Dwarven Denouement

6

"Do want anything to drink?", Fili offered. Gesturing towards his house. Neana shook her head,"Oh no! I don't want to impose."

"Oh please, my mother would love to meet you!"

"I don't know-"Fili grabbed her hand and led her to his house.

"Hey ma we're home!"

"In the kitchen dear!" When they walked into the kitchen Fili let go of Neana's hand, though she wished he wouldn't have. His mother was over the stove, stirring something in a pot."I hope you boys are hungry..", she said,"I made enough stew to feed a troll-oh!" She had turned around and noticed that instead of Fili and Kili in the doorway, there was Fili and a young girl instead.

Being rather surprised she looked at Fili,"Who's this?"

"Oh I'm so sorry madam! How rude of me! I am Neana Zirak.", Neana replied before Fili could. Curtsying while she introduced herself. Dis was quite surprised now."No need for such formality dear! Just call me Dis, no more of that 'madam' nonsense.", she said patting Neana's head."We were out by the lake and I offered Neana a drink.", added Fili. "By all means take whatever drink you want! Well, except for the ale of course.", Dis chuckled at her joke. And Neana giggled to, which made Dis smile.

After they both had some water, Fili led Neana up to the houses study. He showed her all the weapons and told her stories told to him and Kili by their uncle. The last thing he showed her was a map. Being curious, she asked,"What's 'The Lonely Mountain'?" Fili nearly choked on his water. "You've never been told the story of Erebor?!" Neana simply shook her head looking interested. "Well I guess I'll have to tell you.", Fili said sitting in a chair. Neana walked in front of him and sat down. She looked up at him expectantly, waiting for him to begin.

He told her about the days of old. About how the mighty dwarves of Erebor once lived in the Lonely mountain. He described what each room looked like just as his uncle did.

As he kept telling Neana about it, her face lit up with excitement, and her eyes sparkled with wonder. Then came the part where the terrible dragon Smaug took the mountain and killed many dwarves. Only his uncle, mother, and few others escaped. And here they are now.

"Wait, so if you uncle is king, doesn't that make you and Kili princes?", she questioned.

Fili thought for a moment,"Yea it does." Neana started giggling. "What?"

"It's just, you don't exactly act how I think a prince would act."

"What do you mean?"

"Well,", she started," you play in the mud, you swim in lakes, and you hang out with commoners." Fili acted as though that appalled him."Be in the presence of commoners? How dreadful! Not even in my darkest nightmares would I want that!", he said in a deep voice scoffing at the idea. Neana found it funny as she added,"I shall try to be out of your hair as soon as possible my lord." Both of them looked and smiled at each other.

Fili was suddenly feeling awkward,"So, now what?" Neana thought for a minute before replying, "We could..um, ask each other questions? You know, like get to know each other better and stuff. I mean if you want to, I mean you don't have to if you don't want to! Obviously I can't force you to do anything-"

"Neana! Slow down you're rambling." With reddening cheeks she mumbled a weak,"Sorry."

Fili smiled,"I, would love to get to know you better."

"Really?"

"Of course! I'll go first. Uh, what's your favorite food?"

"Apples." Her answers was almost instant."My turn. What's your favorite animal?" Well. Not even the second questioned and he was stumped. But after a few moments, he answered, "I guess I would have to say dogs." Neana seemed to agree. They both continued this little game for well over an hour, and it was getting close to supper time. Neana looked outside and noticed the sun setting.

"Oh no! I'm going to be late!" Fili was slightly amused at her frazzledness, even though he knew he probably shouldn't be. "Late for what?"

"For making dinner!"

"Wait, you make your family dinner?"

"Yea.", she said sheepishly. Fili was impressed. Typically, female dwarfs his age didn't cook. He thought nothing of it. She was just walking past him when a sudden clap of thunder startled her, making her jump into Fili. Releasing her grip on his arm, she left the room. Fili followed her, wondering what had just happened

As Neana slipped on her boots by the front door, another clap of thunder sounded. Causing Neana to lose her grip and fumble the boot. Fili tried to hide his smile as he asked,"Neana, you wouldn't happen to be afraid of thunder, would you?"Neana looked up,"Well, no the sound just startles me every time I hear it."

"So you're scared of it?"

"Yea..", she answered in such a small voice, Fili could barely hear her over the downpour that had begun to happen outside. Fili smirked. "And, not 5 minutes ago I asked you, 'What's your biggest fear?', and you said you didn't have any.", he teased.

Neana hung her head,"I know. It's just that, to be scared of a sound, it's quite silly isn't it?", she asked. Looking up at him with those sparkling blue eyes expecting him to agree."No actually, I think it's rather adorable..!!", the words slipped out of his mouth before he could think. He coughed, "I mean no! It's not silly!" Neana didn't seem to catch what he said before, which was a great relief to him.

"What's your biggest fear?", she asked.

"Promise not to tell anyone?" She nodded her head, eagerly leaning forward. Durin, she was so cute. Stop thinking like that Fili! Fili then leaned forward and whispered,"Spiders."Neana made eye contact for a brief moment, keeping a neutral expression, before laughing loudly. Fili was surprised and confused. "What? What's so funny?"

"Spiders? Really? They're like this big!", she noted making a size with her fingers."They are virtually harmless!"

"They are vicious and dwarf-eating and you can't tell me otherwise.", Fili retorted. Neana stood up and bowed low. Standing back up, she said,"My apologies my lord.",

barely keeping the smile off her face.

Dis then walked into the room with a mixing bowl in her hand.

"Oh Neana, are you leaving?"

"I'm afraid so, I've got to run home for supper." Dis looked troubled for a moment,"Home...supper...home..Aha! I remember! Your father came by 20 minutes ago and said that him and you mother were going into town, so not to worry about their dinner."

"Oh."

"You could stay here for dinner if you want?", Fili offered, "It's raining Orcs and Wargs out there." Pointing a thumb to the window behind him.

"No. I'm not going to over stay my welcome." Dis started walking over to her."Uh-oh, you've done it now."

"Done what?" Before he could answer her Dis was right in front of her.

"Now listen and listen closely dear. You are, and forever will be welcome here. I have made to much for us to eat on our own. If it helps, just think of it as your helping me lessen the amount of wasted food."

"No, no it's alright! I can go home-"

Fili laughed. Neana had absolutely no idea how to handle his mother. It was quite a show to be honest."No. You are having dinner with us and that's final."

"Goodness Dis, back up you'll frighten the poor girl and she'll never come back." Thorin had heard the dispute and decided to intervene. "I will if she says she'll stay.", was Dis's respond. She never once broke eye contact with Neana.

After a minute or so Neana reluctantly nodded her head,"I'll stay."

Feeling acomplished, Dis went back to the kitchen. Neana gave Fili this look of complete bewilderment. Fili shrugged his shoulders, smiling at her. She shook her head smiling as she removed her cloak from her shoulders, and hung it up again.