Nadadel- Brother of all brothers
Namadel- Sister of all sisters
Mi - My (Totally taking liberties with this one, be warned)
Ghivashanamad- Treasure-sister, meant to mean Treasured Sister, but I couldn't find the Khuzdul for 'treasured'. (Taken from the word 'ghivasha' meaning 'treasure' and 'namad' meaning 'sister')
"Well, look who turned up like a bad penny!" Balin remarked, smiling.
The last time Thorin saw Balin, the Dwarf was grim-faced, his usually twinkling eyes dull and sorrowful, wearing blood-drenched armour, his white hair darkened by blood and filth. His looking well and happy was good to see.
"I am glad to see you too, my friend. Where is Dwalin?"
"Oh, he's still sleeping." Balin rolled his eyes. "He had himself quite an evening last night."
"Did he?" Thorin glanced up to the ceiling. "Unlike him."
"It was your Dis. She said she could beat him in a drinking competition."
"Did she win?" Thorin asked.
"She annihilated him." Balin said.
Thorin chuckled. "Seeing as he'll be sleeping for some time, I may as well ask you now."
"Ask me what?" Balin asked.
"I met Gandalf the Grey Wizard last night. He suggested that we take Erebor back from that slug."
"Lad, I don't think the Armies of the Seven Kingdoms will come to our aid." Balin said, gently. "You don't have the King's jewel-"
"No, but they surely remember Erebor as fondly as we do. Even if we can get envoys, that would help us when we do retake our Kingdom."
"You honestly believe we can do this?"
"I do."
"Thorin, I'd follow you anywhere. Even to the mouth of a Dragon."
"I am grateful. Tomorrow I'll gather those who are of age and offer them a chance to join us."
"You might not get that many, gille."
"I'm sure we'll have enough." Thorin said. "As long as they are loyal, honourable and willing, I know we will succeed."
According to Balin, Dwalin was quite happy to come along with them. "He had a massive headache, was sitting at the table, cradling his head in his hands, but the moment he heard you wished to take Erebor back, he immediately asked when you were going." Balin told him, shaking his head and grinning. "I think you're off to a good start with this Company of yours."
Now he stood in front of a sea of young Dwarfs, some only just seventy with beards beginning to grow, lads and lasses alike staring at their King, wondering what he needed them for.
"You are here, because the time has come to claim back the Lonely Mountain and the Kingdom of Erebor." Thorin announced. "We need fighters. Not just warriors, but any of you. Whether you're young or older, I ask your aid to take back what is rightfully ours."
There was silence, broken by a young voice asking, "Are you serious?"
"Yes," Thorin answered, "And I ask that you take this request seriously too. It will be dangerous. It will be long. And it's purpose is a serious one indeed."
"What do you ask of us?" A voice called. Thorin narrowed his eyes, trying to locate the owner of this familar voice. Chestnut brown hair in a very unique style. Nori. He'd been fighting viciously against a Goblin the last Thorin had seen of him, his once-neat hair broken out of its style, whipping in the wind, blood and sweat and grime glistening on the thief's face.
"I ask only for loyalty, honour and a willing heart."
Mahal only knew Nori had these three qualities. And many other good ones, so it was with joy and slight pride that Thorin watched Nori, for the second time, push his way to Balin to sign onto the Quest. Dwalin eyed Nori suspiciously, but seemed to decide not to mention the star-haired Dwarf's way of earning.
He could see someone else following Nori. Hair with purple, silk ribbons dancing through the auburn strands told him this was Ori. Brave little Ori who fought defending his fallen brothers and who Thorin caught a glimpse of after the battle, face pale, lips thin, eyes lost of any innocence, scars slashed across his face.
"Ori?"
Nori loved Ori. Thorin saw him taking hit after hit protecting him from Orcs during the battle. He would do anything to keep his younger brother safe, though he didn't coddle as Dori did.
In fact, Nori reminded Thorin of Fili.
"I want to help too!" Ori said.
"Well..." Nori frowned slightly.
"I can fight, you know." Ori told Nori.
It was clear Nori couldn't disagree. The darker-haired Dwarf finally nodded his consent and moved past to allow Ori to sign.
He had six of the members (seven if he included himself). Now he looked across the sea of others, wondering if he would see the other six Dwarfs today. The last time, he'd simply sent messengers stating his intents of reclaiming Erebor. This time he wanted to see them as they volunteered. He wanted to see them how they were before everything that happened.
He could see pushing in the crowd. Eyes narrowed, he spotted Gloin with his wife. She was gesturing to the stands and the contract while he was gesturing to her. Thorin could see that he was gazing longingly towards them. Gloin had fought wildly, as though he was fighting for his son's own life and Thorin sincerely hoped that Gloin would accompany them again.
Gloin was beyond valuable.
She won out eventually and Gloin made his way through to the stands and inked his name out. Catching sight of Nori, Gloin grinned and clapped his shoulder.
"Looks like we'll be seeing more of each other!"
Nori laughed, agreeing with Gloin. They got on oddly well, Gloin trusting and accepting Nori well before the quest and Nori treating Gloin as a close friend. Thorin looked at them from the corners of his eyes, smiling.
Oin was coming up now. He would follow his younger brother to the end of the world and perhaps knew that they would need his extensive medical knowledge. He'd barely left his brother's side during the Battle of Five Armies and had impressed them all by just how violent he'd become, defending his kin and companions.
The crowd was parting again. A uniquely shaped ginger beard, a furry hat and an ax blade told him who was coming up now. The Ur clan. They'd been loyal and protective, not just to each other, but to all members of the Company, defending and bringing laughter to all. It made sense that they would sign up again in this life.
