Fili fell back and almost tumbled off the bed when Kili shot up with a scream, but he quickly righted himself as he lunged forward to grab his struggling brother's shoulders. Kili recoiled as Fili gripped him. There was panic in hiss eyes, his face contorted in pain as he dragged in deep, struggled breaths. It was as though he'd been held underwater and had finally resurfaced, lungs desperately pulling in any air they could, wheezing and rapid.

"Kili," Fili said, voice trembling. "Kili, calm down. It's alright." But Kili's eyes, wide in shock and, agonised cries contradicted his forced reassurances. Kili struggled under Fili's hands, face still warped into an expression of pain and fear. "Brother? What's wrong? What is it?"

"Burning." Kili choked out.

"I..it's just the fever, Kee. That's all." Fili moved to hover in front of his brother's face, positioned so each knee was either side of Kili's thrashing legs. He cupped his face, trying to catch his gaze, but Kili's vision was far away, eyes glazed. Beside him, Thorin had leaned forward to wrap his hands around his nephew's wrists as he tried to pull away. The elder dwarf grunted as the younger attempted to struggle free of his hold.

"Flames, I can feel them." He tried to wave his arms as if he was trying to shake off the invisible flames, but Thorin kept his grip secure.

"No, no, no." Fili shook his head, "There's no flames, Kili. It's the fever."

"Make it stop. It hurts." Kili's eyes squeezed shut. "My head." He let out a cry, a tear rolling down his cheek. Fili's heart stung. He had never seen his brother look so pained, he could almost feel the agony rolling off him in red hot waves. He wanted to make it stop, but how could he? Mahal, he thought, give me his pain, he's had enough. But Mahal would't help him now, he hadn't helped before and so Fili could do nothing more than to speak to his brother, soothing him as best he could. But it was hard to keep his own voice calm, to hide the way it trembled, as he looked upon his distressed younger sibling. Kili cried out again, he tried to pull away but his brother and uncle prevented it, concerned he may hurt himself. Unable to move away, Kili's head slumped forward to push into Fili's shoulder, he screamed again, the sound muffled as the elder brother wrapped a hand around the back of the younger's head, holding him in place. Thorin released Kili's arms and the youngster bunched his hands into the tunic Bard had leant Fili, his knuckles white as he used his older brother, tough as rock, to anchor himself.

"Shhh, it's aright. It's alright." Fili wrapped his arms around him and held him tightly, one hand running though his hair, the other gripping onto his tunic, damp with sweat. "You're alright, I've got you." He could feel Kili trying to rock back and forth, and so he let him and rocked with him, hushing him as though he was a small child. Beside them, Thorin slumped and ran a hand over his face, watching them. He felt as though he had been transported to when Kili was little, when he would be woken in the night by a yell and run into his nephew's room to find Kili, trembling from a nightmare, being comforted by his brother. This felt like a nightmare. All of it. Kili being taken by the orcs, being tricked into thinking he was dead, the crippling grief, only to have him back only to see him like this, in the grips of a powerful force they couldn't rescue him from. Thorin leant back against the bedpost.

Fili held on to his brother for what felt like hours, mumbling reassurances in his ear, stroking a hand through his hair. Every now and again, Kili would flinch and struggle with a cry, but Fili kept him in place, pressing him closer into his chest as if he could shelter Kili from whatever he was trying to hide from. But it was hard when he couldn't see it, couldn't feel or hear it. After some time, Kili fell still, his rocking and struggling ended as he let his rigid muscles go lax, enveloped in Fili's arms, his brother's chin resting atop his head. Fili allowed his grip to slacken slightly.

"You alright now?" He asked. Kili nodded. "Does it hurt anymore?" Kili shook his head. "Good." After a few moments Fili pulled away and held him at arms length, on hand beneath Kili's chin, keeping his brother's head up and looking at him. "You scared me there, little brother."

