A/N: Apparently telling my muses that I would take a break from updating sent them into chatty mode and suddenly, three more chapters turned up. Which means that I shall likely continue to update daily until the end of "Always trust an Elf".
11
As morning passed and the winds changed direction, the eagles' ledge became more comfortable for its unusual guests. Most of them, both Elves and Dwarves sat around the camp fire they'd improvised from wood the eagles had collected for them. They guarded the fire carefully, but even more so the mutton roasting above it on a makeshift spit. That too, the eagles had provided for the famished company, risking the arrows from homesteads down below.
Some of the more hale Dwarves had taken to preparing the food while the others needed tending to a multitude of injuries. Thorin's chest was a massive bruise that made it difficult for him to breathe properly and he'd allowed Dori to apply some salve over the worst of it. Wrapped up tightly, he sat by the fire, propped against Dwalin's side. Although he was much less frantic than before, Bilbo could still see Thorin glancing over to the nest his unconscious nephew had been tucked into. He'd been told that Fili would not wake for quite some time and rest was the best relief for him. Still, Thorin worried and he was not the only one. Fili's leg had been mended but the threat of infection remained.
By the time Bilbo's mouth began to water (although he had doubted such a thing were possible when looking at the bloody carcass the twins were skinning), Fëanor too surfaced from wherever he'd gone to brood. Bilbo saw him stop to inspect what Celegorm was doing - scraping bits of fat and flesh from the sheep skin for purposes he had not mentioned - and then the Elf walked over to the fire, sitting in the spot that Ori vacated for him. Fëanor motioned the young Dwarf to sit back down and threw a fold of his cloak over his shoulders.
Bilbo saw Thorin shifting, looking at the Elf, his jaw working as though it were difficult for him to speak. Fëanor caught on and made a silencing motion with his hand.
"I should not have shouted at you, Thorin. I was not myself at the time. My apologies," he nodded briefly in Thorin's direction. "But it needed to be done, if we were ever to stop being hunted. It wasn't even my kill, my sons took down your enemy. Make no further mention of it."
Thorin's jaw tightened further. It had sounded more like a dismissal than an apology and angry fire played in the Dwarf's eyes, but he held his tongue and Bilbo saw more than one of his companions eye each other with surprise. But the moment passed and everyone tuned their attention to more urgent matters when Bofur declared the mutton roasted enough.
They took some food over to Fili and Kili and even in a semi-conscious state, Fili nibbled on a few morsels and drank the broth that Bombur had made for him. Fortunately, he had not broken into a fever and he managed a chuckle when Kili told him he made quite a furry little hatchling. Above them, the eagle made some soft sounds and preened her feathers.
After they were all fed and afternoon had fallen over the eastern lands of the world, the company debated whether or not to depart right away. Gandalf had secured the Eagle Lord's promise to bear them all as far as the Carrock, but no further. It was dangerous business even for the great eagles to venture too close to the homesteads of men, because they were feared and men shot them to defend their livestock. That meant both good news and bad news for the company. Good because they would hopefully come across a farm to resupply and bad because they still had some way to go from the river, with thoughts of Fili's injury in mind. That same injury and Celegorm's insistence that Fili should not be moved yet, made them opt for spending the night high up in the eyrie, bunched up against the cold night as best as they could manage. But very few in the company grumbled, for they needed rest more than anything else. As Bilbo himself had said, they'd had too many brushes with death one after the other. Huddling together like furry little hatchlings beneath the watchful eyes of the great eagles would just have to do as a breather.
By dawn, Fili woke in pain intense enough to bring tears in his eyes and Kili paced from one of his companions to the other in such worry that he risked stepping off the ledge in his distraction. Thorin gabbed his nephew and forced him to sit still while Fili grit his teeth and allowed himself to be examined. Bilbo offered the young Dwarf some leftover stew laced with milk of the poppy, while Oin and Celegorm put salve and fresh bandages on the injured leg. It was red and still swollen and made for a terrible sight, but neither the Dwarf nor the Elf could detect any signs of infection. Picking Fili up and holding him on the back of an eagle would be very painful business and, given the length of the flight, it was in his best interest to sleep once more.
