CHAPTER FOURTEEN – RAISING DWARFLINGS

"Deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised."
J.R.R. Tolkien

November, 2953 TA

Two years had come and passed since the unexpected arrival of the second Prince Under the Mountain, and since then Thorin and Hayden could say with full confidence they were now proficient in the handling of two young dwarflings.

Time Under the Mountain flew by so fast it seemed Drúdin had only just arrived when a short eight months later Dura gave birth to her and Fili's first child – a little girl they named Dala.

And while it was very clear all three dwarflings had been born with Durin blood, they were so very different from one another.

Thodin was always the leader – a natural born King, like his father. Though he had a tendency to show his mischievous side at times and he could be awfully sweet around his mother, he was always desperate to prove he was older than he really was. By his eighth birthday he was more of a miniature of Thorin than he had ever been, with his strong jawline, long nose and stunning black shoulder length hair which he wore down with two thick braids lining his face. His eyes however remained their soft chocolate brown inherited from his mother.

Drúdin could not have been more opposite to his older brother, even only at the young age of two years old. The jet-black hair he had endowed as a newborn was fast to change to a light brown, almost the same colour as his wide eyes. It was clear even through his baby stages his dwarf heritage would not be as prominent as his brother. His face had a roundness about it, though his nose was all his father's. As time went on, in fact, Hayden was distinctly reminded of her brother whenever she looked upon her youngest son, in both appearance and personality, and it warmed her heart.

Dala was the perfect mixture of her dwarf heritage; with Dura's soft features, Fili's blonde hair and hazel eyes and her grandmother's stubbornness. Even as a newborn she had had every male Under the Mountain wrapped around her small finger; including her cousins. And she proved the perfect escape when Hayden wished to trade her sons for a peaceful little girl even for an afternoon.

And on one cold evening in November Hayden was doing exactly that. She had Dala, now one and a half years, snuggled onto her lap during dinner, with the rest of their family surrounding them making as much noise as usual, while Fili and Dura took a night to themselves. At the moment the little dwarfling was finding entertainment by chewing the ends of Hayden's hair, while Hayden was distracted with her eldest son across the table.

"Thodin," she said exasperatedly, "Don't throw food at uncle Dwalin."

"But he called me a pointy-ear," Thodin said indignantly. He lined his fork up with another load of peas, ready to fire across the table, when Thorin expertly swiped the utensil from his son's hands while sending Dwalin a subtle glare.

"Honestly Dwalin, he's hard enough to control at dinner without you winding him up," Hayden said.

"I said nothing," Dwalin said innocently, "The lad is lying."

"I'm not lying!" Thodin cried, jumping up onto his seat heatedly.

"Enough, Thodin," Hayden reprimanded.

Thodin plopped back on his seat with a scowl and began stabbing his food hard with his fork.

"Why don't we talk about your tutoring? What did you learn today?" Dís asked, always the expert at timely discussion changes. She had Drúdin balanced on her lap, while he was banging his wooden spoon on the table and relishing in the different sounds it made with small giggles.

"Nothing interesting," Thodin mumbled.

"Thodin-" Hayden began.

"It's alright, Hayden," Balin said, sending her a quick wink, "It wasn't a very interesting lesson today, was it lad?"

"Rather be training," Thodin said, "But not with uncle Dwalin."

"Watch it there," Dwalin grunted, leaning over the table to glare at the Prince.

"I can take you," Thodin said bravely, standing up on his chair again and baring his fists. The fact that Dwalin was more than double his size didn't intimidate the dwarfling in the slightest.

"Oh, you can?" Dwalin cocked an amused eyebrow.

"I'll take you and squish you in the mud," Thodin growled, "You tree-shagger."

"Thodin!" Hayden cried.

"That's enough of that," Thorin said tersely, hoisting Thodin under the arms and placing him back on his seat.

"Where on earth did you learn that language?" Hayden asked.

Thodin shrugged, all the while tensing his fists and glaring in Dwalin's direction, who had to cover his fits of laughter with a mass of coughs.

"I believe you should ask your nephew that," Dís offered, nodding beside her to Kili.

"I never use that language," Kili said, holding his hands up in innocence, "He probably heard it around somewhere – the mines or the training field."

"That aside he shouldn't be saying it at all," Hayden said with a frown, "Thodin, you know you shouldn't use that language. Do you know what that word means?"

Thodin huffed and shrugged his shoulders, "Elves."

"Well, yes," Hayden frowned, "And I didn't think you had anything against elves. You've always liked Legolas."

Thodin shrugged again nonchalantly, "I do like him… it's the King I don't like."

