So here is chapter two of 'To Heal a Sickness'. I originally intended this to be part of a 100 Theme Challenge I was doing so I had written at least 10,000 words of it before I decided to separate it up and make it a stand alone, hence why it was updated so quickly xD That won't stay the same ^^ as I am at University and work is heavy.
Rate and Review please. Leave me any comments, except flames. Sometimes my writing can confuse other people even if I understand it myself, so if you get confused between the differing points of view let me know.
Dis did not bother to check on her sons during the night because she knew that if Fili encountered a problem Kili would be right by his side to help him. She regretted this choice as soon as she entered their shared bedroom this morning and found Kili gone. Thorin was not back from work yet but Dis was sure that Kili would not leave Fili's side during the night to watch Thorin working. The scrap of paper that Kili had scribbled on before he had left fluttered on the bed as she moved the covers back off Fili's body to change his sweat stained clothes and Dis immediately grabbed it and read it. Her eyes widened as she read and reread Kili's words, her breath hitching and tears lining her eyes. Dis was a tough dwarf, she hardly cried and only Fili being on death's door had brought her to tears, but the fact that her youngest son had disappeared from the safety of his home moved her to tears again.
She did not want to leave Fili alone in the house but she had to bring this to Thorin's attention. Kissing Fili's forehead Dis ran from her house towards the entrance to the mines. Thorin could be anywhere in the mines, but she had to meet a dwarf before she entered the mines that could tell her where Thorin was. It turned out to be Bofur that she ran into; covered in grime and dust from the mines and scratching his head under the twisted hat he wore.
"Y'alright Lady Dis?" Bofur asked as Dis ran towards him. "Your eyes are a bit wild."
"Where is Thorin, Bofur? Do you know where he is in the mines?" Dis asked quickly, stumbling over her words, not bothering to chastise Bofur for using the 'Lady' before her name, as he insisted to because of her lineage.
Bofur blinked at her quick words, taking a moment to process what the dwarven woman had said to him because he was so tired. "Oh…Thorin is still in the mines…not quite sure where. I can go and look for 'im if you want m'Lady," He inquired.
"Take me too him," Dis ordered.
"I can't take you into the mines, Lady Dis, that would be wrong of me. I'll go and fetch 'im for you." Bofur replied softly, turning round back into the mines and disappearing. Dis wanted to follow him regardless of what he said but she refrained, pacing back and forth with the note clasped in her hand, waiting for Thorin to appear from the darkness of mine with Bofur. It took the miner dwarf ten minutes to find Thorin and bring him to the surface, looking disgruntled at being called from his work. As soon as he saw Dis' face his angered looked disappeared from his face and he rushed over to his younger sister. Bofur, though curious about what had Dis so riled, did not hang around to find out, giving the siblings some space.
"Dis what is the matter?" Thorin asked urgently, "Is it Fili?"
"No…no it's Kili…he's gone!" Dis cried, handing Thorin the note. Thorin snatched it and his expression darkened as he read his nephews words.
"He has run away?" Thorin growled.
Dis shook her head, "He's gone to find a cure for Fili, Thorin. He's put himself in danger for his older brother." She whispered.
Thorin looked a little lost after Dis' words.
"I don't care why he has left the mountains, we must send out a search party to find him and bring him home." He decided after a moment.
"BOFUR!" He yelled.
Bofur, who had stopped to allow Bombur to catch his breath after he had rushed to meet Bofur coming home from the mines, jumped and turned to look at the heir to Erebor. Swapping glances with his brother Bofur approached Thorin.
"Yes sir?" He asked quietly, looking from one to the other.
"You are one of the dwarves that knows that Fili is extremely sick, correct?" Thorin asked.
"Yes."
"Well Kili has left Ered Luin to search the world for a cure for his brother." Thorin continued. "And he is too young to be travelling the wilds alone. Gather the best trackers amongst the dwarves that you know and tell them that Kili has left Ered Luin and I will be leading them to find him and get him back." The dwarf prince ordered.
"Aye sir," Bofur saluted Thorin, bowed to Dis and hurried off to where Bombur was waiting, relaying the message to his brother and pulling him off to gather the dwarves that Thorin desired.
"I will get him back Dis, your sons will be safe together." Thorin promised his sister, gathering her into his arms as she started to sob.
