I do not own any of the characters or The Hobbit (just the AU storyline and my OC) Those are the work of the esteemed and brilliant John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, and without his genius, this and many other fan fics would not be in existence.

***A VERY IMPORTANT note for my loyal readers (PLEASE READ!)- Part 1 of TLBTM is nearly completed- it is simply too long of a story to keep as one part. This is the LAST chapter in this first part, and then I am going to post the first chapter of part 2 after Christmas/beginning of the year (depends on how long it takes to recover from five weeks of insanity). I will be sure to post an author's note at the END of part one (as a separate chapter) with a link to part 2 when it is posted (and on part 2, a link to part one for new readers)- the title will be the same, other than the part designation. So PLEASE- if you've favorited or followed this story, be sure to do the same with part 2 to continue receiving updates! Thank you ALL for going on this journey with me- it's been wonderful, and so have you! I can't believe how big this story has gotten!***

Warning- brief mention of torture regarding skinchangers.

Cirashala dug her feet into the horse's sides, and Deloth sprung forward at a run. Kili found himself gripping her waist a bit tighter as the horse picked up speed, the dark cornstalks on either side of them flying by as Meril's barn and the cabins faded into the darkness.

Truth be told, he was grateful that Cirashala knew how to ride horses. Given her height, he had been a bit surprised. Dwarves usually used ponies, or other small mounts if the terrain wasn't suitable for the former, mostly due to their shorter stature. She was no taller than him, but he quickly realized that she had grown up amongst the tall folk, and as such, horses may have been her only option. Try as he might, the large beasts of burden still made him a bit nervous.

Cirashala slowed as they neared the edge of the forest, looking uncertainly at the sky, and his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Cira, we need to move," he whispered in her ear, looking behind them nervously. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know the stars," she whispered back, her voice uncertain. "Which way is east?"

Kili glanced upward, eyes searching the twinkling lights far above. Gaze roaming across the dark night sky, it only took him a second to find the constellation he sought.

"See the seven bright stars in an arc ahead of us?" he whispered to her, pointing at the white lights. She nodded, eyes following his finger. "That is the Crown of Durin. It points north."

The young woman nodded, guiding the animal east, and dug her heels in again. Deloth turned, and they entered the dark woods, the stars above nearly disappearing as the leafy canopy enveloped the sky. The young dwarf clung on tighter as the animal quickly wove in between the trees and jumped over a few fallen branches, bouncing far more than he was used to due to being behind the saddle rather than in it.

Cirashala was very tense in front of him as the horse galloped, and he peered ahead of the animal, immediately seeing why. There was no moon this evening, as far as he could tell, and the inky blackness was even darker under the trees as the meager light coming from the stars was blocked. Suddenly, his keen dwarf eyes spotted a low hanging branch ahead, and the brown orbs widened in panic as the horse headed straight for it.

"Cira, watch out!" he cried, ducking as he pushed her forward. The young woman cried out in pain as the branch sailed overhead, barely missing them, and the young dwarf's eyes widened.

"Slow down!" he gasped, his grip as tight around her as it could be without hurting her. "You're going too fast!" Cirashala sat up, gasping in pain as she tugged hard on the reins, but to no avail.

"He won't stop!" she cried, tugging again. Kili quickly reached out and pulled hard on the leather straps in front of her hands, forcing Deloth's head back and causing the horse to skid to a halt.

Breaths coming quickly as his heart raced, the young dwarf released the reins and gripped her waist again, tapping the back of her head with his forehead in relief.

"Go slower in the trees," he whispered. The young woman nodded. Kili could feel her trembling ahead of him, and didn't fault her as his own body shook with fright. "If we get to a meadow, you can run him. But I think we're far enough away now that he doesn't need to."

Cirashala nodded, and tapped the horse's sides, causing the animal to move forward at a brisk walk.

"I'm sorry," she whispered quietly. "I've never ridden in the dark before."

"It's all right," he replied gently. "Just go more slowly if you cannot see what's ahead of you, even if the horse can."

They rode along in silence for a while, broken only by the occasional hoot of an owl. Each time there was a break in the tree canopy above them, Kili would check the stars and make sure they were going in the right direction, his experienced eyes spotting the constellation far more quickly than her inexperienced ones.

The young dwarf was also glancing around them frequently, his gaze nervous as the trees faded into the darkness. He knew that orcs and other unsavory creatures were very active at nighttime, the sun burning their skin by day, and once again wished he had a weapon.

He had barely been able to hold the bow steady as he aimed it at Breglin, the motion greatly paining his shoulder and chest, but the safety of the woman he loved was far more important than a few bruises and gashes. He knew he would not be able to fight much with one if his aim was unsteady, but still regretted not asking Meril for the weapon as well after he forgot it in the house in their haste to get out. The sight of the knife upon her cheek had terrified him, and the words the woodsman had spoken puzzled him greatly.

