Thanks to all those who reviewed!
Here's the next chapter! Finally, the birth of Kíli! Hope you like it!
Dís held Fíli close, slowly moving back and forth in the rocking chair. She ran shaking fingers through her son's golden hair as he fell asleep, wooden sword limp in his little hands.
When she saw her firstborn was safe in his dreams, she carried him to his room, gently lying him down on his soft bed. She placed his toy weapon on his bedside table, and gave him a kiss on his temple.
Then she waited for her family to return.
She knew that it would be best if both she and the baby were able to get rest, but her nerves wouldn't allow her.
She silently paced the room, hands gently resting on her large belly, praying for their safe return.
Many hours passed. Dís sat on a chair near the fireplace, eyes staring into orange flames, hot embers crackling up into the chimney.
Her thoughts never strayed from her family. Had they had enough to eat before they left? It was such a short notice. Were they warm enough? The Winter was harsh in Ered Luin, and many bundles of clothes were required to keep one warm.
No, no, she thought. They would be fine. All of them.
She began to doze, the sheer exhaustion and burden of her pregnancy bearing down on her. She was close to falling into a deep sleep when the door quietly opened.
Her eyes snapped open, and fell on her brother, who slowly limped in.
"Thorin!" She rushed to greet him, pulling him close in an embrace. "Are you alright? Are you injured?" Worried eyes scanned her older brother's body.
"Mildly. I'll be fine." His words were clipped. He avoided her eyes.
Dís realized the absence of the rest of her kin. "The others?"
"They are being tended to." He said, turning to return his weapons to his chambers. A small hand caught his shoulder before he could take a step.
"Aldín?" Dís whispered.
Thorin sighed, eyes lowering. He reached behind him, pulling out a two sheaths. In them rested dual swords. He held them out to his sister.
"I am sorry."
Dís took the blades with trembling hands. All she could do was stare at them. Her face was unreadable.
"He fought bravely. He… he fell defending me. In his dying breath, he told me that his love for you and his children was worth more than all the gold of Erebor. He said… to watch for him. He said that he would be with you." Thorin said, blinking back moisture from his blue eyes. "I'm so sorry. I should have done more."
Dís continued to stare, hazel eyes fixed on the weapons in her hands.
"Dís?" He reached up to place a consoling hand on his sister's shoulder.
The swords fell from her hands, clattering onto the floor. She gasped heavily, leaning against the wall for support. Her hands held her belly tightly.
He moved close to her shaking form, eyes leveling with hers. "Dís?"
She said nothing, instead sliding to the floor, gasping for breath. Tears trailed down her face.
"Dís!" Thorin cried. He lowered himself down to her level, and took one of her hands. Her skin was clammy and pale. Her eyes wide.
Thorin rushed out of the house, running through the darkened streets. He pushed his already exhausted and battered body forward, heart set on only one purpose: help his sister.
The Dwarf King slammed his fists sharply against the wooden door until it finally opened.
"Óin! Please, it's Dís. Something is wrong with her. You must come quickly." He begged his cousin. The herbalist was currently covered in the blood from the occupants of the healing room. One glance at Thorin and he knew that his priorities were meant to be initiated elsewhere.
They ran, a few more experienced healers following close behind them.
They burst into the room, all eyes falling onto the woman on the ground. Óin flew to her side, quickly checking her over.
"Ah. You told her what has befallen Aldín, didn't you?" Óin asked Thorin, motioning for the other healers to come forward.
"I did. Why?"
"She's in labor. Stress-induced. Much too early." The older man turned to his assistants, "Get her to a bed. Make haste."
After she was quickly placed into bed, they set to work immediately. Óin sent for a midwife, and began to concocting a relaxant and pain killer, grinding herbs and mixing a draught of Wormwood.
Soon enough, the midwife arrived, a young human girl, who was kind and wise beyond her years. She spoke soothing words to Dís, rubbing her swollen ankles and guiding her to breathe slowly.
Thorin was beside himself with worry. He found himself pacing again, despite his injuries. He was exhausted. The battle had worn him down. Many were lost. The carnage was unspeakable. But they had won. They had protected their 'home.' But so much had been sacrificed.
Hours passed, and Thorin was left to his disturbing thoughts as his sister periodically groaned in pain. She still hadn't spoken a word.
