Kili stood at the archery range, shooting arrow after arrow at the butt. He put his bow down to collect the arrows and chucked them into a quiver. He walked back over to the training ground and nodded in recognition towards an elf that stood watching him, picked up his bow, and began to shoot again.
Thranduil felt bad. This was most unwelcome, this uneasy feeling of guilt in the pit of his stomach. Uneasy and alien. Thranduil didn't know why he felt so horrible. He had taken prisoners, slain opposers, hunted animals without the blink of an eye. He had never felt guilt. Go and talk to him. No. Odds are he hates me. I'll leave him to himself. Well do something, the child's not going to wake up. Just find someone to keep an eye on him. After much light, heartfelt debating with himself, he decided to do just that. On his way down the corridor, he came across a trusted friend and loyal subject, who agreed to 'guard the child with his life.' 'Good enough.' Thranduil had muttered to himself. 'Just keep him away from sweets.' And with that he began to make his way to an old patch of forest not far from the training grounds.
Kili shot arrow after arrow, not caring about where he hit on the target, more interesting in taking out his anger. He walked over to the archery butt and extracted the arrows from the hay, before walking back down to the line. "Is there any reason why you're so intent on watching me?" He asked the onlooker as he put his arrows in the quiver.
"I'm making notes," The elf grinned, leaning forward on the wall, "Seeing the differences in style from Elves to Dwarves. You seem to be quite good, Master...?"
"Kili." He said, nocking an arrow and shooting it in quick succession.
Playing with the dying embers of a small fire that he had just lit in the clearing, Thranduil sat lazily on a log. He stopped in his work as his Elf ears picked up on some dialogue to the far left of him. It was between two people, an Elf and - Kili? He strained to hear more and picked up on the Elf's words. 'You seem to be quite good, master...?" "Oh, I see, fraternizing with other Elves now, are we? 'You seem to be quite good.'" He muttered in a mocking tone. He hadn't realized yet that the feeling taking over his mind was jealousy.
Kili raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as the onlooker 'took notes', deciding that archery was more important.
"Kili.. I'll have to remember that." The elf smiled. "So then Kili, what are you doing in mirkwood of all places?" He asked, taking in the view of the smaller being. He could pass as an elfling, if it were not for the ears, and the way he held himself seemed regal in some way.
"That's a long story." He sighed, putting his bow down. Tell him to sod off, you're too busy trying to sulk. I agree. This Elf isn't helping right now.
"We have time."
Thranduil's mood grew progressively worse as he continued to listen in on the conversation. "Oh, we have time, do we? I have time to drive a knife into your skull. And I suppose Kili's just going to cry on your shoulder now." He muttered darkly, poking the fire more furiously. He used his powers to relight it and began again. "I have a perfectly good shoulder!" He yelled a little too loud, shutting his mouth with surprise straight after. "I see, it's not even 'master Kili' anymore. Why don't you just sweep him off his feet now?" He continued, after deciding that no-one had heard him.
Kili looked around after hearing a cry, which sounded suspiciously like Thranduil. "Did you hear that?" He asked, looking towards the trees.
"Hear what? And anyway, you were going to tell me about why you're here." The elf smiled, leaning on one hand.
"Nothing." Great, now your imagining things. Not just things though, Thranduil. Not now, Idiot. "I was invited by your King, who I met whilst traveling through the forest on my way back to Erebor." He said shortly. "I accepted, and here I am."
"Yeah, you tell him Ki'. Don't give into his charming ways." Thranduil continued, now with a proud smile. Stop. You're being irrational. The Elf probably just wants to make conversation. How do I know that? He may have a thing for Dwarves. He's not the first Elf to do that now, is he?
"That's the short version I'm guessing." The elf smirked. "I'd love to hear the long one some time." He said, walking around the wall and towards Kili, who was picking up the arrows that had fallen short of the target.
"Perhaps some time. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name." He said, turning to look at the elf, who had advanced towards him. Something doesn't seem right here...
"How terribly rude of me! Daeron, at your service." He exclaimed, bowing flamboyantly to the Dwarf. "Traveling minstrel. I live up to my name." He chuckled.
