The rider who had gone to the meeting point to meet with Dale's rider, returned in the early morning. Dale had also been affected by the quake, although it didn't seem to do quite as much damage. They would send aid as soon as they could.
Bofur was in charge of the first crew into Erebor. While they were waiting, Fili went around the camp to talk to the people. He heard their stories and gave his condolences to those who had lost a loved one. He visited the healing tent . The dwarf who had been so badly burned, died in the early morning hours.
Kili was awake and talking quietly to Tauriel. Fili went to his brother and rested his hands on Kili's shoulders.
"I'm glad to see you awake," Fili said.
"I'm glad to see you, too," Kili replied. "As soon as Oin lets me, I'm going to have a chair moved outside, so I can be a part of the council and not stuck in here."
"I'd be glad to have you out there with us," Fili said. "Thorin has put me in charge of the recovery. I need your help."
"You?" Kili said, but realized he sounded as if he doubted Thorin and Fili. "Of course you, sorry, Fili," he blushed. Fili smiled. "Is Thorin still planning to leave for Rivendell?"
"No. He's already sent letters to Thranduil, Beorn, Bilbo and Lord Elrond explaining the situation. He told me he'll make it up to Bilbo and go visit him in the Shire next year. Try not to get hurt again and maybe he'll let you accompany him on that journey."
Kili smiled sadly. "It's a dreadful thing that has happened. Are many dead?"
"Seventeen that I'm aware of," Fili answered. "Bofur has taken a crew in to check on the stability of the mountain. If all is well, we'll send in more crews to gather food and supplies. I don't think we'll enter the mountain again for several days; make sure the after tremors are over."
Kili nodded appreciatively. He didn't like not knowing what was going on.
"Are the children alright?" Kili asked.
"I peeked in the tent not long ago. They were all asleep. I imagine they will want to see you as soon as they are awake," Fili said. "Are you alright?"
"My leg hurts and I've got a headache, but that's to be expected. Other than that, I'm just shaken up over what has happened. I didn't do my job well since my people had to carry me out, unconscious, on a stretcher."
Fili looked at the pained embarrassment on Kili's face. "That's not what I heard. The captain of the guard told me you helped search homes for some missing and found several dwarflings that had hidden under their beds in fear. You reunited them with their parents. You got out all the residents and miners before you were unfortunate enough to be under the wrong arch at the wrong moment. I know that Thorin is very proud of you."
Kili's eyes were sad, but he gave a small smile. "Thanks, Fee."
"I had better get back out to see if Bofur has returned. I'll have a chair all set up and ready for you when you are able to make it out." Fili clapped Kili gingerly on the shoulder. "I'll see you very soon."
The sun was bright and Fili blinked a few times before moving back to the gate. Thorin was sitting in a chair, but his head hung down, fast asleep. Fili walked to where several council members stood, talking.
"Any news?" Fili asked.
"Not yet, Prince Fili."
"How are things going in the camp?" he asked his mother.
"Fine except they are hungry and slightly embarrassed about being out of the mountain in broad daylight in nothing but their sleeping clothes."
Fili sighed. "As soon as we can, we'll have food. Are there no rations in the storage rooms?"
"No, Prince," the guard said. "Well, there are a few wafers of cram, but not enough to feed everyone."
"Take what we have to the healing tents so our wounded may get some nourishment," Fili told him. One of the guards followed Fili's orders. At least fresh water wasn't a problem, with the river that ran right out the front gates of Erebor, although they had no way of transporting water. Overall, Fili was disappointed by the lack of basic supplies kept in the gate storage rooms. It seemed all they had was a good supply of tents and little else.
Movement at the gate entrance pulled Fili from his thoughts. Bofur and his crew were coming out, carrying large sacks with them. Fili turned to Thorin, who was still asleep. Even though Thorin had put Fili in charge, Thorin still needed to know what was going on, especially at this early stage.
"Thorin?" Fili called quietly. Thorin's head snapped up and he came to Fili's side. "Glad to see you and your team safe," Fili said to Bofur. "What news?"
"Things aren't bad in the areas we searched. We headed straight for the kitchens and checked every room and bridge along the way. The front side of the mountain seemed to have sustained little damage." Bofur turned to find his brother. "Bombur!"
The large dwarf was capable of great speed when needed and he came running when he heard his brother's call. Bofur and his team passed their bundles to Bombur. Each bundle contained food, except one, which had many wooden bowls.
"Thank you, this will make everyone very happy, but I have no way of cooking. I need several pots," Bombur said.
"Where are the nearest ones to the entrance you know of, Bombur?" Fili asked.
Bombur thought for a moment. "We used several large ones back at the Spring Celebration. They are in the smallest reception room."
"Leave it to us, we'll get them. Get a fire going Bombur." Bofur smiled. He and his crew went back into the mountain.
"Do you think it best to use the first crews into the mountain on such a task as finding food and cooking gear?" Thorin quietly asked Fili.
Fili nodded confidently. "The dwarves must be fed. All other problems and discomforts are easier dealt with if done on a full stomach."
Thorin placed a hand on Fili's shoulder. "Well done." Fili looked into his uncle's smiling face. "I'm going to go visit Kili." And with that, Thorin walked away.
Was Thorin testing him, Fili wondered. It wasn't long before a rumbled could be heard from the gate. At first, Fili feared another tremor, but it turned out to be Bofur's crew, rolling out the giant iron pots. Bombur was ready. He had water from the river fetched with a bucket the crew had brought him. In no time, he had a stew bubbling.
