I do not own any of the characters or the Hobbit (just the AU storyline and my OC) those are the work of the esteemed and brilliant John Ronald Reull Tolkien, and without his genius, this and many other fan fics would not be in existence.
Please review! I love getting them-they keep me encouraged! J
The company had just finished training as the sun rose to midday. Bilbo had been allowed to stop and rest after his session with Dwalin, and had set aside watching the rest of the company spar with each other.
He watched as they wielded their various weapons with deadly precision, as though it were indeed an intricate dance. Even with his untrained eye, he could tell those who were trained warriors from those who fought only when they had to defend themselves or their king.
Thorin, Balin, Fili, and Dwalin were most definitely very well trained, although he had suspected as much of the latter having been subject to his training methods first hand. He watched in awe as Thorin and Balin's swords flashed in the bright sunlight, each intricate move getting faster and each block succeeding in rapid succession. He could instantly tell they had been trained together judging by the familiarity and similarity of their strikes and parries.
He could tell from the way Fili worked with Ori that Fili had been taught by Thorin and Dwalin. Apparently, Ori's choice of a weapon, which he wielded with admirable skill according to the hobbit (given that hobbits often utilize stones in a similar manner, though they don't usually use a slingshot to throw them), was not quite up to the standards the dwarves kept for themselves, and Fili had offered to train Ori to be able to wield a warhammer in close combat. Ori was using Fili's slightly lighter warhammer while Fili was wielding Dwalin's hammer.
Bilbo could see that even Fili was struggling a bit with the massive warhammer, and he supposed that it was because, despite being a dwarf, Ori likely didn't have his muscles developed as much as the young heir due to his interests in scholarly work instead of weapons training. As such, Fili had offered him the lighter weapon so it would be easier for him to wield. He didn't really blame the lad. Bilbo highly suspected that the hammer weighed even more than he did, and he seriously doubted he would even be able to lift it off the ground at all.
He could see Fili's quiet patience as he taught Ori the basic stances for his weapon, and the basic sequences for various moves, and wondered why they had picked Dwalin of all people to teach him! He would much rather train with someone who he was sure wouldn't rip his head off once he gave him up to be a lost cause, and he decided that if he was to learn how to wield the darn thing, he would seek out Fili and ask him to help him learn some basic swordsmanship. At least it would be better than Dwalin, whom Bilbo highly suspected had not offered to teach him by choice.
Seeing the dwarves begin to sweat as their exertions continued and the warm sun climbed higher in the sky, he decided that it would probably benefit them if they were to have some cool water to drink after. Bilbo himself had already drunk so much water after his session that he was beginning to think his eyeballs would begin to float. He jumped down from his perch and headed towards their chambers.
XXX
Kili entered the dwarves' chambers and was quickly rifling through his pack to get a clean tunic when he heard a slight gasp from the doorway. He looked up and caught sight of Bilbo, whose wide eyes were trained on his blood stained sleeve.
"Kili, you're hurt! What happened?" the hobbit exclaimed. "Should I go get Fili? Or Thorin?"
"NO! Don't tell them!" Kili cried, rushing to his feet in a bit of a panic. Bilbo jumped at the sudden outburst, giving Kili a very confused look.
"But you're injured! You're bleeding," he replied, gesturing toward Kili's arm. "Do you want me to get Oin instead? He's a healer, right? Or Lord Elrond?"
"No! Don't get anyone," Kili rushed toward the bewildered hobbit, stumbling a bit over the company's packs and mattresses. He clutched his clean tunic to him with his uninjured arm. Bilbo looked up at the young dwarf, very clearly confused now.
"But—" he continued, but Kili shook his head.
"Bilbo, I am fine. I just cut myself on a piece of broken glass, that's all," Kili replied. "Look, it's already bandaged." He pushed up his sleeve, revealing the bandage, before pulling it down again and looking Bilbo in the eye. The hobbit didn't look convinced, and he stared back with one eyebrow raised.
"Kili—" he tried again, but Kili held up his hand, and Bilbo sighed loudly in exasperation, rolling his eyes.
