"Celeborn and Thranduil should have your daughter home for the luncheon hosted by King Thráin," Elrond simply stated and kept his face impassive while watching the human king pace back and forth.
"She must be so frightened," Bard's soft reply almost brought tears to Elrond's eyes. Finally the king stopped in front of the taller elf. He also encompassed Lord Erestor in his pleading expression. "She fought them when they invaded our home at Lake-town. That night, she and the other children slept in my bed for fright. I suppose you've never lost one of your females to orcs," he ended his venting.
Erestor made a rare public show among elves. He placed a warning hand on Elrond's shoulder and answered. "Elrond's wife was captured and tortured."
Bard's eyes widened in stunned dawning. "I beg forgiveness," he hastily breathed softly.
Elrond shook his head. "It means I understand your pain from firsthand knowledge. Their lead is short, so I expect them to return shortly with Princess Sigrid. I think bringing her to the mountain for our repast will help her forget. It will do her good to meet the dwarven dams of whom she will be equal."
"Can we go also?"
Three heads turned to see Bard's younger two silently eavesdropping.
Bard quickened to their sides and dropped to a knee, drawing Tilda to his chest. "Of course you two can come. I don't want any of you from my sight right now." As he rose, his free hand gripped Bain's shoulder.
"My daughter is with me and is most interested in meeting your children and all of Dale," Elrond said in an attempt to forgo Bard's worry. "I also have a human child I am raising with me this trip."
Bain and Tilda looked at the elf lord with interest.
"I should like your children to show him around. Also, Lord Glóin's son, Gimli, is at the mountain for a few days until the next caravan leaves for the Iron Hills. He will be important in your children's lives and someday will come to live at Erebor."
"We met Thorin Stonehelm of the Iron Hills," Bain bravely addressed the mighty lord, uncertain if it was proper. He was relieved when his father didn't tell him to be seen only.
'Maybe now is the time to request a private meeting and discuss Elessar,' Erestor mentally told Elrond.
"Do you have a moment for a private matter?" Elrond responded without giving any sign a mental suggestion entered his mind.
"I suppose, but am not certain I can give any matter my full attention," Bard honestly replied and motioned the elves to follow him. He paused and looked at his trusted lieutenant and second, Lord Theigard. "Come immediately if you spot anything and please watch the children."
Theigard nodded and motioned Bain and Tilda to his side. "I'm climbing to the upper wall. Help spot for me."
Normally they weren't allowed that high due to damaged areas and Tilda was told not to let go of his hand. He smirked at Bain. "You, have already taken a tall dive, so know what it feels like to fall."
Bain shuttered in memory of his and Bard's fall from the tower in Lake-town. "I'll be careful. No water here to break my fall."
Inside his newly renovated office, he motioned for his guests to sit. "I know it's still early, but do you wish a glass of wine?" He played the courteous host.
Elrond and Erestor gave identical shakes of their heads.
"I've come to inquire about your daughter, Tilda," Elrond started and saw surprise plastered all over Bard's face. "I am seeking a future alliance with Dale and would cement it with a marriage of my human son, Elessar, to your youngest daughter."
Bard sat in stunned silence, eyes never leaving Elrond's face and looking for a joke in his offer. Never in his life would he expect an elf to have a conversation of this nature with him. He always figured his children would find a mate among their peers and didn't give an arranged marriage a second thought. When Elrond returned his gaze with sobriety, he asked, "Why do you wish my daughter? Can't the boy choose his own wife?"
"His linage is a secret and even he doesn't know who he is," Elrond finally decided admitting that much was safe. "I tell you this in confidence of course for his safety and not disclose our conversation."
"There is someone who wishes to harm a human child?" Bard wasn't sure he believed what he was hearing, but coming from the elves, it had to be true.
"Unfortunately, he has enemies more powerful than even my skills can protect. His destiny is set and he will be a great chieftain of the Dúnedain and must have a wife to match his stature."
