"Sit still," Fili insisted, pushing his hand down against his brother's shoulder.

"I'm trying," Kili complained, resisting the urge to squirm again as his brother gathered the strands of his dark hair together again. "These formal clothes itch something horrible. What was wrong with what I had on before?"

He felt a puff of breath on his neck as his brother laughed from his standing position behind him, securing his hair back with his silver clasp. "It's the feast to celebrate our reclamation of Erebor. Dwarves from every kingdom are coming, including potential suitors for you. Uncle would prefer it if you did not smell like the stables when they come to talk to you."

He let his brother comb out the tangles in his hair until it laid in waves against his shoulders. When his hands fell away from his head, Kili turned to face him. "I'd sooner live in the stables then talk to those nobles. Why would Uncle want to marry me off, Fili? We've only just reclaimed Erebor and already he wants to send me away. Have I done something wrong?"

Fili sighed and sat down across from his brother. "I've told you, it's nothing like that. A marriage between you and a noble dwarf would secure an alliance with dwarves from other kingdoms. Uncle Thorin would never do it by choice, it is just a matter of politics."

Kili looked up at his brother through his dark bangs. "Do I even have a say in who I marry?"

Fili gave his shoulder a soft squeeze and Kili knew his brother was trying to bring him comfort without lying to him. "The ultimate decision resides in Thorin's hands, but yes, I would say you have some choice in the matter. Any suitor who is interested in you would have to court you first."

Kili blew his bangs out of his face, already annoyed by talk of courting and marriage. Did everyone presume him to be some Dwarrow lass who'd fall head over heels for gestures of courage and devotion? Had he not proven anything but that during their quest to slay the dragon Smaug and reclaim Erebor? As long as he was not wed to some dwarf who kept him locked inside for the rest of his life, he figured he would be fine.

"You say you feel sympathy for me, brother, and yet you aren't the one who has to dance and talk with strangers all night." Kili glared at him.

"I'm Thorin's heir, Kee. I can't be married off." Fili sighed. Kili didn't mean to hold the fact that Fili was Thorin's heir against him, in all honesty, Kili had no desire for the throne. It was the idea that he and Fili would be separated by this arrangement that made him bitter. No matter how many quiet words of comfort Fili whispered to him late in the night, the realization was heart wrenching and inevitable.

A knock sounded outside the door. "Lads, it is time." Dwalin called out.

Kili stood from his chair, exchanging a nervous look with Fili, before he was pulled into a hug, strong arms encircling him. The braids of Fili's mustache tickled his face as he whispered. "You'll be fine, nadad."

They followed Dwalin through the stone halls of Erebor, Kili just behind Fili. They entered the throne room and even after a whole month here, Kili couldn't help but be intimidated by the sheer size of the room. His arm hair raised to attention at the feel of the giant stone dwarf kings of Durin looking down upon him, their battle axes gripped firmly, ready to cut him down if he brought disgrace to their name tonight, or so it felt. Kili was only slightly less anxious when he caught his uncle Thorin's eye as he made his way down the stone aisle that lead to the dais. Thorin smiled reassuringly at him as he reached the throne, meeting him halfway at the bottom of the steps.

"Kili," he said, cupping a hand against his cheek. Kili resisted the urge to lean into the touch, so unaccustomed to his uncle's infrequent gestures of fondness. "Today is a very important day for you. I expect you to act like a prince of Erebor, do you understand me?"

"Yes, Uncle. I'll make you proud," Kili declared. And he would, no matter how much he did not agree with his Uncle's arrangement, he would do right by his family. He would show that he was a true heir of Durin. Thorin gaze slipped behind him and Kili turned to see his mother striding towards them.

"Mother—" Kili and Fili hurried to her at the same time. She spread her arms wide and tugged them both in towards her chest, enveloping them into the velveteen fabric of her dress.

"My boys. I've missed you both so much," she sighed, kissing them both on the top of their heads. Fili quickly reciprocated with a kiss to his mother's cheek.

"I had feared you wouldn't make it in time, sister." Thorin spoke from behind Kili, giving him a start. He quickly stepped aside to let his uncle and mother embrace.

Dis smiled at her brother, "Tonight is a most special night. I would not dare miss it."

She turned to appraise her boys, giving Fili a once-over and an approving nod of her head. When she looked at Kili, she broke into a laugh, doing nothing to hide her smile.

"Never would I have thought to see my wild little Kili looking so princely. My, if you don't clean up nice. I suppose I have Fili to thank for this." She shared a smile with Fili who quickly tried to conceal his smirk into his hand as he caught his younger brother's annoyed glare.

