Staring at the cover on the well, Thorin knew he had no other choice. There had been too many early spring cold snaps and they had shattered the metal latches on the cover. It would normally be a simple fix, but the wood hadn't fared much better in the cold. The whole thing needed to be replaced immediately.
Childish giggles sounded behind him and he turned to see Fíli chasing his brother across the grass. Kíli's little limbs were pumping as fast as he could, but the older dwarf was gaining on him. A short squeal was all that preceded the tackle that sent both dwarf tots tumbling to the ground. As soon as more giggles came, Thorin knew they were both fine.
Looking back at the well, it was obvious he needed to fix it now. His nephews had the extremely bad habit of winding up where they shouldn't be and it was only a matter of time before one of them discovered the well was unlocked. To make matters worse, Dís had had a nightmare about them getting stuck at the bottom. It had been a long time since he had seen his sister that distraught and he had promised to look at it right away.
He hadn't expected it to be this bad though.
Something tugged at his trousers and a glance showed Kíli standing beside him. The dwarfling gave him a sweet smile and held out his hands. "Not right now, Kíli," he said gently. If he picked the boy up, he wouldn't get anything else done out here.
His lower lip pushed out and he held his hands a little higher, his fingers curling in a grasping motion
Looking across the grass, he saw Fíli was playing with his wooden swords and that explained why Kíli wasn't with him. Despite warnings both uncle and mother, the tot had tried to play with Fíli when he had been 'practicing'. It had only taken Fíli accidently hitting Kíli once for it to really sink in. Since then, the younger brother sat a safe distance away and watched the lessons.
"Unka!" Kíli pleaded, his eyes getting teary.
They were supposed to be teaching his younger nephew he couldn't always get what he wanted with tears and pouts. But it was nearly impossible to do because he was only six and already too good at it.
"Only for a little bit," Thorin conceded, scoping the boy up.
Kíli giggled and buried his face in Thorin's hair.
Sitting on the edge of the well, he watched Fíli hack at the air. He hadn't given his nephew many lessons and even those were mostly on stance and how to hold his swords. For now it was okay to let him flail madly. It got him used to holding them. But he had to shake his head at Fíli's exuberance. The boy had more energy than was natural.
"Appa?" Kíli asked suddenly.
Thorin frowned. Kíli's habit of falling into baby talk when he wanted something made it difficult to understand what he actually wanted. "I don't know what an 'appa' is," he said patiently.
The boy stood on Thorin's thighs and pointed at a tree. "Appa?"
Following the small finger, he shook his head. "The apples aren't ready yet." The fruit from that tree was never really ready. They were always small, hard and ridiculously tart. It was like some of the dwarven bitterness had bled into the fruit and served as a reminder that this wasn't their true home. Thorin had enough reminders as it was and didn't like the apples at all.
Kíli pouted but was quickly distracted by a new voice.
"What fell beast are you slaying today, laddie?"
Both boys squealed and rushed Balin, abandoning both swords and uncle, as he stepped around the house. "Granpa Balin!"
Thorin's lips twitched at the title. He didn't know when they had decided to call Balin that, but he knew why. The dwarf lord was the closest thing they had to a grandfather since their real ones were no longer walking Middle Earth. Balin was often at the house to discuss matters with Thorin and was nearly as much of a constant in their lives as their mother and uncle. Both boys would cling to his legs until Balin gave in and told them a story. Some grand dwarven adventure that had them starry eyed for hours afterwards. Once the boys were a little older, Balin would be the one that would help Dís teach them everything they would need to know about being heirs of Durin and of being respectable members of the dwarven community.
Thorin also suspected that since neither Balin nor his brother had children of their own, he welcomed the title and saw them as close family rather than the distant ones they really were.
"Let me talk to your uncle for a moment and then we'll see about a story," Balin told them as they practically danced around him.
Two pairs of bright eyes looked at Thorin as if he was in the way of their story when he hadn't moved or said anything.
"Just a few minutes, laddies. Promise."
"Okay," Fíli agreed, scuffing his boot while Kíli pouted.
"What is it, Balin?" Thorin asked as he patted the boys' heads and headed over to him.
"A new caravan arrived earlier today and some of them are looking to settle here."
A small sigh left Thorin. Even now, dwarves from Erebor were still trying to rebuild their lives. "Find out how many and who can house them until accommodations can be built."
"Of course." Balin paused as a shriek left one of the boys followed by giggles. "Did Dís leave you in charge of them today?"
"I'm supposed to be rebuilding the well cover and they came out after. She's probably making lunch and doesn't want to deal with them."
