I do not own any of the characters or The Hobbit (just the AU storyline and my OC). Those are the work of the esteemed and brilliant John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, and without his genius, this and many other fan fics would not be in existence.
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Fili sat down next to his younger brother, hot beans and carrots fresh from the fire steaming in the bowl in his hand. Kili still looked upset and hurt as he glanced toward the young woman, and the elder frowned.
He knew Kili had a right to be upset at Cira's foolishness, as he was as well. His brother wasn't the only one in their group who understood the dire consequences of improperly healed bones-far from it. But he was quite baffled by her odd question, and his brother's strange reaction to it.
What on earth did she mean by, "I didn't exactly plan on breaking it"? Who deliberately plans on falling into a chasm like that?
Fili knew that Thorin had chastised Kili as well, judging by the furious look on his uncle's face when he pulled his younger nephew aside, and if he hadn't done so Fili certainly would have. Thorin was quite right- if there had been any orcs within at least a couple miles of them, they would have been killed after their position had been given away so clearly.
That was another puzzle Fili couldn't figure out. How come they hadn't been attacked? Beorn had said that these lands were crawling with orcs, and their numbers were growing.
So how come we haven't seen a single orc since we left his house?
Not that Fili was complaining, because he wasn't yet certain that his arm could hold up well enough to repel an attack just yet. Still, injured arm or not, he would fight to the death if need be to protect his brother, who he knew couldn't defend himself at all with his broken ribs. But he dearly hoped that it wouldn't come to that just the same. He'd had his fill of near-death experiences lately to last him for quite a while.
He glanced again at his younger brother, who hadn't spoken a word since he went to bed last night. He usually left Kili well alone when he was in this sort of mood, because he knew that eventually his brother would come to him when he was ready to talk. But the need for an answer as to why her shouted question left his brother completely speechless when he had been yelling at her full volume a mere few seconds prior continued to gnaw at him. Finally giving in, he gently tapped his brother's arm to get his attention.
"Kee?" he asked quietly, mindful of the others around them. The younger turned his head slightly toward him, though he didn't look at him directly, and Fili knew he was listening. "I need to visit the bush-er, tree. Come with me?" The younger looked up at him then in confusion, and Fili glanced toward one of the trees on the other side of a thin gap in the rocks around them, which had a small area invisible to both the camp and the surrounding plain.
Looking back at his brother, their eyes met, and the younger nodded. Standing, the elder led the way into the small area. Confused looks followed them, as there was no need for a "buddy" to visit the tree this time, considering where it was at. However, no one stopped them, for which Fili was grateful.
They ducked through the gap that led directly from their camp to the mostly enclosed area, the only opening being such a tiny one between the trunk of the tree and the plain that nothing bigger than a squirrel could squeeze through it, before Fili turned toward the younger.
"Kee, what happened last night?" he asked quietly, his voice filled with concern and confusion but still mindful of the others through the gap. "One minute, you're yelling at her loud enough for all of Middle-earth to hear, and the next minute you didn't say a word." Pain suddenly shot through Kili's eyes, and he turned away, swallowing heavily. Worry laced across Fili's face, and he closed the gap between them within half a second.
"Nadadith?" he asked in Khuzdul as he reached out to gently grasp Kili's shoulder. "What is it? Was it because Thorin was angry?" He could feel his brother trembling beneath his grasp, but the younger shook his head no.
"No, it-it wasn't Thorin," he finally stammered out. Looking up, the elder's eyes widened as the brown orbs filled with tears. "It...it was...what she said." Fili's brow furrowed in confusion.
"She said she didn't exactly plan on breaking it," he said slowly, and Kili nodded. "But no one plans on fall-" He was cut off as Kili shook his head.
"It...didn't happen when we fell," he whispered, causing the elder's eyes to widen in surprise.
"What do you mean?" he asked. "Then, if it didn't happen when you fell into the chasm, how did she break it?" Kili's eyes widened and he turned away as a tear fell down his cheek, confusing the blonde dwarf even more.
"Kee?" he asked. After a moment, the younger turned back toward him. "How did she-"
"I broke it," he admitted before Fili could repeat the entire question. His jaw dropped in shock.
