Disclaimer: I don't own the Hobbit or any of Tolkien's characters/places.

Hi, everyone! This is my first Hobbit story and I'm very excited about it. I have to say it was inspired by reading a handful of different stories about young Fili and Kili and it made me want to try one of my own. I hope you enjoy the first part and I'll do what I can to get the second part up soon!

Thorin and his company of Dwarves, plus Gandalf and Bilbo, huddled under the trees to avoid the pouring rain only to be constantly assaulted by the steady drip-drip-drip of the branches above. They were cold and hungry – they couldn't get a fire going and hadn't been able to for two days now. They were huddled into little groups – Ori, Nori, and Dori; Oin and Gloin; Bifur, Bofur, Bombur; and of course, Kili and Fili. Bilbo was tucked between Bombur and Kili and Gandalf was alone at the opposite end of the clearing. Thorin, too, had separated himself from the others.

Thorin knew that the company was still reasonably safe here though he could not bring himself to fully rest. It went against his nature to leave the company unwatched. The night grew colder and the Dwarves huddled closer together though none of them save Bombur were sleeping or even particularly comfortable. Nearly all of them kept tossing and turning, trying to find a spot that was warm, or at least dry.

Still the night drew on and Thorin was idly whittling a branch to a sharp point when there was a commotion. He looked up quickly and though his fears of an attack were not unfounded, they did prove to be untrue. Rather, he saw Kili scramble to get up – poor Bilbo got stepped on and cried out – and made for the dense clump of trees.

"Kili!" Fili exclaimed, getting up quickly. Thorin glanced at Gandalf, who had stood, before standing himself. He strode among his confused companions who were mumbling and asking what was going on (and Bilbo was muttering about his stepped-on foot) and pushed his way into the forest.

"Kili?"

Fili, who was standing behind a bent over Kili with a hand on his shoulder, glanced at his uncle.

"What's wrong?" Thorin's strong voice demanded.

"Nothing," sputtered Kili. "I'm fine."

Any effect this statement had was instantly ruined by Kili throwing up again. Thorin waited until the youngest Dwarf had stood and he could see the ends of the brown hair trembling.

"Better?"

Kili swallowed and nodded, taking a step forward. Fili didn't look convinced and was there to stabilize Kili when he stumbled.

"Take it easy, Kili," Gandalf said and Thorin jumped slightly – he hadn't heard the Wizard follow them into the forest. "It's alright, no need to rush."

Fili escorted Kili back to their sleeping area, taking most of his weight for him, and helped him lie down.

"Oin," Thorin said, nodding at his nephew who was now shivering on the ground. The healer of the company moved forward and knelt by Kili (and Fili, who had sat down and let his brother put his head in his lap). Oin placed his hand on Kili's forehead.

"He's burning up with fever!" the Dwarf exclaimed.

"I'm fine." Kili muttered.

"No, you're not." Fili said sharply, looking back to Oin. "What can you do?"

"I don't have any herbs with me," Oin said. "Not even Kingsfoil."

Thorin looked at Gandalf.

"Kingsfoil is a weed in these parts," he said. "You might try checking the undergrowth."

Thorin glanced at his company and several Dwarves scattered, plus Bilbo. Oin and Dwalin remained, as did Gandalf and Fili. Kili, despite having a fever, was shivering.

"Do we have any dry cloaks?" Oin asked despite knowing the answer. Everything that they had was wet, courtesy of the three days of steady rain. Thorin removed his thick, fur lined coat and draped it over Kili.

"A fire," Thorin said. "We need to start a fire and warm him."

"Aye and some tea would be good for him as well." Oin added. Upon being able to do nothing further for Kili, Oin went off in search of Gloin and together the two of them began working on a fire once more. The bickering that normally accompanied the brothers when building a fire with wet kindling was absent and it was eerily quiet with only the sounds of the trees dripping.

Kili began to cough roughly and he got up as quickly as he could from Fili's lap and dashed to the trees once more. Fili started to stand but Thorin held out a hand to stop him.

"Leave him."

"But - "

"If that were you, you'd want to be left alone as well."

