After what seemed like an eternity of talks and civilities and even more talking, Thorin bid goodbye to his visitors from Dale for the night and made his way towards his rooms. That had been an endeavor in and of itself though, as someone was always seeking the audience of the king. He was stopped half a dozen times between the great hall and the royal staircase about every matter from the quantity of diamonds mined that week of being fitted for his wedding robes.

He sighed, mentally exhausted, and finally pried himself from those who set upon him with requests and updates to make his way up the staircase to the royal chambers. He stopped at the landing and looked towards the female quarters. He wanted to see Ila so very much, to gauge for himself how much she liked her gift, though the servant that had presented it to her told him she could not be more pleased. He wished he could have seen her face when she saw the puppy. Well, he would only have seen her eyes, but still.

Thorin wanted to call on Ila, but he knew there was another female he needed to visit first. Walking up the stairs that lead to the female quarters and walking right past Ila's door, Thorin made his way towards the end of the hall.

There, the very last door, larger and more ornate than any other in that corridor, was his sister's room. It was likely that Ila had no idea how close she was to her soon to be sister-in-law, since Dis rarely showed her face to anyone save her sons. Thorin drew in a deep breath and knocked gently on the door.

He waited for a moment and heard soft footfalls on the other side. When the door opened he was greeted by his sister's handmaiden, who bowed to her king and went to retrieve her walked about the antechamber, absentmindedly looking around but not really looking at anything. He wasn't waiting long when he saw her appear out of the corner of his eye. She moved so quietly and as if her feet barely touched the ground, like a shade trapped between worlds Thorin thought. She was younger than him, but looked older, with much more grey streaking her once pitch black hair. Her face and jaw were trimmed in a short black beard and she had his same blue eyes. Their father's eyes. They stared back at Thorin, sad and tired but affectionate. She had always loved her brothers, but she had been closer to Frerin as they were closer in age. Thorin was her big brother, her protector, the one she looked to and looked up to. When they lost so many that were dear to them, including her husband, Dis had never recovered. Thorin had taken it on himself to be the rock for her, for what was left of their family, but he could never make her whole again. He had stopped trying, after years of watching her descend into a bottomless depression, and only tried to make her as comfortable as possible. As such, he respected her wishes and let her lead a reclusive and solitary life, though he would much prefer she did the opposite.

"Brother," came her voice, raspy for a female.

"Dis," he replied tenderly.

She gave him the smallest smile and moved to sit on a sofa in the middle of the room. Thorin remained standing, and seemed a bit off she thought. But then she was almost sure she knew why he was there that night.

"You haven't been to see me since the princess arrived. How is she faring under the mountain?"

Thorin let his guard down completely in front of his sister. Not only because he felt safe with her, but because he knew she would see right through him anyway.

"That is why I came to you tonight. I think she is well…but I am no judge of females….as you know."

Dis smiled a little bigger this time.

"No, no you never had time for that sort of thing. But now….."

Thorin shifted and began to pace slowly about the room.

"I try to be as agreeable and welcoming as I can be…..but she is so young and free spirited. I take her wrong and she misinterprets me….I fear….I fear that I will be as another father to her. Another old dwarf to make commands and demands of her, but not be her companion. Not be her….her…."

"—her friend." Dis finished for him.

"Yes." Thorin answered.

"Then you must take the time to befriend her. It will not happen overnight, it may take months even, but you must try to truly get to know her. Especially before you take her."

Thorin stopped and looked at his sister. He cleared his throat. "Take her?"

Dis made a face at him.

"Yes, brother. Take her." She repeated.

"I don't understand. We will be married in less than a month I don't have time—"

"You must not force yourself on her. She will never forgive you if you do." Dis interrupted.

Thorin stood flabbergasted. Was she really telling him that he was not to have his wife on their wedding night?

"Do you mean to suggest that I am not to…..consummate my marriage if I am not yet friends with my wife? A process you propose would take months?"

"I said it could take months, but that you should make the effort to get to know her before you take her, and most importantly not to force her if she isn't ready." Dis clarified.

