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Travelbug:
Just letting you know that I'm getting ALL your wonderful reviews, and I am responding to them in the next chapter I will be posting...you will just have to wait till then to catch up on my comments to your kind reviews. But know I am getting them and loving them! Keep them coming!
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Chapter 13
~X~
Thankfully, the dwarves had already fashioned a make-shift bridge out of long wooden planks, spanning the crevasse and anchoring them on the far side where the large pile of stones possibly trapped two errant dwarves.
"There was an alcove here," Bofur reasoned, pointing at the massive rocks blocking their way. "There's a chance they made it inside and were protected from the cave in." He didn't voice his opinion on what might have become of them if they hadn't, and he very much feared removing a boulder only to find his long-time friend and prince flattened beyond recognition. He refused to allow his mind to imagine what might have become of them if they had fallen off the bridge or been underneath that piece of ceiling that brought the stone archway down.
"Then let's get to digging!" Fili urged, eager to set to work.
"Hold off, lad," Bofur cautioned. "We can't just start grabbing rocks and pulling them out willy-nilly. That could cause another cave in. This has to be done systematically. So, stay back and let the professionals take the lead. If you insist on helping, take your place among the brigade, and transport the stones we deem safe to remove." In truth, Bofur simply wanted to keep the blond prince far enough back that he could shield him from any horrific sight they may encounter, praying to Mahal that it didn't come to that. "But first…let's see if we can determine if there are any signs of life behind all this."
Everyone watched as the hatted miner picked up a stone and began striking the rocks before him in a pattern. He would make four taps, and then wait half a minute before repeating it. He did this a total of seven times, yet without any response. When he turned and shook his head, he saw Dis cover her face in despair.
"Don't give up hope, this only means we might need to clear out some rocks before they can hear us," he urged.
"Or it could mean they are injured…or worse!" Dis sobbed, turning to Thorin for support.
"They're alive, Amad…I know it," Fili called to her from across the wooden bridge. "We just need to dig them out."
"Then it's best we get started!" Bofur agreed, signaling to his crew as they began to carefully extract one stone at a time, passing it back across the bridge to the others. It would be slow going, but precision was the key here, not speed.
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"And that's how I learned to use a bow and arrows," Kili finished, having been regaling Jade about his weapons training as a child.
"See…your uncle didn't mind that, did he?" she pointed out. "Even if a bow is more of an elven weapon."
"True, but mostly because it bagged us meat in the winter when food was scarce," Kili reasoned. "And can we just drop the whole elf thing for now. I'm depressed enough as it is without bringing up my pathetic love life."
"Fine," Jade conceded, quickly thinking up a new topic. "So…why don't you tell me the most foolish thing you've ever done…besides falling for an elf, that is."
"Oh, that's a hard one," he muttered, rubbing at his chin thoughtfully.
"Really? Why? Because you're always so wise and careful?" she laughed.
"No…because there are so many, many…many to choose from!" he chuckled back. "However, I would have to say that attacking three hideous trolls all by myself would rank right at the top."
"You took on three trolls alone…whatever for?" Jade demanded.
"To save a friend," he smiled, thinking of Bilbo. "One my brother and I kind of got into the fix in the first place, so it only seemed fair to jump headlong into getting him out." When Jade stared at him questioningly, he went on. "You see, Fili and I were often put in charge of guarding the ponies on our trip from Ered Luin to Erebor. Well, one night he and I kind of got distracted watching a mother fox and her kits, and when we returned to our post…a few of the ponies were missing."
"They had wandered off?' she guessed.
"Not exactly…they were carried off by cave trolls," Kili corrected. "Three of them, by the name of Tom, Bert, and William, to be exact."
"You took time to ask their names?" Jade asked incredulously.
"No, of course not, but we were forced to listen to them talk for a while, so we picked up on what they were called," he explained. "Anyway, they caught Bilbo when he was attempting to free the ponies and were threatening to cook and eat him. Fili had already gone back to alert the others and get help, so, being the only one there at the time…I kind of jumped in."
"Well, I take it you were successful," Jade reasoned.
