Radagast slipped silently along abandoned halls in the bowels of the great mountain. He could feel evil residue on stone walls, yet not pinpoint its location. With his repaired crystal staff in one hand and lamp the other, he moved yet down another dark, unused hallway long abandoned by miners after extracting its wealth. Another turn and another hall. He lifted his head suddenly and sniffed the air; normally stale this deep in the mountain. Yet he smelled fresh air. Following his olfactory senses, he turned right and squeezed through a narrow opening. It led to a hastily mined tunnel in a fissure and he saw light. Drawing ever closer, he scuttled into open air, automatically searching landmarks to see where he was. Not recognizing the hills and with the looming cliffs of the mountain directly overhead, he started walking away from the opening, up an incline until standing on a knoll.
"I need to show this to someone," he muttered aloud. Retracing his steps, he used his Maia enhanced memory to mark the route and began his long climb back to the surface. He hoped there was still food from the wedding feast when he arrived, for his stomach was complaining. He rushed past beloved mushrooms that grew in the dark in damp crevices fed by seeping moisture and bat dung.
Three miles away, Thorin and Dwalin guided their wives to the balustrade overlooking the entrance and looked down upon most of the inhabitants of Erebor. They waited for clapping and cheering to die down when Thorin raised his hand.
In his deep voice he addressed them. "Meet your newest princess, Lióni." With a hand resting in the small of her back, he gently nudged her forward.
Lióni waved to the dwarves and was surprised to hear blessings and cheers for her in return. She glanced at her new husband. "I figured they would hate me being half Blacklock."
Thorin leaned over and kissed her cheek, eliciting cries for him to do better than that. "They will love you." He stopped short of adding, 'As I do.' There was time to fall in love and share endearments when he knew she shared his sentiments. For now, they were still learning to fall in love.
Cries of kiss her rose in volume, so Thorin took her in his arms and repeated the kiss he bestowed only moment before at the altar. Placated, the crowd clapped. Thorin broke off and raised his hand again. When silence descended, he spoke. "We have a surprise for the citizens of Erebor." He pointed to Dwalin and Dis. "We had a double wedding and Lord Dwalin has wed my sister, Princess Dis."
The crowd looked upon the couple with interest, memorizing clothing and shouted and clapped approval when Dwalin spontaneously leaned down and kissed Dis; much as he saw Thorin just do to Lióni.
"Do you have anything to add, Dwalin?" Thorin asked with a gleam in his eyes. "It is normal for a Durin to give a speech from this balcony when wed or presenting a dwarfling."
In the background, Thráin and Balin exchanged a look and chuckled. Balin leaned close to the king and whispered, "It will be Dwalin's first, if he says anything."
"Bet ye the best part of the roasted pig, Dwalin doesn't utter one word," Thráin quickly replied.
"Done," Balin spoke and reached his hand for a shake at the same time.
Bet in place, they turned back to see what Dwalin would do.
Dwalin threw a glare at Thorin and then looked down upon the crowd. One on one, he had no problem issuing orders or speaking, but to address the entire waiting mountain, his brain went numb.
He felt Dis surreptitiously elbow him and squeeze his fingers. He cleared his throat. "I didn't know I was getting married until a few days ago. It seemed right not to waste resources on another wedding and Thorin was in agreement, so Princess Dis and I also wed." He stopped talking and waved to the crowd, as did Dis when thunderous applause threatened hearing loss.
Balin leaned close to Thráin. "Just have the servants place the best cut on my plate when they try and serve you."
Thráin laughed and slapped him on the back. "It was worth the price to actually hear Dwalin can speak to the mountain. He's been so shy all his life around crowds."
Thorin addressed the mountain one last time. "There are barrels of ale and wine for everyone and in honor of sharing our special double wedding day, I also ordered enough cake made for everyone."
There were murmurs of surprise and then adulations floated clearly to all on the balcony that they loved their prince and king and they shouted, "Long live Prince Thorin and Princess Lióni; long live General Dwalin and Princess Dis; long live King Thráin." With a final wave from the wedded couples, they stepped back until in the midst of invited guests and family.
