Chapter 3
A peat fire popped and crackled in the hearth of a stone fireplace giving off a pleasant warmth that Kili couldn't help but lean into. Thick woolen blankets had been tossed over both his and Fili's shoulders by an elderly dwarrow-dame.
Kili spared a glance at his brother. Fili's eyes never wavered from the fire in front of him but he had managed to bring a little color back into his face.
Kili had seen this behavior before in the weeks after the battle. Fili would get this blank expression on his face as he stared off into the distance.
He hadn't said a word since they left the woods and were shuffled into the dwarven settlement. Which was Ered Luin by the way, Kili thought proudly. But he had no time to relish in his triumph.
Fili's doppelganger had lead them to Bombur's tavern and plopped them down in front of the fire before setting off again. Leaving Kili with a mountain of question that he wasn't sure he would find answers too. First and foremost being why had Fili called the blond dwarf Da?
Kili had never known their father, he had died in an orc attack shortly before he was born. So why would Fili have gotten so worked up over a stranger? Perhaps the dwarf could be a relative of their late father? They hadn't really known that side of the family so it was a possibility and no one could argue the striking resemblance to Fili.
Kili had turned to his brother to explain his theory when the door swung open and the blonde dwarf walked in followed closely behind by Thorin Oakenshield.
Kili's eyes widened at the sight. That was impossible. Thorin was in Erebor; he had been nowhere near them when they had found the stone so how was it possible that he was here now?
As Thorin made his way closer to them Kili noticed something off about his uncle. He looked...young. Far younger than Kili had ever seen him. His face seemed softer and no gray had found it's way into his dark black hair.
The two of them pulled up a stool and sat down in front of the fire. Kili could only continue to stare at his uncle with slack jaw. Fili had managed to rouse himself enough to join them but the little color he had in his cheeks had gone again leaving him frightfully pale.
The blonde dwarf mistook Kili's confusion for fear.
"We aren't going to harm you," he said softly. "Vili of Ered Luin, at your service," he nodded his head in a small bow. Kili let out an involuntary squeak of surprise in response.
Vili, his father. It was impossible. He was dead, he died seventy-seven years ago. He was not sitting here in front of them.
Unless...Oh Mahal what have they done? Kili's breath came in sharp hard pants as he thought back to the stone he carried in his pack. He thought it was used for transportation and he guessed in a way it was, transportation through time.
Kili swayed on his stool and Vili reached out a hand to steady him.
"Hey, easy now. Deep breaths. Can we get some water?" The last part was shouted to someone behind the bar who quickly worked to do as they were asked. A moment later a cup of cool water had been placed to Kili's lips and he drank eagarly.
"I imagine you've had a bit of a fright tonight." Yeah you could say that again. "Two orcs and a warg are a lot for anyone to take on unarmed. Though you did surprisingly well given your age."
Kili blinked. He had almost forgotten about the scuffle with the orcs. Was that what Vili thought they were reacting to? Well it would be easier to go along with that explanation than to try and explain what was really the matter.
"What are your names?" Thorin asked, speaking for the first time since he arrived.
Kili floundered. He hadn't thought about alias' and he certainly couldn't tell then their real names.
"I'm...uh...um...Bain," he said thinking of King Bard of Dale's son. "And this is my brother...uh...Bilbo." That earned him a sharp glare from Fili but he didn't argue.
"Not very dwarfish names," Thorin said, raising an eyebrow. "Where are you from?"
"The Iron Hills," Kili said at the same time Fili blurted out, "Ered Mithrin." Kili cringed.
"The Iron Hills originally," he quickly said, trying to salvage their story before it all fell apart. "But we move around a lot. Go from here to there. We're a bit nomadic."
Thorin nodded slowly and Kili hoped he believed their story. There were only a few times he had even been able to get away with lying to his uncle and he prayed to the gods that this would be one of those times.
"We had come to the Blue Mountains looking for work," he added in. "Only we got lost."
