A/N: As of this chapter I will venture to put my own twist on the story, but don't worry most of the dialogue will still be from the book. I decided to go my own way and give you some background to the dwarves history with Erebor. Enjoy!
The Durin line were once royalty; but with the passing of Thror, King under the Mountain, a democratic government was established. The King, who suffered at length from dragon sickness, was close to ordering what would have been a tragic attack against the dwarf's of Ered Luin, in order to expand his already overflowing coffers; when he was deposed by his own army lead by his son Thráin, and forced to relinquish most of his gold in damages. Thráin's property now consisted almost entirely of his estate in Erebor, a mountain that subdivided into living quarters of different sizes and levels. He made a living, until his retirement three and twenty years earlier, as many of his kin do, by mining for gold and precious stones. Over the decades he was fortunate enough to make a sizeable fortune for himself that could accommodate his five children in relative comfort and keep them safely away from poverty.
However due to the nature of his will, which is custom for all descendents of Durin; and unfortunately for his sons, an ancient clause prohibited any unmarried dwarf to inherit his fortune, should he come to pass. Their mother's fortune, though ample for her situation in life, could but ill supply the deficiency of his. Her father had been an attorney in Dale and had left her only enough to keep herself, and herself alone, well above poverty, for the remainder of her life.
Lís's brother Dwalin had married a dressmaker in Dale, and resided there with his family. The mountain of Erebor was only a mile from Dale; a most convenient distance for the young dwarrows, who were usually tempted two, three times a week, to pay a visit to their uncle, and stop by the shops on the way. The two youngest of the family, Fíli and Kíli, were particularly frequent in these attentions; their minds were more vacant than their brothers, and when nothing better offered, a walk to Dale was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish conversation for the evening; and however bare of news the town in general might be, they always contrived to learn some from their uncle. At present, indeed, they were well supplied both with news and happiness by the arrival of a garrison of elven archers, into the neighbourhood. They were to remain the whole winter and Dale was the headquarters.
So over the weeks they garnered more and more knowledge of the ranks, names and connections of the many fine warriors. Uncle Dwalin, being a hand-to-hand combat instructor, visited them all twice a week under request from the High Court; and this opened to his nephews a source of felicity unknown before.
After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject, Thráin coolly observed.
"From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest dwarfs in Middle Earth, I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced."
Fíli was disconcerted and made no answer; but Kíli, with perfect indifference, continued to express his admiration of Saelbeth of Rivendell, and his hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was leaving the next morning to Imladris.
"I am astonished, my dear," said his wife, "that you should be so ready to think your own children silly. If I wished to think slightingly of anybody's children, it should not be my own."
"If my children are silly I must hope to always be sensible of it."
"Yes – but as it happens, they are all of them very clever."
"This is the only point, I flatter myself, on which we do not agree. I must therefore differ from you as to think our two youngest sons uncommonly foolish."
"My dear husband, you must not expect such young dwarrows to have the sense of their mother and father. When they get to our age I dare say they will not think of handsome, eligible elves any more than we do. I remember a time," a spark of animation dulled her eyes, "when I liked a gent in a uniform myself very well – and indeed so I do still in my heart; and if a smart young warrior, with a substantial income, should want one of my boys, I shall not say nay to him; and I thought Saelbeth Nando-elf looked very becoming the other night at Bungo Baggins's in his regimentals."
"Khagun," cried Kíli, "uncle Dwalin says that Saelbeth Nando-elf and Glorfindel Gondol-elf, they do not go so often to Bombur's bakery as they did when they first came; now he sees them very often standing in Ori's bookstore."
Lís was prevented from replying by the entrance of a footman with a note for Frerin; it came from Lórien, and the servant waited for an answer. The mother's eyes sparkled with pleasure and she was eagerly calling out, while her son read, "Well, Frerin, who is it from? What is it about? What does he say? Well, Frerin, make haste and tell us; make haste, my love!"
"It is from Haldir Silvan-elf," said Frerin, and then read it aloud.
MY DEAR FRIEND – If you are not so compassionate as to dine today with Orophin and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, for a whole day's tête-à-tête between two brothers can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on the receipt of this. My brother, Elladan and Thranduil are to dine with the archers from Imladris.
Yours ever.
Haldir
"With the archers!" cried Kíli. "I wonder why uncle didn't tell us of that."
"Dinning out," said Lís, "that is very unlucky."
"Can I have the pony?" said Frerin.
"No my dear, you had better go on foot, because it seems likely to rain; and than you must stay all night."
"That would be a good scheme," supplied Thorin, "if you were sure that they would not offer to send him home."