The two couples led the way down the back steps and back to Thrór's Hall where long tables were being set up for dining, leaving the center open for a dancing area. In the middle of the room, to Thorin's delight, his father's statue was the centerpiece and gleamed from the polishing it got before the wedding.
Everyone mingled and Thráin joined the elves and took his own long stemmed glass of wine off a tray from a circulating servant. "Is everyone having ah good time?"
Elrond nodded with a smile. "In all my long years, this is the first dwarven wedding I've attended. I write letters to my wife and will be sure and include all the detail I can remember. She loved the dwarves and will be sorry to have missed it."
"Can she write back ta ye?" Thráin inquired. He hadn't read where elves did more than come on boats to these shores.
Elrond's expression morphed into sadness that even Thráin couldn't miss. He shook his head. "No, the letters only go one way. Someday I will sail and we will read all my letters together. I'm sure she responded to each and every one and in time, as we did before being wed, I will get to read her replies."
"This is ah joyful occasion an I regret bringing memories that make ye sad. Fill yer glass an enjoy." With that, Thráin moved on to another group.
"Celeborn and Glorfindel are back," Galadriel broke the silence that fell upon the elves.
Thorin kept his arm either around Lióni's shoulders or waist while they mingled and accepted congratulations. His mind kept turning to the night he had planned and hoped the feast was served soon or he might just drag his bride away with orders to bring a tray.
Lióni steered them to her parents. Lári hugged her daughter and then Thorin. "Welcome to our family, Thorin."
"I'm sure you could have done better than a broken down ex-king," he joked.
"We could have if your father's bond had faded," Dóvad japed right back, earning his arm a swat from his wife.
Thorin laughed and at the mention of fading bond, let his eyes wander to his sister, likewise on the arm of Dwalin. They were with the Company, where Dwalin felt most comfortable. "At least I outrank Dwalin and get the best honeymoon cavern."
Lióni's cheeks exhibited a rosy hue at the mention of the night yet to come.
Risári chose that opportune moment to barge in. She held back while her granddaughter was being escorted to unfamiliar dwarves and elves. "I've already been asked by Aneht to come for breakfast in the morning. They are having a meeting to organize the dams in the mountain. I've longed to be in that august inner circle all my life."
"I'm happy one little marriage made all your dreams come true," Lióni stated with laughter in her tone and blue eyes sparkling.
"Oh that will be in a year when I hold my first great granddwarfling," the elder dam replied and watched the blush work up Lióni's neck and into her cheeks. She laughed, enjoying her young granddaughter's shyness. She was once in her place and knew in time, Lióni wouldn't blush at anything.
Thorin led her away and leaned down and murmured into her ear, "I'll try and not disappoint her." Gazing into each other's eyes, they both laughed.
Dwalin and Dis, seeing them not in a group, quickly joined them in the middle of the floor. Along a wall, lively music played by the best musicians of Erebor. The dams hugged while Thorin and Dwalin gripped arms in a warriors greeting.
"Who'd ah thought two old war axes like us managed to land the two prettiest females in Erebor," Dwalin uttered. It was obvious he was lit up like the Yule logs burned at Winter Solstice.
Thorin laughed with him. "All my long years on the road or ruling and I never gave much thought to marriage. I always knew marriage wasn't in my future. I think fathers really do know best."
"I heard that," Thráin exclaimed and joined them with Balin and Cát at his side. "When ye have ah headstrong, wild son, remember fathers are always right." With a laugh he pulled his eldest in for a tight hug and repeated the gesture to his daughter.
A single horn blasted and all went quiet. "We finally got the wedding party in one spot together," Dáin called out and stepped out from the crowd that moved back and ringed the party. Dáin looked around. "Everyone take ah drink of yer choice from the servants making rounds. I'll do my duty of ah toast before everyone gets too drunk ta care what I say."
There was general laughter.
