Hello all! I know it's been quite a while since I last updated, but I am still here and determined to finish this tale. Thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter as well as to everyone who added me and this story to their favorite/alert lists! I wrote an extra-long chapter to hopefully make up for the long wait. Enjoy!

Chapter Ten

Legends of Stone and Thunder

If someone had told him only a few months ago that he would be sneaking around Rivendell, surrounded by elves…ELVES of all people after fleeing from a hunting party of orc, Bilbo would have seriously been concerned for that person's sanity. It was still unbelievable to the hobbit that he was a vital member of a dwarven company, on an important quest to reclaim a lost kingdom, living a real adventure like in so many tales of old. Slowly Bilbo slipped around two elven guards and into a large room with small sets of stairs leading in many different directions. The hobbit's pulse was racing as he crept up the closest staircase as quietly as possible.

Bilbo knew it was probably wrong to be sneaking around, especially after Thorin ordered the company to stay together, but the hobbit could not let an opportunity to see Rivendell pass him by. Anyways, it was really more like he was practicing his burgling skills. How exactly did Thorin expect him to be able to sneak around a dragon if he did not practice or more like create burgling skills?

Reaching the top of the set of stairs Bilbo's curious eyes landed on a pedestal and stone statue holding what looked like broken shards of an elegant sword. Drawn closer, Bilbo's gaze did not waiver from the shards as he slowly reached out in wonder. But just before the hobbit's fingertips could graze the steel Bilbo heard familiar voices drifting through the room from a large balcony window at the other end of the hall.

Bilbo's mother had always said his overly curious nature would be his downfall one day. And it was that very curiosity that pulled the hobbit's large hairy feet across a beautiful woven carpet towards the balcony's ledge. Once Bilbo reached the railing he looked down to see Balin and Dwalin standing closely together, and from what Bilbo could see they were discussing something important.

"It is happening, Brother! Pretending that Thorin is not being affected in the same way his grandfather was is not going to help anyone! Least of all, Thorin!" Balin snapped. His tone surprising the spying hobbit, making Bilbo almost fall on his backside in shock.

Having never heard Balin get angry since meeting the older kind dwarf Bilbo was thrown by the firmness in which he spoke and immediately thought about turning away and forgetting what he had already seen and heard. But darn that curiosity, as the hobbit could not let a comment about Thorin's Grandfather slip from his mind without first figuring out what it meant.

Dwalin looked ruefully at his brother, knowing there was truth in his words, but not wanting to believe them. "And what are we to do, Balin? Turn back?! No! There is no outcome that sets us back to The Blue Mountains. Thorin, will not give up any chance he has at reclaiming his birthright. This company will reclaim Erebor or we will all fall in battle trying."

"Then what we must do is try to limit the damage. What happened to young Fili should never have come to pass."

"Agreed." Dwalin answered back gruffly, his face falling with weariness. "How is the lad?"

Balin's pale eyes slowly rose to the sky and the magnificent collection of stars as he took a moment to answer his brother's question.

With each second of quiet that passed between the dwarf brothers Bilbo could feel his chest tighten in fear for Fili as worry settled. The hobbit could not imagine continuing on with this quest if Fili did not survive. He had come to really care about the young dwarf and his troublesome brother. What would become of Kili if Fili did not live?

Then a terrible realization slammed the spying hobbit. On such a dangerous quest it was not likely that many of the company he growing attached to were going to survive. Even if he made it back to the Shire what would this quest turn him into? How could he become closer to these dwarves if they were possibly going to die before this was all over? How could he become their friend?

Every new revelation that Bilbo realized solidified an idea that had been plaguing Bilbo's mind for some time. When the dwarves left Rivendell he would not be joining them. Instead the hobbit thought of how he could barter help getting back home to the Shire from Lord Elrond. But just as Bilbo's plan began to take form his attention was pulled back to the area below as Balin finally answered his brother's question.

"The elven healer informed Thorin that all the poison has been removed from Fili and he should make a full recovery in a few days' time." Balin's voice was rough and not nearly happy enough given the good news.

From above Bilbo nearly jumped with joy at the news of Fili's recovery and had to stop himself to keep hidden. The hobbit quickly changing his mind about leaving the company with the positive development.

