Chapter 34: Childhood
Notes: Sonica has read and approved. The last chapter of this fanfiction I'm sorry to say it but it is true.
"Fe. Fe hurt." whined Askima, she was now teething and was much calmer than her brother with it. "Chew on this." Fili said handing her a torn but very clean blanket. "Dorin hasn't said his first word yet and he is teething." Kili said worriedly. Thorin looked over to him, "Remember what I said give him time. I seem to remember that you didn't start talking till you were two years old." Dorin was hearing this argument and crawled towards Thorin, what was left of a blanket in his mouth. He snuggled in Thorin's lap and signed Daddy in Khuzdul signage. A feeling of pride swept over Thorin, "See, he can already sign in Khuzdul." Fili and Kili were grinning ear to ear like the idiots they were.
Askima shrieked like a nazgul, she had stopped gumming her blanket. "I really wish Legolas was here to help us." Fili mumbled under his breath as he cradled Askima. "What's wrong little one?" Fili asked. "Fe, cider cider!" she whined. "Cider where?" Fili asked softly. Askima pointed to the corner. "Oh, spider." Fili laughed softly, "The big, mean, old spider scared you?" Askima clinged to him and nodded. "Well let's go kill that mean spider." Fili said walking to the corner. "Askima watch how Fe kills a spider." Askima peeked out from Fili's shirt as Fili stepped on the spider.
"There, he is good and dead now, little gem." Fili whispered. "Still hurt?" he then asked. Askima shook her head. "Ti-red." she moaned. "Let's get you to bed then." Fili laughed. Dorin tried to sign Dead spider? but came out as red cider?. Kili knew what he meant though, "Yes, dead spider, Fili killed him." Dorin nodded sleepily Good. Thorin picked him up and chuckled, "I think its off to bed for you." Dorin didn't complain he was nearly asleep anyways, a little drool was already slipping from his mouth. Thorin chuckled, his young son was worn out pretty easily.
After a few weeks the dwarfs' worst fears had been realized. Dorin was a mute. Cartel cried into her pillow for an hour, but decided that she would at least try to teach him signage. Now that Dorin wasn't teething anymore he was a lot easier to handle, to Kili's thankfulness, who still bore the bruises from his unfortunate tussle. Bifur was a little upset, no dwarf should be mute like he was. But it was Bofur who consoled him, "It's okay they aren't going to toss him aside like you feared us doing. No, they are going to help young Dorin." Bifur was relieved, after an axe to the head he had always feared that they were going to leave him, but they didn't.
Dorin learned at a fast pace, even though his sister didn't understand what he was trying to say. She had asked Fili, "Why Dorin no talk?" Fili was completely unprepared for the question, "Dorin doesn't talk because... well... uh, ask your Da." Askima was confused, Fe always had answers to her questions. Thorin didn't know how to explain Dorin's muteness to a one year-old, even if she has been around Bifur. Bifur and Dorin not surprisingly got along very well. And Askima still didn't understand why neither of them could talk. Bifur's reason was obvious but they would wait to tell her why.
Ten years passed and Askima was getting edgy with her studies. "Why do I have to learn about maps? It's not like I'm going anywhere anytime soon." Askima groaned in her seat as Balin was trying to explain, "Did I ever tell you the story of how we arrived at Bilbo Baggins' home?" Askima rolled her eyes, "Yes, you have, twice now." Balin chuckled, "I haven't told you the full story." Now Dorin looked up from his work he was interested in new stories especially ones about the company's adventure. What happened? he signed.
Balin was happy to see Dorin's enthusiasm, "Well after Gandalf arrived with Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Ori, Nori, and Dori. We realized that your father, Thorin was going to be late. We started the feast without him and sung a song that annoyed Mr. Baggins terribly..." A familiar voice started to sing, "Blunt the knives, bend the forks! Smash the bottles and burn their corks! Chip the glasses and crack the plates! That's what Bilbo Baggins hates! Cut the cloth and tread the fat! Leave the bones on the bedroom mat! Pour the milk on the pantry floor! Splash the wine on every door! Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl; Pound them up with a thumping pole; And when you've finished, if any are whole, Send them down the hall to roll! That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"
"Fe!" Askima shouted. "How's my little cousin?" he asked as he rushed into the room. "I'm fine and I think Dorin is fine too." Askima replied. Dorin sternly nodded, he was waiting for the story to start up again. Balin continued, "Well after we finished singing there was a knock at the door and we all went silent. Gandalf opened the door to reveal your very grumpy father. He walked in and said 'Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way, twice.' Thorin never had good sense of direction, that is why you need to learn about maps."
Fili laughed, "Yes, Thorin had gotten lost. We even got lost in Mirkwood and it's just one, simple path. That's where your mother and Uncle found us. Thorin will never live down that day." "Can you tell us what happened?" Askima asked excited for another story. "Sorry little one you have to finish your schoolwork before I can tell you." Fili said grinning. "A little incentive for finishing correctly." Balin added. Askima pouted but continued with her work. Dorin had finished first but waited for his sister to finish as well. Askima finished and softly punched Dorin's shoulder, "You didn't have to wait for me to finish you know." Dorin just shrugged, his mother was a powerful woman and he could guess what happened in Mirkwood. He had heard his mother bragging about it before, but he never heard the full story.