Disclaimer: The same as usual. Check the chapters before for further details. No disrespect is intended.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoy, and thanks to all those who gave me ideas. I promise I'll use them in the story. Appreciate it! This chapter is dedicated to 'C.D. Wofford', who gave me the idea for this chapter. I hope it goes in the correct direction ... not sure how this will turn out :) If you like Fili, Kili, and Legolas, a bit of Thorin, a bit of Thranduil, check out my new story called 'More Than Just Friends'. It's better than you think ... hopefully XD

Chapter Ten

Fili is 31 and Kili is 26

"Kili!"

Kili's head jerked up from the chair he was sitting at. Thorin looked fairly surprised as well, the frown that had been on his face disappearing. Kili was in trouble. He hadn't finished his homework that Balin had given him, and his tutor had told Thorin. Thorin had been ... seriously displeased. Kili shifted on his seat. Though his uncle had only given him a few warning swats, it still stung.

"Kili!"

Fili burst into the room, red-faced and looking furious. Kili involuntarily gulped. "Fili," Thorin greeted, standing up, but Fili interrupted him.

"Kili, I've told you a hundred times! Don't touch my double swords! You dropped them again, didn't you? They're all muddy now!" Fili raged.

Kili bit his lip. "I was just-"

"No!" Fili scowled deeply. "They're my swords. And besides, little brother, they're too heavy for you."

This time it was Kili's turn to scowl deeply. He glowered sullenly, then kicked the table with his foot mutinously. He swung his leg back to kick again when Thorin blocked it with his own, giving him a look that clearly told him to stop. Kili bit his lip again.

This day was just getting better and better.

After his uncle had scolded him for 'giving the table such disrespect' and for trying to handle Fili's swords without his older brother's permission, he had made Kili continue his studies, while he went to the marketplace to get some new scrolls and some more sausages and eggs. And now Kili was left at home with a grumpy older brother.

Kili sighed and flung down the quill he had been using. An ink splotch spread slowly over the parchment, making him scowl again. Fili was sitting across from him, glaring at him silently. Kili pounded the table with a fist once, then again. Then he said angrily, "Can you stop glaring at me?"

Fili glared.

Kili heaved a huge sigh and crumpled up his ruined parchment before stomping away from the kitchen chairs and table. "I'll tell Uncle you didn't finish your studies!" Fili called after him, just to annoy him.

"Thank you," Kili tossed sarcastically over his shoulder.

"My pleasure."

This was so boring. Kili was on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Normally he would be finished his studies by now, and would be out playing with Thorin and Fili, but his uncle wasn't back yet and he didn't want to spend the rest of the afternoon with his older brother.

Sometimes he went to marketplace to see what they sold, and other times he went to Dori, Nori, and Ori's house to check if he could talk with the three brothers. Or sometimes, he would go to Dwalin and train ...

Dwalin!

He would go and train with Dwalin. Kili jumped up from the bed he and Fili shared (Thorin had tried to separate them but it had only resulted in Kili having nightmares as he slept alone) and raced out of the room. He pounded on Dwalin's door not so politely, and called, "Dwalin!"

Balin appeared, grumbling and rubbing his forehead. "What's all this racket-? Kili."

Kili smiled at him. "Is Dwalin here?"

"At the forge, most likely," Balin replied. "He and your uncle have been busy for days. Some old men have been ordering weapons due by tomorrow. Dwalin's working around the clock."

"Thank you," Kili said, and headed to the forge.

As he made his way to the forge his uncle and Dwalin worked at, he noticed Fili talking with a few of his friends. Fili had more friends than Kili did, and Kili knew that sometimes his brother didn't enjoy his company when he was around his friends. He especially wouldn't enjoy it today. And besides, Fili's friends didn't like him either. They often kicked him around, calling him names when Fili wasn't watching or wasn't nearby. And Kili never told Fili.

In Kili's point of view, the supposed friends of his brother weren't very nice. At least to him.

As Balin had said, Dwalin was working in the forge, pounding furiously with the hammer at the half-finished sword. Kili didn't want to startle him, so he just stood there, watching quietly. Dwalin turned around to cool the hot metal, and looked surprised to see him. "Kili," he greeted. He placed the sword back on the anvil.

"Hello," Kili said. "Can you train with me?"

Dwalin sighed, wiping the sweat off of his brow. "I don't know, lad," he said, waiting for the metal to cool. "I'm a bit busy now."

Kili felt crushed, and it obviously showed on his face. Dwalin sighed and offered, "Perhaps in a little while."