"I wouldn't exactly use the word successful," Kili cringed recalling the events that quickly followed. "But we did all come out of it alive, and the trolls were turned to stone with the help of our wily burglar, a wizard, and dawn's first light." Kili then turned on his side, cringing a bit as the movement tugged on his injured leg, then resting his head on his palm, supported upon his elbow, he looked at Jade. "Now…your turn. What was the most foolish thing you ever did?"
"Not counting coming to Erebor and stumbling into your brother's bedroom?" she questioned with a roll of her eyes. "Well, then I would have to say that would be…" Yet Jade never got to finish her sentence, for at that moment Kili raised his hand, shushing her as he sat up suddenly.
Jade too listened, wondering what had caught Kili's attention.
"Do you hear that?" he hissed, struggling to get to his feet, but falling back to the ground with a low moan as he grabbed his injured leg.
"Hear what?" Jade demanded, not at all sure what she was listening for.
"That tapping! Can't you hear it?" Once more, Kili held up his hand and waited…and after what felt like forever, it came again. Four faint taps. "There!"
"YES! I do hear it!" she gasped, rising to her feet hurrying over to the rubble blocking their exit, placing her ear to it as she waited for the taps to return. When they did, her smile grew even wider.
"They're asking for a response," Kili informed her. "You have to answer back."
"How? What do I do?" she was sure it wasn't as simple as tapping back, that there was a certain way she was meant to respond.
"Pick up a rock and hit the biggest bolder twice, then pause, then strike it again three times," he instructed. "Hurry, before they begin digging again and can't hear us."
Jade did just as Kili said, using a fist-sized rock to tap out the signal he had directed. Tap, tap….tap, tap, tap.
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"THEY'RE ALIVE!" Bofur shouted back, the whole room filled with anxious faces, each one desperate for confirmation of that very fact. "I heard two taps and then three more!"
"That means that one is injured and the other is unharmed!" Thorin deduced, quite familiar with the code used by miners. "But at least there were no single taps…meaning death."
"Let's get them out of there!" Fili demanded. And with renewed vigor everyone set to work once more, yet this time with smiles on their faces and a lot more hope in their hearts.
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"I can hear them getting closer!" Jade cried out soon after, pressing her ear to the rocks as she listened. "They're coming!"
"Get away from there," Kili ordered, using his palms to inch himself back as far as he could into the alcove. "We need to give them room to work and hope they don't start another rockslide. Come over here by me, it's safer."
Jade did as instructed, the two of them sitting against the farthest wall as they stared at the rocks, anxiously waiting for the first shaft of light to pierce the stone barrier.
"You know," Kili whispered, a goofy grin on his face. "This couldn't have come at a better time."
"Oh? And was there ever a bad time to be rescued?" Jade joked, her voice was filled with uncontained joy.
"No, of course not, but it just so happens that I was starting to become rather desperate to use the facilities…if you take my meaning," he revealed.
"Well…then yes, it is a very good thing our rescue is at hand, isn't it?" she laughed, reaching down as she entwined her fingers with Kili's, lacing them together as they gave each other an encouraging squeeze.
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"One more, lads!" Bofur cried out, as he and several other tired and dirty miners shoved and pulled at a particularly large rock. It took nearly all their strength, but at last it gave way, sending a multitude of smaller rocks and pebbles raining down around them, stirring up the dust so that it was hard to see. Yet, when the air cleared, there was a hole the size of a large pumpkin in the rocks, allowing them to see inside the cavern at last. Scrambling up to where it lay, Bofur poked his head inside, his hat tipping off his head and tumbling down his back as he did. "Well…hello, Kili! Jade!" he called, blinking through the darkness as he spotted the dwarrow and dam huddled within. "Fancy meeting you here!"
"And if you aren't a sight for sore eyes, I don't know what is!" Kili laughed, never so happy to see his old friend in his life. "And as soon as I'm able, I'm taking you down to the pub and buying you the biggest mug of ale they make…maybe even two!"
"I'll hold you to that, lad," Bofur said with a wide grin and wink. Yet before he could say any more, his head disappeared, and another's filled the small space.
"KILI? JADE?" Fili shouted, his expression melting into one of utter relief when he spied the two of them sitting there with smiles on their dusty faces. "Oh, thank Mahal!"
"And Bofur too," Kili laughed. "I believe he had a hand in our rescue, don't you think."
