Disclaimer: Just checked, and I still don't own anyone other than Marie.
A/N: Here is this week's chapter! I hope everyone likes it!
Chapter 7: The last Homely House
Marie stomped after Bofur, fuming silently. She was trying to calm down, but it seemed that the longer she thought about what had happened, the angrier she became.
"You're going to cause a rock slide lass." Bofur called from ahead of her, smiling back at her to show that he meant it as a joke.
"I'm sorry." She looked down, forcing herself to calm her steps.
"Still having angry thoughts toward the lad then?" He asked, pointedly looking Kili's way.
"Is it that obvious?" She asked, following his gaze back to the dark haired Dwarf. He was shuffling along behind his brother, head bent, a troubled look on his face.
Bofur chuckled lightly. "No lass, at least not to him. The poor boy doesn't have the knowledge of women to know when he's upset one. I have been wanting to talk with you about what happened though, if you don't mind?" She nodded, waiting for him to continue. "The lad may have stuck his boot in his mouth, but you must realize that he was afraid for your life lass. If Thorin had been left to suspect you as a spy, it would have been the end for you."
Marie felt the blood drain from her face. Bringing a hand up to her throat, where Thorin had pressed his blade against the skin, she remembered the look that she had seen in his eyes. Before Kili had spoken there had been a deep resolve there. He had definitely been ready to do what he thought needed to be done to protect his company and quest. She hadn't realized at the time just how close she had come to death.
"He said the only thing he could think of at the moment to save you." Bofur continued in a soft voice.
Every angry thought fled her mind at once, leaving her with a heavy feeling of guilt. Again someone was looking out for her, and she had reacted before thinking. "I have to go and apologize. Thank you Bofur,"
"You're welcome Marie. Go on and end the lad's misery."
Kili looked down at his feet as he shuffled along, down the long pathway they had found. He was lost in his thoughts, not paying attention to the conversation that his brother was trying to have with him. Images of outraged emerald eyes filled his thoughts instead.
"What have I done?" He blurted out, turning to face his brother.
"What?" Fili asked, confusion dancing across his features.
"Do you know why she's mad at me?!"
"Who? Marie?"
"Yes Marie! She hasn't spoken to me since uncle threatened her. She barely looks my way, and when she does she's obviously angry. You don't think that I had anything to do with uncle's suspicions, do you?"
"No." Fili told him as realization replaced his confused look. "Although you did say that you had been watching her. You sort of made it seem like you were keeping tabs on her so she wouldn't kill us in our sleep."
"What?! I didn't mean that at all! You know Thorin, brother. If I hadn't said something he would have killed her!" His voice rose in pitch and volume by the time he finished, the panic he had felt at the time came rushing back. He could still feel the icy fear in his veins as he remembered the cold steal of his uncle's sword pressed against the delicate flesh of her slender throat.
"I know," Fili's calm voice broke him from the harsh image. "but she doesn't. She doesn't know him like we do. She doesn't even know what we're doing traipsing through the wilderness. Most likely she didn't realize she was in true danger. You should talk to her, apologize."
"Of course!" He agreed. He hadn't meant to offend her, he would make it right. He spun back around to go off ahead to find her, and collided with a small body. He reached out quickly to stop them from crashing to the ground, meeting wide green eyes as he looked down. "Marie! I was just coming to find you. I need to apologize." She opened her mouth to say something in return, but he rushed on, determined to mend things between them. "Wait, let me say what I have to say. I'm sorry that I implied that we had to watch you, it wasn't my intention to offend you. I'm sorry."
Marie shook her head, and he felt his heart fall. He must have angered her far more than even Fili had assumed. "No, Kili. I'm the one who's sorry. I spoke to Bofur and he explained some things about your uncle's...determination. I know that I owe you more than an apology. Thank you for saving my life."
Before he could say anything, she rose up on her toes and gently pressed her lips to his cheek, stepping back quickly with a blush creeping up her neck. He felt a ridiculous grin split his face as he nodded slowly, taking a moment before he could speak again. "Apology accepted."
The rest of the trip through the crevice went by quickly as the two made small talk and told each other stories, angers forgotten.
"There's light ahead!" Gloin called out from ahead of them, and with a few more steps they made their way out into the open.
Marie gasped softly next to him, wide-eyed as they took in the scene before them. They stood at the edge of a valley, overlooking a great white city built into the side of the mountain. Waterfalls fell around the city, basking it in a hazy mist. Richly colored leaves blanketed the cliff side, bright leaves peeking through the rooftops.
"It's beautiful." Marie breathed out, taking a step closer.
Kili saw the beauty, but he didn't feel happiness or awe at what he saw. This was an Elf city, he recognized the craftsmanship. Thorin had told him and his brother stories of Elven betrayal and cruelty their entire lives. Tales of the fair race turning their people away after Smaug had lit Erebor aflame from the inside out. Elves had left them and watched as women and children ran blindly to their deaths. No, Kili wasn't happy to be here, and he doubted any of the other Dwarves shared Marie and Bilbo's amazement at the city before them.
Elves were not to be trusted.
"The Valley of Imladris." Gandalf spoke out. "In the common tongue it is known by a different name."
"Rivendell." Bilbo supplied softly, not taking his eyes off of the city before them.
Gandalf nodded. "Here lies the last Homely House East of the Sea."
"This was your plan all along." Thorin spat out. "To seek refuge with our enemy."
"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield." The wizard snapped back. "The only ill will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself."
"You think the Elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try to stop us!"
