Fili could not recall ever being so thirsty his whole life. He had gone without food and water before and a Dwarf could endure much deprivation if circumstances were dire, but never before had his mouth and his throat been so parched, nor had he ever felt such an acute need to drink something... anything.
Oin and the Elves said that the spider poison was still at work and, for some of them, the effects were very slow to pass. They had all been trapped without any kind of sustenance or healing for days and it was a small miracle that they had escaped with their hides more or less intact. Fili knew that they owed it all to their remarkable Hobbit and made sure to express his appreciation whenever he could. But even clever little Bilbo could not make food and water appear out of thin air and the few provisions he and Ori had carried disappeared quickly when divided between so many hungry and thirsty people.
The most affected by the spider poison among them could not take even a single morsel and what little water could be spared came right back up, as their bodies struggled to expel the poison. Amras floated in an out of consciousness and his skin had taken on an ashen hue that worried his brothers to no end. Bombur had woken but could not carry his own weight for more than a few steps before collapsing in a miserable heap. To Dwalin's and Thorin's mounting distress, Balin did not stir at all and their potions master was not much better off himself. Without any supplies or medicine at hand, nothing could be done for the sick and all the others struggled with their own weakness, trudging ahead before night fell over Mirkwood and darkness swallowed them completely.
In spite of the slow and torturous advance, Thorin meant to leave the forest the same way he had been dragged into it and said that they should follow the trail Bilbo and Ori had taken in pursuit of the spiders. He asked the two of them to lead the way and stay alert, especially for the sound of running water.
Hunger they could all tolerate better and the spider poison had left their insides mostly numb, if not twisted in knots. But every step forward through the suffocating ill will of Mirwood increased their thirst and as the darkness deepened into a gloomy evening, Fili's imagination began to play tricks on him. He thought he could hear streams gurgling in their stony beds or slithering beneath the gnarled roots of old trees. Cool, clear springs to drink one's full and to wash away all the spider filth that clung to him like a horrible second skin. Fili saw before his dazed eyes the countless fountains and waterfalls of Rivendell and thought he might cry, if his eyes were not so scratchy and dry.
Kili did not have to tell him a word about how terrible he felt. Fili knew he had been stung twice as opposed to the one dark bruise and puncture mark Fili bore just below his ribs. Whatever terrible need tortured him, Kili felt it much worse and the young Dwarf had grown very quiet as they all followed Bilbo morosely.
If Fili were not so exhausted and thirsty and filled with concern for the others, he would have been the first to applaud and enjoy the way Bilbo had risen in his comrades' esteem. Neither of them would ever contest the Hobbit's immeasurable courage after he described the spider chase and how close to being snared he had been the entire time. But even Fili was somewhat disbelieving of how a single little Hobbit, armed with nothing else but throwing rocks, could draw off and kill so many of those beasts. How, when they'd all been caught and each of them prided himself with being a greater warrior than Bilbo Baggins ever hoped to become?
Ori mentioned Bilbo's secret weapon, however, and suddenly it made sense why he had escaped and how he had been able to execute his desperate rescue mission. What a remarkable thing to possess, a magic ring that made the owner invisible! As Bilbo stammered and explanation about the wonderful ring in question and how chance had brought it into his possession deep beneath the Misty Mountains, it became clear how he had evaded capture and death at the hands of the goblins as well. There was more to the Hobbit than met the eye and Fili's respect for Bilbo grew. Gandalf, it seemed, had known what he was doing when recommending such a fine burglar to Thorin and his company.
Plagued by many hurts though they were, both Dwarves and Elves were eager to see Bilbo's magic ring. But, to Fili's surprise, a change came over the friendly Hobbit all of a sudden. It might have been night falling early over that gods-forsaken place, but it was also Bilbo's countenance darkening when he was asked to bring forth the ring. He fidgeted and fingered his pockets, drawing away from his companions defensively.
Celegorm frowned suspiciously and Fili saw him ready to pry the ring from Bilbo whether the Hobbit willed it or not. But, as the Elf loomed over Bilbo, his brother suffered another violent fit of nausea and Celegorm instantly forgot all about magic rings. Bilbo made himself scarce, scouting ahead for a half-decent place to camp in and the incident passed with Ori telling them it wasn't really anything special, just a simple golden ring. Still, Fili found Bilbo's sudden defensiveness odd and he wondered whether the Hobbit wished to keep his treasure hidden from someone in particular. Perhaps he feared that the Elves would want to take the ring and study it and try to replicate the magic it performed. Whatever it was, Fili knew that Bilbo would have to share it sooner or later, but their present circumstances didn't allow for any concerns with ring lore. Trying to survive the night and escape the darkness of Mirkwood took every ounce of energy they had left.
Before long, night fell early and abruptly, bringing with it a blindness of the eyes and an exhaustion that could not longer be fought off. They had come to a part of the forest where most of the trees were beeches and there was little undergrowth to bar their path, but they had to forsake the march. Thorin called a halt and they huddled together near the trunk of a great beech that rose high above them, its bark smooth and the first branches out of reach even for Celegorm.
Try as they might, Fili did not think that either of them could stay awake. They hadn't rested at all while the spiders held them captive, merely blacked out if they were fortunate enough to lose consciousness for some time. The fear of spiders returning to hunt them lingered in their thoughts, but sleep came as a blessing and a relief for them. It was best to forget their hurts and their hunger and the terrible thirst for a while, even in that dark and perilous place.
Fili struggled to stay awake and keep watch (or rather listen, because even Elvish eyes could make out little in the heavy gloom that blanketed the forest). But not even guilt and the gnawing worry for his companions could keep him awake for long and the young Dwarf fell asleep holding onto his brother.
