You are awesowe! Thanks a lot everyone my dear reviewers! Time for some Durin feels ;)

Oh and I guess there'll be at least 6 chapters after all... oops. So much for the three-shot.

4: Hoping

The flight seemed endless to Fíli. On any other day he would have enjoyed the amazing scenery laid out before him, the clear blue sky, the rays of sunlight, the vast landscape deep down below the mighty wings of the eagles. But now all he could see was his uncle hanging limply in the claws of the largest eagle, and his fear grew with every passing second.

Kíli was silent, and from time to time Fíli turned around to check whether his little brother was still holding on to the feathers. His eyes were closed, and Fíli felt worry gnawing at him whenever he looked at his pale face. They had been through too much lately, and he feared that the past events were finally taking their toll on the younger one. Fíli sighed quietly. More than once during their journey he'd been faced with the prospect of losing his brother, and they were still many miles away from Erebor. By the rate they were going, worry would have driven him mad by the time they'd finally reclaim their home.

He shook his head stubbornly. No, he wouldn't let fear get the best of him. He was strong, he was an heir of Durin, and he would not be weak.

The eagle shrieked, and Fíli realised then that he had clenched his fists.

"I'm sorry," he said, not knowing if the animal could even understand him. The huge bird didn't react, but in that moment began descending. Far below Fíli could make out a stony eyot, and it was that place that the eagles were obviously aiming for.

"Hey Kee," he called out softly, turning around to put a hand onto his brother's knee, "we're almost there."

Whatever "there" is.

Kíli opened his eyes, and he looked at Fíli in confusion.

"Already? I must have fallen asleep."

He grinned lopsidedly, but Fíli felt a pit in his stomach as he took in the thin sheen of sweat on Kíli's forehead. No matter how much he tried to play it down, his brother was most definitely not alright. But before he could comment on it, the eagle reached its destination and landed gracefully on the rocky surface. Fíli had expected a rather bumpy landing and was positively surprised, but Kíli's face twisted in pain nonetheless.

The second the eagle was standing on solid ground, Fíli climbed off his feathery mount. Kíli made to follow him, and Fíli reached out his hand to support him. Kíli shot him a glaring look.

"I'll manage."

"Don't be ridiculous," answered Fíli gruffly and took hold of Kíli's left arm, steadying him as he, too, dismounted the eagle. A quiet groan escaped his brother's lips as he landed on his feet, and Fíli eyed him worriedly.

"We should have Óin have a look at you."

Kíli nodded courtly, lips pressed to a thin line, and as Fíli followed his gaze his breath caught in his throat.

Thorin.

Gandalf was leaning over the dwarven leader, and when Fíli slowly approached them he could see the wizard covering his uncle's eyes with his hand. He was murmuring something under his breath, and Fíli didn't dare to breathe. Kíli was standing rigidly right next to him, his dark eyes never leaving their uncle.

Suddenly Thorin's eyelids fluttered open, and Fíli felt relief wash over him more intensely than ever before. He heard Kíli laugh shakily beside him, and he didn't hold him back when he rushed forwards to help Thorin get to his feet.

He's alive. We've made it.

His heart seemed many stones lighter, now that he saw his uncle walking slowly towards Bilbo and pulling him into a hug. Only now the realisation of what Thorin's death would have meant for him hit him with full force. It would have been up to him to lead the group to Erebor, he realised with a shock, the success of the quest would have depended on him.

And it would have all meant nothing compared to the loss of the one who had been like a father to him for so many years.

He took a shuddering breath.

"Are you alright, Fee?" he heard someone ask, and he flinched as he saw the concern on Kíli's face.

"Wha – yeah, I'm alright. And it should be me asking that question." He laid a hand onto Kíli's right arm, and inhaled sharply when he saw the fading print of a boot on the leather vembrace. Dark thoughts filled his mind at the memory of the nameless orc that had hurt his brother. The orc had acted on Azog's command, and by Mahal, the pale orc would pay for that. "Does it hurt much? You really ought to have Óin –"

"It's not broken, if that's what you mean," replied Kíli. "Stop fussing, brother." He said it with a smile, and Fíli chuckled.

"That's my job, nadadith."

Kíli opened his mouth as if to say something, but in that moment gasps and shouts erupted around them, and the brothers, having been oblivious to anything around them, turned around. Their view was blocked by the heads of the other dwarves, but when they stepped forwards the group parted. Thorin was standing on the edge of the rock, his silhouette tall and strong against the clear, blue sky, and Fíli thought his heart might burst with pride as he saw his uncle.

The true king of Erebor.

The black-haired dwarf faced them, and a smile was on his face that Fíli hadn't seen in a long time. In the distance he could make out the shape of a mountain, and although he had never seen it before, his heart filled with a kind of longing and happiness that brought tears to his eyes.

"Fee..."

"I know, Kee. I know."

They stood next to Thorin, and he put a hand onto each of their shoulder.

"Gandalf told me what you did, and I'm so proud of you," he said, and if Fíli hadn't known better he would have thought that Thorin's voice was quivering slightly. "And it won't be long until we're home."

His voice was confident, a promise that Fíli would hold on to. They would get to Erebor, they would fight the dragon and reclaim their lost homestead, and they would find peace.

A/N: This is slightly shorter than the previous chapters, but I promise the next one will be longer. ;)

nadadith = little brother (but I guess you knew that one already)