Later that same day…

"Kili, come here. You too, Reina."

Thorin said as he slid into his favorite chair.

"Do you need me to leave, uncle?" Fili asked, closing the book he had been reading.

"No, Fili. It would be good for you to hear this, as well."

Both of the younger dwarves came into the room; Kili, of course, a little less enthusiastically than his cousin.

"I'm sure both of you remember what happened earlier today", Thorin began, "and I'm sure you have heard all about what happened, Fili.' Thorin took a deep breath before continuing…he wanted them to learn, not just serve punishment. "The situation was avoidable, Kili. There is no denying that the only thing keeping you from walking away was your own temper."

"Yes, uncle. I didn't mean to…"

Thorin held up his and, stopping him.

"Kili, I'm not looking for excuses, or even apologies. I know why you fought. I just want you – all of you – to learn from what happened today." Here, Thorin paused, and then launched into an explanation of what he meant.

"Kili, today your pride was tested; pride for you family and pride of who you are as a part of this family. At some time or other, all of you will face provocation that tests your pride. However, fighting is something I will never condone if there is a way out that both is a good choice for all sides, and is with less, if any, violence. If violence is the only answer, then let the fight be fair, and honorably "throw down a gauntlet" to answer to your pride." A smirk came across his face as he added, "Orcs are not included in this assessment, of course."

"That's where I made a mistake, today, isn't it Uncle? I just jumped on him. No warning just knocked him to the ground. Kili sighed. This was not the first time Kili had been goaded into a fight, but it was the first where he landed the first physical blow."

"Yes, Kili, I agree there could have been better tactics employed. But there was something else, as well. You said earlier that the only reason you launched yourself at him then was because Reina let go of your arm. The fact that you had to be restrained from fighting – that you tried to start off at the least provocation – shows that you were almost looking for a fight. Now why do you think that would be?"

Thorin leaned back in his chair, waiting. He had cut right to the heart of the matter. This was really why he was talking to his nephew now.

"Maybe I've been a little bit on edge, lately? I'm not sure, Uncle. I don't like it when they make fun of Reina. I don't care what they say about me – not really. Not anymore. I'm used to it by now. But I don't want them going after Reina like that. She never did anything to them. Maybe it's because I know something is different about her, and not just that she's a girl and my cousin – practically sister now" Kili added as an aside to his cousin at his side. "I just don't know what's different."

Here Thorin raised an eyebrow at his daughter, who simply shook her head. That would be something to talk about later.

"Alright, Kili. I think you've learned what you need to today. The council will be expecting a formal apology from both sides tomorrow, but I am sure now that this won't happen again… will it?"

"No uncle."

"All right, you may go. You too, Fili, if you don't have any questions."

"No, Uncle. I think I know what you were getting at – what you were trying to say."

"And what was that?"

"That as future leaders, we should try to keep ourselves from being goaded into fights, and always look for a better way out that still keeps honor on both sides, and that if fighting is the only way out, keep it fair."

"Exactly. Now run along, both of you. I'd like to speak with Reina for a while."

"Alright, Uncle." Both boys left the room, grinning like Cheshire cats. Uncle Thorin was known for talking with Reina to far past her bedtime, about any topic under the sun.

"What is it, Da?"

Reina came over and sat on the arm of Thorin's chair, putting an arm around his shoulders.

Thorin hummed quietly, watching the fire in the hearth. His daughter had grown so much in the past years, as had the boys. Fili was easily coming into his own as the eldest of the three, taking on the mantle of heir apparent and the lessons that coincided as easily as he'd taken to sword-work. Of course, it was hard to tell now if he was answering what he believed as opposed to what was expected of him.

Kili still had the boundless energy of his youngest years, though he kept it mostly reserved for the training yards with Dwalin – while he favored archery, the boy was quickly becoming proficient in hand-to-hand fighting. However, with so much potential energy paired with a close combat focus, his temper had run rampant with no checks, as was becoming much more visible of late. Thorin expected another growth spurt at any time, by now.

Reina had grown lithe and graceful, with as true an aim as Kili, though when she advanced in her training, Thorin was of a mind to introduce her to dual blades like Fili – her natural balance and awareness would be well attuned to such discipline. But in other ways she still remained his little girl, sometimes still surprising him with a youthful thought or spurt of childish action that – while harmless – hinted at the traces of difference in her blood that would affect her physically. While she was so easily mature in some ways, Thorin often worried if he and others were pushing too hard and too fast for her to properly keep up.

"Da?" Jolting out of his reverie, Thorin remembered just why he'd asked her to stay with him for a chat. "Reina, I think it might be time to tell them. They can't be kept in the dark for too much longer."

"I don't want them to think I'm different! I know how everyone else thinks of Elves. I don't want them to think that way of me!"

Thorin smiled sadly, taking his girl's hands in his own. "If you wait too much longer, they'll figure it out for themselves, and then feel worse, thinking that you lied to them for a long time."

She looked at the fire rather than at him. "I don't want that, either."

Reina sighed. She knew that she couldn't keep it a secret much longer, and that Aunt Dis already knew. Dis had insisted on showing the girl how to braid her hair in the symbolic way of the heir of the line of Durin, and had seen her ears, despite the girl's best efforts at hiding them. She didn't realize that her aunt had known since her first night in the house, and Reina had quickly caught on to the Dwarven/Elven feud, and had learned how to hide her ears in her hair as best she could.

"Do I have to tell everyone?"

"No, but I do think the boys should know."

"Well, I know Fili can hold his tongue enough, but Kili might let it slip. And besides, the way his temper is now, I'd be a bit afraid to tell him. Can I just tell Fili for now, and wait until Kili knows how to keep both his tongue and his fists to himself?"

"I think… that should be alright, if handled carefully. Just explain to Fili why you want it kept from Kili still, alright?"

"I will, Da."

"You should get to bed, then, Sweetling. You start dagger lessons tomorrow, remember? "

"Oh, yes! I had forgotten, what with the excitement in the market. Maybe if I do something more than just archery, Kili won't be prompted to think of me any differently yet."

"He does need to know sometime."

"I know, Da. Goodnight."

Reina kissed him on the forehead, and gave him a hug which he willingly returned.

"Good night, Sweetling. Pleasant dreams."

Reina stopped in the doorway.

"Da, is it all right if Fili and I go down to the creek tomorrow? If Fili says yes?"

"I don't see why not, after lessons. Without Kili, I presume?"

Reina nodded with a small smile on her face. "Like you said, he needs to find out sooner or later, and I'd rather get it over with. Good night, Da."

"Good night, love."