A refreshing wind was rushing down the lonely moutain, the type that curls your hair and tingles your skin. The trees swayed in unison and dwarves were scurrying about beneath them. It was around a week after The Battle of the Five Armies, and the ancient kingdom of Erebor was still trying to get settled after the raging war, and timely death of the almighty dragon, that had haunted it's halls for so long. Reluctantly, King Thorin had allowed the Elves of Mirkwood to stay in a small part of the kingdom, just until they were healed and able to leave. The dwarves of the Iron Hills were also staying in Erebor and it was buzzing with activity- but past the bustling halls and the crowded corridors, Kili sat in he and his brother's room, hard at work. He was sitting on the edge of his soft mattress, fletching his arrows with his stubby, but incredibly well controlled fingers. Hair dangling over his face, and eyes fixed on his work, Kili was oblivious to the world around him. All of a sudden, the squeak of the doorknob snapped his head up and Fili walked in. The familiar sound of his many clinking knives filled the room and Kili looked back down at what he was doing. Fili ran his hands through his golden waves and he let out a relieved sigh, shutting the door behind him.

"Hey Kili, what are you doing?" He asked inquisitively, laying down his weapons one by one on his bed. Not looking up from his lap, Kili mumbled "Just fletching my arrows..."

"What's wrong? You haven't been out all day! You've just stayed cooped up in here all week- apart from a few occasions and I don't even know where you go when you do that! Go out, socialise! Or help the other's and Thorin!" Fili plonked himself down beside his brother, jogging him slightly and Kili huffed in frustration.

"I just... don't feel like talking to anyone..." He murmured, not looking at his elder sibling.

They sat in silence for a minute, but Kili could feel his brother's icy blue eyes on him. He turned his head to the side and saw him staring at something. Looking behind him, he saw nothing, so he moved into Fili's eyeline. "What are you looking at? Is there something in my hair?" Kili reached up a grubby hand and patted the side of his head, frowning.

"Huh?" Fili broke away from his thoughts and looked back at his brother's confused chocolate-brown eyes. "Oh, no... No I was just... just looking at... nevermind..." Fili waved his question off and turned his head away. Kili didn't look satisfied, but sighed and turned back to his arrow. About half a minute later, he turned back round and caught Fili frowning at him again.

"Ok, what is it!" He said in annoyance as he looked at Fili. Then his face fell. "Oh..." He let out a deep sigh. Fili looked at him in shock "What?"

"You're doing what everyone else does too..." Kili muttered, putting his arrows to the side and putting his hands in his lap. He sat, head bowed, looking at them. Swallowing, Fili asked

"I...I don't understand"

"Oh I think you do..." Kili spun his head round and glared at his brother. Fili shrank back slightly at the harshness in his tone, but he knew. "Everyone has been going on about me recently!" Kili continued in a frustrated and upset voice "People have been staring at my ears, whispering behind my back, laughing about my height and lack of beard- I'm so tired of it! They call me an Elf, and I hate it... and now even my brother is doing it..." He let out a long, pained sigh and looked into Fili's eyes. Fili looked back and his silence indicated to Kili, that he was right. "Yeah... thought so..." Kili jumped to his feet and viciously grabbed his bow from the shelf, slinging it over his shoulder. His face was angry, but looked more disappointed than annoyed. This stung at Fili's heart.

"Kili- I don't agree with it! I was just seeing what everyone was on about, and it's not true!" Fili pleaded to his brother, getting to his feet also.

"Yeah right..." Kili spat, reaching for the doorknob. Fili lurched forward and caught his brother's navy tuniced arm midair.

"Please Kili I'm sor-"

"Get off!" Kili yanked his arm free and flung the door open. It slammed into the wall behind and he stormed out moodily, leaving Fili alone.

Kili pushed through the loud corridors full of busy dwarrow and stormed through into the echoing throne room. His heavy dwarvish boots trembled the floor and Thorin looked up from signing some parchment as he entered. "Kili!" He called out "Slow down, what's the hurry?! Kili! I said stop!" Kili came to a halt and stood in the midde of the floor, frustration still bubbling away in his stomach. He stood in silence, waiting for his Uncle to speak. When he heard nothing, he turned on his heel and found Thorin suddenly standing directly behind him. He started and sighed. "You scared me... What do you want, uncle?"

