Chapter Text
After reclaiming Erebor, they had established trade relationships with Laketown, but only few things were bought in bulk. As only few dwarves had returned yet, it would not have made sense to have their own market.
That was why, on a nice day in spring, Fíli went to Laketown to buy some embroidery floss for his mother. She was a busy woman these days, and the only dwarf living in Erebor who could embroider garments fit for a king. It just would not do for Thorin to present himself in pelts and grubby leather.
Fíli sang as he walked, through the ruins of the old town, and through the gates of the new. The market was easy enough to find, but the search for the stall his mother had described to him was a bit more difficult. There was more than one seller of embroidery equipment.
“A lass with amber hair and a nice, round face”, Dís had said. So the thin, dark-haired woman couldn’t be the right one. Neither could the old lady.
And then, suddenly, he knew he had found her. Fíli stared for several moments, until he remembered his manners and averted his gaze. What a woman!
Staring at his feet, he stepped a bit closer to the stall. “Excuse me.”
“How can I help you?”
Now it would be rude to not look at her, so he cautiously lifted his gaze. She was just as beautiful as he remembered, but now with a pink flush on her cheeks that made her even more lovely.
“Um. I would like to purchase some of your goods.” He cleared his throat. What was it again he wanted to buy?
“Of course”, she replied quietly, averting his gaze.
He had said something stupid. Everyone here wanted to buy something, that was why people came here! “Embroidery floss. For ...”
The vendor seemed to have regained her composure after having had to hide her shock at his stupidity. “For your mother?”
Fíli nodded. “She needs ruby-red, emerald green and granite grey. And lots of sapphire blue.”
“I am no expert on this, but Lady Dís told me that precious stones come in many different colours, and some rubies are a different shade than others.” She pointed to a selection of red floss on the counter. “Which one of those?”
He took from his pocket the gems she had given him. “There – she gave me those to compare to ...”
Immediately the vendor set to work, holding several shades of red floss against the ruby, several of green against the emerald, and so forth, without ever touching the gemstones he had placed on the countertop.
When he nodded his approval, she wrapped the flosses in a piece of cloth and handed them to him.
Fíli picked up the gemstones, and shuffled his feet. There must be something he had forgotten ... ah, yes, that was it. “Um. How much ...?”
She stared at him. He must have used the wrong words. “Oh, yes, five copper coins a piece.”
Carefully, Fíli counted the coins onto the countertop. “Thank you. Very much. For helping me pick the colours and ... and everything.”
“You are welcome.”
Now, there was nothing more to say, and so Fíli wished the vendor a good day and left the market.
On his way home, the sky seemed bluer, and the birdsong sweeter than before. Amber hair ... yes, that was about right, though it had reminded Fíli more of honey. Beautiful either way. Maybe mother would be busy next week, too.