(A/N) And so my dear readers, we meet once again for another bedtime story. I know some of you have been waiting quite a while for a new one, so let us get right down to it. This fairytale is inspired by the Twelve Dancing Princesses and will be told in two parts.
Warnings: Durincest (sibling incest), rape and dubious consent, voyeurism, and mpreg.
The Hours on the Clock
Once upon a time, which is all times and no times, but not the very best of times, there was a kingdom of dwarves that had undergone a long and brutal war with the Fair Folk: the elves. The immortal beings had long held power in the world because of their great magic, but when the dwarves learned how to manipulate iron to make weapons, they were able to rise up against the elves.
After a bitter and bloody conflict, the elves were driven underground, to the twilight realm between the mortal world and the next…but not before the elven king swore vengeance upon the dwarven royal house…the line of Durin. He swore to return one day…to return and claim the line for his own…for then there would be none stronger in all the world…a child born of elf and dwarf.
By the time the elven king's plans had nearly come to fruition, many thousands of years had passed in the mortal realm. The elven people had long since passed into legend and there was hardly any fear left of the dangerous fey creatures of old.
It was into this world that a dwarf prince with golden hair was born. The little one was loved deeply by his parents and by his uncle, who was then the king of Durin's Folk, and he lived a good and easy life…until his mother became pregnant with his little brother….a hard pregnancy that taxed the young mother greatly.
XxX
The first thing Fili heard upon being allowed to enter the chamber was the yowling cries of an infant. Already made uncomfortable by the close and musty air and the scent of blood heavy in the room, the young prince quickly clamped his hands over his ears.
"What's he so sad about?" he asked his uncle, King Thorin, his voice very loud in an attempt to carry over the newborn's wailing.
"It's not exactly easy to be born," Thorin told him, gently but firmly removing his hands from his ears. "You had quite the set of lungs yourself. Let's not shout, though. Your mother's tired enough as it is."
Starting to feel worried, Fili quickly scampered over to the bed at the head of the chamber, where a handful of healers and nurses were swarming around his mother. Slipping in between them, the dwarfling scrambled up onto the bed. Most of her body was concealed beneath a blanket, but her face was as pale as the sheets on which she lay, and her hand felt clammy when Fili reached for it.
"Mama?" Fili called quietly, clasping her hand tightly in his. It took several moments, but she eventually blinked her eyes open, smiling weakly for her son.
"Hello, Fili."
"Mama…what's wrong?" he asked, feeling a strange fear beginning to boil in his tummy.
"Nothing, dear heart. I'm just tired. Would you like to meet your baby brother?"
He didn't really; what he wanted was to curl up with his mother, but the idea seemed to make her happy, so he nodded…and that was the moment everything changed.
A nurse came to them holding a tightly wrapped bundle in her arms, which she carefully placed in Fili's lap, making certain he was holding the baby properly before backing away. For a moment, all he could see within the folds of the blanket was a tiny, scrunched up face that was red with the effort of crying, but then the small, dark eyes opened up and looked up at him…and all at once, the little one stopped crying. He gazed up at Fili with curiosity in his suddenly bright eyes, offering up a tiny coo. Quite suddenly, the young prince found himself enchanted. He loved his little brother at once.
"What…what's his name?" he asked his mother softly.
"Kili," she answered, her smile brightening somewhat as she tangled her fingers in her firstborn's golden hair. "Your brother's name is Kili."
"Prince Kili," Oin, one of the healers, began. He was also known to be something of a prognosticator, so when he spoke, people tended to listen. "He will be a lovely child…and beloved by all…but the twilight will claim him. His secret lies hidden between this world and the next. It will not be easily discovered."
As the old dwarf finished speaking, the fire in the hearth suddenly glowed an unearthly shade of blue, sparking and spitting, and as the dwarves withdrew in fear, a hand made of smoke seemed to reach out from the blue flames, stretching forth with grasping fingers…toward the two young princes.
Thorin quickly moved in to protect his nephews and sister, sword already drawn, but Fili was one step ahead of him. Not stopping to think of his own fear, Fili quickly shrank back, clutching Kili tightly against his chest as he hopped off the bed and darted out of the chamber, paying no heed to his mother's cries.
Fili ran until he reached one of the palace gardens…a place he'd always liked to play and had always felt safe in. He cradled his sobbing brother close as he hid them within a hollow created by the roots of one of the trees.
"Come on, Kili. Please don't cry," he soothed, holding him tightly to comfort him. "You don't need to be scared of anything, ever…because I'm gonna keep you safe. You're safe with me. I'll protect you…always."
It took time, but Kili did eventually stop crying. He cuddled close against Fili, burbling sweetly as they both drifted off to sleep.
XxX
Sadly, the king's sister did not long survive the birth of her youngest son. The complications proved to be too great and she breathed her last only a week after the babe was born. As their father had also died in a skirmish with the neighboring kingdom only a few months before, the two princes were left orphaned. They came to be in their uncle's care and the golden-haired prince was named the king's heir, as he had no children of his own.
The young prince grieved fiercely for his mother, but he had his baby brother to care for now, and he tended to him without even a single thought of resentment. He loved his little brother and he meant to keep his vow to protect him. There were, of course, whispers of the strange events surrounding the dwarfling's birth, but those whispers fell by the wayside as the dark-haired young prince grew. He was just as lovely as the seer had foretold, and everyone loved his playfulness and sunny nature. He was like a star in the dark as the kingdom drew closer and closer to the brink of war with the neighboring land.
And of course, no one loved the beautiful young prince more than his older brother. As the years passed and the child grew into a handsome young dwarf, the golden-haired prince often found himself thinking that maybe…he loved his brother more than he should. When his uncle explained to him the way things were when two dwarves loved each other, he found that he could think of no one except his lovely little brother. He would dream of holding him in his arms…kissing his lips and touching his body. He would imagine the barely restrained sounds of pleasure that escaped from his mouth as he touched him…and shudder at the way his voice would sound as he called his name. He dreamed of taking him…taking him hard…until he was weeping and begging for release…which the young heir would grant only too gladly…and almost before the prince had realized it, he'd allowed himself to fall head over heels in love with his little brother.
