"Welcome back!" Thorin slapped Dwalin on the back as he stepped to the side, allowing the large warrior entry into the cabin. "Good trip?"
"Uneventful." Came the grunted and rather exhausted reply.
Thorin nodded, following Dwalin into the kitchen as the dwarf warrior headed toward the back door. "There's water for washing already heating."
Dwalin grunted in surprised approval and swung the large cooking pot off the fire. It was just barely warm, it would do. Taking this over to the sink he began washing up from his travels. It had been three months since he'd been back here.
"News?" Thorin asked, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorway frame.
"Nothing from the mountain. Seems the dragon hasn't been seen for a while. Speculation is that he sleeps now." Dwalin removed his hand dusters, fist weapons capable of crushing skulls.
"Speculation? More like hope." Thorin sneered.
"How are things here?" Dwalin asked, rinsing dirt and grime from his hands and face from the long travel.
Dis entered the kitchen with a smile, and then sighed. "Things are dirtier now than they were before." She eyed the caked mud on her once clean floorboards.
Dwalin and Thorin both ignored the jibe as the large warrior greeted the dwarrowdam warmly. "The lads grow well and strong? Do their beards sweep the floor yet?"
Dis chuckled in spite of herself, her eyes bright. Hearing the sound of trampling dwarfling boots on the back porch she grinned. "Be ready."
Dwalin's eyebrows rose as seven-year old Fili came in after taking his boots off on the covered back porch. Bright blue eyes lit up with glee as he spotted the newcomer in their mam's kitchen. "Mister Dwalin!"
A squeal from behind the blond dwarfling announced Kili's presence, but only a second before a dark haired blur dodged out and climbed on one of the benches to the table. The eager youngster then gained the height of the table itself and launched his little body right at Dwalin's head.
The choice was dodge or catch. Dodging would mean the child would strike the counter hard, so Dwalin caught young Kili with a "Oomph" and a resigned sigh. The large warrior eyed the grinning five year old who was currently tugging at his whiskers. "And hello to you too."
Thorin closed one eye and made an exasperated sound. "Reckless." He pronounced.
"Excited." Dis amended. Then she gave a lopsided motherly smile. "And reckless."
"Now they both need a bath." Thorin sounded resigned as he watched Kili chatter happily at the large warrior, telling him about the monsters living under the cabin.
Dwalin sent a curious look at Dis, who shrugged. "Probably a racoon. Makes scratching noises. Thorin promised to rid us of it's presence." She paused for dramatic effect. "Two weeks ago."
"Busy." Thorin muttered with a frown. "Harvest time is coming up, lots of farm equipment coming into the smithy for repair."
Dis looked at her two sons and pointed at them one at a time. "We need bath water, and wood brought in to heat it over."
Fili and Kili grinned with importance. The young blond dwarfling's chest puffed out with pride. "I'll bring in the most!"
"I will!" Kili's hands flew up in the air, unfortunately one of those hands still had a grip on Dwalin's beard. The warrior winced at the sudden tug.
"And then you can bring in more water for you two dwarflings to take a bath next." Dis continued.
Glee fled. Disappointed groans and rolled eyes met that announcement.
Thorin laughed at the dire looks on the faces of his two sister-sons.
Dwalin shook his head and bounced Kili in his arms, making the little one squeal with surprised happiness. "Again!" The little dwarfling demanded imperiously.
The large warrior complied, bouncing Kili to the child's utter delight.
"You spoil him." Thorin grimaced.
Dwalin eyed his leader but didn't comment, instead he looked over at Fili. "Perhaps I don't want a bath."
The blond's tragic face turned speculative.
"Perhaps, I want a swim?"
Fili's bright eyes lit up with eagerness. "At the pond?"
Thorin shook his head at the idea.
Dwalin turn to face his prince, with Kili watching as well. The littlest dwarf's dark eyes were fairly pleading, his bottom lip poking out in a pout. "Too much water to fetch and heat, take too long. Let's go to the pond."
"I wanna go." Kili whispered, laying his head down on Dwalin's fur lined shoulder. In all his five years, he'd never been to the pond with the older dwarves unless with his mam.
