Hello all! I am so sorry about the wait – I've just moved into my new uni house, so I've been ridiculously busy. I'm now settling into a routine of sorts though, so I should be able to update more regularly. Thank you so much for the amazing response to the last chapter, especially Hermione Granger (I hope your questions will be answered soon!) Dojoson and the unnamed guest reviewers.
I appreciate your support and your enjoyment of this story more than I can say, thank you so much :D
So, I hope there aren't too many mistakes in this one!
Read. Enjoy. Review!
Chapter Ninety Nine # Hlín's Arena #
"Are we done yet?"
"Not even close," Kíli shook his head and merrily moved onto the next stall. "Ooh, cabbage!"
"Cabbage?" Bróin gagged in horror. "Why would you want to buy cabbage?"
"Kíli knows a way to make it nice," said Nelly. "It sounds impossible, I know, but he can do it."
"No," Bróin shook his head. "Nope. It can't be done."
"Can so," Nelly nodded matter-of-factly, before turning to Kíli. "But we must be nearly done?"
Kíli smirked and shook his head. "Not a chance, Nell."
She huffed. "Why are we even here?"
"Because," Kíli picked up a promising vegetable. "You didn't want to do your lessons, remember?"
Bróin sighed, looking at Nelly. "I think we made a mistake."
"Me too," Nelly replied.
"Well, you made your choice, now you've got to live with it," Kíli ruffled Bróin's hair and turned to the stall-keeper. "Good morning."
The girl curtseyed. "Good morning, your highness. How can I help you?"
Kíli shuffled slightly. That would take some getting used to. "I'd like to buy two cabbages, if that's alright. How much would that cost?"
"Of course," she smiled brightly. "That'd be two coppers, if you please sir."
"Thank you," Kíli smiled back, handing over the money and placing two cabbages into the rapidly filling cart that Bróin was pulling. "That's not too heavy, is it?"
"Of course not!" Bróin looked most offended. "You can put my Adad in here and it won't be too heavy!"
"Alright," Kíli grinned a little, shaking his head at the stall-keeper. "Thank you, ma'am. Have a good day."
"And you, sir," she bowed her head.
The trio moved onto the next stall, where Kíli purchased yet more vegetables and a sack of potatoes that left Bróin's cart full.
"You're sure that's not too heavy?"
Bróin folded his arms across his chest. "Kíli. This cart is supposed to make it easy to carry heavy stuff. And I'm a dwarf."
"Aye, a dwarf who barely comes up to my waist."
"I can do it!" Bróin protested. "I promise!"
"Alright," Kíli held up his hands. "Alright then. I believe you."
"I don't," Nelly sang, leaning on her wheelbarrow.
"Oh yeah?" Bróin raised his eyebrows. "How about we wrestle then?"
"Right here?"
"Yeah," Bróin grinned. "Right here!"
"Oh, no, no, no!" Kíli put a hand on each of their heads. "Nope. You're not fighting here. No way, I'll get in trouble!"
"Later then," Nelly dared.
"You're on!"
"Onwards!" Kíli interrupted, and they moved on.
Half an hour later, they had finally got everything on Kíli's shopping list – and quite a lot more. By that time Bróin's cart, Nelly's wheelbarrow and Kíli's baskets were completely full, but one stall caught their attention on the way out.
"Ah, this is more like it!" Bróin crooned, bouncing over to stare at the baked goods. "Can we get some, please let's get some?"
"Please, Kíli!" Nelly gasped. "They have cinamyamon buns!"
Bróin frowned. "That's not how you say it! It's cinaninamon!"
"Cinnamon," Kíli corrected them both. "And you don't need to convince me."
"What can I get for you, your highness?" the dwarf asked.
"I would like a large cinnamon bun, a box of those cookies there, and… what do you two want?"
"Um, can I please have a gingerbread man with icing?" Nelly said. "That one, with the funny face!"
"And I'd like, I'd like the cupcake with the blue and pink icing please," Bróin was still bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet.
"Of course," the dwarf bowed, passing over their goods.
"How much do I owe you?" Kíli pulled out his coin purse.
"Nothing," the dwarf said firmly.
