An Unexpected Addition (Fili Fiction)

Chapter 28

"Ironfoot." 

There was a growing rubble coming from over the hill and I felt my stomach churn with nervousness. The sound was deafening and even made the ground quake beneath our feet. I gulped and stood there watching the hill and hoping it wasn't another army of people whom we'd have to slay. The suspense was killing me! 

Then, just coming over the peek of the grassy hill, my eyes landed on a rather large, stumpy creature on the back of a massive pig. I narrowed my eyes, squinting to see who or what it was and I was flooded with relief upon realising that it in fact was Dain Ironfoot and his army. 

Rows upon rows of rallied dwarves came into view and I struggle to keep down the growing confidence that filled my mind. We had them! We had our support, our backup. At last! I could sense the others sighing their relief as well around me and I stared at the dwarves. 

They were half the size of the elves but had double the enthusiasm, that was obvious. 

As we watched, the battlefield shifted as the elves and men diverted their attention away from Erebor and onto the oncoming forces of dwarves. As they marched towards each other, I watched Bilbo run to keep up with Gandalf and I rather didn't like being on opposite sides as him. I didn't like it at all.

"Good morning! How are we all? I have a wee proposition, if you wouldn't mind giving me a few moments of your time. Would you consider...just sodding off!"  Dain shouted at the elves and earned a rally from his dwarves.

I could think of more than a few times to use that line of speech. 

"Come now, lord Dain!" Gandalf was obviously annoyed...

"Gandalf the Grey. Tell this rabble to leave, or I'll water the ground with their blood!" Dain challenged him.

"There is no need for war between dwarves, men and elves! A legion of orcs march on the mountain. Stand your army down!" 

"I will not stand down before any elf! Not least this faithless woodland sprite!" 

Thranduil looked at Dain with a little smirk.

 "He wishes nothing but ill upon my people! If he chooses to stand between me and my kin - I'll split his pretty head open! See if he's still smirking then!"

Truer words were never spoken... Thranduil smiled furiously and the lot of us cheered on Dain.

"He's clearly mad, like his cousin!" Thranduil laughed and stred down the dwarves. 

"You hear that, lads?" Dain turned to his army and raised his hands above his head. "Come on! Let's give these bastards a good hammering!"  

Then, the battlefield shifts again as the armies prepare for battle to begin. The elves did an interesting manoeuvre in unison while the Dwarves marched about. As all of this happened the earth began to shake with more force than before and I heard the spur of the mountain. Everyone was silent and watched the mountain as large beasts sprung from the ground. I stumbled back, very shocked my the massive worms that busted from the rocks. I watched the beasts crunch rock in their mouths and furrowed my eyebrows, unable to look away. 

Dust filled the air and as it gradually faded, I saw Orc's standing atop a hill across from us with tall contraptions made of wood, rope and cloth. The things shifted and moved as Orcs pulled down on the ropes, obviously making signals to their armies. While the worms retreated back into the earth, a horn sounded from the Orcs and before we knew it, their army was pouring from the tunnels. There was too many to count and my heart dropped, realising how deflated our army truly was. We had no allies... I wish the men were on our side and perhaps if Thorin had given Thranduil whatever he wanted they would fight with us as well. It was too late for that now. 

"The hordes of hell are upon us! To battle! To battle, sons of Durin!" Dain shouted as he beckoned part of his army forwards. 

"I'm going over the wall! Who's coming with me?"  Fili made way from the rope as did the rest of us, cheering and agreeing. What did we have to lose at this point? 

"Stand down!" Thorin commanded to his kin and started to walk down the stone steps they'd built. 

"What?"

"Are we to do nothing?" Fili was exasperated and stared at his Uncle, obviously holding back his anger.

"I said STAND DOWN!"  

None of us could believe our ears and I was much too shocked to speak.  I looked back over to to the battle and watched briefly as the elves sprung into action, leaping over the dwarves and killing off Orcs. I flexed my fingers as if it could release my impatience and noticed that many of the others had given into Thorin's order. Was that the right thing to do? Sit quiet and follow orders when the orders were unbearable? Fili tugged on my arm and tipped his head, pulling me down the stairs but I yanked my arm away from him. 

"Fili!" I barked, keeping my voice quiet so that no one, specifically Thorin would here me, "I will not just go back into a hole like a coward!"

"I don't mean to be rude but do you have some sort of reputation to uphold? Morality? Pilda, do as you are told and come with me now..." Fili pressured me and reached for my hand again but this time I let him take it. "I cannot say I agree with the order we've been given but there is little we can do to go against it, especially myself. Thorin would notice my absence if I left."

Was Fili offering what I thought? I decided to pry.

"Are you suggesting that I should leave and go out into battle anyways?" 

"Gods no!" He held my hand a little tighter and gave me a little pull as if I was about to jump down the ramparts this very moment. "I can't let you do that and in no way was I suggesting you should."

"Give me a reason not to!" I challenged him, holding his hand equally as tight. I listened to the clanging of swords just beyond that wall...

"Because I have to keep an eye on you. Whether you've noticed or not, you are important to me, Pilda and I don't want you out of my sight, especially when there is a raging battle going on just outside our home."

You are Important. Our home.

In one swift motion I forced my body forward, almost leaping onto Fili and wrapped my arms around him, snuggling my face into his shoulder, weighed down with, cold stiff metal. I could almost cry!

"I wouldn't imagine leaving you now either, Fili." 

There we're never more sincere words spoken out of my mouth and as we listened to the battle just behind my back, Fili stroked my hair. I wanted to mutter something into his ear. I really did but I had to wonder if I was just being rational. Was it the fear inside me speaking?I really didn't care anymore.

"I might actually love you, Fili."

The words hurt my throat but saying them lifted a weight off my chest and I waited for a response to come. A long time passed as we simply stood together, trapped in an embrace before he finally spoke in a low voice. 

"I think I love you too."

~+~

I wanted to make the "I love you's" special so I waited nice and long. Here they are! What do you think?

Don't forget to leave a vote and comment!