Fili sighed and sank back to his place on the ground. Minutes passed and none of the Dwarves returned, including Kili. Fili was growing impatient and glanced at Thorin pointedly. Thorin ignored the look as best he could but, after another minute, he strode into the forest himself.

"Kili?" he called.

"Uncle." Kili's voice was weak and Thorin turned the direction from which it had come. Kili was slumped against a tree, visibly paler than a few moments ago. Thorin sighed.

"Come on," he said. "Up you get. I've got you."

He hoisted his kin off the ground and draped one of Kili's arms around his strong shoulders. When he reached the clearing, he eased Kili to the ground and arranged the driest blankets they had around him. Thorin knelt next to him.

"What happened?" he asked and there was gentleness in his voice. Gandalf's lips curled into a discreet smile.

"I'm sick," Kili mumbled, half asleep out of pure exhaustion.

"I know," Thorin replied. "When did you first feel ill?"

"This morning."

"You never said anything!" Fili exclaimed.

"Why didn't you say something?" Thorin asked, rephrasing Fili's exclamation into a question though he felt like scolding the Dwarf himself.

"I didn't think anything of it. I thought it was just the damp and tiredness."

Thorin raised an eyebrow.

"Surely you can tell the difference between being damp and tired and being ill."

This was not the first time Kili had been out in the cold and rain for an extended period of time and it was certainly not the first time he'd been ill. Surely there was a difference.

"I didn't want to make a fuss."

Thorin sighed. He understood the young Dwarf's predicament. The company didn't have time to spare and Kili was insistent on proving his worth to the company and to Thorin. He honestly couldn't blame Kili, especially knowing he likely would have brushed off the Dwarf's complaint as a whim and not given him the proper attention. Thorin felt a pang of guilt as he realized it was his reaction that had made Kili fear speaking out, which meant it was his fault that his nephew was now laying sick on the forest floor.

"You can't help these things," Thorin found himself saying. "You should have said something. I swore to your mother that I'd look out for you. You're going to make me renege on my promise."

Kili, despite being ill, rolled his eyes.

"No need to be dramatic. It's just a touch of flu. I'm fine."

"Stop saying that." Fili scolded. "You're not. You need rest."

"I'll be fine."

Thorin sighed at Kili's stubbornness which was not all unlike his own.

"Fili is right. Try to go to sleep."

Kili sighed and shivered, pulling Thorin's jacket closer. Sleep was the last thing he thought he'd manage at the moment … not throwing up and to stop shaking seemed to be of higher priority.

As hours passed, Thorin did not leave Kili's side and the young Dwarf could feel his uncle and brother watching him and he wearily opened his eyes.

"Go to sleep," he murmured. "I'll be fine."

His eyes slid closed again and Thorin glanced at Gandalf, who nodded.

"He's right," he said softly. "You can't do anything for him now so you may as well take rest."

The other Dwarves and Bilbo had returned without Kingsfoil – it was so dark they couldn't see the weeds growing at their feet – and Oin and Gloin hadn't been able to get a fire going. All of them save Oin had settled back onto blankets though Thorin knew none of them were sleeping. They were all too worried about Kili.

Thorin sighed and glanced at Fili.

"You as well."

Fili shook his head.

"I'm fine. I'll sit with him and wake you if anything happens."

Thorin knew from experience he wouldn't be able to convince Fili otherwise so he stretched out on the ground next to Kili, leaving room in case he had to get up again. Gandalf settled himself a few paces away and silence engulfed the company.

In the dark, however, Thorin listened to Kili as his breaths eventually became deep and even and he knew his nephew was asleep. The Dwarf shifted onto his back and closed his eyes. This was not the first time Kili had been ill with the stomach flu and Thorin's mind drifted back to when Kili and Fili were young …

It had been when they lived in the Blue Mountains. Deep in the mountain halls was a comfortable home for Dis and her sons and Thorin stayed with his sister when he was there. The boys always liked having Thorin around and, to be honest, Thorin loved having young Dwarves to play with and teach things to. Their father had died during battle only a few years earlier – Fili remembered him but Kili had just been a baby. Ever since then, Thorin had made an effort to be involved in the lives of his nephews. It was winter outside, which meant Thorin stayed in the mountain. Some days were spent with councils, as he was still the royal heir of Durin, but other days he preferred to lose himself in the methodical work of the forge. There was something satisfying in producing a beautiful sword and putting in a hard day's work.

