Kíli sighed happily as he lay on his back and gazed up at the stars. It was a clear summer's night in Ered Luin, the moon was at its brightest and the light breeze kept the clearing nice and cool, a perfect ending to a long day of hunting. Hearing a sigh that wasn't his own he looked to his right and spotted his brother through the flames of their campfire, lying on the ground with a hand tucked under his head looking for all the world like he was at peace.

Tomorrow was Fíli's seventieth birthday, and Kíli had managed to convince his mother and his uncle to allow him to take his brother out hunting for three days before his name-day so they could return with enough meat for the surprise party he and his mother had been planning. He had barely been able to keep his excitement for the party hidden the whole time they'd been away, in fact he'd nearly blown his cover several times when he thought about the gift he had lying at home hidden under the bed.

Fíli had always looked out for him from the moment he was born, so Kíli had wanted to make something special for his brother to show just how much he loved him for who he was.

He had spent well over two months preparing the gift; from drawing the designs to practice attempts, folding the metal, sharpening it, creating the hilt's, and the inscriptions and carvings on the cross-guard and blades. He had created a pair of falchions that when looked at there would be no mistake as to who had crafted them. Each sword was crafted to perfection according to Thorin; they were sturdy, perfectly balanced and sharp enough to slice through a neck like it was butter.

But the real pride that Kíli took in his creations was the design.

Each pommel had Fíli's symbol carved into them with Thorin's, Kíli's, Dís' and their father's symbols on the back. Running along the cross-guard were the seven stars of Durin to show his heritage. But the best and most beautiful part in his mind was what was on the blades themselves.

The first sword had the dwarven words for loyalty, honour and a willing heart on one side; a saying that Thorin and Dwalin would constantly tell them was the most important attribute in a warrior. On the opposite side of the sword had a picture of a lion roaring, standing strong and proud as Kíli constantly teased Fíli about how he was reminded of a lion every time Fíli fought, and so it felt a fitting addition.

On the second sword the hilt and handle had the same designs and inscriptions, but the blade was different, very different and very special to Kíli. On one side he had inscribed the words in Khuzdul my partner in crime, my best friend, my protector, my brother, and on the opposite side of the blade it had a engraving of another lion, this one was crouched down, looking peaceful and what looked like a smile on its face whilst it looked at a large raven wrapped around its neck. Fíli was Kíli's fierce lion, and Kíli was Fíli's raven.

And to finish the gift off both falchions had been encased in scabbards that had been created from the skin of a large elk he'd brought down when he first began planning his gift. When he had shown the blades to his mother she had started crying at their words and engravings, and even Thorin had looked to be moved by them.

Kíli was so lost in the thought of giving Fíli his present that he didn't hear his brother calling him until he sat down on his stomach.

"Keeeee!" the blond whined playfully "why're you ignoring me?" He had a grin on his face as Kíli squirmed to try and dislodge his brother.

"Fee you're as heavy as a bear! Get off!" Kíli managed to roll to the side and sent him sprawling on the ground next to him. "And I didn't mean to ignore you, I was just thinking," he told the blond as he sat up.

Fíli smiled softly at his brother before turning back to the fire and Kíli watched as emotions played across his face that didn't suit the peace of the evening. He looked... worried, which was strange. His brother had nothing to be worried about, unless it was about his birthday and Kíli knew he'd be able to shake him from that mood with the party that was planned.

"Fee, is everything alright?"

Fíli looked at him and nodded. "Yeah," he said quietly, "could you redo my braids for me?"

He nodded and Fíli moved to sit between his legs. As he sat down the first thing Kíli noticed was that his brother's braids were perfect, now remembering that his brother had done them a few hours prior so the only reason he'd want him to do them was if he wanted to talk about something but wasn't sure how to say it.

So he set to work taking the beads out, running the comb that was passed to him through his brother's golden hair before separating sections off. The two of them sat in silence whilst Kíli took his time, knowing Fíli would open up about what was bothering him sooner or later.

Sure enough Fíli soon spoke up.

"Kee?"

"Yes Fíli?"

"Tomorrows my birthday..."

"Really?" Kíli asked with a grin and sounding innocently confused. "Are you sure because I could have sworn it was next month!"

