Updated September 23rd, 2021
Original Authors Note: SOOOO, my sisters yelled at me more then once when I was writing Reforged saying my chapters were too long. I can't promise I fixed the problem but I have tried to make them a little shorter. Now, do not worry, I am not shortening the story in any way, just changing the stopping points a bit. Each ACT will be just as long as I want it to be, no exceptions there. If you have not already realized, I like detail. My goal is to allow you to immerse yourself in the lives of these characters to give you a small vacation from our mess of a world. I know it is my reprieve. :)
Happy reading!
Chapter Two
Fili made his way down to the lower levels of Ered Luin with a bounce in his step. He just had a much-needed rest and woke to his mam making him his favorite beef roast pie for lunch. The day just could not get any better than that, at least in Fili's opinion.
Now that he was well rested and had his fill of his mam's cooking, it was time to start making plans. Fili was headed to speak to Bofur first so the markets would be his primary destination. After that, he would need to head back up to help his mam with preparations for the feast and caravan sign-ups. Bofur would be in charge of informing his brothers and Gloin.
It was a long walk down, considering he had been constantly stopped by nearly every dwarrow in the settlement he came into contact with. Each offered him a hearty welcome home before subtly trying to ask where he, and the others had been.
Secrets among the dwarven people were kept close, and many of the older generations asked nothing of his travels, only taking whatever he had said at face value. It was the younger generation who pounded him with question to which he would say, "Be in the hall after the evening meal and all of your questions will be answered during the settlement meeting tonight."
Most of the dwarves he encountered seemed to already know, or have a vague idea of what had happened; more than once Fili heard the hushed whisperings of the Lonely Mountain, and Erebor, being thrown around as he passed by. Some he did not even have to inform of the meeting, as they excitedly proclaimed they would see him at the feast.
Dis had done her job in making sure word got out fast and that all in the mountain were required to attend. It did help that Ered Luin was a small, close-knit community. Which is why the blonde dwarf coated in flour in the stand in front of him caught the prince by surprise. "I said would you like to order something? Are you well?"
Fili blinked, looking at the dwarrow before him. He seemed around Fili's age if not a bit younger. The blonde prince internally winced at the flour coating both of his bushy tufts of hair on both cheeks that went down to just before his chin, and the thick blonde waves haphazardly thrown in a knot on top of his head, which was so unkept it made Kili's messy locks look well tamed. There was so much flour, it even seemed to fall off of him as he shifted from foot to foot, looking a mix of bored and annoyed.
"Oh, sorry, no. I don't need anything." Fili finally answered when the dwarrow seemed to be getting impatient with him.
"Are you new here as well?" Fili turned his head to the side and looked at the blonde across from him who was re-arranging some pastries on the counter. Fili looked at the sign painted over the open stall that read, 'Vin and Family Bread and Pastries'.
There was a loud sigh and Fili realized again he had ignored yet another question. "Oh me? No. Born and raised here. I just recently returned from a traveling company. Fili, by the way. At your service."
Fili gave a short bow, causing the other blonde to stare blankly at him before responding, "Viltarra, at yours."
"Viltarra? That is an unusual name." Fili looked him up and down again. He had never heard that name before.
The flour coated blonde shrugged. "Unusual or not, it is my name."
Fili nodded and rocked back and forth on his toes before clearing his throat, and muttering, "Well, a pleasure. I will see you and your family this evening at the meal." He saw the dwarrow nod and he turned on his heals and headed to Bofur's. He promised his mam he would solidify traveling plans and see how many carts they could procure, both hand pulled, and animal led.
Before Fili entered the small toy shop, he looked back at the baking stand, the blonde passing a package of bread to one of the elder dams who was saying something with a laugh to the young dwarrow baker, causing the flour coated dwarf to smile in return. Fili shook his head at the odd scene, then pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Tauriel was beaming as she walked into the marketplace. She had already run into Taada in passing and had plans on seeing Shaada and the children before the meal and meeting this evening.
Dis had made them an unnecessarily large lunch so both she and her son were content. Plus, Tauriel had a nice long nap after a very pleasant bath with her favorite being in middle earth. She felt like she was glowing with happiness. Her smile got even wider at the thought of her handsome husband who had slept beside her for their entire early afternoon nap, rising only after she did herself. Even after being together for two years, one courting and one married, he still made her feel like an elf maid newly fallen in love. She hopes those feelings never go away.