"DAERON?!" Thranduil wasted no effort in holding back his voice or his rage this time. "I don't have to sit here and listen to this." He said finally, moving from his log and making his way toward the training court. Keep your top on, just stay calm and make him realize that Kili is...with...you. Yeah, no promises. He scoffed internally as he reached the two, penetrating gaze in full swing.
"A pleasure." Kili smiled politely, trying to back away without the elf realising. "No There it is again. That's definitely someone shouting... Ah." Well that explains a lot. "Hello Thranduil, calmed down enough now?" He said bitterly, folding his arms as the king neared them.
"My king," Daeron smiled, bowing towards Thranduil. "And to what do I owe this pleasure?"
Thranduil tried his hardest to control himself, icy eyes growing fiercer with his mood. He decided to address Kili first. "Considerably." He nodded politely, before turning to Daeron. What are you doing, instilling fear with your eyes? Apparently so. Well it's creepy. Then it's effective. "And Daeron." The king began calmly, almost smiling. "You owe the pleasure to your flirting with my companion." He clasped his graceful hands behind his back.
"Flirting? Me?" Daeron asked, placing an offended hand to his chest.
"Thranduil, calm." Kili said sternly, stepping back away from the pair. Oh god.. I know...
"Is there a law against flirting?" Daeron smiled.
"I am perfectly calm."Thranduil said to Kili with a smile. "Not as such, but I will not hesitate to show you the consequences of flirting with your King's lover." He managed politely, through gritted teeth.
"Lover?!" Daeron exclaimed, jumping away from Kili and The king. "I didn't know! I'm so sorry, I thought he was fair game!"
"FAIR GAME?!" Kili screeched. If Thranduil doesn't kill him, I will. Go Kili, Go Kili!
"Marvelous. Be on your way, if you will." Thranduil demanded before noticing the pout. "LEAVE." He yelled, snapping his fingers in front of Daeron's face and growing angrier when the Elf lingered. "If you don't leave, you will suffer the consequences."
Crush him, That's my Thrandy! Go Thrandy! Kill him!
"I'm going! Calm yourself!" Daeron exclaimed, taking one last look at Kili and sauntering off in the opposite direction.
"Can I kill him now or later?" Kili asked sourly, watching the minstrel go. "I don't think that'll be the last we see of him."
"If it's not the last we see of him, I'll kill him." Thranduil smiled cheerfully, face falling as he remembered that he and Kili had had a falling out. "I - uh...I apologise for earlier. I was out of order. I would do anything for you." He straightened himself out and looked to the ground ashamedly.
"You'll have to beat me to him. Fair game. Humph." Kili frowned, looking up at Thrandy. "It's okay, Just don't take it out on me next time, yeah?" He smiled. Grabbing hold of Thranduil's hand, he reached up and pulled the King's chin gently up to look at him. "I forgive you, alright?"
"Okay." Thranduil said gently. He leant against the wall sighed. "You should definitely take Thorin up on his offer, though. You could make some positive changes to the Kingdom. And I would visit you."
Kili, he has a point. You could change everything for the better.He wouldn't be with Thranduil then. You make a valid argument. "I... I don't know. Besides, I doubt I'll get it passed down to me though. He thinks I'm, and I quote, 'Buggering' you." He said meekly, letting his arms drop down to his sides in defeat.
"It's okay." Thranduil soothed. Slumping to the floor and bringing Kili into his arms, so he could rest his head on his warm stomach. "I know whichever decision you make will be the best one. And I will stay by your side in it. And you don't have to put your clothes in the hamper." He chuckled softly.
Kili wrapped his arms around Thranduil's neck and snaked his hands down his back. "I don't know, I could make some pretty big mess ups as a king." He smiled. "And Thank you. I think I will put them in the hamper though, you ranting at me for a good five minutes really left an impression." He laughed, pulling him up off of the floor. "Now come on. We have things to do."
Thranduil quirked his brow. "I have nothing to do. I don't even have Falaroy anymore." He sighed mournfully as Kili helped him up.
Kili rolled his eyes as he lent against the wall. "When does this council next convene? I have a few things I'd like to say to them.."
"I don't know." Thranduil hugged his arms and hung his head, eyes clouding with sadness. "I don't want them to take him, Kili. Not only do I already love him, but without him I have nothing to distract me from worrying about Legolas."
