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Fili flinched when he felt a nudge against his ribs. He turned his head, meeting Bilbo’s eyes. The feast around them was in full swing. It was one of many as his Uncle had wanted to properly introduce the Dwarven people to the celebration of Yultide in honor of his consort. Fili felt like it was more due to the fact that Grandpa Thain had balked at the fact that they didn’t celebrate Yule in Erebor. His Uncle was still trying to appease the hobbit even after all these years.
“Yes, Uncle?”, Fili knew his voice sounded wrecked but he couldn’t help it.
Bilbo gave him a sad smile as his smaller hand landed on Fili’s.
“Talk to him, Fili.”
Fili couldn’t return the smile. All he could do was turn his head back to look at where Kili stood, talking quietly to Ori.
Like any couple, they had argued. Just because they were soulmates, didn’t mean that they were immune to it but this one, Fili knew, was all on him. He had been stressed for months as there had been infighting between two of the guilds that he had to help Thorin resolve. It was his fault that he had spewed words born in frustration and annoyance when Kili had just tried to help. It was his fault that Kili had completely shut himself down after that.
It had been weeks since Fili had a proper sleep since Kili had started to sleep in their daughters’ chambers. What was worse was that Bella and Isli had started to notice the rift between their parents. Kili was nothing but coldly polite every time they were together, bowing to Fili even though the prince always hated it when he did that. It broke his heart to see Kili’s red-rimmed eyes and the way that his consort pushed his food around without really eating anything.
Since the beginning of their relationship, Kili had always been insecure about his role and Fili had basically thrown those insecurities in his face.
He had to fix this.
Fili watched as Kili left the hall. His consort made his way to an outside balcony and on cue, Fili followed.
The warm summer air felt comforting as Fili stood there, staring at Kili’s back. The bond was in agonizing pain.
“What are you doing, Fili?”, Kili’s voice held no warmth. There were tears in those beautiful blue eyes.
He couldn’t lose this. He couldn’t let one argument get in the way of them.
With a sturdiness that he hadn’t felt since that fight, Fili walked towards his husband until he stood an arm’s length away. He noticed the way that Kili’s eyes widened. His husband turned fully towards him now. Without losing eye contact, Fili crumbled to his knees.
“I am sorry, Amrâlimê. I have dishonored you and I ask for your forgiveness,” Fili held out a small knife to Kili.
His husband gasped as he took the knife.
“Fee…?”, Kili’s voice trailed off, unable to say anything else as he looked at the knife and then at his husband.
Something inside of Fili broke as he heard the term of endearment slip from Kili’s lips, he knew that this was the right decision. He stared steadfastly at Kili, filling the bond with assurance that this needed to be done.
So with that, Kili undid the braids in Fili's beard, collected the beads as they fell into his pocket, and shaved Fili until he was bare as the day he was born. Most people would know right away that their prince did something dishonorable, and only few would know the whole truth, but all would know that Fili remedied it by giving up something that the dwarrows held precious.
After it was all done, Kili pulled Fili up from his knees. He wrapped his arms around the prince, nuzzling his face into his chest. Fili felt like coming home as he held onto Kili.
“I am sorry…I know you were stressed…”, Kili’s voice was small.
Even though Kili couldn’t see him, Fili shook his head. He wrapped a hand under Kili’s chin until his husband was staring into his eyes.
“It gave me no right to say what I said to you, Kee. I need you to know that I didn’t mean those words. I was being dumb and it will never happen again,” Fili’s voice was filled with conviction.
All Kili could do was give him a small smile as he slowly moved until Fili felt a hand in his hair. Their lips met in a kiss that turned heated quickly as Fili licked into Kili’s mouth like a dying dwarf in need of water. They parted after a while, breathing heavily as Kili burst into giggles.
“Kee..?”, Fili was confused and slightly worried until Kili opened his mouth.
“The girls are going to get a kick out of this.”
Filli gave a tiny growl before pulling Kili back to him.