Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended. This story is not meant to violate the rights held by New Line, Tolkien Enterprises, nor any other licensee, nor is any disrespect intended.

Author's Note: A special thanks to anyone who reviewed, followed, "favourited" on the last chapter! You make me feel good. I really hope you enjoy this chapter. I apologize for the long, LONG wait and I'm very sorry for the horrible chapter last time. So, shoo and attack at this one as well! Please REVIEW at the end!

Chapter Sixteen

Fili is 47 and Kili is 42

"Well, brother? Will you join me on this one?"

Fili was faced with yet another hard decision. Oh, why does it have to be me? he thought despairingly. Kili was staring at him pleadingly with his soft chocolate brown puppy eyes. Fili gritted his teeth. If he said 'no', Kili would stomp off on his own, and perhaps get torn to shreds by some wild beast! If he went along with his brother, he was signing a contract that Thorin could tan his backside the moment he caught them.

"Fili," Kili began to wheedle, slowly and gently. "We won't get caught." He frowned when Fili huffed. "It's just hunting," Kili said with a frown.

"Aye, out of the boundaries that Uncle has set for us. Uncle has set them down for our own safety," Fili reminded.

Kili huffed. "Since when were you so stuck to the rules?" He pouted. "Fee, come on! Just this once!"

Fili sighed and looked down mournfully. "Why do I have such a persuasive brother?" he pondered despairingly. He knew what his final decision would be. He heaved a deep sigh again. "Oh, very well!" He glared when Kili whooped loudly. "Kee, only for a while. Just a short time so that Uncle Thorin can't find out."

"Aye," Kili agreed, now agreeing to anything. "Of course. Let's hurry! Hurry! I don't want to waste time!"

Fili sighed.

Aye, his backside was most definitely a goner.

Their ponies, Apple (Fili's) and Chase (Kili's) whinnied softly as they entered the dark, ominous-looking woods.

They were traveling in the Forbidden Woods - and it was called that for a reason. All those who went into the Forbidden Woods never returned. Never. No one knew what happened to them; they just disappeared. No bones, no bodies, nothing.

The poor fellows probably got eaten by some wild beast, Fili thought with a wince. He hoped that wouldn't happen to them. He shivered at the thought.

Kili was beside him, alert and attentive. He was probably scared. Fili was scared, that was for sure. "You know, we can always go back," Fili suggested, half jokingly, half pleadingly.

Kili snorted. "Go back?" He nudged Fili teasingly. "Are you scared, brother?"

"Aye, and you should be as well," Fili huffed, rolling his eyes. He gave his brother a light smack upside the head, saying, "Oh, come on, brat! You know that I would never push away the chance for adventure!"

He was relieved when Kili laughed and gave a nod, saying, "I suppose you wouldn't."

But Fili wasn't so sure of his confident words. After a while he began to twitch and get nervous. He did not feel good disobeying Thorin's orders. He never did.

Kili slid a glance toward his brother with a smirk. "Fili?"

His older brother glanced at him. "Aye?"

Kili's smirk got bigger. "Fili," he began again, pleadingly.

"No."

Kili's smile disappeared. "Fili, please!" he begged. "Just one prank. One, small, tiny, little prank."

Fili sighed. "Kili, we are already into much trouble," he sighed. "You know we are. I don't want to make it even bigger."

Kili pouted. Aye, having his brother around was cool and fun, yet ... sometimes annoying. "Fili, I-"

"Kili, no!"

Kili stared at the ground as his pony clopped along. He could feel his face burning. It wasn't often that he got chastised by his brother. He hated being scolded. It made him feel small.

Fili sighed. "Kili," he said, softening his voice. That reasonable, stupid tone annoyed Kili and he glared. "Kili. Do you really want to risk Thorin's wrath?"

Kili chose not to answer that question. Instead, he said, "Then I'm going by myself to prank Mister Dori and Nori."

Fili snorted. "See if I care," he huffed. "I'm not helping."