Looking at the other Dwarfs and Dwarrowdams, Thorin raised his voice. "If any others of you wish to sign on, you may. You have a fortnight to decide." Turning to the eleven Dwarfs, he added. "Then arrangements will be made for travel. You should aim to leave in a few months."
"What about you?" Dwalin asked.
"I will be leaving soon. There are matters to deal with." Thorin answered.
The Seven Kingdoms would be of bigger importance, no matter what life Thorin woke up in. However, he was impatient to leave the Blue Mountains and go through Bree and to those rolling, green hills that was home to a strange, yet incredible people. He was torn between these two for a while, until a portrait of his sister caught his eye.
"No! Absolutely not. Now shut up or I won't let you have any pie." Dis threatened.
"Sister, please, you know we need their support. And you're very good at anno- er, coaxing people into doing things."
"Thorin, I have no desire to go traipsing across Middle Earth just to visit a bunch of stuck-up Kings and bat my eyelashes until they begrudgingly allow us envoys." Dis said, whisking the baked good out of the oven and placing it, none too gently, onto the table.
"Dis, I need you to do this. Erebor needs you to do this. Remember our carved, stone walls? Remember Father taking us to the mines and pretending he didn't know we were pocketing the jewels we found on the floor? Remember the stories we used to tell Frerin? Reme-"
"Alright!" Dis interrupted, placing her hands on her hips. "If it'll shut you up, I'll go!"
Thorin bent to give Dis a kiss to her brow. She lightly tugged his family braid. "I suppose it wouldn't be too bad to get out of the Blue Mountains."
"No." Thorin agreed.
"Gloin's lad isn't going with you to Erebor, is he?"
"He isn't, though not for lack of trying." Thorin told her. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, I'm just thinking maybe he'd like to come along and see the Seven Kingdoms."
Thorin gave his sister a grin. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind. I should give you warning, I will be placing other warriors with you."
Dis rolled her eyes. "I can defend myself, brother."
"I would feel a lot more comfortable if you had others defending you." Thorin explained. "Don't think of it as me being overprotective, think of it as me being fair. I have warriors with me, it's only fair that you have warriors accompanying you."
"I see your point." Dis conceded. "Though you do have a history of being overprotective."
Thorin shrugged unapologetically. "I could say the same about you."
Thorin didn't actually know just how long he would be in the Shire for. He felt anxious just thinking of visiting, but pushed those feelings away. However long he would be in the Shire, he had to be back in Bree to meet Dis and Gimli to hear about how their trip to the Seven Kingdoms fared. He watched his sister pack up her knives the morning she was scheduled to meet Gloin's lad, and wondered what she would secure for them. With luck, she could get Dain to come.
"Now, look," she said, pointing one of her sharpest knives at him, "I don't want you working my lads like slaves, I want you looking after yourself and you'd best not be late meeting me at Bree."
"I understand."
"So I should hope." Placing her knife back in its holding-cloth, she asked over her shoulder, "who's looking after the place while you're away?"
"Balin, of course. Though I don't know how long I'll be away for."
"Will my boys be left here or are they coming with you?"
Thorin paused. Memories of Kili excitedly talking about the 'hill-houses' and Fili almost cooing over the 'little mountains' swirled around and he narrowed his eyes, quizzically at his sister's back. "They might like it."
"Aye. They would." Dis agreed. "And it'd keep them out of trouble, you keeping an eye on them."
It would, Thorin realised. And it would be pleasant, to spend time with his nephews. Clearing his throat, he called them.
They were down in seconds, packs haphazardly thrown over their shoulders, weapons firmly attached to their hips (and newly sharpened, he noted) and boots tightly laced.
Thorin turned to Dis, who was wearing an all-too innocent expression. "You planned this."
"I did no such thing!" Dis replied, acting shocked. "And I'm amazed by your accusation."
"Well, they've never gotten ready this quickly before in their lives." Thorin pointed out. "And why are they ready, anyway?"
"Perhaps they overheard us."
Thorin rolled his eyes.
"Well, can we go now?" Kili asked hopefully.
Giving his sister one last glare, Thorin softened his gaze as he turned to his nephews. "Go on to the stables."
As they left, Dis pulled Thorin's sleeve, making him look at her. "Come now, brother. You don't spend nearly enough time with them and they adore you."
"I can't believe you tricked me into this."
"I can't believe I had to." Dis said softly.
That made Thorin stop and blink. "Dis, you know I-"
"Of course I know." she interrupted. "Every fool knows! But it would still do the three of you good to spend time together, don't you think? I don't believe you'll have much time for strolling around, talking to each other on this quest of ours. Especially what with 13 others vying for your attention."
"Quest of ours?" Thorin raised an eyebrow.
Dis thumped his arm. "You're my brother, your quest is mine, same as my home is yours."
Thorin stared at her. "Dis.." He didn't know what to say. He was grateful for her help, grateful for her support, thankful for her loyalty, but he didn't know how to form these thoughts into words, so settled for staring from her to the ground as if expecting the right words to come from the floor they stood on.
Dis chuckled, the sound warming Thorin's heart. "I know, nadadel."
"Mi ghivashanamad."
Dis pushed at his shoulder playfully. "Go find the boys."
"I will see you in several months, namadel." Thorin promised.
Dis nodded, still smiling. "Good."
The End.
Psych! I was kidding, no way in heck is this the end! Glad it's being enjoyed so far, hope this will be too!
Love from Shania. xx