The morning of my wedding I woke up eagerly and with a sudden surge of energy that only came with anticipation for what the day was to bring. Méra had promised to meet me with breakfast at sunrise, after which we'd start getting ready. This gave me plenty of time to bathe, drink a cup of tea, and then watch the time pass with growing excitement and anxiousness.

When Méra was late, I was only slightly irritated but not at all surprised, as she usually ran a bit behind schedule (even if she was the one to implement the schedule in the first place). When she was really late I finally decided to head out to find her and see what the holdup was. As I was exiting my rooms, however, I nearly tripped on a large wooden chest that was sat just outside of my door. Cursing whatever idiot thought leaving such a hazard right in my path was a good idea, and hoping my stubbed shin wouldn't grow an unsightly bruise, I opened the lid and plucked out a scrap of parchment that was atop the bundle of clothing that lie within.

It was from Méra. Thankfully she had the good sense to write in common, though her message was far from encouraging.

'Hit a bit of a snag with the dress. Put on the shift and corset and be ready, won't have much time!'

I grumbled to myself as I dragged the trunk into my room, lamenting the fact that whomever had delivered it didn't see fit to even knock, and much of my precious preparation time was now wasted.

As I pulled out each item, I felt a surge of appreciation for Méra's talents and her willingness to spend them on me. The undergarments alone were beautiful, a showcase of her skill, and much more decorative than I would have normally expected. Typically I would don a plain cotton underdress and stockings or leggings of some simple fashion to help keep warm in the mountain. This ensemble, however, was clearly made to be admired just as much as the finished gown would be. The shift was sheer and lovely, satin in feel and edged with fine lace. I pulled it over my head with ease, enjoying the soft feel of it against my skin. It was more closely fitted than I was used to, but would therefore be comfier underneath the corset. The stockings were white and delicate - completely different than the thick wool ones I currently had in my drawer. I eased them on and secured them about my thighs with the shiny rose-tinted ribbon Méra had sent with. The first petticoat was silk and embroidered along the bottom with a flowing floral pattern of golden thread. I wondered if Méra had found the fabric with the design already present upon it, as otherwise I couldn't fathom how she would have had the time for such ornate stitching. After adjusting the skirt around my hips, I then pulled on the corset. It was another work of art, crafted of pieces of blush toned silk and heavy cotton, structured boning, pre-laced with white ribbon. I quickly realized, however, that I could not properly get the fit of it quite right as it was meant to be done up along the back - I was loath to admit it, my past injury to my shoulder had somewhat limited my flexibility.

After several failed attempts, I decided I didn't mind if Bofur saw me at this point. In fact, I grinned to myself thinking of his reaction to the sneak peek of what was to come later, so I stuck my head out into the corridor to check for loiterers, and then tiptoed to his rooms. Holding up my half-tied garments with one hand, I knocked with the other. There was no answer. I pursed my lips, trying once more before giving up. I crept on down the hallway and tried Dori's room, knowing he would likely be more than happy to help, but again I was faced with an unanswered door. I tapped on Ori's room next, and then even Bombur's out of desperation, all to no avail.

I glanced at Dwalin's door and then passed it by without trying. It would not do to have him find me half-clad waiting outside of his rooms… Not after...

I tried to push the thought out of my head. During the past few days I had had next to no time to worry about what had transpired between Dwalin and myself. I was quite certain that he didn't feel anything stronger for me than I did for him. We were friends, we cared about each other, but nothing more. His behaviour could have merely been rooted in a simple curiosity that may have grown towards me. Perhaps, through ill-judgement caused from drink and whatever post-traumatic stress he was still experiencing, he had suddenly viewed me as less of a friend and more of a woman, and in that moment, had acted on impulse to try to sate his newfound curiosity - maybe to discover what differences there might be between human maidens and the ones he was used to. Or perhaps he had simply sought an escape, a release of pent-up grief and aggression and lust, and I just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Either way, I decided to write it off as a crime of opportunity, and in truth I had already forgiven him. My guilt over the matter had also mostly vanished. It was just a kiss. One that I did not initiate or prolong... I did nothing wrong... Or at least any guilt that might be harbouring deep in my mind had to stay there for now, locked well away, until I had more time to properly take it out and examine it.

I shook my head slightly and decided to try one more room, already lamenting that I would likely have to settle for heading back to my own to simply wait for help to arrive, in spite of Méra's instructions to be ready. Time was running short, and it still felt like I had too much left to do.

