"My king! One of the prisoners has fallen ill! I believe he has fever. He is of softer ways and the stress and separation has brought him to fever. The others aren't happy because of the shape he's in. He is very ill." Tauriel said as she carried the wailing little man to the king on the throne. She had him under the arms and holding him as far away from her as she could manage.

The dwarf was in fact in bad shape. He usually had a fine time dealing with stress and wounds and everything else life throws at him... as long as he was with his fellow dwarves. As long as he was with someone. Being separated by walls and being put under so much stress had brought him into a fever. At first he thought it might be his yearly heat but that was still months away. Then he felt fuzzy and helpless and well. Here he is. So far away from reality he tried to latch onto a tree as they passed it. He wanted something big and strong like bubba or his uncle. But no, he was being carried at arms length by a she elf.

Kili was sobbing and sweating and crying and bawling likes baby- he is a baby.

The king quickly got up and rushed toward the little one. Something strong, parental, sparked in his chest. Legolas used to throw fits like this, that would cause him to fever. Thranduil scooped up the dwarf and held him tight against his chest. Kili automatically latched on and rubbed his face against the fabric on Thandruil's shoulder.

'Safe Warm Strong Big Cozy Safe Gentle Smells Nice Safe Protected' Floated around Kili's foggy little mind.

"I can tend to this matter. Please announce no one is to come to me or my chambers til I say. Keep an eye on the rest of them." Thranduil said matter of factly.

Thranduil carried the still crying and sobbing little man to his chambers and put him on the bed after prying the poor thing off him. Kili screamed and wailed when he was taken away. He wanted snuggly! He need to be taken care of! He wanted the warm safe thingy!

"I know you poor little thing. I'm here though let's get out out of the hot nasty clothes. I'll give you a warm tunic, something that smells nice." Said the king as he took off Kili's boots then his coat, tunic, and pants that were all soaked in sweat. He had already developed a bit of a sweat rash on his back. Thranduil quickly stripped out of his tops until he was bare chested in his trousers. He pulled his still warm tunic over the smaller's head. Kili calmed a bit at the warm safe scent. The tunic smelled like spring water and cut plants. Thranduil laid down propped up against his pillows and pulled the baby onto his chest. Just like he used to do to his own son.

Kili snuggled up so his knees where tucked into the much too big for him tunic.

Thranduil cradled the dark haired head and rubbed up and down Kilis back. He would occasionally lean down and press his lips to Kili's forehead to check his temperature or gentle take his tiny wrist into his own hands and feel his pulse.

"Poor little thing. Poor child. Poor little baby. Calm down and cool off. Shh sleep. Exhaustion is just as bad as fever. Sleep my poor little child." Thranduil said and watched Kili dose off.

Hours pass before Kili wakes up cooled. He woke up feeling tired but better than when he last remembers. Last remembers... shaking with fever in his jail cell. Feeling small. Feeling sick. Wishing to be with anyone. Any of the other dwarves or even the burglar.

But now? He woke up warm and safe and sated. As he woke up more he realized he was laying ON someone. Someone much bigger than Thorin and much much bigger than Fili. Then he realized not only was he laying on a man but also not wearing pants or shoes or anything other than his under clothes and his tunic. Not his tunic. Much much too big to be his tunic. Kili started to panic before he cracked open one of his eyes.

Oh no.

Oh no no no.

No this isn't what's happening.

He is not laying pantsless on the king. He is not laying on king Thranduil. No he isn't. He isn't clutching a chunk of his hair in his hand. He is NOT laying on king Thranduils nice safe big warm chest. He isn't. This can not be happening.

"I can hear you thinking. Are you feeling better little one?" Thranduil spoke and his breathes moved Kili up and down. Kili blushed and was about to jump away when Thranduil guides Kilis forehead toward his lips. Thranduil holds him there for a moment before pulling away and sitting up with Kili securely in his lap.

"You feel much cooler. Are you hungry or in need of anything?" Thranduil asked as if Kili wasn't eye level to his bare chest. Kili quickly wiggled away and searched for his clothes.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry I don't know what happened I thought I was in heat but I'm not I don't know what happened I'm sorry I'm sorry!" Kili was rambling as he tried to get his trousers up but the tunic he had one was way too long. Oh god it was the kings tunic. Kili quickly whipped it off and tossed it toward the bed. Kili got his tunic and boots and looked for the way out.

Thranduil moved with such grace and elegance as he pulled on his tunic and the rest of his shedded layers.

"Young one, easy little one. There's no harm done. No disrespect. You had a fever is all. I'll have you drink some water though since you were sweating quite a bit. Calm down before you go." Thranduil said in a quite calm voice. A soft voice few had ever heard. Kili stopped and looked down.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I want- can I- where's-" Kili stumbled through. He just wanted Fili or Thorin. He wanted his family.

"Yes Tauriel is taking you to Fili and Thorin. Calm down and stope apologizing. I like being a healer. I enjoyed caring for you, young dwarf."