And we're onto chapter 22! Thanks very much to BrySt1 and Mckenna079 for your reviews on the last chapter. I love reading your thoughts, I hope you enjoy this one!
Arinna stood outside the Master's house early the next morning, pulling the collar of her coat closer around herself. It was snowing lightly, a clear sign that autumn was quickly passing. They would have to hurry if they were to make it to the hidden door by Durin's Day. The druid looked up as Kili stepped up at her side, her brows drawing together in concern at the sight of him. He looked much worse than just the night before, his skin a sickly pale colour while dark circles had formed under his eyes and his lips were tinted blue, as though he was incredibly cold even in the warm furs he was wearing.
"You don't look good," Arinna uttered and Kili raised an eyebrow at her.
"And good morning to you, too," he answered sarcastically, trying to pass off her comment with his usual humorous way. But the druid saw him wince as he put slight pressure on his right leg.
She touched his arm lightly, trying to steady him as much as show him that she was genuinely worried for him. "I mean it, Kili. Are you certain that you are alright? Has the pain gotten worse?"
"I'm fine," he assured her, as he had the night before, though Arinna found it harder and harder to believe his words. She was about to say something else when he continued to speak, changing the subject. "You'll get along with Ma perfectly, she's a worryguts, as well. But I suppose you'll find that out for yourself soon enough."
Kili grinned slightly as the druid sent him a confused look, before he continued swiftly, keeping his voice low as Bombur walked past them. "She'll want to get to know her future daughter-in-law, won't she?"
Arinna's mouth dropped open slightly as she took in the dwarf's words, while Kili just smiled. She cleared her throat, shaking her head as she glanced down at her feet for a moment. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet, Kili."
The brunet just shot her a small wink, still smiling as he moved away from her, following as the company had now started to move. Thorin was leading the way, marching them down the streets to where two boats lay waiting for them. The townspeople had formed large crowds along their path, waving them on and cheering loudly. Arinna watched from her spot in the line as Kili hobbled along a little distance ahead.
"He'll be fine," a voice said from beside her then and the druid jumped slightly, ripped out of her thoughts. She looked over to find Fili walking with her, his own gaze set on his brother as well. "He's too stubborn for anything to stop him from marching to Erebor. That wound won't keep him."
"Indeed. The stubbornness of dwarves," Arinna sighed slightly, before she glanced over at Fili who had a half smile on his face at her words. She took a small breath, before she continued to speak quietly. "You've told him. About us, I mean."
Fili slowed slightly in his steps, returning her gaze with a small nod. "Aye," he answered. "I can't keep anything from Kili. Never could, really. You don't mind him knowing, do you?"
The druid shook her head, turning her gaze forward. They had both slowed their pace now, walking at the back of the company. "No, of course not. It just… it seemed to me last night that you'd prefer not to tell everybody."
The blond dwarf slightly drew his mouth askew at her words, reaching out to grab her arm as he pulled her to a stop. The others walked on without them, not noticing that they were falling behind momentarily. Fili sent her an earnest look.
"It's not that I don't want them to know," he said genuinely, hoping she didn't think that. "I'd be happy to shout it from the rooftops. But I would like to talk to my uncle before we let everybody know. I…," he hesitated for a moment, letting out a small sigh. "As crown prince, I am technically supposed to ask for his blessing if I have serious intentions with someone. Meaning, if I intend to court someone. Beforehand."
Arinna's mouth opened slightly, though no words fell from her lips as she nodded slowly. She had not even thought about the fact that Fili was heir to the crown of Erebor, the greatest dwarven kingdom that Middle Earth had seen, and that it perhaps would see again. She felt rather foolish for thinking that their relationship would be smooth sailing from here, realising now that perhaps not everybody would be as supportive of a dwarven prince courting a human druid as Kili seemed to be.
"Arinna," Fili muttered, pulling her out of her thoughts as he gave her a loving smile. He squeezed her upper arm slightly. "I love you. It doesn't matter to me if Thorin gives us his blessing or not, but he still needs to know. I will simply have to find a good moment to talk to him in private, it's the least I can do."
The druid smiled slightly, nodding again, this time more firmly. "I understand," she said with a reassuring smile toward the dwarf, who let out a relieved breath, and with that she began to move again. Fili followed along swiftly beside her as they hurried slightly to catch up with the others.