"Sorry." Kili mumbled. His eyes travelled to Thorin and then to the rest of the company, who stared at him, their faces pale with fear and concern. Some had raised to their feet. Balin and Dwalin closer than the others, as though they had, at some point, moved to come forward and help. Dwalin looked fearful, it was not a look Kili was used to seeing on the warrior's usually staunch face. Then he glanced towards Bard and his children, mouths open slightly. He gulped, feeling a guilt wash over him. He didn't want this family to get hurt. Kili looked back at his brother, staring into those familiar blue eyes for some moments, before he spoke, his voice low. "He's coming back, Fili. I can feel him." Fili's brows pulled together and his face paled a little. His hand dropped from beneath Kili's chin. "He's coming back for good. He's going to take me, forever this time. I wont be able to fight him."

"You don't know that, you've fought him this far." Fili said, forcing confidence into his voice, but underneath it was breaking.

"He told me. This is it, Fee." A tear rolled down the young prince's cheek. He stared at his elder brother, eyes desperate and pleading. "Let me go," he said, "before it's too late. Please. I don't want to hurt you. But he'll make me." Many moments passed in silence after that. The two brothers simply staring at one another, blue and brown eyes locked as they communicated in a way unique to them, in a way that only they understood. People used to say it was as if the brothers had their own silent language, even when they were very small, that nobody else could unravel. As Fili stared at Kili, at the desperation and the panic and the fear on his face, his shoulders slumped. His heart felt like it was shattering in his chest, a pain so strong it rivalled that he felt when he thought Kili had been murdered, and that had been a pain that made his very soul break. A tear crept down his cheek. He shook his head.

"I can't loose you, not again. I can't." Fili's voice broke. "You're my baby brother, I'm supposed to take care of you, it's my job." He was supposed to protect him, to keep him close and shelter him from the evils of the world, and now Kili was being taken away from him a second time. And he couldn't bear it. "I can't loose you, not again. There has to be something." He placed a hand on the side of Kili's face and Kili placed his hand on top of it, their fingers lacing.

"There's nothing." He said. "You're going to loose me. I'm sorry Fili. I wish I could fight him, but he's worn me down, I … I don't have the strength anymore. I'm sorry, brother," He looked towards Thorin, white faced at his feet. "I'm sorry, uncle. I've failed you both, I've failed everyone." At this, Thorin crawled forward, reaching out to place a hand on his youngest nephew's shoulder. He shook his head, forcing a reassuring smile.

"You have failed nobody." He said. Kili wasn't convinced but he returned his uncle's smile. He became aware that Fili's eyes had grown remote, his brows pulled together pensively. He was deep in thought, and Kili could tell, to his slight dismay, that he was thinking up another plan. Fili then, after a moment or two, looked towards Bard, his face hardening with that distinctive Durin stubbornness and determination.

"As soon as Bard and his children go to sleep, we leave," he said, "we're going to the overlook as soon as possible. You've fought this long, Kili, and now we are. I'm not giving up on you when there's a chance that Gandalf may be waiting right now. If we leave soon we may reach him." Kili stared at him, his brows furrowed. He shook his head, finding this new idea a futile one.

"We don't know he's there." He argued. He thought the odds that Gandalf would be exactly where they needed him to be exactly when they needed him were poor.

"We don't know he's not."

"And if he isn't? What then?"

"At least we'll know we tried everything." Fili was looking directly into his eyes, his gaze shining with steely determination and, though he tried to disguise it, fear and desperation. "Give us this chance, Kili. Give me this chance to save you, like I should have on that cliff. Please." His resolute voice breaking again, despair snaking its way through the cracks. Kili sighed, this was a battle they weren't going to win. The chances of them even reaching the overlook before the Necromancer took him, were very slim. "We still have faith, don't we, uncle?" Fili's eyes shot Thorin a stern look.

