Fly Away Little Birds

Chapter 10: I Love You More Than The World Itself.

Fly Away Little Birds Chapter 10

Thorin would not be swayed in any manner. He would not give the men or the elves what they wanted, he would not free Fili. In fact he really wanted to kill Fili right at the moment, but knew if he did, he would lose the loyalty of the company, so he must be revealed for what he was, a loathsome thief, and then he would see that Justice was done. And if Kili ever returned, he would do the same. Was lost almost completely, and would hear no one. His focus was on his treasure and finding the stone. He was quite sure that soon enough he would be in there beating the information out of the dwarf thief. Right at the moment though, there were other issues to consider. Morning was coming, and the elves would be out there expecting an answer.
He stood upon the rebuilt wall and stared down at the man Bard and the elf King Thranduil. They stared back at him but could clearly see from his eyes that Thorin was entrenched in his sickness. Thranduil spoke first. "Well, well, Thorin Oakenshield. We meet again."
"Indeed we do, elf king." Thorin said with a snort of derision. "What is it that you want here? You and your ridiculous friend there?"
"Nothing much." The elf said. "We just want what's ours and then we'll be on our merry way."
"You get nothing, elf that betrayed our family. You did nothing, so you shall have nothing. That is final."
"Come now, Thorin. Be reasonable." The elf said. "We will not harm you or deny you anything. But if it is required, we will come for you."
"Try it." The dwarf king said. "Try it and I shall destroy you."
"Oh come now Thorin. We both know you are incapable of that."
"We'll see about that."
The elf gave a sigh. "I thought we may come across this...Bump in the road. So I brought something that I believe belongs to you...In some fashion."
The elf pulled back his robes and there was Kili, seated before Thranduil on the great elk. The elf pulled the collar back so that Kili had to look up. He spotted Thorin and hope filled his eyes for a moment. "Thorin?" He said quietly. "Thorin!!" He cried.
"Am I wrong? Is this not family?" Thranduil said.
Thorin merely glared down at all of them. "Keep the little piece of refuse. He is of no use to me, just like his thief brother that I plan to execute."
Kili was taken with shock. Thorin ws going to kill Fili? Why would he do that. "Thorin, what are you saying?" Kili cried. The elf shook the collar to silence the dwarf, who immediately got the message and silenced himself.
"So you don't want this back?" Thranduil said with a sigh. "I guess I just have to take him back to the palace and have him slave away there for the rest of his short years."
Bilbo, who had been listening to all of this and was dreadfully worried shook Thorin's arm, trying to get his attention. "Please." He said. "Don't let this happen." Thorin merely shook his off.
"You have nothing I want." The dwarf king sneered.
"Oh no?" Bard said finally. "Not even this?" He held out the Arkenstone.
Thorin's eyes went wide, how had they gotten the stone? "You thieves! How dare you take the king's stone."
"We did not take it. Someone close to you did though." Thranduil said.
Thorin turned to his company then. "Which one of you? Which one of you has betrayed me?"
The situation got ugly when Bilbo tried to explain himself and his actions. Thorin was more than ready to kill him when Gandalf stepped in, having arrived just at the right time. Bilbo climbed from the wall and first went to Kili to see that he was relatively unharmed. What none of them expected was a contingent of dwarves showing up from the Iron Hills led by Thorin's cousin, Dain. Something else that they did not expect was an orc army closing in around them as well.
Thorin disappeared into the mountain as the battle began, fully intent on letting what would happen, happen.
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Therien went to Thorin then. Thorin barely acknowledged him as he paced the vault. "Father?" Therien said.
"What is it?"
"What do you intend to do?"
"Tonight I will execute Fili. If not as a thief, then as an example that deceitful little hobbit thieves cannot get their way in the realm of Erebor." Thorin said.
"No, you won't." Therien said to his brusquely. "This is someone's life we are talking about.:
"A life that even you once tried to destroy?" Thorin said, amused.
"I will admit that once I was truly a horrid person. And I can blame mother for that, but it is an excuse. But they have saved me numerous times and they have proven their metal. Fili deserves to live."
"You forget, boy." Thorin said as he surveyed his great fortune. "I am king here. While you may be prince, that does not give you the same authority, nor the authority to talk back to me. Do not get in my way, Therien."
Therien grew very frustrated at that point and kicked a large jewel across the room. He approached his father then. "Do you not hear yourself? Do you not know that your cousin Dain is out there dying alongside elves and men. That we sit here and let others fight our battles for us? If you keep this up, you will be the king of nothing! How can your mind be so easily poisoned? Just like that of your grandfather's. If you do not free Fili in thirty minutes, I will go and do it, and the others and I will go and help our kinsmen."
"You would take my friends from me? My loyal servants?"
"Yes they are loyal, and they love you. That will all end though if they are dead. Make your choice, Father. I must go and ready myself. You have thirty minutes."
