The Path Through Mirkwood: 10 - Repercussions
Characters/Pairings: Fíli/Bofur, Thorin, Thorin's Company
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Horror
Warnings: Body Horror, Oviposition, Medical Procedures, Character Death, Hallucinations
Summary: The things Thorin’s company encounters in Mirkwood are beyond their worst nightmares. As Fíli’s uncle says, the faster they travel, the sooner they will leave the forest and all its horrors behind - if they manage to....
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit.
Chapter 10: Repercussions
Morning finally dawned grey between jagged leaves not even Bilbo had been able to name. Thorin still sat on the rock at the side of the clearing, pulling at his cold, empty pipe. He had taken over the last watch as well.
Fíli heard Kíli stretch, yawn and grunt beside him. Then Kíli opened his eyes and blinked sleepily at Fíli. “What are you doing here?”
Fíli shrugged unhappily.
“Oh.” Kíli said. “A fight with Bofur?”
“Something like that, yes.”
Kíli patted him on the shoulder. “I’m sure it will turn out alright.”
They silently ate the breakfast that was handed to them after Thorin had quietly exchanged words with Dori.
After they had packed their bedrolls, Thorin asked for their attention. “This night, it came to my awareness that Bofur has been taking more than his share of food.”
There was surprised muttering among the dwarves, only Bifur stood there motionlessly.
“Oh,” Kíli whispered and then turned to Fíli. “You caught him, didn’t you?”
Fíli nodded.
Thorin cleared his throat and the dwarves fell silent again. “After much deliberation, I have decided that there is no use in deciding on a punishment before we are out of this forest. From now on, Bofur will adhere to the rations assigned to him and we will all make sure the supplies are not touched by anyone without Dori’s or my permission. Can we all live with this decision or are there other suggestions?”
There were muttered conversations and quite a bit of grumbling, but finally, the company nodded their assent.
They started their journey, Kíli staying beside Fíli. Fíli was thankful for his silent support. He felt a bit guilty at the relief he felt that for once, Bofur wasn’t humming as he walked towards the back of the group.
It was towards afternoon that Kíli started a conversation with Ori and Fíli drifted more towards the front of the group. He soon found himself walking next to Bifur.
“You knew it was Bofur, didn’t you?” he asked quietly.
Bifur nodded.
“And you didn’t say anything?”
/Kin,/ Bifur signed.
Fíli swallowed. “I hope you understand that I couldn’t stay silent, as much as I love him.”
Bifur nodded. /Royalty has to have other loyalties. Just as long as you don’t forget about him./
“I won’t, of course not. What I also wanted to tell you: I think it’s admirable how you take care of Bombur,” Fíli said.
/He and Bofur did the same for me when I was injured. It is the least I can do for him. I am just glad Thorin didn’t leave us standing at the river./
Fíli shook his head. “Thorin wouldn’t do that and if he did, I wouldn’t stand for it. Your family is practically kin to me.”
/Thank you. It means much to me./ Bifur said. /I know we are being a burden to everyone, with Bombur needing to be carried and Bofur behaving this way. I worry about them./
“I do too, Bifur,” Fíli said, putting his hand on Bifur’s arm. “If there’s anything you need help with, tell me and I will do whatever I can.”
That evening, Fíli received his portion of food. He hesitated for a moment, and then went over to where Bifur and Bofur were sitting by Bombur’s side. Bofur looked up at Fíli hopefully as Bifur watched. Without a word, Fíli ladled some of his food onto Bofur’s plate, then turned around and went to sit next to Kíli.
As it turned out, it was not at Bifur’s asking that Fíli came to the family’s aid. A few days later, Fíli overheard a snippet of conversation between Nori and Glóin.
“I wouldn’t trust him as far as I can throw him,” Nori was saying. “Something just isn’t right with that dwarf. I wouldn’t even put it past him to have damaged the boat on purpose so that he could have Bombur’s ration of food.”
Glóin nodded, not noticing that Fíli was heading towards them, rage written plainly across his face.
“Just look at how cheerful he is, whistling and singing even though his brother...”
Glóin was silenced by an elbow in the ribs from Nori, who had spotted Fíli.
