Tauriel didn't raise her eyes to her king, not that she wasn't allowed, but she did not want him to read her confusion. "I have done nothing beyond my duty as a Captain."

"And yet that seems to catch his eye, or rather, both eyes." King Thranduil spoke in a voice like silk, every movement of his body a study in absolute grace.

His eyes. Legolas. Prince and heir. Her friend, and one she respected greatly. And liked. But he did not make her heart race, or enter her dreams uninvited. Like another.

"My son informs me that his journey to spend time in Imladris 'can not be taken just yet'." Did the king's voice show impatience just then, she wondered? Surely not. "You say nothing."

Startled, Tauriel realized that her liege was expecting an answer. Unfortunately, she did not have one to give.

"You have a bad habit of not answering him, child."

High Queen Galadriel's words haunted her, just like they had for the past week. Unbidden, Kili's laughing face entered her mind. Every time he smiled, it pulled at her. When he laughed, her own mood lightened. When he ...the king moved slightly, nothing much but it pulled her focus back to the conversation at hand. One in which she had yet to answer. "I ...do not know what you want me to say, my king."

"You have nothing to do with Legolas' decision to delay his visit to Imladris?" The question was leading, as if King Thranduil already knew the answer. But in this, she knew herself to be innocent.

Tauriel shook her head slightly. "I have not shared duties with him since you first asked me not to ..." Her voice trailed off, unsure how to say the next part.

"Asked?" King Thranduil's eyebrow rose with mocking sarcasm dripping from his voice.

Tauriel dropped her gaze, letting her long red hair swing forward to shield her expression. She hoped that her features showed none of her consternation, Silvan elves were far less schooled in controlling their emotions than were the High Elves.

"I told you not to give him reason to look in your direction." The silk in his voice was still there, but so was the subtle menace.

The she-elf looked up, but did not raise her eyes past his collarbone. "And I have not."

The king cocked his head to one side, considering her for a long moment. Finally, he nodded. "Perhaps not."

Before she could relax, the king continued. "Perhaps you should do something."

"Something?" She asked.

King Thranduil sighed heavily, as if disappointed with her in some way. "Something." He restated, waving one hand in an offhand manner. "Something with another. Surely there is someone who has caught your lovely gaze? Share a dance, take a private meal. Something." He reitterated.

Without her consent, her mind filled with the image of a certain dark-haired, dark-eyed, dwarf. The memory of his laughter filled her ears and a shiver of anticipation raced down her spine.

Missing nothing, the king stilled, his attention caught. "Oh. I see that there is." He smiled benignly, almost happily. "Grand. That makes this easier. I have no wish to hurt you, you have been superlative as a Captain within my guard."

Tauriel nodded her appreciation of his compliment, although her mind was racing and unable to find purchase on this slippery slope. Did the king know of her ...preoccupation? It was no secret he cared nothing for dwarves.

"Make yourself known." The king nodded, as if this settled everything. "Unless ..." He paused and gave her his full attention. "Someone of too high a rank?"

Like a prince? Of a kingly bloodline? But then, as a dwarf that would matter nothing to Thranduil. "No, my liege."

"Oh, don't look so worried." The king sounded magnamonious. "I don't mean to make a spectacle. Just quietly let it be known you have interests elsewhere."

Let it be known to Legolas, he meant. Tauriel nodded and when the king turned his back to her, she knew she'd been dismissed. But she couldn't help herself. "And if this interest means leaving your service my king?"

If she wanted him to protest, she was doomed to disappointment. "That would be sad indeed." He agreed, than waved one hand over his shoulder to compete the dismissal.

o.o.o.o.o

o.o.o.o.o

Kili stared at the bow, frowning sharply.

Legolas laughed lightly, if mockingly from his perch up in a nearby tree. He pointed one elegant finger at the bow. "That part in the middle is the grip."

Kili sneered, turned his head only slightly and shot an ill glare at the elf laughing down at him. He silently held up the elven long bow, resting the tip on the ground. It was as tall as he was. A bit taller, actually.

