Wow, thank you all so much for the reviews last chapter, as well as all of my follows and faves…
Just so you all know, I am very aware what Bilbo losing the ring will do to the plot, but rest assured I have a plan :P
Sorry for the wait, life's gone a little crazy!
Read. Enjoy. Review.
Chapter Nineteen # The Consequences of Playtime #
"I'm an awful person!"
Kíli winced against the new salve Óin was rubbing into his back – none to gently might he add – and shook his head. "No you're not."
"I'm a terrible father!"
"You are not." Kíli protested, rolling his eyes before hissing in pain. "Master Óin-"
"Cut your whining, you fool of a dwarf." Óin replied tersely, and Kíli shut his mouth obediently.
"I'm a pathetic excuse for a guardian!" Bilbo continued to mutter in Sindarin, staring at Kíli with wide eyes and massaging his forehead.
"And you can stop whatever you're jabbering on about, Master Hobbit!" Óin sent a pointed look at the hobbit. "I am surrounded by morons."
"I wouldn't say morons – ow!" Kíli finished with another wince. "Óin, please!"
"Count yourself lucky that we were able to find enough herbs to make this salve instead of the last one. Bah…"
"I'm such a fool… A thoughtless fool…"
"Bilbo…" Kíli closed his eyes. "Stop it."
Bilbo just groaned and sat down.
"He's write to feel an idiot, boy." Óin grumbled, restrained fury on his face. "I thought – I assumed that at least one of you would have enough sense to keep the mud away from the injured prince. Hitting his head, once, I can understand, though even that was foolish. May the Valar forgive me for being foolish enough to believe that my companions had any sense whatsoever."
"Well they did largely keep the mud off me; I only got hit about four times. Fíli protected me and the others-"
"You are all fools." Óin replied harshly.
"I should never have been so immature-"
Growing impatient with Bilbo's guilt and Óin's irritation, Kíli sighed. "Why didn't you stop us fools, then?"
"Unless you haven't noticed, laddie, I'm a little hard of hearing. I was already out of the water by the game your little game rose to full swing, and I thought that at least Thorin would prevent the filth from getting onto you. Mahal's beard…"
"I only got a little dirt on me-" Kíli tried to justify the adrenalin fuelled release, but already he was starting to silently admit that the healer was right to fuss – he felt twice as tired as he had when he woke up and his wounds were aching, though admittedly that had got worse since the salve was put on.
"You got too much dirt on me. Glóin!"
The red haired dwarf looked at the healer meekly. "Yes, brother?"
"Don't you 'yes brother' me, you imbecile! Remind me to never assume that any of you dunderheads have any common sense ever again. Urgh…" Óin shook his head. "And while you're at it, pass me that water skin…"
Kíli hissed as Óin slapped his face gently after applying the lotion to the welt on his cheek.
"I'm sorry, Kíli…" Bilbo repeated and Kíli reached over to put a hand on his hobbit's arm.
"Bilbo Baggins, if you apologise to me one more time I will braid your feet together while you sleep." He said gently. "It was my fault, I'm a reckless fool."
"Say that again, laddie?" Óin shoved his squashed trumpet into his ear. "I think you ought to admit it a little louder."
"I am a reckless fool." Kíli raised his voice with a grin that had the healer rolling his own eyes.
Thorin strode up to his youngest nephew and Kíli smiled tiredly. He had not forgotten his uncle's wounds.
"Are you alright?"
Thorin raised an eyebrow. "That is the very question I was going to ask you, Kíli. Since you asked first, I am well. I want to continue on soon…"
"Of course," Kíli nodded. "I'm fine to keep walking."
"Forgive me my thoughtlessness, Kíli." Thorin's pain was genuine as it shone in his eyes and Kíli blinked. "I deeply regret that I may have caused you more pain with a game so foolish…"
"No, Thorin." Kíli gave a weary chuckle. "You did not hit me once, and Fíli shielded me from most of the mud anyway…"
"I should not have allowed it to continue." Thorin said firmly. "You were running off of adrenalin."
"That's true, but I'm glad that you did allow it to continue." Kíli replied truthfully. "I needed to laugh."
His uncle sighed and turned away, before hesitating. "Once… Bah! Never mind."
Kíli frowned as Thorin stalked away, before wincing when Óin smacked the back of his head gently.
