Sorry the chapter is short, but it goes, and, well, I may not be updating for a while so enjoy. Next chapter will be longer and better I promise (once I write it).

Chapter 11: Solutions to find

Fili had to admit it would have been somewhat boring just walking along in the forest, the only active thing being done was that of following a set of tracks and leaving markers every so often along the path he and the other three dwarfling's took. The one thing that stopped it being so boring, however, was what was at stake and the danger that the foursome were inevitably going to come face to face with at one point or another.

The blonde, if he were being honest, would have to admit to not even having the slightest inkling of how they were going to survive a confrontation with the orcs, if the four would even be able to get close enough to have an actual confrontation. If the other adults caught up to them first or if the group ran into unforseen danger, then Fili had no doubt that they would perhaps be indefinitely stopped from achieving their goal, but the blonde dwarfish heir could not dwell on this at the current time, for both his uncle and another dwarfish warrior wee in immense danger and were in probable need of rescuing if they had not already escaped themselves.

Waiting for the orcs to stop was easy enough; the beings were often halting to argue about which direction they were taking, or it seemed that they were arguing about that in any case.

Thorin moved his bound hands in front of himself ever so slightly, holding them up to break his fall as he was dropped unceremoniously onto the ground. As always, the wind was driven from him moments as the same process befell Balric who was now sprawled beside him on the ground. The two acknowledged each other subtly before Thorin turned his attention to the arguing orcs whose voices appeared to be steadily raising in volume and levels of poorly restrained malice.

The argument, as always, began to pull away from the two captive dwarfs stationed on the ground leaving both Balric and Thorin relatively unattended. The later dwarf inhaled deeply before letting all his breath go in one big whoosh. It was now or never and the exiled king only hoped that their plan would work without a hitch.

Opening his eyes their full way, Thorin gave Balric a small nod before lifting his head ever so slightly as he drew his bound hands closer to himself. Pushing himself up on his forearms, the dark head dwarf hunched over as he rose so as not to draw attention to himself. Balric done the same, both dwarves careful to watch the orcs who were supposed to be watching them, but who's now attention was focused on the fight in front of them.

Rising onto his knees and then into a crouch, Thorin allowed his eyes to quickly scan the area around him for a sign of a weapon of some sort, one he could use against his captors. Balric rose beside him just as the dark haired dwarf was cursing quietly inside his head after a disappointingly weapon less area had finished being surveyed by the dwarf.

"Ready?" Thorin asked in a whisper, sparing a glance for his companion. The brown haired dwarf nodded grimly.

"Let's do this," Balric said in a voice which masked the nerves he could feel fluttering away inside of him.

The two dwarves began to move forward slowly, making a beeline for the denser line of trees surrounding the small clearing they were in. Their footsteps were as quiet as a dwarf's footsteps could be on the dried out leaves covering the ground the same way a shroud covers a body. The pair allowed their feet to glide along the forest floor as they continued to shuffle forward. It surprised Thorin that the orcs had not noticed their quarries attempt to leave, but then again, as he considered the thought in his head, the bastards were pretty well wrapped up in their own personally displayed entertainment as voices rose in the argument of which the air was tense with a barely restrained desire to break it out into a fight.

Under the cover of the racket, Thorin finally made it to the trees where he turned back to keep an eye on Balric who was a little way behind him and had not yet reached the security of the trees. Things, however, then decided to take a turn for the worse, and it was to Thorin's immense horror that Balric tripped, a short cry ripping itself unbidden from his lips. Hidden in the shadows, Thorin winced as silence filled the air, more than twenty orc heads turning to stare at where the brown haired dwarf was now splayed on the ground.

The lead orc gave a harsh bark as he commanded the orcs under his charge to what would be most likely to either retrieve or kill the dwarf. It was him the dark haired dwarf knew they wanted and his initial thoughts were proven right as the small cluster of orcs approaching Balric began to draw their somewhat poor quality weapons. Heart beating hard in his chest, Thorin made up his mind on what to do as the now knife wielding orcs continued to advance on his comrade.

Giving a short battle cry, Thorin barrelled into the orc closest to him - incidentally the one closest to Balric as well. A few shouts of surprise rung in his ears only to be swiftly replaced by shouts of anger. The orcs, it seemed, did not appreciate one of their captives fighting back against them.

Using only his brawn to defend himself and Balric who was trying to heave himself back up, it soon became clear that the two dwarves would once again be overwhelmed. Thorin smiled grimly to himself at this realisation, bonking one orc over the head as best he could with his hands bound as he done so. The dwarfish leader would not go down without a fight, yet, as a large thunk on the back of his head caused his vision to swim and then blacken, the dark haired dwarf knew he would have to depend solely on Dwalin to get both him and Balric out of the situation they were in.

Kili continued to hover almost on top of the large dwarf he was walking beside as the group of dwarves and dwarflings continued to make its way swiftly back to the village where they could seek further help. Every now and then Dwalin glanced down to the youth at his side and offered a reassuring smile.

"It'll be alright," he said softly each time to the gloomy face which greeted him. Kili could only hope the bald dwarf was right.

Continuing to plod along, the small brunette found himself buried in worry and fear as his young mind thought up multiple scenarios of what could be happening or could have already happened to his kin to fill in the dark unknown which was driving him mad. Despite what Dwalin thought, Kili did not entirely believe his brother and uncle were both alright, and it was maddening that they were walking away from the two heirs of Durin not towards them so that they could help, and once they did reach the village, Kili had no doubt that he would most likely be left behind.

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