Authors Note: This is my first Hobbit fic, but I just couldn't get the idea out of my head that Fili and Kili would have been a lot quicker in coming to Thorin's aid. Also, I felt there needed to be a bit more whump/hurt/comfort after everything the company had just been through ;) Please read and review.

Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, not making any money, etc.

Fili's legs stilled briefly as he watched his uncle stride past him. He wasn't the least surprised that Thorin had risen to the taunt, but he also knew that his uncle didn't stand a chance against the Pale Orc in his current condition. None of the dwarves had escaped completely unscathed from their time in Goblintown; Bombur had been limping quite badly during their escape and Bofur's jacket had shown blood before the sun set. Fili knew he had not been the only one to see the grimaces of pain Thorin had tried so hard to hide.

"Uncle, no," Kili gasped quietly in denial as Thorin passed the branch he clung to.

Every eye was glued to the Dwarf King as he stalked toward Azog, determination written all over his face. It didn't take a genius to know what was running through his mind; he would not go down without a fight. If he had to choose between falling to his death when the great tree's roots finally gave way or possibly doing some harm to his foe before he met his ancestors in the halls of the afterlife, then he would choose a fight every time.

The entire company watched in horror as Thorin was knocked to the ground by the White Warg and his master. Fili wasted no time renewing his struggle to get atop the branch he dangled from; he could see his brother and Bilbo do the same on the branches ahead of him. The young dwarf kept one eye on his uncle's struggle as he finally managed to hook a leg over the branch; he'd barely gained purchase when Thorin was picked up by the white warg and shaken like a rag doll before being tossed off to the side. Azog's laughter boiled his blood, supplying the rage-filled strength for him to finally pull himself the rest of the way onto the tree trunk. Fili saw Bilbo already racing through the fire with his sword held aloft. He mentally cheered the Hobbit even as he started along the tree himself.

Kili continued to struggle, not caring that the branch he clung to had started to creak and groan ominously. His ribs ached horribly, preventing him from using his full strength to pull himself up; having a wooden bridge and a terribly fat goblin king fall on your midsection could definitely leave a mark. He would have laughed at Dwalin's "you've got to be joking" if it hadn't hurt so badly. But he could not allow their quest to end so quickly, especially when that end would be the death of his uncle. He was of the line of Durin and Durins' did not stand idly by. Suddenly he felt a hand on the back of his collar, easily lifting him to the top side of the tree. Kili looked back, expecting to see the massive bulk of Dwalin but instead found the resolute face of his brother; he knew they were of the same mind.

Fili gave his younger brother a determined nod before pulling his dual swords and sprinting through the wall of fire. He slid to a stop between Thorin and the White Warg, feeling more than seeing Kili pass behind him to ensure Bilbo's safety. Thank Mahal, the Hobbit had been in time to keep his uncle from being beheaded. A low and menacing growl brought his thoughts back to the current situation just in time to flinch away from the large jaws that had so recently held his uncle. Unfortunately, his movement was not enough to take him out of the path of the warg's sharp claws that had followed closely behind its teeth. The massive paw easily knocked the dwarf to ground, but he barely felt the blow through the fear and adrenaline filling his body and was instantly back on his feet. Fili brought his right sword up to swipe at the beast only to have the warg clamp it's teeth around the blade and hold on. He tugged experimentally on the blade still keeping a wary eye on Azog; the blade held fast. The Pale Orc smirked cruelly as he swung his four-point mace with every intention of crushing the young dwarf's skull. However, Fili's quick reflexes and ambidextrous skills saved him. He brought his left sword up and braced himself for the blow but was still nearly driven to his knees.

Bilbo and Kili turned as they finished pulling their swords from the orc that had been ready to behead Thorin only seconds before. Kili's heart leapt into his throat when he saw his brother locked in a deadly stalemate with Azog and the White Warg. What made it even worse was the orc running towards Fili's unprotected side, blade at the ready to run him through.

"Fili!"

Fili didn't need his brother's shout to know he was about to die but it was taking all his strength to keep Azog's mace and the warg's teeth at bay. The young dwarf said a silent good-bye to his brother and braced for the killing blow.

It never came.

Kili's arrow found its mark directly between the orc's eyes. He started towards Fili's side only to be stopped by a yelp from Bilbo; Kili turned to find the small hobbit being driven towards the fire by another larger orc. Kili's heart and mind were torn; he could tell his brother's strength was waning but Bilbo's danger was more immediate. With a regretful glace toward Fili, Kili turned and ran for Bilbo having used his last arrow to save his brother.

Fili knew this stalemate couldn't last and he was likely to be on the losing end when it finally ended. In a desperate bid, he released his hold on the sword held by the warg and quickly reached for one of his many daggers that the goblins had not found. Without hesitation, he shoved the dagger through the soft underside of the warg's chin, burying it to the hilt.

The White Warg released a horrible squeal as it faltered before finally crashing onto it's side taking Azog the Defiler down with it.

Fili sank to his knees in relief. He knew the danger was far from over, but it took Kili and Bilbo returning to his side to renew his energy and get Fili back on his feet. They were quickly joined by Bifur, Bofur, Dwalin and Golin who'd managed to free themselves from the clutches of the tree and formed a defiant wall between the rest of the orcs and their fallen leader. The orcs were on them in a flash but the company held their line.

They were just starting to push back when the Eagles arrived, scattering the orcs even further.

To be continued?

Reviews are much appreciated. If you guys tell me it's good enough to continue, I'll edit and post the rest. Thanks!