Summary: Fíli is the young heir of an ancient kingdom, so it isn't surprising that he's desired by the ladies. That Fíli isn't interested in any kind of love affairs had never been a problem. But it all changes when he starts to get presents from an admirer that won't accept a no. [Warning: Attempted Rape!]
WARNING: This story contains Triggers, it's mentioned in the summary, but I will also do a seperate warning before the particular chapter.
I've originally written this story in my mother tongue and translated it afterwards. If you find spelling errors or grammatical mistakes it would be really helpful if you could tell me where exactly they are so I can correct them.
Fíli had gotten accustomed to the popularity. It wasn't unusual for well-respected families to have a good reputation, which soon attracted admires to the oldest son. Fortunately this was never a problem among dwarves. It was well known that dwarves only loved once and not uncommon that some dwarves spend their life alone, therefore Fíli got rid of any unwelcome attention very quickly, when he rejected the respective girl kindly but also firmly in his choice of words. No one fought a hopeless battle.
However his current admirer couldn't be rejected so easily, because Fíli had never met her. The only things that spoke of her existence were the presents she gifted him again and again. Every morning, when he left the house, he found a new gift. Usually it were flowers that grew on the meadows beyond the protective stone of their settlement. But sometimes also pastries and other sweets, even one or two pieces of leather work appeared.
Since Fíli wasn't interested in any kind of love affairs and didn't want to give the girl false hope, he gave away her kind gifts. At the beginning her effort had flattered him, but as time went by it became exhausting, especially since she didn't give him the chance to reject her. Kíli was mightily amused over Fíli's situation, he thought presents were great, probably only because he hadn't anyone's attention, as the younger son he wasn't really interesting for the most female dwarves. Whenever Kíli brought it up again Fíli got angry, because his little brother just didn't understand even rudimentarily what was on Fíli's mind. Accordingly he'd given up on any conversation of that sort.
That he still wasn't able to avoid them told him the current morning. After the last exhausting day and a finished night watch Fíli had hoped to not wake up too soon, but of course his brother thought differently, Mahal knew where he got his inexhaustibly energy from.
The door to his chamber opened with a creak and Fíli, who'd been in the middle of falling asleep, startled. Immediately light flooded the dark room and Fíli turned grumbling onto his side, so that his eyes would be facing the wall, if he wouldn't keep them shut so insistently.
"Fíli?", his brother fluted cheerfully, whereby Fíli felt the strong urge to slap him. As Thorin's heir he already had to fulfil all sorts of important duties. Furthermore he hadn't slept the last night, for he'd been on watch at the gate. Therefore, after he'd come home overly tired, the only thing he wanted to do was to sleep as long as possible, until he finally felt rested again. Luckily Thorin knew of the exhausting days he's been having over the last weeks and had given him the next two days off and Fíli was determined to spend the first in bed and catch up on some sleep.
"What?", he snapped. He was exhausted, irritable and just wanted to flee to the land of dreams.
"Your admirer left something for you again", his brother exclaimed so playfully that Fíli could nearly hear the grin on his face.
"And?", Fíli pressed on mildly impressed and wrapped up the blanket. He felt still a bit cold. Staying still the whole night near the cold stone could probably do this to anyone, but bit by bit the warmth returned to his limbs, which only made him sleepier. Unfortunately Kíli kept him once more from his well-deserved rest.
"She doesn't seem to know you. There are raspberries in the cake. You don't even like raspberries."
Fíli moaned annoyed. Not in the slightest did he care if the girl knew him or what she baked for him. If he would've met her, he would reject her. "Is there something you want to tell me?", he asked, while he wondered if it might be better to get out of the bed, throw Kíli out of his chamber and lock the door, so he could finally have some peace. But if there was one thing that he knew, then that Kíli would avenge such an action and at the moment Fíli wasn't sure if this was worth a bit of sleep.
"Can I eat it?", Kíli interrupted his thinking and Fíli hesitated. Was this truly all he wanted? But then it dawned on him. Dís, their mother, was visiting a friend and wouldn't be at home until noon. Today Kíli was responsible for breakfast and lunch – not that Fíli intended to eat as tired as he was. With the cake Kíli didn't need to prepare a meal. If Fíli wasn't so exhausted, he probably would've laughed.
