At thirty-one, Chalrim was supposed to be acting mature and getting ready to be an adult, but he certainly wasn't acting like that as he hauled his little sister down the road in the dark and she snarled furiously. She'd been forced into a pair of breeches and an old tunic, both of which had once belonged to Chalrim, and she looked utterly ridiculous. Chalrim just flashed his howling sister a wink and a grin and her tantrum abruptly vanished when he yanked her into the deserted training ground. Her surprised, delighted, smiling hazel eyes flew up to his face, hope making her face glow, and he just laughed and ruffled her loose pieces of hair. She shoved his hand away and he pulled an axe from his back to swing in front of her temptingly.
With a wordless cry of joy and gratitude, Ovila snatched the axe from her brother's hand and Chalrim chuckled at her fondly. He silently pulled her to the practice dummies that looked ominous in the dull glow of the moonlight and calmly began to instruct her on how to hold the axe and swing. For the first time in her life, she listened intently and did exactly as she was told. Chalrim was a calm and patient teacher, which was surprising as they both possessed the same, hot temper. He adjusted her grip on the axe so she put the most possible power behind a hit and she ignored the ache that formed in her arms. It didn't matter that her arms and back burned with the exertion of holding and swinging the axe and sweat was dripping down her face and back. It didn't matter that she wasn't very good, because she was going to work at it until she could beat even Chalrim and the thought made her grin.
So, every night, the brother and sister went to the training grounds and Chalrim worked on teaching Ovila how to fight and use weapons. After a few sessions, they gave up on the bow and arrow, because she just didn't have the patience required for it and she found herself favouring a pair of small axes anyway. They were always exhausted, but Ovila was happier than she could ever remember being and Thondi was suspicious. Ovila would go about her chores with a smile on her face and a song on her lips, but she never left Thondi's sight during the day and Thondi couldn't work it out. Baltil (foolishly in his wife's opinion) believed that she was just happy because she was no longer deceiving them and Thondi was sure that wasn't the case. Thondi was certain that Ovila was up to something, but she had no proof other than that her daughter was happy.
"Mama, do you want onions?" Ovila asked innocently and Thondi turned to find the girl juggling three onions easily, a slight grin on her face.
"Six," Thondi said shortly and Ovila whistled cheerily, adding another three onions to her juggling. "Wonderful, my only daughter wants to be a clown," Thondi grumbled and Ovila just laughed.
The sound tugged a smile from Thondi, who couldn't remember the last time she'd heard Ovila's honest laugh and she turned her head to watch Ovila. She juggled the onions with surprising dexterity and Thondi shook her head and where Ovila had learnt such a thing was a mystery. Still, it was best to leave the girl while there were no tantrums, sulks, or shouting matches to contend with. She soon grew bored of juggling, much to the grocer's son's disappointment, and she set the onions down to be priced with everything else. Maybe she was just in a good mood because there was that party for Fili's birthday and the whole family had been invited. That that idea was quickly dismissed, because Kili would be there and anything to do with Kili was met with glares and scowls and tantrums. So, perhaps Ovila was just…happy, for unknown reasons that Thondi shouldn't delve into in case she didn't like the answers she found.
Cheerful whistling followed Thondi all the way home and she was starting to miss the sullen, sulking, silent Ovila that delighted in giving people the silent treatment after a round of shouting. Ovila had been like this for over a year and Thondi still wasn't used to it. Baltil just chuckled and had accepted that his little girl had grown happy overnight, just as Calim had. Chalrim, however, just shrugged whenever Thondi questioned him about his sister's newfound (and quite frankly disturbing) cheer. Chalrim knows something, Thondi mused with a glance back at Ovila as they entered the house and Ovila's cloak was actually hung up neatly and without fuss. Because there is definitely something, Thondi thought suspiciously and watched Ovila begin to unpack the groceries she held.
Ovila did live up to expectations when it came to get ready for the party and her signature scowl fell into place. Thondi smiled with relief at that, because her little girl was back for the moment and she even got to snap at her for wriggling while her hair was being done. She'd reluctantly dressed in her nicest green dress with the silver embroidery that Thondi had made for her and her blonde hair was littered with numerous braids. A intricately made silver clip in the shape of a bird was in the side of her hair, keeping most of it back from her face, and Thondi sighed happily. At twenty-two, her little Ovila was starting to fill out and, while she still didn't have a beard (it'd grow in time, Thondi was sure), she was certainly showing the signs of having wide hips and a trim waist. She would be perfect for bearing children, Thondi was sure, though she made sure not to voice her opinion in front of the rest of her family.
"Calim and Chalrim aren't dolled up," Ovila grouched as she pulled her cloak on and Thondi just rolled her eyes. "It's only for Fili," Ovila stated sulkily and was shoved forcefully out of the house by her mother. "Mama!" she protested and Thondi just smiled sweetly at the girl.
