Chapter Text
Camden, London
April 2015
Dis opened the door to the Georgian terraced house she had lived in since the early 1990s and took in the young woman on the doorstep. She was just above average height, slender without looking emaciated, but the most eye-catching thing about her was her red wavy hair, cut pixie short. Though casually dressed, Dis immediately spotted that she wasn't wearing Marks & Spencer but designer prêt-à-porter, in this case DKNY.
The standard of clothing didn't surprise her. The moment the young woman had introduced herself when she had called, Dis had known who she was. What surprised her was that the young woman was looking for something as feeble as a bedsit, not to mention that she was in Camden searching for one.
"I'm seeking a Mrs. Whelan," the young woman said politely, without any hint of cockney in her speech, and Dis instantly recognised the voice. "I'm here about a bedsit?"
"Well, that would be me," Dis replied with a smile. "But no one calls me Mrs. Whelan. Dis will suffice."
The redhead extended her right hand, returning the smile, and they shook hands. "I'm Tauriel Ward. And please call me Tauriel."
Dis showed her around after having let her inside, ending the tour with the room in question, a decent-sized one by London standards on the top floor, which once had been an attic. These days it was a smart bedsit conversion with one large and two smaller dormers letting in plenty of light.
Tauriel took a turn, looking at everything from the kitchenette to the view. She stood by the large dormer facing the back gardens for a moment and then she opened the window, leaning on the frame while she studied the surroundings.
"My younger son used to have this room and he often climbed out the window to sit on the roof," Dis said with a small smile.
Tauriel closed the window with a nod. "I can see why. Not too difficult to do and the roof is rather flat. It's a nice view." She turned around and smiled.
"It is, but roof surfing is hard on a mother's nerves."
"I hope nothing happened." Tauriel's smile faded.
Dis chuckled. "Well, once my elder lad closed the window to teach his brother a lesson. Or so he claimed anyway. Fortunately our neighbours had left one of their windows open so he let himself in there, gave them a minor heart attack, and then he came padding through the front door in his socks."
"Did he stop after that?"
"No. The lads had a scuffle and then he continued with this habit."
Tauriel laughed and shook her head.
"Well, this is it." Dis looked around the room. "The kitchenette is obviously not meant for more advanced cooking. But being on the top floor it's nice not to have to run down the stairs for a glass of water, some tea, or to warm something simple to eat."
Tauriel nodded and smiled. "I like it."
"Everything but Council Tax is included, and the previous tenant just moved out, so it's available now."
"It would suit me," Tauriel said and her smile dimmed. "Things are a bit chaotic at the moment and I really need a place to stay."
"Well then, how about taking a look at the contract?"
Tauriel quickly glanced at the watch on her wrist.
Dis paused for a beat. "You have another appointment? I have the contract ready so it's just for you to read through the terms and conditions and sign it."
With a smile Tauriel shook her head. "No it's fine, I'm not running late."
"But there's no point in me offering you some tea." Dis smiled as Tauriel shook her head with an apologetic expression.
"Well, let's go downstairs and take care of the formalities then!" Dis said and led the way down the stairs.
Tauriel was nothing if not efficient and apparently also used to skimming fine print. Ten minutes later she signed the contract, transferred the money to Dis' account, and left with the keys to her new home.
Dis stood looking at the signature on the contract for a moment before filing it away. She couldn't help wondering why the daughter to Thranduil Ward was showing up in Camden, which was, aside from Clapham, the last place in London a Ward would go. But being a patient person, she was confident she'd find out soon enough.
The day after, Tauriel moved in. She didn't bring much – half a dozen boxes holding some books, important papers and memorabilia, a few of bags with clothes and her laptop, a very brightly coloured Berber rug, a couple of lamps, and a large computer flat screen. Even if she didn't move in with boxes overflowing with accumulated possessions, Dis ruled out a domestic abuse situation. It was a rushed move, certainly, but not desperate. She'd had enough time to pick out the essentials with care. The rest was most likely put in storage somewhere.
