To Love a Half-Blood (A Kili Fanfic)

Chapter 44: Knowing

I'm "woken up" by a loud knock on my door and an order to meet at the front gate. I change into my armor in the bathroom and strap on my knives. I return to find Bilbo sitting cross-legged on the floor, running a stone along the blade of his little sword.

"I see we have had similar thoughts." I chuckle sadly, waving at my own weapons.

"It is only a precaution. They will understand. Plus, I need something to protect Thorin with don't I?" He sheaths his weapon and we walk downstairs together.

The entire army is awake and buzzing with anticipation. Bilbo and I snake our way to the main gate and then climb the innumerable steps to the top. The elves' golden armor glitters in the sunlight, making me blink at the light.

We are indeed surrounded.

The original thirteen company members are already here. Kili meets my eyes for a moment but quickly turns away. Thorin stands close to the edge, looking out over the land, speaking with my father. Bilbo tenses up beside me at the sight. I look down to see his white-knuckled grip on his sword.

"Do not fear. As long as Thorin is in plain sight, he is safe." I whisper.

Bilbo nods and loosens his hold a bit.

"I should warn him." The hobbit mumbles.

I grab him by the arm and pull him roughly away from the others.

"You will do no such thing!" I hiss.

He is going to get us both killed!

"How do you plan to explain this to him? Huh?...'Oh yes Thorin, I was just casually sitting in Larien's bedroom at four in the morning for no suspicious reasons at all. Oh yes, and then I heard Dain, your trusted friend, talking about how he wants to kill you. Oops! Almost forgot one thing! Larien slept with your nephew!' Is that your plan? Because its not a great one Mr. Baggins! Its not a great one."I snap.

"It's the right thing to do! He has the right to know that he's in danger- You slept with Kili?!" Bilbo's eyes are wide in shock... or horror, I'm not sure.

"Shh! Not so loud. Plus I didn't really sleep with him..."

"Fili is gonna kill you!"

"Be quiet! It wasn't like that! We need to stop an assassination and not get killed as traitors."

"Yes. As I said, we need to warn Thorin."

"So he can do what? Fight the army of 500 dwarves at Dain's command? That's a real gem of an idea."

"Stop it with the sarcasm. It isn't helping! Do you have a better plan?"

"We wait. We lay low and keep Thorin safe. If we both get tossed out of here it won't do him much good."

Our discussion is interrupted by commotion below. Bilbo and I run to the edge for a better look. Bard and Tharanduil are below us. The wind whips my hair around and I shiver in the brisk air. The rough stone railing is cold to the touch and I notice a snowflake land on the back of my left hand.

Winter has set in.

Fur touches my neck and the weight of a heavy coat knocks me off balance for a second. I turn to see Kili, he smiles at me for a moment before returning to the occurrence below. I pull his warm coat around my shoulders. Tharanduil's elk shakes it's antlered head and puffs mist into the freezing air. My mother's husband opens his mouth and speaks.

"We have come to tell you that payment of your dept has been offered... And accepted." The elf-king's voice echoes through the air.

"What payment?" Thorin booms. "I gave you nothing. You have nothing!" His voice is certain but there is an edge of madness in it.