Thorin shook his head, unwilling to be saddled with the youngest of his sister's children. Kili was proving bright and everything, catching on quickly whenever his uncle taught him anything. But he was still so lean, almost wiry for a dwarf lad. The exiled-prince couldn't help but think of him as weaker than he should be.
Dis' mouth tightened, she'd argued over and over with her brother that Kili was in no way weak just because he didn't look like Fili did at that age. "Come love, you can come with me."
Kili shook his head mulishly, his face crumpling with disappointment. No tears though. Frustration and anger and temper, but no tears. "I wannt go to the pond!"
"Enough!" Snapped Thorin. He sighed and pointed at little Kili. "Go with your mam."
Reluctantly, the child nodded, still looking upset.
Dwalin bit back a sigh and glanced at Dis. "What will you be doing then?"
"Going to the pond with you lot, of course." Dis said brightly, ignoring her brother's muttered curse.
Kili's face lit up and Fili laughed happily.
o.o.o.o.o
o.o.o.o.o
"If you weren't here, we could get a proper wash." Thorin grumbled.
Dis looked out at the edge of the large mountain pond where Dwalin was standing waist deep in the water, stripped to his under-breeches. "The clothes needed a dunking as much as you lot did."
"Dis ..."
"Stop not including Kili." The dwarrowdam said very quietly.
Thorin paused, eyeing his sister with careful consideration. "He's very young. At five I wasn't training Fili either."
Dis pursed her lips, not looking away from where Dwalin was helping Fili float on his back, teaching the boy how to kick his feet. Kili was at the edge of the pond, his feet the only thing he was allowed to put into the water. "I mean in your thoughts."
Confused, Thorin frowned. "Explain."
"He is not weak and he has a heart as big and brave as yours, brother. And yes, he's reckless. You discount him, in your plans for the future."
Thorin grimaced, but nodded as he took a deep breath. "Perhaps I do."
"He won't be the dwarf he was meant to be if you don't include him in your thoughts. Let him know that he has a place with you." Dis continued.
The dark-haired prince shook his head. "He's a child, a baby. When he gets bigger I will train him."
A splash and a wail from the shore showed Fili sputtering and coughing, barely keeping his mouth above the water. Blonde hair was matted and dripping in his face, covering his eyes.
"Fili!" Young Kili cried, running into the pond anxiously.
Thorin swore and roared at the five-year old to freeze where he was and not to take another step. "But Fili!" Kili pointed at his brother, his eyes huge and tearing up.
"Fili's fine." Thorin turned the dwarfling around and popped him lightly on the bottom. "Go to your mam."
Kili's bottom lip poked out sullenly, but he obeyed. It helped that Fili was now laughing and splashing around with Dwalin. "I wanna play."
"Go!" Thorin pointed back at Dis.
o.o.o.o.o
o.o.o.o.o
"I wanned to swim." Kili was being carried by Dis, wrapped in a large towel having been bathed by his mam at the edge of the pond. But not allowed past his little knees.
Fili was wrapped up, but walking under his own power between the much larger dwarrow warriors.
"Big dwarves don't whine." Thorin sighed, tired of the constant questions and demands that only a five-year old could produce.
Fili piped up. "You said he was still a baby, so he can whine."
Thorin scoffed. "Your brother is too big to whine."
"So he's big enough to swim then?" Fili asked, making Kili grin from his mam's arms.
Dwalin choked out a laugh. "Fine logic, but no lad. Kili is too big for one, but too small for the other."
Thorin grunted in agreement.
"But I wanna swim!" Kili asserted, earning himself a glare from his uncle. "I can swim!"
Whatever Thorin might have responded, it was lost as Dwalin went the route of distraction. "Then I guess you don't want to go back to the cabin to see what I brought back for you two scamps?"
"Presents?" Fili perked up and even Kili brightened.
Life in Ered Luin was pretty comfortable for the dwarflings. The brothers weren't aware of what their lives might have held if they'd been born and raised back in the kingdom of Erebor. But while they were happy and warm, they were unaware of the day to day struggles to feed and clothe a family, much less take care of the dwarven community at large. Basics Thorin provided. Extras were unheard of. And a treat.
