An: Sorry for my sudden disappearance! Writer's block and life just overwhelmed me for a while there - I can't believe how much has happened in a couple of weeks and well, at least this pause didn't last for a month like with some older fic of mine. Anyways, I'm here now. Thank you for the nice reviews c: you are all so awesome.

This chapter is a bit shorter. Hope you don't mind!

The day passed slowly and soon the sun started to set, coloring the sky with countless shades of red, purple and blue. Aíthon was where he was supposed to be, standing by the doors, guarding the entrance of the palace. A fellow guard stood next to him, but no words were exchanged and Aíthon liked it that way. Silence had never been a problem for him, quite the opposite, actually. There was something in silence that he liked. It gave room for thoughts. The silence was peaceful, unlike Aíthon's thoughts.

He had seen the guards return earlier that day, the guards who had been patrolling in the woods, but they had been one man short. Nobody had told him anything, but the guards had all seemed troubled and angry, even a bit guilty, and it had gotten Aíthon even more worried.

The silence, as well as Aíthon's thoughts, were broken by the door opening behind his back. As he turned around, Aíthon saw Legolas pushing the door open, a somewhat relieved look on his face.

"Aíthon, I need to speak with you", the prince said, motioning Aíthon to come in. The two guards exchanged a look, and the other one nodded, wordlessly telling Aíthon that he could manage alone for a moment. Flashing a quick grin to the other guard, Aíthon walked in and watched the door close behind him. He was curious now.

Legolas glanced around them before focusing on Aíthon again. "We need privacy for this discussion. Follow me."

Aíthon followed the prince through the hall and into one of the corridors, as Legolas headed to the cells. They were all empty now, so there were also no guards there - and that meant no prying ears, just what they needed. Legolas knew that Aíthon would be the only one knowing the truth, and even though he didn't think that hiding the truth from all the others was really necessary, he would obey his father. And besides, a few elves would turn against Úron, Legolas and king Thranduil if they knew the truth - a few wasn't a lot, but the lie would hurt nobody.

When they finally reached the cells, Legolas stopped and turned around to face Aíthon, who now opened his mouth for the first time. "I hope this is about Kili", he muttered, meeting Legolas' ice blue eyes. "I noticed he didn't come back with you and I would like to know what has happened."

"You must tell nobody what I will now tell you", Legolas started. "Yes, this is about him and why he isn't here. The whole story would be long and complicated, so I will only tell you what you need to know."

"Okay", Aíthon replied, feeling a pinch of fear hitting his stomach. It couldn't be anything good. "I promise not to speak of this to anyone."

"Good", came an answer from the prince, along with a nod. "The day before our travel to Mirkwood my father told me his plans for the dwarf. To put it short, he was planning on executing him. You must have heard the rumors that went around the palace, about Kili wanting to destroy us. Those rumors and the fact that he is Durin's folk made my father doubt him, and want to get rid of him for everyone's safety."

"Really? A Durin?" Aíthon interrupted with a surprised question. He had never thought that he could be royal blood - he just hadn't seemed like it. Not in the slightest.

"Yes", Legolas told with a nod. "I took him with us to Mirkwood in order to... I am not even sure why. I just wanted to give him some more time, to be honest with him, I don't know. I was against my father's plan. During our time there I told him all of this, and later on I promised to help the dwarf escape. Why? Because it felt right. A few days later we were attacked by goblins, and I told Kili to run, which he did. He hid into one of the many caves of Rocky Pond - Úron found him, but he told Kili to run, as well. Where he is now, I don't know, but hopefully he is far away and alive", Legolas explained, shifting on his feet as he studied Aíthon for some kind of reaction.

They were both silent for a few heartbeats. Aíthon couldn't believe it. His feelings were mixed and confusing, but the strongest one was relief. Kili was alive, safe and on his way to home. That was everything Aíthon had wanted for the dwarf.

"What does king Thranduil think of what happened? And why can't I tell anyone of this?" Aíthon finally asked, even though he could guess the reason for latter question. Some of the elves would see helping a prisoner as a betrayal, so it would be easier not to tell about all of that and not have to deal with any furious elves seeking 'justice'.

And that was exactly what Legolas told him as well. "My father plans on telling everyone that he was killed by the goblins, but he wanted you to know the truth. He knows that the two of you grew to be close - he wanted to spare you from any possible sadness. What he thinks of this.. he regrets holding Kili here as a prisoner and planning his execution. He doesn't mind us helping him."

A smile spread on Aíthon's lips as he nodded. He almost felt bad for disliking the king so much a while back.

"Thank you for telling me the truth", Aíthon said, bowing a little. "I should return to the entrance. I doubt I will be needed, but it is my duty to be there."

"You should", Legolas answered with a nod, and then watched the guard turn around and walk away. He was happy how everything had turned out - he just hoped that things wouldn't go south now when they were finally okay.

xx

A drip of cold water ran down his arm, the tingling feeling sending shivers up and down his spine. Lori was holding a wet rag against his hurt shoulder in order to ease the swelling and pain. It wasn't a lot, but it was something, and Kili was feeling rather grateful.

Michel had left to the town a couple of hours ago, but he hadn't yet returned although both of them believed that he would return fairly soon. Kili was in no hurry so he didn't mind - he knew that the journey home would take months, so a few hours more wasn't a big deal. Some part of him even liked having to wait for Michel, because when he returned, Kili would have to leave and he would be all alone for months again. He had longed for interaction with others for so long -well, he had had Aíthon but he had still been lonely- and now when he had it, he didn't want to lose it.

"Does this hurt?" Lori asked after a while of silence, not taking her eyes off the rag.