It felt as though only a moment had passed when Fili was startled from uneasy sleep and he sat up, blinking owlishly. At first, he could see nothing and Fili struggled to remember where he was, but when he regained some of his senses, the first thing he noticed was Kili missing from his side.
Whether his eyes had finally become adjusted to the lack of light or dawn had already come to the outside world, Fili did not know, but gradually, he began to distinguish the shapes of his sleeping companions.
"What is the matter?" one of the shadows stirred and Fili recognized Amrod's voice.
"I don't know where Kili is. Have you seen him?" the young Dwarf whispered.
"No. I… woke up just now. I tried to stay awake but I didn't last very long," Amrod moved away from the spot he'd sat in and Fili thought he saw the Elf looking around for his own brothers. "I didn't see or hear Kili, but you're right. He is not here."
"Where in Mahal's name is he?!" Fili staggered to his feet, his empty stomach churning with fresh worry.
Amrod motioned him to be quiet and they both heard the faint sounds of foliage crackling under the weight of someone's feet. Of course, it could also be some thing and not a person, either approaching them or drawing away. Amrod pulled a knife from his boot and nudged the closest Dwarf to him awake. If anything, danger would not catch them fast asleep.
But Fili somehow knew that it was his brother who stumbled through the forest. He could not explain the feeling and simply followed his gut instinct as it screamed that Kili was in danger. The young Dwarf palmed the only knife he hadn't lost throughout the unfortunate adventure and started off in what he hoped was the right direction.
Ignoring the calls after him and cursing the way they blotted out the rustle of foliage ahead of him, Fili sped past the pillars of beech that held up the oppressing forest roof. He shouted Kili's name and caught shadow flitting at the edge of his limited sight.
"Kili, wait!" he called out again, willing his legs to move faster.
There was no answer, but Fili continued to run, barely catching himself and skidding to a halt when the ground fell abruptly before him and he sent a small avalanche of dead leaves tumbling down the slope.
"I found water!" Fili heard his brother shouting triumphantly and held his breath for a moment, squinting into the ravine. Over his thunderous heartbeat and the sheer elation of finding his brother, Fili discerned the gurgling and splattering of water against rock.
A little stream flowed at the bottom of the ravine and the blessed sound of trickling water made Fili's throat constrict with longing. He took a tentative step, trying not to lose his footing and tumble all the way down, but the young Dwarf wanted nothing more than to join his brother and plunge his face into the cool water.
"No! Kili, don't!"
Someone yelled behind Fili and a dark shape hurtled past him, all but flying down the slope.
"Don't drink the water!" Fili realized it was Amrod and saw the Elf launching himself toward Kili. They were little more than shadowy shapes and Fili clambered down to them, confused and worried by the Elf's agitation. Amrod held Kili back from the water and tried to still his flailing limbs, while Kili sputtered and cursed and tried to shove the Elf out of the way.
The struggle lasted only a moment longer and before Fili could ask what in Mahal's name the matter was, Kili managed to push Amrod out of the way. The Elf gave an inarticulate cry and lunged for Kili, grabbing only the side of his leather coat. Kili was already standing in the stream and when Amrod twisted himself for one more desperate try to keep him from drinking, he lost his footing on the muddy rocks and fell face down into the dark water. The Elf pulled Kili down with him and although the stream could not be more than a foot deep, both of them managed to drench themselves from head to toe.
Fili felt an involuntary grin tugging his lips at the sight of his brother scrambling for some solid footing on the slippery rocks and spluttering angrily at the Elf.
Amrod ignored Kili's protests and dragged himself out of the stream. He touched his wet face and felt blood trickling from his forehead, where he had split his skin against the rocks. But Amrod paid the scratch little mind. He coughed and gagged and sucked in a ragged breath.
"It's just as I feared…," he croaked. "Don't drink the water. It's… poisoned."
As the ominous whisper slipped past the Elf's lips, Amrod fell back onto the damp foliage, his mouth hanging open and his eyes vacant.
"Fili… I don't feel well. I don't know what's happening…," Kili ambled out of the water, holding out his hand and groping for his brother weakly.
Paralyzed by new fear, all Fili could do was stare in horror as Kili's face grew expressionless and his legs gave out beneath him. Kili pitched forward and crashed into his brother, heavy and completely limp.
Fili cried out and tried his best to cushion the fall. His heart raced madly and shock ripped through the bottom of his stomach in a terrible spasm. What new horror had befallen them and what was wrong with Kili? Just like the Elf, Kili's eyes were completely empty and his mouth hung open as though the muscles of Kili's jaw no longer worked.
Desperate to see if his brother still breathed, Fili struggled to sit up, but their combined weight was almost too much for his quivering arms. Somehow, Fili managed to lower his brother onto his back and then he tore through Kili's damp clothes, flattening his ear against Kili's chest and praying frantically for a heart-beat.
A sob broke past his lips when Fili heard what he so desperately wished for. Kili's heart thumped against his rib cage in a steady pattern that belied the poor Dwarf's lifeless appearance. Tears of relief trickled down Fili's cheeks and he learned that he had been wrong to believe thirst could dry his eyes.
But that same thirst had poisoned both Kili and Amrod and when Fili recalled the Elf's attempts to keep Kili away from the dark water, fresh fear coursed through him. They were both alive and still breathing, but for how long? And what could he do to help them? How was he to keep them from a worse fate if…
Fili opened his mouth and let out an inarticulate cry for help. He cradled Kili's head against his chest and stared at the lip of the slippery slope, desperately willing someone to come to his aid.