27Merry Christmas everyone! This chapter should have been uploaded weeks ago, I am so sorry for the delay! I just arrived home after seeing the new Hobbit movie, Battle of the Five Armies and I will admit I cried, ALOT. Anyways, it was what I needed to finish this chapter and I hope you enjoy. I plan on summing this story up very soon!
He heard a loud shout from the direction of the tent. A small figure stood waving his hands in the air, before giving up on sending the message loud enough, and broke out in a sprint. Kili was running as fast as he could manage across the uneven ground towards the campfire. Dwalin stood, a dread taking over that something terrible had befallen his king. This was until he spotted the large smile plastered on the youngest prince's face. He looked like a small child again, running with his arms flailing and his hair in his eyes.
"He's awake! Balin Thorin's awake come quick!"
Many of the company members woke due to the commotion that the archer was causing, stunned by the sudden loud outburst. Bofur was the first to his feet, and grabbed Kili as he went to run past. Balin had just sat by the fire when his name was called, and left his meal unattended as he now made his way at a fast pace towards the tent. Dwalin wanted to go with his brother, but knew that Oin would get flustered with too many dwarves around the stretcher. He saw the young archer now in an in depth conversation with Bofur, and argued with himself as to whether or not it was a good idea to approach after Kili's recent reaction.
He didn't feel out of place at all, he was overjoyed, and this made him feel unstoppable. He ran fast, and could feel his feet slipping, his ankles bending to awkward angles as he tread heavily on rabbit holes. He didn't feel the need to slow down however. I remembered. At one sight of his uncle he knew who he was, he didn't even have to think. His face was so familiar and his tangled black hair didn't seem to have changed from when he practiced braiding as a small boy. A memory… an actual memory…
The dwarf with the white hair that he had briefly seen earlier when Fili was sneaking him out of bed now stood and looked in his direction. As he neared the fire members of the company rose from sleep and began to stand. A dwarf that was ahead of him with a ridiculous hat was the first on his feet. He hadn't planned on stopping, he needed to get to Balin, but the dwarf whom he would soon learn was known as Bofur grabbed his arm as he ran by.
"Kili lad you shouldn't be running around! You're supposed to be resting!"
This statement was followed by a slight pause before a huge smile came over the hatted dwarfs face before he pulled the young prince into a hug.
"I was so worried about you lad, I would have never thought you would have surv-" He stopped himself from finishing what he was about to say, and simply summed up his joy by pulling the archer into a tighter embrace.
"…well I'm just glad you came back" He took of his torn and battered hat, and pulled it over Kili's ears.
"Just stay warm, its cold tonight…now tie up your jacket, you better get back inside"
A tender feeling built inside him, his brother was right about the others care for him. He felt the smooth leather wings of the tattered hat again, he was warmer than he had ever been before.
"I remember you Bofur… my mother used to buy toys from you when I was a boy. Made from fine timber with brilliant carving, I never thought I would ever be glad to see this hat of yours"
With that Bofur wrapped a hand around Kili's shoulder and led him to the warmth of the fire, where some of the others had now seated themselves after being woken. He could see the tall bald dwarf known as Dwalin standing in their path, and felt nothing but guilt after his earlier misperception of his old warrior friend. He pulled away from Bofur who smiled slightly before moving on without him, leaving him to talk to the large battle-worn dwarf on his own. Dwalin was staring at his feet, and seemed to be in a distant place. He approached slowly, not wanting to startle him, and pull him from his thoughts so quickly.
"Mister Dwalin, how could I have ever forgotten?" He felt his chest tighten, how did he forget the dwarf who was by his family's side all those years, a loyal follower of the line of Durin. "If I had known I would have never- I am so sorry"
Dwalin did not shift his gaze, eyes fixed on the ground beneath his boots. The young princes' apology was useless, and he could feel his eyes beginning to water as he waited a moment before turning towards the tent. That was, until an unexpected hand gripped his arm and pulled him backwards. The fur from the warriors' jacket pressed against Kili's face, and a pair of heavy arms were wrapped around his back cradling him tightly. He didn't remember Dwalin being fond of hugs, but as he ended the embrace the smirk on his face told Kili that his apology was excepted.
"There is no need for that mawkish nonsense lad, you should not have to ask for forgiveness from me. I am just glad to see you safe and to have you with us again."
With that he grabbed Kili's arm and led him to the fireside where the others were seated. He was surrounded by faces that seemed familiar and others he had no recollection of, but each and every one of them appeared glad to see him and so he was intent on befriending them all again, sure that he would remember in time. They were all different, all so unique; each ones hair different from the next, but all just as merry as they shared songs and tales with much laughter and excitement. He knew he belonged here amongst them.
Thorin's smile slowly faded from his face. Oin was beginning to cut away his bandages, and Fili watched as his uncle winced, his grip tightening and muscles tensing in pain. It was a long process, and the young prince was finding it hard to keep the strength to stay by the stretcher. He hated seeing his kin injured, and the sight of Thorin's wounds was fast approaching as the cloth became more dense and blood-soaked in Oins hands.
"You might want to go and join the others outside Fili, I think it would be best for you to not see this"
Balin stood above him, offering to take his place. He stood from the stool he was seated on and allowed the white haired dwarf to sit, not wanting to witness the damage done to his Uncle by the beast that Kili had slain. He desired to be there to comfort him, but saw that Thorin's hand was held firmly in his old friends and knew that he would have enough relief.
"Thankyou Balin"
He moved away hastily as Oin walked towards the bed with the small bowl he had used earlier to mix a remedial blend. He turned before opening the door and watched as the healer lowered a clean cloth to his King's chest. A loud and sudden cry of pain caused Balin to stand and hold the writhing figure down on the bed, and Fili closed his eyes in shock and upset before pushing his way out into the open. To the young prince the reaction was unexpected, and he stood frozen in the chill outside, drawing cold air into his lungs in deep breaths that pained his chest. He looked ahead and tried his best to block out the cries that sounded behind him, focusing on the fire ahead. He was thankful that Balin had taken his place.
Expressions on the faces of the company changed and the laughter quickly ended. Bofur watched as the dark haired prince stood beside him and stared at the tent. The cries of pain were followed by a figure stumbling from the door, his blonde hair visible in the dim light.
"Fili…"
It was just a whisper that he was not supposed to hear, that the young prince had meant for only his brother. Kili removed the hat that had been placed on his head moments earlier and slowly made his way around Bombur and Dori's legs before walking towards Fili who looked as though he was about to collapse. Bofur could only imagine what both boys were feeling and wished it would be over soon, and that Thorin would be healed and rested enough to continue on the journey. The cries echoed once more and his focus was now on Ori, who was seated in the dirt at his feet, flinching with every pained sound that followed. He placed a comforting hand on the scribes shoulder before leaning down closer.
"Thorin will be fine lad, but there is a means to healin' the injured, and it isn't always pain free. But he is strong, and we know that he can get through it"
Ori didn't turn to face him, but he knew that he had heard, as the sensitive dwarf nodded his head slightly. He sat tall again and received a thankful look from Nori, before he turned his attention to Kili, who was now rocking his older brother as they sat together in the grass. Fili's trembling form made Bofur want to stand and join the archer in comforting him, but he knew it was not his place, and thought it best to leave them console one another.
It was then he wondered where Gandalf had disappeared to yet again, as he had my times on the journey, and hoped he would rejoin soon. The wizard's wise words always seemed to calm those in his presence, the ability to shed light on situations that seemed otherwise dark, an ability that in the current predicament was valued. Until such a time that he arrived however, Bofur could do nothing but comfort those around him, and try to give them hope.