Author's Note: Because my first story about Fili and Kili as children, Hero, got such wonderful reviews, I decided to continue doing stories about our favourite dwarf children! It is the first of a series of drabbles about Kili and Fili's childhood in the Blue Mountains. More will be coming soon! Enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, nor do I make a profit from this work.
Kili couldn't remember a time when he was more terrified than he was now.
Well, it wasn't like Kili was very old. He was only eight, a mere toddler by dwarf standards, so it wasn't as if he had been exposed to a lot of scary things in his young life. But at this point, he couldn't care less - his little heart was beating at an alarming rate, and his palms were slick with sweat.
He heard heavy footsteps coming from above, eliciting creaks and moans from the wood of his once safe home. They were coming for him, but there was nothing he could do. He was just too young and too small to fight them off if they caught him.
Kili turned his face into his big brother's chest, clutching his tunic tightly. Fili tightened his arms around the trembling bundle in an attempt to soothe him. They were tucked into a small cupboard in their kitchen, hiding from the menace they both hoped wouldn't find them.
The brothers tensed when they heard the footsteps approach and come to rest in the doorway to the kitchen. Kili's lip began to quiver as he struggled to hold back desperate whimpers. He told himself that Fili could save them, because he was tougher and smarter than anyone else he knew. They would get through this together.
"Come out, come out from wherever you are, you little dwarven vixens!" A deep voice boomed.
Kili shuddered. Fili quietly whispered words of comfort to his younger brother, but through his fear it seemed to fall upon deaf ears.
"Fili! Kili!" a softer, yet equally scary voice chimed in.
There were a few moments of silence, until –
"It's bath time!"
Kili howled in anguish before he could stop himself, and then abruptly shut his mouth. He gave away their position! Realizing their hiding place had been compromised, the boys sprang out from the cupboard and made a break for freedom through the door to the garden on the other side of the room. But just as Fili was reaching for the door knob, Kili felt a strong pair of arms envelop him. He cried out and struggled against his captor. A similar cry from Fili made him struggle even more. They would not go down like this!
"Now young one, do not make this any harder than it has to be. You and Fili are filthy," Thorin complained, though he was unable to hold back an amused chuckle. "You two are quite the trouble makers. Dis and I have spent the better part of an hour trying to find you lot! You'll be lucky if the bath is still warm."
Kili wanted to cry. A coldbath? That was so much worse. They were doomed!
The little dark haired dwarf craned his neck to peek at his brother, who was trapped in his mother's equally impenetrable arms. They made eye contact and a silent agreement was passed between them - Do not give up.
But their situation seemed hopeless. Though Kili was a rebellious little dwarf, as was his brother, he felt the spirit to fight leave him. What good would it do? He knew his mother and his uncle would not rest until he and Fili were properly bathed. He hung his head in defeat, dark locks obscuring his vision of what he knew was the walk to where a soapy torture awaited him. What had he done to deserve this? It was just one harmless mud puddle! Taking a bath seemed just a tad extreme...
He smelt the soap before he saw it. The strong berry scent was the one he associated with his brother, and that usually meant comfort. But now, when it meant the promise of unbearable agony, it was the exact opposite. He barely had time to register this horrifying fact before Thorin was tugging his dirty clothing off, muttering about the incredible stubbornness of dwarves.
Kili was thankful the water actually wasn't cold, just barely lukewarm, which was a small consolation considering the circumstances. Dis and Thorin had also filled it with his favourite bath toys, which he decided also wasn't all that bad. He really did like the miniature wooden boat that Bifur had made just for him. It was made from smooth pine, and had a big enough deck to fit a few of his other toys. Fili was soon placed beside him as being only five years apart, both were small enough to fit into the tub together.
As Dis reached for the soap, Kili watched Fili's eyes widen to saucers. The soaping process was their least favourite part. The stuff really stung when it got in your eyes, even though the only reason it got there in the first place was because both put up such a fight while it was being done. Kili giggled as he observed Fili's rather valiant attempt to climb out of the tub. He almost made it too - one leg was hanging over the tub's rim before Thorin realized what his nephew was doing and moved to stop him.
"You'd think we were torturing you the way you two are struggling," Thorin muttered, shaking his head at his nephews as he forced Fili back into the tub. "It's just a bit of soap and water!"
Kili huffed and crossed his small arms across his chest, while his mother began working the soap into his hair. "It is! It's horrible! You try it and see how you like it."
Thorin laughed. "Actually, I bathe quite regularly. It's quite nice after a long day of working in the forge." Thorin looked to his sister, hoping he'd said the right thing to her sons. Apparently it was, because she smiled and nodded her approval.