Hayden resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Through the few times that Thodin had been to the Woodland Realm or King Thranduil had visited Erebor, the eldest Prince had never liked him. And it was rather the same vice versa.

"Why is that?" Dís asked curiously.

"He… looks at mum weird," Thodin said, "Don't like it. She's dad's, not his."

Hayden resisted the urge to roll her eyes, instead settling to glaring subtle daggers at her husband across the table. Thorin's eyes trailed from Thodin to Hayden and he gave her a shrug, not unlike Thodin's.

She decided to drop the subject however, as everyone went back to their own conversations. She gently plied her hair from Dala's grip and picked the little girl up under the arms to hold her up to her face. The dwarfling giggled a little and reached out for Hayden's face.

"When you get married, we're going to make sure it's not to some jealous possessive dwarf," Hayden said sweetly, "Who doesn't fill your sons mind with prejudice against other races."

Dala simply giggled more and Hayden brought her to her chest gently, catching Thorin's lazy glare from across the table.

This action however caught the attention of another dwarf at the table. Drúdin had always been very attached to his mother. It was only recently he could eat dinner in another's lap. But he didn't like the fact at all that Dala seemed to be taking his place, which he made known by squirming and wriggling in his aunt's lap.

"Oh, dear," Dís said, pulling Drúdin closer to her to stop him from falling off the chair, "Hayden, your son is pining."

Hayden sighed and rose from her seat with Dala cradled in her arms, gurgling happily. She made her way round to Dís end of the table and passed over her granddaughter into her open arms. Drúdin wriggled impatiently and held out his arms to her.

"Hello, gorgeous," she said, greeting her son with a kiss on the cheek as he settled comfortably into her arms.

Drúdin squirmed at the sound of her voice and rested his head against her shoulder, his thumb in his mouth and his other hand clutching her dress.

"Bed time, I think," she said, "Come on, Thodin."

"Oh, can't I stay up a little longer?" Thodin whined.

"You've stayed up long enough," Hayden said firmly, "Come on now."

Thodin pouted and turned to his father for support.

"Do as your mother says," Thorin said, "Or you can share chambers with uncle Dwalin tonight."

Thodin let out a small whimper as he noted Dwalin's grin and wasted no time in bolting for the door. With a thankful smile in Thorin's direction, Hayden bid the table goodnight and followed in Thodin's pursuit.

"Why does dad get to stay up?" Thodin asked with a pout.

"Because he's much older than you," Hayden smiled, putting a gentle hand against his back as he came into step beside her. "He's an adult – he can go to bed when he wants."

"I wanna be an adult," Thodin said, crossing his arms in a huff.

"You will be soon enough, darling."

"Hayden!" Thorin's voice called behind them.

Hayden turned around on her heel to see Thorin gesturing her back to the table inside the dining hall.

"Thodin, would you hold your brother for a moment?" Hayden said. She passed the dwarfling gently over to his brother, who took him unsteadily at first with both arms wrapped around him.

"What does dad want?" Thodin asked curiously, whilst dodging Drúdin's drool covered hand that was waving around.

"I don't know," Hayden said, "I'll only be a minute – keep an eye on Drú, please."

Thodin hummed and nodded, his attention directed on Drúdin's strong grip on his hair. Hayden sent them one last glance before leaving them in the entrance hall and heading back to the table.

"What is it?" Hayden asked Thorin when she reached him. She tried not to sound hurried but she didn't want to leave Thodin with Drúdin too long – since he had learnt to crawl, the dwarfling could disappear from sight in a manner of seconds.

"This just arrived," Thorin said, handing a letter to her over his shoulder.

She took it from him and leant on the back of his chair as she flipped it open to read.

"Well, look at that," she murmured, laughing under her breath.

"What is it?" Kili asked curiously.

"An invitation," Hayden said amusedly, "For dinner in the halls of the Woodland Realm."

Kili scoffed, laughing, "What? All of us?"

"The four of us," Thorin corrected.

"What has it been… eleven years?" Hayden said, "Eleven years we've been living here and now he's inviting us to dinner?"

"Strange, is it not?" Thorin mused.

"Oh yes, strange," Kili smirked, "It must be a scheme to get to the young Princes – to overrun their minds."

The table laughed, but Thorin looked as if he was seriously considering this theory.

"Oh stop, Thorin," Hayden said, swatting him on the arm with the letter, "It'll be nice to get the boys out."

"You are not seriously considering this?" Thorin gaped.

"I've already considered it – and we're going," Hayden said, "It's not every day you get a personal invitation from the Woodland King."

Thorin scoffed into his mug of ale.

"I agree with the lass," Balin said, "It would be a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the bonds between our realms."

