Disclaimer: I don't own The Hobbit.

Hello, everyone! As a proud Canadian, I must wish you all Happy Canada Day (barely … I've got about 15 minutes to spare)! I hope you're all doing well and enjoying summer days. It's taken me a long time to get back into writing this story, mostly due to a crazy work schedule and the desire to do absolutely nothing when I'm not working. I also had a pang of sadness as I was working on this because I realized it's the last chapter. It snuck up on me and I stalled a bit in writing it because I don't want this to be over! However, all good things must come to an end, I suppose. So, alas, here it is.

Much to his dismay (and everyone else's worry), Kili quickly fell to the back of the company. Gandalf took the lead while Fili, Thorin, and Bilbo surrounded the ill Dwarf. Thorin didn't think Bilbo a particularly skilled fighter (having conkers as his weapon of choice gave that impression) but he appreciated the sentiment and it gave Fili and Thorin the ability to keep two eyes on their surroundings rather than one eye on the forest and the other on Kili.

The farther the company moved away from their camp site, the farther behind Kili fell. Several times Fili and Thorin exchanged worried looks over Kili's head but it was Bilbo who finally called to Gandalf.

"We need to stop," he said. "Kili can't keep going."

"I can," Kili breathed heavily. His hair was soaked with sweat and his dark eyes were sunken into his pale face.

"No, you can't." Bilbo said firmly. Gandalf studied Kili intently before looking to Thorin.

"What do you say?" he asked. "You are the leader of this company and this is your adventure. You decide if we stay or continue."

"Thorin," Kili muttered. "We need to keep moving."

Thorin was having a mental argument. On one hand, he was tempted to move on. They weren't safe here and Kili was desperate to prove his worth so why not let him? On the other hand, Kili was clearly too ill to continue regardless of what he said and they didn't know where the Orc pack was now. For all they knew, they were miles apart.

"Thorin," Fili said, not liking how long his uncle was taking to make what should have been an obvious decision.

"What are you thinking?" Dis' voice filled Thorin's mind as he glanced at Kili again. "You promised to watch out for him!"

His sister's shrill voice was all Thorin needed.

"We stay here," he announced and Kili groaned. "I want four watchmen covering North, South, East, and West."

Dwalin began to sort the guard shifts and Thorin turned to Kili.

"Rest," he said. Kili scowled.

"I don't need rest as much as we need to keep moving."

"That's not for you to decide." Thorin snapped, walking away. He could hear Kili muttering angrily as Fili and Bilbo helped him lie down.

Kili continued to grumble as Dwalin and Thorin made sure the guard was strong and alert.

"I'm fine," he complained to Bilbo.

"No, you're not." Bilbo retorted. "And we all know it so you might as well stop complaining and rest."

Kili was rather taken aback by Bilbo's response. The Hobbit was normally quite reserved and didn't speak his mind but here he sounded almost authoritative.

Still, it didn't stop Kili from arguing.

"I don't care that we all know that I've been ill but I am getting better. I'm strong enough to keep moving, at least."

Bilbo raised an amused eyebrow.

"If we hadn't stopped when we did, you'd be lying unconscious on the forest floor by now." Bilbo glanced at Thorin, who looked annoyed. "And if I were you, I'd keep quiet. Thorin has lost his patience."

Kili glanced over at Thorin and say Bilbo was right. His uncle's face resembled the time he and Fili had torn one of his best coats while using it as a costume in their game. Kili rolled onto his side.

"I'm still fine," he muttered, pulling the pack he was using as a pillow closer.

"Whatever you say." Bilbo placated.

The afternoon wore into evening and nothing happened.

"Let them get some rest," Kili said to Thorin, who was kneeling next to him. He was trying to convince his uncle that four guards was excessive and that they were tired. "The Orc pack has moved on."

"Don't worry about the guard," Thorin said, observing Kili's flushed cheeks. He pressed a firm hand to Kili's forehead and removed it before Kili could swat it away. Thorin glanced at Bilbo, who had stuck with Kili and become his nurse for the day.

"Treat that fever as best you can," he said. "I don't like how long it's lingering."

