The market was a cacophony of diverse sounds and colorful sights as people talked over each other to try and hawk their wares, children ran in between the stalls, trying to escape their parents who trailed behind with easy frustration, and dwarves everywhere worked at their crafts and sold them to both eager and discerning customers. Evie was definitely of the first, for her grey eyes were wide with the excitement of it all. The market of the dwarves was very different from market day in the Shire, which was much calmer albeit even brighter and colorfully pretentious. In the Shire they had large swaths of cloth which went over their stalls, dyed with the brightest hues hobbits could find, yet here there were more in the way of wooden stalls with darker palettes – the dwarves preferred deep, rich colors more akin to their mountain home: blues and purples and greens which were printed upon in the ways of their kind. It was very beautiful, yet wholly unfamiliar to her. She found magic in every detail, every rune etched into leather and every intricate design pressed onto their fabrics. Her friends had worn clothes with these sorts of accents before, but to see them on such a large scale was a magnificent display indeed.

Evie did not know where to go first. She wandered down the pathways along the stalls, stopping at almost every one and trying to strike up a conversation with its owner. Most were wary of her at first – they were not accustomed to being in the presence of hobbits, and as practical as these merchants and craftsmen were, they could not help but be suspicious of anyone unknown. The dwarves were a very secretive people, but when it came down to business they were pleased to sell to anyone who respected them enough to earn the right. It did help, of course, that Dis, Fildur, and Dwalin were all in toe, and everyone recognized these three. Having a princess at one's side tended to invite politeness, the healer supposed. But besides even that, Evie had an easy way with people, and slowly, one by one, each vendor relaxed around her and spoke to her obligingly (although each was of a different sort, some kinder than others, some more stiff, some charming and others very nearly rude).

She talked to blacksmiths and cordwainers, farmers and florists, tailors, farriers, and even a few jewelry makers. She spoke to an apothecary for a long time, and they were fast friends once Evie discussed her travels with the older woman and her husband, both of whom seemed to sell the majority of the healing supplies on the market – perhaps dwarves were too stalwart to become ill very often or Durin's Folk were simply not well practiced in the arts of healing, but Evangeline supposed that would be something she would like to see improved upon at the start.

The most delightful booth she came across, however, was that of a toymaker. He had a marvelous array of little carved and painted figures, various whizzing and whirring objects, and, best of all, mechanical toys which could move as if they were real. Evie was fascinated by them, and stayed to talk to their creator for a long while. As she had with the other dwarves, she asked about his craft and where he came from, how he liked Ered Luin and if he thought business was well. His name was Boldar and he had been making such things all his life, although times had been hard for him over those long years between the fall of Erebor and Thorin's discovery of the Blue Mountains. He had been there, during Smaug's attack, and his wife had died in the inferno. Evie tried to keep her eyes from welling up as he spoke, as he shared with her something so intimate and so personal she was surprised he would speak of it to a total stranger.

Perhaps that was the legacy of these dwarves, these outcasts. It was not so great a thing to have known someone who perished in the desolation of Smaug, or the Battle of Azanulbizar. In fact, it was hard to find families untouched by these tragedies, and the many more faced by the dwarves of Erebor during their long period of exile. Most would not share such things with a hobbit, one foreign to their kind, but many as they got to know her began to open up to Evangeline, who was clearly a part of their culture even if she was not one of their people. Once they heard she had been at Azanulbizar, saw the mithril ring which proved her story was true and realized that she had done the healing work they had been so unprepared to accommodate – dwarves were very great at causing injuries to others, but not so well practiced in healing those they received. Their armor was some of the finest in all Middle Earth, but if it failed them there was often little they could do. And they had been pierced, despite their mithril and their gold… These were a people touched by war and dragonfire, and it was in their very blood.

There were some who were too young to have ever seen Erebor, yet their lives had been affected by the fire drake's decimation of their home just as surely as if they had been present for the choking smoke and the ravenous flames. They were wanderers, they were outcasts, and Evie's heart was full to the point of breaking as she heard them explain what it was to have made a home for themselves here at Ered Luin, to have market days once again with their own kind, not as peddlers trying to sell their wares to men or travelers. Dwarves would not beg, it was beneath them, and yet many had come close during their time of exile, wandering from place to place and never having quite enough to eat or somewhere they could call their own. Hearing each of their stories, listening to the tragedy of their lives and yet how they bore it with their heads held high and pride laced in every muscle – the dwarves answered her questions politely, and explained their history as if it was a natural course for their lives, not the searing pain of a people wronged at every turn. But to reclaim even a little of what Erebor had been, to be able to come together and build once again – to have a market and a stable and a large forge where their talented blacksmiths could work, a mine where a great portion of their folk could toil at their natural labor… Many spoke, also, of the great Thorin Oakenshield, who they were grateful to in so many ways… He had led them through the darkest times of their race, brought them through the course of having seemingly limitless prosperity to absolute destitution, and then slowly back up again. Ered Luin would never be Erebor, but under Thorin perhaps it would be something great of its own accord. If nothing else, it was a home, and there was not a single dwarf she met who was not thankful for that.

