So here is the next chapter for all of you patiently waiting readers, reviewers, or curious folks who just found this story. I have to say that I had to re-edit this chapter quite a bit. So hopefully you all will enjoy it.
Big shout out to firefoxxe who gave me some ideas about things for this chapter, and for creating the characters Runila, Balana, Nalo, Herak, Grurim, and Munzadi. . So everyone please give firefoxxe a big round of applause for her efforts. You have my gratitude and thanks firefoxxe.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hobbit or LOTR.
Remember: Years are approximate and rounded. 5 years till LOTR events, and 2 more chapters to go till then!
Khuzdul. Sindarin.
Frerin & Durin- 54 years old, looks 25.
Kelda- 50 years old, looks 24.
Balder-49 years old, looks 24.
Toril- 48 years old, looks 24.
Freya- 47 years old, looks 23.
Rìka & Kilian- 46 years old, looks 23.
Karys & Fergys- 40 years old, looks 22.
Vân & Solen- 38 years old, looks 22.
Maiti & Yuri- 34 years old, looks 21.
Elleon- 33 ½ years old, looks 21.
Tanis- 32 ½ years old, looks 20.
Raina- 29 ½ years old, looks 19.
Bofur II (Bo)- 25 years old, looks 18.
Erebor, Council Chambers...
Thorin has been sitting in council, listening to the members bickering over prices of goods that they sell in large amounts to their trade partners, for the past two hours. He is becoming weary of the continual arguing about this particular subject. Raising a hand from the arm rest of his chair, Thorin presses his thumb and first finger against his forehead, and his thumb and finger rub against the wrinkles above his silver colored eyebrows. The pressure of a headache is starting to return again.
Earlier that morning, while still in bed with Inara, Thorin had woken up to a throbbing pain in his right arm and a growing headache. Inara had noticed his pain and had him drink a tonic before getting up out of bed.
"You aren't as young as you used to be, Thorin." She had said to him with a cheeky grin on her face.
In all their years together, Inara has barely grown older in her looks. Even though they were wedded when she was only 24 years old, in the race of men; Inara has only become more beautiful in the passing years. Though if she still aged like the race of men, she would be close to her ending age by now. Yet, because she was granted the life span of a dwarf, she only looks to be in her late 30's even though she is coming close to the same age that Thorin was when they first met.
"Aye, but you still are as beautiful as the day I met you, Amrâlimê." Thorin had replied while giving a kiss to her hand. "I have been blessed to have you by my side for all these years."
Inara had let out a giggle before placing a kiss to Thorin's lips.
"And you have mellowed out from being that always brooding, stubborn dwarf that you were when we met."
"Brooding?" Thorin had told her as he grinned. Without giving away his intention, Thorin was quick to pull Inara onto his lap as he stayed leaned back against the headboard to their bed. He had let out a laugh as he heard Inara give a squeal of surprise. Thorin held Inara's body close to his as he had begun to place heated kisses against her shift covered shoulder.
Thorin at this point in the council meeting is so into his memory of this mornings activities with Inara that he has failed to notice one of his council members watching him.
A young council member, a dam named Balana, watches Thorin with greater interest than listening to her fellow council members. Balana is the newest, to have a seat on Thorin's council. She oversees the treasury alongside Gloin, who is getting ready to retire. Brushing a stray brown curl from her face, she looks away from the king to the piece of paper that is lying on the table in front of her. On this piece of paper is something that she fears to bring up in council.
"Emulhekh." An older, white haired council member says in a huff to Thorin.
Thorin stops his ministration to his forehead, and his daydreaming, to remove his hand away from his face. He has an idea of where this particular council member is wishing the conversation to go. Pushing himself up from his chair, Thorin stands before the council to address them. However, a quick shot of pain hits him deep within his chest. This pain causes Thorin to gasp for breath and fold his body forwards.
"My King!" many of the council members call out in surprise.
"Emulhekh!" Balana calls out as she scrambles from her seat to try and catch Thorin before he hits the floor. "Someone call for a healer! Quickly!"
By this time, Dwalin had hurried forward from his spot by the door. He isn't fast enough to catch Thorin, but Dwalin is thankful that Balana was able to guide the kings' body to the floor without injury.
"Thorin." Dwalin growls out as he helps roll Thorin from his side to his back. "Thorin. Stay with us."
Thorin's eyes lock onto Dwalin's and even though he can't speak through the pain, Thorin knows that the message is clear.
"They'll be alright. But ya need to catch your breath." Dwalin growls to Thorin as he takes hold of Thorin's hand that isn't clutching at the kings' heart. "Where is tha' damn healer?! And someone find Prince Fili!"
Halls of Healing...
Fili is in a hurry as he enters the healing halls to try to find Inara. His golden hair is disheveled from his jogging through Erebor. Even his blue tunic has sweat marks in the armpit areas to show how fast he has been moving.
"Is Inara here, Eira?" Fili asks the dam that is seated at the check-in desk to the healing halls.
"Prince." Eira says as she gives a quick bow. "I believe she came in around mid-morning asking to see healer Aert about something."
"Where is she then?" Fili asks with a growl in his voice. He really wants to find Inara to tell her what happened to Thorin before anyone else.
Eira turns a few pages in the ledger that is on the desk before giving Fili the answer that he needs. "Aert has her in private room 6."
"Thank you." Fili says before making his way diagonally to where the room is. Walking through the many empty cots, Fili is filled with dread with what he has to do.
"Prince." A voice calls out from a few rooms away from where Fili is headed.
Turning towards the voice, Fili is surprised to see healer Aert walking towards him.
"I take it you are here to tell her about Thorin." Aert says with sadness in his voice.
"I am, though I take no pleasure in it." Fili says with a sigh before running a hand over his face.
