(A/N) So, the birth of this story is a rather interesting tale in and of itself. I hadn't seriously considered doing a Cinderella story, as it didn't seem possible to do it and still have Fili and Kili be brothers, but then a reader over on AO3 asked for it and I thought, 'Hmm, maybe I could figure out some way for this to work,' and then ideas just sort of started flooding in and…here we stand. So yes, PadBlack, this one is for you.

Warnings: Durincest, of course (I should hope we all know how this works by now), mpreg, thoughts of suicide, some slight dubcon. There's a little side Dwalin/Ori and BagginShield, as with most of my stuff. The only other thing I can really say is…oh, my, and you thought I was mean to them before…

The Glass Mask

Part 1

Once upon a time, which is all times and no times, but not the very best of times, there lived two brothers who loved each other very much. These were no ordinary dwarf brothers, mind, but princes. Their uncle was king of a prosperous kingdom and it just so happened that the dwarf king had no sons of his own. When they were still quite young, the elder of the two brothers was officially named as the king's heir, and his little brother was very happy for him.

XxX

"So what are you going to do once you are king?" eight-year-old Kili asked as he crawled under a rosebush with his thirteen-year-old brother, Fili. The two princes especially enjoyed playing in the palace gardens. They could pretend they were great warriors on a campaign or explorers charting unexplored lands, whatever they liked. Today, though, they were not playing games. They were just hiding from everyone else, very excited about the news that their uncle, Thorin, had named Fili as the crown prince. Fili grinned as he pulled his little brother into his lap, the two of them cuddling close together in the confined space.

"Oh, I'll probably just throw you in the dungeon whenever you beat me at cards," he teased, tickling his brother without mercy.

"Fi!" Kili laughed, though his struggle to get away was half-hearted at best. "Fili, that's not fair! Stop!"

"Say I win," Fili pressed continuing his onslaught.

"Never!" the young dwarf declared valiantly through a bout of helpless laughter. "I will never surrender!"

Finally, when Fili had worn them both out, the two brothers collapsed into a fit of giggles, tangled up in each other, both lacking the strength to separate. So for a long while, they just lay there giggling quietly.

"By Mahal, you're a stubborn little thing, baby brother. You'll never give up, will you?"

Kili shook his head, his dark eyes bright with mirth. "No…not until I get what I want."

"No wonder you always get the last tart," Fili said mournfully, seeming to think about something for several minutes before fixing his eyes back on Kili. "You know…when I'm king, I want to have you as my consort."

Kili wrinkled his nose at this. "Come on, Brother. Be serious."

"I am serious. I need someone I can trust…and we can't trust anyone in the court. You're the only one I can trust, Kili," he said, his tone firm.

"But…they don't even know if I have the second spirit yet. You…you need someone who can have children."

"You will have the second spirit. I can feel it. You're special, Kili."

Among their people, to have a second spirit meant that one could both father and bear children. There were only a handful of two-spirited dwarves and the court physician, Oin, had long suspected that Kili might be one of them, but such a thing wouldn't become apparent until he was older.

"Do…do you not want to?" Fili asked when Kili didn't say anything.

"Oh, I want to…nobody else is good enough for you," the little boy insisted…but for the first time in his young life, another thought entirely occurred to him. "I just wonder…if I am."

"You are," Fili immediately reassured him. "Like I said, you're the only one I trust," he said, leaning in to press a shy, chaste kiss to his brother's lips.

It lasted only a few moments, and both boys blushed when they pulled away from each other, not quite able to look each other in the eye.

"Remember that, little brother. You're the only one," Fili said before climbing out from under the rosebush, leaving Kili alone to think about what had just happened. Brushing his fingers against his lips, the young dwarf felt his face grow just a little warmer.

XxX

Years passed and childhood dreams seemed to be forgotten…except that the younger prince did not forget. He remembered that gentle kiss everyday…and as he grew, his childish infatuation blossomed into a burning desire. He protected his brother from the dwarves of the court who wished to gain status by earning a night in the crown prince's bed…and was forced to acknowledge the ache in his heart when his older brother very occasionally met another dwarf he actually wanted to sleep with. The young prince was in love with his own brother, and while this was not a thing looked down upon as it was in some of the neighboring kingdoms…love in the royal court was a dangerous thing. It could be used against him…especially seeing as how his brother clearly did not return his feelings. Of course, he had told him once that he wanted him for his consort, but they had been only children then and things were different now.

When it finally became apparent that the young prince was, in fact, two-spirited, there was immediately talk of marrying him to one of the other noble houses in order to strengthen weakening alliances. Of course, all of those houses were throwing their own eligible children at the crown prince for consideration.

Interestingly enough, despite being surrounded by the eligible high born of the land, the crown prince didn't seem to take a liking to any of them. Whenever he did choose someone to share his bed, it was always one who stood absolutely no chance of ascending to the role of consort, or one who could not bear him a child. The prince's mother and the king tried their best to discover what was wrong, but they could never get an answer from him. Finally, at their wits end, the king and his sister announced that there would be a grand masked ball in honor of the prince's eightieth birthday and all of the marriageable dwarves from all the noble houses would be required to attend. As it was clearly not looks the prince was interested in, perhaps if they eliminated that factor from the courting process, the prince could find someone he could connect with.

Much as it angered and saddened the younger prince that his precious brother was being held before these ravenous dwarves like a scrap of meat, his greatest heartbreak was still to come…only a week before the masked ball.

XxX

"You wished to speak with me, Uncle?" Kili asked as he entered Thorin's study. The young prince immediately grew nervous when he saw that the only other person in the room besides his uncle was his mother. They wanted to speak with him in private…away from the prying eyes of the nobles. What could it mean?

Thorin continued to pour over the map he was looking at for several more minutes before looking up at Kili with a small smile on his face.

"Yes, Sister-son. There is an important alliance your mother and I wish to speak with you about."

