Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit.

At First Sight

Chapter 11

Corin leaned against the stone wall of the forge and sucked in gasping deep breaths. "My Dehra is gone," he said flatly before collapsing to his knees, great sobs shaking his shoulders.

Thorin placed a comforting hand on the man's shoulder. "I was with her. She was not alone, and she was able to say goodbye to both of the children." The dwarf king knelt next to the grieving man; he understood grief more than most. "Shall I tell your colleagues that you will be going home early today?"

Corin managed to strangle his sobs, and he wiped at his face with shaking hands. "I will go speak to them." It didn't take long and soon he returned to Thorin's side.

"I'll walk home with you," Thorin informed him. "The matter of the children needs to be discussed."

Corin sighed. "The plan was always that I was going to live here and save enough money to start my own forge. Then I was going to go home to my Dehra."

Thorin followed the burly dwarf as he led them down a less prosperous street. The houses here were much smaller than the others he'd seen in town. The farther they walked, the more ramshackle the houses became. The building Corin stopped in front of looked more like a shack than a house.

Thorin frowned as he imagined Saura and Sieran growing up in this tiny, drafty house. The door and windows sagged sadly and there were wide cracks between the boards of the walls.

"It's not much," Corin apologized.

"A home is more than just the building," Thorin said quietly. "You can make this house a home by building a loving family with your children."

Corin sighed sadly as he let Thorin into the small house and lit a lantern. "How will I care for my children? I work all day every day." He dropped into a rickety chair at the small scarred table and propped his head on his hand. "Why did this have to happen to my Dehra?"

"Death shows no favorites," Thorin sighed as he sat carefully in the only other chair at the table. It wobbled a bit beneath his weight. "Your daughter is very worried that you won't remember her," he stated.

Corin sighed. "I get to see them so seldom. She probably doesn't even remember what I look like." He sagged in his seat for a moment before a thought seemed to occur to him. "Where are the children?"

"They are at our camp outside of town. My nephew, Kili, is caring for them."

"I won't be able to care for them," Corin admitted, "not when I work all day. And look at this house! It's not fit for children." He stood abruptly, a hint of panic in his tone. "Please take me to your camp so I can have them settled at the orphanage by nightfall."

Thorin growled, "You'll do no such thing. You've just found out that your wife is dead and your grief has muddled your thinking. Your children deserve more than that."

"But how will I care for them?" Corin asked despondently.

"Perhaps a neighbor will be willing to help you," Thorin told him kindly. "Children are a gift, a treasure," he added.

Corin looked up at him through his grief as if to say what do you know about children.

"My nephews are like sons to me," Thorin admitted softly. "Their father died before Kili was born. I stepped in to help my sister with her boys whenever I could." Corin seemed to be listening, so the dwarf king continued. "My nephews have been a great blessing in my life. Although they can be immature, reckless, and infuriating, not a day goes by when I'm not thankful for them. Fili and Kili bring much joy to my life as Saura and Sieran will bring to yours."

Corin shook his head and gestured around at the rickety house. "What kind of life is this for them?"

"You have a nice cabin waiting for you," Thorin pointed out. "This is only temporary." Worry gnawed at his insides. This house was small and unsuited for children, but the thought of Saura and Sieran being turned over to strangers in an orphanage made him feel sick. Saura had already been through so much; he didn't know how much more the child could take.

"The last few days have been very rough for Saura," Thorin decided to point out. "She found us on the road when Dehra was in labor and led us to your home. She survived the death of her mother, gained a brother, and then had to leave the only home she'd ever known. It devastated her, and she's been worried that her father has forgotten her. Then, yesterday she had a big scare on the trail. She fell down a drop-off while gathering flowers."

Corin's eyes widened. "Was she hurt?"

"Just scrapes and bruises," Thorin answered, "but then she woke up with a nightmare last night." He leveled his gaze at Corin. "Saura needs her father."

"I suppose the children will help me feel closer to Dehra," Corin admitted. "Perhaps I should try them with me before considering the orphanage."