The only question that remained was…could his brother ever feel the same way about him?
XxX
The two brothers sat high in the branches of a tree in their favorite garden, both munching on apples as they watched the twilight slowly bleed into night. They were getting to be a little old for their games…for playing and hiding out in the garden…but also not yet old enough for them to be shouldering much responsibility. They were still very much of an age to be absorbed only in each other.
Fili grinned as he glanced over at his brother, who had a rather copious amount of the sticky apple juice seeping down his chin. Chuckling, he leaned forward to wipe the sticky mess away with his thumb. At first, Kili laughed at the motion, but then he slowly fell silent, staring into his brother's eyes. Almost immediately, Fili felt a blush begin to burn in his cheeks. Before Kili could have the chance to see it, he quickly turned away from him, biting back into his own apple. Kili continued to stare at him. Finally, exasperated, Fili shot a furtive glance back at his baby brother's curious stare.
"First you can't chew with your mouth shut and now you're staring. You'd think no one had ever taught you proper table manners, little warg."
Finally managing to break his stare, Kili shook his head, smiling again. "Manners? Who needs them? Nobody cares what I do. I'm just the second son, after all."
"That isn't true," Fili said seriously, immediately noticing the hint of bitterness in his voice. "I care."
Once again, the two brothers found themselves just staring at each other. Was Fili imagining it…or was that a blush he spied on his brother's cheeks?
More and more often lately, he had found himself dreaming of Kili in ways he knew he probably shouldn't. It wasn't that anyone would mind if they took to bed together. It was their right as princes to bed whomever they chose…when they were properly of age for it, at least. They could fuck as much as they wanted; they could just never be recognized as a married pair, as they could not produce an heir together…and the thought of being with anyone other than Kili broke his heart. He loved Kili so much…but he had no idea if his younger brother felt as he did, and he was terrified to even hint at it for fear of destroying the love they already shared. He didn't think he could live with himself if he destroyed something between them in the name of his own selfish desire. He had looked after Kili all his life. How could he stop now?
All of his musings and worries and longings were quite suddenly ground to a halt, though, when Kili moved across the branch they were balanced on, leaning right in close to him and staring directly into his eyes. Slowly, Kili reached a hand forward to touch his cheek.
"Fili…I'm going to kiss you now," he announced boldly, causing both of their faces to burn a violent shade of red. When Fili didn't protest in any way, Kili took it as his queue and closed the small distance between them, pressing his lips against Fili's.
The kiss was clumsy and moist and fumbling, but at the same time, it was also soft, tender, and seemed to taste of apple and spring rain. They both stared at each other in amazement when Fili finally pulled back from Kili.
"I- I'm sorry," Kili stuttered, pulling back a little himself. "I didn't mean to…I was…I couldn't…I'm so sorry."
"Sorry for what?" Fili asked quietly, reaching up to touch where Kili's lips had so lately pressed against his.
"For…well…you…you pulled back…didn't want it-"
"I wanted it," Fili interrupted him. "You can't imagine how long I've wanted it. I was only…you surprised me…is all," he said, fumbling awkwardly with his words.
"So…it…it was all right…then?" Kili asked in a halting voice, feeling a smile light his face when Fili smiled warmly back at him.
"More than all right. In fact, I wouldn't mind doing it again," he said, closing the space between them for another sweet kiss. This one became a little more heated and Kili half-shrieked when he near fell from the tree branch. Laughing, the younger prince easily slithered his way out of the tree, landing softly on his feet. Fili followed him, quickly pinning him to the tree for another kiss. Before long, they were lying against the trunk of the tree, tangled up in each other and their seemingly endless stream of kisses.
"I'm sorry…I was so bold," Kili murmured in between kisses. "I just…I couldn't bear to…ignore what was between us anymore."
"No…I'm glad you were bold. I never…would have done anything," he groaned right back, reaching for Kili's belt. Kili whimpered softly when he laid him bare.
"Oh…Fili…Fili, I think I love you," he whispered, his body rutting involuntarily up against his brother's.
"I know I love you," Fili returned with a fierce, passionate kiss. "I know…nothing can ever come of it, but I love you. Love you so," he said as he lowered his head to Kili's sex, hovering a moment before shifting lower and laying very heated kisses to his strong, supple thighs, causing the younger dwarf to cry out rather wantonly.
The two young lovers didn't quite go all the way that night…but they did things that would have made their uncle's stuffy old councilors blush to the roots of their white hair.
XxX
As the years passed, the two brothers explored each other very thoroughly in love, until they had learned every last inch of each other's bodies, inside and out. They were the truest and most passionate of lovers…but unfortunately, their bliss could not go untouched for all of time.
The skirmishes with the neighboring kingdom did eventually devolve into open conflict. War was declared and the king and his heir had to ride off into battle, leaving the younger prince behind, as it just wasn't wise for both princes to go to war.
The two brother-lovers missed each other terribly, writing to each other almost constantly, but it wasn't until several months following the elder prince's departure that the younger found himself awakened in the middle of the night by an eerie yet beautiful singing.
XxX
The voice called Kili from his sleep like a siren's song, calling out to his soul in a way he couldn't understand. He didn't know from where or why the singing came. He only knew he had to go to it.
The young prince rose slowly from his bed, eyes glassy as he allowed the enchanting song to lead him. He drifted unseeingly through the palace's many corridors…until he was led down to the garden that he and his brother considered their own. He wasn't certain, but he thought he could see lights dancing in the waters of the fountain, spinning and twisting back and forth through the swiftly moving flow, all of different brightness and color.
