Not put off by any amount of elbowing in the ribs, Fili tried to be a steady, comforting presence and wait for it to (hopefully) take effect. And there, Kili woke up on his own, just when Fili was starting to doubt his chances of success.

Nothing needed to be said straightaway. No one had to announce that he would stay until morning or request it.

Fili let his hands take over for now, moving them to brush his palm over the nest on Kili's head.