Chapter Text
The days were just getting more and more stressful, he had so many tasks to deal with he’d be up working until eventually Balin or his sister Dis came in to force him to go to sleep as if he were a child.
There was a large festival coming up, committee members were always arguing with each other, there were so many people waiting for hearings with him there were people turned away each day, and then he had to train the princes to be king.
Balin, Mahal bless his soul, had already taken over so much. He dealt with a lot of, well, everything. Basically anything that didn’t demand Thorin’s attention, Balin took care of. He also took care of a majority of training the princes, which made sense. He also had trained Thorin back when he was younger.
Thorin groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose as the migraine got worse.
He had to suppress another groan when there was a knocking noise. “What do you need?” He asked irritably, but then heard no response from the door.
There was another knock.
He turned to his left, a large raven stared at him, letting out a very mad croak.
“Sorry, friend” Thorin said with a sigh as he stood up and walked to the window.
“What do you need?” It repeated angrily “What do you need??”
“I apologize, friend. I thought you were one of my nephews.”
A croak.
“Any word on Balin and Gandalf?” Thorin asked, trying to move on from the angry raven as he sat down and looked at the raven.
It gave a nod before mimicking the older dwarf’s voice.
“We are finally heading back from Bree. Gandalf had to stay to quell a riot, and in his place he sent his highly esteemed friend, Master Baggins.”
“I wouldn’t say-” A voice attempted to cut in.
“Oh hush, laddie. Gandalf wouldn’t trust just anyone, if he trusts you, you must be able to do what needs to be done.”
Before Balin had sent the Raven off there was a quiet “and what exactly needs to be done?”
“So the wizard sends me an incompetent fool?” He groaned. “I already have plenty as my nephews and council.” He wove a hand at Roac. “Dissmised.”
The raven gave one last call before lifting off the desk and flying out the window.
Thorin started at the papers on his desk. Treaties, notices, letters, reminders, and other important junk he can’t bring himself to focus on. He stands up and walks out, locking the door behind him.
The halls of the palace were eerily silent. Except for his nephews, of course, they just had to be the loud ones echoing in the halls he couldn’t just kick out. He walked in the direction and found two laughing and playing some board game and betting with a few other dwarrow.
He would’ve yelled at them to shut their traps and go to sleep, but he noticed Nori stealing their money when they weren’t looking. He decided that getting cheated and giving them hearing duty all day tomorrow would be punishment enough. He turned, and retreated to his chambers in silence.