The next day the three of them drove off to the old house. Kili had surprised Dis yet again getting up early and preparing a feast for breakfast.
"I'm slowly understanding why you love him so much." Dis dully noticed eating her delicious omlette with cheese.
"The house looks nice." Kili noticed surprised. He knew the house was vacant at least ten years, but the yard was well kept, and it was surprisingly clean.
"What do you think I've been doing when I'm bored and alone at the weekends?" She asked with a smirk. "I've planted the flowers here, there is also a vegetable garden at the back, you've got three apple trees, one pear and a cherry tree too. The house is pretty much clean, but it's not very modern."
"What about the heating and electric installations?" Fili asked with a smirk.
"Nori checked them, and said they work like a charm." She added. "Good that I asked him before you dropped the bomb, he's as conservative as your uncle."
"I like it here." Kili told Fili with a smile. They were sitting in the old style kitchen and drinking tea, at least Dis and Fili were drinking tea.
"I think you should clear out the spare room on the ground floor for your work, the first floor can get pretty hot in summer, but down here it's always cool because of the thick stone walls." Fili told him with a smirk. "We wouldn't want your computers to overheat."
"What about internet?" Kili noticed the first problem.
"There's a cable line in the street, you just need the paperwork done." Dis eased his worries.
"Does the old fireplace work?" Fili asked looking into the big living room.
"That's one thing I haven't checked. You'd need to take a look at the chimney, and stock up some wood before winter." Dis gently told him. "I do think you remember how to chop wood…"
"I can handle that." Kili smirked at her.
"Is there anything you can't do?" She gently smiled at the vampire.
"Few things." He looked down clearly embarrassed a bit.
"You're going to need to do some shopping in town, like bed spreads and kitchen utensils. I kept only the nicer sets, but I had throw out quite a lot. There is still a huge bag in the basement which needs sorting out." Dis noticed. "There is a lot of furniture in the attic and garage, so if you want to work you'd better sort it out as well."
"Old furniture will easily find a new location." Kili noticed with a smirk.
"Bilbo." Fili just smirked and Kili nodded.
"My uncle's husband." Kili told Dis who looked at him questioningly. "He's human."
"Still." Fili added.
"Anyway, the council will meet at noon, so let's get going." Dis encouraged both of them to get up. All the time they were in the house Kili could feel a wolf supervising them, which was a bit unnerving for him.
"I think when you move in I'm going to keep borrowing your car, if you don't mind that is." Dis suddenly told them.
"Why would you do that mum?" Fili laughed.
"To play on the noses of those rich snobs in Dale." She scowled. "And for the air conditioning and shaded windows."
"I think we can arrange something." Kili smiled to her gently.
"Where the hell did you find someone this perfect?!" Dis hit her son on the shoulder.
"He's not perfect!" Fili noticed.
"Neither are you." She noticed grimly. "Too bad you won't be willing to move in with me, I could use some company."
"Living in the same town is close enough." Fili noticed.
The council meeting was in one of the old wooden buildings, it had a huge gathering room, shaped in a circle, with many benches and tables. "This was one of the first buildings built here." Dis whispered to Kili, she was holding him by the arm on one side, and Fili was firmly gripping his hand on the other. Many wolves were there glaring at them in human forms, while the other tribe member invited to the meeting didn't feel comfortable as well having the vampire in the room.
Dain, one of the oldest clan members, was the head on the council. His hair was much brighter red than most of the tribe members, clearly indicating he was one of the few born from the first mixed Irish blood generation. Frerin was sitting to his right, and on the left Oin. The council was composed of seven wolves, some frail and old, and seven normal tribe members.
"We have been called upon today to answer an unusually request. Council Member Dis, would you please stand up and explain to the council and all the witnesses gathered here why this meeting was called for." Dain spoke in a clear voice. He was glaring at Kili, but the vampire didn't want to go deeper and forcefully into his mind.
Dis slowly stood up and went into the middle of the room.
