"Thorin you can't, you can't!"

Kili screamed and fought against Dwalin's hold as he was dragged away from the halfling. Bilbo looked frightened and confused, and it made the young dwarf want to cry.

"Bilbo! You have to kill him, understand? Kill Smaug! Please, please, it's the only way this can end happily!" He had no idea if the hobbit could really understand what he was saying, though Bilbo certainly looked troubled, and he reached out a hand in Kili's direction from where he stood.

"Don't let him die, we can't let...Dwalin, please..."

Kili looked pleadingly up at the tattooed dwarf. Dwalin shook his head, loosening his grip on the younger dwarf. "This isn't my decision to make," Dwalin told him gruffly, and pushed him towards the tunnel. "Stay with your brother. We'll get you when it's over."

Kili staggered a few paces before turning his terror-stricken gaze back to Dwalin. The older dwarf couldn't meet his eyes, instead calling for Ori to join the lads. The young scribe hesitated before entering the tunnel, his hand briefly clasping one of Dwalin's, and Kili blinked in surprise.

But then Fili moaned, and the incident was forgotten as Kili dashed to his brother's side, taking one of Fili's hands in both of his and watching him anxiously. He was trembling slightly, and Kili pulled off his coat, covering his brother with it and tucking him in tenderly.

Thorin, Dwalin, and Bilbo were the only ones left outside when Smaug returned. The hobbit was clinging to Thorin, breathing in slow and carefully against the dwarf's front. Thorin held him protectively, knowing it was likely the last time he would see his dear friend. Beside them, Dwalin was silent and stern, his axes drawn and hanging loosely from his hands.

They may not be able to do much to the dragon, but they could at least cut an intimidating figure. One last show of defiance, even as they caved to Smaug's will.

The dwarves did not flinch when the great beast dropped down from the sky beside them, though the shudder it sent through the ground had them both staggering for balance for a moment or two. Bilbo began to tremble and Thorin held him a little tighter.

"Thorin Oakenshield," the dragon hummed, and he sounded so very smug that it was difficult to keep from just attacking Smaug right now. Dwalin's grip tightened around his axes. "I would thank you to return my hobbit to me."

For a long moment, nothing happened. Dwalin cast a glance in his king's direction. Thorin was still holding the little creature close to his chest, his eyes locked with Bilbo's. The hobbit's lips twitched into a tiny smile and he gave Thorin a little nod.

The dwarf swallowed, arms tightening around Bilbo in one final tight embrace. Looking visibly upset, Thorin released the hobbit and gave him a gentle push in Smaug's direction. It took him a moment or two to recollect himself, smoothing his expression into something more neutral and suitably kingly. It almost made Dwalin sad.

Bilbo patted Thorin's cheek before returning to his place at Smaug's side, his elven short sword gleaming in the sunlight at his hip. He touched the hilt and for a wild moment Thorin thought maybe he was about to plunge the blade into the dragon's heart like Kili had pleaded for him to, but then the hobbit's hand moved instead to brush against smooth scales. Something tightened in Thorin's stomach and Smaug chuckled in satisfaction.

The dragon crouched, and with a little help, Bilbo clambered up onto his back.

"Wait," Thorin said abruptly, and Smaug turned two golden eyes on him. Worry spiked in Dwalin's chest but he said nothing. It was too late to renege on their deal now.

"One of ours is injured," the king-in-exile told Smaug. "For him to travel now would be to court death."

The dragon appraised him for a few moments. "You have until dawn to leave," he allowed. Thorin bit down on the inside of his lip. Fili needed a few days, not a few hours. But Smaug was not one to be questioned. His answer given, he took to the skies, the hobbit clinging to his back. Thorin watched them go, his hands clenched tightly into fists. He felt the scabs tear and start to bleed again, but he didn't care.

Bilbo was gone.

X

It was dumb luck that Nori found one of the ponies. He'd slipped off for a bath and maybe some fresh water by the river, only to find one of their shaggy little ponies drinking at the stream, still fully saddled. She hadn't complained at all when the dwarf stroked her nose and gently led her back up to the tunnel, obediently clopping along beside him.

