"Tell us again, Uncle, tell us again!"
"Have you boys eaten your breakfast and brushed your teeth?
"Yes!"
"Do I have to ask Dis?"
"No! No, no, no, no, no!"
"Alright," the man sighed and placed Kili on his lap. Fili, much too old for such things but envious nonetheless, simply stood by his uncle's side and rested his elbows on his thigh. They were of that particular sort of children that reveled in their capability to make loud noises from their mouths which earned them the familial name 'chittering cherubs' but once on their uncle's lap they immediately shut their mouths. Kili stuck his thumb in his mouth and Fili giggled, causing the younger brother to kick out sharply at his brother's face and pretend as if he were merely going to bite his thumbnail.
"Uncle, Kili is a sissy," Fili stated matter-of-factly. Kili squinted his eyes and stuck his tongue through the gap in his front teeth, a sorry attempt at being vicious. Thorin shook his head.
"No," he said and his voice was low and comforting as it reverberated through Kili's back, "Kili is the second son, fortunate enough to be born into Durin's line but unfortunate enough to be the one who gets teased by an older brother. I'm sure there was no one there to tease you when you sucked your thumb, Fili."
"I didn't suck my thumb," Fili said proudly. The man flicked his nose and picked up his small hand.
"Then why is it so wrinkly and red? Do you want to hear the story or not?"
"YES!" Both boys screamed at the top of their lungs.
"A long time ago when your uncle's father was the owner of a great number of strong companies our family had riches and fine things to last us a million life times. People would come from miles around just to spend a minute gazing at our spectacular mansions or to meet my father."
"Were there beautiful women?" Fili asked in awe. Kili popped his thumb in his mouth.
"There were beautiful women of all sorts, Fili. Now, every week we would host parties for the family – parties such as you could only imagine now. Gold – gold was everywhere. It was wound into banners and strung about mantels, shaped into plates and mounted on walls, some of the family even wore vests that were so decorated in gold that all they could do was sit at the grand table and smile for the weight of it so heavy that they could not stand. Not only was there gold but there were diamonds and sapphires wrought of fire – precious jewels that the world did not know existed and hard stones that had been used to win every battle on the land since the beginning of the earth. And then…there was the Arkenstone."
"The Arkenstone," the boys whispered in wonder. They had heard the story of the Arkenstone a hundred times but never had they tired of the dreams of a something so wondrous, something so important that its very essence seemed to flood their veins and give them strength. At least, that's how their uncle put it.
"Yes. A beautiful gem balanced on a ring that was passed along through or family. At first glance it appeared to be made of sliced crystal but upon further inspection one would find it to be filled with all of the colors of the earth, swirling in an endless pool of mist and light-"
"What happened to it, Uncle? What happened to the stone and all of the wonderful things?"
"You shouldn't inspire questions that you're not ready to answer, brother." Right at that moment Dis rushed into the room with a suitcase in her hand and a mischievous glint in her eyes. The woman was more than beautiful – with her thick black hair and knowing eyes she was godly but her proud nature and fiery blood caused people to fear her. It's not as if she minded – she had only ever fallen in love once but when the man had died she had shunned love and devoted her time to caring for her sons and strengthening her small bank. She took one look at her children crowding around her brother and frowned.
"Boys! The tartar on your teeth is so thick that it's pushing your lips apart! Go on! Go brush your teeth! Now!"
The two ran off as fast as they could. They knew better than to disobey their mother, even where their uncle's stories were involved. Dis sighed and sat down at the kitchen table.
"How are you feeling?" She asked her brother as she raised a mug of coffee to her lips. He said nothing and instead stared for a moment into her eyes before picking up his own cup.
"I'm fine," he said, his voice intentionally rough.
"You always are even if you're not, apparently," she said sarcastically. Suddenly her eyes softened and on a whim of familiar affection she placed her hand on his. "There's no need to stress. We're comfortable here and the rest of the family is and will be until the day comes when someone in Durin's line will give strength to our reputation again."
"Do you think he will be strong enough if I fail?" The man said, tilting his chin at the path that the boys had taken. Dis chuckled.
"I made those boys, dearest brother, I know what I put into them. Nothing but persistence, strength, and wisdom." Now it was the man's turn to laugh.
"And what about your husband?"
"What about him," Dis asked with a smile on her lips, "He only provided the necessary parts."
Amongst many a shout and a clatter the two boys rushed back in and surrounded their uncle. "Look at my teeth," Kili demanded. He gave a powerful roar which Fili felt was his duty as the eldest to match.
"Our reputation will be rebuilt, Dis," Thorin said softly as he pushed Fili's dirty blond hair from his face. "It will. The sons of Durin will not have it otherwise. Would you mind if the boys were late for their classes this morning?"
Dis took a sip of her coffee. "You never ask that so I'm sure you have a good reason and whatnot. You'll have to drop them off then."
The man nodded. Dis picked up her bag, kissed her sons on the cheek, and left the room. A moment later the sound of her old black corvette could be heard speeding off on the lonely backstreet road. The man sat back in his chair and stared pensively at the lone moth circling the dusty kitchen light. With its intricate red and black colors and powerful wings it reminded him of a tiny dragon, scouting with hunger around a blinding light.
"Fili, Kili," he said and the boys immediately stopped fighting and climbed out from beneath the table, "I'm going to tell you about a man from a long time ago."
