I have never broken a rib, but from what I understand it is very painful and can be dangerous if not properly taken care of. Of course, dwarves are nothing if not stubborn.

I am not as happy with this as I had hoped, but have found it to be a very good writing exercise. Thank you for the interest. And I'll try to add a bit more to the interactions. More action to come.

Fili must have blacked out for at least a few moments because he was next looking up at Balin as the older dwarf swiftly cut the ropes to his bag.

"Are you all right there, laddie?" Balin asked, watching the young dwarf blink rapidly in the dawn light.

"Yes, yes," Fili insisted, "I'll get myself free the rest of the way, please help the others." Awkwardly gesturing to those still tied to the dwarf kebab. (1)

Balin stared at the Fili for a couple seconds, not quite believing him, he had watched the boy grow up and knew when he was hiding something. But decided against pushing the matter, moving to help the others. Like everyone else, he was probably nursing some wounded pride over the whole episode

Soon all of the company were free and gathering their belongings. As he was slowly replacing all of his various knives and weapons, Fili felt eyes upon him.

Straightening his slumped shoulders, the young dwarf looked into the knowing eyes of his baby brother, trying to easy his mind with a small smile. Kili was not sure of what was wrong, but could tell at a glance that something was off, the half-hearted smile did nothing to reassure him.

"Are you hurt?" Kili whispered, skipping to the point.

"No, just tired," Fili lied as he moved away. His injuries were not bad. A couple of bruised ribs would be painful, but not life threatening. He wasn't the only one nursing injuries, as others had bumps, welts and rope burn. No reason to worry anyone, his uncle was already in a foul mood and for once it was not directed his nephews.

But Kili was not perturbed, ever the stubborn dwarfling his mother always described. However, a shout from Thorin had the company moving on from the troll camp, yelling to his nephews to split up and scout ahead for a path to a possible cave. Kili was slow to leave the field as he watched his brother shuffle in a different direction. The dwarf was desperate to question his elder brother, but a glare from Thorin sent him running to find the cave. The sooner he found it the sooner he could get back to Fili.

Fili ended up finding the cave first, not far from the camp. Even from the distance he stood, Fili's nose wrinkled at the smell. As Gandalf, Thorin and a few others entered the cave; Fili was able to take a moment to himself. He had barely sat down at the far edge to the opening of the cave before a familiar shadow cast itself next to him.

"You are not alright, don't try and fool me," Kili practically shouted

"Be quiet," Fili hissed back. Hiding a wince as he shifted away from his nosy brother, "You are starting to sound like Mother."

"Tell me what is wrong," Kili insisted, ignoring the jab.

Fili was saved from responding when Nori surfaced from the cave. Asking Fili for the spade that was a part of the younger's pack. Kili offered to get it for him, rather keeping his brother sitting and rest from whatever he wasn't telling than fetch a shovel.

Fili took a shallow breath, noting that he was still unable to get a decent amount of air without a shuddering pain in his chest, but was still grateful for his brother's offer and the fact it got him to leave him alone for a few more moments. The reprieve lasted only a couple moments as Thorin approached him next.

"What have you there?" Fili asked of the blade in his uncle's hand.

"A new sword," Thorin answered simply, dusting the dirt and spider webs from the handle. "What does Kili want?" He asked quietly, inwardly smirking at his nephew's surprised glance. He was not so blind to their odd behavior as much as they thought he was. Thorin was well aware of Kili's mothering looks to his brother, something had put the boy on edge enough to draw his curiosity.

The dark King watched his youngest heir continuously glance in their direction while pretending to listen to Bifur's chatter, even taking the goat skull that was handed to him in his distraction.

"Mahal knows," Fili answered vaguely. The night and his injuries were catching up with him, fatigue and pain were wearing the warrior down. He was getting increasingly tired of people poking at him, but he was saved again from further questions as a shout went out from Dori. A warning of something rapidly approaching.

Drawing his sword, Fili charged forward with Thorin following. He ended up next to a newly armed Bilbo as a raggedy old man with a rabbit-drawn sled slid into the middle of the tense company.

Gandalf stood to the side with the new comer and the dwarves mingled amongst themselves as they waited for those that had gone to fetch the ponies. Fili occupied himself, by helping Bilbo belt on his new sword (if that's what you could call it). The hobbit had no clue what to do with the dagger and seemed to be more afraid to with it next to him than when he had been unarmed.

In hindsight, it would have been a good idea to make sure the burglar had something sharp on his person before sending him on to the trolls, but neither of the dwarf brothers had fathomed the idea of anyone walking around without some sort of blade, even Ori had a small knife on his belt. It was a fair assumption to them that the polite Bilbo Baggins of Bag End would have one as well.

"Now adjust your grip on the handle. Not too loose, but not too tight either," Fili instructed, trying to encourage the hobbit to lessen his white-knuckled grip.

"I don't want to drop it," Bilbo argued.

"At the rate you're going, there is no chance of that happening," The blond countered, wincing as he shifted to a sitting position. Though it gave little relief, no matter if he was standing, sitting, or walking the pain in his chest would not lessen. The sprint during Radagast's arrival had jarred something and now there was a constant, sharp pain to the lower left side of his rib cage. His shadow was well aware of the pain as well, as Kili hovered to his right.

"Can you stop hanging over me!" Fili snapped.

The brothers glared each other down, but as usual in the years growing up, Kili flinched first. Looking away from his angry brother, Kili was quite put out. He only wanted to help. Placated for the moment, Kili shot his brother hurt, puppy eyes as he shifted over to other end of the group. Maybe Fili wasn't bad off, though Kili didn't believe that even as he thought it.

"Is everything alright?" Asked Bilbo innocently, temporarily forgetting his fear of his own knife. He had never seen the brothers glare at each other with any sort of amnesty, letting alone openly argue.

"Yes, everything is well," He answered, "Excuse me." Walking away from the confused hobbit.

Again he felt Kili's eyes watch him, but thankfully his brother left him be. Thorin had not come to him again after the interruption, instead talking in hush tones to Dwalin and Balin as to the companies' next move. And Bilbo had gone to speak with Bofur

Fili was thoroughly annoyed with people at the moment, stepping out of the group. He paused to sit just behind the next rock, far enough away to be alone yet still able to hear the others. Out of sight, Fili decided to lift his tunic.

What he saw surprised him more than he would care to confess. Almost all of the skin he could see was black and blue. Gently laying his hand over the part of his chest that hurt the most, Fili gasped with pain and almost fell off the rock he sat on, his vision dancing with black spots again.

A rib grated underneath his fingers and blood smeared them when he pulled his hand away. Maybe he should speak to Oin, Fili moved back over to the group.

Only to pause as an echoing howl rang through the woods.

(1): In the extras, Richard Armitage describes the spit as a "dwarf kebab" I couldn't pass up using that.