"I won't let them. You need him in your life, and they can't take that away from you. Besides, are you not king?" He said, wrapping an arm around Thranduil in comfort.
"I am. I'm sure I can do something. I just - don't know." Thranduil sighed again as he caressed Kili's hand. "Besides, would it make much difference if we were 'buggering' each other?" He laughed, recalling the remark.
"I think that you can, you have power over them." He smiled. "And funnily enough, I wouldn't particularly mind buggering you or uh you me I guess." He stuttered, moving closer to Thranduil.
Thranduil smiled at this and grew heated. You didn't even think this far ahead, did you? You didn't consider this. "Well, we'll see where it leads." He stuttered in return with a wide grin.
Kili chuckled. "On both parts I guess." 'We'll see where it leads.' That was one of the most beautiful sentences I've ever heard. Shh, I'm busy. Doing what exactly? Working my way through this information.
"Yes. Although if I do get full custody of Falaroy, I'll have to find a gentle way to break it to him that he can't come camping." He laughed, stroking Kili's hair. "We don't really want him around if..." Thranduil trailed off as he searched for the right words.
Feeling his ears turn red, Kili smirked at the suggestion. "We'll take him out another time, travel to Erid Luin or something." He smiled, leaning into Thranduil's touch. "Or we could just put it off until we have a bed..." Classy. Boring. Where's your sense of adventure? If I wasn't just a tangible thought, I would be flipping you off right now.
"Wait, you...you'd want to..." Thranduil jerked his head gently as a gesture as Kili looked up at him and he grew red in the face. "To...uh..."
"Is that not what buggering means?" He smirked, watching the King turn some interesting shades of pink. "Really Thrandy, I thought you had a good vocabulary."
"I know, I just...I'd never thought..." Thranduil grew more flustered as time went by, rubbing his face with a sweaty hand. "You don't get to call me that!"
"Never thought?" he prompted, smirking at how flustered he was making Thranduil in such a small space of time. He filed away the knowledge for later and looked up with a smirk. "What do I get to call you then?"
Moving away from Kili, Thranduil turned and tried to make his blush calm down, letting the cool air hit his face. "I hadn't really envisioned us...I mean - I had - but...and whatever suits you...I hadn't really thought of that either."
Kili walked a bit faster, before running and climbing up a tree to hang upside-down in front of Thranduil so he was at head height. "I don't mind," He smiled. "Whatever happens works for me, as long as it's alright with you. Plus, I think I have a good claim on calling you Thrandy."
Thranduil gazed at Kili coolly, heart soaring at the closeness between the two. He cracked a dreamy smile as he lowered his eyes to Kili's hypnotic brown ones. "You're going to get head rush if you stay there much longer, Prince Bat." He chuckled, stroking the Dwarf's stubble gently.
"It will be worth it." He smiled, looking into Thranduil's blue eyes, realising just how frosty they could get if he was angered but how gentle they were when he was happy. So this is love, hmmm hm hm hmmm, so this is lovveee... Oh good, now you sing. I am surrounded by idiots. "Anyway. I seem to have a problem."
The King smiled bashfully at this, growing a little heated again. He placed a gentle kiss on the Dwarf's soft lips and pulled away a little. "Did that solve it?" He asked silkily, punctuating every word with a flick of his tongue as his mouth remained slightly parted.
"As wonderful as that always is, and I am not complaining, I have now got two, going on three problems." He sighed, watching the Elf's mouth as he spoke. Interesting angle, too bad you don't see it more often.
"Oh, that caused more problems?" Thranduil smirked slightly, quirking an elegant brow. "I dread to think what's going on in your head. Talk to me."
This wasn't your best idea, was it Kili? "Well, the first one was when I realised I couldn't get down." he said, shrugging his shoulders. "Then, I realised that I was rather high up and I am afraid of heights. And last but not least," He said nonchalantly, "I'm falling."
"Well, I can kill three birds with one stone." Thranduil chuckled, seizing Kili's waist and turning him so he sat on his shoulders. With that he eased himself to the floor so Kili could safely get off. "There." He smiled broadly, scrunching up his nose and eyes happily and crossing his legs.