"Oh!don't be silly. He's to short to ride a horse, and the elves would have taken Lord Silvan-elf's chaise to go to Dale, and the Peredhil's have no horses to theirs."
"I have much rather go on a pony," pleaded Frerin.
"But, my dear, you father cannot spare the ponies. I'm sure they are wanted in the fields, my dear," she turned to fix her husband with a pointed look, "are they not?"
"They are wanted much more often then I can get them," he simply said.
"But if you have got them today," Thorin said, "khagun's purpose will be answered."
He did at last extort from his father an acknowledgement that the ponies were engaged. Frerin was therefore obliged to go on foot, and his mother attended him to the door with many cheerful prognostics of a bad day. Her hopes were answered; Frerin had not been gone long before it rained hard. His brothers were uneasy for him, but his mother was delighted. The rain continued the whole evening without intermission; Frerin certainly could not come back.
"This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!" said Lís, more than once, as if credit of making it rain was all her own. Till the next morning, however, she was not aware of all the felicity of her contrivance. Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from Lórien brought the following note for Thorin:
MY DEAR THORIN – I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is to be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday. My kind friends will not hear of my returning home till I am better. They insist also that I'm to see Oin – therefore do not be alarmed if you should hear of his having been to see me – and excepting a sore throat and headache there is not much the matter with me.
Yours truly
Frerin
"Well my dear," said Thráin, when Thorin had read the note aloud, "if your son should have a dangerous fit of illness, if he should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Rúmil Silvan-elf, and under your orders."
"Oh! I am not afraid of him dying. Dwarfs do not die of little, trifling colds. He will be taken good care of. As long as he stays there, it is all very well. I would go and see him if I could have the chaise."
Thorin feeling very anxious was determined to go to him, though the ponies were not to be had; and as he was not much of a rider to begin with, walking was his only alternative. He declared his resolution.
"How can you be so silly," cried his mother, "as to even think of such a thing, in all this dirt! You will not be fit to be seen when you get there!"
"I shall be very fit to see Frerin – which is all I want."
"Is this a hint to me Thorin," said his father, "to send for a pony?"
"No, indeed. I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is nothing when one has a motive; only three miles. I shall be back by dinner."
"I admire the activity of your benevolence," observed Dís, "but every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, exertion should always be in proportion to what is required."
"We will go as far as Dale with you," said Fíli and Kíli. Thorin accepted their company, and the three young dwarrows set of together.
"If we make haste," said Kíli, as they walked along, "perhaps we may see something of Glorfindel Gondol-elf before he goes."
In Dale they parted ways and Thorin continued his walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddles with impatient activity, and finding himself at last within view of the house, with weary legs, dirty trews and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.
He was shown into the breakfast parlor, where all but Frerin were assembled, and where his appearance created a great deal of surprise. That he should have walked three miles, so early in the day, in such dirty weather, and by himself, was almost incredible to Haldir and Orophin; and Thorin was convinced that they held him in contempt for it. He was received, however, very politely by them; and in their younger brother's manners there was something better than politeness; there was good humor and kindness.
Thranduil said very little, and Elladan nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had give the dwarf's complexion, and doubt as to the occasion justifying him coming so far alone. The latter was thinking only of his breakfast.
Thorin's enquiries after his brother were not very favorably answered. Frerin had slept ill, and though up, was very feverish and not well enough to leave his room. Thorin was glad to be taken to him immediately; and Frerin, who had only been withheld by the fear of giving alarm or inconvenience, from expression in his note how much he longed for such a visit, was delighted in his entrance. He was however not up for much conversation, and following a brief speech to convey his gratitude, drifted back to sleep. Thorin silently attended him.
When the breakfast was over the brothers joined them; waking Frerin; and Thorin began to like them himself, when he saw how much affection and solicitude they showed for his brother. The healer came, and having examined his patient, said that he had caught a violent cold, and that they must endeavor to get the better of it. He then advised him to remain in bed, and promised him some draughts. The advice was followed readily, for the feverish symptoms increased, and his head ached acutely. Thorin did not quit his room for a moment, nor were the elves absent often; except Thranduil, Elladan and Rúmil, for they had business that needed attending.
When the clock struck three, Thorin felt that he must go; and very unwillingly said so. Haldir offered him the carriage, and he wanted only a little pressing to accept it, when Frerin testified such concern in parting from him, that Haldir was obliged to convert the offer of a chaise into an invitation to remain at Lórien for the time being. Thorin with outmost gratitude consented; and a servant was dispatched to Erebor to relay the news and bring back a supply of clothes.
R&R
