Sorry for not updating lately, but I've been on my own "journey" and had no possibilities for posting chapters. Therefore you get two chapters today! I hope you'll like it.

Chapter 5

Maybe I should follow him. Who knew what idiotic and foolish things he could end up doing? I was about to follow him out between the trees when someone grabbed my upper arm. Quickly I turned to glare at Kili who had dragged me behind a tree. "Let me go", I hissed and tried to yank my arm free. The only problem was that this time he had foreseen enough to give the bowl to Fili so he could hold both my arms. "If it's 'perfectly safe', then let go of me!" Of course he didn't reply, only dragged me back the way we came. For a while I struggled and tried to fight him, but he was too strong.

"He isn't doing good", Fili whispered after peering out between the trees. "Maybe we should go and get the others after all."

"Seems as if you won't get out of this without Thorin noticing", I spatted. The two of them stared at me in shock. Suddenly Kili pushed my up against a tree.

"Rosie, I've got enough of this. Both of us have", he told me with a quick look over at Fili who nodded. "Could you please tell me what I said or did to offend you?" I shook my head, and his grip around my shoulders tightened. I turned my face away so he wouldn't see the angry and sad tears in my eyes. "Rosie." I quickly glanced up at his face. Earlier he had had an angry expression, but now it had softened and I could see love and affection. "Please." I closed my eyes and a tear ran down my cheek.

The moment was interrupted by a roar. In his shock, Kili let go of me. I gripped the chance, unsheathed the dagger he had in his belt, and darted back to Bilbo. I heard both the siblings shout after me, but didn't turn. I had to help Bilbo. He was the only person I had left. He was the only I could rely on.

As I came closer to the clearing, I slowed until I stopped just behind a tree. I peered around it. My hand clasped over my mouth just before a gasp escaped me. Bilbo was being held upside down by one of three trolls. It was then I heard a shout from the other side of the guarded area where the ponies were. "Drop him!" I recognized Kili's voice. He looked rather dangerous when he glared at the trolls, from under his dark brown hair, pointing a sword at the trolls. "I said DROP HIM!" Then Bilbo was thrown at Kili who tried to catch him, something which resulted in both of them falling to the ground. At least it wasn't too hard for them to fall, I briefly thought, 'cause my attention was dragged toward the other dwarves who burst out between the trees, attacking the trolls.

I wondered if I should join in. A part of me told me that I was a part of the company, and should therefore help them, while the other part of me told me to stay out of trouble. I tried to decide if I should join, or if I should stay out. It ended with the other part winning. I made myself as small as possible, and watched the fight as it developed.

The dwarves seemed to be doing extremely good as they dogged around the trolls. I guessed there was no need to worry for them. Instead I looked for Bilbo. First I could see him nowhere, but then I spotted him. He was at the other side of the guarded area, trying to let the ponies free. I felt really proud when he pushed up the grind and let the poor animals out. The feeling, however, disappeared when I realized a troll had escaped the battle and was making his way toward Bilbo. I heard myself cry Bilbo's name, telling him to watch out, but my voice didn't come far through the other sounds. The troll roared, and the other two joined in.

"Bilbo!" a voice yelled, and I recognized it as Kili's. The dwarves had been pressed together, and all of them stared at Bilbo – who was held by two of the trolls – in shock and confuse. The youngest of the dwarves still held his sword drawn and ready to attack.

"No!" Thorin exclaimed, grabbed Kili by his shoulder and pulled him back.

"Lay down your arms", the troll with empty hands said. "Or we'll rip his off." I gasped, but none of the others heard it. At least except one. Kili's head barely turned, but he didn't look in my direction, as if he knew I was hiding there.

I turned my attention back to Bilbo. The fear was written over his face, and it was that kind of fear I had never seen before. That fear which made me feel hopeless and cold inside. The dagger fell out of my hand, and down at the ground in front of my knees. It was hopeless. They wouldn't survive it either way. They could lower their weapons, but then they'd become troll dinner, or they could continue fight, and for sure die.

With a furious look at Bilbo, Thorin slammed his sword into the ground, followed by twelve other. Kili threw his sword to the ground with a more anger than the others, and when I glanced at the others, I spotted Ori let go of his slingshot. It was kind of cute.

"Build the fire, boys", the same troll as before, commanded. "We'll feast tonight." At this, they began shoving some of the dwarves into potato sacks, together with Bilbo, while the remaining dwarves were put over the fire. I was the only left, and it seemed totally hopeless. Where was Gandalf when he was needed?

