So here we are, the final chapter. Well, technically there will be an epilogue but that is set in the future from this story-line so this is the final chapter! I wrote most of this while watching Comic Relief's Big Chat with Graham Norton and that was from 7 pm to 1 am so yeah, I was sort of tired when I wrote a lot of this so if it doesn't make sense...well it doesn't xD So yeah, the reunion and the answer to the big question, will the cure work and if so, how will Fili react to it?

Again, thanks to everyone who's reviewed this fanfic and who has been offering support and kind words about it, I hope you've all enjoyed the ride and that you enjoy the end.

Kili woke at the crack of dawn the next morning, surprised he had been asleep and disappointed to see Bofur and Oin were still sleeping. Dwalin was awake and watching, but he grunted a "good morning" as Kili climbed from his bedroll and stretched, smiling down at the statue he was still holding in his hands. He had stayed dressed the night before to cut down the time it would take to get ready in the morning. Excitement took over him and he moved from Bofur, who was closer to him, to Oin, shaking them awake and rousing them properly with a cry. Both shot from their beds as Kili's cry, thinking that trouble was coming. Bofur laughed when he realised Kili was just excited to get home and started packing up his things, but Oin grumbled and shooed Kili away from him, turning to join Bofur in packing up their little camp.

Dwalin stood and turned to Kili. "Are you sure you're ready for this lad?" He asked.

Kili knew what he was referring to, the consequences and repercussions of him running away, on his mother, Thorin and on Fili and he nodded firmly. "I went away to find a cure for Fili and I found one. I did what I wanted to do and I am ready to accept their anger and their sorrow and other things." He replied.

Dwalin smiled and clapped a hand to Kili's shoulder. "I'll stand by you lad."

"Thank you Mister Dwalin," Kili said and smiled properly for the first time in a while.

"We're ready to go," Bofur called. Kili took off up the path to the top of the mountain at Bofur's words, Dwalin, Oin and Bofur himself following at a slightly slower pace. There was no stopping Kili though, and soon he was running up the path, the other three dwarves jogging behind him to keep him in their sight.

As Kili came up the final part of the path he saw Thorin sat on the ground, his back against a rock and his eyes closed. Balin sat beside him and smiled widely when he saw Kili, though his eyes were searching for Dwalin. At the sight of his uncle, after having been away from him for so long, Kili felt his eyes fill with tears and he stumbled towards him slowly. He thought Thorin was asleep but as soon as the older dwarf heard the steps coming up the path his eyes snapped open and he jumped to his feet, wildly looking about him. He saw Kili walking slowly towards him, slightly teary, carrying the precious statue from Erebor in his arms. Dwalin, Oin and Bofur were nowhere to be seen, Kili had left them behind when he had seen the end of the path coming, but Thorin did not notice this at the time because he only had eyes for his nephew. He had planned exactly what he was going to say to the boy when he returned but words failed him and he felt his eyes filling with tears in relief that Kili was alive and well and home.

For a moment neither moved, Kili having stopped walking when a range of emotions had passed over Thorin's face. Then, suddenly, Kili placed the statue from Erebor on the ground and ran at Thorin, throwing himself into his uncle's arms and hugging him tightly.

"I'm sorry!" He cried, tears flowing freely as Thorin caught him and hugged him back just as tightly. "I'm sorry uncle, I'm so sorry but I had to…I had to."

"Hush Kili, hush, it's okay." Thorin whispered, bringing a hand up to stroke Kili's hair and surreptitiously checking for injuries at the same time. Kili buried his face in Thorin's neck, breathing in the smells of home. Oh how he had missed them.
"Don't think you're getting away with this young man." Thorin muttered as he held Kili close. Kili laughed a little bit and mumbled something that Thorin didn't quite understand.

Dwalin, Oin and Bofur appeared at the end of the path and smiled at the sight of Kili and Thorin hugging tightly. Balin stood and approached his brother. Customarily they would have head-butted each other to say hello but there was a silent agreement between the that a hug was needed and that is what they did, Balin tucking his head beneath Dwalin's chin as they hugged. Bofur and Oin smiled warmly at the sight of the family reunions and slipped off to find their own families to let them know they were back, but both knew they would have to be there to help tell their version of the events.

