Ere the Sun Rises
Part Two
Kili woke from his sleep to find himself wrapped in their blanket instead of curled up against his brother's warm fur. It was very late in the afternoon and when he sat up and saw no sign of Fili, he started to worry. Did Fili regret what had happened? Had he left him?
No! What was he thinking? Fili would never abandon him. Only…where was he? Kili had had about ten minutes to worry when he finally heard the soft pad of his brother's paws against the snow. He already had a fire built by the time Fili dragged what remained of an elk carcass into their little clearing. Fili had already eaten his fill, but he nudged the meat in Kili's direction, as if to ask, 'Hungry?'
Kili laughed out loud, coming to his brother and scratching the fur behind his ears. "Thank you," he said, kissing his nose before moving to make himself some dinner.
The silence between them was comfortable as Kili ate his meal, occasionally tossing his brother chunks of cooked meat, but as the sun sank lower and lower, they both began to get more and more anxious. When would it happen? When could they be together again?
Kili could tell they were both on pins and needles when the nightly transformation didn't happen immediately. Fili was growling low in his throat as the light faded, pacing anxiously about the space while Kili sat before the dying fire, rocking anxiously back and forth. Why wasn't anything happening? The transformation should have happened already. That was when he remembered.
"The blindfold!" he cried out as he leapt to his feet. He'd been so eager to have this night, so desperate to finally be with Fili, he'd forgotten about the small strip of cloth that protected them both. Perhaps some secret, rebellious part of his heart had hoped for a glimpse of the face he missed so much. Before he could make it back to his pack, though, a loud, threatening growl from his brother stopped him.
Slowly, Kili turned to look at Fili. His brother was facing him, body crouched as if ready to spring and teeth bared menacingly. More unnerving than all of this, though, were his eyes. Kili could normally see his brother in his eyes. He didn't know how, but he could still see the dwarf he knew and loved in the eyes of the white bear. He couldn't see that now. Fili was gone. A bear was staring at him...and if that bear hadn't just eaten, Kili felt almost certain he would be dead already.
"Fili?" he called softly, uncertain. This had only ever happened once before…back when Fili had first turned…and he had been able to call him back then. Could he do it again?
The bear stalked toward him slowly, still growling low, and Kili didn't move…didn't dare to. One wrong move could be the end of everything. When the bear reached him, though, it didn't attack. Instead, it bent its massive head low against his body, nuzzling against him…right up against his groin.
Kili was almost shocked to acknowledge hot threads of pleasure shooting through his body at the contact…shocked and a little ashamed. Should he enjoy a touch like that so much…if it was a bear giving it to him? It wasn't just the touch, though…he knew that in his heart. It was because he knew this was Fili…in spite of everything…after so many years, he knew his brother wanted him just as badly as he wanted him…and it was that knowledge, he knew, that aroused him. He didn't have much time to think on any of this, though, as the bear continued to nuzzle him, rubbing its nose against his body, drawing several tiny gasps and cries from him. Unthinkingly, Kili began to rut gently against the point of pressure…and even though he didn't realize it, the bear was pushing him across the campsite…toward their bedding.
Kili had lost awareness of most everything else in his body's sudden jump to full arousal. He didn't become coherent again until the bear pushed a little harder, sending him tumbling back onto the fur blankets.
"Fili…Fili…" he cried out, reaching hands down to undo his belt and expose himself. Despite the cold air, he was fully hard, raw and red with desire. Neither of them could hold back anymore.
Nodding several times in approval, the bear bent its head over his body, sniffing at his arousal. Kili began to writhe just from the feel of the bear's warm breath against his cock. Then it stretched out its tongue to lick the hot length of flesh and Kili actually screamed, bucking up against the bear's mouth. Never had he felt a sensation so intense, not once in all his life.
The bear was gentle in its movements, despite Kili's writhing, making certain not to harm the tender flesh with its lethal teeth, only caressing every inch of it with its tongue. As Kili moved beneath the bear, the young dwarf haphazardly began to remove his clothing, stripping out of his layers of coats and tunics, until his chest was finally laid bare. Smelling the new flesh, the bear quickly moved up his body, tongue licking hot rough circles along his stomach muscles…then up to his nipples and neck. Again, Kili nearly screamed in pleasure. He couldn't care if this was right or wrong anymore. He wanted this too much…needed it too much. It felt so good.
When the bear moved its mouth back down to his cock, Kili reached up, grabbing handfuls of the bear's luscious fur in tight fists as it continued to go down on him. At this rate, he knew he couldn't possibly last much longer…and was proven right when he came violently into the bear's mouth, screaming his brother's name.
For several moments, he just lay there, panting, feeling the warm fur above and below him and the utter bliss that racked his body. He felt as if he'd melted and then somehow reformed. It took him a long while to realize that the bear was still crouching over him. Briefly, he caught a glimpse of the bear's own arousal…and suddenly began to feel nervous. Did…did Fili mean to just take him…like this? Even in his haze of lust, he knew his body couldn't take that. It would break him.
