Updated October 26th, 2021
Original Authors Note: Sorry this has taken a bit guys. I have not been in a good place but you know, I guess that is all a part of life. I did want to say thank you for sticking with this story or stories XD.
I have to give a special thank you to Meee, I got your review at the store on a pretty low day and it brightened my entire week. I feel touched my story was a way for you to get out of the craziness of the blizzard down there. Truthfully, Reforged is my escape too which is why I love writing it. I know a few people who were there for your blizzard and I have heard nothing but horror stories. Crazy times we live in. Still, I thank you kindly for all the reviews. From each of you.
A special warning as you make your way through this story, it may start out fluffy, but gets kinda dark…also part of the reason it took me so long to write…I may have been avoiding the story I had planned, I got past it though…even if I have to re-visit it for proofing purposes. I will put adequate warnings as needed but that's not for several chapters yet so keep an eye out. I only have a few more chapters to write in ACT II so as usual, updates should be pretty regular as I proofread and add in a few bits here and there. I am hitting finals week so they may be a few days to a week in between until break in a few weeks.
I THINK that is all I wanted to tell you. So, without further adu, here is ACT II. :D
ACT II
"Courage will now be your best defense against the storm that is at hand-—that and such hope as I bring."
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Chapter One
It is said every good dwarrow loves a celebration and feast, especially during the Yule season. This will be the first Yule in history that Erebor will be inviting both Dale and Mirkwood to join in for a grand celebration. The three kings thought it would be an ideal time to come together to not only celebrate the season, but to honor their alliance created after the great battle of the five armies.
Beginning next year, it will be taking place a month before the Yule season, but since Tauriel had given birth, Thorin had requested they push the celebration out to be combined with Yule. In doing so, it would give Tauriel time to heal as well as her, Kili, and the family time to settle with a newborn in the mountain.
Now, it is true that every good dwarrow loves a celebration and feast, but, looking at the furrowed brow, hard set jaw, and narrowed eyes of one particular dwarrow, you might think this a contrary statement.
"It was ordered by Naurfaer my Lord. He said yeh would approve." The young dwarf who would rather be anywhere at this very moment, than standing in front of a very annoyed looking Thorin Oakenshield, king, under the mountain, shifted uncomfortably as he tried to remember that he was not the one in trouble.
Thorin sighed and rubbed his temples looking around at the over-embellished hall filled with nearly as much greenery as the greenwood itself. Eyeing the garland draping to and fro, Thorin half expected to see a giant spider slinking among the woven vines. The king shuddered and turned to the young dwarf. "It will have to do. For now. Oh, and by chance, do you know where Naurfaer is?"
The dwarf pointed to the grand dining hall, where Thorin could just make out an elf hanging upside-down from the high rafters adding even more garland. "Mahal help me not kill that elf." Thorin grumbled, the dwarf bowing and all but running away from the surly king the moment he realized he was no longer needed.
"Uncle, there you are. I was wondering…oh…" Kili stopped and looked around at all the decorations.
Thorin turned his look of exasperation onto his nephew, his brows lowered in irritation. "Kili…what do you know of this?"
Kili turned wide eyes to his uncle and raised his hands in a placating manner. "I know nothing. I was just coming to find you, Aeodhen wanted to solidify plans for the festival and get your approval on what guards you wanted assigned where, he passed me in the hall and asked me to give you this to look over." He handed Thorin a note from Aeodhen before continuing. "I also thought I would check to see if you have seen Fili recently. Mam needs him to come up for a fitting with Leotti."
Thorin scrutinized the letter as Kili took in the abundance of decorations around the hall. The young prince shook his head knowing Thorin will likely be going to Tauriel in hopes she would be able to rein in Naurfaer's enthusiasm. His eyes landed on a bundle hanging above the door and he cocked his head in curiosity. "Is that fruit?" Kili scrunched his nose and pointed above their heads. "Hanging just there?"
Thorin looked up to see a bundle of leaves with berries above him at the door. Those have been popping up everywhere as of late. Seems no matter what hallway Thorin went down, a bundle of mistletoe was hanging above an alcove, doorway, or even off a rafter beam.
"Oh aye! Mistletoe lads!" Dain, who was visiting from the Iron Hills, walked over from the food hall where he had been watching Naurfaer with heavy doses of amusement. "Been awhile since I seen it like tha' though. Usually it don' 'ave the berries. Tha' one seems more colorful than the others I 'ave seen hangin' up. Somone's tryin' to catch a lass. You mark my words. Well, traditions tradition cousins. Pucker up!"
