Seven: Fever
Prompt: First cold/flu.
OP: shinyadoll (Who has been sick herself, poor darling!)
…
Even as a child, Kíli is not a morning person. While his responsible older brother wakes on time and goes about his business, Kíli burrows back underneath the blankets and has to be awakened several times before he makes his way out of bed. He pouts and mutters and throws puppy dog eyes at anyone who tries to rouse him, proving to be a completely insufferable child. This is why the task of waking the young dwarf always falls to Fíli. The older boy always seems to know when to coddle or when to threaten, and inevitably both brothers arrive at breakfast with smiles on their faces.
"Where is your brother?" Dís asks when Fíli enters the kitchen alone.
"I couldn't get Kíli to wake up, mother." His brow furrows slightly. "I think somethings wrong."
"Wrong?" Dís raises a brow, knowing her oldest son is not prone to exaggeration. "What do you mean?"
Fíli frowns. "He wouldn't get up. He just sort of laid there. And his skin is all hot."
Dís moves at once towards the bedroom her boys share, Fíli close at her heels.
"Kíli?" She pokes lightly at the tiny child bundled up under the blankets. "Are you feeling well?"
"No." Kíli's face peers out from the blankets, his cheeks unnaturally rosy.
"Mahal help us." Dís presses a hand his forehead. "You're burning up, my jewel."
Kíli makes a soft mewling sound and burrows deeper under the covers.
"My poor little one." She tucks the blankets tighter around her youngest son.
"Is he going to be alright?" Fíli whispers to his mother, casting a worried look at his baby brother.
"Kíli needs a tonic to help bring the fever down." Dís sighs. "I'll need to run to town to purchase one, but I hate to leave him alone."
Fíli stands up straighter. "Kíli is never alone- he has me!"
"Then you must make sure he rests. I won't be gone long." She offers her eldest a small smile. "Keep him covered up, and try to get him to drink some water."
"I will, mother." He vows, looking so serious and sure that Dís cannot help give him a proud hug before rushing off to town.
…
"My throat hurts, Fee." Kíli rasps, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You need to drink some water." Fíli helps his brother into a sitting position and holds the mug to his lips. "Drink, Kíli..." The younger boy sips at the water, wincing as it coats his raw throat.
Kíli whimpers, sinking back down onto the mattress. "Cold."
Fíli climbs onto the bed, tucking himself next to his brother. "We'll get you warmed up.
"I'm sick." Kíli pouts, his eyes glossy.
"I know, brother." He puts his arm around the younger dwarf, pulling him close. "I'm sorry you don't feel well."
Kíli makes a distraught noise and buries his face in his brother's neck.
"Shh..." Fíli brushes the damp hair back from his brother's forehead. "It's alright. I'm here."
"Hurts, Fee." His face is flushed with fever.
"I know it does." Fíli wraps both arms around his brother, feeling the younger boy shiver. "I promise you'll get better soon."
Kíli nods, trusting his brother. "Good."
"Yes, good." Fíli smiles softly, pressing his cool forehead against his brother's feverish one.
"Story, Fee?" His voice sounds raw and scratchy. "Please?"
"Of course, brother." Thinking for a moment, Fíli begins his tale. "Long ago, when Arda was new, fourteen Valar came into the world to save it from the darkness. They forged the world with plants and music and light, making it ready for the Children of Ilúvatar."
"Elves and men." Kíli whispers, his eyelashes beginning to droop.
"Yes, elves and men." Fíli grins as his brother's hand reaches up to tangle in his braids. "Mahal knew another race was needed so he created the dwarves, and Ilúvatar gave us life."
By the time the story gets to the dwarves waking on Arda, Kíli is fast asleep, his small chest rising and falling in short even breaths. Fíli cradles him close, feeling the warmth of his brother's feverish skin through his shirt. When Dís returns from town with the tonic, both boys are snoring lightly and Kíli's fever has broken. She rouses him to take a dose of medicine, but then leaves him to rest and his brother ministrations.
The next morning, both boys trudge in to the kitchen for breakfast, looking a little worn out, but wearing matching smiles on their faces.
...
This prompt actually spawned two drabbles. The second baby-dwarf-sick-fic will come in a few chapters. Please let me know what you thought of this one! :)
And leave any prompts you have in the comments section- I've got 13 chapters worth right now, but after that... *shrugs*
