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✧ There was, and probably always would be, a part of you that was awkwardly out of place with the rest of Middle Earth.
✧ Not even out of place like the wizards - beings not quite of this plane and yet purposefully sent to be here - but just... out of place.
✧ Some benefits come from not being a wizard, of course; the fate of Middle Earth does not rest on your shoulders, and you don't have to stick to one particular colour for the rest of your days.
✧ Your heritage was what led you to come to Imladris - ruled by the half-elven. Most likely the closest you would get to understanding.
✧ The Valar had given you some small gifts, and so when you arrived in Imladris you had offered your services as a guard for a chance to stay in the valley.
✧ Lord Elrond had made it clear you would be welcomed regardless of your contribution to the place, but after a short while accepted your offer to help guard his home.
✧ It was nice, being a guard. To have something purposeful to fill your days with, rather than doing almost nothing in Rivendell (which you would have done for a while, should there have been no obligation).
✧ Still, as the sun rises again in the sky you can't help but wish for something more interesting.
✧ A hidden valley where outsiders do not come is good news for the valley, although sometimes weary for the mind.
✧ And then, you feel a slight disturbance at the border of your Lord's realm - the entrance to the Hidden Pass.
✧ Focusing for a moment, you allow your gifts and the valley itself to inform you of what has arrived. There is the familiar presence of the Grey Wizard, alongside fourteen others.
✧ The thirteen come to you as dwarves, their hints of jewels and stones carried even over the long distance. The undertone of pride and bravery. The final presence is a mystery to you, but it feels comforting - like flowers and the first honeyed mead. It is almost certainly not a threat.
✧ Even if not a threat it is still your duty to greet the visitors, to ensure the wizard's friends can be trusted, and so you begin the walk to the Hidden Pass.
✧ The silhouettes of your visitors soon become clear to you, and if you were not positive that the fourteenth presence was not dwarven you may have been tempted to doubt yourself.
✧ Only a few minutes away, Mithrandir finally notices you - giving you a small smile and dipping his head.
✧ Apparently, your presence is not a fact he deems to share with his companions; the quiet gasps of shock are immediate as you round the corner to meet them, as is the sound of weapons drawing.
✧ On instinct you raise your own weapon as well, looking upon the people in front of you.
✧ Stepping forward to match Mithrandir, the dwarf you assume is their leader looks to you, "Gandalf assured us there would be no ill-will born to us in the valley, and yet it greets us with weapons?"
✧ "The dwarven kingdoms are so assured in their power they employ no guards?" You take little care to keep your words from being cutting, but your weapon lowers. "Mithrandir is correct, there is no ill-will given to you, merely custom that we should greet travellers before they come too far."
✧ Talking over the mutterings of the dwarves, Mithrandir's smile turns to you again. "It is good to see you again. We are to speak with Lord Elrond, at the earliest we can."
✧ "Once he returns to the valley, of course." Your eyes flicker to where they had walked from, "Orcs were spotted near the Hidden Pass, he led a group to fight them off. I don't suppose you have any idea why they might have come so close to the valley?"
✧ It's possibly petty to ask them, and the angered murmurs return, but you are rewarded with Gandalf's laugh before anyone can address it. "As a matter of fact, I may have... some ideas."
✧
✧ Kíli wasn't entirely sure what he had been expecting when Gandalf had forced them into the entrance at Rivendell, although he didn't share his uncle's belief when Thorin had immediately questioned the wizard and the elves.
✧ He shared more of an opinion with Bilbo, a smile on his face when he saw the hobbit's look of awe (of how it would look when they first gazed upon Erebor), that the place was beautiful. Even if it was elven beauty.
✧ What Kíli wasn't expected was to see the sudden glint of steel as they were about to round the corner.
✧ Drawing his weapon is instinctive over anything else, because once he can fully see you he wonders why he's decided to draw steel on you.
✧ That impression lasts until you respond to Thorin; except even when he joins in with the grumbling of the others there's a part of him that wants to laugh at it instead. Or at least smile.
✧ There's a part of him - for some inexplicable reason he can't place - that feels off when you turn your back on the rest of the Company to talk only to Gandalf and not pay much attention to the rest of them.
✧ You speak loudly when Thorin addresses you, enough for the Company to hear you and not to have Thorin relay your message back thirteen times, and each time you speak Kíli attempts to commit the sound of your voice to memory. Just so he can recognise its owner the next time they appear out of nowhere with a weapon.