"Oh, I can't do that," Kíli shook his head.
"It is my honour to welcome you and your family to Erebor, your highness," insisted the vendor.
"Really? Are you sure?" Kíli frowned.
The dwarf bowed. "I am sure. The only payment that I would take is that you remember the name of Aldi the Baker if you should ever be searching for some baked treats again."
"Of course," Kíli reached over to shake the dwarf's hand warmly. "Thank you, thank you very much!"
"You're welcome," Aldi bowed. "Have a wonderful day."
"Thank you, you too!" Kíli bowed his head.
As they walked away, Bróin frowned.
"Kíli, are you going to eat all of those cookies yourself?"
"No," he laughed. "They're for the others."
"Oh," Bróin looked a little disappointed.
Kíli laughed again. "You're a greedy little thing."
"You'll end up as big as your Papa," Nelly nibbled at a gingerbread man the size of her face.
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Bróin sounded genuinely hurt – Kíli could tell by the lack of bravado in his voice.
Nelly frowned. "No, that's not what I meant!"
Bróin stared suspiciously at her. After a moment, Nelly reached out and tapped him on the nose, smearing icing over his skin.
"Boop!" she sang, and then returned to her gingerbread man.
"Hey!" Bróin went cross-eyed and stuck his tongue out, trying to lick the icing off of his nose.
"I didn't mean it," Nelly said, and for once there was solemnity in her eyes. "Really, Bróin, I didn't mean it like that."
After a long moment, Bróin grinned, swiping at his own nose with his hand. "Alright."
"Kíli, can I have a bite of your cinnamon bun please?"
Glancing at the alarming innocent looking girl, Kíli tore away a little piece and gave it to her, before offering some to Bróin. Then, happily munching their treats, they made their way back to the royal wing and into Kíli's room.
"Right, let's organise the pantry!" Kíli declared, walking into his own little kitchen.
He had his own little kitchen. That was just bizarre.
Pulling open the cupboard door, Kíli prepared his troops, and then the three of them got to work. Surprisingly, the two mischievous, boisterous children were very good at organising things, and soon everything was put away.
Kíli stepped back and looked at the pantry. There was something satisfying about the sight of all of the food so neatly packed away on the shelves in such a pleasing order. He smiled.
This morning had been good for him, he could feel it. Though there was a long way yet to go, Kíli could finally feel the healing beginning.
A knock came on the door and he glanced over his shoulder at Nelly and Bróin.
"Race you to the door," he sang, and then sprinted from the kitchen through the little living area.
Squawking in indignation at his head-start, the pair tumbled off after him, but it was Kíli who got to the door first. He wrenched it open and Ori smiled at him.
"Good morning!"
"Ori," Kíli grinned, sticking his hand out his hand to stop the little ones from crashing into his friend's legs. "What can we do you for?"
"Dori's asked me to invite everyone to Hlín's Arena."
Kíli blinked. "Oh, that sounds fun. What's… what's Hlín's Arena?"
"Hlín's Arena?" Bróin cried. "Oh, I wanna go, I wanna go!"
"Again, I repeat, what is it?" Kíli wondered.
"The best place on Middle-Earth!" Bróin yelled, punching his fists into the air.
"It's a place for children to play," Ori explained. "Safely."
Nelly gasped. "I want to go too!"
Kíli shrugged with a grin. "Why not?"
"Everyone else is going too," Ori smiled. "But I haven't asked Fíli yet, and I think Pippin and Bodin are with him."
"They were this morning," nodded Kíli. "I'll go and get him."
"Is Nori coming?" Nelly asked.
"I don't know," Ori admitted. "I haven't seen him today."
Nelly pouted. "Well I think he should come."
"Me too!" Bróin looked at her. "We should go and find him!"
Ori nodded slowly. "I think I know where he might be."
"You go and get Fíli," Nelly said to Kíli seriously. "We'll find Nori and meet you there."
Kíli glanced at Ori. "Is that alright with you?"
"If you know the way there," Ori smiled his usual angelic smile, which somehow reminded Kíli of a conversation with the scribe's brother.
