Fili knocked at the open doorframe. "Made something for you."
"Is that right?" Ori looked up from his sketchbook, which he had been almost uncomfortably hunched over. There was a healthy air of skepticism in Ori's eye, especially when he looked and found Fili's hands were empty.
"You'll have to come with me." Fili held out a hand. "I promise, no tricks. I've been working on this for some time."
As he let himself be dragged out into the busier halls of Erebor, a giggle bubbled out from Ori's chest. Being around Fili always made him feel this way, delightfully giddy and safe to express as much. It felt like he was thirty years younger again, feeling the rush while running out the Blue Mountains after Thorin's party (specifically chasing after Fili).
"Almost there." Fili gave a flash of a smile over his shoulder. Were it a weapon, it would have pierced Ori's heart.
Being escorted by the prince to the training grounds was not what Ori had expected, but then again it was hard to predict anything with regards to Fili. In a good way!
"Okay, just close your eyes. Hold out your hands."
Right. Ori closed his eyes and braced himself, shoulders tense. A heavy yet familiar shape was dropped into his hands. He could tell it was a slingshot, but this one was a heavy metal. It was pleasing to roll in his palm, the handle stippled to give a good grip.
"Well, you can open your eyes now, silly."
Right! Instantly he admired the craftsmanship of the weapon, the sturdy looking rubber of the band, and the leather pocket for the projectiles. The time and effort it must have taken to collect such materials and mold them as such... it took Ori's breath away.
"Fili... I can't thank you enough."
The prince looked giddy. "Haven't even seen the best part."
From his belt, Fili produced a long, slim cylinder. He held his hand out for the slingshot and inserted the cylinder up through the handle. It was about the same length, the very tip of the cylinder sticking out.
He raised the slingshot to fire aimed at a practice target, pushing the leather pouch down to meet the protruding tip of the cylinder. As if magic, a projectile appeared! Fili let the shot fly, then repeated the motion. Picking up speed, Fili was able to let off ten shots faster that Ori would have ever been capable of.
"There's a magnet in the leather," Fili explained. "The cylinders are full of your projectiles."
Fili hit a little latch on the handle that Ori hadn't noticed before, and the empty cylinder fell free. "Made four of the cylinders. Would you like to try?"
In his excitement, Ori only nodded. How he wished he had this in his possession during the journey! With the rubber of the band being so new, the slingshot was powerful. Ori had to become accustomed to the new method of loading- so much more efficient than previous- but once he did he was hitting the practice target with a speed never before imagined!
"You... crafted this for me? You created this... designed it..." The amount of time Fili had to have dedicated to craft something entirely new just to make Ori happy, to make him stronger as a fighter...
Fili caught Ori in his arms as Ori dove to him, wrapping his arms about Fili's shoulders. Ori pressed a flurry of kisses all about Fili's face, thanking him repeatedly.
