"...while Fili may have been the sun, shining and bright, Kili was the one to burn. Fili had always known, in some corner of his mind, that Kili's fight and anger would burn the dark haired dwarf out before his time..."
Fili glanced over at Kili. His dark haired brother was seething, and Fili knew it wouldn't be long until he exploded. Kili could never hold his tongue or control his emotions, and it was terrifying for Fili to see. While both brothers had a temper, Fili was better at controlling his, letting it out alone. Kili, though, would fight, get angry. He would lose control, and Fili couldn't risk that, not out here on the battlefield in the final fight for their home.
A few weeks later, Fili lay curled under his blanket, sobbing quietly. He thought he had cried himself out on Dis' shoulder, but it was apparent that he hadn't. He couldn't help but think of Kili, the dark-haired firebrand.
"Kili, don't lose your temper," Dis reprimanded. "It won't help at all."
Kili scowled at the floor, furious with both himself and Fili. Fili had accidentally stepped on Kili's best arrow, snapping it in two, and Kili was mad at him for that, and mad at himself for leaving it where it could be stepped on. He had yelled at Fili for not watching his step, almost reducing his older brother to tears, and now he was refusing to talk to him.
"You both owe apologies," Dis said gently. "Fili, you need to watch your step. But Kili, don't yell at your brother."
Both boys had apologized, Fili more easily than Kili, and by nightfall they were back to normal.
Fili cursed that temper. It had, as Dis had often predicted, been Kili's downfall. He had gotten so furious that he had let his guard down, making it so much easier for that enemy arrow to pierce his unprotected neck. Kili had been a wonderful warrior until he got angry. As soon as he became angry he also became reckless.
The first time Kili had lost his temper, they hadn't realized how much of a problem it would be in the future. Fili and Dis and Thorin had all thought it a childish fit of pique.
"Go away, Fili!" Kili shouted, voice ragged. Fili didn't know why Kili was so upset, but he knew he didn't like it, and that he wanted to help. He carefully opened Kili's door, and nearly had his eye taken out by a thrown book.
"I said go away," Kili growled. He was only a child still, but his voice was menacing. Fili carefully backed out of the room, and shut the door behind him. Rubbing the sore spot on his cheek, he trudged back downstairs.
Fili curled up into himself, realizing that, in some odd way, he would miss Kili's furious rages. They were an integral part of Kili, whom Fili missed more than anything.