The blond elf let the ends of his mouth tilt up. "Ah. That could be an issue. Perhaps we have some bows taken from our enemies that you could use. Like an orcish bow?"

Both Kili and Fili stiffened at the implied insult.

"I believe we have a Rohirrim short bow in the armory." Tauriel walked up to the group, looking around with an utter calm she really didn't feel. "A less than fortunate orc died carrying it."

All eyes turned to her. Fili looked relieved to see her. But then, he wasn't an elf. Those of her own race? They stared.

Tauriel let the long sleeves of her blue gown drop down to cover her hands, the silver threads catching the sunlight prettily.

Allinier, the elvish medic, and his assistant both stared at her for a long moment, then one smiled while the other nodded companionably. Legolas went still, utterly still. Tauriel glanced with false casualness around the area. "I thought Bofur and Oin were to arrive today?"

"Not yet." Fili nodded a greeting at her, then returned his attention to a collection of knives as he tested the weight and merit of each one.

Tauriel couldn't help herself, her eyes travelled toward a certain person who kept invading her dreams. Kili stared back at her, his expressive eyes shielded. "You going to try and drown me again?"

At least this question she could answer honestly. "I have no immediate plans to do that."

He grunted, then grinned at her. "They're still not feeding me."

Allinier gave the young dwarf a lengthy look. "You had a meal right before we came out here."

Kili shook his head, his long hair pulled back in a silver clasp. "Weak rice porridge. Is. Not. A. Meal."

Legolas cleared his throat. Tauriel refused to look in his direction. The blond prince's blue eyes narrowed speculatively. The other elves missed none of this byplay. More than one mind raced with the implications.

"You sure look pretty." Fili commented, blind to the cultural implications of what was going on beneath the surface.

Tauriel nodded, but her eyes never left Kili. The younger of the brothers glanced down at himself and then back up at her, wondering what she found so interesting. "You sure you won't try and kill me again?"

She laughed lightly and shook her head. "No, I said I had no plans to drown you. Not that I would not try and kill you."

Startled, Kili gave a sharp bark of a laugh. Then he threw back his head and sighed happily. "Just so we're clear."

Legolas leapt down from his perch, landing close to the two of them. He glared at the dwarf, who met his look and narrowed his own gaze on the taller elf. He then turned to look at Tauriel. She did not meet his gaze, nor turn to him. "Do you hold a gift?" The words seemed torn from him.

From within her sleeve she pulled out a bottle, a silver one. Kili's face slipped into neutral. "More medicine?"

"Gingered ale. A change from water, and still good for you." She held it out to him.

Completely missing the implications, Kili took the bottle in his left hand, admiring the silver designs etched onto the surface. The elven medic and his assistant held their breathing, watching Legolas. The blond elven prince turned on his heels, anger snapping in his cold, cold eyes. He left without another word, he stopped at the edge of the clearing, his back to them all.

They waited for his words. But he had none. A long moment later, he continued on his way without further pause.

Fili, at least, seemed to notice the strain. He looked confused as he watched the departing prince's back. The older of the two dwarven brothers turned his gaze back to her, she felt the weight of it, but her own eyes were solely for Kili.

"Come, let us go inside." Allinier straightened up, motioning toward Fili and his own assistant. The blond dwarf raised one eyebrow in question. Amused, the medic shrugged lightly. "I want to check the dressing on your leg again."

Fili shook his head, confused. "You put a fresh dressing on it only an hour ago."

"You might have strained something." The assistant pointed out with abject reasonableness.

Fili's eyes widened. "I've been sitting down!" He held up the knives he'd been going through and pointed at a knot in a tree he'd been using for practice throws. "Just sitting!"

Kili opened the bottle, sniffing it carefully. "Poison?"

The two elf witnesses stiffened with shock and anger. Tauriel only smiled gently. "Gingered ale. It's a treat, and ginger is good for upset stomachs."

Kili ran his hand over his belly ruefully. "How did you know? My stomach hasn't felt good this afternoon."

