bryan adams song...play the bugle now

*EVENING*

The wind was moaning lowly around the tents that laid outside the Erebor doors...casting a deeper somber feel to those inside the enclosures. In one such tent the flickers of the candle upon a stool was casting shadows onto the tent walls...making them appear to be dancing there. The sounds of the soft candle flame was barely heard within the room as it sat next to a small healers cot which held a dwarf upon it..he was still..very still and very pale. Next to him sat a blond haired dwarf woman who held tightly to his hand...on his other side holding the other hand sat a dark haired dwarf whose free arm was wrapped around the waist of a dark haired woman...all heads bowed in grief.

Kili breathed as deeply as he could...feeling a slight pang from the stitches in his chest pulling slightly with each intake of air. It had been close...he almost died, but the arrival of Kahrn saved him at the last moment. Kili could still hear the whooshing sound as the maces handle plummeted towards his chest..he expected any second to feel it entering his body and killing him. He glanced over to his friend Tauriel to say ~ Im sorry~, for what he still wasnt sure of..maybe because he felt he had dragged her into all this mess. Just as their eyes met and he opened his mouth, he saw Kahrn ..dark red hair that looked like it was on fire...green eyes that held a deep burning light inside...barreling towards him, roaring mightily. Before Kili could fully register his appearance, he felt a hard impact on his body, then a sharp pain in his chest over his heart. Thats when his mind snapped into realization...Kahrn had leaped at the last second to place his body in between the mace and Kilis body...taking the brunt of the blow so only a tiny bit made it through into Kili.

After Bolg had left ,Kili stayed by Kahrns side as he took his last breath before moving on to Mahals side...gasping out his wifes name, who had been dead for over forty years now. Kili held onto his lifeless body there in the falling snow...kneeling as his tears fell down onto the stones below..freezing into tiny drops of ice like diamonds upon the stone. Thats how Tauriel found him once again after fighting Bolg shortly ago. Hearing his name being called, broke through his grief as he turned to see her running over to him...she saw him bleeding a lot and tried to get him to leave the tower so he could seek the attentions of a healer. He didnt want to leave Kahrn ther..alone..but after her vow of coming back to retrieve him, Kili let her help him to the healers. She kept her promise and brought back Kahrns body to them..where he could be buried with high honors inside Erebor soon. Kahrn gave his life in protecting one of the line of Durin..a prince...his sacrifice deserved the highest of honors, he would be buried in the Durins tombs alongside the other Durins who laid there.

Kilis thoughts were pulled away from his reflections by the weeping sound of Ahmi who knelt by Filis bedside holding his hand in her own. Earlier Fili was brought to this tent..bandages covering his body that was littered with vast bruises, cuts, and broken bones...and a fractured skull. Oin had come in checking over Fili as Kili, Alysi, and Ahmi looked on and with a shake of his head..eyes downcast, he gave them the bad news. Filis head was so battered by all the blows from the goblins and orcs..then the fall off of the tower, that now left swelling on his brain..leaving him in a comatose state, barely breathing.

"Im sorry Prince Kili, but your brothers injuries are to severe. I fear he will never wake up..again." his voice was rough from holding back tears as he gave the grave news to the young prince. "The merciful thing would be to give him a draught of deep sleep...enough administered  would allow him to slip into a peaceful death."he gave Kili a pitying look as he roared out in denial.

"No! I will never do that to him!" kilis body trembled as he went into a protective stance between his brother and the healer. "You dont know if he will never wake..he still can for all you know." his fists clenched in his anger.

"Your right...Prince Kili. I dont know that for sure, but I have seen enough to know that no good can come of this. I have seen men wither away right before my eyes until one day they stop breathing...seeing their families suffering as they watched, days...weeks..months. Do you want that lad? Do you want to watch as your beloved brother withers away into nothing but skin and bones, until that one merciful day comes, when his heart blessedly gives out finally?" Oin gets close to Kili...angry tears falling down both their cheeks. " Thats if he doesnt wake up...he could wake up, but he will not be the same dwarf you knew. The Fili we knew could be gone and all thats left behind is a brain damaged man who would be unfit to rule..or worse....a child trapped in a mans body...forever."

Ahmi couldnt take it anymore..slowly she rose up from Filis side and turned to where the men stood, glaring at one another...her amethyst eyes turning glacial as she snarled out.

"Get out. I will not have this talk of him dying or worse ..here in his presence. If you cant speak with hope...Master Dwarf..then leave." never had Kili seen this side of Ahmi before. She was normally so sweet, so calm and serene....not this commanding tower of fury. He was shocked, as was Oin who growled as he left saying ~I must report to the King. Heed my words..you better start praying, for thats all hes got left.~ then the elderly healer was gone..not hearing Ahmis whispered reply " No, master Oin. Hes got me." Ahmi spun around to sink back down by Filis side..praying to Mahal for a miracle as she began a healing chant. 

