Firemoon

Fili - 48, Kili - 43

"Fili, Kili," Thorin called.

It was late in the evening. Thorin had meant to be here sooner to talk to the boys, but the council meeting he had attended had gone on much longer than necessary. The brothers came from their rooms. Thorin looked them over. They were nearing adulthood. Still a few decades to go, but it had seemed over the last few years, they had really gone through some growth spurts, if Dis's complaints about keeping the boys in clothes that fit had any indication.

Kili's voice had been changing and seemed to have finally settled into its new range. It was deep. Deeper than Fili's. He had also grown to be the exact same height as Fili. Thorin wondered if Kili would pass up his brother and father in height. At the rate he was shooting up, it was very possible.

"Yes, Uncle?" Fili asked. His moustache had really grown in the last year and now was long enough to braid into two braids that hung just over the top of his lip and was secured by two beads. It really gave him an air of majesty and he looked more grown up. His beard was thick, but he kept it trimmed, like Thorin's. Thorin had his own personal reasons for keeping his beard short, out of respect for those who had died in Erebor. He had never asked Fili to do this. Joli's blond beard was thick, long, and decoratively braided. But Fili had told Thorin that since he was next in line for the throne after Thorin, he would keep his beard short until Thorin grew out his own. Fili's chest had broadened a lot since he had started working in the forge. His days of long, gangly limbs seemed to be behind him.

"Boys, we've got a group of merchants, both dwarves and men, going to Dunland. They've asked for an escort as they are trading valuable silverwork for furs. I would like you to go with me."

"What? Really?" Kili was grinning.

"Yes. It's time you boys got out of Ered Luin and see some of the world. Also, it's good training in behaving like princes and diplomats for our people. I also have confidence that should we encounter trouble, you have learned enough on how to swing those swords of yours to defend those we escort."

Fili's chest swelled up slightly. "We would be happy to escort the merchants, Uncle Thorin."

"Good lads." Thorin went to the door. "We leave in one week. Everything you will take, will be carried on your own pony, so pack appropriately."

"Yes, sir," Fili and Kili said together.

They were supposed to be asleep, but Kili couldn't. He was too excited. They would be leaving in the morning and it was going to be his first time to leave the familiar village boundaries. He quietly snuck out of his room. He could hear voices from the sitting room and they did not sound happy.

"Thorin, I've changed my mind," Dis was saying. "You can't take them."

Kili held his breath.

"Dis, they can't stay behind your skirts forever. They need to get out and learn," Thorin said.

"No. They're too young. Maybe in ten years, Thorin, but not yet."

Thorin sighed. "Dis. Tell me what's really concerning you. I know it can't just be their age."

"Have you forgotten how old Fili is?" Dis asked.

There was a pause. "Actually, I'm afraid I have forgotten."

"He's forty eight, Thorin. Forty eight!" Dis cried out.

"Yes?" Thorin said, clearly not understanding where this was going.

"Don't you remember? Frerin was forty eight when he was killed. The exact same age as Fili," Dis's voice cracked.

Kili chanced a peek around the corner. Thorin was putting his arms around Dis's shoulders. Quickly and quietly, Kili snuck back to Fili's room and went in.

"Fili," he whispered in the dark.

"Kili," Fili groaned. "What is it?"

"Amad's trying to convince Thorin not to take us," Kili whispered furiously.

Fili sat upright. "But we have to go," he whispered back.

"I know. Come on, listen," he started to open the door.

"Kili, no. You can't ease drop like this."

"Yes I can and I will." Kili opened the door and crawled on his hands and knees. He could hear Thorin.

"It's not the same. We were homeless for more than half of Frerin's life. He never had the training Kili and Fili have had. They are better warriors than he ever was. It's not Frerin's fault, but it's the truth. Dis, listen to me. This journey is as safe as one can be. We'll be in a caravan of men and dwarves. I'll be there."

"You were there with Frerin, too," Dis sobbed.

Thorin felt like he had just been stabbed in the heart. He had been there with Frerin. If only he had acted faster or kept a better eye on him, he might have been able to save him. But they had gotten separated. Frerin had been driven into the forest. There had been no chance to save him. In the end, they had found him, dead, with Fundin's body draped over Frerin's. If a warrior as great as Fundin had fallen protecting Frerin, there was no way Thorin would have been able to save him. But he had always wondered if it would have been better if he had died and Fundin had lived.

