I know it has took so long, it is a fairly long chapter with lots going on, so I hope you enjoy. I will try to update as soon as I can but as we know life takes over sometimes.

The room that Kili had been laid in had been cleaned and any rubbish removed. Erebor had been inhabited by a dragon for 200 years, but surprisingly many rooms and chambers had lain intact, with much of the furniture being untouched by the dragon, he having only been interested in the large amount of gold and anyway, he had been far too large to fit into many of the smaller chambers. While the dwarves of the iron Hills had under Dain's rule been making the mountain secure and liveable, it was Thorin's small company that had arranged the room that their king and his heirs were to recuperate in.

"That and to die in" Kili had thought when he had been brought into the room and Dori had fussed about the place. Having caught a glimpse of Thorin, who he had to admit did not look well, Kili felt an ache in his heart, he had looked away from Thorin, he wondered if Oin had noticed because Oin had been telling Kili to lie still and not disturb his brother. Kili felt a tinge of annoyance as if he was a small child being told off, but then Oin always had that way about him, he was kindly and Kili knew that it was Oin who as a young healer, had delivered Kili himself, perhaps that was why he always treated him as a child. Then the thought occurred to Kili that he was a child compared to the others and only hours before, had he not wept for his mother. Kili closed his eyes, his fingers, still tightly binded to his brother's hand. Then a small smile appeared on his face as he realised that what he had just thought would have been what Fili would have said, had he been having the conversation with him rather than with himself. He looked across a Fili's face, his eyes were closed, but his face did not look pained nor hurt, just as if he was sleeping. Kili couldn't resist tugging a little on Fili's fingers. They had always been so close that dwarves in the Blue Mountains had said they could speak without talking, Thorin had said it himself. Kili suddenly felt a dark glimmer of hope. He looked at Fili, pleading with him to wake. Fili's blond hair shimmered, it was dirty from the battle, and his head had a large wound above his right eye where the orcs had hit him. Kili felt Fili's fingers and squeezed softly again and again, but nothing happened. Kili suddenly felt frustrated, he lashed out and let go of Fili's hand, he shouted at the top of his voice and tears began to fall silently down his face, he brushed his sleeve across his face and then dropped it quickly as a shot of pain flew across his chest.

"Hey Kili, you're alright"

Kili's head moved swiftly, he wasn't alone, he hadn't been since the battle, he should have known. His eyes rested on a voice he knew. Bofur, he stood with his legendary hat ripped and torn on his head, his lopsided grin smiled at Kili and Kili also saw that Oin loitered about on the other side of the room. There was a figure at the door which could have been Dori, but he couldn't see the face.

"Stop saying that, Stop saying that, I'm not alright, nothing is alright" Kili bellowed, and when Bofur moved to touch him, he batted his hand away "Don't please don't.."

The room was silenced, Kili lay and the only sound you could hear was his own shallow and laboured breathing. He felt the tear stains on his face, they had dried from his changing emotions, from sorrow to sudden anger with Kili having no control over them.

Bofur moved sadly away from Kili's bed, he had known Kili from being a young dwafling, eager to look at Bofur's wares on market days. He had made and given both Fili and Kili toys over the years, he had always thought he could bring a smile to their faces. He glanced at Kili who was recoiling away from him, his head turned away and staring at his brother, who for so long had always been the stable factor in an ever-growing more dangerous world.

"Fili please wake up I need you to wake up" Kili's voice was soft and whispered. Fili did nothing but Kili squeezed his hand anyway.

Dain barged into one of the rooms which was not too far away from where the Durin's lay. Balin sat in the room, mindlessly stirring a cup of cold tea that the elves had kindly provided the dwarves of Erebor with. Gloin and Bombur quietly sitting in contemplation, while Nori comforted Ori. Bifur was carving something in his hand that he would show to no-one and Dwalin stood by the door glaring into space. Bilbo sat awkwardly for he knew not what to say or do to help any of them. Gandalf was nowhere to be seen. At this sudden intrusion of Dain, the company minus Oin, Bofur and Dori who were all in the chamber with Thorin and the boys, all jumped, pulled form their own thoughts.

"Well now, the door is fixed, my lads have seen to that" Dain was mildly happy, not the feeling that the other company members were feeling at all.

"Thank you Dain, Thorin will be delighted with your help" Balin nodded before swallowing hard.

"No bother" Dain's rough accent replied.

"Now, what's next, I was thinking we need to arrange a meeting to sort out an schedule, everything needs cleaned and washed, I've sent word to the Iron Hills, there are more coming to help and I also have heard that you have involved the elves of Rivendell." Dain said the last part of his sentence with raised eyebrows, as if he didn't agree.

"Ya should have said lads, we don't need the elves sniffing about, they'll be after some gold for their troubles."