"I want to know where you are going."

"Out into the woods, why...?" Kili furrowed his brow and stared at his uncle. He was wearing long, elegant robes and his hair was thick and glossy. His golden crown glinted on his head and his eyes shined as they looked back at him in their usual scowl.

"Hmm..." Thorin looked at him suspiciously and Kili looked confused. He shuffled slightly before speaking.

"...Can I go now?" He asked impatiently, itching to get away.

"Yes just... er one more thing- why don't you, um, where your hair DOWN for a change Kili?" Kili looked startled at this and simply stared at Thorin, wide eyed.

"W-what?"

"Can you take it down please- now." Thorin ordered, his piercing blue eyes boring into his nephew.

"Wha- why?! It's just what I always wear! I wore it for the entire journey here and you didn't complain!"

"NOW Kili." Kili folded his arms stubbornly, glaring at his uncle. Thorin glared back. Before he could react, Thorin reached up and undid the dwarvish clasp that was holding back a section of Kili's long dark hair.

"Hey!" Protested Kili as his waves tumbled down either side of his face. He tried to snatch it from Thorin but he was too quick, and put it in his pocket.

"Give that back Thorin Oakenshield, that and my bow are all I have left of my father!" Then his face fell for a second time in 5 minutes as the truth dawned on him. "Wow... you too?" Kili shook his head in disbelief, disappointment filling his heart.

"What's me too?"

"Trying to cover my ears! You have heard the names and you don't want your pride bruised!" Cried Kili, turning angrily to leave.

"I'm trying to help you Kili!" Thorin shouted at the young dwarrow as he ran in annoyance, from the room. Almost immediately, the sound of metal on metal entered the throne room and Fili's voice rang into Thorin's ears.

"Where's Kili? Did he come this way?" He questioned, a bag slung on his back and his weapons back in their polished leather sheaths.

"He went out..." Grumbled Thorin, and Fili knew that tone all too well. Without another word, he scurried from the room after his sibling, not wanting to face his Uncle's obviously foul mood.

Kili stomped moodily towards the forest, hair going wild in the cool wind. His face was contorted in a furious scowl and his nostrils flared. Panting, a tired out Fili ran up beside him.

"There you are, Kili..." He just about managed to say through his laboured breaths. "I just ran from one side of Erebor to the other trying to find you!" Kili did not look amused and he just walked faster, ahead of his brother. Rolling his eyes, Fili sped up too and caught hold of his brother's sleeve. "Kili, where's our dad's bead?" He asked, confused.

"Thorin took it." Kili snapped and shook him off. Frowning, Fili tried to see his little brother's face.

"Why?"

"Because he agrees with you and the others about me looking a bit elvish, and he wants to hide my ears!" Kili shouted, clenching his sweating fists. Fili ran in front of him, blocking his path. Kili glared at him. "Fili! Mov-"

"Look, Kili! I didn't mean to make you upset! I don't think you look like an elf, I was simply wondering what the rumours were about! I really am sorry that you thought that I agreed, but I don't- and I'm sure Thorin doesn't either!" Sighing, Kili looked down at his feet.

"Really...?"

"Really." Fili nodded.

The two walked to the edge of the woods in silence, squinting against the now ferocious gale. Finally, they got under the cover of the trees and Kili breathe a deep sigh of relief, pushing his tousled hair back from his face. As he did so, Fili absent-mindedly looked at his ear again and Kili growled. "For MAHAL'S sake Fili! You're doing it again! I'm going... I want to be on my own- go help Bofur with his woodwork, or the Erebor repairs or something."

"Sorry, I didn't meant to! Please let me come with you!" Fili begged, blushing slightly and cursing at himself in his head.

"No Fili" Kili pointed back at the way they had just come. "Go."

"Bu-...ugh..." Fili gave in and turned round, starting to make his way back towards a group of dwarves. As he did so, he heard the sound of shallow thump of Kili's bow being put against a tree and in confusion, he turned round. His brother had disappeared- leaving his bow behind. Why on earth would he go into the forest without his bow? He usually went hunting! Fili speedily walked back and tried to spot his sibling amongst the dark green foliage. Sighing, he put down his bag next to the bow and followed after him into the trees.

(A/N:) This is my first story on here, so I hope you enjoy it! Please review and comment with any mistakes or improvements ;)