"Boys, if you spend all your time corrupting innocent children, one day it will backfire." Nori called casually from behind them.
Kíli turned to look over his shoulder. "Oh, will it? I see no negatives to having an army of pint sized minions…"
"Oh it most certainly will. I made that mistake with Ori."
Yes… Ori could probably handle Nelly and Bróin.
"Alright, I'll see you there – wait where is it?"
"Behind the main training ground," Ori said. "Just ask the guards, they'll get you there."
"Perfect," Kíli clapped his hand together and shut his door behind him. As the little ones ran off with Ori, Kíli knocked on his brother's door.
After a few moments, Fíli opened the door and smiled softly at Kíli. "Afternoon."
Kíli smiled back, his eyes falling on the toddler snoring gently on his brother's shoulder. "You're getting drooled on."
Fíli shrugged slowly, careful not to jog Pippin too much. "I've had worse. Are you coming in?"
"For a while," Kíli stepped inside. "Naptime?"
"I like naptime," Fíli nodded. "Bodin's on the sofa."
"Ori and Dori have invited us to Hlín's Arena and Bróin seems to think it's the best thing in the world. Why is that?"
Fíli smiled. "In every dwarven kingdom there's an arena designed specifically for children to play safely. Many have climbing equipment and toys, and the idea is that dwarflings develop their muscles and abilities in a fun manner. Hlín's Arena is supposed to be the best children's arena on this earth. It is absolutely legendary among everyone under the age of ninety – and many older than that to be honest." Fíli's smile faltered slightly, becoming softer and more wistful. "You used to be infatuated with the stories."
Faint memories began to stir in Kíli's mind and he nodded slowly. "Shall we go then?"
Fíli's smile returned. "Definitely."
"How long have they been asleep?" Kíli gestured to the dwarfling curled up on the couch.
"About an hour," Fíli smiled, bobbing Pippin up and down on his hip. "Wakey-wakey, Pippin."
The child sighed softly and rubbed at his eyes, while Fíli strode over and gently shook Bodin's shoulder.
"Who wants a cookie?" Kíli called.
"Me!" Bodin and Pippin gasped, the both of them waking rather quickly.
"I'll go get some then," Kíli winked at his brother and jogged into his own room.
Smiling at the beautifully organised cupboards, Kíli grabbed a couple of cookies and returned to his brother's room, handing out the treats to the now alert toddlers and his brother.
"Thank you!" Pippin beamed.
"Mm, thank you Kíli," repeated Bodin.
"Now," Fíli said. "Who wants to go to the Children's Arena?"
"Me, me!" Bodin cried.
"What's a Children's Arena?" Pippin frowned.
"A fun place to play," said Fíli.
"Shall we go then?" Kíli held out his hand to Bodin, who ran over happily.
"We go now, we go!"
It did not take too long for them to catch up with the gang of hobbits and Dís, who had joined them, and soon they reached Hlín's Arena. When they did, Kíli's jaw dropped.
A colourful, mosaic road stretched ahead and branched off in several directions, with each branch leading to a different area of the enormous cavern before them. The nearest area made Kíli feel as big as a man – it looked like a whole town made in miniature. There were little houses, little shops, little play equipment and even a little palace. The ground beneath was covered in what looked like several layers of green wool, making a soft surface for tiny toddlers in case they toppled over.
"Oh…my…goodness," Vinca whispered. "This is amazing!"
"Look, there's a mine!" Bofin gasped, pointing to the area directly behind the miniature section. "And a forest!"
"Look at the castle!" Pearl gestured to the end of the largest branch of the path. "And the swings and see-saws and – this is so awesome!"
"I'm glad you think so."
"Dori!" Bilbo greeted happily as the dwarf led a group over. "Hello!"
"Hello," the older dwarf grinned, his eyes twinkling. "Everyone, you know Bragi and Soren – this is Jari, Austen, Auden, Aria and Ari, Seren and Ren, and Ehren-"
"Hey, why am I introduced last?" Ehren protested.
"Because you're the least important," Ren quipped, ducking the blow his older cousin aimed at his head.
"And the most smelly!" Seren added with a giggle.
