I probably should have waited a little longer to post the second chapter... but hey, the muse is here. Might as well get one more chapter out while I can, eh?

I got a follow... that's something...

~T.P.T.


Smile Like You Mean It

The Tragic Tale of Dis

Chapter Two;; The Way It Was

There was a time when I was happy. I was content. There wasn't so much death in my narrow view of the world. I was never alone, I never cried- unless, of course, my mother got cross with me. But even then, all was forgiven and soon forgotten. We were happy together.

I was the third born of my father Thrain II and mother Uta- two brothers came before me. Thorin II looked like father and papa with his dark hair and big blue eyes, but brother Frerin had dark red hair like mother. We played together often since there were few dwarf children to keep us company. At times I wish there had been other children; the gap between my brothers and I was rather large (Thorin fourteen and Frerin nine when I was born), and they often left me to my own devices when they wanted to go learn how to fight with my father.

This made me very attached to my mother. Whenever the boys were off, it was she who would play with me. Few people saw the true side of my mother. As the Princess she was very solemn and distant, but with her children she was compassionate, playful. I loved her very much.

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With a sniff, I wiped away the snot tickling at my lip with a dirty little hand. I was only five or six years old and sat on my mothers lap.

"What did Thorin do this time?" My mother cooed softly in my ear, her hand running delicately through my dark hair as she began to braid.

"They told me I couldn't learn 'ta fight because I was a girl." I hiccuped, my eyelids puffed with water.

"But they're right, Dis. You will be a grown lady one day with a family of your own. You can't be off fighting away from your little ones." My mother murmured, speaking from her own experience.

"I don't want to have babies." I grumbled angrily, "I just want to play with Thory and Frery."

I felt my mothers warm arms encircle me in a hug as she pulled me closer to her chest.

"You're one of those, are you?" A light laugh shook her stomach, "I was just like you, Dis. I didn't want to have children when I was older."

I turned my head slightly, still snug in my mothers arms.

"Really?" I had never thought that I wasn't the only Dwarf girl who wanted to be like the boys and learn to fight.

"Oh yes. But I'm glad I did." A smile formed on her face, her large cheeks a bright pink, "I was blessed with you and your brothers. You three are the most important things in my life."

I smudged the last tear away, smiling as well.

My mother always knew how to make me smile.

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"I can fight too, see?" No matter my mothers words, I still wanted to know how to fight. I often stole away when no one was watching and went to the sparring rink very high in our mountain- from its' balcony, Dale could be seen, as well as Mirkwood and the Long Lake. The view was very delightful during the sunrise.

Both Thorin and Frerin looked a little amused as I stood before them with a dull sparring blade held aloft. Their own blades rested at their sides- however, they were very sharp, both having just recently earned them from our grandfather.

Thorin began to laugh heartily, but Frerin's face revealed exhaustion.

"Dis, you're not allowed to be up here. What will mother say?" He began to reach for my sword as he spoke, his blue-green eyes never leaving mine.

With a swing, I lunged at his hand with the sword, barely missing his index finger. He jumped backwards, drawing his own sword in alarm.

Thorin was still laughing, and hadn't noticed what I had done yet, so with as much strength as I could muster, I swung the flat end of the sword down at the back of his calf. Already unbalanced, the young Dwarf fell to the stone, a roar of surprise escaping his throat.

"I told you! I've been practicing." I told them haughtily as they exchanged rather wide eyed looks.

Instantaneously, both Dwarves dropped their swords and lunged for me, battle howls echoing in my ears.

With a screech of delight, and slight fear, I felt my sword slip from my fingers and clang on the floor as I turned and began to run for the stairs. My older brothers, however, were much faster.

"Look at her." Thorin said as he held me in his arms, my feet kicking from a couple feet above the ground, "The little sneak."

"Eight and she's already as cocky as you, Thorin!" Frerin laughed as he ruffled my braids.

"Let me go!" I flailed my arms in all directions as I searched for some way to break free of my brothers.

If only we could have stayed like that forever.

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"Papa, what was grandmother like?" I sat on the stairs of the throne room, my grandfather leisurely sitting above me in his stone seat. The Arkenstone shone bright above his crown.

"She was beautiful Dis." He said after a moment, his voice rather strained. His wife, the Queen of our people, died shortly before Thorin had been born from a sickness no doctor could heal, "She wanted a daughter very much."

"Why didn't you and grandmother have more children after father?" I inquired, my fingers playing with the hem of my white dress.

"Having your father made Ceitidh very sick, so we decided not to." He sighed.

"Oh..." I mumbled. I could tell my questions were upsetting my grandfather, "Do you think she would have liked me?"

His big blue eyes lightened at this. He even smiled under his whitening beard.

"Oh yes, very much." He leaned out of his seat, hands on his knees, "She would have spoiled you rotten! Did you know before she died, she wanted Thorin to be a girl?"

"Really?" I laughed, imagining an older sister in place of brother, "Thorina!"

Great laughter erupted from my grandfathers mouth. After a while he leaned back, holding his stomach as the laughter subsided. My own stomach ached.

"Now that would have been an interesting name." He chuckled, "I think she would have liked it, too."

"I wish I could have known her." I said sadly, coming to stand in front of my grandfather.

"Oh, now don't say that. You two are very much alike, you know? Almost the spitting image as well." My grandfathers hands enveloped mine, holding them tightly.

Knowing about my grandmother made me aim to be just like her one day. Even though I knew her the least, I wanted to make her proud to call me granddaughter as she watched over me.


If I go on with you by my side
Can it be the way it was?
When we met did you forget about those golden eyes?

All of our plans have fallen through
Sometimes a dream don't come true


All rights to Tolkien, Jackson and The Killers.

Just a series of short moments in her life to settle some relationships.

Comments and critique welcomed!

~T.P.T.