Hide and Seek!
Dru sat happily and turned to look at her daughter.
Her sweet little Thora was five years old today and whilst she'd always had her birthdays in private, with just her close family and friends, today was different.
Thorin had asked her a month before if she wanted anything special and her exact words had said, 'A BIG birthday party! Like when we have everyone in the mountain in the big hall!'
That had surprised everyone but since she requested it and seemed adamant that was what she wanted, they went ahead with the plans.
Thora would have her first 'proper banquet' since she was a big girl.
Fili, Thorin, Dru and of course, Dis, had input what information and preparations they could. All her favourite dishes would be served to her and the guests, the presents were all varying sizes and shapes but she knew her daughter would appreciate them all and she'd even been given a brand new dress, specially sent by her Uncle Bilbo.
"It's your first big girl party!" Dru squealed excitedly as she fiddled with the bow at the back of her daughter's dress, Thora standing still long enough to allow her to fiddle with the fabric as they got ready.
Fili, holding Bror and Dru holding Thora's hand, walked proudly through the halls of Erebor and into the grand dining hall.
A small cheer went up when they entered and Thora, momentarily overcome with sudden shyness, hid in her mother's skirts and only waved once to everyone.
It wasn't until Dru pointed out Thorin that Thora immediately darted over and hid against his greatcoat instead.
Of course, that didn't stop him from carrying her towards the head of the table and loudly proclaiming, "The Princess has arrived!" To which a louder cheer went up and Thora wiggled about as she tried to hide more.
She'd come out again when the cheers died down and Dis pointed out that she was having roast chicken with a thick side of rice and roasted peppers, one of her favourites.
After watching her daughter gobble up that, two more plates AND an extra large dessert which consisted of small portions of every pastry she liked, the casual chatter around the table and hall pulled around her.
She looked about to see Fil happily holding Bror, Dis playfully leaning over to tickle the little hairs on his chin.
She turned again and saw Thorin and Rana, deep in conversation and still, very much deep in love.
And whilst her friends and other family were there, Kili was still sorely missed, but he had written and promised to return with the BIGGEST present for Thora.
Dru hoped it wasn't a pony.
As the evening dwindled on, everyone would check to see if Thora was alright and happy.
After a while, she seemed to be playing with the food on her plate and had a tired and bored expression on her face.
"What's wrong sweetheart? Do you feel poorly?" Dru carefully swept away a long tendril of her daughter's hair, saving it from getting in the pudding.
Thora looked up at her mother with a massive pout and big wide eyes.
"Mummy, I'm booorreed. Can we play a game?"
Dru thought about it and since it was her birthday, she found she couldn't refuse her.
"Alright. What would you like to play?"
Thora dropped her cutlery and didn't even hesitate as she beamed up at her mother.
"Hide and Seek!"
Of course.
That was her daughter's favourite game, next to 'make daddy be a pony'.
"Alright," Dru pushed herself up in her seat and offered her hand out to her little girl, "shall we go off and-"
"Can't we play with everyone? I ALWAYS find you too quickly," Thora nibbled a little worriedly on her bottom lip and looked around the great hall.
'That's because I hide where you can find me easily,' Dru thought to herself, knowing her daughter's favourite hiding spots.
She supposed it was a tall order to ask EVERYONE to play but...it was her birthday. And she had hoped her daughter would ask for that specific game at some point.
"You know what," she nodded and gave her daughter a small wink, "I think that's a great idea."
Dru picked up her goblet and with her spoon bashed it against the side until the noise alerted everyone to pay attention to her.
"If I may have everyone's attention please, the birthday girl has made a special request."
She turned to Thora and whispered, "can you come up and help mummy out?"
Thora, having a surge of bravery wash over her, stood up and held her hands up for her mother to pick her up.
But instead of settling on her hip, she clambered up until she was standing on the banquet table in front of her mother.
"Hello Everyone!" Dru helped whisper in her daughter's ear so she could get the words just right, "since I'm five today and I'm finally a big girl, I'd like to say hello and thank you for coming and for my presents and I'd be very thankful if I could play a game with you!"
