It was early morning, the very bottom of the sky had began to glow a light blue, the ever increasing light being filtered through the trees, and Kili was still awake, despite how much he wanted to sleep. He felt exhausted. His whole body, and his mind, was weary. Ever since the Necromancer had taken over him, made him attack the company, he felt his energy slowly decreasing. But yet he couldn't sleep, because the Necromancer wouldn't let him. It kept talking inside his head, his words echoing like screams in a cave, bouncing off his skull. And it was giving him a headache. At one point he'd pressed his hands over his ears in a futile attempt to block out the ghostly voice that shouted at him, but they did nothing and now his arms were wrapped around him. The heat of the still burning fire didn't seem to reach him, even though its light illuminated his pale skin and a sweat had left strands of his hair clinging to his face.

"Kili." Every time the Necromancer said his name, Kili flinched. It didn't sound right, it was long and drawn out, and floated through his head like in was in a breeze. "They're asleep now. Kill them, Kili. Kill them now." It ordered him, it's words sharp.

"No. I won't." Kili replied, keeping his voice low as to not wake the others. He saw Ori roll onto his other side. "Leave me alone."

"There is only one way to get rid of me, Kili. You know what that is. Kill them."

"Never." Kili spat.

"We shall see." It was the Necromancer's laugh that sent the greatest shivers up Kili's spine. It was evil, sadistic. Unnatural. The Necromancer was finding as much joy in Kili's suffering as Azog and the other orcs had. But unlike the orcs, the Necromancer didn't rest. And if he didn't then neither did Kili. Kili wrapped the tunic tighter around him, he could feel the crumbling bark of a fallen tree dig into his back.

Fili had been watching his brother for some time, though Kili didn't seem to notice, obviously thinking he was asleep. But Fili had seen every flinch, every grimace of pain, the way Kili had clasped his hands over his ears, and shock his head. He had heard every whimper and hushed word that passed his brother's lips. It was as though there was someone unseen stood beside Kili, shouting into his ear. But, Fili supposed there was, or at least the unseen person was inside Kili's head. Anger continued to burn red hot like a furnace inside Fili's gut, anger that his little brother was being put through such an ordeal, above everything that had already happened to him. And what made it worse was that nobody knew what could be done to help him. And it frightened him. How could you protect someone from an enemy whose presence was only known and felt by the one who required the protection? How could you fight what couldn't been seen? It had been these questions, and questions like them that had kept Fili awake. And as the sky got lighter, Fili decided to give his brother some other company, and sat up with a fake yawn, allowing Kili to think he was waking up. Though Kili seemed to pay him no mind as his features twisted in pain once more, he said something that Fili could not make out. The words directed towards someone Fili was unable to see.

"Kili?" The older sibling edged forward, taking care not to startle the other, knowing how nervous he had become. Especially after a night with no sleep and battling an ever increasing fever, no doubt Kili was more on edge than he had been previously. Fili reached out a hand and wrapped it around Kili's elbow. But his fingers hardly locked before Kili yanked his arm roughly away with a yell of "no!", almost falling back with the force of the action. "Hey, Kili," Fili held his hands in front of him, "it's just me. It's alright." Kili stared at him, eyes wide and chest heaving with quick, panting breaths. Fili had not approached him with as much caution as he had thought. "Easy, Kili."

"Fee?" Kili's voice was small, like a child's.

"Aye, aye it's me, brother."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to … I" Kili stuttered. He righted his position and pressed his back against the fallen log. He slumped down against it and looked towards the campfire "I didn't sleep." Fili sighed and shifted to sit beside him, their shoulders touching, thankful when his brother didn't flinch away again.

"I know. Neither did I." He confessed. The brothers eyes met as they exchanged sideways glances. "Kili." At this, Kili looked away again. He knew that tone, it was the one Fili used when he wanted to talk about something Kili did not. And Kili could make a confident bet on what it was going to be. "Was the … the Necromancer talking to you? Is that why you didn't sleep?"

"You already know the answer." Kili's reply was blunt.

"And now? Does he still talk?"

"He never stops."

