Disclaimer: The Hobbit belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson and Company.

Special thanks to thenerdist2000 for the pep talk and kind words. They were sorely needed.

My Sister's Keeper

Chapter 9

Ehren shoved Thorin backwards, his usually happy, smiling face creased in an angry snarl. "I lost my life because of you."

The dirt was hard beneath Thorin's back as he sprawled backwards. Dust filled his lungs and coated his tongue as he looked up at his brother-in-law. The man's blonde hair was a wild mane around his face and his brown eyes flashed angrily.

"Not only have you taken my life, but now my sons will look to you as their father. The youngest will only know you as a father, Thorin." He shoved the tip of his sword against Thorin's neck, and the dwarf king could feel the sting of the metal against his skin.

"You took them from me," Ehren growled. "You took everything. You're selfish. You're a failure. You don't deserve them. Not your sister, not my children, none of them, Thorin! It's all your fault. Look at the suffering you have brought to them. They'd be better off without you."

"No!" Thorin protested, attempting to rise. Ehren's sword kept him from moving.

"It is true; don't bother to deny it," Ehren shouted, his face red in fury. Spittle flew from his lips and sprayed over Thorin's face. "You bring them down, remind them of who they've lost and what they've lost."

"No!" Thorin protested once again. He felt Ehren's blade pierce his skin and a grunt of pain escaped his lips.

Suddenly Dis was at Ehren's side, her lips curled in anger. "You took my husband from me, brother," she shouted. "My children no longer have a father, and you are not worthy to stand in his place. Leave us! You don't deserve our family."

"Sister, no!" Thorin argued, his heart being ripped asunder in his chest. He watched as Fili clung to his mother's skirt with tears streaming down his cheeks and a dark-haired squalling baby was perched on Dis' hip.

"Thorin!"

The dwarf king was aware of cool hands brushing against his face. He opened his eyes and blinked in the lantern light that flooded his room. His sister's house. He was here with Dis and Fili. His sister's worried gaze studied his face.

"Thorin, are you okay?" she asked anxiously. "You were screaming."

"I'm sorry, sister," he apologized, his voice rough and his throat dry. "I am sorry for waking you. You need your rest." Thorin sagged back weakly against his pillow and grimaced at the damp, sticky sweat that clung to his body.

She shrugged off his concern. "I will be fine." Dis cupped his sweaty cheek and sat on the edge of the bed. "That must have been some dream. Would you like to talk about it?"

"No, I'll be fine. Go back to bed," he ordered sternly.

She rested her hands over the mound that was her rapidly growing baby. "You have seen to it that I've rested plenty over the past several months, Thorin. Sitting up a few minutes with you isn't going to hurt me or the babe."

The dwarf king sighed. "Really, sister, I will be fine. Go back to bed." He sat up and leaned forward to place a kiss on her cheek. "I'm going to make myself a cup of tea."

Dis gnawed her lower lip as she studied her brother's face. She was the one person who'd always been able to read Thorin like an open book. Whatever this nightmare was about, it had really upset him. "Please just call me if you need me," she told him, reaching out to squeeze his hand.

Thorin slid to the edge of the bed and stood, offering his sister a hand. She took it and he tugged her gently to her feet. "Come, I'll see you back to bed."

"I'm fine, Thorin," she argued. "Go make your tea."

"I will make my tea – after I see you to bed," he retorted firmly.

Dis bit back a sigh and let him lead her to bed and even tuck her snuggly beneath the covers.

"I'm fine," he promised. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Remember, it's Fili's fifth birthday," she yawned.

The dwarf king nodded. "He hasn't let me forget." A hint of a smile curved his lips in the dim light of the lantern in his sister's room. "I hope he likes his gift."

"He will like anything that comes from you because it's from Uncle," Dis smiled, shifting to find a comfortable position. The baby's bulk was making it difficult to sleep in her usual position these days.

The dream still repeating itself in his mind, Thorin only grunted and rose. "I'll see you in the morning, Dis."

"G'night, Thorin," she said sleepily as she closed her eyes.

Thorin shuffled into the kitchen and made his cup of tea. He sat at the table and let the quiet of the house press in against him as he relived each moment of his dream. Dis didn't seem to blame him for anything and neither did Fili, but he knew it was his fault. If only they'd been there that day, if only they had seen what truly happened….

"Come, Fili, put on your boots!" Dis snuck a glance in the looking glass and smoothed her hair and her beard as she waited for her son. She heard the thunder of his little feet as he ran down the hall and then he stood before her. His pants were sagging, his boots were on the wrong feet, and his hair was standing on end. Dis bit back a smile. "Fili," she sighed, "whatever happened, love?"

