Reforged and Strengthened

by jezzibee83

A sequel to Reforged. Reforged and Strengthened follows the Reforged Universe and the lives of our favorite Sons of Durin and their elf, Tauriel. Watch as they fill their lives with adventure, love, and family in a world they earned through hardship and battle. Read Reforged first.

6. ACT I Chapter SIX

Updated October 3rd, 2021

Original Authors Note: I remembered what I forgot! Thank you for all the reviews. :D Remember how I said I was TRYING to shorten my chapters…ya…this one is a fail in that aspect. I did get it to you quickly thought! So there is that. Enjoy!

Chapter Six

Gildridd was much too right for Tauriel's liking about the sickness. It seemed no matter what she ate, the eleth promptly threw it right back up, and the mornings were the worst.

For two weeks, Tauriel has woken with a violent bout of nausea, and today was no different. Kili watched his wife with worry as she knelt on the floor in the bathroom, she had not even eaten yet, but he would bet his bow she just expelled her entire evening meal…and then some. "Amralime, should I get Oin or Gildridd?"

Tauriel, however, simply waived him off. "I am fine Kili, it is all part of pregnancy. There is nothing either of them can do. Go ahead. Thorin is waiting for you. You were supposed to meet him nearly an hour ago."

There was a knock on the door stopping Kili's response. Knowing his wife was in no condition to leave the washroom yet, Kili went to go answer the door. He sighed when he saw it was only Naurfaer standing on the other side. He was really hoping it was Tauriel's healer here to pay her a visit, no such luck it would seem.

Naurfaer looked Kili up and down, then peered over his head towards the bedroom. "Thorin sent me to find you. He said he was worried something happened. Is everything well?"

Kili waived the elf in as he shook his head. "Tauriel can't seem to hold anything down. I just, did not want to leave her."

Just as he finished speaking, Tauriel walked into the main room and smiled at Naurfaer. "I told him he should go, but he insisted on staying." She looked at Kili. "See, I am well. Go, love."

Naurfaer patted Kili on the shoulder reassuringly. "I will stay with her for a little bit to make sure she is alright. Go ahead Kili. No need to keep your uncle waiting any longer."

Kili gave his beloved elf one last long look, then with a nod, disappeared out the door.

Now just the two of them, Tauriel invited Naurfaer to sit, and he took the seat beside her on the long sofa, stretching his long legs out and leaning back casually. She really had not seen much of him recently, with everything going on in the mountain, so she was glad he came by, even if it was just to retrieve Kili. "Are you ready for the new visitors coming, Naurfaer? I know Aeodhen has had you helping him with putting guards together. Have you looked into the collapsed entrances to make sure they are secure? Are you planning on assigning guards to each lord and family or are they bringing their own?"

Naurfaer has gotten on so well with the captain of the guard of Erebor, the dwarf had surprised everyone and invited the elf to join the guard, even offering him a position as second in command, which Thorin easily allowed.

"What? Do you doubt we are up for the task at hand Tauriel? Looking for holes in our plans, eh captain?" Naurfaer raised a teasing eyebrow. He was not fooled for a second that Tauriel was not bored, he knew she missed her role as protector. She had lamented to him more than once about her feelings on being coddled all because a life was growing within her.

Tauriel rolled her eyes and glared at Naurfaer. "No, I am sure you and Aeodhen have it well taken care of. I am just…"

"Bored?" Naurfaer supplied knowingly. Tauriel nodded.

The elf hummed in understanding. "Your mother was out of her mind when she was with you. Used to try and sneak out to just get a chance to see that the world around her still existed. Valar it drove your father mad. He would have wrapped her in blankets and had her sit her entire pregnancy if he did not think it would result in her murdering him in his periods of rest."

Tauriel laughed, she imagined Kili would love nothing more than to do the same thing. "I am sure Kili would be of the same mind."

"Kili is much like your father, actually. Both love deeply and are kind souls, but passionate to a fault. You, however, are so much like your mother." Naurfaer looked at her, as if he was seeing another, likely, seeing her mother.

"You have Ithildin's spirit, but Findyyr's drive. They would be very proud of you and who you have become." Tauriel smiled. "Though, I am unsure who would get rights to hold that child of yours first, it would be quite the battle of grandmother's, Ithildin and Dis. I dare not say you nor Kili would see your own child ever again if they had a say. Stolen away instantly."

Tauriel smirked. "I think it will be stolen away instantly with just Dis. She is very excited. She has even procured a healer."

"Gildridd." Naurfaer nodded, lifting his legs and placing them on the short table in front of the chaise they sat on. "So, I have met her. Fearsome being, that one. But does know her stuff. I had a meeting with her myself."

Tauriel gaped at the elf beside her. "You didn't." She deadpanned.

"What, you think I would let anyone be assigned to care for you that I have not thoroughly interviewed myself? Do not give me that look. I was not alone. Kili was with me." Tauriel sighed. Of course Naurfaer had gone to meet the healer, of course Kili was right there with them. The eleth sighed to herself. Kili and Naurfaer, the two of them, their mission, to make sure Tauriel never comes to harm. It was quite endearing if not a bit frustrating at times.

Tauriel decided to just let it go, it was not worth the battle. She did, however, reach down and push the elf's legs off her table.

Naurfaer scrunched his nose in annoyance but then turned a beaming smile towards Tauriel, which had her narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Now. Let us discuss how you will be spelling this ones name. I am not opposed to the traditional spelling, but if it is a girl, we might need to get creative."

Tauriel looked taken aback. What, was he talking about now? "Spelling what name?"

Naurfaer twisted to look endearingly at her, then sighed as he looked to where her child was currently growing. "My great, great, grandchild's of course. If it is a boy, you could just go with the same spelling, but if it is a girl, you could break it down to Faera."

Tauriel blinked, then after a moment, she realized what he was talking about. The eleth sighed deeply. "Naurfaer, Kili and I have not discussed names yet, and I think being a member of the family, you have the right to know. It is a boy."

"Of course it is, most dwarven children are! Wait, the other's know this already? Did you just decide to tell me, your grandfather, who you owe your very existence to, that you are having a boy when you had told Fili, Thorin, and Dis already?!" Tauriel stuttered and sat staring wide eyed. She did not realize she had not told him until this moment, it was not as if she was TRYING to keep it from him, there just has not been…time. She attempted to tell him as much but he just sat pouting on the couch.

"Naurfaer is a nice name." She hinted, causing the elf to perk up and smile widely at her.

The elf pulled her into his arms and gave her a hug before jumping up and running to the door, but paused and looked back at a stunned Tauriel. "Now, I just need to talk to Kili. Once I win him over, I can start embroidering the blankets." He paused then looked her up and down. "Send for me if you need me."

With a nod from Tauriel, Naurfaer left the expecting mother alone, already regretting her word choice. She sighed and stood considering her day, she had already missed breakfast so she would need to send for some food…or….there are always cheese buns.

Pausing and thinking to herself, Tauriel made up her mind. Cheese buns. That is exactly what she was going to get. Gildridd can stuff it. Tauriel will allow herself this one treat if she cannot have her beloved butter cake she craved so much. Nobody but her and Viltarra will know. Tauriel looked at a pile of ill-fitting clothes and let out a breath of frustration. Maybe a visit to Leotti is necessary as well.

With a plan in mind, Tauriel went into the bedroom to finish preparing for the day.

"Alright Fili, you have half an hour before meeting with Lord Leivur and his Lady, Hildur of the Broodbeams. Just a half hour." Fili quickened his step as he reminded himself of the names and clans his uncle charged him with. He adjusted his circlet, double checked his knives were all in place, and then just so happened to find himself at the entrance to the market. Good way to kill time…the market. As he entered through the large entrance, he continued whispering under his breath, "Half an hour Fili, half an hour."

At this hour, the market was booming with many of the stalls and stores filled with the constant flow of newcomers to the mountain. Some just came for a visit, wanting to see if Erebor was all they were told it was, or all they remembered it to be, while others came to settle for good.

A few of the shoppers and merchants nodded in his direction as he passed by, but most went about their day with no mind to the prince among them. He passed by Leotti's shop which had a line out the door. Apparently, according to Tauriel, word that Leotti was the one responsible for Tauriel's gown had circulated the mountain, and she now had orders coming in an overwhelming number.

Bofur and Bifur's toy shop had a stream of regular customers coming and going as well from what Fili could tell. It helped there was a growing number of dwarflings coming to the mountain in recent caravans. With the summer months nearly behind them, it seemed everyday they were receiving more and more dwarves traveling from afar. It will likely continue until the weather turns in a few months.

A blonde head bobbed in the distance catching his attention. She had hair up in a customary knot, and flour making its appearance on the blouse and dark pants she wore. Fili sighed as he watched Viltarra smiling at something being said to her as she passed a basket across the counter, then waived at the dwarrowdam she just helped.

The young dam turned her head in Fili's direction, and he immediately stepped up to a stand filled with…rocks. Rocks? What in the name of Mahal was this necessary for? He picked up a smooth stone and tried to look interested in it as he attempted to turn himself in such a way he could…watch his surroundings. Yup. A good warrior always knows what and who is around them. Always be prepared for anything.

"Yeh goin' the buy tha' or jus' stare at it?" Fili jumped and all but dropped the stone, fumbling before catching it in his hands. He looked up sheepishly placing the stone down as a dark-eyed dam stared at him with her hands on her hips.

"Fili?" Fili closed his eyes and sighed before turning to his sister. Caught. "I thought you and Kili were in meetings today?"

"Right. Yes. Important meetings. Thank you Tauri. I will see you tonight." Tauriel watched in amusement as Fili bumped into a cart, then several dwarrow on his way out of the market. She shook her head fondly and eyed the line to Leotti's, then looked at the pile of clothes in her arms. That, was a long line.

Squaring her shoulders, Tauriel moved towards her friend's shop. She wasn't there to buy anything, just to drop things off, but tell that to a line of dams. "Oi! I don' care if yeh were Mahal 'imself. I 'ave been waitin. Ye can get yer royal elfness teh the back of the line."

Tauriel stared wide eyed at the dam and the several just behind her, all of which were nodding their heads in agreement. Sighing, the eleth readjusted the pile in her arms. "I am only dropping something off. If you will please…"

"Right. Then wait in the back teh drop it off." With that the dam turned back forward and ignored Tauriel completely. Well, there goes that. She turned and found a stall selling thread and cloth, buying some of each. She was in no way a seamstress, but, she was accustomed to mending her clothes in Mirkwood so perhaps she could do something. Leotti did seem rather busy.

Tauriel made for her final stop and waited patiently for Tarrah to finish with the dwarf ahead of her, before stepping forward. The dam greeted her with a bright smile. "Tauriel, good morning. Wait here a moment, I will go get Viltarra, she was just mentioning you."

Tauriel, however, lifted a hand to stop her. "Oh, no. I wish not to be a bother. I just wanted to get some cheese buns."

Tarrah smiled warmly, lifted the counter, then opened the gate and gestured for Tauriel to enter. "Well then, why don't you come into the back. Vin pulled a fresh batch out of the oven a few moments ago, and Viltarra just began her lunch. You can join her if you have the time."

Tauriel nodded in agreement as she stepped into the bakery. "I would love to." She followed the dam inside then to the back where the young blonde was sitting at a table by herself.

Viltarra looked up from her meal to greet her elven friend, who looked a bit too pale for her liking. "Tauriel. I had no idea you were coming. It has been a few weeks since I have even seen you. Are you doing alright?"

Tauriel sat on a wooden stool and thanked Vin who passed her a plate of four steaming sweet cheese buns. Her stomach grumbled in appreciation and Tauriel made quick work of the first bun before her cheeks went pink and she nodded at the amused dam beside her. "Yes, and no. This one here is making life a bit more…uncomfortable. My healer said to expect it, so I am unworried. Still, I could not go another day without one of these. Just, do not tell Gildridd." Viltarra chuckled and nodded.

"Was Fili here to visit earlier?" Tauriel asked casually. She knew her dwarven brother felt something for the dam. He did not need to say it out loud for Tauriel to catch on. What it was though, she was unsure. Friendship? Affection? Maybe he did not know either.

Viltarra hummed an affirmation as she took a bite of the sandwich her mother had made for her, then turned to Tauriel. "I saw him earlier, but he did not come to the stall. It was not the first time I have seen him in the marketplace either. He seems to enjoy avoiding my family." Tauriel nibbled on her second bun in thought. She would have to have a word with Fili. Maybe she could be of some help.

Tauriel spent the next hour chatting with Viltarra. The dam seemed to be settling in well and liked the busy mountain and what it had to offer. Tauriel wonders if her enjoyment had anything to do with a certain blond prince, but she said nothing. Viltarra seemed less inclined to speak about Fili whenever Tauriel brought it up and she really had no desire to push the subject, so they spoke of other things until Tauriel had to excuse herself before she ate all of their cheese buns they had to sell.

The following day found Tauriel alone once again, it was becoming a regular happenstance as of late, but Tauriel tried to understand. There was much going on in their mountain world.

Kili was in a meeting with one of the lords though she did not know who, as was Fili, and Dis had invited Tauriel to a meeting with some of the lords' wives who had already arrived, but the eleth, not feeling well that morning, begged her forgiveness and remained in her chambers.

Gildridd made sure to visit that day near noon, both to bring her lunch and to check her over. "Everything looks in order. Babe is strong. I give yeh, about four months before this babe comes. How is yer diet goin'?"

Tauriel gave her a miserable look, she hated that diet. But for her son, she pushed her feelings aside and sighed. "Apart from not holding anything down, it is fine. Is there anything I can take to help with the nausea and dizziness?"

Gildridd thought about it but shook her head. "Nothing comes the mind tha' would not harm the child apart from the things you are already taking. I will look further into it, but, I suggest continuin' teh drink yer herbal tea an' stay hydrated. Can I get yeh anythin' in the meantime?"

Tauriel shook her head and Gildridd left with her things. Once the healer was gone, the eleth sat down to the meal Gildridd had brought with her and eagerly ate everything on the plate with gusto. She regretted it immediately.

