So, here you have another chapter. It took me some time to get it all written, 'cause I got a small block somewhere in the middle. I know some of you have asked why I keep writing about Kili and Rosie as siblings, and so I think I should clearyfie that a bit.

They're not entirely sure if they do believe what the other have said, and then they're not sure where to go next. I don't want to say too much, but somewhere along this chapter there might be something Kili thinks that might confuse and/or annoy you. My deepest apologiez if it does so, but I hope you still will enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 8

It was evening and we were gathered in the House of Elrond. Elrond was sitting at the end of the table, with Gandalf at his right hand. The rest of the places were empty, even if there was an amount of food at the table, and space for at least fifteen persons. "Sit, and fill your stomachs", Elrond told us. The dwarves didn't need to be told twice.

"Milady", someone said beside me and took my hand. I glanced at Kili and smiled. "Would you like to sit together with me and Fili?" he asked and placed a kiss on my hand. First I was too shocked over this behaviour to answer, but then I nodded.

"Gladly, Sir", I replied. Kili led me over to the table where Fili already sat. There were two empty chairs beside him. "Tell me", I said as I and Kili placed us at the two empty chairs, meaning I sat between the two brothers, and at the other side of Kili, Thorin sat. "When did you became such a gentleman?" I made as if I didn't notice Kili's ears turning red again. At the other side of me Fili chuckled.

From Kili's side...

He tried to find an explanation, but the only to appear in his head was that he liked her. He quickly glanced at her and found her smiling. He liked her. No doubt that. The way her eyes shone, nearly like gold, when she laughed. Her soft hair when he had braided it. Her sooth, light brown skin and her petite figure. The way she talked and laughed.

Out of nowhere the memory of her protecting him in front of the elves earlier that day, appeared in his mind. Then her forehead against his and her soothing words.

"Kili?" He blinked and realized he had been staring at nothing. Then he turned to Thorin. "Kili", Thorin said again, but this time in a whisper. "I have seen how you treat Rosie, and I have also seen the way you look at her and that your feelings for her are growing." Kili swallowed. What would Thorin say to that? "I just want to say that a relationship like that between the two of you is unacceptable. You're from the line of Durin, and because of that both you and your brother have to marry a dwarf, not someone from another race!" Kili stared at him with disbelief and shock.

He rose so suddenly that the chair he had been sitting in, fell to the floor with a loud BANG. "You might be a king", he whispered, "but you can't control feelings." Then he fled. Away from the room. He ran as fast and far as he could, until he had lost himself in the corridors, and his heart was racing in his chest. Then he sank down at the balcony he had reached, and let the thoughts gathered around what Thorin had said. Well, a part of him said seriously, if she don't return your feelings, then it's okay. And besides, it's nothing but a small crush. It'll be over in a short time, and then you're nothing but siblings. Kili swallowed. His heart was still racing in his chest, but he had to move. He had to do something, not only sit there.

Therefore he rose and began pacing back and forth at the balcony, not noticing the moon rising, nor a pair of cream coloured shoes slowly approaching.

No, the other part of him said. This is no small crush. You love her! You've lost yourself totally in her, so go and tell her! What are you afraid of? Kili bit his lower lip. Of course he could just go and tell her, but what if she said no? What if she didn't return his feelings? What then? Would they still be able to be siblings, or would they drift apart?

He stopped pacing, and stared out over the valley which was Rivendell. At the other side of the river, elves were singing and laughing, and he remembered one time when he had been the one singing and laughing, making jokes and playing around. Where had that part of him disappeared?

Meanwhile...

I kept my hand on the wall as I slowly approached Kili. I had no idea of what had happened when he had just rushed away from the meeting, but I remembered clearly Thorin's eyes when he turned to watch his nephew disappear out the door. Sadness and something else I didn't understand.

"Kili?" He jumped, and I knew he hadn't noticed me coming. I let go of the wall and went up to his side. "Are you okay?" I asked. He bowed his head and didn't look at me. Slowly he shook his head. "Do you want to talk about it?" I inquired silently. He stood totally silent, as if he had froze to the spot.

"I-I..." he stuttered, and then stopped to take a deep breath. "I don't know if I'm ready to talk about it yet." I tilted my head and glanced up at him. His dark brown hair which fell into his eyes. His beard, and his dark brown chocolate eyes. Suddenly I smiled and carefully placed my hand on his cheek. He glanced at me as I stroke his beard with a smile.

"It's not that stinging any longer", I said. A small, nervous smile appeared on his face, but he didn't reply. I felt a sadness grow inside me. "You have changed so much during the last two months", I whispered as I put my arms around him and pressed my head against his chest. "I really miss those jokes you used to pull off, together with Fili, and how you used to tease the others. It is as if I've lost a part of you!" I felt the tears prickle in my eyes. "I miss you so much." He wrapped his arms around me and held me. I closed my eyes and breathed in the scent of him. I felt safe being so close to him.

