Mint Tea

Fili - 11, Kili - 6

"Daddy?"

Joli looked to his six year old son. He looked slightly pale and he was frowning. "What is it, my boy?"

"When's Mama coming home?" Kili asked.

"Not until tomorrow. What's wrong?" Joli asked.

"My tummy hurts."

Joli dreaded things like this. Of course it would happen when Dis wasn't around. "Well, what does Amad do when your tummy hurts?"

Kili shrugged his shoulders. "Makes it better."

"Hmm," Joli thought for a moment. "Fili?"

Fili came from his room, a book in his hand.

"What does Amad do for you boys when you have upset stomachs?" Joli asked.

"Is Kili sick?" Fili asked, turning to look at his little brother.

"My tummy, Fee," Kili whined.

"She makes mint tea," Fili said. He put his book down and put an arm around Kili.

"Yes, mint tea! Wait a few minutes, Kili. I'll have some tea made up for you very soon." Joli went into the kitchen and refilled the kettle. He went about searching through Dis's supplies, looking for the mint. When he found it, the container labeled 'mint' was empty. Joli mumbled under his breath. He went to the front door. The boys were sitting on the couch together. Fili was reading a story to Kili. "I'll be right back, boys."

He ran out of his house and down the short path to Thorin's house. He hoped Thorin had mint. Thorin had just walked out of his house, dressed for work in the forge, when Joli ran up to his home.

"Joli," Thorin said in his gruff way.

"Thorin, do you have any mint?" Joli asked.

"No. What do you need mint for?"

"It's Kili. He doesn't feel well," Joli explained.

"Where's Dis?"

"Aiding the midwife at a birth. Izzi, Bombur's wife."

"Ah yes. Dwarfling number three, isn't it?" Thorin asked.

Joli shrugged his shoulders. "What do I do about the mint?"

"Check your garden. I'm pretty sure Dis has a patch of mint growing in front of your house." Thorin slung his bag over his shoulder. He needed to get to get to the forge.

"Does she grow mint?"

"Good grief man, don't you know what grows in your own garden?" Thorin asked.

"No! It's not like I need to know. Dis takes care of it," Joli said, highly offended.

Thorin was doing his best to suppress his smile. "Come on. I'll show you the mint and make sure you don't poison your son."

They went back to Joli's house. Right there, under the front window, was a huge mint patch. Dis complained about it every year because it grew more like a weed than a regular plant.

"This," Thorin gruffly pointed to the patch, "is mint."

"I thought it was a weed," Joli began plucking at the leaves. When he went in, the boys were still on the couch, but Fili wasn't reading to Kili anymore. Instead, Kili was hunched over, his arms cradling his stomach. Fili had an arm around Kili and was rubbing his back.

"Adad, Kili doesn't feel well," Fili said.

"I have mint now," Joli announced, feeling bad that he had not known the common plant to help ease his son's aches. He put them into the hot kettle and readied some tea cups.

There was an awful noise from the front room before Thorin called, "Joli, grab some rags!"

Joli's stomach dropped. This wasn't good. He grabbed what was in the kitchen and went back out. Kili had vomited on the floor and was crying. Fili still had a comforting arm around his brother and was whispering soft reassurances into Kili's ear.

"I'll fill up the tub," Thorin said, walking back to the washroom.

"I'm sorry, Daddy," Kili cried.

Joli knelt down and threw a rag over the mess. Then he looked to Kili's face. "Don't you worry about it. I'm sorry I didn't get you the mint earlier. I'll get this cleaned up and you can have some mint tea. Alright?"

Kili nodded.

It was disgusting work, but Joli finally managed to clean the mess. Thorin had taken Kili to the washroom and with Fili's help, they got him bathed and cleaned. Resting comfortably on the couch, Joli gave Kili his long promised tea. He drank it and fell asleep. Thorin left with a promise to return later in the afternoon to check on them.

Joli was left with the washing. Why did this have to happen the one day Dis was unavailable? He was a carpenter. He knew tools, wood, grain, and careful mathematical planning for building perfect items, but a sick child was something he knew nothing about.

"Adad?" Fili came up behind him. "I think I'm sick too."