"Thank you, Balin," Hayden smiled appreciatively, ignoring Thorin's scowl.

"What date is it, then?" Thorin asked, half sighing.

Hayden turned back to the letter to scour through it for a date, when something began to tug at her leg.

"Mum?"

"One second, Thodin," Hayden murmured, eyes still trailing over the letter.

"But mum-"

"I said I'll be a second, Thodin," Hayden said tersely.

"But it's Drú," Thodin said.

Hayden dropped the letter to her side and she looked over her eldest son, "What's wrong? Thodin, where is he?"

Thodin stepped aside to point to the end of the table, where Drúdin was sitting on the ground by the table's leg chewing his hand.

"He walked," Thodin said, a wide grin now plastered over his face.

"What?" Hayden said, half laughing, "Are you sure, darling? He's barely begun to stand up by himself."

"I'm sure!" Thodin said adamantly, "We- we were outside the doors and I put him down but he- he stood! And I walked away and he followed! Well, he fell down after a bit but he did!"

It was hard to believe for Hayden. Drúdin had found trouble standing on his feet with something steady beside him, let alone balancing on his own. But Thodin seemed so excited she couldn't help but see he wasn't lying about his younger brother's latest feat.

"Well, why don't you try it again?" Hayden encouraged, "Just do what you did last time."

Thodin's grin widened and he went to stand behind Drúdin. He used both hands to hoist the dwarfling up, waiting patiently for Drúdin's feet to plant themselves firmly on the ground. When it seemed like they had Thodin slowly let his brother go, but Drúdin merely stumbled back and landed with a thump on the ground again.

The dwarfling grumbled at the hard landing and kicked his feet against the ground. Thodin seemed equally annoyed.

"It's alright," Hayden said gently, "I'm sure he'll do it again."

"He did it, I swear!" Thodin cried.

"I believe you, darling."

Thodin frowned and crouched down in front of Drúdin, trying to catch the dwarflings attention.

"Drú, you need to show mum you can walk," Thodin said, firmly but encouragingly, "Like you did for me, remember? You've gotta do it, okay?"

Hayden smiled to herself and glanced over her shoulder to catch Thorin's eye, but he was already watching. He had swiveled around on his seat, mug in hand, watching the two dwarflings with a small smile.

Once Thodin had finished his speech of encouragement to his little brother, he resumed his position behind the sitting dwarfling and repeated his actions, hoisting him up onto his feet. This time though, when Thodin let go, Drúdin merely swayed slightly but stayed standing.

Hayden's hand went to her mouth, "Oh my god."

Thodin let out a loud cheer, "I told you he could do it!"

Hayden laughed and went to crouch down so she was eye level with Drúdin, but still a few feet away from him.

"Go on, Drú," Thodin said, patting him gently on the back for encouragement.

Drúdin's knees wobbled slightly and he didn't seem to know where to look. One of his hands was held out to his side for balance while his teething gums were chewing on the other one.

"You can do it, Drúdin," Hayden said, holding out her arms to him and smiling, "Come to mummy."

Drúdin's face split into a sweet smile and he let out a small giggle before taking his first steps forward. His knees threatened to give way and a few times he almost toppled over, but he was determined to reach Hayden's arms.

When he had just about reached her he fell forward and her arms caught him, hoisting him up to her. He wrapped himself tight around her and she held him with just as much love.

Thodin cheered louder and laughed, while Hayden was too shocked to speak. She rose to her feet and turned to stare in bemused shock at Thorin.

"Did that really happen?" she said through a smile.

"Aye, but I'm having as much trouble believing it as you," Thorin said. His large hand came to rub Drúdin's back tenderly and he pressed a gentle kiss to the resting dwarflings head.

"And you didn't believe me," Thodin said skeptically, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Of course we did," Hayden smiled, "And you – you clever little dwarf! I can't believe you helped him. I'm so proud of you, darling."

Thodin shrugged but seemed extremely pleased with his mother's praise, and accepted her kiss on the top of his head with a proud grin.

"Can I have extra dessert then?" Thodin asked, his grin widening.

Thorin laughed loud at that and ruffled his eldest son's hair, "Why does everything always lead back to food with you?"

"I like food," Thodin said defensively.

Thorin chuckled and put an arm around him to lead him out of the hall, with Hayden following slightly behind.

"Did your mother tell you we received a letter?" Thorin said, turning slightly to wink back at Hayden.

"No – what letter?"

"From King Thranduil," Thorin said, "We are to dine in his halls in a months time."

"Oh, really?" Thodin groaned, stopping in his paces so he could make a face to his mother. "Do I have to go?"

