Kili was tireless. He bounded from rock to rock like a creature born amongst the steep boulders and crevices as they ascended the mountain outside of the township. Elin had never left the boundaries of Ered Luin in her life.

She paused, resting a hand on her knee. Turning to look back, she saw that they had climbed quite high into the hills. She could see the town below nestled in the small valley. Somewhere a steeple bell rang out the noon hour. A few thrushes flitted past her, distracting her to the view of the peak before them. Clouds bellowed from behind the arch of the snowy mountain. All around her the earth seemed to be stirring with new life.

"I'm sorry, Elin." Kili bounded toward her from where he had run ahead, "I am so used to travelling here with my brother, I forget that you are not used to these paths."

Elin smiled breathlessly as he laid a hand on her shoulder, his brow knitting with concern.

"Don't worry for my sake." She replied, straightening, "I am merely overcome. I have only seen these mountains from my window."

Kili chuckled, perching a fist on his hip and waving his hand at the grandeur around them, "What do you think of this place?"

"I am in awe." She answered honestly, taking a step forwards down the path.

"So she likes the mountains." He murmured lightly, walking up from behind beside her closely, "That's a good sign."

Elin watched a low hanging wisp of cloud brush across the jagged mount.

"How could I not?" She breathed, feeling a sudden burst of awe she had rarely experienced in life.

"Come with me," Kili took her hand in his and started to lead her down a less travelled path.

They were soon traversing down a steep ledge. Elin soon could hear the heady roar of water above the cry of the wind. Kili paused at a place where the ledge grew shallower, letting her go ahead and keeping a steady hand at her waist. Elin's boot kicked a stone and sent a few unstable rocks tumbling over the edge.

"It is just up here." Kili said close in her ear as he followed.

Elin emerged into a hidden valley where a fast rushing and deep river bellowed with melted snow through the mountain pass. Even as high up as they were, she could feel the dust of cold mist from the river water. Kili soon led her down an easier route to the river side where a few sparse patches of pine, maple and low lying hawthorn grew. The banks were nearly covered completely by the waters pregnant with spring rain. Elin walked over the sandy colored, smooth pebbles of the shore, watching as all sorts of flotsam was rushed down stream.

"What do you think?" Elin turned to see Kili leaning up against the craggy trunk of an ancient oak, "Vicious isn't it?"

"Where does it go?"

Kili shrugged, approaching her, "Fili and I sometimes wondered the same thing."

"Fili?"

"Sorry, he's my brother." Kili replied with a grin, "He lives and works with me in town."

Elin recalled the younger dwarf she had seen by the forge at the blacksmith's. She was surprised to hear they were brothers, their coloring was so drastically different. Suddenly, she realized that she knew very little of Kili.

"How did you start to work at the smithy?" She asked as she sat down on a nearby boulder to rest her feet, "He's an awfully dour dwarf, the blacksmith I mean."

Kili let out a startled bark of laughter, sitting down on the ground next to her bounder.

"He's my uncle."

Elin's face burned at the revelation, "Oh I am truly sorry-"

"Don't be, he is dour." Kili arched a playful brow at her, "He raised us, my brother and me, after my mother died when I was just a dwarfling."

Elin nodded, looking down at her hands, "My parents are dead too."

A somber silence followed which was broken by the erratic chirping over a territorial red squirrel overhead. Elin glanced up at the creature whose tail flicked with irritation.

"Testy little fellow isn't he?" Kili commented, taking a heel of bread from his pocket and tossing a crumb to the creature.

"Do you have any other family?" Elin asked, daring to look over at him once more.

Kili casually shook his head, tearing into the bread, "Just Fili and I and our Uncle. My grandfather went missing a few years ago. I barely remember him. We have not always lived in Ered Luin."

"Where are you from?"

Kili glanced over, a grin starting to spread over his face as he tossed her the bread.

"If you think these mountains are something," Kili began, standing with his hands at his back, "You should see where my family lived for generations. A single peak, as mighty and imposing as a lightning storm. The kingdom where my people delved into the rich earth, fashioning jewels and gold. An underground palace with endless, echoing halls and great pillars of ornate granite."

Elin listened, something stirring within her as his words wove a picture she could only hope to imagine. It was a longing to go and see these things. It surprised her almost as much as the feelings for him had when she had first seen him.

Kili turned to her, his pensive face breaking into a smile. He approached her, saddling up next to her.

"However," He began impishly, "That is just what my dour Uncle tells me."

"So you have never seen this place?"

Kili shook his head, his gaze turning to the river, "I will though. I promise you that, Elin Littlepointe."

Elin gave a breathy laugh. Kili leant forward on his knees, giving her that steady, studying look that sent sparks up her spine.

"So what has kept you from coming up into the mountains before?" He asked bluntly, "You look like you belong here."

Elin wet her lips, the corner of her mouth falling slightly, "Such things would not have been becoming for a young lady. It would be unwise for me to be seen running wild in the hills. It would have set a bad reflection on my family."

"I thought you said your parents are dead."

"They are," She replied evenly, standing and walking to the river's edge, "I'm just realizing how much I wanted their approval, even after they have been long gone."

A light mist started to roll in over the water's surface as silver clouds began to cover the sky. Kili came up behind her, standing close but not touching her. She tried not to be too distracted by his presence.

"How I see it, Elin, you cannot dim your own light for the sake of others no matter how noble their intentions were." He reasoned, running a thumb down the intricate embroidery of her dwarven coat sleeve, "You are a jewel."

Elin felt unable to turn to him. She had never been spoken to in such terms. Still unsure of his intentions, she was still wary of trusting his words no matter how beautiful they were.