They soon came to a halt by the boats that the Master was providing for them. Dwalin and Gloin were busy loading their weapons into the first boat, while the rest of the company were getting in and taking their seats for the journey. Arinna followed after Fili, who walked past his uncle and climbed down into the boat, before he turned to her and held out his hands to help her. It was when the druid had sat down that she heard a small commotion behind her and looked around to find Kili standing by the dock, Thorin's hand placed firmly on his chest and keeping him from following.
"Not you," Thorin was saying quietly. "We must travel at speed; you will slow us down."
"What are you talking about?" Kili frowned. "I'm coming with you.
His uncle shook his head firmly but with a soft expression on his face. "No, Kili."
The druid quickly shot a look toward Fili, whose gaze was set intently on the scene before him. They heard Kili's answer, his voice carrying the hurt he felt at his uncle's words.
"I'm going to be there when that door is opened," he said stubbornly. "When we first look upon the halls of our fathers, Thorin. I'm -"
"Kili," Thorin interrupted him, laying one hand on his nephew's shoulder and giving him a small smile, though it did nothing to lessen the look of shock and betrayal on Kili's face. "Stay here. Rest. Join us when you're healed."
Arinna watched as Thorin turned away and made to enter the boat, while Kili stood looking forlorn. The brunet dwarf dropped his head in defeat, his face scrunching up in an effort to push down tears and anger as he hobbled slowly a few feet away, letting himself drop onto a low post. Arinna felt her heart sink at the sight, and although she understood Thorin's reasoning, she couldn't help but feel that he could have allowed his nephew to come – or else, he could have at least chosen a better, more private moment to explain his feelings on the topic to Kili, instead of stopping him short at the very last moment.
The boat wobbled slightly when Fili stood up abruptly. "Uncle, we grew up on tales of the mountain," he said urgently to Thorin, who merely gave him a tired look. "Tales you told us. You cannot take that away from him. I will carry him if I must!"
"Fili," Thorin sighed, his voice stern. "One day you will be king, and you will understand. I cannot risk the fate of this quest for the sake of one dwarf. Not even my own kin."
Fili pressed his lips together at his uncle's answer, looking over to his little brother who was shaking his head at him from where he sat watching the scene. It didn't take Fili more than a few seconds to make up his mind and he stepped out of the boat swiftly. He felt Thorin push against his shoulder in surprise, trying to hold him back but he shook off his uncle's hand with a huff.
"Fili, don't be a fool. You belong with the company."
"No, I belong with my brother," answered Fili angrily as he pulled away, turning around only to hold out his hand toward the druid who had risen now, as well. He did not need to ask her to stay with him, recognising that she had already made her decision in the determined look she gave him as she took his hand and let him pull her back onto the dock. She could understand all too well the hurt that Kili must be feeling at being denied being there the moment when they entered Erebor, the halls of their ancestors. And more than that, she did not want to go on without Fili.
"You're not coming with us, either?" The druid heard Bilbo ask behind her and she shook her head at him, feeling Fili's large hand wrap around hers. The hobbit shortly glanced down at their intertwined hands before she answered him.
"My duty lies with the wounded," she spoke softly, shooting a glance toward Kili, before she looked up at Fili with a sigh. He gave her a small, grateful nod. "My place is here."
The hobbit was not the only one who had his eyes set on Fili and Arinna. Thorin watched with narrowed eyes as his nephew traced his thumb gently over the back of the druid's hand, before his gaze shot back up to Fili's face. The blond dwarf sent him one last tight look, before he turned and walked over to his brother without another word, the druid's hand still firmly held in his. Thorin watched them retreat for a few seconds before he clenched his jaw and got into the boat at last.
"You should not have done that," Kili sighed when they arrived at his side, shaking his head at his brother as he held his side in obvious pain.
Neither Fili nor Arinna replied, looking up as the people of Lake Town sounded the horns around them. They watched as the company departed, accompanied by cheers and good wishes from the townsfolk. Arinna averted her eyes when the company was a good distance away, seeing them wave goodbye. Kili groaned beside her and she knelt down at his side, reaching out for the wound on his leg. He let out another painful hiss at the mere touch of her fingers on his makeshift bandage.
"Oh," a familiar voice suddenly sounded next to them and the three of them all looked up to find Bofur standing a few feet away by the edge of the dock. He gave the small group a sheepish grin. "So, you've missed the boat, as well?"
"You could say that," Fili answered tensely, one hand on his brother's shoulder to keep him steady on the post he was sitting on, as Kili began to slowly keel over more and more.
"We must get Kili some medicine," Arinna said seriously, looking into the pale dwarf's face with deep concern forming in her stomach. "His wound is sure to be infected from the looks of it."
