A new chapter already? Yes. Why? Because I can :D
CordeliaWho: I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Ah, yes. The wedding. Well, it's going to take a moment to get there - if we even get there (who knows?) - for there are still some things to happen and a few hurdles to overcome before anything like that can happen :D
Dalonega Noquisi: Oh, my, I kind of feel very good about the fact that you cried. (Is that mean? No, that's alright, as long as it means you like the story :D) Kili will realize that the looks are bothering her, albeit in a rather bad way, I'm afraid. This chapter is an introduction to that. And I'm glad you liked the tomb scene because that was really important for me to get right. And yes, it just needed some Bofur in there. He needs some love as well :)
Akilah Swiftblade: Oh, come on. Let's be friends. You know you want it *wiggles eyebrows* The sadness is going to end eventually, I promise! :D
kaia: I listened to the song after reading your review and I have to say that you're quite right. It does fit the part of the story in a very sad and yet quite beautiful way. Thanks for telling me!
Thanks to BorysBorys, Eruwaedhiel95, The Big Bad Wolf Fangirl, sassygirl9811, RellaRose100, Hiding in the Shadow and Guest for your reviews! I loved reading them!
And thanks to the followers and favouriters!
Now go ahead and read and, as always, I'd love to hear what you think!
Bofur gave Tarya all the time she needed, as she stood by Thorin's grave, silent tears streaming down her face and dropping onto the stone below. The hatted dwarf just stood next to her as she cried, one of his hands placed comfortingly on her shoulder. He could only imagine how she must have felt waking up four months after the battle to a completely changed world, and the pain that such a thing brought along. Bofur had felt a very similar pain, the hurt of losing someone he loved, but he'd had time to process it and to get on with his life as best as he could during the last months. Though Bofur had to admit that it did him good to be back in the chamber tombs, visiting his brother and his cousin again. He hadn't been down here ever since they had been buried along with Thorin and he vowed that he would come more often to see them from now on. Maybe he could ask Ori to come with him sometime, for the young dwarf had become a rather big subject of worry to Bofur as of late. Ori didn't speak much anymore, and kept his nose buried deep within his books and his journal. And though he had done those things before the tragedy had happened, his behaviour had become very solitary lately and Bofur didn't like it. The only thing that kept Ori busy at the moment were the few lessons he was giving to some of the younger dwarves that hoped to become a scribe like him. But maybe now that Tarya was healing, he thought, she could help him get Ori out of his cocoon. After all, the young dwarf had always had a soft spot for the Amarok.
Bofur was ripped out of his thoughts as he heard Tarya mutter something beside him, and though he didn't understand the words she spoke, he guessed that she was saying her last farewells to her friends as her gaze wandered from Thorin's tomb to those of Dori and Nori, and then Bombur and Bifur. She took a deep breath then and as she took the first few steps towards the gate that led out of the chamber, she shot Bofur a small grateful smile. The hatted dwarf just nodded at her, not quite able to return her smile as brightly as he wanted to. He followed the Amarok as she made her way out of the dark chamber slowly, and he kept an eye on her the whole time, for it seemed like their little trip had tired her out quite a lot already. Or maybe the emotional strain had taken its toll on her as well.
"Thank you," Tarya murmured after they had passed the gate that led out to the dark corridor they had come from earlier. Bofur put an arm around her shoulders amicably, hugging her slightly to his side without giving a reply. But Tarya didn't seem to need to hear anything as she carefully wiped the remaining tracks of tears from her cheeks.
"It was my honour," Bofur eventually muttered as they walked up the stairs and down the large corridor that awaited them at the top of them. "Shall I bring you back to your room?"
Tarya just inclined her head, and Bofur could see the sadness still lingering deep within her golden eyes. "Yes, I'm… quite tired," she said and the hatted dwarf nodded, retrieving his arm from around her shoulders to offer his elbow to her. Tarya took it with a grateful little smile and she leaned on him slightly as he led her back the way they had come.
