Author's Note: I LIIIIIIVE! I told you guys I wasn't abandoning you! It has been a busy couple of months. Ren Faire, illness (I had West Nile), my dog had to be put down last week, Fright Fest started. I have had no time to myself at all. Which, unfortunately, meant I have no time to write. Here is chapter 9 and chapter 10 is on its way and already started! Thank you all for your patience! Hopefully this chapter is good enough. Its not exactly the most exciting, more of a time waster than anything else. We do get some nice bonding moments with the Durin family though!
Purestrongpoem: Thank you as usual!
LianaDare8: She'll hopefully be here soon. And I can guarantee she won't be happy with her elder brother!
Tears of Eternal Darkness: Poor Kili indeed. He's on the mend though! (And thank you so much! It's always nice to hear that someone appreciates your writing style!)
smartbrunette3.14: Thank you! Hopefully this chapter will be enjoyed just as much. I am a sucker for Durin bonding so expect a lot more as the chapters grow in number! Kili has had a rough run, hasn't he? (A little hint of what's to come, its Fili's turn next!)
Jedi ANi Unduli: Best rest. Bed rest. Bed rest. It just drags on and on. They're getting more functional, however. Thorin is really up and about this chapter.
wardog85: I prefer hurt/comfort over angst any day! I'm all about the feels! I'm a hugger!
nightmare13: Thank you! I try really hard to keep these chapters interesting to read. (And let's be honest, we cannot kill the Dwarf hotness. We just cannot.)
Shiary: Nori holds a special place in my heart so expect more of him to come. And Bofur needs to be there to keep him in line!
ASiriuslyGleekyTimeLord: Thank you! Hopefully this chapter lives up to your expectation!
Duringirl: I will try to fit something in but I can't promise anything. I kinda suck at writing battle sequences.
kiwikris: I present to you: CHAPTER 9!
Outside the tent the air was crisp, bordering on chilly. Thorin walked determinedly toward the entrance of the mountain, Nori, Ori, Gloin, Bofur, and Bilbo by his side. Bilbo glance nervously from the mountain entrance back to the healer's tent where Oin was talking with two of the Elvish healers, "Uhhhhh Thorin...I thought you wanted to talk to Oin about going into the mountain?"
Thorin made a small noise, "Mm."
Bilbo stopped walking and turned back to where the elderly Dwarf stood, "Oin is back by the healer's tent."
Thorin kept his pace steady, "What Oin doesn't know won't hurt him. I'm just going in the mountain. I'm not going to work or do anything stupid."
Bilbo quickened his pace so he was walking at Thorin's side, "I don't think this is a good idea."
Thorin continued walking, not even sparing a glance back, "Its fine."
The main entrance of the mountain was already opened, Dwarves filing in and out. Upon noticing Thorin and company approaching Many of the Dwarves dropped to one knee or into low bows. Thorin slowed until he stilled, looking around. Nori, Ori, Bofur, Gloin, and Bilbo and slowed their pace and had stopped to bow as well. A reverent silence fell over everyone until Thorin cleared his throat loudly, "We don't really have time for all this. Enough bowing. I'm here to work and we're not going to get this mountain cleaned if we're bowing and kneeling."
Slowly the Dwarves got to their feet and resumed work. Thorin turned to the four Dwarves and the Hobbit standing behind him, "And I don't want any of you bowing at all. You helped reclaim this mountain as much as I did."
Nori straightened and shoved his hands into his pocket, "You heard him."
Bofur gave his friend a look and came to Thorin's side, "With all due respect, Thorin, you really shouldn't be helping us do anything. You're not recovered yet."
Thorin withheld a sigh, "So everyone keeps telling me. I won't strain myself."
Bofur nodded and headed into the mountain, Nori by his side. Nori, never one to have a total respect for authority shot a parting comment over his shoulder, "Good...would hate to have to be the one to tell Fili and Kili if something happened to you."
The blow hit Thorin exactly the way it was supposed to. With a sigh he followed them into the mountain, "I'll just see how progress is going and go back."
The inside of Erebor was just as Dain had described. Gold was everywhere; completely obscuring the throne that sat in the main hall. Dwarves were scattered about in clumps clearing debris to make the branching halls available. Thorin looked around with a mixture of nostalgia and anguish. What was once a beautiful entry hall and throne room was now wreckage. A glance around had him spot Dwalin and Dain, standing side by side in conversation. As he approached he could hear bits and pieces of what they were saying to one another and was able to gather that they were discussing the overall progress in the mountain's living quarters.
"Dwalin. Dain," Thorin spoke their names in greeting as he neared.
Both Dwarves looked him over with a raised eyebrow and he met their looks with a stare of his own. Dwalin was the first to address his friend, "Are you supposed to be in here?"
Thorin pointedly side stepped the question with a vague answer, "I'm not working, just observing how we're moving. Have we made any progress?"
