A/N: Wohoo, I made it! Okay yes, I know, it took way too much time to get this chapter here. But my motivation hasn't been home for a while. I has actually went along with the Ghost Adventures :D

Thank God I had already written part of this story at some point so I hadn't much work to do anymore. I was actually planning to write more on this chapter but I got lazy ;D But I think it's good enough like this; no action in this chapter (unless you want to see it in another way).

I have to admit that my plans for this story.. there aren't many chapters coming, maybe two or three, possibly four (depending on how creative I will get!) But let's just enjoy this moment in progress, yay!


Thorin was thinking in fast speed as he watched the hobbit lying on the ground. The wound on Bilbo's shoulder was looking quite hurtful and bad, and by time it got worse.

"What's the decision?" Oin asked calmly, waiting an order from the king, as did the others.

Thorin breathed deep and bit his teeth together for a while. He really wanted to have a simple and working plan but he didn't; he couldn't figure out anything that could save the life of the halfling. But the decision had to be made.

"Get some thick branches, we need to make a stretcher," Thorin finally said out loud. "We will get away from here as far as possible, then we can think what to do with.. the burglar." Few dwarves rushed different directions as a search for the needed requisites, some others tried to make the fabric part.

It was done sooner than Thorin had thought; they could move Bilbo in few minutes to the carriable bed.

"We will take turns," the dwarf king said, "Fili, Kili, you are the first two. Let's move!" Hurrying the brothers lifted the stretcher and the company started walking.

"Ori, you will make sure we will be on right tracks," Thorin said to the young dwarf. He knew Ori had a knowledge of those things and while he himself examined the surroundings for the possible threats, someone had to make sure they were going to the right direction.

Ori was looking at the position of the sun and made his assumptions based on that fact. Couple times he had to correct their moving, they tend to go way much toward the north. The dwarves took turns in carrying the unconscious hobbit who didn't make any signs of awaking. Soon the end of the forest came to everyone's sight and Thorin raised his hand as a sign for a stop.

"Fili, Kili, you two go and see how far the Esgaroth is. Oin, now is your time to do your medical things," Thorin commanded. The brothers ran further and the two dwarves carrying Bilbo put the stretcher down.

"I don't know if there is anything I can use as working herbs," Oin stated apologetically. "This area is very unfamiliar to me."

"There has to be something!" Thorin raised his voice for the frushtration. "Anything that slows down the sickness just for a little bitso that we can reach the city and get help."

Fili and Kili came back.

"It's still far away. With this speed we will be at the gates by the dark," Fili shook his head. Thorin looked up, the sky had already a hint of yellow and orange in its colour but he knew it would take time to be completely dark.

"Oin," Thorin turned to the old dwarf who seemed to be thinking a solution. "We don't have choice. If we don't do anything it is very possible that we will lost our burglar."

"What if," Ori said suddenly, "we use Athelas?"

They all turned to look at the dwarf.

"Athelas?" Thorin asked.

"In common language it's known as Kingsfoil," Ori explained. "It is said to ease the pain, heal wounds and vanish the darkness."

Thorin gave a questioning look to Oin who was nodding.

"It might work, indeed. But it's hard to find and I don't know if it grows anywhere here."

"What does it look like?" Dori asked.

"It's.. uhmmm..." Oin had to think a little bit.

"Small white flowers," Ori helped him out. "It grows in small clusters."

"Okay, everybody search for the plant!" Thorin said. "But don't go too far. And if you find it make sure everyone knows not to continue the search." The tiredness was shown in everybody's face but they had to push it away for the sake of the dying hobbit. Thorin and Balin stayed where they were, to guard the one who was down.

"Don't worry, he will be alright," Balin tried to comfort the worried king beside him.

"This time I'm not sure of it," Thorin admitted as he kneeled down to examine the wound. "We are running out of time."

"But we still have some left. Don't lose the hope yet."

"I won't, I promise. But.." Thorin couldn't find the words.

"I know."

They were silent for a while. Thorin noticed that the skin around Bilbo's wound was turning bluish and it worried him more. The breathing was very shallow and the halfling's skin in general was covered with little amount of cold sweat. Definitely not a good sign. After couple of minutes they could hear some shouting in a distance and Thorin's head snapped to the direction.

"They found it," Balin said smiling and Thorin stood up. "I think they found it!"

"I really hope so," the king murmured. It didn't take long for the dwarves to get running back. It appered to be Bombur who had found the Kingsfoil. It was only a small cluster in Thorin's hand but he hoped it was enough.

"What now?" Thorin asked looking at Ori and Oin. "Do I just put it to the wound or what?"

The two dwarves exchanged glances.

"What?"

Ori hesitated. "Well, I have heard that some have cooked it to get the infusion from it."

"To cook?" Thorin gave him a stern look. "We do not have time for a tea now. Figure out something else."

The young dwarf was looking troubled and nearly panicking under the strern glance of leader.

"Maybe if you chew it," Bofur suggested and Thorin raised his eyebrowns. "It was just a suggestion." Thorin didn't feel like eating any mould or flowers so he handed it to Oin.

"When the Black Breaths blows," Balin started saying and they turned to look at him.

