A cold wet liquid dampened his hot and sticky skin causing a shivering sensation to roam his whole body. A body that was ripped, torn, sliced, pierced and broken; a body that was red, black, blue and purple; a body that just didn't have the strength to go on.

In the tent, the healers, including Oin, were gathered around this broken and mangled body; each dwarf rushing their skilled healing hands in all directions over every wound. Voices; so many muffled and unclear voices were speaking at the same time; arguing with each other and guiding each other. It sounded chaotic to the ear until it was too much. A complete black silence engulfed him again and so, Thorin Oakenshield lay there; slowly falling into darkness with each passing minute.

"You need to go lads! You can't be in here!"

"But we can't leave him! Please! Let us stay with him!" Fili argued with a healer who was trying to push him and Kili out of the tent. Five other dwarfs were struggling to get rid of the brothers who were thrashing about to get loose and be with Thorin.

"He needs us!" Kili shouted without taking his eyes off his uncle; his eyes filled with exhausted tears.

"Right now your uncle needs immediate medical attention. So if you want to jeopardise that then by all means go to him and get in the way. If not, then piss off and let us do our work!" The healer was an old dwarf; covered in blood and other substances not worth even thinking about. His deep grey eyes, like stone, bore threateningly into Fili and Kili. His beard was unusually untidy, his eyes were tired from lack of sleep from tending to the wounded from all hours and the last thing he needed right now was two young dwarfs harassing him when he was trying to save the life of the King Under the Bloody Mountain.

Big hands rested gently on Fili and Kili's shoulders as they helplessly watched the old healer retreat back to where Thorin lay. They looked up and saw Dwalin behind them who was staring intensely at the healer's back, "C'mon boys. That may be a grumpy git but he's the best healer in all of the Blue Mountains... and now Erebor" He finished smiling but his gesture was strained and a concerned gaze directed itself towards Thorin.


Thorin.

A sharp intake of breath sounded throughout the tent and a scream of pain came after it. Oin was startled as he was cutting up cloth to use as dressing. He turned to see Thorin stirring and ran to his side. Two other healers rushed into the tent to tend to the King.

Thorin's back arched and his eyes flashed open as a searing pain erupted through his chest. He could hear voices but could not recognise a single word. Sweat soaked his sheets and his hair was dripping wet as if someone dipped his head in a lake. His bloodshot eyes were bulging as the pain did not disperse anytime soon. A struggled cry sounded in his throat and Oin noticed his eyes fall out of focus.

"Thorin! Stay with us Thorin!" Oin said as he rushed to measure the healing formula Thorin desperately needed to ease the pain, "Hold him still!"

The other healers pinned Thorin onto the bed to stop him moving. One of them firmly pressed their hand on his forehead and with the other hand, grabbed his jaw and opened his mouth. Thorin was shaking so terribly and his breathing became panicked. Oin leaned in closer and thrust the formula in his mouth and the healer closed it.

"Swallow it Thorin! It will ease the pain!"

Just then Fili entered to see his uncle in a lot of stress, "What the hell are you doing? Get off him! You're hurting him!"

Fili ran over and pulled one of the healers off Thorin.

"Fili he needs the formula to ease his pain. We can't give it to him if he is thrashing about!" Oin said aggravated but quickly turned back to Thorin who started choking. A lump pained Fili's throat and he fell to his knees beside his uncle.

"Turn him on his side so he won't suffocate!"

An excruciating groan rumbled in Thorin's throat as he was moved onto his side and Fili rushed to the other side of the bed so he could see Thorin's face. He was deathly pale bar from the red gashes and blue and purple bruises on his face. His dark eyebrows were arched upward, showing a pained expression in his handsome features, along with red raw eyes, now closed and wet with falling tears. Fili fought back his own tears. He hated seeing Thorin in this much pain and so, leaned in and gently kissed his uncle on the forehead, hoping that that would allow Thorin to know he wasn't alone.

He was hot, too hot yet he shivered violently below the sheets. Fili grabbed his hand to find that his fingers were cold as well. He sniffed and pulled the sheets closer to Thorin's face and tucked them in so there were no gaps for cold air to enter. Feeling tired himself, he pulled a chair over and sat close enough to the bed so that he could put his head down to where Thorin's face lay. And just like Thorin used to do when he and Kili were children, Fili hummed the foreboding and chilling song of Misty Mountains Cold to soothe his uncles suffering.