Over the course of the coming days Dis took note of what Tauriel was doing and quickly realised the young woman was on a desperate hunt for a job, any job, and fast. It naturally raised even more questions, but she contained them and gave her eldest son a call instead. When a weary looking Tauriel came home after what seemed like another unsuccessful day, Dis slipped her a note with a telephone number.
"His name is Fili and he's looking for staff. He's almost always looking for people, but right now they need barista staff for the café," Dis explained. "It's called 37 and it's up by the canal. Large establishment. There's a restaurant on two levels with function rooms, night club in the cellar, and a delicatessen and a café on ground level."
Tauriel looked at the note and then back up at Dis. "How...?"
"Oh, I couldn't help noticing you're looking for something and I know Fili. He's a local," Dis replied, deliberately omitting why she knew him. She hadn't told Fili who Tauriel was either, nor that the young woman was a tenant. She had a hunch it was better not to.
Ten minutes later Tauriel was out through the door again and when she came home in the evening, Dis took one look at the young woman's face as she entered the kitchen and concluded it had been a good meeting.
"I'm so grateful you called him. Thank you so much!" Tauriel said and held out an elegant box of chocolate, which Dis accepted with a smile.
"I'm only glad I could help," Dis said. "Tea?"
Tauriel shook her head. "It's no small thing you did. I have some savings but I would prefer to not touch it if I can help it. It'll be a steep learning curve though, because I have never done anything like this. Hopefully I won't make too much of a fool of myself."
Dis' keen eyes spotted Tauriel apprehensively tracing the edge of the worktop she was leaning her hip against. "When do you begin?" she asked.
"Believe it or not – tomorrow. I'm going to bed now because I'm supposed to be in by five." Tauriel paused briefly and smirked. "In the morning." They open at seven already, serving breakfast."
"I'm certain you'll do well," Dis replied jovially.
"Thank you. I hope so too." She hesitated and shook her head. "What a place! They must have three-hundred seats in the restaurant section, though it's really cleverly divided. You don't feel like it's that enormous. And the delicatessen and the café... It's just as large!"
Dis nodded and carefully put down the box on the worktop. "I know. I've been there a few times and it's impressive."
Tauriel sighed. "I'm terribly relieved, even if it's a bit daunting. But I'd better go upstairs. It won't help if I haven't slept properly!" She smiled and left with a determined stride.
Dis glanced at the box. Who could ever have guessed someone as stiff and arrogant as Thranduil would have such a daughter, she mused. Perhaps that was the explanation to the mystery, why Tauriel was here and prepared to work for seven pounds an hour, that father and daughter had become so at odds that the daughter felt she had to leave even if it meant a sharp decline in standard.
With a shrug Dis made herself a cup of tea and retreated to her own domain on the lower ground floor.
May, 2015
Tauriel's shift was coming to an end, finally, and she was so ready to go home.
She had to admit that the past weeks had been some of the toughest she'd ever had. Learning completely new skills, getting used to a physically demanding job and having to adjust to irregular hours sometimes made her so exhausted she wanted to cry.
She hadn't had many run-ins with her new boss, which perhaps was just as well. Rumours had it that he ruled the kitchen with an iron fist, and on occasion the chefs were a bit pale when they slunk out of the kitchen, but she had yet to see that side of him. Well, she had yet to see much at all of him.
The second manager in the café, Luka, was also the one to teach her everything she needed to know about coffee culture. Fortunately he was patient and encouraging which helped immensely. She'd lost count of the mistakes she made, but there had been progress too. Technically it wasn't that complicated. She mastered the basic skills in a couple of days, such as handling the espresso machine, the computerised cash register and the general routines. The difficult part was keeping track of everything and planning ahead, and doing it in tandem with those she worked with during a shift.
Though the café operation was quite simple in comparison to the restaurant, the amount of labour that went into it surprised her. She'd never given it much thought before. They had bakers and pantry chefs taking care of the bread, pastries, and cold dishes and the simple lunches. Sometimes they were as many as four people manning the café and there were kitchen porters cleaning and running the dish station at all times. During club nights the café underwent a transformation when it became an upper bar to the night club, with alcohol and loud music instead of coffee and pastries.