"And so they will be paid" Gloin replied "We have much to be grateful for, they saved the lads' lives, we would be without a king if it wasn't for them"

"We are already without a king" Dain began before Dwalin started forward

"Thorin is the king" Dwalin growled

"Of course, but what use is he in the state he's in, he cannot protect this mountain from the elves, of course I could always speak to them in his place!"

"There is no need, Gandalf is speaking with the elves and we know Elrond, having met him on the way here" Balin spoke, standing as he did as if to show who was in charge.

Dain scoffed "Wizard and elves deciding what is to happen within the mountain, I will willingly send advisors, I am the closest relative to Thorin, I feel I must take command."

"Fili and Kili are the closest relatives to Thorin, and we supported Thorin when he suggested this crazy idea, where were you Dain, you refused to help him" Dwalin was up in Dain's face.

Dain stepped back. "I'm just saying that as Thorin's nearest relative, I can take charge"

"And what of the boys, Fili is Thorin's first heir and Kili the second" Balin did not look at Dain, as if he knew what was about to be said.

"Fili is hardly in any state, he is yet to wake"

"But Kili is awake and of sound mind

"But he has not been taught to be king, he knows not the meaning of his role" Dain laughed which made all the members of the company look up at him.

"Maybe…. "Balin began

"Brother, no" Dwalin roared

"However, of every member of this company, Kili knows Thorin better than any of us, he knows what he would want, of what he envisioned for this place, once it was returned. It is Kili who we should be turning to" Balin gave a look towards Dain of finality.

"I will speak with him, he is still recovering but I believe that with guidance, he will stand in for his brother and Uncle"

"He is but a dwarfling" Dain boomed

"He is young yes, but he has proved his worth" Dwalin spat

Dain retreated and sighed, "If that is your wish, I do not wish to discredit the lad, I'm just not sure you or he understands what he must do now"

"We understand" said Balin "You can be sure of that"

Dain nodded to Balin and left the company to themselves, almost banging into Bofur who had just entered the chamber.

"The cheek of him" Gloin said once Dain had left, the other dwarfs muttered in agreement.

"Lads, I have something to tell you" Balin stood up and turned to the rest of the company, his short stature looked tired and older than ever. "I spoke with Thorin about this eventuality before we left Ered Luin, if something was to happen to him, he was adamant that the boys should rule, Fili as king and Kili as his first in command"

"As we've always known" Gloin replied and the others were nodding

Balin cleared his throat "He also said that we should be wary of Dain, he felt that there could be a coup for kingship, if Thorin was injured. We must do everything within our power to heal Thorin and Fili"

"What about Kili?" Bofur asked "I was just with him, mentally, he is struggling"

"Then we will just have to help him" Balin grimaced

"He is grieving for the elf and worrying about Fili and Thorin, it is more that he can deal with" Bofur said quietly "I do not know if he will handle the pressure, if we ask him to stand up to Dain"

"He won't be on his own though will he, we will get him through it" Balin grinned at the company.

"There is only one person who will get Kili through his grief and pain" The whole company turned to look at Dori who had just walked in. "Fili is awake"

There were cheers from the company. Balin looked as though he could have cried and then a quick glance at his brother saw that Dwalin had punched the air. The dwarves all seemed to stand as if they were going to all traipse in to the healing room and see Fili.

Fili opened his eyes slowly, his fingers gripping something that felt familiar. His eyes were fuzzy, and the feeling of sickness overcame him. He gagged, his face being turned away quickly while he vomited. Easy words fell upon his ears, but again, he couldn't distinguish what they were saying. He swallowed tentatively while someone wiped his mouth gently. His eyes began to focus and Oin's face swam before him, there were buzzing in his ears, he felt hot and cold at the same time – faint even. Before he could realise who else was there, who was calling his name and the fingers in which he was binded to, he let out a howl of pain. For the pain was excruciating, his back felt as if he was on fire, and his body felt heavy and broken. He could not move, the turn in his neck when he had been sick was enough to realise that every movement was painful. He didn't even know where he was. Fili tried to breath, he tried to turn his head to the sound of a voice almost screaming his name, the voice sounded desperate. Before he knew what was happening, he felt dizzy, his eyes were closing and the sweet taste of something in his mouth before the sounds and sights drifted away.

"Kili, I had to, there was nothing more I could do. His body must rest to heal" Oin's voice was stern and Kili turned away from him petulantly. The dreaded tears were threatening and this time everyone was there to see it. Even Ori looked upon Kili in pity. Kili wanted them to leave.

"Get out" he said quietly

"Come on lads" Balin asked of the company "There's nothing more to be done" The company traipsed out, with sorrowful looks thrown at Kili and Fili. Kili closed his eyes. This was too hard.

Oin stayed along with Dwalin who lingered behind after the rest had gone.

