Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not my own, yadda yadda yadda. I'm not making any money off of this. (Though I wish I could.)

I woke up surprisingly early the next morning, long before anyone else had begun to stir. I sat up and glanced to where Thorin lay. I smiled softly to myself as I studied his face, peaceful in slumber. He was laying on his back, one arm thrown casually across his chest, the other bent and tucked under his head. He shifted and sighed in his sleep, and I found myself wondering what it was he dreamed of. Then I blushed furiously when I thought about the dream I had had the night before.

I stood up slowly and looked around for Kili next and frowned when I realized he wasn't there. I picked my way through the dwarves and looked all over the place for him, finally finding him stretched out against a wall in the back near the rest rooms. His face was drawn tight. He glanced up at me when he heard my foot steps and tried to act as though nothing was wrong.

"Nice try, Kili." I said softly. I crouched next to him and glanced down at his thigh which I could tell even under his pants was swollen. I frowned.

"You wait here." Before he could argue, I had disappeared into one of the side rooms for a pair of shears and a clean towel. Then I came back out to the sleep dwarves and glanced over the sleeping forms until I found Nori. I crept next to him and slipped my hand into his vest and searched around for a moment before I found what I had been looking for. My hand closed around the flask and I gently pulled it slowly away, sloshing it around slightly as I did so. Well. It still had some alcohol in it, anyways. I made my way back to Kili who had shifted uncomfortably in his place. I unscrewed the cap on the flask and sniffed, then nearly gagged. Yup. That would work.

I plopped gracelessly next to Kili and grabbed his pant leg.

"Talya, I'm fine… Really…" He tried to push my hand away and stand, but I easily pushed him back over.

"There would be no way in hell you would have let me push you over that easily if you were really fine. Now shut up and let me look."

He fell silent as I grabbed his pant leg again. I set down the towel and flask, then swiftly cut into his pants with the shears and tore it back to reveal the very swollen and angry looking wound. The area where the arrow had pierced was a sickly dark green. I shook my head and swallowed thickly. The wound was sickly-sweet smelling.

"I need to get Oin." I said.

"Talya, don't. I don't want them to know." He looked at me pleading. I shook my head.

"I'm sorry Kili."

I went back to the common room and gently shook Oin awake. He frowned and grumbled in dwarvish.

"Oin, its Kili. His leg is worse," I said, keeping my voice low. Oin jerked up when he heard this and glanced at the others. He stood up, grabbed his small satchel of medical supplies, and I motioned for him to follow me. I was angry with myself for leaving the kingsfoil I had gathered before at Bards and was dreading having to go there to get it.

When we reached Kili's side, Oin immediately cursed harshly upon seeing the infection.

"We'll need to lance it, laddie." Oin's voice was very serious suddenly, and I hoped it wasn't worse than I expected. Kili frowned but said nothing.

"Your belt, lass?" Oin asked, glancing up at me. I did not hesitate. I tugged off my belt and handed it to Oin, who doubled it over and offered it to Kili. I didn't understand why until Kili snatched it from Oin's hand and bit down on the leather. Oin reached into a side pocket and tugged out a small but wickedly sharp dagger.

"I'll need you to hold his leg," Oin directed. I looked at Kili apologetically, but he had his eyes closed.

I moved to stand on the other side of Kili and gently began to put weight on his upper thigh. Oin made an impatient noise.

"Harder than that. I don't want him movin'." I grit my teeth and leaned forward hard. A harsh hiss escaped Kili's lips. Oin glanced down and picked up the small flask, dousing his blade with it before he leaned forward. The dagger had barely touched the wound when Kili cried out. Oin dragged the tip steadily over the blackened area and nearly immediately, thick pus began to ooze out. The smell hit my nose and I had to hold my breath before I threw up. Kili nearly screamed into the belt, his hand shooting out to grasp my arm. Despite the fact that his grip was painful to the point of being unbearable, I said nothing.

Oin set about draining the wound, pressing gently on either side. I had to turn away and take short shallow breaths as he worked, not being able to stand the sight or the smell.

"Almost done, Kili. Almost done." I said softly. Oin picked up the flask and began to douse the wound with the contents. Kili's hand tightened further and I bit back my own cry of pain, knowing I would without a doubt bruise. Kili's head was thrown back, his breath coming in quick and pained gasps. His cheeks were wet with shed tears, and I hated to imagine the amount of pain he was in.

"All done, there, lad," Oin said softly. He began to wrap his leg with a length of linen bandage that he had pulled from his first –aid satchel.

"Oin… I am going to go to Bard's… I left something important there. I will be back as soon as possible."

