Chapter Text
The eagles circled a high, natural pillar nestled in the mountain range and Ori could feel Dori’s hands tighten around his waist as the first eagle gently set Thorin upon the ground, flying off as Gandalf leapt off the eagle carrying him a moment later. One by one the eagles dropped them off upon the stone. Ori stumbled at the contact, legs shaky from the adrenaline of hanging over a cliff, only to grip the eagle tightly with his legs right after. A hand shot out and caught his arm and he looked up, surprised to see Nori next to him, gazing at him with soft, concerned eyes. His smile was breathless, relieved, but Dori stepped up before he could speak. Nori let go, took a step back as Dori quickly checked their younger brother over.
“I’m alright. I’m alright, Dori,” he said quickly, causing Dori’s wandering hands to still on his shoulder. Ori looked for Nori, but his brother had already moved off to where the others were gathered.
“Where is he? Where is he?!” Ori was surprised to hear the intensity of Thorin’s words when he’d just a moment ago seen him unconscious or worse upon the stone. The others were pressed hard together, Ori could barely see to the front, but he heard Thorin reprimanding Bilbo in front of the company.
“…I have never been so wrong in my life.” Ori knew his mouth fell open in shock when Thorin was suddenly hugging their burglar! Their leader didn’t seem to notice the others watching, gazing out across the forests before him to a single peak upon the horizon.
“Is that it? Is that the Lonely Mountain?” Bilbo didn’t ask anyone in particular, but it was Gandalf who responded.
“Aye, Master Hobbit. Erebor, home of the Dwarf Lords.”
“Thorin!”
Dwalin’s voice cut through the company as easily as the weapons master could barge through a crowd. They all turned to look, parting as Thorin strode quickly to his nephews. Ori felt his breath catch when he saw Fili and Kili both on the ground, their archer seated with one leg bent to support his brother’s head.
“We have to get him help, Thorin,” Oin said from their leader’s side, moving to kneel next to the scouts, touching a hand to Fili’s cheek.
“He burns.” Kili swept tangled blonde strands out of his brother’s face, surprise and something altogether darker coloring his voice. Oin looked to the makeshift bandage over Fili’s wound, frowning deeply. Fili’s breathing hitched when Oin’s touch came near, but he gave no other reaction.
“There is little we can do here.” Thorin looked to the others, scanned the company before looking back to his nephews, though speaking to them all. “We must get down from the mountain, find shelter.”
“I’ve been with you longer than intended, but now is not the time to depart. I believe I know where help can be found.” Gandalf scanned the horizon and looked to Thorin. All of them could feel the urgency amongst them now.
“Dwalin.”
The weapons master needed no further bidding; he nodded and moved to Kili’s side, leaning down and pulling Fili up into his arms. Fili, still unconscious, hardly noticed the change in position. Ori knew that Dwalin, with his jaw set, wasn’t going to let Fili go until it was absolutely safe.
And if the situation hadn’t been so dire, he knew he might have appreciated the beauty around them much more. What he did perceive he noticed only by necessity.
Stone steps had been carved into the rock, making the descent much easier and actually possible for Dwalin with his cargo. Kili stayed close to the older dwarf, walking in front so he might turn every so often to see his brother. Fili hadn’t changed.
Up ahead, Gandalf could be heard speaking to Bilbo, something about a Carrock, which Ori assumed they were climbing right then. Maneuvering until he stood next to Kili, the scribe waited a moment before saying quietly, “He’ll be alright. They’ll take care of him.”
Kili’s lips pursed, dark eyes locked onto Thorin’s back, though he didn’t immediately speak. Ori could almost feel the anger radiating off of his friend in alternating waves of flame and ice, something so volatile simmering just beneath the surface that he involuntarily took a step away from Thorin’s younger nephew. If Kili noticed Ori’s reaction, he said nothing of it.
“I know he will.”
The gruff words almost startled him; he hadn’t expected Kili to speak. Kili’s voice had a roughness around the edges that Ori assumed came from the deep, bruising welts around his neck.
Ori glanced behind at Fili, wondered what the older would say to his brother in that moment, but Fili’s eyes were closed, the blonde braids and tangled strands hanging over Dwalin’s arm as the larger dwarf held him firmly, focusing on his footing as they descended.
Once they reached the bottom, Thorin turned to the others behind who were still descending.