"Do what you want, but let me sleep", slipped out of Fíli's mouth. Just a few heartbeats later he heard quiet chewing noises. Of course Kíli would've cut the cake into pieces just in case Fíli gave his consent. His brother simply wasn't teachable. What was much more important however was that he still stood in his chamber. Fíli huffed angrily. Kíli ignored this sound completely.
"The cake tastes a bit weird", Kíli remarked. As Fíli knew this still wouldn't hinder him to eat a second, third or even fourth slice. For in contrast to Fíli, who didn't like some foods, Kíli could practically eat anything and this at all time of the day. From somewhere all of his energy had to come.
"Kíli?"
"Yes?"
"Get lost."
Hours later Fíli woke up at the early evening. He still felt exhausted and tired and would probably go to bed early this night, but long sleep had refreshed him noticeable and brought new calmness to his mind. After he'd washed and dressed he finished a bit of paperwork, which was left from the day before. When this was done he stepped into the kitchen, where he could hear his mother potter around. As expected Dís was already busy with cooking. On the table the ingredients were piled up and over the fire simmered a pot. A delicious smell had spread out in the room. Fílis stomach answered immediately with a growl. As Fíli entered the kitchen Dís added some vegetables to the content of the pot, which he wasn't able to identify from his place at the door. His mother had noticed his entering and turned to him with a warm smile.
"Did you sleep well?", she asked and Fíli nodded, stepped beside her and gave her a little peck on the cheek.
"Would you be kind enough to clear the table?", she requested, when she focused on their meal again. As Fíli could see now a pungent goulash simmered in the pot. Thinking about the tender pork, Fílis mouth watered immediately.
At her request he frowned. "Shouldn't Kíli be doing this today?", he asked, just in case.
Dís nodded. "Yes, but he was a little unwell."
He hadn't looked like it this morning, Fíli thought. First he shirked from preparing breakfast and lunch and now he didn't even try to help their mother? Apparently his brother was getting lazy. Still he followed his mother's instructions, it wasn't fair to let her pay for Kíli's dirty tricks. As soon as he'd finished his work however, he crossed the kitchen, willing to drag his lazy brother out of his chamber.
"Fíli", the voice of his mother stopped him.
He turned his head slightly and examined her questioning, his hand already lying on the door handle.
"Don't be too hard on him. He didn't look very well."
Fíli furrowed his brows, but it didn't stop him from looking for his brother. It wasn't often happening that his mother asked him to be not too hard on Kíli. Often he'd his reasons and Dís encouraged him, the stranger this moment seemed. But maybe Kíli had just overdone it with the cake this morning and wallowed now in self-pity. However, when he entered Kíli's chamber it was empty, although the rumpled sheets told him, that his brother must've been here not long ago. This strengthened his assumption at first, that Kíli had used a feeble excuse to duck out of the work, when he suddenly heard a noise he couldn't make out.
The noise led him through the bathroom and in the small chamber at its end. Inside was Kíli, throwing up in the stony privy. Immediately all of Fíli's earlier thoughts disappeared and he flew to his brother's side. He held his hair carefully out of his face and rubbed his back gently. Only than he noticed that his tunic clang damply to the brunt's skin and that shudders were rocking his body. Under the horrible stench Fíli had to screw up his nose, needing all his self-control to suppress a dry heave. It was more than obvious that Kílis state was neither a simulation nor the result of too much cake.
It took far too long until Kíli's stomach settled. Exhausted, he leaned against the cold stone of the wall near him. Finally Fíli could catch a glimpse at Kíli's face. It was awfully pale and the damp sheen on his brow let him appear only sicklier. Fíli continued to rub his back sympathetically. How could an illness develop so fast? After all Kíli had been full of energy and dynamism this morning. Not to mention that his brother hadn't been sick in years.
"Are you all right now?", he asked softly and let go of Kíli's hair to pull the chain, while his little brother breathed deeply through his mouth, as if he was on the brink of throwing up again. Instead of an answer Fíli received a barely noticeable shake of the head. Uncertain what to do now Fílis eyes darted to the open door. Kíli would probably feel more comfortable in a soft bed than on the cold stone floor, but if his little brother feared to throw up again at any minute, he understood why he didn't want to leave his current whereabouts. On the other side, if Kíli hadn't eaten a lot today, than there couldn't be much in stomach to heave up.
