Nimera yawned as she approached the large stone archway leading to the healing hall, quietly stepped through, attempting to not wake the few sleeping patients in the next room. Finally she reached the door to her study, wincing as the old door loudly creaked open. She grabbed a work apron off of the shelf, depositing a small notebook into the pocket before leaving, gingerly closing the door behind her.

As she reentered the main hall she caught sight of a familiar head of copper hair stooped over one of the large cabinets.

"Good morning Risti!" Nimera called as she approached

Risti jumped slightly before turning to face her "Oh good morning Nimera."

"Sorry I did not mean to startle you." She apologized

Risti waved a hand dismissively "Nothing like a good scare to help the blood get pumping in the morning. I was just about to put some tea on, would you like some?" She asked, shaking the kettle in her hand slightly, sloshing the water inside.

Nimera nodded, searching the cabinet for cups as Risti hung the weathered kettle over the fire. She looked up from her search as heavy footsteps echoed behind them, surprised to see Kili strolling into the hall.

"Good morning Kee." She smiled as he stopped in front of them "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

He gave her a sheepish look. "I could use your talents actually." He said showing her a bloody cut across the back of his hand

"Oh Kili!" Nimera gasped, ushering him to a nearby stool "How did this happen?"

He shrugged "A training accident with Gimli. I guess I was moving a bit too sluggishly this morning."

She shook her head as she dipped a cloth in the small bowl of water wiping the blood away. She held his hand closer, inspecting the cut. "It is not too bad." She declared "You wont need stitches."

Kili blew out a sigh of relief.

Nimera pulled a few bottles and bandages off the shelf . She sat down beside him, carefully placing a few drops of liquid on the cut.

Kili yelped, pulling his hand away. "I thought you were a healer, not a torturer! That burns!" He frowned as she pulled his hand back towards her.

Nimera rolled her eyes. "I could always not clean it properly and let you get an infection?" She looked at him poignantly "You really need to be more careful, even training injuries can still leave permanent damage."

"Ah but this way I get to see you first thing in the morning." Kili laughed "I have barely seen a trace of you this week!"

Nimera shook her head "I am sorry, I have been busy getting settled here."

"Oh I'm sure you can find a way to make it up to me." He said, giving her a wink.

"I can start by not telling every soul I see that the prince of Erebor whines like a little dwarfling at the slightest sting." She smirked "A certain brother of yours springs right into my mind as someone who would be very interested in that."

"Oh, do thoughts of my brother often occupy your mind?" He asked, a devious smile splayed across his face

Nimera looked away quickly, turning her attention back to tying off the dressing "You are truly insufferable!" She muttered "There, all finished."

Kili flexed his hand around the new bandage. "Another fine job." He said as he stood, picking his coat up from the floor "Will you be at dinner this evening, or will I need to cut off my leg to see you again?"

Nimera laughed "that is wholly unnecessary. I do believe I will be there."

"Ladies thank you again for your help." He said bowing to Nimera and Risti before sauntering back through the hall.

Nimera sighed as she watched him disappear from view before setting the supplies back onto the shelves.

Risti gave Her a sly look as she set a cup down beside her. "You and Prince Kili seem….. close. Are the two of you courting?"

Nimera choked on her tea. "Kili and me?" She coughed "Mahal no! We are good friends, nothing more."

Risti hummed. "Is there another lad then?" She pried, looking at Nimera over the rim of her cup.

She shook her head

Risti smiled "Don't you worry, Durin's day will soon be here, and this mountain will

Be overflowing with lads from the Iron Hills!" She leaned in conspiratorially "A handsome lot they are too. I will help you find a good match!"

Nimera laughed "Will you not be busy looking for yourself?"

Risti shook her head. " I have already found mine!" She beamed "His name is Thir, he works as a baker down in the markets. The best in all of Erebor!"

"He sounds wonderful."

"Aye he is. We will host you for dinner soon!" Risti said linking arms with her "I must get a better idea of what kind of lads I should keep an eye out for."

Nimera laughed "I am at your mercy then! As long as you do not pick the first troll you see."

Risti nodded pretending to write in her notebook "So no trolls then. I shall add that to the list!"

...

Nimera looked up as a knock sounded on the door to her study

"Yes?" She called

The weathered door creaked open as Oin poked his head into the room "Ah there you are!"

"Good afternoon Master Oin." She said, putting down her notes "What can I do for you?"

"I was hoping you could run down to the mines for me."

Nimera's eyebrows raised slightly "The mines?

