Fili was walking to supper that night by himself, not having seen Kili since practice that morning. He was wondering where he had gone to, hoping it had been to set things right with Ila, when he was nearly knocked down by a blur running past him. That blur was blonde and weeping profusely. He wondered that someone hadn't died, but upon turning to watch her go realized that blur was the maid Asta.

Ahhh, it's happened. Fili thought. Well, it had to be done, it was the right thing to do. Hopefully this meant things with Ila were or would soon be mended too.

Fili finally reached the doors of the great hall only to have his brother nearly run into him next. Kili looked slightly frazzled, but a bit relieved as well.

"Well, I see she did not handle it well." Fili stated more than asked.

Kili rolled his eyes and then brought his hand to rub his temples. "About as bad as I imagined. I am off to the throne room, uncle wants to speak with me."

"About?"

"I don't know…..not Ila I don't think. I took her for a walk today as you suggested. All is well with us again."

"Good, I am glad. She doesn't need any unnecessary stress in her state."

"No, she certainly doesn't. But let me go, I am almost late as it is."

"Alright, but I want to know what it's about."

"I tell you everything, don't I?'

You used to, Fili thought, but nodded anyway. He gave his brother one last glance as he went into supper. Kili made his way towards the throne room, hoping this wasn't about Ila. But what else could it be? All was well now, surely she had told Thorin as much if she had mentioned their strained relations to him at all. Things had mended more smoothly and easier than he had hoped for this morning, but then Ila had a forgiving heart. She was so sweet and tried to see the best in everyone. It was just one of the many reasons that he loved her….

Kili shook himself and brought his mind back to the present, making sure he had his wits about him when he entered the throne room. He wondered why uncle wasn't at supper himself, but figured he must have dined early in order to speak with him now.

Thorin was sitting at ease on this throne, almost reclining when Kili walked in. He sat up straighter when he saw his youngest nephew. He was without his crown and looked to be at his leisure, waving the two guards away so that they were alone.

Kili decided he would try and lighten the mood right off the bat. "Uncle, ready for bed already? You're not getting old are you?"

Thorin grunted. "Yes, I am getting old I am afraid. And I have a very young wife to keep up with. You will understand that one day," Thorin replied.

Kili forced a smile. "Yes, and soon a little dwarfling as well," he replied.

"Yes," Thorin answered and smiled himself. That smile quickly faded though.

"It is the subject of females that concerns me this night. Can you guess why I have called on you?" Thorin was serious now.

Kili shifted a bit, and pretended to be searching his mind for what that reason might be, making it seem as though nothing were obvious to him.

"Um…the queen?" he answered.

"The queen? Why ever would Ila be the subject of concern?" he asked, wondering if there was something he had missed and needed to be concerned about, always worrying about his Ila.

"Oh, well no reason uncle, I thought perhaps you just disapproved of my taking her on a walk, and wanted me not to suggest such to her until after the heir is born." Kili came up with a quick save.

Thorin saw his point. "Oh, well….it is alright for now. But soon she will not be allowed out of doors or to do anything too strenuous. But I know she very much enjoyed her little outing today. Thank you for taking the time with her." Thorin said genuinely. "I only wish I had the time during the daylight hours to be more attentive to her."

Kili nodded. "Of course uncle."

"But getting back to the matter at hand, it is another female that I am concerned about. The young maid you have been flitting about with lately, for all the realm to see." Thorin became very serious and stern again.

Oh, that. Well, how fortunate he could tell uncle the good news.

"Oh, Asta. Yes…that was perhaps-"

"I have no understanding with her father, nor will there be one. She is not worthy of you or our bloodline, though I am sure she is a charming young dwarf."

"Uncle-"

"I will hear no refusals. I cannot have any royal bastards running about the mountain. And not so close to the birth of the heir. I will not have it, Kili."

"Uncle, Asta and I are no more. What is was….I can barely think of what to call it but it is over. I saw to it today." Kili finally got a word in.

Thorin looked surprised, and sat back on his throne again. He had risen forward a bit when giving Kili his directive, expecting him to protest. But he hadn't, and had already done what he was shortly going to command be done.

"Oh, well. That is fortunate." Thorin replied.

"Yes, and for the best. She was becoming far too attached." Kili said very matter of fact.

"Yes, they will do that, which is another reason why you must be careful. When the time comes, I will make excellent marriages for you and your brother. But you are both too young to even think about such a thing now." Thorin continued.

