An Unexpected Visit - Part 15

The Wedding - Part 1

The sun rose above the plain and spilled in through the opening in the grand cave. The light was warm and soft as it hit the running water coming down from the ceiling and into the pool beside the shore, as dwarves poured into the cave from the inner pathway.

The cave filled more and more as they spread out in it, making the only open space in the clearing of grass and flowers. Only a few of Erebor's inhabitants had been invited, but it seemed more than half of the people had decided to come, to witness the absurdity and happiness of the happening that morning. Most of the dwarves stood gawking at the sight of the strange place none of them had ever seen before.

Only Thorin, who stood with Fíli on his right side, had been there before. It was, after all, his idea. They stood in the clearing, before the grand tree. Thorin had a serious expression on his face, his hands on his back as he waited patiently. It was a rare thing to see the King so calm and patient. Fíli, on the other hand, was excited and proud. He suppressed a grin as he tried to look as calm as his uncle, yet he failed. He could not imagine a happier day.

*

Tauriel paced her chamber nervously back and forth. Her heart was beating and her hands were clammy as she thought of what was about to happen. She was terribly nervous; she would be standing in the midst of all the people of Erebor, dwarves that dearly hated elves such as herself; she would marry the royal prince, nephew of the King; and Legolas was not here to support her.

She had lived in the mountain for two years now, in these chambers that Kíli had built for them. It was a grand chamber, the main room had a table with chairs surrounding it where they ate their breakfast. A rocking chair stood in front of the fire, and in the corner was a love seat, long and cushioned, beside several chests and a small table. A door lead further into the chamber and the bedroom he had made for them, and the next again for their daughter. Tauriel had requested mirrors and desk with drawers in both bedchambers, and a dresser beside the alcoves. Tauriel had herself woven a tapestry of her and Kíli's meeting and how they fell in love, which was hanging in Kíliel's chamber, so her daughter would never forget how great and important their meeting had been.

Tauriel let her hand caress the soft material of the tapestry. In the middle she had woven Kíliel as she had seen her in the vision during her labour, and all around was the happenings of the war and desolation of the dragon depicted. She laughed as she touched one of the spiders that she had killed and saved Kíli for the first time. All that had happened since then… it was surreal!

She was startled by the sound of a knock on the outer door, and the voice of her adoptive mother called to her. «Tauriel? Are you dressed, my child?» Dís entered the chamber without waiting for an answer. She had Kíliel slumbering in her arms. The two year old girl was all dressed in white, as she was the flower-girl of the wedding.

«No, I cannot… I don't know what to do!» Tauriel approached Dís, dressed only in her sleeping gown. Her voice was filled with despair as she embraced her mother, carefully not to hurt her child. Her expression eased and she smiled as she saw the face of the sleeping girl in her grandmother's arms. Kíliel was still a babe, but when awake she was as energetic as a cat, and would run and dance and sing all day. Tauriel was calmed by the sight of her daughter, and exhaled. She looked at Dís again.

«Will you help me?» Tauriel asked, her voice pleading.

«Of course, my sweet girl. What is the matter?» Dís laughed softly and reached to caress Tauriel's cheek. She recognized the stress of a bride, and knew it was nothing bad.

«I… I do not know. I cannot get married,» Tauriel gasped and turned away from her with her arms around herself, as if she was cold, but the fire burned bright in the hearth, and the room was filled with a sweet warmth. «Not without Legolas to walk me down the aisle! It is too hard!»

Dís' expression faltered faintly, as she realized the problem might be bigger than anticipated. She completely understood Tauriel's need to see him. Growing up he had been her only family, her brother, and it was understandable that she would want him here. But who knew where the elven prince might be at that very moment? They would not be able to get to him. It was too late, as Tauriel was to be married within the hour.

«Before we do or say anything we have to get you dressed,» Dís said, patting Tauriel's hand. «And then we can discuss your problem.» She then lead her to the dresser in the corner beside the bed in Tauriel and Kíli's bedchamber. Dís laid Kíliel down on the bed, where the girl continued to slumber silently.

Tauriel smiled, the love for her daughter glowing in her chest. In the two short years she had been with them, Tauriel had yet not grown accustomed to the feeling of having a daughter. She continued to be amazed at how much she loved the girl that she had created.

