It had been Bilbo's idea to pick apples as the company had passed an old orchard, but somehow it had become Kili's responsibility to carry them around on his pony. The large sack of fruit took up nearly half of his saddle and dug awkwardly into his back, causing him to pout angrily.
"Enough with the sour face, brother." Fili jested, looking far too smug that he hadn't pulled the short straw with the apples. "You're scaring the ponies."
Kili mocked him by pulling a stupid face, which only caused Fili to chuckle.
"What's that over there?" Bilbo suddenly piped up from his usual silence. The whole company looked to where he was pointing.
"Just looks like some old ruins." Replied Bofur from around his pipe, "Maybe a house or something."
Bilbo shuddered, "It looks rather uninviting."
Whilst the company was distracted at looking at the very uninteresting array of fallen, moss covered rocks, none of them saw a little green ball of light slowly drift into the sack of apples just behind Kili. Although, Kili did hear a little chirp of content which made him abruptly stick his finger in his left ear and wiggle his finger around.
"Pick me out a winner, Kili." Fili jested, noticing his brother frantically itching inside his ear.
Kili scowled, and immediately dropped his finger away, glaring at his brother.
Suddenly, an apple came souring out of the sack and if Fili hadn't ducked it would have hit him right in between the eyes.
"What the-"! Both brothers shared a look of bewilderment, before quickly looking around to see if anyone else had seen that. But, seeing as they were trailing along behind at the back, apparently no one did.
"Where did that come from?" Kili asked, staring wide eyed at his brother.
"The sack!" Fili pointed.
"Really?" Kili tried to pivot round to see, but in the process he nearly knocked the whole bag off. He quickly reached out a grabbed it before it fell, sharing another look of astonishment with his brother.
When they stopped that night, both brothers had already decided they would search through the bag, but Thorin had other ideas. After arguing with Gandalf, he promptly sent them to tend the ponies just as Kili had hauled the sack from his saddle.
Fili and Kili exchanged a look, but knew better than to argue with their uncle, so reluctantly Kili passed the sack along to Bofur.
"Careful with that." He muttered, earning himself a confused look from the cheery Dwarf, but he didn't say anymore.
Kili turned away again just as Bofur slung the sack over his shoulder, causing the little green ball of light to come popping out the top and go souring past Kili's head.
A little alarmed, Kili suddenly jumped and patted his head, looking around to find the source of whatever ruffled his hair.
"Did you see that?" He asked Fili.
Fili looked up from where he was untacking one of the ponies, "See what?"
Kili frowned, "Never mind." He muttered, peering over his ponies' saddle to inspect the grass below. Maybe it had fallen on the floor?
It had, bit the little green ball was now sneaking inside Kili's coat pocket.
.
"I said drop him!" Kili snarled, rolling his sword around in his hands, glaring up at the three Trolls fearlessly. His sudden outburst from the bushes had sent his coats swinging around, awakening its slumbering occupant with a start, and almost squishing it when one of the Trolls threw Bilbo at Kili, causing him to stumble and fall back. The little light came flying out of Kili's pocket, but around the ruckus it went totally unnoticed. Although, now it was glowing red, furious at Kili for waking it up and spying the Dwarf in question when he scrambled up and joined in the battle.
Or at least he tried to.
Kili had just raised his sword to strike the back of a Trolls leg, when something grabbed him by his hair and yanked him so hard he stumbled to the side and fell back, narrowly missing a second Trolls foot that was inches away from squashing him.
Feeling a little relieved that he hadn't been made into jam, he made an attempt to get back off the floor, but only managed to get to his knees before he was pulled back down again and dragged a good three feet by his hair.
"Get off me!" He yelled, unable to see behind him but swatting at whatever had hold of him all the same. He'd already dropped his sword, so he was being ruthless with his hands instead. "Let go of me!"
"Kili!" He heard Fili yell, but he was unable to turn to find his brother from where he was being held.
Kili growled, and with one, hard movement he twisted himself around to lay on his front, fist raised at the ready to pound whatever creature had hold on him. But instantly he stopped himself when he came face to face with the most enchanting light he'd ever seen, even if it was growing an angry red.
"Kili!" He heard Fili again, this time closer. Before he knew it someone had grabbed the back of his coat and pulled him up off the floor, dragging the little light with him. "What are you doing?!" Fili yelled in his face, almost frantically as he checked his little brother for any injuries.
"I'm fine!" Kili shouted back, before weaving around his brother and heading back into the thick of the action. He hadn't gotten far though when he felt something pulling on his hair again.
"Argh! You stupid blob of light! Get off me!" He shouted, squirming against the lights vice like grip. It pulled him to the left, just in time for a Troll's mallet to come crashing down on where he stood seconds before. Then, suddenly, the pulling on his hair disappeared, and Kili didn't need to think twice before running forward and slicing at a Troll again.