"Fool."
"If you are quite finished, Master Óin, I think we should resume travelling. The day is wearing on and I don't think it would be wise to linger here after dark." Gandalf announced and Kíli sagged with relief.
"Don't think this is over, laddie! Thanks to your troublesome games you're wounds will have to be treated again tomorrow morning at the latest." Óin warned, and Kíli groaned.
"Where did you say we were going, Gandalf?" Bilbo asked curiously, helping Kíli to his feet.
"To the home of a man I know of, Master Baggins."
"A man you know of? So you don't know him?" Dwalin asked suspiciously. "How do you know he'll help us?"
"I don't." Gandalf said readily. "In fact, there's a rather large chance that he'll try to kill us instead."
"What?" Dwalin cried, looking to Thorin.
The dwarven king glanced at his nephews and his friend before staring at the wizard. "Do we have another choice?"
"No...We have very little choice with so few supplies."
Thorin sighed heavily and Kíli bit his lip. "Lead on."
Kíli began to follow Bilbo, covering his mouth as he yawned.
"Are you alright?" Fíli asked in a low voice as he joined Kíli.
"I'm fine," Kíli said for the umpteenth time. "I needed a laugh, Fíli, trust me."
"But not at the cost of-"
Kíli stopped, grabbing his brother's shoulders and shaking him gently. "Fíli. I grew up in the Shire. I'm used to peace and laughter and I'm...I don't know...I don't know how to deal with being tortured, I can't cope with watching Bilbo f... I can't cope with that, Fíli. I'm not like you... I can't cope... Trust me, a game like that is exactly what I needed. I needed to laugh, Fee...If I didn't…I…"
Fíli sighed, before smiling wryly and clapping a hand to Kíli's shoulder gently. "I understand, little brother."
Kíli smiled, grasping Fíli's forearm. "Thank you."
Fíli slung his arm around Kíli's shoulder gently, and Kíli marvelled at the way that his brother managed to avoid all of his wounds and support his weight ever-so-slightly at the same time, and he slipped into a rare time of silent thought.
Kíli snuck along the corridor, unwilling to wake any of the slumbering dwarves. He wanted to visit the Hall of Fire again, but this time he was going alone; Bilbo had been roped into a drinking game that had not ended well on the hobbit's behalf.
As soon as he was out of earshot of the dwarves he began to hum quietly.
"An interesting tune, young dwarf."
Kíli turned, his cheeks colouring as an ethereally beautiful elven woman clad in white smiled at him.
"Come, speak with me, Kíli Baggins of the Shire."
Kíli did not wonder why she knew his name. Everyone in Rivendell did – he had become a novelty for the elves and with his hobbit clothes he was easily distinguishable from his kin. He followed her up the stairs and onto a balcony that overlooked the starlit valley.
"When Mithrandir told me your story I was compelled to speak with you myself." The woman informed him regally, and Kíli, unsure of how to react, gave a little shy smile. "I am Galadriel, Lady of the Light."
When she paused, Kíli realised that he would have to loosen his own tongue, despite the fact that he had no idea how to respond to someone so compellingly majestic. "It's lovely to meet you?"
The woman smiled, apparently amused by the questioning in Kíli's voice. "I see you are already struggling."
The smile slid from Kíli's face and he frowned lightly. "My lady?"
"Already your heart is torn between the Shire and your kinsmen," Galadriel stated formally. "I can see this. Do not fear – few of the others have noticed your distress. Do not forget, Master Baggins, that every elf on this earth is torn between two worlds from the moment they are born. Our hearts lie both here and across the sea, and every elf chooses differently as to where they will reside."
"You're all torn, too?" Kíli asked, ashamed at how little his voice was.
"Yes, we are." The lady said solemnly, and Kíli swallowed.
"Oh…"
"Remember, Kíli that you are not alone. You share your suffering with us, but you share your life with family and friends that care for you."
Kíli offered the Lady a smile. "Thank you…"
She smiled back. "Should you ever need to find a peace between two worlds, you will always to welcome to search for it among the elves."
"Thank you." Kíli repeated more strongly.
The Lady opened her mouth to speak again, but then her eyes clouded over for a moment and she looked at him thoughtfully.
"I must leave you now, but know this; your choice is yet before you, Kíli Baggins, son of Durin."
