Chapter 36

I must apologize for the overly long wait. I finally finished my course. Yea! But my creative part of my brain was absolute mush along with my study chunk. So I basically caught up on Doctor Who (ACCK! Name of the Doctor! and Game of Thrones. DOUBLE ACCK! Red Wedding!) I thank ya'll for being patient with me. I hope that ya'll are still interested in this tale. As always, your reviews and comments are much appreciated. So with that onward! I should be back to my normal updating patterns.

Fili stumbled, tripping over a large branch. Even with his dwarrow eyesight the forest was almost pitch black. The dark clouds concealed any light coming from the heavens above. A strangely smelling mist swirled around them. It was like a marsh with too ripe vegetation rotting in the sun. However, that was impossible in winter in the deep forest. Being concealed by the mist, enveloped by it was truly disgusting. He tried to hold his breath until he could stumble upright. He couldn't. Instantly, Fili felt a headache begin from the stench.

Legolas faired only slightly better in the dark. This mist rising up from the ground further hindered their movement. Earlier, he had yielded his better judgment to the passionate dwarf behind him. Yet, this insanity had to stop. They would not find the poor Hobbit this day.

Legolas reached down a hand to help Fili regain his footing. Fili took it and mumbled, "Thanks."

The elf did not release Fili, instead he pulled him close. They could make out each other's shape. "We must stop before we injure ourselves. We can be no use to Bilbo exhausted and wounded." His tone was clipped.

Fili sighed. It had taken long hours but the adrenalin of this horrid day was finally worn out. Legolas waited not letting Fili go. He was afraid the stubborn dwarf would just mumble and continue on blindly. Instead, he was relieved when Fili's somber voice replied, "You're right. We are getting nowhere fast. Plus we could be missing signs."

Legolas relaxed his hold. "Finally, the dwarf sees reason." Once more the Prince felt he understood his father's frustration with these smaller beings. It was a wonder that they had survived this many ages with such folly in their hearts.

"That's the only thing I can see in this damned forest." Fili did not try to stop the rising frustration he felt. "Why do your people still live here?" Fili was a child of wanderers. If one place ceased to fill your needs, you cut your losses and moved on.

"It wasn't always like this. Once this was a place full of life." Legolas found some irritation at his companion starting to build. He frowned and tried to clamp down on his growing anger, "But come we must find shelter and rest. I need to look at your wound once more." Legolas replied.

Fili waved his unwounded arm, "Where do you suggest? I can't even see the trail any more due to this stinking mist!" Fili knew he was starting to sound petulant. Right now, though, he wasn't certain he cared. 'This entire place had been a nightmare. Bilbo and I should have gone the way they came. No stupid spiders jumping out at them on that path. In addition no nightmare creatures ripping people in two. Yes, these damned elves were so confident about getting him back to Kili faster.'

Legolas looked up. The clouds were beginning to thin out. "I can climb a tree, get my bearings. The moon is attempting to come out. It will be enough light for me to find us a path." 'Plus I can get away from the stench of this dwarf. Honestly, do they not bathe?'

Fili let out a tired grunt, of course an elf would suggest climbing up a tree. However, Fili could see sense in this. Kili scrambled up many a tree. His brother had done the same trick more than once while on hunting trips. Mahal, how he missed Kili! But his heart was still glad he was not here to face this terrible demon. Honestly, he had no idea as yet how to rescue Bilbo. Fili just knew he had to try.

"You climb the tree. I'll make a torch." Fili offered.

"It could be seen." Legolas disagreed. "Plus making fire in these wet and cold conditions will be difficult." Irritation rising in both his voice and emotions.

"I can make fire. I'm a dwarf. You climb the tree. You're the elf. The fire will be small, but I'm not going to break my leg or snap my neck." Fili snapped back with some anger.

Legolas rolled his green eyes. He too was feeling tired and the horror of the day had taken a toll. The loss of so many friends in such a violent manner had been difficult to bare. "Next time, heed my words. I know this forest."

Fili grunted again, his Durin temper starting to leak out, "Oh yes, so well we now find ourselves lost. Find us a campsite without any damned spiders, orcs or demons! Can one of you elves manage that?"

Legolas narrowed his green eyes. His mounting anger evident in his reply, "I am the only elf remaining. My friends have died trying to find you safe passage."

Fili squared his broad shoulders against the elf. One finger flew in front of the prince. "And my friend is likely dead as well! Or have you forgotten Bilbo already?"

