Chapter 19

Dwalin stood deep inside the Healer's Hall within Erebor, in a tiny hidden room called the Ward of Vûstin. He was blinking in a stunned effort to drive the effect of a blinding flash from his vision and what hair he had left had abruptly stood on end during Fili's use of the mithril rods, and now he could feel it slowly resettling into place at the back of his head. His eyes slowly refocused and the features of the ancient mithril pattern embedded in the floor became recognizable again. He could see Fili, eyes wide, across the little room…and there, lying prone on the floor—old Gloin stared at him like someone who'd just awakened from a long, deep sleep.

Their eyes met in what Dwalin felt was a look of true recognition from his old friend.

"Ah!" Dwalin exclaimed.

Gloin sat up straight and answered, "Eh?"

Fili, two mithril rods still in his white-knuckled hands, took a step back. "Did it work?"


While Fíli and Dwalin were trying to get Glóin back on his feet in the confines of the Ward of Vûstin, Princess Iri's tutor Zêl kept a close eye on Jarle, the Master Healer in charge. Her job was to keep him occupied, but half of her attention, however, was directed backwards, where somewhere in the depths of the halls her King was calling upon the strength of the Mountain. Just now, she could swear she felt a strange tingling sensation in her feet.

Is King Fíli invoking the spell?

She did not show anything, however, as a barely noticeable vibration ran through the smooth stone floor.

Or am I just imagining it?

Fortunately, Jarle was completely absorbed in the text. His quill scratched on a sheet of parchment, writing down his translation. But she knew he would be finished soon...was she giving her King enough time?


Fili stood with mithril rods in his hands, feeling a bit toasted around the edges, as Bombur would have said. As he watched, his logic struggling to re-assert itself, Dwalin helped Gloin to his feet and the elder dwarf stood to his full height, his hair askew and eyes wild and wide.

"What in the name of Durin's bushy beard is going on here?" he demanded, his glower less than respectful. "What nonsense is all this, you unruly young ruffian?" he lowered his eyebrows at Fili in stern disapproval—something he'd not done since Thorin had been alive.

Fili blinked. "Hey. You haven't called me that in years." He took a step back, his mind still swirling around the effect of the two mithril rods in his hands.

"Years?" Gloin looked insulted, and raised his fists as if he'd box Fili's ears.

"Hold on," Dwalin warned him. "You're not fully clothed there." He grabbed the long sleeping shirt Gloin had been wearing when they'd brought him in and tossed it to his old friend.

"What…?" Gloin sputtered, catching the long shirt and turning it over in his hands as if he'd never seen it before. "Why would I…?" Then he looked down at himself and realized he was indeed standing in an odd little room with not even a pair of proper knickers to warm his backside.

"Put it on," Dwalin said in that deadpan voice that meant business.

Zêl was shifting from one foot to the other. It was getting close. Even if the mithril magic had worked, the two conspirators had to bring the hopefully cured Glóin safely and unseen through the corridors out of the Healer's halls back to his quarters.

Jarle was busy with the detailed explanation for some time and Zêl had five more questions ready. I need to give the King as much time as I can. Keep old Jarle from suspecting anything.

Finally, Erebor's great hour bell struck for the second time after midnight and she was sure that Fíli, Dwalin and Glóin were safely on their way back.

She thanked old Jarle wordily, heaved the tome off the table and Jarle was happy like a dwarfling.


While Dwalin grabbed the long nightshirt and popped it over Gloin's head, Fili backed up to the wall, shook himself to better awareness, and forced himself to stow the rods in their cabinet.

"We have to get him back to his bed," Fili said. "No idea if Zêl's been able to keep Jarle distracted."

"Will somebody tell me what in Durin's name…" Gloin growled.

"Shut up and behave," Dwalin growled back.

Fili latched the mithril rods into place and turned to check that Dwalin had old Gloin ready.

Ready enough.

"It's a mission, lad," Dwalin said in his commander's voice. "We're running silent."

Gloin stared back at him. But apparently he understood the old tactical instructions well enough, because Fili noticed the old dwarf instantly changed his stance. "Where's my axe?" he whispered.

"It'll be hand-to-hand action," Dwalin murmured back. "But the goal is stealth." He shook his head once. "No fighting." He saw Gloin adjust the nightshirt and straighten his shoulders to show he was ready to participate in whatever conspiracy was on the menu.

Fili decided the evening was turning out to be one of the strangest in a long while. He nodded once to Dwalin and put his hand on the mithril knob of the old door. It responded to his touch, and he opened it just a crack to listen…. No one's out there. He went through and trusted Dwalin to herd Gloin after him.

They tip-toed single file down the back corridor, pausing at a turn to check for night staff making rounds, then made a silent dash for the veteran's ward. Fili stopped at the heavy curtain into the sleeping quarters and peered inside. Eighteen beds stood inside, with heavy dwarf snoring coming from seventeen of them. One—second on the right—was empty. No orderlies…everyone asleep… He raised his hand and made the tilt motion that every warrior understood as we proceed.

With admirable quiet, he and Dwalin got their patient to his empty bed and turned the old fellow to sit.

Gloin, however, sidestepped them. "What is this all about?" he whispered fiercely. "I'm not staying here!"

"It's your own bed, this," Dwalin shot back in a hushed tone.

"Are you daft? My bed is at home—second Manse in the Councilor's Hall."

Fili stared. For Gloin to suddenly recall that after years of mental decline was quite remarkable. Clearly the Ward had reawakened something in his old friend's mind.

