The Slave Caravan

The Grey Floods

    The wagon moved down the hill as the rest of us stayed back and watched. I turned to Bifur who was leaning against the wagon. He watched as the wagon rode off.

    "Bofur, what was it like, if I may ask," I asked. Bofur straightened his stance and as he did this his braids flopped a bit.

    "Well, it isn't the worst of conditions, but I did miss home," Bofur answered as he turned to look at the young red- haired dwarf. His father was washing his cuts with our water supply. Gloin did favor his only son, Gimli. Gimli didn't to bad off, just a few scratches here and there. He honestly looked healthy compared to the Durin brothers. I went over to the last transportable wagon, since the other slaves had taken wagons or the mules. The two women were still caring to the needs of the hurt men. A lot of them were better dead than healed, they would all catch the goblin fever just like Kili did, and with no transportation they would all die. I felt badly that these women were tending to the men who had met their fate. I walked over to the red head. Her hair flowed down to her waist, her features were rather stunning.

    "Miss, don't tend to them. They will die from goblin fever soon, please don't waste your time with them," I told her as I approached. She was kneeling down to a body. His face was no longer noticeable and he was barely breathing. She was weeping over this man as if he was her God.

    "You don't understand! He's my husband, I have to save him," she cried as she wiped her nose. I let out a stressful sigh. I pulled my axe from my quiver. I then walked over to the man's neck. When the woman looked up she instantly stood to her feet and jumped over to catch my axe.

    "What are you doing," she screamed as she held my axe sturdy over her husband. I turned my restless eyes up to her.

    "You know perfectly well that I have to, he is miserable. He will die either way," I justified with her. She gripped harder on the handle of the axe.

    "You will kill me over my husband's dead body," she threatened. I shrugged my shoulders a bit, either way he was going to die, I just didn't see the point. I then pulled my axe up and put it back into my quiver. The women then fell back to her knees and wept over his body. I turned away and looked at my dwarf companions all waiting for my approval.

    "I suggest that you come with us or you won't survive the night," I announced to the two women. I looked back to find that they had not been intrigued by this. I then nodded my head at them, giving my approval of movement. The two girls were in the wagon sleeping, gaining their strength. The rest of the company had moved on foot with Bifur guiding the mule down the trail.

~~~
    We had made it even before the bakery had began to sell their bread on the street. It had taken us an hour to get here, and just now the townspeople were opening their shops. We moved through the town very quickly, yet quietly. When we were in front of the nearest healer's house Oin rushed out with much blood on his hands. He went straight into the healer's house. I moved my way to the wagon door to find that the wagon floor was covered in blood. I turned to Kili who was still pale as the moon. I didn't want to look at Fili. Balin caught my attention when he started to lift Fili's body up. I looked up at Balin who had a blank face on. I grabbed Fili's bare feet and pulled him up. As I pulled up his upper part drips of blood hit the wagon floor. There was no way that my nephew could be alive right now.

    "Thorin, I'm going to come out, stay steady and firm on how his body is felt," Balin told me as he began to come out. The process of taking Fili out was long and rather boring. Balin and I then took Fili into the house.       
   
    There we were met by Oin and a large man with a curious smile. Oin pointed to a made up bed that looked weathered down a bit. Of course, I didn't care at this point. Balin and I sat Fili down and the healers began to do whatever they were doing. Balin stayed in the house, but I didn't see any of my needs here.    
       
    I went back outside to tend to my other nephews needs. I stepped into the wagon and sat down next to Kili. I checked his neck for a pulse which was there. I put his head on my stretched out legs. He moaned at the slight movement. I brushed through his hair. I heard his stomach growl. I opened my pocket which had a piece of bread in it, when he got up he would have to eat this. I heard the doors open and close to the healer's house. Then footsteps approached the wagon. I looked out the open door as the footsteps came closer and closer. Soon Balin came into view.

    "How's the laddie doing," Balin asked with a small smile across his face. Dried blood spotted his furs, and across his face. His smile disappeared as he looked down at Kili. I looked down at Kili and I scratched my head. I then looked back up at Balin.

    "I guess I won't get away this from Dis," I commented as the thought of my sister came into my mind. If she knew what happened to her sons she would skin me alive.

    "Well, let us heal the boy's first and then we will return home," Balin said as he sat onto the edge of the wagon. He looked around the small town. I couldn't see much from my point of view, but I knew that this town was very beautiful. I had been here years ago with Ferin, my brother-in-law before his death.

    "Uncle," a whiny voice asked. I looked down at my nephew. His eyes were open. He wiped the blood away from his eye sockets. He then put his fingers over his cut on his forehead. I took his hand away quickly, I didn't want his cut to get infected. He moaned slightly and brought his knees to his stomach. He looked over at me and then closed his eyes again. I put my fingers on his chest and shook it a bit. Balin entered the cart and took his shoes off of him. He took his knife from his pocket and then put it to Kili's foot and ran it across his foot. His leg jumped a bit, and Kili moaned. Balin put his knife back into his pocket.

    "Well he isn't in a coma, he's just tired," Balin said as he settled down and leaned against the wagon door. I ran my fingers through Kili's bloody hair.

    "This sure will be a tale to tell their children. The time when Fili was a slave and Kili was a guard," Balin said as a smile appeared on his face. I began to laugh at the thought. The worst was over at least I had hoped so. I got an uprising stomach feeling as I thought of my sister Dis.

"I think we should move him inside," Balin added. I nodded at his suggestion. Balin came into the wagon and grabbed Kili's feet. He dragged his body so he could easily come out of the door. I grabbed his shoulders. Balin dragged him out of the door and just as Kili was about to all out of the door I jumped out and then grabbed Kili's upper back. My placement of hands didn't support his head. Balin and I quickly walked to the door of the healer's house.

Balin opened up the door and continued to keep it open as we moved through the door with Kili. I saw an empty cot, and I began moving there.

"Another one," asked the host healer. I laid Kili down on the open cot before i replied to the kind healer.

"Yes, but he is just in need of sleep, and a bandage around his head. He is fine," I replied as I looked over at Oin and healer. I could see rags full of Fili's blood,  my stomach didn't feel too well at the sight. I sat down on the floor and watched as they worked on Fili. I soon fell asleep.