So this was going to be longer, but I felt as if where I stopped was a good place to do so. The next chapter, then, is Fili's coronation, which would be a lot better if he had...yeah, no. Stop, me. Thanks to IfixD, Arkenshield, Cockapoo, and Neocolai for reviewing. I am so far very pleased with the feedback I've gotten...
Fili had had a shadow for almost his whole life, since he was too young to remember otherwise. He had always been the sun, golden haired as he was, followed everywhere by a dark headed shadow. But what was the sun without a shadow?
Everywhere he went, Fili searched for Kili. He automatically made jokes that the two of them shared, then froze in shock as he remembered that there was no one to laugh. The slightest hint of dark hair or a head thrown back in a roaring laugh made Fili stop and look around for Kili.
The entire company mourned both the loss of their leader and his youngest nephew, but as more dwarves arrived at Erebor, they had to pull themselves out of their revery of sorrow and help restore the Kingdom Under the Mountain to its former glory. The only one who couldn't pull himself together enough to help was Fili.
As Fili sat alone in his tent one evening as darkness fell, the flap opened. At the rush of cool air, Fili spoke. "Go. I do not wish to see anyone."
The voice that replied was decidedly feminine. "I have lost my remaining brother and one son. It would seem I'm losing my other son as well."
Fili rose and turned, facing his mother. "I...don't know what to do. How to go one without Kili. We were never apart. I remember when he had the chicken pox and Uncle Thorin had to lock me in his room to keep me away from Kili. When I started weapons training and Kili wasn't even allowed in the room because it was too dangerous, the fits he would pitch."
Dis half-grinned. "He used to bite Thorin and I when we tried to separate you two."
Fili returned the grin as best he could, but then his face fell again.
Dis came and sat beside Fili. "I also have some more serious matters to discuss with you. Balin asked me to speak with you on this... You know your uncle will not be claiming his throne; he can't. Nor is he-or Kili-yet buried. We want a king to help bury him." Fili looked blankly at his mother, and Dis sighed. "Your uncle never had children of his own, Fili. You and Kili were his closest male relatives. You are now the King Under the Mountain."
Common sense dictated the burials of Thorin and Kili had to take place as soon as possible. And so the funerals took place before Fili's coronation.
Fili stood with Balin and Dis, watching the two people he most loved lie there so still, looking, but for their wounds, if they were just asleep.
Balin stepped up first. "I have known Thorin Oakenshield since we were in Erebor the first time. He was a noble dwarf and an excellent leader. He led us this far, and took back the mountain from Smaug before falling. And his nephew Kili was a fine dwarf as well, a strong fighter, always one of the first into battle. He was a good lad, and will be missed."
Fili stepped forward. "Kili was more than that. Yes, he was a great fighter, but he was also a joker. He was only serious when he absolutely had to be. I should know; we were always together. We had no secrets from one another. He was my shadow." Fili had planned to say more, on both his brother and his uncle, but his voice failed him and he stepped down.
After Fili spoke, it was time to bury Thorin and Kili. Thorin was bore by Balin, Dwalin, Gloin, and Dori; Fili carried Kili alone, glaring at anyone, even Dis, who offered to help.
When they reached the deep cave where Thorin and Kili would be laid to rest they were arranged gracefully on stone slabs and everyone backed out of the cave. Before anyone could start placing the stones to seal the cave, Fili darted forward, a stone in his hand. He laid it upon Thorin's breast, and everyone could see that it was none other than the Arkenstone. Fili laid one gentle kiss to Kili's brow, then backed out of the cave.
As the stones were carefully placed, filling the entryway, Fili felt as alone as he ever had, even more so then when he had realized the others were dead.