Just a note of warning, this chapter darker than what I normally write. I tried not to make it too graphic, but even still consider yourselves warned. Bulling and rape are in this chapter, if the later in particular disturbs you, read to the second horizontal line and the summary at the end of the chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Tolkien's magical world or the characters and events therein

Ch. 2 The Incident

Kíli had been gone all of two days and already Fíli was missing him horribly. The rambunctious, younger Dwarf was his shadow and closest friend. With him gone, it felt like part of Fíli's soul was missing. He forlornly wished that the month was already up and that Kíli was on his way back home. They complimented each other perfectly and it was rare to see one without the other. They usually got along splendidly. Save for the last they had been in the same room. The exchange had been all but civil.

Fíli had been exhausted from his work at the Forge that day while Kíli, who was recovering from a broken wrist, had been board out of his mind from being cooped up in the house all day. Kíli had pounced on his older brother the moment Fíli was through the door, wanting to hang out with the blond for the rest of the evening. Fíli was in no mood for company and promptly told him to bug off. Their exchange had quickly escalated with both sides throwing ugly insults and slurs at one another. A shocked Dis and Thorin had torn the two apart and dragged them into different rooms.

The older Dwarves were at a lost about what to do. The brother had always been close. Sure, they had spats, but they never got to this point. Neither of the younger Dwarfs were repentant and they both refused to apologize to each other. It was finally it was decided that giving the boys some space would be the best course of action. Dis would take Kíli with her to visit distant relatives further south for a few weeks while Fíli would remain with Thorin to continue helping at the forge. The boys hadn't protested the separation, though neither looked particularly thrilled at the idea of spending an extended period of time apart despite their fight.

As Fíli trudged home from the forge, he regretted not apologizing to his brother right then and there. He missed his little brother. He wondered if Kíli missed him too. He shook his head and sighed. It was wishful thinking he knew. Kíli was probably enjoying himself, making new friends and exploring to his heart's content. There was no way Kíli was missing him. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts, he missed a turn at some point. By the time he realized his mistake, he was deep in the backstreets on the other side of town. He turned to make his way back in the right direction. When he did the hairs on the back of his neck stood up as he noticed that he was being followed.

"Are you sure you should be wandering so far from home after dark, little one? You could get lost," A gruff, patronizing voice tutted. Fíli ignored the speaker as best he could, continuing on his way. The large figure stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

"Hey, cripple! Don't ignore me when I'm talking to you!"

"I'll do what I choose. Now get out of my way Dakren," Fíli retorted, glaring fiercely Dakren. The red haired Dwarf took great joy in tormenting Fíli. His attacks were becoming increasingly more physical. Fíli mentally shrugged. He'd be fine. Dwalin had taught him to fight after all.

"Hmm. Feisty, are we?" Dakren roughly patted the top of Fíli's head, "Too bad you've lost your body guard of a brother. I would hate to see anything happen to you."

Fíli didn't respond. He merely went to shove past the bully, but another Dwarf stepped in his way. He turned to go the other direction, but found that was blocked as well by two more of Darken's cronies.

Fíli recognized the three of them. They were Darken's close friends, if that word was truly applicable in this situation, following his lead in everything. Hâlnath was the brute force of the group; lots of brawn, very little brain. Point him in a general direction and he was a living battering ram. Theris was Darken's cousin; they shared the same hotheadedness and both had noses crooked from being broken so many times. The short-tempered Dwarf made Dakren look like a saint. Then there was Garnak, the light fingered thief. Thanks to Thorin's jurisdiction, the mousy yet well-muscled pick-pocket had already spent well over half his life in prison.

The group leered at Fíli. The dark shadows cast across their face made them look ghoulish. Fíli's mouth felt dry as he weighed up the odds. Four to one, not great. Especially not when he was only armed with one small knife and they were hardened street fighters. He started edging down a side street, away from the gang. They followed him, jeering and throwing insults. Calls of "Elf-spawn" and "useless cripple" followed him. Mostly Fíli could ignore them, but some of their words cut deep.

Finally he couldn't take it any more. He took off running, abandoning all pretenses of calmness. Unfortunately the route he decided upon quickly lead to a dead end. Upon realizing that, Fíli spun around, unsheathing his small knife and holding it at the ready.

The bullies approached leisurely. They knew that he was trapped and outnumbered, so they took their sweet time, enjoying their victory. Fíli kept his back to the wall and held his knife out. His stance did little to deter the gang. A few of the Dwarfs made a grab for him, intending to tackle him where he stood. In an effort to avoid being caught, Fíli lashed out desperately with his little blade. He landed a glancing blow on one of the intruding arms. The owner pulled it back with a girly squeal.

