Rhonwen soon returned to the group gathering outside the mountain entrance, her breathing labored. She was not used to this much walking all at once, calling together all the mothers and children. But now it was done and time remained to show what Coriann would say. 

"Attention everyone!" It was Kiliene who was speaking. 

Silence fell upon the crowd of dwarves and all eyes turned to look at Coriann and Kiliene. 

He continued, "My wife and I have surveyed the damage. While this is a great tragedy, there is hope. We can rebuild this stronghold and make sure something like this never happens again. Now, this will take a lot of work, and winter is coming. We don't have time to dilly dally and take a long time in rebuilding. I have been informed that we are waiting on supplies from the dwarf communities around us to reach us. In the meantime, this is what we need to do. The upper halls are livable, they just need a good cleaning and some repair work, but they don't need to be entirely rebuilt. The lower halls are another matter. Coriann?"

"I've had a look at the lower halls, and as Kiliene said, they're in a completely different state from the upper halls. Everything down there is doing to have to be completely redone, this includes the kitchens. I want two clean up crews made up of all able bodied men and boys. This will include the children that are old enough to understand and follow directions."

The younger boys cheered at this and the ghost of a smile flitted across Kiliene's face as he laid out the next instructions. "One group will work to clean up the upper halls, that way we can at least move back inside the mountain. The other group will work to clean up the lower halls. I will head up the first group and Thorin will head up the second group. Coriann will take all able bodied women and girls and work on taking care of the outdoor living arrangements until we can bring everyone back inside. Any questions?"

There were murmurs of "no" and shaking heads. 

Kiliene clapped his hands together. "Good! Then let's get to work!"

Rhonwen turned, watching as the dwarves surged in waves up to the entrance of the mountain, glad to have direction and leadership at last. Thorin, though a capable leader in most circumstances, was at a loss as to how to best deal with this new dilemma. 

"So, Coriann's back!" 

Rhonwen turned to see Kíli coming towards her, blackened by soot. 

"What happened to you?" she exclaimed. 

"Oh, ran into Thorin and we all fell down, the wreckage we were carrying out collapsed on top of us. So yes, we are all three filthy now. Splendid, don't you think?"

She chuckled. "When are you and Fíli ever going to grow up? Our poor child!"

"Which one, Fíli or this one?" He rested his hand for a moment on her swollen belly. 

Rhonwen smirked. "You know which one I meant. Now I must not keep you. The sooner the mountain is cleaned, the sooner we can sleep beneath a roof."

Kìli's face sobered up considerably. "Aye, you are right. Well then, I'll be off." He raised his hand in a salute and sauntered off. 

---

Days passed and the halls of the stronghold stood clean, albeit empty, once more. While the men and boys had cleaned the halls, Coriann had taught the women and girls how to erect temporary shelters to protect everyone from the cool mountain night air. She had also taught them how to set up snares to catch rabbits and smaller game. But she did the larger hunting herself, sometimes taking Hama with her in his sling on her back, other times leaving him with Kiliene or someone else who was willing to watch him. 

On one particular evening, she came back to the clearing with a deer on her shoulders after being gone the whole afternoon. But now, the mountain was ready for its people to return into it, where it could provide them with more protection than the trees of the forest could. 

Coriann watched as the dwarf community wound their way up the road, a look of worry creasing her forehead. Kiliene glanced at her and she muttered,"I'm worried about Rhonwen, Kiliene. She's heavy with the child, she shouldn't have been outside for so long on half rations. I hope this ordeal doesn't harm her or the child."

"Rhonwen is strong, I believe she'll be just fine. I'm concerned about the supplies we're waiting on. It's almost been a month since they were sent for. They should have been here by now."

Coriann nodded and pursed her lips. "I'm going to look for them. As you said, they should have been here by now."

"What?! No! I'll go looking for them!"

"But my love," Coriann gently touched his arm. "You're needed here. The people, even Uncle Thorin, are leaning on you. I'll only be gone a couple days. And if you want, I'll leave Hama with you."

"Mmmm.... I still don't like it. But you're right. We will eagerly await your return."

Oh you goose," she laughed. "I'll leave in the morning."

The last of the dwarves entered the mountain and Kiliene and Coriann went inside. A silence still reigned within the halls, and Kiliene wondered if the stronghold would ever hear the noise of daily life again. He looked down at Coriann and slid his hand into hers. It seemed as if a lot rested on their shoulders.

~~~

Rhonwen sighed in contentment at sleeping once again in her room. It was a tremendous relief to not have winds constantly blowing on her and to have a roof overhead to shelter her from the rain. Though they no longer had a bed, she was used to sleeping on hard ground. The polished stone was in some senses more comfortable than the rough and uneven ground outside the gates. 

"You glad to be back?" Kíli said, closing the door and settling beside her, one candle still holding the darkness at bay. 

"Mhmm," she agreed. "For once, I feel safe when sleeping."

He laughed. "Do I not keep you safe enough?"

She turned and smiled at him. "Aye, you do. But I am glad to have walls and a roof about us again."

"Fair point." He yawned loudly. 

"Do you know when the supply wagons will come?" she asked suddenly. 

He blinked his eyes open. "Nay, but Coriann mentioned she would try and look for them tomorrow. Now get some sleep, dearest." He leaned over and kissed her forward before blowing out the candle, leaving them in darkness. 

Rhonwen smiled and closed her eyes, more than willing to rest her weary body. 

~~~

It was warm and sunny the next afternoon as Rhonwen and Dís supervised the young lads and lasses cleaning out the last of the rubbish from the mountain and putting the new furniture and goods salvaged back in. 

Straightening and groaning at the sudden pain in her back, Rhonwen squinted against the sun, looking down the mountain. 

"Dís," she asked suddenly. "Is that Coriann?"

Before her mother-in-law could answer, she saw Kiliene, holding Hama, rush down the mountain path in an odd half-run, half-walk. 

"I suppose that's your answer," Dís winked. 

Rhonwen smiled and set off, her pace much slower. "Coriann!" she cried as she drew near. "Why didn't you tell me you were going by yourself?"

Coriann shrugged as she led the supply of wagons up the mountain. "I didn't trust either Fíli or Kíli to come. Besides, it wasn't too far. The wagons were slowed by broken wheels among other things." She grinned. "But the food is here now, so all is well, wouldn't you say?" She turned and kissed Hama on his forehead. 

He giggled and cooed in response. 

"Aye, I agree. I shall go tell Kíli." Rhonwen returned the way she had come, feeling a great weight lifted from her shoulders. They could live in the mountain again and they had food now. All their worries were gone. 

Perhaps they would make it through after all. 

Yeet. A time jump is coming up, but I hope this was a satisfactory ending to the trauma. XD Let me know if you enjoyed!