Chapter 4
Thorin led Fili and Kili to a nearby clearing and Nori and Dwalin watched from some bushes at the edge of the clearing. Fili and Kili had no idea they were being watched and both were really nervous. Neither had forgotten the last time they'd received discipline with an armath taur. Thorin had been the one to apply the armath taur then too and both had only managed to take a few strokes before begging him to stop. They were determined to do better this time and beat Dwalin's record.
"Don't argue with Uncle and just do what he says," Fili said to Kili, knowing he might be reluctant to do whatever they were asked to do.
Finally Thorin stopped walking and turned to his nephews.
"Ok Fili and Kili kneel down and lean forward with your foreheads touching the ground," Thorin said swiftly.
Both dwarves moved to obey him and when they were both kneeling their foreheads on the ground Thorin stepped behind Kili and hooked his fingers into the waistband of Kili's trousers, swiftly pulling them down to mid-thigh baring Kili's rump. Kili did not protest knowing that this was part of the punishment. He prepared himself for what was coming determined not to cry out or sit up as he did not want to show weakness.
The two dwarves watching saw him raise the armath taur and bring it down on Kili's rump. It connected with a loud sound and they saw Kili jerk but not cry out. Thorin hit Kili again and he jerked again and the two watching dwarves could see tears start to drip down his face. Thorin hit Kili twice more before he cried out. But he did not ask Thorin to stop so Thorin hit him again. Again Kili cried out but remained in position. Thorin hit him yet again and this time Kili cried out as before then spoke.
"Enough Uncle I can't take anymore," Kili said.
Thorin nodded.
"You can sit up Kili but don't touch your bottom or I'll hit you again," Thorin said.
"Yes Uncle. Thank you Uncle," Thorin said.
"Leave your trousers down," Thorin added.
Kili nodded and sat up his bare rump against his heels. His rump smarted but he did not move to touch it knowing that doing so would earn him further punishment. Thorin went over to Fili and pulled his trousers down then raised the armath taur and bought it down hard. The first blow caused Fili to cry out in pain and sit up.
"Get back down," Thorin ordered.
He hit Fili twice more and Fili sat up both times and cried out loudly.
"He's not handling it as well as Kili did. I'm impressed with how Kili handled it. Your record has fallen Dwalin," Nori said to Dwalin.
"I'm shocked at Kili managing to be able to take 6 hits before asking him to stop. But I think he was determined to break my record so he could tell Primrose how brave he was," Dwalin said.
He had been gob smacked when Kili had managed to take 6 hits of the armath taur before asking his uncle to stop.
By then Fili had asked Thorin to stop after taking just four hits.
"Sit up and don't touch your bottom or I'll hit you again," Thorin said.
Fili sat up and to Kili's horror he immediately reached for his bottom.
"Fili what did I just say?" Thorin asked, looking annoyed
Fili pulled his hand away from his bottom but it was too late.
"Back down Fili you're getting one more," Thorin said.
Fili reluctantly put his head back down and Thorin hit him once more. He screamed and tears were running down his cheeks.
"Now sit up and don't touch your bottom," Thorin said.
"Foolish dwarf," Nori said.
"Kili has kept his hands in front of him. He's got more sense than Fili has," Dwalin said.
"Did you have the sense to not touch your rump when you were disciplined once it was over," Nori asked.
"Yes I did," Dwalin said.
Thorin had moved to in front of his nephews.
"Now let this be a lesson to you both to be more responsible and to follow instructions," Thorin said.
"Yes Uncle," both Fili and Kili said.
"And don't put Primrose in danger like that again," Thorin said.
"We won't," Fili and Kili said.
"Alright you can pull your trousers up and we will go back to camp. This matter is closed," Thorin said.
Fili and Kili righted their trousers and stood up. Thorin smiled at Kili.
"I'm proud of you taking all those blows and not asking me to stop. You're becoming a real warrior," Thorin said.
He looked really proud then looked over where Dwalin and Nori were.