Bard quickly added water to the wine for Tilda and let his thoughts wander on the walk to the mountain. He told his two oldest they could have straight wine. "I know Elessar drinks wine, Bain, so you will have to learn to drink it also. Just learn when to quit."
"I will, Da," Bain promised.
Bard looked at Sigrid. "You're old enough to be married, so I won't place any more restrictions on you. When you return, you'll be more sophisticated than I ever dreamed. I trust you won't marry in haste while away. If you find someone, wait and bring him before me for my blessing first."
"I will, Da," she promised.
When he didn't say any more, young Tilda asked, "Da, don't you have anything for me?"
Bard caught the smirks of his two eldest. He thought fast. "What I gave those two was simple. Yours is tougher."
Tilda gave a smug look to her older siblings. It was tough for her being the baby and so much younger. "I can handle hard."
"You have to do your school work on your own. I will help when I can, but you have to pay attention to Mistress Dagney and not daydream."
"I promise," she replied.
"Just do the best you can so you can show how much you learned to Bain and Sigrid when they come home. They will be gone a very long time."
Thoughts returning to the present, Bard lifted his own glass of wine and waited.
Dáin stepped before the wedding party, tankard of ale in hand and spoke formally. "Today is a first in the history of dwarves on two fronts. Never before has two Durin's married at the same time and never has a dam remarried after a wedding bond faded. I am honored to be asked to supply the toast to both couples. Normally I would pass this honor off on Balin…," he paused for a round of mirth that broke out. "But, as heir apparent, at least for another year, the task is mine. Thorin, I know your sacrifice for our people. You've told me more than once that it wasn't in your future to have a wife, and yet here you are with a beautiful bride and future help mate. May all your days be together in love and many more Durin's for the next generation. Someone told me they planned on putting a Durin in every clan. That's a lot of dwarflings." Again laughter interrupted his speech.
He turned to Dwalin. "I know for a fact, no order issued by King Thráin could make you take a wife on his demand. Since you were a young dwarf, you've had only one love and now she is at your side for eternity. Your journey has been as long and difficult as Thorin's and the reward just as sweet. It is my sincere hope that you and Dis also fill these halls with little Durin's." He raised his tankard high. "To our newly wedded Durin's." As he drank, he heard from all quarters, "To the newly wedded Durin's."
Young Thorin listened intently to his father. He was very impressed his father didn't once use colloquial vernacular and determined to practice and be able to speak as Fili and Kili and most of the Company. He decided it was time to stop being a dwarfling in his attitude and show his family he was also to be a respected Durin.
Another horn sounded and Bombur cried out, "Let the feasting begin."
At one end of the room were large fire pits and the smells of cooking meat had more than one stomach rumbling and many hoping Dáin kept it short. Chefs, under the direction of Bombur started carving the gilt, heifer and yearling ewe while everyone found their assigned places along tables that lined the outside of the hall and were set with gold plates and cutlery. All beverages were served in gold tankards and wine glasses were of cut crystal. All sported the Durin crest. Non-leafy salads were carted out in large, golden bowls and mountains of mashed potatoes and cooked vegetables followed in like ornately designed gilded bowls. Thranduil supplied fresh greens that graced the long table of the elves. Platters that held cheese were spread out on every table with smoked meats and crackers were whisked away and most eaten down to crumbs by the guests who nibbled and visited.
Gandalf was seated at the long marriage table which also hosted the Company and their chosen lasses, Durin dams, the wedding party and king. His sharp eyes noticed that from their elevated position, they could overlook all their guests, about five hundred in numbers. He also could see the door and guards keeping everyone out. He was first to spot Radagast pushing by the guards and into the hall.
A guard tried to stop the unkempt man and Radagast stopped long enough to explain. "I'm on the invitation list."
"I doubt anyone that looks and smells like you has an invite," the guard derisively retorted.
"Do you have a list?" Radagast got a whiff of meat and was tempted to use sorcery on the guard, but didn't want the king mad at him.
