HEYOOOOOOOO. So, it's Christmas break! YAY! Merry Christmas guys. Also, I saw the Hobbit with my co writer the other day. Long story short, I don't think I've ever cried that much. Anyway, we've written waaaayyyyyy ahead, so if you're really desperate for spoilers, you can pm me but only if you absolutely need to know something. I hope y'all like this chapter.


She saw ripples in the water and bubbles of air popping on the surface. She stared at the water, unable to comprehend what was happening. Her brother was there and now he wasn't. They were so close, he couldn't leave them now.

Fili started diving under the water, looking for his brother. Kaia quickly snapped out of her daze and followed suit. She dove under the water, forcing her eyes open despite the way the icy water stung her eyes. She looked around, seeing a dark mass of hair sinking away from her. She found Kili's hand and tried to pull him up, but he was too heavy. She went up for air before diving back down. This time, she couldn't find him. She swam back up. Behind her she heard a short gasp of air and saw Thorin holding Kili slightly above the water.

"I had hoped this injury wouldn't be a burden." Thorin said, looking disappointed.

She swam towards Kili, not bothering to acknowledge what her uncle had said, just happy that Kili was alright. Seeing that Kili was unconscious, she was glad he had not heard what their uncle had said. She turned to Fili and saw that he hadn't heard as well. They pulled Kili to the house. He woke up just as they heard the knock. He looked at Kaia guiltily.

"Whats the matter?" She asked him,"besides almost drowning?"

"If I hadn't gotten hurt none if this would have happened." Kili said.

She stared at Kili, bewildered as to how he could think any of this was his fault.

"Kili, you cannot blame yourself for what happened. If it wasn't for you, we'd either be captured or dead. You did what you had to do and because of that look where we are. We have come so close to the mountain need only reach out our hand and touch it."

She starred in the direction of the mountain. Even if she couldn't see it, she knew it was there. The home she had never known. She felt as if they couldn't get there fast enough.

"Are you coming?" she heard from above.

She looked up and saw Bain above them, stretching his hand out to Kaia. She grabbed his hand and he helped her up out of the water. She gave him a small smile of thanks before turning to help Kili, but saw that Fili had already pulled him up and was helping him upstairs. She followed them. When she reached the upstairs she was handed a thin blanket by a young girl. She walked over towards Kili and wrapped her blanket around him. He looked up at her and she saw the smallest hint of gratitude before he said,

"You need this just as much as I do."

"I know." She replied.

She felt a sudden warmth on her shoulders. She looked and there was a thick blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She turned and saw Bain standing there.

"I figured you would be cold." He said.

"Thanks but you really didn't need to do that."

"I know," Bain said, echoing her word as he walked away.

She turned back to Fili and Kili and saw them looking at her.

"What?" She said.

"Well it seems like..." started Kili.

"Nothing," Fili cut him off.

Kaia stared at them, confused. Kili suddenly groaned in pain. She looked and saw that the bandages had been completely soaked through. She ripped off one of the layers as quickly as she could as Fili undid the next. As soon as the bandage was gone she looked for a cloth. She looked at the blankets on their shoulders but not wanting to ruin what had been so kindly given to them she ripped the sleeve off her shirt and started re-wrapping the wound. She saw the pain in Kili's face as she wrapped it and muttered,

"Not just a scratch, is it?"

She looked up and saw Kili shaking his head no. Her heart dropped. Kili would never admit to that unless it was really serious. She looked at Fili and saw the fear in his eyes as he stared at his brother. Once the wound was wrapped, Kili's face relaxed somewhat. She stood, turned around sat by Kili as she listened to the rest of the company talk to Bard of the dragon.

"You sound as if you were there," Bard said.

"All dwarves know the tale." Thorin replied.

"Then you should know that Girion hit the dragon. One more shot and he would have killed it." Bain piped up.

Kaia turned to Kili, confused. Their uncle had never mentioned the dragon almost being killed, or even that the men of the lake helped them at all. Kili and Fili didn't look concerned with that and just listened as Thorin asked for weapons.

Thorin turned to Balin,"Tomorrow begins the last days of Autumn."

"Durin's day falls the morning after next. We must reach the mountain before then."

"And if not? If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?" Kili asked.

"Then this quest has been for nothing," Fili responded bitterly, "All that we have gone through,"he quickly glanced at Kili's leg, "will have been for naught."

