Born from Stone (A Thorin Oakenshield story)

The rise of a King

Thorin's palms steadied the strings of the harp and the magical flow of music into his chambers stopped. His eyes fell on his nephews that were sitting in front of the fire. They didn't seem bothered by all these men that had just arrived and were looking heavily at Thorin, neither that their uncle had stopped playing their favourite song. Young Kili was struggling to write down his name in the Angerthas-Erebor variation of Cirth and Fili was helping him. "Must I tell my sister to take the boys?" Thorin's voice was almost grim with certainty of dark news. His eyes lingered on Balin and Dwalin that were one step ahead with their heads bowed.

"Thorin, we need to talk now..." Dwalin took a step forth, but Balin's hand fell on his brother's arm and stopped him.

He turned at Thorin, "It would be wise to call Dis first".

He looked at Bjarki, his first commander in the absence of Dwalin and said, "bring her here". The man bowed and left quickly. "Did you just arrive?" He said and pushed back the harp.

"Yes laddie", Balin said and looked at his feet defeated.

Thorin shook his head and turned towards the boys. He had a lot of questions, but none was wise to be addressed in front of his nephews, "Fili my son, come here and bring me Kili's book. Let me see what you both did with the name", he said calmly, knowing that the storm was right there waiting for him in the form of five demanding looking dwarf-lords.

His older nephew looked up and smiled. Then he took Kili's book that said, "Hey! I haven't finished!" And brought it over to Thorin for inspection.

"This line is too perpendicular to that one...it looks like a cross not the rune of the letter -L-. Needs to be slightly angular, like this", Thorin frowned at the scribbled runes and showed Fili the mistake just as Kili burrowed between them to have a better look, "...This one is pretty much alright, but you need to work on your calligraphy. See? At the end of this line up there, you have to make a small star, like this...", he worked over Kili's try.

"Oh, right...." Kili's mouth dropped open and Fili slapped him on the back of the head.

"Told you to do it that way and you didn't want to, idiot!"

"Hey! Don't hit me!" Kili cried and pushed Fili back.

Thorin's lips pursed and he closed his eyes patiently, "Not now lads, we have people present", he steadied Fili and grabbed Kili by the arm holding him away from his brother. They looked at the door, but it was only Fili that frowned deeply. His age allowed him to feel the difference of this night to all the others that Thorin helped them study runes and calculations. Kili was looking at the newcomers with a bewildered stare and his finger poking his nose.

"What are all these people doing here uncle?" Fili looked up to him clearly worried.

The stormy entrance of his sister didn't allow him an answer though.

"What's the matter Thorin? Are the boys alright?" She asked out of breath, "I was with Oda at the Southeastern Halls. We had a small medical emergency with a newborn".

Her brother pursed his lips "I need you to take the kids".

She felt waves of apprehension running through her spine as she looked over at the five solemn faces, but her eyes remained on the two at the forefront. Instantly she asked the question that Thorin had avoided, "Balin, Dwalin when did you arrive, where is dad?"

Dwalin averted his eyes and Balin looked at her mournfully, but they both remained silent.

She frowned, "Why are you looking at me like that? Where is Thrain?" Her voice dropped.