Thorin gets a lesson on life from his nephews. I hope you enjoy and leave lots of comments and suggestions. It's a little lonely out here in fanfiction land.

Chapter 4: Rise and Shine

Thorin's eyes opened just enough to test out the morning. Maybe if he closed them again he could sleep through the pain and wake up to find Dis home. Everything ached. He felt his ribs. He was covered in little, hard knots of bruised flesh. Mahal, the night was an eight-hour sparring match. Who knew that young dwarves were so active in their sleep? Sharp little knees, elbows, and heels rammed his body no matter which way he turned, and sleep lost its way and did not find him until the early hours of the morning—after he took refuge under a pile of pillows. He frowned remembering a blurry image of Fili head-butting him during the night. Fingers patted his forehead gingerly. Aye, a lump bulged above his left eyebrow. Thorin closed his eyes again and lay with a groan against the pillow with his arm across his eyes. Perhaps morning had not yet come because it was too embarrassed to gaze on the beaten and exhausted Prince of Durin. He hoped so anyway, but the sounds of feet pattering on the floor and excited whispers told him that morning came away. Against his wishes. Could he not banish it for once or command it to come at a later time? The whispers grew louder. It appeared not.

"Rise and shine, Uncle Thorin!" Fili and Kili chimed sweetly, their burbling cheer grating on his one remaining nerve. Small hands yanked his protective pillows away. The next thing he felt was a draft on his skin.

"Uncle Thorin is not happy this morning," Fili informed his wiggling brother who edged in to see for himself.

Thorin blinked and then suddenly yanked his nightshirt down and his covers up.

"WHAT do you both think you're doing?" he rumbled angrily from the depths of his pillow fortress.

"Definitely not happy," Fili whispered loudly to his nodding brother. They bounced on his bed and climbed on his lumpy, quilted body to give him a hug and then used him as a spring-board to slam against the floor and scamper into the kitchen.

"Go back to sleep, Unca Thorin," Fili called out. "You don't need to get up yet. Kili and me have a surprise for you!" The brothers nodded happily at each other.

Thorin waved his hand in the air like a flag of truce and then fell back asleep. He awoke about an hour later after he smelled a whiff of smoke.

"Stay away from the hearth, lads," he called out as he swung his legs painfully over the side of the bed.

"Ohhhh," he groaned as he stretched and examined the welts on his body. "I look like a new recruit at the training ring."

He walked slowly through the short hallway before his very excited nephews ran up to him.

"Not yet, not yet, Uncle Thorin!" Fili yelled. "We're not done yet."

Thorin rubbed his eyes sleepily and braced one hand on the door frame. "Not done with what?"

He blinked and then blinked again and then blinked some more, hoping that each time he blinked the scene in front of him would change.

"We made you breakfast!" Kili shouted. He and Fili stood proudly in front of a completely destroyed kitchen.

Thorin's mouth wobbled for a moment and then decided to hang open like a breadbox as he surveyed the devastation beyond. All the bowls and pots in the house sat askew atop the counters and were filled with thick, gruel-like sludge. Flour covered the floor, and his two nephews stood grinning in the center with gray clumps dotting their faces and sticky spoons in their hands.

"Surprise!" they yelled, and they ran forward and pulled Thorin toward the carnage and sat him down in a chair with spilled syrup pooling in the seat.

"Mmm," he grimaced as he felt the sticky syrup soak his nightshirt. "Um, erm, I guess, I should"—and he stifled the urge to shout, having learned his lesson yesterday—"thank you boys for thinking of me. You shouldn't have … you really shouldn't have."

Kili acted as proud server and wagged his brows as he brought over a plate of burned toast, underdone pancakes, blackened bacon, and soupy eggs. The boys then pulled up chairs as close to Thorin as they could and propped their little fists under their chins.

"Don't wait for us, Uncle Thorin," Fili said. "We want to watch you eat first."