"Rosie", he muttered. It sounded as if he tried to pack my name into silk, as if it was worth all the gold in the world, and it would break if he said it in a different way. "Do you remember when I said that I love you?"

"Yes", I replied so silently that I wasn't sure if he heard it, but he continued anyway.

"When I said it then, it was meant as brotherly love, but now..." He trailed off and I pulled away from him to look up into his eyes. Those eyes I loved. Those eyes which could show so many feelings in a matter of seconds. I felt his hands rest on my waist.

"Kili..." I whispered. He pulled me closer and I put my hands on his chest, closing around the fabric in his blue shirt and the tunic. Our faces were so close that I could feel his warm breath across my face. My eyes fluttered and slowly began to close. His lips brushed against mine. A voice made us jump away from each other.

Bofur was standing there in the corridor, looking at us with a smirk on his face. "The others are asking for you. We're going to have our own little party in the hall, and you should come and join." Then he turned and was about to return the way he came, but he glanced back at us, still with that smirk. "And next time you don't want to be interrupted, find a room." He laughed as he hurried away.

I felt the heat stream into my cheeks, and when I glanced up at Kili, his ears had got a deep red colour. He began walking after Bofur, and I ran after to catch up with him. As we walked, I kept my eyes on the floor, but my hand found Kili's hand.

We could hear the dwarves laughing, joking and talking as we approached the hall they had made their own. That was where they slept, while I – as the only woman in the company – had got a room not far from them. As we approached the end of the corridor, we let go of each other, and when we reached the "party" I sat beside Bilbo, while Kili sat beside Fili at the other side of the small fire the dwarves had made.

I was totally lost in my own thoughts. Kili had nearly kissed me. Or was it just something I had imagined? No way. I was good at imagining things, but his lips brushing against mine... That couldn't be imagination. And his voice when he said my name. Could it be that I was only dreaming? Could it be that I had dreamt up all of this, and would wake up in my own bed back in the Bag End? That idea somehow made me sad. If it was a dream, it meant I wouldn't find neither Fili nor Kili. That meant I would never meet Kili, and that I would have to marry Merry. But, would Kili propose to me? That idea nearly made me snort. He had nearly kissed me once, and I already began thinking of such things? I had only known him for two months!

At the other side of the fire...

Kili sighed. He had found himself staring at Rosie... Again.

"Come on", Fili said with a grin. "Tell me what happened!" Kili turned his face away and didn't want to answer. And yet, keeping it to himself would kill him!

"We..." He cleared his throat. "We almost kissed."

"'Almost'?" Fili inquired. Kili nodded.

"We were... interrupted."

"Better luck next time." Fili patted him on the shoulder, but Kili only shook his head slowly.

"I don't know if there'll be any next time. I'm not sure she will allow it!" He lifted his head and glanced helplessly at Fili. "She said she missed me. The joking and teasing me, but I don't know if I can find it!" First Fili didn't reply, but then he smiled with his hand resting on Kili's shoulder.

"Just be yourself!"

Back to Rosie...

I wasn't hungry. Only played with the food. My arm had began to hurt again, even if I didn't want to tell it to any of the others. They would probably think of me as weak, and then Thorin wouldn't allow me to follow them any further on their journey. I glanced up when the dwarves began to play a marry tune. Fili and Kili were playing on their fiddles, Bombur was playing his drum, while Bifur had his clarinet. Then Dori and Ori joined in with their flutes.

It was impossible not to laugh when Nori rose and began to dance. I found myself clapping, just as Balin and Dwalin. Then Bofur rose and joined Nori in the dance. It was really funny to watch, and it made it even funnier when both of them laughed. To my surprise, it even made Thorin chuckle. Then he suddenly rose, went over to Kili, picked the fiddle out of his hands, and send the youngster in to join Bofur and Nori. I nearly bent double laughing when I spotted Kili's surprised and shocked face, and when I heard how he tried to get away. Bofur and Nori, however, knew how to keep him in the middle, and soon he was laughing too.

"That's how it shall be, Kili!" Fili shouted with a laughter. "Be yourself!" I wasn't sure what Fili meant with that, but I didn't get much time to think of it either, because hands grabbed my wrists and pulled me into the dance. First I was in Bofur's arms. Then I was stolen away by Nori, and then I was passed over to Kili. He seemed just as surprised as I felt, but then he grinned and made me spin a few times before continuing.

I vaguely noticed Bofur and Nori going back to their places and picking up their instruments. My eyes were on Kili's laughing face as he led me through the dance. It had to be dwarfish, 'cause I hadn't danced it before, and I was quite sure they didn't dance any elvish dances. But even if I didn't know it, Kili led me through it and seemed so self-confident. There was no need for me to ask if he had danced it before, 'cause I knew he had.

