FINALLY CHAPTER 7! Believe it or not I have been working on this chapter consistently since I posted chapter 6. Chapter 7, by the way was actually suppose to be chapter 6, but I wasn't ready to tackle this chapter at the time, and quite honestly I still wasn't, but I had to otherwise the story would've come to a stand still. The trouble I had with this chapter was a few chapters back I realized I would need to reunite the Company, and for some odd reason this proved to be a challenge for me. Also, the fact that it had rained in previous chapter making tracking difficult for our heroes. I knew this would create a challenge in finding Fili and Kili. In addition to all this I was also battling writer's block, there were times I would literally write a sentence, come back 24 hours later and write another sentences.

Anyway, enough of my rambling, here is chapter 7. Hope you enjoy!

It had been a long day of meetings and negotiations, and Thorin was more than glad to see it come to an end. With his pipe in hand he settled down in the large armchair by the fire crackling in the hearth. The house was quiet, his sister and nephews having turned in long before he returned home.

It had been a little more than six months since Dis and the boys had moved in following the sudden death of Thorin's brother-in-law. The loss of Rali was hard on everyone, especially little Fili. The five year old had practically been his father's shadow, following him wherever he went. Explaining to the lad his father was not coming home was one of the most difficult things Thorin ever had to do. The young dwarfling sobbed asking, "Where's Papa?" and "Why can't I go with him".

Fili almost immediately clung to his uncle, shadowing him just as he did his father. Thorin was not a replacement, but being in the presence of an older, stronger dwarf was familiar to the little dwarf and this gave him comfort. He even took up falling asleep beside his uncle at night; Thorin did not mind. Some nights he would lie awake watching his nephew sleep before dozing off. Never had he thought he could love anyone as much as he loved Fili and his baby brother Kili, who was nothing more than a tiny bundle in a cradle. After sometime though, Dis and Thorin decided it was time for Fili to sleep in his own bed, and together over a series of nights they gradually eased the lad back into his own room.

Blowing out a puff of smoke, Thorin leaned back in the chair; his eyes closed trying to clear his mind of the stresses of the day. He remained this way until he was aroused by a gentle touch on his knee. Opening his eyes he gazed down to see two blue eyes peering up at him from under a mop of golden waves.

"Fili? What are you doing up?"

"Uncle Forin, I'm scared," the boy confessed, squeezing his stuffed lion tighter. He still had trouble pronouncing the "th" sound, and it often came out sounding more like an "f", especially when he was tired.

Leaning over, the King lifted the young lad onto his lap, "Of what?" he asked as Fili snuggled up against him. At first the blond said nothing; he just sat there staring at the fire, his ear pressed against his uncle's chest listening to the beat of his heart.

"Fili, what are you afraid of?" Thorin asked again.

"Orcs," Fili whispered, as if saying the word would send the creatures bursting through the front door any moment.

Thorin let out an agitated sigh. Dwalin and his stories. "There's nothing to be scared of," he tried to assure the tiny dwarf curled up on his lap.

"But what if the Orcs come and…and try to take me away?"

"They won't," Thorin said firmly, "I won't let them."

Looking up at his uncle, Fili reached a tiny hand out to stroke Thorin's beard. This was another thing he had also done with his father. He loved how soft Rali's beard had felt, his uncle's was almost as soft, but would never be a soft as his Papa's. "How?" Fili asked.

"You don't worry about that. Just know I would never let them lay a finger on you."

"Momma and Kili too?"

"Momma and Kili too," Thorin confirmed, gently taking hold of his nephew's hand.

"Always and forever?" Fili yawned, his grip on his lion tightening slightly.

"Always and forever," Thorin confirmed, rubbing the back of Fili's hand with his thumb. It was so small, and chubby; and when it was opened and relaxed there were tiny dimples in the knuckles.

There they sat – king and heir, uncle and nephew – listening to the fire crackle, as shadows danced on the walls. When the flames had died, Thorin rose from the chair hugging the sleeping babe against his chest. Carrying the boy down the hall he stopped in front of his nephew's bedroom door. He stood there for a moment, before continuing on to his room; there Thorin laid the child on his bed and gently kissed his brow. Then climbing in beside him, he pulled the covers over them and went to sleep.

"Thorin? Thorin?" a gruff voice pulled Thorin from his thoughts.

Turning he saw Dwalin standing beside him, concern drawn on his face. Oin, Gloin, Bofur, and Nori were also staring at him, never had they seen their King at such a loss – save for Dwalin who had known Thorin all his life and had seen him through some of his darkest hours. Veering back around he spotted the name Azog still smeared on the wall, and like a tidal wave every horrible possible scenario his nephews could be in at that very moment flashed before his eyes.

When it came to their victims Orcs worked one of two ways. If they didn't kill their prey on the spot, the foul creatures drug their catch away somewhere out of sight, where they would torture the poor soul for a few days before growing bored with him and end his miserable life, if he didn't die of his wounds first.

While he was deeply concerned for both of the lads, his heart lay heavily with the eldest. Kili had his health, and though good health wasn't much against the heinous acts of the Orcs, it could still buy the dark prince some time. Fili, on the other hand, was terribly ill, and even the smallest of ailments combined with indescribable torture was practically an automatic death sentence.

