"Legolas," Kili smiled. His pallor was fair and he was looking well-rested. He tried sitting and Fili propped a few pillows behind his back. "What're you doing here?"
"Came to see how you were," he replied. "Heard you were finally awake."
"Uncle know you're here?"
"Actually, no." Legolas chuckled nervously, "I didn't even know he had returned. Fili was just telling me he arrived a few days ago."
Kili nodded then waited for the elf to continue.. only he didn't. He slightly crinkled his brow. "You're not going to ask me if I remember anything?"
The elf laughed. "I'm sure you've gotten too much of that. Besides, I came all the way from Mirkwood to see you and how you were doing. I don't want to hear of what happened in the past."
"I like him," Kili said, turning to look at Fili.
His brother smiled fondly. "Not too much, I hope." He watched with content the conversation between elf and dwarf. They were comfortable in each others company, if only Dis could see that-
A movement from the corridor caught his eye and he saw her heading for the room. He straightened to greet her, Legolas noticing and following suit.
She seemed pleased to see him for her face held a light smile and her eyes held a nice sparkle - though with Kili being awake, she could be happy to see her worst enemy. "Hello, Legolas. Did you manage to get by without Thorin seeing you? I guess we would have heard some commotion downstairs if you had been seen," she laughed.
Legolas flicked his eyes to Fili for a second before replying, "Fili was just telling me he had returned. How is he?"
She shrugged. "Don't know. Stays locked away in the throne room most of the time."
"Ah, well, I've come with news of my own," he said now that both dwarves were in the room. "My father's at the edge of Mirkwood's borders. He should be within our realm in two days."
"That is good news," Fili commented.
"Yes, very good news," Dis hummed in agreement.
Fili refrained from giving her a sideways glance. "Do you know of his plans when he returns?"
"No, but I am sure he'll want to speak to Thorin."
A wave of silence settled on their small-talk which Kili found confusing. "Why did he leave Mirkwood in the first place?"
Legolas turned to him as if forgetting he was there.
".. if I may ask," the brunette dwarf finished awkwardly.
"Oh, of course. Uh, he never really told anyone why." He gave a short laugh. "We shall see when he speaks to Thorin and, I am assuming, Fili as well."
Dis clapped her hands. "Well, it was truly thoughtful of you to stop by, Legolas, but-"
Fili turned to his mother, a stiff smile set upon his lips. "Dis, why don't you go fetch Bofur from the kitchens. I'm sure he'd love to see Legolas again."
The female dwarf sharply looked at him. "Fili." Her voice was tight and on the verge of disagreement.
He glared levelly at her. Having the elf remain in her son's bedroom, speak to him, be near him, was the last thing in this world Dis wanted. "Yes?"
"May I speak with you?"
His stiff smile turned to a thin line. "You may speak with me once you've returned with Bofur in tow."
She remained rooted to the spot, looking very conflicted about her next move. Legolas was surprised (and Fili was thankful) that she reluctantly left the room - stormed off with clenched fists, but left nonetheless.
"What was that all about?" Kili asked.
Fili gave him a warm smile. "Mum doesn't want you to overdo it with seeing so many visitors is all," he lied.
He glanced at Legolas and gave him a brief smile.
Ori knew he was a bother though many of the company - all who were wary of Dori - insisted he wasn't. Still, conflict ran through him as he stood unsure of himself in the doorway of a spare room in Thorin's chambers. The blond heir was hunched over a small table, busy scribbling across a piece of parchment. He hated to disturb him for he seemed like he didn't wish to be bothered.
But Ori told himself Fili was not Thorin.
He picked at his jumper and knocked quietly. "A-are you busy?" he asked in a timid voice.
Fili looked up, mildly alarmed. He put down the quill. "No," he replied. Then he waved to Ori. "Come in."
He stepped into the room and sat down on the long seat. His hands still played with the loose threads of his clothes.
Fili took the seat beside him. "So, what's bothering you?" he asked, holding concern for his relative.
Ori wrung his hands. "Well, I-I just wanted to know..." He licked his lips and thought of the right words. "... what it was like for you to lose Kili for the first time, you know, after the Battle." He swallowed past the lump that was forming in his throat. "Dori and Dwalin don't seem to understand what I'm going through, but the more I think about it, I don't even know what I'm going through."
