Say Anything

Summary: Since the accident, Bifur was isolated in his own mind. He had given up all hope of being close to his family and friends again. The idea of forming a new relationship was nothing short of an impossibility, but a young, over curious prince may just prove him wrong.

Chapter 5

The forest of Mirkwood was dark and fear inducing. Kili felt as if the company was going around in circles, yet getting deeper and deeper into the dense, foggy woods. Thorin was leading them, with Fili and Kili trailing behind him, as he had ordered. The brothers had wondered why he did not have Bofur near him, but they knew how secretive he could be, and they noticed how, every so often, he would look over his shoulder, and the brothers knew exactly what, or who, he was checking on. Bilbo walked behind them, still maintaining distance from the golden prince. Kili knew it wasn't the time to discuss it, but he hated seeing his brother so distracted. Bifur was almost directly behind Kili, but just slightly to the right, in the perfect position to step in front of him if need be.

Kili's vision was starting to blur slightly. He closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to fix it. It worked but only momentarily. He looked up to see Thorin starting to sway a bit. This was unlike his, normally very sturdy, uncle. The young prince looked behind him to see everyone sort of lumbering around. His eyes moved to Bifur, who, out of everyone, seemed unchanged by the odd spell of the forest.

He looked forward as Thorin ordered the company off of the path. Everyone dispersed. Kili wanted to object, but couldn't form a coherent thought before the company was spread out, making their way to the right of the path, following their king. For some reason, Kili didn't move from the path. He had a horrible feeling. He looked beside him to see Bifur standing still beside him. The trees behind the warrior seemed to be spinning. The prince closed his eyes tightly and shook his head, and when he opened them, Bifur was looking at him with concern. He lifted his hands and signed: /Something is wrong./

Kili nodded. "We shouldn't ... leave the path." He couldn't understand why he felt so dizzy. He couldn't even tell that he was swaying before Bifur placed his hands on the prince's shoulders to steady him. It was obvious that Bifur was either feeling none, or very little, of the intoxicating effects of the woods. Kili, however, was, and when the warrior placed his large hands on the prince, he felt waves of ... something go through his body. He couldn't help but catch his breath and step back quickly. Bifur gave him another concerned look and put his hands down.

"I'm sorry!" Kili said quickly, but before Bifur could respond the prince continued: "I just... I'm..." He trailed off and looked back up at the warrior. Something about the worry in his eyes, the way he had stayed behind when everyone else had pressed on, how he was patiently waiting for a jumbled useless response, it was overwhelming, and with Mirkwood's spell taking over his body, Kili couldn't hold back any longer. He moved forward so quickly, Bifur didn't even have time to react. He grabbed each side of the warrior's face, and pressed their lips together.

Bifur was shocked, and frozen, not sure what to do. Everything in him wanted to wrap his arms around Kili and let all the emotions take over, but he was noble, and this dwarf, no matter how beautiful, was the prince. Also, whatever this forest was doing to him had taken over, and he couldn't take advantage of it, no matter how badly he wanted to. He placed his hands on Kili's sides, and gently pushed him back. He lifted his hands: /We can not do this here./

"Don't say that." Kili stepped forward but Bifur stopped him by his shoulders.

/This place has done this to you./

Kili instantly started shaking his head. "No... I felt this way before..."

Bifur looked at the ground but knew he had to get a hold of himself and the prince before the company left them completely behind. He looked up and took a deep breath. /Not here. No time./

Kili felt a wave of embarrassment come over him, and suddenly he felt very emotional. He felt rejected. He knew deep down why the warrior had said what he did. He knew that in these dangerous woods it was not the time to be having a first kiss, or expressing such feelings, but the intoxication shoved those rational thoughts under the rug of emotion and hurt. All he wanted was to disappear. He could feel the tears coming, and as Bifur reached out to touch him again, he threw his hands up: "No. Don't touch me!" When the warrior's eyes filled with hurt, a whole new wave of guilt came over Kili. He crossed his arms around his chest, almost hugging himself "I'm sorry..." He turned on his heels and bolted in the direction the company had gone.

