I have a treat for you….its chapter fourteen! Thank you to my reviewers! You guys are wonderful! Also thank you to everyone one who has made this story a favorite and for all of your follows and author alerts! It still amazes me how incredible and supportive you all are. I hope you enjoy this new chapter!
Chapter Fourteen
"Move away from my brother, NOW!" Fili snarled, as he carelessly crossed to stand a few feet away from Maluc and his little brother; weapons raised; not caring about the other orcs that started to surround him.
Kili was looking passed Maluc at Fili in surprise and fear for his brother's safety, but also in relief that his nightmare was finally coming to an end; his family had found him.
"Now why; young dwarf, would I do something like that?" Maluc looked up from his spot next to Kili and grinned at Fili. He then pulled a curved knife from his side and placed the flat end of the blade against Kili's exposed chest.
Both dwarf brothers tensed and Maluc chuckled, "If this is the rescue your thin shred of hope has been clinging to, I'm unimpressed." Maluc taunted looking first into Kili's wide eyes then back at Fili, smugly.
"We'll see how unimpressed you are when I take your life." Fili shot back; grip tightening on his swords.
Maluc outright laughed at Fili's words, amusement simmering behind his black coal-like eyes, "You dwarves! None of you ever know when to quit, do you?"
"No we don't! Now step away from my brother, slowly." Fili said in a strong commanding voice as he took a calculated step closer.
Kili watched the tense exchange as calmly as he could, while he tried desperately to slow his panicking heart. His mind racing with uncertainties; but the main thought plaguing the young dwarf prince's mind was where the rest of the dwarves were. Where was his uncle Thorin, surely Fili didn't come alone?
Anger flashed across Maluc's face and his hand holding Kili squeezed painfully, making the already injured dwarf hiss. "I'm done playing with children! You are in no position to order me, in any way." Maluc turned the knife and swiftly brought it to Kili's throat. "Drop your weapons or I'll slit his throat before you can take your first step."
Kili closed his eyes briefly when the cold blade touch his skin and tried to hold his breath. When he opened his eyes again he locked gazes with Fili, silently pleading for his older brother to save him; to kill his capture and bring him home.
Fili felt terror grip his heart as Maluc threatened his little brother and his mind raced for what to do next. "You have had many chances to kill him already. You need Kili; you won't kill him." Fili's voice shook slightly, revealing his uncertainty of the statement.
"I only need one of you to lure your uncle to me and you're in better condition than this one." Maluc said with a sneer, digging the tip of the knife lightly into the flesh of Kili's neck, causing a small trickle of blood to slowly trail down the young dwarf's pale skin. Kili sucked in a sharp breath as the blade pierced his neck, and panic flashed behind his eyes.
"If it's me you want; then release my nephew." Thorin said firmly as he walked out from behind the trees calmly and stood slightly in front of Fili in a protective manner.
"Thorin, son of Thrain, it is an honor to meet the king under the mountain. I would stand up and greet you properly, but I would hate to leave my guest here alone." As Maluc spoke his free hand trailed up to gather a fistful of Kili's hair, glaring at Thorin and on his last words he pulled his captive's tangled brown locks tight; exposing more of his neck and making Kili yelp in pain.
The only sign that Thorin was distressed by his nephew's pain was the tightening of his jaw and the fire burning brightly in his deep blue eyes. Fili however, was not as good at hiding his reaction at Kili's sound of pain and Thorin had to swiftly yank him back when he tried to rush passed his uncle to his little brother's side. The reaction from Fili made Maluc grin and tighten his hold on Kili's hair more.
After Thorin had a firm grip of Fili's upper arm he pulled him back so his body was shielding him again and turned his icy gaze to the orc threatening his youngest nephew's life. "I have heard many stories of orcs. I have fought against them, but I do not think I have ever come across an orc as cowardly as you." Thorin said harshly.
Fili was shocked by his uncle's words. What was he doing? Is he trying to get Kili killed?! The young dwarf just couldn't understand why his uncle thought that taunting the orc holding a deadly blade to his brother's throat was a good idea. Before Fili could voice his thoughts, Maluc was answering back in a deep growling voice.
"You dare call me a coward, dwarf!"
Thorin took a small step forward, unnoticed by the enraged orc. "I say you're a coward because you are! To hold someone who cannot fight back as a shield instead of fighting like a true warrior makes you a coward! I would expect a move like this from the goblins but-"
Thorin didn't get a chance to finish his words before Maluc's long sword flew at his head rapidly. As the orc attacked, Thorin shoved Fili to the side away from the orc's blade and ducked his head to avoid the fatal blow.
Fili landed on the ground from the unexpected push and looked up to find the other dwarves diving out from cover ready to fight. Fili had never been so happy to see Dwalin wielding his enormous war hammer or Bifur charging madly with his boar spear raised, but his happiness was short-lived as the young dwarf prince had to quickly roll away from a grimly sword plunging towards his chest; looking to end his life. He rolled to his feet and easily killed the orc that attacked him; then looked to the tree where he last saw Kili, hoping he was still alive.
Kili was being held up in a one leg standing position by another orc that seemed to be watching Maluc as he fought Thorin, waiting for orders. Even in his injured state Kili was still struggling against the orc holding him up, but the creatures was completely unfazed by his weakening attempts at freeing himself. Seeing his little brother in trouble made Fili's heart pound so loudly in his ears that the sounds of the battle surrounding him disappeared entirely.
Fili was so distracted by Kili that he almost missed blocking an attack heading for one of his legs, and he would have missed it if Kili had not seen what was going to happen and shouted a warring to his brother just in time. After Fili killed the creature he ran towards his little brother, desperate to get him away from the fighting and get him to safety, but halfway to his goal Fili was stopped by another enemy and had to defend himself.
