AN: Here's a quick update for everyone! Anyone seen the new Hobbit trailer? Talk about the feels! I am so excited for the new movie; I wish it would just come out already!
Fili feels the barge come to a stop. He waits a moment and then he feels the barrels tipping over, hitting the floor of the boat. No sooner does he realize this than his own barrel is tipped over, the fish falling out of it. Fili begins to climb out and looks over seeing Bard move to Kili's barrel.
"No. I'll do his," Fili orders, looking directly at Bard. Bard looks over at the young dwarf seeing a look in his eyes; one he's only ever seen once before.
Back when he was a child and his father took him hunting, they had come across a wolf and her cub in the woods. In that moment, even as a child, Bard knew that mother wolf would do anything to protect her young. Bard nods his head and moves to the other barrels on the boat. Fili pushes himself to his feet and moves over to his brother's barrel, hurriedly throwing the fish off the top and onto the floor of the barge. Once Fili uncovered Kili's head, Kili looks up at his brother, trying to hide the pain, but Fili can see it written all over his face.
"You okay?" Fili asks with worry lacing his words, watching his brother closely.
"Just get me out of here," Kili answers, his voice strained as he shoves more fish onto the floor and grabs the side of the barrel. Fili swiftly grabs his brother's arm and helps him stand up. Kili swats his brother's hand away and sits on the edge of the barrel and swings his injured leg over the side with a muffled groan. Fili allows Kili to do it himself but stays nearby for when his brother face plants. Kili sets his injured leg on the floor and takes a deep breath before putting weight on it and swinging his other leg over, prying it doesn't give away again. It almost does but Kili fights against it and, through a stifled groan of pain, clears the barrel and stands up, putting all his weight on his good leg.
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Thorin climbs out of his barrel and he looks around to see the rest of the Dwarves in his company climbing out of theirs as well. His eyes roam over the Dwarves until they rest on his eldest nephew climbing out of his barrel and staring down Bard, who is positioned in front of another barrel. By the protective look in Fili's eyes Thorin has no doubt the barrel Bard is standing in front of is the one Kili is in. Thorin feels his lips cork into a smirk; he's been on the wrong end of that look and he knows exactly how Bard is feeling right now. He snorts as Bard quickly backs down and moves to the rest of the barrels. His amusement dies down quickly though because if Fili is being this protective over Kili then Kili is in a lot of pain.
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As the last of the Dwarves pile off the barge a sudden shout from down the wooden path has the company halting and looking to their right.
"Halt! Oy!" Thorin's eyes widen as he notices a group of guards at the end of the path looking right at them.
"Come on, move," Thorin orders his company, shoving Dwalin towards another path. The group quickly makes a hasty retreat towards the middle of the town, trying to get lost in the maze.
"In the name of the Mast of Lake-Town I said halt!" the guard shouts at them as he and the rest of his group hurriedly spread out and run after the group of Dwarves. The Dwarves swiftly run through the pathways, keeping their eyes peeled for the guards.
"Halt! Stop him!" the first guard says as he rushes after the Dwarves and down the pathway they took. The Dwarves are running past the people of Lake-Town and as they run down one path they are stopped by the guard appearing at the end of it.
"Oy!" the guard shouts as he looks over and sees the group of Dwarves.
"Get back," Thorin instructs as he begins shoving the group back the way that they have just come.
"Come here!" shouts the guard quickly running down the path after them. Fili sees this and he grabs his brother and pulls him away at Thorin's command to get back. Ori grabs a broom from nearby and jams it in the guards face while one of the other Dwarves moves to his hands and knees causing the guard to trip over him and fall to the ground, hitting his head. Oin notices a second guard coming after them and he hides behind a pole, sticking his leg out and tripping him as the guard comes by sending him into a pole face first. The guard collapses to the ground and Bard quickly runs after the group of Dwarves, keeping an eye on them.
Kili and Fili continue running through the maze, looking out for the guards and anything they can use as a weapon. Fili sees a guard up ahead and he grabs Kili's arm and yanks him down another path, trying to ignore the grunt sounding from his brother at the sudden change in direction. Balin grabs an oar and swings it at one of the guards, hitting him in the stomach. The guard stumbles back and spins around only to face Thorin who has a fish in his hand. Thorin swings the fish and smashes it in the guards face, sending him to the ground.
Fili pulls Kili down the path until he sees a rope on one of the nearby table. He lets go of Kili's arm and grabs the rope, a shout causing him to turn around and sees a guard charging at them. Fili looks over at his brother seeing not only the pain on his face but his wide eyes at the oncoming assault. Fili grabs Kili's arm once again and pulls him down another path hastily, stopping him near the middle of it. Fili hands Kili one end of the rope and the two of them hurriedly move to either side of the path, hiding behind a couple of poles. As the guard runs by, Fili and Kili's eyes meet and they abruptly yank on the rope, bringing it taught. The guard trips and tumbles to the ground face first, hitting his head on the wood. Fili looks over at his brother, taking in his appearance. Kili glances over at his older brother and offers him a genuine smile. He is in pain but this little adventure increased his spirits. Fili looks around them and sees the people around quickly begin to disperse and then he hears someone with a demanding tone begin to speak; although, he is unable to make out the words.
"What's going on here?" a guard says, the leader of the guard to be exact, as he walks down the path eyeing the people and the surrounding with wariness. Thorin and Balin look over at each other, the two of them raising their weapons in preparation for an attack. "Stay where you are. Nobody leaves."
