"Is Fili alright?"

Bilbo didn't know how to answer. What could he say? That Fili was dying from the inside out? That he could no longer look anyone in the eye?

"He's um...well, he thinks your dead."

Kili's eyes were swimming in tears, "I know, I-I heard him when he found out."

Bilbo could not imagine the noise the crown prince would have made when he found out that his baby brother was 'dead'. Not a warg in the world could compete.

Bilbo reached through the bars, to pat the young prince on the shoulder "You know I can't tell him, right?"

Kili frowned, pulling away from the touch, "W-what do you mean? Why not?"

"Because," Tauriel said, turning round, "It's the only thing keeping you alive."

Bilbo nodded sadly, "You tried to kill the prince, thats treason. You're only alive because you could be useful."

"Useful? How?"

"The King wishes to bargain you for The Jewels of Eryn Lasgalen, his family heirloom. If your Company get to the mountain in time."

Bilbo tilted his head in agreement, "The shock of finding out that one of his heirs still lives would be enough to make him bargain. Especially if Fili has a say."

"N-n-no! You can't do that! Not to Fili!" Kili backed away.

"If the elves find out that Fili knows your alive, then you're useless to them."

Kili shook his head, moving to the corner so they couldn't reach him, he started shouting: "FILI! Fili! Fili!"

"Kili! Be quiet!" Tauriel franticly fumbled with a ring of keys, forcing the right one in to the lock. "Bilbo, help me!"

The hobbit followed the elf in to the cell, careful not to let the door shut behind them. Tauriel was already trying to regag the screaming dwarf but he was weaving in and out of her arms, determined that his brother would hear him. In the end, Tauriel stood harshly on the chain attached to Kili's wrists, pulling to unfortunate dwarf to the floor. She knelt on his chest, pushing the leather back in to place, wary of biting teeth.

"Bilbo, the rope, quickly!"

Bilbo hurried over to the rope by the entrance, grasping it in shaking hands. He hesitated, was this the right thing to do? Be this cruel to the brothers? No, he must not let Fili know, the prince himself would thank him for saving Kili's life. He hoped. He didn't want to face a Fili that had been separated from his brother without real reason.

"Bilbo! Hurry up!"

He pulled on the rope. Kili let out a muffled yelp as he was dragged to his feet, shaking the manacles so hard they almost slipped through Bilbo's fingers. Tauriel got to her feet, panting, and reached to place a hand over Kili's cheek. He tried to jerk back but he was too close to the wall so he just glared at the elf as she pushed his shortened hair away from his face, "I'm so sorry. If there was another way..."

Kili just shook his head out of her grasp, meeting Bilbo's gaze in the prosses. Bilbo shivered, just as he had when looking at Fili. But instead of being empty, there was a roaring fire of betrayal, so fierce that Bilbo almost felt it burn.

"Tauriel?" came a voice from round the corner of the corridor, "How is the dwarf scum doing?"

Kili looked up, scared at the voice, Tauriel's eyes widened, "Bilbo, go! Its Sveniline!"

Bilbo had heard enough about Sveniline to not to be told twice, he slipped his ring on, casting one last sorry look at Kili. He scurried out of the cell just as a tall elf turned the corner with a tray of food.

"Is the little dwarf hungry?"

Bilbo decided as he slipped past Sveniline, that the elf would pay for what he had done to two of his dwarf friend.

"Open wide scum!" came Sveniline's voice followed by a thud and a small yelp from Kili, "I said, open wide."

As he hurried away, the burglar wondered which of the brothers had the worse end of the situation; the oldest, most protective one who thought his brother dead, or the youngest, vulnerable one that knew his brother was hurting, because of him but had no way of relieving that pain. Then he thought of his own place in the precedings: stuck between the two closest people he had ever met, keeping them apart with betrayal. Betrayal of the worst kind.

Weren't expecting that were you? Well, Bilbo is not going to be liked when they find out, will he?

For those who are starting to hate Bilbo and Tauriel, They are trying to save Kili's life! And are not on Sveniline's side!

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