A/N: I cannot tell you how much every single follow, favorite and review means to me. Sorry for the cliffhanger last time guys, so hopefully this quick update will settle some concerned minds (ok, I'm not really sorry for the cliffhanger...) ;) but still, quick update? yay? Thanks so much for all your support, my loves. I'm so glad this story is getting a bit popular!
Chapter 6: Wake for Young Souls
Kili was reckless. That was no secret, for everyone in the company and everyone who knew the brothers back in Erid Luin would say that. But he wasn't just reckless, for the youngest in the Durin line was fiercely loyal and the love he had for his family, especially for Fili, ran deep in his soul. One might say that it was a combination of that very loyalty and that very love that caused him to take the arrow for Fili; but even that wouldn't be possible without a little bit of recklessness.
What some do not realize is that Fili was just as reckless as his baby brother. For after all, Kili had learned it from somewhere. And likewise, Fili had just as much devotion towards his brother as his brother did to him. It was that combination of devotion, loyalty, love and a little bit of recklessness that dictated Fili's next move.
Without a moment's hesitation, and certainly without a plan, Fili jumped into the raging river after his brother.
The dwarves in their Mirkwood barrels went first. Only Ori and Bofur, both toward the end of the pack had seen what had happened to Kili, but the current was too fast and pulled them along too quickly for them to help.
It was absolute chaos. The Orcs were chasing the company; the elves that had now joined the fray were chasing the Orcs.
And let's not forget, Fili was chasing Kili.
Fili was an adequate swimmer at best, and the current was rough. The speed of the river pulled along the unconscious dwarf, but nothing else other than sheer dumb luck kept Kili's mouth and nose mostly above water.
The initial trip over the small falls almost killed the older prince. Fili was pulled under by the water and for a precious few moments could not figure out which way was up and which way was down. Just as he was feeling lightheaded, his head broke the surface and he gasped in much needed air. Without allowing himself a reprieve, his eyes scanned instantly for his brother and with a little relief, Fili spotted him just a few meters in front of him.
Fili was doing his best to swim after Kili, but it was a losing battle. The current kept pushing Fili under the water, and he was constantly fighting against it. He could feel his limbs growing exhausted from the struggle. He could feel every branch and rock that hit his body leaving its mark in bruises and cuts and more sinister injuries.
And yet, Fili swam on.
His brother was ahead of him, floating along and offering no resistance to the waves that threatened to drawn the youngest prince. The arrow was still sticking out of his stomach, reminding Fili of the possibly deadly wound his brother faced if he could even get him out of the river.
Fili would not allow himself to give up. Not until he was absolutely positive that Kili had breathed his last and had left for the halls of their fathers. Only then would Fili allow himself to give up. And give up he would. Give up on the quest, give up on his Uncle, and give up on his own life.
Although Fili did not know it, an orc aimed a spear at Fili, only to have his hand, and then head, cut off by the blond elf prince before the spear could leave it's hand. For he was being followed as well.
Another stroke of luck came to Fili as he managed to wrap his hands around his brother's shirt. As he pulled his brother close to him, he had a brief second of relief, followed by a brief second of 'now what', before the young princes were thrown by the current towards a large boulder.
Fili had just enough time to position himself between his brother and the boulder, before they struck hard. His head slammed back into the rock and brilliant stars danced in front of Fili's eyes.
His last thought was that at least he would die with his brother, and then the world faded to black.
Legolas lived for these battles. The adrenaline coursed through his veins making him feel absolutely untouchable. He knew it was not really princely to enjoy this type of fighting, and certainly Legolas was concerned that Orcs had dared venture into his father's kingdom, but he could not deny that he was having fun.
He was deadly precision, matched with the skill and grace that hundreds of years of training had mastered. Every Orc felled by his arrow or by his blade marked one less of the vicious foul creatures roaming the earth.
Not to mention, he got the satisfaction of dancing on the heads of the a few dwarfs and the additional pleasure of getting to show off for a certain red-haired captain of the Mirkwood guard.
Yes at first, Legolas was having fun.
Then, as he cut down one of the Orcs, he caught sight of something in the river that disturbed the elf prince.
Without barrels, someone with dark colored hair was floating in the river with an arrow wound.
His sharp eyes took in the boy who he had not yet seen. He could assume by his stature that he was a dwarf as well, but he was significantly younger than the ones that had been held prisoner by his father.
He was about to try and reach the boy to pull him out when he saw something else, a blond haired dwarf (once again, Legolas was assuming based on his stature), was doing everything in his power to reach his injured companion. This one was also quite young.
'They will both drown.' Legolas thought in horror as he ran to catch up with them. This disturbed him greatly, and suddenly Legolas was not enjoying himself anymore. For although he did not feel great love for the dwarves, the boy with the arrow wound seemed no older than a child, and Legolas would not wish a child of any race on middle earth such fate as to be felled by an orc arrow.
Then there was the fact that the conduct of the blond dwarf did not match that the conduct that Legolas's father had always described as typical behavior of the dwarves. His father had always taught him to believe that dwarves cared for nothing other than gold and their gems, yet he saw quiet clearly that the blond dwarf was prepared to die to try and help his friend.
Priorities suddenly shifting as he knew the rest of his guard would hunt down the rest of the Orcs, Legolas sprinted full speed at the two figures. He was watching them like a hawk as the blond one reached his friend. He then was forced to watch as blond one spun his companion around to protect him, and then struck a large boulder causing him to lose consciousness as well.
Just as both slipped under, Legolas managed to get his right hand on the brunette, his left on the blond, and with a hard tug, he pulled them from the water.
The exhausted and waterlogged company of Thorin Oakenshield finally hit some calmer water and managed to pull themselves out of the river.
Without allowing them a moment to catch their breaths, Thorin rounded on Bofur.
"I heard you call for my nephews. Where are they? What is their fate?" Thorin asked, placing both hands on Bofur's shoulders and shaking him none too gently.
"Thorin." Balin cautioned, seeing the tension in his King's actions.
"WHAT IS THEIR FATE?" Thorin yelled, paying Balin no mind when Bofur did not answer instantaneously.
With a heavy sigh Bofur removed his hat and raised his eyes to meet those of the once King.
"Fili was able to open the gate, he pulled the lever which allowed us to break free. But…"
"But what, Bofor." Thorin demanded as the toymaker's voice faded off.
"Kili was hit by an arrow and fell into the water. Fili jumped in after him. I tried to keep them in my sight but I lost them." Ori interrupted, saying this all rather quickly, as the rest of the company looked on in horror.
Thorin looked to Bofur for confirmation, receiving a short nod from the usually merry dwarf.
Thorin took a deep breath.
"Spread out and search the river banks. We have ten minutes. Then we must continue on if we intend to get to the mountain before Durin's day."
The company could only stare at their king in horror.
After a few seconds, Thorin bellowed again. "Did you not hear me? Ten minutes."
As the company began to spread out and search, Balin put his hand on Thorin's shoulder.
"Thorin…."
"I cannot risk this quest for the lives of two, Balin. Not even my own kin." Thorin said, shaking off his trusted advisor.
It was the first time Balin saw obsession in Thorin's eyes. Obsession that reminded him of the Thror and the goldsickness that took over his mind.
A/N: I appreciate all the support! please leave a comment, question, criticism (if constructive) for me. I appreciate everyone!
Also, shameless plug, but if you like some brotherly feels check out my other hobbit stories! Especially, The Middle Prince, which is my baby (it's the story that I'm most proud of right now!)