What was more, there was food in her saddle bags. That brought smiles to the Company, if only brief ones. They had enough now to make it to Lake-town, providing that some of the others hunted to supplement their meager supplies.

The pony was unsaddled for a good rub down, and was told several times over by several of the dwarves what a very good girl she was. She seemed to like that, tossing her head back and nickering at the Company.

Now, at least, Fili could travel with them.

X

Bilbo's eyes were closed when Smaug shifted into a Man. It was strange, to one second be gripped lightly between talons and the next to be held gently against a bare chest. He felt safer with this Smaug, the one with more soft skin than scales, and sighed softly.

Smaug set him down and Bilbo's eyes opened, reaching out for the dragon. Chuckling, Smaug laid down beside him, pulling the hobbit close.

"I missed you, little rabbit," he hummed, and Bilbo smiled, nuzzling into him.

"Missed you too," he mumbled. "Going to take me?"

That made Smaug laugh, and he brushed a hand across Bilbo's face, pushing his curls back behind his ears. "Oh no," he told him. "Not today. You need rest. We're going out tomorrow, and I want you to be at your full strength."

Blue eyes blinked in confusion at the dragon. "Where are we going?"

"My dear Bilbo, you didn't really think I was going to let those dwarves escape alive, did you? No, no. Tomorrow, we're going on a hunt."

X

Kili slept fitfully at his brother's side, curling up closer to him and resting his head on Fili's chest. With Bilbo gone and Fili too pale and sleeping, Kili couldn't help the strong emotions bubbling up inside him. For much of the night, he cried silently into his brother's chest. Thorin, Dwalin, even Ori tried to get him to relax, to join them for a bit, to eat something, but Kili refused. He wouldn't do anything until Fili was alright.

Kili woke just before dawn to fingers in his hair, tucking those messy tangles back behind his ears and stroking. He yawned, feeling content for now, leaning into those fingers with a sound not unlike a purr. That earned him a familiar chuckle, and Kili's eyes shot open.

"Fili," he breathed, looking up at his brother. Fili smiled back softly, still gently stroking through Kili's hair. Stretching up, the younger dwarf pressed a tiny kiss to Fili's chapped lips. "How are you feeling?" He kept his voice low, not wanting to wake any of the others before they had to leave.

Fili's smile was fond but tired, and he reached for Kili's hand, holding it loosely. "Tired," he admitted, his voice hoarse from misuse.

Kili nodded, giving his hand a squeeze. "How's the pain?"

"Not too bad, when I'm not moving." Fili chuckled. Kili gave him a tight smile, though it was clear he was still worried. But it was something else, too. Fili's own smile faded. "What is it? What happened?" he asked anxiously. "Is it something to do with the dragon?"

Kili looked away, and Fili could practically feel the bitterness radiating off his younger brother. "Thorin made a deal with him," he said in a low voice. "Smaug asked us to bind Bilbo's wounds in exchange for our freedom. We'll be leaving for Lake-town at dawn."

Fili propped himself up on his elbows, looking horrified. "What?"

A few of the others stirred, but Kili ignored them in favor of his brother. "I've tried to talk Thorin out of it, but he won't see sense," he said darkly. "Bilbo is already gone. At least we found a pony for you and Lake-town isn't far, but Thorin gave his word neither him or his kin would return to the mountain."

Fili's jaw tightened with familiar stubbornness, and Kili's heart lifted just for a moment to see his brother the way he ought to be. Reacting indignantly over losing the hobbit just like Kili knew he would. "We'll just have to break that word," Fili muttered, and hope stirred in his younger brother's chest.

X

Fili's injuries had left him still very weak, and Kili worried constantly over him. He gave Fili half of his own rations, as even with the extra food they had next to nothing. It was a relief when Fili didn't notice, though some of the others did, and frowned. While Fili was weak, they couldn't afford any of the others to fall ill or be too weakened by lack of food. There was only one pony, after all.

Getting Fili onto said pony was more of a challenge than anyone could have expected. It took several long, pain-filled moments before Fili was finally securely atop the pony. His leg was in agony, and he buried his face in the pony's dirty mane, clutching at the coarse hair.

