First Hobbit based fanfiction, be nice please. I'm still learning!
Previously...
Thorin's heart felt like it was being broken over and over again as he finally wrapped his arms around the young heir.
Fili clung to him as if his life depended on it, and Thorin could feel that small body convulse against his chest as he ran his fingers through his blond sister-son's golden hair, his own tears dripped into the matted curls and disappeared.
Thorin knew that the words he spoke next would have an immediate impact on the young prince, and that is why he was gÓing to say them aloud.
"Oh Fili, my brave... brave Fili... it's okay to cry."
His uncle's gentle reassuring voice is what made the young dwarf crack, loud keening sobs escaped his throat as he buried his face into the furs on Thorin's armor.
"Un... cle... sob , wh... ere is sob K-Kee? Cough I-I tried t-to pro...tect h-him sob I swear..."
"I know, and I am so proud of you."
"Lad, Fili is going to be alright." Thorin whispered tears choking his own voice.
Fili stiffened in his hold for a moment before a reluctant grin spread across his face briefly.
He tried to sniff back his tears and calm himself enough so he could speak again.
"Un-Uncle."
Thorin glanced down at the younger dwarf curiously and let out a soft noise from the back of his throat indicating for the golden haired prince to continue.
"I-I'm Fili..."
An aggravated groan followed as Thorin pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers.
The corner of Fili's mouth twitched into a small smirk, allowing himself to relax a bit at the thought that his little brother was safe, even if his uncle did confirm it with the wrong names... again.
"Of course you are." Thorin responded softly, the king couldn't even helped the slight hint of amusement that had seeped into his voice, it was reassuring that the lad still had his sense of humor, or well some of it.
Correcting him for getting him and his brother mixed up was one of the many quirks Fili loved to show whenever he had the opportunity.
"But where's -"
"Kili is fine Fili, he's unconscious Óin is tending to him down the corridor in a separate room."
Fili immediately tried to pull free from Thorin's embrace, but his uncle would not let go if anything he tightened his grip on him.
'Kili needs me! Let go of me! Thorin let go!' Fili's mind screamed furiously.
A small growl escaped the golden haired dwarf as he started to squirm restlessly, but Thorin's hold on him strengthened once more, and the squirming soon turning into a pitiful excuse for what would normally be a fierce struggle.
"Le'go... uncle." he snarled.
Thorin didn't respond, but instead he placed one hand on the back of Fili's head and pulled his head to rest against his shoulder, a couple tears dripped off the dwarf king's face at the motion.
The older dwarf knew more than anyone, how agonizing it is to watch or recieve the news of a loved one being felled.
As should the boy's mother.
Frerin's death had been too soon, and it took both him and Dis quite some time to move on, Thorin more so.
He knew Fili was worried, and that keeping him from his brother was putting his already traumatized sister-son through further pain and misery, but he could not have the risk of Kili finding out.
'Not right now at least, when the time is right.'
Plus even if Kili wouldn't be fussing like a mother hen over his brother constantly in the way of Óin as he persisted to stay be Fili's side, Fili would be.
He could picture the lad trying to get to his feet and attempting to navigate blindly in desperation to find his little brother and make sure he was okay, because Fili would sacrifice everything in a heartbeat if it meant Kili's safety.
'And that's just what he's done.' Thorin realized suddenly.
Another furious cry bellowed from Fili's throat as his body thrashed against him, trying everything he could think of to try to get free, but in his weakened state nothing had much effect on the older Durin.
Fili was growing more and more frustrated by the second, he could feel his strength leaving him.
He could feel his throat swell up and he tried to hold back his tears once more, he was tired of crying. Hadn't he cried enough?
"Pl...ease... uncle... l-let go... "
Thorin continued to remain silent, keeping his tight hold on the boy he let the hand on Fili's head run through his matted hair soothingly.
"I-I... am sorry. Sob Mahal, *sob* I-I... tried... Gasp I-I tried so sob so h-hard. U-Uncle I sob I tr-tried! Cough I- I ne...need t'see h-him." Fili suddenly blurted out, his struggles roaring to life once more and Thorin found himself wincing when he got a knee pressed firmly against his lower stomach, just shy of his groin.
He bit his lip trying to keep his composure, tightening his grip on Fili once more, this time using his legs to help still his wild movements.
"Aye I know you did lad, I know you did, and I have never been so proud of you and yet so ashamed of myself."
Fili's went completely rigid in his arms, his face slowly lifted to look up at him as if hoping he could still see.
Thorin inwardly winced as he saw the wounds up close, but from the reaction he had received the words had clearly shocked his nephew greatly.
"A-Ashamed?" Fili stuttered.
"Aye, I have asked far too much from Fili and yet you gave me so much more than what I asked for."
"B-But I... I-I d'not!" he cried in frustration.
"Fili You protected your brother, you stood by my side, you defended our honor and our home, you stood up for the half-ling when no one else would, defied and fought me in order to keep me from making a horrible mistake, even when the blows laid upon yourself."
A small whine forced free from the younger dwarf's lips at the memory, it was one he'd rather forget sooner rather than later.
"... but the most important thing of all, you were willing to sacrifice your own life in order to save a fool."
Tears renewed themselves from Fili's right eye as they trickled down his cheek, and the dwarf jumped slightly when he felt his uncle wipe them away.
"A foolish king who was too blind to see what exactly I had asked from not only you and your brother, but so many others. A king who does not deserve forgiveness from any of you, especially from you." Thorin finished, tucking some blond hair behind Fili's ear before touching their foreheads together.
"My brave, strong, loyal Fili. My boy, I love you and your brother so."
The words seemed to hit home for the younger dwarf as he just collapsed against the king's chest and for the second time that day, shattered into a million pieces.
Loud heart-wrenching sobs were the first thing that the small Hobbit heard when he came limping into the room beside Ori who was cradling a wrist, and Bifur and Bombur were pacing after them not even moments later, trying to get their attention that the king would want privacy but realized they were too late.
The sight that he met when he found the source for the cries were more than a little unnatural for the dwarf king, though not as much when he saw the how banged up Fili was.
"Oh no... "
The small voice beside him got Bilbo's attention as he glanced over at Ori, the small dwarf had tears gathering in his eyes and an involuntary squeak escaped as he took in the morbid image before him.
"... n-not Fili..." the youngest son of Ri whimpered softly.
Thorin's blue eyes raised to glance at the four warriors, yes he said four, the half-ling had more than proved himself to be worthy of the title by now and it was about time he admitted it.
'Bilbo... I have been so foolish. I am ashamed that you call me your friend, when I have put you through so much.' Thorin's mind reminded himself silently.
"What... what happened?" Bilbo asked hesitantly, his hand fidgeting with the thing he's always messing with in his pocket.
Thorin let out a tired sigh, too exhausted to be angry about the intrusion.
"Master Baggins, I would like you to return here later tonight after the sun has fallen. I have some things that I would like to say. For now though, I believe Dwalin would have the answers you are looking for, or at least some of them. I would like to be alone with him for a while longer."
Bilbo nodded and grabbed Ori's hand tugging him along since Ori was still in somewhat a state of shock.
'Thorin's voice was so calm, yet so lifeless, and that has to definitely not be a good sign. I wonder if Kili was found yet.'
And there we are, good lord so much angst in this story already.
Those Durin feels tho...
I like it. :3
Emily