Dwalin, however, easily picked up on the fact that his brother still seemed concerned. "Excellent news indeed. Now why don't ya tell me what's wrong?"

Balin breathed out heavily. "It is my worry to bear, Brother. I would be breaking a promise if I was to tell you what is troubling my sleep."

"Ah I see. What do ya know about, Kili, that I don't? It was Fili you promised; am I right?"

Balin chuckled, "Nothing gets passed you, Brother!"

"I'm flattered, but I think it's more those two are far too predictable for their own good when it comes to each other."

"You are not wrong." Balin easily agreed. "We should get back to the company before someone comes searching for us." The older dwarf suddenly said trying to distract his brother from further questioning.

Dwalin however was not fooled. "Aye, you're right on that. I guess ya best tell me what's wrong with Kili quickly then." After his brother did not say anything Dwalin continued. "Look, I'm worried about the Lad. I saw utter fear in his eyes when that orc scout was running at him…I haven't seen fear like that in his eyes since Carrek came out of those trees last year. It was as if the Lad was seeing a ghost."

"A ghost from his past perhaps." Balin's voice drifted quietly. His words heightening Dwalin's worry and completely confusing poor eavesdropping Bilbo.

"What does that mean? What aren't ya tellin me?!" Dwalin asked in anger; his patience waning.

"Calm down, Brother." Balin said quickly, trying not to bring attention to their conversation. The older of the two placed his hand on his brother's larger arm in a placating manner. "Before I left home Fili came to me in a distressed state. The Lad, was a right mess, pacing back and forth, running a hole in the floors. When I finally got him to calm slightly he told me of a trouble event that had taken place with Kili. Fili is concerned that something more happen to Kili when he was captured than what we all already know."

Dwalin interrupted swiftly. "What else happened?! Why didn't the Lad tell us sooner?! Ah, the knuckle-heads! When I see them I'm gonna-"

"Dwalin! Would you like to hear the rest of what I am going to tell you before you knock the Lads' heads off?" Balin asked with an eyebrow raised.

With a firm nod from Dwalin, Balin continued. "Fili told me his brother almost shot him with an arrow." Balin held up his hand to halt Dwalin's coming protests. "I know what you are going to say, Dwalin, but Fili said it was as if Kili was not looking at him at all. I fear he is losing his mind to the tortures he was been through. I had hoped this quest would be a healing force, but it has only seemed to make things worse. I do not know what else to do outside of breaking my promise and telling Thorin and Oin about what's happening to our youngest member. Though, I suppose I have already broken my promise by telling you."

Dwalin dropped heavily onto a stone bench and placed his face in his tattooed hands. "That is what your fight with Kili was about? Were you asking him what happened?"

"I only wished to give him a slight nudge into telling me himself. Instead Kili became furious that Fili told me in the first place." Balin said sadly with a sigh.

"We cannot tell Thorin, or Oin. They would send him home and that is the last place the Lad should be." Dwalin finally said in a confident tone of voice.

Balin looked at his brother is confusion. "Why is that?"

Dwalin's eyes connected with his brothers and easily answered. "Because the best place for Kili right now is with his family and the people who love him. He will tell us what happened when he is ready, and you know that no one could ever make the Lad do anything he didn't want before he was ready…well maybe Dis."

Balin chuckled. "When did you become so wise?"

Dwalin slapped his older brother's shoulder. "Well one of us has to be. Come Brother, let's return to camp before Bombur and Bofur burn all the furniture in Rivendell."

Bilbo watched the two dwarves walk away and when he could no longer see them leaned back against the railing. "Well, I can't leave now. What to do, what to do? Ah! I will just have to convince Kili and Fili to come with me! The Shire would be a wonderful place for them both to heal. …Great now you're talking to yourself Bilbo."

Fuming, Thorin stormed towards the healing house and the room his nephew was recovering in. The dwarf king kept replaying his meeting with Balin, Gandalf, and the elf Elrond over and over in his head, trying to decide if letting the elf see the map was a good idea. They would need to wait two more day before the full moon would reveal the moon-runes for Elrond to read, but Thorin was not sure they would be in Rivendell that long. The elf lord already indicated his suspicions of the company's true intentions at the meeting and Thorin could not risk letting some meddlesome elves stop him from reclaiming his homeland.

