An Experiment Gone Wrong

Chapter 18 - The Lonely Mountain

That night nobody got much sleep, but Bard tried his best to help the Company out with clothes and weapons. Bard tried to offer Mara new armor but Mara just shook her head and thanked him for his hospitality. Adorning her full armor, hood and all, she looked at Kili and down to his leg where the arrow entered. "I don't understand how you're so sick. If you are poisoned you need medicine Kili." 

Kili smiled a forced smile at her, thankful that his kin were celebrating with a feast made by the Master tonight. "What are you talking about Mara? I'm perfectly fine." 

Mara looked at him annoyed that he would continue to fight her on this. "Kili I work with poisons, I am not stupid. Your uncle and I have discussed you many times tonight and we both agree that I need to find a way to help you as best as I can." She stood up and sighed. "If I am not back by the time the moon reaches the middle of the sky, tell your Uncle something bad has happened to me. Otherwise, I will be right back." Off Mara ran, clinging to the shadows, to try and find something to help with Kili's wound. 

~~~

Hours had passed and Kili had rejoined his kin for the last meal they would have before retaking their homeland and boy was Kili excited. He wasn't going to let anything get in the way of him seeing the halls he grew up dreaming about with his brethren for the first time. He looked around and notived that Mara had not come back yet and he was starting to get a little fidgety. Fili noticed and patted him on the back, "What ales you brother? Are you that nervous about facing a dragon tomorrow?" Fili joked around.

Kili shakes his head, "it's Mara. She told me she would be back by now but I'm afraid she's gotten herself into trouble. I do not know if I should tell Uncle or not. She told me to tell him if she does not return before the moon in high in the sky, and it is not there quite yet..." he trails off thinking. Little did he know that Thorin had been watching him the whole night to make sure he doesn't collapse or anything. 

Before Fili could comfort his worried brother, the woman in question appeared out of nowhere and walked up to him, panting. "Come here," she demanded pulling out a vial of disgusting looking leaves that had been mashed up into a paste that smelled of sewage. "I overheard the apothecary mentioning that this was a cure for most poisons that man could make. Lets try it." She was watched by Fili and Thorin until she applied the medicine and Kili cried out in searing pain catching the attention of the others. 

The would started to pulse under her nimble fingers and she could tell something was off. "Shit," was all she could whisper and she looked around frantically. "I need Lillith, she would know what to do. We have to take him to the elves." 

"Lass, Durin's day is tomorrow. We have to reach the door by the last light of the day or our quest is over and there is no hope of reclaiming our home," Balin explained to Mara who shook her head in protest. 

"No Master Balin, he will die if he does not receive aid!" She said drawing out a heavy silence. "My hands may be coated in the blood of those I have murdered but I will not let Kili die." 

Thorin had stood and walked over to Mara, "amrâlimê, come," he said lowly placing his hand on her shoulder. "He will live through the night. For now, you should go and get some sleep. We have the biggest fight tomorrow. Once we reclaim our home we will call upon the elves." 

Mara looked at him incredulously, "You think he will last that long? Thorin Oakenshield how can you be so blind?" 

Thorin felt a tinge of confusion fly through him as he was hurt by her words. He was worried about his nephew but there was nothing he could do for him. He did not want to risk failing his kin when they had come this close to the mountains and if it meant leaving behind one of the Company than that is what he would have to do.