Dance Lessons

Fili – 40, Kili – 35

It was hard to smile when everyone else was in a grumpy mood, but Dis put on a smile, despite her lads best efforts to squash it. She walked arm in arm with Joli. Of her four lads, Joli was scowling the least. Trailing behind them were their two less than thrilled sons and several paces behind them was her very unhappy brother. If anyone else were to see Thorin's sour face, they might have feared for their lives, but he could not scare Dis.

They were the first to arrive in the cave's main hall. It was dark and lit only with a few torches and the dying embers in the hearth.

"Boys," Dis said, "go and light the other torches."

Fili and Kili went and did as they were told. Joli stoked the fire in the hearth and added a few logs. Fall in the Blue Mountains had set in and so had the first frost. The cold hall would be nice and warm soon. Thorin plopped himself into a chair and growled.

"Tell me again why I'm here," he said.

Dis sighed. "As I've told you, several times, you are here to support your nephews and heirs."

"They have my support. I support them whole heartedly. I just don't understand why I have to be here to support them," Thorin grumbled.

"Thorin," Dis exhaled in frustration, "just shut up and get out your harp."

"If you were anyone else but my sister, I would have you thrown in jail for saying that to me," he waved his finger at her.

Dis huffed and walked away. Joli snorted, trying to hold in a laugh.

Thorin glared at his sister's husband. "You, Lord Joli," Thorin said, "are not exempt from jail time like your wife is."

Joli went to his brother and gently clapped his shoulder. "To be honest, I'd rather be in jail than doing this," Joli whispered with a smile. "But, we must humor Dis or a fate worse than jail time awaits us both."

Thorin chuckled. "Aye, you're right." He sighed. "Fine, I'll participate without another word, but I don't have to like it."

"None of us do," Joli whispered back. "Just be glad you can go to your own home at night and not have to share a bed with her, as I do, when she is angry." Joli's eyes were twinkling.

Thorin gave him a grin. "I count my blessings."

Durin's Day was just two months away and Dis decided it was time her sons learned the traditional dances that would be danced as part of the festivities. So, she had invited all the dwarves near her son's ages to learn. Being family, Thorin and Joli had been volunteered, by Dis, to help with this lesson. Thorin was there to provide the practice music and Joli would help the boys learn their steps, while Dis taught the girls. Neither Kili nor Fili were excited about being there either.

It wasn't long after that the others began to arrive. They could hear Gimli before he even walked into the caves.

"I don't want to!" he yelled.

"Tough," his mother, Beleza, shoved her son into the hall.

The other dwarrow lads who came were similarly pushed in by their mothers. Only the two young dams, sisters, Thora and Leys, came in without a fight.

"I'm so glad you have all come," Dis greeted the assembly of youth.

"Didn't want to come," Gimli grumbled. The other lads laughed. Beleza smacked the back of his head.

"We'll start with an easy dance. No partners required," Dis said. "Thorin, if you would, play Bonnie Mountain Lass."

Thorin started to play a lively tune on his harp. Dis and Joli danced the series of steps that made up the dance. It wasn't a very complicated dance with only a few basic steps that repeated themselves over and over. A more experience dancer could improvise more moves and flourishes into the basic step, but today was all about the basics.

The boys grumbled and the girls complied as they learned. Dis was pleased with the progress, despite the complaints. She was especially pleased to see Fili learn the steps quickly and with the ability to execute them well. Dis had learned that those who were excellent swordsmen were also excellent dancers. It was all in the footwork.

Kili had just gone through a growth spurt, so he was still trying to learn to control his longer, ganglier limbs. He could do the steps, but he kept tripping over his feet. Gimli would laugh, but the two lasses didn't seemed to be bothered by Kili's occasional trip ups. He still had a few years before he would truly be involved in the dances, so he had plenty of time to learn.

Of all the youth, Gimli had the hardest time. Even when he did actually try, he could not move the way he was supposed to. He was too much like his father in that respect, but Gimli didn't mind not becoming a master at the dances. In fact, he hoped to never be required to attend a dance or at least, expected to dance at any festival.

The day wore on and they stopped occasionally for water breaks and a lunch break. By the end of the day, they all knew the most common of the dances that were done at all occasions. As they grew older, they would learn more, including some of the more ceremonial dances.