A gentle murmur of genuine interest swept over the hall and they were all intrigued as to what it was she would like to play.
"I would like to count to," she waited for a moment as her mother thought of a good time and told her, "fifty and then when I'm finished, I'd like to come and find every one of you!"
There was silence in the hall for the longest time.
Dru laid her hand on her daughter's arm and looked around her to glare at everyone.
If one person DARED to object or say something mean she would stick her foot right up their-
"HAH!" A sudden loud bark of laughter came from one of the closer tables and Dru sought out Oin as he pointed at Thora, "You'll NEVER find me, lass!"
"Yes, I will!" Thora turned and pointed down the table with a cheeky grin, "because Papa will help me!"
"Thora!" Dru gasped and let out a surprised laugh as her daughter suddenly darted away, down the long stretch of table and immediately threw herself at Thorin.
As she clambered into his lap, the hall managed to calm it's laughter as Thorin stood up with her in his arms.
She placed her head close to his and cupped her hands over his ears as she began to whisper her own instructions to him.
"Alright, yes," he mumbled and smiled as she explained the rules to him, "that long? Oh, that's gracious of you. Yes, yes of course. Really? Biggest slice?"
Thora pulled back and signalled that she was done and Thorin turned his attention to the entire hall.
"Fifty seconds everyone. Anyone who doesn't want to play, please remain in your seat. But let me remind you all...it is the princess's birthday today. You are permitted to leave the room, but must stay on this floor," Thora quickly whispered something again and he chuckled, "and she says if you are the last to be found, you are allowed to have the first slice of birthday cake."
There was another slight murmur amongst the crowd as Thorin and Thora shared a conspiratorial conversation between them that no one else could hear.
"Alright!" Thora quickly covered her eyes with both her hands, "Ready! One, two, three-"
Everyone that had still been seated at three quickly jumped out when Thorin began to count with her and turned to everyone with an expectant look.
Almost everyone in the entire hall moved as quickly and as quietly as they could.
Some didn't take the game too seriously and sat where they were, merely pulling their coats or robes over themselves and chuckled quietly, knowing the sight would make Thora laugh.
Others (the more spirited ones) dove under the tables or dashed about the room at full speed, looking for the best spots.
But Dru calmly and sedately left her place and walked over to her husband as he stood with their son in his arms.
"Are you playing?" She leant over to give Bror a kiss, but her son was too preoccupied with wiggling free from his father.
Fili set him down on the floor and as soon as the little one steadied himself, he toddled over as fast as he could to his 'Ranana' and grabbed onto her skirt.
Both his parents watched, delighted and amused as she carefully took his hand and led him away to hide behind one of the vast curtains, where he could still peak out and see everything that was happening.
"No good places to hide really, Thora's going to check under these tables as soon as she stops counting," Fili pointed out as he listened to his daughter slowly count.
"Oh, I don't know," Dru's hand landed on his shoulder but slowly moved around and down as she walked behind him, "you know I'm the hide and seek champion. I know a certain place. Want to come hide with me?"
To anyone watching or listening in, it could have been a perfectly innocent question.
But Fili knew Dru better.
He knew the touch of her hand as it smoothed over his back.
The promise in her tone of voice.
"Lead the way," he followed her calmly and casually out of the banquet hall just as a few others were beginning to spread out and hide around doors and behind pillars.
Dwalin, who had seemingly elected himself hide and seek referee, was taking note of the people that left and nodded as Dru and Fili passed, though seemed to be taking his position VERY seriously.
But Dru continued walking along the hall and Fili just KNEW she was up to something.
As his daughter's voice quietened the farther away they walked, he was reminded of all the times they played hide and seek as children.
And the last time they had all played as a family...before they had to grow up...
Long ago, in Ere Luin...
"Found you-Oh!" Dru giggled and held onto the curtain she had just pulled apart, slowly pulling it back closed, "I thought you were Kili!"
"Just me, Piglet. Are you playing Hide and Seek?" Fili looked up from his book with an amused smile, seeing how giddy his baby sister was.
"Mm Hm, I haven't found Kili yet!" She looked around her and lowered her voice, "he's not in here, is he?"
