Black didn't suit Ovila, not really, because it washed her out and made her look even paler than she already was and it made her blonde hair look near white. It made her look old, far older than her sixty-eight years, and Kili frowned at her worriedly. He wanted to take away the pain she was in, but he had to stand back and allow her to let her, her brothers, and her mother lead the funeral precession to the burial site. She was refusing to let anyone see how much she was hurting, far too proud and stubborn to allow anyone to see that, but her friends knew and her family knew.

With trembling hands, Thondi clung to Ovila's arm, probably in a search for some strength, some sort of stability, the kind that Baltil used to provide her, and Ovila didn't even seem to notice. Her hazel eyes stared ahead resolutely and her jaw was tight in her efforts to keep her emotions in check. Thondi knew that her daughter wouldn't allow the world to see her tears, wouldn't let anyone but those most trusted to see just how much pain she was in, and she needed that. Her sons allowed their tears to shine in their eyes, unashamed of their grief, secure in the knowledge that they wouldn't be judged, but Ovila only had that security with her friends and Kili.

Caldin and Balili were too young to really comprehend what'd happened and just clung to their mother's hands tightly. They could sense the sadness and grief in their family, though, and were quieter than they normally were. Caldin understood more than Balili did and followed his Aunt Ovila's stance on being stoic. Balili was just uncertain, even frightened, at the strange, unnatural solemnity that'd fallen over her usually loud and rowdy family. She wanted her father's gentle smile back, her mother's small, near invisible smile, her grandmother's eye rolls and heavy sighs, Uncle Calim's easy laughs and grins, and Aunt Ovila's teasing and cocksure smirks. More than anything, she missed her grandfather's kind, wrinkled face and the way he'd let her perch on his knee and chatter incessantly about nonsense.

The mournful hymns increased in volume as they neared the open tomb were Baltil's too still body lay and Ovila had to hold on tightly to Thondi to stop her from recoiling. Ovila's face just turned slightly paler and Kili had to force his hands to stay at his sides at the slight tremble he saw roll through her shoulder. He watched silently as Calim, the new head of the family, strode over to the head of the tomb and knelt to press a respectful kiss to Baltil's cold forehead. He whispered the blessing for Baltil to go to the Halls of Mahal with his family's love and support and the others in his family echoed the blessing, even little Balili clinging to Hilda's hand.

"Let Mahal's strength lead you to his halls, where you shall find peace to drink and dine with your long lost kin and where we shall find you when our times come to their end."

The family knelt around the tomb, each kissing Baltil's cold face, and Caldin wormed his way into Ovila's side when she was knelt. He wrapped one of her braids around one of his fingers, as was his habit when he was frightened or uncertain while she was around, despite being near thirteen now, because he looked at those braids for strength and bravery and he felt strong and brave too. He stared at those heavy, silver clasps that kept her neatly done braids firmly in place and he ran his fingers over them reverently. Baltil used to call Ovila his little firecracker and tug on her braids, as though she were no more than Balili's age, and most people would've ended up with bloodied noses if they'd done that, but she'd just smile and laugh at her father.

Without a word, Ovila slid an arm around Caldin to hold him close to her side and kissed his blonde hair. She still had Thondi holding onto her other arm and she felt incredibly weighed down and heavy. It felt like the world was pressing itself onto her to stay upright and she could feel herself begin to crumble against the too heavy weight. She shuddered slightly, the tremble causing Caldin to stare at her with shock, because he had never seen his Auntie Ovila falter and had never seen her even stumble against a foe. In his eyes, she was invincible, a force that the world couldn't even stand against, but he was seeing that perhaps she wasn't quite so unshakeable as he'd believed from the tales of her exploits told by his father.

Slowly, the family stood one-by-one and Ovila had Caldin clutching one arm and Thondi the other. Her face was paler than it normally was and she looked incredibly tired as she let out a heavy sigh and Hilda managed to pry Caldin free from her sister-by-marriage. Ovila nodded sharply, but Hilda could see the gratitude behind it and merely held the frowning Caldin firmly by the arm. Thondi still held tightly onto her daughter and tears worked their way through the fine wrinkles in her cheeks to dampen her beard. She looked at Ovila, but the younger female was staring at the back of Calim's head and Thondi could see the strain her daughter was under. There were such dark marks under her hollow hazel eyes and she didn't know how to make things better, so she just clung to her even tighter.

