Hello Sweeties. I seem to be free of homework today. So I am giving you all a lovely new chapter. We will be seeing Kili doing something very drastic. Fili attempts to go courting. And Thorin somehow loses his sons.
Takes place 57 years before the LOTR events.
Frerin & Durin at 2 ½.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hobbit or its characters.
Fili is pacing back and forth by the gates of Erebor waiting for Inara to arrive with their ponies. Just a few days ago the council had decreed that if he did not start a courtship that they would find a dwarrowdam for him. His uncle had been trying to hold the council back, but it wasn't enough. For the council was becoming impatient at the king's heir for not taking interest in securing a beneficial match. It was Inara who came to his rescue. She had given the council a strong argument, and so he has been given six months to start a courtship.
"You are going to wear a hole into the floor if you keep pacing like that." Inara says as she approaches with two painted ponies. Looking at the woman you wouldn't suspect her of being the Queen of Erebor. She is wearing a green blouse with a brown vest. A brown skirt of court length billows as she walks to reveal black pants from the two thigh high slits in the front. Her soft black boots barely make a sound as she walks.
"Sorry. I am just a bit nervous is all." Fili replies as Inara hands him the reins to the smaller of the two ponies.
"You shouldn't be. But then again, with a council trying to pressure you into a courtship will do that to you. Are you sure you want to ask Bard if you can court Sigrid?" Inara asks as she climbs up onto her pony's saddle; making sure there is one leg on each side.
"I have been corresponding with Sigrid since after the battle. I know that she is still young in the years of men." Fili answers as he pulls himself up onto his pony.
"Very young if I remember. She was fifteen at the time of the battle. So that must mean that she is sixteen, almost seventeen." Inara looks over at Fili before continuing. "To some, she may be too young for you. I know that you are the equivalent of a twenty-eight year old, possibly thirty, to the race of men. Some may see you attempting to court her as cradle robbing."
"That is not my intention, this cradle robbing as you put it." Fili responds with a hint of frustration. "We simply relate to each other since we are both the oldest children in our families."
"No need to get all angry at me. I just want you to be sure that this is what you want." Inara says as she signals her pony to start moving to a slow trot.
Fili follows suit, and can hear no less than eight other ponies following after. Turning to look over his shoulder, he can see that his uncle has sent some of the best officers from Erebor's army. When it came to Thorin protecting Inara, he knows no limits.
As his pony catches up with Inara's Fili speaks. "I am not sure where a courtship with Sigrid will lead to, but I am willing to wait till she is of an older age before I take her to a marriage bed."
"That is one thing that you will have to explain to Bard. If you wish, I will try to add it in when negotiating the courtship contract." Inara states.
"You know, maybe the age difference won't be so bad. I mean look at you and uncle. In the race of man, uncle can pass for being in his early to mid-forties. How old are you, Inara?" Fili chuckles as Inara glares at him.
The rest of the ride to Dale was spent in silence.
Somewhere on the Northern outside slopes of Erebor...
"Kili, where are we going?" Tauriel asks as the dwarf holding her hand leads her to who knows where.
"Just wait and see. You are going to love it Tauriel." Kili tugs on Tauriels' hand to try and get her to move faster. He had been looking for the perfect spot, and Inara had told Kili of a place that she and Aliena had been earlier this week. Bless Inara for helping him plan all of this. For today was the day that Kili was going to ask Tauriel if he may place a courtship braid in her long red hair.
Earlier today, Inara had helped Kili pack a basket with a blanket and some food. Kili last week had finished making a few of the beards that he was planning to place in the braid. One was a silver bead with the emblem of the Durin line. A few of the others were made of green emeralds or wood from Mirkwood. He is worried that Tauriel will not accept the braid, but Inara has encouraged him to try anyways.
So here he is, leading his love up the Northern slopes of the mountain to an isolated spot full of saplings and blooming flowers. He knew that Tauriel was no longer welcome into Mirkwood, so maybe this little spot will become her own little forest.
As they reached their destination, Tauriel let out a gasp at the sight of the new growth.
"Kili. It is beautiful. How did you find this place?" She asks him, letting go of his hand to go and explore the small area.
