I don't own any of Tolkien or Peter Jackson's characters or settings.

Matchmaker(S), Matchmaker(S) (part II)

"Alright," Fili began, clearing his throat loudly. "Are we ready for this meeting of the Secret Oak Committee to commence?"

"What's committee?" Gimli asked with a frown.

"And what's commence?" Kili said.

"And what's 'oak' got to do with it?" Ori asked after a moment, scratching at the back of his head.

Fili huffed, rolling his eyes. "What, do you need me to explain 'secret' too?"

There was a short silence, before Gimli replied. "Well…No. I've got that one."

Fili had to take a moment to wonder why he had to be the oldest out of the young ones. Or at least, why he had to be the smartest. He quelled his frustration, though, turning to his "audience". "We'll begin, then. First off, you all need to triple swear that you'll never tell anyone else what we say or what we do here."

Kili nodded, saying firmly, "Aye. I triple swear."

"Okay," Gimli simply responded with a shrug. Fili would take that.

Meanwhile, Ori seemed to be struggling, biting his lip. "Well…"

"Well?" Fili prompted, lifting a brow. "Are you in or are you not in? I can't have any fibbers, Ori."

"It's just that…well, Dori."

"Dori," Fili groaned. "Who cares about Dori?"

"He can always tell if I'm lying," Ori protested. "And if I don't tell, he'll not give me dinner!"

"Look, Ori," Fili began. "I know it's difficult, but some sacrifices must be made for the good of the committee!"

"Again, what's a committee?" Gimli cut in.

"Unimportant," Fili explained dismissively. "Now Ori, I need you to come and talk with me."

The boy scrambled off of the ground to Fili's side, eyes eager and wide. "I'm sorry, Fee, I just can't—"

"But you can," Fili urged him, placing a hand on his shoulder and guiding him a bit into the trees, away from the sharp ears of the younger ones. "And you have to."

Ori frowned, looking up at him. "What?"

Fili sighed, shaking his head. "Look, Ori, I'm not going to lie. We need you."

When Ori only looked more confused, Fili continued. "You're the brains of the operation! You're what's going to make this whole effort fail or succeed."

Ori opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again, sort of like a fish out of water. Finally he got out, "But Dori—"

Fili snorted. "Dori Schmori! You don't need him! But we need you," he insisted, prodding the dwarf in the chest. "You're my genius, Ori. You're my right hand dwarf."

"Oh," Ori said, looking a bit surprised, but pleased all the same. In a moment, though, he asked, "Shouldn't your brother be that, though?"

Fili shot a glance over the dwarf's shoulder to where said brother was working hard at trying to reach his head around to lick his elbow. He waved Ori's concern off. "He can be my left hand man. But what do you say, Ori? Are you going to help me in this noble task?"

Ori sighed deeply, and Fili could see the thoughts churning behind his eyes, before he finally said, "Yes. I believe I am." Fili was about to whoop in happiness when Ori continued, asking, "What is exactly our task, though?"

With two slices of bread, a skin of milk, and a head of cabbage, they were off. Well, Kili, Ori, and Fili anyway. Gimli had ended up staying behind, seeing as his mama called him in for nap time. Fili was a bit grateful. Familial obligation had called for him to invite his younger cousin on the quest, but in reality, Fili didn't figure he would be much use at all.

While he had been confused at first, Ori had come to a sort of understanding with their goal. He had agreed to help anyway, and that was a huge weight off of Fili's chest. It was impossibly difficult, being the master-planner, leader and clever one all together.

They went out on the same road he and Kili had tried just two nights ago. This time, though, they wouldn't return until they had what they sought. They had food and drink, and they had even taken Thorin's old bedroll and a blanket. They were set for the greatest adventure.

Fili could only imagine his uncle's face when he returned with the love of his life. Well…actually, Fili couldn't really imagine that face. In fact, the very thought of love-struck Thorin made him feel vaguely disgusted. But never mind that. They would all get used to it eventually.

It was noon, he estimated. The sun was high in the sky, and well…it just felt like noon to him. Plus, he was hungry.

From those observations came the unanimous decision to stop for a snack. They tore the bread up between them and all drank from the milk skin happily, until Kili mused, "What are we going to do now that our food's run out?"

Drat. Fili hadn't thought of that. "We haven't run out," he offered, gesturing at the untouched, slightly battered whole cabbage sitting in the dust in the middle of their circle. "We've got the cabbage."

Ori looked sullenly at the vegetable. "I don't like green foods."

"Neither do I," Kili mumbled.

Fili stared at the cabbage, trying not to look disgusted as he bit out, "I don't mind it."

Kili snorted. "That's not true! You hate cabbage."

Fili reddened slightly, but rolled his eyes. "I do not."

"You do to," Kili shot back. "Last time mum served it for dinner, you crie—"

"That's enough," he interrupted, trying not to blush further. He didn't bloody cry. He just may have…teared up a bit. His allergies always acted up that season of the year. And sweat always seemed to start out of his eyes. "We don't need the cabbage anyway. I can hunt, you know."

