"Uncle! Tell me the tale of Erebor again." (DWARFLING KÍLI <3)
Thorin looked up in the air in an exasperated grimace and his youngest nephew asked him for the 14th time to tell him about Erebor. As much as the older dwarf appreciated instructing his nephews from his own culture and memories, he was also pained to remember the loss of so many lives in that tragic event. But he would do it again, for Kili.
“Come here…” Thorin patted the pillow right next to him and took a deep breath, waiting for the youngling to accommodate close to him.
“Erebor has been built by our ancestors who were looking for something majestic and glorious. It says that Mahal guided them in their quest, sending them through battles and obstacles that were rougher than the strength of a blacksmith. But they still fought for their own survival and the future of their kin.” Thorin started before pausing and thinking about that tale.
“After months of seek, the warriors found the hidden fortress that Erebor was. There was nothing besides rocks. They managed to build a palace that would welcome our entire kin, hidden under a mountain. Nothing could happen to them, they were protected by the two massive statues that they had built in honour for Mahal, who never stopped protecting them.”
Thorin’s face lighted up with the hint of a smile before adding: “With centuries, our kin grew stronger. My grandfather, Thror, was ruling the kingdom in a peaceful environment, trading with humans and elves. For centuries, Erebor was the incarnation of peace, majesty, glory and trade. But all of this would soon be the shadow of a nightmare.”
The prince sighed and looked down at his nephew. “They had found a treasure, a gem that had captured the whole universe and starlight that you could count in the sky. The king’s jewel, the Arkentsone. The heart of the mountain.” Thorin whispered in such a mysterious tone. He then added: “As fascinating as the gem was, it was cursed. It manipulated my grandfather’s soul and drowned him into a gold sickness that our ancestors would’ve never expected.”
Thorin bit his lower lip before then adding: “Soon, Thror closed the gates of our kingdom to elves and humans and stopped any kind of relationship with them. They say that Thror had stolen pure gems coming from the Elven kingdom. This gold and gems attracted tortured souls and a monster.. The dragon, Smaug.” The prince’s voice started being deeper and more threatening. He had to contain himself in front of his young nephew.
“The dragon invaded the kingdom, killing many innocent souls and soon, hid into our gold. I had to help our people, find the few ones who’d be lost in the palace. And there I saw him. Thror was desperately trying to run after the fallen Arkenstone. I stopped him before he could be killed by the spears of that filthy dragon.” He gulped as he then concluded: “We have been chased out of our kingdom, lived a painful exile. And here we are, the few survivors that stand in a place that isn’t ours. We could’ve been helped by the Elves but Lord Thranduil decided not to waste so many lives in his own kin and turned away from us, denying our desperate call for help.”
He looked down at Kili and just whispered: “We never forgave, and we never forgot.” He then just pulled some covers on top of the youngling and whispered.
“Come on, it’s late now. You need to rest. Tomorrow is another day and you’ll be taught by Dwalin how to use an arch properly.” He smiled at him and messed with his hair before standing up. He then looked down at him in and added: “You are Durin’ son. Just like me. Don’t forget it, we never show our weaknesses, only keep them to ourselves.”
With those words, the Prince turned around and walked out of the little room with his candle, leaving the little one to his imaginations.
