Chapter 3

*Fili*

He had watched his brother most of the night. Fili had never been so worried.

Never, although there had been sometimes.

There was the time he and Kili had decided it was a good idea to get up in the middle of the night to hunt wargs and they really did find one. Then there was the time they had blown up a door that was locked. They both walked away from that with black faces and grins that stretched from ear to ear. They must have looked very strange, because, at first sight, their friends thought they were Orcs. The only real reason why Fili and been afraid that time was because of their mother. Dis was not the kind to enjoy explosions and had punished them for doing such a dumb thing, but she was almost constantly amused with the pranks of her two sons.

Kili had stopped breathing twice that night and on the second time, Oin had had a hard time to start him breathing again. It had scared Fili so bad when that happened. Two times... Once had been bad enough but twice was absolutely terrifying.

Fili had not minded the pain in his side that made him nauseous when he pushed the table and his bed across the room. Even if Kili had not thought of that, Fili did it to let him know that he was always going to be by him. It was something he had done since Kili was born and he wasn't going to stop now just because he had one 'small' cut.

Kili gave him a funny look.

"What's the matter with you? I hope you aren't going to make that face at me for very long."

"I was just thinking. What will happen now?"

Fili's smile faltered, "Well, I guess we'll become princes and help rebuild Erebor to its former glory or maybe surpassing it. I'll have to marry a respectable woman and produce an heir or so and then one day I ascend the throne and that will be that."

Kili frowned. "You don't want that to happen, do you, Fee?"

"No. That is not what I want."

"Then why did you come on the adventure?"

"How could I say no? I love Thorin and I knew he wanted us to come. I saw you wanted to come and also it was a chance to step outside the land we had never left. It was a chance for an adventure! And it's not too bad when you consider it Fate." Fili handed Kili a glass of water and laid back on the bed. Kili gratefully took the glass in a shaking hand and drank a sip. Fili rolled over on to his left side to face Kili and reached out a hand. His fingers brushed Kili forehead and he quickly pulled back.

"Ow, Kili, you burned me!" he said blowing on his hand.

Kili cracked a smile then he laughed, it was a dry laugh, but it sounded fine to his brother.

"It's a new self-defense system I thought up. I hope you like it."

Fili broke into a full laugh. "Kili, you never fail to say something."

There was a soft knock on the door and Oin entered followed by none other than Bilbo Baggins.

"He wanted to see you and I couldn't find an excuse fast enough, so here he is." Oin looked around the room then added, "Fili don't tell me you were on your feet. You are going to do more damage then you already have if you keep getting up."

Kili looked surprised, "Oin, why Fili do such a thing? I was the one who got up!"

Oin raised an eyebrow at that statement and shook his head. He would probably never understand the brothers. They were impossible.

Bilbo looked a bit nervous until Fili and Kili both smiled at him.

"I was just thinking about you. I was wondering how you faired in the battle, and I see you look fine."

"It's good to see you again, Bilbo. I usually would give you a slap on the back but it would seem I can't do that." Fili said, glancing at Oin who said, "Don't you dare even think about it!"

Kili suddenly got a very idiotic smile on his face, after Oin had left the room.

"What on earth is the matter with you, Kili?" Fili asked, bewildered by the crazy look on his brothers face.

"Oh, I was just thinking. Wouldn't it be funny if Mum came and we had this contraption all set up! It could maybe drop a pail of water or something even better!"

"You are always thinking up something to do to someone aren't you? Really, brother, you should try doing something other than that."

"But it's so much fun to see their faces! I don't want to do anything else!"

"Yeah, but if you really do that to Mum, you won't have anywhere to run."

Kili shrugged, "It was a good idea while it lasted."

"I hope the battle did not fair to bad for you? I only got knocked on the head, hard, but thankfully that's all that happened." Bilbo asked after a silence.

"I'm alright I guess. Kili's the problem, like usual." Fili said glancing at his brother.

Kili looked hurt, "Fee! You're cruel! I am not a problem, you're just jealous that's all there is to it." He stuck his tongue out to prove his point.

"Jealous! Of what would I be jealous, little brother?" Fili asked. Bilbo had taken a seat on Kili's left to watch the pair of obviously bored young Durins talk about something he had no idea about.

"Me of course, silly, who do you think."