"Bilbo, please," Kili begged, "Don't tell anyone in the company about my cut. It was just an accident, I swear." He smiled a bit, but his eyes had a pleading look in them. Bilbo returned his gaze, before swallowing and nodding. He sighed loudly, shaking his head.
"What happened?" he asked. Kili looked down at his feet before responding.
"I thought everyone would be in the dining hall when I woke up, and I was running there when I heard a loud crash." He proceeded to tell Bilbo about how he didn't see the girl in her bed and fell on a broken piece of glass as he rounded the corner of the large bed. He kept the part about her bandaging his arm out as he was still not sure what to make of it.
"Is she all right?" Bilbo asked. Kili nodded.
"Aye. Lord Elrond's checking her bandages now," he replied, before sending Bilbo a very serious look. Bilbo looked up and met his gaze.
"Bilbo, the company- they cannot know about this. They will think the elves harmed me, and I don't want to start a war," he finished, casting Bilbo a pleading look. "Please, please don't tell anyone." Bilbo nodded.
"Of course, Kili," he replied, "the last thing I want to do is start a war too." He gave the young dwarf a friendly smile and gestured toward his arm.
"I won't tell," he continued, his voice firm, "as long as you make sure that cut heals properly." Kili nodded his thanks, relief showing in his face. He glanced around, before quickly taking the bloody tunic off and donning the clean one. He slipped into the bath and filled a small bucket with water, before placing the soiled shirt in it. He could hear the echoing footsteps of the company as they approached the chambers, and quickly stuck the bucket in an inconspicuous corner.
XXX
He came out of the bath just as the company reentered the room. The dwarves went to their beds and proceeded to set their large weapons down before stowing some small daggers on their person. Fili saw Kili and ran over to him, relief showing in his features.
"Kili! You're awake!" he said, quickly looking Kili over, before pulling Kili aside. Kili tried not to grimace as Fili's hand put slight pressure on his cut. He was very thankful his brother didn't seem to notice the slight thickness beneath his sleeve.
"Did you finally get some rest?" he added quietly so the others wouldn't hear. Kili nodded. The brothers locked eyes, and Kili could see the concern in his brother's expression. He also noticed the dark circles and tired lines under Fili's eyes, and felt guilty that his brother had lost sleep because of his nightmares. He looked down at his feet.
"I'm sorry, Fee," he whispered. Fili's eyebrows furrowed together as he stared at his brother.
"What for?" he asked, confusion in his voice. Kili hung his head.
"For waking you with my nightmares," he replied, eyes not meeting his brother's.
"Kili, look at me," Fili paused, then reached his hand under his brother's chin and forced Kili to look at him when he didn't look up. Kili's brown eyes met his, and Fili could see shame filling them at Kili's perceived weakness.
"Kili, it's not your fault," he said. "You cannot help having nightmares after all that happened." Kili looked at him doubtfully.
"But, Fee. You aren't sleeping because of me. You're exhausted," Kili replied. Fili sighed and swallowed.
"Truth is, I have been having nightmares about what happened too," Fili admitted, eyes downcast.
Kili's eyes widened. Fili hadn't been bothered with nightmares for many, many years now. His brother had rarely had them even as a child and, more often than not, it had been Kili who curled next to his brother during the lightning storms and nightmares whimpering. Fili would wrap his arms around his little brother and stroke his hair until he calmed and fell back asleep with his head on Fili's chest. There wasn't much of an age difference between the two, but Fili had always been very protective of his younger brother, regardless if the "enemies" were bullies or night terrors.
It must be really bad if even Fili is having them, too, Kili thought. He brought his other arm up and rested it on Fili's, and Fili looked up at him. Kili could see the vulnerability in Fili's gaze, knowing that it was hard for him to admit that he had been having nightmares as well. The brothers didn't need words to express what they were feeling, as close as they were. Fili smiled slightly at the reassurance in his brother's eyes and brought his other hand to rest on Kili's arm, before leaning forward and touching their foreheads together.
"It's alright, Fee," Kili whispered.
"I know," he replied, smiling slightly.
XXX
Thorin approached his nephews, and both lads looked up as they heard his footsteps. They let go of each other's arms and looked up at him.
"Fili, Kili. After we eat, I would like the two of you to accompany me to the healing chamber," he ordered. The lads nodded, and Kili's stomach let out a loud growl.