Kili and Thorin took a large step apart giving the red-headed dwarf matching scowls as Dain let out a hearty laugh, filling the hall. The jovial dwarven Lord had just arrived the week before and has been doting on Tauriel and little Fin his entire stay.
"Well, aren't yeh goin' teh kiss? S'tradition!" Kili blanched and Thorin glared at his cousin before turning on his toes and leaving the room, grumbling under his breath about stupid elves turning his mountain into a forest, and cousins who need a few days in the dungeons. "What's up with 'im?"
Kili gave Dain a look. "With Thorin? He seems fine to me." The young prince shrugged, looking once more down the hall where his uncle disappeared before turning back to his cousin. "Have you seen Fili though? He was supposed to meet with mam nearly two hours ago, but he still has not come up."
Dain laughed again. "Look fer 'is lass and you'll find 'im. Ah, to be young and in love. Bet my best boar 'es the one puttin' all those plants up." Kili sighed as Dain stepped into the great hall, catching a bauble as it fell from overhead. The young prince shook his head and turned to go down to the market to try and find Viltarra.
Since his son was born, Kili has been spending most of his time with Tauriel and Fin. He and his beloved elf needed to take some time learning the new patterns of their life together with a child. Finli was a perfect baby though, and he was not just saying that as a proud parent...which he was...very proud. Finli slept through the night, only fussed when he was hungry or in need of a change, and was incredibly aware of those around him even at just a month old. This was the first week he and Tauriel have attempted to get out and around the mountain and take on some projects for Thorin and the family.
Truthfully, Kili thinks Tauriel is feeling too closed in and isolated, which was not good for an elf, so Kili had an idea to help release some of that pressure. Oin had given Kili a full and clean bill of health just a week ago, and Kili had been working hard to regain the strength in his shoulder and leg. Once he was done with his few responsibilities today, he had sent Kaw up with a message for Tauriel to meet him down in the training room. Kili just had to find his brother for mam, and he would be shooting archery with his precious one. She could certainly use the time away.
Kili cleared the last few steps and entered the bustling market. It looks as if Naurfaer's influence had made it here as well, if the multitudes of garland, berries, and baubles draping from every cart, stall, and shop was anything to go by. Thorin may just lose it if Naurfaer keeps going like this. Kili liked it though, made the season seem more...festive. The young prince grinned brightly at the look of frustration and horror his uncle will likely give when he enters the markets.
Kili wove through the shopping dwarrow, several of which would stop him to ask about Fin; he proudly answered every inquiry with a wide grin. He would parade his son through the mountain if Tauriel would let him. Unfortunately, she had made it quite clear that she would not. Let him, that is.
Kili found that out when he tried to smuggle Fin out of their rooms earlier in the week so he could take his son with him to all of his meetings one day. Tauriel quickly caught him and put her foot down saying Fin being there would divert all attention away from the purpose of the meeting, and Kili would not be able to focus on his responsibilities.
Honestly, he did not see a problem with that. As much as Kili wanted to argue, however, she was not wrong. So, he relinquished the baby to his wife, and forced himself to endure the mundane meetings alone.
The smell of fresh baked goods caught Kili's attention, bringing him back to his present task as he walked the last few paces to Viltarra's family stall. He looked around for signs of his missing brother, but the only blondes he saw were Vin and Viltarra in the back, the latter catching his eye and walking up to the front.
"Hello Kili." He watched as Viltarra looked around him with expecting eyes, then gave a small sigh of disappointment before turning her attention back to Kili.
"I take it Fili is not here. You don't by chance have an idea where he is do you? I feel like I have been walking the entire mountain looking for him." Kili folded his arms and huffed. All he wanted to do was to meet his wife in the archery range. This task was taking far too long. At this rate, she will be there long before he will be.
Viltarra shook her head and sighed. "No, I have not seen him all day. He said he would be busy with helping Aeodhen, something about training some new guards. You may want to try the training grounds, or ask the captain of the guard. He may have a better idea of where to look."
The young blonde baker then filled a small bag of cheese buns and passed them to Kili. "Will you make sure to give these to Tauriel? I promised her I would bring her some the next time I saw her, but things have been so busy here, I haven't even been able to come to dinner with your family."
Kili smiled and took the bag. "Of course. You will be there tomorrow evening though right? Tauriel was mentioning Leotti coming over."
Viltarra groaned. "Oh no! I almost completely forgot! Yes, I will be there. I just need to tell my parents to not expect me. If I miss that, Leotti will kill me and Tauriel won't be far behind for making her have to endure a dress fitting without backup. Tell Tauriel I will see her tomorrow."