"Name?" Another guard, who did have a list, asked in a politer tone.
"Radagast the brown."
A finger quickly scrolled down the parchment. "Your name is here," he stated in surprise.
With a huff, Radagast hurried past them and looked for a place to sit. He caught a hand motion and moved to the head table, where to the watching guard's stunned disbelief; he set in a chair beside the wizard, Gandalf.
"What kind of unkempt person like that gets to sit at the table of the king?" The one guard asked.
"One that is a wizard, like Gandalf," a voice behind them supplied the answer.
They turned to see a tall, golden haired elf.
"I too am on the guest list as is my companion, who will be here shortly. "I'm Lord Glorfindel and Lord Celeborn is also joining us."
"Only if I have yer name on this list," the dwarf carped and looked for the names.
Glorfindel looked over their heads and saw the amused looks of his fellow elves.
'Do I have to intercede with the king to get you supper?' Círdan spoke in his mind.
Celeborn entered the doorway also and glared at the dwarves blocking his way. "I didn't know King Thráin was so hard up for quality security, he resorts to using the likes of you to guard his keep."
"I take offense at that," the oldest guard growled and reached for his sword. "Nobody insults the finest warriors of our generation, of which I am one."
Celeborn looked closer at him, as did Glorfindel. Glorfindel wasn't worried he would have to guard Celeborn's life, but was mildly entertained.
"You are the warrior that was beaten in the ring by Lord Balin." Glorfindel replied and remembered the vaguely familiar face. He started laughing. "I hardly think you are the cream of the crop and I would bet your duty tonight is some form of punishment."
Thorin called out and his words had all talking ceasing. "Thekk, please let my guests enter."
Thekk's cheeks burned and he was glad his bushy beard hid most of the flush. He sheathed his sword and stepped aside.
With all the guests now seated, Thráin stood and all talking ceased. "All those dark times at Dol Guldur, I would imagine my son's weddings and the dwarflings they would provide me. I would make believe I was with them, watching the young grow and the trials they put their parents through. It was thoughts like those that kept me from going completely insane. My journey is complete and I have no plans on ever leaving the mountain, even if a dragon were to come. Thorin and Dis have made me the proudest father in the mountain today. It is customary for letters to go forth when a royal dwarf is born. I expect as king, I will send many letters to all realms bragging on my progeny. For, you see, I did a fair amount of meditating while a prisoner and today was a vision I had many times. When Thorin and Dis tried to spring a double wedding on me, I admit that I didn't fantasize about that one."
As his guests laughed, he looked fondly at his young. "I also foresaw many granddwarflings and I demand the rest of my visions come to pass." He raised his glass. "Please stand and toast the wedded couples once again."
When all were on their feet, glass in hand, Thráin gave his blessing. "Dwalin, you are the son I would have picked and a fine complement to Thorin. I will take you as another son to replace Frerin." He let his gaze move to the newly wedded dams. "And another daughter for my old age. Lióni, welcome to my house, daughter." He raised his glass high. "To the wedded couples."
Toast given, he sat down and motioned for food to be served.
Gandalf addressed the king. "I think that's the longest I've ever heard formal speaking come from you."
Thráin snorted and replied. "I used ta have ta read aloud contracts in three languages before my tutors in perfect nuance. I insisted Thorin an all Durin's younger than me use formal speech so as not ta struggle as much. It was enforced after we moved ta Dunland an interacted with other races regularly."
While eating, Thorin's thoughts became salient in wishing it was time to depart to his honeymoon cavern. His hand crept under the table and squeezed Lióni's soft thigh. When it moved upwards, she covered with her own.
Leaning to her husband, she whispered, "You can wait a few more hours."
"Can and want are two different words," he growled back, but stayed his hand.
Across the room, Galadriel and Elrond smiled at each other.
"I recall you doing the exact same thing," she reminisced.
"I didn't get told to wait a few hours," Elrond replied. "In fact, I pulled my bride up and to the dance floor to get that part of the ceremony over and done, for I knew we were allowed by custom and propriety to escape, as did you and Celeborn."
