Thorin stared down at Fili and frowned when he heard his groaning. He hoped he would be all right. He prayed to Mahal he would not hate him, but though, he had every right to do so. It was his fault they had lost Kili. It was his fault that the battle was fought, over the piles of gold, and his once gold sickn mind. How would he ever be able to look his first nephew in his eyes, knowing that all this could have been avoided, if he had not been struck by that damnable sickness.
He squeezed Fili’s hands in his, and held them firmly, wanting to hold his nephew in his arms, but when he struggled to be free from his grasp, he let him go, especially when he growled angrily. But as soon as he pressed those beads into his hands, he watched him sink even further into despair. He was surprised then when his nephew finally spoke to him, and he smiled warmly at his request.
“Yes, of course, my dear Fili. Come, sit in front of me,” he spoke softly, as he spread his legs and pulled his nephew’s body close to his. He wrapped one arm around his waist for a moment, then placed a kiss to the top of blond haired head. He made sure Fili was facing him now, as he decided to make two braids on each side of his nephew’s head. So he would be able to see the beads of his brother.
Thorin turned Fili’s head to the left first, as he began making the plait with the soft strands of blond. His fingers were gentle, but deft, as he completed the plait, and reached down into his nephews hand for one of Kii’s beads. He attached it at the end, and kept his warm smile on his face, as he fingered it, and held it up for his nephew to see.
Then he bent over and kissed the bead, with the Durin family crest upon it. He had made these beads for Kili, just as he had done for Filli, and himself, before they left Ered Luin on the quest. He swallowed hard, as his eyes filled with tears, and he blinked them away, before he began making the second plait down the right side of Fili’s head. Once finished, he attached the second bead to the end, and kissed it in the same manner.
He smiled down at Fili, as he reached out and took his hands in his own, kissing both of them. Before he shook his head at his nephews words. “Nay. I do not think such a thing, my dearest Fili. I love you, very much. You are grieving, and it is not to be shunned.. I am - sorry - nephew. I should - never have - brought you and Kili along on this quest. If I had - left you both home with Dis, as she begged me to, then you would both still be together. You could have joined us here once we made it, and he would still be here with us. This is all my fault….” he spoke his words, as his own tears spilled down his face. He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against his nephews, with his hand slid behind his nephew’s neck, he held him there for a moment.
“I want him back too, Fili. It should be me who died. I should be the one waiting to be buried in the halls of our ancestors. Not him. Not our precious Kili. I am - sorry - so sorry. Can you ever forgive me, my dearest Fili,” Thorin whispered, as he opened his eyes and cupped his nephew’s bearded face between his large hands.
“I am sorry - namadinùdoy. You can be as childish as you wish to me, Fili. I miss him too, so much, it
Filihurts. I am sorry. You must know, that I will not be leaving your side, any time soon,” he spoke softly, as he caressed his nephew’s bearded cheeks with his thumbs.
He pulled Fili’s body into his, and ran his hands up and down his back in soft, gentle caresses, wanting him to know how much he loved him. He kept repeating how sorry he was, and how he loved him, and how he would take care of him. He stilled his movements when his nephew spoke his next words, and he carefully pulled his body back away from his, holding his hands in his, he caressed them, and shook his head.
“I will tell her, Fili. It is my responsibility to do so. She is going to kill me, but it will be worth it, because I deserve her wrath,” he breathed out his words, as he swallowed hard, and squeezed his nephew’s hands in his. “Why don’t we have a nice warm bath now. We can relax in there together, and I will take care of you,” he suggested, but made no move from the bed. He just held Fili’s hands in his, waiting for him to agree, and or to make a move to leave the warm bed.