Thanks so so so much for all the reviews last chapter, and also for follows/favorites! Sorry for the wait too.

Disclaimer: I'm no doctor, by no means an expert (although internet helps!). Please bear with me! Back to lots of Thorin again for this chapter, but it's extra long!

"Uncle, my throat hurts!" Little Kili stuck out his lower lips and widened his already big eyes into a face that no one could resist.

"You'll be good as new in a few days, Kili, and then I promise you won't miss out on all the fun," Thorin said, sitting next to his somewhat invalid of a nephew.

"But Mama's gonna make me stay in bed but I don't wanna!"

"It's just a little cold. And besides, now Fili will have to do all the chores, instead of just his." Thorin winked, finally coaxing a grin onto the little face. For Kili to go even a few hours without laughing, or at least smiling, was rare indeed.

The grin faded and was replaced with a, for once, serious face. "I miss you, Uncle."

"I'm right here, Kili." Thorin said slowly, somewhat confused.

"I know, but I haven't seen you all day! Or yesterday either, since Mama forced me to stay in bed. But I only get to see you when you come in here, and I miss you."

Thorin looked down at his now-sleeping nephew. He looked older, and he might have been somewhat more mature, but he had never lost the little boy inside of him.

As he and Fili had grown up, Thorin eventually realized that he had distanced himself from them. When they were little, it was easy. But as they'd grown older, they'd needed a father. And Thorin couldn't be that. He had tried. He was the authority, the leader. But both of them had learned that he rarely was there to comfort or love them.

Everything he'd ever loved had been ripped away from him. His home, his parents, Frerin, his whole family except Dis. He was almost scared to show how much he loved his nephews. In some strange rationale, if he didn't show it, it wasn't there. It would make it worse if they were taken from him.

That seemed a very real possibility. It troubled Thorin to think—to realize-that he was responsible. He might now have inflicted the wounds or tried to drown him, but he'd sent both boys into the tower, and he'd let them fight, and he'd taken them from Ered Luin in the first place.

He gripped Kili's limp hand. Oin had given him something to put him to sleep, and Thorin was glad that at least he didn't have to feel pain for a while. It occurred to Thorin that he missed Kili. He missed the laughter, the smiles, the jokes, and the endless optimism.

Kili's raspy breathing continued, and in a strange way it was comforting to Thorin. It let him know what his nephew was still alive. The coughing had not stopped, and it seemed to Thorin that each breath grew shallower.

Bifur had returned, and Thorin had put him in charge of watching over Gloin, Dwalin and Fili. Balin had been commandeered to help Oin in whatever way possible. Bilbo had disappeared after Thorin had taken Fili into the main part of the tent.

He could tell Oin doubted himself. Usually, he readied for any kind of procedure quickly and efficiently, not wasting time or mincing words about what he was going to do. This time, he moved slowly, hardly saying anything except to occasionally give Balin an order. He was seemingly hesitant. Scared to hurt Kili, and scared to make a mistake.

"Are you sure you want me to do this?" He asked.

"You told Fili there was no other way," Thorin replied, his gaze never leaving Kili's face.

"Well, maybe someone else. One of the other dwarves…or perhaps someone from Laketown." Or one of the elves.

Thorin could read his line of thought. After all, the she-elf had saved Kili's life before. Or so Oin and Bofur had told him.

"There is none I trust as much as I trust you." He glanced up at the old healer, who'd treated both boys hundreds of times over the years. "I just want to help him, Oin. Whatever you can do…" he trailed off, feeling a lump forming in his throat.

It was enough affirmation for Oin to begin.

He went slowly and silently. None of them uttered a word. Thorin could hardly stand to watch the growing pool of red on Kili's side. Oin had explained in passing that it was the easiest place to access his lungs.

Kili was eerily still. The boy who seemed to never stop moving seemed hardly to breathe, although Thorin's ears could easily discern that he was. Oin's face was a mask of concentration. Balin stood nearby, ready to help.

Thorin looked away, anywhere but at Kili. Oin kept working, but it was slow progress.

Oin was suddenly swearing. Thorin's attention was instantly riveted to his nephew again. "What is it?"

Oin gritted his teeth. "Hit…something." He set the knife down and grabbed at the stack of bandaging.

Thorin rushed over. The careful cut Oin had made to access Kili's lungs was now bleeding heavily. "Put pressure on this," Oin commanded, leaving Thorin to hold the cloth over the wound. "He's bleeding heavily now."

Thorin's stomach turned over at the sight of his nephew's blood. There was so much of it, too much. He squeezed his eyes shut.

Balin stepped in front of him and took his place. Thorin stepped back, almost reeling.

"Thorin, I do not have the skill to do this. I tried," Oin said, shaking his head. "He needs help. Soon."

Thorin's mind raced. Earlier, he'd written off all other possible options. But now, he was suddenly humbled. Oin was right. They couldn't do this on their own.

Thorin put a hand on Oin's shoulder. "You did all you could."

"He's already weak from what happened. He already lost a lot of blood. He won't bleed out right away, but I don't think I have to tell you he's bad off, Thorin."

The king nodded. "Do what you can. I'll be back."

