12
The end of July sun rose early and bright on a camp already full of bustling Elves and Dwarves. According to Gandalf, they still had a long way to go before reaching the homestead they had seen the day before, and the going promised to be slow beneath the hot summer sun. Before them, the land stretched in rolling hillocks covered with tall grasses. The traces of a path could be seen going from the foot of the Carrock and into the grasslands, but it was overgrown with vegetation and would not make the advance any easier.
After something that no self-respecting Hobbit would ever call breakfast, they all shouldered their meager belongings and gathered anxiously around Fili. The young Dwarf was still in a world of pain and his caretakers eyed their milk of the poppy supply with anxiousness. There was very little of it left and before long, Fili would either have to be given something else or he would do without. Fili himself was more than a little terrified as he studied the contraption Celegorm held out before him. While the others had slept or sifted the grasses for edible plants, the Elf had fashioned a harness from strips of sheep skin and belts he had collected from his siblings. It did not look like much and smelled even worse, for there had been no salt on hand to tan the hide, but it would have to do.
"I will try to carry you as smoothly as I can. If it's intolerable, we'll stop at the line of trees," Celegorm motioned behind himself, "We will make a pallet but I think you will be jostled worse if two of us have to carry you."
"When Turko tires, we can bear you for a while, either on our backs or like this," Amrod said, motioning his brother to help him make a seat out of their linked hands. Both held onto each other's wrists and showed Fili what they meant, but it would make for a less comfortable trip and Fili would have to exert a lot of energy holding onto them.
The young Dwarf looked from one Elf to the other, thanking them uncertainly. They gave him some camomile tea and waited for the drug in it to take effect before slipping the makeshift harness onto him and hoisting Fili up. His leg was much better splintered than it had been to begin with, but it still tore a moan from Fili's gritted teeth when Celegorm's arm slipped under it. The Elf tottered and for a heart-stopping moment they all thought he was going to lose his balance, but Celegorm righted himself and took a deep breath. His brothers secured the harness buckles across Celegorm's chest and adjusted Fili into the most bearable position, but the Dwarf had Celegorm's neck in a choke-hold for quite some time before he relaxed and realized he would not slip.
Once the delicate operation was completed, they put out the embers of their fire and set out in single file, with Gandalf and Thorin at the fore. Bilbo kept close to Kili and Fili, carrying a flask full of water to refresh the injured Dwarf and Celegorm as well. Between himself and Kili, the two carried both Celegorm's and Fili's weapons and Bilbo could not help a smile when he noted the reverence Kili had for the Elf's longbow. In front of them and behind, Amrod and Amras tread the grass so lightly that no sign of their passing could be seen, but Celegorm's footsteps were much heavier. Still, the Elf did not complain and he walked with a smile on his face, although sweat had begun to bead on his brow as morning gave way to a sweltering day.
"Can you still carry him?" Kili gave Celegorm an anxious look as they ascended a grassy knoll.
"Yes, and for a good while still. He doesn't weigh quite so much, your brother. Not after you removed his entire arsenal and armor."
Fili laughed softly and propped his chin on Celegorm's shoulder.
"I've got to say, this really isn't as bad as I feared. But I really hate inconveniencing you like this and being such a burden," he said.
"Oh, hush! None of that now, it can't be helped. Besides, I've had it rougher as a pony in my time," Celegorm told him.
"I sense another dirty joke coming on," Amras snickered behind them.
"No, you dolt. I was referring to the times when you and your brother used to bicker and clamber on my shoulders and use my braids for reins. Do you remember that?"
"Of course, although it didn't make you run faster when we kicked you in the ribs," Amrod grinned over his shoulder.
"And I did not throw you off like any sensible horse would have."
"No, you were a very good horse. Much better than the ponies atar let us ride on. Although sometimes, I think you smelled worse," Amras said, taking full advantage of how his brother could not retaliate in any immediate way.
"Actually, we were thinking about making reins out of your braids again this morning. And using one of Fili's knives for a bit, but apparently, Fili thought he'd have no problem steering you," Amrod teased.
"You know, Kili," Celegorm turned to the snickering young Dwarf. "You're lucky you don't have any younger brothers. Means you don't get to magnanimously put up with crap like this."
"No, but that doesn't mean Fili won't make up for it," Kili leaned closer, trying to catch a glimpse of his brother's face. His smile softened when he saw Fili nodding off, his forehead pressed against the back of Celegorm's head. The Elf had collected his hair in a single braid that dangled over his shoulder and could perhaps be used as a whip, if not reins. But Bilbo kept that observation to himself.
