An: I didn't intend on publishing this chapter today (I had friday in my mind) but I wrote a lot today so fuck it, I have no reason to wait until friday. You're welcome! (So this means that the next chapter is out on saturday or so, but no promises)
This is a bit longer chapter but I just couldn't leave any stuff out without making it seem too fast-paced (to me, at least) and stuff. So yeah. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! You guys are all awesome. :)
He had always thought that waking up after losing consciousness happened fast, like you just jumped awake and that was it. Kili had never lost consciousness like that - once, when he was younger, he had fallen from a tree and hit his head to the ground a little too hard. Everything had gone black for a few minutes, but he had woken up in a rush and was immediately on his feet again. He had had a headache that he was sure would kill him, but other than that he had been fine. No broken bones or anything, not even a single wound on his body. A little bruising, sure, but nothing major.
This time was different, though. The first time he woke up, he felt drowsy and exhausted so it was hard to even open his eyes. He barely had the time to realize he was in a small room before he blacked out again in a matter of seconds.
When he awoke for the second time, things were better already. Headache was there to welcome him back to the world of the conscious, causing Kili to groan. Thankfully he could open his eyes with little effort, but a bright light shining in from outside of the room was almost blinding, and for a minute he just laid there, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness.
Kili blinked a few times, just staring at the ground. He was lying on his stomach, his other cheek pressed against the rough floor. It was some kind of rock with rugged surface that would scratch your skin if you lost your balance and fell over. It was hard to force his limbs to move, but slowly he gathered his strength and pushed his body so he was sitting up on the ground, his back hitting a wall behind him. He leaned against it, massaging his eyes a little. Mahal, he was somehow really helpless.
Now he could have his first look around and see where he was. He remembered what had happened in the forest and before that, so he didn't have to guess where he was, no, he needed to know what this room was and if he were in deep trouble or not.
A single glance around him was enough for him to know where he was. The bars on the door and the simple bed on the other side of the small room were obvious hints. Kili couldn't help but laugh a little. Really? A cell? They had, well, practically kidnapped him and put him in a cell as if he were the criminal here?
It was almost silent around him. Some footsteps echoed from outside of his small cell and he could hear someone speaking elvish somewhere far, but other than that, nothing. So, as Kili had nothing to do he went to reach for his bag of coins, not surprised when he found his pockets empty. He considered getting up and starting to yell through the bars to let him free, but finally decided not to. Maybe he could reason with the king better if he had shown that he was no animal or a troublemaker, and could be treated with respect. And besides, he was feeling too powerless to get up anytime soon.
A shudder shook his body. Great, he was cold again.
"If the fever is rising again, I'll scream", Kili muttered to himself. He disliked being sick, and how good first impression would he make to the king if he went to talk to him, delusional because of the high fever?
Suddenly he remembered that he had had his jacket with him - he wasn't wearing it so it must be in the cell with him. After another look around him he found that it surely wasn't there. He had nothing to warm himself up with, so he accepted his fate to be cold for the rest of the day. He ran his hands through his hair and let his head lean against the wall.
xx
Kili was sick of nobody answering him. "Hey! Is nobody going to tell me what's going on?" he yelled from the top of his lungs through the bars. "I will not stop yelling until someone tells me something!"
He had asked nicely. He had asked less-nicely, and he had even threatened to cut off their hair and draw a beard on their face in their sleep if he didn't get some answers, but nobody would listen to him. Nobody had told him anything, and he was growing frustrated and angry. Kili had shaken the bars so the noise must have echoed through the whole building, he had yelled and he had done everything he could think of.
Fili worried him the most. He had been alone for some time now, hopefully okay, but still alone. Kili didn't know anything about his brother. He could just guess, wonder and assume, which he did not like. He really hoped that Fili wasn't in the forest as well, looking for him, because who knew how badly that could end for him too. Kili hoped Fili was smart enough to return to the Iron Hills and get help.
"Hey, you! Come here!" Kili yelled as he saw someone climbing up the stairs nearby his cell. The elf turned to look at Kili, and grimaced. He looked like he had nothing against hurting a dwarf, and immediately Kili regretted yelling at him. Quickly Kili backed up and sat on his bed, hoping that somehow magically the elf would leave him alone.
