Hello my lovelies! I come with another chapter up! Teehee, I think you all will like this one. Again, I apologize for the long wait. Some family on my mom's side is struggling since one of their good friends is in a coma and we have been focusing on that instead of other things. Anyway, please read, review, follow, and enjoy!

-WingedIceWolf

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own The Hobbit


Bilbo awoke with a start, staring at the dark ceiling. His head still ached as he tried to recall what happened, soft breathing near the corner of his bed. The hobbit arose slowly, regretting that choice as a horrible pain racked his body, forcing a whimper to escape his lips.

Kili's hazel eyes fluttered open and his head snapped up to glance at Bilbo. Forgetting Bilbo was wounded, Kili leapt at him and pulled him into a tight hug, causing another whimper from the companion.

"Thank Durin you are alive," Kili exclaimed, loosening his grip. "Don't you even think about leaving us!"

"I'm sorry," Bilbo replied through clenched teeth, sitting up on his hands.

"For what?"

"For allowing Thorin to hurt you."

"Bilbo," Kili began softly, pulling away from the hobbit with a serious look in his eyes. "I would rather risk my own life than allow you to die. I don't care if I am hurt. How are you feeling?"

Bilbo paused, glancing around the room, noticing an empty bedroll next to Kili's spot. "I am hurting a bit, but I will be fine," he replied, not even trusting his own voice. He instinctively reached for the Arkenstone but met with bare skin instead of the smooth surface of the stone. Oh no…

"Was Fili with you before you fell asleep?"

"Yes," replied Kili, glancing back at Fili's bedroll with a frown and realization in his face. "Oh great. He took the Arkenstone. I don't have the Arkenstone and Fili picked it up when we left Thorin."

"Oh great," Bilbo repeated, cursing under his breath. "We have to find him, quick! Bad things come with that stone!"

"Right," Kili said, jumping to his feet. He regretted that decision, quickly dropping to his knees before Bilbo. Just then, the door swung open, allowing a cold breeze to enter the room along with the winter moonlight.

Fili limped into the room quietly, easing Kili back down and throwing the blankets back over his younger brother's body. He was just about to climb back into his own bed when a voice alerted him, one that was well wanted.

"Fili?"

Fili was surprised to find Bilbo awake so early after being stabbed and light returned to his face as he neared Bilbo and his younger brother, hardly believing his own eyes. "Bilbo? You're alright!"

Bilbo nodded slowly, releasing a sigh of relief that sent a pain racing through his body. He looked into the hallway to see the dwarves asleep, barring the door with huge, golden objects. Then a thought struck him.

"Fili," Bilbo began, looking him over and noticing his bloodied knee. "We have to fight a war this morning. I was hoping Thorin would come to his senses if I gave him the Arkenstone, but I have seen what evil the stone brings even without it. I'm a little ashamed to admit, but I was going to take the stone to Thranduil in hopes that maybe Thorin would change his mind, but I don't even know if he would change now, given the chance."

"About that…" Fili began, wincing a bit and staring at the cold floor. "You see-I…well…"

"You broke it?!" Kili and Bilbo both exclaimed in unison, finishing his sentence with their heads in their hands. If it were a less serious situation, Fili would have laughed but he didn't feel like laughing right now.

"Yessss…" Fili replied, turning his gaze towards the opened door as a cold breeze rushed in. He carefully shut the door behind him, kicking the sword out of the way. "But at least the stone is out of the way and hidden. Thorin will never be able to find it or piece it back together now."

"Why is that?" asked Bilbo, his tone seemingly relieved and worried. Just now he was trembling, but not of fear or anger. It was more for the fact that he had lost allot of blood and unable to keep his body temperature regulated. Kili threw a blanket over Bilbo's shoulders, then moved to the fireplace in the room.

"One: it is shattered like glass so putting it together won't be easy. Two: the big pieces and the little pieces are in the trench. Three: the water is too murky to see anything in that trench. Don't worry," Fili assured him, counting the reasons on his fingers then turning his gaze towards Kili. "What are you doing, brother?"

