Hello! I'm back! Yay! :D I've finally managed to settle in in Dublin and actually write something after a light case of writer's block. Whoop!
Nocturnal-Silver-Wolf: Kili write a poem? :D Well, that could prove to be rather funny. I don't think he'd be too talented at that :D
The EarthSong: First of all, thanks for your many reviews! :D I'm glad to hear that you like my vocabulary, that always pushes my ego because I can be quite insecure about it sometimes when I write :D Tarya is pronounced Tare-a, pronounced y :) Aaand Fili… well, he won't be forgotten, let's just say that :D
Thank you very much to Eruwaedhiel95, luvgirl101, TerraMacMillan, EquusGold, randomkitty101, Nimtheriel, My mother is a koala, MaxRideandPercyJackson4ever andCrazy-Freaky-Anonymous-Author for your lovely reviews! I read all of them with great pleasure!
Also thanks to the followers and those who favourited!
And thanks to all of you readers for your patience, I know I took a while to update :)
Now, go, read, enjoy! :D
Five months had passed since Fili's coronation, a time in which much had changed for all of them again. Fili was reigning king and ruling over the mountain with care, and though he had told her that he sometimes still felt like he didn't know what he was doing at all, Tarya knew that Fili would grow into his role more and more with every day that passed. Already now he was a good king, even though he didn't quite believe her when she told him. But with his many counsellors, he had people who questioned him at times when it was needed and that supported him in his decisions when it was right. He worked hard and it was often Kili or herself that kept him from staying up the whole night working through parchments.
While the brunet dwarf had taken up more responsibilities as to lighten the weight on his big brother's shoulders a bit, Tarya could only so much as take Fili's mind off his duties when she would take him on a walk with her or spend an evening playing cards with him, a game that the blond dwarf had taught her over the last months. And though Kili had never really been the most serious kind of prince simply because he didn't like discussing dry diplomatic matters all day long, he now went to councils almost every other day and helped with the rebuilding of alliances all over the seven dwarven kingdoms, as well as the kingdoms of men.
And while her friends were busy with their own lives, Tarya had found peace in keeping herself occupied. Her wounds had finally healed completely during the last months, and now there was no more pain but only the scars that reminded her that it had once been there. Tarya didn't mind her scars though, not the one she had gained when she had used her powers to heal Kili in Laketown, and neither the ones she received fighting in the Battle of Five Armies. She still didn't like the name the people had given it, but she had grown accustomed to it by now, though she never used it herself. But now that her wounds were no longer holding her back, she was spending much more time outside the mountain than inside its walls. The only times she really was inside the vast halls of Erebor were when she was having her lessons with Ori. The rest of the time, she went out and explored what lay outside the mountain's walls. Sometimes she went alone and sometimes she had company.
"What is on the agenda today?"
Tarya looked up from her breakfast, the only meal that she had together with more than one of her companions. They usually came together at a large table in the dining hall and ate together. It was also the only time during the day that she actually saw Kili for more than ten minutes because his busy schedule now kept him away from her more often than not.
"Gloin and I are going down to the mines," Bofur answered Fili's question after a little moment, and the blond dwarf nodded as he looked at him, prompting him to elaborate. "We are making good progress in breaking through the remaining barriers. I think we can start using them to their full potential again soon."
"That sounds good," Fili said as he reached for a piece of ham and Bofur just nodded as he handed down the bowl of bread. He handed Tarya, who was sitting next to him, one without even asking but she didn't mind. She had learned by now that dwarves were good eaters and that they took care of you as well. She thanked him quietly and the hatted dwarf gave her a short smile before he addressed her, though his eyes were fixed on the butter he was spreading on his piece of bread.
"What about you, Tarya? Any plans for today?" he asked and the Amarok shrugged slightly before she tore a small piece from her bun and put it in her mouth.