Kili smiled. That was a better answer than before, at least. Dwalin smiled kindly back, a special smile that the tough warrior usually saved just for Kili and Fili. Dwalin gestured to two swords hanging on the shelf. "Your brother's swords were a bit dull, and quite dirty. I offered to clean it and sharpen it up for him, and he agreed. Rather happily." Dwalin chuckled and turned back to the sword he was making.

Kili glanced at Dwalin. The dwarf was working with his back to him, muttering and pounding the metal again. He slowly and quietly stepped toward Fili's two swords, and then picked one up, holding his breath.

"Dwalin!" Fili called, entering the forge.

Kili spun, dropping the sword with a clang. It seemed like time itself froze. Dwalin looked unsure of what to say, and Fili's face was blank. Kili bit his bottom lip. He had really done it this time.

The look on Fili's face changed from puzzlement to worry, then anger. "Excuse us," Fili muttered. Then he grabbed Kili, who winced, and dragged him out of the forge.

(Fili's POV)

I could not believe my little brother's foolishness. I fumed, dragging him toward the house. As I dragged him toward the house, he tried to struggle out of my grasp. But I would not let him.

"F-Fili!" Kili sputtered. "Let me go!"

"Hush," I said.

"But-"

"I said, hush!"

This time, he fell silently. And rightly so. I slammed the door behind us and sat my little brother on the couch. Kili seemed nervous. That was understandable. I had never been this angry at him until now. "So, little brother," I said, raising my eyebrow in a perfect imitation of our Uncle Thorin's raised brow.

Kili tried to stand, but was forced to sit when I placed my hands on his shoulder and sat him down again with a stern frown. "So," I repeated. Kili dropped his head as he usually did when our uncle scolded us. "What gives you the right to go around touching my belongings?"

Kili didn't answer, and I frowned. "Kili, answer me." I placed a finger under his chin and raised it. To my shock, Kili's eyes were filled with unshed tears. "Oh, Kili, little Kili," I sighed, tutting. I sat down beside him and then pulled him into my lap. And now the unshed tears rolled down his cheeks. I wiped them away with my thumbs, doing the same thing Uncle Thorin often did for us. Perhaps that was what made my little brother cry harder.

His thin body wracking with sobs, he flung his arms around me, now weeping. I was alarmed. "Shhh," I shushed him. I patted his back. "I know. It hurts, doesn't it?"

Kili gave a small nod between his sobs. I 'tsked' with sympathy. Then I patted his back again and said, "Pull yourself together, little brother."

After a few more moments, the sobs turned into soft sniffles and I pulled back. He blinked at me, then wiped his sleeve across his nose. I grimaced. "A tissue, Kili, not your sleeve," I scolded softly, handing him a tissue.

"Thank you," Kili mumbled, blowing his nose. He balled up the tissue and tossed it into the garbage can nearby.

Relieved and assured that my little brother was more in control, I morphed my face back into a stern face. "Now, Kili, to business," I murmured, and that was all I said for a long time.

(Kili's POV)

I was shocked. My big brother was spanking me. Spanking me! And we were equals! Well, perhaps not equals, as he was my older brother ... But still, he was spanking me! Unbelievable. I was being disciplined by Fili, whose hand, though not as tough or calloused as my uncle's, was firm enough.

Fili's hand cracked down with each swat on my poor upturned bottom, and I twisted and desperately tried to wriggle away. Finally, my poor bottom could stand no more, and when Fili cracked his hand down on the soft undercurve 'neath by cheeks, I let out a howl and flung a hand back.

It did nothing.

Nothing at all.

Fili merely swept my arm up, just as Uncle often did, holding my hand in his gently but firm iron grip. Oh, the fire that was burning on my poor bottom! "AHHHHH! Fili!" I cried as my big brother landed two hard swats once more.

No reply.

Fili spanked in a rhythmic order. I knew where his next spank would land, and I would try to wriggle away from it on the farthest direction possible, and then it would land with a mighty crack! I would howl and Fili would quickly onto the next spot. It went on like this for a while, Fili spanking and swatting and I? I was howling and wailing as loud as I could.

When my cries turned into weeping, Fili began to speak. "How are we doing, little brother?"

I huffed and buried my face in the nearest cushion possible. Then: "AHHH!"

"Answer me." SWAT!

"AHHHHH!" I yelped again, and sputtered, "We are doing fine, sir!"

I heard a soft sniff, as if he refrained from smiling. I didn't get how he could smile while spanking. "I am pleased to hear that," Fili replied softly. And, oh blessed Aulë! He lightened his swats! I sobbed with slight relief, but I knew that we weren't finished yet. "Now, little one, answer my question: Why do insist on trying to handle my double swords? You know that they are too heavy for you, too big for you, so why?"

I froze, then wailed, "I-I d-don't knoooowwww!"

"You do know."

