Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien. Save for characters that are not in his works.

CHAPTER SIX

T.A. 2768

A full year passed in a somewhat uneventful way. It was now summer in Erebor; Nuil was twelve winters old. When Nolen had finally allowed her to train with her brothers, she showed great skill in the use of the sword and long knives. It was quickly determined that she would never really have the strength to wield a battle ax, but with extensive training, perhaps the spear.

Though the younger heir of Durin tried to deny it, the little girl was quickly gaining on him, and he was hard pressed to beat her in their usual matches. Frerin could see that one day within the next year, Nuil would achieve her goal, though she didn't yet know it.

Frerin and Dis had become like another pair of children to their family. It was rare when the two were not with one of the brothers or sister. At first King Thror had found this to be deeply unnerving, but slowly over time, with Nuil's help, he softened. Nuil had taken a liking to King Thror's stories, which he loved to tell to any that would hear it. Especially young and eager ears.

Much to her parents chagrin, Nuil managed to get into the throne room at least once every day to listen to one or two of his tales. His feats of valor on the battlefield, or tales of his childhood that most often ended with a scar to show for it, were among of her favorites. But the one she loved most, above all others, was when he told her of the dark caverns of Erebor not seen by her eyes yet.

"Some say, that if you go deep enough into the heart of this mountain," King Thror said, Nuil sitting eagerly at his feet, "you will find caves with lakes glittering with diamonds."

Nuil leaned in closer, her eyes alight with awe. She could picture the deep darkness, the trickle of water and the shining light of diamonds in the depths of the dark waters. . .

"They shine like stars upon the cavern, bathing everything in its glow. But, if you go further, you will find great rivers of gold in the rock. Shining like thousands of suns."

"Is that where you found it?" Nuil asked eagerly, her eyes flickering up to the jewel above the King's head. If seemed to glow and pulse before her eyes, flashing softly in many colors. It swirled in on itself, it seemed, radiating a kind of power and majesty that could render any speechless. He smiled down at her, a lightness about his eyes.

"Aye. In one of our darkest pits, were our miners can only see inches from their faces in the candlelight- we found it," King Thror breathed. "A sign by Mahal that this mountain, will belong to me and all my kin, forever."

Nuil gazed up at the Arkenstone with awe, tearing her gaze away when she heard her name called. Her eyes landed on her mother, who stood at a side door, her hand outstretched. The look in her mothers eyes told her that she was needed . . .

"Nuil," she called again. "You must study."

King Thror smiled down at her. "Until tomorrow, mimel 'urs."

Knowing she had been dismissed, Nuil rose to her feet and walked to her mother. Meldamar took her hand and led her from the throne room. She was silent as they went to their dwellings. Once inside the safety of the door, she shook her head. Nuil went to her little table as her mother mumbled to herself.

"Filling my childs head with talk of gold and jewels!" Meldamar muttered displeased. "But he is king! He can say what he pleases!"

"Mama," Nuil said timidly. "Don't be upset. If it angers you so, I will not go tomorrow." Nuil couldn't bear the thought of displeasing her mother. Her kind and patient mother who seemed, quite recently, to be aging rapidly did not need a frown to linger on her face.

Meldamar shook her head. "Nay. That will only sour his affection towards you. Do not heed my mutterings."

Nuil nodded, turning to her studies.

oOo

She woke later that night, when her shoulder was shaken somewhat roughly. Moaning she turned her head to look at whoever it was. Nuil thought that it was her mother, come to wake her up. Instead it was her father. His face was shadowed as the light from the hall flooded through her door.

". . . Papa?" she mumbled wearily. Surely it could not be morning already? Her tired mind drifted slightly when he did not respond immediately. Halfway asleep he shook her shoulder again.

"Come, up," he murmured quietly. "Quickly now."

Nuil whined as she pulled herself from her bed, shoving her feet into her boots as he waited by the door. What could possibly be so important to pull her from her bed? Nolen handed her her cloak as she followed him out of their home, into the darker streets of Erebor.

There were fewer torches lit at night.

The darkness gave the dwarven city a new magnificent appearance. The gold in the stone work glittered in the dark, as they passed. Looking as if it was really running like water through the stone. The smooth stones gleamed, reflecting their images as they passed. Her eyes eagerly took in this new sight with amazement and awe.

Nuil knew better than to ask where they were going. She stayed silent, hoping that it would end the midnight journey and bring her back to her bed sooner. She knew her father did not like to be questioned, and so she followed him trustingly. When they reached the parapets of the city, the wind whipping at her loose hair, she finally understood.

The stars.