“I will not stand for anyone talking about my fiancé like that,” Fíli said, barely refraining from shouting. He forced himself to keep his hands away from his swords. “In fact, I wouldn’t let anybody be accused that way without proper proof. How dare you spread such vile rumours, and that about someone you have shared countless jokes, trials and hours around the fire with? As far as I know, Bofur has been nothing but kind to you and this is how you repay him?! He made one mistake and immediately, you treat him like this. And that after we decided that your past is your past and that we would not look too closely at whatever crimes you may have committed!”
Fíli felt a hand on his shoulder and realised that he had broken his resolve and had been shouting for a while now, his nose inches from Nori’s. Most of the company was gathering round and the others were close by, carefully pretending not to listen. The hand on his shoulder was Kíli’s and it was joined on his other shoulder by Dwalin’s.
Thorin strode up to the group. “What is going on here?” he demanded.
“They were spreading unfounded accusations against Bofur,” Fíli said through clenched teeth.
“Is that true?” Thorin asked, turning towards Nori and Glóin. “Were you claiming things without having proof for them?”
“We were talking about Bofur, yes,” Glóin said. “And what we said could have been nicer.”
“I’m not sure if it was completely unfounded though,” Nori muttered.
Kíli and Dwalin had to tighten their hold on Fíli.
Thorin sighed. “If you have no proof for your accusations then tame your tongues. If you do have proof, then come directly to me. There is enough tension in the company that we don’t need nasty rumours spreading about. And all of you should know how to behave like civilised dwarves,” he looked at Fíli strictly. “I do not wish to spend this journey solving petty conflicts like a schoolteacher.”
That night was the first night Fíli put his bedroll next to Bofur’s again.
“This doesn’t mean I think what you did was alright,” he told Bofur. “But I don’t want to cause any more ridiculous talk. And I do love you, you know.”
Bofur smiled. “I love you too.” He leaned over and kissed Fíli.
Fíli immediately deepened the kiss, acutely remembering just how long it had been since they had any privacy.
“Maybe when everyone except the watch is asleep...” Fíli whispered into Bofur’s ear.
Bofur shook his head.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be quiet and nobody will notice.”
“Sorry,” Bofur mumbled into Fíli’s neck, “I just don’t feel like it.”
Fíli nodded and kissed Bofur again. “Alright. It was a silly idea anyway.”
Bofur snuggled back into him as Fíli curled around him.
Previous Chapter <> Chapter Index <> Next Chapter
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Horror
Warnings: Body Horror, Oviposition, Medical Procedures, Character Death, Hallucinations
Summary: The things Thorin’s company encounters in Mirkwood are beyond their worst nightmares. As Fíli’s uncle says, the faster they travel, the sooner they will leave the forest and all its horrors behind - if they manage to....
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit.
Chapter 10: Repercussions
Morning finally dawned grey between jagged leaves not even Bilbo had been able to name. Thorin still sat on the rock at the side of the clearing, pulling at his cold, empty pipe. He had taken over the last watch as well.
Fíli heard Kíli stretch, yawn and grunt beside him. Then Kíli opened his eyes and blinked sleepily at Fíli. “What are you doing here?”
Fíli shrugged unhappily.
“Oh.” Kíli said. “A fight with Bofur?”
“Something like that, yes.”
Kíli patted him on the shoulder. “I’m sure it will turn out alright.”
They silently ate the breakfast that was handed to them after Thorin had quietly exchanged words with Dori.
After they had packed their bedrolls, Thorin asked for their attention. “This night, it came to my awareness that Bofur has been taking more than his share of food.”
There was surprised muttering among the dwarves, only Bifur stood there motionlessly.
“Oh,” Kíli whispered and then turned to Fíli. “You caught him, didn’t you?”
Fíli nodded.
Thorin cleared his throat and the dwarves fell silent again. “After much deliberation, I have decided that there is no use in deciding on a punishment before we are out of this forest. From now on, Bofur will adhere to the rations assigned to him and we will all make sure the supplies are not touched by anyone without Dori’s or my permission. Can we all live with this decision or are there other suggestions?”
There were muttered conversations and quite a bit of grumbling, but finally, the company nodded their assent.
They started their journey, Kíli staying beside Fíli. Fíli was thankful for his silent support. He felt a bit guilty at the relief he felt that for once, Bofur wasn’t humming as he walked towards the back of the group.
It was towards afternoon that Kíli started a conversation with Ori and Fíli drifted more towards the front of the group. He soon found himself walking next to Bifur.