"WHAT VIRGIN BRIDE IS EVER READY?!" Thorin ground out in disbelief. It was almost comical but Dis fought the urge to laugh.

"You know what I mean, Thorin, son of Thrain." She said sternly.

He bristled at her a little but it was short lived. Only she could talk to him like that and get away with it.

"I have but three weeks at this point—"

"Then you had best get to work." Dis interrupted him again, this time with finality.

Thorin practically gapped at her. He would practically have to devote every hour of every day to getting to know Ila, when he had only weeks and Erebor was not going to run itself in the meantime. Women were truly unbelievable creatures, he thought as he regarded his sister.

He sighed and turned towards the door, contemplating everything Dis had said. Finally, he turned back to her.

"So, if I were going to attempt this, how exactly would I endeavor to get to know her in three weeks?"
he said as though the words caused him physical pain.

"You are impossible, do you know that?" came her reply.

Thorin felt his face flush red and he seethed at her in frustration.

"Females are the most impossible creatures Mahal ever made."

"Spend time with her. Show an interest in the things she is interested in. Ask her questions. Listen intently when she speaks. It is not hard."

"I do those things!"

"Oh? What does she like?"

Thorin regarded his sister like she had three heads.

"What does she like?" he repeated.

"Is there an echo in here, your majesty?" she repeated and Thorin narrowed his eyes at her.

He thought hard, his eyes towards the ceiling searching for answers.

"She likes…..being outside. And reading. And…the color blue but I don't know what shade exactly…I don't know!" he growled and Dis did chuckle that time.

"This is not funny. What if she never comes around to me? What if she never submits psychically to me? She is a much better age for the boys anyway….." Thorin trailed off.

"Is that what you are worried about? That her heart will set itself on one of the boys?"

"She is Kili's age, it's not a crazy idea….."

Dis thought that over. "Eh…..my boys luckily have not seemed to notice that females exist quite yet. And from the way I hear her described I do not think she is Fili's type. And Kili, that child is untamable. I don't think you have anything to worry about, brother. Besides, what princess doesn't want to be a queen?"

Thorin looked sideways at her, turning her words over in his mind. Perhaps she was right, about everything. The only way he and Ila would come to a better understanding of each other was if they actually knew each other, and he needed to make time for that to happen. And she had shown no interest in his nephews, though she would be a fool to do so.

"I will take your suggestions under advisement." Thorin said in a manner that clearly communicated that he agreed with her but didn't want to admit it. Dis almost rolled her eyes at him. She loved and practically revered Thorin, but she also thought he was far too stubborn, and liked the rare occasions she got to tease him. She'd taken advantage of this one, though not as much as she could have.

With a more tender look, Thorin came closer to where she sat and Dis began to rise but he held up his hand. She stopped and looked up at him as he came to stand in front of her.

"Goodnight, little sister." He said and bent to gently kiss the top of her forehead. The gesture instantly transported Dis back in time, to when she was just a little dwarf, Frerin carrying her around in his arms, Thorin pausing from his usual busy tasks of training and preparing for rule to kiss her on the forehead as he hurried by them. She suppressed tears, and was surprised that she had any left to cry after all these years.

"And thank you," Thorin said, now at the door and turning to go.

"Goodnight, my king." She answered quietly with a sad but real smile that time. Despite all that had happened, she was glad that she finally got to call her brother king. As he closed the door behind him, she noted that he didn't even ask her if she would be at the wedding. She knew he figured it a futile question at this point, but seeing how affected he was by this young princess, she might just surprise him.

Thorin walked from his sister's chambers, intent on making the attempt at friendship that she had advised him was imperative. It was getting late now, and Thorin hoped Ila would still be awake. He couldn't be this close to her and not actually see her. He hoped her handmaiden was still awake, he knew it would be terribly awkward to call on Ila with no one else present. It would be indecent actually, but he decided it was worth the risk.

With his heart suddenly pounding and his stomach in knots, Thorin came to Ila's door and knocked firmly.

