.
OK, here we go...first you get to learn the twin's names and then it is Fili and Sier's turn.
.
.
Chapter 92
~X~
Meanwhile, many of the company had filed through the waiting room, some staying, while others headed off after only a short visit with Throin, Kili, Balin and Bombur. Gloin and Dena dropping by for a bit and brought some food, figuring that the two waiting fathers would need something to distract them from their vigil. They were both utterly shocked when they found that Dwalin and Fili had gone into the birthing rooms.
"You would never catch me going into a birthing room!" Gloin huffed, obviously scandalized by the mere thought.
"And who's to say I would have even wanted you in there with me!" Dena scoffed, giving him a scowl. "The last thing a dam needs right now is her scatterbrained husband running around in there thinking he knows what he's doing. I just hope Bergie and Sier are not pulling their hair out in frustration."
The next to arrive and stay were Ori, Nori and Bofur. The hatted miner had the foresight to bring a deck of cards, as well as a cloth chessboard and a bag of pieces – which Thorin and Balin quickly put to good use. Kili had curled up in his chair and fallen asleep, his loud snores often causing Thorin to grumble in frustration, as it bothered his concentration on the game. Ori was reading a book, while Nori was cheating Bofur and Bombur out of several gold coins in a game of cards. Yet everyone stopped what they were doing at the first sound of a baby's wail, causing both Thorin and Balin to jump to their feet.
"It's here!" Balin cried, sounding more like a proud father than an uncle. "The baby is here!"
"And as soon as Dwalin comes out and tells us if it is a lad or a lass, I can see how much I made off the wager," Nori nodded, looking rather pleased.
"And just how do you know you made anything?" Ori asked, by now quite used to his brother's gambling.
"Because I placed a bet for both sides…male and female," he said proudly. "That way, no matter what they had, I still win."
"Just remember that I put my money on a lad," Kili reminded him, having woke up at the baby's cry.
Just then, the door to Sier's room opened and out came Dis, looking around anxiously.
"We heard a baby," she stated.
"Yes, so did we," Thorin nodded, gesturing to the room to the left. "But so far that's all we know."
"Why wouldn't someone come tell us if it is a lad or a lass?" Balin asked, starting to sound a bit concerned. It had been a few moments since they had heard anything…and even the crying had stopped. "You…you don't think anything is wrong, do you?"
"Don't go borrowing trouble, Balin," Thorin warned, beginning to fret himself. Dwarf births were never easy, and with Bergie being a hobbit, there was a lot of potential for things to go wrong.
Before another word was said, however, they were all graced with the sound of the baby crying once more, loud and strong.
"There, see?" Thorin nodded, feeling much more confident. "It just took a little break. The bairn sounds fine and healthy to me."
"What if something's wrong with Bergie?" came Balin's next question, his eyes growing fearful once more. "Why won't someone come out and tell us something?"
Thorin, who was not in any mood for speculation, turned to Dis, attempting to divert the conversation.
"How are Sier and Fili doing?" He was curious as to how his nephew was holding up.
"Sier is hanging in there, but the labor is unusually strong for a second child," she admitted, her tone holding deep respect for her daughter-in-law. "Fili is doing all he can to comfort her, and I couldn't be prouder of the both of them. It won't be long now they say, and I really hope that Oin will be in soon. The other healers are fine, but I would feel much better with Oin in there."
As if on cue, Bergie's door opened and out stepped the elderly healer, followed closely behind by a grinning Dwalin. This time everyone jumped to their feet, eagerly eyeing the happy father.
"Well, brother?" Balin asked, taking a few steps closer. "Is it a lad or a…" His next words stuck in his throat as Oin moved aside, allowing everyone to see that Dwalin was holding two small bundles…one in each arm. "Brother?" Balin gasped, his mouth falling open in shock.
"We had two!" Dwalin happily reported, fresh tears springing to his eyes. "Two bairns! A lass and a lad!"
"Oh, Dwalin!" Dis cried, rushing to her cousin's side and eagerly taking a look at the two little bundles. "I told Sier that somewhere back in our history there were twins! I just forgot that it was through your grandmother's line, Dwalin!"
"That's right!" Balin laughed, also hurrying over to peek at his niece and nephew. "I had plum forgot about that."
