Lover, Fighter

Sealed Fate

Sitting behind the long oval-shaped oak table, you eyed the people who were sitting with you. Thorin at the head of the table, Balin on his right, Thranduil on the other end of the table, Legolas on his right. In the middle of Navubela and her parents. Fili and Kili were sitting with you on Thorin's left. The heavy atmosphere lingered in the air, and you didn't have to wonder why, but you were curious why would Thorin and Thranduil sit at the table willingly. And why Navubela and her family had to be there too.

"Shall we begin?" Thorin's tensed voice cut the air like knife butter as his blue eyes glanced at the company on his table.

Thranduil nodded motioning his hand giving Thorin the first turn to speak.

"As you know, we commit Erebor to have a functional relationship with Mirkwood so we need an ambassador to work between the two kingdoms," Thorin spoke calmly, his demeanour regal, his tone of voice serious.

Lifting your brows you sneaked a peek to others, who would Thorin pick for such an important role?

"Drano, Thilrik I have chosen you for this task," Thorin said pointing at the family of Bristlebeard causing them to ogle at the king for a minute before Navubela jumped up to her feet clearly not happy. But before she got even chance to speak Thorin rose his hand looking at her sternly.

"You are gonna company them also, Navubela," he hummed enjoying the expression on their faces. Thranduil lifted his thick brow little amused as he was informed by Balin what Thorin would say in that meeting and why the king chose that particular family.

You were quietly snickering next to Thorin while trying to hold your neutral expression onto your face but it was hard. Kili glanced at you a knowing smirk on his face making you shake your head mouthing him "no" hoping Kili wouldn't do anything stupid this time. Last time he was in the meeting Kili started to slip some silly children's song lyrics in the middle of Thorin's speech and first no one knew who it was until you caught his giggling demeanour. And by the time the meeting was over, Kili was in deep trouble as his uncle was seething with anger.

"Kili, Fili you are going be company them too for the first three months to make sure they know what they are supposed to do. Report to me or Balin every two weeks," Thorin shifted his gaze to his nephews who visible were shocked and for a moment they didn't know how to react. You were as much shock as they were, you weren't expecting Thorin to give them such an important task so soon. Well, Fili was an obvious candidate but Kili?

But obviously Thorin had made up his mind and that was the end of this discussion, so after everyone had agreed on it, Balin handed them a parchment to sign where Navubela's family agreed to the terms and Fili and Kili agreed to company them for the next three months. But you could see on their faces, they weren't happy about it and you really couldn't blame them, who would want to babysit the Bristlebeards after everything that had happened. Thranduil, on the other hand, seemed rather amused by all this causing you to sigh internally, his life must have been so boring that any distraction was welcome and with Navubela's family and Thorin's nephews under the same roof, things were bound to get entertaining for the elven king.

***

On the next day, you and Thorin along with rest of the company said farewells in front of the gate as Fili, Kili, Navubela and her family and Thranduil's escort were ready to leave at first light.

The sun hadn't fully risen yet, lingering behind the mountain giving an only glimpse of its warming rays as the night frost had painted the land in white. It was so cold that you could see in the distance the lake had been covered in a cloud of white vapour that rose from the surface of it.