"Of course you have to go," Hayden said, "Don't you start on me – I already have to deal with your father whenever they visit. And you have no reason to dislike them."

Thodin shrugged, "Don't need one."

Hayden sighed exasperatedly and rolled her eyes to the ceiling.

"We'll just talk about this later," she said eventually, ushering Thodin forward again.

The dwarfling walked ahead, kicking at the path, while Thorin dropped back in step with Hayden.

"Do you really need to do this to me?" Hayden asked tersely, "I get enough of this from you without you influencing Thodin."

"I do not influence him," Thorin said innocently, "He makes his own decisions well enough."

"Not without your input though," Hayden muttered, "You couldn't have just waited the day before the dinner to spring it on him? It would have made it so much easier."

"I would have, but in this case I think it proved to our advantage," Thorin pointed out.

"Oh? And how is that?"

"He's been put off dessert now," Thorin smirked.

Hayden scoffed and was tempted to give him a sharp smack had her arms not been full with Drúdin.

"Just for that, you're on story duty tonight," Hayden murmured smartly. She grinned when this was met by an exhausted groan on Thorin's part.

"Thodin! You had better be getting dressed!" Hayden called down the hall, "Thranduil will be waiting for us."

"He can wait!" Thodin bellowed back from his bedroom. She could hear him hopping about his room trying to put on his boots.

"God, he's just like you," Hayden muttered, sending Thorin a look as he dressed across the room.

"How so?"

"He's a drama queen."

"A drama-?" Thorin let out a long sigh and fixed her with a glare, "I am not a drama queen."

"Yeah, right," Hayden scoffed. She took a step back in search of her shoes and stepped right on one of Drúdin's wooden toys. "Ah- shit!"

"Shit."

Hayden paled. She met Thorin's stare and they both turned in unison to the dwarfling that had crawled into the room unnoticed.

"Shit," Drúdin mumbled again.

"Oh bloody hell," Hayden cursed under her breath. She had let slip a few curses every now and then around Drúdin, even Thodin when he had been that age, but neither of them had ever repeated her.

She quickly swooped down to pick Drúdin up and bounced him in her arms.

"Drúdin sweetie, you can't say that word," Hayden said gently, "That's a bad word."

Drúdin merely flayed his arms around and kicked against her stomach, whining that he wanted to be put down.

"Of all the nights you could have slipped up," Thorin said, sighing heavily and rubbing his brow.

"I'm sorry, okay?" Hayden said, "I didn't even realise he was in the room."

"And what if he repeats that while we are in the Woodland Realm?" Thorin asked.

"Oh, as if you care what the elves think," Hayden scoffed.

"I care what they think of our parenting," Thorin snapped, "If they think we are teaching our children that language."

"Now you really are being a drama queen," Hayden said exasperatedly, "It's a curse word Thorin, not the end of the world."

Thorin opened his mouth to retort when Thodin's voice echoed down the hall, calling for his mother. Hayden slipped on her coat stiffly and left the room without a glance back to her husband.

Thorin sighed and looked over to Drúdin, who had managed to stand up against the wall and was looking up at him with a toothless grin. He smiled and bent down to scoop the dwarfling into his arms. "Let's get this night over with."

"Welcome, King Thorin," Legolas smiled, with a short bow, "I trust your travel here went well?"

"Aye, it did," Thorin said, not unkindly. After all these years living in alliance with the Woodland Realm he had learnt to tolerate Legolas – when he was in a good mood, anyway. "Thank you for the invitation."

"My father's idea," Legolas said, "And not an unwise one, if our realms are to remain allies."

The Prince turned then to Hayden, who was standing slightly behind Thorin with Drúdin in her arms and Thodin by her side.

"My Queen," the elf said, bowing low to her, "How do you fare?"

"Very well, thank you Legolas," Hayden said with a small smile.

The elf's eyes turned then to the dwarfling in Hayden's arms, who was more occupied with chewing on his own sleeve than anything else.

"Hasn't he grown," Legolas smiled, "He looks more like his mother every time I see him."

"I hope that's a compliment, Legolas," Hayden said, mockingly skeptically.

"Only the highest," the Prince smirked. His sharp eyes then moved to Thodin, looking over him with his sharp eyes. "Prince Thodin… my you have grown since we last met."

"I have?" Thodin straightened eagerly, "Uncle Dwalin keeps telling me I haven't but I knew I had!"

Legolas laughed, "How is your training progressing?"

"Well… I can lift the practice swords now," Thodin grinned brightly, "Want me to show you my muscles?"

"Perhaps later in the night," Legolas smirked. The elf straightened and stepped aside gracefully to allow them forward, "Follow me. The King is waiting in the dining room."