"I have asked for this council meeting to address the difficult issue of my son's future. As you all have known, Fili has been studying in town to fulfill his father's wishes. Sending him so far away the council, and me personally, have discussed the dangers. We feared he might become pray to something dangerous, we feared he might decide not to come back to Erebor, I personally feared he would find love to a mortal and never take up the role of the next alpha." Dis hung her voice. "The reality is my son did find love in town, but not to a mortal, but to an immortal vampire."
The room began whispering and mumbling. Kili was trembling feeling all the negativity and mixed emotions.
"My first reaction was similar, it took me a while to realize what this boy really is. My normal abilities not working properly did not warm me about his nature. When confronted by pack leader Frerin, my son explained the nature of the special connection between him and the vampire, and by observing them carefully I have witnessed the said connection. My son has fully bonded with his mate, they are of one soul, and in their powers are in sync. In my heart I know that if we do not discuss this issue and blindly reject the topic, my son will chose life away from the tribe. An immortal life away from the tribe." Her voice broke down a bit.
"His mate, Kili is not what we think when we use the notion vampire. If not for that knowledge I would have never connected that label to him. He's kind, he's good, he's considerate. And he loves my son so much he's ready to stand in front of a vengeful wolf pack, just for the sake of being with him and protecting him. This boy is really special, and it doesn't take a telepath like me to tell it. When I look into him I see someone in conflict with his own nature, someone who believes in rules and order. Someone who will never be a danger to Fili, myself or the tribe." She ended her explanation.
"If that is all I give the voice to pack leader Frerin." Dain spoke without any emotions, unlike most people in the room.
Frerin stood up slowly. "Dear council and dear friends. I have been here for more than most of you, and I have never heard a more bizarre request. I can agree only with one thing Dis said, we need to dish discuss this topic before blindly rejecting our only young alpha male in the pack. Fili, so many of my hopes have died yesterday, and so many new questions have arisen. My whole life I have been taught the clear distinction between wolf and vampire. My elders and forefathers always spoke of the danger these creatures of the night possess. And yet my beloved only heir brought home a mate who is a vampire. After long and careful consideration I have decided to support your request." Loud comments could be heard in the room. "But under several conditions." He stressed. "If this is truly your one and only soul mate, it would be against our tradition to stand in between both of you, but considering the nature of your mate we have to take precautions for the safety of the tribe. First of all, we shall set a trial period of six months, during which your mate will have to prove his honesty to us, by living according to our rules, by not hunting on our territory, and by not hurting anyone. During this time we will observe, and try to get to know your mate to the best ability of our tolerance. Secondly, if such a sacrifice is demanded from us, we demand Fili also pays a sacrifice. The moment you shall become of age, you will be considered the new pack leader, and if in this time you will prove worthy I will step down as pack leader. The real sacrifice is a promise to the tribe and to our people, if you two decide to settle here permanently, and obey our laws and rules, you have to promise to always defend our people and stay here forever."
"The council has heard both witnesses." Dain spoke in a calm voice. "Do the council members have any questions?" He asked looking at the wolves and humans sitting at the long table.
Gloin raised his hand. "Gloin please take the floor." Dain said calmly.
"Dear friends, We have all heard about this special telepathic connection between Fili and his vampire mate. I have been wondering how much of it is a manipulation on the vampire's side, and how much is the work of faith. I am not a man easily swayed by fancy paranormal notions, I demand we test the way this connection works." He glared at Dis and the boys.
"What kind of test?" Dain asked curiously.
"If you would kindly continue asking the heir questions about any notion, I would like to invite the vampire outside for several minutes." Gloin spoke clearly and confidently.
Fili and Kili exchanged glares with Dis, and Kili decided to play any game demanded from him. He slowly stood up and walked up the wolf.
"I'm coming with you both." Dis said firmly and stood right beside the shaking emotional vampire.
"You may." Dain added despite Gloin's glare in his direction.
Dis, Kili and the old wolf left the meeting.
"What can you tell us about the final moments of the wild vampires who attacked us?" Dain turned to the heir.
