A/N: It seems that I accidentally stayed up all night writing this. Whoops.

Special special thanks once again to go my tumblr friend madammadhatter, who allowed me to pelt her with ideas and bits and pieces of this to make sure all feels were maximized. And then she read through the whole thing and judged it harshly for me as well. She's great.

Whatever Kíli had expected Tom Bombadil to be like, it was not what he saw before him. As the singing figure approached, his features became clear; he was taller than a dwarf, but not by too much, and certainly did not appear to be one himself, even with his long, thick brown beard. His face was ruddy, the bright red of his cheeks visible even in the darkness of night, and his eyes glinted blue with joy in the light of the moon, youthful and yet old, cheerful and yet wise. His bright yellow boots and blue jacket shone brightly, somehow brightening everything around him without increasing the light; for a moment, Kíli wondered how he could have thought the Old Forest was a dark place at all.

"T-Tom Bombadil?" he said shakily. Tom laughed.

"Two dwarves in the Old Forest, a sight indeed! A sight indeed," he said. "Come, then, I've called Buttercup along. There's trouble here of all sorts, and Goldberry is waiting."

Kíli merely blinked. Buttercup? Goldberry? What was this strange character carrying on about? Had he come all this way just to find that his hopes were laid in someone completely insane?

Tom laughed again at the sight of Kíli's face and stepped closer; Kíli marveled at how his very presence seemed to make the atmosphere around him more wholesome. He turned his gaze to Fíli, still unconscious on the ground.

"He's sick—please, you have to help him," he said.

A twinkle shone in Tom's eye. "Haven't you been listening to old Tom?" he said. "Buttercup is on the way. Your brother will be safe tonight."

"Who is Buttercup?" Kíli asked. Tom did not answer; instead, he knelt beside Fíli and Kíli and looked into Fíli's face.

"There's much at work in this one," he murmured. Kíli watched him curiously as he smiled and took Fíli's hand. The blond dwarf did not stir.

"Ah! Here comes Buttercup," Tom said, turning and rising. Kíli looked into the forest, searching for what Tom saw; he spotted a sturdy-looking pony coming up the path.

"Did you know we were coming?" Kíli said incredulously.

Once again, Tom did not answer. He greeted the pony cheerfully.

"You've got a burden to carry, my friend!" he said to the pony.

"Is Goldberry a pony, too?" Kíli asked, looking down the path.

Tom laughed uproariously, stopping to slap his hands on his knees. Kíli watched him blankly. What had he said this time? This was the strangest person he had ever seen in his entire life. Bofur and Glóin had failed to warn him about this.

"You'll meet my Goldberry soon enough," Tom said when he had finished laughing. "She is the River-daughter and my heart. Come; help me lift your brother! Do not fear—Buttercup will not let him fall."

Speechless, Kíli helped Tom lift Fíli onto Buttercup's back; the pony seemed to know his own way without being led, and sure enough, he walked steadily, and Fíli stayed firmly upon his back. Tom sang as they walked, and Kíli stumbled along behind, his mind buzzing with all sorts of questions. How had Tom known they were coming? How had he known that Fíli and Kíli were brothers? It wasn't as if they looked much alike. He saved his questions for later, though, instead listening to the nonsense songs that came easily from Tom's lips and pushed back the darkness; it seemed to him that not only did they push back the gloom of the forest around him, but they also lifted a dark burden Kíli had not realized he was still carrying inside himself. His steps seemed lighter and easier than they had been in a while, and even in the midst of despair, he felt a glimmer of hope inside him.

The walk seemed quick, now that he did not have to wait upon Fíli's slow steps, and they soon reached a river running through the trees. Mist rose from its bubbling waters, shrouding the ground at Kíli's feet, but with Tom taking the lead, he did not fear for his footing. They walked along the river for a while; then, suddenly, they stepped out from the trees into a clearing in the middle of the wood. The grass was green and well-kept, and the ground steadily rose along a stone path to a house at the top of the hill. The moon shone down upon the clearing merrily, and golden light flowed from the windows of the house.