"With what?" Ori prompted.

"A stick, obviously," Kili scoffed.

When Ori gave him a baffled look, he rolled his eyes. "A sharpened stick."

Ori bit his lip, frowning hard. "You know…maybe this wasn't such a good idea."

"No!" Kili gasped. "This is the best idea!"

"Is it?" Ori fretted. "We're miles away from home, with no food to speak of other than a cabbage, with no tent to sleep under, no fire, no map—"

"No." Fili said sharply, drawing all attention to his serious tone. "We're not giving up. Not until we complete our quest."

He ignored Ori's continued frowning and stood up, slinging Thorin's bedroll back onto his back. "Come on," he said briskly. "Kili, grab the cabbage, we have a lass to find."

Even Fili, in all of his dead-set conviction was losing hope. It was growing late, around suppertime, and his feet were killing him. It felt like his boots had worn all of the way through, and the straps on Thorin's bedroll were digging painfully into his arms. His stomach ached for hunger, his tongue dry from thirst. Ori and Kili were dragging as well.

Though he wouldn't dare admit it to the others, Fili's mind was wandering onto some darker topics. What if they had to spend the night? It got terribly cold at night…would they make it? And what if he couldn't master hunting with a pointed stick right away? What if they couldn't find their way back home? Would mum think he was dead? Would uncle cry? Would Gimli finally break his promise no to tell anyone of their mission? Fili hoped not.

While Fili kept most of this internal, Kili had no such reservations. "Fee! My feet are going to—"

"Fall off," Ori filled in drily. "You've said."

"It's true," Kili groaned, dragging his feet ever more than before. "And I'm so thirsty. I think I might die."

"Then do it," Fili grumbled under his breath. "Do us all a favor."

"It'll take longer than this to die," Ori sighed, not having heard Fili.

"Great," Kili drawled. "My suffering's going to get drawn out longer!"

"I could kill you now," Fili offered, only half joking.

"Fee, I'll tell mama!"

"You couldn't if you're dead," he said with a shrug.

"Why are you being so mean?" Kili asked, stopping dead in the middle of the path.

Fili rolled his eyes. "Why are you being so whiny?"

"Am not!" Kili shot back, crossing his arms over his chest, and frowning. Ori's eyes darted between the two of them as their argument proceeded as if he didn't know how to properly choose a side.

"Are too!" Fili snapped. "You're being a big, whiny baby!"

"I'm not a baby!" Kili gasped.

"You're bloody well acting like one," Fili sneered down at him.

Kili looked to be struggling to find something to say to that, his face screwing up tight, and finally, he burst out, "I knew this was a bad idea!"

"No you didn't," Fili scoffed. "You've only agreed with me this whole time!"

"No…no I haven't!"

"You don't get to tell me "I told you so"!" Fili growled, a twisted sort of satisfaction filling his chest at the sight of tears in his brother's eyes. "But I do. I told you you're a giant dumb baby dwarfling! See? You're even crying like always."

"Stop it!" Kili squeaked, his hands crumpling into fists.

"Stop what?" Fili asked, leaning in, taunting. "Stop calling you out for—"

"Fili."

Ori's quiet, but strong words caught him off guard and he fell silent, looking at the dwarf, looking between the two of them in horror. "Stop it."

Finally, Fili let out a breath, the wickedness in him abating, to give way to pure exhaustion. When the red faded from his eyes, he saw his brother drop to his bum in the middle of the road, burying his face in his hands as a terrible sob rattled out of him. Ori was next, falling off of his feet on the side of the path. Fili so wanted to join them. But still… "Just like that? You're giving up so easily?"

They didn't respond, Ori looking down at his hands, Kili letting out a gasping cry of anguish. Fili sighed. That was it, then. In a moment, he was sitting as well, and goodness, it felt good. But still, fear sat heavily on his chest. Mama would be terrified, looking for them as the night came in. And when she couldn't find them, she'd think they were dead, just like Da. That was a horrible thought. And if they ever did get back, Thorin's punishment would be…

Despite all of that, Fili longed to be home. Maybe the quest was daft. Maybe there wasn't a lass out there for Thorin. It would be odd, him being a father. Maybe it was for the best that they didn't find a lass…

These thoughts vanished from his head as a rough voice behind him called, "Who goes there?!"

I shouldn't make excuses…But I'm going to. I had to spend upwards of 7 hours straight working with a particularly dumb and diva-like group of actors yesterday. The techie struggle. This also explains the notable brattiness of all of the characters in this chapter. But hey. Little kids are brats anyway. It's excusable. I should have the next update up much sooner…maybe next Friday or the one after that? Thanks for sticking with me on this, and I'd love to see a review from you if you had the chance. Let me know you're favorite line from this chapter, if nothing else. Thanks! I love you all!