Joli moved out of the way just in time for Fili to be sick in the toilet. He held Fili's hair out of his face until he was done.

"My poor boys," Joli said. "Come on, to bed with you."

"I don't want to be without Kili," Fili protested.

"As soon as he wakes up, I'll move him into your room," Joli promised.

Fili was tucked into bed, a bucket at his side. Joli gave him a cup of mint tea.

"Thanks for sitting with Kili earlier and helping him. I know he feels better when you're around and it helped me out a lot," Joli said.

Fili smiled. "It's alright, Adad." He finished his tea and laid down to sleep. "Promise you'll bring in Kili when he wakes up?" Fili asked, half asleep.

"I promise."

Joli took the freshly washed laundry outside and began to hang it up. It wasn't long before he saw Oin, the healer, walking towards the house.

"Master Oin," he greeted.

"Joli. Thorin stopped by and told me you have a sick dwarfling," Oin said.

"Two, actually," Joli said. "Fili's got it, too."

Oin nodded and pulled out a pouch from his pocket. "Sounds like they've got what's been going around. Not much you can do but wait for it to pass." He handed the pouch to Joli. "Make them some tea with this. It helps with the nausea and headaches. It's a bit bitter, but you can add some honey, if you've got it."

Joli nodded and took the pouch. "Thank you."

"It should be over in a few days," Oin said.

Joli spent the rest of the afternoon taking care of his boys. Kili was moved into the boy's room and at their insistence, their beds were pushed together so they could be near each other. Joli read to them, helped them get cleaned up after being sick and making them cup after cup of tea. By dinner time, Joli was exhausted. He heard the front door open.

"Dis?" he called out, hopefully.

"Nah, it's just me," Thorin's deep voice rumbled. His clothes were clean and his hair was wet from being washed after his day in the hot forge. "How's Kili?"

"They're both sick," Joli frowned, "but at least they're doing better than before."

"Uncle Thorin, sit with us," Kili grinned.

Thorin sat down next to Kili.

"Have you eaten yet?" Joli asked.

"Not yet," Thorin answered.

"If you stay with them, I'll fix some supper."

Thorin nodded. Joli left and went to the kitchen. Dis had left them some food. All Joli had to do was heat it up. He made some broth for the boys. He poured two cups of tea and two mugs of ale and carefully carried it all into the boys room.

"We're having a picnic," Joli announced as he set it all down on the floor.

Kili scrambled off his bed, feeling better. Fili sat next to Kili and Thorin.

Thorin chuckled. "If Dis finds out about this," he started.

"I know," Joli said, "she'd have my hide. We just won't tell Amad about this."

"Broth?" Kili protested. "I don't want broth."

"And I don't want you to be sick again, so nothing else for you until your mother gets home," Joli smiled.

They ate their dinner, on the floor of the boys bedroom, and Thorin entertained them with stories. The fun was over when Kili vomited again. The boys were put back into bed. Thorin stoked the fire, making the room nice and warm. By night fall, all four of the dwarrow were tired and they all fell asleep on the two beds that had been pushed together.

Dis returned home just after sunrise. Izzi's birth had gone very smoothly and another healthy red-headed son had been added to their family. She was surprised to see laundry hanging on the line. She knew she had not left any up. They were all her kitchen rags. This couldn't be good.

She went in and immediately knew something was off. A quick peek into the kitchen showed food had been left out and dishes were sitting in the wash basin. She looked in her room, but her husband was not there. Looking in on her boys, Dis had to hold back a laugh and a yell of frustration. Sleeping on the beds were her husband, her brother and her two sons, squished between the two larger dwarrows. On the floor was their picnic remains. She could see buckets next to the bed, reeking of sick. Her poor lads.

She went back to the kitchen and started to clean up, but she was tired after being awake all night. Well, when Joli woke up, she would let him do their picnic dishes while she got some sleep.

"Uh oh," Thorin's voice mumbled from the doorway. She turned to face him. "Morning Dis. The boys are sick. Hope Izzi's well. I've got to go, bye." He ran out the front door.

Dis chuckled. The coward.

"Mama!" Kili ran to her. "Me and Fili got sick yesterday."

"Um," Joli looked sheepishly at her. "Welcome home."