More Than He Bargained For
It was late into the evening when Thorin Oakenshield left the forge, a good solid days work behind him. The king with no throne was currently residing with his younger sister and her husband but said husband was working late shifts in a nearby mine with a group of other dwarves, which meant Dis only had to cook for herself and her brother. She would be furious that Thorin was coming home late... Again.
As Thorin stepped over the threshold to his sister's home he quickly realised she was not alone and almost immediately he identified her company. Dwalin's distinctive voice was followed quickly by Gloin's. Thorin was willing to bet their respective older brothers were there too. Sure enough he found all four of his distant cousins gathered in the lounge area of Dis's home.
"And what time do you call this?" Dis demanded from the other side of the room, hands on hips. Thorin offered his best impression of a sheepish expression, approaching his sister slowly.
"I'm sorry," he leant down and kissed his sister's cheek. "The hour escaped my notice."
Dis's eyebrow arched dubiously.
"You work too hard," she muttered quietly, only for her brothers' ears before raising her voice for the whole gathering. "Well at least there was someone here to eat the food I prepared for a change. There may be some left for you in the pantry. I am going to have an early night," Dis gave her brother a quick nod, turning a warm smile to their guests. "Leave you lads to it. Thank you for your visit."
The four dwarves gathered round the room returned various affectionate farewells to their female cousin as she disappeared through the door. Thorin sighed quietly and slumped into the chair she had vacated. Balin, sitting nearest the door, rolled his eyes slightly and clambered to his feet and followed behind Dis. Dwalin turned toward Thorin.
"Busy day then?" he queried. Thorin let out another sigh, tilting his head back and running his hands over his face.
"Very," he confirmed. Running his hands into his hair he looked around the room at his three remaining cousins. "So to what do we owe this unexpected visit?"
"We wished to congratulate your sister on her joyous news," Gloin replied, rolling his eyes slightly as Thorin blinked in confusion. "The baby."
"Oh. Yes, of course," Thorin nodded. Dis had told him of her pregnancy a few days before. The three cousins sat for a moment waiting for more of a reaction but all that left Thorin's lips was a gruff thanks as Balin returned with a plate of food. Gloin and Dwalin exchanged a look as Oin leant forward.
"Look laddie, I know you would prefer that Durin blood be born in the halls of Erebor, we all would," he acknowledged. "But we are settled here, as safe as can be given our circumstance. It will be good to see a babe again - it has been too long."
Balin nodded in agreement as he reclaimed his previous seat.
"And Dis will make a fine mother."
Thorin's expression softened a little.
"Aye, she will," he agreed. "She is very excited."
Gloin's lips curled into a smile.
"And you will get to be an uncle! Imagine a little nephew to train and tell tales of old to, or a little niece to look aft…"
"A nephew," Thorin interrupted with a firm nod. The other four dwarves blinked.
"You wish for a boy?" Oin arched an eyebrow. Thorin gave a solemn nod.
"Our kingdom needs an heir."
The four cousins all rolled their eyes as Thorin tucked into his meal although none looked surprised, choosing instead to change the topic. There was plenty of time until the baby would be here…
x-x-x
Plenty of time passed quickly. Before Thorin knew it he was pacing back and forth in the corner of his sisters quarters, feeling utterly helpless as his sibling let out periodic cries of pain. The one blessing was that his brother-in-law was there to hold Dis's hand and offer comfort. As useless as he felt by doing nothing he was not sure he would have been much use anyway.
Suddenly the room fell still. Thorin paused in his pacing and turned slowly to look across the room, blinking as he found the healers handing his sister a bundle of cloth.
"It's a boy," he heard the lead healer say. Thorin watched as his sister's face lit up, her husband sitting down next to her, his lips too curling into a smile as the couple gazed at the babe in Dis's arms. The healers set about clearing away their things and heading for the door.
"My sister is well?" Thorin caught the head healer before he slipped from the room. The healer smiled reassuringly.
"She is well," he confirmed. "Tired albeit but in good health. The baby too. Both as healthy as can be. I will return to check on them periodically as precaution but you need not worry."
Thorin gave a satisfied nod and gestured that the healer may take his leave. Letting out a quiet, tired sigh he bowed his head, letting the relief wash over him that the birthing process - which was never without risk - had gone so smoothly.
"Thorin," Dis's voice tore the elder dwarf's attention back to the room. Looking up he found his brother-in-law stepping away from the bed. "Come and meet your nephew."
Thorin forced a smile, waving his hand.
"Oh, no you two just... You both enjoy your moment."
Dis rolled her eyes, exchanging a quick look with her husband before he in turn headed for the door. Thorin frowned.
"I'm thirsty," the female shrugged, nodding towards the now vacant space on the bed.
"Then I'll..." Thorin began, starting to head for the door, figuring he could beat his brother-in-law.
"Thorin."
The dwarf sighed and turned back toward the bed. He never could say no to his baby sister. Walking forward steadily he sat carefully on the edge of the bed, looking down obediently as Dis angled the bundle in her arms toward him. Despite himself Thorin's lips curled toward a smile. A tiny little hand reached out from under the blanket, fingers twitching toward his mother. Dis held her little finger toward the hand, laughing softly as the little hand grabbed on.
"He's going to be strong," she commented proudly. "A true Durin."
"Aye," Thorin agreed, turning a warm smile toward his sister. "He is beautiful Dis."
