/ / / Liliana's Little Finger \ \ \
Thorin dismissed his council and stood to go collect his daughter from her babysitter of the day – Kíli. Thorin nodded to the guards who were assigned to protect the small princess as he pushed open the door and…stopped.
Kili was sitting at the short table that had been made just for the princess, in a dress. He had bright red cheeks, his hair was swept up into an elaborate, though messy, braid and he was holding a tea cup nodding at Liliana seriously. Kíli looked up at the door opening and flushed beneath his painted cheeks.
"Daddy," Liliana said and stood up to run over to him and jump into his arms, Thorin caught her and pulled her close. She was dressed in one of the very pretty dresses that Dís had purchased for her – for days down in the town of Dale.
Thorin lifted his eyebrow at his nephew and Kíli smirked.
"You told me to keep her entertained," Kíli said and stood, the long skirts of his dress brushing the floor. "She wanted to play at having tea like her parents do with all the council members. She said you always wear very pretty clothes and help one another get dressed," Kíli paused to frown. "Then she decided we should both wear our nicest dresses – Mum was happy to oblige."
"Kíli is wearing Aunty Dís' dress, Daddy," Liliana said snuggling into her father's body. "He looks so pretty."
Thorin shook his head at his nephew but as he knew he too could be twisted easily around his daughter's little finger he had no doubt that she had worked the same magic upon his nephew.
"Where is Popa," Liliana asked after wriggling out of Thorin's arms.
"He is still with Bard of Dale," Thorin said.
"Bard!" Liliana squealed. "Can we go see him too?"
Thorin sighed and nodded to his daughter, it seemed his whole family liked that Man. Thorin and Liliana left Kíli and walked through the mountain, a set of guards at their back. Thorin knew that Liliana was safe within his mountain but should anything ever happen it was their job to protect the female dwarf to the exclusion of all others – even Thorin himself.
Bard smiled widely when Liliana ran into the smaller chamber room where Bilbo and Bard were meeting to discuss the continuing trade deals. Her appearance ended the meeting but neither Man nor hobbit minded at all.
/ / /