Brann stumbled over Fili as she walked to Dis chambers. The little dwarfling looked up at Brann and grinned.

'You had a fight with uncle.' Fili said as a matter of fact.

Brann looked at Fili in surprise. 'How on earth...?'

'You look exactly like uncle Thorin when he is irritated. Your brows furrow, your eyes gleam like a dragons and your lips get thin. Its funny how you two look more alike the longer you are together.' Fili pushed open the door and left a petrified Brann outside. She looked after him with her mouth wide open. He was still so young, but he spoke like a small adult.

'Mom! Uncle Thorin made aunt Brann mad again!' Brann heard Fili yell inside. She shook her head as the door opened again and Dis peaked out.

'What are you doing here? Come in!' she grinned. 'So...my brother screwed up again.'

Brann sighed. 'To be perfectly honest...he didn't...really...'

Dis looked at her sister in law questioningly. 'That means...you screwed up?'

'Maybe...' Brann slumped down on the armchair.

'What did you do? I told you that you and uncle become more alike. Now you start screwing up, too.' Fili chuckled and looked at Brann expectantly.

Before Brann could start Dis shot her a warning glare. No dirty stuff! she mouthed and made Brann grin.

'Well...your uncle wants me to stand at his side at Durin Day. Which is fine, but just stand there and look pretty? I am not supposed to plan or organise anything! Only be there and be pretty.' Brann sighed and saw that Dis understood her problem.

'But you are pretty!' Fili did not understand. 'If I had a wife as beautiful as you I would parade her around all the time! Uncle said something nice. He adores you...like Kili adores sweets, uncle has the same gleam in his eyes when he looks at you like Kili has when he looks at honey cake!'

Brann tried unsuccessfully to stiffle her laughter behind her hand. Dis only grinned and thanked Mahal that Fili was still young and did not fully understand his uncles look when he looked at his wife.

'I do not only want to be a pretty jewel at Thorins side. His trophy. I want to support him in his rule. I want to be more than pretty.' Brann insisted.

'You are more than only the pretty jewel at Thorins side. You are his queen.' Dis took Branns hand. 'I understand your irritation, but you should see it differently. For dwarves wealth and power mean everything. Having you at his side, a beautiful and also intelligent queen, supports Thorin more than you imagine. And he really wanted to flatter you with this.'

'I know...' Brann covered her face with her hands and sighed. 'I guess I just need to cool my temper. Maybe Fili is right, I turn into Thorin.'

Dis laughed and patted her sister in law on the shoulder. 'You keep yourself under too much strain, Brann. Do not pressure yourself. You are a marvellous queen to Thorin, dear.'

'You think?' Brann doubted that she was a good wife and support at this very moment. 'I do not know whats wrong with me Dis. I behave like an idiot recently.'

'Maybe...Fili would you be a dear and bring Kili to his lessons today? Thank you.' Dis smiled at her son and shooed him out.

'Alright. I will leave so that you can talk about your adult stuff.' Fili grinned and rushed to Kilis room.

Dis only shook her head. 'He grows up way to fast.'

Brann grinned and thought that Fili would make a great king one day.

'So.' Dis focused on her thoughts. 'You say you behave differently lately? Maybe...a there is a little something causing these mood swings?'

'Little something? Mood swings?' Brann needed a while to understand. As she did she smiled sadly. 'No, thats not it. I am not pregnant, Dis. Really not. I am a healer, I should know the symptoms. And right now I am in a condition which rules out a pregnancy.'

'Oh...' Dis was disappointed, but she did not want to pressure her sister in law. 'Its really just the strain then.'

'I am making myself agitated. Thorin actually is very sweet lately.' Brann sighed again. 'I have no reason to be strained.'

'Are you sure? Sometimes its just not that obvious.' Dis said quietly. She knew that feeling herself. 'And if it botheres you that you only look pretty then you can help me with the preparation for the feast? We can stride through the markets of the human cities in the vicinity and look if we can get some flowers and nice things to decorate the banquet. Oh, thats going to be fun!'

Chuckling at her sister in law who already rubbed her hands together Brann nodded. She decided to intercept Thorin before he had to leave for council again. Brann managed to slip into their chambers as Thorin was changing into his royal garment and surprised him with a kiss.

'What was that for?' Thorin was relieved that Brann did not seem mad anymore, but he was also confused.

'An apology.' Brann smirked. 'I know that you only meant well. But I need to tell you one thing, husband. I dislike to be seen as your trophy. I know that you hold me in high respect and that you love me. But I am way more than just a shiny jewel at your side and I want to prove it to you.'

'There is no need to prove this to me.' Thorin whispered and laid his forehead against hers.