At the moment, said husband was sending a raven to Thorin. Kili told her he would see her at Aeodhen's and to go ahead to the market without him for now, but he would be with her when she went to see Shaada. He needed to speak with their favorite head guard before they had their meeting anyway.
If Aeodhen decided to stay, Thorin had presented his name first, as one who would take over leading the small settlement. If Aeodhen decided to come to Erebor, however, he would be made the primary captain of the guard of the Lonely Mountain; a very high honor that came with a chamber large enough for their growing family, his own office, and a place at Thorin's side on his counsel.
Tauriel hoped they would come, but they had a young family and running Ered Luin would be just as big of an honor for most. Although, Tauriel would bet Aeodhen would be much happier as a captain over the head of a settlement.
Like Fili, Tauriel too had been stopped by anyone who saw her as she made her way down to the lower levels. It also seemed as if every, single, dam, she encountered, honed directly in onto her abdomen. Then came the slew of questions on how far along she was, what side was she sleeping on, and several very, VERY personal questions she would straight refuse to answer. It made her trip down three times as long and twice that embarrassing. The dams did not seem to care about their choice in questions, telling her she will have to get used to it after laughing at the elf's flaming cheeks.
Still, Tauriel let out a sigh of happiness when she reached her destination. The place that quickly became one of her favorites in the entire settlement, the forge. However, she froze in place when she realized it was in use. She had half expected the area to be as untouched as her rooms were, though the elf quickly berated herself for thinking that.
Of course the forge would be in use; it was a necessary resource in the community, offering materials for building, weapons for protection, and repairs on all manner of tools and blades.
The warmth and sound of the furnace brought back memories of her time with Fili and Thorin, trading stories and learning the secretive culture and customs of the dwarves. She did not, however, recognize the dwarrow at the anvil, who had stopped what he was working on, taking interest instead in the elf standing frozen not far off.
"Help yeh?" His gruff voice called out.
Tauriel shook her thoughts away and stepped up to the counter. "Yes. I am Tauriel.."
"I guessed as much." The large dwarf interrupted, smiling at the elf's look of surprise. He put his hammer down and pulled a rag to wipe his hands before stepping closer to her on his side of the counter. "No other elve's would be allowed in these walls. Lady Dis told me about yeh when I arrived lookin' fer work. Said this was 'er brothers forge and he ran it with her son and elven daughter. I am Tynnko by the way, but most call me Ham."
Tauriel smiled and gave him a bow. "A pleasure then Ham. I hope you do not mind, but I have been asked by Thorin to retrieve a few personal belongings he had remaining here. I too would like to take a few of my own, if you would allow me to intrude. I will try to stay out of your way."
The large, beefy, dwarrow nodded and waived her in with a welcoming hand. "O' course me lady, take all the time yeh need and whatever yeh want. I brought all me own tools and they are all in that there box. Everything else is yers and the king's lass."
Tauriel stepped in and looked around. She let her eyes fall on the bucket still swinging from the rafters and smirked. "I don' know who's genius plan tha' was, but I would like to hire whoever though' that up. Tha' trick has saved me hours in sharpenin'."
"I am afraid I am not for hire, but I will take your compliment with the greatest of honor." The blacksmith's eyes widened in surprise before he let out a hearty laugh.
"Tha' was you lass? By my beard yeh are a surprise. It is no wonder the young prince took a likin' to yeh. If I was no' happily wed, I would fancy yeh too. Brains and spirit." He gave her one last lopsided smile and returned to the anvil to work.
Tauriel chuckled and began gathering the list of things Thorin had asked her to bring to Erebor. He wanted his own hammer which had been in his family for generations, his small toolkit, his gloves, and the drawings and small gifts he had just under the counter. Most had been from Kili, but she had drawn Thorin an image as well. It depicted Thorin hammering at the stone. Tauriel had done it on a day when she had nothing to sharpen but still wanted to be with him. He also had a few clay mugs from Fili and Kili when they were dwarflings and a carved horse Fili had done when he was just learning to carve.
Tauriel placed a crate on the counter and gathered all she needed for Thorin, then packed her own tools, along with the small sketchbook she had in a drawer where she worked, still in its place untouched.
"I thank you Ham, for allowing me to take up some of your space for a moment. Thorin gave instructions for me to tell anyone who may take up this space that anything left behind is yours to do with what you please." Ham looked about the forge and she warmed with the obviously touched feeling he had. She liked this dwarrow; he was a kind and accepting soul.