"Thanks, Thrandy." he smiled, climbing down from his shoulders and placing a kiss on the top of his head in thanks. He walked around Thranduil to see a grin on the elf's face. "You seem pleased with yourself." He smiled, dropping himself into the Elf's lap.
"I did well?" He asked hopefully, burying his face in Kili's hair. "And I'm sure you can come up with something more creative to call me than that."
"You did," Kili smiled. "And I'm sure I could, I just haven't thought about it yet. Although, I rather like Thrandy. It's cute." He smirked. "If you don't like it though sweetie, I think that I could think about it."
"I don't. It's patronising. I don't mind it so much when Falaroy does it." Thranduil groaned, voice muffled slightly by Kili's loose ringlets. He brought his arms around the Dwarf tightly.
"Whatever you say, love." Kili laughed, kissing the elf's collarbone. "I will get back to you when I have something sutible." I do believe this is your area dear. Why thank you honey, I do believe it is. I think that you're a bad influence on me, sugar.
Thranduil smiled with content, taking in Kili's scent with appreciation. He smelled of churned earth, the smell you get in the woods when it rains. It was comforting. "Thank you. Side note, do I smell of anything?" He asked curiously.
Thranduil, asking the important questions since the Years of the Trees. Kili thought, rolling his eyes. "Yes. Do you want me to go into it?" He asked, playing with a strand of hair. Think I need to braid this again...
"Oh, is it bad?" He asked, wincing slightly and then watching Kili play with his flaxen white hair. "You may need to rebraid it soon." He smiled as if reading Kili's mind.
"No, it's just hard to explain. It's like the trees and the berries. Sweet, but not sickly. I like it." He smiled, getting up from his lap. "We should head back."
"Well that's good then. And yes, I'm getting cold." Thranduil rubbed his arm a little as he eased himself up and began to walk. Ask him. "I have a friend taking care of Falaroy for the night. Would you like to..." He began, trailing off as the other side of him told him it was a bad idea.
Yes! Wooohooo! Go for it! Are you sure? I mean, 5 days. Trust me. I don't. "Yes." Kili! What? No! Don't listen to that idiot! I was here first! I'm better. You're an arse. You listen to him more than you do me? I may as well give up now.
Thranduil bit his lip anxiously, waiting a good minute or so. Oh, just ask him! "Would you want to share a bed for the night?" He asked finally, continuing to bite his lip with an element of nervousness and averting Kili's gaze.
"Yes." He smiled, taking hold of the Elf's hand. "If you would have me." Do not take this where I think you are, otherwise I will evict you. I mean it this time.
Smiling boldly, Thranduil squeezed Kili's hand affectionately. "Good. Though I should warn you that I do not sleep with clothes on. It pains me. So if that's going to be a problem..." He trailed off slyly, smiling at the young Dwarf.
"None at all." He smiled, walking back towards the square. "I sleep however I want, so I shouldn't be that much of a problem."
"No problem at all. I can see you being a snorer." Thranduil chuckled, accompanying Kili in his walk. "It must be because you're a Dwarf.
"I do not snore!" Kili sulked, crossing his arms and pouting. "Fili snores, and so does Thorin although he won't admit it. I missed out on that wonderful gene."
"Ah, a peaceful sleeper...we'll test that tonight." He winked discreetly. "I'm glad we're doing this." He chuckled, adopting that 'pleased with himself smile' again
"I'm telling you now, I have never snored in my life." He said stubbornly. "I am too. Well done. Is that what my face looks like when I'm pleased? All manic and smirk-y?"
Thranduil furrowed his brow. "I don't know." He said after a while. "I'm just happy that I have you, I suppose." He shrugged as they drew close to his chambers.
"And I you," he murmured. Kili opened the door to his room and walked over to the pile of clothes which adorned the floor. He picked them up and threw them in the hamper at the other end of the room and turned back to Thranduil. "Better?"
"Immensely." Thranduil smiled, peeling off his own shirt. "Let's do this then." He chuckled, kicking off his boots and wriggling out of his trousers. He slipped under the covers in full nudity, careful to spare Kili of all of the details.
Kili rolled his eyes and took his hoes off, chucking the pieces off fabric into the hamper. He removed everything bar his shirt and moved to the bed. He slipped under the covers and threw his shirt off, making an accurate shot into the Hamper. Kili lay down next to Thranduil and turned to face him.