Come to us, lovely young prince. Come to us, Kili of the dark eyes. Come dance in the twilight.
"Dance?" he mumbled in a daze, reaching out a hesitant hand to touch the dazzling water. Rather than the normal cold, the water felt strangely warm to his touch.
Come be with us, child of twilight. Drink of our wonder and know us. Your soul belongs to us now. Give yourself over to us, Kili.
Still hesitant, but hopelessly lost in the trance, Kili withdrew his hand from the fountain, a handful of the enchanted water cupped delicately in his palm. Drawing his hand to his lips, he drank the water down, feeling it warm the chill in his body. A hazy smiling lighting his face, the prince leaned forward once more to touch the water…and when his fingers came into contact with it, he vanished without a trace, leaving the garden just as dark and silent as before his arrival.
XxX
For near on a year, the war raged on. The two brothers continued to write to each other, but with each passing month, the elder grew worried. His love's letters were not the warm, passionate words of love that kept his heart strong in the face of the fighting. The letters became short greetings, wishing for his health and stating he was well. The notes were almost curt in their nature, leaving the prince feeling like his brother was angry with him. Always he would beg for him to tell him what was wrong in his own letters, but the younger prince never once acknowledged his pleas. Even more worrisome were the letters the king received from the prince's guardian, stating that the prince had become cold and distant…that he was rude to the people he'd once counted as friends and that his complexion had grown pale, though there was no sickness that the physicians could divine.
The golden-haired prince was worried for his brother to the point of sickness himself, and ever he longed to return home to try and heal whatever had happened, but always the fighting seemed to intensify, leaving no opportunity to return to his brother.
The opportunity did not come until they had triumphed completely over their enemies. The peace treaty between the two kingdoms came with the beginnings of marriage talks for the golden-haired prince and the neighboring king's oldest daughter, which displeased the prince greatly, but he made no argument. Nothing mattered to him except being able to return home and see his brother.
What he found when he arrived home, though, was much more disheartening than he could have ever imagined.
XxX
Fili hadn't needed to ask upon arriving at the palace. He'd felt certain Kili would be in their garden, so he headed straight there.
Well, Kili was in the garden…but it was not a sight Fili at all wanted to see.
There was a servant attending to the young prince, who was sitting beside the fountain in the center of the garden. Kili took a tankard from the tray the servant held out to him and took a drink from it, but almost immediately, his face went sour and he flung the drink to the ground, splashing it everywhere.
"This ale is still warm!" he shouted at the poor girl. "I won't stand for this sort of thing!"
"It was chilled for two hours, Your Highness," the girl said, going to pick up the fallen tankard.
"Are you arguing with me?" Kili demanded in a low voice, his eyes going dark.
"N-no, Majesty. Never."
"Good. Now, little girl, either bring me a properly chilled drink or I'll have you turned out…and with your looks, I doubt you could even get work as a brothel girl, so you'd better take care to hold onto this job."
For several minutes, all Fili could do was stare in shock as the young serving girl rushed past him with tears in her eyes. Kili looked ungodly pleased with himself as he lounged by the fountain. More than his expression, though, was the fact that Balin's letters hadn't exaggerated in any way. Kili was very pale…not the pale of illness, but of something…almost otherworldly. He was still beautiful…but not in the way that Fili knew and loved. It was like he was carved from marble and his features were painted on with the finest paints. He was something utterly untouchable…and the smug expression on his unbearably beautiful face was not something his beloved little brother would have ever worn before Fili had left. When he finally managed to speak, all he could get out was a tiny, shocked, "K-Kili?"
When Kili looked up, there was anger in his eyes, but it quickly melted away when he saw who called his name. For a brief moment, his cold, unearthly beauty also washed away and he almost looked to be the dwarf Fili had known.
"Fili?" he called softly, fear, sorrow, love, and uncertainty warring in his dark eyes as he reached out a hesitant hand toward him. "Is…is it really you?"
"It's me."
"I…I feared you would never return."
"Kili, what…what's happened to you?"
At this, the otherworldly guise seemed to return and Kili was cold and pale again. He sneered at Fili as he rose from the fountain.
"Nothing that wouldn't have happened anyway…whether you had left or not," he said, brushing past Fili on his way out of the garden, leaving the older prince confused and hurt.
XxX
"It started off slowly," Balin began to explain to Thorin, Dwalin, and Fili. "It didn't seem to begin until some four months after you'd left, but it was just little things at first. He stopped talking…and he wouldn't eat much. For a time, he really did look sick and it seemed he was almost fading away to nothing. But then this…this strangeness you see started to happen. It was almost like he crystallized. Turned into something…something…"
"Unearthly," Fili said softly, not looking at any of them.
"Yes…just so," Balin said sadly. "And when that happened, the cruelty came with it. He is impudent toward the nobles and the other councilors and he's harsh to the servants. We've tried talking to him about all of it, but he won't listen to anyone. And of course along with all of this, there's the mystery of his shoes."
"Shoes?" Thorin pressed. "You never wrote of that."
"I wasn't completely certain how to explain the situation. I'm still not certain. What's been happening is that…every morning he seems to have worn out a new pair of shoes, wonderfully crafted boots of the finest, strongest leather completely worn through…as if he'd been walking for miles. I've asked him over and over where it is he goes at night to wear out perfectly good shoes, but he says he goes nowhere…that he's asleep in bed all night."
"So have a guard set on him," Dwalin said irritably.
"Don't you think I've tried that?" Balin asked, wringing his hands slightly as he started to pace the meeting room. "Many times I have tried to set a guard on him, but each time the guard has vanished by morning…and Kili claims to know nothing of it."
"How many have vanished?" Thorin asked.
"Eight in total. Even Oin volunteered to stay up and keep watch. He's gone now, too. Thorin…the rumors are beginning to resurface…of the events surrounding Kili's birth. There are whispers that there is evil magic in the palace…that Kili is a witch child. They are afraid, Thorin."