Back at the cabin, Dwalin dug around in his packs until he produced a fine knife, not much longer than Fili's fingers. "It's for carving wood."
Kili's mouth formed an 'o' of awe, his dark eyes wide as he reached toward the naked blade. His expression clouding as his brother pulled it out of his reach. "It's sharp, Kili." The blonde warned him with a smile.
Sharp Kili understood. Much like hot, breakable, and NO! He'd learned each and every one of those the hard way.
"Here." Dwalin pulled out something rolled up, spreading it out on the table. Kili's eyes widened as he looked at the blank sheets, and then up at the large warrior. "Paper. And charcoal."
Dis looked on indulgently, surprised by the gift. "Paper? Where in Middle Earth did you find that?"
"Iron Hills." Dwalin said, watching Kili as he touched the blank paper cautiously. When it didn't do anything, the young dwarf patted the sheet on top. "Here. Try this. He took a charcoal writing stick and made a line on the blank surface."
Kili's eyes went huge and Fili grinned. "Like in uncle's books?"
The mention of the books had Kili paling and his hands pulling away from the sheets of paper. He'd gotten in a lot of trouble about half a year ago, playing with Thorin's books.
"Better." Dwalin assured the dwarflings. "Because this paper doesn't belong to your uncle. It's Kili's. And he can draw any picture he wants on it."
"Draw?" The dwarflings understood drawing, they did it in the dirt with sticks all the time.
Dis took the charcoal stick from Dwalin, and put it in Kili's chubby little hand, helping him make a mark on the paper. The little dwarfling giggled and made a line of his own. His grin lit up the whole room.
"Okay. Dinner first. Then my fine children, you can make presents for Dwalin and Thorin. Fili with his new blade, and Kili can draw a picture." Dis announced, sending the children off to get ready so she could use the kitchen for making the evening meal.
"Then can I swim?" Kili asked, turning to look at the adults hopefully.
Thorin's head dropped to his chest. "We're going to be hearing about this swimming thing for a week."
Dwalin just laughed at him.
o.o.o.o.o
o.o.o.o.o
"It's a fine owl, Fili." Thorin patted the blond ten-year old on the shoulder proudly.
The dwarfling frowned. "But it's a racoon."
Dwalin bit back a laugh by coughing as Thorin eyed the crude carving with trepidation. "Big eyes, feathers ..."
"Circles around the eyes and fur." Fili's lip quivered a bit and his uncle sighed.
Thorin mentally kicked himself and shrugged. "It's a first try, you did extremely well."
"Really?" The blond child smiled tenatively.
"Really." Thorin smiled, then looked over at the younger of the two brothers. Kili was fairly bouncing on his toes clutching his drawing. "Let me see what ..."
The thought was interrupted by a hammering at the door. Thorin excused himself, heading to see what was going on. He came back in the room with a frown. "Problem. I've got to go out. Sorry, I'll be back when I can."
Dwalin's eyebrows rose and Thorin nodded, he was going to need someone with him. The large warrior got up and grabbed his fist weapons on the way out.
"But my picture!" Kili protested, clearly unhappy. Dark eyes wide with distress.
Thorin nodded, not paying attention. "Later." He promised his younger nephew.
o.o.o.o.o
o.o.o.o.o
It was extremely late, nearly midnight when Thorin and Dwalin tromped back into the cabin, looking exhausted.
Dis heard them come in and got out of bed, pulling on a robe as she went out to the kitchen. The males were pulling out seats as she moved around, putting some water on in the tea kettle.
"Thanks." Thorin yawned.
"Bad?" Dis asked cautiously.
The dark-haired prince shrugged. "The sons of Hafter were at odds with their neighbors again. Out in the dark pulling down fences."
"Drunk." Dwalin sighed. "Obstinate dwarves."
"Mam?"
All three adult dwarves turned, chagrinned to see a yawning and clearly blready eyed Fili.
"Sorry we woke you, child. But you need to go back to bed." Thorin said gruffly.
Fili nodded, shuffling his bare feet. "Send Kili back too then."