"I am not!" Ehren protested. "You smell like an orc's backside."
Bragi smacked his friend on the back of the head. "Ehren! Behave."
"Oh, so you'll tell me to behave, but not the spawn of hell that somehow came out of my aunt's womb?"
"Ehren!" Jari, Fíli, Bragi and even Soren protested together.
"There are children here," Dori added firmly. "And that's no way to speak of your cousins."
Ehren sighed, a look of mock disgruntlement on his face. "Fine. Fine…"
"You are such a big baby, Ehren," Jari shook his head. "Master Dori, why did we agree to bring him along?"
"In hopes that between them these fine younglings can tire them out," Dori gestured to the little hobbits and dwarflings.
"Ha!" Ehren scoffed. "I've never been tired in my life!"
"Really?" Fíli raised his eyebrows. "What about the time-"
Bragi and Jari seemed to know what was coming, and they cried out in unison. "Not in front of the children!"
"Oh, sorry," Fíli grinned. Ehren stuck his tongue out. "For those of you that don't know, this is Esme, Saradoc-"
"We've met before," Saradoc smiled, nodding at Jari.
"Yes, Jari nearly sat on him," Ari nodded sombrely.
"I did not!"
"Did so!" chorused his siblings.
"Anyway," Fíli shook his head. "This is Paladin, Esme, Pearl, Vinca, Pippin, Merry, Frodo and Sam. I believe you know these troublemakers."
"We never make trouble!" Orla and Ola gasped when the prince gestured to them and their brothers.
"I still think that's creepy."
Kíli jumped at Nelly's voice, but she was smiling and the twins just winked at each other.
"We know," they said.
"Nori, you made it!" Dori looked immensely happy, but there was hesitation in his eyes.
"Well, not by choice," the thief drawled, holding up his hands. One was shackled to Nelly, and the other to Bróin.
"We're here now," the boy pointed out. "Ori, can we have the key?"
"Of course," Ori smiled, passing over a small key.
"You're not allowed to leave," Nelly said firmly. "Promise?"
"I can't promise, Nelly. It'll ruin my reputation."
Nelly did not say anything. She just stared at him.
"Fine," Nori sighed. "I promise."
Nelly beamed, unlocking the shackles. "There you go."
Nori rolled his eyes. "You know what?"
"What?" Nelly frowned slightly.
"I had my fingers crossed."
With that, Nori sprinted away, disappearing into the huge fortress.
"Hey!" Nelly roared, sprinting after him. "Du bekar, my brothers, du bekar!"
Bróin, Bofin, Merry, Frodo and Sam yelled with glee, taking off after her. Seren and Ren looked at each other and then took off after them.
"Can we come?" Ren yelled.
Nelly called back over her shoulder. "If you can keep up!"
Ehren raised his eyebrows as his cousins whooped and followed her. "That girl is a spitfire."
"Tell me about it," Ellie sighed, staring at her daughter's retreating back with exasperation.
"They're going about it the wrong way," Pearl looked highly amused. "Nori'll hear them coming from a mile away."
Bodin frowned. "Pippin, why did you dust stay here when Nelly said bwothers? Because, because you're her bwother, not dem!"
Pippin patted his friend on the hand. "It's an espresso."
"A what?"
"Expression, Pippin," his mother said softly.
"Mmhm, that!" Pippin nodded. It was highly amusing to see the toddler so acting so sagely. "It's because she was 'tending that she's gonna go to war now and that's what they say I think."
"Oh, dat makes sense," Bodin nodded.
"Mama, can we go and find Nori first?" Pearl asked, holding onto Vinca's hand.
"If you'd like to, certainly," Ellie nodded with a smile.
"Can I come with you?" Ari asked shyly.
"Of course!" Pearl smiled. "But we're gonna have to be quiet and sneaky!"
"I can do that!" he nodded eagerly.
Pippin sniffed. "Mama, I don't wanna chase Nori, I wanna play in the little place over there!"
"Well, we'll go over there then," Ellie promised. "You can play wherever you want in here."
"I go with Pippin," Bodin nodded.
"Alright, see you when we're hungry!" Pearl sang, taking off with Vinca, Orla, Ola and Ari in tow.
