Big thanks to KimiAshinhurst for favouriting.

Nice Egan – Yes indeed they did! I've learnt Fili blushes easily – so plenty more will ensure! And as for that you will have to read on and find out!

Reader-anonymous-writer – Glad you are still enjoying it.

Rachetg – I figured we needed some scenes from her point of view.

Into A Battle

Fira gaped at the orc in horror. She could feel Kili's body tense and he pulled her close to him. The orc was tall and bulky with one good eye. The other had a scar cutting right across it. He gave her a vile grin as another elf guard dropped dead to the ground.

"Kill the dwarf filth," the orc roared.

Biting her lip Fira drew her sword. Glancing up she could now see that the elves were no longer concerned with the prospect of escaping prisoners. Instead they were doing their best to keep away the orcs that were now joining their leader. Fira gasped as Kili spun her round.

"Listen to me. They won't lay their hands on you. I promise."

Nodding Fira kissed his nose before glancing back over to the lever on the bridge. If one of them could just about reach it then they could open the gate. Someone yelled behind her and she turned to see the orcs jumping on the barrels. Dwalin stabbed one but it merely jumped from his barrel onto the one with Fili. The blonde dwarf stuck his sword into the creatures gut and it fell back into the river. As Kili wielded his blade Fira did her best to drag their barrel closer to the bridge so they would have some form of shelter. But it clear that the barrels wouldn't all fit in.

There was a loud thud behind her and Fira turned in time to see an orc bearing down on her. Its fist hit her in the face and for a few seconds she saw stars. Shaking her head Fira sliced its knees open before elbowing it off the barrel. Satisfied the others were able to fend off the orcs her eyes strayed to the lever. It just sat there going completely unnoticed by anyone. Sheathing her sword Fira grabbed the edges of the barrel and went to push herself up when Kili pulled her back down.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Shrugging his grip off Fira pointed to the lever.

"We need to open the gate. We can't fend them off for much longer and in case you had forgotten we're still trying to escape the elves!"

Kili said nothing and instead glanced over at the lever. He then turned to his brother.

"Fili!"

As the blonde dwarf also looked at the lever Fira knew what was about to happen. Kili gently stroked her chin.

"Yes I'll be fine, yes I'll be careful, no I won't be reckless."

Fira smiled at him as Kili gave her a hurried peck on the cheek. Doing her best to keep the barrel steady for him she watched as he pushed himself up before leaping forward and landing on the stone steps. Fili was close behind him and Fira could do nothing but watch as they stood back to back. Their clothes were soaked and their hair was dripping wet. Yet Fira had never seen two people with more fire and rage in their eyes. Orcs ran at them but despite their short height and lack of weapons the two brothers fought them as though they were no more than small children.

"Kili!"

Fira clapped a hand to her mouth as on orc stood on a huge ledge that looked over the princes. It raised it's axe – intending to slice Kili in half. At the last second however he looked up and dove to the side. Fira realised she hadn't been breathing until Kili smiled at her.

"Fira!"

At Dwalin's voice Fira remembered where she was. Forcing herself to look away from Kili Fira ducked to avoid an orcs blow before pushing it off the barrel. As it fell Dwalin sliced it's back with a knife. He gave Fira a grim smile.

"Kili will be fine. He and Fili are two of the best fighters I know."

Nodding Fira turned her attention back to the bridge. Both brothers had reached the lever. Most of the orcs were being kept busy with the elves. But there was one orc that they had all forgotten about. As the one eyed orc fitted an arrow to it's bow Fira's heart leapt into her throat.

"Kili."

He didn't pay any attention as he fought the two remaining orcs that blocked his path. Gripping the barrel Fira saw the orc taking aim with the bow.

"KILI!"

Both brothers turned round to see the orc. Fira had no time to say anything as Fili pushed Kili to the ground before crying out in pain as the arrow hit him in the thigh. Fira was dimly aware of Mithiel yelling in anger but all she could do was watch as Fili fell to his knees before falling backwards. Kili got to his feet and began shaking his head.

"Fili? FILI!"

As Fili propped himself up onto his elbows Fira could see the tears on Kili's face.

"Kili the lever!"