Thodin was first to follow Legolas eagerly, stepping into stride alongside him.

"Can I have a shot at your bow this time?" Thodin asked, "You promised."

"I don't recall promising that," Legolas said.

Thodin scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "Uh… well, maybe not. But can I anyway?"

"We shall see," Legolas mused, "Though you may be better with the practice bows for now."

Thodin's face dropped in disappointment.

"And if my father drinks enough perhaps we will use him as our target," Legolas added with a cheeky smirk.

Thodin brightened immediately and giggled, walking with a new spring in his step at that idea.

"You will be staying for the night, of course?" Legolas asked over his shoulder.

"No no, we-"

"Yes, we will-"

Both Thorin and Hayden had answered at the same moment, ending in a rather awkward silence. It had been tense between them since they had left Erebor earlier that evening.

Legolas looked between the couple and raised his eyebrows curiously.

"Yes, we will be staying," Hayden said firmly, glancing to Thorin purposely through the corner of her eye. "Thank you, Legolas."

Legolas gave them both a small smile before continuing on ahead of them with Thodin still by his side.

"I had not intended to stay the night," Thorin said tightly, "I have a meeting early tomorrow."

"Then you should have rescheduled it," Hayden said, "I am not travelling all the way back home with the boys – and it's too dangerous."

Thorin let out a sharp breath but chose to remain silent.

The dining hall of the Woodland realm was long and thin, much smaller than the one found in Erebor. Centered in the hall was a long wooden table, and at the head of it sat a throne made of entwined vines and branches.

King Thranduil rose elegantly from his seat, a glass of wine already in his grasp, and he swept over to greet his guests.

"King Thorin, Queen Hayden," he said, bowing his head ever so slightly.

The couple returned the gesture, with a smile on Hayden's part. They met with Thranduil so often these days it was now a habit to greet him.

"He has… grown," Thranduil said, nodding in Drúdin's direction. The King, as elegant as he could be, had a tendency to be quite awkward around children.

"Aye, he has," Thorin said gruffly, "He'll be a strong lad though, that's for sure."

Thranduil turned down to look distastefully upon Thodin, who was meeting the elven King's gaze with a glare of his own.

"You," Thranduil said stiffly.

Thodin raised his head proudly and crossed his arms, "You."

"You're still short," Thranduil stated, "Even for a dwarfling."

Thodin opened his mouth in what was clear was going to be an angry retort when Hayden made a timely interrupted.

"I can see where this is going," she said, crossing behind Thorin and guiding Thodin swiftly away to the table. "Legolas, a wine would be lovely right now."

The dinner went uneventfully, for the most part. There was an obvious tension between Thorin and Hayden, who had sat on opposite sides of the table, and it didn't help that Thodin was pulling faces at Thranduil whenever his back was turned. Luckily Legolas was an expert in diffusing tension, and he kept Thodin distracted with lots of talk of weapons and wars.

"Can I try your bow now?" Thodin repeated, for what would have been the tenth time that night. Now that he was finished eating he was eager to try out the elvish weapon.

"Your bow?" Thranduil repeated, staring curiously from Thodin to Legolas.

"Yes, Prince Thodin is quite eager to try his hand at archery," Legolas said with a smile.

Thranduil smirked and stared at Thodin curiously, "Your arms are a little short for archery, are they not?"

Thodin growled, his teeth grinding together, "My arms are not short."

"Well…"

"I am the proper size for a dwarfling!" Thodin cried, hammering his closed fist hard on the table.

"Thodin, stop that right now," Hayden said firmly.

"But he's insulting my honour!" Thodin said, pointing to Thranduil.

"I'm sure he didn't mean that-"

"No, actually I did mean just that," Thranduil said, glaring casually at Thodin.

"Father, stand down," Legolas said exasperatedly.

"Aye, he should stand down," Thorin said, "There is no need to stir the lad."

"It is not stirring if it is the truth."

"Oh, that's it-" Thodin growled, standing from his seat with closed fists.

"Thodin, no-"

Hayden made to stand from her seat to hold Thodin back, when Drúdin threw his wooden spoon from his high chair. It hit Thorin's wine glass, sending it toppling over, the dark red wine spilling over the table.

A stunned silence filled the dining hall suddenly, which was broken by one simple word from a dwarflings mouth.

"Shit."

Perhaps it was the absolute absurdity of the situation they found themselves in, but for some reason that one word spoken so innocently managed to diffuse all tensions. And they found themselves laughing. Even Thranduil managed a small smirk of amusement.

"Oh, darling," Hayden said, leaning over to press a kiss to Drúdin's cheek, "You're lucky you're cute enough to get away with that."