“Master Zori, the red headed Elf said you needed to see me…” Kili said, dusting off his shirt and wiping his hands he waits for him to see him.

"Lady Mercy has you well trained." Zori chuckles.

Kili gives a smirk, not needing an Elf tell him what and when to do things…he was a Dwarf..."She's very stiff and full of herself."

Zori shakes his head still chuckling. "Lady Mersiel is many things but stiff and arrogant are not among them. I need help in the Coal mine. recently exposed coal needs harvesting and piles of fragments need gathering. Dump your gathering in the big barrel."

"I will get right to is Master Zori" Kili mutters as he walks away “stiff elf…”

Zori Calls out to Kili in the nearby chamber. "So Kili, how is your combat training coming along?"

Kili "shouts back* "I am very proficient with an arrow Sir and good with a knife."

"Long-bow, eh?” Zori inquired. “Have you ever picked up a crossbow? They use big steel-pointed darts called bolts, you know."

Kili replied, " I have seen them used, but not have used one up to this point, I will certainly look into acquiring one and become skilled at it"

Zori explained, "It takes muscle to load one and a sharp eye and aim to shoot with one. But dwarves have those aplenty. Many dwarves prefer the crossbow for that reason. They also penetrate farther and open a wider hole in the target. Did you know the engineers make machine crossbows that can be cranked to fire a shot every second?"

Kili responded, "No, I was not aware, but now that I do, I will make a point to acquiring this cross bow, we can use that for any enemies we come across."

Zori remarked, "It’s good to be skilled in both kinds of bow. A knife, you said, do you mean a battle dagger or a hunting knife? he asked."

"Both Master Zori, battle and hunting,” Kili replied.

Zori approves, then inquired, "Very good. Have you begun training yet with a short-sword? It's about seven tengths the length of a proper dwarven broadsword, but lighter and easier to learn and wielded totally differently from a dagger or knife."

Kili explained, "My mothers' brother wished both my brother and myself to train in all matter of weaponry. The short sword would not be my preference though. The Bow I find is swift and can be shot from a distance, with our keen eyes we see better than most in battle"

Zori countered, "Aye, but you cannot always fight from a distance, and a dagger or knife is not much help up front and close with an orc. It pays to have skill with diverse weapons"

Kili listened. "I will continue to work on my skill in the short sword, like you suggest Master Zori, I only wish to honor our kin"

Zori challenged him. "Whether you prefer a short sword or not is not the reason for training on one. It is a step up to the challenge of wielding a dwarven broadsword or an axe or hammer. And, each step up to a harder weapon builds not only skill, but muscle as well."

"You are most correct on this," Kili admitted.

"Do you think I got as brawny as I am all at once?” Zori asked rhetorically. “No, I began working in the mines when I was fifteen, and carrying even small bags of ore and coal was very hard for me then. In time though I got bigger and stronger and now there are few, aside from Sir Dwalin, that can lift as heavy a load as I or cut through a face of ore or coal as fast as I. And, at the anvil, I can flatten a plug of tempered Dwarven steel in half the time it takes my nearest competitor."

Kili responded. "I can see how working the mines and lifting such loads can build endurance, strength and muscles. That Elf shoved me here the day I arrive from the Blue Mountains. Then she wanted me to come pick flowers after I cleared up the mines."

Zori asked, "And what did picking flowers teach you?" He was not laughing or mocking in his tone, not in the least.

“Humility Master Zori,” Kili replied. “I was taught that it is our duty to assist others where it is needed, because it is honorable. I can wield a hammer sure enough, and I have had the pleasure of flattening a forged plug to make good steel, not fast like you I am sure. My brother is more skilled in that area than I, but we are trained in all fashions of forging and making weapons.”

Zori responded, "I am sure your smithing skills are growing fast. It is in your blood. What does not come in ones blood is character. That must be nurtured and tended like a batch of dwarven steel. The mixture of iron and graphite dust must be exactly the right balance, with just the right amount of nickel. the wrong mix and the batch will be useless and ruined. Once mixed it cannot be unmixed and the Iron and nickel are wasted. But, even with the right balance, One cannot rush the heating and tempering, or it will be ruined and reforging it nigh impossible, as one cannot know how much more graphite dust to add, since some got burned away. But if prepared and tended right, it is the hardest metal known but for Mithril, which is all but lost to us in our time. And so is character forged by careful measured input and tempering. Helping others in need, even if it is light work or women's work is no insult to a dwarf of good character. Do not only what you wish to do, but also do whatever is needed to be a benefit to our people and our friends."

