Before the Fall of Erebor: Thorin's lost years
Chapter one
Thorin was laughing as he watched his brother and sister bathing the pair were quite delightful dwarflings and at this stage had no regard for the dignity of their elder brother as heir to the throne.
"Dis stop splashing me, Frerin get out now little brother," Thorin demanded trying to sound gruff with little success. Gerda the children's nursemaid picked up Dis the two year olds little legs flailing.
Thorin passed a towel to Frerin the boy at nine was certainly capable of drying himself, although to long lived dwarves a nine year old was considered little more than a babe. Frerin was a good lad and he idolised Thorin who ruffled his hair playfully before tweaking his nose, which was getting longer and more pointed like his brothers daily. After Dis was dressed Thorin swung her up and carried her to their mother Princess Domhilda.
"Here mother take this wriggly princess please." Thorin had struggled with his dark wavy haired sister all the way. Domhilda laughed as she stoked her daughters face crooning softly after a moment the child began to settle.
Thorin watched smiling it was always considered good fortune for one of the few dwarf maids to be born and his family doted on the child. Domhilda looked at her son remembering what she had to tell him and frowned slightly.
"My son your father has asked me to discuss something with you," Domhilda was apprehensive about this but Thorin was an obedient son and should be able to understand.
"Yes my mother what is father's wish," Thorin loved and respected both his parents.
" Thorin you are almost eighteen and while this is indeed very young your father has arranged for you to be betrothed to a princess from the mines of Moria."
"What!" Thorin exclaimed in shock.
"I .. but mother I am too busy learning forging skills to have time for a wife, and I have no interest in maidens as yet." Thorin was horrified he had many hundreds of years ahead of him and he did not wish to be tied to one women at this early stage of his life.
Domhilda sighed she had known this would not be easy but her beloved husband had asked it of her and she could only try to explain.
"Thorin you are the heir of Durin and this Magthilde is a princess of Moria, by joining our two families even closer we increase our trading power, wealth and strength mightily. The king has spoken to your father about this matter and can see much good in it."
"But mother I do not even know this girl what if there is no feeling between us?" Thorin was starting to panic if his father and his grandfather wanted it he knew he would have to obey. And he knew any chance to increase his gold would definitely be to his grandfathers liking.
"Do not fear my son a course to allow you both to come to know each other has been decided upon. You will travel to Moria for six months and stay with the King there, and then you shall bring the Princess Magthilde here for the same time. And remember my son although you will be betrothed there need be no wedding for many years."
"Very well mother, please excuse me," with that Thorin inclined his head and stalked from the room.
"Oh well my sweet Dis your brother took that better than I had hoped," Dis snuggled further into her mother's ample bosom and slept contentedly not knowing that her brother's life had just been turned upside down.
Thorin spent the next few weeks trying to get in as much training as he could and responding grumpily to just about every word spoken to him. The only person who could bring him out of his funk was his little sister and then only for a short time. Even the king himself did not escape a few terse words from Thorin which resulted in Thrain sending him out to hunt for a while, which he willingly did.
By the end of the hunt Thorin was finally laughing which was a relief to his father's cousins Groin and Fundin.
"Well boys look at this tusker isn't he a brute!" Thorin held up the boars head as Groin joined in the prince's joy.
"Aye Thorin a mighty beast well done laddie," Fundin pounded him on the back gleefully he was a merry dwarf always ready with a joke even more so now that his wife was pregnant. As Thorin continued to express his joy in his achievement, Fundin decided now was the time to broach a touchy subject.
"Well my prince and are you ready for your journey to Moria to face the charms of the princess?"
Thorin's smile was replaced instantly with a dark scowl.
"Indeed not cousin I am most assuredly not at all ready to face the charms of any damsel." Thorin replied angrily.
"Now now it will not be so bad highness I meself have been wed nigh on forty years and it has been a joy, my sweet Dor has been a gift to me every day and soon she will give me a little one, surely this is not such a curse."
"Yes it is a curse Fundin I am just beginning to develop my skills in forging and battle and now I must waste time attending to the whims of a spoilt Khazad princess." Thorin would not look on any bright side of his dilemma Fundin sighed.
"Ah well Groin will be travelling with you so at least try to have good time while you are there, and do not forget how great the miners of Moria are, you can surely still improve your skills while there. You must try to look at the silver lining cuz or you will have a hard time of it."
Thorin looked at Fundin for a moment before giving him the briefest of nods which gave him some hope for the prince's time abroad.
The day had come for Thorin to travel to Moria and his parents came forth with King Thror to wish him a safe journey. Looking at the concern in his mother's eyes Thorin attempted to depart with some grace, saving his scowl till he and his guards were past the view of his parents.
"So laddie are you gonna look like you've been hit with a wet trout the whole way to Moria?" Groin asked his young charge, he was almost as mischievous as his brother.
"Just leave me alone cousin if I wish to talk I will," Thorin replied shortly.
"Very well I'll leave you to your tantrum then," Groin rode on leaving Thorin fuming about his choice of words.