"Wh-what?" he asked as he stared at his younger brother, absolutely certain he had heard wrong.
"Azog nearly found us," Kili rushed to explain. "I-I saw a tiny cave behind a waterfall in a stream, and we hid in there. Cira- she was behind me, but when Azog got into the water...we-we thought he saw us, and then..." The younger trailed off as another tear fell down his cheek, before meeting Fili's gaze.
"She was frightened, and so was I," he whispered. "She-she grabbed my shoulder, and I reached up to hold her hand. But...I thought he saw us, and...all of a sudden, he shoved that-that thing on his arm- right at my face. It-it frightened me so badly-"
"You jumped," Fili finished, the puzzle coming together now. "You squeezed her hand..." The younger nodded, shame filling his features.
"I splinted it as soon as we were far enough away," he added, "And I tried to help her whenever she needed it. I-I even...braided her hair because she couldn't do it herself." If Fili thought he had been in shock before at Kili's admission, now he was the one left speechless.
"You...braided her hair?" he asked after a moment, his eyes as wide as they would go. Kili nodded.
"A-aye," he said shakily as he visibly trembled. His face was crimson in the bit of firelight seeping through the crack. "She-she threatened to cut it off if she couldn't get it out of her face because she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to see if we were attacked. I couldn't...I couldn't just stand there and watch her do that, especially since it was my fault. I-if I hadn't broken her hand-"
"Kee," Fili interjected. "It was an accident. You didn't mean to break her hand, right?" He shook his head.
"No, I didn't, and I apologized right away when I realized it," he whispered, swallowing heavily again as he turned and glanced through the gap from where he stood. "I-I thought she had forgiven me..."
Hurt filled his eyes once more as he turned away from both the elder and the gap, and Fili suddenly understood why his brother had withdrawn into himself after her outburst. He would have been badly hurt by her words too, had he been in Kili's position.
"Kee," he said quietly, causing his brother to look back up at him, though he did not turn around. "If...if I need to have a word with her-" The younger spun around quickly, eyes wide.
"No!" he hissed. "Please, Nadad. I-I need to work this out my-" He was cut off as his brother stared at his torso, eyes wide with shock.
"Kee, how in Mahal's name did you do that?!"
XXX
Cirashala stared down at her splinted hand after she finished her supper, more confused than ever.
Something weird is going on. It doesn't hurt- at ALL.
"How on earth?" she murmured to herself, eyes wide.
"What's that?" Bofur asked next to her as he puffed on his pipe. The miner had been considerate enough to blow his pipe smoke away from her, for which she was quite grateful. She still hadn't gotten used to it, but she was trying to be respectful of their culture just the same. He sat up, still holding his pipe as he looked at her in confusion.
"I-I don't know," she stammered. "My hand, it..." Concern flitted across Bofur's face as he looked down at the bound limb.
"Do ya need me to get Oin?" he asked. She shook her head, but the miner had already turned his head.
"Oi, Oin!" he called across the fire. "Something's wrong with Cira's hand." She opened her mouth to correct him, but the healer was already on his feet. One glance at his face told her that he likely thought she'd been dumb enough to disobey his orders again, and her eyes widened.
"Lass, give me your hand," he demanded, and she immediately put it out. He glanced at it, before looking at her through narrowed eyes.
"You didn't try to take it off again, did you?" He asked. "By Durin lass- haven't I already told you-"
"I didn't try to take it off," she interrupted, shaking her head.
"Mahalu-me turg, lass! You're as stubborn as a-wait, you said you didn't try to take it off?" he corrected, looking at her in confusion as what she said sunk in. She shook her head rapidly.
"No, I didn't," she said loud enough for the deaf dwarf to hear her. Oin hummed to himself.
"Good," he said, rising to his feet. "It will heal better if you leave it alon-" She cut him off again.
"It feels better," she said, causing him to glare at her.
"Lass, I told you yesterday," he began. "Bones don't mend over-" The healer was cut off again as a very excited Fili suddenly burst through the gap he and Kili had disappeared through earlier, dragging his brother along with him.