"It was Inara who told me of this place, actually. Kind of her suggestion that I bring you here for a picnic." Kili fumbles about with the basket in his hand as he searches for the blanket. "Ah, here we go. A blanket to place on the ground for you." He sets down the basket onto the ground as he pulls out the blanket. He flaps in into the air in an attempt to help spread it out before placing it onto the ground.
"Kili, you didn't need to dirty the blanket for me. I have had to eat many meals while sitting on the ground." Tauriel says with a smile. Very thoughtful was her dwarf, if she could call him hers.
"Shall we have lunch?" Kili asks her as he takes the basket from the ground and brings it over to the blanket. He sets the basket in the middle of the blanket, and starts to remove the food. "Some bread, cheese, a few greens, some fruit, ah and some pastries for dessert."
Tauriel chuckles as she watches him set each of the food items onto the blanket.
"Are you going to come join me?" Kili asks her with a devilish grin on his face.
"Of course." Tauriel gives Kili a smile as she moves to sit on the blanket.
"You know, even after all of the eating out of doors that we did on the journey, none of it can compare to this." Kili says to her with his eyes giving her quite an intense look. He smirks as a slight blush creeps onto the she-elf's face.
The two eat in a companionable silence till Kili finally builds up the courage he needs. Tauriel had just taken a bite out of a yellow apple, and Kili watches as a small trickle of the juice makes its way down from her lips. Allowing his courage to merge with his recklessness Kili leans forwards and places a kiss where the juice ran down.
Feeling Kili's lips against her skin, Tauriel turns her head, and Kili brings his lips to meet with hers. The kiss starts out as a chaste one, but when neither one of them backs away Kili decides to try and deepen it. Soon their kiss becomes a heated one, and both of them can feel their hearts beating fiercely.
Neither one is sure who breaks the kiss, but when it ends it leaves both of them breathless.
"I have to ask you, Tauriel." Kili whispers against her lips.
"Ask me what?"
Kili backs away from Tauriel, and starts to feel his courage slip. Before he will allow it go, he asks her his question.
"MayIbraidyourhair?" Kili says so fast that Tauriel isn't sure what he just said.
"Slow down, and say it again Kili."
Kili takes a deep breath. "May I braid your hair?" Seeing her confusion he decides to explain. "It is a custom of ours that when we wish to court, or even marry, that a braid is placed in out intendeds' hair so that no other may try to claim them." Kili loses his confidence, and looks to the ground between them.
"So you wish to court me? Kili?" Tauriel whispers as she reaches out a hand to touch his cheek.
"I wish more than just to court you. I want to marry you. Right here, right now if I could." Kili says as he looks up from the ground, and looks right into her green eyes.
Seeing the love and honesty in her dwarfs' eyes, Tauriel does something rather reckless. She kisses Kili with every ounce of the love she has for him. It is enough to fuel both of them into action, and Kili soon find himself underneath his love.
In the halls of Erebor...
Thorin is making his way through the halls of his kingdom, heading towards the library to pick up his daughter. Since Inara left with Fili earlier in the day, he found himself stuck with having to watch his two boys. He had been hoping to leave them with Dis, however he hasn't been able to find her. So here he is taking his boys with him to pick up Aliena from her lessons with Ori.
"Adad. Adad. Adad. Adad." Frerin keeps saying as he walks next to his father. The little boy swinging his joined hand with his fathers'.
Thorin's other hand is holding Durin's little hand, and the boy is absolutely quiet. Out of both of his sons, Durin is the most serious. A fact that Inara teases Thorin about constantly. When Durin does talk it is usually just a single word.
"Are you two going to behave when we see Master Ori and your sister?" Thorin asks the two boys.
"Yeah." Is all Durin says as they walk down the hallway.
"Frerin? Are you going to behave?"
"Uh huh. No bad." Frerin replies and gives his dad a grin.
It is a grin like this that has Thorin worried about what mischief his son is planning. Out of the boys, Frerin is still the most vocal, outgoing, and devious of the two.
They keep walking till they reach the doors to the library. Thorin lets go of Durins' hand, knowing that the boy isn't going to run off, to open the door.
