Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit or any of Tolkien's work.

Chapter 1

Erebor.

Vast halls of carven stone that appeared almost jade in color when viewed in the right light. Smaug's desolation had left it nearly in shambles that would take months, if not years to rebuild. Though for all it's destruction there was still beauty here.

Piles overflowing with glittering gold were literally everywhere. One had to take care where they stepped or they might end up tumbling down one of the piles.

Fili could remember the first time he laid eyes on such a treasure. Bilbo had been trying to warn them away but he hadn't been listening, he was far too distracted by the gleam he had caught out of the corner of his eyes. It was so bright he would have swore that the very sun had been taken from the sky and tucked into those halls.

But the brilliance of the gold had seemed to loose it's ardor rather quickly as he watched his uncle's descent into madness.

That was three months ago. Three whole months since they reclaimed the mountain and fought to defend it from the army of goblins and orcs that threatened to annihilate them.

Three months since he stood on the battlefield and watched as Azog the defiler attempted to slaughter his family. He had almost lost them that day and the days following the battle had offered him no peace either as he lay in bed, stricken with fever from an orc arrow to his shoulder, not knowing if his brother or uncle was alive or dead.

Fili scrubbed his hands over his face but it did nothing to dispel the morbid thoughts from his mind. Well at least it was the day for such thoughts, for today was the anniversary of his father's death.

Even the memories of the battle could not wash away that day from his mind though Fili wasn't sure he wanted to forget. Did he envy Kili's carefree indifference to this day? Of course he did but the difference between them is Kili had never known their father who died shortly before he was born while Fili had five years with him.

But despite the pain that he felt year after year on the anniversary of his passing Fili would not forget him. How could he?

This would be the first year he would not have his mother by his side to shoulder the burden. Lady Dis still remained in Ered Luin, deciding to wait until the spring thaw to make her journey to the lonely mountain. Fili could see the logic in that decision but that didn't make him miss her any less.

"Hurry up Fili," Kili's excited voice broke him from his reverie.

Fili had pretended to not know what Kili was doing when he bounced him out of bed at the crack of dawn with plans to explore the lower levels.

Thorin had given him the day off from his duties as crown prince and Kili had taken it upon himself to provide a distraction so Fili didn't spend the whole day in his chambers wallowing. He couldn't say he wasn't grateful for Kili's interference.

Fili jogged to catch up with his little brother who was doing his best to make it look as if he had been waiting for him for years instead of only a few seconds.

"Took you long enough," Kili said with a smile. "One would think you were the one with the leg wound with the way you were lagging behind." Fili spared a glance at his brother's right leg, where the orc arrow had pierced it during their escape from Mirkwood.

His dark thoughts threatened to overwhelm him again before Kili grabbed his tunic and started to drag him along behind him.

"Well come on then we haven't got all day."

"Alright, alright, I'm coming," Fili said, swatting Kili's hand from his shirt. With a small smile, Fili jabbed Kili lightly on the arm. "Race you."

It was mid-day before they stopped to take a break and eat the packed lunch that Kili had Bombur prepare for them. Fili was finishing off the last of his sandwich while Kili absentmindedly played with a pair of matching sapphires he had managed to pick up.

"These are almost the same color as uncle's eyes," Kili said, holding them up to his own eyes.

The magnification made them look twice the size they normally were and Fili couldn't help but laugh. Kili joined them and soon both boys were rolling around the floor in a fit of uncontrollable giggles.

"Thank you," Fili said when he got his breath back. "I really needed this today." Kili shrugged as he placed the sapphires back into his bag.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Fili simply shook his head.

"We better be getting back before uncle sends out a search party for us." Fili started back towards the path that brought them down here when he realized Kili wasn't following him. Rolling his eyes, Fili turned back to search for his wayward brother.

"Now how's the one who can't keep up?" Stepping back into the clearing where they had stopped Fili noticed the Kili had moved but in the opposite direction and seemed to be staring intently at a hole in the wall.

"I think you'll find the exit is this way, little brother."

"There is something in here," Kili said before shoving his arm, shoulder deep into the crevice.

"Hopefully it's not something that's going to eat your arm off," Fili said. "I'd hate to see how you're going to practice archery that way."

Kili rolled his eyes and focused on his task. With a few grunts and several hard tugs he managed to wrench his prize free. Fili's eyes widened when he held up a blood red ruby the size of an orange.

"Mahal's beard, Kili." Kili held up the ruby with a triumphant smile.

"Now aren't you glad I noticed it." He tossed it into the air and caught it with the opposite hand.

"Yes, you're so impressive. Come on." It was Fili's turn to drag his brother by his shirt towards the exit.

"Fili look!" Kili exclaimed, stopping them in their tracks. The ruby sat in his outstretched palms and it seemed to be...glowing?

A small orange light, almost like a spark seemed to pulsate from the center, growing bigger and bigger by the second. Heat began to radiate off of the sphere til it became as hot as a forge. Kili screamed as it burned his hand but didn't let it go.

"Kili, drop it!" Fili ordered, panic evident in his voice.

"I'm trying." Kili shook his hand in an attempt to to rid himself of the gem but it didn't move, almost if it had melted into his flesh.

Fili tried to pry it away with his own hands, ignoring how it scorched his skin. Without warning the ground started to shake almost knocking them off their feet.

"What's happening?" Kili yelled. Rocks began to tumble from the ceiling, falling down towards them.

Fili threw himself over top of his brother moments before they were buried.