"Uncle," Kili said, pulling back from the hug and heading over the statue, picking it up and handing it back over to Thorin, "I'm sorry that I took this statue and bartered it to get supplies." He stated firmly, wiping his tears away with one hand. "But I found a cure for Fili!"

Thorin felt his anger for Kili being so reckless coming to the surface but then it hit him that Kili had found a cure. He had found a cure.

"How do you know?" He asked quickly.

"I stole Oin's medicine book and I found all the ingredients I would need to make a cure for Fili." Kili admitted sheepishly, hoping that this would be a good enough answer and Thorin would not pry. Luck had not been on Kili's side on the way back from Rivendell but Thorin did not ask any other questions, wrapping an arm around Kili's shoulders and steering him towards home.

"You will have to deal with your mother's wrath before you can give Fili his cure Kili, I don't think I can stop her." Thorin admitted and Kili nodded.

"I know, I'm ready for it." He said.

"Are you sure?" Thorin asked with a grim smile.

Kili took a moment to think about it and then shook his head. "Maybe not. But I'm ready for the majority of it."

"If you say so." Thorin said.

They had reached Dis' house and Kili barged into the house confidently. Thorin hung back and allowed Kili to deposit his stuff on the floor and then make his way through the house to Fili's room.

Dis was sat on the bed beside Fili, her back to the door and her fingers gently stroking Fili's forehead as he slumbered.

"Where have you been all night Thorin?" She asked, assuming that Thorin had returned eventually, "Don't tell me you were waiting for Kili again?"

Kili opened his mouth to tell his mother that he was back but he found that his words would not come out. After a few minutes of silence Dis turned to ask Thorin why he was not speaking and her eyes widened at the sight of Kili stood there at the door, his eyes slightly puffy from crying into Thorin's shoulder beforehand and a half smile on his face.

"Kili…" She whispered, rising from the bed and stumbling towards him. Kili opened his arms, asking if he could have a hug and Dis pulled her youngest son into her arms as he did so, hugging him so much tighter than Thorin had before but Kili did not care, he had missed his mother's hug, her unique smell of baking bread, of the smoky scent of cooking and the small amount of perfume that she wore. He hugged her tightly as well, grasping at her dress as he did and burying his face in her neck despite being taller than her, whispering how he was sorry, so sorry, for leaving her and not telling her what he was going to do.

"Kili?" A cracked voice asked. Kili pulled back from Dis and turned to see Fili awake and staring at him. His eyes were dulled in colour and he looked terrible, pale and thin, his cheekbones poking against his skin.
"You're home." Fili whispered. Kili nodded, unable to move to his brother's side as Dis was refusing to let him go.

"Fili, please try and rest while I talk to Kili outside." She requested and Fili nodded, knowing better than to argue with Dis while he was in this state. Kili's return seemed to have done a world of good to him, he was able to smile and his breathing seemed easier, but Dis found that she wasn't really surprised by this, the boy's were extremely close and took comfort from each other. Kili allowed Dis to steer him from the room and into the kitchen, where Thorin was slicing some of the freshly made bread to give to Kili, assuming his nephew was hungry.

"Ma, I found a cure." Kili said straight away, taking the anger out of Dis straight away and filling her with relief. Her eyes filled with tears.

"You have?" She asked.

"Yes." Kili confirmed. "And I know you're angry at me and upset and you have a lot of things to yell at me for because I did a lot of things that can be seen as immature, but I did them all for Fili and for our family. So…can you yell at me later and allow me to make the cure?" He asked quickly.

Dis took a deep breath to control herself before nodding and gesturing for Kili to come back to her for another hug. Kili did so, hugging her tightly and Thorin stopped slicing the bread to join the hug.

"Right you have a job to do Kili for your brother. Eat something as well if you're hungry but I will make you some stew later on." Dis said sternly, pushing Kili back towards the table. Kili scooted around the table to his bag and withdrew the ingredients that Elrond have given him. He had enough for ten doses of it, which Elrond said Fili would need, one every day, but it needed to be made fresh each day so he only took out enough of the plants to mix one dosage for his brother. Settling himself at the kitchen table Kili took a deep breath and began to mix his ingredients.