"I'm meeting Borin later," she said and out of the corner of her eye she saw Kili's head lift slightly as his gaze wandered from his plate towards her. "He wants to become a member of the King's Guard and he has asked me to help him."
"The King's Guard, really?" Fili asked from where he was sitting next to his brother at the head of the table, his eyebrows raised slightly. Tarya just nodded in reply. "That's rather ambitious for a lad that young, though I can't say that he doesn't stand a chance. We're rather low on guards and most of them are dwarves of the Iron Hills still, even though Lord Dain has returned to his own kingdom."
Tarya nodded, remembering how glad she had been when the intimidating dwarf lord had finally left Erebor to return to the Iron Hills, though a few of his men still remained here until the caravans of the Blue Mountains would arrive and more dwarves would return to their homeland. The Amarok was ripped out of her thoughts when Kili suddenly spoke up, his brows drawn together slightly as he looked at her across the table.
"What does he need your help for?" the brunet prince asked sceptically and Tarya gave him a small smile in return.
"He has never had any training with weapons, at least not to speak of, and he would like me to help him with that."
"He wants you to teach him how to wield a weapon?" Kili asked and Tarya frowned slightly at his stern expression as she nodded slowly in reply. The brunet shook his head slightly, pressing his lips together as he returned her gaze with a small hint of concern in his dark brown eyes. "Do you think this a good idea?"
"Yes, Kili, why wouldn't I? A friend asked me to help him and I do have some experience with weapons, therefore I ought to be able to teach him some things, at least." Tarya said, unconsciously tearing her bread roll into small pieces as she spoke and letting them fall onto her plate. Around them, conversation had started up again as the companions didn't want to appear as if they were eavesdropping on every word the two exchanged. The only one not engaged in a conversation was Fili, and that was because he was sitting between the two of them.
"You haven't touched your blades in months, Tarya," Kili said quietly, his gaze intently set on her face as he studied her reaction. "They're stuffed away at the bottom of a wooden box and I suppose there's good reason for that. Your nightmares have only just begun to lessen and now you want to wield weapons again at the risk of it bringing up more bad memories?"
Tarya remained silent for a moment after his words and her gaze shortly fell onto her plate as she thought about them. He was right with what he said, though Tarya couldn't know if wielding a weapon again after all this time would really bring up any bad memories. It was possible, but how would she know if she never even tried?
"I said I would help him and I will. At least, I'll try, Kili. And if I encounter any... problems then I will stop."
It wasn't what he wanted to hear, Tarya knew, but it was a compromise. Kili stared at her for a moment before he finally sighed quietly and nodded once, returning his attention to the food on his plate without saying anything else. Tarya watched him for a few moments but when he didn't look up from his plate again, she shot a short look to Fili who simply tilted his head slightly in reply to tell her that this was none of his business.
Breakfast finished soon after that and as the companions dispersed to go about their business in different parts of the mountain, Tarya lingered by the door until the two Durin princes passed her. Fili merely shot her a short look as he walked past her and she reached out to grab Kili's arm before he could follow his brother down the corridor.
"I'll see you in council," Fili said over his shoulder as he walked ahead, though he didn't get an answer as he rounded the corner and disappeared from their sight. Tarya looked up at the brunet dwarf quietly for a moment as he kept quiet and her hand wandered from his forearm to his hand. Kili only looked up when the Amarok lightly intertwined her fingers with his, though his brow was still furrowed.
"What is it?" Tarya asked quietly as they stood close together in the doorframe of the dining hall. She squeezed his hand lightly when he didn't answer. "Kili, I know you don't like Borin very much but –"
"It's not him," Kili interrupted her lowly, his hand wrapping around hers a bit tighter as he looked into her eyes. "It's you I'm worried about, azyungâl. Your wounds have only just healed completely; your dreams are still plagued with memories from the battle. I merely think you should not rush into anything that could cause you pain."
