Thranduil's tent had been erected in a crumbling stone courtyard, it's golden-yellow fabric bringing a strange burst of color to the dull grey backdrop of Dale. Two armed and stony faced elves stood gourd at it's entrance, unmoving, except for their eyes who watched the three people as they entered, gaze lingering on Kili the longest. Kili rolled his shoulders under their hard stare. These elves were not as friendly or welcoming as the ones in Rivendell. Within the tent, the elven King sat upon a wooden chair with a high, carved back. It seemed like a small throne. When he sat upon it, his silver and red robe draped over him, there was no questioning who was in charge. And whose mind needed to be changed.
"You must set aside your petty grievances with the dwarves," Gandalf said, exasperated. He felt as though he had been repeating himself from the moment he stepped inside the tent, Thranduil seeming almost uninterested. "War is coming! The cesspits of Dol Guldur have been emptied. You are all in Mortal danger!"
"What do you mean?" Asked Bard, his arms folded over his chest. He seemed to be the only one of the pair who was willing to listen. From his chair, Thranduil sighed and rolled his blue eyes.
"I can see you know nothing of Wizards." He said, disinterestedly, rising to his feet. He approached the table at the center of the tent and poured ruby red wine into two silver cups. "They are like winter thunder on a wild wind, rolling in from a distance, breaking in alarm." He passed one of the chalices to Bard, who looked down at it. This is not the time for wine, he thought. Besides, he preferred a stiff ale to wine. But he took it nonetheless. "But sometimes a storm is just a storm."
"He's telling the truth!" Kili cried, impatiently. Gandalf had told him to stay quiet, that he would do the talking. But Gandalf seemed to be getting nowhere. They said much of the stubbornness of dwarves, but nothing of the stubbornness of elves. Perhaps it was just the Mirkwood elves. "I've seen them too. These orcs are bred for war. And they're coming, whether you decide to listen or not."
"Why should we believe you?" Bard asked, still watching him dubiously. Beside him, Thranduil hummed, eyes narrowing as he regarded the dwarf.
"This may be a simple ploy to save your friends." He said. Kili rolled his eyes and growled, exasperated.
"Of course I want to save them, my family is in that mountain!" He sighed, trying to compose himself. "But, more than that, if you don't listen you will die. You haven't seen them, legions and legions of orcs who and they will destroy all. And nobody, including you, will stand a chance."
"Say I do believe you." Thranduil said, impassive expression giving nothing away. "Why should Azog show his hand now?"
"Because we forced him." Gandalf spoke up. "We forced him when the company of Thorin Oakenshield set out to reclaim their homeland." The Wizard began to walk out from the tent and into the cold air. The afternoon sun may have been high, but it was not warm. Thranduil and Bard glanced at one another before following him, Kili trailing behind them. By the time Kili exited the tent, Gandalf had stooped and was staring at the mountain, his hands resting on his hips. Kili continues past him, feet pulling him to the edge of the courtyard. He leant against a cracked wall, the frost atop of it cold against his palms. But he did not care as he looked at the gates of Erebor, carved beautifuly into the mountainside. He felt a pull to it, not to Erebor itself, but to those within it. His brother, his uncle. This was the closest they'd been in much over a week and he doubted they even knew he was there. They probably still believed him lost to the Necromancer, his body still being played like a puppet. "The dwarves were never meant to reach Erebor." He heard Gandalf say behind him. "Azog the Defiler was sent to kill them. His master seeks control of the mountain, not just for the treasures that lie within but for where it lies, it's strategic position. This is the gateway to reclaiming the lands of Angmar in the North. If that fell kingdom shall rise again." Gandalf shook his head and sighed, turning to face Bard and Thranduil, and said, his voice grave, "Rivendell, Lorien, the Shire, even Gondor itself will fall."
"These armies you speak of, Mithrandir, where are they?"
Gandalf and Thranduil continued to bicker long after they re-entered the warmth of the elf king's tent, Kili had grown quite tired of listening to them. He had tried to convince Thranduil to listen but it was clear that his hatred of dwarves tainted his judgement and so he left the pair to it. Instead he stood studying the King's silver armor. It was a glorious thing, finely and precisely crafted, the shining metal reflecting light so brilliantly that it was like the moon itself. It was the perfect attire for a king such as Thranduil.