Balin chuckled. "Aye, they are a handful, but most dwarven boys are."
Thorin snorted. "Not like them."
Another chuckle. "What's wrong with the well?"
Looking over at the boys, Thorin saw they were investigating something near the fence. Standing, he showed Balin the damage winter had done.
"Shame," he murmured. "Rebuilding the whole thing is going to take a bit and with the lads…."
He didn't have time to spare. The days were growing longer and warmer which meant the boys wanted to be outside. The garden behind the house was fenced to keep them contained, but the well was a problem. If it had been dry, it wouldn't have been as big of a rush, but the water at the bottom was a serious issue. A dwarf child would survive a tumble down, but they were not built for swimming and would drown.
Thorin shuddered at the cold feeling of that thought. No. He would keep them safe even from this simple harm.
"Bofur came with the caravan," Balin said suddenly. "I'll see if I can find him to help."
That would make things easier. The toy-maker was incredibly skilled at crafting and would be able to quickly fashion hinges and latches to get the well properly locked up again. He might even have something made already that would work. "Do it."
Balin nodded. "I'll come back with him and keep the lads entertained while you finish up."
Proof again that Balin really didn't mind being called 'granpa' by them. But speaking of lads, they had grown too quiet. As Balin left, Thorin looked over to where he had last seen the boys and a bad feeling gripped him. Kíli was nowhere in sight. But his brother was standing at the base of the apple tree and looking up into the branches with wide eyes. The bad feeling turned to dread and made his voice louder than he had wanted it to be as he snapped, "Where's your brother?!"
Fíli jumped in fright, big eyes looking at him, and he heard a squeak come from the tree.
Thorin's heart hit his stomach when too much rustling came from the tree and he bolted towards it.
"Kíli!"
Fíli's panicked cry confirmed his fears and he barely made it as a limp shape tumbled out of the branches. Catching his nephew, Thorin was torn between anger and concern as the tot didn't stir. "I can't take my eyes off of you for a second," he whispered, turning Kíli over so he could see his face.
"Kíli!"
"Go inside, Fíli," Thorin told the distraught boy, checking his brother over. "He'll be okay. Go inside."
Teary blue eyes stared at him and Thorin saw so much in his gaze. Fear for his brother, hope that his uncle would be able to fix everything and something else under it all. Guilt. "Uncle Thorin?"
Running his hand over Fíli's hair, he said, "Go inside and find your mother. I'll be right there with your brother."
Fíli glanced at his unconscious brother hesitantly, but he ran to the house when Kíli didn't stir.
Thorin gently cradled the boy to him, looking him over before he took him inside. His heart was beating strongly under Thorin's palm and he was breathing fine. The only mark on him was a red welt on his forehead that suggested he had hit his head on the way down. "You're going to kill me before my time, Kíli," he murmured, moving toward the house.
Dís was in the door when he got there, her own blue eyes dark with concern. "Fíli said he was dying."
Looking at the boy who was clutching his mother's skirt in fright, Thorin sighed. "He fell out of the tree and hit his head," he corrected.
"What was he doing in the tree?" she asked, fussing over her youngest but not taking him from Thorin.
"Probably trying to get an apple."
She frowned. "They aren't even ripe!"
"He's six, Dís. I don't think he cares."
Clucking her tongue, she looked down at Fíli. "You go up with your uncle," she told him gently. "I'll bring some ice in a few minutes."
Fíli nodded shyly and slowly let go of her skirts.
Thorin met his sister's gaze and knew she expected him to have a talk with his nephew. Clearly she had seen the same thing in his eyes that Thorin had. Carrying Kíli to the room he shared with his brother, he heard Fíli's soft steps behind him. He considered the room for a moment before moving to Fíli's bed to tuck his nephew in.
"Uncle Thorin?" Fíli asked in a small voice.
He sat in the chair beside the bed and looked over. The boy was still in the doorway, twisting his fingers together. "Come here, Fíli," he said quietly.
The dwarfling didn't look up as he crossed the stone floor.
"You knew what your brother was doing was wrong, didn't you?"
Fíli nodded.
"But you didn't stop him."
Fíli sniffed softly. "My fault, Uncle?"
Reaching down, he lifted his nephew's chin and took in how miserable he looked. "No, Fíli," Thorin said gently. "It isn't your fault."
"But he got hurt!"
Because I startled you both. "Yes, he did because he's young and curious and doesn't know better. As his older brother, you have to teach him."
"He doesn't listen!" Fíli insisted, his blue eyes frustrated.
"Not always," Thorin agreed, "but he does listen to you. Because you're his older brother."
Fíli glanced at the bed and his lower lip quivered.
