Chapter 14: Leaving and beginning.

Twelve days after leaving Rivendell, it was as we crossed over the Bruinen again that I began to realise just how much I'd have to do to keep the line of Durin intact. It started when Thorin left Kili to cross last, only he, Fili and I watching him. The current wasn't very strong at our chosen crossing point and I had grown up swimming in difficult waters, but the Dwarves weren't as used to such currents, and Kili, evidently, wasn't a very strong swimmer.

"How's it going Kili?" I called, he gave my a thumbs up as he waded through the water. I swear to Mahal, I turned my back on him for ten seconds and he had been swept under, his voice cried out to his brother desperately. I watched as Fili tried to throw himself in, Thorin only just getting a hold of his collar.

"Just hold on Kee! I'm coming!" He shouted, his brother's head bobbing and dipping in the water.

It was a split second decision for me, I stripped off my coat and under coat, leaving myself in my shirt and leggings as I kicked off my boots. Bilbo reached out and failed to catch my arm the way Thorin had with Fili. Once in the water, it was only a matter of time before my hands clasped in Kili's quiver strap, pulling him to the surface. It was a relief to hear his gasps, but he was panicking, splashing and shouting.

"Kili, calm down!" I said calmly, holding him still with much difficulty. His head whipped around and his brown eyes met mine, he was shocked. "Try not to struggle!"

"I can't help it, my boots lodged." He replied, I nodded and then looked down, unable to see through the foam and splashing.

"I want you to stay calm and wave you arms like I am okay? That'll keep you floating, and try to stay still and not kick me." I ordered, taking a deep breath and diving under the water, opening my eyes and ignoring the sting, pulling at Kili's boot until I had dislodged it from between two heavy rocks. I resurfaced with a smile. "You need to trust me okay?" He nodded, breathing quickly as he allowed me to flip him onto his back. "You'll float, it keeps the water off your face." I glanced at the Dwarves, they were waiting further down stream for us, looking every emotion between terrified and nervously annoyed, my clothes were in Bofur's arms.

"What're you doing?" Kili asked, I blew my hair out of my eyes and squinted, kicking my legs as the current carried us towards the others. "What's going on?" I kept silent as Fili waded into the shallow water, there was no current in this area.

"Calm down, we're almost there now." I replied, Fili took hold of his brother and pulled him out of the water, dragging him up the bank and away from me. Oin rushed over to check on him, making sure there was no side effects to the almost drowning, Bofur handed my clothes back as I approached him.

"That was brave... Brave but stupid, you could've died." He said, sternly. I nodded but shrugged anyway, who cares? I shivered whilst shrugging out of my wet clothing, pulling on fresh grey leggings, a red shirt and my boots, on top of that went my leather over coat. I felt much warmer now that I was redressed, all that needed sorting now was the mess of hair on my head. I pulled out my brush ready to start tackling the mess, someone taking the brush when I went to begin.

"You shouldn't have done that Clary, you nearly got yourself killed." Fili said quietly, I frowned as he made a start on the back of my hair.

"Kili could've died but you're telling me I shouldn't have jumped in to save him?" I asked, he sighed and turned me around.

"It wasn't worth it, Uncle wouldn't have let Kili drown Clary." He argued, I scoffed and took my brush back.

"I know, but he's your brother and as soon as we are married he will be my brother as well. You know as well as I do that he'd have done the same for me." I replied, Fili's eye's closed as he took deep breaths to calm himself.

"You really want to marry me?" He said finally, I rolled my eyes and sighed heavily.

"I accepted your courting bead didn't I?"

"Balin, you lead on, you know these paths best." Thorin announced, the older Dwarf took charge of the Dwarf convoy, marching us forward. "I suggest you keep up Master Baggins." He added coldly, the Hobbit jumped and nodded quickly.

"Nori? Where did you get that ring?" I asked the thief, who gave me a cheeky grin before jabbing his finger in Gloin's direction. "Shouldn't you give it back?" He shook his head, coming closer until he could discreetly show me the other objects he'd nicked. In his hand was some pretty odd items, including: a lump of blue metal, a silver thimble, a pair of black leather gloves and a single dagger inscribed with Khuzdul. "And the victims haven't even noticed they're gone yet?"

"That's the joys of being a thief, Miss Reynolds, no one ever notices." He whispered, winking before returning to his conversation with Kili. I made a mental note to observe Nori for the rest of the journey, ask him for some tips perhaps.

"What was my no good brother showing you?" Dori inquired, I smiled and shook my head.

"Just some trinkets he'd kept from Rivendell." I lied, he nodded and rolled his eyes, stopping me in my tracks. "What?"

"You've got a smudge on your face." He said, wiping at it with his hanky. I felt uncomfortable as he smiled warmly and moved on, Ori moving into his place with a sigh.

"He is a fussy old git isn't he?" Ori muttered, moving to join his beckoning mother hen of a brother.

I enjoyed seeing this side to Ori, it showed how much like Nori he was, much to Dori's chagrin I'd imagine.

"We're about to step over the edge of the Wild Lass, stay close." Dwalin muttered roughly, his hand on my back to keep me steady on the precarious terrain.

"Okay."