"If I may speak to you freely, Prince?" Aert asks cautiously. In all his years of being a healer, Aert knows what it is like to have to give the bad news to a family.
"What is it?" Fili asks hurriedly.
"Break it to her majesty gently if you can."
Fili is taken aback by the healer's suggestion. He can see that the healer is uncomfortable about something, but what he isn't sure. With a scowl on his face, Fili decides to ask the healer. Yet before he can ask the healer, Aert tells Fili.
"Around mid-morning, her majesty came in complaining about abdominal cramps." Aert tells Fili, and seeing the confusion on Fili's face, Aert continues. "I did an examination and discovered she was with child."
"Was?" Fili asks in shock. The word 'was' isn't lost to him, and he wants to know.
Aert gives Fili a compassionate look before answering. "She has suffered a miscarriage. It was early enough in the pregnancy that she didn't even realize that she was with child. Her majesty and the king should have paid more attention when using the herbs that Healer Oin had told them to use after the birth of the last prince. If Oin was here, he would be giving them a good talking to. Her majesty's womb is too scared to be able to carry another child to term. It would be best if they refrain from such activities so that this doesn't happen again."
Fili's shoulders slump at the news, and his hands ball up into fists. "How do I tell her after she has experienced this?"
Aert places a hand onto Fili's shoulder. "You do it the best way you can, lad. Perhaps this news of the king will distract her mind from dark thoughts that females minds go after a loss of a child."
Fili nods his head before placing one of his hands onto where the healer has his hand on Fili's shoulder. Aert gives a soft squeeze before allowing Fili to remove his hand. Giving Aert a mumbled thank you, Fili enters the room.
Gently closing the door behind him, Fili can see Inara kneeling in front of the fire place. In the fire, he can see the bloodied remnants of cloth burning. He also notices that Inara has changed clothes. She is no longer wearing her emerald green dress, but a dress that is the deepest shade of burgundy. It is form fitting in the bodice all the way down to her waist. The sleeves are only to her elbows, and tight against the muscles.
"Inara." Fili says softly as he carefully approaches where Inara is.
Turning her head away from the flames that are burning away the bloodied towels, blood clots, and any remnants of the miscarriage, her red rimmed eyes see a blurry silhouette of Fili.
"Fili." Inara whispers before her eyes fill with tears. She lets out a shuddering gasp before letting the tears run down her face.
Seeing Inara's pain and sadness, Fili kneels next to her and pulls her into his arms. He holds her to his chest and begins to rock them back and forth. Knowing what kind of pain Inara is going through, Fili tries to comfort her as he had when Sigrid had suffered a miscarriage. They stay there for a time till Inara has no more tears left to shed.
"Sorry." Inara whispers against Fili's upper arm, which she had clung to in her sorrow.
"It will be okay." Fili says as he gently rubs up and down on Inara's left arm.
"How can it?" Inara whispers as she stares into the fire. "How can I face telling Thorin?"
At saying Thorin's name, Fili's body stiffens and he knows that it isn't lost on Inara.
"Inara." Fili says gently before pushing Inara away from his chest and arm. "I have something to tell you."
Inara turns her head away from the fire to look Fili right in the eyes. A cold shiver runs down her spine and she begins to fear what Fili has to tell her. "What is it? Fili?"
Fili takes a deep breath knowing that he has no choice. "Thorin collapsed while in council." He quickly grabs hold of Inara's shoulders to keep her from getting up. "They have moved him to one of the dignitary's rooms where he is being watched, and taken care of, by healer Nalo. He says that Thorin suffered a heart attack and will be needing constant supervision for a while. So Nalo will be staying with Thorin."
"There is something else. Isn't there?" Inara asks as she searches Fili's face for an answer.
"Healer Nalo has suggested that Thorin will have more attacks like this if he continues being king. The more attacks he has, the weaker his heart will become. The stress is becoming too much for his heart to handle." Fili says with fear as he looks away from Inara's starring eyes.
Inara pieces together what Fili has left unsaid. "So the council wants Thorin to step down as king." She closes her eyes and lets out a soft sigh. "Fili. We knew this day was coming. Just didn't expect it to come so soon."
"I don't know if I am ready to be king, Inara." Fili says as he feels Inara place a hand to his cheek in an attempt to turn his face to hers.
"You can and you will. If anything else, I will stay on as queen if that will help." Inara's face is full of resolve as he speaks. She does not to Fili suffer what Thorin has because of the weight of running a kingdom.
"That would be appreciated."
Smything workshops by the Forges...
Balder is currently pounding away on a piece of hot metal that he is turning into a blade. With each hit of his mallet upon the heated metal, Balder's mind is in a whirlwind from an encounter at the start of his work shift. The cause of the whirlwind is that of a light reddish brown haired, honey eye colored dwarrowdam named Runila.
At the beginning of his shift, Forge Master Tiar introduced Runila as the new materials runner for the smithy workshops. Balder didn't seem to mind, but when Master Tiar had assigned Runila to Balder for the day, the lad was a bit perturbed by this.
Now that the work day was half over with, Balder had sent the lass on a run for more iron. It wasn't lost on him that Runila was very thin for a dam. He also noticed that she hadn't had lunch or a pick-me-up snack at all. This had Balder wondering just why the dam had been hired for a job that was demanding.
Still pounding away on the heated metal, Balder didn't notice that the dam had returned from her errand.
"Uzbad." Runila says as she does a quick curtsy after entering Balder's assigned workshop. Her light reddish brown hair is pulled back away from her face by two thick braids on each side of her head. The rest of her hair is done in a braid that has been folded up at the back of her head. Her tunic is a dark brown color with smudges of coal, dust, and dirt all over it. Her black pants are torn at the bottom so that they sit at ankle length. The soles of her shoes are starting to come apart from the rest of the shoe.
