AN: Here's the next chapter! Only one more chapter and then this story is done. Enjoy!
"Tomorrow begins the last days of autumn," Thorin says glancing at the other three Dwarves standing in the circle. Bard had gone to get the weapons and Thorin had taken the opportunity to call his nephews and Balin over to have a quick conversation.
"Durin's Day falls morn after next. We must reach the mountain before then," Balin says as he looks over at Thorin, knowing he doesn't really need to be told but wanting to put it out there nonetheless.
"And if we do not? If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?" Kili asks, glancing behind him to make sure Bard has not returned or that his children are paying attention before looking back at the small group.
"Then this quest has been for nothing," Fili says, also glancing around for Bard or his children before turning his attention back to the group. Bard walks into the room and lays a large package on top of the table and all the Dwarves move to stand around it. Bard un-wraps the package and opens it, showing hand-made weapons. The Dwarves look at the weapons, their eyes wide in shock. Thorin picks up one of the weapons and looks at it.
"What is this?" he asks Bard, looking up at him. Bard looks down at the weapon.
"Pike-hook. Made from an old harpoon." Kili picks up a weapon with a large hammer on the tip of it, studying it.
"And this?" he asks, looking up at Bard and waiting for an explanation.
"A crowbill, we call it, fashioned from a smithy's hammer. It's heavy in hand, I grant, but in defense of your life, these will serve you better than none," Bard explains, looking from the weapon in Kili's hand and around at the group of Dwarves standing around the table. Thorin and Dwalin look at each other, disgust written all over their faces. Fili and Kili share a quick look before Gloin's voice speaks up.
"We paid you for weapons. Iron-forged swords and axes!" Gloin shouts in anger, his eyes narrowing at the bargeman in front of them. Kili looks around at the company, seeing all of their attention is on the weapons and Bard. He sends a look over at his brother who is leaning forward, glaring at the weapons on the table. Kili silently, and slowly, moves away from the group to a bench near the back by a window.
"It's a joke!" Bofur shouts as he throws his weapon back on the table causing the other Dwarves to follow his lead. Kili sets the hammer down and slowly sinks down on to the bench, a grimace appearing on his face. The pain has intensified since their swim but he doesn't want his brother or uncle to find out.
"You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron-forged weapons are held there under lock and key," Bard says, looking at the Dwarves in exasperation. Thorin and Dwalin share a look, a plan already forming between the two of them. Back on the bench, Kili looks down at his wound and his hand cautiously moves down and hovers over it, not wanting to touch it due to the pain seeping through it. This shouldn't hurt this much. Guaranteed I've been using it, but even still…
"Thorin," Balin starts as he moves to look directly at his king. Bard's head jerks up and he looks over at Thorin, the name sounding familiar. "Why not take what's been offered and go? I've made do with less; so have you. I say we leave now."
"You're not going anywhere," Bard speaks up firmly, standing up straight.
"What did you say!?" Dwalin shouts, turning to face Bard, bringing himself to full height. Fili looks over at the bargeman, sending a glare in his direction. This is when he notices Kili is not next to him like he usually is. Fili's eyes dart around and he sees his brother sitting over on a bench under a window. He sees Kili wincing in pain as he examines his bandage without trying to touch it. When Kili looks up, Fili quickly looks away. Something is wrong with his brother and he knows it; Kili knows it too but he's trying to cover it up, again. Fili hears Bard's voice but he doesn't pay it any mind, his thoughts solely on his brother.
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Bard had taken off with no announcement of where he was going, so the Dwarves were in his house with his children. The Dwarves are all sitting around the table, eating dinner; the few who can't fit are standing up against the wall. Fili takes a bowl from Sigrid, Bard's eldest child, and offers her a smile. He looks behind him over towards the bench seeing Kili still sitting there. Fili turns back to Sigrid and offers a smile.
"Could I get a bowl for my brother?" he asks nodding his head behind him towards his brother. Sigrid glances over at the young Dwarf and nods her head. She dishes up some soup in another bowl and hands it to Fili, returning his smile. "Thank you."
Fili walks over to his brother and takes a seat next to him, offering him one of the bowls. Kili doesn't look up as he continues to stare at a spot on the floor trying to push the pain back down. Fili's mouth pinches into a straight line and he nudges Kili's arm with the bowl. Kili lifts his head and looks over at his brother, offering him a smile and taking the bowl from him. Fili picks up his spoon and begins eating the soup, his eyes scanning the room around him. His eyes meet up with Thorin's and Thorin nods his head at him, his eyes glancing over at Kili before he turns his attention back to Dwalin.
"How's the leg?" Fili asks his brother, still focusing his attention on his food.
"Fine," Kili says, proud he's able to hide the pain in his voice. Kili begins eating his own soup knowing his brother is listening for anything telling him otherwise.