Bofur returned with a large weapon, followed by Dwalin, Balin and Oin. Thorin did not looked impressed that there was only going to be four accompanying him, but he did not argue. Dwalin and Balin were very close to their family and had helped with the bringing up of the two troublesome boys of Dis. Oin liked the boys, as did Gloin, but Thorin wondered why he would want to leave the mountains to find Kili.
"Oin, you want to come?" He inquired.
"I've found that the book I compiled about herbs and medicinal plants is missing. I believe that Kili may have taken it when I heard Bofur's message and I would like to accompany you to get him back. Those boys are precious, and they make a lot of the dwarves of Ered Luin happy, able to forget a lot of troubles from their past. I would like to accompany you to find them," Oin replied softly.
"I feel the same," Bofur piped up before Thorin could ask him why he wanted to go, " Fili and Kili are just what Oin said they are and they are a welcomed sight around Ered Luin. You should be able to tell that many dwarves have not been as happy since Fili and Kili have not been out an' about. I'm worried about Kili. Plus you sent me to go and gather up these lovely fellows."
"Alright," Thorin stated to stop the dwarf before he could continue and crossed his arms, thinking quickly. Dis stood by his side looking at each of the other dwarves in turn, silently pleading them to bring her son back safe.
"All of you get ready for the journey. Bring weapons and food, bedrolls if you wish and say goodbye to all your friends and family before we leave. Meet me here in half an hour, that's all you have." Thorin ordered after a moment, taking Dis' hand and leading her back towards their house.
Fili was quiet in the bed when they returned, his eyes close, breathing soft and even, hitching every now and then as though he was crying. Dis sat by him and took his hand.
"He knows that Kili is gone," She murmured, watching her eldest son.
"Of course he does, their bond is so strong even if he is not conscious Fili would know that Kili was gone." Thorin agreed and smiled softly, looking down at his nephew tenderly. He hadn't seen Fili so peaceful for a while, but it was not nice to see him peaceful now his brother was gone.
"Make sure you bring him back Thorin, bring me back my son safe and sound," Dis muttered, refusing to look at her brother. Thorin nodded and swept from the room to gather the things he would need for the journey to find his nephew.
/
The Lhûn was further away than Kili had imagined it would be, but reading maps hadn't been a strong point of his and judging the true distance of the land from the distance on the map was difficult for him. Day broke and Kili could see the sparkle of the rising sun on the water of the Lhûn ahead of him, but from where he was, out in the open as he was, he could tell that there was a lot of ground for him still to cover. He had gotten tired of jogging after about three hours and had started walking as quickly as he could but he hadn't achieved his goal and he was angry at himself. Thorin would surely know he was gone now and would be rallying dwarves to come with him to find Kili and drag him, he had to get over the Lhûn and into the true wilderness before Thorin and the older dwarves that were surely going to start pursuing him caught him.
He had long since put his map away because he could see the dim outline of Emyn Uial, the hills that he was going to cross, or skirt round, depending on the easiest path for him. The Lhûn grew closer and closer and soon Kili was stood on the bank of the river, looking at the somewhat slow running water. He was no fool, no matter what other dwarves said, and knew that even if the water was running sluggishly on top it could have a faster current below. Kili did not know how to test this.
"If I just test the depth perhaps I can just rush through and get to the other side." He mused to himself as he examined the opposite bank. That bank was raised higher than the bank he was on, only a little, but it gave Kili an idea. Taking an arrow from his quiver Kili fumbled around backwards in his bag again for rope and when he had managed to extract it and untangle it Kili tied the end of it around his arrow and, taking careful aim, fired it into the opposite bank. It sank deeply into the soil on the other side and Kili pulled the rope to test the strength of it. Tying the other end of the rope around another arrow Kili rammed this one deeply into the earth on his side of the river, creating a taught but thin rope bridge.
"If I were an elf this would be easy," Kili muttered to himself, "But I can't balance on this rope…so I could just use it to hold my footing and cross the river."
