Dwalin grumbled and harumphed as his far too cheery daughter explained things.  This girl never properly learned a good sullen dwarven grump, no matter how hard he'd tried.  She even kissed him on the cheek and he gave her a growling nose and pretended to wipe it off, though he couldn't hide the way his smile turned up.<strong>"Pffft, And you know I love you too girl, and you let me worry about how much worrying I do."</strong><br/><br/>He grunted slightly as she squeezed him, though she knew even at his age he could still handle a hug from an orc if he needed too,<strong> "and what, now you're trying to crush me?  Get out of here then, I have things to do."</strong>He nodded as she mentioned the priestess, but didn't comment till she mentioned dinner,<strong>"Well fine and good if they do show up for dinner hoping for a show, but you remember, I run a tavern, not a peep show, you keep your clothing on miss. Don't think I'm too old or weak to take you over my knee or drag you by the hair down to the docks and have you on the first boat back to the faded lands.  I'll send you to live with your grand niece Grielda, she'd find you a husband, no doubt!"</strong><br/><br/>It was an often used threat, and one that was totally empty of course.  Grielda Barrelbreak was around Flint's age, Dwalin's grandson.  But only related to Dwalin through marriage.  She'd come to Laelith once for a visit and Dwalin praised her as a model for dwarven sense and sensibility.  Mostly because she dressed in half plate even when she slept, could break a boar's rib in half with only her hands, and seemed to have two facial expressions, angry and dour.  But all in all, a lovely woman if truth be told... for a dwarf.  She was a fair warrior, but an excellent gossip, though don't let her hear you say that.  The rumor was that she'd managed to find several men and women spouses over the last twenty years she'd lived in Malkin City back in the faded lands.  Hence Dwalin's often used empty threat.<br/><br/>He stomped out of her room muttering and grumbling, but Velma heard the light and happy tone under his grumbles, and knew her father better than most. She always cheered him up.