Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author Note: Warning: This fic contains incest between brothers, it'll get more explicit as the fic goes on.

COURTLY MANNERS

Despite what elves and men thought, dwarves were not solely concerned with metalwork, feasting, and hoarding gold. And they were not without certain formalities, especially when it came to courting. Fíli had had this drummed into him from a young age, along with all other dwarfish customs. They were standards to treasure and to measure all dwarves by; without Erebor, their customs and manners were all that remained of their home. So whilst Fíli might have enjoyed the company of dwarves and maids, he didn't court any of them. He hadn't the notion to; he hadn't found his One yet.

Then Kíli started growing up, and the bellyful of overwhelming warmth and love that Fíli had always felt for his brother changed. His brother was no longer a dwarrow, marks of age were starting to become obvious and strong in his face. And Fíli looked at him, at his nimble fingers, handsome face, and constant mischief, at the shadow who'd always been at his back and in his heart in one way or another, and thought that's my One.

The warmth and love inside him spiked, revealing something new and old at the same time; a very dwarfish turn of things. It was a peculiar feeling, bubbling through Fili from toes to beard. He didn't know how he'd expected to feel, but he certainly hadn't expected to find that his One had been beside him all along, practically since birth.

"Who else do you think of first thing in the morning?" his mother pointed out, when he went to her with the news. "Who else is the first worry on your mind?"

Oh. Fili rubbed a hand through his beard, heat simmering through him as he thought of his brother, heat that scorched and inflamed every part of him. So that was why his mother hadn't been at all surprised when he'd told her. His inner heat was tempered with something else though, something that made Fíli speak quietly.

"I'll have to wait so long though, 'til he's out of his young years."

His mother nodded and pushed a platter of mincemeat pies his way, his favourite. Kíli had a good few years to go yet before he reached a suitable courting age. The thought made Fíli's chest ache. He stuffed a fistful of pie into his mouth.

"Would you rather not know?" asked his mother.

Fíli shook his head immediately; even if he had to wait what felt like forever, knowing that the immense love he already held for his brother could ignite even further was a treasured gift,. His mother nodded satisfied. Fíli tore a strip of pastry off a pie as another revelation took shape and clouded his mood.

"I can't tell him, can I?"

"Your father announced to me that I was his One five years before I could begin courting. Our parents then didn't allow us time alone together until I reached the age."

Fíli winced. He saw Kíli every day, spent more hours day and night with him than with any other. Even the thought of being deprived of that felt like having all the breath pulled out of him. His fist curled reflexively; he wouldn't tell Kíli.

He did tell his uncle Thorin though, since Thorin would supervise the courting, should Kíli be agreeable to the idea of courting Fíli in the first place.

"If you doubt he'll be willing, all sense has been knocked from your head," was Thorin's curt assessment. His gaze on Fíli was a mix of flinty pride and something deeply sad which was gone in the next instant and he clapped a hand to his nephew's shoulder. "The years will fly; you will have no time to think of courting, there's much for you to learn."

Thorin was true to his word – there was a lot for Fíli to learn as heir to the King Under The Mountain. Fíli was more than willing to absorb it all, but the years didn't fly. He watched Kíli grow taller and leaner and fail to grow anything that could respectfully be called a beard. He felt the heat inside himself grow hotter and stronger and his heart thumped a constant rhythm of soon, soon, soon.

If Kíli returned his gazes, Fíli didn't recognise them. Kíli had looked at him with adoration from a young age. The love between them had always been easy and honest. This though, was something else, something even stronger and unbreakable. Would Kíli recognise it too? Would he want it?

Fíli worked hard in the forge, sweat pouring from him as he grew more skilful, and he thought just as hard about what courting gift he would make for his brother. It had to be something good and personal as it would declare his intent. Fíli watched Kíli grow smoother and more skilled at archery, the lines of his body sharp and keen. Fíli swallowed, his heartbeat spiking again. His mother pressed a hand to his elbow and handed him an ale.

It was watching the archery training that sparked Fíli's imagination. Both he and his brother wore clasps and pins in their hair, to keep it from clouding their aim when handling weapons or from causing trouble in the forge. Kíli was constantly losing his. Fíli would craft one his brother would be loath to ever misplace.

The design was easily thought of – an arrowhead. Fíli took care crafting it out of Kíli's sight. His brother had quick hands and quicker eyes and Fíli would not have him spoil his own momentous surprise. A pleasant surprise, hopefully. The clasp quickly came together; it was a simple but elegant design, unmistakably an arrowhead, light but hopefully sturdy enough to withstand the trials of Kili's energy. Once cooled and shone up; it was placed into the care of their mother. Dís had lighter fingers than both her sons and was sure to hide it where her youngest would not think to look.