Balder looks over his shoulder at her before looking back to his work. He doesn't say a single word to her as he moves the heated metal blade to the shallow pool of water. The heated metal makes a violent hiss as he dunks the hot metal into the cool water.
"Shall I put the material away?" Runila asks as she walks towards the storage cabinets with a full basket filled with ore, gems, and other precious metals.
"You may. Just be sure to place the materials in the correct bins. I will be closing the shop early today." Balder says as he removes the now cooled blade from the water.
"Yes, Uzbad." Runila says as she begins to sort the new materials and place them into their places in the storage cabinet.
"I do not know if the other smiths will be needing your service. If they don't, you are free for the rest of the day." Balder says as he wipes the sweat from his brow with the back of the light tan sleeve of his tunic. His wavy, honey blonde hair is drenched with sweat which is causing the hair to look more like curls than waves. The only parts of his hair that aren't curling are his braids that show he is of the house of Durin and Fili's son.
"The others have left for the day already since tonight is the beginning feast of Celebration for Durin's day." Runila replies as she puts the last of the new materials away. She had noticed that the other shops were dark, with only the dimming light of unused forges inside.
Balder pulls off his heavy-duty apron and tosses it onto a bench before walking over to the water pump in the corner of his workshop. He pumps the handle and places a hand underneath the cool water coming out of the spout. After a few good pumps, Balder places both hands underneath the water to clean off the soot that is on his hands. Then he cups his hands to catch some water before bending over the small tub. He splashes the water onto his face and repeats the motion of collecting water in his hands again. After a second time of splashing his face, he reaches over to the hanging cloth that is on a single towel rack.
Unknown to Balder, Runila had turned around and watched as the young lord cleaned himself up. Her cheeks get a faint blush to them and her heart speeds up a bit at the sight. She has to remind herself to look away as she realizes that he is about to turn around after drying his face.
"I am done for the day. You are free from service and can go prepare with your family." Balder says in a stately manner as he moves across the room to grab his things. He quickly places a few of his daggers, some arrowheads, and his now empty lunch sack into a pack that he was given by Fili.
"I have no family, Uzbad." Runila says so quietly that Balder nearly misses it.
Turning to look back at the young dam, Balder gives her a confused look. "Everyone has family."
"Well yes I have family, but none are living, Uzbad." Runila says looking to the ground with shame.
"What happened to them?" Balder asks as he sets his pack onto the ground next to him.
"We came to Erebor several years ago from the Gray Mountains. Adad was to join Master Nori with some secret mission, and Amad was to work in the kitchens. My nadadith was planning on joining the army when he was old enough. However, all three were lost when the illness struck. I am the last of my family line. I have no family here or in the Gray Mountains." Runila says allowing her sadness to flow into her words. "I was staying in the shelter that her majesty had set up in the lower levels for those who have been orphaned by the illness. However, I have been pushed out of the shelter since I am old enough to work. So for the past few months I have been sleeping in the shadows, taking food that has been thrown out to eat."
Balder is shocked by what Runila has told him. He has never before heard of people living in shelters or going without food. Yet standing before him is a dam who is. Not knowing what to do, but feeling as though he should do something to help, Balder makes a decision.
"You will come with me to the royal halls."
Runila looks up in shock at Balder. "No, Uzbad."
"Let me finish." Balder interrupts before Runila say anything else. "My Sigin'amad will help you find something to wear, and you will eat in the main dining halls tonight. No more scraps of food for you. I am sure that she will be happy to meet you, and maybe help you find a permanent residence here in Erebor. Now, get your things together, and I will meet you at the main doors of the smelting forges."
Runila does a quick curtsy and hurries out of the workroom to go gather her things.
After Runila leaves the room, Balder lets a sigh and runs a hand down his face. "What have I gotten myself into?"
Royal Family Halls, Princess Dis's rooms...
Dis is seated in front of her vanity that sits in the bedroom she shares with Dwalin. She is already in her finest dark blue dress, with silver runes embroidered all over. She has yet to put on any jewelry or any makeup. She lets out a soft moan as a pair of rough hands run through her dark hair that is still changing into a dark silver, like Thorin's.
"Keep tha' up lass and we might not make it to the feast on time." A burly voice says from behind her.
She lets out a soft chuckle before looking into the mirror on her vanity to see the owner of the voice.
Standing behind Dis, is one of her dearest friends and the sire of her young twins. Dwalin had been the one to tell Dis about Thorin's heart attack and condition. However, Dis had made it clear to the council that the feast would continue with Fili taking the lead. Then she had dragged Dwalin with her back to their rooms for some physical comfort.
"What has ya so lost in thought lass?" Dwalin asks as he continues working braids into Dis's hair.
"I was just thinking about my nadad and his family." Dis says as she carefully reaches for a simple silver bracelet without disturbing Dwalin's work. "Inara looked so lost and pale when she arrived in Thorin's recovery chambers." She slips the bracelet onto her right wrist as she watches Dwalin through the mirror.
"Aye. That lass has been through enough in her life. Almost as much as Thorin has, but not for as long." Dwalin says as he places one of his beads at the end of one of the braids. He has been hoping that Dis would allow him to go to Thorin to ask for a betrothal, yet Dis has been stubborn about the topic.
"Promise me something." Dis says as she reaches back over her shoulder to take hold of Dwalins left hand. "If anything were to happen to me, that you will look after my boys and our twins."
"What has brought this on?" Dwalin asks as he uses the vanity mirror to look Dis in the eyes.
"I am saying that neither you nor I are getting any younger, and that should something happen to one of us, or both of us, that the twins are well looked after." Dis turns around on her small bench so that she is now facing Dwalin without using the mirror.
"Lass. Nothing is gonna happen to ya. It would be me that the twins and ya should be worryin' about something happening to. I am the one who will go first." Dwalin replies as he bends down to place a kiss against the top of Dis's head.