I glanced down at the dagger in front of me. Maybe... Before I could think more about it, I grabbed it, rose and went out on the clearing. There came different exclaims from the others, but most of them told me to run, take a pony and flee. The problem was, that was exactly what most of me wanted to do. Just turn and run. Again I told myself that I had to do something to help them. Therefore I lifted the dagger and pointed it at the trolls. They stared at me in a few seconds, then they began to laugh.

"Let's just take her and boil her", one of them said. A hand swept over me, but I quickly dived and drove the dagger into his hand. My own hands trembled. Not of effort, but fear.

"Don't judge me by the size!" I said, and was surprised how calm my own voice sounded. I straitened and glared at them. The troll I had stung, was now rubbing his hand. "You have no idea of what I'm able to do." I swallowed and tried to remember everything I had read about trolls. They lived in caves... could only move outside by night... petrified in sunlight. That was all I had.

"Come on", one of the other two trolls said. "I'm hungry. Can't we just bind her to that tree?" As he reached out for me, I jumped aside. Suddenly I stood beside Bilbo.

"Hey!" the third troll squealed. "Get away from 'em!" Quickly I bowed down until I was at the same high as Bilbo.

"Petrified in daylight", I hissed. First he looked confused, but then he nodded. Out of nowhere, a hand swept down and grabbed me. A surprised and shocked scream escaped me when I was lifted high above the ground, still with the dagger in my hand.

"So, what shall we do with her? Boil her? Eat her raw?" The troll holding me, glanced questioning at the remaining two.

"No!" someone shouted behind me. I tried to look back at the one shouting. "Let her go, you fat, stinking-"

"Fat?" the last, tiniest troll interrupted in it's squealing voice. "Stinking?"

"Drop her! She have done nothing!" Somehow those words encouraged me, and made me want to continue fight. I took the dagger in a better grip, and then drove it into the arm of the troll. It sank deep, and the troll roared in pain. He threw me and I flew through the air. In a few seconds I thought I was free, then I slammed into a tree. It was impossible to describe the pain when I slid down and ended up in a total mess at the ground. The last I knew before everything went black, was that I would die.

"Rosie! Rosie!" Someone shook my body. I wanted to open my eyes. Wanted to tell them I was okay, but I couldn't move. Not the slightest. "Rosie, please. Wake up!" I tried to open my eyes. Tried to tell Bilbo that I was okay, that he didn't need to worry about me.

"May I-"

"You just stay away from her!" Bilbo let go of me and rose. I had finally managed to open my eyes a bit, even if it wasn't enough for the rest to notice, and everything seemed blurry. The others attention had moved to Bilbo and Kili. I blinked and turned my head toward them. Even if Bilbo was lower than Kili, the hobbit had anger enough. "It's your fault she nearly died!" he yelled at Kili.

"Then what else should I do?!" Kili replied, and I heard both anger and something else I couldn't describe, in his voice. "Just lay there and watch her become boiled? Is that really what you want for her?"

"Of course not!" Bilbo replied, still that angry little dragon. "I would've asked them to let her go, not drop her!"

"Oh really", Kili exclaimed. "I'm so sorry that I didn't think about which words I used! After all, I didn't tell them to throw her!"

"Kili", Fili interrupted and took his younger brother's upper arms. "Stop. It won't help her if you two start fighting." Kili looked as if he wanted to say something really bad, but then he bowed his head and let Fili lead him away from Bilbo, who turned back to me.

"Rosie?" he whispered and took my hand. It seemed as if the anger had ran out of him, and he again was a small, scared hobbit, not a dragon. "Please, Rosie, wake up!" Something wet fell on my hand, and I realized he was crying. Was he really that afraid that I maybe didn't awake? Inside me I smiled, just as something stung in my chest. I felt my heart pound faster, 'cause I knew what that meant.

It can't happen, I thought. Not now! But it did happen. There was nothing I could do to stop it. As I slowly recovered from being thrown by a troll, the pain in my chest grew. My breath went faster and I groaned.

"Rosie?" Bilbo asked hopefully.

"It... hurts", I breathed before I suddenly drew my legs halfway up toward my chest, and then let them fall because it only hurt more.

"W-where?" Bilbo questioned. "Your back?" I shook my head and swallowed, before I shut my eyes tight as the pain became stronger.

At the same time...

"You have to understand that it won't help your relationship if you begin to fight with Mr. Baggins!" Fili said with his hands on Kili's shoulders. Kili didn't look at him, only kept his head bowed. "Kili, look at me." Kili bit his lower lip before shaking his head. His dark brown hair danced when he did so. If he lifted his head, Fili would see it, and that would be the worst of all of it. He just couldn't.