"Fili?" he whispered nervously, looking into the bear's eyes…and finally, those black eyes flickered and he could see his brother within them once more. Fili shook his head, whining as the transformation finally started to happen. Suddenly fearful, Kili clamped his eyes shut.
The younger dwarf breathed a sigh of relief when his brother was sitting atop him, his naked flesh pressed against his own. The only barriers that remained between them were Kili's trousers and long johns, pushed down only past his thighs.
"Kili! Kili, are you all right?!" his brother demanded frantically, leaning down over him. For a moment, he wished he would open his eyes, even though he knew he couldn't.
"I…I'm fine. It's all right," he said softly, digging his fingers into the solid muscles of his brother's legs.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. The transformation wasn't happening and I just…I lost myself. I didn't hurt you?"
"No…it…it was very…pleasant," he said, feeling his face flush, knowing that word fell far short of what he'd truly experienced beneath his brother, but speaking didn't really seem to be his strong suit at the moment.
"Are you…sure you're okay?"
Kili nodded, still keeping his eyes shut. He was more than okay. In fact, with his brother sitting on top of him the way he was, he was already starting to feel hot again. Only…there was one thing he needed before they could continue.
"I…I want you, Fili. I'm ready. I want you to take me proper…but I need the blindfold first."
Kili literally felt Fili sag over him. "Do…do we have to? I hate that damn blindfold. Kili, I…I want to see your face…as much as I possibly can," he said, reaching a hand down to stroke his brother's cheek. Kili shook his head, feeling sadness well up in his heart.
"You know why we can't do that. I won't lose you so soon after finding you. I want…to see your face, too, Nadadel. It's been so long…since I've seen those lovely eyes…but I can't…and I don't trust myself…not to give into temptation, or lose control in a moment of weakness. Maybe we'll be able to do it without the blindfold…someday…but right now…I need it. Please."
Smiling sadly down at his brother, Fili finally sighed and reached toward his pack, drawing out the length of black cloth and tying it securely around Kili's eyes. The younger dwarf didn't relax until the knot was secured.
"Thank you, Fili," he said, drawing several shaky breaths. For several moments, Fili just watched him breathe, taking in the beauty of him beneath him before leaning over him, his lips hovering mere inches from his brother's.
"Despite your lack of confidence in yourself…I want you to know that I trust you. I have faith that you will uphold our grandfather's terms…even unto your dying breath. My faith is with you, Kili. It always has been and always shall be."
Kili drew a shuddering breath at these words, his body trembling with desire at having his brother so close to him. He was ready…ready to be filled…to be taken…to feel their bodies connect as he had dreamed of for so long. He was ready to fulfill the ancient covenant of their bloodline…to receive Fili's desire and to nurture it inside his own body until the seeds they planted together bore fruit. He was ready to love Fili…and to follow him into the unknown.
"Fili…I'm ready. I'm ready to be yours. Take me," he hissed harshly against his lover's ear, grinding up against the groin that pressed lightly against his. Fili gasped at the contact, feeling heat surge through his body, the lust of both the bear and the dwarf in him snarling for release. He barely had enough presence of mind to reach back into Kili's pack for the vial of oil he used to treat his weapons. Preparation was sloppy at best, but neither cared. Kili underwent a cursory stretching at his brother's hands and before too long, he was naked, splayed out on their fur bedding with Fili buried deep in his body.
Kili groaned in pleasure as Fili moved in him, clumsily moving his hips up to meet his brother's. He had nowhere near spent the desire he'd carried with him for so many years. If anything, Fili's actions as a bear had spurred his desire to even greater heights. It didn't take much for Fili to get him hard again.
"Hnngh…mm…Nadad…" Fili moaned, enveloped in the tight heat of his little brother's body. No lover before had ever felt like this. Maybe…maybe he really could reach his true full with Kili?
"Fili…Fili…" the younger cried out softly. Lacking the ability of sight, he could only feel what Fili was doing to his body, and the sensation was heightened that much more by it. He could feel every point of contact between his skin and Fili's, could feel the delicate sheen of sweat that clung to his body, along with the cold night air and the warm fur that embraced his body from beneath. He could feel Fili's hands…at his shoulders…at his hips…that warm, tight, wet place where their bodies joined. He could feel each movement as his brother's hot, hard length slid in and out of him…felt each thrust and a dull burn as virgin muscles were plied open with pleasure. He felt Fili's lips on his, warm and full and sweet…everything he'd ever dreamed of…and he felt the gentle whisper of air as Fili breathed his name against his skin.
"Kili…Brother…lover…my life…I love you…love you so."
"Say…say my name," he pleaded in between each panted breath. "Call my name once more. Say…my name…"
"Kili…Kili…Kili…Kili!" he cried over and over again, until the syllables of his name blended together in one long cry of passion. As Fili moved in his brother, he felt himself reborn…as if something were finally coming together…becoming right after a lifetime of being so horribly wrong. The universe seemed to fall into place as he made love to Kili. It was with that blissful cry on his lips that he finally came, spilling deep inside his brother, their bond at last complete. His orgasm was so intense, he almost didn't feel the pulse of Kili's own release against his belly. All he was aware of was the harmony of Kili's cry with his…and that they were soon lying tangled up in each other, their furs sticky with the fruits of their tryst.