Green fire flashed in Legolas' eyes now. "Dôl gîn los! Pe-channas!" He took a step closer to the dwarf drawing up to his full height advantage to the young dwarf.

Fili snarled, "Oh! Go on! Insult me in your damn fancy language! I don't give a rat's ass! Our language is sacred. From Aule himself! Not a bunch of gibberish from leaf eating morons!"

Legolas decided at that moment he had quite enough of dwarves to last him a life time. At this moment he wanted nothing more than to pound Fili into a quivering lump of goo. "Pedin i phith in aniron, a nin u-cheniathog." He grabbed the shorter dwarf by his coat.

Fili saw red. He didn't stop his fist from delivering a powerful haymaker to the elf's fragile looking jaw.

Legolas flew backward into a gnarled tree. He pushed back instantly. His own hands formed a fists. He took a mighty swing at the damn arrogant dwarf.

Fili blocked it neatly. Fili stepped into the blow. Instantly, he head butted the elf fiercely. Legolas flew back shakily. Fili felt smug. This was too easy.

And it was. Legolas struck out with his legs. Suddenly, Fili found himself joining the elf on the muddy forest floor. The two ignored the muck and the mist. They each grappled with one another. Neither could get a strangle hold on the other. The two rolled and rolled. Branches and leaves stuck into their hair and clothes. They continue to scream insults as they poked and struggled. Neither gained dominance.

Suddenly, the two felt the bottom fall out. Both yelled in shock and earnest.

The two combatants fell many feet. Their shouts were ended when cold muddy waters entered their mouths.

Legolas felt the cold water against his skin. All at once his mind rebelled at what was happening. 'How did he end up here? Where was Fili?' With a couple of powerful strokes he surfaced. The swift current was dragging him through the forest at a rapid clip. "Fili? Fili! Shout to me!"

Fili was not as lucky as the elf. His fall had him land in a tangle of downed tree limbs. The cold water quickly put a damper on his anger. Instead, the golden haired dwarf struggled to be free. Fili couldn't see in the brown waters. His hands reached out and he grasped the thick limb his coat was hung on. Fili felt himself growing weak. His lungs were burning. He had seconds. More bubbles of air escaped his mouth. For a second he considered just letting it happen. Fili was so damn tired of fighting. He felt his legs grow numb with the cold. A buzzing screamed in his ears.

His mind grew hazy. His thoughts on his brother. His fear for the younger more than himself. 'Kili, I can't make it. I am sorry.'

The reply was instantaneous and powerful. Kili's words seared into his soul. 'Fili. I'm coming. Don't give up.' Somehow his brother could sense Fili's pain and panic. A last desperate surge of adrenalin shot through his body. If he died, Kili would know. He would feel it.

The last wrenching from the branch was enough to break it. He kicked up. No matter his desire to live, another second more and it wouldn't matter.

Fili broke free from the muddy water just in time. His mouth hardly cleared the surface. He gulped in the oxygen, coughing and spitting. Fili didn't even try to guide his body. It was all he could do to stay above the river. He felt it tumble him around. The dwarf was banged against rocks and floating debris. He just stayed afloat for a minute. All he wanted to do was breathe.

Finally, his oxygen starved brain kicked back into function. Fili blinked. He could hear Legolas shouting his name anxiously. Fili spit out the dank water and hollered back.

Legolas had found a group of large rocks peeking out of the water's flow. He had grabbed onto one of them, halting his path. The elf spun around looking for his companion. He continued to shout.

"FILI!" His sharp eyes sought the water's waves. The moon broke out along with the last rays of sunlight from the dark grey clouds. Legolas saw golden hair. Fili was about to pass by.

Legolas shoved off the boulder. "Fili!"

"Legolas!" Fili yelled back.

Legolas felt relief. His friend was still alive! He reached out and grabbed the dwarf as he rapidly shot near him. Fili felt the elf's hand grasp his wounded arm. He yelled in pain involuntarily.

Legolas shifted in the rapids. His long arms wrapped around Fili chest. In alarm he could see Fili's nose gushing blood. He could see the shoreline close by. The rain fed river was beginning to spread out and the current slow. "Hang on to me."

Fili nodded and coughed. It was a struggle but he did his best to help Legolas make it to shore. It took longer than either care for. When Legolas' feet finally felt solid earth, he shouted in joy.

It took a few more seconds, but then Fili shared the same emotion. Solid land beneath his soaked boots.