Kili took his bag off his back and balanced it over the rope so that it wouldn't get wet. He needed the map to stay dry as well as the majority of his food and he wasn't sure if the bag would dry if it was wet. Taking a deep breath Kili stepped into the river carefully, using one hand to balance the bag and wrapping the other tightly around the rope to keep his footing. The river was not as deep as he thought it was, coming at least half way up his thighs. It was cold though and Kili was shivering when he reached the other side, scrambling with numb fingers and legs out of the river. As he wiggled the arrow free from the bank he heard howls in the distance. Kili froze and quickly drew a short sword he had brought with him, slicing through the rope attached to the arrow on the other side. It left him with shorter rope that might put him at a disadvantage later on but Kili did not want to hang around if there were wolves around, if he could he wanted to avoid as many fights as possible to avoid getting injured and failing his brother.
/
Thorin and the four dwarves that had accompanied him down the mountains, quicker than Kili had managed to do so the night before, heard the wolf cries, quiet in the silent air. Thorin froze, much like Kili had, fear spreading through him for his nephew.
"Those are the cries of hungry wolves," Dwalin grunted, "It means that they have either found Kili and see him as food, or they are searching for food and Kili is safe."
"We must go quickly," Thorin growled, running forward as quickly as possible. He had no idea how far Kili had travelled, or which direction his nephew had chosen to travel in, but he decided to go towards the sounds of the wolves, coming from the north-east of Ered Luin. Bofur, Balin, Dwalin and Oin followed him wordlessly, each of them with their brow furrowed, worried about the dwarf they were pursuing.
The dwarven hunting party continued in silence for a couple of hours until they arrived at the Lhûn. Thorin paused here and tried to pick out any marks in the dirt that symbolised Kili had scrambled into the river and crossed over the river.
"Thorin!" Bofur cried, knelt down near the bank. The other four dwarves gathered around the miner as he pulled a length of rope from the river. Thorin's heart was in his throat as he watched, hoping that Kili was not attached to the end of that rope. Bofur finally managed to pull the length from the river and it was not attached to anything, but the end was frayed as though it had been cut. Bofur stood and offered the end to Thorin, who took it tentatively and examined it. Had Kili cut the rope himself or had somebody come across the dwarf trying to cross the river with the help of a rope bridge and cut it so he would be carried off down the river?
"There are marks on the other side of the river Thorin," Dwalin exclaimed, "Scramble marks. Kili may have made it over the river and cut the rope when he heard the wolves so he was not hanging around here when they arrived."
"Where could he be going in this direction?" Oin inquired.
"It seems he's off towards Emyn Uial." Bofur whistled, gesturing to the outline of the hills ahead of them across the river, "But what he assumes he'll find there I cannot say."
"Emyn Uial…" Thorin muttered. "We have no idea where he's going…and we cannot risk injury or death to find him and bring him home, but I promised my sister I would find him."
"We can move forward laddie and try and follow whatever tracks the young lad might have left behind, before any other nasty creatures might find him." Balin said gently, putting a hand on Thorin's arm.
"We must go forward." Thorin agreed and turned to the dwarves standing around him. "We're going to continue after my nephew to Emyn Uial and if we do not catch him there then we must have missed him turning from this path and we will return to Ered Luin without him. I am not asking any of you to continue with me on my journey as it is to find my own kin, none of yours."
"Don't be stupid lad," Bofur laughed, "Kili is as much our kin as he is yours y'know? He's such a cute lad, and he makes life a huge laugh even in the darkness of the world. I'm going with you."
"We stood by you through many of the hardships you have ever faced, Thorin; we will not leave you now." Balin added. Dwalin nodded.
"I will not be the only dwarf to return to Ered Luin after coming this far. I can help in case the lad is injured." Oin said firmly.
"So be it." Thorin murmured, "Let's figure out how to cross this river before Kili gets too many leagues ahead of us."
/
Jogging as best as he could with his furs wet and heavy on his shoulders Kili could not hear the wolves howling anymore, but he knew that if Thorin was after him they'd be able to catch him if he did not keep up a quick pace. He was optimistic that he would find some way to help his brother, but when he had finally reached the base of Emyn Uial a lot of that optimism had left him and he was gasping for breath and desperately hungry.
"I can't stop yet!" Kili chastised his body as his stomach rumbled. "I have to make headway up these hills before I can stop and rest, otherwise Uncle will catch me."
Taking a deep breath Kili tensed his muscles and searched for a path through the hills. The dark haired dwarf eventually found a small path winding up the hills towards the top.
