Is it really true? Has TFJ96 really updated? Yes, it's true. It's been a very, very, very busy semester and another one's about to start in a few months, but I figure that now is a good time to focus on my writing again. If you're still reading this, thanks for hanging in there...you the real MVP.

This is not the last chapter, btw, so enjoy!

"Stop!" Yerin's voice shouted. "This is not gold!"

Fíli's heart jumped to his throat. Not gold? How is that possible?

He glanced to Dáin, but the look on the older dwarf's face showed Fíli that he knew all about it. "What do you mean it's not gold?" he demanded, but the question was really aimed at his uncle.

"One is filled with gold and the rest are stones," Yerin said with an acrimonious steel to his voice. "Are you daft, Dáin Ironfoot? Thinking we would be foolish enough to be tricked?" With a snarl, he removed a short sword from his belt, Balak and Nalak doing the same.

"Oh, no," Dáin said smoothly. "Only long enough to see what's behind you."

Yerin's eyes widened at the threat. "What do you mean?"

"Turn around."

Suddenly, from behind the thieves, small bursts of light began to arise. It was the light of torches and from the number of them, there had to be at least that many people carrying them.

The light came closer and soon over two dozen dwarves came into view, all armed and fierce-faced.

"They move on my command," Dáin announced. "I suggest you stand down."

"Foul liar!" Yerin spat.

"No less foul than stealing something that could cure innocent people?" Dáin countered. "Some of whom are children? We'd also like the gold back, but you may keep the stones and your measly lives, if you obey."

Fíli gritted his teeth. This had been his plan all along. Dáin had just taken him so he wouldn't mess anything up. He hated being out of the loop and he hated being used. He should've heeded Thorin's advice about Dáin. If this plan didn't work, all those lives, Kíli's life, would be forfeit.

Thorin told him to think and he didn't. He never did. How could he be trusted with the lives of his people now? "What are you doing?" he whispered.

"You have to trust me, Fíli," Dáin said. "I know what I'm doing."

From the look on Yerin's face, Fíli doubted it. "This isn't over!" he assured them, as a dwarf under Dáin's command took back the gold. "I hope you know the first person we'll set our eyes on!"

Fíli's thoughts burned with rage. How dare he mention him. How dare he even think about him. He stepped forward. "If you ever come near him-!" Dáin stopped him with a hand on his shoulder that was trembling with anger.

"These are empty threats from empty people, lad. They know that they've been beaten. I'm half-tempted to kill them right here."

Even Fíli recognized in all his fury when a line was being crossed. The dwarves under Dáin's command did not deserve to turn into butchers. Thievery was something awful, but not as much as murder. They stole something that controlled the lives of dozens of sick, but they got it back, after all. A slaughter was not necessary.

"No," he told Dáin.

"No?" the older dwarf questioned. "These filth toyed with the lives of your people, of your brother, and that means nothing to you?"

"It means everything to me. We have to be better than those who oppose us. We have the kingsfoil. It's time to heal our sick and move on."

"Fíli-"

"This is the last I want to hear of it!" he snapped.

To his amazement, Dáin respected his opinion and escorted the three far away from Ered Luin. Then, they returned home with the last ingredient to heal the ill.

Of the last 65 infected, 9 died before the cure had the chance to work through their systems. They were mostly very young or very old, but even with the sorrow of those losses, it was hard not to rejoice at the fact that the Iron Plague was gone from Ered Luin.

Thorin did not even know that Fíli had any part in retrieving the kingsfoil, as Dáin thought it would be for the best to allow Thorin to lay the blame on him. And Thorin did. Still, he was not as furious as he could've been because Kíli had gotten the cure in time and was recovering more quickly than expected, resilient as ever.

It was mainly Fíli who had vouched for Dáin and the mistrust he'd seemed to bear for his distant uncle had instantly faded when he saw Kíli stand on his own two feet. Gimli was recovering just fine himself, so this made it very difficult for the citizens of Ered Luin to criticize Dáin. In fact, they celebrated him like a hero.