They hadn't walked for long when their way was suddenly cut short by a figure appearing at the end of the corridor, and Bofur raised his eyebrows slightly as none other than Lord Dain of the Iron Hills rounded the corner and came walking towards them with determined steps and a grim face. The hatted dwarf came to a halt and Tarya's gaze switched between the dwarf-lord and her friend in confusion as Dain approached, before he finally came to a halt a few feet in front of the pair.
"Master Bofur," the dwarf with the long bushy beard greeted friendly. Bofur inclined his head slightly, still confused as to why the lord was here. Dain spent most of his time with the princes, doing politics and diplomacy and all the other things that a former toymaker knew next to nothing about. "I see you are giving our dear Tarya a little tour of the mountain."
"If you want to call it that," Bofur muttered in reply, very aware of Tarya's still reddened eyes, a clear sign for anyone who saw her that she had been crying. Dain didn't seem to notice, or if he did, he ignored it completely when he shot the Amarok a short look.
"I don't mean to interrupt," he then said. "But I would like to have a word with your friend. If you don't mind, of course," he added towards Tarya. The Amarok simply shrugged slightly, obviously not sure what to say, as Bofur's brows drew together in question.
"Well, m'lord, I am not sure if now is such a good time," the hatted dwarf said politely to Dain who looked at him with raised eyebrows. "See, Tarya hasn't yet healed completely and our… excursion has tired her out quite a bit. It might be better if she went to her chamber now and you postpone your talk with her."
"It won't take long," was all Dain said in reply, his gaze shortly resting heavily on Bofur before his gaze wandered to the Amarok beside him. Bofur felt Tarya's hand squeeze his arm lightly, and she shot him a small sideways look before she addressed the dwarf-lord before them.
"It's all right," she said and Dain nodded in satisfaction as she looked from him to Bofur. "I'll be fine, Bofur. I'm sure Lord Dain will be as friendly as to show me the way back to my room after our talk."
Her voice was polite and friendly, and yet Bofur could hear the uneasy note that lay underneath it, and as he let go of her hand and she took Dain's offered elbow instead, he couldn't help a strange and slightly nervous feeling rising up in his stomach. He just watched as Dain gave him a short nod before he turned away and led Tarya down the corridor.
It was only after they had rounded the corner that Bofur blinked and shook off his momentary motionless state. He frowned deeply, watching the place where the two had disappeared for a moment longer before he turned quickly and walked in the direction where the throne hall was. He wasn't sure what to think of the fact that Dain wanted to talk to Tarya alone, and he didn't know what the dwarf-lord could have to discuss with her, but he was quite sure that the two princes – especially Kili – would want to know where she was if she wasn't with him.
He hurried along the corridors and it didn't take him very long until the voices of the working dwarves reached his ears. As he rounded the next corner, the throne hall came into view and Bofur quickly made his way through the crowd, his eyes scanning every corner for the two royal dwarf brothers. A nervous knot built in his stomach when he didn't find them and he turned around himself once to scan the hall, one hand coming up and gripping his fur hat in frustration.
"Bofur!" a voice behind him suddenly called and the hatted dwarf flinched in surprise before he quickly turned around to see Fili coming his way. The blond dwarf was clad in a not very regal looking outfit, undoubtedly wearing comfortable clothes as he was helping the others with the work. Fili gave him a small smile as he came to a halt before him. "I thought you would be with Tarya all day. Has she tired out already?"
"Yes and no," Bofur answered, causing a small questioning frown to appear on Fili's forehead. "I took her to the chamber tombs, which was undoubtedly very tiring for her."
"I can imagine," Fili muttered in reply, concern mirroring in his pale blue eyes. "Kili had promised to take her, but unfortunately he was kept very busy today."
"I know, I told her as much," the hatted dwarf said, fidgeting slightly. Fili noticed almost immediately, sending the dwarf before him an asking look.
"Did you bring her back to her chamber?"
"I intended to," Bofur said, scratching his chin sheepishly. "But then Lord Dain has crossed our path and he has taken her with him to have a talk."
"A talk?" Fili asked, eyebrows rising in surprise. "A talk about what?"