One evening, Thorin came home and was taking off his boots – Dis never failed to scold him for tracking soot and ash across her meticulously clean floors – when his sister appeared looking worn.

"What's wrong?" Thorin asked, somewhat alarmed. Dis was an incredibly strong woman and it took a lot to wear her out – more than two active young Dwarf boys.

"The boys are sick."

"How sick?"

Dis sighed, falling into a chair near the fire.

"They'll be alright but they're both vomiting and running fevers. I've lost count of how many baths I've given Kili and there are no more fresh towels or sheets – they're all soiled."

"When did they get sick?"

"Kili woke up from his nap running a fever. Fili threw up shortly after that and it set off a chain reaction. I'll just get one cleaned up and settled and the other one goes. It's never ending."

Thorin frowned.

"That's only been a couple of hours. Shouldn't you be sending for the healer if it's that severe?"

Dis shook her head.

"It's just stomach flu. They'll get over it but it's a nasty bug. Kilana's boys – she's the woman who runs the bakery – had it last week and the week before that it was Chaldina's family. It's been going around."

"Can't you give them any medicine?"

"I've tried but they just throw it back up."

"Are you sure you shouldn't be calling for a healer?"

Dis was about to respond when a wail came from the bedroom.

"Mama!"

Dis sighed, standing.

"Kili," she murmured, her skirt swishing as she strode past Thorin. The Dwarf, concerned about his nephews' declining state of health, set his boots aside and followed her into the bedroom-now-sickroom. Sickroom was a good descriptor, as the chamber had a peculiar odor to it and its occupants looked downright miserable. To add to the effect, three year old Kili had just vomited down his front and onto his bed. His flushed face was stained with tears. Dis gathered him into her arms, not seeming to care about the vomit she was getting on her apron.

"Shhh," she soothed. "It's alright. Calm down."

Kili buried his face into his mother's neck and Dis gently rubbed his back. Thorin turned to the other bed and saw Fili curled up on his side, watching. He went and sat on the edge of the bed and Fili's eyes diverted to meet Thorin's.

"How's my warrior doing?" Thorin asked and Fili shrugged limply.

"I'm sick."

"Your mother told me. How do you feel now?"

"Achy. My head hurts and my stomach hurts and my legs and back ache."

Thorin frowned and laid a hand on his forehead.

"Do you think you could drink some water, or maybe some tea?"

Fili shook his head.

"I don't want to throw up."

Thorin sighed.

"You need to drink, Fili. It's not good for you otherwise."

"Why?"

Fili was at that age where everything needed to have a reason and Thorin bit back another sigh.

"Because when you have a fever, your body is too hot. It needs water to cool it … it's like how water cools a sword to harden it. Your body uses water to cool it down and make it strong."

Thorin was rather pleased with this analogy, even more so when Fili consented to a small drink of water. Thorin helped the Dwarf sit up and shakily sip the cup before easing him back down onto the pillow.

"Good lad," he said soothingly. He glanced over to see that Dis had taken Kili out of the chamber and he stood.

"I'll be right back, alright? Close your eyes."

His nephew obeyed and Thorin went to Kili's bed, pulling the soiled sheets off and making them into a bundle. He glanced at Fili, whose eyes were still closed, and left. He found the pile of laundry Dis had been talking about and filled the washbasin with hot water. In a few minutes, the sheets and bedclothes and towels had been washed – hastily, mind, but they were likely just going to be vomited on again and the water had been hot enough to kill any germs – and were draped around the sitting room so the fire could aid in their drying.

Another glance at Fili showed the Dwarf asleep and Thorin gently closed the door, going to the bathing chamber. He knocked on the door and pushed it open. Dis looked up from the tub, where a listless Kili was letting his mother wash him.

"How's Fili?"