Bofur had now stepped closer, the sheepish grin on his face fading quickly as he saw the state the brunet dwarf was in. He was about to say something when Kili doubled over in pain, letting out a strained cry as he fell to the ground.
"Kili? Kili!" Fili called out, pulling his brother back up by the shoulders. Kili fell against him and his older brother wrapped his arms around his form, struggling to keep him upright, before Bofur came to his help, steadying Kili on his other side. Fili's eyes darted over the crowd, before he nodded toward the retreating forms of the Master and Alfrid further away. "They'll help us!"
Arinna led the way through the crowd while the others followed behind her, almost dragging Kili along between them. They quickly caught up to the two Men and the druid called out over the group of guards that were blocking their way.
"Halt! Please, stop! We need your help!"
The Men paused and the guards stepped aside as Alfrid took a few steps toward them, his eyes moving across them indifferently.
"Our friend is sick. We need medicine," Arinna said to him, gesturing toward Kili. She saw Alfrid's face scrunch up in contempt while the Master suddenly cried out behind him, stumbling a few steps backwards and pressing a dirty handkerchief to his mouth.
"Sick?!" He yelped loudly. "Is it infectious? Keep back! Keep back, all of you! Alfrid, don't let them come any closer!"
The druid's face fell at his reaction, though she returned her gaze to the man before her again, her voice now pleading. "We only need medicine. Please, you must help us."
"Do I look like an apothecary to you?" Alfrid growled, sending her an irritated look as he stepped backward. "Haven't we given you enough? Sheltered you and your husband in an inn? Given your company a load of free provisions? The Master is a busy man, he hasn't got time to worry about sick dwarves. Be gone!"
"You cannot mean it!" Fili growled behind her while the druid's mouth dropped open in shock and disgust. "My brother needs help!"
"So, help him," Alfrid drawled and Arinna could see that he barely withheld from rolling his eyes at them. She felt her anger bubbling hot in her stomach. "But stop your yapping! Go on, now! Get away from here! Leave us in peace!"
Arinna watched as Alfrid turned away and followed the Master inside the great hall, while the guards were now pushing at them. The druid stumbled backwards as one of them jabbed her in the shoulder.
"Those two-faced bastards," Fili barked when the guards finally retreated and they were left standing outside on their own, the big crowd of people now slowly having dispersed around them and in the streets. "I swear, I'm going to -"
"When did you two get married?" Bofur interrupted, shooting the two of them a slightly confused look after what Alfrid had said. Fili opened his mouth to say something, feeling his cheeks turn a little bit warmer but he was interrupted before he could utter a word.
"Now is not the time," Arinna exclaimed grimly with a worried look to Kili, whose head was now hanging low between his shoulders. His breathing had become heavier. "We must get him inside. Somewhere safe and warm. I need to see his wound for myself, otherwise I cannot help him."
Fili was about to suggest the inn that they had stayed at, but he quickly realised that they would no doubt have to pay a considerable amount extra if they wanted to get a sick person inside with them, if they were let inside at all. They did not have that kind of money.
"We take him to Bard," Bofur offered, though his companions looked at him doubtfully. "He's the one that brought us here, he's a good man."
"He was also the one who spoke against Thorin and the Master last night, was he not?" Fili reminded him dubiously. "Do you think he'll welcome us after all that?"
Bofur shrugged helplessly and Arinna let out a deep sigh, giving the three dwarves before her a hard look. "We have no choice," she uttered, urgency in her voice. "Either he'll help us, or he won't, but we have to try."
They followed as Bofur led the way through the streets, Arinna now supporting Kili's other side as they basically dragged him along. It seemed like an age before Bofur finally came to a halt and quickly moved up a short set of stairs that led to the entrance of a small house. Fili and Arinna followed slowly, making sure that Kili got up the stairs alright, while the hatted dwarf knocked on the door.
It only took a few seconds for it to open and they found themselves confronted with Bard, who looked at them first in confusion and then in anger. "No," he huffed loudly, shaking his head quickly as he saw them standing in front of him. "No, go away. I've had enough of dwarves!"
"Please!" Bofur called out as the man made to slam the door in their faces, getting his foot between the door and the frame just in time before it could close. He looked up at Bard with a helpless plea, when the man pulled the door back open with annoyance. "Our friend Kili is very sick. No one will help us!"