"I'll be careful," Tarya said, as she couldn't think of a better answer to his words. Kili just sighed in reply, leaning forward and pressing a small kiss to her forehead. His free hand came up to trace lightly over her cheek as he looked down at her and she gave him a small smile to reassure him. He returned her gaze for a moment before he leaned down and met her lips with his for a short kiss.
"I guess, as usual that's all I can ask for," Kili muttered as he pulled back but Tarya just grabbed the collar of his tunic with her free hand and pulled him back to seal his lips with hers once more. The dwarf hesitated only shortly in surprise before both of his arms wrapped around her and he pulled her against his body, deepening the kiss. He took a step towards her, and Tarya stumbled backwards until her back hit the large doorframe with a soft thud. Tarya sighed quietly as Kili's hands slid from her waist to her hips, squeezing gently as he pulled her further into him. All the while, his lips were moving slowly against hers, his tongue teasing hers lightly as his stubbly beard slightly scratched her sensitive skin. They hadn't kissed like this in a while, Tarya knew, and even though she was very conscious of the fact that Kili had her basically pressed up against a door in the middle of the mountain where anyone could have seen, she wasn't willing to end the kiss just yet.
"I need to go to council," Kili murmured hoarsely against the Amarok's lips, slightly pulling back after another moment, though he kept his arms tightly wrapped around her. Tarya sighed quietly, leaning her forehead against Kili's chest in slight frustration.
"You're a spoilsport, my love," she muttered as Kili's grip loosened slightly. He huffed in reply, leaning back so he could look at her face. Tarya held back her grin when he raised one eyebrow pointedly at her.
"Believe me when I tell you that I would much rather spend these hours with you, doing nothing but kissing your lips…" Kili muttered, planting a short kiss on her mouth, "and your neck," Tarya giggled quietly when he leaned down to plant a kiss on the mentioned spot, "and maybe some other places." With that he shot her a cheeky grin, and Tarya pushed him lightly as he wiggled his eyebrows at her.
"Such a noble prince," she mocked as she slapped his arm lightly to get him to release her, which Kili did with a bright grin plastered on his face.
"Such a gentle princess," he jested, mockingly rubbing the spot where she had slapped his arm. Tarya just rolled her eyes at the brunet dwarf, though she couldn't help the smile that spread on her lips at their little banter as she moved past him and started walking down the corridor, Kili following swiftly on her heel. She could hear him laughing quietly to himself before he caught up to her and snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her against his side for the way they walked together.
"Your Majesty, I am still not entirely convinced of the reasons why we should give treasure of the mountain, of the dwarves, to the people of Bard. Within the last months there has been many discussions about this matter and I do think that we should consider this more carefully before we form or sign any contract that cannot be undone."
Kili refrained from rolling his eyes at the old dwarf, Master Gabron, which was speaking to his brother across the council table, emphasising his words with great gestures of his hands. Several rings adorned his thick fingers, casting a faint gold shimmer across the table in the light of the torches every time he moved his hands. They had been discussing the same matter for weeks on end now, and still the old dwarf was being stubborn about it. Kili leaned back in his chair, grabbing his goblet and taking a sip of the fresh water in it. While some of the others were drinking wine, neither Kili nor Fili wanted to cloud their minds while in council. That was one thing that Thorin had taught them during the years. It was always important to keep a clear and keen mind while discussing matters in council, even if they were boring at times.
"Master Gabron," Fili spoke after he let the old dwarf finish, his voice calm but stern, though Kili could hear the slight strain in it. The blond dwarf was clearly frustrated with his opposite, and Kili could wholeheartedly understand why. "While I do understand your possible restraints concerning this matter, I will not discuss it any further at this table. Bard and his people were promised a share of the treasure by Thorin himself before the battle –"
"But only because that little hobbit creature had given the Arkenstone to the enemies and he was forced to trade part of the treasure for it," Gabron interrupted and Fili shortly pressed his lips together as to not snap at the old dwarf. The young dwarf-king released a deep breath before he answered.