"VILTARRA?! Have you got that flour yet gem?" Kili looked behind the blonde to see Vin hollering out the kitchen window.
"I am sorry Kili, I have to go. I will see you soon." She turned and ran back to her father, disappearing out of sight.
Kili gave the cart one last look and turned to leave the market and head to the training grounds, he had not looked there yet, so hopefully Viltarra was right. He knew he should have asked Aeodhen when he had passed him in the hall earlier.
It took nearly a quarter hour to go from the market to the training grounds on the opposite side of the mountain. At least he was meeting his wife here, that was a plus. Or he thought he was, until a guard passed the young prince a note saying Tauriel wanted to come down together, and reminded him he was still wearing his festival attire he would have to change out of before they did anything that could cause him to ruin the outfit Leotti spent the last few weeks making for him.
Leaning over the balcony above the training pit, Kili watched as Fili stood still in the center of the ring, his eyes trained on his opponent. Kili eyed the younger guard who was circling Fili looking for a gap in his defenses. The younger prince chuckled quietly, the guard will find none. As if fate had heard Kili's inner thoughts, the guard jumped Fili who made a quick sidestep and downed the guard with one simple move. Kili tutted and watched on.
Fili helped the guard up and passed him back his sword, but grasped his shoulder before the younger dwarf could turn away. "You must be ready for anything! Keep your guard up even when you are on the offense. Who's next?"
Kili waited as not one of the other guards in training stepped up to the challenge, a few even taking a step back from the crowned prince. The dark-haired prince looked down at his coat and vest, Leotti had just finished fitting him and he was now supposed to find Fili and go straight back up to take them off.
There are a few things Kili knows…without a doubt…will happen within the next hour, one, Leotti was going to kill him for what he is about to do, and two, Tauriel is going to kill him for what he is about to do if Leotti does not. If he manages to survive both of them, his mam will certainly finish him off. Nothing for it though.
"Will nobody step up?" Fili lifted his hands circling the training ring as the young guards continued to step away from him.
Seeing a rope above him, Kili grabbed for it and yelled out, "Oh! AYE!", before he pulled the rope, using the leverage to clear the banister and swing down landing directly on top of Fili who fell hard to his back in surprise, not expecting his younger brother to make such an entrance.
Fili pushed a laughing Kili off of him, and grabbed for his blunt training sword. Kili thrust his hand to one of the younger guards who without hesitation, passed his own sword to the now rumpled looking, dark-haired, prince.
"You must be ready for anything brother." Kili taunted as he circled Fili. Kili lunged but Fili blocked and suddenly, the two princes were at it.
It was not a long fight, most of which Fili had the upper hand, but Kili easily held his own. At one point, Kili took an elbow to the face, but was able to pull Fili over his back and flip the golden-haired prince onto the ground and pointed the sword at him for the win.
Everyone cheered and laughed as Kili threw his sword back to its owner and raised his hands in the air in victory. At least until he was roughly grabbed from behind and thrown down to his back, knocking the wind from his lungs and several buttons from his vest.
Fili wiped the blood from his nose, it was bleeding after Kili's fist made contact with the appendage sometime in the middle of their little…scrimmage. "And never turn your back on your opponent…especially if you think you won." Fili taunted.
"Ow." Kili winced and groaned as he pushed himself up into sitting position. Fili smirked and helped Kili from the ground.
The younger prince looked down with another wince when he took in the damage done to his festival outfit. Several buttons were missing, there was now a hole in his top and a tear in the vest itself. Even his coat and trousers were frayed in some places, and covered in dirt and dust in others. Yup. He was dead.
"Now, what brings you down here little brother?" Fili relinquished training back to one of the other guards and followed Kili from the grounds, placing his arm around Kili's somewhat taller shoulders as they went.
"You were supposed to meet with mam...and Leotti, for a final fitting hours ago. Did you forget?" Kili lifted a brow at his brother as they made their way up the many staircases to the royal wing.
Fili grimaced then sighed dramatically. "I supposed I cannot put that off any longer." He looked down at Kili's own outfit. "Please don't tell me that is your festival attire?"
Kili shrugged unrepentantly. "Afraid so. Listen. When Leotti and Tauriel kill me, make sure my son hears it was an epic battle that took his fathers life, not some females ire over a costume." The air was filled with Fili's uproarious laughter as he clapped his brother on the back and the duo made their way up to their doom.