As the dwarf king arrived at the double doors leading to Fili's room he took a calming breath and reached for the door handles. But as Thorin's rough fingers grazed the cold metal shaped as a leaf his vision blurred. The king stepped back as tears welled in his deep blue eyes and he turned away from the doors, pulling a slightly shaking hand through his long wavy hair. Taking a moment to quell his overwhelming emotions Thorin tried to push from his mind the images of Fili sickly and struggling to breathe and the blazing anger in Kili's accusing eyes during their fight; a fight that had led to his youngest nephew's breakdown.

"Oh, Sister. I really have messed everything up. I was never meant to raise children." Thorin whispered sadly to the emptiness around him.

Thorin's moment of sorrow was interrupted by quiet footsteps drawing near. Not wanting to be seen in such a state by some wondering elf the dwarf king swiftly turned and entered through the double doors. Without a sound Thorin slipped into the room and slowly made his way to Fili's bedside opposite a sleeping Kili. Gently Thorin ran his hand across Fili's slightly damp forehead and immediately felt guilt seize his already heavy heart.

Satisfied that his oldest nephew was doing as well as could be expected Thorin let his caring gazed shift to his youngest nephew's face. The king's eyes narrowed when he noticed Kili quivering in his sleep. Cautiously, Thorin made his way around the edge of the bed towards Kili but was halted in his steps by his young nephew bolting upright in his chair suddenly.

Thorin observed Kili squeeze his eyes tightly and even out his rapid breathing silently. The dark-hair king worriedly watched unsure what to do. Finally he made his presence known after Kili leaned back again and relaxed his fists, letting out a shaky breath.

"I thought your nightmares had stopped?" Thorin whispered carefully, trying not to startle his nephew.

Despite his low voice Kili lurched forward harshly at the unexpected voice and only just stopped himself from pulling his knife free. After the young dwarf's initial panic subsided Kili very slowly lowered himself back into his chair, looking away from his uncle and checking to see if his movements had awoken Fili. "No…I've just gotten better at hiding them. How was the meeting with Lord Elrond?" Kili's voice was scratchy and rough with exhaustion as he spoke.

Thorin moved closer, his boots thudding on the floor. "The elf said the map has moon-runes that can only be read using the moon approaching in two days. He is also on to our true intentions which makes it dangerous to stay for the two days. Kili look at me, we are not done talking about you." Kili looked obediently to his uncle and Thorin took note of the sickly color of his skin as well as the dark circles framing his young nephew's brown eyes. "How long has your nightmares been back?"

"Why do you care all of a sudden? Lately you can't be bothered with anything but this quest. Why the sudden change of priority?" Kili snapped harshly.

The room fell into silence only to be broken by Thorin's heavy steps as he finished crossing the distance between him and his nephews. With uncertainty Thorin place a firm hand on Kili's shoulder and after a slightly flinch from Kili waited until his youngest nephew's attention was solely on him, before speaking with unmasked pain. "You remind me so much of your mother sometimes."

Kili scoffs in disbelief, looking to Thorin in question.

"She was never afraid to speak her mind or to challenge me when I was wrong."

Kili smiles faintly, "Are you saying you were wrong?" The young prince's eyes sparking with mischief.

Thorin met Kili's smile with one of him own. "Don't go getting used to it."

Kili leaned next to Fili's head and placed a hand on his brother's steadily breathing chest. "Oh Fili, you really need to wake up. You're missing a once in a lifetime moment." Kili lowered his voice as if he was telling a secret. "Uncle Thorin has just admitted he was wrong."

"No need to worry. I am sure you'll be informing your brother the moment he wakes." Thorin said in a warm voice reserved for only his nephews and closest friends.

"Inform me of what?" Kili's eyes lit up with his brother's scratchy unexpected voice, making the youngest Durin quickly reached for Fili's hand.

"Fili, you're awake!" Kili cried in joy making Fili wince at his brother's volume.

Fili slowly cracked one eye open and then the other and though his pale blue eyes were blurring he couldn't help but smile at seeing his little brother safe and sound. "How long was I out? Or better question…what happened?"

"The arrow that hit you was laced with poison." Kili answered back without hesitation.

Fili blinked a few times sluggishly. "It's not your fault Kili so don't even think about blaming yourself."

"I wasn't going to. I blame you for being such an idiot!"

"What?!" Fili asked completely confused.