"Yeh tell our king I will do right by his forge and this settlement, and I thank 'im with all I am for his generosity." Tauriel gave him a nod and went to lift the box, but Ham was not having it. "Oh, nay meh lady. I am no' so naive or blind to not tell yeh are expectin'. Name the place and I will deliver this for yeh."
Tauriel tried to protest but Ham took the box and stood waiting for instruction. She sighed, giving in. "If it is no trouble, it goes to my family's chambers. Dis should be there to retrieve it. Are you certain it is not an inconvenience?" Ham just shook his head happily as he was already walking up the path, leaving his work at the forge for when he returned. Tauriel sighed and decided to go see how Leotti's conversation with her mother went.
The eleth left the forge and headed to the outside portion of the market, waiving at merchants who knew her. Each one called out her name and gave her a warm welcome home, too busy for anything else. It was one of the most demanding times of the day for the markets as patrons called out their orders while tapping impatient feet.
Tauriel froze in place once again, however, when a new smell hit her nose. Her mouth watered and she closed her eyes to just breathe it in. Whatever that was, she wanted it, and now. The elf followed her keen sense of smell, now even keener with all those pregnancy hormones running amuck in her system. It led her to a small stand where a flour coated attendant stood handing a basket to Gimli.
"Master Gimli!" Before she could give into her craving, she wanted to greet her friend and cousin by marriage first.
Gimli beamed. "Tauriel! Da said yeh were 'ere. Welcome home cousin."
Tauriel allowed him to pull her into a hug. He had grown a bit in the year she was away, well, his beard did at least, as it was now falling past his chin and had two neat braids forming in his thick whiskers. Kili will be quite jealous.
Her husband's current lack of beard or ability to seemingly grow one was a sore spot with the young prince, though she told him time and time again she thought him handsomer than even the most heavily bearded dwarrow. She also told him to be patient as one could not force such things.
Even Balin would tell him that it is not uncommon for the sons of Durin to take longer to grow a beard, he still was quite young even in dwarven terms. When none of that worked, however, she tried reason and told him no good archer would be able to function with all that hair in the way. Her final tactic would simply be to nuzzle his very short whiskers with her nose and choose distraction as her ally. That ALWAYS worked with her Kili.
As for Gimli, despite his age, he just seemed to be blessed with his thick, red, hair. "Thank you, Gimli. It does my heart well to see you. How is your mother?"
"Well. She is happy, as am I to have da back. She an 'im are speakin about the meetin' tonight. I don' want teh miss anythin' they may say so I will see yeh tonigh'." Tauriel nodded and watched him leave, practically running towards the halls that led to their chambers.
The eleth then turned back to the flour coated blonde who was looking at her curiously. "Hello. I could not help but be drawn in by your stall's most delightful smells. I am Tauriel, at your service. You were not here when my company left, have you been in Ered Luin long?"
Tauriel gave a small bow, the blonde returning it easily. "Viltarra, at yours, and no. My family only just came this past season, so just a few months."
Tauriel smiled. She looked at the baggy clothes and messy blond hair, but she could not help the feeling that there was more to this dwarrow than met the eye. "Viltarra? That is a most lovely name."
A small, kind, smile made its way on the blonde's face. "Thank you. I have always loved it."
"Have you met many here yet?" Tauriel asked, looking at the goods on display on the counter. They all looked so delicious she did not yet know how to choose.
The baker hummed and sighed. "Not many, I spend most of my time working the stall with my parents, so I have not gotten out much. Although, I have met Estae's daughter Leotti in the shop a few doors over. She is very…energetic."
Tauriel laughed at the description of her friend. "Truly, she is. But her heart is in the right place. She is my dearest and closest friend in these halls. Have you been to her shop yet? She is most talented."
Viltarra shifted uncomfortably, head shaking a secure and vehement no. The action caused several of the blonde waves that had come out of the bun to wave back and forth, and a small cloud of flour to fill the air from the motion. "Regardless of what my mother says, skirts, dresses, and gowns are for fine ladies, not for bakers and pastry masters. I much prefer practicality over femininity."
Just as Tauriel suspected. This was no dwarrow, but a dam. A rather pretty one too, she thought, once her blonde waves were down from the knot atop her head, and you removed the many layers of flour coating both her hair, and beard.
Tauriel smiled invitingly. "Would you consider joining us for lunch this week? No dress required."
