Chapter 49
The Family Business
When the twins were three we decided to got to Imladris on vacation. That and we wanted to introduce the newest member of the family. Our three month old daughter, Eruraviel. My children were not growing at an elven rate, but at a dwarven growth rate. They were the size of normal three year olds.
"Tio! Tio!"
I smiled when I realized they were waking up Alejandro.
"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE!?"
They came out screaming and laughing. Thrain and Joclyn were very close, the best of friends. And they loved their new little sister. Thrain swore to protect her and he was very protective of her. Thorin grabbed them before they could get away.
"Papa!"
Thorin laughed and spun them around. When he set them down, Alejandro came out with his bag ready to go.
"When I tell you I want to have kids, you remind me of this day, hermana."
I laughed and shook my head. Thorin came up and gave me a loving kiss.
"Are you ready?"
I nodded and the twins ran out to the stables. They did not remember their grandparents, or their uncles. Arwen visited frequently and she doted on them. Of course my parents and brothers never forgot a birthday. We mounted our horses, Thorin took Joclyn, Alejandro took Thrain and I took Eruraviel and rode off.
Thorin's POV
Elena was still as beautiful as the day I met her. After nearly four years of marriage I still loved her more and more every day. Alejandro now had what he called a go-t. My son said he was going to grow one just like his uncle. The twins loved their uncle, and they loved each other. They shared a bond I had never seen before. There were times that Joclyn seemed to know what Thrain was thinking. It made me happy to know they loved each other so much. Joclyn loved to watch her mother train with a bow and so did Thrain, though Thrain preferred swords and knives. Elena and I had already told Alejandro he was not to teach Thrain, Joclyn, or Eruraviel any knife throwing until they were thirteen. Elena had not yet told them about her being an assassin, for an assassin she still was, and I knew she always would be. And I knew she feared the day she would tell our children the truth. I told her constantly that they would understand. She feared they would be afraid of her. Our children loved her, whenever they were in trouble she was there. When we made camp that night I looked at her. Eruraviel was fast asleep in her arms. I smiled and she looked at me curiously.
"What?"
I shook my head.
"Simply admiring your beauty and motherly instinct."
She sighed and shook her head.
"Thorin we are not having this conversation again." she said.
How does she always know!?
"Because I know you, Thorin."
I smirked. I should have learned by now she always knew.
"You always know, I know that. But you need to understand, our children will love you no matter who you are or what you can do. You are their mother. They will always look to you as their mother." I told her.
She sighed and gently rocked Eruraviel in her arms.
"I know you are right. I have always known."
I was confused now.
"Then why…."
"I never want them to follow in my footsteps."
Now I understood. I moved closer and put my arm around her.
"Elena…..there is nothing wrong with who you are. You may be an assassin but you still have honor. If our children grew up to be like you, honorable men and women…..I would be proud."
She looked at me with a rather shocked expression. I smiled and stroked our child's little head.
"This world needs warriors like you and your brother. Stealthy, strong and honorable. You and Alejandro…."
At that moment Alejandro let out a loud snore. Elena and I chuckled.
"You and Alejandro are the only ones who can teach our children skills no one else in Middle-Earth can."
She looked at me as if I had gone mad.
"You want Alejandro and I to train our children as assassins?" She asked.
I nodded and her eyes went wide.
"But why?"
I smiled a bit and looked at the twins.
"I want them to be able to defend themselves. I do not necessarily want them to be assassins but I want them to be as well trained as you are. And only you and your brother can teach them how." I answered.
Elena's POV
I was surprised. Surprised that Thorin would want his children trained as assassins. Yes I knew skills that no one else did, at least not that I had met. But to train my kids…..
"I am not so sure."
"And if they want to?"
I sighed.
"How about we cross that bridge when we get there?" I suggested.
He chuckled and nodded.
"Get some sleep. I will keep watch." he said.
I smirked and shook my head. I handed Eruraviel to him and took my brother's arm. Thorin looked curious and I smiled evilly. I slapped him with his own hand and he woke up. He looked around and then scowled at me.
"I hate it when you do that." he hissed.
"You need to help me keep watch. Your sister is exhausted and she needs her rest."
"And what about me?"
Thorin narrowed his eyes and nodded towards the twins.
"Alright fine. Get some sleep hermana."
I smiled and laid down, however I did not fall asleep right away.
"So what did you do this time?" Alejandro asked.
I heard Thorin sigh.
"You will probably think I have gone mad." He said.
"Try me."
"I want our children to have the same skills as their mother."
"So what, you want little assassins running around? You sure that's a good idea?"
I cracked my eye open a bit. Thorin had a determined look on his face.
"I want them to be able to fight."
"But you and Dwalin could teach him that."
Thorin shook his head.
"Not the way you and your sister can fight. I told Elena, you are the only two people in Middle-Earth with those skills."
"What did Maria say about all this?" Alejandro inquired.
"She says 'we will cross that bridge when we get there', and I know she is a bit uncomfortable with it all."
"Well they're her kids too. And she's the mother. They say the mother always knows best."
I smirked and looked at my kids.
"There is no denying that. Elena is the finest mother in all Middle-Earth…and the finest wife…."
I heard someone get smacked and I held back my laugh.
"If you wake up the baby Elena will have both our heads!" Thorin hissed.
"Hey Eruraviel is a heavy sleeper. I know my niece, I baby sit her all the time."
Thorin sighed.
"And I wish you did not have to. The duties of a king and queen are demanding, but my children always come first."
"Hey you guys are doing great. There's nothing wrong with being busy. You and my sister run a really big mountain. There's no problem leaving the kids with Tio Alejandro."
Thorin chuckled softly and so did Alejandro.
"I'll train them." he said.
"You will?"
"Yeah, I'll train them because I think you're right. I've been having these dreams, more like nightmares really. They're going to need to be able to fight, and I mean really fight. Or else…."
"Or else what?"
I heard my brother sigh.
"I think you know what." he whispered.
I looked at the twins and saw them sleeping peacefully.
Joclyn's POV
I could hear everything papa was saying to tio. I was scared. I took Thrain's hand and he opened his eyes. He could feel my fear as his own, we were connected in that way. He squeezed my hand to reassure me and I nodded. I closed my eyes and tried to get some more sleep.
