Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my ocs

Chapter Eleven

Left Behind

Staring into the rubbing my wrist. "Ms. Ali are you alright?" One of the young ones stood behind me Tilda asked as she sat next to me.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?" Taking a strand of my hair playing with it.

"You look really sad. Like when da does when he is missing mummy. Did you lose someone special also?" She asked. Looking over at Kili as he spoke to his brother and uncle.

"I'm not sure." Whispering looking back at her. She hugged me. "Thank you."

Bard came in making everyone go to the table as he dropped a heavy bundle on it. Opening it up laid odd objects. Thorin picked up something with hooks on it. Kili picked up what looked to resemble a hammer. "What is this?" Thorin hissed.

"Pike hook made from an old harpoon."

"And this?" Kili asked.

"A crowbell we call it. Fashioned from a smithy's hammer. Heavy in hand I grant. But in the defense of your life it will serve you better than none."

"We paid you for weapons. Iron forged, swords and axes." Gloin shouted his outrage.

"It's a joke!" Bofur slammed the item back on the pile same as the others.

"You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron forged weapons are held there under lock and key." Bard warned them.

Balin started to whisper to Thorin. Watching Bards face as his expression changed hearing Thorin's name. "I say we leave now." Balin suggested.

"You're not going anywhere." Bard shouted.

"What did you say?" Dwalin asked.

"There are spies watching this house and probably every dock and Warf in the town. We must wait until night fall." Makes sense everyone started to sit down again. Watching as Kili sat down in pain.

Taking water to him. "How's the leg?" Questioning him knowing his answer.

"It's fine. Just a scratch." He lied, handing him the water he took it and began to drink. He looked at my hair. "Where's my braid?"

"I took it out." Telling him the truth.

"Why?"

"It's not important right now. Let me look at your wound?" Sitting in front of him starting to untie the binding. "Sigrid could you get me some clean bandages, warm water, a rag and maybe a healing salve if your father has any." She nodded leaving to get the items I asked for.

"No it is important. That braid is not to be removed. It shows everyone that you are with me." Keeping my focus on his wound. "Ali look at me when I speak to you."

"Here Ms. Ali," Sigrid came back with the items. Beginning to clean the wound causing him to hiss but tried to keep still. This wasn't good infection was setting in. Maybe there was a sort of poison on the arrow that was mixing in with his blood stream. We need a healer with more knowledge of what this is. I will have to speak to Thorin before we leave but for now I cleaned the wound, spread the salve then rewrapped the wound in clean bandages.

Getting up to leave he grabbed my arm pulling me back. "Ali what is the matter? You haven't spoken to me since we left the woods. You won't even look at me without sadness in your eyes."

"Once you set sail for the mountain we shall part ways." Turning my head not looking at him.

"Why is it something I or Fili have done to upset you?" he questioned. Feeling tears rolling down my face as they fell onto his leg.

"You deserve someone like that woman from Mirkwood. Not a half-breed like me. It seems that you got along just swimmingly with her." Smiling a painful smile looking him in his eyes. They held embarrassment as he registered what I just said. "Besides you and Fili are royalty. I am not."

"You saw that?" he asked. Nodding standing up, turning my back to him. "I was just talking with her." He tried to reason.

"You do not have to lie to save my feelings. It's clearly she likes you as well. I mean she did save you from the spider and the orc after all." Going to him kissing his clammy forehead. "I had an amazing time Kili. But it's over between us. I will inform Thorin that I shall not be proceeding with you. Rest until you have to leave."

Quickly going over to Thorin who was speaking to Balin and Fili. They looked at me. "How's Kili?" Fili asked wondering.

"I don't know. I just rebound the wound using a salve that Bard had. But there is something not right with it. A healer is necessary even one better than Master Oin. I have also decided that I shall return to Rivendell. Thank you Thorin Oakenshield may the fates smile upon you and your restored kingdom." I bowed to him.

"You're leaving?" Balin asked dismayed.