Kili listened and replied, "Yes Master Zori, that is a very good lesson indeed, I shall put your wise words to use in all manner to honor our kin and our friends"

"Have you learned to hunt and fish?" Zori asked after a pause of silence broken only by the ring of pickaxes against stone.

"I have Master Zori,” Kili answered.

Zori noted this and inquired further. "That is good. And how about gathering wild herbs, tubers, and roots, and telling good mushrooms apart from poisonous ones?"

"No Sir, That I am not knowledgeable of," Kili admitted.

Zori advised, "Ask Lady Mercy to teach you. She knows a lot about wild food. And learn to cook if you haven't yet…something every dwarf should know. On a battle front or a trade caravan it comes in handy."

Kili reacted, "I am sure there is someone else that could teach me"? He rolls his eyes, not so eager to see that elf again.

Zori ignored Kili's attempt to squirrel his way out of working with Mercy, since whom he learned gathering and cooking from was not that important. He presently finished collecting the surface layer of clay from the deposit in the center of the chamber. "You know mining clay is like character building too. You want to let the surface layer dry just the right amount before carving it away and only carve so deep. if the clay is too wet it is not ripe, and if it's too dry, it is hard to work with. In short, it takes patience. And, only experience can teach you the right consistency of clay that is ripe for harvesting."

Kili agreed, "It’s not like coal or iron ore. Those are hard and dry through and through" He listens to the description of mining clay, putting it to memory and taking Master Zori's knowledge to heart. "I will be sure to ask, if I am not sure of things "

Zori, who had now joined Kili in the coal mine, smiled to him. "You seem willing to learn, young Kili and that is good. Keep that up and you will become a good and wise dwarf and a great asset to your uncle, your brother and our people."

Kili responded with conviction. "I am! The more we learn, the more knowledgable we are to better serve our kin and people. I only ever wish to be honorable and do what is right, like our ancestors did before us.”

Zori paused to look at Kili. His eyes filled up with tears of joy at seeing so young a prince already filled with such noble aspirations. "Aye, you will grow up to be a noble dwarf in the grandest sense of that word."

"That is what I strive for daily Master Zori." Kili lets a small smile appear across his lips.

Zori smiled in a kindly fatherly way. "I do like how respectful you are, Kili. You are a Prince of Erebor and as high above me as above anyone save your uncle, but you call me Master, which I am to other commonfolk like myself. This is a good habit. if one must err it is always beter to err on the side of too much respect, than of too little."

Kili elaborated, "As I see it Master Zori, those that are my elders, those that I learn from, those that have seen much, done much, and are more knowledgeable than I, are those who deserve proper respect. So, I tend to show honor and respect for those better than me."

Again, Zori was quiet and regarded Kili with some amazement. "You have either been taught well, or you were born well. Many princes do not learn this lesson at all."

Kili was both confident and humble. "I do think it is a mixture of both or I would like to think that way."

Zori agreed, "No doubt. Your mother Princess Dis is an amazing person, not only in unmatched beauty, but in heart and mind too. I am sorry you lost your father so young. He was a very noble Prince."

Kili was touched. "On behalf of my brother and I, I thank you."

Zori continued, "You come from a family of not only titled blood, but noble blood in the deepest sense. I perceive you understand that and perhaps even derive confidence from it."

Kili explained, "I was told not to be arrogant, or feel I am better than others, for there is always someone more skilled than you at something and will be eager to put you in your place. I was raised to respect my elders and not only take knowledge in from what is said to me but commit it to memory and then into practice. We are only titled and noble because those that came before me put family and friends first"

Zori nodded thoughtfully. "This is true. What have you been taught of Durin the First?"

Kili recited. “Durin the Great was succeeded by many generations of kings, among them appeared five others also called Durin. The Dwarves believed that these five were the reincarnation of Durin I, with memories of their past lives. Durin the Great was the oldest of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves, created by Aulë during the First Age of the World. He was called "the Great" as he lived long before and to an age far more advanced than any other Dwarf, and so was revered as the eldest of their race. Each of these seven Dwarven parents founded a house. Durin's House was the Longbeards, and his people were named Durin's Folk.” Kili rattled off the history he was taught, hoping Master Zori would be pleased that he had some knowledge of their heritage*

Zori added, "Unlike the other fathers, though, Durin was not created with a mate. He was alone a long time, and took one later, a daughter of one of the other houses."