"Could have done it that way." Thranduil chuckled softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He gazed into Kili's eyes adoringly and subconsciously wrapped an arn around him.
"It would have been easier." Kili agreed, relaxing into his hold. Then you wouldn't have had the sight of Thranduil's- Too much information, thank you. You don't know what I would have said! Funnily enough I do mister 'I have my head so far in the gutters, it's currently swimming in the sewers.'
"Definitely." He said in agreement, holding a little tighter. A sudden feeling of excitement washed over him and he was lost for words. "It's...warm." Was all he managed, mentally flagellating himself.
Kili quirked an eyebrow as he was pulled closer. "What is?" He asked, snaking an arm around Thranduil's waist, ignoring the arguing streams of thought. And if you weren't so stuck up your own arse, then maybe things would have been easier! Well excuuussssee me princess, but exactly how long did it take you to kiss him?
Thranduil smiled and closed his eyes. "It's warm under here." Well done, Sir Obvious. Well, I am a Greenleaf. Look at Legolas, for Eru's sake. He reveled in the feeling of Kili's arm around his waist and sighed with content.
"You're getting like Legolas again," he chuckled, "It's not the best thing you can do ever, is it?" Kili took in the view of the King, looking like he was without any worries. I kissed him in the right amount of time, you meddling so and so. If that was the right amount of time, Thorin's an orc.
"It's a blissful way to live." Thranduil remarked, continuing to smile. "And he's a lot brighter than he looks, you know."
"I know that," the 'he's beaten me enough times for me to notice' went unsaid. "I don't doubt that it is either." He smiled, closing his eyes. The voices had finally shut up, leaving his head clear.
Thranduil's eyes darted open and his face fell. "They should be there, by now. At Erebor." He said solemnly, unable to conceal his worry. "I've not heard from them."
"They'll be fine. Bilbo will send a raven by morning, all will be alright." He said comfortingly. "They will be safe."
Falling into a trance for a moment, Thranduil stared ahead."Surprisingly, that doesn't stop me worrying." He sighed. "I wouldn't put it past your uncle to do something rash."
"My uncle should learn how to control his temper." Kili groaned, burying his head into the pillow. "You're supposed to worry about him, he's your son."
"I don't dispute that for a second." He stated coldly. "He needs to rethink his whole attitude, he's a total arse." Thranduil stroked Kili's hair affectionately. "I thank the gods you're nothing like him."
"You think I haven't noticed?" he said sourly, voice slightly muffled by the pillow. "And I can be, I just know not to lash out at someone who doesn't deserve it." He said, thinking back to earlier when he went to the training grounds instead of following after Thranduil down the corridor after their argument.
"Like...me." Thranduil sighed ashamedly. Yeah. Feel terrible. I do already. Leave me alone. "Perhaps I could see eye to eye with him after all." He chuckled ironically.
"No, it was partly my fault. And besides, everyone needs someone to rant to now and again, otherwise you get like Thorin was after Erebor. Thank god Bilbo came along..." He said. Mahal knows what would of happened if he didn't...
Thranduil furrowed his brow and looked at Kili with perplextion. "In what way was that even remotely your fault?" He demanded, attempting to braid Kili's hair again.
"I took my eye off him and he proceeded to levitate." He groaned into the pillow, keeping still for Thranduil to try and braid his hair.
"No. That was no fault of yours. I stormed into your room, destroyed some vital information and then lashed out at you because of the council." Thranduil started as basic as he could, seperating a clump of silken brown hair into three. Or was it four? Don't ask me, I'm already lost. I knew where I stood when it was together. He crossed one bit over another, deciding to wing it. He did the same again, and again. "Ah! AH! look!" He squealed, much too feminine for his own good.
"Whatever you say dear." he muttered. Hearing Thranduil's exclamation, Kili chuckled to himself raising his head off of the pillow to look at Thranduil. "You alright there?" he laughed, seeing the triumphant look on his face.
"I did a thing!" He said excitedly, searching for a way for Kili to see it. "And it was easier than I thought." His smile broadened as he looked at it again. "Don't move too much, it'll fall out."
"Here." Kili said, undoing a clasp from his hair and handing it to Thranduil. "Attach that to the end and it won't fall out then." He smiled, keeping his head as still as possible.