"That he did," Fili chuckled. "Now just sit tight, we'll have you out of there as soon as possible." His head instantly vanished, followed by a shout of joy to those waiting anxiously behind him. "THEY'RE ALRIGHT!" This was followed by a loud cheer, one that made Kili and Jade look at each other with tears in their eyes, just before they threw their arms around each other in a hug of relief.
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It took hardly any time at all before two dwarves were packing Kili back over the wooden bridge on a stretcher, with Oin eagerly waiting on the other side to get a look at his patient. Fili had been one of the first to assist his brother out of the cave, helping him onto the wood and cloth carrier before reaching back inside for Jade. He truly hoped that she had not noticed how his hands visibly shook as he guided her through the small opening in the rubble. Fili had been holding his breath, waiting desperately for this moment, and now that it was here, he felt like he'd been the one buried in the rockfall. Kili was safe…Jade was safe…they were both going to be all right, and thank Mahal, Fili thought he just might be as well.
"I'm so sorry about all this," Jade told him, not knowing quite what to say now that they were face to face. "I…I didn't mean to cause so much trouble, honest."
"Do you think I give an orc's ass about trouble?" Fili asked, a cross between a laugh and a gasp escaping him. "I'm just so happy you're safe. Both of you!" And before even he knew what he was doing, Fili scooped Jade up in his arms, and headed over the wooden planks, eager to get her back on the safe side of the chasm. Jade had seemed a bit shocked by his actions, but quickly stilled when she saw the deep chasm that lay on either side of her as they crossed, turning into Fili and burying her face against his chest. The blond prince didn't complain one bit.
"Looks as if he took a rock shard to the leg, but he'll be just fine," Oin told everyone once he had a chance to examine Kili's wound. "Still, we need to get him to the healing halls, so I can tend to it." He next turned to Jade. "How about you, lass? Any cuts or broken bones?"
"No, I think I'm fine," she assured the kindly old healer, feeling rather foolish answering questions from Fili's arms, but he made no move to set her down, and truth be told, she wasn't finding the situation overly objectionable. "I just need a bath and a bit of a rest."
"Nonsense! I insist you be thoroughly checked out as well." Dis instructed, not having left Kili's side since he had come over the bridge. "Bring her along, Fili, I won't rest until Oin gives them each a clean bill of health." And off she went, holding her younger son's hand as the dwarves carried him out into the hall and up the corridor.
"You heard my mother," Fili said with a forced smile. "To the healing halls with you." They followed the others, but at a slower pace, since he wanted to keep Jade in his arms for as long as possible. The more time he spent with her, or away from her – as in the past several hours when she was trapped – Fili knew he was growing more and more attached to his pretend consort. And just like his current inability to set her down, he was wondering if he might never be able to let her go. Still, there would be time to address this issue later, right now he only wanted to get her to the healing halls, and for Oin to assure him that both Jade and his brother were truly going to be fine.
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"You did an excellent job," Thorin told Bofur, slapping the tired looking miner on the back. "I owe you one, old friend."
"Actually, you owe me several…but who's counting," Bofur grinned back, one of the very few dwarves in the mountain brave enough to tease their often-grumpy king.
"Just see that you don't call in all your markers at once then," Thorin laughed. "I fear I might have to hock the Arkenstone in order to make good on them."
"How about you buy me a nice mug of ale when Kili is all better, and we'll call it even?" Bofur suggested.
"How about an entire keg?" the king replied, throwing one arm around the miner's shoulders, and the other around Dwalin's, the three of them following the others towards the healing halls.
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An hour later, Kili had been thoroughly patched up, and everyone assured that he would make a full recovery. Jade too had been examined, and other than a small scratch on her forehead, Oin had been pleased with her condition. Fili was ejected from the examining room when Dis had insisted that Jade be allowed to bathe and put on clean clothes, urging him to go see if Oin was allowing Kili to have visitors yet. So it was, that Fili sat at the end of his brother's bed, glaring at him with his steel blue eyes.
"You know, if I'd known I'd be getting the evil eye from you, I might have stayed in that alcove a bit longer, Nadad," Kili huffed, not sure what Fili was so peeved about. "You don't think I planned this or something?"
