Tauriel knew that relations with dwarves could be rather tense. She certainly was a kind girl. She offered to carry Tauriel's bow and quiver. She commented on Tauriel's appearance and said she had the prettiest hair in the world. It was quite sweet.
Dis told her stories of dwarves. They had some of the best folklore that Tauriel had ever heard. One day, she said, she was going to be just like the dwarf princesses in her books and slay orcs. Sometimes the little girl would even wear beautiful dresses while carrying around a miniature sword. Tauriel showed her a few good techniques. When she could, she even showed her the basics of using a bow. It was better to learn from a trained elf than a dwarf anyway.
It should have been obvious to Tauriel, but she was quite surprised one day when the small child asked her to marry her. This was the girl who still played with dolls and could only use the smallest of weapons.
Tauriel was very gentle. "Not not."
The girl frowned. "But why?" She looked ready to cry. "Is it because I don't have a good enough beard? Frerin says I don't have a good beard."
Tauriel shook her head. "No, of course not." She only had the tiniest bit of stubble on her. "It's because I can't marry you now."
"Why not?" She wrapped herself around Tauriel's leg. "I want to marry you!"
"Because," Tauriel said, "I need to watch over my people in Mirkwood. You know how your people must be protected from orcs?"
The girl nodded.
"Well I need to fight off spiders."
"I don't like spiders."
"Me neither." She placed a hand on top of Dis's head and gently ran her fingers through it. She took a deep breath. Why was she so nervous about this? "I will come back to Erebor. When I do, we'll discuss it again."
Dis smiled. "Really?"
Tauriel nodded.
She wasn't surprised when Dis gave her a goodbye present. However, what she gave her did surprise her, in a good way.
"I crushed the spider in the bathroom!"
"You did, didn't you? Keep on fighting for me, little dwarf."