Therien left the vault. It actually only too Thorin about twenty minutes afterward to see that his son was right. As he stared out at his treasure, he realized how empty and cold it was. It was then that he felt the warmth return to himself, and he went and did something he never thought he would. The door to Fili's celled opened, and there was Throin.
"Have you come to kill me?" Fili asked.
"No. I have come to free you. I have seen the pain I have inflicted. I can never fix it, but there may yet be some redemption for me." Thorin came over to where Fili huddled and helped him up. Fili simply stared him down. Thorin knew that he deserved nothing less and simply nodded. "I will ask you this now, and I know I don't deserve it, but will you forgive me?"
Fili didn't even have to think about it. "I already forgave you. A long time ago. And no, you don't deserve it. It is out of my mercy that you receive it."
"I understand." Thorin said. "Kili is out there with the elf king. The battle has begun. I will ask you, will you come with me and fight? Not for me, but so that you might still save him?"
"I will." Fili said. The agreement was made, and the dwarves made ready.
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Kili had been separated from Bilbo, as the elf still had hold of him on the elk. When both elk and elf fell, Kili was almost crushed underneath. However, Kirril was there to help. He pulled Kili into a dark corner, took a key out of his pocket and freed Kili. Then he handed the dwarf a sleek elven knife. "Defend yourself, dwarf." He said. Kili did as well as he could.
Then he heard the cheering of dwarves. Thorin had decided to leave the mountain, and Fili was with him. Even from that place in the city, Kili could see. He had to get to Fili, but the fighting was fierce there, and he found himself protecting several women and children before he could even look for Fili again. When he saw him, Fili was riding up the hillside with Thorin to where Azog stood as commander. Kili so wanted to join him. "You want to go up there?" Kirril asked.
"Yes, with all my heart."
Kirril grabbed the reigns of a horse that was running by. He got on and pulled Kili up. "Here we go."
Fili had been searching the lower levels of the tower. There was nothing. When he stepped out, he saw Thorin gaping at something over his head. Azog was holding Therien and was going to stab him. A knife flew out of nowhere. It was well aimed. It flew past Therien, knicking his cheek and hit it's mark, Azog's shoulder. The orc dropped the dwarf prince to the ground. Fili looked behind the other dwarves and saw a tall elf on a horse, and also on that horse was Kili. The younger dwarf hopped down. "We have to get him out of the way!" He called as he went to Therien. Fili helped Kili drag Therien out of the way.
"You saved me again." The dwarf prince said with pained breaths. "I think I broke a few ribs." he said. He chose that moment to pass out. Fili dragged him a little more out of the way.
Kili did not see the other large orc. The one who grabbed him by the arm and dragged him away. Fili had cried out to him as the orc took him away, but Fili could not stop it, as he was being bombarded by other orcs at the moment. Kili was gone.
The orc had taken Kili to a small rock shelf under an overhanging shelf of rock. Kili kicked himself out of the orcs grasp. The dwarf did not know what to do. A small knife against a large sword was no fair match. The fact that the orc had at least two heads on him did not make things better either. The dwarf was without armor and nearly weaponless, but he had no other choice. He charged at the creature with his knife raised. He got in a few good blows. Thought for a moment that he might succeed in killing the creature. But it was not to be so, as the creature grabbed him by the neck, lifting him up.
Fili came onto the overhang. When he saw the orc lifting Kili up, he knew he would never be able to get there in time. He was right as the blade pierced right through Kili. His brother was dropped to the ground and the creature turned to Fili. Fili charged like a mad dwarf, launching himself at the creature, fighting him almost animalistically with his ferocity. However, he was not a match for the beast either. He was thrown to the ground and expected the orcs blade to slice through him as well.
But as the beast approached, something collided with it. It was the elf that had been with Kili. He fought the beast and Fili went and crouched beside Kili. "Kili? Speak to me." Fili said as he desperately tried to wake his brother. Kili opened his eyes. "Fili?" He asked.
"Yes! It's me. I'm here with you."
"I was worried about you, Fili."
"Not as worried as I was about you."
Kili gave him a pained smile. He lifted his hand up, as if to stroke Fili's face. The hand faltered, but Fili took it in his own and held it tight. Kili was bleeding badly. He squirmed in pain, moaning as he did so. "I'm happy to see you, brother. I thought you were gone."
"No, I'm right here, Kili. It's going to be okay."
At that point they both probably knew that it was not going to be okay. The elf brought down the orc, and he watched for a moment as this final exchange went on. The battle was over. The alliance had won. However, there were two there that would hardly think it was a victory.
"Fili. When I am gone, I want you to live for me. Can you do that for me. Your final gift to me?"
"Don't say that, Kili. You're going to be okay. Don't die. Don't leave me."
"I don't think that either of us has a choice in the matter anymore. I just want to say that of all the pain, and through all the hardships, we had each other. That will never change. I love you more than the world itself."
"I love you, Kili. More than the world itself."
