Several years passed, the children grew and life was good. Fili and Kili had another child a year after Thorin and Bilbo had Thirus, this time Fili carried and they had another girl who was the spitting image of Kili. Dis and Dwalin married that year and then surprised every one when Dis announced that she was with child a few months later. They had a girl who they named Dwina.

Arien and Klana were inseparable, Thorin mused that they would probably have a soul bond and that only time would tell. Arien was built much like Thorin and looked very much like him with her long black curls and bright blue eyes, her temperament was similar to his though she was not as gruff and adored her family. Thirus was morel like Bilbo in stature and in temperament, he was very loving.

When Arien was five and Thirus three, Bilbo brought up the idea of having another child to Thorin, the dwarf king was hesitant at first. Bilbo's scares while pregnant with Arien and the miscarriage before Thirus had shaken him greatly even though both children were healthy and strong.

A flu that winter stopped their discussions of another child as Thorin was among the people more and Bilbo was helping with the ill. Then they tended and worried over their own children when they became sick. Thorin fretted over the children and did not leave them until both had made full recoveries.

It was a couple of months later when life changed...