The sun was too bright, the birds were too loud, and people were too cheerful.

It'd been a month since Baltil's death and the house still felt empty and hollow to Ovila, despite Chalrim, Hilda, and the children staying to help. Thondi was still quiet, but her briskness was starting to reappear and Calim was working dutifully in the butcher's. Chalrim was helping his twin, usually hauling Caldin along to teach him about the family trade, and Hilda was usually found with Balili and Thondi, helping around the house and with the shopping. Ovila spent most of her time in the woods, preferring to be left alone, and her family and friends were growing increasingly worried about her.

On Ovila's fifth week of isolating herself, Kili decided to take action and followed Ovila into the woods. He wasn't sure exactly what he'd been expecting when he had followed her, but he hadn't expected her to be simply sat by one of the many streams that ran through the expansive woodland. She wasn't even armed, for once in her life, and, rather than the trousers and shirts she seemed to live in, she was in a dress. Nearly all of her braids were gone, all but the courting braid and the one that marked her fiftieth birthday, and she looked incredibly vulnerable. She was sat on her cloak, knees drawn against her chest, arms around her legs, and her chin was cradled by her knees with her hazel eyes on the trickling water.

"I know you're there," Ovila's voice was too quiet to really be hers and Kili frowned at that, but silently moved towards her and sat down beside her. "Why did you follow me?" she asked softly and he sighed.

"We're worried about you," Kili told her gently and Ovila shrunk in on herself slightly. "Ovila, I know you're hurting, but you're not alone, you know that, don't you?" he frowned, laying a hand on her shoulder, and she bit her bottom lip. "You don't always have to be the strong one – no one expects that of you."

"Caldin and Balili do," Ovila retorted, but it lacked her usual bite and she sighed. "They've seen Chalrim cry, at least Caldin has, when Hilda nearly died giving birth to Balili, and he's seen Hilda at her worst too, but I was the one that took care of them and I was the one that had to stay strong," her voice was strained and Kili could sense the tears building inside of her. "They still expect me to be strong through this and they can't see me cry, so I come out here where they can't see me."

"You don't have to be like that for me, or for your brothers, your mother, Hilda, your friends," Kili reasoned and cupped one of her cheeks in a calloused palm, rubbing a thumb over her cheekbone. Her eyes fluttered closed at the touch, tears catching on the lashes rested on her cheek, and he sighed softly with concern. "It's okay to be sad and it's okay to cry, you stubborn fool."

"Look who's talking."

That sounded a bit more like Kili's Ovila and he kissed her forehead, before folding her into a soothing embrace. "I'm sorry you're hurting," he whispered and she sunk against him.

"I just miss him so much," she whispered tremulously and he felt her shudder a little. "I wake up in the morning and, just for a few seconds, maybe even a minute, I'll forget that he's gone and then it hits me all over again and it's like coming home and finding him all over again."

Kili winced at that memory. He could remember walking through the door, Ovila insisting he join them for dinner, her fingers locked around his, and he hadn't fought, not really. They'd walked in just as Thondi was putting everything on the table and Calim was in the bathroom washing up from a particularly messy slaughter. Thondi had shouted for Ovila to wake Baltil and help him to the table, because he'd never quite recovered from the Warg attack. Kili went to help, because Baltil had been a heavy Dwarf, and his throat tightened at the memory of Ovila shaking Baltil and murmuring for him to wake. It hadn't taken her long to grow frantic, for the shaking to get desperate, for her voice to raise to a terrified scream, and he'd just held her as Thondi and Calim came running.

"So this is where you've been hiding," Fili's warm voice called and he sat on Ovila's other side. "Anything fun to do out here?"

"I saw a woodpecker!" Ori's voice declared and he sat beside Kili. "Dori gave me a picnic," he offered with a smile and Ovila's bottom lip trembled. "There are honey cakes and current buns."

