So here's the next instalment. Big thanks all around for the reviews, I can't tell you how much they mean to me. Oh and 'SkyBlue' just so you know I will be running to the screen and hugging it too, you won't be the only weirdo ;-) lol. And also have to tell you I couldn't stop smiling after reading yours and 'Celebrisilweth's' last reviews.
I got a bit emotional writing this Chapter and I just hope it goes down well with you all.
Thanks in advance for reading this, hopefully you'll enjoy.
A Perilous Road.
Chapter Eight: Nightmares.
"Mushrooms!" Kili scrambled from his pony, almost tripping over his own feet as he scurried over to the luscious bounty. He wasted no time as he began picking the biggest ones, grinning from ear to ear during the process.
A pair of boots appeared beside him. "You'd better start picking if you want any." Kili warned. When he received no reply he glanced up questioningly to his Brother who stared open mouthed a little way ahead.
"Pipe weed!" He watched his Brother scamper over to the precious herb, digging into his coat pocket and producing a pouch to stuff the weed into. "It's like someone knew we were coming!" Fili squealed. Through his delirium it didn't even strike him as weird that the weed was already dried and ready to smoke.
Kili giggled to himself whilst he carried on with his picking and soon his Brother was giggling as well until they were crying and in stitches of pain. Wiping his eyes Kili grabbed the mushrooms and joined his brother where he was already lighting up his pipe. Sitting cross legged against a trunk they began enjoying their loot, completely drunk on bliss and excitement before they began laughing uncontrollably again. Not that they even had a reason for laughing – everything was just too damn funny. And oh Sweet heavens these were the best mushrooms ever!
By the time they were done and had both sampled the weed and mushrooms they chilled beside one another, content and in a hazy bliss. This place was great and Kili could quite happily stay here forever. Taking a long pull from the hip flask Kili savoured the taste of the river water. Amazing.
Beginning to feel overcome with exhaustion he stretched out his heavy limbs, placing his hands behind his head. A quick glance at his Brother confirmed he was already fast asleep and as if on cue he snorted contentedly in his slumber. Feeling the weight of sleep drag him under Kili smiled to himself and closed his eyes, happy in the knowledge that he would gladly sleep forever more.
Thorin and Dwalin stood side by side regarding the two pathways before them. A little way behind Gloin and Oin stretched their legs and wondered what the hold-up was. Rubbing his hand back and forth across his bold head Dwalin frowned. "You can't know for sure they went this way."
Thorin's hands fisted by his sides as he struggled to remain calm. "I know my own blood. They went this way." Thorin gestured to the right hand pathway – the beautiful and inviting choice, the one his Nephews had undoubtedly taken.
Admitting defeat Dwalin shook his head with grim resolve. "Then right we go."
Thorin trudged towards his pony, his eyes hardly straying from their destined path. Aule only knew what trouble the boys had gotten themselves into, he shuddered to think and could no longer ignore the all-encompassing need to find them and drag them back home kicking and screaming. He was going to wring their necks when he found them – if he found them.
Unwilling to travel that direction of thought Thorin glanced at his company and told them what they would be up against. He was pretty convinced they were already aware and had heard of travellers becoming trapped in their nightmares, but he had to make sure. And there were rules when traveling these kind of paths that were to be followed with no exceptions. No eating or smoking anything from the forest, no drinking from the river and of course above everything else no sleeping. He just prayed they would find the boys and make it out before the sleep took its hold and dragged them all under its spell, because if it did the chances were none of them would be making it home again.
Once he was certain the others understood the rules Thorin led the way, making a mental note that when he found his Nephews he would recite all the old stories he used to tell them, because they obviously hadn't been paying enough attention.
Fili tried to move but he was bound. Lifting his head he glanced down at his restraints wondering where he was and what had happened. And then the screaming started, but this wasn't just any scream – it was his brother. Feeling a renewed sense of urgency take hold Fili struggled desperately against the binds, binds he couldn't even see through the thick soupy fog rolling all around him. He was tied to the ground but by what he couldn't be sure.
"Kili!" Crying out his Brother's name he thrashed some more. He had to get to him, had to break free and save him. It was Fili's job and right now he was failing.
