"Fili!" Thorin called from his barrel, his at the front of the line. The rapids had stopped and the water flowed steadily and gently now. The orcs and elves had fallen back when the banks gave way to cliffs and the cliffs gave way to open air, nothing but gushing water beneath them. "Fili! Is he alright?" He asked anxiously, the barrel rocking back and forth as he tried to catch a glimpse of his nephews. He needed to see his youngest, he needed to know that it was true.

"I don't know!" He heard Fili shout back, his voice trembling. "He won't wake!" For a time, the golden haired prince had been begging his younger brother to wake, shaking him gently. But his eyes remained closed. "We need to get to shore. He's wounded." Fili said, running the back of his fingers down Kili's cheek, the bristles on his chin scratching his knuckles.

"There's a bank up ahead." Dwalin notified. He had one strong hand wrapped around the rim of the princes' barrel, helping it stay straight and forward. The company paddled towards the land, using their arms to drag their barrels away from the current which tried to pull them further down the river. Dwalin pulled Fili and Kili's barrel along with his, Nori too gripped onto its edge, not daring the peer inside. But Fili caught a glimpse of his hair, once neatly arranged now bedraggled, sticking up in all directions. He was sure that if his brother was awake, he'd have had something humorous to say about it. But he remained quiet in Fili's arms.

Dwalin, rather ungracefully, jumped out of the barrel once the water was shallow enough to only come above his knees. He heaved the princes forward, until the bottom of their wooden drum dragged across the stones. Around him, the other dwarves, and Bilbo who resembled more a drowned rat than a hobbit, pulled themselves to shore, tumbling onto the bank and spitting out the water they inadvertently swallowed whilst doing so. He reached into the barrel and scooped Kili into his arms. Once again shocked by the ease at which he could lift the lad, he felt small, almost weightless in his arms, which seemed to wrap around him so easily. Dwalin moved with care over the wet rocks, eyes searching for a flat piece of ground to lay the wounded prince upon. Behind him, he heard Fili pull himself from the barrel and scramble to his feet. It was barely a moment before he was at his side, hand on Kili's arm as he was lowered gently down. Immediately, the elder sibling placed the younger's head in his lap, gently pushing strands of raven hair from his face with unsteady hands.

"I don't believe it, I …" Balin said, his eyes glistening as he looked down at Kili. A hand went to his mouth in disbelief. The rest of the company had begun crowding around, muttering amongst themselves, staring down at the brothers. Kili ghostly pale against the rocks, body beaten and bruised, dirt and dried blood caking his skin. Thinner than any dwarf should ever be, like a sheet of skin draped over a skeleton, shapes of ribs visible beneath the flesh.

"Let me through." Came Thorin's voice, the others parted as he came. The moment he had pushed through the group, he fell to his knees with a gasp. It was as though his heart exploded in his chest, crashing against his rib cage and releasing a shuddering breath from his lips. Fili looked at him, his blue eyes glistening with joy, a smile, a real, true smile spreading across his lips.

"He's alive, uncle." He said as Thorin crawled forward, reaching a shaking hand towards Kili. Alive. His youngest nephew was alive. He was afraid to believe it, how could he believe it? After all that grief, all that guilt and blame. Trying to come to terms with the fact Kili was gone forever. He had come to acknowledge the fact that he would never see him again, but suddenly there he was, everything forgotten as he lay his hand on the side of Kili's face, he could feel his cheekbone against his palm. Could feel his warmth and life.

"Oh, my boy." He breathed, running his thumb across his nephew's cheek. And he laughed, it was a small laugh, but a laugh none the less. The overwhelming joy of seeing his youngest sister-son alive before him escaping him in soft, unmistakable chuckles. The sound, the sensation, so alien to him after these two weeks of sorrow. He wrapped a hand around the back of Fili's head and they smiled together, eyes wet with tears that, for once, were not of grief. Around them the others laughed also, clapping one another on the back, pulling each other into an embrace. The sun almost seem to break from behind grey crowds, rays glowing down to warm the company, who stood, still soaking wet from their journey down the river, on the bank. Thorin's gaze broke from Fili's and back to Kili, still unconscious at his knees. "We need to unbind his wrists." He said.

"Use this." Dwalin pulled out the dagger he had tucked into his belt and passed it down to him. Thorin sawed away at the rope, gradually it frayed and snapped and he pulled it from Kili's wrists, wincing at the state of the flesh beneath. His nephew's wrists were red and sore, the skin torn away in thick cuts, fresh blood flowing lazily over dried blood, and running through the gaps in his fingers like red rivulets.

