Chapter Text
Bilbo, as most Hobbits would be in the wider world, preferred to remain unnoticed. Indeed, as the company's burglar this was his job. Running away from an orc pack on whargs seemed to him a perfectly legitimate reason to remain unnoticed and the best time to slip away. Now hiding as all fourteen of their company were, pressed against a rock, Belladonna's son didn't stop to think that all these thoughts racing through his mind were anything less than completely logical and altogether rational. The rest of the company stood silent, waiting for a sign from Thorin to move, but they could all hear the low growls of the wharg just above them on the heights. A slow swish of a blade came from above and he had just enough time to glance to the side, catching the nod from Thorin.
The master of their company had not nodded to him; Bilbo only had to detach his head from the wall for a split second to see Kili on the other side of their leader. Surely he felt much as Bilbo did, because at Thorin's nod, his lips pursed and he glanced down to the bow in his hand, as though running through the options in his mind. But even that seemed a split second to Bilbo. Drawing an arrow and nocking it, Kili pushed off the wall and into view of the orc above.
Bilbo did not like the accompanying snarl, could see nothing so he shut his eyes for a split moment, heard the zing of an arrow, the wounded whine of the orc and the wharg and then the deep tumble as both fell from above into the grass just to his right. Kili fired another arrow before the orc could blow his horn; Dwalin and Bifur sprang forwards, dispatching the orc and wharg respectively. Bilbo kept his back against the wall, more than ready to melt straight into the stone as their deed echoed through the Lonelands.
And then they were running; wherever Radagast had gone, the wizard could no longer help deter the orcs of the hunting party from their prey.
"We're surrounded!" Fili called back to Thorin, both of his blades out, standing nearly exactly as Thorin stood. Thorin's only response was one word.
"Kili!"
But Fili's brother was already letting arrows fly as fast as he could, the quiver at his back beginning to run low. Gandalf had disappeared, the other dwarves were muttering in consternation as they pulled together in a semicircle with another stone to their back, Thorin's deep bass echoing as he shouted, "prepare for battle!" They didn't need to hide anymore; they were prey and they'd been cornered.
"This way, you fools!" Bilbo needed no second bidding as Gandalf popped up between the rock that Bilbo now realized was actually two, following him down as one by one the others came as well at Thorin's command. Dwalin, Balin, Dori were at his side a moment later, before he could pick himself up. Above them, they could see Thorin standing on the smaller rock that guarded this hidden cave of sorts, blade gleaming in the sunlight. They could see it flash, Thorin's foot planted firmly on the rock as he twisted to dispatch an orc that came too close. Blood washed down the blade and into the grooves of the Elvish runes.
The other dwarves were picking themselves up, pulling back so the remainder of their company to slip through and have space to tumble to the floor as they all had. Bilbo looked back up to the sunlight, breath caught in his throat; Bifur, Nori, Oin, Gloin...8, 9, 10...
"Fili!" He could just barely see Thorin's blade flash as he caught the younger dwarf's attention, though Bilbo felt he didn't need to guess at what currently occupied Fili's attention. The blonde dwarf appeared at the top of the rock, twin blades flashing. Bilbo could just barely see Fili from his view, only half of Thorin, but Fili stopped, gaze focused to the east behind the King.
"Thorin!" The word of warning came both too early and too late; an arrow from behind - the direction Fili had just come from - slammed into the younger dwarf, knocking him off balance. He tumbled into the cave at Thorin's cry for him; blades clattering against the smooth stone, the shaft of the arrow breaking off during his fall.
Almost immediately the dwarves in the cave were pushing forwards, but Bilbo managed to dash forwards on soundless hobbit feet, standing at Fili's side just as Bofur and Gloin knelt next to their comrade.
"Easy, lad," Bofur and Gloin caught a grip on his clothing and quickly tugged him backwards, not a moment too soon, as Kili and finally Thorin slid down into the cave. Somewhere up above a strange horn sounded, but none focused on it, least of all Kili or Thorin.
"Fili?!" Kili looked shocked to see Bofur and Gloin helping his older brother into a seated position, but the look on Thorin's face told him that something had happened.
"I'm alright, Kili," the older of the two, somewhat breathlessly, replied. "It's just a poorly-aimed arrow, that's all."
"Poorly-aimed then it couldn't have been one of mine." Kili didn't miss a beat, pushing through past Bilbo to be at his brother's side, taking Gloin's place and helping Fili all the way back to his feet.
"Shaft snapped off, tip's still in though, looks deep." Bofur, on Fili's other side, carefully inspected the wound and two inches of crudely carved wood sticking out of Fili's right shoulder as Thorin picked up the shaft that had broken off.
"Best to leave it where it is," Oin called, a touch more loudly, especially in the echo of the small cave. He pushed through to get a better look, a quick look. "Comes out now and we'll have a time stopping the bleeding."
"Can you stand it just a bit longer, lad?" Bofur asked, the kindness in the toy-maker's voice seemingly perfect in that moment. Behind them something heavy thudded into the cave and they whirled about, blades drawn, but the orc was already dead. Thorin pulled out the arrow from its throat, inspected it, then threw it away in disgust, cursing out, "elves. Fili."