"Twins?" Nori asked, his face falling in disappointment. "One of each? Well that tears it! Now I will have to refund everyone's money and no one makes anything on the bet…not even me!"
"Oh, you poor thing," Kili laughed, throwing his arm around his friend in mock sympathy. "I guess you'll just have to console yourself with your one-fourteenth share of the treasure then. I truly pity you…though if you don't mind, I will take my coins back now."
Nori huffed, yet dug into his pocket and slapped the money into Kili's waiting palm.
"So…what are you going to name them?" Ori asked, getting his journal and pencil out, ready to write down this momentous announcement.
"Bergie and I talked about it, and both decided that no matter what we had, we were naming it after one of my two brothers," he revealed.
"Two brothers?" Balin asked, looking a bit perplexed…seeing as he was Dwalin's only sibling.
"Aye," Dwalin explained with a smile on his face. "You, Balin…and my sword-brother, Thorin." The bald headed warrior then nodded to the sleeping lad on his left, "This little one shall be called Torin, since Bergie said naming our daughter Thorina was out of the question."
This announcement got a snort of laughter out of Kili and Nori, but Thorin only looked stunned at such a gesture.
Next Dwalin looked down at his daughter, love shining in his eyes. "And my beautiful little lass…shall bear the name Talin."
"You…you named her after me?" Balin gasped, tears springing to his eyes as he stared at his brother in wonder. "You named your lass…after me?"
"That I did, Brother," he assured him. "Would you like to hold her?"
Balin nodded shakily, yet before he could even reach out to take hold of her, his face went pale, his eyes rolled back in his head, and down he went.
"BALIN!" Dis cried, rushing to her cousin, who was now passed out cold on the floor. "Oin, do you have any smelling salts? Thorin…do something!"
"He'll be fine," Thorin argued, having witnessed his advisor faint before. Instead, he stepped over his prone body and headed right for Dwalin, his arms outstretched and a wide grin on his face. "Let me hold my namesake, old friend," he demanded. "It has been a long time since I had a newborn dwarfling in my arms…but I think I still remember how."
"Well, this still might be a first for you, Thorin," Dwalin laughed as he handed Torin over. "They are part hobbit, remember, and while Talin appears to favor her dwarf heritage, from the looks of things, Torin is going to take after his mother's side of the family."
"Not in the hair department," Kili laughed, looking over his uncle's shoulder at the tiny bald babe.
"Don't you start too," Dwalin grumped. "That's exactly what Bergie said."
"How is Bergie doing?" Dis asked, deciding that Balin was fine where he lay and came to stand beside Thorin, peering down at the little lad in his arms.
"Our little hobbit mother is doing fine, she came through like a trooper," Oin reported. "And I was even quite proud of Dwalin…he stayed on his feet the whole time. Which is more than I can say for Balin."
This caused everyone to give a hearty laugh, yet all mirth died when one of the healing maids came out of Sier's room, her face flushed with worry.
"Oin…we need you," she announced. "It's time."
"Duty calls," the healer stated, rushing off to tend to his next patient.
Dis reached up and gave Dwalin a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Congratulations, Cousin," she told him with a huge smile. "I am so happy for you…for all four of you." And then she was gone, following Oin into the room and shutting the door behind them.
This left the remaining males in stunned silence once more, no one knowing what to say…that is until Kili held out his arms to Dwalin.
"May I hold my new little cousin?" he asked, his smile bright and his eyes dancing.
"I don't know…" Dwalin hummed, eyeing Kili skeptically. "I've seen you drop your sword far too many times in practice to trust you with my baby daughter."
"Oh, come on," Kili huffed. "Fili said I could hold his new one!"
"If he trusts you with his own babe, that's his call," Dwalin said solemnly, pulling the bundle a little closer to him protectively. "But until you prove to me you won't drop her…not a chance."
"Oh, sure," Kili said in a grumpy tone, crossing his arms over his chest. "You were willing to let the fainter hold her, but not me? Some cousin you are." He then stomped back over to his chair in a snit. "I swear, I am eighty-eight years old, and still they treat me like a dwarfling!"
.
.
"It looks like you are ready, Sier," Oin announced, grinning at the princess…as well as her prince. "Get ready to welcome your new little babe."
"Fili," Sier cried, reaching out to grip his hand and forearm. "I'm scared."
