Author's Note: PLEASE READ! This chapter will include some spoilers for "A Safe Haven". They're not earth-shattering spoilers for ASH since that story is more of a feel-good after the movie fix-it kind of story, but there are spoilers in regards to ships. If you don't mind, please continue. If you DO mind, please wait until ASH is finished before reading further in this story.

Decision in Erebor

Erebor – Narquelië 3018 of the Third Age

"I hate unplanned meetings," Fíli muttered, pausing outside of the Company's private meeting room. "They never mean anything good."

Merilin leaned into his shoulder, grateful yet again for being such a short woman, and let her weight rest against him for a brief moment before straightening up. She could see him shaking off the shadow, comforted as she had been by that brief contact. "Come on," she said, shooting him a quick smile. "Maybe we shall be fortunate and it is merely a discussion about some long forgotten holiday?" At his sideways glance, filled as it was with an ironic humor, she chuckled under her breath. "Well, maybe not."

Affection shown in his gaze, but he refrained from touching her as he reached out to open the door. "You and Kíli and your shared optimism," he murmured with a shake of his head.

A reply hovered on the tip of her tongue only to die into silence as she caught sight of those who waited for them. Grim faces and anxious eyes stared back at them and she could feel Fíli coming to attention behind her. Her gaze scanned the table. Dwalin and Nori appeared stoic, unaffected as ever – the lack of any emotion at all a giveaway to their concern. Dori sat in an eerie stillness while Bifur picked at a bouquet of flowers in front of him. Across the table sat Bofur and Bombur – neither of whom held a hint of humor. Glóin and his son Gimli sat next to them, their grim faces lined with concern. Thorin sat at the head of the table, eyes snapping with some kind of fury, while Dís tapped her fingers on the table to his right. Kíli sat next to her, his customary cheer missing, and Tauriel, stoic as Dwalin, perched next to him.

Two chairs remained empty to Thorin's left – there should have been three.

"Come," Thorin nodded to both of them. "We have some matters of import to discuss."

Fíli took Merilin's arm and steered her towards the table. Her eyebrow swept up. "Is Marí not joining us?"

Her cautious voice drew commiserating looks from most of the table and a headshake from Dís. "This is for family before kingdom," the princess of Erebor stated. Her hand came up and halted Merilin's next comment. "Fíli's wife by law she may be, but this is not for her."

"Her family does not need more of a reason to hate me," Merilin cautioned, though she took her seat without further delay. "This may cause you trouble in council." Now her gaze turned to Thorin.

"Let them flutter," he shrugged it off. "This family has done all that it will do in the way of sacrifices and compromises in our personal lives for the sake of the kingdom. We have done our duty – we are not required to surrender everything." Dís gave her a warm smile as Thorin spoke. His gaze held proud affection as it settled on Fíli and Merilin ducked her head as she realized it did not dim much when he turned to her.

Fíli's connection to Merilin had been unexpected – and unwelcome to the council of elders. As the Crown Prince, Fíli was expected to marry and have children, children who would be heirs to the throne. While his brother would do in the interim, they wanted the assurance of a fruitful lineage after the scare of Smaug and the years of wandering. It proved a quandary for the family who wanted Fíli happy. Merilin understood – she too was the daughter of a high lineage, though her line was descended from a daughter, for which she was grateful. Let her cousin worry about the family line; she would uphold its honor without the necessity or burden of its future. In the end, after a full family discussion, Fíli chose a widow, a Dwarf woman named Marí who expected no great love, merely the honor and fidelity due a lawful wife. It helped that Marí made friends with Merilin within days of entering Erebor and the two females could often be seen discussing various topics in the main dining hall.

None of the sons of Durin's line managed to be normal.

Her eyes turned towards the youngest of them. Kíli managed to make the one choice the council hated more than her. He, too, obeyed the needs of the family by entering into a marriage agreement with the daughter of a ranking Dwarf merchant, but his wife seemed more than happy to stick with her craft. As long as Kíli remained discreet and did not dishonor her name, she let him live as he wished. It likely helped that Tauriel, like Merilin, respected the oaths of marriage too much to ever pursue anything beyond the emotional and spiritual connection she shared with Kíli. Having someone who trusted her and understood her need to wander under the stars meant more than any physical relationship ever could.

The nobles did look in askance when Merilin and Tauriel would join Marí and Arnina in the marketplace or at one of the small cafes – apparently that kind of friendship between wife and the 'other' female just "was not done".

"This meeting is for family," Thorin repeated his sister's words to draw everyone's attention back to him. "It concerns the dark riders that have approached Dale and Erebor seeking information on Bilbo." His blue eyes flashed a quick look around the table before resting on Bofur. He gave the head miner a nod and sat down.

Bofur stood up, a frown replacing his usual jollity. "People are getting restless," he told them. "They're talking about dark portents and evil tidings." He shook his head as unhappy noises rose from various points around the table. "They're not talking any kind of action yet, but they know something's wrong."

"Aye, and Dale reports the same," Dwalin put in from further down the table. "King Brand's having to deal with louder dissenters than our lot – least according to the chief of the city guard. He's got no love for the idea of dealing with the riders either, but he's got some open naysayers stirring the city up." Erebor's guard commander scowled, leaving no one in any doubt of his opinion on the subject.

"Hard to miss how the riders are focusing on two of the kings in the area and skipping out on the third," Gimli commented. He flushed when the focus of the table swung in his direction.

