There was nothing like waking up to Dwalin attempting to make breakfast. He certainly wasn't the best, but he could make it work when he needed to. She imagined that if she could see outside it would be sunny. With a light shuffle, she left her shared room with her husband, leaving the bed unmade. She stepped over toys left out in the hall, but for once she couldn't care. Ris could pick them up later.
Ris sat at the kitchen table, a drawing before her. She had doodling away and didn't notice her mother sit down next to her. When Dis began to whistle, she nearly jumped a foot in the air out of shock.
"Sorry to surprise you," Dis said with a chuckle. "Are you waiting for breakfast as well?"
Ris nodded. She was already beginning to grow a beard, even for a child her age. There seemed to be a bit more to it then the day before; Dis felt a bit of jealousy run through her. She must have gotten it from her father. When she was a young lass she'd been a late bloomer. It had taken her a while to get even a little stubble.
"Can you work faster, Dwalin? We're hungry."
"Hungry!" Ris added.
Dwalin sighed. "It takes time to make these."
"Well take less time," Dis said. "I could make breakfast and slay an orc at the same time."
Ris laughed.
"Ris," Dwalin said, "how has school been?"
Ris lost interest in the earlier conversation and began to discuss her friends and lessons. Dis listened quietly, laughing a few times, bust mostly just listening. For the longest time she thought that she'd never hear this again. It feels nice, almost nostalgic.
Almost.
But there is the here and there is the now, and she is firmly planted in it.
"And we learned about Erebor! Did you know that we're related to Thorn Oak and Fi and Ki?"
Dis froze. She tried to pretend that she had forgotten the names of a different historical figure. Sometimes Ris would even forget who Durin was. But no, there was no mistake.
Neither spoke.
"Why didn't you tell me? I want to be a princess!"
Again, neither spoke. Dis could not find her appetite, and the smell of breakfast was overwhelming. If it hadn't been hours since she last ate then she was sure that she'd vomit.
"Because," Dwalin finally spoke, "we did not want to spoil your lessons."
"Yes," Dis added.
Just as Ris was about to speak again, Dwalin spoke. His voice easily drowned out the young dwarfling's. "Who wants breakfast? I just finished."
"I do!"
Dwalin gave her three tall, fluffy pancakes. Dis just shook her head.
The stone walls of their mountain home in Ered Lindon was suddenly not so comfortable. She liked it there, she really did, and she wanted to pretend that there was nothing there.
All she wanted was a quiet life, the here and now.