Over the next few months, Dis held several dance rehearsals for the youth. Two of the lads never returned after their first lesson, but the rest came back each time. With Durin's Day being just a week away, now, she was confident that these youth would be able to participate. Dances at the festival were lots of fun. Even Thorin would kick up his heels occasionally and dance in honor of the day. She was sure that once they saw how fun the actual dance was, they would be thankful for the hours spent learning the dance. She hoped, anyway.

Everyone attended the Durin's Day celebration. The earlier part of the day was for families. There was music and storytelling. Best clothes were put on, and almost in a parade-like fashion, the dwarves would walk about the village, meeting with friends and wishing each other a blessed new year. The dwarves native to the Blue Mountains had a gift exchange tradition among their own families. Some of the Erebor dwarves had adopted this tradition, others did not. As the day progressed, there was a large feast in which everyone contributed. If weather permitted, there might be a tournament of weapons, which was enjoyed by all. As the day turned to evening, the younger dwarves would be taken home. And that was when the big celebration would begin – music, dancing, drinking, and more dancing. It wasn't unusual for a courtship or other important announcements to be made there, to which a toast would be raised and much more drinking occur.

In recent years, Fili and Kili had been allowed to come to the evening celebration, but they had often only been allowed to stay a few hours. This year, they would be allowed to stay the entire time and they were both very excited. They were dressed in their best clothes, which to Kili's mind, were a little too stiff and scratchy, but he liked how it made him look like Thorin. Everyone always said so when he was dressed in his royal clothes.

When they arrived, the music was just starting. Everyone there was wishing each other a good Durin's Day. Kili stood by his brother and his father and greeted everyone as they walked in. There weren't many unmarried dams. Kili could only think of four who were older than thirty years of age. There was Leys and Thora. They were nice and pretty. Then there were two others, both who were fifty years older than him. In a couple of years, Bombur's oldest daughter would be joining them at the party and that would be another nice dam to dance with, but for now, options for a dance partner were few. His mother had made him promise he would dance with all of the available dams. He wasn't entirely sure the older ones would even want to dance with him.

"Hey, Kili," Fili leaned over and whispered. "Let's ask Thora and Leys to dance the first dance."

Kili nodded. They walked over to where the two lasses were sitting. They were pretty in their matching dresses of pale pink. Kili suddenly felt his throat go dry and he was sure fairies had found their way into his stomach, for it churched and fluttered with each step as he got closer.

Kili bowed, "Miss Leys, I was wondering if I might have the honor of the first dance with you."

Leys blushed. "My prince," she smiled. "I have promised the first dance to my father." Kili's face suddenly started to burn with embarrassment. "But I have no partner for any other dance. If you will allow me to dance the first with my father, I would be most honored to dance the next with you." She was giving him a shy smile.

Kili smiled, "The honor is mine," he tried to remember and use the more formal language he should be speakig when at social affairs. He bowed to her and then watched her when the music started and she went onto the dance floor with her father. Fili took Thora's hand and led her onto the floor.

Kili was glad to sit that one out. It wasn't one of the dances he had learned well. Fili messed up a few steps, but Thora did too, so they were both laughing. Dis and Joli were dancing together and Thorin had asked one of the older widows for a dance. Dwalin came up to Kili and chuckled.

"Couldn't get your lass to agree to dance with you?"

Kili blushed. "She's not my lass and she has agreed to dance the next one with me."

Dwalin just laughed.

"Why aren't you dancing?" Kili asked Dwalin.

"Don't like to," Dwalin said and walked off.

Kili hoped he had not just offended his weapons master. If he had, he'd be paying for it at his next training session. The dance ended and the dams were escorted off the floor by their partners. Fili was laughing. Instead of another dance right away, a quick game of 'Yes and No' was played. One person thought up an object. Then each dwarrow got one turn to ask a yes or no question and after getting his answer, he could make a guess. The first was easy and after only seven questions, the correct answer was made – a fiddle. Kili would have to think of a good one, in case he ever got to have a turn. The next dance music was given its opening fanfare and Kili went to Leys.

He bowed and held out his arm to her. She gently took it in the formal way they had been taught and he led her onto the floor. Fili sat this one out, but Thora was dancing with Odo, Bombur's eldest son. A couple of the other lads who had attended Dis's dance lessons were on the dance floor as well. The dance was a fun, fast paced one, in which they had to switch partners multiple times, but always beginning and ending with their original partner. Kili was about switch back to Leys as his partner, when one of the big lads bumped into him. Kili lost his balance and fell onto his rear end. The older lad laughed and Kili wasn't sure if it had been deliberate or not, but it didn't matter, everyone was laughing. Leys was grinning. She held out her hand to him and helped him up.