The five-year-old scowled. "My belt is too tight; it doesn't fit anymore. My pants won't stay up."

"Let me see," she sighed, glad for the gift that Thorin had made for Fili. The child would receive it tonight after dinner. It took a bit of finagling, but Dis finally got her son's belt to buckle. Fili grunted as she tugged, but his grunts soon turned to giggles when Dis began to tickle his tummy. "My growing birthday boy, are you ready to go see Mr. Bofur and choose a toy?"

"Yes, Mother," he giggled as he tried to squirm out of her grasp.

"Then let me brush and braid your hair. People with think I have a ragamuffin with me instead of a prince." She gave him a gentle push toward his room. "Go get your comb."

Dis pushed to her feet a bit breathlessly. The bulk of the baby pushed against her diaphragm, sometimes making it hard to draw a deep breath.

Fili scurried back into the room, his comb held triumphantly over his head. "Here it is, Mother. Hurry up and braid my hair so we can go see Mr. Bofur."

"Patience, Fili," she sighed, sinking into a chair at the kitchen table. This pregnancy had sapped her strength whether or not she wanted to admit it to Thorin. She took the comb and turned the boy around so she could attack the tangles in the back of his hair. It didn't take her long to comb through the snarls. Quickly, she rebraided his hair with deft fingers and then gave him a swift hug.

"There, my fine boy, we are ready to go as soon as you put this away and get your boots on the correct feet." She handed him the comb and he scurried to return it to the bedroom. She heard him fumbling with his boots for a few moments. Then he rejoined her and they set off for their visit to the toy shop.

Fili clutched his mother's hand tightly. He hadn't had a new toy in ever so long. He scrunched up his face in thought. Da had taken him to see Mr. Bofur before he left for the battle. That seemed a very long time ago. Suddenly, Fili missed Da so much he could hardly stand it. His steps slowed and two big, fat tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Fili, love, what is it?" Dis asked, worried. The boy had been so happy as they left the house.

"I miss Da," he hiccupped.

Dis sighed. "So do I, my sweet boy, but he would want you to be happy today. It is your special day. You are five years old now." She wiped her son's tears away with a handkerchief she fished out the pocket on her skirt.

Fili managed to nod and finished wiping away his tears with his sleeve. "I'm okay now, Mother. Let's go see Mr. Bofur." He tamped the hurt of missing his father way down deep inside. He didn't want to disappoint his mother. He needed to be strong for her, at least when Uncle Thorin wasn't around to take care of her. He slipped his hand back into hers and they continued to the toy shop.

"Ah, young Fili," Bofur grinned as they entered, "it's good to see you today! You as well, Lady Dis."

"Hi, Mr. Bofur," Fili chirped, sounding nearly like his usual self. Only his slightly puffy eyes gave evidence to his short bout of tears.

"Hello, Bofur," Dis smiled. "Today is Fili's birthday."

"Ah, happy birthday, lad!" Bofur cried happily. "I have plenty of new toys for you to look at."

Fili's eyes brightened with excitement as he took in the shelves covered in brightly decorated toys. "Can we look at them, Mother?" he asked, tugging on Dis' hand.

"Certainly, Fili." She led him over to the shelves and watched with amusement as he took his time perusing each toy. He knew it would be a long time before they could afford another toy, so he took his time making his choice.

As they shopped, other customers moved in and out of the small store. One, a boy about Fili's age, coughed continually into his hand, a deep, bone-shaking cough. Dis eyed the boy warily and was glad when he and his mother left the toy shop. She didn't need Fili getting sick. She was so exhausted right now; she couldn't deal with a sick little boy.

"Mother, may I have that one?" Fili finally asked, pointing to a set of dwarf warriors in a carved wooden box.

Dis ruffled her son's hair affectionately. "Of course you may, Fili." She wished she could afford to give him so much more.

"And here you are, laddie," Bofur smiled. "I think you might like this one; I made it with you in mind. It's a birthday gift from me." He handed the small boy a carved wooden dwarf brandishing a shield make of an oaken branch.

Fili grinned, delighted. "It's Uncle. Look, Mother!" He held it up proudly for Dis to see.

She chuckled. "Wait until you show him, Fili."

"Thank you, Mr. Bofur!" Fili shouted, jumping up and down as he clutched the Thorin figure to his chest.

"And we will take the box of dwarf warriors, Bofur," Dis informed the toy maker as she handed him several coins.

"Thank you, milady," he smiled. "And a happy birthday to you, laddie."

"Thanks, Mr. Bofur!" Fili held tightly to his box of warriors and his Thorin figure as Dis led the way home.