I rapped rather frantically on the last door in the hallway and it surprised me by swinging open. I smiled sheepishly at Bifur who seemed rather taken aback that I was calling on him.

"Thank goodness." I exclaimed in a huff. "You're the only one around." I added. Instead of a proper explanation, I turned slightly to show him the loose ties up my back.

"That is not a task fit for the eyes of just any dwarf." Bifur remarked with a frown.

"Oh I don't mind." I replied with a grin as I scurried past him into his rooms. "Just pull them tight. I can't reach well enough to do it on my own."

Bifur did not stop frowning but stepped up to me all the same. I turned and grabbed hold of the mantle to help steady myself.

"You should have summoned a handmaiden." Bifur grumbled.

"I expected to have help, but they got delayed. I'm behind schedule as it is, and I don't want to be late for my own wedding." I told him, hoping he wouldn't turn me away after all.

Bifur seemed to hesitate for a moment, as if unsure, but then I felt him begin to cinch up the ties of corset, starting at the bottom.

"Much tighter." I instructed when he was half way up. I felt him tug slightly, then continue while beginning to grumble a haphazard mixture of Khuzdul and common.

"...much easier to take them off." He muttered under his breath. Not sure if I was meant to head that remark - or if he even knew he had slipped out of Khuzdul - I ignored him with a smirk as he continued to fret delicately about the lacing.

"Please, just a bit tighter." I repeated firmly, straightening my posture and figuring I still had plenty of room before it would hinder my ability to take in air.

"Lass, if I pull any tighter you'll be split in two." Bifur rebuked.

I laughed and shook my head. "Please, just a little more. I'll let you know if it's too tight."

Finally Bifur put some muscle behind his motions and the corset was drawn as snugly as it could around my middle. After ensuring the modesty panel was straight and the laces were tied prettily, I thanked Bifur profusely, hoping I hadn't made him feel too uncomfortable (it was difficult to tell with him as he always did seem a tad cagey even at the best of times).

I then hastened back to my quarters and began to fret with my hair. Bofur had once told me that it was tradition for the couple to braid each other's hair as a part of the ceremony's conclusion, undoing the courting braid to mark the end of the engagement and adding a new plait to signify the start of their joined marital status. Méra had informed me that this dwarven custom was going to be permitted for our ceremony, and so I was to don a more simple hairstyle that left most of my hair down.

As I brushed it through, I wished I still had my longer hair. It would have looked much more elegant than my current shoulder length locks, and would have been easier for Bofur to braid in its entirety - which may have looked rather nice for the celebrations after.

My thoughts brought forth memories of the day my hair had been cut, and I was suddenly glad the malicious dam who did it was nowhere near Erebor. It had all seemed so traumatic at the time (as foolish as it was to be upset over hair) but it and had nearly caused a rift to grow between Bofur and I. His shock and dismay when he thought that I had inflicted the heinous act upon myself had brought forth the stark contrast between our two cultures, and emphasized my lack of understanding for his. Though I now felt slightly more aware of some of the idiosyncrasies of dwarven life, a part of me worried that I would continue to lack in certain social aspects of living under the mountain with him. I was certainly hoping Bofur and I were beyond some of the more petty hurdles that had plagued our relationship hence far, as in hindsight most of our arguments had been caused by simple miscommunication and could probably have been avoided if we had been more forthcoming with each other.

I knew that I, for one, was ready to live a more peaceful life from this point on, and did not wish to fight with him anymore.

I thought back to when we had first met. He had seemed so light-hearted and had shown me so much kindness after I had grown used to the direct opposite. At the time I had thought him to be so simple and straightforward, in both taste and manner. He had such a good natured humour, paired with a sharp enough wit to keep everybody both on their toes and laughing. He was also an unrestrained tease and I couldn't help but smile as I recalled a few of our more flirtatious exchanges back when our interactions were still mostly innocent. As our relationship deepened, however, I discovered he had a complexity about him that he usually kept well behind his otherwise mirthful persona. I had seen it though, glimpses of concealed layers of doubt and hurt, and an exhausting but driving need to keep those he cared for safe. Although his darker self had caused some strife between us, I felt a small sense of pride that he felt comfortable enough with me to express some of those deeper emotions, ones that were typically masked in front of others. I was also truly confident in his unshakable loyalty and ability to weather hardship - he would pull us through anything, and would always do his best to mend what had been damaged in the process. He did not hold grudges, and had an uncanny ability to make me forgive him of any battered feelings. I smiled again and was so caught up in my introspective musings that it took me a few moments to realize that someone had been banging on my door.

