Hello! This chapter is quite long and full-on, with the Orcs and all ^^ Serves me right for listening to highly charged music whilst writing this! More hurt!Fili but with a good helping of hurt!Kili for you here!
Onwards….
The forest seemed to come alive all at once- the screeches and mottled shouts of the Orcs pressed down upon them as they ambushed the Dwarves- eyes glinting, Thorin immediately drew his sword, the blade catching on the sparse sunlight, before he embedded it into the chest of an oncoming Orc and tore it out, wheeling Kili around as he did so- the younger dwarf held his bow and arrow, letting off a bolt into the eye of another. By what he could see in the sudden chaos, they had been caught unawares by at least twelve of them, maybe even more- how had they been so deaf, so blind?
He didn't have time to think as another Orc came forwards, the flesh scarred about its face; with a battle cry he ran to meet it, his blade arcing upwards and then sharply downwards, catching it in the stomach before flipping it over with the force of the cut.
Blood peppered his face as his foe fell, grunting, to the ground. Turning sharply he saw with wide eyes that Fili and Bilbo were fending off four or five of them on their own; Bilbo was having the most luck, jabbing Orc after Orc with his blade, before a blow to his head knocked him sideways- but with a grunt and a moan of pain, Fili threw himself at the Orc, using his small knife to cut the creature's throat.
They both crumpled to the ground, before Fili rolled away, wincing. 'FILI!' Kili cried, eyes wide as he despatched another Orc, spearing an arrowhead into its neck. With a cry he ran to his brother's side, helping him to his feet before half walking, half running with him to the safety of a tree. 'Go…' Fili wheezed, breathless, as he looked fearfully around- he saw Bilbo pick himself back up, before Bofur ran up to him, bloodied axe at chest height, before they both started working together to kill one of the biggest Orcs he had ever seen. 'Go help the others.' He cried, gripping his own sword tightly.
'No! I'm going to stay here with you!' Kili growled, ducking a blade as one of the Orcs threw it viciously at his head- he ran to meet it, his dirk raised. The Orc screeched, almost foaming at the mouth- with wide eyes Kili just managed to throw himself to the side as it barrelled towards him with huge force; thankfully he managed to use its momentum to turn sharply and embed his dirk into its side, the blade almost sinking right into its flesh- the Orc yelped, turning and bringing its arms out, catching Kili in the throat and drawing him in, before throwing him in a huge arc, where he fell into a heap on the floor. 'Kili!' Fili cried, his voice cracking as he saw the Orc advance on his little brother. 'NO! KILI!'
Kili looked up, dazed, just as the Orc got to him, pulling his own dirk from its side with not even a growl of pain this time. He rolled to the side, hearing the whoosh of dispersed air as the Orc threw the blade at what would have been his head had he still been laying there. With an alarmed cry he picked up a dropped axe and wielded it- not quite as well as he would have with a blade or bow-just as the Orc, tired of how long it was taking, ran full pelt at him, pushing him in the chest and sending him off his feet.
'Kili!' Fili cried, rolling to his knees to get to his feet. Pain speared his chest, but he tried to ignore it, tried to ignore the tears pricking his eyes as agony lanced through him- he had to get to Kili….he had to get to him before…. Looking up at a strangled cry of pain, he felt his world fall around him; Kili's feet had left the floor as he struggled in the Orc's dirty hands, his throat being held tight. 'NOO!' he yelled, getting to his feet this time without a thought for the pain. He unsheathed his dagger, eyes dark as he saw Kili weakly struggling as the Orc squeezed tighter. In the few seconds it took for Fili to reach his brother, it was like the rest of the world didn't even exist….he just had to get to Kili. With a war cry his Uncle would have been proud of he drew back his arm before embedding the blade to the hilt in the back of the Orc. It straightened with a screech, dropping his brother like a hot coal. Fili stumbled backwards, his knees finally failing him as he fell heavily to the floor.
Thorin looked over, wiping his face of the sweat and blood- he was about to run over to defend his kin when another Orc came, and then another… It seemed like there was a never ending amount just coming out of the forest- where were they all coming from?
He knew that this was no mere wayward pack of beasts, though- Azog the Defiler must be close, must have given the order for this. With a dark glint in his eyes he renewed his fight, this time gravitating to his nephews, catching desperate glimpses every now and again at what was happening.
Kili sat up panting, his face red and sweaty as he looked across at the dead Orc, and just behind it… 'Fili?!' he cried, picking himself up with a groan and staggering over to his brother.
He looked down just as another Orc advanced, eyes only on the dwarf on the ground- Kili quickly got his bow from his back, notching an arrow into it and letting off an arrow before it even took its next step; it fell heavily to the floor, but even then Kili couldn't check on his brother, for a cry of alarm from Bofur caught his attention- he was being backed into a corner, three Orcs battering him from every angle. He tore after them, unsheathing his smaller blade and pushing it into the side of an Orc, before dispatching the other with an arrow; Bofur threw his axe at another just as it dived at him- Kili nodded in thanks, before running back to Fili. His brother looked up, but he could barely keep his eyes open. 'Come on….come on Fili…..' Kili muttered, gathering him up and pulling him closer to the protection of a tree- it was all that he could manage at this point. 'Stay with me….' He instructed, wiping blood off his brother's forehead. 'Don't close your eyes…'
'K-Kili?' Fili stammered, his teeth beginning to chatter together. A cry of pain from one of the others caught both their attention- they looked up to see Ori being pushed backwards, landing awkwardly on his arm, before his brothers rallied to his aid. 'I can't stay here Fili,' Kili cried, watching as Balin was almost speared by an Orc blade. 'I have to help the others…' he finished, brown eyes wide as he looked down at his sibling.