As Kili began to work Dis took Thorin from the kitchen into her own room and sat down on the bed. Thorin sat next to her and took his sister's hand into his own.

"What are you thinking Dis?" Thorin inquired quietly.

Dis shook her head and pulled one hand free from Thorin's to wipe her eyes. "I am so happy that my son is home Thorin," She whispered, "But I just...I am so angry at him for leaving but it's so hard…it's so hard to be angry with him now because he's accepted that I am angry with him and he's waiting for me to be angry. And he found a cure for Fili and I am so proud of him and happy that Fili's ordeal will finally be over." She explained, "It doesn't really make sense."

"No Dis it does make sense," Thorin interrupted quietly and Dis looked at him, her eyes still teary. "When I first saw Kili I was angry at him but then I was relieved that he was alive and he just accepted that I was going to be angry and he apologised and then…well he found the cure so I'm so happy as well."

"What do we do with him Thorin? He cannot get away with this and yet I don't think I can be angry with him." Dis sighed, resting her head on Thorin's shoulder.

Thorin automatically reached up to stroke her hair, an answer ready on his lips before they heard Fili's scream and it died on his lips. Both Dis and Thorin bolted from her room and headed to Fili's but found that Kili had gotten their first. Normally Fili was thrashing around violently as he was screaming but as soon as Kili approached him he fell silent and watched Kili. Kili pressed their foreheads together and gazed into Fili's eyes, non-verbally calming his brother down. Dis and Thorin waited in the doorway, watching with pride as Kili dealt with his older brother.

"How often has this happened?" Kili asked as he made Fili lie back down before moving back from the bed and sliding between his mother and uncle and back to the kitchen, determined to finish his cure.

"For the past three weeks it's been happening every night." Dis replied.

"Was it my fault?" Kili asked.

"We're not sure Kili," Thorin answered, seating himself beside Kili and gesturing for Dis to sit down as well. She did so.
"And to answer your question Dis," Thorin continued, "I think that Kili knows what he has done wrong and therefore we do not need to tell him or be angry with him to his face. I think we should punish him. He will face his punishments without complaint because of how he left without a word and for the other things we decide he needs punishing for."

"Yes Thorin I agree with that," Dis decided after a moment. Kili was too focused on his work to be paying too much attention to their conversation so he did not respond, wincing only a bit when his stomach rumbled. Dis took up a piece of the sliced bread and held it to Kili's mouth and the young dwarf took a bite from it almost without thinking. Dis and Thorin exchanged a smile at this.

"You look tired." Thorin pointed out after a moment. It was clear he was talking to Kili, although his nephew wasn't listening; too busy concentrating on his work, so Thorin looked over at Dis to direct the statement to her.

His little sister smiled and shrugged. "Twenty years of looking after an extremely ill son will do that to you. You don't exactly look your best either," She replied lightly and Thorin's smile widened. His sister had not made one joke or been able to smile happily since Fili had first fallen ill, which was understandable and Thorin had assumed that it would take her a while to fall back into the life they had lived before Fili's illness but it seemed he was wrong.

"Ma can you put some water on for me please? We need to make this into a tea." Kili asked, interrupting Dis and Thorin's teasing of each other. Dis stood and immediately did as Kili asked while Kili put the finishing touches to his ingredients.

"Are you sure all of this was in Oin's book Kili?" Thorin inquired. He trusted Oin as a healer, for he had helped Dis through both her pregnancies and helped nurse her back to health after Kili's birth, which had been a troublesome, complicated one, but if these ingredients and this cure had been in his healing books all this time why had Fili been ill for twenty years.

"That's where I found it. The book was rather dusty, it was full of drawings and descriptions that Oin had obviously done himself, medicinal plants and herbs that were used in healing smaller ailments, like battle wounds and mixes for preventing infection." Kili said distractedly, bringing a bit of the mixture to his lips to taste it and pulling a disgusted face. "I think Master Oin must have forgotten he had the book, or didn't think there would be anything in there worth looking at. I looked through all the healing manuals and books he had had and came across these four ingredients which are said to cure ailments like Fili's." He continued, standing and taking the mixture over to one of the cupboards in the kitchen and taking a mug from it. Dis had stayed by the water, stirring it and tending to the fire so that it would boil faster.