"Does what hurt?" Kili asked in return with a grin. "Pressing it with a rag or the shoulder in general?"

"Pressing it with a rag", came an answer along with a small, shy smile. "I wouldn't want to make it hurt more than it hurts already."

"Nah, it's okay", Kili replied, shaking his head a little, the grin never leaving his lips. "I've been through a lot worse, believe me. The little ache or stinging the rag does.. it's nothing, really. And besides, it helps, the cool water feels great. Helps the pain."

Their eyes met, and Lori nodded. "Good. I'm not an expert on healing injuries, but I know a thing or two. I'm happy this helps.. but I think I'm done here. Do you need help with your shirt?"

"Not really", Kili answered as Lori stood up, holding the rag as she looked down at Kili, who was still sitting on the chair. "I will manage. Thank you."

"Alright", Lori said as she left the kitchen, leaving Kili alone to dress himself again.

It wasn't too hard to put on his shirt again, but it did hurt. Raising his hurt arm made a flash of pain shoot through the whole limb, and even though the pain lasted for less than a second, it was unpleasant and the never-leaving ache made it suck even more. But as soon as the shirt was on and he could lower his arm, the pain disappeared and even the ache eased a bit.

A few seconds later the noise of the front door creaking open echoed into Kili's ears, and a familiar voice of a man told Kili to come outside. "Just a second", Kili called back, getting up from the chair and making his way through the rooms to the front yard, where Michel stood with a cute black pony a couple of meters behind him.

"As you can see, I was able to get you a pony", Michel told as he noticed how Kili stared at the animal. "I had to choose between a blonde one and this black thing right here. I figured that you might like her better because you're dark haired as well."

A short laughter escaped Kili's lips. "Really? Thank you."

"Glad to help. And oh, these bags", Michel said and pointed at two huge bags on the ground, which Kili hadn't noticed until now, "they include food. This one, on the other hand", he continued and lowered the one on his back to the ground, "has things that might come handy on your way home, a blanket, a bowl, some herbs for your injuries, some clothes and a pipe. I got them cheap so I was able to buy them. It also has a few coins in the small pocket inside of it, just in case."

"This is great", Kili said in complete surprise. Be polite and thank him, he quickly reminded himself. "This is more than I even dared to hope for. I'm truly grateful - and I mean that. Thank you."

Michel nodded and glanced at the pony. "I think her name was Saturn. The previous owner said she behaves very well."

"Good to know", Kili replied, eyeing the bags. The ones with food in them were full of food and it was a surprise that they hadn't yet exploded. Kili wondered if the pony would break underneath all that weight - with a grin he hoped for the best. "The sun is at its highest, so if I leave now, I have a lot of time to travel before the night falls", he continued, turning his head to look at Michel, who now smiled a little.

"As you wish. Lori, come here!"

A few seconds passed before Lori stepped out, looking at the boys. "What is it? Will you leave now?"

"Yeah", Kili nodded, eyeing Lori. "I will make sure to tell uncle Thorin how much you both have helped me. Don't worry, I won't break my promise."

A faint smile rose on Lori's lips as she nodded. "We will both miss you", she said and held her hand over her heart. Kili was certain that she said that just to be polite, but he didn't care. It felt good, so he let the feeling pass and just nodded with a smile.

As they were done saying goodbyes, Kili got the bags on the pony, rose on it and rode away.

xx

He rode until the sun started to set, and even after that he kept going just a while longer. He was thrilled - he would be home soon, and some part of him believed that he could just keep riding until he got home, never stopping to sleep or eat.

I wish I could, Kili thought as he finally decided to stop for the night. I would be home so much sooner if I didn't have to take breaks.

Laying his blanket down, Kili sat on it and opened one of the bags. The first thing he noticed was a long bread, so he grabbed it, broke it in half and shoved the other half back to the bag.

His mind kept wandering as he ate. What would it be like to return home? Had his home changed? Was everyone okay? Who would be there to welcome him? What if nobody was home? What would his mother say? Or Fili? What if he never made it home in one piece?

Oh shut up, Kili thought. The worst is behind me. I have survived Gwaen, I have survived loneliness, beatings, injuries, goblins, escaping the elves.. I will survive one journey home. Nothing has ever happened to me before. Why would something happen now? Especially after all of that? Mahal won't let anything happen. I know it.

But as the night crept on, he couldn't help feeling hopeless. What if trolls attack me? I have no weapons and my other arm is useless in a fight. Or what if I fall into a stormy river? Or an actual storm happens, and I get sick and become too weak to make it home? What if I meet another raid of goblins? Or some elves who know I escaped? Oh God, I will not make it back home.

With all these restless thoughts he fell asleep.

xx

In the morning he woke up to Saturn poking her head against Kili's back. It was a pleasant way to wake up, at least after so many nights of waking up to a harsh yell of a random elvish guard.

"Good morning to you, too", Kili laughed and patted Saturn's head, slowly sitting up, reaching for the bag. His injured arm ached a lot more than when he had gone to sleep, and Kili assumed he had slept on top of it for some time last night.

He gave Saturn an apple from one of the bags and for himself he took a piece of the bread. Not half like last night, but only a little. He could manage with it until noon, where he could stop and eat something warm. He swore he had seen some potatoes in the bag. He could boil them if he just found a lake or a river to get water from. The flask of water in the bag was drinkable, and he wouldn't waste it on boiling food.

Soon he was on the move again. The day was cloudy but it didn't look like it would rain, and Kili was pleased. Somehow it lifted his spirit a little and nothing seemed too hopeless anymore. Maybe I'll actually make it home, Kili thought with a grin. I can't wait to see everyone again. Oh Mahal, I have missed them so much.

Wooo, a happy ending C: Leave a review?