"Very honest," Ehren commented with a nod. "I like it."
"Do you have to give us a running commentary of everything that's going on?" said Bragi.
"Yes, it's part of my contract." Ehren deadpanned.
"What contract, the one you couldn't sign because you broke your leg before the quest?" Fíli raised his eyebrows.
Ehren scowled. "That's a low blow, Fíli!"
"Prince Fíli, to you."
Esme gasped, interrupting Ehren's reply. "Are those swings?"
Kíli looked over. "I think they are…"
She grinned at him. "Race you?"
"You're on!" he grinned, and then before anyone could blink the pair were running as if for their lives, tearing across the path and towards the swings.
However, then a white blur came into Kíli's peripheral vision and he saw Bragi catching up with him. Then there was a flash of gold that he thought belonged to Fíli, but the figure was slighter, smaller, and soon he recognised Aria overtaking all of them.
He could hear Paladin and Saradoc behind him – their breathless laughter and playful jostling were unmistakeable. Then Fíli began to catch up, going in a wide loop around Esme. Kíli pumped his arms harder, speeding up with every ounce of energy he had.
Aria was the first to reach the swings, falling onto the nearest one with a gleeful shout of triumph. Kíli and Esme both reached the second swing at the same moment, seizing the ropes in their hands.
"Get off, Kíli, you big lump! I was here first!" Esme gritted her teeth.
"No way!" he grunted, struggling to push her off. "I beat you!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Let go!"
"You let go!"
Esme swung her leg around but Kíli was prepared for the kick and he took her down with her own momentum. She gasped, retaliating by shoving her foot into his stomach as her other leg curled around to pull Kíli's feet out from under him. She scrambled up and sat on his chest with a triumphant laugh.
"Got ya!"
Kíli scowled. "Only because I let you."
"Let me?"
"Didn't want to embarrass you in front of strangers."
"Oh really?" she raised her eyebrows.
Kíli shook his head and grinned, sitting up in one fluid motion that had her tumbling backwards. He caught her arm and she laughed.
"Kíli, that is my wife you know," Saradoc called casually from a swing further down.
Kíli stuck out his tongue, ignoring the shocked look on the faces of Soren, Ori, Ehren, Jari and Aria. "She was my sister first. Hey – Ehren, that's our swing!"
"Na na na na na!" Ehren sang, kicking off the ground and swinging up high.
Aria raised her dainty eyebrows. "Are any of you actually adults?"
"No!" the others chorused like schoolchildren.
She laughed. "Good to know…"
Kíli glanced over, spying one more swing. He scrambled to his feet and leapt onto the swing, pushing himself high into the air. Without so hesitating, Esme came around behind him, jumping onto the back of his swing and standing up behind him. It was something they had done many times before, though not for years.
Smiling, Kíli looked around to see where his parents were. He soon saw them over with Ellie, Pippin, Bodin and Dori, in the miniature area. Content that they were safe, Kíli pushed his legs forward, pulling the swing up higher.
"So…" Ehren said. "Are you nervous about Durin's Day Kíli?"
Kíli frowned. "Nervous? Why would I be nervous?"
"Well, has no one told you the tradition?" Ehren clucked his tongue. "All new rulers and heirs are to be have to wrestle with a raging bull while wearing nothing but a corset and bloomers, and-"
"Ehren," Jari said firmly as Fíli, Bragi and Aria snorted with laughter. "He's lying Kíli."
"Good," the young dwarf sniffed. "Because I'd rather wear a loincloth than bloomers. More flattering for my legs."
"Urgh," Saradoc shook his head. "I just had a mental image of you in a loincloth and I don't think I'll ever recover."
"Ignoring the cruel, cruel comments of my supposed friend Saradoc, what do we actually have to do on Durin's Day anyway? And it's the day after tomorrow isn't it?"
"Day after that," Bragi corrected.
"Even I knew that," Paladin said.
Ehren shook his head. "Fíli, this is just terrible, you're sending your baby brother in blind. The poor wee lamb."
"I'm not a lamb!" Kíli protested.