Their fight didn't last much longer, or at least it didn't feel like it to Kili, before he felt Thorin freeze behind him. He quickly glanced around and followed Thorin's gaze.
"Bilbo!" He yelled, making a break to run forward, but Thorin quickly put an arm out to bar him from moving any further.
Two of the Trolls were holding Bilbo by his arms and legs, ready to tear him a part like he was made of roast lamb.
"Lay down your arms!" One of them growled, "Or we'll wip' his off!"
It took Thorin a few moments to decide what to do, and Bilbo was convinced that he was just going to let the Trolls tear him a part. But he was surprised to find that Thorin, albeit reluctantly, stabbed his sword into the dirt.
Kili looked a little lost for a moment, astonished that his uncle had surrendered so quickly, but eventually even he too threw his sword to the ground with a clunk.
Needless to say that the Dwarves fought the entire time they were stripped of their garments. Half of them were pushed into nasty smelling sacks while the other half were hauled onto a wooden branch and tied there before being positioned over the fire.
Those in sacks were still making a huge fuss, despite not being in immediate danger, and Kili was moaning that Oin wouldn't stop moving, when a very familiar face appeared. Or rather, a familiar glow.
Back to a grass green, the little light lazily wafted down from the trees and came to rest on Kili's knee.
"What's that?" Oin asked quietly, instantly ceasing his fidgeting when all his attention was captured by the little light.
Kili didn't reply, instead, he glared down at the green orb, and he knew it was glaring back.
"Don't look at me like that!" He hissed, trying to move his knee enough to bounce it off. But instead, the little light floated back up and past him, making a 'humph' sound as it did so. "Yeah, you go away!"
"Kili, who are you talking to?" Fili asked.
"That little light!" Oin nodded his head to where the little orb was now circulating a terrified looking Bilbo. All of the sacked Dwarves fell silent then, watching as the green light – no bigger than a fist – orbited around Bilbo's head, emitting a strange, whistling sound.
Suddenly, Bilbo's eyes popped, and he focused on the light for a moment before shifting his attention to the Trolls. "Wait!" He yelled, struggling to sit up. "You are making a terrible mistake!"
"You can't reason with them, they're half-wits!" Yelled back Dori.
"Half-wits? What does that make us?" Chimed in Bofur.
Kili didn't even notice when the little green light floated back down and sat neatly on his shoulder. Until, that is, it bit him.
He yelped loudly, jumping and rolling off Thorin and Oin to fall face first into the dirt with a thud. He snarled and rolled back over, glaring at the little orb when he came floating down to sit on his stomach. He could feel warm blood trickling down from just below his ear.
"I meant with the- with the seasoning…" Bilbo struggled up and came hopping around to stand before the piled up Dwarves.
That definitely caught one of the Trolls attention, for it bent down with a snarl, "What about the seasoning?"
"Well, have you smelt them?" Replied Bilbo matter-of-factly
Kili could have sworn the little green ball squeaked as if it was laughing. He shot it a glare.
"You're going to need something stronger than sage before you plate this lot up."
That caused a minor uproar with the Dwarves, and Kili shot Bilbo a disgusted look, as if he was offended – which he was.
"What do you know about cooking Dwarves?" Asked the second Troll with a huff.
Bilbo opened and shut his mouth a few times like a fish out of water, before sparing a glance at the little orb that was now rolling around on Kili's stomach, and paying no attention to him.
"Shut up!" Said the first Troll, "Let the, er, fler-ger-ber-obbit talk."
Bilbo shot the Troll a fake, thankful look, before stuttering out, "Er, the se-secret to cooking Dwarf, is, erm…"
"Come on!" Egged the Troll, growing impatient with its tiny brain.
"Yes!" Bilbo hissed desperately, "I'm thinking. The secret is… to skin them first!"
Of course, another uproar broke out between the Dwarves, with Dwalin threatening 'I won't forget that! I won't forget it!' before being turned away on the spit.
"Tom, get me filleting knife." Growled the Troll.
"What a load of wubbish!" Said the Troll who was turning the Dwarves on the spit. "I've had plenty with their skins on. Scoff 'em I say. Boots 'n' all!"
That's when Bilbo noticed a flash of grey through the bushes, and he shot another look towards the little green orb – or to at least where it had been – but it was now gone. Kili hadn't even noticed.
"He's right," Said the third Troll, standing up from where it was sitting by the fire and coming round towards the sacked Dwarves. "There's nothing wrong with a bit of raw Dwarf!" He stooped down and grabbed Bombur by his feet, hoisting him up to suspend him over his open mouth. "Nice and crunchy!"