Fili lead him further away from the others, in between the trees. "Now we're alone. Do you want to look at me now?" After a few seconds of thinking, Kili shook his head barely. Fili let out a small chuckle. "Little brother. Always so stubborn. Do you really think you can hide it from me by not looking at me? I know you soon will begin to cry." Kili froze. He had hoped that Fili wouldn't have understood it, that Fili would leave him alone. That wasn't the case. He knew that Fili wouldn't leave him when he was in that state. He never did when they were small, so why should this time be different?

A small sniff escaped him. That broke the barrier. He threw himself into Fili's arms and let him hold him. That wasn't what he as usual would've done, but this time was different. The tears ran down from his eyes as he laid his forehead on Fili's shoulder. Kili's shoulders shook with sobs. Then Fili suddenly spoke.

"Uncle, I don't think you should come right now..." That meant Thorin was there. Kili pressed himself closer to Fili and didn't want to let go of him. His older brother. His best friend.

"I would've let you take care of Kili, if it wasn't for the girl. She's asking for him", Thorin said. Kili froze. Did Rosie wanted to see him? Would she yell at him again? Would she make him feel ashamed in front of the whole company? He held on to Fili and didn't want to let go. He didn't want to face Rosie. Not then. Never again. Every hope he had had about them being together, had broke.

"Why?" Fili asked, and Kili had the feeling his brother knew what was bothering him.

"The same as two or three nights ago", was Thorin's reply. That made Kili loosen his grip on Fili. That night Rosie had been in a terrible pain. He remembered the inhuman cry, and again he heard it. He wondered if it was something he just imagined, but by looking at Fili and Thorin, he understood they too had heard it. Quickly he dried the tears, then he hurried back to the others. What had she told him about that pain? Wasn't it something about him and Fili being around lessened it?

Back to Rosie...

It was terrible. I was cold as an icicle, except from the chest where it felt as if a fire was burning. I wanted to remove the shirt. Probably I would've done it too, if it wasn't for Bilbo holding my hands.

A shadow fell over me and I opened my eyes for a few seconds. Above me I spotted Kili's dark brown chocolate eyes which were filled with concern. Then I shut my eyes tight as another, stronger pain went through my body. Someone, probably Kili, sat down beside me. I gasped, but no cry of pain came this time. Gently Kili lifted me into his arms and then rose. My hands automatically clenched the fabric in his shirt.

Then I fell back into the pain and couldn't feel anything else than Kili's warm presence. All I heard was his heart beating as I laid my head against his chest. He was the only one who kept me from going mad, or worse, give up and let the cool darkness in my mind take me. If I did so, I would be free. Free from the pain which always hunted me, free from the terrible guilt I felt for both Merry and Kili.

A voice rang somewhere far away, and I realized I had began to drift toward the darkness. I stopped and listened. "Rosie, come back!" Far away, but yet. It was Kili's voice. He wanted me to come back. I hesitated and glanced toward the darkness. It would be so good. Just let go of everything. Even my feelings for Kili.

"Rosie!" Another voice this time. Fili. My two brothers wanted me back and alive. They would be there for me. They would help me, maybe even understand. Or... Would they? Would they really understand my feelings and accept it? If a ghost could swallow, then I did so, before turning around, toward the voices calling for me.

My eyes flew up and my breath went fast. Above me I could see the clear, blue morning sky with the rising sun. I groaned, and then realized how dry my throat was. "Water", I croaked, and a few seconds later someone helped me to sit up and to drink. The water was cool, and the pain in my chest slowly faded away. I could finally breath normal again.

I blinked and focused on the persons around me. Fili sat in front of me, and that meant Kili had to be the one holding me. I froze. Then I pulled away from them. How could they still take care of me after all the things I had said? My eyes darted to Kili. I was sure it was nothing but my imagination, but I thought his cheek still was red after I had slapped him. Would they yell at me? Hurt me? If so, I understood very well.

"Rosie, if you continue like that, you'll only hurt yourself", Fili said with his brown eyes on me. My breath went faster and I felt the tears making their way into my eyes. Then I broke down. After a few seconds, I was lifted up and carried back to where I had been when I woke up. In Kili's arms. He held me, but I couldn't understand why. After all I had said and done... How could he still be that mischievous and protective brother he had been when we left the Bag End?

"Shhh, it's okay", Kili whispered with his cheek resting on the top of my head.

"H-how can i-it be a-after a-all I said and d-did?" I sobbed. I tried to push him away, but it was weak, and he was stronger than me.

