"Reina, what I'm going to tell you isn't going to be easy, and you might not believe me," Thorin began, watching the flames in the hearth crackle over the pine logs.

Reina watched her helper from the morning, his guarded state intriguing her young mind, as she was comparing it to the comforting ease with which he had listened to her before. Not seeing him continue, she grew impatient, and prompted, "OK..."

Thorin shook himself out of his reverie, and began again.

"Reina, you told me this morning that your mother's name is Evangelina, am I correct that you mean the Evangelina who is the Fair Sister of the Elvenking, Thranduil?" Thorin strained to keep from sneering the names. Now was not the time for such prejudice.

"Yes sir." Reina looked up at him with eyes full of trust, shifting impatiently, waiting for him to continue.

"And," Thorin pushed on - though he thought he might not find the words in the end - "you also told me that your mother told you that your father was once living under a mountain with what you said was an "arc and a stone". This I take to be your understanding of the Arkenstone."

" Well, yes, in a way. Mum told my nurse, who told me when I asked."

"Nurse? No, nevermind. My sister tells me that you believe your father was one of great standing in Erebor?"

"What's Erebor?"

"Erebor was the only dwarven kingdom with possession of the Arkenstone."

"Oh. Yeah, that's right, about my Da."

"OK...I just wanted to be sure of the facts, to confirm my suspicions. But you need to know something about your father, little Reina. While he knew of your existence, at your birth you were kept far from him. He has had no word until now of you. He was quite surprised to hear of your being here, actually."

"So he didn't know I was coming?" Reina gasped, worry and confusion clouding her face. "How could he not know? Ama told Nurse that she'd sent a letter ahead of us, so he'd know." Much quieter, hiding behind her hair, Reina asked, "What if he doesn't want me?"

Thorin's heart tore in two, seeing her curled up tight with so much worry in her figure. "No, little one! Never think that. He has loved you all your life. He simply didn't think he would ever be allowed to be a part of your life, so much so that he never even told anyone about you. It hurt him so much to believe he could never be your Adad, it was easier to pretend that he wasn't. But now that he has a chance to have you with him, he is now worried that you will not want to stay with him, when you know him."

"How can he think that? Where is he? Of course I want to be with him. Amaa didn't want..." Reina promptly shut her mouth, her eyes growing wide. Prior to her apparent slip of tongue, she had jumped up, looking ready to jump into her father's arms the minute he showed his face. "I didn't mean…I..."

Well this was interesting. Thorin had known Evangelina to be cold, but not so cold as this. His own blood ran cold at the thought that Reina might have been hurt as badly as he had been, all those years ago. Only one way to find out.

"Reina, did your mother send you away for a reason?"

Reina looked at her feet, and remained silent.

"Reina?"

Reina took a deep breath - Thorin had been nothing but kind, and there was the hope of a father who cared..."Ama wasn't always nice to me. Her friends always laughed at me, and she always talked as if I couldn't hear, or wasn't even there. She sent me away because she wanted to go West. She said I couldn't come. That's why I want to find my Da so bad."

"Reina, would you like to meet your father?" Thorin purposely pushed the subject of her mother to the back of his mind to be dealt with later. Now he focused on his little girl in front of him, and what she would say next.

"Oh, yes! Where is he?!" Reina looked up with a brilliant smile, all traces of sadness erased from her features. She began to hop in place with her hands clasped in front of her.

Thorin decided to take a risk.

"He's right in front of you, little Reina. He's me." Thorin smiled, but was wary of her possible reaction.

"You?" Reina's face held a shocked look. "You're my Da?" She lightly pulled her lip into a pout, as she thought over the news. "Well, I suppose that's all right, then." She gave Thorin a small smile before breaking into a fit of giggles. She jumped into his open arms, before snuggling against him with a smile.

"Da?"

"Yes, little one?"

"Does that make Fili and Kili my brothers? My Torors?"

"No, actually it makes them your cousins. They're my sister's sons, my nephews."

"Oh. But could we pretend they're my brothers? I've only ever had cousins, and second cousins, and third..."

"I get the idea, sweetling. Yes, of course you can pretend such. I'm sure the boys will see you as a sister. Also, even though they call me Uncle, I've helped Dís raise them ever since their own Da died, before Kili could remember. You could actually consider them your adopted brothers, if you'd like."

Reina grinned even larger at this idea.

After a moment of comfortable silence…

"Da, how are we going to tell them?"

"I'll explain to Dís tonight, after you and the boys go to bed. If you want, you can tell the boys yourself..."

"No, you should probably do that. You know them better, and I don't know how to explain it right."

"Alright then. Shall we join them before Kili eats everything?"

Reina giggled, and nodded, climbing down from her Da's lap. Taking his hand, she let him lead her back to the warm kitchen, which would soon be full of surprises.

I own nothing that is recognized from JRR Tolkien or Peter Jackson

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