"The orcish weapon that tore open your belly not quite a month ago wasn't enough of a clue?" She ignored Fili's grumbling as he gathered up all the knives and headed back inside with the two elven medics.

Kili looked around, seemingly surprised to find himself alone with her in the pretty little clearing. "What is going on?"

"You have a bad habit of not answering his questions, child."

Once again Galadriel's voice mocked her. She smiled. "It's a gift." There, that was deliberately vauge.

He snorted in amusement. "Last week you tried to kill me."

"If I wanted you dead, I'd already be visiting your grave." Tauriel pointed out calmly. "Instead I bring you a gift." One with a deep meaning, well not the gift itself but the act of giving it while wearing a certain type of dress. While looking at no one else.

"Thank you." Kili opened the bottled, sniffing it curiously. His nose wrinkled adorably. "It doesn't smell like ale. It tickles."

She smiled at him tenderly. "It's not ale, as in with alcohol. It's gingered."

"It's odd." Kili sniffed it again, then turned his head and sneezed, nearly losing his grip on the bow as he was holding it with his injured arm.

Tauriel gave him a soft look, knowing he was clueless. "Are you refusing my gift?" She asked, taking the bow out of his hand.

Kili shook his head, and his right hand. "I couldn't have nocked that." He sighed heavily. "The arm is weaker than I'd thought."

"Are you refusing my gift?" She asked again, more pointedly this time.

Interest sparked in his dark, dark eyes. This sounded more formal than he'd originally thought. Not sure what to say, he smiled charmingly. "No. I accept."

She waited, raising one eyebrow at him as a smile teased her lips.

KIli groaned. "This would go easier if I knew what the right response is to this gift."

Tauriel just continued to smile.

KIli groaned a second time, rolling his head. "Do I drink? Do I say thank you? Do I give you a return gift?" On that last one, her smile grew. He nodded thoughtfully. "A gift in return. To an elf who tried to drown me. Three times."

"Twice." She murmured.

He shook his head at her, then winced. "Stomach really doesn't feel that great. And it was three times. I went under three times. I counted."

She demurred and allowed the comment to pass.

Kili sighed and shrugged. "I have no gift to give you." He grimaced slightly. "I came with only the clothing on my back, and that was pierced through."

"And bloody." She nodded. "I remember." Her light tone did not betray the horror in her memory of finding him after the Battle of Five Armies, as it was now known. He'd been so still she hadn't been sure he'd still been alive. Not to mention being buried under the bodies of several orcs, and half a troll.

Kili nodded, then he smiled brightly. Her own smile answered his. He reached behind his head with his left hand and freed the dark fall of his hair from the silver clasp. One of a matching pair given to him and his brother by a cousin many years ago. "This means a lot to me."

Tauriel stilled, her attention struck as she saw his hair fall down to frame his face. A face that haunted her dreams and teased her senses. Her hand rose as she stepped closer, he stepped to meet her. But instead of reaching for the chased silver clasp her hand rose to his dark hair.

A bit startled, he looked up at her face. "Tauriel?"

"It's so different than ours." Her voice was soft, teasing. Alluring.

Kili moaned. "I damned well wish I felt better!"

The she-elf smiled as she entwined her fingers in his tresses, tugging slightly. "It waves."

The dwarf chuckled at her fascination, that laughter faded as her other hand rose to cup the side of his face. "Tauriel?"

The she-elf looked down into his eyes. The king may have ordered her to allow Legolas to see she had interest otherwise. But when she'd returned to her room, she realized ...this is what SHE wanted. Tauriel knew she could have accomplished what the king wanted in any number of ways. The custom of the Blue and Silver gift was showy, and formal. Unnecessary for the king's purposes. And exactly what she wanted.

"I accept." The red-headed elf took the silver hair clasp with one hand and leaned down, putting her forehead to his. "What would you do if I stole a kiss?"

Kili's eyes widened with appreciation, then he smiled. "You can't steal what is offered freely."

