Chapter Seven:
Fili wasn't sure how he should feel. Of course, he was happy for his younger brother, he always knew that the younger one cared for the Fae. But on the other hand, he was upset. Upset that his brother had never confided in him he planned to court the strange girl. When Aerchkaleya had walked into Council with his brother's bead in her hair… it was odd to him still, that his younger brother was ready to court anyone. To him, Kili was still his baby brother, still insecure about his appearance.
Maybe that was why he said nothing when the councilmen finally broke into a roar of protests at the girl, yelling she had no right to be courted by their prince, that she had no right to even be in the room. He knew Kili was confused, and couldn't get a word in, and Aerchkaleya was too busy holding her tongue and magic, trying not to lash out at their insults. But, the elder prince said nothing, but not because he was lacking any words.
It was Thorin who roared over the dwarves, "ENOUGH!" The council fell silent and Thorin rebuked them, "Who are you to decide the heart of another, let alone your prince?! Who are you to say that the Heart and Soul of the Mountain you live within isn't allowed to go wherever she pleases?! She had seen far more than any of you, and knows far more than all of Arda combined! My nephew has chosen her, and she has allowed him to braid his bead into her hair to show all of this. The only thing anyone should say of this matter is wishes of good fortune."
Aerchkaleya seemed a bit surprised that Thorin would defend her, she was still under the belief he saw her as an annoyance rather than the Heart of Erebor. But she masked it well and quickly, inclining her head to the dwarf on the opposite end of the table, before speaking on her own behalf, keeping her tone even as possible, but with an edge to it nonetheless, "None of you are here simply because you have the 'privilege' to be here, within this room, within my mountain. Every day you reside here and go about your lives within Erebor is because I allow it. Be very thankful I am choosing to not hold your arrogance and idiocy against you this time, and will continue to allow you all to remain within the Lonely Mountain."
The Fae didn't even touch upon the matter of her love life. She wasn't even planning on justifying any of their concerns with her attention. They could whine and complain and moan about it all they wanted, it did nothing to change the fact she had her One and was allowing others the knowledge of that as well. They should be honored she even allowed them the knowledge she had found her other half, not complain about it. Then again, they were dwarves…
The room was in a very awkward silence, before Balin spoke up and brought up council matters. It was several matters later before the tension managed to disperse, and people truly debated with each other. Ark had very little opinion on most of the matters, only speaking up to answer when Balin asked what had been laws and rulings in the time of Durin, and how people had reacted to them. The only matter she had a harsh view on was the last; courting.
One of the wider dwarves was the idiot to bring up the matter, of the two heirs getting married and such. No need to be asked on the matter, Aerchkaleya immediately spoke up, "The fact that any of you think that it is your concern when any of the line of Durin bond or court anyone is an absolutely ridiculous notion. There is a long time to come before the passing of the throne needs to be considered, that I can assure you of. And it's quite perverted that any of you are even thinking about the king and his nephews' sex lives."
Rather than the tension, a fully awkward and uncomfortable block fell atop the entire room, and that was what Balin used to dismiss council. It was rather funny to the Fae, that the dozen or so older dwarves practically climbed over each other to get out the room, away from her and her rather blunt statement. The only ones left were Throin, Balin, Dwalin, Fili, Kili, and Ark. Thankfully, Ori hadn't been in attendance for the meeting, otherwise Ark was quite sure she would have gotten an earful from Dori for saying the word 'sex' around his innocent young brother.
The six remained in silence for a few moments, before Thorin cracked through it, "Did you simply do this for shock value?"
Kili seemed genuinely shocked his uncle would ask such a thing, and was insulted a little as well, that Thorin thought him immature enough to use a courting bead as a practical joke. Fili was wondering the same thing though, partially hoping his little brother's answer wold be 'yes'. Aerchklaeya was the one to reply, "It wasn't intended, simply an amusing result." When no one said anything, the Fae sighed and began to explain, "I'm aware that you all have customs and proper etiquette about courting or mating or whatever you call it. I know someone was supposed to ask someone permission, though who I don't know. But, Kili is my One, and he is mine. We haven't broken any taboos or rules or anything of that matter. I only am just now wearing his bead because he mentioned that the council has become particularly insistent on the matter of courting."