Fili shook his head but gestured towards the stairs.
"I did hear a thumping sound a few moments ago."
"Huh, he's cheating!" Dru dashed away and immediately, darted up the stairs herself because Fili heard the clear 'Thump thump!' from above, "KILI, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE UPSTAIRS!"
"I had to go to the toilet!" A muffled voice replied and Fili could only laugh.
"Porky Pies only catch flies!"
A few moments later, both siblings dashed down the stairs, laughing happily as they split up.
"My turn!" Dru looked at Fili as she entered the kitchen and smiled, "you want to play?"
Fili had thought himself too old to play hide and seek. Thorin had told him he was now 'of age' and should take on a more responsible role in the household.
But really...he loved hide and seek.
"Alright. You go hide and I'll count though," he quickly slipped a bookmark into his place and put his book down to read later.
Before he had a chance to cover his eyes, Dis came in through the back door and Dru dashed for her.
"Mam, come and hide with me!" She grabbed her mother's hand and Dis barely had a chance to protest as her daughter tugged her away.
"Alright, but only a quick one!" Fili heard his mother say as he covered his eyes and counted to twenty.
"-Nineteen, twenty!" He dropped his hands as he finished counting and hopped down from his seat, "ready or not, here I come!"
He darted back and forth between rooms, stopping to listen closely.
He could hear shuffling from somewhere but...where?
In the cupboard? Nope.
Coatrack? No.
Maybe the larder?! No, not there-
A quiet, muffled giggled followed by a quick 'shh' caught his attention. In the downstairs toilet, someone had left the door open.
But not all the way.
Peeking inside, he grabbed the door and craned his head around to look behind it.
"Oh, Blast!" His mother laughed when he saw them.
"Found you!"
"Oh, blast!" Dru copied her mother, giggling happily as she stepped out and joined him, "he found us! Let's find Kili!"
Since Dis was still technically playing, she gave her young ones a hand in finding their brother.
It wasn't very difficult.
Kili was hiding in his bedroom closet, though Fili wouldn't tell him he found him because he'd tossed all their shoes out onto the floor and left them in a pile.
Once Dis was free to move again, they continued playing, even when Thorin came to stay and talk with his sister.
He paid them no heed though, his stomach was growling and he was so hungry that they could have been setting fire to his shoes and he wouldn't have noticed.
Thorin sat down to eat what his sister prepared for him, but unseen to him, when a new game started with Kili as the seeker, Fili ran quietly in and hid behind the curtain where he had been sitting earlier, reading.
Fili could easily peek out to see if his brother was coming and got a perfect view of the entire room.
"-Twenty! Ready or not, here I come!" Kili shouted from upstairs, but as he moved about overhead, beginning his search, it appeared not EVERYONE had a hiding place yet.
Dru came in, looking panicked and obviously lacking anywhere new to hide.
She didn't see Fili, but he could see her. And Thorin.
Seeing how distressed she was about getting caught, Thorin nodded his head behind his chair, indicating the long coat he'd draped over it.
It JUST about touched the floor and Dru ran towards it like it was her lifeline.
She sat down with her back against the legs of the chair, threw the coat over herself and tucked it up.
Only one foot was sticking out, but even Fili was impressed at how well she was hidden.
He listened as Kili stomped overhead for a few minutes, searching all the rooms and secret places he could.
His little brother then 'thump, thumped!' down the stairs and began to search the first floor also.
He found Fili easily.
"AHA-Oh," Kili let go of the curtains he pulled back and scowled, "I thought you were Dru. I can't find her anywhere."
Fili stepped out graciously and smirked at his little brother.
"That's because she's got the BEST hiding space."
Kili looked at him confused and his confusion only grew when a small giggle came from behind him.
He turned and looked about but alas, could not see her.
"Where the-"
"Try using your eyes, Kili," his Uncle didn't even bother to look up from his food, but the amusement in his voice was clear and Kili just looked baffled.
"What?!
Fili watched as Kili squinted and looked over the entire room for a good solid minute.
He walked around.