“We’ll rest here. Dwalin, Oin.” He didn’t need to say more than that. Stepping down to the suddenly lush grass, Ori looked around. A clear stream flowed past, what appeared to be large pebbles-turned-walking-stones dropped in the center as a bridge over the water. Just beyond, the forest began, thick and nearly impenetrable. Turning to the others, he realized the base of the plinth had a fairly large cave, strewn with moss, carved into it. Dwalin set Fili on one of the moss-covered ledges near the entrance, Oin, Kili, and Thorin quickly following the weapons master inside.
In the second group to reach the bottom, Bifur helped his cousin limp into the cave as well and take a seat, though both – like the others - had their attention on Fili, lying across the way.
Thorin’s heir had yet to regain consciousness. Kili hovered near the entrance, pacing back and forth with his arms crossed over his chest. Every now and again he would turn, look to his brother, to Thorin standing just to the side, his gaze never leaving Fili. Ori took a step towards Kili, wanted to say something to help, but what? He took another step, only to feel a hand touch down on his shoulder.
“Let’s get water for everyone,” Dori said quietly, motioning to the stream. They had no supplies, had lost their packs, but some had their water-skins attached to the belt. Ori felt for his own and followed Dori to the stream; behind them he saw Nori step up to Kili and say something quietly to him, pulling the archer from whatever dark thoughts occupied him. Ori felt the cool water washing the dust and grime of Goblintown away. He took a quick drink before moving to the others, passing the water about. He handed the water to Bofur, who thanked him and immediately took a sip. Up close, Ori could see that the miner had a rather long, deep gash in his thigh, slow blood still dripping where it had not congealed.
“Worse’n it looks, lad.” Ori started, looked up to see Bofur watching him. He played the wound down, but Ori could see from the paleness beneath the dirt smeared across his face that the miner needed time to recover as much as Fili did. Bofur handed the skin to his cousin; the toymaker took a swig and then handed it back to Ori.
“What happened?” Ori finally ventured to ask, distantly knowing he should remember for when he found another book to record their travels. Bofur rubbed a hand down his beard, still good-natured, as always.
“Standin’ on the wrong side o’ a goblin blade is all. Wee bridge collapsin’ didn’t help much either.” He motioned towards the others. “Much obliged t’ye for the water, lad. Sure the others are a mite thirsty too.”
Ori quickly realized the hint and nodded to the cousins, turning to see Dori standing with Dwalin and Thorin, both more focused on Fili than water, but Dori knew how to be insistent, even with them. Ori couldn’t help a faint smile as his oldest brother managed to get Thorin to take a sip, but then Ori was moving to Kili’s side a moment later, surprised to find Nori still with him. Kili had just taken a seat leaning against the wall just outside the cave, close to his brother, but not where he could see Fili. Nori knelt at the archer’s side and Ori could see his brother’s deft fingers working at the broken manacle still locked around Kili’s wrist. Ori knelt down and held the water out to his friend, refusing to take no for an answer. Kili seemed to realize this, because after a moment of simply staring, he accepted the water and took a quick swallow. A faint click echoed and the manacle fell from Kili’s wrist barely a moment later, revealing the raw skin beneath. Kili handed the water back to Ori and nodded his thanks to Nori before rising, disappearing back into the cave.
“Nori-“
Shocked, he wanted to ask how his brother had done that so quickly, but Nori had already slipped away. Following him to the water would be easy enough, but he heard voices inside the cave and immediately darted forwards to see what was happening.
Getting to Beorn’s had not been the easiest task. They all knew there was the hope of food, drink, rest, and healing, somewhere up ahead, but with Fili still unconscious and Dwalin forced to carry him, the going had been far too slow for Ori’s liking, much less Kili’s, as he could see. At the edge of the forest, Gandalf had halted them, insisting that they wait until the proper moment to make their presence known. Ori could hardly believe that they would have to enter two at a time every five minutes and that had been perhaps even more frustrating. Gandalf and Bilbo left first, taking a path that Ori hadn’t even realized was there. They’d all agreed that getting Fili to safety took priority, though Kili despised being forced to leave his brother’s side. Five minutes after they’d gone, Kili and Oin had stepped in, the dark-haired archer taking one last look at his brother before disappearing into the trees.
Those five minutes had seemed interminable; every eye was on Fili to make sure that he was alright for the few moments they were separated from his brother and their healer. At a nod from Thorin, Dwalin made sure the scout was secure in his arms before he followed the same path. Bofur and Bifur had gone next, and once all those injured had vanished into the trees, Ori could only wait anxiously until they’d all made it through. With Dori at his side, they finally all but ran through the trees, coming upon a wide clearing with a house that loomed large above them.