Dís opened the chest, next to the dresser, and took out a white dress. Tauriel had sewn it, as was custom for brides of Erebor to do while their future husbands made their home. She had been sitting with Dís many nights, and Dís had helped her with the sewing, for while Tauriel was skilled with a blade, a needle was not so easily wielded.

The dress was embroidered with green and silver leaves and stars around the bust and waist, inspired by both dwarven and elven designs. The whole thing was of silk, and enveloped her body perfectly as she put it on.

They continued with her hair, and as Tauriel sat in the chair in front of the desk, Dís stood behind her and braided her long hair into a bun at the back of her head, with loose hair and braids at both sides of her face and down her back.

Tauriel felt the beating of her heart grow heavier as the minutes passed, bringing her closer to her wedding. It was of course not for Kíli's sake that she was worried. She knew that she loved him with her whole being, and she knew with absolute certainty that she wanted to marry him. It was the only thing left before her complete happiness.

Dís clapped her hands then, announcing that she was done, and ordered Tauriel to the mirror, where she could see her full image. «You look perfect,» Dís said, her words nearly caught in her throat as she felt the pride well up in her. She had anticipated that tears would not be far away on this day.

Tauriel said nothing, simply stared at herself in the mirror. «Is that really how I look?» She asked eventually, as she turned back and forth to see all of the dress and her hair. She did not look like herself, with her hair in a beautiful bun with thousands of braids coming together, and the hair by her face and over her shoulders hanging looser, as she had rarely ever worn it. The dress resembled nothing she had ever seen either. She had made it with thoughts of the tunics and dresses the women of Erebor wore, as well as the elven wedding gowns. The result was astonishing.

«It is, my dear,» Dís said and embraced her. Even as a dwarf Dís was reckoned short, and so she was over two heads lower than Tauriel, reaching barely her waist, but the elf loved the embraces the dwarven mother sometimes surprised her with. It made her feel loved and welcomed in the strange mountain she had began to call her home.

Suddenly the dread of standing in front of the people of Erebor caught her again, and she felt her heartbeat quicken. Tauriel knew that most of the people did not approve of her as the wife of the youngest prince, and much less that their child would one day become the queen. She felt faint and sat down on the bed with her face in her hands. She breathed heavily, and tried to calm herself, though her imagination made it no easy task.

Dís sat down beside her, and touched her shoulder softly, trying to ease her of her troubles. «Did you know that I married against my brother's will?»

Tauriel looked at Dís with a surprised gaze, her eyes wide. This she had never heard before. «Is it true?» Her voice was somewhere between shocked and amused.

«It is. I married Víli when Thorin forbade us, for in his eyes I should have married someone with heritage from Erebor. A soldier from Ered Luin was not good enough for him, but I begged Balin to stand witness as we said our vows in secret, and we married without Thorin's consent.» Dís laughed at the memory and patted Tauriel's hand distant-minded. Tauriel smiled faintly, admiring Dís for standing up to Thorin. She knew herself how difficult he could be when he had set his mind on something.

Dís added: «Though of course he learned eventually to live with it, and soon accepted Víli as a brother. That is the case with most of dwarven stubbornness, my dear. It seems impossibly harsh and set in stone, but usually it's just a matter of time before our people are warmed to a new idea. It may be hard, but it is not impossible to change the minds of dwarves!»

«I do not mind that they do not like me, had I only not been asked to stand in front of them today. And I fear for my daughter and her happiness. Will they ever accept her as their future queen? I am not so sure.» Tauriel exhaled into her hands, thinking of too much terribleness and seeing no hope for the future. Kíliel was still sleeping and Tauriel rose to walk to her daughter.

Dís followed and stood by the door to the inner chamber with her arms crossed, while watching Tauriel lift the little girl into her arms. «I do not think you should underestimate Kíliel's abilities to convince the people. You remember how she melted Thorin's heart?»

Tauriel nodded and smiled as she rocked the sleeping girl in her arms. Her little face was so enchanting, with big, green eyes and wild red hair that bounced when she danced around. It was true, none could keep a serious face while Kíliel was in the room; her charm had no limit, but Tauriel was not sure if it would be enough.

