12

Five Years Later

"Oh, Fili, hush! It's alright, my dear. Look, Uncle Thorin is here! Look, Fili!" Dis whispered to her son, holding him against her hip. She groaned as he moved in between his loud fits of crying, shifting him away from her very pregnant belly in visible discomfort.

"Fili, what's wrong?" Thorin quickly hung his jacket on the rung next to Dis' door, approaching his nephew. Lifting the toddler up by his armpits, he took his weight off of his sister and held him as he sobbed. Talia walked into his sister's home soon after, touching the distressed mother's arm in comfort.

"Mommy says... she says I won't get to practice with my—" Fili hiccupped as hot tears streamed down his face. "Sword!" He wailed, burying his face in Thorin's neck.

"Oh, Mahal. Why did I have kids?" Dis sighed, turning to Talia as Thorin bounced his nephew lightly to calm him down.

"This evening with Beldan will remind you." Talia smiled, helping her pull on her coat as her son continued to scream behind them. "Go. We've got him."

"Fili, don't cause any trouble!"

"I just want to play with my sword!"

"Darling, I only said you couldn't because Uncle Thorin and Auntie Talia were on the way!" Dis sighed, running her fingers through his blonde locks in an effort to comfort him.

"Fili, we can play with your sword after your nap. How's that sound?" The child perked up and ceased his noise at Talia's words, nodding excitedly. He dropped down from Thorin's arm and padded over to Talia silently, who picked him up again. The siblings looked on in disbelief as she guided his head to her neck as they walked to his bedroom.

"I swear, he just flips it on and off like a switch." Dis said, hugging her older brother quickly in thanks.

"He's five, Dis. His emotions are all over the place." Thorin let go, giving his sister a quick kiss on the forehead. "Have fun. And be careful!"

Talia heard Thorin bidding his sister goodbye in the next room as she closed Fili's door behind them, returning her hand to Fili's back. She laid them both down on Fili's small bed, kissing him on the forehead as he snuggled closer into her side. Fili had always been closer to her than Thorin for whatever reason, but Talia suspected it was because she would always relent to the wishes of her nephew. She absolutely adored the child, as anyone could tell. In actuality, Fili had grown up hearing great battle stories of both his aunt and uncle, but he loved the story of how Talia earned the tooth on her chain best. He couldn't wait to grow up to be like her, a fearless slayer of whatever beast threatened her and her kin.

Just as Talia thought the boy had fallen asleep, a small voice piped up from her neck. "Auntie Talia?"

"Yes?"

"Can you tell me the story of the tooth again?"

Talia chuckled at the boy, humming softly as she thought of a new way to elaborate the tale. Today, however, she wasn't feeling that inventive. "I've told you that hundreds of times, Fili. Tell me a story for once!" She sassed jokingly, making her nephew giggle.

"Fine." Fili relented, glancing at her fingers as his own small hands fumbled around hers. "What about your ring?"

"Oh," Talia looked down at her nephew, who was twisting the silver band on her finger, "I'm afraid there's not much of a story. Your uncle gave it to me."

"I figured that much. The stone is blue."

Talia snorted at his observation. Even the five-year-old could tell you how much Thorin liked the color. "Do you know whose ring this was, Fili? Before it was mine?"

Fili ran a small thumb over the stone. "No."

"It was your great-grandmother's wedding ring, forged in the great halls of Erebor itself. The King made it for her. It was a very special gift."

"How come Uncle Thorin gave it to you if it was hers?"

"Well, this ring wasn't just hers. It was passed down to all of the Queens of Erebor as they were wed to the sons of Durin. Now, it is mine."

"I forgot you were a Queen."

"Well, not yet. But you're a prince, Fili! You tell me you never think about who your relatives are?" She poked him in the belly, making him laugh.

"When did he give it to you?"

"What, you don't remember? You were there!" She teased, which made Fili's eyes widen at her statement.

"I was?!"

"It was the day you were born, Fili. Your mother asked us what was taking us so long, and you were lying right there next to us, all swaddled in her arms. And for once, we didn't have a good answer. So, Uncle Thorin asked me to marry him right there, and I said yes. Two days later, we were wed. You were there, too. I tickled your nose with my lilies and you sneezed so loudly that I thought the Ents would wake up!"

Fili giggled harder, snuggling into Talia's neck once more. "That's a nice story."

"A new favorite?"

"No. Nothing beats you killing the Warg."

"As it should be." Talia winked down at him, making him smile sleepily up at her. She could tell he was tired, between his crying and all. "Sleep well, my prince." She said, unwinding herself from him and tucking him snugly under the covers. But before she could turn away, he had one more question for his aunt.

"Auntie Talia?"

