literature

An Unexpected Visit - Part 4

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Stubbornness of Dwarves

Dís closed the door behind her, for Tauriel had become too tired to talk further, and she needed the rest she could get in-between her contractions, which was getting closer by the hour. It was not long before the baby would come, and Dís knew that there was one thing she needed to do before it did.

Outside Kíli sat sound asleep in the chair next to the door, leaning forward on his left hand, snoring faintly as he always did. Dís kissed his head and touched his raven black hair softly, not wanting to wake her troubled son. She was pained by his distress, and she felt again the anger of her brother’s actions warm her cheeks.

«Mother?» Fíli stood leaning on one of the columns, and straightened himself when Dís came out into the corridor. His spoke softly, and Dís heard despair weaken his voice. She went to him and embraced her oldest son, who put his strong arms around her, needing her support in this moment of pain. Dís remembered when he was only three feet tall, and would fall asleep in her lap after a day of mischief. Fíli was a great man now, and still he needed her love to strengthen him and Dís was happy he knew he could always count on her. She loved him; she loved both of them, and she would do what she needed to help her sons.

«Get some rest,» she whispered softly.

«I will stay with my brother,» Fíli objected, with tears in his eyes. He pressed his forehead to hers, and kissed her hands. Dís looked at him with eyes full of pride. He was hers, and she was proud of the man he had become.

Since he and Kíli had left for the quest with Thorin they had both grown so much in her eyes, even if their physical appearance had not changed. They had both grown in their hearts, to become the men she had always known they would become. And they were nothing like their uncle.

«You have a strong heart, my son. You will be a great king!» Dís said and caressed his hair. Fíli smiled faintly. He met his mothers eyes and his gaze darkened.

«You will talk to him?»

«Yes, this needs to be straightened out. Even if he is king, he cannot do as he pleases and think he will get away with it. Remember, Fíli, you are only as great a king as your people believe. Selfishness and pride should never motivate your actions, if you are a king of not. Your uncle needs to understand this,» answered Dís, and exhaled unhappily. She did not look forward to the confrontation.

«Yes, mother, you are right of course. I hope you will change his mind, yet I worry it cannot be done.»

«Do not worry, my son, I know your uncle better than he knows himself. I will change his mind,» Dís reassured Fíli, yet his eyes were heavy with worry. Dís touched his cheek before turning around. She left her sons and started down the corridor, through a doorway and down another corridor, until she stood finally before Thorin’s chamber. She did not care to knock, for she was outraged, and cursed her brother fiery, like only dwarves could.

The room was bigger than most chambers in the mountain, as he was the king, for dwarves didn't feel the need for big chambers, as they rarely spent much time other than sleeping in them. They much more enjoyed walking in the grand open spaces of their underground city halls, where the ceiling was hundreds of feet tall and columns would rise, grand and sturdy like their people.

In his chamber Thorin had a hearth, a bed, a chest, and a table of beautifully carved wood, now laden with maps and parchment of different sorts. His armchair was of the same kind.
Thorin was surprised by his sister’s arrival when she threw open his door and entered his chamber with heavy and angry steps. He had anticipated her reaction, yet it startled him. He had rarely seen her this angry. Her cheeks were red like fire, and her eyes were narrow and hard.

«Dís,» Thorin said, yet he remained seated in his arm chair. He was slightly more unsure of himself than he was a moment ago. He had barely spoken her name when she cut him off with a quick hand movement.

«Have you finally gone mad?» She asked furiously. Thorin lowered his gaze upon the table again, and the parchment he had been studying when she interrupted him. He was not in the mood to fight with her.

«I will not speak of this with you,» he said plainly, and rubbed his head. He felt a slight headache arise on his forehead.

«The hell you are!» Dís exclaimed, her usual soft voice was sharp as the edge of an axe. «You are going to give Kíli your blessing. I do not care if it will cost you your pride!»

Thorin rose from the chair and met Dís’ eyes with a cold and hard expression. “No, I will not!”

«Can you truly be so proud that you dismiss your own nephew, my son, and turn him from his home? The home you both fought for?» Dís felt her eyes fill with water, but it was of anger and desperation rather than sadness.

