Good news! My beta got back to me quickly so now I have up to Chapter 10 beta'd. Chapter 11 is being beta'd as we speak and Chapter 12 is in the process of being written. :) So no hiatus...for now ;) Thank you to all my lovely reviewers! Sorry I haven't gone through and answered each one like I did last story. The real world has demanded a lot of attention from me lately. Anyway, enough of my rambling that you really don't care for and on to what you guys and gals came for; the story!

Chapter 6

When Fíli had separated himself from them, most of the Orcs and Wargs had gone after him, making it easy for Kíli to pick off the stragglers with his bow. In a matter of moments they had lost their tail and had taken refuge in a small, narrow path that wound through the mountains. Bilbo had dismounted his pony and lounged against a large boulder, already missing the soft bed he had fell asleep in on the night before.

Meanwhile, Kíli stood at the entrance, watching the plains looking for his brother.

"He's been gone for too long," Kíli muttered to himself.

"It hasn't been that long."

Kíli kept pacing, his chocolate eyes never leaving the plains. The sound of hoof beats reached his ears first before he saw the black spot rushing towards them. Kíli sighed in relief.

Bilbo, having heard the pony, got to his feet and said, "See, I told you he's fine."

However when the pony got closer, both Kíli and Biblo's smiles fell for no rider sat on the saddle. They rushed out, Kíli grabbing the reigns and calming down the startled animal. "Where is Fíli?"

Kíli glanced back at the plains, hoping to see some movement to indicate that Fíli maybe had just lost his horse as a distraction. But there was no movement. Something wasn't right. He knew it, in his heart.

"I'm going back for him."

"What, no! You can't."

"Yeah? Watch me."

Before Bilbo could protest anymore, Kíli got onto his pony and rode back the way they came. He had seen the pony leaving Mirkwood and Kíli knew that Fíli would not have ventured far into that horrible place. Two trips through was bad enough and they were going to have to make a third after they saw Bilbo home. Perhaps Kíli could convince Fíli to go the long way around Mirkwood to get home on the way back. It wasn't like they were in any rush.

Kíli slowed his pony down to a trot as he entered the trees. Who knew if the Orcs and Wargs were still around… He kept his eyes focused for any signs of his brother, putting his tracking skills to the test. After all, Fíli was always the better tracker, having the patience to look around one area for signs - something Kíli lacked.

There was a faint whisper on the wind, so quiet he couldn't quite make it out. Kíli pulled out his bow and notched an arrow, preparing himself for whatever may be lurking in the trees. His eyes landed on a broken branch of that fauna. After dismounting he knelt next to the clue, examining it closer. Small drops of crimson sat upon the leaves.

Orcs did not bleed red.

"Fíli," he muttered, looking around.

Before he could take his hand away from the branch, something grabbed a hold of his arm. His left hand instantly pulled out his knife and held it threatenly at whatever had grabbed him until a familiar, yet pained voice- "Wait!"

When Kíli saw what had grabbed him, he breathed a sigh of relief. It was Fíli, laying on his back with one arm cradled to his chest. His skin glistened with sweat and his chest rose and fell dramatically as he steadied his breathing. Kíli had to laugh as he pulled his brother into an embrace.

"Ow, easy, brother!" Fíli grunted.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Kíli asked, pulling his brother away to get a good look at him.

"Just a scratch. It's nothing," Fíli replied, trying keep his left arm concealed.

Kíli was having none of it and pulled his arm away, his face paling when he saw the deep gash that ran up his forearm. "That is no scratch. What happened?"

"Wasn't paying attention to what was ahead of me. Bloody branch knocked me off my pony. I went to hide in the bushes but, well, one of the Orc scouts found me. Trust me, I look much better than him. Managed to get rid of him before he called attention to where I was hiding."

"We need to get this cleaned up."

"No, not yet. We need to get away from Mirkwood and into the mountains. There we can find shelter and then worry about this."

Kíli couldn't take his gaze away from the large wound. "It's not going to kill me. Sadly, I've had worse. We should probably return to our hobbit. I'm sure he's probably nearing panic mode, seeing that we've been gone for some time now."

Kíli smiled as he helped his brother to his feet.

They both mounted the pony, Kíli in front with Fíli behind him, before setting off back to the mountain pass.

Bilbo was relieved when they arrived, having already mounted his pony and readying himself for his own rescue mission.

By the time they arrived back at the entrance to the pass, the sun was beginning to set and storm clouds began to brew in the mountains.

They made camp for the night in the quarry. Bilbo had been designated first watch and had already sat himself on the large boulder, watching the plains with his back turned to the brothers.

Kíli was busy cleaning and dressing Fíli's wound, with great difficulty, seeing as how Fíli was having problems sitting still. "This would be a lot easier if you would stop moving."

"I'm sorry that I flinch every time you brush over it! It's not exactly painless."

"And here you were telling me it was nothing."

"Well, I had to say something. You looked like you were about to turn into Mother."

"I was not!"

"Was too."

The brothers smiled as Kíli finally finished wrapping his arm. "There, all better. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go relieve myself."

Kíli left his brother sitting by the fire as he ventured towards the mountain pass. There was a nice group of boulders he had found that would work perfectly to conceal himself as he relieved his bladder.

He had just started when he heard a pebble skip across the rocks. His head spun. "Fíli, is that you?"

When no one answered, he shrugged it off and finished his business. He was just about to leave when large arms wrapped around him, pinning his arms to his sides as a large hand clamped over his mouth. His shouts were muffled as he was picked up and lifted away.

Fíli began to notice Kíli's prolonged absence from using the bathroom and had decided to take it upon himself to see what his brother was up to. Probably a practical joke, no doubt.

"You alright, Kíli?"

His brother, however, did not answer. "You better not be trying to scare poor Bilbo. I don't think his little…"

He was cut off, however, when hands clamped over his mouth. Instinctively he pulled out his hunting knife and swung, drawing red blood. Before he could do more damage, however, something hard hit him from behind and he knew no more.

TBC…

Yes, yes, they can't ever seem to stay out of trouble. Please read and review! Reviews help me write faster ;)