For his part, Bilbo felt just as apprehensive about flying as the morning before, but, with no immediate danger to flee from and secured against Maedhros, the Hobbit made it through the journey with nerves slightly less frayed. The Elf pointed out landmarks and told Bilbo what he knew about them. In daylight, Mirkwood appeared even wider, a dark-green sea unwilling to part for anyone. The Old Forest Road lay to the south, but Maedhros could not say if their journey would take the company along that path. Counsel would need to be taken, but a more immediate destination appeared when the river grew closer and the eastern bank could be seen in greater detail.
Roughly a day's march from the Carrock and somewhat southward, Bilbo though the saw patches of yellow and green and somewhere in their midst, the roof of a house. Maedhros described the homestead in greater detail than Bilbo could perceive and said that they would go there soon. Gandalf, however, had mentioned that the woodman who's good will and hospitality they were seeking might not be too delighted to take in such a large company. Counsel would be needed on how to approach the house as well, but until then, the Elf said what he most desperately needed was a bath.
The eagles set Thorin and Balin and Ganalf and Fëanor down atop the formidable island called the Carrock. The others were deposited on the eastern bank of the Anduin, near the place where the great river could be forded easily across a stony path. A stairway cut by ancient hands into the face of the island lead all the way to the top of the Carrock, where a large view opened in every direction. Bilbo presumed that their leaders were up there to take in the lay of the land and discuss important matters, while down by the river, the rest of the company gave the eagles their thanks. Bilbo smiled as he witnessed an odd, seemingly one-sided conversation between Celegorm and three of the great birds.
"That is nothing," Maedhros whispered in Bilbo's ear. "You should have seen him surrounded by chicken and holding conference with them as a child," the Elf grinned. Then, before Bilbo could even think of a reply, Maedhros was tossing weapons and items of clothing off is person, making for the river with the rest of his brothers.
"I don't suppose any of these nancing faeries have a care for securing camp first," Dwalin grumbled after them. He and Bifur and Gloin took to the matter seriously, while Dori helped Kili set his brother down in as comfortable position as possible. Fili began to stir and Bilbo ran to his side, thinking to offer the poor Dwarf some water. Sadly, there was not much else and the question of supper had been on the Hobbit's mind for some time, but he made no mention of it.
For a while, they sat and watched the Elves swim and splash and shout at each other. Amrod cut several rods from a nearby bush and sharpened them into spears. He motioned his brothers to quit making such a commotion and walk or swim upstream, if they wanted anything to eat. More than one Dwarf laughed at the fishing... or hunting expedition, watching the Elves' rather unsuccessful attempts to spear fish. Half naked, with hair hanging wet and the crude weapons in their hands, they looked like proper savages.
"Well bless me, I never thought I'd see Elves like that," Bofur chuckled. "The only ones I ever glimpsed were eerie and shimmering and solemn, like walking statues. Even in Rivendell, you didn't see them act up like these lads. It's strange, they're like... I don't know, like real people."
"I think they are real people," Fili replied. "Look, they got one," he smiled weakly at the sight of Caranthir holding up a fairly big catch. "Maybe we won't go hungry after all."
"Eh, they're fairly useful, despite the fact that they all look like plucked chicken," Gloin said, shaking his head and smirking in his beard.
"Shame we can't eat them like chicken... can we?" Dwalin replied, his deadpan expression sending the Dwarves into gales of laughter.
Fortunately, the plucked chicken in question managed to spear a fair amount of fish to save themselves from a cruel fate. Celegorm and Curufin ran back to camp to fetch something that could be used to carry the catch and the blond noticed that Fili had woken. He crouched by Fili's side and felt his forehead for fever.
"Not too warm. Good," Celegorm let out a relieved breath. "Ugh, I reek of fish, sorry," he snatched his hand back, smiling apologetically.
As he sat back up, the Elf seemed to realize he wasn't wearing much and the Dwarves were gawking.
"Smooth as a baby's bottom, I know," Celegorm said, motioning to his fair skin. "It's odd. I used to have more scars than this as a child and now... they've all been wiped clean. But I'll always carry my wounds and my scars in here," the Elf tapped his temple.
"That explains a lot," Curufin smirked behind his brother.
Before he could even think of dodging it, Curufin got hit with a washcloth full on.
"Damnit, Turko, you did not just throw your underwear in my face!" he growled.
"No, but I can go fetch it, if you like," Celegorm eyed him pointedly.
"Peace, bother dearest, I did not wish to interrupt your 'all shall love me and despair' pose, forgive me."
Celegorm rolled his eyes and barked something obviously unflattering in the High Tongue. Then, he smiled gently in Fili's direction and took off, picking up a cloak as he went. Curufin pelted after him, trying to salvage his cloak from turning into a fish net.