"Don't see what's so nice about being royalty. These clothes feel like they are infested with fleas." Kili grumbled, tugging once again at the collar of his tunic. Fili was quick to smack his hand away.

"You'll only irritate your skin." Fili insisted. Kili retaliated by tugging one of the braids of Fili's mustache sharply, causing his brother to jerk sideways into him with an undignified squawk.

"Boys!" Dis scolded, like it had only been yesterday that she had caught them in their brotherly antics. Fili, of course, was the first to compose himself.

"My King," a dwarf entered the hall and Kili thought he might be one of Uncle's attendants. "Lord Dáin Ironfoot of the Iron Hills has just arrived with his people."

"Yes, "Thorin announced, "Please let them through the gate. We will receive them immediately."

The attendant left the hall and Thorin sat himself back down upon his throne. Fili and Kili followed their mother up to the smaller seats on either side of the King's throne. All around the hall there was a flurry of activity, advisors taking up their positions, attendants making last minute adjustments to the decor. Kili placed his hands on top of his thighs, resisting the urge to squirm as uneasiness overtook him. He knew he was acting ridiculous and Fili would tell him the same. He wanted one last comforting gesture from his brother to calm himself, but Fili was sitting on the other side of Thorin and there was no time as the doors to the throne room were pushed open.

Dáin Ironfoot entered the throne room, followed closely by a procession of his court of noble dwarves and their families. Behind them attendants carried fealty gifts to the King under the mountain. Dáin and his court knelt as a group at the foot of the steps, Kili finally getting to see just how large the group was as he caught sight of the last line of dwarves near the large doors. Kili vaguely wondered if they would be able to fit this kingdom's court in with the dwarves from the other kingdoms.

"Please, Cousin. Rise and come greet me properly." Thorin said and Dáin ascended the steps and kissed Thorin's ring before embracing his kin in a fierce hug as Kili had seen many dwarf warriors do. Up close, Kili could see Dáin had graying blonde hair and an intricately plated beard.

"It is a great honor to be back home again, my king. For a long time I thought I'd never see it again." Dáin kissed Dís' hand. "Your highness, it is lovely to see you again after so long. I hope you are doing well, as are your sons."

"Thank you, My Lord. You are very thoughtful." Dís replied.

The fealty gifts were brought forward, the chests opened and presented to Thorin for inspection. Afterwards came the introductions of all the noble dwarves from the court of the Iron Hills. Kili could not hope to remember all of their names. He reassured himself that it did not matter, he would meet them all again throughout the night. He was relieved when Uncle proclaimed that they move to the Great Hall of Thrór for the feast. Kili ended up seated next to Dwalin at the long wooden table set up for the royal family and their companions at the back of the hall. Kili did not mind for once that his brother sat a ways down the table from him as Dwalin regaled him with his battle stories, pointing out the scars to match. With each ale the dwarf warrior consumed, however, his tales began to get more outlandish until Kili was having trouble believing he wasn't just making up stories on the spot for his benefit.

"Now, this scar here laddie—"

Kili was interrupted from Dwalin's latest story as a hand clapped down on his shoulder. Kili turned to find Fili beside him, mug of mead in his other hand.

Fili leaned down so that his voice could be heard over the festivities happening around them. "Uncle sends me to tell you there's a line of dwarves waiting to dance with you."

His brother pointed off to Kili's left where he could see at least three dwarves standing off to the side. One in particular smiled at Kili as he met his eye across the room and nodded his greetings. Kili returned the smile and exhaled a long sigh as he turned back towards his brother.

Fili looked entirely too smug, his eyes gleaming. Whether it was with mischief or from the alcohol, Kili was not sure. "See someone you like already, Kee? Remember not to seem too eager, little brother." he teased.

"Shut up." Kili moved past Fili towards the waiting group of suitors. The musicians switched to a pounding song of fiddles, flutes, and drums. Kili followed the first dwarf out onto the dance hall. The dwarf introduced himself to Kili as Sevrin, and Kili remembered he was a Lord from the Grey Mountains.

"Are you enjoying being home again, Prince Kili?" Sevrin asked him as they stepped together in time with the music.

"Home?" Kili questioned.

"Erebor, I mean."

"Erebor is not my home, Lord Sevrin. My brother and I were born after its fall to Smaug." Kili took a moment to admire the Lord's single plaited, blond beard. He determined it was finely done but nowhere near as magnificent as Fili's golden blonde mane.

"Ah," Sevrin smiled. "So you are younger than I previously assumed but still no less beautiful."