"I don't know."
Fili frowned and nodded at the information the hatted dwarf had given him. What could Dain want to discuss with Tarya? He had never made a big effort to talk to her during the last weeks, never mind even asking how she was during the months that she had been asleep. Fili looked over his shoulder, seeing Kili talk to a worker from the Iron Hills a few metres away. The blond dwarf's frown deepened and he shot a short look towards Bofur before he walked over to his little brother, the dwarf with the furry hat following swiftly on his heels. Kili looked up when he saw his brother approaching and Fili shot the dwarf he had been talking to a short but friendly nod, telling him that he needed to talk to his brother alone. The worker simply inclined his head respectfully before he turned and walked away. Fili watched him go before he turned to his little brother who was looking at the two dwarfs before him questioningly.
"Bofur?" he asked in surprise, giving the hatted dwarf an asking look. "What are you doing here? Where is Tarya?"
"She's with Dain," Fili said before Bofur could answer and he saw his little brother's face scrunch up in confusion.
"Dain? Why? What does he want with her?"
"I don't know," Fili muttered; though he had a sneaking suspicion that was causing a knot building in his stomach, ready to burst. "But I think we should go and see for ourselves. Surely, Tarya won't be very comfortable being alone with and talking to a man she barely knows."
Kili nodded quickly, a deep frown working its way on his face as he followed his brother out of the throne hall. Bofur followed quickly, walking with them as he told them the way Dain had taken. The three dwarfs marched along the corridors swiftly, and following Bofur's instructions they reached the royal wing of the mountain rather quickly.
"Did he say what he wanted to discuss with her?" Kili asked Bofur as they walked beside each other but the hatted dwarf just shook his head with a slight shrug. Kili frowned, a nervous knot building in his stomach as he thought about it. Whatever Dain wanted, Kili couldn't fathom what he could possibly have to say to Tarya. She wasn't involved in anything that Dain was part of. The dwarf-lord took care of councils, the forming of diplomatic alliances and politics. He was a helping hand in the rebuilding of Erebor and in the time before the new king was crowned. But Tarya had nothing to do with any of those things, she kept to herself most of the time and the only ones that she kept company with were her friends of the old company.
Tarya was sitting on a chair next to a large wooden desk in a chamber that Dain had led her to. The Amarok wasn't sure what to think of the whole situation as the dwarf-lord went to get another chair for himself, placing it so he was facing her. Tarya raised her eyebrows slightly, folding her hands in her lap as Dain sat down, regarding her with an almost calculating look.
"I am sure you are wondering why I brought you here," the dwarf said then, and Tarya could merely nod in reply before he continued. "Well, Tarya, we did not have much time to get to know each other yet. I am not sure how much you know about me, or my relation with the princes and this mountain."
"You are Thorin's cousin," Tarya answered quietly, observing the dwarf before her attentively. "And you came to help defend the mountain against any possible enemies."
"That is right," Dain said, a wan smile gracing his features, though it was hard to see beneath his beard. "I see you know a few things about me. And yet, you are a mystery to me."
"A mystery?" Tarya asked, fidgeting slightly in her chair. Her scar throbbed uncomfortably and she would have liked nothing more than lying down and relaxing her tired body for a moment. Dain nodded at her.
"I know you are quite close with the youngest prince," he said, his gaze shortly flicking to the braid in her hair. "And yet I don't know who you actually are, where you come from, or what your intentions are."
"My intentions?" Tarya echoed, her eyebrows rising of their own volition. She had heard that before, and it had led to an argument that she hadn't forgotten that quickly. She knew the tone of voice Dain was using, gruff and lurking, and she remembered how suspicious Thorin had been of her in the beginning. "I do not have any intentions."
"No?" Dain coaxed. "A courting braid in one's hair does show a certain intention to marry the one that put it there, does it not?"