Shaking his head, he attempted to clear his mind of the disturbing thoughts. Though he knew was true he would not, could not, dwell on such horrid images. Not if he were to find Fili and Kili. He had to keep his head on straight. He made a promise "Always and forever," and he was going to keep it.

"I have to find them," he announced quickly exiting the cave, the others followed.

Outside the moon peeked through the veil of clouds, cascading narrows streams of light on the earth. There was a slow, cool drizzle, almost a mist, that came down on the slain Orc corpse scattered about the ground. Not wasting any time the Dwarf King ordered, "Find which way they went!"

The task would be easier said than done, as previous showers had washed away most of the tracks. They could only hope to find some branches of a low lying shrub bent back in the direction the foul creatures had gone or maybe a trinket of some sort that had been dropped. Needless to say, the task was practically impossible, but none dare tell the King.

Everyone began to search, spreading out over the terrain. Bofur and Nori returned to the trail to see if they may have missed something earlier in their haste. The toy maker led the way through the narrow wall of shrubs. Stepping out on the trail he glanced over his shoulder to see if Nori was still behind him, but he never found out. For something - or someone - came out of no where and knocked him off his feet.

Dwarves were not runners. Sprinters...yes, but not runners. Their legs were too short, their bodies too stout, and their steps too heavy. At least that was what Bilbo had always thought. Yet it seemed Balin, Bifur, Dori, Ori, and even Bombur, the largest of them all, were an exception to the rule.

Down the path they ran, and all the while Bilbo was trying to figure out why exactly they were hunting Orcs. "No, we're not looking for Orcs," the Hobbit reminded himself, "We're looking for Thorin, Dwalin, and the others in case they should need help fighting the Orcs." That didn't sound much better. Besides, Thorin, Dwalin, and Gloin were all seasoned warriors. Surely the three of them along with Oin, Bofur, and Nori could handle a few bloodthirsty, flesh-eating Orcs.

On they went, with Bifur in the lead, and Bilbo wondered how much further they had to go before catching up with Thorin and the others when suddenly someone stepped out right in front of them! Bifur tried to stop - he really did - but he was going so fast and the someone was so close he couldn't, and the two collided!

The Hobbit and the Dwarves watched as their friend, the someone, and a rather familiar floppy hat sprang up in the air before coming down in a heap on the ground. Bifur saw stars of many colors, large and small, as did the mysterious stranger. The two struggled, stumbling and falling over each other as they tried to find a foothold. Bombur hurried to help his cousin as Bilbo, Balin, Dori, and Ori looked on, their weapons drawn as a precaution.

"By Mahal I swear," muttered the someone as he stood and brushed the dust of the all too familiar floppy hat. It was the second time that evening his hat had been unceremoniously ripped from his noggin.

Seeing it was none other than Bofur, Bilbo and the others sheathed their weapons. The toy maker was too busy fussing over his hat to notice his comrades. It wasn't until Balin loudly, and intentionally, cleared his throat that Bofur looked up.

"Oh!" chimed Bofur, "Look who it is!"

Having heard all the commotion, Nori emerged from the bushes with his mace at the ready to help fight off whatever foul creature may have come their way. Immediately following him were Thorin, Dwalin, Gloin, and Oin. They too were ready for battle however, once they saw it was only Bilbo and the rest of the Company they lowered their swords and axes.

"Look who I found!" announced Bofur with a grin, "Actually, it was more like they found me."

"What brings you here?" inquired Thorin, asking the question on everyone's mind. When he and the other five Dwarves he took along as a search party departed from the camp, he left specific instructions for Bilbo, Balin, and the others to remain behind in case his nephews should arrive in his absence. He knew his men would not go against his orders unless it was for good reason.

It was Balin who told Thorin and the others of Radagast visit to the campsite, and the Brown Wizard's sighting of an Orc pack that drove them out into night searching for their comrades.

"Please tell me you've found the lads," said the wise old dwarf concluding his account of the events earlier that evening.

"Azog has them," Thorin replied, his voice was bitter and dark, and a mask of anger and anguish washed over his face as he walked away to continue the search.

"Azog? The...the pale Orc, has Fili and Kili?" Bilbo stuttered.

"Aye," answered Dwalin as a matter of fact, arms crossed over his broad chest, "Unfortunately the rain has washed away most of the tracks, it's going to be difficult - almost impossible - to figure which way they went."

"Well, almost impossible isn't impossible," timid Ori clarified.

"Aye, and that you are right my lad," Balin smiled warmly, patting the young scholar on the shoulder.

"And I know if we all look we're bound to find something," added the Hobbit with great eagerness.

"All right it's settled, everyone spread out," ordered Bofur. Spread out they did - north, south, east, west, and all the places in between. No log or rock was left unturned as they searched for anything that would point them in the right direction. For somewhere in Middle Earth, the sun was fading and the moon was helplessly watching as it slipped away.

Okay, there you have it,chapter 7. Please review! I love hearing from all my lovely readers, and yes that means you. So, click the review button and share with me your thoughts. In the meantime, I'm going to start working on chapter 8. Hopefully,it will come together quicker than 7, but I can't promise how soon I'll have it posted. Again thanks for reading!