Fathers and Sons

Chapter 19

In the days following Fili's near death, he continued to improve until all traces of the disease melted away, leaving him exhausted, but alive. About two weeks after arriving in the shire, Thorin decided it was time to move on. They had imposed on the hobbits long enough and this was not their home.

But that night, Fili was awakened by what sounded like moans and whimpering. Rubbing his eyes as the darkened room came into focus, he strained to listen closer. He knew what that sound was. Sighing, he glanced to his left, where Kili lay nestled beside him. Only the brunette dwarf was not sleeping soundly. Sweat glistened from his forehead as his head swayed back and forth.

"No..." He moaned and Fili sat up and watched closely. Kili was having a nightmare.

Fili shook his brother gently, but only got a sharp cry as Kili remained entrenched in deep sleep.

"No, please!" he cried. "Leave me alone! Don't hurt me!"

Fili shook him harder, and he shot up into a sitting position, gasping and panting.

"Another nightmare?" Fili asked with concern. Kili just nodded as he tried to suppress a sob. This was the third night in a row. Fili was getting concerned. His brother's silhouetted frame shivered in the dark and when Fili opened up his arms, Kili collapsed into him, sniffing and shaking.

"Why won't it stop..." Kili whispered, his voice muffled as he hid his face in the soft fabric of Fili's night tunic, "They come every night! Why can't they leave me alone?"

"They?" Fili asked, stroking his brother's mangled hair. "You mean the Orcs?"

Kili nodded with a sob. "I'm tired of seeing them hurt you... and uncle and Mother..."

"Shh..." Fili soothed, rubbing Kili's back soothingly. He glanced towards the window and saw that it was nearly dawn. The deep depth of darkness began to ease up.

"I miss Mum..." Kili said softly, and Fili winced a bit.

"I miss her too," Fili replied, blinking past his own tears. "It's going to be okay, Brother. We'll find a new home and rebuild what we had in the blue mountains."

"Do you think we will ever see Balin and Gimli and Ori and the others again?" Kili asked. Fili sighed. He didn't know what was in store for them.

"I think so," he said finally, squeezing his brother tight. "We have to hope."

They sat in silence for a moment later and then, "I'm so glad you are alright, Brother," Kili whimpered, "I was so scared. Don't leave me..."

"Shh..." Fili hushed. Finally, Kili drifted off to sleep, and Fili lowered him back onto his pillow. Laying down beside his brother, Fili drifted off to sleep again.

When he opened his eyes, the early morning sun lit up the room and Fili started when he heard the door creak open. Glancing over, he saw Thorin's bulky figure in the doorway.

"It's time," Thorin said. "Get your brother up."

"He needs a little more time, Uncle," Fili said. "He didn't sleep well."

"Alright, get ready yourself," Thorin responded. "He can sleep until Master Baggins finishes our breakfast."

Thorin left and Fili got dressed quickly. His furs, his armor, light tan tunic, and trousers. It was what he and his brother wore when they fled the village. He and his brother and uncle had had to make do with hobbit clothes while Azalea had had their own garments repaired.

Fili got their weapons together. His multitude of throwing knives and axes, his double scabbard, his twin swords that Thorin had made for him. And Kili's sword, bow, quiver, and arrows. He set out Kili's tunic and jerkin for him and headed out into the dining room.