But, of course not.
"Stand up, dwarf", the elf told him in a strict, cold voice as he got to the cell and eyed Kili as if he was a piece of filth. The voice was familiar, and Kili realized he must have been in the forest last night.
Mahal, he hoped it was last night and not a longer time ago.
"Stand up, I said!" the elf repeated almost angrily now, and Kili rolled his eyes. Did he think that yelling would scare him? The only thing Kili was scared of right now was being attacked, but he highly doubted that the man would if he just did as he were told. So, thinking that obeying was wise, Kili slowly got up and stared at the elf.
"What now?" he asked.
The elf didn't answer, only shoved the key inside the keyhole and unlocked the door. He pushed it open and stepped in, and instinctively Kili took a step back. This caused the elf to grin and mutter something in elvish. Kili answered in Khuzdûl -I have no idea what you just said, but I assume it was nothing very smart so I am not even interested in understanding it- just to annoy him.
"Walk, I will give you directions and follow you", the elf told Kili, brushing off Kili's remark in Khuzdûl and stepping aside so Kili could pass him. "But I warn you, one step too fast and you will be chained."
Kili sighed, nodding. "Where will you take me?"
"You will meet our king Thranduil. He will now decide what do to with you, you filthy spy."
The young dwarf didn't even bother to answer him, just shook his head a little and walked out of the cell. He had seen a part of the surroundings through the bars, but now that he was out, he realized how big the place really was. This endless-looking corridor with stairs leading up and down opened before his eyes. There were many cells on the same side of the corridor as his cell, but all of them seemed to be empty of guests. The cells looked like they were carved into the wall, to be honest.
The elf whose name Kili had never heard came out of the cell as well, ordering Kili to walk straight and up the stairs. Kili did as he was told and walked calmly to the stairs, starting to climb up. The stairs were also endless, at least Kili thought so, and the upper he went the more light there was. When he, at last, came to the end of the stairs, they entered a huge hallway with many doors leading to different ways. There was much light in the hall, and the dwarf guessed that his cell was located underground, since that would explain why it was so much darker.
Kili stopped in the middle of the hall, looking around in amazement. The place seemed to continue everywhere, and Kili couldn't help but wonder how big it really was. There were many elves in this room, some were just standing and chatting but most looked like they were in a hurry, dashing through the hallway and vanishing into the darkness of some corridor, probably, or up or down the stairs.
"Now here", the elf said, grabbing Kili's shirt and dragging the dwarf to the other side of the huge hall. Kili noticed some concerned and curious glances cast in his direction, but did his best to ignore it. It seemed like dwarves were rare visitors in this place. He couldn't help but think how big of a fight his uncle would have done if he were in Kili's position - poor elves, Kili thought and chuckled.
The elf dragging him glared at him angrily. "Nobody gave you the permission to speak", he hissed and shoved Kili into one of the corridors. Kili stumbled a few steps but stayed on his feet, straightening his back with a huff.
"I didn't say anything", he answered dryly as he started to walk forward in the wide corridor. It made a turn to the right and Kili found himself from some kind of lobby. There were huge doors -the main entrance, Kili figured from the size of them- leading outside on the other side of the room that had no problem with having too little space. Guards stood by the open doors, weapons in hand and backs to the hall. Kili kept staring outside - it was getting a little dark, but it wasn't night yet. Somewhere deep inside he waited for someone to burst in and rescue him, but he knew that nobody would, not this soon at least.
"Don't even think about it, dwarf", the elf sighed and laid a hand on Kili's shoulder, motioning him to stop. "That is the only way out of here, and I believe you see the guards standing by the doors. You have no chance of leaving without the king's permission, so there is no point in even trying."
It was hard not to give him a sarcastic answer, but Kili managed to only nod. He was close to seeing the king, so he needed to behave.
Kili looked around himself a little, noticing another, almost as big door on the opposite wall of the door outside. It was smaller, but it definitely was fancier. It had symbols and shapes carved into it, and on top of the door was a Sindarin word carved to the rocky wall. Some shiny stones were located around it, making the word seem important even to a dwarf who understood no Sindarin.
"Aíthon!" said the elf suddenly, snapping Kili out of his thoughts. Another one of the guards turned around, while the other one stayed in position.