"I know, my heart," he assured her, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "I am too, but we have come this far together. Time to take it all the way."
"You're doing wonderfully, Sier," Dis encouraged. "You're so strong and brave. Just a little longer and then you can rest. I promise."
"I will hold you to that," Sier replied weakly, taking a few deep breaths before she sat up just a bit and did her best to push on Oin's command.
Minutes ticked by…then more…but with each cry of pain and each instruction to push, the babe came closer to being born.
"The babe is coming!" Oin called. "Just a few more pushes, Sier…you can do it."
"Come on, my love," Fili urged, supporting her back with his left hand while his right was being squeezed in a crushing grip…yet he did not even notice. "Only a little longer…hold on…it's almost over."
And then, just as quickly as it had started, the pains stopped and they were all blessed with the sound of a crying babe.
"You did it, Sier!" Fili commended, brushing her wet hair away from her face. "I love you so much!"
"What is it?" Sier asked, looking at Oin as he quickly examined the child. "Is it all right? Tell me!"
"It looks to be perfectly healthy and strong," Oin told her with a wide smile. "And it would appear that Flinn got his wish…it's a lad."
"We have another son?" Fili asked, his eyes wide with shock and joy. "A son!" He turned and hugged Sier, the two of them laughing with excitement.
"Yet, it would appear that this one takes after you, Sier," Dis informed them, standing next to Oin and getting a good look at her new grandson. "He has dark hair, just like you."
"But he has Fili's Durin blue eyes," Oin pointed out.
"May I hold him?" Sier asked, her arms aching to cradle her child.
"Give me just a moment to clean him up and then he's all yours," the healer said, taking the still crying babe over to the waiting wash basin.
"Oh, Fili…I'm so happy," Sier said, leaning her head against his arm and closing her eyes in exhaustion. "I can't wait to tell Flinn that he's a big brother to a little brother."
"Two lads, five years apart," Dis chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. "One blond like the sun and one dark like a raven. Now who does that remind me of?"
Fili only grinned, knowing just who his mother was thinking about. And as he thought back to all the trouble he and Kili had given his amad and uncle, he began to have a sinking feeling that he too would be in for a rough ride. And yet, Fili wouldn't have it any other way.
"Here you go," Oin announced, holding out the bundled up lad to his father. "One healthy prince of Durin, and heir to the throne of Erebor."
"No…not yet," Sier countered, reaching up to touch the infant's cheek gently. "Right now he is just our son. No pressures, no expectations…just our perfect little son."
"And what name have you chosen for this non-descript little dwarfling?" Dis asked, the two parents having insisted on keeping it a secret until the birth.
"Frerin," Fili said in a quiet voice, reluctantly handing the child over to Sier. "He will be named Frerin, son of Fili."
"Oh Fili," Dis gasped, covering her mouth with her hand as more tears came to her eyes. "You would name him after my brother?"
"It only seemed right," the crown prince nodded. "Flinn will be king after me, and this little one will be his right-hand dwarrow. Just like Thorin is king, and Uncle Frerin was meant to stand by him. We thought it a fitting tribute to name our son after such a fine and brave dwarf."
"Thorin will be very touched by the gesture," Dis nodded. "And what would you have done if it had been a lass?"
"Then we were set to name her after Sier's mother," Fili laughed. "Yet it would seem that name will have to wait for next time."
"Next time?" Sier asked, looking at Fili as if he had lost his mind. "I just gave birth to this one…don't you think it a bit premature to be talking about the next one?"
"Sorry, my love," Fili grinned apologetically, leaning in to kiss her cheek once more.
.
.
For the next few minutes Fili held his son while Oin and Dis worked on getting Sier taken care of and into a clean bed and nightgown. Then Oin left the room to announce that the babe was born, and invite everyone in. He of course promised not to breathe a word about what they had, leaving that privilege to Fili and Sier.
When at last they were admitted, Thorin and Kili were first to come in, looking from the exhausted mother to the elated father expectantly.
"Well…am I an aunt or an uncle?" Kili joked, pleased to see his brother looking so happy.
"You're an uncle…to a handsome young prince," Fili told him, turning slightly so that everyone could see the dark haired little dwarfling sleeping in his arms.