No one said a word as Ovila began to sob into Kili's shoulder and he silently rubbed soothing circles into the small of her back. Fili simply rested a hand on her shoulder and Ori placed a hand on one of hers, both of which were wrapped tightly into Kili's leather coat. Her knuckles turned white and she trembled slightly, but the weight was fading from her shoulders and she suddenly found easier to breathe, despite the sobs being tugged free from her tight grasp.

Dis was as stubborn as a mule when she wanted something and she wanted her closest friend and her family over for dinner. Their families would one day be joined with Kili's and Ovila's marriage and Dis didn't care if Thorin thought it was too soon after Baltil's death to invite them over. It'd been near eight months now and Kili and Fili promised that the family were slowly, but surely, learning to cope without Baltil. They all used to meet up for a meal at least once a month before, but Dis had stepped back to give them space and just dropped by the house every few days for a cup of tea lately. Now, though, she was insistent and she was glad when Thondi agreed and Dis was happily bossing her sons around the kitchen.

Kili just exchanged an eye roll with Fili and Thorin was not hiding in his study, oh no, he was reviewing accounts from the forge, which had to be seen to immediately and were of an urgent nature. He'd pointedly ignored his nephews knowing looks and Dis' narrowed eyes and went to his study with his vital paperwork. His family weren't best pleased, but, as Dis said, he was useless in the kitchen and could most likely find a way to burn water. So, she was supervising Fili and Kili as they laid things out on the table and she smoothed her deep blue skirts absently, glancing up at the grandfather clock in the dining room. The guests were due to arrive in less than two minutes and the boys looked as though they'd been dragged backwards through hedges and then thrown through a flour mill.

"Upstairs, wash, change, now," Dis commanded sharply and her sons obeyed without question. "And tell Thorin he'd best be presentable!"

"I'm always presentable, Dis," Thorin's voice grumbled as he descended the stairs and the brothers raced up them. "We're having lamb?"

"It's Thondi's favourite," Dis snapped and Thorin rolled his flint coloured eyes. "If you're going to be a grumpy bastard, you can go back to your 'vital paperwork' and stay away from them," she warned and he looked tempted by that idea. "Don't you dare," she frowned sharply and pointed a finger in his face. "Ovila will be a member of this family one day and you'll make her feel welcome, Thorin Oakenshield, else you'll feel my boot up your backside."

Thorin decided it was best to maintain dignified silence and simply sit in his favourite, leather armchair by the fire in the main room. Dis smiled triumphantly, well aware that she was probably one of the only people allowed to speak to him in such a manner, and removed her apron from around her waist. She hung the rather stained white apron up in the kitchen and could hear her sons arguing over who got to use the bathroom first. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips and she rolled her clear blue eyes with obvious exasperated fondness.

The front door was opened, Thondi's disapproving voice was heard, and Dis smiled. It was a good sign that Ovila was just letting herself in and Dis ignored Thorin's sigh as they made their way into the hall to greet their guests. Balili immediately hugged Thorin's waist, chattering with a happy smile, and he just pretended she wasn't there. He greeted the others and Thondi smiled and dipped into a respectful curtsey, as did Hilda, while the twins and Caldin bowed. Ovila just accepted a warm embrace from Dis and inclined her head in Thorin's direction with a slight smile.

"The boys are upstairs getting changed," Dis explained and slid an arm through Thondi's. "Let's get some wine and get absolutely stinking drunk."

Thondi had to smile at her friend and Ovila immediately agreed with that idea. The children stared as Hilda was dragged into it and they were left with the men. Balili was still clinging to Thorin, though his hand by now, and Chalrim sighed at Caldin's scowl for being left out of things. He was twelve now and felt like a grown up, especially because he was taller than most of his Dwarven family members, and he was sick of being treated like a child. He was sheltered, especially by his father's family, and he knew it was because Dwarves aged far slower than Men, but he was part Man and they needed to respect that.

"Stop sulking," Chalrim snapped quietly as Thorin handed them tankards of ale and the children were given juice by Dis. "And say thank you."

