Chapter 9

*Fili*

Two weeks later…

Fili sat in his chair beside Kili's bed, while Kili was sitting up in bed not even leaning on the pillows. He seemed to be hard at work contemplating on whatever his was thinking up. Fili reached out and grabbed his brother's arm as Kili suddenly swung his legs out of the bed.

"Don't do it Kili. What if you hurt yourself? I'd like to see you try to explain that." Fili warned. Kili gave him a look that meant 'you worry like a mother hen' and shrugged. Fili let go of his arm and shook his head until his braids flew with the motion. "It is not a good idea, but fine have it your way."

"Oh, don't be such a worry-wart, Fee." Kili said. Fili stood and offered his hand to his brother. Kili accepted his offer had pulled himself on to his feet. At first he leaned on Fili for support and Fili wrapped his arm around Kili's shoulders until Kili steadied himself, then Fili stepped back and let him go. Kili breathed deeply and positioned himself as if he had notched an arrow to a bow and was preparing to fire, then he changed his stance as if now he held a sword in a defensive position. Fili half smiled at his brother's antics. Kili had wanted to stand and use his weapons once again.

As Kili was just about to lean into Fili again there was a knock at the door and Bofur entered. He grinned at them upon seeing both Fili and Kili on their feet.

"Well, well, well. You two are feeling better today, I see." he commented.

"I feel even better now that I am actually standing for the first time in about two and a half weeks. So, what's up Bofor?" Kili replied. Bofur answered immediately.

"News has come from the Men of The Lake have heard tidings of a caravan of Dwarves heading this way, and a mighty big one too." Kili sat down on the bed and glanced up at Fili. Fili smiled broadly then asked, "How far away is it?"

"A week at the most and four days at the least, so they say." Fili turned to Kili.

"How much do you two want to bet their here in five days?" Bofur said he would bet the caravan would be there in six days and placed twenty gold on it. Kili bet on four days with twenty-five gold, and Fili, not to be out done by his little brother, bet five days with thirty gold.

After Bofur had left them to themselves Kili asked Fili why he had bet so much gold.

"Because Kee" was the reply, "I am the crown prince now, right? I have almost the entire wealth of Erebor, as do you." Kili nodded in agreement then grinned, "How much do you want to bet Mum is with them?" Fili laughed shaking his head.

"I am not going to bet a single coin on the odds of her not being with them!" Or Ilay for that matter, I do hope she comes soon. Fili thought. Kili pulled on Fili's shirt sleeve making him sit beside him on the bed. Fili looked at Kili and slung his right arm around Kili's shoulders.

"So, little brother, what are we going to do when the caravan gets here?" he wondered aloud.

"I don't know. You know what would be nice?"

"What?"

"It'd be nice if we could go to meet them outside of Dale." Kili said laying his head on Fili's shoulder. Fili gently rested his head atop his brother's.

"Yes, that would be nice. The princes of the Lonely Mountain welcome the Dwarves back to a homeland completely flooded with gold. I wonder how long it will take to get all that back where it belongs."

"I hope we aren't going to be assigned to that job! It would take years and I think I'd be bored of it within minutes." Kili sighed. Fili snorted, "Ha, no you wouldn't. You would start throwing the stuff at me, and before anyone can object, we'd have a full scale war raging." Kili laughed, "Sounds like a lot of fun to me!"

"Hey Oin, look!" The healer had turned his back on them and the moment he did, Fili helped Kili on to his feet and they both stood there ginning like a couple of lunatics. Fili smirked when Oin rolled his eyes and Kili proudly walked across the room then returned his brother's side.

"See, Kili's just fine now. Can he not come with me to Thorin today?" Fili asked. They had been secretly working on Kili's standing until he could walk steadily on his own for two days. Oin nodded his approval and Kili joyously turned to Fili. Fili opened his arms into which Kili flung himself.

"Come on Kili. Let's go take a walk shall we?" Fili said. Kili pulled back from his embrace and nodded with a brilliant white smile. When they opened the door of the room to leave, Kili made a squeaking sound and swallowed. Fili could feel the excitement and joy course through his brother's body and held his hand a bit tighter.

Ten minutes later, they stood in the great meeting room of the Dwarves that was filled to the brim with gold and jewels. Their sharp eyes scanned the area until Kili pointed to a lone figure on one of the mounds of treasure. The gold under their feet clanked softly as their boots brushed against them. Kili stumbled once but Fili reached out to catch him just in time. As they neared the top of the miniature mountain, Thorin turned and raised his hand in greeting. Fili and Kili waved back at him then continued their climb upward. It was hard going because the coins and such would slid backwards, bury their feet, or slip out from under them, but at last they reached the top and stood on either side of their uncle. Thorin smiled and put his arms around them, something he had not done since before the quest.

"It is good to see you walking again, Kili and you too Fili." he said. Fili straitened himself and he breathed deeply.

"Thorin, can I ask you something?"

"Ask away." Thorin replied.

"When the caravan arrives, may we go to meet it?" Fili questioned. Thorin nodded. "If Kili is able, then yes you may go. But only to the ruins of Dale."

"Oh, I shall be by then. And we'll not pass the outside border of Dale." Kili answered quickly.

"Good. Let us go find something to eat." Fili and Kili agreed to this statement readily and started to make their way carefully down the mound and through the hall with Thorin close behind them.