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!

The night grew dark. Cirashala watched in silence as the flames began to die down, the embers glowing orange. Sparks flew up as Kili added another log to the fire, before placing the last of the bacon strips over the fire to smoke.

The sudden burst of sparks sailed toward the top of their little cave, only to disappear in the night, and the young woman was reminded of the song the dwarves had sung back in Bag End the night before their quest.

Far over the Misty Mountains cold, she thought to herself, wrapping her arms around her torso and rubbing them with her hands as a slight breeze blew into their shelter. Cold indeed.

Her thoughts turned toward the company. She glanced toward the Oakenshield lying by Kili's pack, her heart troubled. The fading bloodstains were not wholly hidden by the black orc blood, and she dearly hoped that Thorin had not been injured more than he already had in the movie. The fact that it had been found what she assumed to be far from the eastern door of Goblin Town did not dispel her fears.

What if the eagles didn't arrive in time? She thought grimly. But…they still had Gandalf with them when we fell. I…I hope he was able to call the eagles, and that the company made it to Beorn's.

She was so deep in thought that she hadn't noticed Kili move behind her until a blanket was draped over her shoulders. Jumping slightly, her eyes followed him as he settled himself on her right side again, wrapping the other blanket around himself as he shivered slightly. His pale face proved to be a stark contrast to the dark, wild hair framing it. Another cough sounded, this one the worst yet, and he muffled it as best he could into the blanket.

Reaching over to grab the waterskin, she waited until Kili's coughing fit subsided, the young dwarf's entire body shaking from the effort. Once he spat out the foul discharge, Cirashala held out the waterskin to him.

"Here," she said softly. Kili glanced down at the offered skin, and shook his head.

"W-we need…to make s-sure it lasts," he gasped out. "We don't k-know when we'll find more."

"But you are ill," she protested quietly, meeting his gaze. Kili looked at her hesitantly for a moment, before averting his eyes.

"Kili," she said gently, carefully laying her broken hand on his arm. "We are heading east. If the maps are right, we are going to reach the Anduin soon." Kili sighed, eyes still fixed on the fire, but he made no move to pick up the waterskin. The young woman watched as his eyes trailed over to the Oakenshield as well, worry and fear filling the dark orbs.

"Kili, please," she begged, before her voice dropped down to a whisper. "You won't survive long enough to find the company if you don't." Kili swallowed heavily, before meeting her gaze.

"What if there is no company to find?" he whispered. "What if my uncle…m-my brother…"

"I'm sure they're fine," she reassured, before dropping her voice low. "The dragon didn't kill your uncle. Azog didn't kill your uncle. I don't think some stupid goblins could either." Kili didn't look completely convinced, and she shrugged slightly, biting back a wince at the pain lacing through her wounds.

"Besides, your uncle's too damn stubborn to die that easily."Kili looked at her in surprise for a moment, before the corner of his lip twitched.

"Aye," he said, smiling slightly. "And he may not look it, but Fili's more so." He grinned at the surprised look on her face.

"Really?" she whispered. "I wouldn't have thought…I mean, he's nothing like Thorin." Kili raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, he may not seem like it, but he's more similar to Thorin than you would think," the young dwarf replied. "Once Thorin took him outside the halls to play and give my exhausted mother a rest. She told me that he quickly spotted a tree, and before Thorin realized what he was doing, he was so high up that he was out of reach. My uncle spent three hours begging Fili to come down, and it was only when he got hungry that he did." Cirashala's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Why didn't he just climb up after him?" she asked, and Kili chuckled.

"Leave it to my clever brother to pick a tall tree that was just young enough that the limbs couldn't bear Thorin's weight," the young dwarf replied. "I guarantee you that there is NO ONE in Middle-earth that can EVER make Thorin Oakenshield beg, except my brother."

"What about you?" she asked. Kili ducked his head, flushing slightly before glancing back up her, his face bearing a look of perfect innocence despite being far from it.

The truth was that Fili and himself both had nearly driven his uncle, his mother, and pretty much everyone else in Ered Luin absolutely crazy on several occasions during their years growing up. His uncle had frequently resorted to begging, bribing, and even threatening the pair during their well thought out pranks and antics, fearing his sister's wrath should anything ever happen to them while under his care. And, knowing his mother and how protective she was, the dwarf king had every right to fear her.

"What are you talking about?" he asked. "He may have only needed to beg me once….or twice…." He trailed off, eyes searching her face even as he tried to keep his expression straight.

