Kings and Masters

Chapter 16

 The day that Fili took his first steps came as a surprise to everyone. He was still dependent on his wheelchair before then, he was still getting used to being able to feel his legs again. They seemed foreign to him somehow.

But as he rolled towards the dining hall one morning, he felt that today would be the day. He felt determined and tried to hold in his excitement. When he entered the dining room, everyone was there. Thorin, Bilbo, Kili, Asphodel, Brenna, the rest of the company. They were all finishing up breakfast and glanced up when he entered.

"You slept late," Thorin pointed out when Fili entered.

"I'm sorry," Fili responded as he maneuvered his wheelchair towards the far side of the room. Thorin watched him curiously.

As everyone watched, he felt a little nervous now. He didn't know how he felt about having such a big audience, but now was as good a time as any. Slowly, he used his arms to raise himself up. Grunting a bit from the strain, he placed one foot firmly onto the ground, and then the other. He hesitated at this point. He wondered if his legs would support him. When he looked up, he saw everyone gazing at him in amazement. He felt a flush of embarrassment as Kili stumbled out of his seat and started towards him.

"No, Brother," Fili said as Kili hurried towards him. "I can do this." Kili stopped in the center of the room and waited. Fili had a goal, if he could walk to his brother, that would be enough. He took a breath and let go of the wheelchair. For the first time since before the battle, he was standing.

He wobbled and for a moment, he thought he was going to fall, but he cautiously took one step. Then another. Slowly, he inched closer and closer to Kili. Every step was an accomplishment and each time, he wobbled and had to brace himself. He wasn't going to fall, he kept telling himself.

Finally, he was only inches away from his brother when his feet gave out. He toppled forward and Kili darted forward to catch him. Thorin was there in seconds, helping to support him.

"You walked!" Kili gasped, chuckling in delight. Fili couldn't help but grin. He'd dreamt of this for a long time, and every day that he had awakened unable to move was one more day he felt himself spiral slowly and slowly away. Now, finally, he could put this whole nightmare behind him.

Even Thorin grinned broadly and chuckled as he and Kili supported Fili, "my sister-son," he said and Fili couldn't help but bask in the praises from his uncle.

The rest of the company made room for him at the table as Kili and Thorin helped him sit and as he ate his breakfast surrounded by his dearest family, he felt things would be okay.

Over the next few days and weeks, winter passed away and spring returned to the mountain. The first waves of dwarves from the blue mountains arrived soon after the last snows melted. The company succeeded in clearing out any memory of the dragon. There was still much work to complete, but Erebor was now a home again. It's halls buzzed with activity.

As Fili roamed the halls, he couldn't believe how amazing it felt to walk. He felt as though he had had to learn to walk all over again. But today, he was standing strong and no longer depended on assistance from others. He still couldn't run much, and he had to use a cane on occasion as his legs got stronger, but he knew he had come a long way.

But today of all days, it was important for him to be able to stand strong. Today was the day of the coronation and practically all of middle earth had turned up for the occasion. He and Kili had spent the past few weeks preparing for the event. Clothiers had poked and prodded them to find the perfect prince's robes. Caterers took their orders from Bombur. The halls of Erebor were decorated for the event. More and more guests arrived by the day. There would be speeches and feasting and a grand ball, the formal event would be the grandest the dwarf world had seen in centuries. It was not only Thorin's coronation as king, but also, Erebor's re-emergence as a kingdom.