Date: TA 2864

Thorin: 118 years old

Lina: 115 years old

The practice today had been fairly light. There were few new recruits to beat into shape. Most of the dwarves on the field had been present to spar with others of their similar skills. Earlier Dwalin had been down, trying his hand against his former mentor, Lina. The older female had managed to surprise the much stronger dwarven male with some tricks she'd kept secret even from him. The bout had ended in her favor, the younger warrior vowing to learn Lina's tricks one day.

With a smirk at Dwalin's promise, Lina began to remove her armor. She had just pulled her helm from her head when a speeding mass crashed into her legs, nearly knocking her over.

"Lina!" The warrior looked down, a smile on her face at the familiar voice. Clinging to her legs was her young nephew, Fili. Looking up, Lina caught sight of a heavily pregnant Dis making her way into the training grounds. The expectant mother smiled back at her.

"Can I watch you fight? Please, please, please?" The dwarf child looked up at her, his blue eyes wide and pleading. His little hands were clutching at the edge of Lina's tunic.

"I told him you'd just finish for the day, but he really wants to see you fight," Dis told her sister-bound. Lina looked back down at her nephew. He was barely five-years-old and was already taking a healthy interest in weaponry. There had been several occasions on which he'd appeared at the training grounds to watch his aunt and uncle train. Sometimes they would catch sight of him imitating their moves and facial expressions as he fought some imaginary foe.

"We can't disappoint him, now can we?" a much deeper voice said from behind Lina. The smile on her face broadened as her husband's hand settled on her shoulder. Thorin's face was lit by one of his rare full smiles. Lina saw those smiles more than most dwarves. Most only ever saw those half smiles he wore in which one side or the other of his mouth would curve upward and his blue eyes would sparkle briefly. He enjoyed showing off a bit for his heir.

"One round," Lina promised Fili. She replaced her helmet and allowed Thorin a chance to don his own armor. Neither dwarf intended for the battle to be nearly as serious or violent as some had been previously. Lina did not relish the idea of being battered and bruised the first time Dis's newest child saw her.

Fili was jumping up and down, cheering his aunt and uncle on. Thorin's mouth twitched as he tried to hold back a smile. The child was quite exuberant.

His cheers grew louder as the pair went at one another. The child seemed particularly delighted when Lina landed a blow with her hammer that sent Thorin rolling backwards. Thorin recovered quickly, his sword driving Lina back a few paces.

They had just begun to work up a sweat when the shrill cry split the air. In an instant the bout was over. Both raced to Dis's side. She had collapsed on the ground in agony.

"The baby," she panted, her hands clutching at her abdomen.

"Get her to the midwives," Lina ordered her husband, "I'll take care of Fili."

Thorin nodded and scooped his sister up in his arms. He strode toward the birthing chambers while Lina held Fili back. The child strained in his aunt's arms, trying to reaching his mother.

"Hush, child," Lina murmured in his ear. "Your mother will be fine."

"What's happening to her?" Fili gazed up fearfully at Lina.

"She's going to have a baby, a brother or sister for you to play with," she answered. At that, Fili's face brightened and his blue eyes cleared.

"Why don't you help me get these weapons put away and we'll go see your mother?" The suggestion worked beautifully. In an instant, the child's mind was taken off of the pain he'd seen Dis in.

It took Lina rather longer than she'd anticipated getting the child up to the birthing room. Once his mind had been turned to the weapons, he'd wanted Lina to show him how each one was held and used. He loved his uncle's sword, but was barely able to lift the heavy blade to place it on the rack. Lina made a mental note to begin Fili's weapons training early. He was already showing a strong interest in the swords and had a natural ease with the long knife he'd picked up.

Fili's energy level had dropped significantly by the time the pair reached the chamber just outside the birthing room, however it was not enough to allow his aunt a moment to relax. Thorin was sitting by himself when they approached. His lips quirked upwards at the amusement on his wife's face. Fili raced over to show his uncle the wooden practice blade he'd refused to relinquish possession of. With a little effort, he managed to perform a series of basic moves Lina had taught him in their short time together. Thorin carefully corrected his stance and grip on the blade.

As she was watching them, Lina felt the sadness return for one brief moment. Thorin would have made an excellent father. Though he tried to hide it, he had a truly caring heart. He loved his family more than his own life and would willing lay down his own to protect any one of them. Lina wondered sometimes if her inability to conceive was a disappointment to him. While his line was, for the moment, secure in Fili, it was not the same as having a son. Thorin looked up and caught her watching him. The sadness must have showed in her eyes, for concern filled his briefly. The look vanished when she smiled at him.

Thorin's attention returned to his nephew. Fili was such a bright youngling. The promise he was showing now, she hoped, would bud into something truly amazing. The males of Thorin's line were not weak in the martial skills. If what Lina was seeing was any indication, Fili would make an excellent fighter.

Within the hour, Fili's energy had completely run out. He sagged in his uncle's arms as he was lifted from the floor where he'd fallen asleep. Thorin stretched out on the rug, his young nephew resting on his chest.

"Join us," he requested of his wife. Lina gave a weary smile as she sank down beside him. One strong arm reached out to cradle her body while his other wrapped around their young charge.

"You still wish for a child, don't you?" he observed quietly.

"Yes," Lina admitted.

"He is as much our son as he is to Dis," Thorin told her, "As the heir, he must be."

"It's not the same."

"I know, love. I know."

Silence fell over the pair as they waited. By the time the midwife came to inform Thorin of his sister's child, all three were sound asleep on the floor.

A/N: I'm getting slow with updating. Technically it's still the day after I posted the last chapter. Hopefully the next chapter will be easier to write. I'd started writing a completely different chapter originally, then scrapped it. We're getting ever closer to the quest!