The Princess of Erebor

"Thora," Eilonwy said in her sweet voice, "what is it you would like to do today?"

As Thora held her Godmother's smooth hand, she tapped at her chin thoughtfully.

What WAS she going to do today?

She'd read her books, done her homework, drank her tea, did her drawings and even played with her dolls.

But she'd become quickly bored.

Her mother and father were in meetings or busy, so they couldn't really play with her right now.

Eilonwy was the best, that's what she thought.

She played perfectly and she was so pretty AND she didn't scoff all the cakes like her daddy did when they played.

She didn't even seem to notice when Thora had walked into her mother's room and taken down the 'special princess crown' that hung on the side of her vanity.

But mummy didn't wear it all the time anyway, so Thora didn't see the problem if SHE wore it.

Besides, she was a princess and she should have a crown, shouldn't she?

Even if this one was too big for her and only sat on her head if she made her hair very fluffy with her hands.

"I think I would like to explore my Kingdom," Thora nodded, finally coming to a decision on what she wanted to do.

Eilonwy nodded in agreement.

"Well, your highness," she decided to play along with Thora's little game, "I think exploration is a very good idea."

And so, on they went.

Once they left Thora's bedroom and the royal chambers of Erebor, Thora made sure people knew SHE was the one in charge.

Everybody bowed politely and bid her 'good morning' or 'good day', though she wasn't sure why some looked like they were about to laugh.

"I'm sure they just have an upset stomach," Eilonwy explained and Thora agreed. Sometimes, people were just hungry or had already eaten too much.

She wandered through the town and her first port of call was Bombur's bakery and home.

She LOVED going to see her Uncle Bombur because he made the absolute best pastries and cakes she'd ever tasted.

He greeted her JUST as he was pulling some freshly made sponge cakes from the oven and called out to his family.

His wife and children, all varying in ages and sizes came out, some in aprons and covered in flour, some with faces as clean and fresh as daisies.

Thora immediately told everyone that she was being a 'proper princess' today and had come to listen and help them out in whatever capacity they needed.

So, Bombur always appreciating the help, had her and the other little ones decorate the biscuits and cakes out the back with icing sugar and sweets since they were cool enough.

Once that was done, he insisted that she take one cake and biscuit each and taste test them so he knew they were alright to sell.

She found them both satisfactory and helped him and the others display them proudly in his shop.

He thought they'd sell extremely well with the sign, 'decorated by the Princess of Erebor' above them in the window for all to see.

After that, she walked the short distance to his cousin Bifur's shop.

Of course, Eilonwy was extremely happy to see Bofur so Thora let them be as she conversed with Bifur about the new wonderful dolls he was making.

He'd made one especially for her birthday last time and she still played with it, even though the hand had fallen off and her mother had warned her about putting small things up her nose.

She didn't do that anymore, not since the last small thing nearly got stuck.

Once she'd thoroughly inspected and played with Bifur's toys at his request, just to make sure they were all working the way they should, she headed on out with Eilonwy again, though had to tug on her hand a little to get her away from Bofur as he started reciting poetry.

She liked Bofur, he was silly.

Onwards they went, through the vast halls and chambers, deeper and deeper into Erebor, but Eilonwy was a little hesitant when she realised where Thora was taking her.

"Thora, are you sure you wish to go down here today without your mother and father's permission?"

Thora nodded.

"I'm Princess! And I've got you! They only said I'm never to go down here on my own and-"

Whatever Thora was going to say was quickly silenced when she suddenly found herself grabbed, thrown into the air and over a strong and familiar shoulder.

"UNCLE DWALIN! PUT ME DOWN, PUT ME DOWN!" Her little fists pounded on his strong back, but she kept having to stop to hold onto the tiara as it threatened to fall off of her head.

"And where exactly do you think you are going?" Dwalin didn't even let her finish, but twisted her about so she sat on his shoulder instead of laying over it, "YOU know you're not allowed down in the forges without permission!"