Thorin was waiting for them, freshly washed after a hard day at the forge. Fili ran right to his uncle, laughing as the dwarf king scooped him into his arms. "Let me look at you, Fili. I think you've grown a full inch now that you're five-years-old."

The child giggled and leaned his forehead against Thorin's cheek. "Look what Mr. Bofur gave me, Uncle. It's you!" He held out the carved figurine for his uncle to see.

Thorin made a funny choking sound as his cheeks flushed red.

"Are you okay, Uncle?" Fili asked in concern.

Dis laughed. "He's fine, Fili, just embarrassed. Now let's go inside and get dinner started. The baby and I are hungry."

Fili sat at the table and played with his new dwarf warriors and his Uncle Thorin figurine while his mother and Thorin made dinner. It was a special dinner, with some of Fili's favorite dishes. The delicious smells soon filled the small house causing every ones' tummies to rumble hungrily. Finally, Fili put down his toys and moved to his mother's side, tugging on her skirt. "Is it almost time to eat? I'm hungry."

"Yes, it's almost ready," she smiled. "Go clean your toys off of the table."

Fili did as he was told and Thorin set the table. Then he dished up a plate for each of them as Dis sank into her chair with a sigh. It had been a long day. Her feet felt tight in her shoes. She knew they were swelling; the same thing had happened when she was pregnant with Fili.

Dinner was a merry occasion. Thorin and Dis kept up a conversation about birthdays they had celebrated as children, and Fili peppered them with questions. Then they had eaten the dessert Dis had made in honor of her son's special day.

"Time for your bath, Fili," Dis had finally announced.

"Not yet," Thorin interrupted. "The boy still has one more present." He held out his arms, and Fili grinned, running around the table to climb into his uncle's lap. Thorin hugged him close and then produced a gift he had hidden beneath his chair. It was wrapped in plain brown fabric left over from an old work shirt Dis had sewn long ago.

"What is it?" Fili asked excitedly.

"Open it and find out," Thorin laughed.

Dis couldn't help the smile that bloomed on her face. Her brother was always happiest when he was with Fili. His nephew seemed to be one of the few things in life that could still bring Thorin joy.

Fili unwrapped the cloth and gasped at the sight of a new leather belt, the buckle carefully made just for him and intricately detailed. "Oh, Uncle," he breathed, "Thank you!"

"You are very welcome, Fili," Thorin grinned, hugging the child against his chest.

"Now you won't have to help me, Mother," the boy cried. "This one will fit me just right; I know it will!" He squirmed until Thorin put him down and then he quickly replaced his old belt with the new one, delighted at how well it fit.

"And now, Fili, you must have your bath. It's long past your bedtime." Dis' tone brooked no argument.

"Yes, Mother," the child sighed, hating for this wonderful day to end.

Dis tried to push to her feet, and her lower back cramped painfully.

Thorin noticed her grimace. "I'll help Fili with his bath tonight, Dis. You go on to bed. It's been a long day. I'll clean up the kitchen after Fili's bath." He knew just how exhausted his sister was when she kissed Fili goodnight and went to bed without any argument. He was worried about her; she continually pushed herself too hard.

It didn't take long for Thorin to help Fili out of his clothes and into the metal tub. The boy splashed and played before scrubbing himself all over. Thorin washed his back and then helped him with his hair. He had just slipped the boy's nightshirt over his head when Fili sneezed a great sneeze.

Thorin frowned. "Let me brush your hair and then we'll get you tucked into bed."

Fili nodded and allowed Thorin to brush the snarls out of his blonde locks. "I have a headache, Uncle," he complained as Thorin led him to the bedroom and settled him beneath the blankets of his bed.

"I'll brew some tea that will make you feel better," Thorin told him as he tucked the blankets under his chin. He placed a hand on Fili's forehead, but the child didn't feel warm.

It only took Thorin a few minutes to brew the tea. He carried it to Fili's room and let it cool a bit before he helped the child drink it.

"There now," Thorin soothed as he put the mug aside and snuggled Fili under the covers once again. He pressed a kiss to the boy's forehead. "Sleep tight and call me if you need me during the night."

"Thank you, Uncle. I love you."

"I love you, too, Fili," Thorin smiled, as he brushed a gentle hand over the boy's blonde hair. "I'll see you in the morning."

Thorin cleaned up the kitchen and went to bed. The house was quiet without Dis' company. He fell asleep nearly as soon as his head hit the pillow.

He had no idea how long he slept, but something woke him in the pitch dark of the middle of the night. Thorin rolled onto his back and listened, trying to discern what had awakened him. Then a deep, rattling cough rent the air. Fili. Thorin pushed to his feet and hurried to his nephew's room.

To Be Continued…