«And Legolas?» Dís asked suddenly, and threw Tauriel out of balance again.

She inhaled sharply and was silent for a while before she spoke: «He is the only family I have left… the only elven family Kíliel has. He has not seen her since she was born… I wish he could see her grow up, though I know he is busy with much else out in the world. But if I am to be married, and walk down the aisle between hundreds of disapproving dwarves, I need him by my side, I need at least one elf to support this marriage. But it is no use,» Tauriel exhaled with despair, and kissed Kíliel's face before laying the girl back on the bed.

Again there was a knock on the outer door, and Tauriel's gaze flashed to it instantly with hope. She lost the hope just as quickly as she realized it could not possibly be Legolas. Then a voice called through the door. It was Kíli. «Tauriel? Are you here, my love? It's time to go; everyone is waiting for us.» He sounded so excited, but Tauriel felt the tears fill her eyes, and she hid her face in her hands as she sat down beside Kíliel on the bed.

«Don't let him come in. I don't want him to see me like this!» She mumbled and gasped shuddering between her sobbing. «It's not right.»

Dís looked at Tauriel with sadness in her eyes, but after a moment she obeyed. Tauriel stayed, while Dís opened the outer door and closed it behind her. Kíli looked at his mother with a wondering gaze, but it turned quickly worried as he saw Dís' expression.

«Mother, what is wrong?» Kíli quickly looked to the door and turned suddenly frantic. «Have I done something? Will she not marry me? Did she change her mind?»

Dís shushed him and put her hands on both his cheeks, to make him calm down. «It has nothing to do with you, my dear boy. She is worried for the other dwarves, that they will not accept her as your bride, and she is anxious about walking down the aisle alone.» Kíli's eyes grew sad as he listened, and was about to object when his mother continued: «She wishes Legolas would be here to show his support as an elf. I think she is fearing most of all for her own, elven soul. Tauriel has abandoned all of her beliefs and customs to come and live with us here in the Mountain, and I think she has simply lost herself in all the changes. Even if her love for you and Kíliel is strong enough to keep her from running away, I fear for her mind if nothing is done about it.»

Kíli looked worried as he thought of all his mother had said. He did not like to know that she was in pain. He needed to be with her and comfort her. «I want to see her and tell her that is it okay for her to be anxious,» Kíli said, and reached for the door, but Dís held him back again.

«For all your good intentions it is not the right moment to be gallant, Kíli. It may be what you want, but it is not what she needs. Give her some time, and we will go and speak with your uncle and brother. The dwarves will wait until the end of time if their King commands it, so right now that is who we need.» Dís patted his arm and began to lead him down the corridor, away from the chamber.

«Thorin cannot command them to accept her, not even he has that kind of power.» Kíli kept arguing as they walked. The stress of the wedding had not been light on him either and he felt the weight of it all, now doubled with his fiancée's troubles as well, heavy on his shoulders. «The acceptance must be earned, and with our people you know it can take a lifetime, if not forever. The years of exile have made them that more suspicious and even more critical of the outside world. She is right to worry of their intentions towards her.» Kíli spoke with despair as he thought of it.

Dís sighed, for it was indeed no easy situation. She wished dearly that Kíli and Tauriel could simply live happy lives, free of all these problems. But it was the way with the dwarves. Wrought of stone and hard materials they were not always easy to deal with. Though none of course were evil, they were prone to create problems out of nothing other than stubbornness and pride.

«That is the way of our people, Kíli. But give them credit. They have fared hardly the last two hundred years, and finally home again they cling to tradition more than ever, the only way they know how. So a little patience is required to soften them to the idea of Tauriel.» Dís spoke with carefully chosen words, trying to ease her son of some of his troubles. «But I am confident they will accept her once they see how much you love each other, and if not then at least when Thorin gives you his blessing. You know how they look up to him, and Fíli as well, I have noticed.»