"Kili's no such thing!" Fili lashed out violently. "None of it was his fault! I don't know what's going on here…but Kili's the victim of it somehow. I know it!"
"Calm yourself, lad. I didn't say I believed any of their claptrap. I'm only telling you what's happening."
"I'll stand guard tonight," Dwalin declared. "We'll get to the bottom of this business once and for all."
"Brother, are you certain? What if you-"
"Nothing will happen," Dwalin said firmly. "We'll figure this out. I'll stand guard outside the princes' chamber tonight and if there's even one whisper that something's out of place, I'll sound the alarm."
"Oh…Kili no longer sleeps in their chamber," Balin said.
"What?" Fili asked, feeling hurt stab at his heart all over again.
"No one really knows why, but he started sleeping in a guest chamber on the other side of the palace. I wouldn't…advise going to him tonight. If you want him…you'll have to let him come to you."
"A-all right," Fili stuttered quietly, struggling not to show just how hurt he really was. He could only pray that Kili would come to him tonight…so that they could rediscover each other…make love as they used to…and talk about what was happening to him. If anyone could get Kili to open up, surely he could.
XxX
Fili was happy when Kili showed up at his door that night, but the happiness didn't last long once Kili had entered the room that had once been theirs. He pushed Fili back into the chamber, forcefully shoving him down onto the bed.
"So…you've been home all of a day and you still haven't given your beloved baby brother a kiss? It seems I need to take what is due me, dear brother," he snarled quietly, sneering as he crawled on top of Fili's body…and as Fili looked up into his dark eyes, he knew fear…fear in a place he had never felt it before. Their bedchamber had once been sacred to them. It had been the hallowed place of their union and they had once promised never to let anything defile it. Fili knew, though, as Kili uncaringly stripped him of his clothing, that their chamber had been defiled a long time ago. Something had taken his brother from him…taken him and corrupted him…and he had no idea what it could be.
"You're so quiet, Fili," Kili teased as he ran his fingers and tongue all along his body, but it wasn't with the same warmth and tenderness they had shared what now seemed to be a lifetime ago, rather than a mere fifteen months. The way Kili touched him now…reminded him of the way a drunken soldier would take a whore…like he owned him in some way…and it made Fili feel sick to his stomach. "Didn't you miss me, Brother? Won't you tell me how much you love me?!" he demanded as he shoved a finger inside his body without any warning or preparation.
Fili cried out in pain, wriggling helplessly beneath his brother. "Kili, please…please stop! You're hurting me!"
Kili didn't seem to care, though. He continued to thrust the finger in and out, grinning wickedly when he felt his brother's blood beginning to collect in his palm. "Say it, Fili. Tell me, beloved," he hissed.
"Yes…I…I missed you. I love you, Kili," he cried out, struggling very hard not to scream.
"Good," Kili soothed as he finally withdrew his finger. "Perhaps I'll be a little more gentle with you now," he said, rolling away briefly and reaching into the side draw where they kept their oil.
Fili knew he should have run when Kili had given him that small chance…but he could never run from Kili. He could never turn away from him…no matter how hideous and dark his once bright spirit had become. So he remained, lying where Kili had left him on the bed, injured in body and broken in soul, prepared to take whatever punishment fate saw fit to dole out for failing to protect his dear brother from whatever it was that had happened to him.
As he'd promised, Kili was a little more gentle with him after that, oiling his fingers up well to stretch him out properly and giving his hard cock the same treatment, but as the younger dwarf had already injured him, had already torn his entrance very badly, the sex was not in any way enjoyable. The whimpers Fili gave while Kili fucked him were only of pain and nothing of pleasure. He could hardly remain on his hands and knees when Kili forced him up onto all fours so that he could fuck him harshly from behind. Fili didn't know how he hadn't broken down in tears by the time they were finished…he was lying naked on the bed while Kili lay on top of him, still mostly clothed.
"That was most enjoyable, Brother mine. Thank you. You're quite the little slut; did you know that? Did you let all of Uncle's soldiers fuck you in that war camp? That's so awful…especially since I've been nothing but faithful to you. It doesn't matter, though. I'll still love you. I'll still let you into my bed. Who else could love you, after all?"
It was these words, more than anything that had come before them, that hurt Fili. Tears began to pour down his face as he shoved his brother away and rolled onto his side to look at him, despite how much it hurt his body to move.
"What's happened to you?! This isn't right! You're not…you're not the Kili I know anymore!" he screamed at him, tears flowing freely down his face…and as he watched him break down, Kili's cold, harsh exterior seemed to crack once more, revealing a little of the warm, loving dwarf trapped beneath it. Horror filled his eyes as he reached a hand out to touch him.
"What…what did I just…what have I done?" he whispered in shock, several tears falling down his cheeks when Fili flinched away from his touch.
"Kili?" Fili whispered, looking up into his eyes, praying for the dwarf he loved to return…but at the sound of his voice, the otherworldly mask was suddenly back in place and Kili was sneering down at him again.
"Sleep well, my love," he said, leaning down to kiss his lips, forcing Fili's face against his so that he couldn't flinch away. Fili felt himself near the point of suffocation by the time Kili allowed him to breathe again. "I'll continue sleeping elsewhere for now…give you some time to think about what you've done," he said before righting his clothes and sweeping out of the chamber, leaving Fili broken on the bed…and once he had gone, Fili could do nothing more than cry himself to sleep.
XxX
Unfortunately, the king's bodyguard did in fact vanish when he set about the task of guarding the younger prince…and still the young dwarf claimed to know nothing about the disappearances. He told them he had been asleep in bed all night and no one could prove otherwise. Worried over his brother, the king's councilor also took up the task of guarding the prince, and also vanished straight away. Fear began to stalk the palace, following in the wake of the cold, cruel princeling.
