So I'm not too fond of this chapter...oh, well. I wanted to update, and this is what I had. On a non-Hobbit related note, guess who turned sixteen on Monday? :) Love to laithano, alexiroseni, Cockapoo, REDROBINS007, and kilithemajestic0926 for reviewing. I really, really love reviews. They are birthday presents! :D
"Why can't me come, too?" three-year-old Kili whined as he chased after his sister.
Farria, hoping that if he was ignored, Kili would let her be, plowed on ahead through the crowded hallways, her fingers itching to practice pickpocketing. But she had promised her uncle that she would be a good role model to both her brothers, and so couldn't act on her impulses.
As Kili tackled her legs, Farria had no choice but to stop and answer her youngest brother. "Because, small one, I don't want you to get hurt. I'm going to practice weaponry, and I know you'll get in the way. It's in your nature."
Kili pouted, peering up at his sister through big dark eyes. Farria smiled slightly and ruffled the three-year-old's dark hair.
"You are too cute," she murmured. "But you still can't come."
Kili's face fell. "But you wet Fiwi go," he pointed out. "If Fiwi can, why can't me? Do you wike Fiwi betta?"
Farria shook her head. "No, cutie. He's just older."
"Oi!" came a shout. "You're blocking the way."
Farria spun and scowled at the dwarf who had shouted.
Behind his sister, Kili giggled. "You has a siwwy hat," he informed the dwarf.
The dwarf-man, who was rather fond of his 'silly hat,' looked taken aback, then passed the two young dwarves.
Farria looked down at her youngest brother. "Come on, Kili. Let's get you home." Farria picked Kili up and headed back the way the two of them had come.
When the pair entered the room they were met by an odd sight-their mother holding a child wrapped in a brown plaid blanket.
Farria looked curiously at Dis. "What is that? And don't say a baby-I can see that."
Dis looked at her daughter with exasperation. "Really, Farria? Must you be sarcastic about everything?"
Farria smiled. "Yes."
Dis sighed. "Farria. But this is Fysa. Her parents were killed in a mining accident. We're taking her in-adopting her."
"What adoptin'?" Kili asked.
"Taking in a kid who's not your biological child. She's gonna be our sister," Farria said absently.
Kili looked confused, but shrugged it off.
As Dis distracted Kili, Farria slipped out of the room again.
When Farria entered the training room she could see Fili struggling with a real sword. It was much heavier than his wooden practice sword, though weighted in the same way. He tried to lift it again, and Farria saw the flash of a blue gem set in the hilt.
"Hey, crazy," Farria said. "What are you doing with my sword?"
Fili jumped and dropped the sword. It clattered to the ground, and Farria scooped it up.
"Why were you using my sword?" Farria inquired, her voice strained. She was trying not to yell-she hated people touching her weapons.
Fili gulped. Farria didn't like others touching her things, and he knew it. He had been pushing his luck using the sword, and he had been caught.
Farria ruffled Fili's hair00it was getting long-and put the sword on one of the mats. Pulling a dummy out to the center of the floor, she placed her knives by her feet and sent them spinning, one by one, through the air to sink into the dummy, always hitting where they were aimed.
A small, dark head poked into the room, and Farria stopped at once. "Kili!" she yelled. "You can't be in here. Out!"
Kili pouted. "But Fiwi's in here. Why me not sit wif Fiwi?"
Farria sighed and ran a hand over her face. "Fine. Sit. But do not move, and do not touch anything."
As her two little brothers sat quietly-for once-Farria returned to her practice.