It was true. Fíli was growing ever kinglier in the eyes of the people of Erebor. Ever at his uncle's side Fíli began to earn the trust of the dwarves he one day would rule. After The Battle of the Five Armies both Fíli and Kíli had been noticed more clearly, and not just as nephews of the King, but as great warriors and the princes that they were. Kíli didn't think much of it, as he was not an heir nor did he want the throne, but he had began to realize that it was their daughter the people spoke of whenever his name was mentioned. Kíli and Tauriel would never be important in the Mountain, but their daughter was the future queen, and that was why the people were so reluctant to accept Tauriel. As Kíliel still was small and no different from a dwarf babe, other than her slightly pointy ears, the people could go on thinking she was pure, but once Tauriel would wed their prince it would be made clear that the child was not a dwarf and that was a much bigger problem.

Dís and Kíli walked and talked a while before they entered the lower corridors, and the halls began to fill as their people made their way down into the cave. They moved easily through the crowd, for Dís was a much beloved princess in her people's eyes, as she had mostly tended to their needs in the years of exile, while Thorin, Fíli and Kíli had been out working on finding their way back home.

Most bowed before her and let her pass while others met her gaze with wishes of luck for her son. They also bowed for Kíli, but he had a feeling it was out of respect for his mother rather than himself. Others, many of the ones he had grown up with in Ered Luin, addressed him personally and spoke of their excitement and happiness for this day, and he felt his heart lighten. At least not all were opposed to the wedding. He did not know it, but most of the younger dwarves were quite eager for the wedding. It was the only royal wedding they had ever seen, as Dís' wedding had been a secret. It was mostly the elderly dwarves that did not support the union, and they simply stepped aside as mother and son walked through the hall, and then murmured their displeasure when they had passed.

When Dís and Kíli entered the cave it was already filling up all around the pool and the tree. Only a small clearing, a couple feet wide, was free of dwarves. There Thorin and Fíli stood, and Kíli tried to call to his brother to get his attention, but everywhere stood talking dwarves, and the cave was filled with a deafening echo.

Dís signaled that Kíli should stay put, while she moved through the crowd towards her brother and son. Again a path was cleared for her as the dwarves called after her, and the ones in front turned and bowed for their beloved princess. Kíli smirked and thought that it was no wonder she was so sure of herself. She knew how to charm and make everyone see her way of things, and she always got her way.

She quickly returned with both Thorin and Fíli on her heels, and they moved away from the crowded corridor down into a much smaller one, where not so many could hear their conversation.

«What is this about?» Thorin demanded impatiently. His arms were crossed over his chest and he pursed his lips. He had hoped to get the ceremony over with and get to the feast as soon as possible, and this interlude was not on his schedule.

«Do not worry, Thorin, the wedding is not canceled, but there is a problem.» Dís started and looked to Kíli. She knew it was important that it came from him, for it was his problem as well, as Tauriel would soon be his wife. This whole situation saddened Dís so, and she lowered her gaze as Kíli spoke.

«It is Tauriel.» Kíli started, uncertain where to start. «She is concerned about standing in the cave in front of so many of our people that do not approve of our union.» Kíli exhaled and sent his uncle and brother a look of despair.

«Is this not what she wanted? She knew this was the case all along. She knew this when she wished for me to change the laws so that your marriage would be legal. It is a little late to have second thoughts now.» Thorin scoffed, as if saying that elves would whine for nothing. Though he recognized the pain in Kíli's face and still were worried. He had come to like Tauriel, the strong-spirited elf who were not slow to discuss something or other when she disagreed with him. Not many dwarves were that bold, as he was their king. But it seemed Tauriel had not problem with expressing her emotions, and he respected her for that. After their earlier encounters he had thought she would fear him, but that was not the case. It encouraged him.

Fíli on the other hand looked at them, his gaze scrutinizing. The worry in his mother and brother's face was caused by more than just wedding nerves. He asked: «There is more to it, is it not?»

Kíli gazed at his brother quickly, then moved his eyes to the floor and nodded.

«She longs for her own people, to have someone of her own kin witness and approve of the marriage.» Dís explained as Kíli again felt the despair fill him again and he could not find his words. «I think she believe she is letting the elven part of her down, for she has left all of her old life behind, and embraced the life of a dwarf in stead.»

