Chapter Text
They had been on the road for only a few hours, making their way out of Hobbiton. Thorin rolled his eyes as he heard the hobbit complaining from the back about Mahal knows what. The sun slowly, made it's way across the sky and stars burst through the midnight as the moon rose. He sighed at the site of it, the days never seem to last long and nights last far too long. "We'll stop here for the night."Thorin instructed, climbing down from his pony and unloading her, ready to help set up camp. Gloin soon got a fire roaring away and, Bombur got to work cooking their supper while the others rolled out the bed rolls. Thorin sat starring into the darkness, scanning for signs of any hostile beings that may threaten them.
"Oi, give it a rest, you've been at it all day."Dwalin chide, holding out a bowl of stew for him.
"Thanks."Thorin grumbled, taking the offered food and chowing down.
"You shouldn't be so damn hard on yourself, it's not good."Dwalin scolded halfheartedly, "You should be more like Bofur."They watched as said dwarf, laughed so hard he fell backwards off the log he had been perched on. Thorin shook his head, grinning, he knew his friend was right but he couldn't help it, there was just so much resting on this venture and he didn't want anything to go wrong.
He had been halfway done with his stew, when there came a horrific cry and screams from just north of their camp. "What was that?"Squeaked young Ori, looking around the camp panic in his eyes. Thorin placed down the bowl and pulled out his sword.
"Kill the fire."He order, stepping forwards, "Kili, Fili, Ori and master Baggins, stay here and watch the camp. The rest of you, with me." They stepped carefully through the trees as to not make a sound, Thorin spotted a light ahead of them and usher the others forwards.
Orcs! At least eight of them, sat round a camp fire, the bodies of their slain victims scattered across the plain but due to the poor lighting, he could not make out what race they were. Charging forwards into the campsite, they gave a cry of battle, swinging their weapons, left and right. It did not take them long to whittle them down to just one, who Thorin had the greet honor of relieving it of his head. "Check for survivors." He then helped to look through the bodies and discovered they were elves and by their uniform they were the elves of Greenwood.
"Thorin! Over here!"Called Nori from across the campfire, waving him over. Thorin gasped, he recognized the elf straight away, it was Thranduil, King Of Greenwood. "I thought he was dead at first because his eyes are open but I heard him breathing." The elf had been gagged, his once beautiful clothes had been torn to shreds and his long blond hair, splattered in blood. Thorin nodded to himself, by rights he could have easily left the elf to die as he had done to him and his people all those years ago but he couldn't. Though his very blood ached for revenge, it was the moral thing to do.
"Dori, Balin and Bifur, scout out the woods and check there are no more camps nearby. Bofur, Bombur, Gloin, Nori; give these elves a respectable burial. They should not be left for wild animals. Dwalin, help me carry him back to our camp. Oin we'll need your help, to help heal him." He and Dwalin then lifting with their knees, carried the elf as carefully as possible back to their campsite, Oin following close behind.
They heard gasps as they entered the camp, they brought the elf over to a bed roll near the fire and laid him down, causing the elf to groan in pain. Taking out his knife, he cut the binding around the elf's mouth, noting the raw red mark from where it had been bound too tightly. Oin brought his medicine pack over, with all his supplies and, opening up what was left of Thranduil shirt; began his examination.
"Uncle, what can we do?"Came Kili's voice from over his shoulder.
"Kili, fetch a water skin, it doesn't matter who's. Fili and mister Baggins collect as much wood as you can and light the fire. And Ori, I want you to find, spare clothes and blankets bring as many as you can." He was answered by hurried footsteps setting to work.
"His heartbeat is a bit fast than what is healthy but nothing server. He does however, have bruising to the back of his head and arms."Oin informed him before turning to the elf's lower half. "Thorin lad, help me with his trousers." With slight reluctance, Thorin helped Oin remove the elf's trousers, leaving him bare. His eyes widened at sight he was greeted with, blood and semen drizzling from the elf's anus. It did not take a medic to understand what had happened to him. There was a gasp behind him, he turned to see his youngest nephew Kili looking at the elf, horror in his eyes.
"I-I brought the water, uncle."Kili managed, the lad looked on the verge of tears. Thorin got to his feet and held his sister's son in his arms, bringing their foreheads together. The lad nodded. "What else can I do?"