A gentle knock at their door ends their dark discussion.
"I wonder who that could be." Dis says with a chuckle as Dwalin lets out a soft, chest rumbling growl.
"If it is one of ya little imps I will be given ya a sound beating." Dwalin shouts in a joking manner to the door. Lately, both Fili and Kili have been coming into their chambers, seeking out Dis at odd hours of the day and night. This has caused Dwalin much grief, but he knows that he can't keep the boys away from their amad.
The door opens carefully, and both Dwalin and Dis are surprised to see Balder peek his head in.
"I apologize for interrupting you, but I have need of you, Sigin'amad." Balder says before opening the door fully to reveal frightened Runila standing behind him.
Dwalin lets out a growled sigh at the sight of the scared lass. "Tell me that you haven't dishonored the lass or else you will be receiving the beating of a lifetime."
Balder's cheeks turn a slight red, while Runila's whole face turns red at the accusation.
"Dwalin, leave Balder alone. He isn't like his two cousins. He is more like Fili than you think." Dis says to the older male, and gives him a good whack on the chest. "How can I be of help, Balder?" She gets up from her small bench and makes her way over to stand near the doorway.
"This is Runila and she has no family and no home. She has been kicked out of a shelter and hasn't had a decent meal in a long time. I was hoping that you could help dress her in something more suitable so that she can partake in the feast." Balder says as he enters further into Dis's rooms.
"Of course I will help. Poor dear. Come on in lass." Dis waves Runila to enter the room and is shocked to see such a skinny dam. "Not much meat to you, but that shouldn't be much of an issue."
Dwalin pops an eyebrow up is surprise as he too looks at the young dam. He can tell that the lass is in much need of care and several good meals. "Right. I will see what is taking the twins so long. Perhaps I should send Karys to help ya?"
"If you would be so kind. And ask Karys to bring one of her old, outgrown corsets with her." Dis says as she pulls goes up on her tip-toes to plant a quick kiss onto Dwalin's lips as a thanks.
"Aye. Later lass." Dwalin growls out in a whispers before leaving the three in the bedroom.
Dis watches Dwalin leave their bedroom before turning to see what she can do to help her grandson with the young dam.
"I think I may have the perfect dress for you, lass. But first, you need to bathe. Balder, you will need to leave the room. Don't worry, I will have young Runila sparkling like a just cleaned diamond."
Outside of the Erebor's Main Dining Halls...
After Balder had left Runila with Dis, his nadadith Solen had dragged him back to their rooms to get ready. There, the two of them had taken much needed baths and gotten themselves ready for the feast. Solen is dressed in a copper colored tunic and a light brown, fur overcoat. His once golden hair has darkened to a dark brown now, and is pulled back by two braids that show that he is of the line of Durin and Fili's son. Balder is dressed in a deep mahogany colored tunic with a dark brown overcoat that has Fili's sigil on the back of it. Both boys have on black pants and polished boats that match in color with their coats.
Once they were dressed, Freya had come to drag them down to the dining halls. It was a surprise that she could keep hold of them without having to let go to lift her dark purple skirts while walking. Her dress reminds Balder of a bell since it is so wide at the bottom, and it creates a perfect circle. Her bodice is pulled tight against her curves, and the neckline dips a little too low thanks to the off the shoulder sleeves.
Balder is leaning up against the wall, across from the doors, when his Uncle and his family arrives.
"You clean up nice." Kili says with a grin on his face. He is dressed in a midnight blue tunic and matching overcoat. One might go so far as to call Kili a younger version of Thorin with how he is dressed for the feast. However, his wavy hair is still unruly and half of it is pulled back thanks to a single braid at the back of his head.
"Leave him be, Kili." Tauriel says softly. The dress she is wearing is another of Kili's gifts to her from when she first started to live under the mountain. It is an iridescent emerald green color with sparkling white gems stitched to the bodice. Yet Balder knows that even though you can't see them, his aunt has several blades hidden somewhere in the dress. Her copper hair is pulled back by several small braids before coming together in a sideways figure eight shape at the back of her head. The rest of her long hair is left loose.
Standing near Freya is Toril, who is wearing a similar dress to Tauriel's. Except Toril's is an iridescent blue color with black gems stitched to the bodice. Her dark, auburn hair is pulled back similar to Kili's. Young Elleon is standing next to the door to the dining hall. His red brown hair is left loose with no braids or hair clasps in it. His bright blue eyes go well with his green colored tunic and black pants. Instead of an overcoat, Elleon has a dark green vest overtop of his tunic.
Down the hallway, Balder can see his cousins Kilian and Rìka whispering to each other. Kilian is dressed exactly like Kili, while Rìka is wearing a plum colored dress with lacework over top of it. After a few whispers, Kilian pulls Rìka into an embrace and hold her as she buries her face into his shoulder.
"So where is your adad?" Kili asks, breaking Balder out of his silent observing of some of the family. "He is the one who will be giving the opening speech."
Balder looks at his uncle and shrugs his shoulders. "He is probably with Inara to check on Uncle's progress. There is rumor that Uncle might never recover."
Kili lets out a nervous chuckle before speaking again. "I know Thorin, and let me tell you that nothing keeps him down for long. He will get better, just wait and see."
"Yes but until then, Fili is the one who has to take over the duties as king, Meleth Nin." Tauriel says to Kili in a serious voice. "Fili has to be ready to take up that responsibility for healer Nalo has no idea how long the king's recovery will take."
Kili gives Balder a smile, which isn't as cheerful as it usually is.
By this time Fili, Inara, and the rest of Inara's children have arrived to the halls.