Several days passed that the elder prince spent lying in bed, giving himself time to heal. He didn't tell his uncle what had happened for fear that he might punish his brother. He needn't have worried, though. The king was far too caught up in the disappearances to trouble himself with much else. Even the marriage talks were put on hold, which the prince had no objection to…but there was still the matter of the wicked enchantment that had clearly been laid upon his brother. After the councilor's disappearance, the king started offering a reward to anyone who could discover the young prince's secret. After ten disappearances, though, no one was quite brave enough to try and discover it.
When he was up on his feet again, the prince tried to avoid his brother as best he could, which the younger made somewhat difficult. He spent a lot of time in their garden, where the golden-haired prince would have preferred to spend his time. When the younger prince was off elsewhere, the elder snuck what time he could in the once peaceful garden. He had always been able to find safety within it, safety and council when his thoughts were troubled…and even as hopeless as the current situation seemed…it appeared that there was still council to be had in the garden.
XxX
The day was nearing its end, and even though Fili knew he didn't want Kili finding him in the dark, he was also still afraid to return to his own room for fear Kili might find him there. Kili hadn't come to him since that first night, but he was still afraid he might return because he knew he wouldn't run…even if his brother had plans to hurt him again.
The elder prince was sitting curled up against the tree where they'd shared their first kiss, remembering with fondness and sadness how very much in love they had been. He loved Kili still…but it seemed now that those feelings were no longer returned.
"What can I do?" he whispered, resting a hand against the cool bark of the tree. "What do I do? I promised I would protect him…but I don't know how. How do I save him?"
It was only a moment later, running his hand along the bark, that Fili noticed something different. There was a vine growing up the tree, and when he followed it to its end, he found an unopened moonflower bud. It was a little early for the night flowers to be showing their blossoms, so he was almost surprised when the bud suddenly burst into bloom…only this little flower didn't have the typical white petals of a moonflower. They began as such, but the lacy petals ended in a color that more closely resembled gold. It really was lovely, but Fili's next thought was that it probably wasn't good for the tree to have a moonflower vining with it, so he plucked the golden flower and placed it behind his ear before gently pulling the vine down from the tree and heading out of the garden.
His first indication that something was different was when he stumbled upon Kili on his way back to his room. For a moment, he froze, waiting for his brother to send some stinging barb his way…but Kili said nothing. In fact, he didn't even seem to see him. For yet a moment more, Fili hesitated. Had Kili sunk so low as to simply not acknowledge his existence at all? He wasn't sure which would be more painful. Finally, unable to take not knowing, he turned and called out to his brother.
"Kili?"
Nothing. Kili kept walking. Surely he would have acknowledged him, even if only to insult him. Just when he was thinking Kili really was ignoring him, he turned to look at himself in one of the mirrors that lined the corridor…and quickly discovered what it was that had changed.
He had no reflection. Where he should have been standing in the middle of the corridor, there was nothing. Running his hands along his face to reassure himself he was still there, his hand brushed against the flower he'd so lately tucked behind his ear. Quickly plucking it free, Fili found his reflection soon shifting back into being before the mirror. Testing it a few more times, he came to the conclusion that it was, in fact, the flower that was causing whatever this was. Perhaps…he had found his answers in the garden after all. Perhaps this was his chance to discover what was happening to Kili. Tucking the flower securely behind his ear once more, he hurried after Kili, who had nearly reached his new bedchamber.
As Kili was opening the door, Fili kicked his boot hard against a small side table, sending it clattering a few feet forward. Kili's head immediately snapped back.
"Who's there?!" he demanded, firing an angry glare into the seemingly empty corridor. "I'm warning you, if you don't show yourself, you'll regret it!"
While Kili made his empty threats, Fili quickly snuck around him, never once indicating his presence. He set himself up beside a wardrobe just as Kili entered the room, closing the door behind him.
Fili kept completely silent while Kili got ready for bed, didn't even dare to sit down once he was tucked beneath the blankets. He remained leaning against the far wall of the chamber, mostly keeping his attention focused on Kili, but also making sure to check the door and the two windows for any sign of activity. There was nothing, though, not for several hours…when Kili's eyes suddenly snapped open.
Fili gasped faintly…and had clapped a hand over his mouth before remembering that Kili couldn't hear him. He watched as his little brother slowly sat up in bed. He seemed to look around without really seeing anything, as his eyes were glazed over, as if in a trance. Then he rose and began to strip out of his nightclothes, moving to dress himself again, only this time in a very fine set of clothes, as if he were to attend some sort of important gathering. All the while, Kili didn't seem to be aware of anything around him or what he was doing. It was almost like he was sleepwalking with his eyes open.
When he was finally ready, Kili went to the full-length mirror on the other side of the wardrobe. Fili moved around just in time to see him lay a hand on it and watch it slide to the side, revealing a hidden passage way behind it. When Kili stepped through, Fili followed after him before the mirror had a chance to slide back into place. The passage was lit by a very dim blue glow that he couldn't see the source of; nor could he see the end of the passage. So far as he could tell, it was just a set of stairs heading down, so he followed Kili…down, down, down…until they came to a great wooden door, ornately inlaid with patterns of emerald vines, but with no lock or handle that Fili could see. Kili didn't actually open the door, though. As he'd done with the mirror, he simply laid his hand against the wood and it opened for him, barely allowing Fili to slip through before it closed behind them.
When he emerged, Fili was almost surprised to see that they'd come out into their garden. When he looked behind him, though, the door they'd just come through had already vanished. Before he could ponder much on the mystery of this, his gaze was drawn back by a strange light.