Kili closed his eyes. They did not open again. Fili sat there and stared at his brother for a moment. He tried to rouse him. "Kili?" He said as he shook him a little. "Will you not speak to me, brother?" Another shake. "Will you say nothing for me?" A harder shake. "Kili say something to me!" But it was over. Fili gave off a yell then that could be heard all over the mountainside. It was the most grievous sound most had ever heard, and all of the company of Thorin Oakenshield knew what it meant. Moments later, another cry sounded. Therien had lost Thorin. A victory hard won indeed.
The elf Kirril had long ago had left them to give them privacy. Fili bent over Kili and kissed him upon the forehead. Then he lay down by his brother, placing his head upon his brother's shoulder. The sobs disappeared. For the last time, Fili slept by the side of his brother, staying close by to keep him safe.
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He heard a strange but familiar voice. "Kili? Are you ready, my love?"
"Mother?" He said in a strained voice.
"Open your eyes, Kili. It's time to go."
Kili opened his eyes and he saw his mother, standing there beside him, watching he and Fili. "Come on, Kili. It's time to get up."
Kili stood, and it felt as if he were standing up out of himself. In some ways it was true, for he saw that he stood over himself and Fili. "I have died, haven't I?"
"Yes my love. Now we must go."
"Where are we going?"
"To a place of peace and rest where you will be happy and safe forever. The Halls of Mandos await us my dear son."
Kili looked down upon Fili. "What about him?"
"He'll be alright. I promise Kili. And one day he will join us."
"Alright. It pains me to leave him, but leave him I must." He bent over Fili and stroked his cheek. Fili shifted a little in his sleep. "Goodbye my beloved brother. I must go. Live well for us. You are truly free now."
Dis held out her hand to him. "Come. Take my hand. We'll go together."
Kili nodded. He took her hand and they walked from that place and disappeared into the light.
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When Fili woke, he found Bilbo sitting nearby. The little hobbit had been crying. At first he had thought they were both dead. When he found that Fili was just asleep, he was relieved beyond belief. They came then to take Kili away. Fili gave slight protest, despite the fact that he knew his brother was beyond help or pain. In the end, Bilbo convinced him to let Kili go. It was over.
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Fili and Bilbo were staying in the mountain for a while to help out. There was a lot to be done and not much time to do it in. Therien came into the library where Fili was helping Ori organize some of the books and papers with Balin. They all greeted him, and then Balin and Ori took their leave. Therien wanted to talk to Fili.
"Fili. I wanted to say I was sorry, for so many things. I know now that I was selfish and devious, and I deserve your forgiveness less than my Father did, but still."
Fili simply nodded but said nothing.
"I assume you are staying for the funeral?"
"Yes." Fili said.
"Kili will be buried as a prince. I have seen to the arrangements."
"Thank you." Fili said.
"I hope that some day, when time has passed, we may meet again. Maybe not as friends, or even family, but maybe as a true warrior and his fool cousin of a king."
"Good luck to you, Therien." Fili said. "You'll be okay."
Therien nodded and left Fili to his work. A bit later, Bilbo came in. The hobbit sat in a nearby chair and looked the library over. Full of old books and scrolls that were now mostly on the floor, Bilbo wondered how they were ever going to get this mess cleared out. Still, he felt like making conversation. "Fili. The funeral will be in a couple of days."
"Then we can go home?" Fili said.
"Well..." Bilbo got up and showed Fili a long bit of parchment. "I had Balin draw up the papers. I have signed them. This leaves you with a choice, Fili. You can either stay here, among other dwarves, or you can come back with my, your surrogate family."
"I will always choose to be with you, Bilbo. You are my family. I belong with you, free or otherwise."
Bilbo smiled and got to his feet, going over to embrace the dwarf. He had hoped Fili would say that. However, he had no idea how he was going to deal with the idiots in Michael Delving when they got back.
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The funeral had been difficult, but Fili was glad that his brother was at peace. When it was over, they said farewell to the member of the company of Thorin Oakenshield, and Fili and Bilbo went back to The Shire, where they both belonged. When they got there, Bilbo made such a ruckus about Fili that the counsel at Micheal Delving had no other choice but to let the dwarf stay, to the dismay of Lobelia Sackville-Baggins and her odious husband.
Fili could stay in The Shire, but he himself was not at peace. He spent many long weeks traveling to the places that he, Bilbo and Kili had once adventured to. The Bindhole Wood, Needlehole the Greenfields, but none of then soothed him. Then, one night when he was coming across the Greenfields, he saw something in the failing light of dusk. A figure down in the valley. It was a dwarf. It was Kili. Fili just stared for a moment, but then he knew the truth of things. Kili gave the widest smile that Fili would have thought possible. He held a daisy up to his nose and then released it into the wind. Fili caught it. When he looked again, Kili had disappeared into the wind and the light. Fili smiled knowingly. "I will see you again someday, sweet brother."

The End