A sudden crack of thunder surprised them both from the moment.

"A mountain storm," Kili said, taking her hand, "We must start back and stay to lower ground."

Elin felt a rush of adrenaline as they started to race through the light drizzle down the river side. She clung to Kili's hand as they started to ascend against the current. The stones became slick with rain. Another roll of thunder and they found a series of boulders in the river just barely breaching the surface.

"We must get to the other side," Kili said turning to Elin as the wind whipped his dark hair, "Follow me."

Kili leapt to the first boulder, gaining his balance. He jumped to the next one. Elin was too shocked to act in any way except impulsively. A jagged streak of lightening burst a tree downriver into fire.

"Now, Elin!" Kili cried.

Elin obeyed, leaping to the boulder. She landed, crouching to the flat stone. Water splashed up into her face, disorienting her.

"Elin, jump to the next one!" She heard Kili yell.

Without watching what she was doing, Elin jumped. She felt the stone under her feet but the uneven surface was slippery with moss. Her boot slipped and soon she was dragged into the ferocity of the water. The river was freezing with early spring, immediately taking her breath and biting into her skin like knives.

The thunder muted as she was dragged under, the river water rumbling wordlessly in her ears as she thrashed against the current. Her feet stretched for the feel of the river bed but it was too deep. She managed to break the surface, gasping before she was dragged below again. For a moment, she seriously thought this would be her end. A fallen branch suddenly came into her path. Her head slammed against the wood, her senses instantly dulling. Darkness and cold overwhelmed her as she went limp.

It seemed like only minutes later that she started to stir. She was surprised by how warm she felt. Knowing she had just been doomed to a watery death just moments before, she assumed that she had merely died.

Rousing, Elin vaguely realized she could hear the heartbeat of another person where she laid her head. Through the thin layer of a shirt she could make out the steady thump of organs. Her pillow was a chest, rising and falling softly with breath. She could only open her eyes for a moment, feeling exhaustion start to take her body once more. The glow of a fire crackled with wet wood nearby. She felt the heavy covering of leather over her body where she lay against someone else. Elin grasped the fabric of the shirt under her head, breathing in an earthy scent mixed strangely with smoke and sweat. A hand laid softly on her head, smoothing her curls down her back gently. She soon lost consciousness once more as the peaceful hum of crickets invaded her rest.

When she woke again, she was laying on a bed of leaves and moss under a heavy leather coat. Elin opened her eyes, peering up into the coming night. She noticed a figure by a fire that burned brightly next to her. Kili sat in only his grey shirt sleeves, his knees propped up and his hands resting on them. He gazed into the flames, his dark brow heavy in thought. His hair had fallen loose from its bands and now dark strands and braids lay askew on his shoulders.

His eyes skirted back to her for only a moment. She stirred, trying to sit up. He was quickly at her side, tucking the coat around her shoulders.

"You mustn't rise yet," He explained gently, "You had quite a spill. You've been asleep for hours."

He sat back, looking relieved as he studied her face, "I was very afraid."

Elin suddenly realized she wore only her linen shift. She glanced over and saw her gown drying by the fire. Kili glanced over to where she looked. He shrugged turning back to her.

"You fell into freezing water," He explained, not meeting her alarmed gaze, "You were going cold and you would have died unless you got warm. A wet gown would have made the situation worse."

Elin couldn't help but grin weakly at the blush that started up his scruffy cheeks. He glanced up at her, chuckling bashfully and rubbing the back of his neck self-consciously.

"I know it wasn't exactly dignified." He commented lamely, "I tried not to look if that helps any."

"Did I stir earlier?" She asked, remembering the body heat from earlier.

Again, Kili cleared his throat self-consciously, "When a person gets as cold as you were, only another's body heat can save them. It happened to my cousin Dwalin once when he and my Uncle were hunting. I believe that was a less pleasurable experience for him than mine with you."

Elin arched a brow, fighting a grin.

"Not that I got pleasure from lying with you!" Kili lifted his hands in protest, "I mean, not lying with you. Sorry, that was the wrong phrase. Good Mahal, I should really stop talking."

Kili looked up in surprise as Elin started to laugh genuinely, the color coming back into her pale face. He chuckled bashfully with her, turning his gaze on his hands.

"I am sorry for bringing you up here like this," He murmured, "This is all my fault. I had wanted to show off, I suppose. It was stupid."

"Don't be," She replied, surprised that what she said was true, "I'm not sorry."

He glanced up at her and leant forward, "We won't leave till morning. Sleep now, I'll keep watch."

Elin reached out, his eyes widening in surprise as she took his cheek in her palm. She was pleasantly amazed to see that he too seemed confused by his own emotions. He was always so sure of himself, especially where she was concerned. As she studied his expression she realized this was just the façade of a younger brother brought up by a deadly serious uncle. Underneath the bravado, he was just as unsure and vulnerable in his youth as she was. She mused how many others had been privy to this side of Kili.

"Thank you for saving me," She ran a hand through his tangled hair.

He seemed frozen, his face glowing with astonishment as she leant forward and brushed the tips of their noses, resting her forehead against his. Kili let out his breath, closing his eyes.

"Anything for you." He whispered back in awe.

Later, as she lay watching him alert and unwearied as he kept an eye on the night, she knew he had meant what he said earlier by the river. Kili may have been bold in their first meeting, but it did not mean he was insincere. He had felt every word and still did. The cry of a mountain coyote echoed through the night but Elin was not frightened.

Author's Note: So much fun (: anyway, I have a little page here with just some inspirations for the story, pictures and such. its much like the one I have for "The Last of the House of Durin". Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Its been a fun one to write!