An Even Fifteen (Fili x reader)

(8) Dragon Fire

Kili would live.

At least that is what the elf maiden said, propping her hands on the table and bowing her head over the still dwarf.

"I've heard tell of the wonders of elvish medicine," said Oin. "That was a privilege to witness."

You let your grip on Kili relax, your hands falling to your sides as you looked to Fili. A relieved smile crept across your lips. Sigrid sighed as she looked around the kitchen. Broken dishes and food covered the floor space that was not covered by orc corpses. "Come on," you said to Sigrid, hitching your head toward the mess. "I'll help."

You bent and began gathering the broken pieces of pottery, grateful to see Fili and Oin followed your example and took hold of the dead orcs. They cleared the room of the bodies and righted the furniture, and you had just dropped the last shard of pottery into the waste bin when you remembered.

"The Rhosgobels!" You dashed from the kitchen to Tilda's room, where you had put them before the attack. Fear pounded in your throat when you reached the door, which was still closed and intact, and pushed it open. Ten pairs of large ears pricked when you stepped inside. They had made a mess of the place, but were all alive and well. You sank to your knees, your pounding heartbeat slowing to a steady thump. "Thank Iluvatar," you murmured, stroking Bren when he thumped over and nudged your leg with his nose.

Pounding footsteps echoed down the hall and Fili called, "Y/N!" You turned to see him stop in the doorway, dagger in hand, apparently expecting more danger, or unfinished orcs. You smiled as he let his upraised dagger fall to his side. "Mahal. I thought..." He shrugged, his cheeks flushing above his beard. "I don't know what I thought, but I'm glad you're all right."

You felt warmth rise to your cheeks as you looked away from his bright blue eyes.

"The Rhosgobels, was it?" Fili said, kneeling next to you. He put out a tentative hand, looking at you for permission before petting Bren's back. The other rabbits were curious about the new presence, and hopped over to investigate. You smiled at Fili, enjoying watching him experience the Rhosgobels for himself. He looked up at you, eyes sparkling, and your breath stuttered. "You're quite fond of them, aren't you?"

You looked down at Bren, who had shoved his head into your hand, and ruffled his ears back and  forth affectionately. "I suppose I am. They have been my closest friends. Radagast has his own team, but he gave me these to raise and train when I was old enough." You paused, the levity of the day settling in your throat. "I'm glad they're all right," you murmured, your voice breaking. You cleared your throat and looked back at Fili, forcing a smile. "And I'm glad your brother is all right."

His smile came easily. "Me, too." He sighed, sitting back on his heels. "It's a wonder Tauriel and Legolas made it in time. And a wonder that you put these beasties away before the orcs came."

"Both are miracles," you said, shaking your head but unable to contain your smile. "The rabbits are, perhaps, a smaller miracle."

"Ah, but the small miracles are miracles nonetheless."

You smiled, watching Fili interact with the creatures so dear to your heart. Your eyes trailed up the arm that rested at his side. "You're hurt!" You exclaimed, seeing again the gash left by a wayward orc blade.

He shrugged. "I've had much worse, lass, and the scars to prove it. It's not even bleeding anymore."

You reached out to pull his torn sleeve away from the gash. "I suppose it has," you agreed, "but it must hurt."

He shook his head, chuckling a little at your concern. "I'll heal."

You sighed, finally surveying the room as the rabbits crowded around you. "I suppose I should clean this place up, if Tilda is going to have a place to sleep."

Fili's smile fell as a piercing roar shuddered through the air. "I do not know if there will be much sleeping tonight, Y/N."

You stood quickly, shuffling through the rabbits into the kitchen, where Bard's children and the dwarves were hurrying about. "Take everything you can carry," Bofur told the children, "food especially."

"We have no time," Tauriel said sharply. "We must leave!"

As the dwarves and Tauriel got Kili on his feet, you wrangled the Rhosgobels into their harnesses and tied the loose ends to the belt at your waist. You had no desire to lose them this night.

Tauriel helped Sigrid and Tilda with their coats, trying to get them out the door quickly, but Bain balked. "We're not leaving. Not without our father."

"If you stay here, your sisters will die." Tauriel looked at the boy with steel in her eyes. "Is that what your father would want?"

Bain gulped, but could not answer her. He moved out the door and led the way down the stairs to where the boats were docked beneath the house. As the dwarves began to pile into the boat, your stomach sank. "We won't all fit," you murmured. "I won't fit."

Fili's gaze wandered to you as he helped his brother into the boat and froze. "Y/N," he said, reading the horror in your expression.

You shook your head. "There's no room," you said simply. Bard's children climbed in next, and Tauriel looked at you expectantly.

"There's another boat." Bain gestured around the corner. "You could take that."

"Only if she can keep up," Tauriel said to the boy.

You bristled at her slight, at the fact that she would not address you face-to-face. "I can," you said, hurrying to the boat and putting the rabbits in one by one. The bells of the town rang in your ears and you stifled a sob of panic. The rabbits froze as soon as their paws hit the boards of the boat, and you were thankful for their stillness, at least. They could not swim. If something went wrong, there would be no hope.

"Bofur," you heard Fili shout over the din of the frenzied town, "with her!"

Bofur appeared at your shoulder and put the last rabbit in the boat. "In ya go, lass." He helped you step off the dock and handed you a pole. "We must follow them closely." He untied the boat and grabbed his own pole, and you pushed off from the dock.

You used the poles to propel the boat through the water, staying close behind the other boat. Fili kept glancing back at you and Bofur, ensuring you were still there. The dragon swooped low over the town, and you saw tongues of dragon fire falling on the other side of the canal. The rabbits on the floor in front of you flattened, and you shuddered.

"Look out!" Bain shouted as their boat rammed into another, filled to bursting with gold, carrying only two men: one the hideous man who had confronted you when you first arrived, and the other a tall, fat man with a balding head of greasy red hair. What fools, to be filling their boats with gold when the city was doomed. It would be useless, even if they survived.

The men yelled at Bain and the others as they pushed their boat free and continued down the canal. You could see the taller one push Alfrid into the water, and you grimaced as you passed the flailing man in your boat, glad he did not try to climb in.

"DA!" Bain and Tilda shouted, and you followed their wide eyes to see Bard climbing up a watchtower, shooting arrows at the foul dragon. You gasped as they found their mark, only to clatter down to the burning town, useless. Bain leaped out of the boat ahead of you.

"No, Bain! Come back!" You shouted with the others, but the boy would not listen. You reached to him as he passed your boat, but he ran off, heedless.

"Leave him!" Tauriel said, clutching Sigrid and Tilda in an effort to comfort them as well as restrain them so they would not run off after their brother. "We cannot go back!"

A/N: Since you guys are apparently a quiet bunch, I've decided to just go ahead and publish chapters on Mondays as well as Thursdays. Hope that's all right! ;)

I am so convinced that Fili has a soft spot for creatures, and who can resist a Rhosgobel? And you're getting a little more Fili-- what do you think? Please let me know with a comment or two how you're liking things so far, and if you enjoyed this chapter please give it a vote! Thank you for reading!
--RA