Chapter Text
He stood with a smile on his lips and joy in his piercing blue eyes. It had been so long since he had seen so many colors swirling, heard music and laughter and felt truly at peace. Of all the places to find it- under a mountain and among the once exiled dwarves. Legolas Greenleaf shook his head.
Thorin, King Under the Mountain, sat at the high table with Balin on one side and his beloved Dwalin on the other. Together, the three watched as dancers circled around a blond dwarf and his most loved hobbit. Fili and Bilbo had eyes only for each other as they danced together in the center of the ring.
The tall elf frowned, finally realizing what had been bothering him all evening. Someone was missing. He straightened, looking for one dwarf out of the many gathered. There was Bofur sitting with his cousin and brother; Oin and Gloin refilling their steins, Ori laughing with his brothers as they tried to dance together off to the side. Yet, there was still one missing.
It was only thanks to sharp elven eyesight that Legolas made out the figure watching from the shadows. He cursed those same eyes as they bore witness to the deep longing in those once familiar features, a pain lancing through his heart. As if the dwarf sensed he was being watched, he suddenly shrank back into the darkness.
The elf prince moved, struggling to keep up in the maze of tunnels, before finally calling out to the young dwarf. “Kili! Wait, please!”
The dark haired figure froze, slowly turning to face Legolas, confusion plain on his face. When he was finally able to catch up, the elf was startled to see the shape the shape the dwarf was in. Torchlight flickered across a pale and drawn face. Worn clothing hung on a frame too small to fit properly. Fear peered out from under loose, unbraided hair. Legolas reached out to touch to other, only to draw back when Kili flinched.
“My friend…what happened to you?”
Lip moved, yet no sound came forth. Kili tried again, a whisper that even eleven hearing could not make out. Finally, a third time.
“Friend…?”
Legolas blinked at the raspy voice. “Is that not what we are?”
Kili tilted his head, looking at the elf in wonder, his eyes pleading. “You…would…call me…that?”
The words sounded so pained, the elven prince had to restrain himself from reaching again for the smaller being. “I know it has been a while since we last spoke, but nothing has changed for me to not want to call you that.”
Desperate hope now stretched across features that should have been too young to contain such emotion. The dwarf took a step forward. Just a single, small step.
“Would…you like…to see my…workshop?”
Legolas tried to replace the worry with a gentle smile. “I would love to!”
A ghost of something appeared on pale lips as Kili turned to lead the elf further down the hall which appeared to end in a collapsed pile of rubble. It was an illusion though, as the dwarf slipped through a camouflaged crack, Legolas following with a bit more effort.
On the other side was a little room though the vaulted ceilings made it feel larger. A small forging area took up most of the space. What remained was taken up by a large worktable and stool, a bookshelf and a small cot. The table was cluttered with various tools and half worked toys and jewelry. Under it sat a box of completed works. The bookshelf was stocked with a few books, several gem filled jars and stands for working jewelry. The cot was covered with worn furs, a battered pillow and a single tattered blanket.
Legolas grinned as he looked around. “This place is amazing! You and Fili must love it!”
The dwarf’s body stiffened as he sat down at the table. “He…doesn’t know about it…You are the first being I’ve brought here. Thorin…wrote this area off as being destroyed.”
Though he wanted to ask why Kili needed a sanctuary like this, he refrained. It was obvious his smaller friend was hurting and he did not want to push. Instead, he just leaned on the table and watched the dwarf work.
After a bit he looked over the table and spotted a beautiful, delicate coronet among the clutter on the table. He picked it up with a smile. The craftsmanship was even more impressive closer.
“Did you make this? It’s lovely!” Kili just nodded, not looking up. “Who is it for?”
The reply was so quiet, the elf had to strain to hear it. “Me.”
Blue eyes widened in surprise. “Why do you not wear it?”
“It was never given to me.”