"What are you thinking of?" Fíli asked quietly, and Kíli jumped.
"Oh…nothing much." Kíli smiled, leaning into Fíli's shoulder a little.
"As long as you're sure…you looked a little serious."
"And I'm not allowed to be serious?" Kíli raised an eyebrow and Fíli laughed.
"No, you're Kíli and you most certainly are not allowed to be serious. It unnerves me."
"Alright…" Kíli laughed tiredly, suppressing a yawn. Unless he distracted himself very soon he would fall asleep on his feet, but if he did then chances were he would be carried again and that would be far too embarrassing. "So, Master Gandalf, tell us more of this person we're going to see…"
"He is a skin changer." Gandalf explained readily, smiling at Kíli's confused expression. "Sometimes he is a large strong man, and other times he is a large black bear. It is quite interesting, actually."
"Is he bewitched?" Kíli asked curiously, and Gandalf shook his head.
"No, young Kíli. He is under no enchantment but his own. I know little more of him, though I am aware that he cares as much for wild animals as he does for tame ones, so there must be no hunting while we are in this area!" The dwarves around them groaned as Gandalf raised his voice to ensure that he was heard and Kíli laughed, before looking at the wizard imploringly in a silent plea for him to continue. "I believe that he is quick to anger, though I am also assured that he can be most kind."
"Hmm…" Kíli hummed.
"My sentiments exactly." Fíli murmured with a slight grin. "He sounds like Bilbo."
As Kíli opened his mouth to protest his utter confusion, the hobbit in question spluttered himself. "I beg your pardon!"
"Well, you are under no enchantment but your feet are unnaturally quiet. You cared for Kíli – who is as close to a wild animal as a dwarf can be – and for the little hobbit children and you can live without meat… You get irritated easily but you are usually very kind. Besides, you act much like a mother bear when you feel threatened."
Kíli snorted, jostling Fíli as they walked. "That's just silly."
"What can I say?" Fíli shook his head with a sigh. "I'm far too tired to think straight."
"So you decide to bully the hobbit?" Bilbo sighed in mock exasperation. "How typical. You really should pick on someone your own size, Fíli. But not your brother! He's still wounded."
Kíli laughed. "I love you, Bilbo."
"Well that's good to know. I'm here for a reason after all." Bilbo quipped wearily.
"Who are you?" A sudden bellow crashed through the air as a huge man emerged from behind an enormous tree, an axe in his hand. "What are you doing here?"
"Ah, Master Beorn, I presume?" Gandalf said easily as the dwarves flinched. "My name is Gandalf the Grey; I am a friend of Radagast the Brown. My companions and I were attacked by orcs and goblins not two days ago and we seek shelter and supplies. One of our number is wounded..."
The skin changer's piercing eyes scoured the company suspiciously and rested on Kíli. "You are correct to presume that I am Beorn. I've never heard of a Gandalf the Grey, but Radagast is a decent fellow. You have come to beg food and shelter from me?"
"We can pay you." Gandalf insisted. "But in essence, yes."
"Your pup - how bad are his injuries?" Beorn asked, his eyes still boring into Kíli's.
Biting his tongue Kíli lowered his own eyes shyly.
"He will be fine," Thorin said firmly. "If we are able to rest a short while."
Beorn looked thoughtful for a moment. "Tell me the story of how you came to be here and we shall see if you are to be led to my home. As selfish as dwarves are, I'm sure you can see why I do not take kindly to strangers in my home."
Kíli thanked his lucky stars as the dwarves took his insult in their strides and everyone slowly sat down. He had half expected vehement protests and a violent altercation, and that would not have done at all.
As soon as Beorn was on the floor, several small bundles of fur spilt out from the wood behind him and settled down around him, gazing up at the skin changer adoringly as if sensing a story. The enormous, intimidating man took the smallest wolf cub into his hands, stroking down its fur carefully as though it were a tame puppy.
Kíli smiled softly as one of the other little wolf cubs began to chew Dwalin's sleeve, and he winced when the warrior swatted the pup away.
Poor little thing, Kíli thought sadly. It only wanted to play...
Beorn growled slightly at Dwalin's action but Gandalf began his story at that moment, interrupting the skin changer in his defence of the little critter.
The wolf cub shook its head and backed away from Dwalin before bounding up to Kíli and poking his pocket with its nose.
