I wanted to take the opportunity again to thank you all for your wonderful reviews! Guest, I am so happy that you compared my story to such a successful book, makes me incredibly proud:) Enjoy chapter 63!

Dara will show her worth during the following years, sorry for the leap in time...some examples for her change is in this chapter...

10 years later

'Hello Niar, I am Gwen, how is your name?' Gwen resisted the urge to slap her fist against her forehead as she heard herself talk. She had gone to talk to Niar, a dwarfling in her age who trained in her class with Dwalin. The boy was already a good fighter with his twentyfive years and he had a thick and rich beard. 'Oh Durin, this is embarrassing...I mean...not you are, I am! Wait what?'

Niar crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked at the princess in amusement. Gimli and Zial stood behind Gwen and tried to stiffle their laughter. Gwen was horrible at flirting, much to Thorins relief. The king watched over his daughters like a hound was watching his bone. No dwarfling in the mountain dared to come near the royal twins, not one but Thror. During the years, him and Zial had become unseperable and he had been accepted by Gwen, Gimli and Dis sons. Belladonna and Nain were too young to feel any hostility towards him, so they had accepted him without any problems.

'No chitchat, more fighting!' Dwalin yelled over the training ground. Gwen looked over her shoulder longingly, glancing at Fili and Kili who were already training in the advanced classes. The dwarflings took their positions and raised their training swords. Zial fought against Gimli, Gwen against Niar and Thror had to fight against Grom, one of the taller dwarflings in the class.

This day, all the dwarflings parents were present, it was the final exam in swordfight for this class. Thorin and Brann sat together with Gloin and his wife and watched the duells. Fili and Kili also sat down with their aunt and uncle to cheer for their cousins. Levek and Dara were also there, but they sat in a corner of the arena, mostly to themselves. Dara had been serving under queen Brann for ten years now, nine of them together with Dwana, but the atmosphere between the three was still strained. Brann had to admit that Dara was a thoughtful and loyal courtlady, even if it was out of guilt. But Dara was a helpful support and her sewing skills were highly appreciated in the Blue Mountains. When she was not on duty as Branns courtlady, she worked as a seamstress like in the Red Mountains. Brann had asked her to design some dresses for the princesses and had to smile as Zials and Belladonnas faces lightened up as the saw their new beautiful gowns. Gwen preferred tunics and trousers to dresses and gowns, but Dara had managed to design her a royal outfit which looked like a dress, but it was actually wide trousers. That way, Gwen could still fight and train with her axes and swords without stumbling over her skirts. Brann had to admit that Dara did a good work and supported Daras business and held her reputation as a seamstress in high honor. Torturingly slowly, the relationship between the queen and the former lady from Ered Luin had shifted to the better. But it was still way beyond friendly. Never did the queen smile at her second courtlady or lost a friendly word towards her.

Thrors opponent in the arena today was Grom, a dwarfling from the Red Mountains, too. Groms father, Rom, was an arrogant and ignorant piece of dwarf and he sneered as the fighting began.

'The royal twins do not even have proper beards, yet. They should not be allowed to this duells.' he grumbled.

Brann felt that Thorin was about to rise, but she held him back by touching his arm. She could feel Thorins muscles twitch and smiled at him reassuringly. Nothing they could do now would help their daughters. They would have to prove their worth.

'That is my son over there! The one beating the crap outta that small bastard!' Rom shouted and cheered as Grom landed a fierce blow on Thrors shield. Thror fell back and defended himself as well as he could, but his strength was fading against the brutal force of his opponent. He was clearly inferior, but he used his head in battle. Thror used the other dwarfs momentum and made him trip. Grom stepped out of the arena to regain his balance, but that was already a fail.

Brann could not fight a smile as she heard Dara smugly tell Grom that this small bastard was her son.

In the meantime, Niar and Zial had been victorious over their opponents, a fact which angered Gwen more than anything. She was the warrior of the royal twins and she did not cope well with defeat.

Later that evening, Gimli found her in one of the dinning halls, with an ale in her hand.

'What in Durin´s name are you doing?' he asked his friend and sat down at her side. 'You are not old enough to drink!'

'Apparently I am not old enough to win any fighting either...as are you.' Gwen muttered and took a deep sip. She was already drunk and Gimli worried. 'Listen...' Gwen poked Gimli in the chest with a pointed finger. 'You let my sister win today, so you did not really lose. I made a fool out of myself today. Niar must think that I am the beardless and dishonorable bastard people think I am.'

'Who on Mahals earth called you a bastard?!' Gimli exclaimed furiously.

'Rom. Groms father, he speaks ill of me and Zial all the time.' Gwen gulped down the ale. 'At least I already have a shadow of a beard. One day my beard will grow long and thick and these dwarves will stop talking. Zial has no beard at all. Only slight sideburns.'

'Zial will be a beautiful queen one day, like your mother.' Gimli said without thinking and gasped as Gwens empty pint landed on his face. 'Ow, what was that for?'

'And what am I?' Gwen growled and cocked an eyebrow at her friend.

'You...you are Gwen.' Gimli did not understand females. 'You are strong and independent and you do not care about what other might think about you. At least the Gwen I knew does not.'

