Ila slept very well that night. Her heart was no longer troubled and she had a dreamless sleep for which she was thankful, for she found those to be the most restful. She woke at a decent hour, shortly before her breakfast and Dwala arrived.
As she sat opposite her handmaiden at the table, hair tousled and eyes still heavy from sleep, Ila smiled without even realizing herself. Dwala smiled as she watched her eating.
"What has you in such good spirits that you cannot eat for smiling my lady?"
"Hmm?" Ila mumbled as she chewed.
"You're smiling and you don't even know it!" Dwala exclaimed, smiling widely at her. Ila blushed a little and continued eating.
"Which is well. You should be happy. You and Thorin are reconciled and he seems intent as ever on making you happy, now that he has a better idea about how to do so."
"I only wish I had more time with him, and then perhaps we would not have so many misunderstandings, that is, if we knew each other better." Ila said.
"Yes, I am sure that is the only reason you wish to see him more, to know him better." Dwala said slyly.
Ila narrowed her eyes at Dwala playfully and they both burst into laughter. Their merriment was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Who could it be so early?" Dwala said getting up to go to the door.
Ila continued eating, not thinking of anything really. She was simply happy and at ease, enjoying her breakfast as she waited for Dwala to return.
"Ila!" Dwala called from the antechamber and Ila was afraid for a moment, wondering if that was a good or bad scream. She ran to her vanity and grabbed her veil, hastily fastening it. She had no idea who or what stood in her antechamber and nearly forgot to grab it. She tried to flatten her hair down and smooth its craziness as she turned the corner.
As she did, she was met with a most unexpected sight. A royal servant was standing just inside the doorway with a wiggling, panting puppy in his arms.
Ila gasped and giggled at the sight of him, wanting to run forward and snatch him from the dwarf's grasp. She restrained herself however.
"Princess Ila," the dwarf began.
"King Thorin sends you this gift, in hopes that it will ward off any loneliness you may feel here. Also—"
Ila had come forth to take the puppy from his arms before he could continue. It appeared to be some sort of sheep dog, a black and white long haired dog with pointed ears. It was happily trying to lick her face but the veil prevented that at present. Ila cooed and fawned over him as she held him to her chest.
Dwala had come over to pet and fuss over him as well, the both of them almost forgetting they had a visitor.
"—Also, the King offers that you may enjoy your lunch outside today, if it would please you."
"A picnic?!" Ila practically squeaked over the head of the puppy that was trying in earnest to find some skin to lick.
"Yes, my lady." The servant replied.
"That will be wonderful. Please express my gratitude to his majesty." Ila said and the dwarf took that as his dismissal.
Ila took her veil off and let the puppy nuzzle and lick her face finally. He was the most adorable thing she had ever seen. He was so fluffy and sweet that Ila barely knew what to do with him.
"I didn't think dogs were allowed to live under the mountain, I cannot recall any king having had one. He must want to please you very much." Dwala said.
"That he fears I am lonely is the sweetest part of the gesture, don't you think?" Ila asked and Dwala nodded.
"Oh, and I must have a name for him! What should it be?"
"How about Sam? That is a good, trustworthy name." Dwala said.
"Sam? Hmmm…." Ila thought that over and the puppy wagged his tail even harder when Ila said it again.
"Sam it is then." She said, kissing the top of his soft fluffy head before sitting him down to let him sniff about his new home.
Ila and Dwala went back to their breakfast and Sam was soon darting back and forth between them for scraps, which they knew they shouldn't give him but couldn't refuse the happy little pup. They both giggled at him and admired him as he bounded around the room. Ila couldn't wait to take him outside to romp around during lunch, for which she had never been more excited about. She hoped King Thorin would join her, but knew very likely he would not be able to with the men still under the mountain. Still, she would keep a tiny hope alive in her heart, as she could not wait to thank him herself for her latest, fluffy little gift.