"Look at him. Those monsters." He growled. For a moment his joy had blinded him to his nephew's wounds, to the deep cuts and scratches, purple-red bruises and enflamed burns which covered his body, overlapping across his worryingly thin frame. He had always been slight for a dwarf, a result of being born early into a harsh winter they said, but now it looked as if one hasty move could snap him. Thorin placed a soft hand on Kili's shoulder, running his other over his own face with a sigh. As his hand went through his hair, his eyes fell upon the ends of deep slashes snaking their way around Kili's side. "Fili, help me roll him onto his side." Fili nodded and gently pulled his unconscious brother onto his left side, a hand on the back of his head, thumb running over his neck and the bruise that wrapped around it. He heard Thorin drag in a sharp hissing breath, wincing visibly. "I suppose it was too much to pray that he'd have been spared the torture." He said. Fili leant forward, eyes widening at the deep, crisscrossing cuts over his back, red and angry with congealed and drying blood clinging to his skin. Wounds caused by ruthless and callous lashings.

"Oh, my brother." His voice trembled as much as the hand that stroked Kili's cheek. "What have they done to you?" Anger boiled in his gut, burning like a red hot furnace. Nobody hurt his little brother and got away with it. Each one of those orcs would pay. That he vowed. He lowered Kili back onto the ground, and as he did Kili shifted, brows pulling together and a groan escaping his lips. "He's stirring!" With a start, Fili and Thorin leaned over him, the others moving a step forward. All watching eagerly. "Kili?"

Kili's eyes opened slowly, his vision blurry as bright light, brighter than previous days, shone down upon him. He squinted, the intensity of it stinging his eyes, as he waited for the world to come into focus. He could feel warmth upon his cheeks, could smell, could taste, fresh air and trees. So many different trees, almost making him forget the bitter scent of Dol Guldur. Slowly his sight began to settle and he became aware of figures knelt above him, silhouetted against the sun, reaching their hands out towards him. Orcs. Panic gripped him and he shot up straight, the orcs falling back onto their heels. He tried to back away from them, digging his heals into the ground and pushing himself away, but they kept crawling forward, following him and extending their arms to him. Claws long and sharp.

"Back off!" He growled, baring his teeth. They were speaking to him in their foul Black Tongue. He hit something with the side of his hand and it scratched across the ground, metal against rock. He glanced down at the dagger, glinting in the sunlight, and grabbed it. "Get away from me!" He pointed it at them, holding their hands up defensively, as he rose to his feet. There were more circled around him, watching him with glowing yellow eyes. He snarled at them, letting the blade catch the light. He watched them take a small step back, but the two who had been knelt above him continued to move forwards. He swung the dagger with another growl.

"Kili," Fili said in a slow, uneasy voice, "what are you doing?" His brother glared at him, his stare dark and cruel, but he wasn't seeing him. Fili could see it in Kili's eyes, he wasn't seeing him. His brother's vision was clouded with confusion and exhaustion, deceiving him. Fili kept his body low, as if approaching a frightened animal, as he moved forward, hands held up in front of him. Kili watched each of his movements warily and for each step Fili took forward, he took one back, trying to maintain the distance between them. Fili noticed how his brother didn't put all his weight on his left foot. His brows pulled together slightly at this. "Kee … it's us," He gestured to the others, each person stood nervously around them, before taking another careful step forward. "It's me, brother." But Kili edged away again. The dagger was still tightly within his grasp, the sharp tip of which he kept pointed directly at Fili.

"Careful, nephew." Thorin mumbled, taking a step forward. Kili's eyes flashed towards him, lips curling back in a snarl, causing him to freeze where he was stood, unnerved by the look in Kili's eyes. Fili gave Thorin a sideways glance, before inching closer to his brother. Thorin lingered back, his body tense as he watched on. If anyone was going to calm Kili down and bring him back from whatever illusion had taken him, it would be Fili. And so he remained where he was.

"It's alright Kili, we aren't going to hurt you." Fili said, his voice calm and soft. It was the same voice he would use when Kili had nightmares as a child. Even after two weeks of misled grief his instinct to sooth his brother was still firmly intact.

"Go away." The dark haired prince said, moving backwards. He still couldn't see Fili even though he was mere feet in front of him. Kili inched away a little more before his back collided with the trunk of a tree, he hissed as the wounds on his back connected with the rough bark. He was trapped. His eyes widened and he shrunk further against the tree, one hand pressed against it and the other extended forward, dagger still held firmly.