"Help Ori." Thorin answered then gripping Kili's young shoulders, he added. "If you need to talk about it, we can talk later, okay?"Kili nodded his understanding and went off to help Ori, leaving Thorin with the water skin. He then turned back to help Oin. Oin poured some of the water onto a cloth and started to dab as gently as possible, cleaning the elf, causing Thranduil to groan in agony.
"T-Thorin is that you?"Thorin turned to see the elf looking at him and, what seemed like joy in his eyes.
"Aye, it is me Thranduil."Thorin replied, keeping his tone calm. "What were you doing all the way out here?"
"I was going to Ered Luin." Thranduil whimpered against Oin touch.
"The Blue Mountain?"Thorin raised an eyebrow, what could elves want with their newest settlement.
"Yes, I-I wanted to apologies."Thorin stared down at elven king, dumbfounded. "I was coward and allowed my hubris to lead me, for those blasted jewels. Forgive me, I'm sorry, please. I'm so sorry."Tears fell heavy and fast down Thranduil face. Thorin had seen many terrible things in his years on Mahal's blessed earth but seeing Thranduil, like this, he had always been so emotionless with his demeanor but this. All the hate and loathing he had for the elf left him, he brought his forehead down and pressed it against the elf's while the elf tried to control his tears.
"You are forgiven." Thorin whispered to him, holding the elf's face in his hands. He felt warmth behind him as Fili and master Baggins brought the fire back to life.
"Thank you, thank you so much."Thranduil hiccuped, his tear finally ceasing.
"I've cleaned what I can but it'll be a couple of days, maybe even a week before you'll heal." Oin announced pouring some of the water into a bowl and cleaning his hands and cloth. "But until then, I have something to help relieve the pain." Rooting through his medic's bag he pulled out a bottle full of a thick black liquid that turned brown when held up to the light. "Now, usually this stuff is smoked but as your an elf. You'll have to swallow some of it. But no more than two teaspoonful, it's strong stuff and can be addicting if taken too much." He handed the bottle to Thorin while he searched for a teaspoon.
"Papaver Somniferum?"Thorin read the label, confused. He'd never heard of this before.
"It's also known as the "Sleep-bringing poppy". It's very good for pain relief but only to be used in serious cases, not for minor injuries."Thorin carefully lifted Thranduil while Oin poured out some of the rather disgusting looking mixture onto a teaspoon. "I'll warn you it's not gonna taste pleasant." Oin then offered up the spoon to Thranduil, who took it after the briefest hesitation. Thranduil gave shiver and wrinkled his nose. "That's it, just one more." Oin encouraged, offering up another teaspoon to the elven king, who with reluctance took the spoon back into his mouth, swallowing the liquid with another shiver. "There we go, it shouldn't take too long to take affect. Thorin, I need you to stay with him until he falls asleep. This stuff tends to have hallucinate properties." Thorin nodded, lowering Thranduil back down. He then removed his coat and, folding it, he laid it under the elf's head.
"Hallucinations?"Thranduil queered, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't worry lad. You'll probably feel strange for a while but the pain'll go away and make you fall asleep. You probably won't remember in the morning. So don't worry." Oin assured him, he tidied away his equipment and left Thorin and Thranduil alone, while he went to help the others.
"Uncle, we've got as much clothing and blankets as we could." Kili stated, him and Ori holding bundles of clothing and blankets. "What should we do, now?"
"Well done boys," He praised. "We need to find clothes that'll fit an elf or at least the closet thing we have." Together they sorted through the clothes but found that all the clothes they had were all much too small. Why did elves have to be so damn tall.
"Thorin. Bifur, Balin and myself have scouted the area but we couldn't find anymore orcs." Dori reported, "Is there anything else we can do?" Thorin thought for a moment then a idea came to his head.
"Dori, do you know anything about needle work, clothes repair and such?"
"Why, yes. It comes in handy when raising two young dwarves. Why?" Dori, smiled pleasantly.
"Could you take some of these items and make clothes to fit him?"Thorin motioned his head towards Thranduil, who lay silently. Dori brought his hand to his chin in thought.
"I reckon so."Bending down he searched through the bundles, plucking out several different items. "Ori, love. You come with me, we'll need help with this."
"Can I help?"Kili voiced, passionately. "I'm not very good at sewing or anything like that. But I'm good at cutting things."