"Come on, Kili," she said. "I want to finish the dance and you are my partner."

Kili, while embarrassed, smiled and finished the dance. They laughed as they walked off the floor about Kili's misstep. He got a number of pats on the back from various friends and families and there were a few humorous comments about his partner being so pretty, that he was knocked over by her beauty. This made Kili blush, but Leys turned red with pleased embarrassment. They all laughed again and the festivities went on.

Because he was ordered to, by his mother, Kili danced with all the unmarried dams, including the two who were so much older than he. They didn't seem to enjoy dancing with him much and he felt they were much too old and stuffy for his liking.

The room was hot. "Hey, Fee," Kili leaned close to his brother. "I'm hot, I'm going outside for a bit. I need a breath of cool air."

"Alright," Fili said. He held a tankard of fall cider in his hands. It wasn't strong and he was only allowed a small tankard, which was half full. Kili had been allowed the same and had drunk his a little while before. It was good and he would have liked more, but his mother had said no. He didn't fight it and was secretly pleased Fili was only allowed the same amount, even though he was older.

Kili walked out into the dark, winter night. The first blast of cold air was shocking. It was painfully cold and refreshing. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. The sky was clear and Kili could see the stars and a half moon high in the sky. The night was peaceful, except for the sounds of the party in the cave's main hall. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

There was laughter and the laughing crowd was growing closer. Kili moved into the shadows. He didn't want to be forced into conversation just yet.

"Did you see the way he fell?" one of the crowd said. They all laughed.

"Flat out on his backside. What a fool," another said.

"So, was it an accident that you bumped into him?" this voice was female.

"Almost," the first voice said. Kili recognized it. It was the big lad who had bumped into him during the dance. Well, it sounded like maybe it hadn't been an accident after all, just like Kili had suspected. "And the silly thing is, he got right back up and danced, like it was nothing."

"What's the big deal, then?" the female asked.

"The fool fell over, during a dance. His partner could stay on her feet, but the high and mighty prince could not," the big lad said. "He didn't even have the decency to be embarrassed about it."

"Why should he?" the female asked. "You knocked him over."

"No one can prove that. I just bumped into him. He humiliated himself and his partner and he pretends like it was nothing."

The others in the crowd laughed.

"Yeah, tall, awkward prince, can't stay on his own two large feet," another laughed.

"It's hard to believe he's related to Fili," the female said.

"They're both fools," the lad said, "but at least Fili has a proper beard and can dance without falling over."

Kili couldn't tell if he was humiliated or angry or both. He didn't know what to do. They had said mean things about him, but they also called Fili a fool and that couldn't be allowed. The crowed walked back into the cave. Kili counted to five and waited, and then he followed them. The little group had broken up and the one big lad, who had just insulted Fili, was now talking to Fili. Kili walked up to them, his fists clenched.

"Well, well," the lad said, "watch out your highness, Kili can't seem to stay on his feet tonight. He might fall right on top of you."

Fili smiled and chuckled lightly. Kili stopped still. His brother had just laughed at him. Suddenly, Kili didn't feel like staying any longer. He turned and went to his father.

"Adad," Kili stood in front of his father, looking at his feet. "I'm kind of tired. May I go home, please?"

Joli eyed his son. "Are you alright Kili?"

"I'm fine. I'm just tired, that's all."

Joli nodded. "Yes, alright, but go right home."

Kili nodded. "I will, I promise."

He walked out of the cave and back into the night air.

'Kili!" he heard Fili call. He turned around and saw his brother jogging towards him. "Where're you going?"

"Home. I'm tired."

Fili laughed. "Tired? Come on, Kee, what's wrong?"

"Nothing Fili!" Kili yelled. "I just want to go home, alright?"

Fili's smile disappeared and he took a step back. "Yeah, alright. Night, Kili." Fili turned around and walked back into the cave.

Kili felt a little bad about yelling at Fili, but only a little. Fili had laughed at him and so he didn't feel too bad about being angry with his brother. He walked home, slowly, the noise of the party disappearing with each step. At home, he didn't bother stoking the fire or lighting a candle. He took off his tunic and hung it over the back of a chair. He pulled off his undershirt and trousers. He would hang them in the wardrobe tomorrow. He pulled on his soft night clothes, washed his face in very cold water and climbed into bed.

