The next morning, Kíli woke early. For a moment, he simply lay in his bed, half wishing he could back to sleep. Then he stood, considered getting dressed, and ultimately flopped back onto his pillow.
Waking up early was something he'd have to get used to again. With a deep sigh, Kíli stood again and crossed to the clothes he'd laid out the day before. He pulled on the pair of pants, put on the undershirt, the chain-mail from Fíli - it was lightweight and snug enough that it would fit under his shirt - and the overshirt. The jacket he left on the chair for the moment; his room was warm enough that he didn't need it. His hair was a mess; Kíli groaned upon seeing it in the mirror before he sat down and began to brush it out. His stubble didn't need shaving yet, but it would before too long; his beard grew more quickly than he would have liked, considering a beard was entirely obnoxious when combined with archery. Kíli had tucked his shaving kit in his pack, hoping he would have chances to shave while on the move with Tauriel.
As he forced his hair into slightly sloppy braids - it was early, and Kíli was in no mood to deal with his unruly hair - he was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in," he called distractedly, fumbling with the metal clasp.
"Don't tell me you're going out with your braids like that," Fíli groaned as he entered, seeming to be disgustingly awake for that hour of the morning. "I don't really want to sit you down like a child and braid your hair for you."
"It's not as if there's anyone to impress," Kíli muttered as he finally clasped the braids together. Fíli sighed.
"Except for practically all of Erebor, who are waiting to bid you farewell."
"They shouldn't bother," Kíli muttered as he shrugged on his jacket. "I really don't want to deal with this ceremony."
"Ah, but you're a prince of Erebor, so you have to deal with pageantry," Fíli countered. In a few quick strides, he crossed the room and pulled Kíli into a tight embrace.
"By Mahal, I'm going to miss you, little brother," he whispered into Kíli's hair.
"I'll be back before you know it," Kíli replied in a falsely offhand voice, although he was gripping Fíli as tightly as Fíli was gripping him. "But I suppose I'll miss you too, you big buffoon."
"Watch who you're calling a buffoon!" Fíli cried, pretending to be affronted as he pulled away. Kíli just smirked. "Perhaps I won't miss you all that much after all," Fíli muttered under his breath.
"You already said you would!" Kíli crowed. "No taking it back now!"
"I swear, sometimes it seems as if you haven't grown since twenty," Fíli sighed. "How on earth can you be seventy-eight?"
"I'll be seventy-nine by the time I return," Kíli countered. "Considering you'll be missing my birthday, I expect to find a wonderful gift waiting for me when I return."
"Brat," Fíli replied affectionately, reaching up to muss Kíli's hair. Kíli darted out of the way, smacking Fíli's hand away and laughing.
"We ought to go to the others," Fíli stated, picking up Kíli's pack. "The ceremony will be starting soon."
"Can't I just sneak out?" Kíli moaned as he strapped his weapons to his body, hefting on his pack when Fíli held it out. "Tauriel wouldn't mind."
"Uncle and Mother would," Fíli countered. Kíli groaned.
"Alright, you win," he sighed, rolling his shoulders under the pack. "I just hope Bard isn't this ridiculous when we meet him in Dale."
"Considering how much Bard himself hates this sort of thing, I doubt he'll subject you to it," Fíli replied. "But Uncle likes the reminder that we've reclaimed our seat of power, so I doubt you'll be able to get him to stop."
"Regretfully," Kíli muttered under his breath. Fíli clapped him on the shoulder hard enough that he almost lost his balance. From the smirk on Fíli's face, that had been his design.
"I can't wait to get away from you," Kíli muttered. Fíli made a falsely wounded face and folded his hands over his heart.
"You hurt me, brother."
"Have fun at your negotiations with Dáin," Kíli replied, the most innocent look he could muster on his face. Fíli groaned.
"As I said last night, I don't think you realize how lucky you are."
"You know you'd be complaining in either situation," Kíli countered as he looked around his room one last time before leaving. Fíli followed him out.
"I don't love elves as much as you do," Fíli replied. Kíli grinned.
"And as there is only one elf in Erebor to love, I'm glad of it," he replied. Fíli groaned.
"I have no desire to hear details, Kíli." Kíli wrinkled his nose.
"I assure you, I wasn't planning on it," he replied. "Tauriel would slaughter me if I shared such details with you."
"I'd really rather you didn't mention it at all," Fíli groaned. "Come on, let's go down to meet the others."
Almost before Kíli and Fíli entered the throne room, Dís swept forward and dragged Kíli into her arms. "Be careful, my sweet boy. Don't get hurt, please."
"I'll do my best, Mother," Kíli replied, pressing a kiss to his mother's cheek. "Anyway, I'll have Tauriel to protect me."