"Really?" Kili made himself ask, feeling his heart sink. The word 'alliance' was really just another word for 'marriage.'

"Yes. As you are aware, we are on the brink of war with the elves. We will need Lord Dwalin's legions at the front if we are to stand a chance in this fight."

"Yes. What's that to do with me?"

"Well…Dwalin has long been searching for a consort and…having found no one suited to his tastes…he asked for a dwarf of my own court. He asked for you specifically."

For a moment, Kili was frozen in horror. Of course he knew why Dwalin wanted him. The warrior lord and his uncle were the truest of friends and had even shared an intimate relationship when they were much younger. Even though their relationship had ended long before Kili was born, the young dwarf had often heard he looked a great deal like Thorin had in his youth, and as Dwalin had never found a partner who was his equal and could also bear his heirs, perhaps he was looking to recapture some of what he'd had with Thorin in Kili. He'd probably been planning this ever since it had been announced that Kili was two-spirited and able to bear children. The bidding war for Kili had been almost as fierce as the one for Fili, but if Dwalin asked something of him, everyone knew Thorin would never turn him down. This marriage would not be to cement an alliance, because Dwalin would never turn from Thorin. Kili would be sold into this marriage because his uncle would never deny his friend.

"Why me?" Kili finally made himself ask, feeling his throat tighten with sorrow and tears sting behind his eyes, though he refused to allow his grief through to the surface.

"Because you are the one Dwalin wants. He cares for you and I know you at least admire him. Perhaps you will grow to love him with time. I know you've been melancholy these last few decades. I can't pretend to understand why, but I think it would be good for you to leave Erebor. I think you will be happy in Ered Luin…away from whatever it is here that burdens you so."

"Unless…there is someone else you love, my son," Dis interrupted softly, meeting her child's gaze with a piercing one of her own. "Is there another you would wed, Kili?"

For a moment, they both stared at him, as if they expected something from him…an argument, or the name of some secret beloved, but Kili only shook his head.

"No," he lied. "There is no one my heart desires. I will do my duty."

XxX

"The marriage will take place within the month…on Midsummer's Eve," Kili cried, unable to stop the tears that streamed from his eyes. "No doubt they think Fili will choose someone at his birthday celebration and they can have a double wedding."

"And is there any particular reason you didn't tell them there is someone you love?" Oin asked him while mixing up his latest concoction. The court physician and many other members of the castle staff were aware of Kili's feelings for Fili, but of course, it was not their place to say anything.

"What good would that do…when Fili's heart has not chosen mine in return?"

"And you know this for a fact, do you?" the old dwarf asked.

"I can see it…when he looks at me. There is no desire in his eyes. He sees me as a brother…nothing more. He would hate me if I revealed my heart to him now…or worse…it would cause him pain that he cannot return my love. Our brotherhood would be destroyed. I couldn't bear that," Kili said, his breathing unsteady as he leaned against the soot-stained wall of Oin's workshop.

"What will you do, then?"

"I…I would spend the time I have left with Fili. I would give him all of my love for all our days that will never come. I would dance with him on his birthday…and I'd…I would have one last kiss of him…before I walk out of his life forever…and Dwalin takes me to his bed to bear his children."

"Well…why can't you?"

"What?"

"Why can't you have one last night with your brother? What could it hurt?"

"No, he'd…he'd recognize me. He wouldn't dance with me in front of all his suitors. I would shame him."

"If it's your identity you fear, I may be able to help you with that."

"How?" Kili asked, feeling a faint spark of hope ignite in his chest.

"With this," Oin began, reaching a pair of tongs into the cauldron he'd been working at and pulling out a mask. The piece was crafted of fine black glass and would conceal the upper half of the wearer's face. As Kili looked at the mask, he felt a strange sort of warmth settle in his stomach…almost like…comfort.

"A mask?" the young prince asked, awaiting an explanation.

"Yes. As you know, I can work a little magic, and I am certainly willing to tax what power I do have for you, my prince. So long as you wear this mask, no one will be able to recognize you. There is a spell woven into the glass that will turn away the perceptions of anyone who looks at you. Even Fili will not be able to recognize you as the beloved baby brother he grew up with. To him, you will simply be a dark, handsome stranger. I don't see how he could possibly resist you. Wear this to the ball and you shall have exactly what you want."

A slightly bitter smile lit Kili's face at this. He sighed as he took the mask from Oin, looking over every detail. "Oin…will this really work?"

"Absolutely, lad. I'll chop off my right hand if it doesn't."

XxX

"Is it true?!" Fili demanded as he burst into Kili's chamber. Kili nearly dropped the glass mask in shock and only just managed to stuff it under his pillow before Fili seized his shoulder and spun him around.

"Is what true, Brother?"

"They say you are to be betrothed to Dwalin!"

"It is true," he said stiffly, shrugging Fili's hand from his shoulder.

"But why? You don't love Dwalin, and he certainly wouldn't demand your hand if you didn't want to give it. Why should you marry him?"

Suddenly feeling angry, Kili pushed his brother away. "You don't know how I feel about Dwalin. You don't know how I feel about anyone! Maybe I've secretly been in love with him for years and you've just been too blind to see it."

Fili took another step back, looking as if Kili had physically struck him. "That…that's not true."

"You don't know that. You don't know anything. You have no idea who I love, Fili!" he shouted, turning away from him and moving over to his window so his brother wouldn't see how badly this was affecting him. Several minutes of silence passed before he felt Fili move in close to him.

"Then…then I'll ask you," he started hesitantly, laying a hand back on his shoulder. "Kili…dear little brother…does anything pierce that stubborn shell of yours? Is…is there someone you love?"

Kili's heart was breaking, he wanted to tell him the truth so badly. His throat closed tightly against the tears as his body trembled.