He nodded "Aye Bofur sent a messenger calling for a healer to come down and look at some of the lads. I would go myself but my old bones are not up to the task today." He said tapping his hand against his thigh.

"Of course." She nodded, grabbing a small satchel off of a near by hook.

As she stepped through the doorway she was surprised to see a tall broad shouldered dwarf waiting in the hall.

Oin gestured to Nimera "Tell Lord Bofur I am sending Nimera here in my stead."

The dwarf bowed. "Hurrak at your service."

He gestured for her to follow as he abruptly turned and began striding down the corridor. Nimera was nearly out of breath trying to match Hurrak's pace as they finally reached the lower halls. She stuck close to the dwarf as he confidently wove his way through the numerous passages leading to the different sections of the mines.

He stopped at one of the openings.

"Here miss." Hurrak said, handing her one of the lanterns that were placed along the wall.

"Oh thank you." Nimera nodded holding the lantern aloft as they descended into the passage.

She looked around the broad tunnel pausing for a moment as the light reflected a small glint in the rock face "What are you mining here?"

Hurrak cast a quick look back at her. "In this section it is copper." He said, his fingers tracing one of the glittering veins as he walked.

They stopped as the path widened presenting a fork in the passage. Three dwarves stood near one of the openings, deep in conversation, Nimera spying Bofur among them. He looked up as they approached meeting them halfway.

"Hello Lord Bofur!" Nimera smiled

"Here now lass you know better, call me Bofur!" He grinned at her "Unless of course you'll be wanting to use titles my lady."

"Mahal no. Bofur it is." Nimera laughed "Oin said you needed some help?"

"Aye" He said, the two walking deeper into the mine "Some of the lads have been falling ill." He stopped as he reached a small cluster of dwarves sitting on the ground.

Nimera crouched down in front of the closest, holding her lantern up as she examined him "What are their symptoms?"

"Headaches, sick to their stomachs, some can barely stand up right, and most are having trouble breathing. It started with one or two but now over a dozen have been stuck ill."

Nimera frowned as she held her lantern closer to the dwarf's face. She studied him for a moment before her face went pale. She turned quickly to Bofur, her eyes wide "We need to evacuate this mine."

"What…"

Nimera jumped to her feet "Theres no time! We must hurry."

Bofur hesitated for a moment turning to the dwarf behind him "Sound the alarm, evacuate everyone."

The dwarf nodded, running back up the passage. A bell echoed through the tunnels as dwarves began to make their way out from the mine below.

Nimera turned to Bofur "We must make sure they do not drop any of their tools onto the ground!" She called Before turning her attention to the flood of miners "DO NOT DROP ANYTHING!" She shouted, Bofur echoing her call.

Finally the sea of people began to thin as the last miners began to ascend up the path. Nimera turned to relay her warning to the new group, but before she could one of the miners stumbled, sending his pickax skidding across the ground. Nimera's eyes widened as she watched the metal spark against the stone, before a deafening explosion erupted in the mine. The walls began to shake around them, as she felt Bofur grab her arm pulling her with him. Nimera gasped as she was pushed roughly against a wall. She covered her head with her arms as stone began to rain down around them. After a few long moments, the rumbling stopped. Nimera looked into the darkness.

"Bofur?" She coughed as the dust began to settle around her

She felt someone shift beside her. "Aye I'm here. Are you alright?" She felt his hand reaching out for her.

"I...I think so." She winced slightly as a sharp pain raced through her head "Are you alright?'

Bofur paused for a moment "I might have hurt my arm." He shifted for a moment "I think I have a match in my pocket, we can get a better look at where we are."

"No!" Nimera gasped

"What's wrong?" He asked

"If you light it there could be another explosion."

"Is that why you told the miners not to drop their tools?"

Nimera nodded "When that one dropped his ax…. Thats what caused the cave in."

"But how did you know there would be an explosion?"

She sighed "When I was in Rohan I studied some of the journals of their past healers. There was one entry from when they were constructing Helms Deep. It spoke of a strange illness that was afflicting the workers who were digging out the rock. They began to act strange, complain of feeling sick and weak, and their eyes became bloodshot. More and more men became sick with no explanation. Then one day there was a great explosion that killed most of the miners. They theorized it was some sort of gas deep in the rock that caused it."

Bofur was quiet for a moment "Thats why you were looking at their eyes?"

"Yes. As soon as I saw their eyes were bloodshot as well I thought it might have been the same gas slowly leaking into the mine."

"Thats some quick thinking lass."

