Some twenty minutes had passed, and Ila was still lying on her back with tears slipping down her face with Dwala supporting her when Kili finally returned. This time it was with Oin, Fili, and several guards.
Kili quickly made his way down to them, but it took Oin a bit longer to navigate the gold underfoot. He was not a young dwarf by any means, and Fili made his way down with him so as to grab him in case he slipped. Finally, he arrived at Ila's side, but Dwala remained where she was propping Ila up a bit.
Dwala noticed Fili's face was troubled, but was also very disapproving. The former emotion was concerned with Ila, but the latter was obviously directed at Kili, who was doing everything possible not to meet his brother's eyes. Dwala imagined that Fili was going to give his younger sibling a stern talking to, if he had not already done so on the way there. Meanwhile Oin had knelt down next to Ila and was inspecting her.
"Alright your majesty, where are you hurt?" he asked.
Ila sniffled and then said with a shaky voice, "My leg and my side," indicating her left. Oin pressed gently on her through the fabric of her dress and Ila closed her eyes. She was holding tight to Dwala's hand and Dwala was watching Oin intently, seeing what she could discern from his expressions. He looked up from whence she had fallen, noting the many objects she might have banged herself on while she was making her way down to the floor. He turned to Kili then.
"You say she slipped and fell from about half way?" he asked rather loudly.
"Yes, yes from about there," Kili said and pointed to indicate where she had begun to fall. Oin noted that and then turned to Ila.
"When you fell, how did you fall exactly?" he asked.
Ila opened her eyes and thought about that. "I, well I fell backwards at first but when the gold came out from under my feet completely I went forward and fell on my side." She said.
Dwala tried to imagine that, she had been too busy trying to free herself that she hadn't seen Ila actually connect with the stone floor.
"So you didn't land on your stomach?" Oin asked.
Dwala held her breath while they waited for Ila to answer. Surely it could not be a good thing if she had.
Ila shook her head. "No. I landed on my left side, and managed to break my fall a little with my hand but the gold just kept giving way and I couldn't stop sliding, not even after I had fallen…" Ila said, speaking quickly and obviously very afraid. Oin nodded and began to gently press into and around her abdomen.
"Does this hurt?" he asked and Ila shook her head that it did not. He stopped finally and thought for a moment before speaking. Dwala was about to die of suspense he was taking so long, she couldn't imagine how Ila must feel.
"I think that at the worst you only have some bruises. But I want to look you over again once you taken that onion of a dress off and gotten into bed, where you should stay for at least a couple of days, if not an entire week." Oin said and Ila felt a little relief, but was still not completely comforted. She wanted to know with absolute certainty that her baby was safe, though she knew at present no one could know that for sure. Ila also didn't seem to realize that she had hurt her head, and Oin had not been concerned much with her minor cut either. He was concerned with the state of the Durin heir in her belly, as was everyone in the room.
Ila nodded and Oin stood up and began to help her up as well. Dwala helped and Kili and Fili rushed forward to help her to her feet and support her while she stood.
"How are we going to get her out of here?" Dwala said to Fili, not caring for anything that Kiil might have to offer on the subject. And Fili was after all king under the mountain at the moment.
"Guards!" Fili said immediately motioning with his head for them to join them. There were four of them and Fili instructed each one to stand at intervals along the slope of gold that stood between the floor and the landing. Fili took Ila by the arm and began to lead her up the slope, instructing Kili to stand behind her lest she fall and each guard stood by to catch her if at any point she slipped or her legs gave way from the pain. Ila was moving slowly, but soon she was at the landing and Fili immediately took her in his arms to carry. Dwala did not miss that Kili had followed her closely behind and as soon as Ila was safe he went to take her, but one look from his brother had stopped him dead in his tracks, and Fili took Ila in his own arms. Kili followed behind but a little less closely. Dwala felt the need to let Oin climb the slope first, which he did so slowly she thought Ila would be in her bed before she even got out of the hall. He finally made it however, and Dwala hurried up and after her lady.
Dwala closed in on them and slowed her pace. She could see that Ila's head was resting on Fili's shoulder and her eyes were closed. Dwala silently prayed that her baby was safe and sound in her belly. Surely since she landed on her side she was be ok….but the uncertainty weighed on Dwala's mind. What she did know for certain was that either way Thorin was going to be so livid with both Kili and Ila (and honestly, probably her too), that he might lock Ila in her room until the baby was born. If, however, the baby was not alright, then Dwala trembled in fear of how Thorin would react. She felt quite sure that his grief would soon melt into rage that would be directed at all three of them.