Méra swept inside with a grumbled curse at having to knock for so long. Kari followed close behind, with what I assumed was my dress wrapped in plain canvas draped across her outheld arms.

"Oh good, you're all done up." Méra said after examining me for a moment. She flung the bag she had been carrying down to the floor and then stepped forward to pull at a few laces, ensuring they were tight enough for her liking - apparently they were, as she simply nodded to herself before continuing. "Should have just enough time to finish helping you and then I'll run back and throw on my own dress." She then instructed Kari to lay down the armload of fabric across the chair.

"Time for the main attraction." Méra muttered as she went to unwrap the gown. "I hope you like it."

She had Kari turn me about so I couldn't see, and then made me put my hands in the air and close my eyes. I did so with a grin but felt a flutter of nervous excitement jolt through me. I knew Méra was more than capable and had proven her skills a few times over, whatever she had crafted would be beautiful, no doubt, just as the undergarments were, but I still hadn't seen the finished product as Méra had been unusually secretive with her master design.

I felt them begin to pull something over my head and guide my arms through the sleeves. Then with a few quick tugs the dress settled about me. It had a bit of weight to it, as if made of a thicker fabric, but was by no means heavy. I bit my lip and waited for the next layer, trying to resist the urge to peek.

Kari cleared her throat.

"You can look now." Méra told me, her voice uncharacteristically awkward.

With a surprised 'oh,' I opened my eyes and peered down at myself.

It was not at all what I was expecting. It was simple, there was no extra bustling, no bulky hip-padding or voluminous underskirts. Yet its simplicity made it all the more beautiful. The fabric was ivory in colour and had a lustrous sheen to it. It gently hugged my body down to my hips where it then fell in a graceful wave about my legs. The sleeves alone were something to behold, widening past the elbow in a long and elegant flair. The ensemble made me look tall and slender. It did nothing to add the more bodacious curves like the dwarrowdam style did, but instead showcased my very slight figure, aided only by the snug fit of the corset underneath. There was a thick band of golden embroidery stitched around the lower waist, coming to a slight 'V' in the front which complimented the shape of the neckline. There was also more delicate golden floral designs along the bottom of the dress, just above where it swept along the floor, and along the hem of the wide sleeves. It actually somewhat reminded me of the elven gown I had worn while in Rivendell, when Bofur had first alluded to the fact that he thought I was beautiful.

I ran my hands down along my front and smiled, then glanced up at Méra. I was shocked to see how truly nervous she looked, as she was usually the perfect portrait of aloof indifference.

"I love it… it's perfect, it truly is." I assured, beaming at her and hoping to put her fears at ease.

She let out a breath and smiled back at me.

"I didn't want you to look like a dwarrow bride," she began by way of explanation as she approached and started to hunt for wayward threads, "because if Bofur wanted to marry another dwarf woman, then he would've asked. I'm sure he could'a taken on that numpty walloper of a dam that was exiled - she was nae ugly by any means, apart from her personality that is… But he seems to love you… despite your twiggy elven figure."

She poked me in the side at that and then grabbed for the pack she had abandoned on the floor, digging out a pair of slippers and handing them to me. They were sewn of the same ivory fabric used for the dress, with light leather soles for durability, and embellished with shining embroidery thread and glinting beads. I smiled in thanks and pulled them onto my feet.

"Kari, you can start on her hair anytime."

The dam nodded and unpacked the rest of the bag. She had brought a few of the iron curling rods I recognized from when she last did my hair. I watched with curiosity as she hastily moved in front of the fireplace to heat them up, but didn't have a chance to question her plan as Méra suddenly pulled me over to sit against the arm of the chair so she could inspect my face.

After I voiced a few concerns, she assured me she wasn't going to do much 'painting,' just a bit of 'improving,' and so I sat patiently while she pulled out a small satchel of tools and makeup and proceeded to pluck some errant eyebrow hairs, gently line my eyes and apply a shiny but untinted beeswax gloss to my lips. Kari worked on my hair the whole while and it seemed she was simply adding more obvious waves with the heated rollers, but nothing more complicated than that. She moved to the front after Méra had stepped aside and pulled the front fringes of my hair into a few small plaits that ran along the top of my forehead to keep some of it back away from my face. The rest she left free and unencumbered.

Méra nodded when she was through and then clicked her tongue after giving me a final look over.

"'Tis a shame you don't have your ears pierced." she exclaimed. "And I had found the perfect pair of gems for you to wear. O well. Remind me and we'll do it someday."