Thorin nods to Balin and Balin returns it, keeping his eye on the lead guard. Thorin begins searching around him in hopes of finding his nephews but cannot see them anywhere. He hopes they are okay and weren't caught by the guards. Normally he wouldn't be as worried but with Kili hurt he's not sure what to think at the moment. Bard's voice is heard as he begins talking to the head guard, the two of them exchanging terse words. Thorin turns his attention back to the head guard and sees him walking through the wooden paths. All of the Dwarves are hiding behind different objects and Thorin hopes none of them are spotted. There is a crash and Thorin looks around but doesn't see anything of danger.
Kili sees the head guard walk past their pathway and he slowly moves further back. He shifts his gaze to his brother and the two of them lock eyes. Fili gives him an encouraging nods and Kili visibly relaxes knowing his brother is there to watch out for him. They hear Bard's voice once again, a hint of amusement in his voice. They wait a moment and then the guards turn and leave the area. Fili and Kili slowly stand up, taking a look around them warily. The rest of the Dwarves come out of hiding as well and they slowly make their way over to where Bard is. As Fili and Kili meet up with the group, Thorin looks over at them, seeing they are okay. He meets Fili's gaze and Fili nods his head, causing Thorin to sigh in relief.
"Follow me," Bard says, turning Thorin's attention back to the bargeman. The company hurriedly follows after Bard through the pathways of Lake-Town, trying to keep unseen by any guards around. As they turn a corner, a boy runs up to Bard and stops in front of him.
"Da! Our house, it's being watched," the boy, Bain, exclaims, his eyes roaming over the group following his brother. Fili groans inwardly; could they not catch a break. Could Kili not catch a break? Bard turns around and looks around them, his mind turning ideas over in his head.
"I have an idea," Bard announces suddenly as he looks back at Thorin. Thorin looks at the man with indignation, wondering what he could possibly make them do now. "This way."
Bard leads them to a different path, careful of not being seen and keeping a lookout for anything out of the ordinary. He stops at the back of a building next to the lake. He looks back at the company and points to a house not far away.
"That is my house. If you swim there, we can bring you in through the toilet," Bard explains, already knowing the reaction he is going to get.
"The toilet!?" Dwalin exclaims in anger, his face hardening and his eyes narrowing.
"You want us to come in through the toilet?" Thorin asks as his own posture is tense at the thought of it.
"They will not be watching that part. It's the only way to get you inside without being seen," Bard says, annoyance written all over his face. Thorin glares at Bard and then glances back at the house.
"Fine," Thorin says tersely gaining many a glare from his company. Bard nods his head and grabs his sons arm and the two of them rapidly move in the other direction. Thorin turns to the company and sighs. "Go. It's the only way."
The group of Dwarves grumbles but then quickly begins entering the water and swimming towards the house a couple at a time so as not to look as odd as it could be. Thorin watches as the company slowly makes their way to the house, hoping they don't get caught as they do so. Fili and Kili hang back, making the decision to be one of the last one's over. Kili looks at the swim and forces a swallow, knowing this is going to hurt his leg even more than it already is; the less he has to swim in that water the better for him. Fili glances over at his brother and sees the tenuous hold he has over this latest obstacle. Fili doesn't blame him; the swim is going to be painful, not to mention the water probably isn't suitable to be soaking a wound in. As they move up next to their uncle, only the three of them left, Fili grabs his uncle's arm. Thorin looks over at Fili, his eyebrows furrowed in question.
"This water isn't good for Kili's wound; it could get infected," Fili says, pleading with his uncle to find another way for his brother. Thorin glances at Kili who is standing on the edge of the platform staring across at the house.
"We don't have a choice Fili; this is the only way," Thorin replies moving his gaze back to his eldest nephew.
"Kili is injured…" Fili begins to argue, his face hard as stone.
"Fili…" Kili's voice speaks up. Thorin and Fili turn and look at the youngest heir who is looking back at them with determination on his face. "I'm fine. I can do this."
Fili purses his lips, knowing his brother is not fine, but letting him have his way nonetheless. He'll just have to make sure he stays right next to his brother the whole swim over, just in case. Kili turns back to the water before him and sits down on the platform. Taking a deep breath, Kili slides down into the water and looks back at his brother and uncle giving them a cheeky grin.
"Fili, go," Thorin says, giving Fili a slight push. Fili swiftly slides into the water and glances over at his brother, forcing himself to return his smile.
Kili turns around and begins swimming towards the house, fighting through the pain and making sure he doesn't show it. He wants his family to believe he's fine so he has to prove to them that he is fine. He can hear Fili swimming just behind him and knows he's keeping a close eye on him, so when Kili feels the pain scorching through his leg he forces it back down and quickly hides the grimace he knows has appeared on his face.
As the two brothers reach the back of the house where the toilet is, Kili quickly grabs ahold of one of the poles, trying to take the strain off his leg. Fili swims up next to him, treading water, as he looks over at his brother and gives him a worried look. Kili looks over and gives Fili a grin, even if it is forced.
"Not really my idea of a pleasant swim," Kili says, nodding his head towards where the toilet is they're supposed to be entering through. Fili forces a smile but decides if Kili can joke about this then maybe he isn't as bad as he thought. He even looks better, not as weary anymore; Fili puts the earlier moment off to the shock of it all. Thorin joins them and looks over at the beginning of the line, waiting for them to be able to get out of the water. They don't have to wait long for Bain as opened the toilet and beckoned them inside. The group quickly swims under the toilet and climbs up through it, Dwalin being the unhappiest of them all. Fili and Kili look at the toilet, a disgusted look on their faces.
"When we tell the story of our quest…" Fili begins, wrinkling his nose as he glares at the toilet he is quickly getting closer to.
"We don't mention this," Kili finishes, nodding his head in agreement before he and Fili submerge in the water.
AN: Please send some feedback! Love hearing from my readers!