Legolas looked at the dwarf in confusion. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Kili set down his tools, his hands shaking. “The first full moon after a dwarf royalty’s 85th birthday is known as the Coronation day. It is the day they are given their title. For…Fili and I, it would have meant being named Thorin’s heirs- princes.”
He smiled, though tears ran down his cheeks. “It’s a day spent together with family. Fili’s Coronation was obviously late, but Thorin held it four months after the battle. It was a wonderful day. Thorin, Fili, Bilbo and I had a delicious breakfast together. Then Thorin took us out to show us where he and mother used to play as children. We had a picnic. And when Thorin left to make sure everything was ready for the crowning ceremony…”
Legolas chuckled as Kili suddenly blushed. “The three of you enjoyed some…quality time?”
The dwarf nodded though the smile faded. “It…it was the last time the three of us were together like that.”
“What happened?”
Kili closed his eyes, tears still streaming down his cheeks. “That...that night, I heard Bilbo… he said he treasured the moments he had with just Fili above all else.” He swallowed hard. “I left then…I couldn’t face him, knowing that he…he didn’t really want me there. So I left and eventually found this place.”
“Kili…”
He bowed his head, dark locks dropping to cover his face. “It’s been two years since then- you would think I would be over it by now…”
“But something happened…” Legolas blinked as realization finally hit him. “You never had your Coronation day.”
“I…I made that crown because I knew Thorin was too busy to make one like he had for Fili. It was stupid. I knew they wouldn’t remember…” The small body was trembling with barely checked emotions. “Why remember the shadow when the light has already been celebrated?”
The elf pulled his friend into an embrace, holding him tightly. Eventually, Kili hesitantly returned the hug.
***
A few days later, Legolas entered the workshop to find Kili working on a beautiful crystal necklace. They had hardly had time to speak again since the night the young dwarf had cried himself to sleep. Legolas had laid him on the cot and covered him with the thin blanket, staying there for a few more minutes before leaving.
“Hello, Kili.”
The young dwarf looked up, a smile on his lips that almost reached his eyes. “Mae goven, Legolas.”
The elf grinned. “Very good! I will make a proper elf ambassador out of you yet!”
Kili’s smile faltered, but he turned to show the prince what he had just finished. “What do you think?”
“It’s lovely!” He turned the mannequin so he could see the other side. “Do you have anyone in mind for it?”
“No…I just thought of the idea. I think I made it too long for a dwarf, though.”
Legolas tilted his head in thought. “I know of an elf maiden who would love it.”
A soft chuckle escaped Kili’s lips, catching the elf a bit off guard. “A lady friend?”
He snorted- a sound that was odd coming from such a refined being. “She is sister to some friends of mine- Arwen, the daughter of Lord Elrond.”
“Oh.” Kili thought back to his short time in Rivendell. “I don’t think I met her.”
“I believe she was visiting kin in Lothlorien at the time your company showed up.”
Kili looked at the ornament. “How could I get it to her?”
“I am leaving to visit them in a week. I could take it to her, if you like.”
Smiling gently, the dwarf took the necklace and carefully placed it in a beautifully carved wooden box. He handed it to his friend. “I hope she will accept a gift from a stranger…”
“You are no stranger to me, Kili.”
The dwarf lowered his eyes. “I am a stranger to everyone else…”
“I am sorry that I will have to leave tomorrow.” Kili just shrugged pulling another project towards him. “However, by the time I return, it should be near your birthday. If the weather is fair, let us plan to go on a hunt together.”
Dark eyes looked up at the elf, hope buried under suspicion. “Why?”
“Why not? I have never been invited to a celebration of your birth.”
“That…that is because there has never been one. Not in the halls of Erebor, at least.”
Legolas blinked. “But I have been to your brother’s…”
Kili looked down at his work. “His is almost a kingdom wide holiday. He is the crowned prince.”
“How…why does your own family do this to you?”
“It’s not their fault. I have never really been wanted or needed. Fading away like I have means fewer problems for Thorin and Fili.”
“Yet you still make gifts for them.” He chuckled sadly at the dwarf’s bewildered expression. “I see the broaches, necklaces and knives that were obviously made by you.”