"What will it be like to kiss someone with a beard?" She murmured aloud.

"Tickles." Kili teased.

Tauriel pulled back slightly, giving him an odd look.

The dark-haired dwarf chuckled. "Dwarf females often have beards. I have kissed before, I am over 70."

"So old." Teased the 600 year old elf as she leaned in to claim her stolen kiss. Her lips met his and he opened for her immediately, his good hand reaching up to pull her in closer.

"My lady of starlight." He whispered.

She smiled softly. "I'm not too far away, now. So very close."

"Not close enough." Roughly he wrapped his good arm around her, pulling them even tighter together.

Tauriel felt dizzy for a moment, so heady was the first touch of lips. His tongue touched hers as she gasped, finding it hard to catch her breath. He tasted salty and familiar, slightly spicy. Kili pulled back far too soon, and she blinked at him.

Ruefully, the dark eyed dwarf apoligized. "I'm useless to you today. I really don't feel that well."

"You do look a bit green. Not the best compliment that I've ever ..." Tauriel paused, licking her lips. "Spicy." She whispered.

Kili chuckled weakly. "I'm sorry. Whoa!" He exclaimed as she suddenly moved in close to him again, smelling his breath.

"What did you eat today?" She demanded roughly.

"Nothing. Weak rice porridge counts as less than nothing." He snarked.

The she-elf shook her head. "Allinier!" She shouted, with her face so close to his he winced at the increased volume. "Weak rice porridge isn't spicy. Nor does it taste like salted pork."

He winced. She growled, her suspicions angering her.

The medic appeared at the edge of the clearing, looking a bit uncertain. Tauriel whirled and bit out the words angrily. "Salted pork?"

The medic stiffened, then sighed. "His brother's meal."

"I was starving!" The dwarf protested weakly.

The red-head looked worried. "He doesn't feel well, says his stomach is unsettled."

The medic rushed forward, grabbing the protesting young dwarven archer. He peered into the dark eyes and sighed. "It's been over an hour since lunch, but ..."

"But wha ...hey! STOP!" Kili screeched in affront as the elf medic spun him around stuck his hand into the dwarf's mouth. Muffled shouts of protest were overtaken by gagging noises. It wasn't long before the unauthorized meal made a return trip.

The unhealthy noises and yelling brought both the medic's assistant and a badly limping Fili. The blond dwarf yelped his brother's name and tried to rush to his side. Tauriel stepped into his way. He snarled at her.

She grabbed him by his cut down elven robes, balling them into a fist at his throat. "You gave him your meal?"

Suddenly unsure, Fili looked around her at his struggling younger brother. He paled. "That was bad?"

"Why did you think he was on a special diet?" Her voice rose alarmingly.

Fili blinked rapidly. "To be mean?" He whispered. "Kili was hungry, so hungry!"

"He had enough to fill his belly, but it wasn't dense foods for a reason!" She shook him a bit too hard and Fili started to lose his balance. Remorseful, she set him back on his feet in a way that didn't make it seem like she'd kept him from falling.

Steadying himself against a nearby tree, Fili sighed. "Pork. Potatoes. Greens."

The medic shook his head, peering at the mess on the ground. "Pork and potatoes, yes. Greens no."

"Hey! I ate the carrots." Kili protested. "They're good for eyesight!"

The medic winced. "A most dense vegetable. Greens would have been better." He called out something quickly in his elven language. His assistant ran back inside. "Anything else?" He snapped at the two brothers.

"No." Snapped Kili, looking greener than ever.

Fili sighed deeply, looking up at the sky. "I snitched a roast duck, some wine, couldn't find any ale. Jerky. Bread. Butter. Pickled beets. Half a roast ..."

The medic swore as his eyes closed in resignation.

"I only ate half that roast. Half of a half." Kili shook his head.

"Some kind of relish with apples and other fruits. Cheese." He stopped, thinking a moment. The elves watched him sadly. "Oh, and some pears. I think ...oh, there was a sweet custard too."

"Nothing else." Sarcasm dripped from Allinier's voice.