"And what does he say?"

"Do you really want to know?" Fili said nothing. He could already guess what things the Necromancer was telling his brother to do. There was the anger again, as hot as ever. "I'm sorry." Came Kili's voice, his eyes were still averted, though Fili's remained pinned on him.

"Stop apologising." Fili was fed up of hearing those words pass Kili's lips, they were unnecessary. Apologising was for those who had done wrong and Kili had done no wrong.

"But I have so much to …"

"You have nothing to apologise for."

"Of course I do! That cut upon your head, the one on Dwalin's arm, the bruise on uncle's cheek was…"Kili was scowling at him now, his jaw tight.

"Was not you." Fili hissed, cutting his brother off again. He looked his brother dead in the eyes. "You said it yourself, none of those actions were your own. Remember when you said that? Because I do." Kili growled.

"If I had known this was going to happen I would never have returned."

"Don't be silly." Fili scoffed, shaking his head. "You belong here with us. With me."

"So I can hurt you? So I can Kill you?"

"So I can help you." Fili sighed. "Kili, the pain I felt when I thought you dead was far greater than any the Necromancer could make you inflict upon me. I would sooner have him slay me than to not have you back. I am so grateful that …"

"Fili …"

"I am grateful to have you back, no matter what. Do you understand me?" Kili attempted to turn his head away again, but Fili prevented it. Cupping his brother's face so that he had no choice but to look at him. "I won't hear anymore apologies from you. We will free you from him, nadadith. I swear it." But Kili looked uncertain. And deep below his words Fili shared his uncertainty, it pulled at him, constricted his heart.

The sun was up, it was mid-morning and all of the company were awake. Thorin was sat with his chin resting upon a closed fist. The chattering of the others was drowned out by his own thoughts. It had been a restless night, filled with unpleasant memories and dreams, fuelled by Kili's words. Thorin had thought that he had his youngest nephew back and that all would be well, he had not imagined this situation when he first took Kili into his arms. It was an unthinkable situation, but yet, there they were.

"So," came a gruff voice, which roused him from his thoughts. He looked up to see Fili, outlined against the sunlight which burst into the glade. "Have you thought of a plan yet?" Fili glared down at him with his arms crossed over his chest. Thorin could see his eldest nephew trying to conceal his desperation behind a harsh glare. Though not successfully to trick Thorin. Who saw straight through his façade. "Kili is loosing hope, I can see it in his eyes. I have tried reassuring him but … he needs to know that we have a plan. Any plan. I cannot see him suffer any longer."

"Do you still have hope, nephew?" Thorin asked. Fili frowned at him but then his face softened, his arms fell to his sides. His mouth opened and closed for a few moments as though trying to catch the words to say. Fili's fingers twitched at his sides.

"Kili used to be the one with the most hope," he said, "and he would give it to me when I had little. I have to have hope, Thorin, because now it is my turn to give it to him. But, I feel it seeping away every time I look into his eyes. He looks so broken." Fili dropped to his knees before his uncle, no longer trying to hide his trouble, his blue eyes sorrowful and worn. "Please, tell me you have a plan so I can rebuild him, let me give him hope." Thorin could not help but smile a little. It was such a typical thing for Fili to say. Protecting Kili was the reason he lived, the reason he breathed, it was, to him, his most important purpose. Especially now.

"I have been thinking," Thorin nodded, "about what Balin said. The Necromancer is an extremely powerful being and so we need an equally powerful being to get rid of it. Like a wizard."

"Except our wizards is" Fili huffed, "well, Mahal knows where he is. But he isn't here."

"No he's not. But we know where he will be." Thorin straightened his back and looked confidently at Fili. "He told us to meet him on the overlook, by Dale. We will take Kili there, to Gandalf. He will be able to help."

"And how long will it take us to get there? Kili can hardly walk, and by the time we get there how can if Kili will … will still be Kili?"

