Chapter Two
The little dwarf sat by the fire, his helmet on the floor next to him, braiding and un-braiding his blonde hair.
"You're getting good at that," Thorin smiled, puffing smoke from his pipe.
"I can't do big braids yet, but I can do the little ones," Fili grinned back. "Can I do them on Kili when he gets here?" Thorin opened his mouth to answer when Fili cut in "Kili! Uncle, mummy's stopped yelling! Does that mean Kili's here?" Thorin listened. The yelling had indeed stopped. Suddenly a pathetic little cry came from the bedroom.
"Yes, Fili, your brother has arrived!"
"Yay!" Fili yelled, bolting towards the door, but a strong hand held him back. No, Fili! Don't go up yet. I'll go and check on your mum and Kili, and you can come up when your father or I come to get you. Now, finish that braid, before it comes out!" Fili pinched the end of his braid.
"Pleeeease can I come, uncle?" he asked, looking up at Thorin.
"In a moment, Fili. Just a little while longer."
As the figure of his uncle disappeared out the door and up the stairs, Fili wandered back over to the fire to finish his braid. Only a few bits of hair remained un-braided now, and he decided he'd done enough braiding practice for one day. He slipped the helmet back on his head. A little milk still remained at the bottom of his mug, so he lifted it up and finished it, before tramping to the kitchen and pushing the mug on the tabletop above his head. The helmet began to slip down his head again. Had it me a little while yet? His daddy wasn't here, and neither was Thorin, but why wasn't he allowed to go see Kili? He shoved the helmet back up is head and began his dash to his parent's bedroom.
The door burst open and a small figure came flying into the room colliding with the end of the bed, ending up on the floor.
"Fili!" Thorin cried. "Didn't I tell you to wait downstairs?"
"Sorry, uncle, I just really wanted to come see Kili! Where is he?"
"He's here," Thorin said in a low mutter, looking down at the tiny baby wrapped in green in his arms. "But now you must be quiet. He's sleeping." Fili scrambled up and dashed to the bed, where his uncle was sitting, pushing the helmet back up his head.
"Ooh!" Fili exclaimed at the sight of his little brother. "He's so small and hairless! May I headbut him?"
"Not yet, Fili," Thorin chuckled.
"Oh pleeeeeeeeease, uncle Thorin?"
"No Fili! He's only little – you might break his head!"
"What about holding him? Can I hold him?"
"Okay, Fili. Gently now. Come and sit on the bed. That's right. Now, cradle your arms. Careful. Support his head… that's right. There you are. Say hello to Kili."
Fili stared in wonder at the little green bundle in his arms. Kili snuffled gently, and curled into his brothers arms, sleeping with a soft smile on his lips. He had short brown hair covering the top of his head, and not a bristle on his chin. "Hello, Kili," Fili smiled down at his new brother. "Fili, at your service."