"No, of course not," Fili grumbled. "But I just spent several hours worried sick that you were dead, Kili! DEAD! I mean, I kept telling Amad and everyone else that I knew you were alive…but truth be told, I was starting to doubt myself after a while. You scared the crap out of me, Naddith! Don't you ever do that again, do you hear me?"
"Yes, of course, I hear you," Kili said with a heavy sigh. "It's not like we got trapped on purpose. And this time I didn't even do anything to cause all the trouble."
"You were where you weren't supposed to be!" Thorin's voice broke in, the formidable king entering the room along with his sister and Dwalin. "And apparently, if you hadn't gone into that unstable chamber, Jade would not have unwittingly followed. What were you doing down there in the first place?"
"I…I wanted to see the carving on the wall of you, Amad, and Uncle Frerin," Kili admitted looking downward in shame. "I didn't know Jade was tailing me…honest." He then looked up at Fili. "Yet, I'm really glad she did. Since when the ceiling came down, it was her who pushed me out of the way to safety. She saved my life, you know. I would have been as flattened if she hadn't been there."
"Don't even joke about something like that!" Dis admonished sternly. "I can't even think about what might have happened to you…to you both!"
"Then, it would seem I am indebted to the lass for saving your worthless hide," Thorin said, crossing his arms as he stared at Kili. And though his words sounded harsh, there was an underlying sense of relief and affection in them, something that Kili heard loud and clear.
"Yeah…about that. I kind of offered her tons of gold and silver, along with Fili's hand in marriage, for her heroic deed," Kili joked, watching as Thorin's eyebrow raised questioningly…and his brother grinned like a loon.
"If so, it's coming out of your share," was Thorin's only reply. Yet when he stepped closer and leaned in to rest his forehead against Kili's, that said more than any words could. "I'm glad you're safe, sister-son. Mahal was merciful on the line of Durin this day."
"I'm sorry I worried you, Uncle," Kili admitted, feeling guilty over that more than anything.
"We're getting used to it," Dis chuckled, touched by her brother's unusual display of affection. She knew he thought of the lads like sons, but to see him express it…well, those moments were few and far between.
"Just don't make it a habit, laddie," Dwalin ordered, then rolled his eyes in exasperation. "What am I saying, you've been perfecting the art of getting yourself in trouble since you were a wee sprout. And I don't see you changing your ways this late in the game."
"Probably not," Kili laughed. "But I'll do my best to keep it at a minimum."
"That's all we ask, Son," Dis smiled, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "Now, you rest, and I'll be back later to help you with your dinner."
"I have an injured leg, Amad, not a broken arm," Kili huffed.
"Sass me again, Kili son of Flinn, and I'd be happy to take care of that for you," Dis told him sternly. "I almost lost you today, so you will humor me and do as I say, understand?"
"Yes, Amad," Kili said in a sheepish voice. "Thank you."
"That's better," Dis said with a nod. "Now, I'm going to go check on Jade, she should be done with her bath by now and it would appear I need to thank her about a million times more for what she did. Come, Brother, Kili needs his sleep." And taking Thorin by the arm, she all but drug him out, with Dwalin trailing behind, trying not to laugh at his King's consternation.
"Are you sure you don't need anything, Naddith?" Fili asked, fussing over Kili's pillow as he fluffed it for him. "Anything to drink? Eat?"
"No, my stomach doesn't feel like eating right now and Oin must have forced half a gallon of water down my throat before he let you all in," he assured him, patting his stomach. "Maybe later."
"You're not hungry?" Fili asked in a shocked voice, one dripping with sarcasm. "You must really be bad off then, maybe I should let you rest, like Amad said."
"No, stay," Kili begged. "I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Oh? What is that?" the blond asked, sitting down on the side of Kili's bed.
"Jade," he announced, lacing his fingers together and placing them over his midsection. "I wanted to say that I've come to the conclusion that I very much approve of her." A rather guilty look then crossed his face. "At first, I guess I was against her. Not because I didn't like her or anything, just that…well, I felt like she was taking you away from me."
"Don't be ridiculous! No one could ever come between us, Naddath!" Fili protested. "We're brothers! And you're my best friend."
"But one day you might also be a husband," Kili pointed out.
"So might you," Fili countered.
"Not unless Uncle's opinion of elves changes drastically overnight, I won't," Kili said in a despondent tone.
