Worlds Apart: A Missing Piece
Chapter Summary: Over in Erebor, Thorin is overseeing the restorations when he notices something out of place; the sudden disappearance of his two nephews from his sight when they were there just moments ago. Kili and Fili try and persuade Thorin to come with them to the Shire to visit their little burglar but Thorin is stubborn, as dwarves usually are.
S/N: Sorry for the delay of this second chapter. Work has never been more hectic. But I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the reception my first chapter has sparked, and hopefully this chapter keeps you interested to stay with me for the journey. More notes at the end of the chapter.
Erebor.
The Dwarven Kingdom was in shambles. It wasn't any closer to the majesty it once was, but it was getting to that point. All it needed was a collaborated effort; at least that was what their King, Thorin son of Thrain, had told them. Many a-folk had returned to the call of their king, and it was no later than a week that Erebor was populated with dwarves once more. They worked in cohesion, as it had once been in decades past, and Erebor had become lively once more.
Thorin's Company had each gone their separate ways, lending a hand wherever possible; Nori and Dori led the miners to explore the caves and revive the tunnels for immediate use. Dwalin had resurrected the forge to craft some tools and materials to rebuild broken homes. Balin, ever Thorin's council and adviser, was making preparations with Ori to set up an expedition to Moria to extend help to their fellow dwarves. The brothers Fili and Kili stayed close to their uncle, who seemed all but focused on the task at hand.
The reclaimed kingdom sang piously. Every now and again, a dwarf broke out into song in khuzudul while others followed suit for what later became motivation for the group at large. Thorin could not find any similar motivation.
Thorin found himself walking down the throne room, observing a few workers debating about the scaffoldings and how best to mend them. He did not pay much attention to this but later frowned when his sweep of the area resulted in a missing pair of nephews. He frowned indignantly. "Where did they go...?" he muttered.
Fili and Kili were in their rooms, re-arranging the contents of their bags. They did not have the time to unpack, so it only took them mere minutes before they were set. They both slung their bags over their shoulders, gave each other a nod. In the past week since their arrival, the brothers had not slept a wink without worrying over their little companion during their Quest to reclaim their home. The hobbit, as it were, was as welcome as any guest would be to them for all that he had contributed to their cause. Kili in particular had questioned the fact of Thorin sending Bilbo on his way, but Fili had his suspicions. And so they had agreed that they would bring Bilbo back, whether their uncle approved of the retrieval or not.
"Let's go," Fili said with a nod to his brother.
Kili returned it before making their way to the door.
As soon as it swung open, however, the brothers found their uncle giving the pair equal amounts of skepticism, most prominent in his eyes.
Fili swallowed. "Hello Uncle," he greeted.
Thorin spotted the bags upon their shoulders, and this was already a sign that they were planning something... and that they had no intentions of speaking the truth of it. "You're packed," he accused.
"Oh, we were just planning to take our things out," Kili began.
"To give them away!" Fili followed up.
They were catching one another. Thorin had not seen this in a while from the brothers, which only escalated his suspicions this his nephews were, in fact, up to something.
"Since we won't be needing them anymore."
"Not that we'll be traveling anytime soon, correct?"
Fili and Kili laughed nervously and looked at one another before nodding in agreement with one another.
"Why don't I believe you?" Thorin inquired with a simple raise of his eyebrow. The tension amongst them heightened, and it showed from the way Kili was absentmindedly pressing the ball of his feet to the ground incessantly while Fili was tugging lightly at the end of his braided hair and looking at every possible location save for their uncle. There was his evidence, and he made sure to capitalize on it while he could. "Where are you really going?" he asked again, pressing the issue, implicating that he knew they were lying.
The two exchanged glances before sighing in unison. How did they manage this so effortlessly? Thorin sometimes wondered if they were telepathically connected.
"We miss Mister Boggins," Kili finally admitted.
Here we go. Thorin wondered when this conversation about the hobbit would come into play, and he went as far as admitting that he did not consider his nephews to become the most attached to the halfling.
"And you seem to like him so since you refuse to leave Erebor we thought we'd do it in your place," Fili added.
Kili and Fili didn't know what they were saying. There was little to- Wait. Did Fili just make an assumption that Thorin had feelings towards Bilbo Baggins? Thorin immediately retaliated.
"You're talking nonsense," the king muttered stubbornly. Now it was his turn to avoid eye contact, but Fili knew what it was he was avoiding.
"Admit it, Uncle. It's particularly obvious when you look at him," Fili pursued.
Kili found himself staring numbly at his uncle in surprise at this revelation.
Thorin pursed his lips before letting out a frustrated click of his tongue. "...Perhaps I do," he finally agreed.
"Then come with us Uncle!" Fili immediately urged. Kili had quickly taken the opportunity to tug on Thorin's sleeve, as if that would change his mind.
