Chapter 28

*Kili*

One month later…

If only Coal wasn't such a bastard! Kili thought for the thousandth time.

They had come to a stream that was not very deep, but it was for a Dwarf, its depth being about three and half feet deep because of the recent heavy rainfall. Mabel had already made it across without a problem along with Myrtle, but Coal was another story. The stubborn black pony flatly refused to go anywhere near the water no matter how much his master threatened or coxed.

"Fine!" Kili said and slid from Coal's back. He took the reins in his hand right below Coal's jaw so that the pony had to follow him and led him to the edge of the water. The animal halted and Kili stopped as well to lay one hand on Coal's mane.

"It's alright, boy. Don't worry, see? It's just water, not a monster." he said firmly, and then he stepped into the stream, gently pulling Coal along. The pony hesitated and then took one step before jerking head back. Kili winced as he thought of how the metal bit must have hurt Coal's tender mouth. "If you didn't do that, you wouldn't get hurt."

"Do you need any help with him?" Fili asked. Kili shook his head and his brother raised an eyebrow.

"I have him, don't worry."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Kili said and started to lead Coal again. This time he was able to get his front hooves into the water when Coal stopped short again and swished his tail in an irritated warning. Kili rolled his eyes and gave him a stern look. "See here, you idiot. If you don't start walking there will be trouble."

But Coal just shook his mane and tried to back out of the stream. "Oh no, you don't!" Kili said and began to lead him forward again. Coal decided that there was only one way to get out of the cold water and bolted through to rejoin his friends, more than half dragging the young archer across and up onto the bank. Fili smirked at Kili who was currently giving the pony a dark look and exclaiming, "Why can't you do anything without making me miserable in the process?!"

"I hate to say anything, Kili, but did you know you look similar to a wet rat when you are soaked?"

Kili took a deep breath and turned back the glare at Fili.

"And that doesn't chance it any." Fili added.

"Oh, shut up, will you?" Kili grumbled and got back in the saddle. Fili shook his head, still grinning and gave Mabel a light tap with his heels. Kili rode next to his brother, wondering if Fili would look like an animal if he got soaked and guessed he would look like a half drowned raccoon.

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Kili would have been just fine if it was not for the chill wind that had decided to help life get worst then it had been. He glared at the back of his troublesome mount's head because there was nothing else to do and wished water did not have to make a person so wet. Then he randomly asked, "Fili, do you remember when I used to keep you awake at night because I had a lot of energy?"

"Don't you still do that?" Fili replied in a teasing tone. Kili rolled his eyes. "I mean when we were little."

"Of course I remember that. You would jump on the beds and then once the lights were out you'd have me look for Orcs, trolls and witches under the beds or in the closet." Fili said with a fond grin.

"Yeah…And then when I would pay you midnight visits because I couldn't sleep, I was lonely, or had a bad dream and I'd stay with you the rest of the night." Kili mussed and Fili laughed, "I think you forgot one thing."

"What is that?"

"When your pillow was cold so you were forced to use me as one."

"Oh, that." Kili said as his face turning a little red and it turned redder when Fili laugh some more.

They rode on in silence for a little, except from the occasional chuckle from Fili, when Kili asked, "You know why I would do that?"

"No, why?"

"Because I would feel safe when you were by me. I always have and I can imagine I always will."

"You never change, Kili. I hope you never will; I don't know what I would do without you by my side acting the way you always do and just being my brother." Fili said. He looked like he was going to say more, but stopped and pointed ahead of them.

Kili had not realized that they had left Mirkwood so far behind them, but apparently they had. The great river, Anduin, was a silver strip in the distance and if Kili strained his eyes very hard, he could just make out what appeared to be lumps by the skyline against the setting sun. "The Misty Mountains," he breathed, "We're almost there."

A/N *waves shyly* Hi, guys! Ok, so this chapter should be a lot longer for the weeks it took me to write it. I had to restart it like 4 or 5 times before I had an idea I could get going off of. Sorry about that. :/

Many thanks to Mira Meliandra and Alicia457 for helping me the way they did and of course: jaymzNshed, ACreativeHobbit, Lady Hobbit (By the way, I completely agree with you: us fangirls should be together), leggomygreggo2, yolo 1200, and anyone else I may be forgetting out there. You people make my day. (: