I don't know how much time passed while I was unconscious, but I could instantly tell when I started to wake up. A splitting pain erupted in my skull as a voice reached my subconscious. The sound felt like someone was pounding a hammer across my head, over and over again. The voice was faint at first, but it steadily grew louder.

"Ithildae!" The voice called out, partially breaking through my subconscious once again.

I struggled to open my eyes and come back to reality. Everything hurt so bad!

"Ithildae, please wake up." The voice called again. It was Kili! What was he doing here? Where am I?

I finally managed to crack my eyes open and instantly let out a gasp. Pain clouded my vision and I desperately tried to blink it away to no avail. The pounding stayed along with the unbearable ache across my whole body.

When my vision cleared slightly, I realized I was lying on a bed full of furs and blankets in a dimly lit room. The room was made out of stone it seemed and I shivered, understanding where I was. Underground. I am used to living sort of underground when I lived in the Woodland Realm, but this wasn't the same thing. Everything was dark, dank, and musty. The air was stale as well and I coughed several times. After each time, more shoots of pain scattered across my body. What had happened?

I turned my head slightly to see Kili sitting beside the bed, watching me with a concerned expression etched across his face. His eyebrows were scrunched together as he searched more face for...something.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

I was confused. So I asked, "Why are you here?"

Now he looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"You were in Laketown..." I stared at him, the pounding in my head slightly increasing and causing me to grimace.

"You've been out for a while, Ithildae." Kili said patiently. Out? For how long...

"H-how long?" I stuttered a bit.

"Around four days. We almost lost you several times." He explained and I heard an emotion that sounded like...worry?

"I...don't understand." My mind was foggy and I couldn't comprehend what he said. Four days? That couldn't be right...I had just gotten knocked out.

"A lot has happened, but long story short, Smaug is dead and we have claimed the mountain." He said simply.

"Dead? Are you sure?"

"Yes. I saw him fall from the sky. Bard, the one who's house we stayed at, killed the dragon." He leaned back in the chair that he was sitting in and crossed his arms; I couldn't help but notice his strong arms and the tunic he wore.

I nodded slowly, taking it in and started to sit up. But I stopped instantly when the pin became unbearable and I cried out. I didn't mean to, but it hurt so so bad!

Kili gently pushed me back down onto the soft pillow beneath my head before saying, "You are badly hurt, Ithildae. You need to rest." He ordered firmly.

"Hurt? What happened?" I know my body hurts, but I can't seem to remember why or how.

"When we rejoined my uncle here in the mountain, we found you at the base of the entrance, half under a large boulder. You must have been hit when Smaug came for Laketown." He continued to answer all my question patiently, without a hint of frustration in his voice.

"Oh." Was all I could say.

Kili took it as a signal to continue, "Oin patched you up as best he could, but..." He trailed off and looked down at his hands. I gingerly pulled the covers away from my body. I was wearing a large wool shirt and my old leggings. Slowly, I pulled the shirt up to see something I was not expecting to see. My whole stomach was covered in thick bandages that were quite bloody. I gasped unintentionally, and looked over at Kili who refused to meet my gaze.

I opened my mouth to speak when I no it's the door opening. One of the dwarves walked in quietly and his eyes widened when he looked at me.

Hurrying his pace, he hustled over to where I lay, speaking rapidly all the while, "Goodness gracious! I didn't think you'd ever wake up. You are very lucky, Miss," The dwarf said and I realized he must have been Oin, the one who healed me.

"Thank you." Was all I said, not really feeling comfortable. I was horrible to these dwarves and yet they saved my life. Why?

"No need to thank me." He replied, "Now, I just need to check to see how you're healing." He explained as he neared the bed.

I stifled the urge to scoot away and forced myself to relax, "O-okay."

He slowly began unwinding the bandages around my stomach and I tried to lift my back to help him, but it hurt too much so I stopped.

Once the bandaged were off, I felt the sudden urge to vomit. Every inch of my stomach was with coated in blood, bruises, or something else that I couldn't identify.

I think I was making a face because Oin reassure me right away, "The worst is over. Dn't worry, laddie."

That didn't help in the slightest.

He began cleaning my stomach with a cold, wet rag he had apparently brought in as I lay there, confused and full of unanswered questions.

Why were they helping me? Why was Kili here when I woke up? Why am I even alive?

I couldn't figure out the answer to any of these questions and knew that I had many more somewhere in my brain as well.

Once Oin was done, he set the rag down and looked at me...apologetically?

I swallowed.

"You're back was hurt too and I need to clean it..." He trailed off.

"Oh...um...o-okay." I stuttered and tried to lift myself. I fronted when pain shot through my whole body it seemed and slumped back down. "I can't do it." I whispered, ashamed.

Kili hopped up from his chair by the bed and piped up, "I'll help, Oin," he offered.

They carefully and very slowly turned me into my stomach after much pain and determination.

Then Oin repeated the process of cleaning my back as well. I couldn't really see it, but I assumed it didn't look much better than my front.

I must have been crushed by one large boulder...

"How are you feeling?" Kili asked, bringing me back to the current events.

I was startled by his question, but answered nonetheless. "Fine." I mumbled.

His eyebrow raised and it looked absolutely adorable. "Fine? Are you sure?" He definitely looked skeptical.

I sighed, and winced when that, too, hurt. "No...I'm in a little pain." I admitted.

"A little?" He questioned again.

Ugh, he was pushy! "Okay, okay. I feel like I just died. Happy?" I said, sarcasm lacing my voice.

He chuckled and the pleasant sound filled the room. "Yes, I'm happy." He teased.

We fell silent after that while Oin finished cleaning up my back.

After he finished, he left me alone with Kili. But I didn't mind.

Kili sat back down, watching me closely. I stared back, wondering why.

"W-where's Tauriel?" I asked, not knowing why I. I didn't really want to know, but I was hurting. My heart and my body.

At the question, he looked down at his hands, not answering.

"Kili?" I pressed.

"She left with her kin, the prince." He said sadly. His whole demeanor had changed and he truly seemed down wrought.

"Oh...I see."

"A lot has happened, Ithildae." He said again.

"What do you mean?"

"Tauriel was banished for coming to help us." Kili explained.

Just like me.

Suddenly, Kili looked up at me, and I saw hope fill his eyes. "Maybe, when you go back could you ask Thranduil to let her come back? She doesn't deserve to be banished."

I swallowed hard, a lump conveniently appearing in my throat. I am anger to speak around it even though my voice only came out as a whisper, "Kili...I am banished too." I finally admitted.

His eyes widened. "I didn't know. I'm sorry." He apologized. "What happened?"

"King Thranduil said if I didn't bring you back to him then I shouldn't come back at all." I said simply. I realized it would be best to just get it out in the open already, even if he hated me for it or distrusted me further.

"And you're just giving up?"

I didn't want to answer that, so I changed he subject. "I'm really thirsty. Can I have something to drink?" I asked, hoping he would drop the question.

He seemed to understand that I didn't want to talk about it and nodded. "I'll be right back." With that, he left the room, slowly closing the door behind him.

Hello my wonderful and magically delicious readers! The story is really progressing now! Man...I'm really starting to like it even more. Hmm, I should really try to update more then. Oh well, hopefully I'll get better about doing that. But in the meantime, thank you for waiting patiently! You guys are awesome and it is greatly appreciated! Love you all!

Ithildae