"No, more like a puppy," Esme agreed, stroking Kíli's hair for good measure.
"Speaking of puppies, where are our trusty wolves, Kee?" asked Fíli.
"Wolves?" Aria's eyes lit up. "You have wolves?"
"We do," Kíli nodded. "Last I saw them they were all curled up in the company room in a big pile."
"Can I meet them?" there was a spark of excitement in Aria's voice.
"Of course," Kíli grinned. "They're very friendly, I'm sure they'd love to meet you. But not you, Ehren. They don't like goblins, and you look so much like one there might be an accident."
"Oh-ho!" Ehren laughed. "That's the Kíli I remember!"
Esme's grip around his neck tightened. "That's lovely, but I'd just like to remind you that now his name is Kíli Baggins and you have to share him with us."
"Share?" Ehren scoffed dramatically. "Dwarves don't share."
"Then we'll be taking our dwobbit home."
"Dwobbit?" Jari frowned.
"Our?" Kíli protested. "I'm my own person, thank you very much!"
Fíli laughed. "I'm sure we've had this conversation already, only you were arguing with Bofur over the possession of Bilbo."
Kíli paused. "It's not the same."
"Isn't it?" his brother raised a brow. "I think it's exactly the same."
Kíli made a face at Fíli. "Curse you and your logic."
"Don't curse Fíli's logic, Kíli!" Paladin warned. "It's the only logic you have access to."
"Yes," Kíli replied. "Because I grew up with hobbits, who aren't even sensible enough to wear shoes."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Esme drawled. "But I don't see any boots on your feet right now…"
"I was brainwashed," Kíli said. "It's a sad, sad situation."
"Bilbo will be crushed to hear it," Paladin shook his head slowly.
"Hardly," Ehren said. "He'll probably reveal himself as a masterful enchanter who's trying to enslave us all-"
"You have been listening to far too many old stories, my friend," Bragi commented.
Ehren shrugged. "Perhaps. Or perhaps Bilbo Baggins is a sorcerer more powerful than Gandalf the Grey…"
Kíli shook his head with a wry smile. "So, Fee… What will we really have to do on Durin's Day?"
"There'll be a big ceremony," his brother said. "We just have to answer some questions, promise to always be loyal to the people… Oh, and then there'll be the adoption ceremony."
"Adoption ceremony?" Kíli was taken aback. "What adoption ceremony?"
Fíli raised his eyebrows. "They haven't told you?"
"Who hasn't told me what?"
"Don't look so worried, Kíli, everything's fine," Fíli promised, and Kíli felt himself relax almost against his will. "I thought Bilbo had already told you, that's all. They're going to legalise Bilbo's adoption of you, so that according that our law and custom he is your father and our lovely Brandybucks and Tooks will be the lawful family of the royal family."
"Ah, I see," Kíli nodded. "It's strange… I've never thought of the legal side of things before… It doesn't really matter in the Shire."
"Sounds like an easy life," Ehren said, his tone genuinely wistful.
Paladin snorted. "It was, until we got lumped with a dwarfling who attracts more mayhem than a dog eating a bee hive."
"You were perfectly mischievous before I arrived," Kíli waved his hand dismissively.
There was a natural lull in the conversation, and then Ehren broke the silence.
"Hey, Soren, what's wrong with you? You're much too quiet!"
Soren looked up from the last swing. "What? Me? I'm fine."
Ehren snorted. "You don't sound fine."
"Ehren," Bragi, Jari and Fíli all chided.
Sighing, Soren kicked at the ground and propelled himself further into the air. "You remember Framarr?"
"Your cousin?"
Soren nodded. "Turns out he's a murderer and a traitor, who really believes that he's doing the right thing by orphaning little hobbit children and torturing toddlers and… And it's ripped the ground out from under my feet and I don't know which way is up anymore. Other than that, I'm fine."
The pause that followed was far from natural – it was awkward. Very awkward.
"Ah…" Ehren cleared his throat. "I did not know that… Soren, I'm sorry."
Soren shrugged. "It's fine. Nothing you can do about it anyway."
"I could hamstring him for you, if that would help," Ehren offered half-heartedly, and to Kíli's surprise, Soren laughed.