«As were the terms of her staying here, the ones she agreed to. What do you want us to do about it?» Thorin asked, his voice demanding yet worried. «You say the wedding is not canceled, but I cannot see how we can ease her mind if she cannot do so herself.»

«You truly know nothing of women, do you?» Dís snapped at him. Thorin was silent, but pressed his lips together in a hard and yet childish fashion, and glowered at her with narrow eyes. Sometimes they were naught but children picking on each other, and it was usually amusing to Kíli and Fíli, if not for the issue at hand.

«What I'm saying is that Tauriel needs another elf present at the wedding.» Dís continued.

«And you have many of them in storage, do you?» Thorin mocked.

«Well, I may have something to help with the problem.» Fíli cleared his throat and all the eyes of his family turned to him, as the argument between his mother and uncle was cut off. «When Tauriel gave birth and Legolas came to us, I promised him my friendship and respect as a prince, and I have kept my promise.»

«Oh, no,» Thorin muttered under his breath as he anticipated what Fíli had done. He held a hand in front of his face while exhaling heavily. He did not want that pointy-eared prince to enter his Kingdom again, though of course he remembered their promise that he was to come and go as he wished. So far Legolas had not returned since the birth of Kíliel, and Thorin had hoped he would stay away, though the hope was half-hearted. He knew Tauriel saw to him as a brother, and that it was not in Thorin's place to deny her his love, but it was uncomfortable.

Fíli eyed his uncle, though continued: «That is why I sent one of the ravens to find Legolas last month. I told him the date of the wedding and that we would all be honored if he would attend, at least for Tauriel's sake. The raven found him, though the message I received back was inconclusive, as Legolas did not know when he would be back in these parts. He did not promise anything, though he said he would try and make it.»

«Why did you not speak of this to me earlier?» Thorin growled.

«I did not want to build a hope for Tauriel. If he will not come it would have been twice as hard for her to go through with the wedding, and I do not wish that kind of pain for her.» Fíli spoke easily, his tone matter-of-factly as he looked at Kíli with a half-hearted smile.

Kíli laid a hand on Fíli's shoulder, his smile wide as he thanked his brother silently. Again he could not believe how he could have thought of it when none of them had. He was indeed the future King, and Kíli was glad for it.

«I'm always here for you, Kee!» Fíli grinned and clapped his brother's back. «But do not thank me yet. I do not know for sure that he will come. What we now need to do is to make Tauriel understand that no matter what happens today, it is about the two of you, and your love for each other.»

«I will talk to her,» Thorin suddenly announced, causing everyone to look at him with shock and awe. «If it was not for me you would not be getting married in the first place, I believe you owe me some credit.» He growled and glared at their reaction.

Dís was first cautions, then she smiled and reached on her toes to place a kiss on her brother's cheek. «Forgive us, brother. Of all your stubbornness, you sometimes surprise us, that is all. But it is a good idea. If someone can make her see the sense of dwarven stubbornness it is you, our King.» She said, her voice humble, and Thorin tried to hide the crooked smile that grew on his lips of her words.

Kíli felt his heart lighten when he was again reminded that he had the support of his family. He sometimes forgot it when all seemed dark and without hope. Still he felt the coldness of the doubt, for what if Thorin could not convince Tauriel? Kíli could say nothing he hadn't already said to convince her of his love. He had never in his life hoped that Legolas would come to them, but now he hoped, and prayed to Mahal that the elf would not be too late.

*

As if hearing Kíli's pray, Legolas rode hard, his white horse foaming by the mouth as they laid mile after mile behind them. He pushed as hard as he dared, caring as he did for the beast and not wishing it any harm, but he would not be late, not on this day. It was not acceptable. Tauriel, his only sister, needed him, and he would not let her down as he had done once before.

He was getting closer to the Mountain, but it was still many miles left, and he did not know how late on the day the dwarves held their marriage ceremonies. He crossed his fingers for them to, much like the elves, have their weddings at the first starlight in the evening, but he dared not to trust that hope.

So he kept pushing, driving the horse over the hills with such speed it felt like they were flying. That's when he saw the Mountain rising on the horizon finally. Legolas grinned, and pushed his horse even harder. He could be there within an hour if the horse kept the pace. It would have to.