It's you. It's you, you fool! It's always been you. I love you, Fili! I need you more than I need air to breathe! But you can't see that…can you…because you don't love me in return. I must bear this weight alone…to protect you from the pain of it.

"No," he whispered harshly, barely managing to keep his voice in check. He was mere inches from bursting into tears.

"You're lying," Fili said gently as he wrapped his arms around him. There was a twinge of hurt in his own voice as he pulled him close. "I can see how deeply this marriage pains you. Who is it that's broken my beloved baby brother's heart?"

Kili didn't cry out loud, but he couldn't stop the tears from coming. He nearly choked holding back his sobs while the teardrops ran silently down his face. All he really wanted to do was curl up on his bed with Fili and let him hold him while he cried, as they'd done when they were children…but they were children no longer. Now was the time to step up and be the dwarf his love needed him to be…to make the necessary sacrifice and allow Fili to live his destiny.

"Someone I can't have," he answered softly when he finally had control of his voice again. He shuddered when he felt Fili's face nuzzle against the back of his neck.

"Don't cry, Kili. Please don't be sad. I'll make things right again, I promise. I'll talk to Thorin."

"Fili…don't…"

"I just…I hate to see you being used this way," Fili said, hugging him a little tighter. Kili took comfort from it.

"I will be sold in marriage…the same as you. There's nothing to be done about it. The engagement will be announced at the ball," he said, leaning his head back against his brother. Briefly, he caught the scent of Fili's golden hair and breathed in deeply. How many minutes remained to them? How many hours? The sound of their breath, of each heartbeat…how many did they have left before their inevitable separation?

"One week?" Fili breathed, a hint of despair in his voice. "Only…one week…before he takes you away from me."

"Fili," Kili exhaled his brother's name on a broken breath, turning to face him. For what felt like a very long time, they just stood, gazing uncertainly at each other. The one to finally break the strange trance was Kili, who slowly reached out a hand to touch his brother's cheek. Fili brought up his own hand to lay it on top of Kili's.

"Kili…?"

"Can…can I sleep with you tonight?" he asked, his voice little more than a whisper. They hadn't slept in the same bed since they were in their thirties.

"Yes…and every night we have left. Don't be afraid, Kili. I promise I won't let them do this to you. I'll see you get your happiness. Even…even if…" Before Fili could allow himself to finish, he quickly seized Kili's hand in both of his, roughly kissing the palm before sweeping out of the room, leaving Kili utterly confused as to what had happened.

XxX

I'll see you get your happiness…even if I become unhappy.

That was the thought that was ever in the crown prince's mind. He had never once stopped wanting his beloved brother as his consort…only the world just kept getting in the way.

The prince felt he had done wrong, kissing his brother that first time…they were both so young. So he'd decided to wait, see if the spark was still there when they were of the proper age. However, when the announcement of his brother's second spirit finally came, when he was considered old enough, the prince feared that the spark that had existed between them had been forgotten by his younger brother. The young prince never spoke of the time beneath the rosebush and he was afraid to bring it up for fear that he would drive his brother away. The young prince didn't even seem to remember the words they'd spoken to each other. Was it selfish of him to risk destroying what they already had for the pale hope they could be something more? Could he bear to lose the one person he truly loved to selfish desire, anger, and pain?

No was the prince's ultimate answer to himself. He couldn't bear to lose his brother…so he stayed away, not revealing his true feelings, and even though it caused him great pain to know that his brother loved another, he would stop at nothing to see that the one he loved was happy. He spoke with their uncle, as he'd promised, but the king would not heed his pleas. The only way he would call off the engagement was if the young prince himself came to him and said he did not want it, which he would not do, no matter how much the crown prince begged him.

By the time the night of the masked ball arrived, the young prince claimed he felt unwell and would not be able to attend. While the crown prince hated seeing his brother feeling poorly, he was also pleased he would not be on the arm of the dwarf who was stealing him away from him for at least one more night.

XxX

"How are you feeling?" Fili asked his brother as he entered his own room, where they'd both been sleeping for the past week. Kili had tried to return to his own room when he'd said he was starting to feel sick two nights ago, but Fili simply wouldn't allow it. He'd remained by his brother's side every minute…except just now when the servants had had to prepare him for the ball.

"Perhaps not quite so nauseous as I did this morning," Kili said, offering his brother a weak smile.

"That's good, because I sent for the cooks to bring up some broth. Are you feeling up for it?" Fili asked, sitting down on the bed beside Kili. The younger dwarf nodded.

"I think I could handle it. You look very handsome tonight," Kili said, admiring the gold and fawn colored clothing his brother was dressed up in. "They'll never be able to resist you."

"Come on. We both know you'd be the more handsome if you were attending," Fili said, leaning over his brother and pressing their foreheads together. "I so wish you could be there tonight," he whispered to him, running his fingers through several strands of Kili's lovely dark hair. "I'll be utterly bored and miserable without you. All these vultures circling me like a dead bull…"

Kili managed a quiet laugh at this, reaching up to tangle his own fingers in his brother's blond hair. "Have faith, Brother. You will find someone…someone who is…worthy of everything you are."

"I'd like to know you've found that, as well, baby brother. I wish you'd tell me who it is that's stolen your heart," the older prince said, his grip on his brother tightening just slightly. Kili returned the grip without even thinking.

"That isn't important. After tonight…nothing else will matter," he said, feeling his body begin to tremble when he felt Fili's hot breath ghost across his lips. Kili felt desire beginning to pool in his stomach. If something happened now, he didn't think he'd be able to hold himself back. They were so close…

"Kili…" Fili whispered, feeling heat prickle all along his skin. The desire to press his brother down onto the bed and take him was nearly overpowering. Was…was he truly capable of taking Kili against his will…when he was helpless like this…when he couldn't fight back?

The answer came to him when he felt Kili trembling against his touch. Whether it was from sickness or fear, he didn't know, but he immediately backed off, reaching for the blankets to tuck his brother in again. Kili just stared at him as he worked, eyes blown wide with something Fili couldn't identify, his breathing labored and heavy.