What the hell, Kili thought, throwing caution to the wind and ran at the path, ignoring the burn in his lungs and the cramping of his leg muscles. He had come so far, he could not let Thorin find him and drag him back to Ered Luin.
"Fili you better be holding on back home, waiting for me to come back. I won't forgive you if you're dead when I come home." Kili growled, deciding to make himself angry to motivate himself to continue up the hill. The path he was walking was unkempt and gravelly and ever so often Kili stumbled and nearly fell because of the pace he was moving at. He was angry now, angry every time he nearly fell, every time he thought about Fili and him dying before he himself returned, and the anger that he had gave him the strength to continue even though he hadn't eaten, hadn't slept, hadn't rested properly since he had started out the night before. I can't complain about this situation, he thought angrily, Fili can't eat when he wants, he has no rest from illness, he cannot sleep as much as he wants because he is in so much pain because of his illness…I cannot rest until I know that Fili can. I will not let Uncle Thorin find me and take me back! I will find out how to help my brother!
/
Thorin himself had to admit defeat when they reached Emyn Uial and they lost any sign of Kili heading into the hills. Had they gone the wrong way? Had the young dwarf known that he was being followed and slipped away from them with the skill of a trained tracker? Thorin did not want to have to return to Ered Luin without his youngest nephew, he could not face Dis and tell her that he had failed to find her son. If Kili died who would recover his body and give him the proper burial he deserved as an heir of Durin? Dis would never forgive him if he turned back home now without Kili, no matter whether she announced it verbally or not.
"I need to ask you all a question." Thorin said softly after a moment. Bofur glanced up from where he was sat on a low rock at the base of the hills. Balin and Dwalin had been silently conversing but turned back with Oin now to look at their leader.
"There are no signs of Kili on this path," Thorin began, "But I believe there may be more paths up these hills that Kili could have taken. I do not want to admit defeat and leave Kili alone in the wilderness, but my heart also yearns to return to Ered Luin in case something happens to Fili while Dis is alone there with him. I need advice from you all in what actions we should take."
Out of the four dwarves gathered Bofur and Oin were shocked to hear Thorin asking for advice, as they had always seen Thorin as a leader that always had a plan and was never stuck.
"You should return to Ered Luin lad," Balin stated firmly after a moment of silence. Thorin turned to him with widening eyes. "I am not saying that we abandon the search for Kili, my friend, but I am merely saying that you should be with Dis and Fili while we look for Kili."
"Balin is right Thorin," Bofur piped up, "We can track as well as you and we could easily overpower Kili and bring 'im home but Lady Dis and young Fili need you to be there for 'em, to support 'em and care for 'em and reassure 'em both that Kili will return."
"There would be no shame in you turning back Thorin," Dwalin continued, "You are taking actions to look after all of your remaining family by standing by those that are at home and searching for the one that has left, even if it is not you yourself that is after him. I will not stop until I find Kili and bring him home safely."
"Think of it lad," Oin added, "Fili could die while you're out here looking for Kili, and we would have no way to know at all and Dis would be left all alone to deal with it."
"I shall not return alone." Thorin decided, "If I do return. Bofur, I trust you to continue for me, you have keen eyes and keen ears. Dwalin, you will accompany him. Oin, I have no rights to order you around so you may choose either option. Balin, you will return with me."
Balin did not argue with Thorin's decision although the Prince of Erebor knew that his friend would rather spend his time looking for Kili and bringing him home safely, but Balin also knew that Thorin would feel weak and his honour would be undermined if he returned alone.
Bofur and Dwalin, an unlikely pair to do things together but willing to do so under the circumstances, came together and stood near the base of Emyn Uial. Oin went to stand with them.
"I am still a healer and I would be able to help if the lad has been injured, I am going with the hunting party." He offered as an explanation for his choice, though nobody had asked for one.
"So be it. Find him. Do not stop until he is found and drag him home if you have to. Leave the punishment to Dis and myself when he is home but I want him here even if you have to tie him up." Thorin ordered grimly. Dwalin nodded, if any of the three that would be searching for Kili was going to carry the dwarf home it would be him, closer to Kili than Bofur or Oin and more capable of instilling fear into him.
