Not So Lonely Mountain
 

Amaryllis grinned when they were finally close enough to the mountain to actually see details. Like the gate.

"Well, it'll be good to get inside again," she muttered. "Oh, a bath. I don't care what I have to do to get a bath, but I want one. There is far too much muck in my hair." She made a face. After all, months of traveling was hard. Even if Uncle Bilbo had done it himself first.

"Oh a bath sounds heavenly," Hyacinth agreed, nodding. "And a laundry, oh what I wouldn't give to finally wash my things." She looked up at the looming, imposing mountain. "What is it about mountains, I wonder?"

"Hmm?" Amaryllis looked at her. "What about mountains, dear?" She linked her arm through Hyacinth's, walking next to her easily.

"What makes them so attractive?" Hyacinth asked as she linked her arm with her sister's. "Obviously they are, or other races wouldn't live on them, and in them."

"I'm still not sure," Amaryllis mused. "Maybe Dis will provide better insight?"

"What now?" Dis asked with a faint smile, looking at the two Hobbits when she heard her name.

"I was just curious," Hyacinth said, turning just slightly pink. "Why mountains? What makes them so appealing?"

Dis smiled a little. "Mountains hold the greatest treasures, to Dwarves," she told them. "Mountains contain gold, gems, diamonds. Precious things with which to work." She paused for a moment. "And besides that, they are defensible, and can contain a large number of dwarves once suitably furnished."

"Well, that certainly doesn't explain why Uncle Bilbo didn't return," Hyacinth commented. "But I'm sure we'll find out."

"Yes, we will," Amaryllis said with a little smile.

"That, at least, I look forward to," Dis murmured.

"Well," Hyacinth said, gesturing to the mountain and looking at Dis. "It's your home. Lead the way."

Dis smiled. "Oh, I wouldn't be surprised if any minute now my idiotic brother comes out to greet us," she said mildly, still leading the caravan forward.

"Or possibly your sons?" Hyacinth suggested. "From how you spoke of them, it might be them instead."

"Thorin will need to greet us officially first," Dis murmured. "As King Under the Mountain."

"I think I see him." Amaryllis shaded her eyes against the sun to better see the small party approaching them.

"I think so too," Hyacinth agreed squinting a bit and also shading her eyes. She could see the approaching figures, and as they got closer she could see the obvious resemblance between the leader and Dis.

Thorin was indeed at the head of the procession, with Fili and Kili right behind him. Bilbo had opted to stay in the Mountain, as he didn't know anyone in the caravan (or so he thought).

"Dis," Thorin said with a smile as he stopped a few feet away. "It's good to see you, sister."

"I'm glad to see you in good health, brother," Dis replied. "And the mountain restored to the line of Durin."

"Indeed." Thorin smiled a little. "It will be good to have the mountain full again. Come; you must be weary after your journey." He looked at her for a moment and added, more quietly, "Your sons have missed you, and wish to speak with you. As do I."

"I'm sure that my time is going to highly sought-after," Dis said, nodding. She smiled at them. "And I'm sure you've noticed I'm not alone?"

Thorin actually did a bit of a double-take. "Dis," he said slowly, "why do you have two hobbits with you?"

Amaryllis grinned at him.

Hyacinth grinned as well.

"I offered to escort them here," Dis said. "They are Amaryllis and Hyacinth of the house of Took, and they tell me they are in search of a relative of theirs, whom they believe they will find within the mountain." Dis smirked just slightly. "One Bilbo Baggins?"

Thorin looked a little gobsmacked at that. "Of course, Bilbo is in the mountain," he said. "He's the hobbit I told you of, Dis."

"Oh good!" Amaryllis said brightly. "Then we'll go find Uncle Bilbo once we're inside."

"Word does travel, dear brother," Dis replied with a bit of a nod. "Already the clans talk of how the mountain was won back."

Thorin nodded. "As they should," he murmured. "As I said, there is much to discuss. Once we're inside."

When the group finally pulled up even with Fili, Kili and the rest of the advance welcome group, Fili and Kili immediately fell in next to Dis.

"Amad," Fili said with a smile, reaching over to give her a quick hug. Quick only because they were in front of half the new residents of the mountain, and outside, and Kili still needed his turn.

"Indeed," Dis agreed. She smiled when Fili stepped forward and she pulled him close, and Kili a moment after that. "I'm glad you are both well."

Hyacinth just hung back a little with Amaryllis, letting the dwarves do their thing. She looked up at the mountain, making note of some windows and balconies she could see.

"I wonder why Uncle Bilbo is still here," she murmured to her sister. "I mean, if the excitement is over..."

"We are," Kili assured her. "You have to come see, Amad. We've been working on rebuilding already." He grinned, fairly bouncing in place.

"I'm not sure," Amaryllis murmured. "It's hard to say. Although I daresay we'll find out when we talk to Uncle Bilbo."