behind Kili, who placed a hand on her head in protection. "This elf was nice to me, and you can't seem to let father's grudge down from on high!"
Mani's face was marred by a hideous snarl as he glared at his sister. "Sol to me." He hissed.
"She does not have to listen to you," Kili defended. "She is her own person."
Mani rolled his eyes as he glanced at Kili. "No do not get in this fight, brainless." Mani deadpanned. "Or I'll hurt you."
"Excuse me?" Fili asked, his tone darkened. "By what right do you have the ability to command my brother?"
"By my own damn right, that's what! Now stay outta this, Blondie."
Coruwen gripped Thorin's jacket as he attempted to lunge at Mani for his insolence. Thorin's eyes were dark with anger and he was practically snorting smoke could he do it. He glanced over his shoulder at her, and she gave him a shake of her head to wait.
"Elf, I do not know why you're here, but if you are trying to whore your way into the royal family then I suggest you leave now before someone finds you out." Mani spat. His lips curled back in a devious smile. "I know you have heard the rumors about you being a harlot. You're pathetic and a whore."
Coruwen raised one eyebrow. "And what you said is a lie." She replied evenly. She glanced at Kili. "Kili, take Sol inside and stay with her." Kili scooped Sol up in his arms and ran inside. Coruwen released Thorin's coat collar and leapt down from her place on her rock. Slowly, she withdrew an arrow. "For a boy who knows little of this world to mock me is a fool's mistake. I have not done what you speak of, in fact you're sources are foolish. They are simply rumors, and rumors are the tidings of women who have little to do with their time but sit around and pick on others."
She heard the unsheathing of metal, and she sighed. "Now, I will let you live if you take back your statement."
Mani scoffed loudly, "What can you do?! You're an elf and a sorry, good for nothing harlot! You know I'm right, I can see it in your eyes!"
Coruwen glanced back at Thorin, who was beyond livid. He was seeing red and his temper far gone. He had behaved as she had asked, holding his tongue that so desperately desired to rip this boy apart limb from limb. Orcrist gleamed in the light of a passing cloud and soon the world became grey with the passing of a cloud obscuring the sun's happy light.
From her bow sung two arrows into the shoulders of Mani while Thorin ran up and ran Orcrist through him. The crime Mani had committed warranted death in the law of Erebor. It was a crime that Thorin saw unforgivable. Coruwen saw blood pool out from Mani's corpse as it bled like a stuck pig. With love comes a price.
"Damn him let Mandos grant him not comfort!" Thorin snarled. He wiped Orcrist clean with a leather cloth as he kicked Mani's body. "If you call my woman a harlot you shall lose your head,"
Coruwen saw him storm past her and rest at Balin's side. Even Balin, who was normally calm and collected, had slightly unsheathed his blade when Mani had threatened Coruwen's status. Fili walked up to Mani and dragged his body over to the ledge to drop it over the side when Sol came bursting out of the doors. She gasped in horror and Kili held her close to him as she screamed bloody murder into the air.
"What have you done?!" Sol wailed. "You killed Mani!"
Coruwen walked up to Sol, kneeling down to her level. "Sol, you're brother committed a crime most foul. This was its punishment." She soothed. There was no comfort she could give Sol as she wept for her brother. Sol threw her arms around Kili's neck as he came up to her. He cradled the girl against his chest as she wept onto his shoulder. On her back and through her cream dress, Coruwen saw purple bruises that seemed fresh. People bet this poor girl. She backed away and walked up to Thorin.
"Sol's family is beating her, or at least Mani did," She said quietly. Her heart broke into pieces when she had heard Sol's wail of despair. "Is there anything we can do?"
"Her parents will be coming in a few weeks, but until then she will be under the care of Gloín's wife, Borni." Balin stated. "Poor girl."
