Disclaimer: So I still don't own anything that you recognise.

A/N: I am so sorry it's been so long since I've posted anything. I kind of lost the flow of the story and it wasn't very forthcoming. I can only apologise if this chapter is bad and disjointed.

I'm sorry if there are any spelling mistakes I've missed.

Contained within- Sarcastic elves, tricky dwarves, insult, bitchslaps and some angry Fae.

Chapter 27

Elves POV

Galadriel

I sighed, from what Elrond had just told me today would be an interesting day and I worried what that could do to Ariana or cause her to do. I thought that Ariana was pushing it so soon after waking, but I understood her reasons, even before Elrond and I had spent more than an hour last night listening to Thranduil moan about them. He had gone on and on about how she was only hurting herself and that not everyone cared about her in the way she did them and how she was so incredibly selfless and why was she so good and perfect. He had then descended into a muttered conversation with himself, the bits Elrond and I managed to catch seemed to revolve around his first courting gift for Ariana. We had both shared a look when Lasgalen was mentioned more than once. It seemed Mithrandir had been right that he didn't seem to realise that he was giving away his heirlooms.

I looked over at Mithrandir who nodded his head back, although I doubted if he knew what he was nodding at. Ariana had two powerful families wrapped around her finger and probably didn't really understand how much power that meant for her. I smirked at the thought, if she was anyone else I would worry but I was completely sure she would respect that power when she realised. We walked into the chamber and found that the dwarves had managed to bring down some large throne like chairs, although the one in the middle was a simple bench, which was clearly for Ariana to accommodate her wings. Thranduil, Legolas, Elrond and I moved to stand off to the side as the company and royal family walked in through the doors, Ariana walking without the assistance of her staff today and simply relying on Prince Kíli.

She smiled, shaking her head when everyone went to kneel on the floor, "Please rise. A simple bow will suffice." I watched as many of the people smiled up at her. She moved and sat down on the bench her wings folded in behind her, her spine straight and her hands folded in her lap. Today she was dressed in the deep blue of the line Durin, silver thread darted through the straps and what looked to be jewels sparkled from within the dress making it look like she had taken the night's sky and folded it into a dress very similar in style to the one she had worn yesterday, except this one seemed to float more. The jewellery she wore was mithril and her hair was braided back into an elaborate style around her circlet.

On either side of her sat the two generations of Princes, Kíli and Fíli on her left and Thorin and Frerin on her right. Her sister was stood off to the side next to Bilbo who was muttering softly to her, it seems he was also aware of what could possibly happen today although I wasn't sure how. I would trust his knowledge though as not many could steal from under Thranduil's nose without him noticing before they even had their hands on what they were after. I looked around for the dwarves that were supposed to be causing problems, but they all looked so similar that I wasn't sure I could find them.

The elder dwarf, Balin, stood out in front of the family and announced, "This is an open court for any who wish to air grievances or issues that they think the Queen and her kin can solve. You may approach when ready." The first few people were just simple questions, when could the mining restart, when could people begin to work in their areas again, what about proper housing for the dwarves in the mountain and the displaced people of Dale, when would rebuilding start in Dale, when were funerals going to be held and where. Ariana answered each and every question with poise and grace, each answer clearly being well thought out and it was clear that some had been discussed prior to this meeting.

It was as we were finishing the session to break for lunch a group of dwarves stepped forward. "We have a grievance to air with the Line Durin." The dwarf at the front said, his great beard barely moving as he did so. These dwarves looked well groomed compared to many around them who had taken pride in their appearance as was normal, but still had not managed to completely shake the remnants of the battle from their beings. It was obvious these dwarves again had not been in the battle for the mountain. Ariana nodded and waved her hand for them to continue speaking, her eyes sparking gold and a soft sigh left her lips, clearly she had just realised where this was going.

The dwarf cleared his throat. "We are unhappy with the line of succession. Our clan was willing to accept the succession when Thorin son of Thrain sat on the throne with his nephews as heirs, but you are not a child of Thrain, you are not a member of the Line Durin and we refused to accept that we have an elf-loving pointy eared bastard female sat on the throne of Dwarves. You have no right to sit on that throne, you have no right to the crown, you have no honour for the house whose colours you wear falsely. We do not accept you claim and we do not accept your heir."

