Chapter Ten:
Traditions were officially the bane of Aerchkaleya's existence. Before the announcement of Fili and Gatena's very quickly approaching wedding, Ark had managed to spread a story that the only reason she had been able to save Fili in the Battle of Five Armies- that's what everyone was insisting on calling it- was because she had seen the necklace he wore. The necklace that Gatena had given him to wear. Technically, it wasn't true, but the Fae knew that the dwarves could be a judgmental bunch, and she had taken it upon herself to make sure she was loved before the news. It would make people far more willing to look past tradition, especially since Gatena wasn't exactly a dwarf.
Ark hadn't, however, thought as far ahead as the actual wedding and the preparations that were being sped up. She also didn't think that Ori would be so damned cheeky and show Dis one of the old tomes that spoke of her involvement in the old wedding ceremonies. Which was why she was sitting in one of the plush arm chairs while Dis, Maoli, Farla, Kettra and Gatena were looking at all her and her sister's old dresses and gowns. Well, mostly her sister's. A few had been made for her, but she had only actually ever worn one, and that had been for her sister's wedding.
Honestly, the Fae just didn't want to look at the dresses because of the memories. The dresses all reminded her of Aephaerylia someway, and with the approach of the wedding, it was no time to dredge up the past. Although, Ark always had a reason not to, it was kind of the reason she had put all the dresses and her sister's belongings in one room at the end of the wing, away from her.
Not that any of that had mattered one bit to Dis, who had used the very firm argument that there were enough traditions broken in Fili and Gatena's relationship that a traditional wedding, Heart of the Mountain included, would help even it all out. And while it hadn't been the best reason, Ark had a healthy fear of her One's mother, and had learned it best to just agree and go along with whatever the Princess wanted. For all the power and confidence she possessed, Aerchkaleya was as cowardly as the Durin men when it came to standing up to Dis; it just didn't happen.
"Aerchkaleya!" Jolting out of her thoughts, the Fae turned towards the origin of the call and saw that it was just Maoli, holding a deep blue dress. As soon as the Fae attention had been effectively caught, the dwarf asked, "Was this yours?"
Sighing, Ark got up and walked over, tilting her head slightly before replying, "Yes, I think it probably was. I doubt I actually wore it, though." Despite how nonchalant the others were about it, everyone was still trying to keep in mind that she was older than even elves, despite looking barely old enough for ale. It was always a bit of a shock when the Fae spoke like that, like she couldn't remember something because it was so long ago.
Maoli just nodded, and Kettra spoke up a few feet away, "I still can't believe this is all here. Your entire wing, really. I wonder why no one ever tried to access it after you went to sleep." Ark glanced over, shrugging. Despite her trying her hardest, it was impossible for the Fae not to be in a somber mood. After having spent so long avoiding the past, it was hard to face it without deeding up the few regrets she did have, like leaving her sister alone in Erebor during the Great War.
Aerchkaleya made her way back to her chair, and settled into it again, watching the women look through all the dresses. As hard as it was, she was glad that the dresses would get some use again. She didn't like wearing dresses, but she wasn't stupid, they were beautifully made and were meant to be seen, not hidden away as they had been.
After a few hours, Dis finally allowed them to call it a day, and the six left the Fae's rooms, Farla and Maoli going off to find their children, while Kettra, Dis, and Gatena started towards the royal wing, stopping when they realized that Ark was going an entirely different direction. Dis called after her, "Aerchkaleya, where are you going? Dinner is soon."
"I know, I'll be back soon, don't worry," Ark shouted over her shoulder as she disappeared over the edge of a walkway. Immediately, Dis and Kettra rushed to look over, Gatena a bit more hesitant, and the three watched as the Fae dropped into the dark depths. It wasn't that they were terrified she had just jumped to her death, it wasn't uncommon for the Fae to just jump over edges, and land like she had only stepped off a few feet. It was the fact that they couldn't see her any longer.
0-0-0-0-0
Rolling her shoulders, Aerchkaleya moved silently through the long forgotten passages in the depths of Erebor. The stone around her was rough and unpolished, the tunnels naturally occurring rather than carved like those so far above her. The floor, however, was the exact opposite, completely level and smooth as stone could ever be. It was what the Fae liked so much about the unused tunnels.
After several turns and twists, Ark reached her destination, the heavy stone door at the end of one passage. Without touching it, the door began to slowly swing inwards, stone scratching stone. It didn't open more than needed, the brunette Fae slipping into through the small opening, before pushing it closed.
The room she stood in was massive, impossibly large. It was bright from the gigantic crystals that grew on the ceiling. The floor reflected the natural light, almost all of it gold, silver, and mithril intertwined together, creating intricate and complex patterns. The walls were covered in stones of all colors and shapes, almost every single one dull and lifeless. Except for one, one still swirled and glowed with life, the coloring inconstant and ever changing.
