Hello! I have another chapter for you…..^^ I'm very proud of this one actually, I really enjoyed writing this- I really hope you'll love it too!

Enjoy….

Thorin awoke from his doze as he felt Fili move beside him; his head snapped to the side as his nephew groaned, his eyes opening lazily in the weak evening sunlight.

Fili looked much better than the last time Thorin had set eyes upon him- his face had colour in it again, his blue eyes sparkling as he looked up at him from under the mound of furs.

'Hey, how are you feeling?' he asked, smiling down at Fili as he weakly sat up, wincing as he pushed the cloaks off his body.

'I'll live…' he muttered, before peering around for Kili.

Thorin snorted and nodded his head towards the dwarf on his other side. 'You two are more alike than I realised….'

'I'll take that as a compliment!' Fili chuckled, smiling down at his brother as he craned his neck to see him- Kili was facing away from them, whether asleep or awake he didn't know.

'Take it however you want…. It's nearly sundown, we should have made a move hours ago…' Thorin grumbled, gingerly standing up and stretching.

'Agreed- let me just get up and I'll come help…'

'-Or you can stay sat here, looking after your brother, and letting people do things for themselves for once?' Thorn replied, before dropping to his haunches, pushing a finger into Fili's chest.

'-And if you ever, ever ignore your injuries again- be it to look after another, or just pure stubbornness, I will personally attach you to the nearest tree, blindfolded, and me and your brother will use you as arrow practice!' Thorin growled, the corners of his mouth turning up as Fili rolled his eyes.

'Now, Uncle, I know you're just being silly- you and Kili have too perfect aims to ever hit me on purpose….' Fili chuckled, his breath hitching as little as he tried to sit up.

'Be that as it may, I won't be very happy with you if you do it again.' Thorin muttered, deadly serious this time.

Fili blew air from between his teeth, nodding. 'Alright, alright….. I just didn't think….'

'No, and that's your problem- you never do think.'

'I just thought Kili was more important….'

'You don't have to explain it to me, I know why you did it- I just don't want Gandalf on my back for the remainder of the journey…' Thorin growled, giving the Wizard a sideways glance.

'Are you….scared of him?' Fili grinned.

Thorin's head snapped to his direction again. 'What? No, of course not- I just have respect for him…..which is more than you and Kili have for me! Now wake your brother, we need to get moving….' Thorin barked, before walking off, shaking his head and loudly muttering.

Fili chuckled quietly at his uncle's retreating back; that dwarf never ceased to amaze and amuse him.

He turned to his right, and was pleasantly surprised to see Kili stirring beside him. 'Hey, sleepy- let's see if your back is any better now, shall we?' he asked.

Kili opened his blurry eyes; upon catching sight of his brother, awake and alive and smiling, he broke into a huge smile, throwing himself upon his older brother.

Fili laughed heartily as Kili hugged him, their arms tight around each other. 'Calm down, brother…..' he whispered into his hair.

Kili shook his head, eyes closed. 'I thought you had died Fili, I really did….' He muttered, ignoring the pain in his back.

'Well I haven't- how's that for some good news?' Fili chuckled, patting Kili on the back as his brother still clung to him like a lost child who had found their mother.

'The best news…' Kili replied, before letting go slowly, wincing. 'Shouldn't have done that….' He whispered, rolling his shoulders, face scrunched in pain.

'Idiot.' Fili muttered affectionately, rolling his eyes.

Suddenly, Kili looked up, a hard, serious look behind his brown eyes. 'Don't you ever do that to me again, you hear? Never again!' he growled.

Fili frowned, before putting a hand on his little brother's shoulder. 'I'm sorry, I really am- I'll try not to-'

'Promise….'

'Alright, I promise I will never put my life in jeopardy, therefore causing you dire emotional pain and the need to shout at said brother for putting his life in jeopardy- good enough?' Fili winked at his brother, smiling.

Kili nodded, satisfied. 'Good enough for me.' He chuckled, before looking ahead to the other company. 'Guess we have to start moving now, don't we?'

'I suppose, we can't be treated like royal princes for the remainder of the journey, can we?'

'Well, you can't, but me….' Kili chuckled, before moving around to stand up.

'Not you either- come, we need to get your- I mean our- bandages changed before we set off as well.' Fili mumbled, standing up with a grimace, before bending down to hoist Kili up from where he was struggling.

'It's feeling a lot better than before….' Kili remarked, noticing he was stretching much easier now.

'Good, that's good- now start walking.' Fili ordered, pointing to Bilbo, who had just walked up to them.

'Stand still, you can be a tree.' Fili instructed the Hobbit.

'A….tree? Why? There's one over there….' Bilbo replied, pointing to a huge oak tree not ten paces away.

'Play along, please?' Fili asked, grinning. Kili shared a look with the Hobbit, both as perplexed as each other.

Fili looked at his brother, pointing his thumb at Bilbo. 'Pretend he's a tree- walk to him…uh- it.' He told him.