"Thank you, Miss Dis!" Balili smiled brightly, green eyes shining brightly, and Caldin echoed the sentiment with as much politeness as he could muster.

"We'll sit down to eat when the boys rouse themselves," Dis promised and glanced at Ovila. "Ovila, perhaps you could speed them up," Dis suggested and was pleased at the wicked smirk that curved Ovila's lips.

"That'd be my pleasure, Miss Dis," Ovila promised and drained the last of her wine from the heavy, silver goblet. "We'll be down in a few minutes," she stated and made her way up the stairs with her velvet, green skirts sweeping about her legs, the gold-yellow embroidery on it glinting in the torchlight.

Ovila's feet made no sound on the wooden staircase or the wooden floorboards of the hallways as she made her way towards Kili's room. She heard the taps in the bathroom running and was slightly disappointed when she found Kili's bedroom empty. The room was a disgusting mess, but she'd come to expect that and her nose wrinkled in reminiscence of her mother's when Thondi came across something she found utterly distasteful. She sighed slightly, toeing a dirty shirt out of her way, and she tried to ignore the smell of dirty socks that hung over the room. Surely, surely, at seventy-two, he'd learned to clean up after himself, but, apparently, she was wrong and she sighed again.

However, Ovila's nosy side reared its head and she slipped over to Kili's desk. She wasn't wholly sure why he had a desk considering he never wrote letters and he usually did his paperwork for work at her house, because they and Fili usually had the same errands to run. Still, he had one and she picked her way through the various broken arrow shafts, half made arrows, and wood varnish that littered the top of the desk. It was wholly uninteresting if she was completely honest and her gaze fell on the drawers in the front of the structure. She glanced over her shoulder at the open door and then slid open the top drawer. Inside were numerous, unused braid clasps and beads he would most likely never use, because he wasn't a big fan of braids, unlike she and his brother.

The drawer was shut quickly and the second was pulled open to reveal something wrapped carefully in purple cloth. Curiosity seized Ovila and she picked the object up carefully. The cloth was peeled back and her hazel eyes widened at the silver, bird shaped hairpin that she hadn't seen in decades. She'd lost it the same night Kili had discovered she was the phantom, had felt absolutely awful about it because it'd belonged to her grandmother on her father's side, and had hid the loss of it for as long as possible. Kili had had it all this time, though, just sat in his desk drawer, and she frowned at the thought, running her fingers over the cool metal of the peacock hairpin.

"Ovila, I thought I heard Balili downstairs," Kili's warm voice chuckled and his arms slid around her waist, but she felt him tense slightly when he realised what she was looking at. "I was going to give it back to you," he attempted to defend and she turned quickly to glare at him, forcing his arms away from her.

"Were you? Because it's been missing for decades, Kili, since we were in our twenties, and you've had it just sat in this drawer," Ovila snapped and Kili looked at her helplessly. "It belonged to my grandmother Kili! My dead grandmother! The one I was named for and you've had it!"

"I was going to give it back," he repeated weakly and she glared at him. "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?! Do you know how inadequate that is?! How meaningless?! You could've just given it back anytime in the past forty years, but you just kept it! What in the name of Durin's beard is wrong with you?!" Ovila shouted furiously and the hairpin bit into her palm as her hands curled into tight fists.

"I just – I don't know," Kili shrugged and sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. "I found it the night we finally stopped lunging for one another's throats every time we saw one another and I kept trying to find a good time to give it back to you, but I never found it and then I just sort of forgot about trying."

"You forgot?! You just forgot?! That's even worse than that worthless apology! We've been courting for seven years now Kili! You couldn't have found sometime during that to give it back?! When we were friends?! Hell, when I'd been laid up in bed after being mauled by Wargs?!"

"That might've been a good idea, actually, you couldn't have hit me."

As if on cue, Ovila smacked Kili in the side of the head and he rubbed his ringing ear. "I am so angry with you right now," she spoke in a low hiss, cheeks flared red, hazel eyes blazing, and he frowned.

"You were the one that was snooping through my things!"

"It was mine, though, wasn't it?!"

"You had no right to go snooping! I might have had private things!"

"You mean like my hairpin?!"

