The first two times Fíli woke, it was still dark outside. The first time, the wave of pain in his stomach and back dawned upon him in increasing increments, until the crescendo forced him back into unconsciousness. The second occurred because of a bout of intense nausea that had him expel the contents of his abused stomach onto the stone floor beside him, choking several times until he could manage to lift himself into a more forgiving position for breathing.

By the third, it was daytime. Judging from the low ambient light, Fíli guessed it to be just short of midday. Even in the dim light, the glittering of the stone in the sunlight – which Fíli did not have the pleasure to see for such a long time – was mesmerizing. He clutched it tighter to his chest. The throbbing pain had somewhat subsided to a deep ache and was replaced with an extreme thirst. From his position on the floor, propped up against the counter, Fíli could see the water pitcher, which had stood on the table the previous night, along with its contents on the floor, broken and useless.

It was perhaps this sight more than anything that forced Fíli to come to terms with the previous night's events. The eerie, hollow silence in the room served as proof: Kíli was gone.

His brother was taken, and he could not stop it from happening. Thorin would be so disappointed.

Sat amongst the evidence of the struggle, Fíli saw the chain still hung from the railing on the opposite side of the room.

Kerán must have had the keys with him then, Fíli thought. He must have come there with the intention of taking Kíli and not to simply drug them to have his way with him.

In his groggy state, Fíli did not know what to make of this conclusion other than that the farmer had deviated from his original plan to simply exploit them for their craftsmanship and some occasional companionship. Whatever his original intension had been, Fíli was sure it did not include this – at least not from the start.

Fíli felt his throat constrict at the thought of what must have happened – might still be happening at that very moment– to Kíli. What would be left of his brother after this? Fíli did not even have a guarantee of ever finding out.

Kíli was also their best chance at extorting the information from the farmer about his wife. Even if Kíli were to succeed, would Wharin risk entering the farmer's house to obtain it before… Fíli knew that Kíli's fate was totally reliant on his ability to act out Kerán's fantasy. Should it fail, Fíli knew that in all likelihood, Kíli would pay the ultimate price. He himself probably even before then should Kerán think him not worth the trouble of keeping alive.

Of all the things Fíli could have expected at that very moment, the one he was least prepared for was the sound of crunching gravel, signalling someone's ascent up the pathway. The jewel in his hands suddenly turned ice cold as fear twisted his insides. Mind seized by a frenzy of panic, Fíli spun from side to side, the settling pain in his back rapidly reviving, searching for a place to hide his prized possession from whoever was going to come through the door in the following few seconds. With no time to deliberate, he jumped up and flung the jewel inside one of the cupboards in the counter behind him, just managing to turn back around in time to see the door being opened.

It was Kerán – and Kíli was with him.

Kíli looked tired and dishevelled, hands bound before him and being led by Kerán's hand hooked under his upper arm. But he was not limping at least, or showing any other signs of physical injury. He briefly met Fíli's eyes and relief relaxed his features only briefly before returning his attention to Kerán who now had the end of the chain in his other hand.

"I wish it didn't have to be this way," the farmer said softly, apologetically. To Fíli's surprise, Kíli held out his leg and allowed the cuff to be secured around his ankle once more. When he was done, Kerán placed a chaste kiss to the center of Kíli's forehead, the gesture to intimate that Fíli suddenly felt a pang of possessiveness, almost jealousy, at the sight.

"Let me bring you some fresh water," Kerán said, sweeping up the pitcher from the floor as he walked by it and out the door.

The sudden silence was thick with emotion. So shocked and relieved at seeing Kíli in one piece, since he had not dared to hope of even being allowed to see him again at all, Fíli was at a loss for words. It was Kíli who, finally, spoke first.

"Are you hurt?" So absurd was the context of this question that Fíli could not prevent the cynical chortle in response.

"You're asking me that?"

"I'm alright," Kíli said, his voice small. Kíli did not look broken, in fact he looked determined, but most disconcertingly, he looked resigned. The fight in him that had seen them through so many a dire situation up till that point was completely gone. And that was perhaps the least suited to his brother of all. Fíli felt the seed of guilt and regret at their situation bloom into deep remorse.

"Oh, Kíli, I…" Flames of pain notwithstanding, Fíli started to circle the room, making his way over to his brother before-

"No, Fíli! Stay there!" Kíli held up his bound hands in front of him, eyes wide with alarm.

"Look, I am really sorry for-"

"No, it's not that!" Kíli was looking at the door expectantly. "Just stay there, Fíli. Don't come closer."

"Why? What has gotten into you?" Somewhat irritated by Kíli's reaction, Fíli started up his pace again.

"No! Stay, please, listen to me!" The unexpected ferocity in Kíli's order was enough to make Fíli stop. "He's coming back."

