The Hobbit: The desolation of Smaug

Disclaimer: I don't own The Hobbit, I only own Nàin.

Chapter 26

Many songs had been sung and many stories had been told. Bilbo had left in the middle of it after, to everyone's surprise, having joined in on some of the songs himself as well. He had said that he was tired and had waddled off to bed, soon followed by Kili who said the same thing. However, everyone knew that wasn't what the case with Kili. Nàin hadn't talked to him about what happened in the armory and she wasn't sure if she even should. Perhaps he would get irritated if she asked and she didn't quite want that. On the other hand, she was very worried.

Perhaps I can talk to him tomorrow before we leave, thought Nàin to herself.

The moon was shining in through the windows and the snow was still falling. Nàin and Fili had shifted their chairs so that they were closer to each other. Fili had his arm on the backrest of Nàin's chair while Nàin had her head resting against Fili's upper arm.

About half an hour after Kili and Bilbo had left to go get some sleep, Fili leaned down to Nàin's ear and whispered "I still need to braid your hair, you know."

Nàin smiled widely as she quickly took out the amulet that Fili had given to her from one of the small hidden pockets that she had in her dress.

"Shall we?"

Standing up, they excused themselves and walked past the table and out into the hallway. They didn't noticed Balin whisper something to Thorin as Thorin watched them leave with serious eyes. He shook his head at Balin's words before whispering back "I just can't."

..::**::..

Sitting down on Nàin's bed, Fili shifted so that he was turned towards Nàin. She shifted so that she was sitting further up the bed, placing herself in between Fili's legs, her arms resting on his knees. He took the small amulet and started, carefully, to braid a small piece of her hair.

"Would you like to know why I chose to engrave stars into the amulet?" asked Fili while he continued to braid her hair.

"I'd love to," said Nàin, smiling as she enjoyed the feeling of him braiding her hair and the feeling of being so close to him.

"You are like a star to me, enlightening even the darkest of my days just like the stars enlighten even the darkest of nights with their beauty. Every time I see you I just want to hold you in my arms and never let go because you're the lady that fills all the little dark places in my heart, just like all the stars fill all the little dark places of the sky at night."

Nàin's smile widened and she let him finish the braid before quickly shifting so that she was sitting on her knees, still in between his legs, giving Fili a tight hug. He was slightly shocked for a moment by her quick movement but slowly hugged her back, putting his face in her hair and breathing in the scent of her.

"That was… the most beautiful thing I've ever heard anyone say to me," said Nàin, feeling as warm and happy on the inside as she possibly could.

"I simply told you the truth," said Fili while Nàin let go of him, placing her hands on his cheeks.

"I don't have anything to give you-"

"I don't care," said Fili shaking his head while looking her deeply in the eyes, his hands moving to rest on hers.

"I don't have anything to give you… except my heart, my soul and my entire world," said Nàin before capturing Fili's lips with hers, her arms moving so that they were around his neck, pressing him against her.

..::**::..

The sun was just starting to set when the whole company was walking around in the little inn that they had been given by the Master of Lake Town. Everybody was gathering supplies to bring along, making sure that they had their weapons and just simply trying to get some more food before they would continue their journey to Erebor.

Nàin was currently standing next to the front door, checking her new bag to make sure that she had everything. She had placed the dress she had gotten from Teresa in the bag along with some food, water, medical supplies and blankets. She was again wearing a pair of dark trousers with a wheat colored blouse tucked into her trousers. Around her waist, she was wearing a belt with a sword attached to it on her left side. On her right side she had two pairs of daggers attached to the belt. Around her wrist that wasn't bandaged, she was wearing the bracelet that Maybeline had made her. She was going to wear a coat as well, though she hadn't put it on yet since she was still indoors.

Bilbo walked up to her while she was checking her bag with a huge smile on his face. "Congratulations, lady Nàin. Fili just told me the great news."

Nàin looked up at him and smiled a wide smile. "Thank you, Bilbo. My, you look quite handsome in that hat of yours."

"Thank you," said Bilbo, blushing slightly before walking past Nàin to go grab some more food.

Thorin took his place instead. Nàin smiled up at him, though he didn't return the smile. His gaze roamed over the new braid in her hair before he looked down at the floor.

"Thorin?"

"I am… happy for you," said Thorin, not looking at Nàin. "You have always been like a part of our family, and now you truly are."

Nàin nodded and smiled again. Thorin looked at her and returned the smile this time, nodding his head before turning around and walking away.

A frown soon replaced the smile that had been playing on Nàin's lips. She could feel and see that Thorin was keeping something from her. Though, what that was, she didn't know. Maybe he didn't want her and Fili to be together, though that would be odd since he hadn't been against it in the beginning of their quest. Whatever it was, though, Nàin wanted to know it badly.

"Congrats," said Kili's voice from behind her, causing her to turn around and look up at her close friend.

She smiled, though it was forced. Her worry for him grew even more as she saw him looking at her with tired eyes, bags underneath of them and a pale face replacing the ones youthful and happy face that was Kili's signature look.

"Thanks," she said quietly. "How are you feeling?"

Kili's smile faded slowly as he looked into her eyes, searching for something. Something he found.

"You think me weak," said Kili quietly.

"No," said Nàin quickly, shaking her head. "I meant nothing with i-"

"It's fine," said Kili before walking away, a sigh escaping Nàin's mouth.

What was wrong with him? The arrow didn't pierce his leg that much, she had seen that herself, yet something seemed to make him worse and worse for each passing hour. It scared her since this was her childhood friend, the one friend that had been with her through her entire life and yet, for some reason, he was slipping away from her. Something was wrong with him physically which was causing him to push himself away from the group and she wanted to know what was wrong with him so desperately. Was it an infection? Was it poison?

