Adventure of a Lifetime: VOL 1

Part 2: Chapter 6

            It takes the three hunters the entire rest of the day and all of the next to reach Laketown. The orc pack is nowhere to be seen, but that does not mean they are gone. "We must wait for cover of night," Legolas says, the sun setting behind them. "You might, but I will not," Willow shakes her head. "It is too dangerous, the men of Laketown will see you, the orcs might!" Tauriel protests. "They won't, trust me," Willow says. "I am smaller than you. Follow my tracks, only you will find them." With that, the young woman takes off down the bridge. She easily scales the buildings, avoiding the people down below. She follows her ears, hearing only sounds an elf could. Screaming. It's got to be Kili. She jumps lightly from rooftop to rooftop, arriving at the house just before the last light fades from the sky. She slides off the thatched roof, bursting through the door. Two young girls, in their teens, along with a boy roughly the same age stand in the kitchen, an older man off to the side. Oin, Bofur, and Fili stand next to Kili, who is writhing in pain on the bed. "Willow!" Fili exclaims, running and embracing her. "Who is that?" The man asks. "That is our Willow. Half elf, half dwarf, greatest addition to our company," Bofur says proudly. "I am sorry for my untimely intrusion, and I am afraid there is no time for proper introductions," Willow apologizes as Kili screams in the background. "I'm Bard, this is Sigrid, Bain, and Tilda," the man says, pointing to his eldest daughter, son, and younger daughter. "Willow, of Rivendell," she says, bowing her head slightly before moving over to the bedside. She looks at Kili's leg. The wound is black, the flesh rotting around it. Kili is drenched in sweat, his face pale and body tense. "He is poisoned. I need athelas," she shakes her head. "Athelas?" Oin questions. "Kingsfoil," Willow says. "Bard, do you have any kingsfoil?" Oin asks. "No, it's a weed. We feed it to the pigs," Bard replies. "Right. Weed, pigs, got it," Bofur says, turning to Kili. "Don't move." The dwarf sprints out the door, Willow shaking her head. "Sometimes intelligence is lacking," she mutters. "How did you get here?" Fili asks her as she gently cleans Kili's wound. "Legolas and Tauriel came with me. They are waiting for the cover of night, but I could not wait. Not while Kili was dying," she shakes her head. "Where is Thorin and the others?" Fili does not have time to answer, for a great rumble shakes the ground, coming from the mountain. "What was that?" Bain asks. "That, my lad, was a dragon," Oin sighs. "No," Willow whispers. "You should leave. Take your children and go," Fili tells Bard. "And go where? There is nowhere else to go," Bard answers. "Are we going to die, Da?" Tilda asks. "No, darling," Bard assures her. "The dragon, it's going to kill us," Tilda says fearfully. Bard looks at his children, determination in his face. He reaches up, grabbing a long, black arrow concealed in the ceiling of his house. "Not if I kill it first."

Bard and his son Bain disappear while Sigrid and Tilda help Willow care for Kili. Eventually, Bain comes back without his father, saying that he's been caught by the Master of Laketown. "Kili, hold on my friend. Help is coming." Willow whispers in elvish, grasping his hand. "Come back to me. Come back to the light." Kili's breathing is heavy and labored, but he manages to look up at Willow. "Willow, you came back," he pants. "Yes, yes I did," Willow smiles. "Thank you, thank you," he whispers before screaming in pain again. Willow holds his hand tightly, gently wiping his forehead with the other. Fili stands next to her, watching his beloved care for his brother. "I am not going anywhere, Kili. I will not abandon you," Willow says to him, trying everything in her power to keep him calm. Fili can see how stressed she is, and places his hand on her back, rubbing in small circles. "Thank you, Willow. For caring for him," he says with a small smile. Willow nods, but her face changes. She lets go of Kili's hand, staring up at the ceiling. "What is it?" Gloin asks. Willow motions for them to be quiet, and that's when they hear it. Footsteps on the roof. Sigrid stands outside, calling for her father. "Sigrid, get inside!" Willow hisses, grabbing Tilda and pushing her under the table. "Stay there, do not move!" She says, the young girl nodding frantically. She tosses Fili and Bain one of her knives, Gloin staying by Kili. Sigrid comes back inside the house screaming, attempting to close the door on an orc. He shoves the door open as Willow draws her sword, jumping forward and running him through. Orcs come through the ceiling, filling the house. Willow can only take on so many, quickly getting thrown into the wall. The orc towers over her. "Willow!" Fili calls, orcs overwhelming him as well. Just then, Tauriel comes through the door, pulling one of the orcs off of Willow. Legolas comes through the roof near the children, drawing the orcs away from them and Oin. Willow kicks the orc away from her, jumping to her feet. With a shout, she slices off its head. Kili stabs an orc tussling with Tauriel, falling to the ground and screaming in agony. Just as soon as they came, the orcs leave the house, running through the city. Willow sheathes her sword, leaning against the wall. A sharp pain runs down her left arm. "You killed them all," Bain says in shock. "There are others. Come, Tauriel," Legolas says, walking to the door. Tauriel looks down at Kili, who is writhing on the floor. Legolas follows her gaze. "Tauriel," he says one more time before jumping down the stairs. Willow stumbles over to him, Oin and Fili already on the ground. His face is even paler, the skin around his eyes turning red. "Tauriel, I can't do this alone," Willow pleads, holding her arm. Tauriel pauses in the doorway, turning with her hands on her hips as Bofur runs up the steps. He trips, dropping the athelas right at her feet. "Athelas!" She exclaims softly, gently picking it up. "What are you doing?" Bofur asks warily. Tauriel looks down at him. "I'm going to save him."

Fili, Oin, and Bofur carry a screaming Fili to the table while Tilda holds a bowl of hot water for Tauriel. Willow can only use her right arm, her left might be dislocated. "Hold him. You'll have to hold him," she grits as Tauriel walks over with the athelas. Fili and Willow hold Kili's torso, Oin, Sigrid, Bain and Tilda hold his legs. Tauriel begins chanting in elvish, placing the athelas on his wound. Kili screams in pain, writhing so hard he nearly throws Willow to the floor. As Tauriel keeps chanting, he slowly calms down. His breathing becomes steady, his body relaxes. Willow breathes a sigh of relief, sinking to the floor. Tauriel relaxes, taking a deep breath. "Erm, are you alright?" Tilda asks, kneeling beside Willow on the floor. "Yeah, my arms just dislocated," Willow winces, her arm limp at her side. "Take care of Willow. Your brother is going to be alright," Tauriel says to Fili. The dwarf spins around, kneeling next to Willow. "Oh, my dear, what happened?" Fili asks, gently touching her arm. "I think it's dislocated," Willow winces, the mere touch of his fingers sending pain through her arm. "This will hurt, my love," Fili says, positioning his hands on her shoulder. "Mhm," Willow grunts. Tilda offers her hand to the woman, and Willow graciously accepts. "I'm sorry," Fili says, shoving her shoulder back into place with a pop. Willow yelps, and Fili wraps his arms around her. "I'm sorry, my love. I'm so sorry," he says over and over again. Willow relaxes at the pain subsides, leaning into Fili's chest. "I'm just glad you are safe," she breathes. The pair sit there for a while as Tauriel bandages Kili's leg, everyone just waiting for what else is coming.

A/N: Alright everyone, that's the end of Part 2! Part 3 begins in the next chapter, and boy is there a lot of action (and regrettably some heartbreak). I apologize in advance!