.
THE COURTSHIP OF THE SPARROW-HAWK
Chapter 13 – The Art of War
.
"How's It Gonna End" Tom Waits
Fili was quiet. Too quiet for Nur's liking. As they sat beside each other at the smaller of the King's tables and waited for his brother to arrive in the elegant dining room, Queen Nur replayed the incidents of the day in her head.
Bran had shown up around mid afternoon, unannounced, had kissed Kili, and then asked to be escorted to Erebor. Nur had nearly stormed into Lady Bran's guest room after their arrival, to demand to know what the Lady's purpose was, but her training in both courtly manners and battle strategy had won out. Patience. That's what was needed. Patience- let the Lady reveal herself and then respond to it accordingly.
Nur's nerves practically bristled with alertness and she was irked that she could not see the same response from her husband. How he could be so calm and collected in front of this two-faced, beautified orc was something Nur couldn't fathom, but she trusted her husband. He was much better at chess than she was anyway.
Kili and Eila were unspeaking as they entered the King's private dining quarters, a green marbled room with accents of silver touching the fireplace and table. The table itself had been hewn from a massive tree and polished such that Nur could see her reflection in it. The politely false smile plastered to her face seemed to be grinning back at her from her placing at the table.
Across from Fili and herself, Nur spared Kili and Eila a glance as they sat, reading their discomfort before screwing her eyes on the entrance when Lady Bran stepped through the doorway.
Long lashes and pouty lips lent the dwarf lass's face a natural beauty, while the rest was, to Nur's knowledge, the product of powders and other beautification remedies. The high cheek-bones were an illusion, Nur knew, but the flesh below the blonde dwarf's neck was no illusion. Glowing, warm flesh rounded impossibly perfect, and the low-plunging neckline of the buxom Bran's dress left almost nothing to the imagination. Shimmery, red fabric clung to the Lady Bran's curvy body, highlighting her hourglass shape.
Stealing a short look to gauge Kili's expression, Nur saw him swallow before turning his eyes to his plate, unable to hide the blush that was spreading across his face. Lady Bran's voluptuous figure floated to pass behind Kili and she rested a hand on the back of his chair as she headed for the seat directly beside him—until Fili cleared his throat and waved a hand at the seat at the end of the table, beside none of them. Lady Bran made a small bow, undaunted at being directed away from the King's brother, and lowered herself gracefully into the seat.
Fili had made a toast and conversation had begun over the meal, but Nur heard almost none of it. Her trained eyes were assessing Bran for a threat.
Every once in a while, Kili would lift his head to look at his brother, but other than that made no eye contact with anyone. It was incredibly obvious that Kili did not want to be in the same room with the lass, let alone speak to her, and he looked as though he were asking permission to leave with each glance toward Fili. But Fili's eyes said to Kili the same thing the King had said to Nur that afternoon: wait.
"And now, Lady Bran," Fili said amiably, sipping from a goblet of wine. "We come to your purpose here."
"Erebor," Lady Bran smiled widely and waved her arms around her. "Newly won and full of opportunity."
"Those words sound so hopeful, coming from the mouth of a miner or tinker," Nur said, skewering her meat with a little too much force. "But perhaps they mean something different from a Lady."
Bran continued to smile, either passing over the bite of Nur's words or ignorant to them. "Even the Queen requires gentle-ladies for her court; the future of Erebor holds hope for me, as well."
"Does your father feel as you do?" Fili asked—which Nur knew to mean, "Where is he?"
"My father has recently passed." Bran said, lowering her head in respect, but Nur could see that the lass had very little remorse over her father's death. "I am alone to find my own way in the world, now."
Nur nearly snorted as she pulled a flagon of ale to her lips. Let Fili keep his wine, Nur was in need of something stronger to get through this dinner.
"What way would that be?" Eila spoke, and Nur realized she had been so closely watching Kili and Bran that she'd ignored the girl sitting directly across from her. Eila's subdued face reminded Nur of the shy, reserved lass Eila used to be, and not the strong one she'd recently become. Had Bran already said something to Eila? Something to take the light out of her eyes?
"The Lonely Mountain is full of possibilities," Bran looked toward Nur as though she had asked the question, refusing to make eye contact with Eila. "I'm sure I can reconcile myself to one," Bran looked toward Kili, "or the other." She tilted her head to look at Fili.
Nur's heart stopped in her ribs before increasing to a beat that was wildly out of control. A heavy hand came to rest on hers, startling Nur out of her murderous gaze at Bran and calling her attention to the fingers Nur had unconsciously woven around a serrated meat knife.
"Perhaps if you were to give us an idea of your skill-set, we could better accommodate you." Fili gently unwrapped Nur's fingers from the knife. "For example, Queen Nur has trained under the Akkik Warriors and is adept in several types of combat, well-versed in warfare, and experienced even in Erebor's latest battle."
Oh, Fili, Nur had to take a breath to steady herself. Bran's seductive glance toward the King had been noticed by more than just Nur, she was relieved to note. And Fili's message was clear: My wife will make short work of you.