"You traveled all the way from the Grey Mountains without weapons?"
"We sorta lost those too." That's it. They were finished; outed as frauds and would probably be boiled in hot oil or something equally dramatic.
Thankfully Vili stepped in before Thorin could say anything. "You must be tired from your journey. I'll speak with the inn keep and see if you could stay here for the night."
He got up from his stool and dragged Thorin to a corner. They spoke in low tones but Kili had sharp ears and could hear parts of what they were saying.
"I don't trust them," Thorin had said making Kili frown.
How's that for family loyalty for you. Kili had to remind himself that this was not the same Thorin who helped raise them and after the frankly diastrous talk Kili wasn't sure if he had been in Thorin position that he would have trusted him either.
"You don't trust anybody," Vili stated.
"With good reason," Thorin grumbled.
"Perhaps Dis could get them to open up," Vili suggested. Thorin shook his head.
"Don't bring her into this. She already has enough on her plate with raise Fili and having another one on the way. Besides, if they are dangerous I don't want them anywhere near her."
"I doubt they are dangerous Thorin, they are just boys, barely older than dwarflings by the look of it."
"That's plenty old enough." Vili crossed his arms.
"Now don't you start getting broody with me Thorin Oakenshield or I'll have Dis whack you with her rolling pin." Kili covered his mouth to muffle his snort of laughter, hoping they didn't hear it.
"These orcs concern me, Vili. They are growing bolder and getting too close to the settlement."
"We'll be fine, Thorin. I know you won't let anything happen to our people. Now come on, let's get these boys settled in for the night. I want to be home in time to tuck Fili in."
They made their way back to the fireplace and Kili quickly averted his attention to his cup of water.
"The inn keep is preparing a room for you. You will have to share but there are two beds."
Kili nodded and patted down his pockets for his coin purse only to remember he had left it in his room that morning. He doubted Fili would have brought his either seeing as neither of them thought they would need it.
A sudden idea popped into his head and he dug around in his pack, pulling out one of the twin sapphires he found earlier.
"Will this cover the cost?"
A single lantern burned on the nightstand between them as Fili and Kili readied themselves for bed. The thin mattresses weren't nearly as soft as their beds back in Erebor but if was better than sleeping on the cold, hard ground.
"Paying for the room with a sapphire probably wasn't the best way to remain inconspicuous, Kili." Kili shrugged his shoulders as he remember the way Vili and Thorin's eyes bugged out of their head when they caught sight or the jewel.
"It was all I had. Besides we can get plenty more when we get home."
"If we get home," Fili corrected. "What if we're stuck here?"
"Then there will be two of each of us running around. Imagine the mischief we could get up to then." Fili bopped him with his pillow.
"This is serious, Kili."
Kili nodded his expression growing solemn. They had to get home. They didn't belong in this world, not any longer. They were princes of Erebor and while that didn't really hold any weight with Kili he did miss his uncle and his friends.
His thoughts turned to his father. So many times he had wondered what he was like, so many questions he had wanted to ask and now he could. Except he didn't think he wanted to.
He knew what was coming; the orc attack that would end his life. He knew of the heartbreak his mother and brother endured because of it. He watched them year after year. Did he really want to be apart of that? Was the little time he had with his father really worth the suffering his lose would bring? Kili really didn't know the answer to that.
They say that ignorance is bliss and Kili is starting to believe they're right.
Kili rolled over in his bed to stare at Fili. As hard as this was for Kili, he couldn't imagine what Fili was going through. You never think you will ever have the chance to be with someone again after they are gone. You can spend your whole life wishing for one more day with those you love and now Fili has that opportunity.
But is it a blessing or a curse because all too soon that one day will end and you will be left with a bigger hole in your heart than what you started with.
Kili sighed and burrowed down into his blankets. He had no doubt that the coming days would be hard and heartbreaking, it would be best to get some sleep while he could. Reaching up he turned down the lantern, plunging the room into darkness.