The Hobbit & LoTR Imagines

The Dragon Beneath - Fili

I awoke with a start as small hands covered my mouth and nose, stopping my ability to breathe.

My heart raced as the hands fell away. I greedily inhaled air into my lungs, clutching my chest as I struggled slightly to catch my breath.

"Amad?"

I cleared my throat, turning to acknowledge my little intruder.

"Why are you up, my little dragon?" I asked softly, bringing the small dwarf closer with one hand and patting the bed with the other.

The small dwarrow shuddered slightly, shaking his head.

"Don't say dragon!" He whisper-shouted, hopping into the bed beside me and wrapping his arms around my neck.

"Alright, I won't call you...that...but why are you up? What's frightened you, Thili?" I asked softly, knowing our interaction could awaken my sleeping husband, who had an important meeting with King Thorin early in the morning.

Thili leaned into me, cupping his small hand around his mouth.

"There's a dragon under my bed!"

I gasped playfully, widening my eyes with shock.

"A dragon under your bed?" I whispered. "That is scary!"

The small dwarrow nodded frantically with widened eyes.

"I wouldn't have come in here, but it's growling at me under there," he said.

I held back a laugh. My little dragon was fearful of a dragon under his bed! This was serious! There was no time to laugh!

"That does sound frightening," said the half-sleepy, half-amused voice of my husband. Fili sat up in the bed slightly, and Thili crawled into his father's arms.

"Can you kill it?" Thili asked, his voice now at a normal, fearful volume. Fili and I shared a partially amused glance before Fili nodded to our son.

"Aye. I'll get my sword, and you stay right here with your mother."

——

Fili returned to our bedchamber shortly, sword in hand and a playfully fearsome expression on his handsome face.

"Come on, son. Let's slay a dragon."

Thili donned a wide grin and jumped up, off the bed and ran to his father's side. I hurriedly followed the two boys as they set off into Thili's room.

Once we arrived in the doorway, Fili peered inside, putting his arm out to stop Thili and I from entering. He thrust his sword into the room swiftly, cautiously crossing the threshold. His eyes searched the room, studying each and everything in it.

Slowly, Fili crept toward the bed.

He cast a glance toward Thili and I.

"If I don't make it, buddy...avenge me." Thili nodded frantically at his father's words.

In one swift motion, Fili was on his knees, sword thrust under the bed.

"Uh oh!" He exclaimed, gripping the handle of the sword with both hands. He mimed struggling to pull the sword out from under the bed, gritting his teeth.

"Adad!" Thili exclaimed as Fili continued his fight with the dragon. Fili grunted, finally pulling the sword out from under the bed.

I found myself smiling softly as I looked on.

"He's a tricky dragon, Thili. But I have to go back in."

Thili gasped.

"No! Don't let him hurt you!"

Fili caught my gaze, and I could see a slight twinkle of mischief in his eyes, which only grew when he winked at me.

I shook my head softly, both tired and amused by the dwarrows' antics.

"I'll get him this time!" Fili exclaimed, now laying down as he thrust the sword under the bed. He grunted, pretending the dragon had grabbed his sword, then he exclaimed "ha!" as he pulled the sword back slightly, pretending the dragon had let go.

Thili looked on in amazement, gasping and holding my hand tighter and tighter as the excitement of Fili's fight with the dragon continued on.

The battle came to a close when Fili's sword snagged the bottom of Thili's bed, causing the bedding to fall out.

Fili rose triumphantly, bedding in one hand, and his sword in the other. Thili ran to his father, wrapping his little arms around Fili's leg. Fili patted his back softly, flashing me a mischievous grin.

"Oh my, Thili! Your father saved us!" I exclaimed playfully, entering the room and nearing my husband and son. Thili squeezed his father's leg tighter, his face nearly split in half with his grin.

"Does the brave warrior get a kiss from the beautiful Princess?" Fili asked, a smirk adorning his lips.

"Only if my brave warrior sees about getting his son a new bed tomorrow," I responded playfully. Fili pretended to consider it for a moment.

"Consider it done."

He gave me a beautiful smile framed by his plaited moustache, his eyes crinkling at the edges. I returned the smile, letting out a small giggle as Fili tossed his sword onto Thili's broken bed to pull me closer.

"I'm gonna sick."

The moment was broken.

Fili and I laughed at the words of our son—who was clearly uncomfortable with our affection—and pulled away from one another.

"Go on to our room, Thili. We'll clean up the dragon's mess," Fili told the young dwarrow. Thili ran out quickly, always excited to sleep in our bed.

I sighed gently, shaking my head as I watched the threshold our son had just left.

"He's the spitting image of you," I said softly, slowly returning my gaze to my husband, who had clearly been eyeing me already.

"You still owe me a kiss," Fili reminded me, a small smile on his lips. I laughed slightly but humoured the dwarf anyway, going in for a quick kiss.

The dwarf wrapped his arms around me, holding me close as he leaned down slightly for a proper kiss.

I didn't mind it one bit.