Several hours later there was still no change in Filis condition..at one point even her mentor, Elladan came in and tried..it was no use, no change...his body stayed barely warm..his breathing laboured...heart beating slowly as they watched and waited.

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Inside Thorins tent the air was riddled with the shadows of grief and remorse. Thorin laid upon a fur covered bed covered in bandages from the shoulders down..his dark beard accentuating the paleness of his skin as he laid there, staring out towards the direction of Fili tent. His hand firmly held by Kechi, who sat by his side as her thumb softly stroked his hand...providing comfort to them both. Shortly ago Oin had come to them, to let them both know about Filis condition..it tore both their hearts to hear the dire prognosis of the Heir. They both agreed , against Oins advice, to give it a few days and see what would happen..truly none of them wanted to consider the other alternatives.

Thorins mind went back to hours ago, right after the battle had been won..the moment he came to. It had been hours since he had been carried down the mountain side and delivered into a healers care...which happened to be, surprises of surprises, was Elladan, son of Lord Elrond. Thorin found it ironic that it was an elf whom he owed his life to..for saving him after his significant blood loss, that should have by all rights killed him. Begrudgingly he gave the elf thanks..of course that was after Kechi gave him a glare that could change sterner hearts than Thorins. Thankfully the elf didnt look at him with an air of superiority,he didnt smirk, or anything derogatory..he just smiled kindly, just like his father. So now here they sat..hearts heavy as they prayed for any miracle for the Heir Prince Fili.

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Bofur was sitting upon his cot..stroking Kennans dark curls as the childs head laid in his lap...feeling the silky curls twining around his fingers. There was a feeling of rightness about having the child by his side that brought a lightness to his heart...even though a few tents away one of his companions laid dying within. Sighing he looked around the tent he was occupying..seeing his cousin Bifur across from him, whittling on a piece of wood, lost in thought with no design in mind...his brother Bombur was next to Bifurs as he snored away on his cot....to Bofurs left laid the largest wolf hes ever seen, Mischa, and her rider Laicee who was sitting on a bedroll she had thrown next down next to the wolf. She watched Bofur and Kennan with a smile on her face...obviously enjoying the sight of this litlle family brought together by war...he smiled back at her...contentment written all over him.

Bofur remembered , as the battle had waged on he believed at one point it was all over for them..when the warbats came swooping down out of the skies, attacking the allied army, he truly thought they were done for. Then, just as he was about to give up all hope he heard a mighty roar above and he saw Beorn falling from the back of a giant eagle..transforming into his massive bear form in mid fall. Seeing the bear and eagles gave everyone hope and renewed energy to keep pressing on. Bofur never left Laicees side all through the fight , being joined at one point by his cousin and brother...they were the perfect team it seemed..her arrows...Bofurs mattock...Bifurs spear and Bomburs regal flail...combined with Mischas bone crushing jaws, the five of them were unstoppable. Somewhere along the way the five of them became friends..so now here they all were sharing a tent with each other.

"Hey Laicee?" Bofur softly whispered so not to disturb the others resting in the tent..her blue eyes focused on him. "Whats yer story? how came yeh by teh be here?" she chuckled at his inquisitiveness.

"Ahhh..Bofur. Its a long tale..maybe sometime Ill tell it all to you." she winked as he rolled his eyes..smirking at her sauciness. "The part ill tell you now is this. King Dain heard of King Thorins plight, so he called upon any warriors who wished to join..well me and a handful of other Battlewolf riders decided to come along and see what trouble we could get ourselves into."

"Battlewolf riders?" Bofur never heard of such warriors before.

"Aye. It seems long ago in the Orcarni mountains, some insane dwarves got a brilliant idea to breed wolves with..wargs." his eyebrows rose high...he looked at Mischa closer with greater respect..and caution. "The offspring of this union became the parents to what you see today..Battlewolves." she reached over to pet the scruff of Mischas dark grey fur who rumbled as she leaned into her riders caresses. "This lady is faster, smarter, and over all perfect..her main function is to hunt down wargs, defend my back, and carry me. We live to die together..all in the name of King and our people." she could tell Bofur was impressed at this.

"Well, I for one am very grateful fer the both of yeh on coming. If no one else tells yeh this, then I will...Thank Yeh both very much." she smiled big at him.

