Standard disclaimer: I own nothing. Wish I did. But I don't.

Fili stretched out his legs in front of him, glad to rest his back against a tree after a long hard day of riding. It seemed ever since this journey started, there had been less and less time to relax at night. As soon as Thorin chose a place to rack for the night, Bombur made supper, everyone slept (except those on watch), and then the dawn would come too soon.

Fili drew out his blades and tested their readiness. He had sharpened them the night previous, but better to be an overly cautious dwarf than a dead dwarf. This task was also simple and soothing. It was just him, a whetstone and his blades. Nothing more, nothing less.

While inspecting each blade, Fili couldn't help but search out his brother's frame in the mass of bodies that hovered around the fire waiting for Bombur to finish supper. Kili looked to be in the middle of causing mischief. Not that this was surprising. Or news. In fact, Fili could count the number of times Kili had not been causing mischief on one hand ever since his birth

Fili smiled to himself remembering that day.

He had been waiting for his mother to find him hidden in the garden, for what – to his mind at least – was FOREVER. Fili kept giggling to himself that he had outsmarted his mother once again. A crash from the kitchen distracted him.

Fili crept out from under the headge and around to peer through the open kitchen door. His mother was braced over the kitchen table, a pile of broken earthenware at her feet. Through her pursed lips, she told Fili to go find Uncle Thorin, and to be quick about it.

Fili could remember the shock on his uncle's face when his young nephew came running full tilt into the forge, covered in dirt, scrapes and tear tracks running down his face. Thorin picked him up and settled him on his hip, and ran a soothing hand over his back. When Fili finally got it out through hiccups and tears that his mother was asking for him, Thorin made quick work of sending for a healer and headed over to his sister's house.

It was hours later, and the tears still tracks down Fili's face at random. His uncle sat with him in the kitchen and tried to distract him through various games and stories. Not that that worked very well. Fili could still hear his mother's whimpers and the murmers of the healer.

The tortured wait however, was well worth it. The whimpers ceased, and the silence was deafening. Only to be broken by a loud wail. Fili was shocked to see how broadly his uncle smiled at the sound. When he was finally allowed in the room, Thorin helped him climb up onto the bed with this mother and see what all the fuss had been about.

It wasn't until the next day that his new brother Kili opened his eyes. The second their eyes connected, Fili couldn't contain his excitement. He knew he would do anything for his brother. Be anything he was needed to be. Show the younger all that he had learned so far, teach him about everything.

The first time Kili smiled was when he was in Fili's arms. Their mother just smiled from afar and let Fili care for his younger brother. Many other dwarves had commented that it was too much to expect from a youngling, but Dis knew that no harm would come to Kili with his older brother standing protectively by. The brothers' bond was unbreakable.

Fili watched as the hobbit mumbled a response to whatever it was his bothersome brother asked, and was captivated by Kili's smile and boisterous laugh. No matter what was going on, his brother was always quick to smile. It was one of his most endearing qualities.

Fili loved to watch his brother. He couldn't believe how much grace his brother had. Kili's movement had been graceful ever since he was born. While he was teased about his looks, Fili couldn't help but be awed by them. Envious as well. From Kili's wind swept dark hair, mirth-filled eyes, to his lithe, compact body, he was perfect. Not necessarily your typical dwarf, but stunning to look at.

Fili returned his focus to his blades. Kili was safe causing the mischief he reveled in, leaving Fili time to work. As such, the steaming bowl of stew suddenly thrust under his nose took him a bit by surprise. Fili looked up at his brother and glared. Not that it did much to dampen the smirk plastered to his brother's face. If anything, the look became more devilish.

"Brother, you seemed a bit distracted. I was concerned that you forgot about supper."

Fili rolled his eyes, set aside his weapons and pulled the proffered bowl to his lap.

"Also, Bombur was eye balling your ration."

Fili smiled. "Thank you brother. What would I do without you?"

Kili plopped down next to Fili. "I'm not sure actually. Eat less that's for sure. Be bored out of your tree without my jokes. Have better luck with the ladies without my charm and good looks to compete with." Kili turned to face his brother at this and waggled his eyebrows.

Fili forced a smile at this. His brother's last comment struck the nerve he had been trying to bury ever since he was old enough to understand that his love for Kili went far beyond what an older brother should feel. Which was about sixty years ago. Fili looked down at his bowl and sighed.

While his brother did not look like the typical dwarf, many wanted him. Fili lost track of how many propositions his brother had received. In reality, he had stopped paying attention to them in an effort to curb his irrational jealousy. Every time a dwarf approached his brother, Fili had to walk away, always using a different excuse as to why. He needed some fresh air. This pub was boring. The music was horrible. Too many people were inside the building at the time. Forgot something at home. The list of excuses went on and on.

Each time he walked away, Fili always made sure to disappear from his brothers' sight for a short while. He did not want to see the satisfaction of another on Kili's face. Or smell another on him. Thankfully, when Kili managed to find him again – working at the forge, in the library, at home, in the quarry, wherever – Kili always looked like Kili. Hair a mess, the same sparkle in his eyes, and smelling of the earth, wind, and something that was purely Kili.

A shoulder bumping into his brought Fili back to himself.

"You're on watch first tonight."

Fili looked over at his brother, his puzzlement showing on his face. "Are you not as well?"

Kili shook his head. "Thorin put me on watch just before dawn this night."

"Why?"

Kili shrugged. "I'll let you ask him that brother. Let me know when though. I want to get good seats, and have enough time to gather the other dwarves for a wager."

Fili smiled and finished off the last of his meal. "Who replaces me?"

"Bofur."

Fili pulled his cloak from his bedroll and stood. "Goodnight brother. See you in the morning."

"Yes, you too." With that, Kili disappeared into his bedroom adjacent to Fili's.

Fili carried their bowls over to the fire after rinsing them quickly in the stream and headed over to a good vantage point to ensure the safety of the camp. Most of the company was already asleep, with the rest well on the way.

He couldn't help but curse his uncle under his breath. Kili and he were always assigned watch together. On every hunting trip, journey, and the entire journey to date they had never been separated. What had gone through their uncle's mind to suddenly change this? What had he done to suddenly be denied his brothers company?

His watch was the longest in his memory without Kili at his side. His brother's absence went far beyond the jokes, stories, and mischief. Fili felt so alone without his brother's presence by his side. Even when silent, Kili always had an aura of youth and joy around him that offset Fili's natural seriousness. The night was too still without the constant hum that lay under his brother's skin. Even the light breeze did nothing to lift his spirits.

Fili's eyes were starting to droop by the time Bofur came to relive him. Fili made it back to his bedroll and knelt down. Kili had placed his bedroll beside his, and lay curled on his side just touching the end of it. Fili smiled at how Kili clutched his cloak under his chin just as he had every night. It reminded Fili how very young Kili could be sometimes.

With that thought Fili's heart dropped into his boots. His brother was truly too young to be on this quest. His thoughts were constantly plagued by how he could keep Kili safe. And yet, Fili knew he would be even more worried if Kili had been forced by their uncle to remain home for this quest. Not having Kili in his sight for that long – who knew what kind of trouble Kili would find.

Fili stretched out facing his brother. Kili's features were relaxed in sleep, with the curl of a smile to the right side of his lips as always. Fili gave into temptation and traced his brother's lips lightly with his finger before closing his eyes and relaxing into his dreams.