Bard came laden with weapons and dropped them in a table. The dwarves hurried towards the pile. They stared at the items.

"What is this?" Thorin asked.

"Pike hook. Made from an old harpoon."

"And this?" Kili asked, disgusted.

"A crow bill, we call it. fashioned from a smithy's hammer. It's heavy in hand, I grant, but in defense of your life, these will serve you better than none."

"We paid you for weapons! Iron forged swords and axes." Gloin said, exasperated.

"It's a joke!" Bofur said.

"You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron forged weapons are held there under lock and key." Bard said.

"Thorin, why not take what's an offer and go? I've made do with less, so have you." Balin said pulling Thorin aside.

"I say we leave now," Balin said, turning to the rest of the company.

"You're not going anywhere." Bard said.

"What did you say?" Dwalin replied.

"There are spies watching this house in probably every dock and wharf in town. You must wait till nightfall."

The dwarves looked to Thorin. He reluctantly sat down, the rest of the dwarves doing the same. Kaia sat down across from Kili. As he sat down, she saw the pain in his face. She flinched seeing her brother in this much pain as if she was feeling it herself. Knowing Kili wouldn't let her to do anything to help, she frowned. To distract herself, Kaia turned and watched as Thorin and Balin discussed what to do next in muttered tones. She tried to hear what they were saying but soon gave up and turned her attention back to her brothers.

She was surprised when instead of seeing Fili and Kili she saw Bain sitting in front of her. She turned and looked for Kili and Fili and saw that they had gone to get new cloth as blood was already seeping through the new bandage.

"Hello." Bain said.

"Hello." Kaia responded.

"What's your name? Mine's Bain."

"Kaia." she replied curtly.

"So what could dwarves be doing coming through lake town?"

Not expecting that question, Kaia looked back at him. She didn't know what to say. She had not been expecting this question.

"We are simple merchants," Fili said, coming up behind her.

"Then what is the need for the weapons?"

"These are not the safest of times."

Bain nodded. He stared at Kaia again and after another moment he stood and walked away.

"That was... strange," Kaia said, looking up at Fili.

"he just wanted an excuse to..."

He was cut off by Thorin,

"You all can see that we are in no match to fight a dragon with simple fishing tools."

Kaia wondered why he was saying this. Did he not lie to Bard? Why was he telling him about the dragon? Then, she noticed the bargeman was nowhere to be seen.

"We are to go to the city armory tonight," she heard Thorin saying.

"Get only what we need," Balin said.

"And then what?" Fili asked.

"Then we leave for the mountain." Thorin said.

The company waited for nearly an hour before they decided to leave. They gathered the few things they had left, kaia using the biggest knife she had for a temporary sword.

It was dark when they quietly walked to the door. Suddenly a voice behind them caused them all to freeze.

"Kaia?"

Kaia turned, seeing Bain.

"What are you doing? You're not supposed to go yet." He said

"We were to wait until dark, and we have. We're leaving now." Thorin said.

"Kaia, you can't leave yet. Da said you have to stay here."

Kaia looked between Bain and the company.

"I'm sorry." She said. "But this is too important to give up now, Bain."

Bain watched in disbelief as the dwarves quickly left without any further conversation.


They snuck through the town until they found the armory. Seeing that the doors were guarded they hid behind a boat and made a plan. The dwarves piled on one another as a makeshift staircase. Kaia and Kili were one of the few who were allowed to climb to the window and help grab the weapons. Once they were inside they grabbed everything they could carry. Kaia saw Kili, arms full of heavy axes and swords. She walked towards him to help him.

"Are you alright?" she heard Thorin ask him.

"I can manage," was Kili's reply.

"Let's just get out of here."

Kili walked towards the stairs and in the first step he fell, dropping all the weapons. Kaia watched in horror as the swords and axes flew out of his hands, one almost landing on his head. All the dwarves panicked.

"RUN!" she heard.

She ran towards Kili and tried to help him up. Because of the seriousness of the situation, Kili accepted her help and she pulled him up. They turned to run and were met by guards. One of them yanked Kaia away from Kili and put a knife to his throat. Trying to get to Kili, a guard grabbed her shoulder and stopped her. She watched as Kili looked up at Thorin, guilt showing all over his face. As Thorin looked down at Kili, Kaia saw the disappointment in his eyes, as if everything was Kili's fault.

