The Path Through Mirkwood: 18 - Distrust
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 18: Distrust
It was early in the morning and grey light was filtering through the trees when Bofur opened his eyes. Fíli had spent the night next to him, sometimes dozing off from exhaustion, sometimes lying awake watching Bofur and worrying.
“How are you feeling?” Fíli asked Bofur quietly.
Bofur blinked at him as if he were trying to figure out what Fíli was talking about. Then he glanced down at his arm, saw the bandage and realisation dawned on him. He flinched away from Fíli’s hand.
“Stay away from me!”
“Bofur, please. I’m sorry, but it was necessary. You’ll probably feel better now that the larvae are out, once the wounds are healed. Do they hurt much?”
Bofur shook his head. “No, they don’t hurt at all. But that’s not what this is about. You betrayed my trust! You let them cut me open!”
“I’m sorry, Bofur. Can you please forgive me? I only wanted what was best for you.”
“The last time you apologised to me, you poisoned me! How am I supposed to forgive you?! Just leave me alone!”
Fíli swallowed. “I really am sorry. Are you sure you are alright? Do you want me to get you anything?”
“I’m fine, see?” Bofur prodded at the wound on his arm with a force that made Fíli wince. “It doesn’t hurt. Just go away and leave me alone!”
Fíli nodded miserably. “Alright. But let me know if you need anything.”
He gathered up his bedroll and set it next to Kíli’s.
Kíli stirred and sat up. “Is everything alright? How’s Bofur?”
“He’s awake and says he’s alright; that his wounds don’t even hurt. He wants me to stay away from him though, because of what I did.” Fíli buried his face in his hands.
“Oh.” Kíli pulled Fíli into a hug. “You did the right thing and I’m sure he’ll forgive you once the shock has worn off.”
Bofur made sure to stay away from Fíli while they were travelling that day. Their rations were slightly larger because of the food the elves had given them and when Fíli wanted to give Bofur some of his food, Bofur turned away wordlessly without accepting any.
Fíli watched Bofur to see if he really wasn’t in pain and to his surprise, Bofur continued to show no signs of pain. Heeding Óin’s advice, they stopped more often in order to give Bofur a bit more rest. Even when they travelled, the forest crept by slower than ever before.
Bofur also refused to let Óin check his wounds. When Óin wanted to change the bandages, Bofur insisted on doing it himself. Óin grudgingly agreed after telling Bofur what to pay attention to.
“I really should take a look at those wounds to see if they are healing properly,” Óin complained to Fíli. “This goes against everything I was taught as a healer.”
Fíli nodded unhappily. “I know. I would be happier if you could take a look at the wounds as well. I should be happy he isn’t in any pain, but with wounds like this, it worries me that he isn’t feeling any pain at all.”
Óin nodded. “Me too. Could you maybe talk him into letting me take a look?”
Fíli shrugged hopelessly. “He won’t listen or talk to me. If anything, he trusts me even less than you because I was the one to betray him.”
“I still have some of the elves’ sleeping drought. Maybe...”
Fíli shook his head. “No, he wouldn’t fall for that again. I won’t do it again either. Betraying his trust once was too often already.”
Óin shrugged. “If you say so. I just hope it doesn’t get inflamed.”
Fíli looked over to Bofur, who was watching them suspiciously.
The next couple of days continued in the same way. They continued travelling and Bofur only spoke to Bombur, Bifur and Bilbo. Óin had tried to get them to convince Bofur to have his wounds looked at, but he refused. Óin repeatedly tried to talk with him as well, but he wasn’t successful either.
Fíli himself had given up trying to convince Bofur of anything and was reduced to asking Bofur to give him another chance. He was always met with cold silence.
They made frequent halts and soon, Bofur was asking for halts himself.
During one of these breaks, Kíli came over to Fíli.
“I don’t want to worry you, but is it possible Bofur is asking for breaks more and more often?”
Fíli swallowed. “I was hoping I was imagining it.”
“It might be nothing,” Kíli said, but he didn’t sound convinced.
After that, Fíli found himself watching Bofur even more intensely than before. He saw each time Bofur stumbled, how he dragged his feet along. Fíli kept close to him and when he tripped over a root or his own feet, caught him.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, no thanks to you. Now let go of me.”
Fíli did as he was told and went back to watching.
Before long, Bofur spoke up. “Could I have another break?”
“Alright,” Thorin agreed, “we take a short break.”
There was some grumbling in the group as the stopped beneath the ever-present oaks and beeches. “We just took a break, why does he need another one already?”
“We’ll never reach the edge of the forest at this rate!”
