Kili's test is here! Will he succeed?
Thranduil entered his study where Bard, Bain, Sigrid, and Legolas were waiting for them.
"Tilda! You were supposed to stay with us." Bard scolded.
"I wanted to see Thran Da, and I found him." She smiled.
"Indeed she did." Thranduil smiled.
"I'm sorry Thran, I hope she didn't cause any trouble."
"Not at all, she even helped me assign the young Dwarf his test."
"Test?" Legolas asked.
"Test" Thranduil nodded. "He will make his way through one of our archery courses to prove his worth. If he succeeds he is free to court Tauriel, if he does not, then he will have to leave."
Legolas gave his father a suspicious look, "Which course Ada?"
"The most difficult of course. He can't prove his worth if the task is too easy."
Legolas' eyes widened, "Ada, that course is difficult for even our most skilled warriors. The Dwarf has no hope of completing it."
Thranduil smirked, "That is not my problem." He turned his attention to the children, "The day is still young. Why don't we go for a little stroll? I'm sure the deer are out, spring is almost upon us."
"Oh yes, I would love to see deer." Tilda cheered.
The group made their way outside. Legolas walked ahead with the children, telling them stories of his childhood while their parents stayed a few paces behind.
"The forest has healed much since I was last here." Bard observed.
"It has. I make it a priority to walk my grounds once a day, so that I can grow accustomed to my forest again. It has been a long time since I have heard the forest's song." Thranduil smiled.
They walked together in silence for a while before Bard's curiosity got the better of him, "Are you really going to make Prince Kili complete one of your archery courses?"
"Of course Bard, I need to know if he is worthy of one of my Elves. He is Thorin's nephew, Valar knows what is wrong with him."
Bard chuckled, "Is it not enough that he risked his life for her? To task him to complete one of your hardest courses. Is that not asking too much?"
"I don't think so" Thranduil shrugged.
Bard shook his head in fond exasperation.
They came to a small clearing where a group of deer were grazing.
"Look Da, deer!" Tilda pointed excitedly.
"Yes Darling, now quiet. We don't want to spook them." Bard hushed.
She followed orders, but she was still vibrating with excitement.
"Would you like to meet one?" Thranduil asked, kneeling between the three children.
"Can we?" Sigrid asked.
Thranduil smiled and cupped his hands together. A soft blue light appeared, leaving several small twigs and leaves. "Here" He placed them in the children's cupped hands.
"What is this?" Bain asked.
"Food" Thranduil answered. He turned towards the deer and made a clicking noise, getting their attention. The Elvenking continued calling the deer until a large stag slowly approached Sigrid. "Stay very still and quiet." Thranduil instructed as he stretched her hands out toward the animal. The group stared in awe as the stag slowly sniffed the food in Sigrid's hand and carefully started nibbling on the twigs.
"Amazing" Bard whispered.
A few other deer saw them and came to them looking for food. Tilda and Bain slowly stretched their hands out allowing the deer to eat from them. A few approached Legolas, sniffing him. He chuckled and softly pat their heads.
"So do you talk to animals to?" Bard asked.
"No, but I do have a certain connection with those who live here." Thranduil smiled as the large stag came up to him. He ran his fingers along the strong antlers and down its neck. "I have missed this."
Bard smiled, "I'm glad. It is quite beautiful, your gift."
Thranduil smiled. "All thanks to you, my Bowman."
Bard blushed.
The group returned to the palace. Thranduil had Tauriel and Legolas entertain the children while he and Bard went off to see the Dwarves.
"Will we not eat with the children?" Bard asked.
"Not tonight. They must keep Tauriel away from the Dwarves, so I have split us up." Thranduil explained.
"Don't you think you are taking this a little too seriously?" Bard chuckled. "I mean, our courtship isn't anything like what you are making theirs."
"Nonsense, I am a King. I can do anything I want." He smirked. "Which means that I can do whatever I want to the Dwarf who dares try and court my Elves."
Bard shook his head, "You are impossible. What will you do when your Son is courted? I don't imagine he will take kindly to your overprotection."
"He will have to deal with it." Thranduil said.
"He will probably elope." Bard murmured.
Thranduil scoffed.
They met Thorin and his company at a large dining table. Bard recognized them as Kili, Fili, Dwalin, Balin, and Bofur. "Greetings, this is Bard. Some of you may remember him from our fight with the Orcs."
The Dwarves nodded, "What is a human doing here?" Thorin asked.
"I am courting him." Bard said.
"Really?" Kili asked. "Did you have to pass a test as well?"
Bard smiled sympathetically, "No"
Kili deflated.
"I'm sure you will do fine." Bard assured the young Dwarf. "Just keep your reason for doing this at the forefront of your mind and you will succeed."
Kili smiled and nodded, turning back to his food.
Thranduil smiled at Bard, squeezing his hand beneath the table.
(Spring)(Summer)(Fall)(Winter)
The next day, everyone gathered in a large training area where the archery course was set. Kili stood at the start while everyone else watched from above.
"You will navigate this course and hit all of the targets." Thranduil instructed. "If you fail to hit all of the targets, then you will not be allowed to court Tauriel."
Tauriel stared at Thranduil in shock before turning back to Kili. Legolas held her back from jumping down from the balcony and ending the test.
"Are you ready Dwarf?" Thranduil asked.
Kili swallowed thickly, looking at Thorin and then Tauriel. "I am" He replied, preparing his bow and arrows.
Thranduil nodded, "Then begin."
Kili immediately set off into the obstacle course. He did well throughout, navigating through all the obstacles and hitting every mark. The Dwarves and Tauriel held their breath when he struggled on a moving floor, almost missing the target. Bard thought he would actually complete the course. Unfortunately, when Kili came to the last obstacle, one where he would have to jump onto a spinning pillar to hit a moving target, the pillar made him lose his balance which made him miss the target. He fell to the floor, ending the test.
Tauriel and the Dwarves ran to him while Legolas, Bard, and Thranduil followed at a more leisurely pace.
When they got to the group, Kili came forward and kneeled before Thranduil, "My Lord. Please allow me to retake the test." The Dwarf was breathing heavily, but his eyes burned with determination.
"Retake the test? Why would I allow you to do that?" Thranduil asked. "You knew the consequences of failing, agreed to them. I see no reason to allow you a second chance."
"Thranduil!" Thorin growled.
"Please Lord Thranduil." Kili begged. "I will do anything you ask, just give me another chance. I know I can prove my worth."
"Kili" Fili started, putting a hand on his brother's shoulder.
Kili shrugged it off, "No, I must prove my worth." He turned back to Thranduil, "I refuse to leave until I have proven myself to you, until you allow me to prove myself to you."
Bard's heart went out to the boy, he could see how much he wanted this chance. He turned to Thranduil, but the Elf wore an emotionless mask, not even he could read it.
Thranduil was silent throughout the Dwarf's speech, tilting his head before speaking. "Rise Dwarf."
Kili looked up, "Wha-"
"Did I stutter? On your feet." Thranduil repeated.
Kili gracelessly rose.
"The rest of you will stay here." With a stern look at Tauriel he turned and left the arena, Kili quickly following.
"What do you think Thranduil will do?" Bard asked Legolas.
"I do not know. Kill him?"
Bard blanched, "You don't really think that do you?"
Legolas turned to face him, "Ada is unpredictable. He always has been, it's one of the reasons all the other Elves are nervous around him. Anything is possible."
The others left, finding something to do while Thranduil and Kili were busy. Bard went back to his children, but his mind was always on what Thranduil was doing with Kili.