"I know my way around a needle and thread, so I'll help as well." Master Baggins announced, raising from his seat near the fire.
"I don't now if I'll be of any use," Fili began. "But if there's anything you think I can do, I'd happy to help."
"Okay all of you, this way."Dori then lead them off to begin their new job and Thorin couldn't help but smile at his company. They had all worked so hard and were still willing to help out. Even master Baggins, who he had written off as a lost cause, was pulling his weight. And yes, he was no warrior but he was helping in a way he knew how.
"T-Thorin?"Came a distant sounding voice. He turned and found it had been Thranduil. His pupils had grown twice their normal size. "Thorin, why are my eyes singing to me?" Thorin had to restrain himself from laughing, it wasn't easy. "I wouldn't mind so much but my left eye is out of tune." Thorin pulled out one of the blankets from the bundles and covered Thranduil as best he could.
"I'm just putting this blanket on you to keep you warm, Okay?"Thorin said as calmly and clearly as possible.
"Okay."Thranduil mumbled, gasping as he touched his fingertips together, holding them up for Thorin's inspection. Thorin nodded to him, a smile playing on his lips. Thranduil's hand came up to Thorin's face, gently running through his beard, smiling happily. "So soft." It wasn't long after that the elven king dropped to sleep, peacefully. Thorin got up from his seat next Thranduil and went to help the others.
After helping Thorin carry the elf, Dwalin had gone to help Nori, Bofur, Gloin and Bombur. And that was where Thorin found him, just as they finished. "Is the all of them?"Thorin inquired, approaching Dwalin.
"Aye, I'm not keen on elves but it's saddening to see them cut down,"Dwalin sighed. "How is their king?"
"He's asleep, thankfully." Thorin shuddered at memories that came flooding back. "You don't want to know what those creature had done to him." Dwalin nodded, turning glance at the moon that still shone down on them. "Do you know where they were going?" Dwalin shook his. "The Blue Mountain, he traveled all the way out here just to apologies." Dwalin gasped.
"Did he now?"Dwalin looked to Thorin. Thorin nodded, folding his arms across his chest.
"It was possibly the saddest thing I've ever seen in my life. He just started crying, begging me to forgive him."Thorin looked down at his hands. "So I did. I bet you think I'm an idiot, right?"
"Actually, I think it was pretty noble of you. Not just to help him but also to forgive him, especially after what he had done."Dwalin sighed once more before turning to Thorin with a smile. "Besides, though I may seem gruff, I'd probably forgive him too." They share a smile and with the others following close behind they returned to the camp.
Back at the camp, Dori and his group sat together sewing an outfit for an elf, they had already made the long trousers out of a thick, deep blue, fabric. Bofur had while helping the others bury the dead elves, had managed to salvage a pair elven shoes. Though the fabric was stained with blood and torn, Bofur insisted that the soul of the shoes were still good. His cousin Bifur had signed to them, agreeing with his idea and had gone to work, helping Bofur. Thorin couldn't help but grin at the sight of them all, moments like this made him proud to be dwarf. He then walked off to see what he could do to help.
They all had a long and tiring night and now most of them now lay down fast asleep. The clothes they had made lay next to elven king's head while he slept, neatly folded and the new shoes sat on top. Thorin sat still wide awake, watching the darkness for anything looming there. "Uncle, c-can I sit with you?"Kili whispered, a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. Thorin moved over on his seat, allowing Kili to sit down.
"Do you want to talk, now?"He brought his arm around his sister's son and, pulled him to his chest. Kili looked down at the floor.
"I knew that orcs kill and I knew that if they court me that they'd try to kill me. But I-I never knew they would ... I never thought they would ..."Kili broke off, Thorin felt dampness against his chest. He squeezed the lad's arm, resting his chin on his head.
"The world's a cruel place Kili, "He mumbled into the soft brunette hair. "That's why we have to be strong Kili, to be able to fight back the darkness and adapt and become stronger. It's never easy, especially when your so young but if you need help, I'm here and your mother back home and, Fili. If you need us." He heard soft breathing against his chest and noticed the lad had fallen asleep. He sighed and, lifting him up, carried him to his bed roll next to his brother. Laying him down carefully as to not wake him, he covered him in the blanket that had been around his shoulder's. He then returned to his post by the fire.