And even more tears. I'm still not properly sorry ;)
But I can promise you that the sad bits of this story are over and done with and we have some more excitement coming. At least I hope you'll find it exciting.
Thanks guys for your lovely reviews again. Even with nearly 50 Chapters, it's wonderful to know that this story is appreciated. Enjoy the next Chapter!
Within only a few weeks, the Dwarves had rebuilt Erebor to its former glory. The tall, dark pillars stood proud again, the floors were swept and glistening, the stairs remade and every single shop and workshop was occupied and filled with life once again.
Every now and then, Bilbo and the two brothers took strolls through the endless streets and Halls again and wherever they went, the boys were greeted with kindness and deep bows, yet it was always the little Hobbit who blushed badly. All the sudden attention felt most unusual for poor Bilbo but he was invited into many homes to tell his stories and everybody wanted to meet the infamous Hobbit that Thorin Oakenshield had personally chosen to accompany them on this most important quest. Fíli and Kíli usually joined him, making sure that he wouldn't faint and they quietly laughed up their sleeves, watching the most distressed Halfling.
"I don't think I can do this anymore", he sighed one day, slouching down on one of the countless stairs that led to the maze-like corridors of Erebor. "This is most- most distressing! All this fiddle-faddle about me! I can't take it anymore!"
"Sush now, Master Baggins", Fíli chuckled, settling down next to him, while Kíli not-so-gently patted his back. "They might take offense to your words and believe you don't like them."
"Oh! Oh no no, they are most kind but quite-", the Hobbit searched for words.
"Extravert?" a familiar voice sounded and they looked up to find Dís approaching them. She carried her usual smile and once again Bilbo felt his heart race in his chest. It wasn't exactly a crush he had developed on her, but a deep admiration for her had grown in his little Hobbit heart. After travelling with Thorin, Fíli and Kíli for so many months and witnessing the pride and stubbornness of Durin first hand, he had begun to wonder what she must be like and he had found her to be a most marvellous being. Strong and sturdy, yet beautiful and alluring, nothing could break this Dwarven lass and she shone with all the glory of her forefathers. She was no warrior, that was for sure, but she knew that she was highly important nonetheless and she carried her fate and her task with utter surety.
Dís naturally had quite an overbearing and confident aura; similar to the one that Thorin had held and she undoubtedly was Thráin's daughter, yet she was surrounded by wonderful warmth that she had given to her sons as well, turning them into friendly and warm-hearted beings. She walked with her head held high and she embraced her position and her status as a Queen like a duck takes to water. And even the soft, well-trimmed beard that grew down her jawline didn't irritate Bilbo as much anymore. She was a Dwarf for sure but in the eyes of the Hobbit, she was utterly beautiful.
"Well", Bilbo blushed again like he frequently seemed to do before her face. "No, it's all well and friendly really. I was- uhm- I was overreacting I guess."
"My dear boys", Dís wrapped her arms around her sons' shoulders. "I do begin to believe that your Master Baggins doesn't like to complain in my presence. I am well aware, Bilbo, that you are an extraordinarily brave and enduring Hobbit, there is no need to be overly polite around me, while you are carefree around my sons."
Kíli chuckled, earning himself a harsh nudge in the ribs from his mother.
"But- but, my lady-", Bilbo began but was cut off with a simple gesture from Dís.
"I'm no more of a lady than he is", she said, pointing at Fíli who puffed himself up a little. "To you, Bilbo Baggins, I will only be the mother of your friends and thus a friend as well. And I wish to be treated as such."
Bilbo was utterly confused, for he was sure that he had just received the royal order to not treat her as royalty and he wasn't quite sure how to react to that. Thus no more than a puzzled "uhm" came from him and he knew he had been fooled, when Kíli burst out laughing and a broad grin spread on Dís' fair features.
"You played him, amad", Fíli gently reprimanded his mother and she merely shrugged and Bilbo, once and for all, knew where the boys had gotten their cheerfulness and good humour.
