Chapter 55: Finding Company
Fili entered the training grounds just as three dwarves around his age had been treated by the young healer. He wasn't there to meet anyone, just to train. Fili was feeling slightly alone - Kili, in Thorin's absence, had taken to running off every few days to Dale, with other dwarves his age. Fili sighed - he could have had a holiday with Uncle gone, but no. He was now the crown prince, and it seemed as if this dull, endless, absolutely dreadful situation was a personal punishment from Thorin for dying his beard green when Fili was ten years old.
Now Fili was no respite - thankfully, Dwalin had retired for the day due to his injuries. Gloin was at home with his family. Dis was busy redecorating the royal quarters (she had hired Dori and Nori to plan and purchase extravagant furnishing) and Fili was all alone. Lacking anything to do or anyone to talk to, he had decided to work on knife-throwing, that is, until he arrived in the training arena. Then something
"She's a dream, isn't she?" Gram, one of the three injured dwarves remarkede dreamily, his eyes following Elekh as she hurried from the arena, no doubt to tend to sweaty, bruised miners or other patients of the same sort.
Yaro sighed and agreed, tugging his long brown beard and wondering how to get the cute, young female healer to notice him.
"Tough luck, guys," commented Fili,
"Its worth it," said Dun, "Totally worth it."
"Fighting Dwalin?"
"Getting injured!" answered Yaro, who then added, "Your majesty."
"Cut it out, guys!"
Fili hated to be called, "Your majesty". He knew about the responsibilities of leaders of things like that, but when the younger dwarves started calling him by royal titles, he felt distanced, and so very much more alone. Sighing, he ended the conversation with the Dun, Yaro and Gram. They were heading to the taverns, anyway. He didn't feel like doing some harmless knife-throwing, however. Fili wanted to get into a nice, heated, dangerous spar. He wanted to do something challenging, risky, not tame and boring and crown-prince like. He really wanted to be like Kili for once - restless, without a care in the world. With hammers, perhaps?
Fili had never been good with warhammers. In fact, he had always got himself injured with them, which was precisely why he chose to corner Pim, the hefty old warhammer expert from Belegost, into a spar. Things were going well, until Fili found himself unable to wield the hefty hammer any longer, brought it crashing down onto his knew.
Great, he thought sarcastically, perfect.
The healer Elekh was sent for.
"Brainless fools, one and the same," she muttered to herself, upset at having to tend to a fifth training-related injury in one day. She was exhausted. Her feet were swelling, even in their comfortable shoes.
Then Elekh realized who she was tending to,
"Oh, sorry, your highness," she said, abashed. How rude of her.
Fili grinned at her, then immediately grimaced at the alcohol on the wound. Elekh had been so tired, her eyes were blurring and she barely noticed who she was tending. Elekh stifled a yawn.
"You should get some rest, your highness," she said sternly, "And stay off your feet."
"I would advise the same for you," he said.
She looked up at him, the black circles around her eyes evident,
"Duty calls."
That was all Elekh said,
"Say, Fili, where's your brother?"
Fili was having supper with Dis, trying to hide his injuries,
"Away in Dale, again."
"Do you think we should have rubies or sapphires set into the torches here, son?"
"Haven't a clue, ma."
"Dori said rubies, but I think sapphires are more suitable. Goes better with the silver work on the walls."
"Whatever you choose is best, ma."
"We're going to get new stonework as well, recarve the old pillars."
"Yes, ma."
"It'll be a long time before this place begins to look like it did when I was a child. In fact, better. Your great-grandmother had no taste, no taste at all, rest her soul."
"Yes, ma."
Fili cleared his throat at the lull in the conversation,
"You used to be a healer, ma?"
"Aye, son. When times were bad, we had to do what we could. Why do you ask? Thinking of learning the trade from Cousin Oin?"
"Don't know. Seems like the healers here are really tired with Oin gone and all. Seems like there isn't enough."
"Probably is true. Its a busy job and dwarves are pretty stubborn, tough, but stubborn as well and prone to foolish injuries."
Fili squirmed in his seat.
Dis continued, "Good of you to notice that, son. There are many duties a healer has, even after all the patients are seen to. The critical ones have to be tended all through the night, and there are many tonics and medicines to be prepared. The processes were rather complex and taxing, if I remember. And when we were short-staffed... it was a nightmare, to be sure. I wonder how I did it, sometimes."
"Well, ma," Fili said, "If I am to be king, I think these things out to be seen to. Not that uncle doesn't care for these things, its just that his and Oin's absence, the healers are overworking themselves. I wonder if you could help me think of something to do about it, see what we can do to improve things. With the spring rains coming, any more injuries would be beyond what our healers could cope with."
"I see" said Dis thoughtfully, "I'm proud of you for being thoughtful. While you sit into the council tomorrow morning, I'll drop by the healer's quarters and make some inquires. See if we can get more younger healers trained, get more retired healers working, get some reserves and help come in. We should be prepared for emergencies, no doubt, and all who work in Erebor should have a reasonable workload."
"Thanks, ma," said Fili, "I'd like to look into how the miners are faring as well, next week. Bofur is making up a report of the conditions, but according to what he says, other than being short of staff, they are all doing very, very well. Its for the cooks of Erebor that I am really worried about. They are very short-staffed."
"Aye," said Dis, "That's true. Before I forget... you must come with me to the brassworkers forge to pick out a design for your new bedstead. Your brother too, when he's home. We can look into the smithing conditions as well."