"Oi! The cripple cut me!" Hâlnath cried, his hand clamped down over the shallow cut on his forearm. It was barely bleeding, though with the way Hâlnir was moaning, you would think that he was bleeding to death. The reaction from the other bullies was instantaneous. Fíli found that he was pinned against the wall and his fist was repeatedly slammed into the wall until his numb fingers lost their grip on the knife haft. He could do nothing but groaned in frustration as his lone knife was taken from him.

"I'll be keeping this," Dakren swiftly tossed Fíli's knife off into the dark where it landed with a clunk far out of Fíli's reach. Fíli pulled his arms free and took as swing at Dakren. The big Dwarf easily swayed out of the way before returning with a punch of his own to Fíli's jaw. Fíli's staggered back from the momentum, dazed and spitting blood from where he had bitten his lip.

"You know, it must've been a disgrace when you mother was laid up by an Elf," Dakren taunted, leaning into Fíli's face. Fíli felt righteous anger building up inside him as he choked on Dakren's foul breath.

"How dare you! You take that back! She wasn't laid up by an Elf! My father was a Dwarf!"

"Really, then how do you explain your hair color? I've never met another Dwarf with blond hair. That's an Elven trait, if ever I've seen one."

"That's not….I….It wasn't…" Fíli faltered, his anger sputtering out into uncertainty. He had very few memories of his father, none of them included golden hair.

"That's what I thought," Dakren smirked. Before Fíli could respond, the wind was driven from his body by a strong punch to the solar plexus. He doubled over gasping. Someone kicked the back of his knee on his bad leg and he went down hard on the paving stones. The bullies descended on him. Fíli curled up trying to protect his head and chest as blows reigned down mercilessly. The bullies pummeled him with fists, sticks and their heavy boots.

Fíli felt several of his bones creak under the onslaught. He curled up smaller, praying the bullies would get bored and leave him in peace. The bullies, however, had different ideas. After they had their fill of physical violence, a battered and bruised Fíli was hauled upright. Before he could react, Garnak's nimble fingers unlaced Fíli's breeches and let them drop. They pooled around his ankles. Fíli turned red when he realized he was now naked from the waist down. The was a cold snick as someone none too carefully cut his tunic open down the back with a dagger. Fíli felt warm blood slowly pooling in the small of his back from where he had been nicked. Fíli was quickly divested of the rest of his clothing.

There was a greedy glint in Dakren's eyes. In one swift motion, the large Dwarf dropped his own breeches and made his way behind Fíli. Fíli closed his eyes and shook his head in denial, he knew what they were planning. For a moment nothing happened, hot pain tore through him. He cried out as Dakren forced himself into Fíli's body. He desperately tried to squirm away from the large intrusion, but found he was firmly held in place by both Theris and Hâlnath. Fíli whimpered as Dakren pull out and shoved back in. He bucked and fought back to no avail. His struggles only seemed to make the bullies enjoy themselves more.

"Aw, look't that. Init cute? The half-breed's try'n'a get away," Dakren then leaned over to sneer into Fíli's ear, "Can't handle this? You're even less of a Dwarf than I thought. You Elvish blood is really showing through."

Fíli's only answer was a choked sob. Taking turns, Dakren and his friends proceeded to rape Fíli ruthlessly. Copious amounts of blood and other fluids coated his thighs by the time the bullies were finished with him.

"You breath a word of this to anyone you soiled little mongrel and next time it'll be your little brother," Dakren shoved Fíli's trembling body to the ground before he and his cronies stalked off. Fíli struck his temple on the cobble stones as he landed. He lay there dazed for quiet some time. He couldn't believe what had happened to him. Then the overwhelming shame hit, mingling with the shock.

He lay there sobbing, his heart aching from the pain and the humiliation. As Fíli lay sprawled uncomfortably on the cold, hard ground, he wished that death would take him. Soon he didn't have any more tears left. He knew he had to at least try to move. Fíli struggled to get up, but his body was far too taxed. He got as far as kneeling before his body gave out and he was sent sprawling on his face once more. Fíli's vision darkened and blurred as he tried again to get up in panic. It was no use. Fíli felt a strange sort of resignation wash over him. He was going to die here in some forsaken back alley in shame. But, he decided after a moment of thought, that was far better then living with his uncle's disappointment and his family's disgrace.

"Fíli?" Someone called his name. The voice was muffled and familiar, but he couldn't place it. He felt strong hands on his shoulders, flipping him over and pulling him into a semi-seated position resting against their body. He moaned and tried to push the person away, but they didn't let go. He was aware that there were more people gathering around him now. They were talking now, but he couldn't catch what was being said, the words were strangely garbled.

"…Fíli?….ened….ar….y…..li?…..Oin….fo….lp!….now…go….ere!…No….F….Sta…th….me!..."

As Fíli felt his consciousness ebb away, his only regret was he never got to apologize to Kíli.

Summary:

Dakren and his friends beat up Fili and rape him. After taunting him some more, they abandon him in the alley. Exhausted and humiliated, Fili resigns himself to death. Right before he looses consciousness, he hears someone find him.