Chapter 11

*Fili*

Fili had missed his mother of course. All who knew Dis could say that if they do not see her in a while they miss her, but Fili had not known just how badly he did until he saw her. Kili had mentioned before the battle that he had missed her and he had agreed, but when he was pulled into her warm embrace, he realized she had left a hole that could have only be filled by laying eyes on her when she smiled.

The Dwarves from the Ironhills had stayed at Erebor to help build what had been broken by the dragon and when Fili, Kili, and Dis entered; they were greeted by young Jarni who seemed to consider the two brothers his friends.

"Hi Jarni, how's life?" Kili asked as the boy started to walk along beside them.

"Oh, it's oaky I guess. Are all these people from the Blue Mountains?" he asked.

"Yes, most of us are returning from there. Kili, I forgot to tell you…" but Dis never finished when someone behind them shouted, "Hey, Fili and Kili! How come you didn't notice me?!"

They turned to see a human grinning broadly at them with a crooked toothed smile.

"Bainard! What in the world are you doing here?!" Kili exclaimed while Fili felt a sudden urge to gape. The man was native of Ered Luin, and had been a friend of theirs for a long time. Wearing a faded green cloak and soft, light leather boots had made him almost invisible and soundless.

"I came to see my Dwarvish friends; that is what I'm doing here. Hey Kili, do you still think you can out shoot me?" Bainard asked brushing back his hood and letting his brown hair fall about his shoulders and also revealing a bow and a quiver of arrows.

"Of course I can still out shoot you, you muddy faced, crooked toothed, son of a one eyed donkey!"

"Kili son of Fain, watch your language!" Dis said with a disapproving frown, but Bainard laughed.

"You know something? I bet your just saying that. I bet that if we were to have a shooting contest, I'd beat you. And it's not my fault my teeth got knocked in by a horse's hind hoof."

"How much are you betting?" Kili asked and Fili bit his tongue to keep from laughing. This was them all over again! Whenever they got the chance, they were challenging each other to shooting contests. So far though, Kili had been the solid winner the last three years, and Fili, although he was very proud of his brother's ability, was beginning to feel a little sorry for the Man. Just a little.

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Thirty minutes later, they were standing in their room after Kili had beaten Bainard (again) and was handing Fili the gold he had won.

"Here, this is for you." he said and Fili smiled. It was the same amount of coin that Kili had lost in the bet against his brother and Bofur.

"Why thank you, little brother." Fili said.

"And this is also for you!"

Kili unexpectedly swung a pillow at Fili's head and Fili managed to duck in time, although he had no clue how. Grabbing a weapon of his own, Fili blocked Kili's next attack and when Kili, with a quick turn his wrist, almost disarmed him, he decided to throw a few surprises. Literally. When Kili was not watching Fili's free hand, he grabbed up a sheet and threw it over Kili's head. Kili made a sound that could only be described as a squawk as Fili hit him with his pillow. The poor young son of Dis desperately stumbled forward and landed on top of his older brother, who promptly collapsed on the floor. Soon Fili became entangled in the piece of bed covering that was now covering his younger sibling and tried to escape with Kili's arms around his legs.

"Truce! I call truce Kili stop!" Fili said but Kili only snickered and, removing one arm and gripping harder with the other, he began to poke Fili in a partially ticklish spot. When Fili started to plead harder for mercy, Kili shook his head and tickled harder. Finally, Fili could take it no longer and burst out laughing until his newly healed side began to ach. Kili stopped suddenly too, and Fili removed the sheet from around his head. Kili looked up at him with a smile and rolled over onto his back placing a hand over his abdomen with a sigh.

"It has been way too long since we have done anything like that, Fee. I wish this confounded stomach of mine would not hurt whenever I do something. You have no idea how hard it was to shoot."

Fili got to his feet and offered Kili his hand but Kili shook his head.

"What's the matter?" Fili asked, alarmed.

"I think it would be a good idea to wait for my stomach to settle for a bit before I try to stand. You don't want me to get sick again do you?" Kili replied. The day before they had went to explore the mountain and Kili had walked a little too much and vomited when he did not rest.

"No indeed, I most certainly do not! Do you want to talk about something while you are waiting?" Fili asked and sat down next to Kili who shrugged and bit his lip like he usually did when he was thinking up some kind of a plan.

"Fili, do you want to pull a prank on someone? Because I just thought of a good one."

"Sure, but who is the victim in mind?"

Kili's eyes took on a glint and mischief and slowly a grin that looked like the one he had given their mother so many weeks before crept across his face.

"Mum." was the answer. Fili's own eyes began to sparkle and he returned to grin with a chuckle. Things are getting back to normal. My cheerful, pranking, wonderful brother is resurfacing after all we have been though, and thank Eru for that!

"Nice choice, now what are we going to do to our poor unfortunate mother?"

"Well, first we are going to wait 'til tonight, because it would be no fun to do it now while she is tired and hungry." Kili said and Fili nodded. Last time they had done that, it had not ended well for either the Dwarf woman or the pranksters. That had been a night to remember…

Fili shook himself from the memories as Kili sat up, leaned over against him, and rested his head on Fili's shoulder. Fili put his arm around Kili and rubbed circles on his brother's back bringing a sigh of comfort from the Dwarf. They stayed in that position for a little time just being close to each other and thankful that things turned out the way they had. After all, Kili could have died then and there on the battle field or before anything could be done about his condition, and then there was Fili, who kept wondering why the Orc had gone for his side instead of his neck or straight through his back. Maybe it was just luck, or maybe there was something they had yet to complete in life, but whatever the case was, they were just glad to be alive, together, and on the mend, for together they could stand against anything they wanted, perhaps even the world if it turned as a foe to them.

Kili finally pulled back and said, "I almost went to sleep like that, save the fact that I am way too hungry to sleep. Come on, brother, let's go shall we?"

"You said it!" Fili replied and Kili laughed.

"I know I did, now come on."

"Ha, ha, ha. Very funny Kee." Fili stood and this time when he offered his hand Kili accepted with a smile and did not let go and Fili's hand. Together, they crossed the room and stepped into the hall way, making their way down to the Dining Hall for their well-earned meal before the prank was to be set up. He did not even tell me what we are going to do, silly goose! Ah well, I will be finding out won't I?

A/N You'll be finding out too! Fluff in this story. Me loves fluff! Pronounce Bainard's name like: Bay-nard, and in case you were wondering, yes he was a very good friend of theirs and mourned the rest of his life after they died. He was about twenty when they left for Erebor. I know, you want me to shut up. Thanks to leggomygraggo2, Mira Meliandra, jaymzNshed, Apophis god of chaos, Syblime, and Rebecca for inspiring me to get back to writing! I could give you all a very big hug! That goes for all of you who wish to remain quiet! Please review and enjoy Reviews make Kili and Fili smile!