A/N: I am so excited about hitting 50 reviews! to answer some thoughts: geekgirlgf: I know, I agree with you too that I'm not sold on Thorin. I think the closer he gets to the mountain, the more he becomes obsessed with reclaiming Erebor, and the more he forgets who is worth more than all the gold in Erebor. Since I didn't send back individual responses this time, thanks too everyone who reviewed. Seriously, I can't tell you how much it means to me. every time I get an email with a review it makes me smile. ncis-lady, I'm so glad you are enjoying the feels. gregsmadhatter, teddybearlovinginsomnic, akeea, ladywallace, booksnake3, expat19, leggomygreggo2, jaymz,shed, fanofrandomthings, kurai ai 1809, syblime, oblivion03... thanks soooooo much ... nd anyone I missed... you are wonderful as well :)

Aside: I think I need a picture icon for this story. Any ideas?

Chapter 7: An Unlikely Friendship

The arrow hit its target with a resounding thunk. The archer smiled broadly as it was his first time successfully hitting the center from the distance he was now at. He felt unstoppable today, as if nothing could come between him and that red center he had painted not moments before. He fired shot after shot, each one absolutely flawless.

Kili smiled. Today was perfect. The sky was that perfect shade of blue that you only would see in the spring in Erid Luin. The wind was just enough to keep the young prince cool, but not enough for him to feel a chill. The grass was the brightest shade of green that Kili could ever remember having seen. He felt strong and healthy and most importantly, Kili felt at peace.

The only thing that could make the day more perfect, would be his brother by his side, munching on a red apple and congratulating Kili on the perfect shot.

With that thought, Kili frowned and looked around. Where was Fili? Was he still at home? It had to be past midday, so shouldn't he have been out annoying Kili about getting some lunch by now. He should be here.

'No matter.' Kili thought. 'Fili can take his time.' For Kili would always wait for Fili. He'd wait as long as it took for his brother to join him.

The archer continued shooting, never noticing how his quiver never seemed to empty, never noticing how time didn't seem to be passing. It could have been minutes, it could have been days.

"KILI!" A sudden yell startled the young archer, causing him to fire recklessly and miss the target completely.

"Fee! Don't scare me like that when I'm practicing. I could end up hitting you with an arrow." Kili said, turning towards his brother. The initial annoyance turned to concern as he took in his brother appearance.

"What is it, Fili. You look like you've just accidently melted down Uncle's hair clasps, or something." Kili said as his brother's eyes were frantically looking around the scenery. When Fili didn't respond Kili cocked his head to the side. "You didn't accidently melt down Uncle's hair clasps… did you?"

"Where….brother… where are we?" Fili asked, looking round again.

"Have you hit your head, Fee? What is wrong with you? We are…." Kili started very matter of fact, and then he trailed off. Where were they? Kili suddenly realized that although he felt so comfortable and assumed they were in the Blue Mountains, they were not. This archery field was not one he had been to before.

Suddenly the world cracked open. Kili was on the ground, looking up at an unfamiliar blonde face. An elf maybe? There were trees all around him. And pain. So much pain that Kili could not take a breath. It was absolutely everywhere.

Then just like that, he was back in the archery field with Fili.

"What was that?" Kili said, shaken to the core, but thrilled that the pain was gone. "Did you see that?" Kili said turning to his brother.

With another gasp Kili realized his brother was fading. He was still there, but his body had become see through, faded. Kili could see right through him.

"FILI!" Kili said, dropping his arrows and running towards his brother. He went to put his hand on Fili's shoulder but his hand went right threw him. "Fili. What in Durin's name is going on?" Kili was now terrified.

"It's not real Kili. Don't you dare leave me. Come back." Fili said, before he disappeared completely, leaving Kili alone in the archery field.

Legolas was examining the arrow wound in the young dwarf's side. Satisfied that both the bodies he had pulled from the river were in fact still breathing and still alive, Legolas found himself now wanting to keep them that way. The dwarfling was lucky, the arrow had missed vital organs. The blood was coming fast though, and Legolas did not know how much blood loss it would take to kill the dwarf child. Plus there was always the risk of poison in the arrow.

Knowing the possibility of poison was great, He removed the arrow as gently as he could. The pain caused the dwarf to open his eyes briefly, but before awareness returned to him, they shut again. Legolas removed part of his tunic and bound the wound as best he could to stem the blood flow.

But Legolas knew this was a temporary fix and would not heel the dwarfling. With a jolt he realized He didn't know what to do. The two needed care, that much was obvious. He had no idea how serious the head wound was that the blonde had, and he had no idea how much blood the brunette had lost. He could bring them back to his kingdom, back to the elven healers who could likely save both the dwarflings.

But his father….

Legolas was not one to disobey his king, but he disagreed with Thranduil's decision to lock up the company of Thorin Oakenshield to begin with. Now that they escaped, Legolas was further concerned about how he would receive these two remaining darrow. He was not a cruel leader, he would certainly give them care rather than die, but then what? Would they be doomed to remain in the elven prisons until the end of their days? Until they told what they knew of Thorin?

Until Thorin Oakenshield took over the mountain and then invaded King Thranduil's kingdom in an attempt to rescue two of his people?