Without replying, Kili jerked his head toward the small figure of Bilbo who had his knees pulled up to his face and his arms wrapped around them, shivering violently. Then he motioned toward the fireplace, striking a couple of rocks together to create a spark. Fili moved to Bilbo, made sure he could be warm enough, then took the rocks from his brother.

"Hey!" Kili yelled in a defeated tone.

"Is for horses," Fili replied. That was a common reply they used all the time when they were kids. It brought back good memories of when his younger brother would sneak things from their mother's cabinets and try to stuff them in his mouth before Fili could get to him.

"I'll start up the fire. Wake up the others; I'm sure they would like to see Bilbo awake. But one at a time if you will. And wake up Balin or Bofur if you would. They can get something for Bilbo to eat."

"But it's practically midnight and frankly, I'm not hungry. I have some food in my pack that he could eat. Some honey too if needed. I will wake the others and Balin-" Kili began with a sigh until he saw his brother open the door and step out. To his surprise, the fire was already burning while they were talking.

Dwarves, Bilbo thought to himself, pulling the furred blanket around himself. They can always start fires quickly, even in rain or snow. "Please tell me you're not going where I think you're going…"

"I am going where you think I'm going," Fili replied, opening the door as their shadows danced on the walls while he tied a strip of bandage to his knee. At least he could wash it when he got back. "I'm going to change Thorin's mind."

"Fili," Bilbo mumbled under his breath, yet the dwarf acknowledged him. "Please. Don't get yourself hurt."

Fili nodded and closed the door behind him, moving to the two, large double doors that were barred. He moved a couple objects quietly, and to his surprise, none of the dwarves seemed to awake. Even the dwarves who were really light sleepers and would awake at a moment's notice.

Once there was a crack large enough for him to slip through, he entered, quietly walking up the dimly lit corridors. Everything seemed to fall silent, and Fili wasn't one who liked silence in times like this. As he neared Thorin's throne, he could hear the faint sound of sobbing. He caught sight something on the floor, shining in the torchlight.

Upon farther examination, he found that the object was Thorin's crown. Thorin's figure was curled up behind the throne, tears streaming down his face while he cursed himself, long locks draping over his shoulders. Fili was awfully surprised; he had only seen his uncle cry when him and Kili were awfully sick. He tried to speak and found that his own words were caught in his throat.

"Thorin?" Fili managed, nearing his uncle.

"I'm so sorry, Fili…" came Thorin's whisper as he raised his head, but only stared at the walls of Erebor. His eyes held an apology and deep sorrow lingered in them. Regret. A loss of honor. Sorrow. All those were present in his features. "I am…a monster…"

Those last words made Fili's heart ache with regret. He had called Thorin a monster. All Thorin wanted right now was to change everything he had done. To fix this problem he had dragged everyone into. Thorin was torn apart over a stone and his kingship.

"Uncle…" Fili began, dropping down to Thorin who lowered his head again. Fili hugged his uncle from behind, even if he wouldn't accept it. "I know you have regrets. I have regrets as well, but now is the time to act. Please, we both have promises to keep."

Thorin nodded and replied, saying, "Yes, we do have promises to keep. You are like your father, Fili. An honest man, willing to risk his life for others…If your father could see you now, I am sure he would be proud of the man you have become. I am proud of you."

Fili stared at his uncle in disbelief, tears forming in his eyes. Very rarely did Thorin tell Fili he was proud of him, and that was the kind of thing he wanted from a father. Thorin was the closest thing he had to a father, however, and he wasn't going to lose him.

"Thorin, the Arkenstone-" Fili began with a sigh.

"Right now, I could care less about that blasted stone. I will call off the battle. I'm so sorry, Fili. I will change my ways," Thorin interrupted, standing up and looking into the eyes of his nephew. "I ask for your forgiveness, and I hope to reclaim you're trust."

Fili hugged his uncle back, hope returning to his soul. They would fix all their mistakes and bear each other's burdens, together.


I hope you enjoyed this chapter that I had to keep rewriting. Thank you all for being so supportive and following!

This chapter is dedicated to Avy Mac.

-WingedIceWolf