"Papa!" Aliena shouts from her seat at one of the tables. Plenty of 'Shhhs' are heard coming from the other patrons.
Making sure both boys are still near him, Thorin makes his way over to the table. "How are your lessons coming?" he asks as he glances at what appears to be letters on the parchment.
"She is making some progress, Thorin." Ori says as he comes over to greet his king. "We have been working on our writing in Westron today. However, she is more concerned with her fighting lessons."
"I got to be tough if I want to kick some Orc butt." Aliena says with a smile on her face.
Thorin raises an eyebrow at her statement. 'Looks like I will be needing to have a few words with Dwalin about his language around the lass.' Thorin thinks to himself.
"Are you just about ready to go for the day? Your mother won't be back with Fili for a few more hours, and Mahal knows where Kili or Dis are at today." Thorin moves to help Aliena place some of her work books into the small satchel that Bofur had bought for Aliena for her birthday.
"Papa. Where is Durin and Frerin?" Aliena asks Thorin as she glances about the library from her chair.
Thorin and Ori do quick glances about before they realize that the boys are no longer in their sights.
"Lu akraditu!" Is all Thorin says as he, Ori, and Aliena go in search of the two missing boys.
Meanwhile in Dale...
"I am not sure what to say to your suit." Bard says as he looks at Fili from across the council table. Even though Bard has stepped up into the role of leader for the people, he still tries to down play it as much as he can.
Inara decides to step in since Fili is looking a little lost at the moment. "Let us be honest with each other, Bard. Fili can you please leave the room so that Bard and I may discuss this." She gives Fili an encouraging smile before the blonde dwarf lets out a huff and leaves.
Once Fili leaves the room Bard gives Inara a hard look. "I will not force my Sigrid into a political marriage. She is not some pawn in a game."
"I wouldn't expect her to be. However, you and I cannot ignore the fact that those two seem to have a connection. From what Fili tells me, it was Sigrid who began the correspondence between them. I could see in her letters that she worried about him months after the battle." Inara states as she watches Bard pour a glass of ale for the two of them.
"What you are asking for me to do is something that I am not inclined to do." Bard says as he hands Inara one of the filled glasses before sitting down. "You and Thorin have a daughter, yes? What would you say to the person who was seeking her hand when she isn't even twenty?"
"Knowing Thorin he would lock her away, but that is the nature of dwarves." Inara and Bard both chuckle before Inara continues. "Myself. I would tell her to follow her heart, but to also keep a level head. I would caution her of jumping into things too fast. As for her age, I am hoping that she will be nineteen before she seeks the company of any male."
"And what would you say to an age difference like that of my Sigrid and your kingdom's heir?" Bard asks me with a stern look.
"Well Thorin and I have a 175 year age difference. However if you went by appearances, he passes for a man in his forties, and I a woman of twenty six. Fili may be 87 in dwarf years, but if you were to try and figure a close age to that of man he would fit in at thirty. Maybe younger. I understand that you are hesitant to allow your seventeen year old daughter marry a man older than she. That is why Fili was the one who is asking for a longer courtship. That way she would be of a respectable age, say about twenty at the earliest. He does not wish to take her to a marriage bed before she is ready. To tell you the truth, I wish I had found a man like Fili instead of the man who forced himself upon me."
"So Aliena is not Thorin's natural daughter?" Bard asks Inara quizzically. He seems intrigued by the idea.
"No she isn't of blood, but Thorin has taken her in as if she truly is one of his own. Which to tell you the truth, is not something many males would do with a child not of their blood. Yet dwarves cherish children just as much as elves and men do." Inara allows some emotions to spill into her tone of voice. She hopes that Bard will see that she is truly looking out for the best interests of everyone involved.
Bard allows the information to sink in, and can see that Inara is truly being honest with him. Her eyes have a slight shine to them as she spoke of her own daughter. He lets out a sigh before giving her his final answer.
"A long courtship you say? Will Fili give his word not to rush Sigrid into the marriage bed before she is willing to?" Bard asks.
"You have my word as queen of Erebor. If I discover that Fili has pushed Sigrid into it before she is ready, I will scalp his hair on his head, and allow you to turn him into a eunuch if that is your desire." Inara says as she stands up and gives Bard a low, curtsey bow. Yes, she was one of those who watched the Tudor's TV Series on Showtime.