"And I am glad of that," Dís muttered, squeezing Kíli one last time before she let him go. "Go to your uncle. I think he wanted to talk to you." Dís gave Kíli a little push in Thorin's direction. With a stifled sigh, Kíli went over to his uncle, hoping it wouldn't be a last-minute discussion on politics.
"Kíli." Thorin drew Kíli into his embrace immediately. "You remember what we've discussed about the negotiations with the elves, I trust?"
"Of course I do, Uncle," Kíli replied, calling on his most winning smile. Thorin chuckled softly.
"I trust that you'll do well with the elves and make me proud," he murmured. Kíli grinned widely.
"Of course I will," he replied dismissively. "You needn't worry, Uncle. I've already got Mother and Fíli worrying about me. There's no reason for you to join them."
"The amount of scars on your body says otherwise," Thorin muttered. Kíli rolled his eyes.
"I'm not going to be reckless, and I'm not going to get hurt. I swear by Mahal's name that I'll do my best to be careful."
"I will not allow him to be hurt so long as I can prevent it, King Thorin," Tauriel stated from behind Kíli. She stepped up next to him and bowed deeply.
"Tauriel." Thorin immediately straightened, regaining his regal posture. "I trust you will have good news to bring to your king in Mirkwood."
"I will tell him of your hospitality here, and of your willingness for this peace to endure," Tauriel replied mildly. Thorin's eyes narrowed slightly, but Tauriel's face gave nothing away. Kíli couldn't help but be a bit jealous of how marvelously she could hide her expressions entirely. He was an open book most of the time; calling upon a smooth face during negotiations was always difficult for him. Perhaps, with the upcoming practice he'd be getting with the elves, he would learn to do it better.
"I wish you both good luck in your travels," Thorin stated. Kíli rolled his eyes at the grandiose declaration. Tauriel, on the other hand, merely bowed again.
"I thank you for your blessing, King Thorin," she replied. Kíli mused that he ought to perhaps ask her for lessons in democracy; she was exceedingly skilled at it.
"Kíli! Come over here, lad," Bofur called, a grin on his face. "We've got something for you, to send you off."
Only slightly worried, Kíli crossed to Bofur, who was standing with Bifur and Bombur (who seemed more interested in his food than Kíli's presence) and hiding something behind his back. "We figured, since you were going to see elves, you ought to have something pretty, like the sort of trinkets elves wear."
We hope you like these, Bifur signed in iglishmêk. Bofur held out a small parcel draped in cloth. Now curious and slightly reassured, Kíli pulled the cloth off.
Inside were a dozen small, delicately engraved beads for his hair and a new clasp, thinner and more elegant than the one he currently wore. "Perhaps Tauriel can help you put these in," Bofur suggested, waggling his eyebrows. Kíli rolled his eyes, but he was touched by the gift.
"I will wear these with pride," he stated. "Your craftsmanship is unparalleled, as usual."
"Hear that, boys?" Bofur asked playfully. "We've got the approval of Prince Kíli himself."
"Oh, shut up," Kíli groaned as Bofur cackled. "I can't believe I'm going to miss you."
"We'll miss you too, lad," Bofur replied. Bifur clapped Kíli on the shoulder, giving him an approving nod. Bombur even looked up from his plate long enough to wish Kíli farewell, which Kíli viewed as a triumph.
"We'll have to leave soon," Tauriel murmured, having somehow appeared behind Kíli again. "You ought to say your farewells."
"I'll miss Erebor," Kíli mused. "I hadn't realized how much I loved it here until now."
"As often happens," Tauriel replied. "But we still must leave, unless you wish to risk offending my people."
"If it seemed likely to come to that, Uncle would push me out the door himself," Kíli joked. "For someone who claims to hate elves so much, he's awfully set on keeping this arrangement."
"This is far better than the previous animosity, is it not?" Tauriel countered. "Your uncle is wise to wish for a truce with those he may not fully trust, however uneasy, rather than outright hostility."
"Which is why I'm going to meet with the elf lords and ladies instead of him," Kíli replied, smirking. "Can you imagine what would happen to our truce if Thorin and Thranduil were forced to negotiate?" Tauriel didn't look pleased at the thought.
"Any hope of a lasting peace would crumble," she replied dryly. "It is best that we not allow such an event to occur."
"I'm sure neither Thorin nor Thranduil would argue that," Kíli replied, nodding. "Oh, no, Balin's coming over." Kíli tried furtively to hide behind Tauriel's back.
"What's wrong?" Tauriel asked, clearly amused by Kíli's antics.
"He'll want to talk to me about politics," Kíli groaned. "I don't want to discuss the proper way to approach Lord Elrond for the thousandth time."
"Go talk to Glóin and Óin," Tauriel stated, scanning the room. "They wish to speak to you anyway. I'll distract Balin."