I nodded, unsure if I even wanted my ears pierced, but thankful she wasn't going to force me to do them today. I then excused myself while the pair were fretting over what hairpiece I should wear. Not wanting to miss out on their decision, I reached without looking to open the door to let some air into the room, feeling it had gotten quite stuffy with three of us bustling about in there. A small part of me even regretted getting Bifur to tie my corset so tight.

When there was a pause in their chattering, I turned to look out into the hallway, not worried about being seen as I expected it to be just as deserted as it was earlier. Only part way through my turn, however, I was forced to let out a small 'eep!' and awkwardly twist back inside to avoid knocking my breasts into the helmeted head of a fully armoured dwarf.

I slammed the door and leaned against it, my mind racing to process the fact that there hadn't just been one dwarf, but what seemed like a whole legion of them packed by rank and file into the hallway, stretched as far as my rushed peripherals had seen.

Méra and Kari were both giving me blank stares.

"I think I'm being arrested." I bemoaned weakly, before beginning to panic and breathe heavily. "What am I going to do? What will I tell Bofur?"

Méra dropped what she was doing and immediately strode to my side, ushering me away from the doorway.

"Fetch her a stiff drink to settle her nerves." She ordered Kari. "I'll settle this." She flung the door open and glowered out, only to have some of the hostility replaced with exasperation.

"Oh, for Durin's sake! Oi! Which one of you dunderheads is responsible for this?!" She spat to no one in particular. She spared me a quick glance before thundering off down the line of soldiers, shouting in Khuzdul all the while until her voice eventually faded from earshot - which gave some indication to just how far the armoured column stretched into the mountain.

I stood dumbfounded, biting my nail, my nerves shot, but Kari swatted my hand from my mouth and then handed me a cup of tea which was mostly brandy. I drank the full thing, and was sipping at a second cup (just tea this time), when Méra finally returned.

She ignored my desperate expression and took a breath to regain her composure, leaning at arm's length on the door which she had just heaved shut. When she finally looked up, she cut me off before my first question even left my mouth.

"No, you aren't getting arrested."

My worry changed to puzzlement. "Why are they all here then?"

Méra blew her hair from her face before launching into an explanation.

"It's...ah... tradition for a bride to be escorted to the place of ceremony by a wee armed guard, usually made up of any family that might be in the service anyway."

"That's small?!" I questioned with shock.

Méra chortled and shook her head. "Nay, that's likely more than double what I would expect for even my own weddin' day."

I gaped at her and she indicted for Kari to pass her the bottle of brandy. She took a large swig and continued.

"It seems someone in the ranks has been blabbering - you may have Dwalin to thank for that - about how today will go down in history. How special it will be, you know, to be part of the first 'Company of Thorin' wedding, and one between a dwarf and a human at that, the first ever recorded, not to mention the first wedding under the mountain after the end of ol' Smaug's bloody reign."

I leaned against the chair again, my hands feeling suddenly clammy and my nerves making their presence known once more. I hadn't wanted this to be a spectacle, and thought I had made it very abundantly clear while planning that it was to be a more private affair. Yet I had failed to comprehend the significance that others, complete strangers even, might place upon the event.

"It's all very poetic, and don't get me wrong, there are more than a few dwarves here that will brag about it for generations." Méra added, coming over to place a small, jewelled clasp in my hair off to the side near the end of the bit of braiding. She then seemed to sense my apprehension. "Don't worry, I've told some of them to clear off. Can't promise they'll listen… I expect a good deal are here because of what they stand to gain from it. Selfish buggers have their reputations to bolster after all. Anywho, you're done. We'd best be off so I have time to get ready."

"You're leaving me!?" I asked, unable to hide the panic that rose in my voice.

Méra grasped my hand a moment in comfort. "Relax. You'll be fine. You're well tended after all." She laughed as she opened the door again and gestured out at the many dwarves still filed outside. With one last cheery wave, her and Kari disappeared between the ranks.

When I was alone in my rooms once more, time seemed to slow to an impossible degree and no amount of pacing, checking my reflection, sipping tea and wringing my hands seemed to make the minutes hasten. Yet all too soon there was a sharp rap at the door. It was finally and already time.

This couldn't be my life.

I had walked as if in a dream, surrounded by armoured dwarves of King Dain's regiment. They marched in a practiced gait and in the middle of their ranks I glided along, taller than the tallest of them, dressed in fine silks that would have once cost me over a year's wage, with jewels in my hair that would have cost even more.

