Chapter 37

Frêllian smiled as she heard her beta acknowledge Fíli as his superior, her smile widening when the dwarf turned his attention back to her. A gesture he returned as he gently lowered his head to hers, pressing his brow against her own. The touch of his beard - which hadn't changed much since she had last seen him - tickled her skin as he spoke. His voice was just above a whisper.

'Welcome home, my love.'

While the gesture had been a simple one, cheers erupted from the dwarves present. News of Frêllian's arrival must have travelled fast through the kingdom. In fact, news had already reached a particular group of dwarves, who had stood behind the closed doors in anticipation up until now. But at the sight of their king being united with his love, had made them erupt into a loud cheer. Though the sudden sound had surprised both royalties, the ferian was hardly surprised to find out they had come to the throneroom as well. It had been Balin, her uncle, to have let her in after all. She was more surprised that he hadn't told her father about her arrival. She had to give him credit for that. For Dwalin had looked frozen in place when he had noticed her sneak up on Fíli.

'So when's the wedding?'

A not so subtle Bofur had made his way over to them, along with his comrades. Even Dwalin had moved from his spot.

Before, he had remained frozen on his spot, his eyes looking at Frêllian in shock. Yet now he stood next to Frêllian. His hand lingered above her head for a moment, before he gently brushed it over her hair. The touch uncharacteristically tender as he followed her hair down the back of her head. Once her reached her neck, he removed his hand only to replace it on her shoulder. His other hand on the other one.

A surprised gasp escaped her lips as Dwalin suddenly turned her around so she was now facing him instead. His eyes moist as he took in her appearance with tearfilled eyes.

'Took you long enough, Frey,' he stated gruffly. Yet he could not hide the soft undertone as he looked down at her.

'I agree.' Then she wrapped her arms around him tightly. 'I missed you, adad. I've missed all of you.'

Dwalin grinned proudly at her, stating that her Khuzdul pronunciation needed a little work. To which Frêllian silently agreed to. But now she was finally here again. With her family, her friends.

But most importantly, her leafste.

Her dark blue eyes locked with Fíli's lighter ones as he spoke to her. His voice soft, his touch even softer as he held her hands in his. Like he was still in disbelief and afraid he would find out all of this was just in his head. And once he would hold onto her too tightly, this mirage of her would disappear.

So, to reassure him that she wasn't going anywhere, Frêllian softly squeezed his hands. Gently rubbing her thumbs over his fingertips.

It seemed to be all the reassurance he needed. For he lifted her hands up to his lips and placed a kiss on each one. Then he released her left hand and turned to face Dwalin. His left hand still holding her right one close to his body. With his back now straightened and his head held high, Fíli looked like the brave warrior she had first met all those years back at Bag End again. And nothing like the pitiful excuse of a king she had seen only moments ago. That sight had pained her to see. Yet the dwarf that stood beside her now, gave her that familiar giddy feeling she had grown accustomed of during their journey to reclaim Erebor.

'Dwalin,' Fili started. His voice loud and clear for all to hear. Yet it held the authority and respect one should expect from a dwarf in his position. 'I know that you were once against me courting your daughter. You may not have said any ill words about the matter to me, I have certainly heard them from my uncle.'

A handful of chuckles filled the room as Fili searched for the right words. Dwalin himself being one of the dwarves to have been humoured by his king. Though the tips of his ears had turned slightly red at the remark.

'Yet I know you were merely afraid of losing your daughter, after being estranged from one another for such a long time. And I can only respect you for that. For the bong between a father and his daughter is a sacred one. One that was taken from you.'

Fíli placed his free hand on top of Frêllian's hand he was already holding. His gaze trailed over towards her for a moment, before he turned his attention towards Dwalin again. His words silenced everyone as he spoke. Not only out of respect for their king, but out of respect for what was to come. For even a fool would have figured out by now what Fíli was doing.

'I know promises have already been made between Frellian and I. But I want to ask you properly, as her father, for her hand in marriage.' Fíli looked over at Frêllian again. His eyes filled with love as he gave her hand a soft squeeze. This time his eyes remained on her as he continued. 'Not to take her away from you. But to cherish her as well, to the best of my abilities. While you can still be a part of her life and recreate that sacred bond you so long for.'

'I-,' Dwalin started, but his voice was lost in his throat. Instead a croaky sound came out and the dwarf cleared his throat. His eyes watery as he tried to find the right words to reply. 'I've never been particularly good with words. But even a dwarf such as myself, knows when words are just that; fancy words. But what matters, is when they come from the heart. And I've never heard words more from the heart than yours, your grace.'

Dwalin let out an amused chuckle, before continuing.

'I know I can be stubborn. And Balin knows how foolish I can be. But I know when to say the right thing, even when my words would fail me otherwise.'

Dwalin looked at the pair standing in front of him. Both dear to him, though one slightly more than the other. One dwarf, the other a ferian. Yet it was clear to Dwalin that they loved one another. The look Frêllian gave Fíli, reminded the dwarf of the loving look is own wife used to give him.

Yes, much was stolen from Dwalin. A long life with his wife, a strong bond with his only child, followed by the years of grief he had felt.

Yet he never regretted marrying Cànna. Even if his time with her was short, he would have done it all over again. For during his marriage, he was truly happy. And he wished for his own daughter to experience such happiness as well.

Though perhaps, if possible, without the tragedy that followed after.

So of course, he could not deny Frêllian such love. A love no father could give, only a lover. And to her, Fíli was that person. So there only was one answer he could give.

'Yes,' he then finished. 'Yes, I will give you my blessings.'