As they slowly fell back to their separate selves from the height of their coupling, Fili pressed several gentle kisses to Kili's strong jaw, reveling in the feel of his baby brother's rough stubble against his lips. He wasn't able to move much more than that and Kili didn't seem able to move at all. He just lay in his brother's arms, limbs turned to jelly.
"Fili?" he finally murmured.
"Hmm?"
"Do you…really think I could get pregnant?" he asked, his voice shaky with pale hope. His body was still trembling with the force of the orgasm.
"You must," he said quietly, soothingly. "If I choose someone in love…that someone will bear my child. This must be so. I felt it. When we were together, I felt us. The ancient magic is true. It still lives. There will be a child…our child, Kili. I know it."
Neither spoke after this. They were both so overcome by the emotion of the moment, they devolved into silent tears, sharing gentle kisses and caresses until they at last fell asleep in each other's arms…a more peaceful sleep than either brother had known for a long time.
XxX
It started slowly…little things. The younger prince rose later in the mornings and his moods would shift quite suddenly. He would sleep more, taking little naps throughout the day. He ate more; he didn't at first notice this, but his brother did, being the one to bring in the extra meat. It was nearly two months after their first night together that the younger prince began throwing up in the mornings. His brother feared he was ill again, but the young prince new the signs. He had asked their papa about his own pregnancies many times. He suspected, hoped, prayed…and when at last his flat belly began to swell, he knew for certain. He was carrying his brother's child.
The older prince tried to convince him to return home in order to deliver their child in safety, but the young dwarf was having none of that. He was, after all, still not quite willing to let go of his anger at their parents. Besides, his brother's argument seemed to be forgotten almost every night when they curled up together, hands intertwined over the growing swell of his stomach. They would often spend their nights trying to come up with names for the baby. The younger prince was nearing the sixth month of his pregnancy when he felt the first real stirrings of the new life in his body.
XxX
Fili was trundling along with Kili on his back when it happened. While Kili still refused to return home, Fili did insist on aiming their wanderings in a more southerly direction, in case he should come to his senses. He was moving along at a nice, easy pace when he suddenly felt Kili's fingers dig into the thick fur at his neck.
"Fili, stop," he ordered.
Fili did so, immediately looking back over his shoulder, as if to ask what was wrong. Kili's face was lit with wonder as he met his gaze.
"Fili, he…he kicked," Kili said, an amazed smile spreading across his face as his hands traveled from Fili's neck up to his belly. "I…I felt him move."
The singular focus that Fili typically moved with during the day quickly shifted to joy. He quickly knelt down, allowing Kili to slide off his back and come around to face him. Most people would find the sight of a dwarf grabbing a gigantic white bear's ears and pulling his head against his stomach to be strange and probably suicidal on the dwarf's part, but that was exactly what Kili did. He pulled Fili's massive head close against his body, allowing him to feel the tiny kicks. Fili's heart beat a little faster at the sensation and he desperately wished that he could weep in this moment…weep for the joy of it. Their baby…their little child…kicking. All he could do to show Kili how happy he was was rub his head gently against his belly and low quietly, sending the vibrations of his great bear voice through his brother's much smaller frame. Kili shuddered in pleasure at the sensation, laughing quietly as he bent down to kiss his nose.
"Your son, Fili…your son…ours," he said quietly, his eyes bright with joy.
Yours and mine…he's going to be beautiful.
Unfortunately, the moment they were wrapped up in such joy was also the moment Fili smelled danger…another white bear. Immediately, he bared his teeth and began to growl, turning in the direction the scent was coming from and keeping his large body between Kili and harm.
"What's wrong? What is it?" Kili asked, concern filling his voice as he followed Fili's gaze, one hand moving protectively to his belly and the other tangling in his brother's fur for comfort.
There was nothing yet in sight across the snowy field, but Fili knew there was another white bear, and undoubtedly that bear had a scent on him, too…and a scent on Kili. Their situation would mean nothing to this animal. All it would understand was that another bear had prey with it…pregnant, helpless prey. This bear would overtake them before too long, as it would be unhindered and Fili would be carrying Kili. He didn't necessarily need to outrun it, though. All he really needed was to reach the forest that he knew lay just over the next two rises. So he knelt once more, urging Kili to climb back onto his back. He couldn't explain any of this to him, of course. He could only hope his brother understood his urgency.
He seemed to. Kili said nothing, simply climbed back onto his back and held on tight as Fili broke into a run, trusting in him to protect him.
Kili had to cling for dear life as Fili ran full tilt for the forest, but he occasionally managed to glance back, and when Fili crested the last rise, he caught a glimpse of what pursued them. Another white bear was barreling down the previous rise. The sight was so fearsome, the young prince couldn't tear his gaze away and hardly noticed they'd entered the forest. He didn't become aware again until he heard Fili snarling at him. He looked forward to see Fili banging his head incessantly against a large tree.
Climb. Get away.
"What about you?" Kili asked.
