Thorin watched in silence as Ovila spun her axes in her palms, not even seeming to think about what she was doing, and she was watching her nephew and niece. They were growing quickly, though that was due to the Human side of them, and Thorin turned his gaze to them for the moment. Balili, just nine, was practicing braiding her own, red hair and Caldin was swinging a stick aimlessly. Thorin was surprised that Ovila hadn't jumped up to snap at him to correct him on his hold, but she just sat there and spun those axes, over and over and over again. It was a familiar motion, one that she performed most likely most days, and it was probably a comfort to her as she searched for ways to get around the express order that she was not to go with them to take back Erebor.
It just wouldn't be appropriate, what with her relationship with Kili, her temper, her impulsive nature, and her gender. Ovila was a Dwarven female, one that was most likely already granted a little too much freedom, what with her career as a guard in Dwalin's troops, travelling with precious loads to keep them safe, and she was a simple butcher's daughter. Simple, Thorin thought and knew the word didn't belong to the girl his nephew wanted to call his wife. Thorin knew how much Kili cared for the girl, how strong their bond was, and, yet, the fact lingered in Thorin's mind: she was a simple butcher's daughter.
Baltil had been a good man, a refugee from Erebor, as his wife had been, but Thorin had never even spoken to him until the fateful day when Ovila and Kili were stood in front of one another at ten and thirteen respectively and refused to apologise for their first brawl. They were of different classes, Thorin and his kin direct descendants from Durin himself, and Baltil from a long line of butchers and his children had been expected to follow in their humble footsteps, right up until Ovila fought with Kili. It was acceptable in Belegost, they were near on the same social standing there, both refugee families, both working hard to survive, and, yet, when they took back Erebor (because it was a matter of when, not if in Thorin's eyes), things would not be quite so simple.
Simple had never been a word applied to Kili, to Ovila, or their convoluted relationship of bickering and laughter, of scowls and smiles, of slaps and kisses. Thorin would never pretend to understand his sister-son or the girl that wore the boy's courting clasp, but there was a part of him that feared that, once they regained their kingdom and their titles, those that whispered their disapproval now would roar it to the skies. Ovila would be considered by many to be wholly inappropriate for a Prince of Erebor, would be considered a poor choice to be a Princess of the Lonely Mountain, and Thorin knew of the political marriages that would be offered to both of his nephews. He didn't doubt that Kili would turn down all of those suggestions in favour for Ovila, his Ovila, but the tension it would cause in a newly reborn kingdom could be disastrous.
However, when Kili approached, a grin filling his face at the sight of Ovila perched on the wall near his home, Thorin found himself hard pressed to really care about that.
"Kili," Ovila smiled, her hands finally stilling, and Kili dropped onto the wall beside her. "Aim still good?" she teased with a light bump of her shoulder against his and he puffed his chest out proudly, making her laugh slightly.
"The best," he announced proudly and Fili rolled his eyes behind his brother with a fond grin, attempting to free Balili from his waist. "You appear to have a growth, brother," Kili grinned wickedly and Balili turned a glare onto him. Her eyes narrowed slightly in a way that was most likely supposed to be like Ovila's glare, but she just looked like she was squinting and Kili had to bite back a laugh. "Ah, it's only Lili, never mind," he winked and Ovila elbowed him gently.
"That's my niece," she said pointedly and he just laughed. "Watch them for me," she requested, standing, and Kili raised his eyebrows in silent question. "Mister Dwalin wants to talk to me," she shrugged and briefly kissed Kili's cheek. "I'll be back soon," she stated and Caldin frowned as his aunt walked away.
"Auntie Ovila!" Balili shouted her protest and Ovila just made a face at the child over her shoulder and continued walking.
"Ovila's got to talk to Dwalin," Kili told her and Balili scowled, but squealed when Kili grabbed her and threw her up in the air. "So you're stuck with us!" he laughed and she giggled, especially when Fili began to tickle her and Caldin had to grin his little sister's light giggles.
