Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 7

Tauriel moved quickly to Kili's side with the precious herbs in hand even as Hari conjured a bowl and more cloths as Balin and Bofur ushered the children back downstairs, they did not need to see what would happen next. Hot water quickly filled the bowl and the precious Athelas placed in it as well. Tauriel carefully uncovered the wound and Kili whimpered in pain, glassy eyes staring through her. The wound was terrible to look at and had to be causing utter agony. She took the wet mixture and placed it against the wound, causing Kili to scream in pain. "Menno o nin na hon i eliad annen annin, hon leitho o ngurth." She chanted over and over, pleading for the dwarf to be healed. Hari closed his eyes and leant on his staff, chanting his own plea softly and he was happy to hear Legolas' voice join them.

Fili held his brother still as he screamed and writhed in agony while the three immortals chanted, trying to save not just his life but his soul. Could he let them kill his brother if this failed? Kili wouldn't want to spend eternity enslaved, he knew that, but the thought of letting the elf kill him, of letting anyone kill him, made him feel sick. Fili felt a flash of panic as Kili went still but then he saw he was staring at Tauriel, his eyes focused and less glassy looking. His breathing was becoming stronger, less ragged and his fever seemed to be going down as the three gave what power they could to save him. Kili suddenly went utterly limp and Fili nearly panicked but then realised he was simply unconscious.

Tauriel staggered but Legolas steadied her, guiding her to a chair even as Hari and Oin moved to finish tending the wound. The poison may have been neutralised but the wound was still a threat to Kili's survival, he couldn't afford to lose any more blood or for infection to set in. they soon had both sides of the wound stitched and dressed with Kili as comfortable as they could make him.

"Will he…" Thorin couldn't bring himself to say it.

"The poison is no longer a threat." Hari stated. "The only threat to him now are the normal worries from a wound of this kind. He is lucky that it appears to have missed all of his major organs but we will have to wait and see. Thankfully we still have time until Durin's Day for him to recover." The wizard assured him. "Come now, he needs rest as do all of you. Come morning there will be work to do thanks to our friendly visitors." He ushered them all from the room except Tauriel who would not move. Fili took a very stern glare to make move from his brothers' side but he was exhausted and needed sleep before he fell ill.

Sigrid stood as the dwarves and wizard came down the stairs along with one of the elves. Fili was the last down, looking utterly exhausted and she didn't even think before moving to his side. She gently guided him to a chair and made him sit down before going and getting him a mug of warm tea.

Tilda tugged at Thorin's sleeve to get his attention. "Yes young one?"

"Is Kili going to be okay now?"

"I hope so. He is doing better now but there are always risks with wounds." The exiled king told her and she nodded sadly. He managed a small smile for her and led her over to the fire. "Now it is time for you to try and sleep, we don't want your father mad at us for keeping you up." Dwalin handed him a blanket and Thorin tucked her in on a big chair so she was comfortable. Bain simply curled up on the floor in front of the fire while Sigrid watched over her siblings until she fell asleep in her chair and Fili covered her with another blanket.

Tauriel gently bathed Kili's face with a cool cloth and he stirred slightly, eyes opening though not fully focused. "Tauriel." He called weakly.

"Shhh, rest." She murmured.

"You cannot be her." He denied, fighting sleep. "She is far away….she walks in Starlight in another world."

"Hush Kili, you need to sleep."

"Do you think….she could have loved me?" He asked softly before passing out and Tauriel stared at him in shock. Did he mean it or was it the fever talking? Love? They barely knew each other and yet she was drawn to him. She went back to gently bathing his face, to hopefully break the fever fully. The poison may be gone but he still had a hole through his chest and out his back, if they could break the fever then it would lower the stress on his body.

"Do you?" A familiar voice asked and she looked up to find her Prince in the doorway.

"Legolas I…"

"He is not like other dwarves but he is a Prince, if they reclaim the mountain his life will never be his own." He warned her gently. Tauriel nodded even as his hand moved to his hair. Legolas watched her before vanishing from the doorway, going to patrol the town in case the orcs returned.

Fili slipped into the room, noting the elf gently tending to his brother. "How is he?" he whispered.

"His fever hasn't broken but it also hasn't gone up. There has been no bleeding and he did wake for a short time several hours ago." She answered just as softly before motioning for Fili to take her place.

He sat on the edge of the bed and gently smoothed Kili's messy hair. "He was so small when he was born, I didn't understand but now I know they didn't expect him to survive. All I knew was there was this tiny little person and he was my baby brother, mine to protect." He whispered, smiling softly at his sleeping brother. Tauriel listened eagerly, she had never had siblings, it was rare for an elf to have more than one child although Lord Elrond had more than managed. "But I can't protect him from everything." Fili bit his lip, he refused to cry again.

Tauriel hesitantly reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. Fili looked over at her in surprise at the gentle touch. "It is normal to want to protect those you love. Your brother is strong, he will recover." She told him and Fili nodded shakily.

"Amad did not want him to come. She fears losing us both to this Quest. She's going to kill Uncle when she finds out about this." Fili managed a shaky smile and Tauriel smiled back.

"I think she will just be happy for both of you to live, no matter what injuries you may receive."

"Do you care for him?" Fili asked and she started. "I know my brother m'lady. He is besotted with you. If you truly care for him in return I will stand with you when it comes time to inform Uncle."

"You would?" He whispered and he smiled.

"I would see my brother happy. If you are his One than so be it. I am the eldest, I will marry to preserve Durin's line but one of us deserves love."

"I... I do not know what I feel." She admitted softly, watching Kili. "We barely know each other and yet, there is something." She shook her head, hiding behind a veil of crimson. Fili watched her and suddenly had the feeling that no matter how many more centuries she had lived than them she was still young for an elf.

"Well I doubt Kili will be going anywhere for a while and he will need someone to care for him until the wound heals." Fili commented and Tauriel blinked.

"You would trust me with this?"

"You saved his life. And I heard the two of you talking in the cells. You won't hurt him or let him be harmed." Fili smiled and her and then lay down beside his brother, needing to feel him breath even as he joined him in sleep.

Hari slipped from the inn and stood staring out over the water. He knew the elves would be nearing their target soon. He wanted to be there to help against Sauron but he had promised Gandalf he would protect the Company. If not for the Orc attack he may have slipped away to join in the attack and then come back to face the dragon but with the Orcs so close he couldn't leave them, especially with Kili down for the next few weeks at least. He would prefer to leave the town now and head for the mountain but there was no food there and little shelter when they still had almost a week of extra time before Durin's Day.

TBC…..