Listen while you read: "Keep your head up (instrumental)" Ben Howard or type youtube and add /watch?v=uPKcVupD48g
And "The Violet Hour" by The Civil Wars or type youtube and add /watch?v=O_pQC_tV3kQ
Chapter 14
The meager supplies they carried with them would be enough to rough it in the woods for a distance, but Thorin was concerned with the distance between them and the Iron Hills. Any other destination was out of their range and thus they endured a forced march.
Ever was Thorin's eye on the tracks they left behind, knowing enemy pursuit was a prospect though they had delayed it as much as they could. It was a hopeful thing to think that perhaps all of their foes had perished in the ravaging fire of the outpost, but also unlikely. He considered, however, that in the case of the petty-dwarves survival, it would leave them desperate to recover rather than chase after the traders—and if a chase was inevitable, then they had distanced themselves enough to postpone it for at least a day.
When Durin's descendants and the tradesmen had rejoined in the darkest part of night, they discussed among themselves what course they should take next. Though everyone was exhausted, their nerves were such that they could not comfortably talk of resting and sleeping until daybreak.
It was a concession Thorin made hesitantly, for while they might feel more comfortable sleeping during the day and traveling by night, evening and morning made no difference in the threat of attack. And with so many bodies present, their movement would not be as swift as the travelers' journey to the outpost—they had been on ponies and they had been few.
They decided to travel until morning's first light, leaving the cover of the forest and finding the road easily enough. If any speed was to be gained, Thorin counseled, the road was their best option even if it did leave them exposed. But he was encouraged by the notion that the traders had held their own against the petty-dwarves that had followed. If they were forced to draw weapons again, it would not be a massacre.
Along the road and under the bright light of the moon, they moved in silence, as few were willing to talk—as though perhaps they might attract danger with their hushed whispers. Their footsteps were enough noise as it was, sliding and scratching over the dry dirt of the paved path…
Thorin had wanted to stay in the rear of the hustle of thirty bodies to offer them a defense, but they begged him to take the lead. It was his sympathy for them that changed his mind—he saw that in their weariness they needed to see someone take command, even for the straight line they couldn't possibly get lost on.
Fili walked hand in hand with Nur, Nur's other hand slipped into the crook of Kili's elbow—she really meant it to be a support for Kili while he strode on his injured foot, and refused to diminish his dignity by aiding him around his waist knowing Kili wouldn't have let her anyway. But he was grateful for her hand; it reminded him of earlier days when they'd played together as children, before they'd resettled in the Blue Mountains away from the stronghold of the Iron hills.
Kili's foot was well-bound and the boot held fast, his pain minimal, but his exhaustion from smoke inhalation— coupled with the decline of energy after adrenaline—was hitting him hard.
The same weight was crushing Dul's shoulders so that he could hardly move.
Nur turned her head to look behind her and watched as Dul dragged his feet, his eyelids fluttering and his head shaking to ward off the sleep which would soon overtake him. The lady dwarf released the hands of the Durin brothers and stepped towards Dul, grabbing above his elbow and startling him back into the moment. He placed a hand over hers and continued forward, the two of them striding close, arm in arm, and Nur speaking in hushed tones to him.
Fili's discomfort around the bald dwarf had begun to wane, but the last remnants of it made him wish Nur would comfort someone else.
A side glance at Kili interrupted Fili's thoughts when his younger brother stumbled over a rock and almost sunk to the ground—if Fili hadn't caught him first. Fili wasn't worried about saving his brother's dignity, as Nur had before, and pulled Kili's arm over his neck, pulling him close and wrapping an arm around Kili's waist.
Fili expected that the younger dwarf would shrug him off, but his spirits dimmed in seeing Kili accept this aid without word or fuss, causing him to understand just how exhausted the younger dwarf was.
Their march continued like this for hours, each helping each other with their burdens as much as they could, when the stars diminished and the moon slid down the glassy curve of the sky. Its brother, the Sun began to climb with great effort, slow and sure, causing the travelers to breathe the first breaths of relief they'd felt in a great while.
"Here." Thorin pointed at the hills to their right. "We're heading here."
Dul found a burst of energy and squeezed Nur's shoulder, picking up speed to come to the front of the company and consult with Thorin. They spoke in low tones while the dwarves around them quickened their pace in seeing respite so close at hand. Even Fili noted that Kili was not drooping anymore.
There were three caves, two side by side, and one twenty paces away from those two, and the tired walkers did not need to be instructed to occupy them. They piled into heaps, not bothering to unpack or set aside their bundles. They were not starving, but they were far from being fed an allotment of healthy meals daily. And this is what Dul and Thorin discussed.
"We need to strengthen ourselves if we are to continue like this." Dul groaned, feeling his blood pulsing through his hands, which shook. "If we can manage a hunting party, it is sorely needed. Our rations are not going to be enough to invigorate such a mass of weakened bodies."
"We cannot tarry here for long, though I see that a day's rest is necessary if we are to march again. My friend," Thorin rested a hand on Dul's shoulder, "I cannot ask anything more of you, I need you to sleep. Concern yourself with recovering and I will handle all else."