"Come on", he said and grabbed the younger under his armpits to help him to stand up. "It won't help you, if you stay on the cold stone." Kíli didn't protest as Fíli started to support him, it was evidence as to how badly the brunet truly felt. Before they left the bathroom, Fíli forced Kíli to rinse out his mouth, so his brother could get rid of the awful taste on his tongue at least to some extent, for Fíli doubted that it would ease the nausea otherwise. On the way back to his room Kíli seemed to lean on him heavier the more steps they took. The trembling of his knees didn't go unnoticed as well. Fíli' throat felt suddenly awfully tight.
His heart picked up speed when he'd brought Kíli to bed, his brother pulled the knees up to his chest, while he wrapped his arms around his middle. Obviously he didn't only fight with nausea. Fíli didn't like all this symptoms. He'd never seen a sickness that afflicted someone so fast and powerful and for the first time he feared for his brother's life. Even with the blanket Fíli had covered him he still shivered terribly.
As he rubbed the back of his brother indecisively and deeply concerned the door of the chamber suddenly opened with a creak. Slowly Fíli turned his head and noticed his mother in the door frame, Thorin had probably come home and they're waiting for the brothers to join them for supper. But Fíli knew that Kíli wouldn't leave his bed today.
"How is he?", Dís asked softly. Kíli chose this moment to reply with a miserable whimper that tugged at Fílis heartstrings.
"I think we should send for Óin", he answered.
Hearing these words Dís blanched. She knew that Kíli couldn't deceive his brother so easily and also that Kíli became rarely sick. To hear his son utter this thought alarmed her. As if he'd to confirm Fíli's words Kíli uncurled, crawled to the edge of the bed and heaved dryly. His whole body tensed, his clothes clinging to his sweaty skin, while he desperately tried to throw up his non-existent stomach contents, until he finally disgorged a thin film of bile. At this sight the last bit of colour seemed to drain from Dís' face. Never before had she seen one of her children in such a state and when Fíli began to rub his brother's back concernedly and whispered soothing words to him, she'd already turned and bolted from the room.
"Thorin!", Fíli could hear her shouting through the whole house. "You need to fetch Óin! Hurry!" Briefly he was able to listen to the startled voice of his uncle, but soon it was quiet again, with only Kíli's deep breaths interrupting the silence.
Carefully he helped his brother, who lacked all energy, back to the middle of the bed and Fíli couldn't shake of the queasy feeling that forced the most horrible imaginations in his head. His heart pounded furiously and sent an awful heat through his body.
Not much time had passed when his mother returned to the chamber, a steaming cup of tea and several clothes in her hands. Fíli could only watch with an unspeakable fear in his heart, how she placed one of the clothes under Kílis tunic and straight on his stomach. She'd probably heated it with a flat iron. The mug however, she pressed into Fíli's hands.
"Try to give him something of this", she ordered, before she set to work and began to clean the floor beside the bed. Fíli nosed the hot drink carefully and sensed instantly the familiar scent of camomile.
He swallowed hard, willing down the tightness in his throat and concentrated on the task his mother had given him. It chased away the heat and the too fast heartbeat, but the collywobbles of fear seem to be anchored to his stomach.
"Kíli, try a bit of the tea", he pleaded, but his brother shook his head weakly.
"I feel so sick", he moaned and tried again to curl up. But Fíli didn't allow it, he put the mug aside and pulled Kíli into a sitting position. A groan slipped past his brother's lips, but he didn't fight back. He leaned the younger against him, just in case.
"It's camomile tea", Fíli explained patiently, as Kíli's head slumped exhausted against his shoulder. "It will soothe your stomach."
Despite all of his persuasion, Kíli took only a few small sips and even this bit of liquid he was already choking up again by the time Thorin returned with Óin. Fíli was beside himself with worry. How could anyone help his brother, if he couldn't keep anything down? This was his little brother on the bed, who twisted nauseous and in pain and looked like nothing was going to help him. The boy he'd nearly spent his whole life with, the boy he'd confided secrets to that he couldn't tell anybody else. The boy he'd sworn to protect with his life and nothing seemed to help him!