Dain nodded, "A fair amount actually. It doesn't look like it here but a few of the living quarters have been nearly restored. Granted they're empty as everything in them needed to be removed but they're still sound and able to be lived in. Smaug did damaged but the mountain held up. It's still stable, surprisingly. We won't be able to move any Dwarves in until we've restored the plumbing and cleared the halls to make them accessible."
Thorin absorbed the information and was silent for a moment before responding, "We need to be able to move into the mountain soon. WInter is coming faster than we realize. It's warm today but tomorrow we might not be as lucky. I won't have us freezing to death at the foot of the mountain."
Dwalin's response was quiet and for Thorin's ears only, "We'll get the boys and you in here before it gets too cold. None of you are healed yet."
Thorin gave an imperceptible nod to show he had heard before turning his attention back to Dain, "Get the hallways cleared. Dis and most of the Dwarves from the Blue Mountains will be arriving sooner than we think. We need to have somewhere to put them."
Dain nodded, "Dwarves from the Iron Hills are going to be coming for the crowning as well. Some of them may want to stay...provided you agree to it."
"I'm not going to turn away any Dwarf who wishes to live here," Thorin turned around and headed back towards the party that had entered with him. Bilbo was standing around awkwardly while Bofur attempted to keep an eye on a very casual looking Nori. Ori on his part was gazing around wide-eyed in wonder, no doubt his scholar mind absorbing every detail, and Gloin was nowhere to be found, "Where is Gloin?"
"He already started working, thought you wouldn't mind," Bilbo piped up.
Thorin looked back at Nori and Bofur, "You two can start working in here if you feel up to it. Try to avoid getting caught by Dain, Nori. I'm not going to be held responsible if he wants you thrown in the dungeons."
Nori was once again the picture of innocence, "I'll keep my hands clean."
Bofur gave him a look before dragging him off, "You're staying with me. I don't trust you alone."
Ori and Bilbo watched them leave before looking to Thorin for orders, "Bilbo, I'd like you to go assist Bombur with the cooking. Ori, you go find Balin and assist him with what he needs. No doubt they're keeping record of the journey and battle which I know you have writings of already."
The Hobbit and the young Dwarf immediately headed out of the mountain, leaving Thorin alone. A wave of exhaustion washed over him much to his dismay. He had thought he was past all this but clearly his body didn't agree. With a tired sigh Thorin headed out of the mountain and back toward the healer's tent. The path from Erebor was nearly empty, most of the Dwarves holed up inside, hard at work. Thorin's side twinged as he walked and he growled under his breath. He would much prefer to be with them, assisting in cleaning out his home but he wasn't stupid. He may be willing to push the boundaries of what he was able to but he had seen Dwarves die from far less serious injuries than the ones he sustained.
Nearing the healer's tent, Thorin ducked inside and allowed his eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness. Both his nephews were still sound asleep, gentle, deep breathing coming from both. Thorin walked to Fili's side of the bed first and looked his heir over. Fili's hair was messy and slowly turning into something that was going to be awful to brush through. His coloring was still off. While the blonde was no longer grey looking, his skin was still unnaturally pale. His eyes were still almost bruised looking with dark circles and bags under them. A gentle hand on his forehead confirmed that while the young Dwarf was still feverish, it was a low fever, no longer at dangerous levels. Tucking the blankets needlessly around Fili's shoulders Thorin walked around the bed to the younger brother. Kili was still in the same position he had been in when he had fallen asleep earlier which was unnerving in itself. Normally the boy was all over the bed, tossing and rolling. His stillness was proof as to how unwell he was. His skin was as pale as his brother's but his eyes lacked the deep purple coloring around them which was good to see. A hand on his forehead showed that his fever was gone completely which was even better. Thorin adjusted the blankets around Kili just as he had done for his brother before settling down on his own bed. He had just opened the book he was given by Ori when the tent flap opened revealing Balin's head.
Thorin gave his friend a small smile and set the book back down, "What brings you here?"
Balin entered inside and kept his voice low to avoid disturbing the boys, "Came to check on you and the lads. Ori is handling things while I stepped away for a little break...how are you feeling?"
Thorin sighed, "Not as well as I would like to be but better than I had hoped. I'm tired. And sore."
"Aye, I would expect you to be. You went through quite an ordeal and no doubt you haven't been resting as much as you should."
Thorin was quiet for a moment before speaking again, "There's more to be done than I anticipated. WInter is coming fast and we have nothing but tents for shelter. We have food to hunt and gather but that will soon become scarce...and we have no place to store it even if we started gathering extra now. Dis should be receiving my letter any day now and will be heading here with a group of Dwarves. Dain informed me that more Dwarves from the Iron Hills are coming for the crowning...and that they wish to stay. I don't even know where to start."
Balin laid a sympathetic hand on Thorin's shoulder, "You start by taking care of yourself and getting well. We can handle things for a bit in your stead. You just focus on you and the boys. How are they?"