"Then I give my permission for Fili to court Sigrid, but the final say is hers and hers alone." Bard says in a hard tone of voice.
"I thank you on behalf of Fili and the kingdom of Erebor." Inara says as she rises up from her curtsied bow.
She leaves Bard's council room, and finds Fili pacing the hallway just down a ways. Once he sees Inara approach, he feels as though his heart will stop beating.
"Well? Did Bard agree?" Fili asks hesitantly.
"He did. You, my boy, are now to ask Sigrid for permission to court. And if you push her into any hanky-panky before marriage I will see to it personally that you will lose all of that pretty blonde hair of yours. Oh, and Bard has permission to turn you into a eunuch once Thorin and I are done beating your ass. Is that clear?" Inara says, adding a harsh tone to the latter part.
Fili gives a gulp before squeaking out an answer. "Yes. Perfectly."
"Good. Now let us leave, I wish to see if the little hellions have drove their father crazy yet." Inara says, and both she and Fili have a good chuckle as they make their way down to the stables.
Back in Erebor...
Dwalin was coming back inside after sparing with a few of the older, more experienced, recruits. As he headed back towards the armory, the sound of little footsteps catch his attention.
"Who's there?" Dwalin shouts out.
A giggle is given in response, and the footsteps scurry away. The sound echoes off of the walls. Having an idea on what is causing the noise, Dwalin chases after it. As he rounds the corner of the hallway, he sees the small body of a child with dark hair go running into the armory. Still chasing after the child, Dwalin has an idea on whose child it is.
As he hurries into the armory, Dwalin closes the door so the little scamp can't escape.
"Right laddie, you best come out or your Adad will not be pleased with ya." Dwalin says as he stands perfectly still in front of the closed door.
"No hafta." Comes the little voice of the boy.
"Really now. You want to play hard to get do you? I am not one to play those games with, laddie. You best get yourself over here. Now." Dwalin says as he starts to lose patience with his king's son.
"No. Play hide seek." The voice comes again.
Dwalin lets out a growl before beginning his search for the wayward boy. "Your parents are going to owe me big time for this." He growls out as moves along the rows of spears and swords.
In another part of Erebor, another little wayward boy is wandering the halls. Originally the boy was searching for his twin, but somehow the boy got lost. As he wandered the unknown halls, the boy stumbles upon a door which is cracked open. Curiosity gets the better of him, and the boy enters the room.
What the boy doesn't realize is that after he entered the room, his aunt had come around the corner of the hallway. Dis looks up from her musings, and sees that the door to the temple of Mahal is open. Normally the door is closed, and for it to be left open is a very odd thing. She enters the temple area, and lets out a gasp at what she sees.
"Just how did you get in here, Durin?" Dis asks as she walks slowly towards the boy.
Durin, who is standing before the altar table, turns to look at his aunt approaching. What has caught the boy's eye isn't one of the statues on the table, but one of the others that is carved into a pillar a few feet away from the altar. The boy points to the statute before asking his aunt a question.
"Who dat?" Durin asks Dis with confusion written all over his face.
Dis kneels down next to Durin before looking up at the statute. She took a deep breath before answering her nephew's question. "That would be Durin the Deathless. He is the father of the Longbeard clan. Our family is one of his many decedents."
The little boy gives Dis a scowl that looks so like his father's. Durin looks back at the statute and whispers very softly. "That is me."
Dis hears Durin's whisper and gives a slight chuckle. Yes she believes in the reincarnation of Durin the Deathless, but already rumors spoke of her brother as being the reincarnation. "You share the same name as Durin the Deathless and his blood runs through you. Other than that, you are not him. Come now miz kandith. Let us get you back to your Adad. He must be worried about you."
Dis takes a hold of Durins' little hand and leads him out of the temple. As they walk the halls hand in hand, the two can hear the little giggling of a child. Followed by the growls of an adult. Coming around a corner is Dwalin with a wiggling Frerin in his grasp.
"Mi targê! Will you hold still boy!" Dwalin growls out as he tries to keep his hold on Frerin.