"Welcome to the home of Tom Bombadil and his Goldberry!" said Tom. "You will rest here tonight. Do not fear the darkness!"

Kíli smiled at the welcoming sight of Tom's house and hurried along, keeping close to Buttercup and Fíli. The pony stopped at the front door of the house, which opened suddenly; a tall woman clad in green stood against the warm light, and for a moment, Kíli stopped and simply stared at her. So this was Goldberry—Tom's wife. Kíli understood what Bofur had said about her now; though she bore no resemblance to the dwarven women he was accustomed to, she was indeed beautiful. Her long golden hair flowed down her shoulders softly, and her eyes sparkled with delight.

"My Goldberry!" Tom called. He leapt ahead of the pony and took his wife's hand and kissed it; she laughed, and the sound was like the sound of water rippling over smooth stones.

"I have prepared beds for our guests," she said. Kíli felt a strange delight at hearing her voice.

"Come, my friend, let us bring in your brother," said Tom. Kíli snapped back to the present and took Fíli's pack from his back; then he helped Tom lift and carry the still-unconscious Fíli inside. They followed Goldberry down a hall and around a corner to a room with two beds prepared—they were little more than mattresses laid on the ground with blankets and pillows, but they looked like the most welcoming beds Kíli had ever seen. Together Tom and Kíli laid Fíli down on the bed in the corner. Kíli wondered again how Tom had known they were coming, but his host's voice cut through his thoughts.

"Stay here, young master Kíli," he said.

Kíli blinked. He did not recall mentioning his name. "How did you—"

"Old Tom knows many things," Tom interrupted with a hearty laugh. "Stay here, and I will return." Without further explanation, he left the room, and Kíli stood at Fíli's bedside awkwardly, shuffling his feet. He looked up at the beautiful Goldberry, who was looking down at Fíli, her smile gone.

"He has been through much," she said sadly. Her eyes moved from Fíli to Kíli; the young dwarf swallowed as he met her gaze. The color of her eyes seemed to shimmer and shift like the surface of the water, and he could not pin down their color, be it a pale blue or a soft grey or a bright green. He felt as if he were looking at something somehow very young and very old at the same time.

"As have you," she said. "But have no fear! You are in the house of Tom Bombadil tonight. You will be safe here."

Kíli opened his mouth to speak, but the singing of Tom Bombadil reached his ears, and he turned to look towards the door. Tom skipped in with a sack in his hand and set it down beside the mattress that held Fíli.

"Let us take care of the dire matters first," he said. His eyes still glittered, but his mouth was set in a grim line. "Master Kíli, you will need to keep him still for me."

Kíli swallowed and looked down at his brother. "Keep him still?"

"Tom and Goldberry will make sure your brother is well, but we do not have time on our side," said Tom gravely. "We must hurry."

Kíli nodded, though he feared what Tom meant, and knelt down beside Fíli's unconscious form. He took hold of Fíli's hands and crossed them on his chest; instantly he was reminded of the time just a couple short weeks ago when he had done this to keep Fíli from hurting himself as he screamed in the throes of nightmares from which he could not wake. It felt like an eternity had passed since then. He took a shaky breath. So much had happened in such a short time.

"Hold him tightly," said Goldberry softly. Kíli turned to see what the two were doing only to see Tom holding a knife above Fíli's stomach, and he let out an involuntary shout.

"What are you doing?" he cried.

"There is infection sealed inside," Goldberry replied. "Do not fear. Tom Bombadil knows how to heal all hurts. He has been on this earth for a long time."

Kíli wanted to protest, but he stopped himself. Bofur and Glóin had both said only good things about Tom, and he knew personally that sometimes, painful things had to be done. He felt a dull ache of memory in his left side where he had been cut open himself many years ago and squeezed his eyes shut, turning back to face his brother. He held on tight.

"All right," he said, and his voice cracked. "Do what you have to."

There was silence behind him, and he dared not look; instead, he opened his eyes and focused on Fíli's face, praying that Fíli was deep enough under not to feel the knife about to be pushed into his abdomen. He heard a small pop and grimaced.