'You did not marry me because you really wanted to. You married me out of honor and duty.' Brann knew that it was exactly that fact that had haunted her. She realised it as soon as she had uttered the words. 'I want to show you that I am worth...'

Brann could not finish the sentence, for Thorins lips found hers and choked every word which came out of her mouth. 'Don´t even think that you might not be worth my love and respect.' Thorin stated firmly and looked into Branns eyes. 'You should know by now that if I do not want something I won´t do it. I married you for the right reasons, even if they weren´t the reasons which count now. I am sorry that I made you feel like a mere trophy. You mean so much more to me.'

Brann smiled and sighed, scolding herself for ever doubting her husband and herself.

As Thorin left for council Brann decided to pay Thrain a visit. She found Thrain on his balcony, staring north. She knew by now that the Lonely Mountain was where his gaze lay. She was about to say something as Thrain spoke first.

'Good evening, my daughter.' he turned around and smiled at her warmly.

'Good evening.' Brann was still thinking of how to beginn as Thrain stepped closer and looked at her questioningly.

'What is on your mind? I can practically see you think.' Thrain smirked.

'There is indeed something. Its about Durins Day.' Brann took a deep breath. 'Thorin has not invited the elven lords from the neighbouring lands. I know that he hates elves, but why? Why does he hate all elves when only one had betrayed him as the dragon took Erebor?'

Thrain nodded in agreement. 'The hatred between elves and dwarves is deep-rooted in our history. Please sit, this will take a while.'

Brann sat down in a soft armchair while Thrain sat down face to face with her. 'We are actually at the place where it all began. The dwarves of the Ered Luin were mighty and powerful once. Two mighty cities, Belegost and Nogrod stood at the rim of the Blue Mountains long ago. The Broadbeams controlled Belegost, the Firebeards Nogrod. The Firebeards were talented blacksmiths and their work was known far beyond our borders. They forged many weapons of kings, one of them was Narsil. The shards of the broken sword now lie in Imladris. But I deviate from the actual tale. It all began with the Silmarils, three gems shining with the light of the trees of Valinor. Their gleam let all darkness fade away and all other light was reflected in bright and different colors. No unpure soul could touch them. An elvish lord, Thingol, asked the dwarves of Nogrod to insert one of the gems into the nauglamir, a necklace of such beauty that it tore everyone into despair who laid hands on it. Beren and Luthien - you know the tale? - they had found the one silmaril before. But the dwarves of Nogrod were greedy and blind in their admiration for the beauty of the gem. They killed Thingol and provoked a war over this necklace. In this war between elves and dwarves Nogrod and Belegost were swallowed by the sea and the dwarves were defeated by an army of elves, men and ents. The ruins of Belegost are still rotting in the south of the Ered Luin. Since that horrible war elves and dwarves live in distrust and hatred for one another. The elves think dwarves to be greedy and malicious while the dwarves think of elves as nasty and arrogant in their victory. In addition the two races are so different that only a huge amount of acceptance and openness could bring us together. Thror and Thranduil were close to bring peace to the peole of Erebor and Mirkwood. But again, the greed of the kings let any hope of peace fade within the years. Thranduil desired jewelry from the ereborian treasury. Thror refused to even let Thranduil touch that jewelry. Thranduil accused Thror of the theft of these jewels in return. My father had many flaws, but he was no thief. They parted in anger and disappointment. As the dragon came - Thranduil did not help us. He watched as the dragon took our home and neither offered shelter nor food to our people as we wandered the wild. He was our ally and he betrayed us, in favor or jewelry that was outside of everyones reach now that the dragon had come. So you see, Thorin has every reason to hate elves.'

Brann needed a while to process what she had just heard. Slowly she nodded. 'I understand why he would hate king Thranduil. But why hate all elves? The dwarves of Nogrod commited a crime, caused a war and they were punished. And it is unfair to judge all elves because of the misdeed of one.'

'Wise words, my daughter.' Thrain nodded. 'But I am afraid that it is too late. The mistrust between elves and dwarves is too deep. There is nothing you can do about it.'

If there was something that Brann could not do, it was letting things go. She needed to do something about the bad relations between dwarves and elves. But she did not know what...yet.

Two weeks passed before Brann got the chance to indulge her interest in elves. A small caravan passed the Blue Mountains and Brann rode out to take a look at them. She took Dwana with her, the young dwarf had made great progress during her lessons and master Kori spoke highly of her.

'Elves.' Dwana snarled with disgust. 'From the Grey Havens.'

'The Grey Havens?' Brann had heard of that place. 'That leads to the sea, doesn't it?'

'Some elves embark on ships and leave Middle Earth forever via the Grey Havens. Their number increases every year.' Dwana told Brann.

