Chapter 5

*Fili*

Fili slept heavily that night. After all, he had not slept one time the night before. The knowledge that his brother and uncle were together and just fine made Fili feel like the world was happier for now. No dream came to him that night so completely worn out he was. However, he was awakened by the call of "Fee, wake up!" Fili at first ignored the pestering, until he realized that Kili was calling him.

"Fili, wake up, you lazy oaf!" Kili said quietly, but firmly.

Fili opened his eyes at that comment and raised one eyebrow.

"Good. You need to hear this." Kili said to his older sibling.

"Lazy oaf? Kili, why, brother, why am I an oaf?!" Fili asked the hurt pride obvious.

Kili shrugged, "I don't know. It got your attention, now be quiet before they hear us."

Fili was about to ask what Kili meant when he heard the sound of voices outside their room. One voice he identified easily as Thorin's. Thorin was the one who was talking at the time, so, like they used to do when they were Dwarflings, Fili began to listen in to the conversation.

"… dangerous. Is there not another way?" Thorin was saying.

"Well, we could do nothing and watch him die slowly. If you don't want that, then I'll have to at least attempt it." That is Oin, Fili guessed. Then he thought, Who is dying and what are they going to attempt? Fili glanced at his brother. Kili was listening intently with wide eyes.

"You know I do not want that to happen. I would rather suffer through a hundred more dragons than see ether Fili or Kili die. If that is the only way to save him, do it." Thorin replied. Then a new voice added in a heavy accent, "Why don't you ask the lads, or at least tell them this has to be done? And what of Fili?" Bofor, Fili decided.

"Fili is not as bad. In fact, he could probably live without an operation. But Kili, there's no hope for him if it's not done. We were planning on telling them when everything else was ruled on useless." was the reply from the healer. An operation! Fili was shocked. Surgery was avoided if it could be helped, it was considered too dangerous. They must be despite to even think about that! Is Kili really hurt that bad? Fili looked at him. Kili's face as gone white as a sheet and his dark eyes were now every large. He swallowed and turned his head to face Fili. The fear showed plainly on his face. Fili volunteered his hand and Kili took it and hung on as if his life depended on it. Fili mouthed, "It will be okay." Kili nodded. They hushed once more to hear what was being said.

"We have more of a problem than we usually would, however. Kili has already lost much of his blood and he has not eaten since before the battle. He would need strength and that is something he does not have." Oin said.

"Why do you not have him eat, then? Surly he must be hungry?" Bofor asked. Kili nodded. Fili figured he must be famished by now.

"Because, if he were to eat, it would increase the chance of infection and on top of that, some of his intestines are cut. One is almost demolished. It's a miracle he is living now. Had it been anyone else, he most certainly would be dead already." Oin answered. Kili let go of Fili's hand and quickly closed his eyes when the door opened and Bofor strode into the room followed by Thorin and Oin. Bofor walked over and sat by Kili while Thorin went to Fili. Oin stood quietly to one side of the room. Bofor grinned at Fili.

"So you enjoy your first real battle?" he asked.

"I was a bit, probably the adrenalin of it for the most part. Then when I was starting to get a little on the tired side, I lost Kili and I saw Thorin and Azog fighting. That was when it was not so fun and it really lost everything when Kili got hurt. Still can't find your hat Bofor?"

The older Dwarf nodded. He was about to make a comment when Kili "woke" for the second time that morning. Kili smiled at Bofor, Thorin, and Fili.

"Morning everyone." he said.

"Good morning, lazy oaf." Fili replied smirking.

"Fili, what kind of a greeting is that!?" Kili yelled.

"Revenge is sweet." Fili said in a sing-song voice while Kili tried punched him in the arm. Thorin shook his head with a small smile, sometimes the antics of his sister-sons were amusing, while other times they were down right annoying. Oin glanced at the brothers and rolled his eyes. When would the two ever act like the adults they were about to become? If they still acted like a couple of teenagers when they were named princes, Erebor would be in a lot of trouble.

When Kili had stopped hitting his brother, he looked around the room. "I have a strange feeling," he said, "that you are all here for a reason more than to just sit around."

Bofor laughed, "Always strait to the point, aren't you, lad?"

"Well, if you are going to be right out with what you say, we might as well be." Oin said. "Thorin, do you want to tell them, or should I?"

"Tell us what?" Fili asked although he had already guessed the answer and did not want to hear it again. Thorin turned to his nephews. Fili pulled himself up into a slight sitting position with a small twinge of pain in his side, but he did not mind.

Thorin took a deep breath and said, "To put everything as plainly as possible, you are dying, Kili and the only way you will even have a chance of surviving this, would be by surgery." Fili shook his head.

"No, no, no. Kili's not going to die. He's staying right here! Brother you cannot die!" Fili said choking out the last sentence. Kili seemed to have frozen in time. He just laid on the bed, his wild, dark locks of hair and the black stubble of his future beard in contrast to his pale skin. Slowly the realization of what had just been said dawned on his face. The raw fear, hurt, and all types of other emotions playing out on his face would have even had Thranduil himself feeling pity and sorrow for the young Dwarrow.

"I'm not going to die, Fee." he said firmly, "I will undergo this operation, if truly it is my only hope, and I shall recover. As long as you heart beats, Fili, mine does. Nothing will delay my life if it does not delay yours."

Thorin reached out to his eldest nephew and took his hand. Fili drew a shuddering breath to compose himself than he replied, "You are right, Kili. We are one and what happens to one of us will happen to the other."

Oin choose that opportunity to speak. "Fili, you could live without this but, if you insist, we will operate on you too."

"Of course I insist. And you did say could live. I want to make sure that both of us live." Fili answered. Thorin's gray-blue eyes said his approval for him. Fili and Kili were always loyal to each other. They needed to stay together as long as they both live, for if you take one away, the other will fade.

"Very well, then, that is the way it shall be. Kili will be first to be worked on for his condition is more serious and then, Fili, you shall follow. It will have to be done this afternoon." Oin agreed.

Fili nodded, feeling no fear at his decision. Kili on the other hand turned paler at the thought of what was to come to pass, although he set his jaw firmly, his hand fumbled for Fili's. When their hands meant, the Dwarf brothers formed the connection that had started when Kili had been born a century ago, when Fili with the mind of a five-year-old and the body of a one-year-old held the hand of his prematurely born baby brother. Kili twisted his hand slightly so he was able to fully grasp Fili's right thumb in his left hand, with his thumb between the bones of Fili's index finger and the bottom joint of his thumb, Fili was able to hold most of Kili's hand. Only the two of them could form this special way of holding hands perfectly. They fell asleep a few minutes later still in that position.

A/N What have I done to poor Kili?!*sniff*Pray for him and Fili will you? Thank you soooo much all you reviewers! You have given me more reasons to write more often than I have been. Thank you again and enjoy! Coming up, we may see some Elf, and no it's not Tauriel.