Gwen looked down at her feet, there were four of them after her second pint of ale, and sighed. Gimli was right. Screw males, screw Niar and screw master Dwalin. She would be victorious in the next training battle alongside Gimli.

'Well, well, look what we have here!' Grom stood behind the two friends and held a pint of ale in his own hands. He was only a handful of years older than Gimli and Gwen, but his father already allowed him to drink like an adult. 'Not bearing any dwarven drink?' he eyed Gwen and smirked smugly.

'Unlike your parents, mine do not try to raise me with the help of alcohol.' Gwen sneered.

'Maybe it would help. If you were my daughter I would need to drink alot to stand to look into your face every day.' Grom snarled and Gwen was about to smash his nose, but Gimli held her back.

'He is not worth it, Gwen.' he murmured. Pulling Gwen away from Grom, Gimli continued to calm her down. 'Stay calm, will ya?'

'I am calm.' Gwen stopped to struggle and turned away from Grom, making Gimli losen his grip on her.

'Good.' Gimli had barely spoken the word as Gwen threw her empty pint into groms face with all her force.

Grom groaned as his nose cracked and tried to throw himself at Gwen. Gimli stepped into his way, but Grom stumbled before he reached either of them. Belladonna and Nain had grabbed his legs and had made him fall, now they ran to the door chuckling and cheering over their victory.

'The blood of Durin is dishonorable and weak.' Grom spat out. 'You would never dare to stand against me alone.'

'The blood of Durin is honorable and loyal.' Gwen snarled back. 'We do not stand alone. Nobody can stand alone. We are family and we have friends. What do you have, Grom? You have nothing but your hatred and ignorance.'

'What is going on here?' Dwalin stood in the door, two cats at his side. The captain of the guard had crossed his arms in front of his chest and Spot and Sock eyed Grom with eyes turned to slits. 'Additional training in the arena...' Dwalin ordered and frowned at Gwens smirk. 'For all of you!'

Brann frowned as Thorin entered their chambers alone. 'Where are the little ones?'he queen was worried.

'On the training ground with Dwalin.' Thorin muttered and told his wife what had happened. Brann did not know wether to feel proud or sad. Her daughters, Gimli and Nain had stood up for each other, but they had caused trouble and this did not stand well with the royal family.

'Dwalin was right in punishing them.' Brann sighed. Her daughters were growing up to be very different young dwarves. Zial was shy and quiet. She looked more and more like her mother, without a single hair on her face and her taller bearing. Only her sideburns were an indication do her dwarven heritage. Gwen was all dwarf, she had a thin beard and a fierce character. She was hotheaded and sometimes gave Brann a headache with her stubborness. Belladonna was sweet and loving. She liked everyone and everything, she never frowned or lost a bad word about anything. She was the sunshine of the mountain. But apparently, she fought for her family and friends if necessary.

'Gwen was also drunk.' Thorin shook his head in disappointment. 'She did not take her failure well.'

'She should know that it is impossible to always be victorious in life.' Brann mumbled. Sometimes she worried about Gwen. She was way to hotheaded and stubborn for her good. Suddenly Brann had to smile. Gwen was a dwarf, she had nothing to worry about.

Thorin watched his wife smile and walked closer to her. Brann was still beautiful, despite her worries over her advancing age. The queen was in her mid forties now, but she barely had any wrinkles, only in the corner of her eyes and mouth when she smiled or laughed. And Thorin loved these tiny wrinkles. Brann trained with her sword and dagger and kept her body fit and toned. She was looking as young as she felt. The love between the king and queen was as strong and passionate as ever, but Brann had not become pregnant again. A few years ago she began to take herbs to prevent pregnancy, for the risk of a letal pregnancy for her and her dwarfling had become too high. Fili was now officially Thorins heir, which had caused Gwen to protest. Gwen loved Fili dearly, but she did not understand why no female could be heir to the throne. Thorin had to stand his ground against his queen, his sister as well as his daughters. Five strong female Durins were alot to handle. But it was the law that no female would be succeeding him to the throne. It was the law and even he as a king could not prevent it. But Thrain had already said once, that the Durin line was only strong due to the females standing behind their husbands, brothers and kings. Gwen had frowned darkly, but she swore that she would support her cousin when the time came. She did not want the throne, but she wanted her family line to endure.

Later that evening, the whole family sat together at dinner. Thorin and Brann had scolded the young ones for their behaviour and had allowed Dwalin to punish them with extra rounds in the arena. Balladonna and Nain were punished with the care of Spot and Sock, which was barely a punishment in their eyes, but gave Dwalin the liberty to spend time with Gwen, Gimli and Grom in the arena. Brann talked to Gwen after dinner.

'Your behaviour is not worthy of a princess, Gwen!' Brann scolded her daughter.

'Grom started it, he hates me, he hates us!' Gwen defended herself. 'He and his father despise us, because we are halfbreeds!'

'Do not use this word!' Brann hissed. 'You are a princess of Durins line and you have to behave that way. Durins blood as well as the blood of men flows in your veins. Both are strong and you will not show Grom and his father that you are hurt by proving them right!'