A dog. A dog would have been the perfect antidote to that ghastly breakfast. He could have tossed just about everything under the table without the boys noticing, but no luck.

I've eaten worse, I suppose, he thought ruefully. But not much.

Glancing from side to side at his nephews' wide smiles, he considered for a moment that perhaps this was his punishment for not having visited in a while, but he forced a smile of thanks to his face anyway.

"Umm," he said as he surveyed his plate. "What shall I try first?"

"Ooooo, the eggs, Uncle Thorin!" Kili shouted. "Try those first! I did those!"

Dutifully using his considerable diplomatic skills to suppress his disgust, Thorin slurped the almost raw eggs down.

"Very good, Kili," he gasped. He tipped up a full mug of milk to clear the gelatinous mass. "I appreciate the effort. Do you both do this for your mother?"

Fili shook his head.

"Awww, no she doesn't let us cuz she says that we don't know how to cook yet, and that we make too much of a mess, but we figured that after the dinner you made last night that you wouldn't mind."

Thankfully, his nephews interpreted Thorin's incredulous look as surprised delight. His only consoling thought was that there was some small sense of justice in the world yet, even if it came at strange times and places, so perhaps Smaug would have his comeuppance one day after all.

After he crunched charred bacon between his teeth, the boys ran for their plates to join in.

"So what are we going to do today, Uncle Thorin?" Fili asked as he slopped syrup over everything.

The dwarf prince gazed around the kitchen and rapidly revised his hour-by-hour schedule.

"First, we need to clean up the kitchen and set things to rights, and then …" he trailed off at the downcast looks on their faces.

"But Uncle Thorin," Kili said, looking very worried, "we'll miss the diamonds if we wait too long."

"What?"

"The rain diamonds, Uncle Thorin," Fili said. "You know, after it rains?"

Thorin shook his head confused. "I grew up in the mountain, lad."

The boys threw gleeful looks at each other. Their mighty uncle was in for a grand surprise!

"Ooooo," Kili crowed, "we have to get dressed right away then and show you. Mama says it's important to catch them before the sun gets hot. C'mon, Uncle Thorin! C'mon!"

A few minutes later, a freshly unstuck uncle and his chirping nephews headed outside, each one holding a hand.

"Look, Uncle Thorin," Fili whispered as he pointed to a spider's web adorned with dazzling raindrops that glinted like diamonds in the sunlight. "Rain diamonds!" He said it with such awe and respect that Thorin chuckled.

"Why, lad," he said, "that's just water on the web. That's nothing special."

Both boys gasped at his words, and their chins quivered.

"How can you say that, Uncle Thorin?" Fili asked, devastated as only a child can be when flights of fancy come crashing to the ground. "Next to Mama, they're the most beautiful things in the world!"

Thorin was taken aback by their stout defense of rain water. Their chins wobbled, and their eyes filled with angry tears.

"You don't understand at all, do you?" Kili pouted with his mouth turned down in an angry scowl. "I don't believe that you were ever a dwarfling like you said!"

The boys wrenched themselves away and marched off into the brush, leaving Thorin feeling unfairly accused. What had he done wrong? Did he say anything untrue? At that moment, he did not understand his nephews at all. He threw up his hands and sat down. This morning was not going at all like he planned.

But a few minutes later, they came back bashful and apologetic.

"We're sorry, Uncle Thorin," Fili said while he kicked his toe against the ground. "We forgot that you never saw these things, so Kili and me decided that we're gonna to show you," and he gave Thorin the look that all parents used to keep their children in line.

For his part, Thorin felt that he should end this nonsense at once and order that they go back, clean the kitchen, and then follow his schedule as planned, but then he remembered Kili's fit of rage from the day before and decided a tactical retreat was best.

"Very well," he rumbled, thinking that this would be over soon. He followed like a kicked puppy but was mollified when Fili turned around with a bright smile.