Thorin and Maluc fought heatedly, with neither gaining the upper hand in the battle. Thorin was trying to focus on the fight while also watching Fili as he struggled to reach his brother. He could feel the other dwarves taking on orc after orc around him, and began to wonder where the goblins were.
Thorin suddenly whipped his head towards Fili when he heard Kili shout his name and saw an orc trying to cut off one of his oldest nephew's legs, and felt relief when Fili jumped out-of-the-way just in time. However, watching his nephew left Thorin open for attack and Maluc took the opportunity to knock the dwarf king back roughly. Thorin stumbled and slammed his back into a tree, momentarily stunning the dark-haired dwarf.
Maluc sneered at Thorin as he hit the tree hard and watched as the dwarf king was then attacked by three of his orcs. Satisfied that the king was occupied Maluc turned to Braga who was holding his captive by the tree line and gave him the signal he was waiting for, before stalking menacingly towards a fighting Fili.
Fili killed another orc and was about to keep moving to Kili when he felt someone coming up behind him. Turning swiftly Fili brought up one of his swords and stopped Maluc's blade inches from his face. Using all of his force Fili shoved the sword away and swiped his other blade at the orc's stomach. Maluc easily deflected the attack and counted with a move of his own. Fili was tiring quickly against Maluc's heavy attacks, but remarkably was able to shove the creature on his back. Lifting his two swords up Fili was about to stab Maluc when Kili's scream rang out suddenly.
Fili whipped his head around and saw to his horror that Kili was being dragged away from the fighting and into the forest. "KILI!" Fili yelled out in panic.
Kili looked back at his brother after he heard his name and struggled harder to pull away from Braga's strong arms. "FILI! Loo-" Kili tried to shout back, but was cut-off by Braga's hand closing around his mouth.
Fili was just about to race to his little brother's aid when a blinding pain erupted in the back of his head and he crumbled to the ground.
Kili's muffled screams were heard by Thorin who had been running to protect Fili when he saw Maluc coming up from behind his oldest nephew, but he was too late to stop the orc from smashing the butt-end of his sword into Fili's skull. Thorin watching in horror as Fili's body crumbled to the ground and Maluc step over him carelessly.
The dwarf king rushed to his nephew's side and crashed to the ground next to Fili, cradling his bleeding head carefully in his lap, and looked up to see his youngest nephew disappear into the forest with the enemy. Thorin felt his heart break in two as a feeling of despair and hopelessness etched its way into his soul. For the first time in his life, Thorin son of Thrain, son of Thor; descendant of kings and raised to rule and lead a kingdom, did not know what to do.
Kili saw his brother collapse to the ground, but didn't see what Maluc had done to him. Was he still alive? Did that monster just kill his big brother? What did that filthy orc do to his protector Fili, who has always been there for him and who could have just been killed because he was trying to defend him. No Kili refused to believe that his big brother was gone forever.
As Kili was pulled away from the small clearing and away from Fili, he saw his uncle dropping down next to his unresponsive brother and look up. Kili had never seen his uncle look so lost before and Kili eye welled with tears. No, there was no way that Fili could be dead, but why else would his uncle look so broken?
The young dark-haired dwarf thrashed in Braga's arms and finally dislodged the hand covering his mouth.
"What did you do to him?!" Kili screeched at Maluc as he kicked and thrashed, wildly trying to escape.
Maluc ignored him and walked up to one of his orcs. "Send word to the Master. Tell him that everything is going according to plan; tell him I have seen his prize." The small orc quickly complied and started running to deliver the message.
"Is my brother still alive?! What did you do to him?! Answer me!" Kili continued to yell at the large orc, making Maluc loss his patience.
Maluc stomped over to Kili and latched his huge hand around the young dwarf's throat. Squeezing Maluc leaned in close and glared at Kili venomously, "If I were you, dwarf!" he spat out the word dwarf like it disgusted him. "I would spend more time worrying about my own life then the life of someone you can do nothing to help." The orc snarled.
Kili couldn't breathe as Maluc's hand closed forcefully around his throat, making the edges of his vision turn black. In a panic Kili brought his bound hands to the orc's wrist and frantically tried to tear the creature's hand loose. The young dwarf's head began to pound at the lack of oxygen and just as Kili's eyes started to slide shut Maluc released his firm hold, allowing Kili to suck in a large shuttering breath.
Coughing violently Kili doubled over drawing in long breaths. His chest burning and shoulders shaking from the exertion, Kili's head spun and if he wasn't being held up by one of his captures he would have surely dropped to his knees in agony.
Before Kili was composed Maluc ordered the group of orcs to move out and Braga swiftly threw Kili over his shoulder, knocking the air from his lungs once more.
The sky began to take on a slight pink hue, as the sun set and darkness crept out over the land, bringing with it a new night. Carrek paced back and forth at the entrance of the cave he and his goblins had taken refuge in from the suns dangerous rays like a caged warg. Abruptly he turned to face his goblins, who cowered at his intense gaze.
"The orcs have betrayed us! I will not rest until I have delivered Maluc's head to Azog on a stick, along with that dwarf! I will be king of the goblins and nothing will stand in my way! We will cut them off before they reach their goal, let's move!" Carrek barked to followers and with the loud snarling and screeching of approval the goblins burst from the cave and ran into the night.
Oh no! Poor Fili and Kili! What will happen next? Well I guess you all will just have to keep reading to find out. Please review and let me know what you thought about this chapter and what you're looking forward to in the last few chapters to come. Thank you for reading!