"Waaaaaahhhhhhh!"
"For the love of Mahal!" Thorin said exasperated, trying unsuccessfully to comfort their little one who was bawling her head off, just like the other dwarfling in the room. Farin was in Ila's arms, and while he enjoyed cuddling with her very much, knew that she wasn't going to be the one to feed him.
"She is teething darling, she needs something cool to suck on." Ila said and handed Farin to Dwala and took Thora from her husband.
"There, there my love," Ila said, patting her baby gently on the back. While Thora was fussing with her mouth wide open, Ila inserted a finger into Thora's mouth to gently rub her gums. Thora protested at first, but quickly settled down and let her mother massage her.
"What on earth are you doing?" Thorin looked on in confusion.
"Massaging her little gums. It soothes the swelling and discomfort she feels from the tooth coming in underneath." Ila explained and it certainly seemed to be working.
"How did you figure that out?" Thorin asked.
"Your sister told me. Don't you remember when Fili and Kili were teething?"
"That was a longgggg time ago. And whenever they started crying I simply handed them back to Dis."
"Ah. Well it sounds like you were a lot of help then." Ila smirked at him and Dwala giggled, no longer afraid of Thorin.
Thorin sighed and ignored them, pulling on his furs and giving himself a check in the mirror.
Farin was still crying, wanting to eat already, but Dwala didn't dare feed him with Thorin in the room. Ila seeing that turned to Thorin and hinted at it.
"I do believe Farin, son of Dwalin would like to have his lunch already, my dearest love."
"I am about to walk out the door, wife." He assured her, then spoke to Dwala. "Though if he is anything like his father, I don't know how you manage to do anything but feed him."
Dwala laughed. "Yes, he certainly has a healthy appetite."
Thorin kissed his lovelies on the tops of their heads, then left to go about the day's business.
Dwala wasted no time pulling her breast free for Farin as soon as the door shut behind Thorin. Her plump little dwarfling did not like to be kept waiting when he was hungry and Dwala quickly popped her nipple in his mouth.
Instant silence.
Dwala smiled lovingly at her son as he fed, forgetting Ila was even in the room.
"You know, I could write to father. Ask him to send someone else while you tend to Farin."
Dwala looked up shocked, and was a tiny bit hurt.
"Ila! But no one else has ever cared for you! And I am not so useless now am I?"
"No one said anything about your being useless! Dwala really, you can't believe that I think that."
Dwala didn't really, but the idea of someone else taking over her duties did not amuse her.
"No…no of course not. But it makes me feel useless, and not like a very good friend."
"Dwala, you just birthed a giant dwarfling. He needs you more than I. You two need to bond and you need to be completely free to enjoy him, as I have with Thora. I want you to have what I've had with your baby, and not have to worry about anything but the two of you. And I can't believe that Dwalin wouldn't agree with me."
Ila made her case and Dwala had to admit she had some good points. She loved Ila, and had always been devoted to her, but found that these days she could not get enough of her little Farin. Even Dwalin had joked that he had replaced him as first in her heart. It was true that Ila needed help with all her daily functions and with the care of the princess. Thorin couldn't be expected to help her dress everyday….he didn't even know what he was doing and as a king he shouldn't have to. Perhaps, if she was honest with herself, Dwala had to admit this wasn't a terrible idea.
Ila could see Dwala turning everything over in her head before she said anything. She was obviously considering it.
"Well….I suppose you have some points."
"You suppose?" Ila asked.
Dwala sighed. "Well, alright. But this maid must understand that she is only temporary!"
Ila burst into laughter at Dwala's insistency. "Do you want to tell her yourself? You will have to brief her when she arrives anyway."
Dwala smiled despite herself. "Who will you choose then? Or will you let your mother do that?"
"I don't know, whoever my mother wants to spare I suppose." Ila replied, getting up to place Thora on the bed so she could go to the table where Thorin kept scrolls and ink.
"Although….I could ask her to pick someone that Fili might fancy…" Ila added, sounding giddy at the idea.
"What do you mean?" Dwala asked confused.
"Oh well you know, Fili doesn't think he is attractive, has to watch while all the maids fall for his younger brother, etc. I would love to see him smitten with a maid who felt the same way."
"But how can you know his type?"
"Well…I don't know, but who wouldn't love Fili?"
"It could backfire you know, she could fall for Kili like all the others you speak of, like Asta for instance."
Ila frowned, Dwala had a point now.
"Well, it can't hurt to try. And perhaps she will fall for Kili, and be the love of his life. It could be a good thing either way."
Dwala nodded and pulled herself free of her babe, now full and ready to drift off into a peaceful nap. She took him to lay on the bed near Thora, who immediately rolled over to reach for Farin.
"Oh Ila! Look!" Dwala nearly squealed.
Ila looked up to see her princess rolling over to reach for Farin with her little hands. She had been fascinated with Farin since she laid eyes on him, not having ever seen another baby before. She was trying to inch her little way over to him, and he was staring back at her from under heavy eyelids.
Ila rose to come over and stand next to Dwala, watching their babies watch each other.
Ila's eyes welled a bit and she wrapped her arm in Dwala's.
"Perhaps they already love each other, I know they will one day." Dwala said.
"I'm sure they do, perhaps they will even marry." Ila added.