Kili squeezed Fili's hand. "What were you thinking?! If you felt sick you should have said something instead of pushing yourself till near death!"

"I'll go fetch a healer. Neither of you two go anywhere." Thorin said abruptly, bringing Fili's sight to his uncle's retreating form and in turn to his surroundings.

"Where are we?" Fili asked unintentionally ignoring Kili's question, only making him angrier.

"Why do you always change the subject?!" Kili retorted.

Fili glared slightly at Kili. "I do not always change the subject. That is something you do, Kili."

"I am quite certain brother that we both do that, not just me." Kili conceded.

Fili chuckled. "You would think we'd have learned by now that changing the subject never works with us. Really though, where are we?"

Kili released Fili's hand and sat back into his chair. "After you collapsed…the path we were following lead us to the edge of Rivendell."

"Rivendell? As in elves?! Thorin never would have sought out elves for anything. Least of all help. " Fili interrupted disbelieving.

"He did for you." Kili replied quietly.

At that moment Thorin came back followed closely by two elven healers who swiftly moved to Fili's side and began checking him over. Kili silently moved out of their way but kept in sight of Fili while Thorin stayed at the back of the room watching carefully. Fili's sight drifted to his uncle with his brother's words still ringing in his head and as their eyes connected Thorin smiled lightly and dripped his head towards his nephew encouragingly. With Thorin's actions Fili remembered all the times his uncle was there for him and his brother, and knew even in the worst of times his uncle would always love him and Kili…no matter what.

The next two days passed with little issue other than a few random incidents involving pranks and one encounter with Bombur and Rivendell's kitchen staff that almost ended with Bombur and Nori being thrown out of Rivendell.

In other words, Dori had been having an almost pleasant break from traipsing through rain, mud, bug infected forests, and dodging deadly arrow. Unfortunately, Erebor was not going to be reclaimed from Rivendell so Dori may have been annoyed when Ori came crashing through the quiet gardens where he was enjoying a lovely tea, but it was not unforeseen.

"Dori! Dori! We need to go!" Ori shouted the moment he found his oldest brother, slightly out-of-breath from running.

Dori rolled his eyes and took a calm sip from his tea cup then at a deliberately slow pace place his cup down before turning his attention to his little brother. "Now Ori, calm down and tell me what is happening. Why do we need to leave with such haste?"

Ori sucked in a large breath before speaking. "Thorin just came back from his meeting with the elf lord and said we must leave quickly. The elves mean to stop us from reaching Erebor!"

Dori, who had been drinking more of his tea, dropped his cup to the ground with Ori's words. "What do you mean?! Imprisonment?"

"I don't know! Thorin just told me to find you and Bofur then he sent Dwalin to fetch Fili and Kili. We are all to meet them at the bridge where we came into Rivendell!" Ori whined.

"Oh alright." Dori grumbled and rose to his feet, following after his quickly retreating brother.

Dori had to almost run to keep up with Ori which only made the older dwarf more irritable. Though, his mood did brighten slightly when he caught sight of Dwalin's scowling face after clearing having a problem with Fili and Kili. The two youngest Durins were bouncing around with chaotic energy, loudly trying to find out what was happening from an annoyed Dwalin.

Shortly after arriving at the meeting spot, Thorin and Balin joined the gathered group quickly answering the company's questions before setting off towards the mountains. Crossing the bridge unnoticed by any elves Dori looked to the sky and scowled at the dark and fast approaching clouds.

"Of course! We just had to set off right before a storm. Now I'm going to get wet again." The grey-haired dwarf growled to the dwarf closest to him, and pulled his hood over his head.

Bofur barked out a laugh and knocked Dori on his arm. "Ah no worrying, Dori. It might not storm at all. You always expect the worst."

"Well forgive me for realizing that everything that can go wrong will and HAS gone wrong." Dori snapped back not at all amused by Bofur's reassurances.

Nori heard his older brother's conversation and unwisely decide to annoy him further. "Dori, Dori, when are you going to learn to lighten up a bit? Huh? You're lucking you still have any hair left on your head with all the fretting about you do. You just need to try to be more like me and enjoy life."

Dori glared at Nori, the exact response his younger brother was looking for, and retorted, "You mean travel around getting into constant trouble! Well, some of us have responsibilities and we can't just pass through life as we please." Dori argued and picked up speed to move to the middle of the group and away from his brother.