Then Fíli opened his eyes.

A cold wash of horror flowed down from Kíli's head to his chest, and he tightened his grip on his brother's hands. A startled gasp left Fíli's lips as his eyes met his brother's, and the chill of horror grew colder in Kíli's heart as Fíli began to scream.

"Traitor!" he cried, pushing against Kíli's hard grip, but he was too weak to win against Kíli's strength. He shouted out wildly in pain and looked beyond Kíli to his stomach. Kíli leaned forward, blocking Fíli's view of whatever was happening below.

"You said you wouldn't hurt me!" Fíli wailed. "Traitor, you traitor—you lied, you said you would keep me safe—"

"Fíli, it's all right!" Kíli cried, feeling the sting of his brother's words deep in his chest. A lump formed in his throat and he could not swallow it. "They're helping you—they're saving you—don't fight!"

"You betrayed me!" Fíli screamed again, still struggling wildly against Kíli's grip. Kíli leaned his weight into his brother's chest to keep him still. "You promised—you said I could trust you—why would you do this?" He cried out again. "Why?"

"Can't you put him out or something?" Kíli sobbed. "Please, he's been through so much pain already… please…"

Almost before he had finished speaking, Goldberry was pushing a spoonful of something into Fíli's mouth. Before he could spit it out, she tilted his chin up, keeping his mouth shut, and though Fíli struggled, he could not stop himself from swallowing whatever medicine she had given him. Then he let out a hoarse sob and turned his gaze back to Kíli.

"Why?" he pleaded. He gritted his teeth as Tom did something behind Kíli, but Fíli's eyes were fixed on his brother. They shone darkly with fear and betrayal, and Kíli simply shook his head, incapable of speech as he cried. He pressed his lips together, but still the tears came; he blinked them away and watched Fíli's lids grow heavier.

"You said… you said…" he whimpered, his voice getting weaker. "I don't… I don't understand… I don't understand…"

Fíli's eyes closed finally, and Kíli loosened his grip and moved unkempt blond hair out of his brother's face.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered through the painful lump that remained in his throat. "I'm sorry, Fíli… I'm sorry for everything… this is all my fault. I never should have done… so many things. I'm so sorry." A drop fell from his cheek onto Fíli's and slid down into his hair, and Kíli let out a tearful gasp. Selfish, selfish, selfish, his mind said at him. Look at all you've done. Look at what your selfishness has done to others. Look what you have done to Fíli.

A pale, slender hand came to rest over Kíli's, and the young dwarf looked up into Goldberry's face. She smiled.

"Do not allow guilt to take over your heart," she said. "I will tend to your brother. Go with my husband for now. There is plenty to eat."

Kíli nodded and stood, though he did not know why. He wanted to stay at Fíli's side, but there was something in this woman's voice that made him want to do as she said. He looked back to Tom, who had just finished cleaning his hands in a basin of steaming water. A bloodied cloth sat next to the bowl. Kíli swallowed and wiped at his wet face with his hands, trying to control his breathing. He hiccupped.

"Don't fret, Master Kíli!" he said, his face as cheerful as ever. "The worst has been avoided. Come and wash up, and then we shall eat bread and butter and honeycomb and all sorts of tasty things that my pretty lady has prepared. Come, come!"

Kíli walked as if in a dream; everything seemed bright and yet far away. He found himself sitting at a table, eating from a table laden for many more than just him and Tom Bombadil. Tom sang and hummed cheerfully as he ate and told Kíli stories of living trees and friendly animals and all sorts of people who had passed through his home. Kíli barely listened, though the warmth and cheer of Tom's words spoke to his heart and mind, and by the end of his meal, he felt refreshed and nearly cheerful himself.

"Mister Bombadil," he said suddenly.

"You can call me Tom, my friend," he laughed. "But it is all right! I have guessed your mind. You wish me to save your brother, do you not?"

Kíli blinked. Who was this Tom Bombadil? How did he know everything before Kíli spoke it?

"Y-yes," Kíli said.