Fili is dressed in a burgundy tunic, a tan overcoat with the sigil of Erebor embroidered on the back. His hair is done up like always with braids showing that he is of the line of Durin, Dis's son, Heir to the Throne of Erebor, and a warrior. At his waist is Orcrist, as a show that he is taking Thorin's place as King since it has become the weapon of the King Under the Mountain.
Next to Fili, holding the corner of his arm, is Inara who is dressed in a dark crimson dress with black lacework over top. At the neckline of the off the shoulder dress, has some black tassels that hang from the over the bust of the bodice. Her dark brown hair is braided into an elegant braided style that has Balder wondering just how the hair is staying in place.
Behind them is Frerin and Durin, who look just like their adad when he was dressed in his navy blue and silver robes. Vân is behind his older nadads, and dressed with a crimson and gold tunic overcoat with a white tunic underneath, and pants that are a dark brown color. Maiti is holding onto Vân's arm with one hand while holding onto her walking stick in the other. Her dress matches Inara's in the black lacework, but is a deep blue color instead.
"Where is amad?" Fili asks Kili as he approaches his nadadith.
"She isn't here yet?" Kili asks. "She is usually the first one here."
"I am right here." Dis says as she enters the hallway from the opposite direction that everyone else had come from. "Now I believe we have a feast to go to."
Balder notices that Karys is standing at the back of her family with a big grin on her face. His breath stops for a moment as the family starts to make their way past him to enter the dining hall. No longer hidden from his view, and standing next to Karys, is Runila. Her hair is done up with braids that have teal ribbons in them, and coils for any strand of hair that is loose. The dress she is wearing is an iridescent teal color with thick, white lace strip going down the front of the bodice that is hugging her curves. The neckline is square shaped with lace trim running along the edge. The sleeve are elbow length, and the skirt of the dress is full with some dragging behind to form a short train.
Runila and Karys approach Balder, who is speechless. Karys releases Runila's hand before walking away from the two to head into the dining hall where the rest of the family is.
"You look... You look beautiful." Balder gasps out as his speech abilities seem to have disappeared.
Runila blushes heavily before giving a deep curtsy. "Thank you." She whispers.
"May I?" Balder offers Runila his arm in escort, and is a bit surprised to see the dam hesitate to accept it. "You don't need to be frightened."
"I am not afraid." Runila says as she stands up in a hurry.
"Good. You will be seated with my friend Yuri and her two uncles. Hopefully you don't mind." Balder says as he takes hold of Runila's shaking hand to place it at the elbow of his offered arm. "Just breathe." Is all he tells her before escorting her into the dining hall.
Runila tries to hide her shock at the magnificence of the large dining hall. Banners with the sigil of Durin line the long walls, and at the dais where the royal family eats, there are banners with Thorin's Sigil on them as well as banners with Fili's sigil. Before entering the hall, there were loud sounds of cheering and celebration, but now every sound seems to have quieted down some. Looking past Balder, whose body is shielding her from view of most of the tables in the hall, Runila can see that a lot of the council members and their families are watching them.
"Just ignore them." Balder whispers to her without looking down at her. "Most of the old windbags want the males in my family to marry their daughters or granddaughters. However, in our family we follow our hearts when it comes to marriage. Ah here we are."
Runila and Balder come to a stop at the table where Dori, Nori, and Yuri are seated. This table only a table away from the dais.
"Master Dori, Master Nori, Lady Yuri, may I present to you Runila. She works down in the smything workshops." Balder says before turning to Runila. "Runila, this is Dori." Balder gestures to a now white haired Dori. "This is Nori." Balder gestures to the now gray haired spy and former pickpocket. "And this is their ward and niece Yuri." Balder gestures to the young sand blonde haired dam.
"A pleasure to meet you." Runila says with a slight smile.
"You will be seated here for the feast." Balder tells Runila in a low voice. "I must go to the head table. Don't worry, they won't bite." Balder gives the back of Runila's hand a soft kiss before leaving her standing at the table.
"You best sit down, miss. Don't want to be in the way when the food arrives." Dori says to Runila with a smile.
"Thank you for allowing me to sit with you." Runila says as she carefully sits down on the bench next to Yuri.
"So you are now a ward of the Princess are you?" Nori says as his eyes look over Runila's hair.
"What?" Runila says in shock.
"Did you not know?" Dori says before taking a sip of his ale. "That braid there by your right temple. It has the same design that Dis and Karys use. It means that you are now her ward. Don't worry, Dis will make sure that you are well looked after."
Runila is shocked to hear that the Princess of Erebor, sister to the king, has braided a symbol that makes her a ward of the royal family.
"Nori!" A loud boisterous voices calls out.
"Bofur! Come join our table you old codger." Nori shouts out in reply.
Seeing the older dwarf and his three children coming towards the table, Runila turns her face away and looks down at her hands. She begins to wring them in her lap as she becomes nervous.
Yuri leans close to Runila's ear and whispers. "That is Bofur. He is married to the queen's first daughter, the lady Aliena."
"Really?" Runila whispers back in surprise. She didn't know that the queen had any other children besides the children with the king. "What does the king say about it?"
Yuri lets out a low chuckle. "My dear, the lady Aliena is fully human. Before the queen married the king, she was raped and Aliena is the product. However, the king doesn't hold it against the queen for he loves lady Aliena as if she is his own."
"Oh." Runila says with embarrassment. "I didn't know."
"Not many of the young ones do. For lady Aliena looks older than her mother." Yuri says before hearing the two person bench on her other side squeak across the floor. Turin her head, Yuri sees Raina sitting down. "Good evening Raina. Where is your amad?"
Raina looks at Yuri and gives her a smile. "Amad with Grandpapa. She doesn't want him to be alone, and she knows that Grandmamma and Lady Dis are needed here for the beginning of the feast."
"I see. Well I know I lit a candle in the temple of Mahal for the king's speedy recovery." Yuri says with a small smile on her face.