A cough from behind him made Kili turn. He was quite suprised to see Bard standing before him. The bowman's eyes were softer, but no less cautious and untrusting, than before. He seemed to be studying Kili, his stiff muscles suggesting he still expected his eyes to turn black and for him to begin spitting foul Black Speech at any moment. And to be honest, so did Kili. He could almost still feel the Necromancer icy, twisted hands inside his mind. He knew that he would haunt him for years, his voice, his image, the way it felt to have someone else control your actions. Like a puppet on a string.
"Here," Bard said, passing Kili a cup, "some water." Kili looked at him before taking it. Apart from the tea at Radagast's home, he couldn't remember the last time he'd drank anything. When he was sick in Lake-town perhaps, for he supposed the Necromancer didn't need to eat or drink. His evil ambition was enough to sustain him.
"Thanks," he said with curt nod. The Bowman was still staring at him, and for a time, Kili could not meet his gaze, instead stared down at the water. But after some moments, the feeling of Bard's eyes upon him became too much to ignore. "Bard, I feel like you deserve and explanation." Bard said nothing, but Kili could tell that he agreed. Kili sighed. And then he told him everything, about the orcs on the cliff, the lashings, the burnings, the beatings, the raw meat, Dol Guldur, the Necromancer and his plans, the White Council. And all the while he did not look up. With each word he spook, he remembered the pain and the fear and the torment. It made his voice tremble and eyes burn. He wanted to forget it, all of it, but he knew he never would. He could be old and gray and still he would remember. Once he had finished there was a silence, uncomfortable and lasting. And still, Kili did not look up. What must Bard had been thinking of him in that moment? Did he think him a more a monster than he already had? After what felt like a great while, the silence was broken by a sigh and Kili felt a hand come to rest upon his shoulder. It made him flinch. He looked up to see Bard's eyes not filled with fear or hatred, but with sadness.
"I'm sorry." He said, "I can't imagine what that was like. Gandalf was right when he said you went through a great horror."
"I'm sorry if I hurt you or your children. You were so kind to us, to me. That was the last thing I wanted."
"You didn't hurt us, scared us, but didn't hurt us." Kili could only imagine what it would have been like to have had almost a complete stranger who, moments before, seemed close to death, suddenly begin speaking a damned language, eyes as black as inc, barking orders at orcs, in your home. "And you don't need to apologize,"
"Yes I do, I ..."
"Was under the control of a necromancer. From speaking to your family and speaking to you now, I can tell that you are a good person." Bard offered a smile, and Kili forced one back. He did't feel like a good person. "And good people shouldn't go through something like that." As good people shouldn't have their homes burnt by an angry dragon, Kili thought. "And I'm sorry that you did. And I's sorry for what is happening now, I don't want to attack your friends, but your uncle just wont listen." Bard shook his head and sighed sadly.
"Maybe I can help? Maybe I can talk to him?"
"I think he is beyond talking to now, Kili."
"Well, let me talk to my brother at least. Fili will listen to me, even if Thorin wont."
The company had risen to their feet, all dressed in their dwarvish armor, as the sound of marching drifted into Erebor. Had the elves come to attack so soon? They looked at one another, grabbing their weapons as Thorin stalked through them, eyes burning, and followed him up the stone staircase to the top of the gate. They were met with rows of elvish soldiers, not Thranduil's full strength, as others still lined the walls of Dale. Clearly, the elvish king was attempting to intimidate them to giving him what he wanted before his attack. Thranduil himself passed through them on the back of a great elk, and beside him Bard rode upon the same white horse as he had some hours before.
"Come to try your hand at bargaining, elf?" Thorin barked. The sides of Thranduil's mouth twitched up.
"I have." He said, calmly. "I have something of yours, and am willing to give it to you in return for the White Gems of Lasgalan," he flashed Bard a sideways glance, "and what was promised to the people of Laketown." At this, Thorin laughed.
"There is nothing that you nor any of your kind have that I want."
"I wouldn't be too sure." The smile on the elf king's face widened. He clicked his fingers. "Bring him forward." Upon the gate the dwarves watched as the rows of elves began to part, allowing a single soldier to move forward. It was not until he passed between Thranduil and Bard did they see that he was not alone, but was pushing someone forward with a rough hand. The second person was much shorter than the elf, with dark messy hair which framed a pale, sunken face, and were not dressed in elven armor but rather a tattered and blood stained dwarven tunic. They shoved the elf's hands from their shoulder with a small, agitated growl. Fili felt his heart leap, his knees almost collapsing from beneath him.
