The ultimate battle and compromise

Xx Erebor Xx

Dru shut her eyes tight and tried to control her temper.

It would do no good to be angry in this situation.

She had to keep a calm head.

Her opponent may have been tough, but she was tougher and she would NOT give in so easily.

Taking a deep breath in through her nose and then out through her mouth, she opened her eyes to face them down.

"Now, you listen to me and you listen good," Dru stared down at her enemy, "you are going to do as you're told and not put up a fight. Do I make myself clear?"

The tiny giggle that emanated from the small figure did not help her seething, quiet rage at all.

"THORA," Dru said as sternly as she could and held the bunched up clothing in her hand, "this is SERIOUS. I want you to put your socks on-"

"No."

That simple little no. All giggles and smiles and thinking it was a HILARIOUS game.

The first five times had been cute.

Running around had been cute.

But soon, Dru's patience had worn thin and she'd begun to ask Thora nicely and sternly.

But she still said, 'no.'

And Dru...she was getting mad.

Three blessed years had passed since Thora was born and she had grown into such a wild and loved character.

She was adventurous, tenacious, fierce and just a little bitey. And very, VERY stubborn.

"Thora," Dru put her hands on her hips and tried her best tactic, "daughter of Fili and Dru, Great-niece to King Thorin of-"

"NO!" Thora shrieked out with a big smile, not even letting her mother finish the 'great Kingdom of Erebor' speech.

"Alright then," Dru turned away from her slowly and took a deep breath, "only one thing to do-COME HERE NOW!"

Quick as lightning, Dru dashed at her daughter and Thora only had enough time to turn around and take a few steps away, giggling hysterically, before her mother grabbed her around the waist and pulled her down onto the floor with her.

"Thora, hold still!" Dru tried to command, but it was a whirlwind of flying hands and kicking legs and Thora wasn't really listening.

She tried to grab her ankle and force the socks on her, but her daughter used her hands to push and pull her way free and when she tried to restrain her hands, the feet came up and booted her!

One well-aimed kick caught her right in her chest and winded, Dru grabbed at herself and groaned.

Thora saw her opportunity and being the wiggling child she was, scrambled free and took off like a shot.

"THORA!" Dru called out after her, but it was too late.

Seeing her mother meant business, Thora opened the door to her rooms, turned around once to stick her tongue out and then promptly, fled.

"Bloody Mahal!" Dru growled out a curse, knowing her daughter couldn't hear her, "THORA, GET BACK HERE!"

Scrambling ungracefully to her feet, she grabbed her skirts, the socks that she'd accidentally dropped, the little shoes by the door and took off after her daughter.

"Thora!" She spotted her flying down a flight of stairs, giggling joyously as she went, "you'll trip! Thora!"

Thora did not stop running.

Dru's only choice was to hurry after her.

And of course, her shouting had only drawn more attention to their little escapade.

She tried to ignore the stares and amused glances at first, but since that only seemed to agitate her more, she decided to address it head-on.

"Good evening!"

"Good day!"

"Don't mind me!"

"Just a runaway Princess, no one bother to try to help!"

Dru was unsure of how far she actually ran, but Thora was so much quicker than her and she had to force herself to double up when she nearly lost sight of her a couple of times.

"For a bloody three-year-old, she can run!" When Dru noticed her heading towards the council rooms, she couldn't help but groan, "oh, bloody Mahal! All I need is for someone important to see her! THORA!"

Meanwhile...

"And what of the divided land?! Surely you're not expecting us to-" Kili was interrupted as Thorin held up his hand.

"I believe what my nephew is so delicately trying to ask is whether or not you plan to sell off the portion of land that was agreed-"

"I already am aware, your majesty," Bard looked at him coolly, showing no sign of anger, but a little hint of frustration, "of what your nephew is asking. The land in itself WAS given to us, as stated by you, under the agreement that we were not to build upon with farmland. However, traders from the south have asked to build upon it with-"

Fili decided it was his turn to interrupt, though he had a very good reason.

"We're all going around in circles!" He slapped his hand down on the table in front of him with an aggrieved air, "we've heard this twice already AND we're all aware that Erebor does not wish this deal to go through, BUT it is Dale's land! Now the question is, WHAT are we going to do about it?! We cannot sit here and argue back and forth!"

