Luin jumped up onto one of the half crumbled floors of a tower as his swords flashed. The three orcs surrounding him fell back down the stone steps with loud shrieks. Luin paused panting for a moment. No more orcs ran forwards to kill him. They must be somewhere else. He was high up above the ground. The tall turret covered slightly by the mist. It must be hidden from the battle below but it would not be that way forever. The brief respite made Luin stagger as all the exhaustion and pain made itself known. His side throbbed and his ribs felt bruised from a tumble he had taken earlier. One orc had gotten in a lucky slash on his thigh. It was not too deep but blood still dropped down his leg. The crimson colour mingling with the black orc blood splattered across his clothes.

Luin breathed heavily, wiping his sweaty brow against a piece of his tunic that was marginally cleaner than the rest. His hair hung in matted clumps around his shoulders. A strong overwhelming sadness tugged at his chest and he stumbled again, dropping one of his swords as he braced his hand against the wall. The blade hit the stone with a metallic clang. Luin groaned as tears began pouring down his face. Logically, he knew what this was. It was the second stage of Qi deprivation, volatile emotions. He was leaking energy like a sieve. It was causing his body to go haywire.

Luin bit his tongue to not cry as he tried to keep his thoughts straight. He couldn't concentrate. He was just so sad. It lay in his chest like a heavy weight, making it difficult to breath. All this death, this fighting, what was it for? Fili was dead. Thorin, Kili, Dwalin and Bilbo too for all he knew. They were somewhere. All his friends were dead. He was in a strange country, forbidden from ever returning to his homeland and among strange species. Now he was dying. What was the point?

The still remaining clear part of his mind was screaming at him to keep moving. Keep going. But everything was so heavy. He sagged, second blade falling out of his fingers. His frame toppled and he lay defenceless on the stone. The world was so far away and his limbs were so so, so tired. Not even the uncomfortable position or the stone steps digging into his side broke through the swirling haze. He felt numb and yet terribly, so terribly cold. The point of this all seemed do meaningless. Was it all worth it? It would be better if he died here. There was no point going further. Seven hundred years on middle earth, there was no point in continuing further.

Distantly, he was aware of the pull of energy. He was still powering the shield below. It didn't matter. When he died the thing would shatter anyway. Those people would be slaughtered. If they were lucky, it would be quick. But what about Bard and his children? Baby Isak and his mother? Would he allow them to die too? He was just so done with all the suffering. It hurt. It all hurt so much.

Luin was aware of footsteps approaching him. The sound dancing on the edge of his consciousness. They were light and speeding up. Finally, he thought, it would be over. Hands caught at his head, fingers pushing away his hair. The touch was warm. He could hear panicked breathing.

"Luin", a voice said. It's tone was torn. "Luin, blue light. Guiding light. Wake up. My wizard. Wake up". Luin tried to blink. He knew that voice. But everything was so hard. Moving was so hard. He couldn't even keep the flow of Qi going anymore. It was best if he just stopped.

Down below in the city of Dale, the blue glow enveloping the great hall shattered. Tendrils of blue magic fizzled out and the dome fell. The musical instrument in the centre of the floor, a guqin, lost it's glow and remained motionless. The people in the hall murmured in confusion. Bard standing on the steps with the remnants of his men, eyes turned towards the castle on the mountain.

"Luin", the voice was there again. Luin felt his head being moved. It was rested on something soft, something warm. The breaking of the shield connection brought a new clarity to Luin's mind. Qi slowly being reabsorbed into his body, circling through his meridians. The effects of deprivation began to lessen and the weight in his chest eased. Fingers brushed against his temple and Luin frowned. His body still ached and his mind felt like it was underwater. An exhaled breath of relief was audible in this quiet nook of the castle.

"Luin. Guiding light. My light. Wake up". A soft voice. Murmured elvish as thumbs brushed against his cheeks.

Luin's eyes struggled open (when had he shut them?). Recognition sparking a tiny flame of hope. "Legolas?" He croaked, throat dry. Above him, the blurry face of the elven prince smiled. It was like the dawning of the day. Legolas' white blonde hair and blue eyes were so bright against the monochrome background of stone and clouds. Luin's lips twitched weakly back as the flame of hope grew.

