The lost Prince

"Clang! clang!"

The metal screamed everytime Kili brought the hammer down. Sweat was pouring down his brow from long hours of work causing his hair to stick to his forehead. Plunging the red hot sword into the water cooling and hardening it. Kili then held up the sword for inspection, the blade was smooth and free of blemishes, another good sword to sell. That made two daggers and three swords for the day, Ulric, Kili's master should be pleased. Placing the sword on the table with all the other finished blades Kili began to trudge towards the forges office.

It had been a long day, Kili had been woken up by Ulric before the sun had risen in order to get as much work done as possible. With Durins day aproching there would be more people through dale and already their numbers in orders was up. The sun had gone down hours ago and the normal busy, loud streets of dale were quiet, only a few lights remained lit in the city houses.

Arriving in the office Kili saw Ulric looking down at the parchment; he was probably figuring something out. Ulric hadn't realized Kili was standing in the doorway, best not startle him, Kili had learned that the hard way a long time ago. So knocking on the door Kili stepped into the room.

"Ulric, I finished the sword I was working on" Kili announced "That makes three swords and two daggers I finished today."

"Good work," Ulric nodded his approval.

Ulric taking in Kili's appearance of dishevelled hair, soot covered and tired eyes. Ulric sighed. "It's late, you've worked hard lad, go on and get some sleep, you look dead on your feet."

"Okay, Ulric," Kili said "Goodnight."

A gruff grunt from the old drarrow was all Kili got for a repy. Kili was used to it.

With that Kili headed towards his room. Arriving at the door Kili pushed through into his bedroom, it was small, nothing really grand, it had a cot in the corner of the room, with a nightstand , and a set of drawers. Kili didn't have much, but what he did have he treasured. And lying on the cot laid his most treasured possession; it was the baby blanket he had been wrapped up in when Ulric had found him. He had been just a wee babe, it was assumed that he had been abandoned, or orphaned. Around the same time, their had been an orc attack many were killed and countless missing

Sitting down on the cot Kili took up the little blue blanket, a small smile spread across his face. Kili often wondered what his family were like, had they been kind? Did they love him? Was he orphaned or had he been abandoned?

Lightly, Kili ran his finger over the ebordery of his name - Kili. What was it like to have someone who was family? Yes, he had Ulric, he might not be the most caring and loving Dwarf, but he was his guardian and he had fed, clothed, and taught him all that he knew. But what was it like to have a real family someone who truly loved you? What would it be like to have a mother, a father , or even a sibling?

Enough of those thoughts Kili thought, it was best not to dwell on things of the past, nothing could be done now, what was done, was done. Exhaustion, and all the work he had accomplished was finely catching up. Not even bothering to change his clothes, Kili laid down upon the cot, bringing up his light quilt. Kili wondered if he had any family at all, what were they doing? Perhaps they were getting ready for bed, Kili smiled at the thought. Despite everything, and more than anything Kili wished that if he had any family at all, that one day that they would meet...

Meanwhile in Erebor...

Filli crown Prince of Erebor, plodded down the stone hallway, towards the royal Chambers, his room. It felt like ages had passed since he had set sights on his bedroom. A whirlwind of a day, that's what it felt like. Durins day was only a couple days away, meaning countless hours of planning, Thorin had insisted that Fili attend all the meetings, as Erebors crown Prince and his heir. The meetings hadn't actually been horrible but they hadn't been good either. Most of the gatherings had been to decide what preparation was needed from where to lodge their guests, gifts to give, and what meals to be seved. Occasionally a fight would break out about the simplest thing like whether to serve pork or chicken, in the end it was decided both.

Not all of the discussion had been on food or gifts but the safety of the Erebor and those who lived there. Recently there had been sighting of orcs and goblins closer to Erebor than they should. Also a rumor about a pale orc called Azog putting a bounty on Thorin's head, if anyone even metioned the name Azog, Thorin would become angry cursing the name Azog and swearing the scum had died ages ago. Thorin didn't take heed to the warnings , even though Fili thought it could be very serious.