"Are you ready?" asked Fili, startling Nàin as she hadn't noticed him walking up behind her.

"Uh… yes, I-I'm ready," said Nàin, giving him a smile.

"Are you okay?" asked Fili, frowning slightly.

For a moment, Nàin though about telling Fili about her concerns about Thorin's and Kili's behavior. Though, for some reason, she decided against it and simply replied: "I'm fine."

..::**::..

Pushing past the crowd, the Dwarves and Bilbo all made their way to the gathering spot where they would get a boat from the people of Lake Town so that they could get to the lonely mountain without any trouble. Nàin couldn't help but smile widely. She felt excited and happy to almost be in Erebor. It felt more like a dream than reality to her. She had heard so many tales about the Lonely Mountain during her childhood and adolescence that actually going there and being able to touch the walls of Erebor with her own fingers seemed like something that she would never be able to do. Yet, here she was, on her way to Erebor.

"You do know we're one short. Where's Bofur?" asked Bilbo, walking in front of Nàin.

"If he's not here we'll leave him behind," replied Thorin.

"What?" asked Nàin, startled by Thorin's words.

"We'll have to if we are to find the door before nightfall," explained Balin, walking behind Thorin. "We can risk no more delays."

"I can run and get him, if you like?" said Nàin, causing Thorin to look back at her with a serious look on his face.

"I don't want to risk having to leave you behind too, Nàin. Stay. If he comes, he'll come," said Thorin before halting as they reached the boat that they had been given.

The company all started to board the boat, slowly and carefully. Nàin followed Bilbo and Balin and took a seat in the front, smiling at some of the children that were cheering at them. Ori took the seat next to Nàin with a sly smile.

"Not you," said Thorin, making both Ori and Nàin look back at Thorin who had stopped Kili from getting onboard. "We must travel at speed. You will slow us down."

"What are you talking about? I'm coming with you," said Kili, his face looking even paler than it had that morning, something which concerned Nàin even more.

"No."

"I want to be there when that door is opened. When we first look upon the halls of our fathers-"

"Kili," said Thorin, interrupting Kili and putting a hand on his shoulder. "Stay here. Rest. Join us when you're healed."

Nàin straightened her back while she looked at the exchange between Thorin and Kili with both confused and worried eyes. She did not want Kili to stay behind because he was one of the few in the company which she felt completely comfortable with. However, in some way, Thorin was right. He'd both slow them down and, because he looked even worse than before, he'd probably need to get healed before joining on a dangerous quest that needed his complete focus.

"I'll stay with the lad," said Oin as he stood up and climbed out of the boat. "My duty lies with the wounded."

"Uncle," said Fili as he stood in front of Thorin, already in the boat though looking up at his uncle with both confused and determined eyes. "We grew up with tales of the mountain. Tales you told us. You cannot take that away from him."

"Fili," warned Thorin.

"I will carry him if I must!" exclaimed Fili.

"One day you will be king and you will understand. I cannot risk the fate of this quest for the sake of one Dwarf. Not even my own kin."

Both Ori and Nàin, with wide eyes, watched Fili climb out of the boat.

"Fili, don't be a fool," said Thorin as he stopped Fili by taking a grip on his arm. "You belong with the company. You belong with Nàin, to protect her."

Nàin quickly stood up and started to try to squeeze herself towards the edge of the boat so that she too could climb up.

Fili looked back at Nàin who just then accidentally tripped over Dori's feet and fell against Dwalin who luckily caught her with just one hand. Both he and Nàin looked up at Fili and Thorin.

"You belong with your brother," said Nàin before Dwalin quickly lifted her up on the edge.

"Nàin," said Thorin but Nàin shushed him by giving him a glare.

"Stay with Kili. He needs you more than I do. I can take care of myself and I have the rest of the company to watch my back," said Nàin, locking eyes with Fili.

Fili nodded before freeing his arm from Thorin's grip and walking over to a surprised Kili who had placed himself on a crate. Nàin looked over at Thorin who gave her a not so amused look before walking past her and into the boat.

Nàin quickly hurried over to Kili, Fili and Oin. The pained look Kili had had on his face disappeared as he saw Nàin approaching them.

"You're not staying too, are you?" asked Kili, earning a small smile from Nàin.

"I'm simply saying goodbye. Though, if you want me to stay-"

"No! Someone needs to fill us in on what has happened once we join you again," said Kili, smiling at her.

"Take care and get well soon," said Nàin before she kissed Kili's warm and sweaty forehead. "I mean it."

"Be careful."

"And you," said Nàin, turning towards Oin. "Make sure he gets better. Take care of them."

"I will, my lady," said Oin with a nod of his head.

"By Durin's beard, don't get yourself hurt," said Fili before embracing Nàin in a tight hug.

"I'll try," whispered Nàin before they broke the hug. "I want you to have this."

With trembling fingers, Nàin took of the leather bracelet that Maybeline had made her. "Give it back to me the next time we meet."

Slowly, Fili took the bracelet from Nàin and closed his hand around it. "I will not lose it."

"You better not," said Nàin, scoffing slightly before her face grew serious again. "Goodbye."

"We will see each other again."

"I know. Just… take care of Kili," said Nàin before quickly pressing a kiss to Fili's lips and turning around.

Her heart sank more and more for each step that she took away from Fili. Though, she did not let it show. Instead she carefully brushed past everyone on the boat and sat down next to Ori again. She plastered a smile on her lips as trumpets began to play. She barely listened to the speech that the master of Lake Town gave. Instead she turned her head and looked over at Kili, Fili and Oin. They were talking to each other. Most likely about Kili since he constantly seemed to say something that looked like "I'm fine."

The boat suddenly started to move and the three of them looked over at the rest of the company. Fili locked eyes with Nàin though neither of them smiled.

I regret this already.

Thanks for reading!