"Just you wait, Uncle Thorin!" he said smiling, and he and Kili led Thorin up behind a rock where a robin's nest lay in a low-hanging branch. An earlier storm had bent the branch so that all could see directly into the nest where there were four blue eggs.

"Oh, no!" Kili cried, "one of the eggs is cracked! Fix it, Uncle Thorin!" and he pushed his little hands against Thorin's back.

The battle-hardened warrior stared uncomprehending.

"Kili, lad, I …" he stuttered. He looked over at Fili who looked stricken.

"Please, Uncle Thorin!" Fili begged. This was a matter of life and death, and both brothers implored their uncle, fully expecting him to handle the adult stuff.

Thorin's gaze swung from one to the other. They clearly expected him to do something, but how does one uncrack an egg? He stood and scratched his head, wishing suddenly that Balin were there to advise.

"Hmmm, yes, well, uh, hmmmm." Ah! He had an idea. "Stay here, lads."

Striding confidently to the nest, he stood in front of it, knowing that his nephews could not see over his shoulder. He reached into the nest and turned the egg over. He was sure Balin could do no better.

"Good as new, boys," he said jauntily. Fili and Kili ran over to the nest and looked up with awe.

"You did it, Uncle Thorin!" Fili said, his face shining with joy.

"You are the smartest uncle ever!" Kili beamed.

They looked back at the nest and saw another crack.

"Uncle Thorin?" Fili asked as one eyebrow went up. "You said you fixed it."

Thorin's heart sank. Then two of the eggs twitched.

"They're moving!" Kili shrieked, jumping up and down.

"Maybe it's time for them to come out," Thorin said stroking his beard, interested in spite of himself. Fili dug his hands into a soft spot in the dirt.

"Then they'll be hungry," he said as he grabbed handfuls of worms and ran up to the nest.

"Uh, Fili," Thorin began, "I don't think …." Suddenly, they heard the calls of two birds.

"Behind the rock, lads," he urged, and the three crouched with only their eyes peeping over the top.

"I can't see, Uncle Thorin," Kili said irritably, and Thorin lifted him on his knee.

The robins returned to their tree and landed on the branch above their nest, tilting their heads and inspecting the unusual sight of breakfast in bed. Soon enough though, they accepted the offering and ate while eggs twitched and cracked. Thorin's knees began to ache, but the boys were riveted. Before too long, the soft peeps of four baby birds filtered through the air, and Fili and Kili clapped their hands over their mouths to stifle their excited squeals. Thorin's eyes shone at their innocent excitement, and he looked over at the nest with new appreciation. It was heartening to see life in unexpected places. He beckoned with his finger and led them quietly away. Once they were some distance, the dwarflings hugged him around the waist.

"That was the best thing ever, Uncle Thorin," Kili said, "and you were there to see it."

"I can't wait to tell mama," Fili added. "What did you think, Uncle Thorin?"

"It was quite something," he said, still relieved that none of the warriors saw him ogling a bird's nest.

"I'm glad you were there," Kili said, "because you seeing it made it real, like it really happened."

Thorin cleared his throat to cover a sudden rush of emotion. He looked down at his nephews and suddenly was filled with both sorrow and determination. Who could they share such moments with?

"I'm glad too, Kili, lad. I'm glad too."

Then they showed him all their favorite places to play and the games they devised. He listened and gave some pointers on battle tactics and showed them how to set ambushes. Fili and Kili looked up with admiration on their faces, and he felt a surge of pride and joy. He had never thought of having children of his own, but in that moment he almost lamented his lack of wife and children. Fili caught the melancholy look on his face and tugged on his surcoat.

"Why are you sad, Uncle Thorin?" he asked. "Did we do something wrong?"

His little face looked up with concern, and his blue eyes blinked innocently. Thorin was not about to admit to loneliness, so he cast around for some excuse.

"I'm just thinking about your mother and wondering how she's doing," he said. "She's all I have."

Fili and Kili stopped for a moment and looked at each other. Children were known to have an uncanny ability to discern the truth like a divining rod, and this moment was no exception.