Fili's low whine seemed to suggest that he didn't have time to deal with this foolishness and he only bashed his head against the bark harder.
Please. Please! He'll be here soon!
Kili slipped down from his brother's back, but he didn't climb. Instead, he went for his bow and arrows. Exasperated, Fili roared at him…but nothing ever came of it, for that was the moment the other bear slammed into Fili's side, ramming him into the tree. Then it turned its attention to Kili, who took several steps back as the bear advanced on him, growling low. Before too long, Kili found himself backed up against another tree, nowhere else to run to.
"Fili…Fili…please get up," he begged, not daring to tear his eyes away from his imminent death. The white bear roared, swiping a deadly paw across his chest and gouging out five furrows of bloody red.
It was Kili's cry of pain that woke Fili from his daze. When he saw the white bear about to close its killing jaws around his brother's throat, he immediately burst forward and rammed the other bear away. Despite his new injuries, Kili immediately climbed the tree, scrambling up as high as he could without fear of the branches breaking.
Fili and the other bear circled each other, snarling and baring their teeth at each other. Then they lunged, snapping, biting, tearing, delivering what would have been devastating blows to any dwarf. Kili tried to aim his bow, but he could no longer tell which was which without looking into their eyes.
"Fili, please…please be all right," he prayed, clinging to his branch, fighting his way through the pain of his wound.
For several minutes, the fight raged fiercely, but one bear did ultimately triumph, sending the other limping away whimpering. The victor looked up at Kili with the black animal eyes that terrified him. Surely…surely Fili wouldn't just walk away if defeated? Only…what if he had? What f he'd been lost again? He would just decide the fight wasn't worth it and walk away, forgetting all about who he was…all about Kili and the baby. Which bear was this?
"Fili?" he called softly, anxiously, unable to help hissing in pain. "Fili…please…"
Once again, his sound of pain called to his brother and the bear blinked several times and the dwarf returned to the black gaze. He shook his head, whining anxiously as he rubbed his head against the tree.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Kili began to carefully make his way out of the tree. When he was finally on solid ground again, he leaned heavily against his brother's large body.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
Fili chuffed in what might have been annoyance or outright anger. Unable to properly express either, though, he just knelt, offering to carry Kili to a place they could rest, and though he tried, the younger dwarf just couldn't manage to climb anymore. He wasn't even sure how he'd got down from the tree, what with fire shooting through his chest every time he moved. Instead, he leaned against Fili and the two of them walked until they found a decent thicket of young trees to set up their bedding in.
By then it was nearly dark, so once Kili had gotten their little camp set up, he crawled into the relative safety of the thicket, carefully stripping out of his upper layers of clothing and tying the blindfold around his eyes. He heard the transformation happen, then heard Fili busying himself about the fire. Before too long, he could smell smoked rabbit warming over the flames. Then he felt Fili crawl into the thicket with him.
"Lie down," his brother ordered tersely. Kili did so and soon felt the sting of his wounds being cleaned.
"They're not too deep…these gouges," Fili explained as he wrapped the injuries in clean bandages. "Should heal fine. We'll just…keep them clean."
On the last word, Fili's voice seemed to pitch a little higher. Turning his head sharply up to his brother, Kili searched for him with blind fingers. When his fingertips finally brushed against Fili's cheeks, he felt wetness there.
"Fili…Fili, why are you crying?"
"Because I'm…angry with you…so…angry," he snarled quietly, his own voice beginning to fade away beneath his pain and anger.
"Fili, please, I…I didn't-"
"Could have died!" he shouted at him, shoving his hands away. "You could've died! You and the…the baby…"
"I'm sorry…Sannadad…I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice thick with pain and regret. "I just…I wasn't thinking."
"Kili…can't we just go home? It…it isn't…safe…out here. I want you to be safe…both of you. If anything…happened to you…I wouldn't survive," he said, taking Kili's hand in his and pressing his lips to the palm, offering gentle worship to the center of his existence.
"Oh, Fili…Fili…" the younger prince lamented for several moments, pulling his brother into his arms. For a long while, the two brothers just held each other, touching, kissing, and crying…confirming that the other one still existed through touch.
They held to each other like that until whatever Fili had going over the fire began to bubble and spit. Fili quickly crawled back out of the thicket and before long, Kili felt a warm bowl placed in his hands. He heard the slosh of liquid and smelled the hardy scent of broth from the dish.
"How did you…make broth?" he asked faintly, inhaling the delicious aroma with a tiny shudder of pleasure.
"Threw together those…those spices you had…from the last village. It's…not much…but I know you like…to have soup…when you're sick."
Kili laughed quietly at this, feeling several more tears squeeze their way from his eyes.
"Careful. Soup doesn't…need more salt," Fili teased, gently wiping the tears away.
Kili sniffled, nodding as he smiled at his brother. "You're right. Fili…thank you for this…thank you."
Rather than waste more words, Fili leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Eat."
Kili did so, though it was a bit of a chore with the blindfold on. Ultimately, Fili had to take over, spoon-feeding him the remainder of the rabbit broth. Once they'd both eaten and the fire had burned low, they curled up together, Fili cradling Kili close, his hands intertwined with his brother's over the swell of his growing belly.
