Queen Under the Mountain - Thorin Oakenshield

~Twelve~

~A Company Divided~ 

"You do realize we're one short?" Bilbo was still counting the Dwarves. "Where's Bofur?"

"If he's not here we leave him behind," stated Thorin. 

"We'll have to if we're to reach the Mountain before the end of the day," agreed Balin. "We cannot risk any more delays."

It was the next morning - after a night of hearty celebrations, the Dwarves were getting an early start. They needed to if they wanted to cross the lake and climb the Mountain all in time.

They were given a grand send off - the people of Lake-town waved them on, and the Master even gave a speech. 

"Not you-" Thorin stopped Kili before he could step onto the boat. "We must travel at speed, and you'll slow us down."

"What are you talking about? I'm coming with you."

"Not now."

Kili grew panicked. "I'm going to be there when that door is opened, when we look upon the halls of our Fathers, Uncle-"

"Kili, stay here. Rest. You can join us when you've healed."

"Look, I'm sorry about before with dropping the weapons, but-"

"Kili."

Dejected now, and clearly thoroughly disappointed, Kili was pushed back while the others climbed into the boat. He was all alone. 

"You're not going to leave him behind on his own," cried Dahlia. 

"I'll stay here with the Lad." Oin climbed out of the boat. "My duty lies with the wounded."

"Uncle," cried Fili. "We grew up on tales of the Mountain. Tales you told us. You cannot take that away from him."

"Fili-"

"I will carry him if I must!"

"One day you will be King and you will understand. I cannot risk this quest for the sake of one Dwarf."

"He's your nephew!" cried Dahlia.

But Thorin was decided. "Not even my own kin."

Without hesitation, Fili was up on his feet and stepping out of the boat.

His uncle tried to stop him. "Fili, don't be a fool - you belong with the Company."

"I belong with my brother."

Dahlia was decided too. "I will stay as well."

"Dahlia-"

"Either we all go or I don't go. They're like little brothers to me. We don't abandon family. At least some of us don't. Besides, Erebor isn't even my home anyway."

"I hoped it would be one day," Thorin sighed, appearing hurt. 

"So did I. You don't understand what you're taking from them. And clearly you don't care." She had awoken in his embrace mere hours ago, and now here they were, coldly separating. 

"I feared as much," she sighed, speaking to no one in particular as they watched from their spot on the docks as the boat sailed away. "That the closer we got, the more hell-bent he'd become on reaching the Mountain, losing sight of what mattered."

"Kili - Kili!" Fili cried, and Dahlia turned to see Kili had fallen from his perch on some crates, and would have crashed to the docks had his brother not caught him. "We need to get help!" Fili cried.