A week later, a dark haired dwarf wearing a quite well-worn blue tunic skirted a bend in the large hallway that ran its winding course through the Mountain City of the Blue Mountain range. He was panting and looked as if he was searching for something or someone, for every few feet, he would pull up suddenly, look around and then dash off again.

Finally, he seemed to have found what he was looking for, for he stopped to regain his breath before knocking on one of the numerous oaken doors that appeared simultaneously throughout this portion of the hallway. He rapped the door with his bare knuckles and stood back, still panting.

A feminine voice was heard in reply, "Come in." The dwarf opened the door and slipped inside, closing it behind him. The woman, who was seated at a wooden table writing, turned around, a shocked expression appearing on her face. "Kíli, what's wrong?" she asked, getting up from her seat, an urgent tone in her voice.

Kíli had regained his composure and said, "Rhonwen, you must come. It is Fíli. I don't know what happened or anything, but he wouldn't get up this morning."

Rhonwen raised her eyebrows, saying quite dryly, "That's nothing new."

Kíli sighed impatiently. "No, it's not that. He wouldn't respond to anything and when I drenched him with icy water, he just simply blinked, stared at me blankly and went to sleep again. It has never happened before."

"No, it hasn't," she said, looking away and biting her lip. "What do you want me to do?"

Kíli stepped closer to her and grabbed her wrists gently. Rhonwen met his gaze. Kíli reached up and brushed a few loose strands of her golden hair out of her eyes, brushing the side of her face lightly. "I think Fíli has lost the will to live. I need you to help me regain it. He will get over it, I know he will. But for now, he won't believe me."

Rhonwen looked at him earnestly. "Do you think he will believe me when I, who have been the source of his dreams, have dashed them to pieces and broken his heart? I think not."

Kíli sighed again. "At least you can try."

"And if it doesn't work?"

"You can have the satisfaction of knowing that you tried everything."

"Anything else?" she said with a smile and a twinkle in her eyes.

Kíli pulled her into an embrace, their foreheads touching. "What do you mean, 'anything else'?" he scoffed.

Rhonwen laughed. "Alright, I will come."

Kíli smiled in return. Then he surprised her by suddenly kissing her cheek before rushing towards the door. He turned and said, "I'll see you there. And be quick," he added before rushing down the hall.

A few minutes later, Rhonwen hurried down the corridor which was lined with torches that provided light for the dwarves who frequently used it. She opened the door to see Kíli sitting on his and his brother's bed. He turned at her entrance and walked towards her. "I'm glad you finally decided to come," he teased softly. Rhonwen smiled nervously and then looked at the still form on the bed. "I don't know what happened, but I think he's sick."

"What?" she asked surprised.

Kíli nodded. "See for yourself," he gestured towards the bed.

Rhonwen walked to the mess of blankets and sheets on the large cot which lay on the floor. Fíli lay still, pale and ashen underneath them. Kíli had been right, he did look sick. Beads of perspiration lay on his face and neck and when she touched his forehead, it was hot. "Why didn't you tell me he was this bad?"

"I didn't know till now."

Rhonwen sighed. "I see. Quick, I need you to get Dís. And hurry," she added.

Kíli vanished down the hall, reappearing shortly afterwards with his mother who looked almost as pale as her son.

Rhonwen, who had been looking at Fíli, looked up as a near-frantic mother burst into the door, followed by her other son. Dís looked down in anguish at her son who lay feverish on the cot.

"How long has he been like this?" she asked, her voice strained.

Rhonwen shook her head. "I don't know. Kíli was here before I was."

Dís looked from her to Kíli, who stood looking down at his sick brother. "I had been talking to Rhonwen, and then when I came back, he was like this," he said simply.

Rhonwen knelt down beside Dís and gently brushed Fíli's hot forehead. Then, she started back onto her knees, her eyes shining. Dís and Kíli stared at her. She turned to Kíli and said, "Kíli, go see if Coriann left any of those leaves, kingsfoil, in her cabinet. Go!" Kíli disappeared.

Meanwhile, Dís hurriedly brought some cloths from some medicine cabinet and water, some of which she had put over a fire, for it was boiling hot. Fíli was nearly frantic now, tossing and turning amidst the blankets. Rhonwen pulled them away, leaving them at the foot of the bed.

Kíli came back, panting from the run. He sat down quickly next to Rhonwen and their eyes met. "Did you find any?" she asked, quickly.

Kíli took a deep breath, smiled, and handed the small flask of dried herbs to Rhonwen, who took it up, almost greedily, and hurried over to the kettle, which still sputtered and steamed, and dropped some of the leaves in. Both Kíli and Dís stared at her. "What are ye doing?" Dís asked, confused.

Rhonwen looked up and paused in what she had been doing. "Coriann used it. I thought it might work for Fíli," she cocked her head in his direction. Dís looked at her sick son and thought for a few minutes.