"Get some rest, little brother. You'll be feeling better in no time," he reassured him, moving away from the bed to retrieve his golden mask from his desk.

"Y-yes…of course. Have at least a little fun for me tonight, won't you?"

"No promises, but I'll try," he said, turning to head out.

"Aren't you going to kiss your bedridden baby brother goodnight?"

Kili had no idea what spiteful demon had taken hold of him in that moment to make him speak those words, but now they had been spoken and could not be reclaimed. He had tried to sound joking, but knew it had come out sounding more hopeful…at least to his own ears. For yet another eternity, the brothers were frozen in the silence, neither knowing what to do. What would happen if they got too close again? They might not be able to resist this time…

Finally, Fili turned back to Kili, offering him a warm smile. "Of course," he made himself say, walking back to the bed and bending over his brother once again. They were both too consumed with fear to notice, but they were both trembling now. Brushing the sweat-dampened hair back from Kili's face, Fili pressed his lips to his brow. Kili couldn't help the tiny gasp that escaped his own lips at the mere brush of skin. Fili near jerked back, feeling as if he'd been burned.

"Good…good night. Sleep well," he mumbled, staring fixedly at the floor.

"Th-thank you," Kili stuttered right back. "Happy birthday. I…I hope you…find your happiness tonight."

Fili turned away and started to head out, so Kili hardly heard his last words, but what he said as he closed the door behind him was, "I'm afraid, my little brother…that's impossible."

My happiness remains here…with you.

Kili gave it plenty of time…to make certain that his brother had really left and to give the cook time to deliver the broth Fili had sent for. Once Kili was certain he was completely alone, he moved quietly back to his own room, retrieving the glass mask from its hiding place. There was work to be done.

XxX

Oin's spell must have been a powerful one indeed, for Kili almost didn't recognize himself when he looked to the mirror to study his reflection. He was still himself; the hair and eyes were his, the build his, the blue and black dress clothes were his…but he was still somehow not himself. There was something mysterious and alluring about him that he didn't see in himself. Perhaps…Fili really wouldn't be able to recognize him…and he would be able to have this last dance, after all.

Kili used his knowledge of the castle's layout in order to arrive at the great hall unseen. No one could know he had come from within the palace. No one could know where he'd come from at all if he was to fade back into the shadows once the night was over.

He recognized several of the guests, even through their masks. Dwalin was there, of course, along with Dain of the Iron Hills, the lord who had been vying the absolute hardest to get his youngest son engaged to Fili. It wasn't that hard to spot the old lord's three sons from there: Dori, Nori, and Ori. Ori and Fili were trying to carry on a conversation at the moment, but it looked to be painfully awkward from where he was standing.

Kili had planned to make a quiet entrance, to approach Fili on his own, but unfortunately, that just wasn't going to be possible.

XxX

Fili was relieved beyond belief when his uncle made a call for silence. Ori was a nice kid, but he was barely of age and not very good in crowds. Plus, they were just plain not suited to each other, so he had a good mind to tell Dain where he could stick his promises of alliance and wealth. Thorin didn't really need Dain's province, so Fili didn't understand what the old bastard thought he had that could get him into the royal court.

Sadly, Fili's relief at being rescued from the conversation soon evaporated when he realized just why silence had been called. The announcement had to happen sooner or later.

"Friends!" Thorin called to the great hall at large. "Of course we all know why we're gathered here this night…to celebrate the birth of my heir and sister-son, Crown Prince Fili, but we have yet another joy to celebrate. Unfortunately, Prince Kili could not attend the festivities this evening, but it is our great pleasure to announce to you all that the prince will be betrothed to Lord Dwalin of Ered Luin!"

As cheers and applause went up all around the room, Fili felt like he was probably the only one there who felt like ripping his own heart out. It would probably be better than this knowledge that Kili would be taken away from him.

Fili wasn't really present when the ball continued without him. He didn't quite see who he was dancing with anymore. All he could think about was Kili…right up until his gaze was drawn across the room by a sight he simply could not turn away from.

He was positive he had never seen this new dwarf before…and yet another part of him screamed just as loudly that he must know this person. Everything about him was just so familiar…the way he moved, the spark in his brown eyes, the swish of his dark hair around the strong line of his neck, the uncertain smile that tried to curve his full lips…he had stared at those lips so often. He knew this dwarf, the knowledge was inside of him; every piece of him that mattered remembered this dwarf…and yet…every time his eyes fell on the other dwarf's black mask, the rational part of his mind stated quite plainly that he'd never seen him before. Fili didn't even apologize when he moved away from his current dance partner, so entranced was he by this new dwarf.

The young dwarf clearly knew Fili had spotted him. Their eyes did not leave each other once as Fili made his way through the crowd of revelers. When the prince finally reached his intended target, the two of them just stood staring at each other for several minutes. When they finally managed to break the spell, Fili didn't even need to ask him to dance. He simply held out his hand and the stranger took it. Fili pulled him close against him, their bodies fitting together in a way that was almost uncanny. When they began to dance, it almost seemed that both of them breathed a sigh of relief. They couldn't have known it, focused on each other as they were, but the whispers were already drifting through the hall. Who was this dashing young dwarf that had so captured the crown prince?

"You're very handsome," Fili complimented his mysterious partner as they waltzed together, still unable to get his mind around the mystery of why he did and did not know this dwarf.

"Thank you, Your Majesty…but I'm nothing compared to you. You are the sun itself. I am but the moon," his partner said, his voice instantly stirring both familiarity and desire in the prince's body. The other dwarf had a faint smile on his face…like he couldn't quite believe he was really here.

"But that would mean you could only reflect beauty…and that just isn't possible. What I see before me is no reflection. It is only truth," he said softly, to which his partner offered him a gentle smile, and Fili felt absolutely struck by the loving familiarity of that smile.