In his mind, he replayed the dance with Leys over and over. The fall to the floor. They way everyone had laughed. Leys had helped him up. He could hear the conversation in his head and the things they had said about him. And Fili. He didn't like they had made fun of his brother, but he was too angry with Fili too feel too bad about what they had said. Tall, awkward and a fool. That's what they had said. No proper beard. Kili sighed and felt a hot tear run down his cheek to his pillow. A fool who couldn't stay on his own two big feet.

He wasn't sure how much later it was when someone opened his bedroom door and whispered his name. He ignored them and moments later, the door was shut. He could hear voices outside his room. The party was over, he assumed. It took a long time for sleep to come, but it finally did. His dreams were haunted by the cruel words and when Kili woke in the morning, he didn't feel like he had gotten much sleep.

Fili was still sleeping, so Kili quickly ate his breakfast and went out to do his chores. When he was done, he took his bow and headed out into the nearby woods to see if he could find anything worth hunting. He didn't and instead found himself near the river, tossing stones into it. The words the other lad had said played out over and over in his mind. They wouldn't leave him. He went back to the house when his stomach rumbled in the early afternoon.

Dis greeted him. "Kili, I haven't seen much of you today. I wanted to ask you last night if you had fun at the dance."

Kili smiled politely. "Yes, it was fun, Amad. Thank you for teaching me the dances." His gratitude was spoken automatically and without any feeling.

Dis frowned at him. "So why did you leave early?"

"Like I told Adad and Fili, I got tired. That's all," Kili just wished they would leave him alone. "Can I go to the range?"

Dis sighed. "Yes, but on the way home, would you stop by the miller and get me a bag of flour?"

Kili nodded and walked off. He loved going to the shooting range. He was the only one who ever used it. The only archer in Ered Luin, besides Thorin. No one would bother him there.

To his very bad luck, he saw the lad who had made fun of him the night before.

"Oh no," the lad said loudly. "Here comes the walking disaster. Or should I say the falling disaster?" He laughed.

"No thanks to you," Kili said. "You pushed me."

"No I didn't. You tripped over your over large, clumsy feet and fell right in front of all of Ered Luin."

Kili felt his face heat up in embarrassment and anger. "I didn't trip. You pushed me!"

"Well, that's a pathetic excuse for your clumsiness. Don't think Leys will be wanting to dance with you again anytime soon."

"At least I'm not a great buffoon," Kili yelled out.

The lad turned on him, his face angry and the veins in his neck sticking out. "You're one to talk; you beardless fool of a prince."

Kili stuck out at him, but the lad was older, bigger and stronger. He blocked Kili's punch and aimed one to Kili's stomach. Kili jumped back, but he tripped when he jumped and fell down without ever getting hit.

The lad laughed. "So clumsy, you can't even fight properly. How in the world does Dwalin put up with such a pathetic fighter?" He turned around and laughed.

Kili scrambled up and ran to the range. He let out a long, frustrated yell as soon as he was alone. A little more roughly than he should, he pulled his bow from off his back and an arrow from the quiver. With lightning fast movements, the arrow flew straight and true to its mark. Another arrow flew, then another. He cursed under his breath with each arrow he let loose. Finally, his quiver ran dry. He still felt angry.

"Don't just stand there seething, lad," a deep voice said, "go get your arrows and shoot again." Kili spun around to see Thorin standing there.

Kili stood awkwardly for several moments.

"You heard me, Kili," Thorin said, "go get your arrows and shoot again until you get your anger out."

Kili obeyed his uncle, but yelled out to him. "I'm not angry."

Thorin chuckled. "Really? Could have fooled me with the way you cursed at each arrow."

Kili blushed. He hoped Thorin hadn't heard everything he had said. He collected his arrows and went back to shoot again. He pulled one from the quiver and shot it. It didn't hit the center of the target.

"You can do better than that," Thorin said.

Kili pulled another and let it fly. It hit the target.

"What's bothering you?" Thorin asked.

"Nothing," Kili said between gritted teeth. Another arrow flew.

"Doesn't sound like nothing. Fili said you were mad at him. What happened?"

"Nothing," Kili said again.

"If you say nothing to me one more time, I'll tell your Amad about all those words you just said and then I'll sit and watch as she washes your mouth out with that foul smelling soap of hers." Thorin sat down on the fence.

Kili stood still for a moment, thinking about the horrible possibility of the taste of his mother's soap in his mouth. He shivered.

"Now, you want to tell me what's got you so worked up?" Thorin asked, a little more kindly.