He even looked up at the ceiling, as though expecting her to be dangling from a beam.
When she giggled again, that did alert him that she was in close proximity to the ground.
He looked down and FINALLY, he saw her little foot sticking out.
Only because she moved at the wrong time.
Playing the part, he let out a heavy sigh.
"I WONDER where Dru could be? Could she be under the table?" He pretended to check under the table and let out another sigh, "Noooo...maybe she's-" He suddenly darted around and grabbed the coat with both of his hands, "HERE!"
He pulled the coat up as high as he could and indeed, found Dru sitting there.
"AHHHH!" She shrieked happily and tried to scramble away, "YOU'VE NOT GOT ME!"
Kili dove forward and grabbed his sister's legs to prevent her escape.
"I do got you!"
"AHHHH, MAM!" Dru screeched for help, though she laughed ecstatically and wiggled about to get free.
Fili laughed and happily assisted his sister up when she found her way to his legs, freeing her from Kili's clutches.
"Right, whose turn is it to be it now?" He asked as Kili scrambled up and held onto his little sister as she lifted her feet and dangled herself against him.
"Hmm," Kili tapped his chin before turning to his Uncle and asked him hopefully, "do you want to play?"
Thorin paused when the food was halfway to his mouth and turned to look at his nephew.
There was no hardness in his features just...well, curiosity.
"You want me to play?"
It sounded a little silly, true. But Thorin did play other games with them now and again and they had fun.
For a moment, he did look ready to say no.
"Yeah, you're brilliant at finding us!" Kili smiled at him and oh...oh no.
Thorin couldn't refuse.
He quickly popped his food down and brushed off the crumbs around his mouth and beard.
"Well, go hide."
They all turned and darted frantically away when he shut his eyes and began to count.
This time, they all helped one another.
Fili and Dru shut Kili back in his closet BUT piled his shoes on top of him to not give away his location.
Then, Fili lifted Dru up on the shelf under the stairs telling her not to make a sound.
He himself just had time to run and hide under his sister's bed as Thorin's shout echoed around the house.
"READY OR NOT, HERE I COME!"
Xx Erebor xX
"In here."
Fili snapped out of his daydreaming when his wife got his attention again.
She'd walked them towards the furthest room down the hall, still on the same floor.
He recognised it as one of the servant's kitchens and as they walked inside and shut the door, he swore he heard a distant 'Ready or not!' coming from the main hall.
Fili watched her as she approached a cupboard and carefully pulled out a long tablecloth from inside.
"What are you up to?" He turned about to look at the door, expecting to see his daughter or someone else come barrelling in, whether to seek or find a place to hide, "I thought we were supposed to be hiding...Dru?"
He turned around to find that his wife...had gone.
The long white tablecloth was over the table in the middle of the room, the edges touching the floor.
She surely couldn't have hidden in the cupboard?
Before he had a chance to look, a corner of the cloth moved and she poked her head out to smile at him.
"Come on then. It'll be a while before they find us."
Gods, he loved her.
He walked over, crouched lower and she held the corner up for him as he crawled in beside her.
Once the cloth was back in place, she immediately settled back and propped herself up on her arms.
"You look like you're enjoying yourself," he couldn't help but smile, knowing EXACTLY what she had in mind when her leg gently brushed up against his own.
"I'm relaxing," she sighed contently, "It's been a long day and I can't WAIT to get into bed."
Fili, slowly moving forward to 'get comfy', climbed over her and propped himself up so he was hovering over her, their torso's just touching.
"You've done wonderfully today. I know Thorin will say Mam did it all, but you helped as well. You had to get Thora ready when she was bouncing off of the walls this morning."
Dru pushed herself forward and brushed the tip of her nose against his.
"Couldn't have done it without you taking Bror. Did I ever thank you for that?"
He smirked as her legs parted underneath him.
"You don't need to."
"I still want to though," she broke the distance between them and pressed her lips against his, silencing any more polite protests.
Thora DID eventually find them when she checked the room.
But, luckily, at that point, they had their clothes back in order and were only cuddling under the table.
At least, that's what Thora told everyone.
