Have you ever had a fic where you didn't even know where the thought came from? Well, this is one.

'Shared suffering brings people together faster than anything else does'
- Unknown

Fili shivered as he hugged his knees to his chest. Nothing felt right. The sun's light was darkened, colours were dull and everything felt so strange without Da there. It had been so quick, one day Da had been right there, throwing him up in the air, kissing Mama, and then...

Fili didn't know what happened to Da. No one told him, though someone had obviously told Mama, which had made his mother drop to her knees suddenly shrieking a howl of such agony he'd run and hid under his bed.

Mama had changed. The brightness that shone from her own blue eyes had dimmed like a dying star and her movements were slow and trembling like a baby's first steps. Her black hair, so different from his own flowing gold, had turned lifeless and dull.

It was as though he'd lost both his parents.

Fili just wanted to hug her, but when he did, she didn't seem to realise he was even there. No longer living, she was simply existing and Fili longed more than anything to see her life and joy return.

She was hurting, he knew, and hurting terribly. Why else would she be so quiet and pale? He lightly tugged her sleeve. "Mama?"

She continued to stare into nothing, though her eyes briefly flickered. He tried again. "Mama!"

"Yes, Fili?"

"When is Uncle coming home?"

Uncle Thorin looked a lot like his mama, with the same blue eyes and black hair, but he was serious of eye and they rarely saw him because he was always busy. Still, Fili had no doubt that his uncle would help his mother. Thorin loved Dis very much, Fili knew. He loved them all, he said, which was how Fili knew they would be alright once Uncle came back.

"He'll.. be- He'll be home by Friday." Mama answered. She pulled herself up from her seat and looked back down at her son. "Have you had lunch yet?"

"I'm not hungry," Fili answered.

Dis didn't answer. Instead, she tore a chunk of bread from the loaf inside the bread-box and brought a saucepan out. "You need to eat, my son," she murmured. "Otherwise- Just eat for me, please."

It had been the most Dis had said in a long while, and he reached to her sleeve again. "Mama, are you angry with me?"

"What? No. Of course not." Dis knelt down, drawing Fili nearer and resting her forehead against his. "Mama's... tired, sweetheart. Not angry with you."

"I miss Da," Fili said, curling the soft red of Dis' sleeve in his fist.

A choked sob escaped Dis. "I- I do, too, muhud." She stood, lifting Fili and hugged him tightly, kissing the top of his golden head. "Though I can't believe I'm admittin' this, I really need your uncle. We both do."

"He'll be here by Friday." Fili repeated his mother's words.

"That's right," Dis said, pressing her cheek against Fili's forehead. "He'll be here in a few days."

Though he would gladly do anything to keep his sister living comfortably as conditions allowed, Thorin always disliked working away from home. He saw the top of the gate bordering his Halls and smiled. Soon, he would be seeing his nephew again, catching up with his sister and brother-in-law.
The gates-keeper swung the gates open and Thorin distinctly noticed an odd look in his eyes. Almost sad, he thought. What could have happened?

He glanced back at his kin who had accompanied him out of Ered Luin. "How are you holding up?"

"The last time I come along with him," Balin answered, looking pointedly at his brother.

"For the last time," Dwalin muttered, "t'was not I who started that mild argument..."

"That 'mild argument' ended with a broken arm!"

Thorin ignored their bickering, choosing to look around. His people were standing on either side, staring at him as he passed. Stopping his pony, he stared down at the nearest Dwarf.

"Is there something strange going on that I should know about?" he asked. "Only I have seen nothing but stares since I returned."

"Apologies, sire. There is bad news, however."

"What is it?" Thorin asked.

"There was a mine collapse where your sister and her husband worked..."

Thorin tensed.

"..Lady Dis wasn't hurt, but Fiach... he died."

Thorin was still and silent, gazing at the messenger. All of a sudden, he turned, hurling himself from his pony. Landing on his feet, he threw the reins over to the other male. "Put him back in the stables. I shall be with my sister."

He set off at a run, heading towards Dis' home. The thought of his sister pale and broken haunted his mind and as he drew closer to his destination, he internally cursed himself for leaving his family alone.

Alright! First fic focused on the quartet of Dis, Fili, Kili (later on, anyway) and Thorin! It's going to focus on the relationship between brother and sister and uncle and nephew.

Finally, because this is important, there will NOT be any incest. At all. I'm sorry if you want that, but I don't write it. Also, there likely won't be any romance at all, except past Fiach and Dis.

Hope it was enjoyed!

Love from Shania. xx