"Speaking of Celeborn…," she gave Elrond a knowing look.
Celeborn felt hesitation emanating from his son-in-law and stopped eating and turned his gaze upon Elrond. "What am I not being told?"
Círdan, Thranduil and Erestor, knowing what was coming stopped eavesdropping on dwarven conversations and turned smirking faces to Elrond.
Elrond felt like an elfling called upon to explain his actions under the gazes of those centuries his elder. His gaze settled on Erestor. "I told you it was a mistake to let it slip."
Glorfindel now tuned in also, although he was quite enjoying the conversation between Dwalin and Dis over sleeping arrangements. With his Maia powers, he deduced exactly what Erestor divulged. "I was going to spend the winter tracking those horses, Erestor," he admonished. "We are getting them back…..and before the twins are the wiser."
"Someone better fill me in and fast," Celeborn ordered and put his fork down. He drilled Elrond with piercing blue eyes that now swam in choppy waters of anger.
"Everyone has been informed except you," Elrond began. "While you were gone, I was put in the position of telling that rat, Erestor, I needed gold and what King Bard was offering shouldn't be refused." He filled Celeborn in and watched anger be replaced with disbelief.
"…and I was hoping to buy sheep and goats to replace our animals." Elrond finished and waited for the fall out and hoped it didn't involve violence at a wedding.
"Meleth-nín," Galadriel addressed her husband as she placed a manicured hand on his thigh. "I agreed that we could part with breeding stock, but the cattle are coming from the Harlindon. As Elrond said, he received enough gold from King Thráin to entice even the most hardened criminal to turn on their own."
"Don't blow up and cause a scene at Thorin's wedding," Círdan cautioned.
"You should have told us right away," Celeborn chastised. "If the horses were driven south into the Wold, I could have stopped them."
"The tracks we found led towards Bree." Elrond defended his actions. "When we get home, I will send our warriors and Glorfindel to find the men and deal with them. I DO NOT want my ions informed, at least until I right my mistake."
Celeborn softened. "Being weary of this world is not a mistake and forgivable. I will supply what you ask and no, you don't owe me more than ten barrels of wine."
Elrond heard Glorfindel scream loudly in elven minds and challenge Celeborn to a fight to the death with swords. That made him smile at his seneschal. Turing back to Celeborn, he nodded he accepted.
"You didn't give me any wine for the loan of horses," Thranduil complained. "I'll take five barrels."
"And I'll leave you Glorfindel as a loan until I get your horses back to you. You may never see those nags again."
"But you did offer gold for the loan." Thranduil changed tact's. "Gold you cannot afford to part with." He raised his hand when Elrond started to protest. "For two barrels of wine, I will return the gold."
"I can hardly refuse, and, although it pains me, I must withdraw the loan of Glorfindel. He really is the best to retrieve our horses."
Elrond and Thranduil exchanged nods of acceptance.
Thorin spun his bride around the dance floor for their fifth dance and closer to the door. He waltzed her into the hall, bid goodnight to the smirking guards and made a break for it.
The guard in charge of the door quickly stepped inside Thrór's Hall and signaled one of the guards posted along the wall. That guard moved through dancing bodies until slapping General Lötun on the shoulder. "He's gone, General."
Lötun grinned and asked, "Are all the guards to the lower chambers in place?"
"Aye, I personally inspected them when the dancing began. Our prince is safely guarded."
"I better inform the king," Lötun replied and waved his chief lieutenant back to his post. He spotted the king talking to the elves and barged in. "Sire, your son is on his honeymoon."
Thráin's broad smile got ever larger. "An my daughter? Has your superior gotten up the nerve ta escape with her?"
"Nay, he's still here."
Thráin lost his smile and shook his head. "I better go an prod that son-in-law of mine. He was in on the drinking an instructions an should know ta depart by now." With a farewell wave to the elves, he mingled into the crowded dance floor. Spotting Dwalin and Dis still dancing, he purposely bumped into them. "Oh, sorry, don't see so well with one eye."