And really, what good did it do if they acted as their younger selves?
"No," Thorin said firmly, answering the unasked question that was reflective in Fili and Kili's eyes.
"Why don't you go lad?" came an old voice behind the dwarven king.
"Balin~" Fili identified, beaming at the good fortune.
"You know I cannot leave this land unsupervised," Thorin began to argue to his council.
"But there are those who will remain that are more than capable of supervising the restorations in your place," Balin immediately rebutted.
Thorin wasn't liking where this was headed. Not at all. "What exactly are you suggesting?"
Balin smiled the smile of someone who knew he had the upper hand; of someone who knew they would win the argument. Then again, it would have also just been because his old age made him look more peaceful and confident by comparison to Thorin. Oh the irony. "I still have days before my trek to Moria. I would be happy to stay and watch over your kingdom in your absence," he suggested. "Dwalin and I would be honored," he added in a chuckle.
"See Uncle? You can leave without remorse. Now come away with us!" Fili insisted.
Thorin remained tight-lipped. He was conflicted. And everyone, it seemed, was already badgering him to make the journey. But dwarves were stubborn by nature. And he exercised this privilege, if it was even considered that, by shaking his head in response. Thorin would not be swayed. Not by Fili, nor Kili, nor Balin, nor any other dwarf. No meant NO. And to put the nail on the coffin, he had no time for this. He turned and made for the exit.
"Balin..." Fili began as he and Kili moved up to the old dwarf. "Is it illegal to kidnap a king?" he asked.
"Fili?!" Kili asked in surprise at the bluntness of the inquiry.
Balin chuckled. "Of course it is," he answered. Before Fili could sigh in defeat, he raised a finger and added, "But it isn't illegal to kidnap an uncle."
Both brothers stared at Balin in surprise, speechless.
Balin turned to the younger dwarves. "I leave it up to you two then," he said, almost cryptically before he went off on his way.
Fili and Kili looked at one another before nodding in unison.
Thorin practically stopped in his tracks and paled. The uneasy feeling in the Dwarven King had returned with a vengeance. He turned around curiously and found an almost familiar look on both of his nephews' faces. These two were up to no good, just like that time they had wandered off to retrieve the missing ponies. As if it didn't show in the manner they were approaching him.
"We're really sorry about this Uncle," Kili said in apology before Fili swiftly moved behind him and placed a well-aimed chop to the back of Thorin's neck, knocking him out. Headbutting would have been the first option had dwarves not used it as a customary greeting now and again.
"Quick Kili!" Fili said hastily, reaching down to grab the limp form of Thorin and heaved. Together, the brothers dragged their unconscious uncle to the stables. Kili had made quick work or scrapping together Thorin's belongings to take with them while Fili managed to enlist Dwalin's help - since he was passing by with nothing much to do for the meantime - in securing Thorin onto one of the ponies. This, Fili agreed, was a much easier way to handle their Uncle.
When Kili returned, they all headed off on their way, Fili gripping onto the reigns of a pony that carried Thorin. The road was perilous, but both Fili and Kili agreed that they would do everything in their power to protect their Uncle and their King.
It was near evening when Thorin had come to. The first things he had seen and felt were the orange sky overhead and the bareback coat of a pony he knew all too well. He was out on the road... and unable to move.
Kili spotted this and moved up alongside him. "Good evening Uncle~" he greeted jovially.
"Where are we?" Thorin asked, struggling from ropes that strapped him to the pony he was on.
"Nearing the Mountains of Mirkwood I think," Fili supplied.
"Release me immediately!" Thorin demanded.
"But that would waste all our efforts of letting you see Master Bilbo!" Fili complained.
Thorin was getting impatient. "As your King I demand you undo these ropes at once!" he barked. It was time they bent to authority and he was not going to allow them the luxury of ignoring it altogether.
Kili flinched at the title. They were left without any other options and stopped the trotting of the ponies and spend the next few minutes unfastening their bound uncle from the third pony.
As soon as Thorin was loose, he adjusted himself on the pony until he was sitting upright. He took a moment to make the necessary observations, noting that they had taken the liberty of packing his own things. Taking the reigns, he turned to the brothers. "We must make haste. I prefer not encountering anyone from Mirkwood a second time and avoid them . Make for the High Pass!" he declared, whipping the reign and urged his pony forward.
Fili and Kili chuckled at each other before following along. "He had to be so stubborn about it," Fili argued as Kili merely laughed.
Finally, the three were on their way to the Shire, to visit once more a little hobbit named Bilbo Baggins.
S/N Afterword: Next chapter, the dwarves arrive in the Shire and finally reach Bilbo's house. The tension between Thorin and Bilbo intensifies, and Kili and Fili are happily there for the fun.