"Because", Fili said silently. "We forgive you. Everything is forgotten." I shook my head, still sobbing.

"And", Kili whispered, "because... I love you." My breath nearly stopped. It was those three words I never had thought I would hear him say. Those three words which could heal the wound inside me.

"You do?" I asked in a whisper. It was impossible to believe. I pulled a bit away from him, so I could see his face. "I thought it was someone else." Kili shook his head. Carefully he lifted my head and stroke the tears away with his thumb. His face was so close to mine that I could feel his warm breath. My eyes fluttered a bit, and then they closed.

Behind me Fili cleared his throat. My eyes flew open and I and Kili pulled away from each other, both of us blushing. Fili grinned. "Not to destroy a really romantic moment, but uncle Thorin will get mad at us for being away for so long, not to mention Mr. Baggins."

"You're right, as usual", Kili said and got to his feet, just as Fili did. "Are you able to walk?" He glanced down at me. "Or do I have to carry you?" His eyes glimmered, and I smiled.

"If you help me up", I replied and held out my hand for Kili to take it. He too smiled and pulled me up. For a few seconds he had to support me, but then I regain my balance.

"So... Do you want the belt and the cloak? The dagger will be a problem, since the trolls are petrified, and you used it on one of them." His smile became a grin, and he laughed when I made a grimace.

"Nothing to do about that now", Fili said from my other side as we began walking back. "And by the way, you were really brave to meet them all alone." I smiled again. Bilbo would've told me never to do something that tookish again, Thorin wouldn't have said anything, but Fili and Kili commented it.

"Isn't that supposed to be my sentence?" Kili asked, still with that grin.

"Well, you didn't say it, and someone had to", Fili replied with a shrug. I laughed before hugging both of them. When we let go of each other, Kili took off his cloak and put it around my shoulders. I smiled and glanced up at him before putting my hands on his shoulders, and placing a kiss on his cheek. Then I let go of him with a small laughter and ran toward the clearing where the others were waiting. Behind me I heard Fili chuckle, and I could only imagine how Kili's face was right then.

"Rosie!" Bilbo shouted when I appeared. The others also came with happy exclaims, and before I knew it I was surrounded by dwarves asking me how I was, and if Fili and Kili treated me well. I had to laugh. Never if I had been able to imagine how they would react on me being ill.

"I'm fine, I promise", I assured them. "Could you please give me some space here? It's impossible to breath!" They pulled back so I got what I asked for.

"So what did the laddies do?" Bofur asked. I glanced confused at him. "To make you better." I frowned. What did they do?

"Well..." I began before hesitating. It would sound quite strange just to say 'they were there', but that was the only thing I could say since it was what had happened. "They didn't really do something", I said slowly. "What happened was that Kili held me, while Fili sat in front of me, and that made me better, believe it or not. As long as I have the two of them around, not only physically, but also mentally, then I'll be fine. I think."

"And we'll always..."

"...be here for you", Fili and Kili said as they appeared on each side of me, taking my hands. I smiled when Kili quickly and gently placed a kiss on my hand. I knew the others were staring, but it didn't matter. Not when Fili and Kili were there together with me.

"Yes, we're all happy that you're okay", said Thorin and stepped forward. "And we'll all do what we can to make sure you stay okay, but now we've got to get our ponies."

"And haven't you thought that the trolls must have a cave close, since they can't move in daylight?" Gandalf asked. While the others said 'no', I said 'yes'.

"You did?" Fili asked surprised.

"How did you know?" Kili questioned. I only shook my head to make them stop talking, since Thorin took the commando of the group.

"Fili, Kili, you two go scout ahead", Thorin said. "Balin, Dwalin, Oin and Gloin, you go get the ponies, while the rest of you go get the luggages. We gather here when the work is done." Together with Bombur, Nori, Dori, Ori, Bifur, Bofur and Bilbo, I hurried back to the camp which had been left in a hurry when Bilbo got caught by the trolls. It didn't take long time to get the things packed, and again the dwarves did it so well, that there was no sign left to tell others we had been there. At least not as I could see.

When we returned to the clearing, Thorin and Gandalf were standing there, talking quietly. They were the only being there, and I wondered how long we would have to wait for Fili and Kili. With a small sigh I decided to inspect the troll statues who were lit up by the sun. After some searching, I found the one with the dagger in his arm. I frowned. It didn't look as if the knife had turned to stone, as the trolls had. Strange. Quickly I glanced around at the others. None were looking at me. Either they had went to help Balin, Dwalin, Oin and Gloin with catching the ponies, or they were sitting in a group, talking and often peering over at Thorin and Gandalf who still were talking quietly.

