"E-Esst!" hissed a baby dwarf, Glimi, as his father chuckled. Gloin was happy his son showed signs of speaking already. Soon enough, there would be an axe in his hand and he would be chopping everything in sight.
"E-Efsssst!" the baby tried again. Gloin had no idea what his son was trying to say, but he hoped it would be something like "father." With the "effsst's", though, he doubted it.
The Glimi screwed his face up, the stubbornness of a dwarf showing. "El-l-l-ss."
"C'mon, laddie," said Gloin, already wanting to brag about his son's new ability to talk (or to almost).
Glimi glared, baby features scrunching up. "Elv-sssss."
Gloin stared for a moment, think his son's first word was "elves," but really, how would the baby even find out about those pointy-eared freaks? The dwarf shook of the thought and continued to watch his son.
Glimi's mouth opened again and a few sounds came out. A second later, the dwarf-ling was shouting his first word. "Elves!"
Gloin was shocked, but then it turned to humor. Elves, it had to be elves! Elves, the name of the creatures that left them without aid in battle, was the first word Glimi, son of Gloin, uttered. The dwarf laughed like mad, thinking this would be a good story to tell his mates.
Glimi seemed to be fond of the new word. "Elves! Elves! Elves!"
Gloin nodded, chocking out, "Elves!"
A/N: Thank you soooo much to Frodo's Sister for the idea. Ice cream for you! :D