"Fili?" he called quietly, just as the blond was finally drifting off.
"Mm?"
"I…I've been thinking…about Father and Papa…about what I said to them…that day. Since…since we'll be parents ourselves in only a few months…it's made me think of what we would do to keep this child safe. Well…we would do whatever we had to, and they…maybe it seemed to them they were doing what was best…and I can't fault them for that…for trying to protect you from the truth," Kili said haltingly.
"So…what are you saying?" Fili asked, feeling his grip on his little brother tighten just a little more.
"I think…I'm ready to go back. I don't want Thrain to keep us apart anymore…and I want our son to be born in a proper bed…safe…protected…just like you said."
For several moments, Fili was silent, and just when Kili was starting to be afraid, he felt his brother's lips press against the back of his neck, laying several kisses to the sensitive flesh.
"Thank you. Thank you," he whispered against his neck. "I was only an inch away from just taking you back myself, whether you liked it or not. I'm so glad. We'll leave in the morning. It shouldn't take more than a few weeks to get back. Kili…thank you."
"Well, this is your son, too," he said, laughing gently as Fili cradled him close once more. He had known his brother would be overjoyed that he was finally willing to return to the land where they'd been born. What he hadn't anticipated was his own feeling of relief. The knowledge that the baby would be born in as much safety as they could possibly offer, surrounded by people who loved him. The curse wasn't broken just yet, but they were well on their way.
Yes…it was time to go home.
XxX
Kili had to admit he enjoyed seeing the expressions on people's faces as he came riding into the capitol astride the back of a great white bear. They knew who they were, of course, but no one had seen them leave three years ago, so he knew he and Fili were quite a sight to behold.
He could practically see the whispers traveling ahead of them, through the streets, all the way up to the castle, so that by the time Fili padded up to the main gate, their father was already out front, waiting for them.
So far as Kili knew, Thorin Oakenshield had never wept in his life, but he now looked like he might, eyes bright and bloodshot with the effort of not weeping.
Kili laughed, feeling moisture in his own eyes as he half-tumbled off of Fili's back and into his father's arms.
"My boys…my boys…where have you been, my sons?" Thorin murmured in his ear as he held him close.
"Father…Father…" he whispered over and over again, not realizing how much he'd missed him until this moment.
After their father had embraced them both thoroughly, he stood back to have a look at Fili, one hand resting on Kili's shoulder.
"What has happened to the two of you? Why have you returned? Did…did you find no way to break the curse?" he asked, sounding worried.
"No…we have found the way," Kili began slowly. This was the part that he feared. Even though they both knew their bond was sealed and could not be broken (Kili's pregnancy being the indisputable proof of that), they still feared their parents' disapproval. Nothing would ever divide them; they knew that. They would choose each other over their parents if they needed to…but that didn't mean they wanted to.
"Well?"
Taking his father's hand, Kili slowly guided it to his belly, moving it in gentle circles along the swell that was only just visible beneath his clothing.
"It's me. I am the one. I am carrying my brother's child. The…the baby will be born in the spring."
Instead of the disgust and anger the two young princes had half-expected to see, Thorin offered his sons an exasperated smile.
"So it's finally happened. Your papa and I were wondering when the two of you would come to your senses."
Kili couldn't stop his jaw from dropping open at this. "You…you knew?"
"Of course we knew. Did you really think we didn't see the way the two of you looked at each other?"
Fili gave several low growls in what Kili clearly recognized as annoyance, while he gathered the scattered pieces of his composure.
"So you…just let us wander off into the Wild, completely heartbroken…when you knew that we had the secret to breaking the spell all along?" he clarified, not quite sure how he felt about that.
"We couldn't just tell you the two of you were in love; no one can tell you that. It was something you both had to come to on your own. It wouldn't have worked any other way."
"Father?" Kili started, looking around and finally realizing what was missing. "Where's Papa?"
Thorin's face went hard and cold at this. "I…I don't know."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean…that your papa's gone missing. He's been gone nearly three weeks now. There's no sign of what might have happened to him. We've searched high and low."
"Oh…oh, Mahal," Kili whispered in shock.
"The only clue I have…is that the night he vanished, he said he must do something to try and help the two of you. Though how he knew you would soon be returning to us, I will never know."
"Is…is there nothing we can do?"
"If there was, it would have been done already. It seems to me, though…that my hobbit knows what he's doing…and that we will see him again when the time is right. For now, come inside and rest, eat. Surely you must be tired and hungry from your long journey."
Neither prince made any sound as they followed their father back into the home where they'd grown up. They were glad to be home, but also saddened by what they'd come home to. It seemed that their family was breaking…and it was all because of them.
XxX
What the two princes could not have possibly known was that their father knew exactly where his husband was. He was standing beside them, ready to protect them when the need arose. The magic of the halflings the king consort had alluded to so long ago was actually quite formidable when used correctly.