Kili knew he shouldn't, but he just could not help himself.

"But, Ila is my age, and younger than Fili, yet she is married."

"Ila is a female of royal blood, her duty to our kind is to bear royal heirs. She is plenty old enough to do so, and I didn't have very many options of royal bloods to choose from. Besides, I am growing old and can wait no longer to produce heirs."

Kili did not like what he thought was the careless manner in which his uncle had referred to Ila just then. He had so little to choose from….but who would not choose Ila even with a hundred other options?

"Besides, you know it is different for females. Why do you even point out such a thing? Do you want to be married now? I assure you, you have no idea what you are asking for."

"It seems rather wonderful to me uncle, you seem the happiest I have ever seen you." Kili answered, feeling rather bold. He was sure belonging to Ila and she to him would be the most wonderful thing that could ever happen.

"Well, I am of course. But with it comes great responsibility, and you have so many considerations. It is not just about you….you must put your wife and her needs and desires first whenever you can. But, when you are king that is not always possible. And so the great balancing act ensues. And you know from your mother what unhappy females can be like…"

"Yes uncle, but I will never be king." Kili replied, bolder by the second. He had no idea why he was being so stupid tonight.

Thorin regarded his youngest nephew, so strange and out of character tonight. He was usually so carefree, but he seemed very thoughtful and restless this evening. Perhaps they were growing pains, perhaps he felt out of place, since Fili had so much more responsibility than he, and with Ila's coming and now a royal heir on the way, he was no longer the baby so to speak. Thorin was trying to be understanding, but Kili's tone was beginning to irritate him.

"Do you mean to say that you honestly want to be betrothed this young? If so, then to whom?"

Kili faltered, looking down at his boots. "No uncle. There is no one."

"And what do you think your mother would say about your wanting to marry so young?"

Kili was becoming more irritated with his uncle, he having taken everything the wrong way.

"Please do not mention anything to mother, I am of course not ready to be married, uncle. I only meant that I, well I just—"

"You are young male and you like females. Do you think I was never your age?" Thorin asked, being a bit more empathetic to him now.

"It is natural to be curious and interested in maids, and I have seen the way you look at Ila at times." Thorin added.

Kili's heart stopped beating for a moment and then ascended to lodge in his throat. Thorin had said that very casually, yet Kili feared the implications. He began to defend himself, fearing he had somehow been caught.

"Uncle, I—"

"Please," Thorin stopped him, raising a hand to silence him.

"Ila is an exceptionally beautiful dwarf, most of Erebor stares at her the way you do from time to time. You, like the rest of Erebor, are of course allowed to admire your queen. I only meant to suggest that you have reached the age where you've begun to truly notice females.

The intense and overwhelming relief that Kili felt wash over him was immense, and he hoped that it did not completely show through. He really had to be more careful, he told himself.

"I…I don't know what to say for myself uncle." Kili replied, and that was the truth.

"You needn't say anything. But in the future, mind how you conduct yourself. You are a prince, an heir of Durin, and you cannot openly and carelessly carry on with females, especially those who are not befitting of your rank and bloodline. When the time is right, your mother and I will make you a fortuitous marriage." Thorin assured him, being pleased with how this conversation had gone.

"And what about love?" Kili asked, his face taking on the innocence that Thorin remembered used to show in his sister's face when she had been younger.

Thorin sighed. That was the difficult part.

"You are a prince, as I said. And love is often a luxury that royalty cannot afford. Ila and I had never even laid eyes on each other when we were betrothed. But, Mahal smiled on us. Just as it did for your mother and father." Thorin tried to add gently.

Kili was done arguing. He wanted this conversation to be over. He simply nodded to uncle, signaling that he agreed and had nothing more to say.

"Have you had supper?

"No uncle. I came straight away."

"Well," Thorin said, getting up from his throne. "Let's get down there before there's nothing left." He said putting an arm around his nephew and leading him from the throne room. Kili liked the gesture, having missed the uncle he grew up with and that took the place of his father lately. Ever since the start of the quest everything had been strained between them, even after the reclaiming of Erebor as there had been so much to do and then the Battle of the Five Armies. Then of course Ila came and threw Thorin's life into a tizzy. But perhaps now things would get back to normal, or something better than the normal he remembered.

Only one thing stood in the way of that for Kili, and if he thought he had grown up wanting to be his uncle before, he never wanted to be Thorin more than he did now.

A/N: There's a short chapter to get us through the beginning of the week! And to make up for my slackness. More to come!