"Yes. I shall be returning to Rivendell." Quickly looking at Kili then back at the others.

"But that doesn't make sense. What about Kili and me?" Fili asked not believing my decision.

"Will be better off without me. Besides who were we fooling. A half-breed like me with you two who are heirs of Erebor." I tried laughing without sounding a bit bitter.

"Tirithiel as your father was an honorary dwarf so shall you. Do what you think is best for the three of you." Thorin said. Then he looked at the others. "Alright let's go. We need weapons and we need them now."

Everyone started to get up to leave. Bofur, Ori and Bilbo looked at me. "Aren't you coming?" Bilbo asked not understanding why I was just standing there. Smiling sadly, I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I am returning home. This is as far as my journey takes me. There is much for me to learn about my past and kin. Visit me often as you can. All of you." Looking at Bofur and Ori who looked sad. Bofur hugged me placing a soft kiss on my hand.

"Take care lass." He said before leaving me.

"Safe journey Ms. Ali," Ori whispered before leaving as well.

Watching everyone leave Fili and Kili were the last to exit the house. They looked back at me with a pained expression upon their faces. They turned around following the others. I felt tears roll down my face as my family for the past few months left me behind.

"Why are you not going with them?" Sigrid asked standing behind me.

"My business with them has finished. I will leave in the morning to start my way back home." Wiping my face with my hands trying to be strong as I was still in the presence of the children. Facing them trying to smile. "Now how about I whip up something to eat to show my gratitude for staying here."

The girls and I started making supper when the door burst open. Bard stormed in as his son Bain came up to him. "Da I tried to stop them."

"How long have they been gone?" He demanded then looked at me. "How come you didn't try to stop them?"

"My business with the dwarves is finished. I am no longer part of their group." I replied looking straight in his eyes never faltering my gaze. He turned around going back to the door.

"Da?" Sigrid asked concerned.

"Will you stay with my children until I get back?" He asked not looking back.

"Yes." He nodded then left. The girls and I went back to making supper while Bain just stood at the window looking out.

After a while supper was ready as the girls and I sat down to eat. "Come Bain eat. Your father should be back soon." We ate then did the dishes leaving a plate for Bard.

After supper I sat in front of the fire thinking about the past months. Taking Fili's courting braid out as well. Wondering if I had made the right decision of going home and leaving the family that I had made on this journey. Not to mention leaving the two I had fallen in love with. God I am a fool. Sighing dropping my head to my knees.

Just then the door burst open then slammed hard rattling the little house as many curses left Bard's mouth. Standing up as he looked at me. "Excuse my language. Your company are fools along with the people of this town." He fell into a seat at the table putting his hands to his head. Going to the oven pulling out his half warm supper. Setting it in front of him he looked up at me. "What's this?"

"Supper. A token of my thanks for everything you have done for us, err well me. I will be leaving at dawn." Sitting down at another chair as he ate.

"Where are my children?"

"In bed. You have done well raising them on your own. I think I am going to head to bed." Getting up going the place in front of the fire where Sigrid had given me a blanket and pillow. Going to lay it out when Bard took the blanket from me.

"I will take this place. You may have my bed. It's the least I can do for you helping with my children." Starting to protest when he wasn't going to take no for an answer. Showing me to his room bidding me good evening then leaving the room.

Laying on the bed my body forming into the straw mattress as the exhaustion of the days prior took me instantly into the world of dreams. My dreams were restless, bringing me images of Kili dying of his injury. Everyone blaming me since I couldn't save him. Then flashes of light as I come face to face with an orc as it stabs me with its rusty jagged blade.

Screaming, bolting right out of the bed and into the arms of a strong body. Confused and scared I start to flail. "Calm down. You're safe. Shh..." I recognized the voice. Settling down to catch my breath looking into the eyes of my host Bard. "There now what happened?"

"Dreams, bad dreams." Whispering as my hands went to my face to wipe away the sweat. "I'm sorry. I hope I didn't wake anyone else." There was a squeak in the floor board behind us. We looked over to see the children watching us.

