The Bow and The Sword

Fili - 30, Kili - 25

"Didn't we just do this last year with Fili?" Joli asked as he helped his wife straighten up the sitting room.

"Yes, five years ago," Dis smiled. "The years are going much too fast though, aren't they?"

"How many are we excepting?" Joli asked.

"At least seven. Let's see, Thorin, Balin, Dwalin, Oin, Gloin, Beleza, and Gimli. Perhaps more if they decide to drop in," Dis counted.

"Are we prepared to host and feed the lot?"

"Of course. Now, how about you grab a few more logs for the fire? Just set them by the hearth," Dis ordered.

"Alright," Joli left the room and went out to their wood pile. It was getting low. Soon he and the boys would have to go and get more for the long winter ahead.

Today was Kili's twenty-fifth birthday and final weapons ceremony. Tonight he would be tested in all weapons he had learned as well as choose the weapon he would master. Five years ago when it had been Fili's turn, there had been no doubt as to his choice. He chose what he had always wanted, the twin swords. Fili's skill was incredible, if Joli did say so himself. No doubt it ran in his blood. When Kili had had his turn with the twin swords, most just expected Kili to be as adept as Fili had been, but Kili, while fine at the weapons, had not taken to them. Joli suspected Kili would choose sword, but what kind, he wasn't sure. Kili had not been letting anyone in on his upcoming choice. For the last month he had been re-training with every weapon he had learned, re-familiarizing himself with them all. No matter what Kili's choice, Joli was proud. Kili was a fine warrior.

After the ceremony tonight, all the family was invited to the house for a party. Dis had been baking and preparing for three days. No one was allowed in the kitchen when it wasn't meal time, and the front sitting room had been kept spotless.

"Fili, grab the door for me, would you?" Joli asked when he saw his boys coming up the path to the house. Fili jogged ahead of his brother and opened the door so Joli could get in with the pile of firewood in his arms.

Boots were taken off outside and hands were dunked in the rain barrel before going into the house. Dis would not risk handprints on the way to the washroom.

Joli had taken the day off to help his wife prepare for the party and now they were just about done. There would be a light dinner and then they would go to the arena just before the sunset.

Kili was quiet during the meal. He felt like his insides were flipping. He just wanted to get this show on the road, so it would be over faster and he could enjoy the party afterwards.

Half an hour before sunset, the family made its way to the arena. Dwalin and Thorin were already there. With Fili's help, Kili set out all the weapons he had learned over the past decade. He would have to demonstrate his skill with each weapon. Kili looked to his older brother for some support. Fili smiled.

"You're doing better than I did. Don't you remember how green I was?" Fili asked.

Kili nodded. "But what if I fail?"

"You won't. You're ready for this. I'll be cheering you on. Don't worry about a thing, except for Uncle's surprise attack."

"What?" Kili called out in mad panic.

Fili just laughed and walked away. Kili looked around the crowd. The family was there as well as his distant cousins. As many of the Guard of Ered Luin was there who weren't on duty tonight. There were also a lot of others there he didn't know well. All here to see the youngest prince in his final weapons ceremony. Great, Kili thought, more people to mess up in front of. And what had Fili said about Thorin?

Dwalin walked out and a hush fell over the crowd. "Why do you come before me tonight?"

Kili stepped up. "I am Kili, son of Joli. I am a Son of Durin. I have spent ten years learning all the weapons of dwarves and tonight I wish to choose the weapon I will continue a more advanced training with so that I might become a master of that weapon." He hoped he got the words right, or at least close enough.

"Before you can choose, you must prove what you have learned. You will demonstrate your skills in all weapons," Dwalin called out.

Kili picked up his quarter staff. Dwalin fought Kili in everything - quarter staff, swords, both long and short, ax, double swords, warhammer, throwing and fighting knives, bow and arrow and mattock. By the time they were done, the crowd was completely wild and Kili was sweating, but pleased.

"You have proven your skill in each of these weapons. Have you made your choice?" Dwalin asked.

