~Twelve~
~A Company Divided~
"You do realize we're one short?" Bilbo was still counting the Dwarves. "Where's Bofur?"
"If he's not here we leave him behind," stated Thorin.
"We'll have to if we're to reach the Mountain before the end of the day," agreed Balin. "We cannot risk any more delays."
It was the next morning - after a night of hearty celebrations, the Dwarves were getting an early start. They needed to if they wanted to cross the lake and climb the Mountain all in time.
They were given a grand send off - the people of Lake-town waved them on, and the Master even gave a speech.
"Not you-" Thorin stopped Kili before he could step onto the boat. "We must travel at speed, and you'll slow us down."
"What are you talking about? I'm coming with you."
"Not now."
Kili grew panicked. "I'm going to be there when that door is opened, when we look upon the halls of our Fathers, Uncle-"
"Kili, stay here. Rest. You can join us when you've healed."
"Look, I'm sorry about before with dropping the weapons, but-"
"Kili."
Dejected now, and clearly thoroughly disappointed, Kili was pushed back while the others climbed into the boat. He was all alone.
"You're not going to leave him behind on his own," cried Dahlia.
"I'll stay here with the Lad." Oin climbed out of the boat. "My duty lies with the wounded."
"Uncle," cried Fili. "We grew up on tales of the Mountain. Tales you told us. You cannot take that away from him."
"Fili-"
"I will carry him if I must!"
"One day you will be King and you will understand. I cannot risk this quest for the sake of one Dwarf."
"He's your nephew!" cried Dahlia.
But Thorin was decided. "Not even my own kin."
Without hesitation, Fili was up on his feet and stepping out of the boat.
His uncle tried to stop him. "Fili, don't be a fool - you belong with the Company."
"I belong with my brother."
Dahlia was decided too. "I will stay as well."
"Dahlia-"
"Either we all go or I don't go. They're like little brothers to me. We don't abandon family. At least some of us don't. Besides, Erebor isn't even my home anyway."
"I hoped it would be one day," Thorin sighed, appearing hurt.
"So did I. You don't understand what you're taking from them. And clearly you don't care." She had awoken in his embrace mere hours ago, and now here they were, coldly separating.
"I feared as much," she sighed, speaking to no one in particular as they watched from their spot on the docks as the boat sailed away. "That the closer we got, the more hell-bent he'd become on reaching the Mountain, losing sight of what mattered."
"Kili - Kili!" Fili cried, and Dahlia turned to see Kili had fallen from his perch on some crates, and would have crashed to the docks had his brother not caught him. "We need to get help!" Fili cried.
They sought help with the Master, who had helped them already, but were turned away - he and his right hand man, Alfrid, were more concerned that Kili was contagious, and slammed the door in the Dwarves' faces.
This led them back to Bard's door.
"No, I'm done with Dwarves, go away."
"No please-" Bofur blocked this door from slamming as well. "No one will help us! Kili's sick - he's very sick." Kili looked worse now than he had a few minutes ago at the docks - he had grown sickeningly pale in mere minutes.
Thankfully, after baring witness to Kili's state, Bard let them inside. Poor Ki was growing worse by the minute - by the second even. He had grown paler still, if that were even possible.
"I need some herbs, something to help bring down his fever," cried Oin. "Do you have any kingsfoil?"
"No, it's a weed, we feed it to the pigs," Bard informed him.
"Pigs? Weeds? Got it." Bofur pointed to Kili. "Don't move." With that, he rushed out of the house.
Standing by the window, Dahlia watched as the last bit of sunlight dipped out of sight, the last light of Durin's Day. "Oh, how I hope they made it in time."
They were still trying to get Kili settled when a sudden rumble shook the house so much it stirred up dust.
"It's coming from the Mountain!" cried Bain.
"You should leave us, take your children and get out of here," Fili told Bard.
"And go where? There is nowhere to go."
"Are we going to die, Da?" cried Tilda.
"No, Darling," Bard assured her.
"Is the dragon going to kill us?"
Bard pulled something down from the ceiling. "Not if I kill it first." A Black Arrow.
He and Bain snuck out of the house.
A sudden scream from Sigrid caught their attention - moments before Orcs stormed into the house. Bolg's forces had found them, relentless in their hunting of the Durin line.
Dahlia dove in front of Bard's daughters with a kitchen knife for defense, the sisters throwing dishes at the Orcs as well, while Oin and Fili defended the defenseless Kili. Bofur still hadn't returned from his visit to the pigs.
Luckily for them - maybe - two of the Elves from Mirkwood arrived, the Prince and the Captain of the Guard. They helped take down the Orcs in the house - Bard's family home endured quite a bit of damage, unfortunately.
Prince Legolas was quick to chase after the Orcs throughout town, and Tauriel was about to follow him, until she saw Kili's state, that is.
"I'm going to save him."
Bofur brought back the Kingsfoil, and Tauriel quickly worked on crushing the weed into a paste. "Hold him still," she ordered, coming over to where the still-thrashing Kili lay.
"Try to lie still, Ki," Dahlia urged, though he probably couldn't hear her. She stroked his raven hair, that which he shared with his mother and uncle.
"Auntie Dahlia, will you sing to him? Maybe it'll help calm him," Fili suggested.
"Aye, it's worth a try." They could all use some calming down at the moment. She continued to stroke Kili's hair and began to sing, another song of the Mountain.
"Night is now falling
So ends this day
The road is now calling
And I must away
Over hill, and under tree
Through lands where never light has shone
By silver streams that run down to the sea
Under cloud, beneath the stars
Over snow one winter's morn
I turn at last, to paths, that lead home..."
Think of home... Think of home...
Tauriel was chanting something in Elvish while pressing the medicine to Kili's leg. The thrashing stopped, and soon he lay still and quiet.
"I've heard tell of the wonders of Elvish medicine, and that was a privilege to witness," declared Oin as the Dwarves tried to clean up Bard's home some. Kili was murmuring something to Tauriel.
Their moment was broken when another great rumble shook the house. A warning bell sounded throughout Lake-town, signalling approaching danger.
Something was coming.
Poor broken-hearted Legolas - it's okay Leggy, Gimli will come along soon! ;)
And while it feels a little forced, I do think Tauriel and Kili are cute, and it's too bad we never get to see their relationship develop further before Kili's death :(
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)
