Thank you so much for the lovely response to the last chapter! I'd like to say a special thanks to Hermione Granger and the unnamed guest reviewers :D This one is just a filler, I'm afraid, but I hope you enjoy it nevertheless!
I'm so sorry about the wait, I travelled halfway across the world, got jetlag and then got ill so I've been busy and exhausted, haha!
Nevertheless, this chapter is finally done, and I hope you enjoy it (though it is admittedly not my best)
Please do read, enjoy and review.
Chapter Ninety Eight # The Meddling of Children #
The very second that Dís knocked on the door it swung open, and Bilbo's exasperated voice called out.
"Frodo, what have I told you about opening the door alone?"
The little boy frowned, yelling over his shoulder. "But it's Auntie Dís!"
"Yes, I know that," Bilbo shook his head, walking over to the door. "Hello, Dís. The point is Frodo, it might not have been her."
"Yes, but there's a guard downstairs," Frodo still seemed confused.
"Frodo," said Bilbo. "Don't open the door on your own."
The child sighed. "Alright, Uncle Bilbo."
Dís smiled, offering Frodo her hand. "Are you ready to go?"
He nodded eagerly, smiling up at her." Are you coming, Uncle Bilbo?"
"I don't think so," Bilbo shook his head. "Not today."
Dís frowned slightly, though she was careful to mask the flicker of disappointment that she felt. "Are you sure?"
Bilbo nodded with a grin. "I have a lot of unpacking to do, and it will be much easier without this little rascal underneath my feet."
"Hey!" Frodo looked wounded. "I was helping!"
"Yes, pelting me with socks was very useful."
"I was putting them in the drawer!"
"And you couldn't carry them?"
Frodo shrugged. "Throwing them was quicker."
Dís laughed. "I'll take him off your hands. Oh, and Thorin's organised dinner for six o'clock in the dining room down the hall – that way we don't have to worry about shopping until tomorrow."
"That sounds lovely," Bilbo nodded. "I'll see you later on then."
"Bye!" Frodo sang.
Dís just smiled, nodding at the older hobbit as he closed the door. "Right, shall we get going then?"
Frodo nodded excitedly. "Let's go, let's go, let's go! But… where're we going?"
"That depends… What would you like to see?"
Frodo paused, pursing his lips. "Well… can I see the mines?"
"The mines?" Dís had to admit that she was surprised, but she nodded anyway. "Very well, let's go."
Frodo trotted along, swinging on Dís' hand. "Are all dwarven places so beautiful?"
"We all take great pride in our homes, so most are beautiful, but Erebor is special, even by dwarven standards."
"Hobbits like making nice homes too, but they're not this pretty."
"Oh, I don't think so," Dís thought of Bag End. "I think they're just a different kind of pretty."
Frodo looked up at her. "Auntie Dís, do dwarves think that we're ugly?"
"What?" Dís stared at him. "Why would we think you are ugly?"
"Because we don't have beards and we look all different from you. If you all think beards and things are beautiful do you think hobbits are ugly?"
"Well, that's just silly. A diamond and a flower look very different, but they are both beautiful. Besides, everyone looks different, and everyone is beautiful in one way or another if they have beautiful souls."
Frodo nodded, seemingly digesting this. "And you don't love us any less because we're hobbits?"
Her eyebrows rose higher. "Well, do you love us any less because we're dwarves?"
"Nu-uh!" Frodo shook his head fiercely.
"Exactly," Dís squeezed his hand. "Nothing in this world is exactly the same, Frodo. To love only those who look and think as you do is to limit yourself greatly."
"And all dwarves think that way?"
She paused, and took a right turn. "Many do, but not all."
"Oh," Frodo thought for a long while. "I love you, Auntie Dís."
Dís smiled and leant down to grab Frodo beneath the arms, flinging him up into the air. His shriek dissolved into laughter as she caught him and nuzzled his nose, the same way that she used to do with Fíli and Kíli when they were little. When his giggles finally quietened a little, she kissed him on the forehead.
"I love you too, Frodo."
A smile brighter than the sun itself lit up Frodo's face and he threw his arms around Dís' neck and kissed her cheek.
Only a few minutes later they arrived at the huge, wooden door to the mines.
"Oh, wow…" Frodo gaped, staring all the way up to the top of the door twenty feet above them.
"What do you think?" she grinned.
"It's so big!" he whispered, grinning excitedly as Dís pushed on the door.
