Chapter 10

Bilbo was frustrated. Fili had lost most of his cheerfulness around the hobbit. He was cordial enough to their guests. However, Bilbo had lived with Fili long enough to know that the youngster had pulled deep within himself. All those days of careful discussion wasted. Bilbo had to apologize.

Fili wasn't cooperating. He had avoided direct contact with Bilbo. Oh, the responsible brother kept Bilbo in his sight constantly. Close interaction with him was out of the question now. Bilbo poked at the fire he sat near. Fili was definitely Thorin's nephew. His little stunt had brought out all those madding, stubborn, prideful traits that infuriated and infatuated Bilbo with Thorin.

The dwarves of this caravan were friendly but they kept a very polite distance from Bilbo. He could feel their stares into his back. While it would be very pleasant to have others nearby in the night, Bilbo preferred that they had never met the caravan.

Fili watched Bilbo at his lonely fire. He sat with Klud's family and friends several yards away. Many dwarves had passed by eager to hear of their destination. Fili answered all their questions with a quiet politeness until Klud waved them away for some rest.

Fili was mostly lost inside of his own head. Part of Fili felt like the biggest ass in the world. Another part was scared. 'Was he really able to laugh and be normal without Kili?' He did not want to be. It was not right. Especially when he knew that Kili was absolutely miserable. Fili felt like he'd betrayed Kili, but that was stupid right?

"Master Dondi, would you care for more stew?" asked Fiona. She was Klud's daughter. She was a lovely dwarfling, into what humans called the teens. Her blonde hair was curly and her beard was growing in nicely. If Kili had been here, the two would have been strutting around like peacocks trying to catch her fancy.

Fili looked up from his bowl. It was empty. He had mastered the skill of eating mechanically many weeks ago. "Uh, no thank you. It was very good though."

Fiona gave him an odd smile. It wasn't often a dwarf turned down food. She placed the ladle down. She sat down on a lovely quilt that had been stitched with great skill. Fili had not believed it was what the family used so commonly for the ground.

"Your quilt is very nice." Fili commented. He wanted to be distracted from his thoughts.

Fiona smiled, "Thank you. My mother is the best seamstress. She is teaching me as well. Someday, I hope to make my own designs in cloth. Incorporate jewels, even fine metals. Bright, brilliant colors of the summer will be in my clothes. I want to dazzle princes and kings with my fabrics." She stopped immediately embarrassed at how much she had prattled on. "Please excuse me."

Fili held out a hand. "None are required. I have hopes and dreams as well. It is good to see your own path in this world."

Fiona drew her knees up and hugged them around her green skirt. "You are very kind. Most of the time, I am told I will make a good wife, but as much as I want that, I want more."

Gruin chose that exact moment to rudely barge in between the two and sit down. He had seen his sister talking to the stranger and had not liked it one second. They knew nothing about this smooth talking "merchant". Gruin did not believe his tale.

"I'm hungry," he announced and gave Fiona a glare.

Fili bit his lip and turned away amused. He knew a protective brother when he saw one.

Fiona reacted as much as any spirited female dwarf would. "There is the kettle. Help yourself."

Gruin grunted, "I need a bowl. Fetch me one from the wagon."

Fili returned Gruin's glare with passive curiosity. He wondered if the youngster was always this bossy.

Fiona jumped up from her quilt. "Fetch! What am I? Our dog? Oi, you rascal!" She grabbed the metal ladle and began to whack Gruin about the head.

"Fiona, quit! Are you crazy? We have a guest." Gruin yelled. He put his arms up in defense.

"One that you have just embarrassed me in front of!"

A sharp voice stopped the siblings antics. Klud stepped forward. "Stop this at once. Remember your manners both of you. You have Master Dondi thinking we are wild dwarves not fit for the halls of Erebor. Both of you help your mother. Go."

The two glared at one another. Gruin made a face at Fiona. She returned it with a too sweet smile indicating further trouble to come.

"Good evening." She stopped to say at Fili before hurrying off.

A pang of melancholy shot through Fili. This whole situation was rather like many an embarrassing moment with his uncle and Kili. He masked it quickly, "It's fine. I believe Gruin just wanted to ensure his sister's honor."

Kind took Fiona's place on the blanket. He pulled out his pipe and began to light it.

"You are very kind, Master Dondi. Gruin is a good lad, high spirited. Fiona is much the same."

Fili pulled out his own pipe. The two made more small talk. Soon though, Fili decided that he should make his way to Bilbo. He owed the hobbit an apology.

Bilbo had been distracted a bit when Fiona had begun whacking her brother with the spoon. Absently he wondered what role Fili had in the outburst. He felt very alone and inched closer to the fire. The hobbit was wondering if Fili's anger was so great that he would not bed down with him.

Bilbo scratched his neck and stared out into the darkness. Their fire was on the edge of the caravan, but still close by. However, he could not shake the feeling he was being watched. It was very unnerving. If Fili didn't return soon, he'd march right over and sit beside him. Not that he was scared or anything.

Fili felt it then too. Something was wrong. Too many nights of watch had ingrained a wariness in him. Fili stood up startling Klud.

"Put your people on alert. Something unfriendly is out there." Fili ordered. He dropped his pipe and began a hurried walk over to his friend. His hands reaching for his swords out of reflex.

Klud stood up. For a second he did nothing. The change in the merchant had been stunning. He yelled for his friend, "Fundri," but the rest of his words died in his throat.

