Fair Shot

Kíli can't shoot a target, but perhaps Fíli knows a bit more about archery than Kíli thought.

"Damn..." Kíli muttered, as yet another one of his arrows missed the bird intended for supper.

He didn't think anything was wrong with him.

But how come he couldn't shoot this one bird? Kíli's shot many of them before, of course for survival purposes. Entertainment is part of survival, right?

He notched another arrow, his arms tired from how many he's previously shot. Oh Mahal, he couldn't wait to go find those. Kíli watched the bird, his bow raised. 'Come on, come on...' And he shot the arrow.

And of course, it missed.

"ARGH!" Kíli yelled in frustration, throwing his bow on the ground, as the accused bird sang, as if mocking him! "By Mahal's arse!"

Yep, Kíli just said that.

"Kee! What is your problem you oaf?! You know your not supposed to say things like that!" Fíli said laughing, as he appeared out of the trees. "The whole company's been waiting for you for an age! Bombur's gonna end up crying if you don't hurry up!"

Kíli grumbled, and kicked his bow. "I can't hit that bird," he mumbled, pointing at the bird.

Fíli laughed. "What? I couldn't hear you, brother," Fíli teased, amused at his brother's frustration.

Kíli threw his hands in the air angrily. "I can't hit that dammed bird!" He yelled, stomping his feet like he did as a dwarfling when he was upset. Fíli just laughed. This was far beyond funny.

"Let me try, you oaf." Fíli offered, a smile on his face. He picked up the bow, which Kíli had thrown on the ground, and held out his hand for an arrow.

"No." Kíli said.

"Why not?"

"Cause."

"Cause why?"

"..."

"You think I can't hit it?"

"You won't."

"Let me try, then, Kee."

Kíli grumbled, and handed him an arrow. "Don't break my bow," he said like a toddler who was forced to share. "Don't bet on it, Kee." Fíli laughed, notching the arrow.

Fíli took aim.

And let it fly.

The bird fell to the ground, dead.

Fíli burst out, laughing hysterically. "You couldn't hit that bird?" He said through laughter. "It's no fair!" Kíli whined, "You cheated!"

"How did I cheat, you oaf?" Fíli said, laughing yet again.

"Beginner's luck," Kíli grumbled.

Oh, this was just too funny.

"It was a fair shot, and you know it!" Fíli said, finding his brother's excuses hilarious. "You're an oaf!" He laughed.

Kíli grumbled, yet again, and began to stomp back to where the company had settled.

This was one thing, Fíli wouldn't be forgetting.

And he collected the bird, and began to make it back to camp, with his pouting brother.

Oh, and Fíli would make sure Kíli didn't forget either.

And he laughed again.

"I had a perfectly fair shot." Fíli said to his brother.

"A perfectly fair one."

And this time, they both laughed.