Epilogue
Kili sat in his chair by the fire and smiled as he puffed his pipe. His wife was with his mother and his brother was with Kaeriaf, the woman he was courting. All was silent and all was still in the evening. The door creaked open and the brunette prince turned his head. His smile grew wider.
"I can hear you Varaelia...what is wrong little Kitten?"
Out of the shadows walked his young daughter. Her black hair fell in waves to her shoulders and she fiddled with her nightdress nervously. Kili sat up in his chair and looked at the 6-year old and removed the pipe from his mouth. The large, orange eyes looked up at him.
"Bad dweam Papa..."
The firelight smoothed her frowned face and Kili smiled warmly.
"The monsters again Kitten?"
She nodded and looked at her bare feet. Kili looked at her.
"Well we'll just have to have a story to chase those monsters away then won't we?"
She looked up to her Papa and smiled as he patted his lap. She walked over to him and he pulled her onto his knee and she snuggled herself into his arms.
"You're warm Papa."
"I know sweets!"
She kissed her father's cheek and looked at him.
"Where Mammie?"
"With Granny Dissie."
The young ebony-haired dwarfling's mouth shaped into an O. Kili chuckled and Varaelia gave him a dimpled smiled.
"Well Kitten what story, do we want to chase the monsters away?"
The 6-year old crumpled her face in thought and felt her father's laugh rumble through his chest. She looked back at him, flame eyes meeting his chocolate ones.
"Want Uncle Biwbo's..."
"What do we say?"
The young girl giggled.
"Pweez!"
"Alright then..."
"Papa?"
He looked at her.
"Yes sweets?"
"Did you really meet Mammie on Uncle Biwbo's adwentures?"
He nodded and the dimpled smile returned.
"And could Mammie really be a bird and tigers and stuff?"
"She could."
"And..."
He covered the little girl's mouth with his hand.
"Shall I just tell the story and then you'll find out!"
Varaelia giggled and nodded before laying her head on her Papa's chest. Kili chuckled again before they had both settled by the fire.
"It began long ago in a land far away to the east, the like of which you will not find in the world today. There was the city of Dale, its markets known far and wide, full of the bounties of vine and vale, peaceful and prosperous. For this city lay before the doors of the greatest kingdom in Middle-Earth: Erebor...
"But home had been taken by the big old meanie Smaug!"
Kili chuckled and looked down at his daughter. She covered her mouth and giggled.
"Sorry Papa."
"Anyway...we'll get to Erebor later. Uncle Bilbo's story began as it should've. In a hole, in the ground, there lived a hobbit..."
...
Lark closed the door to their chambers and walked towards the living room.
"Kili I'm home!"
She entered the warm room and looked down. A loving smile settled on her face at the sight. There was her husband with their daughter settled in his arms. Both were fast asleep. She bent over and planted a light kiss on Kili's forehead before picking Varealia up in her arms and carrying her through to her room. She lay the young dwarfling on her bed, an orange eye cracked open and a small smile crept on the babe's face.
"Mammie?"
"shhhh I'm here love...i'm here."
She kissed her daughter's hair.
"Papa told me a story."
"Ooh did he?"
The little girl yawned sleepily and nodded. Lark smiled.
"What story did he tell you?"
Varaelia had her head on her pillow and both eyes were closed, sleep had taken hold of her. A deep voice rumbled behind Lark.
"Ours."
Kili looped his arms round his wife's waist and kissed her sweetly.
"I love you Lark"
"I love you too Kili!"
Both parents kissed the young dwarfling's ebony locks, before leaving her to her dreams.
The End.