Hi everyone! my first update in months! As I said in my update, I completely overhauled this story so you might want to reread it before reading this. This is the first of two bonus chapters I decided to add to wrap up this story a little better.

After Thorin finished with his meeting with the master of Lake-town, he was eager to check on his nephews. Bard ferried him, Gloin, Bofur, Dori, and Dwalin back to the settlement. He departed quickly, no doubt eager to be rid of dwarves for the time being.

"I'm going to patrol the area," Dwalin said, veering away from Thorin.

"I'll go see if Bombur and Bifur found anything to cook," Bofur added, moving off. Dori simply wandered off towards the cabin he was sharing with Nori and Ori.

"I am going to send for my wife and son," Gloin said, "If we have to spend the winter here, we ought to be together at least."

Thorin nodded and thought back to the blue mountains. He had no living relatives in their home in exile. His beloved sister, Dis, had died decades ago and her husband long before then. Fili and Kili were his only immediate relatives.

As Thorin neared his cabin, he saw Oin waiting in front of the door. Immediately, he began to worry. As he neared, he could make out the grim look on Oin's face.

"What is it, Oin?" Thorin asked, standing in front of the door, "How are they?"

"They're alright now, but they both gave us a bit of a scare earlier," Oin said, "Fili had another bought of vomiting. I'm worried about dehydration and starvation since his stomach has to heal. The vomiting is complicating matters, he isn't going to heal that way. I gave him a little liquid out of urgency, I hope he keeps it down."

Thorin swallowed hard at the news. He immediately felt guilty for going to Lake-town while his kin where suffering.

"And Kili?" Thorin dared to ask.

"He's having coughing fits, especially if he gets excited," Oin said, "And he's having a hard time breathing. His lung needs a chance to heal too. I left some sleeping drought for them if the pain gets worse, but make sure you only give Fili a little." Oin paused, as if considering his next words, "There is something else," he said hesitantly, "The gnome lass, Bringa, she didn't make it, Lad."

"I'm sorry..." Thorin said with a sigh, "Where is the girl?"

"She's with our burglar for now," Oin said, "They're going to bury her mother tomorrow."

Thorin thanked Oin and hurried into his cabin. He found a fire roaring in the small stove and the room pleasantly lit. A jar of medicine sat on the table, along with a cauldron of soup and a few mugs of tea.

Thorin heard Kili's hacking cough from the other room almost immediately. He quickly removed his outer coat and went into the room. He found Fili holding Kili to him, the young brunette's body shook and jolted as he coughed and coughed. His face was hidden in Fili's chest as he clutched his brother's tunic. In between each cough, there was a miserable cry and whimper.

Thorin fell to his knees beside his nephews. Fili glanced up at him with concern, "Uncle," he said, his voice high with fear. Thorin noticed how pale his eldest nephew was and that he was shaking visibly as he held his little brother to him.

"Kili..." Thorin urged, gently rolling his youngest nephew away from his brother and into his arms, "just calm down. It's going to be alright." He cradled Kili in his arms, the way he used to when he was a dwarfling. Kili gazed up at him with eyes wide with pain and misery. He gasped in between coughs, as if each breath was a battle for him. His breathing came in wheezes.

Fili reached for his brother, wanting to continue to comfort him, but his energy was spent. Slowly, he lay back down on the bed, exhausted, "Dizzy..." he uttered, holding his head and squeezing his eyes shut for a moment as he tried to get the spots that danced around his vision to go away.

Finally, Kili's coughing subsided and he relaxed in Thorin's arms. "Sorry," he rasped, his voice barely a whisper.

"You have nothing to be sorry about, My Lad," Thorin said, cuddling his nephew tight.

"Did... You meet with the master?" Fili asked, wincing a bit. He spoke as if each word was a great effort to make. "Will we... have to leave?"

"I met with him," Thorin confirmed, "He's agreed to allow us to remain here and I was able to get approval to be a blacksmith. The master must approve all professions in this town, apparently."

"What about us?" Fili asked, his eyes drooping lazily, "Will we take a craft as well?"

"We will decide that when you have fully recovered," Thorin informed him, "You must not be concerned about anything else at the moment."

"We want to help," Kili whispered, "We don't want to be burdens..."

Thorin sighed. Fili and Kili were determined to prove themselves even though they were both so ill.

