An: Autumn holiday, oh how have I waited for you.

Disclaimer: I do not own Hobbit


Fili wasn't mad at me for falling. Nah, he was just worried like he always is. Mom, on the other hand, was worried and angry. I think she was angry at me because I really gave her a scare, not because I fell, but what can I do about it? It's not like I wanted to slip and fall down. But anyways, I somehow understand her anger.

And so I was ordered to stay in bed. My crutches were taken away from me (even though Vera told them that my leg hadn't gotten worse and I was just as okay as I had been before my slip) and the days turned out to be as boring as they had been before the help of the crutches, but mom only seemed to enjoy the idea of me lying there and doing nothing all day long. I got frustrated and angry at everyone, just because I was so goddamn bored and lonely all the time.

Around five days went like that. I slept a lot which kept me up at nights, which made me even more frustrated. The sound of Fili peacefully sleeping in the same room just made me want to scream at anyone and everyone and it was just horrible. I understood that he had a lot work to do outside, and couldn't spend a lot time with me, but I couldn't find enough strength to care.

So the days went past all the same, just blurred together.

Until one day Vera popped into my room, followed my my angry mother. "I told you not to come in!" mom yells. Vera simply shrugs her off and walks over to me, smiling gently. Mom looks angry and like she is ready to kill someone with her bare hands, but she -surprisingly- says nothing anymore.

"How are you feeling, Kili?"

I consider telling her the truth, but mom is standing in the same room with us. Even though I'm kinda angry at her too, for some reason, I don't want that she gets angry at me. So I end up telling Vera I'm fine.

Vera looks like she doesn't buy it. Her raises her brows and eyes me in question, and then probably somehow realizes that mom's presence is bothering me. I don't understand how Vera can be that wise, but she is. With a soft voice she asks if mom could leave us alone for a minute, and after a moment of arguing mom leaves. I don't know what is going on in my mother's head, but I assume that something is broken again and that is why she is tense.

"So, how are you really?" Vera asks with a small laughter. "Don't bother lying to me, boy. I've had enough patients to know when someone lies."

I blush even though I don't want to. "I'm.. frustrated. I guess that is the word." And that is how it is, in all honesty. I'm frustrated and angry, but I'll leave the angry part out. It doesn't help my situation.

"Hmh", Vera mutters, dragging the chair from the corner underneath her. "And have you been moving around a lot?"

"No", I tell her. "They took the crutches away, remember?"

"Oh, yes, they did. That is not good at all."

I can't help a shrug. "Mostly boring."

She nods in understanding and shifts on the hard chair, digging to her large bag. "I have no cure for the boredom, but I do have some medicine here. I assume your ankle still aches?"

"It does, sometimes. Not that often anymore, but sometimes", I say with a grin. "And it's far more bearable now. I don't think I could support myself yet, but it's better now. Your herbs must work."

From her bag she finds a big metallic can. It looks new and it's still shiny, and it's decorated with small white dots. Vera hands it over to me, and I examine the can in curiosity. Its lid looks easy to open, so I do so.

"Be careful with the liquid inside. It's not a common medicine, and expensive one too, but knowing your situation with money, I will give it to you. It helps the bone get better faster", Vera explains, and I glance at her, careful not to move to can while it's open, not to waste any of the stuff inside. "It includes water, some herbs and healing powders of all sorts."

Wow. Suddenly the liquid didn't sound as appealing. Herbs were okay, but powders usually tasted gross and all that mixed together? No thank you. Before I could say anything, though, Vera opens her mouth again. "I know it sounds awful, but the taste is made better with some sugar. That will also help you gather some strength."

I giggle a little. "You really think of everything, don't you?"

"It's my job, boy", Vera says with a warm smile and gets up from the chair. "Now it's your turn to do something. Sit up."

Small panic rushes over my body. I don't want to. Whatever it is I'll have to do, I'm not sure if I want to. But I do as she told me to, because who am I to disagree with a doctor who is helping me recover? She probably knows better than me.

I lay the can on the nightstand as I sit up and look at Vera. "What now?"

"Now you stand up."

Groan escapes my lips. Standing up has been the one thing I dream about when I sleep, but now when I have to do it, I don't want to. What if I fall again and hurt myself even more? What if I accidentally give that leg too much weight and I manage to mess it up even more? I don't want to stand up. And I tell Vera that.

"Kili, Kili, Kili..." she sighs. "I have dealt with broken ankles many many times. How long has it been since you broke it?"

"Uhh.. Two and half weeks?"

"Exactly. Two weeks and four days, to be exact. Three weeks is the time when I usually recommend a little bit moving and gathering some strength", she tells me with a smart expression on her face. "The muscles of your foot and ankle are weak after this long period of time of not giving the leg any weight. You need to start giving it weight little by little in order to be able to walk. It's the same thing after, say, you break your wrist. After four weeks of having the cast you won't be able to move your wrist a lot or lift heavy things. Same goes to your ankle."

I smirk, asking "Won't it hurt?" because I am full of being in pain. If I can avoid pain, I will.

"It'll probably feel uncomfortable at first, but as long as you don't support your whole weight on that leg, it shouldn't be painful. Exhausting maybe. Start giving it just a little bit weight and add more day by day is what I'd say."

"Fine", I sigh and shake my head. "You better be right."

It takes a few tries, but soon I'm on my feet -well, more like on my foot- and I don't need to take a hold of the wall in order to stay up. That is when Vera tells me to slowly give some weight on the other foot as well, and I obey. This really uncomfortable feeling, as if I had ran several kilometers straight, climbs up my leg. But it doesn't hurt, and it makes me feel like a winner.

And Mahal it feels good to stand up. I can't help a wide smile spreading on my lips.

Vera smiles as well. "That's great, Kili. You're doing much better than my patients usually. Should I call your mother up here?"

I am about to nod, but then I change my mind, as I realize mom would just probably be angry at me for being up from my bed. "Can you just get Fili here?" I ask. I want him to see what I can do. This small thing, standing up on my own, feels so big and it makes me feel a little bit stupid. But I don't care. The feeling is awesome.

"Of course. Wait a minute, honey. Sit down, if you wish."

Sure. I sit down, tired, but happier than ever. It doesn't take long for Vera to return with my brother - Fili looks out of breath and his cheeks are all red. He must have been outside.

"What?" asks Fili, sitting down onto his own bed. He eyes me in curiosity, his brows furrowing.

I laugh a little. "Look", I tell him and stand up again, doing as I did earlier - slowly giving the leg some weight. The smile spreading on Fili's face is almost as wide as mine was, and he jumps up in excitement.

"That is awesome, Kili!" he almost yells and eyes me. "Wow, it's odd to see you standing."

I can't help a giggle. "I know, it's odd to stand.. But I can, Fili!"

Suddenly he is in front of me and pulls me in a warm hug. I hug him back, just happy to be able to.


Oh, and anyone who uses more glasses than lenses knows Kili's excitement. I'd compare his happiness to the weird excitement of being able to see when you have lenses on. I mean, I can't feel my glasses or see the edges after using them for like seven years now, but still. I have used lenses maybe two times in my whole life, and it's just this odd but awesome feeling to be able to see without glasses. Or maybe the feeling when you get your cast off and you can actually move the part of your body you broke. I've broken my wrist once and the feeling of being able to move my wrist was something really great.

Anyways, one more chapter to go, people. :)