A Promise

Chapter Four: Breath On A Looking Glass

"Do you have any idea what you're doing to this family? What your mother would think if she was still with us?"
Thror, son of Thrain, was far more imposing when in training armour than he was in his usual royal regalia. This did not help Dis from feeling as if she was being spoken to as if she was a youth, a foolish dwarfling who didn't know the meaning of the word integrity. The kingshall was almost empty now, for any lingering servants or guards who had occupied the grand room a few moments ago had all vacated as soon as the crown prince raised his voice at his three children. Dis was standing between her brothers, her eyes fixed on the towering statue of her grandfather Thror carved out of the inner walls of the Blue Mountains. A fine mix of architecture and art, she had to admit. She really should pass on her appreciation to Kened when she next saw him in the corridors–

"Are you listening to me, nathith?" Her father's clipped tone dragged her mind back into the room against its will, and she was met with the steely blue eyes of Thrain as he glowered down at her from the top of the steps. Behind him, the King was letting his son deal with his children for once without intervening. Dis had a feeling her grandfather was finding the notion slightly amusing.
"I am listening to you, Adad. But you've said the same thing in a different way three times. "
At once she felt her brothers stir. Frerin had made a spluttering sound in the back of his throat as he tried to mask his laughter, but Thorin had glanced at her out of the corner of his eye with so much exhaustion that she almost felt bad.

Almost.

"Father I sincerely do not see what I have done wrong–"
"Wrong?" Thrain's thick brow nearly lifted off his forehead entirely. "My daughter is not stupid. She is not a fool. I know full well she isn't. So why is she behaving like one? Wrong, indeed." The dwarf laughed gruffly and glanced over his shoulder at his own father, who nodded tiredly for him to continue. "Why does your brother tell me he stumbled upon you courting?"

"Courting is one word for it," Frerin muttered, though he immediately winced when his sister swiftly kicked him in the shin. "Dis!"
"Act your age." Thorin pulled his sister a few steps away from his brother, and Dis immediately felt that little bubble of irritation grow under her skin. Thorin was getting worse, she thought. Every time he was in a room with Grandfather now, he was becoming increasingly insufferably obedient. When she reluctantly lifted her eyes to Thrain again, her father's lips were a thin line, barely visible through his beard.
"You are a Princess. A daughter of Durin. Your actions reflect this house and this kingdom, you know this."
"You said that we are more than our titles now.. That we are to help our people in refuge in any way we can, and that we will step back into our roles fully when we return to Erebor."
"Honour is still everything, Dis. You are a Durin dam. A rarity as it is. You cannot just..." Thrain trailed off, looking away from her again. Dis knew at that moment that her challenging expression had reminded him of her mother. A situation that usually made her feel sorry for him, but she found herself struggling to find that compassion today.

"Father." Dis dropped her shoulders in exasperation and took a step forward. "Do you realise how unfair this is? Frerin frequents the taverns of Men almost every night. He's up to all manner of things there! Drinking and courting as much as he wants. You don't say a single word to him! He doesn't even remember half of their names the next morning." When her brother gave her an affronted look, Dis ploughed on ahead without sparing him a single glance.
"I'm not doing that. I'm not even allowed out of the mountain! How is that fair? And don't say it's because I'm a dam, Adad because–"
"Of course it is!" Thrain's voice lifted again and Dis, against her will, crashed into a silence as if she was still a child clinging to her mother's skirts. She clenched her jaw, her hands fisted at her sides and returned her gaze to the statue at the back of the hall as her father's voice echoed around them.
"The future of the line of Durin could fall to you at any moment. If your brothers are killed, if I am killed–"
"My brothers are more than capable of siring heirs, Adad. Frerin likely already has."
"Your brothers have duties outside the realms of marriage. And if they were to marry it would be to a daughter from a correct house. The same goes for you too. A lord from a good mine, offering good resources we need as a people not–" Thrain waved his hand dismissively. "A blacksmith."
"He's a good dwarf, Adad." Dis mumbled, her hands tightening at her sides when she felt the corner of her eyes start to prickle.
"He could be the finest dwarf in Aüle's creation it doesn't change the fact he is lowborn." Thrain continued. "He knows what he has done. What affront he has committed against the King. Give me one reason why I shouldn't have him exiled–"
"I'll give you three." Dis levelled her voice out, though her fingernails were pressing into the palms of her hands so much it stung. "He's loyal. Loyal to a fault. He listens to me, Adad, he loves me." When Thrain scoffed, Dis' head immediately whipped to her eldest brother, her eyes filled with tears despite her best efforts.
"Thorin, who helped you evacuate Erebor when Smaug attacked? He's fought at your side all this time. He's your closest friend. Tell him."