Okay, I have just written Chapter 16 and oh dear lord, you guys are in for an emotional rollercoaster. Not that this isn't bad enough. ;) Thank you for all the reviews!

Chapter 11

Pain.

That was the first thing to register when he finally came to. Lots and lots of pain. Of course, that was to be expected. After all, Fíli had fallen off the side of a massive cliff in the mountains.

At first he didn't want to open his eyes or even move. The smallest twitch in his fingers shot a sharp pain up his arm. Even breathing in was painful.

Eventually he opened his blue eyes, taking a minute to focus on the grey rocks in front of him. There was little light but just enough to make out distinct shapes in the area. Slowly he tried to push himself up off his stomach but the moment he put pressure on his left wrist, he fell in agony. With a hiss he looked to his hand. His wrist was swollen and at an odd angle; most definitely dislocated. With his good hand he prodded at the area, trying to feel which bone it was that was popped out of place, and a muffled gasp nearly tore through his throat when he found it. He knew what he was going to do was going to be excruciating but he needed to be able to somewhat use his hands.

He had to find Kíli.

Fíli rolled onto his side, which was a task in and of itself, seeing as how he could feel cracked and broken ribs protesting with every move. He had to be slow; otherwise the world would begin to spin wildly.

He managed to sit up and lean against the rock face. With his right hand he pulled out his hunting knife and put it between his teeth. The blade fogged up as he exhaled but he paid no mind to it. Carefully he used his right hand to cradle his left and, after a few deep breaths, he clenched his eyes shut and pressed.

There was an ear piercing scream that erupted from him, slightly distorted by the item in his mouth. As it began to numb he could feel warm liquid dripping down his arm from the reopened wound on his forearm he had sustained in the plains, not to mention the sticky coat that caked his head.

As he sat there, panting and waiting for the pain to subside, something gold and glittering caught his eyes. When his eyes found it, his face went pale.

Bilbo's ring.

He crawled over to it, slowly, his right shoulder protesting when he reached out to grab it and the moment it was in his hands, he felt calmer. What had it been doing down here? Did Bilbo drop it? Bilbo would have never lost it on purpose. Fíli prayed nothing bad had come to the Hobbit as he slowly got to his feet, slipping the ring into his pocket.

Once he was on his feet and the world had stopped spinning he looked up the rock face from where he fell. The ridge above was hundreds of feet up on the air. How in Middle Earth did he survive that drop?

He stepped towards it precariously and grabbed onto the rock with his right hand. The moment he tried to lift himself up to climb he fell back in agony. There was no way he was going to be able to climb up.

So how was he going to get out of this mess?

As he stared up, trying to find the easiest route something hit him from behind and the world went black.

"I was the one that killed Azog."

At first everything was silent as Bolg stared down at Kíli and he thought that perhaps the Orc had believed his lie.

That idea was shattered, however, when Bolg began to laugh.

"Nice try, dwarf. I know it was not you. The Slayer of Azog has hair of gold and besides, you are nothing more than a runt."

"You can't believe everything you are told. I killed Azog. I ran him through and cut off his head so he would never come back and threaten my family again."

"Family?"

Kíli did not show any physical response as Bolg knelt before him, examining him even closer than before. "You are related to Thorin Oakenshield?"

Kíli did not answer him.

"You are the Prince of Erebor?"

Again, Kíli remained silent.

"If you are the prince, then, who was the yellow one who traveled with you? The one I chased through the plains?"

Kíli sought his brain for an answer. He had known Bolg had seen Fíli in those plains. With a confident voice, he replied, "My protector. He makes sure nothing happens to me."

It wasn't completely a lie. Fíli was his big brother and had always kept him safe from harm in any way that he could. Always had since they were dwarflings.

"It seems your protector has failed you."

Bolg withdrew a knife and held it to Kíli's throat. "You do, indeed, share some resemblance to Thorin Oakenshield, but your eyes give you away. They are full of deceit and lies. So I will give you one chance to tell me the truth. Where is the Slayer of Azog?"

Kíli took in a shaky breath before replying, "I am the Slayer of Azog."