"You are too kind, Your Highness."

"What is your name?"

"E-excuse me?" his partner returned, almost seeming to choke on the words.

"You know who I am, of course, but you have me at a disadvantage. I don't know who you are."

"I…my name is…Kir. I'm Kir," he finally answered.

"Just Kir?"

"Yes…just Kir. That's all that matters for tonight."

"Well…Kir…have we ever met before?"

"I don't believe so, my prince."

"I'm not so sure…for I feel as if I have known you my whole life. My heart tells me I know you, but my head…my head will not agree," he confessed, whirling his partner…Kir…around.

"Sadly, I can offer you no more than that, my prince. I'm certain I would remember meeting you…for you are truly the most beautiful being in all of creation."

"You flatter me, Kir," Fili said, more out of habit, for he could never believe such a thing of this dwarf.

"No," he returned with utter sincerity. "Never."

They had hardly spoken at all…not anything of consequence, at least…and yet Fili already felt connected to this dwarf, so much so that he didn't want to let go of him when the song had come to an end. He would not give his partner up to another dwarf.

"Will you walk with me?" he whispered in his partner's ear. Briefly, he thought he felt the other dwarf shiver.

"As you wish, my prince."

Fili took Kir by the hand and led him from the great hall, out into the palace gardens. The two brothers hadn't played there for many years now, but he and Kir wound up in an alcove he and Kili had used to play in when they were children. He didn't know why, but he felt safe here…safe from the prying eyes that were almost certainly watching every move he made…every dwarf his eyes lingered on a moment too long. For some reason, he didn't want those eyes to see Kir. He had never cared before…with the few partners he'd had in the past…but he felt protective of this one for reasons he had no hope of explaining. He wanted to keep this one safe.

"Kir…I…I know we've only just met, so…I hope you will not think me too forward in saying you are the loveliest creature I have ever beheld," Fili said softly, stroking some of his dark hair back from his face. He didn't know why he said it, for surely it was a lie. Kili was the loveliest. Kili was the one he was in love with. Who was this dwarf?

"Now you flatter me, Your Majesty," his partner said, glancing shyly away from him.

"Fili," he insisted quietly, running a gentle finger along the other dwarf's jaw line. "My name is Fili."

"All right…Fili."

The crown prince felt something inside of him shatter at the sound of his name on the other dwarf's lips…some sort of control…something he'd been holding back for years…so many years. Feeling at once broken and jubilant, he pulled his partner into his arms and pressed his lips against his.

Kili felt both joy and heartbreak when his brother finally kissed him. It made his heart swell that Fili thought him so beautiful as all that…but he wasn't certain what that meant. Could it…could it possibly be that his brother had been attracted to him all along…or did it mean that Oin's spell was even stronger than he'd known…that this magic was seducing his brother…that all of this was somehow against his will…and that if they went even one step farther, what he was doing would be no better than rape? Kili didn't know…and he couldn't bring himself to care. He wanted this too much…needed it too much. He didn't resist even one little bit when his older brother pressed him up against the wall of the alcove, kissing him even harder.

The pair kissed desperately for several minutes…as if they never would again…memorizing the feel and the scent and the sweet taste that had so long been denied. It wasn't long at all before their true desires became apparent to each other. Kili's breath became harsh and heavy against his brother's mouth as the older dwarf reached between his legs, feeling just how much he desired this.

"Please…" Fili begged, panting heavily as he squeezed at the girth and hardness of his partner through the cloth of his pants, "may…may I touch you."

"I am yours, my prince," Kir breathed against his lips, his hips rocking lightly against the hand that held him. "Every last inch of me is yours…to do as you will."

Wasting no more words, Fili dropped to his knees, hastily undoing the other dwarf's belt and pushing aside the clothing that hid him. The blond dwarf nearly came on the spot at the sight of his large cock, swollen and flushed with desire. In little more than a second, his lips were closing around the tip of him.

Kili gasped in pleasure as his brother took him all the way in, doing things with his lips and tongue he had not imagined, even in his wildest dreams. He'd had no idea Fili was so good at this. It took all of his restraint not to come in only those first few moments.

Fili hummed against him as he moved his mouth furiously up and down the length of him, loving the feel of the hot, tight skin beneath his tongue. Kir writhed helplessly against him as his fingers tangled forcefully in his blond tresses.

"Ah…hah…Fili…Fili, I…I'm going to…oh…oh, Mahal, please…"

"Call my name," Fili groaned against him, curling his tongue around the heated flesh. "Call my name again."

"Oh…Fili…Fili!" he called out, his body tensing as he spilled down his brother's throat. He tried to keep back the noise, but he wasn't sure how successful he was, judging by the waves of pleasure that gripped his body. When Fili finally released him, he lost his footing, sliding down the wall until he was sitting before his brother, Fili kneeling between his legs. For several minutes, they just gazed at each other, breathing heavily. Then Fili seized him in his arms once more, crashing their lips together. Kili couldn't help moaning at the taste of himself and his brother in his mouth.

"I want you," Fili panted, pressing kisses to every inch of his face he could touch. "I want to make love to you."

Kir held him back for a brief moment, looking into his eyes. He was smiling…but he also looked like he might cry.

"That would be…most unwise…Your Highness."

"Fili," he reminded him gently. "And if you tell me you don't want this…I will walk away right now." It would tear him apart, but he would do it if Kir asked him.

"I'm not saying…I don't want it. I'm only saying…that…that it would be…unwise…" he said, his voice fading into a groan as Fili drew him into another kiss. For several more minutes, they just crouched there, kissing hungrily, before Fili helped him to his feet and began to lead him out of the garden.

"If I'm going to bed someone as handsome as you, you deserve a proper bed."