«Kíli has made his choice, and so it is he who chooses to leave his family. So it is no concern of mine what he chooses to do with his life anymore, and neither is it yours.» Thorin turned away from her again and stood before the fireplace, leaning his hand on the cold stone surrounding it. Dís tightened her hands into fists. She hated him when he acted like nothing ever affected him.

«You have no children, Thorin, so how would you know what is and isn't my concern?» Dís said with clear spite in her voice.

«This is my kingdom, Dís. I do what I must to protect it.»

«Is he not of your people; of your kingdom?» Dís threw out her hands in exasperation.

«I have to maintain order. Kíli can not receive special treatment. He chose to break the law. I did what I judged to be best for all,» Thorin sighed annoyed, for he wished she would simply leave him alone.

«You sound just like our father!» Dís spat the words at him, disgust in her voice.

«You do not understand the responsibility which lies upon my shoulders!» Thorin thundered and turned abruptly to his sister, his eyes piercing hers and his hands in fists. «Neither you, nor Kíli. Unlike his brother, Fíli knows the trouble this means, for all of us. He is a fit king for this realm. Kíli have neither the strength nor wit of his brother.»

Dís stepped forward and slapped her hand across his face. «You do not speak about my son this way, Thorin!»

Thorin touched his face, as if amazed, then a fire burned in his eyes as he drew back his hand ready to strike his sister in a moment of rage, before realizing what he was about to do. With a mixture of shock and anger he lowered it again. Dís was not surprised by his uncontrolled anger; she knew her brother. She held his gaze steadily.

Dís spoke again, almost spitting her despise in his face. «You are right about one thing; Fíli will be a great king, greatest of this age, despite his uncle. The man I see in front of me now is no great king, if any at all.»

Thorin felt the blow of his sisters words like a war hammer to the chest, and he watched her with disbelieving eyes. He did not know what to answer, for he had never imagined his sister saying such hateful things about him. Thorin tried to read her face, but his sister’s eyes were fiery and her gaze steady as a rock. He could not detect a single thread of uncertainty in her face.

Thorin touched his beard and took a step back, as if steading himself.

«And you are an ass if you believe that Kíli is not strong. He may not be strong in the foolish way you consider yourself, but he has a fierce heart, and he will fight for those he love with the strength of a hundred men. You understand nothing of love, other than the love for treasure. If you do not watch yourself you’ll end up like our grandfather, Thorin, with nothing but your treasure to keep you company. Fíli will not let you drive his brother away, and had you any wit, you would end this charade before it's too late.»

Thorin straightened himself, clearing his heart of the disappointment he felt by his sister’s words.

«I cannot ignore the laws simply for my nephew. He is no longer a brat who can get away with anything with mommy’s help. That is not the way I rule my kingdom, Dís. There has to be order; there has to be a law!»

Thorin turned away again. He was upset, and wished not to show her. He did not enjoy fighting his sister, who was obnoxiously stubborn, even by his standards.

«Stop this, Thorin! There is no law against love! This is opposing to nothing but your own foolish pride. He is your nephew; you cannot disown him for sake of your ancient hatred of the elves.» Dís tightened her hand into a fist again, wishing to hit him more. «So what if he loves an elf? Are you willing to loose your family over their innocent love?»

«Now who's the fool? This is far from innocent, and you know it. He has betrayed all dwarves, not just me, Dís. You know that with their consummation they are betrothed, and do not tell me I am mistaken. Do you not remember?» Thorin stepped closer to his sister, growing in confidence and stature, intimidating her.

Dís’ eyes fled from his look, yet inside she cursed her stubborn brother. He was referring to her own betrothal, to a dwarf he had not approved of for his younger sister. Dís shook her head for the memories she could not face in this moment, not if she wanted to look strong in front of her brother. Yet he was right.

«I remember,» she barely whispered, not even loud enough for Thorin to hear. Tears gathered in her eyes, and she blinked them quickly away. Thorin continued talking, not recognizing his sister’s inner struggle.

«It is three parts to the betrothal of dwarves; the contract, the gold and the sexual relationship. They needed only one of the three to fulfill the ritual, and so he has damned himself. Do not tell me he is innocent.»