'I know…go….' Fili moaned, his eyes almost rolling in their sockets. 'Be safe.' He finished, squeezing Kili's hand.
'And you-' Kili replied, pressing his dirk into his brother's hand. 'I won't be long, and then we'll be out of here for good.'
'Course we will….' Fili smiled, before it faded as he groaned.
Kili winced for him, but he knew he couldn't protect his brother any more- he had to help the others. With an anguished look back at his brother, he pushed himself up, eyes steely as he went back into the chaos to help the rest of the company. The Orcs just seemed to keep on coming, but Kili knew that they had to just keep on fighting, but they just didn't stop… 'We can't fight them all!' he cried to his uncle- Thorin had blood smeared on his face and scarlet on his clothes. He stopped and watched after killing his latest foe- they were seriously outnumbered, and with a jolt he realised that they weren't going to last much longer, not at the rate that these beasts were coming.
He drew his breath to call for them to run for cover, to get out of this mindless bloodbath, but for a split second his eyes settled on Fili- he would never survive the retreat, not with the Orcs hot on their trail, and he needed Kili to help defend the group, not just his brother. Panic erupted in his chest….he didn't know what to do.
Seconds later, however, the choice was made for him.
A huge, tumultuous roar met their ears, causing even the Orcs to stop and look around- it echoed around the desolate forest, but it didn't even fade before another rang out, and then another- what sounded like entire trees being felled crackled through the battle. Moments later, and the stuff of nightmares came through the trees towards them- the immense outline of a black bear bore down on them all, the great claws flashing as it pounced, without mercy, on the crowd of Orcs. In what seemed like mere seconds bodies littered the ground, with Orcs fleeing in every direction as the bear roared again, its terrible mouth open to reveal jaws the size of blades, its coal black eyes narrowed in malice. Silence finally descended in the forest, with only the harsh breathing of the company and the angry roars of the bear to be heard as it stamped on the ground.
Eyes wide, Thorin stepped forwards, unsure of how to proceed- did he go up to him in this form? Would he be safe? Seconds later, however, the bear ran back into the forest, leaving the company stunned in its wake.
'Come back! They might come back!' Bofur cried, shaking his head at the space the bear had made.
'He's not coming back; he's leaving us to fend for ourselves again!' Thorin growled, though he too watched the space, hoping he was wrong. Kili didn't even stop and wait- he raced to his brother's side, hitching Fili's head into his lap as he moaned in pain.
'A-Are they gone?' he wheezed, fingers laced in Kili's sleeve.
'Yes, Beorn came back- he must have heard the fighting!' Kili replied, eyes wide as his brother nodded weakly.
'Good t-timing then…' he stuttered, before his head rolled to the side, groaning.
'Fili! No…no don't you do that…..don't you do that….' Kili cried, pulling Fili's face round again. 'Stay with me Fili….don't leave me here….' He said, swallowing back his tears as Fili coughed, wincing.
'I'm not….I'm not g-going anywhere.' He stammered, blue eyes swimming with his own tears- one streaked down his face.
'Good,' Kili nodded, a half smile on his lips. It soon died as Fili cried out in pain again, almost convulsing on the ground. He looked around desperately, for someone, anyone, to come and help- the shadow of their Uncle fell across his face as he looked up; Thorin knelt down, eyes full of concern. 'Fili…' he muttered, putting a hand on his shoulder as Fili looked up, eyes as wide as a child. He peered down at the wound again, at the fresh blood that was now leaking from his chest. Breathing in deeply, he shook his head as Fili moaned again, his eyes never leaving his Uncle's. 'He's going to be alright isn't he?' Kili asked him, voice high. He looked around- 'Where's Gandalf?! Why isn't he here?' he cried, panic bubbling in his chest as he looked down at his brother's pallid face.
'Kili I-' Thorin started.
'GANDALF! PLEASE!' Kili yelled over him, cupping bloodied hands around his face. Thorin closed his eyes, before he opened them as Fili clasped one of his hands. Their two eyes met, a dawning comprehension growing between them. 'Kili….he's lost a lot of blood. Too much.' Thorin started, but his nephew shook his head, eyes suddenly wild. 'No! Don't say that, don't you say that!' he cried, moving closer to his brother. 'He's going to be alright, we just need to sort his wound out, like you said….then he'll be fine.'
'Kili, please understand, he-'
'No! I won't! He's going to be fine, I know it!' Kili cried, a tear leaking from the corner of one of his eyes.
'Kili…' Fili breathed, reaching out a weak hand to his brother- Kili caught it, shaking his head. 'Kili….please…' he continued, but it was like he couldn't quite get his words out. Thorin almost lost his composure there and then, he stood up gruffly, teetering backwards as he felt his world fall crash around him; the nearest thing to reach was the corpse of an Orc- he kicked it, the force pushing it backwards before settling again- again and again he kicked the body, before an exasperated, scared, angry cry was brought forth to his lips. This wasn't supposed to happen, not to Fili, not to any of them….
'Come on Fili, you're strong, stronger than me- stronger even than Uncle….you can do it, you can fight this!' Kili cried, tears on his cheeks as he urged his brother to hold on.
'I t-told you….I'm not ga-going anyw-where….' Fili replied, forcing the words out, before winking at his brother. 'W-who's going to get you out of tr-trouble if I'm gone?' Kili snorted at that, giving his brother a short nod. 'Hang on brother, we'll get out of this…' he promised him, holding one of his hands tightly. He was going to make sure Fili was okay, no matter what it took….
Poor Fili- is he going to make it? Find out in the next chapter!
I hope the battle scene wasn't too long and laborious for you, it went on longer than I thought it would!
Next chapter up soon!
Thank you for reading, please review!
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