"Uh huh," she deadpanned, raising her eyebrows. Kili's eyes widened in surprise.

"You don't believe me?" he asked, and she shook her head.

"Not in a million years," she replied, and the young dwarf could swear he saw slight, almost indiscernible amusement in her eyes. Kili looked at her for a moment, his own eyes twinkling, before chuckling heartily. The laughter subsided almost instantly as pain shot through his ribs and lungs, and he cried out, clutching his torso as he curled in on himself.

"Kili?" she cried, moving suddenly towards him, her eyes wide with panic.

"I-I'm all right," he gasped, looking up at her. His face was deathly pale even as his jaw tightened, the young dwarf clearly fighting pain.

"Your ribs?" she asked, and he nodded slightly.

"They're fine," he reassured her, slowly straightening up with a wince. "J-just hurt a bit, that's all." Taking slow breaths, he turned his head, gaze meeting hers. He did not miss the deep concern in the blue orbs.

"Now will you drink?" she asked quietly, pushing the waterskin into his lap. "Please?" He looked down at the brown leather for a moment, before his gaze returned to hers. Slowly nodding, the young dwarf reached for the skin.

"Aye," he whispered. She watched him as he unscrewed the lid and drank a little, before setting it next to the pack. Hearing a shuffling sound behind him, the young dwarf looked over his shoulder to see Cirashala settling herself for watch, the knife next to her on the ground and blanket around her shoulders.

Not having the strength to protest after his coughing fit, Kili slowly laid down and pulled his own woolen blanket up to his chin, grateful that it was thick and warm. As he drifted towards sleep, the young prince thought of their conversation before the coughing fit, and her reaction to his friendly teasing.

The last thing he remembered before falling asleep was a soft smile gracing his lips.

XXX

Cirashala started with a gasp, eyes darting around their campsite even as her hand was already drawing the knife from its sheath. Blinking the bleariness out of her eyes, she inwardly cursed herself for having fallen asleep on watch. Looking around, her brow furrowed in confusion as she spotted nothing that should have startled her awake.

What on earth? The young woman thought to herself. Yawning, she began to slide the knife back into its sheath, when a sudden choking, rasping sound sounded next to her.

Head whipping around, her blue eyes widened in panic as Kili visibly fought for air. His back arched up from the ground as his entire body struggled to breathe, and his fists gripped the edge of the blanket so hard his knuckles had turned white. She noted in growing panic that his lips were beginning to turn blue.

Snatching her blanket up from the ground where it had fallen in her startle, she immediately lifted up his head and placed it underneath.

"Kili?" she cried. "Kili, can you hear me? I need you to try and take slow breaths, NOW!"

The young dwarf didn't respond, and she yanked the blanket back out from under his head. Pushing him up to a sitting position as best she could, the young woman managed to maneuver herself behind him, elevating his head as much as she could even as he rested against her.

"Come on, Kili. You need to breathe!" she cried behind him. He continued to choke, and she leaned him forward, before repeatedly smacking her palm between his shoulders as hard as she could. A large amount of discharge flew from his mouth after the third smack, and she breathed a sigh of relief as he shakily began to suck in some air.

Cirashala gently leaned him back against her, the young dwarf limp as his head lolled against her shoulder. Reaching her left hand to his forehead, she laid him back against it in an attempt to open his airway as much as possible, frowning at the sheer heat emanating from his entire body.

By Eru, he's burning up, she thought to herself with concern. Glancing upward at the just lightening sky, she swallowed heavily.

What am I going to do now?

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A response to guest reviewer Ri-chan: How do you mean? I am following them on the same day sort of thing. It's the same evening with Kili and Cirashala as it is with the company-they're just in two different locations, if that makes sense.

A response to guest reviewer Kaia: NOPE. She won't at this point, which is one of the reasons why he won't do it ;) It would destroy the fragile trust she has placed in him. Remember- she is an abuse victim. I will give you a hint (I am hesitant to put spoilers here, since others may not want them)- go read the part in the LOTR appendices about dwarves only love once and all that stuff (I believe it's under the section "Of Durin's Folk"). A lot of FF writers will reference the idea of a dwarf's "One" but leave out the part that comes right after that- I will be addressing that in my story (at least from Kili's perspective, as he doesn't understand human customs related to love and marriage vows).

Thanks to all who review, favorite, and follow- you guys are great! :D :D :D