A/N: This is my first attempt at seriously writing (and posting) for The Hobbit... or Lord of the Rings! Wow, that's odd, considering I've been a fan of them for years. Anywho, on my first time I pansied out and wrote Kid!Fili and Kili! You could say it's 'cause I don't really have to worry about OOCness, but it's honestly because they're so cute! This fanfiction is inspired by Thorin's majestic Uncleness and and this drawing:

piiib. tumblr [dot com] post/ 39120845558/ oakenshield-is-just-a-toy-to-them-xd

I OWN NEITHER THE DRAWING NOR THE CHARACTERS!

Word Count: 1,327

"Uncle!" Fili raced through the narrow hall way and squeezed past the wooden table and chairs, his brother right behind him. Thorin stood in the doorway of their home, wiping the fresh mud off of his boots with the help of a wooden block kept specifically for this purpose. He looked down when two young dwarves plowed into him and both their heads gently with a fond look on his face. "You're finally back!" Kili pounced up and down in excitement while still clutching his uncle's tunic.

Thorin looked down at the two boys and and smile broke out when he saw their eagerness. "And at your service, Little One. Go tell your mother I've returned and then you can tell me whatever it is you wish to. Without a moment to spare, Fili and Kili were racing through the house again, hollering for their mother.

The grown dwarf shook his head fondly as the dark and light heads of hair disappeared around the corner and quickly finished cleaning off his boots. Once he was done with that, he took the direction his nephews had run off to and found his sister working in the kitchen and preparing a meal, the children dancing around her. "Dis," he voiced, in way of greeting.

Dis looked up from the wood stove with a happy smile on her face. She made her way over to him and held him close when they met. "Little brother," she said. "You look tired. Have you done nothing to rest? Perhaps switch your shift to day instead of night."

Thorin sighed. No matter how many times thy had this conversation before, his sister still would not listen. He took her hand and led her to a couple of chairs in the corner, for he was weary of sitting. "Most smithies are closed in the night. I can charge more if I am their only option which is an advantage I need to feed us."

Dis scowled and distractedly pulled Fili onto her lap when a small and hushed fight broke out between him and his brother. "When these two are grown I can help to support us again."

"As will they. But for now, your hot meals and kind words do more good than you can imagine." Dis smiled fondly at his praising of her and pulled him closer for a kiss on the temple.

"Um, Mother?" Kili's worried tone broke the siblings' moment and they turned to Dis' youngest son, who was holding up a spoon which he had dipped into his uncle's cooking soup. "I think this is burning."

Fili was very quickly (but carefully) set down from his mother's lap just before she rushed over to save her cooking. Thorin chuckled lightly and took his two nephews back to the dining room to give his sister some space. "Now, boys," he said when they were sat down at the table. "What was it you wished to tell me?"

Kili climbed onto his uncle's lap with much effort and just a little help from Thorin. "Do you remember when you left for work last night?"

"Yes."

"And you told us a story? About how you fought the big white orc?"

Thorin smiled, and he tried to keep it from being a sad one. His nephews had heard the story of the fall of their kingdom as little more than a story; it was long ago to them, and before their time. They did not understand that every second of the lives they lived showed the consequences. They were particularly fond of the times that Thorin spoke of the White Orc.

They loved to hear of their uncle being heroic and saving their people and they subconsciously blocked out the death of their great grandfather and many others, and then the loss of their home. Thorin didn't know if it was for better or for worse, but he also shielded them from the truths and the points of the stories. He knew that as they grew older they would realize the full meaning of his tales.

"Well, we were thinking and... we were wondering if-"

Fili rolled his eyes. "Can we see the shield?"

Thorin looked to Fili. "The Oaken Shield?" Both boys nodded their heads ecstatically. "It's locked in a chest right now. Would you like me to fetch it?"

"Yes, please!"

"Can I carry it?"

Fili sent his brother an odd look. "You can't carry it, Kili! It's too big! Uncle said it was really heavy, and you're puny. I bet it's taller than you," he taunted.

When Kili made to lunge in quick anger, Thorin held him back. "Enough! If you allow me to help you, Kili, you may hold it." Fili gasped while Kili cheered as Thorin stood up, still holding his nephew. The trio made their way to Thorin's room and the chest at the foot of his bed. Setting his nephew down, he took a key from a chain around his neck and used it to unlock the box.

The little dwarves jumped up and hugged each other when the lid was opened enough for them to see the shield, even if it was hidden by shadows. "Is that it?" Fili breathed, holding onto the edge of the chest.

"Yes, it is." Thorin reached down and pulled the block of wood out before placing it on his own lap. "Kili, come here." When the boy did so, he held the shield horizontal and eye level. "Hold your hands out. I'm going to let go just a little bit and you have to catch it. Do you understand?" Awed Kili just nodded, never letting his eyes leave the shield. He pushed his hands out in front of him, palms up, and Thorin slowly lowered the shield into his hands, not loosening his grip a bit.

Kili's eyes widened with glee when he felt the cool and rough wood on his hand. "Fili!" He yelled. "I'm touching it!" Thorin smiled and lifted it.

"It's your brother's turn now, Kili. Trade places with him." After they repeated the process, Thorin made to put his shield away when both boys exclaimed their disapproval and clung to his arm. "Please leave it out!"

"You can put it on the table so we can keep looking at it!" Fili suggested.

After deliberating for a few moments, Thorin nodded. "All right. Let's go back to the table and I'll help you up."

The Oaken Shield was put in the center of the table where it couldn't be pushed over the edge without serious effort and strength which Kili and Fili did not yet have, and Thorin lifted both his nephews up as well so that thy could sit on their knees and inspect it all they wished. Thorin sat and watched them for a few minutes, content to see how happy and care free they were and trying to remember when he was the same.

He heard Dis come up behind him and felt her hand on his shoulder. "Why do you let them do this?" She asked him. "Why do you allow them to hold a piece of warfare as if it were a play thing?"

Thorin smiled when he saw Kili and Fili try to lift one end of the wooden block together and nothing happened. "There will come a day when the Oaken Shield will bring them little more than grief and they will understand what it represents and means to me and all else who were at that battle on that day. But for now, they are young and see it as nothing more than proof that their mother's brother is a strong warrior and a zealous leader. Let them enjoy their innocence while they can. Let them see it as a toy instead of a weapon."

Review! If you review nicely I'll be inclined to write more. :) Seriously, though. I have a onee-shot that has over fifty favorites and not ten reviews. While I really appreciate the favorites (I really do) reviews make me so happy.