The next morning Amelia returned to her old room for the privacy of a bath. She was among the first to rise, sending a small nod to Bombur as she slipped out. To her pleasure, Anwë had left a small, neatly folded pile of clothes on the bed for Amelia, and she took a moment to run her hands over the deft fabric before heading for the bathroom.
She encountered some difficulty with removing her shirt, but luckily the fabric was loose and Elrond's salve had done quite a bit to withhold her pain. Amelia sank happily into the tub of water, taking her time with washing herself.
Upon finishing she dressed with difficulty, and found herself unable to bind back her hair as she normally did. Her wounded shoulder refused to stay upright long enough for her to work a knot into her hair, and when she tried a wave of pain washed along her arm.
When a knock sounded at the door Amelia cursed quietly under her breath, trying and once more failing to fix her hair. With a sigh she rose, hoping that it would be Anwë on the other side.
It was Kili.
"Morning," he greeted her. His voice was high and chipper, and there was a broad smile on his face. "How are you this morning?"
"Fine." Amelia let the door hang open as she headed back into her room, and Kili followed her.
Kili's eyebrow raised. "It doesn't sound like it. There is pain in your voice. Is your shoulder hurting again? I thought Elrond's salve-"
Amelia waved a hand dismissively. "The salve works very well," she assured. "It's putting my hair up that doesn't."
Kili frowned and moved to stand behind Amelia. His hands lifted, dropped, and then wavered hesitantly by his waist.
"May I?" he asked.
Amelia bit her lip, then sighed and nodded her consent. Kili moved forward and began to pull back bits of her hair, weaving them back into some pattern she couldn't see. After several minutes he stepped back with a proud "there!"
Amelia reached back to run a hand over her hair. Kili had woven her hair into a single plait down her back; simple and sturdy yet verging on elegant at the same time.
"What is that thing you use to tie back your hair with?" he asked. "I've never seen anything like it."
Amelia let out a chuckle. "It's called a hair tie," she told him. "It's made out of rubber."
"It's pathetically weak," Kili commented.
Amelia snorted. "Thanks."
She stood and turned to Kili, who was grinning playfully at her.
"Breakfast?" he asked.
Amelia nodded. "Lead the way."
Kili did, smirking as he started down the corridor. "You still don't know your way around, eh?"
Amelia scowled. "I've never been good with that sort of thing. I need a map."
Kili laughed, and Amelia elbowed him lightly in the side. Kili returned the jab, and the two laughed the entire way down the hallway.
Amelia hadn't forgotten her talk with Gandalf the previous day, nor her growing worries over the fate of the quest. However, she found it impossible to mull over them during breakfast; Kili kept her attention. Soon the company joined them, and though several eyebrows went up at the sight of Kili's craftsmanship on her hair, no one commented.
Instead of allowing Amelia to slip quietly away from the meal as she normally did, Kili dragged her off to a secluded area of Elrond's gardens, and she was drawn into another hearty conversation that lasted several hours. The two laughed and traded stories, and Amelia even found herself opening up about some of the people she had met over the years- though her details were vague and she always avoided divulging how each story ended.
Kili found it odd how his companion would often begin speaking about a particular adventure and then suddenly cut off, glancing away with tense muscles. For several moments she would sit quietly, reliving some memory in her head, and then change the topic.
"Why do you do that?" he asked. "Why do you avoid talking about every person you know? The way you look… one would think they must be dead."
Amelia bit her lip, her gaze sloping downward. "Everyone dies in the end," she reminded Kili.
Kili snorted. "Yes, but some of these people you've mentioned have lifespans of thousands of years. Immortality, practically! They can't all be dead."
Amelia's gaze locked with his, holding steady. "Yes," she said solemnly. "They can be."
For the briefest of moments Kili saw a flood of emotions in her eyes. Hurt and anger and despair mixed together, raging a war with hope and passion. All was overshadowed by fear, though whether it was a fear of letting go of her past or embracing new relationships Kili wasn't sure.
He changed the topic though, relaying to her several antics he and Fili had gotten into as children. Amelia listened in rapt attention, grateful for the diversion.
Dinner over the following days was cheerier than before. The sense of distrust that had pervaded the company's early interactions with the elves was slowly fading, replaced by not quite trust, but a sort of begrudging respect. Amelia noticed that the two tables were slightly closer than they had been before; in fact they had been drifting gradually closer each night. She didn't comment however, merely taking her seat as Gandalf shifted the final chair into place.