Tom laughed. "I already have!" he said. "But you want me to take down the wall in his mind. Do not look so surprised—Tom sees many things that are not plain to others. Is that what you want?"

A hope rose in Kíli then, stronger than he had known since the day he found Fíli in that cave. Tom knew—without being told!

"I came all this way looking for you," he said, his heart pounding. "I thought—no one else knew what to do, and Bofur told me about how you faced down the barrow-wights—"

"Faced down!" Tom laughed. "Barrow-wights listen to old Tom; they don't fight. They try to trap many a man, but they listen when Tom comes 'round!"

"Can you help Fíli?" Kíli pressed.

"Yes, yes!" said Tom happily. "I knew what you wanted before I saw you, master dwarf. I will help your brother come back to the way he should be."

Kíli's eyes widened and he let out a laugh, and tears once again stung the corners of his eyes—but this time, for the first time in a long time, they were tears of joy. He had pressed on through so much pain and so many trials, and his one and only lead was not only willing to help, but knew what he needed before asked! Kíli could not believe his fortune. He wanted to speak, but a strange, garbled sound came out instead. He blushed and wiped at the twin tears making their way down his face.

"My Goldberry is surely done with the mending," said Tom, still smiling warmly. His red cheeks glowed with life, and his blue eyes twinkled in the candlelight. "Let us go see your brother."

Kíli followed Tom down the hall back to the bedroom, his mind in a blur. He could not believe it. He felt a strange buzzing in his chest as he thought of his Fíli smiling at him, happy to see him once more, the darkness gone from his eyes and trust once again shining from within. They reached the bedroom just as Goldberry tied a knot on the bandage covering Fíli's stomach. Several bottles and a needle and thread lay on a tray beside her. She picked them up and rose as Kíli and Tom entered the room. Her shimmering eyes landed on Kíli, and she smiled.

"Your brother is safe now," she said. "Do you trust in the healing power of Goldberry, daughter of the River?"

Kíli nodded, still fighting tears. This was so quick—all this toil, and finally, Fíli was safe and sound and would soon be whole. He wondered at the strange power that rested in this strange couple deep in the Old Forest. Goldberry carried her tray out of the room, her movements fluid and quick as she stepped easily around her husband and her guest. Kíli's eyes rested on his brother.

Tom knelt down beside Fíli and looked over him with quick, sharp eyes. Kíli wondered he would do—would he touch him? Would he do some kind of magic? What kind of power did Tom hold that could fix the dark wall in Fíli's mind?

"Rest now, my lad!" Tom sang. He did not touch him. "Listen to old Tom calling! The darkness has no sway on you—remember friend and kin; remember love and joy and trust! Listen to Tom Bombadil! Have no fear of foe or friend. You are safe tonight!"

Tom smiled down at Fíli and then stood, rubbing his hands together. Kíli stared at him quizzically.

"Is that it?" he said.

"Dark things listen when Tom speaks," he said. "Do not fear. Your brother will wake in the morning and know you. Wash up and rest, Master Kíli. You have nothing to fear in the house of Tom Bombadil." With that, Tom left Kíli standing in the room with his slumbering brother.

Kíli stood for a long time, staring at the door after Tom Bombadil. His mind was racing. Eventually he remembered himself and washed up; nightclothes had been left for him on the other bed, and he marveled that they were just right for him. He lay down on the soft mattress and pulled up the warm covers, wondering if he would ever get to understand these mysterious people.

He had so many questions that he could not even think them all. Who was this strange person with his quiet, humble power? Dark things listen when Tom speaks, Kíli repeated in his head. He could attest to that. He thought back to Tom's singing in the darkness of the Old Forest; as soon as he had heard that voice, even the trees had listened. How old was this man? Where did he come from? What did Goldberry mean by daughter of the River?

Kíli watched Fíli sleep on the other bed for a while and then closed his eyes as exhaustion washed over him. Almost immediately he fell asleep; his last thoughts before slumber took him were of Tom's quiet power. He had put on no airs and had not made a show, but somehow, Kíli knew in his heart that whatever power he held, it had worked.

