Chapter Text
“He’s not old enough…”
“He’s of age, Dis.”
The deep baritone voice woke Kili and he leaped from his bed making his way to the living room. It had been a long time since Thorin had stopped by for a visit and he was eager to hear more of his uncle’s stories of the lands he visited. The young dwarf was stopped short, when he heard his mother’s reply.
“In physical age, barely. But he is too immature to do what you ask of him. He still feels that bow of his is an excellent weapon.”
There was a pause before Thorin replied. “Perhaps this quest would cure him of that affection.”
Kili felt his heat sink a little. No one knew of his skill with his beloved weapon, not even his brother. He was sure that he would be a match even for an elven archer, but also knew that boast would only earn him ridicule. And now… He turned to leave but froze at his uncle‘s words.
“You know one will not go without the other. I need Fili at my side and he will only come if Kili is allowed.”
Dis sighed. “I know. I…I just fear he will get his brother killed. You know how protective Fili is of him.”
“I do.” Thorin looked to the entryway, his warrior senses telling him that something was wrong. Before he could take a step, Dis spoke again.
“I’m not sure what I would do without Fili. He is so much like his father that sometimes I feel like I never lost my husband.”
Tears started to well up in the young dwarf’s eyes. His father had died when he was an infant and thus he had no memory of him. He knew that Fili was next in line for the throne but he hadn‘t known his mother felt that way about him. He turned and made his way back to his bedroom. There he quickly dressed and grabbed his bow and quiver of arrows. He was about to slip out the back door when his brother emerged from his own room.
“Kili? What’s wrong? I thought I heard Thorin’s voice…”
The dark haired dwarf nodded, not looking at his brother. “Yes…he’s here- he’s talking with mother. I think they both would like to speak with you.” Without waiting for an answer, he slipped out the door, leaving his confused brother wondering what just happened.
***
It was dark when Kili returned from his hidden practice range where he had spent the day shooting arrow after arrow. It hadn’t help to eliminate the voices of his mother and uncle from his memory and the tears had run freely down his cheeks.
“Kili?” He flinched, bracing for a tongue lashing from his mother about being gone all day. She appeared at the entry to the kitchen and smiled at him, a beautiful jeweled hairpin in her dark hair, one Kili had never seen before. “Go wash up for dinner. Your uncle is joining us tonight.”
He lowered his eyes and said nothing as he moved to his room to drop off his bow and get cleaned up. She hadn’t even noticed he had been absent for so long. He poured water into the basin and splashed some water on his face, removing the salty lines from his cheeks. He heard the soft knock at his door before his brother entered.
“Kili? Are you alright? I went looking for you this afternoon, but couldn’t find you.”
The younger brother nodded, not turning to look at Fili. “I’m fine. Just thought I’d give you and Thorin a chance to talk.”
Fili sat on his brother’s bed. “We did talk…about a quest to regain Erebor.”
That actually caught Kili’s attention and things clicked into place. No wonder his mother was so reluctant to let him leave with Thorin. “Oh. Will you be going?”
Fili tilted his head to look at his brother. “Will you come with me?”
“Am…I…” He struggled with the words. “Does Thorin want me to come?”
“Of course he does!”
Though he knew otherwise, it was nice to hear those words from his brother. He swallowed hard before his next question. “Do…do you want me to come?”
Fili’s eyes widened with surprise and more than a little confusion. “Why are you asking me that? You know the answer…”
“Please? I just need to hear you say it.” Kili mentally kicked himself for the pleading tone in his voice.
Fili stood and strode over to his brother, turning him before wrapping his arms tightly around him. “Yes, Kili. I want you to come with me. I need my brother at my side.”
Horrified by the soft sob that escaped him, Kili clung to his bewildered brother’s fur lined coat.