Thorin felt himself smiling too as he silently observed his nephews engage in a play fight with Caldin and Balili and all four of them were laughing loudly. Balili managed to wriggle free from Kili's arms to hide behind her big brother and Caldin grinned and abruptly turned to tickle the girl. That earned a whole new round of squeals and the child wriggled free and leapt behind Fili, gripping his hand tightly with a beaming smile on her face. Her cheeks were rosy red, her green eyes shining brightly, and she dodged Fili when he went to grab her and she ran as quickly as her little legs could carry her. She caught sight of Thorin and, with a happy laugh, she dove behind him and clutched the back of his coat.
"Uncle!" Fili and Kili cried together, clearly surprised, and Thorin looked at them for a long moment, one hand reaching back to rest on top of Balili's head.
"I'm afraid, if you wish to get to the child, you will have to get through me," he announced solemnly and Balili giggled into his back.
Immediately, three sets of eyes lit up at the challenge and Fili and Kili lunged at Thorin, while Caldin attempted to sneak behind to get Balili. All was in vain, as Balili grasped a stick from a nearby bush and brandished it threateningly at her brother. Thorin smirked slightly, swinging the child up onto his broad shoulders easily, and she clutched at his hair with one hand and swung the stick with the other happily. The others were careful to avoid the stick, because it may be a thin thing, but it would definitely leave a bruise if it collided with them and Thorin merely used his fists and evaded his nephews and the boy that would day be his grandnephew-in-law.
Eyebrows raised, lips slowly curved into a smile, and eyes shone with amusement at the sight of Thorin Oakenshield, heir of Durin, King Under the Mountain, holding a squealing, stick wielding Balili on his shoulders and being assaulted by Fili, Kili, and Caldin. They all stopped at sudden laughter, slowly turning to see Ovila, Dwalin, Thondi, and Dis all laughing loudly at them. Kili was the first to recover, shooting over to grab Ovila's wrist, and she yelled in surprise when his fingers found that ticklish spot on her ribs. She just giggled, swatting his hands away, a fond smile on her lips, and she shoved him lightly in the chest.
"I told you to watch them, not create chaos," Ovila teased gently and Kili just grinned wickedly. "Besides, Lili, you're not swinging the stick right," she sighed and strode forward quickly to adjust Balili's grip on the stick. "Now, it's too thin to bludgeon people with, so you'll have to use it as a whip and lash people."
"There will be no lashing," Thondi frowned sharply, taking her granddaughter, and Balili pouted. "Leave the fighting to Ovila," Thondi stated and Ovila made a face. "It's what she's good at," that seemed to be directed at Thorin and everyone else shifted awkwardly as Thorin's amusement faded and was replaced by a hard expression.
"Mother," Ovila protested and Thondi snorted, grasped Caldin's arm, and strode down the street. "I'm sorry," Ovila said quickly and followed her mother. "What in the name of Aule is wrong with you?!" she bellowed and Thondi snorted. "You are cracked woman! Absolutely cracked!"
"And you're a fool!" Thondi yelled back and Kili, Fili, Thorin, Dwalin, and Dis just stared after the bellowing mother and daughter. "My daughter did what she wanted when she wanted! I don't know whose daughter you are but you aren't acting like mine!"
"I'm following orders Mother! I thought you'd be glad!"
Thondi rolled her eyes expressively and her retort was lost to the wind as they got too far away to be heard and Kili just sighed beneath his family's and Dwalin's looks. He didn't know why they expected him to understand Ovila and her family just because he was courting her, because he could barely keep up with her and her insane arguments with people he didn't even know. Thondi was worse, bitterly fighting with someone one week and their closest friend the next, and Kili generally tried not to get involved nowadays after he was stuck between Thondi and Ovila and the rival butcher's owners for over three months. That'd been tiring...
