Bilbo and Bringa returned with the water pails just then and Asphodel and Brenna rejoined them in one corner of the room. Thorin didn't blame them for leaving. He didn't want to be here for what he knew was coming either, but he had to be here for his nephews. He needed them to know he was there and that wasn't going to leave them. Ever.

"The first thing to do is to separate them," Oin began as Thorin helped him to cut Kili's tunic off.

Kili flinched at their touch. He was trying not to show fear, but it wasn't working well for him. You are a dwarf! And of Durin's Folk, no less he told himself as he tried to suppress a sob,toughen up! But every breath felt like a dagger cutting through him. And every cough brought up a mouth full of blood for him to gag on. But he kept his eyes locked with Fili's. Fili was hurting too. He needed to be there for his big brother.

By now, Gloin, Dori and the others had managed to get a strong fire going with the wood Bofur and Bombur had brought back. The fire lit up the tiny cabin and warmed it immensely. Gloin had come over to see if he could be of aid to his brother. Balin stood nearby, a comforting presence as always, while Dwalin, having just returned from scouting the area with Bifur, stood ready to assist as well.

"Uncle…" Kili begged, feeling his courage falter a bit, as he felt Oin's fingers touching the area near the wound, examining it, "Please don't…"

"They have to, Kee," Fili murmured softly, squeezing his little brother's hands. Fili was barely controlling his fear as well. His stomach felt like it was on fire, he'd never experienced such pain before. He had whimpered like a wounded animal almost constantly. But he knew Kili was as much pain as he, and that his little brother was scared, despite his brave front.

"Its okay, Kili," Thorin said, glancing up at Oin and the others, "How are we to proceed?"

"Some hold them steady and tight," Oin said, "and as far apart as possible. And hold the spear."

Thorin glanced over at Dwalin who nodded and came forward to help. Kili gasped audibly as the big warrior carefully and gently wrapped his arms around him, holding him in a gentle, but firm grip around the upper chest and torso. Thorin moved around to do the same for Fili.

"We need a blade," Oin said, glancing over at Gloin, "Yer axe would have been useful here."

Bard stepped forward, "'I have a small wood axe on my barge," he said, "I'll be right back."

Bard tore out the door and returned within minutes with a medium sized axe which he handed to Gloin. Kili squeezed his eyes shut tight as Gloin took the axe and came forward. Fili swallowed hard.

"Go, Gloin," Thorin said as sweat ran down his face. He had to concentrate hard to keep his hands from shaking a little as they held Fili in place. Gloin was a skilled and accurate warrior, but one false move could be fatal for Fili and Kili.

With one strong but controlled swing, Gloin brought the axe down in between Fili and Kili, snapping the spear and separating them. Both of them cried out in both fear and pain and Thorin and Dwalin held them firmly as they both jolted. Quickly, Gloin withdrew his axe and Thorin let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Nice job, Brother," Oin complemented as he hurried forward to inspect the job, "No further damage."

Thorin moved back to his original position at the head of the table and glanced over at Fili who gazed up at him, his eyes wide with pain. Thorin frowned with concern. His nephew's face was suddenly very pale and he was shaking in pain, beads of sweat formed on his temple.

"What is it?" he asked with alarm, fearing that they had done more damage than originally thought.

"Stomach…" Fili stammered, barely able to form words, and then with a loud scream, he gasped, "It burns! Uncle!"

Thorin glanced up at Oin who quickly came forward to examine wound, "ah Lad," Oin said and glanced over at Thorin, "Ye tore yer stomach a little more. Do you feel sick to yer stomach?"

Fili nodded. Thorin sighed as he and Gloin carefully rolled Fili over so that he was laying on his other side with his back to Kili. This seemed to bother Kili a bit and he tried to squirm closer to his brother.

And before anyone else could move, Fili quickly moved to the edge of the table and proceeded to be sick all over the floor. The effort caused agony and Thorin had to support him as he continued to be sick, gasping and crying out as he coughed. He fell back, exhausted and gasping for breath. Thorin wiped his nephew's warm brow, rubbing circles into his temple. Fili moaned loudly as he lay on his back.