Kili and Fili gasped, horrified. Baths were not nice! Not nice at all!
"Thorin, grab the soap and get to work on Fili," Dis ordered as she attempted to wash behind the large ears Kili hadn't quite grown into yet.
Thorin reached for the soap, keeping his eyes on Fili the entire time. Fili stared back at him, gaze level and every aspect of his body language defiant. Thorin was actually worried that the little blonde haired menace had something planned. Though he loved both of his nephews dearly, he always had to act carefully around them - they were some of the most cunning dwarves he'd ever known, despite their young age. They would be truly evil when they were grown. He shuddered at the thought.
However, it seemed Fili was not going to do anything sneaky. He sat there, looking at a suddenly wary Thorin with an almost bored expression, appearing to wait for the inevitable cleaning process. Thorin was not fooled by this innocent act, for he knew his nephews too well.
As soon as he got close, Fili splashed soapy water up into his uncle's face. Thorin leapt back, rubbing furiously at his eyes which had taken received the majority of the attack. Fili took the opportunity while Thorin was otherise engaged to spring from the tub and sprint out the door. Dis dove for him but grasped nothing but air, making Kili whoop and cheer his brother on. He was free!
Having just finished cleaning Kili, Dis jumped up and ran after her eldest son. "Watch Kili, do not let him go anywhere!" she yelled at Thorin as she took off from the room.
Thorin turned back to Kili, who looked incredibly smug that he and his brother were causing as much trouble as possible. He pulled up a stool and sat at the edge of the tub, staring right at his nephew without blinking. Kili giggled and tried to poke him in the nose, but could not reach.
Thorin regarded his sister-son carefully for a moment. "You are evil," he finally decided.
Kili smiled sweetly up at him, his big cheeks a rosy red. How could such adorable children like Fili and Kili be such nightmares when it came to such simple things like mere baths? Thorin crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes, watching the young dwarf like a hawk for any signs of mischief. Kili mimicked him, crossing his own stubby arms and screwing up his delicate features as he attempted the famous Durin scowl. He did a surprisingly good job.
A loud squeal broke the silence, which Thorin assumed meant that Fili had been recaptured. His guess was confirmed when Dis returned, carrying a damp, nude Fili in her arms. She dumped him back in the tub, looking stern.
"Fili, if you do not behave, Thorin will not tell you a story when it's bedtime. Do you want that?"
Kili watched the smirk slide off his brother's face and then vehemently shake his head. Story time was the only good part about going to bed, because Thorin told amazing stories about fiery dragons and brave warriors! They always looked forward to them every night.
"Then behave. That is my final warning."
Fili and Kili gulped, sitting extra still for the duration of the bath. Thorin felt a tinge of pride knowing that his stories were so highly regarded in his young nephew's eyes, but hid it behind his gruff exterior. He didn't want them to think he was going soft for his sister's two boys... which he absolutely was. But they didn't need to know that.
Kili and Fili were relieved when the torture was finally over. They were soon dried, reclothed and carefully tucked into their warm, cozy bed. They snuggled up to each other and then looked at Thorin expectantly, who was supervising their bed time routine while Dis was busy in the kitchen.
"Well?" Fili prompted. "Aren't you going to tell us a story, uncle?"
Thorin looked out the window, seeing how dark it was already. "I don't know. It is very late, since you two took so long to bathe…"
Thorin almost felt bad for teasing them when he watched Kili's eyes fill with tears and Fili's shoulders droop morosely. "But… but you- you promised!" Kili stammered, fisting the bed sheets in his little hands. They had promised!
"Alright, alright. Just one quick story," Thorin conceded. Kili and Fili's faces immediately lit up with bright smiles as they parted and made room for him in their bed. His nephews could pull on his heartstrings and make him do just about anything, especially since they had almost perfected the kicked puppy look. He really was getting soft in his old age, and he was only one hundred and twenty-three!
Thorin took off his boots and lay on the bed in between his sister-sons. They both curled around him, one on each side, while he thought about which tale to tell them that night.
"Did I ever tell you lads about my very first sword? I made it myself, with a few difficulties…"
As Thorin launched the story of his childhood back in Erebor, Kili and Fili listened eagerly. But halfway through the tale, their exhaustion from the day's events overcame them and within moments they were snoring softly. Not wanting to wake the two boys snuggled up to him, Thorin decided to wait until they were deeply asleep before he would get up to leave. He didn't want Dis knowing how her sons had him all but wrapped around their tiny fingers.
But if Dis walked into the room later that night and found Thorin fast asleep with an arm around each of her sons, she'd never tell a soul.
Please review!
Also, if you guys have any ideas or any prompts you'd like me to fill review and let me know and I'll use them :) Thanks!