"N-Not that one! He's infected!" Bilbo quickly yelled, catching the Trolls attention and lowing Bofur a bit.
"You what?"
"Yeah, he's got worms in his… tubes?"
With that, the Troll quickly threw Bombur back to the pile with a look of disgust on his face.
"I-In fact they all have!" Bilbo quickly added upon seeing their reaction. "They're infested with parasites! It's a terrible business, I really wouldn't risk it if I were you."
"Did he just say…" Oin began, leaning into Kili.
Kili nodded, furiously, "We don't have parasites!" He yelled, offended by the accusation that he was infested. "You have parasites!"
Bilbo slumped down, exasperated, but thankfully, Thorin caught on, and quickly kicked his youngest nephew into realisation.
"I have parasites a big as my arm!" Shouted Oin.
Kili added, "I have the biggest parasites! I have huge parasites!"
And with that, the rest of the Dwarves began to chime in that they too were riddled with nasty little critters that will undoubtedly kill the Trolls if they are to digest them.
"What would you 'ave us do then?" Said one of the Trolls, coming up to stand before Bilbo. "Let them all go?"
"Well…" Pondered Bilbo, but immediately flinched back when the Troll prodded him in the chest.
"You don't think I know what you're up to! This little ferret is taking us for fools!"
"Ferret?" Bilbo repeated, it was his turn to be offended now.
"The dawn will take you all!" Came a familiar voice, suddenly, and from over the large rock they were all sheltered behind Gandalf appeared, staff in hand and voice booming.
"Who's that?" Asked one of the Trolls, too stupid to realise he should be afraid.
"No idea."
"Can we eat him too?"
And with that, Gandalf raised his staff and brought it crashing down upon the rock, slicing it in half as if it was made of butter. Light shone through immediately, causing the Trolls to hiss and squeal in pain as the early morning sun hit them. Within moments, the once terrifying Trolls were turned to stone.
.
Gandalf was examining one of the Trolls when Thorin approached him.
"And where did you go to, if I may ask?"
"To look ahead." Gandalf replied lightly.
"What brought you back?"
Gandalf paused for a moment, and just as he did a little green orb came whizzing around his head before perching lightly on the top of his staff, "A little voice told me you were in trouble." Both he and Thorin watched as the orb took off again and disappeared inside Kili's coat pocket without him even realising as he conversed with Fili. "And now I know why." He added in a murmur, but Thorin still caught it.
"What is that?" He asked, referring to the orb.
"A pixie." The wizard replied simply, looking back to Thorin with a small smile, "She was annoyed that she'd been so rudely woken up by your little disagreement with the Trolls."
"Woken up?" Thorin nearly scoffed. "How inconvenient for her."
Gandalf chuckled, "From the looks of it she's taken quit the liking to Kili's coat pocket." Just as the words left his mouth, Kili's left pocket moved, taking his coat with it. One moment Kili was standing talking to his brother about how he'd slid under a Troll, and then the next he was being dragged by his coat and away from the company.
"Stop it!" He shouted, instantly realising what was going on and growling.
"Careful with her, Kili!" Called Gandalf as he watched with amusement when Kili tripped and fell to his knees, but the little pixie didn't give up her pulling. "She's surprisingly fragile."
"She?!" He spluttered, struggling to get out of his coat. Once he did though he watched as his dark coat paused and just hung suspended in the air. It would have been amusing if it didn't suddenly come flying back at him and knock him over.
"What is that?" Asked Bofur, as Kili sat up with a growl. The little green light was buzzing around Bofur's head before suddenly swooping under his hat and taking off with it.
"A pixie." Gandalf repeated to the rest of the company, reaching up as the hat flew past him and grabbing it. "A hungry pixie, at that." From his bag he then drew out a red apple. Immediately the light flew from inside the hat and snatched the apple. She flew one full circuit of the company before landing on the leg of a rather disgruntled Kili, who was still sat on the floor. The little light then rolled the apple up his leg, and pushing it into his stomach gently, once, then twice, and then a third time, but not so gently.
"I think she'd trying to share with you." Gandalf said, moving towards Kili who was staring blankly down at the little light still shoving an apple into his stomach.
"I thought pixies had bodies." Comment Dwalin, watching with curiosity when Kili picked up the apple, took a small bit out of it, before offering it back to the pixie. She made a little squealing noise before attaching herself to the fruit.
"They do," Replied Gandalf, turning back to the company, "When they want to." He glanced back down at Kili. "Looks like you've made yourself a friend."
.
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Okay, so, this is the prologue of my new Kili story. I knew it's short, but the next chapter will be longer. I just thought this was an appropriate place to stop it (:
Anyway, let me know what you think of it!
Thanks! x