“You knew it was Bofur, didn’t you?” he asked quietly.
Bifur nodded.
“And you didn’t say anything?”
/Kin,/ Bifur signed.
Fíli swallowed. “I hope you understand that I couldn’t stay silent, as much as I love him.”
Bifur nodded. /Royalty has to have other loyalties. Just as long as you don’t forget about him./
“I won’t, of course not. What I also wanted to tell you: I think it’s admirable how you take care of Bombur,” Fíli said.
/He and Bofur did the same for me when I was injured. It is the least I can do for him. I am just glad Thorin didn’t leave us standing at the river./
Fíli shook his head. “Thorin wouldn’t do that and if he did, I wouldn’t stand for it. Your family is practically kin to me.”
/Thank you. It means much to me./ Bifur said. /I know we are being a burden to everyone, with Bombur needing to be carried and Bofur behaving this way. I worry about them./
“I do too, Bifur,” Fíli said, putting his hand on Bifur’s arm. “If there’s anything you need help with, tell me and I will do whatever I can.”
That evening, Fíli received his portion of food. He hesitated for a moment, and then went over to where Bifur and Bofur were sitting by Bombur’s side. Bofur looked up at Fíli hopefully as Bifur watched. Without a word, Fíli ladled some of his food onto Bofur’s plate, then turned around and went to sit next to Kíli.
As it turned out, it was not at Bifur’s asking that Fíli came to the family’s aid. A few days later, Fíli overheard a snippet of conversation between Nori and Glóin.
“I wouldn’t trust him as far as I can throw him,” Nori was saying. “Something just isn’t right with that dwarf. I wouldn’t even put it past him to have damaged the boat on purpose so that he could have Bombur’s ration of food.”
Glóin nodded, not noticing that Fíli was heading towards them, rage written plainly across his face.
“Just look at how cheerful he is, whistling and singing even though his brother...”
Glóin was silenced by an elbow in the ribs from Nori, who had spotted Fíli.
“I will not stand for anyone talking about my fiancé like that,” Fíli said, barely refraining from shouting. He forced himself to keep his hands away from his swords. “In fact, I wouldn’t let anybody be accused that way without proper proof. How dare you spread such vile rumours, and that about someone you have shared countless jokes, trials and hours around the fire with? As far as I know, Bofur has been nothing but kind to you and this is how you repay him?! He made one mistake and immediately, you treat him like this. And that after we decided that your past is your past and that we would not look too closely at whatever crimes you may have committed!”
Fíli felt a hand on his shoulder and realised that he had broken his resolve and had been shouting for a while now, his nose inches from Nori’s. Most of the company was gathering round and the others were close by, carefully pretending not to listen. The hand on his shoulder was Kíli’s and it was joined on his other shoulder by Dwalin’s.
Thorin strode up to the group. “What is going on here?” he demanded.
“They were spreading unfounded accusations against Bofur,” Fíli said through clenched teeth.
“Is that true?” Thorin asked, turning towards Nori and Glóin. “Were you claiming things without having proof for them?”
“We were talking about Bofur, yes,” Glóin said. “And what we said could have been nicer.”
“I’m not sure if it was completely unfounded though,” Nori muttered.
Kíli and Dwalin had to tighten their hold on Fíli.
Thorin sighed. “If you have no proof for your accusations then tame your tongues. If you do have proof, then come directly to me. There is enough tension in the company that we don’t need nasty rumours spreading about. And all of you should know how to behave like civilised dwarves,” he looked at Fíli strictly. “I do not wish to spend this journey solving petty conflicts like a schoolteacher.”
That night was the first night Fíli put his bedroll next to Bofur’s again.
“This doesn’t mean I think what you did was alright,” he told Bofur. “But I don’t want to cause any more ridiculous talk. And I do love you, you know.”
Bofur smiled. “I love you too.” He leaned over and kissed Fíli.
Fíli immediately deepened the kiss, acutely remembering just how long it had been since they had any privacy.
“Maybe when everyone except the watch is asleep...” Fíli whispered into Bofur’s ear.
Bofur shook his head.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be quiet and nobody will notice.”
“Sorry,” Bofur mumbled into Fíli’s neck, “I just don’t feel like it.”
Fíli nodded and kissed Bofur again. “Alright. It was a silly idea anyway.”
Bofur snuggled back into him as Fíli curled around him.
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