How could this be my life?

I felt beautiful, and I felt like I belonged, even as I walked through corridors of cold hewn stone, mountain passes that never saw a drop of sun, bridges that defied human architecture.

I could have never predicted this.

We passed through to a holding area where many of the dwarves were sent away. Of those that remained, many, if not all of them, were familiar to me from my time here at Erebor, even based on their only visible discernible feature under their helms - their beards (I was becoming quite the expert at telling dwarves apart by this, as otherwise many looked the same to me).

I never envisioned any of this as my future.

Not just the beards, or the other obvious physical differences that came from being the only human in a mountain full of dwarves.

No, the truth of it was that, while I had never ruled out getting married to someone I loved, I had never yearned for, or even expected it, the way that some young women did. Before my father passed, I could have expected to marry a merchant or a tradesman and live a comfortable life. Even after he was gone, there was still a chance I could have found happiness with some eligible, hardworking fisherman or dockhand - there had been some prospects back in the day besides Alfrid, after all.

And then Bree… but best not to think of that at present.

After passing through another set of rooms, I was ushered to the entrance of a long dark hallway. It was here that I finally parted ways with the remainder of my honour guard. One lingered a moment longer. Dwalin. I was unsure what to say to him, but I wanted to say something. He beat me to it.

"You look…" he began, his tone unreadable as he took off his helm and surveyed me with a steely gaze. Was my forgiveness of his misdeed too hasty? Were his thoughts still dark and his feelings for me misplaced? I suddenly feared he might do something again to blemish the one day where my thoughts should be entirely focused on somebody else.

"Happy." He concluded, and I let out a small sigh of relief.

"I am." I conceded with a nod and a quick smile, but then my eyes fluttered towards the nothingness of the hall that stretched before me, trying desperately to adjust enough to make out something, anything, of the way ahead. When I next spoke, my voice seemed unusually quiet, as if my words were being pulled away into the gloom.

"Dwalin…I've been told close friends and family participate in the betrothal ceremony…" I inhaled slowly, and then turned to face him, willing the last bit of animosity I held for him to fade away.

"Will you be there for me - for us, when I get to the other side?" I asked.

"Always, lass."

With that, he returned the helmet to his head, regarded me again now that he was back in full uniform, and then nodded his head towards the void.

"Don't fear the darkness, lass. You've passed through too much for your lad to let a little shadow keep you from him. He'll be waiting for you on the other side. We all will be."

The corner of his lip twisted up into a small smile, and then he turned and trundled back the way we came. With his departure, I was now well and truly alone. I stepped forward into the maw of darkness, the only sound the whisper of my slippers padding along the stone. As the light from the chamber behind me receded, my heart rate began to climb. Ever since the search for the Arkenstone, being completely alone in the total darkness of the mountain made me anxious.

I stopped, my breathing picking up.

Bree had been hell. For years I had lost all concept of a future, and instead focused only on surviving day to day. Hope sprang up when my chance for escape drew near, but even after I had wretched myself free of the clutches of the Inn, I still could not have imagined that this lie ahead.

It was all so very unlikely it near made my head spin.

I forced my breathing to slow.

My hand touched against the wall to steady myself, and instantly a warmth ran through my entire body. I felt electrified, like the charged, wild nature of the air in the midst of a powerful storm. As I marveled at the sensation, I realized for the first time that the tunnel was not completely dark.

The same ethereal, shifting runes were here as in the monolithic burial chamber at the heart of the mountain, though they were so faint that I could scarce see them. At the funeral, I had suspected they were some sort of precious metal off in the distance, set into the stone, but here the stone was smooth, so smooth that it felt silky to the touch. I waved my hand over the symbols, and in their ever changing nature my hand almost seemed to pass through them, as though they were floating free along the walls.

I looked ahead of me and, with eyes now adjusted, could see a light in the distance marking the tunnel's end. I started walking again.

I vaguely recalled this was supposed to be symbolic to the dwarves. Balin had been thorough in describing its significance, but now all I remembered was something about this tunnel representing the long sleep of the first dwarves. No matter - As I approached the light at the end of the tunnel, my mind was no longer tumultuous. I was at peace, content.

This was my life now.

Full of intrigue and adventure, unbelievable hardships, overwhelming wealth, and traditions as old and deep as the mountain itself.

And full of dwarves - a family, a home...

And magic...

And love.

I stepped out of the tunnel, fully embracing my new life.

AN: Please review! It makes me write faster, truly it does! Thank you!