It was several hours later that Tauriel walked to the veranda in her rooms after expelling her entire lunch. She looked over the banister at the world around her. With all the comings and goings between Mirkwood and Dale, life had filled the once deserted land once more.

Tauriel watched curiously as a large group riding ponies made their way past Dale and onto the path of Erebor. She could see someone pointing out the stones and the group stopped, as many who were passing did, and gave several of the stones attention before continuing on their way. It was not until they got a bit closer that Tauriel realized it was Kili who was leading the team. He was laughing at something one of the others who rode beside him had been saying. How she missed Maryn she did not know, apparently her senses were affected more severely than she thought.

The eleth continued to watch until the group disappeared beneath the mountain below her, and she gathered her skirts and made for the door. Kili had not mentioned escorting anyone in today, only several meetings. So, her curiosity was peaked enough to want to see who has arrived. This may be breaching decorum, but Tauriel was a master of doing such things, and she swiftly walked down the halls out of the royal wing and down through the throne room without much thought to consequences.

The few she came into contact with on her way would politely greet her as she passed, which she happily returned. It was not a far walk to the entranceway outside where the stable now was operating. Anyone on horseback or ponies were directed there rather than the main entrance. They can get to the main entrance from the stables just through a connecting hall.

Knowing exactly where they would be, Tauriel turned the corner to the greeting hall where a group of nearly 15 dwarves stood. Instead of coming out in all her elven glory, and startling them, the eleth opted to stay a bit behind to figure out who these visitors were.

Tauriel smiled as she heard her husband's voice before any other. "Welcome, Lord Krygo to the halls of Erebor. My uncle should be down shortly along with Fili. Lady Gilda, my mother will have you escorted to one of her receiving rooms. She has some tea and a light snack waiting for you when you are ready. Lady Hildur is already here."

"We are quite impressed, Prince Kili. We had no idea the king would have this place in such good shape in such a short time. Impressive. Impressive indeed."

Kili smiled and gave a respectful bow to the lord. "He has had teams working day in and day out, trying to get the mountain safe for inhabitation. There is still much to do, but we are very happy with the progress."

Tauriel rarely had the chance to see Kili in his regal element. He was a sight to behold, proud and tall (for a dwarf). Though, she studied him again from where she stood hidden, his smile did not quite reach his eyes, and looked a bit strained.

From the perspective of someone who knew him intimately, Kili looked tired. She hopes she has not been keeping him up with her constant running to the washroom to be sick. More often than not, Kili woke along with her. Maybe she should sleep in the room beside their other washroom? He would need his rest if he was to keep up with all his responsibilities while the lords were here. She will speak to him about it, but for the moment, she just listened and waited for them to come closer.

"I would say the mountain is quite…majestic… as is its prince. It truly has been much too long Kili. We must meet together for dinner." Tauriel's eyes narrowed as she realized the figure just beside Kili was a dam. It was hard to tell since her hood was up, but there was no mistaken that voice and mannerism. She released a low growl when the dam laid a hand on Kilis arm a bit too familiarly, as she leaned in close.

Not wanting to be a spectator in the shadows any longer, Tauriel stepped out just as Kili took a step back from the dam. His eyes lifted, brown meeting green, and finally, a true smile spread across his lips as he all but ran up to her.

"Tauriel! Perfect timing." Kili placed her arm through his and pulled her forward to the group. "Lord Krygo and ladies Gilda and Kaulithah. Might I introduce my wife, Tauriel of Erebor."

Silence fell among the small group as they looked at the elf. Tauriel did, for a moment, wish she had taken a second to look her reflection over before she all but ran from the room. She was only wearing a simple dress, and being sick all morning AND afternoon, likely meant her hair probably looked frightful. To make matters worse, her current condition has done nothing for her already pale complexion. Nothing she could do now, however, but stand tall and accept their scrutiny with what grace she could muster.

Tauriel bowed just a bit and gave them a smile. "We welcome you to Erebor. I do hope your journey here was pleasant."

The small group of dwarves still stared at her quietly, as if trying to decide if this was a joke, trick, or some odd vision. Tauriel looked at each of them in the traveling party, being close enough to now take in their features. Most of the dwarves in the background were whispering to one another, but the three in the front gaped at her unreservedly.

The lord and his Lady were quite elderly, even for dwarrows. They both stooped a bit, had full grey whiskers, and many lines creasing their faces. The third in the group was Kaulithah. She was much younger, probably close to Leotti and Viltarra's ages. But that was where the similarity ended between this dam and her friends. Kaulithah was obviously born in wealth and prosperity. She carried herself like a royal, standing straight and looking at all around her like it was something to be scrutinized. She looked like the epitome of what a dam should be with her full beard, dark curls pulled back with gems that sparkled with the torch lights, and calculating blue eyes.

Once the dam realized Tauriel was watching her, she let a smile grace her features, warming up the cold instantly. "Tauriel, did you say?" Kaulithah looked from Kili to the eleth on his arm. "I do not mean to be rude, but I fear you are quite a surprise to behold. Had Kili mentioned you, I feel we would have been better prepared. I fear your appearance has put my poor old parents into a bit of a shock. You are, however, a true beauty in these halls. I can see how Kili must have become quite…bewitched, by you."

Tauriel was not sure what to make of this, but her temper had begun to flare. She could blame it on the lack of food she was able to keep down, the equal lack of sleep, or the lack of time she has had with any of her friends or family in the last several weeks. Who was this dam to insinuate she 'bewitched' anyone? And what did she mean Kili never mentioned her? Was he afraid they would not want to come if an elf resided in Erebor? Was he worried it would affect early negotiations?

Unable to contain her ire, Tauriel released Kili's arm, letting it fall as she gave a curt bow. "Then allow me to excuse myself. I have no desire to be such an upset to our visitors." Without another word, Tauriel turned on her toes and made for the stairs towards the halls to the living chambers. Had she looked behind her, she knew she would have to witness Kili's frown of disappointment, so she kept her eyes forward. Perhaps she will go visit Shaada.

Tauriel knocked carefully on the door and waited. It only took a few minutes before Shaada answered and gave her a surprised look. "Tauriel! I was not expecting you. Do you wish to come in?"

"Only if I am not intruding. I am sorry Shaada, I should not have just invited myself as such." The dam just shook her head and gestured Tauriel in. These chambers were three times the size of her previous ones in Ered Luin, with a large sitting room, office for Aeodhen, and four large bedrooms each with a fireplace. Hillanna had already shown Tauriel her new room when Tauriel first came to see that they had settled.

"Tauri! 'Amad did not say you were coming!" Speaking of Hillanna, she ran up and gave Tauriel a hug around her legs, Riffi running into the room to do the same once he heard who had come for a visit.

"Alright you two, give her room. Hillanna, are you not supposed to be in your studies? Go, and take your brother with you." There was no arguing as the two dwarflings scurried out of the room. Shaada was about to take a seat, when muffled crying filed in from one of the closed doors.

Sighing, Shaada turned towards the room. "I will only be a moment, go ahead and take a seat."

Tauriel nodded and sat quietly. It was only a second later when Shaada walked in, bouncing Tauren still in his blankets. "He has not been wanting to sleep unless he is being carried." She smiled and sat, the infant instantly calming and falling back to sleep. "There, see?" Tauriel watched. Shaada was such a natural mother.

"Now. What brings…" There was a clatter in the other room, and Shaada let out another exasperated breath as a dwarfling sized argument broke out. "Do you mind taking this one for just a minute?"

Tauriel opened her arms and received the sleeping babe as Shaada followed the sounds into another room. "Guess it is just you and me little one." She looked at Tauren who fidgeted in her arms for a moment, then opened his dark eyes. He blinked at her, scrunched up his little face, then, let out a piercing wail.

Tauriel panicked for a moment before standing to walk the room, rocking him in the same manner Shaada had just been doing; it did not help at all. How was it Kili could calm a child so easily? Seconds in his grasp and an infant was out! One phrase and the galloping babe in her own womb would go completely still. Yet here she was, rocking, humming, and walking, but the screaming seemed to only get louder.

"Oh dear!" Shaada ran up and relieved Tauriel of the weeping babe, who seemed to only get more upset.

"Shaada, I am so sorry." Tauriel watched as Shaada ignored her and tried shushing the babe as she rocked him in her arms. Seeing how she seemed to just make things worse for Shaada the longer she stayed, she did not wait for a dismissal when she backed towards the door and left.

Tauriel walked out of the halls and made for the stairs towards the markets. Maybe a stroll through the shops would ease her mind and spirits. The eleth princess made her way through the stalls that were inhabited, pausing to look at the wares and even making a purchase or two for Kili, or her son. There were still empty portions of the market, but slowly it was filling with merchants selling their goods.

Spotting Leotti's small dress and tailoring shop, she stepped inside only to stop in her tracks. Though the line out the door which had been there several days before was gone, there were numerous dams already crowding the open space of the shop. Tauriel used her slightly advanced height to search for Leotti. From where she stood beside the door, she could just make out her little friend running to and fro to greet everyone.

"Well, I am certainly not going to bother her." Tauriel watched a moment longer and went to leave.

A few shoppes down, Tauriel paused to see both Tarrah and Viltarra filling orders for a large crowd in front of the baker. Both were smiling, but looked a bit worn out. She will not bother them either.

With nothing left to see, Tauriel walked back up the many staircases up to the main floor of Erebor where the entrances, eating hall, and throne room were located, as well as the vast network of entryways to the halls and corridors that led to every part of the mountain. She meant to stop, and make her way to the golden floored throne room then up to her quarters, but, her feet kept going.

Viltarra and Leotti were busy, Kili was entertaining, and she is sure trying to clean up her mess of a greeting, Dis was preparing to receive visitors, and she already upset Shaada's household.

Not in the mood to cause any more "shock" to anyone or get anymore in the way then she felt she was, Tauriel allowed her feet to guide her high up into the rafters of the mountain. She opened a creaking door and peered in, feeling the rush of the warm summer air hit her cheeks and the sound of fluttering winds and soft raven calls greet her ears.

This was the raven room. It opened wide to the face of the mountain, allowing for the large, black, regal birds to come and go freely with a place to nest and escape the harsh weather.

Tauriel walked among the perch lined walls and straw filled floor to stand at the vast opening of the room, the wind blowing her hair as she stood, arms wrapped around herself. From this high, she could see well past the outline of the forests beyond Dale.

Seeing a large stone embedded into the rock of the mountain, but sitting partially outside the overhang, Tauriel pulled herself up and sat herself against the stone wall.

The longer she sat and reflected, the more Tauriel could not help but feel a bit embarrassed of her introduction with the lord and ladies. Kili, she is sure, is quite upset with her and he has every right to be. She should not have let her temper take control.

Was that not what Thranduil always said had been her biggest flaw? Not being able to contain her feelings like a true elf should be able to do. She would have to apologize to Kili, and the visitors. Dis and Thorin will find out to be sure. The only one who may not judge her was Fili. He would probably have laughed. She had no idea where her brother was off to today, but odds are, if she had found him, she would have only gotten in his way as well. That seemed to be all she was good for recently, getting under-foot.

Then there was Tauren. As natural of a mother Shaada was, Tauriel was certainly not, if today was any evidence of that. It worried her, more than it should, that she would fail miserably at the job. Placing her hand on the swell of her son, Tauriel sighed. "At least Kili will make a good parent. Looks like you will have one to look forward to, but you will have to forgive the failings of your mother, my little darling. I love you. Just remember that."

A shuffling of wings and loud calls filled the small cavern and Tauriel looked behind her to see several of the large black birds attacking the ground. That was odd. She pushed herself off the stone and walked over to the angry birds.

"Alright, let it go." One of the birds snapped at her ankles as she approached, but as if it realized who she was, gave a birdlike bow and hopped back, only to watch her warily. The other two jumped on perches above, eyes trained on the eleth.

Tauriel looked back on the ground to see a small, black, feathered mass barely moving among the straw. She knelt down and used her hand to brush some of the yellowed hay away, one of the larger ravens crowing in protest but silenced when Tauriel shot it a look.

Turning her attention back to the small mass, Tauriel saw a tiny, beady, black eye look up at her as the little chick gave a small chirp.

Looking up, she noticed a nest with two ravens watching her warily. "Is this one yours?" She used one of her skirt layers to pick the chick up, and moved forward to place it back in the nest. However, the two ravens snapped their beaks at her angerly, one even hopping to stand on the outside of the nest, blocking it from sight.

Inside, Tauriel could just make out three unhatched eggs, and a few chirping chicks. The raven sniped "rejected" in his language to her as he gestured his beak at the chick in Tauriel's skirt folds.

Tauriel let her eyes fall to the small hatchling, her heart softening. "I know what it is to not have a family. Worry not little one, you can join mine." She cradled the bird in her hands and left the room, heading back to her own suite.

The little raven remained silent as Tauriel shielded it from the world all around them, and speedily walked towards the royal wing.

A series of boisterous laughter and scraping plates had the eleth looking to the food hall as she stepped down to the main floor. Was it dinner hour already? She stopped in place, listening to the sound of the evening meal fill the halls. They would probably be wondering where she was…just another thing she failed at today.

Instead of going into the hall, she walked through another corridor, past the guards at the royal entryway each ignoring her completely…typical with today…and walked up to her and Kili's rooms.

Once inside, Tauriel upturned a crate filled with some of her sewing necessities, grabbed one of the old blankets, and placed it in the box before gently putting the little raven in on top of the makeshift nest she had created.

Birds were something she knew. In her time within the forests of Mirkwood, Tauriel had nursed many a hatchling who had fallen from the trees too early. Whenever she could, she would place them back in their nest, but on occasion, one would have a broken wing or foot and needed more hands-on care, so she would take it back to her rooms to nurse it back to health until it was well enough to fly. Legolas used to tease her about it, but she would brush him off. It made her happy to help those who were incapable of helping themselves.

Tauriel sat on the ground before the fire, pulling the crate towards her. "What should we call you hm? Can't just call you bird or raven. You will need a proper name." The little raven looked up at her, eyed her for a moment, then let out a loud, echoing, "Kaw."