Fili led the way up from the public area of the castle, keeping out of sight so they wouldn't have to explain themselves. It did take some time to get up to the living quarters, as they stopped several times just to share a few kisses. Kili knew he shouldn't be doing this…but he just couldn't help himself. His brother's love was the one thing he truly wanted from his life…and his life was about to be taken away from him anyway.

Fili's and Kili's sleeping chambers were joined by a shared drawing room, and by the time the two reached it, they were tearing at each other's clothing. Kili shoved his brother to the nearest couch, quickly baring his erection. Before he could go down on Fili, though, the blond dwarf slowed him with a hand to his shoulder.

"I…I said I was…going to get you to a proper bed."

"You…knelt before me," Kili said, cupping his brother's hard cock and rubbing it along his flushed cheek. "I'm simply…returning the favor," he said, kissing the tip. "After all, it's not…proper…for a crown prince to be kneeling before his lover."

Fili seemed like he might argue, but all coherent thought was wiped away when Kili's lips closed over him. Fili certainly couldn't have known it, but he was also very good at this. He drove his brother to the absolute edge…then held him there on the brink for several moments, writhing and moaning with helpless need.

"Kir…Kir…hngh…ah…please…let me come," he begged.

Kili met his gaze at this, keeping their eyes locked together as he ran his tongue down his full length several times, imagining it inside of him with every stroke.

"As my…prince…commands," he hissed before taking his brother in to the hilt, groaning with desire when he felt his warmth spurt into his body. When he heard Fili cry out, he felt himself grow to full hardness once more.

For several moments, Fili just lay on the couch panting. While Kili rested his head against his right thigh, nuzzling the clothed skin affectionately.

"So which room is yours?" he asked as he got to his feet, leaning slightly in the direction of the correct door.

"No," Fili immediately started to protest, getting shakily to his feet "That…that is my chamber, but my brother's resting in there. He was feeling unwell. We…we can use his room," he said, taking his partner by the hand and leading the way to the other bedchamber.

It occurred to Kili he should probably feel hurt that his brother was willing to have sex in his room in a pinch, but all he could think about was the fact that Fili had remembered him, even in a moment of such intensity. Therefore, he felt only happiness when the two of them fell together onto his bed.

Having gotten off once already, their movements were not quite so harried and desperate as they had been, so they moved slower as they undressed each other, each enjoying the magnificent sight of the other's body. Kili ached furiously to have his brother inside of him, but he'd be damned if he wasn't going to enjoy this, no matter how guilty he felt. Everything was going fine until he removed Fili's golden mask…for that was also the moment Fili tried to remove the glass mask. Kili immediately lowered his curious hand away from his face.

"Please…don't. That must stay."

"I can't see your face?" Fili asked, a look that bordered on heartbreak twisting his perfect features.

"Fili…please understand…this mask…this mask is in place for your protection. No one can know who I am," he explained, feeling his throat begin to tighten again. He wanted so badly for Fili to know him…but he knew that could never be. After tonight…he would walk out of his beloved brother's life forever…and Fili would go on…so long as he never found out what Kili had done to him.

"But I do know who you are," Fili insisted, taking his face in his hands, and for a moment, Kili felt horror grip his chest.

"You…do?"

"I must. The closer we become…the nearer we draw to being one, the more certain I am that I have always known you…always loved you. For some reason, it all centers around this mask. Maybe…if we make love, this horrible spell will break and I will finally remember who you truly are."

"No!" Kili hissed, taking his brother's face in his hands in kind. "Fili, you must never look for me after tonight. Never! I…I love you, too…and I would never do anything to harm you. I never meant for it to go this far, but I need this too much. I want you too much. Please…let us love each other this one night…then hold that love as an untainted memory. The knowledge of my true identity…would destroy you."

"Kir, how will I live?" Fili demanded, pulling him into his arms. "If I cannot be with you…how will I survive?"

"The same as I…one breath after the other…knowing that we can do no harm to each other…that the other is safe and always dreaming of his love," he reassured him, pressing a tender kiss to his lips before whispering against them, "Please…do not try to remove the mask again."

"As you will…my love," Fili said softly, laying back on the bed and pulling Kir with him. He couldn't understand why his mouth was saying these things without his head's permission. He was torn in two. This was not Kili…never would be Kili…but perhaps his heart knew something the rest of him did not? Whatever the case was, he decided not to fight it. He would give in to the longing of his body…of his heart and soul…and attempt to know this unknowable truth.

"Your Majesty," Kili briefly backtracked, drawing them out of the circle of familiarity Fili had drawn them into, "I know you are very careful of such matters…so I must warn you now, before another word is spoken. We've taken no steps to prevent pregnancy…and I have the second spirit. If you bed me…there will be a child," he said, uncertain how he knew, but sure, just the same. Perhaps it was the magic of the mask, but he somehow knew that the stars had aligned for them in this one moment. If this happened now…he would bear Fili's child…and Fili would never know that.

"I care not," Fili said, drawing him down for another kiss. "I would be honored if you were the one to bear my children. Perhaps it would keep you here with me?"

"It would not…but know that it would be my greatest happiness…to bear your child…and love it as my own…for I love nothing in this world as I love you, Fili. So let me show you that."

Kili nearly gave himself away when he pulled oil from a side drawer, but was able to pass it off as a lucky guess. That done, it did not take Fili long to prepare them both. There was almost a sense of inevitability…of rightness…when Kili slid down on his brother's cock.

They took several moments, just savoring the feeling, reveling in the press of their two bodies together. Fili lay still beneath him whilst Kili sat balanced upon his hips, finally full…finally complete. For a time, he almost didn't want to move, desiring to be joined to his brother like this forever…except the imperative of his body didn't allow such thoughts for very long. As much as they were enjoying this, they both needed completion in each other.