Thousands of dwarves waited for food, but only forty or so bowls were on hand. Fili asked that the children and any expectant mothers be fed first. Bowls were washed in the river and food was re-dished to women and wounded, then re-washed again and so on. It was a terrible way to feed the people. Other food that had not gone into the stew was distributed to many others who waited. Fili's own stomach growled at the wonderful smell, but he would not eat. Not until every dwarf had been given a share.
Since Bofur had declared the path to the kitchens to be safe, another crew was organized to return to the kitchen with more food, dishes and buckets. Bofur's crew would head back in to explore deeper in the mountain and see if they could locate any of their missing.
Little by little, supplies were brought out, making the dwarven camp more comfortable.
Kili was brought out in the early afternoon, carried by Thorin. Fili wasn't sure Kili was really well enough to be out, judging by the pained look on his face, but Kili had insisted and Fili was glad to have his brother by his side. Fili saw his wife walking about the people, talking to them, passing out food and comforting them. Fili's heart swelled. Sigrid was a good princess to his people and grateful they had accepted the non-dwarf princess and loved her.
The day wore slowly on and with the adrenalin long since gone from his system, Fili began to feel sore and weary from the ordeal. He would not show it, though. Thorin was always strong and level-headed, never showing weakness or weariness. Fili would not either, but he hoped that perhaps this night he could get a few hours of sleep.
The first caravan from Dale, led by Sigrid's own brother, Bain, arrived in the early afternoon. Bain had turned into a fine lord for his people and Sigrid was delighted to see him. The caravan had food, blankets, and items for cleaning and washing - buckets, soaps and the like. His supplies were well received and the princesses of Erebor, Dis, Sigrid and Tauriel went among the people, passing out food and blankets. Milly tagged along with Sigrid and helped hand out things. Make that four princesses, Fili smiled. Then he saw they were joined by Thorin's good wife, Fire. She was not their queen, but a Lady, and the people loved their King's wife.
From Bain they learned some sections of Dale had sustained damage, making a hundred or so residents homeless, but those people had been relocated within the city. The entire population of Dale was not homeless, unlike the dwarves of Erebor. Still, it would only be temporary. Once the mountain was deemed safe, they would move back in. There would be many without homes, Fili realized, but he would be able to take care of them better once they were back in the mountain. The large reception room would be a good temporary place for their homeless until a new place could be found for them.
Bofur's crew emerged from the mountain for the last time for the day just as the sun was setting behind the horizon. They had rescued ten dwarves during the day and found three of the missing dead. The death toll went up, but so did the living toll and Fili tried hard to remember that. The crew was tired and hungry. Bofur sent them to Bombur for a hot meal, then he stood with Fili, Kili and Thorin to report their findings.
"East side is definitely worse than the west," he began. "Four bridges are gone on the east side and two are gone on the west. From what we can see, the west side is mostly livable, although one section of homes cannot be reached until a new bridge is constructed. Entire halls are blocked on the east side. Only about half of the halls are accessible. It's amazing we were able to get everyone out of the east side that we did." Bofur looked at Kili.
Fili patted Kili on the shoulder. It had been Kili's leadership that had saved all those people.
Bofur continued with his report, "I would suggest sending in some night crews, see if they can start to clear the blocked halls and hopefully some more of our missing."
"Would you organize some crews and explain what needs to be done?" Fili asked Bofur.
"Of course, Fili," Bofur smiled his usual smile, but he looked exhausted.
"Thank you, and, once you have, get some food and sleep. You've done more than anyone else today and we are all thankful for you." Fili clapped a hand on Bofur's shoulder, who smiled again and went off to follow his orders.
As night fell, Fili could hear dwarves singing from the lower camp. They were homeless and wearing naught but their night clothes, but it would take more than a mountain quake to break their spirit.
Fili held a sleeping Hrafn in his arms as he walked around, visiting with the guards and crews who had been in the mountain today. He wanted to know everything that was going on. He was having a hard time walking, though. He kept tripping over rocks and even his own boots. Fili decided Hrafn was just getting too big to be carried about in such a way, but as he stood talking to Thorin's Fili's arms suddenly felt very heavy and he feared he would drop his son, so he quickly handed Hrafn to Thorin.
"Fili, you need sleep," Thorin said.
He felt a soft hand on his arm, "Dearest, come to the tent. You haven't slept in two days. I don't know how you're still going." Sigrid pulled at his arm.
His stomach made a funny noise and his face flushed in embarrassment. Fili was grateful for the darkness of the night so no one would see his red cheeks.
"Did you eat at all today?" Kili asked from his chair.
"I don't remember," Fili mumbled. Even his tongue felt tired and heavy. "No, I don't think I did."
"Sigrid," Kili said, "please feed our prince and make sure he goes to sleep since he won't do these things for himself."
Fili tried to swat at Kili, but found he was just too tired. Sigrid led Fili to their tent. A bowl of stew was pressed into his hands. They were shaking. She held her hands over his as he lifted the bowl to his lips and slowly swallowed its contents. He felt better already. When he was done, Sigrid took the bowl and helped him to lay down on a bed roll. She made sure he had a blanket pillow under head and another blanket pulled up to his chin. His eyes closed and he knew no more that night.