"Being an older brother is hard, especially when you have a younger brother who charges in without thinking. It's also hard because sometimes you have to say no to them and stick by it."
Horrified eyes turned back to him. "Can't say no to Kíli! He won't let me!"
"You have to," Thorin said firmly, "or he'll keep getting hurt like this."
Little blond brows drew together as Fíli absorbed that. "I have to keep him safe?"
"Yes. Sometimes it will be difficult, nearly impossible because Kíli is as stubborn as any adult dwarf, but you have one advantage over him." Thorin paused to ensure he had Fíli's full attention. "He loves you."
"I love him too!"
Thorin smiled at the quick cry and picked Fíli up to settle in his lap. "And that is your advantage. Kíli will always love you and look up to you, even if you say no to him. He will pout and cry and try to change your mind. He might even say he hates you."
Fíli gasped, horror back on his face.
"The first time he says it, it will hurt and be hard to remember you're doing it to help him. But you have to always remember that he does love you. He will always love you."
Fíli chewed on his lips and squirmed slightly. "Hard, Uncle," he mumbled.
"I know, Fíli. Believe me, I know." Frerin hadn't been as bad as Kíli, but his little brother had gotten them into their fair share of trouble. And Thrain had given him this same talk the first time Frerin had gotten hurt because Thorin hadn't stopped him. "But you have to do it."
"Because I love him and I'm big brother."
"Yes."
"Uncle help?" he asked, looking up with big, pleading eyes.
"Yes, Fíli, but when you're older, you won't need help."
The boy looked at his brother and the serious expression on his face nearly made Thorin laugh.
"It doesn't mean you have to say no all the time, Fíli," he clarified. "You can still play and have fun, but you need to think about what you're doing. If you think one of you is going to get hurt or in trouble, you have to say no."
"I try, Uncle," Fíli promised. "I try hard and keep Kíli safe."
And I'll do my part to keep you both safe, Thorin promised silently. "Good," he said, kissing the top of Fíli's head.
"Owie!"
They both looked at the bed at Kíli's whimper and saw him pressing his hands to his head. "Kíli!" Fíli cried.
Thorin kept Fíli from leaping on his brother. "Easy, Fíli," he said quietly. "He's hurt remember?"
"Fiwi?" Kíli mumbled, blinking dazedly.
"Right here," Fíli said quickly, carefully crawling onto the bed beside him. "Right here."
Watching as Fíli patted his brother's chest, Thorin felt his own ache. He had had a different relationship with Frerin than these two had, but when they had been young they had gotten into similar trouble. The fact that Frerin had been killed well before his time weighed on Thorin every day since it had happened. His brother should have been here, should have been helping with Dís' sons. Fíli and Kíli should have known their other uncle, should have known a lot of their family that they didn't.
"Fiwi, owie," Kíli pouted, pointing at his head.
"I know. No more climbing trees, Kíli. Not 'til we're bigger."
"But appas!"
"Will fall when they're ready. Or uncle will get them for us," Fíli said, looking at Thorin with a smile.
Kíli's dark eyes looked over shyly and he blushed as he met Thorin's gaze.
"I told you the apples weren't ready yet," he said quietly.
"I know…."
"I wasn't trying to be mean, Kíli. They aren't ready to be eaten."
"I sowwy, Unka," he whispered, his voice teary.
Moving to sit on the bed, Thorin gently placed his hand on Kíli's chest, over Fíli's. "I know you are and I'm sorry I startled you, but you scared me," he said honestly.
Two pairs of big eyes stared at him. "Uncle gets scared?" Fíli whispered.
"Yes, I can get scared," he admitted. "And nothing scares me more than you two getting hurt when you shouldn't be."
"We be careful, Uncle," Fíli promised. "We won't scare you."
Yes, they would. They were dwarfling males who were curious about the world and had all the confidence that came naturally to those of Durin's line. But he would make sure that they were well equipped to survive the world.
Hearing Dís come into the room, Thorin pulled away to allow her to come to the bed. When she touched his arm, he glanced at her.
"Balin and Bofur are here," she said quietly.
He nodded and left the room. He would fix the well so his sister-sons would be safe. He owed Dís, and the family that was no longer here, that much and he would see them always safe. No matter the cost.
A/N: I'm so sorry I left this for so long! I had another story that consumed my attention, but to make up for it I tried to write a longer chapter for you all! I hope you liked it and thank you, thank you to every one of you that has read, reviewed, followed, favourited and all that jazz! I love you and love hearing from you! Hopefully it won't take me too long to get the next chapter up because I've already got an idea for it!