Thorin knew that Dís would struggle with the death of her beloved. She had lost so much. Their entire family had lost so much. Why did they have to lose so much? What had caused them to have to suffer so needlessly over the past several decades? What had the line of Durin done to cause Aulë to turn his wrath upon them? Now both his sister and her child's lives were in peril.
Thorin was so lost in his thoughts, that he didn't see his young nephew staring expectantly up at him.
"Uncle? Wha's happening? Wha's wrong with Mummy?" He asked, eyebrows furrowed in worry. Thorin scooped the child into his arms, and looked him directly in his eyes.
"She's trying to get your little brother to us, Fíli." He said, feigning a smile.
"Kíli?" The bairn asked with visible excitement.
"Yes. Kíli." Thorin smiled. A true smile. The name didn't seem so bad anymore.
"I can't wait to see him!" Fíli bounced excitedly in his uncle's hold, then paused abruptly as he realized something. "Uncle Thorin?"
"Yes, Fíli?"
"Where's daddy?"
Silence.
"He went away, Fíli." Thorin answered, carefully.
Fíli thought about this for a long while, then his eyes brightened and he smiled. "But he'll be back tomorrow!"
Thorin sighed internally. "Maybe."
"He will. He promised." Fíli said with firm finality.
Suddenly, a shrill cry pierced the air. Thorin quickly set his nephew down.
"Stay here." He ordered.
He ran into his sister's room, and rushed to her side, his eyes demanding an answer.
"Time to deliver." The midwife explained calmly, and directed Dís to push. Normally, Thorin wouldn't stay during such an occasion. Childbirth made him extremely uncomfortable. But Dís had no one. And he supposed he didn't have anyone either. He grasped her trembling hand into his, and waited.
After several long and painful moments, a small baby boy fell into the midwife's hands. So, Kíli it was. Dís breathed heavily in exhaustion, and Thorin stood, waiting for the telltale crying of a newborn baby. No sound came. The child was whisked away, and with Dís's cry of despair, Thorin knew.
He sat down heavily into the bedside chair, and rested his head in his hands. Then he let the tears fall.
Only moments later, he heard a tiny gasp from the doorway.
"Oh, Fíli. I told you to stay." Thorin said, striding over to his nephew, hastily wiping away tears.
He knelt down next to the child, who stood, pale-faced and wide-eyed.
"But I heard Mummy… can I see Kíli now?"
"Kíli isn't coming anymore. He's with your father now."
Fíli's lower lip began to tremble. "But I wanna see him now!" He cried.
Thorin's heart broke. "I know. I know." He pulled his nephew into a tight hug, rubbing his back slowly. He glanced over to the healers, who were frantically trying to revive the stillborn. Fíli followed his uncle's line of sight, eyes falling upon the chaos.
"What're they doin'?" He asked, pulling away from Thorin's hold. He ran to the scene, narrowly avoiding Thorin's grab for him.
"Fíli! Come away from there!" Thorin quickly followed him. The child didn't need to see this.
But Fíli didn't understand. He stood on his tip-toes, trying to get a good view of what was on the table.
The healers began to disperse sadly, knowing their efforts were now futile at this point. The midwife went to the sobbing Dís, trying to console her, but to no avail. Óin glanced at Thorin, giving a small shake of his head and patting him gently on the shoulder, before he also went to Dís's side.
Meanwhile, Fíli struggled to see what the big deal was.
Thorin grabbed the Dwarfling and held him close to his chest. The child squirmed in his arms in a desperate attempt to see. When his eyes fell upon the still babe, he quieted.
"Kíli?" Fíli whispered. He reached his chubby arm down and took the baby's hand. "Hi. I'm Fíli." He said happily. "You can wake up now." When the infant remained prone, Fíli frowned. "Wake up." He squeezed the tiny hand.
Thorin made to turn away, as to spare the child further sorrow, when suddenly, Fíli cried out in surprise.
"He squeezed my hand!" Fíli exclaimed, excitement radiating from him.
"What?" Thorin bent over his youngest nephew, and reached out to rub the baby's head. His fingers glided over soft, dark brown hair. He waited, even for just the slightest sign of life. Several seconds passed. He was about to tell his nephew that maybe he was simply imagining things, when the child did something completely unexpected.
Fíli leaned away from his uncle's chest, and planted a loving kiss onto his brother's head.
Brown eyes blinked open, and Kíli drew his first breath.
Please review!:) And you can even send some ideas of things you want to see, and if they fit into the story, I'll put them in!