Nimera pressed her hand against the stone "H...How far down do you think we are?"

She could hear Bofur running his hands along the stones that enclosed the alcove "I'm not too sure…"

Nimera pushed her hand against one of the stones "But..But we should be able to get out right? Maybe one of these stones can be moved..." She stopped as she felt Bofur grab her wrist

"I would not do that." He said, gently pulling her hand from the stone "If one of those rocks shifts the wrong way it could bring the rest down."

Nimera sank back to the ground. "We are trapped then?" She murmured, her voice tight

"Lass?….Nimera what is wrong?"

"I...I" She sighed "I am not fond of small spaces…"

"Ah" She felt Bofur settle beside her "Don't you worry, they'll be out looking for us. We will be safe in no time."

Nimera did not answer.

"How 'bout a story then, to take your mind off of things?" He suggested "I am sure Dwalin and Balin may have glossed over some of the more unflattering stories about our quest."

"Unflattering?"

Bofur laughed "Aye. For instance I bet they did not tell you about getting lost in Mirkwood forest or exactly how we got into lake town…"

….

Balin frowned as the ink well in front of him rattled slightly as a small tremor reverberated inside the counsel chambers.

"What was that?" Kili asked placing a hand over his cup in an effort to keep it from tumbling off the table

Thorin turned to one of the gaurds "Go and find out what caused that tremor."

The guard nodded, hurrying from the room. He had only been gone a few minutes before he returned, another dwarf with him.

The other dwarf was breathing hard, his face and cloth covered in dust and soot. "Your majesty." He gasped out "There has been an explosion in one of the lower mines!"

Everyone in the chambers were on their feet at the miners words, hurrying out of the chamber as they followed the miner down into the lower depths of the mountain.

...

"How many made it out?" Thorin asked looking around at the group of dwarves laid out around them.

"A good many your majesty. The mine was evacuating just as the explosion occurred." One of the miners spoke up.

"Evacuated? Why were they evacuated?" Thorin asked

"The healer Lord Oin sent ordered the evacuation."

Balin looked over at his words "Healer? What healer?"

"Some of the men took ill before the cave in. Lord Oin sent a healer down to see what the cause was."

Balin frowned as a strange feeling began to creep down his spine "What did this healer look like?"

The miner thought for a moment "A young brown haired lass."

Balin's frown deepened as he turned to one of the guards "Go and find my brother, bring him here immediately."

Thorin looked at the blocked passage then to Balin "You think Nimera was down there?"

He shook his head "I pray I am wrong."

Kili looked around anxiously "It might not be her." He said glancing over at Fili "She might be somewhere else."

Fili tore his eyes away from the ruble to look at him "I…" He paused as he caught sight of Oin hastily making his way towards them. "I think we are about to find out." He said unable to hide the tension in his voice.

"Oin!" Balin called

The old healer stopped just in front of them looking around the group, his face paling. "Where's the lass?"

Balin felt his blood run cold "So it was Nimera you sent down there?"

"Mahal." Kili breathed

Loud footsteps echoed against the stone as Dwalin came into view, a group of soldiers trailing behind him.

He stopped looking at the pile of stone "They said there had been a cave in. I brought the lads to help dig out." He paused looking at the anxious expressions of the group "What?"

Balin shook his head "Nimera was in the mine when it collapsed."

A mixture of emotions crossed Dwalin's face "Why in Mahals name was she down there!"

Oin stepped forward "I sent her. I had no idea it was unstable…."

"We need to begin excavating the passages." Thorin said drawing their attention "There may be survivors."

…

With one final push Dwalin pried one of the stones loose, handing it off to the dwarf beside him. He stopped catching a glimpse of pale skin beneath the rock.

"There is someone here!" He called redoubling his efforts as he worked the debris loose, blanching as a bloody hand came into view. He could sense Kili behind him peering anxiously over his shoulder.

"It is too large to be her." Dwalin sighed, casting a look back at him. Kili's shoulders relaxed slightly.

Dwalin looked at the waiting healer and shook his head. He grimly pulled the last few stones away, taking the sheet that the healer offered him as they carefully wrapped the body before placing it on the stretcher.

He sighed running his hand down his trousers in an attempt to get rid of the blood and dirt staining his hand. Out of the corner of his eye he could see his brother pushing off another layer of debris. The old dwarf had begun to look more and more weary as the hours marched on, but Dwalin knew better than to suggest he take a rest. None of them would stop until they knew what fate had befallen Nimera.