He ran quickly swatting branches and plants away from his face. How could he have been so stupid? He'd ruined everything. He'd taken a moment that should have been special and real, and he'd wasted it. He didn't give Bifur any choice but to reject him, by choosing the worst time possible, and he just knew he'd made an absolute fool of himself. He felt like such a child, and now he wasn't sure how he would ever face the artistic warrior again.

All the sudden he came to a huge clearing, and he froze as he saw movement in the trees. His eyes grew as he realized it was ... spiders! Giant spiders! The sight was sobering and almost instantly the fog of the forest lifted from him. He scanned the trees, watching the massive insects work on web sacks. A metallic thud in front of him made him jump, and when he looked, he noticed it as one of Nori's daggers. His blood ran cold as he realized that the sacks the spiders where spinning were filled with ... the company! He started backing away slowly, knowing he couldn't rescue them alone. As embarrassed as he was, he had to find Bifur.

He took a few steps, just about to slide back into the trees, when a strong hand gripped his shoulder and yanked him back. I almost cried out, but he saw Bifur's face, a finger to his lips, and he closed his mouth tightly. He dropped his gaze quickly, not wanting to look the warrior in the eyes, but was forced to at least gaze at his hands as Bifur signed: /Stay here./

"What?" Kili whispered.

/Stay safe./

"And what are you going to do alone? There are too many of them..."

Bifur looked down at him with that calm understanding the prince was used to, but there was a glint of sadness in his eyes as he lifted his hands. /I will distract them./ Kili didn't understand what he had said, and shook his head. /Save the company./ With that the warrior stood, and charged out into the clearing, letting out a fierce battle cry in Khuzdul.

"Bifur, wait!" But it was too late. He could hear the spiders trampling down from the trees. From his spot in the bushes, he watched as Bifur dashed passed the hanging web sacs, and disappeared into the woods with easily a dozen spiders following after him. Kili was frozen unsure of what to do, he wanted to follow after Bifur, certain that he was going to be killed, but then, as he heard muffled yelling and shuffling from the trees, he broke from his daze and rushed to rescue his comrades.

He climbed up the large tree, using his hunting dagger to help him. He reached the first sac and used the same dagger to split it down the middle, being careful not to harm the dwarf inside. Bofur gasped for breath, as Kili helped him from the web and onto the massive tree branch. It took him a moment to regain his senses and realize what had happened. He looked around quickly, and the prince knew, or at least thought he knew, what he was looking for. "The spiders are gone, but we have to hurry. Bif-"

"Where's Thorin?" Bofur interrupted.

Kili had to take a moment and look at all of the swinging web sacs. "I'm not sure. Come on, we'll find him."

The toymaker and the prince split up, cutting each dwarf free frantically. Kili barely took the time to check on anyone, even his brother. The only thing on his mind was what could be happening to Bifur. Once he finally cut down the last sac, he found that everyone was accounted for except for their burglar. For a brief moment, he thought of something other than Bifur, as he looked over to his brother, who was desperately scanning the trees from any sign of the hobbit. Finally, Fili rushed to his brother, knowing he was the only one who hadn't been trapped in the sticky web cocoons.

"Kili, have you seen Bilbo?"

The young prince looked down as he shook his head, not wanting to see whatever horrible look that was going to come across his brother's face.

Then Bombur spoke: "What about Bifur?"

"He distracted the spiders. We have to help him!" Ignoring Thorin's call, Kili turned and dashed into the forest. The company quickly followed him.

Kili pulled his bow around, and prepared an arrow, listening carefully, hoping to hear some, any, sign that the warrior was alright. Suddenly, he came to a large river of flowing water, and slid to a stop just at the edge. He looked around, desperately searching for any sign of Bifur, but he heard, and felt, nothing. He looked in every direction as the company finally reached him.

Thorin walked up and stood beside him, but said nothing. Then the king turned his head to the right quickly. "This way." He said, and dashed into the trees. No one questioned, and followed him. After running a short distance, Kili started to hear the sound of trampling spiders, the swish of a blade through air, and the unmistakable sound of Bifur's war-cry.