"Are you lonely, Uncle Thorin?" Fili asked.

"Do you wish you had someone like Mama?" Kili added.

Thorin had long ago forsworn love after he watched his grandfather, the king, so mad with gold sickness after the death of his beloved wife. Not once in his long years had he ever been tempted by a dwarrowdam or female of any other race, and he was not about to break his resolution now. It did though leave him alone with no one to share the enormous burden of leading his people. No one to hear his dreams, his thoughts, his sorrows.

He sighed and quickly stifled a slight pang. His vow was as solid as mountain stone, he reminded himself. Besides, none of the dwarrowdams interested him. They were simply members of the colony, nothing more.

"No, lad," he said firmly, "I'm too busy with work to take on such a responsibility."

As they walked back to the house, all holding hands, Thorin looked up to see Dwalin trudging toward him with two sets of training axes strapped to his back. Their blades were blunted, but they could still draw blood.

"Balin told me where ya were," he said with a grunt. He lifted a thick brow and observed Thorin's contented smile. "Pretty as a picture you three make."

The smile dropped.

"I should come 'round more," Thorin said frowning. "They're all I have."

Dwalin's lips quirked.

"You could find a wife," he said drily. "There's plenty that's willing."

Fili and Kili's eyes grew round, and they pulled away and whispered together. Thorin decided to ignore his comment.

"What's all this?" Thorin asked motioning at Dwalin's back.

His longtime friend gave a wolfish grin.

"I didn't think that watching the lads would keep ya from weapons practice," he said, "unless ya aim to grow soft. What happened to yer forehead?"

"Um, nothing," Thorin mumbled as he felt the knot on his forehead.

Dwalin bent over with his hands on his knees.

"So what have you young scamps been up to?" he asked.

Thorin braced himself, hoping that the boys would not mention ….

"Oh, we showed Uncle Thorin a bird's nest and rain drops on spider webs!" Kili piped in. "He thought they were wonderful!"

Thorin squirmed under his friend's bushy-browed gaze.

"And I taught them battle strategies," he added as he stood tall and regal.

Dwalin gave a gruff chuckle, but Thorin glared at him. He was embarrassed, but his pride reared up to shield him. He had nothing to be ashamed of, really, and he would not apologize for spending time with his family. Not at all! Not even if it meant, well, engaging in childish pursuits. After all, that is what they are and as their uncle …. He worked himself up for a mighty row should Dwalin lift his brow a mite higher, but the balding dwarf finally shrugged his shoulders,

"Aye? Well, it seems I got here just in time," he replied, getting away with a slight smirk. "Sounds like you need a swing of the ax to clear yer head."

Thorin puffed his chest out. This was more like it! Now they could engage in the heartier and more meaningful pursuit of trying to hack someone to pieces.

"Ooo, can we watch, Uncle Thorin?" Fili asked, his blue eyes shining with excitement. "Can we get our friends?"

Thorin looked down with an air of supreme superiority. He was going to shine.

"Of course, lads," he said smugly. "This is just the thing for young dwarves to see."

Dwalin grinned.

"Aye, good thinking, lad," he said. "Bring all the dwarrowdams and their little ones. It'll be a match to remember. And who knows? Your uncle here might finally..."

"Don't say it, Dwalin," Thorin warned.

"...find a wife," Fili said jumping up and down.

The brothers whooped and cheered and ran down the lane to gather everyone together. And, of course, Auntie Sliva had to come as well—especially since Uncle Thorin was lonely and she made such lovely treats!

Before long, the entire neighborhood gathered to watch their training. The dwarrowdams were particularly excited since they had never seen Thorin and Dwalin battle before, although all had heard of their ferocious bouts. Everyone spread blankets on the ground and gathered their baskets of scones, biscuits, and muffins. Fili and Kili proudly strutted among their friends, boasting of their uncle's skill.