...
It had begun to grow dark by the time the whole company gathered, had some supper and saw about washing off many days of chase and battle. Flying across more than half of the Anduin valley had somewhat made up for the delays and detours of the Misty Mountains. Not even Thorin could argue against setting camp not far from the river and continuing the journey in the morning, when the Elves said they would finish fashioning a harness for Fili out of the sheep pelt.
Unsurprisingly, Celegorm had volunteered to carry Fili on his back and would not take any bashfulness or refusal for an answer. And as they had all settled for the night, he fussed around the poor Dwarf, helping him clean up and sit comfortably and eat and drink. Fili endured it all with a small smile but Bilbo could tell his brother had begun to be fed up with it.
"Uh, so… Listen. Do you have a crush on my brother or what?" Kili fidgeted uncomfortably, casting the Elf a doubtful look.
Bilbo could see that Kili did not fancy the way Celegorm fawned over his injured brother, although Fili had shown nothing but thankfulness for it. Even as he lay on his bedroll, half-asleep on milk of the poppy, Fili smiled, allowing Celegorm to undo his braids and comb his long fingers through his hair.
"Do I… what?" the Elf laughed softly. "A crush, hmm? I wouldn't call it that."
"Well, what is it, then?"
"Let me see. I find you and your brother both excellent and admirable companions. You're so full of life and funny and I know you're both grown Dwarves, but still, I can't help feeling… protective of you. I've come to care about you and your brother. Well, perhaps a bit more for him," Celegorm brushed the back of his fingers over Fili's eyebrow tenderly. "He's… do you know what a lion is?"
"What? A lion… I've heard tales about lions from southerners that traveled along the Greenway. They said lions are huge cats with shaggy manes that hunt people in the countries far south where the sun always burns and the men have black skin. But what does that have to do with anything?" Kili's brow furrowed.
"It doesn't. Just… Fili is like a little lion to me," the Elf petted Fili's hair. "He even has the mane of one. You're both fierce like lions, but I worry for you all the same."
Kili's eyes narrowed thoughtfully and he chewed on his lower lip for a moment. Celegorm's explanation didn't seem to make any more sense to him than it did to Bilbo.
"Alright," the young Dwarf said at last. "But… do you think you could stop touching him so much? It's bloody creepy!"
Celegorm's snatched his hand back, giving Fili's brother a surprised look.
"I'm sorry. I meant only to comfort…," the Elf sat up, shaking his head. "Excuse me, there's something I have to see to."
Before Kili could say anything, Celegorm had walked away and joined his brothers by the fire-side.
"Well done, brother," Fili groaned, cracking one eye open. "You sure screwed that up."
"You're awake?!"
"Kind of. Awake enough to see you stick your foot in your mouth again. Why'd you have to say that to him?"
"Because he's creepy!" Kili hissed.
"You think so, huh?"
"Yes, I do! You shouldn't let him feel you up so much, that simply isn't done!" Kili said, leaning closer to his brother.
"Aaah, you don't get it, do you?" Fili sighed.
"What? What don't I get?"
"You're being stupid, Kili, talking about crushes and whatnot. Think about it… what are we to these Elves? We're a blink of an eye in their long lives. We're like children to them. I think Celegorm is like the lions he was speaking of. He's the lion and we're the cubs he's come across in the wild. He's defending us and feeding us and grooming us…"
"He's grooming you!" Kili pointed out.
"Well, he might groom you too if you weren't so filthy and had the manners of a porcupine!"
Bilbo had to hide his grin behind one palm at that.
"Alright, alright, fine! I'll go get you your mother-lion back," Kili huffed.
Fili grabbed his brother's arm, wincing a little when the movement jolted his injured leg.
"Don't be so paranoid," Fili said.
"I… I can't help it. I worry for you too," Kili replied softly. "But, if it makes you feel better to be petted by an Elf, I'll go get him."
"It doesn't make me feel any worse, if you must know. And really, anything is better than thinking about how much my leg hurts and how I am slowing everybody down."
Kili lowered his eyes and said nothing, giving his brother's arm a gentle squeeze. He went in search of the Elf and sent him back a few moments later, with a goblet of steaming tea. Celegorm helped Fili sit up and propped him against a pile of rolled up blankets, helping him drink and laughing with him as though the previous exchange had never taken place.