"I won't barter my children's happiness, even for intrigue of mysterious blood lines," Bard firmly stated. The thought of selecting a husband like this nauseated him. Then he remembered what was happening in the mountain and felt sympathy for Thorin all the sudden. "And why my youngest? Cannot he wed Sigrid?"
Elrond's face was inscrutable. "The lad is only eleven and must undergo years of training, both in leadership and fighting. Your youngest would be a natural choice for when she reaches the age of twenty. He will be only four years older. I'm sure your eldest will be long wed by then."
Bard sighed. "You mentioned cementing an alliance with Dale. How will my answer affect that?"
Elrond heard Erestor laughing in his mind. 'He is learning fast.'
"If you were to be a father-in-law to my adopted son, elves would be honor bound to protect your realm. I could make an arrangement with Thranduil for his warriors to extend Dale within their boundaries. That way you won't need a standing army."
"I thought I was going to make an arrangement with King Thráin and use his standing army." Bard wasn't buying Elrond's line and wondered what the elves were hiding.
"You don't want dwarves in your town as guards. Even Lord Girion didn't use dwarves, but his own men for town peacekeeping. I'm sure if you are attacked, dwarves are your first line of defense and the mountain a safe haven. I'm offering patrols along the belt where your farms will be located. Steady patrols will keep bandits and orcs at bay."
"So if you don't get my daughter; I don't get elven patrols? Is that how you are summarizing it?" Bard remained stoic and hoped looked kingly.
"Correct," Elrond succinctly replied.
"I can't do that to my daughter; I'm sorry," Bard looked remorseful. "If she hasn't found a husband by the age you request, send the boy and see if they find a marriage agreeable between them. That's the best I can do." He wisely continued. "If I knew all about the boy and who he is, maybe I could be persuaded."
"You are much improved in negotiating," Erestor blurted out and found himself on the receiving end of an Elrond glare.
Elrond weighed his options; his daughter or the safety of the boy who held the key to defeating Sauron. He stood and bowed his head. "I will consider your offer."
Bard also rose and gave a like bob of his head. "As will I."
They moved upwards until on the highest level, where they joined Theigard and the children.
Tilda let go of Theigard's hand and moved carefully to her father, where he picked her up so she could see better. He saw the elves looking at her and moved a few steps away, turning her so he was between them. He would be sure to mention his strange conversation with Thráin and ask his input on who the male child living with elves was.
Thráin stood and hollered out, "One last item before we adjourn. Thorin is opening the repaired gold smelting caverns. All the Company is ordered to join him and any lord and their families are also welcome. Please bring your daughters, so the lucky chosen one is familiar with the heart of Erebor's wealth making business. Thank you for coming." He abruptly left the dining area with guards taking up positions fore and aft.
Dis allowed Thorin to escort her back to their shared home and he was anxious to depart the ambitious lasses and their parents. He forced a faux pleasantness and greeted each family personally as they entered the dining area. He didn't spend more than a minute with each before moving on and finally taking his spot to his father's left at the head table. Word of Lord Pýirt's disgrace and banishment circled the room of newcomers and parents were thankfully on their best behavior.
Safely inside Thorin's chambers, Dis pulled her beard off with a sigh of relief. "I am ready to assume what would be mother Lis' duties." She shed her white ermine stole and handed it to her servant.
Thorin waited patiently for her to continue and stalked to look out the glass door overlooking the patio and Dale.
"Which one are you leaning towards, Thorin?"
"Fili as my heir," he deflected and scowled at her.
"We both secretly wish that to be so, but Father is set on the line of males unbroken. Sometimes I feel dams are treated as second class, instead of the so-called pedestal we are claimed to be on."
"Have I ever treated you as anything but my equal," he softened his tone considerably.
"Never you or Frerin. I want to be more than a figurehead in this mountain. I know you will be swamped with your duties as Crown Prince, but I'm just a princess without a cause. Now that the boys are grown, I need something."
"Or someone?" he astutely inserted before she prattled on.