"You said Kili needed a plan, any plan. And I have given you one. It is a long shot, I agree, but it is better than nothing. And it may bring peace to your brother." Fili's shoulders slumped. He nodded, any plan was better than no plan at all. And Thorin was right, they needed someone powerful to rid Kili of the Necromancer, and who else with such powers did they know other than Gandalf? Though, Fili would happily lay his fist against the wizard's jaw when he saw him next, if not he would spit some harsh words his way for leaving them, for not being there when they needed him.

"Kili?" The sound of his brother's name cut through his grievances, and he span where he was knelt. "Are you alright, lad?" Dwalin's usually gruff voice cut was laced with worry. Fili's eyes narrowed. Kili was stood where he had been previously been sat, his face angled downwards slightly but his eyes looked upwards through the strands of his hair. Except they weren't his eyes at all. Fili's heart stopped as he jumped to his feet and raced over, Thorin on his heels. No, no, no. Not again. Fili thought. But as he got closer to his brother he realised, with a sickening twist in his gut that it had not been a trick of shadows and light. Kili's eyes truly were pitch black.

"Kili?" Thorin asked when they reached him. He went to approach him but Fili held out an arm, preventing his advance.

"That isn't Kili." He said, his voice grave. The Necromancer laughed, it was a horrid, twisted sound that seemed to echo in the open air, as he lifted his head to look at Fili. Fili's breath hitched at the smirk on his face. It was never a smirk he had ever seen on his brother's face before, it was an evil, cruel smile. Cold. Something his brother had never been.

"Well done." As the words came, the company froze. There was more than one voice passing over Kili's lips. Indeed, Kili's voice was present, but it was hushed and distant, overwhelmed by the harsh, ghostly voice that came with it. It was clear that it was not Kili who was talking. Once again, the Necromancer was making himself known. He stared calculatingly at them, black eyes devoid of any emotion other than cruelty, his fingers curled like claws at his sides. He rolled his neck and dragged in a long, harsh breath as though it had been months since he had breathed fresh, clean air. "I'm afraid Kili isn't here at the moment." The Necromancer grinned a twisted grin at them.

"You let my brother go." Fili demanded, trying to keep his voice stern, though a tremor of fear laced itself into his words. The Necromancer pinned his eyes on him and laughed. "What's so funny?"

"Your brother? What a liar sweet little Kili is. He told Azog that he had no brother, no siblings at all, in fact." He rose his eyebrows. "I am impressed, to look Azog the Defiler in the eyes and lie is brave. The orc saw through his other lies, you know, and beat him for them." The Necromancer's eyes narrowed pensively for a moment before he sighed dramatically. "But," He said, "I suppose it will only be a lie for a little while longer. Soon you" he pointed a finger towards Fili, who continued to glare venomously at him, nostrils flaring in anger "will be dead. As will all of you. And poor little Kili will be left all alone, standing over your lifeless bodies with your blood on his hands. It will drive him mad, no doubt he'll turn the blade on himself. Or I could just kill him, put him out of his misery myself, like a dog. I could, you know, right now if I wanted to. I could stop his heart or snap his neck right where he stands." Fili growled, fists curled so tightly at his sides that his knuckles had turned white and his forearms had began to shake. The Necromancer ignored him and shrugged, sighing again, "but not quiet yet. Though," he said thoughtfully, "that does not mean I can't snap a different bone. A rib perhaps, or maybe an arm."

"You dare hurt him I swear I'll …"

"You'll do what? What can you do?" The Necromancer grinned at Fili, teeth flashing cruelly, "You cannot harm me without harming your precious little brother. Have you got that in you, Fili? Could you bring more pain to him?" Fili's eyes fell, his rigid posture slumping slightly. The Necromancer scoffed. "I didn't think so. I can feel him, you know, in here." He tapped the side of his head with two fingers. "Trying to fight me and … my, my, what foul language he has. Not words I'd think a dwarfling would know." Fili's heart jumped at this, warming with pride. He silently willed his brother to battle harder, encouraging him to keep fighting this foul beast that had stollen his body and had locked him inside his own mind.

"Why him?" He asked. "Of all the people in Middle Earth, why are you doing this to him?"