The dam across from her looked a bit surprised, and not half uncomfortable as her eyes shifted from the baked goods to Tauriel. She was about to shake her head no, when a dam who looked to be Viltarra's double, but older, came forward. "Aye, she would."
"Mam!" Viltarra mumbled, trying in vain to hush the older dam. "No arguments. You need to meet others, it is good for you to make friends."
Viltarra grunted. "What good is it when we are just planning on leaving as soon as we get settled." She turned from the counter and walked to the back out of sight before even responding to Tauriel's invitation to lunch.
"You will have to forgive her. I am afraid it is her father's and my fault. We travel from settlement to settlement selling our baked goods. It is not good for a young one, to not have roots." The elder dam looked up at Tauriel, then did a double take and stepped back. "Mahal's forge you are an elf?"
It has been a while since Tauriel has been asked this question in these halls. All know her or know of her and her place with the family. "Yes, I am Tauriel."
The dam nodded slowly. "You may call me Tarrah. It is strange to have an elf in a dwarven settlement. I have never once seen one allowed in."
Tauriel stood clasping her hands in front of her coat and listened quietly, her eyes going from the dam to the pastries. She truly did not mind the question, but really more than anything, she would just like a pastry. "I suppose you may say I am an exception."
"Tauri! I thought you were going to meet with Aeodhen?" Tauriel turned to her brother who had a stack of clean parchment in his hands. When she gave him a questioning look, he answered, "For the sign up. Hello." Fili turned to greet Tarrah at the counter who nodded back a greeting. "You really should be going Tauri. We have a schedule to keep and mam expects us to be on time."
"Yes, of course. I did not realize the hour." Before Tauriel could turned to head back up towards where she was to meet Kili, she looked back at the pastries which were still calling to her. "Forgive me Tarrah. Do you mind if I purchase something for the way? I seem to not be able to decide so I will be happy to buy whichever you suggest." The dam gave Tauriel a smile and placed a pastry in a bag. Tauriel paid for the treat and walked with Fili up the stairs.
"Fili, how often do newcomers come to settlements? In my entire year in Ered Luin not once did we have any visitors, guests, or newcomers. If seems odd to see new faces."
Fili nodded. "You are not off. We do not often receive visitors or travelers here. It is rare in fact as Ered Luin is a bit more hidden then most dwarven settlements. But there are some dwarves who are more nomadic by choice and nature and their families have been coming here for generations. They often go from city to city selling their acquired wares or filling in where their skills are needed. Some choose to stay a while, others for a season or two before moving on."
Tauriel looked ahead thoughtfully, but all visions or questions she had of the new faces left her mind when she spotted Kili ahead. He was sitting on a barrel with his back to them, obviously reading something as he waited for her. She was a little late after all, she really needed to pay more attention to the time.
Tauriel smiled as she brushed past Fili and slowly slid her arms around Kili's waist, resting her head on his shoulder to see what he was reading. "Is that the announcement for this evening?"
Kili hummed in affirmative as he continued to scan the document, though his mouth was now firmly set in a smile rather than the pensive frown it had been moments ago. Tauriel quickly read through it herself, her arms still encircling her prince's waist. "That looks perfect."
Kili hummed again then turned his head enough to look at her. "You, are late."
Tauriel gave his waist a squeeze and lifted her head to place a soft kiss on his lips, before pulling back ever so slightly to nuzzle his nose with her own. "You will have to forgive me, meleth nin. I was speaking to some of the new inhabitants in the market. I am here now, shall we go?"
Tauriel released her arms and stepped back allowing for Kili to slide off the barrel. "Fi, can you take this to mam for a final go over? See if she wants anything added, though, I think I got everything necessary."
Fili took the parchment from Kili and added it to his own pile, then gave them a final glance before turning towards the family chamber and calling over his shoulder, "I will see you two at the meal in a half?"
Kili and Tauriel both nodded and watched Fili continue his way up towards the great hall. He is meeting Dis to prepare while Tauriel and Kili went to surprise Shaada and the children, while they speak to Aeodhen about a difficult decision he must make.
Tauriel sighed as she placed her arm through Kili's and leaned into him. "I do not envy Aeodhen. I cannot imagine being in his boots with three children having to decide on two homes."
Kili looked to his wife and smiled. "Three children? Thinking about more already my star?"
"I will take as many as I can get." It was a true statement. Elves rarely have large families and Tauriel never really considered having a child to even be a possibility in her future. That is, until she met Kili. Now, the idea of only one did not appease her. She wanted a dozen little Kili's she could scoop up and hold close, if the Valar would so bless her. She also was quite aware that Kili wanted a large family. Tauriel was happy their thoughts were the same in this matter.