Elsewhere in the palace, Thorin was trying to show interest in a man who was speaking at length about the construction of apparently much needed bridges, and to keep his mind off of Ila. He was failing rather horribly at that attempt. He could not help but wonder how she had received her new gift. He hoped that she liked the fluffy little thing. He had obtained him from the best sheep herding stock that men could boast, though the dog would never work a day in his life. The creature's sole purpose was to keep his intended happy and a little less lonely, which hopefully he was succeeding at presently. He wished he had had the time to present her with the gift himself and see her reaction first hand, but there was still much business to attend to and he did not want to delay her receiving it.
Thorin cast his eyes towards him nephews who were fidgeting in their seats. Fili less so, as he was older and held himself to a higher standard as he was the heir apparent. That was until Ila bore a little dwarf prince. Thorin tried to imagine Ila with a big round belly for a moment and found that he could not. He then saw Kili eyeing the door and smiled to himself. His nephews were having all they could stand.
Soon the meeting broke for lunch but Thorin remained seated and motioned his nephews towards him. They came to stand on either side of him and managed to look slightly less restless.
"You two look as though you would rather be anywhere else." Thorin said and Kili made no attempt to argue. Fili made a face that suggested he was a bit ashamed of himself as he took matters more seriously that his brother, especially with regards to ruling. While he had resigned himself to the fact that the main reason Ila was there at all was to produce a direct royal heir, he also knew there was always the possibility that she might fail. She might fail to produce a child at all, have only females (though highly unlikely), or she might perish in childbirth. He did not wish any of those fates on her, but he knew that there was still a chance that he might ascend to the throne of Erebor and as such he needed to be prepared.
"It is just so tiring, uncle…" Kili answered and Thorin chuckled.
"Yes, ruling is." He replied simply. "Why don't the two of you get some fresh air before you eat? It will hopefully make you less energetic and more attentive, and you can check on the princess while you are out of doors. She is taking her lunch outside today." Thorin ordered and Fili nodded.
"Yes, uncle." They said and turned to do as they were told. Thorin watched them and his thoughts turned back to Ila, as they always seemed to these days. He wished so much to join her for the picnic, but he would need to take his lunch with his guests in the great hall. He vowed however that he would try and sneak a visit with her that night. He couldn't wait another whole day to see her beautiful hazel eyes looking back into his. He longed to look on her entire face at will, and wished away the few weeks that stood in the way of her being his wife when he could finally possess her completely.
Ila had never been so excited about lunch in her life. She had dressed herself in a pale pink gown with a modest neckline that showed only the tops of her ample bosom. She wanted very much for Thorin to make an appearance and while she knew that was unlikely, dressed for such just in case. Her veil was affixed as it should be and the hair around her face was pulled back in a think silver ribbon so that her hazel eyes were beautifully on display. She kept her jewelry simple and picked up Sam to hold in her arms as she exited her rooms, Dwala in tow as always.
As they exited the palace they were accompanied by four servants and ten guards. Ila thought that was a bit overdone but said nothing. The guards led her around the mountain and to a clearing that a cropping of trees and brush provided shade for. Ila sat on a blanket with Sam wiggling in her arms while the servants prepared the food. Ila sat him down to explore and busied herself with taking in the sights and smells around her. Dwala was hungrily eyeing the food, and neither of them realized that Sam had wandered into the brush until his tail had disappeared from sight.
Ila looked around them and with a fright at the realization that he was gone, nearly yelped.
"Where is Sam?" she asked and Dwala looked about her quickly before being frightened herself.
"Sam!" Ila called and hopped up to trot around the trees and brush looking for him and the guards followed suit, knowing better than to let the princess out of their sight.
Dwala got up and went about calling and searching for him too, feeling equally responsible for his slipping away.
Not far, but far enough that Ila could not see them, Fili and Kili were strolling around the mountain as their uncle had commanded. All of a sudden out from the trees popped a fluffy little sheep dog who darted playfully into their path.
"Look! A puppy." Fili said and Kili set after it. Sam darted from Kili's grasp and he gave chase to the fluffy and fast little creature.
"He is far from Dale. He is most certainly lost." Fili remarked but Kili was busy pursuing the fluff ball, being quick and agile himself. Sam jumped back into the trees and brush from whence he had come and Kili followed after, intent on capturing him.
