As they walked, Ila forced herself to look straight forward, not up at Thorin's handsome profile. As they entered the main part of the palace, she saw once more that every passing eye turned her way. She still wasn't used to that. She had been a princess in the Iron Hills but everyone there had seen her grow up from an infant dwarf and they did not watch her intently as they did here. Ila stiffened a bit and Thorin felt it, knowing the reason why.
"You will get used to it. After our marriage and your coronation they will be more and more used to seeing you, and it will be better." Thorin said.
Ila thought that she must be much more obvious than she realized if he could read her so easily. "You must not even notice their gazes anymore." She asked.
Thorin nodded nonchalantly. "No, I do not. But they do not notice me that much either. I am a common sight to them."
Ila couldn't imagine growing used to such a handsome sight, but then she would have many years to do so.
"You have already seen the throne room, the great hall, and the baths…those are three places that you will come to know well. But there are a few other places that I think you will find of interest." Thorin said, trying not to put any emphasis on baths.
They walked through what Ila thought of as the great lobby where she could see some light coming through the turreted balconies that were set above the entrance to Erebor. Ila wanted very much to go outside and take a deep breath of fresh air. She missed the open fields that surrounded the Iron Hills that she was so used to.
"I notice there are not many windows in Erebor….not that I thought there would be." Ila said trying to mask the twinge of sadness in her voice.
"No, we are built deep within a mountain, naturally there is little natural light here. However, my own quarters boast a balcony." Thorin answered with a slight smile that faded quickly. Ila wondered if she would ever stand on that balcony. She felt her stomach tighten again.
They reached another set of stairs which it seemed they were constantly doing since Erebor was a great network of corridors and stairs. Dwala grabbed the back of her dress to carry and Ila let her other hand grasp Thorin's arm to steady herself. She had done so without thinking at first, but then when he didn't object continued to do so. Thorin made no sign that he even noticed and they walked silently like that for a while, he leading her and she looking around at everything they passed.
"Whenever I think that we cannot descend any further into the earth somehow we manage to," Ila observed.
Thorin smiled a little. "Yes, Erebor has untold depths. We have been mining it for years…that is we did before the exile and we have resumed doing so. That is where we are going presently."
Ila looked at him expectantly. "The mines? Are they not dangerous?" she asked.
Thorin smiled wider. "You believe that I would endanger you?"
Ila blushed. "Well no, no of course not your majesty," She began to apologize but saw his smile and realized he was only jesting with her. She smiled herself under her veil and looked down. They had come to a landing and a great golden archway, which was what she took to be the entranceway to the mines. She wondered they might be treacherous and thought of how Dwala could be clumsy sometimes. Ila turned her head over her shoulder to whisper to her.
"Be extra careful," She urged quietly but Thorin heard her. He pretended not to. The last thing he needed was that dwarf falling off a ledge and taking his intended with her.
Dwala nodded fervently to Ila who turned her attention back to Thorin. As they entered the archway where two heavily armed guards stood, Ila suddenly didn't know where to look. The floor extended for a few feet in front of them, then dropped off to what seemed bottomless depths. In turn, the ceiling shot to impossible heights. They must be in the very center of the mountain, Ila thought. All up and down the great expanse of rock that shot both upwards and downwards before them were dwarves, working and picking away at the mountain. They seemed so small against Erebor's great interior.
This was the Erebor she had heard stories about as a little dwarf. Erebor and its rivers of gold and jewels. She saw that the rock sparkled everywhere she looked. This is where the arkenstone, the heart of the mountain had been discovered. Ila's mouth hung open in awe –again she was glad for her veil. For something she had initially loathed she was coming to be extremely thankful for it. Her eyes must have been the size of saucers as they took in the scene before her. She vaguely heard Dwala gasp behind her.
Ila felt smaller than she ever had in her entire life and unconsciously gripped Thorin's arm tighter. She was so entranced that she also didn't notice that he was looking down at her, knowing that the rest of her face would have reflected the awe that shown in her eyes. He could not help but smile gently at her. He knew she had never laid eyes on anything to equal it, and he was very proud of his home. That Erebor pleased her was important to him. He had more or less expected her to be indignant and resentful at their arranged marriage. She had after all been taken from her home and forced to marry a dwarf old enough to be her father, all against her will. However, and much to Thorin's pleasure, she was taking it all much better than he had anticipated.
Thorin leaned down to almost whisper to her, afraid of startling her out of her trance. "Do you see anything you like?" he asked.
Ila inhaled deeply and looked back at him. "It is…..just like the stories I was told. Except, even more amazing…." Ila responded.
"You should have seen it at the height of my grandfather's rule. The veins of gold and stones you see are but a glimpse of what the mountain once held….and yet may still hold." Thorin mused looking around himself now. He seemed to step back in time for a moment but quickly pulled himself back to the present. Ila knew what had happened to his father and grandfather and felt sorrowful for him for a moment. Then she missed her own father back in the Iron Hills. She pushed that away however; she wanted to be happy, and reminiscing would not help her in that endeavor.
