Hummingbird Heartbeat

Chapter 48

Chapter 48

It was December 21st. Durin's day. The Solstice. The end of Autumn, beginning of Winter. Kili had sat on the ramparts every day for a month, watching the horizon. Tauriel sat with him, humming softly and making sure he ate.

"She's coming. I know it," he would tell her every time he looked at the sky.

"Yes, Ki. I know," Tauriel responded with conviction. So they waited. Thorin kept busy, doing everything, anything, to keep his mind off her. The music was still in his head, strong and clear, so she must be okay. But where was she? A Raven had arrived at the Mountain in early September telling him she was Rivendell and sent all her best wishes, saying she was studying a few tricks to help rebuild Dale and Erebor. He didn't have the heart to send a message back. So on the dawn on Durin's day Kili sat on the rampart, watching the sky and waiting. Waiting. Tauriel arrived with some thick furs and curled next to him on his little wooden bench.

"She will come," she whispered in his ear and kissed his cheek. Kili tilted his head onto her shoulder and hummed deep in his throat.

"She promised today at the latest," he murmured. "If she doesn't come tomorrow I'm going out looking for her."

"And I will go with you," Tauriel said without a seconds thought. Kili twined his fingers with hers and she smiled faintly. So they sat waiting.

On that particular day, Alfred had been caught stealing bread from a family and had been brought to Erebor, since Bard seemed to think that a real King having a say in punishment was a good idea. Thorin thought he was just tired of dealing with the scum. Considering it was Alfred, considering it wasn't the first time, and considering the family was two grandparents and three babes, Thorin was ready to chuck him in the lake with a stone tied to his balls.

Alfred was begging and wheedling and Fili was half asleep and Thorin was unimpressed when Bofur came charging into the hall with a raven on his arm. Alfred scrambled out of the way as Bofur charged up the steps to the throne. He had a shit eating grin on his face and something clenched in his hand. He handed the slip of paper to Thorin who unfolded it quickly, and stared at the single word on the page.

Noon.

He practically ripped his crown off his head and marched down the central walk towards the doors.

"My lord-" simpered Alfred and Thorin all but kicked him into the caverns below.

"Dungeon," he snapped to several guards and Alfred wailed in protest but Thorin didn't hear. "Bofur, find the rest of the Company, get them to the gates, Fili run and tell the kitchens to get a feast ready for tonight. Have your mother's maids set a room for her."

"Right-o."

"Yes, Uncle!" and the two were off like a shot. The raven alighted on Thorin's shoulder and crowed in a laughter.

"Excited you be. Haha. Excited to see."

"Very excited," Thorin breathed and charged up the steps to the rampart. Kili and Tauriel looked up as he ran to the edge looking out over the fields.

"What. Uncle what is it?" Kili asked in worry. Tauriel smiled faintly. She knew that look on Thorin's face.

"Noon. She'll be here by noon," Thorin rasped and Kili gaped then leapt out of his blankets.

"I need a bath!" he cried and dashed into the palace. Tauriel laughed and gathered up the furs.

"I missed her," Tauriel commented casually.

"As did I," Thorin breathed, eyes fixed on the sky above the Long Lake. By noon the whole Company and Tauriel and the Lady Dis were gathered at the gate in various degrees of overdressed, very dirty and too excited to hold still, the latter being Kili and Ori. Fili was making an attempt at decorum, being the next king and all, but he was just so fidgety.