Thorin glanced over at his nephews before looking back at Balin, "Not as well as I would like them to be. I don't like seeing them down like this. I couldn't be prouder of how they fought and how valuable they were to this journey but a small part of me wishes I left them at home, if only to spare myself from having to see them injured like this. They're healing though. Fili regained some color and Kili's fever is gone again."
Balin walked over to the boys' bed and fussed over their blankets as well, "They'll be back on their feet soon enough. Of course then we'll have to deal with mischief and trouble."
Thorin snorted quietly, "I never thought I'd say this but I'm looking forward to it. They deserve a chance to be young for a but longer...besides they wouldn't be my nephews if they didn't have a bit of Frerin in them."
Balin gave Thorin a sly look, "I seem to recall you participating in more than your fair share of troublemaking with your brother."
Thorin kept his face blank as he opened up his book again, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Balin chuckled and headed for the tent door, "Get some rest. I'll send someone in here with food for you all soon."
Thorin settled down against his pillows and felt himself drift off into sleep, the book laying next to him. When he awoke light was drifting in from the opened tent flap as Oin bustled in and out, arms full of herbs, bowls, and tea. The his left Thorin could hear quiet murmuring and turned. Both his nephews were awake and in a reclined position. Thorin sat himself up slowly, and stretched the best he could without pulling at his injured side.
Fili was the first to noticed his uncle was awake and called to him, "Thorin, we didn't wake you, right?"
Thorin shook his head and rose, approaching his nephews' bed with a critical eye, "How are you feeling?"
Kili gave him a tiny grin, "Best I've felt actually. That's not saying much because I still feel like death but better."
Fili shrugged his good shoulder the best he could, "Hungry. A little dizzy."
Thorin looked them each over once before taking them at their word, "Good. We'll get something in here for you both to eat."
Kili groaned and dropped his head back against his pillows, "I don't want broth! I don't want to be sick again!"
Thorin nearly chuckled, "Well you're whining again. That's a good sign. It doesn't mean you're going to get your way though. I want you to eat. You're not going to heal if you don't maintain your strength."
Fili looked his younger brother over with a worried eyes, "You need to eat Kili. Just a little bit."
Thorin began to head out of the tent to fetch Bombur or Bilbo when a thought occurred to him, "How did you two sit up?"
Fili all but beamed back at his uncle, "I managed it myself and then helped Kili."
Thorin couldn't help the smile that crept onto his face. They were healing. And that was a good thing. He returned moments later with Bilbo and dinner in tow. The little Hobbit set about delivering the food he had prepared while Thorin watched in amusement, "I brought you broth again Kili. Its even weaker than last time. Not very flavorful I'm afraid but it shouldn't make you sick this time. You should probably have some tea first...I'll make that in a moment. Fili, I mad oatmeal since you've done fine with just the liquids so far. Again, I couldn't add much flavoring but its better than nothing. Wouldn't you like some tea too? Not the same kind as Kili of course but I could make some chamomile tea. One of the Elves was kind enough to let me have a few different kinds of tea leaves."
Fili tried to absorbed everything before just nodding in agreement, "Sure."
Bilbo set down their bowls before darting out of the tent, muttering something about a teapot. Kili just gave his brother a tiny grin, "You have no idea what you just agreed to, do you?"
Fili shook his head, "None whatsoever."
Thorin settled down on his bed with his own Bombur-made plate of food and watched as Bilbo came back in, a steaming teapot in hand, "I forgot I had peppermint tea! I'll make you some of that Fili. It'll be nice and gentle on your stomach."
Within moments both boys had bowls and cups of tea on tray in their laps while Bilbo hovered around anxiously, "Is there anything else you need that I can get you?"
"We're all right, Bilbo, thank you," Fili told him, "You should go sit for minute."
Bilbo shook his head, "I will eventually but its dinner time. The Dwarves will be leaving the mountain to eat and I have to help Bombur finish up. If you need anything just send someone to come get me."
The Hobbit made his way out of the tent before stopping, "Its good to see you healing. All three of you."
He gave them all a smile and headed out the door. The minute he was gone Fili nearly dove into his food while Kili sipped at his tea. Thorin looked them both over with a sigh, "Kili, eat. Fili, chew and breath between spoonfuls."
Both boys gave him a sheepish look and did as they were told, Fili slowing and Kili sipping at his broth. Thorin rose and took Fili's empty bowl and cup from him before looking at Kili, "Don't force yourself to eat more than you think you can handle. You've finished almost half. That's good enough for me."
Kili handed over his bowl and cup and settled back against his pillows, energy drained, "I'm tired."
Thorin put the empty dishes and trays on the table that had the teapot on it and assisted Kili in lying down, "Get some sleep. DId Oin check you over?"
Fili nodded as he slowly lowered himself down as well, "While you were still sleeping."
Thorin tucked blankets over both, "Good. Get some rest."
He was nearly at the tent door when he heard Kili, "You should get some rest too."
Thorin turned back with a small smile, "I will. My little nap restore my energy for now. Go to sleep."
He was quite sure they were asleep before their heads hit the pillow.