I decided I should try and get the dagger. To my surprise, it was much easier than expected, to get up. The only problem when I sat at the troll arm, was to get out to the dagger, since it was just above it's wrist. I frowned before I slowly slid out. After something which felt like minutes, my hand closed around the hilt on the dagger. I smiled and felt the triumph wash over me like a wave, but it disappeared just as quick as it came, 'cause I realized it would be very hard to get it out of the stone. The first time I tried, nothing happened. Not the second time either, but the third time it moved. A small hope appeared inside me and I tried again. Nothing happened, and the hope disappeared. I tried a fifth time, and to my surprise it slid out of the scar. I grinned.

"So you're not weak, after all", a voice said from underneath me. I glanced down at Kili standing there.

"When did you return?" I asked with an arched eyebrow.

"And when did you get up there?" he replied with a grin. I shook my head.

"Forget it", I muttered before I showed him the dagger. "Guess you want this back, then."

"Gladly", he answered. "But don't drop it." He hurried over to his own luggage, and after some searching he pulled out a belt which he moved the sheath over on. Then he returned. "Can you catch it?" he asked, ready to throw the belt up to me.

"I'll try", I said. He threw it, and I tried to catch it. The problem was that I was too late, so it disappeared between my fingers. Instead Fili caught it, and glanced questioning, first at me, then at Kili who nodded toward me. Fili grinned and threw the belt. Again I missed, but this time Kili caught it.

"Maybe I should just let you drop that dagger", Kili said, holding the belt and sending me a look which clearly said he didn't think I would be able to catch the belt.

"One last time", I begged. He smiled before throwing it again. This time I managed to catch it. "Is it you two who can't throw, or me who can't catch?" I asked with a grin as I strapped the belt around my waist, and put the dagger back into its sheath.

"You who can't catch", Fili and Kili replied immediately and I laughed.

"Fine", I said. "You won. Guess I'll have to train on that part." The two of them laughed. "Kili?" He stopped laughing and glanced questioning up at me. "Will you catch me if I jump?" He stared up at me as if he thought I was going insane, but then he grinned.

"Come on", he encouraged me. Slowly I let myself slid off the arm, until I barley managed to hold on.

"Rosie, no!" Bilbo shouted from the other side of the clearing, just as I let go and fell. The first though which went through me, was that I would die if Kili didn't catch me, but then I enjoyed the few seconds, and I enjoyed it even more when Kili actually caught me.

"Wow, I guess you were right", I teased. "That you're good at throwing and such things, while I'm really bad at catching."

"Right", Fili said as he came over to us. We laughed and I put one arm around Kili's neck, the other around Fili's neck, and pulled them together in a hug. When we let go of each other, Kili put me down on my own feet. "And now", Fili said with an important expression. "We'll leave you to deal with an angry Mr. Baggins." I spun around. Fili was right. Bilbo was on his way toward me.

"Rosie Baggins!" he shouted. "How dare you do something like that? You could've died!" I sighed and shook my head.

"Uncle Bilbo, Kili said he would catch me, and I-"

"And that's another thing!" Bilbo interrupted me. "I don't want to see you together with them anymore!" I froze. Then I shut my eyes and felt how I started to shiver. Being without Fili and Kili meant pain, and pain meant possibly death. I shook my head and took a tentatively step back. Warm arms were wrapped around my waist and I stopped shivering. I opened my eyes.

"Can't you just accept it?" I whispered with my eyes on Bilbo. "They are my friends, and you can't keep me away from them!" I swallowed when my eyes watered. "You always wanted me to have friends, and when I finally got friends, you don't want me to be with them. So what do you want me to do?" Bilbo stared at me for some seconds. Then he shook his head, turned and walked back to Myrtle.

I turned to Kili and buried my face in the warm fabric covering his chest. I shook with silent sobs, and Kili continued to hold me. Why was everything all of a sudden so difficult? What had made Bilbo change? Why didn't he want me to be with Fili and Kili?

Another pair of arms were wrapped around me and Kili, and Fili's voice reached my ears. "It's okay. He'll understand, further or later, and until then, you can just go with us. Don't you think so?" I managed to make a small nod, then I turned to Fili and hugged him.

"Thanks, brother", I muttered with my eyes closed.

"No problem", he replied. "You're, after all, our little sister, aren't you?" I nodded before I released myself from them and dried the tears.

"We should get moving", I said with a small nod toward Thorin who was looking at us with narrowed eyes.

"Maybe that's a good idea", Kili whispered. He and Fili began to laugh, something that made me laugh a bit. "Come on."