Óin interrupted his lines of thought by pushing him aside and started to examine Kíli. Fíli, Dís and Thorin had no other option but to watch, although every one of them would've liked to do more for their youngest family member. They knew very well that he was in good hands with Óin, but it didn't soothe the fear in their hearts. The healer made good progress with his examination – probably because Kíli endured everything quietly – but seemed not able to detect the reason for Kíli's ailment, even though he'd sedulously palpated his belly.
Pensively Óin stroked his greyed beard and took his auditory tube afterwards, he adjusted it with a concentrated expression. "Have you eaten something foul?", he asked. Óins features weren't particularly hopeful, it was obviously the only explanation he could still think of. Fíli swallowed gloomily, he didn't know much about medicine, but something deep inside him told him that Kíli's symptoms were too severe to come from a foul meal. Besides, they checked their provisions in regular intervals.
As expected, Kíli shook his head. Óin puffed frustrated, a noise that sent a chill down his spine. This couldn't be everything the old dwarf could do to help Kíli! There had to be something else, something he'd overlooked!
"Tell me, what you've eaten today", Óin demanded the next moment and Fíli wanted to scream that this wasn't bringing them any closer to a solution. All of the foods in their pantry were still eatable! Fíli's anger choked within a heartbeat. The cake tastes a bit weird, Kíli had said, when Fíli had been already half asleep.
"Could it be the cake?", he piped up immediately. Apparently this thought had come to the right time, since Kíli brooded over Óin's question but didn't seem come up with an answer.
"What cake?", Thorin, who'd observed the whole thing with concerned features, inquired.
"It's from a girl. For weeks now I get presents from her, but she won't show herself", Fíli replied.
"Bring me the cake", Óin ordered, after the words made him prick up his ears. With a nod Dís hurried out of the room, obviously knowing where Kíli had stored it if she could set off so purposefully.
Their mother didn't need long to return with three-quarters of a cake in her hands. Fíli used this opportunity to sit down next to his brother once more. He started to rub the brunet's upper arm gently. Kíli tried to smile encouragingly, but it looked just distorted and not in the slightest reassuring.
In the meantime Óin put a fingertip sized piece of the cake in his mouth and chewed highly focused. He didn't swallow but spat it in one of his handkerchiefs. "Rhododendron", it slipped out of his mouth and without any explanation he took his bag and started to rummage in it.
"What's the meaning of this?", Thorin demanded to know.
Óin didn't look up during his search. "Rhododendron is poisonous, it's what's resolving his symptoms."
"Is it lethal?", Dís hurried to ask, while Fíli's inside suddenly felt ice-cold. His admirer had poisoned his brother… Because some girl longed for his affection Kíli was now lying here, writhed and wasn't able to keep his food down…
"Not necessarily", Óin answered, bringing a vial, filled with black powder, to light. "But the dose makes the poison and fact is that I was able to taste the rhododendron and this bides ill."
"But you're able to help him?", Fíli pressed on frantically.
"I can give him charcoal to extract the poison and he has to drink quite a lot, the loss of fluids after vomiting mustn't be taken lightly, but everything else is up to him", Óin told them and thereby giving Fíli no clear answer. Whilst Óin was dissolved the charcoal and another powder in water, Fíli reached for a hand of his brother and held it in his. He squeezed it reassuringly.
"Hang in there, Kíli. You have to fight, you hear me?", he whispered concernedly to his brother. Kíli's confused gaze concentrated on him and literally broke his heart. Never before had he seen the younger so vulnerable and enfeebled, the sensation of helplessness felt like it was going to tear his insides apart.
The mattress of the bed dipped slightly as Óin sat down and held the cup of his mixture to Kíli's lips. His brother, however, turned his head and tried to get away from the potion, his movements were so sluggish and weakened that Fíli had to bite the insides of his cheeks to keep himself from weeping. "Kíli, you need to drink this now", Óin told him sternly, but also with a strange softness in his voice.
"No", Kíli slurred.
And Fíli, who knew his brother better than anyone else, squeezed Kíli's hand gently and, as a result, got the brunets attention. "It will help you, Kíli. You want to feel better, won't you? Óin's potion can help you, not like the camomile tea."
At first Kíli merely blinked absently and Fíli feared already, that the younger wasn't able to understand him any longer, but eventually Kíli nodded so slightly that Fíli thought for a moment he'd only imagined it. But when Óin tried to give him the medicine once more, Kíli swallowed the viscous potion without resistance.