"Come, let's have a closer look," Thorin said and lead her down one side of the landing they were on, down yet more stairs that were narrower than any she had to traverse before since being there and she held tight to Thorin's arm. She wondered if he noticed her touch at all through all his sinews. As they were descending she felt Dwala stumble a tiny bit and felt her own muscles tighten. Oh Dwala, she thought. Please don't cast us into the abyss. Plus she could tell that Dwala tested Thorin's nerves and she didn't want that. She wanted Thorin to like Dwala, for Ila loved Dwala very much, even if she was clumsy and did not have the best social timing. But she more than made up for that in other ways.
Thorin lead Ila along one of the ledges now, where carts overflowing with jewels and semiprecious stones were lined. They were freshly mined from the earth, dwarves casting new ones in here and there. They passed a cart of diamonds first, then one of sapphires, then one of rubies. Ila tentatively stretched out her hand, wanting to touch them but then thought better of it, slowly withdrawing her fingers.
"You can touch, princess. These are technically all yours anyway…that is, they will be when you are Queen of Erebor."
Queen of Erebor. Ila shivered, but stretched her hand out again to gently and barely graze the rough sapphires in their cart.
"You prefer sapphires?" he asked, and Ila knew he did so because of the necklace she had worn at her welcome supper last night.
"I do like them, but they are not my favorite." Ila answered cryptically. Thorin took that to mean that he would have to discover for himself what her favorite was. He did need to make a wedding gift to her at some point in the coming month, so he would have to be extra attentive to discern this information.
He lead her around the ledge and back to the landing where they started, passing carts of all sorts of sparkling treasures from the earth. Ila wished she could see Dwala's face. As they made their way back up and out of the mines, Ila thought there was nothing else in Erebor that could impress her so. She was wrong.
Before she was to be surprised yet again however, Thorin lead her to the other side of the palace to show her the training grounds. An indoor arena of sorts, it was where the warriors trained and practiced. It was ascetically unimpressive, but then it was largely a utilitarian structure Ila thought.
"I wish that I spent more time here, but with Erebor being so newly reclaimed there is much to attend to, and so my nephews make more use of it than I." Thorin explained and Ila noticed that said nephews could be seen sparring with one another presently. They were too busy fighting to notice her or Thorin's presence. Ila noticed that the dark haired one was quite a fearsome fighter to look so adorable when he was at ease. His older brother was impressive as well. They moved so fluidly and gracefully for dwarves, it was almost as if they were dancing, not fighting.
"I do find my way here from time to time however, so if you ever need me and cannot find me, this is a good a place to look as any." Thorin finished and Ila nodded to him. "There is very little to see here, come." He said pulling her away. Ila was getting turned around from all the places they were going on this tour, and she kept trying to get her bearings. She silently hoped Dwala was taking in more of that than she, but lla did not hope too much for that. Likely, Dwala was just as if not more transfixed by everything than herself, though she had managed to keep herself quiet back there.
"I have walked you about quite a bit today, I am not tiring you I hope." Thorin asked.
"No, no my lord. I am anxious to explore my new home." Ila returned quickly.
"I am glad. However, I will show you but one more thing, then I insist you rest before supper tonight." He said and Ila nodded in agreement. He lead her back near the royal chambers, but took a detour right before they reached the staircase and down the nearest corridor. They came to stop at a pair of silver doors this time. There were no guards outside of it, but Ila got the impression that it was a private space intended only for Thorin's use. He moved away from her and she let go of his arm as he opened the two large doors and then stepped aside for Ila to enter first. She looked to him and he gestured with his hand for her to go in.
Ila did so and looked around. This room had Erebor's signature high ceilings but it was a little darker than the others. The light in the room came from lanterns, not torches like the rest of the palace. That was because this room was a library.
A library…..a massive…..sprawling library. One that made her father's look like a little dwarf's schoolroom. Ila sucked in breath, more astonished and affected than she had been in the mines where the walls reflected every jewel known to Mahal. Here, every book she had ever heard of any many more she hadn't looked back at her from their places on the walls. Books along with maps, scrolls, blueprints, manuscripts, and every manner of item that was put to parchment filled the great room.
And the smell! Oh the smell of books. Ila had loved it since she was very young. She advanced slowly into the room and then spun in small circles as she looked upwards and all around her. Dwala had let go of her gown when she entered the room and still stood by the door, impressed but not as much as Ila.
"Your father told me that you are a great lover of books, and that you read whenever you have the chance." Thorin commented as he watched her intently.
That took Ila by surprise and she stopped spinning. "Father? You and father spoke about me?"
Thorin seemed surprised. "Of course we did. The conversation of our betrothal was not a short one….."
"But, he told you ..about….me?" Ila asked, timid all of a sudden.
"Well of course. I had to have some assurance that you would be content here." Thorin replied.
