Fili's war pig, Tusk, barreled down the old road that led away from the mountain and towards Laketown where he hoped to catch a Ferry to Mirkwood. It was indeed winter, so the earth was hard and the ground was iced. Tusk's nostrils snorted cold air and Fili was reminded of a dragon pouring smoke from his maw.
Wrapped in thick furs, Fili drew towards the newly built town at a remarkable pace for a war pig with such stunted legs. He had gotten word that Kili had been about with the elves… again, and he wished his brother wouldn't push his luck. Although there was peace between the dwarves and elves, it was tumultuous at best and the two races still butted heads time and again.
Not to mention that Thorin still disapproved of much interaction with the pointed eared race. Kili made good with the elves regardless of what Thorin said. In fact, he probably spent so much time with them precisely because Thorin had told him not to.
Fili managed to snag a transport large enough to accommodate Tusk and they rode across the Lake in near silence, for the ferryman was an old, gruff fellow who was not too keen on talking. With the matter of Elves on his mind, Fili's thoughts drifted to Tauriel, Kili's savior. He would have died without her healing, and Fili had noticed in Mirkwood, his connection to her. There had been something special between the two. He remembered their quiet conversation when they were being kept prisoner in the Elven halls. They had spoken softly, but Fili had heard them talk of stars and lights and stones.
When Tauriel fell in the Great Battle, a sadness had fallen over his brother, but time had helped to heal him and now, Kili remembered her through contact with others of her race. He fancied himself a kindred spirit towards them as they shared a love for life in general, not to mention their weapon of choice, the bow. Fili liked to think that Kili felt closer to Tauriel when he was amidst Tauriel's kin.
Honestly, Fili was glad Kili had his elven friends, for Fili himself was often kept very busy. Though he did miss having his little brother always underfoot, he was becoming more independent. Fili was just glad he didn't forget his family, for however often he went about, living a life of adventure and thrills, he always remembered to come home to his Uncle, brother, and mother.
After the ferry had landed, Fili mounted Tusk and trod towards the beginnings of Mirkwood. He didn't get very far when he heard a great deal of laughing and joking. He looked towards the tree line with a happy smile and waved to get his brother's attention.
Kili, upon a stout, black pony, Clip, he called it, came riding out of the woods, laughing at one of several elves that came out of the woods with him atop full-sized horses. They pranced around each other, trading mocking jokes or playful comments. They were all armed bow and quiver, and a few of them harbored swords of seemingly delicate craft. They did not notice Fili's presence at first, but Kili's keen eye caught sight of his brother's wave and his eyes visibly brightened all the more – something that made Fili's heart swell for fellowship towards his little brother.
"Brother!" Kili greeted enthusiastically as he rode up, sturdy dwarven bow in one hand and two quail in the other. His dark hair was disheveled as ever and his brown eyes were bright and cheery. He sported a new dark blue leather tunic with a beautiful silver belt and black trousers. And still, for some reason Fili could not grasp, his chin showed only stubble. Oh, his poor brother. He surely shall never marry. "What brings you here? Don't you know that Elves kill dwarves first and ask questions later?"
The elves who had also gathered around him chuckled lightly at that, knowing full well of Thorin's low tolerance of them, and also knowing the two brother's relationship with the dwarf king.
Fili gave a little laugh in answer, a bit unnerved by how much taller the elven horses were than Tusk and Clip. "Yes, and I also heard, Kili, that quail, if eaten by dwarves, becomes a deadly poison when consumed. Face it, brother, these elves are out to get you one way or another." Fili really tried to be comfortable and natural around the elves, for he knew that Kili trusted them, so he wished to trust them as well, for his brother's sake, but Thorin's stance on elves lingered in his mind also, so Fili was not perfectly loose and relaxed around the elves like Kili was.
Either way, his remark was answered with quails to the face and he was nearly unseated from Tusk as the birds were launched at his face by his little brother.
"What have you been up to, anyway, Kili?" Fili asked as he placed the quails in his pack.
"Hunting, of course," Kili answered immediately. "You should have seen the deer we saw! As big as a horse, it was, with antlers like tree roots!"
Havonin, the blond elf to Kili's left atop a sandy colored horse nodded in agreement, "Indeed, twas a most beautiful sight, and I am sorry, Mellon, but I am very pleased that it escaped your arrow."
"Ah, I was only halfway trying to hit it anyway." Kili waved dismissively. "Besides, we only played at hunting for a bit anyway."
Fili raised an eyebrow at this, "Oh, so what were you up to then?"
Peranior, an elf that Fili knew to be Havonin's brother, answered, "We caught sight of some interesting tracks by the enchanted river." Oh, Fili remembered that river, as he also recalled how miserable it was to carry the sleeping Bombour once he had fallen in. "They were like a horse's, but lighter and softer, like a whisper upon the frozen ground. We were fortunate to have spotted them at all."
