The road to Dale took them an hour, calmly trotting over the outstretched fields that surrounded the Lonely Mountain. Súlion made big strides with his long legs and Kili had to boot Dari forwards to keep up with him. They chatted about everything and nothing; the weather; the celebrations; the horses.
The festivities of the defeat of the dragon Smaug were still going on in Dale. Music sounded from every corner and people were dancing on the streets. On the Town Square stood people with stalls, selling their home-made food, clothes or other things.
They tied their horses to a wooden bar that had been placed there for that purpose. Súlion and Dari stood close to each other, nuzzling in each others fur once in a while. Mercië looked around in the city, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"Come!" She said laughing and she grabbed Kili's arm and dragged him with her into the crowd.
In the middle of the crowd stood a group of people with instruments. Clear music came from the lute, harp and flute. It was a joyous song, and the people surrounding the band clapped in their hands. Mercië's smile grew bigger as they made their way forwards.
The band existed out a dwarf, an elf and a human. The elf was fair of face, skin and hair. He had raven black hair and his eyes were closed. His hands darted over the harp with a speed no human or dwarf could compare with. The dwarf had a messy, brown beard and red cheeks from the blowing on his flute. The human was broad-shouldered, with hair and beard the colour of mustard. His mouth was twisted in a broad grin and his foot tapped on the ground on the beat of the music coming from his lute.
Kili and Mercië stood in the front. Mercië's face was brightened with her smile and sparkling eyes. She clapped in the beat of the music. Kili found it hard not to look at her. The happiness in her face made her more beautiful than ever. He had not seen her smile reach her eyes fully until now.
The music died out and full silence surrounded the square until the music started again. It was a merry tune and a few people emerged from the crowd and started dancing.
"Want to dance?" Mercië nudged his shoulder and grinned at him.
Kili frowned. "No, thank you. I don't dance."
Mercië shrugged and jumped away from the crowd. Her hair swung around her face as she started dancing, beautiful as the rising sun. Her feet barely touched the ground as she danced to the tune of the music. The crowd was now looking at her, since it was difficult not to look at her. She twirled and she jumped and every step she made seemed like it was planned to be there. Her golden hair danced around her face, shining in the afternoon sun. The other people who had started dancing stopped to look at her, for their dancing was nothing compared to hers.
When the music stopped, it felt like waking up from a gorgeous dream. You did not wanted it to stop, cause all what is left is a happy memory. Mercië stood still when the music stopped, her head bowed, and she panted softly. When she looked up, she smiled brightly and gave a quick bow.
The harpist walked over to her. Kili saw his lips moving in a language he did not know. Mercië laughed, throwing her head in her neck. Kili felt a stab of jealousy and walked over. They were talking to each other in the Elvish tongue, the elven-man caressing his harp in his arm.
"Kili! Meet Telvolas" She smiled. "Telvolas, meet Kili, cousin of Thorin Oakenshield."
The elf raised his eyebrows and gave a short, gracious bow. "Greetings, Kili. It is an honour meeting you. I have heard plenty of good things about you."
Kili smiled at him. "Hullo, Telvolas. Unfortunately, I have never heard of you but I very much enjoyed your music."
"So did I." Mercië said quickly. "I have only met one person who could play the harp better then you."
The elf smiled in return. "And I enjoyed your dancing, Mercië. We are playing here tomorrow and the day after, maybe you could come and see us again."
Mercië nodded. "I cannot come tomorrow but I'd be delighted to hear your music again the day after."
"Very well then. I will meet you the day after tomorrow."
Mercië sent him a sparkling smile before turning around and walking away, Kili following her quickly. "You're a very good dancer. It was magical." Kili said when he walked up next to her.
Mercië laughed. "There is nothing magical about dancing, master Kili. I enjoyed the music and I enjoy dancing. It was nothing special really."
Kili gaped at her. "Nothing special? That was one of the best things I have ever seen. And I think I am not the only one thinking that."
Mercië shrugged and walked over to a stall. "Can I have a cherry-pie please?"
They shared the pie sitting on the ground in the sun, in a corner of the square. Kili told her about the rebuilding of Dale and Mercië told him about the Elvish aspects the architecture had. When the pie was gone, they licked the cherry-syrup off their fingers and shared a little bottle of liquor. When the bottle was empty, Kili gave Mercië a tour around Dale, telling her everything about it he knew. At last, they ended up back at the market, where Mercië bought a small basket full of red apples. She fed both of the horses one but kept the rest for herself. Then they rode the horses back to the stables, took care of them and parted to get ready for dinner.

