Chapter 2 - From bad to worse

Kili was pale and feverish, sweating cold. Fili carried him all the way to the Master of Lake Town, who recently abandoned the podium to resume his greedy tasks followed by Alfrid.

"Sire, we need help. My brother is sick" Said Fili.
"Sick? is it infectious? Get back! Alfrid, get them back!" Said the man.
"Please sire, have a heart. Our friend here needs medication!" I heard the deaf Oin plead those words and it broke my heart to see no reaction.
"Am I to understand those encouraging words at the podium were just that?" My indignation was too strong to keep it to myself.

That's when Alfrid turned around to respond on his Master's behalf, "Do I look like an apothecary to you? Haven't we given you enough? The Master's a busy man. He hasn't got time to worry about sick dwarves. Be gone. Will you go on? Clear off!" The hideous man was dangerously close to my face. A stench invaded my nostrils from those yellow teeth of his, and it made me nauseated. It certainly matched his soul.

We watched with disbelief how those two pushed people out of their way in order to pass. I glared at them both, as I overheard their conversation...

"Masterfully handled, sire. Your popularity has never been so high. The entire town twittering your name." Said Alfrid.

"Yes, it was rather clever. Either our little friends return triumphant, in which case I stand to make a pretty penny. Or old Smaug dines on dwarf for a day or two. The important thing is they're off our hands." Said the Master as they entered his house.

I was angry, "And this is what Thorin gave his word to. If only he could hear them now.." I thought, severely indignant.
"Well, we cannot stay here. We need to find a place" said Oin.
"I have an idea, let's go to Bard!" said Bofur.

All of us agreed and carried Kili there. Bofur knocked at Bard's door. The man was fed up about the dwarves, especially after being made to look the fool the night before, when his ancestor's failure to kill Smaug was aired out. So he reacted with indifference. I should have seen it coming. However, at the mention of Kili being sick, Bard softened, letting us all in. The man certainly had far more compassion, which was admirable coming from someone who got shamed by us to a degree. Kili was laid at one of Bard's humble beds. He gave the dwarves all the limited resources he had for medicine, but none were good enough. As much as Oin did his best efforts to cure Kili, his fever would only get worse. Bofur decided to try some luck at finding kingsfoil outside.

Each painful groan of Kili pierced my very soul. I wished there was something I could do to ease his pain. Sadly his leg infection was beyond my capabilities. I caressed his sweat drenched hair, humming softly in hopes to ease him a little. Given the circumstances, he could not advance on me, so it was safe to look at him closely and study his facial features. I could not help but wonder if a son of mine would look remotely like him, as he was of the two, the most akin to his uncle. My meditation was interrupted by Bard's eldest daughter, Sigrid.

"I brought you this, is not much but will help your friend feel better" She said, bringing me a bowl of water and some clean bandages.
"Why thank you, that is very kind of you!" I said, taking the things she offered and placing them on the bedside table, "He is actually my future nephew" I said, caressing his hair soothingly.
Sigrid looked oddly at me for a moment, narrowing her eyes... "I am confused. You are no dwarf. How can that be?"
"It's a long story. But to give you the short version, I am betrothed to his uncle." I said, smiling fondly.
"Oh!" responded Sigrid, more confused by my explanation than she was initially.

At that moment, the ground shook for a few seconds only. We all knew the tremors to come from the mountain. I widened my eyes, "Thorin!" the thought of him in danger filled me with fear. Bard pulled a spear-like object from the ceiling and left the house in a hurry, followed by his son Bain.

Several hours passed, night fell upon us and there was no news of either Bard or Bofur. Sigrid was already worried, so she decided to wait outside.
"Resist, brother. We will make it out of this one" Said Fili, holding his groaning brother's hand tight. I kept caressing Kili's hair, flashing a smile to Fili. I grew very fond of them both, despite of the many pranks they played on me. The bonding moment was interrupted by screams from Sigrid, who struggled to lock the door. She was pushed out of the entrance and orcs came in. The house was swarming with them through windows and doors in no time.

Fili and Oin threw themselves against them, while I tried to pull Kili safely under the table with Bard's girls. But an Orc pushed me out of the way. I was numb with the impact. During the confusion, a pair of elves joined in, slashing orcs skillfully until they took the last one down. They spoke in elvish to one another. The redhead one decided to stay, defying with it the blonde's orders. So he left to keep hunting orcs outside. Right then Bofur finally returned with the kingsfoil, just to have it yanked from his hands by the she elf, who claimed she could save Kili. Poor boy was convulsing, we nearly lost him.

In my numbness, I recognized that face as the elf maid that Kili was kissing deep in the woods. But I wasn't sure if what my eyes saw was fact or a mere delusion of my numb head. Everything happened so fast. I shook my head to the sides abruptly, bringing my hands to my temples with a blurry vision. I heard the Sindarin chanting of the she elf, same words over and over like a prayer of sorts. Before I could react, Kili was out of danger and recovering thanks to her. I rose from the floor to go to them and see how was Kili doing. Right when I thought the worse had passed, the flapping sound of wings and peasant screams outside took away my calm. I looked out the window to realize the town was on fire!