"Fine!" Kili flung back.

He led his pony away from the trail where they had both been on only few moments ago. He sighed. What had he done this time?

Fili realized his mistake when Kili set off by himself. There were many threats in the forest. He hoped that Kili wasn't being torn to shreds at the moment. Shuddering at the thought, he changed his mind and his pony trotted at a fast pace toward the direction Kili had gone.

Kili, his stubborn, annoying, yet lovable brother. And Fili had let him go.

"Kili!" he called, now desperate. "Kili!"

To his relief, he saw Kili not too far up the trail. Managing to catch up, he slowed his pony down. "Kili, I'm sorry," he tried. "Kili. I'll help you. I'll do the prank with you."

Kili turned to him. "Truly, brother?" he murmured.

Fili grinned at him. "Of course!" he said. "I would never leave you to prank someone alone!" He sighed as Kili led them somewhere he didn't know. After a while, he realized that he did not recognize the trail they were on. "Er, Kili?" He raised an eyebrow. "Where exactly are we going?"

Kili glanced at him. "You look like Thorin when you do that," he commented. Fili quickly stopped. Kili smirked and said, "We're going to a secret place only you and I know of."

Fili blinked. "I don't recognize this place," he muttered.

"Trust me, you will when you see it," Kili replied with a contented smile. "Hurry up, brother! Pick up the pace!" Grinning, Kili took off.

Fili chased after him, laughing. It felt good to be relaxed again.

Finally, Kili slowed to a stop. He was grinning, and so was Fili. "My pony's still faster than yours, Fee," he commented.

"Shut up," Fili ordered with a good-natured grin. He glanced around.

"Well? Do you recognize this place?"

Fili frowned. His eyes landed on an oak tree which had scratch marks on it. He gasped. It couldn't be...

Thud.

"Another bulls-eye, Kee!" Fili cheered.

Kili grinned as he nocked another arrow, then released the bow string.

Thud.

Once more, right in the center. Fili clapped as Kili grinned triumphantly. "You're much better than I was with the bow," Fili commented, smirking. "Don't ask Dwalin about it."

Kili laughed.

"In fact, I think you're better than Uncle Thorin," Fili continued. He stopped when he saw the look in Kili's eyes change. He had hit a nerve. "Kee, I'm sure it'll be fine," he began.

Kili sighed and plopped down, now looking suddenly exhausted. "We don't even know if he'll like it," he sighed. "A Dwarven Prince, an archer? I'll shame uncle."

Fili snorted and slapped his brother upside his head. "Ow," Kili said, scowling and rubbing the sting away.

"Be quiet, Kili!" Fili scolded. "You know that you could never shame Uncle!"

"Mmm." But Kili still didn't look convinced.

Deciding that he had to cheer his brother up, Fili said with a smile, "Come on, brother. Let's go swimming. It's too hot to just sit around."

Brightening up at once, Kili jumped up with a grin.

Fili looked at Kili, not even saying anything. Kili gave a nod. "Aye. It is that place. The place we always came to when we were troubled or bored and had to sneak out from our time out given out by uncle."

Kili grinned. Fili smiled back and said, "Come on, Kee. We haven't had much free time in a while; this is our chance!" He gestured to the river that ran nearby.

Kili whooped.

"Dwalin!"

Dwalin turned around, alarmed by the sight of the gasping king. Thorin placed a hand on his shoulder. The other dwarves had stopped and was watching the out-of-breath king curiously. Deciding that privacy would be good, Dwalin glared and barked, "Get on with your work!"

They all jumped at his voice and then scrambled back to their places. Dwalin led Thorin into a corner and looked at him curiously. "What is it, Thorin?" Dwalin prompted.

"Dwalin," Thorin whispered quietly so that the others couldn't hear. "The lads ... they're gone."

"FILI! KILI!"

Fili's head jerked up and he sat up. "What was that?"

"What?" Kili asked, lazily chewing on his fingernails. "I didn't hear anything."