Everyone froze at the accusations that the dwarf was spouting, surely they could not be so stupid. I chanced a look at Thranduil and found him stood incredibly still, but his eyes told the story of his rage, he was a step away from killing the dwarves in front of us, Legolas' hand on his arm barely restraining him. "Ci be-chennas? Ci ben-ind?" Thranduil spat out and I agreed, clearly they had to be both stupid and insane to speak as they did. Dis stepped forward, "What exactly is wrong with my youngest son? Why is he not an acceptable heir when he is placed first?" She snarled out and the dwarves flinched, "He is out of line, he is the second heir not the first. That is our only grievance with your son my Lady." The dwarf stuttered out and Dis sneered, clearly not believing him as she moved back to her place.

Ariana sighed and stood, her wings stretching out behind her and flexing slightly before settling down her back. "Are you sure that is your only contention with my nephew, that I chose him over his elder brother?" She asked, her voice soft, but to those who had heard it before you could hear the iron core of it. The dwarves nodded, "Prince Kíli is the second heir, therefore he should not be the one to ascend to the throne should the ruling dwarf die." He had clearly hoped to upset Ariana with that comment but she nodded her head slightly before looking down at them and fixing them with a gold heavy stare.

The party backed away slightly even as Ariana turned and sat back down on the bench, her posture regal and even more graceful than many elves I knew. "Your main issue is the fact that I am not a dwarf and you believe I am not a member of the line Durin?" The dwarves nodded and she waved a hand over her shoulder, causing one of the company to come forward. He cleared his throat and began to speak, "It is on this day the 22nd day of the 7th month of the 157th year of the reign of King Thrór. Today the female child Ariana has been accepted by court, the mountain's people and by Mahal as a member of the Line Durin and is granted the position of 5th in line to the throne. It is had been decreed and the child shall hence forth be known as Princess Ariana Durin, daughter of Thrain, of Thrór." He read the passage out and I watched many dwarves around the room nodding, clearly accepting this claim.

One of the dwarves within the party scoffed, "That could easily have been forged in the last week since she had gained power over the mountain." There was an rumble of disagreement amongst the dwarves from the IronHills. A dwarf stepped forward and cleared his throat, "My name is Garmäng. Before the mountain fell I was a member of King Thrór's court as a member of the alchemists guild. King Thrór approached the guild with a request for a potion that he had once seen his grandfather use as part of a ritual for an uncle who had adopted a child. This ritual used a combination of magic and a potion to bind the two bloodlines together. King Thrór performed this ritual on the young Princess on the winter solstice of the year she was adopted, she is truly a member of the Line Durin."

Clearly the ritual was a controversial one as many of the dwarves looked slightly upset that it had been used, but they seemed to be accepting that what was done was done and this dwarves testimony was valid. "None of this is valid, you could have been paid to say those things." The spokesdwarf said and many of Daín's men looked ready to attack him. I looked over at Elrond who had begun to chuckle, making everyone turn to look at him. "Something funny elf?" One of the dwarves spat out and I could see Ariana's wings twitch at his tone, although her face and posture remained calm. Elrond nodded, "I believe I have something that will ring truth to the claims of the Queen." I raised a brow, what could he possibly have that could prove these claims one way or the other?

Elrond POV

I gestured for one of my guards to come forward, in his hand was the Spear of Durin. I took it from him and walked around in front of Ariana, holding the weapon flat between both my palms, pausing in between the thrones and the crowd. In it's current state it measured no more than two foot long and the blade looked to be a simple spear tip. "This spear was forged by Durin as one of his first weapons and was said to be his favoured choice on the battlefield. A powerful enchantment was placed upon it to make sure that none but a true member of Durin's line could wield it to it's full potential. If the queen truly is of Durin's line then she will be able to wield it at it's best." The dwarves in front of us scoffed, "Right because we are going to believe the word of an Elf."