Dul's jaw clenched, but he nodded and sighed, allowing himself to rest his worries in the hands of the only dwarf he wanted to call King.
Thorin gathered together Karta, Smerri, Fili, and Kili and walked with them a short way from the caves, out of earshot, though Thorin was sure no one was awake enough to hear them.
"We need to hunt and gather." Thorin said simply. "Our stock won't hold out for long."
"I can trap and set snares." Smerri offered. "That was mostly what we did in the fort anyway."
Thorin clapped a hand on the dwarf's shoulder. "Good lad. Do we have anything we could use for tackle?"
"That river won't give us much fish." Karta argued.
"Maybe not much," Fili countered. "But it will take some pressure off of the other means we have."
Kili pulled at his bow, gripping it silently, and Thorin nodded at him, understanding his offer.
"I can trap." A voice came from behind them and they all turned to see a standing Nur with her arms crossed. "You can only cover so much distance with one dwarf."
"Two." Fili corrected, implying his own task.
"Two is better than one, to be sure." She said a little crossly. "But three is better when one sees the number of mouths who benefit from it."
"Nur…" Fili began to object.
"Would you rather I was the one to take the first watch?"
"You'll be taking no watches." Thorin said firmly. "You're the only healer we have and that makes you too valuable to be wasted on defense."
Nur's fists clenched, but she nodded her head in submission.
"However," Thorin continued. "You are right about giving us better prospects of gathering more. Stay close to the area and be back in an hour."
Fili's heartbeat quickened. He did not like the idea of any sort of risk to Nur, but he had nothing to object with other than his discomfort, and so he let it go.
"Karta, would you see to our trappers needs for supplies?" Thorin asked, putting his hands together and nodding at everyone to disperse for their tasks. "I'll take up the watch. Return here three hours after midday and… keep an eye open."
They all moved in different directions, except for Fili, Kili and Nur, who stood where they were. Fili turned to Kili and they clapped forearms together, pulling close for a brief embrace before Kili jogged—or speedily limped—into the thick treeline.
Fili stared at Nur, taking in her expression as she braced herself for his displeasure. She was, however, startled when he briskly stepped to her and gathered her in his arms, putting his face into the hair on the top of her head. He took in her scent, which was undimmed despite smoke and pine tree, while she wove her hands around him and under his arms. They held each other firmly, standing and letting their closeness sink in until Nur's will was weakened by the warmth of his body.
Maybe she didn't want to go off on her own after all… maybe she just wanted to stay close beside him the entire day… maybe—but she could not ignore the memory of the groaning stomachs and the scuffle of aching feet. Her sense of duty was strong enough to override her personal desire to be comfortable in Fili's closeness.
She let him go with a sigh, responsibility ever taking her from the things she wanted. These people were not a burden to her, but she did wish she could have some more time…
Fili peered at her face and looked as though he understood her thoughts, reaching out and pulling her chin up with his fingers. "Think on the days to come—less danger, more time, and-"
He never finished because she had reached up to grab his face with her hands and lock him into a forceful kiss, which he gave into willingly.
His need for her flared up and he stepped back to give himself a moment to recover from it, though he held her hand. She flashed him a mischievous smile, knowing full well of his inner struggle to cope, and reveling in the thought that the day would soon come when he no longer had to fight it.
Fili released a deep breath as he steadied himself and gripped her hand with more strength than he should have, pulling on her arm and stepping forward so that his face was close enough to hers that her eyes could not escape his. Nur's eyes widened at his intensity.
"If you think so much as a badger is stalking you," he muttered in a low voice. "I want you to scream like a banshee and I'll come running."
"Yes, sir." She gulped, her lower lip trembling a little. Normally, it would have been the type of comment she would have countered with something humorous, but it was difficult to joke when his face was so close to hers with a startling passion that made her afraid.
She knew he would never hurt her, but when Fili displayed the mastery of his kingly heritage and summoned such intimidating power, he was a force to be reckoned with. She did not doubt that he had the ability to tear apart said badger with his bare hands.
His face softened a little when he saw his effect on her and he kissed her forehead.
Fili parted from her grasp and strode to Karta, Nur standing in a trance for a moment before making her way to the map maker. Karta had assembled various materials, which Fili and Smerri were glancing over when she joined them.
Nur pondered through the different traps and snares she knew, adding to her mental list the resources of the small forest behind them.
But she was missing something. "I'll need a—"
Before she could finish her inquiry, Fili reached into his gauntlet and flipped into the air a small knife, balancing the blade in his knuckles and pointing the handle to her.
"—knife." She smiled at the small blade and took it happily. It was a personal pleasure of hers whenever he had offered her something belonging to him—the first had been his pipe, which sent quiet thrills throughout her and the second had been one of his twin blades.
It was not because she was touched that Fili was willing to share with her, but because the belongings had been so intimately his that she felt as though it were a piece of him she was taking with her.
A grin of satisfaction grew on her lips and he could not ignore her treasuring of the weapon, sending her heart soaring even higher when he left her with a small wink.
She was lightheaded when she departed the caves, heading toward the river, and couldn't help but say to herself, "Oh, the day when that I belong to that dwarf…"