He’d decided upon meeting Beorn that he would happily never get on the man’s bad side. Ori thought a grip of those massive hands would uproot a tree. Beorn could probably bop Smaug on the head and send him scampering away like a naughty dragonling. At least, Ori enjoyed entertaining the thought. More importantly, Beorn had supplied Oin with the bandages and medicinal herbs he needed to help the older of their two scouts.
“His wounds are numerous and deep, Sire,” Balin reported to Thorin and the others as he stepped away from Oin and Fili to deliver the news. Dwalin had placed Thorin’s nephew upon the blankets laid out before the fire, one of Beorn’s massive pillows supporting his head. Kili had helped to remove his brother’s layers a second time but now stood pacing as Oin worked steadily to cleanse and bandage his wounds. Ori, sitting back on his heels next to Oin, held a bowl of warm water mixed with athelas which Oin dipped a bloodied cloth into every few moments, using the mixture to clean away the blood from the jagged gash the arrow wound in Fili’s shoulder had become.
It was hard not to stare at Fili; seated as close as he was, Ori could see the sweat beading upon his friend’s brow, sticking already matted blond hair against his temples. He still had not regained consciousness since losing it upon the eagle’s back.
“He burns with fever; his body is fighting to heal such an injury.”
Ori finally tore his gaze away from Fili to look over his shoulder, watching Balin deliver the news to Thorin and the others. Thorin, arms crossed over his chest, stood with both feet planted just before one of the windows. Kili had been pacing but now stopped, listening just as intently to Balin’s words with the same murderous look from earlier still darkening his features. Dwalin’s massive tattooed arms bulged when he crossed them over his chest in obvious displeasure at the news and Bofur shook his head from where he was seated, Bombur next to him, his injured leg extended before him, haphazardly bandaged and waiting for Oin’s attention after Fili had been helped. Thorin’s expression did not change.
“How long will he need to recover enough to continue on?”
“At least a week, Thorin.” Balin looked over his shoulder to the younger dwarf, saw Ori looking over his shoulder to all of them and Ori quickly turned back to Fili and Oin, as though he’d been caught shirking his duties.
“Our window of time is running out.” Thorin frowned, turning to the window behind him to see the last rays of the sun setting behind the trees, bathing the sky blood orange.
“Fili is hurt. He’s hurt and if you had done something to protect him perhaps you would not be so upset that he’s altering your elaborate and important plans, Thorin.”
Kili’s words, low, venomous, had the entire company save Fili looking to the younger scout, many with ill-disguised shock on their faces. Ori knew he had the same look on his own. Thorin’s gaze clouded in clear ire.
“There are fourteen members to my company, Kili. I do not protect merely one. It is my duty to protect as many as I possibly can.”
The dangerous tone they all detected in his voice did not stop his nephew, who responded with perhaps even more spite, a simmering caustic fury bubbling beneath the surface.
“So you would sacrifice my brother to prove something? You would do nothing while they are torturing him because mayhap they will not notice you and hurt you instead? He’s already hurt, so if he’s hurt again at least he will still be the only one?” Kili pointed back towards Bofur, seated with Oin at his side tending to his wound now that Fili had been tended. “If that is your plan, then you’ve made a grave error, Thorin.”
Thorin’s shoulders straightened with barely disguised irritation; he stared down the few inches to his nephew’s furious gaze.
“If it were possible, I would gladly take all of his pain, Kili. Fili’s sacrifice kept the attention of our enemies from the rest of us. A true leader looks to the protection of his men. Fili knows this. He did not choose to be that sacrifice, and yet he did everything he could to keep all of us safe, to keep you safe, even as you consistently attempted to draw the attention to yourself.” Thorin threw up his hand before Kili could interrupt him, but Ori could see Kili’s shoulders rise as he inhaled quickly, hands curling into fists at his sides.
“And what then, Kili? If you’d drawn attention to yourself sooner, how much help would you be to Fili right now? Did you not think that you would not be here to protect him if you’d been caught within that machine a moment longer? He protected you, as he protected us all. And you have the chance to protect him, protect us all, just as we all protect each other.” The exiled King’s voice had become dangerously low and sharp; he leaned closer to Kili, making it harder for Ori to hear the words that passed between them. “Every dwarf in this company is here for a reason, Kili: a reason of my own and a reason of their own. I know my reasons for your presence here, and for Fili’s. But what is yours? What would you die for? What is worth your life, Kili?”