Kili turned to his brother with a quietness about him, "We followed the trail, though we lost it a few times, but it led us all the way to what Havonin told me was a very deep, very old region of the wood. Brother, the tracks were like nothing we have encountered, not even in the Blue Mountains back home."
A red-haired elven lad, Rodinfell, was his name, if Fili remembered correctly, an elf of grim countenance who spoke softly if he spoke at all, interjected with a sad expression, "We lost the trail where the wood is thickest and most wild. It saddens my heart, for I truly desired to see what creature we had discovered by chance, and now, we may never happen upon it again."
"Come, now, Rodinfell, do not be so utterly grim," spoke Peranior as he put a light hand on his friend's unusually strong and muscular shoulder, "We shall see the creature yet, you shall see! We go to seek it out again this very night, I say!"
The other elves all agreed heartily, but Fili's private look to his brother told Kili he would not be able to join the hunt. Kili huffed in disappointment, relishing the idea of a mysterious beast lurking the Mirkwood, but his duties as prince called him away, "I am sorry, friends, but my brother is probably here to collect me. I regret that I will not be able to come with you, but you must promise me to tell me of your findings when I return!"
"Very well, Mellon, safe travels to you!" They returned, and with that, the elven riders galloped back into their realm within the Mirkwood leaving Fili atop Tusk, and Kili astride Clip, together and alone in brotherly company.
Kili turned Clip about towards the road Fili had come up on and turned a curious but knowing eye on his brother, "So, what does Thorin need?"
"How did you know Thorin wanted you at all!?" Fili asked as the two brothers spurred on their mounts and they trod slowly to the docks.
"Oh, come on, Fili, you never ride out to simply enjoy my company." Kili drawled. "Well, not like we used to, anyhow." Kili's face grew a bit dark and his words were sad. He knew, of course that Fili was kept very busy by their demanding King and Uncle, but a busy prince was also poor company. The two brothers did not spend nearly as much time as they used to together, thus Kili struck out to find new friends to share his time with since Fili's time was dedicated to other responsibilities. The youngest Durin knew he could not hold Fili's duties against him, but he wished they could share more time together nonetheless.
Fili most definitely caught the sadness in his brother's usually cheery tone and was surprised at himself when he almost released an angry response. Kili had hardly any responsibilities to speak of and led a life of luxury, doing as he pleased most of the time, like they did when they were younger. He could not understand the weight of the burden of heir upon Fili and the older brother almost resented his brother's carefree livelihood. "Kili…"
"No, brother, I'm sorry. My words were ill-chosen. I know Thorin keeps you very busy. I cannot hold that against you. Still, I wish we could cause as much trouble around here as we did when we were little back in Ered Luin."
Fili nodded solemnly with a tiny chuckle as he remembered fondly their many disastrous plans back in their old home. He looked upon his little brother and couldn't believe how much he had changed. Without Fili with him to constantly shield him from things, he had been forced to grow up a bit, though he still retained a great deal of his usual mischievous and reckless self, qualities Fili was sure he would never outgrow. The quest had certainly changed him, and the wound he had suffered made him realize he was not as invulnerable as he had once thought. He was more independent now. As an older brother, this fact saddened Fili, for he watched his little brother grow, but it also heartened him to see him slowly become a very noble warrior. Fili was proud of the young dwarf before him.
"Kili, I will talk to Thorin about us, I promise. But I do not think you realize what today is."
Kili only raised a dark eyebrow in response.
"It has been five years since we won back the Mountain. Today we are celebrating!"
Kili's response surprised his older brother. His countenance grew dark and his shoulders slacked. "Yeah, five years since Tauriel died…"
"Kili," Fili sighed, mentally punching himself for the slip, "You couldn't have done anything to save her. Our enemies were too great, you know this."
"That is what everyone says, but-"
"Besides, it is not as if she was the only person to lose her life that day, brother. Do not disrespect every other fallen warrior with your grief for a single woman. Today is not just a day of celebration, but also a day of remembrance. Their sacrifices led to the reclamation of Erebor! Do not belittle their deaths, Kili."
Kili was taken aback by his brother's words, not sure if he was to be angry or understanding of them, but he realized his brother was right. "Sorry, Fee, I just…"
"Yeah, I know Kee," Fili hushed as they reverted to their old nicknames, as he put a comforting hand on his brother's bowed shoulder, "I know."
Please Review! Just a quick authors note: Fili's war pig, tusk, was a gift from Dain Ironfoot. Just something I made up! There is an interview with the guy who plays him and pigs are mentioned!