Oin hardly acknowledged my statement, and I quickly stood and made my way outside. Two guards stood there, watching me with little interest.

"Sirs, if you would… I need to go to Bard's house. I left something of mine there. I do not know the way." The two exchanged looks and the older of the two nodded. The younger stepped away from his post.

"I will take you to his home," He said. I nodded my thanks and fell into step behind him as he began to lead me towards Bard's home.

It didn't take as long as I thought it would and soon I stood before the familiar doors, my heart tight in my chest. I really did not want to face Bard, or any of the children. Smiling tightly at the soldier with me, I knocked on the door.

It didn't take long for Bard to open it. He looked at me coldly.

"You have much nerve, showing up here." His voice was icy.

"I know." I said softly. "I'm sorry. But I left something here that I need desperately."

Bard glared and looked as though he wanted to argue.

"Please."

He frowned further, then stepped back. Relieved, I stepped past him and went upstairs. It was still early enough that not even the kids were up yet. I was thankful for that.

I searched the room until I finally found the small bundle of now nearly dried kingsfoil. I gathered it to my chest and hurriedly made my way back downstairs.

"Would you have even told me what it was you were planning? Or were you just going to sleep out in the night, leaving me to wonder of your fate?" Bard's voice was angry, but there was an underlying hurt there that made me frown. I turned to look at him and flinched at his accusing stare.

"I wish I could say something to make things better between us, Bard. I never wanted to hurt you. That was never my intention, I swear it. But there are things in motion that you cannot begin to understand…"

"No, Talya. It is you who don't understand. If that dwarf succeeds in opening those doors to that mountain… We are all doomed. And for what? Gold? Glory?" He scoffed.'

"Because it is his home. It belongs to him and his people. Do you think that the dragon will slumber forever? Or that the beast is the only thing that threatens this town and its people? Orcs' are gathering their forces, and something lurks that will destroy us all. If they do not do this… If they do not reclaim Erebor, then we will all be a lot worse off."

"How can you know this?" He demanded.

"Because, Bard," I ran rubbed my face tiredly. "I just do. Call me a seer, or a prophet, or just some freakin' nutjob who just happens to be able to predict the future with a startling accuracy. In the end, it doesn't really matter why I know what I know."

He was staring at me now, not knowing how to respond. I turned away from him, ready to leave, when his soft sigh stopped me. I glanced back at him and watched as he looked over my braids.

"While we may have not had much dealings with dwarves of late… We still remember much of their customs. It has been said Thorin Oakenshield braided your hair, and in it, a token of his affection."

Bard's voice was so quiet I had to strain to hear his words. Now it was me who didn't know how to respond.

"What do you want me to say, Bard?" I asked quietly. "Do you want me to deny it?"

"Would there ever have been a chance for me?" He asked suddenly.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because. I do."

I closed my eyes against the tears that threatened.

"Dammit, Bard." Apparently my words were answer enough. He reached out to take my hand.

"Then stay with me, please. Do not go to that mountain. Do not perish there with people not of your own. Let the dwarves do as they will."

"I can't Bard. I am sorry. I really am. But I will do everything I can to help them restore their home."

I tugged my hand out of his and walked away, leaving him standing there in the doorway, very much alone.

I returned to the company, feeling very much drained. I pushed the door open and slipped in to find that the company was up and about. Kili had returned to the group, his face masked again. Being the typical males that they were, Kili did not tell anyone about his problem, nor did anyone make a point to ask if he was alright. I grumbled to myself about the stubbornness of males and dwarves and began to walk over to him.

Thorin came to stand in front of me, his arms crossed.

"The guards said you went to the man Bard's." His tone was light, but accusing. I rolled my eyes and let out a puff of air.

"Yes, I did. I forgot something there." I said simply. I reached up to tug my cloak off my shoulders, suddenly warm now that the fire had been poked to life again. The sleeve slid down, bearing deep red marks where Kili's fingers had dug in earlier. Thorin growled as he reached out and grabbed my sleeve. Gently, he pushed it back and turned my arm this way and that. I had to admit, it was a hell of a sight. Kili's large hand had neatly encircled my forearm, leaving marks behind in a startling shade of red.

"I will kill him." Thorin snarled. I realized then that he assumed Bard had grabbed me.

"It wasn't Bard!" I snapped, suddenly very irritated. I was angry that Kili was still hiding how hurt he was. Mad at Oin for letting him. Pissed at Bard for making me feel so shitty. Pissed at myself because it was my fault.

"Why do you stick up for him?" Thorin demanded. "Do you not see the marks on your arm?!"

I tugged my arm away from him.

"God dammit," I snapped. "If you want to know why my arm looks like that, why don't you ask your infernal nephew!"