Suddenly he felt the knife slice across his cheek. It was a shallow cut - that much he could tell. The wound stung as it began to bleed.

"Stop lying, gazat. Those who lie to me do not last long. So I shall ask you again: where is the Slayer of Azog?"

Kíli gritted his teeth as he looked into Bolg's face. "I am the Slayer of Azog."

Bolg growled as he picked Kíli up by the throat and held the knife under his chin. "Where is he?!"

Even though his body screamed for the air he was not receiving, Kíli kept his face stoic as he replied, "I am the Slayer of Azog!"

Bolg cried out a guttural howl as he threw Kíli against the wall of the cave. "He's all yours, boys!"

Before Kíli could even sit up he felt cold, callous hands grabbing at his clothes. The Orcs held him still as another withdrew a whip. With a crack, Kíli felt a burning sensation across his chest where the whip had hit. He doubled over just as another crack resounded, hitting him this time on his shoulder. Lash after lash the whip came down on him, tearing at his clothes and leaving blood on his skin.

All the while Kíli kept his mouth shut, only every letting out hisses in pain. He would not scream for them.

Just as he thought he was going to black out from the pain he felt himself being dragged back through the tunnels and thrown into his cage. The moment he was left alone he attempted to push himself up so he was sitting instead of lying on the floor like a weakling.

If there was one thing Kíli wasn't, it was weak.

Even at a young age when he was smaller than the rest of the dwarves his age, Kíli was never weak because there was always one person that gave him strength.

Fíli.

Kíli recalled a memory long past , one that still brought a smile to his face.

Little Kíli struggled to keep up with Fíli as they ran through the forest around the Blue Mountains. Once again they were on an "adventure" to reclaim Erebor.

"Fíli, wait up!" Kíli called to his older brother.

"Hurry, Kee, we don't have much time!"

Fíli bounded through a patch of trees and out of sight. "Fee, wait!"

Kíli followed but when he arrived at the spot Fíli had disappeared to, he was alone. Kíli looked around, hoping to spot his brother. "Fee?"

The sounds of life that lingered in the forest echoed about him, causing Kíli's heart to hammer against his chest. He pulled out his little wooden sword that Thorin had given him to train with, hoping it would be enough to protect him. Something leapt out of the bushes and with a fearful scream, Kíli swung.

It was a bunny, coming to nibble at the patch of grass by Kíli's feet. As Kíli realized what it was Fíli came running towards him, his sword drawn and at the ready.

"Kíli, are you alright?" he asked with a worried voice.

Kíli dropped his wooden sword and embraced his big brother. "I thought you left me!"

"Oh Kee, I would never leave you."

"I was all alone and I was scared."

Fíli pried Kíli off him and held him at arm's length as he looked into his brother's eyes. "You're not alone. I'm right here. I'm always here and should we ever get separated I will always find my way back to you."

"You promise?"

"I promise. Now come on, I think it's nearing supper and Mum will kill us if we're late again."

"Okay... race you home?"

The brothers smiled as they bolted off in the direction of home, laughing and giggling the entire way.

Kíli smiled at the fond memory and just the thought of it made him feel warmer inside. Fíli was right; he wasn't alone.

He was never alone.

TBC...

I am so mean to my characters. I just want to give Kíli a big hug after this...and after everything else I've got so far. I noticed you guys liked the sneak peek...I think I shall continue to do that for the rest of my chapters...so here is a sneak peek for Chapter 12!

Fíli lay in pain, closing his eyes and smiling when he saw Kíli smiling at him. It always seemed that it was him getting his little brother out of trouble. When Kíli was caught stealing their mother's cookies from the cookie jar, it was Fíli who claimed it was him so his brother wouldn't get punished; when they had been caught sneaking into the forge in the Blue Mountains, it was Fíli who said it was his idea and Kíli was just following along even though it was Kíli who ran in first and Fíli was only there to make sure he didn't get hurt; when Kíli was injured on a hunting trip months before the quest, it was Fíli who carried him back home.

Fíli remembered all the adventures he and his brother shared and all the times he got his brother out of trouble. This time would be no different. He would do whatever it took to make sure Kíli was safe, even if that meant sacrificing his own life.

Alright, please read and review!