There was a moment of silence from around the table until Kili cheekily spoke up.

"You'll forgive my brother for his ire, but his daughter put jam in his shoes and it's not sat well with him," he winked playfully at Fili who was still quietly seething that his favourite pair of boots had been ruined by the mischievous mind of his 'beloved little girl'.

Thorin rubbed at his forehead and tried to restrain his groan. Fili was right. Something HAD to be done.

"I-"

He made to speak, to appease OR even beg Bard to reconsider, but at that moment, a loud creaking caught everyone's attention.

Those with their backs to the door turned around and were surprised that not only had someone interrupted the meeting without knocking, but that small someone was inside and closing the door hastily behind them.

"Thora?!" Fili called out and his daughter swivelled around, startled at the voice. Apparently, she hadn't checked or noticed that the room was occupied.

But, being the quick thinker and learner she was, she dropped into a sweet little curtsy and smiled.

"Good day, everyone," she giggled with red cheeks, though no one quite knew why.

"Thora," Fili stood up in his seat, intent on going over to her, "what are you-"

"THORA, YOU BETTER GET YOUR BACKSIDE BACK HERE, YOUNG LADY!"

A familiar cry interrupted Fili and everyone around the table had wide eyes at the realisation to what Thora was up to.

Thora, having heard her mother's voice, squealed and darted forward, a big grin on her face as she headed towards the table.

But instead of seeking comfort in her father's arms or protection with her 'Papa' Thorin, she diverted and ducked down, going straight under the table.

For a moment, everyone was a little stupefied at what to do. But Bard seemed to be the only one openly showing his amusement, for everyone else attempted to hide theirs behind their hands or with a cough.

Like before, the door opening caught their attention, but it was Dru loudly slamming it back against the wall that made them slightly jump.

She looked raving mad for a moment until she realised the room was full of 'officials' having a meeting and she suddenly straightened up with a small, polite (forced) smile.

"Oh, terribly sorry for the intrusion everyone," she said in her best 'Princess' voice and bowed her head, "I thought my daughter had come this way. If you'll excuse me, I'll-"

A loud giggle echoed from under the table and around the room and Dru's eyes went wide when she heard it.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," she groaned quietly but the others heard it anyway, "Thora...are you in here?"

"No," another giggle emitted from under the table and Kili had to bite his cheek from bursting into his own laughter.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," she straightened her back and with a determined air, strode into the room, no longer smiling, "I'm so terribly sorry about this everyone."

She walked until she stood beside her Uncle and without looking at his face, cleared her throat and called out in a loud, but calm voice.

"Thora, sweetheart," she tried not to grit her teeth at the endearment, feeling very much her daughter wasn't being a 'sweetheart' at this moment, "please come out now. You don't want to bother everyone during their important meeting, do you?"

"Yes, I do!"

Oh, that giggling was starting to get to her.

"Right then," Dru knew it was no good asking her daughter again, which only left one solution, "everyone...I'm sorry for anything you might hear or see."

The next thing they knew, Dru swiftly ducked down and under the table. They did not look, but they did hear Thora's audible screech and a few of Dru's aggressive grunts.

Fili was the only one brave enough to look under and watch as his wife grabbed at his daughter's ankle as she attempted to drag her out.

There was a slight tussle as Thora kicked herself free and scrambled quickly out the other side, back towards the safety of one person she knew would protect her.

"Save me, Papa!" Thora shrieked as she clambered up on Thorin's knee and pulled herself into a tight ball, clinging onto his coat.

Automatically, Thorin's hand rested on her tiny back and he smiled as Dru's head popped up and glowered at the both of them.

"Young lady," she growled again and Thorin had a feeling she'd lose her temper quickly if he didn't help defuse the situation.

"A moment, please," he looked at Dru and held up his hand in a calming manner, hoping he could do something.

Dru nodded, but there was still a hardness to her stare as she looked down at her daughter.

Thorin shuffled about and gently tapped Thora's head until she looked up at him with her big, blue eyes.

"Little one, why aren't you doing as your mother asks?" He kept his tone calm and smooth and the others around the table watched the King at his finest.

