Chapter 29

Being chased by Wargs and Orcs was one thing – being chased by a gigantic bear was something completely different. The bear was large – larger than any the others had seen before, and it was fast. They all ran as fast as their little legs would go, trying to put distance between them and the hungry bear. Thankfully they made it to the lone cottage and was able to keep the bear out, but what Gandalf said next troubled them further – the bear was their host, a skin-changer who did not favor Dwarves. For the time being they may have been safe but the morning would determine how safe they actually would be. So during this time Oín tended to the wounded – namely Thorin and the brothers. As Fíli sat on the bench waiting for Oín to heal Thorin, Bilbo stood by, arms crossed as he kept an eye on him. "You don't need to hover, Bilbo, I'm fine," he assured him.

"Don't believe a word he says," Kíli interrupted from his place next to Fíli, "The Goblins did a number on him before you lot showed up."

"Says the one who couldn't keep his mouth shut."

"When have I ever kept my mouth shut?"

"Enough," Bilbo scolded, silencing their argument before turning back to Fíli, "You two had quite the tumble off that mountain pass and who knows what those Goblins did to you before we arrived, therefore I don't care how 'fine' either of you feel – you're going to get looked at."

Once Bilbo was done scolding them the brothers turned to one another with a look of shock. "I fear the day he meets our mother," Kíli muttered.

"Mahal himself wouldn't know what to do with them," Fíli added as Oín came and did a once over on the lads. Their wounds were superficial and didn't require much, except for rest and to take it easy, "not likely," Oín added under his breath before he put his supplies away and left the three of them alone once more.

The sun began to set and the Dwarves one by one began to turn in for the night. Bilbo stayed close to Fíli and Kíli but sleep would not come easy to him. The thing he found in the Goblin Tunnels was a shroud on his mind. He found himself removing the item in question – a gold ring, and staring at it longingly as he stroked it. What a beautiful, precious little thing. Without it, he might not have escaped those caves. He had yet to tell Fíli of how he escaped and he wasn't sure he was quite ready to. Eventually he would, but for now this ring would be his little secret.

Instantly his fingers curled around the small item as he heard muttering a shifting near him. He turned to find the source and his face fell in worry when he saw that it was coming from Fíli. The lad's brow was knitted together as he head swayed from side to side, all the while muttering something that strongly resembled "no" under his breath. He knew that Fíli suffered from nightmares – always had for as long as he had known him – and wondered if this was brought on by the recent bought they took part in or if it was just another normal thing. Either way Bilbo did what he always did when Fíli was having a restless sleep. Carefully he shifted over to his side and began to run his fingers through the young Dwarf's hair. "Shhh, easy now, Fíli, it's alright."

Fíli flinched away at his touch but as he the softness from the act brought him down, he relaxed and fell into more peaceful times. With a soft smile Bilbo fell next to him and slowly his own eyes closed and he went to sleep as well.

The morning came and Bilbo woke to find himself alone with bees the size of his face buzzing about him. He jumped slightly, his hand waving in front of his face to get the pests away as he heard a familiar laugh nearby. "We were wondering when you were going to wake up," Kíli joked, pulling Bilbo to his feet. "Sleep well?"

"Better than I have in a while. Where is everyone else?"

Kíli pointed behind him where he saw the rest of the Dwarves and Gandalf watching something out the window. It had made him curious as to why it was Kíli coming to fetch him and not Fíli but as he drew near the crowd, he could see why. Fíli's face was less cheerful then it had been in some time and he kept himself to the back of the group. His eyes weren't even focused on what was outside but instead at the wall next to the window to make it appear that he was looking out – but Bilbo knew better. Whatever it was the Dwarves were discussing was lost on Bilbo as he pushed his way to Fíli's side. "Everything alright?" he asked quietly, although he was already sure of the answer he was going to be given.

"Fine," Fíli predictably replied. With a shake of his head Bilbo leant in and said even softer, "You forget I grew up knowing all your tells and it is clear as the morning sun that you are not 'fine'."

"It's nothing, Bilbo, promise."