"Nah, no thank you…" Soren shook his head, staring at the children playing. "It's going to look bad, isn't it? People are going to think that I-"
"No, Soren," Fíli said firmly. "No one doubts your loyalty, no one that matters."
If Soren's sigh was anything to go by, he did not believe Fíli's words.
"I know what to do," Ehren said finally. "When we finish here, Soren, it's you and me in the training arena and we can wrestle until one of us collapses, and then this night we all go out drinking and show these hobbits how to celebrate in the manner of the dwarves."
"That sounds like fun," Kíli piped up, and a smile twitched over Soren's face.
"I'd like that," he said. "Yeah, I'd like that."
"Good," Ehren replied. "It's settled then. We meet at sundown!"
"When you say everyone here…" Esme began.
"I mean everyone," Ehren nodded. "No excuses."
"How about the fact that we have children who will be spending their second night in a strange place?"
"No excuse," Ehren shook his head. "There'll be someone to look after them. Half the people in this mountain would likely be willing babysitters."
"Come on," Kíli urged them. "It'll be fun. We could go after the little ones are asleep!"
"Alright," Saradoc said slowly. "That could work."
"Obviously Ellie's invited too – wait, she is the one with the toddlers, no?"
"Yep, that's Ellie," Paladin confirmed.
"Perfect," Ehren rubbed his hands together. "Ten o'clock, in the company room, no exceptions!"
Kíli watched his feet sweep up into the air and he watched them swoop back down. There was something comforting about the motion of a swing, especially with Esme's weight pressing against his back the way it would when they were children.
He was hurled even further into nostalgia when the children returned with a captive Nori and the entire group of them were roped into the children's games.
By the time he returned to his room and flopped down on the sofa, Kíli was exhausted. When the knock came on his door he sighed and called out.
"Who is it?"
"Your mother."
Kíli jumped, pulling himself into a sitting position. "Come in!"
Dís walked through the room and sat down beside him, a warm smile on her face. "How are you feeling?"
Breathing out deeply, Kíli took her hand. "Tired. But other than that I'm fine."
"That's good to hear," Dís nodded. "That's very good to hear…"
"I keep thinking about Soren… What he must be going through…" Kíli shook his head. "Do you think that people will really doubt his loyalty?"
"I hope not," Dís paused. "But he has the royal family on his side, even if they do. He will be alright."
"I hope so…"
"Don't worry, Kíli," with a soft smile, Dís brushed Kíli's hair away from his forehead. "It's going to be fine."
He sighed, leaning against his mother's shoulder.
"Are you going out with the others tonight?"
Kíli looked up at her. "I don't know… Who told you?"
"Paladin. He asked if I didn't mind babysitting…"
"And do you?"
Dís laughed. "Of course not. I think you should go, Kíli. It will be fun. Just make sure you're not too hungover tomorrow – you have an appointment at midday."
"I do?" he frowned. "What for?"
"A fitting."
"A fitting?" Kíli frowned. "For clothes?"
"Aye," Dís nodded. "Formal clothes, for Durin's Day. There isn't any time to craft an outfit from scratch, but my friend Rúna is one of the most talented seamstresses I know, and she has agreed to help adjust the ceremonial garb we already have here for you and the hobbits."
"Oh, alright," Kíli said. "What about Fíli?"
"He already has appropriate clothing, though there will be some adjustments to those too. Thora, Ehren's mother, has agreed to help with that."
Kíli closed his eyes. "That sounds good…"
"You look exhausted," Dís murmured, wrapping her arm around him.
"I am…" he sighed.
"Go to sleep," Dís stroked his hair softly. "I'll wake you up when they arrive."
Kíli was too tired to argue, and he felt himself swiftly slip down into sleep.
"Ah-la-na, mizimith, ah-la-na-la-nie
Nadnith azluf en zulfin,
Amad mamarrali diya dushtêl
Ah-la-na, makadmûn, ah-la-na-la-nie,
La, na, la, la, lie…"
The lullaby did nothing to drown out the roar of the thunder that rumbled through the mountain halls, and Kíli sobbed, pushing his face into his mother's chest.