"FILI!"

"That voice," Fili said, narrowing his eyes. "It sounds like ..."

The bushes rustled and then three tall shapes appeared.

Fili gulped. "Uncle," he stammered nervously when he saw Thorin's dark glower. "We were just-"

"I cannot believe that the two of you had the nerve to do something like this." Thorin glowered.

Fili felt shame from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. He wanted to cry out, 'Sorry! We're sorry, uncle, we truly didn't mean any harm!' But he knew that that would not be an acceptable excuse, so he remained silent.

Thorin turned to Balin and Dwalin, and said, "Excuse me. I need to have a talk with my nephews."

Balin and Dwalin both gave a small nod. Balin shot Fili and pitying look before the two brothers walked away from the scene.

Thorin turned back to Fili and a rigid, equally nervous Kili and continued, his eyes dark and grim. "Tonight, after you've gotten your deserving backsides tanned, you will go to Dwalin and Balin, and apologize for their trouble of searching for you!"

"Why?" Kili huffed, crossing his arms rebelliously. "Why should we do that?" He glared.

Fili stared at his brother in astonishment. Oh, he had the nerve! Kili, ever so cheeky, even when in trouble. Fili felt the sudden urge to laugh at his brother's bravery and stupidity, but decided that Thorin would not approve, and settled for biting the inside of his cheek to stifle his laughter.

Thorin raised an eyebrow. Never a good sign. "Excuse me?" he said, though it was obvious that he had heard Kili's sass. "Were you speaking to me?"

Fili remained quiet, watching his brother out of the corner of his eye. Oh, Kili, just please shut up now, he thought pleadingly. Instead, to his mortification, Kili stared defiantly and said, "Yes, I was." Fili wanted to groan.

Thorin stepped closer. He was now looming over Kili. "Well, my lad, here are the reasons why you should indeed apologize. One, because it would be appropriate to do so. Two, because it's polite and reasonable. And three, most importantly, because I told you so."

It was like a challenge spoken by an alpha wolf to a low-ranking one. If Kili looked away, he would be showing submission. If he continued to stare, he would be challenging and defying his alpha's authority. Grim, Fili watched. To his vast horror, Kili stared straight back at Thorin. "No," he said.

Kili! Fili wanted to groan. Kili was making it harder for everyone.

"Then you can go stand and face that oak tree," Thorin said, fully knowing that he hadn't said something like that in a while. In years, actually. "Go and stand over there until you can control yourself and that inappropriate sass. It is not advised or needed."

"Fine!" Kili huffed, and turned and stomped off.

Fili hurried away and placed himself in front of a tree too. Thorin had not ordered him to stand in the corner either, but he would not leave his brother alone to his embarrassing fate. So he stood. He glanced at Kili. Kili's ear tips were red, showing his embarrassment, shame, and anger.

The last time Thorin had made them stand in the corner had been when they were thirty - and that had been humiliating enough. Fili wanted to groan.

Fili heard Thorin sit on a log and felt him stare at his two nephews. Fili chewed his lip. He hoped that he wouldn't go first. Aye, they were brothers, but Fili still felt some mortification and embarrassment as his younger brother watched his backside get tanned.

Finally, Thorin spoke. "Fili."

Fili jerked. "Yes, Uncle?" He turned around uneasily.

Thorin gave him a small smile. He outstretched his hand. "Come, my pup," he murmured. "You know you deserve this."

Fili hesitated for only a few moments before reluctantly coming forward. He stood beside his uncle, and Thorin stroked his thick tawny hair comfortingly. "Come now, my lad," he murmured.

Fili was rigid, but when Thorin tugged his over his lap, he forced himself to relax as Thorin pulled down his breeches. Tensing was never good during a tanning. Relax, just relax, he thought to himself. He braced himself for the first swat.

SWAT!

"AH!" Fili's legs jerked. Thorin's swats were much harder than usual. Another landed and another, and he cried out as both landed. "Ow! U-Uncle, that's t-too hard!"