"Of course it is," he whispered, deciding they could not leave him here. He grabbed the heavy robe off the peg on the wall and held it out to Gloin. "Just need to get you fully dressed, then." He nodded for Gloin to put his arm in the sleeve. "Find his house boots," Fili whispered to Dwalin.

Fili managed to get Gloin's cooperation: both arms into the robe and then get the belt tied. This gave Dwalin a few moments to discover house boots under the bed and scoot them into position. At their urging, Gloin stepped into them.

"Ready?" Fili whispered.

Gloin's eyes went to the bed stand, recognizing a carved piece of green stone sitting there among the bottles of elixirs and powders. In a quick motion he grabbed it. "Why are you here?" he whispered to it, clearly puzzled.

Fili put one finger to his lips. "Shhhh."

Gloin looked at him, then nodded, and with the green stone stashed in his pocket and Dwalin's hand on his shoulder, he followed as Fili led him out of the veteran's infirmary.

They pushed past the heavy drape and considered their way out—Fili led them left, but at the next turn, he stopped and put his back to the wall, motioning for Dwalin and Gloin to do the same. In the distance they could hear two orderlies.

"Did someone check the lavatories?" one asked.

"Of course they did," the other answered.

Fili glanced at Dwalin. The healers were alert to something. Was it Gloin's empty bed?

Fili led them in the opposite direction of the orderlies, but it wasn't long before they heard two healers in the room ahead. Once again, Fili and Dwalin pulled Gloin into an alcove and backed into the shadows. Fili held his breath as the pair, a lad and lass dressed in trainee colors, passed by.

He waited until the footsteps faded, then led his old friends out again, crossing a large waiting room that in the daytime would have been full of Erebor residents seeking help. They were nearly across the dark hall when the sound of a door surprised them. Fili turned headfirst into Gloin, who backed up and stepped on Dwalin's boot.

Dwalin couldn't help a quiet, "Ooof."

Fili's hands steadied Gloin and pulled him behind the high back of a sturdy wooden bench. Together the three of them ducked low, listening.

Somewhere a door closed and they listened to more footsteps.

"Rikdul? Is that you, lad?" someone called.

Next to him, Gloin started to rise as if to call out, but Fili and Dwalin both pushed him down. Fili made the "shhh" motion again, and in the shadowy light, he saw Gloin stop himself and nod.

In the depths of the halls, someone called out. "Master Holdgroth, down here!"

Footsteps quickened and faded. After a moment, Fili raised himself to peer over the bench. He really didn't want to be spotted here, didn't want all the inevitable questions…

"Clear," he whispered.

"That way," Dwalin pointed right.

As good as any, Fili figured, and keeping his head down, made for an open corridor.

After three more turns, he was starting to recognize doors and alcoves—they were near the main passageway. Good, he thought. But just when he felt they might get out of the Halls in just a few more minutes, a door opened and a bright splash of light illuminated the wide hallway ahead.

And he heard a voice.

"I couldn't be more grateful, Master Jarle. Thank you again."

Zêl. Damn…. Fili put out a hand to push Gloin and Dwalin to the wall…he hadn't realized they were this close to the old Master's office.

"There is a bit of this old herb," Jarle said. "This Wild Clary—in the apothecary's study. It's just this way."

Fili leaned forward to see Jarle's back, and for a fleeting moment, locked eyes with Zêl.

She saw him, but kept her eyebrows from raising in alarm.

Good lass.

Instead, her hands went to Jarle's arm, the motion of someone trying to hide her panic. "No, no, Master," she was saying. "I'm sure I have Wild Clary in the King's stores…but I would like a look at the kind of mortar the old ones used. Isn't there one in the old storeroom?" She made a motion in the other direction.

Yes, Fili thought. She's leading him away. Now if we can just get out of the Healer Halls... But no sooner had Zel led Jarle out of sight than a matron approached from the hallway to the right, leading a young mother with a newborn in her arms.

"Wait here," the matron said. "I'll get the Healer."

The matron walked on, and as luck would have it, the young lass looked up, straight at Fili—her eyes going wide in recognition of her King.

Fili winked at her and held up his "shhh" finger again.

The young mother stared in a long moment of frozen indecision while Fili held his breath. Then the lass pulled her shawl around the tiny dwarrow's face and turned away, gently rocking the little one. "No one at all, my wee lad. And we'll have a healer for you in a moment."

In relief, Fili pushed Gloin and Dwalin ahead, keeping close to the shadows along the wall and made a quick escape down the next corridor to the left, which, he figured, had to be in the direction of the exit.

Then, with a sinking feeling, he found himself turning into a dead end.

"Damn," he muttered. They were so close to pulling this off without being discovered.

"Heh," Dwalin made a noise. Fili turned, seeing Dwalin's finger pointing to a certain kind of curtained half-door that was peculiar to Erebor.

"That's a laundry shaft," Gloin whispered his objection.

Somewhere behind them, they heard footsteps again.

"On three," Fili whispered. Dwalin nodded, and together they locked elbows with Gloin.

"Three," Fili said, and without any further thought, the three of them charged headfirst through the curtain.

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As always, THANK you for reading! Hope the shenanigan's were a little bit of fun in an otherwise somber season for us here in the US. To those of you working in Health Care (there are a couple of you!) my hand is on my heart to you...and I dedicate Fili's mission to save Gloin to you. (人´∀`)

Shout out to Jessie152 for writing Zêl's point-of-view and nudging me to post a new chapter. Cheers to Jessie!

If you can, post a quick review even if you just say HI. Also feel free to PM me-it's good to hear from you.

Hoping you and yours are doing OK...

((hugs))

Summer