Chapter 12
Thorin does not dally in his preparations to see to his children's training. By the next morning, he has edited his schedule to incorporate the ability to oversee the core foundations his children will need to succeed. He settles on three, one for each of their years, as it would not due to overexert the children: Weaponry, leadership, and history. All would be allowed to attend the weaponry introduction, as self-defense is everyone's right. The core family would attend the initial leadership course together. In some parts, the family unit would be split so that Thorin and Theodore would be together while Thia and Thoria would learn more of their expected roles. Lastly, Thia would attend her individual lessons with Loika while the children were regaled with stories of their history. Although she is not enthusiastic about the whole thing, Thia does not fight her husband about it.
The lessons started slow, with the whole group visiting the various sites that would be utilized throughout their instruction. It's the most Thia and the children have been allowed to view since they arrived and it can not be denied that Erebor is indeed beautiful. Enormous monuments pay homage to their ancestors. Water runs freely and the heights are something to behold. Funny enough, it reminds the woman of her home. Every corner is covered with life. People are constantly buying and selling wares, proof of a stable economy. No matter the hour, someone is setting off to work while someone else is just coming home. Like the city that never sleeps, Erebor is never totally dark, always lit up with jewels and waiting for the next event. Even the forges never stop; the clanking has become the heartbeat of the kingdom. The forges heat the mountain and supply a continuous flow of employment. No dwarf is ever without a way to provide. Thia's favorite part of it all is the River Running. If the Arkenstone was the mountain's heart, then the Celduin is its blood. It keeps the mountain and surrounding areas alive, ensuring good health and plenty.
It is also the river Thorin claimed Azog perished in. To the young Queen, it is a wonderful place and she'd love to see Ravenhill once more. To her husband, it is a place to be avoided, lest she somehow discover the truth. He does his best to keep her protected and has learned to work with her gift of sight, rather against it. He knows she is aware of why Gloin and Gimli went to Rivendell. That Erebor received an offer from a cloaked figure sometime before she arrived. She knows much but what she doesn't know, the king does not tell. Especially of the darkness.
When the tour is complete, Thorin dismisses the half-elf. He will not allow him to partake in lessons of leadership, finding them to be wasted on the child. Despite what others might think, the King does care for the child of his sister's son. However, granting him his favor would prove to be detrimental to Kiliel's health. Keeping the boy at a safe distance keeps the masses content and the child alive. The dwarf had considered sending him away but none would take in the bastard half child of an exiled prince. To the elves, he was a dwarf and to the dwarves, he was an elf. Had Kili not been banished, the King would have sent them away together. As it stands, he is barely keeping the child breathing but it is all he can directly do. So he sends the child on his way as Thia and the twins settle in his office.
Not to appear as though he has nothing to learn, the King elects his visiting cousin, Dain, to instruct. Thorin would have chosen Balin, however, Dain arrived yesterday to celebrate the returned Queen and Durin's newest children. He was loud and boisterous when he arrived, not settling at all until Thia and the children were brought before him. He is no fool and knew there would be a few stragglers hesitant to believe in her return. Even he was skeptical but once he saw her, all was well. He greeted her with open arms, confirming her to be the same woman he'd met years earlier. He is Thorin's closest cousin and wants nothing but the best for him. If that is Thia, then he will do his best to keep her there. Sitting across from the family, he eyes them before beginning.
"What is a leader?"
"Oh." he points at Thia and she sits up straighter in surprise "By definition or..."
"By any means ye deem to define it."
"Well... by a hard definition I'd say it's a person is in command." she shrugs under his expectant gaze with a frown "What I feel a leader does or should be is... a support."
"Hm. Go on then."
"People follow others because they are lacking something. Direction, safety, or purpose. They search for someone who can support them by providing those things and then offer their servitude in exchange for it. So to me, a leader provides stability to the point of growth."
"Beautifully worded, my dear." he nods approvingly and the young Queen lets a sigh before glaring at her husband. He pats her knee, not disturbed at all. Dain watches it all before turning his attention to the children "And ye, Princess? What do ye believe a leader to be?"
"... Someone who... tells people what to do!"