"Of course they will, but we have questions that need to be answered."
His uncle stared up at the older man for a moment, before heaving a heavy sigh of defeat before looking away. "Fine, we will go."
"If we are to be successful, this will need to handled with tact, and respect, and no small degree of charm." Gandalf cautioned. "Which is why you will leave the talking to me."
"Fine." Thorin ground out again. "Move out!" He called to the rest of the company, moving down the pathway toward the city.
Kili kept close to Marie on their trek down the mountain, listening silently to her various chatter and sounds of astonishment, although he wasn't fooled by the peace that seemed to hang in the valley. Things could go wrong at any moment where Elves were involved. He kept close watch around them for any signs of danger, a dagger tucked safely up his sleeve, the other hand held out near Marie, ready to pull her to him at the slightest hint of an attack.
The group moved as a single unit, everyone cautious and armed with the exceptions of Marie and Bilbo, through a very disconcerting entryway. Giant, stern looking faces stared down at them as they passed some guardian statues, before coming to a stop in front of a grand staircase leading into the city. A tall dark haired Elf came down the stairs, greeting Gandalf in Elvish.
"Stay sharp." Thorin whispered to Dwalin. Kili nodded to his uncle slightly, letting him know that he had heard the warning as well. He took a step closer to Marie, guiding her back to the group with a gentle hand around her elbow. She paid him no mind, allowing him to lead her away, as she stared up at the Elf as he spoke to Gandalf.
"I must speak to Lord Elrond." Gandalf said to him in Common Speech, his face and tone serious.
"My Lord Elrond is not here."
"Not here?" Gandalf looked surprised. "Where is he?"
A battle horn blared behind them, interrupting the Elf's answer. The group turned toward the sound to find a cavalry of Elven warriors charging down the pathway and through the entryway, heading right to them.
Thorin shouted out orders to the group, followed by the order to close ranks. Kili acted as quickly as he could, pulling Marie into the center of the tightly formed circle of warriors, right next to their frightened looking burglar. He spun back around, sword drawn as he stood between her and the soldiers surrounding them on horseback.
The odds didn't seem to favor them, should violence erupt. While they seemed to be evenly matched in number, and Kili didn't doubt the ability of his company should it come to blows, the Elves did have the height advantage astride their tall stallions.
"Gandalf!" One called out from his mount, the thin crown circling his brow lead Kili to believe that this must be the Lord Elrond that Gandalf had been looking for. Their elderly traveling companion bowed low in front of the man, confirming Kili's suspicions as he called out to him, before speaking quickly in Elvish.
The atmosphere seemed to relax slightly on both sides as the two spoke off to the side. Kili turned to check on Marie, noting her wide eyed gaze that she directed up to one of the still mounted riders, who returned her gaze by staring openly at her. Kili moved to block his view, glaring up until the fair looking creature looked away.
He didn't like having to lean his head back so far to glare up at these people. It was bad enough that they were naturally taller, did they also have to ride such huge animals?! It was wounding for his pride, as a prince in line for the throne to the largest kingdom in all of Middle Earth, to have to look up to meet someone's eyes. He hated it.
Lord Elrond was speaking to his uncle, effectively stealing Kili's attention again. The Elf King mentioned knowing King Thror, though he had never met Thorin. He smiled slightly as his uncle, quite proudly, told Elrond that his grandfather had never so much as mentioned him. A moment of silence was shared between the two before Elrond addressed him and the rest of the party in Elvish. Given the confused look that crossed Thorin's face, Kili wasn't the only one who had no idea what the words meant.
"What is he saying?" Gloin growled out. "Does he offer us insult?!"
"No, Master Gloin, he is offering you food." Gandalf clarified loudly, to drown out the angry shouts of the Dwarves. All of the insulted grumbling stopped at the mention of food.
As if it had hear the promise of being filled, Marie's stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, causing her to blush furiously at the sudden attention from both Elves and Dwarves. Kili looked from Gloin to Throin, eyebrows raised in surprise at the sound. Thinking back he realized that he hadn't had a chance to eat since the mid-day meal the previous day, before the Trolls.
"Well," Gloin spoke out for them. "in that case, lead on."
As they moved into Rivendell Kili grinned down at Marie, who was avoiding eye contact with everyone. "That was so embarrassing!" She whispered to him, once she caught him looking at her.
"It's alright. I'm famished as well, I just have more food stored in me than you do. We'd better get some food into you before you fade away!" He teased, happy when he was rewarded with eye contact and a soft laugh.
The peaceful mood was interrupted as an Elf maiden came up to them, stealing Marie's attention from him.
"Miss," The woman said in greeting. "we have prepared a separate room for you, along with a warm bath. If you'll follow me."
"Thank you, that sounds lovely!" Marie moved away from his side to follow the lady away, making him feel tense. These creatures were not to be trusted, and Marie was too kind and innocent to suspect foul play. He moved to follow, but was stopped by his brother's firm grip on his arm. "I'll see you guys later." Marie called out ahead of him, throwing a carefree smile over her shoulder.
Kili turned to glare at his brother, and was met with an understanding smile. "She'll be fine brother." He told him, pulling Kili away from the corridor Marie had disappeared down. "We'll see you when we eat." Nodding in defeat, Kili followed him. He didn't like this, not at all.
A/N: Thanks for reading another chapter! If anyone finds something wrong with my chapters please don't feel shy about letting me know! All I ask is that you guys correct with kindness. Also, I greatly appreciate it when you guys let me know what you think about the story!
Have a good week, next chapter on Sunday!