"And death's shadow grows and all light pass,

come athelas! Come athelas!

Life to the dying

In the king's hand lying!"

"What was that?" Dwalin asked as confused as everyone else was at that time.

"An old poem about the Kingsfoil I remember," Balin said straight-faced.

"What does it mean?" Fili asked in turn.

"It is said," Ori cut off, "that Athelas is most powerful in the hands of the king."

They all looked Thorin now. "Are you sure about that?"

"Quite much," Ori nodded hesitating a little bit. "At least among the men. But I suppose it works as well with the race of the dwarves too."

"You better be," the king said and slowly took the plant back from Oin's hand. He stared the small flowers for a second or too then he took a bite of them. The taste was awful but he chewed them as much as he could without gagging.

"Now put them to the wound," Oin guided and Thorin was revealed for that order. He quickly took the plant's parts out of his mouth and put them on the hobbit's shoulder wound. Then he spitted the rest to the ground, just to get the taste away.

"And now?" he wanted know.

"We can't do anything else," Oin stated as he watched the hobbit too. "We just need to hope it's working."

"Let's move then, the night is already upon us," Thorin said as he glimpsed at the darkening sky. Dwalin and Nori took their turns in carrying the hobbit and so they all continued walking toward the Esgaroth.

They reached the city a good while after the sundown. It was only because of the condition of the dwarf company; even though the road they found was easy to walk on they were so exhausted they stumbled every now and then. They hadn't sleep, eat nor drink much for days and it had a huge effect on them. And now they were right on the gates of their rescue.

Thorin pounded his fist to the wooden gate. At first there was no response for that so he did it again, with more force.

"Who is it?" a man's voice was heard beyond the gates.

"We are asking for help and an accommodation," the king answered. "We have one badly wounded among us."

"I asked who is it," the man stated through wood.

Thorin sighed irritated and tired. "My name is Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain."

The man on the other side was silent for a moment but then the gates opened. The dwarfs were now facing several tall men who in turn stared at the company of dwarves.

"We've got an order not to let anyone in after the sundown, but.." the spoken man hesitated.

"We just need food and shelter," Thorin said with respect. "And some help from your city's healer. I'm not asking anything more. Please."

The man's gaze moved to see the other dwarves and the hobbit who was still laying on the self-made stretcher.

"Very well, you can come in," the leading man nodded. "But I really hope you won't cause any troubles here."

"We won't," Thorin promised relieved. The men opened the gates more and all the dwarves walked in.

"Anardil, show them the way to the medical building and after that to one of the questhouses," the captain said and one of the other men stepped forward. "Please, follow him."

Thorin nodded to the gesture and the dwarf company started walking after the man. Quite soon they came in front of a large building.

"This is the city's only medical building," Anardil said to them. "The healer will take care of your.. wounded one."

"Can't we stay with him?" Thorin asked glancing the hobbit.

"Not all of you, she would be very furious," the man shook his head. "Only one or two may go at a time, the rest of you need to stay out."

"Fine," the king answered after doing a quick thinking and turned to the others. "Oin, you and me will take our bur- uhm, the hobbit, inside. Balin, you will come to get us later when you all have settled down." Both older dwarfs nodded in agreement. Thorin lifted Bilbo from the stretcher to his arms and so the rest of them followed the man toward the resting place. The three remaining went inside the sickhouse.

"Hello?" Thorin called out in the slightly lightened lounge area. "Anyone here? We need help!"

A woman in her 40's came to the room, dressed in some sort of a nightdress.

"What is it now? Don't you folk know that – " she cut off her sentence as she saw who had called for help. "Oh dear, what has happened?"

"We were attacked," Thorin explained as the woman came closer. "Spiders. Giant ones."

"My dear.." she whispered. "Not you too. I have told the citizens many times that it's not safe place anymore, the forest I mean."

The healer guided the two dwarfs into a room nearby. She lit an oil lamp and showed the bed where Thorin could put the hobbit down.

"Has he been awake?" she asked examining Bilbo.

"No. He's been unconsciouss for a good while," Thorin answered her.

"And we tried to buy time by using Kingsfoil," Oin added and the healer turned to them.

"Kingsfoil? Does it still grow there? I thought it was extincted!" she said wondering. "But it might have given the help you wanted. Now, I need some peace and quiet to work on this."

"Sure, my lady," Oin lowered his head and turned on his heels.

"Is he gonna be fine?" Thorin wanted to know before leaving. He had gotten warmed up for the burglar, slowly but steady, and didn't want to lose one of his comrades at this point. "You said earlier.. that something like this has happened before?"

The healer lady sighed deep. "Yes, indeed. A day before yesterday was the latest one. People had been patroling in the forest when they got attacked. Only few survived but during these latest months there have been several ones that have wounded in those conflicts."

"What happened to them then?"

"They got here too late," she shook her head sadly. "None of them survived, the poison was too strong for them to hold on to life. First they seemed to be stable but then suddenly.. they just died."

Thorin swallowed. "How soon.. can you tell if he's gonna make it?"

"I have no idea, my dear," she said apologetically. "It's always depending on the person. But I would say that in a day or two."