Then she nodded. "Aye, use them." Dís gave her consent and then proceeded by ripping some large cloths into smaller ones before dipping them in cool water and gently placing them on Fíli's hot forehead.

Rhonwen finished with placing the leaves in the hot water and watched as the fragrant leaves dissolved in the steamy liquid. Her attention was broken when Fíli cried out in his delirium. Hurriedly, she stirred the leaves into the water and then placed some of the cloths in it before giving one to Dís who placed it on Fíli's forehead.

Some time later, Dís bade them both leave, assuring them both that she was capable to take care of her son. Rhonwen softly closed the door and leaned against it, her eyes closing. "What is it?" Kíli asked softly. Rhonwen opened her eyes and stood up straight. She shook her head. "Please tell me," Kíli urged.

She sighed softly. "Kíli," she began, "you remember when you and Thorin were on guard a week ago?"

"Aye, I do, but what does that have to do with this?" he asked, puzzled.

Rhonwen looked away, down the empty hall, the torches flickering darkly in their places on the walls. "You remember what happened that night, between Fíli and I?"

Kíli's puzzled expression changed to one of negative remembrance. "Aye, I do," he said, his voice strewn with caution. "You mean that he caught the fever because of his broken heart?" he asked incredulously.

Recently, due to the unexpected temperature change this spring, many of the dwarves had caught colds, coughs, and a few had fevers. The unusual warm weather made everyone prepare for an early spring and a sudden cold front that had descended on the mountain the past couple of weeks caught them unprepared. "I think so, Kíli," she said. "After all, your mother had been taking care of many of the sick ones and maybe he got sick as well."

"You're saying that you think he caught the illness because he is so broken hearted?" he asked suprised.

Rhonwen shrugged. "I'm not very sure, but that's what I think is the problem. I do wish Coriann was here. She might know what to do."

Kíli nodded and then added with a smile. "Aye, but she's not here. I think Mother will know what to do."

A few days later, Dís stepped into the Singing Hall where most of the dwarves were engaged, singing their deep throated songs which vibrated to the very corners of the immense room. Quickly, she stepped to where two persons sat listening to the music. She touched one on the shoulder and spoke softly. "Kíli, your brother's fever broke about an hour ago. He's sleeping peacefully now." She looked at the beardless dwarf that sat next her son.

Rhonwen glanced up as she did so, relief showing on her face. "He will live then?" she asked.

Kíli poked her with his elbow. "Of course, silly. Everyone knows that once a fever is broken it doesn't usually come back."

Rhonwen grimaced. "Alright, joke's over," she said dryly. Then she addressed Dís. "When may we see him?"

"Mayhaps when he wakes again. Though in your case, I would wait a bit first," she meant kindly and Rhonwen understood that t'would be better to wait a time first before seeing Fíli again. She nodded and then turned back to the singing.

Sometime later, about a few weeks, the sun came back and the days grew longer and warmer. Rhonwen hadn't seen Fíli since when he was sick and it became a habit of hers to avoid him. Though for what particular reason, she didn't seem to know. Whenever she heard the familar footstep in one of the halls, she took off running in the opposite direction. Of course, this also meant that since Kíli usually was with his brother (they were inseparable) she hadn't seen him more than twice since they found out the good news that Fíli was getting better. So,now, she grew accustomed to running from the sound of Kíli's footsteps as well. And this day was no different.

Rhonwen walked through one of the smaller branching passageways that ran through the mountain city, a thin cloak pinned over her tunic. The days had increasingly grown wamer and many of the dwarves began to take off all the heavy layers worn for warmth in the winter months. She was whistling when she suddenly stopped and listened. Sure enough, the firm tread that she was familar with was heard behind her.

Without a glance back, she took off running. Suddenly, the footsteps quickened and followed her. "Wait Rhonwen!" she heard Kíli call out behind her. She pulled up short, turned around, and faced him. 

Kíli slowed down until he reached her. Then he stopped and gazed earnestly at Rhonwen. "Where have you been?" he finally said.

Rhonwen looked down and bit her lip. "Nowhere."

Kíli sighed impatiently. "That's not the truth. I haven't seen you since Mother spoke to us that day in the Singing Hall. I've seen you in the distance, but always you would run. Why? Why do you hide?"

Rhonwen looked up, inhaled deeply, and began. "I've avoided you and your brother because I didn't want to see the hurt look on Fíli's face. I didn't want to feel like I was the cause of all this. And since you both are mainly inseparable, I ended up avoiding you as well."

Kíli looked at her hard. "You mean to say that you've avoided both of us because of what Mother said?"

Rhonwen nodded and then added hastily. "But it wasn't easy. Don't take me wrong, I cannot say how much I've missed your company, including your brother's. I have few friends here and having to ignore both of them was difficult."

