Three figures passed through the ancient Aberdere Mountain Range with purpose, a male voice droning in the caves with a calm, rhythmic tone.
"....And you fight for you and yours, until we risk war, when always we fight together." Oin finished explaining battle. Shuu Mei and Man'Tah followed the male lion slowly, listening. Shuu had heard much of it, but, she'd struck a friendship with the new foundling-dwarf, and she was often with Man'Tah during her acclimation period.
"But if we're in different clans," Man'Tah asked. "Why do we not feud among ourselves?"
Oin regarded her question politely, looking to the female with understanding. Outsiders rarely understood, and he was happy to explain it.
"Well, Man'Tah.." Her name was weak, odd, but for a rogue.... "Man'Tah, we do not fight because stone cannot. Perhaps, some may, but ours is a pride hewn from rock, from the earth herself." The prince and patriarch slowly walked toward a ledge. Long ago the stone was popular for storytellers, but now, excepting a hobbit family, they only had the newcomers. For now, it suited Oin for that porpuse, the patriarch teaching as best he could.
"Dwarves are born of stone, and our ancestors stepped from the heart of Dvergrheim. Some were born plain, others with moss, or mushrooms, some with n**--" Especially dwarves similar to the lion affectionately known as Nipbeard. "--but we were all born the same, of stone. The royal family themselves were born of the Heart of the Mountain, and stepped forth to rule." Oin sighed, smiling. "At first, we sought to expand, but we quickly rejoined as a whole when a clan, a colony, was lost."
Man'Tah frowned, but Shuu Mei spoke.
"Then why keep clans at all when they returned? What if a clan lashed against the royal family?"
Oin rolled the words over in his mind, It was difficult to explain to outsiders-- so far as the dwarves knew it simply always was, but he understood confusion.
"When we reunited, to save our way of live, we could not remain secular. Isolating our clans could lead to inbreeding. Inbreeding is death." He spoke softly. "The ancestors tried, and we nearly fell to war. But slowly we realized we were dying for pride. And finally the king chose a queen from another clan. It opened doors. It opened eyes. It opened us to new potential."
Man'Tah frowned, and sighed.
"So why were the clans not done away with?" She asked.
"We maintain the clans because of the Council. The Patriarchs advise the King, and in turn he works to help them. We are all together, unified, strong. Our people know it as our way, and we all share in Dvergrheim. The clans simply are and exist for all."
Man'Tah blinked. Well... It was an answer. Shuu Mei seemed content not to press, but looked up to him.
"Where do our treasures come from?"
Oin smiled.
"Many a dwarf travels deep within the tunnels, particularly old-blood, to seek things of interest. That which we find below, is taken to another whom uses it for her art and has done so since since we remember. Some find our treasures when out in the world traveling, adventuring. Some treasure is an heirloom or a gift. You will come to have treasures one day." Oin smiled. The females exchanged a look, twinkle in their eyes.
Man'Tah loved the idea of a treasure, something to cherish, and it was not unfamiliar an idea. Shuu Mei similarly seemed excited, thinking. Treasure! Perhaps, it may even win respect! Man'Tah wriggled, looking to Shuu Mei with a smile, the female smiling back. They needn't say a word but the idea was there. They would find a treasure and bring it home. Glorious.
Oin watched the pair curiously, and wondered what he said. That wiggle, for them, usually meant plotting and scheming, and the male wondered if they were up to no good.
"Can we collect anything of interest? Anything at all?" Man'Tah asked. Beside her, Shuu Mei wriggled, grinning eagerly. Oin sighed.
"Not plants, unless it's a type of ni--what re you two planning?" The patriarch frowned sternly.
"TREASURE!" Shuu Mei squeaked. She bounced, nearly falling over, but the excitement was simply a lot. Oin sighed.
"Why."
"Respect." Man'Tah spoke next, rolling her shoulders. "We're looked down on for our names. We're treated unusually, and we're not fond of it."
Oin groaned.
"You... I..."
"Yes! Treasure might work to help us. We're not weak, we want to prove it!" Shuu Mei danced, grinning eagerly. She desperately wanted to prove herself, and Man'Tah watched her, blinking, then looked to Oin. While not as bouncy, the intent was there. Oin sighed.
"Treasure doesn't... Do that. It's simply nice to have... Nobody's called either of you into question...?" His brows lifted in concern. What had he done?! Shuu Mei stopped, blinking and frowning.
"But we hear the whispers. They say we're not strong. We sound weak for having rogue names." Shuu Mei spoke softly. Oin frowned, silently.
"You do not fit our naming cycle..." He sighed. "But... That does not make you weak. Some simply do not understand." He shook his head. Sometimes, those two worried him. Man'Tah was quieter, looking to Oin without words a long time, before speaking finally.
"What of the whispering? What can we do, if we're but female?"
"There is no reason a female cannot be as strong as a male." Oin replied, softly. "A female is strong, smart, skilled. The only difference is bearing cubs, and that itself is hard work. Why do you think wives are so strongly respected?" Oin smiled. "They tend the family, deal with cubs, ensure a future generation. Even males in the rank... They are not weaklings. They know strength and they know hardship. They have power not even the King could, because at the end of the day, we go home to them, and they and our families are what we fight for." Oin nodded. "At least, many do."
"Other times, sport, right?" Shuu Mei grinned. Oin nodded.
"Other times, sport indeed. But we do not kill one another."
The girls nodded, Oin finally smiling.
"So how does one become patriarch?"
Oin stopped, and sighed. Oh... This would be interesting to explain.
"A male," Oin noted male especially. "May be chosen when the old patriarch dies, or one may challenge an unfit patriarch for the role. Some clans, like Ulf, runs by the non-heirs of the royal line. Thorin and I had sisters, once."
Oin sighed.
"So when our father's brother died with no heir, I was given the title. Thorin, our king, inherited the rule of all when our father Thrain disappeared."
Man'Tah frowned.
"Why can't females become patriarch?"
Oin blinked, sighing.
"Patriarchs are traditionally male."
"But WHY?" Man'Tah insisted. Shuu Mei looked to her friend in concern. What was she planning...?
"That is how it always has been." Oin sighed. He didn't know, but... Change? It would upset things. "Patriarchs change, but always, in the end, it is based in tradition." He nodded.
Shuu Mei sighed. It was all a muddle, and Man'Tah looked to her friend, then Oin.
She'd accept this. For now.
"I see. Thank you." She nodded. Shuu Mei stopped, eying Man'Tah curiously. She was being surprisingly docile, and the female pad over, blinking. Man'Tah simply continued to smile. Oin sighed.
Those two.
"Well, let us move on. Take a rest for now." He motioned. "In a bit we have a celebration to prepare for."
Both females nodded, and Man'Tah winked to Shuu Mei, padding to follow the motion. Shuu Mei grinned, and followed. Oin watched them leave, sighing before turning to move to do something else himself.
Hopefully, he mused as he walked, they wouldn't be trouble.
