Chapter 6

*Kili*

After a quiet hour long nap, Kili awoke in the same position he had been in when he had fallen asleep. He rolled over on his back with a groan. Why does everything I do have to hurt? He thought. Fili stirred slightly when Kili removed his hand from Fili's, but other than that, silence reined their room.

Word must have spread about what was going to take place, because soon, one by one, the company filtered into the room. Dori, Noir, and Ori came first. They talked for a little while then decided to go, before leaving, though; Ori wished his younger cousins luck. Kili replied with, "We'll be just fine and when it is all done, we can laugh over it." After they had left, Bifor, Bofor, and Bombor entered. Bifor singed in Iglishmek and pointed to the axe in his head. Kili nodded, he guessed that if Bifor had survived with an axe embedded in his forehead, Kili's odds of living were not too bad. He singed back, You are right, Bifor. It is not that bad if you consider it. Thanks for coming. Bifor shook his head, indicating that it was no trouble to come. Bombor promised to make to best meal Middle Earth had ever known when Kili was to become conscious again. Bofor joked around for a bit then they also left. When Kili heard the sound of a fair voice he cocked his head to one side trying to figure out to whom to voice belonged when a laugh rang through the hall way like a chime of silver bells.

"Ha, ha! You can always trust a Dwarf to be suspicious. I am unarmed. I wish to only speak with Prince Kili, than my people will depart for Mirkwood."

An elf wants to speak with him? What is the world coming to? Kili asked himself.

"Very well, have it your way." a rough voice answered the elf's request, "Don't take too long. And if you dare insult the lad, I'll personally gut ya, after his uncle is done with you!" Good old Dwalin, Kili thought.

"Thank you, Master Dwarf, for your permission. And do not worry, I have no intention of harming him either mentally or physically." the elf replied. Than the door opened and the elf that had saved Kili's life in the battle entered. What was his name, was it Legolas? Yeah, I think that was it.

The Elven Princeling bowed his head to Kili unexpectedly. Kili gave his head a stiff nod in return. Legolas' green eyes suddenly filled with remorse and he knelt at Kili's bedside.

"Kili of Erebor, I have come to apologize for my actions and that of my father's when you and your kinsmen were in our realm. We should have listened to your story patiently, but instead, we acted out of mistrust and old prejudices. I do not ask for forgiveness, for we do not deserve it, but for acceptance of my apology."

Kili was momentarily stunned silent. The Prince of the Mirkwood Realm, one of the most powerful elven lords in the world, was kneeling by a Prince of Dwarves asking for acknowledgment of his apology. Kili blinked trying to make sense of what had just happened. Legolas lowered his gaze waiting for Kili's reply and closed his eyes as a sing of humility.

Kili noted this and asked, "Why did you come to me to say this? Thorin is the king, not me."

Legolas answered with his eyes sill closed, "That it why I came to you. I mean no disrespect to Thorin Okensheild, but I wished to speak to you as one prince of a mighty people to another."

"I accept your apology, Legolas of Mirkwood."

The brilliant green eyes of the elf opened and slowly he brought his gaze level to the young Dwarf's. A bright smile spread across his face and the room seemed less gloomy. Kili's own face flickered with a small smile then he sobered.

"But I cannot forgive you yet. In time maybe, but now is to soon." he said.

Legolas' smile did not falter though. "I asked only for acceptance, and you have given it freely. You are an honorable Dwarf, Prince Kili. May someday we meet again." he said as he rose to his feet.

Kili then smiled. "Just call me Kili, please. And you are one elf I may be able to understand."

"Very well, Kili it is. May your recovery and your brother's be quick, and may Mahal bless you. Farewell." Legolas bowed once more and turned to leave when he suddenly stopped as if he had forgotten something. His voice was filled with humor this time, "Oh, the plan of escape was rather unusual. Barrels were never used in such a way before."

Kili laughed lightly, "That was not my idea. That was our Hobbit's thinking."

When the elf had left, Kili pondered on what had just transpired between the two of them. Fili woke, but Kili did not notice. He was completely lost in thought. Kili jumped when Fili said his name.

"You were starting to worry me," Fili explained, "you do not stare in to nothing often."

"I was thinking. You know, a strange thing just happened." Kili told Fili of Legolas' visit and what the elf had said. Fili's blue eyes were sparkling when Kili had finished.

"Once again you make me proud to be your brother. I wish I had been awake to witness that. Legolas may be sorry for his actions, but I wonder if Thranduil is?"

"I don't know. I doubt it. His son is a good deal better than he is, you can see that at first glance." Kili said.

"Well for me, but when he had an arrow nocked to his bow and was pointing it at Thorin, he was not looking to friendly to." Fili answered. Kili nodded and said nothing. After a minute or two, Kili drew a long breath.

"I wonder when they are going to get this over with. I getting bored waiting." he said. Fili grinned. "You never were good at waiting, Kee; you are just like Mum in that."

"We're opposites, you and I. I am impatient, impulsive, and dark, while you have infinite patience, you are thoughtful, and light." Kili replied.

"That's why we need each other. We are a team, we balance each other out. Like the two sides of a coin."

"Well, if we are a coin, I'm heads and you're tails." Kili joked.

Fili smiled, "That's funny. Really funny." He started to laugh softly, "No, I am heads."

"Nah, I think not. I am the smart one, and all you do is follow my lead, so I am heads because I go first and I have all the brains and you are tails because you are next." Kili countered. Fili just rolled his eyes. He's not even going to argue with me! That can only mean two things; ether I'm right about that or he is worried. Kili turned to face his brother.

"It is going to be fine, Fili. When this happens I want you to be with me, I want to face this the way we have faced everything. Together." He said this looking his brother directly in the eyes. The muscle under Fili's right lower eyelid twitched the way it did when he smirked and the corner of his mouth turned up in a half smile.

"I am going to stay right here, and nothing will make me leave. We will face this new challenge like we always have. Together." Fili reached out his hand without thinking anything of it and Kili took it and squeezed lightly. Fili returned the squeeze a little hard, then Kili. They did that until the last time Fili squeezed, Kili grunted with the pressure.

"Sorry, Kili, I did not mean to hurt you." Fili apologized.

Kili shook his head, "You never do, but really, Fee. I'm not going to crumble."