The Fever Has Started To Kick In

We walked for sometime now, I was walking in between Fili and Kili whilst limping and clutching my stomach as my wounds had started to become unbearable. I hissed in pain and noticed that my vision had started to go out of focus. I reached out for one of my cousins' arms for support, but I only caught the air and I fell flat on my face. The dirt had entered my wounds and started to get infected. "Fili! Kili!" I shouted and I felt two sets of hands on me.

"Siri, what's happening?" asked Kili as he felt panic rise in his body.

I gasped. "My wounds... They are getting infected," I replied back as I clutched more and started moaning as the pain spread and I could feel sweat and a fever take place.

Fili turned to Oin. "Oin, can you help her with the wounds?"

Oin nodded and he had took out his medical kit and started treating my wounds on my back and front from the whip marks that the goblins had produced on my bare skin. I was zoning in and out of focus as my eyes delated a few times and my breathing was rushed and shallow. Oin had asked everyone to use some of their water which they all agreed to. He splashed some water on my wounds and carefully cleaned them, I held back a scream as I couldn't take the pain that has spasmed my muscles. I was so tensed it hurt all over. The boys had watched as some puss came out of my wounds with some blood followed after.

Once Oin had finished cleaning the wounds, he had made some paste and placed the paste on to my stomach and back just to keep me going. He had said to Thorin and Gandalf to let me rest and sleep through the fever until the fever had subsided. Of course, they agreed, but Thorin was worried and so did the rest of the group. Thorin had made a decision. "We will quickly find a cave and let Siri rest. We will continue when her fever has done its course and subsided, then we will see if she is fit enough to continue to head for Erebor," he said and everyone nodded in agreement. Thorin turned to Dwalin. "Dwalin, can you carry Siri, please?"

"Of course," replied Dwalin as he came towards me and gently lifted me up in his arms as I held tight on Fili's jacket that he had placed over me to keep warm.

A few hours later, which felt like an eternity, we had finally found a cave and started to relax and camped here. Dwalin had gently placed me down inside the cave and walked away, but was stopped by the sound of my voice. "Thank you, Dwalin," I whispered. Dwalin turned and nodded towards me as a reply to 'you're welcome' and walked away towards the others. I closed my eyes and slept peacefully, even though I was trembling because the effect of the fever, I managed to get some sleep.

oOo

Thorin and the gang had sat around the fire that was burning. He looked over his shoulder towards his daughter, who was sleeping peacefully, he didn't know how long he was watching her until he was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of Balin's voice. "She will be fine, laddie. She's a strong being and she gets that from you and your nephews," he said with so much compassion in his voice.

Thorin turned to his old friend and nodded. "I know she does, but that's not what's bothering me, Balin," he replied back.

"What's bothering you?" asked the old dwarf.

Thorin sighed. "I don't want to lose her, lose all three of them for that matter. They are the only family I have left. Dis has passed away after giving birth to Kili, my grand-father had been beheaded by Azog and I don't know about my father. It's just to much for me to bare," he rambled on. He hadn't noticed that Kili and Fili had been listening to everything that he just said.

The two brothers had glanced at each other and stood up, heading over to see Siri. As much as they love their uncle, they love their cousin much more because as truth to be told, she is like a sister to them. They have a much closer bond that no-one could understand. They sat beside Siri and spoke quietly to each other. "She has to get better soon. We won't be able to survive if we lost her now," said Kili.

Fili turned his gaze away from his brother and looked upon Siri. For a few minutes of silence, he turned his attention to his younger brother. "We won't lose her. She's strong and she's a great fighter. All we could do for her is pray and have faith," he replied back.

Kili nodded and smiled a little whilst Fili returned the gesture. They both watched their peaceful cousin sleeping like a vulnerable little girl. They had both swore an oath that they would do anything for their only cousin by protecting her, make her laugh and play a fair game with her. Because that's exactly what families do, don't they?

oOo

I heard everything of what my cousins had said to each other and I was happy whenever they were around. They gave me hope to fight this fever within me. I started to wake up and I fluttered my eyes open and lift my gaze up to them and smiled as I took in their appearance. Kili had his head on Fili's shoulder and Fili had his head on top of his brother's, sound asleep, but I could hear one of them snoring softly and that made me giggle. I sat up and winced a bit as my wounds were still a bit sore, but they weren't as bad as before.

I sat in front of the boys and gazed with awe as they slept peacefully. I smiled at the picture and it had burned in my mind forever. The sun was rising and when the sun rays had shung on their beautiful faces, they had sturred and fluttered their eyes open and looked around. When their eyes fell upon me sitting in front of them, they smiled and lunged for me. I squealed and the three of us laughed, enjoying the moment. "Siri, you're awake!" said Kili and Fili added.

"How long were you watching us sleep?" he smiled.

I smiled back and replied. "Long enough. You guys were just too adorable to wake up, so I just let the rays of the sun wake you," I smirked and they both shook their heads.

"What are you like?" they both said in unison and that made me laugh even more.

A/N: Well that's chapter 11 up. I'll get more into detail in chapter 12. and remember this isnt a slash. this is more of a family bonding story. Please review and I'll update soon. Cheers. :D

~Shelbi