Disclaimer: The Hobbit does not belong to me, but to Professor Tolkien, Peter Jackson, and his Company.

Gem of His Heart

"He does not look as if he wishes to speak to anyone," Tauriel observed as Thorin snapped at the servant who handed him a mug of ale.

"Aye," Kili agreed, his face thoughtful as he gazed upon the countenance of his uncle. "Perhaps he is thinking of my mother. We are all missing her terribly today." Kili's voice faltered a bit and Tauriel's hand tightened around his.

"I know," she answered quietly, nuzzling his temple before placing a loving kiss there.

As they watched, Thorin downed the mug of ale and called for the servant to bring him another.

Chapter 3

"Uncle, just a little farther," Kili grunted as Thorin staggered into him. The youngest heir of Durin had never seen his uncle quite this drunk before.

"I cannot believe she is here," Thorin slurred as he stumbled over his own feet.

"Who is here?" Kili grunted as he shifted his uncle in his grasp.

"Drifa," Thorin replied with a heavy sigh and a slight hiccup. "I never thought I would see her again."

Kili's brow creased in confusion. "Who is Drifa?"

Dwalin sighed from Thorin's other side and finally slung the king's arm over his shoulder to make things easier. "He was in love with her once, lad," Dwalin informed the younger dwarf.

"The lady Uncle was in love with is here in Erebor?" Kili asked in surprise as he slanted a look behind him toward Tauriel as she followed them quietly down the hallway.

"Aye," Dwalin answered. "It nearly killed Thorin when she suddenly up and left. He never heard from her again. He never even knew the true reason although he assumed it was because she knew his grandfather and father would not approve of their relationship."

"She was only a servant," Thorin slurred as he fell into Dwalin and nearly toppled both of them to the floor, "but I did not care. I loved her."

"Come, Uncle," Kili said kindly, suddenly feeling a sad ache in his chest for this man who was more father to him than uncle. "We are nearly to your room. You need to drink some water and have a good night's rest."

Tauriel slipped around Kili and opened the door so he and Dwalin could manhandle Thorin inside. They managed to get him onto the bed after Tauriel pulled back the blankets.

The red-headed elf pressed a quick kiss to Kili's cheek. "I will see you soon, my love. I will leave you and Dwalin to care for Thorin."

Kili nodded and helped Dwalin remove Thorin's boots once Tauriel had exited the room. Next came the gilded tunic which they wrangled over the inebriated dwarf king's head. Leaving Thorin in his dress trousers, Dwalin hefted him into a sitting position while Kili held a cup of water to his uncle's lips.

"Drink some water, Uncle," Kili urged. "You will thank us in the morning."

Thorin grunted, but managed to take a few swallows before his head lolled against Dwalin's shoulder. The seasoned warrior lowered his king down on the pillows as Kili reached for the blanket and tucked it beneath Thorin's chin.

"Do you think he will be all right?" Kili asked Dwalin softly as he deftly braided Thorin's thick hair into a single braid that fell across the king's shoulder.

"Aye, although he will probably brood for quite a while," Dwalin admitted with a yawn as he moved to the fireplace and made sure Thorin would be warm overnight.

"Time for bed, lad. Your uncle will be in a sour mood in the morning and I have a meeting with him."

With one last look over his shoulder at his slumbering uncle, Kili followed Dwalin into the hallway. He told the warrior goodnight and shuffled tiredly to the room he shared with his wife. When Kili entered, he found the fire crackling cozily and his wife sitting up in bed against their headboard.

"Is Thorin asleep?" she asked as she pulled a comb through her long red tresses.

"Aye," Kili yawned as he tugged his tunic over his head and stepped out of his trousers leaving him in just his underthings. He slipped between the crisp, white sheets as Tauriel placed her comb on the bedside table and slid down beside him.

Kili wrapped her in his arms and felt a smile ghost his lips as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. She was wearing a thin gown and Kili could feel the warmth of her skin against his. They slept wound together, one body blending into another.