Kili rocked his hips slowly, taking his sweet time drawing every exquisite moan and gasp from Fili's lips, and his brother held him in just as much rapture, working deliberately at his cock. Kili's head fell back, his mouth going slack as he cried out his brother's name in pleasure, spilling into his hand. He could barely get up the strength to bring Fili to his full, but he saw the moment he pulled him over the edge with him, crying out in bliss as he spilled deep inside of him.

Kili felt it the moment he was impregnated, not knowing how he knew, but certain all the same. He was pregnant with his own brother's child. He knew this was a terrible, dark, and dangerous secret, but at the same time, all he could feel was joy. He wept in quiet happiness as Fili worked to bring him to hardness again.

Fili took him no less than five times that night. He even took Fili once. None of it was as shattering and fulfilling as that very first time, though. They were both nearly asleep in each other's arms by the time they'd finally drained each other. Much as he wanted to sleep by his brother's side like this, Kili knew he couldn't stay. He would have to be gone before questions were asked. That didn't mean, though, that he couldn't cherish these last few moments…the last he would ever truly spend with his brother. Fili smiled sadly at him as he pressed kiss after kiss to his now swollen lips.

"How can you ask me…not to look for you after tonight?" he asked him, taking one of his hands in his and twining their fingers together.

"You must not. For your own safety, you must not," he warned his brother, returning his sad smile with a heartbroken one of his own. "Promise me."

"How can I?" Fili continued to press, moving a hand down to rest against Kili's belly. "Will I never even be allowed to know my own child?"

"Much as we might wish otherwise…no," Kili said, feeling tears at his eyes once again. "I can only give you my vow that the child will be loved. You must promise me…that you will not look for us."

"Kir-"

"Swear it," he growled, gripping his brother's hand tighter. "On your brother's life, swear it."

Now he could see tears in Fili's eyes. "Heh…the one oath I could never break. Very well…you have my word. I swear on Kili's life…that I will not search for you…or our child…no matter how much I might love you both."

"Thank you, my love," he whispered, drawing Fili's hand up to his lips to kiss it. He kissed each finger, and with every kiss, he whispered, "I love you. I love you. I love you."

Fili returned each declaration with one of equal sincerity, even though he was too confused to understand why.

"I love you, Ki. I love you. I love you." He had to say it now…before he lost his chance.

The two brothers wept as they held each other, neither knowing that the one thing they wanted above all else was already right before their eyes. They cried tears of both joy and sorrow, sharing kisses and holding tightly to every moment. They held fast to each other…and Fili continued to do so even after he'd fallen asleep. It was near an hour after that, with kisses watered with tears, that Kili finally forced himself to release his brother. He took a long time to compose himself as he dressed, casting longing, lingering looks toward his brother before finally leaving him to his uneasy rest. The evening had not yet finished rending his heart in pieces, though.

Kili emerged into their shared drawing room to find Dain and Nori waiting for him.

"You and His Highness had a pleasant evening, I trust?" the old lord asked, leering at him in a way that made Kili want to vomit.

"You should not be here," Kili said, ready to defend his brother from whatever trouble Dain meant to bring his way. "This is a sanctuary."

"You have little more right yourself, young interloper, but that His Majesty fancied your strong thighs for but a moment."

"Fili isn't like that!" he snarled at the old dwarf. "You insult him to rate him so."

"Ah, on first name terms now, are we? What makes you so special? You are not a noble of this kingdom; no one has ever seen you before. What makes you think you have the right to address the crown prince so informally? What makes you think you will ever know his bed again?" Dain taunted him.

Kili sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Nothing. I'm not special. I'm unworthy…and I'm leaving right now. You've nothing to fear from me," he said, making to head out of the room, but Dain's hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Of course not. I can see you are a clever one…to pull away from this situation before it becomes too…sticky. Perhaps you are even cleverer still. Consider an offer of mine."

"What?" Kili hissed, feeling a chill of foreboding creep down his spine.

"I will make you a fabulously wealthy dwarf…if you would only do one thing for me."

"And what would that be?" Kili asked, resisting the urge to slug the treacherous lord.

"You need only drink down this potion, to ensure there aren't any…unpleasant situations in the future," he said, holding a bottle out to him. Kili recognized the bottle at once. It was an infusion of nettle and thorn apple essences sold at market. Its purpose …was to cleanse the body of unwanted pregnancy. Kili had to struggle not to tremble, both fear and rage gripping his heart in equal measure. Dain meant to murder his child…Fili's child.

I will not allow it!

"You've done this before," Kili snarled, his voice low.

"Yes. Every time the prince has been with someone. No one has yet refused."

"Well…with all due respect, my Lord, there is always a first. I refuse."

Dain shook his head, his eyes narrowing. "Your refusal…would be most unwise."

"What will you do? Kill me?"

"No. Nothing so drastic…but you will not be leaving this room until we make absolutely certain you are not carrying the crown prince's child. That destiny is for one far greater than you."

At that moment, Kili was attacked from the side. Nori tackled him to the ground. They struggled, but Nori was much stronger than he was, not to mention much larger. Kili was pinned within minutes. Leering triumphantly, Dain knelt over him, uncorking the deadly concoction.

"NO!" Kili cried out, struggling even harder. Dain only chuckled.

"Let's see who's under that mask first. Let us see who thinks himself great enough to bear a child of royal blood."

Kili struggled, but he knew it was in vain. The moment they saw his face, his life would be over. Dain may as well kill him right now.

The moment the mask was torn away and flung aside, the enchantment was broken. Kili heard his only defense shatter against the floor in the ensuing silence. He lay on the floor, helpless and feeling practically naked, while Dain and Nori stared down at him in utter shock.

"Prince…Prince Kili?" Dain murmured, a devious smile slowly starting to twist his features.

"No. No, no, no!" Kili sobbed, using the moment of shock to shove Nori away and make his escape. Neither made to follow him.