She was gradually falling into the routine, but she was still painfully aware that she had a long way to go before she with confidence could say she knew her job. It was something of a shock to her, because she had for so long been used to leading others and excelling at what she did.
One of the last tasks of the day before the evening and night staff took over was taking care of the terrace. The tables needed to be cleared of glasses, cups and plates, and the chairs stacked and chained down. It was a large space and even if the furniture was practical and not just chosen for their aesthetic qualities, it was still a daunting chore which took quite some time. The evening was cold and halfway through Tauriel regretted not fetching her jacket before she started.
Shivering and feeling red-nosed from the chilly air she hurried inside with the serving-tray she had brought along with her. When she swerved in behind the bar she almost stumbled over a crouching figure by the fridges under the worktop. Quick reflexes and some acrobatics saved her from stumbling and tipping the serving-tray over his head. Gripping the tray so hard her knuckles turned white she stopped short and stared down at him. He in turn had frozen, staring back up at her.
"I didn't see you," she blurted. "Sorry," she added and started to breathe easier.
He flashed her a wide smile. "Impressive. And thanks for not dropping that on my head." He nodded at her tray and then returned to filling the fridges with assorted bottles.
She continued to stare at him for a moment, vaguely recognising him. Yes, she had seen him before. He was one of their regular morning customers, swinging by just before nine o'clock to pick up a breakfasts takeaway. Though he was friendly with Luka, she had not realised he was in fact also working in this place.
He handled the bottles with neck-breaking speed, humming along to the background music, not sparing her another glance, and she pulled herself together and continued on to the dish rack. She emptied her tray, cleaned it up and turned to go back out to continue clearing tables, only to find her path blocked by him, leaning nonchalantly against the worktop.
"I don't think we've been properly introduced," he said and smiled, holding out his hand. She hesitated for a beat before she shook hands with him. "Kili. I come in on occasion when there's a crisis in the downstairs bar on weekends."
"Tauriel," she replied and offered a polite smile.
"I take it you're about to go home for the day, yeah?" He held on to her hand a moment too long before he let it go, and she had to refrain from arching her eyebrows at him.
"In another twenty minutes or so," she confirmed.
"I've been stocking up the alcohol, but is there anything else you need up here while I'm at it?"
"I think you're asking the wrong person," she replied coolly and scanned the bar area behind him for someone better suited, to whom she could direct him. She was both annoyed and amused when she noticed that he kept watching her with a small smile. He wasn't the least interested in what the bar staff might need for the evening, of that she was certain.
The newly-arrived shift leader, Anna, looked up and spotted them. Tauriel made a face of pathetic helplessness, hoping she'd pick up on her predicament and come over. Anna gave her a knowing smile in response and quietly slipped up behind Kili.
"By the look of things I say you're done here Kili," she said close to his ear, winking at Tauriel. "And aren't you sufficiently busy as it is?"
He glanced over his shoulder at her, turning on a radiant smile. "I'm always open to lending a helping hand, love."
Tauriel rolled her eyes and momentarily looked away.
Making a noise somewhere between a cough and a snort Anna replied, "I suppose there's no rest for the wicked."
Tauriel decided she didn't need to stick around for the rest of the conversation and with a firm grip on the tray she started squeezing past Kili and Anna. "Would you please excuse me?" she asked, and they obligingly inched out of her way.
With more haste than needed she moved among the tables, stacking cups and glasses on her tray. It was half-filled when she paused and shot a look back at the bar where she caught a glimpse of Kili between the coffee grinders and the espresso machine. Before he could catch her watching him, she turned away and continued filling her tray.
Kili was still firmly planted behind the bar as Tauriel returned with her clinking bounty, chatting with Anna while cleaning the espresso machine. Pretending to ignore him, she walked past him towards the dish rack where she put down her tray.
"So how does our latest recruit find this place then?" he asked casually while putting back the drip tray grate.
"Fine, I suppose," she replied, keeping her tone short. If he wanted a conversation he'd have to work a bit for it, she decided.
In the corner of her eye she caught him studying her while he polished the metal on the large machine. "You've not done this before, have you? No offence," he said apologetically, "it's just that those with little or no experience usually end up in Luka's care."
