Heart of a Warrior ➝ The Hobbit ✓

Part Five

PART FIVE ~

"Kili."

The voice rang out clearly through the cave, as light and gentle as the wind.

"Kili!" Alissa tried again after receiving no reaction. She gently shook his shoulder, leaning over him so she could speak in his ear.

"KI-" She was abruptly cut off as the dwarf sat up with a start and drew a small dagger from his pocket. He pushed Alissa to the ground, pinning her down and holding the weapon to her throat in a threatening manor.

When he saw who it was, his expression changed to a somewhat shocked one and he drew the weapon away from Alissa's bewildered face and pulled her off the ground.

"I... I'm really sorry. I thought-"

"It's fine," Alissa cut in, still recovering from the sudden shock. She inhaled deeply and went to pick up a platter of food she had prepared for the dwarf. She handed it to him without looking him in the eye and went to sit down to help herself to her own breakfast.

They ate in silence, the only sound was the wind rustling the leaves outside and the gentle birdsong that erupted from the treetops.

"Who's Fili?" Alissa asked after a while. Kili's head immediately shot up at the mention of his brother's name and looked at Alissa with a somewhat confused expression.

"How do you know about Fili?" Kili demanded, moving nearer to Alissa so they could speak properly.

"You kept mumbling his name in your sleep," She explained, curiousity invading her mind. "Is he your brother?"

Kili nodded slowly and closed his eyes. Alissa waited patiently for an explanation, but it was a while before the dwarf gave her one.

Finally, Kili sighed. Then, he began to speak. "My brother, Fili, and I were out in the forest a few days ago, probably around the time you were in Dulham," He said, glancing at Alissa, who was listening with deep concentration. "We were headed to another village a little way away, and decided to set up for camp near the edge of the forest.

"I went to gather some wood for a fire, while Fili stayed at the camp with all of our belongings. But, as I was out among the trees, I heard the sudden clash of metal upon metal and knew something was wrong.

"I dropped everything I held in my hand and ran back to the camp, just in time to see orcs drag my brother away. He was bleeding badly, and they... they just dragged him across the floor. I... I did nothing. I jut stood there and watched... I... I'm a coward." Tears glinted in his eyes and Alissa took his hand in hers.

"You are not a coward," she declared, gazing straight into Kili's deep brown eyes. "Running into that fight might have gotten you both captured, or even killed."

"Yes, but now Fili's probably dead!" He cried, pulling away from Alissa and standing up angrily, clenching his fist. "I shouldn't have left him!"

Alissa's eyes wandered away from the dwarf and to her wound, which was nearly fully healed. She knew she had to find out. She had to see for herself if Kili's brother was still alive.

"Kili," She said, grabbing his arm to get his attention as she rose from the dusty floor. "I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me. You saved my life, and if there's anything I can-"

"I don't need a reward," he said, not unkindly. He sighed and shook his head. "Are you leaving?"

Alissa nodded, not wanting to meet his distressed gaze. She felt terrible for leaving him so abruptly and in such a state, but she had to.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as she slipped into her armour and gathered her weapons.

"No. Don't be. You've got your own life to be getting on with." Alissa merely nodded, unsure of what to say.

They stood in a seemingly awkward silence for a while, before Kili said, "Do you want to take some food with you?"

Alissa shook her head, politely declining, and then made for the entrance door, almost hesitantly. Before she took another step, Kili grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him.

Alissa could feel his warm breath tickling her skin, sending shivers down her spine. She gazed deeply into his eyes, dancing in the sunlight, and felt something lurch inside her.

"Be careful out there," he whispered before leaning in to kiss her. Alissa felt herself kissing back, deeply, and she wrapped her arms around Kili's neck as the dwarf snaked his around her waist, pulling her closer.

Finally they broke apart. Then, with a final farewell, Alissa left the cave and started walking slowly down the hill, not glancing back once, with a sad smile on her face.

"Be careful," Kili whispered again as he watched the lone figure of the human disappear.