Thorin's third perspective is a bit weird I admit, but I hope you like it anyway. There will be more flashbacks for Kili and Fili next chapter on. The chapter title is a bit weird, but best I could come with for now.

Chapter 14: Irritated

Thorin fiddled with his thumbs, thinking about what they had found, or rather what they had not found while scouting around the area. There had been no sign of the orcs who had been responsible for taking his nephews, but in a way the fact that there was no signs was what worried him. The foul creatures could be somewhere plotting and planning, which would be a bad thing for the company as a whole. Their enemy knew how many there were of them, as well as the fact they had nearly beaten the company in the fight. The exiled king was uncomfortable that they had remained in one place for so long and he would be wrong not to admit that he was eager to get moving, as was most of the company.

The problem was his nephews, for, according to Oin, neither Fili or Kili were healed enough to risk trekking over the mountains, and he was right. While the two youngest of the company were well on the mend, Fili was still at least several days away from even trying to stand, and Kili still needed assistance, albeit a small amount, to sit upright properly. Thorin was not angry at this, far from it for it was his own kin that they were talking about, but the delay could mean that the orcs would have the chance of getting the drop on them. But then again, he supposed they already had.

"This is impossible," the king growled aloud, only a hair's breadth away from putting his fist through something, anything, though he would prefer it went through the skull of the bastards that had taken his nephews. He would not say killed just yet, not while there was still hope, but it was a hope which was dwindling fast.

"It would have been even more so in the rain," Dwalin reasoned calmly from behind him, "It was wise to wait."

"And look where that advice got us," Thorin almost shouted, "The tracks have gone, washed away by the rain, and we have found nothing else to go on in two days." The tall warrior beside him had nothing to say to that for his leader's fears were the same as his own. The others nearby also held their tongues, or at least most of them did, for Nori had found something worth all their while.

"They went this way," he cried, running back from the forest towards their right. In his hand he held a small swatch of blue fabric, the same blue as Kili's cloak. Thorin's mood immediately picked up at the smalls sign of Fili and Kili, for wherever one went, the other was bound to follow.

"Are there any other signs?" he asked, taking charge of the situation, his relief seeping through the cracks in the mask that was his face. Nori shook his head.

"But it should not be long before we find some," he answered, his expression that of utter seriousness and determination. Thorin was not the only one who cared about the wellbeing of the missing company members.

"What are we waiting for then?" Dwalin asked, "Let us get going."

Thorin jerked out of the memory and drew his attention back to the conversation that was now being held between him and two other members of the company, forcing himself to focus on the words being spoken.

"They seem to have opened up more today," Balin said beside him, having taken a place next to the company leader earlier, "Perhaps it is time to question them again."

"Well, they have healed enough and both have been awake for most of the day, so I see no reason why this would be an issue," Oin who was also beside the king replied, before both the dwarves who had spoken turned their heads to look at Thorin. The dark haired dwarf nodded his head in assent.

"We do need to learn what happened," he acknowledged, but at the same time remembering his own failed attempt to communicate with his eldest nephew, "But it might serve us better if we take a different approach than before."

"What are you suggesting?" Balin asked, his brow creasing slightly in thought. Thorin looked him in the eye.

"You said yourself that both Fili and Kili opened up today more so than all the time since they have awoken combined. And this occurred with our company burglar," he explained, seeing that the other two were beginning to get his idea.

"So you are suggesting that we allow the hobbit to question them?" Oin asked, wanting to clarify. Thorin was mildly surprised he had heard everything alright.

"Yes," he said, nodding his head at the same time so the company healer could not misunderstand him, "It may be our best bet so far."

Kili watched the activity around him, unsure of what to make of it all, unsure of whether or not he should be afraid. Either case, he was slightly scared and there was no fixing that. He especially didn't like the way some of the dwarves were talking in low voices amongst themselves and then shooting him and his brother sometimes pondering, but mostly pitying glances. Couldn't they understand he just wanted to be left alone?

When it was just him, Fili and Bilbo, it had been better, not completely good, but better. He had listened to the pair's voices talking, drawn in by the light tone he had not really heard in oh so long. And even though he had detached from the world around him from time to time, involuntarily switching for his own much darker version, when the brunette had come back to himself, he had been calmed down quickly by the constant voice of the blonde beside him. Even now Fili was there, his mere presence reassuring the constantly spooked dwarf.

"Hello again," a voice above him said and Kili watched as Bilbo sat down in front of them. The hobbit smiled first at him and then his brother, though Fili was the only one to return it half-heartedly.

The three sat in silence for a moment, Bilbo trying to find the words he needed, and the other two not wanting to say anything. Kili's attention drifted off onto the back wall of the cave where shadows were beginning to form, only for it to be brought back to the hobbit in front of him as the ginger haired being finally began to speak.

"Well, you seemed to enjoy the guessing game today," he said, still smiling.

Kili stared at the hobbit and bit his lip not wanting to answer, though his eyes shone a little at the thought. It had been fun just listening, in a way. Fili nodded beside him. The hobbit smiled again, showing teeth this time as he opened his mouth to speak,

"Okay then…uh…well…um…do you just want to talk?"

He did not get a response from either of them, but both brothers waited for the hobbit to speak again. Somewhat uncomfortable, Bilbo regained speaking, Kili watching him closely.

"Well, your uncle is concerned about you both, we all are really," he started, slowly gaining confidence, "You are both healing, but none of us know what happened except for you two."

Kili was beginning to grow uncomfortable again, small warning bells beginning to go off in his head. His breathing quickened, chest rising and falling faster and faster as he struggled to regain a hold on himself.

"What happened?" he could hear the hobbit asking, "What did they do to you? You were both hurt considerably, and you are both not acting like yourselves."

Kili was dimly aware of Bilbo stopping, dimly aware of the looks that were being shot in his direction and dimly aware of his brother going off at the small being in front of them as he curled over, ignoring the sharp twinges of pain it sent through his body as he hummed brokenly to himself, trying to block out the images now flowing freely through his head at a rapid rate.

"Can't you just leave us alone?" he heard Fili yelling through the sound of blood rushing past his ears, "Can you not see that we do not want to talk about it? What will it take to get it through your thick skulls that we do not want to be reminded of what happened?"

"But…I didn't mean-"

"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU MEANT!" Fili bellowed, sounding a lot like their uncle, but a whole lot angrier, "YOU HAVE ANGERED ME AND SENT MY BROTHER INTO A FIT!"

There was not a sound to be heard within the whole cave as the last echoes of Fili's words echoed off the rocky walls, save for Kili's own harsh breathing. The blonde beside him turned and began to comfort him, drawing him close and not caring at all for those who were watching.

"It's alright," he whispered over and over again, as he carefully unhooked the archer's fingers from his brown hair, "It's alright."

Eventually the brunette calmed down, still shuddering occasionally, but his breathing slowing as Fili continually stroked his hair. Kili sighed and rested his cheek on his older brother's legs and soon fell asleep with his brother still murmuring in his ear.

Review please.