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Chapter 22

Busted.

Fíli inwardly flinched, closing his blue eyes as he muttered a curse under his breath. He should have known he was not going to be able to make it out of the city without Elrond noticing. "I do not think either of your companions would appreciate you leaving without so much as a word of your departure."

"They would try to stop me if I told them good-bye."

"Perhaps it is best if they did. You are still healing, as is your brother. You require as much rest as he does."

"I can manage. Besides," he paused, taking a deep breath he as he looked back towards the path, keeping his back to the Elf Lord so that he could not see the sadness in his eyes. "It has to be done."

"I don't believe your brother would agree with that."

"He might not but it's for his own safety and that of our burglar."

Fíli felt Elrond's hand being placed on his uninjured shoulder. Elrond applied slight pressure, pushing him away from the path and back towards Rivendell. "Somehow I do not believe you, Master Fíli."

Elrond had guided the young dwarf prince towards one of the many balconies that overlooked the city. The soft mist from the waterfall felt cool and peaceful against Fíli's face as he leant against the balcony. He rested his chin on the cool stone of the railing, his eyes watching the area instead of the Elf who stood next to him. It was then that Fíli recognized the balcony they were standing on for as he looked into the valley he could see Kíli's room.

His brother lay fast asleep in his bed with Bilbo sitting by his side, passed out in an uncomfortable position in the chair. "He's mending quickly. In a few days time he should be well enough to travel again," Elrond stated, noticing where Fíli's gaze lingered.

"He wouldn't have to be mending if not for me."

"You speak as if you were the one to cause him harm."

"I might as well have been. None of this would have happened if I was not traveling with them."

Elrond's eyesight was keen, as was the eyesight of his kin, but at this point in time he was completely sure that Fíli could see more. The way he tensed whenever Kíli shifted in his bed, they way he kept his gaze fixed as soft murmurs could be heard from the young healing dwarf. The bonds of brotherhood were stronger than anything else in their world. "Are you quite certain?"

"Would Bolg and his army be chasing them if not for me?" Fíli asked, casting his gaze to meet his. The sorrow in his eyes was foreign to Elrond but nonetheless he could tell it pained the prince more than any battle wound. "It is me that he wants, not them. As long as they are with me they are in danger."

"And what do you hope to gain by leaving them?"

"I could lead Bolg away from them. Have him follow me instead of Kíli and Bilbo."

"And you really think that will work?"

"What other choice do I have?"

Elrond could see the pleading look in the young dwarf's eyes. "There is always a choice, Master Fíli. Most are not easy. As good as your intentions are, I do not believe they will work. Bolg knows you traveled with them. To leave them now could put them in greater harm in the future. He could still try to use them to get to you. Is that not what he did in the Misty Mountains?"

"Yes, but…"

"So would it not be wiser to protect them while you are still accompanying them?"

"I cannot!" There was such desperation in Fíli's voice as his shouts echoed through the valley. The two stood in silence as the cries of the dwarf slowly died away. Once all was silent Fíli went back to watching his brother. "I cannot protect them when I'm around. There is a darkness within me, Lord Elrond. A darkness that makes it way to the surface, no matter how hard I try to suppress it. It's taking me over. I drew a sword on Bilbo. I tried to kill my brother! How am I to protect them from Bolg when I can barely protect them from myself? No, they are safer without me."

Fíli felt Elrond's hand once again on his shoulder. When he looked up to the Elf he saw the he was leaning over so that their eyes could be met on an equal plane. "There is a darkness in all of us, Fíli, son of Dís. Whether we choose to act on those thoughts or not is what defines us."

"I feel like I don't have that choice. I try so hard to control it but it keeps getting worse. I feel angry all the time. How am I to make that choice when I have no control?"

"You have control. You doubt yourself too much."

Fíli turned and looked back to his sleeping brother. "What do I do?"

"I cannot make that choice for you. Only you can make that choice."

Fíli heaved a heavy sigh. "I do not think I can make that choice."

"You wish to protect them?"

Fíli simply nodded. "Then your choice has already been made."