She doesn't have a beard, he thought to himself, frowning. Why did he try to shave her?

"Cira?" he asked quietly behind her as they rode.

"What?" she asked back, yawning. Kili swallowed, not sure how to ask her such an odd question.

"Do you have a beard?" Cirashala tensed in the saddle in front of him, stopping the horse.

"What?" she whispered, trembling as she turned her face toward him, though she was unable to look at him directly.

"I-I'm sorry," he stammered as his cheeks reddened, realizing how foolish his question must have sounded. "It's just…he looked like he was going to, well…" the young dwarf trailed off, gripping the horn of the saddle tightly in front of her.

Cirashala didn't reply as she urged the horse back into motion. They rode silently for quite some time, and Kili felt like a complete fool for asking.

Of course she doesn't have a beard. She's a human, not a dwarf maid.

"He was drunk," she whispered after a while, her voice hesitant. "Not sure what he was seeing."

Kili nodded, sighing. The slight wind rustled the leaves behind them as they rode into a meadow, and he focused more on their surroundings, again wishing he'd asked for the bow. Poor aim or no, any weapon would be favorable at this point.

Fili would have remembered to take it out of the house with him, he thought with chagrin. So would Thorin. The thought of his uncle reminded him of the Oakenshield, and his eyes widened as the blood drained from his face.

The Oakenshield- I lost it when the lynx attacked me!

"Mahalu-me turg," he cursed, sighing as he felt like hitting himself. There was no chance of them finding it in the dark, and it was too dangerous to backtrack now and wait for daylight, even if they could find that spot which was unlikely. Cirashala did not seem to acknowledge his words, continuing on toward the middle of the open expanse. His eyes widened in alarm.

"Cira?" he asked, heart beating faster as his gaze rapidly scanned the surrounding forest. "Cira, you need to get out of the meadow!" She did not respond, and the young dwarf shook her a bit.

The young woman gasped, head darting up as she frantically looked around.

"Wha-what is it?" she asked, and the young dwarf frowned. Reaching to take the reins, he quickly guided the horse back toward the trees.

"Did you fall asleep?" he asked once they were out of the open. Cirashala nodded, yawning as she rubbed her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she muttered. "It's so dark. I can't seem to stay awake." Kili frowned, and he turned the horse into the trees, peering in the darkness for a sheltered spot.

"What are you doing?" she asked, clearly puzzled as he stopped the horse.

"We are going to rest for a bit," he said, before clearing his throat. "Now, what was that word? Dael!"

Deloth knelt down, and the young dwarf slid off the animal's back, before reaching for her. Cirashala grasped his outstretched hand, stepping off the animal as well, before the horse straightened back up to a stand.

Grabbing the reins, Kili moved the horse over to a tree at the edge of their clearing, securely tying the leather thongs to a low branch. Cirashala shakily sat down on the ground at her feet, too tired to keep her eyes open for more than a few seconds at a time. The young dwarf took off his coat, lying it on the ground, before grabbing the blanket Meril had packed into the saddlebag.

"Here," he said quietly, draping it over her shoulders. "Come lay down on my coat- it will be warmer than the ground." She nodded, moving to do as bidden. The fur was still warm from his body heat, and she buried her face in the thick hair, willing to endure the strong unwashed smell for the warmth.

"Do you have a blanket?" she asked him quietly as he sat down next to her, the bag of food in his hands. Kili shook his head.

"She only gave us one," he replied, biting into a piece of dried meat. "I am not sure why." The young prince looked down at her, glad for the darkness concealing his flushed cheeks as he thought back to when they had nothing but his coat for warmth and had to share.

"I'm fine," he whispered after he swallowed, trying to conceal the pain in his voice. "Go to sleep. I will take first watch."

XXX

Beorn looked on from the shadows as the young dwarf's wounds were tended by the group's healer, knowing that the honey would help aid the healing process.

"You understand that my ponies are like my own children?" the giant man asked, glancing toward the wizard. Gandalf nodded, puffing on his pipe. "I would not part with them lightly, not even for a few days."

"I can assure you, your ponies will not come to harm," the wizard replied, blowing a smoke ring into the beams above them. "Dwarves they may be, but they do know how to care for their mounts."

Beorn nodded, eyes turning once more toward the blonde prince. Gandalf's eyes followed his, the wizard wisely refusing to mention the earlier lost ponies incident with the trolls to the skinchanger. Gandalf sighed as he stared at the golden locks, eyes misting despite himself.

He had lived for many lives of men in Arda, and yet…each time death touched his friends, the wizard could not help the grief and pity within his heart. He was no stranger to it by far, but of all the dwarves to die on this quest, the youngest was not the one he expected.