Evie could have cried for all the stories she heard, for the pain and the suffering yet also the joys of the start of a new life. There were children running about, and she learned that this was the first time in many years that new dwarves had been born and that mothers felt well enough to raise children again. Ered Luin was a place of growth and of healing; it was everything Evangeline ever could have hoped and her heart swelled in her chest to think that she had been a part of settling the dwarves of Erebor here. Surely they would have discovered it on their own (there had been dwarven settlements here in the past) or found somewhere equally suitable, but to imagine her own role in the lives of these wonderful, deeply sensitive (although they would not appear so), hardworking people made her light up with pride and love.

And then, to think that there was even more she could do for them, that she would become their queen and lead them forward into the prosperity they were already beginning to see… That her work was far from over, but that the benefits of the seeds she and Thorin had planted years ago were already sprouting into the loveliest of flowers… She could have wept openly for the very thought of it. That they could, and would, be her people and that she, who had also wandered her whole life, could find a home in Ered Luin.

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Dwalin was leaning against the side of the wooden stall, winding up a little mechanical boar and watching it run across the flat surface of the table many of the wares were displayed on. He was trying to look nonchalant and almost bored, but the amusement twinkling in his eyes betrayed his attempts to be casual about playing with the toys. Evie was still talking with Boldar, although now they were discussing the possibility of traveling to the Shire every now and then for their market days, as Evie believed the Shirelings would take great joy in his creations. Hobbits loved things that seemed magical, even if it went against their nature – as long as they never had to leave their homes to see such things, they were content to enjoy the wonders of the world. Evangeline would never forget the fireworks which lit up the sky like glowing rain and made unbelievable shapes which sometimes seemed more real than their surroundings – the Shire's midsummer parties had, every once in a while, been graced by a traveling wizard who brought the fireworks which had enchanted Evie's childhood. He had not come in a long time, however, and she wondered absentmindedly even now where he had gone off to. She had not seen him since before her father's death…

The healer was distracted once again by something which made a warm smile fall on her pink lips; Dis and Fildur had wandered to a nearby cart and were returning to their friends, but now Dis was holding a large bouquet of wild violets. Fildur held her hand, leading her back towards the group but whispering something in her ear as they approached, the last few rays of afternoon sun lighting up the scene and making it look like something out of a story. The hobbit grinned, remembering Dis' explanations of the difficult nature of their wedding and realizing what a struggle it must have been for them. But now they were together, and happy, and Evie couldn't help but hope that the same might happen for her and Thorin. This was the worst of it – dealing with Belinir and his associates, trying to prove herself and earn her position amongst the dwarves – but if she could survive this, they could be together. The blonde watched Fildur tuck one of the lovely purple flowers behind Dis' ear, weaving it through one of her dark braids so it would stay. He kissed her on the temple, wrapping his arm around her as they finally stopped next to the assembled group. The princess was glowing, and simply smiled at Evie when she caught her new friend staring at them. The hobbit blushed, turning back to Boldar, who was showing Dwalin an even larger mechanical creature – this time a stag.

Evie looked around at the other objects, and her eyes stuck on one of the smaller carved figures lining the edges of the stall. They were two little ravens, turned towards each other as if in confidence. She gently picked it up, and realized looking down at the base that they could come apart. She pulled at each of them and the base separated, so she was holding a raven in each hand. Intrigued, she set one of them down and was investigating the other when she was nearly startled by the older dwarf's voice above her.

"If you turn him upside down, you will see that you may hide a message in the base."

Boldar retrieved the raven she had set on the table and demonstrated how if one turned it upside down and rotated a little panel beneath the base, one could slide it out the side that used to be connected to the other raven and a small compartment was revealed.

"You can place a note in there, or something else that is small, and then close it back up… They are meant to be together, of course, but should they be separated they can carry messages just as any ravens will for a kind master."

Evie's grey eyes sparkled; she was delighted with this wonderful display. She petted the little raven figure on its sleek black head with her index finger, the carving smooth and well-constructed. Each had little dark blue gems for eyes, and she favored the sweet expressions on their faces. Evie had bought a few things here and there in the market, as she felt she should, but had not gotten anything specifically for herself, and certainly not like this.

"How much would you like for them?"

