Here's the next chapter~~I hope you enjoy :)
Chp 34
Tauriel didn't have to fend them off for long, as luckily Bilbo had run into Kili, Balin and Ori who were walking close by in the hallway. These three dwarves ran into the room and saw what was happening. Two of the stout dwarves who both had swords were advancing on Tauriel, while the other one had an axe and was getting closer to Dwalin who was struggling to get to his feet. Incensed by what they saw, Balin rushed into the room to help his brother. Before advancing too far, Kili knew he could never reach the two that were about to strike deadly blows on Tauriel. He looked and close to him on the wall were a bow and a set of arrows. He raced over and grabbed them, he knew he only had one chance.
He took aim at the dwarf that was about to stab at Tauriel with his long sword, while Ori went lunging towards the other one by Tauriel. Kili's aim was as deadly as ever, hitting the dwarf right in the throat, where he collapsed in a heap at Tauriel's feet. The other dwarf next to Tauriel saw what happened to his comrade and stopped advancing. He slowly dropped his sword, so Ori also stopped his charge. Meanwhile Balin, who had bravely went for the dwarf who had an axe on his brother without a weapon of his own, had stopped scuffling with him and they both stopped and looked at the fallen dwarf on the ground.
"What in Mahal's sake is going on here!" Kili yelled. No one responded. Ori snatched away the sword from the sad dwarf who just looked at the other one on the floor. Balin helped his brother up, while Bilbo, who had run over to the wall and grabbed a sword, was holding it against the dwarf with the axe. This dwarf half looked like he wanted to have a go at the smaller figure in front of him for what these newcomers had done to his friend. But, looking around at all of them, knowing he was outnumbered, he angrily threw down his sword. Kili rushed up to him and took the dwarf's shirt in both handfuls, "I said...WHAT is going on here," he angrily asked. Kili was quite a bit taller than this dwarf and even though Kili had a very fierce expression on his face, the dwarf still didn't speak." Tauriel loosened her grip on the axe and backed a short way away from the grouping, off to the side where Bilbo was.
After a few moments, the sad dwarf finally spoke up, "his name was Nott," as he looked down at the unmoving figure, "I'm Wott, he was my brother." Kili said, a little more softly, now facing the dwarf that was speaking, "And this one?" he looked at the unspeaking dwarf who he still held firmly in his hands. The dwarf glared at Wott, daring him to continue with unspoken gestures. Wott hung his head, but then when he looked up he shook it and said, "nay...this has already gone too far, Grule." At these words, the dwarf spat at Wott, who just hung his head, and everyone in the room looked down at the fallen figure.
Kili was the first to look up from their dazed thoughts. "Ori..." he said. It took a moment for Ori to lift his head up. "Ori!" Kili said a little more urgently this time, "Go fetch Oin, quickly!" With that, Ori raced out of the room. Balin gestured to Tauriel and she took it to mean go over and guard the dwarf that dropped his sword, so she did. She really didn't even need a weapon because but the dwarf had gotten to his knees to check on his brother. Meanwhile, Balin had taken the sword from Bilbo and was holding it on the angry dwarf.
Kili walked over to Dwalin, who Balin had deposited in a sturdy chair. Kili kneeled down in front of the chair, "Dwalin, what happened?" he said slowly. Dwalin rubbed the back of his head, where a large knot had appeared. "Those bastards jumped me. Arguing and yelling that they wouldn't be bowing to a lesser relation of a no good, corrupt, elf-loving FEMALE heir to the throne, they said," repeated Dwalin, who looked over at the two dwarves not laying on the floor with utter contempt. Tauriel observed what Dwalin had said and also started to feel her anger rise. She figured Kili would feel the same way, but when she looked over at him, he just had a sad expression as he walked over to Nott and stood over him.
Just then, Oin and Ori came rushing in with a stretcher and two other dwarves Tauriel didn't recognize. They loaded the fallen dwarf onto it and Oin hurried out the main doors after them. Kili could tell Wott desperately wanted to follow and see to his brother, but Kili stepped in front of him. "Nay, I'm sorry. You cannot follow. Not at this time-" The dwarf didn't seem upset, but sad. Grule, the other dwarf, still being guarded by Balin just watched Kili intently as he crossed the room and made his pronouncement. "Dwalin? Are you and Ori up to taking these two to the dungeons until we can get this sorted out?" "Ohhh yessss!" Dwalin spat, as he rose from the chair. Kili grabbed his arm forcefully, "Dwalin! Hold your anger in check...at least until we get this sorted out...okay?" he said. Kili could tell Dwalin was mumbling under his breath so he repeated, "Dwalin...do I have your word?" He looked at Kili and repeated in a somewhat grumbly tone, "Yes, my Lord." With that Dwalin took the pair of iron handcuffs Bilbo had found in the room and put them on Grule and Wott's wrists. Shoving Grule pretty roughly, he and Ori led the pair out of the room.
After they were gone, it was just Balin and Kili, Tauriel and Bilbo left in the large room. Balin knew Kili would be upset at this unfortunate turn of events. So he ushered him into the chair that Dwalin had recently vacated. Once seated, Kili closed his eyes and sighed deeply. "Laddie- don't be going and get'n all upset...you did what you had to do," said Balin. Tauriel and Bilbo, who were standing close by, also voiced their agreement with Balin's statement. Then Bilbo sensed that the pair needed some time alone, so he looked all around the room, pretendingly, and said, "umm...I think I'll check and see what Bombur's got cooking for dinner. Tauriel, I'll be by the kitchens if you wanted to continue our explorations," he smiled as he hurried off.
Then Balin added, "We'll get all'o this straightened out...don't you be worryin about it. I am going to find Oin and check on the condition of the dwarf. I'll report back as soon as I can. Tauriel, I'll leave him in your very capable care," Balin said as he bowed and exited the room. Then Tauriel glided over and kneeled next to Kili. She put her hand on top of his and squeezed it. When he felt Tauriel's hand he smiled a little and opened his eyes. "Kili..." Tauriel started, but Kili interrupted her..."I know, I know," he said quietly. "I just had no idea that it would be like this," Kili continued. Tauriel seemed like she understood why Kili was sad.
She sat on the edge of the sturdy chair and stroked Kili's arm. "Age long prejudices run deep my love. It will not be one, nor even many deeds that will change minds. We can only continue resolutely on our chosen path, and one day, maybe, everyone else will catch up," Tauriel said, as she smiled at down at him. Kili blinked and sighed up at her. Next, he surprised Tauriel by grabbing her forearm and pulling her so that she was entirely sitting in his lap. She drew her long legs up and rested her head in the crook of his neck and he wrapped his strong arms around her. They sat there for awhile as he gently stroked her long luxurious hair, and she could feel the incredible pound of his pulse run throughout his body...remembering a time, not so long ago on a mountaintop, when there was but silence in him and she shuddered at the thought.
Just then, Balin came back in, and Tauriel quickly straightened herself up but did not leave Kili's lap. Balin bowed to both of them, "Kili...the dwarf was very grievously injured, but...Oin believes he yet will live." Tauriel could feel the heavy weight leave Kili's body as he exhaled deeply and put his hand on Tauriel's back and let it rest at the curve of her hip. "Yes, t hat is a great relief, Balin. However...how should we handle this? Something needs to be done to quell this here and now." Balin thought for a moment and said finally, "We must assemble everyone. They must know the truth." With that, Balin hurried off to make the arrangements, leaving Kili and Tauriel to share dark, quizzical looks.
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