Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 10

Tauriel watched closely as Fili guided Kili slowly around the room, noting that while he looked a little pale his strength was holding up. It was true what was said about the strength of dwarves. A man would probably be dead from the wound even with the poison gone and an elf would still be fully bed bound for another few days, she didn't know how a hobbit would be healing. Fili finally urged Kili back into bed and she helped pull the covers over him. "Well done, your strength is returning faster than I could have imagined."

"Dwarves are stubborn and strong, Kili got a lot of the stubbornness." That got him a pillow to the face and Fili laughed before leaving the room. Technically leaving Kili alone with a female who wasn't family wasn't really something he should do but Kili was injured and he figured Tauriel had too much sense to risk ruining their reputations. He frowned as he heard arguing coming from downstairs and hurried down to find the slimy man who followed the Master around arguing with the innkeeper and Dori who was frowning. Fili drew himself up to his full height, he may be unarmed but he was still a warrior and a Prince. "What is the problem?"

"The Master will no longer pay for our lodgings here my Prince." Dori answered immediately, using Fili's title for the first time. It had never mattered before after all but once Erebor was reclaimed they would have dealings with these people.

"Why not?" Fili addressed the dark haired man sternly, trying to imitate his Uncle.

"Paying for you lot to stay behind was never part of the agreement."

"We have wounded." Fili argued.

"Not our problem." He shrugged.

"Even when the wounded will be a Prince once Erebor is reclaimed? Our Uncle will not be pleased and future relations will be damaged." He kept his anger in check, Kili may be healing but he still wasn't anywhere near ready to travel. He glanced at the innkeeper, he had been kind if a little wary of them and he had given them whatever they needed to care for Kili. The man lowered his head in shame and Fili knew he did not dare go against the Master. "We will leave in the morning, is that sufficient?" He growled and the cowardly man stepped back slightly but nodded and left, trying not to run from the intimidating dwarves.

"Can Kili travel yet?" Dori asked and Fili shook his head.

"I only said we would leave the inn. I need to go out for a bit." He glanced at Dori who nodded, no one would disturb the younger Prince while he was gone. Fili left the inn and finally knocked on a door only to have Sigrid smile when she saw him.

Her smile faded as she took in his expression. "Has something happened?"

"Is your Father in?" He asked and she nodded, stepping back to let him inside their home. Fili walked inside, taking in the cramped space and the worn belongings, this family deserved better, just like so many families did. "I am sorry for troubling you sir but I have come to ask for aide." He bowed to the startled man.

"Aide?"

"The Master wants us gone from the inn, we only have until morning and Kili is still unable to travel. I am asking for shelter until he strong enough. We will do what we can to help however you wish."

Bard stared at the young dwarf, it was strange that the Master was taking such a risk. If the other dwarves succeeded they would not be happy at how the youngsters were being treated. If they failed then there would be no consequences but the move was unlike the cowardly man. The Master had him under observation, he had for years because Bard stood up for the people against him. Taking them in could endanger his children but… he glanced at Sigrid who straightened up and nodded. Bard sighed and nodded. "Alright. Do you need help getting him here?"

"We'll manage. Thank you."

Hari looked up at the mountain, sharp eyes searching for anything even slightly out of place even as the dwarves scrambled around. It was Durin's Day and they had to find the doorway or wait another year. Well they could storm the main gates but that would definitely wake Smaug. And then he gasped as he felt it…glowing green eyes turned to focus on MIrkwood, searching out the Fortress. Saruman… he may not like the white wizard but they were colleagues of a kind. And now the leader of the Istari was dead, snuffed out in an instant.

"Hari?" Bilbo swallowed nervously at the glow.

"I have to go." He whispered.

"Why? What is it?"

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes briefly before looking down at the hobbit. "Saruman is dead, I must go to them."

"Oh…okay."

Hari knelt down and smiled at Bilbo. "You are very brave Bilbo Baggins. I know what you found in the goblin tunnels and you must not use it near Smaug, he will sense it. The Ring is evil and will need to be destroyed. Find the door and open it but do not enter until Gandalf or I return." Bilbo nodded and then gasped as Hari simply vanished. He hesitated and then took off to tell Thorin what had happened.

Tauriel gently settled Kili down on the bed, checking his wound for any tearing but thankfully the stitches had held during the trip. She had given him a herbal mix before they left the inn so he had slept through the walk. Elves were stronger than men but carrying him had not been as easy as she had thought it would, dwarves were very solid, like the stone they came from. She gently brushed some stray hair from his face and then covered him in a blanket, Tilda watching curiously. Soon she was helping the girls prepare a meal for them all.

TBC…