Thorin was lost for words when Kili had finished speaking. Before Fili had gotten sick Kili had been all innocent smiles and wistful thinking, a little ball of energy that never stopped going and that had been loved by everyone. After Fili had become ill that had changed ever so slightly, Kili was more content to stay inside and study, or fletch arrows or even to help Thorin at the forge every now and then, but he had still been energetic, hunting and babbling away excitedly to Fili once the boy was ordered to stay in bed all day. Now Kili had matured a lot faster than Thorin had wanted him to, as he had been out into the world and knew something of it at least and it saddened him to see Kili like this, but hopefully once Fili was better the boy would return to how he had been, following Fili around and being cheerful and childish again. Thorin had never found himself wishing for Kili to be a child more than he was now.

"The water is ready Kili," Dis said, breaking Thorin from his thoughts.

Kili smiled and kissed his mother on the cheek as thanks as he took the kettle from her and poured the boiling water into the mug. Dis and Thorin stood behind him, one on either side, so they could watch what Kili was doing. Once the water was in the mug Kili took a spoon in one hand and pinch of his mixture in the other and slowly stirred the water as he rubbed his index finger and thumb together, slowly adding the powder to the water. He continued doing this, stirring continuously, until all the powder was gone. He stirred a couple more times to make sure that the powder was completely mixed with the water before pulling the spoon free and taking a sip.

"Ugh that is foul," He muttered, "I don't envy Fili right now."

Dis and Thorin laughed in relief but both were taken aback by the sight of the tea that Kili had made, it wasn't a very nice colour and the odour was not a pleasant one. Kili took the mug into one hand and headed to Fili's room. Dis and Thorin followed without a word.

"Fee?" Kili whispered as he entered the room. Fili stirred slightly on the bed and opened his eyes to look at Kili.
"I need you to drink this for me." Kili said, sinking down onto the bed and gesturing to the mug with his free hand. Fili struggled to sit up, Dis moving to his side to help him immediately and eyed the tea that Kili was holding. His eyes narrowed at it immediately and he wrinkled his nose, shaking his head as vigorously as he dared.

"Come on darling," Dis said quietly, "Kili left to find you a cure, this will help you get better."

Fili met Kili's eye and Kili smiled and nodded. Fili nodded with him and Kili moved over to Fili's side so he could help him drink it.

"Be careful, it's quite hot." He warned his brother. Fili nodded again and sipped the tea, his face contorting in disgust as he drank it down as quickly as possible, sticking his tongue out when he was done and shivered slightly. Kili laughed and stood from the bed.
"Better get used to it Fili, you've got nine more days of this."

"Brilliant," Fili rasped and fell back onto his pillows, drawing the covers up to his head and burying himself underneath them. Kili left the room as he did so, taking the mug back to the kitchen and sliding a piece of bread into his hand. Dis stayed with Fili, stroking his hair, but Thorin followed Kili and took a piece of bread for himself.

"Are you sure it will work?" He asked Kili after the dwarf had devoured his second slice of bread and had moved on to his third.

"No," Kili admitted, "Because I've not tested it. But yes, because I want to help Fili and help Fili I shall."

Thorin laughed and clapped a hand to Kili's shoulder before pulling his nephew in for another hug. Kili made a noise of discontent as Thorin squashed the slice of bread he was holding but hugged his uncle back with one arm.

"I shall decide on a suitable punishment for you with your mother later today Kili." Thorin stated.

Kili nodded. "Okay."

Torn between smiling because Kili was finally accepting his punishment and, strangely, being disappointed that he was no longer the stubborn dwarfling who would complain about any punishment set against him Thorin settled for hugging Kili again and resting his head against his nephews.
"I'm glad you're home."

"Me too uncle," Kili sighed, "Me too."