Kíli looked at her, almost sadly. "I can't tell you either how much I've missed your company as well," he said softly.

Rhonwen felt her eyes water and before she knew it, tears began to roll down her cheeks. Kíli gently reached out and pulled her into his embrace. She cried softly on his shoulder, but soon stopped, straightened, and wiped the traces of tears from off her face. "I'm sorry," she apologized.

"Nothing to be sorry for," he said with a smile. "I suppose we're both to blame since we haven't cleared this up with Fíli. Besides, Rhonwen, you might not want to hear this, but I think you better talk to Fíli, and soon, because Coriann is coming back in a few days."

"She's what?" she asked surprised.

"Aye, she is. She sent a message only today. Long story about that and even I don't know all the details. Come with me and we will speak with him together."

Rhonwen nodded and they both went down the hall till they reached the place where Fíli stood, outside on one of the balconies. Ironically, Rhonwen noticed that this was the same one where Fíli had spoken to her weeks ago. She wondered if he had realized that as well.

Kíli cleared his throat rather loudly, causing his brother to turn around in surprise. But when he caught sight of Rhonwen standing next to him, he stiffened. "Yes?" he asked, addressing his brother.

"Rhonwen has something to say to you," Kíli said and having taken that load off his shoulders, he walked forward till he stood next to his brother.

Rhonwen started nervously, looking down at the stone floor at her feet. "I'm sorry, Fíli, for not talking to you about this earlier--"

She was interrupted by Fíli shaking his head 'no'. "Let's not go over that again," he said hastily. "Do you mean to ask for forgiveness? Because that was granted long ago. It's not your fault that I fell in love with you; the blame is upon me. I should have remembered what happened last time, but I was to foolish to think about it. Will you please forgive me? After all, we can't undo the past."

Suddenly, it seemed that time itself had stopped. The scene before her vanished and Rhonwen saw lifelike scenes passed before her eyes. She saw what looked like a battle, though unlike any battle she had seen. Men, Elves, and dwarves, a few of which she recognized, were fighting a battle against enormous odds, an giant army of orcs and goblins. She, Fíli, and Kíli were fighting side by side. Then a stroke dealt by one of the foul beasts pierced through Fíli's armour and into his body. He gasped with pain and fell to his knees. She could hear the words Fíli said painfully as she and Kíli knelt over him, --for Kíli had said he only wished he could have stopped the stroke-- that they couldn't undo the past, and that what was done, was done. Just as quickly as the scene had come, it vanished, shrunk now to only a distant, shadowy memory. The scene about her came back and Rhonwen looked at Fíli for a few moments. Then she spoke gently. "I forgave you that night. Can we still be friends? Or shall this incident sunder us completely forever?"

Kíli watched with interest the conversation that was taking place. Fíli looked now at the ground, probably thinking about his answer. Silence reigned for a few minutes, broken only by the warm spring wind whistling round the mountain. The sun shone down warm on the mountain side as Kíli began to bounce slightly up and down on his feet. He was growing impatient for Fíli's response. Rhonwen looked like she thought the same too, for she crossed her arms and squinted in the bright sunlight, quite a change from the gloomy interior of the mountain city. Finally, Kíli spoke up. "Fíli, just get used to it. After all, someday hopefully, she will be your sister."

Fíli started and looked at from Kíli to Rhonwen and then back again. Rhonwen flushed scarlet and stared at the cool stone floor. Kíli looked at his brother and started to laugh. "Well, she will be your sister, I think."

Fíli snorted. "What do you mean 'you think she will be my sister'?" he scoffed. "Of course she will be!" He suddenly surprised both of them by hugging Rhonwen. "And I'd be proud to have her as my sister," he added.

"We will be friends then?" Rhonwen asked, still stunned by this unexpected change of events.

"Aye," he said softly, stepping back. "I have been dealt a wound by my own folly, and it like any other wound, will take time to heal. But yes, we will be friends." He smiled.

Kíli nodded and then said, "I think it's best if we go back inside. Mum might be wondering where we are." With that the trio entered the mountain once more.

That evening in the Singing Hall, the dwarves, Rhonwen and Kíli included, sat around or near the great central hearth which had several large burning logs cut from the pines surrounding the forest. Many were engaged in the singing, but Rhonwen, Kíli, and Fíli just listened. The song they now sang was familar to Rhonwen by now, though it wasn't sung very often due to bitter feelings about what had taken place at Erebor so many years ago.

The song is the one that is sung at this moment.

https://youtu.be/BEm0AjTbsac

Yet even as Rhonwen listened to the bittersweet melody, her gaze wandered about the room. Then she noticed Fíli sitting in a corner, obscured by the wreaths of smoke that portruded from many of the dwarves' pipes, watching her. His gaze was sad and wistful and cut Rhonwen to the heart. He was right, she thought. It will take time to heal his broken heart.