#i love putting aria in a different outfit each time i draw her but keeping robin the same. shes got 10 of the same outfit she cycles throug

[fiendishartist2]

"god i hate you" "don't i know it"

[robertdowneyhiddlesbatch]

4. Journey

When Fili turned 18, dwarftown had the biggest party ever seen. The celebration was for Prince Fili's confirmation as Thorin's heir. Everyone knew that this deal was subject to change once Thorin had his own children (which Fili couldn't wait for), but for now the heavy crown went to Fili. The boy-now man- had been preparing weeks ahead for the ceremony. He would need to show that he would be capable of protecting and feeding his people by slaughtering a wild ram. He would then be dressed in ceremonial clothes to address his subjects about what promises he would keep in his rule. The people would discuss if his promises were worthy, and if they approved, then Fili would be crowned as the king's heir.

Fili had never in his life been more stressed and afraid. There was so much he could get wrong, but he also had so many people to have his back. His uncle inspired him with stories of his own confirmation and the promises he made. His little brother help the best way he could by taking away the tension and providing jovial suggestions. The best help him from his “godmother”; a member of the public.

Fili had been stuck with forming his own speech, wanting to combine the old and the new. Watching him stress, Aria suggested he take notes from the people he would one day rule. Fili tagged along when Aria went on a door to door sale, giving him the opportunity to converse with the people and ask what they would like to see in their lives. The tour was successful and he had enough to try and make his own speech of The Word.

The Durin family, Aria included, held a small private birthday party for Fili the night before his actual birthday; a small token of peace before his life became hectic as a crown prince. They shared stories from the past, played games and sang songs, and had a merry good time. The boys went to bed early to prep for a long day tomorrow and a guard walked Aria home. Thorin stayed up, looking over the outfits he had made for Fili’s confirmation. There was no Mithril in the blue Mountains, so Thorin had done his best to find the next best thing to use for an armor for his nephew. Aria, in charge of the catering for the next day, stayed up all night to make sure everything was top notch.

The confirmation day went without a hitch. Early morning, Fili was dressed by his uncle in the special armor. Thorin give him a heart to heart and sent him out to the ring to slaughter the ram. Brave and swift, Fili  beheaded the stampeding wild sheep, earning its head as a trophy while the meat was taken to be cooked for the celebration. Next, Fili took a bath and then was dressed royally by his family, each member getting to put on a piece of the royal outfit. They left him with encouraging words, and went to join the common people before Fili addressed the crowd. He gathered his wits and walked out to the balcony, kindly looking down at the people before him. 

He cleared his throat and began his speech, momentarily locking eyes with his uncle to make sure he was doing it right. Thorin always smiled and nodded, encouraging his nephew to continue. The speech ended with Fili’s bow and he went back inside while the people debated. Of course Thorin had the ultimate say, he wanted his people to approve of their next king. The jury came to a decision and Balin went inside to collect Fili. The two appeared back out on the balcony and after an agonizing pause, Balin introduced Fili as the crown prince, heir to Thorin. 

The crowd erupted in cheer and the party officially began. Fili ran outside to join his family, greeting his uncle first. Kili and Aria bowed to the crown prince but he waved it off and hugged them together. The boys dragged Aria out to the dance floor while Thorin stood watching with the older dwarves. Later he lead the toast and gifted Fili the ram head trophy before everyone had dinner. It was almost the next day by the time the party came to an end. 

The confirmation was some months behind them when Thorin got a consignment from Bree. Thorin packed his stuff and left the boys in Aria’s care, making them promise not to be trouble. By now the boys weren’t so little anymore; at 18 and 16, Fili and Kili were itching for adventure. For now, they made work by staging fights with each other or whoever else they could rope in. Dwalin was always game, and happily kept the boys busy with sword fights. Not even the rain could keep them indoors. Of course once inside, they found ways to keep entertained, such as tossing the dishes around and drinking ale when they could get their hands on it. 

The brothers had also picked up a knack for flirting with dwarrows, something Fili enjoyed very much. In good fun, of course. Their uncle on the other hand couldn’t be bothered. Almost every eligible dwarrow had offered herself to the king, or parents had offered their daughters’ hands in marriage, but Thorin never got the hint. He did develop a nervous friendship with Aria, and his council subtly encouraged him to pursue her whenever the opportunity arose. But with the town baker, the king found himself tongue twisted, managing nothing more to talk about other than the boys or the town.

Things changed when Thorin returned from Bree. Everything changed; even the air. It was as if the rain had brought in a new day. Fili and Kili were over at Aria’s house when Thorin returned. Instead of picking them up, Thorin stormed home and gathered his council. The meeting went on till late in the night, and it wasn’t till everyone had left that Thorin remembered the boys. He swore the dwarves to secrecy, even from Fili and Kili, then went over to Aria’s house. The boys cheerfully welcomed them home, but were more excited about the gifts he’d brought for them. Aria held them all back till they’d had dinner before she let them out with their new weapons, leaving the grownups alone inside.