"Too hard?" Thorin snorted. He smacked down even harder, making the sting light up even more. "Well, young sir?" he asked through Fili's hissing and grunting and wriggling. "Is this hard enough for you?"

"Y-yeesss!" Normally Fili wouldn't break down so quickly, but today, guilt mixed with the quickly erupting pain mingled together and resulted in his situation now. "U-Uncle!" he exclaimed, feeling his ears turn red when he felt Kili's gaze on him. "P-Please, stop!"

"We haven't even gotten started, my lad," Thorin murmured. He continued swatting as he said, "Shall we finish this quickly, my lad? Why did you do this?"

Fili bit his lip before whispering out, "I'm sorryyyyy."

Thorin paused and bent down. "Fili, the faster we can get through this, the better it benefits for you and your burning backside. That wasn't an answer to my question. Would you rather we continue until you break down and I ask you then?"

"Noooooo." Fili buried his face into his hands.

"Then answer."

"I ... I don't know, Uncle," Fili whimpered. "I really don't know."

"Hmmm." Thorin's swats began to lighten, just a tad bit. "Perhaps you want some help, then?"

"A-Aye! Please, U-Uncle!"

"Perhaps you wanted my attention. Is that it, my wild pup? Is it because I've been so busy lately that I haven't been giving you the attention that you wanted?" Thorin suggested.

"M-Maybe," Fili whimpered. "Yeessss. I w-wanted your attention." He began to sob as Thorin began to swat his thighs. "Uncle! Pl-pleeeeaase! No mooore!"

"All right," Thorin soothed, quickly sitting Fili on his lap comfortably. "Shhhh. Shhhhhh. We're done."

Slightly bewildered, Fili looked up. "W-What?" he sniffled. "R-really?" They had finished much earlier than they usually did.

"Yes." Thorin nodded. "I see no reason to spank you more since you've admitted to your mistakes."

Fili dropped his head. "I'm s-sorry, Uncle," he said quietly. "We just wanted to have some fun. We didn't mean to."

"You cannot speak for your brother," Thorin said gently. "What you can do for him is watch and comfort him after."

Fili gave a determined nod and stood up, pulling his breeches up with a wince. "No one saw, right?" He glanced around warily.

"No," Thorin chuckled. "We are too deep in the woods for anyone to come." He turned to Kili and called, "Kili!"

"What?" Kili turned grumpily, glaring.

Thorin raised his eyebrows. "Drop the attitude, sir," he said sternly.

Kili looked down at the ground.

Fili watched with pity as Thorin tugged his brother over his knee and pulled down his breeches without any hesitation. After a while, Kili finally let out a cry. He had lasted for a long time this time.

"AHHHHH!" Kili wailed, kicking.

Thorin swatted down again. "Well, my little cub? Why did you do this?"

By then, the hotness and fire in his bottom was obviously far too hot and it stung something fierce, so Kili howled out, "I-I wanted y-your att-ten-ten-tion!" He whimpered and buried his face into his arms. "S-Sorry!" he choked out between sobs. "S-Sorry!"

"Ah, so you were testing me?"

A nod.

"Well, then, my cub, let me say this once, and only once. You may test all the waters you like to get my attention, and you will find it boiling hot. I will never leave you, nor will I never be disappointed in you. I am proud of you, Kili. Always." Thorin scooped Kili up and kissed his forehead, sweeping away the damp hairs. "Shhhh," he murmured over Kili's sobbing. "All over. All over, my dear cub."

Fili went over and joined the embrace.

Thorin patted both their heads and murmured, "I'll always love you both, no matter what you do."

End of Chapter Sixteen

Author's Note: Hey, so sorry if the ending was disappointing, and so sorry for the slow update! I suppose you could say my imagination and writing skills went on a vacation and came back today. So, please review and if you have any ideas, they would be welcome because I seem to be running out! Hope you enjoyed! Please review!