A loud thud startles every dwarf and dam into silence. Looking towards the royal family's table, Runila sees that Prince Fili is standing where King Thorin should have been.
"I thank you all for coming tonight." Fili says loudly in a stately voice. "By now many of you have heard that King Thorin has suffered an ailment and is unable to attend tonight's feast and festivities. I have discussed the matter of who will rule in King Thorin's absence with Queen Inara and the council. It is with a heavy heart that I take up the duties of King. So tonight I ask every dwarf, dam, dwarfling, and allies to drink to King Thorin's health and the health of Erebor's line."
"To King Thorin. To Erebor." Inara yells out as she stands up next to Fili and holds out her wine glass in a toast.
"To King Thorin. To Erebor." Every dwarf and dam in the dining halls yells out in a toast as well.
"Let the feast begin!" Fili shouts just as the doors from the kitchens open up.
As the feast commences Runila can't help but feel out of her element as large plates of food are set onto the tables. She has never seen so much food before, and is shocked to see her table mates filling their plates with the food.
At the royal table, Inara and Fili have been watching Runila since Balder escorted her into the dining hall. Leaning towards Fili as he takes a sip of his ale, Inara decides to find out more about the mysterious dam.
"Who was that the Balder escorted into the hall?" Inara asks as she takes a bite of roasted lamb meat.
"I don't know, but that braid my amad put in the lass's hair caused quite the stir among the councilors." Fili replies before setting his tankard of ale onto the table." Fili lets out a defeated sigh. "I shouldn't be sitting in Uncle's seat."
"Fili. You know that the council will not let me alone rule Erebor. You are Thorin's heir and eventually this will become permanent for you. No matter how uncomfortable you feel about it." Inara whispers to him before taking a sip from her wine glass that is filled with a medicinal tea. The bitter taste of the herbs makes Inara's face flinch in distaste.
Fili notices the flinch and leans slightly towards Inara's shoulder. "You are free to leave if you aren't feeling well."
"I am fine." Inara growls out softly. "The tea is to help lessen the blood flow."
Fili's cheek turn a slight pink color from the openness of Inara's talk of her body functions. However, a movement from past Inara's head catches Fili's attention. He watches as Dis carefully fills a plate of food and sets a cloth napkin over the filled plate. Keeping his eyes on his amad, Fili sees Dis get up from the table and pick up the plate.
Dis walks behind the chairs and just as she is passing behind where Inara and Fili are standing, her oldest son calls out to her.
"Amad?" Fili says as he gets up from his chair.
"You should sit back down, Fili." Dis says as she stops to turn and look at her golden son. "I am just taking a plate of food to Aliena. She decided to stay with Thorin during the feast. We wouldn't want her to go hungry, now do we?"
Fili nods his head with a smile on his face. "Very well. Give her my regards. And be careful, amad."
"You and Dwalin keep wanting to treat me as if I am a fragile little thing. I will be fine, Fili. There are guards everywhere in the mountain. I am quite safe." Dis says with a smile before continuing to make her way out of the dining halls.
Fili watches Dis as she disappears around the doorway, and he can't seem to shake this sinking feeling in his stomach that something is amiss.
In the hallways of Erebor...
Dis is a few hallways away from where Thorin's recovery room is in the visiting dignitaries halls are located. It is only two levels down from where the royal halls are located. As she turns the corner of to enter another hallway, she comes to a complete stop at the sight before her. Lying dead on the floor are two bodies of the royal guard.
"Oh Mahal no." Dis whispers as she slowly walks over to the dead bodies. Setting the plate of food onto the ground, Dis moves her hand to check for a pulse on both bodies and finds none. Looking closely, Dis notices the killing wound marks. They are made from a dagger of some kind.
Looking further down the hall, Dis notices that another two guards at the end of the hallway are also lying on the ground, in a pool of blood.
"Thorin." Dis whispers before removing a sword blade from one of the dead guards.
Moving quickly down the hallway, Dis makes her way to the two guards and can tell right away that they are dead. Being very cautious, Dis quickly looks around the corner that leads to another hallway. There she sees two dwarfs and a dam that she doesn't recognize. Staying silent, she can hear them speaking.
"I thought ya said the king was down this way." One of dwarfs says in a gruff voice.
"He should be." The dam replies. "We need to complete our mission before it is too late. HE is counting on us to get rid of the witch and the only way to draw her out is to kill her mate."
Dis has heard enough and decides to take action.
"You will be killing no one, you filth!" Dis cries out as she charges at them from her hidden spot. Raising her sword, Dis goes for the closest one.
"A shield-maiden." The dwarf says as he clashes swords with Dis. Little does he know that he is fighting the king's sister.
Dis keeps swinging her blade in a well fighting manner that Thorin had taught her before she was married. Knowing that her nadad's life is at risk, and that of Aliena's, Dis keeps up the attack with calculated swings.
"Enough of this." The dam says as she charges at Dis with a bloody dagger in hand.
Dis sees the dam out of the corner of her eyes, and twirls herself so that the dam's dagger misses her. Then Dis kicks out at the dam, and hits her hard in the stomach before turning to her male opponent. Again, Dis attacks with a flurry of swings, and the male dwarf is left to move down the hall.
"Quit dragging it out, Herak, and just finish her." The other male dwarf calls out to his ally.
"She is good." Herak says before pulling out a throwing knife and chucks it at Dis's shoulder. "But not that good."
Dis lets out a growl at the knife embeds itself just above her armpit of her sword arm. However she doesn't let this injury faze her as she tosses her blade to her other arm. She continues attacking the dwarf named Herak till she feels a stabbing pain in her lower back near her spine. She lets out an anguish cry as she feels the blade twist inside of her body before it is removed. Her knees give way as something hits behind her knees.