Kili beamed and laced his fingers with hers as they made their way to Aeodhen and Shaada's chambers. The prince lifted his hand to knock on the door before the pair stood back and waited patiently for someone to answer.
It was Shaada who opened it, her eyes filling with tears. "Aeodhen said you were home, but I dare not have hope in case I was dreaming. But, here you are before me and my heart swells with joy."
Tauriel was the first to lean forward and embrace her friend who leaned back immediately and looked down. "Expecting already?! With that handsome prince, I should not be surprised." Tauriel laughed and Kili smiled smugly.
"Shaada, do not swell his ego any more, or this mountain will surely collapse with the size of it." Kili shot Tauriel a mocking glare and stepped forward to give Shaada his own hug.
There was a bit of a scuffle from just behind Shaada, then a small blonde dwarfling came peaking around his mother. "TAURI! TAURI! I see Tauri! Look Hillanna! She is back! And prince Kili too!"
Tauriel beamed as Shaada gestured them inside. It was only seconds before the elf found herself squatting on the floor, her arms immediately full of little dwarflings. Neither seemed to change a bit in her absence which was not unusual, dwarrow were much like elves in the respect their children took much longer to age, unlike human children with their much shorter mortal years.
Hillanna wrapped her arms securely around Tauriel's neck as Riffi attached himself to her side. "You are back! You were gone so long, I thought I would never see you again. I looked into the stars every night. Just as you said to. But it is so much better to have you here."
Tauriel kissed both on the forehead and stood, her spine slightly protesting the action. Ah, the joys of pregnancy. She turned to see Kili with his arms full of a nearly one year old dwarfling. She couldn't stop the tear from sliding down her cheek as she watched him sway and coo at the wide-eyed baby who was tugging at Kili's braids, imagining instantly their own son nestled safely in his doting fathers arms. She put the vision away for another time and looked at the little one.
Tauren was adorable, all cheeks and ears, with small tufts of hair peeking out from the large hat over his head. "Well look at you. Now you have grown haven't you." Kili cooed as he constantly moved his braids away from the little hands.
There was a knock at the door and Shaada immediately went to answer. "Brankhi, thank you for coming tonight. We will be leaving in a half hour. Would you mind taking the children to their room? Aeodhen should be here any minute and we have something to discuss with prince Kili and his lady, Tauriel."
Brankhi was one of the younger dams, not quite near adulthood. She was a sweet young dam if not a little shy. That did not seem to have changed in the year they were away as she blushed and ducked her head in greeting before going straight to the children.
"Mama, I want to stay with Tauri. Please can I stay?"
Tauriel ran her hands through the golden ringlets of the little dwarfling. "Hillanna, we will have more time to see each other in the next few days. Worry not little one and go play with Brankhi."
The blonde dwarfling huffed, but did as she was told, even taking Riffi's hand to take him herself before he began wailing in protests. Kili handed Tauren to Brankhi who gave them another shy smile and disappeared down the hallway trailing Hillanna and Riffi.
As if on cue, Aeodhen stepped into the chambers. After greeting Shaada, he looked at the royal couple. "Let us take this to the table. I do no' want pryin' little ears who may no' understand what is to be said, to hear."
They all followed him into the kitchen, taking a seat at the table, Kili sitting beside Tauriel with Aeodhen and Shaada directly across them.
Tauriel looked at her husband, who sat up straight as he began to speak. "I know you knew little of what we had left to do but let me confirm some rumors. We indeed set off with Thorin to retake the lands of our birthright…and we were successful." Kili then went into some detail of their mission, though he left much of the unnecessary information out. Some things were either just too painful to re-live or not relevant with their success.
"By my beard. Never in all my years did I think I'd live teh see the day Erebor was ours once again." He looked to Shaada then back to the pair across him. "I take it yeh are 'ere not just teh deliver the news? Ya taken folks with yeh aren't ya?"
Kili nodded slowly. "Aeodhen, Thorin wants to present you with a decision to make. I fear it is not an easy one, considering your young children. I may not be there yet, but I do understand the difficulty."
Kili looked to Tauriel who gave him a smile before turning back to the elder dwarrow. "First, he wanted to thank you for all your years of loyalty. It was that loyalty that had Thorin present your name first as one who would lead Ered Luin in his absence."