“You would be the only one that would see that…”
“I also notice that most of the company has something from you, though I doubt they know it.”
“No…they wouldn’t. I leave them in wrapped packages by their doors at night.”
Legolas chewed his lip for a moment before asking, “Were these favors ever returned?”
Kili reached across the table and picked up an obviously hand knitted scarf. “Ori made this for me that first winter. He made one for everyone…but it was the last gift…”
Sad blue eyes took in the sight of the dwarf unable to go on, clutching the teal scarf as if it were the most prized silk in the land. Legolas felt his heart go out to the youngling. He had never known the pain of being so alone, not when his father cherished him more than anything else in this world and he had always had plenty of playmates growing up. And here was a young prince of dwarves, cast aside and forgotten for the sake of convenience.
“Then…if the weather is bad, I will bring a small feast for the two of us to share down here, and we shall celebrate together!”
A tear streaked face turned to him, a faint smile on pale lips. “That…would be wonderful.”
Legolas held out his hand. “Then until we meet again, mellon-nin.”
Kili tentatively took the others arm. “Until then…”
***
It wasn’t until darkness fell that Legolas found the small gift. They were bedding down for the night, when the elf reached into his saddlebag for his flint. Instead of the fire starter, he pulled an elegantly engraved box. Lifting the lid, he found a small medallion. On it was a golden tree with leaves of emeralds. There was no note, no signature but none was needed.
Hugging the gift to his chest as a tear escaped down his cheek, he thought of the lonely, young dwarf creeping though the shadows to say goodbye in the only way he felt he was allowed.
***
“It’s about time you got here!”
Legolas sighed as one of the twins teased him. “My humblest apologies. We were waylaid by goblins on the way over the mountains.”
Humor turned to concern. “Are you alright?”
“We are fine.” He let one of the stable masters take his horse after grabbing his bags. Other servants took charge of the horses belonging to the party he had traveled with. “They are not so well organized since Thorin’s company passed through.”
“What’s this? An elf singing praises of dwarves?” The other twin joined his brother. “Elrohir! Go alert the healers! I believe Legolas is sick!”
“Very funny, Elledan.” The blond elf rolled his eyes at the pair, gratefully returning the silent hug from Elrond’s adopted son. “Hello, Estel. It’s good to see you again.”
“And you, mellon-nin.”
“Is Arwen here?”
“She is in the gardens. Why?”
“I have a delivery for her.”
Human eyes narrowed. “From who?”
Legolas chuckled. “Calm down. It’s from a friend.” He started towards the gardens, the three brothers following.
The beautiful elf maiden stood near a rose bush, collecting some of the blossoms. She looked up and smiled, seeing the blond among the brunettes. She set aside her tools and basket to greet him with a hug.
“Legolas! It’s wonderful to see you again!”
Teasingly, he picked her up and spun her around in a circle, delighting in her laugh. He set her down and withdrew a package from his tunic. “It’s good to see you too, Arwen. I have a gift for you, and thought I should place it in your hands before I get dragged off by your brothers.”
She blinked, a curious smile on her lips. “There was no need for you to get me anything…”
Legolas tilted his head, his smile becoming sad. He handed over the box. “It is not from me.”
“Then…who?” She lifted the lid and gasped in wonder and delight. “It’s beautiful!”
The twins looked over her shoulders, both lifting an eyebrow. “It’s not elven made…”
Feeling the human quietly seething at his side would have normally made Legolas eager to tease, but he found he had no heart for it this time. “No, it was made by a dwarf who lives alone deep in Erebor, who makes beautiful things and wonderful toys. He gives them away, leaving them wrapped in packages at closed doors. He has never expected thanks for his gifts and has never received any.”
Even Estel calmed at the sorrow in the elf’s words. “Who is he?”
Legolas touched the pendant at his throat. “He is Kili, sister-son to Thorin, forgotten prince of the Lonely Mountain.”