She asked, hoping the sum was not too great. She supposed she would set up a place of healing close to the main fortress of Ered Luin and earn some money that way to pay for her own things, for she had no idea otherwise how a queen was to provide for herself short of using her own talents in such a way. Certainly she did not expect Thorin to take care of her in all respects; and if he intended to then perhaps she would just offer her healing services free of charge.

These little ravens would be perfect, she thought. She remembered Dis saying something at breakfast about the raven being the house sigil of their family, which made perfect sense to Evangeline, who had grown accustomed to thinking of Thorin whenever she saw a raven, since they served as his messengers during the years of their separation. She had grown to truly favor the gorgeous, dark birds, and she did not want to pass up these enchanting little representations. Besides, who knew what she could use them for, with their secret compartments…

"For you, my lady, nothing. If you can truly create a trade between Ered Luin and the Shire, the least I can do is give you the ravens. They are one of my favorite designs, and I could not think of a better home for them. Keep them and remember me and my little shop."

He offered, and Evie was flushed with gratitude. Dwalin thought to take advantage of the old dwarf's kindness as well and asked how much he priced the boar at, but even though Boldar claimed the sum he gave him was less than the usual, the warrior still scoffed at the price, although Evie thought it rather reasonable. Perhaps one day she would surprise him with it, she mused with an inward grin. He was a good friend, and while Dwalin would never admit to enjoying such childish things, the hobbit cherished the youthful humor in his eyes as he played with the toys displayed around him.

"We should head back for dinner."

Fildur cut in, his arm still linked with his wife's. Evie nodded, thanking Boldar profusely and assuring him she would do all she could to open trade networks between Ered Luin and the Shire, which she felt fairly confident she could. The hobbits would balk at the idea at first, yet even though they always disparaged foreign visitors when they met them, no one could argue with the fine constructions offered at Boldar's shop, nor the crafts of many of the other dwarves, and the Shire would be lucky to have such useful tools and well-practiced hands at their service. There were also many things the dwarves would like, no doubt – particular foods which grew only in the warm, fertile earth of the northern parts of Eriador, and some of the more simple crafts of the hobbits. She thought a great partnership might be begun here, and a true coming together of the two peoples which reflected ultimately, she supposed, the relationship between herself and Thorin.

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It was starting to get dark as the four made their way back up the mountain and towards the large doors of Ered Luin's main stronghold. Evie stopped for a moment as they neared them, looking back over the mountainside and at the small market down below. The dwarves were taking down their stalls, folding up fabrics and tucking away their wares as the night drew in. Those children who were still at the market were sitting down and resting or impatiently tugging at their parents' clothes, trying to convince them to go home. Evie smiled, watching everyone closing up for the evening, probably to return to their dwellings and see their families, drink some ale, and rest. That seemed the way of the dwarves- they lived for the simple joys of mead and good company. Things were not so different where she had come from, for although Evie was not so great a drinker as any of her companions, she too enjoyed those simple comforts which made a life full.

She had always thought about things like that – where people were going, who they were coming home to… The thought of returning to the main hall of Ered Luin and of finding Thorin struck her as a sudden need deep in her chest, and she had already begun to turn back when Dis called down to her (the dwarf was already a little further up as she had not stopped right when Evie had).

"Thorin will blame us if we don't get you back to dinner on time!"

She groaned, a wide grin on her face. They all had a rather lovely day, and for all the dark conversation the whole of it had come out to a single happy thought – that Ered Luin could and would be a home to a homeless people. And more materially, the dwarves had all collected little things here and there across the market – Dis was wearing a new brooch and cradling her flowers, Dwalin had arranged to have his axes sharpened, and Evie carried a satchel full of charming objects and foods, most specially the ravens she had been given by the toymaker. She smiled, shaking her head and walking up the path behind Dis. It had been flattened out so a cart could travel up the mountainside with supplies, no doubt, and the road was not bad at all to walk upon. Soon they were back inside, and running upstairs to change before dinner so they would not be tardy and incur the wrath of the great and mighty Thorin Oakenshield.

Evie sighed as she stepped out of her day dress and set it aside, collecting her nicer evening dress and trying to rearrange her messy hair. She felt her pulse quicken – the very idea of seeing Thorin excited her. To imagine that it was only the night previous that they had… That he had… The hobbit took a deep breath and smiled at herself in the mirror. It was time, she imagined, for some good mead and some even better company.

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Author's Note: Hello lovelies! Sorry things have been a bit slower lately, I've been very busy over the summer! The next few weeks will be crazy busy for me with San Diego Comic-Con coming up, but after that I will have much more time to sit down and write! So please forgive me if it's a couple weeks until the next chapter… I will do what I can! I hope you enjoyed this chapter – it took me a while to figure out what I wanted Market Day to be and I like how it turned out. I look forward to reading your comments! Xoxo!