He remained in Ered Luin, which was a shock to Thorin because he'd assumed Dain would just leave once his work was done, coming and going like the summer winds.

Thorin's negative thoughts died down as soon as he saw Kíli's face light up, when he entered his own home. He was still pale and needed to sit down much more than a dwarf his age, but Jorn had assured them him that he was close to a full recovery.

"Now, remember," Fíli reminded his younger brother. "Don't do anything too strenuous. If you need something or-"

"Fíli, I think I can handle it," Kíli replied. "Anyway, you need some rest. You look worse than I do."

"Not quite yet, nephew," Thorin corrected. "It's you who needs the rest. Go on."

"Fine," Kíli grumbled, as his mother took him by the hand and led him into his room. Fíli heard her offer him soup, water, a neck rub, all things he declined, telling his mother that she frets over him too much.

"Come outside with me," Thorin said. "We need to talk."

Fíli's heart stopped. About what did he want to speak with him? Could it be that Dáin had told him of Fíli's involvement in recovering the kingsfoil?

They stepped outside and Thorin lit his pipe. Fíli remained silent, waiting for his uncle to initiate a conversation.

"He looks good," he said.

Fíli nodded in agreement. "Although, he shouldn't push it."

"But that's Kíli," Thorin replied.

"That's Kíli."

"You know how much I care for him, right? Both of you?"

"Of course I do," Fíli said.

"I think of you as my own, sometimes. It's so convincing that I often forget it isn't true. Kin is everything, Fíli. Even as a ruler, you can't help being selfish in that regard. It's the reason why I didn't seek the help of the Elves."

"What?"

"I wasn't thinking of everyone else, only Kíli."

"Uncle, what are you talking about?"

"Our family has had a long, long history with these people, Fíli. I trust you know that there's more animosity between us and them than between them and other dwarves. We are a great and ancient bloodline. We've feuded and continue to feud with the great and ancient elven bloodlines. I don't trust them, Fíli. I don't trust them with the lives of my kin."

"I don't understand."

"It may seem foolish, but I convinced myself that they would help everyone but Kíli...because he is my kin. More than that, I was afraid they would hurt him because they must hold so much hatred for me. In doing this and waiting for Jorn, I risked his life and the lives of others, all because I couldn't shake this fear that they would retaliate on him. But I want you to know that if no other option presented itself, I would've called upon the Elves. However, I was able to hold onto my prejudices and find a cure for my people. Those were my reasons, Fíli. I'm as selfish as any person can be."

"As farfetched as your hunch may have been," Fíli said. "I'm glad that you put him first, too. What is the good of family if you can't be selfish for them?"

"As a ruler, you're not allowed to be as selfish as others."

"How do you balance it?"

"I just hope that situations like these ones rarely happen," Thorin admitted. "I managed to squeak by yet again. But it's worth it. When I look at your brother - healthy, smiling, and stubborn - I can't help but think that it's worth it."

"He's lucky to have you," Fíli said. "We both are." He paused for a few moments. "We'll be alright."

When night fell, Kíli became overheated. It was only a residual effect, but it was uncomfortable enough to have him throw his blanket off of his bed. It wasn't a big enough problem to call for his family, so he would just have to bear with it and get some sleep. After fifteen minutes of laying in bed, burning and shivering at the same time, he sat up.

Carefully placing weight on his wobbly legs, he stood. Holding onto his bedpost for balance, he steadied himself, worked through his lightheadedness, and left his room. Being conscious of waking the house, he quietly slipped through the front door and into the cool night. Feeling the soft, moist earth on his bare feet made him feel a little better already and he enjoyed the peaceful night.

He walked over to the well, collected some cold drinking water, and sipped slowly (because Fíli was always on him about practically choking on whatever he ate or drank) until his felt his body cool down.

He walked back to this house, but was unaware that he was being watched from a distance.

Eek, a cliffhanger! Yes, I'm meaner than I seem. Reviews would be appreciated.