Staring evenly at it, the Fae moved closer to it, still keeping her eyes focused on it before resting her hand gently on it. The stone reacted, seeming to flash even brighter as it was touched, the movement becoming faster and more excited. Aerchkaleya didn't react for a moment. It seemed like it was hard to even be in the same room as the stone. Finally, her mouth opened and she spoke gently, "No, all is well here. Moria's light is still woven into the stone of Erebor."
The stone brightened once again, a faint humming beginning to emanate from it as well. Her lips twitched up for a moment, before Ark spoke again, "Yes, I heard from some of the merchants. Though none of them seem to know what it is."
That was how several hours passed, Aerchkaleya conversing with the rock, replying to the flashes and faint hums and swirling of color. Finally, the crystals above her head began to dim ever so slightly, and the stone flashed rather slowly, Ark simply replying, "Yes, I know. But it is important we speak. I will return tomorrow." With that, she removed her fingers gently from the stone, stepping back and watching as it calmed as well, the activity of the colors slowing, the light dimming, and the humming stopping.
After watching it another moment, the Fae slipped out of the room and reversed her path through the tunnels, finding herself back in the entrance room, the ceiling instead the open chasm to the active levels. As she stood still she heard the familiar voices of her One, his family, and the company calling her name, sounding panicked. Sighing, she rolled her shoulders once more before a faint blue and white glow pulsed gently from her and she began to rise from the floor, away from her secret tunnels and closer to the voices, yelling up, "I'm coming, I'm coming! I am fine, just hold on!"
0-0-0-0-0
"Aerchkaleya," Kili spoke gently, catching the attention of the girl perched on her massive bed. She looked up, smiling gently when she saw the owner of the voice. He returned the smile, closing the door behind him and moving towards the bed, sitting on the edge. In turn, Ark moved towards the edge from the center, settling next to him. It remained silent for a moment, before Kili continued, "This evening, where were you? What was down there?"
Her reply wasn't immediate, and it never would have been. It was an incredibly difficult thing, to try and explain where she had been, what was in the far reached of her mountain. It wasn't that she was hiding it, but it wasn't meant for the dwarves to ever find, it was so far down, the tunnels went on for such a long time, she had gone to great lengths to keep it away from those living within her mountain.
Chewing lightly on her lip, she attempted to tell him, "It wasn't very common for me to leave Erebor, even to see my sister, she would come to see me. I hated, and still hate, being outside my mountain. But, I still needed to know what was happening outside of my home… When I went to sleep, I became the Arkenstone. It's a… trait of the Fae, when we choose to become dormant, in order for our power to still feed, well for me, it was the mountain. But for that to happen, our power and light become a shell to protect us, and it looks like a gemstone. Anytime a Fae takes power without a specific use, it becomes a gemstone-like thing."
She ran a hand through her hair, exhaling irritably. It wasn't that she was frustrated at Kili, for wanting to know, it was directed at herself. Ark was irritated that she couldn't find the correct wording to explain to her One. Kili interlaced his fingers with hers and summarized, "So, the reason for my great-grandfather thinking you were a precious stone was your light and power allowing you to sleep safely while still keeping Erebor alive. But any physical manifestation of your power or light is similar to gemstone as well?"
The tenseness in her shoulders eased away, and Ark nodded, continuing at the same pace, "All Fae are connected through out light, and the light is what fuels our power. By taking a little bit of it and giving it to another Fae, and the action reciprocated, we can communicate with contact to the other's piece of light."
"But you're the only Fae left, though, right?" Kili was trying to not seemed as confused as he was, and Ark thought it was incredibly sweet how hard he was trying to comprehend everything. It was quite a bit, but her One had an intense determination to know all he could about her and her people.
Sheepishly, Ark admitted, "Well, one of my cousins didn't give her light up either. I didn't out of protection for Durin and the kingdom, my family. If I had given my light up, Erebor would have slowly died without me. My cousin didn't give her's up either, she protected her River. With us both awake, we've been talking, and it's just… besides my sister, Aerphithian was the only other Fae I talked with. I want to keep her safe, and not telling people about her is safest."
Kili nodded, rubbing the back of his neck, he reassured her, "I won't tell anyone, I promise. Just… next time, don't just jump off a walk right before supper. When you didn't come back for a while, you scared me. We were all worried you got… stuck?" Ark chuckled, agreeing silently, knowing what he had avoided saying. She wasn't too good at relationships, it was glaringly obvious. But Kili hadn't given up yet, and Ark knew she had to try harder from now on.
Authors Note: Sorry this took so long guys. And that it kinda sucks...