Perhaps, a dwarf king racing across a battlefield would have garnered more attention at some point. It had been almost twenty-four hours since the fighting had begun, yet it was far from over. Some of the wounded Elves and men had been brought to Dale; others had been treated in the field. The surviving dwarves from Dain's army had been brought to tents set up in the shadow of Erebor. Those who had escaped injury worked to pile the carcasses of dead orcs and wargs and burn them.

Even as Thorin headed into Dale, he was hardly noticed. All he could think of was the memory of Kili's small, prostrate form lying on the ice at Ravenhill.

Thorin saw the tents the elves has erected in the old city and kept going. There were a smattering of elves around, but none of them paid any attention to him. He stopped outside what could only be the Elvenking's tent.

"Thorin?" He was stopped by a voice behind him. Thorin turned to see the hobbit. "What are you doing here?"

"I need to see Gandalf. Now."

Bilbo thankfully didn't press for details. "He's in there; I was just waiting for him."

Thorin had figured as much. There was no guard outside the tent, and a moment later he was following Bilbo inside.

"Gandalf-" Bilbo began, but Thorin spoke before he could finish.

"I need your help, as soon as you can," He told the wizard, all but ignoring the other two occupants of the tent. Political negotiations and niceties could come later. For the moment, Kili was all that mattered.

"What brings you crawling into my presence to beg, Thorin Oakenshield?" King Thranduil challenged, raising his eyebrows

Thorin leveled him with a glare. "Nothing that you would not do for your son. I came to speak with Gandalf."

"Thorin, what is it?" The wizard interrupted. The fact that the last time they'd seen each other Thorin was cursing him didn't seem to matter.

"It's Kili."

To his credit, Gandalf did not hesitate. "I will speak with you later, Thranduil. I must go."

He followed Thorin out, Bilbo on his heels. "What happened?" He asked Thorin, not even pausing to hear the story. Thorin swiftly led them back towards the tent as he explained.

"What do you want me to do?" Gandalf asked, slightly incredulous, when he had finished.

"Anything you can." They paused outside of the tent. "Gandalf, I wouldn't have asked you if there was another way." Thorin paused. "He's going to die. I can't lose him." His voice fell to a whisper. "Can you help him?"

"I will try."

He'd hardly been gone for an hour, but Kili was much worse. Thorin heard him struggling to breathe before he even saw him.

"Gandalf!" Oin turned, surprised by the wizard's presence. "I've never been more glad to see a wizard in all of my days."

Kili began another vicious round of coughing. "How is he?" Gandalf asked. Slowly, Thorin approached the bed.

"We stopped the bleeding. But it's more than that. He's coughing up blood now," Oin explained.

Oh, little one, forgive me. Thorin watched as his nephew continued to wheeze hoarsely. He looked so small, so weak.

He wiped a strand of sweat-soaked hair off of Kili's forehead, unable to speak. He was reminded of another dwarf. As Kili had grown up, Thorin and Dis had always been startled to note just how much he resembled their now-dead brother. The same impish grin, the ever present laughter and sparkling eyes. The same innocence and loyalty.

It was a wound to his chest. There was blood everywhere. "Frerin, talk to me, nadadith." Thorin begged, unaware of the tears falling down his cheeks. "You cannot die on me."

At last, his younger brother's eyes opened, revealing glassy blue. "Thorin…" he whispered hoarsely.

In response, Thorin gathered his brother onto his lap. "Right here," he managed.

Frerin smiled—barely. "You are…king now." He found Thorin's hand and clenched in weakly. "We fought well. We won."

Thorin nodded. Blood bubbled up out of the corner of Frerin's mouth. His little brother was dying right in front of Thorin and there was nothing he could do about it. The brother he had sworn to protect was leaving him. "Frerin, no," He whispered brokenly, swallowing hard. "You cannot die."

Frerin grimaced. "Love you, nadad," He forced out, squeezing Thorin's hand a little harder. "Take care…Dis."

Thorin shook his head in a vain effort to deny the fact. Frerin was coughing now. "Please don't leave me alone."

Frerin didn't respond, but his gaze never left Thorin's. The look upon his face begged Thorin to let him go. Thorin leaned down and rested his forehead on his brother's, tears streaming down his face now. "Love you too, little brother," He murmured.

"Thorin? Thorin!" Balin's voice brought him back to the present. He blinked at Kili's limp form. He was no longer coughing, just struggling to breathe. Next to him, Gandalf looked grave. The king turned a frantic gaze to the wizard. "I will do what I can," Gandalf said.

His head hurt. Actually, everything hurt at this point. Blearily, Fili opened his eyes and then immediately closed them again, groaning. It was far too bright inside the tent. The pain in his head sharpened.

"Fili?" He heard Thorin's voice off to his left.

"S' too bright." He rolled over to face his uncle, away from the light, before he opened his eyes again.

Thorin looked absolutely exhausted. Fili wondered if he'd slept since the battle. He felt a stab of guilt.

The bed on the other side of Fili's was empty. "Where's Kili?" Thorin didn't say anything. "Thorin?" He was surprised how intense his voice was. Hadn't Kili been next to him earlier?

