Chapter 28
Left Behind

We were up before dawn and dressed. Nori got his armor with the others. I opted out of it. I stood off to the side as the dwarves were putting on their armor. I smiled at the sight of my father and his nephews. They looked like true kings.

"Zippy." Nori said, coming up to me. He looked handsome. I smiled at him.

"You look amazing." I said. Nori pulled me up against him and pressed a kiss to my temple.

"We're moving out." Thorin said. We head outside. I stayed between Nori and Dori as we walked through the crowds. Nori kept my hand in his.

"You do know we're one short, where's Bofur?" Bilbo asked.

"It he's not here, we leave him behind." Thorin said.

"We have to, if we're to find the door before nightfall. We can risk no more delays." Balin said. Nori got in and reached for me. I got into the boat. Nori started to take weapons and supplies. I watch as Thorin stopped Kili. I noticed he was pale as normal.

"Not you. We must travel with speed, you will slow us down." Thorin said.

"Father." I said. Kili smiles, like he believes that Thorin is joking.

"What are you talking about? I'm coming with you." Kili said.

"No." Thorin said. Fili turns and watches the two with me.

"I'm going to be there when the door is opened, when we first look upon the halls of our fathers, Thorin." Kili said.

"Kili, stay here. Rest. Join us when you're healed." Thorin said. Thorin rests a hand on Kili's shoulder and smiles. Kili looks shocked and betrayed. Thorin turns to board the boat as Kili turns away. Oin gets out of the boat.

"I'll stay with the lad. My duty lies with the wounded." Oin said. I turn to Nori as Fili confronts Thorin.

"Nori. I'm going to stay and help Oin with Kili. They might need me." I said.

"Go then. I'll see you when we reclaim the mountain and I'll know your safe." Nori said. I pulled him into a kiss and he returns it. Fili got out of the boat. I hug my father.

"I'm staying with them. They might need my help." I said.

"Be safe, daughter." Thorin said. I quickly got out and hurried over to my friends. Oin was examining Kili as I knelt on the other side of Kili. The musicians of Laketown play their instruments as the Master climbs up to a raised platform and starts to talk. I block it out as I looked at Nori. He was watching me. I smiled at home. Hoping it wasn't going to be the last time I see him.

"Bring good fortune to all!" Master said. The dwarves in the boat pull into the canal and begin to paddle away. The dwarves wave and bow at the cheering people.

"Goodbye!" Dori called. I saw Bofur push his way through and looks disappointed. He turns and see us.

"Ah! So you missed the boat as well?" Bofur asked. Kili moans in pain and begins to fall over. Fili and I catch him.

"Kili? Kili!" Fili said.

"His leg. We need to find a place so I can look at it." I said. Oin and Fili supported Kili as we went to look for help. Everyone slammed their door in our faces and even the Master refused to help us. "Bard. He will help." The men looked at me.

"After what we did to him, you think he will help?" Fili asked.

"Fili. He's our only hope. Please." I said. Fili knew I was right. We headed toward's Bard's house. Bofur knocked and Bard opened the door.

"No. I'm done with dwarves. Go away." Bard said. He tries to shut the door, but Bofur stops it with his foot.

"No, no, no! No one will help us. Kili's sick. He's very sick." Bofur said. Bard sees Kili still being supported by Fili and Oin and with me next to Fili.

"Please Bard. Everyone one else keeps slamming the door in our faces. Your our only hope." I said.

"Come in." Bard said. We enter and he helped Oin and Fili get Kili on the bed. The children watched us as I grab a bowl of hot water and a cloth and run over to Kili.

That night. Kili was moaning in pain. I dabbed a cloth to his head. His wound laid open as Oin cleaned it. I hated seeing Kili in pain. Bofur brings me anther bowl of hot water as the one I had was getting cold.

"Can you not do something?" Fili asked.

"I need herbs, something to bring down the feaver." Oin said.

"I have nightshade, feverfew." Bard said.

"No. We need Kingsfoil." I said.

"It's a weed. We feed it to the pigs." Bard said.

"Pigs? Weed? Right." Bofur said. Bofur runs up to Kili and points at him. "Don't move."

"Bofur. Just go." I said. Bofur ran out of the house. I lean back in the chair and press my head against the wall.

"Get some sleep, lass. We'll wake you when Bofur comes back." Oin said, seeing I was exhausted.

"Thank you." I whisper. It didn't help that I was missing Nori. I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.

I woke up to the house vibrating and I looked around as dust fell from the ceiling.

"Da?" Sigrid said. I shared a look with Fili, knowing what it was.

"It's coming from the mountain." Bain said. Fili hurries up to Bard.

"You should leave us. Take your children, get out of here." Fili said.

"And go where? There is nowhere to go." Bard said.

"And we can't either. Not with Kili in his condition." I said. Fili looked at me and knew we were right.

"Are we going to die, Da?" Tilda asked.

"No, darling." Bard said.

"The dragon is going to kill us." Tilda said. Bard looks at his children with a worry look on his face. He reaches up and pulls a black arrow from the ceiling. We look at it in shock.

"Not if I kill it first." Bard said. Bard and Bain leave.

Bain came back awhile later, not saying anything. Kili was getting worse as Sigrid stepped outside to look for her father.

"He's getting worse." Fili said.

"Bofur needs to hurry up. I don't think he'll last long." I said. A scream came and Fili and I look up. "Valar." I stood up seeing an orc burst in. We were found.

AN: Sorry for the wait. Hope this was worth it.