Fíli glared at everyone who was complaining.
Some time later, Thorin got up. “Alright, we should have gotten enough rest by now. Let’s go. The faster we travel, the sooner we leave this awful forest behind us.”
“But we only just stopped,” Bofur protested. “Can’t we stay a bit longer?”
“We need to leave now if we are to get some more travelling done before it gets dark,” Thorin said.
“I’m too tired to go on,” Bofur said.
Thorin sighed. “Alright. It is almost late enough to make camp for the night, so we’ll spend the night here. Go to sleep early, because we’ll start earlier than usual tomorrow to make up for the time we lose today.”
Worried that his exhaustion might be caused by his wounds being inflamed, Bifur, Bombur and Bilbo tried again to convince Bofur to let Óin examine him. Again, Bofur refused.
The next morning, they rose early. Dori quickly handed out breakfast and they packed up their things.
The first of the company were getting ready to leave when Fíli noticed that Bofur was still sitting under the same smooth-barked tree as he had the previous evening, showing no sign of getting up.
“Want a hand up?” He asked, trying for cheerful.
Bofur shook his head. “I’m still too tired. I’m not coming.”
“What are you talking about? Of course you are. Up you get.” Fíli reached for Bofur’s hand but Bofur flinched away.
“No. I’ll follow when I’m a bit less tired.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Bofur!” Fíli replied, his voice rising.
“What’s wrong?” Thorin asked and Fíli noticed the others were gathering around, some concerned, others curious and some annoyed.
Bofur looked at Fíli but Fíli looked away from him in a sudden fit of defiance. If Bofur wanted to be this way, he could at least explain it himself.
“I’m still too tired to go on,” Bofur said.
“What do you mean, too tired to go on?” Dwalin asked. “You had a good night’s sleep, did you not?”
Bofur shrugged. “I did, but I’m still exhausted. I doubt my legs would hold me if I tried.”
The members of the company glanced at each other helplessly.
“You carried me, didn’t you?” Bombur asked. “Surely we could carry him; it wouldn’t be too much of a task in comparison.”
“No!” Bofur said, backing up against the tree. “I don’t want anybody touching me!”
There was quite a bit of discussion, but in the end, they decided to wait until Bofur felt better, mostly because nobody came up with any idea of what else to do. Bofur still refused to let Óin look at his wounds.
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 18: Distrust
It was early in the morning and grey light was filtering through the trees when Bofur opened his eyes. Fíli had spent the night next to him, sometimes dozing off from exhaustion, sometimes lying awake watching Bofur and worrying.
“How are you feeling?” Fíli asked Bofur quietly.
Bofur blinked at him as if he were trying to figure out what Fíli was talking about. Then he glanced down at his arm, saw the bandage and realisation dawned on him. He flinched away from Fíli’s hand.
“Stay away from me!”
“Bofur, please. I’m sorry, but it was necessary. You’ll probably feel better now that the larvae are out, once the wounds are healed. Do they hurt much?”
Bofur shook his head. “No, they don’t hurt at all. But that’s not what this is about. You betrayed my trust! You let them cut me open!”
“I’m sorry, Bofur. Can you please forgive me? I only wanted what was best for you.”
“The last time you apologised to me, you poisoned me! How am I supposed to forgive you?! Just leave me alone!”
Fíli swallowed. “I really am sorry. Are you sure you are alright? Do you want me to get you anything?”
“I’m fine, see?” Bofur prodded at the wound on his arm with a force that made Fíli wince. “It doesn’t hurt. Just go away and leave me alone!”
Fíli nodded miserably. “Alright. But let me know if you need anything.”
He gathered up his bedroll and set it next to Kíli’s.
Kíli stirred and sat up. “Is everything alright? How’s Bofur?”
“He’s awake and says he’s alright; that his wounds don’t even hurt. He wants me to stay away from him though, because of what I did.” Fíli buried his face in his hands.
“Oh.” Kíli pulled Fíli into a hug. “You did the right thing and I’m sure he’ll forgive you once the shock has worn off.”
Bofur made sure to stay away from Fíli while they were travelling that day. Their rations were slightly larger because of the food the elves had given them and when Fíli wanted to give Bofur some of his food, Bofur turned away wordlessly without accepting any.
Fíli watched Bofur to see if he really wasn’t in pain and to his surprise, Bofur continued to show no signs of pain. Heeding Óin’s advice, they stopped more often in order to give Bofur a bit more rest. Even when they travelled, the forest crept by slower than ever before.