"KILI! What in Valinor happened to you meleth nin!" Tauriel put Fin in his cradle and ran to Kili who was pulling his coat and vest off, waiving her away. She stood still and folded her arms, narrowing her eyes at her husband.
Kili unbuckled his belt then stripped the white cotton undershirt off, being mindful not to get any of the dried blood from his nose or lip on it. "I was helping Fili teach the new guards. That is all."
Tauriel lifted a brow. "In the outfit Leotti just finished? You realized she will skin you alive?"
Kili who was now down to just his trousers gave her a lopsided grin and slowly walked to his reason for being. He took her by the hips and peered up at her, humming deep in his chest. Tauriel rolled her eyes but slid her arms around his shoulders to play with the hair in the back of his head, looking down at Kili with one eyebrow raised. In this position, if she straightened her head just a bit, she could kiss him right between the eyes.
"I was hoping a certain wife of mine may…oh, I don't know…step in front of the seething ram?" Kili pulled her head to his, pressing their foreheads together.
"Mmmm. I will do anything for you my Kili…except that. And don't call Leotti a ram." Kili pulled back betrayed but Tauriel laughed, the sound tinkling through the room. "Now. You better go take those to Leotti, and apologize for giving her more work."
Kili whined as he stepped away. "We were supposed to go do some archery together…remember? Just you and me? Mam was going to watch Finli for us?"
"That was BEFORE you ruined the attire you need, and Leotti spent time on. It will need to be mended and sooner rather than later." Tauriel used all her training as an elf to ignore the wide eyed, pouty lipped look Kili was giving her right now. Truthfully, she wanted nothing more than to push him to the bed, but her son was only steps away…wide awake, and Kili really needed to get his clothes fixed.
Taking a step back towards her husband, Tauriel wrapped her arms around his waist and molded his body to hers. "Why don't you go get your things mended, and then we can go to the range." She ended her thought with doing what she had wanted to do moments ago, and placed her lips between his eyes, leaving a lingering kiss on his brow.
Tauriel pulled back and looked thoughtfully at her husband for a minute, taking pity at the darkening skin under one of his eyes, tracing it with her fingers and placing a soft kiss on the bruised skin. "Maybe take Finli with you. It might soften her up."
Tauriel leaned in to pull his lips to her own, running her hands through the soft hairs on his chest before letting them snake up and burrowing them in his thick, dark, locks. Kili purred against her lips as he deepened the kiss, pulling her tighter against him.
Eventually Kili pulled away though, stepping to the other side of the room to re-dress and grab the cooing and gurgling infant. Kaw was currently perched on top of his cradle, cooing right back at the baby who was looking up at the raven, until his father appeared in his line of sight. Kili chuckled, they were a right pair, his son and their bird. In fact, Kaw rarely left the infant alone unless he was needed to send a message or to eat.
"And how is my little star today? Did you miss adad? Da missed you!" Kili pulled Fin up into his arms while Tauriel held out the ruined vest and shirt for him to take. Kili gave her a smile and turned from the room with Fin in one arm, his soiled and torn clothes in the other, and Kaw hopping behind them.
Tauriel shook her head at her husband. He was such a wild soul, and she loved him with every fiber of her entire being. She would never take Kili for anything other than who he was, inside and out. He is perfect just as he is. The eleth smiled to herself and began gathering her leather bracers, bow, and her quiver. She was looking forward to alone time with Kili, and some target practice.
As it was, Leotti was furious, but Tauriel's foresight worked wonders and little Finli curved the dam's temper. Well, that and who could actually remain angry at Kili's large brown eyes. Nobody was sure whether it was a blessing or a curse that Fin's infant blue eyes quickly changed to the exact shade of his fathers a few weeks after his birth. Now there are two of them. Neither Leotti nor anyone in the mountain had the ability to resist when two sets of brown eyes looked at her like they were. Fin was even waiving his small arms in her direction, melting her heart further.
Leotti rolled her eyes and huffed, her hand on her hip as she glowered at the young prince. "Fine. Give them here and I will see what I can do to make up for your recklessness."
Kili smiled brightly and walked up to kiss Leotti on the cheek. "Thanks Leotti! I knew you were a miracle worker." He then eyed his brother who was scowling with his arms raised. Kili laughed brightly. "Ah, brother. Why are you channeling uncle so severely?"
Fili huffed. "She keeps poking me with pins."
Leotti rolled her eyes and glared. "Because you won't sit still! Now, stop being such a dwarfling, and let me finish." Fili stuck his tongue out at her and Leotti kicked him in the shins causing Fili to yelp, not so much from pain, but rather from surprise. "I honestly don't know what Viltarra sees in you." She mumbled, then went back to work.