Kili took advantage of their current dancing position to duck his head into Sevrin's shoulder. For he was sure that his cheeks were flaming as red as hot iron straight out of the fire on his beardless face and he did not wish Sevrin to see. Fili's parting words filtered through his head then and Kili wondered how easy Sevrin thought him now that he was blushing like a dwarrow lass with her first crush.

"You are very kind." Kili replied when he was certain his traitorous cheeks had drained most of their color.

"Surely you have received many compliments before with a beautiful face such as yours." Sevrin insisted.

"No, most dwarves had eyes only for my brother, Fili, growing up because he is Thorin's heir and a fine warrior." As he spoke, Kili's eyes found his brother chatting with some people he did not know, but even too far away to hear their conversation, Kili could see that his brother commanded the group's attention.

The song drew to its end and Kili released Sevrin's hand and bowed his head to him. "It was a pleasure dancing with you, Lord Sevrin. I hope you enjoy the rest of the night." Kili repeated the words Fili had taught him a hour before the feast.

The Lord looked ready to say something else, but seemed to think better of it. "As do I, Prince Kili."

With that they parted ways and Kili accepted the next suitor waiting in line to dance with him. This proceeded many more times until Kili found his feet hurting and his thoughts wandering away from him during each dance. Twice he'd only just managed to save himself from embarrassment when he'd found his thoughts had left him with no clue as to what the courtier he was dancing with had said. Knowing that Thorin would never allow him to leave his suitors waiting, even for a breather, Kili proposed an alternative option.

He placed a hand on the arm of the newest courtier he'd been dancing with, an older dwarf named Runbar with a gray-streaked ginger beard. "Would you accompany me outside? I feel like I need some fresh air."

Lord Runbar smiled. "Of course, my prince."

Kili led the way through the halls of Erebor until they reached one of the battlements that looked out towards the River Running. The air was strong and crisp up on the mountain and already Kili was recovering from the heat and noise of the feast hall. He placed his hands against the parapet and stared off into the distance. Though it was dark, Kili thought he could make out the ruins of Dale as a dark smudge far off.

Fingers threaded themselves through his hair and Kili startled away despite what courtesy might demand him to do in such a situation. He spun around to address Lord Runbar who was much closer to him than a moment ago.

Kili opened his mouth ready to speak only to find he didn't know what he was supposed to say to the dwarf without outright insulting him.

"You're hair is striking in the moonlight, as glossy as the wings of the ravens that hang about Ravenhill."

"Thank you, my Lord." Kili replied. In the torchlight Kili could see the dwarf's face was still aglow from mead and he tried to ignore the sour smell that wafted across his face when the dwarf spoke. Kili had been complimented many times during the night, probably more than he had his whole life in Ered Luin, but the fever in this dwarf's voice unsettled him. Kili realized he had not paid much attention to his companion's physical state before now and quickly realized his mistake.

"Perhaps we should go back inside now, my Lord." Kili suggested.

"Such a beauty you are, my prince. I would like so very much to be your husband." Runbar stepped closer even as Kili tried to slide away from him and Kili found himself trapped between the parapet and Lord Runbar's bulk.

"My Lord—"

"I would bed you every night and spoil you with lavish gifts and feasts." Kili felt the dwarf's beard tickle his face as he pressed him back into the parapet. Kili turned his head away, disgusted. He tried to shove Runbar off of him, but the dwarf was as solid as stone.

"You would be mine and you would be happy." The words were panted hotly against Kili's ear accompanied by a mouth laving at his beardless neck and face.

"Stop!" Kili shouted, shoving one of his hands that had been pushing against the dwarf's shoulders, up, connecting with Lord Runbar's face and knocking it back from his neck. His hand was quickly seized and trapped against his chest.

"Do not hide your desire, my prince. Why else would you ask me to accompany you to such a private place if you did not wish to seek such pleasures. You are young and impatient, there is no shame in acting on your feelings."

"That is not what I meant!" Kili tried to explain, as Runbar attacked his mouth with his own. A hand was tugging at his hair, urging his face back, when suddenly the dwarf's bulk was yanked away from him.

Kili fell back against the parapet at the loss of support. His eyes quickly located Lord Runbar who seemed to be in a squabble with another dwarf. Kili caught sight of blond braided locks and sighed with relief. Fili... his brother had found the dwarf forcing himself on him and had come to rescue him.

"Leave before I have the guards called on you and do not dare approach your prince again."

Kili blinked. That was not Fili after all. The dwarf turned back towards Kili and in the torchlight, Kili could make out his face. "My Prince, are you alright?"

"Lord Sevrin." Kili replied.