Dis realized what she had said and quickly looked into Thorin's hurt face. "Oh, Thorin, I'm so sorry. I should not have said that. I know that Frerin's death wasn't your fault. Forgive me, please."

"Whether it was my fault or not doesn't matter now," Thorin spoke through his teeth in an attempt to stay calm. "I wasn't much older than Fili at that time. I had not the training that your sons have. I never got to finish my formal training. I learned because I had to, in order to survive. Fili and Kili are better warriors now than I was when I was that age. But, I'm older, I'm wiser and I'm stronger than I was at Azanulbizar. I'm better able to protect them."

"I'm just afraid, Thorin. Afraid of losing them."

"I know you are, but nothing's going to happen to them on this journey. One day, they are going to have to face the foes that lay outside our borders. Orcs are vile creatures and do not deserve to live, but Fili and Kili have never taken a life that wasn't an animal for food. I hate to shatter their innocence, but they will have to learn to kill to protect. There is never a good time for that, but I promise, Dis, I will not leave them during this journey. You must trust me. I will do all I can to make sure no harm comes to them. I would die for them."

Kili heard a gasp next to him. He turned to see Fili on his stomach, right next to Kili. Their eyes were wide. They had never heard so much about their late Uncle Frerin nor had they ever heard Thorin speak so tenderly about them.

"But why take them both? Why not just Fili? He's oldest, he's your heir."

Thorin smiled. "Because if there is one thing I've learned about those boys, it's this: they are better together than apart. They are each other's eyes, ears and arms. They are a team."

Dis nodded. "I know." She sighed heavily. "I know." Silence filled the room and the boys held their breaths, waiting to hear the final word of their mother.

"Alright, Thorin. Alright. They can go."

Kili about shouted out loud. He grinned at Fili, who smiled back, but his eyes looked a little sad. As quietly as they could, they crawled back to Fili's room. As soon as the door was shut, the whispering started.

"We can go," Kili smiled.

"I never knew all that about Frerin. I knew he died young, but he was my age," Fili felt sad for his uncles.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, Fee," Kili said. "But Thorin's right. We're better together. We stick together, we'll be alright."

Fili nodded. "Well, if we're going, we had better get some sleep. Do you think you can sneak back to your room, or do you want to stay here tonight?"

"Can I stay? I'll sneak out before morning." Kili climbed into bed beside his brother.

"We'll have to be good on this trip. If anything at all happens, Amad might never let us out again," Fili said, rolling to his side. "Night, Kee."

"Night, Fee."

The morning came quickly and soon the boys were packed and ready to go.

"Be safe, my sons," Dis kissed them both.

"We will Amad," Kili promised. "We'll be back in a few weeks. Try not to get into too much trouble while we're gone."

Dis laughed and gave Kili a playful slap on the arm before she hugged him. "Take care of them, Thorin."

"Dis, they are skilled warriors," Joli said. "You don't need to worry about them."

"Of course I do. What kind of mother would I be if I didn't worry?" Dis smiled. "Now, Thorin, promise me. You'll watch out for them?"

"I promise, my dear sister, that I will watch out for them, but I can't promise to keep those two knuckleheads out of trouble. I have an entire caravan to watch out for." Thorin kissed Dis before he climbed onto his pony.

"Behave boys!" she called out as they pulled away.

"We will!" all three called back.

Thorin rode to the meeting place for the caravan. They were the first to arrive.

Kili yawned. "Why are we here so early?"

"Because it's proper that as escorts we be ready the moment the merchants are," Thorin said.

They didn't have to wait long before the merchants began arriving. There were four men and three dwarves, all going to Dunland to trade. Kili stayed on his pony and watched as Thorin and Fili went about greeting those who were going.

"Kili!" an unfamiliar voice called out. Kili looked around and saw a young man walking up to him. He looked slightly familiar. "Have I changed so much in eleven years that you don't know me? You have hardly changed at all."

"Fionn?" Kili asked, recognizing the face as the little boy who had come to stay with Kili's family during a sudden, cold winter storm.

"Yes! It's great to see you again! Are you part of the caravan?" Fionn asked.