The guards yanked the company out of the armory. They dragged them to a castle like, wooden building. There, a very fat, balding man came out, followed by a scrawny man whose voice sounded familiar.

"What is the meaning of this?" The fat man asked.

"Caught 'em stealing weapons, sire," the scrawny man said.

Kaia realized where she had heard the voice before, it was the same man who had almost caught them in the barrels. Also seeing that the fat man was the master of the town, she thought that this scrawny man was some type of assistant.

"Ah, enemies of the state, eh?"

"A bunch of mercenaries if ever there was."

"Hold your tongue," Dwalin said, "you do not know to whom you speak. This is no common criminal. This is Thorin. Son of Thrain. Son of Thror."

"We are the dwarves of Erebor." Thorin said,"we have come to reclaim our homeland."

Thorin walked up to the king,"I remember this town in the great days of old."

Thorin turned and talked to the town who had gathered around the company,"Fleets of boats lay at harbor, filled with silks and fine gems. This was no forsaken town on a lake. This was the center of all trade in the North. I will see those days returned. I will relight the late forges of the dwarves. sending wealth and riches once more through the halls of Erebor."

The whole town started cheering. Thorin turned back to the king.

"Death! that's is what you will bring upon us," Kaia turned and saw Bard making his way to them,"Dragon fire and ruin. if you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all."

"You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this, if we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain. You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over."

The town cheered once again.

"All of you, listen to me. You must listen. Have you forgotten what happened to Dale? Have you forgotten those who died in the fire storm? And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a mountain king. So ridden by greed, he can not see beyond his own desire!"

"Now, Now." they turned to the king once more,"We must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame. Let us not forget, that it was Girion, lord of Dale, your ancestor" he pointed at the bargeman,"who failed to kill the beast!"

"It's true, sire. We all know the story, arrow after arrow he shot, each one missing it's mark." Alfrid agreed.

"You have no right. No right to enter that mountain," Bard said to Thorin.

"I have the only right" he replied.

Thorin looked at the king and said,

"I speak to the master of the men of the lake. Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people? What say you?"

"I say unto you, Welcome! Welcome, King Under the Mountain!"

The town cheered once again. As Thorin turned once again to Bard, Kili collapsed, grabbing his leg. Kaia knelt down next to him to see what had happened and noticed he wasn't wearing the bandages.

"Kili, what happened?" she asked, pointing to the wound.

"I thought I didn't need them," he replied.

Kaia got Fili's attention and he helped her lift Kili up. They followed the company into the King's house. Kaia asked one the king if he had any spare cloth.

"Why yes. Down the hall and to the left, but do make sure that you don't ruin anything." he said and walked away.

Kaia ran down and grabbed a blanket. When she returned she found Kili and Fili in one of the rooms the master had offered them, Fili standing next to one of the beds. Kaia ran over, ripping the blanket into strips. She wrapped the wound again. As she did, she saw Kili grab the bedside table so as to not scream, his knuckles white. when she was doen, his hand relaxed.

"Kili are you alright?" She asked.

"I'm fine," He replied.

"Do need anything? Food? Another blanket?"

"Kaia, you told us you didn't want to be treated like glass and thats exactly what your doing to me," Kili said.

A while later, they were all standing around the bed, talking.

"Kili, I think you should get some rest,"Fili said.

Kili nodded. Fili turned to Kaia,

"You too,"

Kaia instead pulled a stool from near one of the beds next to Kili and sat next to him. Fili smiled at her and left.

Once Kili had fallen asleep, Fili came in, carrying two plates of food. He set a plate in front of Kaia.

"Thanks," she said.

"You should get some sleep," Fili told her.

She stared at Kili. Fili got the message and pulled a chair up next to her.

"You should at least eat something."

She pulled the plate towards her and picked at her food, not really eating it. She continued to look at Kili.

"Do you think it was his fault?"

"What?" Fili asked through a mouthful of food.

"Do you think it was Kili's fault that we got caught. I know it turned out for the better but..."

"He should have been more careful."

"I dont know... I think I would have done the same."

"I wouldn't have. I would not try to hold more than I could handle."

She looked in silence at Kili again. After a while Fili spoke up,

"That may not be entirely true."

"What?" she said, looking back at Fili.

"I think I would have wanted to prove that I was equal to everyone else and not being able to help would kill me."