"It had to be done," Thorin said shortly. His disposition had relaxed a great deal after he had stabbed Mani, so much that he appeared calm again. Thorin walked up to Sol and Kili, placing a hand on the girl's bruised back. "It will be all right, little princess."
Sol turned around with her green eyes rimmed red, and she sniffed. "Great King, I am sorry for brother's harshness. Please do not do anything to me!" Sol cried. Thorin smiled softly, petting her red hair. Sol stiffened under his gentle touch. "What?"
"We have someone who will watch over you until your parents come," Thorin comforted. "You are awfully brave for one so small."
Sol bowed her head to him but tears still feel from her eyes. "Thank you."
"Kili, take her to Borni and tell her the story. She will gladly help this little one," Thorin instructed. Kili nodded and pushed Sol higher up on his shoulder so she could see over him. The two disappeared behind the door and into Erebor, while Thorin returned to Coruwen's side.
"Maybe we went too far, by no means did I suspect I would traumatize her," She said as she took Thorin's hand. His eyes darkened at the thought, and his jaw muscles clenched. "Love, I know we can't take that back, but it seems morally wrong."
"He called you a whore and harlot. No woman of mine shall be called such foul names. Should anyone call such names again let them know that I will personally kill them with my own sword."
"Thorin…"
He growled. "No, I saw the look in your eye as she shot him. You hated it as well. It was wrong and hurtful, no?"
Coruwen nodded. "And it was supposed to. He was trying to spite me, and almost succeeded." She gripped his hand. "To kill a person for such childish name calling is almost silly. If it had been any other name I would've simply shot their shin, but I suppose he deserved so much more."
"Death was calling him anyhow…"
Coruwen hung her head, shaking her head. It seemed so wrong to judge people by their antics, but that is how the world runs. Mani was the voice of the darker people of Erebor that had tried to spite her. Oh yes, they had spited her. So much so that Thorin had gotten involved and killed a young man because of the lad voicing his disapproval. Sadly, Coruwen found that Thorin had been right. Such names warranted death or exile. If Mani had stopped with his harsh words sooner; Thorin have simply exiled him.
But then what of Sol? She had done no wrong, and she was still young. The punishment for her brother's foul words would've more than likely killed her.
"Do not linger on about him, Lass," Balin said. His hand still rested on the pommel of his sword protectively. "They will get used to you eventually."
"Eventually…" Coruwen whispered. Her head shook a bit knowing how tough dwarves could be when they did not wish to do something. She felt Thorin's hand tighten around hers when he heard her voice. "Ever stubborn are your people."
"You sound like Gandalf," Thorin muttered playfully. "Do not start speaking in riddles."
Coruwen smiled, "I can if you continue to bug me. It is not that difficult."
Kili reappeared without Sol and he had a grim look on his face. He was slightly unnerved by Mani's death. This was made apparent by the dark amber of his eyes and the way he did not look up at the others.
"Poor thing is scared half way into her grave," Kili said in a grave tone. "Her soul's fire has gone out… Or so I believe."
Coruwen sighed, "I highly doubt it. She has a lot of fire, just like the person she is named after."
"Person?" Fili inquired.
"Sol was a warrior, a shield maiden of the Dúnedan. Sol and Mani are also two star constellations that are seen in winter and summer." Thorin stated. He glanced up at the sun that peeked through the grey shield of clouds. "She'll be fine…"
Coruwen felt the confidence rise back in the air. It was strong again when Thorin had spoken about the sun and moon. Despair brings forth Confidence. Fear calls on its cousin Bravery. And upon this day the Sun had broke its ties with the Moon…
A/N: And when I give happy, I must give unhappy! This chapter shows a major wrench that is thrown into the works...
Sol and Mani literally are taken from Norse Myth. Sol is the Sun Goddess and is chased by Skoll. Mani, the Moon God, is chased Hati. Sadly, Mani was swallowed by Hati early on, thus breaking his ties with his sister. We will be seeing Sol again, later on. Keep her in mind as we continue on.
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