He couldn't bear to look at Fili though he could feel the dwarf watching him carefully. He knew this was a bad idea. But he had thought that if he could still talk to Fili, he could make Dwalin understand his pain.
"This was a mistake," he suddenly said, standing up.
Fili stood too. "Wait. Ori, listen. Whatever is bothering you, I'd honestly like to help." He grasped the other's shoulders and had made Ori look at him.
Ori shook a bit.
"Yeah?" Fili urged softly. "Tell me."
A small whimper left the light brunette dwarf. "I just.. I just feel so lost and confused - most of the time too," he confessed. "Like everything muddles together, and I have no control over my thoughts some days. I mean I-I snapped at Dwalin a few weeks ago, and he hasn't spoken to me since. Then D-Dori, I feel like I'm losing everything here!"
Fili tried not to look at Ori with such pity but he couldn't help it. "I understand what you mean." He tightened his grip on Ori's shoulders. "When I lost Kili, most of my days were dark and gloomy and I couldn't find a way out, you know?"
Ori looked at him.
"Thorin was the one who was like you - depressed. I never really, I mean, I had to stay strong and supportive to him. I couldn't fail. It hurt and the guilt for not being more hurt ate me up, but I have felt the same sadness you feel.
"Dwalin and Dori," he sighed, "they love you, Ori. They're just giving you space because that's what they think you want. If you don't want that, just tell them."
"They don't speak to me. They can't even look at me. And I don't blame them."
"I've seen Dwalin. He's broken about this. He knows you're hurting but he doesn't want to pressure you into anything."
"Nori's gone," Ori said in a broken voice. "He didn't even have the guts to tell me himself. He waited until Dori told me."
Fili ran his palms across his pants. "He didn't know about Nori until Bofur told him. He had been in the dungeons all day when the news broke. I'm sorry, Ori, I know you want to be right about this, but he honestly didn't know."
The other was silent for several moments then he sniffled. "Then he didn't deserve all the yelling I gave him. Oh, he must hate me!"
"He doesn't. Thorin was short with me too. I understand - Dwalin does too - there are too many emotions inside you."
Ori wiped at his nose. "Nori. I can't believe it. He's gone. And Dori is still hellbent on coddling me and keeping me away from Dwalin. He's even more controlling than before."
"He wants you to be safe. Dori and Dwalin - no, Dori doesn't like Dwalin."
"I don't know what to do about them anymore."
He chuckled. "I don't know either."
Ori let out a little laugh. "Do you suppose they'll always hate each other?"
Fili shrugged. "Dori's just gonna have to learn that you're your own person now. That you don't need his protection anymore."
He nodded, thinking about all that Fili helped him make sense of. He sniffed, "Thank you, Fili."
"It was nothing," the blond smiled in return.
Ori closed the door of his and Dwalin's chamber quietly behind him. Dwalin was sitting on the armchair in front of the fireplace in the common room. He was sharpening his knives, and he didn't look up at the sound of the door closing.
"Hi," Ori offered in a small voice.
The older dwarf grunted in reply but still didn't look up.
He fiddled with his jumper and hesitantly and carefully made his way to the other. "C-can I talk to you?"
Dwalin finally moved. He put the knife down and looked at Ori. His eyes still wore concern despite everything the younger dwarf had put him through. "What is it?" he asked in a soft voice that had Ori realizing he had really been a terrible person.
"I-I talked to Fili today..."
The other's brow creased. "Yes?" His tone suggested Dwalin was worried it was something rather serious.
"He made me see how I have been towards you and how you did not deserve it."
Dwalin's features softened. "Ori-"
The younger dwarf shook his head firmly and held up a finger. "Let me finish. I know I have been grieving over Nori, but I should not have shut you out like that. You're my One. You're supposed to see me at my worst and I'm sorry for all the pain I have caused."
"Ori, it's fine."
"Is it?" he demanded suddenly, tears shining in his eyes.
Dwalin's mouth turned upward in a slow smile. He reached out his hand to the other. "Aye. If this is what ye want, then it doesn't matter what ye've done to me. I don't wanna push ye."
Ori heaved a great sigh of relief and took Dwalin's hand, letting the dwarf pull him close. He wrapped his arms around Dwalin's neck and buried his face, whispering, "Thank you. You're a good man, Dwalin. I don't know how I deserved you."
"All is forgiven, my love. Do not fret over such matters. Ye are my One, there is nothing I wouldn't do for ye."