"Just finish her, Munzadi." The unknown dwarf says. "We have a king to kill and his bitch."
A hard tug on her hair causes Dis to lead her head back in pain.
"Too bad Grurim is in a hurry. I would have so enjoyed torturing you till you die." The dam, Munzadi says before the other dwarf, Herak plunges his blade into Dis's stomach.
Dis cries out again before being shoved to the side. Landing hard on her right side, Dis can feel blood beginning to flow into her mouth as she tries to breath. Her eyes watch as the three traitors move quickly down the rest of the hallway that leads to Thorin's recovery room. Tears fill her eyes as she knows that she has failed to protect her family. She loses consciousness just as the sound of several ravens echoes down the hallway.
Back in the hallway outside of the Dining Halls...
It has been over an hour since Dis had left the dining halls, and the music for dancing is now playing. Yet there are two who are leaving the festivities early.
Inara is holding a hand against her lower abdomen as she walks slowly down the hall. Though she won't admit it, the cramping has become so bad that the medicinal tea for pain is no longer working. She can also feel a small trickle of blood making its way down the inside of her thigh.
"Inara!" Fili calls out as he rushes to catch up with her. "You need help. Let me help you."
"I'm fine, Fili. Go back and enjoy the festivities." Inara growls out at the annoying dwarf.
"You aren't fine. You are in pain. Let me get you to the healing halls or home." Fili says as he reaches Inara so that he may walk beside her. "I don't think Uncle would want you to be alone."
"Fine." Inara growls out in pain. "But I am going to see Thorin first. Aert left some stronger herbs for pain there for me."
"Then I will escort you there." Fili says as he his left arm snakes its way to waist and his right hand takes hold of hers. "You can lean on me till we get there."
"I am in pain, Fili, not an invalid." Inara says as she smacks his hands away from her body. "The last thing I want is someone touching me."
"Fine." Fili retorts.
The two of them slowly make their way through hallways, walkways, and bridges till they hear the cawing of a familiar raven.
"Aslan?" Inara says as a large raven flies towards Fili.
Fili holds his arm out for the large raven to land on. As the raven caws at him Fili's eyes become large, and he growls something out in Khuzdul before Aslan flies in the direction that leads towards the dining halls.
"What is it?" Inara asks as she sees Fili pull Orcrist out of its sheath.
"There are traitors in the mountain." Fili says as he hurries down the hallway.
Inara is pushes past the pain as she hurries after Fili. Pulling a hidden dagger out from where it was hidden under the swell of her breasts, Inara has to run to catch up with Fili.
The two of them run past several dead guards till they turn the corner and come to a dead stop.
"Amad." Fili says before screaming. "Amad! No!" He runs towards where Dis is lying in a pool of her own blood. He drops Orcrist to the floor before kneeling down next to Dis's body. He gently lifts her upper body from the floor.
Inara rushes forward to stop Fili from pulling the sword from Dis's body.
"Don't Fili. She will bleed out even faster if you take it out." Inara says as she rips a piece of fabric from the bottom of her skirt. She quickly wraps the fabric where the sword meets Dis's stomach to try and stem the blood flow.
"We need help." Fili says as tears flow down his cheeks. "Amad, wake up. Please."
"Fili! Inara!" Several voices cry out from a hallway in the distance.
"Here!" Inara calls out, as she tries to look Dis over for more injuries.
"Amad!" Kili's voice echoes down the hallway before he rushes over to join Inara and Fili. "Oh Mahal."
"Dis!" Dwalin cries out as he too comes over to where the others are.
Tauriel keeps her distance but quickly checks the area for any signs of possible attack.
"No." Dwalin says as he brushes his hand against Dis's pale cheek.
Dis coughs out some blood before regaining consciousness. "Thorin." She rasps out. "Safe?" Her eyes are focusing on anything as she speaks.
"Tauriel and I will go check on him, my sister. You stay still till a healer comes." Inara says to Dis.
"Three." Dis coughs out as blood drips from the corner of her mouth. "Kill. Thorin. Kill. Inara."
"Not if I have anything to say about it." Inara growls out before getting up from the floor. She walks over to where Orcrist is lying on the floor and picks it up. "Tauriel, we have hunting to do." Inara stalks off with Tauriel hot on her heels.
"Fili." Dis rasps out as she closes her eyes. "Kili."
"We are here, Amad." Kili says as he takes hold of one of Dis's hands with his. "We are right here. You are going to be okay."
"Just stay with us, Amad." Fili whispers against Dis's temple.
"Dwalin." Dis coughs up some more blood.
"You need to stop talking lass." Dwalin says as he cups the side of Dis's face with his hand.
"Take. Care. Of. My. Boys." Dis rasps out as it becomes harder for her to breathe.
"Don't ya talk like that. Ya hear me. You're going to live. The twins need ya. I need ya. Hell, we all need ya." Dwalin says as he fights back the tears in his eyes. He knows that the wound Dis has received is fatal, but is unwilling to believe it. "Just hold on."
Dis takes a few more rasping breaths before releasing her final breath.
"Amad?" Kili says before breaking down into tears. He feels thick arms pull him into hug, and he realizes that it is Dwalin who is holding him.
Fili doesn't say a word as he gently sets Dis's upper body to the ground. He is breathing quickly, and his eyes have turned into a bright blue. Letting out a growl, Fili moves quickly from his kneeling position into a full blown run.
"Fili!" Dwalin's voice echoes as Fili charges down the hallway.
Fili pulls out several hidden daggers from different places on his person. Blood is rushing in his ears as anger and vengeance sing through his veins. Running down the hallways, he can hear the clashing of blades echo off the stone passageway.