Bard narrowed his eyes at the dwarf's words, letting out a sigh before his gaze found the pale dark-haired dwarf being held up by his shoulders by two other people. One was a blond dwarf, the other a woman with long black hair and green eyes, which were looking up at him pleadingly. He remembered seeing the two of them in the square the night before, vouching for Thorin Oakenshield's character. The Lakeman felt slightly torn, not wanting to have anything more to do with these dwarves, but not finding it in himself to toss a sick person, that was obviously in need of help, out on the streets. He finally conceded and took a small step to the side to let them pass.
"Thank you!" Bofur breathed as he moved into the house, the other three following close after him. Bard looked out over the streets for a few more moments before he shook his head slightly and closed the door behind himself, turning to his unexpected guests.
"Here, put him on the bed," he said, pointing to the largest of three beds that were spread throughout the whole house, which had only one big room, which seemed to serve as living room, bedroom and kitchen all in one. His children cried out in confusion at the group's entrance, and Bard called for them to quiet down as he watched the hatted dwarf, who he remembered introducing himself as Bofur when they had first met, taking over from the small woman as he heaved Kili onto the bed together with the blond dwarf.
He heard Kili groan painfully, before he suddenly noticed that the small woman had come to stand before him, one hand held over her chest in greeting. "Thank you for helping us," she said earnestly, and Bard inclined his head slightly. "We will not forget this. I am Arinna," she introduced herself before she pointed to the blond dwarf, who shot him a small bow of his head. "This is Fili, Kili's brother. And Bofur, I believe you've met."
"Aye, we had time for introductions when I smuggled your friends into town," Bard replied somewhat bitterly, though he gathered himself enough to shoot the woman a more friendly look. "I am Bard. And these are my children, Sigrid, Bain and Tilda."
Arinna inclined her head, sending his children a small smile each as he introduced them. "It is very nice to meet you all," she muttered, her voice sounding distracted as she shot a look back toward Kili who was moaning in pain behind her. "Though I wish it had been under different circumstances."
"We are happy to help you," the oldest girl, Sigrid, answered gently, before she gave her father a pointed look. "Aren't we, Da?"
Bard just gave a short nod, following as the dark-haired woman quickly turned and walked back to her group, coming to stand above Kili. His eyes were hazy and though he was looking at her, Arinna saw that he did not truly see her.
"He's feverish," she stated as she put one hand over his sweaty forehead, feeling his hot skin beneath her cool palm. She glanced down at his injured leg then, seeing the dirty makeshift bandage wrapped around his thigh. The druid doubted that Kili had given Oin a proper chance to examine his leg on the way from Mirkwood to Laketown, and she glanced up at Fili, who shot her a helpless look. "Give me one of your knives."
Fili frowned but did as he was told, pulling his sharpest knife from his belt and handing it over to her, hilt first. He watched as she moved down to Kili's leg, her hands moving quickly as she cut through the dirty bandage around his thigh and then sliced a great hole into his trouser leg to get better access to his wound. Fili's stomach lurched slightly at the sight of his brother's wound, seeing it for the first time.
"This is no ordinary arrow wound," Arinna breathed, staring in shock at the blackened flesh of Kili's leg, as well. The infection had already spread down his leg and was moving upwards toward his torso, judging from the black threads that ran from his wound along his veins. She glanced up at Kili's face, which was covered in a sheen of sweat. He blinked up at her hazily. "It's badly infected. You've been poisoned, you stupid, stubborn dwarf."
"No need… for insults, eh," Kili breathed in an effort to be cheerful and though Arinna was surprised he had even registered her words, she did not appreciate the humour at this moment. Instead, she turned her gaze away from him at the sound of Bard's voice, sounding close by.
"What do you need?"
"Something to clean out this mess as best I can," she answered tightly, determination setting into her heart. "Fresh water and clean cloth. And something to bring down his fever."
Bard nodded, calling out for his children to fetch the necessary things while he moved quickly over to the kitchen and began rummaging through his cupboards. It was only a few moments later that Arinna was working away at Kili's leg, halting every now and again in her movements when Kili twitched harshly at the pain of her touch, his leg kicking out beneath her hands as he groaned. The druid worked silently for a long time, unable to concentrate on anything other than helping Kili, while the others around her watched and talked quietly.
Fili sat beside Bofur, his gaze set on the druid who was tending to his little brother, his heart heavy with concern. He had not expected Kili's injury to be this bad, but Arinna had been working tirelessly for what seemed like several hours now, using up several cloths and brewing some sort of tea from the herbs that Bard had been able to provide. It had seemed to calm Kili slightly and eased him into a shallow slumber.