"If you wish, you may learn a craft," Thorin acquiesced. "What would you wish to learn?"

"I like wood," Kili said with a shrug as Thorin helped him lay back down onto the bed beside his brother, "I like making bows."

"Unfortunately, weapons are forbidden here," Thorin said, "You cannot make bows. At least not openly. And we will have to keep yours hidden."

"That is a stupid rule," Fili protested, "No weapons... Are they fools?"

Thorin chuckled a bit, "Yes," he said, "The master has plundered his people's money, hoarding it and living in luxury while they toil. For that reason, he has cause to fear an uprising and will not permit the people to be armed."

"He is a fool..." Kili commented, coughing a bit again, "Then what shall I craft?"

"Perhaps you might enjoy woodworking," Thorin suggested, "You can learn to craft small things for now. But eventually, when you gain some skill, you could make furniture and other such things. Any thing you want."

Kili smiled and Thorin could see the excitement in his eyes, "I want to learn," he said, "I'm ready."

"Heal first, Kili," Thorin insisted, before glancing over at Fili, who had his eyes closed. Thorin thought he had fallen asleep. He was about to get up and leave when Fili protested,

"What about me, Uncle?" He uttered, his voice barely a whisper. He opened his eyes only slightly and yawned, "So thirsty..." he rasped when he caught his uncle's concerned expression. Thorin got up quickly and hurried to the other room to retrieve the rest of the tea mugs Bilbo had brewed. He quickly returned and moved to the other side of the bed to tend to Fili.

"So thirsty..." Fili repeated, his mouth opened and closed as if he was trying to drink the air around him, "I'm dizzy and sleepy..." Kili rolled around to look at his brother and his eyes went wide with concern, "Fee?" he said, reaching for his brother's hand.

"Here," Thorin instructed, propping Fili up with one arm and holding the blonde dwarf against him. He brought the mug of liquid to Fili's lips, "Take a drink."

Fili shook his head slightly, "Hurts..." he murmured, "It makes my stomach hurt... I don't want to be sick anymore."

"I know but you must try," Thorin instructed, "You must get something into your system."

Reluctantly, Fili took a sip and another. He was weak and Thorin had to support his body completely as he drank. He slowly finished the entire mug.

"Good," Thorin praised his nephew, "Good lad." He held his eldest nephew against him and tried to swallow the worry and fear he felt. He knew that Oin had warned against letting Fili drink too much, that it might aggravate his stomach, but Fili was succumbing to starvation and thirst.

The room was quiet for a moment. Fili lay still in his uncle's arms and Kili looked on from where he lay besides his brother.

"Uncle..." Fili whispered and Thorin felt him shuffle a little in his arms. His eyes fluttered opened and he gazed up at his uncle with his deep blue eyes, "You were saying?"

"What?" Thorin asked, gazing down at his nephew.

"What shall I learn to craft?"

"It's up to you," Thorin said, "Dwarves are gifted crafters as you know. You might want to learn how to carve stone."

"I like stone," Fili admitted, "I want to learn how to carve masterpieces out of mountains."

"Then perhaps you shall be a stone mason," Thorin suggested, "And a stone carver."

Fili looked satisfied. Thorin gave him a little more tea and a bit of Oin's sleeping drought and lay him back down.

"Will the hobbits join us again tomorrow?" Kili asked as Thorin helped him drink some of the drought.

"I am sure they will be busy," Thorin responded, "They are helping to bury the gnome woman."

"She died?" Fili asked, looking upset, "When?"

"Not long before I returned," the king replied, "She had been sick for awhile."

"What will happen to Brenna?" Fili asked, "She's alone now."

Thorin sighed as he thought on that, "I'm not sure," Thorin replied, "I cannot force any of the company to take her in. Perhaps Master Baggins will be persuaded to, he has been caring for her and his niece since we arrived. That is if she is willing, I cannot force her to stay with us either."

Fili and Kili looked sad and worried. "Think no more on it right now," Thorin told them, "For now, sleep."

Thorin sat in front of his nephew's bedside until he was sure they had both gone to sleep. Then, he silently crept out of the room and into the main room. He sat down on the small bench he'd been utilizing as a bed and let out a sigh. He was exhausted. Both emotionally and physically. He needed Fili and Kili to recover. He would not accept their loss. He didn't think he could even recover from such a loss. He needed them as much as they needed him.