«Yes, and I also know it is forbidden to marry any who is not a dwarf. You do not need to talk to me like I’m a child,» Dís spoke firmly now. She licked her lips, for she felt she was loosing this argument. Yet she had to fight for Kíli, for her son, no matter how many laws he had broken. «But seriously, brother! Would you rather have him banished from the realm than to overlook this ancient law, one time?»

«I will not dismiss the laws of forefathers, Dís. Have we not been through this already? You have as much respect for our laws as your son.»

«I will never give up my son, Thorin, do you not understand? Not everyone can discharge our family like you do.»

«Had it not been for me, this family would not exist in the first place!» Thorin bellowed. Dís turned away from her brother, tears building in her eyes, her hands in fists. She felt utterly helpless, and Thorin was blind and stupid.

«What is the greatest dishonor, then, Thorin? To have him wedded to an elf, or having him break his duties to his betrothed? Which law will you have him break?»

«Don’t be ridiculous, Dís. It makes no difference.» Thorin was both confused and annoyed. He had not considered this, and it suddenly brought doubt to his mind. But the words of his sister were right, and he had to consider this, preferably alone in his chamber.

«It is as great an offense to have an unfulfilled engagement as it is to marry an elf. It is your choice. Which law will you uphold, and which law will you dismiss? Since laws are suddenly so important to you.»

Then Dís remember something else. Something she had heard about elves, the fact that they were legally married when acting out their love. They had lesser need of papers of agreement and golden dowry than the dwarves.

«And what of Tauriel?» Dís said calmly before Thorin said anything, still her back was to her brother. Thorin growled.

«What of her?»

Dís turned around and met his eyes. «Did you ever stop to think what she is giving up for Kíli?» Dís asked, partly curious, party angry for his ignorance.
Thorin looked at his sister with a mixture of anger and bewilderment in his eyes. He was not entirely sure what she was talking about.

«You are really thick!» Dís snapped when he did not answer. «Do you think that Thranduil, the king of Mirkwood, would allow his elven commander to marry a dwarf? And further more, bring forth a child with one? No, Thorin. I do not think I’m mistaken when I say that he loathes you as much as you loath him. And I think that both Tauriel’s life and the life of her and Kíli’s child would be endangered if he ever were to find out about their affair.»

«Why do you speak of this? It is none of my concern what happens with her. She is not of our people. She belongs with her own, in the forest. What Thranduil decides to do with her is their business, not ours,» Thorin answered with a careless expression. He had no interest in the dealings of elves.

«And what of Kíli’s child? Is it not of our people; of our line? Kíli is a decedent of Dúrin, as are you and I, and his child as well. Are you not abandoning your people by abandoning Kíli’s child, and refusing it a rich and happy life?» Dís spoke impatiently. She needed him to yield, and this was her last hope.

«It is not yet born, Dís. Can you be so entirely sure it will even live, considering the circumstances of its conception?»

Dís slapped him again, and Thorin tightened his lips in rising anger. He grabbed her wrist and held her tight. His voice was hard and deep when he spoke: «I warn you, Dís. Do not hit me again.»

«Is that a threat? You cannot bully me, Thorin,» Dís hissed through clenched teeth, working to free her arm of Thorin’s grip. It was like trying to move solid rock.

«I am your king! You will obey me!» Thorin bellowed, and his voice filled the room. For a moment Dís watched her brother with silence, her eyes filled with disappointment and anger. When she spoke again, her voice was steady and hard.

«You are my brother, and I hit when you act like a child. And you are wrong. The child will be strong like its father, and fierce like its mother. It will live a good life, in spite of you.»

Thorin gave a snort of disgust, releasing his sister’s wrist, and walked with heavy steps to sit down in his chair again. He felt it was long past time for this meeting to end. Dís should have known she could not change his mind. She could not always get her will.

«Please, brother,» Dís pleaded then, after a moment of silence. Thorin looked at her and her eyes were sad now, not angry or demanding. He hated it when she looked at him that way, for those eyes he could hardly resist. She had always been the cunning one of the three siblings, and a master at getting her will. And yet Thorin met her eyes with hard determination. He would not succumb to her tricks.