Kili continues to listen and learn as Master Zori fills in more of their history, eager to know all there is, that he had not be taught or studied.

Zori continued, “Durin lived around 2400 years, unheard of among dwarves of later ages. What you learned is true; it is said he comes back and is reborn from time to time. there have been 5 other Durins in the royal line that people were sure were Durin returned, because of their character and deeds. It is prophesied there will be one more before Durin passes forever to the heart of The One."

Kili, knowing the Mining Chief does not see his nodding, smiles slightly being enthralled by the history being told by Master Zori.

Zori elaborated, "All of the Sons of Durin descend from him, but you descend from a direct line of father to son or daughter, and in your line is Durin's blood the least dilute of any of us."

“My mother Dis and father Vili,” Kili asserted.

Zori confirmed, "Aye, Prince Vili, a worthy dwarf if I ever knew one."

Kili was moved. "That is kind of you to say. It was a hard time for my mother with the loss of him"

Zori affirmed, "I know, it was hard for all who knew him. But Princess Dis was always a strong and noble pureblood daughter of Durin and your father was similarly noble and pure in blood, so you are too."

Kili replied humbly, "I only consider myself blessed with wonderful kin."

Zori agreed and extended this. "Blessed yes. And, where much is given, much is also required. Be sure you are a blessing to others in your own turn."

Kili answered boldly, "I will do just that, thank you for your fatherly advice, it is very valuable to me"

Zori reflected with no small feeling, "When one has lost a parent, others are duty bound to fill that void. I too have a void, in that I will never have children, so I am all to happy to be a father to you, perhaps one of many in your life."

"Then I am truly honored and blessed, Master Zori" Kili expressed gratefully.

Zori continued, "I can speak for Dwalin too, since I am his husband. Dwalin is a very worthy dwarf and one who has much practical wisdom and experience to offer. He and I are both heart-uncles to Lady Mercy who was orphaned very early in life, though she was also adopted by Lady Caladwen of Lothlorien who was in turn an orphan, adopted by Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. Consider us both adopted uncles if you like."

Kili observed, "There seem to be many who have lost one or more of their parents. ‘Father’, ‘uncle’, it matters not. Learning from you and Master Dwalin, I will still be very blessed to accept the kind offer"

"And that will be a blessing to us as well." Zori smiled warmly. He had finished gathering up a sizable pile of coal fragments and approaching Kili sat down on the floor, while Kili wrapped up his work.

Kili glances over his shoulder to see Master Zori sit. A thin smile crosses his lips, in a joking manner, he says, "To hard of work for you there old man."

Zori laughed. "Hardly. I am not the one who needs the exercise. And, I also never step in and finish another dwarf's work for him once he starts. it's a matter of respect and pride."

Kili chuckles, "Fair enough."

Zori sighs. "I think there is a tankard of ale waiting for each of us at the tunnel crossing ale counter, when you finish." he smiled.

“A tankard sounds like a plan,” Kili responded, returning the smile. "So, you have known Lady Mercy since she was a small child, you say. How did it come about a she-elf came in acquaintance with a Dwarf?” Finishing the last pile of coal, he stepped back from it, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.

Zori narrated, "Dwalin and I were swimming in a lake in The Shire of the halfling folk and Mercy was there with her halfling best friend Rose. That was back when Dwalin and I were merely the best of friends from our childhood, before either of us knew how the other one felt.” he saw that Kili had finished and stood. "Time for that ale. Yo ho ho to the tavern I go, to heal my heart and drown my woe..." he began singing as he turned to head to the tunnel crossing.

Kili followed. "Let's talk more over a tankard,” he said and poure out a tankard for Zori, the one for himself, and raised it up. "To great mining!"

Zori joined in the toast, "To Mining and to Friends." He raised his tankard to clink it against Kili's.

Kili drinks back a big swallow of his ale. He lets the cool liquid spill on him and wash away the coal dust from the mines, nodding to Master Zori as he drinks.

Zori continued his story. "So, we were there and met the two of them and Mercy was such a darling little girl and so full of life and loving kindness toward us and everyone. She immediately began calling me Unnca Sori and Dwalin Unnca Darling, since she had trouble with some sounds. It just stuck like it was meant to be and we have been family to her ever since."