"I'm not sure it's alright for him to be sleeping so much," Kili whispered.
"He shouldn't, but until we can stay in one place longer and I can get some basic supplies to look after his wound, we're lucky we still have some milk of the poppy. It's not enough to give him an addiction, don't worry. I only wish we had that much on us," Celegorm told him. "It's the heat that worries me right now, but thus far, your brother has been living proof of how strong Dwarves are. I do, however, have one small problem. His whiskers are tickling me something fierce," the Elf grinned.
...
By evening, they had come a long way from the river, but still the land was wild and they had not gotten near enough to the woodman's homestead. Hungry and thirsty and exhausted from the heat, they had to call it a day much sooner than Thorin would have liked, but even he sat in the shade of some pea-shrubs and let Dori remove his sodden bandages. Fortunately for the Dwarf, whatever healing Gandalf had performed on him had left mere bruises behind. Unfortunately for Fili, the wizard had declared his extensive hurts beyond his power to heal.
As he lay on the grass and inhaled the sweet scent of little yellow flowers hanging above him, Bilbo tried to muster some energy and help the others. Bofur and Bombur were plucking a pair of geese that the Elves had shot and Kili had gotten a decent sized rabbit with his own little bow at some point. Bilbo took out his pocket-knife and sat down at Bofur's side, trying to make something of the roots the company had collected for stew. Ori had picked up a handful of nettles, saying the stew would be very good for Fili, and he was picking the stinging plants apart when Fëanor joined them with two pots full of water from a nearby stream. The Elf wished to help with the cooking, but Bofur shooed him away.
"No, no, we've got this. You just go and rest, I don't even remember the last time I saw you do that. Besides, aren't you growing tired of looking after us?" the Dwarf asked, his cheeky smile showing that he meant no offense.
"Well... it is a bit of a thankless job, but somebody's got to do it," Fëanor gave Bofur a lopsided grin, patting the Dwarf's shoulder.
Neither of them saw Thorin walking over to them until he touched Fëanor's arm.
"It's not a thankless job," he said gruffly. "I am not thankless."
"I ... It was a joke, Thorin," Fëanor turned to face the Dwarf. "I did not mean to imply that... I have not joined your company for anyone to sing me praises. Aaargh, this isn't coming out right. Listen," he dropped to one knee before Thorin.
"No, you listen. I am... let us just say that please and thank you and I am sorry are not words that come easily off my lips, but that does not mean I am not grateful for everything you've done for us."
"I never thought otherwise. And I do owe you an apology for meddling in your affairs so much, to the point of hunting down enemies of yours I had no business pursuing."
Thorin grimaced and waved Fëanor's words off impatiently.
"Make no further mention of it, is that not what you said? It's done, thank you, the world is much cleaner now that it's been rid of that filth and it does not matter who did it. I am sorry I gave you grief about it."
"That's... two of three things you find hard to say and yet here you are, standing before me unharmed," Fëanor cocked his head and smirked.
"Hmm?" the Dwarf's eyes narrowed. "Well, here's the third. Could you please not do that anymore?"
"Do what?" Fëanor's eyebrows rose and his smirk broadened.
"Could you please stop kneeling before me as though I am a child? I understand you're tall and everything, but I'm fine craning my neck, thank you very much."
"Save me from the sensibilities of Dwarves!" Fëanor chuckled. "That is one offense I didn't even dream you'd take. But fine, have it your way," he rose, giving Thorin an amused look. "Can I still sit around you, or is that unacceptable as well?"
Thorin sighed and gave him a weary look, motioning Fëanor to join him by Fili's side. Behind them, Bofur laughed quietly.
"I take it that means their Majesties have kissed and made up, huh?"
Bilbo shrugged and returned his attention to the wild carrots he was trying to peel. He sniffed the flowers to make sure the Elves hadn't mistaken them for something poisonous and then applied himself to the task.
...
A faint rustle woke Bilbo from his sleep. He passed a hand over his face and looked about himself in confusion. Immediately, a dark shape loomed over him and one of the Elven twins motioned him to be quiet, forefinger pressed against his lips.
Bilbo turned and saw Celegorm stalking toward the copse of trees at their back. The shrubs rustled and Bilbo thought he could hear faint snuffling sounds. Something was out there and the Elven hunters crept closer to investigate. Between their crouched forms, Bilbo could descry a smaller shape - Kili, with his bow in hand - moving slowly so as to not alert whatever shuffled behind the bushes.
Curiosity won over his initial alarm and Bilbo started after them without any thought to picking a weapon for himself. Up ahead, the rustling grew louder and Bilbo heard the deep grunt of a large animal. Behind him, the entire camp began to stir.