"KILI!" He screamed, desperatly. About him the company gasped, eyes widening in shock and disbelief, muttering to one another. He felt Thorin stiffen beside him. If the gate was not so high, Fili would have jumped from it instantly, and ran to Kili the moment his feet hit the ground. How could this be? The last time he had seen his little brother his eyes were black, his body, his thoughts, not his own. He remembered seeing him walk away into the night, surrounded by orcs. And Fili had been so sure that he would never see him again. How could he? They'd had their chance to save him from the Necromancer and they had been unsuccessful. Kili was lost, forever. Yet there he was, stood on the ground before him, in the custody of the elves and the so named 'dragon-slayer.' Fili's chest felt tight, eyes burning. "Kili!"
"Tell them, Kili." Thranduil said. Kili looked from him and up towards the company.
"Agree to their terms, Thorin!" He called. Kili's voice did not sound weak and frightened as it had before. Yes, it sounded hoarse, but he sounded more like himself. He was forcing hardness into his words as he demanded his uncle changed his mind. "You have to, it's the only way." He dragged in a breath. "There's a war coming. You won't just face the elves, but legions and legions of orcs, too! Give Thranduil his gems and the gold that was promised to the people of Lake-town and have them as your allies." There was a desperation beneath the hardness to his voice now. "You need allies now, Thorin, not more enemies. You have enough of those coming."
"What do you say, dwarf?" Said Thranduil, "give us what we want and you can have you nephew." Fili turned to his uncle, blue eyes pleading.
"Do it, Thorin." But Thorin's face remained stoic, he seemed to share none of his oldest nephew's relief and desperation. His eyes were hard and calculating as he continued to look down at Kili. What was he waiting for? He should have jumped at the chance to have Kili back, had the dragon-sickness replaced the love he felt for him? Or had he truly fallen for his lie that he had but one nephew? Did Kili no longer mean anything to him? "Thorin."
"No!" The dwarven king shouted down. Fili felt like he had been stabbed, the blade twisting in his gut.
"What?" He growled, placing a hand on Thorin's shoulder and turning him roughly, forcing his uncle to look at him. "Why not?"
"Fili." Thorin's voice was low and stern. "That's not your brother." Fili's brows pulled up at this, he could feel and anger welling up inside.
"Excuse me?"
"It's a trick, don't you see?"
"No, I don't, Thorin." He spat, venomous outrage in his voice, "why don't you explain it to me?"
"It is still the Necromancer. I won't mind betting that Thranduil, Bard, all of them are under his spell. He's trying to get in here, just like he said he would. He has come for the mountain."
"You're crazy, Thorin. It's him, it's Kili."
"How are you so sure it is?"
"How are you so sure that it isn't."
"Because you are blinded by love and grief. And you cannot see the truth." Fili stepped forward, squaring up to Thorin, their faces mere inches apart. Anger seethed from him.
"I am not the one who is blind." He hissed. "You have been blind since the moment you unlocked that door. Before that." He pointed a finger down towards the elves, "my brother is down there. Agree to their terms and let him in."
"No." An animal like growl escaped Fili and he lunged forward. He wanted to wrap his hands around Thorin, to shake him until he saw sense. He would hit sense into him if he had too. In fact he wanted to. He had longed to do so since the moment his uncle told him to deny his brother's existence. Dwalin, too, lunged forward and snaked an arm around the blonde's waist, his free hand wrapping around his raised fist. Fili struggled and grunted and growled in his hold, and it required every inch of strength to hold him back. Though Thorin seemed unaffected by his nephew's burning rage.
"Thorin," the warrior grunted as Fili thrashed in his grasp, "don't be a fool." Balin too had stepped forward, looking deep into Thorin's almost empty eyes. But in them he saw no room for negotiation. No inch of his being believed that the elves had his youngest sister-son, only the fact that the Necromancer had them.
"Don't do this." He said. But Thorin, with a scowl towards his fighting nephew, turned back to Thranduil.
"I won't fall for your tricks. That is not my nephew." Kili's shoulder's visibly slumped at that, and Fili watched a look of sorrow wash across his face. He growled again and attempted to pull away. He burned to hit Thorin, his fist screaming out for his uncle's jaw. On the ground, Thranduil sighed.
"It won't work. Take him away." The elf that had steered Kili from the crowd, went to place a hand on the dwarf's shoulder to pull him back, but Kili shoved him away.
"Thorin!" He yelled, "see sense! You must see sense!" The elf reached to wrap a hand tightly around Kili's wrist, beginning to heave the struggling dwarfling away. "Thorin, please!" Upon the gate Fili's attention turned from his uncle to his brother who was desperately fighting away from the elf. Soon there were two on him. "Get off me!"
