Hi all! I am back with chapter four! Thank you to everyone who has supported this story! Silly me I have forgotten to do my disclaimer, so here it goes: Sadly I do not own The Hobbit or any of its wonderful characters and I make no money from this story! It is purely for entertainment purposes! All that being said, please everyone be entertained!
Chapter Four
"Yes Fili, that's it. Keep moving your feet, good." Thorin coached Fili through some basic sword movements. Thorin had only been working with his nephews for a short time and Fili was already showing some great potential in his sword wielding abilities. His youngest Kili however, was having a more difficult time understanding the basic movements. Through Thorin did anticipate this outcome, Kili was much too young to be able to really grasp training yet. Thankfully Kili was just overjoyed to be with his Uncle and Brother, not seeming to care that he wasn't really doing much training.
"Yea, go Fili!" Kili cheered for his older brother jumping up and down on top of a stack of crates, waving his wooden sword back and forth almost hitting himself in the head, smiling widely.
"KILI! Be careful lad, if you fall and hurt yourself your Mother will have my head!" Thorin bellowed across the small training area from his position opposite Fili, both with wooden swords raised. As if on cue the crate Kili was standing on began to wobble and tilt with the young dwarf on top trying to maintain his balance unsuccessfully.
"KILI!" Fili yelped when he saw his little brother start to tumble to the ground.
Fili and Thorin abandon their swords and rushed to young Kili's aid. Thorin having longer legs than his young nephew was able to cross the distance to Kili faster and reached out with both arms just as Kili lost his fight with gravity. Kili yelled out in fear and fell quickly towards the unforgiving ground. He was luckily saved from injury in the last second when his Uncle's strong arms caught the airborne dwarf around the middle, knocking the air from his lungs. In one swift motion Thorin lifted Kili to his chest and dropped to his knees so he could place his youngest nephew on solid ground to check him for injury.
"Kili are you hurt?! What were you thinking? You could have been injured!" Thorin started to scold gruffly while frantically looking Kili over with a critical eye.
"Kili! Are you okay little brother?" Fili asked Kili as soon as he was at his brother's side and quickly gripped his upper arm.
Both of the older dwarfs were looking at their youngest in concern, when Kili suddenly burst out laughing uncontrollably. "That was fun! Can I do it again Uncle?" Kili asked giggling the whole time.
Thorin shook his head slowly and looked at Kili in amazement. He was expecting a scared little dwarf wanting to go home after his fall and very near miss with the ground. Not a request to try to fall again!
"No Kili you will not try that again! You could have been seriously hurt. If I had not been able to catch you in time you could have broken an arm or been injured in some other way. Do you understand how lucky you are Kili?"
Kili had stopped laughing and looked up at his Uncle, his brown eyes sparkling. "Yes Uncle, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to almost get hurt."
"It's alright Kili I know it was an accident, but if you or Fili ever find yourself in that kind of situation and there is no one there to catch you I want you to try to roll with the fall. Do you think you can do that?"
Fili and Kili both quickly agreed, nodding their heads firmly. "One other thing boys," Thorin said in a strong tone, making both of his nephews look at him instantly. "Let us not tell your Mother about this, I wouldn't want to worry her."
After a "yes Uncle" from both boys Thorin released Kili only to have Fili pull him into a tight embrace seconds later. Thorin chuckled as he overheard the small lecture Kili was receiving from his older brother about not falling and hurting himself…ever…again.
"Alright boys I think that is enough excitement for one day of training, let us head back home."
Fili and Kili started to object but their Uncle held up a hand to quiet their protests. He then positioned himself in front of his nephews, holding them at arm's length.
"There is one more thing I want to explain to you both, but I must have your undivided attention." Thorin said looking at both of his nephew in turn.
"Yes Uncle Thorin," Fili and Kili answered together.
Thorin smiled lightly at his beloved nephews before continuing, "If either of you are ever in a dangerous situation, where there is no adult around to help you. I want you to use some of what I taught you today, but you must not hesitate. The most important thing is to keep each other safe. You must protect the ones you love and rely on one another's strengths. Do you understand?"
Fili and Kili nodded their heads in understanding, clinging to their wooden swords tightly, and determination shining brightly in their eyes.
"Good lads, now that's get moving. I don't think your Mother will be happy with me if I make you boys late for dinner." Thorin said as he lifted a giggling Kili into his arms and held out his other hand for Fili to take.
After Thorin, Fili and Kili arrived home they could smell the delicious dinner that was waiting for them. The boys quickly ran to the kitchen table to tell their Mother all about their training and all the new things their Uncle taught them. They talked all through dinner with such energy that could not be matched by any creature in middle earth and by the end of their retelling of the day's adventures it was time for Thorin to leave for his job.
"Are you sure you have ta go Uncle Thorin?" Kili asked sadly, as if he was trying to stop from crying.
Thorin was standing in front of the door with his bag in hand, but quickly dropped to hug his nephews tightly. "Yes Kili I must leave, but I will be soon."
Kili pulled back from his Uncle and looked at him with tears in his eyes, sniffling and voice cracking, "Promise?"
Thorin chuckled at his nephew. Kili was in that stage in life where everything had to be a promise or it did not count. "Yes Kili I promise." Thorin then leaned in and kiss Kili head before releasing him and turning to Fili.
Fili was standing a step back from his Uncle with his hands behind his back and his head held high, trying to look brave.
Thorin smiled at his nephew and motioned for Fili to come closer, which he did. When Fili was just in front of him, Thorin placed his hand on Fili shoulders and placed their foreheads together.
