Wow! So many reviews on that last chapter I almost screamed. I didn't though. My family already thinks I'm crazy enough.

This chapter required a little bit of medical research after the uh... incident. And I am proud to say that to the best of my knowledge, this chapter is medically possible. And if it isn't well... THERE'S A BLOODY DRAGON IN IT. So I think I'm entitled to a few little fudges of logical and reality here.

Please enjoy. Not a super happy chapter, but really... what did you expect?

It was strange. Emi could see the dwarves, hear them talking, but she couldn't respond. She couldn't move. The hobbit was forced to watch helplessly, knowing that it was she herself who caused so much trouble.

Oin's voice came from somewhere behind her. "I can still feel a pulse. She's alive laddie."

"But what's wrong with her? Emi!" That was Thorin.

"Come away, Thorin. Oin knows what he's to do." Balin consoled, pulling the dwarf lord out of her sight.

"No. Balin don't do this-" Thorin struggled out of sight. "Emi!"

Thorin.

"Get him out of here so I can work." Oin mumbled as he looked into Emi's motionless eyes.

"Emilie!" He sounded farther away now. More desperate.

"But what's wrong with her?" Nori asked from behind her.

"She fell." Balin answered. "Thorin… he…"

A hand waved before her eyes, drawing her focus. It was Oin again. "Emi? Can you hear me? If you can hear me, blink once. All right lass? Blink once." Emi stared forward into the old dwarf's face. What had he asked her to do? Blink? Could she… was it possible?

But they needed a signal. A message that she was still in there. Not just alive, but thinking… fighting. And so, she needed to blink.

Blink. Come on you idiot! Just blink already! Blink!

Nothing happened. She couldn't… she couldn't do anything. I really am helpless.

So that's it then…She was doomed to lie here till she died. Dying… Die.

She couldn't die yet. She hadn't gotten to see her home again. Her lovely little hobbit hole. Emi had always meant to return to it again.

…One last time.

And would she really give that up? She had to… didn't she?

"Can you hear me lass?" Oin asked again. "Blink once if ye can."

She couldn't give up now. After coming so far. I don't want to give up. I want to live. And so I have to blink.

Blink.

"Good. Good lass. Now I need you to focus for me, alrighty?" Oin brought her back to the present. "Can you see me lass?"

Blink.

"Good. Can you understand me fine? Blink twice for yes, once for no."

Blink blink.

"Can you feel your limbs? Twice for yes, once for no."

Blink.

"Does it hurt anywhere? Twice yes, once no."

Blink.

"Alright then, I'm goin' to press gently at certain areas. If it hurts, blink twice."

Dwalin watched carefully as Thorin sat, slumped over in a chair. He had finally stopped resisting and forced himself to sit noiselessly while Oin worked.

The dwarf lord was trembling in quiet rage when the silence of the room was disturbed by the princes' entrance. Dwalin stared at them a moment before realizing the situation.

"You've made it back…" The tall burly dwarf gaped. Fili and Kili shared a worried glance before looking to their uncle.

"Thorin…" Kili frowned.

"It's my fault." Thorin shook his head in his hands. His voice cracked. "I've killed her. I've killed her." The princes shared another glance before hurrying to their uncle's side. "My greed, my selfishness, it has blinded me. I have lost that which was most important to me." The empty sobs echoed through the silent room. No one could find the words to speak. After what seemed like far too long, Oin came in. Thorin immediately sprung to his feet, but Oin motioned for him to calm himself. The dwarf lord managed to, ever so slightly.

"How is she? Oin. Is she…" He couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Dead?" Oin finished for him. "No, laddie. She's alive… for now." Thorin turned away in silent relief. "But she's in a state of paralysis. There's some damage in her spine. I don't know how bad it is, communication is limited but-"

"She's conscious?"

"Very much so." Oin then had to stop Thorin from rushing out the door. "But she needs rest. And as I said, communication is very limited."

"How limited?" Thorin growled.

"She can blink."

Thorin grew still. "Blinking? What kind of communication is that?"

"It's enough to show that she's still with us." Dwalin cut in.

Thorin hung his head again and turned away. "This is all my fault. And for what? The Arkenstone? It is not worth it."

"We must trust that everything will turn for the better." Dwalin consoled.

"And if it does not?" Thorin barked. "I will never forgive myself for what I've done."

"You've got to lad." Oin shook his head. "I'll try my best, but what happens now is out of our control."

"Do not say such things."

"Alright lad, but you've got to accept the truth." Oin continued. "I don't know if she'll move again."

Thorin's face grew dark. "Where is she?"

Oin frowned. "We took her to a bed in the royal wing, it was closest." Thorin strode off without another word.

Oin had told Emi to rest. And she knew there was probably a good reason why. But she couldn't. She was too scared. Afraid that if she closed her eyes, she'd never be able to open them again. And she'd never be able to see her home again.

I don't want that.

The door creaked open, and heavy, slow footfalls crossed the room. Thorin's worn, weary face came into her view. Not him. Please not him. He's the one who did this.

"Emilie…" His voice was thick with emotion. Emi closed her eyes tight. She didn't want to see him. Even if it meant never seeing her home again. Right now, she wanted him to leave her alone. "Emilie, Emilie… this is all my fault."

Yes, it is.

"How could I be so blind? How could I do this to you?"

Ask yourself that before you ruin my life.

"Can you forgive me?"

How can I?

"Please, I beg you."

You've ruined me.

"If you can find it anywhere in your heart, please…"

You've killed me.

"Please…"

You've…

"Emilie…"

Thorin…

Damn it. Emi's eyes opened and she stared into the deep blue pools that sat in Thorin's face. Damn it, I love him.

"You really are alive." Thorin smiled breathlessly, raising her hand to his forehead. "Praise Mahal. Praise Mahal…"

I have no clue what will happen now. I just pray it works out for the best. *sigh*