"You know that cannot be," she protested and her face burned with forbidden memories of what it would be to be held by a certain someone.
He smiled. "Father is the final judge of that and if the king decrees you are eligible to wed again, I'm sure a certain General will be first in line for your hand."
"Have you heard something?" Her blue eyes snapped wide in shock and she was just learning the fable might be more than a tale told to young lasses.
"I'll not say. Now you were complaining about needing duties. First we must ensure your place is at the head of all dams. Gather those that would challenge you and bring them to my speech." He looked at the large grandfather clock. "I have to be there in two hours. During my speech, I'll introduce you as ranking dam. I'm sure Aneht, Azie and the three dams that raised you will protest, but not to my face. Leave everything to me." He patted her on the shoulder and disappeared to his private office to work on his notes.
Lári held a light blue dress up to Lióni. "Wear this one to the opening. It makes your eyes pale. You are so lucky to have eyes that change color with every new gown. You get that from your father's side of the family and have your grandmother Vladia's eyes."
Lióni rolled hers and snarked, "She can have them back. Do we really have to attend a boring mining opening?"
"You know the answer to that. You are in contention to be queen of this mountain and I expect you to start acting like royalty. No more fighting with the dwarrow…"
"Lord Balin's daughter, Bát, spars with them also. Can I at least spar with her?"
"I'll find out," Lári compromised and left her to dress, while she quickly changed. She didn't want to appear so poor, she couldn't change at least three times a day for a week. Now that they were back in her childhood home she availed herself to all their dams' jewelry and insured Lióni sported different pieces each time they were forced into the company of rival ladies. She knew her daughter was adorned wealthier than all the other lasses, both in gowns and jewelry.
Dóvad meanwhile was outside the office of the king, seeking an audience, with it seemed most of the lords or anyone powerful enough to seek the ear of the king. He figured first he would be escorted to Balin's office for a pre-screening meeting and was waiting for a clerk to call the name he gave when entering the chambers of those who ruled the mountain.
"Lord Dóvad of Jötunheim," the clerk called out after about an hour of cooling his heels beside various other lords. He quickly approached and nodded. He was led down a hall and the page knocked on a door.
The servant, Huf, opened and motioned him into the room. He was stunned to see Thráin, Dáin, Balin, Nori, Bofur and Ori present. He glanced around and decided this must be the king's office; mainly because Thráin sat behind a massive desk.
"State yer cause," Dáin ordered.
He addressed the king, which appeared to be reading something. "I'm here on behalf of my son. Is he ta remain in jail?"
All except Thráin laughed and Balin answered. "We are having a bit of sport with him tonight to entertain our elven guests. As you know, he wants to fight a Durin. Ori here," he pointed at the young Durin, "isn't competing, so it's between Tóvad and three young Durin's. He can choose, Fili, Kili or young Gimli. Gimli isn't full grown, so it probably it won't be a fair fight if he is chosen, and young Thorin Stonehelm is in the elven healing tents, so not an option; although like Gimli, he is but a youth. Fili will give him a good workout and he won't win, but might save face."
"Ye seem sure my son isn't capable of standing his own against ah Durin. He is ah fine soldier an trained by me."
Thráin let it known he was listening when he belted out a laugh. "I seem ta remember how well ye did against ah Durin. I was hoping for ah better match."
Dóvad's ears burned, but he kept his face from showing emotion. "Point taken. If my son wins?"
"He goes ah round with Thorin," Thráin replied. "It would be in his best interest ta lose."
"Is that all?" Balin asked, wanting to move the line seeking audience with the king along.
"If my lad is ta fail, it will take the Crown Prince ta put him down," Dóvad haughtily responded with pride. He bowed and left.