"Yes, Gwaen?" replied the guard, Aíthon, in a loud voice. Something told Kili that Gwaen held a higher position than Aíthon did, even though their uniforms were similar. He believed it had something to do with Gwaen patrolling outside while Aíthon just stood by the door.
"Come here and watch the dwarf. Don't let him out of your sight and do not let him escape. I will speak with the king and come back for him", Gwaen told the guard and eyed him with his emotionless eyes. "Understood?"
Aíthon nodded, starting to walk towards them. "I will not let him escape nor will I let him out of my sight." As he was closer, Gwaen turned around without further word and entered a room - the king's, Kili realized. He watched the huge door slowly close after the elf, a mighty rumble echoing through the hall as it finally closed.
Feeling a little awkward for some reason, Kili glanced up at the guard now standing close to him and studied him, as he was looking elsewhere. He had somewhat silverish, a little bit curly hair that reached his chest. He was a little bit shorter than Gwaen, but just as slim. Aíthon barely had eyebrows which made his face look a little bit funny to the dwarf.
Suddenly Aíthon turned his head to look at Kili, and their eyes met for half a second. Kili quickly ducked his head, wishing that the elf could just take a few steps back or something. But instead of leaving Kili alone, Aíthon laughed a little, shaking his head. "You know, dwarf, that I won't hurt you unless you give me a reason to do so. I'm not like Gwaen. Actually, few of us are. So you don't need to be scared."
Kili furrowed his brows as he looked up at Aíthon again. "What makes you think I'm scared?"
The elf shrugged, smirking a little. "I am not sure."
"Well, this might surprise you, but I am not scared. My situation is uncomfortable, that's all", Kili sighed, taking a step back himself. Aíthon seemed like a nice elf, but Kili wasn't feeling like chatting with him. He was worried of what might happen if the king wasn't pleased with Kili being there, or he believed Gwaen and really thought that Kili had been spying on then.
"What's your name?" asked Aíthon after a moment of silence. Kili glanced up at the elf again, seeing a genuinely curious look on his face.
"Kili", he simply answered, flashing a little grin to Aíthon before before turning his head to glance at the door. Any moment now the door would open and Gwaen would order him to come inside. What should he do in there? Bow in front of the king? He had no idea. He hadn't met any kings before, and wasn't sure if he wanted to. However, the situation was what it was and Kili knew that he had to.
The guard nodded, eyeing Kili. He hadn't known that dwarves were that small, and it was amusing to him how a creature that small could be in such a deep trouble as Kili was. Not everyone was brought to see king Thranduil, some cases were dealt with the guards only. Gwaen was the head of the guard and quite smart, it was he who usually made decisions on what to do to random visitors on their lands. If Gwaen thought that the king's decision was needed, the situation wasn't a small one.
And honestly? He had heard rumors that this dwarf had done nothing else than wander on the edge of the forest, and if the rumors were true, the situation had been made bigger than it needed to be. If you asked Aíthon, Kili would have been released with a warning to avoid the forest from now on, if he wanted to keep his freedom. But unfortunately he was just an ordinary guard like many others, and guards like Aíthon weren't asked for their opinions.
"Well, Kili, I wish you luck", Aíthon said and reached forward to pat the dwarf playfully on the head, causing Kili to flinch back a little. The guard laughed, raising his hands up. "Sorry."
The young dwarf barely had the time to reply -it's no problem- before the door opened and Gwaen stepped out again. "Dwarf, the king wants to see you."
Was he that fast? No, I don't want to, Kili immediately thought and instinctively looked up to Aíthon, as if he needed his permission or something.
Kili's and Aíthon's eyes met and Aíthon nodded with a gentle smile on his lips, to which Kili answered by grinning a little. Kili turned around, hesitating a little, and started to approach the huge door, by which Gwaen stood looking highly impatient. His heart raced in his chest as he stepped into a huge room. It was spacious and full of light, and Kili imagined how any voice would echo pretty well there. In the middle of the room sat king Thranduil on his throne, as majestic as ever with a longer suit made of colors of white, golden and silver. His long, blonde hair settled behind his back and on his shoulders, running smooth under his crown.