Somewhere in his unconsciousness Thorin heard someone humming a song that sounded so familiar and so comforting. But his eyes did not open for he knew then that he was not alone.


"He's growing stronger day by day" Oin said conversationally as he checked the dressings on Thorin's chest.

"That's a relief" Kili breathed as he looked over his uncle whose deathly pale face now shone a little colour of pink.

"The fever is now gone and I think it's about time we wake him."

Fili was standing beside Kili with a concerned frown in his brow, "Are- are you sure that's a good idea?"

Oin smiled at Fili and put a supporting hand on his shoulder, "Your uncle has survived the worst injuries I have ever encountered Fili. He will be fine and waking him up will do him no harm other than disturb his beauty sleep."

Kili laughed and turned back to stare lovingly at his uncle. Seeing Kili laugh again eased Fili's troubles and an excitement started to grow inside him at the thought of being able to speak to Thorin.

"So... who wants to wake him?"

Oin stared expectantly at the young Princes flabbergasted faces and waited.

"What... we can wake him?" Kili asked shocked

"Well I see no other who deserves it more than you two. Go on, wake him up"

Fili and Kili looked at each other and a sudden nervousness came over them both. It was also a shock to them that they felt this way; after all they nearly lost Thorin and to think that they would feel nervous to wake him up knowing that he was going to be okay sounded, well, quite silly. Oin, not wanting to be present during a moment like this, left the tent to tend to other matters.

"Well?"

Fili smiled at his younger brother and led the way. They both positioned themselves either side of Thorin and just stared at him.

"But he looks so... so peaceful" Fili said thinking twice about it.

"Stuff it! He's been sleeping for ages and it's about time he woke up" Kili said and sat on the bed. He gently soothed the side of Thorin's face with the back of his hand, taking care not to irritate the gash that made its way from his temple to his cheek. Fili followed but held his uncle's hand which now felt much warmer; a feeling of ease washed over Fili and he smiled.

"Thorin? Thorin?" Kili spoke gently and noticed Thorin's eyebrows move slightly. Fili felt his fingers twitch.

"Thorin? Kili and I are here" Fili said and started to massage his hand to hopefully get a reaction. Thorin's chest rose higher and his head moved a little to the left. Kili's heart beat faster as he could feel it pound against his ribs with anticipation and excitement.

Finally, after soft spoken words and pleas to wake up Thorin's fingers twitched again and Fili could feel his hand wrap stronger around his.

"He's squeezing my hand" Fili whispered and looked up at Kili with tears in his eyes.

A muffled sound came from Thorin's throat and his eyes slowly opened to see two faces that were very familiar staring down at him. Kili laughed with relief and Fili smiled so widely his dimples couldn't have grown any deeper in his cheeks.

"...Fili...Kili?"

"We're here uncle."

Thorin didn't know why nor did he care but he wept hard and sore when realising his family was alive. Fili and Kili said nothing. They too cried silently but gathered their uncle; gently and carefully lifting him into a sitting position and just held him.

Sometimes, Thorin needed to be held, needed to be care for and have his tears wiped away by loving hands just like he used to do to them. He was lucky enough to have two nephews; his two sons to do that for him.


"Good morning sunshine!" Dwalin greeted with a smirk as he made his way into the tent holding a huge bunch of flowers. Fili and Kili looked up and giggled when they saw the purple and pink roses emerge from the opening of the tent to have Dwalin's confused and almost amused expression poke from the side.

"What is this?" Thorin asked just as confused and stared at the flowers as though they were manure.

"You'll not believe who these are from!" Dwalin breathed.

"Who?" Fili asked just as eager to know as his brother was.

"These are from the Elven King of Mirkwood!" Kili couldn't help but here Dwalin's bitter sarcasm in those words.

Fili and Kili looked at each other and then to Thorin waiting for a reaction.

Thorin's mouth fell open and a sudden hatred for the flowers grew stronger, "Bastard! He mocks me!"

Fili and Kili laughed and Dwalin more or less threw the flowers carelessly on top of a bed, "He sends his regards and hopes for your full recovery" Dwalin smirked, "Git!"


Thorin was well rested and had been bed ridden for a month now, however his pains still haunted him. His chest and abdomen were still dressed in bandages and his right arm was in a sling due to a dislocated shoulder. Unfortunately for Thorin, he was right handed and found it extremely challenging feeding himself with his left hand, resulting in food falling down on the sheets.