Kili had been very mischievous for sure, along with Fili. No one still knew for sure exactly why the lads had missed seeing three trolls four times their height sneak off with four ponies and knocking two large trees down in the process, but he'd welcome their antics, if it meant that the company's spirits would be heightened. And he knew that the others felt the same.

His heart went out to Fili, the young prince truly experiencing loss for the first time in his life. Anyone who ever saw the lads together may not immediately know they were brothers if they had just met them, due to one being dark haired and the other fair, but everyone knew that they were the best of friends. Sometimes, people swore that the two could speak with each other through their minds, for so much could be said with a single look between them. And typically, when that look was shared, someone would end up with a very unexpected surprise, much to their chagrin and the lads' amusement. To see such a bond broken was very difficult for the wizard, who had close friends surely, but still bore secrets he was not charged to divulge to anyone.

He could bring the young prince back to consciousness, and he could counsel him, but he could not soothe the pain in young Fili's heart. The only one who might be able to do so sat protectively next to the lad, helping with the healing in any way he could.

Thorin's face had regained some of its color since Fili had accepted him into his grief, but there was no denying the pain that was carefully hidden in the blue depths. Thorin had suffered tremendous loss before, and had picked himself up to lead a people despite it. Gandalf could only wish that inner strength and stubbornness would be enough to help the young prince overcome his grief and continue on the quest. He could not stay here.

"I will remain here for one more day to make sure the young one has an abundance of honey to tend his wounds, then I must go," Beorn continued, breaking the wizard from his thoughts. The great man turned toward the wizard and looked him in the eye.

"You seem as though you speak the truth, along with the dwarves," the skinchanger said, his voice skeptical. "But forgive me if I do not take you merely at your word. These are strange days, with word of the Necromancer spreading, and sickness upon the forest to the east. And your tale was a strange one as well.

"I will leave the morn after next," he continued, glancing toward the dwarves quietly washing up their breakfast dishes. "I wish to check your story. In three days I will return, and if your story is indeed true, then I will give Oakenshield whatever he needs to continue your quest, providing that you leave my ponies at the edge of the forest so they can return home."

The skinchanger's face turned deadly serious as his eyes bored into the wizard's own, and Gandalf swallowed thickly, a sudden ferocity in the large man's gaze causing him to grip his staff tightly.

"If I find your story to be false, or you leave with my ponies before I return, then rest assured, your company will not survive to the eaves of the forest. And it will not be by orcs with which they meet their demise."Gandalf nodded.

"I give you my word, your ponies and us will remain here until you return," the wizard promised. "You will find burnt forest outside of Goblin Town, along with warg and orc carcasses if the animals have not gotten to them, that I can assure you." Beorn nodded to him.

"I have looked at the tracks," he finished. "Your hunters have moved south. I cannot promise more will not come, however I will be as swift on my errand as I can be." The skinchanger eyed the weapons propped up against the side of the stable wall.

"Tell your company that they may eat what is here, though they are not to touch my animals," he instructed. "And that they are free to repair their weapons and clothing if needed, so you have them should you find yourselves needing to defend my home. I have a sewing basket stored under my bed, my animals have given me plenty of wool, and there is a whetstone and small forge in the barn behind the house. There is also some ore that can be used to repair them." The wizard nodded.

"I will tell them."

XXX

Thorin watched as the young prince fell asleep next to him, his wounds freshly bandaged with the honey that Beorn said would help heal. The dwarf king wished he could bandage the wounds in the lad's heart so easily, and he sighed, staring at his lap with his empty pipe in his hand.

"You look just like Kili did when you scolded him about orcs outside the Shire," Balin said gently, leaning up against the side of the stable as he looked down at Thorin, his own eyes misting as pain shone from them. "He was crushed that he displeased you."

Thorin's throat constricted, his tears of grief all but spent.

"I should have left them behind," he whispered, gaze moving toward Fili. "Now Kili is dead, and Fili wishes he were so." Balin sighed, moving to sit next to the younger.

"You could not have made them stay even if you'd chained them to a mine cart," the elder replied, shaking his head. "Knowing those two, they would have somehow forged a key from the metal dust left on the cart, and used it to unlock the chains so they could follow you."

Despite the ludicrous idea, Thorin couldn't help the very slight quirk of his lip. What Balin said was true- maybe not the part about them conjuring up a key from dust like wizards, but that they would have found a way to follow him no matter how hard he tried to stop it.

"The lads love you like their own father," Balin continued, resting his hand on the king's shoulder. "They would have followed you into Mordor itself if you asked them to."

