Note from the Author: Yay, chapter two is up, and on schedule! I think I'm doing pretty well with being on-time, so far. XD I did review the material I had for the story, however, and I realized my estimate of forty or fifty chapters was way off. The reason for that is because what I was calling "chapters" were the little pieces of writing I wrote in a sitting. :P So, after re-dividing them into decent lengths, we ended up with fifteen. So not as many chapters, but at least you get to read more each time, right?

Disclaimer: I still don't own these beautiful characters, and it's highly improbable that I ever will.

The Beginning of Trials

Fili paced the cell like a caged lion, ignoring the jeers of the goblins peering through the bars at him. Thorin stood darkly in a corner, his brows drawn down. The other dwarves sat dejectedly on the floor. Ori was sobbing like an infant and being babied by Dori; Fili had to bite back a barbed remark. Kili had bravely and selflessly given himself up for Ori, the least Ori could do was hold it together, especially since he was unhurt and Kili was probably...Fili let out a yell of rage and threw himself at the bars, frightening the goggling little scum away from the cell.

In the relative quiet, Fili strained his ears for any sound of Kili. Faint shrieks echoed through the vast caverns, but it was impossible to tell whether they came from his brother or was just the perpetual racket of Goblin Town. He prayed it was the latter.

"When they bring him back, you'll have to be strong, Fili," Balin said, softly, coming to stand by the young warrior. "We all will. For him. It won't help him to see us distressed. Any of the reactions we might be tempted to have would only frighten or depress him, or both. He'll need to keep a stout heart, and we can help him by being steadfast and stalwart and saving our griefs for sometime when they can be hidden."

Fili nodded, hardening his jaw and visibly steeling himself. He would do anything for Kili. Balin patted his shoulder affectionately.

"There's a good lad. There's a good lad."

Fili's head snapped up. It had been hours. He'd finally given up pacing and sat down with his back against the wall at the back of the cell, his vigil by the bars silently taken over by Thorin. Thorin hadn't spoken since they'd been thrust in their prison, but now he whispered a gruff, "Kili," his eyes fixed on something out of the other dwarves' sight.

Everyone was immediately alert. Fili was on his feet and by the bars with Thorin in a second. Four gnarled goblins dragged a limp figure along the ground, tugging him by his boots. The door was opened and Kili thrown in to lie still and quiet, the light of the torches outside the cell falling full on his back. Fili felt rage boil inside him at what they had done to Kili. His Kili. The back of his tunic was shredded, angry red whip-wheels showing beneath. But he remembered Balin's warning.

He waited until the goblins retreated and locked the door, and then was on his knees by his brother.

"Kili? Kili."

His little brother stirred.

"Fili," he said, waking, "I guess I fainted." He smiled sheepishly and tried to sit up. His breath was taken away by the pain the movement brought and he leaned gratefully against the shoulder Fili readily offered him. "I didn't tell them anything, Uncle," he said, as Thorin moved to stand near him. A troublesome grin lent a sparkle to his eyes. "Well, that's not true. I taught them a great deal of choice dwarvish language." Fili felt relief wash over him. It was still the same Kili.

Another twinge of pain caused Kili to gasp.

"How does it look?" He asked anxiously.

"Like you've been flogged like a doormat, laddie," Dwalin said, sounding impressed.

Kili laughed breathlessly.

"Well, at least I made it."

Thorin knelt by his nephew, placing a hand on his shoulder and looking grave. The grin vanished from Kili's face as he studied his Uncle's expression.

"It's not over yet, Kili."

"You don't mean they'll be back for him?" Fili asked, his arm tightening around his baby brother's shoulders, "He didn't break. He made it. He's done...isn't he?"

Thorin paused, and Kili watched him, his heart sinking.

"They've only just started. They have more than whips at their command. They will continue to come back for Kili until he either tells them what they want to know, or..." He left the rest unsaid, but there was understanding in both the young nephews' eyes.

Kili stood with his brother's help and looked his Uncle in the eye.

"It will be the latter, Uncle. I won't fail you."

Note from the Author: Things are heating up, it seems. But this is only the beginning. There must be something really wrong with me; I enjoy hurting the characters I love the most. ? It tears me up inside when I do it, but I can't stop. One of my friends always says "Sad is happy for deep people". Can't say that I'm deep, really, but in my case sad often does equal happy. BUT I PROMISE. THERE WILL BE A HAPPY ENDING TO THIS STORY. Leave a review, people; it makes my day! The next update is due Friday, so stay tuned. ;)