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 Reuel 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 pair didn't dare to move until long after the last sounds of the warg and orcs faded. Barely breathing even as his heart pounded against his chest, Kili swallowed heavily, desperately fighting both nausea and the urge to cough yet again.

He could feel the throbbing pain in his injured shoulder, and his ribs severely protested the climb. Knuckles white where he gripped a branch just to his left, the young dwarf hesitantly broke his gaze away from where the orc pack had disappeared into the forest, coming to rest on the terrified young woman in front of him. Cirashala held onto the tree with eyes tightly shut, her body trembling as well.

After they had climbed as high as they could, Kili had instructed her to get in between him and the tree trunk, knowing that the trunk would provide her with more support. Due to her broken hand, the young dwarf knew that she wouldn't be able to hold onto the tree securely unless she used the trunk to steady herself, and the last thing he wanted was for her to fall and get injured or have the wargs discover them. Jaw set even as she slowly opened her eyes, the young woman glanced toward the forest floor, before looking back up at Kili.

"A-are they…gone?" she whispered fearfully. The young prince nodded. His eyes were watering from the lingering smoke wafting up through the branches, and it was irritating his lungs quite badly, but at least they hadn't been discovered. He had absolutely no idea what fifteen birds in five fir trees meant, but her strange idea had worked, and he was grateful for that at least.

"I-I think so," he whispered back, before letting out a relieved but shaky breath. "Are you all right?"

She nodded, swallowing heavily even as she closed her eyes for a moment, hoping that he didn't see the pain in her expression. The wounds on her back burned very badly, but she was far more worried about Kili and his broken ribs.

"Y-yes," she replied, "I'm fi—" The young prince cut her off as another coughing spell hit him, this one worse than before as the wind shifted and blew the smoke directly towards them.

Pain seared through his chest as he hunched over, the loud coughs racking his body even as his grip tightened further on the branch he held. Cirashala's eyes widened at the harsh, deep sounds emanating from his chest, the healer in her not liking the sound at all.

High fever, deep cough, bloody, filthy mucus, the young woman thought to herself, before her eyes widened in recognition. The foul water in the river four days ago. He- he nearly drowned. Water…. in his lungs….

"Oh, no," she whispered as her own face drained of color. The young woman watched as his hand came away, a very slight dribble of the nasty discharge from his lungs on the corner of his mouth. Kili looked up at her, his pale face twisted in pain even as he swiped it away with the back of his hand.

"W-what?" he gasped out, his lips tinged slightly blue even as his body trembled from the exertion. Blue eyes met his, fear and concern in the wide orbs.

"Kili, I….I think you have pneumonia."

XXX

The young dwarf blinked owlishly, not certain that he had understood her correctly.

"What?" he finally whispered, eyes widening in fear as he broke the silence. "No… that's- that's impossible." Cirashala swallowed heavily, biting her lip even as he shook his head.

"Kili, you- when you almost drowned, you inhaled some water," she replied shakily. "That water- it was absolutely disgusting. If any of it got left in your lungs, it-it could cause infect…."

Her words trailed off as Kili's eyes widened even further, the blood completely draining from his own face.

"No," he whispered, shaking his head in disbelief even as fear coursed through him. "No, infection is- is caused by wounds, n-not…not water, I…I can't be…dwarves don't get si—" Another cough cut him off as a slight breeze rippled through the tall tree, the young prince visibly shivering despite his coat and the sun slowly bringing warmth to the day.

Glancing downward, Cirashala noticed the various bits and pieces of the wrecked wagon below them. As her eyes traveled over the scene, a thought began to form in her mind. Turning towards Kili, she frowned as her eyes took in the unnatural flush in his cheeks, his eyes bright with fever.

I HAVE to find a way to get his fever down at least, she thought to herself worriedly. If I don't…he may not make it.

"Maybe- maybe there's medicine in the wagon somewhere."

XXX

The pair slowly worked their way down the tree. Cirashala refused to allow Kili to carry her back down, knowing that he didn't need to risk further injury any more than he already had. A slight cry escaped her lips as her foot momentarily slid off a mossy branch, the young woman barely able to catch herself in time. Brown eyes looked up at her from below even as her face twisted in pain.