Thráin chuckled. "I hope his lad chooses Gimli then. Fili is growing stronger with each battle an Kili moves faster than ever." He finished reading the letter from Círdan. "We have ah list an bill from the elves. It says here that we owe Lord Celeborn ah hundred pounds of gold; Lord Círdan ah thousand pounds of gold or equivalent in wine; King Thranduil wants five hundred pounds of gold and gems equally divided for allowing dwarves ta cross his lands. Lord Elrond requests ah hundred pounds of gold and twenty pounds of gems for guarding said dwarves. They must have sat up all night figuring what they want from me." He looked at Balin. "Send ah note to the elves that the king will negotiate their demands when we have our summit, and send in the next petty complainer."
Pýirt mingled with caravan drivers going to the Iron Hills. Shamed at the hands of the king left bile in his throat. He knew his family would suffer humiliation for his mendacious manipulation. Already he and his wife were pointing fingers at each other. He by chance overheard a conversation of two common dwarves.
"I saw Prince Thorin when he was brought back ta the caravan after the black wizard almost killed him. He rode his own pony for two days ta catch up. He an his father have ta be the two toughest Durin's ever."
"Is it true, the dead dam was wife of Lord Skafid?"
The story ye heard is true an it was Lord Skafid's wife. He was with his son, Trafid, at Jötunheim an the lad was ta wed Lord Dóvad's lass until Thorin showed up an sported her off ta here for ah Durin. Trafid is still looking for ah lass of quality."
Pýirt stopped listening and formulated a plan. Hurrying to the king's office, he was stopped by a guard. "State yer name an business."
"Lord Pýirt, an I seek an audience with the king."
The guard turned and hand signaled to someone in fancy clothes that Pýirt didn't recognize. He hurried away leaving both of them awaiting a response. Soon he returned, "The king will see you now, Lord Pýirt." He led the disgraced lord down a hall and knocked on a heavy wooden engraved door.
Picket opened and allowed both of them to enter.
It was Pýirt's first visit to the king's personal office and he was duly impressed. His eyes were drawn to the collection of Durin's around the large desk.
"That will be all, Eket."
Pýirt now had a name to the fancy dwarf when he left the room.
Balin motioned for him to come closer. "I thought you had your orders?"
"I have ah proposal….not for me," he raised his hands when it looked like Dáin might pitch him out, "for my daughter." He stopped and waited.
Balin nodded for him to continue.
"I understand Lord Skafid's son was supposed ta wed the lass from Jötunheim?"
"Get on with it," Dáin snapped. He wanted to get to the refinery and not miss any of Thorin's speech.
"I am offering my daughter ta Lord Skafid's son." He paused and waited for a response.
Thráin looked up from his papers. "And you want me to adjust your sentence?" He spoke formally and pierced the disgraced lord with his one eye.
"I would beg ah small group of warriors an take my family east ta Carni an halls of Lord Skafid. He should be out of morning for his wife an ready ta cheer up with ah wedding."
Thráin glanced around the room and Balin hand signaled from his place at the far end of the desk with hands out of sight of any petitioner.
I say let them leave and good riddance. Balin signed
Thráin nodded. "Agreed, next."
Pýirt returned to his assigned quarters with a jubilant bounce in his step. "I had an audience with the king," he announced the moment he slammed the door shut. He proceeded to fill them in and ended with, "I know ye had yer heart set on Thorin, but ah lord isn't nothing ta scoff at, an he's young."
Byrta remembered her humiliation and hadn't set one foot outside the chambers and couldn't believe it hadn't even been a full twenty-four hours since her shameful display. "I suppose word will travel fast of my sentence. Can we leave soon?"
"Aye, lass, we leave with the next caravan ta the Iron Mountains. From there, we will hire guards for the eastward journey." Done with his dams, he grabbed a pitcher of ale and tankard. His belch filled the room.
Thorin nodded to his elven guests. "Lord Elrond, Lady Gilraen and master Elessar, welcome to Erebor, mightiest halls of all dwarves. He looked at Erestor. "Welcome back, Lord Erestor. He greeted Círdan and the selection of elves, noticing several were missing. Before he could speak, Bard filled him in.