Tarya didn't answer, too confused by the direction this talk was taking. She just watched Dain with wide eyes as he stood from his chair, walking around it to put his elbows on the backrest and leaning heavily on it. His demeanour had changed now, and he was looking at her gruffly, almost in a hostile manner that had Tarya clench her teeth together slightly. She had seen the same look on many dwarves before when they had passed by her in the corridors, and she didn't like it. Tarya didn't like being looked at as if her whole existence was somehow offensive to them and that every move she made was a wrong one.
"By now, I think everyone in this mountain knows exactly what you are," Dain spoke lowly, observing her intently. "It couldn't very well stay a secret after the happenings on the battlefield. Gossip does spread fast, no matter how bad the times."
Again, Tarya said nothing as he paused and the dwarf-lord gave her an almost compassionate look.
"Someone like you does not belong within the halls of a mountain," Dain said and Tarya watched him with a small frown. His voice was friendly again, compassionate, and yet his words were telling an entirely different story. "I cannot imagine you feeling comfortable here. Surely, you would prefer the woods to these bleak walls of stone? An untamed soul like you…"
He made a pause for effect but didn't let Tarya answer as he continued swiftly. "Surely you know that your bond with the young prince will ultimately lead to you becoming a princess – should it go any further. Now, you will understand that the princess of a dwarven kingdom as important as this one, by all standards, should be a dwarrowdam, no?"
Tarya's eyes widened in disbelief as she suddenly realized what exactly Dain was trying to accomplish with this talk. He didn't want to get to know her; he simply wanted to make clear how unwelcome she truly was here and how unacceptable her relationship with Kili was. Tarya felt the realization leave a painful sting in her heart and she pressed her lips together as she inclined her head, unable to return the dwarf-lord's gaze any longer.
"The duties of a princess are numerous, Tarya, and one of the most important ones is to produce heirs that will succeed to the crown one day. The heir of a prince will one day become king and our people cannot have a half-breed as their leader, now, can they? It would be ridiculous."
The Amarok couldn't say a word as the dwarf with the bushy beard continued, each of his words harsh like a punch to her stomach. Her gaze was pinned to the floor beneath her feet and she didn't look up as Dain began to pace the room, enunciating his words even more with the movements of his hands.
"Erebor needs to be protected. And I am here to protect it – from any possible enemy, as you have rightly said before. You seem like a smart girl. I am sure you understand that a half-breed child would pose a threat to the integrity of this kingdom."
"A threat?" Tarya choked out, barely able to grasp what he was telling her. She hadn't even thought about the question of marriage again ever since she had woken up, never mind becoming a princess and having children that would obviously not be tolerated. Tarya wasn't even sure whether an Amarok could even have children with a dwarf. She had never given it any thought, and now Dain was throwing all these things at her, not caring how much his words hurt and confused her.
"Indeed," Dain spoke. "I do not know what my cousin was thinking when he let his nephew court someone like you, but surely you have already gathered that us dwarves do not take very kindly to strangers. It wouldn't do to have someone like you in the high ranks. You do not belong here, my dear. I am sure we could find an arrangement to take care of our situation. One that fits both your needs and those of this kingdom."
Tarya pressed her lips together, shaking her head as the words 'someone like you' sunk deep into her heart and resided there, causing a cold shiver to run down her spine. The Amarok felt her scar throb painfully as she stood abruptly, and she ignored the look Dain gave her as she made for the door, trying to hold back the tears that were stinging her eyes.
"I – I need to go now," she stammered, reaching for the doorknob and pulling it open without even having the slightest idea which part of the mountain she was in or where she had to go to find back to her chamber. Everything here always looked the same to her, every corridor and every corner. Tarya heard Dain's heavy footsteps approach her from behind and she quickly stepped out of the chamber, her instincts only telling her to get away from this dwarf before he could say anything more or before she would do something stupid. She was hurt by his words, yes, but she was also insulted and angry at his assumptions. And nothing good would come from her getting angry, that much she knew. If anything, it would only worsen her situation.
"Tarya!" A worried voice suddenly called from her left and Tarya turned her head in time to see Fili rounding the corner, Kili and Bofur on his heels.