"Make sure you tell Lady Dis that we are going to find her son," Bofur called as Thorin and Balin turned to head back to Ered Luin. Thorin merely waved in acceptance of Bofur's words, he was not likely to return without three of the dwarves he had set out with and without Kili besides that and not explain to his sister what had happened. Dis was a force to be reckoned with at the best of times but this had increased after the birth of her sons and when it came to their safety even the bravest of dwarven warriors would shiver at the thought of facing her. Thorin had tried to harden himself against her tears and her blazing emotions, building a wall around himself that no one could penetrate but sometimes when he looked into her eyes he saw fire burning there that he knew he would not want directed at him.
Balin was silent as they travelled quickly back to Ered Luin, for he knew Thorin took this return as a defeat, whether Dwalin, Bofur and Oin were still out looking for Kili or not. Many hardships had bent Thorin's soul, though it was nowhere near broken, but Balin worried that if Kili came to harm or Fili died from his sickness then the King that he followed would be utterly broken. Thorin loved his nephews like they were his own sons and cared for them as such, although he did act tough around them most of the time and did not encourage how playful they were. Balin knew his friend well and knew that Thorin chastised the boys for being so playful and unconcerned about their heritage because he was afraid of their innocence and the fact that one day they would have to lose that innocence and become tough, hardened warriors like him, like Dwalin, like Balin himself and if Thorin wanted anything more than to reclaim what had been stolen from his family it was to protect his sister-sons from the horrors of the real world, of battle and of the chance that they could lose each other.
This train of thought stayed with Balin all the way back to Ered Luin. Thorin was thinking differently, not focusing on what the boys had to become but what they were. He was so proud of both of them, though many thought Fili may not have earned this respect and pride because he had been bedridden and Kili had hardly left his side, but that was why Thorin was proud of them. Kili had, eventually, accepted that Fili was severly sick and had from that day taken it upon himself to not only look after his brother but become a skilled warrior as well, taking the chance to learn things so he could relay them to Fili, teaching his brother the lore of fighting and the techniques he had learnt, even when Fili lay unconscious and gripped with fever. Kili had accepted the responsibility for looking after Fili completely onto his own shoulders, despite Dis and Thorin, Dwalin and Balin among other dwarves standing by to support him and Fili as well. He had shown how mature he could be over the months and months that Fili had been sick and this set a deep feeling of pride in Thorin's heart. Fili, well Fili had resisted the illness at first and had still forced himself to follow Kili around, to play with his little brother and protect him, to hold him while he cried even though Fili's insides were on fire and he wanted to cry from the pain. He had hidden it for so long that Thorin was impressed he had not succumbed sooner, and though he thought it incredibly stupid of Fili to do that he also was proud of how protective his nephew had been. Eventually when Fili had had to accept that he could no longer run and shout and play with Kili he had not complained, he lay on his bed day after day, helping when he could to move and clean himself and had patiently accepted all of Kili's tales of mastering archery and sword fighting, despite the fact that Thorin was well aware jealously was eating away at him because he did not have the chance to experience all of this.
Thorin soon found himself brought to tears by the thought that something as small as illness may take his nephews away from him. Dis was strong but Thorin was unsure if she could survive the loss of her sons, especially after the loss of Frerin, their other brother, and their father, grandfather and her husband. Thorin would survive because he had to. Anger burnt deep inside him for the injustices that had been paid to his house and he would not die until he had avenged all those that had been wronged, all those that had been killed. But Dis, dear, sweet Dis, would probably give up the fight if she lost both Fili and Kili.
"Thorin," Balin murmured as Thorin made to walk right into the base of the mountains of Ered Luin, "Thorin we need to climb."
Neither dwarf had rested once on their way back to Ered Luin, walking through the nights just to get back home, so desperate was Thorin to return for Fili and Dis' sake. Now they were nearly there however he was filled with apprehension.
"She'll understand lad," Balin said comfortingly, leading the way up to the where the dwarves lived. "I think she'll appreciate you thinking of her, even if she doesn't say it. And Fili would too, were he awake."
Thorin made a noise to show Balin he had heard what he had said, but he could not speak because of a fear that was slowly spreading through him. What if his hesitation over the right course of action had caused Kili to be injured? What if Fili had taken a turn for the worst and Dis was scared she would be left all alone and was grieving for a son who did not seem to have a chance of ever recovering? Balin told Thorin that he was going to go home and get some rest and that he would check in on him and Dis in the morning. Thorin nodded silently, making his way to Dis' home.