"Kaw?" The tiny raven remained silent. "Alright, Kaw." She scratched the little bird on its feathered head. It seemed to like that and lowered its beak further for her to reach. Between the warmth and the scratching, it did not take long for the little raven to close its black eyes and fall to sleep among the nest of blankets.

Tauriel let out a yawn of her own. She lay down on her side and rested her head on her arms in front of the fire, where Kaw lay asleep in his box beside her. That is where a very worried Fili and Kili found her nearly an hour later.

"Is that a bird?" Fili whispered as Kili leaned down to pick Tauriel up and carried her to their bed, leaving his brother behind as he left the room.

Tauriel barely stirred, which did not help Kili's worry as he placed her carefully onto the soft mattress. He took in her pale features and placed a delicate kiss on her brow. She let out a deep sigh and turned towards him, his name on her lips as she re-settled in the blankets around her. Brushing hair from her face, Kili looked her over.

Gildridd had warned him she would get worse before the end of her term. But she was only nearing ten months. She still had about four to go. He shook his head, he knew nothing of expecting females, he would have to do as Dis and Thorin suggested and trust the healers.

Kili pulled the blankets over her and stepped from the room to join Fili who was still eyeing the box suspiciously. The young, dark-haired prince, quietly walked over and squatted down to peer inside.

Among the blankets was a rather large raven chick. It was probably just over a month old which should be nearing its flight age, but it had several missing feathers, and really looked worse for wear. Tauriel probably found it and decided to take it in. He shook his head at his wife's peculiarities.

"She couldn't have adopted a puppy or a kitten, could she? It just HAD to be a raven of Erebor didn't it?" Fili eyed the bird. He hated the ravens. "Bloody birds." Fili lamented as he scrutinized the box.

Kili chuckled and lifted a brow at his slumped brother. "They aren't that bad Fi. You just never pay them."

Fili sighed, not that bad, his beard. Only a week ago, he was trying to send a message to Bard in Dale, just a written note since the human lord doesn't speak raven. At first the bird flew from the window, only to come back seconds later with the note in his beak and stood staring at the prince.

"Well, go one, you know where to go." The bird dropped the note and croaked at him. He rolled his eyes and waived the raven away after picking up the note and went back up to get another raven. He stayed at the raven rooms opening and gave the second bird the note and instructions, watching as the bird flew off, then circled back and stood on the large stone at the opening, dropping the letter to the ground just as the first had done, and croaked at Fili angerly.

"Fine!" He called four more birds, each repeating the same cycle. Now six hissing, very large, ravens stood angerly on the stone. The door opened behind him just as Fili was trying to force feed the message into the beak of a seventh bird, who was nipping at the blonde prince's hand.

"Fi, Thorin wants to know if you sent that message yet…oh, Mahal above!" Kili stepped in just in time to see the bird make contact with Fili's extended hand. The now even more furious prince pulled his hand back, where a painful looking bite was just beginning to bleed. "Uh, Fi, what have you done to the birds?"

"What have I done? I…have done NOTHING! These absurd blobs of feathers refuse to take the message. They just keep coming back seconds after leaving." Kili eyed his brother who was shaking his hand out and hissing from the painful bite.

On the other side of the room, the small group of birds stood hissing at the blonde, probably not just for the message, but also for the mistreatment and his hostile words. Ravens do not like being called names or mocked. Erebor's ravens being as proud as they are, were even thrice as notorious for becoming vindictive.

Kili picked up the note on the ground and stepped up to one of the hissing ravens who turned its head sideways to look the younger prince in the eye. Using his free hand, Kili reached into his pocket to pull out a coin and offered it to the bird along with the message. The bird gave a bow to Kili, turned and gave a loud hiss to Fili, and snatched the letter, flying away towards Dale.

"What has Balin always said? Pay. The. Birds. Fi. You keep forgetting they require payment on both ends of the message." He turned a laughing eye on his brother who was glaring at Kili. Chuckling, Kili walked towards the door. "By the way, you are going to want to pay those ones as well. I don't think they will let you leave unscathed without something for their…mistreatment."

Fili whipped his eyes towards the six birds still croaking on the stone as if they were waiting for something. He groaned, reached into his coat, and pulled out a sack of coins. "You don't deserve a single bit of this." He dropped the pile of coins on the stone, then watched in annoyance as each bird took one. One particularly angry raven gave the prince a final nip on the arm, and flew away with his coin firmly in its claw.

Fili looked down at his bandaged finger then warily at the bird chick Kili was cooing at. "You realize you are as bad as your wife?" Kili laughed and sat cross legged on the floor. At some point when Fili was lost in memory, the smallish black blob woke and was backing itself towards the corner of the box.

Kili ignored his brother and gently reached for the bird. "It is alright little one, you will find no harm here. Uncle Fili is only intimidating on the outside, on the inside he is as mushy as custard."

As if soothed by his voice, the small fledgling leaned its black head forward allowing itself to be brushed by Kili's fingers. It gave only a small whine of protest when Kili scooped it up into his large hands and lifted it to his eye level. "Let's have a look at you, hmm?"

In the light of the lantern and fire lit room, Kili looked at the raven. It was about the size of his hands put together and had several bald spots that looked as if other birds had been pecking at it. "I think it is a reject." Fili came closer looking at the bird who was shaking, probably more from fear than from cold. Kili was, after all, a furnace in himself. Tauriel constantly called him her personal heating stone.

Fili cocked his head to the side. "He isn't albino or small. In fact, it looks pretty large compared to some of the chicks I have seen in the nests recently. Why would it be rejected?"

Kili shrugged. He pulled the bird closer and cupped it in one hand so it would not fall and began scratching its head, then he reached to give it a rub under its beak; the bird closing its eyes as it leaned into Kili's fingers. The moment the little bird lifted its head, however, Kili knew exactly why this bird was rejected. "Oh! That must be why."

Fili narrowed his eyes and went around his brother to peak over Kili's slightly taller shoulder to see what his brother was seeing. As the bird reached up its beak for Kili to scratch, a patch of pure white could be seen stretching from the bottom of its beak, across its belly, and ended with a few white feathers on its tail.

Erebor's ravens are notorious for rejecting young born even with the slightest difference from the rest. It is very rare, but it does happen. Typically though, the rejected chick is not discovered until it is too late and the fledgling cannot be saved. This one, however, got lucky a certain compassionate eleth got to it first. Guess they will be raising a raven before an infant.

Kili cradled the bird and stood to take a seat on the sofa near the fire, Fili watching him warily as he did. "It isn't going to attack you Fi, you can relax. They don't get angry unless you give them reason. Stop forgetting to pay them, and you will find they are not so bad."

Fili snickered and sat next to Kili, reaching over to scratch the raven's head, and was delightfully surprised it allowed him to. "I heard a rumor today that a certain red-headed eleth made quite the impression on a particular lord and Lady."

Kili let out a sigh. That was quite the introduction and one he had to clean up when she all but abandoned him. "Aye, it was. Though it was not all her fault. Kaulithah had insinuated I had never spoken of Tauriel, when I clearly remember telling them all, that my expecting wife was not feeling well, or she would have come along with me to greet them. I had in fact said she was resting, and would be down that evening for introductions. Why Kaulithah said what she did, I do not know. It is not like her."

Fili hummed and continued to reach over and mindlessly rub the little birds head, who was once again asleep cradled in Kili's hold. "She was always very sweet whenever we came to visit. Perhaps she has changed in the years since we have seen her."

"It has only been three years, Fi. We were just at the Stonefoots clan a year before Tauriel came to Ered Luin. She can't have changed that much." Fili shrugged pulling his hand back and settling himself in the corner of the sofa. "Did Thorin give you assignments as well, Fi?"

Fili nodded. "I got the Blacklocks, Broodbeams, and Ironfists."

Kili sighed and grumbled. "You got the easy clans. I have the difficult ones."

Fili gave Kili a look. "I do not envy you the Firebeards or the Stiffbeards. But, at least you know the Stonefoots. Kaulithah will certainly help with getting her parents favor. The Firebeards though…" Fili whistled and shook his head. "Lord Dryok will be a mighty difficult one to win over, I am sure of that."

Kili nodded. "I want to do it though. I want to show uncle I am serious about my role, and I want to bring honor to my family and this mountain."

Fili sat forward, lowering his brows. "Ki, you already do, and I am sure both mam and uncle know you are serious in your responsibilities."

Kili looked down at the sleeping bird. He had a son coming to the world in just four months. He wanted to make sure he was a dwarrow his son could one day be proud of. "I know Fi. I just want the chance to prove it to Thorin. If I can win over the Firebeards, I will feel like I have earned my title, rather than been bestowed it because of my blood. Thorin has earned his crown with every deed, it is time I earned mine."

Fili placed a hand on Kili's shoulder. His brother will likely not be talked out of this and truthfully, he was proud of him. Gone was the little brother who tried everything to shirk his work and duties. "I think I am going to retire." He gave the bird one last scratch and stood. Maybe ravens aren't so bad, well, this one at least.

Kili sent Fili a smile and watched his brother disappear out the door. He stood, placed the now sleeping raven back in the box, turned out the lanterns, and joined his wife in bed.

Tauriel was sick again after breakfast the next morning. So tired of having to run from the great hall, and at Gildridd's suggestion, the eleth began taking most of her meals in the room, with the exception of dinner, which she ate with her family and their people.

The exhausted eleth had just rinsed her mouth when she ran into Kili, who was giving her a look. "I see we have a new member of the family." Kili smirked when Tauriel gave him her own bewildered look, then remembered the bird she had saved the night before.

"Oh, yes. Kaw. You should have seen him meleth nin. The other birds attacking and pecking. I could not have left him there to die." Tauriel folded her arms and sat back against the basin.

Kili scrunched up his face in question as he eyed her from where he stood at the washroom door. "Kaw?"

Tauriel nodded. "It is his name, Kili."

Lifting a brow, Kili looked at her as if she had sprouted an extra head. "Kaw, though? Really? As in the sound a crow makes...?"

Tauriel rolled her eyes. "Yes Kili, Kaw, like the sound a crow makes."

Kili wrinkled his nose at the name then his eyes went wide and he stared at his elf. "Um, Tauriel. Love of my existence. Brightest star of my night. Breath of my lungs and beat of my heart…you have not…by chance…thought of any baby names have you? Because, I would seriously like to go over those thoughts as soon as possible."

Tauriel narrowed her eyes at her dwarf then huffed. "He picked his name Kili, not I. It was the first thing he said so I went with it…and no. I have yet to think of any names. You will be the first I make my suggestions to." She paused and looked at Kili with a sigh. "I should forewarn you though, Naurfaer seems to be under the impression we should name our son after him. He may try to…persuade you. I am counting on you to not let that happen. I may have accidently let it slip that we are considering it."

Kili groaned. Between Dis, Naurfaer, and Bofur he has had a plethora of names being thrown at him, yet none seemed right, so he had never brought them up. They still had plenty of time though, so he brushed it off. "Eventually we will have to pick a name, but now is not the time."

Tauriel looked at Kili curiously as he led her to the sitting room, where the little raven was still asleep in his box. "Thorin has asked me to handle the negotiations with three of the dwarven clans. I have the Firebeards, the Stiffbeards, and the Stonefoots. Fili has the other three. It is a great honor and responsibility."

"That is wonderful meleth nin. Oh…Kili!" Tauriel's face flamed red, and she sat hard on the sofa near where Kili stood. He walked over to pull one of her hands away that had lifted to cover her face.

"What is it, amralime?" Kili cooed as he knelt directly before her.

Tauriel gave Kili a pained filled look. "I already made a mess of things yesterday! I am so sorry Kili. I let my temper guide my mouth. I do not know what came over me. These hormones are causing everything to run rampant. It is as if I have no control of myself or my thoughts anymore."

Kili held her hand in his. "It was rather off, but worry not, none of them took much offence...and try not to judge Kaulithah too harshly, she had been traveling for a while. Normally she is really quite kind. I would very much like the two of you to be friends, my star."

Tauriel laced their fingers together, bringing his hand to her lips before placing it back on her lap as she thought about what Kili had said. "Kaulithah? Oh, right, their daughter. Did you know her?"

Kili nodded. "We have known each other since we were dwarflings. Their family used to visit Ered Luin until her parents grew too late in years, then Thorin would bring us to visit their mountain. She was always a good friend to me. Fili…well Fili has never been good with dams even when he was younger, which makes Viltarra quite the wonder. Fili seems to always be at ease when she is near."

"Not always…" Tauriel suggested with a smile.

Looking taken aback but curious, Kili let out a surprised, "Oh?"

Tauriel nodded, her braids falling in her face as she did. "According to Viltarra, he visits the markets often alone but whenever he goes, he only gets close to her family's bakery, but never once visits. He turns and retreats like an apprentice on his first battle. I have witnessed it once myself. It is a sight to behold, Fili fumbling and mumbling so…nervously. I have not yet had a moment to speak to him about it so say nothing. I do not want him to become even more skittish than he already is around dams."

Kili laughed but agreed wholeheartedly. Fili was going to need to sort this out on his own. Confronting him will likely do more damage than good. He will if he has too, though. If Kili in fact sees a connection and Fili does not pursue, he will step in for the happiness of his brother. Fili and Tauriel are everything to him, he will do whatever he could for them, and his mother and uncle as well.

Although, he wishes he could have more time to spend with his precious wife lately. Kili feel's as if this was the longest he has been able to see and speak to her in weeks. Not since the first of the lords arrived at the beginning of summer. Negotiating, was a nightmare.

A scuffling and soft croaking pulled him from his thoughts, and he turned his attention to the box near Tauriel's feet.

Tauriel smiled and stood to lean over and look at Kaw in his box. He was jumping around within the blankets. "You know, he should be close to being able to fly. He will have to wait for those feathers to re-grow though." Tauriel picked up the chirping bird to look at him in the daylight. "Kili, he has a white chest!"

Kili walked over and wrapped his arms around Tauriel's waste from behind and peered over her shoulder. "I saw that last night, his chin is white, and a few of the feathers on his tail are as well. I believe it was why he was rejected."