"But I want you to see it!" Thranduil pouted, completing the braid with an infinite grin and then using the clasp to keep it in place. He lay on his side, using one elbow to support himself and both hands to work on another braid proudly.
Kili brought the clasp around to the front of his head, taking in the view of the loose plait that had been braided into his hair. "I love it, Thank you." He smiled, carefully pushing it behind his ear. "I still need to do yours."
In truth, Thranduil's plait was very crudely done, but he was proud of it. He beamed his prize-winning smile at Kili with pride. "Good. And I know. I couldn't replicate that." He chuckled, shifting slightly and causing the blanket to pool around his hips. Oops. he lifted them up again and laughed softly.
Kili rolled his eyes and tapped Thranduil's forehead with his own gently before kissing him chastely. He pulled away and pushed Thranduil up into a sitting position. Grabbing a few of the clasps he had removed from his hair a few nights ago, he started to braid The king's hair again.
Thranduil crossed his legs and sat patiently as Kili worked away at his mounds of hair. "You should stop rolling your eyes. They'll get stuck in your head." He chuckled, remembering something his mother told him when he was sassing her as a child.
"I'd like to see that happen." He chuckled, adding clasps to keep bits from his face and added them to the plait that would gather all of it together. Rather Elvish if I do say so myself. It rather works well with the dwarfen clasps. Those clasps have Kili's crest on too. Jelousy must run deep. Shh. I'm enjoying this.
"You won't be able to. Your eyes will be stuck in your head." Thranduil laughed at his joke and closed his eyes. Feeling that there was nothing left to be said, he folded his arms and remained silent.
Kili chuckled and added the last clasp at the bottom of Thranduil's hair where the plait ended. "There you go." He smiled, moving to lie down beside the elf. "That should stay in now. Try not to get flour in it this time."
"Oh, you're hilarious." Thranduil said flatly, recalling his little temper tantrum a couple of days ago. He leant against the headboard and smiled. "Thank you."
"No problem." He chuckled, resting his head on Thranduil's lap, on top of the blankets. "I'm rather proud of it. Took me a couple of months to learn that one. Seems it payed off."
"What does it mean again?" Thranduil asked with a smile, placing both hands gently on Kili's face, stroking his lip with his thumb softly.
"Beloved." He smiled, looking up at Thranduil, relaxing into his grip. "Beloved or Loved. Take your pick."
"I'll take both. It's nice to be loved." He chuckled softly, smiling slightly at the way Kili trusted him.
"Well it should. It is true." He smirked, closing his eyes. "And taking both... That's a good plan." He remarked,
Thranduil nodded gently and continued to caress Kili's face, running his hand over his stubble again. "Take what you can out of life." He said softly. "Hold on to what you love, you won't have it for long." He wasn't sure why he had decided to impart these words of wisdom, but it had happened.
"Oh, I intend to." Kili smirked and opened his eyes.
-oOo-
Author's note:
Hey people!
We'd like to say thank you to all the people who have reviewed over the chapters, It really means a lot. If you're in Cardiff, UK for the Comic and Film convention this coming weekend, I'm there both days (Don't know if Tam is yet though..) cosplaying the Wayward Vagabond from Homestuck, I'd love to meet you if you're there!
Russian Moose: Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner and thank you for sticking with us! I must admit that made me laugh when tam wrote it, I love how he seems to have a thing against Elrond too.
Annataur9: Thank you for reading! Though I usually update once a week (if I remember... I'm such a bad human being) and I might actually set a day as we get back into the school term.. I'm thinking a wednesday after about 4 gmt, but please don't hold me to that yet!
TolkienGeek: I'm steadily learning Khuzdul as I work through these chapters as I think Tam is learning Elvish as we can both write sentences with slight help from dictionaries, baffling each other.
I use the dictionary found here: doc/98387422/Khuzdul-Dictionary-E-K-v01-JUN12
My insults from here: .
The rules of the language are found here: .
Other than that I've been generally teaching myself with the wonderful help of google. If you need any more resources, message me on here, tumblr ( .com) or twitter ( whosherlockian) And I can get back to you generally within hours depending how close to a computer I am.
As always,
Thank you for reading.
Tanith and Tam