Bofur also refused to let Óin check his wounds. When Óin wanted to change the bandages, Bofur insisted on doing it himself. Óin grudgingly agreed after telling Bofur what to pay attention to.
“I really should take a look at those wounds to see if they are healing properly,” Óin complained to Fíli. “This goes against everything I was taught as a healer.”
Fíli nodded unhappily. “I know. I would be happier if you could take a look at the wounds as well. I should be happy he isn’t in any pain, but with wounds like this, it worries me that he isn’t feeling any pain at all.”
Óin nodded. “Me too. Could you maybe talk him into letting me take a look?”
Fíli shrugged hopelessly. “He won’t listen or talk to me. If anything, he trusts me even less than you because I was the one to betray him.”
“I still have some of the elves’ sleeping drought. Maybe...”
Fíli shook his head. “No, he wouldn’t fall for that again. I won’t do it again either. Betraying his trust once was too often already.”
Óin shrugged. “If you say so. I just hope it doesn’t get inflamed.”
Fíli looked over to Bofur, who was watching them suspiciously.
The next couple of days continued in the same way. They continued travelling and Bofur only spoke to Bombur, Bifur and Bilbo. Óin had tried to get them to convince Bofur to have his wounds looked at, but he refused. Óin repeatedly tried to talk with him as well, but he wasn’t successful either.
Fíli himself had given up trying to convince Bofur of anything and was reduced to asking Bofur to give him another chance. He was always met with cold silence.
They made frequent halts and soon, Bofur was asking for halts himself.
During one of these breaks, Kíli came over to Fíli.
“I don’t want to worry you, but is it possible Bofur is asking for breaks more and more often?”
Fíli swallowed. “I was hoping I was imagining it.”
“It might be nothing,” Kíli said, but he didn’t sound convinced.
After that, Fíli found himself watching Bofur even more intensely than before. He saw each time Bofur stumbled, how he dragged his feet along. Fíli kept close to him and when he tripped over a root or his own feet, caught him.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, no thanks to you. Now let go of me.”
Fíli did as he was told and went back to watching.
Before long, Bofur spoke up. “Could I have another break?”
“Alright,” Thorin agreed, “we take a short break.”
There was some grumbling in the group as the stopped beneath the ever-present oaks and beeches. “We just took a break, why does he need another one already?”
“We’ll never reach the edge of the forest at this rate!”
Fíli glared at everyone who was complaining.
Some time later, Thorin got up. “Alright, we should have gotten enough rest by now. Let’s go. The faster we travel, the sooner we leave this awful forest behind us.”
“But we only just stopped,” Bofur protested. “Can’t we stay a bit longer?”
“We need to leave now if we are to get some more travelling done before it gets dark,” Thorin said.
“I’m too tired to go on,” Bofur said.
Thorin sighed. “Alright. It is almost late enough to make camp for the night, so we’ll spend the night here. Go to sleep early, because we’ll start earlier than usual tomorrow to make up for the time we lose today.”
Worried that his exhaustion might be caused by his wounds being inflamed, Bifur, Bombur and Bilbo tried again to convince Bofur to let Óin examine him. Again, Bofur refused.
The next morning, they rose early. Dori quickly handed out breakfast and they packed up their things.
The first of the company were getting ready to leave when Fíli noticed that Bofur was still sitting under the same smooth-barked tree as he had the previous evening, showing no sign of getting up.
“Want a hand up?” He asked, trying for cheerful.
Bofur shook his head. “I’m still too tired. I’m not coming.”
“What are you talking about? Of course you are. Up you get.” Fíli reached for Bofur’s hand but Bofur flinched away.
“No. I’ll follow when I’m a bit less tired.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Bofur!” Fíli replied, his voice rising.
“What’s wrong?” Thorin asked and Fíli noticed the others were gathering around, some concerned, others curious and some annoyed.
Bofur looked at Fíli but Fíli looked away from him in a sudden fit of defiance. If Bofur wanted to be this way, he could at least explain it himself.
“I’m still too tired to go on,” Bofur said.
“What do you mean, too tired to go on?” Dwalin asked. “You had a good night’s sleep, did you not?”
Bofur shrugged. “I did, but I’m still exhausted. I doubt my legs would hold me if I tried.”
The members of the company glanced at each other helplessly.
“You carried me, didn’t you?” Bombur asked. “Surely we could carry him; it wouldn’t be too much of a task in comparison.”
“No!” Bofur said, backing up against the tree. “I don’t want anybody touching me!”
There was quite a bit of discussion, but in the end, they decided to wait until Bofur felt better, mostly because nobody came up with any idea of what else to do. Bofur still refused to let Óin look at his wounds.
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