"I would ask you not to speak of things that you know nothing about, Master Gabron. Master Bilbo, the Halfling you mentioned, was forgiven for his deed and I consider him a dear friend to our people and this kingdom." He could see that the old dwarf was about to say something again, but Fili silenced him with a stern scowl. "Bard's claims are reasonable and noble, for he does not want our gold for himself but to use it to rebuild Dale. As heir of Girion, Lord of Dale, he has already signed the contract that will guarantee Erebor to be Dale's main partner in trade as it used to be in the days of old. I do not see any reason why we should not agree to this partnership."
"Neither do I," Kili spoke calmly from where he was sitting beside his brother, turning his goblet in his hands as he glanced across the table at Master Gabron who looked positively reprimanded. The old dwarf didn't say anything else and Kili let his gaze wander across the room, looking at each of the other five members of council. Most of them simply nodded towards their king, while Balin, who was sitting to Fili's other side, gave the blond dwarf a smile and said: "I could not agree more, my king."
Fili nodded, picking up a quill from the table and quickly signing his name at the bottom of the contract he had been sent by Bard. "So be it, then. Let us all look forward to the day that we will see Dale's beauty of old restored." He folded the parchment carefully, then turned and gave it to Balin. "If you could see to it that this is sent to Bard this very day, please, Balin?"
"Of course, lad," the aging dwarf answered with a smile as he took the papers from the blond dwarf. Fili inclined his head in thanks before he turned back to the rest of the council. Kili sighed slightly, putting the goblet back on the table. This was going to be a long day, he thought grumpily, when suddenly the sound of trumpets echoed through the halls of the mountain and ripped him out of his thoughts with a slight jerk. He straightened quickly on his chair and shot a glance to the closed door before he looked at his brother who was slowly putting down his quill, returning Kili's gaze with a slight shrug. It was only a few moments later that a knock sounded on the door and Fili called the person in, raising his eyebrows as a guard entered, slightly out of breath.
"Your Majesty, there are caravans approaching the mountain!" he informed quickly and it was only a second later that Fili had stood up, shooting his little brother an excited look. Kili took a second longer to catch on but when he did, his eyes widened slightly and he gulped nervously.
"That will be Lady Dis and her entourage," Balin spoke as he stood slowly. Kili followed his example, slightly biting his lower lip as Fili nodded.
"We will cease council for today," the blond dwarf said to the other people in the room with a small smile. "I believe our presence is required at the front gate."
And with that Fili led the way out of the council chamber, Kili and Balin following swiftly on his heels as they walked down the corridors towards the front gate. They didn't speak much as they walked along the cool corridors together, though Fili shot a look over his shoulder every once in a while, for it seemed as if his little brother was getting slower in his steps the closer they got to the front gate.
"Kili, now is not the time to dawdle!" Fili chuckled as he hurried down the last large corridor that led to the gate, his little brother somewhere behind him. The horns sounded once more when they passed the guards and upon looking to the horizon, Fili could see the caravans of the Blue Mountains already quite close to the mountain.
"I'm not dawdling," Kili grumbled back at Fili from where he was walking behind him as they walked out onto the platform at the top of the large steps that led up to the gate, facing towards the vast field that lay before Erebor. "Just… well, maybe I'm dawdling a little."
"Why?" Fili asked in slight confusion as they came to stand at the top of the large stairs next to each other, looking down at the dark dots that were slowly gaining form and coming closer on the horizon. It was only when Kili didn't answer that the blond turned his head towards him, giving him a sceptic look as he studied Kili's expression. The brunet was staring straight ahead, his brows drawn together worriedly. It was then that Fili's mouth opened in a silent gape of its own volition as he realized what exactly was going on. "You didn't tell her! Oh, you blockhead, you didn't tell her of Tarya!"
