Loving Gin

Thorin was jarred from his darkening musings by an incessant smacking on his knee.

Whap whap whap whap whap...

He looked down to see his youngest nephew - Kili - looking up at him with dark eyes, a frown upon his small face.

Whap whap whap whap...

"Yes, Kili?" It was a whisper, a sigh.

The toddler put both hands in the air. Reaching. "Up! Up!"

Thorin discovered ages past, when a young child demanded to be lifted up, you lift them up, so he did just that. But rather than be content with sitting on his uncle's lap, Kili struggled to stand, chunky hands on his shoulders and balancing on Thorin's thighs, so that he was eye to eye with his uncle. He stared at Thorin for some time, before reaching out, brushing chubby fingers across a trail of tears. He then stared at the moisture on his fingertips. He looked back up, the stern look turned softer, concerned, if it could be believed a toddler had compassion. "Sad?"

"Yes, Kili. Very sad."

The child pressed further. "Hurts?"

Thorin's eyes shut, more tears streaming. Words wouldn't come out due to the wretched lump in his throat, so he simply nodded.

"Sowwy."

Thorin's head dropped, finally sobs bursting forth, remembering to clutch the child to him so the dwarfling wouldn't fall. Kili watched this out-pouring of grief for some moments before doing the only thing he knew comforted him.

He attempted to put his short arms around his uncle's broad shoulders and not quite making it. With Thorin's head unknowingly buried in the body of the little one, Kili began to pat. "Is okay. I here, I here. Is okay. All bedder. Aaaaall beddderrrrr."

At that point, Thorin sputtered between laughing and crying. Here he sat, a well-known warrior of the dwarves, exiled heir to the Throne under the Mountain, killer of Orcs and Goblins, and a toddler was patting his shoulders, attempting to comfort him, telling him it was now all...

"Bedder?"

Thorin looked up, looked into that bright, hopeful face, looking like an over-exuberant puppy. So proud of himself.

"Aye," he managed to strangle out. "All better." Kili's face broke out in a grin. "Thank you."

Kili nodded to himself, as if he had accomplished something great - which to Thorin, he had. "Eat?"

Thorin's stomach rumbled, reminding him he hadn't eaten in days. Kili's stomach never seemed to be full. Setting the dwarfling down, Thorin stood up. "Go to the door." He watched as the child ran to the edge of the cavern and waited. He turned to the crypt and laid his hand on it. "I will be back. Let me know if you get cold." As he stepped towards the doorway, he scooped up his youngest nephew and walked into the light.

It was quiet for some minutes before a sigh settled on the cavern.

Oh Mahal. Watch over my husband. Watch over Durin's Son...

tbc