Fili snickered, and Kili elbowed him in the ribs. Thorin rolled his eyes, before turning toward the company.
"After we eat, return here and gather your things. We will likely leave before dawn," he said, and ten relieved faces nodded in acknowledgement.
Bilbo nodded as well, but was a little disappointed that they wouldn't be staying longer in Rivendell. He had taken quite a liking to Lord Elrond, and the elf lord himself had offered him the chance to stay if he should choose. He knew he had signed a contract, and it was not considered polite to break one, but part of him still entertained the thought that, should things continue to go badly, he would gladly return to Rivendell.
However, he knew that staying for four days in the elven valley had worn down the patience of most in the company, and would be relieved when the complaining and tension ceased among the group. Dwarves were a very unpleasant lot when cranky, he had noticed, and when he thought back to Gandalf leaving them the night of the trolls to "find someone who had any sense", he couldn't really blame the wizard.
Come to think of it, if I recall correctly, that conversation had been associated with elves too, he thought to himself. He couldn't personally find a reason that the dwarves wouldn't want to be near the elves. Of course, the elves hadn't abandoned him and his home to the wrath of a dragon, but still. He found the company of the elves to be quite pleasant, especially Lord Elrond. Lord Elrond had been very kind to them, despite the obvious hostility that radiated off the dwarves, and he couldn't see any reason why they would dislike him. In fact, he had a feeling that he would very much like to call the elf lord friend. He didn't dare say that to the company though.
XXX
Kili was very quiet during the noon meal. He was a bit nervous about finally getting the chance to find out the answers to his questions. He picked at the leafy greens and fruit, until his grumbling stomach forced him to recognize his hunger from missing breakfast. Fili looked sidelong at him and gave him an encouraging smile.
"Eat, little brother," he said, poking Kili in the ribs. Kili swatted his hand away. Fili grinned.
"Don't want you getting even skinnier than you already are," he said with a wink. Kili glared at him as the company chuckled. He made to shove two whole peaches in his mouth in protest, but a warning glare from Thorin stopped him. He gave Thorin a sheepish look as he set the peaches down.
"Can't see how we all wouldn't get skinnier on these damn leaves," Dwalin muttered under his breath, and Kili bit back a chuckle. Most of the company had reluctantly accepted the elves' food because it was better than using up their own limited supply, since there wasn't any other place to get new supplies until the other side of the mountains. Dwalin, however much he had complied with Thorin's order to leave the supplies alone, still grumbled every chance he could get. Kili could only imagine how picky he must have been as a child. If the looks and eye rolls Balin gave him every time he complained were any indication, he must have been very picky indeed.
XXX
After the noon meal was finished, the dwarves headed back to their chambers to ready their packs for the next morning. Thorin, along with Fili, Kili, and Gandalf, headed to the girl's chamber.
Kili had a hard time not fidgeting with the bandage in his nervousness, and he hoped that his cut would not be mentioned by Lord Elrond or Gandalf. Thankfully, his unease didn't seem to be noticed by his uncle. His brother looked sideways at him with a questioning gaze, but Kili just shrugged and subtly moved his left hand away from his bandage.
They reached her door, and Gandalf knocked. They heard a slight shuffling before Lord Elrond opened the door. He nodded his head to Thorin as he held the door open for the four. Thorin somewhat stiffly inclined his head as well, before entering the room. The girl looked nervously at the dwarf king, before taking a keen interest in her hands, which rested in her lap.
Kili noticed that she must have had assistance bathing, for instead of the wild, messy hair that she had before, it now hung down in neat if not still slightly damp curls down to almost her waist. Shorter tendrils that reached to just above her jaw hung on either side of her face. He saw that her eyes still had dark circles underneath them, which were slightly more pronounced with her head lowered.
Remembering his conclusion in the hall before dinner, his eyes narrowed as he cast a threatening look at Lord Elrond. The elf met his gaze, and his brow furrowed. Kili glanced to the girl, then back at Lord Elrond, who looked a little confused for a second before recognition dawned in his eyes. The elf lord shook his head and gestured slightly toward the side room, where a female servant emerged carrying a basket full of laundry.