The hobbit folk could pass completely unseen if they so chose, and it was an ability they kept closely guarded. The dwarf king was the first outsider in many centuries to know of it. The two monarchs had planned everything very carefully, for neither truly trusted the former king to keep his word where their sons were concerned. He would try to fore their hand, do everything in his power to see they did not succeed in breaking the curse, no matter how faithful they were to each other. Therefore, they could not allow him to hold all the cards. The king consort would work from the shadows, aiding their fight in secret…and his help would be needed in a way none of them could have foreseen.
XxX
Their son came late, nearly a month late on a stormy day late in April. Despite the foul weather, Kili could not have been happier. It had been a struggle, but their little boy had come into the world smoothly, and he was perfectly healthy…an absolutely perfect little princeling.
Fili remained by Kili's side every moment, even though several of the physicians were still leery of the large white bear, even after all the months the two princes had been home.
As exhausted as he was after the birth, Kili absolutely insisted on holding his son and feeding him his first meal. Fili watched the two of them intently, his great head resting on the bed beside Kili as he breathed in the sweet baby scent.
"He's so beautiful," Kili praised in the time-honored fashion of new mothers everywhere. "Our Duri. I can't wait for you to hold him," he said, tearing his gaze away from Duri to offer his brother a warm smile. Fili lowed quietly as he rubbed his head against the bed.
Only three more years.
When he heard Duri burble against him, Kili remembered and glanced out the window. It was difficult to tell with the storm raging, but he had developed a very acute sense of night and day, and it would be night before too long; he wouldn't risk being caught at sunset. So, pressing a kiss to his son's tiny head, he laid Duri gently in his lap and reached for the familiar strip of black cloth. Securing the blindfold around his eyes, he then picked the baby back up, cradling him close.
The new mother knew it the moment the transformation began. He could actually feel the difference in the air beside him when a dwarf rather than a white bear stood next to him. He heard his brother gasp in wonder when his own eyes took over from the bear's poor ones.
"Oh…Kili…" he breathed.
"I know."
Faintly, Kili heard his brother pull a robe over his naked body before coming to join him in the bed.
"Heh, the little one's fallen asleep already," Fili said softly. Kili felt him reach a hand out to touch the baby's cheek.
"Would…would you like to hold your son?" Kili asked, suddenly feeling inexplicably nervous.
"Yes," Fili said, a trace of nerves in his own voice. Being very careful, he reached over and lifted Duri from Kili's arms, cradling the baby boy gently in his own. Kili smiled when he heard their son burble sweetly in his sleep.
"He…he's really ours…" Fili said quietly, not wanting to wake him. Kili's smile only grew wider as he rested his head on his brother's shoulder.
"Yes…ours…yours and mine."
"Mahal praise," the older prince exulted, leaning forward to press a kiss to their son's forehead. Then he turned his head and pressed another kiss to the top of Kili's head.
"I love you," he whispered against his hair.
"And I love you," he returned, turning to kiss his shoulder, "so much."
Honestly, they both could have gone on just looking at their child forever, but Fili did ultimately make the decision that Kili needed to rest, and so carried Duri to the cradle that stood at the foot of their bed, laying him down to sleep. Then he crawled back into bed with Kili and curled up with him to sleep, finally feeling some small measure of peace.
This night, however, was to be the end of their tenuous peace.
The two brothers were sound asleep when another presence entered their chamber. Bilbo moved silently across the floor, unseen, toward his grandson's cradle. Duri really was a very lovely child and it made Bilbo happy to see the joy he brought his two sons, but when he felt yet another presence moving toward the chamber, he was saddened to realize that joy was already coming to an end. Acting quickly, the king consort reached into the cradle and lifted the baby prince out. Briefly, little Duri cried out, alerting his parents, but by the time they'd shot up from their bed, their son had already vanished beneath their papa's shield of invisibility.
"Duri?" Fili call out.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Kili asked, fumbling blindly about. For a moment, he had to resist the urge to tear the blindfold off.
"Nothing at all, my dear grandsons. I've simply come to have a look at my new great grandson," a painfully familiar voice sounded as its owner appeared beside Duri's cradle.
"Thrain," Fili snarled, moving into a crouch on the bed, teeth bared. The old dwarf just laughed at him.
"Look at you, poor thing. You're more beast than dwarf now. What do you suppose will happen on the day you lose to the beast? Though…even after all that…I suppose you are still beautiful."
Fili might have taken the time to be shocked or worried by his grandfather's words…were it not for the fact that the old dwarf was hovering over his son.
"Get away from him!" Fili growled.
"Ah, ah, ah, ah. Can't have you getting too complacent," the former king chastised, beginning to reach into the cradle.
"I will rip your throat out if you touch him!"
Thrain was about to respond to this when an odd look passed over his face and he withdrew his hand.
"It seems there is no need of promises. Where is the child? Where have you hidden it?" he demanded.
"W-what are you talking about?"
"Duri!" Kili shouted in a panic, throwing himself to the end of the bed and fumbling around in the cradle, only to find it empty. "Fili, he's gone! Duri! Duri!"
Turning his attention from his distraught brother back to their enemy, the blond dwarf growled low in his throat.
"What have you done?"