Finally Fili destination was in sight, noding to the guards, Fili made his way into his room. Immediately he noticed that his room had been cleaned and his bed made. Fili smiled to himself, Jade, his maid came daily to clean even if he told her it didn't need it.

Despite being exausted from the day Fili could not go to bed and sleep. Glancing over to his desk he saw some papers Balin had dropped off for him to read, something about history and law. Thinking of nothing else better to do, Fili began to read. After about five pages in, suddenly a quiet knock abrupted the silence. Curiosity winning him over, Fili called out "Come in."

In came Fili's mother Dis. Immediately Fili got up to greet her.

"Mother, what are you doing here so late?" Fili asked.

"Oh, I just wanted to check in on you to see how your day went with Thorin, and all the meetings. The guards informed me when you returned. So tell me, how did it go?" She questioned

"About as good as it could, I guess." Fili replied. "I don't think Thorin is taking the threat against Erebor seriously nor the rumors of Azog, he just refuses to even consider the possibility. If the rumor is true and that Azog plans to attack we need to ready. Mahal knows the last attack brought too much death and ruin."

After Fili finished his rant he looked up at his mother, who was now stareing at the floor. Immediately Fili berated himself for his careless words. Fili had been just a child of six years, when Azog had attacked. Azog had led the main attack against Erebor while a pack of Orcs had flooded the streets of Dale. By some miracle Dis had gotten Fili and herself to safety. But In all the chaos Dis had been separated from her husband and her youngest son Kili.

After the Battle, the orcs had been defeated but at high price, there had was countless killed, wounded, and missing. Among the killed was Thror, Erebor's king and Dis' grand father, also Dis' husband Víli was counted as one of the fallen. Sometime during the battle thrain had disappeared, leaving the newly dubbed Thorin 'Oakenshield' king of Erebor. But parhaps the most heartbreaking of all was that of the youngest Durin, not even a full year yet, little Kili had never been found. No one really wanted to think about what fate might have befallen one so young.

Everyone tried to get on with their lives afterwards but to this day when someone mentioned the battle around Dis it saddened her heart to think of that day.

"Oh, mum," Fili said, his voice full of regret, as he walked back to where Dis stood. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you."

Dis smiled sadly looking at her son . "I know you didn't mean to love, it's just; even after all these years I can't help but miss them. You look so much like your father, and you have grown into such a fine dwarrow; he would have been so proud. And your brother not with us very long, but in that time he stole every one's heart he met. More then anything I would love to see my baby again, to know what his personality was like, who he would favor in looks, what he would like all grown up." Dis sighed. "But we can't do anything now, it's in the past, all we can do is make the most of our time and try to prevent the horrors of the past happening again."

"You are right in your thinking, Thorin should be taking this threat more seriously." Dis stated "But he is my brother, your uncle, and both our king, he may be foolish at times but he usually notices his mistakes and overcoming his pride he tries to fix them before any harm may come to pass."

"I know your right, as always." Fili smiled "Do you think Thorin would mind if I went to dale tomorrow, just for the day before all the guests arrive." Fili asked.

"As long as your back before the caravan from the Iron Hills arrive, Thorin wants you to be there to meet the dwarrowdams."

Fili groaned into his hands.

"You forgot didn't you?" Dis knowingly guessed.

"Yes..."

"I figured. You have my consent, go to dale, have a half a day of fun."

"Thanks mum."

Leaning towards her son she planted a kiss upon his head. "You must be tired. Try and get some sleep. Goodnight Fili."

"Goodnight mum."

Sighing heavily Fili walked to his bed, his mother was right, sleep would do him good. The sooner he got to bed the earlier he could get started to go to dale.

Who knew what tomorrow had in store, or who he would meet...

TBC ... Thank you for reading, I hope you liked it. I know that it takes forever to make swords, but this is the dwarves of middle earth, finest craftsmen ever, they can do it!

I would love to know what you think. please review!