Chapter One

*Fili*

He held his motionless brother in his arms. The sounds of the battle raging around them dimmed as tears fell onto the limp body the Dwarf held. Why, by Mahal, did this have to happen? His Kili was still so young; he should never have come on this adventure.

Kili's face was pale, making his dark hair and the blood stand out. The blood… it was all over him, soaking his clothes. Fili placed his hand on his brother's chest where his heart should beat. The response he felt was so faint the Fili almost thought he had imagined it but there it was again. Kili was alive and that was all that mattered.

"Kee, stay with me, please. I have to take you back to the mountain." Fili said, trying to lift Kili and defended himself from the Orcs that charged him.

Then it happened. An Orc swung its blade while Fili was killing another. The sword connected with his side with a burning pain. Fili looked down to see the crooked blade slice though the armor he was wearing and pierce his side. The blade was withdrawn and, while darkness took him, his last thought was for Kili. Who would find him now, he wondered idly.

When Fili opened his eyes he saw the kind faces of Oin and Balin. The herbalist was wrapping his side in a soft cloth while Balin held Fili's arms to his side. Fili winced and said weakly, "I-I can hold myself now. Where are Kili and Thorin?"

Oin looked down at him as Balin gently relaxed his hold on his arms.

"Fili, lad, you had better not strain yourself. This is a deep wound and it'll take a lot of time to heal."

Fili could tell that he was hiding something. "Oin, where is Kili? Is he alright, tell me please?"

"He's in bad shape. When you two were found we thought he was dead, but he's still holding on, barely." Balin's answer made him catch his breath. Kili was still living.

"Can I see him? I would very much like to be with him."

"Aye, in a minuet you may. You could even share a room with him if that would comfort ye any." Oin said kindly, but Fili had not failed to see the sad look between Balin and Oin.

Fili smiled his thanks and tried not to wander what that look had meant. Slowly, as he drifted back into sleep, he could not help but to give way to a small smile. Kili, his little brother, was still with him, he had not left him.