Fili rushed through the halls of Ered Luin as fast as he could. He was beginning to lose breath. He rounded the corner and unexpectedly ran chest first into someone with a thud.
"Ooof!" Fili fell to the floor, the other dwarf tumbling also.
"Kili!" Fili exclaimed, gasping for breath.
Kili laughed. "What in the name of Durin..." Kili stood and brushed himself off but was cut off by Fili looking him desperately in the eyes.
"Hide me!"
Kili wasted no time at his brother's urgency and immediately shoved Fili into a nearby closet in the hall.
"FILI!" A voice shouted from the neighboring hall, piercing Kili and Fili's heart and instantly Kili was filled with dread.
It was Dis.
Kili looked back to Fili, regretting aiding his brother in the avoidance of their mother.
"I will repay you another time..." Fili said hurriedly and slammed the door in Kili's face.
"Kili!" Dis turned the corner and Kili whipped around to see his mother.
He resembled her, just like Fili had resembled their late father. She was a stout, plump dwarf woman - an angelic face with dark, dark brown hair with beautiful intricate braids and a regal beaded beard. But fury covered her face at this time, and it was truly terrifying.
"Shamậkh, 'amad." He greeted his mother but looked to his feet and kicked nothing.
"Tell me."
"Wha?"
"Tell where Fili is this instant!" She shouted sternly with a fire in her eyes.
"I know not!" He said, avoiding her gaze.
"Do not lie to me Kili, son of mine. Where is he?" She slapped him in the arm - hard.
Kili just shook his head and pouted.
Dis threw her arms in the air.
"My sons will be the death of me."
"Oh, come now, mother!" Kili went to hug Dis but she ducked and avoided his arms.
"No! No!" She paused. Then shouted on top of her lungs.
"Fili! I know you can hear me. You will eventually have to come out and answer to me...and NOW it will NOT be pleasant!" She stomped her foot, turned on her heel. "I can guarantee that." She huffed as she walked back around the corner.
Kili waited til she was out of sight and turned to open the door.
Fili was on the floor, stifling laughs.
"S'not funny..." Kili kicked his brother.
"You know nothing of humor then, little brother." Fili said between laughs.
Kili helped his brother up.
They both chuckled when Kili finally grinned.
"What did you do this time?" He asked Fili.
"I TOLD YOU THERE WOULD BE HELL TO PAY!"
Fili and Kili's eyes got wide. Dis came BACK.
"I will not let this go, Fili!" She ran up to him and smacked him in the head.
"Ow, mother!"
"No! You've missed far to many courting dates."
"Mother, I do not love Oddrún!"
"Well I want grandsons! You do not have to love them...you simply have to marry one!"
Fili's face turned horrified.
"Mother! Are you saying you did not love father?"
Dis pursed her lips. "Fili, son of Eindri, you know I loved your father...but that is COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT!" She scolded him for changing the subject.
"You were supposed to be at the courtyard to meet Oddrún."
Kili bit his lip but instantly roared with laughter. "ODDRÚN!? She's hideous."
Fili smacked his face into his palm.
"Kili, you keep your mouth quiet. Oddrún has a wonderful family."
"Mother, I will not marry Oddrún." Fili said quietly and calmly.
"Then I shall arrange a courting date for you and Brynji." Dis said with no sway.
"Brynji...she's not bad!" Kili shrugged and threw in his input. Fili elbowed him.
"I will not marry someone I do not love." Fili lifted his chin in defiance. He fists were clenched by his side.
Dis opened her mouth in protest; he was much too proud, then instantly closed it. She looked at her eldest son, and noticed how much he really looked like her late husband Eindri - especially in this moment. Eindri wouldn't force him to marry. Eindri would let Fili do as he pleased. He always devoted everything he had to Fili and Kili. Kili was far too young to remember him. After Fili was born, Eindri almost did nothing but spend time with his eldest son. She remembered when she gave birth to Kili and Eindri couldn't hold back his joy at a second son.
Dis sighed and her face softened.
"Alright, my son. Who would you like to court?"
Kili shot a glance to his mother. He had never seen her change her mind so suddenly.
"I do not know yet, I have not met her."
Dis nodded. "Then we will wait."
Fili placed his hands on his mother's shoulders. "You are the perfect mother." He kissed her on both cheeks.
She chuckled and held onto her first-born.
"I love you, sons. Get over here Kili." She shouted to her youngest. Kili chuckled and joined in.
"I hate to break up this...touching moment." A voice interrupted.
"Brother." Dis smiled and approached her brother, Thorin.
He smiled and walked towards her. "Dis, I must speak with you in private."
"Why, what is the matter." She quickly asked, with concern.
"I need Fili and Kili. We are returning home."
The brothers looked inquisitively to their uncle.
"What do you mean, Thorin?" Her face turned grave.
"I am summoning a council of the Seven Dwarf Kingdoms. Tharkûn, the Wandering Wizard, met with me in Bree after I went looking for our father."
"Thorin, why were you looking for our father, he's..."
"He's not dead, I know it in my heart, my sister." Thorin firmly grasped her shoulders.
Dis sighed. "Let us retreat in more private courters."
"Fili. Kili. Come." Thorin turned and followed Dis down the corridor and Fili and Kili looked to each other but obeyed their uncle.
They entered the Room of Records in silence and they sat upon the elegant chairs in front of the roaring fire.
"Come now Thorin, pray tell what Tharkûn has told you." Dis finally broke the silence.
Thorin took a deep breath, then began.
"Gandalf stopped me in Bree, saying he was looking for me. He asked me what I was doing all the way there and I told him of my ventures looking for father. He spoke to me and told me that I was being hunted and urged me that now is the time to take back our homeland. He is a wizard after all, and I will take up this quest."
Dis was stunned. "Thorin, this is much too dangerous! Smaug resides in Erebor. How could you possibly slay a fire drake, brother?"
"Gandalf has the dragon taken care of, I'm sure." He brushed it off.
"Uncle, if we succeed in this quest, what is to become of Erebor?" Fili inquired.
Thorin had a slight smile on his face. "Then we rebuild our kingdom, Fili. You are my sisters-son. Kili, too. The Line of Durin will reign once more."
"Then we must come!" Kili piped in.
"No!" Dis' voice cracked.
"I cannot lose my sons, Thorin."
Thorin couldn't look at Dis in the eye. It was true. This quest was dangerous...but he wanted Fili and Kili there. They needed to be there. It was their right just as much as anyone's.
"I am going to travel to the Iron Hills to meet with Dain."
"Is he still acting as..." Dis started.
"Yes, he is still lord of the Iron Hills. It seems like he always will be."
Dis looked gloomily as she thought of her old comrade, Fozmur - and his little half dwarling daughter...she couldn't remember her name but she instantly felt an ache in her heart for her.
"That poor little girl..."
Thorin cleared his throat. "Moving on. I will go to the Iron Hills to see if Dain will support this, then I plan on holding a grand meeting here in Ered Luin."
Fili looked to Kili and Kili nodded.
"Uncle, we want to be the first to pledge ourselves to this quest."
Thorin looked to Dis and she simply nodded. "They shall go." She said softly.
Thorin, suddenly much more hopeful, stood and embraced his sister and his sister-sons.
"We will all go home."