"I need you to look after your Brother and Mother while I'm away. I know you can do it, as long as you remember what I showed you today. I will be back as soon as I can Fili."
Fili nodded his head cautiously, "I will Uncle Thorin."
"Good lad." Thorin said with a smile. He then leaned in to kiss the top of Fili's head before standing up.
Dis walked over to Thorin and gave her brother a strong hug. As they were hugging Thorin whisper quietly to his sister, "Take care of them Dis. I could not bare it if either of them were hurt."
Dis pulled back just enough to face her brother, "Nor I Thorin. I will keep them safe until you return. Please take care of yourself. I know how you can be when you're working brother."
Thorin chuckled while nodding his head in agreement. "I will make sure I come back in one piece Dis. You worry far too much for me."
"It is a sister's job to worry about her foolishly stubborn brother. Now you should get going before it becomes too dark."
Thorin hesitated a moment before pulling away from his sister and picked up his traveling bags. He took one more look at each of his family members and then he turned to leave.
As he was leaving the house Thorin heard his little nephew's voice laced with tears. "I love you Uncle Thorin!" Kili cried and Fili soon followed with his own statement of love and a goodbye.
Thorin turned back around and saw Dis holding a now crying Fili and Kili and his heart clenched with a strong desire to stay. Thorin could not explain it, but there was a small feeling of dread seeping deep into his stomach that did not make sense. Thorin had left for many jobs before, but for some reason this time felt different. Thorin pushed the feeling to the back of his mind, thinking he was just becoming too soft when it came to his nephews.
The dwarf King without a Kingdom cleared his voice, "Be good for your Mother boys." He ordered back, still trying to shake the feeling in his gut. Thorin was definitely was getting too soft, he never seemed to be able to handle his nephews crying.
In the distances Thorin could hear Dwalin call out for him to get a move on. So with one last longing look Thorin turned and left his family.
The boys cried into Dis's dress long after they could no longer see Thorin and Dwalin's retreating backs. The dwarf Mother tried unsuccessfully to quell her babies' tears, when she suddenly remembered something very important.
"Now, now do not cry my sweet boys. I know something that will cheer you right up."
Intrigued by their Mother's statement Fili and Kili stopped crying and looked at her curiously.
"What do you say to a little dessert and then a nice bedtime story?"
The young brother's faced each other as smiles grew on their little faces and they had one of their many silent conversions, "Yea, Sweet Cakes!" They cheered together and as soon as Dis put them on the ground they raced off to the kitchen and their delicious prize.
Three weeks later:
"FILI, KILI what happened to the herbs cabinet?!" Dis bellowed down the hall. She was currently standing in front of what was left of her herb cabinet in the kitchen. The cabinet door was knocked off of its hinges with indents and splintered wood everywhere.
At their Mother's call Fili and Kili both came racing into the kitchen and slid to a halt behind her. Kili slid a little too quickly so Fili had to grab the back of his younger brother's shirt to prevent him from sliding straight into one of the table's legs.
"Yes Mother?" Fili asked innocently,
"Fili what has happened to my herb cabinet and do not say I don't know, because I know you do." Dis's voice was stern and had an edge of annoyance to it. She placed her hands on her hips and waited for her son's answer, but it was her youngest that answered her first.
"It was a cave troll Mama, we had to slay it!" Kili spoke with high energy bouncing lightly on his feet.
Dis pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration, "I am not sure how much more my furniture can take of you two wielding those wooden swords."
"We're sorry Mother, me and Kili will try to be more careful." Fili promised his Mother and Kili quickly agreed.
Kili shifted his feet nervously, "Mama when is Uncle Thorin going to be back?"
"Uncle said he would be back quickly, so he should be home soon, right Mother?" Fili asked with hope clear in his blue eyes.
Dis sighed heavily, her boys had asked this very question every day since their Uncle left three weeks ago and it was starting to drive her mad. The only way to get any peace recently was when Fili and Kili were distracted, which usually meant one of her pieces of furniture had to be sacrifice to their sword training. Dis thought that if she could find another way to distract her young sons she might be able to have some furnishings left when her brother returned.
Unexpectedly an idea came to Dis that just might take her sons' mind off of their Uncle's unknown return. "I do not know when your Uncle will be finished with his job, but I have an idea for what we can do tomorrow. Would you like to hear it?"
Fili and Kili each replied with an enthusiastic yes which had Kili jumping up and down excitedly.
"How about we have a family picnic outside of the mountain? If the weather allows it, we could go down by the river."
"Could we bring our swords Mother?" Fili asked quickly, clearly excited for the idea of a picnic.
"Yes Fili you both can bring your swords, it would be a nice break for my furniture."
Both Fili and Kili jumped about the room in joy and together ran to quickly hug their Mother in thanks.
Dis returned the hug happily, "Alright it seems we have a big day tomorrow. Go get ready for bed before I change my mind."
"Yes Mama!"
"Yes Mother!"
Dis watched her sons run to their bedroom and laughed quietly to herself. "Well tomorrow should be interesting."
I hope you all have enjoyed reading chapter four. Next chapter will be the end of this prequel story and I will be posting the sequel to A Family Broken very soon after I have this finished. I have already written the first chapter and am extremely excited for the sequel story. I can't wait to post it and hear everyone's thoughts. Review! Let me know what you thought about chapter four! Have you already read A Family Broken? Are you excited for the sequel? Thanks for reading!