"Kili." Fili began to close the gap, his brother having nowhere else to go. The look in his eyes made Fili feel as though he was a wolf cornering a terrified rabbit who wanted nothing more than to escape. "Please, Kili. It's alright." But Kili swung the dagger, almost catching Fili's still open hands, an animal like snarl escaping him. His teeth were bared and eyes were shining.

"Stay back," he growled, "I swear I'll gut you if you come any closer!" Fili frowned. The words that spilled over Kili's lips were harsh, spat with fear and disgust. Fili hesitated. This wasn't his little brother, this wasn't happy, innocent little Kili. This was a feral animal who lashed out as its survival instincts took over. But his Kili was in there, trapped within his illusions, and Fili had to reach him.

"You need to calm down, brother." He said, "It's me, it's Fili." He stepped forward again, and has he did so, Kili swung the blade again. It caught the light and flashed, the light shining momentarily in Fili's eyes. He squinted and let his vision settle again.

"I said stay back!" Kili spat. Impatience began to burn in Fili's chest, impatient not because of Kili's anger, but to take his brother in his arms and sooth him, to let him know that he was safe. He wanted nothing more than that, but he was getting nowhere, not like this. Not being calm and cautious. And so, when Kili swung the dagger again, he sprang forward and seized his brother's wrist – his fingers almost being able to wrap right around it, fingertips nearly touching – and pushed him against the tree, forearm pressed against Kili's collar bone. He heard the others gasp at this, but he ignored them and stared into his brother's panicked brown eyes.

"Stop it." He said sternly. He had to get rid of this monster that had taken over his younger sibling.

"Let go of me!" Kili shrieked, struggling and kicking out, the side of his boot getting Fili's thigh, but Fili remained unyielding, pressing he weight against Kili and keeping him pinned.

"Kili, please."

"Take your filthy hands off me!" Kili's tone was somewhere between a demand and a plea. Fili kept looking into his eyes, willing his brother's gaze to meet his.

"Kili, look at me!" He kept his voice firm, Kili listened, the brother's eyes finally meeting. "I am not an orc. The orcs are gone, we left them far behind." Once Kili's eyes were fixed on his, he shifted the arm that he had been pressing against his collar and placed a hand on the back of the brunette's head, pressing their foreheads together. Kili's attempts to free himself slowed. It was a simple act of reassurance, the brothers held each other like this when they were in need of comfort. The last time Fili had done this was after the thunder battle when Kili, with a trembling voice, expressed how afraid he had been that Fili had been crushed. And now, beside the river and pressed against the tree, Fili tried to offer as much reassurance as he had that night, if not much much more. He looked into his brother's eyes, seeing them still full of unease. "Brother, please. It's me, it's Fili." Suddenly, Kili's struggling ceased all together and his panting became slower as his breathing calmed.

"It can't be you." He said quietly. "It can't, you are far away. It's a dream, I'm dreaming."

"No, this isn't a dream. I'm really here." Fili let go of the back of Kili's head and reached for his empty hand, stroking the back of it with his thumb, before lifting it to his face so Kili could feel that he was real. Kili's tense, scared features softened. The clouds that had obstructing his vision finally lifting, his eyes finally being able to make sense of what he was seeing. "Do you see me now?"

"Fee?" Kili asked in a small, almost child-like voice.

"Yes," Fili beamed, not being able to hinder the tears that were forming in his eyes. "Yes, nadadith, it's me. Now, give me the dagger." Kili looked up at the blade which was still raised above him with confusion, as though he didn't understand how it came to be in his possession. This confusion quickly turned to alarm as he let Fili take it from him and throw it away. He slid down the trunk of the tree and buried his face in his hands.

"I'm sorry," he whimpered, his voice muffled. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Hush, brother. Don't apologise, you have nothing to apologise for." Fili knelt down before him and reached forward to pull Kili's hands away. "Hey, look at me, open your eyes." Kili complied and stared at him with wide, tearful brown eyes. Fili sighed sadly. "Come here." And with that he pulled his little brother into a hug, wrapping his arms around him holding him as tightly as he dared. Kili buried his face into his shoulder and he pressed his lips against Kili's hair. Feeling Kili's arms around him, fingers clenching his tunic tightly, Fili let the tears roll down his cheeks. For two weeks he grieved, feeling himself falling apart, bits of his heart dismantling day by day. For two weeks he felt as though life had become meaningless, his joy had been stolen from him. He had thought the brightest light in his life had been snuffed out for good, but now the light was back, shining brighter and more fiercely than ever. The joy he felt was like none he had ever felt before, his most beloved treasure had returned to him. He held Kili tighter to him, feeling his ribs against his chest. "It's alright, little brother, I have you." He soothed, stroking the back of Kili's head, fingers running over his tangled hair. Fili could scarcely believe his own words, but the sensation of Kili's breath on his neck as he sobbed, the scent of his brother that lay half hidden beneath the grime, and the feeling of the body against him, made him believe. He allowed a sob to leave him. He had Kili, he had his little brother back. "You're safe now, I have you."