/

Kili's punishment was less than he had been expected. It consisted of getting up at five every morning to clean out the stables where the dwarves kept the few ponies they used for long distance travelling, which Kili found to be a more relaxing job than he had first thought. True it smelled terrible and some of the ponies did not have a very nice disposition but Kili grew used to both these things after his second day doing it. After he had cleaned out the stables he had to wash and brush the ponies, feed them, give them water and then take them to a small paddock situated down the mountain to give them exercise. He had to stay there for three hours at least, and then bring them back. Once this task was done he was allowed home where Dis would have prepared a bath for him and some lunch. For the first nine days of his punishment Kili would prepare his herbal tea for Fili and help him to drink it, then both boys would nap. Kili was then assigned to help Balin sort out his maps, books and scrolls in the dwarf's makeshift library, and sometimes Balin had him copying out some of the more worn scrolls so that the knowledge within them would not be lost. Kili found this tedious but he went about it without complaining, except secretly to Fili when he was done. Dis would accept Kili home for a late tea, the young dwarf usually arriving home around the same time as Thorin from the forge. When they had both eaten Kili would help Dis tidy up the house and would clean Thorin's clothes. After an hour or two he was sent out to clean the forge where Thorin worked and only when everything was clean and set in order, although Thorin usually left it this way anyway, Kili was allowed home and into bed.

Dis and Thorin were very proud of how Kili accepted this very harsh punishment and for the first eight days Kili did as they told him to. When the ninth day of his punishment came, the last day that he had to give Fili the cure, Kili was extremely excitable and rushed through his chores to finish them as best he could. He over-looked a few things and gave himself a few nasty paper cuts while working for Balin, but he knew that when he returned home after working in the forges that Fili would already have started feeling better.

Barging through the door, sweaty and breathing hard, Kili felt happiness rush through him as he saw Fili sat at the kitchen table, a bowl of soup in front of him and a healthy colour to his cheeks. Fili looked up as Kili entered and for a while they just stared at each other, before both brothers smiled. Kili laughed loudly and threw himself at Fili, dragging him from his chair and into a tight hug. Fili returned the hug as tightly as he could, weak from twenty years spent lying down and mostly sleeping.

"Thank you Kili," He murmured, "Thank you for saving me."

"Kili," Dis said softly before Kili could reply to his brother and Kili looked over Fili's shoulder at their mother, whose eyes were shining with tears.
"We have decided that we shall be cutting back on your punishment a little so that you can be the one who helps Fili recuperate his strength, slowly, over time. Thorin has already agreed that once Fili is strong enough to walk around un-aided he will have you help him get Fili up to speed on his weapons training."

"Really?" Kili asked, his voice slightly higher than normal because of his high emotional state and his excitement.

"Yes Kili. I heard from Dwalin, Bofur and Oin that you fought and killed at least twenty orcs alone, maybe even more. You are strong and skilled for one so young and Fili would benefit from fighting against you." Thorin assured the youngest heir. Kili laughed again, louder this time and hugged Fili even tighter than before.

"You talked to them without me? I thought you would have questioned us all together." Kili asked, keeping his arms tight around his brother.

"I didn't want you to have a chance to convince them to lie for you Kili, to hide if you were injured or in trouble." Thorin replied matter-of-factly.

Fili coughed and patted Kili's back as Thorin spoke. "Come on Kee, you're choking me." He gasped.

"Sorry," Kili said immediately, pulling back but keeping his hands on Fili's shoulders. "I just kept thinking that you were going to be alright and I keep forgetting you aren't just going to get your strength back suddenly."

"No, it's going to take time Kili," Dis repeated, "But with his brother by his side I'm sure Fili will recover his strength in no time."

"Can I take him outside now ma?" Kili asked hopefully. Fili's eyes lit up and he turned to Dis with a rather pleading expression. Since the afternoon when Kili had left to help Balin he had started to feel stronger and eventually Dis had allowed him out of bed to walk around the room, then out of bed properly to have his first proper, relaxing bath in all the years he had been sick. He was feeling stronger than he had for a while and he missed the outdoors terribly, even though dwarves were supposed to be used to living inside mountains with rock over their heads.

"It's a bit late Kili," Thorin answered before Dis could and Fili's face fell.