Bilbo nodded and scurried away to fetch a bowl of water. This required going past the guard to a small, clear brook. He passed between Nori and Bifur, clutching a cauldron and knelt at the riverbed to fill it. The cauldron was just about full when Bilbo had the strangest feeling he was being watched. Very slowly, he lifted his head and saw an Orc staring at him from a dozen or so yards down the stream. He, too, was filling a cauldron with water. In an instant, Bilbo had dropped his cauldron with a splash and was scurrying up the embankment. He heard the Orc dash away and Bilbo knew it was only a matter of minutes before they came searching out the party.

"Orcs!" he cried in a panicked whisper as Bifur came into view. "The Orcs are coming!"

Immediately, Thorin and Gandalf joined him and Bifur.

"Where?"

"The brook! One saw me getting water. What are we going to do?"

"We won't be able to outrun them," Thorin said. "Not with Kili in his state. We'll have to fight them."

The Dwarves worked quickly. Every Dwarf pulled their weapons and created a circle formation around their camp. Bilbo stayed close to Kili, a short blade lying on the ground next to him. Kili was not happy – the look on his face said so – but Thorin had forbade him from getting up, which was just as well. He would never admit it but the fever was making him dizzy and he wasn't sure how much help he'd be in a battle anyways.

"Here they come!" Dori's voice broke the silence, though Orcs moved loudly and the sounds of breaking branches and crunching leaves filled their ears.

Bilbo tried to watch the battle as best he could but everything happened so quickly. Soon every member of the company was engaged with at least one Orc. He saw Thorin striking the back legs of one Orc and Dwalin decapitating another. Bifur, Bofur, and Bomber were back to back in a triangle that effectively rotated through Orc after Orc. Fili was fighting a large Orc who managed to club him on the side of the head. The Dwarf crumpled to the ground.

"Fili!" Kili's exclaimed and Bilbo had already picked up his blade. Thorin heard the cry and was making his way across the circle, swinging his blade as he went. He got sidetracked, however, when he saw an Orc coming towards Kili with an evil grin on his face. Up till this point, the Orcs had failed to notice the youngest member of the company. This, in addition to the Dwarves' circular fighting formation, had ensured Kili remained unchallenged. However, this particular Orc realized his prey was wounded and was quickly encroaching.

Thorin took a tremendous swing at the Orc who had his own blade raised to cut off Kili's leg (Kili was unsuccessfully trying to get away). The creature tumbled to the ground and his head rolled a few feet away. Kili looked shocked and glanced at Thorin.

"Hide," Thorin said.

"Fili," Kili replied urgently. Thorin continued towards Fili while Kili crawled back to the dead Orc. Curled up behind him, Kili was almost completely hidden from view.

Bilbo had reached the large Orc quickly and was valiantly but ineffectively swinging the blade. He had no concept of how to use such a weapon and was merely making small cuts in the shins of the large creature. Thorin arrived with only seconds to spare and pushed Bilbo behind him as the Orc raised his axe. Three slashes later and the Orc was stumbling backwards, his axe on the ground.

"Watch Fili." Thorin ordered, running off to help Ori. Bilbo dropped his blade, his hands shaking, and knelt next to the Dwarf.

"Fili," he said, firmly patting the cheek. "Fili, wake up."

Kili could see Bilbo kneeling next to his brother and was therefore able to see the Orc that Thorin had wounded coming back towards him. A glance at the company showed that no one else had noticed the Orc's return and Kili knew Bilbo didn't stand a chance. In one swift motion, Kili had fit his bow with an arrow and was standing. He shot the Orc in the shoulder but it continued to advance, intent on killing Bilbo and Fili.

Dropping his bow and picking up a discarded sword, Kili ran towards the Orc. The creature swam in and out of focus and Kili knew he only had one chance before he blacked out. A yell tore from his lips as he swung the heavy sword with all his might and the Orc fell to the ground. Thorin turned around in time to see Kili sway on the spot and fall next to his brother.

When Kili woke up, it was dark outside.

"Kili?" Bilbo's voice was quiet and Kili sensed the Hobbit's presence. "Kili, can you hear me?"

Kili swallowed, wincing as he did so, and blinked to force his vision into focus. Bilbo's face came into view.

"What happened?" he asked, noting his head was pounding.

"There was an Orc attack," Thorin's voice filled in and Kili turned quickly – too quickly, honestly – to see his uncle sitting on his right.

"Fili." Kili said, remembering immediately. "Is he alright?"

"He's right here," Thorin said, motioning to his right. It was only then did Kili see his brother stretched out on his own blanket, his eyes closed. He sat up quickly.