Meanwhile Ila was searching with greater and greater haste, being horribly upset and afraid that Sam was lost forever. She called to him and ran ahead of the guards who were keeping their eyes on her as much as they were searching for Sam. Suddenly Ila heard a noise in the brush and ran towards it, taking off her veil which was getting snagged by the bushes and branches as she began to push her way into the brush, when suddenly the sound she heard seemed too great to be a puppy and she feared some large animal was about to beset her.
Just then, out leapt Sam into Ila's arms. She stumbled backwards and sat down on her bottom, Sam grasped tightly in her arms, as she braced herself for whatever was coming so loudly through the brush at them.
Ila nearly yelped again when out pounced Prince Kili, nearly landing on top of her.
He saw her at the last moment and just barely brought himself to a halt, landing inches from her on all fours, and staring straight into her uncovered face.
He was so shocked that for a moment he could do nothing but stare at her. Her long dark hair, cascading over her shoulders in a perfectly fitted pink dress. Her hair that was pulled back so that he could see not only her stunning hazel eyes, wide like a doe's staring back at him, but also her rosy cheeks and full parted lips. Her chest and the tops of her breasts that he could see where flushed like her face, and they heaved slightly as she was out of breath and quite startled.
She was the most beautiful thing Kili had ever laid eyes on, dwarf, human or elf, and he was instantly in love with her.
He could tell from just her eyes that shown above veil that she was a great beauty the first time he saw her, but upon seeing her entire face finally her beauty exceeded his expectations. He was always so uncomfortable in her presence and now it was practically unbearable. She had a way about her, an energy in the way she moved and looked out from those eyes that made him feel like the air had been sucked from his lungs.
Ila was so startled that she found she couldn't move, but only stared back at Kili as he was like a statue before her. Sam began to lick her face again and it brought her from the trance to turn her face from him and raise up from where she sat to quickly turn around.
Kili realized what he had done and quickly stood himself. Dwala was running towards them and just before she could come into earshot, Kili whispered urgently.
"Please, my lady. Do not mention this to my uncle. I am so sorry that I—Please—"
He pleaded and Ila whispered over her shoulder as she tried to affix her veil with one hand and hold Sam with the other. "I will not tell if you will not." She said and he nodded to her once before averting his eyes to the ground as Dwala finally reached them.
"My lady, you found him!" Dwala exclaimed.
"Prince Kili found him, actually." Ila said turning back around to face him now, her face properly covered.
Kili raised his head to look her in the eyes. He wore an expression that was so innocent and sweet that Ila could barely believe she had ever thought him rude or unfriendly. Perhaps he was just shy, and she had been all wrong about him.
"Thank you, Prince Kili, for returning my Sam to me." Ila said sweetly and batted her eye lashes at him, being that he couldn't see the friendly smile she was giving him.
"At your service, princess." He replied solemnly and bowed his head to her.
Dwala took Ila by the shoulder to steer her back towards the picnic.
"Come my lady, lunch will be ready now." She said and Ila curtsied to Kili and turned to walk back the way she came, Sam still securely in her grasp. Kili watched her go and tried to fight the sick feeling in his stomach. Well, it wasn't exactly like being sick, but he had never felt it before and didn't know how else to characterize it. What he did know was that she was his uncle's intended, his future aunt and the future queen of Erebor. He should see her only as such.
But as his stomach tightened and his pulse raced, he feared that was impossible now.
"Well, where is the puppy?" Fili asked, having finally caught up to him.
"Safe with its master." He answered simply and nodded towards the princess, who was in the distance now.
"Ah. A gift from uncle no doubt." Fili said. "Well, let's to our own lunch then. She appears well looked after." Fili said and turned back towards the entrance to the mountain. Kili spared one more look in Ila's direction before following his brother, barely aware of the creeping illness that was seeping into his heart and soul. This feeling will pass, he told himself as he turned back towards the mountain. It will pass.
AN: Hello all. So I missed posting last week since I was out on the west coast for a bit sans my computer (I reside in the deep, deep south). I am traveling again this week but hopefully I will get another chapter posted soon. This is a particularly fluffy chapter, so hopefully it made up for my lack of updates a tiny bit.
To the reviewer who asked how Kili will come into play, hopefully this answers that question. :) As I said in the synopsis, he will only become more prevalent.