A/N: sorry about taking so long! Bear with me; I'm still trying to get used to the site and it's a bit confusing! Thanks for all the faves and follows n.n it means a lot, especially since this is the first time I've ever posted my writing online! Love to you all, and have some smut soon and maybe even some PWP thrown in if you squint hard enough ;) ~SS
Ella-whispers-what: I get the whole thing about Kili being a bit too overemotional in ch. 1 but dwarves are such passionate creatures and Kili's a bit of a crybaby anyway so I kinda just went with it :') whoops
THREE MONTHS LATER
A disheveled and unusually grumpy Fili stomped into the company's camp and sat down on a log. This was the second time he'd done it. He was losing focus! Normally such an excellent swordsman, Fili had started to falter, and such a lack of concentration was beginning to become dangerous, not only for himself but for his companions around him. In a sparring match with Bifur earlier that afternoon, he was easily disarmed and brought down, much to his surprise (as well as Bifur's!) and his ego had definitely been bruised at such a simple defeat. He sighed and downed a few pints of ale and stood back up, grabbing his weapons and heading off into the distance. If he kept this up, bad things would follow. His friends...his Kili, could die because of his carelessness!
Fili, such a stoic creature on most days, looked far from it. Crushing fallen twigs with his large boots, kicking aside any stones that got in his way, he finally came across a large clearing, and after checking the surrounding area for any danger or suspicious activity, he removed his outer layers and began to practice his battle formations.
Swish, swish, CLANG! The sound of his swords smacking against a dilapidated old maple tree echoed on a large boulder situated firmly on the ground nearby. Moving swiftly as a bobcat, he thrust and recoiled with perfect precision, his swords hitting exactly where he planned them to. Finally satisfied with his training and covered in a thin sheen of sweat, he placed his sword beside the large rock and sat back against it, the coolness of the stone causing his hair to stand on end for a moment.
After a few moments of rest to catch his breath, Fili stood up and gathered his things, getting ready to head back to camp to join the others for supper (or what the dwarves considered supper recently. Not even an Orc would want to eat the stew they've been relying on for the past few weeks.) It was in that moment Fili realised he did not recall which way he came from. The sun was beginning to set and he was running out of daylight. Certainly being lost in a strange forest wouldn't fare well for the Prince of Erebor, considering his uncle's fierce passion for honour and being on time! Fili sighed and thought hard about which way he had travelled from. He couldn't remember at all, and being under the influence of dwarven ale clouded his judgment.
He was lost.
After some time had passed since Fili's sudden departure, Thorin began to express concern. "Kili, go look for your brother," the older dwarf ordered. "it's getting dark, so find him quickly. The last thing we need is to find him ravaged by Orcs." Kili's eyes widened and he sped off into the woods, almost forgetting his bow. 'He'll be fine,'Kili thought to himself. 'Fili's more than capable of defending himself." Nonetheless, Kili quickened his pace.
Travelling deeper into the woods, Kili heard a faint rustling in a nearby cluster of bushes. Was it Fili? rustle, rustle. It could be. SQUEAL! Nope, that was definitely not Fili. Kili ran as far and fast as his boots could take him, a wild boar nipping at his heels and clearly looking to make a quick meal out of the dwarf. With tusks as sharp as eagles' claws, one wrong move could send Kili into the afterlife. Taking a sudden turn to the left and bracing himself, Kili let out one swift and on-target arrow which landed dead-centre in the Boar's skull.
"Heh," Kili chuckled triumphantly. "Looks like I know what we're having dinner tonight, eh?" he stared down at the boar and gulped.
He had forgotten about finding his brother.
"What the hell was that?!" Fili muttered, stepping toward the screeching sounds, only to find his brother pulling an arrow from a large red-skinned boar.
"Oh! There you are!" Kili exclaimed. "Thorin sent me looking for you. It'll be dark soon; let's head back to camp."
Fili thought for a moment before replying, "no."
Kili blinked. "What are you talking about? We need to get back and get some rest before daybreak. You're being silly! Let's go, c'mon, help me with this boar!"
Fili crossed his arms and smiled, walking up to Kili tentatively. "I. said. no." he whispered, sending shivers down Kili's spine.
"B-but..." Kili protested, not sure where this was going. Or rather, he knew damn well what Fili wanted, but... "H-here? Now?"
Fili shrugged. "Do you really think Thorin would approve of us being together, Kee? Really? The heirs of Durin? He wants the line to continue, and with this, it can't happen. Why do you think Balin and Bofur are the only ones who know about us?"
Kili laughed. "Bofur had no choice in the matter, if you recall, brother," recalling the time Bofur walked in on the two kissing by the campfire when they thought everyone had fallen asleep. "But he doesn't mind, as long as we keep to ourselves."
Fili smirked. "I want to keep you for myself..." he said huskily, moving a lock of Kili's hair and tucking it behind his brother's large ear. "Forever and always."
Kili blushed. "You'll always have me, you know this. But, I really do think we should be getting back soon, you know."
"All right then, another time." Fili muttered and began to drag the boar back to camp, the alcohol wearing off and his sense of direction slowly returning. Not a moment later he was stopped by Kili's frame in front of him, his head cocked to one side in a devious smirk.
"I said soon, brother, not now," Kili purred, grabbing his brother's hand and pulling him away from the bloody mess of the boar.
