Kili was pulling his sword out of an orc's gut when he heard the screech of eagles over his head. Gandalf's friends had come to aid them once again, here at the end of all things. For a moment the Dwarf felt like he was back fighting in front of Erebor with his brothers. Filled with grief again he quickly turned and ended another orc's life. This wasn't Erebor, he wasn't with his brothers this time. He'd lost Thorin in the fray some time ago. The King had thrown himself into battle with twice the vigor and rage that he usually did.

Then all of a sudden a great, pained scream rose above the crowd and all stilled to find the source. Kili couldn't believe it, the Eye of Sauron was falling, tower crumbling, spreading fire and cracking apart. All stood still as Sauron fell and was no more.

Then chaos ensured once more, the orcs fled toward the gates, no doubt to try and seal themselves away safely but the ground below them began to crack as well. With wide eyes the armies of Middle Earth watched as the orcs disappeared into the ground, swallowed up by the Earth itself.

Then Kili realized. The Ring, it had been destroyed, which meant...

"Eagles! Hey! I need a lift!"

He didn't bother stopping to wait for Gandalf and Thorin who had most likely realized the same thing he did, he just ran, jumping off a small ridge onto a waiting birds back with a short word of thanks before taking off.

They flew toward the mountain, through the smoke and haze looking for any sign of Bilbo and Fili. He could hear more eagles behind him and turned to see not just his uncle and Gandalf but Aragorn as well.

"I see no sign of them!" Aragon yelled sounding distraught, "the mountain has overflowed, you don't think-?"

"There!" Thorin cried, interrupting him, "Below us!"

Kili's heart leapt. There below them were two figured huddled together on a small raised patch of mountain.

"Go!" He urged the eagle, there was only room for one bird to land and he was going to make sure it was his.

Even through all the dust and muck strewn through it Kili could see Fili's yellow hair blowing about in the hot air. He was hunched over himself,curled around Bilbo and for a few seconds Kili was afraid he'd come too late. But then Fili raised his head and breathed a sigh of relief and Kili dropped to his side.

"You came." He sighed, as if he couldn't believe it.

"I promised didn't I?" Kili smiled weakly, taking in all the burns and abrasions covering his older brother, "you did it."

"He did it." Fili corrected, nodding to the unconscious Bilbo before trampling slightly, "He needs help, we need to get him to a healer..."

Kili felt slightly out of his depth, Fili was exhausted, practically delirious and too weak to stand, for once he was going to have to carry him. Gently, Kili took Bilbo from his brother and laid him on the eagles back before helping Fili stumble to his feet and climb up as well. By the time Kili had secured them both Fili was unconscious as well. Kili just hoped he could get them to help in time.

-oOo-

The next few days seemed to blur together for Thorin. The eagles flew them to Elrond's home in Rivendell, after all that had happened, the battle, the Ring's destruction, the shock that Bilbo and Fili were alive at least for now, exhausted all parties. Luckily the eagles were smooth fliers, because by the time they reached Rivendell all riders were fast asleep.

Thorin with his minor injuries was the first to wake, not bothering to ask how he got from the back of a giant bird to a bed inside Elrond's house. He knew the answer most was most likely carried and by an Elf, not something he wished to confirm.

He quickly dressed himself properly once he woke, vowing to never mention the ridiculous white gown he'd woken up in. Apparently they were given to all in the healing rooms which made no sense at all,why would you give somebody wounded white clothes to dirty? Kili had much the same relation when he woke though both Durin's made a silent pact not to tease Bilbo or Fili about it when they woke.

If they woke.

Fili seemed to be on the mend, Elrond's healers had done a good job of dealing with his wounds but he still didn't wake, at least not fully. Once in a while his eyes would open, much to Kili's delight, but he was still delirious and dehydrated. It took a week of pouring water and thin soup between his cracked lips before the Dwarf was actually able to stay awake for more than a few minutes at a time.

"We did it then?" He whispered, trying to sit up but being hurriedly pushed back by Kili.

"You don't remember?" Kili asked worriedly.

"I remember, it just seemed so strange..."

"I know what you mean." Kili smiled, "don't worry, we'll be back in Erebor soon as we have all members back to full strength. You must tell me what happened in Mordor, I know I've got a lot to tell you about the battle. But let's wait until your strength returns."

"Bili?"

Kili pursed his lips.

"Uncle is with him...he's not woken yet."

Kili nodded to the other bed in the room, Bilbo, clothed in moor white clothes under white sheets, was laying prone on the bed. His injuries had faded but the bruises and cuts seemed to glow under his pale skin. Once the healers had cleaned the months of dirt and grime off the little Hobbit's body it became clear that he was in serious need or food and water. Not to mention his pale sheets seemed to have more colour than his skin did. Kili had seem heavier looking dead people.

Thorin was gently tipping the broth Elrond's had bought in a few minutes beforehand in an attempt to give the Hobbits body the food it so clearly needed. They'd been pouring it down his throat for days but it didn't seem to make a difference.

"A weary body can be treated." Thorin sighed, "A weary soul is much more troubling."