So here's the promised double update! Hope you enjoy it! We're kinda getting closer to the climax now so get ready to hold on to your seatbeats! (but we're still a little way off yet) Also cheers to my Fee! (you are the best friend/brother-in-arms a dwarf can have) who is continuing to support me even in my really dodgy attempts at writing! (especially poetry) And here's a little vid of a wonderful Dean O'Gorman story :D Now read on!

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When Fili finally awoke from his rest the sun was high in the sky. Balin stood with arms crossed at the end of his bed trying to hide his amused grin with a stern frown.

    “You’re a heavy sleeper, laddie,” he commented still trying for gruff, “I’ve been trying to get you up since dawn to no avail, obviously. There’s a line of unhappy citizens wanting a word with you running right through the Mountain and far beyond, almost all the way to Esgaroth. Up you get and you’ve got five minutes, laddie, to make yourself presentable for them.” The younger dwarf propelled himself into action not wanting to disappoint his adviser or shame his family with any further tardiness.

First came the brown pants and undershirt and then the leather tunic. The next thing to be put on was the thick double width belt and his greaves across his forearms. Quickly the young King pulled on his hardy boots and tied them securely. Finally he threw the heavy fur vest across his shoulders like a cape. The total time taken was an impressively fast seven minutes.

    “There you are,” Balin nodded straightening Fili’s coat with a final tug, “Now you look more like the King Under the Mountain and less like a lazy dwarf child.” The blonde dwarf looked at himself in a piece of reflective glass and smirked. He was struck by how old and mature he looked when he was all kitted up.

    “Sorry for sleeping in, Balin,” he apologised eyes glued to the tips of his boots, “I didn’t mean to.” The old warrior shook his head with a little smile.

    “Don’t worry about it, laddie,” he replied, “Anyway, it’s the people who want to talk to you that you’re going to need to apologise to, not me.”  Balin led the way to the door handing his King his crown which the latter hastily positioned on his own head. Together the pair set off for the throne room where the King was to engage with those who came to him.

He battled valiantly through the long, slow hours of complaints and criticisms until he was wishing his head would explode so the whole wretched thing would all be over. Eventually Fili had apologised to the very last offended dwarf and settled his trivial accusation. As soon as he was out the door, the King slumped back against the throne letting loose a low, tired groan of frustration.

    “That,” he sighed rubbing his face with his hands, “Was painful.” Balin was beside him in an instant.

    “That was the last one, laddie,” he comforted placing a hand on the younger dwarf’s shoulder, “Do you want dinner sent up to your room or will you go and see your brother now?” The King’s eyes lit up immediately at the mention of the other dwarf, his kin.

    “Can I see Kili?” he grinned childishly, “I want to see Kili.” Balin nodded, eyes twinkling with good humour.

    “I thought you would, laddie,” he smirked nodding to himself in approval, “I’ll have food sent up then.” The dwarf king made his own way as quickly as physically possible to his brother’s room ignoring any who dared to try catch his attention along the way. Upon entering his sibling’s room the healer who had been watching over the ill dwarf stood up and, after acknowledging the King’s presence with a low bow, scurried quickly like a nervous mouse out of the room.

    “Kili,” he whispered throwing himself down on the bed, “Kee, can you hear me?” The dark-haired dwarf didn’t respond. His brother lay a hand across his forehead to gauge the other’s temperature.

    “Sabrielle was right,” he murmured as his racing heart eased up a little, “Your fever is not nearly as high as last time.” Kili moaned slightly in his sleep and the King softly clutched his hand.

    “It’s alright, Kee,” he soothed, “I’m right here. Sleep up. You’re safe here.” Again the younger dwarf tossed in his dreams. After another few seconds he repeated the action. The older brother pressed his lips to the younger’s fingers in an attempt to notify the unconscious dwarf of his presence and let his eyelids flutter closed. Even without sight the King could still hear the other shifting again and again in his bed. Slowly Fili opened his eyes to notice that his brother’s chest was beginning to rise and fall at an increasingly more rapid pace. Reading it as a sign that all was not well, the young King called urgently for a healer. By the time one made an appearance in the room, Kili was tossing and turning as if in the throes of the most vicious and unforgiving of nightmares. Once the healer arrived a slightly panicking King was pushed out into the hallway and the door slammed in his face. Fili stared at the door heart hammering with fear for his brother’s wellbeing for a few moments longer.

    “You’ll do no good standing out here like a caught rabbit,” he scolded himself aloud quietly, “You haven’t seen Sabrielle all day so maybe you should go visit her to get your mind of it all. Kili will be fine, you’ll see. The healers know what they’re doing and his fever’s really not that high.” With that thought in mind the King went off in search of his elven friend deciding to start at her room thinking it logical to start somewhere he knew she had been even if it was unlikely she was still indoors.

The distance between the Royal Line’s chambers and the guests’ chambers was not large but it still took a good five minutes and some careful navigation of winding hallways. Upon arriving at his destination the King knocked firmly on the door of his friend’s room to no answer which did not surprise him as what kind of elf would be inside when the sun was shining? So he tried the latch. It was open and he let himself in.

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What did you think? Please leave comments and/or crits below because I really love to hear what you think! And what about the youtubes I pick out? Some of you may have picked out the fact that both bro's seem to be into Sabrielle so if you have a dwarf of choice . . . (Kili, Fili or someone else is up to you to comment) :D Until next we meet!

~SpanishFox