The Mountain of Light

Disclaimer: Not mine.

AN: The final chapter!

I can't even begin to say how much I've appreciated your support. Thank you all for being so lovely and motivating me along the way!

Chapter 13

In his entire lifetime, Thorin Oakenshield swore that he had never seen someone who could look so beautiful and so innocent just by staring up at him with big, azure eyes.

For one among countless number of times, he found himself absolutely mesmerised by Thranduil as the elf whispered to him with earnestness painted all over his face.

"Meleth, forgive me." He whispered and at that moment, whatever respire Thorin had been feeling towards the blond had quickly melted away. His mind soothed entirely and his arms subconsciously folded around the other as he felt Thranduil bury his head against his chest.

"Hush now," he cooed to the elf, capturing his lips in a loving kiss, "It is fine. I understand."

"I never intended to put you in line." Thranduil said, leaning towards the touch Thorin provided him. "I never wanted all of this to happen. I just wanted that diamond. I lusted over it for too long. I didn't see clearly what mattered to me the most."

Thorin it his lips and sighed. He had a lot many things to say but he chose not to. Thranduil already was repenting and only the realization of his wrong was enough for Thorin.

He drew his lover close and went on caressing his hair.

"As did my grandfather." He replied back, trying not to look back at the fallen figure. He too never intended for everything to turn up the way it did. However, Thrór was lost in his greed long before. It was but his shell that Thorin had taken down.

He couldn't hide his surprise when he felt Thranduil's arms wrapping around himself as the other spoke in the gentlest tone he had mingled with shyness.

"I did mean it." Thranduil confessed, pulling away just enough so he could hold gazes with Thorin. Once more, they exuded sincerity in its purest form and once again, Thorin found captivated by the soulful eyes which landed on him.

"I meant everything", Thranduil went on kissing Thorin's cheek lightly, "And it was real."

Finally, a smile was seen on Thorin's lips. At that very moment, the dwarf prince felt an enormous weight being lifted up from his heart and the pure delight which took its place was so overwhelming than any other emotion Thorin had ever felt.

He cupped his love's cheeks and kissed him passionately.

"And it still is", he responded in a hushed tone and smiled widely as he took note of the sparkle of mirth coming from Thranduil's eyes. "Should you accept?"

"Oh but I do." Thranduil responded brightly and before Thorin could say anything else, he found himself being showered in kisses that the elven king so lovingly planted on him.

It seemed like eternity when they both remained in each other's embrace. However, the peace and tranquillity didn't last long as they were both utterly shocked at the sound of Thorin's name being called in a frantic tone.

Both turned around and Thorin's face immediately fell as he saw his nephew standing a few feet away from him, breathing laboriously. His hand was clenched on his shoulder and from where they stood, Thorin could easily see dark crimson liquid escaping from beneath the young one's fingers as he staggered towards the two of them.

It only took a moment for Thorin to understand what had taken place. It only took a moment for him to be in a state of utter shock.

"Call off the attack, Uncle." Kíli rasped and winced as a sharp pain took a hold of him. "Not many elves are left."Kíli was weak and from his appearance, it seemed he had put on a great fight. "It's—"

Before he could finish, he gasped loudly as his eyes widened with utter pain flashing from them. Before either of them could even begin to fathom what had just taken place, Kíli was roughly shoved aside, revealing a maddened Thráin pulling out a bloodied knife.

Thorin's mind filled with shock and terror and all of a sudden, he couldn't find it in himself to remember how to breathe.

He saw Kíli falling to the side and coughing up blood; he saw Thranduil rushing for the young one's aid but none of it registered in his mind.

All he took in was the form of his father, who looked like unleashing the world's rage against him.

Seconds had passed before Thorin finally snapped out of his horror. The shock was gone and was now replaced with a boiling anger as Thranduil's soothing words to Kíli reached his ears.

"Why?" He snarled at his father, hardly keeping himself together. "WHY? WHY WHY WHY? Why did you do that? Why did you hurt MY nephew?"

His voice lost all its poise as he began yelling as desperation and disappointment cornered him.

"What did he do to YOU? He had even COMPLIED your foolish ORDERS! Why did you hurt him from behind, you COWARD?"

"Watch your tongue!" Thráin screamed in return, his voice booming in the hall enhanced more by the echoes reflecting off the walls. He snarled fiercely, throwing away his composure and dignity as he addressed his son in a way one would address his enemy. "How could you do that? How could YOU kill my FATHER? How could you betray your kin? How could BOTH of you be so vain?"

"Vain? We never blackened the faces of our kin over some silly ROCK!" Thorin retorted back, eyeing the other sceptically. His sword lay on the ground and one wrong move would make him injured.

It was so unexpected. It broke his heart but it seemed his father had decided whom to avenge.

"We never endangered anyone for the sake of satisfying one's foolish obsessions! If anything, we have tried our hardest to PREVENT it! Whatever is happening, it is all on YOU!"

