Blinking a few times to get used to the change in light, Mara was still staring ahead when she felt a small tug on her tunic. She jumped slightly, looking down into the eyes of two anxious boys. Their faces were instantly familiar, along with their names, and she now knew what house she had arrived at.
"Hello," she said softly. "You must be Fili and Kili, is that right?" The two nodded silently, looking a little uncertain with how to respond. "My name is Mara. I'm looking for your uncle Thorin, is he here?" She kept her voice gentle, not wanting to frighten the little ones. All her visions had showed her that this Thorin was the one she would have to go through to figure out her purpose here, though they hadn't been more specific than that. She only hoped it involved a more permanent living situation. She was tired of wandering and she could already see herself settling down in the peaceful town here, if they would allow her to.
The elder one nodded, though he still seemed upset about something. "He's sick," he blurted out. "He can't get out of bed."
"Oh dear," Mara murmured sympathetically. "Is your mama helping him to get better?"
The small boys grew steadily more upset with that question, shaking their heads emphatically. "Amad is not here," Fili replied. "She went to visit a friend in another town and won't be back for another week." Kili stayed silent, clutching his brother's shirt in one hand and staring at her with wide eyes.
Mara's own eyes widened in turn at this proclamation. "Would you like some help? I am a healer, perhaps I can assist in making your uncle better," she suggested.
Fili wavered, looking torn. "Amad says not to let strangers in the house," he murmured worriedly.
Mara smiled. "Your amad is a wise woman. I promise you I only wish to help, I am a friend."
Fili opened his mouth to respond when there was the sound of a heavy crash from further into the house. Both boys blanched, glancing over their shoulders as a rough cry followed the first sound. "Oh no," Fili whimpered in distress. "Uncle has fallen out of bed."
"We cannot lift him Fee," Kili spoke up hesitantly. "Maybe the lady can help us."
The look on Kili's small face decided the matter for him and he nodded. "Please come in. Uncle needs help and I'm sure amad would understand."
With their permission granted, Mara swept into the house, moving quickly towards the open door at the end of the hall. She could hear the rasping breaths of her patient, and she bent with a grunt to roll him over from his prone position on the floor. He stared at her, his eyes glassy and unfocused, face flush with a high fever. Using all her strength, she managed to drag him to his feet, wobbling slightly under his weight.
"Up you come then soldier, back into bed." Moving the few paces between them and the large bed, she laid him down as gently as possible before tucking the covers back around him. The short trip had been made more difficult by Thorin's feeble attempts to get away from her, his feverish delirium causing him to perceive her as a threat.
He called out roughly, his voice cracking and breaking. "Fili, Kili!"
"Hush now," Mara said softly, placing a gentle finger to his chapped lips. "Your nephews are safe, I am looking after the little ones. You must rest, you are very ill." She turned towards the doorway where the boys were huddled. "Fili, Kili, come here and show your uncle that you are fine. He will feel better for seeing you." They hurried forward, standing beside the bed and sniffing back tears of worry and relief. Help had arrived, taking the burden of nursing their uncle off their shoulders. The older dwarf turned his head to see them, the tiniest of smiles quirking his lips before he was caught up by another round of coughing. It shook his entire frame and left him gasping for breath.
"Who...you?" he managed to choke out in between coughs. It appeared he wished to say more than that, but he could barely speak and even those two words had trailed off to a mere whisper of sound from his effort. Mara turned to ask the boys to bring water only to have Fili hand her a large mug with trembling hands. It was full to the brim with the life-giving fluid. Mara offered them a smile of thanks and held it steadily to Thorin's lips, tipping it slowly down his parched throat. He managed a few sips before shaking his head weakly and turning away.
"My name is Mara," she told the ailing dwarf as she ministered to him. "I am a traveling healer. I actually came to this town with the intention of meeting with you, and a good thing too it seems, for you are in sore need of help. My purpose therefore can wait, it is more important that we get you on the road to recovery first." She met his eyes calmly, trying to send him some measure of reassurance. His face was taken over by wariness and outraged frustration with his helpless situation. Seeing how he kept glancing over at his nephews, Mara felt a surge of pained compassion. She had a nephew once, and a niece as well. Before her entire world was torn from her. Blinking back tears at the unbidden memory she grasped the dwarf's shoulder firmly. "I will watch over your nephews," she promised. "They will not come to harm in my care, I swear it." She felt another tug on her tunic and smiled to see that Kili now grasped its hem in the hand not currently occupied in his brothers shirt. Thorin assumed an expression of grudging trust, knowing his youngest nephew was an oddly perceptive judge of character. "Sleep now," Mara advised him gently. "I will bring you something to eat later. Only call out if you need anything." Nodding minutely, Thorin slumped back on the pillow in exhaustion and closed his eyes.
