Anything you recognize from the Hobbit belongs to JRR Tolkien
Author's Note: Yay, another chapter! I realized, and one of you reviewers told me, that this fic might be getting a bit too ... discipline-fic-ish. But actually, the main theme was sort of the 'caring stern uncle thorin disciplines his two nephews' ... If you don't like that, please don't read. I will try to add a bit more funnies, though ... maybe. Discipline seems to suit this fic more, though ... in my opinion. Thanks to all reviewers.
Chapter Four
In this fic, Fili and Kili are thirteen and eight.
Knock-knock.
The sound wasn't really a knock, it was more of a banging on the door. Thorin had gone out to buy some food, and had left Fili and Kili home, reminding them sternly to be careful and not to touch any of the weapons. Fili glanced at his brother and saw that Kili's eyes were wide. "Do you think it's Uncle Thorin?" Kili whispered. "He'll be mad at us! He told us not to touch the dangerous stuff, Fili!"
"I know!" Fili grumbled.
He glanced uncertainly at the door. Knock-knock, it came again, much more insistently this time. Kili's eyes were wide as he stared at the door. Unsure of what to do and half convinced that Kili was going to start whimpering, Fili gripped one of Thorin's smaller-sized swords and slowly and hesitantly headed toward the door.
"Wait!" Kili ran over to the weapons laid out on the table and snatched up a dagger. Fili reached out with a hand and opened the door. A tall figure shocked him. The dwarf was outlined by the moonlight. "Eek!" Kili squeaked. "Fili, close the door! It's a giant!"
Fili swung the sword unsteadily at the dwarf. Clang! The door had blocked the swing with an axe, almost lazily. "Is Thorin home?" the dwarf asked in a gruff voice.
"N-no!" And Fili slammed the door and locked it. He heard a grunt from outside, then silence.
"Do you think he's gone?" Kili whispered.
Fili shook his head, pressing a finger to his lips in a 'shhh' motion. Fili could see that Kili was trembling. He was probably terrified by now. Fili put on a straight face. He would have to be brave for his brother.
"Ahh! Dwalin!"
Thorin's booming voice nearly made Fili fall over, and Kili actually did fall over, narrowly missing the dagger. "Thorin," the dwarf named Dwalin greeted.
"What are you doing out here?" Thorin sounded genuinely puzzled and Kili and Fili exchanged glances.
"Ahh. I was trying to get into your house, but it seems two young dwarves have locked me out. Rather rudely, I must add."
Thorin chuckled. "Those would be my two nephews, Fili and Kili."
"Indeed," Dwalin murmured. Then Dwalin lowered his voice, and Fili had to strain to listen this time. "I come with grave news."
"Of course," Thorin's voice murmured. Then Fili and Kili's uncle cleared his throat and knocked on the door. "Fili, Kili. Open up, please. It's Uncle Thorin."
Fili bit his bottom lip, carefully set down the sword and grabbed the dagger from the floor. He put the weapons down on the table and then slowly opened the door. Thorin smiled and gave his two nephews a hug. "Fili, Kili," he said. "This is Dwalin, a friend of mine. I assure you, he is no giant," he added, seeing the terrified look on the face of small Kili.
"Hello, sir," Fili ventured.
"Hello, little laddie," Dwalin replied. "You can call me Dwalin."
"Fili, Kili!" Thorin's exasperated voice jerked the two brothers out of their staring at Dwalin. "Did you touch the weapons?"
Fili saw Dwalin's lips twitch, as if trying not to smile, and he hastily looked down from his uncle's stern gaze. Thorin sighed. He bent down and gripped his nephews' shoulders. "Look at me, please," he said softly.
Fili bowed his head even lower, feeling guilty. Thorin put a finger under his chin and gently tilted his head up, doing the same to Kili. "I tell you not to touch my weapons because they are dangerous, little ones," he reprimanded gently. "When you are older, you may start training. But not now."
"Yes, Uncle," Fili and Kili chorused.
Knock-knock!
Their heads jerked toward the door immediately, eyes full of curiosity. "Ahh, that must be Balin," Dwalin rumbled. He strode over and opened the door. An old dwarf with a white beard and white hair stepped in.
"Thorin," Balin greeted, bowing.
"Balin, it's good to see you. These are my two nephews."
"Fili, Kili," Balin said with a smile. "I'm sure we'll enjoy each other's company soon enough. You may call me Balin."
Kili shied away and Fili glanced uncertainly at his Uncle. But Thorin's eyes were on Kili, who had yawned. "It's ten o'clock, laddies, you should go to sleep," Dwalin commented.
Fili saw Kili's attempt to stifle another yawn. "N-no," Kili murmured as he allowed himself to be carried by Thorin. "Not sleepy. Not."
Fili sat down stubbornly, jaw set. "I won't sleep," he said. "I'm thirteen. I can stay up all day and all night." He frowned even more when he saw Dwalin and Balin's lips twitch.
Thorin chuckled. "To bed, little ones." And he carried Kili away, obviously planning to come back for Fili soon.