He waited, hearing nothing at first and afraid she was asleep. He did not want to knock again and wake or startle her, so he waited for a moment longer and then decided to turn towards his own rooms. Disappointed, Thorin was turning around as the door suddenly opened.

It was, thankfully, her handmaiden. Dwala, he reminded himself. She did have a name, she was in fact not the annoying dwarf with the worst timing of any creature in Middle Earth, as he too often thought of her. Ila seemed to like her very much, and so he would need to be nice to her he told himself firmly.

"Your majesty!" Dwala exclaimed. "We did not expect you so late. What can we do for you?" she asked.

What indeed. Thorin didn't even know what he wanted to say to Ila, only that he wanted so badly to see her.

"Yes, I apologize that the hour upon which I call is quite late. By chance, is your mistress to bed yet?" he forced himself to be amiable.

"No, your majesty. She has not retired. I will fetch her—"

"I will wait for her in here." He replied and walked in to stand in the small antechamber. He quickly tried to think of what he was going to say, but he didn't have enough time as a small but sweet voice behind him called.

"My king," Ila said, having silently entered the room.

Thorin turned to face her and they bowed to each other in perfect unison.

Ila blushed, knots in her stomach. She was surprised to see him so late and was more than a little excited, and she tried to suppress those emotions as she stood before the king, instead being the perfect picture of a composed and regal queen to be.

That stance was ruined however as Sam ran into the room, Dwala calling after him from the other room, and came to stand at Thorin's feet. The fluffy little pup looked up at the king under the mountain and barked at him as if to say he was intruding on his territory. Newly claimed territory but his territory all the same, as Sam had gone about sniffing and familiarizing himself with Ila's chambers all evening.

Dwala appeared in the doorway, looking sheepish.

"I am sorry my lady, he slipped past me." She said but Ila waved at her in a manner that said not to worry about it. Thorin looked down at the puppy and moved closer to him, causing Sam to back up but continue his little yips up at the towering dwarf.

"So, I see he already thinks he is your protector." Thorin said reaching down in attempt to pet Sam. Sam however darted back to hide behind Ila, though continuing to bark from around her skirts at Thorin.

Ila giggled. "Yes, though he is not a very good one yet." She said and reached down to scoop him up in her arms. He nuzzled into her neck and rested on her chest, and Thorin found himself to be very jealous of the puppy just then.

"So he pleases you?" Thorin asked and Ila's eyes went wide.

"Oh of course your majesty! He could not be sweeter or more adorable. I am so grateful for him. Thank you." She replied and wished he would see the big, bright smile she was giving him.

Thorin smiled, "I am glad."

He walked towards one of the sitting couches and motioned for Ila to join him.

"Would you sit with me for a while, or are you ready to retire? I know it is late, but I—I wanted very much to see you today." He managed to say.

Ila blushed. "Yes, of course your maje—"

"Thorin," he interrupted gently.

Ila blushed furiously and giggled. "Thorin," she repeated and it was his turn to blush. It was suddenly very hot in there, and Thorin looked at the floor while Ila came to sit across from him. They were very close now, but Sam was in between them as he was still in Ila's grasp, wiggling and trying to get to Thorin. His fear from earlier seemed quelled by being in his master's safe embrace.

"He already seems very attached," Thorin mused. "Though I can understand why."

Ila was tired of her face feeling like the surface of the sun. "Did you come here tonight to flatter me, my king?"

Thorin smiled widely. "Not particularly, but I can't seem to restrain myself." He said and she batted her eye lashed furiously at him.

"You are too kind to me."

"I am not kind enough."

Ila cocked her head a him a little but he continued.

"You deserve more of my time and attention, especially considering how close to the wedding we are. It is my desire that we will spend as much time together as the demands of the kingdom will allow."

Ila was very excited by this news, and shifted a little in her seat. "Your maj- I mean Thorin, I do not expect that with how busy you are you could devote so much time to me, and I think you have been very generous and attentive ever since I have come to be here." Ila said, feeling that she should be grateful and just forget that one episode altogether.

"I have been trying, though this is all very new to me." Thorin said, looking a bit vulnerable which was so very adorable to Ila.