'Why?' Brann could not even imagine leaving Middle Earth. She could not imagine ever leaving Thorin.

'They embark for Valinor.' Dwana stated and Brann remembered what Thrain had told her about the silmarils and Valinor. 'Its a place reserved only for elves. I bet its only because no other living being wants to spend eternity with any elf.'

Brann frowned at her courtlady and scolded her. 'Have you ever met an elf? Do not speak so ignorant, Dwana. I remember a time when you did not like me. And look at us now.'

'I will never be friends with an elf!' Dwana exclaimed. 'I am sorry, Brann. But that is something you cannot understand. We did not have dealings with elves since the dark days.'

'Then it is about bloody time!' Brann remarked and rode towards the elves before Dwana could stop her.

A dark haired elf looked at the approaching rider and reached for his bow. But Dwana was faster, before the elf could blink he had an axe pointed at his throat.

'Don't even think about it.' she snarled. 'This is the queen of the Blue Mountains, show some respect!'

'Dwana!' Brann glared at the girl. 'Lower our axe immediately!'

'The queen of the Blue Mountains? But you are no dwarf!' the elf looked at Brann in distrust.

'No. I am not.' Brann frowned at the elf. 'My name is Brann, at your service.'

'Lindir, from Rivendell.' the elf bowed. 'I accompany my kin to the Grey Havens.'

'Do you mind if we join you?' Brann asked and ignored Dwanas hiss. 'I would love to get to know more of your people.'

'I am sorry, mylady. We rarely allow strangers to accompany us on our last journey in Middle Earth.' Lindir told Brann and swallowed as she frowned at him. 'Please, I mean no disrespect, but this departure is not easy for us. We can't share our grief about the parting of loved ones under the watching eyes of non-elves.'

Brann could understand Lindirs reasoning, but she was disappointed nevertheless. 'As you wish, master elf. I wish you a safe journey to the Grey Havens.' Brann turned and rode back towards the Blue Mountains with Dwana at her side. She could feel Lindirs gaze on her back, but she did not look back. It took a few moments for Dwana to speak again.

'Why are you interested in elves? ' she asked with disgust. 'Thorin would hate it!'

'I have never met an elf and I was curious.' Brann told her. 'And I will not condemn a whole race without even knowing one single one of them. And you should neither.'

'They look upon us dwarves as if we were inferior. They think that they are better than us, I can see it in their eyes.' Dwana snarled. 'Everyone can see it.'

'You only see what you want to see.' Brann stated calmly. 'Most elves are centuries old, if not even millenia. They have knowledge that we do not have, simply because of their experience. Either one of us would seem arrogant, too, if we were in their place. And by the way...I have never met any other race which was as arrogant as dwarves.'

Dwana was about to contradict as she stopped herself. She remembered how she had behaved around Brann in the first weeks of their life in Bree. And she knew that her own father and king Thorin were very arrogant themselves. But Dwana was too much a proud dwarf to give in that easily.

'You are one of us, Brann. You can´t just go and befriend elves!' Dwana insisted.

'Why not?' Brann got irritated. 'I never thought you to be such a racist, Dwana!'

'I am not! I just don´t like elves! Like all dwarves.' Dwana stated stubbornly and stared straight ahead.

Brann only sighed. Curse the stubborness of dwarves.

The quarrel between Brann and Dwana was forgotten as soon as they reached the Blue Mountains again. The hectic pace of the mountain made them forget everything about elves and dwarves and soon, Brann and Dwana had to dismount their horse and pony to get through the chaos of the market in front of the gates of the dwarven city under the mountain without hurting anybody. Brann soon noticed that Dwana took interest in the stands selling beauty products. Smiling at the young dwarf growing up, Brann waited patiently until Dwana caught up with her again. The young dwarf carried a small bag with her.

'What did you buy?' Brann asked curiously.

'Nothing.' Dwana grinned sheepishly and put the little bag into her pocket.

Brann only smiled and decided that she would find out soon enough as they entered the mountain. The queens attention shortly moved to a reddish haired dwarf with a flashy hairdo. She had seen him various times in the last weeks, sometimes even a few times a day. He also seemed to always be near her and Dwana.

'Who is that dwarf, Dwana?' Brann asked her courtlady who instantly saw which dwarf her queen was referring to.

'This is master Nori. He is Oris older brother and he is...well...some say that he is a thief. Others say that he is a spy. Chose the title you like better.' Dwana grinned as she saw Brann shocked face.

'He has followed us for days!' Brann was furious. 'My own husband spies on me?'

Sorry, I was planning to give Brann her braids in this chapter, but it all went into a different direction. Next chapter, I promise ;)