Ila smiled at him and wished he could see it. She could feel the barriers she had put up around her heart slowly coming down for him. Slowly, mind you. She had built them tall and strong when she was informed that she would marry the gloomy and imposing king of Erebor. She would need some time, but after today she was very hopeful.
"So, this….this magnificent room is your personal library?" she asked looking back to the room of her dreams.
"Yes, and has been the passed from king to king. And…" Thorin started.
Ila looked to him with expectant eyes.
"…..by extension is yours as well. You are free to read whatever you like here, and may come and go as you like to make your selections." He finished and saw Ila's hazel eyes dance with happiness back at him. It was an absolutely beautiful sight, and to know that he had caused it gave him butterflies.
Well, his books caused it, but that would do presently.
"Your majesty," she gushed. "You are too kind." Ila said walking towards him. She saw a smile creeping over his lips and he extended his arm for her to retake as she came closer.
"It is a small thing, when a woman is made happy by so little. You are much more taken with my library than my mines, I see. I dare say there is no other dwarven lady for whom that could be said." Thorin said with a bit of-what was it-admiration in his voice? Ila was about to blush as she wrapped her arm around his again but their conversation was interrupted by the crashing sound of books tumbling down on one another, followed by a surprised yelp.
Ila jumped and she and Thorin looked to their right, where Dwala was standing looking very sheepish with a pile of books at her feet. She had apparently been reaching for one that intrigued her that was a bit too far out of her reach. The result of that endeavor now lay at her feet.
Thorin felt his face grow hot. He had given his intended permission to choose books from his library, not her handmaiden. He had been so intent on studying Ila that he had almost forgotten Dwala was there. Almost.
Dwala's face was so red it made Ila's burn for her. Dwala actually looked about to cry, which was not like her, but then she had had a trying day for a sheltered, Iron Hills maiden.
Ila felt Thorin's muscles tense in her grasp and she knew he had had enough of Dwala for one day. She also saw his hand clench into a fist and she instinctively tightened her grasp on his arm. Thorin somehow registered that through his anger and looked down at her. His blue eyes were bright with anger and frustration, and Ila faltered under his harsh glare. Her hazel eyes looked up at his pleadingly and then grew afraid. Thorin saw the fear in her eyes and cursed himself. Forcing himself to calm down, he looked back to the dwarf shaking before him.
"It is no matter….." he said and Ila felt his muscles relax and saw his gaze soften again, though it did not fully return to his relaxed and content state that had taken all day to fully come over him. That was a shame, for Ila had felt very comfortable with him right before the accident. However, she did not miss the fact that Thorin had forced himself to calm down on her account, scary though he had been for a moment.
"That is enough for one day, I think. Come, I made you promise to rest before supper." He said a bit stiffly and lead Ila from the room. Dwala quickly took her place behind Ila, who threw her a look to say that is was going to be alright. She could tell that Dwala would not be comforted at the moment and would make sure she was alright when they arrived back in her chambers.
Thorin did not say anything on their trip back to the royal staircase, and Ila wondered that he was not angry at her too. She could not think of anything she might have done and decided that he must simply be very put out with having to accommodate her handmaiden as well as herself. Ila would have to talk to Dwala about being more careful and observant. She was determined that Thorin would grow to like her, perhaps in time arrange a good marriage for her as well.
As they came to the base of the staircase Ila let go of Thorin's arm and turned to face him.
"I hope you enjoyed your tour, princess. Erebor is not yet returned to its former glory, but in time you will be even prouder to call it home I am certain." Thorin said.
He was so very proud of his reclaimed home, and he was proud even for a dwarf, Ila thought.
"I am not sure how I could be more proud, or how Erebor could be any more beautiful or impressive. I am very grateful and honored that you took it upon yourself to show me about, your majesty." Ila made sure to be extra polite and pleasing to him in effort to smooth over Dwala's accident.
"I am glad you find it so. And it was a pleasure." Thorin said and again contemplated taking her hand to kiss, but she had her hands clasped together and resting just below her waist. He thought better about reaching for them.
Ila curtsied to him, as did Dwala.
"Until supper." Thorin said and returned their bows, then turned on his heels to leave them.
Dwala turned immediately to retreat up their stairs and back into their chambers, but Ila stood where she was so that she might watch her intended walk away. He was so…majestic, Ila thought.
"Ila?" Came Dwala's timid voice.
Ila turned to see that she had already made her way up to the stairs.
"Can we retire for a while?" She asked and her tone made Ila hurt for her.
"Of course, I'm coming." Ila said and picked up her dress to climb the steps, all the while instructing herself to tend to Dwala's feelings for the afternoon, not her own regarding Thorin.
AN: Oh Dwala. Things will get better for her, eventually. And Ila and Thorin have some storms to weather too. And for anyone wondering I promise Kili will show up soon as a character in his own right, not just as Thorin's dark haired nephew.
Again thanks to all for the gracious and motivating reviews! I appreciate every one.