"Ha! I guessed right," Kili crowed, turning to Nori who had slipped in behind them. "Pay up!"
Once more Nori begrudgingly fished a few coins out of his pocket and slapped them into Kili's hand, grumbling all the while.
"KILI!" Sier scolded. "You bet on what our child would be? Shame on you!"
"Amad did too!" he protested, attempting to shift the blame. "And Fili bet on Dwalin's baby."
"Nice, brother," Fili hissed, doing his best not to wake his son. "Throw me under the pony cart why don't you?"
"Forget about the bets," Thorin huffed, stepping forward and holding out his hands to Fili. "May I see my newest heir?"
Fili proudly handed him over, watching as Thorin's eyes misted up as he looked down at his nephew.
"He looks an awful lot like Kili did when he was this age," the king said, memories of time gone by flooding back.
"He resembles someone else as well, don't you think?" Dis hinted, coming over and standing next to him.
"A bit like our brother, Frerin, I would say," Thorin agreed, instantly knowing who his sister meant.
"And that's what we named him, Uncle," Fili told him, watching as Thorin's head whipped up in surprise. "We wanted to keep the name in the family. We hope you don't mind."
"Mind?" Thorin repeated. "Why on earth would I mind? I think it's a perfect name for a son of Durin. My brother would be proud to share it with him." He then stepped over to the bed and leaned down to kiss Sier on the forehead. "Thank you for giving us such a treasure, my precious niece. Mahal truly blessed us when he brought you into our lives. I am deeply touched that you would consent to name your son after my little brother."
"It's our pleasure," Sier told her king and kin. "He will bear it with pride."
It was then that Fili caught sight of Dwalin and Balin, both standing near the doorway, each carrying something in their arms.
"And what do you have there, cousins?" Fili asked, his eyes growing wide as realization struck him. "Two? You had two babes, Dwalin?"
"Oh, poor Bergie!" Sier moaned, the painful memory of delivering just one far too near for comfort.
"Aye, two wee ones," the warrior nodded, as he and his brother stepped into the center of the room next to Thorin. "May I introduce Torin…my son."
"And this little gem is Talin, my niece and namesake," Balin announced, gently bouncing the lass in his arms.
"We'll call them Tor and Tal for short, though," Dwalin said, looking infinitely proud of his progeny. "Bergie is all for nicknames."
"Looks as if we will have our hands full, Dwalin," Fili laughed. "With Flinn as the ringleader, he will have Frerin, Tor and Tal pranking us in no time. No one will be safe."
"And just wait till Thorin's little Rose is born," Dis pointed out, making her brother smile with pride. "The mountain might come crumbling down around our ears from all this adorableness."
"Then let it fall," Thorin laughed, looking down at the sleeping Frerin. "I couldn't think of a better way to go."
"Balin?" Fili commented, just now noticing something strange about the elderly councilor. "Why do you have a bandage on your head?"
At this everyone who knew the story started to laugh, causing Balin to blush in embarrassment. And yet, with his little niece securely in his arms, he couldn't find the heart to be upset.
No indeed…for this was far too good a day for that.
And there you have it. All the babies...almost. One more to go! Get ready, Thorin!
So did you like the names Dwalin and Bergie picked out?
How about Fili and Sier's baby name?
Did everyone guess that Balin would faint again?
Poor Nori...he just can't win for loosing. ha ha. And why won't anyone let Kili hold babies?
Only one more chapter to go before the end of Part 2...but chapter 93 is a very, very, VERY long one!
Guest Reviews
Emrfangirl: ha ha, thought about it and then forgot? Well at least you can say you guessed right! Yep, I am the mean writer who made you wait. hee hee. But you just found out now, so I hope you liked what I chose for everyone.
abc: Oh yes, they will have both hands full. But there are two of them, so they each can hold a baby now...no waiting. I think there will be no end to those offering to babysit. Yep, time to toss out those old stuffy traditions and get with the program. ha ha. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. only one more to go!
gginsc: Glad you liked the twins! More chapters to come...but only one more.
Aranel Mereneth: Nope, not DONE yet...one more chapter and then after a break, I will be back with Part 3...the Kili Chronicles. ha ha. Nice guess on the names, and you were a bit right with Thorin...but as you saw, the other was after Balin. Did you like them?