"But I'm PRINCESS today!" Thora pointed at the tiara and pouted, "and Eilonwy is with me! It's not fair."

Dwalin shook his head and looked in frustration at the elven maid.

"You can't bring your Godmother into trouble like that. OR me," he gently lifted Thora down again and placed her on her feet as he knelt before her, "if your mother, father or Uncle finds out I let you down there without the proper attire on, I'll lose my job and get sent to the stables. Ya' don't want that, do ya'?"

Thora sighed and let out a heavy breath.

"Mmmmmm...no, not really," she said eventually. She really did want to go down into the forges and see the pretty fire and everyone working, BUT she didn't want anyone getting into trouble for it.

"Good. Now, off you go and get permission this time, alright?"

So Thora and Eilonwy set off again, back up the stairs and playing skipping games as they went.

When they got to the royal libraries, Eilonwy quickly forgot about asking permission when she remembered this was one of the places her father was supposed to be.

She pushed open the door and quickly ran from Eilonwy's side when she spotted him amongst the familiar group of faces.

"DADDY!" Thora practically leapt at her father and he just had enough time to catch her and hoist her up into his lap.

"Haha, there's my little ball of fire!" He held her close as she snuggled against him and smiled over at Eilonwy, "has she been good today?"

"Indeed, her highness has been good," Thora just about caught the little wink Eilonwy gave her father but didn't know what it was about.

"Dad, I've been sooooo good today!" She shifted on his lap and looked around at the table of friends, "Hello Balin! Hello Ori! Hello Oin! Hello Dori-"

"Hello, Princess," they each chimed and laughed with deep chuckles.

"Oi," her father got her attention again and poked his cheek, "where's my kiss?"

Thora gave her daddy a big wet kiss on the cheek.

She loved doing that, sometimes the bristles would tickle her lips.

When she pulled back, she gently played with her father's moustache beads as he looked her over.

"Well, look at you, your highness," he playfully wiggled the crown on top of her head and arched his brow, "this looks familiar. Did you-"

"Daddy, I'm being a proper Princess today!" Thora jutted her chin out like her mother did when she was playing at being important, "and I'm faaaar too busy for lots of questions."

"Well, that's a shame," Fili reached forward with his free hand and grabbed a jam tart from the table in front of him, "because I was going to ask if you want one of these for after your lunch. But since you're faaaaaaaar-"

"Daaaaad!"

"Too busy for lots of questions," he bit one edge of the tart and smirked at his daughter, "then I guess I'll just have to eat them all with my friends-"

"Daddy!" Thora laughed and grabbed at his wrist with both hands to stop him shoving the whole lot in, "daddy, you're silly!"

Eilonwy loved spending time with her father and friends in the library. Eilonwy sat between Ori and Balin and talked and drank tea happily whilst Fili managed to get some sandwiches into his little girl.

Eilonwy sat happily enough on her father's knee as everyone talked and she munched. Then, since she had eaten all her sandwiches AND she was being well-behaved, Fili let her have four whole jam tarts (though she promised she would tell her mother she only had three) before he let her hop off and drag Eilonwy away for some more adventuring.

She walked up and down, left and right, back and forth.

She visited all her other friends and her mother's friends.

She played with her grandmother Dis and got a story, then took some tea with her Auntie Rana.

Finally, on her last trip of the day, she decided to go to the meeting room where she knew her Papa would be.

She knocked politely, waited until he called out 'enter' and then she and Eilonwy strolled in.

"Hello Papa," she wandered over and waved at Bard, "hello King Bard. I've come to...uhm," she turned to Eilonwy for help and her godmother bent low to whisper in her ear, "I've come to observe and help advise you."

Both Thorin and Bard had sudden coughing fits and Thora ALMOST thought it sounded like they were trying to laugh, but she shrugged it off when they both nodded and had very solemn expressions on.

Throughout the meeting (that wasn't really formal), Thora would stop to ask very important questions.

'Why is the Sky blue?'

'Does thunder and lightning mean Mahal is angry?