"I know," Thorin whispered, voice wavering. "And I asked them to come on a mission to destroy a dragon. Not much better than Mordor, when you think about the dangers of facing such a deadly beast." Balin shook his head.

"You asked them to come on a mission to reclaim their homeland," the elder replied, "by getting the Arkenstone out and uniting the seven dwarf armies. Not face a dragon alone." The dwarf king turned toward his long time friend.

"There may yet be a dragon inside that mountain, and now I have Azog hunting me," he replied darkly. "They will not be safe if their lineage is discovered. Bilbo is right- he will hunt them too." Balin's own eyes darkened as his fist tightened next to him.

"Then their lineage must not be known to anyone save us," he replied vehemently. "We already knew that, Thorin, and not a single dwarf, wizard, or hobbit amongst us would dare to betray you or your kin."

Thorin nodded, before gesturing toward Fili.

"And what of him?" he asked, his eyes filling up with despair. "Never in my life have I seen someone change so much in such a short time." Balin chuckled, shaking his head.

"Then you have never looked in a mirror," the elder said, a sad twinkle in his eye. "If you remember, my friend, you endured great loss at Azanulbizar when you were not much older than the lad." His gaze turned serious as he stared at the forlorn king.

"And you rose up from that to lead a people," Balin stated firmly. "You gathered those who were left and led us to the Blue Mountains. We didn't have gold ore, only iron and coal, but we had a home, and enough to trade to get by."

Thorin's gaze turned toward the young dwarf, his gaze hesitant.

"And do you think Fili will do the same?" he asked, looking back at Balin. "I have never seen him so miserable. I don't think I've ever seen any dwarf so ridden with grief." Balin nodded with a smile, though it did not reach his eyes.

"Yes, laddie," he replied, clapping his hand on Thorin's shoulder before rising to his feet. "The blood of Durin runs in those veins. He will be fine- eventually." The dwarf king's gaze turned back toward his nephew, and the hope that was in Balin's eyes died.

He is right, the old dwarf thought to himself as despair gripped his heart, for once unwilling to voice his true thoughts to his friend. The lad may be living and breathing, but Fili is gone, just like Kili.

XXX

The young dwarf started with a gasp, not sure what woke him. The faint rays of dawn shone across the sky, causing his eyes to widen in surprise.

How long did we sleep?

His gaze moved back toward the young woman, still curled up next to him. Sometime in the night she had begun to shiver and moved toward his back, settling herself up against him in her sleep. Kili hadn't had the heart to move away from her, feeling how cold she was, but he was sure to keep the blanket between them out of respect for her.

The young prince listened closely, the wood too quiet for his liking. Deloth stamped suddenly at the edge of their campsite, and he turned his head, eyes widening in fear. The horse was tugging at his reins, clearly very nervous. Turning toward the young woman, he began to frantically shake her.

"Cira, wake up!" he whispered, ceasing his movements as her eyes cracked open. "Something's wrong."

The blue orbs widened, and she pushed herself up slowly, wincing in pain. Kili's own eyes widened as her face turned white.

"Cira?" he asked, eyes roaming over her face. "Are you—" The young dwarf was cut off as a loud howl echoed through the trees.

Both shot to their feet, Kili quickly donning his coat as the blanket fell off the young woman's shoulders. Kili stooped down and grabbed the blanket, rolling it up into a tight ball and stuffing it into the saddlebags, not willing to leave further evidence of their campsite. Turning toward the nervous horse, who was now really tugging at his reins, they looked at each other.

"Deloth, dael!" Cirashala commanded, keeping her voice as calm as possible. The horse stamped, and Kili stepped forward. Grabbing the reins off the branch, he yanked them down, uttering the command at the same time. The skittish horse complied, and Kili looked at her.

"Get on!" he commanded. "He's not going to stay down for long!"

Cirashala mounted the horse, who immediately broke free of the young dwarf's grasp and stood up. The young woman grabbed the reins firmly, trying to establish her authority over the skittish beast as it stamped in the small area.

"Dael!" She commanded, but the horse refused to comply. The young woman looked down at Kili as the beast tossed his head, desperation in her gaze.

"Give me your hand!" she cried, extending her left towards him. He shook his head, grasping the reins where the loops hung down under the horse's neck.

"I'm too heavy!" he replied, before looking at the horse. "DAEL!"

Deloth finally went down, and Kili scrambled onto the horse's back as fast as he could. Another howl sounded, much closer than before, and the horse shot to his feet before breaking into a run, nearly dislodging his two passengers.

Kili grasped her waist as tightly as he dared, the grass of the meadow flying under the horse's hooves even faster than the cornfield the night before. The wind whipped in his face, and he was very grateful that the braids he'd given the young woman were still mostly intact so he could see over her shoulder. With the sunrise, the trees and shrubs in their path ahead were now clearly visible, and the young prince blinked in the bright sunlight streaming through them as they headed eastward at full speed.