"Still can't stop thinking about that elf lass, can you?" his brother deduced, a sad expression on his face. "I'm sorry, Kili."
"I'm not," he countered. "I mean, I'm sorry that we're being kept apart, but I'm not sorry that I'm in love with her," Kili clarified. "And I don't see that changing…ever."
"I wish I could help in some way, but I honestly don't know how," Fili admitted.
"Me either," Kili said with a sigh. "But back to you and Jade. I want you to know that if there's anything I can do to make up for the way I acted, I will. She's a great lass, and I'm not just saying that because she saved my life. We really talked while trapped together, and she truly impressed me. So, if it turns out that Jade is the lass you want…I support you, Brother."
"Thanks, Kili," Fili said, a genuine look of surprise and pleasure on his face. "That means a lot coming from you…it really does."
"Yeah, well, don't get all mushy about it or anything," Kili grinned. "I said I would support you…but convincing her of your worthiness is all on you."
"And there lies the question…am I worthy of her?" Fili asked. "I mean I already made a royal mess of things when we first met. Will I be able to make it up to her before Uncle calls off our sham of a courtship? As well as make up my mind whether I want the courtship to continue?"
"Well…I think your chances to find out can start right now," Kili whispered, spotting the door at the far end of the room opening, and the shy face of Jade peeking in. Her eyes landed on Kili and she smiled, but when Fili turned around as well, she pulled back.
"Oh…I'm sorry, I just wanted to check on Kili, I didn't mean to interrupt," she insisted, turning to leave. She recalled what the younger prince had said about feeling somewhat ignored by his brother, and she didn't want to take any of Fili's time away from him now.
"Nonsense! Come in," Kili called, waving her over with a wide smile. "You're not interrupting anything. In fact, I was given strict orders to get some rest, and this lunk-head is keeping me up. Would you please take him off my hands and see that he's entertained so I can sleep?"
"Lunk-head?" Fili huffed, eyeing his brother in confusion. "And you were the one who…"
"Who just escaped death, and needs his rest," Kili broke in, making a shooing motion with his hands at Fili. "Now go…be gone with you. Leave already."
At last, Fili caught on, and giving his younger brother a smile and a wink, he stood up and walked over to where Jade waited – the lass completely oblivious to the silent messages being passed between the princes.
"I'm glad you're doing well, Kili," Jade told him, partially over her shoulder as Fili led her back to the doorway. "Get some rest."
"I will…you too," he called after her. "And thanks again!"
Jade simply waved as the door shut behind them, leaving Kili alone. He leaned back against his pillow, laced his fingers behind his head and stared up at the ceiling. He was glad to be out of the cave-in, happy that both he and Jade had come to an understanding, and honestly hopeful that Fili would find a way to convince the lass that this courtship was no longer a farce in his eyes.
"Maybe that could be my craft?" Kili muttered to himself, a smile touching his lips. "I could be a match-maker, and see my brother happily wed." The idea intrigued him, for all of five minutes, before he realized how much time and effort he would have to put into such a thing…and quickly dismissing it. Besides, he knew nothing about love…or did he? For as he shut his eyes and tried to do as his mother instructed, Kili found that visions of a red-haired elf lass danced behind his eyelids, bringing a warm and wistful smile back to his lips. "Ahhhh, Tauriel," he whispered into the silence, desperately wishing that she was truly there.
And everyone is now safe! All rescued!
Looks like Kili is on team-Jade now, and will help Fili out all he can.
Thorin and Dis are now indebted to Jade as well, so that works in her favor!
And it would appear that Bofur won't have to buy his own drinks for at least a month after his daring rescue! ha ha.
Guest Reviews:
Emrfangirl: Ohhhh, you meant an avalanche of LOVE, not Stone?! My bad. ha ha. Yes, it was just a boo-boo, not an invasion. And of course Fili would 'feel' that his brother was alive...and Jade too. As for the whole Tauriel thing, well, that remains to be seen. I've had several readers becoming curious about this Grey Mountain delegation...either you are all just very suspicious, or excellent sleuths. ha ha. You will have to wait and see.
Where did all the rest of my guest readers go? Did you go on vacation too? And while I highly recommend doing so - especially if you went to a warm place with sand and surf - I do hope you will return to reading at some point. I miss you.