Where she is right - The story of Dís, daughter of kings.

31

He did not call the healer.

But he send word to Oin to be ready. Just in case.

Then the king walked slowly down the hallway to his father's room. There he sat down in one of the ancient chairs and thought back to Kíli's birth. Dís had been in labour for almost a whole day. It had been a terrible torture. He had heard her groan and scream through the thin wooden walls while he tried to calm down Fíli, who was even more scared than he himself. But when Mathilde had finally come to fetch him and he went with her, highly concerned, he had found his sister exhausted but smiling with her second son in arms in their old rickety bed. And the memory of all pain and effort seemed to fade already. These first days with the tiny dwarfling had been so very exciting and so amazing to him. Although they had for Kíli at first only a few flimsy diapers made of old bedsheets and much-too-big jackets from Mathilde's children, they had been so indescribable happy. He was so glad they were with him. A true family. Maybe that was why it was so hard for him to look forward to Fredrin with all his heart, he thought. It somehow felt like betrayal on Fíli and Kíli. Pondering and restless he rose and paced the room.

The door opened without a knock and Dwalin came in.

"Here you are", he grumbled, "Balin says your son's on his way?"

Thorin nodded and breathed out aloud.

"What?", asked Dwalin.

"What would Fíli say, if he were here today?", Thorin asked back.

"Well, he'd be happy for you. Would probably sit in Skemtar with Kíli, drinking to a light birth for his aunt."

"But he would have been king without this child", Thorin opposed.

"For you he would have become king. But if your son would have taken this burden from him, he would not have been angry. Nah! He always wanted your praise and your smile. Not the throne or such a thing round the head", Dwalin growled, pointed at the king's crown, "Well, who would actual?"

Thorin snorted with a grin.

And Dwalin went on:

"They were good boys. I loved them. And your son will not replace them. No one can do that. Not in my heart anyway. But your son will join in. In my heart. For sure", he concluded.

"Just why can I not see it like that?", Thorin asked contrite.

"Because you're a damned idot!", Dwalin answered sternly, "Our queen's labouring her ass off over there and you sit around here'n wrack your brain over such a nonsense"

Thorin groaned.

"As wise as you speak you should be king", he muttered.

"Forget it!", Dwalin replied.

"Well, let us drink on a light birth for Alwa", Thorin suggested with a sigh.

"Now you're talking sense finally", Dwalin grumbled.

They went over to Thorin's study and the king filled two glasses with a herbal spirit. They clinked glasses and drank. Next doors they heard Alwa give a howl and looked at each other concerned.

"You haven't told me today how many children Dwin will have", Thorin remarked dryly.

"Come off it! After all the midwife told us... Twice as much can go wrong with twins! I'd rather have her have just one to be honest", he growled softly.

"Everything will be fine. Dwin is strong", Thorin answered.

"Why the hell is everybody telling me that, damn?", Dwalin burst out, "If only the smaller one comes first, she's in trouble!"