To prove my point I span it around and nothing happened, I then gave it to Bilbo, Bard and then handed it to Bombur all having the same reaction as I did. I then turned and handed it to Ariana who had stood and walked away from the bench she had been sat on. I backed away, smirking and she nodded her head at me, we both knew that something was about to happen. "The four before me have no ties to Durin's line. Now let's test my claim shall we?" She asked and grasped the spear tightly, spinning around in a circle the spear making a wide arc. When she stopped the shaft and blade had extended to it's full length, the tip of the blade pointing at the closest dwarf's nose.

Everyone was silent for a moment before cheer's broke out as the spear shortened and Ariana backed up to her throne. "It's still bullshit." The dwarf spat out and Ariana tilted her head to the side watching him, "Pick a member of the Durin line, that you approve of and we shall test the spear again." She said and the dwarves conferred for a moment before spitting out, "Prince Frerin." Ariana nodded her head and handed him the spear, he nodded and swung the spear in a sweeping cut, the blade and shaft doing exactly the same in his hands as it hand in Ariana's. The opposing dwarves were silent until Daín chuckled. "I think we get it. Ariana is a Durin, completely. I am sorry that your claim has come under such scrutiny my cousin." She smiled down at him and shook her head, "I had a feeling there would be contention, but not this soon into the mountain's new life." Ariana said and I left the spear with the family as I moved back to stand with Galadriel.

The dwarves seemed to be clutching for issues that they could use to get their way and without any kind of help I knew that they were going to use that fact that Ariana held affection and even love for elves. Ariana held up a hand to stop them before they spoke, "I am aware that many dwarves who come into this mountain will have issues with the elves as a race or even specific elves. I won't lie that upon starting this quest and even upon entering this mountain I had several issues with elves and more specifically their king." She said gesturing over to Thranduil who had a look of panic in his eyes, although his face held no sign of it.

She smiled over at him and he seemed to relax slightly. "I have since I had a chance to talk with him and many of his kin and I have made my peace. I have forgiven him for the wrongs that he has done me up to and including putting me in a dungeon." She stood and her wings swept across the top of the bench and onto the ground. "Many things were explained to me by King Thranduil about why he had taken the actions he had and what his reasons were. I have forgiven, but I will never forget." Thranduil flinched slightly at that, "If it helps she did call you a prick several times in my hearing, amongst other things." I muttered to him and he glared at me, Galadriel smirked and Legolas looked like he was trying not to laugh.

The dwarves shook their heads, "There have been rumours that you're going to allow the elf king to court you, that you already let his son call you mother." The bearded dwarf who seemed to be their mouth piece spat out and Ariana's easy smile tightened minutely and her gaze hardened, almost as if she knew that was an insult. She nodded, "I have accepted the King's request for courtship, he and I are both aware of what the Crown Prince calls me and I have no issues with it. There is a high chance that this courtship will end in a marriage and I would like it if Prince Legolas was comfortable enough to call me mother." She spoke calmly, though the tone one she had used whilst staying in Rivendell when she had been near anger.

One of the other dwarves whispered something in the speakers ear in their gruff language and he nodded, "There are also rumours that your heir has found his one in an elf. Many will not accept this union, ever. Even his own mother does not accept it." He said, a smirk sounding in his voice. Lady Dis' voice was sharp when she spoke, "I will admit at the beginning I was unsure of this union, but having since met Captain Tauriel and spoken to both her and my son at great length about this, my reluctance has vanished and they have my blessing." I smiled as we all looked between the couple in question and Lady Dis, clearly Tauriel and Kíli were unaware of this decision.

The dwarves grumbled, but seemed to have one more dig to make. "It had also reached us that the Halfling is the one of the True King Under the Mountain. He is only a lowly hobbit and the she elf is only a lowly captain of the guard. Only you seem to have chosen a partner worthy of you position." He sneered out the word position clearly making it clear that they really didn't agree with where Ariana was. Ariana moved forward towards the dwarves, stopping before them, but out of reach. "Bilbo Baggins is one of the bravest beings I have ever met, not many could out riddle a dragon after sneaking into his hoard, nor could many steal from the elves and remain unnoticed for over a month. Captain Tauriel reports directly to King Thranduil, is one of the fiercest warriors I have ever met and saved my life. You would do well to have a little more respect for them both." Ariana snapped out, clearly fed up now.