Then there was more waiting, Fíli gazing on his brother with hunger and despairing want, finally catching edges of something similar in the looks that Kíli threw back at him. His heart trembled faster in response. Had those shades always been in Kili's gaze? Or was it just that Kíli was growing older now and more perceptive, another gift from their mother? His touches to Fíli were more meaningful than before, weightier and lingering. Or perhaps such things were all Fíli's fevered imaginings.

Eventually, the time arrived. Kíli had reached courting age and hadn't made any advances towards anyone. He still looked at Fíli though; perhaps he waited for Fili to move first. Heat spread thickly through Fili's veins at such a thought.

Thorin was expectant when Fili finally approached him and announced he was going to speak to his brother. Their uncle nodded. "Hold to the custom, your year will begin once you speak to me again."

Fili nodded back. Their year would begin. Dwarven courting was built layer by layer, like the smelting of metal that began the forging of a fine sword. To build it in such a way provided a firm foundation. The first year Fili and Kili would have together meant no touching of mouths, no bedding each other. They could lie at each other's sides, they could hold one another, they could touch but only as was customary. Not all courtings were completed, but according to those who did see a courting through, it was worth the slow building and it lasted.

Fili was sure he would be frazzled by heat for his brother and he knew that Kili would feel the same, but the treasure that waited for them afterwards was surely worth it. He wanted this to last. This was his One.

The next morning Dis passed him the arrowhead with a smile when he came calling and announced supper would be a fine one that day, no matter what. Fili shouldered his sword and Kili tumbled in the door, to grab breakfast from his mother's table and to seek his brother before they both headed to the forge. Fili took special note of the curve of Kili's smile, the light in his eyes, the suppleness of his body. All of that could be his. The clasp was tucked securely in his pocket, wrapped simply in cloth. Fili swallowed and waited for a quiet moment.

The moment came quicker than he expected – no one was due to pick up their goods that day and no customers had entered to make orders for several hours. Kili was flipping a coin from hand to hand, moving it between his fingers. They were alone, and the smoke and heat of the forge's furnace was making Kili's hair appear wilder than usual. His skin glittered with sweat and the look in his eyes when he gazed at Fili made Fili's toes curl. It made him take a step or two forward; he'd not see another dwarf gain that heated gaze and ask Kili this question before he did.

He slipped his hand into his pocket and stood in front of his brother. "Kili…"

His brother looked up – loving, hopeful, a shade shy – the coin still slipping easily between his fingers. Fili bowed his head for a second, as was proper, and held out his full hand.

"My intent."

There was a sharp intake of breath, then the warmth of Kili's fingers on his and the gift was drawn away. He glanced up to see Kili pushing the fabric aside and his entire expression lighting up as he uncovered the clasp. Kili's eyes shone as he looked at his brother, his fingers caressing the clasp most distractingly. It made Fili's mouth dry.

Kili deliberately pulled free the clasps he currently wore in his hair and let them clatter to the stone bench. His gaze was adoring and desiring now and oh, Aule, it was fixed on Fili.

"Your intent is gladly received and enthusiastically returned," Kili announced, as formal as he'd ever be. "Clasp it for me, please?"

He held the gift out, with a charming expression that lit Fili's blood. Kili was content to give Fili the reins here; such an arrangement was to both their liking. So Fili strode forward and with great tenderness smoothed a hand through Kili's hair. He'd touched his brother in such a way many times before, but the circumstance changed everything. Kili let out a little noise that did things to Fili, his grasp became a little rougher in his brother's hair, which only made Kili louder. He tightened his grip warningly; they had a year of innocence together before them, such wantonness would make it cruel.

Kili looked apologetic but also mischievous and like his own toes were curling as Fili affixed the clasp. His hand lingered for only a moment, trailing down to cup Kili's face briefly. The drag of stubble and skin made him hum.

"Uncle Thorin," he said quickly, before all sense left him. "He'll see us through this."

Kili looked like he was thinking of pouting, of all things, but he nodded and they closed the forge in order to talk to their uncle. These things had to be done properly, especially since they were Durin's heirs. They couldn't stop looking at each other though, nor could they stop their hands from touching as they walked side by side. Fili made a noise in his throat that made Kili's eyes laugh.

Thorin was meeting with messengers when they arrived but a few short minutes later, he bid them enter and looked at them expectantly.

"You have news."

Kili turned his head, displaying the clasp that he touched with a reverence that went right to Fili's heart. "Fili's shown his intent at last and I've accepted."

There was that odd mixture of pride and sadness in Thorin's face again, but he nodded at them. "So your year begins. Myself and other elders will be watching."

His solemn warning made them both straighten before quickly exiting. Kili nudged his shoulder against Fili's, his face a picture of delight and heat. This was what Fili would be resisting for a year. He understood all too well why many courtings failed.

"Our year, Kili."

Kili hooked a finger around one of Fili's, a gesture that was both very young and very intimate. "A year is nothing. I feel like I've been waiting forever for this, brother."

That made Fili pause and look at his brother. "You've been waiting forever?"