"I have," Kili said. "I wish to pick the long sword," a cheer rose from the crowd, "And!" Kili shouted over the crowd and gave it a moment to quiet down, "and the bow and arrow." Immediately there was silence. No one had ever picked two during this ceremony, even if many later went on to learn to master more than one weapon, like Thorin and Dwalin had.

Dwalin looked momentarily confused. "No one can pick two."

Kili stepped closer to Dwalin. "I can do both. Archers provide a long-range defense and are good when it comes to hunting. I want to master the bow. However, when enemies are too close for long range weapons, then I want to be able to fight short range with a long sword."

"Wait," Thorin called. There was a gasp from the crowd. Thorin stepped into the ring. As the prince to the throne of Durin and highest ranking member of their society, he alone had the authority to deal with such matters.

Kili looked nervously at his uncle, but he would not be swayed in his decision. He stood tall and waited to hear what Thorin had to say.

"Kili, son of Joli, you have made an unheard of request. However, I have watched you train and I have seen you fight here tonight. You are capable and skillful in both weapons. I will approve, if," Thorin paused, "you can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are serious about devoting yourself to the rigors of training with two such different weapons. Therefore, I open an opportunity to any here tonight to challenge Kili in combat so that he may prove his worthiness."

A loud murmur went through the crowd. Kili felt ready to pass out.

"I will challenge Kili!" Fili called out. He stepped into the arena and unsheathed both of his swords.

"Do you accept?" Thorin asked.

Kili picked up his long sword. "I do accept."

Thorin and Dwalin moved out of the way. Fili grinned at his brother. They had been waiting a long time to do this, but as long as Kili had been in training, they had not been allowed. Not with two different weapons, anyway. Fili attacked. It was Kili's first time to fight with two different kinds of weapons involved. Usually, he fought sword against sword or ax against ax, but Fili's twin swords against his one long sword was new. It was challenging and exciting. They were both grinning. Finally, Thorin called an end to the spar and Fili walked away. Kili was challenged by Gloin next and his very fierce ax. Finally Balin came forward. Kili thought fighting Balin would be easy, but he soon discovered the older dwarf had a very different fighting style with the sword than Dwalin, who had taught him. Balin's movements were graceful and fluid and presented Kili with a challenge as he was only use to Dwalin's forceful style.

Thorin called an ending to the fight. "Now," he said. "I challenge you in archery. Bring fresh targets!" When it had come time for Fili and Kili to learn archery, it had been Thorin who taught them because there were none other that could. Fili had not learned more beyond the basics, but Kili had like the bow. His lessons had been few, as Thorin had many other duties to do beside train Kili, so, Kili had spent many hours over the last few years, on his own, practicing. He was quite good, if he did say so himself.

Targets were set up and Thorin and Kili shot arrow after arrow. They were equal in skill. Finally, Thorin took a large wooden shield, attached it to several ropes and made it so he could quickly pulled the shield along one side of the arena, so it was like a moving target. Kili had never shot at a moving target before. The one side of the arena was cleared and Thorin tucked himself behind a large, thick set of crates. He pulled the shield across the arena. Kili pulled an arrow from his quiver and shot. He hit the shield, but on its upper edge. In the blink of an eye, he pulled out a second arrow and sent it flying. It hit the center before the shield could reach the other side of the arena.

The crowd cheered and Thorin approached him. "Kili, you are the best archer in Ered Luin now, and we need good archers. I approve your request to continue your training with your bow."

A loud cheer rose from the crowd. Kili was pleased, but it was only half of his request.

"As for the long sword," Thorin continued. "You have proven your skill and you are right, at close range or when your quiver runs dry, you will need skill in a hand weapon. I approve your request to continue your training with the long sword."

Kili grinned at his uncle, who was giving him a rare smile. Thorin placed a hand on Kili's shoulder. "You are a bold one, child, but you made a mature request and I am very proud of you." The words were spoken quietly, intended for Kili's ears only.