"Yes?"

"We're still gonna get to play with swords after my nap, right?"

Talia paused, smelling sizzling meat in the kitchen. No doubt Thorin had started cooking. "Right after dinner."

"But you said—"

"One of the most important things for you to be as a warrior is well-rested and well-fed." Talia interrupted, ruffling his blonde hair. "Now, the quicker we do those things, the quicker we'll get to fight, yes? Dinner will be ready when you get up." She kissed his forehead once more, winking and waving as she shut his bedroom door behind her.

"How is he?" Thorin asked once she reentered the kitchen, plopping on a chair at the table as she watched her husband cook. "Calmer?"

"Calmer." She agreed, watching the muscles in his back ripple through his tunic as he moved about the room.

"You've always had a way with him." Thorin remarked over his shoulder, making her smile. She suddenly stood, walking towards him and deciding to make herself useful. "Ever since he was born, he's latched on to you."

"Maybe," Talia said, pouring water into some cups, "But I have no doubt that the next one will love you even more than I, Thorin. As impossible as it sounds."

Thorin snorted, flipping the meat in the pan. "How do you know?"

"Well, with this one, you can just be an uncle. With Fili, you've already started to groom him to be King, though you might not know it. Your emphasis on table manners last week didn't agree so well with him."

"Talia, it's not normal for children to throw forks at Dwalin when he doesn't give them enough attention."

"He's reckless. He's got that Durin blood in him." She said, bringing the cups to the table. "Just like you were. Skipping fittings for the ball, roughhousing in the dirt..."

"You still remember that?" He looked up at her, a surprised but pleasant grin on his face.

"Of course I do," She walked back into the kitchen, leaning in to whisper in his ear, "Bad seeker."

Thorin rolled his eyes as she laughed quietly, helping him plate the dish. The way her arm would brush against his sometimes still sent tingles down his spine. "Those times are far behind us." He said quietly, the grin slipping from his face. Unlike Talia, he tried to avoid thoughts of Erebor as much as possible; he could only remember the rage that he felt towards that dragon, the rage that made him want to march halfway across the world and kill Smaug himself.

Talia glanced at him, seeing his sudden change in mood. She took a step closer, bringing a hand to his face and turning his cheek towards hers. He watched as her green eyes searched his blue irises before she leaned in, pressing a soft kiss on his lips. When they broke apart, her forehead still rested on his as she began to smile.

"Aye," She whispered, curling a wisp of his hair around her finger. "You're greyer."

He laughed, kissing her again before turning back to the dish. She always knew how to make him smile. "Not by much."

"No, but more so than I."

"We're practically the same age, Talia. That's bullshit and you know it."

She smacked his arm loudly as they carried the plates to the table, scolding him for cursing in such close proximity of their nephew. Just as she had placed Fili's dish on the wood, a knock on the door interrupted the couple from their bickering. Soon, Balin and Dwalin walked in the house, exchanging greetings and hugs between the two.

"There's extra in the kitchen if you want it." Talia waved them off to get their own plates just before Dwalin got settled.

"Where's the lad?" Balin asked.

"Right here!" Fili yelled, racing from his bedroom and running head-first into Balin, nearly taking the dwarf out.

"OI! Hello, Fili. Good to see you." Balin smiled, ruffling his blonde head as they moved to sit down.

"Here you are, Talia." Dwalin said, sitting next to his brother as he passed the bread to her. Soon, the five of them were all settled in for a lovely meal, much like those that the elder four shared in the pub. The only difference was a slight adjustment in their typical cursing and drinking habits, due to the presence of the young prince beside them. Still, they talked and laughed as the fire boomed behind them, the brothers beginning to take turns at impressing Fili with their conquests.

"You know, I once killed an Orc with just one finger. Gouged his eye right out of his body."

"Well, Fili, I ripped the very fangs of a Warg right from it's jaw. How else do you think your Auntie got her necklace?"

"First of all, not true, Balin." Thorin shot him a look, making him back down before he could protest. "And as for you, Dwalin, the Warg was already dead. Talia had killed it."

"Be grateful, Fili. You have two uncles practically fighting tooth and nail for your approval." Talia chuckled as Fili smiled alongside her.

"I am very grateful, Auntie." The prince said, his high-pitched voice warming all four of their hearts.

"Good." She grinned, standing and beginning to collect their empty plates. "Now, who wants desser—"

The door flew open with a BANG! as Beldan raced inside, panting as he held himself up with his hands on his knees. The poor dwarf was drenched, head to toe, from the downpour outside, but he hardly seemed to care as he caught his breath. Talia read his expression easily; she had only seen it once before.

"Da!" Fili raced over to him, embracing his father as he chuckled, hoisting him up onto his shoulders.

