Meanwhile in the Halls of the Woodland Realm:
In Mirkwood Kili had to stay in the healing ward for a few more days. He asked one of the healers to tell Tauriel that she wasn't allowed to visit. He wanted to be alone to think about what he had done and he didn't want to argue and arguing was all he and Tauriel seemed to do nowadays.
Kili felt terrible about everything he had done to Fili. He had never meant to hurt his brother that much but now it was too late. Kili finally realised that he had caused the rift between him and Fili after he had fallen in love with Tauriel. The she elf had done a lot to make the situation even worse of course. Kili had loved her but he had never wanted to leave his family entirely but she had made him stay in Mirkwood. The young dwarf was relatively happy there until Tauriel had lost the baby and had started blaming him for it. When they adopted Ronon she even used the little elfling to blackmail him to stay with her.
The young dwarf had finally realised that his love for Tauriel wasn't real; it had been a puppy love but nothing like the love he had seen between Fili and Poppy. They had experienced terrible things recently but they sticked together and supported each other. Kili knew for sure that Tauriel would have never done the same for him. He didn't know what to do. He didn't want to be with his wife any longer but he still loved Ronon and he didn't know where to go. He would have to continue his life in Mirkwood as good as he could. He had chosen this life and now he had to bear the consequences.
One morning Tauriel visited Kili nonetheless to tell him that she had written a letter to King Thorin to inform him about Fili's attack on his brother.
Kili remembered that back in Ered Luin Thorin sometimes had to punish dwarves that had injured their kin. This was considered a serious crime and so the punishment was severe. His uncle had hated the task but it had to be done. Kili worried that Thorin might kill Fili in his madness if he found out. So he jumped out of the bed and ripped the letter out of his wife's hands and tore it into pieces.
Tauriel look at her husband with wide eyes. "What are you doing? Now I have to write it again!" She said.
"No, you won't! Thorin must never know about this. I'm sure he would kill Fili if he knew." Kili explained and sat down again.
Tauriel cocked an eyebrow at him. "What does it matter? He deserves a severe punishment after everything he and his children have done here! Have you forgotten about Ronon? These bastards don't deserve life."
"None of this was Fili's fault! I know that you made Ronon blame Vili and Lili. You've destroyed my family. I hate you!" Kili yelled.
"I'm your family! Everyone else turned their backs on you. Do you want to lose me and Ronon as well? Just think about it!" Tauriel yelled while she left the room and slammed the door shut.
Kili laid down again and cried like a dwarfling until he heard a knock on the door. He sighed and wiped his tears away when Daisy entered the room. The hobbit handed him a tray with soup and milk with a smile. She was about to leave when Kili asked her to stay. He had grown very found of her and wanted to talk to her for a while. Even though she was Poppy's best friend, she didn't hate him despite everything he had done. During the last few days she had told him everything she knew about Fili's life in the Shire and had listened to his stories. She believed that he hadn't known that Vili had been taken to Erebor and about Thorin's threat. She was also quite sure that the recent events that had lead to Fili's banishment from Mirkwood were Tauriel's doing. Kili was still young and a bit naive. Daisy knew that this was no excuse for his actions a but she still couldn't hate the dwarf with the chocolate brown puppy eyes.
After he had finished eating his soup she took the tray and put it on the bedside table. Kili told her that by now Fili and his family had to be in Erebor and how frightened he was about any news that might come from there soon. Daisy had tears in her eyes and prayed to Yavanna that Thorin would spare them but she still held Kili in her arms and let him cry. The dwarf buried his face in Daisy's light brown curls and sobbed. Then he also told her what had happened between him and Tauriel earlier. She stroked his back and told him that hopefully everything would be fine in the end and that he wasn't alone.
Kili took a deep breath and felt a tiny spark of hope in his heart. He had never expected such words from Daisy who was supposed to hate him. But the hobbit gave him hope and for the first time in months he felt loved. He stayed in the hobbit's embrace for a few more minutes and thought about his feelings. Daisy made him happy and he felt at ease with her; they could talk and share their thoughts and feelings. He had never felt that way with his wife. With Tauriel it had all been lust and passion but Daisy awoke an entirely different feeling in him. Kili wondered if this was real love and what it felt like when you met your One. He would have loved to ask his brother about it but then he remembered that it was too late for that. He sobbed again and then looked at Daisy.
The hobbit smiles at him, wiped his tears away and carefully caressed his cheeks.
Kili wasn't sure if she only wanted to check his injured jaw or if it was meant as a sign of affection. But the moment Daisy touched his beard he couldn't think straight any longer and leaned over to kiss her.
Daisy blushed dark read and looked down at her hands. She didn't understand her feelings at all. Kili had most likely destroyed her best friend's life but she simply couldn't hate him. She had even enjoyed the kiss and wondered if she had fallen in love with the young dwarf. Her feelings for Kili reminded her of what Poppy had told her about her feelings for Fili. But this couldn't be, Kili was married and it would feel like a betrayal if she fell in love with him. "I think it's better if I go now. You should rest." She whispered and stood up.
Kili looked at her with sad puppy eyes. "I'm sorry. I hope we can still be friends."
Daisy smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "Of course, Kili. I would like that very much."
Thanks again for the reviews, follows and favourites! I hope you liked the chapter about Kili. In the next chapter we will be back in Erebor with Fili and his family.
Well, would you like to read some more short parts about Kili's life in Mirkwood until he will meet Fili again one day or do you want me to write only about Fili?