Kili just shook his head in reply without saying anything, just pressing his lips together, so it was Fili who continued their hushed conversation while others were now joining them on the platform beside Balin. Dwalin, Bofur and Gloìn had come up from the mines upon the sounds of the horns. Oìn had found his way to them from the healing chambers and Ori had come from the library. The only one missing from their original company was the very topic of the brother's conversation.
"How could you not tell her? Have you finally lost your mind for real now?" Fili hissed as their friends and companions gathered behind them. "You wrote three letters to mother in the past months and not once did you think of telling her that you have found your One and are incidentally betrothed to an Amarok?"
"I couldn't find the right words," Kili answered in a whisper, his gaze fixed on the growing dots in the distance. Fili just shot his brother a pointed look and shook his head at him, taking a deep breath as he moved his head to look in the same direction, crossing his arms over his chest loosely.
"She will have your head for that, you know," Fili mumbled but didn't say anything else as Kili just tilted his head silently and they waited for the first caravan to arrive at the mountain. It was a little while before the dark dots in the distance started to gain a distinctive shape and they could see the wagons approaching, several carriages filled with dwarrowdams and dwarves while many were simply walking along them, carrying big packs on their backs and weapons on their belts. A few dogs were walking along with the wagons and after a while, chatter and shouts could be heard from down below as they approached. The trumpets sounded once more as the first wagon came to a halt at the bottom of the large set of stairs. Fili took a deep breath in anticipation as he saw the first dwarves exit their carriages and gathering at the bottom of the tremendous stairs that led up to where they were gathered.
"Mahal have mercy with me," Kili whispered almost soundlessly next to his big brother as they both saw a very familiar form being helped out of one of the carriages. Fili just shot his little brother a short sideways look before he glanced back to see their mother make her way to the front of the gathered crowd below them. It was only a moment later that she looked up towards them and met the blond dwarf's gaze from afar, a bright smile immediately illuminating her familiar features. Fili couldn't help but return it happily.
There she was. Lady Dis of the Ered Luin.
Their mother didn't hesitate long before she started to climb up the stairs, accompanied by her entourage. The two Durin brothers as well as the other gathered people simply waited until the dwarrowdam had reached the top of the stairs. It was then that Fili put out his hand to help his mother up the last few steps and Dis took it with another bright smile that could have made the sun jealous. A moment later, Fili found himself in a lung-crushing hug as his mother pulled him towards her. The blond dwarf's arms wrapped around his mother's form almost completely out of instinct, and he squeezed her tightly after the many months of not having seen her.
"Fili," Dis muttered into her son's shoulder, her voice quivering slightly as Fili realized that she was trying to hold back her tears. "It has been too long, my son!"
"Idmi, amad," Fili answered with a warm smile when he pulled back, squeezing his mother's shoulders as she raised her hand and stroked his cheek lovingly. "Welcome home."
Dis smiled tenderly at her oldest son before she turned her head and caught sight of Kili, smiling broadly at her and yet still somehow seeming nervous. The dwarrowdam reached out her arms and it was just a moment later that Kili had made a step towards her and wrapped his mother up in a bear hug. Dis laughed quietly as she returned her youngest son's embrace and as they let go of each other, she gently stroked her hand over his messy brown hair. Kili was a bit taller than her and so she had to look up at her baby boy to give him a warm smile.
"My boys," Dis muttered, glancing between the two brothers, a thin veil of tears covering her eyes though none had escaped yet. Her fingers kept stroking absently through Kili's mane as she spoke. "I thank Mahal to see the both of you healthy and strong before me after all these months you've been away and the horrors you must have lived. I can never tell you how proud I am of you for following your uncle on this journey and reclaiming our home. And though I know that much was lost, I also know that none of it was in vain. With –"
Kili's eyes widened when his mother interrupted herself in confusion as her fingers suddenly got caught in the braid on the side of his head. It took her a moment to turn her head around to him and her eyes narrowed slightly as her fingers wrapped around the braid that was slightly hidden behind wild strands of hair. Kili opened his mouth to say something, but merely an incoherent sound escaped his lips as Dis revealed the braid and her eyes widened as she lightly pulled on it before her gaze found the dark brown eyes of her son. She looked at him sternly for a moment, her gaze piercing into his, before she looked behind him, her eyes apparently scanning the crowd for the braid that matched the one in her son's hair, glancing back at Kili when she didn't find it among the gathered people.
