The next morning was bright and warm. The sun burned above in a blue cloudless sky, shedding its morning rays across the blossoming fields of the slowly awakening Dwaven campsite.
After a quick breakfast, and a hug and kiss from mother and a clap on the back from Uncle Thorin, the two dwarflings were off, trudging behind Mister Dwalin. On their backs were to light packs filled with supplies for their little adventure. Kili sported a quiver and arrows with his bow slung over his shoulder, while Fili had a sword sheathed at his hip.
"All you need to do is last the week." Mister Dwalin said. "When we arrive at the intersection, you two can set to making snares, but dinna wander into the Barrow Downs if ye wants to live another day. It's dangerous there, so keep near the road for your camp. By end of the week you have yourselves some nice fat connies for supper."
Listening, Kili nodded. He was so excited he could barely keep his voice controlled like a proper dwarf warrior. "Than we can be scouts right? When this is all done? You'll let us do scouting for the tribe?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself lad, you still got a lot to learn."
"Isn't the Barrow Downs haunted?" Fili asked. "I remember Balin telling me about it. It used to be a great kingdom of men, until it fell and now evil spirits live there."
"If you stick near the road. There is a nice big warren filled with fat rabbits where we're going .So you'll have plenty of game, and use your common sense, you'll be fine." Dwalin reassured. "Besides you won't be near the downs, just camping in the glad near the road."
If the farmers around Bree were more accepting to dwarves they would have been camping in the woods near Breeland, but some men didn't trust dwarves. Kili didn't blame them, for the most part, dwarves stuck with dwarves and rarely mingled with the other races. In fact, they only time they did was when they went to markets like the one in Bree. "We're not afraid of ghosts are we Fili."
Fili appeared nervous and he kicked a stone as they walked down the dirt road.
"A wise warrior is afraid of spirits lad." Dwalin replied gruffly. Kili couldn't tell if he heard fear or concern in the old warriors voice. "Don't get full of yourself and do as I say. There is a nice rocky outcropping near the road, good hard stone, it will be a good place to camp."
"Yes, sir." Fili and Kili responded together. It happened a great deal, the two of them often completed the others sentences. When they spared they were so in tune with each other that they could read each other's moves and respond accordingly. Kili liked it because it helped them to work together well and he expected it would be a great asset when they eventually returned to Erebore to fight the dragon with Uncle Thorin. It also helped to persuade his reluctant brother into doing things that were fun.
As the sun climbed, the three dwarves walked down the dirt and stone road. It was a straight flat path with the occasional dip or hole in the center of the road. Fields and hilly glades surrounded them, and Kili made out an abundance of small spring flowers blooming. Snow drops, daffodils, crocuses scattered patches of white, yellow and purple about seas of green and wheat. Ma, taught him a lot about flowers, she was fascinated by them because growing up in the city of Erebore she seldom left the safety of the caves. She often called them the jewels of the fields, and collected them to braid in her hair, and occasionally, when they were really small, Kili's and Fili's. But they were too old for flowers, unless they were the ones that helped with medicine and teas.
"Maybe when we are done, we can pick flowers for Ma."
"We will no have time, Kili." Fili replied. "A week of snares, cleaning and salting meat, we'll forget. Unless it is in the morning of our last day, and then we need to check the snares and see what we have found."
"But it will only take a second." The younger dwarf did not understand why it would be so difficult to pick a few daffodils, and when Mister Dwalin comes to find us, we can have him give them to her…."
There was a grunt a head of them and Mister Dwalin came to a sudden halt. The gruff dwarf swallowed and kept his gaze on the road ahead.
"So you are in agreement?" Fili asked trotting up to the warrior's side. "Because if you are, I think Ma would like a gift from all of us."
It was strange how Mister Dwalin behaved when their mother was mentioned. He often sputtered out things and his face would redden. Already he was pulling at his dark beard, and studying the ground. "She likes it when you think of her." Was all he could muster and started to walk once more.
When he was further up the road, Kili sped up his pace so he was walking in step with his brother. "I think it is working brother. He is certainly blushing, and he does make Ma smile."
"Smiling does not mean she will have him…" Fili replied simply. "But I think a proud warrior like Mister Dwalin is worthy of our mother still. Though I am starting to fear he is too proper to consider courting a widow of a friend."
Kili's father died when he was small and it had been more than 8 years since his Da passed on in the battle at Moria's Gates. After Uncle Thorin took responsibility for their family and their mother stopped smiling like she used too.
"Brother these things take a great deal of time." Kili informed. "I know very little of the affairs of the heart, but I know they are prickly and often take time to flourish. At least it is what mother says to Balin when they discuss Uncle and his failure to take a proper wife."
"You are not supposed to be listening to those discussions, for they are behind closed doors, little brother." Fili elbowed his younger sibling.
"I can not help but hear things brother…."
"Because you hold a glass to the door."
"As do you." Kili reminded.
His brother exhaled and laughed. "You win that one, but I too worry for our kin and have come to the conclusion that meddling in their affairs, or paying mind to them does nothing but cause trouble." He stayed a glance to Dwalin. "But it would be nice to see her smile the way she did when father held her in his arms."
It was something they both could agree on.