The fountain seemed to have almost caught fire with the myriad of mysterious lights dancing within its waters. Fili stared, mesmerized for several moments, before realizing that Kili was heading to the fountain. Quickly, he followed him, coming up right beside him and seeing a warm smile stretch his lips, though his eyes were still glassy and unfocused. Reaching forward, he cupped some of the water in his hands and drank it down. Hesitating only a moment, Fili copied his actions, feeling the water strangely warm in his palms before he gulped it down. He was momentarily distracted by the pleasant movement of the water into his body and almost didn't see Kili reach out to touch it. He only saw the moment he vanished.
Starting in shock, his hand reached out to brush the warm water and he was instantly pulled through. He felt himself pass through some sort of soft, warm curtain and then found himself tumbling to the ground.
Hurriedly looking up, he found himself in a forest…only it was unlike any forest he'd ever seen. The trees appeared to be made of silver. Before he could think over long on this, though, he noticed that Kili was moving off ahead of him, so he quickly followed…and as they moved through the mysterious twilight forest, the branches on the trees seemed to shift from silver to gold, and then the branches appeared to be hung with precious gems. Fili hardly noticed any of the enchanted splendor, though, for he kept his focus on his brother, moving through the forest as if half asleep.
When they finally reached the forest's end, they arrived at a lake. A boat was waiting to take Kili across and far and away over the deep, black waters, there was an island, upon which stood a magnificent castle of silver and black marble. Kili drifted toward the boat, climbing gracefully into it…and hardly seemed to notice the shifting of the craft when Fili clumsily scrambled in.
Once the young prince was settled, the boat began to move on its own, carrying them both across the lake, to the island. A cloaked figure was waiting on the shore to help Kili up out of the boat, a figure who was very tall in comparison to the young dwarf…and Fili could not deny the small spike of jealousy he felt when the figure knelt and kissed Kili's hand, followed by a soft, "Welcome back, Your Highness. The others are all waiting for you."
When the tall figure began to lead Kili away, Fili climbed out of the boat and followed quickly behind them, entering the grand palace and an equally grand ballroom, where a crowd of elegantly dressed figures awaited: tall figures with fair faces, fair skin and hair, and ears that tapered to a point.
Elves, Fili realized in horror as Kili was brought among them. They were the cause of this wicked enchantment upon his brother, the cause of the change in him. Why? What could they possibly want with Kili? What were they going to do with him? It seemed that the only thing to do was to observe and find out.
Kili was led first to an elf who seemed grander than all the rest, dressed in robes of gold and white with a magnificent crown atop his head: the elven king, surely. Even though the height difference was rather glaring, when an orchestra began to play, the pair began to dance, and all around them, other couples also began to join in the swirl of the music. Fili kept to the side at all times, being careful that no one crashed into him, but all the while, he kept his attention on Kili and the king. He could see the elf stroking his brother's hair and saying things to him, feeling certain they were horribly degrading things from the way the king was smirking condescendingly down at him…like a pet.
Fili was almost relieved when Kili was given to another partner, but then he began to notice that there were other dwarves in the crowd of revelers…in fact, they were the very same dwarves who had vanished in the cause of discovering Kili's secret: Oin and Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur, Dori, Nori, and Ori, and now Balin and Dwalin, all of them dressed in opulent finery and dancing with elven partners, just as helplessly bespelled as Kili was. Fili became so caught up in watching the dance and listening to the music that he nearly fell under its spell himself…and had he fallen prey to the hypnotic rhythm, he would surely have walked onto the floor and continued to dance with the others for an eternity…but somehow he managed to shake the enchantment off, searching again for Kili in the whirling crowd.
When he finally found his brother, he'd been given to yet another partner, an elf who looked very much like the king…a prince, perhaps? This elf was not like others, though. He did not sneer down at Kili or treat him like a little pet. He smiled in genuine happiness as he and Kili danced together. He held him close and every so often, he would lean down and press a tender kiss to his lips. Kili never reciprocated, of course, enthralled as he was, but Fili couldn't help the pain and jealousy that sparked in his chest as he watched them together, and it was this that kept him strong against the spell attempting to overthrow his mind.
The elven prince remained with Kili for the rest of the evening, and for many long hours, they danced…danced and danced until Kili had actually managed to wear through the soles of the fine new boots he'd put on to come here. When the dancing finally came to an end, the crowd adjourned to a banquet hall, where a feast had been laid out for them.
The elven prince led Kili to the table, sitting with him and feeding him as he ate his own food, and also seeing that they both had plenty to drink. Once the pair had eaten and drunk their fill, the prince helped Kili up from the table and led him out of the hall, up several flights of stairs and into a very lavish bedchamber. All the while, Fili followed close behind.
The moment the prince thought they were alone, he began to kiss Kili again. There were several rounds of kissing before he tenderly began to strip Kili of his fine clothing, until he stood naked in the middle of the room. The elf continued to smile at him as he removed his own clothing. Then he led Kili to the bed, sitting down on the edge and parting his legs for him. Then he guided Kili to his knees on the floor before him.
"Come on, my love. I can't believe I still have to show you how everything works after nearly a year of this," the elf said with a chuckle, gently guiding Kili's head to his already engorged sex. When his nose bumped against the hardened flesh, Kili finally seemed to take the hint and began to lick it, slowly, up and down, tracing every inch with his tongue. It took all of Fili's control not to jump in and tear Kili away. Even though he understood this was some sort of spell, it still hurt him terribly to see Kili like this with another person.
It's only a spell. He wouldn't do this if he were in his right mind. He wouldn't betray you like this. The dwarf you love is still in there somewhere, he reminded himself constantly.
The elf moaned rather loudly as Kili sucked him; a grin of pleasure spread across his face as he buried his fingers in the dwarf's silky dark tresses.
"Oh…oh, Kili, I love you so," he groaned, his body thrusting rhythmically up against the young prince's mouth. After a time, he seized Kili's head and forced him all the way down on his sex, whimpering in delight as he spilled down his throat. Kili did not resist.