Kili had tried to stay brave in front of the orcs, even when he felt alone and hopeless and in unbearable pain, he had forced himself to remain impassive, not letting himself cry when he was in front of them. He had built a wall. But now, wrapped safely in his brother's arms, that wall came crashing down and he let all the bottled up sorrow escape, sobbing into Fili's shoulder. All the pain and fear and desperation, along with the euphoric joy of being with his brother again, pouring from him to soak Fili's tunic in tears. For so long he had yearned for this feeling of safety, for Fili's comfort and unyielding protection, but once Azog had told him that no help was coming, he had given up, accepting the fact he would never be reunited with his older brother again. But there he was, enveloped in Fili's strong arms, and he didn't care if he cried like a child now, the relief was too much for him to hold back.

Thorin had been watching the scene before him with wet eyes, body shaking so much that Dwalin had wrapped an arm around him in fear that he would collapse to his knees. They were together again like they always should be, the brothers with a bond stronger than mountains, were together again. It was a crime for them to ever have been separated. He was afraid to believe his eyes, for two weeks he had wished for nothing more than Kili to be alive, for his nephews to be as they was and should be. After a while, he couldn't just stand there anymore, he wanted to wrap his own arms around Kili, to apologise for his awful failure. And so, with slow steps he approached his kin, still tangled together at the base of the tree. They looked up at him when he neared, Fili's eyes alive with unmistakable joy and relief, but Kili, who rested his head in the crook of his brother's shoulder and a hand still clenching Fili's tunic, peered up at him with a different look in his eyes. Shame. He couldn't hold his uncle's gaze and quickly looked away, shrinking against his brother as though he was expecting to be reprimanded. Thorin dropped to his knees in front of him.

"Kili?" He said softly. Kili kept his gaze averted. "My dear Kili, look at me." Thorin could see how his nephew trembled, "Kili?" He reached out a hand and placed it on the side of Kili's face, turning it so he was facing him. After a moment, Kili looked timidly at him. "You're here, you're alive." Thorin couldn't hold back any longer and pulled his youngest nephew into an embrace, wrapping his arms around his thin body, feeling every one of Kili's shuddering breaths.

"I'm sorry. I failed you." Came Kili's mouse-like voice against his neck, he felt a tear land on his throat.

"No, no. It is I who failed you." Thorin said, "You have done nothing wrong, nephew. I am so glad to have you back." At first Kili froze at this, but then a choked sob escaped him and he wrapped his own arms around his uncle, pressing his forehead into his shoulder. Thorin felt as strong as he remembered, but softer, like his hard exterior had all but vanished. He felt warm and at ease against him, like all his troubles had been chased away. Beside them, Fili, still beaming, wiped his wet eyes on the back of his hand. He didn't know what good it did, for as soon as he wiped them away, more came. But for the first time in recent memory, they were tears of happiness, they didn't burn his eyes or leave him feeling weak. They were good, he felt whole again. Thorin looked at him with a smile, tears staining his cheeks too, but for once he didn't try to hide them. His uncle reached for him and pulled him close. And the three of them held each other, allowing the relief and elation wash over them.

And there, enveloped in the arms of his brother and uncle, Kili felt something he had not felt in a long time. He felt safe.


-AN-

Reunion part 2! They're back together! Wow such feels. I really hope that I've got how they react right and got their feelings across okay. I've been planning this chapter for soooo long, like since when I first planned the story, I've had ideas written in notebooks and on my iPad. So I hope you enjoyed it!

The reviews for the last chapter we crazy! I honestly can't thank you guys enough for how kind you've been, it's thanks to you and your support that this story is evolving into more than I had originally planned. It's very exciting! You all rock!

This part was a little late being uploaded but I hope the next one will be quicker, we shall see!

As usual, faves, follows and (especially) reviews are welcomed and appreciated! *high five.*