The king nodded. "Someone will come to see him tomorrow. Just send us a word if anything critical happens."

"Of course. Now, off you go! Both of you, or he won't heal at all," the lady said shooing them out and pulling curtains in front of the doorway.

The two dwarf walked out of the building, inhaling the fresh air.

"I have always hated the smell of infirmaries," Thorin admitted.

"I know," Oin smiled to him. "I remember how your father had to carry you in when you didn't want to. Oh that shouting.. I can still hear it in my half-deaf ears."

Thorin chuckled. "I bet you can."

The king looked up to the sky, the stars were twinkling as small shiny dots, far away.

"I know we can't do anything right now," he said eyes still towards the dark starblanket above them."But I really wish everything goes well."

Oin gave him a tiny small. "Me too, my king, me too."

They stayed where they were, admiring the sight they were given, and waiting for Balin to get back.

/ / /

Anardil finally reached the guesthouse where the dwarfs were supposed to stay the night. He pointed towards it. "This is it. We only have to offer you some floor space, if you don't mind. If you have come earlier we could have given you more. I will leave you by yourselves now."

"Thank you for your kindness," Balin nodded gently. "We will appreciate it grately."

The man just nodded and turned back where he had came from. Though he did couple of times glance at the dwarfs, just to make sure they didn't start any troubles.

But the company was exhausted because of the passed days so they just walked in. They lit few oil lamps to see the place better. It wasn't a huge building, just big enough for them to fit in. Balin left nearly immediately back to the infirmary while the others tried to make themselves comfortable to the wooden floor.

"Ow, my back hurts already," Dori commented as he sat down. Everyone agreed with him, rubbing their feet and backs.

"Does anyone have anything to eat?"

"I would want a good warm meal of pork chop and – "

"Oh shut up, Bofur! We are hungry!"

"Yeah! Soon you have to go to get something for us."

"Or Nori! He has the ability to get something very easily."

"You bet!"

They were all so exhausted that they became slightly restless, shouting and laughing with loud voices. It all came to a stop when the door opened and the three remaining dwarfs walked in. Suddenly the house was quiet as a grave.

Thorin glanced at them with tiredness showing in his eyes.

"Get some sleep, we need all the rest we can get," he murmured and went to a clear spot on the right side of the room. And so they all laid down; it didn't take long until the air was filled with snoring.

The night went on but there was one dwarf in the room whose sleep wasn't restful at all. The dwarf tossed around in his corner placed "bed", quietly groaning in his sleep. After couple of minutes the dwarf next to the restless one slowly woke up to these sounds. Kili rubbed his eyes and half asleep turned his head toward his brother.

"Mmm.. Fili?" he mumbled dozing. But the elder didn't response to him, instead he kept moving and making silent noises.

Kili was wide awake now, realising that nightmares were disturbing the other one's sleeping. "Fili!" he hissed with a low tone. "Wake up! Or you gonna wake everyone else."

Kili shook his brother with his hand for a while before it made any change to the situation. The blond dwarf rose quickly to sit, gasping for air the way that seemed too familiar to Kili.

"Relax brother," Kili whispered, being now on his knees and keeping his hands on Fili's shoulders. "It's okay, it was just a dream."

"No, it wasn't," Fili said breathing heavily, sweat dropping along his left temple. "It wasn't a dream."

"What?" Kili asked whispering and glancing around if anyone else had awaken. But it was dark inside, for the sunrise was still far away and the light from the lamps had faded long time ago.

"It was the.. prophecy, Kili."

"What happened?"

"It's.." Fili hesitated a second. "A lot of bad things. Too bad. I can still feel it."
"Feel what?"

"The... moment. Things happening, the feeling," the elder one changed his words in the middle of the sentence.

Kili sighed. "Look, you can tell me anything. You know that, don't you brother?"

"Yes I know. But this is something.. I can barely handle it myself, not to meantion if I told about it to you.. or to anyone else."

Kili didn't know what to say to help his brother in this issue. But he really wanted, and hoped, that the other half of him would say what was the matter so that he could do something. But because he didn't have words to say he wrapped his arms around his brother. Fili sighed deep and responsed to the hug with wrapping his own arms around the younger one.

"It's gonna be okay," Kili mumbled to Fili's ear.

"Yeah," the other one answered, knowing that it was a lie, before they separated from each others.

"Try to get some sleep, alright?" Kili said. "Thorin will be angry if we are dozing through the whole day."

They both smiled to this, remembering couple of those kind of situations from their past.

"Good night, brother," Fili said still smiling as he tousled Kili's hair.

"Hey!"

"Hush."

"Good night," Kili finally answered also smiling as he curled up to Fili's side. The younger one fell nearly immediately asleep but the other one stayed awake for a good long moment. Fili thought about the things they had experienced during this journey and about the other things that were possibly awaiting for them in the future.

He finally went back to the world of existing and non-existing things. But what neither of them had noticed was the dark hooded figure right behind the window near them; a person that was listening the discussion through the glass. The figure was like a shadow, moving without leaving a single noise behind.

It had finally found what it had been waiting for.


A/N: Thoughts? Complains? Roses? ANYTHING?