But that was really a separate matter now. Now, the only thing of importance was tending to Ila and the baby, not how Thorin was going to react to everything when he returned in three weeks. Dwala sighed heavily. He had been gone for only hours and look what had happened already. She wished her Dwalin was there, he would know what to do. Or at the very least he would be able to keep her calm. He was very good at that.
It was quite a distance from the hall of treasures to the royal chambers, and Dwala could tell that Fili was getting a little tired. Ila was not a large dwarf by any means but carrying anyone such a great distance was going to be tiring. Kili tried to convince Fili to let him carry her but Fili resisted him. Kili was agitated now, but he also looked like the guiltiest creature Dwala had ever seen. As he rightly should be, Dwala thought. She had known that little excursion was a bad idea from the start, and as her guardian for the next three weeks so should Kili. But she also wondered that there were not more emotions betraying his face. He looked practically beside himself, as he had when he first reached Ila's side after the fall. If Dwala had not known better, if she had not known any of them and just happened to be looking on, she would have believed that Kili and Ila were a couple, and that he was the fretting and frightened husband and father to be.
No, Dwala told herself. He is likely only terrified for his life at the hands of his uncle, which Dwala could certainly understand.
As they reached the great staircase to the royal chambers, Fili still insisted on carrying Ila but he did so slowly as he was quite tired by then. Ila had not opened her eyes the entire way there, she only held tightly to Fili's neck and let her head rest on his shoulder. Her thoughts were a flurry of concern for her baby, anger at herself for being so careless, and terrified of how she would tell Thorin any of it. Tears slipped from her closed eyes here and there and Kili wanted more than anything to reach out and wipe them away. This was all his fault. He had only wanted to impress her, to entertain her, and to spend time with her. He had never imagined anything could befall her, and it had happened right before his eyes and he'd not even been able to help her.
He was filled with guilt as he thought back to how upset he was when he found out she was pregnant. He had been jealous of the baby even, and had not wanted her to be with Thorin's child. Now perhaps she would lose the dwarfling, and it was his fault. And his uncle. How would he ever tell his uncle that all of this was his doing, and that it had occurred mere hours after he left Erebor? He would likely never speak to him again, probably banish him to Ered Luin or something of the like and he would never see Ila again either.
At last, they reached the royal bed chamber. Fili sat Ila down on the bed and Kili picked up her legs to bring onto the bed as well, not wanting her to move any more than she had to. Ila just laid there, her hand protectively on her belly and still wincing in pain a bit. Dwala followed them inside, still a few steps behind.
"Your majesties, if you will wait in the next room. I need to undress the queen." She said and Fili nodded, motioning for Kili to exit first, but he looked pitifully at Ila before he would move towards the door.
"Ila," he called softly and with quiet distress in his voice.
Ila opened her eyes and turned her head towards him.
"I—I am so sorry—" he began but she silenced him.
"Kili, please." Ila said sincerely and stretched her hand towards him. Kili quickly moved towards her and Ila laid her hand gently on his face.
"Do not feel that way, I wanted to see it too," Ila said and forced a small smile for him. Kili could see the kind sincerity in her face and felt relieved that she did not blame him, though he still blamed himself very much. Ila barely stroked his face so as to comfort him, as she could see the great guilt in his eyes. But Fili had had enough.
"Brother," he said firmly and Kili stepped away from Ila and followed Fili out the door to wait in the next room. Dwala closed the door behind them and went quickly to Ila's side.
"Oin moves rather slowly, but I think I will need the time to gently remove your layers," Dwala said as she helped Ila roll onto her uninjured side. Dwala began to unlace her dress and pull it free of her body. Dwala could hear Ila sniffling every now and then and said nothing, as she knew Ila was still very worried despite Oin's words. When Dwala was finished with the laces Ila sat up on the side of the bed so that she could pull the great dress off of her, leaving her only in her thin dressing gown. Ila laid back down carefully and waited for Oin to arrive.
"Just close your eyes and try to relax, I'm sure he will be here any time now." Dwala instructed and went to put Ila's dress away in her wardrobe. She looked back at Ila to note that she was taking her advice and went to the open the door and see if Oin was near yet. However, as she reached the door she stopped as she could hear voices on the other side. Angry voices.