Suddenly, the sound of a great bell chiming in the mountain caused the little bird to burrow fearfully into Tauriel's arms.

Tauriel used to startle at the sound herself, but she now found it comforting. The bell chimed three times in the day. Once in the morning, twice for the afternoon, and three times at evening. Balin had had the massive bell restored, then placed in the grand entrance hall just a few weeks ago. She remembered seeing tears streaming from Thorin's eyes when it rang that first day. At Tauriel's worried look, Dis had said it was because the mountain was finally starting to sound like the days of old.

Tauriel felt the sigh leave Kili as he buried his face in her neck and murmured his discontent. "I have to go amralime. The Firebeards are due to come in today and I promised Thorin I would meet them."

"Would you like me to come?" Tauriel asked. Truthfully, she was tired of having nothing to do.

Kili shook his head as he pulled away from her. "You look like you are about to fall over, love. Get some rest. I will have Gildridd bring more breakfast. You need to try and hold at least something down before you leave this room. Please." He grazed her cheek tenderly with his thumb, and gave her an earnest look. "I am worried about you."

At first Tauriel was angry and hurt. It felt as if Kili did not want her there to greet the incoming lords, but then she felt the shaking of her knees and decided maybe he was right. "You have nothing to worry about Kili. I am fine. Truly."

Kili lifted a skeptical brow but relented and leaned in to give her a kiss, which she eagerly received. He then pulled away, patted Kaw on the head, and left the room.

Tauriel did not see him again until the evening meal. In fact, that was the new pattern of their lives as the next several days, turned into several weeks. With her progressing pregnancy, and her rebelling body, Tauriel would sleep in longer and longer each day. Some mornings not waking until well after Kili had gone. If she had not been awake when he got home, she would have not even noticed Kili lived with her at all.

"Dear, why don't you come join in on a meeting with the dams? You ought to get to know the wives of the visiting lords." Dis sat with Tauriel one morning, holding back her hair as Tauriel expelled her breakfast…again.

Gildridd assured them all over and over it was normal and expected, but Tauriel was miserable, and growing weaker every day. However, the idea of getting to do something to help gave her some energy. So, once she was more stable, she put on a clean dress and went to the receiving room Dis had mentioned.

"I am quite certain he would make a fine match with her, don't you Dis?"

Tauriel walked in to see Dis nodding at Lady Gilda. The room fell silent when she entered and Dis stood immediately, going right over to Tauriel and ushering her in. "Ladies, this, is Tauriel."

Dis introduced each of the six dams then pulled Tauriel and gently sat her in a chair near the door, just in case the elf needed to make a quick escape. The elder dam then went back to her place beside Lady Gilda to continue their conversation.

Someone passed Tauriel some tea and the elf took a sip then scrunched her nose, placing the cup on her lap. It was licorice tea. She put the cup on a table beside her and folded her hands over the swell of her son. It seemed like each of the dams was in conversation with the other and every single one ignored her presence, except one. Dis had said she was Lady Adriku of the Blacklocks.

"When are you due?" Tauriel turned to a plump dam with kind light brown eyes.

"Early winter, about a month before yule. It is an estimate I am afraid. This one could come anytime between then and January, I am afraid."

"They like to take us by surprise, little-lings. Your husband must be quite excited. I have seen him among the guard. Dashing, for an elf." She winked and Tauriel looked confused before she realized the dam's mistake.

"Naurfaer is family, but he is not my husband."

The dam was taken aback then shifted uncomfortably. "Of course, it is not my business of your affairs."

Tauriel sighed. "Lady Adriku, my husband is prince Kili, this is his child. Naurfaer, the elf on the guard, is my grandfather, not my lover."

The dam tried to hide her look of astonishment, then slight disgust, as she fidgeted in her seat before turning her attention to the dam on her other side, as if she had not spoken to Tauriel at all.

Tauriel watched as Dis laughed heartily at something Lady Gilda had been saying, then she eyed the door. She could make a hasty escape…but Dis had asked her to stay, so she hunkered down and listened to the chatter around her. She did try to join a conversation once or twice, but no one seemed keen on her input. Instead, Tauriel quietly listened, nodding in places that seemed appropriate, so she did not seem as if she was staring off into nothingness. Dis, was completely ignorant of the elves discomfort the entire event.

Dis had caught her just as she was leaving the receiving room when tea was finally over and the dams began to funnel out of the room. "Tauriel. We are having a private family dinner tonight, so do not go to the hall. It will be in one of the smaller kitchens. They still have yet to be able to assess and restore the one in our wing, but Thorin said as soon as he can, he will look into it. It is not a priority, so it just is not high on the to do list."

Tauriel nodded slowly. There was a beautiful kitchen in the royal wing just next door to Naurfaer's suite. It was originally reserved for private dinners and family meals during Erebor's golden age. Currently, however, it lay in ruins and is as unusable as the dining room attached to it, which currently housed Dis's beloved table.

None of the suites in the royal wing had kitchens or dining-rooms, so the table was placed in the dark room attached to the kitchen. Tauriel missed family meals; all food was either brought from the main kitchen to the suites, or eaten together at community mealtimes in the great hall.

So, hearing they were having a meal together, Tauriel felt her heart fill with warmth, and a smile spread across her face. "Of course, I will be there."

Dis smiled. "Good, I wanted to cook something. I have even cleared the meal with Gildridd, so you can eat without being left out."

This brought even more excitement to Tauriel's heart. "May I help? I am tired of not being useful. It is something I am…unaccustomed to."

"Of course dear, if you do not mind Kaulithah joining along. Her and her parents will be dining with us."

The news did dampen the elves spirits a bit, but she brightly smiled and agreed. Kili seemed to like the dam. It was just her pregnancy making her feel volatile towards the other female who seemed to be getting more of her husband's time as of late, then she did. If she was being really honest with herself though, it was probably jealousy rearing its ugly head. Tauriel really needed to work on that. She trusted Kili implicitly. She missed him though, even more these days.

Things will go back to normal when the Lords leave in a months' time, well before their son was due to be born. She just needed to be patient and make it through the weeks ahead, the very lonely weeks ahead.

After a nap, and some lunch which…well…did not stay down, Tauriel walked towards the kitchen Dis had directed her to and opened the door. Dis was laughing next to the other dam who was smiling brightly. Both turned to greet the elf at the door with matching grins.

"Tauriel. Come in. We have much of the work done, but there are a few things to finish." Dis turned back to the counter as she continued her task.

Tauriel stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. This was a much smaller kitchen, but still was larger than theirs in Ered Luin. Regardless, Tauriel felt a touch of nostalgia in seeing Dis near a cooker.

"I fear we had a terrible first meeting. Might we try again?" Kaulithah stepped towards Tauriel who eyed her carefully. "Lady Kaulithah of the Stonefoot clan at your service." She gave Tauriel a bow.

"Tauriel, of Erebor at yours." Tauriel returned the greeting and the dam smiled.

"I do apologize for my words a few weeks ago. It is no excuse, but it had been a long day of travel. I hope you will not judge me on how I acted. It is not me."

Tauriel nodded, giving the dam a small smile. "Only if you do not judge me too harshly on my cold greeting. I have not been feeling myself."

Kaulithah instantly responding, "Forgotten."

Watching them from the stove, Dis smiled at the two. She was proud of both of them for putting aside their animosities and trying to make amends. The pair fell into silence as Dis gave assignments out in the kitchen.

Tauriel took a peek in the pot and hummed. Dis was making a stew from the looks of it, but something smelled, off about it. Though, Tauriel thought nothing of it and turned from the stove. Her smell has been going haywire lately and she had been having a time trying to cope, but, for some reason she kept eyeing the pot as if there was something she ought to have caught on to.

With things to do, however, Tauriel dismissed the thought and helped fill platters with some rolls and placed them on the table with a plate of butter.

One by one, the dwarrow in her family stepped into the dining space. Thorin smiled at her then paused to give her a concerned look. He caught her arm as she placed a final cup on the table. "Are you alright? You do not look well Tauriel."

The eleth nodded, touched by his concern. She has seen even less of Thorin then she has of Kili. In fact, she cannot even remember the last time she had seen the dwarven king. "I am fine. Apparently, this is normal and expected. A few more months and it will all be worth it."

Thorin did not look convinced, but she gave him a reassuring smile and he released her arm only to watch her carefully as she continued to bring things to the table.

Thorin had been so busy with his role, he had barely seen Tauriel since the coronation…and that was over a month ago. Maybe that needed to change. He turned his blue eyes to see his nephews walk in.

Kili too looked a little worse for wear when he scrutinized the young prince. Then again, he has been nose deep in trying to win over the difficult Firebeards. He had asked his nephew three times if he was sure he could handle it, but Kili insisted he was making headway. His sacrifice was apparent in the dark circles under his eyes and the weary way he held himself.

Despite it all, Kili brightened when he saw Tauriel, the circles seeming to lighten and the weariness all but leaving him as he pulled his wife into a kiss and took the platter she was carrying, pushing the protesting elf into a chair, and taking over her task of filling the table. The elf huffed and folded her arms petulantly. Thorin could not stop the chuckle, which drew her ire his way, causing his smile to widen. It really was like being back in Ered Luin.

Once everything was done, Dis placed the hot pot of stew at the table just in time for the last three expected guests to enter. Naurfaer greeted everyone with a nod as he entered closely followed by Gilda and Krygo, who was still conversing with the male elf.

"I completely agree, Gondor has a very good market, but I think I prefer going to the smaller settlements. There are always surprises among the simpler places." Naurfaer finished, as he took his seat looking across the table at Tauriel. He was about to ask but she shook her head and mouthed she was fine. Naurfaer rolled his eyes and sat back waiting for everyone.

The elder dam, Lady Gilda, looked about the room. She smiled at her daughter, Kaulithah, who was standing beside Kili, before turning to Dis. "Lady Dis, King Thorin, I do hope we are not too late?"

"Not at all Lady Gilda, you are all just in time." Dis gestured to the table before continuing. "Please, have a seat and we can begin."

There was a shuffle of chairs as those who were still standing took a seat. Dis began passing bowls of stew and Tauriel's mouth watered at the hearty, brown, liquid sitting before her. It had been on thing but tough meats, greens, boiled grains, and gizzards for the eleth as of late. Not only were they difficult to palate, but they also often left her with a deep desire for more until she ran to a washroom to toss it all back up again. This, however, looked divine.

With a flourish of her arms, Dis proclaimed, "Well, eat up everyone."

"Dis, this looks wonderful. What is it?" Naurfaer asked as he peered down at his bowl.

"It is Kaulithah's recipe. Licorice root stew. I am surprised I had not thought of it before. It was quite easy to make."

Tauriel looked down at the spoon full of the steaming stew she was about to place in her mouth, and her stomach gave a small flop of distaste when her brain connected with what Dis had said. That must have been why her nose thought the stew smelled off, it was the licorice root. "Everything alright Tauriel?" The red head looked to her husband who was watching her with her spoon held, frozen in mid-air.

Tauriel looked to the spoon once again, then to her husband, and nodded. She placed the spoon in her mouth and forcefully swallowed the stew. If Tauriel had thought the licorice would be an afterthought in taste, she was wrong. The root hit her tastebuds with a force, and she had to swallow hard to get the stew to go down before her mouth expelled the bitter root. He looked down at his stew then back up at Tauriel and his eyes widened in understanding. "Oh love, I am sure she just forgot."

Hushing her husband so he would not draw attention to them, Tauriel muttered, "It is fine Kili."

"Is everything alright?" Tauriel's cheeks tinged with embarrassment when the table went silent and all staired at her.

Unfortunately, her husband had not caught on to the fact that she did not want to make a big deal out of this. She really should not have been surprised when he ratted her out to EVERYONE at the table. "Tauriel is not a fan of licorice root."

"Kili!" she hushed out. She forced another spoonful into her mouth. "Really, it is fine. You can hardly taste it." Another hard swallow and she chased it with a sip of her water.

"Tauriel! Oh, I am so sorry. I completely forgotten. Let me make you something else." Dis rose to stand, but stopped when Tauriel yelled out to her.

"NO! No. Dis really. It is perfectly fine. I can handle one licorice stew." Dis looked unconvinced, so Tauriel took several more bites and held back her grimace with all the practice of a stone-faced elf. Just because she was bad at hiding her emotions, does not mean she was incapable of it.

Naurfaer was the only one who seemed to keep eyeing her as she forced herself to eat every, last, drop of stew in her bowl. Her stomach was rolling most unpleasantly by the end of the meal. At which point, the table was so lost in old stories and laughter, few besides Naurfaer noticed her ever-paling pallor. She waived him off though and tuned into the conversation.

Maybe if she could take her mind off the nausea, it would go away. Her son was dancing something frightful though, so Tauriel grabbed Kili's hand from under the table and placed it on her abdomen. Kili threw her a look but said nothing. Instead, he began to rub where their child kicked until the unborn babe ceased his movements, and Tauriel could sense him falling to sleep.

Kaulithah took a sip of her ale and smiled brightly at Kili. "You know, I was very surprised to see you so settled. I remember all the times we used to talk about future families, and you seemed quite set on spending your life on adventures throughout middle earth."

Fili watched his brother from across the table, he had been in conversation with Naurfaer beside him. However, something in how Kaulithah was speaking, had him eyeing her curiously, then looking to watch his brother.

Kili shrugged, his hand still on Tauriel's stomach hidden under the table. "We change Kaulithah. You will understand when you settle yourself. I found my one, and that was it for me. Besides, with Tauriel, every day is a new adventure." Kili turned a beaming smile at his wife, who finally felt her lips curving up as she looked into his warm, dark, eyes.

"This is true, did you hear about the newest addition to their family? And I am not referring to the baby." Curious eyes turned from Fili to Kili who laughed and pointed his free hand at Tauriel. "Ask her. Not me."

When everyone at the table looked at Tauriel, she was forced to explain. "I found a young raven who had been rejected a few weeks ago, and I am nursing it back to health. I used to do it quite often in Mirkwood with birds of all shapes and sizes."