"What happened?" Kili's eyes filled with fear as they did any time he saw his brother injured.

"The Orc hit his head rather hard," Thorin said. "Oin says he's got a concussion but will be alright."

Kili frowned.

"Is he asleep or unconscious?"

"Asleep." Bilbo answered. "Oin gave him a brew to help him rest. He was quite ill for a while, though Oin insists that's normal with head injuries."

Kili lowered himself back onto his makeshift bed.

"This is my fault," he murmured. "If we had just kept moving, none of this would have happened."

"No." Thorin interrupted. "I made the decision to stop, not you. You and your brother will be fine. Do you remember what happened after Fili got hurt?"

Kili swallowed again, nodding.

"I fought the Orc," he said. "He was going to attack Bilbo and Fili and I shot him."

"You killed him," Thorin corrected. "And saved your brother's life."

"And mine," Bilbo added, a bit indignantly.

Kili sighed and glanced at Fili's still form again.

"Are you sure he's going to be alright?"

"Yes." Bilbo said. "But enough about Fili. How are you feeling?"

"Tired," Kili admitted. "And my head hurts."

"You collapsed after you fought the Orc," Thorin said.

"And you've still got a fever," Bilbo tacked on. "Oin said he'd give you some tea when you woke up and that should help. I'll fetch it."

The Hobbit left and Kili felt uncomfortable in his uncle's presence.

"What is it?" Thorin asked after Kili had shifted twice. Kili sighed.

"You keep saying this isn't my fault," he mumbled. "But it is."

"How?"

"Fili is my partner; it's always been that way. We look out for each other. So much is different right now because of this stupid cold and I hate how it impacts every aspect of what we're doing."

"Fili doesn't blame you for this." Thorin replied. "He was more worried about you even while he was being sick."

This didn't surprise Kili but it didn't help him feel much better.

"I feel like I let him down."

"You shouldn't."

"I also feel like we let you down. One injured and the other ill."

Thorin sighed.

"I'll tell you something, Kili," he began. "When you first fell ill, I felt very much like you do now."

"I don't understand."

"I promised your mother I'd keep you safe and she trusted me to do just that. Then you took sick and there was nothing I could do to help you. I felt like I failed your mother."

"But you just said there was nothing you could do." Kili protested. "It's hardly your fault. You have nothing to feel ashamed of."

"Ashamed?" Thorin asked. "I'm not ashamed. I've never been more proud of you, Kili."

A look of pure confusion crossed Kili's face.

"I don't understand," he repeated. "You felt like you failed when it was just me sick and now both of us are ill and you're proud?"

"Yes," Thorin said. "Because despite being ill – and despite me telling you not to – you saw your brother was in trouble and you went to him. You haven't failed Fili or me, not by a long shot."

Kili didn't say anything.

"I told Balin at the beginning of this journey that all I desired was loyalty, honour, and a willing heart and I saw all of that in you tonight. They're very kingly traits," he added. "And your father had them, too. He fought to the death to keep his soldiers and his family safe."

Kili felt slightly choked up by being compared to his father.

"I know that you feel you have failed me because of this illness," Thorin said gently. "And that somehow being ill means you are not strong."
Kili nodded, peeling his eyes away from Thorin's.

"You should know," Thorin continued. "It has done exactly the opposite. It has showed me how strong you really are."

A thin smile appeared on Kili's face.

"Thank you, Uncle," he said and Thorin returned the smile just as Bilbo came back with a steaming cup of tea. Kili drank it with minimal fuss and closed his eyes.

"Get some sleep," Thorin said, patting his shoulder.

"You, too," Kili mumbled. Bilbo glanced at Thorin.

"He's right," he said. "I'll stay with them."

Thorin didn't need much convincing and he lay down by himself a little way away.

"I'm proud of you, Thorin," Dis said to her brother. It wasn't a memory but a dream. Thorin and his sister were at home, drinking beer and sharing a plate of biscuits. A fire was roaring in the hearth and everything was … familiar.

"I don't deserve your praise," Thorin said. "It's taken me a long time to reach this point."
Dis laughed.

"But you reached it all the same. People always say it's the journey and not the destination but you know what I think?"

Thorin raised his eyebrow.

"Sometimes I think the destination is the start of the journey. It's the point where things have changed and people can move on."

Thorin smiled.

"It's ironic how Kili's flu is what showed me his strength when it was the very thing Kili was afraid would show his weakness."