✧ The only other time you turn around your gaze seems to fall on Kíli, and he stands straighter for a moment before it continues over to Bilbo - asking what exactly the hobbit is.
✧ He notes how Lord Elrond address you as well, with the command of a lord but something else as well. Respect was the closest word Kíli could think of.
✧ As the rest of the Company begin to follow Lord Elrond to food, Kíli hangs back for a moment instead and turns to you. You've moved, but it's to the gates of Rivendell instead of with him- with them.
✧ "Are you not dining with us?"
✧ Looking at him, he can feel the slightest bit of blush begin to show on his cheeks before your respond. "No."
✧ "Well, in the dwarven kingdoms guards would traditionally continue to escort the guest until at their true destination." Kíli isn't sure why he's continuing to speak, or if it will even work. But before you can say no he opens his mouth again, "You never know; all sorts of things could happen to me between here and... there."
✧ "All sorts of things?" You respond, and then you laugh.
✧ Kíli knows in that moment is was worth making a slight fool of himself in order to hear that sound (and that he'd do it again).
✧ Then he's rewarded further as you do move towards him, before waiting only a step or two away for his feet to start to move.
✧ How long would you wait for him? His mind asks the question, and then he tries to shake the thought from his mind and talk to you like a normal person.
✧ To his surprise your tongue continues to be sharp even when not threatened, sharper than what he thought an elf could do, but it is something he welcomes.
✧ The two of you continue to trade sharp words, but they are without malice. With mirth and teasing, even.
✧ It stings a little more when you stop near their dining table, and he realises you aren't to go further.
✧ But the Company has plans to make, plans he needs to devote his full attention too. And he is lucky to have walked with you this far.
✧ "I suppose your duties will keep you busy, during however long this stay becomes?" Kíli tries to sound casual, although the snicker from behind him suggests he's not doing a good job.
✧ "Imladris is a peaceful place," you respond, "I can sometimes get quite bored."
✧ You turn quickly after that - and Kíli hopes it is quickly enough for you to not see how red his cheeks have become.
✧ Even before he turns around Kíli knows what type of grin will be on the face of his brother and the rest of the Company.
✧ He finds that he doesn't truly care.
✧
✧ To Kíli's relief, they are allowed to stay in Rivendell a while. And although he spends time with his brother and the Company - they will be there for all of the quest. He wants to try and spend time with you.
✧ It isn't too hard to find you, and you stop when he calls your name and runs up to you.
✧ "Kíli." You dip your head to him, "How may I help you?"
✧ "I'm feeling unsafe walking around Rivendell." He tries to memorise the concern that sparks in your eyes before continuing, "I think having a guard to accompany me for the day would be beneficial."
✧ The concern in your eyes shifts to irritation, but there's a more playful undertone to it.
✧ "Where would you like to walk then?"
✧ For a moment Kíli can't quite believe that his luck worked for him. But he takes the opportunity.
✧ Then, his mind goes blank on the places he could go too and where he's seen. "Where would you say is most beautiful in Rivendell?"
✧ As the two of you walk Kíli continues to ask questions, absorbing everything you're telling him while giving information about himself as well.
✧ Eventually, the subject of the dwarven kingdoms is brought up - and you continue to listen.
✧ It's not something Kíli would ever expect from an elf, and he tries not to feel self-conscious as he continues to talk and eventually starts to ramble.
✧ But you keep engaging with him, keep asking questions. There's still a genuine tone of interest in your voice.
✧ Eventually, you get stuck on the name of a place in Khuzdûl and a short laugh slips out before he can help it.
✧ He can instantly feel the regret, but to his relief you don't immediately shut down. You take him up on his offer for him to say it more slowly, with some over-enunciation.
✧ After only a few tries you already sound much better (Kíli isn't quite sure how he feels about your voice being tinged with the gruffness some Khuzdûl contains).
✧ "You learn very quickly, especially for an elf."
✧ Your face brightens at the first part, but the smile you give him on the second part isn't quite as joyous. He internally curses his words, before you speak again.
✧ "Thank you, but I'm not an elf."
✧ "You're not?" The confusion on his face must be obvious, but as he looks at you again he isn't quite sure what he should have said.
✧ "Well, not entirely. Because I live in Imladris, I assume?"
✧ The blush that comes onto his cheeks suggests a different reason.
✧ Kíli waits for a moment but the silence is still there and he resolves not to be shy.
✧ "Elves are widely said to be the fairest of all in Middle Earth." This time he can't meet your eyes, "I- I thought you an elf due to your beauty."