"This isn't about the hairpin!"

"Yes it is!"

"No! It's about your nosiness and snooping!"

"I was just having a look! Do you have something to be ashamed of?! Other than the fact that you stole my hairpin?!"

"I didn't steal it! I was keeping it safe!"

"Without my knowledge!"

"I was going to give it back!"

"When?! When were you going to give it back?! When we were married?! When we had a firstborn?! When we had our first grandchild?! When we were on our deathbeds?!"

"You're being ridiculous!"

"You're avoiding the question!"

"I'm pointing out how ridiculous you're being!"

"Answer the question!"

"I don't know! Sometime I guess!"

"You guess?!"

A knock on the door earned two sets of burning glares for the knocking Fili and he grinned fearlessly. "Mother says stop shouting at one another and get downstairs for the dinner we've slaved over, or at least come downstairs where we can properly watch the argument," he stated and Ovila snorted and marched past Kili angrily. "You really did it this time," Fili whistled lowly. "I haven't seen her this fuming since you called her a girl when she was ten."

"Don't start," Kili snapped and stomped after Ovila, who glared at her brothers' amused grins. "Are you going to talk to me?"

"Piss off," Ovila spat and Balili gasped at her aunt's language. "You've been lying to me for forty years!"

"I haven't been lying to you! I just didn't tell you something and hid something from you!"

"Which is the same as lying!"

"No it's not!"

"Yes it is!"

"Mother, isn't it?"

"I'm not getting involved, Ovila, now sit down and have something to eat, you know how hungry you get after a confrontation," Thondi stated and sipped on her wine.

"Fili!" Ovila shot at her friend and he busied himself downing a tankard of ale. "You are all useless," she scowled and dropped into a seat beside Thondi. "Don't even think about it," she snarled when Kili pulled the chair out beside her and he pointedly sat next to her. "You are such a -!"

"That is enough, the pair of you," Thorin cut in sharply and Ovila reluctantly shut her mouth. "We will have a peaceful meal that Dis has worked hard on and, after that, if you want to tear one another's throats out, feel free, but, for now, you will eat in silence unless you have something polite and worthwhile to say."

The two sat in tense silence and ate their food without even looking at one another. Fili just rolled his eyes at the pair of them, well aware that, in a few weeks, they'd have an even bigger argument and things would just go back to normal. Ovila was extremely angry, though, angrier than Fili could remember her being in a long while and she set the hairpin on the table beside her plate. Thondi paused at the sight of it, staring at the silver peacock with clear surprise, and she looked as though she were about to say something, but Calim shook his head and Thondi reluctantly silenced.

"That's pretty," Dis said, nodding to the hairpin. "Did Kili give it to you?"

"No, Kili hid it from me for forty years and he lied to me for forty years," Ovila snapped and Kili glared at her.

"I did not lie for forty years!" Kili argued and Ovila snorted. "I was going to give it back!"

"You stole it from me!"

"I found it and I just held onto it for a bit!"

"Forty years isn't a bit Kili!"

"What did I tell you both?!" Thorin barked and they snapped their mouths shut. "Kili, you should've returned the hairpin as soon as you'd found it and, Ovila, the pin has been returned, despite the length of time it'd been kept by Kili, so can you please just stop making a fuss?"

Ovila pressed her lips together in a thin line to show her disapproval, but gave a short nod and shifted her chair away from Kili's a little in a rather childish display. He just rolled his dark eyes at her and stabbed his lamb with his fork. That earned him a scolding glance from Dis, but he just stared at his dinner with a scowl on his face that was identical to the one on Ovila's and Thorin sighed at the pair of them. They were utter fools, but they always seemed to snap back together, drawn to one another like moths drawn to the flame, and it seemed nothing would break them apart, even when they were at their angriest. Even when they were children, they were pulled together, even if was just to argue and have a public brawl, and he knew they'd get over this spat, just as they had all the others.

As it's been a while since my last update, I did an extra-long chapter in thanks for all of your patience. I know I haven't replied personally to any of the reviews and I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to review and help us get over one hundred! Party time with our favourite Dwarves! You know you love it…