Kili grinned. "The years were against us. It's been a couple of cold seasons since I realised. You?"

Fili ground his teeth and remembered the sudden punch of furious heat in his belly, the knowing look in his mother's eyes, all those days he'd spent hunting and working beside Kili, desperately knowing but unable to say or do anything about it. So many days. It felt like one of those very long songs full of tales old and weary. Sometimes it felt like he'd always been waiting for Kili.

"Longer."

Kili peered at him, an odd look on his face, but he swooped onto a different subject as they approached the forge, more work waiting for them at the door. They worked for the rest of the afternoon, Fili attempting not to be distracted by the glint of his clasp in Kili's hair. Sweet possessive heat flushed through him. He had a claim now; a claim that Kili had more than accepted.

At the end of the day, he turned to find Kili staring at him contemplatively and a little guilt-ridden. "You've waited long years for me, haven't you? Fili…"

Fili smiled, tired and wrung out after the rush of the day. "You were too young."

Kili tilted his head and stepped closer. "You could have found another."

Fili's laugh was more of a bark, cracked and incredulous. He brushed a hand, tender and loving, against Kili's shoulder.

"No, I couldn't."

Kili's smile was joyous and full and he held a single finger up – my One. He kissed the tip of it and reaching out, pressed the finger to Fili's mouth. The intimacy of it took Fili's breath away and made his heart pound. He grasped Kili's wrist and pressed the hand to his own chest, for Kili to feel how fast his heartbeat ran. The two stared at each other for a heated moment. Then Fili wrapped a hand around the nape of Kili's neck and dragged him in to rest their foreheads together. Breath was hot on skin and hearts skittered to the same song.

After long minutes locked in such an embrace, Fili released his hold. He felt like laughing; after such a long wait, it was heady indeed to be able to touch with such intent. To have Kili know at last was a wondrous thing and Kili seemed of like mind. Their fingers stayed interlocked as they walked, only releasing once they entered their mother's home.

Dis' quick eyes saw almost instantly what had come to pass. She whooped and hugged them both, bidding them to get the table laid up for dinner. Fili and Kili did so, each finding as many ways as possible to touch the other in passing. Dis clearly knew what was going on and threatened to douse them in the well if they didn't stop. They obeyed, but sat tight next to each other at the table and Fili's hand stayed heavy and possessive on his brother's thigh. Such touches were all that consumed his mind, despite the glorious feast their mother had prepared.

After dishes were washed and hidden away again, the brothers retreated to where their nearby quarters lay. Kili immediately began moving his bed through to his brother's room; there was enough room for two pallets to lie side by side, as two dwarves might. Fili helped him, warmth glorying in his heart. They piled the beds with blankets and pillows and quickly moved what else Kili would need into Fili's quarters.

Then they disrobed and lay down side by side, facing each other. Lying there, drinking in his brother, Fili decided he could see why some couples found their way through the first year easily enough. To just look at Kili and know that he knew was like the sweetest of ales. It would fuel Fili for decades to come.

His hand trailed gently down Kili's face and he didn't protest when Kili's lips pressed against his palm or when Kili's teeth bit gently at the flesh there. This was theirs, nobody else's. Kili's eyes startled wide for a second and he scrambled to the side of the pallet, digging a hand under it, to some secret space.

"Before this day ends…"

He returned, slightly flustered, and presented a closed fist to Fili. "My answer."

Fili's pulse fluttered hard. Kili's first gift for him. He gently pried Kili's fingers open and removed the tiny bundle within. In it, he found a hair clasp; similar to the one he had gifted his brother with. This one was shaped differently though, taking the form of a tiny blade. It was perfect. Kili had had no time that afternoon to make it; he must have forged it already, some time before, for Fili.

Fili smiled wildly. "Clasp it for me?"

Kili's grin was equally manic and he eagerly slid closer to clip the gift securely in Fili's long golden hair. His fingers buried themselves in the thick mane, luxuriating in the feel. Fili smiled; Kili had always enjoyed braiding his brother's hair. Now that fancy could take on a different light.

"You should braid my hair whenever the desire strikes you," he said quietly, his hand stroking at the column of Kili's throat.

Kili keened and surged forward, tucking himself against Fili's body, his head neatly under his brother's chin. Fili wrapped his arms around the warm body so close to him and pressed his fingers to the clasp Kili wore. They had huddled together for warmth many times before, but this was so different; the beginning of their first dedicated year together. They'd be building the first layer of their courting. Fili breathed in Kili's scent – leather and heat from the forge, the blackberries Dis had mashed for dinner, ale and the thick tang of dwarfish metals.

They'd both be creating more gifts for each other, all practical of course and demonstrating how they could be what the other needed. Fili had been thinking on this for some time, now that the first had been accepted, he could begin presenting Kili with more. Something satisfied and happy uncurled inside Fili; he couldn't wait to demonstrate to his brother, and to everybody else, how serious he was.