Bran nodded as though logging the information away and turned her eyes toward Kili once again. "Prince Kili was instructing me in the ways of silver-smithing when we were last together in the Blue Mountains—and although he never finished those lessons, I wonder if he'll take them up again. I'm sure he has an ample hammer—"
Eila broke into a fit of coughing, red-faced and eyes watering, and Nur took the opportunity to stand and come to the lass's side.
"We'll be back in just a moment, she needs some air." Nur said, bringing Eila to her feet and pulling her through the door.
The coughing continued until Nur and Eila were surrounded by the dim torch-light of the room beyond the dining room.
"That horrible witch!" Eila sputtered, bringing her hands up over her face. "That cursed, vile—"
"Eila," Nur shook the dwarf's shoulders. "She's trying to get under your skin. Look at me."
The poor lass shuddered and brought her head up as though it weighed too much.
"She's challenging you to a battle." Nur said evenly. "Bran wants you to fall apart. She wants to plant those seeds of doubt in your head and make them do all the hard work for her. But you listen to me." Nur put a hand under Eila's chin and forced the frightened lass to look her in the eye. "When she attacks, you need to deflect. Remember what's true and let that defend you: Kili loves you. He will never leave you. She doesn't understand how strong you are, but I do."
Eila's eyes were wide and she didn't seem to be breathing.
"I know how strong you are." Nur repeated. "Remember what's true. Deflect her attacks. Got it?"
"Yes." Eila whispered.
"And," Nur held up a finger. "Don't stop speaking to Kili."
Nur could see the confusion in Eila's eyes at this last piece of advice, but Nur was already ushering her back into the dining room, allowing the comment to sit in Eila's mind. If she didn't understand it now, she would later.
Eila would have kept moving, but there was someone occupying her seat.
Well, Nur breathed out. Time to lay down the law. Nur was no wilting Queen.
Sharply grabbing at the shoulder of Lady Bran, Nur lifted the dwarf from the seat beside Kili and motioned for Eila to fill it. Kili did not look up at Nur, but wore a guilty expression, head hanging low while his hands clenched in his lap.
"I'm sure you'll excuse us, as I need to have a word with Lady Bran in private." She put an arm around Bran's shoulder and guided her to step into the next room, where Nur kept her voice low, though she knew those in the dining room wouldn't hear them. "Perhaps things are different where you come from, but here we take matters seriously regarding marriage contracts. Kili won't be ending his marriage to Eila any time soon—"
"I don't mean to interfere with marriage contracts." Bran grinned sweetly at Queen Nur. "But Prince Kili—and perhaps even the King of Erebor— might be willing to take on an extra," the Lady licked her lips, "escort, now and then."
"My husband isn't interested in taking on a lover." Nur replied bluntly.
"That's not something he'd talk to you about, is it, darling?" Bran's musical voice lilted.
"Let me be perfectly clear," Nur smiled politely and spoke in a calm voice. "Touch my husband and I'll pull the skin away from your ribs with my bear hands, reach under your bones, and eat your heart in front of your dying eyes. And my kingdom will cheer me on while I do it."
Bran's mask of confidence faltered and she bit her lip, but it satisfied Nur enough to see that the dwarf Lady believed her. But then the lass gathered up her courage once more. "Like I said before, I've got options. Ones that aren't under your protection."
"If you're talking about Kili, you're right, he's not under my protection in the same way." Nur nodded. "But Eila will make you the same offer."
"That tiny bird?" Bran laughed as casually as though they were talking about the hem-length of skirts.
"That tiny bird is a lot more dangerous than you would think." Nur said as she turned away, calling back over her shoulder. "Even a sparrow-hawk has talons that can pierce through bone."
.
Well, that escalated quickly! Another update tomorrow, my dears! :)
Please leave me a review, they make me so happy! :D
.
Want a Kili and OC humorous parody? Try HOW TO WRECK A MARY SUE
Kili and Danika are tired of being pushed around in fan fiction stories and make a pact to defy writer's prompts, but do they have any idea what will happen if they don't play by the rules? Guest appearances from Luna Lovegood, The Doctor, Sherlock, and others!
.
Want someKili/Tauriel romance/adventure? Try STARS AND HAMMERS
Fluff, Drama, Romance, Hurt/Comfort - This is a compilation of one-shots following Kili and Tauriel's one-year adventure as they accompany Bilbo back to The Shire (after the Battle of Five Armies) and then return to Erebor.
.
Want some Fili/OC romance/adventure? Try GOLD AND FIRE
Fili and Nur marry in secret just before he leaves for Erebor, but what is a lonely wife to do while her husband is braving life and death for their future? Covers the Battle of Five Armies and afterward.Explanations for some of the actions within the movies as well as some behind the scenes! A sequel to GEMS AND POISON
.
Want some Thorin/OC romance/angst?Try JEWELS AND DAGGERS
Just as Thorin becomes engaged to be married, the dragon attacks Erebor and all is thrown into chaos! Men with wicked intent take captive some of the wandering dwarves- will Thorin, Frerin, and Dwalin be able to rescue the enslaved dwarves, including Runa, Thorin's beloved?
.