It swung open, revealing another short hall with a guard post and another door. The second door was made of solid iron, embedded with golden runes.
Shifting Frodo on her hip, Dís walked over to the guard on duty. She recognised him and smiled.
"Hello, Joren."
"Dís!" the jovial dwarf jumped down from his post to shake her hand. "It's good to see you!"
"You too," Dís replied genuinely. "How's Thora, how's Ehren?"
"Ah, they're doing very well," Joren grinned. "And your lads? How're they doing? And who's this little fellow?"
"The boys are well, and this is Frodo Baggins," Dís looked down at the boy. "Frodo, this is my friend Joren. His son Ehren is very good friends with Fíli."
"Ah! The nephew of Bilbo Baggins, I presume," Joren remarked as he bowed at the little hobbit. "I had the pleasure of meeting your Uncle on the way here."
"How'd you know he's my uncle?" Frodo frowned.
"The saikhûzadrel," Joren explained, gesturing to the blackboard on the edge of the guard post.
"Saky-oo-ay-drel?" Frodo's nose screwed up in confusion and he looked at Dís.
"Sai-khû-zad-rel," she said slowly.
"Sai-khû-zad-rel," he repeated.
"Perfect!" she praised.
"That's nice pronunciation you've got there," commented Joren with a sideways glance at Dís. "Have you been learning Khuzdul?"
"A little bit," Frodo nodded. "What's a saikhûzadrel?"
"One of these," Joren tapped on the blackboard again. "A notice of importance. They're all over the kingdom, in every major area, like the main squares, marketplaces, training arenas, dining halls… When there is important news that the whole kingdom should know it is written on the boards by the guards, and that way everyone can read the truth as it is told by the source. Usually the king. That way news travels fast, but is not distorted by rumour or embellishment."
"Oh…" Frodo stared at the board and read it aloud. "'The King welcomes his heirs, Princes Fíli and Kíli, his sister, Princess Dís, Master Bilbo Baggins and his nephew, Mr and Mrs Saradoc and Esmeralda Brandybuck and their son, Mr and Mrs Paladin and Ellie Took and their children, and Master Samwise Gamgee to Erebor.' That's a mouthful!"
"Yes, well there were a lot of us," Dís pointed out.
"But they didn't mention half of us!" Frodo frowned. "What about Nori or Bofur or-"
"The others were all expected to arrive," Dís explained. "Fíli and I are royals and Kíli and all of you lovely hobbits were a nice surprise."
"Oh," Frodo nodded. "I understand now."
"Now, Joren, Frodo would like to take a look around the mines, if you please," declared Dís, and her old friend bowed.
"Of course," he strode over and unlocked the door, pushing it open to allow them to enter. "I hope you have a pleasant day. I'm sure I'll see you before too long."
"That would be nice," Dís smiled.
"Buh-bye!" Frodo waved as they walked away.
"Farewell," Joren winked, shutting the door behind them and sucking out almost all of the light.
"Oh!" Frodo gasped, his grip around Dís tightening. "Auntie Dís!"
"What's wrong, kurdith?"
"It's so dark!" he whispered.
"Don't worry, I can see just fine," she promised, striding over to a nearby torch bracket. "Get down for a moment so that I can light the torch."
Frodo scrambled obediently to the floor, though he kept a tight grip on her skirt. Soon, a warm orange glow lit up the tunnel.
"See? There's nothing to fear. But while we are in here, you cannot run around. It is not safe. You are to hold my hand at all times, alright?"
"Yes, Auntie Dís," Frodo nodded, taking a hold of her hand. "Why is there a guard on the door? And why were there two doors?"
"Because the mines are the heart of Erebor, and it would not do to have baddies or thieves poking around. It also stops children from wandering in without any adult supervision."
"Oh, alright," Frodo nodded again. "Because they're not safe?"
"Exactly. Ah, Frodo, look! Can you see that light, over there?"
Frodo leant forward and his pace quickened a little, travelling down the dim corridor until it opened up. He gasped, and even Dís' breath hitched.
The mines of Erebor were truly a sight to behold. Deep, deep down into the earth delved a huge chasm that stretched wider than the cities gates. Veins of silver and gold ran through the dark stone, and in the light of the miner's candles they glimmered and rippled like streams in the sunlight. There were few miners working in this particular chasm – Dís believed that was largely due to the stabilisation of the other mines and the city's relatively sparse population.
