A perilous road – Kili and Fili fanfiction.
Chapter one: The Journal.
Kili watched his brother silently, noticing Fili's gaze darkening as his eyes skipped over the script before him. He didn't need to witness his reaction to know he was fuming, and Kili could relate to that no end. Finally reaching the last few words Fili looked up, his eyes narrowing on Kili's as he stood from the bed. His brother opened his mouth but no words came out. Yep, Kili had been shocked too when he had first read those words.
Finally seeming to gather his wits Fili straightened and held the journal in front of Kili. "You read Father's journal." He stated accusingly. Kili's mouth went slack from shock. They had just discovered they had a half-sister and Fili was going to dish out grief over him stumbling upon their late Father's journal. Ok, so he hadn't so much stumbled as deliberately been looking for. Kili had known since he was a dwarfling that their Father had kept a journal, he and his brother had overheard their Mother Dis telling Thorin one day not long after his death. Being young and mischievous they had gone in search of this journal, excited to read about their Father's adventures. Kili in particular had been desperate to read it and learn more of his Father, he had been so young when he had passed away, not even old enough to remember him in the slightest. He could recall often asking his Mother about their Father but she had always shied away from the subject, explaining that their Father had loved them all very much before changing the subject. Thorin too would never delve into stories on the subject, and of what little his brother could remember it left Kili with snippets which never satisfied his curiousness.
The two dwarflings had searched high and low for weeks afterwards but could find no trace of the journal. Eventually they gave up and doubted the blasted thing had ever even existed. But every so often Kili would go searching for it, not willing to let go of the chance to learn more of his Father. He looked alone of course, he doubted Fili would understand his obsession with the journal and as they had matured Fili had said perhaps it was a good thing they never found it – Kili could relate to that now.
Fili's heart pounded against his ribs and his labouring breaths had him feeling woozy. A sister, they had a sister. Half, but still a sister. He swallowed with great difficulty. Did Mother know? She had to, surely? Or maybe she didn't know, perhaps their Father never told her and she never read the journal. This was bad, really bad. He was distantly aware of the next words he spoke; "You read Father's journal."
Surprise flickered across Kili's features, quickly replaced by an indignant scowl. "That's it?" Kili spat. "You've just discovered we have a half-sister and you're going to question my principles at having read Father's journal?" Kili took a step closer to him, a fierce storm brewing in his eyes. Kili was right of course, Fili was kind of missing the point here. Scrubbing a hand down his face he plonked back on his bed and sat rigidly, tossing the cursed journal aside in a daze. He heard Kili pad over and felt him sit beside him as he stared unseeingly ahead. His brother gave a resigned sigh and seemed to lean into Fili for support, although right now Fili wasn't feeling like pillar material.
Glancing sidelong at his brother Fili could see the uncertainly and concern written all over his brother's face. He didn't blame Kili for reading the journal, he doubted very much he would have shown any restraint if their roles had been reversed. He had been in shock and had said the first thing that had come to his mind, he'd been avoiding the truth. An un-nerving thought occurred as he considered what the hell else they would find out from this journal. He dreaded to imagine.
Kili fidgeted beside him, gnawing on his thumb nail. Fili spoke through his constricting throat "sorry." He mumbled. Kili gave a meek smile which faded as quickly as it had appeared.
"It's fine." There was a pause, pregnant with tension in which they both sat in silence before Kili spoke again. "What are we going to do?" And now wasn't that an interesting question? Fili was only sure of one thing, and that was they couldn't let this go. Not only did Fili not want to forget this but he could see how much it meant to his brother, and making Kili happy was his priority in life, always had been. He looked across into Kili's expectant eyes.
"We confront Mother." He answered numbly.
Kili nodded with grim resolve. "Do you think she knows?" Kili asked. Fili hesitated and tried to ignore the growing unease within him.
"There's only one way to find out."