Reluctantly she gave him a sideways look and noticed a genuine curiosity, which made her pause. So he could be sincere if he wanted to. "None taken. And no, I haven't done this before." She made a face. "I suppose it's obvious I'm a bit green for other reasons than being scheduled with Luka."
His smile was friendly and warm. "Practice makes perfect. I hope you're not finding it too daunting."
"I'm getting used to it." Pausing her hands, she looked over at him and smiled slightly in return. "It's been tough though. I'll admit that. You don't know just how much work that goes into doing this before you've tried it."
He nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, it's not as easy as it looks. And people are such arses, too, sometimes, which doesn't help."
Quietly she hummed in agreement and continued pushing down the last glasses into the rack. She rinsed the dish cloth for yet another round among the tables.
"Have to say though, it's looking good. You're intent on doing a good job. Just don't burn yourself out."
She arched an eyebrow at him.
"Didn't think I would notice something like that?" He smiled. "You learn to spot the shirkers a mile away and you're not one of those." He looked at Anna with a large toothy grin, slipping back into the flirtatious act. "There. All clean and shiny, just for you."
She turned towards him, ignoring the machine, and demonstratively shielded her eyes. "Oh, I'm blinded," she cooed.
With a chuckle he stepped around Tauriel and picked up the dish rack. "What would my ego be without you?"
"Incredibly inflated, making you insufferable?" Anna suggested with a smile.
"I'm lucky to have you grounding me then." With a wink he left, heading for the dish station with the rack.
"You think he'll come back with an empty one?" Tauriel asked Anna as she watched him disappear through the back door. Anna snorted and then sighed.
"Most likely not." She gave Tauriel a measured look. "Why don't you go and pick one up? I can finish out here."
Tauriel nodded and dumped the serving-tray and dishcloth on the counter as she steered towards the back regions.
"Make that two!" Anna called out after her, and Tauriel half-turned and gave a nod.
When she approached the dish station she spotted Kili having a lively conversation with one of the kitchen porters. She slowed her stride and took a good look at him, something she hadn't actually done before.
He had picked up the basic hipster bloke-behind-the-bar look, perfected with the semi-long dark brown hair in a man bun and a three-day-stubble, but it wasn't really a dedicated look with carefully considered details such as the proper tattoos and accessories. The way he filled out the shirt and fashionably showed off his arms made it obvious that he was a card holder at some gym, suggesting a significant dose of vanity. But he also had a genuine smile and, the terrible innuendoes he had traded with Anna aside, he seemed decent and not unintelligent.
He caught sight of her and his eyebrows shot up. "Don't tell me Anna thought I'd forget to bring an empty rack back to you!"
"She did," Tauriel confirmed breezily.
"Oh ye of little faith!" he lamented and threw up his hands.
"Don't involve me in this. I'm not the faithless one," she chirped and picked up two empty racks. For a moment she considered him and then decided to tease him slightly, just for the fun of it. "Look at it this way: when you're not burdened with the arduous task of bringing us a rack, you have more time to... oh I don't know, work on the repertoire of puns and innuendos?" She smiled to take the edge off the gibe.
"I can multi-task! And I have to try them on someone, after all." He grinned at her while putting his hands on his hips, apparently not taking offence.
She shrugged lightly. "I'd expect you cool bar blokes to have a large enough audience down in the club."
He coughed a laugh and momentarily glanced away. "The cool bar blokes wouldn't mind a more intimate setting though," he said when his eyes was back on her.
Her unflappable façade nearly cracked. The kitchen porter snorted and didn't bother to hide it either.
"Keep working on that act and I might just book you in," she returned lightly. The kitchen porter started snickering and Kili pursed his lips in a vain attempt to not join in. With a slight nod she headed back towards the café.
"See you on Monday morning!" he called out after her.
She twirled around and shook her head, slowly backing away. "Sorry. I'm not serving the cool bar blokes any breakfast until Tuesday."
"Looking forward to Tuesday then!" he said with a grin.
Despite her best efforts, Tauriel couldn't quite hold back a small smile as she left the room.