You know, people always say that 13 is an unlucky number...and after reviewing it I realize that yeah, I can see why. That's enough of a warning, I believe. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews and to my beta (Nathalia) for being AWESOME!

Chapter 13

One long, hard week had passed since the coronation.

Gandalf and Radagast were busy in the records of Erebor, studying over scrolls to see if they could find some answer in ancient texts written when Ravina was around before. During that time, Fíli's condition did not seem to be getting better.

According to those that were in charge of keeping an eye on the prince, he was reportedly walking in his sleep or was seen gazing off into the distance, lost in thought. When asked about these events, he claimed to have no recollection of having done so. Sometimes he would even be in the middle of speaking to someone and then would stop and walk off somewhere and wouldn't know how he got there.

Thorin and Kíli were worried and often badgered the wizards for answers, leaving in anger when they would get none.

All the while, Erebor was striving. Trade was already boosting and the renovations were nearly complete. It wouldn't be long before the remnants of Smaug would be gone. On the outside, it seemed that there was nothing wrong with Erebor.

If only the same could be said for the royal line.

Meanwhile, in the training room, Fíli went through his sword training routine vigorously. Practicing with his twin swords seemed to be the only way he could feel any sort of normalcy in his life. Nothing else mattered when he was wielding his sword. As he practiced, he heard Kíli say from the doorway, "If you train any more you'll have no more reason to train!"

Fíli stopped mid-swing and turned to look at his brother with a smile. "There is always a need to train."

As Fíli placed his swords onto the weapon's rack, his brother approached, holding out a piece of cloth for his brother to wipe the sweat away. "How are you feeling today?"

"You mean do I feel better than I have been? No, still feel the same."

"Maybe Gandalf and Radagast have fixed it already."

"I doubt it, Kíli. If they did, I'm sure Ori would be running in here with excitement to share the news. And you wouldn't be asking how I felt today."

Kíli shrugged. "Never hurts to look on the bright side."

Fíli smiled as he wiped the sweat from his brow. As the cloth soaked it up, Kíli leant against the rack and crossed his arms. "So I was thinking that we could go check out Dale today. I heard Bard is coming along quite nicely with the construction of it. Might help to get out of the palace. What do you think, Fee? Fíli?"

When Kíli looked to his brother, however, he saw that Fíli's face was emotionless as he stared off into nothing. "Fíli?"

Kíli knew that look. His brother got that look whenever the spell was in effect. Kíli tried to grab his brother's arm to shake him out of it. "Fíli, come on. Snap out of it."

Kíli was not expecting his brother to turn and punch him in the face.

Kíli fell to the ground, the world going fuzzy about him. Right before he lost consciousness he watched as his brother casually left the training room, and then everything went dark.

Kíli woke up a few hours later. Apparently, Bofur had been searching for the lads to get some help on a project he was working on when he found Kíli unconscious on the training room floor.

Kíli woke up to Bofur hovering over him, asking him, "You alright there? What happened? Where's Fíli?"

Slowly, Kíli sat up. "I'm fine… what do you mean where's Fíli?"

"He's supposed to be with you, is he not?"

"Yes but it's hard to follow him after he knocks you out."

"He did this?"

"No, the spell did. We need to find him."

Bofur helped Kíli get to his feet and followed him as he raced through the halls. They checked everywhere for the prince but couldn't find him. They asked everyone they came across if they had seen Fíli, and they had not.

Word quickly spread of the news of the missing prince. Thorin had called his council and those that he trusted to convene in the throne room the moment he heard the news. Bilbo felt very out of place but Thorin had insisted that he be there.

"How does he manage to just vanish?" Thorin asked in an enraged tone.

Kíli looked down to his feet, partially blaming himself for the disappearance. After all, he was supposed to be the one keeping an eye on his brother.

Fruitless hours of search, and there still had been no sign of Fíli; Kíli was worried, as was every member of the company. Kíli knew that his uncle was worried but he did not show it.

"We've searched everywhere, m'lord, but he is nowhere to be found," one of the councilors stated.

"He must be somewhere. Have you checked in the outlying areas? Perhaps he went to Dale or to Laketown…"

"He will turn up, Thorin. He always does," Balin stated, trying to comfort the worried king.

Although he didn't say anything to the contrary, Kíli knew that look Thorin gave Balin. It was the look he had given Kíli and Fíli many times when they were younger. Whenever they got into some sort of trouble and made up some excuse, Thorin would give them that look. The look that said that he didn't believe what they were saying but would go along with it.

Kíli knew why Thorin was giving Balin that look. If Fíli were to turn up, he would have already. When he normally went into one of these trances, they didn't last for more than moment. It had been hours. The sun was just beginning to set on the horizon.

After a moment of silence, Thorin proclaimed, "We will keep searching until he is found. We'll have rotating search parties through the nights. I will take the first shift…"

"I do not think that is wise, Thorin. You need your rest. You have enough on your plate as it is. I will lead the search," Dwalin stated, placing a hand on Thorin's shoulder.

As much as Thorin wanted to protest, he knew Dwalin was right. With a nod, he replied, "So be it."

As Dwalin began to set up the parties, Kíli ran up to Dwalin and said, "I want to search through the night."

"No, Kíli, you need to rest as well. You are Captain of the Guard and, therefore, you need to focus on keeping the King and Erebor safe."

"But Fíli is my brother and…"

"And we have plenty of dwarves already willing to search. Now go before I knock you out for a second time today and lock you in your room."

Kíli gave Dwalin an angry pout before turning and following his uncle. As he left, Dwalin shook his head and said, "He's as stubborn as his mother."

The chamber was dark and peaceful as the king slept soundly in his bed. His dreams were riddled with memories of his nephews. Happy, fond memories.

A shadow passed over him as a dark figure stood over his bed, having snuck in as silently as a phantom. The moonlight reflected off the mane of golden hair and the silver hunting knife as he hovered it over Thorin's sleeping form.

TBC...

*Pulls out shield* Please don't kill me! Sorry for the cliffhangers! I know, I need to cut back on them! I'M SORRY! Anyway, please read and review!