My big brother increased his speed and intensity of the swats, much to my horror. I howled when he targeted the soft undercurve once more. I heard myself sputter, "I-I really don't k-know!"

"Then perhaps you should think about it," Fili murmured. And he paused, rubbing my hot bottom with his palm.

I shuddered with relief, crying lowly. I did try to think. I really did. And Fili's hand kept rubbing in that comforting way, and I sighed, slightly content.

But it soon ended with one question: "Are you thinking about my question, little one?"

"Uhhhh ... I-I-"

I had not. Too late. Fili's hand lifted and I flinched involuntarily, sputtering out, "N-nooo! Please!" I reared up ere his swat fell, and when it did crack down, I howled again.

Fili didn't stop. I howled till my throat ached and my eyes burned from the tears. Fili seemed to realize that I was growing exhausted, though I would never admit it.

"Would you like some help, little brother?" Fili murmured.

"Aye! Yes, please!" I choked out. It seemed that the bottom was connected with my brain. I silently thanked Aulë once more.

Fili paused and began to rub gently again, and then he spoke. "There was once a small little dwarfling, who enjoyed everything. He loved to read and write, he loved to play with his father and mother and uncle, but he especially enjoyed training with weapons. This little dwarf used a sword for his weapon, even though most dwarves wanted him to take up the axe. But this dwarfling was stubborn. He insisted on the sword, and soon got his way. His uncle made him a wooden sword for his fifth birthday, much to his delight. He pretended to defeat orcs and goblins with the special wooden sword his uncle had carved for him."

"F-Fili," I began, but a light swat cut me off.

"Hush, little brother, and just listen," Fili said sternly.

I nodded fiercely, not wanting to earn another swat on my already sore bottom.

"The little dwarfling soon found the wooden sword boring. Boring, extremely boring. It would do no harm against any foul creature. It did not do any damage to even a log. It was dull and wooden, and not a proper weapon. So, this stubborn dwarfling snuck out at night. He entered the forge, and something caught his attention. It was a sword, a sword that was real and gleamed proudly on the shelf. The little dwarfling immediately did what all dwarflings would try and do. The little dwarf tried to pick up the big sword and swing it." Fili paused to give my bottom a firm pat.

I yelped. I couldn't stand even the simplest pat.

Fili chuckled, and continued. "The lights turned on and a dwarf entered. It was his uncle, and the little dwarfling was so shocked that he dropped the sword. As it dropped, the little dwarf foolishly tried to catch it, and cut his forearm on the sword. He cried out from the pain."

I shuddered, and Fili gave a comforting rub on my back before continuing.

"When the deep cut healed, he was scolded and firmly disciplined by his uncle. He received the same punishment as you are receiving now - a spanking. His guilt was gone, his pride a bit stung but otherwise he was happy to be relieved from the pain. But sometimes, just sometimes, the little dwarfling rolls up his sleeve and looks at the scar, a scar that will never disappear, a scar that tells an entire story."

I shuddered again, and felt Fili give me a light pat on my back.

(Fili's POV)

"So, little brother, what do you have to say to me?"

"S-sorry," Kili croaked. "Sorry for nearly injuring myself. Sorry for making you spank me. So, so, so, sorry f-for trying to pick up your swords."

I smiled. "Aye, sweetling. All is forgiven and forgotten." Kili whimpered as I rested my hand on his bottom, and I chuckled. "Perhaps the sting in your bottom will not be forgotten, though."

Kili was quiet for a few moments. Then he said, "Fili, my bottom agrees with you."

I chuckled, and said jokingly, "How cheeky of it to agree with me." While I roared with laughter at my own joke, Kili groaned at the pun.

Kili was silent again, then said, "Fili? Was the little dwarfling in the story you?"

I bit my bottom lip, unsure of how to respond. To my relief, my little brother was soon snoring quietly in my lap, exhausted from the spanking I had given hm. I let him stay there, rubbing his back gently as I thought.

With a sigh, I rolled up my sleeve and stared at the long, ugly scar again. Of course, it was healed, but it still brought back memories. I prayed that Kili would never get a scar like I did, just because he wanted to prove himself that he could handle a sword larger than the usual sword he trained with.

The door opened and Thorin stepped in. My uncle raised an eyebrow at our odd position. I gulped, wondering what my uncle's reaction would be if he heard that I had disciplined my brother without his permission.

"What is going on here?"

End of Chapter Ten

Author's Note: Hehe, how was the ending? I'm not planning to write the next chapter on the same topic as I usually would, like continuing with Thorin asking what happened and stuff. How was it? I think it was my longest chapter yet. I enjoyed writing it, and I hope you enjoyed reading it! Please review for me, and remember to check out 'More Than Just Friends'!