Kili frowned, 'Fili, what-'

'Just do it!'

'Alright…..' Kili muttered, before taking slow steps to Bilbo.

His back felt almost back to normal, with just a few twinges of pain cropping up every now and again as his muscles worked beneath the skin.

Finally he reached Bilbo. Shrugging, the Hobbit clapped as the dwarf came to stand beside him. 'Well….done?' he ventured, before both of them looked up at Fili to see if they had done right.

Fili chuckled, rolling his eyes. 'You two really will do anything I tell you, won't you?' he grinned, before both Kili and Bilbo, now mock-furious, yelled at him. He heartily laughed, eyes shining before walking off, grinning.

'My brother is such an idiot…' Kili grumbled, itching his elbow and frowning at his brother' back.

'At least you're both on the mend now, though?' Bilbo smiled up at the Dwarf.

'Yeah, we should be moving on soon. You want to help me get my pack sorted? I think Fili has dropped bits everywhere round here….' He asked, shrugging.

'Course I will….' Bilbo replied, before the two of them went off in search of Kili's lost belongings.

Fili dropped into line beside Thorin as his uncle collected firewood from the near forest. 'When are we moving on then?' He muttered, aware of the fast approaching twilight.

'I was hoping tonight, but now I am thinking the morrow would be better- we can set a course better in the light….I do not trust my skills in woodland.'

'Really? You've not led us wrong so far.' Fili frowned; sounded like his uncle had something stopping him from moving.

Thorin sighed, picking up some wood and placing it in his nephew's arms. 'Alright- I want you and Kili to have at least one more night's rest, just to make sure you are ok to carry on.' He muttered, before averting his eyes.

Fili smiled inwardly; he had seen a long forgotten side of his uncle these past days. 'Kili and I will be fine to move- Kili just needs to take it slow; his back is almost back to normal.' He said, accepting the next piece of wood that Thorin had just thrust into his arms.

'If you're sure?'

'Of course. We'll be fine.' Fili replied, smiling into the sudden darkness. When had it got so dark?

A small, protective part of him wanted to go to Kili, to see if he was ok; he reminded himself that Kili wasn't a child anymore, he wasn't frightened of the dark anymore, and he was safe.

Thorin caught his look before he smiled to himself in the gathering darkness. 'You know, growing up- I'd love to have had a brother like you.' He muttered, almost too quietly for Fili to hear.

Fili, however, had heard every word. He looked up, eyes wide, pride settling in his chest. 'Really?' he asked.

'Truly- the way you care for Kili, it's admirable, it really is. You two are the best of friends and siblings rolled into one- what could be better?' Thorin replied, before clearing his throat and bending down to pick up more firewood.

Fili grinned into open air, feeling almost important due to his uncle's words. He knew that this was the end of the conversation by the way Thorin had cleared his throat, but it didn't stop him from smiling widely as they continued their now silent walk around the forest floor collecting the rest of the firewood.

After going in a wide circle they finally made it back to camp- Kili and Bilbo were scouring the camp for only they knew what, Fili figured, and everyone else was slowly packing up- whilst talking, eating, laughing and drinking of course.

The Wizard was stood to the side, blowing smoke-rings through his pipe.

Fili left his uncle and went to stand by Gandalf's side. He looked, awed, as the rings got bigger and bigger through every puff- Gandalf caught him watching. 'Want to try?' he asked, voice gruff but laced with humour.

'Really?' Fili asked, eyes wide as Gandalf passed him his long pipe; he held it like a breakable, prized treasure.

'It won't break, Fili….'Gandalf laughed, before he cleared his throat. 'Now, have you ever done this before?'

'Never- Thorin holds distaste for smoking games.' Fili replied; his uncle was partial to the odd pipe or four, but had never permitted them to blow rings or do anything fun with them- he hadn't even permitted Kili to try a pipe at all.

'Right, well- inhale the smoke partially, letting it settle in your throat as well as your mouth.' Gandalf instructed, watching as Fili took a big suck of the pipe. Fili's eyes widened and he coughed the smoke out, eyes watering.

'Yes, that sometimes happens the first time.' Gandalf chuckled, patting the dwarf on the back as Fili continued to choke. The coughing seemed to have garnered the attention of Kili and Bilbo, for they had come to stand next to them, curious at what was going on.

'Take in some more….' Gandalf urged as Fili breathed in deeply, slightly red in the face.

'Right…' he muttered, before inhaling some more. This time he kept it in his face- he looked at the Wizard expectantly, mouth puffed out like a fish, waiting his next instruction.

'Now put your tongue to the back of your throat.' Gandalf told him, waiting for a thumbs up before continuing. 'Make your lips into an O shape….that's it…..now blow, short and sharp breaths…' Gandalf chuckled as he watched a small, delicate smoke-ring appear from Fili's mouth, blue eyes reflecting the grey. 'Well done! Very well done for a first attempt!' he smiled, patting Fili on the shoulder.