"It's time, isn't it?" Talia set the dishes in the sink calmly, ignoring the confused looks shot her way by Thorin and the brothers.

"Yep." Beldan sighed, nodding as he kept a firm grip on Fili's knees. "Son, are you ready to meet your new sibling?" He asked, looking up at his boy as he squealed with delight.

"Let's go. Dis'll have our heads if we miss it." Balin followed Fili and his father, racing out the door after them with Dwalin in tow. But Talia and Thorin hung back for a moment, sighing as they watched the onslaught of rain pound the ground outside. They were dreading their soon-to-be battle with it.

"Can you believe it? He's already here." Talia whispered, leaning into Thorin's chest as she felt his arms wrap around her waist.

"It goes by so fast." He agreed, his voice rumbling low in her ear. "Although..." Thorin reached around her, closing the front door as Talia watched his hand. "We might have some time left for other things."

Talia laughed noiselessly, feeling his lips already on her neck as she closed her eyes. "As much as I wish you were right, we don't want to miss this."

"We were there for the first one."

"Thorin!" She exclaimed, pushing off of her chest and laughing loudly this time. "What has gotten into you?" She asked, turning around and searching his eyes as their hands intertwined. The softness in his smile and the twinkle in his eyes was something she hadn't seen for a while, since Erebor.

"Maybe some of my youth."

"Come now, we're still young. I kid about our few grey hairs, but there aren't that many."

"You know what I mean." He whispered, looking down to her hands and playing with the ring on her finger. "From when we were home."

"Erebor was just a place." Talia stated, causing her husband's head to snap up suddenly. "Though I would do anything, and I mean anything, to exact revenge and get our kingdom back, it was merely where my home lived. My home is you, Dis, the brothers, our nephew, and the rest of the dwarves. They are still with us." She smiled at the blue of his eyes, bringing a hand to his cheek. "And we're about to meet another."

He leaned into her touch, kissing her sweetly as she closed her eyes, giving in to him. "When did you get so wise?" He mumbled, slinging his coat over himself as Talia followed suit.

"I don't know. I guess I was born brilliant."

Thorin shot her a look, rolling his eyes with a playful smirk on his face as he led her out of Dis' home and towards their new nephew.

"Debatable."

...

"Ma?"

"Yes?"

"What's he called?" Fili asked, sitting in between a sweaty Dis and an exhausted Beldan on the bed. Dis held her new son in his arms, gazing into his deep brown eyes with incomparable love. Thorin was joined by Talia, Frerin, and the rest of his kin and close friends as he watched the sentimental moment.

"I think we'll call this one Kili." Dis said, humming to herself as she thought about the name. "Yes, that seems right."

Just like on the night Fili was born, the baby was passed around the room as each individual took him in. An awe shone in their eyes for the new prince, their excitement palpable as they each got their turn with the baby. And again, the night grew late, seeing as Kili had been born in the wee hours just like his brother, so the dwarves each slowly said their goodbyes, filing out of the room. This time, Thorin and Frerin remained at Dis' side as she held Kili. Talia sat next to her, holding her other son as he slept peacefully in her arms.

"Can I hold him?" Frerin asked Dis.

"Didn't you already have a turn?" She teased, winking at Thorin as he chuckled.

"Oh, come on, sister. Have a heart." Dis relented, passing Kili to Frerin. The middle brother was in shock, smiling and making faces at the baby as the emotions flooded him. He was a different dwarf than he was in Erebor; it was evident that his cheekiness and drinking tendencies were far behind him, traded for a new love of his family.

But when Frerin reached out to stroke his finger, Kili grabbed it with such a certainty and quickness that really struck his uncle. "Dis..."

"What? Is something wrong?"

"Any chance you were messing around with an Elf nine months ago?"

Thorin snorted as Talia's jaw dropped in shock, causing Fili to stir slightly with his head on her collarbone. Maybe Frerin hadn't totally lost his audacity.

"No, Frerin." Dis stated firmly, unamused. "Why do you ask?"

"He grabbed my finger so fast I didn't even see it. If I didn't know better, he's got the makings of an Elvish archer in him." Frerin grinned back at his nephew, who still held on to him. "I can't wait to train him."

"He's destined to do great things if he's a son of yours, Dis." Talia said, smiling at her before turning her gaze back to Fili. "They both are."

"And they will." Thorin agreed with a grin, placing a hand on Dis' shoulder. "I'll make sure of it."

"As long as they don't turn out like Frerin, I'll allow it." Dis joked, shooting a look at her brother. "Accusing me of cheating. I'll have your head if you ever raise them to say things like that, you hear me?"

Frerin smiled. "That you will."