"Hello..." Kíli murmured quietly, a smile on his face as he held out his hand slowly.
The pup backed away for a moment, before creeping closer again with a wagging tail.
"That's it..." Kíli soothed, keeping his voice low enough so that none of the dwarves would hear while they were still concentrating on Gandalf's words.
He gently stroked the puppy's soft fur on his forehead and the wolf cub all but purred, pushing his head up against Kíli's hand. The young dwarf laughed silently, scratching the pup at the base of his skull before fondling his wonderfully silky ears. It had been years since he had played with a puppy: Bilbo had never let him have one as a boy and Paladin and Esme's old dog Pip had died almost a decade before. Kíli continued stroking the wolf cub happily, unaware of the skin changer's subtle glances in his direction.
As Beorn listened intently to the wizard's admittedly intriguing story, he kept half a glance on the young dark haired dwarf who was fussing over Luno.
The bold little wolf cub was far too young to understand any commands and he seemed unaware that the dwarves would likely be unfriendly creatures like the balding warrior who had hit the pup away so Beorn kept a watchful eye on Luno.
However, the dark haired dwarf lad acted differently to the others. While his elders ignored the cubs at best – the way that he had expected them to – the wounded one among them fussed over Luno with a contented smile on his face. He tickled the cubs chin and rubbed his ears and he murmured what sounded suspiciously like elvish to the playful little puppy. By the time the wizard had finished his incredible story, Luno was lying on his back in the dwarf's lap while the dwarf rubbed his belly with a smile on his face that just sung happiness.
That was not the way he expected a dwarf to behave.
Then again, he supposed that some dwarves must keep dogs for hunting. Even so, Beorn resolved to keep an eye on the young wounded dwarf.
"Very well…" he mused aloud. "That is an interesting story… Come, I will feed you for tonight."
The dwarves stood up eagerly, with the sole exception of the dark haired dwarf.
"Come on, Kíli!" the blond dwarf jostled the sitting one gently.
"Do I have to? The puppy's comfortable." The dwarf – Kíli – looked up at his brother and Beorn looked on curiously.
"Puppy? Brother dear, that is a wolf cub, not a puppy." The blond stated.
Kíli shrugged, turning his attention back to Luno. "Wolves are related to dogs, no?"
"Yes, but-"
"And this is a baby wolf?"
"Yes, but-"
"Hence I shall call it a puppy if I wish to." Kíli said decidedly, and Beorn laughed aloud, making the young dwarf jump.
"Luno, Master Dwarf. The cub's name is Luno."
Kíli bowed his head, before blinking and gesturing uncomfortably to the cub. "I'm sorry for…um… I was just…"
"It is alright, Master Dwarf. He likes attention." Beorn said simply.
The young dwarf bowed his head again with a smile, but unlike the regal manners of the elder dwarves, Kíli's polite nod was far less forced and seemed far more akin to the gentle manners of the odd little halfling of the company.
Beorn clicked his tongue with a growl, and the wolf cub scampered out of the dwarf's lap and bounded up to Beorn to search for whatever edible treat the skin changer had in his pockets. Looking a little disappointed, Kíli grabbed his brother's hand and got to his feet.
As he moved around his kitchen, Beorn decided to keep an eye on Kíli.
He had a feeling that not all was as it seemed with the young dwarf.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the house, one of the dwarves was experiencing an uncharacteristically dark mood.
Bofur did not like it. He felt sick.
He fingered the ring of gold in his pocket, knowing full well that it was the cause of his mood. Bofur had waded out of the river and kicked the strange trinket up out of the water by accident. He was not sure why he had picked it up, but he had and he was regretting it.
Bofur's family may not have been susceptible to the gold sickness the way that Thorin's may be, but that only made him worry all the more about why on earth this ring had such a hold over him already. The thought of dropping it was akin to the thought of stabbing himself.
He hated feeling so controlled, but he could not bring himself to even show his brother. Ashamed at his pathetic weakness and confused about why such a small thing could possibly have such a hold over him, he pulled his hat down over his eyes and remained quiet of the rest of the evening.
Bofur had the ring.
And he did not like it.
I hope that was alright, the Kíli/Galadriel convo was a little tricky but I think it got there in the end.
A bit of a filler I know, I'm sorry :(
Let me know what you think, please :)
Thanks for reading!