Kili recognized the light blue silk fabric the girl had worn earlier among the white towels in the basket, and understood what Lord Elrond was trying to say. Realizing that the girl had received assistance from a woman instead of the elf lord, he turned his head back to Lord Elrond and nodded. His stance relaxed slightly, before he turned his attention to his uncle, who had stopped at the foot of the bed.
"Who are you?" Thorin asked her. "What were you doing in the troll cave?" The girl swallowed, and looked at Gandalf, uncertainty showing in her face.
"It's all right my dear," Gandalf assured her. She nodded, and, turning back toward the dwarf king, she replied in a small voice, "I-I was trying to hide from them."
"By hiding in their cave?" Thorin asked flatly, raising his eyebrow at her. From his many lectures as a child, Kili knew that Thorin did not quite believe her. The girl must have recognized the tone as well, for she ducked her head even further, her cheeks reddening slightly.
"I-I hid there, during the night," she replied in a whisper. "During the day, I hid in the woods."
"What were you even doing out there in the wild?" Thorin replied, staring hard at the girl. "The lone lands are no place for a young woman alone." The girl trembled, shutting her eyes tightly.
"I-I don't know," she whispered, drawing her arms about her. "I-I don't re-remember." A lone tear fell from her cheek, and she hastily brushed it away. It wasn't entirely false. She knew what had happened, but she did not know how it happened. All she could remember was the fresh grave, then the impossibly bright flash of light and deafening crash, then waking up in the middle of Trollshaw forest. How that lightning bolt somehow transported her to Middle-earth, she did not know.
As the memories of the funeral began to flood her mind, her throat tightened and she suppressed a sob. Her hand flew toward her mouth, and she squeezed her eyes tight to keep the tears from falling. Her shoulders shook, and Gandalf laid a hand on them, before turning to Thorin.
"Perhaps that is enough questioning for now," he said softly but firmly. Thorin did not look happy about it, but nodded and turned to leave, gesturing for Fili and Kili to follow him. Fili turned, but Kili hesitated. He looked at the girl, who was trying desperately to stop crying. He didn't want to cause her any more pain, but he couldn't leave Rivendell not knowing why she had saved his life. Thorin and Fili stopped, looking at him. Kili met Thorin's eyes, before reluctantly following him. As the three reached the door, Kili stopped, and turned, casting one last glance at the girl, who was taking deep breaths and beginning to calm.
"Kili, come," Thorin commanded. He looked expectantly at Kili. The young dwarf swallowed, before slightly shaking his head. Thorin glared at him, but Kili paid him no mind as he turned slightly toward the girl again. Fili reached for his brother's arm and tugged, trying to get him to leave, but Kili didn't move.
"Why?" he asked her. The room stilled. Fili stopped tugging at his arm. Four pairs of surprised eyes looked at Kili, before glancing at the girl. She looked up at him, her wide blue eyes still brimming with tears.
"Why did you save my life?" he asked, his large brown eyes begging her to answer. She looked at him for a few moments, before turning her head towards the window. The sun glinted off the unheeded tears that fell from her cheeks. She sat that way so long, Kili feared she wouldn't answer.
"Kili, come on," Fili said softly. Letting his breath out, Kili looked at her sadly, before turning to leave. Her quiet voice suddenly sounded through the room, and both lads stopped in their tracks.
"No mother should feel the pain of burying her own child," she whispered, pain filling her voice, "No matter how young or old they are."
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Note-So, I know I said that I would try to get this chapter out yesterday, but my husband and I had to move a 1968 sewing machine/real solid wood table combo out of my grandmother's very poorly constructed basement yesterday (that thing was freaking HEAVY and as wide as the narrow stair well, and the open faced gaps between the wood stairs were bigger than the hand truck's wheels which kept getting stuck, so my husband, being at the top, had to dead pull it up each step while I was underneath it pushing the hand truck base with my hands while pushing the table itself up with my head-no joke. It sucked! At least I have a hard head ;), so by the end of it all we were too exhausted and sore for me to write much, so here it is! (I started writing last night and finished it this afternoon, so I hope the break didn't make it too choppy). I apologize to my readers, but at least the Thorin confrontation finally happened! So I hope that makes things all better :)
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