Charging around the corner, Fili sees Inara taking on a dam as Tauriel faces down two male dwarfs. Fili charges at the stockier of the two male dwarfs, knocking both of them to the ground. They wrestle on the ground before Fili gets the upper hand and plunges a dagger into the neck of the dwarf. Letting out a angry sounding howl, Fili twists the dagger so that there is no chance of survival for the dwarf.
Tauriel in the meantime was able to subdue her prey with a few quick hits to the dwarf's temple that causes him to fall to the ground unconscious. Turning to see how Inara is fairing, Tauriel, and Fili, witness Inara swipe Orcrist at the dam's shoulder, taking the head clean off of the body.
"You lose." Inara growls out before turning away from the now decapitated body of the dam. As she turns to look at Fili and Tauriel, her legs give way as she blacks out.
"Inara." Tauriel cries out as she rushes to catch Inara's body.
"Take her into the room and have Aliena clean her up." Fili growls out as he walks over towards the still living dwarf.
"Don't kill him, Fili. We need to know who is behind this attack." Tauriel says as she moves to hold Inara's slump body into her arms.
"He will pay." Fili growls out.
"But not here. He will answer for what he has done." Tauriel says before walking towards the door to Thorin's room. She kicks the door twice and lets out a whistle that only Aliena and she know.
Carefully, locks click and the door opens to reveal a startled looking Aliena.
"Your mother needs care." Tauriel says to Aliena.
"Bring her in." Aliena says as she opens the door fully to allow Tauriel in. Turning to look at Fili and the bodies that surround him, she takes in a quick breath. "An assassination attempt. It failed I hope."
"No. It didn't." Fili says as he looks Aliena in the eyes.
Two days later...
Thorin wakes to find himself in an unknown room. He is confused by where he is at and how he got there. The last thing he remembers is seeing Dwalin's face before succumbing to darkness. Turning his head to his left, he sees Inara sleeping in the chair next to his bed.
"You're awake." A familiar voice says from Thorin's right side.
Turning his head, Thorin sees Dwalin sitting in a chair. His eyes are red and puffy, which isn't normal for Dwalin.
"What happened?" Thorin says is a raspy voice thanks to three days of no use.
"A lot has happened." Dwalin says as he tries to hold back his tears. "Ya had a heart attack in council three days ago."
Thorin gives Dwalin a confused look. There is something else that Dwalin isn't saying. "What else?"
A stray tear runs down Dwalin's cheek, and he quickly brushes it away with his hand.
"Dwalin." Thorin commands. "What else happened?"
"There was an assassination attempt." Inara's voice says as she gently sits down next to Thorin while facing him.
"It failed I hope." Thorin rasps out, but has a feeling that he is wrong.
"Several guards were killed." Inara says as the tears swell up in her eyes. "And..." Inara can't keep a sob from cutting off what she is trying to tell Thorin.
"Inara?" Thorin asks as he gently moves to sit up in his bed. Now he is very worried.
"It's Dis, Thorin." Dwalin says as he chokes back a sob as well. "She died defending ya."
Thorin looks at Dwalin in shock. His little namad had died while he laid in bed sleeping. "No" Thorin growls out. "It cannot be."
"Aye. She died fighting to keep ya safe." Dwalin says as he allows the tears that he was holding back to flow freely down his face.
Thorin takes several quick breaths before bellowing out. "Dis!"
Later that day Inara and Dwalin help Thorin dress and head down to the royal tombs. All three are dressed in black outfits befitting their joined mourning at the loss of Dis. Upon entering the royal crypt, the three of them see that Fili is standing next to where Dis's body lays in state.
Hearing footsteps entering the crypt, Fili turns to see the three of them.
"Thorin." Fili whimpers out.
"Fili." Thorin says softly as he gently brushes off Dwalin's helping arm. He carefully makes his way over to Fili and pulls him into a hug.
"I'm sorry. I failed you. I failed amad. I failed our family." Fili whimpers out through his tears against Thorin's shoulder.
"No. It is I that have failed you." Thorin whispers against Fili's temple. He shuts his eyes and allows his tears to finally flow down his cheeks.
The two of them cry into each other's shoulders till another voice speaks.
"Uncle. Fili." Kili's sorrow filled voice says as he enters the crypt. He makes his way towards Thorin and Fili, and is pulled into their joined embrace.
Inara and Dwalin stand guard just outside of the crypt doors so that the three of them may have some time to mourn together.
"She made me promise her that I would look after them." Dwalin says softly to Inara. "It was like she knew something was going to happen to herself. And I dismissed the notion. It was supposed to be me who dies first."
"Dwalin. You can't blame this happening on yourself. From what the interrogation of Grurim, it sounds like the dwarves that live in the Ash Mountains have joined the darkness and Sauron. They are to blame for this." Inara says with a hint of anger in her voice. "Trust me, Sauron will pay dearly for this and every death that he has caused. Even if I have to go all the way to Mordor to deal out justice for his crimes."
Dwalin chuckles at the thought of Inara punishing the evil that is Sauron. "That is all well and good, but that sounds like a suicide mission."
Inara and Dwalin go quiet after their little talk and keep their guard over the crypt till well into the night. For in the morning, Dis will be laid to rest in the stone coffin that Dwalin, Fili, and Kili spent over a day making.
You can all let me know how much you hate me right now. I had planned Dis's death for a long time and the only thing I could do was give her a death befitting her as the Princess of Erebor and the Line of Durin.
You may have noticed that Kelda doesn't appear in the chapter. There is a reason for it, and it will be explained in the next chapter.
Runila's dress was inspired by several hours of me watching Poldark (2015) and Last of the Mohicans in the same day.
Reviews are welcomed, including negative ones.
Selene
The next chapter we will spend a day with Kelda, Toril, Kilian, and Elleon. So it will be lighter than this chapter. Then we will see the beginning chapters of the LOTR events! (I will be using the extended editions for the LOTR chapters.)