Thorin waited until Dis, Rhonwen, Fíli, and Kíli had left the room. Then he turned and leaned against the mantel the the Council Chamber, thinking. He played with the emerald ring in his hand. Though it wasn't the orginal ring that had been given to his grandfather's grandfather, it still was a ring that his grandfather, Thror had worn as a symbol of his rule. It wasn't as important, or as great as the Arkenstone, but Rhonwen's father, Falin had risked his life to enter Erebor... He sighed, and came back to the present.

Balin and Dwalin were discussing the doings and history of Falin. They had not known he had married or had children. But of course, it was more than a hundred years since Smaug had entered Erebor. Soon, they finished and one by one, they departed for their own chambers for rest.

Somewhere else in the mountain city, Fíli and Kíli lay on their cots in their tiny room. Tiny, but not because it had been built that way. No, it was small, yes, but with plenty of room. One must take into consideration the fact that two dwarves, sleeping on cots on the floor, their clothing, and other items, not to mention weapons, do take up a lot of room. Kíli rolled over and looked at the ceiling. He turned his head and looked at Fíli, who slept lightly beside him. "Fíli," Kíli hissed.

"Hmm?" Fíli asked, rolling over, and opening his eyes sleepily. "What is it now, Kíli?"

"Nothing. But I can't sleep. Can't you?"

Fíli, now wide awake, smiled, "Yes, I can."

"I wished I could drop off as easily as you," Kíli said, jealously.

"You could, if you had something to think hard about."

"Is that what you do?" asked Kíli, obviously disgusted.

"Aye, brother."

"Well then, what did you think about tonight? Nothing interesting has happened since Glóin over turned the table in his excitement a few days ago and spilled food and drink in everyone's lap."

Fíli laughed. "Well, there is that one arrival."

"You mean Rhonwen?"

"Well, who else? The snow?"

"What's so interesting about her?"

"For one, she's the only dwarf we've met that doesn't have a beard."

"No," Kíli said slowly.

"She braved the wild to finish a mission that was given to her dead father."

"That's true," Kíli nodded.

"Besides, I think her quite pretty. Don't you?" he asked glancing at his brother, who now lay on his stomach, his chin resting on his arms.

"I suppose so," Kíli said with careful caution.

"So go to sleep," Fíli ordered, dropping off himself.

The next morning, Rhonwen woke up and peered at the ceiling, trying to place her whereabouts. That's when she realized where she was. She sat up. Faint sunlight streamed through a window to her right. She crawled out of bed and looked out of the window at the snowy valley. A knock on the door startled her. "Who is it?" she asked timidly.

"It's Dís," was the reply. Rhonwen walked over and opened the door. Dís stepped in. "I came to wake you before my sons did, but as you're already awake that is not necessary." She finished with a smile.

"Thank you," was the reply.

"You best hurry," Dís advised.

She left Rhonwen standing puzzled. After Dís had gone, she quickly made her bed and got dressed. She had hardly finished braiding her hair when Fíli and Kíli threw open the door and entered.

"It's a good thing I woke up in time," she replied sarcastically.

Fíli laughed. "We're to take you down to the hall," he said.

"Mum said so," Kíli added, determined not to be left out.

"Alright," she said, walking towards the open door. Fíli grabbed one of her hands and Kíli the other. They passed several dwarves on their way down and Rhonwen quickly got lost in the numerous names.

Presently, they entered a long room in which was a long table with benches on either side. A great open hearth stood in one wall. "This is the Feasting Hall," Kíli explained. The place was quickly filling with dwarves.

Thorin turned around, and spoke, "Welcome to the Blue Mountains, Rhonwen."

She bowed and replied, "Rhonwen, at your service."

Kíli and Fíli led her to an empty place on one of the benches. They sat down on either side of her. Next to Fíli sat Thorin and next to Kíli sat Dís. "I'm sorry this isn't quite a feast, but this is only breakfast," Dís apologized.

Rhonwen opened her eyes wide in astonishment. "It's quite a feast to me."

Several weeks passed, and the dwarvish kingdom in the Blue Mountains began to feel like home. Fíli and Kíli were quite friendly to her, but she still felt awkward around other dwarves. Especially after an incident a few days after she arrived.

In another hall that had a smooth stone floor, many of the dwarves had begun dancing. Most of the dances were quite intricate, involving difficult footwork. (1) Fíli was already dancing with Dís, but Kíli came up to Rhonwen asking, "Will you dance with me?" She had consented and they were both matched very well in skill. Eventually, as was the custom, a few of the older dwarves began judging the dancers calling out the names of those which they thought did best.

To Kíli's and Rhonwen's surprise, they were one of the few chosen. But another dwarf stood up saying, "They should not be chosen!" The dead silence that followed was awkward.

Thorin stood up. "By what right, Ginar, do you make this statement?"

Ginar stood up too and they faced each other like combatants. "Kíli's a fine dancer, nae mistake about that. But Rhonwen isnae (2) qualified to be chosen."

"What? There is nothing--" Kíli cried out, but he was silenced by his uncle. Kíli clenched his fists, but said nothing. Rhonwen stood stiff and Fíli glanced at her.

Ginar spoke again, triumph in his voice. "She's not a proper dwarf."

Thorin swallowed hard. Balin stood up. "She is too," he said firmly. Dwalin stood also, his arms crossed.

"She doesn't have a beard. And as we all know, dwarvish women have beards. But she does not, so therefore she cannot qualify."

Before anyone could say anything, Rhonwen walked forward, facing the entire company. "Perhaps Ginar's right." She left the room with hunched shoulders and head hung.

Kíli snorted and went after her with Fíli, after giving Ginar a glance that if it could, would have turned him to salt. Thorin immediately started lecturing Ginar about Rhonwen's history, but it was lost as the brothers ran up the stairs. Fíli opened the door to Rhonwen's room. She lay on her bed sobbing. Kíli came and sat next to her. He lifted her up into a sitting position. Fíli closed the door.

"I'm sorry," he began.

"It's not your fault," she said bitterly.

"I know, but we're still sorry," Kíli put in, placing his arm across her shoulders. Rhonwen leaned against his shoulder. Fíli sat on the other side of her.

"If I challenged Ginar to mortal combat, would that make you happier?" Fíli asked.

Rhonwen smiled through her tears. "I don't think that would help much."

Kíli started, saying "That's an idea." He turned excitedly to Fíli and Rhonwen. "How about Rhonwen challenges Ginar to combat, --it doesn't necessarily have to be mortal-- and if she wins, he has to keep quiet about that point."

"And if she doesn't?" asked Fíli.

"I'll leave and go back to Esgaroth," she said.

"You won't really leave, will you?" asked Kíli.

"We'll see."

(1) I intend that the dances be similar to céilidh dancing.

(2) I tend to use a lot of Scots' English for the accents used by the dwarves.