Thráin's demeanour changed rapidly from angry to pure livid at that comment. His snarl became dangerous as his hold on his weapon tightened.

"No, it is all on you." He hissed dangerously while shooting a dirty gaze at Thranduil, "You betray our people. Your own family? For what? For that opportunistic bastard? You think he loves you? He'll bed anyone who satisfies his greed!"

"Enough!" Thorin roared and Thráin was taken aback by his son's reaction, even if for a moment, before gathering his bearings.

"Don't you speak to him like that!" Thorin went on, his own voice etched with warning, "Even if he had wronged some of us, he never had the intention of killing over some petty jewel."

That was perhaps the last straw Thráin could handle. In the blink of an eye, he charged fiercely at Thorin and launched into merciless attacks.

Thorin cursed himself for being weapon-less but due to his agility, he barely was able to remain unscathed while dodging attacks from his more experienced father. After all, he had seen much and it took a level of tactical genius to formulate the ambush within minutes.

Minutes went by and Thráin showed practically no sign of exhaustion much to Thorin's dismay. Because of all the physical and emotional upheaval he faced all day long, exhaustion was finally setting in and he didn't know how much longer he'd last.

The older dwarf was pushing Thorin against one of the walls, his plan to corner him and by the looks of it, Thráin would have no moral crisis of taking his son's life—seeing as it were, it was Thorin who'd slain Thrór. The only person whom Thráin worshipped.

In a moment of carelessness, Thorin's footing gave away. As he tripped on the floor, he knew that he had met his match when Thráin's dagger came down towards him with lightening speed.

Thorin narrowed his eyes, bracing himself for the impact but was immediately taken aback when he attack fell through midway, much like his father, who went still before his eyes rolled at the back of his head and he fell callously on the floor.

Thorin looked up with a huge surprise and took in the form of his lover. Thranduil had his sword in hand, hilt extended midair while he inhaled heavily, looking coldly down at the fallen dwarf.

"You..." Thorin felt his voice growing dry as he took in Thráin's very still body on the floor.

"Just put him to rest." Thranduil replied, sheathing his sword, before attending Kíli, "He will be fine. What you'll do with him—I leave that up to you. But as for your nephew, he requires immediate medical attention."

Thorin quickly regained his senses at the mention of Kíli. He rose up hastily, securing his father and said, "I'll call off the attack. You take Kíli to the healers."

Before leaving, he heard Thranduil calling his name. As he turned, he saw the elven king smiling in gratitude as he said, "Thank you."

Thorin smiled back and nodded. He knew what Thranduil referred to and returned his own thanks for saving their lives.

He started heading for the doorway but before he could leave entirely, he glanced at the other over his shoulder and spoke in a meaningful tone, "I too meant every bit of it."

While he headed towards the raging attack, he didn't notice the subtle smile spread across Thranduil's lips as he gently lifted Kíli up and went in search for the healer.

"You know, we never decided what we should do about it." Thorin said sitting beside his father in his chamber, referring to the Ered en Calad that Thranduil still had on his person.

Thrain was out of danger but it was a long road for him towards full recover— physical and psychological.

Thranduil was leaning against Thráin's bedpost, lost in his thoughts when the voice of his lover brought him back to attention. He tilted his head slightly and spoke with a bit of hesitation, "I was thinking about the same thing."

Thorin arched a brow, indicating Thranduil to elaborate.

The elven king caught the hint well and went on thoughtfully, "It did belong to Thingol. And we are in a way his descendants. However," He paused as a light frown appeared between his brows, "As long as it stays with either of us, it will go on causing disputes and bloodshed."

Thorin straightened at Thranduil's reply, clearly very interested to know what Thranduil intended.

"So what do you propose?" He asked and was slightly perplexed when the elf's lips curled with a faint smile.

His eyes followed Thranduil as the other walked up to one of the open windows, overlooking a cliff. Thranduil took out the pouch and gingerly untied it and once more, as the jewel was taken out, its splendour put both of them in absolute awe.

However, Thranduil quickly tightened his fingers over it and Thorin got even more curious when the elf dangled the jewel far beyond the window sill.

"It was better when it was nothing but an elusive lore," the elven king spoke softly, his eyes having a faraway look in them before they hardened with determination. "Let it be so."

With that, he flung the jewel out of the window making Thorin jump out of his chair and join him as they both caught a sight of it rolling down the cliff, before disappearing between trees and boulders.

And so it was lost again. The Ered en Calad—the Mountain of Light—which had been sought over for centuries; which had caused so many fights, betrayals and bloodshed was once again became the object of fascination. A fable whose myth would never fade. It would go on enticing people, captivating them in hopes for seeing it again.

It would only be a matter of time before its search would be on again.

But not today. Not anytime sooner.

AN: That's the end of MOL but there's an epilogue! :D