"Just out the door? We'll keep it open and everything so you can see us." Kili requested.

"Please?" The boys asked together.

Dis laughed and stood, gesturing for them to follow her. With hopeful expressions the boys did, but their faces fell when they realised she was leading them to their shared room. Once inside she withdrew some fresh clothes from the chest at the end of Fili's bed. They looked brand new, like they had never been worn before, and the hem of the fur-lined coat was decorated with a pattern similar to the one in coats that both Thorin and Kili owned.

"I had this made for you to give you on your fortieth birthday Fili, but you were too ill to even remember the day. I had it fitted to what size I had guessed you would be had you not been so thin from the illness, so it should still fit you. If you wear this coat, with some boots, I will allow you outside, but only for a little while. I trust that Kili will not try and make you do anything too strenuous so you do not have to keep the door open but stay in the garden." She said. Kili hugged her tightly, Fili doing the same when his little brother had pulled back.

"Thanks ma," Fili said, his voice rasping a little bit. Dis beckoned to Fili and he turned around and slipped his arms into the coat, allowing Dis to fix it properly onto his shoulders and look over him to make sure it fitted him properly.

"Good guess ma." Kili laughed.

"Thank you Kili," She laughed as well and pushed Fili towards the door. "Go on you get your boots on. I had some new ones made to go with the outfit. They might be a little big but you'll grow into them." She ordered them. Kili ran through the kitchen into the living room in excitement to grab Fili's boots for him, Fili following at a slower, more stumbling pace.

"You're too soft with them." Thorin commented as Dis re-entered the kitchen and took a seat beside them.

Dis rolled her eyes at the accusation and smiled. "Maybe I am Thorin but they're my sons, I'm allowed to be soft on them. Besides, Kili has struggled through all the punishments we have set and Fili has been bedridden for nearly twenty years, I think they deserve a little leniency." She agreed.

Thorin shook his head and watched as Fili waved off Kili as the younger brother tried to help him fasten his boots.

"I'm not an invalid anymore Kili I can fasten my own shoes." He complained as Kili sat back on his heels and watched as Fili struggled. He knew how to tie laces, he remembered it all but his fingers were having trouble with them because of the amount of time it had been since he had had to tie laces.

"Are you sure?" Kili asked after Fili failed for the fourth time. He could tell Fili was getting frustrated and embarrassed by his failure. His brother said nothing, just moved his hands and allowed Kili to quickly and efficiently tie the laces. Dis and Thorin watched as Kili stood and helped Fili to his feet, wondering how much frustration Fili could take before it got too much and he refused to move. Kili pulled Fili into another hug once his brother was stood up and stable on his feet.

"I'm not useless Kili, I know how to do it all I just…can't." Fili muttered into Kili's neck and Kili heard the sadness in his brother's voice and he squeezed his eyes shut to will away the tears.

"It's going to take some time Fili and we all know that. If you need help just ask for it, even if it is for trivial things that you think you should be able to do. Just think, this morning you were still stuck in bed and felt weak and now you're standing here and feeling strong, but you still need assistance. Ask me when you need help brother, I'll always be there for you." Kili murmured back and squeezed Fili lightly before pulling back.
"Ready to go outside?"

"Yes." Fili said, his voice more confident now and a radiant smile on his face.

"Not too long Kili okay?" Dis called as Kili opened the door for his brother.

"I know ma." Kili called back, letting the door shut behind him and taking Fili's hand. It was quite dark outside, only the lights from the windows of their home lighting their way but both brothers knew the layout of the exterior of their house well. Kili led the way regardless, holding tightly to Fili and unconsciously guiding him to make sure he didn't stumble. Fili did not complain.

There was a little back garden attached to their house that Fili and Kili had spent many hours playing in it when they were younger and practising sparring in it when they had grown older and had started their weapons practise. Kili steered Fili into this garden and over to a small bench that he and Thorin had built about ten years ago because it seemed like Fili might have been getting better and they were going to chance taking him outside. This was where Kili sat Fili down and settled beside him.

"It feels so good to be outside." Fili sighed, tilting his head back and smiling as a light breeze ruffled his hair.