"Things have a way of always working themselves out," Dis replied.

"They do," Thorin said. "But I think I learned something more from all of this."
"What's that?"

"I made you a promise I really can't keep. I can do my best to protect them but in the end, things happen that we can't control. I told Fili that the day Sindri died but it's taken me over eighty years to really understand it."

Dis looked thoughtful.

"That's always a difficult realization," she said. "And sometimes the consequences are direr than other times."

She burst out laughing.

"What is it?" Thorin asked, smiling.

"I've just remembered," Dis replied, her eyes dancing. "Do you remember when Kili and Fili ate crab apples?"

It was a beautiful, warm summer day and Dis had taken the boys out of the mountain. Fili and Kili (twelve and six) always loved leaving the mountain and exploring the forests that surrounded its base. Dis had packed a picnic lunch and the three of them were enjoying their day out. Dis was settled on a blanket with a thick book while her sons dodged in and out of the trees, playing some sort of imaginary game.

"Look what we found, Mama!" Kili's voice carried from the trees and Dis looked up to see her boys carrying armloads of small, greenish apples.

"Where did you find those?" Dis asked as they dumped them at her feet.

"In the woods," Fili answered. "Can we eat them?"

"No," Dis said, picking one up.

"Why not?" Kili asked. "Fili said they're apples. They look like apples."

"They're not apples for eating," Dis said. "They grow out here for animals to eat, not Dwarves."

Kili frowned.

"How can these apples not be for eating? Aren't all apples the same?"

"No," Dis said patiently. "They're not."

"Why?"

Dis sighed.

"I don't know, Kili. That's a question for your uncle, he might know. But for now, just leave them where they are and don't eat them."

Fili and Kili returned to the forest.

"Do you think it's okay to eat them?" Kili asked Fili as they continued to gather them – they made great ammunition if nothing else.

"I don't know," Fili said. "They look alright … just like small versions of what we eat. Let's cut one open."

He pulled his knife from his boot – Thorin had given it to him for his birthday – and cut the apple open.

"It looks okay," Kili said. "It's nice and juicy."

"Do you think Mama was wrong?" Fili asked. "Maybe she thought they were a different type of apple. These look like they're good for you."

"I wonder if it tastes good." Kili pondered, taking half from Fili. He licked some of the dribbling juices.

"It's a little sour," he said. "But I like the sour ones."

He took a large bite.

"And it's crunchy!"

Fili did as Kili had done and took a bite from his half.

"It is good," he said, taking another bite. "Mama must've just been confused."

The morning wore on and Kili and Fili continued to munch on the crab apples as they played their game.

"Fili! Kili!" Dis called around mid-day. She had unpacked a stack of sandwiches and had some vegetables cut up for lunch. Kili and Fili appeared from the forest and they sat down for the meal.

"Are you alright?" Dis asked, noting that they only ate half of what they normally did for lunch. "Aren't you hungry?"

"No," Kili said happily. "We had some apples for a snack."

Dis raised an eyebrow.

"What apples?"

"The crab apples," Fili explained. "We cut one open and they're juicy and crunchy. They can't be bad for you."

Dis sighed.

"What did I tell you about those apples?"

"We thought you just got mixed up," Kili said good-naturedly. "They're really good."

"I didn't get mixed up," Dis said with another sigh. "Those apples are not supposed to be eaten."

"What's going to happen?" Fili asked.

"Maybe nothing," Dis said, choosing to be optimistic. "Sometimes you're okay after eating them."

"Great," said Kili, standing. "Can we go play some more?"

Dis nodded and her boys ran off, their mother shaking her head. The afternoon came and went and Dis was hopeful that Fili and Kili were unaffected by the crab apples but her hopes were in vain as she called them to supper once they were home.

Both Kili and Fili came into the kitchen looking pale, tinged with green. Dis sighed.

"What's wrong?"

"Our tummies hurt." Kili whimpered, wrapping his arms around his thin frame. Fili nodded.

"A lot."

Dis glanced at the supper she'd just put on and sighed again.

"Alright, off to bed, then. I'll be there soon but please, if you're going to be sick, try and make it to the bathroom."

Fili and Kili left the kitchen and Dis couldn't help but feel slightly sorry for them. She was just placing her roast chicken in the ice chest when the door opened.

"Hello?" Thorin's voice called out. He fully expected two young Dwarves to come running down the hall but he was met with silence.