Moments later, Kili was surrounded by his family. His mother hugged him and he was slapped on the back more times than he could count. They all congratulated him until finally his mother broke up the admirers and they headed home for the party.

Kili was surrounded. His father, Dwalin, Balin and Gloin grouped around him and they talked on and on about the match as they walked home. Joli had been impressed with how well Kili and Fili had fought together. Perhaps it was their closeness in age that put them on more equal footing with each other or perhaps it was because they were brothers, but he could tell they made an excellent fighting pair. As long as they stuck together, they could defeat any foe. And Joli knew, that went beyond weapons training.

The party was excellent. Dis had pulled out all the stops in her baking and everything was amazing.

"I didn't realize there were so many styles of fighting with the same weapon," Kili was saying. "The way Master Dwalin fights with a sword is very different from Master Balin and I'm sure Uncle is different from either of them."

"Aye laddie," Balin nodded wisely, "You will develop your own style and as you continue to learn and fight others, you will learn how to be comfortable in your own techniques to you can take on any opponent."

Kili was nodding in fervent agreement.

"Why doesn't anyone choose the ax anymore?" Dwalin grumbled. That was followed by a round of laughter.

"I will!" Gimli spoke up. "I'll just skip all the other weapons because I've already chosen ax."

Gloin smiled. "That's my lad."

Fili came by and quietly removed plates and mugs no longer being used. He took them to the kitchen and set them in the wash basin. He took a kettle of hot water and poured it into the basin.

"Playing scullery maid tonight?" Thorin asked, walking in.

Fili blushed. "Well, Mother and Beleza were visiting and I didn't want to disturb them."

"Why aren't' you out there with Kili?" he asked.

"Well, this is Kili's night. I thought I'd let him enjoy it." Fili sat down at the table, across from Thorin.

"You're a good brother, and you are mature beyond your years," Thorin said with a sigh, "It's a good trait, but I fear your natural maturity has been forced beyond what a lad your age should be and that's my fault."

"I don't understand, Uncle."

"You should be enjoying your childhood, but with you being next in line for the throne, I've placed a lot on you. But it's something I must do."

Fili smiled. "I understand. I'll do what is required of me. I want to be a true Son of Durin and I want to make you proud. Besides, my childhood, so far, has been pretty good. I got my weapon of choice, I care for chickens, Kili and I go swimming as much as we can in the summer, I get to go camping a lot with Adad and Kili and you've always got the greatest stories to share on those long, cold, winter nights. It's a good life, Uncle. There's nothing I would change, except doing dishes, perhaps." Fili smiled.

Thorin stood up with half a grin. "Come one, then. I'll give you a hand with those dishes."

Kili knocked quietly at Fili's door and peeked in. "Hi."

"Hey. I thought you'd be asleep by now," Fili smiled.

Kili came in and sat at the foot of Fili's bed. "I'm tired, but my mind is spinning. I'm too worked up to go to sleep, yet."

"I thought Dwalin was going to skin you alive when you requested both weapons," Fili grinned.

Kili let out a nervous laugh. "So did I. And then Uncle stepped out. I thought I was dead for sure."

Fili chuckled. "Thorin's someone to fear, but he's also pretty fair. We are lucky to have him for our king and our uncle."

Kili only nodded. "Are you upset with me about something?" he asked quietly.

"No, of course not," Fili replied. "What makes you think that?"

"It's just, well," Kili took a deep breath, "I kept hoping you would come over and join us, but you kept away in the kitchen."

"Oh, Kee, it's not because I was mad. I just wanted you to enjoy your night and let you have all the attention, without your older brother hanging about."

"No. I wanted you there. Adad, Dwalin, Balin, Gloin and all of them are great to talk to, but they are, well, you know, adults and that get's tiresome quickly."

Fili chuckled. "Thank Kee. I'm sorry, I didn't know you needed to be rescued from the adults."

Kili scooted closer to his brother and lent up against him. "It was fun to fight you tonight. We make a great team, don't we?"

Fili smiled. "We always will."