"Let my brother go elf filth!" Fili roared. "Kili!"
"Fili! You must listen!" Kili's feet were off the floor now as the second elf lifted him from the ground, arms wrapped tightly around his middle, the first elf still restraining his wrists as he attempted to struggle away. "You don't know what's coming!" And then he was gone, concealed once more among the rows of golden clad elven soldiers.
"Kili! No!" Fili too, now had multiple people holding him. Each fearful he would attempt to climb to the ground, or even jump to it, if they released their hold. "Kili!" Thranduil watched his attempts. The brother, he guessed. He smiled to himself. He would allow Kili's enraged sibling to do his work, to convince Thorin of the right path, over the coming night.
"If you will not give us what it ours, then we will take it. You have until sunrise," he warned, turning his army away. With one last hard stare, he and Bard followed. The sun beginning to set on the land.
Fili watched them go, with his heart hammering like lead in his chest. He felt his energy suddenly drain, if it was not for Dwalin, who held him alone now his viscous struggles had subsided, then he surely would have collapsed to his knees. His brother had been so close, he had seen him, heard him. And now he was gone. Prisoner once more. For more than week he had believed his brother lost to him forever. For more than a week, his dreams had been filled with those black eyes, the Necromancer's promises to make Kili's life a misery. For over a week his heart was heavy with grief and his shoulders heavy with the guilt that he hadn't been able to save his little brother from a fate worse than death. And yet Thorin had turned Kili away like he was nothing, he had turned him away with hate and anger. Fili felt his own anger and desperation rise again, and now that Dwalin's grip had slackened, he pulled roughly away.
"What is wrong with you?" He snarled at his uncle, blue eyes burning with fury and loathing. He pushed past Thorin, making a point to collide their shoulders, and hurried down the staircase.
"Where are you going?" Thorin called, begining to persue him. Fili could hear his steps behind him.
"I'm going after Kili." He said back, voice flat.
"You will do nothing of the sort." Thoin barked. Fili, who had reached the bottom of the stairs, stopped in his tracks and watched Thorin approach him, the rest of the company also heading their way.
"Why not?" He asked, "I will not allow him to become a prisoner for the third time in two months!"
"It is not him, Fili."
"Yes it is!" Fili roared, his voice echoing off the stone, "and any love you have for him would tell you the same thing!"
"You are not leaving this mountain."
"What are you going to do, Thorin, lock me up?" He challenged, "you'll have to if you think I'm going to stay here when he's out there with the elves."
"I am your king, your allegiance is to me."
"No you are not, you are barely my uncle at this point. My allegiance is to my little brother, not you, not like this." And then he felt a pain in his cheek as Thorin hit him. The company behind them gasped.
"You are not going anywhere, do you understand me?" Thorin instructed firmly, eyes burning. Fili said nothing, simply glared venomously him, trying to think of a time where he hated his uncle more than he did at that moment. "Now, get out of my sight."
"Don't worry," he growled, pushing past him, "I'm gone."
Fili roared with anger as he up-ended a table, the untouched items on it's top flying across the room, clamoring and shattering to the floor. His breathed came out much like those of an enraged bull, deep and quick. He reached down to lift a wooden chair by its front legs before twisting his body and smashing it against a wall, the thing shattering and smashing. He wanted to break everything in that room, in that damned mountain. More than that, he wanted to break Thorin's nose. Never in his life had he had such a strong desire to punch someone. He hated his uncle. He wished he had never agreed to join him on this stupid quest. If he knew what fates would have befallen his brother, what his uncle would have turned into he would have remained in the Blue Mountains with his mother. They had been so happy there, so content. He wanted to return there, he wanted to get his brother and go home. Away from his uncle and his blinding sickness. Everything was better there. That was it, he was going back. He was going to leave this cursed mountain once and for all. With a growl he slammed the side of his fist against the wall and stalked from the room. He would collect what provisions he could and leave as soon as he was able, he would go to Dale and find his brother, and the two of them would leave this place behind.
He was so busy working out his plan that he didn't see Dwalin up ahead, and collided straight into him with an grunt.
"What are you doing?" The larger dwarf asked, as though already knowing the younger's intent. His blue-grey eyes were narrow as he studied Fili's face, and the mark Thorin's palm had left there. Dwalin frowned and reached a soft hand out to place it beneath Fili's chin, but the blonde pulled away.
"It's fine." He grumbled.