Finally the music stopped and we fell down at the blanket, beside Fili who was grinning like mad. "I've never seen any pair dance like that", he said. The other dwarves were laughing and exchanging looks. The only who didn't look happy, was Thorin. Not that it was a new thing, but the look he gave me nearly scared me to death.

I sighed, and just then realized how badly my arm hurt. I didn't say anything. After that look Thorin gave me, I was totally sure he would grab any chance to make me stay in Rivendell. Therefore I yawned, not only because I had to get away from the party, but also because I actually was tired, and my legs were aching a bit from all the dancing. I rose.

"Where are you going?" Fili asked curiously.

"I need my beauty sleep", I replied with a grin, and then another yawn which I partly tried to hide. "See you tomorrow!" They wished me good night as I hurried down the corridor. Then I opened the door to my room, manage to smile brightly one last time, and then finally close the door, rush over to the bed and throw myself down at it. I made sure to lay on the right side, so my wounded arm could get some rest.

After a while of only laying there, I sat up. I took a deep breath, and then pulled the sleeve down, so I could take off the bandage. After about two layers, my eyes were filled with tears because of the pain. My hand was trembling, and I had to stop. A sudden knock on the door made me straighten, and my heart to pound fast. Then I carefully rose, went over to the door and leant against the wall beside. "Who is it?" I asked, but couldn't help when I heard my trembling voice.

"It's me", Kili's replied. "I came to return the bracelet you lost." I swallowed. It was true I had lost the bracelet, which was the only remaining thing from my real family, and I was glad Kili wanted to return it, I just couldn't open the door. I bit my lower lip, and then slowly opened the door and peered out.

"Thank you", I whispered as I took the bracelet he was reaching me. Then I began to close the door.

"Wait", Kili suddenly said and put his foot in the doorway. "I can hear in your voice that you're pained. What's wrong?" I frowned.

"Nothing", I said before slamming the door shut. At the other side Kili let out an exclaim of anger and shock as he jumped away just in time. Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to walk on at least three days.

"Fine!" I heard him say from the other side of the door. "But I'm going to wait outside here until you tell it! There's nothing good in keeping things like that to yourself." Then I heard him sit down with his back against the wall.

I leant my own back against the door and swallowed, clenching the bracelet. Why did it suddenly go that wrong? After a while I heard Fili come and ask what the matter was, but to my surprise Kili didn't tell anything. Fili disappeared back to the hall where it had become quiet, and some time later everything was totally silent. My arm was still aching, but not that much after I stopped trying to take off the bandage. Slowly I turned, opened the door and peered outside.

The corridor was dark, except from the moonlight falling in through some windows. "Are you going to tell me, or just slam the door shut again?" I jumped with my heart racing in my chest, as I turned my wide eyes toward Kili's voice. All I could see of him, was a silhouette, and a pair of dark eyes which were shining in the darkness. I swallowed. Then I opened the door fully and stepped back inside to let him in. Movements told me that he rose, and a few seconds later he entered the room and closed the door behind himself.

I returned to the bed and sank down at the white sheets. The only light in the room was a small candle standing at the bedside table. I didn't look at Kili, but still I knew he was watching me. A deep silence fell upon us, and still he was watching me. It felt as hours before he finally did anything else than just watch me.

"Am I going to wait the rest of the night, or will you tell me what's bothering you?" he asked with his arms crossed in front of his chest. I didn't look at him. Didn't want him to see the shame in my eyes. Shame of my behaviour, my feelings and my thoughts.

Suddenly he was there, kneeling right in front of me with one hand at my knee, and the other gently placed at the side of my head. My eyes widened, and then closed when I felt the warmth of his rough hand. My breath came a bit out of control as he stroke my cheek with his thumb, but then I regain the control. I placed my own hands on his – the one on my knee, and like that we sat for minutes, both of us enjoying the other's presence, not wanting to make the moment pas.

"The arm", I finally whispered, still with my eyes closed. "It hurts." Slowly I opened my eyes. There was a warm and loving smile on his face.

"I know", he replied, he too in a whisper. "Do you want me to take a look at it?" he questioned after another while of silence. I swallowed before nodding. One single nod, but he didn't need anything more. He rose, sat beside me, and carefully began taking off the bandage.

I clenched my jaw and tried to keep the tears which were burning in my eyes, from falling. A small gasp escaped me, and he stopped for a few seconds. I didn't need to look at him to tell he looked concerned. "Continue", I muttered. "And just get over with it." After about half a minute with terrible pain, the bandage was off. I sighed with relief and dried my eyes.

"You have to get it tended", Kili commented from his place beside me. I nodded in reply.

"Could you help me do it?"