"I'm in here, Thorin!" Dis called, covering the applesauce. Thorin appeared in the archway.

"What's wrong?" he asked immediately and Dis raised an eyebrow.

"Your nephews brilliantly decided to gorge themselves on crab apples this morning."

"Why would they do that?" Thorin asked, swiping a hot biscuit from the plate Dis had carried from the table.

"I told them not to," she said. "But they didn't listen. If you ask me, they deserve what's coming."

"Dis," Thorin said disapprovingly. "That's a bit harsh, don't you think?"

"I didn't say I don't feel bad for them," his sister replied. "They're in for a rough night but the only way they'll ever learn is if they make mistakes. Next time, maybe they'll heed my warning and avoid the consequences."

"I suppose." Thorin said vaguely.

"I can't control everything they do, Thorin. I can tell them what they shouldn't do and help them when they've made a mistake but everything else is out of my hands."

Thorin sighed.

"It still doesn't make their night any better," he said. "I'll stay and help where I can. Get a head start on the laundry."
He flashed a smile and both of them knew the other was thinking of the stomach flu that had been merciless on Fili and Kili about four years ago.

"I appreciate the offer," Dis said. "But you don't need to stay. I'm sure things are getting busy for you now that the weather is nice."

"The council can survive without me for a day," Thorin replied. "But first, is there any supper?"

Dis sighed but smiled, taking her roast chicken back from the ice box.

Fili and Kili did indeed have a rough night. The stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea meant frequent trips to the bathroom and, like Thorin had predicted, a mountain of laundry.

"How long until it's over?" Kili asked his mother, who was sponging his face as he lay curled up in a ball. Dis smiled sympathetically.

"I don't know, Kili," she said. "Whenever your body decides it's gotten rid of all the crab apples."

Kili buried his face in his pillow.

"I'm sorry we didn't listen to you."

"I am, too," Dis replied. "But next time you will. You've learned a hard lesson."

Kili nodded miserably.

"I'm never eating another crab apple ever again."

"And it worked," Dis said. "They never ate any more crab apples and they took my advice on what not to eat from then on."

She sipped her tea, still smiling.

"I'm not sure it's the same," Thorin replied. "But I take your point."

"It is the same," Dis said. "It was one of those moments that proved I couldn't control everything that happens to them and neither can you. We can help them and guide them and fix mistakes but that's it."

"It's a bit of a scary thought, isn't it?"

Dis looked thoughtful.

"Sometimes," she said finally. "I worry about them – and you – but it's a little bit easier to relinquish the reigns knowing that they were raised right. They've got a good set of heads on their shoulders and are strong, independent Dwarves. Knowing that makes it easier to let them go."

"You made Kili promise to come back."

"Of course I did," Dis said. "He's my son. Knowing they're out there on their own doesn't mean I still don't need him to be my son, just like I still need you to be my brother. Family doesn't stop when they leave home. I hope that they'll always come back to me and let me help them when they need it."

"I'm sure they will," Thorin said with a gentle smile. "And besides, you're not even with us and you're still keeping watch over them."

Dis smiled back.

"I'll always keep watch over them," she said. "They're my sons."

Thorin's eyes opened lazily. It was still dark out and the fire was crackling. He knew the guards were still being kept so he didn't get up. Instead, he rolled over and looked at his nephews. This journey was a bigger learning curve than he'd expected. Despite the fact he'd seen Fili and Kili ill several times over the years, the presence of this illness remained somewhat foreign to him because it brought with it new reactions. Foreign, he finally understood, but not necessarily bad. They were in a changing world and the Durins' relationship and position was rapidly shifting as well. What Thorin had been training Fili and Kili for their whole lives was finally coming to fruition. Here they were not Uncle and Nephew. Rather, they were equal companions who fought for themselves and each other. He'd trained them well. They were strong warriors, just like they always dreamt of being.

Dis was right. Knowing that Fili and Kili were prepared for the world they were now facing made dealing with things like this – the unexpected twists and unforeseen circumstances – just a little bit easier.

Just a quick note … you may or may not get sick from eating crab apples. I was always told not to eat them but others tell me you'll be just fine if you do.

Reviews are appreciated!

Well, friends, this is the end of our journey. I hope you've enjoyed it and I've loved working on it! Thanks again and happy reading and writing,

StoryLover18