Chapter 5:
The dim sunlight streamed in through the window and Fili groaned. His limbs felt like lead and his head was pounding. Grimacing at his cracked and dry lips, he sat up slowly, giving his head time to stop spinning. He felt sick and had a horrible taste in his mouth. 'Probably the foul lake water' he thought dryly, rubbing his face and trying to gather his thoughts. He vaguely remembered last night, the exhaustion and cold. Peering around the room, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dawns fragile light, Fili tried to ignore the grumble in his stomach and the pain in his head that felt like knives being driven into his skull. He couldn't see Kili in the room and he felt a stab of worry in his gut. Bofur was lying, snoring loudly, on the kitchen table, using a tankard as a pillow, while Oin was sitting in an armchair snoozing quietly. But Kili was nowhere to be seen.
Getting to his feet, Fili grabbed hold of the wall to steady himself and took deep breaths. Feeling the tightness in his chest ease, Fili staggered to Bard's room, where last night they had put the elf to sleep, hoping Kili might have fallen asleep watching over the she-elf. Opening the door, Fili's mouth fell open in shock. Kili and Tauriel were curled up in bed together, under the covers. Tauriel was lying with her head on Kili's shoulder, breathing slowly, while Kili had his face in her red hair, breathing softly. Fili was dumbstruck. This scene was so intimate he almost felt that he should leave but he couldn't tear his eyes away from his little brother, in bed with an elf!
Kili hadn't exactly been popular with dwarf women; in fact, they had thought him rather plain compared to his brother. Kili had been too young with no beard and altogether a tad too awkward. He had been confident to begin with, Fili reflected, but after the first one he was interested in turned him down, saying she would rather marry the heir, not his little brother, Kili's confidence had been shattered and after that he much preferred to laugh with the lads rather than flirt with the females. Fili had always felt guilty about that, and had tried to help his brother as much as he could, helping him to hone his fighting skills and even begging Thorin to teach him how to use a bow. Fili himself had been awful at archery and he'd noticed a huge boost in his brother's confidence levels at mastering a skill Fili himself was simply atrocious at.
And now here his little brother was, curled up in bed with Tauriel. Shocked yet slightly proud, Fili slowly crept into the room, careful not to wake the slumbering couple. Taking a shaky breath, Fili slowly pulled the corner of the quilt back, hoping he wouldn't find what he thought he would. But relief passed through him as he saw they were both bundled up in clothes. 'He must have just been keeping her warm' Fili told himself, smiling as he calmed himself down. Kili hadn't given himself to an elf maid and Fili could hold his head up high when he next saw Thorin, confident that nothing had happened between Kili and the she-elf.
But Fili wasn't altogether sure whether to feel pleased about this or not. Yes, this meant that Kili and the elf hadn't done anything, but Fili could see from the way he was so tenderly holding her that he cared for her deeply. He knew of course that his brother would never have taken advantage of her in the fragile state she was in, but this didn't comfort him. Kili clearly had feelings for the elf and, judging by the way she treated him, she may well reciprocate them. All this meant a very awkward conversation with Thorin who was well known to think of all elves as the enemy. But Fili knew, looking at the peaceful look on his baby brother's face, that if this was what Kili truly wanted, he would support him no matter what. Even if that meant standing up to Thorin, Fili would do it. Fili would do anything for his brother to keep him safe and happy.
Tucking them back in, Fili silently crossed the room, closing the door behind him. He stretched, yawning, and realised just how awful he felt. His head was still thumping, his limbs ached, he was dehydrated and the room was spinning. Staggering to the table, Fili moved the tankard supporting Bofur's head and smiled at the satisfying thump of Bofur's head hitting the solid wood table. The shock of the pain woke him up instantly and Bofur frowned as he looked up at Fili.
"Why?" He asked simply, rubbing his head and sitting up on the table.
"Because number one you're a horrendous snorer, number two you stink and number three I want you to fill me in on what happened last night."
"Your voice is all croaky." Bofur noted before yawning loudly. He rolled off the table, staggered a bit but righted himself, then walked over to the kitchen area. Fili found a chair and sat down while Bofur busied himself with collecting food and water. Bringing some to Fili, Bofur waited to make sure Fili drank some water, and then went so collect more supplies. Setting the table for five, Bofur went to the armchair when Oin was still sleeping and woke him up.
"Food." Bofur grunted, looking round the room sleepily, confusion written clearly on his face. "Where's Kili?"
"In there with the elf." Fili said, rubbing his head and groaning from the pain in his sore throat. "Leave them, let them sleep."
"Wait, he's sleeping with the elf?" Bofur exclaimed, suddenly alert. He hurried towards the door of Bard's room but Fili's call stopped him in his tracks.
"He was just keeping her warm, they look exhausted. Just leave them be, they'll wake when they're ready."
Grumbling, Oin walked to the table and sat opposite Fili, shoving the bread into his mouth enthusiastically. Bofur came and sat next to Fili, looking at him carefully to make sure he was looking alright.
"How you feeling?" Bofur asked quietly, realising from Fili's drooping head that he must be in pain.
"I'll live." Fili grunted, glancing nervously at Oin. He was waiting for Oin to state how bad he looked and insist on checking him out to make sure he hadn't caught anything. But Oin clearly didn't think Fili looked bad enough to warrant further treatment as he continued eating happily.