"You'd better be on your best today, Thorin," Dwalin threatened good-naturedly as he prepared, "else I'll cut a notch in your backside!"

Thorin responded with a quick flip of his blade in Dwalin's direction.

"You haven't done it yet, old friend," he replied with a smile.

Then he took off his surcoat and stood in his thin, linen tunic. This group of dwarrowdams tittered and whispered among themselves. They had never seen Thorin up close and in such informal attire. Strong muscles flexed and rippled as he twirled his large ax above his head and spun his hand ax in a fluid, warm-up exercise. He seemed much more approachable with Fili and Kili, whom they almost forgot were princes. Especially since mud-covered children looked pretty much the same.

Sliva took in Thorin's impressive physique, and a jittery nervousness over came her. His gray-blue eyes flashed with excitement, and his wicked smile made him look like a dashing pirate. A dreamy look crept across her face as she let her eyes wander over his strong features. Narrow, angular face with expressive brows over piercing eyes. Sharp cheekbones and long nose with flaring nostrils, rather like a charging stallion. Full mustache and beard trimmed closely. His chest was muscled and with his shirt open, she could see ….

Tush, he's only one of many handsome dwarrow—well, maybe the most handsome. She shook her head to clear her mind. Now, Sliva, don't get carried away.

Thorin looked over at Fili and Kili and gave them a lop-sided grin. They grinned back and waved. Fili tried to imitate Thorin's movements, but he had a long way to go to match his uncle's grace and speed.

He's not for the likes of you, Sliva, you silly goose.

But she could not look away. Fili and Kili caught her preoccupation and nodded to each other. This might just work out as planned.

"He's very good, isn't he, Auntie Sliva?" Fili asked. She felt her cheeks prickle with a slight blush.

"Aye," she said deliberately misunderstanding him, "Dwalin is very good indeed."

Fili pushed his lower lip out.

"He didn't mean him, Auntie Sliva!" Kili said with a great frown of indignation. He pointed to Thorin.

"He's the best! He's, he's the best of anyone!"

Then Kili walked over and chewed on his thumbnail while he watched Sliva dither.

"Do you like him, Auntie Sliva? Do you want a husband?"

She choked suddenly and coughed while the prickling turned into a burn. She had lost her husband like many others in the battle of Azanulbizar and struggled to rebuild her life. A husband. A handsome, princely husband. She sighed. Some of the dwarf widows around her smirked while others looked offended. It was no secret among the female half of Ered Luin that Thorin Oakenshield was the most sought-after dwarf in the colony as well as the most oblivious. Many a lass primped and prepared her assets only to be passed by without a glance. All efforts of fathers to introduce their daughters were politely spurned or took place with an increasingly exasperated Dis in his place. The Prince of Durin had a single focus: making his people prosper. Nothing else occupied his thoughts. Therefore, he had his people's unquestioning devotion even if they found him a bit distant.

"I think your uncle has other plans, lads," she said finally and turned her eyes back to the warriors.

On watching them warm up, those assembled began to see differences in their styles. Dwalin depended on front-on attack with brute strength while Thorin favored a more fluid style that depended on cunning. Both were lethal. Everyone spent their time betting on who would win while they waited for the fight to begin.

"Ready, old dwarf?" Dwalin called out finally. He flexed and rolled his wide shoulders. Thorin nodded, and the crowd cheered. Dwalin swung his ax over his head several times while Thorin took a wide, low stance like a boulder in a field.

Then Dwalin rushed forward with a mighty roar and swung larger his ax in a wide arc. Thorin stood immovable until the last second and then ducked as the blade swished over his head and countered with a vicious slice of his hand ax that Dwalin barely blocked with the handle of his. He staggered back as Thorin pressed his advantage, whirling and slicing, while Dwalin struggled to regain his footing. Both growled at each other, baring their teeth as they clashed together, locking their axes.