Kili’s eyes narrowed, but for all the interrupting he wanted to do, this time he had nothing to say. The pause dragged, heavy and dark between them, but Thorin let it linger for several moments before he straightened again, placed a distance back between them. Blue eyes shifted to the blonde scout lying upon the rugs before the fire. Dark eyes followed.
“Did you not stop to think that perhaps to Fili, your life is worth dying for?” Thorin’s voice, still quiet, was no longer sharp but carefully-controlled, soft upon the edges now as he spoke to his younger nephew, knowing that Kili’s gaze was on his brother. “Know what you would die for, sister-son, because until then, you do not know yourself. And not knowing is a disadvantage to us and an advantage to our enemies. Your half-knowledge may cost more than one life before this quest is done. We speak no more of this.”
And when Thorin turned away to speak with Balin once more, Ori noticed that Kili’s hands were still faintly shaking, fists still clenched.
The firelight danced across Fili's hair, but lying on his side away from the glow as he was, only shadows embraced his features. Ori could only faintly see his expression, drawn in pain even as he slept. Silhouetted, the fire washed the white bandages around his shoulder and chest an even brighter, starker white against the gold of his skin and hair. Supper at Beorn’s too-large table only a short while ago had been a quiet affair; Fili hadn’t woken up then and still hadn’t woken. Ori wished he would, knew that Kili wished it too, though the younger of the scouts would never admit to it.
Kili sat as close to his brother as he dared, one knee drawn up, the other leg curved so his ankle tucked into the space created by the bend of his other leg. The black-haired archer had his forearm resting on his knee and Ori could see the deep frown marring Dis's younger son's face as he studied the broken bow in his hands, absently placing the two pieces of wood together, fitting them perfectly. Sighing deeply enough that his shoulders rose and fell with the movement, Kili set the bow in his lap and rubbed a hand over his temples and eyes, his other hand dropping to cover his brother's almost subconsciously, as though to see if he'd moved at all.
Ori didn't want to interrupt, but he found that sitting just off to the side, he could offer an ear if Kili wanted it, but be far enough away in case the archer wanted the privacy.
"He'll wake up when he's good and ready."
Ori tore his gaze away from Kili when Dori came to sit at his side, slowly, minding his joints, which Ori always found part amusing (given all the fighting and running they'd done) and part terrifying, to see any signs of age in his oldest brother. Dori nodded to Fili, drawing Ori's gaze back to the scout.
"Of course, we all wish he would not wait quite so long."
"It's not Fili that worries me," Ori admitted, voice so quiet that the crackling of the fire almost covered some of his syllables. Realizing how hesitant he sounded, he quickly added, "I mean, I'm worried. But...I'm worried for Kili too."
"Kili's strong. He'll be strong for the both of them."
"Doesn't mean he's used to this, Dori." Ori looked over to his brother and then scanned the room, trying to find Nori. He hadn't spent much time with his brother and yet he'd spent more time with him on this journey than ever before. "I wouldn't want to...to be without either of you right here. Especially not right now, not out here in the wild."
Dori seemed to know exactly who his younger brother was looking for, because he looked up himself, searching the room. They both spotted Nori at the same time, closer than expected, hidden away in the shadows created by Beorn's large table blocking the firelight. Still, in the dimness, the three triangles of his red hair seemed to be a fire of their own. Nori had a clear view of the room, even if he didn't seem to be looking up, but focused instead on the small medal device he held in his hands. Ori didn't know what it was, hadn't been able to get an answer from his brother. Every time he thought to ask, Nori had disappeared before he could even come closer. Watching his brother now, Ori was startled when Nori's gaze suddenly came up and locked straight on him, waited a moment, and then looked back down again. Sighing, the scribe shifted next to his oldest brother, looking back to Kili again.
The archer hadn't moved from Fili's side and Ori didn’t expect he would. Ori had a close bond with Dori, but Dori was still many years older. Fili? Fili and Kili were but seven years apart, could not remember living without the other there. Sometimes Ori envied them but now, watching Kili look, well, lost, all he could wish was that the older of his two friends would just wake up.
“The rest will do him good.” Dori seemed to sense his younger brother’s thoughts. “And when Kili sleeps, the rest will help him as well. This journey will not be easy. We will all suffer before it is over, Ori. It is best to be prepared for whatever might happen. Be there for your friends. They will need you, even if they do not say.”
“You know I will,” Ori said quietly, watching as Kili said something to his brother, too softly for Ori to hear. “I just wish there were more that I could do.”
“So do we all, Ori.” Dori placed a hand on his younger brother’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “So do we all.”
And Ori wished those words were enough, but he could not help the unease steadily growing within his heart.