"So, fill me in." Fili said, sighing as he stretched out his legs under the table. They were aching fiercely and Fili rubbed his thigh, attempting to loosen his tight muscles.
"Half of town either burned down or was singed at the very least. Around 30 injured but only 6 or 7 dead surprisingly. Bard's organising the rebuilding, making sure buildings that are structurally damaged are repaired so people can go back home and to work as quickly as possible. Bain's taking care of distributing food and clean water to the injured or needy. Tilda and Sigrid stayed overnight, nursing the sick and injured. I helped put the fires out and Oin helped until everyone who was critical was stabilised, then we came back here with the girls to eat and sleep. They should be in their rooms. I was sleeping happily until you rudely woke me up." Bofur grinned at Fili, who rolled his eyes.
The front door opened and Bard walked in looking utterly exhausted. He crossed the room and slumped in the chair at the end of the table.
"How's the situation?" Oin asked, looking at Bard with a worried expression. Fili understood why, Bard looked terrible; his hair was wild and darkened with soot and his eyes hard dark bags under them.
"Luckily he didn't get enough time to do severe damage. It can all be rebuilt reasonably quickly. Thanks for your help but if you wanted to go and find your kin I wouldn't blame you. I got a boat that's ready as soon as you want it."
"Thank you." Oin said gruffly, downing the water from his tankard. "I better go and wake the lad and elf up to make sure she's improving." He shuffled to the other room and this time Fili said nothing. He felt awful and he had a feeling that if he felt this bad Tauriel surely would as well. Groaning, Fili leaned back into the chair and closed his eyes. He couldn't allow himself to entertain for a single moment the thought that Smaug had killed the others. He firmly believed that they would be waiting for them in Erebor and with every beat of his heart his feeling strengthened. Surely he would know if Thorin and the others had fallen. But he felt nothing, just a strange emptiness wallowing inside of him. He couldn't help to wonder if this was good or bad.
The door to the bedroom opened and a red faced Kili appeared, smoothing his clothes and ruffling his hair back into place.
"Morning." He said brightly, walking over to the table and sitting opposite his brother in the seat Oin had just vacated.
Fili raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for his head to stop aching quite so much. He sat quietly as Bofur filled Kili in on the night's events.
"So we're going to Erebor today then?" Kili asked, looking to his brother for confirmation.
"I suppose we'd better find out, one way or another." Oin said gruffly, coming out of Bard's room and walking to the table. Tauriel followed him. Fili couldn't help but notice how she looked good, considering last night's hardships. Her cheeks were rosy red and her eyes looked bright and were shining.
"I don't know what you did and frankly I don't care." Bard stated, standing up and addressing Tauriel. "But it worked and the beast is dead, so you have my thanks. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and sleep for the rest of the year." He walked over to one of the doors behind Kili, checking on his sleeping daughters, and then went into his own bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Chuckling at Bard, Bofur got up and put his coat on before itching his armpit. "May as well get started now." He said, looking at the others and waiting for them to rise as well.
Oin followed him to the other side of the room while Fili rose stiffly and stretched. Groaning he walked over to where he'd left his coat and put it on, attempting to ignore the fire in his limbs as he did so. Fili glanced back at Kili, who was awkwardly waiting by Tauriel, watching as she drank some water.
"Would you like to come?" He asked awkwardly, wringing his hands together.
"I'll come if you'd like me to. If you think I wouldn't be imposing." Tauriel smiled sweetly, blushing under Kili's intense gaze.
"Of course you'd be welcome to!" He said, grinning at her. "Wouldn't she?"
Bofur looked at Fili nervously, clearly anticipating what Thorin would say if he was alive and well and they brought an elf into Erebor.
"Bring her, if they're hurt she'll be useful." Oin grunted turning and walking out the door. Unwilling to argue, Bofur followed. Raising an eyebrow at his brother's joyous expression Fili turned and followed suit. He noted absently that Kili and Tauriel were following. Turning back to check they were keeping up, Fili saw Kili mouth something at him. 'Are you ok?'
Fili nodded and hurried to catch up with Bofur and Oin, trying to ignore the alarm bells in his head. He knew full well Thorin would kill him for not stopping this relationship before it grew to anything serious but Fili was all too aware of the consequences him interfering may have on his brothers happiness. He knew Kili would listen to him and stay away from the elf if he asked but Fili found himself unwilling to do so. Kili's happiness was the most important thing to him and he refused to do anything to jeopardise that. So Fili ignored the way Kili helped Tauriel in the boat, he ignored all the giggles and whispering and he pretended not to notice them holding hands behind him as Bofur pushed the boat onwards towards their long lost home. Glancing at Oin, Fili realised he was smiling at the couple, clearly at ease with their relationship. 'It's probably because she's such a great healer.' Fili thought, sighing. He was glad at least that Oin wasn't frowning on his brother or declaring himself ashamed at his blatant feelings for the elf. And Bofur seemed completely oblivious to what was happening between the young dwarf and elf so Fili allowed himself a moment of calm. The occupants of this boat may be happy in their ignorance or pretending to ignore what was happening but Fili knew full well Thorin would not be so happy to allow his nephew, a prince of Erebor, to court an elf. A woodland elf at that. Hoping his brother at least had the sense to attempt to hide his feelings in front of their uncle; Fili concentrated on the rhythm of the boats movements and drifted in and out of sleep.