"Have I told you recently how much I love you?" Kíli asked rhetorically. Tauriel smiled.
"Yes, but it bears repeating anyway."
"I love you," Kíli stated with a smile before crossing the room to Glóin and Óin.
"You'd better not go around being reckless, lad," Óin stated loudly as Kíli approached. Glóin rolled his eyes.
"Gimli hoped to convince you to let him join you on your travels, but I told him not to," he told Kíli. "Where he gets his fascination for elves, I'll never know. And Hillevi wants to make sure you know she'll do all she can to keep your mother from worrying too much."
"She can attempt it, but I'm not sure anyone could accomplish such a feat save for Mahal himself," Kíli replied, grinning. "If I don't see her and Gimli, bid them farewell for me."
"I've given Tauriel some herbs, to use if either of you get hurt," Óin put in. "Of course, I'd rather nothing happen, but all things considered, that might be too much to ask."
"I am capable of being careful," Kíli cried, affronted. "I simply choose not to be."
"I'm not sure it counts if you choose to be reckless anyway," Glóin remarked. Kíli shot him a withering look.
"At least we could never call him boring!" Nori called as he approached, his brothers following him. "Although, perhaps this time you could restrain your urge to toy with Lord Elrond."
"If he's managed to deal with Elladan and Elrohir for centuries, I think he can deal with Kíli," Dori remarked.
"You'll have to tell me all about Lothlórien when you return," Ori told Kíli eagerly. "It's supposed to be a marvelous place. The woods are said to be even denser than Mirkwood!"
"Hopefully with fewer spiders as well," Kíli muttered under his breath. Seeing that Thorin was starting to cast anxious looks out the window, Kíli excused himself and began to approach him. Before he reached his uncle, however, he was intercepted by Dwalin.
"Your weapons are all prepared?" he asked gruffly.
"What sort of amateur do you take me for?" Kíli demanded, showing Dwalin the sword and knives strapped to his belt. "And my bow is in my pack."
Dwalin clapped Kíli on the shoulder. "Be careful out there," he warned. "Don't want to have to send a rescue party out after you."
"Have a little faith," Kíli scolded playfully. "I'll be fine. I don't know why everyone's so worried."
"Cause you're a reckless idiot," Dwalin replied. Kíli shrugged.
"Probably." Dwalin grinned slightly.
"I'll miss you, lad. But I won't deny that I'll enjoy the peace and quiet."
"Lies and slander," Kíli replied, grinning widely at Dwalin before turning back, scanning the room for Tauriel and not finding her.
"We ought to leave before your uncle begins to panic," she suddenly murmured into Kíli's ear, causing him to jump.
"Don't do that!" he cried, dramatically laying one hand over his chest as he whipped around. Tauriel looked far too amused at his reaction. "How do you walk up behind me so silently?"
"Centuries of practice," Tauriel replied, the flippant remark causing a momentary shiver of discomfort through Kíli's body. He often forgot how old Tauriel was compared to him; he couldn't help but worry that she would wish for someone with more life experience than he. "It truly is time to leave, though."
"Of course." Kíli reached for Tauriel's hands and intertwined their fingers. "Let's go tell Uncle we're leaving."
"Have you said your goodbyes?" Tauriel asked as they walked towards Thorin. Kíli nodded.
"To everyone save Balin, and I hope to leave that as late as possible, so he has no chance to lecture me again."
"I heard that, laddie," Balin called, reaching out as Kíli walked past him and clapping him on the shoulder. "Remember what we've discussed and you'll do fine. Follow Tauriel's lead if you have to. She knows what she's doing."
"A skill I have only learned recently, but I appreciate your compliment none the less," Tauriel replied, smiling softly at Balin.
"Kíli, Tauriel!" Thorin called. Kíli almost dropped Tauriel's hand before remembering he didn't have to do that anymore. "It is time for us to see you off."
"Be careful!" Dís added from where she stood at Thorin's side. Kíli let go of Tauriel's hand to embrace his mother one more time.
"I'll do my best," he replied as he pulled away. Immediately, he was pulled into Fíli's embrace.
"Don't make me go after you, you hear?" Fíli demanded, sounding as close to tears as Kíli felt.
"I'll be fine," Kíli assured him, returning to Tauriel's side and taking her hand again. They walked out of Erebor together, calling out last-minute goodbyes to everyone.
"We'll be back before you know it," Tauriel murmured to Kíli. He smiled up at her.
"At least I still have you," he told her, leaning his head on her arm fondly. She smiled as she dropped a kiss on his forehead.
They could no longer hear the calls of the dwarves of Erebor. It would be months before Kíli would see them again.
Iglishmêk is the dwarf version of sign language. Bifur uses it in the movies to communicate.
Hillevi is the name I chose for Glóin's wife, who was never named in the books.