Author's note: GUESS WHO'S BACK! And with the rest of the story finished, too! :D Can you tell I'm really happy about this? Lol.

Chapter 40-A Kingdom Revived

The tents of the wounded slowly emptied and the battlefield was cleared of its dead.

In the hectic week that followed, Karra was kept as busy as one in her condition could be expected to be. She spent most of her day carrying messages and supplies back and forth between Erebor, Dale, and the dwindling tents, and at night, she would collapse into bed and be glad of the dreamless sleep that took her. Someday, she knew, the memories would plague her, and she would dream horrible dreams, but now, for a few short days, she managed to forget the things she never wanted to remember again.

As the weeks passed, dwarves filtered into Erebor from all of Middle-Earth. The dust was swept out of the corners, and the forges roared back to life. A shadow of the glory that was Erebor began to shine through what once was rubble.

Fili's recovery was slow, and Karra wasn't there to see much of it. He appeared before his people two weeks after the battle, pale, worn, and supported by his brother. Karra only saw part of his short speech before she was called away to the tents again.

As soon as the healers declared him able to face his people for longer than a few minutes, he was crowned king.

The ceremony was a simple one, shadowed as it was by the memory of one who would have been king. Karra was excused from her tasks for a day and she stood in the crowd, one dwarf among many. Kili stood beside her, staring up at Fili with a sort of awe as he spoke the ancient vows and the crown was placed on his head. Karra wanted more than anything to put her arm around the younger brother's shoulders and whisper "I understand."

He was king now. Fili was king now.

The dwarves filed out of the throne room in reverent silence. Already a feast was being prepared to celebrate the crowning of a new ruler.

Karra stopped at the edge of the throne room and let the dwarves file past her. She saw Fili sitting on the giant throne, his head resting in his hand. She blinked back sudden, unbidden tears. Would anything be the same now?

The gentle murmur of the crowd died away in the distance and an empty hush fell over the room. Fili looked so alone, she thought, and so tired. She stood there at the edge for a moment, and then took a hesitant step into the room. Little echoes bounced off the high ceiling.

He didn't seem to see her at first. He stared off vacantly into some unknown distance.

She walked forward slowly and touched his hand.

A smile softened his face and his eyes focused on her.

"Karra," he said at last.

She dropped to one knee and bowed her head. "Your majesty."

His laugh ran out through the throne room. "Karra!" he cried. "You don't need to bow to me!"

Karra stood, and gave him a shy smile. "I'm sorry, Fili. I didn't know—"

He stood, and stepped down from the throne. A grin spread across his face. "Do you think I would demand such formalities of you? Our life together would be terribly dull if I did!" He sat down on the step below the throne and beckoned her to join him. She stood for a moment in hesitation.

He smiled up at her. "Someday this throne will be yours as well."

She sat beside him, still not quite daring to meet his eyes. "Fili," she said softly. "Nothing's going to—to change, right? I mean, you're—king. You're royalty."

"I'm not any different than I was yesterday," he said, "or two weeks ago. I've always been royalty, though without a kingdom. I would have been king someday, Karra." He put a hand beneath her chin and lifted her face to his. "Karra. Look at me." For the first time that day, she met his gaze. He lifted his crown from his head and set it on hers. She felt its weight settle on her. She caught her breath and reached to touch it. The gold felt silky smooth beneath her fingers.

"Fili—this isn't mine."

"You'll have your own someday." He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Karra—nothing's going to change. Don't treat me like a king—treat me like someone you'll be married to someday." He laughed. "And that's a royal edict."

Karra grinned. This was the Fili she knew.

"Now come," he said, "let's go join the feast."

Karra looked away. "I don't think—"

Fili's grin dissolved into a sympathetic smile. "You can sit with me," he said. "And you needn't stay long." He stood and reached out a hand.

Karra tried to smile, and started to take his hand. Crowds were noisy, and they sounded like orcs.

Fili gasped for air and bent over, his hand over his heart. Karra was on her feet at once, her arms around his waist, supporting him, helping him to the steps. Pain was etched on his face. She helped him sit again and for a moment, he sat bent over, his breath coming in short gasps. "I'm sorry," he wheezed. "I'm so sorry."

Karra slipped her arm around his shoulders and drew him closer. "No!" she cried. "Don't be sorry! Please, it's not your fault." The healers said it would never go away—few survived such a wound as his, and even fewer went on to live happy lives. A too-quick movement or a shock would leave him gasping for air with a deep pain in his chest. He took a few deep breaths and stood again, slower this time. He reached a hand forward again with a shaky smile.

"Now come," he said. "I'm sure they're wondering where we are." He paused, and smiled again. "Oh—I think the people would appreciate it if I was wearing my crown."

The weeks passed, and Karra's duties in the tents gradually disappeared. Soon she was living in Erebor. She tried to help as much as she could with the cleaning, dusting, and sorting that the kingdom demanded. The job was a large one—there were jewels, old artifacts, and many, many rooms. At least here, in the mountain, there was always somewhere to go, alone, and something new to explore.

Dwarves poured into the mountain in groups as large as an army all the way down to single travelers. Karra tried to greet as many travelers as she could—after all, she was their future queen.

One day, she saw two dwarves approaching. Something seemed different about one of them—could it be? She had never seen another dwarf woman in her life. She ran down to the front gate in a flurry of excitement, smoothing her hair and dress as she went. She felt a little pang of uneasiness and tried not to let it grow. What would the woman think? She ran her finger over the scar on her cheek, a permanent reminder of the battle to her and everyone around her. She slowed to a walk and tried to look calm as she entered the front room.

The two were just entering as she approached them and dropped a curtsy. "Welcome!" she said with her friendliest smile. "Who may I have the honor of meeting, kind sir?"