"I should like to see this new addition most assuredly. Have you named it?" Kaulithah exclaimed.

Kili sputtered in his cup and again pointed at Tauriel, who answered while patting Kili firmly on the back with her free hand. "His name is Kaw."

"You named it Kaw?" Fili scrunched his nose as he mouthed the name to himself a few times. Eventually, he lifted a brow at Tauriel and leaned forward, staring directly at her. "Little sister, have you thought of names for that one yet?"

Tauriel rolled her eyes at Fili and his near exact words to Kili's. Brothers indeed. "When Kili AND I decide on a name, we will happily share it. Kaw named himself, I just went with it. Besides, I do not think it to be a bad name for a raven."

"Do you remember what we said our children would be named?" Now Kili did spit is ale out at the table, causing Dis to tut and Tauriel to stare at her husband in shock, then at Kaulithah who had taken over patting Kili on the back.

"Oh, forgive me. I did not mean that to sound inappropriate. Kili and I were promised at some point and we even had thought of names for our future dwarflings. To be fair, we were very, very young. Barely older than dwarflings ourselves. It was nothing official of course, we never really courted and rarely even saw each other. Silly dreams as children." Kaulithah was red with embarrassment as she tried to backpedal as much as she could.

Tauriel, however, shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She knew Kili and Fili had potential betrothals and courting promises, but neither seemed to take it as if it was ever something serious. It did not make it in any way easier to sit and hear though, your spouse talking of previous intentions, even if they were young.

Finally, Kili answered. "If I recall, they were all horrible names and not a single one will be even close to one I would ever even consider for any of Tauriel's and my children."

Kaulithah chuckled, cheeks still pink "Kilik, Kiliz, Kilili, Kilu." There was a round of laughter at the table, though Tauriel only smiled politely. Across from her, beside Fili, Naurfaer gave her a look laced with pity.

"Ki, are all your baby names going to include your own!" Fili guffawed as Kili smiled widely.

"Just wait. I will show you I can come up with a good one." Tauriel eyed her husband, but said nothing.

"I am sure you will." Kaulithah placed a hand on Kili's arm and gave him a soft, knowing, smile which caused Tauriel to freeze. Especially when the hand did not move from his arm even as she drew Dis into another conversation.

It was Kili who delicately lowered his arm from the table, forcing Kaulithah's hand to slide off as the dwarven prince scooted his chair closer to Tauriel. If the dam on his other side noticed, she did not react in the least.

The conversation went on and the nausea continued to plague the eleth until she could ignore it no more and stood slowly. "I beg your forgiveness, but I think I have reached my limit for the evening. If you would kindly accept my excuses, I bid you all a goodnight."

Kili immediately stood to join her, he had been in such a deep conversation with Krygo about trading he had not even noticed Tauriel growing ever more uncomfortable. "No Kili, stay. I happen to know Dis has some of your favorite dessert in the kitchen."

"Oh, but Tauriel, don't you want some?" Dis rose too to get the dessert, but Tauriel stopped her.

"No, really, I am quite satisfied." She turned to Kili. "Stay, come when you are ready. It is still early in the evening."

"Kili, I will take her." Naurfaer rose and gently guided Tauriel to the door. Tauriel mouthing a final "Stay." Kili still remained standing when the door closed behind her.

"Tauriel…you would tell me if something is ailing you deeply, wouldn't you?" Tauriel looked at Naurfaer who had his very concerned eyes trained on her.

The eleth sighed and nodded. "It is nothing but dizziness and sickness. Even Shaada mentioned going through this with all three of her children. Gildridd had mentioned it being much more concerning if I experienced none at all." Tauriel tried to recall all of the eleths she had known who were pregnant in Mirkwood, but none seemed as ailing as she is right now.

Gildridd insisted it was because she was carrying a dwarrow child. Even Taada, whom she had spoken too in passing one day, said she spent much of her latter parts of pregnancy in bed, only able to eat biscuits and cheese. So, Tauriel let it go.

Naurfaer placed a hand on her thin shoulder. "I will bring some fresh ginger tea, it should help the nausea. Then we can sit on the veranda and discuss whatever you please."

There was a door opening just ahead of the pair, and Aeodhen came rushing out. "By my beard, there yeh are. Been askin' about where I could find yeh the better part of an hour lad."

Naurfaer gave Aeodhen a curious look. "I have been with the family for dinner. What is it?"

The captain of the guard forwent any pleasantries and immediately began to explain. "An orc party, jus' south o' the mountain. I am puttin' a team together ta head it off. Do yeh mind leadin' it?"

Naurfaer looked at Tauriel who nodded and pushed him towards Aeodhen. "Go. I will be well. Erebor and its safety is much more important."

Naurfaer lowered his eyebrows in disbelief. "Never. EVER say such a thing Tauriel. Ever. Do you hear? I agree this mountain needs protecting, but I would not say it is more important than you, or anyone's life for that matter. A team of rogue orcs is not going to down the mountain."

Bowing his head in agreement, Aeodhen placed a hand on her arm. "I would 'ave teh agree lass. Shaada has been askin' about yeh, think she is worried. Why don' yeh go visit with 'er while we go handle this."

Tauriel nodded and turned towards Shaada and Aeodhen's chambers, looking behind her to see the two disappear around a corner. She got to the front door and was about to knock when she heard Tauren's cries and Shaada's hums, the infant going quiet.

Tauriel paused, her hand held frozen in mid air. She did not want to cause any more undo, and even knocking could cause the infant to rise again. Plus, Tauriel feared the mere sight of her would put the dwarfling babe into a fit, so she lowered her hand and turned to go to her own chamber.

The subdued eleth gave the two guards a nod and went up to the silent royal hall. It was so quiet when the family was gone, and her rooms even more so. But, at least her chamber was warm. For some reason, despite the weather warming, Tauriel could not knock the chill that seemed to constantly follow her around.

Kili made sure to always have a fire going in the sitting room and their bedchamber just for her. He never forgot, and she knew, it was his way of saying 'I love you' on these days when he has not been able to be by her side. She did, however, have to add a log onto the dying flame as she entered her sitting room.

Once the fire was roaring again, she glanced over at the small crate that held her raven, and smiled widely. "Well, look at you!" Kaw chirped and spread his wings, still with many feathers missing, but flapping hard none the less.

To the little bird's excitement, Tauriel had pulled out a few scraps she had snagged in the kitchen and fed them to the fledgling who swallowed them right up. She had been feeding him by hand regularly, but soon he will be able to eat out of the bowl. His energy was nearly completely restored, and he was already bathing in his water pan almost daily, not to mention he had hopped out of his box to hunt and eat a spider the other day. He was also prone to following Tauriel around the chamber, and has even taken to napping with her each day.

Sighing to herself, Tauriel scratched Kaw's head as she looked around the empty sitting room. "Guess it is just the two of us."

With nothing else to do, Tauriel busied herself with getting ready for sleep when her stomach gave a very unpleasant lurch. "Come on, one night. Just one." She all but begged anyone who was listening.

If the eleth thought she would be freed of the consequences of force feeding herself licorice, she had been gravely mistaken. Tauriel nearly did not make it to the washroom in time to expel her evening meal in its entirety. Kaw croaked and cooed as he hopped around watching Tauriel on her knees. She spent the entire night in the washroom, getting no reprieve whatsoever.

It was early in the morning as she leaned tiredly on the rim of the toilet, when she realized Kili had not come home.

Gildridd was the one who found her when the elf did not show up to her appointment that morning. She tsked at the eleth and helped her to bed, making some tea and feeding her some grainy oats and fruit. So desperate for food, her stomach took all it could get, but expelled it just as quickly. The only saving grace was when Tauriel finally fell asleep.

"Gildridd? I did not know you were coming by today. Is everything okay?" Kili looked worriedly towards the closed chamber door, then back to the healer who was currently settled on the sofa, knitting quietly.

"Your elf had a rough night, and day. I wanted to stay to make sure she would be alright." With Kili home, Gildridd rose to her feet, then began gathering her supplies to go.

"Why was I not informed? I would have been right here!" Kili turned tempered eyes to Gildridd. He knows he has been busy, but Mahal above, he had hoped that if Tauriel needed him, the healer would send for him.

The older dam snorted and clucked her tongue. "Young prince, an expecting mother goes through a lot to create life. Illness is a part of it. She spent the day asleep. You would have been wasting your day." She gave the prince one last look and closed the door behind her.

Without hesitation, Kili surged into the room and saw Tauriel curled up in their large bed. He should have been there with her, helping her. Damn him to Mahal for falling asleep on Fili's lounge chair last evening, then waking late and having to run straight to his meetings that morning; still in the clothes he wore the day before.

Kili sat at the edge of the bed, Kaw curled up on a pillow. He gave the bird a gentle stroke then turned back to his wife who looked much too small, and even more pale. "Amralime." He placed a kiss on her temple, causing her to fidget and begin to rise.

"Kili?" Tauriel squinted in the afternoon light, trying to focus on who was beside her. Though, she really did not need to see him to know it was her Kili.

With a nod, Kili leaned in a bit closer. "I am here, my star."

Tauriel hummed, her mind crying out for him and drinking his presence in like a starving dwarf at a feast. Though, one question kept coming to her mind. "Where were you last night?"

Kili moved a strand of hair from her cheek and tucked it among her braids. They were becoming a bit, unraveled; he would have to redo them for her today. "I had been chatting with Fili in his chamber late into the evening, and may have fallen asleep on a chair in his sitting room." He lifted his hand to his sore neck and gave it a rub, "I have the aches to prove it."

Tauriel gave him a faint smile and nodded subtly, then closed her eyes. Kili watched as she went back to sleep almost instantly. He sighed and lifted the covers to join her. He had a few hours before his next meeting, and he WILL be spending it with his wife.

Tauriel stayed in bed for several more days. Kili tried to stay with her until she was stable again, but Gildridd insisted he continue his duties and Tauriel would just sleep. The healer, however, stayed with her obediently.

Eventually, Tauriel forced herself from bed. She never liked being stuck in one place, so she put a mask of wellness on and pushed all her ailments to the back of her mind. Her son was strong and growing every day, the connection she had to him proved as much. There was nothing to worry about, at least for him. If he was in ANY type of distress, she would immediately get help, but he was completely fine.

In the following weeks, the mountain continued to receive guests. Kaw grew his flight feathers back and was often found flying about the large chamber. Tauriel even took him out to the veranda where he hesitated for several minutes, before jumping off the banister and soaring through the warm summer air. He always quickly returned, though, some days he would disappear for a few hours only to return and settle himself on Tauriel's thin shoulder. He was a regular fixture with her these days, the growing raven.

Kaw even came with her down to the markets where she meant to try and see Leotti. Tauriel missed her friend deeply, but apart from a few messages back and forth, Leotti has been completely unavailable. This trip was no different when her friend barely gave her a wave before helping another. Tauriel, however, waited patiently, and looked about at several of Leotti's designs and showpieces.

Finally, the small dam waived her over to the counter she currently stood at. "I am sorry Tauriel but I really cannot go for that walk today. Lady Ingvor is coming in with a special request and has even said she can see about getting me a chance to visit Calembel in Gondor! What an adventure. Perhaps another day."

Leotti had barely even cast a glance at Tauriel as she spoke, too busy writing up orders from the numerous dams who always seemed to be here. Not once did Leotti look up as she moved away from the counter and went directly to the newest customer who had just entered behind Tauriel. With a deep sigh, the eleth left the shop.

Tauriel passed by Viltarra's family bakery next, and could not stop herself from pausing before the delicious smelling wares they had on display. "Oh hello. I know what you want." Vin smiled widely and placed several sweet cheese buns in a bag handing it to Tauriel.

Looking from the bag to the baker, Tauriel found herself hesitating for a moment. "I really shouldn't. Gildridd has gotten stricter with what I eat."

Vin leaned in close. "What she does not know, cannot hurt her lass." He pushed the bag into her hands and gave her a wink and a smile. "Where are you off to today anyway? If you don't mind me asking."

Tauriel had already shoved her hand in the bag and pulled out a bun, eating it happily in one bite. "I came to see if Leotti was available for a walk outside, but it seems she still is…preoccupied."

"I could join you, if you like." Tauriel smiled as Viltarra moved to the front of the bakery. She must have been in the kitchen since she did not see her until now.

Tauriel nodded eagerly. "I would very much like that. Thank you."

Viltarra said her goodbyes to her parents and the pair made their way up and into the warm summer air. It was late morning by now and Tauriel laughed as Kaw flew high into the blue skies, Viltarra watching in amusement as he soared above. "He has grown quite a bit. But I see you have not. Are you sure you are alright? Shouldn't you be…I don't know, gaining weight?"

Tauriel chewed her lip and looked at the now empty bag of buns in her hand. "I truly do not know anymore. I feel like the entire beginning of my pregnancy was…much less difficult. I do not know what to think. Gildridd is a sound healer, with no other opinions, I must go off what she knows."

Viltarra looked at her but said nothing as the pair walked the grounds. They made it to some brush and trees and Tauriel watched as Viltarra bent down and pulled a few herbs from the ground. She inspected the stem carefully, then plucked a few leaves and passed them to Tauriel. "Mint leaves. I cannot guarantee it, but it may help. My mother often makes me peppermint tea when I am not feeling well."

Looking from the leaves in her hand to the dam beside her, Tauriel smiled in amazement. "I did not know you knew herbs Viltarra? You are quite filled with surprises."

Viltarra laughed and pointed out a few. "Rosemary, lavender, mint, there are several natural herb plants in this area. Da and I prefer them over the planted ones in the green room. They do taste different when grown naturally in the wild. We often pick them in the mornings, da or ma, and I, for our breads and pastries while we can find them in season. The rest of the year we must rely on dried stores, or the greenrooms and markets we dwell in."

Tauriel tucked the plant into her pocket and the two walked back to the mountain. Viltarra wanted to get back to helping her parents before the lunchtime rush, despite their insistence of taking her time. They bid each other farewell at the stairs and parted ways.