Once they came upon the site, three of the spiders lie dead, and Bifur was fiercely battling several more. The company charged in. Kili pulled his arrow back as far as possible, and let it fly, landing perfectly in the head of the spider closest to the warrior. It screeched, and curled, rolling like a tumble weed. Bifur dodged it, and as he appeared clearly to the prince for the first time, Kili caught his breath. His eyes were wild, his hair stood on end, and the prince knew instantly that he was not in his right mind. He was once again witnessing a violent episode and the dwarf rushing head long into a bundle of colossal spiders was not Bifur.

The company made quick work of the remaining spiders, but more could be heard scurrying through the trees. As the current battle ended, Bofur, and Bombur rushed the warrior, just he turned to face them, sword still at the ready, eyes still blazing. Bombur, with the accuracy of someone who had done so countless times, parried Bifur's sword, and bumped him with his massive stomach. The warrior flew back but landed on his feet. Bofur flew by Bombur, and kicked his cousin in the chest, but Bifur was agile, and stopped himself from sliding, and in the time it took Bofur to regain his ground, and Kili to arrive close to the fight, Bifur swung his sword around, over his head, and straight down toward the toymaker.

The company all lunged forward, as Bofur turned, closing his eyes, trying, in vain, to block with his own sword.

A large metallic sound rang through the forest. Bofur opened his eyes to see Thorin, standing in front of him, his sword connected with Bifur's. The king let out a loud yell, as he pushed back with all his strength, still only swatting the warrior's blade away, and causing him to slide back only a foot or so. Bofur scrambled to his feet, as Thorin stood directly in front of him, sword out in a defensive stance.

"Bifur. Stop this." The king said in a very threatening tone. Kili dashed toward them, ignoring Fili as he yelled for him to stop. He knew Thorin did not want to hurt Bifur, but he would not hesitate if he came that close to harming someone, especially Bofur, again. Bifur, shifted his stance, and Thorin gripped the handle of his sword, preparing to counter, if need be. The prince ran as fast as he could, and slid in between them, back to Thorin and face to face with the warrior.

"Kili!" Thorin stepped forward, and grabbed his shoulder, but Kili jerked away from him.

"Bifur..." Kili held up his hands and walked towards him slowly as if he were approaching a wild animal. His heart was thumping against his chest, knowing that so much was hanging in the balance. "It's me. Everything's ok." Bofur tried to run around the king, but he stopped him by the back of his shirt and put him behind him again. The king took a few cautious steps forward. The prince noticed Bifur's crazed eyes shift to something just behind him. Kili froze, and Thorin took the opportunity to lean forward, arm outstretched for Kili's shoulder.

Suddenly, the warrior let out a loud, terrifying roar, and charged forward. Kili braced for the impact, but Bifur passed just to left of him, and thrust his sword right for the king's chest. Thorin managed to jump back just enough to avoid the blade, running into Bofur, but the tip of the weapon still managed to flick the fur lining of his cloak. The company stood in a stunned silence, as Bifur readjusted and rushed Thorin again. The king stood firm in front of Bofur, held his sword firmly, and it ended up connected with the warrior's blade making a large, dangerous, X between them.

Kili whipped around, and tried to rush back into the fray but was stopped by an arm around his waist. He knew without looking that it was his brother. He instantly started fighting him, trying desperately to pull his arm away. "Stop!" He pleaded, "He knows it's me! I can stop him!"

"Are you crazy?" Fili yelled.

"No..!" Kili tried again to push his arm away, but Fili turned and tossed his brother away from Thorin and Bifur. The prince instantly stood, but his brother, and Bombur blocked his path. He looked over their shoulders to see Thorin doing everything he could to defend without becoming offensive, but the warrior wasn't holding back at all, slashing and slicing at the king's chest. Then, from the corner of his eye, Kili saw Bofur rush Bifur from the side. "Bofur!" Kili called out, but just as his name left the prince's lips, he tackled, a distracted, Bifur from the side.

Unintentionally, the warrior's head connected with a decent sized stone sticking out of the ground, and with that, it was all over.