Kili jerked his head up and looked at me as though betrayed.

"You are all so stubborn it drives me fucking nuts." I growled out. "You are all so busy with your pride and whatever the hell else to ask if Kili, who is so fucking pale he could blend in with fresh fallen snow, if he is okay. And he is so stubborn and worried that you might think him weak that he won't tell anyone that his leg is swollen up the size of a melon and looks like roadkill. And Oin is so busy trying to protect Kili's delicate masculinity that he won't tell anyone either!"

Thorin looked at Kili, frowning, suddenly worried.

"Kili… Does Talya speak true?"

I looked at Kili pleadingly, but he refused to meet my eyes.

"Yes, Uncle." He said softly. Thorin let out a long sigh and walked to his nephew.

"Come. Let me see." Thorin motioned for Kili to get up and follow him to a side room. Everyone was staring at me after my outburst. I threw up my arms in frustration and followed after the two.

"Out," Thorin growled softly when I stepped up behind him. Kili sat down gingerly on the floor, pointedly not looking at me. That pissed me off further. He was acting like a spoiled child who couldn't get his way.

"No." Was all I said. Thorin looked at me sharply, but I ignored him and instead looked at Kili. "Look, I am sorry if you feel like I betrayed you by blowing you in. But I refuse to stand by and let you get die because of something so stupid."

"Oin would have fixed it just fine, Talya. It would take more than an arrow wound to kill a dwarf."

"It would if it was a morgul shaft." I bit out. Both of them froze and looked at me.

"How could you even know that?" Thorin asked, looking at me accusingly.

"Open your eyes and look his leg."

Thorin turned and knelt next to his nephew. Ignoring Kili's protests, he quickly unwrapped the bindings and hissed as he examined the wound.

"Kili." He said softly, "Why did you not tell me?"

I swallowed and took that moment to leave. I didn't want to intrude on their male bonding moment or whatever. I closed the door behind me and quickly found Oin. I pressed the kingsfoil into his hand.

"Make a wash out of this and use it on Kili's wound whenever it needs tending." Oin frowned and looked down at the plant.

"It's a w…"

"Weed. Yeah yeah yeah. So I've heard. Humor me, please?" Oin frowned further, but nodded. "Thank you."

I brushed by him and the rest of the group, going to sit next to the fire. Bilbo sat down next to me.

"I feel as though you know something you are not telling us." He said quietly. I leveled him with a sharp look.

"Do not fix that icy glare on me, Talya. There has been things you have said, or eluded to, that have seemed out of place at the time, but later come to mean a great deal."

"You need to stop being so damn observant," I muttered.

"And you complain about the dwarves' stubbornness?" He asked, his eye brows raising and knitting together.

"Bilbo… There is a lot that I wish I could tell you, but I can't. Please know that I will explain everything someday, if I am able." Anybody else would have argued, but Bilbo merely nodded his head and patted my arm.

"I believe you, Talya." He glanced up and I followed his gaze to find Fili standing there awkwardly. Bilbo gave me a look that said 'good luck' before scurrying away.

"What, Fili?" I asked tiredly.

"Thank you for telling us about Kili," He said softly. "You are right, we are often too stubborn and prideful to admit to injury. I should have known there was something wrong. I am his brother."
I groaned. I was beginning to feel like a damn therapist.

"He was doing a good job of hiding it. But I am a woman. I worry. I cornered him this morning and made him let me look. When I realized how bad it was, I called Oin over."

Fili nodded slowly.
"He'll be fine, Fili. I promise you."

With a sudden jolt, I realized that I couldn't promise that. Fili, Kili, and Thorin were all supposed to die in less than three months. The pain that followed after left me breathless. It had never hit me so hard as it did then, and I stood, brushing past Fili. I rushed outside, desperate for air, and began to run. Guards and people called after me, but I ignored it all. I ran until I reached the end of a dock and there I collapsed. Erebor was looming in the distance and I felt my mind run over all that was supposed to happen from here on out. The dragon attack. The burning of Lake Town. Thorin's steady decline into madness. Thranduil's march on Erebor with Bard leading his own army. Bilbos' betrayal with the Arkenstone. The Battle of the Five Armies.

I remembered with sudden clarity, sitting in the movie theaters all those months ago, watching on screen as first Fili, then Kili, and finally Thorin fell. The tears I had shed then where nothing to those that came now. The pain of watching their deaths on screen was nothing to the fine thread of agony that ripped through me.

A sob tore through my lips.

"Oh Valar," I called out. "How am I supposed to save them?!"

I buried my face in my hands and I cried harder even then I had in Rivendell.