Saving the Sons of Durin

Thand Thirtui-Tád

Ellía's eyes slowly fluttered open as she was awoken by the bustling and chattering of dwarves in the outside corridors. The elf groaned as she she sat up in her bed and rubbed at her eyes. Her mind was throbbing, no doubt from the ale she had drank the night before, but nothing compared to how she had been after her 50th name-day. Ellía's sock-clad feet hit the cold floor as she picked up her dressing robe that had been draped on the chair next to her bed.

A soft knock sounded on the door as she was securing the cord on her gown. "Come in.", she called and turned to see who it was. A sleepy Kili and Fili stumbled into her room. The youngest prince did not hesitate as he flopped onto the elf's bed and Fili sunk into the armchair, both not saying word.

"Well, good morning.", Ellía chuckled as she looked the two princes over. Both looked a bit disheveled and could probably due with another few hours of sleep. "Good morning", came Kili's muffled reply as he rolled over on the bed and pulled the covers over himself. "Why do you not seem as miserable as we are?", Fili questioned with a childish frown. "Because I know how to pace myself. I seem to recall the pair of you having a drinking contest towards the end of the night. And you were already having to hold one another up before that." The girl laughed as she took a seat at the vanity.

Kili groaned from the bed, "But you drank quite a bit. You should look like a troll along with us." The elf smiled at them through the mirror as she braided her hair back. "Well, if it helps, I feel as though that goblin king is pounding against my skull, singing his horrible song." She told them. Fili and Kili shared a look before the oldest prince said with a smile appearing, "I suppose that helps our mood."

Ellía shook her head as her smile grew. She finished her braid off with a pice of leather tied tightly around the bottom. "So, what brought you to my room this morning?", she asked as she turned to face them. Once again, the brothers had a silent conversation in one look, before Kili said, "Um, well. We're actually hiding at the moment." Ellía looked at them suspiciously. "And just what or whom are you hiding from?".

"We are supposed to being continue our lessons with Uncle today. Dwalin came to our rooms and drenched us in ice-cold water before instructing us to report to the records hall." Fili explained. "Ah. I see now. You are simply using me", the girl said with mock annoyance and an eye roll."It sounds rude when you put it that way.", Kili huffed. Ellía laughed as she went to her wardrobe, grabbing a clean pair of tunic and trousers.

"That's because it is rude, Ki. But, I think I will be able to find it in my heart to forgive you if we can go get some breakfast?", The elf replied with a grin at the two princes. "But we're meant to be hiding from Uncle. He will surely be down there.", Fili groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Ellía sighed as she headed into the washroom. "Do what you will, but I am going to eat my weight in Bombur's cooking to chase away what is left of last night's celebrations!", She called as she shut the washroom's door to change in private.

~~~~~

Twenty minutes later, Ellía was sitting happily at a long table, with Nori and Ori, eating a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon. "Ya'know, you two would enjoy the meal much more if ya were actually sitting' at the table with us.", Nori chuckled before shoveling a bite of eggs into his mouth. Ellía smiled and peeked under the table and was meet with two grumpy sons of Durin. "Just hand me more bacon...", Kili snapped and held out his hand.

Ori quickly placed a few pieces of bacon in his prince's hand before turning back to Ellía. "A-anyways, I was wondering if there was a moment today, t-that I could collect your first-account of our company's journey?", The young dwarf said nervously. "Of course! I'd be happy to. Although, I'm not sure how interesting it would be.", She replied honestly. Ori shook his head quickly and began to disagree, but their king approaching their table quietened him.

Nori, Ori, and Ellía all smiled at Thorin and bowed their heads for a moment before meeting his gaze again. "You three wouldn't happen to have seen two princes avoiding their duties to their people?", Thorin asked as he glanced between the three in front of him. Ori's eyes widened and he busied himself with a sketch in his journal. Nori shoved the remainders of his breakfast into his mouth. Thorin sighed and turned his gaze to focus solely on the elf.

Ellía smiled sheepishly up at him as quiet mutterings could be heard under the table. Thorin sucked in a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I swear on Durin's tomb, if I have to count to three like when you were children-", Thorin began to growl, but the two princes scurried out from under the table. Both knocking their head on the wood. "Oh! Fili! Would you look at that! We fell asleep under a table again! Ellía! You were supposed to wake us!" Kili said with his best surprised look.

Naturally, Thorin didn't buy it for a second. "Throne room. Now." He ordered calmly. Kili huffed and spun own his heel, calling out a goodbye to them. Fili glanced at Eliía and seemed like he was going to say something, but changed his mind. He hurried after his brother without a word. The elf stared after him, confused, but Thorin's voice brought her attention back to him. "Another raven arrived in the early hours this morning. Your kin seems to be ahead of schedule and will be passing Dale around nightfall." He told her.

Ellía's eyes lit up and she stood up. "Truly? They are arriving tonight? Was there any mention of whom?", she questioned rapidly, making Thorin hold out his hand to stop her. A small smile appeared on his face as he said, "No, but from the reports, it seems like the whole city of Rivendell." This made the girl even happier. Thorin firmly patted the girl's shoulder and said, "No matter if you stay or go, we'll always be there for you."

'Will I stay or go?...' , Ellía wondered to herself as Thorin said his goodbye and went to make sure he hadn't lost his heirs again. What would she do? No matter her decision, she would be separated from people she loved and cared for deeply. "Uh, would now be a good time then? Since your family is arriving tonight?", Ori spoke up.

"Oh-Um, yes! Let's do it now."Ellía replied, trying to ignore the question that everyone was wanting an answer to...

Will I stay here or return home?...

A/N

Super delayed/short chapter, but working on new one!!

- hawkins_2000

**Sorry for any typo or grammar errors, No editing done.