Vili, husband of Dis and father of Fili and Kili died shortly after his second son's birth in an Orc raid protecting his family. After his death he watched his children grow up from the Halls of Mandos.

Vili often worried about his oldest son. Fili had been declared Thorin's heir shortly after his birth. He grew up with the weight of responsibility upon his shoulders and without a real childhood. He was treated very different from his younger brother.

Kili had much freedom, Thorin played with him and sometimes even laughed about his jokes and the mischief he caused whereas Fili was often scolded for the same things. When Kili played outside Fili often had to sit in his room with Balin to learn about the history of the dwarves and other things a future king had to know.

When Fili started his weapons training Thorin only frowned at Fili's choice of twin swords. Vili on the other hand couldn't have been prouder of his son. His son did not just prefer the same weapon he did, he even wanted to fight with his swords. A few years later Kili chose the long sword and a bow as his preferred weapons. Thorin smiled at him and told him how proud he was. In his opinion these were the best weapons. Vili wondered if things had been then same if he wasn't dead.

Even Dis seemed to favour Kili. She cared for both of them but often spent more time playing and cuddling with Kili.

When Fili was a baby Dis barely left him and doted upon him all the time. He was their sunshine and biggest treasure. After his death Dis barely looked at her eldest son anymore and when she did with a strange expression. Vili soon realised that Dis couldn't bear looking at her son, who looked so much like his father with his blue eyes and golden hair.

Vili prayed to Aule that one day Dis might be able to love Fili in the way she used to before his death. But this never happened. She never looked at him as lovingly and affectionate as at Kili.

Of course Fili noticed all of this but he never said anything. He always did as told and tried to make his mother and uncle proud even though it seemed that nothing he did was good enough.

Vili was glad that Kili loved and adored his older brother. Fili was one of his role models and he wanted to be like him when he was a small dwarfling. When he grew older he sometimes even told his uncle that it was unfair that he could play and explore Ered Luin while Fili had to learn different things. But Thorin only frowned at him and told him that he could join Fili if he wanted to spend time with him.

Fili and Kili stayed close for their whole youth, they even shared a room. They were best friends but Fili never dared to tell him about his sorrows or about his first love.

When Fili was 78 he fell in love with Inia, a young dwarf from a miner's family in Ered Luin. Fili told no one about his feelings, not even her. He knew that his uncle would never allow him to marry a girl from a poor family without any influence. However Fili watched her whenever he saw her at the market and danced with her at celebrations like Durin's Day. Vili hoped that his son might change his mind and tell her one day. To him it didn't matter who his son loved as long as she made him happy. And he knew that Inia liked Fili very much too.

3 years later Thorin told Dis and the boys about his meeting with Gandalf in Bree and that he had decided to try to retrieve the Arkenstone and to reclaim Erebor. Of course Fili and Kili wanted to join the small company that would set out next spring. Vili cursed; like most dwarves he didn't believe that they might succeed and didn't want his sons to die in the dragonfire. But of course there was nothing he could do.

Fili knew that they might not survive their quest and finally decided to tell Inia about his feelings. During the last 3 years he had noticed that she at least fancied him, too. He told her at the market to meet him.

The next day Fili waited for her in a cavern in a part of Ered Liun that was rarely used. He wondered if his request to meet her and the note he put in her basket were to blunt and if she'd turn up at all. He paced around the cavern nervously.

Once again Vili smiled because his son's behaviour was so similar to his own even though he didn't play a big part in his upbringing.

Soon Inia arrived in the cavern and smiled at Fili shyly. "Good afternoon, Prince Fili! How can I help you?"

Fili took a deep breath and looked at her. She wore a simple brown dress that had been mended in many places and her light brown hair was pulled back in a simple braid. But for him she was still much more beautiful than any of the noble's daughters.

"Good afternoon Inia! As you may know me and several other dwarves will try to retake Erebor soon. Before we leave, I want to tell you something very important."

The dwarf lass looked puzzled and stared at him with wide brown eyes. Fili walked closer to her and took her hand. She wanted to pull back but Fili didn't let her go. "I know that we will never have a future together even if I'd survive this quest, but I want you to know that I love you!"

Inia swallowed hard "Why Fili? I'm no one important or special? I, I never understood my feelings for you. But a few months ago I realised that what I feel for you is love."

Fili grinned and wrapped his arms around her. "I want to spent time with you. Let's try to use the time until I have to leave for the Shire as good as we can." Inia nooded and Fili started to kissed her.

Vili watched his son and Inia. They spent as much time together as possible. He was glad that no one noticed their secret meeting because he knew that this would only cause trouble. He hadn't seen his son this happy for a very long time.

Unfortunately that happiness didn't last long. Thorin left Ered Luin earlier than the others to meet a few dwarf lords. He wanted Fili to help Dis in the first few weeks of her temporary reign over the dwarves of Ered Luin. Fili was busy from dawn to dusk and couldn't even say goodbye to Inia. He left something in their cave for her though.

Soon the day of Fili's and Kili's departure from Ered Luin arrived. Dis embraced Fili for a few seconds and pressed her forehead against his. Fili promised to look after and to protect his brother and uncle. Dis nooded and then quickly turned to Kili. She gave him a beautiful hand carved runestone and made him promise to come back to her. She wrapped her arms tightly around him and kissed his forehead.

Vili sighed when he saw the sad look on Fili's face. When Kili looked towards him though, Fili smiled but his smile didn't reach his eyes. Once again Vili wished to be there to tell him how much he loved him.

Fili and Kili mounted their ponies and rode away waving at their mother. Dis tried to hide her tears. She had lost so many members of her family already. She worried that she might lose her remaining brother, her sunshine Kili and Fili, who reminded her of her One every day, now as well. She realised that she never told Fili now much she loved him and prayed to Aule that she would be able to tell him in the future.

The idea for this story came to my mind when I watched BoFA for the second time and watched AUJ and DoS again afterwards. To me it seemed that Thorin favoured Kili throughout all three films. I thought that there had to be at least one person who loved Fili as much as Kili and maybe even a bit more :)