Dis narrowed her eyes slightly, giving her son a pointed look as she tugged on the small braid again, this time a bit less gently.
"I believe you have some explaining to do, Kili."
Tarya had heard the trumpets sound from the mountain a while ago, though she had not deemed it necessary to go back and see what it was about since she was still training with Borin. If it was anything important, Tarya figured that she would find out eventually, anyway.
"HA!"
Tarya quickly took a step to the left, dodging Borin's attack easily as he pulled her out of her thoughts with his outcry. The Amarok turned to look at the young dwarf, gripping her two blades a bit tighter in her hands as he faced her again.
"While I do understand the possible need to release a battle cry," Tarya spoke slowly as she inspected the lad's stance, which had already gotten much better over the last hours, "you might not want to make as much noise as a whole horde of oliphants. While you do your battle cry, your gaze switches in the direction you want to bring down your blow, which makes it much too easy for me to block it."
"Don't look where you want to hit," Borin repeated in a short version and Tarya nodded simply, nodding at him to try again. The redhead came at her again, without a battle cry this time, and Tarya deflected two blows before she ducked and twirled at the same time. She straightened her legs as Borin stumbled after hitting thin air, and she waited patiently for him to turn back around to her. He gave her an exasperated look. "You're much too fast, Tarya."
"Maybe you are simply too slow," she replied with a small, cheeky grin that had Borin pouting slightly. He sighed, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve as he looked at her. Tarya quirked an eyebrow at the young dwarf, the grin still plastered to her face when he started his next attack. He was putting her tips to good use, she had to admit, and he was a rather fast learner. But he still needed much training to become a truly good fighter, Tarya thought, as she deflected one of Borin's blows with one of her knives, bringing up the other against his sword and twisting it so that he lost his grip on the weapon. Borin's blade fell to the sandy floor next to their feet at the same time that Tarya brought both her knives up to his throat.
"Dead," she grinned at him as she lowered the blades and the young dwarf sighed deeply. Training with Borin had proven to be a rather pleasant way to confront her memories, Tarya had come to realize by now. After her talk with Kili, she had been cautious to use her blades again, afraid of what they might bring up in her memories. The first minutes had been strange, and the knives had felt uncomfortable in her hands, heavy with the battles they had already seen. But as their lesson had progressed, she had grown more used to them once again and instead of memories of the battlefield, other ones had come up in her mind, ones like the times that she had spent training with the companions during their journey.
She was about to help Borin back to his feet, when she noticed the young dwarf's gaze had settled on something behind her back and Tarya quickly turned around, her daggers still held tightly in her hands. Though her grip on them faltered slightly when she met the gaze of a pair of icy blue eyes that were staring right at her. The eyes belonged to a dwarrowdam with long dark locks of hair and an equally dark beard that lightly adorned her jaw. Tarya felt a painful sting in her chest at how familiar she looked, even though she had never met her before in her life. But she didn't need to, for she could tell who this was even without knowing her. Her features were strong, yet beautiful. She looked regal and elegant with a stern trait to her expression.
"Lady Dis," Tarya spoke quietly, staring at the dwarrowdam in a mixture of fascination and sadness as she lowered her knives to her sides. The dwarrowdam simply raised one eyebrow at her, giving her a sceptic look from where she was standing next to her two sons and Dwalin.
"I do not believe we have met," she said calmly, her voice deep and yet quite pleasant to listen to, Tarya decided. The Amarok gave her a small smile and a nod.
"You have your brother's bearing," she answered slowly, her fingers wrapping tighter around the hilts of her knives again. Dis gave her a scrutinizing look, narrowing her eyes slightly before she spoke again.
