Shattered (The Hobbit AU)

Chapter Seven

Fíli would never forgive himself anymore. His responsibility was to always keep his brother safe. It was a promise he made to himself in Kíli's early days. Nonetheless, he failed. He failed himself, his mother and his uncle. He blamed it all on himself. He knew the whole kingdom would view him differently now but it didn't faze him. All he wanted was to get his brother back.
It's all my fault if I don't find him, it's all my fault, it's all my fault, those words were a continuous loop in his mind that he could not shake off, even if he wanted to. He didn't try though, he knew he had to live with the guilt and deal with the consequences. The voices in his head were right, according to Fíli.
He spend another good thirty minutes searching farther away from Erebor before Andel finally found him. "Fíli! The King wants you back to the mountain immediately." But Fíli shook his head. "No, I have to look for Kíli."
"That's what the plan is about. He wants you back, Fíli. It's an order."

"He can still be out here. I still have a chance, Andel, I am not giving up." Fíli said, trudging over rocks and around dead trees.
"Don't you think we would have a better chance if more of us helped search? To devise a plan? To prepare for whatever may be out here?" Andel tried reasoning with the stubborn Dwarf prince as calmly as he could. He knew he had to control his impulsive nature and really think about what to say before it escapes his mouth.
Fíli stopped momentarily with his search, realization shown upon his features. "Yes, I do believe so. But I can't simply drop everything and head back to the mountain. He can still be out here!"
"But your uncle needs you. Fíli, Kíli is your brother and Thorin's nephew. He is just as worried as you are. And imagine how your mother might feel once she hears the news. They both need you right now. Mahal forbid something also happen to you while your on the search on your own."
Fíli sighed in desperation. He knew he was right but he wanted to do what he wanted. He knew he needed to stop being so stubborn and listen to some life-saving advice from someone he trusts. "Fine. I'll go."

Andel huffed, glad to finally convince Fíli to join him back to Erebor. Leading the way, Andel shook his head and under his breath he said, "Dwarves."

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Fíli said, more of a statement than a question.
"Nothing, your highness."

"Thorin, what is going on?" Dís asked, seeing all the Dwarves crowding near him, discussing their plans to something she had no clue of.
"Dís, my sister," Thorin laid a hand on her shoulder and tried to speak as softly as he could, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm afraid someone has taken Kíli."

Dís eyes widened in shock and confusion. "What? But how? You ordered for him to stay in the Royal Wing and not to join in any perimeter checks."

"I know. Apparently, he got away with it and whatever was out there finally had the chance and took him. We don't know where, though. But I promise you, we will get him back. We won't give up." Thorin reassured her.

"You mean to tell me you knew of this thing and yet you continued to put them in danger? Were you just waiting for something bad to happen?"

"It's not like that, Dís. Both of them were well aware of the possibilities of what was out there. We will discuss this later."

"Where's Fíli? Where's my other boy?They didn't take him either, did they?" Dís asked frantically.
Thorin shook his head. "No, thankfully he is all right. However, he did go off in search of Kíli and hasn't returned. I sent for someone to bring him back. They should be coming back any moment now."

As if on cue, the two Dwarves walk through the entrance of the mountain.
"Fíli!" Dís went to him and gave him a hug.
Fíli hugged her back just as tightly as she was. He couldn't help the tears that flowed from his blue eyes anymore.