To Love a Half-Blood (A Kili Fanfic)

Chapter 25: Royalty

 In the following hour, Kili caught and cooked two fish and the plan was carefully laid-out. With a full stomach and high hopes for tomorrow, Fili turned in for the night. My brother took me to the edge of the firelight, away from the dwarf-brothers.

 "I do not want our knowledge to fall into their hands." He explains. "Elven healing is one of the most precious secrets of our people. To many it seems limitless but you bust remember that it has limitations." I nod, eager to fix my foot and learn a new skill. "For the most part, elven 'magic' just accelerates the normal healing process. By sharing your energy with another person their healing time dissolves. Most wounds are only deadly because they take so long to heal. Stab wounds, for example, wouldn't kill a soul if you didn't bleed out before the wound could seal. Crushing and flat out broken injuries are more difficult. Everything must be put back in its proper place before you can heal them. You think you've got it?" I nod. "Now straighten your ankle."

 I sit and oblige.

 "The key is to have a channel to send the energy through. Skin-to-skin transfer is more tiring and the high energy will burn you."

 He give me a handful of herbs.

 "Athelas." He explains. "Now press them to your ankle, good. Just like that. Now, just push your energy through your finger tips. Just a little."

 I'm about to try when he stops me.

 "Now, don't be upset if this doesn't work. Athelas are the most effective channel, but they are the flower of kings. And your-err- mixed-blood might hinder its effectiveness."

 I nod, and begin pushing the energy into my fingers. Its cumbersome at first, but soon I can feel my wrists start to throb. I push further, down into my palms and the feeling grows. It crackles under my nails. Its the most exhilarating feeling. I can tangibly feel my strength. I don't want to let it go. I want to stay like this forever.

 "Larien! You can't hold it! It will tear your hands to pieces!"

 I don't want to stop. I want to hold this feeling forever. But, to appease my brother I let out a drop of my precious energy. There's a burst of light and I'm thrown backwards, albeit unharmed.

 My ankle! The pain is gone!

 "I said just a little!" My brother shouts!

 "That was a little." I squeak, flinching away.

 "That was not-" My brother stops mid sentence, "How much, show me."

 I try to explain, but its difficult. Its not easy to describe what I did. Eventually my brother gives up and pulls out his knife.

 "What are you doing?!" I exclaim.

 "Testing you." He replies and makes a small cut on the back of his forearm.

 Crimson blood wells up from the wound. I'm speechless. He hands me another wad of the king's-flowers.

 "Heal me."

 "What?!"

 He puts my hands on his arm.

 "Heal me."

 I take a deep breath and oblige. Trying to be even slower this time.

 Just a little. Only a fraction of a drop.

 I'm as careful as I can be, but the shock wave still throws me backwards with a flash of light.

 Legolas' arm is healed. Not even a scar remains. I look up at him, wondering how I did. I smirk. Then giggle. Then flat-out laugh.

 His face is priceless!

 I've never seen my calm, composed, competent brother look so astonished before. It's hilarious. He just sits there, dumbfounded.

 "Larien, that was amazing." He whispers, staring at me.

 My heart swells and my smile widens.

 "You shouldn't be able to posses that much power. You're only half-royal, you ought to be half as strong as me."

 He shakes his head and a grin creeps across his face.

 "Niethig (little sister), you're better than me. You're- I can't believe it." He continues with a proud smile.

 But within moments, the smile fades, replaced with realization.

 "Toron (brother), what's wrong?" I ask tennatively.

 "You're royal Larien."

 "Yes, Naneth(mother) was queen-"

 "No. You're a full-blooded royal."

 "I beg to differ, I'm a bit small for an elf."

 "That's not what I said. You're a full-blooded royal. Your father must have been a dwarf-king."