Aeodhen looked shocked, while Shaada covered her mouth with a nearly silent, "Oh my."
"Tha' is quite the honor. May I ask, wha' the other option may be. Yeh said I had a decision teh make. I want teh know all before I give my thoughts."
Tauriel quickly continued, "It is true. Thorin also wanted to present you with the option of coming to Erebor, you and your family. He said he could think of no other to be the captain of the guard. You would have a very large chamber for your family, and both be the leader of the entire Ereborian guard, and have a place on Thorin's trusted counsel."
"We wanted to tell you before the meeting tonight, so my mother can announce you as leader or pass the responsibility onto another." Kili finished.
The room fell silent as Aeodhen sat thinking, his eyes on the table before he lifted them to the pair across from him. "Do yeh two mind if I talk teh me wife for a moment?"
"Of course not. Take all the time you need." Tauriel stood and pulled Kili with her out into the sitting room.
"What do you think he will decide?" Tauriel wrung her hands nervously, pacing the small room. She knew what she wanted them to choose, but it was not about her, it was about what was best for their family.
Kili watched from a few feet away, his eyes following her path. "I do not know, amralime. It is, as we said, an incredibly difficult decision and not to be taken lightly. Either choice will change their lives dramatically."
The elf paused and nodded before continuing her pacing. It felt like they passed through another age before Aeodhen and Shaada stepped through the door into the sitting room, hand in hand.
"We discussed it." Tauriel froze and stared at her friend Shaada who glanced at her husband.
Aeodhen looked at his wife, who nodded, then smiled warmly at Kili and Tauriel. "Bein' the leader of Ered Luin would be the greatest of honors."
Tauriel felt her heart break, she was happy for them of course. Aeodhen would make an amazing leader and she herself found it difficult to want to leave this safe haven in Ered Luin. Her place, however, was with her family. Her home, where Kili was. The elf went to congratulate them.
"But." Tauriel stopped, frozen in place. "Our place is beside yeh Durin's folk. We will be joinin' yeh on your trip back teh Erebor. I will be even more honored ta lead the guard in the greatest of dwarven kingdoms."
Tauriel could not stop the squeal of delight as she ran to wrap her arms around Shaada, her friend. She would be able to see Hillanna, Riffi, and Tauren grow up in the majestic halls of Erebor. Over Shaada's shoulder she could see Kili clasping Aeodhen's hand tightly as the two pulled each other into a quick hug.
"I take it yeh have an idea who will lead this place if I decided teh come?"
"Aye. Thorin thought Gudfinnur will do well. He is a good dwarrow, loyal and trustworthy, and has years ahead of him to lead." Aeodhen nodded in agreement.
Tauriel released Shaada and stepped towards the door. "We better be leaving. We do not want to be late, and we need to tell Dis of Aeodhen's decision." Kili nodded and took her hand in his as they waited for Shaada and Aeodhen to follow, after they went to say goodbye to the children.
The group entered the noisy hall together, Tauriel and Kili accepting the great cry of "Welcome home!" from all who had yet to see them, on their way up to Dis.
"Come, my dears. Sit and enjoy the meal. We will call order once we all have had a chance to eat. I took the liberty of holding the ale until after we make our announcement. It would not do well to have the hall filled with drunk dwarves who do not remember this momentous celebration for what it is." Dis gestured to the four empty seats beside her, Aeodhen and Shaada joining the royal family in their meal.
After it seemed enough food had been partaken, Dis stood. Given the ambience of the mysterious return of the princes and some of the company who went with them, the hall quieted almost the moment Dis rose to address them.
"My people, I have news of the greatest importance to share. As many of you may have seen, princes Fili and Kili along with princess Tauriel have all returned to us safely and with a wonderous message. Might I pass the great honor to share this with all of you tonight to my sons." When Dis finished, Fili and Kili both stood. The hall was so quiet, one could hear the scurrying of a mouse as it searched for crumbs.
Fili cleared his throat and stepped up on the table, Kili immediately following suit. "We came straight here, wanting to personally be the one to tell you. The time has come for us to return home. Erebor has been retaken by your king, Thorin Oakenshield, and after a heavy battle, the mountain is once again ours!"
There was only a second of silence before the hall erupted with cheers, yells, and cries. Much of Ered Luin housed those who lost everything when Smaug came. They were more impacted than any other dwarven settlement, and Fili knew, would also be the most joyous at its retaking.