Thorin woke in the wee hours of the morning. His mouth had a foul taste and was as dry as cotton. His head throbbed and nausea twisted his stomach. Thorin pushed slowly to a sitting position and sucked in deep breaths of air as his stomach rolled. Finally, it settled and he reached for the tankard of water someone had left on his bedside table. The dwarf king sipped slowly before replacing the water on the table.

Thorin slid off the edge of the bed and shuffled to the small washroom located in the corner of his suite. He splashed cool water on his face and patted it dry. That made him feel much better. Then he unbraided his hair; he did not even remember braiding it into the single plait that hung over his shoulder.

Returning to his bedroom, Thorin poured himself another tankard of water and chugged it; he hoped it would take the edge off of his pounding headache. Then he kicked off his dress trousers of the night before and slipped into a clean pair and a matching tunic before moving to the door. He needed to bury himself in his work; he needed to escape from thoughts of Drifa.

He opened the door to find his youngest heir, fist raised ready to knock. "Kili," Thorin growled.

Kili's lips were pressed in a worried line. "I just wanted to check on you, Uncle," he explained. "I have never seen you as drunk as you were last night."

Thorin's lips hooked down in a frown. "It was a celebration for your brother," the dwarf king explained as he pushed past Kili and entered the hallway.

Kili fell in step beside his uncle. "Dwalin said that the woman you loved in the past is here in Erebor."

Thorin froze and fixed his blue gaze on Kili. "Dwalin overstepped his bounds."

"I was worried, Uncle. You spoke of her as well – Drifa." Kili kept himself from flinching as a storm cloud descended over Thorin's face at the mention of the woman's name.

Instead of answering, Thorin strode purposefully toward his office. Kili had to hurry to keep up with him. The two royal males rounded a corner and nearly plowed into Dain's wife, Nal, and a blonde servant woman following her.

"Thorin," Nal smiled, "the wedding and the reception were wonderful. Erebor has truly recaptured its former glory."

"Thank you," Thorin choked out.

Kili shot a surprised glance at the dwarf king. His uncle nearly sounded as if he was choking and his face had paled. Kili wondered if he should grab onto his arm in case he should faint.

"Come, Drifa," Nal smiled at the maid behind her. "I would like to change out of this dress before breakfast."

Kili's eyes widened in shock and his gaze strayed to Drifa. This was the woman who had stolen his uncle's heart so many years ago. From what he could see of her, she was beautiful with a full figure and pale blonde hair. The servant kept her eyes trained on the floor and refused to glance up at them, so Kili could not see her face.

"Yes, m' lady," Drifa mumbled as she followed Nal down the hallway.

"Uncle," Kili murmured, "she's beautiful."

"She was not who I thought she was," Thorin growled at his nephew. He stopped out front of the door to his office. "Leave me to my work," he informed his youngest sister-son before unlocking the door and stepping inside.

Kili stared at the door as his uncle disappeared inside. He found himself wanting to follow Nal and Drifa down the hallway. A hand on his shoulder made him jump.

"Are you all right, Love?" Tauriel murmured, a frown creasing her smooth features.

"I have seen her, Tauriel, Uncle's love," he explained. "She is lady's maid to the wife of Dain Ironfoot. She is beautiful; it is no wonder uncle was enamored by her."

"I believe he truly loved her, Kili, if she still affects his heart this many years later," Tauriel told her husband gently.

"We have to help them," Kili told her. "She would not even look up at Uncle. They are both miserable."

"Kili, this is not our concern. If Thorin wants to resolve things with this woman, he will."

The youngest heir of Durin took his wife's hand and moved down the hallway. "I do not think Uncle will approach Drifa. She is not of his station and he feels that she wronged him. You know as well as I do that Thorin holds a grudge."

"Kili, I really do not think…." Tauriel trailed off as she realized her husband was not listening.

"I will speak with him, and perhaps Fili will as well," Kili spoke quietly, yet with passion. "Uncle will never find true happiness unless he resolves things with Drifa."

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. I have been dealing with some major writer's block.