More Than He Bargained For

Thorin suppressed a weary sigh as he trudged up the hill, daylight threatening to break over his shoulders. He was so close to home now but he would not let his mind drift to the warm, comfortable bed that awaited him at his sister's cottage…

The dwarf was startled from his trying not to think about his bed as a smaller body appeared suddenly on the path in front of him. Thorin blinked in surprise as he focussed on the familiar dark mop of messy hair.

"Kili?"

His young nephew spun round sharply, eyes widening. Quickly he stood up straight but Thorin noticed his arm slip behind him back.

"Uncle! You're back!" Kili smiled albeit somewhat nervously. Thorin's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What are you doing out here at this hour?"

Kili blinked rapidly.

"I eh… I was just… exercising."

Thorin's eyebrow arched.

"What are you hiding?"

"Nothing!" Kili protested but he quickly relented. He knew he had been caught by any standards but it was Thorin he stood before. There was no worming his way out of this one. Slowly the youngster bowed his head and brought his arm forward. Thorin blinked again in surprise.

"A bow?" he looked from the small wooden bow up to his nephew's face although Kili would not look up at him. "You have been practicing archery?"

A quiet, almost inaudible yes sounded from beneath a mass of brown hair. Thorin tilted his head to the side slightly.

"And why would you feel the need to hide this from me? To sneak out in the middle of the night to practice?" the middle of the night part may have been a slight exaggeration but it was not yet daybreak – it was far too early for Kili to be out and about. Said dwarf shrugged slightly, still refusing to look up as he scuffed his shoe on the dirt beneath his feet. Slowly realisation dawned on Thorin. "Your peers still compare you to an elf?" his nephew flinched, albeit only slightly but the older dwarf knew he had hit the spot. Carefully he reached out and took the bow, turning it over in his hands. "Well this is certainly no bow of an elf," he commented. "Did you make it yourself?"

Finally Kili peeked up at his uncle, nodding slowly.

"Yes," he replied quietly. He worried his lip slightly before deciding his uncle did not look too angry and seemed almost impressed with the work. "Fili helped."

Thorin's lips curled into a genuinely impressed smile as once again he studied the weapon. They were still young but between the two of them they had crafted a fine bow.

"And you make your own arrows too?" again he smiled as Kili nodded, producing one of his hand made arrows from a small bag flung over his shoulder. He and Fili were also working on a quiver but they prioritised their time into the arrows.

"I will still practice with my swords though!" Kili reassured his uncle suddenly. "I just thought… it would be useful to... to try and bring down a foe that it bigger than us and has a longer arm. Or to…" the younger dwarf's voice grew a little quieter. "To help a comrade you could not reach in time."

Thorin's head nodded in understanding. Indeed even the finest dwarfen swordsmen and axmen had been brought down by an opponent they could not even reach as a blade had swung at them. And to be able to help a comrade in arms (for example ones brother) from across a battle field? Who could deny the young dwarf that. Thorin held the bow back out to his nephew.

"Are you any good?"

Kili swallowed hard but took the bow. Knocking an arrow he glanced around quickly.

"You see the tall tree over there with the knot in the trunk?" he asked. Thorin turned and looked, squinting slightly. The tree was a fair distance away but he could make out the knot.

"Aye," and in the blink of an eye an arrow hit the knot. Thorin could not help but let out a surprised chuckle. "So it would appear you are good," he nodded approvingly, turning back to face his nephew. Resting a hand on Kili's shoulder he looked at his nephew seriously. "The bow and arrow is not exclusive to elfin kind. You clearly have a skill – do not be ashamed of it. This is clearly no elfin weapon and you are a dwarf through and through."

Kili managed a meek smile.

"Thank you."

Thorin regarded his nephew thoughtfully.

"Perhaps we could practice together some time."

Kili blinked.

"You can use a bow?"

Thorin nodded.

"I admit I have not used it in many years," the words since we lost Erebor and I developed a hatred towards all things Elven went unsaid but Kili inferred them. "But you are right. The bow has many advantages over the sword."

Kili nodded slowly.

"Then I would like to practice with you some day," he smiled. Thorin returned his nephew's smile before patting him on the back and turning him to face the direction of their village.

"Then it is settled. Now come on. I have been walking for days and I am starving."