The young woman guided the racing horse into the forest, and Kili risked a glance behind him. Just as the large meadow was nearly left behind in the trees, four wargs and their riders burst out of the foliage on the other side of the grassy expanse. His eyes widened as he gasped, the dwarf's face turning white with fear. Turning toward the young woman, the young prince leaned in close as he clutched the horse's body with his legs as tightly as he could.

"Cira, ride as fast as you can!"

Cirashala tensed, before kicking the horse's side as hard as she could. The beast surged forward, jumping over a few fallen branches as the animal began to sweat and pant. The sound of running water reached his ears, mingling with the howls behind them, and Kili looked up to see sunlight glinting off a bright ribbon in the distance.

XXX

Cirashala's heart was in her throat as she urged the horse faster, praying to her Maker that they wouldn't fall off.

While she had indeed ridden horses since she was five, she had never actually galloped a horse before at full speed. The fastest she'd ever gone had been a good canter, and it certainly wasn't through the woods with a dwarf behind her clutching her waist for dear life, nor was she being chased by snarling wargs at the time!

A bright glint of sunlight shone in her eyes, and she squinted, just able to make out a river in the distance between the trees. Her eyes widened, hope finally surging within her even as her whole body ached.

Is that…the Anduin?

The young woman's eyes looked to the south, hoping to see the giant pillar of rock shaped like a bear. Not seeing it, she turned toward the north, but her view was blocked by the trees. The howling seemed to get closer behind her, and Kili urged her to go faster, calling loudly in her ear. His voice was nearly drowned by the rushing wind, but she was able to make out the words, if barely.

"Cira, ride as fast as you can!"

Breathing a quick prayer, she shut her eyes, fear and adrenaline coursing through her.

God, or Eru as you're known here, please help us get to Beorn's alive.

The young woman opened her eyes, gritted her teeth, and dug her heels in the horse's flanks as hard as she could.

XXX

Kili felt the horse surge forward, before a drop of something wet hit his face. The young dwarf blinked in surprise and looked up to see dark grey clouds overhead as the wind began to pick up.

The howls were very near now, and the young dwarf risked another glance behind him. The hunters were about half a mile behind the pair, with that distance quickly closing. Turning forward, the rushing river ahead of them seemed to grow in width with each stride the animal took.

The rain began to fall, and Kili leaned into the young woman, grasping his wrists rather than her waist to avoid slipping off her. Cirashala tensed as he squeezed a bit, but he would not risk letting go. The river was quite close now, though it had disappeared behind a slight hill. The sound of the rushing water was louder now, causing the dwarf's eyes to widen in alarm.

What if it is too strong to cross?

The pair crested the hill, and Cirashala looked to the north, before shouting.

"The Carrock!" she cried, turning the horse abruptly to the left. Deloth seemed to spot the river ahead, several swirls and eddies frothing as the water passed over several rocks midstream, and was quick to comply to the change in direction.

"What are you doing?" Kili cried, glancing behind them as the wargs changed direction, the four beasts and their riders coming straight at them. He had to strain to hear her answer over the rushing water and the rain pattering on the bank.

"Beorn lives near that giant rock up ahead!" she gasped, the wind straight in her face as opposed to his, her head blocking some of his face.

The young prince looked up as the giant pinnacle grew closer. Frowning as water ran in his eyes, he squinted, confusion in his gaze.

Is that carved like a….bear?

The horse fairly flew down the bank, worn smooth from the spring rush and creating a bit of a natural path. However, the route was quickly becoming muddy in the rain. Kili glanced toward the river, noting the clearly strong current now.

"How are we supposed to cross?" he asked her, glancing behind them to see their pursuers, but they had turned a bend in the river, and the trees blocked his view.

"I don't know," she replied as they drew up to the giant stone bear. One glance told him that the west side of the enormous rock would be impossible to cross. The water foamed, nearly all white as it rushed through the narrow channel.

The young woman seemed to notice that as well, for she did not slow the horse as they passed by it. Kili glanced up and down the wide river, the current not appearing quite as strong upriver of the narrow channel, before hearing howls only a short distance to the side of them. The blood drained from his face, and he whipped his head around.

The wargs were only about a quarter mile away from them, and gaining. Eyes widening, he turned toward the young woman.

"We need to cross NOW!"

Cirashala heeded his command, yanking the reins to the right as hard as she could. The horse skidded in the turn, nearly slipping on the muddy riverbank before stopping altogether. The young dwarf's heart nearly stopped even as the young woman tensed in front of him.

"Deloth, go!" she cried, kicking the horse. Deloth stamped his feet, backing away from the water. A blood curdling howl sounded behind them as a warg closed in, and the horse immediately changed his mind.

