Alright everyone, here it is! The final chapter! I can't believe it is finally here! I want to thank each and everyone one of you for reviewing, adding this to your favorites, following and giving your feedback through all of this! I just want to shout out to everyone who reviewed!
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You are all beautiful people! Thank you again to my beta and now, the end of Not So Easily Broken!
Chapter 25
Thorin stepped through the threshold of Fíli's room. Fíli was still unconscious on his bed with Kíli passed out in the chair beside him.
Kíli was holding his brother's hand in his own, his grip tight as if he was afraid that if he let go Fíli would dissolve.
Slowly he approached from the other side of the bed, running his hand along Fíli's golden hair.
"I'm sorry, Fíli," he muttered.
There was no chair for him to sit on but he did not need it. He sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes never leaving his sleeping nephew.
It pained him to see his heir so weak. His skin was pale, his face melancholic. There was very little movement in the rise and fall of his chest as his breathing stayed slow and fragile. There was no color in his lips – instead, they were ashen. If Thorin hadn't grabbed his nephew's hand, it would seem as if he were a ghost. The lack of warmth from Fíli's skin pained Thorin's heart.
"You are strong, Fíli. You can win. You are of the line of Durin. You are my kin. You will not be so easily broken."
The sting of tears trying to escape the corners of his eyes but he kept them at bay. "You have to come back. Come back to us."
As he stroked the back of his nephew's knuckles, he felt an increase in warmth. At first, he thought that it was just the heat being absorbed by his touch, but with a more critical eye, he watched as the ashen skin slowly began to regain its color. It began in his fingers and slowly worked its way up his arm.
"Fíli?"
As it began to spread quicker, Thorin stood up, resting his hand on Fíli's forehead. He risked a smile as he felt his temperature rise and his chest rise and fall stronger than it had. The color came back to his lips and his eyelids began to flutter.
When his blue eyes fully opened, they immediately landed on his kin.
"Uncle?" he asked in a meager, almost childish raspy voice.
Thorin couldn't help but let out an airy laugh in relief. "Welcome home."
"Kíli?"
Thorin nodded at his sleeping brother. Fíli smiled as he squeezed on his brother's hand.
Kíli slowly stirred, muttering something under his breath as he sat up. When he saw that Fíli was looking at him, awake and well, Kíli's chocolate eyes lit up with joy as he jumped from his seat. "Fíli!"
The brothers laughed as Kíli crushed his brother in a hug. "You're alive!"
"What happened?"
"What do you remember?"
Instinctively Fíli clenched his chest where his knife had been plunged. There were no words that needed to be spoken to prove that he remembered everything.
"Is that it? Is she gone?" Kíli asked.
"I... I think so."
"Well, there's only one way to find out."
Thorin immediately sent a dwarf to seek out the wizards and, very rapidly, Gandalf and Radagast arrived, along with the rest of the company in tow. Apparently, news had spread quickly of Fíli's wakening and they had all raced towards the chambers to see it for themselves.
Fíli lay still, trying not to look awkward as Radagast began his sniffing and examining.
After examining Fíli's fingernails and, again, yanking out some of Fílis hair to smell and taste, Radagast smiled. "She is gone, m'boy. No traces of dark magic anywhere."
"So, he's going to be alright?" Kíli inquired.
"I'm happy to say that, yes, he shall be just fine."
"This calls for a celebration!" Glóin and almost instantly the dwarves began to ramble on the details of said celebration.
The celebration was almost as grand as the celebration of Thorin's coronation.
For once, Fíli did not feel something niggling in the back of his mind. He actually felt as if he could enjoy himself.
As he laughed and joked with his brother and some of the others, Fíli spotted little Bilbo Baggins walking towards the balcony, his pipe in his hand. Fíli excused himself, pulling his own pipe from his pocket and following.
Bilbo had already lit his pipe and was happily blowing smoke rings in the air when Fíli approached. "May I join?"
He had caught Bilbo unprepared, nearly scaring the poor Hobbit out of his skin.
"Of course," Bilbo replied after seeing who it was.
Fíli stuffed his pipe with some pipeweed before lighting it. They smoked in silence, enjoying the feeling of peace that hadn't fallen around them for some time.
"I'm glad you are well again," Bilbo said, finally breaking the silence.
"As am I. Thank you for everything you have done. You really are quite the burglar."
Bilbo smirked. "I'm just sad that I shall be leaving so soon."
"When do you leave?"
"In the morning. I think it's time I returned home."
"How will you be getting back?"
"I don't know. I haven't really planned that far ahead."
"Perhaps... perhaps you don't have to."
Bilbo looked at him quizzically. "What do you mean?"
Fíli smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Leave the planning to me. I will see to it you have a way to your home. You helped us get here, it is only fair we help you get home as well."
Fíli packed his bags that night, making sure he had everything he needed for his long journey to the west.
As he placed a spare shirt in his bag, a low voice from the door asked, "So it is true then. You mean to leave."
He should have known that Thorin would have come to find him. Fíli had planned to tell Thorin of his means to see that Bilbo made it home safely in the morning.
"Nori?" Fíli inquired.
When Fíli turned around he watched as Thorin stepped further in, his arms crossing his chest. "Does it matter?"
"No, I guess. I was going to tell you, Uncle…"
"Why?"
Fíli hesitated, slightly confused by the question. "Why what?"
"Why must you leave?"
Fíli sighed. "I've done things, Thorin. Horrible, awful things that will haunt me. Dwarves are dead because of me. You and Kíli almost died because of me…"
"It wasn't you."
"I just need to get away... to clear my head. If I can just get away and do something good I can make up for what I've done."
Thorin nodded. "I understand. I may not like it, but I understand. You just keep yourself out of trouble."
Fíli nodded. "You remember when I found you practicing with a sword when you were young?"
Fíli laughed at the memory. "You were horrified that Mother would kill you for letting me near so sharp a weapon."
"I knew then that you would grow up to be a strong, loyal Durin. And you have proved it time and time again, especially through everything that has just happened."
"If I hadn't been weak then Ravina…"
"That was not weakness, Fíli. No one, not even the strongest warrior could have withstand what you went through. And after all of it, you still managed to defeat Ravina. You broke her hold on you by yourself. Weak? You are not weak. That was true strength and never have I been more proud of you."
A smile tugged at Fíli's lips. Thorin returned the smile and pulled his nephew into an embrace. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, Fíli."
"Thank you, Uncle."
When they broke apart, Fíli asked, "You will explain to Kíli, will you?"
With a nod, Thorin placed his hand on Fíli shoulder. "Leave your brother to me."
The sun broke the next morning. Fíli was to meet Bilbo at the stables before they rode out.
When Fíli arrived he found not only Bilbo, but Kíli as well, already packed and saddled, ready to go. "Kíli, what are…?"
"Thorin told me what you were doing and said I should come to keep you out of trouble."
"I thought that was my job."
"Yes, well, a lot has changed, hasn't it?"
Fíli smiled, "Yes, yes it has."
After Fíli saddled his pony and rode up next to his brother and Bilbo, Bilbo said, "You don't have to join me on this journey. I'm sure I can handle myself."
"Oh Bilbo," Kíli smiled, resting a hand on the Hobbit's shoulders.
"If there is one thing you should know, Bilbo, it is this," Fíli began, pointing at the road ahead, "It's a dangerous business, Bilbo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."
THE END
And there you have it, folks, it is the END! Awww, I'm so sad...so what would you guys think of a sequel? Would you want it? What would you want in it? I have some ideas but I want to see what you guys think first before I press forward with it. Please let me know!