"You knew Thorin?"
Tarya nodded, noticing Borin standing up and brushing some dirt off his clothes out of the corner of her eye as she answered. "I did," she simply said softly, unwilling to dig too far into her history with the dwarf-king. Dis hesitated a moment before nodded shortly and Tarya noticed her gaze wandering to the braid that hung over her shoulder from the side of her head. Kili's bead at the end of it was glimmering lightly in the sunshine of the early afternoon and Tarya stiffened slightly as Dis came closer to her, still with a stern look on her face. The Amarok stood still as the dwarrowdam reached up a hand and took the intricate braid between her fingers, her thumb stroking over the silver bead carefully.
"Tarya, is it?" she asked after a few moments of silence and the Amarok just nodded, slightly nervous at having the dwarf lady standing so close to her. Dis nodded. "My son tells me you derive from a rather rare ancestry."
Tarya hesitated shortly, her gaze flicking over Dis' shoulder towards Kili who sent her an encouraging nod. She slightly narrowed her eyes at him, realizing that his mother apparently hadn't heard as much of her as she had of the dwarrowdam from him. Dis cleared her throat quietly, tearing Tarya's attention back to her. The Amarok took a deep breath before she nodded slowly, returning the lady's gaze earnestly.
"He is telling the truth," she uttered. "I am an Amarok."
Dis stayed silent for a moment, looking at the braid in her hand again before she let go of it and looked at the Amarok again, her icy blue eyes boring into hers. "Kili also tells me that you are his One," the dwarf lady continued before Tarya could say anything. "However, since he has failed to mention both you and his betrothal to you in any of his letters to me, I think there are still many things that I would like to know about you." Her gaze shortly wandered towards Borin who had walked over to the fence of the training field by now before she looked back at Tarya with a quirked eyebrow. "I can see that you are an able fighter and a woman with the sense not to blabber when meeting strangers."
"I was never one to blabber," Tarya answered with a small smile, hearing Dwalin give an approving grunt from where he was standing next to the brothers. Dis' lips twitched upwards slightly in reply to her statement and Dwalin's reaction as she nodded and took a step back.
"I shall be curious what else there is to you, then, Tarya. Fili, would you be so nice as to accompany me back to the mountain?" Dis spoke as she turned and walked back towards her sons. Fili just nodded and held out his arm for her to take. Dwalin followed them as they walked back where they had come from and Tarya caught Kili's relieved gaze from where she was standing still on the training field. He gave her a smile as his mother walked past him, though it faltered slightly when she reached up her hand and smacked him lightly over the head, murmuring something in Khuzdul to him that Tarya didn't understand. However, she didn't have to, for the sheepish look on Kili's face told her everything she needed to know.
"So, your mother has arrived, then," the Amarok spoke with a pointedly raised eyebrow as she looked at the brunet dwarf. Kili gave her a rather sheepish smile as he came closer and nodded.
"I suppose I have some explaining to do," he muttered with a small sigh, and Tarya merely nodded as she sheathed her knives on the belt around her hips.
"Yes, you do," she answered, giving him a light smack on his chest with her flat hand before she turned to Borin who had just watched them silently. "We will have to cease training for today, Borin. Same time, next week, if you like?"
The young dwarf just nodded with a grateful smile and Tarya returned it before she turned to Kili again. Giving him a pointed look and another smack on the chest, she started walking towards the mountain where the others had gone.
Kili rubbed his chest with a small sigh, and it was a moment before he had caught up to her. He shot her a sideways look as they walked up the path to the mountain next to each other, though he kept an arm's length distance from her as to not get hit again.
"I'm sorry, Tarya," he uttered as they walked along, and the Amarok shortly glanced at him, rolling her eyes at the innocent look he gave her.
"Puppy eyes don't work with wolves, Kili," she growled quietly. "We invented them."