It really was beginning to look like they would never make it. Only hours ago the eagles had dropped them off on the top of a great overlook, and they could see it – their destination – their home... the Lonely Mountain, stabbing up out of the mist like an eternal finger pointed toward the Valar in their home in the sky. But now, they were in the roughlands – a shadow. They did not have the hopeful reminder of how far they had come, and would now tend to slow, and despair. Fili looked about them, and then gave one last glance upwards at the ascent which they just descended. Kili caught his eye and inclined his head ever so slightly toward Bilbo, the tiny halfling, who was walking along, one large foot in front of the other, his head down like a beaten puppy.

"Tired?" Kili piped up, receiving the approving look from his brother. "I could carry your satchel."

"Leave him be," Thorin spoke out, causing various members of the company to turn and see what the row would be this time. "Let him pull his own weight, or he will never learn."

"Uncle –" began Kili in an appalled voice. "Have you already forgotten –"

"He's forgotten nothing," Bilbo spoke out, lifting his chin. "I can manage. He's right. I just am looking forward to a rest, that's all."

"You're not the only one," Balin whispered comfortingly in his ear as they circled around a large rock formation, and plotted where on earth they should direct their footsteps so that they may have the possibility of a good site to camp for the night. There was nothing in the area except a forbidding-looking stand of trees on the other side of a wide feld dotted with rocks. Fili poked his brother.

"If you are the one to spot the best place to spend the night, then maybe Thorin will forgive you."

Kili nodded, and jogged ahead a little ways, his short strong legs propelling him upwards along the sloped ground. Aha! A semi circle of rocks – the closest thing they were likely to find outside of the forest.

"I've found it!" he bellowed, his voice ringing in echoes off the surrounding mountains and bouncing back in distorted tones.

"Found what?" Thorin shouted back as they came to a halt.

"He'll cause an avalanche with that kind of shouting," Gloin muttered to Dori, who nodded. "Just what we need."

"A place to camp!"

Fili rolled his eyes. "I didn't mean here," he muttered to himself. "Don't be stupid! There's nothing –"

Thorin completed Fili's inward grumbling. "Don't be a fool, Kili. This is no place to spend the night. We are exposed among the rocks on the side of a treacherous pass. Anything could come out of the forest and be upon us within seconds, and where could we flee? We would be sleeping in a trap. We continue!" He finished with a shout, and with murmuring and the creak of leathern straps being adjusted, the company continued on.

Kili stood above them, his silhouette dark against the setting sun's dimming light, his head drooped in disappointment. Ever since the beginning of this quest he had done nothing but try to prove himself to his uncle. And it seemed to always go wrong.

Letting gravity do more service than his muscles, Kili idled down the slope and fell into step beside Fili.

"Thanks a lot," he muttered, giving him a look out of the tops of his brown eyes. "What an idea. Maybe next time you should do it yourself."

"I was only trying to help," the blond snapped back. "You ought to be thanking me."

To anyone else this would have seemed like arguing, but the company knew the brothers were close, and couldn't argue even if they tried. This was all normal and in point of actual fact, enjoyable to them both. But Kili still seemed a little down.

"Such a kurdûn," he teased. "You're all heart – you shouldn't take things so hard."

"You don't have a heart at all!" Kili replied, and it seemed no cheerful jibe.

"Do you really think that?" Fili stopped, and Bofur bumped into them, Fili offering a quick apology and a thump on the shoulder as the dwarf went around them.

Kili looked at the ground for a long moment, and finally said in a low voice, "I just don't think anyone understands me. I feel like... a misfit."

"But you're not a misfit!" Fili threw his arm protectively around his brother. "What is wrong with you?" He flung his hand in the air. "Exactly! Nothing!"

Kili looked up at his older brother. "I know it's all in jest, but I make so many mistakes... I carry a bow – "the weapon of elves"... I'm practically beardless..." His voice came as a low growl.

"That's a lot of nonsense. It'll come – just maybe when you're older."

"And you don't see why I take things so personally. Maybe it's just –"

"Fili! Kili!" A shout made them look up to see Bilbo standing on the rise and looking back at them, the others having disappeared down the other side. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes- coming!" Fili replied, smacking his brother on the back of the head.

Kili winced. "What was that for?"

"Punishment – you've practically told me to be more sensitive."

"And so you hit me?"

Fili stood with his mouth slightly agape, hoping for inspiration to come, but took off at a run when his wits failed him. Kili's cheerful laughter followed him on the wind. What would he ever do without him...