Fili shrugged helplessly. "Gravy."

"Damnable dwarf!" The medic's lips thinned as he stared at his charges.

Tauriel swore roundly, making the medic pale just as the assistant ran back toward them carrying a large jug. "I have the medicine."

"This will help him feel better?" Fili asked hopefully.

"Yes, give me the cup." Allinier held out a hand to his assistant.

Kili, embarrassed beyond measure, cursed roundly. "Well this 'damned dwarf' doesn't need a stupid cup." He grabbed the jug and pulled the cork loose, chugging down at least a quarter of the contents.

The elves all stared, their mouths agape.

"How much does he need to take?" Fili asked anxiously.

Kili groaned and stuck out his tongue. "This tastes like troll dung."

The medic sighed and held out a very small cup, staring at it sadly. "This amount. He needed this amount."

Kili smiled then. "Good, it tasted terrible. Now I'm done."

"Done in." Muttered the medic's assitant, looking uneasy. "Come with me."

"Where?" Kili moaned.

Allinier shook his head, an odd look on his face. "The lavatory." He cocked his head to one side and shrugged. "You are going to be one very unhappy dwarf in about an hour." Then he looked down at his cup. "Or sooner, considering the dose you just took."

The assistant chuckled. "Just deserts. For not following the diet plan."

Kili snarled, his stomach already rumbling. "You should have told me why I couldn't eat."

"WE DID!" Each elf then looked from one to another.

Only the sound of Kili's stomach turning over made everyone start to move.

o.o.o.o.o

o.o.o.o.o

Three in the morning is not the most romantic time. Standing over someone you cared about while he groaned, curled up in a fetal position, was also not terribly romantic.

"Please kill me." Kili moaned.

Tauriel wiped his forehead tenderly. "No, thank you. You tried to do that to yourself all on your own."

The dwarf sighed unhappily.

"You need another bath." She teased. "If you want, I can finish drowning you."

"Please. Yes."

Tauriel ran one hand down his cheek, letting her fingers absorb the bristly feel of his face and the hair there.

"I can never eat salt pork again." His voice sounded hoarse and weak.

Tauriel smiled gently. "Or potatoes. Roast duck. Beef. Beets. And let's not forget the carrots."

"Please let us forget the carrots." The dwarf moaned, turning his face into his pillow.

The red head leaned in, putting her chin on his shoulder. "If it helps, I think the worse is over."

"I think I died two hours ago." He whimpered.

"Why are you always in bed when I see you?" The she-elf mused. "Or prison?"

He gave her a bleary look. "You're the one who put me in that prison." Kili pointed out.

"I'll put you in one again if I need to keep you from doing something like this." She threatened without heat.

Kili rolled onto his back, his color pale but at least no longer green. "What was today about?"

Tauriel's eyes sparkled. "You are not up for the answer tonight."

"Will you kiss me again?"

The red-head's eyes widened. "Not tonight I won't. I saw what came out of your mouth."

Kili sighed. "I meant ever, not tonight in particular."

"Yes."

His eyes sharpened and he stared at her. She turned to the bedside table to dip a cloth in a shallow bowl of clear, cold water. His breath caught as he spied his silver hair clasp holding back some of her long silken hair.

"Why?"

o.o.o.o.o

o.o.o.o.o

Legolas was up before the sun. Mostly because he hadn't slept all night. Furious, he had not meant to pass by HIS door. Five times. The blond headed one was asleep in a chair. The medic came and went.

She stayed in that room. All night.

"Aren't you going in?"

Badly startled, Legolas steeled himself not to show his surprise. It seems the brother wasn't asleep after all.

"No." His one word answer was sharp and clipped.

Fili yawned and scratched his beard. "What was all that business about yesterday?"

"You're the idiot who fed your equally asinine brother when his digestive system was still trying to repair itself. He was medicated to keep everything moving slowly to rebuild what was damaged. Then you two tried your utmost to kill him all over again." Legolas told himself he didn't have time for fools.