"Because she wants me to put on itchy socks!" Thora smirked triumphantly, as though she had been asked a question and been given a hundred gold coins as a reward.

"Ah...now why do you suppose she wants you to do that?"

"Dunno," she shrugged her shoulders and looked back at her mother with a pout.

"Well, let's ask her," he turned his attention to Dru and asked her in a serious voice, "Dru, why are you making your daughter wear socks?"

Her glare softened and she let out a heavy sigh.

"Because you can't put your shoes on without them. You'll get blisters."

"But I don't WANT to wear shoes!" Thora huffed and folded her arms across her chest.

"If you don't wear shoes, you'll get cold feet or stub your toes!" Dru pointed out but Thora shook her head.

"No! Shoes are evil! I want to be like Uncle Bilbo!"

"Thora, you are not a Hobbit," she growled again and Thorin thought quickly.

"Well...Thora, this is tricky," he got the little girl's attention again with a sad and disappointed sigh, "today, I was supposed to take you around the forges with your Uncle Dwalin."

Her little mouth hung open like a codfish and her eyes went wide with surprise.

"The forges?! REALLY?!" She quickly turned to look at her mother as though Thorin was having her on.

Luckily, she caught Thorin's 'go with it' look and quickly nodded.

"Well, yes, that was the plan for today!"

"But you see, we can't now. The forges are far too dangerous without shoes on and we all have to wear them," Thorin shrugged as though that were the end of the matter but Thora looked utterly crestfallen.

"But...I want to go!" She whined slightly and Dru knew she was only a few steps away from a full-on tantrum.

"You can still go, sweetheart. But... You MUST wear socks and shoes," she held up the forgotten items in her hands and waggled them at her daughter.

"Oh yes, we are all wearing our own," Thorin gestured for Thora to look down at his own feet and he held up one for inspection.

She still seemed to be thinking about it when Fili interjected.

"And there's always embers flying about down there. Just ask Nori, he nearly singed all his toe hairs off when he went down last without shoes on!" He fought against his own smirk and had to glare at Kili as he let out a small laugh (which he quickly disguised with a cough).

Thora, looking as though she were about to make the hardest decision in her life, absorbed her bare feet and wiggled her toes.

"Well," she looked back up at her mother and nodded her head, "I suppose I can wear socks and shoes. Just for a bit."

"Thank you," Dru smiled and held out her finger for her daughter to take, "come along, let me carry you-"

"No! I want to sit here!" She wiggled on her Uncle Thorin's knee and held out both bare feet.

For a moment, Dru was unsure of what to do, but Thorin simply nodded and held onto his niece's waist so she didn't fall.

"Well, alright," Dru knelt down and got to work in quickly and neatly putting on her daughter's socks.

"Gentleman," Thorin got everyone's attention again with a small smile, "Thora here has helped demonstrate the perfect example of a compromise. With explanation and understanding, she has understood why she must put on her socks and shoes. And I believe Fili was right earlier. I think...I think it's time we both discuss what we want and how we can reach a compromise."

Bard let out the first audible laugh as he gazed at the King and his family and held open his hands.

"I think what we've just seen demonstrated here is a good example of how well our children can pull one over on us," he nodded but then admitted to the others, "but you are right. It's time we stop squabbling like children and settle this matter."

The discussion in the meeting was put on hold however, until AFTER Thora was properly dressed.

Once her socks were on and her shoes were laced up, she hopped off of Thorin's knee and turned towards the table.

"Thank you, everyone! And bye big Papa!" She then took her mother's offered hand and left the room happily, though she was a little more subdued than when she'd first walked in.

As Dru shut the door behind her, the negotiations for the land deal continued, but she had a feeling it would go a lot smoother now.

And she hated to admit it, but she had a feeling it was due to Thora's little interruption.

"Well done, sweetheart," she turned to her daughter with a small smile but a hard and severe look in her eye, "but if you kick mummy in the tit again, I'm going to have to chop off your hair."

Thora only giggled and playfully tugged at her mother's hand.

"You're funny, mummy!"

Dru couldn't help but let out a small giggle.

"Aww, you're sweet. Especially when you think I'm joking."