"Because he was the one in Azog's custody. I could have been anyone, it could have been you if your positions had been swapped." The Necromancer paused and looked down at his hands, turning them, inspecting them. He rolled his neck again. "It is not the body I had expected, but in a sense it is far better. This body has royal blood pumping through its veins and a claim to the richest kingdom in Middle Earth." The Necromancer threw his head back with a loud laugh, the sound echoing off the trees around him. It was a laugh as cold as anything the company had ever known. A look of sheer and sickening delight appeared on the Necromancer's face. "Now, isn't that a wonderful idea? It truly is a wonder why I hadn't thought of it before." The company stared at him, dread weighing down their guts. "Once you are all dead I shall keep Kili and use him to rule Erebor, using its vast wealth to raise army after army and bring all other kingdoms crumbling to their knees. And I will make him watch as I use his hands to slaughter millions, any man, woman and child who gets in my way will all be killed. He can watch as I destroy any and all remnants of his forbears and make him walk over the dust of all I have eradicated. Maybe I'll mount your heads on spikes so I can make him look at them every day." The Necromancer howled with laughter, a sound so evil and cold, everyone around him felt their blood turn to ice, their hearts constricting inside their chest. Fili growled and lunged forward, but found himself wrapped within Thorin and Dwalin's arms. They held him tightly to the spot despite his struggles to advance upon the beast before him.

"You sick, twisted bastard!" Fili spat, he hated this foul beast more than he hated anything else. The last time he felt a hate this all-consuming was when he believed his brother murdered. If not it was stronger this time. He would not allow the Necromancer to use Kili for his own disturbed ends, his brother would not be forced to witness all that horror. "Filthy piece of shit!" Fili's teeth were bared like a wild animal, his vision had turned red as his eyes locked upon the Necromancer, stood smugly in his brother's body.

"Well I suppose we can see where Kili got his fighting spirit from." The Necromancer chuckled. "You do not like that plan, Fili? Then tell me, do you now have the courage, the strength, to stop me. Do not forget that to stop me is to stop you brother, to kill your brother. Would you do that, Fili, would you kill your own brother to stop me?" Fili said nothing, Thorin and Dwalin's arms still pressing against him. He heard them cursing at the Necromancer who payed them no mind, his black eyes still pinned on the blond within their grasp. "Or shall I kill you first? Your death would destroy him more than anyone else's, he loves you the most. So, why don't I just kill you now? It would make the rest of the process easier for him to bear. You'd be doing him a favour." At that, Thorin yanked Fili away, placing himself between his nephew and the Necromancer. He glared at the Necromancer who had finally averted his gaze to look at him. He smirked. "Ah, Thorin Oakenshield. What do you think of my plan? I know you're rather fond of that mountain of yours. But tell me, what is it you are more fond of, Erebor or Kili? Would you kill your nephew to protect your kingdom?" Thorin could feel Fili's eyes burning into the back of his neck, but he said nothing. He straightened his back and mirrored the Necromancer's glare. The Necromancer scoffed and looked passed him. "Now, where were we? Ah yes, Fili." And with that he waved his hand to the side, Thorin picked up and thrown to the ground some feet away, landing with a grunt at the base of a tree. Dwalin now came to stand before Fili, looking like a tower in front of the prince, his position square and strong, a fierce glower on his face. But the Necromancer simply sneered at him, as though Dwalin was nothing more than a small child stood in his way. Dwalin soon followed Thorin, being tossed through the air as if he weighed less than the leaves that fell around him. The Necromancer was now mere feet away from Fili who resolutely held his ground. "Are you watching in there, Kili?" The Necromancer raised an arm before him, fingers curling as though they were wrapped around some invisible object, but they may as well have been around Fili's neck as he felt his throat constrict, all air burning to get to his lungs, but unable to get passed his mouth, which now hung open. "Watch closely, Kili. You need to get used to this sight." One corner of the Necromancer's lips pulled up in a jagged, dissymmetrical smile. Fili kept eye contact despite the blurring edges of his vision and the drumming sound in his ears. And through the fuzziness of his sight he was sure he saw the Necromancer twist his head to the side with a pained expression. "No." Came a stern voice. The voice pierced through the drumming and Fili knew it instantly. "Let him go."

