"What is going on?"
Kili looked up with wide eyes. He was terrified his uncle would be furious. It would actually be the first time Thorin would hit him in front of others. While it had happened frequently when they both were be home, nobody would actually be there, everyone who knew – or thought – it happened, assumed how it was. They did not know what exactly Thorin did to make Kili knock on their doors at midnight, being distraught about something that happened. However, Thorin did not even so much as cast a quick glance at him, he looked at Fili and waited for an explanation of him.
Fili was a little less afraid, if he was afraid at all. He merely looked at Thorin in an attempt to make him leave them at peace. His uncle lost his patience and asked "Well?"
Fili decided this would be the right timing to explain. "After years of believing you in your actions, I have decided to change my directions and head to repairing the relationship with my brother."
Finally, Thorin looked at Kili. "And you agree with him?" Kili nodded, still wide-eyed.
"Very well. Although, I must say," Thorin's voice became quite threatening at this point, sending shivers down the brothers' spines. "I do not accept your behavior, Fili son of Dis."
Fili stood up. "Very well, Thorin Oakenshield, but I must say I do not care about your opinion anymore." Fili took Kili's hand in his and walked away, Kili submissively followed.
-:-
Fili and Kili went to Kili's room and sat down on his bed. Fili pulled up his knees and sighed. "Did you really think I hated you?"
Kili shrugged and his eyes went downcast. "I never believed it, but I could not help but think you did."
"Was that why you left?"
Kili was quiet for a moment and then replied "Not only that. Just everything that had happened. Thorin who frequently lost his temper, Balin and Dwalin who seemed lost at what to do and me, afraid that whatever would happen, I would lose you." When he said the last thing, he looked up and his eyes met Fili's. "It did not matter what you did, I cared for you."
Fili looked at the bed sheet, trying to avoid his brother's gaze when he told him. "I'm sorry."
Kili frowned. "For what?"
"For listening to your conversation with Lord Elrond, it was inappropriate. Why have you not told Ori? I thought you two were close."
"I haven't told anyone. Elrond just happened to be there when I needed help."
"Care to tell now?"
"No."
Kili's sight went from clear to blurry, for his eyes were filled with tears at the memory of the past. The very memory of losing everything he held dear, but not dying. The pain had been terrible but whatever happened, he did not die. Once the company would find out, they would treat him differently. They would protect him and give him a lot of attention and he did not want that to happen.
Fili saw his brother crying and slung an arm around him. "I am here brother, I will always be here." In truth he didn't know that. He didn't know what dangers laid ahead of them and, quite frankly, he thought Kili didn't either, but that was where he was wrong.
Knock, knock "Kili? May we come in?"
Kili hesitated but then said "yes."
Lord Elrond and Gandalf both entered the room and looked at Fili and Kili, sitting on the bed. "Oh, I am sorry. We did not know you were busy." Lord Elrond said.
"No, it's okay. What is wrong Lord Elrond, Gandalf?"
"We have to talk to you, alone." Elrond looked at Fili, who got the message and left the room after hugging Kili one more time. "I want to ask you to join the White Council today." Kili's eyes widened, as did Gandalf's. "Join the White Council? Lord Elrond, may I ask why it is of importance that he will be there?"
"Because, Mithrandir, Kili has information about the darkness that is important for the future of Middle Earth."
Gandalf frowned and started to speak in Sindarin. "I don't know, Lord Elrond. Kili is but a child."
"Ehm, Mithrandir?"
Kili frowned. "I can speak Sindarin, 'Mithrandir'."
Gandalf opened his mouth and closed it again, not knowing what to say. "I have learned it a couple of years ago. Now, Lord Elrond, I do not think I have much information that is unknown to you. I would rather be with my brother today, we have a lot of catching up to do."
"I understand you want to be with your brother. If it is okay with you to take a minute and tell me whatever it is you think is important."
Kili nodded slowly. "I think that would be reasonable."
Gandalf, finally finding the ability to speak again, was still stunned by Elrond's interest in Kili. Surely he must have experienced something at his age, but it would probably not be anything the elves did not know yet.
Lord Elrond and Gandalf left the room and Fili entered again, with a question he needed to have an answer to. "Do you forgive me?"
Kili's answer could not be clearer. "No."
I am so sorry for the delay, I wanted to update it already on Friday, but I still was not satisfied with the chapter.
This chapter is a filler chapter, next time the company will leave Rivendell and...well, you'll see.
Please review, they make my day :)