Here you go. I will try to update as fast as possible. Thanks to all the people who reviewed last chapter. (This chapter title may not fit the chapter but don't judge).
Chapter 7: The dawning of day
Dis' face was the first thing Thorin saw as he walked through the door that night, and her words were the first thing he heard.
"They heard us arguing last night," Dis informed her brother. She could tell by his face that there was no need to explain who 'they' were. The paper in her hand rumpled, making a loud noise as she changed position on the chair she occupied. Thorin was too shocked too notice though. Seeing this shock, strangely enough, helped to abate what was left of Dis' anger towards the dwarf in front of her.
"They heard?" her brother asked in what was a cross between bewilderment and an expression of what Dis thought was akin to regret. She nodded her head, her grave face giving away the gravity of the situation.
"And now Kili thinks you are going to leave us again. In fact," she added as a short pause in which to gather her thoughts, "I would not doubt it if Fili felt the same. And for all I know, that fear may have developed some time ago, months in fact." She might have sounded as if though she were merely informing her brother, but in actual fact she was accusing him and the dark haired dwarf knew it.
"If I remember correctly, you were the one to start the argument," he said coldly, his anger from the past night resurfacing, "And it is hardly my fault that I must go out and provide everything as well as complete every small task just because you are too afraid to leave the house." The blow was low, but it was true. And, for Dis, that was the reason why it hurt all the more.
"For good reason," she shot back, her tone display a perfect example of defensiveness, and the list of names becoming slightly crumpled in her now tightly clenched hand. Thorin sneered at her, in no mood to deal with the fears of his little sister nor the slights she held against him when he so tirelessly worked to ensure that their family and his people did not fall victim to extreme poverty.
"Yet that reason is stopping you from providing for Fili and Kili yourself," he scoffed, "What would Rhorin think of that I wonder?" Dis bristled with fury, her voice rising higher in volume, the reason why she had started this confrontation lost in the anger that had bloomed at Thorin's words.
"Rhorin would understand," she shot back, not about to be bullied by her older brother. Thorin smiled sarcastically at her.
"Oh yes, and he would be pleased to see that you have let almost all the work needed to run this family fall upon me," he said. Dis' frown deepened.
"You are the man of this household now. It is your job to provide for your family!" she all but screamed at him in a voice that stirred a deep emotion in others present.
"And if I didn't?" The question was asked in a voice that, while heavy in anger, was laced with a quiet fear of what his sister would reply back. Dis was too far gone, however, to pick up on this small detail.
"And I'm sure that would please Rhorin immensely," she spat at him.
Tensely she waited for her brother's reply, and it was coming too until his eyes widened as he looked over her head.
"Mahal…" she heard him breathe through the rushing blood in her ears. The dwarfish woman turned and felt her blood run cold.
"Durin, no," she whispered, reaching out a hand towards her two sons, both of whom were standing there petrified and in shock, tears streaming down in an endless torrent on both their faces. It shattered her heart when Fili darted back, dragging his younger brother with him, as if her single action had burned them both. "Fili, Kili, I'm sorry," she said, her face a perfect picture of despair. The blonde shook his head, gaze darting between his mother and uncle as the brunette in his arms cowered into his side
"Stay away," he said in a small, yet strong voice, which wavered with an intense fear. His words could barely be heard of his brother's sobbing.
"Fili, I-" But her words were cut short as the youth flew through the open door, Kili's hand still grasped in his own. They had both disappeared well into the night before either adult could react. Thorin immediately went straight for the door, sweeping up the cloak he had discarded only moments before.
"Stay here, I will search for them," he told his distressed sister, and then he was gone into the darkness that had claimed her two sons. Dis suddenly found herself very alone. And alone, there was nothing to keep past memories at bay.
A little girl, Dis cried as she listened to her father and older brother argue. Thorin was away with his long-time friend, Dwalin, hunting and Balin, the tall dwarf's brother, was not here to input his logical thinking into the heated debate. Her grandfather was off, somewhere in the treasury presumably counting his fortune. There was only her who could stop the two insulting one another, yet neither Frerin nor Thrain would listen to her, a little girl. How she longed that Thorin was here to stop all this.
The words exchanged grew worse and Dis found herself fleeing down the vast corridors of Erebor. Blinded by tears, she had not looked where she was going and had ran smack into the legs of a dwarf taller and more balanced than herself. Landing on her rear she looked up to see the smiling face of her eldest brother quickly turn to a frown.
"What is wrong, my little princess?" he asked, using the name that only he called her. Dis had wailed out her story about their brother and father. She had never remembered Thorin looking so angry save for a small handful of times bother before, but mainly after the taking of Erebor. He had left her in the care of Dwalin, who had been, at that time, somewhat awkward with small children, and had stormed off. Later she learnt that he had chastised both Thrain and Frerin for arguing like that in earshot of her. The incident had never happened again, at least not between the two of them.
Sinking back into the chair, Dis let the document she had been studying previously drift to the floor as she rested her head in her hands.
"What have I done?" she asked herself, guilt, worry, and regret all battling to take control of her mind. She let them, knowing she deserved no less, possibly even worse for her behaviour in front of her two sons, neither of whom were old enough to bear the sight and words of their two guardians arguing like she and Thorin had been. And the fact that both adults had dragged their father into the argument too would have been too much for either of them.
Frankly, Dis would not be surprised if Fili, at least, never wanted to see her again, let alone speak to her. Kili might be more willing to forgive as he was younger and had merely been frightened, not fully understanding what she and Thorin had been saying to each other.
It was a time before her brother returned, and when he did, she looked up at him in anticipation Even before he shook his head she knew, a cold wave of fear settling over her person, the colours of the lightening sky behind him seeping into the small room but offering no comfort.
"My boys," she said brokenly, the tears of distress she had managed to abate before starting up again. Thorin hover in the doorway looking as if he wanted to go back out again. In the end, with a glance at his sister, he made up his mind.
"You must get some rest," he told her, voice steady, but eyes and face displaying his distress for what had happened, "They cannot have gone far. And besides, there are not many men who would willingly hurt them. They should be safe. Fili is a smart lad." Dis tried to take comfort in her brother's word but was unable to and as he moved to leave again she cried out to him.
"Don't leave me alone," she all but wailed. Thorin turned back to her and crossed the room in two steps, sweeping her up in his arms.
"I must look for them, sister," he said, "But I will return as soon as I can, when I find them."
He gave her another quick, reassuring squeeze and then left, leaving Dis alone once again as the dawn outside teased her with its happy, hopeful colours.
Before you chew me out by saying the boys are too young, in my head in this story, Fili is around the age of a ten-twelve year old. Kili is around five-seven (probably five). If you think otherwise, please PM or review me. I'd be happy to hear so long as there are no flames.
Also, the tension between Thorin and Dis is not over, but it has died down for now.
The more reviews I receive, the faster I will update.