Dwalin, being the slightly stronger of the two, pushed Thorin off and jumped back into place. The two squared off and circled each other, both looking for an opening. Then Dwalin charged. He looked so fierce that Kili cried out. Thorin jerked his chin over to his nephew and lowered his guard. Dwalin's war ax slammed broadside into his ribs while his hand ax sliced through his sleeve. Those watching screamed as Thorin fell on his side into the dirt. His axes clanged on the ground.

"Thorin!" Dwalin cried, completely shocked. "Mahal above, are you hurt?"

This had never happened before, and no one knew what to do. It was death to strike a member of the royal family, but training bouts were exempt. However, many warriors were reluctant to give their all against the prince, but Dwalin never held back. That was the reason Thorin preferred practicing with him above all others, even though he rued it now.

He pressed his palms into the dirt and slowly got to his feet. His pride was injured more than anything else, although his arm smarted something fierce. His eyes flashed with anger, and his mouth thinned. No one spoke and it seemed even the birds went silent. He looked over at Kili who had his hands over his mouth and nose. Fili stood with his palms on his head and his mouth open.

Dwalin reached out a hand to steady him, but Thorin jerked his arm away.

"You're bleeding!" Dwalin said aghast.

Thorin looked down.

"So I am," he said calmly as he could manage. He grunted with frustration and then held out his hand. Even though his loss was humiliating, he would be gracious in defeat. Besides, he was still ahead in wins overall. "Fair win, and the last you'll get for a while."

A bit of Dwalin's humor returned.

"Aye, but it has a bitter taste since you were distracted by the lad. T'wasn't a fair win."

Thorin shook his head.

"No," he said, "all's fair in war play. Well-fought, my friend."

He held out his hand, and blood dripped steadily to the ground. As Dwalin gripped it, Thorin winced, and held his stomach.

"Aye, let's get you wrapped."

Dwalin called to Fili and Kili, and Kili came running. Fili tugged on Sliva's arm.

"We have to help him, Auntie Sliva!" he cried. "C'mon." Kili started blubbering.

"It's my fault, Uncle Thorin!" he cried. "It's all my fault. You woulda won."

A soft smile graced Thorin's face.

"No, lad," he said softly, "it's my fault. I lost my concentration, and that's my fault alone."

He tousled Kili's hair and hugged him awkwardly. Then he glanced at Dwalin.

"Savor this one, my friend. You won't get another."

Dwalin smirked. "I intend to." Then he looked over.

"Can I trust you to take care of him, my lady?" he asked Sliva.

She blushed and cast her eyes around at the frowning and unhappy dwarrowdams who wished mightily to be in her place. Bandage his wounds? No one had ever gotten this close to the prince before, and now she would probably spend the rest of the day and evening with him. She suddenly felt a bit light-headed.

"My lady?"

"Aye, my lord," she said quickly, "I've bandaged many a wound."

Dwalin held her eyes for a moment and then nodded.

"I don't need a nursemaid, Dwalin," Thorin protested heatedly. Dwalin merely rolled his eyes and gestured at the now hunched prince.

"Seeing that you can barely stand, Thorin, I'd have to disagree."

Fili's eyes opened wide, and he pulled Kili aside and whispered in his ear. All at once, his brother swallowed back his sobs.

"This is even better than we planned, Kili," Fili said excitedly. The brothers looked over as Sliva came to stand next to Thorin and tilted their heads back and forth.

"What do you think, Kili?"

Sliva's long auburn hair, clear green eyes, and plump softness contrasted nicely with their uncle's dark coloring and fierce air, or so the boys thought.

"She's already our auntie, and he's our uncle, so…" Kili began.

"So this is his chance," Fili finished.

Both crossed their fingers and walked self-importantly behind the couple with Dwalin trailing. They had a big job ahead of them, and they felt equal to the task.

"What do we have to do?" Kili asked.

Fili nodded sagely.

"Whatever it takes. Are you ready?"

Thorin's aiming to get even more embarrassed. Any suggestions?