Ila was awakened early the next morning by the seamstresses that Thorin has promised would be paying her a visit. Ila simply had to stand still while they measured her and pinned and wrapped fabric around her body. They occasionally had to swat Sam away as he got in their way, seeking attention and investigating the visitors to his territory.

Even her wedding gown was not enough to keep Ila interested that morning. All Ila could think about was seeing Thorin again, which would be sometime today for their second journey to the mines. She wondered what he had a mind to give her. Jewels obviously but what exactly? A necklace to wear for their wedding day? Earrings or a broach even? She knew she would not get a crown. Only the kings of dwarves wore crowns. A fine circlet yes, but that would be it, and that didn't bother her one bit. And as for the wedding rings, they would have matching ones that would be much less grand, but ornate and beautiful she was sure.

Ila wondered if she should make Thorin guess at what her favorite gem was. Truly, there were a few that she liked very much, but blue diamonds were her favorite. Lighter than sapphires, which she also liked, they were a rare jewel. Much the color of Thorin's eyes, Ila noted to herself and smiled as she thought about him for the hundredth time that morning. Ila was so excited to see him she wasn't even hungry, but Dwala was making sure that breakfast didn't go to waste as usual.

After an hour or so, Ila began to grow impatient and tired of standing there like a statute for her fitting. To take her mind away, she relived in her mind many times the kiss Thorin had placed on her forehead the night before. It had been chaste but lingering, filled with barely restrained emotions. She wished more than anything she could tear the thin material of the veil off of her face, finally removing the barrier that was always separating them. Well, that and their clothes…..but Ila told herself that was an inappropriate thought for a maiden to have…..just yet anyway. Soon, when they were married, it would be perfectly suitable for her to have such thoughts she told herself.

Finally, the seamstresses were done for the day but warned they would be back more than once, as this was apparently a very complicated process. Ila had had many dresses made in her life, being a princess she had more dresses than most dwarves, but this one was apparently going to be comprised of an enormous amount of material. And it sounded like Dwala was going to have an enormous train to carry behind her. Ila was excited to see the final product, but not to stand through multiple fittings. At the moment, she was most concerned with what dress she was going to wear for Thorin that day.

"Alright," Ila said going to her closet while Dwala watched from where she sat at the table.

"What color has Thorin not yet seen me in?" Ila asked her companion.

Dwala thought on that while she chewed. "Ummm….."

"He has seen pink, blue, bright red, green, crimson…"

"How about a purple one then?"

Ila began to dig through her things, looking for such a dress. Dwala continued eating and pondered why the color even mattered.

"Why must he see you in another color every time? Eventually he is going to see you repeat a dress you know."

"Yes, yes. But he hasn't seen them all yet. And I can't bore him this early in our life together."

"If either of you will bore the other it will most likely be that he bores you."

"Oh Dwala, he is trying very hard don't you think? I didn't think so before, but now he seems to be truly making an effort." Ila said.

Dwala made a face that suggested she agreed as she chewed a great mouthful of potatoes. Ila went back to searching for a gown and pulled out the first purple one that she came upon. It was more lavender than purple and its neckline was too modest she thought. She wanted to give Thorin a little something to look at. The next one she pulled out was more amethyst in color and the neckline was not modest but a little less than plunging. She held it up for Dwala to see who widened her eyes a bit.

"Too risqué?" Ila asked.

Dwala swallowed hard. "Um, I suppose not. You just haven't worn anything like that here before. It might surprise him."

"Good." Ila said and started to change. Dwala went over to lace her up in the back and fix her hair while Ila did her own make-up. Ila chose silver dangling earrings to pair to match her veil. She was all ready, now she just had to wait. Thorin hadn't said when he would call on her, so she would just have to occupy herself until he did.

She was so antsy now, pacing around her room.

"You are going to walk holes in the floor my lady," Dwala said. "Why don't you sit for a while."

Before Ila could say anything there came a knock at the door. Dwala got up to answer it and Ila felt faint from excitement. She peaked from just behind the door that led to the antechamber so that she could see who was at the entrance to her chambers.