Kili's frown deepened heavily as they approached Tarya and he saw her eyes glazed with a thin veil of unshed tears, her lips pressed together in a tight line. He rushed to her side, lifting one hand to her cheek as his gaze switched from her to Dain who stood in the doorway behind her.
"What is going on here?" he asked, returning his gaze to Tarya who stood before him without saying anything, her gaze cast to the floor almost as if she were ashamed of something. Her body was rigid as Kili searched her face for an answer. "What happened? Tarya? Are you all right?"
"I take it that wasn't a very pleasant talk," Bofur muttered under his breath, sending the dwarf-lord a dark look, which Dain ignored completely.
"It might have strained her more than I anticipated," the dwarf-lord spoke lowly, his gaze resting on the still silent Amarok. Kili shot him an asking look over her shoulder, eyebrows drawn together tightly. He was about to say something rather rude to his uncle's cousin, and it was just as he opened his mouth to speak that Fili's voice cut him off.
"And what, if I might ask, would be so important to talk to her about when you were aware of her already tired state?"
Dain glanced over at the blond prince and he cleared his throat slightly upon the hard look Fili was giving him. He didn't look angry – not yet, at least – and he stood before the dwarf-lord with his arms crossed over his chest and an expectant look on his youthful face. His expression was neutral, but stern, and Dain could see the slumbering anger in the prince's pale blue eyes. He had to be careful what he said next.
"It was nothing, really," Dain said quickly. "Just a diplomatic matter that had to be taken care of."
"What matter?" Fili asked, shooting a small glance over to Tarya who still stood beside his little brother, not saying anything and not looking at anything but Kili's boots. Fili frowned, returning his gaze to Dain as the dwarf-lord hesitated with his answer. The blond raised his eyebrows at him, prompting the older dwarf for an answer. "What kind of diplomatic matter did you have to discuss with her? Tarya is not a member of council, she does not know anything about politics."
"Clearly," the dwarf-lord replied, causing Fili's eyes to narrow slightly at the badly disguised insult. He did not like how Dain was speaking of Tarya all of a sudden. He'd never had a problem with her before, never even exchanged more than a few words with her as far as Fili knew. "But considering what I have heard and seen, she will be a princess someday soon and then she will have more to do with politics than she could possibly care to."
"What matter did you discuss with her, Lord Dain?" Fili asked again, slightly more impatient now as he realized that the older dwarf was simply stalling. Dain gave him a withering look and he was just about to open his mouth to reply when another voice cut through the silence between them.
"Lord Dain does not consider me the right person to fill the position of a princess of a dwarven kingdom," Tarya said quietly, causing all gazes to rest on her as she slowly shook her head, her gaze still cast to the floor. Though her expression was less sad now, and less angry. Now she looked simply resigned and when she spoke next, her weary words pierced not only Fili's heart, but Kili's and Bofur's as well. "And I suppose he is quite right with that."
"Tarya," Kili muttered, not quite knowing what to say as she suddenly, yet not harshly, shook off his hand and turned away from the little group. Kili wanted to reach out for her as she quickly walked down the corridor, though he was conflicted between following her and confronting Dain with what she had just told them.
"Is this true?" Fili asked the dwarf-lord as Kili watched Tarya go. The brunet dwarf turned to Bofur as he saw her rounding the next corner and disappearing form his sight, only now noticing that the hatted dwarf was giving the dwarf-lord an almost murderous look. He put a hand on Bofur's shoulder, causing the dwarf to look back at him questioningly.
"Go after her," he murmured quietly, giving the hatted dwarf an intent look. "Stay with her. I'll be right there, but I need to finish this first."
Bofur simply nodded and quickly turned away to follow the path Tarya had chosen. Kili watched him disappear around the corner before he turned back to Dain and his big brother, clenching his fists at his side in order to keep calm.
"Of course it is true," Dain snapped gruffly at Fili just as Kili turned to them. "Do you think I would merely stand by and watch as this kingdom is compromised by the romance of your little brother and this wolf after it has only just been reclaimed and restored?"