Thondi raised her chin proudly as Thorin sat opposite her at her kitchen table and Ovila and Kili stood uncertainly in the doorway. They were ready to go hunting, packs resting against their backs, a bow on Kili's shoulder with a quiver of arrows, knives and axes on Ovila's hips and thighs, and Thondi and Thorin spared them glances. Kili had his hand on Ovila's back, both frowning slightly, and she reached back to rest a hand on his arm. Concern shone in her gaze, settled on her mother as it was, and they might disagree on many things, but no one doubted that they would stand toe-to-toe with any that dishonoured or harmed their family.
"Bring home something for tomorrow's dinner, Ovila," Thondi stated with a small smile sent towards her daughter and Ovila nodded and left.
"'Vila, is that such-" Kili silenced when she grabbed the front of his jacket and hauled him towards the exit.
Silence fell once more and Thondi wordlessly rose to make some tea, aware of how Thorin liked it made after their many years of acquaintance. Still, Thorin didn't speak, silently watching the widow making the tea, and he was aware of how difficult it was for her now that Baltil was gone. It was even harder now that Chalrim, Hilda, and the children had moved on and Calim spent dawn until dusk in the butcher's and Ovila was either out on a job or out with Kili, or Fili, or Ori. Thondi was usually alone, unless Dis came over, which was difficult with Dis' own work in the forge with Thorin, and Thorin could understand how difficult that could be.
Thondi set the mug of tea down in front of Thorin and took her place opposite him once more. "I must admit my surprise at your support for your daughter's wishes to join Kili on this quest," Thorin stated quietly and was under no delusion that Ovila had the wish of going on the quest for anyone or anything but Kili.
There was a beat as Thondi took a sip from her chamomile tea and her hazel eyes raised to Thorin's sharp blue ones. "I would give my life to have my daughter stay safe and sound here with me," she said firmly, but quietly and she set her mug down on the table, but kept her hands wrapped around it firmly. "But, that isn't who Ovila is and she will follow you, have no doubt of that, and I would rather she go with you than travel alone."
"I have given her an order not to follow us, under any circumstance other than Belegost is under attack," Thorin replied gravely and Thondi just looked at him for a long moment.
"My daughter is in love with your nephew and I do believe they've been bound together since the first moment she instigated a fight with him," she announced. "She would follow him to the ends of this world and the next and I don't think even an order from you will stop her, despite what she thinks at the moment."
"No, I don't believe Ovila was made to sit at home and wait for her betrothed to come back to her or send word for her to join him," Thorin agreed and he took a gulp of the strong tea. "However, I will not risk her on this to possibly face a dragon and that doesn't include the many other dangers will we encounter on our way there."
"Ovila put herself in dangers every time she leaves the city, has almost died once in her lifetime and, for a mother, that is once too many, but her heart will leave the day Kili does and she will not rest until she does something," Thondi argued and frowned at the terrifying memory of a messenger arriving to tell her of Baltil's and Ovila's attack. "Take her part of the way, give her something to do to keep her in a place that isn't here, give her a job to do that will keep her safe, but make her feel useful," she pleaded softly. "If she stays here, she will only follow you and put herself in more danger than need be."
Thorin pinned Thondi with a searching look and he could see how much it pained her to suggest such a thing. To willingly send her only daughter away was an option that she had never wished to even consider, but, for Ovila's happiness, Thorin was sure that Thondi would do anything and give anything, because Ovila was her daughter and they clashed heads, but they loved one another. If Ovila were to stay here, she would be frightened and worried and full of sorrow and that, Thorin thought, would hurt Thondi far more than having Ovila away fighting. Perhaps it was because Thondi had lived with a miserable Ovila for years and years until the girl found her axes and her love for weaponry.
"I will see what I can do," Thorin agreed eventually and was graced with a small, sad smile.
"Now, would you like some honeycakes?"
To make up for my long delay in updating and, plus, I've just bought the Hobbit so I should be getting some inspiration!