The crying out itself had been physical anguish for Thranduil, but the newfound silence he found just as unbearable! His daughter was dead! Or so they'd told him. Fili still refused to believe a word their captors had said. Thranduil wished he had the dwarf's faith, he really did! But his fear was stronger after what he had witnessed, he wouldn't put it passed Devlin or his cronies to commit murder!
Why? Why did it have to be her? His precious Alasse! His little princess. She, like her brother and their mother before them, had a heart to reach out to the needy, even if they were dwarves. And that was more than Thranduil himself had done. While he'd disregarded Kili as another mangy creature in his misery, Alasse had offered comfort, as if he were a frightened little animal. That was exactly what his late, sweet Calathiel would have done! Why couldn't he be more like her? He had been...once. Until he lost her. Since then, he'd grown cold, withdrawn, and aloof to all but his children. He could be polite to those he considered friends, but he did not trust strangers.
Oh, Alasse! You didn't deserve this, my lovely little girl, he thought painfully. It should've been me! Heck, I wish it had been me! I deserve it. Oh, my little happiness! If only you were in here with me, at least I would know the truth. At least I could keep you close to me, at my side, even if...Legolas, Valar do not bring him here! It is a trap! Preserve my son and show me a way out of here, so I can lay my baby to rest! Tears poured from his eyes at the thought of Alasse murdered! She couldn't be! But...she remained silent. The quietness was piercing.
Kili was shaking terribly from chills and his coughing was worse, and painful to Thranduil's sensitive Elvish ears. He glared at the young man for the inconvenience, but his heart twisted when he saw the dwarf, writhing, struggling for breath, his color gone, his eyes red, and in a constant struggle to find some relief for his wracked body. The poor mortal was in physical agony, and no savior was in sight. Thinking of Alasse helpless and vulnerable at the hands of her captors, Thranduil could not fight himself from feeling pity for the dwarf. I am losing it! He told himself. The sight of Kili in such torment was not pretty to look at. Thranduil shook his head, grateful that he was not cursed with the bloody fate of having a mortal body.
Kili's eyes rolled into the back of his head and his body suddenly jerked uncontrollably. "Kili! KILI!" Fili cried with horror, trying to hold onto his brother. Kili thrashed about crazily, with absolutely no control over his movements. Fili frantically turned him onto his side and leaned closely over him, holding him until the seizure ceased. "Kili? Brother? Can you hear me?!" Fili begged. Kili's form was frighteningly limp.
"Urr..." He grunted weakly.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Fili breathed, embracing his brother protectively. Uncle, please find us and soon! Kili can't last much longer in here!