"It's amazing," Frodo breathed, peering over the edge of the path only to back away behind Dís. "And very deep!"
"Aye, it is very deep. That is why you must never play down here."
"I won't!" he promised, staring with awe filled eyes at everything he could.
They walked a little while in the mines, with Dís asking as many of Frodo's curious questions as she could. A few miners passed by, but no one was interested in stopping them, so they simply wandered along the main paths until they came across another exit.
"Where to next?" Dís asked Frodo.
"Um… where's your favourite place?"
"I don't know," she replied honestly. "It's been so long…"
"Shall we just explore?" Frodo wondered.
"That sounds marvellous," Dís beamed, and they resumed their meaningless meandering.
For hours they simply strolled, visiting everywhere from the marketplace to the kitchens, until finally Dís admitted that it would probably be best to return for dinner in case Bilbo began to worry.
"That makes sense," Frodo agreed softly. "But could we please walk a little bit slower?"
"Are you tired?"
At Frodo's nod, Dís swept him up and settled him onto her hip again.
"Is that better?"
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," she smiled.
"Auntie Dís?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think we'll be alright here? Do you think we'll be safe?"
Dís paused. She saw no benefit to lying to children, and she did not want to grant him a false sense of security but if this was to be Frodo's home she did not want him to feel unsafe. It would break her heart if he spent the next few years afraid of daily life.
"There is nowhere in the whole world that is completely safe, Frodo. But there are very few places safer than here for you, because to get to you, any baddies will have to go through the royal guard, then the company of Thorin Oakenshield, then a group of angry hobbits, then Fíli and Kíli, then your uncle and then me. We'll keep you safe, Frodo."
Frodo hesitated. "And you won't leave me? You won't… Mama and Papa…"
"I can't promise that, sweetheart," she said gently, running a hand through his hair. "But I can promise I will do everything in my power to stop that from happening."
"Alright," he nodded, a determined look passing over his face. "And I'll look after you too!"
"Alright then," she smiled wryly. "That's that."
"That's that."
"Now, let's get back to your uncle, shall we?"
"Yes," Frodo paused. "Can I ride on your shoulders?"
"If you'd like," Dís lifted him up.
"Thank you!" he sang.
"You are welcome."
"Auntie Dís? You'll look after Uncle Bilbo too, won't you?"
"Of course," Dís paused. "You don't need to be afraid anymore, Frodo. I promise. You don't need to be afraid."
Frodo fell quiet for a long moment. "I think I'm gonna like it here."
Dís grinned. "Me too, Frodo. Me too."
A loud knock drew Dori's attention away from the stock he was recording and he stood up, stretching his arms over his head on the way to the door. He was not expecting any visitors this evening, especially now that Jari and his siblings were all safely at home, but it was not uncommon for Ori to drop by unexpected.
When he opened the door, it was not Ori that he saw.
"Miss Nelly!" he exclaimed, staring at the small hobbit looking up at him with wide, sombre eyes.
"Oh, good, you know who I am," she nodded. "May I come in please, Mister Dori?"
"Of course," he stepped back. "Wait – where are your parents?"
Nelly waved her hand casually, but there was a sheepish look in her eye. "Oh, they're off with Fíli and Kíli and Auntie Esme and Uncle Saradoc. They don't even know I'm gone. Bofur's babysitting but we're playing hide and seek so…"
"No one knows you're here?" Dori's eyes bulged.
"No," she did not seem to have a problem with this. "I need to talk to you."
"Alright, alright," he nodded, striding out of the door and yelling at the nearest guard. "Kyrri!"
"My lord?"
"I need you to do me a favour – run up to…" he turned to Nelly. "Where is Bofur now?"
"The Company Room."
"Run up to the Company Room and tell Bofur that I have Nelly Took, and she's safe."
"Yes, sir," the guard bowed and hastened away.
"Now, Miss Took, that was not a very sensible thing to do. Erebor is a dangerous place to wander around on your own."
"I know, but this is important," she insisted. "It's about Nori."
"What about Nori?" Dori frowned.
The little girl took a deep breath. "He's very sad because your Nina died. Very, very sad. When he told me about Miss Nina he told me lots of things, lots of things about when you were little and when Ori's father was nasty and cruel-"
"Wait," Dori's heart skipped a beat. "He told you that?"
Nelly nodded. "He told me lots of things."