She also noticed that Bilbo begun moving down the table, closer to Thorin. The hobbit and king seemed to be growing rather close, something that Amelia was sure no one missed. Dwalin and Balin were shooting glances at each other over the table, Fili and Kili kept whispering things back and forth in each other's ears, and Dori was attempting to subtly induce conversation between them. Gandalf needed absolutely no convincing to help the company's efforts, and even Amelia made the occasional remark to the others.
After dinner one night Thorin and Bilbo rose together, but were unable to slip quietly away.
"Where are you off to, then?" called Nori.
Thorin scowled. "Somewhere private. Master Baggins and I have some business matters to discuss."
Bifur snorted and signed an amendment to Thorin's statement. Neither Thorin nor Bilbo saw but the others did, and a raucous laugh went off around the table. Amelia herself couldn't help a snicker, nearly giving away her knowledge of Iglishmëk.
That night, once the company had retired to their room, Bifur tapped Amelia on her knee to draw her attention.
Why don't you tell the others that you speak our languages? He signed. I believe they would react better than you believe.
Amelia glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention before responding. I can't be sure, she said. I prefer to keep my cards close to my chest.
Though Amelia was sure Bifur didn't understand her analogy, he didn't ask for elaboration. We trust you, he stated.
Amelia made a face. Not entirely. My interactions with the others are warmer, yes, but not entirely as they should be.
Bifur sighed, knowing she was right. Though faith in the Phoenix had increased rapidly since she had been injured protecting Thorin, there were still several members of the company who were reluctant to trust her completely. Even Thorin, who disliked how she was constantly sneaking about.
"Bah," Bilbo had objected when Thorin had said this two days previous. "She's a private person; she always has been. That doesn't mean she's up to no good."
"Besides," said Ori, "Kili's with her. He can keep an eye on her. I'm sure he'd tell us if she did anything wrong."
There was a murmur around the group, and it became clear there were varied opinions on that particular matter.
"What are they even doing?" Oin had asked. "Are we sure their intimacy stops at hair braiding?"
At this Thorin and Fili had both choked on their drinks and issued forth a series of defenses for Kili's honor. A minute later Kili and the Phoenix had entered the room together, and though Oin still looked suspicious, the question was put to rest for the time being.
Bifur decided not to divulge any of this information with the Phoenix, instead sighing and withdrawing slightly. The two settled into a companionable silence beside each other until Kili plopped down beside Amelia and drew her into a series of jokes.
It was halfway through the month of June before Amelia's arm began to properly heal. It still hurt her to do many of the tasks she performed on a day to day basis, and she could not yet use her bow without a spasm of pain, but at least she could dress in the mornings. This didn't deter Anwë from doting on her, much to Amelia's dismay.
She allowed Kili to continue to braid her hair in the mornings. She knew it made the young dwarf happy, and his bubbly, puppy like personality had grown on her over the course of their journey. Though deep within her gut Amelia knew she should try to distance herself, she couldn't bring herself to care.
Besides, she reasoned. It's impossible to distance myself from Kili. He's far too persistent.
Amelia was usually the first to rise in the mornings, slipping off to the room where she had spent her first day in Rivendell for a bath. By the time she had finished and dressed Kili was awake, and he carefully braided back her hair. They finished just as the rest of the company rose for the day, and together they made their way downstairs for breakfast.
One morning, as Kili worked through the knots in the Phoenix's hair, he noticed a pensive mood about her. Raising an eyebrow, he cleared his throat.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked.
As his hands stilled in the Phoenix's hair she turned ever so slightly so that she could see him. "Anwë," she answered. "She's been so kind to me since our arrival; I've been wanting to repay her."
Kili nodded. "And you have a plan forming?"
The Phoenix shrugged, and Kili noted happily that the movement was no longer accompanied by a wince of pain. "I have an idea of what I want to do; I still need to figure out how to do it."
Kili grinned; this was sounding like something right up his alley. Quickly he finished his work on the Phoenix's hair, then sat beside her on the bed and fixed her with what he liked to consider his most evil face.
"Do tell," he urged.
