The tent was dark, and Fili didn't feel safe when it was dark. Even though he could hear the banter and laughter of the older dwarves outside by the pit fire, he couldn't help but think of what else lay waiting in the night.

The youth turned over on his bedroll and looked across the tent to his younger brother laying beside the dying embers of a small fire. Kili blinked at him, tired eyes refusing to close as lay curled up around his blankets. "Brother, are you still awake?"

"Yes." Fili replied. He wasn't feeling very well, he ached from the night before still, and his throat stung when he swallowed. According to Oin, the tribe healer, both he and Kili caught colds from the night out in the barrows. The older dwarf rubbed his stuffed nose annoyed. Maybe Mahal was punishing them for not being able to take better care of each other?

"Do you think Mister Dwalin is still on watch?"

After explaining the events of the evening, Uncle Thorin and their mother decided it was best to put Dwalin on all night watch for failing to have the proper oversight. All and all it could have been worse. Uncle Thorin was furious, as was their mother, but Dwalin's brother Mister Balin insisted such an oversight was very possible since dwarves tended to keep to themselves and ignore the affairs of other folk living in an area. They only knew pieces of history, and mostly what concerned them, and had no way knowing the reason why there were so many rabbits in the warren near the Downs was that NO one went there in the first place.

The older dwarf's logic worked, and Uncle Thorin admitted he made the same mistake when he approved of the venture in the first place.

Now after some warm connie stew and proper healing attention, the boys were bedded down in their tent. The tent itself was simple, with a fire pit in the center, woven rugs laid out around on the floor, bedding, and trunks for their belongings. Fili's sword lay near to his bedroll, and Kili had a wooden sword for practices against his trunk on his side of the tent. Kili's bow and quiver lay close to him though. At least Fili wasn't alone in his unease. Neither of them liked the idea of bedding down without arms near by. Both also insisted on having a fire as well, but it had dwindled too much for Fili's liking.

Kili sneezed. "You don't think these colds are from the barrow wrights? Balin said the people buried there died of plague."

"According to Balin spells don't work like that." Fili informed. Though the thought crossed his mind. "But, Oin said us being frightened and weak was though. Said it will take time for us to be merry again." He still hated having a cold.

The young dwarf across the room sat up and picked up a stick near the fire to stir it. "Do you keep imagining the King Wright will be there if you open your eyes? I hate being this scared. "

Sitting up, Fili nodded. "I think if the Wrights came here, they'd be in a lot of trouble, even if our kin is drunk on ale."

Cheerful music started out side of the tent, and Fili smiled some. His mothers and Uncle's fiddles played loudly with an accompaniment of flutes, recorders and spoons against pots and pans. Someone started to sing drunkenly, followed by more laughter. "They must have liked the stew." Kili hugged his good leg. His injured one lay on his mat, splinted and, unmoving.

"Must have." Fili agreed. He wished he could have joined the older dwarves, this was his favorite part of the evening, but his heart wasn't in it this night, and mother insisted they go to bed early. Finding his feet, Fili stood and walked just to the entrance of their tent. "I'll get some wood for our fire."

Out side a swirl of color greeted his gaze. His mother danced with unbound black hair swirling about her, and her beard glinting with golden clasps. In a whirl of colorful cloth other women danced as well, while the men sang and played instruments.

Fili forced himself to look away and found some wood piled up next to their tent, which he gathered. "Mom is dancing." He told Kili. "We'd be with her if we weren't so miserable."

A pout wrinkled Kili's mouth into a frown and he exhaled. "Do you still feel bad about everything? Because you shouldn't."

The wood clattered as Fili stacked it on to the fire and sat back on his bedroll. "I know what I shouldn't feel, but I still do, yes. I am the oldest."

"And I am one day to be your guard." Kili snapped back. "We are both responsible for each others welfare in the end."

The words stuck home and Fili looked away. Kili had a point, they both had expectations, and standards set for themselves because they had destinies filled with responsibilities. What happened the other night hurt both their prides. "I didn't think…"

"Yes, you did, you were just too busy feeling sorry for yourself to really listen to what I was saying."

So often Kili just said things in his defense he just stopped thinking about it. Fili was convinced the younger dwarf was just protecting him with his words, not actually feeling the same weight of responsibility. "So we both feel like failures and idiots as well as cowards."

"About the size of it." Kili agreed. "Except you can add in clumsy oaf because I sprained my ankle on top of it."

"We're a fine miserable lot aren't we?" A weak smile split Fili's face.

"Misery loves company. Could be worse, we could be alone and miserable."

Alone like Mister Dwalin, on watch by himself. Fili agreed and lain back on his bed roll and put his hands behind his head. Cold or not he felt his heart lift some. "You did save me back there."

The campfire's flames reflected in Kili's haunted dark gaze. "The Golden maiden we saw, if it wasn't for her, I never would have been able to keep fighting long enough to wake you up."

Silence feel between them, and Fili considered Kili's words. Both of them shared the same doubts and fears and owed their lives to this mysterious being. It was a difficult thought to swallow, especially having their responsibilities they were destined to have. He rolled over to his side and stared at the fire as well. "Do you think it would have been the same if we were adult warriors."

"Do you?"

"Mister Dwalin was impressed I was able to fight at all. Said I'd make a fine warrior when I grew up. So I guess that means you too." The words really didn't make him feel better because he didn't believe them yet, but Dwalin did.

"If Mister Dwalin said it, it must be right then."

Fili nodded his head. "It will take time to believe it in our hearts though."

"Lots of time." Kili coughed in his hand and wiped his hand on his blankets. He settled back under them and curled up on his side. "Still afraid to close my eyes."

"Just think of stew and Ma's fiddle." Fili himself tried to think of good things like music and food too. It helped him some. If it helped him, since Kili always liked to sing and thought of food, it would help Kili too.

To punctuate the pleasant thoughts, the sound of their mother's laughter drifted into the room. Kili smiled, and his eyes closed. "She'll be in here soon to check on us won't she?"

"We can at least pretend we are asleep, so she won't have worry." Yawning, Fili closed his eyes as well, and thought of cakes and the market place. A thin smile crossed his face. Maybe tomorrow someone would bring home of pastries and meat pies for them as a treat, it was one of the few good things about being sick. People tended to bring in gifts. A nice meat pie would be very tasty indeed. Mother wouldn't object to it either because she'd want meat on their bones in order to regain their strength. Just the thought made him hungry.

A faint snoring from Kili's bed told him Kili lost the battle to sleep as soon as he closed his eyes. With luck the younger dwarf was dreaming of connie stew and playing the fiddle.

A pleasant tune of Bofur's recorder floated into the room. It was a fresh, sweet pleasant tune, like a cool summer's breeze on a warm day. Fili automatically thought of accompanying it with his fiddle. He imagined the rhythmic strumming with his bow, and movements of his fingers on the frets of the instrument. Moments later he fell into a deep pleasant sleep the horror of the night before in its place and his heart lighter.