A/N: Hello again everyone! Woohoo! Another update! Not much to say about this really, just that I really need to wrap Kili and Thorin in a hug and never let them go. *sigh* Oh well enjoy the chapter! :) Let me know what you think.

As much as it breaks my heart I do not own the writings or the characters of The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings, they are the wonderful and exclusive workings of J.R.R Tolkien

The rest of their trip had been in silence, Kíli thankfully remaining unconscious for the rest of the journey. Thorin paused when they arrived outside the house he shared with his family, thinking back to the many fond memories he had of coming home to laughter and a warm hearth. Now instead he would be coming back to grief and silence once his sister learnt of what had happened to her son.

As though he could read his friends mind Dwalin stopped beside Thorin and clapped a gentle hand to his shoulder.

"Come lad, let's get yer both inside and warmed up."

Thorin let out a sigh before walking forwards, allowing Dwalin to go ahead of him so he could open the front door. The moment Thorin stepped over the threshold he was hit with a wall of warmth and the smell of freshly baked bread, Dís' cheerful humming floating through the house.

The sound of the door shutting brought the humming to an end only to be replaced by the warm voice of his beloved sister.

"I was wondering where my brave hunters had gotten too," Dís laughed "I was beginning to think -"

Thorin looked towards the doorway that led to the kitchen and saw his sister frozen where she stood, wide brown eyes fixed on the dwarf in Thorin's arms and the smile slipping off her face instantly.

"What happened?" Dís breathed, her gaze moving from her son to the two dwarves at the door.

Instead of answering Thorin moved towards the sleeping quarters, pushing his nephews' bedroom door open with his foot and made his way towards the large bed. He could hear Dís asking Dwalin what had happened and his friends' evasive request that she fetch some warm blankets for her son as well as any medicine she might have that would fight off illness.

He was standing there trying to figure out how to best get Kíli into the bed without waking him when Dwalin entered the room, and it only took a nod of Thorin's head at the bed for the bald warrior to step forward and draw the bedding back so he could lay the unconscious brunet down.

Quickly and gently Thorin began to strip Kíli of his weapons and his outer coats, handing them to Dwalin as he went until eventually Kíli was left in just his small clothes. Footsteps alerted the pair of Dís entering the room and Dwalin moved aside so she could place a warm blanket over her son before they drew the rest of his bedding over him.

Both Dwarrows stepped aside at the glare Dís directed at them before she sat down on the bed next to her son. Uncapping a small jar she tenderly rubbed an ointment onto Kíli's chest and the warm minty smell filled both Thorin and Dwalin's noses quickly. Once she was satisfied with her work Dís tilted Kíli's head back and tipped a small amount of tea into his mouth before rubbing his throat gently to encourage him to swallow, repeating the process several times until half of the liquid had been drained. After pressing a kiss to his hair Dís stood and left the room, Thorin and Dwalin following close behind.

Dís entered the living room and placed the cup on a table before whirling on the two Dwarrows.

"What in Mahal's name happened?" She growled "Why did I have to use the paste and tea to ensure Kíli's chest stayed warm enough to fight off an illness? And I will not ask you again. Where. Is. My. Son."

Thorin stepped forward and lightly grasped his sister's shoulders, a look of sorrow clouding his face. Dís' brown eyes roamed his face and she began shaking her head in denial at what she saw.

"No," she whispered as tears began to well in her eyes. "He's fetching Oin. Tell me he's fetching Oin!"

"Dís -"

"Tell me he's fine! Thorin please!" Dís begged, struggling against the firm hands that pulled her towards her brother's chest.

Thorin held Dís against his chest and rested his head on hers, hugging her tightly as she sobbed into his shoulder.

"The lads came across the other half on an Orc patrol Dwalin and I found. They came to warn us only Kíli slipped and landed on the lake. Fíli used his war hammer to get Kíli back to the bank only he ended up where Kíli had been before the ice broke." Thorin said quietly, needing her to understand that her son had died a hero. "He saved Kíli's life Dís. You know as well as I do he would always have given his life for his brother."

Dís' knees gave way as she sobbed harder and Thorin went down with her, running a hand over her hair and murmuring nonsense in an effort to calm her down. Eventually her cries turned to hitching breaths and Thorin motioned to Dwalin to help them stand.

"Come Dís," Thorin said softly "it would be best for you to lie down for a while."

Dwalin began stripping his weapons from his back as Thorin disappeared with Dís down to the sleeping chambers once more. He moved to the kitchen and poured two mugs of ale before bringing them back to the living room, sitting down wearily in one of the chairs by the fire waiting for his friend to return.

Thorin joined him several moments later, and after removing his own weapons gladly took the cup Dwalin offered him.

"It'll take time lad." Dwalin said quietly as he watched his friend. "Losing someone is never easy, especially yer own child, or yer One. We'll be there for yer all, yer'll never be alone I promise."

"Grandfather, father, mother, Frerin, Víli and now Fíli." Thorin listed quietly as he stared at the crackling fire. "Too much loss for one Dwarrow in a life time yet how many more must my sister and I say goodbye too? Have we not suffered enough?" Thorin looked at his friend imploringly, as though he held all the answers. Dwalin got up from his seat and placed a hand on Thorin's shoulder, giving it an understanding squeeze.

"Let us ensure that that list does not grow for many years to come. I will protect you, Dís and Kíli to my last breath in Fíli's name and from loyalty. Help me ensure he is never forgotten."

Dwalin raised his mug, thinking of the blond dwarf as he did so.

"To Fíli, an incredible warrior."

"A kind and just voice." Thorin added quietly as he raised his own.

"A trouble maker."

"A fierce ally."

"A good friend."

"A son."