"It is new to me too." She said sweetly, taking the liberty to stare into his impossibly beautiful blue eyes. He stared back into her equally beautiful hazel ones and he wished Sam was not in between them. He wanted to take her hand but both were busy restraining the wiggling and hyper puppy.

"Perhaps, Dwala could take the puppy and put him to bed?" Thorin asked gently.

"Oh of course! Dwala?" Ila said turning to Dwala who hurried from where she was at the door to take Sam from her arms. Ila did not miss that Thorin had finally used Dwala's name and it made her happy. She wanted very much for him to like her and for Dwala to feel more comfortable around him.

Thorin reached forward to take Ila's hand and hold it gently in his own, lightly running his thumb back and forth over her knuckles. Ila marveled at how such a little thing could set her entire body on fire. She practically held her breath as he talked.

"As I was saying, we are fast approaching our wedding day, and you will need to be fitted for your gown. The seamstresses will be by in the morning to begin what I am sure will be a lengthy process." Thorin said smiling again.

Ila had somehow not given much thought to her gown, what with everything else she had had to deal with since she had arrived in Erebor. But she was very excited now that he mentioned it.

"I must be fitted for my robes soon too." He said. "This all reminds me that I must make a proper wedding gift to you soon…and I am still trying to divine your preferences for certain things." Thorin said with a sly smile.

"My lord, you have already given me so much. You gave me a most wonderful gift just today."

"Yes, but that was just because. This is your wedding gift, and it must be perfect. So…."

"Yes?" Ila said slyly herself this time.

"You must give me some idea as to your favorite adornments." Thorin said.

Ah, Ila thought. He means to give me jewelry. That makes sense as a wedding gift, especially from him, as he has mines full of every jewel she could name to give her if he pleased.

"Did I not give you some idea on my tour of the mines that day?" Ila asked.

"A little, but you were more awed at my library than my mines if I recall correctly."

Ila blushed again. "What can I say? I do love my books. But I am a female and a dwarf, I like shiny things too." Ila said and Thorin could not stop smiling at her. He must look ridiculous he thought, but he didn't care.

"So, is the princess going to tell me what she prefers, or am I going to have to guess?"

Ila giggled and knew what that meant.

Thorin smirked at her. "Well, will you at least accompany me to the mines tomorrow while I attempt to pick something out for you?"

Ila nodded. "I would love to." She responded and ever so gently squeezed his hand. Thorin squeezed back and stroked her hand more fervently. They sat in silence for a while then, neither knowing what to say and honestly not wanting to talk. They only wanted to look at each other freely, without others' eyes looking on them. Dwala was at the door, but she was looking at her hands or whatever else she could find that was not them.

Finally, when Thorin knew it was very late and that he must go. He rose and took both of Ila's hands to lift her with him, but mostly because he wanted to touch even more of her. They stood but a breath away, hands clasped and staring deep into each other's eyes.

"Not so much longer, and we will never have to say goodnight. For my part, I cannot wait." Thorin practically whispered, hyper sensitive to Dwala's presence now. Ila blinked up at him with her innocent doe eyes and Thorin's heart fluttered.

"Nor can I." she did whisper.

Thorin leaned forward and kissed her forehead, but it was not like the kiss he had given his sister a little earlier. It was full of restrained emotions and his lips lingered on her skin. Ila closed her eyes to revel in their touch and closeness.

As Thorin pulled back, he slowly released her hands and stepped back, letting their fingers slip apart.

"Goodnight Ila." He said and turned to leave.

"Goodnight Thorin," Ila said and he smiled towards the door as he opened and passed through it. She couldn't know it, but he would spend more than an hour lying awake in bed, overstimulated from her touch and closeness, wishing she was lying next to him, sans veil and everything else.

Ila turned to Dwala, peeling off her veil so she would see the big smile on her face.

Dwala simply returned it, happy to see Ila happy. Dwala had meant to ask about the episode with Kili earlier that day and what might have passed between them before she arrived, but she was too happy to bother her with anything now. She simply helped her to bed, tucking Sam in beside her, and went to her own chambers for some much needed rest.