There was so much happening in the coming week, from a social event Dis was planning, to Tauriel's beloved husband's birthday. The event, she was unworried about, the banquet was well on its way to being planned and Dis has even had Tauriel help with certain aspects…which gave her something to do to which Tauriel was grateful for. But time was running short and Tauriel needed to plan on what she wanted to get Kili, it had to be something special since this was the first birthday he would be celebrating as Erebor's official prince.

Tauriel sighed. Her birthday had been just over a month ago, and it was spent in bed. Leotti was busy, Viltarra did not know, and her family all had been so occupied with meetings and negotiations, she thinks they may have forgotten. She does not blame them, this was a vital time for Erebor, and she had many more birthdays ahead of her, so it did not overly bother her. In fact, celebrating birthdays in Mirkwood was done differently and is a much more, solitary day, then what she has experienced with the dwarven people.

Elves have so many birthdays, they often stop counting them once they have reached what they consider adulthood to be. On an elf's 1000th year, a great celebration and feast happens marking their entrance into maturity. It is dubbed the feast of ages, as it is their way of celebrating all the years to come. Other than that, an elf simply counts his or her years to themselves in quiet solitude and reflection.

Tauriel did not learn it was done any differently until she made it to Ered Luin, and her first birthday was celebrated with love surrounding her and…butter cake. What Tauriel would not GIVE for butter cake right now. Delicious, warm, moist, butter cake. But that was not what her mind should think about right now, so she thought back to her dilemma with figuring out what to get Kili.

Gifts were a part of the dwarven way of celebrating the year of one's birth, as it was with the humans as well. Tauriel still held her picture given to her in Rivendell for her second birthday among the dwarrow, as one of her most precious and prized possessions. It currently sat on the table beside her bed, where she looked at it every day. This year brought no true gifts, but, the life she held inside her was enough to fill her with love and chase away the sorrow of these last few very lonely months.

The lords are to be leaving in just three or four weeks, and then, everything will be back to normal. But for now, Tauriel still sat in her bed, chewing on her lip, as she considered what to get Kili.

Tauriel already had an idea of what she wished to get him, but she was unsure of how to go about it. At least, until she looked to Kaw and had an idea. The eleth scribbled a note hastily on some parchment, and instructed the raven on where to take it.

As with all ravens, she had been teaching Kaw to speak the bird language in a sense, as well as common and Khuzdul. The raven was becoming quite proficient in the words he had learned in all three languages, but he tended to both prefer, and be better at the common tongue.

Kaw listened as he happily hopped around waiting, then with her note firm in his beak, the raven flew out the open door to the veranda. Now all she had to do was wait and hope Kaw had retained his natural abilities to deliver messages Thorin had said all ravens were born with. She made her own way out the door, turned her head up to the warm sky, and closed her eyes enjoying the sun.

Fili walked out of yet another meeting. The Blacklocks may not be as stubborn as the Firebeards, but they were in no way easy to negotiate with. At least they have already agreed to give fealty, they just keep changing trade agreements. His stomach gave a growl and he let his feet guide him towards the markets only to be stopped by Kaulithah.

Fili internally groaned. It was not that he DISLIKED the dam, it was more that he was not comfortable around her, and he was rather hoping to speak to Viltarra…maybe.

Unfortunately for Fili, however, in the last few weeks, Dis had made it quite apparent she favored Kaulithah over any other who sought Fili's attention.

Dis had constantly invited the dam to their table at meals, made sure to push her towards Fili in the halls, and spoke endlessly about her merits and charms. It was frustrating to no end.

Especially when all Fili wanted to see beside him was a certain blonde baker who seemed to be avoiding him…or was it he who was avoiding her. It was so easy to talk to Viltarra before he realized she was a dam, what does he say to her now! How did Kili do it! Kili never had issues with speaking to dams, he was always surrounded by them.

Fili hasn't even had the chance to force his feet to Viltarra's stall let alone speak to her since the coronation ball. Put him on a dancefloor in a crowd and he is fine, making himself go in for some one on one conversation and he searches for the nearest exit.

It was apparent, luck again was not on his side, as Kaulithah seemingly showed up out of nowhere heading off his direction. "Are you going to the market Fili? I was just on my way down. Will you join me?" She gave Fili a charming smile.

If he said yes, Fili would be forced to be stuck at her side until it was considered…polite…to excuse himself; not to mention he would not be able to have a private conversation with Viltarra, which was his primary goal. If he said no, it may cause Kaulithah to be offended which would get back to her parents, and make negotiating more difficult for Kili, who was already having a difficult time as it is.

Without much choice, Fili nodded, not in the mood for conversation after hours of negotiations, then talking himself into trying to speak to Viltarra. He quietly walked beside the dam heading for the main market of the mountain.

Fili applauded himself for only slightly stiffening when Kaulithah laced her arm with his. He was raised to be polite and kind, so he allowed it despite wanting to yank his arm from hers and run. Why didn't he join Naurfaer in that orc hunt? The elf had yet to return and it had been over two weeks now.

The pair meandered through the stalls, stands, and in and out of shops. Fili, was long past bored. He held in his annoyance, however, even as they descended the flight of stairs to the second story of the vast marketplace.

"LAD! I was wonderin' when I would see yeh!" Fili greeted Bofur who was standing outside his toy shop which was one of the shops on the second floor of the market and was embedded into the wall, just like Leotti's shoppe, and Viltarra's family bakery below them.

The second floor was tiered above the first, allowing for a large, doublewide, cobblestone roadway to give room for small stands on one side, and the shops carved into the wall on the opposite side of the path. They were set a bit further back then the shops below, making the second story pathway act as the roof to the first story shops.

It was quite a sight to behold, as both sides of the market were set up identically, even wrapping around and meeting above the large market entryway. The only portion of the market that did not have the second tiered floor, was the end of the market where the forge and massive doors marking the entranceway to the forging room was located.

"I got somthin' for Tauri, could ya give it to 'er? It is fer Kaw but really is a belated birthday present. Took me a bit ta get the wood I needed, so I hope she don' mind it bein' late." Bofur handed Fili a large wooden swinging perch taller than he was.

As Fili looked it over, he noticed it had some beautiful designs of trees and vines carved into it. Bofur certainly spared none of his carving talent, as when it sat upright, the perch looked just like a large, curved, tree from Tauriel's beloved forest, branches, leaves, vines, and all, but with a large and elegant bronze laden swing with a simple wooden dowl thick enough to hold Kaw even as he grows into his full size, attached to the curved 'branch' in a way that it could support the ravens weight as he swayed back and forth on the swing.

It was really too large to carry around, so Fili will have to pass it to one of the guards to take up to Tauriel since he was "forced" to be Kaulithah's escort. Wait, did Bofur say it was for Tauri's birthday? Mahal, they missed it! Great, another thing he had to make up for to his sister, whom he has seen on in passing glimpses these last two months. He would have to get her something too, though Kili's birthday was closer…he better not forget that one as well.

"Very impressive Bofur, I know for certain she will love it immensely." Bofur tipped his hat and went inside, leaving the prince and the dam to themselves once more.

Fili missed seeing the company as often as he had in their time together on the quest for Erebor, and in Ered Luin. He could count on one hand how many times he had run into a single one of his companions in the last month. Erebor was massive, but it should not be so big he would not be able to see his friends…or his sister.

Busy, all of them, though. Bofur and Bifur running the only toy and wood shop in the mountain, Ori seemed to be spending more and more time with Leotti, Gloin, Dori and Nori were on Aeodhen's guard, Bombur ran all of the kitchens, Dwalin was Thorin's personal guard and worked directly with Aeodhen to guarantee the safety of the traveling lords, Balin was in records and drawing up contracts for the six visiting lords who kept changing their minds, and Oin was the head healer of the mountain. Every single one was so overly occupied with their new lives, it was a wonder he had even seen them at all.

With a sigh, Fili looked at the perch. Not seeing his sister was his own fault. He will have to make time for her sooner rather than later. "Are you planning on carrying that the entire afternoon? It is quite…massive…I do not know why he made it your duty to deliver it."

Fili internally rolled his eyes. He doubted Kaulithah's concerns were in any way geared towards him having to carry it around, instead, it was the fact it impeded with her time with him. "No, give me a moment and I will take it to the guard to deliver. I am sure that is where Bofur was headed to himself, we just happened to be there."

Kaulithah gave him a thoughtful look then smiled, and without anything more said, Fili hefted the piece down the stairs and to the nearest guard who happily took on the task.

Now that his arm was once again free, Kaulithah wrapped her hands back around it and she smiled brightly up at him. Fili had to hold back his annoyance once again as she batted her eyelashes at him. "Where do you wish to go now Prince Fili?"

Fili looked at the dam beside him, then around the first floor of the market as he tried to come up with a plan to end this…date? Definitely not. A vision of golden hair pulled him from his thoughts and with a burst of courage, Fili felt his feet drag him towards the bakers booth, Kaulithah, with her arm linked to his, was forced to trail behind.

Viltarra passed a package towards one of the dwarves she had been helping then turned to see a beaming Fili behind the retreating dwarf. She watched as the dark-haired regal looking dam blinked at her innocently, arm linked with Fili.

Viltarra pushed back the feeling of hurt and jealousy and greeted her two new customers. This dam looked like a much better fit for the crowned prince than Viltarra would ever consider herself to be. "Hello, is there something I can get for you?"

Kaulithah eyed the wares on display and blinked back up a Fili before looking at the blonde dam. She cocked her head and looked curiously on as Fili seemed locked in a gaze with the blonde at the stand.

"Forgive him, he has lost his manners and ability to speak it would seem. Do you have any suggestions?" Viltarra tore her eyes from Fili and looked at Kaulithah, question in her eyes. She clearly had not been listening and missed what Kaulithah had said, so she felt it necessary to repeat herself to the blinking blonde dam. "I said, is there something you suggest? It all looks very good, though I am thinking I am in need of something, sweet."

Shaking her head, Viltarra nodded towards the sweeter pastries and breads they sell daily. "Oh, yes, of course. The cheese custard buns are a favorite as are the berry biscuits and scones."

Kaulithah eyed the food again and smiled. "How about one of each, then perhaps we can go have a picnic Fili?"

"Huh!? Oh, um. Picnic?" Fili's panic caused Viltarra to relax, he clearly was uncomfortable, but for which reason? Was it because the other dam was being so familiar with him in front of her? Or was it because he did not want Viltarra to know he was courting the other dam?

Viltarra sighed to herself, it really did not matter, or…well…it shouldn't matter that is. She personally has no chance with him, and with Fili being royalty, if he and this dam were courting, she supposes she will find out soon enough.

Deciding to push her feelings aside, Viltarra silently packaged the requested goods and handed them over the counter. Fili reached out for the package, his fingers brushing hers as the two locked eyes once more before Viltarra looked away as Kaulithah spoke to her.

"These look delightful. Thank you…" Kaulithah trailed off, in an expecting manner.

"Viltarra, at your service." The blonde bowed slightly.

Kaulithah hummed in response, and lifted a perfect brow at the dam. "Odd name, so it suits you." She smirked then gave her own name, remembering to only tip her head minutely to the young, flour covered, baker before her.

Viltarra was no fool, she narrowed her eyes at the retreating back of the dam as Kaulithah pulled Fili away from the cart. That was a dig if she ever heard one. Fili looked back, trying to pass a silent apology but Viltarra busied herself with her stand then disappeared into the back.

Fili was now in an even MORE foul mood. An entire morning in negotiations. A forced stroll through the market with Kaulithah, who, if he judged right, upset Viltarra. Now he is sitting outside, munching silently on a deliciously sweet cheese bun only to have it feel tasteless in his mouth. If he squinted, he could imagine blonde hair on the brunette across from him and that teasing smile only Viltarra had.

It was Kaulithah, who once again pulled him from his thoughts. "Fili, I hope I might be so bold as to ask if you are attending with anyone at the lords banquet at the weeks end."

Fili shook his head. He already knew his duty. Dis had sat him down and all but demanded he ask Kaulithah to attend, as she was planning it the other day.

The banquet was both an honorary dinner for the visiting lords, as well as a means to continue to maintain their favor in these, delicate delegations. It also happened to be Kili's birthday. His brother really had no desire for it, but Dis insisted that as princes, they needed to get used to having large celebrations.

From what he heard, even Tauriel had been doing what she could to help. He flinched at the thought of his sister once again. The VERY few glances he has had of her as she strolled the mountain, had her looking worse and worse every day. On a day when he crossed paths with Gildridd, he had enquired about Tauriel's health. But the healer said the eleth was fine, and what did he know about pregnancy? So he left her to her work and chose not to hover, Tauriel has always hated the hovering.

Regardless of it all though, he knew he had to attend the banquet, and likely not alone. Though, he had an idea of who he would prefer to take, and she was not the dam in front of him. "No, I have not considered it, not as of yet at least." Well, that was a complete lie if he has ever told one.

Kaulithah gave him a hopeful smile and tucked a brunette curl behind her ear. The numerous gems in her hair sparkled bright in the summer sun. She really was beautiful in every way.

Kaulithah always could turn a head, even as a dwarfling. She just, wasn't for him. His mam thought otherwise, and Fili felt something snap inside his heart when he remembered, he really did not have a choice of companion in his own love life. IF…or more like when…his mother and Thorin demanded it, he would be forced to bind himself to Kaulithah. He had known his entire life he was to marry for the betterment of their kingdom, whether it be Erebor or Ered Luin, but he foolishly dreamed he had something of a choice in the matter. There was not much better one can do than to unite clans with the daughter of a lord.

Fili squared his shoulders as his mind accepted his fate. "It would be an honor if you attend at my side." Please say no, please say no. Anything but yes. Fili forced himself to smile, though he was sure it came across as more of a grimace.

It did not seem to matter though, as Kaulithah brightly smiled and nodded. "I would love nothing more."

Damnit. Fili stuffed a bun in his mouth before he said anything more, and sat miserably wishing Viltarra was the one he asked. His life, would never be his own.

Tauriel was frustrated. Nothing seemed to fit right. Kaw sat in his new swinging tree perch, singing in his deep, raven, voice, as Tauriel rejected gown after gown. She had spent the first part of her morning being sick, then the last hour trying to put together an appropriate outfit for tonight's festivities.