Kili giggled and took a few strands of Fili's golden hair between his fingers. "Your hair is a mess. Can I braid it for you later?"

"Of course brother. I've missed that." Fili declared and shifted a little so his head was resting on Kili's shoulder.
"Where did you go Kili?" He asked after a few moments of silence, eyes on the sky, counting the stars that he can see. "Where did you go when you went to find a cure?"

Kili mused over the answer for a moment. It was essential that he lied to Thorin, his uncle would be extremely angry if he knew that Kili had gone to the elves for help, or Kili assumed that he would be. He doubted Fili would be angry and he didn't want to lie to his brother but he didn't want to talk about it in case he started babbling about how much fun he had had and how he felt like he had made a friend with Glorfindel and possibly the twin sons of Elrond as well.

"Kili?" Fili asked when Kili didn't reply.

"You have to keep this from uncle Thorin and ma okay?" Kili warned Fili and his brother nodded.
"I went to Rivendell." He whispered.

Fili sat up straight, his eyes widened a little as he looked at Kili. "Really? You went to the elves?"

"Yes. I knew that if anyone could help me with a cure it would be the elves so I sort out Rivendell and stayed there with help from Lord Elrond." Kili confirmed.

"I can see why you would want to keep that from uncle Thorin." Fili admitted and rested his head back on Kili's shoulder.

Kili laughed, "Yeah and Dwalin, Bofur and Oin agreed to keep it from him as well. I've never heard of Dwalin keeping anything from uncle Thorin before."

"Imagine the look on his face if we ever end up going back to Rivendell with uncle Thorin and you're greeted with open arms." Fili joked.

"That won't be a problem," Kili claimed, "Lord Elrond has already told me that if, in the rare occurrence that we do return, I will be treated like a stranger, as will Bofur, Oin and Dwalin."

"Wow, you really thought this all through didn't you brother?" Fili asked with a yawn, his eyes slipping closed as he snuggled into his brother.

"I'd do anything for you Fili," Kili vowed, slipping an arm around his brother's shoulders and drawing him closer. He rested his head on top of Fili's head and closed his own eyes.

Dis came out half an hour later to find both her sons asleep on the bench, Fili nestled in Kili's arms and Kili resting his head on the top of Fili's. Smiling she called for Thorin before gently separating them and taking Fili into her arms. Thorin gathered up Kili and they bore them inside and laid them in Kili's bed, together. Immediately Kili latched onto Fili again and cuddled him in his sleep, sighing happily and mumbling something about being home and happiness. Dis ushered Thorin from the room with a light smile on her face, she was not worried about Fili getting back into the swing of his old life with Kili by his side. Normally Fili was the one helping Kili and looking after him so she wondered how her eldest would deal with the roles being reversed. Shutting the door to their room Dis breathed deeply and had to stop herself from giggling, their home was complete and life would soon be back to normal.

/

Kili grunted as his back hit the ground and he rubbed the back of his head where he had banged it. Fili stood over him, clad in full clothes with his furs on his shoulders and twin swords in his hands, one pointed down at his brother and the other pointed at Thorin, who was holding a sword of his own and eying Fili warily.

"I surrender." Kili grumbled, reaching up to push Fili's sword aside. Fili laughed, sticking the sword in the ground and offering a hand for Kili to take. Grudgingly Kili did and allowed Fili to pull him back to his feet.

"Well played Fili," Thorin stated, pushing Fili's other sword aside and moving forward to clasp his eldest nephews shoulder.
"Kili I think that your brother may have beaten your sword skills." He commented to Kili who rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue.

"Neither of you will ever beat me in archery though." He muttered.

"Don't be so sullen Kili," Thorin chastised him, "Your foot work is better than your brothers and you are slightly quicker than him, but he uses his head when he is fighting and you go for brute strength when it comes to sword play."

"But there is a lot of skill that needs to be put into archery, so Kili spends more time honing those skills." Fili said a little breathlessly, defending his little brother regardless of the praise he himself had received, which had made him smile. Kili smiled at Fili's words and took up his own sword from the ground.

"Perhaps you'll partake in a little archery with me then brother?" He inquired.