Something must have been said, or left unsaid, because Bilbo watched Fili look carefully towards the older dwarf and nod. "I'm alright." Thorin's lips pursed rather tightly at the response and he studied the younger dwarf for a moment, but Gandalf moving at his side diverted his attention. Bilbo didn't think he would ever find out what they'd said to each other in that moment without words.
"I dinnae know where the pathway leads. Do we follow it?" Dwalin's heavily accented voice boomed back to them where he stood in a shaft of sunlight at the back of the cave.
"Follow it, of course!" Bofur's response seemed that much more pressing as he stood next to Fili, knowing that however 'alright' the lad said he was, he still had an arrow in his shoulder. Kili seemed to think the same thing and he stayed close to his brother's side. Thorin stepped forwards long enough to hand Fili his blades silently, and with a grimace, the older of the brothers slid them into the cross-back double scabbard, one blade coming to rest with the hilt just above the arrow. Bilbo noted the grimace that found its way onto Kili's face in the same moment as his brother's had.
They filed through the gap in the rocks one at a time, and just in front of him, Kili was forced to move behind his brother rather than next to him as the path became too narrow. Thorin and Gandalf brought up the rear and Bilbo could hear them speaking quietly, quickly to each other. He doubted it to be a conversation he should hear, but one glance behind told him that both Thorin and Gandalf were keeping a close eye on the older of their two scouts.
Fili and Kili seemed as silent as Gandalf and Thorin seemed to be quietly arguing over something. The two younger dwarves stood side by side where they could, shoulders touching, and occasionally a glance from Kili to his brother seemed to be all that they both needed. Steadily the tunnel widened and brightened until all at once it ended, leaving the company on a ledge overlooking the most beautiful city to exist above-ground. Fili's shoulders straightened as he stood next to his brother, right arm now crossed across his chest to keep from jostling the wound.
Imladris.
Rivendell.
"You've brought us here purposefully," came Thorin's response, that Bilbo could hear behind him. Thorin, lips pressed together as they ever seemed to be- was not pleased in the slightest. His voice contained the dark edge of prejudice that he harbored always for the race of Elves. "Gandalf, they will attempt to stop us-"
"Of course they will. But we need food, rest, answers-" Gandalf's gaze flicked towards Fili, "-and healing. Whatever ill will you might have, we will find safety here for as much time as we may need. Remember that, Master Dwarf, for we will arrive as welcomed guests. Do nothing that will reverse such good will."
If Thorin had wanted to continue arguing, the glance towards Fili seemed to halt him and instead he kept his lips pressed tightly together, but ultimately motioned for the company to follow.
As suspicious as dwarves were, they couldn't help themselves as they entered the Last Homely House of Elrond, allowing Gandalf to do the talking. Most of what was said they could not understand, but some things needed no translation. Bilbo noticed out of the corner of his eye - as Gandalf spoke with the elf who had come to greet them - that Fili subtly shifted enough to lean against his brother. Outwardly the movement so small few might have noticed; they remained shoulder to shoulder, but Kili's stance shifted almost imperceptibly, bearing more of his brother's weight, hands half-clenched at his sides.
The same horn they'd heard out on the Lonelands sounded again, accompanied by hoof-beats that took them all by surprise.
"Close ranks!" Thorin's blade, immediately unsheathed, gleamed in the sunlight as he pushed towards Fili and Kili, the other dwarves immediately closing around their scouts. Bofur's hand shot out to grasp Bilbo's collar, tugging him into their circle just as the Elven war party cantered into the courtyard, circling about and eyeing the newcomers who had their blades drawn. Fili's jaw clenched through all the jostling and stuck in the center as they were, he and his brother had no room to draw their blades, much less Kili's bow, but his left hand strayed to the blade stowed away in his gauntlet, half-unsheathed.
Finally the hunting party stopped and Gandalf bowed courteously, extending his arms.
"Lord Elrond, mellon nin."
Introductions were not made until well after the two had had a conversation in Elvish, only then did Elrond turn to the company, not that Thorin made his introduction anything but civil, and even that could be argued. But something held his tongue, something kept his fingers clenched tightly around his blade, and something kept his body completely wound, as though to stop himself. Elrond studied him silently, studied the rest of the company, before he held out his arms much as Gandalf had.
"Welcome to Rivendell, Thorin Oakenshield and company. Whether you wish food, rest-" his gaze slid past Thorin and into the center of the group, "-or healing, you shall not be in want of anything. Please, come."
Only then did the dwarves slowly sheath their blades, following Thorin across the causeway and further into Rivendell. Fili couldn't have been more relieved when their close formation finally loosened and he could breathe without the almost sure chance that someone would jostle his shoulder.
"Are you alright?" Kili whispered, not wishing to draw attention. Fili shot his brother a sideways glance, wrinkled his nose in a half-smirk.
"I have an arrow in my shoulder. It's not the most pleasant of experiences, no. But I'll live."
Certainly he preferred to have it taken care of sooner, rather than later, however.