'Can I try?' Kili asked, eyes wide and smile wider- before he could say anything else, however, there was a shout behind them-

'What was that?' a voice sounded.

Frowning, the four company members turned and walked over to the fire, where the others had huddled, weapons ready.

'What's going on?' Kili asked, brown eyes wide and scared. 'Is it the Goblins?'

Fili put a hand on his brother's shoulder, squeezing lightly for comfort. Kili looked at him, fear in his young eyes. 'Do not worry….' Fili whispered, heart slightly breaking as Kili's fingers found their way to his sleeve. It seemed Kili's scars sank deeper than just his physical wounds.

'No, not Goblins- something else….' Bofur muttered, voice dark.

They all looked around as a sudden howl broke through the night, followed by the blood-curdling sound of growls and gnashing jaws.

Fili watched as their uncle's eyes hardened and he brought his sword up, growling. 'Wargs! Orcs!' he snapped.

'Should we hide?' Fili asked, despite knowing the answer already. They had already been spotted; otherwise there would have been no howl.

'No…we must fight.' Thorin replied. He was about to say more, but his voice was overridden by the loud noise of chattering and screaming Orcs, coupled with the growls and barks of their beasts.

'TO ARMS!' Thorin yelled, turning on the spot and imbedding his sword into the face on an Orc. Arrows suddenly came flying from all directions- Fili yelled, pushing Kili to the floor as an arrow came flying; it stuck fast into the tree that Kili had just been standing opposite.

He took his sword, ducking low to grab his brother- Bilbo was standing next to him, eyes wide.

'Make for the trees!' he yelled into his brother's face, before he stood, yelling in anger as an Orc came upon them.

His sword flashed in the moonlight, the impending clash of metal sounded into the night- Fili ignored battle niceties as he pulled the Orc nearer to him, head-butting the beast with ferocious strength before arcing his sword into its neck- blood spattered onto Kili as the decapitated head of the Orc landed in his lap.

Fili didn't have time to return to his brother as another Orc ran to him- but, casting a short look towards him, saw that Kili had jumped up and had rammed his dirk into the neck of another Orc, with Bilbo looking on. He dispatched the Orc with ease, wiping blood from his face with anger in his heart.

Running back to his brother he pulled both him and Bilbo towards him, before he ran with them to the edge of the forest. 'Kili, look after Bilbo, make for the trees!' he shouted, conscious of the battle around them.

'What? Fili no- I can't-' Kili shook his head, eyes wide as Fili growled at him and pushed them further into the forest.

'Don't disobey me! I will come back for you.' He growled, looking down at Bilbo. 'The Hobbit is no warrior-'

'But I am! I can fight-'

'I'm not losing you again! Don't make me lose you again!' Fili yelled. He softened as Kili looked down, eyes dark. 'Hide in the forest and I will come back for you…..promise me you won't come back Kili.' He whispered.

'Uh, guys…' Bilbo muttered, but Fili shushed him, eyes only for Kili.

'You can't expect me to-'

'I am! You must!'

'Guys…..'

'I won't just sit by and do nothing!'

'GUYS!' Bilbo yelled, pointing behind them. With a yell Fili turned on the spot to be faced by a large Orc- the beast had his sword up and ready, and it was all Fili could do to stay upright; their swords clashed, before the Orc made the mistake of looking around as a loud yell sounded behind them. Fili yelled and threw himself on top of it, his sword imbedding into its chest- Black blood bubbled from the wound; Fili stood up, growling.

He looked around at the battle that was still raging; with wide eyes, both concerned and furious, he pushed Kili and Bilbo bodily into the forest, waving his fist.

'Go! Go now!'

'Fili….' Kili shook his head.

'Go! For Durin's sake go!' he shouted, before turning and running full-pelt back into the battle, trying not to turn around to see if his brother had obeyed.

Bilbo turned to Kili, face set. 'What do we do?' he asked.

'We can't just hide! I may be many things but I am no coward.' Kili growled, flinching as pain flared in his back.

'Me neither- although I think we should hide; just for appearances, of course.' The Hobbit smiled devilishly at the Dwarf.

'I like your thinking Master Baggins!' Kili smiled, before they both crept into the forest.

The woodland had got very dark, and very eerie. Not wanting to stray too far from the battle, the two of them skirted the forest edge.

Not speaking, they watched the fighting. Muffled yells and shouts could be heard from the trees, but none were discernible voices-Kili only hoped they didn't belong to any member of the company….

Bilbo was just about to speak when there was a crack of twigs behind them- before he could even raise his letter-opener of a sword a huge Orc grabbed Kili from behind, enveloping the young Dwarf into a headlock-like grasp- his bow and arrow set fell to the floor with a thump behind him.

With wide eyes, Bilbo watched the Orc sneer down at him.

'What have we got here then?' it drawled.

To be continued…..

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed it!

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