The horseman tore through the dwarf village one night, heading up to Durin place. Warriors chased after him, rushing to protect their prince. Aria followed the crowd, hoping in her heart it wasn't terrible news. Thorin had run down to his gate upon hearing the commotion and was waiting sword ready along with his guards.

The pony reared and stopped in front of Thorin as the crowd circled them.

"State your name and business!" Thorin roared.

"I have a message for the king from lady Dis." the horseman announced.

Thorin looked to his guards and lowered his sword before stepping up.

"What news do you bring from my sister?"

Aria watched the horseman jump off the pony and kneel to the king. He stood up and gave Thorin a letter. Thorin took the paper and gave it a quick look. In a second he crumpled the paper and his face contorted. He nodded toward his guards and they began to clear the crowd, Aria included.

Thorin's expressions had worried her and she tried to peak above the crowd. Thorin had approached the pony and the horseman pulled back a sheet, revealing Fili and Kili sleeping. Aria suppressed a gasp and she wanted to go to them, but knew it was best if she left them to Thorin for now.

Thorin warily watched the horseman as he pulled something out of his cloak, revealing a letter. He snatched it from the dwarf and opened it. Dis had been attacked, her husband's fate unknown, leaving the boys safer with their uncle. The letter angered Thorin and he ordered the crowd away before he let the horseman continue. The dwarf pulled off the cloth from the pony's neck to reveal Fili and Kili sleeping.

Seeing his nephews instantly softened his features and he had the boys taken to bed. The king went back inside with his counsel to discuss the gravity of the situation. The dwarves needed to go back to Erebor and soon. They spent hours talking till Kili stumbled into the room. The boy rubbed sleep from his eyes and was fully awake when he saw his uncle.

"Uncle!" Kili cheered as he ran to his uncle's waiting arms.

"Kili, my boy!" Thorn returned the enthusiasm as he picked up his nephew.

"Why are we back so quick?''

"Cause I missed you. Couldn't have you gone too long."

Kili kissed his uncle's cheek.

"Is Fi with mum and dad?" Kili innocently asked but Thorin snapped to attention. He motioned for one of the other dwarves to go check the room, and the dwarf came running back shaking his head.

Thorin kept his cool for the sake of his younger nephew. "Fili's just gone for a walk. You stay here and have dinner and I'll go get your brother." He put Kili off his lap and ruffled his hair before running out the door.

Fili woke up with a start from a nightmare that was all too real. The kid was heaving and sweating, his hair stuck on his face. He wanted to cry out, but noticed his little brother sleeping soundly next to him. Fili didn't want to further stress his uncle, but he needed relief. He threw the blanket off himself and jumped off the bed.

There was a window in their room and to his luck it wasn't barred. His dwarf strength came in handy to pull out the window screen and the second it was off, he jumped off and instantly broke into a run to where he wanted to go.

Aria had been in her kitchen all morning, baking breads and pastries for the boys. Dis hadn't come back with her sons, and Aria could only imagine what the boys had been through. She had just put out her third batch on the window and was cleaning up when her door banged. Aria rolled her eyes and wiped her hands on her apron.

"Hold your ponies, I'm coming. I'm coming."

She'd just only unlocked the door when it pushed aside and a little dwarf hugged her waist. It took her a second to realize it was Fili. The boy held on to her with iron strength, crying inconsolably.

"Fili, my love! It's alright!" Aria wrapped her arms around him and attempted to walk back into her house.

"Look, I've made your favorite." Aria pointed to a tray of Fili's favorite pastries and sat him on a stool in the kitchen.

"Now you sit here and I'm gonna get you a glass of milk. Then you tell me what's happened."

Fili futilely wiped at his eyes while Aria got him milk and pastries.

"Well have at it then."

The boy sniffled and shuddered as he slowly managed to bite into his food, chewing slowly as to not choke. He sniffled as he began to tell the tale, then broke down when he got to the worst part. He was unable to sit in his own chair and crawled into Aria's lap.

"You're alright now Fili, you and Kili both. That's all that matters to me. You both mean the world to your uncle, and he's gonna make sure nothing bothers you. You listen to me and you listen well, you belong with your brother and him to you. You both will look after each now, won't you?"

"I'll never let anything happen to Kili. I'll never leave him, I promise."

