Chapter 5

The council meetings had become more tedious with every meeting Kaleria attended. At first, she thought the council was gathered for the betterment of Erebor, but the more she saw of the council, the less impressed she had become. She had won over most of the members of the council, except for Grollin, a lifetime politician of Erebor. Once Smaug had attacked the mountain, he had fled to the Iron Hills to offer his council to King Dain. Kaleria, unlike Thorin, who could intimidate any dwarf with a look and they would fall into line, had to work at making the council respect her, and Grollin didn't make it easy.

"The lakelanders will only grow more powerful and soon they will threaten our walls. Is that what we want for our children?" Grollin petitioned, standing at the end of the table looking at the other council members for support.

Kaleria responded from her seat at the other end. "First of all, the lakelanders are now the people of Dale. They have lived there for years, and that's how we should address them. Second of all, protecting our kingdom and being unreasonably defensive are two very different things. Believing everyone beyond these walls is a threat is exactly how we lost the mountain in the first place."

"And what do you know about losing Erebor? You are from the Blue Mountains." Grollin accused.

Kaleria got to her feet. "I was born in Erebor in 2762. I may have been young, but I remember that day very well. If you are concerned for your safety in Erebor, then perhaps you should return to the Iron Hills."

Grollin's face remained neutral, but his eyes seethed with anger.

"The people of Dale are not our enemy," said Thorin, standing from his seat. "We are allies. They have not given me a reason to suspect otherwise. Until there is evidence of a threat, we will continue to treat them as our friends. Council dismissed."

The other council members removed themselves from their chairs and began to file out of the room quietly. Dis did her best to escort them quickly, knowing Thorin was in a mood. Grollin remained standing at the end of the table, holding eye contact with Kaleria, who didn't back down. Thorin stared him down.

"Master Grollin," he addressed him sternly.

Grollin relaxed his eyes as he met Thorin's. "Goodday, your majesty."

He turned on his heel and left the room, closing the door behind him and shutting Kaleria and Thorin in together.

Neither one of them moved as Kaleria glared at the door and Thorin studied her.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"I'm fine, but that man is infuriating." Kaleria grabbed a cup from the table and chucked it against the opposite wall, droplets of wine splattering on the floor. "His kind of thinking is exactly what caused our problems when your grandfather ruled."

She sighed, facing Thorin for the first time. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply your grandfather thought ill of anyone. The dragon sickness was affecting him, and–"

"Enough, Kaleria." He stepped toward her and grabbed her gently by her arms. "My grandfather was influenced by the sickness and by outside forces, like this council. He chose to ignore the people that mattered. I will not ignore you and your opinions."

She grabbed his waist, pulling him closer to her. "And you will listen to Dis?" She teased.

He cracked a smile. "You can listen to Dis and I'll listen to you." He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I believe I can make that work. Thank you for supporting me in front of the council."

"I knew you could handle yourself. I was only preventing you from launching across the table at him. I didn't trust myself to peel you off of him in a timely fashion." Thorin chuckled and Kaleria joined him, laughing at the thought of herself wrestling with Grollin.

"I guess that's fair." She hugged him tightly, resting her head on his chest.

As angry as she had been a few moments before, it had dissipated like the early fog in the mid-morning sun. The calmness Thorin exuded seeped into her and extinguished every fire that had ignited in her body. Though she knew Grollin was only one member of the council–and she had won over a majority of them–it didn't stop her from speculating that Grollin would be trouble for her in some shape or form.

"My sister, finally taking her rightful place as queen. What came over you?" Dis congratulated Kaleria as soon as she walked into Dis' room.

Kaleria met her congratulations with a furrowed brow. "What are you talking about?"

"You!" Dis threw both hands forward, gesturing to Kaleria. "You standing up to that asshole Grollin. It took you long enough, but I'm glad you are embracing your position as queen."

Kaleria waved her off and took her seat at Dis' table. "I didn't do anything special. I was irritated by his tone, implying everyone is against our kingdom. We have allies beyond this wall, but we must work at those relationships."

"There is my queen. I should give my brother credit for knowing exactly what this mountain needed." Where her usual demeanor was aloof and nonchalant, Dis let down her guard to reveal how much she admired Kaleria's strength and how thankful she was that Kaleria had joined their family.

Kaleria crossed the room and enveloped Dis in a strong embrace. "Thank you, DIs."

The women held onto each other for a long moment. Neither one had had many female relationships in their lives, but the sisterly bond they had created in the few years they had known each other made up for all the moments they had been stuck with a bunch of men. Kaleria knew she could lean on Dis for anything, and Dis relied on Kaleria to even out her moods. Dis could not be more delighted that her brother had found Kaleria. Both she and Thorin needed her in their lives.