The two smiled at each other, then spent a moment gazing at their babes before going about their tasks. Ila returned to the desk to pen the request to her father and mother, Dwala to folding laundry. It was all blissfully domestic to the two new mothers, particularly the sound of quiet babies.
Downstairs, Thorin was leaning back in his chair during the daily council meeting. A very rotund dwarf, Bombur, was giving them the run down on food stores and costs for the month. Thorin was relaxed and a bit sleepy, though he was trying not to show it. The council meetings of late had been rather boring, but that was a good thing. No wars, no famine or droughts, no debts to be repaid. Everything was peaceful under the mountain with the major repairs and restorations finally winding down. The more intricate details and artwork especially would be ongoing, but the major projects had largely been completed now and Thorin was happy to know it. It allowed him time to focus on ruling properly, on leisure, and on what he held most dear, his wife and daughter. It would also give him time to spend with his nephews, grooming Fili and making sure Kili stayed out of trouble.
Kili was currently unaccounted for, but Fili was sitting next to him as always. It was true, he did not have an heir yet, but he was sure Ila would give him one next time. This meant that Fili had spent years being groomed for the throne, but with no throne to ascend to. Thorin knew Fili must be disappointed, though he never showed it. Still, he knew he must feel so, and it was a shame that his cool head, just nature, and discerning mind would be wasted.
Two things had occurred to Thorin that might remedy that though. First, if he were to pass while his yet to be conceived son was too young to rule, Fili could rule as regent until the heir was old enough to assume the throne. Second, he could send Fili to rule the Blue Mountains. He had left a council in charge there that answered to him, but it would accept Fili if he installed him as ruler.
These were the thoughts running through Thorin's mind at the moment, not how many tons of potatoes the Erebor storerooms currently held. What to do with Kili though...he had a few thoughts about that as well. A military career seemed more fitting, once he was a bit older. For now he was fine as he was, enjoying his youth and tutoring Ila in archery and entertaining her when he himself could not. The two were now spending a great deal of time together, but that meant that Thorin didn't have to worry about her. As he had thought many times those last few weeks, everything was finally coming together under the mountain, and he couldn't be more content. He would share his ideas for his nephews with them both later, when he worked out the finer details, but having a plan for everything made him feel better. And presently, Thorin had everything to feel good about.
That evening after supper, Dwala had retired early as was her custom now so she could feed Farin and put him to bed, hoping to get some sleep before he woke in the night. Dwalin usually took his time at supper, joining her just as Farin was going down for the night. Dwala had just finished feeding him and was walking him about to burp when she heard the door open.
"There he is," Dwalin's deep voice came softly so as not to startle his son, hoping he would soon be sleeping. He took him gently from Dwala and she went about changing for bed.
"Did you have a good supper then? I love mummy's breast too,"
"Stop that!" Dwala called to him but Dwalin ignored her. Farin's blue eyes blinked up at his creator's, growing sleepier by the second and having no idea what his father was talking about.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Ila gave me some news today that I think you will approve of." Dwala called over her shoulder.
"Aye, what's that?" he asked, only half listening as he rocked Farin back and forth gently in his arms, trying to put his lad to sleep.
"She is going to have her parents send a temporary replacement for me, just for a while, so that I can devote all my time to Farin."
That Dwalin did hear, and turned to face her with a great smile."
"I do approve of that! And I hope that means more time for Farin's father as well?"
"Naturally, you silly dwarf." Ila smirked at him.
Farin was sound asleep in his father's great hands now, and Dwalin laid him in his crib, where Sam insisted on lying next to every night. He obviously believed that it was his duty to guard the newest and smallest member of the family, and so he no longer slept on the bed with Dwala and Dwalin.
Dwala was in nothing but her chemise now as she climbed into bed, exhausted. It had only been two weeks since she'd given birth and then every moment had been devoted to Farin's care. Dwalin made quick work of his clothes and then joined her in bed naked.
"Why are you wearing clothes?"
"Because I am more comfortable this way."
"You never slept in clothes before the baby was born."
"I know."
"So what has changed?"
Dwala turned away from him, not wanting to say.
He pulled her to him from behind, his lips resting on her neck.
"Tell me," he whispered.
Dwala mumbled something but he couldn't understand her.
"What?" he asked.
Dwala sighed and didn't answer.
Dwalin lightly tickled her side and she swatted him hard on the hand.
"I said I'm fat." She answered moodily and turned further towards the wall.
"Stop that," he said sternly. Dwalin kissed her neck and pulled her chemise up to her hips to rub her thighs. He felt her instinctively draw up and he knew it was still too soon.
"I've got nothing in mind tonight dear, you are still recovering. But I won't have you talking bad about yourself."
Dwala pouted into the darkness. She had honestly never felt like a beautiful dwarf, especially not growing up in Ila's shadow, but her post baby body left her feeling less appealing than ever. Not that it wasn't worth it; she wouldn't trade her body for her Farin any day, but her self-esteem had taken a hit.
Dwalin kissed her exposed shoulder slowly and Dwala relaxed a bit, enjoying the sensation of her husband's lips and beard on her skin. Dwalin laced his fingers in hers and they settled comfortably into each other.
"You are beautiful to me, no matter how you may feel." He whispered into her ear, just so that she could barely hear him.
Dwala felt her eyes water and she squeezed his hand, then fell into the deep and exhausted sleep that only new mothers could.