"I've witnessed the battle through my mate's eyes." Fili slowly told them.
"Please give us more details." Dain demanded, and everyone listened very carefully to his explanation.
"Where are we going?" Dis demanded from Gloin, she knew the old wolf was very conservative and very cunning, that's why she insisted on joining.
"You'll see soon enough."Gloin curtly added.
As they made their deeper into the town, Kili was becoming more suspicious with every step. He knew Fili had a feeling they would test him, and his insight gave them an idea about the test. It was futile, Kili's control was superb.
Next two one of the houses three people were waiting for them, including Gloin's son Gimli. The young wolf was standing with their back to them, but Kili already knew what he was going to do. It didn't surprise him at all to see a knife in the wolf's hands, nor was it surprising to smell the sweet smell of fresh blood.
The young wolf glared at him triumphal, but the vampire did not react. He slowly guided Dis towards the young man. The blood was flowing, but the vampire was in control of his instincts and reactions.
"All you wolves seem to be pretty clumsy." He noticed dully. "Would you like us to call 911?" Kili proposed in a worried voice.
"You'd better stop the bleeding." Dis noticed in a cold voice, proud that Kili did not even flinch seeing and smelling the blood.
The young wolf was clearly surprised, so much that he forgot about the fresh wound. He was dead startled when the vampire made a swift move his direction and grabbed his arm forcefully above the cut.
"You need to stop the bleeding before you bleed out." Kili told him in a firm voice. "Do you have some bandages?" One of the girls standing next to him nodded and showed a bag with a first aid kit. Without even a hint he might be interested in the blood, the vampire calmly dressed the wound, washed it, and secured it.
"How can you…?" The wolf was clearly very surprised.
"A rh– was never my favorite." The vampire noticed coyly. "Try not to cut so deep next time, for a hungry vampire just the faint smell of a tiny drop of fresh blood is enough to be tempting."
"You did well." Dis noticed with a smile.
Kili just smiled at her. "This was nothing in comparison to the training I had to undergo." He replied and the five of them headed back towards the gathering.
"You're a damn funny vampire." Gimli noticed.
Fili hearing that comment through their bond began laughing wildly in the middle of the explanation of the battle. He had to stop for a moment to catch his breath. Dain just glared at him with a strange smirk.
"Fili loved that comment." Kili told the wolf with a coy smile.
When they came back the council members asked about the test, and when Gimli showed his arm, and stressed it was dressed by the vampire himself, who wasn't even a bit interested in his blood and the fresh wound.
"The Council will now recede to discuss the issue. If anyone has anything else of importance to say, please say it now." Dain told the people gathered. Some stood up and in a short sentence gave their opinion. Many were speaking against, but some were in favor.
Nearly an hour later the council came back to the gathering room with their decision.
Dain stood in the middle of the room and faced the heir and vampire.
"After carefully listening to your case we have decided to grant you permission to settle in our town for a limited trial period. We have agreed that half a year is the best time to judge whether you are capable of living within our settlement or not. We have made a list of conditions and terms you will have to agree to. First of all, by settling here you have to obey the laws of our people. Secondly, you are not to hunt or feed on our people, unless it is willingly given. Thirdly, any vampire or other creature visiting you on this premises will be reported earlier and under the same supervision and rules. Fourthly, the wolf pack will be responsible for making sure you obey our laws. Fifthly, if need be you will help and assist our pack in situations of danger for our community. After the duration of the trial period the council will evaluate your stay here, if after that time you prove to be worthy, if you will still be willing to settle here, and if Fili will still be willing to settle for a lifetime with you, you will be allowed to settle permanently. As to Fili, son of Vili and Dis, we have decided it should be your will and effort alone which might grant you the alpha position in the pack, and this position cannot be bartered for, or a punishment for anything. The same it cannot be refrained from you on the basis of the spouse you chose." Dain finished in a low tone glaring at Frerin. The room began whispering, the wolf pack was glaring at the vampire, who was now frozen with disbelief.
Dis grabbed both her boys, and thanked the council for their just verdict.