Kíli awoke the next morning to the quiet stillness of Tom and Goldberry's home. The room was filled with a soft yellow light from the sun shining through a curtain facing the east. He blinked slowly and looked to Fíli in the other bed. His brother was still asleep, his mouth hanging slightly open, but his face peaceful. Kíli pushed off his covers and made his way to Fíli's side. He sat down on the edge of the mattress and watched Fíli sleep.

A nervous knot was twisting in his stomach. He was excited—beyond excited—to have his brother back, but he knew what remembering was like after that fey creature in the cave had overtaken his mind. He had not simply remembered everything and forgotten what happened in the meantime, and he had the horrible suspicion that Fíli would not forget everything that had conspired since he had been found, either. He would remember. Kíli only hoped that he would see the truth—that it wasn't his fault; he hadn't known what he was doing or whom he was doing it to. He was not to blame for what had been done.

Kíli had never been a patient dwarf. He watched Fíli impatiently, wondering when his brother would wake up. He needed to see his brother's eyes, no longer unnaturally dark or untrusting. He needed to see Fíli again, and after waiting so long, he was not sure he could wait any longer. He took his brother's hand and squeezed gently.

Fíli's fingers squeezed back, and his eyelids fluttered; Kíli's heart jolted in his chest, and he watched eagerly as Fíli slowly woke up. His eyes caught Kíli's face, and the nervous twist in Kíli's stomach grew tighter. He smiled.

"Good morning, brother," Kíli said.

"Kíli," Fíli whispered, closing his eyes again. He held a pained expression that Kíli knew well; it was a look Fíli only had at one time—after a nightmare. Kíli did not hesitate. He did what he had always done when Fíli had nightmares; he leaned down and wrapped his big brother in a hug.

Fíli buried his face in Kíli's neck and made a soft hum of contentment, and Kíli's heart swelled at that one small sound. Fíli was coming back to him. He had his brother back. Kíli held on to him tightly, feeling Fíli breathing against him. He was murmuring something into Kíli's neck. Kíli listened, and his heart sank.

"It was just a dream," Fíli was whispering. "It was a dream, just a dream… just a dream…"

Kíli held onto Fíli tighter and said nothing as his joy began to trickle away. Still, he held on to the hope that maybe, just maybe, Fíli would continue to believe the lie he was telling himself.

After a long minute, Fíli loosened his grip, and Kíli let him back down into the pillow carefully. Fíli looked up at him, and Kíli stared into the light blue eyes of the brother that he had always known and had almost lost. He smiled nervously as Fíli studied his face.

"It's all right, Fíli," he said. "You're all right now."

Fíli moved to sit himself up, and Kíli lurched forward to help him. A grimace of pain passed Fíli's face; then, suddenly, it melted into horror as he looked around the room.

"Kíli," he said quietly, "where are we?"

"We're in Tom Bombadil's home," Kíli said nervously, holding his brother steady. "He found us and patched you up."

"But—but that was a dream," Fíli said. His voice was high and panicked as he turned his wide eyes back to his brother. "It was a dream. None of that happened… Kíli?"

Kíli could only hold Fíli's gaze for a moment before he dropped his eyes down. Fíli stiffened in his arms.

"No, no, no, no, no… it didn't—oh, no, oh Mahal—"

Kíli's eyes snapped back up to Fíli's face as the blond started to pull out of his brother's grip. He held on tighter, but Fíli ripped himself away and backed away, falling off the low bed.

"Fíli!" Kíli cried, reaching out, but Fíli pulled himself to his feet with a cry and stumbled back. He tripped and landed on his bottom and let out a shout of pain.

"What have I done—what have I done—"

"Fíli, it's all right—"

"Stay back!" Fíli said desperately, pulling himself back up and away from Kíli's outstretched hands. "I'll—I'll hurt you—"

"No, you won't," Kíli said confidently. "It's all right. Just calm down."