Nori shared an amused look with Bofur before the latter began a ridiculous tale of his very short time as a metal-smith.

Lightening streaked across the sky as rain bombarded the traveling company of dwarves, making the thin mountain ledge even more perilous. Bilbo slowly inched down the mountainside as carefully as possible; fear overwhelming him so fully that he felt like he couldn't take a breath. The hobbit's heart almost stopped as a loose rock beneath his foot gave way plunging Bilbo's leg off the ledge.

Dwalin's hand shot out the moment Bilbo started to fall and griped the hobbit's shoulder in an iron hold, pulling him back to the mountainside and nearly avoiding a disaster.

"We must find shelter!" Thorin called from the front of the line of dwarves. The dwarf king was frantically searching for someplace to retreat from the weather; his eye squinted against the wind and rain.

"Look out!" Dwalin suddenly yelled loudly in warring before a massive boulder flew through the sky and smashed against the mountain overhead.

The company of Thorin Oakenshield braced themselves as large fragments from the boulder came crashing down around them. Fili throwing his body over Kili's in an attempt to add protection. Surprising to Fili Kili did not scold him for his overprotective behavior, but instead held onto his arm like when they were children.

Balin straightened his body and saw in the distance an unbelievable sight. "This is no thunderstorm. It's a thunderbattle! Look!" The wise dwarf shouted, pointing to a gigantic monster like creature of stone.

Bofur gawked in astonishment at the sight before him. "Bless me. The legends are true...giants…STONE GIANTS!"

At Bofur exclamation Kili's head snapped up to lock gazes with a concerned and shocked Fili. His older brother quickly readjusting his emotions, sending Kili a knowing smile. "It would seem we were right about stone giants actually existing, brother."

Kili laughed. "AH you know you never believed me!"

The brothers shared a smile, but their conversation was interrupted by Thorin's commanding voice.

"Take cover you fool!" The dwarf king ordered Bofur who was standing at the very edge of the path watching the two stone giants battle.

Kili saw the monster throw another boulder at the same time Fili did but moved faster than his brother. The youngest Durin lunged for Bofur and yanked the older dwarf back against the wall only a moment before a couple of hefty rock pieces impacted where Bofur had been standing. The rocks hitting the ground with enough force to kill.

Kili and Fili asked in unison if Bofur was alright.

"I'm I alright? Of course! I've got another exciting story to tell. Thank you Lads. You really saved my skin there." Bofur answered the two concerned dwarves chuckling madly.

Suddenly, the ground began to tremble fiercely and the rock ledge the company was standing on moved, making the trapped company realize in horror they were standing on a third stone giant.

Fili's pale eyes widened in fear as he noticed a crack in the ground appear between him and his younger brother. The gap increase at an alarming rate and in fright Fili called out to Kili, reaching as far as he could with his hand. "Kili! Grab my hand!"

Obediently, Kili reached out for Fili but the gap had already lengthened to two times the size of a full grown dwarf. Much too far for anyone to jump safely.

Kili watched in terror as the stone giant's leg holding his brother and half the other members of the company pulled farther away and had to be dragged back from the edge by Thorin before the young prince could be crushed by more falling rocks.

Another violent tremor ripped through ground beneath Kili's feet as the giant's leg impacted against the mountainside.

"Kili! Quickly!" Thorin's voice rang out over the commotion, his hand still holding tightly to his nephew as he pulled them both off the giant and to relative safety.

"Uncle, what are we going to do? We can't just leave them!" Kili shouted in panic.

"We won't, but we mustn't panic." Thorin answered confidently, his attention briefly shifting from Fili stranded in danger to his youngest nephew who was clinging to him for guidance.

"Everyone drop!" Balin shouted in warring just as another boulder was thrown over their heads, heading for the other members of the company.

Kili's breath left his body and a feeling of icy fear shocked down his spine as the boulder slammed into the giant still holding his brother and watched in horror as the monster dropped falling into the mountainside.

Thorin jolted forward fearing the worst and started calling for his oldest nephew frantically. "NO! FILI!"

The dwarf king jumped over large debris and harshly knocked his shoulder against the rock wall in his haste. As Thorin turned the corner he found the lost members of his company all unbelievably unharmed. Releasing a breath Thorin slowly made his way towards Fili who was trying to help Bombur to his feet, but before he reached him Kili shot passed and crushed his brother into a tight hug.