When the elf prince had finally finished, he slowly pulled out of Kili's mouth, leaving a small trail of cum and saliva dribbling from the corner of his mouth. Still grinning, the elf prince leaned forward to kiss him very deeply, tongue plunging as far into his mouth as he could go. All the while, Kili's gaze remained utterly blank. The prince then pulled back, chuckling as he kissed Kili's nose.
"Well, now I suppose it's time for the real fun," he said, helping Kili up onto the bed and guiding him to lie down on his stomach. Then he produced a bottle of oil from seemingly nowhere, pulling out the ornate glass stopper and dribbling the slick stuff all over his fingers. Then he began to press a single slicked digit inside Kili's body.
Fili knew he couldn't bear to watch this…but at the same time, he couldn't bring himself to look away. In order to stop whatever plot they had, whatever dark purpose they had for his baby brother, he had to understand all of what they were doing to him.
The elf prince worked diligently to open Kili, meticulously adding one oil-slicked finger after another and gently thrusting and scissoring with each new addition, until he seemed to think Kili sufficiently ready for him. Then he slicked up his cock, already hard and dripping once again, and slowly began to push it inside Kili.
"Hngh…oh, Kili…lovely Kili…you're so tight…so warm…just like the first time we made love. It's almost…oh…like you come to me as a virgin every night. Oh…Kili…my love…" he moaned and grunted as he thrust gently into Kili's body, over and over and over again. It almost seemed to Fili that he continued to thrust for hours and hours before finally finishing with an obscenely loud cry, spilling deep inside Kili as he collapsed on top of him.
After they had lain entwined like this for several minutes, the elf laughed quietly as he rolled off of Kili, lying on his side and moving Kili to face him. Even now, the young dwarf's eyes were still glassy with enchantment. Throughout all the elf's intense and passionate lovemaking, Kili had not given one single reaction. The only sign he'd even had sex at all was the damp and sticky spot on the sheets where his now limp cock had been pressed…that and the elven cum now dripping down his thighs. Fili shuddered in disgust before turning his gaze back up to Kili's empty eyes.
The elf prince leaned in for a fresh round of kissing, and when he'd had his fill of that, he pressed another tender kiss to the younger prince's forehead and whispered to him, "Sleep now, my darling. I know you must be tired after all this merriment."
Immediately, Kili was asleep, almost faster than a candle being blown out, and as he fell into deep slumber, the elf pulled him into his arms, cradling him close as they lay together.
"Soon, my love…soon," he said softly. "In only a few more nights, it will have been one year since you first came to my bed…and we all know what happens on that last night. The spell will be complete and your body will finally be receptive to my seed. After all this time, you will finally become pregnant. You will bear my child and become my consort…and we shall rule both worlds together. Oh, Kili, we're going to have a child together. You can't imagine how happy I am," he said, slipping a hand between them to rest against Kili's belly. "Then we will never have to be parted again…and you will love me…truly. I can't wait for you to finally wake to me," he said, smiling languidly, stroking Kili's hair as he slept in his arms. After a time, though, the elf's smile shifted to something sad and he slowly began to extricate himself from Kili.
The elf prince first dressed himself, then dressed Kili back in his fine clothes. That done, he pressed another kiss to Kili's lips and lifted him into his arms. Fili followed him as he carried him down the many levels of stairs and out of the mysterious twilight palace. Though it had never been tied down, the boat still waited for them on the shore, and Fili climbed aboard before the elf so that he hopefully wouldn't notice anything amiss.
Once the elf was settled, still cradling Kili tenderly in his arms, the boat began to move, carrying them all back across the lake, to the bejeweled forest. This time Fili let the elf disembark first, following once he'd moved several paces away. Stopping a moment to think, though, Fili reached up and plucked a small bejeweled twig from one of the tree branches, which came free with a rather loud snap.
The elf prince whirled around, but of course, saw no one there. Hesitating several moments, he finally shook his head and continued on.
Fili repeated the action when they passed through the forest of gold and the forest of silver. Each time, the elf prince turned, hesitating a little longer.
"Who's there?" he finally called after Fili had broken off a twig from a silver tree. Fili made no answer of course, and the elf finally turned away with a small growl of frustration. At the end of the forest, they came to a small waterfall that glowed with the same mysterious fairy light that had lit the fountain. The elf prince reached out a hand to touch the glowing water and promptly vanished. Fili followed close behind, touching the water and feeling himself pulled to the other side of the portal once more. As he'd expected, he tumbled out of the fountain and into the garden. The prince was nearly all the way across it and when Fili looked beyond him, he found that the door had once again appeared in the wall.
Leaping to his feet, Fili sprinted after them, once again just barely managing to slip through the door. The prince paused, as if he'd felt the whisper of air rush past him, but ultimately shrugged and continued on. Fili raced up the stairs ahead of them, exiting out the mirror and into Kili's room. He turned in time to see the elf emerge from the secret entrance and come to the bed. Being gentle all the while, he changed Kili into his nightclothes and put away the dancing finery. Then he tucked Kili into bed, stroking his hair for a final time.
"You are so beautiful…my Kili. I wish I could lie with you in your own bed…but dawn approaches. Don't worry, my love…three more nights only. Three more nights. I love you. Good night, Kili," he said, leaning in to press one last kiss to his lips. Then he was up, moving back through the hidden entrance; the mirror slid back into place and the secret pathway disappeared entirely, leaving Fili alone in the room with his sleeping brother, shocked and amazed at everything he'd seen.
XxX
So the golden-haired prince now knew, now knew of the secret curse that haunted his brother's footsteps. If, as he suspected, his brother was in some sort of trance when everything was happening, then he was truly unaware of what the elves were doing to him…what they were using him for.