'Do ALL dragons breathe fire?'

'What happens if you dig all the way through the Mountain? Will you fall through the other side of the world?'

And so on and Bard AND Thorin worked very hard to think of the right answers for her.

After what seemed like AGES (for a three-year-old, half an hour is a long time) they finally called their meeting to a close and Bard decided it was time to go home.

Thorin, Thora and Eilonwy walked out of the meeting room and bid him goodbye and when he left, Thora rubbed her eyes with her little fists and looked up at her Papa.

"I'm tired," she held up her arms and opened and closed her hands repeatedly, "pick me up, Papa!"

Thorin chuckled and swung her up into his arms.

"Where to now, your highness?" He held her against him and began to walk, "anywhere in particular?"

Thora shook her head and leant her head against the furs on his broad shoulders.

"Anywhere there's cake," she mumbled as she shut her eyes and rubbed her cheek against his coat.

She LOVED doing that. It imagined she was lying on a large wolf as it gave her a ride around Erebor.

She heard Thorin and Eilonwy talk for a bit before she fell asleep and dreamt of dragons and hobbits and of sticky toffee pudding.

And when she woke up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, she was surprised to find herself tucked up on Thorin's comfortable couch in his study.

He was at his desk writing letters and Eilonwy was seated across from him, helping him organise books as they chatted.

But as soon as Thora stood up and wandered over to them, Eilonwy decided that it was best to go change and wash for dinner since 'her majesty' had such a hard day behind her.

Thora gave Thorin a big cuddle before she left and reminded him that he HAD to come to dinner because otherwise she'd eat up all the roast potatoes and chicken and he promised he would.

He always kept his promises to Thora.

When she and Eilonwy walked back out and towards her bedroom, they only got halfway before Dru finally caught up with them.

"Ahem!" She cleared her throat and made Thora turn to face her, "Thora. What are you doing young lady?"

Thora shrugged her shoulders and tugged on Eilonwy's hand as she turned to face her mother.

"I'm going to wash and get changed, mummy."

"Thora," Dru gave her a 'you know what you've done' look, "did you take that without asking permission again?!"

Thora felt a little tug of fear at her heart.

'Sugar!'

"Maybe," she mumbled and looked away guiltily.

"You didn't ask me OR your daddy, did you?"

Thora paused for a long time before she shook her head.

"So?" When she looked back at her mother, she knew what she had to say.

"So I don't take stuff without asking. I'm sorry."

"Exactly. And it's alright, don't look so glum."

Since they'd made up and Thora seemed eager to actually go to her mother, Eilonwy bid them a good day and told them she was off to see Bofur for dinner.

Thora gave her a big wet kiss on her cheek and a little cuddle before she left and waved her off.

"Come on," Dru held out her hand and waited for her daughter to grab hold before marching along, "let's go get you changed and that thing off your head."

"Mummy...can I keep it on? Jut for today? Please?" Thora's little voice whined and Dru sighed.

"Alright, you can wear it at dinner and playtime BUT you have to take it off for bath and bed. Deal?"

"Deal!"

Dru smiled down at her daughter and squeezed the little hand delicately.

"And you can borrow it whenever you want sweetheart, but you've ALWAYS got to ask. If I lose that I'm in deep trouble."

"Why don't you like wearing it, mummy? You don't wear it all the time as Papa wears his?"

"It's just a shiny trinket. Doesn't make me...well, me. I only wear it if someone REALLY special comes."

"Like the elves and great Uncle Dain?"

"Yep. And as for Thorin, he HAS to wear it all the time...well, except at dinner because-"

"Because Nanny makes him take it off if he forgets because he's a silly goose!" Thora giggled at the name her mother and Nanny had chosen to give him.

She always thought he was more like a doggy, even a wolf, but really he was a silly goose. Or sometimes a goat, like mummy called him.

When Thora went to bed that night and slipped into her dreams, she was happy. Because she dreamt of her family and of her home.

And of lots of silly geese running about the place wearing crowns and fur coats.