Then finally they were on their way. Kili insisted on leading Fili's pony himself, and after everything he had been through, Thorin couldn't say no to him. The mood was grim. Unlike much of their journey, there was no joking or singing or smoking. Even Bofur, the most gregarious of the group, was silent as he walked beside Bombur.

They took breaks often, though getting Fili off the pony was out of the question as it would only cause him more pain. The golden haired dwarf spent much of the day unconscious, slumped forward against the pony's neck. She seemed to understand her rider was not doing well, and took care with her movements, hardly jolting the sleeping dwarf at all. For that she earned a portion of Kili's lunch rations and a stroke down her nose.

Dinner too was a quiet affair. Fili's bandages were changed, and Oin made the injured dwarf a tea brewed with his dwindling herbs. It smelled awful, and apparently tasted even worse, but Kili was relieved to see some of the color come back into his brother's face.

Kili bristled when Thorin came over to join them, but Fili was much more welcoming. Giving his younger brother a small smile, he shifted to rest his head in his uncle's lap. Thorin hesitated a moment before gently reaching down to run his fingers through Fili's golden locks.

"Lads," Thorin began a little awkwardly, looking around to be sure the others were giving them some privacy. Kili was still glaring at the ground. "I know you both have sacrificed a great deal on this journey. It's not been easy for either of you. You have been strong, and both of you have proved yourselves true warriors of the line of Durin. I am...proud of you."

Kili looked up in surprise at that. Thorin doesn't talk about his feelings often. He doesn't ever praise like this. He shows his pride in his nephews often just through touches or a smile. But he's never actually said it, and it made Kili feel both warm inside and worried at the same time. Still, he chose not to interrupt, his attention rapt on his uncle now. Fili was watching as well from behind a curtain of hair.

Sensing now that he had both boys' attention, Thorin went on. "It must be strange for you to see me back down with victory so close. I have always wanted to reclaim Erebor and I have not made it a secret, to you or anyone else. But more than that, I have wanted to do what was best for our people, and for you lads. With the dragon still living and our burglar...indisposed, there is little we can do now." He paused to be sure they were both still listening. Sure enough, there were two sets of eyes locked intently on his face.

"What good would it do our people, or your mother, to fight a battle that we surely cannot win?" He spoke earnestly, hoping that his words would resonate with them, help them understand why he was doing what he was doing. They were his family, and he wanted them on his side. If Kili could not forgive him, perhaps he could at least understand.

"What good would it do for us all to perish? None at all. We will just have to keep faith that our burglar will come through someday and kill the beast." The odds of that were incredibly low though, after seeing Bilbo in the puppet-like state he was in. It didn't seem like the hobbit would be able to do anything without Smaug's say so. But maybe, just maybe, that old fighting spirit would break through again. They could only hope.

Kili was shaking, head bowed as he wiped at his cheeks. Thorin reached out to him, tugging gently at his coat, and to his relief, his nephew didn't fight. He leaned into his uncle's shoulder, silent sobs ripping through him. One hand wrapped around Kili's shoulders, brushing through his hair, as the other stayed in Fili's messy hair.

It was hard for all of them. Losing Bilbo was a very difficult loss. But at least now they could go through it together. They were family, after all. They were strongest when united, and Thorin was grateful to have his fierce young nephews at his side.

It wasn't about Erebor anymore. In truth, it had never really been about the place itself that had drove Thorin. He had wanted to see his people restored to relative wealth and pleasure. How blind he had been to not see before? Balin was right; their life in the Blue Mountains was a good one, worth more than all the gold in Erebor. It was where his people were content, where they had made a life for themselves. It had been wrong of him to think that could not be enough. It was enough to have his nephews safe and happy, something he didn't have right now.

"Forgive me," Thorin murmured to them.

Kili looked up, his brown eyes wet with tears. "You don't ever have to ask, Uncle," he said, his voice a little choked. His arms went around Thorin's neck in a loose embrace, and the king-in-exile sighed. Both boys earned a gentle kiss to the top of their heads.

Erebor could never be worth more than Fili and Kili.