"Asleep," Thorin said, kneeling by the tub and pushing his sleeves up. "You look exhausted. Go have a cup of tea. I'll finish up here."

Dis smiled gratefully at her brother and stood. Kili whimpered but Thorin looked at him.

"Come on now, none of that."

His deep voice caused Kili to stop, though his lower lip was still trembling.

"You're alright," Thorin said to him, picking up the tin cup Dis had been using to pour the lukewarm water over Kili's shoulders.

"My tummy hurts."

"I know," Thorin said, aware that Dis had left. "But I'll tell you a secret."

"What?" Kili's fevered eyes had grown slightly at the prospect of a secret he could later tell to Fili.

"Tummies ache less when there's food in them."

"Oh."

That secret was anticlimactic to Kili's young mind.

"I don't wanna eat."

"You need to try," Thorin said. "I promise your tummy will ache less if it has something in it."

"Why?"

Kili, almost six years younger than Fili, mimicked his brother all the time and constantly asked Fili's favorite question … why? He thought it was funny; his mother and uncle found it tiring.

"Because," Thorin said. "It's kinda like …"

He searched for something the young Dwarf could understand.

"You know how the stone furnaces make really loud noises if there's not enough water going through the mill?"

"Uh-huh." Kili said, raising his arms so Thorin could lift him out of the tub.

"If there's not enough water, the cogs don't run smoothly and they make those noises because they're unhappy. But if there's enough water, they run smoothly. Your tummy is kind of the same way. If there's something in it, it doesn't feel as bad as when there's not enough in it."

It wasn't as good as his sword analogy but it wasn't all that bad.

"I'm not hungry," Kili said, resting his head on Thorin's shoulder after his uncle had picked him up.

"Just a little bit of soup? I bet your mother will make the kind you like."

Kili sighed.

"Will Fili have some, too?"

"Fili's asleep right now but if you tell him what I just told you, I bet he'll try some when he wakes up."

Kili sighed again.

"Okay."

Thorin nodded.

"Good lad," he repeated, carrying Kili into the sitting room. He found one of the Dwarf's nightshirts by the fire and slipped the freshly-laundered garment on before picking him up again. He could feel the heat radiating off Kili's skin as the Dwarf once again rested his head on Thorin's shoulder.

Thorin went into the kitchen and Dis looked up.

"Everything alright?" she asked and Thorin nodded.

"We're going to try some soup," he informed his sister, who glanced at Kili. The Dwarf nodded and Dis smiled.

"I'm impressed," she said, standing. "Kili, do you want the soup with the carrots, the one with the chicken, or both?"

"Both."

The young Dwarf sounded exhausted.

"Why don't you take him to the rocking chair," Dis suggested, taking out a pot. "I'll get you when it's ready."

Thorin nodded and went to sit in front of the fire, Kili curled up in the nook of his arm.

"Close your eyes," Thorin said, staring at the fire. "And I'll tell you a story."

"About Erebor?"

Thorin nodded as he subconsciously began rocking. He was halfway through his tale about how he, Dis, and Frerin used to have races in the long halls of the great Dwarf kingdom when Dis stuck her head in.

"Soup's ready," she said and Thorin, who hadn't really been paying attention to Kili, glanced down and smiled.

"He's asleep." He said, standing carefully. Rather than wake him, Dis quickly made up his bed with fresh linens and Thorin tucked him in. Fili was also sleeping and brother and sister left the room quietly.

"I'm really impressed, Thorin," Dis said, setting a bowl of soup in front of him. "You handled that well."

Thorin shrugged.

"I did what I could," he said.

"Hopefully it's enough," Dis replied, worry creeping back into her voice. Thorin raised an eyebrow.

"If you're that concerned, send for a healer."

Dis sighed.

"We'll see how they are in the morning."

Thorin raised an eyebrow but stayed silent on the matter.

"Have some soup," he said. "And then go to bed. I'll stay up."

"But you worked all day."

"So have you."

Dis smiled again.

"You're too good to me."

"I promised I'd look after you and that's what I'm doing. I'll be fine and so will the boys."

Dis nodded.

"I know."

Reviews are VERY much appreciated, thanks!