"Do priors count?" Aria and Fili snapped to the door to find Thorin leaning against the doorframe. "Cause you've already left him."

"Well that's only because he didn't want to scare his little brother with crying, isn't it, Fili?" Aria ruffled his hair and Fili eagerly nodded.

"Bed then, yes? It's been a long day."

"Can I stay with Ria, please? I feel safe with her!"

"And what of Kili? He's already missing your mum and dad, can't have him missing his brother now too." Thorin's look was not to be argued with, so Fili turned to Aria.

"Can you stay with us, please? We can all be together." Fili innocently begged but Thorin straightened up, reading into his nephew's comment.

"Well how bout she just puts you to bed tonight, huh?"

"That's fine, you can meet Kili." Fili jumped up, ready to go.

"Well let me wrap up your pastries and then we can go!" Aria got up and worked around the kitchen to package the goods, Fili helping where he could. Thorin still stood in the doorway, watching the two get along so well. With Dis gone, the boys needed a mother...

Aria prepped a basket with all the goodies she'd made for Durins and got on her cloak to go. At first Fili had offered to hold the basket as they went, but then the darkness of the night and the shadows of the light scared him, so Aria carried the basket while Thorin held Fili. To distract the boy, she asked him to tell her all the pleasantries he'd seen on his travels and Fili happily filled her wishes. Thorin's house was double guarded tonight as they went in, and were greeted by Kili first step into the house.

"Ria!" Kili called and ran to her.

Aria put down her basket and took him in for a hug.

"We're back early."

"I noticed."

"Fi missed you." He teased his brother and Fili put out his tongue.

"And you didn't?!" Aria fake cried.

"I did! Your food finished too quick!"

They laughed.

"Well good thing I've brought more." Aria motioned to the basket.

Kili had almost got to it before his uncle scooped him up in his other arm.

"Tomorrow. Bed, now."

"Can Ria tuck us in, please?!" They cried and Aria stood embarrassed where she was.

Thorin gave up and sighed.

"Alright, but no troubling her more. Quickly to bed now."

He put the boys down and they each took one hand of Aria's and dragged her to their room. They each had a bed on either side of the room, with a table in between that had a candle on it. The boys ran to get in bed and Aria laughed at their antics. Fili offered to let Kili be first. The littlest Durin eagerly laid in his bed, waiting for Aria to tuck him in. She tucked the covers tight around him and kissed his head goodnight. She went to Fili next, tucking him in and giving him a tight kiss on the head, assuring him one last time that they would be alright. The boys begged for her to stay till they were asleep so Aria waited on the rocking chair by the window.

Thorin had been waiting long for Aria to come out of the room, and when it had been almost two hours, he dared to go check up in them, only to find them all sleeping. He smiled softly at the image before him and went in to kiss his nephews goodnight before he gently shook Aria's shoulder. The dwarrow woke up startled but Thorin quickly put a finger to his lips, silencing her. Aria caught her senses and embarrassedly fixed herself before following Thorin out of the room after he blew out the candle.

"I'm so sorry, your majesty! That was very-"

Thorin waved a hand, dismissing her worries.

"The boys, they're fond of you." He spoke as he led her to the sitting room.

"Well, I am their favorite nanny!" Aria joked.

"No, you're more than that to them. To Fili."

"He and I spent a lot of time together when your sister was busy with Kili."

"You're like a mother to him."

"He's like a son to me. They both are."

"That's good to hear. I appreciate that." Thorin leaned back in his seat. "I might actually be needing your help going forward."

Aria shifted in her seat uncomfortably.

"If I may be so bold to overstep..."

"Please," Thorin motioned for her to continue.

"What's happened, really? So that I may be better prepared with how to handle the boys."

Thorin leaned forward with a sigh and rested his chin on his fists. He revealed to her what the letter had said and how he was planning to move forward. He himself was good with Kili, but Fili was older and much more aware of his surroundings. He was more attached to Aria than to his uncle, and that needed to be considered.

The two spent some hours coming up with a rough plan before Thorin began yawning. He excused his ill manners but Aria waved it off, realizing it was time for her to be home as well. Thorin offered to walk her back but Aria convinced him that the boys needed him more tonight, so they bid goodnight at the door and the king had one of his guards walk the baker home.