The old dwarf smiled and bowed. "I am Dorin," he said, and motioned for the other dwarf to come forward. "And this is my daughter, Enna."

Karra stopped, staring. So it was true—dwarf women did have beards! The girl's hair was pulled back in a practical braid and she had sideburns. Karra tried not to giggle. She would have to get used to this if she wanted to live in Erebor.

Enna approached with her with a smile of such frank, open friendliness that Karra couldn't help but return it.

"You must be Lady Karra!" she said. "I have heard of you."

Karra gulped. "You've—heard of me?"

"Of course! You're going to marry our king."

"Oh!" Karra laughed. "Yes. Well. I suppose news does get around, doesn't it."

Enna pulled her into a strong embrace. "It's wonderful to meet you, my lady," she said. Her eyes rested on Karra's cheek and she paused. "Oh! And you're a battle hero as well!"

Karra flushed and found herself brushing the scar again. "Well, I would hardly say that," she said with a nervous giggle. "I mean, I don't feel like a hero…"

Enna smiled. "No true hero ever does," she said.

The days passed. As more dwarves arrived, Karra found that dwarf women were a powerhouse of work. The jewel sorting and dusting out of old rooms suddenly seemed faster and much more orderly. Enna was a strong presence beside Karra, teaching her many customs and traditions she had never learned from the men.

One day, she was taking a short rest in her chamber when Fili appeared in the doorway.

"Karra," he said, and something like a smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. "I have someone I want you to meet."

Karra felt a knot in her stomach. "Who?"

"My mother."

Karra leaned against her dresser to steady herself. She managed a shaky smile and stepped forward. "Okay," she said. She tried to laugh carelessly. "Great. I—I'd love to meet her."

"You don't have any reason to be nervous, Karra," Fili said gently. "I've told her everything—about the key, about your father. She has no objection to your heritage, so long as she likes you."

So long as she likes you.

And what if she doesn't like me? What then?

Fili led her down the corridor and into a block of large rooms and houses, carved out for the high-class. He reached a door, stopped, and knocked. The door swung open on silent hinges and a striking dark-haired dwarf woman stood in the doorway. She crossed her arms.

"So this is Karra," she said. Karra felt the woman's eyes boring into her as she looked her up and down. She was suddenly conscious of her slightly-wrinkled dress and her scar. She had to resist the urge to toy with a piece of her hair. She smiled her sweetest smile and dropped her best curtsy.

"She'll do," Dis said. "She's a pretty lass, though somewhat lacking in the facial hair." She rubbed her hand over her beard. Karra felt her eyes rest on her face. "The scar," she said. "The scar I like. It shows bravery."

Karra blinked.

Fili raised an eyebrow. "Mother! Stop intimidating her."

"If she can't stand up to the scrutiny of a woman of her own kind, she can't stand up to a kingdom."

Karra took a deep breath and tried not to glare at the woman. She certainly said what she thought. For being Fili and Kili's mother, she was quite…blunt. Karra felt sudden irritation bubbling up inside her.

"I'm standing right here!" she blurted out. "Talk to me directly!"

A smile twitched around the corners of Fili's lips and he looked away to hide it. Dis smiled and nodded.

"I like her," she said.

"So, I understand you have chosen the honorable Lady Enna as your future attendant." Dis gave a decided nod. "I approve. She is a capable and likeable young woman."

Karra gulped. "Attendant? I said she was my friend, that's all."

Dis smiled a rare smile. "Ah, but often having a friend is the best kind of help."

A knock echoed through the room and the door swung open to reveal Enna standing there. Her hair was down and her dress was rumbled. "I apologize!" she cried. "I was—well, I forgot. Oh!" She dropped a hasty curtsy. "Lady Dis! I didn't see you!"

Dis crossed her arms. "Come in. I took advantage of the time to have a small talk with my future daughter."

Enna entered and sat stiffly on a chair opposite Karra. "So…" she said. "I understand you are starting to make your wedding robes and I am to help you."

Karra nodded. "Yeah," she said. "I'm not good at sewing." She flushed. "I'm not very good at anything, really."

"You must be good at something," Enna said with a smile. "You've captured the heart of our king."

Karra flushed and looked away.

"Now," Dis ordered, "stand." Karra stood. Dis looked her up and down. "I believe blue would be your color," she said. "Yes, blue and gold would look quite striking on you." She stood and walked around Karra, still looking her up and down. "Now, the design will be quite up to you, of course, but I'm sure you would appreciate a bit of help, being unlearned in dwarvish traditions as you are." She curled a piece of Karra's hair around her finger, as if imagining possible hairstyles. "The hair will grow in time, of course. But we must do something about the beard."

Karra held up a hand. "No," she said, as firmly as she could. "I'd rather leave that particular feature the way it is, if you don't mind."

Enna stifled a laugh. "I've never met a dwarf like you!" she said. "I suppose it's your choice, but—" A step echoed outside and all three heads turned to the hallway.

"Ah, Fili," Dis said. "Come in, you have something you need to do."

Fili smiled a sheepish smile and entered. "Indeed I do," he said. "And it's entirely my fault for forgetting." He took Karra's hand and met her eyes with a gentle smile. "As your future husband, it is my duty to make a formal promise to you, and to keep that promise. Before we are married, I pledge—" He stopped, and got down on one knee, still holding her hand. "I pledge," he said, "to build you—us —the best dwelling that I can. I will carve out a home for us within these halls."

His hand lingered for a moment on hers as he stood.

Dis patted Fili on the back. "Very good, my son," she said. She looked at Karra. "You've chosen well," she said. "My son will be a good husband." She cleared her throat. "Now, Fili, you may leave. We have women's work to do."

Well, there's Dis. She seems rather dwarvish, dontcha think? :D