"I don't know..." he said with hesitation. I glanced at him, not understanding what he meant. He wasn't looking at me, but I could still see the shame on his face. "I've never had anyone to look after. At home it was always me who got hurt in some kind of way, and it was always Fili, mum or Thorin who looked after me. So I just... don't know how to do it!"

Suddenly I realized something. "So when that wolf attacked me, and I got this wound, then you just had no idea of what to do."

"Something like that", Kili replied with a small nod. Then he sighed. "I'm sorry." I put my hand on his shoulder.

"It's nothing to apologize for", I said with a smile. "Once there had to be a first time for that too." I watched satisfied as a smile appeared on his face.

"You know", he said with something close to a laughter in his voice. "I was actually quit scared. I guess it sound quite idiotic, but I was afraid the wound was deadly. I'm such an idiot, am I not?" After this, he chuckled. My smile became wider.

"Then you're the cutest and most lovable idiot ever." A new chuckle came from him, and then he rose.

"I'll get something to tend it with", he said when I glanced questioning at him. "Of course, it would be much easier if the elves had just left something in here, but I don't think..." His eyes landed on a small chest standing on the writingdesk, and I had to laugh. His ears turned pink as he brought the chest and opened it.

"You really are the cutest idiot!" I said, still laughing. The laughter quickly turned to a wince of pain when he began on the long job of tending the wound. Again the silence fell upon us. "How long do you think we'll stay here?" I asked silently.

"That depends on Gandalf and uncle Thorin", Kili replied as he put some of the white liniment at the wound, and then began bandaging the upper arm again. "I guess uncle want to get moving as soon as possible, while Gandalf would like to stay for a while. I also heard uncle talking with Dwalin before the meal. Something that he wanted to get away as soon as tomorrow." I sighed and let my tired body fall back at the bed when Kili finished bandaging my upper arm. Tired I turned my head to look at the work. It was nicely done, and the fact that he was the one doing it only made it better. My eyes moved to Kili who was look at me. There was something in his eyes I couldn't define. Something different.

I sat up, careful with not putting pressure on the arm, and rubbed my eyes. A yawn made it's way up my throat and I rose. "I have to get changed into nightgown", I told him. "Could you just wait here?"

"Okay", he replied as I grabbed the gown and hurried to another room to get changed.

When I returned, I at first didn't see him, because I expected him to be sitting on the bed where I had left him. Instead he was standing in front of the window, staring up at the moon which just had appeared from behind a cloud.

I went over to him, and placed myself beside him. "Are you okay?" I asked and glanced up at his face. He smiled and turned his head to meet my gaze.

"I was just thinking..." I send him a questioning look. "Thinking of how beautiful you look when you're clean and are wearing a elven dress." My eyes widened. I had never expected him to say something like that to me. Then I bowed my head and smiled. Suddenly he pulled me into a warm embrace. That was another thing I hadn't expected him to do, but when the shock disappeared, it was replaced by a smile and a comfortable feeling. I closed my eyes and let my head rest against his chest.

Slowly I drifted away, and into sleep. Vaguely I noticed him lifting me up and carrying me over to the bed where he covered me with white duvet, before preparing himself to leave the room.

"Kili", I muttered and he turned with a hand on the door knot. "Don't leave me." He frowned, but then a smile appeared on his face and he returned to sit on the bed, with me in his arms, holding me and waiting for me to fall asleep.

My head rested on his chest, and I could hear his heart beating. In his arms I was safe, and I knew nothing could harm me as long as he was there. "Could you sing for me?" I asked silently.

"My voice isn't made for lullabies", he replied after some seconds of silence. "You would never fall asleep that way."

"You're voice is all I need to fall asleep", I muttered with my eyes closed. He sighed, and silence fell upon us again. And still I couldn't find the rest my mind needed. I nearly couldn't hear it at first, but then it grew until it filled the silent room.

"Sometimes in our lives we all have pain, we all have sorrow, but if we are wise, we know that there's always tomorrow.

Lean on me, when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on, for it won't be long, 'til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on.

Please, swallow your pride, if I have faith you need to borrow, for no one can fill those of your needs, that you won't let show.

Lean on me, when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on, for it won't be long, 'til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on.

If there is a load you have to bear, that you can't carry, I'm right up the road, I'll share your load."

"And you said your voice wasn't made for lullabies?" I questioned, nearly sleeping. I heard him chuckle and answer something, but the sleep came and took me, and with his arms around me I drifted far away, to the land of dreams where the worlds worries didn't bother me.

I hope you have enjoyed to read this chapter, just as much as I have ejoyed to write it! If you wonder about the song, then it's "Lean on me" by Bill Whiters (even if the version by Glee is betterXD)

So, please leave a review, and I'll do my best to upload next chapter soon, even if I'm getting to the periode of tests at school and all of that crap. It might go a bit slower than it used to, but I hope you'll understand.