Still arm in arm the two made their way up out of the dark liquid and onto the grassy shore. Legolas lowered Fili down and then collapsed beside the dwarf. He was spent keeping Fili and himself from drowning.

Fili coughed up more water. He rolled to his side and vomited up foul water. Legolas righted himself and kneeled beside his friend. When Fili's stomach stopped its convulsions, Legolas guided him toward the cover of large pines. The two stumbled and crawled there way there.

Fili collapsed against one trunk, Legolas next to him.

For several minutes the two just breathed heavily. Fili blinked away the mud. Legolas' shaky hands wiped the worst of it away from his face. He grimaced in pain.

Fili turned to Legolas. "How? How did we end up here?" He wheezed out. His mind was spinning and his head throbbed as if Mahal himself was using it as a private anvil.

Legolas would have shaken his head. However, the motion hurt too much. "I do not know."

Fili squirmed more upright. The bleeding was stopping. At this moment the last of the sun's rays illuminated their resting spot in a golden orange glow.

"You have a black eye." Fili observed.

Legolas frowned. Gingerly, his hand felt the bruising flesh. "Yes. A huge one. You have a broken nose."

Fili shrugged. "I know. I don't know how it happened." He just wanted a warm bed, dry clothes and a hot meal. Hell, at this point he'd settle for a dry cave. His brain continued to buzz.

There was silence for a few minutes. The welcomed sunlight slid underneath the trees. A new dimness settled over the two travelers.

Legolas struggled, but the new grayness was the clue he needed. "The mist."

"What? I don't remember any mist." Fili replied. His unwounded hand gripped his nose. This was going to hurt, but it was something he'd done before.

Legolas' sharp ears heard the loud pop as Fili painfully forced the cartilage of nose back into place.

"OW! Shit!" Fili cursed. His hand flopped down. If a hoard of orcs descending on them now, he doubted he could stand upright, much less fight.

Legolas had been distracted for a few seconds by the dwarf. Now he went back to puzzling out their mystery.

"Thanks. For saving me." Fili managed to say now that he was no longer cursing the pain in his nose. For once he was glad his was smaller than most other dwarrows.

Smiling, "It's becoming a bad habit." Legolas laughed.

Fili joined him. His good hand reaching out and fist bumping the elf in the shoulder. "I got you wrinkled again."

Legolas laughed more. They were punch drunk in their exhaustion. They should have been quiet. They should have been checking their weapons and remaining supplies. Instead, the two continued to say silly things to one another and laugh.

"You look like a drowned raccoon."

"You look like an elk with those twigs in your hair!"

"Yea! I guess your dad would approve!"

"Not with that nose!"

Finally, the rustling of the bushes reached their ears. The two stopped their laughter, but the damage had been done. They'd been heard.

The two shared a dark glance. Neither was able to fight well, their limbs were already weary and still trembling.

Fili began to use the trunk to upright himself. His back leaned against it as his powerful legs shoved himself forward. His hand gripped Legolas giving the elf the leverage he needed as well.

Wobbly, Legolas withdrew his twin blades. Fili did the same, barely able to keep the left one in a fighting position.

"We will die on our feet my friend." Fili whispered.

"Let them remember our ending and curse the day." Legolas replied. His heart as grim.

The bushes continued to shake. A loud noise of breaking tree limbs and squishing mud reaching their ears.

Legolas squared himself, his heart pounding. He hoped that his father would remember him proudly. Then the Prince of Mirkwood focused his senses on the dark shapes rapidly approaching.

Fili prayed to Mahal for Kili and Bilbo. 'Keep them safe. Forgive me for falling you.'

Fili instinctively went to a defensive combat stance ignoring the screaming pain of his resistant muscles.

The noise was louder, the shapes dark and nearly there.

Fili screamed, "Basaich, jarg-noid, geddyn basse!" He leapt forward to meet this new threat.

The downward arch of his sword was fiercely met. Enormous strength shoved him off. Legolas moved up instantly to cover Fili's stumbling form.

The dark shape suddenly became illuminated.

"My goodness. What are you two doing here? This is no place for an elf. Or a dwarf. No, this won't do. Not at all." Rhadaghast grumbled.

Dôl gînlos! Pe-channas - You empty headed idiot!

Pedin i phith in aniron, a nin u-cheniathog-I can say what I wish and you won't understand me!

Basaich, jarg-noid, geddyn basse -Die foul enemy die!