Fili ran his fingers through his beard thoughtfully, there was only a day before the ceremony and plans were already in place for everything from the decorations to the tiniest garnish on the food. He looked over the seating chart that his advisor had brought him and sighed tiredly.

Fili had never wanted to marry, not after his coming of age. When he was free to declare his One he came to the slow realization that he could never be with the dwarf who held his heart. He had told his Uncle in private that he did not want to pick and would rather not marry Thorin had accepted, expecting to bring forth an heir of his own.

A year ago, however, Thorin had chosen Bilbo and it was clear that there was to be no heir from their union. Knowing this Fili had gone to discuss the matter with his uncle again. Thorin had simply told him that he did not want to force Fili's hand in the matter but that it appeared the Durin line would not continue unless Fili found a bride. Both men had sat in silence for sometime before Thorin had brought up the subject that had been taboo in most of their chats.

"If Kili found a maid, if he would only return to us, then maybe you would not have too…" Thorin began, only to have Fili cut him off sharply, "He is not coming back, I told you what he said when we parted and what he vowed. He will never choose a partner. This is my duty to our family."

Thorin had, thankfully left it at that. Fili had returned to his rooms and relived the bitter memory of Kili's departure. It had been shortly after they reclaimed Erebor, Bilbo and Thorin had just announced their marriage. Kili had come to see him late at night, ale on his breath in a state of utter dishevelment. Fili squeezed his eyes shut at the memory. Kili's laughter and his questions, what was Fili going to do now? Did he know who he loved? So many questions, Fili hadn't answered any of them. Instead he asked one of his own.

"Why don't you marry?" He asked Kili. "You're young and females fall for you easily." Kili had fallen silent then before he had leaned against the stone wall, his face dark.

"You don't…Fili if you had to name your One, who would it be? I know you know." He said, staring at his elder brother. Fili felt as though he could hear his own answer still echo, though Kili had was long gone.

"Don't you know, brother?" He had whispered. Kili's answer had been to leave, Fili had learned the next morning that his brother had left, leaving only a letter for Fili that vowed he was never returning, that he was trying to give his brother some peace.

Opening his eyes Fili stared at the same doorway he had last seen his brother standing in, willing him to come back. He did not know why, it would only make his wedding day that much harder, seeing Kili now. He had made his choices and he would stand by them, even when it hurt.

Resigning himself to his fate he fell into bed, despite the hour, curling in on himself some he fell into a light slumber.

Hours later the sound of soft steps woke him, he sat upright, the dagger he kept close in hand, he struggled to make out a shape in the now complete darkness. He could tell about where his potential attacker was and keeping a close eye on the now-still shadow he struck his candle