"Da is everything alright?" Tilda asked coming over hanging onto a doll as she climbed into her father's lap. The others came over looking at me then their father.

"Everything is fine. I just had a bad dream. Sorry to wake everyone up." Blushing looking down at my hands. "I have had a very long journey."

"We should be going back to sleep. Everyone back to bed." Bard announced Standing setting Tilda on the floor.

"Da may I stay with Ms. Ali?" she asked. He looked at me as I nodded that it wouldn't be a problem.

"Alright but if she tells you to go to your own bed then go without fussing." She nodded jumping into the bed with me. He came over and kissed her head then almost did the same for me before he caught himself. "Excuse me. Sort of a habit."

"Understandable. Good night Bard, Sigrid, Bain." I bid the others good night as they left. Tilda got comfy next to my side. Laying down trying to get back to sleep.

"Ms. Ali do you like da?" she asked me out of nowhere.

"Yes I do. He has been most kind."

"Enough to stay with us?" Laying on my side to look at her. Trying to understand what she was getting at.

"What do you mean by stay?"

"Stay with us as our new mum." She looked at me with her big brown eyes.

"I um...let's just go to sleep." I whispered as she yawned closing her eyes. Staring at her sleeping form trying to think of what she just asked. Closing my eyes, falling into a deep dreamless slumber.

Waking up early before the sun was even up. Looking around realizing that I was still at Bards'. Tilda was still sleeping so quietly getting out of bed so not to wake her. Stretching I went to the other room to see Bard was already up.

"Morning." He acknowledged me.

"Morning." I whispered back.

"How did you sleep?" He asked. My head snapped up at the question.

"Um...Tilda asked me a very peculiar question before we went to sleep," I tried to form the right words before just deciding to blurt it out. "She asked me to stay and be her mum."

Looking down at his hands then back at the fire. "She never really knew her mother like Sigrid and Bain. She was very little when her mother was taken from us. I have tried my best at being what they need. But there are just some things I just cannot do."

"But my question is why would she ask me to stay and be her mum?" He chuckled making me confused.

"It must have been when Sigrid said you looked like their mother. Tis true that they need a mother figure in their lives. I am not asking much but..." Bard was interrupted with a knocking on the door. Getting up to answer the door. "No. I'm done with dwarves. Go away." Getting up to see what was going on to see Bofur fighting with Bard to keep the door open.

"No...no one will help us. Kili's sick." Stepping aside to show how bad Kili looked. "He's very sick." When I saw him my heart dropped and pure panic took over. Rushing to him placing my hands on his face which looked cold but hot to the touch.

"Oh Kili," sobbing as Fili and I helped him into Bard's and to a bed. Laying him down I turned to Oin. "What do you need?"

"Hot water, towels, bandages." Nodding as I went to the kettle to boil water.

Once the water was boiled, taking it to Oin he went to work. Going to the other side of Kili taking his hand.

It has been hours since they came back to Bards'. Kili still wasn't doing better. He was still in a lot of pain. Moaning as Oin worked as much as he could on his wound.

"Can you not do something?" Fili asked.

"I need herbs. Something to bring down his fever." Oin instructed. Bard took out everything he had in his stored herbs.

"I have night shade, fever few," he named off what he had.

"Those are no use to me. Do you have any kings foil?"

"No it's a weed. We feed it to the pigs." Bard said.

"Pigs?" Bofur asked. "Weed? Right." He turned around and pointed at Kili. "Don't move." Then he turned around running out the door.

Dipping a cloth in cold water placing it on his head trying in vain to cool him down. If this fever doesn't break he is as good as dead. My thoughts were all over the place. I didn't want to lose him this way. I didn't want to lose him at all.

Fili came over to me looking at my head. "You took out my braid?" He asked.

"Yeah. I thought that you would like to be voided to be able to look elsewhere for someone else. Who's not me." Placing the cloth back on Kili's head.