"Ha! Yes, I suppose that is true as well! Very good, my child. And what say you, young prince?"
"..." His only answer is to look up at his mother. To him, she is a great leader
"Hn. I see. Yes. Your mother has been the head, the leader, of your family for some time." The dwarf says no more on the matter, deeming it completely out of his place to define the family dynamic with both parents sitting beside each other. When they are able, they will define it themselves "These are all, in their own way, correct. The question is the one that is skewed. A better, though just as skewed, one would, What makes a good leader and what kind of leader are you?"
It is a hefty lesson. The questions are all good ones but not truly geared toward children. They fly right over their heads and even the Queen struggles to keep up as the dwarf continues. Thia wishes she'd brought a pen but makes a mental note of each question, wishing to answer them one day.
Can you better yourself or others?
When bad things happen, are you prepared?
Are you present?
Do you trust freely?
Which lessons do you deem worth learning?
Being a leader comes with authority and power. How do you use it?
Are you cruel or take from others simply because you can?
When your followers look at you, what do they see?
What makes an enemy? A friend? Can you tell the difference and can you change them?
"Most importantly, avoid flatterers. Daft boot lickers, the lot of them."
Thankfully, the first was the only leadership lesson Dain taught. Thorin thankfully took over after the initial onslaught. His lessons followed the same idea though. Defining rigidly what is but never condemning what isn't. Thia and Thoria did not attend this lesson again. Only Thorin and Theodore. It became an often silent conversation between Father and Son where they simply watched each other exist. Some would find it wasteful but wiser folks would call it a peaceful bonding. Without those quiet moments, the first time Thia allowed the child out of her sight while in the training hall would have gone much poorer than it had.*** And it went quite poorly indeed though it all worked out in the end. Lessons were learned and no one was permanently maimed.
The weeks flew by without much incident, aside from the constant argument between the couple trying to decide on a caretaker for her trip. The young woman could easily fight until the very moment she was scheduled to leave and would if it didn't mean some poor dwarf would be sent on an extensive journey with little to no notice. A week before her official departure, she finally sits with her husband to make a final decision. While she enjoys him alone, she invites the former company to the receiving rooms often. The king is ever protective of her and the company members are some of the only people she does not need to squabble with him to let her receive. She doesn't have many she'd like to visit but the notion that she must ask annoys her either way. Still, what remains of the company gathers in order to amuse their friend. Only 8 of the 13 are in the mountain currently. She misses her friends but makes due. Oin goes first, pointing at the king's advisor.
"Balin could go."
"Yeah, but he already has to babysit, Thorin."
"Thia-"
"Oh!" Ori pipes up before cowering at the King's glower. Thia waves the monarch off, nodding for the dwarf to continue "W-what about, Master Lhakpo?"
"No, that won't work. Theodore doesn't like him and he hates kids."
"Oh..."
"It was a good suggestion, Ori." his brother consoles. Dori straightens his collar before offering his own thoughts "How about Roir, then?"
"Too scary; he makes Kiliel nervous."
"The lad needs-"
"-you NOT to try and toughen him up at the moment." the dwarf huffs at the Queen's dismissal. While he is fond of her, she is quite the character "Next?"
"…" Shrugging his shoulders, Fili tosses a name in for good measure "Gotun? He's been doing well."
"He and his wife just had a baby though. Plus..." taking a sip of her tea, Thia hums "He's too nice, you know? Thoria would walk all over him."
"Mahal..."
"Thorin, I want nothing to do with that guy without a good reason."
"No, I meant..." the group chuckles at his frustration "Just take Dwalin."
"No way! He'd never let me do ANYTHING." The dwarf king shifts in aggravation but his Queen shrugs playfully. Their children indulge in their new gifts from the company as their parents talk; every once in a while, they come over for one thing or another "Besides, if I took Dwalin along then who would watch your back?"
"There are many guards here, lass. I trained most of 'em myself and have confidence in their abilities." the aforementioned dwarf puts his two cents in. He stands nearby, arms crossed, and brow pinched "Thorin will be well protected with or without my presence, ye needn't worry."
"I trust your judgment but I trust your strength of character more." she turns to face the guard with determination as he blinks back at her in surprise "I won't leave my husband's safety to anyone but the best and that means you, Dwalin."