"What about you? Anything to tell?" he laughed as he began to regal her with tales of his lovely wife and the life they had built back home in Ered Luin..never once did Laicee seem bored as she sat listening to him spin his tales. Maybe one day Laicee and Tia would meet..wouldnt it be nice if they all became friends Bofur thought.

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*PRINCES TENT*

Fili could feel himself floating around in a grey hazy fog..unable to see anything around him..soft voices could be heard but not understandable to his ears.

"Am I dead?" his voice sounded almost hollow as it echoed through the fog.

"Not ..yet." a golden voice floated to him and he directed his gaze towards its source. There standing in a shaft of light that was piercing the fog was a dwarf...golden hair flowing around his head like a halo of light surrounding warm brown eyes that reminded him so much of Kilis. Fili knew then whom he was looking upon..it was his father, Krawli, who stood in that golden light and filis voice quivered as he spoke.

"Fa..Father?" the man smiled. "how...if Im not dead, then how come your here?" watching as Krawli drifted closer to where Fili stood then placing a hand on his sons shoulder..gazing into his blue eyes.

"Well son...why ..is your not dead, but your also not alive. See your stuck in limbo right now..neither dead or alive..just existing. "fili lowered his head in sadness and he groaned.

"Leave it to me..only I could find a way to trap myself in between existence. " he chuckled mirthlessly at his luck.

"Fili....there is a way for you...you just have to choose which way you want to go." he sees Filis head shooting up..brows furrowed in confusion at what his father was saying. "Yes. You have to make a choice. Do you go onto the halls of Mahal or do you go back?" this sounded like a trick question to Fili...he cautiously asked.

"What awaits me if I go back?" his father gave him a sad smile.

"Pain and hardship..more than most dwarves have to bare, but there is also hope, love and friendship..more than most dwarves ever hope for." Krawli paused as if there was more to say...but unsure if he should say it.

"And if I go to Mahal, then what awaits those I leave behind?" Krawli sighed deeply, but he answered.

"You all may have won our people peace, but it is only temporarily. Something is coming soon, that will end this peace. There is no guarantee that those you love will survive...most will come onto Mahals side sooner than others." he could see Filis eyes contemplating his words. "Also...theres this, my son." Krawli waved his hand and the fog parted below him where he saw a dimly lit room...his body laying upon a cot swathed in bandages, pale, and lifeless seeming...surrounded by three people. Kili was sitting on a stool, leaning his head into Alysis side as her arms were wrapped around his shoulders as he cried in grief. Off to his other side he could see Ahmi holding his hand..wiping her tears from her face with the other hand. With another wave of Krawlis hand, it was as if the volume turned up to where he could hear them crying below...Ahmis normally sweet voice was cracking as she whispered in her sorrow..a plea leaving her lips that he could hear.

""Fili..please dont leave me. Please dont go where i can not follow." her shoulders shook as she cried. "Please, my love..dont leave me to raise our son, alone...please." with that she crumbled into tears..mumbled words being whispered as Kili and Alysi bowed their heads in sorrow. Krawli waved his hand and the sounds faded...Fili stood in shock at what he heard.

"Father? Im going to be a father?" he looked at Krawli and saw affirmation of this..Fili clenched his jaw as he made a choice. "Im going back." Krawli gazed at his son with pride and smiled. "What do I do?"

"Well now that you made a choice, then there is only one thing left to do. Now we just need her help." the fog closed over sealing them in its embrace.

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Ahmi was exhausted..she hadnt slept in what felt like days and then on top of it all she had sapped all her energy in trying to heal Filis body. Finally she couldnt hold her head up any more and let sleep claim her as she rested her head on the bed next to Filis hand. She felt herself being pulled into that darkness..but something felt different about it..it should be getting darker, not lighter. As the darkness lifted, she saw herself on a grassy field surrounded by dense fog..something in the fog was drawing closer to where she stood. Staring at the spot, she saw two men stepping out of the fog into the clearing where she stood. It was Krawli and Fili..both smiling at her. She tried to move to go to him but it felt like her feet were glued to the earth..her eyes widened in panic, but she calmed down instantly at Krawlis voice.

"Be at ease...my daughter. You will not be able to move to touch him...the living can not touch those in limbo." she made to protest, but he motioned for her to be quiet." Listen my child...we have very little time left to waste." Ahmi listened closely. "I know you love my son..but the my question is, What would you do to save him? How far will you go and what would you willing sacrifice for him?" she stared long and hard before she answered.

"I would do anything...sacrifice everything..but the child I carry for him." she knew she said the right thing by both their smiles. "Good. Nows heres what you need to do...go back and try again." Krawli smiled at her as he waved his hand...suddenly the fog went dark around her and she felt herself falling.