It was very obviously the voices of Fili and Kili, waiting there as Dwala had instructed. She looked back to Ila, who's eyes were still closed and not able to hear what was going on through the door. Dwala placed her ear on the door to try and hear them better. She couldn't make out everything, but managed to get the just of it.
"How could you be so careless? You couldn't have possibly thought it was a good idea to take any pregnant female down there, but the queen?!"
"I only wanted to have some fun, she was bored and I was there to protect her—"
"And a fine job you did of that! What if the child is lost? How do you think uncle will react to that? And he won't just take it out on you, he'll take it out on her as well!"
"Oin says the child is likely fine-"
"But he doesn't know! It may be days or a week before we know! And if it is not, I will have to send word to uncle, I cannot let him arrive home to such news. And then he will rush back to enact punishment on us all!"
"Fili, I didn't do this on purpose! What do you want me to say?!"
"I want you to look me in the eyes and say that your feelings for Ila are strictly platonic."
Dwala's eyes went wide. She held her breath, lest she miss something on the other side of that door. There was silence for a moment, and she wished so desperately that she could see Kili's face.
"What are you suggesting?" came Kili's voice, low and clearly affronted. Perhaps too much so.
"I see the way you look at her brother, and you have never been able to lie to me."
More silence. Dwala was going to drop dead from not breathing if they continued to draw this out.
"I can't believe you would accuse me of such a thing. What have I done to make you think my feelings are so?"
"The look in your eyes whenever you see her, the way you hang on her every word, how you are always going out of your way to be with her and try to impress and entertain her, as you were doing when all of this happened!"
"She is our aunt….uncle's wife….our queen—"
"Yes! And you would do well to remember all that."
Fili had the final word, as Dwala heard Oin's loud voice calling to them then and she hastily backed away from the door. He knocked and Dwala called for him to enter. Ila opened her eyes and he sat next to her to further examine her. Ila focused on the ceiling as he had to lift her gown to inspect her bruises, which were forming quickly as Oin had expected. Ila might have been looking away, but Dwala made sure she observed everything, not that she didn't trust Oin, but she knew she wouldn't want an old dwarf touching her, healer or not.
In the next room, Fili was leaning against the wall but Kili was pacing a hole in the floor, waiting for Oin to emerge with the latest verdict.
The baby had to be ok, it just had to be, Kili kept saying in his mind. He felt he would throw himself off the top of the mountain if it was not. His heart was in his stomach, but he tried to keep a brave face in front of his brother, who watched him very carefully now.
Oin came through the bed chamber doors then and they both looked to him expectantly.
"Well?" Kili asked impatiently.
"What's that?" Oin called, bringing his trumpet to his ear.
"Is the baby alright? Is the queen alright?" Fili asked louder.
"Oh. Aye, aye I believe the baby is fine. If she doesn't lose it before the sun comes up tomorrow she won't lose it at all. Or, well not from this anyway." Oin said and seemed to be rather sure of himself.
That was good news, Kili thought as he let out a deep breath. Ila just had to get through the night. Fili nodded to Oin and went back to the bed chamber, followed by Kili. Ila was laying under the covers now and looked a little less upset than when they last saw her.
Fili sat on her bedside, noticing that the cut on her head had been cleaned and had stopped bleeding. That was a good sign at least.
"I will have Oin nearby through the night. I will be as well if you like, and I would ask that your handmaiden sleep here as well."
"Of course," Dwala said, having made that decision already herself.
"You must take care not to startle or upset yourself. I also think you should stay in bed for a few days to heal, and just to make sure as Oin suggested." He said, not wanting to be more specific than that and cause Ila greater fear.
Ila nodded and smiled a little. Fili gave her a bigger smile and took her hand to kiss.
"You will be fine my queen. Once we know all is well, let us not trouble uncle with it until he comes home? I do not want to alarm him, and if he hears of this will rush home quicker than lightening."
"I don't want him to be alarmed either, I promise you." Ila said and she could tell Fili was happy that she agreed. He bid her farewell for the time being and Kili did too, wanting to stay but knowing his brother wouldn't let him presently and feeling like he had done enough anyway.
Dwala closed the doors behind them and brought a chair close beside Ila's bed. She knew she must do her best to take Ila's mind off of her baby at the moment, and so picked up a book to read to her from. She just had to distract her until she could fall asleep and not worry anymore. They just had to get through the rest of the day and then the night. Then, Ila and her baby would be in the clear. But as they both knew, it was going to be a very long day and night.