Dwalin slammed his fist against the gritty stone wall of the Gate. He suppressed a roar that had started to bubble in his gut. Thorin trusted him with his own life and yet he failed to protect his king's heir. He had done what he could in the heart-stopping moments after Kili had been poisoned, but he still knew it hadn't been enough. He'd be beheaded for his crimes of not only failing to defend the Prince but also failing to find the one responsible for this act.
His shoulders tensed when a hand touched him. "Have you scouted the grounds?" Fili asked.
He grunted. "Aye, sent Grildon and Mnia."
"Good. We better get back for the day," he replied. He clapped Dwalin's shoulder in a friendly manner.
The dwarf stiffened. "Nay, I'm going to stay 'ere for a bit."
Fili's mouth tightened. A lot of the Company hadn't been right since what happened. Hell, he hadn't been right since his brother collapsed, but the kingdom - in the absence of its proper king - needed to be run nevertheless. "Alright. Just don't stay up here too long. We need all the help we can get," he spoke with concern.
Two weeks it had been since that night - since Dwalin had started acting differently, since Nori had gone missing, since Stonehelm and Dyla had started helping out again, and since his brother had not woken from his coma.
Fili had been run ragged, from worrying about his brother to tracking down both Nori and those responsible for poisoning Kili. The night before - the first night when there had been no changes in Kili's health - Fili had been able to get more than the two hours of sleep he had been surviving on.
He knew his uncle would be against it, but they had no choice. The elves had answered their call of aid.
They were able to slow the spread of the poison further, which was what Oin had tried to do that fateful night. Their head healer had put Kili in a stable coma. Dis and Fili had wanted to speak to King Thranduil but only Legolas had joined the healers, telling the dwarves that his father was indisposed. Said he had urgent business elsewhere and had been gone for - now - seventeen days when Fili had pressed the matter.
Legolas had not contacted the Elf King since.
Dis, in the beginning when hope was high, forbid the dwarves to linger on the thought that the elves had answered their call so quickly.
"Just leave it be, gents," she scolded. "These creatures can have a kind heart, you know. We must put our differences aside for Kili's sake. We can go back to waging war on them once he's healed."
But even she had not held up to her words.
Fili had managed to secure the kingdom and heighten security within two hours of the fatal incident. The kitchen workers and the guards just outside the dining hall were the only civilians to get wind of the second heir's poisoning.
"The fire can be contained easily," as Bofur put it. "Not too many witnesses apart from us. Should be able to convince them to keep mum about the situation. No threats, no nothin'. Just let 'em tell their families that Prince Kili had come down with violent food poisoning. And that they've been sacked until the source of the contamination is found. Simple."
Fili had agreed to the dwarf's idea. It couldn't hurt. And it was certainly better than having the entire population of Erebor fearing for their lives, fearing that those who poisoned Kili could be after them next. They weren't ready to face the world again, without a home again.
He nodded curtly to the guards that passed him in the hallway. "You've checked the upstairs corridor, yes?" he questioned to the last one.
"Aye, sir. Nothin' but dust up there. The secret doorway that caused some trouble for the King and the Consort a while back is sealed permanently. Bifur and Mlyde did the job earlier this week. Ain't nothin' gettin' in through there again."
"Excellent," Fili nodded. "Where're you off to?"
"The Gates, sir. Relieve Dwalin of his post." He bowed his head to the blond prince. "My condolences to you and the family, sir. May Prince Kili heal quickly."
Fili offered a grateful smile. "Thank you, Mycrof."
He watched the dwarf and the others figures retreat down the hall, keeping his eyes trained on their backs until they turned the corner to descend the stairs. With a deep breath, Fili squared his shoulders and turned to the chamber door. His arm lifted and his hand wrapped around the silver handle.
The events following the fright that happened that night shot through him and he braced himself against the cold wooden door.
"L-Lady Dis. D-Dain's army is at the gates!"
Dis reluctantly tore her tear-filled eyes away from her son's blue-tinged face and looked just as helpless as Thorin had been all those months ago.
"I'll go," Balin offered instantly and Dis nodded.
In the back of the group, Stonehelm shook his head. "The army doesn't know anyone outside of the royal family. The heir should go."
Fili growled and angrily bared his teeth at the dwarf. "HE'S DYING! MY BROTHER IS DYING! I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT IT!"
"Fili," Dis called gently. "Stop." She shakily stood up and wiped her hands on her skirts. "I'll go. I'm just as a part of the royal family as my son." She sent a leveled glare to Stonehelm. "Bofur, send word to the Woodland Realm at once. Tell them the heir to the throne is on Death's doorstep."
"Yes, ma'am," the dwarf nodded before quickly dashing away. "Nori!"
"Y-yeah?" he managed as he stumbled out the door. His face was pale with fear and the guilt that he had been the one responsible.
Bofur shoved a piece of paper and a vial of the poisoned drink into Nori's hand. "Take a pony. Get these to the elves. Now!"
Nori felt himself nod and his hands shakily stuff them into his satchel.
The pounding of the cold stone floor against his feet as he ran through the halls, the shocking cold breeze that hit him outside, the stubborn pony that wouldn't let him on, the branches and leaves in the thicket tearing at his flesh, and the elves' bewildered look when he had come rolling in from the wilderness hadn't left the slightest impression on his memory as he wandered the forest alone and filled entirely of anger and self-hatred and suicidal guilt. He couldn't go back. He couldn't face the other end of the ax for a crime much worse than stealing. There would be no trial. He would be killed for treason. A disgrace to the Ri family. A disgrace to his kin that trusted him.
Back in the dining hall, Fili held onto his brother's coat with a vice grip, one that took three dwarves to pry him away. "Kili!" he had shouted desperately as Dori dragged him against the cold floor, making way for the elves Fili failed to see piling into the room.
"Everyone must leave," the elf at the front of the line commanded. "You'll only interfere," he clarified at seeing Oin and Dis' faces of rage. "Please, it is for his sake."
Dis nodded tersely and grabbed Fili's collar. "We must get out of here. They can't help him with us here. Let's go."
"Where is your king?" Fili questioned before his brain could stop him. "I demand to speak with him."
The last elf to enter pointed to the tall figure at the door. "King Thranduil is not here. If you must speak, speak to Prince Legolas. Now, leave."
Fili didn't quite feel his feet carry him to the elf. He jumped at the loudness of the closing door. "Where's King Thranduil?"
Legolas looked down at the dwarf. "My father is indisposed, Prince Fili. I do not know when he will be available."
"Don't give me this nonsense," he growled. "Your father hates our race as we hate yours! Where is he?"
The elf folded his arms across his chest. "I'd watch your mouth if I were you. See, my kin are in there saving your brother. They don't have to. Somehow, my father knew this attack was coming and that is why we're here. I haven't heard from him in two days. He left suddenly and didn't tell me where he was going. He said he had urgent business to attend to."
"How long has he been gone?" Fili asked with narrowed eyes.
"Three days going on four tonight. He wrote me the first night, telling me not to follow him."
Fili ran a hand through his hair. "Will they be able to save him?" he asked. He refused to believe his voice sounded broken.
"Yes. It'll take time though." He gave Fili a slight glare. "I'd learn to be patient if I were you."
Dwarves had no concept of the meaning of the word patient.