"Dwalin your record has been broken," he called out.
Fili and Kili stared at Thorin.
"He was watching this?" Fili asked.
"Yes I was," Dwalin said stepping out from behind the bush, "Very nicely done Kili. I'm proud of you too," Dwalin said, clapping Kili on the shoulder. Kili smiled through the tears that were still running down his cheeks. Although he wouldn't admit it he was in a lot of pain. A glance at Fili told him that he too was in a lot of pain.
"I'm impressed," Nori said joining them, "You handled that far better than your older brother did," he ended
Fili looked down knowing Nori was right. He had always handled it better than Kili the previous times they'd been disciplined. Shame burned on his cheeks as he knew Thorin was very disappointed in him.
"Are you alright Fili?" Kili asked.
"How did you do that? Normally I'm the one who can handle it better," Fili said.
"I wanted to make Primrose proud of me," Kili said, very softly just loud enough that Fili, Nori and Dwalin could hear him but not loud enough that Thorin would hear it.
This was as Dwalin thought and he nodded.
"I figured as much. She will be very proud of you. I'd suggest you hurry back and let her know you're ok as I suspect she is probably worrying about you," Dwalin said.
"Thank you uncle for the discipline," Kili said.
"You're welcome Kili. I love you and although it grieves me to have to discipline you I do it because I care," Thorin said.
"Thank you Uncle," Fili added.
"You need to harden up," Thorin said coldly to Fili.
He was disgusted at how easily Fili had cried out during his punishment and at how Fili had tried to rub his rump when it was over. Kili had well and truly put him to shame. He ran his fingers down the handle of the armath taur wondering what he was going to do with it and hoping he would not need to use it again anytime soon.
Back at the camp Primrose was sparring with Bofur, getting the feel of her new sword. Gandalf had told her it had been made by elves and Balin said it probably wasn't even a sword to them and more like a letter opener. Gandalf had also said her sword would glow blue in the presence of goblins. To Primrose it was just right as a sword and it felt like an extension of her arm. Movements she had struggled with using Fili's sword were easy and she was able to dance lightly around Bofur. She disarmed Bofur after half an hour of sparring after he had put her through her paces and at the same time she saw Kili re-enter the camp. He had tears running down his cheeks and was walking slowly but he looked proud. Kili was not far behind and his head was down and he looked ashamed. Primrose sheathed her sword and made her way over to Kili.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
"I will be fine. It's over now and the matter is closed," Kili said.
He smiled at her then changed the subject asking her how she was finding her sword.
"It's wonderful. Gandalf told me it is elf made and glows in the presence of goblins," Primrose said.
"May I hold it?" Kili asked.
Primrose drew her sword and held it out to Kili hilt first. He took her sword and did a few swings and moves with it.
"Impressive," he said, returning her sword to her.
"You're in pain aren't you," Primrose said, touching her fingers to his cheek and gently wiping away the tears that were still falling.
"Yes it hurts but I will bear it as a warrior," Kili said.
"Can.. can you tell me about it?" Primrose asked.
"Come let's eat dinner and then we will go for a walk and I will tell you what happened," Kili said.
The two went over to the fire and received plates of food then took them to a quiet spot where they began eating. Primrose sat down but Kili chose to remain standing.
"My rump is still really sore," he explained, "Fili will be eating standing up as well," Kili said.
"Did he really have to do that to you. I haven't been spanked since I was a youngster," Primrose said, guessing what had taken place.
"It is the way of the dwarf," Kili said.
When they had finished eating they went for a walk promising Thorin they wouldn't go far from the camp. After they were out of earshot and view of Thorin Kili slipped his hand into Primrose's and briefly related what had happened when Thorin punished him. Primrose was aghast as it seemed really severe.
"I took more strokes of the armath taur without asking for the punishment to stop than Dwalin could. His record was 5. I managed 6 hits and Dwalin was watching. He was shocked from what he told me. Uncle is proud of me but disgusted with Fili. He couldn't even take one hit without crying out. Normally he handles discipline better than I do if I am brutally honest with you," Kili said.
