I hope you enjoy the beginning of this story that I've just plucked up the courage to write. I have read the book and watched both movies so I'll add in what I can from each but the brothers have mostly movie centric characterization. I honestly adore their relationship, I'm a sucker for brothers. Please enjoy!

"How about you speed that pony up." The blonde dwarf astride a blonde pony with a coppery body spoke in an irritated tone. His brow was creased and his fists wrapped tight around his reins. His light eyes were focused on the back of his brothers head as they passed in and out of the dotted shadows of the forest path. He was becoming increasingly irritated with their slow pace.

"How about you hold on to your trousers, I'm trying to read the map!" The younger of the two Durin heirs retorted as he fiddled with the thick paper map. He was a good map reader, but between fiddling with the reins of his pony and trying to catch good lighting, he was struggling to figure out where to go next or where they even were.

It was not particularly often that the two brothers, Fili and Kili, were at each others throats as they had been in the forest that day. However, because of bad weather and other unforeseen roadblocks including but not limited to thieves, broken bridges and a lame pony for half a day, the brothers were already two days behind on their journey. A journey which they did not want to mess up. It had been specially given to them.

It was their very first true mission completely by themselves. Thorin, their uncle and leader of the dwarves who had settled in the blue mountains after their firey exile from their home of Erabor, had decided this quest would be good for the pair of young dwarves. They would have only themselves as guidance. Thorin had figured it would not be too difficult to secure some rarities from a human town only a weeks travel there and back. Or so Thorin had thought. However, even with the quest only in its early stages, it was proving more difficult than anyone had expected.

"Why wouldn't uncle have Mother make this wretched map! I can't tell which way is up or down!" Kili spoke softly, partly to himself. The dark haired boy grumbled as he bobbed about on a pony that matched his hair color in and similar and in coincidental way much like his brother's.

"What?" Fili answered Kili's mumbles. "Are you even paying attention to where we're going?"

"What, what? I was talking to myself!" Fili knew his brother well enough to know they were lost. He also knew Kili would not admit that that he did not actually know where they were going, even if he had been paying attention to the question. Kili was stubborn like that. It reminded Fili of a time when they were younger and had gone on a short trip with their uncle, that Kili, who was nearly about to soil himself would not ask for directions to the nearest place to use the toilet.

Minutes went by as they plopped slowly through the woods in silence. The older dwarf prince scoffed and rolled his eyes when Kili had finally pulled his pony to a stop. Fili folded his hands one over the other other and rested them there whilst tapping his fingers impatiently.

"Listen if you don't know where we are-"

"Shh" Kili hushed his brother. Fili shuffled and dropped his mouth open a little, almost in shock.

"Don't tell me to shus-"

"Quiet!" Kili commanded once again, this time his finger was tracing over a line on the map. Fili scowled, not ever entirely used to when his younger brother tried to tell him what to do. For so many years Kili had unquestionably followed Fili into almost any situation and sometimes it took some back talk to remind Fili that his little brother was sometimes not so little brotherly anymore.

Fili simply sat back in the saddle and exhaled a great and over exaggerated sigh in an attempt to pull attention from his brother. Kili's attention did not waiver until Fili finally decided to ride up next to the younger dwarf.

"Alright! I think I know where we are!" Kili smiled and nodded to himself.

"Well that's a relief." His tone held heavy hints of sarcasm. Fili was usually a patient dwarf, but his mood and patience were wearing on this already ridiculous trip.

"Look grumpy," Kili turned and elbowed at his older brother. "I'm just as tempered as you are about the delays but we'll get there when we get there." Fili raised a brow and puffed. Kili was right, he was doing nothing but making the already silly trip more miserable by moping about. But he did not believe for one second that Kili was just as upset about the trip. The young dwarf craved adventure and Kili was more than thrilled that he got to experience one with his big brother.

"Now," Kili spoke once more as he urged Fili towards him to look at the map in the patch of sunlight that broke through the canopy of the trees. "This place right here, called Red's path is a short cut to Darke town. It cuts right along these cliffs" Kili pointed with his stubby, dirty fingers. Darke Town was not the brothers destination, but it seemed like a good place to be able to stop and rest.

"I think we can make it by night fall." Kili sighed in relief. "And then get to the town, late no doubt but perhaps we'll get a bed!" He dreamed of something other than the ground to sleep on.

Fili waved his hand in signal for Kili to hand over the town map. He complied after realizing what his brother was asking for.

"With haste we can make the opening to the path but we'll have to camp." Fili noted, tapping his pointer finger on the page. "Thorin has it marked on the map to not travel the path at night and make sure we stop at its beginning if we cannot make the town by night."

Kili snatched the map back, much to Fili's dismay. The darker haired brother looked closely at the yellowish paper, and there in a small print, it did indeed have a note about traveling the path at night.

"Oh curse my mother's beard!" Kili grumbled as he grabbed his pony's reins.

"Come on let's just keep moving." Fili suggested, feeling in a lighter mood now that he knew where they were going. The young prince's dual blades rattled as he clucked to his pony and tapped its sides with his heels, easing it into a quicker gate. Kili followed promptly behind, map still in one hand.

So there is my first attempt at a fanfic. Reviews and constructive criticism is appreciated!

Next time: The boys find out why Thorin left them that note as they reach the path!