The same evening, an announcement was made to Erebor, followed by a grand feast. The king under the mountain had chosen his bride and such a thing had to be celebrated. The former company of Thorin Oakenshield had made sure of that.

The days that were filled with introductions. Important dwarves at the court Frêllian had not yet seen before. The ladies of the court and, most importantly, family members. While she had met her grandparents, Fundin and his wife Bagina while she was still young, introductions were needed after being estranged for so long. With the former jokingly stating that he was glad his granddaughter didn't take after her father. In which Bagina smacked the back of his head as a result. Before the elderly dwarrowdam apologised on behalf of her foolish husband and that she had played to Mahal for ages to be reunited with one another.

Then there was Gimli, son of Gloin. And with Dwalin and Gloin being cousins, Frêllian suddenly had a younger relative to catch up with. Though still young at the age of 68, Gimli was both reckless yet serious at the same time. And eager to meet his royal cousin.

But it not been a member on her side of the family to have greeted her like a long lost child. No, instead it had been Dís, princess of Erebor and mother of the king. The dwarrowdam had taken one glance at Frêllian upon her arrival and immediately rushed over to her to pull her into a strong embrace. Dís may not have been as tall as her children, nor her late brother. There was no doubt about her relation to them.

With the same deep blue eyes as Thorin and Fíli. Her long raven hair adorned with a handful of silver streaks. And the same welcoming smile as Kíli used to have. It had been both, a joyous and painful moment, finally meeting the mother Kíli had talked about so much. But it was once again a reminder that the young warrior was no longer amongst the living.

'Thank you for bringing my boy home,' had been the very first words Dís had spoken to her as the smaller dwarrowdam held her in a warm embrace.

After that moment, the two were often seen together. With Dís teaching her as much as she could about the duties that would await her once Frêllian had married Fíli. And teaching her more Khuzdul as well. For Frêllian's knowledge of the language wasn't what it once had been. Though it was evident she had once spoken the language fluently, for she picked it up really quickly. Though reading khuzdul provided a bit more of a challenge.

And then there was the matter of the marriage. While all unions were to be celebrated, a marriage between royal families was an even bigger event. Not that Fíli cared less about such things. If it was up to him, they were already married now. Just the exchange of swords right there and then.

To say the dwarf was less than pleased was an understatement. Having to wait six more months before they could be wed. And Frêllian couldn't blame him. She too, thought they had already wasted so much time. But at the same time, she could wait a bit longer. What was half a year really? Especially with the first two having passed by so quickly.

Though the main reason why she wanted to wait, was so Bilbo could be there. And with a pack of ferien loyal to protect him, his journey would be much smoother and quicker than his last one. And only one for that matter.

Her blue eyes stared over the fields. It was hard to imagine that almost six years ago there had been a great battle right below her. The battle of the five armies it was now called. The ground had been wet with the blood of orcs, dwarves, men and a handful of wargs and ferien. Now the gras was green and lush and brightly coloured flowers bloomed. No trace of such a battle to been seen. Even the ruins of Erebor and Dale had been restored. Though much was still being rebuild. It was so much more lively than when Frêllian had first set her eyes upon this land.

'Mother said I would find you here.'

Upon hearing his voice, Frêllian looked over her shoulder. A smile quickly found its way on her lips as she watched Fíli walk over to him. His clothes simple, without his cloak or crown. But he still looked like the king that he was. He truly had learned from the best, for he held the same presence Thorin once held.

'It seems your mother knows me well already.' Then she turned to look ahead again.

'Hm, my mother has a talent to reading people.' Fíli stopped beside her, his elbows resting on the stone wall of the balcony as he looked at the field below. 'One look and she knows all that she needs to know, it's really annoying actually.'

Frêllian chuckled at this, stating she was not surprised by this. That it was something the poor dwarrowdam probably needed while raising two reckless sons.

'I was hardly reckless.'

'I find that hard to believe.'

'I must confess I have seen little of my kingdom.' The tone in his voice changed from cheerful to regretful as he changed the subject. 'Grief had kept me locked within my own halls, making my blind to the beauty that has surrounded me for all these years.'

He stopped for a moment. His eyes scanning everything in sight as he did so. And as Frêllian glanced over to him, she noticed a frown upon his brow. So to comfort him, she reached out her hand and gently placed it on his cheek. Without her needing to do anything else, Fíli turned his head to look at her. The sadness she had heard in his voice, evident in his eyes as their eyes met.

'Perhaps you've missed a lot during your first years of being a king. But it is not too late. There will be many more seasons for you to see. Many more beauty your kingdom has to offer.'

'Our kingdom,' Fíli corrected her. Frêllian smiled as Fíli placed his large hand over hers to guide it towards his lips. Placing a soft kiss on the back of it, before he quietly continued. 'Erebor will be our kingdom soon.'

'Then let us explore the beauty of Erebor together,' she suggested equally softly. 'To make up for lost times. Besides, I could use a change of scenery and at the same time we could meet our people.'

Fíli smiled at this, telling her that he would like that. His eyes flicked to a stray hair and brushed it out of the way. Then he placed his hand underneath her chin and pressed his lips against hers.

AN

I'm so sorry it took me so long to upload. I had hit an writersblock concerning every story I was working on. And whenever I did find inspiration to write, I had no time to actually write. But chapter 37 is here now. And I fear were are coming to an end with Taming the Wolf. I dont know how many chapters there are left, but if I was to take a guess, Perhaps 3 to 4 more?

Anyway, I hope youve enjoyed this chapter. And if you did dont forget to leave a review :D