As if somebody had flicked a switch the fog cleared and his Uncle stood before him. Sweet relief flooded through Fili causing him to almost cry out in joy, but it was short lived. Narrowing his eyes he noticed something wasn't right, his Uncle's face was distant and unseeing as if he was looking straight through Fili.
"Uncle, please help me out of here." Fili tugged on his restraints for emphasis but still Thorin stared straight through him, indifferent to his plight. A renewed sense of dread took a hold of Fili as he squirmed helplessly, trying his hardest not to panic and wondering what was wrong with his Uncle.
As he looked down he noticed he was bound by vines and branches, tied down somehow to a forest floor. He tried to remember how he got here but came up blank, as if a chunk of his memory had been erased. Glancing back up to his Uncle a shot of dread coursed through Fili's veins as he spotted a lifeless form cradled in his arms that hadn't been there moments before. Becoming utterly still Fili focused on the body and tried to keep calm. "U… Uncle… who…" His voice trailed off as an untamed fear swept through his very being. No, it couldn't be. This couldn't be happening.
Taking a step forward Thorin focused upon Fili, finally seeming to notice him for the first time. "You did this, Fili."
Fili's heart rate soared as his Uncle carried the body closer. Suddenly realizing he was able to move Fili pushed the vines aside, fumbling over to his Uncle on numb legs. He stopped just short of his Uncle, all movement and words an impossibility at who was cradled in Thorin's arms. "No…" Fili breathed. But as he reached forward and swept Kili's hair aside there was no room left for denial. "NO!" The word was wrenched from his body on a guttural wail as his knees buckled.
Thorin knelt down, his eyes level with Fili. "You did this. His blood is on your hands." Placing Kili's body upon the forest ground Thorin gradually disappeared, fading away until there was nothing. Nothing but Fili and Kili.
Fumbling to feel a pulse Fili froze in shock as he felt nothing but coldness and death. Kili's eyes were closed and his pallor ashen. He screamed in denial, an untamed sense of loss taking over to which nothing could ever compare. Numb to the core he desperately clutched his Brother as he doubled over. A grief so intense swept through him as he sobbed into his brother's tunic. His baby Brother was gone, he'd never see him smile again, or make him laugh. Never comfort him when he was scared or get to see the admiration and love returned in his gaze. He had one defining purpose in his life, to protect his Brother, and he had failed.
Lifting his head and blinking through his swimming vision he kissed his Brother on the forehead, unable to hold back the tears which showered down upon Kili. He lay down beside him, holding tight the most important thing in his life and stayed that way until sleep dragged him under.
Waking again sometime later he was tied down again, and the screaming ensued. He would relive this cycle on a loop again and again. Each time he'd try to break free and each time his Uncle would bring Kili to him and he would become consumed in a grief that was unmatched in intensity and completely and utterly inescapable.
Kili ambled through the forest. Everything was so gloomy and distorted, he could only see a few paces ahead before things became indistinguishable from one another. His surroundings were dark, the air thick and carrying with it a putrid smell.
He wondered distantly what he was doing, where he was going and why he was all alone and in some kind of delirium. He should be with his Brother, of this he was sure.
Noticing two hazy figures up ahead Kili came to a standstill. His vision was poor but he was pretty certain the figures belonged to his Brother and Uncle. Feeling relief sweep through him he quickened his pace wondering all the while why they weren't coming to meet him halfway.
As he reached them he faltered and looked between them. Their eyes were glazed and all at once Kili became unsure. "Fili?" He frowned and waved a hand before his Brother, attempting to gain his full attention. A blankness was returned full of coldness and indifference and Kili took an unsteady step backwards. "U… Uncle?" The same emptiness was reflected from his Uncle, it was a familiar face barren of all emotion and recognition.
Trampling down the growing turbulence within, Kili gave a tremulous smile. This was a joke, and clearly he was falling for it hook, line and sinker. "Seriously you two, enough already." But his smile faded rapidly as his kin looked upon him with disgust and distain.
"We're done with you Kili." Thorin stated. "All you've ever done is disappoint."
