After Dis had thoroughly embarrassed Kili, they talked about he and Tauriel courting and eventually marrying. As they made plans for a wedding, Haraldur started falling asleep, so Dis took the boy to his room and put him to bed. When she came back they moved to the parlor where she sat across from Thorin. She gave him a questioning look.
"Alright, now that my nephew has gone to bed, Thorin, I want to know what he meant when he said he never had a nice aunt before."
Thorin sighed, "Sister, not much is known of the life that Haraldur had before we found him, he will not speak of it. But what we did learn is truly horrific, from what we gathered his parents were killed when he was an infant, and he was sent off to live with an aunt and uncle that abused him. The lad was starved and whipped, He has whip marks on his back. Made to cook for them and punished when he did it wrong."
"He has burn marks on his hands from where he was punished for burning dinner," Fili tells his mother.
"He was terrified we would beat him if he asked questions. When he told us he was a wizard he thought for sure we would be angry. From what I can gather that is the reason he was treated so terribly. Whoever had him was afraid of his magic."
Dis was seething with anger, how could Dwarves treat a Dwarfling like that? Children were so precious, it was unheard of for someone to do such a thing to a child.
"Thorin, I want them hunted down and brought to justice."
"That will not be necessary, Haraldur told us when we found him that they were dead. They and everyone he had ever cared for had died a shortly before I found him."
"Good, I assume you plan on officially adopting him?"
"Aye, after my coronation. I shall have Balin draw up the proper papers. Of course, Fili will continue to be my heir."
"I agree with you, Thorin, but Haraldur will still need to be educated as a prince of Erebor. I will teach him myself, it's obvious he's a bright lad and should learn quickly."
"Aye, he definitely needs an education, his relatives taught him nothing and gave him nothing. Dis, the boy had never even had a proper pair of Dwarven boots before."
"What cruel people," Dis exclaimed.
They continued to talk into the night until Dis decided that she was going to bed. When everyone had left, Thorin went to check on Haraldur. He peeked into the bedroom and found the boy fast asleep. Thorin smiled at the sight, he quietly closed the door and went to bed.
The next day the family had breakfast together, including Tauriel. Dis was determined that Tauriel felt welcomed as she was positive that it was only a matter of time for her and Kili to get married. When Haraldur saw Tauriel walk in with Kili, he ran up to her and hugged her leg tightly.
"I am so glad you are having breakfast with us, Tauriel."
She smiled down at the Dwarfling, "As am I, sweetling."
Haraldur started pulling Tauriel towards the table, "Sit by me, Tauriel."
Tauriel laughed, "As you wish, little one."
Kili frowned as he watched Haraldur pull Tauriel away from him. Thorin pats him on the back.
"Do not fret, Nephew, Haraldur does not have a crush on Tauriel. She has always been kind to him and has cared for him. He considers her his sister, if not mother."
"How do you know?" Kili asked looking at his uncle annoyed.
"I asked him how he felt about her. He said he loved her very much, like a sister, more like a mother."
Kili lets out a sigh, Fili walks into the room and laughs having heard the whole conversation. He pats Kili on the back.
"Do not tell me you are jealous of a Dwarfling?"
"No."
Thorin and Fili look at each other, yes he was.
Thorin walks into the dining room and takes his place at the head of the table while Dis sits to his right. Haraldur sits to his left so he can make sure the Dwarfling eats enough. Tauriel has to sit between him and Kili so as to not upset Kili any further. She thought it was funny that Kili was jealous of Haraldur. Fili sits next to his mother.
Breakfast is served and they have a pleasant conversation. Tauriel is helping Haraldur cut his meat when Thorin speaks.
"Haraldur, I want to talk to you about your adoption."
Dread suddenly enters the little Dwarfling, what if Thorin changed his mind? Haraldur swallows the food in his mouth, "What about it?"
"I want you to know that the papers will be drawn up and we will make it official after my coronation."
Haraldur lets out a sigh of relief, "Alright Adad."
"But, I want you to know that Fili will still be my heir."
"I know, Adad, I don't want to be king, I want a family."
Thorin smiles down at his son and strokes his hair, "And you shall have it, but just because you will not be king does not mean you are not a prince of Erebor. So, starting today, you shall begin your education."
"Now, Adad, but there are still so many repairs that need to be done, I need to help, I want to help."
"You take too much on for someone so young, Haraldur. It is time that you begin to enjoy your childhood." Dis tells him.
"But there is so much work."
"We are Dwarves, my son, we do not shy away from hard work. Your aunt is right, time for you to behave like the child you are. I want you to play and learn."
Haraldur looked down at his hands and sighed, "I don't know how to play. I wasn't allowed to play."
"Then Gimli will teach you how to play," Dis said confidently.
"Will he really?" Haraldur looked at Dis with hopeful eyes.
"Aye he will, and if he doesn't Fili and Kili will," Dis says with a laugh.
"But that won't be for a whole week," Haraldur points out.
"And in the meantime, we will begin your education," Dis informs him.
"Alright, Aunt Dis."
And so it went that after breakfast, Tauriel said her goodbyes to Kili, who went to work with Thorin and Fili, while she, Dis and Haraldur went to the library to get some books to begin Haraldur's education. They got books on mathematics, and history and some children's books for now. As he grew they would add more, but the first thing they had to determine was whether or not Haraldur could read and write. Dis was almost positive that no he couldn't. If his relatives didn't care enough about him to feed him properly, why would they teach him to read and write?
They went back to Dis' room and went into her study where she sat down at her desk while Tauriel sat in the corner. Haraldur took the seat across from Dis.
"Now, Nephew, has anyone taught you to read or write?"
"No, Aunt Dis."
"Not even in the Common Tongue?"
"No."
"Then, Nephew we will start by teaching you to read and write. Tauriel would you mind helping me teach him the Common Tongue, while I teach him Khuzdul?"
"Not at all, your grace."
"Please, Tauriel, call me Dis when we are alone."
"Alright Dis."
Haraldur looked at his Aunt shyly and asked, "Can Tauriel teach me the language of the Elves as well?"
Dis thought for a moment, "I do not see why not, that is of course if you want to, Tauriel."
"It would be my honor."
"Alright, we shall start off this these children's books. I picked one in Khzudul and one in the Common Tongue. Shall we begin?"
Haraldur lessons continued all morning. He was quickly getting the hang of reading and writing in the Common Tongue. It actually surprised Dis and Tauriel how quickly he was progressing. By the time they took a break for lunch, Haraldur could do his letters in the Common Tongue and could read simple sentences.
Dis, Haraldur, and Tauriel walked to the Great Hall for lunch, the little Dwarfling was so excited that he could read the minute he saw Thorin he took off running towards him.
"I CAN READ!" He shouted as he ran into Thorin's arms. Thorin laughed and tossed him in the air.
"Truly?"
"Aye, Adad, just not very well."
"That will come with practice, my son, do not become discouraged."
Thorin sets his son down and they wait for Dis and Tauriel to join them, then together they walk into the great hall for lunch. After lunch Discontinues Haraldur's lessons, now teaching him khuzdul. This was a little harder for him to grasp, but as with the Common Tongue, he slowly started to understand it. As it turned out it was his magic that was helping him learn at a faster rate. By the end of the day, he could more or less read the Common Tongue as well.