Dis' eyebrows rose. "Your brother's up? He can sleep through a thundertorm."
The blond shrugged.
"Great." Thorin mumbled, clearly in a foul temper. "It'll take forever to get that one back to sleep." He knew for a fact that the younger of the two lads slept like a log. But when he was up, he was up.
Dis headed to Kili's room, peering inside. "Where is he?"
Fili shrugged again, his eyelids drooping.
"Dwarfling." Thorin's tone of voice had Fili's blue eyes popping back open. "Where did Kili go?"
The youngster shrugged and shook his head. "He wasn't there when I got out of bed."
Dwalin had been smiling wearily, but at that announcement, his face blanked.
"KILI! Get out here!" Dis raised her voice, but got no response. Not a word, not a shuffle, not a peep. "KILI!"
"KILI!" Thorin called out, irate. "Enough!"
"Lad is a sound sleeper." Dwalin said quietly.
Dis was already searching the brother's room. Her face paling. She looked over at the now wide awake and anxious Fili. "What was he talking about when you two went to bed?"
"Swimming."
Thorin cursed heartedly as Dis caught her balance, putting her hand on the wall to steady herself.
"He wouldn't go outside after dark." Dis assured herself.
Fili hunched his shoulders.
Thorin caught his breath, eyeing his heir with a heavy heart. "Fili? What?"
The blond shook his head, not looking up.
Dwalin sounded a bit harsh as he spoke. "Lad. Spill it." It was an order.
"We've been going outside to look under the cabin, to see if racoon eyes really glow in the dark." The dwarfling whispered. "But it's okay, we never go anywhere else. And Kili is never afraid of the dark."
"He's never afraid." Thorin barked, fear starting to crawl up his spine. "A healthy dose of fear would be a good cure for his reckless ways."
Dwalin was already out the back door, circling the cabin. Calling out. No response.
Thorin stared at his sister's horrified eyes. "He curled up somewhere in the house, asleep and not hearing us."
"The pond." Dis whispered, her voice so low he had to strain to hear her.
Chills broke out on the back of Thorin's neck. "Dwalin!" He yelled as he headed out the back door. "Search the yard and barn. I'm going to the pond."
"I'm going too!" Fili scrambled to catch up with his uncle.
"No. Help your mother search the house." Thorin ordered.
Fili watched him leave with haunted eyes.
Thorin cursed all the way out to the mountain pond. Inwardly. Because he needed to keep an ear out for sounds of crying or pain. Splashing. Animals. "KILI!" He yelled finally, unable to take the growing tension.
No response.
"If you're out here I'm going to beat you black and blue!" Thorin yelled out as he neared the area surrounding the pond. It was an empty threat. He'd never laid a hand on either child, and he never would.
But there was no answering call. No sound other than that of nature itself. Somewhere a bullfrog called out, and night insects filled the air with their own peculiar music. Nothing seemed out of place. Nothing seemed disturbed.
"Damn it!" Thorin ran a worried hand through his hair, trying to see if there were fresh footprints on the land around the area where they'd been today. But the moon was clouded over and the light was dim.
Fear began to eat at him. True fear. Helpless fear. Kili was so small, so tiny ...so trusting that nothing could ever happen to him. What would it have hurt to have carried him out to the water today for a few minutes? It would have made the child so happy and probably have kept him from trying to sneak back out here.
Thorin's curses turned inwards, towards himself. Dis' words earlier came back with a haunting clarity. Was he so dismissive toward his younger nephew? With hindsight, Thorin realized he was worse than she'd stated. "KILI!"
There was no response. Then he heard a splash, turning with alarm, and hoping with all his heart it was only the bullfrog.
o.o.o.o.o
o.o.o.o.o
The kitchen door slammed open as Thorin rushed inside, his dark eyes roaming the kitchen. All eyes turned to him.
None of those eyes belonged to a five-year old dwarfling.
Dis started to hyperventilate, going pale.
"I'm going back out. Need light." Thorin spoke hoarsely, heading to his room at the far end of the cabin for his reading lantern. "Dwalin, get the lanterns from the study."