It of course was Thorin, looking handsome in his usual dark blue tunic. Dwala was turning to fetch Ila but she came through the entrance then, eager to see her betrothed.

"I am here, Dwala." Ila said as she appeared. She briefly saw the look on Thorin's face as he took in her appearance, his eyes widening slightly and then she bowed to him, losing her vision of him. When she rose his face had returned to his normal visage of reserved and regal calm. He bowed to her as well and stepped closer to her.

"You look…like perfection." Thorin said as he took Ila's hand to kiss.

"Thank you, Thorin." She replied and he felt lightheaded.

"Are you ready?" he asked and she nodded, taking his arms and letting him lead her out and down the stairs. Dwala followed as always but gave them a little space to be alone with each other, as much as they could be. Ila's arms was wrapped around Thorin's, their bodies gently touching each other as they walked. Thorin was trying desperately not to look down into her cleavage that was more bountiful that day than he had seen before, and oh so tempting.

She is doing this to me on purpose, he thought. But he didn't really mind.

They said little as they walked towards the mines. They were really just enjoying being in each other's company. They didn't have much time for that, and at the moment Thorin was simply reveling in Ila's arm being in his.

"So, do I have to guess at your favorite jewel my queen to be, as that may be very dangerous. What if I choose wrong?" Thorin asked with a slight smirk on his face.

Queen to be. Ila smiled at that.

"My king, I will love anything that you are so kind to give me, but I promise to let you know when you have guessed correctly."

Thorin smiled warmly at her and they proceeded to the mines, where Ila was awed by its vastness and grandeur all over again. As during her last visit, dwarves were milling about everywhere, chipping away at the mountain and hauling their quarry here and there. Gold flowed like rivers around them and carts glittered with every gem Ila could name.

Ila's eyes were as wide as gems as she looked around at everything. Ila thought they would be taking a look at the carts full of rough and newly mined jewels but instead Thorin led her aside to what she would have called a cave, but rather it was a workshop of sorts where the gems were being cut and polished before they could be set into pieces of jewelry. The workers were heads down and barely noticed their king walking around and looking over their shoulders. There was too little room for Thorin and Ila to walk side by side, so he led with her following behind him. Thorin held his hand out behind him, hoping Ila would notice and take it. She did, and boldly but gently interlaced her fingers with his. He responded by squeezing hers a bit and both their hearts skipped a beat.

"See anything you like, princess?"

They passed rubies, which Ila would count as her least favorite gem.

"Not yet," she said sweetly and Thorin made a mental note that Ila walked past the rubies with barely a passing glance. Dwala on the other hand seemed quite interested.

Next they passed amethysts that very closely matched her dress.

"These?"

"They are beautiful my lord, but not my favorite." Ila replied.

Next they came to a workstation where sapphires were being polished. Thorin stopped and picked up one to hold in front of Ila. "I recall you said blue was your favorite color, but a lighter blue than this." He said and it made Ila happy that he remembered her passing comment from some days ago.

"You are correct my lord, though they are a close second." Ila said.

Thorin smiled, pleased with himself that he had remembered that. "They are my favorite, though you probably guessed that." He said and laid the sapphire back down so they could move on. After passing workstations with emeralds and garnets, they came to the diamonds. Ila knew that blue diamonds were very rare and wondered that there would even be any.

Ila stopped at the worktable and studied its contents intently, from the stones the craftsmen held to the piles of rough and polished stones at either end of the table. She said nothing, but Thorin could tell she was looking for something.

"I believe these are what you're looking for my lady…" Thorin said and she looked to where he stood now, next to a much smaller table where only one craftsman sat at work.

Ila's eyes went round as she beheld the beautiful, light blue gems. She hurried towards him and Thorin gently picked up a large, glittering blue diamond and held it up to the light for Ila to see. He loved watching her eyes go wide like that and he to have caused it. Well, the diamond was currently the cause of it but still.

"You may hold it if you like," he said and Ila held out her hand. Thorin placed it in her palm and she cupped both hands together, afraid she would drop it. Diamonds being the hardest substance known to dwarves or man, that was a silly fear, but Ila was careful all the same.