He glanced at her before his eyes widened. Kili wrenched the lever down and Fira watched the gate open. Grabbing onto the nearest barrel she watched Fili pull himself to the edge of the bridge. Fira leaned over and grabbed his empty barrel.

"Fili here!

He nodded and she could see the pain was written all over his face. Fili licked his lips before sliding down from the bridge and into the barrel. Fira winced as she heard the arrow snap in half and Fili screamed in pain. Her own barrel jolted as Kili landed beside her. She clutched his hands.

"He'll be alright," she murmured, "I know he will."

Kili nodded but Fira could feel him shaking.

"That arrow was meant for me," he stammered, "He pushed me out of the way."

Fira opened her mouth when she realised she was still holding onto the rock. Letting go she allowed Kili to hold her tightly as their barrel travelled downstream to join the others. On both sides of the river she could hear the cries of orcs and elves as they fought. Ducking a low hanging branch Fira gasped as up-ahead she saw a dozen or so rocs standing on a thick branch that acted as a makeshift bridge over the river.

"CUT THE BRANCH!" Thorin yelled.

Fira could barely hear him but as she saw the other dwarves hacking away as they passed underneath it she understood. Raising her own sword she growled at the orcs before reaching up and slashing through the bark. Kili pulled her out of the way as the branch collapsed behind them and the orcs crashed into the water around them. Wiping the water from her eyes Fira opened them and screamed. The orc leered at her – clinging onto the barrel with every last ounce of it's strength. Gritting her teeth Fira tried to stab it when it grabbed her wrist and jumped off the barrel – tipping it into the water. Fira lashed out as the orc tried to pull her away. She could feel Kili holding onto her legs and she shook her head. If they stayed like this then they both would drown. Kicking herself free of Kili's grip she turned to see the barrel flip back upright. Fira then fixed eyes with the orcs as they both surfaced.

"FIRA!"

She could hear Kili as though he was right next to her. He could have been for all she knew. The orc shook its head before standing up and Fira saw that the water only just reached its chest. She on the other hand was forced to tread water. The orc had both of her wrists now and although she twisted in its grip it wasn't letting go.

"Say goodbye!"

As it pushed her under the water Fira had no time to react. Her body spasmed and kicked out as the orc held her under. Her lungs were strained from lack of breath already but it wasn't long before they were our bursting point. Her kicking got steadily weaker and already the edges of her vision were growing black. The orc let go of her wrists and Fira could feel her body sinking to the bottom of the riverbed as everything turned to black.

Kili couldn't stop shaking as he tried to claw his way back to where Fira and the orc grappled with each other. One second all three had been underwater and then the next he alone had surfaced. Rubbing the spot on his chest where Fira had kicked him Kili watched the horrific sight unfold before him.

"FIRA!"

The orc towered over her and Kili could see she was already tired from her ordeal. He wasn't aware of anything else as the orc pushed her body under the water. He was aware of the others fighting around him but they didn't matter. Even Fili suddenly wasn't as important. The barrel was now nothing more than a hindrance to him as he tried to paddle back up the river. Biting his lip Kili watched as the few air bubbles that he could see now vanished. The orc let go of Fira and he waited for her to resurface.

But she didn't.

"NO!"

He didn't care anymore. Jumping out of his barrel Kili took a deep breath of air before diving into the river. He was aware of the orc moving away but he pushed that from his mind. He was a strong swimmer but he hadn't had to swim against a current before. Already his arms ached and his legs wanted him to stop. But he had to keep going. He had to reach her. Pushing himself forward Kili's eyes widened as he saw a figure lying on the river bed. Wrapping his arm around Fira's waist he tried to ignore how grey her lips were getting. Instead all he focused on was getting back to the surface.

"Kili!"

He heard Dwalin's voice as his head broke the surface. Gasping Kili watched as the warrior dwarf pushed his barrel towards him before his own floated down the river. Grabbing the barrel with one hand Kili pushed Fira's unconscious body into it before swinging himself in afterwards. Allowing the current to take him after the others he held her against him; holding her against his chest and pulling his coat around her to keep her warm.

"Fira?" He stroked her face, "Fira come on darling. Come on."

Her head lolled against his chest and if it wasn't for the fact that he could still feel his bond Kili would have assumed he was too late. Kissing Fira on the forehead he then gasped as her eyes flickered open and she coughed.

"Kili?"