It took a week to make all the preparations. Kili attempted to enlist the help of some of the more accepting members of the company, but at the first mention of elves each of the dwarves backed out of the plan. To be honest Kili wasn't very fond of the idea himself, but he was willing to aid the Phoenix because he knew it was important to her.
In the end it was Kili, Amelia, Bilbo, Gandalf, and Elladan involved in the plan. Amelia suggested bringing Elrond into the fold, but had quickly been assured by Elladan that while the noble elf would not prevent their plans, he would be of no help to them either.
At nightfall Amelia found Anwë, a perplexed and irritated look upon her face. Embarrassment colored her cheeks red as she made her way to the elf.
"Might you be able to help me find my way around?" she asked reluctantly. "I still haven't gotten the hang of this place."
Anwë laughed quietly and nodded. "Of course," she agreed. "Hasn't it been two weeks since your arrival?"
Amelia scowled. "Shut up. Now, Gandalf has asked me to meet him in a secluded area of Elrond's gardens to discuss matters of importance; an area, he says, walled by the most beautiful flora and a small waterfall. Do you know the place?"
Anwë nodded, her eyes misting over slightly. "Aye. It is my favorite place within Rivendell. I can bring you there."
Amelia allowed the elf to lead the way, hiding a small smile. It took several minutes for them to arrive, and when they did Anwë gasped.
The land was a small patch of grass, surrounded on three sides by brightly colored flowers of all shapes and sizes. Some of the flowers opened their petals only at night, and as the moon finally ascended above the tree line they bared their petals to the air. On the fourth side a small stream bubbled merrily over rocks and down a small incline; gentle as it pooled into a small pool just within the clearing. It truly was beautiful, Amelia reflected, even without the décor.
Candles had been lit and placed throughout the clearing, they sat on the highest of the rocks within the stream, just out of reach of the water, and they dangled like chandeliers from the trees that sat just beyond the rows of flowers. A small blanket spread at the center of the clearing had a tall candle placed at its side, casting flickering shadows over the feast spread beneath it.
"Oh!" Anwë clapped a hand to her mouth. A moment later she whirled to Amelia. "You did this? For me? Why?"
Amelia laughed. "Because you have been so kind to me over the past two weeks. And it's not just for you, my friend."
Anwë's brow creased in confusion, but before she could comment voices filled the air behind them.
"You're sure it's Arwen's?" asked Elrohir.
"I'm positive," Elladan confirmed. "Imagine her horror when she returns from Lothlórien and finds her carefully hidden bauble missing!" He let out a laugh of glee, and soon his brother had joined him. Beside Amelia, Anwë was blushing a bright shade of red at the sound of Elrohir's voice.
A moment later she seemed to realize the plan in play, and her eyes narrowed. "You didn't," she accused.
Amelia grinned and stepped back. "I did."
A moment later Elrohir and Elladan emerged into the clearing, and Elrohir froze in much the same way Anwë had. He cast a beseeching glance toward Elladan, who was laughing with Amelia.
"Right then," said Elladan. "I doubt the kitchens will take back the food, so you better eat it. We've brought your favorites. We better not see you again for many hours. Enjoy!"
With that he grabbed Amelia's hand and ran for it, giggling like a little boy. They made it halfway back to the house before doubling over, roaring in laughter.
"Did it work?" Bilbo burst from the foliage, fidgeting in excitement. Just behind him was an equally worked up Kili and a grinning but calmer Gandalf.
Amelia laughed. "It went perfectly," she promised. "Thank you, all of you."
She bestowed each plotter with a hug. When she pulled back there were many red faces, but no regret on any of them.
Kili turned to Elladan. "Soooo," he started. "Is there anyone you're interested in?"
Elladan let out a laugh, and Amelia was happy to see that much of the tension that had pervaded his and Kili's interactions thus far had faded. "No one I'm telling you about."
Bilbo sighed dreamily. "We did a very good job though, did we not?"
Gandalf laughed and clapped Bilbo on the shoulder. "Are you wishing for a similar scene for yourself, Master Baggins?"
Kili wriggled his eyebrows, and Amelia couldn't help a short laugh as Bilbo flushed as bright as a tomato. "No, no!" he assured them. "I simply was enjoying our work."
"Sure." Amelia started back toward Elrond's house, laughing silently. Within moments Kili had caught up to her, and the two exchanged evil looks. Bilbo would get his scene. They would make sure of it.