Author's Note: I just love this playful side of Dwalin. It is a lot of fun to write.

Also am I the only one who finds that everybody portrays Thorin as somewhat of a jerk? Maybe if I had gone through the same things he had I would be gruff too, but...

Dis stormed the whole way down the street, moving at a remarkably quick (and quiet) pace for a dwarf. Upon reaching the house of the sons of Fundin, She rapped on the door three times and waited for an answer. She did not have to wait long. The door was soon opened by a grim-looking Dwalin, who immediately smiled as he recognized her.

"Lady Dis!" The almost bald dwarf exclaimed.

Balin, who had been relaxing at the kitchen table looked up with a start, worry flicking across his face.

"Peace Balin, Thorin did not send me. I come out of concern for my son."

"I am sorry for the trouble I have caused in your house, my intent was to help." The tutor stammered.

Dis smiled, "I am not angry. If Kili has a problem I would love to know what it is."

"I do not mean to imply that there is a problem, per se, but a difficulty." The old dwarf muttered.

Dis glanced from Balin to Dwalin, who now stood leaning against the table.

"My lady, I hope you don't mind but I had to inform my overly inquisitive younger brother of my errand tonight." Balin stated, giving a playful glare to Dwalin, who feigned innocence.

"I figured as such. You should work on not nosing into others business. Most unbecoming to a dwarf." the lady rejoined, giving the same playful glare to Dwalin, who smiled sheepishly. "Anyway, I did not come here to discuss your brother, but rather my son. What do you think he has?"

Now it was Balin's turn to look sheepish. "I did a little reading, and the symptoms seem to be accurate. I fear Kili has dyslexia."

At the mention of the word symptoms a pained look had crossed Dis' face, but it disappeared just as quickly. Instead she inquired of the dwarf, "And what is dyslexia?"

Balin appeared grateful that Dis had not torn his head off in the way Thorin had. "It is a learning disorder that makes it harder to comprehend reading, or at least in his case. This in no way affects general intelligence, it only appears to because all he is doing is reading. I fear there may be a few other difficulties I have not witnessed yet."

"What do you propose?" Dis kindly inquired.

Balin furrowed his brow, " I had not thought of that yet" he sheepishly stated, "Maybe you could help me."

"I'd like that," Dis smiled, glad to be included in a business that was not her expertise.

Kili sobbing had ceased after about ten minutes. He quickly told himself that he should not cry, because Fili wouldn't have cried if their positions had been switched. (Of course he would've, seeing as right now Fili could barely hold it together, feeling a deep sorrow over the conversation he had just heard.) Once he managed to harness his emotions, he rolled over facing Fili, who was out like a light. Kili didn't know what else to do, so he began to talk to him, "I know I'm not like you. At least you're smart, tough, and strong, unlike me. Uncle, and probably Mama and Master Balin wish I were like you." After a long pause, he whispered. "I wish I was more like you." He closed his eyes and fought back tears.

Had he kept them open, he would have seen his brother's eyes fly open and then close again. Fili was fortunate that his brother had not seen, but he was having difficulty keeping his face straight, so he rotated away from his brother and buried his face in the pillow.

A completely innocent movement left a much more detrimental impact. "Wow, even my brother doesn't want me." Kili's overly tired and stressed mind insisted. He laid down and fell asleep almost insantly.

Thorin's anger had abated and he was able to get some sleep. Though he wasn't angry, he sure was embarassed. "What if word gets out about it? Will I be mocked? Ignored? Excommunicated?" (This last one was a bit harsh but Thorin was as exhausted as everyone else, and his incessant pacing had only made matters worse.)

Dis happily returned to her home, having come up with a suitable plan for her youngest son's education. Dwalin had insisted he should escort her, seeing as it ws dark and she had no coat. The night was like a typical September fall, (Of course they didn't call it September) chilly but not freezing. Once on her doorstep Dwalin bowed and took his leave. She stepped into house, careful not to make a sound, and went to her room. The room that had caused all this drama. Slightly paranoid, she made her way to her son's bedroom and looked in. Both were sound asleep, facing away from eachother. "That is to be expected," Dis thought. "They have been rather distant lately." Satisfied, she returned to her room and tried to sleep, but found instead that she was too excited to dream it all away.

The next morning Thorin, Dis, Balin, Fili, and basically everyone except Kili went on as if nothing traumatic had been said yesterday. Thorin wanted to push the memory far out of his head. Dis and Balin didn't want to hurt Kili by letting on that he was different, and Fili didn't want his brother to think he knew anything.

Kili knew his eyes looked bloodshot, and he also knew that Fili would be able to tell that he had been crying. His brother pointed neither of these facts out, a fact Kili was either incredibly grateful of, or incredibly upset about. The two made their way to the breakfast table, and the day just got worse from there. At breakfast, Dis smiled weakly at Kili before heaping eggs unto his plate. Thorin made no effort to disguise his displeasure at the revelation he had the night before. Kili was all too aware of this fact and bit his lip. (Kili of course didn't know what the revelation was but he knew he was the cause of his Uncle's dourness.) Balin hustled in the the house at his usual time and Kili followed him to the classroom, which was really no more than a spare bedroom.

Instead of handing him the book like always did, he opened it himself and began to erad. Kili looked at him inquisitively. Balin's eyes glanced up for a few seconds before his face lit up. He pulled a piece of paper and a pen from his pack and slid it in front of Kili. "Take notes on what you hear laddie." His tutor suggested before continuing to read. Kili shrugged and listened to the older dwarf. About halfway through the lesson he realized that he actually understood the events that had taken place. Some elves had wanted a necklace made but then got mad when the dwarves wanted it, or something like that. Kili struggled to keep all the names straight, but he managed to get the gist of it. Once lessons were over Balin asked for a quick review, which Kili happily gave. Balin nodded satisfied his plan had worked.

Kili walked out the classroom cheerful for a change. His mother was bustling around the kitchen, cooking up something delicious. She smiled at Kili and asked about his lessons, which he gave a happy report. The knowing smile his mom gave him got him thinking. "Did Mama and Balin and Uncle talk about this last night after I left? Did they plan this to make me feel less stupid?" Instantly his cheeriness was sapped by depression again. He sat glumly on the step waiting for Fili and Thorin to come home, but the sight of the two of them coming around the corner was not what he expected. Or wished for.

A/N: Cliffhanger for the win. I left it there becasue I still don't know what's coming around the corner. I have an idea, but sometimes things change. *Disclaimer* I DO NOT think dyslexia makes one stupid btw. I hope you share in my aggravation towards Thorin.

Thanks to Celebrisilweth, ACreativeHobbit, EmerwenVoridune, jaymzNshed, Wraven, and PurpleRosin for the reviews. If there is something I could do better please tell me! :)