A/N: What? An update?! :O
Sorry, university started again and I got caught up with work. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and followed and I love you all!
Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Fili was shaking with excitement as his uncle led him towards the training area. Thorin had finally decided that he was old enough to learn how to wield a sword, and nothing was going to ruin this day for him. Not even his grumpy little brother.
Despite Kili's wailing and pleading to be allowed to join in, Thorin's resolve hadn't wavered.
"You're too small, lad. The training swords are almost bigger than you!" Kili had spent the rest of the morning attempting to lift big and heavy things to prove his uncle wrong, but ended up doing the opposite by dropping a forging hammer on his foot. He was still limping as he trailed behind, hoping to avoid another lecture about not touching Thorin's things.
Although he didn't show it, Thorin felt very sorry for his youngest nephew. He'd managed to cheer him up slightly by saying that he could come and watch, instead of having to stay at home with a babysitter (also it would have been to cruel so inflict a moody Kili on some other poor dwarf), but he doubted that he'd be in Kili's good books again until he gave in and started teaching him too.
When they reached the training area, Thorin sat Kili down in a corner and bent down to Kili's level.
"Kili," he started slowly, the young dwarf avoiding his gaze. "I need you to be good and stay where I can see you. I don't want you getting hurt." Thorin set down the bag of toys he'd brought for Kili to play with, and flinched as Kili's head snapped up to glare at him.
I am not scared of my nephew, I am NOT scared of my nephew, Thorin repeated his mantra in his head as he turned back to Fili to start the lesson.
Fili picked up the basics very quickly, and soon Thorin was genuinely enjoying himself. It was also a load off his mind when he noticed that Kili's sulking had relented and he had rummaged through the bag to find his favourite little wooden figures.
As the afternoon went on, Fili's movements started to slow down, and he was struggling to hold up the sword for very long, so Thorin decided to call it a day.
"You did a great job!" Thorin smiled at his nephew, who beamed up at him. "Come on, let's get your brother and go ho-"
Fili bumped into Thorin's legs before he noticed that his uncle had frozen in shock. Bewildered, Fili looked towards the spot Thorin was gawping at.
"Uncle Thorin, where's Kili gone?" Fili asked innocently, before he was suddenly scooped up by his uncle, along with the bag of Kili's toys that Thorin slung over his shoulder.
Thorin strode out of the training area and started interrogating every dwarf he could see.
"Have you seen Kili? You know - the tiny, crazy one? Lots of messy brown hair? Has anyone seen my nephew?!"
Most dwarves just shook their heads and said they'd keep an eye out for him. When Thorin found Balin and Dwalin, they agreed to split up and look for the lost dwarfling. As Balin and Dwalin set off to look in the forge and the edges of the town, Thorin dashed around the town centre, desperately searching for the little dwarf that he was sure would be the death of him.
They each searched for hours, and still no luck. Thorin was really starting to panic, but he was trying his best to stay calm for Fili, whom he was dragging along.
"He'll be fine, he's probably just hiding somewhere, causing trouble as usual." Thorin muttered more to himself than to Fili. He dreaded to think what horrible things could have happened to such a small dwarfling out there on his own. He was so engulfed in his worries that he almost crashed into Dwalin as he rounded a corner.
Dwalin grunted, "No luck yet, you?" Thorin shook his head, struggling to keep his calm façade. Balin stepped out from behind his brother.
"Thorin, you need to take Fili back home, it's getting late. Dwalin and I will keep searching, and we've alerted most of the town." Balin gave his old friend a comforting smile. "You'll have him back in no time."
Thorin looked down at Fili and noticed for the first time how exhausted the little dwarf looked. He was hesitant to leave the others to look for Kili, but he knew that Balin was right. He swiftly picked up Fili, and with a swift nod to Balin and Dwalin, set off home.
Fili was asleep by the time they got home, and didn't stir once as his uncle lowered him into his bed. Once Fili was tucked in, Thorin went to the kitchen for a desperately needed ale. He slumped down on a chair, dropping the bag of Kili's toys on the floor, which landed with a thunk and an "OW!"
Thorin pulled his tankard towards him, but froze with the rim at his lips as he realised that something was wrong.
Bags don't saw ow…
Cautiously, Thorin picked up the bag and opened the top. He was greeted with two big brown eyes peering out under a mop of brown hair.
"Kili!" Thorin sighed with relief, pulling his nephew into a tight hug.
"You dropped me." Kili mumbled sleepily into Thorin's shoulder. "I was asleep because I was bored and you were ignoring me and I wanted to see if I could get inside the bag and I did then I fell asleep and then you dropped me…"
Thorin was barely listening to Kili's sleepy babbling, and suddenly thought struck him. He'd had the whole town, including two hardened warriors, searching high and low for his nephew, and Thorin had been carrying him around all day.
He was never going to live this down.