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Ahmi jerked up awake..breathing hard as she looked around her. Kili was laying down in the other cot in the tent with Alysi curled up in his arms...both asleep. She turned her gaze to Filis face, noticing a blue tinge was forming around his lips..she remembered Krawlis words of how they were running out of time and her heart lurched in her chest. She knew his life was slipping away before her eyes and he wouldnt make it through the night. She was determined that would not happen...she wouldnt let him go, not now that there was a shred of hope.

Ahmi reached within herself...gathering her energies to heal...she began to chant. She panicked inside when she realized she was empty..she had nothing left inside. Gritting her teeth she summoned every last shred of energy she could find and began to pour it all into him. She could feel her strength wavering as she pushed her all into him...she lifted her head to the skies..screaming.

"Mahal..Please lend me your mighty strength!" her shout startled Kili and Alysi from their sleep. Suddenly Ahmi felt hands upon her shoulders..energy flowing through her and into Fili..then others joined..then more..a long line formed, all pouring their strength into the woman that was the vessel. Ahmi realized it was the ancestors of all the Durins..back to the beginning..all giving her their energies to heal one of Durins sons.

 Kili and Alysi watched in awe as Ahmi began to glow..her lands were shining brightly as the healing energies flowed into Fili, whos face began to get color in it once again. Unexpectedly Ahmi let out a scream then she collapsed in the chair and fell across Filis bed. They both ran to her side and eased her up..her body was covered in sweat and her breathing was rapid..they feared she had pushed her body past its limits and was killing herself. Movement to the side drew eyes to look at the cause..no sound was made as they stared at the bed.

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There was a loud cry disturbing the night air around the encampment that echoed out..bringing joyous cheer to all who could hear it.

"GLORAG MAHAL! (praise Mahal) The Heir Prince Fili Lives!"

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The whole company was crowding around the cot Fili laid in...smiling at all the well wishers as he held onto Ahmis hand. Moments after he had awoken Ahmi roused from her faint and shakingly she climbed onto the bed with Fili to hold onto him...crying in relief onto his shoulder...being wrapped in his arms as he attempted to comfort her. Alysi was the one who went to tell the guards to let everyone know that Fili had awaken... shortly after that Oin and Elladan came rushing in to examine the Heir before anyone saw him. Thier prognosis was better than before but it still wasnt as good as they hoped.

Elladan and Oin both agreed that his injuries were mostly healed, but the bruising on Filis brain left him extremely light sensitive, probably for the rest of his life and...the possibility of being unable to walk again. Fili could feel his lower extremities perfectly, but the problem it seemed was his waist down was unaware of that. He tried to stand and if it wasnt for the two men he would of fell flat on his face...his legs it turned out forgot how to support him or move. It was Elladan who said such things could happen to those suffering from brain injuries..he also was the one who gave Fili hope. It would take years but Elladan had faith that Fili would walk again...knowing the stubborness of dwarves, it possibly would not take as long as those who suffered the same infirmity as Fili did.

To say Fili was shocked about hearing what was wrong with him, was an understatement..he was lost in a haze. Even while everyone stood around laughing..congratulating Ahmi on job well done, and just over all happy that the Heir was alive...Fili sat there thinking over his circumstances...shaking on the inside and trying to not let it show.

~I...I cant walk. Im a dwarf..what am I suppose to do now. I cant fight..cant stand up to work..Im basically now considered weak. No one will follow a disabled ruler. A king must be strong..always. Theres no way Uncle Thorin will want me as his Heir now...besides , hes got Kili who would make a good Heir to uncle.~ Fili sighed deeply..only being heard by Ahmi who was sitting next to him on the bed, holding his hand. Fili glanced over and saw her smiling serenely at him...his heart dropped as a depressing thought occured to him. ~ Ahmi isnt going to want me now that Im like this...especially if Im unable to protect her. How can she want a invalid to share her life with..to father and raise a child with?~ suddenly Fili felt a squeeze upon his hand...looking into Ahmis eyes he saw love and understanding there...and faith as she leaned over to whisper in his ear.

"Be at ease my love. Im here for you. Remember..we will make it through..together. Always..together." his eyes softened as a tear made its way down his cheek..slowly he raised their joined hands up to kiss hers...a loving smile upon his lips.

"Yes..together we can do this." as he sat there his mind began to formulate plans and ideas on new legs. ~ By Mahal..I will walk again..nothing is going to stop me.~ one of his hands slowly eased over to stroke her stomach as he remembered the life growing there inside. ~ For my child..I must become strong again. ~ Fili vowed to do whatever it took to achieve his mobility once more...not knowing his loves secret ...the sacrifice she paid for him.