The room had stairs as well as every other place if you asked Kili. There were maybe three low and long stairs before you could reach the king - it didn't take more than ten seconds for them to get on the last one and with that king Thranduil's height.
"King Thranduil, this is the dwarf we found wandering in the forest", Gwaen said in a cold manner, bowing a little. Kili reacted and bowed too, doing it as well as he just could. He hadn't had much practice, but in his opinion, it went well.
The king eyed the dwarf for a minute and then stood up. He walked the few steps needed and then bent over to study Kili closer - it was hard for him not to take a step back away from the king, but he concentrated hard and stayed still.
"What is your name, dwarf?" king Thranduil asked as he straightened his back again. He held his hands behind his back in a noble, proud way.
"My name is Kili, sir", he replied politely, ducking his head a little.
"And what about your family? Who is your father?" came another question, and Kili raised his head again. From the corner of his eye he could see Gwaen looking as cold as he had looked earlier. King Thranduil sat back down, leaning his cheek against his fist, looking rather bored but interested and curious at the same time, if that was even possible.
"My father is dead, sir. He passed when I was a small dwarf. I live with my mother and brother only." No need to mention uncle Thorin.
"I see. Where are your mother and brother now?" he asked then, eyeing the dwarf. "I hope they are not wandering around my kingdom like you."
"Oh, no, not at all", Kili hurried to say, even though he didn't know about Fili. But it was better to lie a little if it just helped them - if Kili wasn't released, knowing that his brother wandered around the woods would only cause the elves to go after him, too. If they were both captured, it would take a longer time before anybody would worry over them. "They are both home, far from here. I was traveling back home from the Iron Hills and had nobody traveling with me."
Silence fell over them for a moment, as king Thranduil asked no further questions. Kili glanced at the king, hoping that he was thinking about where to release him or anything else as good. Kili was sure that Fili worried over his sudden disappearance already, and the sooner he got out of there the sooner he'd get to tell Fili he was okay. Cold and a little bit sick maybe, but okay.
Then, just like that, an elf with bloody clothes stormed to the room, breathing heavily. In a second Thranduil was on his feet, staring at the elf with concern on his face. Gwaen turned around, looking shocked as he saw the elf. Blood had stained his clothes, but most of the mess was located around his stomach. There was a scratch on his forehead that seemed to bleed a lot, and it looked quite brutal to be honest, the red liquid dripping down all the way to his cheeks and chin.
"I apologize for disturbing. Your majesty, we were attacked in the forest", the elf explained, eyeing Thranduil with worry in his eyes. "We lost nobody, but Emlin and Malgelír were hurt and they are now getting aid for their injuries."
"Who or what attacked you?" Thranduil asked immediately, taking a step towards the elf. "And what happened to it?"
"It was a blonde dwarf, sir", the elf told and Thranduil turned to look at Kili. Something changed in the king's eyes, and Kili knew that it wasn't a change for the better. The elf continued to tell how he had had swords and how he had been a skilled fighter, and managed to escape with little injuries, but Kili didn't pay close attention. He knew he was in deep trouble.
"You did well, Minir. You should accompany Emlin and Malgeríl and aid your wounds. I will send another patrol to look for the dwarf", the king calmly explained, and Kili was certain that this was the calm before the storm. The elf nodded with a relieved smile and left, leaving Kili alone with Thranduil and Gwaen again.
"I almost trusted you, dwarf", Thranduil hissed and glared at Kili. "Who is the blonde dwarf?"
This was the first time that Kili had absolutely no idea what to do. Every option had its downsides, major ones. Deciding that lying was the least horrible thing to do, Kili spoke. "I do not know, your maje-"
"Do not lie to me again!" the king snapped, slapping Kili across the face, sending him crashing to the ground. "I have had enough of you and your lies! Gwaen, take him to his cell. He will stay as our guest for a little longer, until I can think of a punishment. After that send four of your men out - tell them to hunt the dwarf down and bring him here. Tell them not to kill him yet, I want to make sure he will not get away with this so easily."
The smirk that spread on Gwaen's lips was scary. Kili raised his head to look at Thranduil before he was roughly yanked to his feet. He could feel blood dripping down his nose and quickly wiped it away as he was forcefully dragged out of the king's room.