Thorin awoke mildly confused to sounds of healers rushing around the tent. Blearily he turned his head to the right and noticed a group of people grouped around Fili's bed. Panic instantly set in and he attempted to sit but barely managed to stifle a cry of pain as he collapsed back down. Bofur heard his king's grunt of pain and came to his bedside, "You shouldn't be sitting Thorin."

Thorin continued to struggle to get himself upright until Bofur conceded and helped him lean up, "Fili? What's happening with Fili?"

Bofur glanced over that group of healers, Elven and Dwarf alike huddled around the bed, "He woke...kind of. Better to say his eyes opened a bit. The healers are trying to get him to swallow some water now."

Thorin watched, unable to see his nephew at all and strained to hear what the healers were saying. When he realized he couldn't make head nor tail of it he called out, "Oin!"

The older Dwarf hurried over, "You should be resting."

Thorin ignored him, "How is Fili?"

Oin frowned but told him anyway, "We managed to get him to swallow a ladle full of water. Someone will have to sit with him for the night to assure he doesn't vomit it back up and choke. He isn't with us though. His eyes may have opened but he, by no means, is well."

Oin began to walk back to Fili before turning to face Thorin again, "He did speak though. He muttered Kili at one point."

Bofur helped Thorin lay back down, "You really should be resting. I volunteered to sit with Fili for the first part of tonight. I'll wake you if anything changes."

Thorin reluctantly shut his eyes and allowed sleep to claim him again. His sleep was exhausted and dreamless, his body still weak and recovering. He woke again to soft light and small shuffling noises from the healers going about their duties. He slowly opened his eyes and took in the activity around him. Two Elves, healers he gathered, stood in the corner of the large tent speaking softly in their native language as one ground of herbs in a small bowl. Thorin's eyes continued to pan when his ears heard a voice he knew. Turning his head to the right he saw the small form of Bilbo Baggins, their Hobbit burglar bustling around Kili's bed and having what appeared to be a one-sided conversation with himself. Thorin watched as Bilbo dipped a cloth in a small bowl of water on the table between the beds and wrung it out before dabbing it across Kili's face, "And as Bofur tossed it to Ori, Gloin stepped between them and the wet cloth hit him right in the face! Had us all on our knees in laughter. I'm sure Bofur will tell you the story better when you wake-"

Thorin spoke then, startling the Hobbit, "He's unconscious. He can't hear you."

Bilbo smiled at him, "Good to see you awake. And I know he's unconscious. I do...we don't know if he can hear us or not...and if I was unconscious I'd want to know that someone was here for me. That someone cared. So I talk to them...it also makes me feel a less useless. Like I'm actually doing something."

Thorin sighed but did not berate him as foolish as the Hobbit's logic seemed to him, "Fili...how is he?"

Bilbo's small smile didn't fade as he spoke, still wiping down Kili's forehead, "He hasn't woken again. But he kept down the water and early this morning they got him to swallow a bit more which is a good sign."

"And Kili?"

Bilbo's face grew solemn, "No change."

Thorin felt his frustration rise, they couldn't take one brother and force the other to survive...he knew his nephews. Even if Fili condition continued to improve he would worsen the minute he knew Kili was gone. Bilbo watched Thorin and clearly knew where his thoughts were going, "Kili will improve too. He's too stubborn not to."

They fell into silence and Bilbo returned to his attempts in lowing Kili's fever. As he dipped the cloth back into the cool water he heard a slight, almost imperceptible moan from the bed. Whipping around he saw Kili stir slightly on the bed, his face twisting slightly in agony. Bilbo instantly called out, "He's coming to!"

The two Elves ran over from where they had been standing to Kili's bedside all but pushing Bilbo out of the way. Thorin raised slightly, bracing himself with his forearm and watched as Kili's moans turned to soft cries and he began thrashing slightly, clearly in pain. At the sound of the noise Oin came running in, followed by nearly every dwarf they had traveled with. Oin was instantly by Kili's side attempting to calm him as best he could. Kili's cries grew every time he moved and from his side Fili stirred, having heard his brother. Balin hurried to Fili's bedside and the young dwarf began to mutter his brother's name, eyes fluttering opened, "Kili?"

Balin held him still as Fili tried to sit, feverishly trying to get to his brother, "Aye Lad...the healers have got him. They'll take good care of him."

One of the Elves yelled something in Elvish and another rushed in carrying a bottle. They poured whatever was in it onto a cloth that Oin handed them and pressed it over Kili's mouth and nose until Kili went still again.

Thorin looked at Oin, "What the hell did they do to him?"

Oin glanced at Kili's still form and back at Thorin, "They just put him to sleep. He's in pain and his thrashing would tear his stitches. He can't afford to loose more blood."

One of the Elves turned to look at Thorin and Oin, "The first thing we need to do is get some water into him. If he can swallow and keep it down we'll start him on pain medicine."

Oin nodded but Thorin interrupted, "Kili doesn't handle pain medicine well. It makes him sick."

At the sound of his uncle's voice Fili stirred again, "Kili? Uncle?"

Balin ran his hand over Fili's hair, "They're both fine Lad."

Fili made a sound akin to a whimper, "Kili?"

Another one of the Elves from Kili's side turned to face the blonde, grabbing a cup of water from the table between the beds. He handed the cup to Balin and lifted Fili's head slightly and the elderly dwarf pressed the cup to his lips. Fili tried to pull back but the Elf shushed him, "It's water. Try and take a sip. Slowly."

Fili obeyed attempting to swallow the liquid. He managed to get two mouthfuls down before sputtering. Balin pulled the cup away and gently Fili's head was lowered back to the pillow. Fili murmured his brother's name again before slipping back into unconsciousness. Oin walked to Fili's bedside and placed a hand on his head, "He's still feverish but he's cooler than before."

The Elves looked at Oin before nodding and exiting the tent, leaving the Dwarves alone. Thorin waited until they were gone before speaking, "The both woke. Fili twice. That means they're improving."

Oin sighed, "Yes and no. Fili does seem to be doing better. Not much but a slight bit. Kili moved for the first time in days which is a good thing...neither one of them are in a place that I'm comfortable with. They are both still in danger...but yes. The fact that they woke is a good thing."

Balin turned to face Thorin, "Let's try some broth again."

Thorin spared a glance at his nephews before attempting to rise, Bifur and Nori coming to his aid. Once he was seated and Bofur had handed him a bowl of broth he spoke, "Is anyone else injured?"

Oin shook his head, "Mild cuts and bruises and few stitches here and there. We've mainly been concerned about you three. We haven't sent any word to the Blue Mountains yet. We were waiting for you to either wake or...would you like us to do so?"

Thorin sipped at the broth and looked at his nephews again, "No. Not yet. We'll wait until we know what is going to happen with Fili and Kili. I can't let Dis...she shouldn't have to worry. Once we know whether the boys will survive or...not...then we'll send word to them."

Balin nodded and smiled as Thorin fought a yawn, "Tired Lad?"

"I shouldn't be. I've done nothing but sleep."

"Your body is still recovering. You aren't well. Rest is the best way to regain your strength," Oin explained.

"I'm sick of resting."

"You don't really get a choice. Either you rest or I make you rest."

Thorin glared at him but the effect was ruined by another yawn, "Fine."

Finishing his broth Thorin spared one last glance at his nephews before lying down and shutting his eyes, once again losing himself into the darkness of sleep.