Kili fled back into Fili's room, slamming the door behind him and collapsing against it, as if every bone in his body had turned to jelly. For what felt like a long time to him, he lay against the door, sobbing in quiet heartbreak. Surely Fili would have heard that…and would have come to investigate. Would Dain reveal his secret? No…surely not. With this secret, Dain would have a weapon in his hands. He would be able to destroy the royal family from the inside. Worse than that, though…was the fact that he had betrayed Fili's trust. He was the only person his brother could trust…and he had done something to Fili that could never be forgiven. He was wicked and he deserved death. He would have been perfectly willing to take his own life after this night was over…but now he had the child. Barely begun though it was, the tiny life now growing inside of him was Fili's child…and he could never do anything to harm Fili's child. It was the baby inside of him that bound him to life, and bound him to the torment of his guilt.

XxX

The cry was the first thing Fili heard, waking him from an uneasy dream, uncertain whether he'd dreamed the panicked voice or not. Then he heard the sound of something shattering and was instantly up on his feet, knowing that something was terribly wrong.

"Kir!" he called upon bursting into the drawing room…only to be met with Dain and Nori kneeling over something.

"What…what are you doing here?" Fili asked them, suddenly feeling nervous.

"Well, we…heard the commotion and thought we'd come to check on you, Highness," Dain explained after barely a hairsbreadth of hesitation. Fili still didn't trust him, though.

"All right…well…did you see a young dwarf go by on your way in?"

"Why…no, Your Highness. I'm sorry."

"It…it doesn't matter. What's that on the floor there?"

"We're not sure, my Prince. It seems to have been a mask at one point, but it's broken into a hundred pieces."

"A mask?" he half-shouted, racing toward them and crashing to his knees. Just as he'd feared, it was the broken pieces of Kir's glass mask.

"Are you going to go after him, Highness? I don't imagine he could have got far."

For a moment, Fili looked hopeful, but then he sighed, slowly gathering up the pieces of the black mask. "No. I swore to him…I would never try to find him again."

"Why shouldn't you? I haven't seen you so interested in someone for a long time. Why should a prince not have what he wants?"

Fili shook his head. "No. I swore an oath. Leave, Dain. You shouldn't even be here…and if I find even one of these pieces missing, it'll be your heads."

"Of course, my Prince," Dain said, bowing his way out with Nori at his heels.

Fili carefully transported the broken pieces of glass to one of the small tables, nestling them in a handkerchief to keep them together. For what felt like several hours to him, he pondered the broken mask, remembering his partner's warm brown eyes with both joy and pain.

Removed from the mystique of his lover's face and smashed into pieces, the mask seemed somehow…less. It was no longer a barrier…more like the pieces of a puzzle, a map that would lead him to a place where all of this madness made sense.

Kir was not his name. He knew that when he wasn't looking at the masked face. He knew he had seen him before…heard his voice before…touched his lips to his…gazed into his eyes…but he just couldn't remember where or when. The love he felt for this familiar stranger was just as strong as the love he felt for Kili…but that couldn't be, could it? Could he really love two different people with such a desperate fire? Was this some sort of relief from Mahal for having the strength to let Kili go? To give him a lover who was exactly like Kili in every way?

Exactly.

Like.

Kili?

The words sounded in his ears like a drum, fighting through the haze of enchantment, booming in the raging silence.

Exactly.

Like.

Kili!

Fili clutched briefly at his head, struggling to sort through the maelstrom of thoughts and feelings. It couldn't possibly be Kili…could it? He'd said he would never be able to find him again. Kili would never ask such a thing of him. How could he expect him to live without him? And…if it was Kili…why would he come to him masked like this instead of revealing himself openly? Unless Kili thought…he didn't care for him…the way he had always thought Kili didn't care for him. After all, what had he done these many years but conceal his true feelings? Maybe…maybe Kili had been doing the same? Maybe it wasn't too late for them. If he stepped in now and asked Thorin for Kili's hand…surely his suit would take precedence over Dwalin's…

…except that Kili had made him swear never to seek him out. What if he was reading this all wrong? Only…what other reason could Kili have for getting such a promise from him…but that he feared him knowing what they had done would destroy them? If the reason for the oath didn't actually exist…would it be breaking his word to go to Kili with what he knew? To tell him of his love and to ask him for his hand before it was too late…and again, what if he was completely wrong? What if he went to Kili and told him of his feelings…only to discover that it had never been Kili beneath the mask at all. He would destroy their brotherhood for nothing. There was only one way to resolve this…and that way was in the broken pieces of the glass mask.

The black mask had been made of glass and had fit Kili's face perfectly, from what he could tell. For a fit such as that, the mask would have had to be created exactly for the contours of his face. It would fit only his face…no one else's. If he went to Kili with the mask, perhaps the whole mystery could be solved…

…except for one rather glaring problem of the mask being in a thousand pieces. Was there any hope of piecing it back together before Kili was married? There had to be. It was the only hope he had of being able to confront Kili with what he hoped was the truth. He would have to go to Oin for some glue in the morning…which was only a few short hours away if his internal clock was still on. Being careful of the glass, he carried the mask to his own room to keep it safe from prying eyes.

Kili was there, curled up and deep asleep, tucked into his bed exactly as he'd left him. For several moments, he just watched his baby brother sleep, occasionally reaching forward to stroke his mussed, dark locks. Mahal, but he was so beautiful. Was it really possible he'd received his heart's desire without even knowing it?

Birds were already beginning to chirp outside by the time Fili crawled into bed with his brother, still naked as the day he was born. Being gentle, he wrapped an arm around Kili, pulling him close so that his back rested flush against his chest.

Is it possible? Did…did I lie with you, my sweet Kili? Do you love me as I love you? Have we somehow made love without my knowing it? Are…are you even now carrying my child? he pondered, arm curling a little tighter around Kili's middle at the thought.

"I love you, Kili," he whispered in his ear, pressing a chaste kiss to the back of his neck…never knowing that Kili was wide awake.

XxX