She joined them on their stroll through the Halls and enlightened them with many stories, pointing out various places of mischief and merry making and all those stories made them laugh until their bellies hurt and they couldn't walk anymore. They went on until they had reached the countless mines and deep rifts below the City and Dís carefully peeked over the brim, clearly frightened by the black depth below.
"Our uncle Frerin fell down there once", Fíli quietly explained to Bilbo, not wanting to upset his mother with those foul memories. "He broke both his legs but survived. Thorin found him and pulled him out again. Ever since, amad is afraid of the mines."
"That's- unusual for a Dwarf. I suppose", the Hobbit muttered, blushing suddenly as it dawned on him that he might have said something offensive, but Fíli merely smiled.
"It is", he admitted. "But don't tell her that. Though she seems quite fragile her grip is like a bench vice, believe me."
And for the rest of the day, Bilbo watched Dís and wondered what Fíli's perception of 'fragile' might be, for whenever he looked at her, he saw 4 foot something of feminine curves and unmatched strength.
Upon their return to the Hall of Thrór, they were greeted by a most distressed looking Balin, scurrying up and down the corridor before the archway. He looked up as he heard their footsteps approaching and immediately rushed to them. Bilbo's heart began to race in his chest for he surely couldn't bear any more bad news.
"Dís, my dear, it is no use, absolutely no use to delay this matter any further. You know that we have to talk this over and we have to talk this over soon, for this Kingdom needs a righteous King again."
He looked at Fíli and immediately, the youngster felt sick to the core. Though he had begun to believe that Thorin had intended him to be the next King under the Mountain, he still felt unprepared and afraid. Kíli and Dís had tried to reassure him many times but most often it had been to no avail.
"What is there to talk about? I believed it to be decided already", Dís replied, utterly puzzled and concern was drawn on her fair face, when she noticed Balin's stern expression.
"We need to talk about it. They've gathered already, you might want to join now."
"They?"
But Dís' question remained unanswered as Balin turned to Bilbo, causing the little Hobbit to flinch.
"I'm sorry Master Baggins, but you won't be allowed in this council. I must take your comrades away from you for a while now."
Bilbo merely nodded, confusion in his eyes as he looked at Balin. He had never seen the old Dwarf so worried and stressed out before and he wondered what had gone so terribly wrong, to upset him like this. He watched as Balin, Dís, Fíli and Kíli left for the stairs that led up to the quarters of the nobility of Erebor.
The Council Room was rather small and only held enough space for no more than twenty people. It lay below the chambers of Fíli and Kíli, secluded and quiet and only the closest to the King were permitted in this room. The boys had peeked into it before but couldn't make anything of it, yet Fíli's knees trembled when he entered the small room with his mother and his brother by his side.
At the head of a large stone table sat Dáin, peeking out from the rest of the gathered Dwarves for he was larger than most of them and the black Mohawk added to his size. He smiled reassuringly at Fíli and gestured him to come over and sit by his side. Dís took a seat beside her son and Kíli sat with Dwalin, who had occupied the other chair next to Dáin. With Kíli sat Balin and then there were Glóin and Gandalf.
"What is he doing here?" Kíli muttered, eyeing the wizard suspiciously. He still hadn't forgiven him for abandoning the company when they had needed him most and Gandalf, though remorse gnawed at him, hadn't tried to apologize.
"He's an Istari", Balin calmly explained. "A guardian of Middle Earth. He's supposed to be informed about great decisions like this one."
"Informed about them, yes but I wasn't aware that he has a part in making them!"
"I will try not to get involved in this, Kíli, no worries", the wizard muttered, a little offended obviously. "I have very well learned that you mistrust me and I won't meddle with your brother's fate."
"You mean like you did with our uncle's?"
"Kíli!" Dís cut him off. "That's enough. Would someone finally inform me of what this upheaval is about?"
"Someone's not happy with your son ascending the throne it seems", Dwalin answered and his grim look lay heavy on Glóin. The proud treasurer sat with his head high and seemed utterly sure about his believes, yet he failed to look Fíli in the eyes even once, since he had taken a seat.
"And why is that?" Dís demanded.
"Don't get me wrong dear", Glóin began. "I do trust your son with my life and I trust in his abilities as a well raised leader and warrior but let's face it. He's way too young to be a King."