The dinner table was already busy when Kili entered the Dinner Room. It was not as big a feast as yesterday, but there was more than usual. It would go on until the day of the victory of the Battle of Five Armies. Kili sat down on the left side of his uncle, who sat on the head of the table, next to Dwalin.
"I haven't seen you all day, Kili." Fili asked him. They sat opposite each other.
"I took Dari out for a ride after the Council." Kili answered while shoving some chips on his plate. "I went to 'our' place, and Mercië was there. I took her to Dale."
Fili smiled and nodded. "I heard Bofur saying something about an elf, dancing on the Town Square. He said it was very spectacular. Have you seen it?"
"I have. It was Mercië. And it was spectacular. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. No human or dwarf could ever dance like that."
"Of course not. But she is an elf. Elves can do things Dwarfs and Humans an only dream of." He grinned. "You like her, don't you?"
Kili blinked and raised his hands. "Not the way you think I do. I like her as a friend. She is nice, and funny and and..." He saw Fili chuckling. "Maybe you should come with us tomorrow. I promised her to show her around Erebor. Maybe you'll see what I mean."
"Maybe I will. After the meeting with the dwarves from the Iron Hills." Fili sighed and stabbed a piece of meat on his dagger.
Kili shrugged and started talking to Dwalin.
"Hey Kili." Fili called out after 15 minutes. "Your crush is here."
Kili turned his head angrily. "She is not my crush!" From the corner of his eye he saw her entering the Hall. She wore a purple dress with the same silver belt around her waist as in the morning. Her hair was loose but kept from falling in her eyes by a thin, silver band on her head. He could see her smile and greet the other dwarfs as she calmly walked to the only empty chair, next to Fili.
"Good evening gentlemen." She greeted them. "King Thorin."
"Mercië. What a pleasure having you here. Sit, please, and enjoy the cooking of the dwarves."
She smiled her gratitude and sat down next to Fili. "Master Fili. How was your day?" She placed a fish on her plate.
The rest of the evening was merry. Wine flowed, even though Mercië drunk none of it, and her talking and laughing made the dwarves cheerful. When all the food was gone and the desserts came on the table, she told them an Elvish story. Everyone still sitting at the table listened with open mouth, and after her story was finished Balin told them a dwarvish story. In the end, Mercië even sung them a song. It was in Elvish and none of the dwarves understood a word of it, but her voice and the depth of the song sent a shiver over their spine.
When the song was finished, Mercië apologized herself and left the Dinner Hall under the gazes of all the dwarves sitting there.
After she had left, the Table streamed empty. In the end, only Fili and Kili were sitting there.
"He still doesn't like her, even though she hasn't given him reason to." Kili said sadly as he watched Thorin leave the Hall.
Fili shrugged. "Sometimes things from the past are difficult to forget. They keep coming back, even though you don't want them to."
Kili looked at his brother from the corner of his eye and together they burst out in laughing.

Kili met Mercië again with breakfast. They ate quickly, Kili with toast and eggs and sausages and beans, and Mercië with apples and a small piece of toast with jam. After breakfast, they wandered around in Erebor and Kili told her everything about it that he had learned. Around lunchtime, Kili took her to the kitchens, and they lunched with a freshly baked fish pie. They sat in the library for an hour, wandering past the giant racks of books, and Mercië ran her hand lovingly over the covers. Then they both took a book and sat down for a while to rest their feet and read.
Fili found them in the library at four and joined them in wandering around Erebor. They had a very good time and when Fili and Kili were not explaining about Erebor, Mercië told them Elvish stories which made them laugh or cry or just be quiet for a while.
Around dinner time they parted and Fili and Kili went to the Dinner Hall to eat, but Mercië didn't show up there.
"You were right, Kili. She is a lovely person to hang out with." Fili said when they sat next to each other.
"Didn't I told you? Maybe it is you who has a crush on her." He grinned and avoided the hand of his brother when he wanted to smack him on the head.
"So you spent the day with Mercië again, Kili?" Thorins deep voice made him look up immediately.
"Yes, Uncle. I showed her around in Erebor. She wanted to give you her compliments about the library." Kili smiled up at his Uncle.