"Don' go, Ama! Don' leave us!"
"Hush, Kíli, hush…" his mother said, stroking his hair. "Fíli's sleeping…"
"I don' like it!" Kíli whimpered. "It's too loud! The giants are gon' come, the giants are gon' come an' eat us!"
"No, makadmûn, no… there are no giants here."
Kíli sobbed. "Den wha's dat noise?"
"It's a storm, Kíli. Just a little storm…" Dís paused, and then stood up, gently pulling Kíli into her arms. "Come, let's go for a little walk so we don't wake your brother…"
Kíli sniffed, cowering in his mother's arms. They walked to the front door, and then Dís walked over to knock on the next door. After a few moments Uncle Thorin opened the door.
"Dís, Kíli," he said, surprise on his face. "Is something wrong?"
"Everything is fine," Dís replied calmly. "Would you come over a while and watch Fíli? He's already asleep – but Kíli needs to take a little walk with me."
"Of course," Uncle Thorin nodded, walking from his house to theirs.
As Ama walked, the noises got louder and louder and Kíli shivered, clutching his mother tighter.
"No, no!" he cried, as the entrance to the Blue Mountain's halls came into view. "No, Ama, I don't want to go outside!"
"Shh, shh," she whispered, kissing his forehead. "We're just going to watch…"
Kíli stared with wild eyes as the gates opened and the night sky appeared before him. A flash of white blue light cracked across the sky and for a second he could see the black, puffy clouds.
"See, there's nothing to be afraid of," Dís said. "Storms are exciting!"
"I don' know," Kíli mumbled, his fingers tightening around his mother's clothes.
"Do you know, this storm reminds me of something…"
"Of what?"
"The story of Lady Hlín."
Kíli gasped, excitement igniting in his heart. "Da woman dat made Hlín's Arena? In Erebor?"
"Yes," Dís whispered. "Do you want to know what happened?"
The little boy nodded.
"Well, many years ago there was a Children's Arena in Erebor, but then there was an accident and the whole place burnt down!"
Kíli gasped. "Oh no!"
"Oh no indeed," Dís nodded. "With nowhere to play, the children all grew very bored, so a few adults took them outside the mountain, to play on its beautiful, stone slopes. But then, disaster struck again!"
"What happened?" Kíli worried.
"They were attacked by orcs! And they were outnumbered, ten to one, and it looked hopeless! But then a woman stepped forward – a woman that no one knew. She stood before the crowd and she drew her weapon – one tiny little knife. She thrust it into the air and she yelled out at the top of her lungs!"
"What did she say?" whispered Kíli.
"She cried 'By your mercy please aid me now, oh mighty Valar! Mahal save your children and let me be your weapon!' And do you know what happened?"
A whip of lightening lit up Kíli's awed face. "What?"
"A mighty storm descended from the heavens – a storm they say was sent by Mamahdûn himself – and the woman charged down the hill. It looked like the rain and the lightening was following her down, and by herself she conquered the entire pack of orcs!"
"By herself!" Kíli gasped.
"Yes," Dís said. "But when they found her, she was gravely wounded. They took her inside and she told them her name."
"Hlín!"
"That's right. Soon after, she was called to the Halls of Mandos, and they named the new arena after her – the protector of their children."
"Wow!" Kíli was utterly awestruck.
He looked back at the rain and the lightening, and a thrill of exhilaration shivered through his small body.
"I like storms!"
"Me too," Dís kissed his forehead. "Me too…"
And then Kíli fell asleep in his mother's arms, with the duet of the exiled princess of Erebor and the rhythmic pounding of the rain coaxing him down into peace.
"Ah-la-na, mizimith, ah-la-na-la-lie…"
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I know it was a little bit of a filler.
In the next chapter we will finally have Durin's Day! Yay!
Hopefully it won't be too long before I update but I can't really tell.
Please do let me know what you think, and thank you for reading!
Fun fact – Mamahdûn is (according to the Dwarrow Scholar) the Khuzdul name for Manwë, the Valar who is most strongly affiliated with the sky (guess who read the Silmarillion over the holidays :P)