Kili waited for things to calm before he dived into what he had written and been looking over when Tauriel met him earlier. "Your king welcomes all in these halls who wish to come, to fill Erebor once more. Chambers are available by the thousands, the marketplace is wide open, and there is space for everyone here ten times over. Thorin also wanted to relay that he understands, as do we, the difficulty of making such a decision, as we plan on taking the first caravan by the end of the week."
There was another wave of murmuring through the hall and Kili patiently waited for it to die down. "The journey will not be easy." Kili warned, "But it will lead us home. Should you decide to come, place your name and your household number on the parchment near the back of the hall. All who are choosing to go, must be ready to leave by the weeks end at sunrise. Questions can be answered by myself, and my family as best we can."
Dis stood once again, and even herself, stepped up beside her sons. "My beloved people. Before I dismiss any who wish to sign their names…which must be done soberly…I want to take a moment and acknowledge those among us we have to thank for this great victory." All the dwarrow in the hall stamped their cups on the tables before silencing them when Dis raised a hand.
"First my two sons. Prince Fili, and Prince Kili." Both gave a bow and a wave as cheers filled the hall. "My daughter, princess Tauriel." Tauriel stood, Kili leaning down to take her hand and help her up onto the table. In the year she had spent in Ered Luin prior to their quest, many had fallen in love with the eleth who was now one of them through and through, so she too received shouts of victory in her honor.
Dis smiled at her daughter and continued. "The brothers, Bofur, Bifur, and Bombur. As well as our cousin, Gloin. Please come and join us boys." The four elder dwarrow rose from their places and their families to walk up to the head table, and join the royal family on top.
"Not here, but with the same great honor, is Oin, Balin, and our king Thorin. We also would like to give honor to those not of our settlement, but who had an equal hand in procuring our victory. They are the brothers, Ori, Dori, and Nori, and of course, Dwalin. All of which are alive and well but have chosen to stay behind in Erebor eagerly waiting for our return." Yet another round of cheers filled the air, as the dwarves of Ered Luin all stood and began yelling and chanting the names of Thorin's victorious company.
It took nearly a quarter of an hour for the calls to die down, and once it did, Dis spoke once more. "Alright, alright. Someone, send in the ale! Let us take the remainder of the evening to celebrate and drink to the victory of our king and his great company. If you intend to join us on our march to our mountain, grab some ale AFTER you sign your name. LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN!"
All at once there was a scraping of benches, as nearly three quarters of the mountain stood to eagerly get in line. Even with this number going, enough would remain behind to run and protect the smaller settlement. There would be more to come and fill Ered Luin's halls in time from here and other clans.
Tauriel noticed Ham still sitting with another plump dam beside him. She assumed she was the wife he had spoken of earlier that day. She watched with a small smile as Ham and his lady remained seated while the numerous dwarves around him flocked to the line; with him being practically gifted a forge for himself, the eleth is not surprised he is choosing to stay.
Tauriel was surprised, however, to see Tarrah in line with another beside her. He must be Viltarra's father. Though, Viltarra seemed to be nowhere in sight. She must have stayed behind and chosen not to come.
Moving her eyes further up the massive crowd of dwarves, Tauriel also could just make out the braids and curls of Leotti, who somehow had made it first in line to put her name down. So she did speak to her mother. Tauriel is sure she will get that story sooner rather than later; considering the eleth knew Leotti's mother, there will most certainly be a tale to tell.
As the line died down, Aeodhen and Shaada stepped away from the table to put their own names on the list. Many of the remaining dwarrow gaped at the two as the couple signed, hand in hand. They must have been thinking the family would choose to stay.
As names were written, ale was passed around by the barrel. The dwarves of Ered Luin all clinked their cups together and shouted Thorin's name in songs and praises for what felt like hours.
Soon, the shouting turned to other forms of celebration, as Tauriel joined Kili in a dance that broke out on top of the table when Bofur threw Fili a fiddle. More instruments were brought in, and the hall erupted with music and dancing. Even Tauriel took a turn on the piano with Kili dancing and playing his own fiddle on top of the instrument his wife played. The hearty duet quickly turned to a trio when Fili joined in.
The festivities went well into the evening and even the early morning before the hall had finally begun to quiet down. Some dwarves had gone to their own chambers, others were passed out drunk around the large dining area.
Tauriel lay on the sofa chair in Dis's sitting room with her head in Fili's lap and her feet in Kili's. Her husband having had shed her boots and was rubbing the aches from the soar limb, planting a kiss on the arch of one foot before picking up the second.