"Did you hear that, gazat? They found a yellow dwarf in the mountains."

Kíli immediately tensed at Bolg's words. Fíli. No, they couldn't have him. Bolg could not lay his hands on Fíli.

He would not allow it.

When he was dragged back to his cell, he was kicking and screaming. "Don't you DARE lay a finger on him! YOU HEAR ME URK SARGH!"

There was a renewed strength that surged through him. Despite the protests and the blinding pain his body was in he managed to break away from the Goblins trapping him. He managed to pull his arms free of their grasps, snapping the neck of one. As soon as it fell dead Kíli grabbed the other Goblin's arm and spun, trapping it's arm behind it's back before he slammed him to the ground and stamped on his neck. His body screamed in protest as he ran back towards Bolg. He would kill that creature if he so much as laid a finger on his brother.

He stumbled around the corner, catching sight of the Orc. He did not care for a surprise attack. A warrior's cry pierced the air as he charged. Before he even reached Bolg, however, Bolg had spun and grabbed Kíli by the throat, hoisting him into the air. Kíli clawed and scratched at the Orc's arm, trying to escape his grasp. Eventually his foot collided with the Orc's chest, catching Bolg off guard and casting him to the ground. Once Kíli hit the floor he pushed himself to his knees, his brown eyes glowing red as he looked at the Orc.

As Bolg steadied himself from the unexpected blow Kíli ran again, this time managing to tackle him to the ground. He attempted to wrap his arms around the Orc's neck, hoping to kill him before he could ever get a chance to touch his brother but his small hands were not big enough to completely wrap around the muscular neck. Bolg, on the other hand, had hands that were massive and he used them. With one he grabbed Kíli's mane and wrenched It backwards, putting great tension on his neck. The other he used to push himself off the ground, getting back to his feet with Kíli still in his grasp. "You will pay for that, glob."

He threw Kíli to the ground like a rag doll, knocking the wind out of him. Before Kíli could even move Bolg was on him, pinning his arm behind him. "I wonder how much use an archer is without his hands?"

There was a loud crack that resonated, followed by Kíli's screams in pain. Two more times he felt his bones crush beneath Bolg's hands. After the third break Bolg leant in close. "When the other arrives, I will slowly break him in front of you, piece by piece and when he finally begs for death, I will give you the courtesy to die first."

"That will not happen."

"And what makes you think that?"

"Because you will be dead. That, I promise you."

"I'd like to see you try."

Kíli never saw the blade. He only knew it was there when he felt it pierce his hand.

Kíli bolted up in his bed, his chest heaving heavily as he fought to regain his breath. Instantly his good hand went to his bandaged hand, kneading at the wound gently. He had managed to tear part of his tunic in the cell to staunch the bleeding before and had done a good job of hiding it from Fíli when he found him. He just hoped that he would be able to use it like before.

After all, what was an archer without the use of their hands?

Kíli softly laid back down, trying to will himself to go back to sleep, but found he could not. He needed something that was not there.

He needed Fíli.

TBC…

Khuzdul translation:

Urk sargh – Orc filth

I am cruel. Sorry. Anyway, a preview for tomorrow:

As he finished packing his bag with all the provisions Elrond had given them, he continuously hoped that Fíli would appear and apologize for disappearing for so long. He wished he would walk through the door of his room and say everything was fine now and they could continue on.

When Kíli heard footsteps in the doorway he spun around with hope but his smile fell when he saw it was only Bilbo. "You ready then?" Bilbo asked, completely missing the sudden change in Kíli's facial expression.

Solemnly Kíli nodded before shouldering his pack and weapons. As they began to walk towards the entrance to the wild Kíli kept his eyes peeled. Perhaps Fíli was still hiding amongst the Elves and would surprise them at the last minute. As they approached the archway they saw Elrond waiting for them. "Is everything alright?" Bilbo asked.

"Yes, Mister Baggins, everything is fine. I just wanted to wish you safe travels."

Bilbo nodded a bow before leading the way. As Kíli passed the lord, he asked, "Where is Fíli?"

"He has made his choice."

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