As Bilbo went to counter Gandalf pulled Bilbo away and said, "I shall go speak to him first. Wait for my signal to come out and only come in pairs."

"Speak to….?" But when Bilbo saw the giant man outside cutting wood into two, he got his answer instantly. "Oh dear."

He wasn't sure why Gandalf insisted that he join him to speak to the very imposing man but Bilbo had faith that Gandalf would know what he was doing – until he spied up and saw the look of fear on the wizard's face. "You're afraid?" he asked, a slight tremble in his voice.

"Don't be absurd," Gandalf countered as they came to a stop. The man didn't seem to notice them until Gandalf cleared his throat and bidded, "Good morning."

The man – Beorn, Bilbo remembered Gandalf saying what his name had been after they had been chased by the bear – halted his progress and turned, an irritated look in his eyes. "Who are you?"

"I am Gandalf. Gandalf the Grey," he replied with a bow.

"Never heard of you."

"Well I am a wizard and I just wanted to offer you thanks for allowing us of your hospitatilty." It was then that Beorn spotted Bilbo who had been trying to hide himself behind Gandalf's legs. "And who is the bunny?" he asked.

"This is Bilbo Baggins of the Shire. A Hobbit, if you will."

"Hobbit? What is a Hobbit and a Wizard doing here?"

"Well, it is a funny story, if you would care to hear it…"

Gandalf spun the story for Beorn, telling him of their adventures that lead them to this spot, all the while gently easing in the fact that there were more to their troop then just the two of them. Two by two the Dwarves emerged, bowing and offering their names ever so politely. For most of the Dwarves, they came out nervously, save for three. Thorin, of course, with his stoic look and intimidating gaze that still sent shivers down Bilbo's spine, and the brothers, Fíli and Kíli. The terrors those two had witnessed in their short lives surely hardened them to anything less imposing, even a giant man who could turn into a bear. But the story was told and it seemed Gandalf had once again crafted a miracle, for although Beorn did not like Dwarves, Gandalf had won him and they had been invited in for food.

The table was far too large for any of them to properly sit at but they didn't care. The tankards were large and Beorn filled Fíli's to the brim with milk. Watching him drink from it was quite amusing to Bilbo, seeing as the tankard was bigger than Fíli's own head, but the atmosphere was far from jovial. The speech was all about business – about Thorin and Azog. But Bilbo had questions. "Are there others like you?" he asked, meaning if there were other Skinchangers.

"Once there were many, now, there is only one. The Orcs rounded us up and used us for sport. It was one of Azog's favorite things to watch. Sometimes we fought others, sometimes we fought unfortunate Men or Elves that had been captured as well. Only I escaped."

Bilbo instinctively turned his gaze to Fíli to see his reaction and was not surprised to see the lad looking down at his hands in his lap. Quietly he excused himself and slipped easily from the table and back to the stables where their bedrolls and packs surely were. There were only two people who noticed his disappearance – Kíli and Bilbo and both slipped away just as easily and followed. Dwarf and Hobbit came to a halt at the entrance to the stables as they spotted Fíli huddled in a ball near his own bedroll, his eyes vacant as he seemed to stare at nothing. "I know that look," Bilbo muttered, having seen it for many years.

Kíli looked lost and afraid as he stared at the state of his brother. "Do you think Beorn's words have shaken him?"

"I'm afraid so, Kíli. Come, I know how to handle this."

Gently Bilbo etched forward with Kíli right behind him. As they approached, however, it seemed as if Fíli hadn't noticed their arrival, not even as they sat on either side of him. Tenitavely Bilbo reached out and placed a hand over his. "It is alright, Fíli, you are safe here."

"Am I?" he asked without looking at either of them. Kíli looked to Bilbo for help and Bilbo gave him a nod. "You are. You are surrounded by family who would not let any harm befall you. You have people to help you, Fíli."

"No one can help me."

Slowly Fíli got to his feet and left the stables, letting the warmth of the sun hit his skin as he longed for peace and solitude. Kíli moved to follow but Bilbo stopped him. "Let him be, lad. He will come around in his own time – he always does."