Catching up with his silent companions, Bilbo crept under the shrubs and put a hand over his mouth before surprise gave away his position. He saw an enormous black bear swaying on its hind legs and sniffing the air in the direction of their camp. Celegorm moved toward the beast slowly and, to Bilbo's astonishment, he laid his bow down in the grass.
"Don't shoot!" the Elf whispered and motioned his brothers to stand down. But Bilbo saw their bows pulled taut. Kili also had an arrow nocked as he watched Celegorm with an incredulous expression.
But Celegorm continued to creep closer. He held his hands at his sides, palms open, and Bilbo thought he saw his lips moving, although no actual words made it past them. The bear rose to its full height and issued a deep growl. Celegorm stopped his advance and the two eyed each other warily, standing still. At his side, Bilbo felt one of the Elves shifting impatiently and his bow creaked.
"What is this?" Fëanor hissed, suddenly bursting through the bushes and startling Bilbo badly. "Turko!" he called out to his son anxiously.
"Shhh, no! Don't move!" Celegorm shot his father a quick glance. But he had to focus on the animal before him when the black bear dropped on all fours and moved toward him. "No, wait!" the blond urged the others to stay their weapons, holding very still as the bear sniffed him.
"Damned show-off is trying to get himself mauled!" Amrod muttered under his breath.
"I don't think... I don't feel this bear means to harm me," Celegorm said. " But I can't reach it. I can't talk to it, atar!" his voice wavered slightly as the bear began circling him. "It's almost as if..."
Celegorm faltered and shot an astonished look over his shoulder when he heard the bear growling savagely. It had sniffed the Elf's tunic and all of a sudden, it rose on its hind legs with an ear-splitting roar. Before Celegorm could even think to jump out of the way, the bear's claws tore across his back in one heavy blow. Celegorm fell on the grass with a shocked scream, but he manged to twist himself just in time to see the enraged animal as it reared itself to charge him.
"Shoot it! Take it down!" Fëanor shouted and sprang forward almost as fast as the arrows flying around him. All three found their mark and the bear let out a terrible roar, dropping back on all fours where Celegorm had scrambled out of the way a moment before. The grass was dark and it glistened wetly there, but the Elf had regained his feet and he waved his hands frantically, shouting "No, no!" at this father.
But it was all happening too fast and Bilbo forgot to breathe as he watched Fëanor's desperate charge. Screaming savagely himself, the Elf jumped on the wounded beast and plunged his knife to the hilt between the bear's ribs. He sprang away as the beast roared in agony, rearing its massive body to shake off the attacker.
Ignoring Celegorm's frantic protesting, Fëanor pulled him out of the way, groaning in dismay when Celegorm's blood splattered onto him.
"WHAT IS THIS MADNESS?" Gandalf shouted.
Suddenly, everyone was there, watching wide-eyed as the bear swayed on its hind-legs, beating the air with its paws. Red foam dribbled from its muzzle and Bilbo saw Kili's arrow sticking from the beast's neck. The bear spun haltingly, searching for its attackers with unseeing eyes. It fell back on all fours, the rumbling roars growing weaker. Fëanor's knife must have pierced its heart and the bear stepped on the bloody blade the Elf had dropped in his retreat.
"What have you done?!" Gandalf cried out and Bilbo gaped at him, disbelieving the wizard's plaintive tone. "Valar, what have you done?" the wizard moaned, rushing toward the dying bear.
With the corner of his eye, Bilbo caught Celegorm clutching his father's tunic in both hands and hiding his pain-twisted face in Fëanor's shoulder. The Elf's back was in tatters, five deep gashes soaking his clothes dark with blood. Bilbo took a deep breath through his nose and tore his eyes away, but before him, something unbelievable was happening.
Gandalf crouched before the dying beast as the bear collapsed, its limbs twitching. It gave one last shuddering growl and then fell silent, moving no more. Gandalf muffled a dismayed cry behind one palm and touched the bear's muzzle with the other. Suddenly, the bear's fur began to shift as though something were crawling under its hide. The whole bulky shape moved, shrank in on itself and the black fur gradually disappeared. The bear's paws morphed into human legs and arms and the claws receded into thick-fingered hands.
Bilbo heard Fili calling out to them, but nobody stirred, not while the black bear turned into a man before their disbelieving eyes. He was huge, his limbs covered in coarse hair, black like his wild hair and his long beard. But he lay there dead, pierced with arrows, the hide he wore over his broad chest covered in blood.