"How much deeper does this go?" Dwalin frowned looking at the small opening in the ruble

"The tunnel splits here." One of the minders said pointing at a crudely drawn map then to a small side opening "the side to the right is newly excavated and is much shallower, to the left is the main tunnel."

Thorin nodded, studying the map for a moment "Dwalin take your men and help Balin dig out the new site. We will continue here."

Dwalin hesitated for a moment

"I will call for you if we find her." Thorin assured him.

Dwalin reluctantly nodded, pulling Kili along with him, the two disappearing into the small opening in the passage.

….

"You should have seen the look on Dwalin's face coming out of that toilet!" Bofur said, the smile on his face evident even in the dark "If looks could have killed everyone in that town would have been dead twice over!"

Nimera laughed "Oh I wish I could have seen it!"

"Oh aye and Kili and Fili looked like a pair of drowned rats crawling out from a sewer it was truly a.." He shifted, giving a hiss of pain

"Bofur what's wrong?" Nimera frowned

"My arm is starting to bother me a tad." He admitted

"Hold on…." She said, undoing the ties on her apron. Her hands probed around the darkness for a moment until she felt the top of his hat.

"What are you doing lass?" He asked as her fingers moved down from his face to his shoulder.

"I'm going to try and sling your arm…..Sorry!" Nimera apologized quickly as she heard another hiss of pain "I am guessing I found the bad arm then."

Gently she felt a long his arm before folding the apron, settling his arm in the fabric before feeling tying the end off around his neck. "Any better?"

"Well now I must say I am impressed!" He chuckled

"I have had a great deal of practice, Durin knows I have done it a hundred times."

"I do not suppose you have a tale or two of your own to share?" Bofur asked as she settled back beside him "We have time to spare."

Nimera laughed "Mahal where to start! There was never a dull moment with Erron around. He and I were the closest in age relatively speaking. He reminded me a great deal of Kili actually, never a day went by where he was not up to something. One night we were camped in the woods just outside of the misty mountains, I was on watch and Erron was to come and relieve me. But instead he went to my pack and took the small jar of honey I had with me. Before I could ask him what he was doing he dripped some on to Dovon's beard and let it sit there overnight. When morning came he was covered in ants, so much so that he had to jump into the river fully clothed to get them off! I have never seen a human run so fast as Dovon when he chased down Erron! All while soaking wet too!"

Bofur laughed. "You had best not tell Kili that story lest he get any ideas! In fact…" He stopped "Do you hear that?"

"No I hear nothing."

"Listen…" He said quietly

Nimera strained her hearing listening for any sound in the dark. After a few moments of silence a muffled voice reached her ears.

"There is someone out there!" Nimera gasped "Can they hear us from down here?"

She felt Bofur moving around beside her "Just a tick….. ah here we are!"

"What are you doing?"

She felt him touch something metal to her hand. "Sounding rod," He explained "we use it to find deposits in the rock. But with just the right spot it will sound through the rock."

She heard him strike the rod against the stone as a high pitched ringing echoed around them "Now we touch it to the rock" He continued as the ringing became muffled. Nimera touched her fingers to the rock feeling it reverberating slightly "And now we wait…. And hope."

…

Fili paused as he reached for the next piece of rock, "What is that?"

Thorin and the other miners stopped their work at his words. It was quiet for a moment before the high pitched sound came again.

"It is a sounding rod!" One of the men said "Someone is down there!"

"Hurry!" Thorin called as they frantically returned to their work, prying the rocks loose as the sound increased in volume.

….

Nimera gasped as something suddenly struck her on the shoulder

"Nimera? What's wrong?"

"It is nothing, a stone just fell suddenly on me and it startled me."

There was a small clatter as another stone knocked against the ground, quickly followed by another

"Bofur…" She said warily as she felt another stone hit her "Is it…. is it collapsing?"

Bofur swallowed thickly "I am not sure..."

Suddenly one of the rocks above them shifted. Bofur grabbed Nimera, tucking her head down as the stones rained down around them.

Nimera could feel tears beginning to well in her eyes as they heard another stone shift sending more debris raining down on them, coughing as a fresh coating of dust settled in the air. Bofur gasped suddenly, Nimera cautiously raising her head to see what had startled him. Her eyes widened as she watched a small ray of light filter into the dark.

….

"Is anyone there?" Fili yelled, anxiously peering down into the small opening "Can you hear me?"

"Fili lad is that you?" Bofur's voice called back

He smiled at the voice "Bofur!"

"Fili?"

Fili paused as a new voice called out. "...Nimera?" He breathed peering deeper into the crevasse.