Fili shook his head with a laugh. "I will however come with you to the archery fields because I can practise with throwing daggers there." He decided. Kili grinned and hurried off to fetch his bow and quiver of arrows.

"You're doing so well Fili," Thorin said once Kili had gone but was shouting for them to hurry up and follow.

"Thanks to you and ma and Kili." Fili replied nonchalantly. "He's been by my side every step of the way."

"Well you've come very far in the last year, I didn't really expect you to become so strong in such a short time after all the time you've spent in bed." Thorin spoke as he pushed Fili to follow his brother, who had gathered his weapons and was waving for them to join him. "But yes, Kili has certainly been a big help in how quickly you've been able to do things."

"Is he still being punished?" Fili inquired quietly as they walked together.

"Not as much as he was but he still deals with the ponies every now and then and cleans the forge every night. Apparently he enjoys doing it." Thorin replied.

Fili laughed, "It's typical of Kili isn't it?"

"How so?"

"Well, if this was a punishment for something small that he had done he'd be complaining and he'd hate the whole thing, no matter what the punishment was and yet now that he's being punished for something that is actually important and he enjoys it." Fili explained.

Thorin joined his laughter and nodded. "Yes, that is typical of Kili."

"Come on already!" Kili yelled, "Or I'm going on without you!"

"Alright, alright!" Fili laughed and jogged over to Kili. They immediately linked arms and walked off to the archery field, set up specifically for Kili and Fili. Thorin continued walking slowly, watching with a half smile on his face as he watched them interacting. Life had become like Fili had never been ill at all, and Thorin was happy with that, he had worried when Fili had first started going outside again and had assured everyone that he was okay that the fact he had missed out on twenty years might have hung over the family for a while but Fili had completely pushed it aside and seemed happy to follow Kili around for a bit before he had the confidence to go around alone.

"Everything alright with them Thorin?" Dwalin asked, appearing at Thorin's side suddenly and shocking the exiled King for a moment.

"Fili is fine, Kili is fine, everybody is fine." Thorin replied.

"That's good. It's been a tough year I assume."

"It has," Thorin sighed softly and smiled, "But everything is okay. Kili is strong and supportive, Fili is responding well to everything that Kili does and Dis, well Dis is just glad to have both her sons."

"I'm glad they're both okay as well. I've brought news." Dwalin stated, his tone changing at his last sentence.

"News of what?" Thorin asked, although he was sure he knew the answer to his question.

"Oin has been reading signs for the past year, signs that it may soon become time to take back Erebor." Dwalin answered quietly, eyes on Kili and Fili, who were play fighting in the grass of the field.

"This is one thing I don't want to think about right now, and I never thought I'd hear myself saying that." Thorin stated firmly before he could become too excited.
"Right now I want to focus on Fili getting completely safe and healthy." He continued. "Have Oin keep reading the signs, we do not need to move too quickly. I want to focus on my family for a while longer Dwalin before I end up going on a quest that could take me away from them."

"I understand." Dwalin said shortly and walked off to take the message to Oin.

Thorin took a deep breath before heading over to Kili and Fili.

"Oh you two stop it!" He cried when he reached them, "Focus on your training not on fighting each other."

"Sorry uncle," Fili panted, untangling himself from Kili's limbs and standing up, dragging Kili up with him.

"Sorry to all of you but dinner is ready so right now you need to come home and eat before you can train." Dis called from the edge of the field, having arrived shortly after Dwalin left. Kili glanced at Fili who shrugged and ran off towards his mother. Kili followed suit, just remembering to grab his bow, which he had discarded when he and Fili had started to wrestle. Thorin sighed and shook his head, gathering up Fili's throwing knives and twin swords as well that the older brother had forgotten and hurried after his family as they moved back home.

I will take back Erebor for my family, but I will not move until I am sure that I will not lose them in the process, he decided as he mulled over Dwalin's words, before pushing them to the back of his mind and running off to catch up with Dis, Fili and Kili, commenting to Dis how Fili had bested his baby brother today. All four dwarves laughed as the door to their home in Ered Luin closed behind them, shutting out the worries of Erebor for now.