Hey wonderful readers! I'm sorry for the long delays of late but I wanted to make this chapter absolutely awesome and epic and all that jazz so I took a little longer to write it. Sorry for that but I think this chapter will more than make up for it! :D Please don't forget to comment or leave crit! I swear that I don't care if you totally abuse the story but just don't get reported. :D And here's a question for you to ponder: What do you think dying is like?

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At first everything looked normal. The window into the room had been flung open wide allowing the late afternoon sun to stream in like honey and warm the stone floor, everything was sitting in its rightful place on the heavy wooden cupboards, the thick velvet curtain around the bathing tub was drawn back as it should have been when not in use and the rich red drapes around the double bed were also. But the King knew something felt amiss. He cast his eyes about looking for the source of his unease. Then Fili frowned as he noticed the bed had been slept in but not made. It was unusual for Sabrielle to not straighten the bed covers before getting up. Slowly he made his way over to the crib still keeping an eye out for anything that might be out of place.

Once he reached the opposite side of the room a smile tugged at the King’s lips as he saw why the bed was unmade. It seemed that the elf in residence was still asleep her body facing the wall and the sheets covering most of her face.

‘The riding must have taking more out of her than I thought,’ he grinned to himself, ‘She’s missed all of today’s meals. I’d better wake her up now. She must be famished.’ With a smile still plastered on his face the King reached over to grab hold of his friend’s shoulder. He shook her gently to start with to no reaction. He rolled his eyes as he remembered the times when Kili and himself had done the same thing to their host when staying over. Sabrielle would try to get them up early to go clear fallen wood from the orchard or help out with the gardening or go wash their clothes in the stream. The pair of dwarves would pretend to be asleep to get out of the work though they were never able to hold out for long. Good old Sabrielle. Giving them a taste of their own medicine.

    “Wake up, Sleepy head,” he chided playfully, “You’ve slept the day away.” Still the elf did not move to get up. The first hints of concern began to tug at the edges of Fili’s heart as he shook her again, a little harder than before. Memories of Kili lying in his chambers in his fever sprang unbidden into his mind. Using all his mental strength the young King pushed the images away.

    “Okay, Sab,” the dwarf admitted anxiety forcefully worming its way into his tone, “It was funny before but it’s not anymore. Now it’s time to get up.” The young dwarf firmly gripped his friend’s shoulder and turned her over making the sheets fall away revealing her delicate face. The King could not help the gasp that was yanked from his lungs in that dreadful instant.

The elf was limp and cold. Her fair skin had turned to a horrible shade of sickly grey-blue and all the colour had been leached from her lips. Her raven hair fanned out in a mess of dark webs across the bedsheets and pillow. Fili stared dumbfounded at the body in immeasurable shock for a few terrified moments before snapping back into a panicked reality. Before his mind knew what he was doing the dwarf’s hands where pressing against his friend’s cold, chalky wrists and slim neck hoping beyond all hope to find even the slightest glimmer of a fleeting pulse. As hard as he tried the King could not locate one.

Fili stumbled back his hands shaking feverishly as he turned to face the door. With fumbling fingers the dwarf managed to unhook the wooden latch and trip out into the open and almost empty hall. For a long, slow moment his mind was as blank as an untouched canvas and his tongue was stuck heavy and useless in his throat.

    “Is everything alright, Milord?” a passing servant questioned noticing her King’s strange expression, “Is there something amiss in the bedchamber?” Fili stared at the dwarf girl for a few mute seconds before recovering his wits enough to talk.

    “Get a healer,” he barked out the demand, “Now!” The girl, startled by the outburst as she was, knew better than to question her King any further and turned on her heels to race down the arching hall to the healers’ offices. Moving as fast as her short legs could carry her, the maid crashed into the heavy oak door of the healers’ offices and she banged as hard as she could to catch the attention of any inside. After barely a few seconds her insistent knocking was answered.

    “What is it, girl?” a grumpy old dwarf with a thick grey beard asked as he took in the sight of the red faced servant, “You only have to knock once you know. Only Oin is hard of hearing.”

    “The King wants healers,” the girl gasped between winded breaths, “He’s waiting outside the guest bedchambers. He looked like he was going to be sick.” The old dwarf nodded and ducked back into the office to gather his equipment. He was followed by several others who had heard what the serving girl had to say and the little company headed for the guest chambers.

The girl was surprised to see that when she returned mere minutes later with several healers in tow the young dwarf was still standing exactly where he had been when she’d left. And she was not wrong when she had remarked the King looked as if he was going to gag. The blonde dwarf was shivering uncontrollably with what she could tell was either fear or cold, his breathing was ragged and unsteady and the look he bore on his face was one of great strain or difficulty.

    “Your Majesty,” bowed the healer who had answered the door, “What would seem to be the problem?”

    “I don’t know what’s happened,” Fili managed to choke out, “She’s in there.” He indicated the room behind him and the healers rushed in without another word.

    “I think she’s dead.”

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YAY! What did you think of that chapter? Was it worth the wait? Leave comments and crit below and don't forget to tell me what you think dying is like!!!!!!!! Imagine how badly Fili's gonna take it if Sabrielle and Kili die on him. :O Not a spoiler I just want to know what you think would happen! And how awesome is the singer in the vid! I think I just fell in love with her voice! Please tell me what you think. Until we meet again!

~SpanishFox