"K…Kili?" He spluttered.

"Not now, Dwarfling, you can talk later." It was the double layered voice again, the Necromancer had pushed his eyes closed, jaw tight and irritated. "I said, let him go." Kili was struggling to break free of his own mind, the two beings fighting one another for control. "Kili!" The Necromancer hissed, black eyes burning, "be a good little boy and be quiet!" There was blackness closing in on Fili now, he could feel it at the edges of his consciousness, pulling at him.

"Kili," he said, gasping, "fight him."

"Let him go." Kili demanded, his voice sounding strong. And then, as thoughlistening to Kili's command, the pressure around Fili's throat suddenly lifted and he fell to his knees, panting, the trees about him swaying unnaturally. "What use was that Kili? He will die at your hand, as will they all. If not now, then another day." But despite his words, he stumbled weakly backwards, almost loosing his footing. Blood began to seep from his nose. Fili straightened himself up, ignoring the aching in his limbs.

"Kili? Can you hear me?"

"Be quiet!" The Necromancer snapped, eyes flashing in an enraged glower. He wiped away the first drops of blood on the back of his hand, staring down at it with a strange fascination, the crimson liquid dark against the pale flesh of the body he was in. He watched the drops run down the side of his hand and curl around his palm before falling towards the ground. Fili used this time to push himself slowly to his feet. He swayed a little, unsteady at first, drawing in a deep breath.

"Kili!" He called, "fight him, brother! Come on, you can do it!" He urged. Moving forward, he reached out and clasped his hands around Kili's shoulders as his brother stumbled again, face contorted into a look of pain. Kili shook his head roughly, a groan escaping his lips, eyes squeezed shut.

"Leave me alone. You won't hurt him. I wont let you!" He yelled. He started to shake, every inch of his body trembling, dragging in deep, harsh breaths. It sounded as though he was suffocating, each inhale strained and rasping. "You can't fight me forever, dwarfling. This will end in blood." The harsh voice retorted. The Necromancer cried out again. Kili clamped his hands over his ears, tugging slightly at his hair, and he screamed. A sound so pained and fearful that it was as though he was being torn in half. Fili held onto him, calling out to his little brother through the screams, begging him to fight. Kili convulsed forward. "Leave me alone!" He had his forehead pressed against Fili's shoulder, who had hunched his head downwards to speak into his ears. Kili's own voice had fallen somewhat, repeating the words leave me alone over and over in a hushed, monotonous tone, rocking slightly. And then, with a gasp, his rigid muscles slumped and his legs gave way from beneath him. Fili pulled him close, preventing him from collapsing roughly to the ground and instead lowered him gently down, tucking Kili against him and into his lap. Kili panted where he lay, his body limp. Sweat soaked his brow and his eyes were closed. Fili placed his elbow beneath his head to support it, otherwise it would have fallen back into an uncomfortable position. The elder brother shook the younger gently.

"Kili?" He said, looking down into Kili's pale, tired face. "Kee? Open your eyes for me, brother, come on." But Kili's eyes remained shut, his raspy breaths slowing considerably. Worryingly. Fili shook him again, harder this time. "Kili, look at me." Fili felt a chill wash over him as he looked at his brother. If it wasn't for the soft, slow rising of his chest, Kili would have looked dead. His skin almost appeared grey now. Fili heard a thump and was vaguely aware of Thorin dropping to his knees before him, hands hovering, unsure of what to do. Fili payed him no mind. He tapped the side of his brother's face lightly. This seemed to have an affect as Kili's brows pulled together at the action, his eyes trying to flutter open. "That's it, come on, open those eyes." Fili needed to see Kili's eyes, those big brown orbs he knew so well, not those black hollow pits that emitted such loathing and cruelty. Kili wriggled a little, shifting onto his side, burying himself deeper into his brother's chest. His eyes opened and he looked weakly up at Fili, the older sibling sighing with relief. "Thank Mahal." Fili breathed, pulling Kili tighter to him. He pressed his lips against Kili's forehead, eyes closing lightly shut. "Well done, nadadith. You did well."