He couldn't say anything. Instead he just hugged her close as the river took his barrel and the others away from the roar and cries of the ongoing fight.

The company carried on travelling through the river but they all noticed with a heavy heart that they were staring to lose the current,

"Make for the shore," Thorin yelled as the company began paddling their barrels towards the rocky shoreline. Fira clung to Kili as their barrel bumped against the edge first. He kissed her forehead before pulling himself out and then pulling her out after him. Fira tried to stand but her knees gave way and Kili caught her before she fell.

"How are you?"

Fira nodded as they both knelt down. He ran his fingers through her hair and she kissed him. Kili smiled when they heard a pained cry next to them. As Fili all but collapsed next to them Fira could see the guilt building up in Kili's eyes. Fili must have seen it too because he shook his head.

"Don't even think of blaming yourself for this Kee."

Kili nodded silently and Fira glanced at Mithiel. The elf was sitting by Fili and she could tell she was trying to remain calm. Fili smiled at her.

"I'm fine," he said, "It's nothing."

Fira shook her head. This was far from nothing.

"On your feet," Thorin snapped. Kili shot his uncle a glare,

"Fili's wounded. His leg needs binding,"

Fira watched the colour drain from Thorin's face. However he shook his head.

"There is an orc pack on our tail. We keep moving,"

"To where?" Balin asked as he tried to wring the water from his beard. To everyone's surprise Bilbo stepped up,

"To the mountain," he said as brightly as he could, "We're so close,"

"A lake lies between us and that mountain," Balin told him. However, he and the others were unable to keep the smiles from their faces as they looked at how keen the hobbit was to get to Erebor.

"Then we go round," Bilbo argued. Dwalin shook his head,

"The orcs will run us down, as sure as daylight. And we have no real weapons to defend ourselves,"

Thorin looked at Fili's pain racked face and sighed,

"Bind his leg, quickly. You have two minutes," he strode off and the rest of the company began tipping water out of their boots. Fili grabbed at the remaining bit of arrow when Mithiel pulled his hand away.

"You'll make it worse," she whispered, "If any splinters are left in it'll become infected."

Nodding Fili sat back and Fira watched as the elf's deft fingers picked away any lingering splinters before pulling the arrow out. Fili's leg jerked from the pain and he cried out before he could stop himself. Keeping a tight hold on Kili's hands Fira said nothing as Mithiel tied a thin piece of cloth around the wound.

"That will stop it bleeding. But we need to treat it properly."

Fili nodded and Fira watched as he took Mithiel's hand in his own. The elf blushed before getting to her feet and moving away. Fira sensed she should go to. But as she got to her feet Kili did the same.

"I'm so sorry Fili. I should have seen the orc or tried to stop him or something!"

"Hey!" Fili forced himself to his feet, "This isn't your fault Kee."

Kili made a small sobbing sound and Fira rubbed his arm.

"But you're hurt and it should have been me."

"No," Fili said darkly, "No Kili it shouldn't have. As long as I breathe I'll always make sure you're safe from harm. No matter what cost."

Fili opened his mouth when Fira stepped in.

"Look, we're all alive and we're out of Mirkwood. That's something at least."

Fili nodded and Kili gave her a small smile. Rubbing her head Fira shut her eyes. She just wanted to go to sleep for a whole day now. Opening her eyes she saw the rest of the company were starting to regroup. There was the sound of cracking sticks and the company jumped to their feet. Dwalin grabbed a heavy tree branch and brandished it furiously. In the glare of the sun they could make out the shape of a tall person holding a bow and arrow at the terrified figure of Ori. Snarling, Dwalin jumped in front of the young dwarf and brandished his makeshift weapon. Everyone gasped as the figure let loose an arrow, hitting the branch in between Dwalin's hands. Fira gasped as Kili placed himself in front of her and grabbed a rock – aiming it at the figure. But they merely turned and let loose another arrow. Kili watched as the rock fell from his hands.

"Try that again," the figure said as he raised his bow a third time, "And you're dead."

So hopefully you liked the little changes I made to the orc/elf/dwarf fight scene! I wanted to do things a bit differently and plus it gives Fili some more screen time which he (very unfairly) was never given in the films. Plus Kili's been injured too many times for me right now! Let me all know what you think xxx