A/N: I hope you enjoy this chapter and its not too cheesy. I've deleted this chapter and rewrote 4 times. A week in the writing.
It all happened in slow motion. Thórin had barely time to raise his sword to defend himself when the orc that had felled Ase and Frérin started to attack him. Thranduil had killed the orc he was battling and turned in the direction of the screaming dwarflings. He barely had time to register the fact that he did leave Ase in the care of a guard rather than be here when the crying of three arrows came from behind him, missing him since he was not the target, and landed in the back of the orc that was threatening Thórin.
Coming back into real time, Thranduil turned around to see who had shot those arrows. He was not surprised to see Legolas and Tauriel involved, but what did surprise him was the guard he told explicitly to hold the traitor lowering his bow. Why that guard was there would have to be investigated later as well as why Ase was now lying on the ground bleeding along with Frérin.
"Help!" young voices cried causing Thranduil to turn back to the other side.
He saw Thórin standing there unhurt, but gazed and probably out of the battle for the time being, and two wargs clawing at the bottom of the tree the dwarflings were held up in.
"Legolas! Tauriel! The children!" he yelled.
No further orders were needed for the Prince of the Woodland Realm and the Captain of the Guard of said Realm. They ran through the battle that had turned to their side towards the tree. Tauriel and Legolas each took a warg and with one swing of their swords, the wargs were down.
"Legolas! Tauriel!" an excited voice called their names from the top of the tree; Fíli who was looking down at them.
"Stay there, Fíli!" Legolas said.
"But!" Fíli protested, he was getting scared, as he saw one uncle lying on the ground, and the other dazed but hiding behind a rock Fíli did not notice was there earlier. He did not see his grandfather, and he was not sure if his father was there or not, he could have sworn he saw blonde curls like himself, but he was not sure.
"Fíli! Don't argue, remember what happened last time?" Tauriel said interrupting.
Fíli did remember what happened last time he argued with Legolas, it resulted in both princes having to clean up the royal stables of both Mirkwood and Erebor. Not fun at all. Fíli nodded as he watched Bombur and a trio of Thranduil's guards take down an orc on a warg.
"Go papa!" Tyr yelled as he saw the same thing Fíli saw.
Suddenly the worst sound ever was heard throughout the battle. An orc horn, more orcs were coming their way. Legolas and Tauriel knew at that point their only job was to protect the dwarflings. With ease, they climbed into the tree, Tauriel taking a lower branch where Fíli, Oydis, and Eluf sat, and Legolas going up to a higher branch with Eydis and Tyr.
"Fíli, I'm scared, what was that?" Oydis asked as Tauriel sat down next to him.
To be honest with himself, Fíli did not know either, but it had to be bad if it drew both Legolas and Tauriel into the tree with him. A small chill went up through his spine as he watched Tauriel draw her bow and shoot what seemed to be blindly in the direction of the sound. The loud scream in response was all Fíli needed to figure out what that sound was, more orcs. Fíli could only sit in the tree and watch with horror as another regiment of orcs came running into view. The dwarves and elves were completely outnumbered!
Fíli looked around for familiar faces. Uncle Thórin had at least come out of his hiding place and was now swinging his swords and offing as many orcs as he could. He finally got a glimpse of his father who was battling side by side with his grandfather. His other uncle was still lying on the ground next to an unmoving Ase, but was moving his fingers. Fíli thought that was a good sign. Thranduil, along with the contingent of Erebor guards were surrounded by orcs but were holding their own. And his friend's father, uncle, and cousin were helping out the Mirkwood guards. That left Tauriel and Legolas up in the tree with him shooting arrows into orcs but were quickly running out.
Just then the dog came back out of the woods, Fíli was not sure when he had even left, and following the dog in the sky were the Eagles! A cry went out from the battle as the Eagles began to attack the orcs. Fíli was not sure how the Eagles knew that they were in trouble, but he was glad that they here. He had always thought they were a myth since his tutors had told him and Kíli stories about them that did not seem real. Nevertheless, here they were helping them out. Fíli watched from the tree as the Eagles killed the orcs and wargs leaving the elves and dwarves alone.
"Are the Eagles helping us?" he heard Tyr ask Legolas.
Fíli turned his head up to see Legolas smile down at Tyr with his innocent question.
"Yes, they are look almost all of the orcs are gone," Legolas replied still smiling.
It did not take long before all of the orcs and wargs either had been killed or had fled into the woods never to bother them again. One of the Eagles, obviously its leader landed in front of Thranduil. An exchange of greetings and thanks occurred as the Eagle led his fellow Eagles back in the direction they had come from. Finally, the battle was over.
Legolas whistled very loudly and got a response back almost immediately. Fíli gave a little yelp as Tauriel picked him up and placed him on her shoulders and brought him to the ground. He found himself being taken off Tauriel and into a pair of familiar arms.