With a frown, Ovila took Chalrim's arm and the family made their way to the venue. The party was being held in a tavern owned by friends of Thorin's, or so Thondi said, and, in all honesty, Ovila hadn't been paying much attention. She wasn't paying much attention now as she and Chalrim whispered about their next training session and Thondi's eyes narrowed on the two. They were always conspiring together nowadays, occasionally pulling Calim into it all, and Thondi was going to find out what was going on. She'd been trying for a year, but the two never seemed to put a toe outside of the line while she was looking and that, in itself, was suspicious. If Ovila didn't get into at least a verbal spat with Kili tonight, then the healers might have to be called.
"Baltil, Thondi, I'm so glad you all made it," Dis greeted as the family entered the tavern and she took Thondi's arm firmly. "I need some sane female company," she whispered and pulled Thondi through the crowd quickly.
"No fighting," Thondi shot at her daughter and Ovila made a face, removing her cloak and putting it on the rack by the door.
"Behave," Baltil added and headed to the bar to get some ale.
"Love you, little sister," the twins grinned and followed Baltil after kissing Ovila's cheeks.
"Calim! Chalrim!" Ovila protested and her brothers were already lost in the crowd of people. "Thanks for the family loyalty, you buggers," she grouched and looked around for anyone she knew.
Fili and Kili, as always, were the centre of attention and Ovila rolled her eyes at the scene. A sneer curled her lip and she continued looking over the tavern. She spied shy little Ori in the corner with his book and figured he was the safest bet for keeping her sanity. It didn't take long for her to make her through the crowd and most leapt back to give her a good view of Kili, as though she attacked on sight like some sort of trained Warg. While his face did irritate her (it was those stupid, big, puppy dog eyes that everyone simpered over), she didn't attack him just because he was there. He at least had to open his mouth and speak to her first, but he hadn't done that, so she safely got to Ori and sat beside the timid Dwarf. She hadn't even known Dwarves could be timid until she'd met Ori and kicked some Dwarf boy for throwing Ori's book in the mud.
"You got dragged here too, huh?" Ovila asked with a sigh and Ori sent her a small smile.
"I like Fili," he answered quietly and she smiled slightly at him. "And Kili," he added and she wrinkled her nose.
"You're apprenticing in the library now; Dori told Papa when he came in for some lamb to celebrate," Ovila changed the subject and Ori smiled a little more, pride filling his brown eyes. "Good for you, Ori," she smiled with genuine happiness for him and bumped her shoulder against his. "I'm happy you've found something you like doing."
"You will," Ori promised, insightful, as always, and Ovila laughed. "Something your mother will let you do too," he added and she laughed louder.
"Mama and I are at opposite ends of the spectrum, Ori," she chuckled and shook her head. "We'll never agree on anything, I can promise you that much."
"I have seen you and Thondi arguing," Ori admitted and Ovila chuckled again. "Have you got a drink?"
"I'm not thirsty," Ovila said dismissively. "And my brothers abandoned me to get themselves stupidly drunk, so I want to be perfectly sober in order to happily mock them in the morning and, to do that, I need to remember what happened tonight."
"We're too young for alcohol, Dori says," Ori replied uncertainly and Ovila grinned wickedly at him.
"Mama says that too," she winked and laughed at his surprised expression. "Ori, have you never got drunk?" she asked curiously with that wicked grin growing ever bigger and Ori stared at her with slight fear. "Never?" she gasped and stood.
"Ovila," Ori protested weakly and his friend was already making her way to the bar. He followed her, desperate to keep her out of too much trouble, and she was already stood between her brothers. "Ovila," he said again when he caught up with her and three, identical pairs of wicked, glittering hazel eyes locked onto him. "I should find Dori and Nori," he gulped and Ovila yanked him into the huddle.
"So, four pints, just have to persuade someone to buy them," Chalrim stated in a low voice and Ori looked terrified and delighted at being included all at once. "Ovila, Bofur's got a soft spot for you," Chalrim mused and glanced at the Dwarf in question. "And you're a girl, so you just got to flutter your eyelashes."
"I don't do fluttering eyelashes, Chalrim," Ovila snarled, punching her brother in the stomach, and he just laughed at her, until he saw the sly smirk curving her lips. "The birthday boy will have unlimited ale," she murmured and her eyes danced. "I think we need to tap him for some resources."
"Sometimes, she scares me," Calim chuckled.
"She scares me all the time," Ori whispered and turned bright red when Ovila gave him a fond squeeze. "I really don't think this is a good idea."
The children of Baltil and Thondi just laughed at little Ori's protest and started discussing their plan in whispers. Ori was just happy to be involved, though he knew Dori would be extremely angry if he found out what they were planning and he kept his mouth shut. The other three weren't frightened of getting caught, though he knew that Ovila would much prefer to do what she wanted and deal with the consequences later. So, she would gladly get the ale, drink it, and then proceed to roll her eyes through her mother's lecture. It was what Ovila did best and Ori didn't want to witness the blow up between mother and daughter, though he knew the siblings were planning on getting him drunk enough not to care.
Thanks to all those that reviewed, followed, and put this story on favourite! I know, there was no Kili in this chapter, but the party continues next time, because they still have to get the ale after all and there will be Kili, promise.
I know it's short, but I think the chapter really needed to be cut in two ;)