"Luin", Legolas breathed. "Are you okay?" His nimble fingers were once again brushing across his cheek. Luin instinctively moved towards the warmth, body chasing the energy.

"I need", Luin mumbled. Legolas bent closed to his face, blonde hair falling to create a curtain around their heads as he struggled to listen. "Power. I'm going through Qi deprivation". Legolas frowned at the description. He didn't know what Luin meant. Hesitantly, he pressed his hand into Luin's, ignoring the sweat and blood stains.

"Take it", he offered. "All that you need. I give it to you".

Luin gripped the larger hand tightly. He drew in a deep breath, chest expanding as he forced his Qi to circulate. The flow of energy travelled up Legolas' arm and through his body. It drew on his strength and natural flow of life, using it to expand both their powers. Luin gasped as their energies connected, back arching in Legolas' hold. He had never done this with anyone before. His parents had often shared their Qi with him when he was a child but he had never attempted it with someone of a different species. Elves had their own different magic, so it was theoretically possible. The result was like a wave. He could feel the forest, the life and souls of the trees. There was the taste of fresh spring water in his mouth and a comforting smell of rain and earth.

Luin shuddered and Legolas gripped him tighter, free hand pulling him closer to his body protectively. Luin's black eyes shot open. He needed more. All he could think was Legolas. Images blurred in his mind. Legolas at all stages in life. Hands on his first bow. Feet stepping on his father's long robes. Leaves in his long blonde hair. Luin could see and feel everything in a overwhelming, yet somehow soothing, whirlpool of colours and sounds. It felt like he could see down into the prince's very soul.

"Legolas", Luin's voice was halfway between a gasp and a sigh as his back arched with the rush of power. It buzzed through his meridians like a electric shock. His feet kicked and he blindly reached up with his free hand. His fingers knotted into blonde hair and he pulled the prince's face down. Legolas followed willingly. Their lips met and Luin exhaled with soul searching relief at the touch. He fell limp.

Legolas was the one who shuddered this time. He could also feel things. He could see in his mind Luin's life. Luin as a child upon the deck of ship, playing in the rigging. Luin feeling the wind the first time he flew. Laughter and warmth. The taste of clear water. Of the night sky and endless depth, smoke trailing along the edges as something within him burned. Legolas fingers cupped Luin's cheek as the other tugged on his hair. Both of their other hands still linked.

Their lips moved in tandem, not too deep but a irresistible connection. Everything felt more intimate than that. It was beyond what words could describe. It was as if everything was in place. All their dreams and questioning finally answered.

Luin broke away and Legolas instantly missed him. Their hands fell apart and the connection faded. Some part of it was still there, left behind. If Legolas concentrated, he could feel a distant clear softness at the corners of his soul. It was intertwined with his magic. Legolas felt the jewel over his chest pulse at the search. He had tied the gift around his neck with a piece of string. The energy now linking them as one.

Luin gave him a soft smile. He felt better. Not a full strength but no longer dying. He could move his limbs and now had a clear mind. It was like everything had washed away. Legolas smiled back.

"Hello", Luin greeted. "Thank you. I would love to continue this but there's a battle to be fought. We can't hide here forever".

Legolas laughed. It sounded as clear as a bell. He helped Luin up into a sitting position, wounds still making their presence known, before standing himself. Luin bent down and retrieved his swords, mentally apologising to them for letting them go so easily. He would never try to do so again. Legolas was picking up his bow, Luin hadn't even noticed that he had dropped it, when a shout echoed through the stone castle.

"Kili!" Tauriel's voice echoed. Both of them froze. Legolas jerking his head up, face worried for his friend.

"Tauriel!" Kili's voice was a lot fainter. Luin began hurrying down the steps and hopping over the dead orcs. Legolas at his heels as they went to help their friends.

AN: I was planning on having more happen in this book but my poetic ass just had to write a 1000 word kiss scene.
I had a plan. My creative side said no to the plan.
Yay, more work.

Also, would you guys want a Q&A at the end? If you do, comment the questions you want to ask about the book and character.