The dwarven prince threw open his door, heading for his desk in the dark. His hand was reaching for his lantern when he finally heard the sound.
Breathing.
"Kili?" His voice wasn't a shout this time, more of a plea. No response, but the light breathy noise was still there. With shaking hands Thorin lit his lantern by feel and turned.
He'd peeked into his bedroom earlier. But he'd left the bed unmade this morning. And Kili was so little. Slowly he pulled back the cover and sank down to sit on the edge of the bed. His knees were actually in danger of giving way.
Dark curls graced his pillow as the dwarfling snuggled in deeper now that the cover had been pulled away.
"Thorin?" Dwalin called from the hallway.
"He's here." Thorin responded weakly.
Dwalin pushed inside, catching his breath in relief. Staring. He swallowed hard. "He ever sleep in here?"
"No." Thorin answered. "Go let Dis breathe again."
Dwalin nodded as Thorin reached out and ran a finger over Kili's baby soft cheek.
It was Fili who got to the doorway first, ahead of his mam. The blond looked as rocky as Thorin felt. "We looked in here." He protested.
"He's small." Thorin answered weakly, reaching down to pick up the sleeping child as Dis reached them. "I've got him, he protested." Unwilling to put down the suddenly precious weight.
"But ..."
"You look ready to fall over. I think we all need that tea now." Thorin said.
Dis eyed him, reading his reluctance to put Kili down, or give him away. She smiled a watery smile and nodded.
"Here." Fili held up a sheet of paper, it had been lying on Thorin's pillow.
"Bring it." Thorin said, heading for the kitchen.
"Uuuuh." Kili stirred a bit, blinked, and then went right back out.
Dwalin gave a rough chuckle. "Sleep through anything."
Fili laid out the picture, studying the stick drawings.
Thorin sighed, things clicking into place. "I did tell him that I would look at his picture later."
Dis shook her head. "Me." She pointed at the drawing at the figure holding what looked like a giant spoon. "Thorin." She pointed at another figure, taller than the rest with long wavy dark hair.
"Mister Dwalin." Fili giggled, pointing at the bald figure with the beard. "Me." This was for the shorter figure with a roughly drawn braid.
"Where's Kili in this?" Dis asked.
Thorin felt achy as he realized his nephew hadn't included himself in the family portrait. Had he done that to the child?
o.o.o.o.o
o.o.o.o.o
It never occured to Kili that he'd gone to sleep in one bed, and had woken in his own.
He was happily eating his porridge the next morning and dodging his mother as she kept touching him, like she couldn't keep her hands off of him. "Mam!" He protested, squirming in his seat.
Fili grinned like a bandit, but said nothing.
Thorin walked into the breakfast room and put a piece of paper down on the table. "Seems someone left me a gift."
Kili grinned, remembering that he'd wanted to share this with his uncle. He nodded energetically, his mouth full.
"But someone forgot to draw Kili in this picture." Thorin pointed out.
The young dwarfling looked startled. "Uh huh."
"Oh? Where is he then?" Thorin asked, leaning over the table and the dwarfling.
"Me! That Kili!" The youngster pointed at the smaller figure.
Thorin frowned. "But where's Fili?"
The dwarfling pointed at the figure they'd thought was Dis with a spoon. "He has a knife!"
"Ah." Thorin grinned in spite of himself. "Me?" He pointed at the long haired person and was a bit relieved to see the child nod.
"Your mam?" He pointed at the bald looking figure.
"She gots a hat!" Kili giggled.
Fili grinned and shot his mother a highly amused look. Dis rolled her eyes. "But my darling, where's Dwalin?" She asked her son.
Kili turned the sheet over and among some inverted V shapes there was a large stick figure with spikes on his hands. "In da Iron Mountens." As if that made all the sense in the world and why hadn't they figured that out?
Thorin nodded, relieved more than he could say. "So is this picture for me?"
Kili nodded vigorously.
"Thank you."
o.o.o.o.o
o.o.o.o.o
A/N: A little angst among the fluff, I am perhaps a tiny bit sorry for that. Okay. One more chapter I think. Thank you all for reading!