"I heard elven horns and express sorrow at what your daughter must be experiencing. She was brave when orcs attacked your home in Lake-town and I am certain her bravery remains intact." Thorin gave a heartening idiom that slightly lifted Bard's spirit.
"Lord Elrond brought me and the children to take our minds off what we cannot control," Bard softly answered. He was still in shock at his daughter's kidnaping and the proposal put forth by Elrond.
"May I interrupt?" Elrond requested of Thorin. He noticed Thorin was only accompanied by Dori, who stood back with a big smile.
Thorin nodded.
Elrond drew Elessar to his side. "This is my adopted son, Elessar. I wish to introduce him to your children, King Bard." Elrond waited for Bard to give consent.
Bard looked at the boy and saw a strong looking lad, tall for his eleven years and sporting unusual elven grey eyes. "My son, Bain and daughter, Tilda," he likewise pulled his kids forward so they were looking at each other. Maybe Bain can show Elessar around Dale?" He asked Elrond.
"And Elessar can show Bain the elven camp," Elrond agreed, relieved Bard seemed to be cooperating somewhat.
Thorin resumed his host duties and with a quick hand signal to a guard became tour guide and took his group to part of the mountain they'd never seen on previous visits, the gold mines.
All was in order with miners on one side and Durin's and guest opposite with newly rebuilt mining lines with ore buckets on cables and filled with raw material between. His loquacious speech was mixed with self-depreciating humor as he described riding the river of molten gold to the edge and jumping onto the chain. "…and I wish to end my longwinded speech by introducing to the miners, the leading dam of Erebor, my sister, Lady Dis." He held out his hand for her to take. "Lady Dis will be in charge of all females, from infant to elderly. She will take charge of my wife, when I procure one, and will teach her how to rule behind the scenes, like our grandmother did." He cast a look at the dams behind her. He didn't see malice and was both relieved and disappointed. "Her ladies in waiting are Lady Aneht, Lady Azie, Lady Dwin, Lady Meeli, Lady Dioari and Lady Gellett. Lasses assigned for lady in waiting training are Lass, Aneh, Lass Cái and Lass Bát." Proud he memorized them in the proper order, he turned back to the miners. "Learn their names and faces. Any disrespect will be harshly dealt with. He turned back to the dams. "Ladies, remove your beards so they can memorize your faces."
Conscious of outsiders, they turned their backs as best they could to the humans and elves and did as Thorin bade. They moved down a long line of miners, who bowed when they passed. Rejoining Durin's, Thorin motioned for them to cover their faces. Usually this ceremony was private, but these were changing times.
The hopeful lasses vying for Thorin's hand hoped to someday be in that august lineup and introduced near the top of the names, or if queen, the very top. They knew Lady Dis would lose her spot once Thorin wed.
Even Lióni allowed herself to be drawn in while listening to Thorin's deep voice and interesting tale of fighting Smaug in this very chamber, and wondered what it would feel like to stand with leading ladies of all dwarves.
Thorin thanked everyone for coming and led his group topside and to a large dining hall none had ever seen before.
Galadriel looked around and let insight and mind reading fill in the blanks. This was a rarely used room and reserved for formal functions. She wondered if another ceremony were to take place and for once dwarven minds were shrouded. She knew the Valar was behind it, so accepted a plate of food from a serving dwarf and waited.
A horn sounded and all talking and eating ceased as King Thráin, with his bejeweled diadem and robes made an entrance. Thorin rose and bowed to his father. Thráin seated at the head of a long table with Thorin to his left and Dáin the right. Elves, Bard and Durin's interspersed along the table.
Gandalf took his customary place opposite the king and found his companions to be Círdan on one hand and Galadriel the other. He was now certain the busy dwarves who were seating everyone, were given orders. Also, the place beside Galadriel was conspicuously empty, as were others up and down the table. His eyes caught Thráin's and the dwarf winked at him.
Gandalf glared back. Now he was certain the no-good dwarf was up to something.