"Why on earth would I be jealous of you?"

"Because I'm better than you. You always had girls after you."

Fili raised his eyebrows like he did when Kili did something unexpected, "How does that make you better than me, pray tell?"

Kili grinned, "I was too good for them, see. So they all went after you instead."

"No I don't see. Kili, where ever did you get your logic?"

"I don't know, from Mum maybe or Father."

Fili's face grew sad for a moment, "Mum would be most likely. Father, well…I don't think he was that sort."

Bilbo had never heard them talk of a mother or father until they had come to Laketown. There he had heard Thorin mention them as "the sons of my father's daughter". Then he had realized that they were his nephews. He had known they were relatives of course, that much had been obvious. They had similar looks and he had noticed they were always by Thorin, trying to please him or just looking up to him for support.

"Fili," Kili asked his face serious, "what was Father *cough* like?"

Bilbo blinked. Kili does not know his father! I wonder what could have happened to him.

Fili thought for a moment before answering. "Kili, I hardly remember him at all, but from what I do remember, he was the kindest Dwarf the world has ever known. He had golden hair, dark eyes and was always ready to laugh. He was the one too insist Thorin live with us."

"If it's not too much to ask, what happened to him?" Bilbo inquired.

Fili smiled, "It's not too much of course." He then blinked as if to keep tears away, "Our father went with Thorin to defend our village against a tribe of Orcs that was attacking. As I understand, Thorin was surrounded by the foul creatures and was about to go down, when Father saw him. He and Thorin fought together until an arrow…it was meant for Thorin but Father saw it coming and stood in front of him." Fili's eyes filled with tears, making them sparkle like blue diamonds, "It hit him in the chest and he died in Thorin's arms. On his last breath he told Thorin that he had thought of him as a brother and a king. He asked him to take care of Mum, Kili, and me." Fili then smiled and wiped his unshed tears away, "Kili wasn't even born yet."

Kili took up the story where Fili had stopped, "I know the rest of what happened. That night when Fili was sleeping Thorin came home and told Mum Father was dead and gave his blades to her. I was born that night. Fili's swords were Father's until Fili found he was better at duel blades than a single sword. Mum gave them to him when he turned fourteen." Kili had a look sadness with a mixture of pride when he mentioned his older brother.

"Kili, what's that face for?" Fili asked puzzled to why his brother had such a usual expression.

"What face?" Kili now had a look of innocent bewilderment.

"The one you just made, silly!"

"I am not silly, you are the silly one!"

"I glad you're feeling good, Kee."

"Who said I'm feeling good?!"

"You did."

"What!? I'm afraid you've lost me, brother. I don't get it."

Fili smiled. It was always amusing when Kili was hurt and was starting to feel better for a bit. His smiled vanished when Kili's compaction turned paler then it had been.

"Well, I was feeling a little better, I guess." Kili said with a shaky voice, which made it sound like he was trying to keep from vomiting.

"You're just tiered that's all. You'll be fine Kee, alright?"

Bilbo stood. "I'll take my leave, then."

"No, wait a minute. Bilbo, if something happens you'll need to fine help." Fili said.

Kili Leaned back farther into his pillow and closed his eyes. For a while it looked like he had fallen asleep. Oin entered and told Bilbo it was time to leave so Fili could rest. When Bilbo had gone Oin walked to Kili's bedside and gently took the young Dwarf's hand. After he had felt Kili's pulse he started to unwrap his abdomen. That was when Kili opened his eyes. His breath was quick and harsh for a small amount of time before he reached out to grasp Fili's hand. His deep brown eyes told Fili that he was hurting badly, but he did not utter a sound. Instead he set his jaw firmly and looked to the person who had always been with him to comfort him or to just stay by him to let him know he there for him.

Fili gently squeezed Kili's hand when Kili had reached out desperately. Kili's grip tightened when Oin removed the last layer of the bandage. The wound was enough to make one sick to his stomach. It had bleed some though the night and now was a burning red color and was swollen. Oin gave his head a small shake. Kili had lost much blood and because of that, he may not be able to fight infection for long. Not only did it keep bleeding, but also many of Kili life chemicals were being lost, his entrails had been cut too meaning he would not be able to eat. If the young Dwarf did not die of infection he might die of starvation.