"I thought you lost! Are you alright? Let me look at you." Kili voiced frantically, gripping his brother's biceps as if he would vanish at any moment.

Thorin watched his nephews silently, feeling the weight of his decision to bring them, but his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Bofur asking where Bilbo had gone. It wasn't until Bofur's words that Thorin looked to his surroundings, too focused on Fili and Kili to notice their company was one member short.

"Where's the hobbit!" The dark-haired king barked to Dwalin and Bifur, the dwarves closest to him.

"LOOK!" Bofur yelled and dove to the edge of the mountainside where Bilbo was dangling by his fingertips, only an easy slip away from death.

Thorin felt panic well inside his chest, surprising the hardened dwarf king. Thorin did not feel anything for the hobbit, Bilbo was an annoyance more than anything. So why, the dark-haired dwarf wondered, did he feel a horrible tightness in his chest at the hobbit's peril.

Shaking his mind of such thoughts Thorin dropped down the edge of the mountain when it became clear Bilbo was not going to be able to grab Bofur's hand. Using one hand to hold himself, Thorin reached out with his other hand and hauled the trembling hobbit up towards out-stretched hands. The moment Bilbo was safely pulled back on the trail Thorin's grip slipped and he felt himself falling only to stop suddenly by Dwalin's strong hand catching his arm. The jerking stop pulled the muscles in Thorin's shoulder, extracting a yell of pain from the dark-hair king.

Grunting with strained effort Dwalin slowly brought his friend back to safety, clasping him on the back after he was on solid ground. "Ah! I thought we'd lost our burglar."

Thorin shook free from Dwalin's grip and stood roughly. "He's been lost ever since he left home. He should never have come. He has no place amongst us." Thorin snapped and stalked towards an opening in the mountain's wall. "Dwalin!" He shouted once he realized the opening lead into a cave.

Kili's brown eyes followed Thorin and Dwalin until they disappeared from sight and let his gaze wonder between his brother and a despondent Bilbo, torn between staying by his brother's side or going to make sure Bilbo was unharmed and unaffected by his uncle's harsh words.

"Go on, see if Bilbo is alright." Fili's voice startled Kili.

"We can talk to him later. How's the leg holding up after almost being crushed?" Kili asked his brother in a forced light tone.

Fili frowned. "I'm fine. No trouble with the leg and I was far from being crushed, Kili." The fair-haired dwarf emphasized his point by slapping his recently injured leg, making him wince.

"Right." Kili whispered, rolling his eyes.

Thorin and Dwalin returned and the king addressed the company loudly. "We'll take cover in this cave for the night and continue on in the morning."

The moment Thorin said the word cave Kili's mind was propelled to nightmarish memories blocking everything out around him but a voiced that promised and delivered pain. "No need to worry Little Kili, as soon as we're settled in the cave we can begin the fun." Carrek's voice seeped into the young dwarf's mind.

It took only a moment for Fili to realize Kili was the only member of the company standing still in the rain; not following Thorin's orders. "Kili?" Fili's voice broke in concern.

Kili blinked rapidly and plastered a smile on his face. "I'm fine."

Fili's heart sank. "That can't be good…you're answering my questions even before I get a chance to ask them now."

Kili paused longer than necessary and when he continued there was something odd in his tone that unnerved Fili. "Well, what do you expect? Your questions haven't been very varied as of late. You need to stop worrying so much, Fili. You'll end up getting yourself killed over me. Come on; I may enjoy the rain but I'm drenched to the bone."

Without waiting for a response Kili determinedly marched passed Fili and straight into the cave. Taken by surprise Fili stood in the rain staring at where Kili had just gone until Oin scolded him from the entrance of the cave.

"Are you looking to catch your death, Lad? Poison arrows not enough? Come out of the rain!" The healer shouted to the young heir before making his way back out of sight, mumbling about youth and thinking themselves invincible.

Fili chuckled at Oin's mumbling retreat and silently made a note to keep an extra close eye on Kili, hoping his strange behavior was just from being exhausted, before disappearing into the mountainside.

There you have it! Please remember to review! Until next time…

Coming soon:

Chapter Eleven- Falling Slowly