Chapter 11

The Great Hall could barely hold the people of the Iron Hills, but that didn't stop them from creating a dance floor and moving in big sweeping motions. Those not dancing were huddled together next to the walls, watching for any drunkard who couldn't keep in time. The people of Erebor remained to one side of the room eating food and drinking wine.

Lord Dain and other important dwarves of the Iron Hills gathered on a platform raised above the party, much like the one in Erebor. Thorin escorted Kaleria to the top of the platform to join Dain's table.

"There is my cousin! Come sit here." Dain gestured to the two empty chairs next to him.

Thorin led Kaleria to her seat and pushed in her chair underneath her. He leaned down to her ear to whisper to her.

"If I hadn't told you already, you look beautiful."

Kaleria turned her head slightly to see him. "Thank you, my king."

Thorin stepped back and over to his seat and planted himself between Kaleria and Dain. Dain told stories of his adventures with Thorin when they were both little. Dain had always been the larger of the two dwarfs, even though Thorin was older. In Dain's version of events, he was the mastermind and Thorin was the tag-a-long sidekick. Kaleria knew her husband better than to believe he would follow anyone else's half-thought out plan. She heard Thorin groan next to her and placed a hand on his knee under the table. He faced her and rolled his eyes, annoyed by his boorish cousin.

"So, Kaleria," Dain addressed her, "how did a Lady of the Blue Mountains end up a Queen of Erebor."

"Dain, we don't need to get into this." Thorin warned.

"It's alright, Thorin."Kaleria looked at Dain and began. "I first met Thorin when he came to the Blue Mountains to invite people to live in Erebor. Although I was born under the mountain, I had no intention of going back. Then my father grew ill, and his dying wish was for Thorin to take me to Erebor. I wasn't going to agree to it, until I spent the night my father died going over the scenarios in my head. I could either stay and lose my home to my male cousin, or I could follow my king back to my homeland and start anew.

"It was a long journey, but Thorin kept us all motivated and in good spirits." She continued. "When we arrived in Erebor, Thorin introduced me to his sister, Dis, who made me a special guest of the royal family and gave me a room near her."

"That Dis is a sneaky one. Putting you near Thorin, so he could court you better." Dain said, making the table laugh and Thorin to growl.

"Thorin didn't court me, and I was not aiming to be courted by him." Kaleria looked up at Thorin and saw the hurt in his eyes. "At the time, I was content with being a friend of the royal family."

"So, Thorin never courted you?" A young woman asked from the other side of Dain.

Kaleria met her gaze. "Not in the traditional sense. We never established that we fancied one another, but we became quiet companions for each other. Our friendship grew into something more, and we admitted our love for each other. He asked me to marry him and I said yes. That is how a Lady of the Blue Mountains became a Queen of Erebor."

She returned her eyes to her husband, who smiled fondly. Thorin placed his hand over hers still resting on his knee.

"Leave it to my cousin to break tradition for a woman." Dain said, earning another round of laughs.

Thorin turned to Dain. "If I had to break tradition to be this happy, I would gladly do it again."

Dain clapped Thorin on the back. "Aye, wouldn't we all."

Once the meal was over, the crowd dispersed into different corners of the platform to converse and watch the festivities. Kaleria was delicately cut off from Thorin, by a group of women who wanted to know more about their queen. Thorin was unceremoniously pulled away from her by Dain, who forced him to join a group of men drinking whiskey. She met his eyes across the platform and nodded to confirm she was okay without him standing directly next to her.

"My queen," said a woman standing in front of her, "did King Thorin really not court you?"

"Like I said, I was a friend and advisor for him and his sister for many months before we ever admitted our feelings to each other."

"How did he propose?" Another girl asked.

Kaleria recounted their engagement to the group of women, who nearly swooned for their king.

"I hope Dain is that sweet." A woman grumbled to Kaleria's right. It was the same woman who had been sitting by Dain at dinner.

"Norrel and Dain are courting." Another woman said.

"If you can call it that. He is not nearly as charming as Thorin." Norrell rolled her eyes.

"Hopefully, Thorin can rub off on him while we are here," replied Kaleria.

The woman looked pleased with that answer, but quickly straightened her back as someone appeared behind Kaleria. She turned to see Dain.

"Excuse me, ladies. May I steal my new cousin for a dance?" He offered his hand.

Kaleria glanced down at his hand. "I'm sure Norrel would love to dance with you."

Dain looked at Norrel, but quickly brought his eyes back to Kaleria. "I would like the chance to get to know my new family member."

"Of course," agreed Kaleria. She took his hand and let him lead her toward the stairs. Her eyes searched the crowd for Thorin, but she couldn't see him anymore.

Dain led them down to the dance floor right as the band slowed their pace for a partner dance. They took their positions and followed the other dancers on the floor. She waited for Dain to say something.

"You and my cousin make a handsome couple." He observed.

"Thank you."

"Thorin is an odd dwarf, don't you think?"

Kaleria scowled. "No odder than any other male dwarf I've met."

He seemed satisfied by that answer. "What do you like best about your new family?"

"Fili and Kili are wonderful boys, and Dis is the sister I never had."

"She's a handful."

Kaleria forced a smile. "All the best women are, right?"

Dain roared with laughter. "You're very clever."

"I try to keep my wits about me." She stole a quick glance across the room, searching for any glimpse of her dark headed husband.

Dain eyed her. "What was most appealing to you about Thorin?"

Kaleria returned his gaze, set off by his comment and the implication in his tone. "If you have something to say, then say it, Lord Dain."

"Easy, cousin. I'm simply testing you." He dared her to reveal something he didn't like.

Kaleria stopped dancing and squared up to Dain, her eyes blazing with anger. "I did not come here to play games with you. If you think I trapped Thorin into marriage, then say as much, but I will tell you that I love your cousin with all my heart, and I will protect him from any threat including you."

Dain still held an arrogant smile, but it had faded slightly with her words.

Kaleria was ready to storm out, when a familiar presence appeared at her side.

Thorin placed a protective hand on her back as he positioned himself between her and Dain. His blue eyes darkened at his cousin.

"Is something wrong?" He asked, looking at Dain, but waiting for Kaleria to point him in the direction of the danger.

"Not at all. I was simply asking my new cousin a few questions." He looked at Kaleria. "I apologize for implying anything about you or my cousin. I was trying to protect his best interests, but I see he has you for that. I hope we can become friends."

Kaleria didn't soften. "I appreciate your concern for Thorin, but don't ever assume that I married him for anything more than his heart."

"Understood, my queen." Dain bowed then strode off to leave them on the dance floor.

Thorin watched his cousin until he was out of earshot. He looked at Kaleria and searched her face. "What happened?"

"Oh, the usual. He assumed I married you for your crown, and I'm going to steal your gold, or whatever those kinds of people think I married you for." Kaleria relaxed into his side.

"I'm sorry this is the family you married into. Durin greed is a trait we all need to be rid of as soon as possible." Thorin studied the people still dancing around them. "Would you like to dance?"

Kaleria smiled up at him. "I would love to." He took her hand and they set off with the other dancers.

Thorin had revealed himself to be a good dancer the first night they had danced together, but since they first married, he stole every moment he could to dance with her when no one was watching. Tonight he ignored everyone in the room and only saw his beautiful wife, glowing in the torch light.