Thranduil nodded and moved forward, "Tauriel is also my foster daughter, you would do well to speak better of her in front of me lest I take great offence and demand your beard or tongue as payment for the insults you issue. Or maybe I'll have both." He said smirking and Ariana raised an eyebrow, but looked ready to let him request it. One of the other dwarves chuckled and everyone looked at him. "Is there something in the line Durin that all their one's must have pointed ears?" The dwarf said, clearly hoping to rile the family up even more. Thorin and Kíli stood, looking ready to start fighting to defend their ones. Ariana stepped closer to the dwarves and they seemed to realise that they had gone a step too far. "You are a very judgemental clan and so very rude. Ones are decided by Mahal, you should know that. Prince Frerin and Princess Dis' ones are dwarrows so that theory of yours is wrong."

The dwarf scoffed, "How do you judge people then? If not by how they look, whether they love one of their own sex or their skill with a weapon? " Ariana smirked at him and said, "I don't judge people based on colour, race, sexuality, gender, ability or size. I base it on whether or not they're an asshole." There was a wave of sniggering and laughter around the room as the dwarves in front of her stared at her in shock. Thorin chuckled and came to stand behind his sister, "My sister has a very unique way of judging the world, but her decisions are generally right." Ariana smiled over at him and he gave her a slight smile back.

Thranduil tensed next to me as something silver flashed in front of Ariana, but her hand had already snapped up to stop it. She hissed as she grasped hold of the knife in her palm, drops of blood dripping off her palm. The dwarf holding the dagger seemed stunned as Ariana's other hand snapped out and grasped him by the throat lifting him off the ground, his breath wheezing out as her grip tightened. "Rachon le, rukhsul menu." She snarled out before throwing him back towards his clan members. Legolas darted forward and took the knife from her. "Nana, is it iron?" He asked and we all shared a look why would that matter, we became more concerned as she nodded and suddenly we were looking at a younger Thranduil as Legolas' eyes went dark and he looked like he was ready to kill them.

He looked up at Ariana and raised an eyebrow, clearly there was a question in his gaze as she nodded. "We are going to escort these dwarves from the mountain. Tauriel, shall we?" He asked and Tauriel and a group of Mirkwood elves moved towards Legolas. Ariana stood glaring down at the dwarves in front of her as Bilbo gently wrapped the wound on her palm, "Prince Legolas is going to escort you from the mountain. Sister would you take a selection of guards as well, I do not trust those who are brazen enough to be so rude and dagger happy to leave our mountain peacefully." Both Legolas and Tauriel bowed deeply to Ariana before shepherding the dwarves out following Lady Dis. Ariana turned back to the rest of the hall, "If there are no urgent issues I suggest we break for lunch." Many people nodded in agreement and soon the smells of the cooked food was wafting around the halls as it came up from the kitchens.

Ariana was sat next to Thranduil who was fussing over her hand, "Melamin are you sure you're ok?" He asked for the tenth time and she nodded, looking up at him and leaning over to press a kiss to his left cheek. "I am fine, amrâlimé. Stop worrying, I can see where Legolas gets it from now." She teased him as she carried on eating. "What does that word mean?" Thranduil asked and she raised a brow, "I merely replied to endearment in kind." She told him, sitting up straighter and he bowed his head, "I apologise for leaping to conclusions." She nodded and the table quietened down.

The rest of the council session passed with no further issues with Ariana on the throne and the evening meal we had was pleasant, everyone seeming to have put aside all their differences in order to keep the tentative peace that we had at the moment. Hopefully it would last, I didn't want to know how Ariana would react if any of the people reverted back to their previous ways. I had a feeling it would not be in a kind manner at all.

A/N: Well that took longer than I thought to write. Next chapter will be in 3rd Person and will discuss a certain piece of gold that is in Bilbo's possession and the crown and Thorin.

Translations:

Ci be-chennas? - Are you stupid?

Ci ben-ind? -Are you insane?

Rachon le - fuck you

Rukhsul menu - son of an orc

Melamin - Love

Amrâlimé - my love