"Yes." Thorin said, nodding. Kili looked between them both. How could they still have faith? After all of this? He didn't. Any he used to have had been taken from him, like any strength he used to possess. He just wanted this to be over, and if they weren't going to do it, then he would. He was more than content to run himself through with a blade. What was his life compared to the thousands the Necromancer planned to slaughter? What was his life compared to Thorin's, his uncle and king? What was his life compared to Fili's? Fili had spent 77 years protecting him, no matter what he always put Kili before himself. But now it was Kili's turn to protect him, if that meant dying then so be it. It was only a small sacrifice. But as he looked at them, their faces, somehow, still hot with hope, still burning with the determination to make this right, to fix this mess, his shoulders slumped. Could he take that away from them? It was the last thing they had. He sighed.

"Fine." He said. A smile appeared on Fili's face, relief. "But," Kili continued, before his brother could grow anymore confident of his plan, "if Gandalf isn't there, or if … if I the Necromancer starts to come back, you leave me, you hear? You leave me, you finish me, or I do it myself." The smile had vanished now. "If this plan of yours doesn't work then it ends. You have to stop and let me go. Promise me." Kili could see his brother's eyes glisten with fresh tears at his very words, but Kili kept his face resolute. It was the only way. "Promise me." Fili swallowed, his eyes falling and nodded. "Thank you." Fili sniffed back tears as Kili took his hand in his. Fili gripped it back and prayed that somehow he would not have to say goodbye.

There was a strange air in the house. It was full of dread. It felt to Bilbo like the last few hours before someone passed away, when their loved ones were crowded around waiting with heavy hearts. He wasn't sure what is was, only that it had began smothering the room soon after Kili awoke. The only fact the hobbit was aware of, as he listened to Thorin, Balin and Dwalin, speaking, in hushed voices, was that they were leaving Bard's house soon. He could only guess it had something to do with Kili and how everyone seemed to be walking on eggshells. It was getting dark outside, the last rays of sunlight danced on the water of Laketown and gave the town itself a golden glow. Bilbo was sat at the table in the middle of the room leaning his elbows on it. Opposite him, Bofur sat with distant eyes staring out of the window behind the hobbit, a cold mug of tea in front of him. Bilbo wondered what was on the hatted dwarf's mind and whether he could also feel the thickness and the tension in the air. After a while, Bofur's eyes flicked towards the bed where Fili and Kili were still sat, in a strange silence. Both the brother's looked pale, he thought, and he doubted Fili's white face was due to a fever like his sibling's.

"Something is going on." He said to the hobbit, without taking his eyes off the young princes. His fingers were laced in front of him. Bilbo looked at him and then followed his gaze before looking towards Thorin who was sat, looking defeated and worn, on the opposite side of the room. He hummed a response to Bofur's comment, not saying anything about overhearing talk of leaving as he was sure it was something he wasn't meant to have overheard. "It feels … strange in here, don't you think? Like something is about to happen?" Bilbo stared at him.

"Yes," he nodded, "strange." And no more was said, and the pair fell back into the silence that had swallowed up the house.

Fili and Kili had been sat side-by-side for some time, close enough for their shoulders to touch saying nothing to one another. Fili didn't feel the need to talk, he was content enough to savour the closeness, to know his brother was near him, to sit in silence and simply listen to his careful breaths. But he felt a pain in his chest, his heart constricted, each time he glances sideways to look at Kili's tired face. They were running out of time, he and his brother. As the day wore on, slowly turning into night, the idea that they may not reach the mountain – and Gandalf – in time began playing on his mind. And if they didn't, these could be the last few hours that he and his brother would be together, and that thought tore at him. If his plan didn't work, he would loose Kili, either to the hands Necromancer or to the hands of death. They had to find Gandalf, they had to. But as night crept in, he noticed Kili's right foot bouncing on the floor as he tugged absentmindedly at a loose thread on the sleeve of his tunic. He had a strained look on his face, as if he was focusing intently on something. His breathing had also become increasingly strained. Fili felt a rush of dread wash over him and he knew that their time was quickly expiring.