To the anger and irritation of the dwarf-maids who still tended to Thorin, they urged him to be hand fed but Thorin being Thorin; he wouldn't hear any of it.

"You are so stubborn Thorin Oakenshield!"

Pissed off and fuming, he glared at his stew and began to pick at it with his fingers.

"What's this? A King eating with his hands? Disgusting!" Kili said smiling and sat down beside Thorin.

"It's too awkward using a utensil."

"You'll burn your fingers" Kili stated matter-of-factly.

"I'd rather burn my fingers than be fed like a child."

Kili raised his eyebrows and suddenly grabbed the bowl of stew from Thorin, dug the spoon in the bowl and thrust the food in Thorin's mouth.

Thorin nearly choked and quickly swallowed the hot potatoes and beef chunks; his eyes watering. If he wasn't in so much shock he would have strangled Kili.

"There... that wasn't so bad was it? Now open up... here comes the birdy!" Kili said in a high pitched motherese voice clearly enjoying every moment.

Thorin swore in Khuzdul and glared at his nephew but he was hungry and his fingers were burning. Grudgingly he opened up and collected the stew into his mouth.

"You speak of this to anyone and I swear..."

Kili snorted, "Don't worry uncle, it's our little secret" he winked and spooned another lump of stew and put on a mock shocked expression and gasped comically, "Here comes the giant eagle!"


Kili had Thorin on one side and Fili on the other.

Thorin was taking his first steps and needed a little support to keep steady.

"How's the ribs feeling Thorin?" Oin asked, observing from a little further in front.

Pain still etched itself across Thorin's face but it was not as bad as it had been, "They still hurt and it's a little harder to get a proper breath."

"That's just because you've been in the same position for a long period of time. Your body is just adjusting. Now, take one step forward."

It was like learning to walk again. Thorin's legs were not injured at all during the battle but his upper body was and without his upper strength; walking was rather difficult. He held his breath and stepped forward.

"Don't hold your breath Thorin, fill your lungs and give your ribs a job to do. They need to adjust to your breathing."

"Shit" Thorin breathed. Fili and Kili smiled but said nothing. They walked with him and supported his weight when he grew tired. They encouraged him with words of praise and non verbal gestures such as nods of approval and wide loving smiles. He needed them and they were there for him just like he was always there for them.

"I can't- no- no more..." Thorin was holding his ribs and was leaning a little forward with exhaustion. Oin nodded to Fili and Kili, indicating the end of the session and helped seat Thorin on the bed. They saw that Thorin needed rest and decided to leave him alone to sleep.

It was a custom now for Fili and Kili to hug Thorin whenever they were leaving him to sleep. For someone who grew tense at such tender moments his whole life, Thorin now welcomed their embrace. He learned the hard way that life was too short to feel awkward when being loved and held. Fili leaned in first and held Thorin before wishing him a good night's sleep. Then it was Kili's turn. The younger brother held his uncle longer and didn't want to go. He still couldn't believe he was alive; he should have died with those injuries but he didn't and Kili loved him all the more for it.

He retreated back and Thorin smiled warmly at him then closed his eyes. But he flashed them open again when he found himself engulfed in Kili's arms again. He deep chuckle sounded in his chest and he wrapped his good arm around his nephew again.

"Kili, I'm alright lad" Thorin smiled

Kili lay there on his chest; his eyes closed in contentment; cherishing the moment "Just making sure."


A/N Sooooo there you have it :) I didn't kill Thorin off... I couldn't cope with it! We all have to deal with it in December unfortunately and I am literally DREADING it so I didn't want to put myself through writing his death :'(

This chapter, well really the ending, was inspired by an AWESOME picture drawn by a Deviantart artist called loobeeinthesky. The drawing is called For the Love of... and speaks a thousand words and if you want to check it out just give me a shout and I'll send the link to you. I guarantee your heart will explode with the FEELS when you see it :)

I really hope you enjoyed this last chapter. I just love writing about Thorin/Fili/Kili FEELS moments... though I think doing it will make it harder to watch their fate in the next film. Thank you all so much for reading, reviewing, favouring and following my story. I really enjoyed writing The Role of Uncle Thorin and I have grown to love the Durin Trio even more. Again thank you all again for taking the time and reading my story... if you want check my other one out, I'm Here Now...it's more depressing but if your up for a good cry then I recommend it :)

Also check out my other story Durin's Sons New Beginnings :)