"It had to be done laddie" Oin said gently "he will wake again and he will be better for it, Do you remember when you first woke and how bad you felt?"

Kili suddenly felt selfish. "I just want him to be ok" Kili said quietly, mumbled through the covers which he had pulled up to his face.

"And he will be, you must be patient" Oin said scolding a little. Kili felt his eyes fell heavy, his overwhelming fear enclosed him and he fell off to sleep, grief, and nightmares were waiting for him.

Dwalin poured himself a drink and him and Oin who was exhausted sat watching over the Royal family. Oin had tended to Thorin who had slept through the drama of Fili waking and Kili's upset. While the boys were struggling with their healing, Thorin slept on, heart still beating and still drawing breath but no better nor worse. The room was finely decorated, that was clear to see, Dori had done a fine job in readying the room for Thorin and the lads, The fine red and blue drapes had been washed and now hung delicately and beautifully, indicating royalty. Thorin had always been royalty but he had times had been one of the lads as well, Dwalin knew better than anyone, Thorin was quick witted and also bore grudge but he was also kind and hardworking. Fili and Kili on the other hand were not so easy to tell as royalty, they had never grown up with the stigma and had been as free living as they liked, although Thorin had always seen to their education and weapon training and they had always checked on the more vulnerable members of the settlement once they were old enough to do such tasks. Fili as the older had received a much more intense education, as he got older, with Thorin taking him to meetings and informing him of decisions and plans. Dwalin slurped his drink and allowed the mirage of images swim in his mind, Thorin was his dearest friend and his king. The boys had always been a top priority and he loved them as his own. As in fact most of the company did.

Kili slept fitfully, Dwalin dozed as did Oin but were awakened by the sounds of a terrified voice. Kili's head thrashed from side to side and his hand held the covers that surrounded him. The dream must have been bad and Dwalin got up to comfort him or wake him Oin wasn't sure which. Before Dwalin reached him, they heard Fili's voice.

"It's ok Kee, You're just dreaming, I'm right here" His voice was choked and quiet but it had the desired effect and Kili's head rolled slightly towards Fili and their hands joined unconsciously, both of them falling quiet. Dwalin and Oin looked at each other. Oin got up quickly and approached Fili. Fili was lying with his eyes half open. He managed a smile, which made both Oin and Dwalin smile.

"He giving you trouble?" Fili asked giving a slight cough.

"Aye of course" Oin laughed

Fili licked his lips and Oin gave him some water from a sponge to suck. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I've been splattered off a cliff" Fili said dryly, his smile turning into a grimace.

"Well lad, you have got some serious injuries."

"I know, I can feel them"

"I can give you some pain relief, you are a lot better than when you first woke up"

Fili gave a slight nod and then his mouth upturned quickly at the movement. "So broken bones?" Fili enquired.

"Aye lad and lots of them, a slight stab wound to your back but nothing we couldn't stitch up."

"And Kili and Thorin?" the words hung in the air. Oin sighed.

"There are both alive. Kili is recovering well, his chest was opened, we nearly lost him but now he is getting better and Thorin hasn't woken yet" Fili took all this information in. He swallowed and gave another little cough but then said nothing.

"It will be a long journey for you Fili" Oin said seriously.

Fili felt tears in his eyes. "I tried to protect him I sent him away, I knew Azog was up there"

Oin frowned. But Fili continued. "I couldn't do that he still got hurt"

Dwalin was suddenly there "You stop that!" His tone was sharp and Fili caught his eye.

"You are hurt as well, you need to be worrying about you and looking after yourself"

Oin nodded "He's right Fili, now about that pain relief"

Oin turned to mix some herbs to give to Fili.

"So long as he's ok" Fili gestured with his fingers that were clenched in Kili's grasp.

Dwalin looked at Fili long and hard, he had an air of someone who was giving up. Dwalin realised the feeling he had seen it many times.

"Now stop that" Dwalin said with a start. "That lad is waiting for you to wake up, he needs you and you need him. We all need you to get better" Oin was watching Dwalin, It was not often that Dwalin got emotional but both Fili and Oin could hear it in his voice. "When Thorin was in the grip of his sickness, he threatened to kill me, I didn't give up on him and I will not let you give up now. I won't Fili!"

Fili swallowed with some difficulty and a small smile appeared on his face, along with a few tears that he was unable to wipe away. Dwalin wiped his own tears away before wiping away Fili's. Oin gave Fili some pain relief and the two old dwarves watched as Fili slowly fell asleep, still grasping his sleeping brother's hand.

Thorin lay in the hospital bed, sounds drifting through his ears. Although he wasn't awake, he heard as his old friends comforted his nephew, the sounds were comforting in his own ears. He listened until the sounds drifted away.

Reviews and Follows are welcomed. Hope you liked it.