It seemed as though his sister knew he was coming for she was out of the door and into his arms before he had even come within an arms length of opening the door. Whether she thought he had succeeded was unclear because she was hugging him so tightly Thorin didn't get a chance to hear the muffled words she was speaking into his furs. Gently he put his hands on her shoulders and pried her off him, pushing her back until they could see eye to eye.
"Where is he Thorin? I'm going to punish him so much for running off! Kili! Where are you hiding?!" She cried. When her youngest son didn't appear looking sheepish and sulky Dis turned uncertain eyes to Thorin.
"Dis-." He began but she cut across him.
"You swore you would bring him back," She whispered.
"Dis we followed his tracks to Emyn Uial," Thorin explained. Dis' eyes widened as he spoke, Kili had gotten so far in his quest for Fili? "But his tracks stopped there. I could go no further with the weight of you here alone with Fili, with nobody to support you if anything happened. Bofur, Dwalin and Oin have continued on in my place and myself and Balin have returned here, for you and for Fili. I trust that Kili will be found by those three and brought home safely. I was thinking of you and Fili sister when I made this choice, please think of that." He continued.
Dis was silent. She pulled back completely out of his arms as her lower lip trembled. "There has been no change in Fili since you left. He's just lying there, seemingly peacefully, labouring to breath, a sheen of sweat on his forehead."
"I did not want to take any chance of anything happening while I was gone, for you Dis," Thorin repeated.
"I know, but at what cost?" Dis inquired. "Kili could be injured, my son could be lying out there hurt and alone and lost and want his uncle to come and save him."
Thorin gave a wry smile, "If he wanted anyone it would be Fili."
"That is not my point," Dis snapped. Thorin looked rather taken aback at her tone, he had not expected her to be angry and Dis ran a hand through her hair before taking Thorin's hand and leading him inside. They stood awkwardly in the kitchen when they had entered, both unsure what to say.
"I am happy that you are back Thorin," She murmured, "I just wish Kili was with you."
"I do too. It was a hard decision to make, to leave knowing that he was still out there, alone and possibly hurt." Thorin admitted, "But Balin, Dwalin, Bofur and Oin all gave me the same advice and I felt it made sense to follow it, Balin and Dwalin have never given me advice I could never follow before. Dwalin will not return, even if Bofur and Oin do, until he has found Kili, not matter how long it takes."
Dis laughed a little, even though it sounded hollow and fake. "If you were not Kili's uncle I would say that he got his determination from Dwalin. I am sure Kili would not return until he had a cure for Fili no matter how long it took."
"I'm sure he would." Thorin agreed, wrapping his arm around Dis and hugging her tightly. He felt her tremble in his hold and knew that silent tears were coming from her eyes. "I'm sure he would."
/
As Thorin and Balin walked away Bofur, Dwalin and Oin turned to face Emyn Uial. Bofur and Oin were both content to allow Dwalin to take the lead in Thorin's absence, and were waiting patiently for the taller dwarf to make a decision.
"We will spread out and see if we can find other paths through these hills. If you find a way up call out." Dwalin decided.
"Righteo." Bofur exclaimed and headed off South down the edges of Emyn Uial. Oin and Dwalin moved off in the other direction.
Bofur kept his eyes on the ground, searching for any signs that Kili had passed through Emyn Uial. Dwalin and Oin did the same, though they did it in silence. Bofur was humming to himself, a tune that his brother Bombur had liked as a child. He knew he shouldn't have been happy in this situation but he liked being outside of the mines every now and then. He missed Bombur, but Kili was important to a lot of people and Bofur liked the young dwarf himself.
Being distracted by his thoughts Bofur almost missed the footprints in the dirt below his feet, footsteps that matched the ones they had been following before reaching Emyn Uial. Turning he saw Dwalin and Oin coming towards him, evidently having found nothing worth investigating. Bofur waited for them to reach him before gesturing to the foot prints.
"I think I found out which way he went," He commented. Dwalin nodded.
"Let's go," He ordered, taking the lead. Bofur allowed Oin to go ahead of him, bringing up the rear and keeping his eyes and ears peeled for any signs of danger, or a young black haired dwarf.
You better be okay lad, Bofur thought with a deep sigh, Who knows what'll happen to your family if you aren't.