"Fee…" Kili breathed and then he suddenly descended into a coughing fit that brought up more blood.

"I-I'm okay..." Fili said, his voice barely a whisper, "I feel like I've eaten some rotten pork... I think I'll never eat again." He gave his brother a weak but reassuring smile.

"Move them both onto their back and elevate their heads," Oin said quickly and quickly complied. Kili cried out from the pain as Dwalin handed Thorin some furs and he lifted Kili's head and shoulders, stuffing the furs underneath him as he gently eased him onto his back. Then, they quickly did the same for Fili.

"We better start with his injury first," Oin said moving around the table to stand over Kili, "That spear's been in his lung too long to be doing any good."

Kili was struggling now. The spear was lodged in the lower half of his right lung and blood leaked out around the wooden shaft and flowed out over his chest. He gasped and his lips suddenly began to take on a bluish tint as he tried to take in air.

"Oin…" Thorin breathed wearily as he held Kili's head in both his hands.

"The lad's lung collapsed," Oin said, as he examined the spear, "I need to drain the air from around his lungs. But first, this spear must come out. Here let him drink this."

Oin put a small bottle of dark liquid over and Thorin lifted Kili up and helped him take a few slow sips.

"For the pain," Oin said calmly and as Kili slowly finished the drink, the healer began to expertly sterilize a small knife by placing it over a candle for a few minutes and then as he moved toward Kili with the blade, Kili squirmed in protest.

"Hold him," Oin instructed, "This is delicate work." Gloin and Dwalin helped Thorin hold Kili down. Thorin risked a glance at Fili for a brief second and saw Balin was seated in front of the blonde dwarf, talking to him and keeping him calm.

And then Kili screamed at the top of his lungs. And again and again. It seemed the whole world suddenly stopped at that sound. Kili tried to struggle in the grasp of three strong dwarves as he screamed and screamed while Oin cut into the flesh around the spear. Kili's screams filled the cottage and every dwarf, hobbit, gnome, elf, and man cringed and watched in horror and sympathy.

Beside his screaming brother, Fili squirmed a bit, trying to get to Kili, but Balin worked at keeping him focused.

Finally after too many agonizing moments, Oin pulled the spear tip free. Thorin gasped as blood began to gush out of the wound, running across his nephew's bare torso and gathering in small puddles on the table beneath him. Kili suddenly began to groan, his head listing back and forth as his life's blood flowed like a stream out of his body. A sickening noise was heard as air escaped through the wound. Kili's skin took on a very pale complexion and his skin felt clammy as Thorin held the young dwarf's head in his hands.

"He's going into shock..." Thorin murmured, as Kili continued to moan wearily, "Oin..."

Oin was quick to respond and attempted to staunch the flow of blood. After a few tense moments as Thorin looked on, the blood was finally halted. Oin let out a breath and glanced at Thorin as he finished releasing the air around the lung. Moments later, he quickly sutured the wound up and bandaged it.

By now, Kili could take no more. Thorin watched in horror as his eyes rolled back and his body went limp. Thorin felt the breath catch in his throat as he looked up at Oin.

"He's just lost consciousness," Oin assured Thorin as he worked, "He lost a lot of blood. I've done what I can for him for now, we just need to keep him warm and monitor his condition."

Thorin nodded as Gloin and Dwalin moved back from the now unconscious 's screams still echoed inside Thorin's head and he swallowed a lump in his throat as he took a cloth and cleaned the blood off Kili's bare chest before pulling the cloaks and furs up to cover him.

"The lung is patched up for now" Oin said as Thorin pressed his forehead against Kili's, fighting to maintain his composure, "But the lad still has a fight ahead of him. He'll need to be monitored, I'm concerned about infection and he will have some difficulty breathing for awhile."

Thorin nodded and let out a breath. The room was eerily quiet, despite the number of beings present. No one dared to speak or even move, it was if they had all been frozen in place by the horror. But it was not over yet, Thorin glanced to Fili who met his gaze with his blue eyes wide with pain and with concern for his little brother. It was Fili's turn.