Chapter Text
“Grandfather, you can’t!” Dis cried, seizing Thror’s tunic, eyes wide with fear. “The Fuhrer won’t stand down so easily.”
“I’m aware, my flower,” he said, pulling her hands off gently, but I must try and end this bloodshed if I can. Thorin,” he looked at his eldest grandson, who stood straight. “If anything happens to me, I trust you to take care of our people.”
“I will, Grandfather.”
Fili watched the fray with fearful eyes. He didn’t like this. Thror approached him and knelt. “My golden haired little Ishvalan,” he said, ruffling Fili’s hair and then cupping his cheek. “With sky eyes…be good to your Mama and Uncles.”
Fili smiled and nodded. “I’ll be extra good.”
“I know you will. Can your GG have a hug before I go?”
Fili wrapped his arms around Thror’s neck, enveloped in his great-grandfather’s arms. After a minute or so, Fili was set down on the chair again and Thror left with his guard. Dis sat in a chair and covered her face with her hands, bent nearly in half.
“How much more death do we have to take?” she wept. Thorin sighed and left the room, calling for Frerin—Fili’s other uncle. Fili jumped down and followed him.
“Frerin,” Thorin called, barging into the room. He paused and Fili poked his head out from behind Thorin’s legs to see Frerin stand. His arms had strange designs on them that fascinated Fili. “What did you do?” Thorin demanded.
“I’ve been studying Alchemy,” he said. “I’ve just about cracked it.”
Thorin sighed. “Frerin, Alchemy is an abomination. What you’re doing may very well lead to excommunication.”
“Considering that Grandfather would excommunicate his own.”
“He would if need be.”
“Would you?”
Thorin closed his eyes and sighed. “Cover your arms.”
“I won’t,” Frerin said. “This may be our only defense against the State Alchemists.” Thorin growled. Frerin held up one arm. “This one is for destruction and the other for reconstruction—”
“I don’t care,” Thorin cut him off. “Do what you like, but we must go soon lest Grandfather fails to reason with the Fuhrer.”
“I don’t think that man can be reasoned with,” Frerin said, but he gathered his things, tucking a book into his sash. “Let’s go. Can I carry you, little man?” Frerin asked. Fili nodded and Frerin picked him up, balancing him on his hip.
Thorin pulled Dis out of the chair and they left the house. Fili blinked in the harsh sun as everyone else around them screamed and shouted as they tried to get away from the village before the State Alchemists arrived. A trio of men cut them off, bearing whatever weapon they could find.
“Give us the child.”
Frerin handed Fili to Dis, who tried her best to hide his eyes from what would likely happen next.
“Why would we give up Fili?”
“The death of a child is what caused all this! And that child is the son of the man who killed her!”
Frerin growled and strode past Thorin slamming his left hand on the ground and pulling free a sword from the earth. The men jumped back. Frerin pointed the sword at them. “You will not touch my nephew without first getting past us,” he snarled.
“The State Alchemists are on their way,” Dis reminded them. “There is a real enemy coming or would you bring this mother further grief and kill her son? Fili is still a babe. He’s only two years old. Please…”
Thorin snarled. “We don’t have time for this,” he said. “Kill all of us or don’t. It’s your decision.”
In the end, they stepped aside and let them go. Fili blinked at the men, who still glared at him. He didn’t understand why…what was going on? Why did they have to leave?
“Good afternoon!” A man called, halting them.
“Who’s there?” Thorin said.
“Just a State Alchemist,” the man said, holding a hand in front of him. “But if you like, you can call me Drago Smaug, or the Flame Alchemist, if you like.” He snapped his fingers and a burst of flames flew down at them. The three of them tried to dodge the fire, and Thorin screamed, as it hit his back. Frerin pulled him behind a wall.
“Thorin!”
“Ishval save us! His arm!” Fili twisted around and the image he saw burned into his memory. Thorin was badly burned from his back to his arm. And Frerin was trying to soothe him.
After that, there was a flash of red…