"Have I hit on it then, my lady's favorite?" Thorin asked and knew from the look in Ila's eyes that he had. She said nothing, but those beautiful hazel orbs answered for her, and Thorin found them more beautiful than all the jewels and gems that surrounded them.

"Of course. It makes sense. Rare, strong, and beautiful. You would favor something you have so much in common with." Thorin said and Ila blushed, batting her lashes furiously at him.

Thorin smiled wide and took the diamond from Ila to lay back in the tiny pile he had took it from.

He held his hand out for Ila to take yet again and she did happily.

"Shall we look at anything else?" he asked but Ila insisted she had seen enough, and so they emerged from the mines and to much more well lighted areas of the palace to continue walking. As they went about, Ila noticed that the citizens of Erebor stared less and less at her, which she liked. She was becoming a staple of the palace and the palace was becoming her home. Thorin looked to her and smiled, which he couldn't seem to stop doing.

"The day is still young princess, how shall I entertain you?" he asked.

"I do not care my lord, I only wish to remain in your company." She answered and that was precisely what he had wanted to hear, though he hadn't known it until she said it.

And so they went, spending the rest of the day in each other's company. They even took dinner together, which Ila found she enjoyed very much. Thorin's nephews had been present as they had been the last time she dined with Thorin, and this time they were much more talkative and friendly with her. Fili was more so, but while Kili said the least he did seem nice for a change. Ila still got the impression that he was a bit nervous, and she didn't miss his brother shooting him strange looks throughout the evening, but he was much more attentive to her than he had ever been. She was glad that things were not awkward considering he had seen her face that day when she was looking for Sam, but Ila figured it likely that he would not want his uncle to know as much as she didn't. He seemed intent on keeping that a secret, and Ila was glad for it.

As Thorin escorted Ila back to her chambers at the end of the night, she found she did not want to bid him goodbye. Soon, she would wake up to him. She couldn't wait to take her breakfasts with him and not in the confines of her own room, though sleeping in was nice. She reminded herself to enjoy it while she was yet a princess and not a queen, when much more would be expected of her.

Thorin's queen. Thorin's wife.

And so the three weeks leading up to the wedding passed much like that day had passed, with Thorin devoting every free minute he had to Ila. They flirted more and more, and soon Thorin was cradling Ila's head in her large hands as he placed sweet goodnight kisses on her forehead each evening. They held hands as often as they could, Thorin even placed his hand on her back and stroked the insides of her wrists when he was sure no one was watching. It was becoming almost impossible to restrain himself, but he wouldn't have to much longer.

Finally, it was upon them. Ila lay in her bed the night before their wedding, unable to fall asleep. She had been eagerly awaiting this day for a month and now it was here. She was going to be exhausted and useless if she didn't get some sleep, but her mind would not stop racing. Sam had no trouble falling asleep as her feet however, and she could hear his soft intakes and exhales.

She would see her parents tomorrow. She would take off the veil forever tomorrow. She would become a wife and a queen. She would lose her virginity. Would she conceive the first time? So many questions and so much to think about. She couldn't possibly fall asleep. She was excited and terrified all at once, and half thought about waking Dwala to lay in bed with her for company. She wouldn't though, Dwala had a tiring day ahead of her too.

And so Ila lay there for what felt like forever, before mental exhaustion finally took her in the early morning hours.

On the other side of the great staircase, Thorin lay in his own chambers, fighting to fall asleep himself. All he could think about was his bride. Not only how beautiful she would be, but mostly how he would remove her veil forever and finally claim her as his own. He could not wait to do so, but thought carefully on how that should proceed. Being slow and gentle would be difficult considering how long he'd been denied her, but he would do his utmost. Sleep finally took him too, followed by dreams of being intertwined with Ila in that very bed. Only a few more hours and it would be so.

So, you've probably noticed I am updating once a week instead of twice. That's thanks to full time work and full time grad school. But, I did pen a short, smutty one shot with Thorin that I also posted tonight. It is quite a departure from this piece, and very sexually graphic, so read if you will.