“Did something happen in Bree?” Aria asked as she brought some sugared buns over to the couch.

Aria’s words brought Thorin back to attention. “Huh? What makes you ask that?”

“You’ve been distracted all night. Sometimes I catch you muttering something.” Aria finally rested on the couch, sitting next to him but not close enough. “And I heard you’ve been back all morning, and only now you remember us.” She teased him with a brow.

Thorin half smiled softly. “I could never forget you.”

“Oh? I thought you’d forgotten with that load on your mind. Would you like to share, rest easy? I promise not to tell.”

Thorin sighed and stared at the window for a long minute, considering the boys. 

“I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I don’t want the boys to know yet.” He sighed again and turned back to her. “I met a wizard in Bree; Gandalf the Grey.”

Aria reached for a bun from the table then reclined back. “Ooh! That’s nice. They’re always interesting, wizards.”

“This one had quite the trick. He says it’s time.”

“For...?”

“Time to go home. To Erebor.”

Aria was speechless. “Wow.”

“He says the dragon hasn’t been seen in 60 years, and the birds are returning to the mountain.”

“Hopeful signs for certain. What are you so unsure of?” Aria went for another sweet bun and offered it to Thorin.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been back there. We were different then, and we’re different now. And there was a reason that the dragon came. The dragon sickness they called it. The gold is cursed. My grandfather fell to it.”

“But you’re not your grandfather, are you?”

It was Thorin’s turn to be silent.  

“What draws you back to Erebor; gold, or home?” 

“What would all the gold in the world mean if we don’t have a home? Fili and Kili, live separated from their birth mother. They’ve never once seen the home that they rightfully deserve. They’re princes, heirs of Durin. Yet they are provided no luxury of it. I will see them in Erebor even if I never get to it myself.”

Aria smiled at his love for his nephews. “How will you get there? Do you know your way back?” 

Thorin sat straight and produced a scroll from his jacket, unrolling it on the table to reveal the map of Arda. Aria shuffled closer to take a better look. 

“Mahal! This is...”

“The map. To the lonely mountain. A forgery of it, anyway.” 

Aria ran her hand over the drawing of her kingdom. Thorin watched her curiously.

“You know, I don’t think I remember when I was in Erebor. I was so little.”

“It’s the greatest dwarf kingdom in all of middle Earth. Valleys and tunnels and chambers anywhere you look. The roof shines at night, with the light of all its gems and stones.”

“Sounds beautiful.”

“It is.” Aria didn’t notice Thorin looking at her.

“So when do you leave?” Aria asked, finally reclining back.

“Tomorrow.” 

“And Fili and Kili. They will... go with you?”

Thorin pitied her for her concern. “I don’t think there’s a force strong enough on Arda to keep them back.”

“You will watch over them, won’t you? Keep them safe?”

“Of course I will! They’ll have to go over my dead body before I let those monsters close to my boys.”

While Thorin was passionate about the safety of his sons, Aria found the wrong opportunity to laugh.

“You think it’s funny?” 

“No! Not ever!” She giggled, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t take you seriously with the dust on your mouth.”

“Dus- wha?” 

Before he knew what was happening, Aria’s hand jut out to his face, her fingers brushing off the sugar dust off his beard. Apparently, it had been instinctive on her part, as she froze once she realized what she was doing. Aria’s fingers rested dangerously close to Thorin’s mouth and, caught in a daze, he sucked the tips into his mouth. Aria drew in a sharp breath, bringing attention back into Thorin’s mind, but he didn’t want to pull away. In truth, he wanted to pull her even closer. Without breaking eye contact, Thorin tentatively grabbed her hand, releasing her fingers from his mouth to put them on his cheek. Aria reflexively came closer, her other hand sitting on Thorin’s chest. A coil broke in his mind and Thorin suddenly leaned over Aria until she was laying on her back. He felt her body rise and fall underneath his, dangerously tempting him. Her eyes glittered brighter than the Arkenstone, calling him closer. 

“Thorin,” Aria breathed his name and he lowered his face, reaching closer and closer to kissing her. His lips were a breath away from hers, feeling wet warmth coming from her mouth. Half a second more and he’d kiss her, his mouth on hers and 

“Thorin!”

“Uncle Thorin!”

Thorin instantly let go of Aria and sat up, jumping off the couch. Aria too sat up immediately, breathless over what had almost happened. A second later, the boys ran into the room. 

“Uncle Thorin, what would be your weapon of choice in battle, a bow or a sword?”

“Fili says bla bla bla But I think blah blah blah.”

Thorin couldn’t here properly with the blood rushing in his head.

“Boys! There are benefits to both. And we’ll need them both. It’s late, we should go home.” He didn’t wait and stormed past them to the door. 

Kili and Fili looked between them and shrugged. Aria had stood up by the time.

“You boys get some sleep now, long days ahead.” 

She kissed them both in turn and sent them off running home. She closed the door behind them and pressed herself against it. Oh Mahal! She had a lot to bake.

 ch3 ch5