The only trouble was the elder prince wasn't at all certain what to do with his newfound knowledge. What could their uncle do if he went to him with the truth? Would he even believe him? The only proof he really had were the three twigs he'd taken from the twilight forests, and if the king were to go and see for himself, he would most likely just fall under the spell like all the others. In fact, the prince was almost certain the only reason he hadn't was because of the golden flower. It did more than keep him invisible. It protected him from the elven magic.
Perhaps…the way to break this spell didn't lie in seeking outside help. Perhaps it lay in awakening his brother from the enchantment…in making him realize what was happening to him. He didn't have anything truly solid to go on, only hunches and vague ideas, but that was really all he had at the moment, so he decided to test out his theory that very afternoon.
XxX
"Ho, Kili!" Fili called out as they passed each other in a corridor. Kili stopped and sneered at him a moment.
"Hello, Brother. Why do you interrupt me? Could it be you'd like another night with me?"
"I only want to ask you something. Do you recognize this?" he asked, pulling the twig from the silver tree out of his tunic.
Kili stared for a moment, eyes shifting in and out of focus, as if he were trying to recall something long forgotten.
"Where…did you…get this?" he asked slowly, reaching out a hand, as if to touch the silvery trinket…but then his gaze snapped back into focus and he glared at Fili. "I've never seen it before in my life. No more tricks, Beloved…or I will do things to you that will make you wish I had only lain with you."
The warning unnerved him somewhat, but Fili did notice a change in his brother when he was summoned from his sleep by the enchantment. His glazed eyes seemed to occasionally clear as he made his journey to the twilight realm, like he realized something was happening, but couldn't quite manage to wake himself up. He would sometimes miss his footing in the dancing, and sometimes try to stop the elven prince from feeding him at the dinner table. Then, when the prince led him to his chamber for their nightly activities, Kili would occasionally place a hand against his chest, as if to stop him…but the prince managed to soothe him with kisses and gentle words and the spell was able to take hold again, until the prince was able to finish his lovemaking and put Kili back to sleep. Though it still broke his heart to watch them together, Fili felt the faint stirrings of hope in his heart. There was a way to save Kili. He could break this spell…but he knew it was only going to get harder when he saw the broken look in Kili's eyes upon showing him the golden twig the next afternoon.
This time, Kili really did reach out to touch the strange object, several tears falling down his cheeks as he looked into Fili's eyes.
"Fili, what…what's happening?" he whispered, his throat choking up with fear and guilt and grief.
"Kili, you've got to wake up," he pleaded with him, placing his hands on Kili's shoulders and gripping tightly. "I know you can do it. You've got to wake up before it's too late."
For a moment, the Kili he knew was still gazing back at him…but then the spell took control once more as he sneered and shoved Fili back. He didn't bother with threats or insults this time, though. He just walked away…and when Fili followed him that night, it was even harder to watch him struggle to wake up. He struggled when putting his dancing clothes on, stopped many times on the way to the black lake and kept looking back on the ride over. Several times he attempted to back out of the dances, but wasn't permitted to, and when he was led to the dinner table, he actually managed to say he wasn't hungry before the spell seized him and the elf prince began to feed him with a worried look in his eyes. The hardest thing to endure, though, was watching the elf prince take him to bed once more.
As the prince worked to lay him bare, Kili actually managed to put up a bit of a fight, weakly pushing the elf away from him.
"No…no…" he mumbled over and over again as the elf prince laid him down on the bed.
"What's wrong tonight, Kili? You weren't wearing any iron. I really don't see what could be affecting the spell so much. Well…no matter. After tonight, only one more night remains. Then you and I will be together…forever," he said gently as he began to make love to the young dwarf.
Even though Kili couldn't make his body resist, all throughout, he kept whispering, "No…no…", pleading for it all to stop as tears ran down his face. Fili also found himself weeping as he followed the elf prince back to his own land with his sleeping brother in his arms.
"Tomorrow night, my love," the prince promised as he kissed Kili good night. "Then this long separation will end. Father has promised we'll be married…just as soon as we know for sure."
"You've got a lot of nerve, elf," Fili spoke from where he was concealed in the shadows, having risked removing the moonflower's protection in order to speak to the prince, "saying you love him when you steal him from his bed every night…when you make love to him while he's bespelled and can't consent. You have some gall to talk of love…when you kidnap and rape him while he's unaware."
"Who's there?!" the elf demanded, glaring fiercely as his eyes searched the darkness.
"One who would protect the boy…only do not seek for me. If you do, I will vanish and you will forget that I ever was. Now answer my question, elf. How is what you have done to him love?"
For a moment, the elf prince looked uncertain. His voice was distant and wavering when he began to speak again. "I have loved him…from the very first. My father showed him to me…when he was first born…and said he was mine. I've watched him grow…and fallen in love a little more every day…waiting for him to finally be old enough to come to me. I've waited so long for us to be together."
"And what about how he feels? Did you know he loves another?" Fili pressed, unable to completely conceal the tiny note of anger in his voice.
"That…that wasn't real love. He hadn't met me yet. His brother was only taking advantage of him," the elf insisted angrily.
"And has he met you yet? Kili has never known you, elf prince. You are nothing but a fey voice in his ear, a darkness that comes in his nightmares. Are you certain he would still share his body with you if he were truly awake? How are you so sure he would love you when he learns what you've done to him?"
"My father says that…once the spell is complete…he will finally be allowed to wake up. He will wake to me and our love will blossom…exactly as it was meant to."
"We will see," Fili said calmly, and when it seemed the elf was about to fire an argument back at him, Kili stirred in his sleep, whimpering as if in pain.
"F-Fili…" he called out softly. When the elf heard this, he looked hurt, but managed to shake it off.
"We will indeed. He needs his rest, so I shall take my leave. The truth will be revealed plain enough tomorrow night. Farewell, guardian. Your charge will soon pass to me," he said before moving back through the mirror.
"We will see," Fili repeated once the elf had gone, gazing at the mirror through eyes narrowed to slits.
XxX