Thrain glared at him for several moments before answering, "I will gladly take credit when it's due, but in this case, I had nothing to do with it. I never touched the child. It was you yourselves who lost your son."
"What did you do with my baby?!" Kili demanded.
Thrain shook his head, his lips twisting into a mocking sneer he knew Kili couldn't see. "Well, whatever you've done, I will quickly discover the truth of all this," he said, turning to leave.
"Give him back!" Kili screamed, throwing himself in the direction of Thrain's voice…but Thrain vanished in that very moment and Fili caught him before he could fall from the bed.
"Let me go! Let me go!" he shouted at his brother, struggling to get free, but Fili held him tightly, the strength of the bear like iron in his arms.
"He's gone. He's gone, Kili. There's nothing we can do."
Finally surrendering to his brother's grasp, Kili clung to him as he wept in despair.
"Oh…oh, Mahal…Fili! Our son…our little boy! What will we do? What will we do?!" he sobbed as Fili held him.
"I don't know. I don't know," he whispered, running his fingers through Kili's hair, trying to soothe him and knowing he was failing.
"We…we didn't even…have a whole day with him. Why? Why our baby?"
Fili was struggling for an answer when the two brothers suddenly heard sounds from outside their chamber. For a moment, Fili continued to crouch where he was, holding Kili, torn between the fact that he needed to conceal himself and that Kili still needed him, but Kili shook his head, pushing feebly at him.
"Go…go…I won't lose…both of you."
"I'll be right back," Fili promised, pressing a loving kiss to Kili's lips before springing up from their bed and ducking behind a curtain that had been set up for this purpose.
"Fili?" Thorin's voice sounded at the door. "Are you concealed?"
"Yes, Father."
"What happened?" the king asked as he and two guards entered the room. "The guards heard a commotion."
"He…took Duri," Kili cried, not even bothering to conceal his pain. For a moment, Thorin was stricken by the sight of his son, looking so small and helpless, blindfolded and huddled in a sea of rumpled sheets.
"Thrain?" Thorin asked, coming to his son and placing his hands on his shoulders.
"He was here," Fili's voice sounded from behind the curtain. "It was his intention to take Duri…but the baby was already gone by the time he reached for the cradle. I thought I heard him…cry out…just before Thrain appeared."
Glancing around, Thorin found the answer to his curiosity standing by the curtain that concealed their oldest son. Bilbo stood with the babe in his arms, invisible to all but him. Thorin shifted his gaze between his husband and their son, plainly asking why.
"This is the only way to keep the child safe," Bilbo answered, his voice only for Thorin. "If I reveal him now, I won't be able to protect him anymore. Thrain will return…and take him away, and I shudder to think what he might be planning for their son."
Sighing, Thorin embraced his bereft child. He couldn't deny that Bilbo was right.
"Don't fear," he said quietly. "I believe…that wherever your son is…he is safe."
"How can you know that?" Kili asked, his voice harsh and bitter as he wept.
"Well…say whoever did this did so to protect Duri from Thrain. It would stand to reason they wanted the boy kept safe. Perhaps…perhaps we will see him again when this is all over?"
Slowly, Kili nodded, even though tears still streamed down his face. It could just as easily be that someone else had gotten to Duri before Thrain…someone worse…but it was better to believe their son was still alive…better to believe they might see him again someday…better than to give in to despair.
"Yes, that…that's all it is," he sniffled. "Duri will be fine. Someday…someday…"
"Father, would…would you leave? I want to be with my brother," Fili said, his own voice heavy with sorrow.
"Yes…of course. We'll leave you alone," he said, casting one last look at Bilbo before leading the guards from the room.
Once the door had closed, Fili came quietly from behind the curtain, moving back onto the bed with Kili and pulling him into his arms, pressing tender kisses to his face as they cried together.
"We…we'll search for him. We'll do everything we can. We will get Duri back."
Kili didn't say anything. He just let Fili hold him and comfort him, and for a long while, their papa watched over them as best he could.
"I'm sorry," Bilbo said as he cuddled the fussy dwarfling. "You've both suffered enough…and I don't want to bring this on you…these final three years of suffering and despair…but this is the only way."
Neither of his sons could hear him, though, and for several hours they just wept and held each other. It was a long while before they fell asleep, exhausted with their grief.
XxX
In the following months, the two princes searched for their lost son, but could find no trace of him. Their parents were saddened by their suffering, but knew that it was better that the baby prince stay safe.
As the baby grew, the king consort made certain he saw as much of his parents as was possible, made sure he knew they loved him. Sometimes the younger prince could have sworn he'd heard the sound of a child's laughter down the hallway or felt a sticky kiss pressed to his cheek, but he always managed to convince himself it was only his imagination. The older prince sometimes thought he could hear tiny feet padding on the floor beside him or feel a tiny hand curled in his thick fur. Sometimes he could almost swear he could smell his son, the scent of the baby burned into his brain after that one night. Other times he thought he could actually see the boy, but always told himself it was his poor eyes. The two princes were haunted by visions of their child, never knowing he stood right beside them.
The king consort kept his grandson as close with his parents as possible, even though he couldn't show the boy his father's true form. There was one night, though, that the two had to leave the princes' chambers earlier than usual.