Kili was exhausted, his entire body ached as though he had been trampled by a herd of horses. His head hurt, every beat of his heart bringing a new pang of pain. Every sensation, every sound, seemed considerably itensified, to the point he could almost hear the sound of the dead leaves when they floated to the ground and his feverish beads of sweat as this landed in the dirt. He closed his eyes and titled his head back against the tree he was sat below. It was late morning, the sun was warm, from what he could tell, some of the company kept puffing out their cheeks and Bofur often removed his hat to fan himself. Kili didn't feel the heat, though. He felt like there should have been a cloud coming away with each of his exhales. He tried to hide his shivers by stiffening his muscles. He wasn't doing a good job it would seem, as Fili kept watching him and eventually wrapped an arm around him. Fili was warm. Fili was always warm. When they were little, their mother said it was because his hair was gold like sunshine. He had their father's hair, she would say, and he too always burnt like a furnace. Kili had his eyes. Kili couldn't remember much of his father, he was too young when he died. What would he think? Kili asked himself, of what you are becoming? Would he feel angry? Frightened? Ashamed? Kili knew he felt all of those things, at least. He gave his brother a sideways glance. I am grateful to have you back, no matter what, he had said. He promised, he swore, that they would do something. And Kili so wanted to believe him, Fili always kept his promises. But the hopeless doubt in Kili's gut told him that this one would go unkept. It was all hopeless to him.

"He's right you know, the Necromancer. You're gonna have to do it.." He said.

"No." Fili's voice was hard, and he spoke without looking at him.

"Fili …"

"You can't ask that of me."

"But I am."

"Then you can ask me as much as you want, I wont do it. I refuse."

"Then go, leave me with that dagger and I'll do it myself." Fili did look at him at this, his face angry at the suggestion, at the thought.

"Kili, no. You are not dying by anyone's hand, especially not by mine and not by yours. I've only just got you back. I'm not letting you go again." He said

"But it's not just me, is it? You have to. Please Fili, I don't want to hurt you, any of you. I would sooner take a hundred more lashings, to have each and every one of my bones twisted and broken, to have my flesh burnt to nothing, than hurt you."

"If you don't want to hurt me, then don't ask me to leave you behind. I can't loose you again."

"You're already loosing me, Fili. The necromancer is only going to get stronger and so will his hold over me, until ... There's nothing of me left."

"It's not going to get that far ..."

"I'm tired Fili, I'm more than tired, and I don't know how much more I can put up with. The next time the Necromancer … gets out, I'm afraid I wont be able to fight him."

"Listen," Fili said sternly. "Thorin has a plan, we are going find Gandalf, we know where he's going to be. It'll be alright, you'll see. We are not abandoning you again, brother. I am never leaving you behind ever again, you hear me?" There was a finality in Fili's voice, he was not budging on this matter. There was nothing Kili could say, even if he begged until his voice was hoarse, that would make his brother let him go. Nothing he could say would make Fili give in. Kili sighed and averted his gaze from his sibling. He stared down at his hands, he clenched and unclenched his fists, much like he had when he had been bound. He could almost still feel the rough cord around his wrists. Kili straightened his back.

"Tie me up." He said decisively.

"What?"

"You heard me, tie me up."

"I'm not going to tie you up." Fili almost seemed to laugh at the notion, the corners of his mouth pulling upwards slightly and his head shaking to the sides.

"You refused to listen to me when I asked you to leave me, at least listen to me now. Tie me up, then when he comes back, which he will, you might have a chance."

"Kili, no."

"I spent two weeks tied up with the orcs, I can bear with it for a little longer while we wait for Gandalf. Please Fili." He begged. Fili simply stared at him for some time. For most of the time, his gaze was hard and Kili feared he would refuse this request as well. But after a little while, Fili sighed, his stiff body softening defeatedly. He nodded slowly.

"Fine."

"Thank you."

"But what do you suggest we bind you with?" There was a harshness in Fili's voice, making it clear just how greatly he disapproved of the idea. Kili could also tell that his brother wished to catch him out with this question.