"Escort. What about you?" Kili asked.

"I'm in training as a merchant. Is Fili here, too?" Fionn asked, looking around for Kili's brother. "Oh, I see him. You both look exactly the same."

Kili wasn't sure if he should be insulted or not. Surely he had changed some over the last eleven years, but obviously not as much as Fionn had. Now instead of a little boy, he was practically a man. His face was smooth and youthful, but otherwise, he looked grown.

Kili and Fionn went to Fili and Thorin and Fionn was re-introduced to them. They were all happy to see each other. Even Thorin gave Fionn a smile.

"Let's move out!" Thorin announced. Ponies were mounted and Thorin led the caravan down the road and out of the village.

"What have you been doing all these years?" Fili asked.

"Started an apprenticeship with my father, to be an architect, but I was terrible at it. So, I got involved with the merchants and traders and it's perfect. I love getting to travel around. When I found out we were going with some dwarves from Ered Luin, I had hoped I'd get to see you again."

"What about your brother?" Kili asked.

"Ciaran's a potter. He's good. Last time I went out on a trading caravan, I had an entire trunk of his work. Sold it all pretty quickly, too. He's intended to be married soon. Fall equinox, actually. Nice girl by the name of Marta. And Iseabail, you wouldn't recognize her. She's a real beauty. Father's going to have an awful time keeping the boys away from her," Fionn laughed. "What about you two?"

"Well," Fili said, "we continue to do weapons training. I'm a blacksmith now. I work with my uncle and Kili's a goldsmith."

"But are you still youth, living at home?" Fionn asked.

"Aye," Kili said. "We're still a long way away from reaching adulthood. Fili's still, what, thirty years away?"

"Twenty nine, thank you very much,' Fili said.

"I'll be an old man before you become adults," Fionn looked wide eyed at the two dwarves.

Fili laughed. "The difference between races."

The journey was going well. The animals were holding up nicely, the road was smooth for the wagons and so far, there had been no threats to them. Kili's skill with the bow kept the group supplied with fresh meat every day. Fili and Kili took their duties as escort very seriously, while still having fun and visiting with Fionn as much as possible. Thorin made sure to give them equal chances to serve as watch, same as the others, but he let them pull the duty together. They kept each other awake and alert.

The summer night was warm and they all sat around the fire, talking, except for Thorin, who was taking first watch. One of the merchants was telling a strong that have everyone in stitches. Thorin was standing just outside the circle and looking up into the sky. There was something odd that was making him slightly nervous. They sky was more orange than it should have been. He hoped there wasn't a fire in the forest. That would be very dangerous.

The group settled down and one of the merchants pulled out a flute. He played a soft tune. Fili and Kili laid out on their bedrolls, listening to the music and looking up to the stars.

"The sky's strange tonight," Kili said.

"Yeah, I've never seen anything like it," Fili stared up. He couldn't see the stars, the sky was so bright.

"Fili, Kili," Thorin was standing close by and whispered at them. "Come see this."

They got up and followed Thorin to an area just outside the circle of light from the campfire. Thorin looked up into the sky. "Look," he whispered and pointed to a spot just over the cliffs that made up the eastern side of the road. The followed his gaze and saw a bright orange spot on the horizon.

"Is it a fire?" Fili asked.

"Watch," was all Thorin said.

They watched as the orange glow grew bigger and brighter as it grew in the sky. A perfectly round, huge, orange orb rose over them.

"Not a fire," Kili gasped, "a firemoon." It was huge. Orange, gold and red. The whole sky lit up like it was on fire.

"Incredible," a dwarf spoke behind them. The entire company had left their bedrolls and now stood out of the firelight and staring up at the firemoon. "I had heard of firemoons," the dwarf spoke quietly. "They happen so rarely. My father spoke of having seen one when he was a child."

"Now, I will be able to tell my own dwarflings one day of the night I saw a firemoon," Fili spoke in awe.

The company made themselves comfortable and watched as the moon rose higher and higher.

"Lads," Thorin whispered after a long while. "You need to get some sleep. You're on second watch."

The boys obeyed their uncle and went back to their bed rolls.

"That was amazing," Kili yawned. "Never, as long as I live, will I forget seeing that. An actual firemoon."