Kili nods. "From the short time I've known her she speaks very highly of dwarves, which I found very curious, and wondered about her history, for she threatened to stab me a few evenings back"

"Mercy always had a fire of Valor and honor in her, so much that we joked about her being a dwarf soul in an elf's body. On the day the Dragon came, she fought like a dragon alongside us with more valor than any of us. So, when I came to live here in the Iron Hills and everyone heard the story, someone suggested naming her Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart, and soon everyone called her that and it has stuck ever since. As for threatening to stab you, Dwalin told me about that. But what less would you expect from a self-respecting dwarven Noble Lady if a dwarven Lad's advances were unwelcome and unceasing, even though he be a Prince?"

Kili listens intently as Zori retells the story and valor of this Lady Elf, he had so misjudged. He thought to himself that he owed her an apology. "You make a very compelling point. I will give Lady Mercy an apology, if or when our paths cross again."

Zori: "WHEN they cross again. She has not informed me of any plans to leave us soon."

Kili replied, "I saw her packing her saddle right after the sun rose, perhaps she just went out hunting, but I've not seen her here since"

Zori was unfazed. "Mercy comes and goes at will. She always has, and none of us, her uncles, would have it be otherwise. We adore her spirit of the wind. Trust me, if she decided to end her stay with us, we would know;"

Kili finishes up his tankard, moves to refills it, then looks to Master Zori, with a nod to see if he needs another refill, and giving another nod to his statement.

Zori nods and hands Kili his empty tankard with a "thanks".

Kili fills both tankards, handing him his, and takes his own in hand. "Welcome."

Zori explains, "A person like Mercy who is free and without any inhibitions is also a person who can love with everything in her and have courage to push past any fear, even the fear of death…” He paused thoughtfully. “In truth such was Durin the Great. There was nothing good or worthwhile that he would not will himself to do, no matter the fear or the cost to himself."

Kili nodded. “She certainly comes across as one, who holds no fear, and full of fire from what I have surmised." He leaned forward. "Are you sure she's an elf?"

"Oh my, yes." Zori laughed. "As Elven as they come. I know the common opinion of elves among our folk is not very flattering, but in truth the best of the elves were much like Mercy, doing all they did with all their souls and as honorable and loyal as the best of dwarves, but unlike us, free and mercurial as the wind ... or as fire itself. And not infrequently as willful and stubborn as a dwarf too." he laughed heartily. “But also as strong and firm as one."

Kili looks at him with curious eyes, only nodding and recalling the history of past Elves, then drinks back more of the ale. "They were not so kind to my mother’s brother and our people. When they were in need of help, the Elves turned away". Hearing Zori’s laughter, he cannot help but laugh himself, but still keeping the thought in the back of his mind.

"Correction,” Zori said firmly. “The elf king Thranduil turned away and his warriors rightly obeyed him as any honorable dwarf would do for his king. A nation is not to blame for the actions of one, not even of their king… or rather, especially of their king."

Kili replied, "This I can understand from that point of view, however, I disagree with the action of King Thranduil."

Zori nodded. "I do to, and I disagree with the actions of some dwarves who still wander the lands and are rogues and thieves. Are they a discredit to the whole of the seven nations of dwarves? And what of the dwarves who served Sauron before he fell?"

Kili nodded thoughtfully, "That is a very fair point, we are not like those, and our King should not be blamed for the actions of individuals"

Zori affirmed strongly, "Certainly not! And, an elf like Mercy whose actions have only ever been honorable, valiant, honest, loyal and compassionate cannot share any part of blame for what one selfish and cowardly Elf King does."

Kili nods in agreement.

Zori stretched. "Well, I think two has been enough for me. Just enough to relax me and take the ache out of my muscles." he took his last swallow and set the empty tankard on the counter.

Kili drinks back the rest, emptying his tankard and setting it down as well. "It has been a good conversation Master Zori, and made the work go much faster"

"Talk always does." Zori smiled and stood.

Kili rises as the smith and miner rises.

Zori stretched more and yawned. "Ah time for me to get some shut-eye."

“Rest well, Master Zori.” Kili replied.

"All the best to you Kili. Durin protect." Zori turned to head toward the ascending tunnel and the door to his home. Entering, he found a note on the table. It was from Mercy. Indeed, she bids them farewell and is on her way west and south. Zori holds the note to his heart, his eyes getting misty, grateful beyond gratitude for Mercy’s visit and for her dear presence in their lives. He also felt moved by the sweetness of having been able to get to know the noble young Prince Kili better and being able to offer him counsel and wisdom and have it so gratefully received, like a boy learning from a kindly father. It was such a joy to be a sort of dear uncle to these two wonderful young people.