How long had it been since she had last seen stars? More than two years. A gasp tore from her lips, at both the sudden cold and beauty. Nolen smiled down at her, resting a hand on her shoulder. They gazed at the stars silently, admiring them. But all too soon, her father was turning her away.

"Can we stay a while longer, papa?" she pleaded.

"Hush," Nolen replied. Nuil's shoulders slumped. As she was led away she watched the stars from over her shoulder until they were out of view. She turned her eyes to the ground. How could she have forgotten the stars? The thousands of glittering stars? To Nuil, it seemed like ages had passed since she had laid out in the meadow beyond their home and gazed at them in the night.

Suddenly her cloak was flapping, as wind pulled at it. Nuil lifted her eyes, amazed to see that they were passing through the doors, slightly ajar and guarded by a lone dwarf who nodded to her father. Where were they going? Nuil lifted her eyes to her father inquisitively. But he merely smiled a secretive all-knowing smile. Nuil pulled her cloak tighter around her body as the cold winter wind stung her flesh. Her white nightgown suddenly seemed too thin, barely touching her ankles, and allowing the coolness to travel up her legs.

They walked for some time down the road, further and further away from Erebor. It made her nervous, as they came closer to Dale. Was her father sending her away? The thought made her feet suddenly feel heavy.

Until . . .

Nolen stopped and turned them both around to face the mountain. Nuil frowned, pushing her windblown hair out of her face to look up at the mountain. Her father dropped to his knees, resting his hand on her shoulder as he lifted the other to trace the stars.

Her eyes followed his hand, as he outlined the ring of glittering stars crowning the solitary peak.

"You see that?" he asked softly.

Nuil nodded, awed by the sight.

"I call it the mountain crown," Nolen told her, his voice full of pride. "It is the Valar's way of showing us that Erebor is tied into everything. It has a place in legend, and will stand forever."

"Abad bavon," Nuil murmured. Nolen looked at her questioningly. "It means 'mountain crown' in Khuzdul," she told him. He said the words himself, a smile lingering on his lips.

"That is fitting don't you think, dear one?" he asked her after some time. Nuil looked up at her father, admiring the gleam of awe in his eyes as he gazed at the stars. The new constellation that he had found. She always knew her father was a strong man, warrior even. But now she was glad to admire him for the stillness and softness he exuded at that moment. He was her father, and nothing would change that.

"Aye, papa," Nuil said, and covered her mouth as she tried to stifle a yawn.

"You are tired, and it is late," Nolen said, catching the movement instantly. "Your mother will not be pleased if I kept you out any longer."

"Oh, please papa! Can we stay and watch?" she begged, suddenly not wanting to leave the beautiful sight before her. Nolen chuckled before scooping her up into his arms. A laugh escaped her lips and she felt like a small child again. Back when her father would carry her around on his broad shoulders everywhere . . .

"It's time to sleep, Nuil, shut your eyes," he commanded gently. Nuil grumbled unhappily at his words, but complied with one last look at the stars, before her eyes slid shut. She drifted off as her fathers gait steadily rocked her to sleep. Nolen looked down at his daughter, her tumble of hair as a smile pulled at his lips.

The first time he had seen the mountain crown, was the day she had been born.

So now you all know where the origin of the title comes from. Believe me, it took forever to come up with a title, but then I was writing and BAM! this chapter happened and I've run with it ever since. I've noticed that my chapters are getting shorter. I didn't notice this until after I uploaded them and looked at the word count. Don't worry, I've got super long ones stashed away.

Unfortunately this seems like a filler chapter, but it's not! It plays a key role in the story, even if it doesn't seem like it. I know that I've probably said this for each chapter I've posted, but it's true. I've got this whole thing planned out. Feel a little bit crazy about it, but it's true. There are some parts I will change because I don't want to just write whats already been written a thousand times. Okay, ranting time over, moving on.

To my reviewers:

IceheartsChill: I'm so glad you looked at the song!(songs) I don't usually write while listening to music but these two just speak and I can really feel my characters in them. They are unfortunately, tortured souls so-to-speak. BTW I love 'Home'!

barnowl11: thank you! I know that you reviewed to chapter one, but I couldn't PM you. And for some reason it's not showing up yet, but I read it in my email. From what I looked up in my research, 'dwarrows' is basically a term for a bunch of dwarves in groups of more than two. Tolkien preferred this word and I believe he came up with it. I just used it, and I hope that I'm right. But you probably already read it somewhere in this story already.

Read and Review!

P.S. If any of you missed the whole 'inspirational-song-for-this-story-thing', I have a link on my profile(I pretty much start crying every time I watch it) I feel like I should shout it to the world so . . . indulge me.

~filimeala