"We should get Oin to take another look at it," Fili says, glancing over at his brother. Kili shakes his head and looks over at Fili, holding his gaze.
"It's fine. Besides we need to focus on getting into the armory," he says with determination, his voice firm. Fili scowls but knows there's no way he'll be able to change his brother's mind.
"Fine, but if anything changes you let me know," Fili says, his own voice firm and set in determination. Kili nods his head before turning back to his soup.
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Fili finds himself crouched against the wall of the Armory along with most of the other Dwarves in the company as they create a makeshift stairway with their bodies. The rest of the Dwarves and Bilbo are around the corner waiting their turn to run up the backs of the Dwarves and through the window of the armory.
"Sh! Keep it down!" Dwalin demands as the Dwarves making the stairway are grumbling and exclaiming at being pushed and stepped on.
"As soon as we have the weapons, we make straight for the mountain," Thorin says to the Dwarves around the corner with him. He points to Nori standing next to him, and whispers loudly. "Go, go, go!"
Nori runs towards the makeshift stairway and runs up their backs, getting high enough to reach the second story window and jump through it. Thorin looks behind him and at Bilbo.
"Next," he says gently pushing Bilbo towards the Dwarves. Bilbo runs up their backs, leaping into the window as well. Thorin looks back at Kili and nods towards the stairway. Kili runs towards the group of Dwarves making the stairway and runs up their backs as well. He grunts as he feels the pain in his leg flare up tenfold and putting so much pressure on his leg. He dives into the window, almost missing it and catching himself and pulling his body into the window.
After Fili feels his brother step onto his back, he makes sure to pop his back up a little to give Kili a boost. After Kili leaves his back, Fili's head shoots up, and he watches his brother run up the rest of the way to the window. He sucks in a breath when Kili almost doesn't make it, only letting it out when he sees Kili safely get into the Armory.
Thorin glances from around the corner, watching his youngest nephew run towards the stairway. He can see him running a little slower than normal, knowing his leg is hurting him. When Kili almost doesn't make it to the window, Thorin feels his body tensing. He relaxes when Kili pulls himself inside and out of sight. Looking around, Thorin quickly runs up the company's backs and leaps into the window and landing on his feet.
"Let's get the weapons and get out of here," Thorin orders taking a spot near a group of weapons hanging on the wall. The rest of the Dwarves begin grabbing weapons and Kili grabs a couple weapons himself, setting them on his outstretched arms. He moves towards Nori who sets a sword on top of his pile and then, Kili moves to Bilbo who also sets another weapon on his pile. Kili shifts the weapons, a grimace appearing on his face and stifling a grunt of pain as pain begins to throb in his leg. Kili moves towards his uncle and Thorin turns around and sets a sword on Kili's pile as well.
"You all right?" Thorin asks Kili, putting a hand on Kili's arm. Kili quickly wipes the grimace off his face.
"I can manage. Let's just get out of here," he replies, looking his uncle in the eye and holding his gaze in determination. Thorin watches him a moment and then grabs another sword and puts it on the pile in Kili's arms.
Kili shifts the pile once again and moves towards the stairs; he looks down them and he feels his heart rate pick up. The pain in his leg is intensifying from the extra weight of the weapons and he doesn't know if he can go down all of these stairs. He takes a deep breath and begins to walk down the stairs. He doesn't make it very far when his injured leg gives way and he tumbles down the rest of the stairs with a cry of agony; the weapons crash and clang as they fall with him and make a loud noise. Everyone inside the Armory freezes and look around the building warily. They hear the watchmen cry out and footsteps running towards them.
The Dwarves inside the Armory quickly spin around and try to make a run for the window but are halted by swords pushing them back into the wall, the points close to their throats. Kili shifts and sits up to climb to his feet and escape with the group but a hand from behind him grabs his shoulder and slams him back against the pole, a dagger pushed against his throat. Kili glances up at his uncle, guilt and shame flooded over in her eyes.
Thorin glares at the guard in front of him and then shifts his gaze down the stairs to check on his youngest nephew. He sees a guard holding him against a pole from behind with a dagger to Kili's throat; he also sees the shame and guilt radiating off Kili in waves. Thorin's jaw sets as thoughts begin flooding his head, not liking any of them but knowing he has to make a decision.
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The Dwarves outside hear the commotion from inside and the banging and clanging of steel and metal crashing against wood. Fili's head whips up towards the window, his eyes wide with fear. Kili, Fili thinks, knowing whatever happened involved his younger brother. They hear shouts and hurried footsteps running towards them.
"Run!" Dori shouts, turning around and pushing the group away from the Armory. Fili turns to run, not wanting to but knowing in order to help his brother and uncle later he can't be caught as well. His escape is stopped when a large group of guards appear from around the corner, their swords aimed at the group of Dwarves.
AN: Please send me some feedback!