A/N

Wow, I am surprised with how many reviews you guys have given me already. Thank you! It realy inspires me to continue writing more.

Anyway, here's another chapter for you guys!

Remembering

Fíli stares ahead, seeing white everywhere. The white fluffy snow covers everything around him. The fields, the trees and even his coat begins to turn white from the snow. His breath forms little clouds as he sighs.

He doesn't really like this season. He doesn't hate it, but winter just makes everything depressing. The days are darker, there is little to hunt – yes they have chickens and sheep, but the dwarfprince much rather hunt for his food – and then there is the freezing air. His hands are cold, his feet are cold, his nose is numb and he doesn't even want to mention his lower zone.

There is a movement to his right and he turns his head to see his younger brother, as the teenager moves through the woods. Kíli has his bow at a ready, signalling Fíli with his head. He has spotted something in the snow. Following his brother's direction, Fíli notices footprints in the snow. They are fresh of a deer.

Fíli smirks. If they are lucky, they won't have chicken tonight.

A bird whistles twice in the distance, and both dwarves look up. Though it had sounded like a bird, both know it is their uncle signalling them he has spotted something. And it had come from where the deer is heading to.

Kíli answers with a chirp. They make their way towards their uncle, their eyes on the look-out for their prey. It doesn't take them long to spot the light-grey coat of their uncle, as the dwarf stand low to the ground.

Something moves in the distance, followed by grunts as the deer searches for food. A large buck. Thorin sends them silent orders with his head and Fíli moves to the right. Kíli moves to the left as Thorin stays low.

The ears of the buck twitch slightly and he looks around. But after seeing no danger, the animal continues with his search for food. Fíli nods at his brother as the animal walks closer to the dark-haired dwarf. It's too far away for Fíli to kill it, but Kíli is close enough to hit it with his arrow.

It happens in a flash. The animal cries out in pain as it hits the ground. The white snow slowly turns red with blood. Birds fly off in distress at the sudden noise, their wings fluttering madly in their haste.

Then there is a silence. The only sound is the crunching of the snow as Fíli walks over to the deer. His uncle and brother doing the same. Kíli is grinning, proud of his kill. Fíli can't blame him though. Today has been his first deer.

'Not bad eh?' Kíli asks as he reaches their prey first. 'A clean shot right through the heart.'

Fíli smirks as his brother removed his arrow from the chest of the animal. His brother is proving to be an exceptional good archer, even if he is just fifteen. Not that Fíli would admit that.

'Not bad, indeed,' Thorin says as he looks the animal over. 'Now we can have something else than chicken tonight.'

'And tomorrow, if you ask me,' Fíli adds. 'He has plenty of meat in him.'

'I don't care how long it will feed us,' Kíli says as he binds the legs. 'I'm starving. So let's hurry up and get back home. I am sure mother is about to start cooking dinner.'

Fíli looks up. The sky is darkening, so they have to hurry. He sighs. This means no deer-meat tonight. For they first have to skin the animal and if Dís is already starting with their meal, she probably has slaughtered a chicken already.

'Well, then I suggest we do not waste time anymore.'

Fíli agrees with his uncle. He has had it with the cold air and is in need of the warmth of the fireplace. Luckily they won't have to travel that far this time. But right now any moment longer in this weather, is a moment too long according to Fíli. So he quickly helps Thorin and Kíli to carry their prey back home.

'Well look at that,' Dís says as they arrive, cold, wet and exhausted. 'You actually found a deer. It has been weeks since you came back with a deer. Last time it had been rabbits.'

Kíli smiles sheepishly, while Fíli sighs. Mother has no faith in them at all. He enters the living-room, longing for warmth. There his nose pick up an pleasant scent. A black cauldron is hanging above the fireplace and both brothers quickly look inside.

Their mother's brew is cooking, filling the room with it pleasant scent. Dís may have little faith in her son's hunting skills, she sure can cook!

'You seem down, uncle,' Kíli says as he sits down next to the elder dwarf.

Thorin doesn't look up as he watches the sun rise. He mutters an 'I'm fine', but Kíli doesn't seem to believe him. And neither does Fíli as he sits down on his other side.

'I hate to admit it, but mister fat-head-'

'Hey!'

'- is right,' Fíli agrees with his younger brother. 'You always seem down around this time of year. Why is that?'

'It is because around this time of year the dragon had come to Erebor,' a new voice answers and both brothers turn to the white haired dwarf.

Fíli nods. That explains a lot. He has heard the stories of Erebor so many times in his still young life, he can picture it perfectly whenever he closes his eyes. Whenever his uncle is talking about the dwarven kingdom, he uses such detail, even the blind can see it perfectly. The glory it had hold under the reign of Thror, Fíli can see the golden lights in his dreams. But also the stench of the dragon. His uncle has never failed to mention the beast as it had taken over their home.