"Papa!" Fíli cried.
Víli hugged Fíli so tightly that he felt like he was going to pop. He did not care though, he was going home back to the Mountain, back to his family, back to being a Prince. So relaxed and safe in his father's arms was he that he did not realize Legolas and Tauriel helping the others out of the tree and handing them to Bombur, Bofur, and Bifur. He found himself falling asleep in his father's arms, stirring slightly when a pair of strong arms took him from his father. Víli ran over to where Thráin was kneeling and Thórin was standing over Frérin.
"No Frérin, you're going to be okay! We'll get you to Narvi, and you're going to be okay." Thráin cried cutting through the stillness.
With what little strength Frérin had left, he was able to grasp his father's hand.
"Father, I wanted…I wanted…to…apologize… for… Ase, we… wanted …to… make amends." Frérin wheezed out.
Thráin squeezed Frérin's hand. "Now, none of that. You have already apologized and paid a penalty. But, you're going to live. Thórin needs you. Dís, Kíli, Fíli, & Víli all need you. Your mother needs you. I need you." He whispered the last part.
Thráin never received a response. For Frérin took a look behind his father and Thórin to see Thranduil holding a sleeping Fíli. He smiled one last smile, gave one last gasp, and then his hand went limb in Thráin's hand.
"Frérin!" Thórin cried as he fell to his knees on top of his brother's body. Thráin just sat there crying to himself, while Víli just stood there looking stunned. None of them paying attention to the crying dwarflings a few feet away weeping over the still body of their mother…
It took nearly three hours for elves and dwarves to reach the cave where the caravan was. Thranduil had handed a sleeping Fíli back to his father; and took the honor of being a pallbearer for Frérin along with his son. He did not know nor care who picked up Ase, that was an ordeal finally over.
It was a much cleaner sight than earlier when Thranduil and Thórin had defended the cave. All the wagons were upright and there was no longer belongings scattered on the floor, what was out was now laid out neatly in front of each wagon. A fire was lit in the middle of the cave and various dwarves of all ages were sitting around it. When they were spotted with two bodies, the crowd dispersed allowing the group some privacy. Thranduil saw a flat rock that was long enough and high enough to allow Prince Frérin of Erebor to lie in state in the cave for the time being. Once Frérin's body was settled on the rock, he took off his mighty cloak and covered Frérin with it. It was not exactly proper dwaven burial customs but for the time being it would have to do.
"Thank you, Thranduil." A solemn voice belonging to Thráin came from behind him.
"It was the least I could do," the King of Mirkwood responded, "How's Thórin taking this? How are you doing?"
"I think Thórin is very torn between celebrating the fact that Fíli is finally safe or mourning the loss of his brother. To be honest with you, I don't think I ever really forgave him for being involved in the plot twenty years ago. I love him because he's my son, but it's very hard to forgive attempted murder." Thráin answered.
Thranduil placed his hand on Thráin's shoulder. "Then remember him because you loved him, not for his actions, but because he was a piece of you."
Thranduil squeezed Thráin's shoulder in friendship and then left to go brief the guards. "I hope you heard that Frérin wherever you are now." Thráin whispered and left to join the rest of his family and friends sitting by the fire.
Thráin smiled. Fíli had his eyes half open in his father's arm staring at Thórin who did not seem to realize Fíli was awake yet. It seemed that once he did Fíli was going be with his uncle just like it should be. Said uncle was currently deep in conversation with his Woodland Realm counterpart and his brother-in-law. Thráin sat down next to his son, effectively ending the conversation, a comfortable silence fell across the group.
"I miss him already, Father," Thórin said cutting through the silence.
"I know you do; so do I," Thráin answered.
Víli looked down at Fíli and realized that he was awake. He gave Fíli another hug. "I almost lost him again."
"Again, what do you mean?" Fíli asked sitting up in his father's arms.
Víli and Thórin exchanged a look. This was a subject Dis and themselves had vowed never to tell Fíli until he was much older. Víli gulped but knew he had to answer fast, so he came up with a little white lie.
"You were very sick when you were younger. We were not sure if you were going to survive or not," Víli said quickly gaining a very hurt look from Legolas, in which Víli gave a shrug. It was a poor excuse, but it was easier for Fíli to understand than the truth.
"Oh, I didn't know that," Fíli said with a yawn.
"Still sleepy I see," Thórin said, "a future king needs to sleep just as much as other dwarves."
Fíli's eyes lightened up. Although he now knew his uncle did not mean what he said to him, he needed to hear it from his own lips. "You mean I'm still your heir?" he asked.
Thórin frowned as he reached for Fíli to come into his arms. Tears suddenly fell from Fíli's eyes as he launched himself into Thórin's arms, burying his face into Thórin's beard again, giving Víli a much-needed break.