"You've already had a dance with me, Father," Dis reminded him, not believing his blunder for a second.
"Yes, well it's time for ye ta skedaddle then," Thráin humorously informed them. He took great delight when Dwalin turned red to the top of his bald head.
"Thorin?" Dwalin asked.
"Already makin me ah grandfather again."
"Come on, husband," Dis playfully tugged on Dwalin's hand.
"What are you two still doing here?" Another voice was heard when Balin joined them. He, like the king was sporting a wide smile and more than a little to drink.
"I was waiting to bash your tiny brains out," Dwalin mock threatened.
"You two are getting the second best chamber in the mountain and I already reserved the best for you when Thorin and Lióni rejoin the land of the living in a week or so." Balin sounded pleased with himself.
"Then I will be expected to also get back to work as well," Dwalin reminded his elder brother.
"Nonsense," Thráin overrode him. "Take all the time ye two need. Thorin, I do need topside for planning."
Dwalin felt another tug on his hand and let his bride lead him from the chambers.
"Now we can get down to some serious drinking," Thráin teased Balin.
"Before we both get so drunk we have to be carried to bed, the elves are leaving." Balin pointed to the doorway.
Thráin hurried to intercept. "Thank ye for attending our two little weddings."
"I for one rejoiced I was able to be here," Arwen answered for the group. "We will be in our tents tonight and also thank you for your hospitality of rooms and fine dining. We enjoyed your company again."
"I just may kidnap ye lass an keep ye here so I can listen ta your voice. I still relish in its sound as I did the first time I heard it in Lothlórien."
On impulse, Arwen leaned down and kissed his weathered cheek. "I shall write you of our trip home."
"I consider that a promise."
He turned his attention to Lord Círdan. "I was just about ta ask yer departure day when General Lötun reminded me of my job ta push the newly wedded out the door if they dragged their feet."
"I expect we will depart in the morning," Celeborn spoke for the group.
"Is Master Bilbo going with you, Lord Elrond?" Thráin asked.
Elrond shook his head. "I offered him lodging for the winter, and although tempted, desired to winter in the Shire, so Mithrandir is flying him home in a day or two. I suspect he won't leave until your problem in the mountain is solved."
"Hmmm, yes, I still need ta meet with Radagast tonight." Thráin's tone changed and he was all business. "With Thorin an Dwalin out of commission, Dáin an Lötun will lead any army."
Gandalf seeing the elves at the door, extracted himself from the Company and hurried as fast as he could through swirling bodies. "I am staying in the mountain tonight," he informed the elves. "Radagast shared some troubling news and I dare not leave yet."
"Is it something elves need to be here for?" Lord Círdan asked and endured mental shouting from Celeborn and Thranduil.
"Nay, my friends," Thráin quickly inserted. "Ye have done plenty just getting my dwarves home. The dwarves returning ta their homes will be leaving in ah week, so will be trailing ye."
"What did Radagast say?" Elrond wasn't being put off and likewise endured mental insults from his father-in-law and Thranduil.
"He found another entrance to the mountain and that's where foul dwarves and maybe worse entered. Radagast says more spells are in the mountain and he will cleanse them tonight," Gandalf reported.
"Do you think the dark wizard has gained entrance through that tunnel?" Elrond asked for the group.
"I was going to suggest to King Thráin that he place guards in the tunnel tonight," Gandalf stated.
Thráin turned and made a motion. When a servant appeared at his elbow, he ordered, "Find Lord's Dáin an Lötun. Have them report ta me immediately." He turned back to Gandalf, shaking off the euphoria that his plans for his children were proceeding on schedule. "Is there anything that cannot wait until morning?" He asked Gandalf, but noticed the elves hadn't budged.
"Until we know exactly what is entering the mountain, I would implore the elves to stay." Although he addressed Thráin, his eyes remained on the lords of the elven realms.