"No, it's not. He shouldn't have done that."
"Yes, well, he's doing a lot of things that he shouldn't lately. And I can't bare it anymore. I can't stand to look at him. I can't stand to be here. I hate him and I hate this place." He walked passed Dwalin. "I'm leaving."
"What? No, you can't." Dwalin said, following him down the hall.
"And why is that?" Fili stopped to stare at him, "Tell me why I should stay. Because I cannot think of a single reason."
"Thorin needs you." Fili scoffed at this, "you may not think so but ..."
"No, Dwalin, I know he doesn't. Thorin doesn't need anyone. All he needs is his precious gold. Nothing else matters to him anymore."
"He's ill, Fili."
"You think I don't know that?" Fili hissed, "I know that he is sick, but I have had enough of it being an excuse for his actions. He doesn't need me. But I tell you who does; Kili. Kili needs me and I won't stand by while the elves use him to meet their own ends." Dwalin went to open his mouth, but Fili held up a hand, silencing him before he had chance to say a single word. "Do not make me choose between Thorin and my little brother, because Kili will win." He turned away and continued down the hall. Kili always came first, that was how it had always been.
"Then stay for the rest of us." Dwalin called after him, "we need you."
"What do you mean?" Fili stopped dead again.
"The others, they're stuggling to follow him, this new him. This is not the Thorin they know, and they are struggling." Fili's shoulders fell. He, selfishly, had not thought of his friends' trouble, only his own. He had been so lost in grief and hatred that he had payed them no heed. But he recalled the miserable looks in their eyes, the way they lingered after Thorin barked a command, before dejectedly doing as he had told. "They are having trouble looking to him, if they can't do that then, as his heir, they will look to you." Could he abandon them, after all of this? After they had been there for him in his darkest moments? As much as he longed to be with his brother again, to reassure Kili that he was safe, he knew he could not leave them. He sighed and turned his head to Dwalin.
"I will give him one more chance." He said firmly, "I will give him until sunset tomorrow, and if he still does not see sense then I will leave. And if I do, they are welcome to join me." And that was that, Dwalin knew as he watched Fili continue down the dim hallway, that it was the best he would get. But at least he was staying, for now. He nodded and walked the opposite way.
Bilbo had been in the shadows, listening to the pair speak. He felt relief when Fili agreed to remain with the company, but also worry when the blond said that Thorin had one day. The sick king had been unwavering for the whole time he had been inside the mountain and Bilbo recalled his pledge to not part with a single piece of the gold. The hobbit doubted that the next day would have any impact on him at all. He reached into his coat and ran his fingertips over the smooth surface of the Arkenstone. He pulled in a breath and pursued Fili down the hallway.
"Fili," he said when he was close enough, "wait." But Fili did not stop, simply grumbled at him;
"Go away, Bilbo."
"I need to speak to you." He caught up with the prince and fell into step beside him. Fili shot him a sideways glance with his still enraged blue eyes. Bilbo saw much of Thorin in him at that moment. "Please." Fili huffed.
"I am in no mood to talk, Master Baggins."
"I overheard you speaking with Dwalin."
"Eavesdropping is not a respected nor honorable skill." Fili growled, annoyance clear in his voice. Bilbo pulled Fili to a stop, the dwarf glaring at him as he did so. It was clear he wished to be alone.
"I know you don't think that Thorin will change before the sun sets tomorrow, and neither do I. But I have a plan." Fili rose his brows.
"Do you indeed? Please, do enlighten me." He said, with mocked interest. Bilbo began to reach inside his coat, Fili eyeing his movements with suspicion.
"Okay, but promise me you won't get angry."
"I'm already angry, Bilbo."
"Yes, well, umm." Bilbo sucked in a steadying breath, looking about him to make sure that nobody else was there, and pulled the stone from his pocket, holding it out for Fili to see. Fili stared at it, blankly at first, but slowly his expression changed into realization as he figured out exactly what the shimmering object was. His blue eyes widened and hardened.
"Is that what I think it is?" He asked slowly but firmly.
"The Arkenstone, yes." A shadow seemed to fall across Fili's face then and Bilbo worried that he made a bad decision, concerned that the blond would feel his uncle's sudden lust for it. That it would suddenly call to him, as it did to Thorin, and make him sick. But he remained composed.
"How long have you had it?" He asked.
"Since the dragon, I picked it up before any of you came in." Bilbo admitted.
"Bilbo, you fool." Fili hissed, pushing the hobbit against the wall and glaring at him. "That is the reason my uncle is acting the way he is, "why haven't you given it to him?"