Kili just sat back, his son in his arms, and laughed. He made sure to stay for the remainder of Fili's fitting if only to guarantee the two would not kill each other. He knew he had to wait for his mam to get back to pass Finli off anyway, which meant he had time. While he waited, however, Kili placed his legs up on the couch and sat Fin between them, tickling his son and just enjoyed being a father.
It took about an hour, but soon he was once again with his wife, walking hand in hand to the archery range where they spent a few hours nocking arrows, and hitting targets. They would have liked to stay longer, but Finli needed to be fed and Kili's shoulder was beginning to ache. So, they packed up their things, and made the journey back to their son.
The following day found the mountain beginning to fill with the most welcome of guests. "Oh my. He really looks quite like you Kili." Kili beamed with pride at the hobbit, who was holding the bundled up Finli in his arms, smiling down at the gurgling babe.
Bilbo and Gandalf had arrived, making it to Erebor just in time for the feast and celebration a few days away. They were still waiting for the elves to arrive along with the men of Dale who were both due the day of the feast itself.
"I say, a spitting image. Well done you two." Tauriel nodded her thanks to Gandalf who was peering over Bilbo to look at the bundle in the hobbit's arms. At the moment, she was leaning contently against Kili, who watched as Bilbo held their son.
Finli was looking up at the hobbit, though his head and eyes kept turning towards where his parent sat. He was much too young to focus on anything too far away, but Tauriel had reminded Kili of his elven genes, which meant Finli most likely had keen senses, and in a way, was connected to both of them. He may not be able to see them clearly, but he could sense they were near.
Of course, it was nowhere near as close as he had been connected to Tauriel during her pregnancy. That was still a sore subject with the eleth whom Kili found huddled in the bathroom crying a few days after Fin's entrance into this world. Kili had ran to her thinking something was wrong with a gentle, "Amralime!? What has happened?"
Tauriel let out a sob and lifted pain filled eyes up to her husband. "I cannot feel him Kili! He is gone!" At first the young prince began panicking, thinking Finli was missing, but he had just placed the babe in his cradle himself while Tauriel was showering, so he knew where their son was.
Not making the connection, and quite confused as to who she was referring to, Kili furrowed his brows in concern as he pulled her to his chest. "Who is gone my love?"
"Finli. I cannot feel him like I did. I feel…torn and separated. He is there, but, I cannot feel him as I had when I carried him within me. I only feel you!" He always forgot that Tauriel had the ability to feel his presence in her mind, even connect to him in a way he was not sure he fully understood. He knew she was able to pull some of his strength when she was in labor, she had told him as much afterwards as they lay cradling their newborn between them.
Kili always thought it unfair that he could not do the same with her. Although, if he tried desperately, he could slightly feel her presence in his own mind, but that might just be wishful thinking. He liked to think it was real. Tauriel had told him if he truly wanted to, they could see if there was a way to fully connect in mind as they already were in body and soul. However, with how sidetracked they have been with an infant, they haven't done so yet.
Today would definitely not be the day either, Kili thought as he looked down at his distraught wife, as it would appear Tauriel's disconnect with Finli was breaking her up inside. "Shhh. It will be alright." Kili stroked her hair. "Just focus on me okay? I will be your strength."
Tauriel turned her green eyes up to him and placed her hand on his cheek, pushing a lock of hair behind his ear. She focused her mind on her bond with Kili and enfolded herself in his mental warmth, burrowing her mind into his further and deeper, allowing her connection to him strengthen tenfold. She let out a sigh and wrapped her arms around his neck to physically burrow her face into his shoulder and pull him tightly to her. "Thank you Kili. You always know exactly what I need."
Kili smiled and placed a kiss on her temple. "You have no need to thank me amralime. I love you. I am here for you. Always."
"Always?" Tauriel mumbled, her lips grazing the skin under his ear.
"Always." Kili reiterated with conviction. They stayed like that for awhile until Fin's gentle cries had both parents rising from the floor to attend to their son.
Now turning to his wife who was watching the hobbit and wizard hold Finli, Kili decided he would want nothing more than to be connected to her in every way he possibly could. He would need to have that conversation with her when this festival is over. But, for the moment, he pushed the thought away and wrapped his arm around his wife's waist, enjoying the warm, Yule filled, atmosphere.
Original Authors note: Yay! Prepare for fluff fluff and fluff for the next several chapters before you know what hits the fan. Now, I really need to get back to homework so stay tuned for more!