"He did?" Dori covered his mouth. "He told you about when we were children?"
"Yes."
"He told you how he feels?"
Nelly nodded seriously. "Yes, but it's a secret."
"Oh!" the dwarf cried, a grin spreading across his face as tears sprang to his eyes. "I don't believe it, I don't believe it! He talked to you, oh thank Mahal!"
Nelly stared at him as though she thought him utterly insane and perhaps she was right, but Dori did not care. His heart was full, so full with elation because finally, finally Nori had opened up to someone. His younger brother was finally setting himself free of their past.
Nori had never shared such things with a single soul, and somehow this tiny child in front of him had managed to get him to open up.
"That's wonderful!"
"Wonderful?" her nose crinkled up as she frowned. "It's wonderful that bad things happened?"
"No, no, wonderful that he told you!" Dori beamed, crouching down to her level. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," she said. "But I have a very important question."
"What might that be?"
"Did you know?"
Dori's smile faded slightly. "Did I know what?"
"Did you know that Hod was hitting Nori?" Nelly did not stop as Dori froze. "Because he thinks that you knew, but if you did I don't understand why you didn't tell your mama. It looks like you love Nori very much so I don't understand why you would've known but not done anything."
For a moment, Dori could not respond. It felt as though a hand of solid ice was tightening around his heart. "Nori… Nori thinks I knew?"
She nodded gravely.
Dori covered his mouth again, but this time it was not for joy or relief. Horror was sweeping through his body because now he understood. Now it made sense that Nori had always been so standoffish, it made sense that his middle brother had never seemed to trust him. It made sense, and Dori wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
"You didn't know, did you?" Nelly murmured.
It was all Dori could do to shake his head.
"I didn't think so," Nelly sighed, patting his hand. "It's going to be alright, Mister Dori. You can talk about it now."
Dori shook his head again, slowly.
"You and Nori need to have a chat," she continued. "And it will probably be not very nice, but it will probably make things better. See, my Grandma Daisy always says that you have to talk about the things that make you sad – 'specially if it's an argument or is about more than one person. Otherwise the sadness and the anger start getting bigger and bigger and worse and worse. If you talk about them, though, they have an escape path and they'll eventually leave you alone. She knows these things. She's a healer."
"I see…" Dori mumbled, trying to stop his head from spinning.
Nori thinks I knew… Nori thinks I knew…
Dori still had dreams sometimes about Nina coming to him and telling him what Hod had done. He still had nightmares about the day he found out that his step-father had been torturing his little brother.
And Nori thought that he had known…
"I'm sorry if I made you sad," Nelly patted his hand. "But Nori wasn't gonna say anything and someone had to."
"Thank you," Dori whispered. "Thank you…"
"You're welcome," she nodded, smiling sadly. "Also I wanted to say that I think your hair is tickety-boo."
Dori blinked. "Tickety-boo?"
She smiled. "Yep, tickety-boo."
"What on earth does that mean?"
Nelly looked taken aback. "Tickety-boo… it means… well, tickety-boo! You don't know… pfft. I thought dwarves were supposed to speak the common tongue."
He raised his eyebrows and she paused.
"Wait, was that rude?"
"A little," Dori nodded.
She winced. "Sorry."
"It's alright," Dori smiled slightly.
Nelly smiled back sheepishly. "Tickety-boo means really good."
"Ah, I see…" Dori nodded slowly. "Thank you, then."
"You're welcome," said Nelly. "I think I have to go now, Mister Dori."
"You're right," Dori nodded, standing up. "Come, I'll walk you back to the company room."
"I can get back on my own if you'd like," she offered, and Dori snorted.
"Oh no, lass. Walking around on your own isn't safe in a city like this – especially when you don't know where you're going. How did you find me, anyway?"
"I asked a guard," the little girl shrugged. "It wasn't hard. And besides, if someone wanted to hurt me, they'd have to catch me first."
Dori smiled at Nelly's twinkling eyes. "I'm starting to understand why my brother gets along with you so well."
She grinned, and there was nothing but mischief on her face.
Oh yes. Dori understood exactly why Nori and Nelly got along so well.
I hope you enjoyed that chapter! Please leave a review, they do make my day!
As another note, there will be more Bilbo, Fíli and Kíli for definite in the next chapter, I've missed writing them! Also coming up, Durin's Day at last!
Thank you so much for reading :D
