Sorry for the late update! Here's some well deserved angst and such for all you guys for waiting so long!
"Come on, Fíli! You're too slow! Mum will find out where we are before we even get there!" Kíli shouted, bounding through the thick brush of the green forest.
"One moment! Slow down!" Fíli shouted back, although much less enthusiastically. His dear, sweet brother had managed to convince him into going swimming in a 'newly discovered' lake, as Kíli chose to call it. And, of course, informing their mother seemed to have slipped their minds entirely.
Fíli wasn't fond of eluding Dís. Nothing good ever came of sneaking away. Both brothers had had their fair share of experiences to know it was unwise. Yet, the thrill of another surreptitious act kept them returning to more trouble.
But, it was a beautiful day. The sun filtered through emerald leaves that rippled as the warm breeze whispered by. Bees bumbled lazily, birds fluttered about gathering berries and insects for their young.
Maybe just this once nothing would go wrong.
They continued their trek for several minutes. No lake came into sight.
"Are you sure you know where you're going, Kíli?" Fíli asked, his patience waning thin, along with the soles of his boots.
Kíli nodded hastily in affirmation. "Ormr said it would take awhile, but we're almost there."
Fíli raised an eyebrow, but didn't question his brother further. Why Kíli held such devotion for such a person as Ormr, Fíli had no idea. The kid was quiet, astute, and he always smelled of rotten fish. He was at least 3 years older than Fíli, yet age didn't show. Ormr was of the Race of Men. He was tall and wiry, unlike the short and stocky build of the Dwarves.
Fíli did not trust Ormr. Not one bit. But he took comfort in the fact that he could easily overpower him should the need arise. Fíli was proud to say that he had developed a fair amount of muscle in the past few years, gained through nearly five years of training with Thorin.
He was rudely interrupted from his thoughts as a large branch came careening into his face, knocking him straight onto his behind. Kíli howled in laughter as his older brother nursed his bloody nose.
"Better pay attention next time, Brother." Kíli laughed, helping him onto his feet.
Fíli shot him a death glare, which Kíli took with a cheeky grin, beckoning for him to come forward. "By the way, we're here." The younger moved away some of the thicker branches to reveal…what resembled a murky pond.
"What is that." Fíli said flatly.
"The lake, you idiot!" Kíli was already undressing.
"Looks more like a mud hole to me." He harrumphed.
"You've never had a problem with wallowing in mud before." Kíli retorted, taking off his boots. "We've come this far, you have to get in."
Fíli sighed a long, exaggerated sigh, and finally relented. The boys stripped themselves completely, certain that there wasn't a living soul within miles of the place, and tiptoed over the sloshy ground.
Fíli halted at the edge of the water, glaring at the small tadpoles that darted around stones and underwater foliage. He was not in the mood to go swimming today.
Kíli, however, decided to sprint and dive headfirst into the water, sending splashes of dirty water into Fíli's mouth and eyes.
"Kíli!" He sputtered, spitting the rancid taste out of his mouth. When he got the filth out of his eyes, he sought out his brother, only to find…no one. Where had Kíli gone?
"Kíli?" He slowly called out, inching into the pond.
No reply.
"Kíli!" Fíli shouted, wading deeper into the water. Durin forbid that some giant fish ate his little brother.
It had been over a minute, and Kíli still hadn't resurfaced.
"Kíli!" He was growing frantic. He moved as quickly as the water would permit him, calling his brother's name over and over again. Still no reply.
"Kíli, please!" Fíli pushed through the tainted liquid, stepping over rocks and fish and desperately calling his brother's name. Several seconds passed until one step sent him plunging deep into the water.
Fíli's mouth opened in a silent scream as he sank. The water seemed to drag him further down, invisible currents grabbing his ankles and pulling. He reached out, trying to gain purchase on a higher rock or weed, but with no success. His eyes began to close as his energy drained. All he could think of as he drowned was Kíli. His eyes snapped open.
Kíli.
There he was! Floating only just out of his reach was his unmoving brother. The sight gave him renewed strength, and he surged forward, grabbing Kíli's limp hand in his. Only through the grace of Aule he was able to find a solid surface beneath his feet. He gave a mighty shove and ascended, his brother tight in his grasp. But the waters were relentless, and seemed to darken in wickedness as the shadowy tendrils were forced to relinquish their hold.
Suddenly, air flowed through thirsting lungs as the brothers resurfaced, much to the dismay of the pond. They stumbled to the edge of the pond, landing in a heap on the ground. Sounds of coughing and spluttering echoed through the trees as the boys tried to expel the remaining liquid.
Fíli was the first to come to his senses.
"What…just…happened?" He breathed, chest heaving in exhaustion. He glanced down at his brother, who was on his hands and knees, spitting up a mixture of mucous and water, eyes half lidded. His dark hair was plastered against his face, leaving a stark contrast on his pallid skin.
"Kíli. What happened?" Fíli asked again, concern showing on his face as he knelt by his brother.
"I…don't know. Water…and it was dark…" Kíli fell onto his side. "Tired." He closed his eyes.
"No, it's okay. We'll get you home." Fíli shakily got to his feet, and hoisted his brother up, allowing the younger to lean up against him. "We have to get into our clothes. Do you think you can do that Kíli?"
The younger Dwarf nodded groggily. His eyes were completely dialated. In a few difficult minutes, they finally managed to clamber into their clothing.
"Are you alright?" Fíli asked his brother. He almost didn't want to know.
Kíli's eyes fluttered shut in response, as he slumped to the forest floor.
"No, no, Kíli! You're alright! We just gotta get you home. It's okay. C'mon. You gotta help me out here. I can't carry you."
Kíli's eyes snapped open as he gasped.
"Kíli?" Worry flooded through Fíli's veins, as he gently shook his brother. "Kíli?"
Understanding seemed to register somewhat in the younger's face, as he mumbled, "Yes. Let's... go."
Thus began their long trek home.
They had almost died, Fíli thought, as he practically dragged his brother through the forest. That dark fact had yet to reach him.
They stumbled along, accumulating dirt and scratches from the trees. Fíli felt his feet growing numb.
They walked for over an hour, until finally, the city came into view. Random guards patrolled along the outskirts. Fíli noticed them, and called out, waving to them with what little energy he had left. Kíli had fallen unconscious early into their journey home. But Fíli had to keep going.
Finally, the guards spotted the young Dwarves, and rushed to meet them. They were safe. Mother and Uncle Thorin would take care of them now. They were safe.
Fíli smiled as consciousness fled him.
Hope you liked it! There's more story to come from this whole pond deal. I'll explain it better also in the next few chapters:) If any of you were wondering, Ormr's name is of Nordic origin, and does have a specific meaning;) If any of you want to look it up, you're welcome to. I'll explain it also in the next chapter:)
Please review!:)