Caught in Thorns >EDITING<

Caught in Thorns: Chapter 11

~Chapter 11~

The next morning the dwarves and Bilbo prepare to go to the lonely mountain. I feel a small splinter of sadness work it's way into my chest as I realise that I may not see the Dwarves again. We've been through so much, and now they could all be gone in a matter of seconds.

I could end up dead too. Kili sits on a crate off to the side and I stand next to him watching as Thorin helps Bilbo onto the boat. Fili is next, but he pauses looking from Thorin to Kili.

"Come on Fili, you belong with the company." Thorin says.

"I belong with my brother." Fili says stepping away from Thorin and standing by the crate on which his brother sits.

Thorin looks at me and I nod, giving him a silent promise to take care of them. It's a promise I don't plan on breaking, but one I can't guarantee to keep.

Oin gets off the boat as well, saying something about having to care for the sick. He stands in front of me and watches the rest of the company get on the boat.

Kili lets out a sigh and looks down. Fili frowns at his brother and pats his shoulder.

"We'll see the mountain," Fili says.

"We will," Oin agrees.

"Farewell heros!" The town master shouts.

The group sets off, the edges of the waterway filled with the townspeople cheering for the company. A different shout catches my attention and I turn to find Bofur pushing to the front of the crowd. No one even noticed that we had forgotten Bofur.

"Did you get left behind too?" He asks when he sees us.

I raise my eyebrows and shake my head slightly. I feel something leaning against me. Looking down, I find Kili falling over.

"We need to get him back to Bard's." I say immediately.

Fili nods. He and Bofur prop Kili up between them and follow me through the crowd.

At the door Bard opens it and immediately tried to close it. I slam my fist into the side of the door and push it back open.

"Please," I say.

"No one will help us." Oin adds.

Bard's glare softens slightly and he steps out of the doorway.

"Set him there," I say pointing to the bed against the wall. "I need to look at him again."

Fili and Ori gently set Kili down and I crouch next to the bed. I carefully unwrap the makeshift bandages around Kili's knee.

"How is it?" Fili asks.

The flesh around the wound is turning black and the wound itself is dripping with a mixture of blood and puss. It's getting an infection on top of the poison.

"It's worse, I need herbs." I say. "Bard what do you have?"

"I'm not sure what will help." Bard admits. "What do you need?"

"Feverfew," Oin says. "That's what we need."

"We have feverfew, we feed it to the pigs." Bard replies.

"Bofur, find some. Quickly." I say without looking up.

I hear the door close behind Bofur and stand, walking over to the window and peering out.

There is a thump on the roof, causing everyone in the room to freeze.

"Fili, stay next to your brother." I whisper, drawing my daggers.

Fili nods and clutches his sword. The door bursts open and an Orc charges inside, coming for me. I throw my dagger at the Orc's head and watch the blade sink into its skull. Another Orc is right behind the first, only this one goes after Oin. Fili intercepts the monstrous creature and puts his sword through its stomach.

More Orcs are crashing through the roof and going after Bard's children. I flip over the table and slash my remaining dagger at an Orc's head. I miss and open a cut across it's chest.

The Orc snarls and swings his mace at me. I dodge to the side and the mace hits the side of the table that Kili is on.

This sends Fili into a frenzy. He slashed at every Orc that comes near him.

"Celaireth?"

I whip around to find Legolas in the doorway.

"Legolas? What are you doing here?"

"I'm helping Tauriel." Legolas says.

I hadn't even noticed Tauriel standing inside Bard's house. She pulls my dagger from an Orc's head and passes it to me.

"Come, there are are more Orcs to take care of." Legolas pauses when he reaches the doorway.

I nod and stand by him.

"Tauriel," Legolas says.

Tauriel doesn't move. Her eyes are on Kili. She looks between Legolas and Kili, her eyes flashing with uncertainty.

"Tauriel," Legolas repeats and he walks out the door.

I look at Tauriel and then down at Kili. "Stay," I say to Tauriel.

She looks at me and smiles. "Thank you."

I nod and walk out the door after Legolas. He runs down the stairs, whilst I jump down from the balcony and land on a crate. We run together through the streets of Laketown, weaving through the buildings as we track down the Orcs.