Kili let loose another arrow before he turned around, his shoulders slumped. "I fell yesterday, at the dance."

"That's what's got you so worked up?"

"Fili laughed at me."

"A lot of us laughed when you fell over, but you didn't seem especially upset about it. If I remember rightly, you stood up and finished the dance. You had several more dances after that and was fine. I don't understand what the problem is," Thorin said.

Kili sighed. "I heard some of the others talking. It wasn't nice and then Fili laughed."

"You want to tell me about it?"

"No."

Thorin looked at his young nephew and saw the pink tint of embarrassment on his face. "You know, as a prince, there will be many who watch you and question your every move. Some will make fun of you, laugh at you, and disobey you. You can't let it eat you up. There will be too many insults. You just have to learn to let them roll off of you or you will find no peace."

"They said I was a fool. That I'm too tall and clumsy. They said I was a beardless fool of a prince," Kili blurted out.

Thorin turned several shades of angry red. "No one should ever say that about you. And, you are not a fool."

"But I'm tall, clumsy and beardless," Kili yelled angrily at his uncle.

"Kili," Thorin said warningly.

"Sorry, Uncle Thorin," Kili whispered.

"You just went through a growth spurt. You're taller than your peers right now, but they will catch up with you soon enough. You're just the right size for your age. And, as for being clumsy, that also comes with growing. You'll learn to adjust to your longer limbs. Your sword training will help you a lot with that."

Kili huffed angrily.

"And as for being beardless, don't you worry about that. You are a Durin and of the Longbeard clan. You're beard will grow in when the time is right, but you're still very young," Thorin said, trying to offer Kili some sympathy.

"Fili's had a full beard since he was seventeen."

"Fili is Fili. You are Kili. You're different. You're beard will grow in. Besides, as an archer, it's better to keep a short beard. The worst thing is getting your beard caught in your bow string when you shoot. Believe me, I've seen what it looks like when that happens and it's not pretty."

Kili shuttered at the thought.

"Uncle, am I," Kili took a shuttering breath, "Am I a disappointment to you? I mean, others have laughed at me before, and I try, I really try not to listen, but I'm afraid that I'm really a disappointment to you. That Fili being your heir is best because he's so much better."

"Kili," Thorin said with some gentleness, but still commanding Kili's attention and respect, "the reason Fili is my official heir and you are not is simply birth order. I would be just as happy to have you as crown prince, but it is the way it is for no other reason than Fili is older. You aren't a disappointment to me, lad. Never."

"But, I shoot a bow as a weapon. I've heard others say that only elves shoot bows."

Thorin snorted angrily. "In the days of Erebor, we had a whole company of archers. Sadly, most all of them were killed when Smaug attacked, but there was an entire company with hundreds of dwarven archers. It is a weapon used by all races, including dwarves, but there aren't many dwarves left who can use a bow. They have forgotten the importance and the usefulness of a good archer. And, have you forgotten that I taught you how to shoot? Do I look like a bleeding elf to you?"

"No, Uncle."

"No indeed. Listen, lad, people are going to say mean things. It comes with the territory of being royalty. You have two choices. You can ignore their words and walk away, or you can fight them, but you still need to ignore the words. If you let bad thing someone says about you get to you, it will hurt more. Ignore the words and if you must, fight for your honor."

"They said something unkind about Fili too."

"Did you defend his honor?" Thorin asked.

Kili shook his head. "I was about to, but that's when Fili laughed at me."

Thorin hopped up off the fence. "I don't know what was said or what Fili might have laughed about, but he wouldn't laugh at you to hurt you. You probably don't remember, but when you were a small dwarfling, some bigger kids made fun of you and called you a crude name. Fili stood up for you and tried to fight the big lads. He got a bloody nose for his efforts."

"I remember," Kili was staring at his shoes.

"He stood up for your honor," Thorin said. He paused a moment. "You hurt his feelings last night when you yelled at him."

Kili took in a deep breath. "I'm sorry."

"Don't you be apologizing to me. It's him you need to talk too." Thorin started to walk off. "Good job shooting, by the way. Don't stay out too late. It's getting dark earlier now and colder. Your mother will have your hide."

Kili smiled, ever so slightly. "Thanks, Uncle Thorin."

Thorin didn't say anything more. He just walked away, leaving Kili alone. Kili thought about what Thorin had said. He should have defended Fili last night. But Fili had laughed and it hurt. Kili remembered his promise to his mother about stopping at the miller's. It was getting late. He collected his arrows, slung his bow back over his back and jogged off to the miller. He purchased the bag of flour, hoisted it over his shoulder and started home. By the light of the setting sun, Kili spotted Fili in the square, talking to the offensive lad.