"You silly girl. There is no one out there for us than you." Fili kissed my temple then looked down at his baby brother.

Bofur had been gone for quite a while doing who knows what. Then everything started shaking. Looking up at the others locking eyes on the children.

"Da?" Sigrid asked.

"It's coming from the mountain." Bain replied. Bard looked around then looked at his children then at me.

"You should leave us." Fili suggested making me look at him. "Take your children get out of here. You too Ali."

"And go where? There is nowhere to go." Bard stated.

"I am not leaving Fili not when Kili is like this." I protested.

"We going to die da?" Tilda asked worriedly. Bard looked back at her as I went over to hug her.

"No darling." Bard smiled.

"The dragon it's going to kill us." She sounded so frightened.

Bard reached up pulling down an arrow. "Not if I kill it first." Bard replied. He went to the door gathering his coat. Before he went out the door grabbing my arm pulling me close. "Watch over my children. If something were to happen to me. Promise me you'll take care of them in my stead?"

"Yes. Bard just be careful and come back." I whispered. He nodded then him and Bain left together. Bain came back just a few moments ago.

Growing late, Bard hadn't come back. Bofur still hasn't come back from whatever he was doing. Sigrid went outside to wait for her father. Something was wrong. I could feel it. "Sigrid please come back inside!" I called for her.

"Is that you da!?" she called out after hearing a bit of noise. That was when the hairs on my neck stood up. Standing up running over to the door grabbing her just as an orc attacked. She screamed as I pulled her inside and away from it pushing her behind me. Looking over at the table grabbing one of the knives.

As the orcs descended from the roof slicing at them trying to keep them away from the children. A familiar red haired she-elf came through the door. Then Legolas appeared. As Legolas, Tauriel and I fought off the orcs Fili and Oin kept watch over the children. Then Kili was attacked rushing over to him just as Tauriel threw her dagger into the orcs chest.

Then there was an angry voice yelling something and what was left pulled back.
"You killed them all." Bain said in amazement.

"There are others. Tauriel," Legolas replied. "Come."

"We are losing him." Oin shouted as he went to Kili. She looked down at him as I fell to my knees placing his head on my lap.

"Kili, stay with me. Don't leave me. I love you please." Pleading with him. Looking up at her. "If you can save him please help him!" Crying to her as she just stared at us. Tears flowed freely now as one of the loves of my life laid in front of me dying.

She and Bofur came in. Tilda took a bowl as Tauriel put the kings foil into it as the others picked Kili up and laid him on the table. He was in so much pain that he couldn't stay still. "Hold him down." She instructed.

She started chanting taking the mixture placing it on the wound. Grabbing his hand with mine as I used the other to hold his arm. Then he started to calm down. Taking one hand off him and placing it on his face. He looked at her then at me then back to her. I didn't know what he was thinking. At this point I just wanted him to get better.

She started to bandage his leg when he called her name. "Tauriel?"

"Lie still." She instructed. I looked at her then back at him.

"But you cannot be her. She is far, far away from here. She walks in star light in another world. It was just a dream." He whispered taking her hand in his. "Do you think she still loves me?"

"Who?" She asked curiously.

"Tirithiel her elven name. But she goes by Ali. She must be half way to Rivendell by now." He whispered. She looked up at me with what looked like hatred. She nodded at their hands and started to let go. Taking my hand, she slipped it into his.

"Kili?" He opened his eyes to see me.

"Ali?" Nodding as his hands lifted out of mine to my face. Bringing my face to his. "I love you Ali. I am a fool forgive me?" he whispered over my lips. His lips captured mine in a passionate kiss.

"Yes you idiot, I forgive you. I love you." I kissed back. Fili came over taking my other hand in his kissing me as well. "I love you to Fili."

Then a sound coming from the direction of the mountain heading for us. We all looked around at each other. Tilda grabbed her doll frighten.

A/N: Thanks everyone for reading the last few chapters of WIB. I will continue with the last movie once it comes to theater this December. Please R&R much appreciated.