Thorin nodded slowly, trying his very best to hide how relieved he was that the bead hadn't appeared because his nephew had done something… irresponsible. Glancing at his nephews, he took her last sentence as a topic change to everyone's relief, "I don't understand just what could have happened that they suddenly feel such a need to insist on it, even bring it up."
Fili finally managed to find some words that wouldn't alert anyone to his inner turmoil over his younger brother, "It isn't as if you are on the brink of death, Uncle, or that something is threatening us all." His words made Aerchkaleya's face darken. The last time courting had ben brought up by the council had revealed a darker plan, which Aerchkaleya had taken care of with a very public display.
The dwarves noticed the look on the face of the Fae, all of them shrinking back slightly. Rage and fury pulsed off the small woman, her fists clenched as she bit out, "There is a chance that they are threatening you." The mood changed in the dwarves to match the rage of the Fae girl. Immediately, Dwalin was swearing and promising to make them pay.
Aerchkaleya remained silent before speaking up over the war-hardened dwarf, "I've dealt with this before." Dwalin fell silent and she repeated, "This isn't the first time the council has gotten it into their daft little heads that they had the right to decide who is on the throne. It happened once before, when Durin's eldest son was on the throne."
Balin was just as enraged as his brother, though he was holding his temper better and asked the girl, "How did you go about it? It isn't an easy task to find who is in a conspiracy and convicting them is another matter all together."
"There is no secret within the mountain I cannot find," Aerchkaleya told them, "I learned the names of the traitors, the guard arrested them, and they were tried and punished by me. If I'm not mistaken, it is still law that any creature to make a threat to the line of Durin falls to my mercy."
The week passed uneasily. Nori was immediately informed of the possible threat and it didn't take long for his 'friends' to confirm it, though it would take a bit more digging to find everyone within the traitorous plan. Aerchkaleya told Nori to do whatever it took, and Dwalin was waiting for the spymaster to hand him a list of names of whom to arrest.
As a precaution, the Company was moved into the royal wing temporarily, though with only a couple of rooms available, the large common room soon became a small campsite that reminded them all of the journey. Dwalin assigned four different guards to Bilbo and even little Frodo got a guard, though not without a fight.
It was Aerchkaleya who settled the matter with the hobbits, surprising the elder halfling by her stern and stoic demeanor and telling him it wasn't an option and he would be escorted by the guard detail whether he liked it or not. She felt a bit she had frightened the burglar, but it was unavoidable, the Fae wouldn't allow any of them to be in danger.
Despite her worry for her One and his family, Ark spent little time with Kili that week, rather she would sit silently and blindly in the royal wing, listening to the suspected dwarves best she could. The immense fury and shortness of the Fae kept everyone at a distance, fearing her lashing out should they mention the wrong thing.
By the end of the week, though, Nori had a complete list of names, and the details of their plot. It took less than an hour for Dwalin and his force to roughly arrest not only the seven council members, but three other dwarves as well. Aerchkaleya wasn't allowed to join them, though, Dwalin telling her she was far too angry, and that he didn't need her killing them yet. He did, however promise to get a few extra hits in for her.
It was decided that despite Ark's anger and insistence that they be felt with immediately, Balin and Thorin decided it was best to keep them locked up for a bit, needing to find new council members and leaving the traitors to Nori and his men (and women) to find out as much as they could.
Fortune was with them, as within another week, before the Fae could get to riled up, the last caravan from the Blue Mountain's arrived, and with it, Dis and one particularly familiar half hobbit lass, with some very familiar beads.
Aerchkaleya cackled alongside Kili as the pair watched a very stunned blonde prince stand slack jawed, before breaking into such a large smile, it was a wonder he didn't pull a muscle. The blonde lass in front of him chuckled before squeaking in surprise as Fili practically engulfed her in an embrace, holding on tightly as if she were just a dream and letting go meant she would vanish.
The Fae and younger prince managed to stop their amusement and Ark cooed at the adorable scene a few feet away, touched at just how emotional the pair were to be reunited. Kili had already told her that the last time Fili and Gatena had seen each other, Gatena had begged and fought with him to not continue the quest, fearing the worst.
And she had every right, Ark knew that Fili was supposed to have perished in the battle that many were calling the Battle of Five Armies. As was the brunette archer beside her, and his uncle. But she never told him, or anyone that. She knew she was in enough trouble as it was, no need to make it worse.