"A-are you sure you aren't going to fall?" Kili panted, brow furrowing with worry even as his limbs visibly trembled. Grunting as she managed to regain her footing, the young woman looked beneath her with a stubborn set to her jaw.

"Kili, I'm getting down from here whether it be by my own power or by falling," she gasped, sweat beading on her brow. Her eyes took in his ashen face and the stark contrast of his dark eyes and hair, a frown replacing the determination from before.

I shouldn't have let you carry me up in the first place.

Tightening her grip on the branch with her left hand, she steadied herself, before carefully descending to the branch below. Nausea threatened in her stomach, but she didn't have anything left to heave. Her stomach pinched painfully, reminding her of their dire situation.

I hope the orcs left enough unspoiled supplies, she thought to herself even as her own limbs shook from hunger. We need medicine and food- badly.

A loud thud sounded below her, followed by a strangled cry. Blue eyes darted down, widening at the sight of Kili lying on the forest floor, his face twisting in pain as he clutched at his torso.

Looking down, the young woman took a slow breath and let it out, before jumping the last ten feet.

XXX

Thorin awoke with a start as he felt the eagle stop moving suddenly. Blinking sleep out of his eyes, his first thought was of his injured nephew.

"Fili?" he mumbled even as he felt Dwalin shift behind him.

"Aye, he's still breathing, laddie," the burly dwarf reassured. "And it's high time we got off these charming birds and got our feet back on solid ground where they ought to be."

Thorin sighed, blue eyes quickly taking in their somewhat unusual surroundings with the practiced ease of a warrior long accustomed to doing so. Feeling Dwalin slide off the bird behind him, he went to dismount as well, but a sharp pain emitted from his bite, causing him to freeze in place with a pained gasp.

"Need a hand, laddie?" Dwalin asked quietly, and Thorin nodded almost imperceptibly, eyes squeezed almost shut even as his breaths came quickly. The burly dwarf reached up, clasping the dwarf king's hand in his own, before gently easing him off the giant bird.

Landing somewhat unsteadily on his feet, Thorin was relieved to notice that the other members of the company had paid his momentary weakness no mind, their eyes focused on the unconscious heir and the wizard crouched beside him. Concern for his nephew overshadowed his own physical pain, and Thorin quickly moved toward his nephew, a worried Dwalin immediately behind him.

XXX

Fili frowned as he felt cold stone under his back, the young heir having slipped back into unconsciousness during their flight.

He could hear familiar words being uttered in the darkness, and while he did not understand the strange tongue, he knew that it was bidding him back to the world of consciousness. Eyelids slowly fluttered open, bluish green orbs meeting a familiar gaze.

"Fili, lad," Thorin whispered, crouched over his eldest nephew with very clear concern and worry in his gaze. "How…how is your arm faring?"

"It's fine." The voice that sounded was utterly devoid of emotion, and Thorin gasped as his eyes locked with his nephew's.

He had seen that stare before- devoid of emotion, like an impenetrable wall. It was the practiced stare of someone who had locked himself away, refusing to be close to anyone, and refusing to let anyone know the inner turmoil that was happening inside. It was the stare of a battle hardened warrior- one who had seen the horrors of war, and could not escape the terrible memories and the pain that accompanied them. It was the stare of someone who would no longer find joy in life, and would go about living each day just to get to the next. Thorin knew this stare all too well.

It was the very stare that Thorin himself saw whenever he peered into a looking glass.

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YAY! I was finally able to update! Sorry it wasn't longer, but fingers crossed I will be able to update again soon :D

A response to guest reviewer Ri-chan: Luckily my girls got their flu shot last autumn, and I won't be getting one just yet. Definitely getting one this autumn though! Thanks for being understanding :D

A response to guest reviewer Kaia: Working on it :D Wow…I knew it was nasty, but didn't know it was that bad. I take it you're in the US? I am very, very grateful my girls got their shots last October, and I hope that I don't catch it.

Thanks to all who review, favorite, and follow- you guys are so incredibly understanding when life takes a giant bucket of ice and dumps it on me! Thanks! :D :D :D