"Are you alright?" Fili asked. Kili said nothing, his dark eyes still detached. Fili shifted closer to his brother, though Kili didn't give any sign of knowing Fili was there at all. "Kili." He said in that long, drawn-out voice you use when you rouse someone from their sleep, leaning forward a little. He watched as his brother's narrow fingers continued to toy with the thread and sighed, reaching to take Kili's hand in his. He could feel how it trembled, fingers twitching. "Kili?" He squeezed it, a breath of relief when Kili squeezed back.

"How long?" He asked, still looking straight ahead. "Until we go? I … I can hear him talking." Fili nodded slowly, know he understood the tense look on Kili's face; he was trying to ignore the Necromancer's voice, using all his concentration to block it out. Fili dared not even imagine the things it was saying to him. He rubbed his thumb across the back of Kili's hand.

"I don't know, I'll see if I can find out." He said, patting Kili's knee and standing up. "Are you hungry? Thirsty?"

"Thirsty."

"I'll get you something to drink." Fili nodded. As he walked across the room, he could feel eyes burning into him, cpuld see the questions on his friends' lips as he passed. He shot only Thorin a stare, who, in turn, gazed over to Kili before getting up to join his nephew on the bed, understanding that Fili didn't want him sat alone. Not for a moment. Fili watched as Kili forced a smile as his uncle settled himself beside him, resting his hand on his shoulder. He watched them for a moment, studying the softness in Thorin's face, before walking towards Bard who was busying himself with some various tasks. The blonde cleared his throat to get the Bargeman's attention. Bard turned and smiled. He is good man, Fili thought, his heart heavy. He forced a smile back.

"Hello, master dwarf." Bard said in a gentle voice. "How is your brother?" He cleaned his hands in a rag before tossing it onto the table.

"He's … a little better than earlier. At least he's awake now."

"Quite a commotion earlier." He rose an eyebrow and looked towards the bed. The dwarf lad seeming much more content than he had before, though even from across the room he could see the sheen of sweat on his pale face. Beside him, Fili sighed.

"The fever is not being kind to him, he's having nightmares." He replied with a sad shake of his head. It wasn't a complete lie, he supposed. Fili cleared his throat. "Could I bother you for a glass of water for him?" Bard smiled again. He had a compassionate smile. A father's smile. Fili clenched his fists at his sides, his stomach knotting. Mahal, don't let anything happen to this man and his family.

"Of course he said, it's no bother." Bard said, "I'll be right back." Fili nodded and leaned back against the table. He ran a hand over his face, growling irritably into his palm. What a mess, he thought. He dragged in a long breath, his fingernails digging into the wood of the table. He glanced out of the window, it was dark out now, sunset had been some hours ago and light from the neighbouring houses was being almost entirely swallowed up by the thicj fog that seemed to constantly envelope Laketown. On the opposite side of the room Kili had leaned into Thorin, head contently resting on his uncle's shoulder. The corner of Fili's mouth turned up slightly. It seems Thorin, holding Kili close, was also savouring what could be the last few hours. "Here you go." The voice made Fili jump. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you." Bard held up his empty hand defensively, in the other he held a chipped cup. Fili shook his head.

"No, I was miles away."

"That water you asked for. Nice and cold." Bard passed Fili the cup and the blonde took it with a gracious smile.

"Thank you," he said, "you've been very kind to us."

"It costs nothing to be kind." Bard said. He glanced down at the dwarf, at his worn and pale face. "You look tired."

"Aye, it's been a long day. A long couple of days ... weeks, actually. I feel as though I have aged a hundred years."

"You should get some sleep, if you are able, rest will do you all good. My children and I shall be turning in soon. Tomorrow I shall get the provisions you seek and find some better medicine for your brother." Tomorrow, Fili thought, may it never come. He would be happy if the sun never rose and this cold, dreary night crawled on forever. He was scared, no terrified was a better word, of what tomorrow would bring. Or what it would take.