"Im here." Her voice called weakly back.

Fili turned to Thorin, his eyes wide "They are both down there, Nimera and Bofur!"

"Thank Mahal." Thorin sighed his shoulders slumping in relief as he approached the small opening "Are either of you hurt?"

There was a moment's pause. "Bofur hurt his arm." Nimera answered "He will need some help getting out."

"Both of you go as far back as you can." Thorin instructed "We are going to dig out a little more to reach you."

After another tense few moments of hurried excavation the hole cast light on two figures in the back of the alcove.

"Here Bofur you go first, I will give you a boost." Nimera said as Thorin's hand appeared in the opening.

He shook his head "You go on lass."

Nimera gave him a skeptical look "You cannot get out of here with just one arm."

He sighed "Aye I suppose you are right, as usual."

With a bit of difficulty Nimera managed to push him up to Thorin's waiting hand, watching as the miner disappeared through the opening

"Nimera!" Fili called down anxiously "Come here, take my hand."

Nimera climbed up on the rock, her fingers brushing his hand for a moment before she gripped it fully. His hands latched onto hers, pulling her up into the light.

"Nim?" She looked up as Fili placed his hands on her shoulders, his face etched with concern "Nimera are you alright?"

He frowned as she gave a weak laugh "It has been a long time since you have called me Nim."

Fili gave her a small smile brushing some of the dust off of her "I think Nimera suits you better." His smile dissipated as he gently tilted her head "You're bleeding."

She lightly touched her fingers to her forehead, frowning as they came back with blood.

"We should get you to a healer." He said, helping her to her feet.

"I'll be alright." Nimera said tiredly, glancing up to look at him.

"We must let Balin, Dwalin and Kili know you are safe. You had us all worried. Mahal we thought you had…." He trailed off.

Thorin came up alongside them, supporting Bofur on his good arm. "We will take them to the healers and then find the others."

Fili nodded following Thorin out of the tunnel and back to the main entrance of the mine. Thorin flagged down a passing healer helping load Bofur onto the stretcher.

Fili gently set Nimera down on a small clear space of ground.

"I will go into the other section to find the others." Thorin nodded. He paused turning back to Nimera and Bofur, his face softening for a moment "I am glad the both of you are safe."

"Well lass I guess this is where we part ways!" Bofur laughed as his stretcher was picked up.

Nimera patted his hand "Thank you again Bofur."

"Oh come now lass, it is I who should be thanking you."

Nimera shook her head "Regardless you have my thanks."

They watched as the healers carted Bofur away. The hatted dwarf waving his goodbyes until he disappeared from view.

"Are you sure you should not go with him as well? This looks deep." Fili frowned, pushing the loose strands of hair back as he inspected the cut again.

"I will not drop dead this very second." Nimera assured him. "I am sure there are others who need treatment more urgently."

His hand lingered on her cheek for a moment "As long as you are sure you will not drop dead." He said, giving her a small grin.

"Nim!"

"Nimera!"

The pair looked over and Dwalin and Kili came barreling into the corridor followed closely by Balin.

"Are you alright?" Dwalin asked crouching beside her "Are you hurt?"

Nimera shook her head "Nothing a good rest cannot fix."

Balin frowned "I do not think rest alone will fix this." He said eying the cut on her forehead.

"Perhaps rest and a few other things. But it is nothing urgent, I should really see if Oin needs help." She said getting to her feet

"Absolutely not." Dwalin said gently pushing her back down. "We are going to get you to a healer." Nimera opened her mouth to protest but he put a hand up "It is going to happen with or without your arguing."

"Come on Nim." Kili said pulling her arm around his shoulders as he helped her stand

She sighed "I suppose you all are right."

"Well now you really must have a head injury!" Kili laughed, helping her down the hall "Nimera Lighthammer admitting she is wrong!"

"Who would have thought the day would come!" Fili chimed in

"Oh keep it up the both of you and I will not be the only one needing a healer." She snapped fighting a yawn as she spoke.

As they reached the crowded healing wing Balin flagged down a passing healer who directed them to an open bed.

"I will go see if Oin is around here." Dwalin said

Kili eased Nimera down on to the edge of the cot.

"You look tired." Balin noted as she yawned again "why not rest until Oin comes back?"

"Balin is right you should get some rest." Fili nodded, helping her lay back.

"Fine." She mumbled "But just for a moment."

"Aye just for a moment." Fili agreed brushing the stray hairs away from her face as she blinked heavily one last time before finally closing her eyes.