The sound of Kerán's approach soon followed. Kíli drew into himself, standing absolutely still when Kerán re-entered, carrying the water pitcher and … another spray of blue cornflowers.

Having set the pitcher down, he returned to Kíli, kneeling in front of him and unbinding the dwarf's hands, sliding the flowers into his grasp afterward. Kerán placed his hands over Kíli's wrists, rubbing at the red welts that were evident as soon as the rope was uncoiled. With the farmer's back turned towards him, Fíli could just make out his words although it was clear that he was not privy to the conversation.

"I'm truly sorry for my behaviour," he told Kíli. "I will be better, I promise."

"And your other promise?" Kíli asked softly, carefully.

"I'll keep to it," Kerán said. He leaded in, whispering something into Kíli's ear that Fíli could not make out, and then looked back into Kíli's eyes, who nodded. Finally releasing Kíli's wrists, Kerán stood back up, and, much to Fíli's horror, walked over to him instead.

Fíli's immediate reaction was to ready himself for another onslaught of violence. He cringed at the prospect, his body was already so battered – he was not ready. He could handle that at least, Fíli decided. As long as Kerán does not think to open the cupboard behind him, he could manage. Instead, Kerán stopped a fair distance away, regarding Fíli with a judging concern.

"Can I get you anything to help with…" he indicted Fíli's abdomen, which he didn't even realize he was clutching with one arm.

"Uh…" Caught off guard, Fíli was about to decline to just have Kerán leave him alone before realizing that refusal might actually be more suspicious. "Some… snow? Wrapped in a rag?" he wheezed out, clutching tighter. The cold compression might actually relieve some of the swollen heat in his stomach area.

Kerán nodded. He grabbed the bucket from under the table and went outside, presumably scooping up some snow before returning with ice flakes now clinging to the bucket's rim.

"Better use it quickly," the farmer ordered. "Then light the fire, it is freezing in here." With one last look back at Kíli, Kerán left, locking the gate behind him.

Neither dwarf spoke until the sound of footsteps had completely faded. With a groaned sigh, Kíli sank to the floor on his hunches, dropping the flowers and crossing his arms protectively around himself.

"Kíli?" He dare not approach his brother as he had tried to before.

"I'm alright, Fíli. It's fine," he said looking straight ahead, past Fíli. "You can come closer, now. He's gone."

When Fíli finally did reach him, he didn't attempt to extend an arm of comfort. Not knowing how it would be received. When no contact was forthcoming, Kíli looked up.

"He didn't hurt me," Kíli said. "Didn't touch me. It's fine."

Fíli couldn't contain his disbelief. "No, Kíli, you don't have to-"

"I mean it," Kíli interjected. "He didn't. He wanted to…but then he stopped."

"Why?" Fíli asked in astonishment, but then quickly rephrased. "What made him stop?"

Kíli sighed. "I don't really know. He started to, he tied me to the bed…but, then he said he didn't like seeing me upset during…He said he didn't want me in such a state when he took me and told me to calm down." Kíli shuddered at the memory. "When I didn't, he promised that he would bring me back here - to you. He wasn't happy about it, but I made him promise that I could stay here with you during the day. Then at night…" The sentence trailed off with clear implication. "He didn't take me last night. He just talked and made me lie next to him. For now."

Fíli felt a small sense of relief. At least it had not been as bad as he had hoped. Not yet, that is…

In a rush of pity for the miserable state of his brother, Fíli sat down next to him and swung an arm around Kíli's shoulders in affection. "I'm so sorry. I wish I could…"

Suddenly, Kíli jerked. "No. You must not intervene in any way. Kerán, he gets… angry when you try to intervene. Don't come close to me when he is near. I fear he might…He will hurt you. So just stay away when he's here, alright?"

So urgent was the tone of Kíli's voice that Fíli found himself nodding. "Alright."

"Promise me."

"I promise," Fíli said. "But he isn't here right now. So…" He drew Kíli to him in a tight embrace and Kíli sagged against him, leaning his head against Fíli's chest. It was a comfortable silence that followed, each contemplating their role in this desperate act to save their own lives. The bucket of ice had probably completely melted by the time Kíli's shudders dissolved into even breathing, and Fíli decided that it was best that Kíli got some proper sleep for he was sure that Kíli hadn't gotten any the previous night. Besides, there was an exigency growing in the periphery of Fíli's mind to replace the jewel in its proper hiding place. He was angry at himself for having been negligent, risking it being discovered by Kerán. He was about to suggest to Kíli that he go lie down when his brother spoke.

"I think Wharin's sister is alive," he said. "And she is inside the house."

-o0o-

TBC

Next Chapter: Wilt