Kili, of course, had been away since the moment she rose, though the birthday note she had left him was gone, and in its place, a response that essentially read, thank you, and he loved her. Not as good as hearing it from his lips, but, better than nothing.

Tonight, was the banquet as well as Kili's birthday, and she had nothing that fit her. Her rounded belly kept getting larger which was a testament of her son's health, but the rest of her kept shrinking. It caused some gowns to fit her belly but not her chest or arms, and others to fit her in all places but her expanding waist.

The eleth sighed and looked out the window in consideration, maybe she could take one of these gowns down to the market for a quick adjusting. Leotti was a miracle worker, and she needed a miracle right now.

Her mind made up, Tauriel picked one of the gowns she knew was both perfect for the event, and which only needed a few alterations in the arms and bust to fit her. It should be quick and easy enough for Leotti's skills, though not her own. She failed miserably at everything she attempted to resize.

As Tauriel entered the shop, the little dam threw her a small smile and greeting, arms full of cloth. "Hello Tauri! Mahal, you do not look well."

Tauriel rolled her eyes. It was becoming a regular greeting, so she brushed it off. "Leotti, I know this is a bit, last minute, but might you be free to help me with a gown for the banquet tonight? I am in a bit of a situation, size wise."

The little dam gave her a panic filled look. "Oh, Tauri! I…I am so sorry…I…of course." She placed her things down and moved to grab her tools.

Tauriel could see the anxiety spilling out of Leotti, so she immediately stopped her friend. "Leotti, wait. It is fine if you are busy. I have many others to wear; I might even be able to make this one work on my own. Please do not panic."

Leotti's demeaner relaxed. "Thank you Tauri, I have been out of my mind with orders for the banquet. Are you sure though? You are Erebor's royalty. If you demand it, it will be done."

Tauriel did not know why that statement bothered her as much as it did. What did Leotti mean, if she demanded it? She would never order or demand anything, least of all from her friends. The statement hurt, immensely. "Leotti, I would never make such demands, ever."

Leotti looked lost for a moment at Tauriel's tone but nodded, only to realize the eleth was already leaving the shop. Leotti wondered if she said something to upset her friend, but pushed the thought away. She really did have so much to do, she would apologize to Tauriel for whatever she said later. Now, she needed to focus or there would be dams without gowns for the feast.

Gown still in hand, Tauriel meandered to Viltarra's family bakery. Seeing her coming, Vin was already plating cheese buns for the approaching eleth as Tarrah lifted the counter and opened the gate to wave the eleth in; passing the red-head the plate piled high with her favorite snack. Tauriel proceeded, as usual, to eat the entire plateful right then and there.

"I can get you another one if you want." Vin offered, when he noticed she had eaten all of them. He would happily give her anything and everything she would eat if it meant he could witness that she WAS eating. The being before him was nothing but skin, bones, and tummy. That could not be good for the baby.

Tauriel shook her head as she was pushed to a seat in the back of the bakery beside Viltarra. "No, I really shouldn't. I will just sick it up later."

Vin sighed and moved back to the kitchen, though Tarrah just so happened to place a plate with a few more buns, and a sandwich, beside the elf…just in case.

Viltarra lifted her eyes from her lunch to greet her friend. She winced at how much worse she looked in the few days since she had last visited. Tauriel was becoming a regular fixture in the bakery these days, always joining Viltarra for lunch and eating several helpings of cheese buns while she was here. Vin and Tarrah made sure to keep the plate full the entire time the eleth was visiting, even when Tauriel said she was full.

It warmed Viltarra's heart that her parents were so concerned about Tauriel. In fact, they were so worried about the eleth, that they always made extra cheese buns just for her knowing she would visit, and her mum made it a habit to make two lunches, one for Viltarra, and the other for Tauriel. Not once would they even consider informing the healer that the eleth was breaking her diet, each promised Tauriel that her visitations to the bakery were no one's business but their own.

To Tarrah's amusement…who was watching them from the kitchen…despite the eleth's insistence she wanted nothing more, Tauriel had picked up the sandwich and started eating as she spoke to Viltarra beside her. "Viltarra, have you talked to Fili?"

The dam kept her eyes down on her lunch as she nodded her head. "He dropped by a few days ago. Though, I would say 'talked' is a very loose term. That brunette he was with was the one who did all the talking."

"Kaulithah." Tauriel sighed out. "She seems to be his constant shadow this week, I have rarely seen him free of her."

"She is a good shadow for him." Viltarra shot out as she took a sip of her milk her mother had placed in front of her.

"Bite your tongue. She is as good for Fili as Dis would be for Thranduil. It would be a loveless union filled with contention and resentment. I do not know what it is about her, but she makes me want to show her the wrong end of my bow." Tauriel was scowling as she spoke, and picking at another cheese bun before shoving it into her mouth.

Viltarra snorted and smiled at Tauriel. "She said my name was odd, and it suited me."

Tauriel scrunched up her nose as she grimaced. "Royals and giving insults as if they were compliments. You are not odd Viltarra, you are a breath of fresh air." The dam gave Tauriel a grateful smile.

Tauriel suddenly sat up straight and looked directly at Viltarra. "Would you be opposed to coming to my chambers before the banquet tonight? Kili is in negotiations all day, as he always is, lately, and I would love the company. Plus, I am finding it…difficult…to pick a gown." She indicated to the pile of fabric in her lap, giving it a mournful look. "Leotti is…busy…and I am unsure I have anything suitable." Her eyes brightened once more as she looked hopefully at Viltarra. "I do happen to also have a gift for you, to say thank you for being my friend. I can help you with your hair as well."

Viltarra sighed. "Tauriel, you are supposed to be the one to get help on your hair, you're the royal one in this friendship, not me."

Tauriel only smiled in response. "Yes, but, you make me feel like a normal person and for one night, I just want a normal friend." Seeing Tauriel look so, weak and helpless, Viltarra could not say no.

As she was leaving, Viltarra gave Tauriel a small hug and the pair made arrangements for her to meet at the throne room in a few hours, so Tauriel could show her up to her chamber. That way there was no questions from the guard, which made it easier. Especially since Viltarra had never been up there before.

"Did you try that one?" Tauriel looked in the mirror to see Viltarra perched on the bed pointing at the green dress across the chair.

"Too tight." Grimacing, Tauriel pulled off the frock she had tried and threw it to the floor.

Viltarra regarded the pile again, then thought. "Tauriel, you may have to wear one of your normal dresses."

The elf nodded in agreement. Those were practical, but in no way appropriate for a banquet. With seemingly no other choice, Tauriel grabbed a simple green dress and put it on, pairing it with her star necklace from Kili, and bracelet from Hillanna. She looked no different then what she looked like any other day. She would certainly not be Kili's shining star tonight.

Although, Viltarra disagreed. "I think you look lovely."

Tauriel looked herself over again and huffed. "Nothing compared to how Kaulithah will be dressed, I am sure of it." She felt no confidence in the way she looked recently, in fact, she felt rather diminished.

"Ah, but who has the husband." Viltarra smirked and lifted a brow.

Tauriel sighed and sat down hard on the mattress beside her friend. Kili. Her Kili. He was so busy lately. Though, a little voice inside her said it was more than that, especially since he had not touched her, intimately, in…two months? Maybe he was disgusted by her. She was disgusted by herself.

Wrapping her hands around herself, Tauriel looked down to the carpet. "A husband who I have seen maybe twice in a month, and both times he was asleep." Viltarra watched Tauriel quietly waiting for her to elaborate.

Seeing that her friend seemingly wanted to know more, Tauriel lifted one finger. "I woke to be sick and Kili was out cold beside me about two weeks ago. One." She put a second finger up and continued. "I woke again just past the middle of the night last week, and came into the sitting room when I realized he was not in bed. I found him hunched over the desk, fast asleep, on top of a contract he had been working on. He had ink all over him and several words etched across his forehead, yet, he looked…peaceful. I could not in good conscience wake him when he also looked so tired even in his sleep, so I just placed a blanket across him and let him remain where he was. Two."

Kili actually did look rather adorable, but exhausted. The other times she saw him she did not count nor mention, as it was more in the distance. He looked almost as bad as she did, with heavy lines in his brow, dark circles under his eyes, and constantly on the run between meetings.

"Have you been alone all this time?" Viltarra was giving her a look overflowing with concern and disbelief.

Tauriel did not answer. To be fair, the answer was both yes, and no. Naurfaer was still gone. He had sent word to her that he would be back soon and to send Kaw if she needed him home immediately. He wrote that he had discovered something he needed to see through, and it sounded important, so she did not bother him. The rest of her family was in the same place as Kili, helping with the delicate balance of keeping the lords happy and procuring prosperity through trading and fealty with their clans.

Viltarra, however, read right through her and gaped at the eleth. "Mahal! You have been alone!"

"Not completely." Tauriel tried to argue back. "I have Kaw, and Gildridd, who checks on me often, though she says very little. Plus Dis comes in when she is free. I even helped with writing invitations for the high table for the banquet while Dis and I had tea earlier this week."

Viltarra was not impressed. Her family would never have let her alone if she looked even half as bad as Tauriel did. The dam knew, without a doubt, that her mother would be at her side and her father would have shut down the stand or bakery to be there for her as well. Both him, and her mum, would make things work for however long it would take for their daughter to be well again, body and spirit.

Tauriel was having a difficult pregnancy, they may not be able to help her with her ailments, but they should be the ones sitting in this room building her spirits up and making sure she knew she was a beloved member of the family. She was obviously hurting, not just from her symptoms, but in her spirit as well. Viltarra can see it in her eyes, and hear it in her voice. Her friend, was falling into a depression.

The dam was in no way ignorant, she knew the mountain was nothing like a food stand, it cannot just be shut down, but isn't that what delegating is for? Assigning tasks out to ease the load?

Viltarra shook her head as she thought of the dwarves who were considered to be Tauriel's family. She did not know Kili well, but he seemed to love the elf. Dis was…intimidating, but kind. Thorin, Viltarra had never met, so she could not make judgments. Then, there was Fili. Every time she saw him, she felt…complete. It was like nothing she had ever experienced before, and she had met and interacted with many, many, young dwarves. Some equally as kind, handsome, and considerate as Fili.

After some contemplation, Viltarra realized exactly what that feeling meant. Her heart knew who Fili was to her. She knew, if she were honest with herself, that the blonde prince was her one. Her heart called for Fili even that first moment in Ered Luin when he stopped at her stall. BUT, she would use everything she had to push those feelings down.

Viltarra will have no other in her life, but how can she let herself fall into a family who was so obviously not anything like her own? How can she give herself away to a group who sat back and watched one of its members fade away, as they blissfully continued their lives as if Tauriel was suffering naut but a cold or minor ailment? No. She would never join them, even if by some miracle Fili was to ever choose her, and his mother and uncle accepted his choice for a common dam to join the family.

That does not mean she won't show Tauriel the kindness and support her friend needs now more than ever. She may very well be the only one Tauriel gets any interaction from, and that hurt the dam's heart. Even Leotti, Tauriel's supposed closest friend, has not looked up from her pins and needles to see Tauriel's pain and suffering.

Viltarra placed a hand in Tauriel's and gave it a squeeze. "I am sorry, Tauriel."

The elf brushed a tear away and nodded. "It is only temporary." She then stood and grabbed two boxes from under the large bed. Viltarra eyed them warily.

"I, wanted to get you something for being so kind to me these last several days. I came across it in one of the secondary markets beginning to fill and had to procure it." Tauriel handed the large box to Viltarra who opened it and pulled out a deep blue gown.

The dam scrutinized the gown, then looked to the elf. "This is a bit much don't you think? For a baker?" Tauriel shook her head and pointed to the washroom. Viltarra sighed, not wanting to be another to upset the elven princess, she went to the washroom and stripped from her clothes, pulling the gown over her head after sliding into the petticoats.

It fit almost perfectly, it just needed to be laced up in the back. She adjusted the belt at her waist and swayed a bit, watching as the skirt rocked with her movements much like a bell. The sleeves flared out slightly at the elbow then draped down past her hands, but the underdress had longer sleeves that hugged her forearms and wrist, then hooked at her thumbs. It was something she would expect Dis or Kaulithah to wear, not herself.

There was a gentle rap at the door and Viltarra opened it to allow Tauriel in. "You look beautiful. Allow me to lace you up."

Nodding, Viltarra turned to give the eleth access to the ribbons at her back. "I do not feel like myself." She sighed, as her eyes kept going to the mirror.

Tauriel sighed. "I know the feeling." Viltarra turned her brown eyes over her shoulder to the elf in question, who continued her task with a sigh. "Do not misunderstand me in any way Viltarra. I love Kili with everything that I am, and for him, I would go anywhere. Kili is home. But, I…well…more often lately…I must confess, that I find myself wondering…wishing…I had something familiar around me. Trees. The stars. An old forge tucked into the end of a mountain." Viltarra recalled the forge in Ered Luin and nodded her understanding.

"I have only ever wandered middle earth. There is no place I called my home, only my parents. They are my home, so I believe I understand." She looked back at the mirror when Tauriel finished lacing the back of her gown.

"Do you mind if I put some braids in your hair Viltarra? I have some gems I think will suit that gown perfectly." When the dam nodded, Tauriel pulled Viltarra back into the room and pulled out her jewelry box and sat it on the bed, patting the space before her to invite the dam to sit.

Viltarra looked at the second large box curiously. It was obviously not another dress, but, it had to be something important. "Who is that other box for?"

Tauriel smiled and glanced at the box. "Kili. It is his birthday gift."

Viltarra looked at the box again then let her head be pushed forward as Tauriel began attacking her hair. For the remaining visit, the two idly talked about nothing. About an hour before the banquet, Viltarra made her way down to show her parents, and go with them to the feast, leaving Tauriel alone to finish preparing.