The blond elbowed him in the ribs making them both laugh. "Seriously though, tomorrows my birthday which means that Thorin's lessons on being an heir are going to increase, he's going to expect more of me, want me to travel further y'know?"

Kíli nodded slowly, then realising that his brother couldn't see his nod so he said "okay... I don't understand why this has you worried though."

The innocent question caused Fíli to sigh. "It's not me I'm worried about..." He told him quietly "It's you, or more so you when I'm not there."

Kíli tugged on a now complete braid. "Did you eat some wild mushrooms or something when I wasn't looking because you've lost me."

Fíli snorted softly and continued on. "I'm worried because if I go away Kíli, I... Anything can happen on the road and there's a chance that I might not come back."

The young dwarf froze mid-braid stunned. He'd never thought about this because he'd never let himself think of Fíli being in danger when he was away from home. "In that case I'm coming with you Fee, I won't let you go without me!" He said evenly, but there was no denying the stubbornness that lay underneath.

"Kee, you can't. Ma will need you here, but I need you to promise me something."

"Fíli you won't be dying the moment you leave home! You can't!" he snapped, now sounding slightly hysterical as he clasped a bead to another finished braid.

The blond spun around so he was facing his brother. "I'm sorry I sound so morbid right before my birthday, and there's a high chance nothing will happen on the road anyway, but I want you, us in fact, to make a promise to each other."

He eyed his brother suspiciously. "What kind of promise?"

"I want you to promise me that if anything were to happen to me, you wouldn't let my death rule and ruin your life..."

Kíli opened his mouth to interrupt but Fíli placed a finger to his lips and carried on.

"You can grieve, I'd never deny you that, you can be angry and hate me or do whatever you have to when it happens, but if I die I don't want you to try and follow me, I don't want to die knowing that you'll follow me out of love. I want you to live a long and happy life with lots of kids and remember me for who I am, and live knowing I love you with all my heart and that I will be waiting for you when old age claims you. And even then I expect you to put up a fight."

His hand had drifted down until it was holding the back of Kíli's neck lightly, drawing his brother in so he could press their foreheads together as he whispered to him. They both had tears in their eyes as they'd never spoken before about one of them falling and what the other was supposed to do, because they were always together never apart; it was always Fíli and Kíli not Fíli or Kíli, it just sounded wrong, and them being apart for a long period of time was almost unheard of.

Kíli's voiced wavered as looked his brother in the eyes. "Only if you promise me the same. You have to promise that if I die you won't go looking for revenge just to get yourself killed."

Fíli struggled silently with that. He knew deep down that he'd never let harm befall his little brother, that he'd take every injury to keep him safe and if Kíli was taken from him he wouldn't stop until every last person who'd been there was dead, then he'd make sure he could follow him soon after.

The older dwarf sighed, drained emotionally by the talk already. "Alright Kee, I promise I won't."

"Then I... I promise too." Kíli agreed quietly.

"Thank you." Fíli squeezed the back of his brother's neck gently before releasing him. "Now enough depressing talk before my birthday. Come on, finish the braids then we can sleep. We have an early start in the morning, especially if we want Ma to see me before she goes to work." He quickly wiped away the tears that had gathered in the corner of Kíli's before turning back around, but not before flicking Kíli on the nose when he sniffled wetly, much to the brunet's annoyance.

They stayed awake for a couple more hours eating and talking about all sorts of nonsense despite saying they would go to bed early. They only stopped when Kíli started yawning so wide Fíli thought his face might split in half.

"Alright you, enough talking I think as your face looks like it's about to fall off. I'll take first watch as it's been a long three days and you've done more of the work than me." He laughed as he nudged his brother whose head had been resting on his shoulder for the last ten minutes.

Kíli was too tired to argue so he moved to his bedroll which was behind the log they'd been sitting on.

"I'll wake you in a couple of hours Kee," Fíli promised, running his hand over his brother's hair in a petting motion and helping the younger dwarf fall asleep faster.

"Okay," Kíli replied, already dropping off to the soothing motions.

"Oh and Kíli?"

"Yeah Fee?"

"Thank you, you know for the camping trip. Spending time with you is the best birthday present ever. Love you."

"S'okay Fee. Love you too."

And in the warm summer night, little did they know that their lives were about to change.