Thorin noticed that the man seemed more concerned about Dehra than the children. Maybe it was just the grief. "There is no need for the orphanage. If you find that it does not work out, please send the children to me. I will find them a family to care for them."

The children's father nodded. "Very well. Thank you for your concern for Saura and Sieran. Please take me to my children now," Corin asked resolutely. "I want to meet my son."

Thorin nodded and stood, already planning a way to get back to Cairntown in a few months to check on the children.

Back in camp, Saura refused to leave Kili's side. He re-braided her hair and helped her wash her face. Then he spread salve on her scrapes and re-bandaged her hands.

"Kili," she sighed, "when will Thorin be back with Da?"

"I don't know, Saura," he replied, looking up from where he was mending one of the harnesses. "It depends on how long it takes Uncle to find the forge where your da works."

She sighed and wrapped her arms around herself as she huddled by the fire. "It's taking a long time."

"It may take more than one day," Kili explained. "I'm not sure what Cairntown is like. I've never been there."

"I hope it's nice," Saura admitted.

Kili looked at the position of the sun in the sky. Hopefully, Thorin would return soon. "I'm sure it will be," he answered. "Are you getting hungry? It's time to warm up supper."

Kili had a pot over the fire and had just fed Sieran when he heard the distinct sound of horses approaching. Saura moved to him and pressed into his side. Kili placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Thorin appeared through the trees on Archer followed by a burly, brown-haired dwarf on a gray pony.

"Da," Saura whispered, her arms wrapping tightly around Kili's leg.

Kili adjusted the baby against his shoulder and pulled Saura to him. He could definitely see the children's resemblance to their father; they both had his eyes.

Thorin swung down from his pony and offered Saura a reassuring smile. "Saura, I found your da."

Corin dismounted and stood resolutely before Kili and the children. He acted nervous and uncomfortable.

Thorin took the baby from Kili and held him out to Corin. "Your son, Sieran."

His face a picture of uncertainty, Corin reached for the infant who immediately began to squall. The dwarf nearly dropped him. "Why is he crying?" he asked frantically.

"I just fed him. He probably needs a dry nappy," Kili explained as he hoisted a trembling Saura into his arms.

"Da," she whispered from her place on Kili's hip, "do you remember me?"

"Yes, Saura." Corin smiled somewhat distractedly as Thorin handed him a clean diaper. "You've grown."

"Mother says I grew a lot this past year," she told him softly.

Thorin showed the children's da how to change a nappy while Kili and Saura looked on. Then Corin cradled the baby awkwardly against his chest. "Get your things, Saura. We need to go."

The child's hands twisted into Kili's cloak and she buried her face in his shoulder as sobs began to shake her small body.

"There now," Kili soothed although he felt like crying himself, "you'll get to be with your da. You are so very lucky."

She raised her head from his shoulder, and Kili wiped at her tears. "But I'll miss you," she cried.

"I'll miss you, too, but maybe I can come for a visit before Uncle and I leave on our journey. I can even bring my brother so you can meet him."

"You promise?" she asked tearfully.

"I promise," Kili replied around the lump in his throat. His heart was breaking as he looked into her tear-stained face. Thin arms wrapped around his neck and he found himself blinking back tears.

Kili forced himself to release the child and place her on the ground. She threw herself at Thorin's legs and he knelt to wrap her in a tight hug.

"Be safe, Saura, and help your father with Sieran," the dwarf king told her.

"I will," she promised solemnly, stepping back and rubbing at her tears.

"If things don't work out, please contact us," Thorin told the children's father. "We will find them a home with someone we can trust."

Corin nodded. He knew in which town the dwarf king lived. He mounted his pony and Thorin lifted Saura to ride behind him. The infant was tucked safely in front of him. Kili attached the children's bag to the saddle.

Tears burned the young dwarf's eyes as he watched Saura ride away with her father. When she was out of sight, Kili blinked back tears before Thorin could see them and focused on dishing up supper.

He and Thorin both ate in silence before washing up their plates and curling up in their bedrolls. Tomorrow they would start their journey home, but Kili realized he was leaving a part of his heart in Cairntown.

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed. It is greatly appreciated.