"Dwalin. I am surprised that my brother let you babysit for him." Dis says with a chuckle at seeing Dwalin become frustrated.
"I wasn't. I found this little azaghâl in the armory all by himself. I have no idea where Thorin could be." Dwalin says
"No Adad. No Adad." Frerin says as he keeps wiggling against the hold Dwalin has the boy in.
Dis chuckles as Frerin's antics before looking down at Durin. The little boy was giving his older brother a severe look.
"Well, we best get these two back to their parents then." Dis says to Dwalin. "And don't try to talk your way out of helping me with the two boys." She starts to walk away with Durin still holding her hand.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Dwalin growls softly before whispering to the wiggling child. "Ag zasasmaki rathkh-hund."
Frerin stops his wiggling and gives Dwalin a glare that Inara would be very proud of.
Thorin and Ori had looked all over the library, and now had some of the servants searching everywhere for the twins. The twins had been missing all afternoon, and it was now coming up on the early evening hours. Inara and Fili should be back at any time now, and Thorin has no idea how he is going to explain this to his yâsith. He was now searching the halls, and that is where one of the servants finds him.
"My king." Mari, one of the female servants, says as she approaches the king.
"Have you found the boys?" Thorin asks with his voice full of worry.
"No my king. But the queen and your heir are approaching the main gates." Mari backs away slowly, before running away.
Thorin mutters a few choice words before running towards the main gates. Inara is going to kill him when she finds out. As he gets closer to the gates, he can see Inara climb down from her pony. He slows down his running to a fast walk and embraces her.
"I wasn't gone that long, Thorin." Inara says with a chuckle.
Fili watches his uncle hold Inara close, but he gets a feeling that something is off. "Is everything alright?" he asks.
Thorin releases Inara from their embrace and takes a step back. Just as he is about to say something a duo of giggles echoes through the entrance hall.
"My boys!" Inara says with a smile on her face as she walks past Thorin to be greeted by her sons.
Dis lets go of Durin's hand and the little boy can't seem to run fast enough into his mother's waiting arms. Dwalin, however, doesn't release Frerin, and the boy shouts out for his adad. Thorin walks over to Dwalin and takes his son from his friend's arms.
"You owe me. Big time." Dwalin whispers to Thorin.
Now that his boys are back, Thorin decides to ask Fili how the negotiations for courtship went. Yet before he can ask his nephew, another duo enters through the gates.
"Where have you two been?" Thorin asks.
Kili and Tauriel stop where they are, and both look like two kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
"Just went for a walk, Thorin." Kili replies with a shaky voice.
Inara glances over to the pair and starts to chuckle. Looks like Kili did more than just place a courting braid in Tauriel's hair. "Are you sure about that Kili?" she asks with a grin on her face.
"Uhhh. Yesh." Kili answers, but his loss of confidence becomes very apparent. "I am going to supper. Tauriel are you hungry?"
"Very." Tauriel replies.
As Kili and Tauriel walk past the group, both Fili and Inara notice that there is not one but two braids in Tauriel's hair. The queen and heir get large grins on their faces.
"Tauriel. Should I be calling you my sister now that you are married to my brother?" Fili asks, and watches as the two come to a dead stop.
"What!" Thorin shouts for all to hear.
Kili quickly turns around, and says with pride in his voice. "Tauriel is my yâsith as of this afternoon." Then grabs his wife's hand, and both go running towards the dining halls.
Thorin's face has a deep set scowl, and Inara can't help but laugh at her husband. "Looks like Kili did the same thing you did Thorin."
That night Thorin's voice could be heard throughout all the halls of Erebor. Kili was going to have some explaining to do.
Translation for what Dwalin says to Frerin:
Ag zasasmaki rathkh-hund - You will taste my knuckle soon. (You're going to get a beating soon.)
In the context that I wrote this is in future sense, not here and now. It is more like a threat. So I hope you all like this chapter. I had fun writing it. Especially the part of the missing boys.
Cookies to those who can point out the use of certain lines from the Hobbit movies. (Hint: Certain characters are saying lines that another character used.)
Reviews are welcome. Including the negative kind.
Selene
In the next chapter we will see some correspondence letters between Bilbo and Inara.