"I wouldn't be able to handle even one hit. I always cried and screamed when Uncle spanked me," Primrose said.
"Maybe I should spank you for being foolish enough to listen to us and put yourself in danger," Kili said.
"Not with that thing you won't. It would hurt me far worse than it would you," Primrose said.
Gandalf had told her that dwarves used the armath taur because they had very tough skin.
"Of course I wouldn't use the armath taur on you. You'd never be able to handle it. I'd feel terrible if I hurt you badly," Kili said.
"I don't want you to ever have to be disciplined with that thing again. I was dreadfully upset knowing you were being hurt," Primrose said.
"I hope that I won't need to be," Kili said softly.
Primrose could see that he still had some tears running down his cheeks so she gently wiped them away then kissed him. Their kiss quickly deepened and for a few moments Kili forgot about the pain in his rump. Primrose always made him feel really good and he snuggled into her, one kiss following another.
"I liked the carving your uncle did on the armath taur's handle. What is the carving of?" Primrose asked after they came up for air.
"I didn't actually see it but it's probably a dwarf motif or something like that," Kili said.
"I could see your uncle working on the armath taur as we travelled today and I saw the looks the other dwarves were giving you. That's why I was so worried about your punishment," Primrose said.
"I see," Kili said.
He captured her lips with his again and as they kissed remembered the things he'd found in the troll hoard.
"Prim I've got some stuff I found in the troll hoard that I'd like to give you," Kili said, when they came up for air.
He produced the clips and clasps for her hair.
"They're beautiful. I suppose they came from some poor victim of the trolls," Primrose said.
"I guess so. May I put them in your hair?" Kili asked.
"Of course," Primrose said.
She turned so her back was to Kili and he put the clips and clasps in her hair.
"You look beautiful my love," Kili said when he was done.
"I wish I had a mirror so I could see how I look," Primrose said.
Kili smiled then kissed Primrose again. When they came up for air he assured her he hadn't put any braids in her hair.
"I understand," Primrose said.
"I really wanted to but if I did Uncle would know about us. And right now if he found out I don't know what he might do. I've been in enough trouble with him today as it is," Kili said.
His bottom was constantly reminding him of that as much as he tried to forget about the pain.
"Yes I quite agree. You've already made him angry and it wouldn't do to make him even more angry. By the time we reach Rivendell he will have forgotten his anger at you for last night," Primrose said.
"Shall we head back now. I'd like to spar with you and see what you can do with your new sword. Have you named it yet?" Kili said.
"No I haven't," Primrose said.
She smiled at Kili as they began heading back towards the campsite. Kili had slipped his hand into Primroses but he removed it before they came into sight of the rest of the company.
Fili immediately joined Kili as he and Amber re-entered the campsite.
"What did you two get up to?" Fili asked.
"Look what Kili gave me," Primrose said pointing to her hair.
"Wow those are very pretty. Where did you get them Kili?" Fili asked.
"I found them amongst the troll hoard," Kili said.
Fili nodded and the three headed in the direction of their bedrolls. Primrose got her sword which was in its scabbard out.
"You know somehow this doesn't really go with my dress, does it?" Primrose said.
"Bofur told me about you two sparring. I'd like to see you spar and see what difference your new sword makes," Thorin said, joining them.
"I'm about to spar with Kili so feel free to come watch," Primrose said.
"I will. And oh I your hairclips are very pretty. Where did you get them?" Thorin asked.
"Kili found them in the troll hoard and he thought I'd like them," Primrose said honestly.
"Alright. Come let's see what you can do with your sword," Thorin said.
He nodded to Kili and the three moved into the center of the campsite. Kili and Primrose unsheathed their swords and the sparring began.
"Whoa your new sword makes a huge difference," Kili said after about 10 minutes of sparring.
"Can I spar with you again?" Thorin asked.
"Sure," Primrose said.