Screams echoed from the pair as well as the horse as the beast fairly bolted into the icy river with an enormous splash, the water swirling around his shoulders almost instantly.

XXX

Cirashala fairly felt the air ripped from her lungs as the freezing water doused her. Gripping the reins tightly, the young woman about lost her seat as the full force of the river's current struck them.

Coughing as the water settled a bit, she glanced back, Kili's grip on her painful with her wounds but grateful that he didn't fall off when they entered the river. The young prince coughed harshly behind her, the deep sound evidence that his pneumonia was not over with just yet.

"K-Kili!" she cried as a wave splashed on her, the young woman barely able to see between the water and the rain. "Hang on!"

Coughs met her ears in response, and she tried to twist around to see him. The young dwarf's grip on her tightened even further, preventing her from doing so.

"D-don't let go of him!" he gasped behind her. The icy water quickly made her entire body turn numb from cold, on one hand providing relief from her pain but on the other making it very difficult to maintain her grip on the reins.

The young woman looked to the south, eyes widening as far as they would go as the blood drained from her face.

The current is carrying us toward the Carrock!

"Go, Deloth, go!" she screamed, kicking at the horse's flanks as she moved her hips. The beast let out a loud, strangled neigh, the horse breathing very loudly as it struggled against the strong current.

"Come on," Kili cried behind her. Cirashala felt him urging the horse on as well. "Go!"

Howls sounded from the shore behind them, the sound barely registering in her frozen ears as the water splashed her in the face. Kili coughed again as another wave smacked into them, and her eyes widened as she felt his arms beginning to loosen around her.

"Kili do NOT let go!" she screamed, releasing the reins with one hand as she tried to grip his wrist. Her hand was too small to go around his bracer, however, and when another current struck them, she felt the young dwarf's arms slip off completely.

"KILI!"

XXX

Bilbo hesitantly brought a tray of food to the young prince, hoping he'd eat more than just bread this time.

Fili had refused to eat anything other than a nibble off of bread the entire day, causing Thorin to prompt the hobbit to take him his supper.

Bilbo peeked around the corner of the stall, seeing the young prince curled up on the corner, staring off blankly into the distance, and sighed. Clearing his throat, he stepped into view.

"I don't want it," Fili said quietly, his anger having dissipated completely and being replaced with despair. Bilbo swallowed thickly.

"Fili, you need to eat," he said gently. "You need your strength." The young dwarf looked at him, his eyes having lost all shred of hope.

"I don't want to," he said quietly. Bilbo sighed, pity in his heart for the young prince.

"I know," he replied. "But what are you going to do, let yourself waste away to nothing?"

"It's no less than I deserve," he whispered. "I'm alive, and Kili is dead."

The hobbit's eyes widened in shock. The exuberant young dwarf who had shown up at his door, started throwing his mother's pottery around, and laughed hysterically at his expression when he'd unloaded all his knives into the petrified hobbit's arms back in Bag End- that dwarf was truly a mere shell of himself, if that.

"Oh, Fili," he said quietly, eyes misting. The young dwarf's blue eyes locked with his, before turning away, not even reaching for the loaf of bread on the plate this time.

"Please, Bilbo," he whispered, closing his eyes as he leaned his head against the stable wall. "Please…just let me die."

XXX

Kili wasn't sure what happened. One minute, he was coughing on the back of the horse, and the next, he was submerged in the water.

The second his grip faltered, the numb hands unable to hold each other anymore, the dwarf reached out, desperately grasping for anything within reach. Hands sliding past what felt like a thin rope, the dwarf grasped it as tightly as he could.

Water filled his eyes, his ears, his mouth, and he could not see or hear anything except the sound of water rushing all around him. The icy water seemed to stab his body from a hundred different directions, and his lungs burned, desperate for air.

Suddenly he felt fingers touch his own, before someone grabbed the edge of his coat. The young dwarf reached around, grabbing the young woman's wrist firmly as he kicked his legs as hard as he could. Head breaking the water, the young dwarf's waterlogged eyes could just make out Cirashala in front of him.

"KILI!" she cried, tugging him toward the animal. "Grab the reins!"

The young dwarf was coughing too hard to answer her, but as soon as his hand was in reach of the reins, he grabbed them, joining his other one.

"Kick!" she yelled, grabbing his coat again and pulling. "Grab me!"

Kili reached out and grabbed the young woman, wrapping his left arm about her, before doing the same with his right after she'd gotten a hold of the reins again. Kicking fiercely, the young prince managed to get his left leg over the back of the horse, gasping desperately for air in between coughs.

His ears were filled with water, but he could still faintly make out the sound of angry howls behind them. Blinking the water out of his eyes, he could just make out the bank of the river up ahead, only a few yards away.