Kili wanted to sleep, he wanted to sleep for a dozen years. And sat, wrapped in the warmth of his uncle's arms, he felt almost comfortable enough to do so, if it wasn't for the aching pain behind his eyes. He had his head resting on Thorin's shoulder and could feel his uncle's warmth against his cheek.

"I have some water for you, brother." He felt the bed beside him dip as Fili sat down next to him, he glanced sideways to see him holding out a cup. He straightened up, feeling his muscles pulling tiredly, and took it from him. He stared at it a while, the water in the cup rippling as his hand shook. The water was cold, very cold, when he drank it, he could feel it, like ice, as it slipped down his throat. It refreshed him, woke his tired mind with a sharp, icy jab. He hadn't noticed how dry his throat had become. He passed Fili the cup with a smile.

"Thank you." He said. Fili placed the cup on the table bedside the bed.

"Bard said he and his children will be go to sleep soon." Kili nodded at this. Finally. Fili turned to his uncle, "do the others know that we plan to leave?"

"Balin and Dwalin." Thorin said, looking about the room. The rest of the company, quietly sat about the room, didn't need to know just yet, or else Bard may suspect. Fili nodded his head and turned away. Beside him, Kili's foot still tapped on the floor, the rhythmic sound the only noise now that the three of them had fallen quiet.

Tap, tap, tap.

Fili leaned back on his hands and bunched the sheets of the bed slightly. He heard Thorin mumble something to Kili, who simply nodded in reply.

Tap, tap, tap.

Fili let his eyes fall lightly closed as he dragged in a deep breath through his nose. Bard house smelt of tea and wood, the damp, fishy smell of the crooked Laketown streets did not penetrate through the walls of this warm house. Homely, is how it felt. And for the first time in a long time Fili felt it too. The scent of the wood fire burning cosily in the corner of the room and the lingering smell of the food that Bard's two daughters had busied themselves preparing earlier in the day, reminded him of his home back in the Blue Mountains.

Tap, tap, tap.

Oh, how Fili missed home. Life had been so simple before he left. Yes, the winters were hard and working at the forge was tiring, but his problems had been small. They had food, they had health and didn't need to rely on the kindness of strangers. It felt like years since he was there. Against the lids of his closed eyes he saw them all, his mother, his uncle, his brother and himself, sat about the table. His mother asked about their day and in turn talked about her trip to the market. Their uncle smiled as he listened to his nephews jokes and scolded them when they threw vegetables at one another. "They're for eating, not throwing. Vegitables are not weapons." He'd say. "Are you sure about that?" Kili would reply, frowning down at his plate. "Show these to an orc and I'm sure he'd run back to whatever place he crawled from." Fili would try to hide his smirk, but his brother would catch it and shoot him his impish grin. Fili missed days like that and feared he would not see another.

That was when he became aware that Kili's foot no longer tapped against the floor. Fili sat up straight and stared at him. Kili had fallen extremely quiet and it wasn't until Fili lay a hand on his arm did he feel how stiff his muscles had become, it was as though he was holding onto a statue. Fili's eyebrows pulled together.

"Kili, are you alright? Is something wrong?" He asked, shaking Kili's arm. Kili had his head angled downwards, dark hair falling in front of his face, fists curled tightly. He said nothing, remaining just as silent and rigid as before. Fili felt his gut twist. He shot a worried look towards Thorin, who was also studying the youngest Durin with anxious eyes. "Kili? Kee?" Fili suddenly felt ice cold, like he had fallen into the freezing water of the Long Lake. Something was wrong. "Nadadith? Say something." But Kili didn't reply. Instead his head fell back and he dragged in a long, harsh breath that seemed to tear at his throat as he inhaled. His eyes were wide and glassy and empty.

And that was when the room began to rattle.

-AN-

Oh no, it looks as though time is up! I wonder how the company will deal with this.

I won't post again now until after Christmas (maybe not until the New Year) so I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas! Eat all the food!

If you liked this chapter let me know via review! Faves and follows are also appreciated!