Balin sits down with a sigh, a cup of ale in his hand. They all have worked hard today, so Fíli can't blame the elder dwarf as he rubs his wrist. Both, him and Thorin are used to this kind of live, but at times as these, Fíli can see a hint of their past in their actions. Not that they can't handle the hard labor. No, they are more than capable. No, it is the longing in their eyes as the sit down after a long day of hard work, their eyes set on something unseen in the distance.

Everyone Fíli knows share the same longing in their eyes. At least, everyone who has ever lived in Erebor. His mother, his uncle, Balin, Dwalin and even Oin and Gloin. They all stare at the distance after a long day.

Fíli doesn't share that feeling. He wishes he did, but he just doesn't. He can't imagine the feeling of something missing, having to miss his home, for he was born here at Ered Luin. He doesn't know any better than the live he has here. Same goes for his brother. But he does feel the need to know what he is missing. He wishes he could see the Lonely Mountain one day, in its full glory. But that will only be a dream.

For dragons guard their treasure as long as they live.

'It's a nice evening, isn't it?'

Fíli looks over at Balin, nodding. Aye, a nice evening indeed. With the birds whistling in the trees and the serene view. And the warm summer breeze gently blows, cooling the air for the evening. A pleasant change after such a warm day.

'Aye, and a nice evening for a pipe.'

With that both elder dwarves pull out their pipe, enjoying the evening even more, while the two young princes are left only enjoying the evening with a full belly. With Fíli being twenty-five and Kíli only twenty, both lads are too young to smoke.

'At evenings like these, it takes me back to Erebor,' Balin says softly, enjoying his pipe. 'With the warm wind gently blowing, the sky slowly darkening and a pipe lit.' Balin looks at Thorin, trying to see if he feels the same way, but Thorin smiles slightly and shakes his head. It is then that Balin remembers and laughs. 'I forgot, you were just a wee lad. Too young to smoke a pipe.'

Fíli and Kíli laugh. Their uncle, just a young lad? Now that is hard to imagine. Thorin laughs as well, remembering those good days back at Erebor. Where he was indeed 'just a wee lad' – as Balin had put it just now – and his brains weren't always in his head. Not with Gefn around. No, whenever his eyes would spot her auburn hair, he would do anything to gain her attention. And he always did, though not before making a fool of himself.

Thorin closes his eyes, as he enjoys his pipe. His thoughts wandering off to the deep depths of his memories, remembering every sound, every brick, every face. His heart already longing back for those days.

Frerin had noticed his strange behaviour as well and it did not take his younger brother long to figure out why his brother was acting so strange. Frerin had even suggested Thorin to ask her father for her hand, engaged or not. For Thorin was heir to the throne.

But Thorin had dismissed the thought. He did not want to be some spoiled prince, getting everything he wanted, whenever he wanted it. No, if he were to somehow marry Gefn, it would be because she loved him in return. But she never returned his feelings. Not that Thorin had ever told her about his feelings for her! But she never noticed the hints he had given her.

But it never did stop Frerin to try and get them together, alone. On more than one occasion, Thorin had found himself meeting Gefn 'by accident', set op by Frerin.

Thorin smiles slightly at the thought of his late brother. His brother never did took a hint, the thick-headed dwarf. Frerin was a good dwarf, a strong warrior and died before his time. May he rest in peace, his little brother.

Thorin looks over at his two nephews. They remind him of his younger days with his brother. With Fíli being more level-headed than Kíli, just like Thorin. Always – well, most of the time – thinking ahead, before acting. Weighing down all his options, before making his decision. Just like Thorin is reaching the lad. After all, Fíli is his heir. Unless ofcourse, Thorin will find himself a bride, which is not likely to happen.

Kíli on the other hand, is much more like Frerin. He acts more on his intuition, than his brother, sometimes leading the lad into more trouble than he had hoped for. And not to mention the scowling of his mother. How frightening Dís can be when angered.

'Uncle, are you coming, or what?'

Thorin looks up. He had not noticed to be so deep in thought. Not until his youngest nephew is looking at him. Much to his surprise Balin and Fíli have already left. How long have they been gone? Looking up, Thorin notices the sky is now filled with thousands of flickering lights.

'Aye,' Thorin answers as he stands up. 'I'll be right there.'

A/N

I'm sorry. I know it isn't much, but I wanted to write just a little more peaceful events, before all the drama and action sets in. Just a little more 'normal' live, before the big adventure, where things will be a lot more serious.

Anyway, Thank you for reading!