The horse jolted a bit, and Kili gripped the young woman tightly, his arms wrapped around her completely from behind. Deloth finally found his footing, and scrambled out of the water, water cascading down the black hide as Kili quickly moved his grip back to her waist.

Howls sounded to the right of them, and the horse had enough. With a loud, unearthly scream that only an utterly terrified horse could manage, the out of control beast bolted into the hills.

XXX

Beorn watched as the hobbit came out of the far stable stall, head hung low, and he sighed, lowering his gaze.

He knew just how the young dwarf felt. He'd seen the Defiler slaughter his kin, torturing them until they wished for death. He'd make them change shape over and over again until they were utterly exhausted, using the other members of his kin as hostages to persuade them to comply.

His mother- savagely beaten and attacked, before finally dying after losing too much blood. His father, killed when they were first captured. His baby sister, only a mere bear cub when transformed, hung up to rot like a side of meat until she starved to death, begging for her mama the entire time.

His fist clenched as the memories flooded him, but he tried to control his temper. He had offered the host seated at his table food, lodgings, the use of his forge and ore, and his help- if they were truthful. It would go against his personal code of honor should he transform and tear innocent people apart over the deeds of an evil orc.

A faint sound suddenly reached his ears, and his head darted up, anger boiling in his heart once more. He knew that sound like no other.

"Wargs!" he snarled, rushing to his feet as the dwarves collectively froze with a gasp. The skinchanger paid their terrified expressions no mind as he moved with great speed toward the door, hair already growing on his skin where none was before.

"Bar the door behind me!" he growled, his nails growing in length and turning black as he flung the great wooden door open. "Do NOT open it!"

The skinchanger rushed out into the dusk, snarling ferociously. The second he was out the door, Gandalf and the others rushed to their feet. The wizard was longer in the leg than the rest of them, and had already been standing on the edge of the short stair leading to the dining room, and as such was the first to grab the long wooden beam.

"Bilbo, close the door!" he shouted at the hobbit, who was next to the open side. Bilbo grabbed the wooden panel, quickly moving to shut it, when he froze, eyes widening at the sight before him.

Beorn rushed through the gate in the hedge surrounding his home, the snarling bear nearly replacing the man. Beyond him, Bilbo could see four wargs and riders rushing out of the wood beyond, but that wasn't what caught his eye.

A crazed beast was running wildly toward the house as it screamed, flying faster than anything the hobbit had seen before on the ground. White foam was flecked all over the animal's hide, running off the beast in streams as the rain poured down, and his eyes widened as he realized it was a terrified horse.

A roaring Beorn rushed past the animal, paying it no mind as his eye remained trained on the wargs beyond. Screaming in terror, the horse reared high into the air, throwing its passengers to the muddy ground in a heap.

"Bilbo, close the door!" Gandalf cried, reaching over his head to do so. As he spoke, Bilbo squinted into the rain, before his expression turned into one of complete shock.

"NO!" he cried, blocking the others from shutting it as he forced the door open, the force of his body slamming against the wooden surface knocking even Dwalin aside.

"What are you doing?" the burly warrior roared. "Are you m—"

The dwarf was cut off as two people covered in mud stumbled into the house, collapsing in a heap on the floor.

The room fell completely silent as Bilbo slammed the door shut behind them, Gandalf staring at the pair for a moment before quickly sliding the beam into the iron slats, barring the door.

All that was heard in the room was the breathless panting of the two muddy forms, one of them beginning to cough very deeply even as they shivered. The muddy water from their sodden clothing seeped onto the ground around them, causing a small pool to form on the hay covered floor.

Fourteen wide pairs of eyes stared at them in shock, unable to speak. Thorin stepped forward, not daring to believe his eyes as his face grew very pale.

"….Kili?"

XXX

Kili looked up at his uncle, water dripping from his bangs into his eyes even as his face twisted in pain.

"U-uncle?" he whispered, shivering fiercely from the cold. Thorin's eyes widened, his breaths shuddering as they left his body.

"Kili!" he breathed, rushing toward his nephew. Sinking to his knees as he skidded to a halt, the dwarf king wrapped his arms around the trembling form, tears streaming unheeded down his face.

"Kili," he whispered, his grip tightening on his nephew as though he was afraid he'd disappear from his sights if he let go. "Y-you're alive. Mahal, you're alive!" The young dwarf returned the hug, tears filling his own eyes as he did so.

"U-uncle," he whispered, teeth chattering together. Thorin pulled away from him slightly, resting his forehead against the younger's as his hand cupped the back of his head.

"You're alive," he whispered, disbelief in his voice. "My Kili- you're alive."