Kíli was not so sure. He had seen his brother when they were in the Goblin tunnels – even then he appeared distant and afraid…

The fall had taken more out of them than Kíli had hoped, but to his surprise they both hit the ledge relatively unharmed. If only that had been the worst of it. Not a minute later they were overpowered by Goblins who led them deep into the mountains. Ropes were lashed out, binding their hands as they were stripped of their weapons and led further into the mountains. During this time Fíli had woken and the panic in his eyes was something Kíli hadn't seen in nearly fifty years. Fíli fought for freedom, spurring Kíli on but the crack of the whip behind them brought their attempts to a stand-still. The whip had created an effect over both of them as they recalled the last time either of them had been bared witness to one, the memories still painful. "Quit your squirming, filth!" the Goblin shrieked as they were pushed further into the mountains.

Eventually they came out on a wooden platform in the presence of the largest, most repulsive Goblin Kíli had every laid eyes upon. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he sneered as he gazed down at the Dwarves.

"Dwarves, your malevolence," the goblin replied with a low bow. "We found them at the lower entrances."

"I see, and pray tell me what two Dwarves are doing in these parts?"

Both Fíli and Kíli were unsure of what to say and therefore kept their mouths' shut. However the crack of the whip made them flinch. "The Goblin King asked you runts a question."

It seemed, however, that the Goblin King was amused by reaction from the whip. "Now, prey tell me what would create such a reaction out of the pair of you?"

"It is of no concern to you," Kíli replied, appearing more brave than he actually was. The Goblin King sneered as he nodded at one of the Goblin's nearby. The sudden club to the ribs was unexpected and Kíli nearly fell over as Fíli fought to stay by his brother's side. "Quite the mouth you have on you, Dwarf. Perhaps you would like to rethink your answer."

But Kíli merely spat at the Goblin King's feet, earning him another blow from the club. "Kíli!"

"Well, if this one will not talk, perhaps the other will."

"No!" Kíli growled out as the goblins brought Fíli closer to the king. As Kíli attempted to to get to his brother he was clubbed once more. "Stay down, if you know what's best for ya!"

All Kíli could do was look up to watch as his brother was brought before the King and held there. "Tell me, Dwarf, what brings you to our humble home?"

Kíli was sure that Fíli was mimicking their Uncle's death glare, based off the amused expression on the king's face. "Perhaps, we need to loosen your tongue a bit, wouldn't you say?"

"Stop! Please! We don't know anything!" Kíli called out as he saw the goblin with the whip approach.

"Kíli, it's fine," Fíli tried to reassure as he kept his gaze on the king, "I can take it."

"You hear that, lads? He can take it!" The Goblins all erupted in laughter. The whip cracked and Fíli visibly flinched, all the while Kíli was forced to watch. It reminded him of a time long ago when they were in a similar predicament – one he vowed they would never find themselves in again. The whip cracked a few more times and each time Fíli flinched. "Are you going to tell us, Dwarf?"

Fíli's head slowly tilted up and with the steadiest voice he could muster, he replied, "We don't know anything."

The whip cracked, the lash hitting Fíli square on the back and instantly he fell forward, grunting in pain. "Fíli!"

"What are you doing here?"

"We don't know…" the whip cracked again and Fíli jolted with another sudden pang. Kíli struggled as much as he could to fight through but the Goblin pressed a knife against his throat. "Keep still, Dwarf!"

It seemed that the Goblin King was about to ask another question when they heard drums drumming in the distance. Fíli and Kíli did not know that sound but it appeared the Goblin King did – and he was pleased. "Take these two below and keep them until I call. It seems we have more guests to greet."

Fíli and Kíli were pulled away and when Kíli caught sight of Fíli, his eyes fell. He was breathing heavily and his face was that of pure fear. "Fíli?"

But Fíli did not respond, not even as they were dragged away.

Kíli sighed as he continued to stare at his brother. There had to be a way to help, but he was not sure how. They had been lucky in the Goblin tunnels, that was for sure but it seemed that Fíli, despite coming away mostly unscathed, was mentally suffering. There had to be a way to help his brother.

If only he knew how….

TBC