"Oin!" he cried out, causing the dwarf in question to turn around and stare at him. "You won't believe this, but...Kili turned around quickly, and he didn't even flinch!" The healer groaned loudly.
"Has everyone in this camp lost their senses?!" he cried out, only to be quickly hushed by Dori sitting near his feet. "Cira's been almost as bad a patient as your brother, lad, but I already told you both- bones don't mend overnight!" Fili shook his head.
"But Mister Oin, you don't understand!" he argued, before looking at his brother. "Kili, tell them." Kili looked up at his brother hesitantly, before looking at the healer.
"He-he's right," he said, looking down at his torso in confusion. "I-I thought they felt better this morning, but...Mister Oin, I swear- they don't hurt at all anymore." The healer threw up his hands in desperation as he looked toward Thorin. The dwarf king sighed loudly, before pinching the bridge of his nose.
"No matter how much the two of you wish it were different, and how utterly determined you are to drive Oin to murdering his own patients, your bones are still broken," he stated firmly, clearly very annoyed. Gandalf cleared his throat awkwardly in the corner, causing fifteen pairs of eyes to look toward him in confusion.
"Um, actually, they aren't."
XXX
Every single pair of eyes widened in confusion as the dwarves, young woman, and hobbit gaped at the wizard. The dwarf king finally broke the stunned silence.
"What on earth are you talking about?" Thorin finally asked. He gestured toward Cira. "You reset the bone in her hand yourself." The wizard sighed as he followed his gaze.
"Last night, I took the liberty of mending their bones with my magic," he explained, causing both Cira and Kili's eyes to widen considerably as they gaped at the wizard. He looked back at the dwarf king, who was now visibly angry.
"You can do that?" Thorin growled. "And you didn't bother healing their wounds in the first place?!" The wizard sighed as he looked at two very baffled young people.
"I am able to do many things, and know many spells," he explained. "I can heal minor hurts, and I can mend broken bones. But I was not granted the ability to mend wounds of the flesh." Thorin clenched his fists.
"Then why didn't you do it the night they came back to us?" he growled. "Why did you make them suffer-" At his insinuation, the wizard became angry himself.
"Thorin Oakenshield, I healed their bones last night while they slept because I knew they would need to be able to defend themselves if you are attacked after I am gone," the wizard snapped. "As I said before, I have more power than even you lot know. But I am not here solely so you can find your way out of every scrap and tumble you put yourselves in.
"My power is my own, to use as I see fit," he finished, glaring at the dwarf king. "You will forgive me if I did not heal their bones sooner thanyou would have wished. I had my reasons for doing so, if you must know, and I might have not done it at all and allowed them to heal naturally. But considering what happened the last time I left you all alone, I began to feel it more prudent to heal their bones first and spare myself an unneeded headache. And with you lot, believe me- I get them far more than I wish to. Be happy they're healed, and leave it at that."
With one last glare daring anyone else to challenge him, the wizard stalked back to his bedroll and sat down, pulling the brim of his hat over his face without another word.
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A response to guest reviewer Guest: Thanks! Yes, yes he does. As another reader so eloquently put it- "If a wizard who knew ten score (80) different spells in the tongues of men, elves, and orcs to open hidden dwarf doors at Moria, then I imagine he has something in his spell arsenal to help with broken bones." ;) You're very welcome and happy new year to you too! :)
A response to guest reviewer Kaia: Thanks! I'm glad it did- it has been simmering for a couple of days now :) I hope to- at the moment I'm not feeling well and working on a nasty headache, but hopefully this bug will be short lived :(
Many thanks to all who review, favorite, and follow (a note to reviewers- fan fiction is refusing to acknowledge that I have reviews nor is it letting me reply to them through the notification link, so if you sent me a review but do not allow private messaging, I will reply this way (as if you were a guest reviewer) until FF gets the issue resolved (it's been going since December 28th, and I have an email out to tech support but haven't yet heard back). Fingers crossed that they figure it out soon!
But still- please review anyway for story stats (some people read reviews before deciding to read something), and then you can copy and paste the review and send it to me via pm before you post it through the review box :) I'd greatly appreciate it! Thanks! :D :D :D