"Because of something the dragon said."
"The dragon?"
"He said that the stone would destroy him, that it would currupt his heart and drive him mad." Bilbo said, Smaug's voice in his head like an echo. "And Balin thinks so too." Fili straightened, brows pulling together. He did not understand.
"Balin knows you have it?"
"I never told him, but I think he guessed." Bilbo nodded. "I asked him if he thought Thorin having the stone would help and he said no, he said that it would make him worse." Fili said nothing to this, but thought deeply. His uncle was already corrupted and mad, even without the stone. Thorin was no longer the uncle that had helped to raise him, he was twisted and cruel. He had turned Kili away, denied him twice in a week. His uncle, his Thorin, would never do that. Thorin had struck him, a dull pained still resonating, something, again, his uncle would never do. Even without the Arkenstone, he was another person, merciless and without any feelings other than greed. A stranger. Fili sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"What do you suggest we do with it, then?" He asked. There was a pause before Bilbo spook again.
"I give it to Thranduil and Bard." Fili stared at him, unblinking. "Thorin would do anything for this. And hopefully that includes giving them what they want." Bilbo could tell that he was uncertain, but he continued. "Bard wants what was promised, Thranduil wants his gems, you want to have your brother back, and Thorin wants this." Fili could see what the Hobbit was getting at, but he had his doubts.
"And if it doesn't work?" Fili pressed. "What then?" Bilbo paused, thinking. What then? There would be nothing left. This was their last chance. He sighed and shrugged.
"Then at least we know that we've tried everything." Fili ran a hand through his hair and nodded.
"Fine. But this stays between us."
It was dark when Fili and Bilbo walked onto the gate, checking that there was nobody around. All was quiet from within the mountain and outside it, and so they ventured out, the bitter air biting at them. As Bilbo peered over the side, the ground seeming much further away in the nighttime, Fili tied a long piece of rope tightly around a stone pillar before tossing the other end over the edge. The two watching it unravel, the edge meeting what was left of the huge statue that had been used to collapse the bridge.
"You understand that I can't bring you brother back with me." Bilbo said, "If Thorin were to see him ..."
"Yes I know." Fili nodded. His heart yearned to have Kili safe with him, but he knew that they needed to stay separated for a while longer. "Just explain that he had dragon-sickness, that we've tried everything, that this was our last resort. He'll understand." Bilbo nodded his head and climbed upon the wall, feeling his heart dip at the great distance between him and the ground. "Just," he turned back to Fili, "give him a hug for me, tell him that I love him."
"I will." Bilbo doubted he needed to say it, there was no way Kili could doubt that his brother did not love him to the ends of the earth and back. But perhaps, after Thorin's harsh dismissal, Fili felt he needed to be reassured of that. Fili gave Bilbo a warm, reassuring smile.
"Now go, quickly." He said, "And don't forget to be back by sunup, we don't want Thorin or the others wondering where you've gone." Bilbo nodded and took hold of the rope and began to climb down the sheer, smooth rock-face. Once he reached the ground, which had been a rather unnerving task, he hoped across the broken statue and onto hard ground. He took one look back up at Fili before heading down the path towards Dale.
As Fili watched Bilbo's form get smaller, he let out a shaking breath. Handing the Arkenstone over to the elves, it was a great betrayal. But it needed to be done. And so Fili lifted his head and prayed beyond hope that the plan should be successful, that Thorin would finally see sense and he may be reunited with Kili once again. He closed his eyes and, after dragging in one last breath of cold night air, he returned inside the mountain. Wishing Bilbo all the luck in the world. The hobbit would need it.
-AN-
Howdily doodily readerinos? This is like the fourth chapter I've uploaded in the space of like a month? I don't think I've posted this much so quickly since I started.
I have been desperate to write this part, I've been planning it for soooo long! And since I was I took the day off work sick today, I figured writing for you would make me feel better. And it has certainly helped.
Poor Fee and Kee, they are so close! And YES! Angry Fili has returned! I love writing angry!Fili almost as much as I love writing protective!Fili. Thorin is being a real ass. (brief return of big softie Dwalin 3) I really wanted to have Fili in on Bilbo's plan to give the stone to Thranduil and Bard, I thought it was important. It is nice to be able to add in some of my own scenes again.
I hope to continue this rapid uploading! Fingers crossed part 47 will be here by friday :D
Thanks for reading guys, don't forget to let me know what you think (maybe it will make me feel better ;) )