"Not that business. The other." Fili watched the blond prince sharply. "The one you don't like."

The medic's assistant had been turning the corner, when he heard that question he stopped still. Afraid to move, afraid to call attention to himself.

"I don't like you." Legolas said bluntly.

"I don't like you." Rejoined Fili. "Doesn't answer the question."

Legolas turned to face the young dwarf warrior and sneered. "They're courting." He threw the words at the blond.

They hit their mark. Fili's eyes widened in shock. "Kili? My little brother. And an ELF?"

"I thought he was older." Lied the prince. "Being so much taller."

Fili jumped to his feet, cursing as his leg nearly buckled under him. He cursed his weakness even further. Limping, he made it to the door of his brother's room and peered inside. His breath caught.

Tauriel, sitting beside his clearly besotted brother, their faces close together. Talking. Smiling. Fili shut the door in shock. How had he missed this?

Legolas sneered, but what he might have said next was lost forever as a noise in the main hallway had both males turning.

"Morn'n. Morn'n." Bofur and Oin walked toward them. "Sorry we are to be late like'n we are. Unexpected tidings and all."

Fili gave the two dwarves a weak and bleary smile. "What tidings?"

"Me." Came the robust and rich voice of the dwarven matron. "It's good to see you, son."

"Mam!" Fili looked shocked, stunned, and delighted.

Dis smiled happily.

Legolas stared. "That's your mother? She has a longer beard than you do!"

"Flattery is an empty art, my fine elf lord." Dis dismissed the prince out of hand. "But I thank you."

Having meant to be insulting, Legolas appeared temporarily nonplussed.

"Surprised we are to find you awake. Thought you'n were still convel ...conveles ...getting better?" Bofur said around the pipe in between his lips.

"I come with news and tidings." Dis said nodding solemnly. "Is your brother still awake?"

Fili, at a loss, just nodded. "He was last I peeked in." Then he remembered what he'd seen in that room and he paled. Their mother was very protective of Kili especially, being the youngest.

Legolas stared at the impressively solid looking female dwarf and suddenly smiled. He gestured toward's Kili's door.

Dis stared at him a moment, and then looked at Fili. Legolas too looked at Fili over the dwarven dam's head. He shrugged at the blond, as if to tell him it was his call.

"He's awake mam." Fili said, chewing his bottom lip. Well, what of it? It WAS the truth.

Uneasy, sensing strange undercurrents, Dis put her hand on the door. She looked to Bofur and Oin. Both dwarves seemed as lost as she did. She stuck out her jaw and opened the door, walking inside.

Fili winced. Legolas smiled.

Dis walked out and shut the door behind her, looking shocked. "Why is there an elf, cuddled up in bed with my baby?"

Bofur blinked, shocked. "Er ... pretty red hair?" He guessed.

Oin nodded. "Green eyes?"

"Couldn't see her eyes." Dis snarled.

Bofur nodded happily. "Tauriel. She saved his life. Twice."

Dis' anger evaporated into wonder. She looked at Fili who smiled weakly at her. "Still and all, it's hardly seemly."

The elf who served as an assistant to Allinier stepped in, nervously trying not to look in the direction of his prince. "They became hand-fasted just this afternoon."

"Hand-fasted?" Dis looked utterly appalled.

The elf nodded. "I don't know the dwarven equivilent. To the world of men, they're engaged. Or not really, it's basically married but only on a trial basis. So, not really married. Oh dear, it's hard to explain."

Dis growled loudly. "He is only a BABY!"

Bofur winced. "Uhm, no. Seventy two, begging your pardon. He's technically not a minor."

Dis' face hardened with anger, her hands curling into fists.

The elf frowned. "If it helps, I'm not entirely sure he knows if he is hand-fasted."

"Oh really." Dis turned back toward the bedroom door, throwing it open with a loud bang.

For the first time since yesterday afternoon, Legolas' mood improved.

o.o.o.o.o

o.o.o.o.o

A/N UH OH! Hope you are enjoying!