"Is this…..is this how you felt when we were in the goblin tunnels? Like you can't do anything to help no matter how hard you try?"

"Yes. I wanted so badly to tear that goblin to shreds. But I couldn't. All I could do was watch as they threatened us with your life."

She leaned over and put her head on Fili's shoulder. They stared at Kili for a while. Even when he slept, you could see the pain on his face. She heard a small snore and looked up. Fili had fallen asleep. She took her head from his shoulder and pulled his stool over towards the closest bed in case he fell. As she walked to find another unoccupied bed, she noticed a figure walking towards her. It was Thorin.

"You should be in bed, getting your rest," He said.

"I am looking for a bed now," She replied.

"There's another room down the hall."

She walked in the direction he was pointing, Thorin right behind her.

"I'm not sure Kili can make it to the mountain," He was saying.

She whipped her head around, staring at Thorin.

"Kili must come with us. You invited us on this quest and you cannot just make him stay. Especially not when we are so close."

"Alright, I will think it over," Thorin said, walking away.

Kaia watched him leave and stomped towards the room. She found an empty bed and laid down. She fell asleep thinking anout what Thorin had said. Was Kili really able to make it to the mountain?


Kaia woke to Fili standing over her,

"Kaia, where did you find that cloth? We need to wrap Kili's leg again."

She stood. She grabbed the strips of blanket she had made last night and walked over to where Kili was, pulling on his boots. He shook his head. As she came closer, Kili pulled his leg back onto the bed, finally accepting that she was going to wrap his leg no matter what.

When she had finished, she heard Thorin calling to the company. She helped Kili to his feet and they went down to the front of the house. As they were walking she heard Bilbo,

"You do know we're one short? Where's Bofur?"

"If he's not here we'll leave him behind."

"We'll have to, if we are to find the door before nightfall. We can risk no more delays."

The company started to load their supplies onto the boat. As Kili was just about to get on, Thorin stopped him, causing Kaia to run into Kili.

"Thanks," she said as she put her stuff on the boat.

"Not you," she heard Thorin told Kili,"We must travel with speed and you will slow us down."

Kaia turned around, watching her uncle.

"What are you talking about? I'm coming with you"

"No," he said, continuing to load the boat.

The life drained from Kili's face.

"I'm going to be there when that door is opened. When we first look upon the halls of our fathers..."

"Kili." Thorin said, cutting Kili off,"Stay here. Rest. Join us when you are healed."

Kaia scoffed angrily, "How dare you." Thorin turned to her. "You invited us here, to seek out our home and claim it as ours. You asked us to join you on this quest because you knew how important it is to us, and now you're saying he cannot join the rest of us?" She asked, her voice rising. "I thought you cared about us, but I can see that I was wrong and don't you lie to me; you wouldn't give a damn if he didn't heal."

A crack sounded through the air, Kaia stumbled back, her cheek hot with pain. Thorin stared at Kaia in shock. She looked up at her uncle with watery eyes, turning to leave. Thorin grabbed her wrist, trying to stop her.

"Kaia-" He said quietly, but Kaia would not hear him. She gave him one last look of betrayal and ripped out of his grip.

She half walked- half ran to Kili, sitting next to him. As she did, she buried her face in his chest, her shoulders shaking. Kili wrapped his arm around her, glaring at Thorin as his sister hid her face in his chest.

"I'll stay with them. My duty lies with the wounded," Oin said, glancing at Thorin as he walked passed.

"Uncle, do you not see what you have done? You have injured your own family and stripped away any hope they had left." Fili almost yelled at Thorin.

"Fili, I didnt mean for..."

"Obviously you did mean it or you would not have done it."

"Fili, I could not delay this quest any longer, even for them. One day you will be king and you will understand."

"I will never understand why you would do a thing like that." He said, pointing at Kaia.

Fili turned and started walking towards his siblings. Thorin grabbed Fili's arm,

"Fili, don't be a fool. You belong with the company."

Fili turned and glared at his uncle,

"I belong with those you've hurt."

Fili yanked his arm from Thorin's grasp and went over to his siblings. Kaia was sitting next to Kili now, her eyes red but she was silent. Fili stood next to his sister, glaring at Thorin and resting his hand on her shoulder.


Oh snap. So, yeah. We decided to be really evil here. anyway, I hope you guys like it, fyi in case some of you are wondering SPOILER ALERT: there will be pairing w Bain and Kaia ;)