The words hung heavy in the air around them and suddenly an inevitable truth dawned on them that they had all forgotten or pushed aside. With only 82 years, Fíli undoubtedly was young, merely a teenager in Dwarven years and he had never experienced the life of a King and his duties first hand. Though he had matured a lot in the past months, there was no denying that, after all, he was still too inexperienced and clueless to lead the greatest Dwarven Kingdom in Middle Earth.
"You know very well that Thorin appointed him as his sole heir long ago", Dwalin chipped in, sounding displeased. "Do you seriously want to ignore the last dying wish of your deceased King?"
"Don't make me out as a heartless Dwarf, Dwalin, son of Fundin!" Glóin thundered and it soon became apparent that a discussion with the two most hot-headed members of Thorin's former company would not be easy. "I've respected Thorin just as much as you have if not even more!"
Dwalin puffed himself up and Kíli quickly placed a hand on his forearm to calm him down a little.
"I am not saying that the boy should never rule this kingdom! I'm merely saying that he is too young to do it now!" Glóin looked from one attendee to the next and he shook his head. "And by the looks of it, you all quietly agree!"
"I don't!" Dwalin bellowed. "This lad has defended his homeland bravely just like his uncle has and he has shown his qualities as a leader well enough in this battle. I don't care if ye want to chicken out but I would lay my life on the line for this boy and I trust him to be the greatest King there ever was! If ye believe a reign under him to be insecure, then ye're free to leave for the Iron Hills!"
"Oh please stay away", Dáin quietly muttered and soon found himself pulled into this discussion.
"Personally", Glóin solemnly declared. "I would prefer to see someone else on the throne until Fíli is old enough to rule a Kingdom and has gathered the necessary experience. Who's with me?"
They mumbled amongst themselves and the only one sitting perfectly still was Fíli himself, white as a wall and disgustingly sick. He wished to be very far away right now and there wasn't much confidence left within him, for he had never believed that the ones closest to him would ever fight because of him.
"And who might do that?" Balin asked, torn between his loyalty to Fíli and his understanding of Glóin's demur.
"Dáin", Glóin nodded, looking at the old warrior.
"What? Me?" puzzled, Dáin looked from Glóin to Balin and on to Fíli and suddenly shook his head. "Goodness no! Why would I want to sit on the throne of Erebor? Let the boy do the dirty deed, it's his job, not mine."
"You are an experienced Lord an-"
"Exactly! Lord! I am the Lord of the Iron Hills and not the King of Erebor and I would rather chuck myself down those billions of horrible stairs, than to accept this crown, even if it was only temporarily! Those stairs are a bloody pain in the arse anyways, like I would walk up here every day! No bloody way!"
"But you have to admit yourself that he's too young! Not even you can be that secluded to not notice a child when you see it!"
"Did he just call me secluded?" Dáin turned to Fíli but the youngster was unable to reply.
"If you're so unhappy with my brother ascending the throne, why don't you do it yourself? You're of Durin's direct line too aren't you? The forgotten part of it!" Kíli chuntered, causing Glóin to puff himself up.
"Kíli!" Balin cried out, most outraged. "I understand that you're taking your brother's side in this but-"
"I am! Of course I am! But not solely because he's my brother but because I cannot imagine anyone being more worthy and more disposed to take on this task!"
"Disposed might not be the right word", Fíli quietly chipped in and of course riled Glóin up even more.
"See! Even he admits that he is not ready for this position just yet! He has more brain than all of you combined it seems!"
"If he has that much brain, let him sit on the bloody throne!" Dwalin thundered and it would have been only a matter of time until someone would get hurt, had it not been for the forceful and dangerous voice of Dís cutting into this heated discussion.
"ATKÂT!" They all immediately fell silent, for Dís was their Queen and a ferocious lass if she needed to be. "It is all well and nice to see what you mighty Lords would prefer to happen to this Kingdom but you might want to take into consideration what your future King has to say to this!"
And suddenly all eyes were on Fíli and the youngster felt like disappearing underneath the table.