The room was filled with a half awkward, half comfortable silence. "Uncle Thorin thinks I'm a baby," Fili grumbled angrily. "I'm not! And I'm not sleepy!"
Balin chuckled and sat down in one of the comfy living room chairs, and so did Dwalin. Balin reached out and gently pulled Fili into his lap. For some reason, Fili didn't struggle. He immediately knew he could trust this dwarf. He just had this feeling. Balin leaned back and began to pet Fili's hair soothingly. "Let me go," Fili said immediately. He began to struggle and struggled harder when Balin tightened his grip, though not too much.
"Balin!" Fili whined. "Let me go!"
"Hush, little one," Balin murmured. "Go to sleep."
"I'm not little. Not! Not, not, not!" Fili spat back. Balin pulled him into a more comfortable position and continued rocking, despite Fili's protests. Soon, he grew still and closed his eyes, relaxing in Balin's embrace. Five minutes passed, then another five. And then Fili was asleep peacefully in the old dwarf's arms.
Balin smiled down at the small dwarf in his arms. "Such a young dwarf," he said softly, careful not to wake him up. "Full of pride and stubbornness. He'll grow up to be a fine warrior, don't you think, Dwalin?"
"Yes, brother." Dwalin was leaning back comfortably, eyes closed.
Footsteps broke the comfortable silence and Thorin appeared. His eyes widened when he saw Fili, asleep. Balin stood up and Fili stirred, but when the old dwarf gently rocked him Fili fell asleep once more. Balin handed Fili to Thorin. "What did you do?" Thorin whispered, sounding surprised. "I usually have a twenty minute argument with him just over sleeping."
"Oh, a little wisdom from an old dwarf," Balin chuckled. Thorin snorted quietly, then carried Fili up the stairs. Balin remained silent for a few moments, then said, "Thorin is very lucky to have those two, hmm, brother?"
"Indeed," Dwalin grunted.
"Kili," Fili whispered. "Kili! Wake up!"
Kili mumbled and stirred in his bed. Fili snarled softly and poked his brother. Kili's eyes blearily opened. "Hmm?" Kili rubbed his eyes. Fili glanced out the window. "It's snowing, Kili," Fili whispered. "Let's go out."
Kili frowned. "B-but Uncle Thorin says to always tell him before going outside," he said in a soft voice.
"Well, we don't have to tell him this time," Fili retorted. "Come on, get these on." And he threw a thick jacket, breeches, a hat and a pair of mittens at Kili. Once they were both appropriately dressed, Fili opened the window and they climbed out. "Oof!" Kili fell headfirst into a snowbank. Groaning, Fili tugged him out. Kili rubbed the snow off his face, sneezing.
"Shhh!" Fili hissed, glancing warily at the house. When no sound came, Fili tugged Kili toward the forest outlined in the moonlight. "Come on!" They both ran, squealing excitedly. At least, Kili did. He did not squeal, Fili told himself. They ventured into the forest.
Kili's gasp made Fili look at him. "Fili, look! A rabbit! And it's white!" Kili went chasing after it, squealing excitedly.
"Kili!" Fili protested. When Kili disappeared from sight, Fili, with a sigh, chased after him.
(Fili's POV)
I regretted this now. Out in the snow without Uncle Thorin and Kili was nowhere to be sighted. I sighed. "Kili," I called. My voice echoed through the forest. No reply. I shivered and pulled my hat on tighter as the wind threatened to blow it away. Uncle Thorin would be furious, I realized. He would spank us until we wailed and went limp, until our bottoms burned and we promised never to do it again.
"I'm stupid," I grumbled and kicked one of the tree trunks. I wandered deeper in, searching for my eight year old little brother. "Kili!"
Silence.
No. There was small sound, a small crying sound. A sound of pain. A wave of fear washed over me as I ran, wondering just what could have happened to Kili. I burst out of the bushes to see Kili, crying softly as scarlet blood trickled to the ground. There was a scratch on Kili's cheek that dripped blood. I winced in sympathy for his brother. "Kili, how many times? You don't run away like that!" I scolded, furious.
"Sorry," Kili offered, sniffling. "I wanna go home, Fili," he whined. "I want to go to Uncle Thorin and Balin and Dwalin now!" And he began crying harder.
I sighed and glanced around. I had no way of finding the track back home. "So do I, Kili," I offered as I crouched down beside him. As if to make matters worse, the snow began to fall harder and I saw Kili shivering. I took off my warm, cozy coat and draped it around my brother's body. "It'll be all right."
"No! It won't be all right!" Kili protested. "Fili, I'm cold and tired and sleepy and hungry. I want Uncle Thorin now!" he wailed.
"Hush!" I scolded. "Be quiet. Uncle Thorin will come soon enough. Just wait. I bet he's looking for us right now."
With that, I wrapped myself around my little brother and hugged him tightly, feeling Kili burrow closer to me.
End of Chapter Four
Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed. Next time, Thorin will find Kili and Fili and give them their rightful discipline. Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please REVIEW! They make me happy and I update faster.