Fili looked a little startled to see Kili and gave a polite nod of the head. Kili felt bad. Fili would never be acting so distant if it hadn't been for him. He was suddenly angry all over at the big lad, who had called Fili a fool last night. He would settle this now.

"Careful carrying that," the lad said. "If you trip and fall again, you will lose all the flour and your amad will be very angry."

"I won't trip. Tell me," Kili was feeling bold. "how can you stand there and calmly talk to my brother when just last night, I heard you call him a fool?"

The lad looked surprised and stuttered for a moment before regaining his composure. "You must have misheard me. I would never call Prince Fili a fool. Those ears of yours must be as defective as your feet."

"I suppose I could have misheard you, but I was sure you said he was a fool of a prince, just after you called me that, too," Kili glared.

"You called my brother a fool?" Fili asked.

The lad took a step back. "Of course not, but I can see he must be if he is making up all these ridiculous rumors about me."

Fili moved to stand by Kili's side. "Whether you did or not last night, you just called him a fool right now and that is something I won't stand for."

"And you called my brother a fool last night, no matter how much you deny it, and I won't stand for that either." Kili put the bag of flour on the ground. They both took a step towards the lad.

The lad stood tall, trying to intimidate with his larger size. "So what if I did, you beardless, clumsy mule."

Kili didn't even see Fili move, but suddenly, Fili's fist was in the lads face, and he was stumbling back, holding his hands up to his bleeding nose.

"No one says that about Kili," Fili snarled.

Kili took a step closer, and was pleased to realize he was taller than the lad, who was at least twenty years older. The lad backed up, and his foot caught in a large crack in the road. He stumbled back.

"Bit clumsy, are you?" Kili asked.

The lad grew angry and swung out at Kili. Kili's arm went up and he blocked the punch, then using his left arm, he punched the lad in the face. It wasn't nearly as hard as Fili had gotten him, but it was his left hand, after all. This time, the lad did fall over.

"Not so graceful yourself, are you?" Kili taunted.

The lad got up and backed away. "You'll pay for this," he threatened, but seemed to be having a hard time speaking with blood running down his nose. He turned and ran.

Kili turned to look at his brother. Fili was shaking his fist, like the punch had hurt it. "You alright?" Kili asked.

"Great," Fili smiled. "And you?"

"Better now," Kili smiled back. They stood for several moments, looking at each other. Finally Kili had to speak. "I'm sorry I yelled at you, Fee."

"It's alright," Fili shrugged. "I could tell you were upset at something."

"Why did you laugh at me last night?" Kili asked.

"When?" Fili said.

"I went outside, to get some air, and when I came in, you were talking to stupid, back there," he nodded his head in the direction their bloodied nosed friend had just run. "I came up to you, cause I had heard him call you a fool to his friends and I was about to sort him out, when he called me clumsy and you smiled and laughed."

Fili looked confused for a moment. He was quiet as he thought about the events Kili was referring too. "Oh! I wasn't laughing at you. I was actually upset with him for saying that, and I told him so, after you left, but what had me laughing was something funny Thora did behind you. She was talking to her sister and made this big, funny face. I was laughing at that, not you."

"Really?" Kili asked, feeling silly for his reaction to Fili.

"Yes, really. I didn't understand why you walked off and yelled at me. I'm sorry you thought I was making fun of you, but I really wasn't," Fili said.

"Oh," Kili said, feeling dumber by the moment. "I'm sorry, Fili. I shouldn't have gotten so mad at you."

"Hey, it's no big deal anymore."

Kili picked up the sack of flour and they started home. They walked in silence for a while. "Fee? Do you think I'm a tall, clumsy, beardless fool?"

Fili's eye brows went up in surprise. "Course I do, but I'm your brother, so it's alright. Of course, if anyone else were to say that about you in front of me, they would feel my sword in their flesh." Fili punched Kili's arm, lightly. "Hey, no matter what anyone else says, I say you're the best."

"Thanks, Fee." They walked on and Kili felt lighter and happier than he had since last night. "So," Kili grinned, "you danced with Thora a lot last night. Enjoyed having her for a partner?"

Fili turned pink and Kili laughed.

There will be one more chapter - an alternate ending to the one I wrote. Thanks everyone for your kind comments and reviews.