Kili felt like he had just closed his eyes, when it was time to get up to take over watch. He had spent the entire night trying to figure out what to talk to his brother about and had come up with absolutely nothing.

Granted he knew what he wanted to talk about. But that subject was closed for discussion. Kili couldn't imagine his shame and embarrassment if Fili ever found out about his very unbrotherly love. The picture he was given the day prior was bad enough. Bad enough that someone else in the company had noticed how much he depended on his brother for everything.

Well, maybe not everything. He could do some things on his own. Like archery. He could do that by himself just fine. And… um… other stuff. Plenty of other stuff. Like… Um…

Damnit.

Ok. So he was attached to his brother. But that was ok. He could be attached to his brother and still maintain his silence. It wasn't impossible. Just hard.

With that in mind, Kili turned to look at his brother. Fili was still sleeping, but his face looked so peaceful. Finally devoid of the cares that weighed on him ever since Thorin had named him heir. Kili watched as his brother's face scrunched as if he were thinking very hard about something. So he took his finger and gently traced away the frown lines.

What could his brother dream about that would cause him such concern? Kili knew that the dreams he remembered were all of Fili. How his brother looked, the games they played together.

Kili drew away, and gathered his courage. "Fili," he said, as he shook his brothers shoulder. "Time for our watch. I'll meet you there."

When Kili saw his brother's eyes flutter, he pulled himself out of his bedroll and away from his brother.


Fili did not want to open his eyes. He had spent the whole night dreaming about the coming watch with his brother. He had tossed and turned until he finally given up and stared at the dark curly hair in front of him. It always looked so soft and so perfect no matter what shenanigans his brother got up to.

Fili had comforted himself and slipped his fingers into his brother's hair. Soft, silky, slightly tangled, but soothing. His brother's presence always soothed him no matter what.

Which made his brother's rapid departure to attend to the watch and subsequent absence weigh on him. He truly was alone without his brother by his side. He could talk to his brother about anything. Could share anything with him.

And didn't that just take the cake. The one thing that he really wanted to share with Kili was the one thing that might drive him away. Maybe that was the point.

Maybe it would be better to share it and let the cards fall where they may? Wouldn't it be better to share his thoughts and feelings with his brother no matter what? What if him withholding it was causing them to drift apart too far? Maybe getting is off his chest would help him to bury it. Maybe Kili would be able to ignore it and they could stay close like they always have.

Besides, Kili had looked just as depressed for the past few days as he had felt. Fili could feel his brother's dark eyes burning into his back. Feel how Kili had snuggled into his body heat when the wind picked up.

Maybe…

Thorin said that Kili didn't like being separated either. And there were the stares that the entire company kept giving them. Including Bilbo, and he had just joined them. The rest of the dwarves had known them since birth. They obviously knew something that him and his brother didn't.

Then there was the matter of the drawings. Who drew the damn things? Thinking back, Fili was sure that Kili had been holding a drawing. The same drawing? A different one?

The mystery was going to drive him spare.

Fili sighed. He had best join Kili for the watch before he tattled to Thorin that the supposed responsible heir to the throne slept in and neglected his duties.

When he finally dragged his body into the clearing, he found his brother facing away from the camp staring at a boulder. After minutes with no movement, and no acknowledgement of his presence, Fili chuckled.

"I don't think it does tricks brother."

Fili caught the look of panic on Kili's face just before he looked at what held his brother enthralled.

Another picture. This one showing the two of them kissing. Which had never happened. But Fili had to admit, it sure looked good.

"Did you…" Both brothers began and then stopped.

Fili swallowed hard and gathered his courage. "There's something I've been meaning to speak to you about brother."