Kili ran in a half hour before the start of the celebration, kissing her hastily on the cheek, before making a mad rush to throw his formal wear on, grabbing her hand, and rushing back out the door. He barely even glanced at her, and did not say a word as he ushered her up to the high table to take a seat. She would have to give him his birthday present tonight, after the party, it would seem.

Looking around, Tauriel felt, plain. All the dams around her were in some of the most elaborate gowns she had ever seen. Their hair done in all manner of braids and updo's. Even Dis looked more like a queen than a princess.

The matriarch of the family gave Tauriel a once over when she spotted her. Tauriel wilted just a bit more with the look that clearly spoke disappointment. Maybe she should have been a bit more adamant, and convinced Leotti to fix her gown. Though, it really was not fair to the dam since it was really Tauriel's fault for not being better prepared. Kili, however, did not seem to mind how she looked and happily munched away beside her.

Out of everyone, Kaulithah was the one who made her feel the worst. The dam was not rude, but the look of snubbed pity made Tauriel want to depart the room, quickly.

What Tauriel did love, however, was the look of wonder that filled Fili when Viltarra entered the room. Her blue gown swung at her feet and the gems Tauriel lent her sparkled brilliantly in her golden hair. She sent Tauriel a beaming smile, but adamantly refused to look at the blonde prince beside her.

Kaulithah looked from Fili to Viltarra and barely had time to hide the obvious look of jealousy. It made Tauriel incredibly happy, and was well worth whatever looks or remarks she would have to endure through the evening. Though, she hid her proud smile behind her cup.

The meal went on well, everyone enjoying the splendor of the evening. Tauriel ate as much as she could of the allowed food, but between the whispers of hushed disappointment and the looks she kept getting, Tauriel decided she was no longer up to enjoy the evening. "Kili, I think I am going to go lay down."

Kili turned from his conversation with Thorin and let disappointment fill his face. Tauriel's cheeks heated with embarrassment. She even disappointed Kili tonight. Will she ever get this right?

The dark-haired prince moved to stand. "Of course Tauriel, let's go."

He stopped, however, when a thin hand landed on his shoulder. "Stay. Please Kili. It is your birthday and I know you are enjoying the feast. Please, for me? I am only going to lay down for a few minutes so this dizziness passes. I will try and come back when the dancing starts up. I would most love it if you saved me a dance?"

The idea of a dance with his wife caused Kili to perk up, and he gave her hand a kiss and let her go. Thorin's brows lowered as he watched Tauriel leave the hall without Kili. What is going on? Before he could ask, however, lord Dryok grabbed his attention and he found himself drawn into a discussion about the trade in mithril.

As soon as the dancing began, Fili was on his feet, but it was not Kaulithah he guided down. If he had looked back, he would see the brunette dam's face set in a dark glare at his retreating form. Fili, however, had eyes for only one. He walked towards Viltarra who was speaking to Bofur and gave the dam a bow.

"Might I have a dance?" Viltarra looked up at Fili then at the table where Kaulithah was watching them carefully.

"Didn't you come with a certain lord's daughter?" The blonde dam lifted a brow, as her eyes kept going from the prince who was holding out his hand, to the dam glaring daggers at them both now.

"Maybe, but I would much rather dance with the baker's daughter." He grabbed Viltarra's arm and pulled her, only half struggling, towards the dancing mass of dwarves.

The music was a bit more subdued than the coronation feast, being a banquet, so Fili followed the moves of the dance and pulled Viltarra into his arms. She gave him a halfhearted glare as he placed his hand on her waist and led her in the steps of the dance.

Fili's blue eyes bore into her brown orbs. "You realize you outshine any dam in this room."

Viltarra felt her cheeks warm but she remained silent. If she opened her mouth, she would say something stupid like 'I only want to shine for you' or 'I was hoping you noticed' or 'how about you stop using those lips for talking and find a more creative way of expressing yourself'. Nope. Better stay silent. Definitely silent. It was worse though, since now Fili was just, staring into her very soul.

"Are you really not going to say anything this entire time?" Fili raised a brow as he led her into a spin and back into his arms.

Damn him. Damn him and those twice damned blue eyes, and that stupid endearing grin. She stumbled on a step and he caught her bringing their bodies impossibly closer. "Viltarra. Please say something."

"What would you wish me to say?" Ugggggggggggggggg. Really! That was stupid. Just, completely stupid.

Fili smiled brightly though. "Oh, I get to pick? You always seemed like you always have what you want to say in ready quips."

Rolling her eyes, Viltarra shot Fili a look. "Give me a moment and I will try not to disappoint."

Fili chuckled. "I could give you all the time you want, if you just say the word."

Viltarra cocked her head to the side. She knew he was not talking about responses any longer. What he said had a deeper meaning, and one she would have to put a stop to, before both of their hearts break with the tragedy of the truth of their situation. "No. You could not. You and I both know that."

The blonde prince paused his steps and just watched her carefully. "What does that mean?"

Viltarra let her arms drop, the couples giving them looks as they danced around the frozen pair. She then nodded up at the table, Fili following her gaze up to where Kaulithah was once again smiling, now at Kili, who had stood and began to lead her down to where the others were dancing. What is his idiotic brother doing now?

In the corner of his eye, Fili caught a flash of blue, and turned his head to see Viltarra walking towards the door. He ran to catch up with her before she walked through the entryway back to the mountain. "Wait, your leaving?"

"Fili." Viltarra sighed, clearly exasperated. "Stop it. You and I both know how this will end. Go rescue your brother, before he does something he will regret."

Fili looked back at Kili who had just began dancing with Kaulithah, the dam leaning in closer than what should be deemed appropriate for one who was dancing with a married partner. When Fili turned back, Viltarra was gone.

Tauriel sat on her bed looking at the box beside her. It was well into the night, probably past the time for most of the lords and ladies to stay at the dance. She was sure even Dis and Thorin were already in their own chambers at this hour. She knows she promised Kili she would go back down, but, she was not sure she wanted to.

Tauriel half hoped Kili would have come up by now on his own accord, but, he had not. Sighing, Tauriel stood, shaking the vertigo away. Kaw gave her a side eye but remained silent as the eleth left the room.

Walking down the stairs, her hand gliding on the wall as she went, Tauriel followed her ears to the great hall where she could still hear laughter ringing through the air. From just a few yards away, she could easily make out Kili's slurred words as he told a very embellished story of beating trolls. Fili's snorts were clearly heard at any point the young prince overelaborated on.

"Had I only been there. You are quite the adventurer." That was Kaulithah. Great, she was still there too. Of course she was.

"Always up for a good adventure, me. Why, I would ride to the sunset and never stop." It was true, her Kili was an adventurer at heart. It was one of the things she loved about him.

"Why don't you then Kili?" That stopped the elf in her tracks, just feet from the door. "My father has a trade company who goes far and wide year around, and he recently is in want for one to head it. It is a prestigious position and one offering endless opportunities to see the world. You may go and come back whenever you wished. Get your fill of all the world has to offer before coming to handle the heavy burdens you have placed before you."

Kili laughed. "Kaulithah, what?! I am a prince of Erebor! My responsibilities are to this mountain, and to my family. AND I have a child on the way!"

"Are you sure it is your child?"

Silence filled the room. She heard Fili's growl and let a soft smile grace her features at the protectiveness of her brother.

"Don't Kaulithah." It was a warning, Kili's warning. The prince obviously sobering at the question. "Whatever you have going on in your head, just, don't."

"Hear me out Kili, you used to trust me. Just listen. This is not you. This prince that spends his days locked away in rooms and hidden under stone. I know Kili, I know he longs for the road under the sun and stars. I know he dreams of fire moons and seeing every city on the known maps. Tauriel is, a wonder, to be sure. But, you are smothering your spirit. You deserve to live Kili, you are too young to be forced into this life."

Tauriel's ears rang as she leaned against the column outside the hall. She did not hear a word of Kili's response because, in reality, it did not matter what he said back, Kaulithah was right. Kili was very young, even for dwarven standards. Too young to be burdened to care for her, or children. He dreamed of seeing the world, and she would let him.

"Tauriel?" The elf looked up to see Fili walking towards her. "What are you doing out here? Come in, and for Mahal's sake, let me get you something to eat!"

"No, Fili it is fine. I was about to go in, but I just had a dizzy spell, that is all." Her brother did not look convinced in the slightest but let her be.

Fili nodded, then turned her towards the entrance, gesturing to the food hall. "Go in and sit down. I will be right back; I am going to see if Bombur has more ale. Got to toast Kili's birthday, so you should really be there anyway. I will bring something without alcohol for you."

Tauriel watched as Fili disappeared down the hall towards the kitchens where Bombur hid the ale. Shaking her head she straightened her arms, and stepped towards the great hall, only to freeze in place and watch her entire world crack and crumble to the ground. Her eyes will never be able to unsee Kaulithah cradling Kili's face in her hands as she took his lips with her own.

Not even three months ago, this scene would cause Tauriel to see red, a knife would be imbedded in a skull as she protected what was hers to protect. However, knowing she has been alone for two months, knowing Kili has not touched her once in that time, knowing she disappointed everyone tonight, knowing she has been a burden to everyone with her ailments while the Lords were visiting, and knowing Kili deserved a chance to have everything he wanted, Tauriel did the only thing she could think to do; she turned away from the hall, and ran.

Kili was FURIOUS! That was putting it mildly. He was not the slightest bit apologetic as one of the others helped Kaulithah to her feet from where he shoved her to the ground, hard. "What in the name of Mahal made you think that was okay! ANSWER ME!"

Having never seen Kili direct such a dark look at her, Kaulithah looked rightly frightened, and wobbled on her two feet as she was still supported by the dwarves on either side of her. Both were from Ered Luin, and both looked just as angry as Kili for what she had done.

"Did I miss something?" Fili walked in, a small barrel tucked under his arm to see Kaulithah near tears and Kili looking like he was about to commit murder. The last time he saw his brother look like that, he was killing an orc who was headed towards Tauriel during their last battle. Wait, Tauriel.

Fili looked around the hall searching for his red-headed sister. "Where did Tauriel go?"

Kili looked at his brother, his brows lowering even further in question. "What do you mean, Fili? She is up in our room; she has not come down since she left during supper."

Fili shook his head. "No, she was just out in the hall. I ran into her when I went to get the ale."

Kili paled and stepped back, then he ran. Fili dropped the barrel, not caring that it burst open and was spilling ale all over the hall floor as he followed Kili. He did, however, holler over at his brother as they ran through the golden-floored throne room. "Ki! What happened!?"

Kili paused at the hall past the families communal sitting room, and looked at Fili. "Kaulithah kissed me. I don't know why or how, but one minute she was saying something, the next her lips were on mine. Fili, if Tauriel saw that…"

"Mahal Kili. I told you to be careful with that dam. She has had it bad for you since you both were young." Fili cursed then shook his head in disbelief. This, is exactly not what they needed right now. Even less so, it is not what Tauriel needed in her present state. She is going through enough.

Kili gave Fili a desperate look and turned back towards the hallway to his and Tauriel's chamber. He opened the door, but the room was silent apart from Kaw cooing at him from his large, tree shaped, perch swing. It used to be in their bed chamber, but Kili had brought it out to the sitting room when Tauriel nearly fell into it on her way to the washroom late one evening.

Kili gave the bird a look, then began searching for his wife. But no matter where he looked, his search came up fruitless. Where could she be?!

Fili watched as Kili tore from room to room getting more panicked with each passing minute. Seeing she was nowhere in their chambers, the young prince walked back to the sitting room to stand before his brother.

Kili thrust his hands in his hair, pulling at the wild strands. "What do I do Fi?" Tears were filling Kili's eyes, when the door opened.

Both of their eyes turned to the door as they watched Tauriel step into the chamber. Her face was set in a perfect mask of indifference, cracking only slightly when she saw Kili's pain filled eyes.

"TAURIEL!" Kili moved to run to his wife, but, the elf lifted a hand to stop him.

"Kili. Please don't. I am sure you have much to say, and I am fully ready to accept it all. If you will just give me this night to rest, I can go in the morning."

"GO! Tauriel go where?" Kili gaped at her. She was in NO condition to leave this mountain, let alone spend any time in the wilderness beyond.

Tauriel sighed and gave him a small smile. "I think, you should accept Kaulithah's father's position. She was not wrong Kili, your heart is that of a wanderer who deserves to see everything he dreams of. Thranduil will accept me back now, I am sure of it."

Kili, however, was having none of it, shaking his head wildly in protest, and Fili stood frozen in place, staring at them both, unable to move. Tauriel cannot leave. She was the binding that held the family together.

Tauriel watched as Kili fell to his knees and wrapped himself firmly around her legs, burying his face into the swell that was his son as he begged and pleaded with her. "No. No. No. Adventure is where you are. You are my greatest adventure Tauriel. Fire moons, sun-soaked skies, mahal, even every star in the heavens are nothing…NOTHING to you. Please Tauriel, please stay with me. If you leave, I will be forced to follow you. I will give everything up with just a word from your lips. I will sleep at your doorstep at the bottom of your tree in Mirkwood. I will beg you day in and day out to let me in. I will count every glance you give me and not stray even if it takes every single day of my life to get you to give me even a second of your time. I want nothing but you, only you, my precious star, my beautiful Tauriel. You will have to put an arrow through me to get me to leave you."

Fili watched transfixed as if time itself was waiting for her answer. Is this the kind of pain that comes with love? The unknown one that can bring one of you to your knees to beg knowing there is no life without the other?

"I, need time to think Kili." Kili dropped his head, leaning heavily against her legs but nodded all the same. He allowed her to step away and go into the room Fili used to occupy and close the door gently behind her. It might as well have been a slam for the flinch Kili gave.

"Ki."

"Don't. This, this is my fault. You were right, Fili. As always. I should not have allowed Kaulithah to get so close. It was I who ruined everything." Fili watched his brother climb to his feet and go into his bedchambers, closing the door without another word. Their family was breaking apart at the seams and he felt powerless to stop it.

Original Authors Note: Oh my. What a mess. Sorry it ended a bit…depressingly. I will try to get the next few chapters gone over and out. Soon. It may get worse before it gets better. A forewarning. See you next chapter. :)