Thorin didn't smile back. He frowned and took a swig of his wine. "I don't want you to get too close to her. She will leave soon and it is possible that you will never see her again. Plus, I don't think friendship with an elf has a good influence on you."
"I know she will leave, but I'm sure she will return! And what is wrong with friendship with an elf? You always say that the friendship between our people very important is."
Thorin narrowed his eyes. "The peace with the elves is important, but that doesn't mean you have to become friends with one."
"I think I am old and wise enough to decide who to become friends with, Uncle. Just because you had some problems with them doesn't mean I can't have other feelings."
Thorin flushed. "That's enough! It is because of the Elves that so much people died, it is because of the elves that my grandfather died. They could've defeated the Orcs easily but they only thought about their selves!" His voice had raised and he stood now, panting. All the dwarves in the room looked at them.
"That was before." Kili said softly. "They helped us in the Battle of Five Armies. They are our allies now. Just because of the past doesn't mean that it is the same now." Kili looked down as he said this.
"That's enough." Thorin growled. "To your room... NOW!"
Kili stood up hastily, his stool falling on the ground. He sent Thorin one last, fiery look and then left the room.

The next morning, Kili skipped breakfast and went to the Trainings Field right away. He had promised to practise with the son of Dwalin. The physical training did him good and after the training he took a long, hot bath. After the bath he went to Dari and rode around with him for a while.
Around lunch time, he met up with Fili and together they talked about the evening before.
"I think you did well." Fili said to him. "Uncle is always so hot-headed when it is about elves."
Kili fumbled with the arrow he was repairing. "Is he still mad at me? I've avoided him today."
"He is not pleased with you, but his rage has cooled down. It was not clever to stand up against him. I don't think you should avoid him for too long."
"I know it was not clever, but I couldn't just give in! He is still hanging in the past. Mercië is nice, but he just can't see it." Kili sighed and placed the arrow in his lap. "She is leaving soon, anyways."
"She is. But maybe she'll return. Or maybe we will go see the elven city's together again." Fili grinned at him. "Where is she, anyways?"
"She is at Dale with that elven-harpist." It came put sharper than he had intended.
"Do I smell jealousy?" Fili chuckled. He had already noticed that his brother liked the elf more than just as a friend. Yesterday, every time he looked at his brother he saw him gazing at the beautiful elven woman.
"I am not jealous! Why should I be? It is normal that she wants to hang out with her own kind!" He looked at his brother from narrowed eyes.
"Of course, of course." He chuckled shortly and got up. "C'mon. Lets go get some food."
Kili spent the rest of his afternoon with his brother. When it was dinner time, Fili left for the Dinner Hall while Kili went to grab some food in the kitchens. After he had finished it, he went to Mercië's room and knocked on the door. It opened and she stood before him, beautiful in a blue dress.
"Kili!" She called out when she saw him. "What are you doing here? Why weren't you at dinner? I missed you there! And what happened yesterday? God, come in, you! You have a lot to tell me!"
Kili told her everything about the evening before, and explained why he wasn't at dinner.
Mercië sat on the bed, her arms hugging her legs. "That was not very smart of you."
Kili frowned. "Of course it wasn't, but I can't just let him decide for me who to be friends with."
"Of course not. You did well. I am proud of you. But you can't keep avoiding your uncle. You must talk to him."
"I will. Just... not today." He played with the pillow that had laid on the chair he was sitting on.
"The sooner the better." She smiled kindly. "I know it is difficult, but when you avoid him, you show him that you are afraid of talking to him. He might think that what you said, you don't believe in." She slid off the bed and took his hand. "Talk to him. For me?"
His muscles tensed but he didn't pull back his hand. "Alright. I will talk to him tomorrow, after I wake up."
Mercië smiled and let go of his hand, sitting down on her knees. "Thank you."
Kili smiled back at her. "How was your day?"
"It was alright. Yours?"
He looked her in the eyes as she talked and he saw her nose twitch when she said her first sentence. it was more than alright. "It was nice."
They spent another hour talking, when Mercië found it time to go to bed. "I have to get up early tomorrow! Now, off you go! Sleep tight!"
Kili bowed for her and left her room.

Hello there, my lovely dwarves, elves, hobbits and humans! How did you like little cheeky Kili? I just thought that Thorin wouldn't like his little cousin to be friends with an elf. So yeah, that was fun. I hoped you liked this chapter! R&R, let me know what you think of it!