"Oh, Fíli. Fíli. Fíli. How can I make you understand what happened that day?" Thórin asked.
"Huh?" said Fíli, voice muffled from Thórin's beard.
Thórin chuckled but Víli, Thráin, and Legolas all gave him looks that said he needs to tell Fíli and he was trapped here until he did.
"I have never been so scared before Fíli. I didn't see your or Kíli in the room until it was too late. You know you're not allowed in that room. But when Kíli got knocked into the statue by my sword, I thought he was dead." Thórin choked at that last part. That was hard to get out. "I was no better than Ase or my brother," he whispered to his father.
"You were scared, Uncle Thórin?" Fíli asked emerging from Thórin's beard.
"Yes, very. I was so afraid of losing Kíli that I blamed you, and I know that was wrong." Thórin answered.
"So I'm still your heir?" Fíli asked.
"You never stopped," Thórin replied, tears landing in Fíli's blonde curls.
Fíli reburied his head back into Thórin's beard. He had had this little adventure for nothing, but if it were not for his uncle, he would never have met Eydis, Eluf, Oydis and Tyr. Speaking of them, where were they? They had lost their mother to the same orc he had lost his uncle. He had not seen them since Tauriel had brought him to his father, well he was asleep during the trip from the battlefield to the cave (that he was glad to see), but he was slightly worried the caravan had left without him being able to say goodbye.
Fíli lifted his head to see if he could see the caravan or his friends. Thórin thinking Fíli was trying to squirm out of his arms tightened his hold. Fíli could feel that Thórin needed to hold him right now but he needed to see his friends. He wished one of them would make themselves known to them.
"Your Majesties? May I make a request?" a somewhat familiar voice came from behind Fíli, though the voice was clearly directed at his grandfather.
Thórin allowed Fíli to turn around at least but still not releasing him from his hold. Fíli saw that it was Bombur who asked with his brother, cousin, and children in tow. All of them bowed or curtsied in the presence of those they now knew to be royalty.
"Yes you may, what do you request of the House of Durin?" Thráin replied as formally as possible, standing up. In the absence of the King, the Crown Prince has the power to make decisions, though the king can overrule them, Thrór has yet to override a decision Thráin had made.
"Your majesties, as you have seen my wife, and the mother of my children was just murdered by an orc, the same one that murdered one of your own. My children do not have one place to call home. They have never known what it feels to have a bed of their own, or to have a roof over their heads, or even what it feels to be safe." Bombur began as Thráin nodded.
"I no longer feel that without a mother, I can properly raise my children the best way I see fit. It is my request that my family take leave of the wilds of Middle Earth and find shelter within the Mountain."
"I have heard your request Bombur son of Bomper. Allow me to seek council before I make my decision." Thráin said.
Thráin sat back down. He already knew his decision; he just wanted to hear everyone else's opinion. Thráin was glad to see Thranduil sitting next to his son who must have come back during Bombur's request.
"What are you going to do, Grandfather?" Fíli asked before Thráin could even ask for council.
Thráin smiled, his first one since Frérin died. "What do you think I should do Prince Fíli?" Thráin said remaining formal.
Fíli giggled. "I think you should let them come with us. They rescued me Grandfather. If it wasn't for them, I don't think I would be here right now." Fíli said very seriously.
Thórin hugged Fíli again. He knew just how right his nephew's words were, and it really would have been his fault. These nomads were heroes, even the smallest ones for surviving the orcs. They deserved a chance at a true home. Thórin nodded at his father giving his approval. Thranduil gave his approval as well, smiling at Fíli and that approval stood for Legolas.
"That was my decision as well," Thráin said loud enough for Bombur and his family to hear him.
Thráin stood up and faced the nomadic dwarves again. "I along with my council have made a decision that will stand with King Thrór of Erebor as well." Fíli chuckled at this statement earning himself a small smack on the behind from Thórin.
"Bombur, Bofur, and Bifur, it is to my understanding that you have rescued my Grandson, Prince Fíli without any knowledge of who he was. You took him and treated him as your own. I owe you a debt for that greater than all of the gold in Erebor. Young Eydis, Eluf, Oydis and Tyr; you four are some of the bravest dwarflings I have ever met. Sharing an adventure with a Prince is no small task in itself, and surviving in an orc camp is no small manner either. It is with this in mind that I call you all heroes and heroines of Erebor, therefore you and your descendants will always be friends of the House of Durin and will always be welcome to make your home in Erebor as long as your hearts please."
A loud cheer came from the children. Thórin finally allowed Fíli to go and he all but flew to where Eydis and the others were. They all ran around in circles. This was wonderful his new friends and himself would not have to be separated! Kíli would become good friends with Tyr and Oydis, and himself with Eydis and Eluf. This was going to be the best thing ever!
All of the adults laughed at the children's game, despite knowing they lost two of their own. It was going to be a wonderful future…