XxX
Kili sometimes thought that Fili's bear senses were rubbing off on him, because right now he could almost swear he could smell his brother. It wasn't the heavy, earthy, animal smell, but something that was all Fili…musky and heady and wanting…a scent that took him back to happier times.
Kili was sprawled out on their bed and Fili had his head resting beside him. Kili had been in council with Thorin and his advisors all day. Just because Fili was under a spell and their lives were in pieces didn't mean the day-to-day workings of running the kingdom could stop. The two brothers had to be prepared for the day they would take over from Thorin and Kili did his best to speak for Fili, but it was a daunting task and Kili didn't want to think about the long day anymore. The young prince was vaguely considering sleeping in his clothes when he started to notice the scent. Then he felt Fili begin to nose his hip.
Reaching down, he began to stroke his brother's great head, smiling faintly. Fili chuffed in approval. Kili didn't smile all that much these days.
"Are you tired, too?" he asked, even though the scent filling his nose was quickly pushing aside thoughts of sleep, and that was also clearly the furthest thing from Fili's mind as he began to rub his nose a little further in, creating an insistent friction against Kili's cock. The younger chuckled quietly, gripping his brother's fur a little tighter. "I guess not."
Fili rubbed a little harder, drawing a quiet moan from Kili's lips. They hadn't done this for a long while…not with Fili in bear form…and Kili was pleased to acknowledge that he wanted it. There was something about it that made him so undeniably hot for his brother, and he hadn't felt that heat in a while…not since before Duri's disappearance. So, with a sigh of sweet surrender, he reached down to his belt, quietly exposing himself to Fili's hungry gaze. He could actually see saliva gathering at the corners of his lover's mouth as he watched him. For a moment, he just lay there, one arm flung out over the bed while his other hand wrapped enticingly around his quickly-swelling member. Fili watched as he touched himself, a low growl rumbling in his throat. Kili groaned quietly as he fisted himself.
"Hngh…Fili…Fili…touch me," he pleaded, and Fili obliged, pressing his nose against the thatch of curly hair between Kili's legs…then lower…against the heated, tender flesh of his cock. Kili whimpered quietly, begging for more. He tangled his fingers in the warm fur of Fili's ruff, his grip tightening when his tongue darted out to taste him.
Kili's head fell back and a rather loud gasp left his throat when he felt the warm roughness of his brother's tongue. The hand that gripped the sheets held a little faster as he gently began to rut against Fili's mouth. Another rumble traveled through Fili's body as he growled and the vibration moved through Kili's body, as well, causing him to tremble.
"Fili…hngh…nnh…I'm going to…please…"
Rather than pushing him over the edge as he normally did, Fili pulled back, and Kili soon realized why when he looked to the window and saw the red glow of the last of the sunset. Was it really that late? Had they really spent that long fooling around in the bed? Scrambling for the blindfold, he secured it just as Fili's powerful muscles began to tremble.
Kili, however, thought about things as he listened to the transformation, and when Fili was by his side again, all soft skin and proper hands, he came to a decision.
"Fili?" he started softly, reaching out to touch his brother's cheek. "I…I think I'm ready."
"Ready for what?"
"I want…to do this without the blindfold."
"You're…sure?" Fili asked, laying a hand over top of his.
"I'm sure. I know you've…always trusted me…but I finally…trust myself enough to do this. I know how much you hate the blindfold," he said, reaching his free hand up to tangle in Fili's blond curls.
"All right," Fili said softly, leaning in to kiss his brother. "We'll take it slow."
With that, Fili moved to straddle Kili's hips, reaching down to untie the blindfold. Then he set it aside and leaned down for another kiss.
Kili lay very still as Fili took the lead, being careful to keep his eyes closed. At first, he couldn't quite help the tension in his body.
"Relax," Fili encouraged him, trailing slow kisses along his face and neck, but Kili wasn't able to until he began to kiss his eyes, one warm, soft kiss against the delicate skin of each eyelid, then a whisper to his ear.
"I love you."
At this, Kili began to feel tears prick at his eyes for reasons he couldn't explain. Before Fili could ask what was wrong, he pulled him into his arms and whispered back, "I love you, too."
Kili didn't doubt himself after that. He was able to enjoy himself as Fili stripped him naked, lavished kisses all along his skin, paying special attention to his eyes…and Kili reveled in every sensation, every other sense heightened by the lack of sight. He moaned passionately for his brother as he took him, their bodies moving together in the darkness. He had never felt so close to Fili as he did in those precious moments. The contact and the love between them were absolute, and when Kili finally came, it was harder than he ever had before. The bliss tore through his body like a raging storm, leaving him breathless and nearly unconscious. He was barely even aware of the moment their perfect knot was untied and Fili collapsed to the bed beside him, a separate being once again.
They clung to each other like that all night…not asleep…but not awake, either…simply together…holding fast. Even after everything they'd been through, Kili was relieved they could still desire each other in this simplest of ways…and it wasn't until Fili pulled away from him at sunrise that he truly felt the pain of their separation.
XxX