Chapter 54: Moments
Those were the memories that flashed through Malin's mind as she bent over Ghiza's belly. They were both having tea and feeling for "kicks". Ghiza had wanted to tell her about the Fall of Erebor, and Malin felt ready to tell her what happened all those years ago. Her words were on the tip of her tongue, but she just couldn't open her mouth and say anything.
Ghiza sighed, breaking the silence,
"Maybe I was imagining it... it's much too early on, isn't it?"
"Nay," said Malin, "Some lively babes, they kick very early on."
Like mine, she wanted to say but didn't.
Ghiza straightened up,
"Well, I won't tell Gloin just yet. Until I'm certain... he'll be excited, of course. He's easily excitable."
Malin smiled, but her thoughts were distant at the moment.
All these months, at the back of Malin's mind, she always wondered how people would look at her if they knew her past, or even that small part of it. She feared what her brothers would think of her, whether they would even understand. Malin felt that telling Ghiza might help her decide whether to bring it up with her brothers - Ghiza was, after all, a female. But Malin kept her mouth shut, and got up to pour some soothing herbal tea for Ghiza, who, though she wasn't that prone to throwing up, did feel slightly queasy on this particular afternoon.
Dori was in a good mood. Nori's business had suddenly picked up tenfold, due to Dis's new plan for refurbishing the royal quarters. Dis had hired Dori to coordinate the plans and visit various smiths on her behalf as well as advise her on the various choices she would have to make. Nori was hired to purchase supplies through his trade contacts.
This afternoon, Dori had brought samples and plans he had collected to present to Dis for tea. He hadn't seen hide nor hair of any of the two Fundins under the mountain, and it worried him slightly. Were they alright? Still, Gloin was keeping an eye on them - Dwalin was prone to becoming drunk and irrational, Malin was a female, which meant in most dwarfs' eyes a great deal of looking-after was needed. Dis was alone as well, but as least she had her two boys.
"More wine, your ladyship?" Dori inquired sweetly whilst Dis busily tossed unwanted weave-samples aside.
"Not this, not this," she mumbled, then said clearly, "Yes, a little wine would do. They just don't make cloth like they used to, don't they?"
"No," said Dori, "But this particular weaver..."
"...knows nothing about design." concluded Dis severely, "Let's see what they have in the other pile. I still haven't found what I'm looking for, Dori."
"Well, these samples are from an old weaver... trained in Erebor, he was. Moved to the Iron Hills before the fall to continue training"
"Hm... lets see if its any good..."
"Well, milady?"
"I like the designs... reminds me of Erebor when I was a child. But the colours won't do at all. I want to request a sample in blue, black, white and silver... with this design."
Dori flicked out his leather writing-book and began to make notes eagerly,
"A fine choice, if I might say so, milady."
"You may... now what's that you were going to show me... sketches of candelabra designs?"
Dwalin sipped the ale quietly, glad that he had a whole cask sent up here. He was on the high, private battlement above Erebor. The ravens flew in the distance and Peal sat beside him, drinking ale like she hadn't had it in months (she always drank ale like that).
"Ah," he said pleasantly, "That's pretty good stuff. Dulls pain like nothing else."
Pearl laughed,
"Ale brings you more pain than it cures, son of Fundin. Gets you into brawls and spars you cannot win."
Dwalin harummphed at the comment,
"I'm not as young as I was, "he excused himself, "My back, it aches sometimes."
Pearl put down her mug, concerned,
"Back issues are no laughing matter, Dwalin. My uncle Hjar was stuck on the back and could not walk for the last thirty years of his life."
Dwalin reached behind to feel his sore spine slowly,
"You should take more care of yourself," she said slowly, fondly,
"Maybe I need someone to take care of me," he said, trying to hint a little.
Pearl grinned, "Maybe, or maybe you should just grow up."
In the chilly spring winds and under the gentle, slanting, sun, Dwalin sipped the warm ale and, slightly intoxicated, put him arm around Pearl as they sat together on a stone bench. Pearl, slightly intoxicated herself, did not protest.