"I'm sorry, uncle," the younger whispered, tears streaming down his own cheeks as he stammered, embarrassment and shame in his features. "I- Cira was in danger, a-and I had to use the Oakenshield. It was all I had, I-I lost my sword—" Thorin cut him off.

"Don't be," he whispered, looking into Kili's wide eyes as he smiled. "You're alive. That's all that matters." Kili nodded.

Thorin smiled again, and the others stepped forward, having allowed the moment with their king and prince. All still had shock in their eyes, but grins appeared where none had been in nearly two weeks.

"So laddie, where have ye been?" Bofur asked, a wide grin spreading across his face. "You're a bit late- food's all gone."

Several chuckles emitted from the group, and the corners of Kili's mouth turned upwards as he looked around the group, before it faded completely. Thorin's brow furrowed in confusion, and he followed the younger's concerned gaze, eyes widening.

Fili stood at the back of the group, wide eyes fixed on his younger brother's form as he stared at him in complete shock. The others had looked back as well, and all chuckles ceased as they silently stepped off to the side, allowing the young heir to step forward, but Fili didn't move. Kili's eyes widened, his expression now one of deep concern, and he started to rise, when a slight gasp left him. Thorin glanced at Dwalin, then at the young dwarf, and the warrior nodded.

Moving quickly to his side, each grabbed under his arm, helping the youngest of the line of Durin to his feet. Kili's brown eyes sought his elder brother's, who had still not moved.

"Fee?" he whispered, gaze flickering between his face and the bandaged arm lying in the sling. A few moments passed, no one in the room daring to breathe, before the elder slowly moved towards him.

The only sound was the slight shuffle of Fili's boots against the hay on the floor as he approached his younger brother, face ashen. Kili sent a confused glance toward him, but the elder's expression hadn't changed. Stopping an arm's length away from the younger dwarf, Fili slowly raised a trembling hand to Kili's cheek, fingers brushing his beard lightly. The younger's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Fee?" he asked again, eyes widening as the elder's face paled even further. Fili looked him up and down, before his gaze met the younger's.

The next thing knew, Fili's fist collided with his cheek, causing the young dwarf to fall to the ground with a cry.

"DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT TO ME AGAIN!" the elder screamed as he dropped down in front of Kili, grabbing the collar of his long underwear and yanking the younger's face toward his own. Kili's eyes widened in complete shock.

"I-I'm sorry, Fee," he whispered. A sob sounded from the elder's lips as tears began to fill his eyes, and Kili suddenly found himself being clutched even tighter than Thorin had, his elder brother sobbing into his shoulder.

The two stayed like that for several minutes, before the elder pulled away, sniffling as a watery smile appeared on his lips.

"Kee?" he asked.

"What?" the other replied, and Fili's eye twinkled. The sound that followed was one Thorin never thought he'd hear again as the young heir burst out laughing.

"You really stink."

XXX

Thorin watched as Kili returned the grin, noticing how his nephew continued to shiver with cold, his face pale and drawn as he coughed again.

"Bombur, get him some food," the dwarf king ordered. "Bilbo, get some blankets, Nori- see if you can find some dry clothes for him, and Dwalin- help me get him to the fire."

The others moved to do as bidden, and Dwalin stepped forward, reaching under Kili's arm and helping him rise to his feet. Kili's eyes suddenly widened with a gasp and he frantically glanced around, panic in his gaze.

"Kili, what are you—" Thorin began, but his nephew cut him off.

"Cira?" he asked, worry in his voice as his gaze fixed on the young woman, causing every set of eyes to turn toward her in surprise. The shock of seeing Kili alive had made most of them forget about her entirely, and concern spread across several faces as their gazes rested on the shivering form.

Her eyes were shut tightly as she leaned against the pillar, face ashen except for her red cheeks. Her whole body trembled as her breaths came quickly and very shallow. As her name was called, half lidded eyes turned toward the young prince, the blue orbs very glassy as the blood drained from her face.

"Kee?" she whispered nearly inaudibly, before her knees buckled beneath her, sending the unconscious young woman to the floor with a loud thud.

PART 1- THE END (STAY TUNED FOR PART TWO SOMETIME AFTER CHRISTMAS :D )

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A response to guest reviewer SMCB: You're welcome :D

Thank you ALL- I couldn't have done it without your encouragement, your advice, and your friendly banter which has kept me sane throughout this process! I hereby dedicate TLBTM Part 1 to:

Oblivian03 (THANK YOU for being my sounding board!), Borys68, Lillalil, Immortal Horse, Library Ghost, Legolin12, kitcat12, Princess Aquilia, and all the other loyal readers who have faithfully endured my sporadic posting styles, given me regular reviews, and have kept me from chucking it all with your encouragement and constructive feedback :D :D :D