"You don't remember?" Thorin asked finally.

"No. Wasn't he here earlier?" he asked anxiously.

Thorin shook his head. "Both of you were in the other part of the tent. He was never in here. I brought you in here before…" Thorin trailed off. That was unlike him. Something must have happened.

You can't do that! You'll kill him! Don't hurt him! The earlier events came filtering back. I promise you, he will be fine.

A sinking horror dawned on him. Oh, Mahal. Kili. "You said he'd be fine. You promised!" Fili burst out, struggling to sit up. "Thorin, tell me what happened!"

Thorin finally met his eyes. Fili's heart was racing. He wanted to grab Thorin and shake the answer out of him. "Uncle."

"He's very weak," Thorin said at last. "Gandalf did all that he could but-"

"Gandalf? What was he doing here?" Fili interrupted.

"I asked him." Thorin spoke slowly. "The surgery didn't go well. Kili was bleeding heavily, and we had to get Gandalf. He's breathing is much better now, but Oin's worried about infection. He might not be able to fight it off. And there's also the possibility of pneumonia."

Kili may not have been out of the woods yet, but he was alive. Fili breathed a sigh of relief. "Can I see him?"

Thorin shook his head. "Not yet, Fili. Balin's with him now. And Oin gave me the strictest instructions not to let you get up. But since you, Nori and Kili were at least stable for the moment, he's sleeping."

Fili cast a longing look in the general direction of his brother. "Oin also told me to change the bandage on your leg." Thorin continued.

"I'm fine." Fili said automatically.

Thorin ignored him and set to work unwrapping the partially bloodstained bandage above his knee anyway. Fili shut his eyes again and settled in for the inevitable.

He almost asked when he could see Kili, but already knew Thorin wouldn't give him a solid answer. "Uncle?" he said softly.

"Yes?"

"When you see Kili, can you tell him…" Fili thought for a moment, "Tell him that he's a stupid reckless fool who should have done what I told him to do and not run after me." He smiled and kept going. "And he's going to give me gray hair before I'm a hundred because I have to worry so much about him."

Thorin chuckled. "He's not the only one we have to worry about."

"Runs in the family." Fili stopped to wince when Thorin applied a new dressing. "But also tell him that I love him, and that he has to hurry up and get better so we can explore the mountain."

Thorin startled wrapping up the wound again, smiling faintly. That had been his and Frerin's favorite pastime when they were lads. Whenever they could sneak away and explore some seldom-used passageway, they did. Both of them had been even younger during the battle of Azanulbizar than Fili and Kili were now.

"Fili?" he asked, but Fili didn't answer. Thorin looked up to see that he had fallen asleep, a half-smile still on his face. Thorin stood up and tucked the blankets back around him.

The thought of sleep suddenly overwhelmed him. He'd hardly slept after the battle. He couldn't remember when he'd slept before it.

He made himself comfortable on one of the other unoccupied beds. The day was drawing to a close, and the rest of the company was resting as well. Sleep came quickly, and Thorin drifted into a world of hazy dreams.

The crack of thunder woke him up, and Thorin swore quietly. I moment later, the door was flung open and a little shape stood silhouetted in the doorway.

Thorin blinked. "Fili? What's wrong?"

The little dwarfling scrambled towards the bed at the next peal of thunder. "I-I had a bad dweam, Uncle." He whimpered, hugging himself tightly against the cold chill. "I didn't wanta wake up Mama. Can I sleep with you?" Dis was often awake at night with Kili crying, so Thorin could guess why Fili had sought comfort with him.

Thorin wondered if he had actually had a bad dream or if he was just scared of the storm. But he said yes and made room for Fili anyway. His nephew immediately snuggled up against him and closed his eyes tightly.

"Do you want to tell me about your dream, Fili?" Thorin asked softly. Fili shook his head without opening his eyes. Thorin could guess what it was about. For a seven-year-old to watch their father die was indeed traumatic.

"Uncle Thorin? Do you worry about Kili?" a sleepy voice asked a moment later.

"I do, yes, and you should too. That's what big brothers are supposed to do"

Fili wrinkled his nose. "How would you know?"

Thorin sighed. "Because I had a little brother once."

"What happened?"

Thorin was quiet for a long moment. "Do you remember what I told you about orcs?" He felt rather than saw Fili nodding. "They killed him during a battle," He said quietly.

Fili squeezed his arm. "I'm sorry, Uncle," He whispered seriously. A moment later he yawned and Thorin smiled.

"Goodnight, sleepy-head," He said softly.

"'Night, Uncle," He murmured.

Ending on a fluffy note this time!

A lot of you guys had questions about Oin's surgury idea from last chapter. Based on his inexperience, that was fabricated for the story. (But I didn't want to give spoilers last chapter by telling you guys that!) and thankfully mostly abandonded.

My rational for Gandalf being able to heal Kili: Tolkien tells us he did heal Gwaihir (Of Great Eagle Fame) from a poisoned arrow wound. And movie-wise, he basically brought Thorin back to life. So either way, Gandalf has SOME healing power.

Thank you for reading, and please tell me what you think!:)