"Fingers of the gods you have Kili. Never stop." Tauriel groaned as Kili kneaded a particularly sore spot on the palm of her foot, chuckling.
"My dear little sister, at six months pregnant, you may want to take dancing hearty jigs for three straight hours off your list of approved activities. Your feet look like swelled sausages." Tauriel swatted at Fili while Kili laughed, but immediately stopped at his wife's angry glare.
"They do not look like sausages." She huffed trying to pull her foot away from her husband but failing miserably, as Kili kept a strong grip on her slender…well usually slender ankle. It was rather swelled, but Kili was not going to add insult to injury.
"How about we call it a night. We have a lot to do and only a few days to do it in. Tomorrow we clear out the chambers. We will also need to retrieve the things Oin and Balin wanted from their offices. Amralime, did you get Thorin's things from the forge?"
Tauriel nodded from Fili's lap. "Ham brought the box up himself. I believe Dis has it in her room for the time being."
"Ham?" Fili's blue eyes leaned over to peer directly at Tauriel.
"Yes. Ham." Tauriel rolled her eyes as she looked up at Fili, who was giving her an amused smirk. "He is running the forge now. Thorin left everything apart from the things he requested to be brought to Erebor, my things, and yours which you still need to retrieve, to whomever was taking over. He is very polite, unlike you."
Tauriel pinched Fili in the arm who yelped overdramatically. "I find that to be rather insulting and hurtful. I, am very polite, when I choose to be."
"I do not argue that, dearest brother. Perhaps you can 'choose' to be more polite to Leotti then?" Tauriel lifted a challenging brow and Fili rolled his eyes.
Dis walked into the room with her arms filled with a large stack of parchment paper. "I quite agree with Tauriel, on both accounts." Fili huffed but Dis moved on before he could say anything. "Ham and his wife are a kind pair. They were rather excited to hear we had a forge open for use and a need for a regular smith. With you four being gone, it has been a struggle to have someone constantly available to run the forge. He is very skilled, we got rather lucky."
Tauriel turned her head to Dis who was now sitting at the small desk against the wall in the sitting room. She was shuffling through the sign up from the meeting for what seemed like the tenth time, as she worked on writing out an accurate number of dwarves coming to Erebor to send to Thorin.
After a few silent minutes, the dam let out a breath. "It looks like we will have quite the caravan. It would be wise to speak with Aeodhen and put together a guard specifically for the move itself. Most of the guards are actually staying behind, which is good for the settlement, but we will need to supplement the losses to protect the masses. At least there will only be a few children coming along, as it will be a difficult journey. According to this list, not many of the dams are choosing to leave Ered Luin. Of those that are coming with us, only Shaada and Taada have young dwarflings, the rest are either past age, or their children are in their twenties and thirties. Still very young, but old enough to walk and handle the trek."
Dis pushed the stack of paper to the side of the desk and sat back. Kili, Fili, and Tauriel watching in amusement as Dis rubbed her temples in a mirror image of Thorin whenever he had reached his limit for the day. With a small groan, the dam lifted her tired eyes and looked to her own children. "I think it is time to get what we can of sleep. We have much to do and very little time to accomplish it all."
Dis stood, watching as Tauriel lifted herself off of Fili's lap, and into sitting position before Kili helped her stand. Fili too rising and turning towards his room.
"Goodnight my darlings. I will see you in the morning." Bidding them all a good evening, despite it being the early hours of morning, Dis made for her room.
Tauriel and Kili waived to Fili as they left the family chambers for their own. In a complete role reversal, Tauriel collapsed unceremoniously onto the bed; her feet still bare from Kili removing her shoes across the way.
Kili chuckled and placed a blanket over his already slumbering wife. He strode around the room turning out the lamps, pulling off his layers, and joined his elf in bed. As if sensing his presence, Tauriel immediately turned and wrapped her arms around him, Kili following her into a deep, restful, sleep.
Original Authors Note: I am not going to lie. I like Ham and kid of wish I had written him to follow but…he is fine where he is. Ered Luin needs a good smith.
THANK YOU for all your wonderful and positive reviews. As always, it brightens my day when I get a notification saying someone has left me a review. I truly appreciate each and every one and I am so EXCITED you all were SO happy for this sequel. I hope I can keep living up to it.
See you next chapter, should be in a few days and no later than this weekend.
Love, Jess