Kili shook his head with conviction. "No. You don't mean that." But his own voice sounded weak to him and conveyed a vulnerability he battled with daily.
"We do." Fili answered. "We're done. I'm finished carrying you. All you've ever done is let me down."
Kili stumbled closer to his Brother and grasped his arms. "No. Stop." He pleaded but speaking was becoming difficult as his throat clogged with emotion. Fili shrugged him off and took a step back. Kili's arms fell numbly to his sides as he digested what they were saying. This had to be a nightmare, it had to be.
"We're leaving you, Son." Kili gasped as his Mother appeared. "We need to forget you and that you ever existed. We'll all be better off without you, even Livi."
And that was a jagged pill to swallow. Unable to control himself Kili gave into the torment and sobbed. "No." He begged. "Mother, please." But they all turned their backs and began walking away. Kili fell to his knees and shuddered as he cried. He'd been abandoned by the only people who mattered to him, the people he loved – his own blood. But he had never been worthy of such a family, all he'd ever done is drag them down. And as this realization settled over him he crumpled onto his side, curling into a ball and hugging himself until he fell asleep through the exhaustion of grief.
He woke later, traipsing through the Forest. Destined to relive the same nightmare over and over again.
Thorin gasped as he noticed two still forms upon the forest ground. Clambering from his pony he raced to the bodies almost unrecognizable through all the vines and branches holding them down. Fumbling with his dagger he sliced at the vines with purpose, noticing distantly that the others had joined him, pulling and pushing the binds aside frantically.
The first face Thorin recognized was Kili, and as he swept the dirt and hair from his face he couldn't help but plead aloud. "Please, oh Aule please…"
Kili gasped in on a wheezy breath, his eyes wide and frantic as his body torqued from the earth. He thrashed and struggled, whimpering and muttering incoherently.
"It's ok. Shhhhh." Thorin pulled him into an embrace, squeezing him and cooing gently. "You're safe now." He promised. Looking down he locked gazes with his Nephew, pleading him to return to reality. He'd heard of people being found too late and never escaping the torment of their nightmares.
Kili frowned uncertainly and more than a little scared. "Uncle?" He rasped. He clung to Thorin's coat with a vice like grip. "I… You came back for me?"
Thorin nodded and hugged Kili again. He didn't know what he meant by 'came back' but he guessed it was the forest and the tricks it had been playing on him. "I'm here now. I'm not leaving you." He reassured.
A scream from beside him jolted Thorin from the embrace. Frantically he scrambled to Fili's side where he thrashed and cried, Dwalin and Oin desperately tried to calm him down but to no avail. Thorin reached his side, grasping his arms and trying to hold him still. "It's ok Fili." He tried to break through his hysteria.
"Kili!" Fili screamed as he struggled and kicked out.
Not knowing what else to do Thorin looked to Kili who was already crawling over to Fili's side, tears streaming down his ashen cheeks.
"Fili." He croaked.
A calmness instantly swept over Fili and opening his eyes slowly he focused upon Kili as he hovered above him.
"I'm… I'm ok." Kili explained.
Fili gasped and sat up, pulling Kili into a tight embrace. They both sobbed as they held onto one another, relief and emotion rendering them speechless.
Thorin rose to his feet but remained rooted to the spot. Blinking back tears he eyed the others who watched the boys closely, he didn't miss the emotion swimming in their eyes.
Dwalin cleared his throat gently and knelt beside the boys. "Lads, we need to get you out of here. Time is of the essence."
Hiccuping through tears and sniffling uncontrollably Kili and Fili looked at Dwalin. Neither could speak for the time being so they both nodded meekly and got to their feet. Unable to keep still any longer Thorin paced over to the boys, but they met him halfway and hugged him until he could barely breathe.
He couldn't help it as a tear slid from his eye, these boys meant everything to him and the relief at holding them again made his heart soar.
"Uncle…" He didn't know which one had said it but they were unable to carry on.
"It's ok." He answered. Looking at the others he was appreciative that they had given them a bit of space. "We'll talk later. Right now we need to leave." Releasing his hold on them Thorin took a step back and nodded to the others. Leaving this place would be the best thing for all of them, and once they were out they could discuss what was next.