"I saw one of the barrels before we came into the trees, it was wedged between some rocks on the bank. It had rope wound around it." He said. Indeed, Fili remembered seeing it too. It had looked a little worse for wear, some good portion of it cracked and crumbling. Fili pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, the noise sounding more like a growl, though. "Look, Fee, I know you're not…"

"Don't, Kili." He snapped, getting to his feet, "Just don't."

-.-.-.-

"Where is the dagger." Fili asked his uncle, arms crossed over his chest. Thorin stared at him, eyes narrow.

"Why?" He asked dubiously. Fili ground his teeth for a moment, his fingers drumming on his arms. Then he sighed and ran a hand over his face.

"Kili wants me to bind his hands."

"What?" Thorin frowned at him, struggling to keep his voice low. "And you're alright with that?" He asked doubtfully. Fili stared at him stupidly.

"Of course I'm not." Was his spat reply. "His other suggestions were thatwe kill him or we leave him behind, and I'm even less alright with those." Thorin looked passed him towards Kili, face hidden in his arms, looking small where he was sat curled in on himself. "So where is it?"

"Dwalin has it." Fili stared at Dwalin and held out his hand.

"Give it to me." He demanded. Dwalin hesitated and looked towards Thorin as though waiting for his king's permission. Thorin's face was impassive for a short time, his unreadable features making it impossible for anyone to know what he was thinking. But eventually he nodded and Dwalin pulled the dagger from his belt and passed it to Fili.

"Thanks." He said curtly.

"If this is the only way," Thorin said, "then do it. Then we shall move onwards. We must hurry to find Gandalf." There was something about the way his uncle spoke that made Fili frown. His voice sounded forcefully soft, like his words were all fake. Fili squared up to him, looking him dead in the eyes, gaze burning.

"Tell me uncle, what are you more concerned about; the Necromancer taking over Kili, or the Necromancer taking over your precious kingdom?"


Fili pushed through the foliage, long grass brushing his knees and ducking beneath low hanging branches. A dead leaf fell onto his shoulder and he brushed it off with his empty hand. In his other hand, the hilt of the dagger dug into his palm with the force he was squeezing it. How had it come to this? He had not long released his little brother of his bonds and now he was going to fetch some rope to put him back into them? This was not supposed to happen. It wasn't meant to be like this. He climbed over a fallen tree trunk, the trees before him thinning as they neared the river bank. Over the sound of the birds, Fili could hear running water. Almost the entirety of his being wished that the barrel had been washed away over night, as the idea of binding his own brother hurt his heart, even if the alternative was worse. So when he stepped passed the last row of trees, a fresh and cool breeze hitting him, his stomach tightened to see the barrel was still in the same place. Fili didn't move for some time, he simply stared at the wooden drum. There was a splintered orcish arrow imbedded in it. Jutting out at an angle. He could lie to Kili, he supposed, he could return and say that the barrel had gone, obviously being shifted loose by the waves of the river and taken down stream. Or perhaps the whole thing had simply crumbled and broken, sinking beneath the surface. It was a simple way of putting an end to the ridiculous notion of binding his brother once again. But Fili knew that Kili would respond to his lies with another idea, "then you have to leave me" he would say. And as much as Fili didn't want to tie Kili's wrists, he wanted to leave him behind even less. Especially when he was certain of what Kili would do once they left. So with a sigh, he moved towards the barrel, dagger in hand.


-AN-

Wow, that's a loooong chapter!

That Necromancer is a bastard! I think I hate him as much as Gurlak, and I really hated that character haha! But, well done Kili, that must have been tough.

Ah, the age old question I always like to ask in my fics; who/what does Thorin love more? Something Fili is also wondering. Also, I'm aware Fili said some naughty words but, hey, he's royally pissed off. If I was in his position I'd be using up my entire vocabularly of bad words haha!

Next chapter we're gonna meet our favourite Bargeman! Bard is coming!

If you liked this chapter be sure to leave a review, I LOVE hearing what you guys think! Faves and follows are also welcome :)