Merilin saw Tauriel stiffen in her seat and a frown build on Kíli's face. "If these riders have any sense whatsoever, they would skirt the halls of Thranduil as you might avoid a broody dragon's nest," she pointed out, trying to nip any potential argument in the bud. She looked at Thorin and Dís, noting the quiet approval in their faces. "All the Free Peoples of Middle Earth have fought the Shadow, in all its varied forms, but none have done so as long as the Elves. Thranduil might be difficult to work with-"

"A right pain in the ass," Glóin muttered and then shrugged in apology as she gave him a mock glare. "Sorry, lass."

"As I was saying," Merilin rolled her eyes, well accustomed to Dwarves and their ways, "he can be difficult to work with, but he would never accept any such rider near his halls. For all of your distaste of Elves-"

"Some Elves," Fíli corrected.

"May I finish?" she demanded, eyes snapping at him. He just offered her a grin and she sighed. "I give up."

"You are correct," Thorin chuckled. "In what you said and in what you meant." His gaze rested on Gimli for a moment before scanning the table once more. "Regardless of personal opinions, we have an alliance of sort with the Elves of the Greenwood, and word has been sent in warning to Thranduil as well. Brand's son, Bard, accompanied our envoy to assure the Elves of the reality of the threat."

Tauriel tiled her chin. "Have we received a reply?"

He nodded. "Thranduil sent word that he believes the situation is more dire than even we supposed. He believes it is related to the attack on his halls last month." Thorin raised a hand to quiet the questions being shot at him. "He first believed it to be a minor issue due to a lost pack of orcs and since none of them escaped he let it go. Other signs and our warnings have led him to reconsider." He scratched at his beard. "We must send a warning to Bilbo – and see if we can determine how much further or deeper the darkness spreads."

Dís inclined her head in agreement. "So the question becomes – who do we send?"

Bifur and Dori exchanged a look. Dori shook his head. "Some of us are too old for that kind of journey," he sighed.

"Couldn't contribute anyway," Bifur added in Khuzdul. He examined the petal of a primrose and then shrugged, popping it in his mouth.

Merilin and Tauriel exchanged amused looks – the Elf might arrange for the flowers to be delivered, but the Ranger kept the delivery secret. Dís cleared her throat and they turned innocent wide eyes in her direction. She gave them a hard glare.

"I wouldn't mind seeing Bilbo again," Bofur began, but Thorin shook his head.

"I need you here," he said, regret clear in his voice. "The same goes for Dwalin and Fíli," the king continued as he looked around the table. His voice deepened, taking on his full authority as king and family head. "If our worst fears are realized and these signs point to something more sinister, then we must prepare. It has been a long time since the battle that decimated Gundabad's forces – we must presume they have rebuilt just as we have done. Erebor must be prepared for war."

Merilin felt eyes upon her and she glanced up to meet Tauriel's gaze. Her lips pursed in thought for a long moment before she gave one slow nod. Merilin turned and lifted a brow towards Dís. Surprise lit the female Dwarf's gaze and then calculation and understanding dawned. Not one to mull things over when she had made up her mind, the princess turned to her brother. "The girls and I shall go."

Thorin stared at her as the rest of the table seemed to erupt in mutters and shouts. Merilin covered her mouth, trying hard not to laugh. Dís might be more than a century older than her, but Merilin was no child – and Tauriel was older than both of them. In Dís' mind, however, as the chosen of her sons, they were her 'girls'. Never mind that neither couple would ever be official, or even recognized beyond this small gathering – the princess might have to officially ignore them, but the mother defended them as her own.

"Dís," Thorin started, but his sister stared him down.

"Glóin and Gimli can accompany us," she told him, "but I have enough authority to represent you, and with the girls beside me, you cannot argue that we make an effective statement on unity." Her eyes pierced Kíli's when he started to speak. "You will need to help with the archers – you are their commander." Next she looked to Nori. "You have people as well, people to be organizing to deal with any subterfuge going on inside either Erebor or Dale." She shrugged. "Bombur's health will not allow him to make such a journey. That leaves Glóin and Gimli – effective representatives, but both have a tendency towards hotheadedness the girls and I can offset."

The discussion devolved into smaller groups, arguing or planning depending on those involved, but Fíli pulled Merilin over to one side of the room. "Are you sure?" he asked, his eyes searching hers.

"Your mother is right," she nodded. "The three of us make a good argument for standing together on such an occasion. We are proof that individuals can get along – should kingdoms and peoples do any less?"

"I don't like it," he frowned, but he shook his head when she opened her mouth to argue. "I don't like it," he repeated, "but it is a good idea. The three of you know Thorin's mind and his views – you will make sure Erebor is well-represented." His smile turned wry. "I just hate the thought of you traveling so far away."

"I'll be back," she assured him, learning into him. "Back before you even have time to notice."

"I doubt it," he chuckled, pressing a kiss to her temple. "But one can hope."

They remained connected in silence for a long moment before Merilin pulled back. "Bring Tilda to the mountain?" she asked, fondness in her eyes as she brushed a blond lock back from his face.

"Of course," he agreed. Then he lifted a brow at her. "Keep an eye on Mother?"

She started giggling and felt the entire room look towards them. As they began to move back to the table, she leaned towards him and whispered, "How much do you want to wager she'll be the one keeping an eye on everyone?"

"I never bet against a sure thing."