Gwen pouted and felt sick. The ale made her feel sick and her mothers true words echoed in her mind. That night, Brann held her daughters hair as she threw up all night, swearing that she would never touch ale ever again. After that day, Gwen pulled herself together and faced Grom and his family with nothing but royal pride and class.

Gwen could not concentrate the next weeks. Zial was away with Thror, alone! And she was stuck in the arena with Niar and Grom. Gimli had been called away by his mother and even Dwalin did not dare to oppose Gloins wife, she was a real dragon. Nearly as dangerous as Smaug the Terrible, who had taken her adads home.

Brann, Dwana and Dara sat at the side of the arena and watched the dwarflings fight.

'I want to thank you for leaving your daughter in Thrors presence without...somebody who watches over him.' Dara had wanted to thank Brann for a while now, but she had not dared.

'Zial can take care off herself.' Brann answered firmly. But she was not in the mood to fight. 'And Thror has proven his worth. He is an honorable dwarf and he has impressed my husband. That counts alot in my eyes.'

Brann knew how hard it had been for Thorin to even accept Thror around his daughter, but he had accepted the boy sooner than her. The queen still did not trust Dara fully, but she had also proven that she had changed, at least a bit. Brann hated it, but she had to admit to herself that Dara had been a good courtlady in the past decade. It had become obvious that Dara had no interest in Thorin anymore and loved her husband, Levek. As Thorin seemed almost hurt in his male pride about that, Brann and Dis had slapped him over the back of his head. Dara had shown strength and dignity as she had faces the dwarves of the Blue Mountains. She was still an outcast, but she had slowly reclaimed some trust of the royal family and that was all that mattered to her. Apparently, people could change, even if Brann had never believed in such changes in the past. But the queen knew what had changed Dara. It had been Leveks love and also her love for him and her son.

Dara was the first one who noticed Gwens interest for Niar. 'Your daughter is smitten with Minas boy.' she told her queen and smiled as Brann took a close look at her daughter and the boy. Mina, Niars mother, was one of Daras best customers.

'The blond boy with the braided beard?' Brann frowned. Now her daughters behaviour made more sense to her. It explained why she was not focused and in a bad mood. 'Do you know something about him?'

'He is a good warrior.' Dara told Brann. 'He is strong and fierce.'

'But?' Brann had heard the reluctance in Daras voice.

Dara smiled lightly, for the queen knew her too well already. 'He is coldhearted and arrogant. He would play with her if he knew about her interest and he would brag about having caught the eye of one of the princesses.'

'How do you know?' Brann asked her courtlady and winced at her answer.

'He reminds me of myself in that age.'

'He is cute and blond and...' Gwen shrugged her shoulders as Fili and Kili confronted her with her crush. Brann had asked her nephews to talk to her daughter, for she knew that the princess would not talk to her about it. Not in her current age and mood. And the queen knew that Gwen trusted her cousins more than anyone else.

'Am I not cute? Am I not blond? Shut up, Kili!' Fili sneered at his brother, who was already grinning like mad.

'I know that he is a jerk, but I feel...everytime I see him I have ants in my stomach.' Gwen sighed.

'Its butterflies, but never mind.' Kili waved with his hands to divert from the fact that he was actually talking about butterflies and love and such things. 'How do you know that he is a jerk?'

'Dara warned me. She told me what she knew about him and even showed me how he behaved with Nya. Do you remember Nya? She is the baker's daughter. She had a crush on him and he behaved as if he was interested in her. He broke her heart and humiliated her in front of everyone.' Gwen frowned. 'Dara opened my eyes about him, but he is so...why do I feel attracted to such a jerk?'

'Many females feel attracted to jerks, thats why we two are still alone.' Kili grinned at his cousin and pointed to himself and Fili. Fili only groaned and slapped the back of his brother's head with the flat hand.

'What?' Kili chuckled. 'Just look at uncle Thorin! Amad told us how he used to be, he was a jerk, too. Ow!'

Gwen had also given him a slap to the back of his head. 'Don't speak about adad like that! He is not a jerk! Amad would never have married him if he was.'

'Your adad was a different dwarf before he meet Brann.' Dis chuckled as she joined the three dwarflings on their way to the royal chambers. 'The love to your amad changed him. Also the love for his daughters.'

'If he changed, why should Niar not change?' Gwen asked Dis and made her aunt frown. 'And apparently, Dara changed, too.'

'You parents met in the worst of times. Their love saved them from grief and utter sadness.' Dis told her niece. 'The fate that made Dara change was also full or sadness and pain. I do not wish this upon any dwarfling. Niar is a young dwarf and he will play with the females hearts who dare to lose it to him. I hate to admit it, but you should thank Dara for opening your eyes.'

After dinner, Gwen was sent to bed, but Brann walked to Daras rooms with a determined expression. Dara opened the door at her queens knock and her heart nearly stopped in surprise as the queen walked up to her and gave her a warm hug.

I agree with most of you about people not changing. Usually, they do not. At least that is my personal experience. But I love my happy stories and so, Dara changed. She has gone through alot and I like to believe that such experiences in life do cause people to change for the better. Call me naive, but I would loke to believe in that. :)