"I tried to… I tried to kill you… oh, Mahal…" Fíli said, backing away with every step Kíli took forward. His pants for air were becoming more ragged; sobs broke through the panting, and he curled into himself, bowing his head and grabbing fistfuls of his hair. Kíli dashed forward, his heart pounding, but Fíli kept moving away until he suddenly hit the wall and let out a short cry of pain. Kíli never stopped moving toward him.

Suddenly, Fíli let out a horrible scream. Kíli stopped short.

"Stay away from me!" he shouted hoarsely. "Kíli, please—I've done enough—"

"Fíli, stop running!" Kíli said, horrified. He caught hold of Fíli's arm, but Fíli ripped it away. His elbow caught Kíli across the jaw, and Kíli let out a surprised shout, letting go of his brother's arm to hold his own face.

Fíli let out a long, agonized wail and dropped to the floor.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" he sobbed. "I told you… I told you I'd hurt you, I told you to stay back—"

"It was an accident, Fíli!" Kíli said over his brother's noise. He knelt down at Fíli's side, but Fíli scrambled away. "You didn't mean to do it—it's all right…"

"But I did mean it!" Fíli said wretchedly. "N-not now—but then—I wanted you to hurt—I wanted you to suffer… oh, Mahal!" The last word came out as a long keen of anguish, and he dragged himself into the corner and covered his head with his hands. As he sobbed, a cold, sick feeling came over Kíli; he stood and stared at his brother, wide-eyed, one hand over his mouth. He looked around, but Tom and Goldberry were nowhere to be seen. Of course.

Suddenly, Fíli gagged and pitched forward onto his knees. Before Kíli could react, Fíli retched, and Kíli let out a cry. He dove to his knees and wrapped an arm around his brother for support, pulling back his hair with his free hand. When Fíli had stopped, he let out a scream of pain and clapped his hands over his stomach, and Kíli pulled him back to keep him from falling into his own sick. He dragged him away from the mess, ignoring Fíli's weak fighting.

"N-no, no…" Fíli protested, but he had weakened himself too much. He could not fight back. Kíli checked the bandage around his brother's stomach—a spot of blood had begun to show through. He cursed. Fíli tried to curl up and pull away, but Kíli would not let him go.

"S-stop, Kíli, stop," Fíli begged. "Please—leave me—you can't be around me—"

"Nonsense, Fíli," Kíli said. "I'm not leaving you. You can't make me."

"But… but look at what I've done—"

"I don't care," Kíli said. He took hold of Fíli's wrists and pulled at them; Fíli pulled back, but Kíli was winning. Slowly, he managed to pull Fíli's arms away from the ball that the blond had made himself into. He wrapped them around his own body, and while initially Fíli protested, he finally gave in and held on tightly, burying his face into Kíli's tunic.

"I forgive you, Fíli," he said. "No matter what you've done—no matter what you've said—I know you. I know the real you, Fíli… and to me, you are perfect. Nothing can change that. Nothing."

Muffled moans, wails, and screams vibrated against Kíli's chest, but Fíli did not let go. Kíli held his brother tightly and brought his lips close to his ear; over and over he whispered I forgive you, I forgive you, I forgive you. The longer he stayed, the more relaxed Fíli's body became, until finally Fíli's screams quieted and his sobs turned to soft hiccups and his forehead rested easily against his brother. He shifted to rest against Kíli more comfortably, still holding on tight, and Kíli leaned back against the wall with a sigh. He sat quietly, allowing Fíli to soak up the love and acceptance that he had certainly been craving for a long time now. He smiled.

"It'll be all right," he said softly. He felt exhausted. Fíli hiccuped tearfully on his chest.

*screams*

FILI. FILI FILI FILI FILI FILI FILI'S BACK HE'S BACK AAAAAAAAAA

This is NOT the end of the fic. I repeat: THIS IS NOT THE END.

I don't know if any of you are as excited as I am. You'd better review and tell me if you are. Also tell me your feels. I will be ashamed if you didn't cry. Or at least tear up or something. Or maybe you're the heartless type, so if you felt a twinge of angst in your soul, I'll take that, too.