Meanwhile in Mirkwood

Three days after Fili and his family left for Erebor, Kili finally woke up. He had been given a medicine that had made him sleep for a few days. He noticed the bead in his palm and frowned at Tauriel who sat next to the bed. "Fili?" He whispered and winced in pain since his jaw still hurt terribly.

"They are finally gone and won't cause any more trouble. I'm proud of you. It was the right thing to inform King Thorin. I will also make sure that he knows about what he did to you. He will find the right punishment for this crime." Tauriel said and stroked her husband's arm.

Kili sighed and closed his eyes. He didn't want to talk to his wife about Fili. He still didn't understand why his brother was scared that Thorin might kill his family and why he had injured him.

When Tauriel finally left to look after Ronon, the dwarf opened his eyes again and looked at the bead in his hand. Kili had made it for his brother when he came of age. Fili had loved it and wore it proudly every day. Now a tear rolled down Kili's cheek since he was completely sure that he had lost his brother for sure. He put it on the bedside table and saw a letter standing there. He immediately noticed Fili's beautiful handwriting on it and opened it carefully.

Dear Kili,

I'm sorry for what I did. I've never meant to hurt you in all my life. I've literally grown up looking after you and being there for you. Then Tauriel stepped into your life and suddenly I couldn't reach you anymore. I don't want to blame you and I was probably a bit jealous but I still don't understand why you left the family for her. I think she has a bad influence on you. Poppy thinks that she made your son fall down the stairs and then blame Vili and Lili for it to force us to leave. And I think she's right. Kili, I swear that they haven't done anything and Mahal's great hammer shall hit me if I lied.

Speaking of my children, I still don't understand why you forced them to go to Erebor with me. I accept that Thorin will probably kill me. I guess I even deserve it after injuring you that severely. But why did you sent my children to their most likely death? Are little ones not precious to you anymore? I simply don't understand it.

I hope we will meet in the Halls of Waiting again one day. Maybe we can talk about everything there.

Please forgive me and don't hurt Poppy if she comes back to Mirkwood with Bilbo. She has lost her whole family and some of her best friends. She deserves a peaceful life with her remaining friends.

I'm really sorry for everything I did!

With love,

Fili

Kili looked at the letter in shock. He noticed several teardrops on it and sighed. He still couldn't understand why Fili thought he'd die though.

A few moments later Daisy entered Kili's sickroom with a tray of food.

Kili looked at the hobbit and frowned. "What are you doing here? Are you going to kill me?"

"Why should I kill you?" Daisy asked and put the tray in the bedside table.

"You're Poppy's friend and I've hurt her family." He answered.

"I'm here to take care of you because the elves will train me to become a healer." Daisy explained in a rather cold tone.

"I'm sorry, umm, Miss hobbit!" Kili murmured.

"I'm Daisy." She said and looked at the letter. "Is this from Fili?"

Kili nodded and gave it to her.

Daisy read the letter and started crying. "I still can't believe that I will probably never see them again. Even if King Thorin spares Poppy I will have lost my best friend. Her body will still be alive but her heart and soul will be dead. Why did you tell him?"

Kili took the hobbit's hand. "I'm sorry. But would you tell me why you think Thorin will kill him. Fili ran away but that's no reason to kill someone."

Daisy took a deep breath and sat down on a chair. Then she explained everything that had happened. She told him about how Poppy fell in love with Fili, their wedding, the birth of their children and most importantly the kidnapping of Vili to Erebor. Then Daisy had to take a break because she couldn't stop crying anymore.

Kili was shocked. He hadn't even known about the kidnapping and felt sorry for his brother. He knew what it was like to loose a child and no parent deserved something like that. But he didn't say anything and let Daisy continue her story.

When Daisy calmed down, she told Kili that King Thorin had threatened Fili to kill him if he ever came to Erebor again and that his children would pay for their father's deeds as well. In the end she also told him about the Orc attack on the Shire and everything that had happened afterwards.

Kili gasped and then tears started rolling down his cheeks. Now he finally understood why Fili had been that scared. He knew that Thorin was mad and worried deeply about his brother's and the children's wellbeing. He wanted to help them but he knew that it was to late.

"Mahal, what have I done." Kili whispered and kissed his brother's bead.

Thorin pushed Fili onto one of the chairs in the interrogation room and stood close to him. He watched his nephew closely and then started to speak in a threatening voice. "You have ignored your King's orders and betrayed my trust. I hope you know the punishment for such actions."

Fili nodded and swallowed hard. "Aye, my King. It's a severe crime and I'm well a are thst you will punish me with the death sentence. Amad told me that you'd kill me if I ever came too close to Erebor again." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I will accept my fate but please spare Poppy and my children. None of this is their fault. Please let them go back to Mirkwood with Bilbo. They will never bother you again, I swear."

Thorin didn't say anything and seemed to think about what to do. Children were precious and he didn't want to kill them. He didn't care about them but it might cause trouble if his subjects found out. He walked back and forth in the small room and finally started to speak. "Well Fili, I have an idea. You will cut off you're wife's wedding braid in front of the whole of Erebor and tell her to leave with her bastards. You will tell her that you have never loved her and just wanted to have some fun. Then you'll cast them out." He laughed when he saw the shocked look on Fili's face. "Then you will marry Lady Liz. I'm sure her father will forgive you for being a fool and still agree to the marriage and a trade agreement."

Fili still looked flabbergasted and didn't react immediately. So Thorin barked at him once again. "What do you say? This is your only chance for a good life. You will be the heir to the throne you were meant to be and you're whore and her children may live happily with Bilbo." Then he glared at him. "And here's some advice! You should play your part well and make the people believe that they don't mean anything to you, otherwise it might end very badly for them."

Fili still looked at his uncle with wide eyes while a tear escaped his eyes. "I can't do that. I can't hurt them like that. Kill me if you have to but please spare them!" He sank to his knees and begged.

"You're not worth of being a Son of Durin!" Thorin struck Fili in the face and went towards a chest that contained several weapons. He played with some of them and then turned around again. He looked at his nephew and suddenly an evil smile appeared in his face. "Well Fili, son of Vili, I think I just found the right punishment for you." He took a knife and held it close to Fili's cheek and throat.

Thanks again for the reviews, follows and favourites :)