«You do not realize a lost cause when you see it, Dís. There is no way to change my mind this night. You might as well try to bend rock, it will serve you better,» Thorin said with all his power and authority.

«Your heart is stone, Thorin. I had not thought this of you, that you be the heartless dictator of all our kings. It saddens me,» Dís spoke carefully, her eyes at the floor, and her hands grasping her tunic restlessly. A tear released from her eye, and she wiped it quietly.

«And you are a sore loser, that is all this is. Do not overdramatize, Dís. It is time for Kíli to take responsibility for his actions, and nothing you can say will save him. So give up this quest, and leave me in peace,» Thorin spoke softly, his eyes already examining the scrolls of paper on his desk, putting an end to the conversation.

Dís felt disappointment and sadness wash over her from her brother’s words as she watched him.

«You are like a father to him, Thorin. Don’t do this,» her voice lowered until it became only a whisper. She pressed her lips together and then she said angrily: «A true father would never abandon his son, for I know that in your heart you love him as your own.»

At this Thorin raised his head and met her eyes. Tears flowed down her cheeks, and she held her arms about herself, like she needed to hold herself together from falling apart. Her expression was pained, and her lips were pressed shut.

Thorin stood. He walked around the table, wishing to hold her in his arms like he had done when she was young and still in need of his brotherly protection. It was a long while since he had hugged her. But seeing her cry brought back the image of the young, reckless, vulnerable girl whose sideburns had yet to grow. A girl he had rescued from the desolation of Smaug. A girl who had lost her father.

They hugged for a while, and Dís was torn, for she liked to feel his protective arms surround her, yet she hated him for betraying her son. And her inner struggle did not help her tears, which seemed to have no end. She cried into his tunic for what seemed like a lifetime, and when he held her out from him finally, her eyes were puffy and red. He dried her cheeks and kissed her forehead.

«I apologize, sister, for I will not change my mind. There is nothing more to be said,» Thorin murmured, and took a step back from her.

Dís felt once again his betrayal, and she would not stand to be in his company any more that night. If he was determined to drive away his family, she would not stand in his way any longer.

«I understand, brother,» she said and turned her back to him, feeling a last tear leave her eye. She walked to the door and opened it slowly.

«I will not give them my blessing,» Thorin said, as if he thought she had yet to understand his words.

«Do as you please, for I understand there is no room in your heart for anything other than your own pride. But do not say I did not warn you.» She turned to look at him for a second.

«We all make mistakes, Thorin. Still there is time to right yours, if you would come to wish it.»

Before he was able to utter another word, Dís left the room and closed the door behind her.
Thorin was alone, and he felt the silence he’d been craving weighing heavy on his shoulders. Nothing but the crackling of the firewood was to hear, and his own heartbeats were loud in his ears. His sisters words were burned into his heart, and he understood she was right about some things, even if he would not admit it to her face.
First: Part 1

Last: Part 3
Next: Part 5

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This was a long one, I appologize for that. But it was a very interesting conversation to write. I think I must have changed its course like 4 or 5 times! I was not clear about the main problem before a couple days ago, so it was easier to get where I wanted it to get. It was still hard, for I am not used to write two so stubborn characters.. I mean, what are you supposed to with them?x) But I hope it worked out!

What do you think?^^

Dís and Thorin (C) Tolkien
Idea and fanfic (C) Me, Ingvild-s
© 2014 - 2024 IngvildSchageArt
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adeleb1910's avatar
:star::star::star::star::star-half: Overall
:star::star::star::star::star: Vision
:star::star::star::star::star-empty: Originality
:star::star::star::star::star: Technique
:star::star::star::star::star: Impact

This is a very good piece of writing, which turned me into your interpretation of Dis (very similar to mine).

It amazes me that you can manage a Hobbit fanfiction ( I can only do Modern AU+OC), and create such a vivid image without actually using paint. On the other hand, I believe that the idea of Kiliel is getting a bit old , even though I ship it ( REALY ship)
Keep writing< as this will probably get better as it gets closer and closer to completion (which I eagerly await *grabby hands*)

In other words,

BRING ON CHAPTER FIVE *puppy eyes*

P.S : You actually have three stars for originality - the fourth star is for it being Kiliel