No. Legolas loved his father, but he could not allow that.

"Legolas." A voice interrupted his musings. The elven prince glanced up to see Tauriel standing over him, glancing down at his findings.

"Are they…"

"No. At least not yet." Legolas interrupted, anticipating her question. Suddenly he made his decision.

"Go back to my father. Tell him the Company escaped and of the Orc ambush which prevented their recapture. Tell him the company of Oakenshield are being hunted by the Orcs. Tell him what transpired." Legolas instructed his friend and confidant.

"We have one of the Orc scum alive." Tauriel informed the prince.

"Good. The King will want to question him."

Legolas stood, lifting the blond dwarf with him, and placing him over his left shoulder. "And you?" Tauriel asked.

"I am tracking the company. I will be back to report soon, once I know where they are heading." Legolas said, now lifting the brunette like one would carry a child, holding him to his chest and trying not to disturb the wound his stomach. "Do not tell him of these two, mellon nin."

Tauriel gave a curt nod to her prince, and she turned on her heels, a smile on her lips.

Without another word, Legolas was off. The two were surprisingly not heavy, not for Legolas anyway. Thanks to his grace and balance, he was able to keep the dwarf on his shoulder secure and save his arms for the one with the arrow wound.

"Don't you dare leave me. Come back." Fili whispered. Forgetting who he was speaking too and why as soon as the words left his mouth.

Fili felt himself coming back to consciousness. He was moving, but he wasn't sure how. He could smell the forest around him and tried to figure out where he was before he opened his eyes. His head felt heavy, and his entire body ached from his journey down the river.

As Fili remembered what happened, his eyes jerked open in panic. "Kili!" He yelled, jerking his body. He then realized he was a few feet off the ground as his sudden movement caused both him and someone else to crash to the ground.

"Peace, peace my friend." A blond elf was speaking to him in comforting tones, but Kili couldn't take in the words. He was too preoccupied by the sight of his brother, now on the ground, blood soaking through the makeshift bandage wrapped around his stomach.

"KILI!" Fili yelled again, scrambling towards his brother and feeling for a pulse.

"He's alive, my friend." The blond elf spoke again, tone still soothing, hands up in a defensive posture. "But he won't be for long, please, I was taking you to get help."

"Who are you?" Fili demanded, left hand gripping Kili's shoulder as he looked for a weapon with his right hand.

"My name is Legolas, son of Thranduil, prince of the woodland realm." Legolas said, giving his full name and title in hope's to earn the dwarfs trust. Secrets breed more secrets, Tauriel had once told him. "I pulled you and your friend from the river. I was taking you to someone I thought could help."

Fili's clouded exhausted mind realized this was the 'elf princeling' whose head was wanted by Bolg. "The orcs want you dead." Fili said, for some reason feeling the need to tell the elf this.

"Well they are going to need to try a little harder then." Legolas said with a smile, which Fili returned, a temporary truce between the two.

"May I?" Legolas said, indicating towards Kili.

Fili was hesitant to allow the elf to pick up his brother but he knew realistically that Kili was severely injured, possibly even dying. The elf prince could carry Kili much faster than Fili could and Fili had no idea where to get Kili the help he needed. Fili was stubborn, but he would not let his pride cause the death of his brother. Not in this lifetime or the next.

Legolas picked up Kili and began walking swiftly. "Can you walk?"

Fili didn't know if he could, but he nodded anyway and got to his feet. Allowing a moment of dizziness to pass, he shook his head and began following the elf.

"Kili did you say his name was? And what is your name, master dwarf" Legolas asked, walking as fast as he could while making sure he did not loss the injured blond behind him.

"Fili, son of Dis." Fili answered. His head was swimming and black spots were dancing in front of his vision. Now that the initial adrenaline left him, his body felt as though he had just fought a round with a particularly vicious warg. But Fili was determined to keep up and not hold the elf back.

"Fili and Kili. Such queer names you dwarflings have." Legolas mused.

"He's my brother." Fili responded as if this would explain the name. "And we are not dwarflings. He is 77, and I am 82."

Legolas smiled. 'Brothers' he thought. 'That explains the devotion.' To Fili he spoke, "I mean you no offense, master dwarf."

A sudden moan interrupted the banter. Legolas looked down at his precious cargo, realizing that a sheen of sweat had broken out Kili's body.

"He is becoming feverish." Legolas said with a panic. "Master Fili, please, hold onto my back, I can run faster than you can walk right now. I know your injuries are no small business either. I am concerned about your brother's strength to fight of the darkness much longer."

"Just tell me where we are going?" Fili asked as he wrapped his arms around Legolas's shoulder. He knew that Thorin would be mortified to see the heir to his throne allowing and elf to carry him on his back, but Fili would not sacrifice his brother. Not for anything.

"There is an outpost not far from here. A few subjects of the woodland realm who no longer reside in the main halls. There will be a healer. He can help your brother."

If Fili thought it was strange for eleven subjects to be living in an outpost, he said nothing. For the politics of the woodland realm met little to the young prince. All that mattered as the precious bundle in the elf prince's arms.

A/N: read and review! As always: questions, comments, concerns, general thoughts are always appreciated.