Before the pair of brunettes could greet the half-hobbit lass that was trapped against Fili, a throat cleared behind them and Aerchkaleya expected to find Thorin staring down the pair, silently scolding them for not telling Fili anything. Instead, a woman who looked incredibly similar to the king stood their, with a curious and expecting look. The Fae stared back, confused, until the dwarf next to her launched himself forward at the woman and yelled, "Mum!"
Never once had Ark ever been as nervous as she became at that very moment. Not only was the woman her was One was currently wrapped around his mother, but the sister of Thorin, who was apparently twice as scary as her brother and three times as vicious, more so when it came to her family. Not only that, but she wasn't exactly wearing the most…. appropriate garb at the moment. She'd been in the middle of speaking with several of the miners, discussing what veins where becoming too difficult and which were over producing. She didn't wear the most appropriate things when moving around her mountain's tunnels.
When the youngest prince finally let go, Dis stepped forward to study the girl. She held her ground well, hiding her nerves and remaining calm before speaking, "Welcome home, Lady Dis. I have no doubt that Erebor will be overjoyed at your return."
The princess remained silent for a moment, nodding her thanks at the greeting before getting to the point, "So, you are the Fae both my sons and my brother have written me of. You are the Heart of Erebor." Aerchkaleya noticeably tensed at being called that as the dwarven woman continued, "My sons can't say enough praise, yet my brother seems convinced you are disagreeable and troublesome. Which is it?"
Momentarily, Ark thought it to be a challenge, before seeing the glint of mischief in the woman's eyes and relaxed, replying calmly, "Your sons are a bit biased, but your brother is just as well. Though I think his opinions of me have changed recently. Please, inform me if this is wrong."
Dis smiled approvingly, and caught the Fae off guard, embracing her before pulling away and stating, "I can see why Kili is so taken with you." Ark's face became fairly pink as Kili whined for his mother to stop embarrassing him.
When Fili finally managed to let go of Gatena, she was still there, smiling brightly, tears in her eyes of which he hoped where for joy. He knew that he had quite a bit of lost time to make up for an more than a few apologies for vanishing. But she hadn't hit him yet, that was always a good sign. Finally, the eldest prince managed to utter, "You're here."
The half-hobbit, half-human girl laughed loudly at his first choice of words, despite the situation, she couldn't help herself, and replied, "Indeed, I am here." She knew what he meant though, the inn, her friends and family, and being with the caravan. Smiling, she held onto his hand as he grabbed hers when a trio of dwarflings with familiar ginger hair burst by, and continued, "News reached Bree that Erebor was reclaimed, and that the line of Durin ruled under it. I had to come, you were here, and alive! I've sent letter's to Kili, I wanted it to be a surprise. Then as I was about to depart, I thought it was your uncle in the market place. You never told me your mother was so intimidating and perceptive."
Gatena watched as Fili's face turned paper white. He would openly admit he feared his mother on the best of days. That woman was the force behind the throne, and he had a horrid feeling he was would be getting quite the earful from her. He was absolutely not looking forward to it and was considering cutting his hair and changing his name. The girl took pity on him and told him, "She's a wonderful woman, your mother. I think she might even like me a bit. Quite the interrogator, though. That was a very interesting night. A bit frightening as well. I do think you might need to watch out, though, she is not impressed with your last goodbye- well, lack of it."
While Gatena had forgiven her golden haired dwarf long ago, she saw he hadn't forgiven himself for it. And she knew him enough to know it would take a bit of time until he did, but she hoped dearly he would. Regaining his wits, he gave a weak smile and said honestly, "I've missed you, Gatena, more than you will ever know. And I am sorry for my idiocy. But I do love you, with all of my heart."
The words brought tears to the blonde woman's eyes and she managed to reply 'I love you too' before tossing her arms around him and hugging him fiercely, never more happy to be wrong.
Authors Note: Sorry this took so long! More news: Troy and I are moving to hawaii for work. Woot~
Anyway, Dis is back, and I'm introducing the first OC, Gatena. She's the OC of Kuramalover86, in fact, she has her own story! The story is 'Its the Heart that Counts', so the background for her is that story! I loved writing the return of the caravan~
Next chapter we get to meet Bombur's wife, and then the punishment of the traitors! Dis is gonna be sooooooo mad~~