Wargs. Three of the nasty, starved beasts were making a daring attack on the lone hobbit. The largest was making a bee line for the startled halfling.

Fili shouted in alarm as he broke into a flat out run.

Bilbo had his back to the tall grasses of the plains and the edge of the forest. His gaze had been on his friend. His mind was on how to make amends.

It was the smell that grabbed his full attention. The stench of something not quite belonging in the natural world. Full of decay, death, the smell of the wargs was impossible to understand unless one encountered the beasts.

Bilbo wanted to gag even as he stood up hurriedly. Panic filled his senses. Flashes of that terrible night, Thorin charging the Pale Orc. Leaping teeth and claws, death from below, fire all around.

Bilbo shouted in alarm. He drew Sting and began to backpedal towards the caravan and to Fili.

"NOOOO!" Fili screamed. He needed Kili, his arrows. He'd never make it to Bilbo in time.

Bilbo stumbled. It saved his life. The leader sailed over the prone hobbit, kicking up grass and dirt. Its two companions started to dart into their prey when shouts and new target made itself aware in their consciousness.

An axe shot through the darkness. It embedded in the smallest warg, the one about to leap onto Bilbo next.

It howled in pain and stopped its attack. It began to shake its head back and forth in a vain attempt to dislodge the axe.

The pack leader found its footing. Righting himself, it sought to cut down the small one and retreat to the safety of the darkness. Before it could pick up speed to launch an attack, he swiveled. New predator, not prey caught his yellow eyes. The warg turned to face off this threat.

Fili screamed curses in Khuzdul. He jabbed at the creature trying to engage the monster to come closer. The warg's growl made his hair stand on end. He did not waver.

"Come get me you bastard." The warg darted closer, reaching out with claw and fang.

Fili dodged and rolled underneath the attacks. Finally he heard the sound of other dwarves joining the battle. The pack leader sensed that his advantage was fading. The warg was infuriated. Easy prey had become death and fire. In its anger it leapt out at the yellow prey.

Fili had been waiting for this moment. He easily dodged the leap. Instead he twisted and jumped onto the back of the horrible beast. He drove both blades as deeply as strength would allow. Blood squirted up into his face and eyes. His hits were critical. Fili wrenched the blades free twisting as he did so. He couldn't waste another precious second. There was another warg.

Bilbo had scrambled upright. He saw Fili in a mad dance with one warg. But the third was about to leap at the hobbit's throat.

But hobbits are quicker than they look. Bilbo scrambled away as the beast leapt by. He scrambled toward the fire. Wargs hated the heat, the light. Bilbo grabbed a burning branch and brandished it against the beast. It shrank back, trying to quickly decide on a more prudent attack away from the burning heat.

Bilbo shouted, "Go, leave us foul beast." It wasn't as impressive as a dwarf battle cry, but it was very impressive for a hobbit.

To his relief his shouts were joined by others. The dwarves of the caravan finally arrived.

The pack leader was finished off in a flurry of pick axes and war hammers. The other warg was similarly deposed.

Fili reached Bilbo's side. In an instant the hobbit was swept behind the dwarf as he rushed to face off with warg.

The warg had not survived this long by being stupid. It took a quick glance at his prey, at the predator guarding it. Other noisy, hairy beasts were aiding them. It was time to leave.

Fili was surprised to see the warg suddenly break off the attack. Instead it darted back into the tall prairie grasses that it had sprung from. The beast was conceding the battle.

"Are you alright?" Fili shouted as others ran by giving chase to the beast.

Bilbo was a dirty mess, his hair was covered in dead grass. He gave Fili an expression of both fear and relief. He nodded.

Fili felt overwhelmed. He had nearly lost another member of his family. He reached and grabbed the hobbit by the scruff of his neck. He gently pulled Bilbo forward until their foreheads touched.

"I'm so sorry." He breathed out. Fili longed to stop Bilbo from his trembling.

"It's okay, Fili. I'm alright." Bilbo reached out and hugged the young dwarf.

The two stayed like that for moment. The shouts of the others, their frenzy lost to a type of haze.

It was Klud who broke them out of the spell.

"My lord, the other beast is dead."

Fili let Bilbo go. The two looked at the elder. Klud was looking at Fili with something resembling awe.

Klud explained, "We've heard some stories as we have travelled. The tales of Thorin and his nephews have made us a proud people once more. I did not understand who you must be until I saw you in action. You are Fili, Thorin's heir."

"You have found me out. I thank you for your assistance in killing the wargs." Fili straightened. He was every inch a Durin Prince in that instant. Bilbo felt pride.

Klud bowed, "It is we who are in your debt my Lord, we are not soldiers. Those beasts would have caused much misery amongst our people. You killed two before we were even able to react."

Fili smiled, "I've had lots of practice. Please though, keep your knowledge to yourself."

"As you wish, but we would hail you for your victories. We have much to thank you for. Your quest has giving us back Erebor. We fed you with stew. I must seem the most ungrateful dwarf in the world."

"No, banish that from your mind. Your hospitality was genuine. We will however, move our fire much closer to the main group."

Bilbo nodded very vigorously. His finger pointed at the heart of the camp. "Yes, I think, right over there. Much too much excitement tonight."

Fili let out a deep breath. He placed a hand on Bilbo, "I have to agree."