"… Then I will see it done." he acknowledges with a bow and the woman grins at the extra puff in his chest when he rights himself "He is nearly as difficult to protect as yerself."
"Yeah, but I've got the good sense to try and know when I need protecting."
"None of this helps determine a companion for you and the children." Thorin butts in, sounding slightly peeved. Mostly because they are speaking as though he isn't there. He sits beside his wife through it all; his attempt to keep her grounded until a final decision is made "You shouldn't leave without one... and I do not need protecting"
"Yes yes, your highness." she drawls, sticking out her tongue childishly when he cuts his eyes at her. She takes a moment to seriously put some thought into the problem before smiling "I like how you used 'shouldn't' instead of 'can't'. Is someone trying to win Brownie points?"
"Thia…" his voice warns but she grins wider "What are brownies?"
"He's tryin' to get into yer trousers." Dwalin rumbles as Thorin's head snaps to him "Aren't ye?"
"Probably." she admits with a mock sigh and patting her legs "Not that I'm wearing any."
"Makes it easier I guess."
"You two!" he growls, eyes shifting between them. It's hardly a proper conversation to have with the company present but even the more well-to-do dwarves find amusement in the King's upset "I am not-"
"A shame." Dwalin says with a shrug and a wink at the girl as Thorin seethes "Yer loss."
"It has to be someone from the company. No one else knows I can jump from place to place. So... Nori." Thia concludes before the dwarf can reprimand his friend "You keep the guard, I'll take the thief."
"Wait..." Nori starts from his place. He's been a quiet observer until now "I don't think-"
"The two of ye fight constantly." Dwalin cuts off the dwarf's comment with a raise of his brow, allowing himself to be pulled away by Thoria and Theodore into a game without rules "An odd choice but unless Thorin objects, it's yours to make."
"Thorin?"
"... If you are sure?" she confirms her choice with a firm inclination of her head as they watch Dwalin play with the children. 'Nothing but a big softy.' She thinks. Thorin sighs with a shake of his head at his friend's actions "I will honor your choice but I am curious."
"As am I. If I may ask" Dori starts, lifting his hand to draw attention to himself "Why him?"
"He's fast, I can trust him well enough, he knows how to get out of a tight situation," she snickers as she counts on her fingers, earning a curious glance from the group "I can trip him if I need to outrun someone and…"
"And?" her husband prompts, clearly not fazed by her sacrificial choice of a fellow dwarf "And what?"
"He's afraid of me."
"I fear no woman, your HIGHNESS."
"Of course, you don't." she responds sarcastically, turning back to the monarch "Now that that is cleared up, there is one last thing I need to take care of."
"Oh?"
"Yup. It's long and hard and-" Thorin's cheeks light up like a Christmas tree while Nori hoots "Calm down, it's just a sword."
"That is precisely why I am NOT calm." he hisses, standing and dragging her away from the now traumatized group "I understand that you have been in great need of rest and while I admit that you have been neglecting my 'sword' these last few days, it is not something I wish to have shared so freely."
"I have not been neglecting you, Thorin." she retorts, rolling her eyes "I've just been busy with all the lessons you had us taking. You've been pretty busy too. Care to share what keeps you out into the wee hours of the night? I can't tend to you if you're not with me"
"... I am not adverse to you tending to me now. I do, however, desire to continue this in a more… private setting."
"… There's something in the nursery that I need to give you." Thia knows he is misinterpreting her intentions but cannot bring herself to correct him. "This should only take a minute or so."
"You underestimate me."
"Oh stop it." she swats at him with a blush. Sliding her hand into his own, she waves to the group to get their attention "Dwalin, watch the kids for a little bit. We'll be right back. Take this time to show Nori the gift I got you."
"I'd be glad to." He leers eerily
"Papa..." Thoria calls loudly and we turn as a unit to listen to her. She puts her hands on her tiny hips, puffs out her cheeks, and wags a little finger at him "No seeds in Mama's room!"
"Wha-" he starts in surprise
Ok. We are getting closer to where I need to be. Keep up the good work!
***There will be a side chapter about this.