"Compromised?" Kili growled, unable to keep his voice calm as he listened to the dwarf-lord.
"Indeed, laddie, compromised," Dain replied swiftly. "Your relationship with that woman is completely unacceptable and as a prince you should know that."
"That woman has a name," Fili said then, voice dark and low, as his arms were crossed firmly over his broad chest. His posture reminded Kili oddly of Thorin in that moment, though he wasn't sure whether his uncle would have defended Tarya like that. "And you better watch your tongue when you are speaking of her, Lord Dain, for we do not take insults to her person lightly."
Dain was about to reply something but Fili cut him off before he even had the chance to open his mouth.
"Tarya is not just some wild animal that we picked up in the woods," he said. "She is a child of the Amarok, honourable and fierce. She is honest and fair, and she is one of the bravest warriors that I know. And she is my brother's One."
Kili merely returned Dain's look darkly as the lord's gaze flicked to him shortly upon his brother's words.
"Thorin himself gave their union his approval. It is not your place to stand between a love that is as pure as theirs," Fili continued, voice stern as Dain's gaze wandered back to him, his eyebrows rising slightly. "None of us may stand between a love like that, for a bond like this is sacred and should be honoured and not condemned."
"Approval of a dead king will not bring her the acceptance of our people," Dain replied gruffly and Fili narrowed his eyes at the dwarf-lord in increasing annoyance. He had never had any problem with Dain, and yet he came to dislike the dwarf-lord rather quickly now. Shooting a short glance over to his brother, he could only imagine how much Kili had to hold back as to not lash out at the dwarf before them. The brunet's jaw was clenched tightly, twitching slightly from time to time, as his hands were clenched into fists. Fili doubted that his brother would take the diplomatic way to clear this situation if given the opportunity to say something.
"Thorin's approval may not mean much anymore now," Fili muttered, looking back at Dain coolly, though it cost him a lot of nerves to say the next words. "But mine does. And as next King under the Mountain I can assure you that they have my blessing any day and that I will vouch for them in front of the whole mountain if necessary."
Dain's gaze darkened slightly as Fili continued. "But let me tell you that Tarya has a pure soul and she cares with all her heart if you only let her. Someone like her," he said with much care, "does not need any king's approval to win the hearts of people."
"It seems the king has spoken," Dain muttered, obviously unhappy with the whole situation. But Fili wasn't in the mood for any more idle words or excuses, so he simply nodded sternly, giving the dwarf-lord a warning look.
"I think your help is needed down in the throne hall," he said coolly. "I suggest you take your leave now."
Dain hesitated another moment before he nodded curtly and turned away, walking down the corridor in the opposite direction Tarya and Bofur had taken. His heavy footsteps echoed off the stone walls even after he had disappeared around the next corner and it was only when the dull sounds ended that Fili released a deep breath, clenching his teeth together as he unfolded his arms from before his chest.
"Some accomplished diplomacy that was," Kili muttered next to him after a few moments of silence and Fili turned is head slightly to look at his little brother, seeing the anger still edged clearly into his youthful features.
"What would you have me do? Punch him in the face?"
"Would have been worth a try," Kili answered darkly and Fili tilted his head slightly in agreement.
"But not a very kingly way to handle things," the blond dwarf replied with a small upwards quirk of his lips. Kili just huffed in return.
"I'm not a king," he said and Fili couldn't help grinning slightly upon his brother's belligerent words, though he sobered quickly.
"Tarya doesn't need you having a fist-fight with Lord Dain," he muttered, causing Kili to look at him with furrowed brows. "What she needs is support, for I doubt that she feels very welcome here if half the mountain treats her like a misfit."
Kili nodded slowly, fighting down his anger towards the dwarf-lord. He knew Fili was right, and he was just about to say something when heavy footsteps could be heard to their right and both brothers turned their heads to see Bofur slithering around the corner. Kili's eyebrows drew together immediately upon seeing the concerned look on Bofur's face and his worry was sparked just moments later when four simple words left the hatted dwarf's mouth in a rush.
"I can't find her."